USDA expects corn plantings to reach nearly 96 million acres in 2012, the highest since 1937, and 4% higher than 2011 acreage. Soybean acres are expected to fall slightly (down 1%) and acres planted to wheat are forecast to rise by 3% in the year ahead vs. last year.
In addition to hiring the right person and clarifying the requisite objectives, tasks and responsibilities of the sales staff, another critical responsibility of the modern day sales manager is to develop a cogent and lucid compensation system that is easy to understand and rewards overachievers for their performance.
It seems many North American farm equipment dealers are surprising even themselves when it comes to how sales are holding up through the first part of 2012.
Once the sales department culture is set in motion and the sales department philosophy has been established and agreed upon, the next step in managing the wholegoods department is identifying and embracing the responsibilities of both the sales manager and the wholegoods sales personnel.
Agriculture has entered the age of technology. And there's no doubt, farm equipment dealers are crossing the threshold of selling iron to selling technology.
If anyone is surprised that John Deere announced last Friday it would use an "Integrated Emissions Control" system that includes selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to meet air standards under the Final Tier 4 emissions regulations they shouldn't be.
One of the nice things about standing in the long food concession lines at the National Farm Machinery Show last week is I got to meet some pretty interesting people. In my case, I visited with some farmers attending the show. One thing about farmers is they love to visit.
Everything about agriculture is getting bigger, except for the world in which it operates. That's why we're seeing so many manufacturers looking to grow their business by establishing operations overseas and vice versa.
This is as good of a time as any to remind ourselves that the North American agricultural industry may be the last bulwark for creating real wealth in our economy.
In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, we look at President Trump's tariff reduction on ag equipment, the latest dealer sales forecasts, and how high input costs are keeping farmer sentiment down.
Since 1980, A&I Products has become a leading manufacturer and wholesale distributor of aftermarket replacement parts for the agricultural, turf, and industrial equipment markets. A&I Products' experience and expertise has greatly contributed to the company's reputation as a top supplier of quality, reasonably priced parts. Founded with roots as a small machine shop and repair facility, the company made the transition by manufacturing new parts to replace those that were identified as commonly needing repair. Throughout the 1980s, the company quickly garnered a reputation for offering quality parts at a reasonable price.
Built on 90 years of expertise, Yetter Farm Equipment leads the agriculture industry in designing effective and innovative equipment for residue management, seedbed preparation, precision fertilizer placement, harvest attachments, strip-tillage, and more.
At Machinery Scope, we believe you deserve the best risk management solutions for your investments in heavy equipment. Since 2013, we have been proud to offer extended warranty, appraisals, and inspections. Machinery Scope is a family-owned business built on our experience in farming and equipment dealerships. We understand your business and provide a personalized and professional level of customer service. Machinery Scope has built a strong warranty product with our customers in mind, offering the same professional level of service from the time you get a quote, through the processing of a claim.