Expo Director: Employee Compensation Survey

For the first time in 15 years, construction equipment dealerships were included in the Employee Compensation Survey. The three main reasons for their inclusion were the increase in dual ownership of agricultural and construction equipment dealerships, a larger geographic base so more construction equipment dealers could report, and the change in the number of larger...…

2024 Legislative Meetings and Golf Outings

NEBRASKA — On June 17, members from across Nebraska met in York at the York Country Club. Tim Keigher with Keigher and Associates gave a recap of the 2024 Legislative Session and previewed the rumored Special Session on tax reform. The INEDA Legislative Committee for Nebraska with the assistance and insights of Keigher and myself...…

Iowa Field Notes: My #1 Concern as I Visit Dealers — Inventory

In my travels over the past few months there is a common theme among dealers—they have too much inventory. Over the past three plus years, dealers have gone from inventory shortages to surpluses of inventory. Dealers have had orders placed with manufacturers for two years that have not been fulfilled until now. That means that...…

Nebraska Field Notes

Advocacy Thank you for all of your efforts this year with the 2024 session! LB 1308 would have reinstated the tax on ag repair and replacement parts in Nebraska. However, due to the work of members and staff and the support of key Senators, that bill was not included in the final version that was...…

Executive Insite: Shared Challenges

With this issue of the Retailer, we are focusing our content on the construction equipment industry. INEDA’s membership is comprised of primarily construction and ag dealers. Whether it’s skid loaders, or an in-depth rental fleet, there are many similarities that our members share across the agriculture and construction industry. Here are some commonalities: Seasonal Demand:...…

John Deere Launches $6.6 Million Scholarship Program for College Students

A groundbreaking partnership between the John Deere Foundation, the University of Iowa (UI), and the Davenport Community School District (DCSD) will soon increase access to higher education for Iowa high school students. The John Deere Foundation will give $6.6 million over six years to create the John Deere Scholars Program, a program based on financial...…

Iowa Has No Drought for First Time in Four Years

Heavy rainfall last week eliminated the remaining pocket of drought in Iowa, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report. It’s the first time in nearly four years that none of the state is experiencing drought and marks a significant turnaround from September, when Iowa was drier than it had been in a decade. 83%...…

What is PCI DSS v4.0 All About?

If you are a dealer merchant of any size accepting credit cards, you must be in compliance with PCI Security Council standards. PCI DSS version 4.0 was released on March 31, 2022; however, it has been in a transition period since the prior version v3.2.1 was retired on March 31, 2024. The new requirements of version 4.0...…

Autonomous Robots: Answering Three Basic Questions

Naio robot with LiDAR, camera and GNSS antenna in the top center front. (Photo: Mark Pasveer) Autonomous robots are one of, if not the hottest trends in precision agriculture at this moment. These robots are equipped with a wide range of technologies and sensors. Because farming is about achieving the best results with minimal effort,...…

Catalytic Themes to Watch in AgTech and Agribusiness for 2024

Innovation is Where Dealers Come to Grow! While agtech venture funding has slowed within the industry over time, the implications of technology, complex interactions between companies, and macro trends continue to drive compelling new themes to pay attention to for agribusiness professionals such as yourself. Follow along for highlights and predictions (although, not intentional) of...…

5 Ways Drones Are Making AI More Accessible to Farmers

(Photo: Andres reto Molina / unsplash) Many small- and medium-scale family farms aren’t adopting artificial intelligence because it’s out of their price range and area of expertise. Can drones make it more accessible? Why Is AI Out of Reach to Smallholder Farmers? Many smallholder farmers can’t afford — or don’t know how — to integrate...…

Expo Director: Precision Spraying Coming to a Farm Near You!

Recently, I’ve seen a lot of autonomous vehicles, electric tractors, ag robots, and AI enhanced equipment at World Ag Expo, FIRA USA and Agritechnica. Out of all the new tech equipment, I believe the first large-scale adoption will come in precision spraying. Herbicide-resistant weeds have proliferated over the past years. There are also numerous negative...…

Nebraska Field Report: Innovation of Construction

Many of us grew up with machines that bring back (fond or maybe not so fond) memories. I grew up on a farm in western Nebraska where we had both farm and construction equipment. We needed the construction equipment to transform one of our farms to accommodate another innovation in 1981 – center pivot irrigation....…

Iowa Field Report: The Role of Drones in Modern Agriculture

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...…

Executive Insight: Cultivating Innovation

As the CEO of INEDA, I believe that innovation is not merely a tool for progress; it’s the very essence of what connects us as individuals and communities. In the equipment realm, innovation is not just about adopting new technologies or techniques; it’s about re-imagining the way we interact with the land, the market, and...…