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February 2017

Volume: 55
Edition: 2

Cost of Doing Business Survey: Are Dealers Measuring Up?

  • Table of Contents

    Table of Contents

    Cost of Doing Business

    How Dealers are Measuring Up

    The 2016 Cost of Doing Business study reveals areas where dealers must up their performance to get back to being profitable.
    By Dave Kanicki posted on February 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Data & Forecasts, Operations & Finance
    When it comes to unit sales of farm machinery, in the past 5 years North American farm equipment dealers have seen the highest highs and the lowest lows they’ve experienced in the past 3 decades. As sales rose in 2012 and 2013, so did many of the industry’s operational and financial measures. Likewise, as sales began dipping in 2014, these same indicators reflected the industry’s downturn.
    Read More
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    2017 AE50 Awards Recognize Innovations in Farm Machinery

    By Kim Schmidt posted on February 11, 2017 | Posted in Product Innovations & Introductions
    To be eligible for the award, each development — which could be a component, machine, structure, system, end product or procedure — must embody the application of new technology or the innovative application of an older technology. The technology must be new to the whole industry, not just to an individual company. In addition, for the 2017 awards the development must have been first made available for purchase or ordering during the 2016 calendar year.
    Read More
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    Vanderloop Equipment Bets on the Future

    When this AGCO dealership built a new facility focused on selling Claas equipment, it designed it with growth in mind.
    By Kim Schmidt posted on February 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Facilities, Department Management
    Driving along Highway 151 in Beaver Dam, Wis., a sleek and modern facility appears on the horizon. The European style building is Vanderloop Equipment’s newest store, and represents a different approach than the 65-year-old AGCO dealership’s two other locations in Brillion and Lena, Wis.
    Read More
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    Mobile Service Makes its Move

    Farm equipment dealerships have taken their service offerings on the road as demand for on-site technical assistance continues to rise.
    By Brian Salgado posted on February 11, 2017 | Posted in Department Management
    Today’s technological advances have raised customer expectations to new heights. Online retailer Amazon is working toward delivering goods via unmanned aerial vehicles in the near future. Google Express offers delivery to your doorstep within hours of submitting an order via a mobile app.
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    Why Interseeding Cover Crops is Catching On

    Seeding cover crops early enough to get them established before winter often requires interseeding into the existing crop before it’s ready for harvest.
    By Dave Kanicki and Laura Barrera posted on February 11, 2017 | Posted in Data & Forecasts, Product Innovations & Introductions, Niche Equipment Markets
    The pursuit of higher crop yields and healthier soils is pointing farmers in the direction of cover crops. The 2015-16 Cover Crop Survey conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center and Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education revealed that average acres of cover crops per farm have more than doubled over the previous 5 years.
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    People & Profits: Successful Partnerships Take Dreamers & Doers

    By George Russell and Erik Thompson posted on February 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices
    I am reading — for the second time in a year — Simon Sinek’s book Start with Why, How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. As I finished a chapter today, Sinek’s words reminded me of the many partnerships between dealership leaders that create great businesses, those who over a long time react well to change and execute well to keep customers, employees, manufacturers and investors happy.
    Read More
  • Featured Articles

    Featured Articles

    Cost of Doing Business

    How Dealers are Measuring Up

    The 2016 Cost of Doing Business study reveals areas where dealers must up their performance to get back to being profitable.
    By Dave Kanicki posted on February 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Data & Forecasts, Operations & Finance
    When it comes to unit sales of farm machinery, in the past 5 years North American farm equipment dealers have seen the highest highs and the lowest lows they’ve experienced in the past 3 decades. As sales rose in 2012 and 2013, so did many of the industry’s operational and financial measures. Likewise, as sales began dipping in 2014, these same indicators reflected the industry’s downturn.
    Read More
    AE50-blue-logo_2017.jpg

    2017 AE50 Awards Recognize Innovations in Farm Machinery

    By Kim Schmidt posted on February 11, 2017 | Posted in Product Innovations & Introductions
    To be eligible for the award, each development — which could be a component, machine, structure, system, end product or procedure — must embody the application of new technology or the innovative application of an older technology. The technology must be new to the whole industry, not just to an individual company. In addition, for the 2017 awards the development must have been first made available for purchase or ordering during the 2016 calendar year.
    Read More
  • Online Extras

    Online Extras

    Online Extras: February 2017 Issue

    February 20, 2017

    Web-exclusive content for this issue includes:

    • Additional archived articles related to the analysis of financial and operation metrics
    • Video interviews with Robb Vanderloop, co-owner and general manager of Vanderloop Equipment
    • Listen to the Precision Farming Dealer podcast series

    Read More
  • Products in Action

    Products in Action

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Built on 90 years of expertise, Yetter Farm Equipment leads the agriculture industry in designing effective and innovative equipment for residue management, seedbed preparation, precision fertilizer placement, harvest attachments, strip-tillage, and more.
Machinery Scope

Machinery Scope

At Machinery Scope, we believe you deserve the best risk management solutions for your investments in heavy equipment. Since 2013, we have been proud to offer extended warranty, appraisals, and inspections. Machinery Scope is a family-owned business built on our experience in farming and equipment dealerships. We understand your business and provide a personalized and professional level of customer service. Machinery Scope has built a strong warranty product with our customers in mind, offering the same professional level of service from the time you get a quote, through the processing of a claim.
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Finance Scope

Finance Scope is able to provide the best financing opportunities for equipment dealers and customers through a diverse mix of lending companies under one single platform. Our large group of lenders, allows for competitive rates regardless of credit scores. Additionally, dealers and customers have access to the industry’s best expertise surrounding finance and lease structures, for all purposes, within the agricultural and construction industries. We provide all of this into one online platform to provide our customers with the best available tailored finance solution for their equipment.
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