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Articles by Mike Lessiter

To The Point: Ethics: You Still Out There?

By Mike Lessiter posted on October 13, 2011 | Posted in Best Practices
Lots going on these days. Weather challenges, rapidly advancing technologies, crazy markets, uncertainty on government programs and another year-end buying rush, to name a few. But just as critical as these things are to your operation, we, as a business magazine, also find an obligation to cover other management issues from time to time.
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Palouse
How to Sell

Leveling Systems Increase Harvest Productivity on Sidehills

The desire for less grain loss and faster harvesting are putting sidehill leveling systems into the sales conversation throughout the Midwest.
By Mike Lessiter posted on April 11, 2011 | Posted in Niche Equipment Markets
Anyone who has ever watched with awe the harvest on the steep hillsides of the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest knows how critical the combine leveling system is to a farmer's ability to work the steep hills (up to 60% slopes) and its extremely fertile soils. Without this technology, agriculture, at least cost-effective agriculture, in the region would be severely limited.
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triple_3
How to Sell

Butterfly Mowers Boost Capacity, Fosters Better Use of Tractor

Putting the self-propelled windrower out to pasture and coupling 3 mowers to the already-owned tractor allows customers to increase capacity to achieve ‘hay in a day.’
By Mike Lessiter posted on March 10, 2011 | Posted in Niche Equipment Markets
Putting the self-propelled windrower out to pasture and coupling 3 mowers to the already-owned tractor allows customers to increase capacity to achieve ‘hay in a day.’
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Dealership Minds

Navigating the Numbers for Growth

By Mike Lessiter posted on February 7, 2011 | Posted in Best Practices, Operations & Finance
Spend time with Mike Hedge at his office in Rantoul, Ill., and terms like number cruncher, prognosticator, teacher, purser, and analyst all come to mind. And when it comes to the subject of balance sheet management, “evangelist” is also a fitting word. As CFO & Treasurer of a $240 million company, Hedge must manage all the details yet remain at a 50,000-foot view to pilot the finances of a growing company.
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Dealership Minds

Probing Questions Solves Parts Department Mysteries

By Mike Lessiter posted on February 7, 2011 | Posted in Department Management
An effective parts department, says Todd Lippens, can pinpoint a customer’s needs even when they’re too hurried to provide good information. “With cell phones today, farmers pick up and call immediately, even before thinking,” he says. At the Polo store, more than half of his store’s part transactions are handled by phone.
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Analysts Comment on CNHI CEO's Departure

Analysts Comment on CNHI CEO's Departure

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Weasler Engineering, we look at some analyst comments on Scott Wine's departure from CNH Industrial. In the Technology Corner, Noah Newman talks to Pessl Instruments' CEO about the recent investment it received from Lindsay Corp. Also in this episode, dealers and farmers chime in on brand loyalty, air seeder sales forecasts and layoffs at the Racine, Wis., Case IH plant.
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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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