In this week’s podcast we look at the emerging hemp industry and what it could mean for the farm machinery business. In the Technology Corner, Jack Zemlicka shares some insights on how ag start-ups, particularly on the software side, could offer some lucrative opportunities for dealers. We also discuss tractor and combine sales for the first half of the year and what we might expect in the second half of the year. Also in this episode, dealers and manufacturers say hay and forage equipment sales have seen a nice pick up recently, and we discuss the moderate increases in non-real estate farm lending.

John Deere released its North American May retail sales statement on June 12. While industry retail combine sales were up 12%, Deere reported its retail sales were up more than the industry average.

John Deere released its September retail sales comment on Oct. 12. The report compares Deere’s sales and inventory levels to the industry as a whole. For combines and 4WD tractors, Deere’s sales were down more than the industry, but it’s inventory levels for both categories were lower than the industry.

In the report, John Deere compares its retail sales for the month of June and May inventories to those of the industry as a whole. 

AGCO, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, reported net sales of approximately $1.7 billion for the third quarter of 2015, a decrease of approximately 19.4% compared to net sales of approximately $2.2 billion for the third quarter of 2014.

A little over a year ago, Jim Tibbles, executive vice president of Osmundson Mfg., a manufacturer of tillage tools in Perry, Iowa, told us that he believed softening ag equipment sales in 2014 would represent a return to normal levels rather than a falloff.