Articles by Dave Kanicki

How Dealers Deal with Ag's Business Cycles: Keep Data in Perspective with Customer Input

For farm equipment dealers, planning for agriculture's business cycles must involve close contact with customers. In addition to observing economic indicators over a period of time, it's essential for dealers to put the data into context with history and customer input, says Graham Drake, president and CEO of Cervus Equipment Co.
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How Dealers Deal with Ag's Business Cycles

With the exception of 2009 — a year that, in retrospect, wasn’t all that bad for sales of farm machinery — dealers have experienced 5 remarkable years of consistently strong unit sales. This has surprised many dealers, even the most optimistic ones. A Colorado dealer told Farm Equipment recently, “I’ve lived through two bad cycles (in the 1980s and ‘90s) so I’m really enjoying this one.”
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From the Desk of Dave Kanicki

You Win Some and You Lose Some

First, in its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, USDA lowered its price estimates on corn, soybeans and wheat for the 2013 crop, a bearish signal for the industry. Later in the day, the Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers reported that U.S. and Canada tractor and combine sales were up pretty much across the board in March.
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From the Desk of Dave Kanicki

Comparing Notes with the Farm Equipment Industry in Germany

I'm not sure dealers in North America will find much comfort in knowing that the situation between farm equipment dealers and their mainline suppliers here isn't very different from that of their German colleagues. Or that ag machinery dealers are facing very similar challenges to the retailers of automobiles and other equipment. But sometimes it's interesting to know.
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From the Desk of Dave Kanicki

The ABCs of Germany's Tiered Dealership System

I'm not sure dealers in North America will find much comfort in knowing that the situation between farm equipment dealers and their mainline suppliers here isn't very different from that of their German colleagues. Or that ag machinery dealers are facing very similar challenges to the retailers of automobiles and other equipment. But sometimes it's good to know you're not alone out there.
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