One 2021 agricultural issue stands out from the rest for Progressive Farmer Senior Farmer Dan Miller: Farm equipment and parts shortages.

The Boards of Directors of half of the equipment dealers associations in North America believe this is a fundamentally flawed concept that will diminish the ability of EDA to carry out its primary mission, which is to address our industry’s national concerns.

Owen Palm, CEO of 21st Century Equipment, a 16-dealership John Deere network straddling Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado borders, thought an end to the pandemic-driven extra unemployment checks would bring him some people looking for jobs.

The joint boards of the Equipment Dealers Association (EDA), the Midwest-SouthEastern Equipment Dealers Association (MSEDA), the United Equipment Dealers Association (UEDA) and the Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA) have voted to move forward with a proposal that would consolidate the four associations. This action is the first step towards consolidating which requires a vote by dealer members of each association, which should be completed in spring 2022.

If you see something you like or need, you better snatch it up now, before it’s gone or not available for delivery sometime in 2023. That’s the hard truth 40-year veteran Jerry Beard at Beard Implement Co. in Arenzville, Ill., is delivering to his customers.

“Farmers have disposable income, so they have money to spend it on and the tax laws really, really favor purchasing equipment,” Gary Schnitkey, a professor of farm management at the University of Illinois said. “Manufacturers are having difficulty keeping up with the demand.”