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April/May 2021

Volume: 59
Edition: 4

A Closer Look at Ritchie Impement’s Service Department 

  • Table of Contents

    Table of Contents

    Kim Schmidt

    Getting Back on the Road

    By Kim Schmidt posted on March 22, 2021 | Posted in Best Practices

    In typical years, the first quarter is a busy time for our staff, with a lot of time spent out of the office at industry events, meetings and visits with dealers. It’s hard to believe that with the exception of a few regional visits to dealers it’s been a year since we’ve done any extensive travel.


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    Dealership Modernization

    New Facilities Focus on Customer Experience

    3 dealers share the specs of their latest building projects and how they designed the new buildings to better serve both customers and staff.
    By Kim Schmidt posted on March 22, 2021 | Posted in Facilities
    When farm equipment dealers renovate their facility or build a completely new store, there are usually two main goals. First, create an environment that is appealing to customers and is easy for them to get what they need, whether it’s parts, finding the service department or buying new wholegoods. Second, create a facility that attracts potential employees and makes it easy and efficient for the dealership’s current employees to do their jobs.
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    Communicating & Measuring for Success in Service

    Anne Blotz, service manager at Ritchie Implement, breaks down how she keeps her department on track and the metrics they use to optimize productivity.
    By Ben Thorpe posted on March 23, 2021 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management

    In Cobb., Wis., Anne Blotz, service manager, walks through the service department at Ritchie Implement, a 4-store Case IH and Claas dealer in southwest Wisconsin and Farm Equipment’s 2015 Dealership of the Year. 


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    Benchmarking Dealers’ Employee Development

    The Western Equipment Dealers Assn. surveyed farm equipment dealers to gauge where the biggest needs for training and development for future leaders lie.
    By Kim Schmidt posted on March 23, 2021 | Posted in Data & Forecasts, Department Management

    Workforce development has become an increasingly important topic for the farm equipment industry in recent years. While a lot of attention has been given to the challenge of finding and retaining qualified service technicians, the workforce development issue is much larger than that.


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    Executive Q&A

    Koenig Equipment Reevaluates Metrics

    Aaron Koenig, president and CEO of the 15-store John Deere dealership group, discusses how the organization has stayed focused on strategy.
    By Kim Schmidt posted on March 24, 2021 | Posted in Best Practices

    Koenig Equipment is no stranger to change. In its 117 years in business, it has seen changes that range from trading horses for implements to a shift in its major line (including several years of operating both John Deere and Case IH stores). 


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    Getting Ahead of Early Order Opportunities to Avoid Last-Minute Anxiety, Delays

    Feeling the pressure of trying to fulfill parts orders prior to spring planting, dealers are proactively planning revisions to how they stock and sell pre-season equipment.
    By Jack Zemlicka posted on March 24, 2021

    With wrenches turning in service bays in preparation for spring planting, dealers and farmers are well into their annual routine of row unit maintenance, seed meter calibration and prescription loading. 


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    Manufacturer Spotlight

    Farm Shop Sprayer Project Launches Major Sprayer Company

    Minnesota farmer Verlyn Fast’s idea for a flat-fold farm sprayer in 1990 sparked today’s Fast Ag Solutions and more than 30 years of growth in building durable, dependable sprayers and applicators.
    By Dan Crummett posted on March 25, 2021 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues

    What began with Verlyn Fast’s idea for a 60-foot flat-fold farm sprayer in 1990 spawned a manufacturing company that has matured into a major player in the North American ag sprayer and liquid fertilizer applicator market. 


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    Legislative Priorities in 2021

    New challenges in a closely divided political landscape.
    By Eric Wareham posted on March 26, 2021 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues

    We are all acutely aware of how divided our country is along cultural and political lines. Much of that division derives from the concept that there is something inherently right about a majority, a democratic concept we are inculcated with from birth as Americans. 


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    Customer Perspective

    Technological Advancements Can Help Farmers Better Understand Their Land

    Third-generation farmer Trey Hill looks to a future in which he’s equipped with tools that will help him improve his data analysis in order to increase yield and maintain soil health.
    By Libby Wawzenek posted on March 25, 2021

    Trey Hill isn’t sure what the future of farming has in store, but he is positive about one thing. “I’m a firm believer in utilizing technology, and I think that’s going to play a big role in how I manage my farm,” he says.


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    Ask the Expert

    Growing Bench Strength Part 2: Cutting Out Bad Habits

    By Casey Seymour posted on March 27, 2021 | Posted in Best Practices

    Last month I started this series off by talking about where to find young talent. As discussed, there are several different places and ways to bring good, young talent from colleges and technical schools to the dealership. 


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    Product Preview

    Summers Mfg. Supercoulter Samurai

    By Ben Thorpe posted on March 28, 2021 | Posted in Product Innovations & Introductions

    The Summers Manufacturing Supercoulter Samurai tillage tool was designed for farmers who enjoy the simplicity and benefits of true vertical tillage tools but wish to move more dirt than the original Summers Supercoulter. 


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    Product Preview

    SIMPAS

    By Ben Thorpe posted on March 28, 2021 | Posted in Product Innovations & Introductions

    The Smart Integrated Multi-Product Prescription Application System (SIMPAS) is a multi-product variable rate system to automate and variably apply multiple inputs across a field. 


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    Product Preview

    Topcon AGS-2 Receiver

    By Ben Thorpe posted on March 29, 2021 | Posted in Product Innovations & Introductions

    Designed to suit virtually any agricultural machine type, make and model, the Topcon AGS-2 receiver and steering controller combines field-proven steering with leading network reception and tracking functionality. 


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    Product Preview

    Environmental Tillage Systems SoilWarrior Edge

    By Ben Thorpe posted on March 29, 2021 | Posted in Product Innovations & Introductions

    The new 3-point mounted strip-till system from Environmental Tillage Systems (ETS), the SoilWarrior Edge, combines the durability and versatility of a SoilWarrior system with a tractor mounted 3-point system designed for primary tillage and zone freshening. 


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  • Featured Articles

    Featured Articles

    Deen_Kubotas_new_facility-1.jpg
    Dealership Modernization

    New Facilities Focus on Customer Experience

    3 dealers share the specs of their latest building projects and how they designed the new buildings to better serve both customers and staff.
    By Kim Schmidt posted on March 22, 2021 | Posted in Facilities
    When farm equipment dealers renovate their facility or build a completely new store, there are usually two main goals. First, create an environment that is appealing to customers and is easy for them to get what they need, whether it’s parts, finding the service department or buying new wholegoods. Second, create a facility that attracts potential employees and makes it easy and efficient for the dealership’s current employees to do their jobs.
    Read More
    Ritchie_Implement-1.jpg

    Communicating & Measuring for Success in Service

    Anne Blotz, service manager at Ritchie Implement, breaks down how she keeps her department on track and the metrics they use to optimize productivity.
    By Ben Thorpe posted on March 23, 2021 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management

    In Cobb., Wis., Anne Blotz, service manager, walks through the service department at Ritchie Implement, a 4-store Case IH and Claas dealer in southwest Wisconsin and Farm Equipment’s 2015 Dealership of the Year. 


    Read More

    Benchmarking Dealers’ Employee Development

    The Western Equipment Dealers Assn. surveyed farm equipment dealers to gauge where the biggest needs for training and development for future leaders lie.
    By Kim Schmidt posted on March 23, 2021 | Posted in Data & Forecasts, Department Management

    Workforce development has become an increasingly important topic for the farm equipment industry in recent years. While a lot of attention has been given to the challenge of finding and retaining qualified service technicians, the workforce development issue is much larger than that.


    Read More
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    Digital Edition

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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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