Last year was like being on a roller coaster that you didn’t want to ride in the first place. And so far, the news cycle in 2026 appears to be extending the ride. 

On this page a year ago, I wrote about the threat of tariffs and funding freezes. Tariffs were a topic that seemed to pop up in discussions all year long, and that continues to be the case. During the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Marty Gray, CEO of John Blue Co., told me the challenges that impacted 2025 are still present at the start of 2026. 

“Tariffs are still a huge detriment to the industry,” he said back in mid-February, adding that they’re impacting the manufacturer on the supply chain side and impacting the industry on the demand side, “taking China out of the equation.” Fast forward a couple weeks and tariffs are changing again. 

Right to repair also is a topic that’s been on repeat. On Feb. 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued guidance reaffirming existing policies that temporarily disabling aspects of an emission control system or components to repair or maintain a non-road engine is permissible under the Clean Air Act. 

While the EPA’s press release included rhetoric that made it sound like the guidance was changing the game, Brian McGuire, president and CEO of Associated Equipment Distributors, and Daniel Fisher, senior vice president of government affairs, say that the guidance — when you dig down into it — affirms the equipment industry’s stance on right to repair. That is, farmers can repair their equipment but can’t modify it. 

Focus on the Business

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of the business, even without the news making your head spin. It happens to the best of us (guilty as charged), but to move things forward — whether we’re talking about a department or the business as a whole — it’s not only important but necessary to put the time and energy into working on the business, not just in it. 

Machinery Advisors Consortium founding member George Russell tackles the subject in his column and offers ways for dealership leaders to future-proof the businesses. He writes, “Dealerships that thrive over decades are those whose leaders regularly step back to lift their vision above the daily fray. These leaders shape culture, build systems and make intentional decisions that strengthen the organization for the next economic cycle — not just the next quarter.”

The ongoing down cycle in the ag market certainly doesn’t make it easier to step away from the grind, but it does make it more important than ever. With forecasts calling for 2026 to be another challenging year, the strength of laser-focused operations will never be more important to your dealership’s success. After reviewing surveys, talking with our advisory boards, the Dealership of the Year alumni and the Dealership Hall of Famers, I’m pleased to announce that the 2026 Dealership Minds Summit will focus on the theme of Maximizing Operational ROI. 

This year’s Summit is Aug. 4-5 in Springfield, Ill. We’re working on the program right now (look for its release in the April/May issue), but would love your feedback on topics and speakers you’d like to see in Springfield. Who are the dealers whose operations you want to emulate? Let me know what you’d like to learn. Email your ideas to kschmidt@lessitermedia.com.