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Dan Crummett
Ahead of the Curve

Small Tractor OEMs Embrace Tier 4

By Dan Crummett posted on October 1, 2014
While strict EPA Tier 4 emission standards for small off-road diesel engines have been in effect since January 1, 2013, many customers for new small tractors have been buying “built ahead” Tier 3-compliant models — but the inventory of those machines is rapidly dwindling.
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Dr. Jim Weber
Business of Selling

These are the Times

By Dr. Jim Weber posted on October 1, 2014
As of this writing, dairy prices are at record levels and livestock prices are rebounding, but grain prices are trading at 50-60% below their record levels of a few years ago. As a result, farmer income is now expected to be down 14% this year.
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George Russell
Technology for Profit

How Technology Affects Your Parts-to-Labor Ratio

By George Russell posted on August 26, 2014
Do you use parts-to-labor ratio as a key benchmark in your operation? This important rule of thumb maintains that for every dollar of labor sales, your dealership should generate one dollar of parts sales. Both parts and service should be your dealership's most profitable departments and this ratio helps drive profits in both areas.
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Dan Crummett
Ahead of the Curve

Is 3-D Printing Coming to a Dealership Near You?

By Dan Crummett posted on August 26, 2014
Could 3-D printing revolutionize the parts and service department in the dealership of tomorrow? Robert Saik, author of The Agriculture Manifesto and founder and CEO of The Agri-Trend Group, thinks 3-D printing is one of the drivers that will shape agriculture in the next decade. Saik writes, I think this is going to revolutionize the parts and the equipment industry going forward and it's going to drastically change how we handle our inventories and the delivery of repair parts to farmers.
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Dr. Jim Weber
Business of Selling

The 10 Commandments of Selling

By Dr. Jim Weber posted on August 26, 2014
Written on tablets of corn, wheat, beans, rice and cotton, and delivered by a peripatetic sojourner dressed in jeans and wearing a cap with an indistinguishable equipment machinery logo and with dairy cows in tow, the following Commandments were unexpectedly received with gratitude.
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Nearly Two-Thirds of Farmers Identify as ‘Brand Loyal’

Nearly Two-Thirds of Farmers Identify as ‘Brand Loyal’

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Benzi America, we take a look at results of the 2024 Brand Loyalty study. In the Technology Corner, we examine how USDA’s use of ag data raises privacy concerns. Also in this episode, a look at the ag equipment companies that made the Industry Week U.S. 500 report and JP Morgan analysts say the rate of decline in the ag industry is expected to decrease.

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