When a traditional mainline dealership becomes "separated" from its main line, generally through a contract termination but occasionally by the dealership’s own choosing, oftentimes a new shortline-only dealer is formed.
A mainline dealer whose shortline business is critical to success sets up a separate location to quiet the major about the competitive attention at the primary location. The idea has also been talked about as a hedge move to protect a dealership whose contract or future transition of that contract could be questionable.
Speaking alongside three dealers at a shortline manufacturing event in Vegas last fall, I closed up the panel citing a difference between the dealers and the independent execs in the audience.
A little over 10 years ago, Charlie Glass made a presentation to the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Assn. in which he predicted that by 2013 fewer than 50,000 farms would produce 80% of all the nation's farm commodities. He also projected that fewer than 2,000 mainline farm equipment dealerships would exist in the U.S.
Consultants and manufacturers weigh in on 7 options that are bandied about, and whether equipment dealers could see new or evolving models popping up around them.
Case IH’s announcement in February about brand purity at its dealer meeting and the specific mention of 7 lines they didn’t want to see competing with red equipment on dealers’ lots, got the attention of both dealers and manufacturers.
Developing innovative tillage tools and fertilizer injection equipment — combined with an emphasis on dealer training — is Thurston Manufacturing's roadmap for growth.
Award-winning farmer and No-Till Farmer Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Ray McCormick talks about his long history of working with Alliance Tractor, particularly Sales Representative Ryan Seger, with whom he shares a passion for no-till farming and cover crops.
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 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.
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.