When discussing weather, water is often the main topic. In the upcoming volatile years, the question is how to deal with both too much and too little water. Crop water demand may even be increasing with or without drought. A few trends are really clear. There is increased frequency of high temperature stress, more rain in heavy rainfall events across the U.S. ironically with more summer droughts. Because growing seasons are longer with higher summer temperatures. more water is needed, says David Wolfe, Cornell professor of plant and soil ecology.

As many U.S. senior citizens have learned about health insurance, Federal Medicare benefits help, but it's only a start in covering the big? costs involved with medical care. Most find that supplemental insurance is a must. Farmers are finding the same is true with Federal crop insurance. In a really bad year -- or even just a challenging year -- supplemental weather insurance can mean the difference between staying afloat and actually sailing all the way to the bank.

The combination of biotech traits, genetics and agronomic practices all work together to help mitigate drought risk, according to Chan Mazour, director of Monsanto's Gothenburg Water Utilization Learning Center. "Something like 90% of the country will experience drought at some point during the growing season,"? he says. "If I was a farmer, my strategy would be to make every good decision I can from genetics, biotech and an agronomic standpoint to protect myself as much as possible if drought sets in."

It's 8 a.m.; do you know where your trucks are? After real estate, a dealership's largest non-inventory asset is likely their rolling stock: delivery flatbeds and lo-boys, remote service vehicles, sales personnel cars or trucks, delivery vans, etc. But land and buildings stays put. Your rolling stock ... well, it rolls.

While next month's column will continue to explore compensation systems for salespersonnel, the focus of this column will address those winning attributes that were personified by each of the Olympic athletes as they participated in their individual and team events during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. Whether Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, the U.S. women's soccer team, or any of the other hundreds of participants, four attributes emblematic of gold (Au) medal play stood out; namely, purpose, passion, perseverance and pride, and each of those attributes are similarly applicable to a successful career in equipment sales.

One of Linn County's oldest family-owned businesses has been sold. Fisher Farm & Lawn is now Pape Machinery following completion of the sale of its assets to the Eugene, Ore., company. Fisher had been in business in the Albany area for nearly 88 years.

Inc. magazine today ranked Purple Wave Auction No. 3176 on its Inc.5000, an exclusive ranking of the fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy--America's independent entrepreneurs.

Many small businesses — but perhaps not enough — have already braced themselves for a worst-case scenario. The two most critical components of small business disaster survival, they've found, are a comprehensive backup of business data and systems, and an insurance policy that will allow them to rebuild if a business is decimated.

Trelleborg took the opportunity of the 2012 Farm Progress Show last week to tout its new agreement with AGCO to supply its customers with the premium option of its 900/60R42 extra large radial tires.

Officials from West Fargo-based Titan Machinery broke ground Tuesday on a new $5.5 million to $6 million facility in southwest Jamestown.