Home / Blogs / Opinions & Columns

Opinions & Columns
Opinions & Columns RSS FeedRSS

Kanicki
From the Desk of Dave Kanicki

One State Down and 49 to Go

By Dave Kanicki posted on March 15, 2016 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues
On March 4, the U.S. Supreme Court said they wouldn’t hear an application filed by several manufacturers that challenged the New Hampshire law that included farm equipment and other dealers under the state’s “Dealer Bill of Rights.” The bill, was passed in 2013, signed by the state’s governor and, after the manufacturers’ challenge, upheld by the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
Read More
Lessiter
To the Point

Blurred Lines: Iron Dealers Poised to Benefit in Precision

By Mike Lessiter posted on March 12, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices, Precision Ag Sales & Service
During last month’s National Farm Machinery show, I bumped into a precision ag manager for a large co-op. It didn’t take long to discover he was less than enthusiastic about hearing the major OEM dealers creeping into the agronomy territory, on top of the competition from the likes of the Monsantos of the world. He also wasn’t buying the “PR” that dealers’ on-staff agronomists would be stopping at casual support only.
Read More
George Russell -Eric Thompson.jpg
People & Profits

Develop Your Best Talent

By George Russell and Erik Thompson posted on March 12, 2016 | Posted in Department Management
A basic axiom of team development is this: Most leaders spend too much time on their problem employees, and too little time on their best. As Stephen Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, pointed out years ago, developing talent is often critical to success, but since it is not urgent, it never happens. The key word here is time. Let’s discuss two aspects of this four-letter word: thinking time, and talking time.
Read More
Dan Crummett
Ahead of the Curve

Dynamic Pricing Will Change Ag Retail

By Dan Crummett posted on March 12, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices, Operations & Finance
We’ve heard for years that “information is power” and one needs to look no further than the travel industry to see the effects online commerce has had in the buying and selling of airline tickets and hotel room rentals. Very few people call a travel agent to take care of those things today, whereas 20 years ago, company or independent agents booked nearly all flights and a significant amount of lodging and rental car business.
Read More
Greg Peterson
Used Equipment: Market Values & Trends

Machinery Pete: How and When to Move Your Excess Used Inventory

By Greg Peterson, Machinery Pete posted on March 1, 2016 | Posted in Data & Forecasts
What I’m hearing: Negative vibes from folks all over, batten down the hatches, don’t feel like buying. What I’m seeing: In January and February 2016 there were very strong auction sale prices on good condition used farm equipment all over and many dealers aggressively cranking down used inventory levels. Stuff is moving.
Read More
Kim Schmidt
From the Desk of Kim Schmidt

Trust Your Employees to Make Decisions

By Kim Schmidt posted on February 22, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices
For many business owners or even a department managers, letting go of responsibilities and trusting someone else with them can be hard to do. After all if you want something done right, you should do it yourself, right?
Read More

This month's digital sponsors:

Top Articles

Current Issue

View More

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

View More

Farm Equipment Videos

Baltimore Port Closure to Impact High Horsepower Tractor Imports & Exports

Baltimore Port Closure to Impact High Horsepower Tractor Imports & Exports

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Weasler Engineering, we look at how the Port of Baltimore's closure will alter the flow of high horsepower tractors in and out of the country. In the Technology Corner, Noah Newman talks about some changes coming to drone operation regulations. Also in this episode, Kazakhstan's potential for the North American ag equipment industry and what 2024 holds for the sprayer market.

View More
Top Directory Listings

Yetter Farm Equipment

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.
MonTag

Montag Mfg

Montag is the industry’s innovative leader for precise, accurate metering of fertilizer, seed and other nutrients. The Montag system has become the standard for deep banding of fertilizer. Montag is also pioneering the technology for cover crop seed application. The new Cover Crop+ is able to meter the smallest seed, and can be mounted to tillage implements, combines, plus Hagie sprayers and detasselers.

Machinery-Scope-Finance-Scope.png

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.
View More