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Farm Equipment Soundbites

How Do Union Negotiations Work?

By Ben Thorpe posted on February 17, 2022 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues
In this episode of Farm Equipment Soundbites, I sat down with Associate Professor at Loyola University Chicago Peter Norlander to discuss what exactly happens during union negotiations and why the first contract proposed during the Deere strike was rejected by 90% of UAW John Deere workers.
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Are We Headed Back to the 2014 Used Equipment Glut?

According to Iron Solutions’ Director of Data Services and Software Development Cameron Hurnard, things aren’t quite as grim as they were 8 years ago. However, some of the same issues that caused the 2014 used equipment glut need to be monitored now and in the future.
By Ben Thorpe posted on January 26, 2022 | Posted in Used Equipment Remarketing, Data & Forecasts
Many dealers remember how used equipment began to sit on lots in 2013-14, driven by rising commodity prices, low input costs and a notable increase in the supply of new equipment. This spelled trouble for the used market, with some equipment sitting for over a year before it moved.
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Cost of Doing Business

Dealers Report Strong Revenue, Gross Margins & Profits

The latest Cost of Doing Business study reported increased revenue and profit, as well as improving gross margins dollars on parts, service and wholegoods in 2020.
By Ben Thorpe posted on January 24, 2022 | Posted in Data & Forecasts, Operations & Finance

North American dealers reported strong financial results for 2020, according to the results of the latest Cost of Doing Business study from the Western Equipment Dealers Assn. On average per location, revenue, profit and gross margin dollars were all up.


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Kuhn OptiWrap OWR 6000 Round Bale Wrapper

By Ben Thorpe posted on October 8, 2021 | Posted in Product Innovations & Introductions

The new Kuhn OptiWrap OWR 6000 inline round bale wrapper offers exceptional wrapping productivity, while minimizing film and fuel use.


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Great Plains Turbo-Seeder Cover Crop Seeder

By Ben Thorpe posted on October 8, 2021 | Posted in Product Innovations & Introductions

The Turbo-Seeder cover crop attachment for Turbo-Max and Terra-Max offers a productive method for broadcast seeding cover crops with a vertical or hybrid tillage tool.


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Why Executives Should Train the Next Generation of Leaders

Stotz Equipment’s Tom Rosztoczy shares insights from his dealership’s leadership-development program and explains why building your own program can be the right choice.
By Ben Thorpe posted on October 5, 2021 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management
Creating your dealership’s next generation of leaders can be a daunting task, regardless of your resources. Coupled with the ongoing labor shortage, it’s more important than ever to keep and grow your key staff into capable and confident leaders.
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2022 Dealer Business Outlook & Trends Summary

Profits, Gross Margins, Early Orders Improve Amid Rebounding Market

100% of surveyed dealers report making a profit, improved gross margins and strong forecasts for new and used equipment revenue next year.
By Ben Thorpe posted on October 2, 2021 | Posted in Data & Forecasts

Projections for next year’s new and used equipment sales were up compared to the 2021 survey, as well as forecasts for early orders and equipment price increases. 


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Yetter Farm Equipment

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.
MonTag

Montag Mfg

Montag is the industry’s innovative leader for precise, accurate metering of fertilizer, seed and other nutrients. The Montag system has become the standard for deep banding of fertilizer. Montag is also pioneering the technology for cover crop seed application. The new Cover Crop+ is able to meter the smallest seed, and can be mounted to tillage implements, combines, plus Hagie sprayers and detasselers.

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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