For time-strapped business owners, an advisory board can be a huge asset. Your board members can survey the market, your competition, legal and regulatory issues, and current trends and give you objective feedback.

Just as the Fourth of July weekend rolls around, the new Lone Ranger movie is making its debut in theatres across the country. And there's a special tie-in I want to share with you between the Lone Ranger and Lessiter Publications.

While watermelons are grown across the United States, most production occurs in 4 southern and western States that offer consistently warm temperatures of 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for a growing season that requires up to 3 months.

Clean up continues at the scene of a weekend fire that destroyed the offices of a Logan County business. The fire started early Sunday morning at Central Illinois Ag, a local Case IH dealership in Atlanta. Fire officials say a passerby on the interstate spotted flames just after two a.m. Dozens of local and neighboring firefighters came out to battle the blaze, but it still took hours to get it under control.

As farmers increasingly adopt precision farming technology, it's no secret that there's a tremendous business opportunity for precision farming dealers. However, that opportunity will require a big investment in providing technical support, especially for non-technical customers.

The mobile version of jdparts.deere.com allows customers more portability and convenience when searching for parts and merchandise.

AGCO, Your Agriculture Company AGCO +0.48% , a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, today named Eric Hansotia Senior Vice President, Global Harvesting and Advanced Technology Solutions. "We are very pleased to announce that Eric Hansotia has joined our executive team," said Martin Richenhagen, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGCO. "He will be responsible for a global team of professionals focused on the development, sales, product management and support for global harvesting equipment as well as for precision agriculture and connectivity technology for all AGCO machinery."

Malcom "Mac" F. Moore has been appointed President and CEO of Digi Star, LLC a Wisconsin based manufacturer of advanced measuring systems and software used in the precision agriculture sector.

Today, USDA released its crop acreage planted report and acreage of all major commodities crops is estimated to be up slightly from 2012 except for cotton. Corn planted area for all purposes in 2013 is estimated at 97.4 million acres, up slightly from last year. This represents the highest planted acreage in the United States since 1936 when an estimated 102 million acres were planted. Growers expect to harvest 89.1 million acres for grain, up 2% from last year.