Following a presentation I made to Indiana and Kentucky dealers in Louisville several weeks ago, I was asked by a dealer attending the session how much confidence did I have in monthly reports from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
Farm equipment dealers who still aren't sure why their segment of the agricultural industry is consolidating only need to look at what's happening with their customers. Like so many things, even as the value of agricultural production grows, overall it's becoming concentrated in fewer and fewer operators.
Just about the time that dealer or brand purity appeared to have become a non-issue for farm equipment dealers, the issue is once again raising its ugly head.
This week, the USDA documented what we all know is happening: one-third of farmers are now older than 65. While I don't possess hard data on dealer personnel, a scan of hair hues at a dealer meeting last week shows more of the same. No news here.
Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn. Friends. Tweets. Connections. Smartphones. Tablets. Page Ranking. Most of these are new and strange terms that are part of social media marketing. As a farm equipment dealer, is social media marketing important to your business? Or is it irrelevant and a passing fad?
Freeing planter mechanisms from chain/clutch drives has opened up a new frontier in variable-rate technology, one which sees several planters going afield this year capable of carrying more than one hybrid and planting them in specific parts of the field according to soil maps and planting conditions.
In addition to monitoring the department sales mix, the equipment sales mix, and the new and used equipment turnover, dealers and sales managers should also vigorously monitor their new and used equipment gross margin.
Last week in Louisville I got to speak to the Mid-America Equipment Retailers Assn. on Tuesday and then spent Wednesday and Thursday roaming the halls of the Kentucky Expo Center covering the National Farm Machinery Show.
With our company hosting two national conferences (each topping 1,000 attendees) last month, this time of year gives our team an up-close look at how just how seriously some take learning and networking. And conversely, how passive others can take theirs. If you were at our 22nd Annual National No-Tillage Conference in 2 weeks ago Springfield, Ill., you'll agree it was flat-out inspiring to see farmers arriving with a hot-list of questions they're determined to find answers for. These farmers were still pursuing answers long after a 10:15 p.m. presentation.
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 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.
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.