As I walked around our show in Lincoln this past December, and then again at our show in Des Moines the end of January this year, I couldn’t help but notice all the innovation there is in agriculture. The one product that seems to be gaining the most traction in farming practices over the past few years is drones. It was very evident with the number of vendors at the show that were displaying their drones and all their capabilities that the small, unmanned aircraft are going to have a lasting impact on the agricultural industry and already have. There… Read More »
It is that time of the year again where we see our insurance agent come into our store just a few days or the day before our insurance renews for the next year, they sit down at your desk, ask you to sign for renewal for the next year, they may tell you a little of what is changing but they don’t go over any of your coverages other than to tell you that you are covered and good for the next year when will be the next time you see or talk to them again. Even though this process… Read More »
[Author: Tom Junge, 07.17 | Keywords: Iowa Field Director, Technicians] Where can I find a tech? This is a question Iím frequently asked by dealers. As a matter of fact, one day in early June I heard it from not one, but three dealers. Finding technicians has been a problem for years and I donít see that changing anytime soon. It may even get worse as more baby boomers retire. While there is no easy answer, some dealers have found success when it comes to recruiting and retaining techs. Hereís a look at what has worked for them. Retention I cannot… Read More »
[Author: Tom Junge, 05.17 | Keywords: Iowa Field Notes, Whole Goods] The results are in! First, letís take a moment to celebrate the good news ñ new equipment sales were up 2.8% and used equipment sales were up 22.8% for the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016, according to the 2017 State of the Ag Industry (IA-NE) survey results. Total dealership sales were also up 7.5%. Most firms in Iowa and Nebraska might question these results though, because for the first time since the survey was conducted there was a large disparity among multi-store and single store… Read More »
[Author: Tom Junge, 03.2017 | Keywords: Iowa Field Director, Iowa Power Farming Show, Surveys] When farmers registered online for the 2017 Iowa Power Farming Show, they completed a survey about their internet and social media use, future purchases and planting intentions. In the end, 1,686 farmers participated in the survey. Hereís a brief look at the results… 1. Tractorhouse.com remains the leader in used equipment internet searches; newcomer, machinerypete.com jumps to third. Farmers were asked about their search engine preferences when looking for used ag equipment. Once again, tractorhouse.com and fastline.com came out on top (respectively), while newcomer machinerypete.com took… Read More »