Table of Contents

Table of Contents

To The Point: Make Room for Creative Destruction

By Mike Lessiter posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Manufacturer & Dealer Issues, Manufacturer News

Reflecting on the Dealership of the Year Alumni Group, and the manufacturer rankings, it’s clear that best in industry achievements don’t happen by accident. Rather, they get into the conversation of “best” through a refusal to be mediocre, or “good enough to get by.” One can argue a company can’t get there unless it first engages in honest self-reflection, with a well-polished mirror.
Read More

13th Annual Awards Program Recognizes Industry’s Top Dealers

Valley Truck & Tractor & Ellens Equipment earned the industry’s top honors as Farm Equipment’s 2017 Dealership of the Year.

By Farm Equipment Staff Report posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

Now in its fourth year, the downturn in the ag economy has presented farm equipment dealers with numerous challenges. But, the best of the best have risen to the occasion and found ways to face those challenges head on.
Read More

Dealership of the Year 2017: Valley Truck & Tractor

By Dave Kanicki posted on July 15, 2017

Losing the contract of their major supplier has spelled the end for a lot of farm equipment dealers over the years. For Valley Truck & Tractor just such an incident turned into “the” defining moment that has seen the business grow and prosper into a 9 store dealership group and to be named as Farm Equipment’s 2017 Dealership of the Year in the over $75 million in annual revenues category.
Read More

Dealership of the Year 2017: Ellens Equipment, McBain, Mich.

By Kim Schmidt posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Operations & Finance, Department Management

What do you get when the son of the local New Holland dealer marries the daughter of the local Case IH dealer? While this sounds like the start to a bad joke, it’s actually the foundation of the Ellens Equipment ownership team, a couple who knows a thing or two about running a successful dealership and who treats the business like another one of their children (including knowing when it’s time to let them spread their wings).
Read More

Wide Swath Haying Revisited

Fifteen years of application show wide swath haying improves stored forage quality and can boost feeding efficiency. Equipment builders have responded with mowers to do the job.

By Dan Crummett posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Product Innovations & Introductions, Niche Equipment Markets

In June 2003, Tom Kilcer and his New York Extension Service colleagues tested their wide swath hay-in-a-day concept by putting it to a test in a soggy alfalfa field after an overnight shower dropped 0.033 inches of rain and left the meadow soaked with free-standing water.
Read More

2017 Equipment Dealers Assn. Dealer-Manufacturer Relations Survey

Few Surprises at the Top, But Changes Afoot Among the Challengers

For the 2nd time, Farm Equipment magazine analyzes EDA’s annual survey ranking ag equipment manufacturers on the criteria that equipment dealers say matters most.

By Mike Lessiter posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues, Data & Forecasts, Manufacturer News

In early June, the Equipment Dealers Assn. (EDA) released the results of its annual Dealer-Manufacturer Relations Survey. Through this study, equipment dealers rated the companies whose products they represent on 11 key categories of dealership operations and support.
Read More

People & Profits

Formulate a Short & Simple ‘Tailgate Talk’

By George Russell and Erik Thompson posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

Great leaders simplify their messages. As a dealership leader, are your messages the most powerful? Think of Ronald Reagan, often called the Great Communicator, and some of his famous messages. “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” at the Berlin Wall. Or after the Challenger disaster, “They touched the face of God.” The title of his biography by his speech writer Peggy Noonan says it best — Simply Speaking.

Read More

Ahead of the Curve

EU Stage V Will Require DPF on All Off-Road Diesels

By Dan Crummett posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues, Product Innovations & Introductions, Manufacturer News

U.S. engine builders will have to comply with Stage V for engines sold in Europe, but the days of rubber stamping European regulations may be over at EPA.
Read More
Featured Articles

Featured Articles

13th Annual Awards Program Recognizes Industry’s Top Dealers

Valley Truck & Tractor & Ellens Equipment earned the industry’s top honors as Farm Equipment’s 2017 Dealership of the Year.

By Farm Equipment Staff Report posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

Now in its fourth year, the downturn in the ag economy has presented farm equipment dealers with numerous challenges. But, the best of the best have risen to the occasion and found ways to face those challenges head on.
Read More

Wide Swath Haying Revisited

Fifteen years of application show wide swath haying improves stored forage quality and can boost feeding efficiency. Equipment builders have responded with mowers to do the job.

By Dan Crummett posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Product Innovations & Introductions, Niche Equipment Markets

In June 2003, Tom Kilcer and his New York Extension Service colleagues tested their wide swath hay-in-a-day concept by putting it to a test in a soggy alfalfa field after an overnight shower dropped 0.033 inches of rain and left the meadow soaked with free-standing water.
Read More

2017 Equipment Dealers Assn. Dealer-Manufacturer Relations Survey

Few Surprises at the Top, But Changes Afoot Among the Challengers

For the 2nd time, Farm Equipment magazine analyzes EDA’s annual survey ranking ag equipment manufacturers on the criteria that equipment dealers say matters most.

By Mike Lessiter posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues, Data & Forecasts, Manufacturer News

In early June, the Equipment Dealers Assn. (EDA) released the results of its annual Dealer-Manufacturer Relations Survey. Through this study, equipment dealers rated the companies whose products they represent on 11 key categories of dealership operations and support.
Read More
Online Extras
Online Extras
Online Extras: July/August 2017 Issue

July 15, 2017

Web-exclusive content for this issue includes:

Improving Efficiency & Costs in the Parts & Service Departments

New Facility Helps Ellens Equipment Grow

Participating in 20 Group Keeps Ellens Equipment Accountable

Read More

Farm Equipment

View Archived Issues

July/August 2017

Table of Contents

To The Point: Make Room for Creative Destruction

13th Annual Awards Program Recognizes Industry’s Top Dealers

Dealership of the Year 2017: Valley Truck & Tractor

Dealership of the Year 2017: Ellens Equipment, McBain, Mich.

Wide Swath Haying Revisited

Few Surprises at the Top, But Changes Afoot Among the Challengers

Formulate a Short & Simple ‘Tailgate Talk’

EU Stage V Will Require DPF on All Off-Road Diesels

Featured Articles

13th Annual Awards Program Recognizes Industry’s Top Dealers

Wide Swath Haying Revisited

Few Surprises at the Top, But Changes Afoot Among the Challengers

Online Extras

Online Extras: July/August 2017 Issue

This month's digital sponsors:

Top Articles

Current Issue

Farm Equipment

How to Scale — Without Losing Customer-First Roots

Tracking North America’s Largest Dealer Groups

Will There Ever Be Enough Technicians?

Must Read Free Eguides

Farm Equipment Videos

Tracking Big Dealers, the Big Beautiful Bill & How Trade Policy is Impacting Canada

Yetter Farm Equipment

Machinery Scope

Farmers Edge