In This Issue - Southern Equipment Dealers Association
Transcription
In This Issue - Southern Equipment Dealers Association
Serving Farm, Industrial, Irrigation, Outdoor Power, and Turf Dealers Southern Equipment Dealers Association Southern Equipment Dealers Association keeps abreast of regulations regarding the new Georgia sales tax laws on equipment by attending a sales tax hearing on August 15, 2013 at the Department of Revenue office in Atlanta. Vol. 52, No. 5, September-October 2013 Thanks to our 2013 Summer Conference Sponsors! Welcome Reception Sentry Insurance Continental Breakfast & Break Equipment Insurance International Partners Benefit Group Farewell Reception Fastline Publications Deep Sea Fishing Prizes Federated Insurance (l to r) Billy Adams, President/CEO of SEDA; Douglas MacGinnitie, Georgia State Revenue Commissioner; and Bryan Toler, President of Georgia Agribusiness Council Golf Tournament Prizes Sentry Insurance “Mystery Master” Prizes Equipment Trader Online In This Issue Pictured with Adams is Amy Oneacre, Tax Policy Analyst for the Georgia Department of Revenue. Georgia dealer members will remember Amy from her presentations at the Georgia area meetings held in 2012. Ag Issues Summit................................ 3 2013 Joint Summer Conference.... 4,5 Rewards Survey Results....................... 7 Risk Management.............................. 9 Company Stores for Shortlines........ 10 Mark Your Calendar......................... 11 Immigration Reform.......................... 12 2 September-October 2013 / Dealers Choice tired of generic service? Fastline’s local reps know the agriculture business in your area because they live and work there too. The combination of local market knowledge and a national network of over 30 local reps allows you to reach serious buyers in your back yard and across the country. Fastline gives you a customized marketing solution you can count on from someone that understands your market and needs. Contact your local Fastline rep for a customized marketing solution. EQUIPMENT. FOUND. FAST. 800-626-6409 September-October 2013 / Dealers Choice 3 Ag Issues Summit On August 6, 2013, a Joint Agriculture Chairmen Ag Issues Summit was held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry at the Miller/Murphy/Howard Building Conference Room. The meeting was held by Representative Tom McCall, and Senator John Wilkinson, Chairman of their respective Ag Committees. Within the scheduled period of 10:00 a.m-12:30 p.m. including a “working lunch,” the following subjects were discussed: Georgia Ag Sales Tax Exemptions: What’s In & What’s Out Bo Warren: Georgia Department of Agriculture Amy Oneacre: Georgia Department of Revenue Federation Immigration Reform: Summarizing the Ag Labor Provisions Bill Brim: Lewis Taylor Farms Todd Stein: Kitchens New Cleghorn LLC Georgia Regional Water Planning & Legislative Initiatives Jud Turner: Director, Georgia Environmental Protection Division Provisions & Registration for New MAP-21 Transportation Exemptions Lt. James Steen: Georgia State Patrol Lunch & Learn: National Agriculture Policy Insight Congressman Sanford Bishop: U.S. House of Representatives (2nd District) As a follow up to this informative meeting, Billy Adams, President of the Southern Association (SEDA) and Bryan Tolar, President of the Georgia Agribusiness Council met with Amy Oneacre and other Georgia Department of Revenue staff in Atlanta on August 15, 2013 for further review of the Georgia Ag sales Tax Exemptions. For BUSINESS FORMS & SUPPLIES CONTACT YOUR ASSOCIATION’S OFFICE FIRST CALL FOR A QUOTE Top Quality & Competitively Priced 866 - 611 - 5400 INVOICES STATEMENTS CHECKS Senator John Wilkinson Bo Warren, Director of Business Development GA Dept. of Agriculture WORK ORDERS counter tickets laserforms equipment tags envelopes t-shirts & hats Calendars Ag Commissioner, Gary Black Representative Tom McCall Business Cards Pens & Mugs Key CHains Magnets & MUCH MORE 4 September-October 2013 / Dealers Choice 2013 Joint Summer Conference Those attending and responding to the post conference survey certainly made the meeting planners feel that the 2013 meeting was an all-around success. The Sunday night reception was extended in duration, included a very talented guitar player and singer, and the conference sponsors were all announced and honored. Adding to the fellowship, two Mystery Masters were shaking hands and adding mystique as they held a free registration to the 2014 Joint Annual convention for two lucky attendees. The Banquet boasted a change from the traditional disk jockey to a “combo” and a touch of local talent to further excite the audience. Almost all of the Survey ratings were “Excellent.” If not, certainly “good to excellent.” Weather for the Sunday reception was cooperative and we enjoyed the fellowship on the pool deck. Monday, the designated special activities day, was met with an abundance of showers – some quite heavy – forcing the golfers to take cover and allowing only the most persistent to finish. The fishermen, and ladies, at sea also saw water from all sides, below, and above. In summary, we got wet but had fun. The Tuesday morning General Session, with SEDA Chairman Jerry Toomey following his MC talents of Sunday night, had talent galore to introduce in the likes of: Brian Connelly of Gilsbar: Health Care Reform Mike Williams of NAEDA: Importance of Dealer-Manufacturer Survey Jon Medo of Federated: New Workers Comp Mod Changes Billy Goodman & Danny White of Fastline: Marketing in a Changing World Jerry Stanford of Sentry: Retirement Readiness of the American Workforce All good, good stuff. The receptions are good for catching up on the industry news. The Banquet is a time for eating, being entertained, dancing and having your name announced should you win a prize. Robert Maddox, President of the Deep South Association presided over the activities of the Banquet. He had able assistance from Milton Noland and Sentry Insurance, who sponsored our golf tournament. Ricky Smith and representatives from Federated Insurance presented a prize to each person participating in the fishing tournament. The Mystery Masters, which were sponsored by Equipment Trader Online, finally revealed were Gary Simmons of Partners Benefit Group and Bruce Maginnis of Gilsbar. The winners of a registration for the 2014 Joint Convention at the Amelia Island Ritz-Carlton were Weezie Noland and Dianne Abell. A lot of activity in a few short days. For those who missed the 2013 conference, we hope to see you next year. September-October 2013 / Dealers Choice 5 6 September-October 2013 / Dealers Choice SU M M ON S rt District Cou trict Judicial Dis State 7890 ber: 123456 m u N e il F rt C ou Negligence Case Type: County Employee, Plaintiff, v s. any, Your Comp Sum m ons Defendant. R. ESS OWNE HE BUSIN CTED TO T . The against you it su w la a away. started TH these papers Plaintiff has w e ro h T th t . o D n it E o BEING SU even though summons. D it E is R su th A w to la U d is e O h th 1. Y is attac ond to mmons. ou must resp t against you Y in . la ts p h m g er on this su o ri b C r m u 's u o n ff y ti t le c in fi e la ff rt P that a You be no cou icial papers RIGHTS. d there may R n a U rt O u Y o They are off C T e C th PROTE Answer be filed with DAYS TO se called an n 0 o 2 sp may not yet e IN r H n IT of te REPLY W mons a writ send a copy T m S st su U u m is M th u U o d O Y e 2. Y ho sign mmons. the person w ived this Su e to c il re a u m o r y o h e on whic d at: must giv mons locate s of the date m y a su d is * * th 0 d 2 e n within who sig to the person r e . onse sw n A r u yo written resp __________ _ r _ u _ o _ y _ _ is _ r _ e _ ______ e with The Answ e or disagre __________ re H CLAIM. g a C A u o E y r O e T g eth ND ESPOclaims. Rhave en everythin ust state wh Even the best businesses can T iv m g S U u e o b M y t r o U e n O Answ 3. Y should int. In your plarepresentative the Plaintiff m e Contact your local Federated to o v e C li 's e b ff ti u o in y to the Pla omplaint. If Answer. f the Cpractices o learn more about employment tools, h p ra y so in your g sa ra a ITTEN st u m u each p o y ND A WR laint, E p S m o T C O e N like sample harassment and discrimination th HIS YOU DO asked for in IGNED T IF S E S O A H C W SON YOUR policies, designed to help protect you t get to SE and O THE PER You will no O . T se U WILL L a c T O Y is IN . th A 4 your employees. OMPL Plaintiff will lose O THE C 0 days, you d award the T 2 n a in E h u S it o y N w O r st e the P sw RES decide again ims stated in u do not An y la o a c y m e If rt th . u S o st N C te Visit www.federatedinsurance.com to con ou for nd the SUMMO do not want the story, a red against y te f u n o o e y e e d If b si n e t. r u th in to find a representative near you. tell yo e compla ment can ed for in th default judg sk A a . g d in n o th sp ry eve ed to re ou do not ne y t, in la p m o plaint. c ed in the com st e u q re f e li the re E NS IS DIR IS SUMMO Too Busy To Protect Your Business? )HGHUDWHG0XWXDO,QVXUDQFH&RPSDQ\)HGHUDWHG6HUYLFH,QVXUDQFH&RPSDQ\ )HGHUDWHG/LIH,QVXUDQFH&RPSDQ\ 2ZDWRQQD0LQQHVRWD3KRQHZZZIHGHUDWHGLQVXUDQFHFRP *Not licensed in the states of NH, NJ, RI, and VT. © )HGHUDWHG0XWXDO,QVXUDQFH&RPSDQ\ September-October 2013 / Dealers Choice 7 ! Total Rewards Survey Results Released ! "#$%&!'()%*+,!-.*/(0!'(,.&$,!'(&(%,(+! ! Total "#$%&!'()%'*+,!+-./&0!/1$,!%'(!%20$3-24!%2*!(5('0$3-24!%2!(./�((!'(6(-5(+!%2*!'(6#42-7(+!%+! rewards, simply put, are anything and CONCERNS everything an employee receives and recognizes as Respondents were given a list of statements and 5%&1%8&(!#'!'()%'*-249!:4;%'(('+96#.!6#2*16$(*!%2!#2&-2(!+1'5(0!$#!3(&/!$3(!%4'-61&$1'%&! valuable or rewarding. AgCareers.com conducted an asked to select all that were an existing concern for them online survey to help the agricultural industry develop or their family. The top three concerns were adequate -2*1+$'0!*(5(&#/!+$'#24('!8(2(<-$!%2*!-26(2$-5(!/%6=%4(+!<#'!(./�((+9!"3(!+1'5(0!)%+! stronger6#./&($(*!80!>,?@A!-2*-5-*1%&+!-2!BC>D!%2*!-26&1*(*!E1(+$-#2+!$#!3(&/!(./�('+!12*('+$%2*! benefit and incentive packages for employees. retirement savings, work/life balance and health care The survey was completed by 1,795 individuals in 2013 costs. )3%$!.#$-5%$(+!(./�((+9! and included questions to help employers understand When comparing employee concerns across the what motivates employees. different generations, the top concern for Generation X ! and Y was work/life balance. The top concern for Baby -1"2-314"256! SATISFACTION Boomers was adequate retirement savings ! Outside of direct compensation, 97% of respondents F1$+-*(!#<!*-'(6$!6#./(2+%$-#2,!@?G!#<!'(+/#2*(2$+!6#2+-*('(*!8(2(<-$!%2*!'()%'*!/'#4'%.+! considered benefit and reward programs important to MOST VALUED their overall job satisfaction at some level. Nearly 30% Respondents were asked what rewards and benefits -./#'$%2$!$#!$3(-'!#5('%&&!H#8!+%$-+<%6$-#2!%$!+#.(!&(5(&9!!I(%'&0!DCG!#<!'(+/#2*(2$+!)('(! of respondents were dissatisfied with their current or they valued most, regardless if it was offered or not *-++%$-+<-(*!)-$3!$3(-'!61''(2$!#'!'(6(2$!(./�('J+!$#$%&!'()%'*+!/'#4'%.9! recent employer’s total rewards program. by their current or most recent employer. The most ! Questions evaluated what affected respondents’ valued reward/benefit for each generation was health satisfaction as an employee of the company or care benefits. Generation X and Baby Boomers both K1(+$-#2+!(5%&1%$(*!)3%$!%<<(6$(*!'(+/#2*(2$+J!+%$-+<%6$-#2!%+!%2!(./�((!#<!$3(!6#./%20!#'! their satisfaction with their employer. Over 75% of selected retirement savings plans as one of their most $3(-'!+%$-+<%6$-#2!)-$3!$3(-'!(./�('9!F5('!?AG!#<!'(+/#2*(2$+!%4'((*,!%$!+#.(!&(5(&,!$3%$!%! respondents agreed, at some level, that a company’s valued benefits, while Generation Y put more value on 6#./%20J+!+#6-%&!'(+/#2+-8-&-$0!-2-$-%$-5(!*-'(6$&0!-./%6$+!$3(-'!#5('%&&!+%$-+<%6$-#2!)-$3!$3(-'! social responsibility initiative directly impacts their flexibility and opportunities for advancement. The value overall satisfaction of paid time off decreased slightly from generation to (./�('9! with their employer. A friendly and amiable work environment is generation. ! to 90% of respondents, who agreed at some important Female respondents valued paid time off, flexibility, :!<'-(2*&0!%2*!%.-%8&(!)#'=!(25-'#2.(2$!-+!-./#'$%2$!$#!@CG!#<!'(+/#2*(2$+,!)3#!%4'((*!%$! level that the relationships/friendships developed with professional development and learning opportunities their coworkers greatly impact their satisfaction with significantly more than men. Meanwhile, male +#.(!&(5(&!$3%$!$3(!'(&%$-#2+3-/+L<'-(2*+3-/+!*(5(&#/(*!)-$3!$3(-'!6#)#'=('+!4'(%$&0!-./%6$! their employer. It is interesting to note that there was respondents valued vehicle benefits significantly $3(-'!+%$-+<%6$-#2!)-$3!$3(-'!(./�('9!!M$!-+!-2$('(+$-24!$#!2#$(!$3%$!$3('(!)%+!2#!*-<<('(26(! no difference between genders in response to this more than women. The full report includes a detailed 8($)((2!4(2*('+!-2!'(+/#2+(!$#!$3-+!E1(+$-#29!!! breakdown of responses by gender and generation, thus question. Employers’ efforts to be innovative and make providing important insight to employers for developing ! Q3(2!6#./%'-24!(./�((!6#26('2+!%6'#++!$3(!*-<<('(2$!4(2('%$-#2+,!$3(!$#/!6#26('2!<#'! industry advancements also impacted overall employee a customized total rewards program. N./�('+J!(<<#'$+!$#!8(!-22#5%$-5(!%2*!.%=(!-2*1+$'0!%*5%26(.(2$+!%&+#!-./%6$(*!#5('%&&! R(2('%$-#2!S!%2*!T!)%+!)#'=L&-<(!8%&%26(9!"3(!$#/!6#26('2!<#'!U%80!U##.('+!)%+!%*(E1%$(! satisfaction for more than 90% of respondents. '($-'(.(2$!+%5-24+!! (./�((!+%$-+<%6$-#2!<#'!.#'(!$3%2!@CG!#<!'(+/#2*(2$+9!!! UNUSED BENEFITS ! Respondents were questioned about rewards ! and benefits offered by their employer that they do 45647'6-! not participate in or utilize. The most underutilized benefit was Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), ! which provide confidential counseling and advice O(+/#2*(2$+!)('(!4-5(2!%!&-+$!#<!+$%$(.(2$+!%2*!%+=(*!$#!+(&(6$!%&&!$3%$!)('(!%2!(P-+$-24! services. The next highest unused benefit was tuition 6#26('2!<#'!$3(.!#'!$3(-'!<%.-&09!"3(!$#/!$3'((!6#26('2+!)('(!%*(E1%$(!'($-'(.(2$!+%5-24+,! reimbursement, followed by child-care assistance and gym membership. )#'=L&-<(!8%&%26(!%2*!3(%&$3!6%'(!6#+$+9! ! V W('6(2$%4(+!*#!2#$!$#$%&!>CCX!'(+/#2*(2$+!)('(!%&&#)(*!$#!+(&(6$!.1&$-/&(!'(+/#2+(+9!! DETAILS More information can be found in the full report of the survey results from AgCareers.com; go to the following link to download your free copy: www.agcareers.com/ total-rewards-survey-report.cfm?year=2013. The Total Rewards Survey Results demonstrate how employees feel about rewards and benefits. Determine how your company’s practices compare to the results and consider altering your total rewards program to align with what employees’ value most. 8 September-October 2013 / Dealers Choice September-October 2013 / Dealers Choice 9 Take Control of Risk Management to Take Control of Insurance Costs If you were told that by doing one thing at your business you could keep your employees safer on the job and possibly even reduce insurance costs, would you be interested? Of course you would! What if you were told that one thing is risk management? This is where some business owners stop listening. Risk management just isn’t a priority right now – not enough hours in the day to put a plan into action. Or, they may consider it restrictive and expensive and don’t fully understand how it could help. If you’re one who has put loss control on the back burner, perhaps these statistics will prompt you to reconsider its’ importance to your entire organization. • Every year, nearly four million people will suffer a workplace injury. Some may never fully recover. • On average, a single workers compensation claim will cost $36,200. Just one claim could increase your work comp premium by 5, 10, 20 or even 50 percent. Just one claim could have an effect on your work comp mod for years. Just one claim could impact your earnings due to hidden costs not paid by insurance. Just one claim. It’s all about taking control You’ve heard it said that you have to spend money to make money. A similar case could be made for risk management: You have to invest money to save money. Without an effective risk management program, you could be setting up your business for a downfall from 9-04 9-06 9-06 9-09 9-10 9-12 9-17 9-22 9-24 9-28 9-30 10-01 Joel Phillips Randy Anderson Bob Patrick Ted McClendon Randy Anderson Clay Kemp Tom Garrett Carroll King Wayne Crockett Peggy McLaughlin John Rountree Dwight Clark Opelika, AL Americus, GA Tifton, GA Edison, GA Cordele, GA Brandon, FL Centre, AL Jesup, GA Waynesboro, GA Bradenton, FL Swainsboro, GA Quincy, FL which it may not be able to recover. As one business owner put it, “I don’t think there’s an alternative to providing a safe workplace. I’m one lawsuit away from being out of business.” Two out of three Your insurance rates are based on a three-part formula that multiplies base rates times experience times your schedule rating. Your experience rating is based on your claims history; and, your schedule rating is based on how your business operates. In other words, you control two of the three factors used to determine your insurance rates. It doesn’t take a special formula to illustrate the effect insurance claims have on premium. Typically, the more claims your business has, the higher premium you will pay. This is true for any type of claim, whether property or work comp. While this may be an overly simplified explanation of insurance “cause and effect,” it paints a clear picture of the positive impact an effective risk management program can have on your company. Sometimes managing a company can feel pretty overwhelming – one task gets completed and two more get added. If risk management feels overwhelming, remember, Federated is here to help you. So, if you don’t set aside time to evaluate your current risk management program, will you have time to handle the disruption caused by just one claim? Source: Federated Insurance 10-01 10-03 10-04 10-05 10-07 10-08 10-11 10-12 10-20 10-27 10-28 Linda Teeter Larry Blackmon Ray Delong Robert Hendrix Kabe Cain Milton Noland Canova Howard Art Jenkins Chip Carson Dick Helms Todd Gordon Lake Mary, FL Foley, AL Deland, FL Frisco City, AL Clermont, GA Aliceville, AL Lake City, FL Waynesboro, GA Americus, GA Montgomery, AL Madison, FL 10 September-October 2013 / Dealers Choice Will “Company Stores” Be the Answer for Shortline Equipment Makers? With the majors adding to their product lines and pressuring their dealers to remain “pure” in the equipment they carry, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult for shortliners to find the right dealers in the right markets, Rusty Fowler, the retiring president and CEO of Krone North America, told Ag Equipment Intelligence. Reflecting on how working with dealers has changed over the last 20 years, Fowler says the biggest challenge has been the limitation of the options available to shortline manufacturers in developing and maintaining strong distribution channels. Krone specializes in high end hay and forage harvesting equipment. “If you’re a company like us, when we made the decisions to produce the Big M selfpropelled mower, the Big X forage harvester and the Big Pack baler, we more or less laid out the direction we had to go to successfully compete. At that same time, we limited ourselves in the options we had in dealers,” he says. Recently Fowler announced he would be retiring from Krone North America after 26 years. He had also spend 15 years with International Harvester before his stint with the Spelle, Germany-based Krone. He’ll be succeeded by Thomas F. (Tommy) Jones, a 28-year veteran with John Deere. “When I started with Krone in 1987, we only offered traditional hay tools. We could go out into the ag marketplace and there were plenty of good dealers. If you lost a contract in a town, there was usually someone else you could go to that was an acceptable dealer. Today, there isn’t anywhere close to the number of dealers there were back then. So our options are very limited. Having the wrong dealer,” says Fowler, “is worse than having no dealer.” At the same time, the major farm equipment manufacturers began producing similar products to Krone, like large forage harvesters and big square balers. This became another constraint for shortline manufacturers to retain top-notch dealers. With fewer dealers around and limited options due to competing products with the majors, where can shortliners go? “If you’re not going to pull out, then you’re going to have to do something else,” Fowler says. Company Stores. This scenario is what lead Krone to open four company stores – three in California and one in Wisconsin. It’s a very expensive way to keep your channels open to the market, but it is absolutely the last option that you’ve got. So that’s the way we looked at it. We’re seeing the same thing happening in Germany as well,” says Fowler. Krone North America recently opened its fourth store in the Imperial Valley in California, a huge hay market. “Again, we ran into the situation where we were losing the focus of the dealer we had, and we saw a very clear possibility that we could be without representation in that market completely in the next 18 months,” Fowler explains. Opening the company store was a preemptive strike. “It was clear what we had to do, so we looked at our options. It’s the same old thing, but it’s a great market for our product that we couldn’t afford not to be there. So we went ahead and opened our own facility. It’s a real brutal ballgame out there today,” he says. Staying Competitive. Opening the stores, which operate as independent dealers, is a strategic move to keep Krone North America in key markets. “We’re not trying to get into the retail end of the farm machinery business – the only thing we’re trying to do is keep our channels open. That’s all we’re doing. I’m not trying to make a ton of money at these stores; they’re not out there for that. They’re there to keep our channels open to the market. If you look at it honesty, that’s really all you’re doing and you’re paying a heavy price to do it, but the price not to do it is even heavier.” In order for shortliners to remain competitive, Fowler says it’s imperative that their products are exceptional and have a meaningful advantage. “If you’ve got an exceptional product, then you will always have a channel open to the market, but you have to find how to get there. And you better take your wallet with you when you go because it’s going to be expensive,” he says. Jones began his tenure at Krone NA on August 1. Fowler says he will remain with the company in a consulting and advisory capacity for at least six months. Source: Ag Equipment Intelligence OSHA REMINDS INSPECTORS TO ENSURE EXIT DOORS ARE UNLOCKED, EXIT ROUTES UNOBSTRUCTED U.S. Small Tractor Sales Up 6%, Combine Sales Soar OSHA is reminding compliance officers to check for adequate means of egress at all workplaces. This follows the recent disastrous fire and explosion that killed at least 119 workers at a poultry processing plant in China. A memorandum sent to the agency’s regional administrators and state plan designees directs field inspectors, when conducting inspections, to be mindful of whether employers have provided and maintained adequate means of egress from work areas. This includes checking that an adequate number of exit routes are provided, that the exit routes are free and unobstructed, and that exit doors are not locked. See OSHA’s Emergency Exit Routes Fact Sheet (https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/ emergencyexit-routes-factsheet.pdf) for more information.) - Courtesy of OSHA Quick Takes The Association of Equipment Manufacturer’s monthly “Flash Report,” stated that the sale of all tractors in the U.S. for April 2013, were up 6% compared to 2012 Jan. through April 2013, a total of 59,436 tractors were sold which compares to 54,339 sold thru April 2012, representing a 9% increase. For the month, 2-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 hp) were up 4% from last year, while 40 & under 100 hp were down 4%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ hp are up 30%, while 4-wheel drive tractors are up 18%. Combine sales were up 59% for the month. Sales of combines for the first four months totaled 2,980, an increase of 5% over the same period in 2012. - Courtesy of AgriMarketing September-October 2013 / Dealers Choice 11 Woods Equipment Announces Strategic Partnership with Cabela’s Woods Equipment Company, a division of Blount International, Inc., (NYSE: BLT) and a leading full-line manufacturer of high-quality attachments and implements, announced today a supplier partnership with Cabela’s Incorporated, the World’s Foremost Outfitter® of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear. Through the new partnership, Woods will supply implements to complement Cabela’s new “Wildlife and Land Management (WLM)” product category. In the initial phase, Cabela’s and Woods are conducting a test market at the Cabela’s store in Sidney, Nebraska. Later in 2013, the test will roll out in additional markets, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas. “Both companies carry a reputation for innovation, quality, value and service,” said Jerry Johnson, President of Woods Equipment Company. “In exploring a new product category, Cabela’s wanted to ensure that the attachment offering was consistent with their brand image and the products would meet their end-customers’ expectations. Cabela’s contacted Woods as their first choice in attachment suppliers and at that time, we were preparing to launch our new precision seeder and other land management attachments into the hunting and conservation market. The alignment with Cabela’s became a natural fit.” Partnering with Cabela’s marks Woods’ entry into the retail distribution channel. “The Cabela’s team is focused on quality and service and has a strong desire to help their core customer base manage their land with products and services well-beyond attachments,” said Johnson. “We feel their market strategy complements our existing distribution channels and will increase brand value and awareness to the benefit of our dealer network.” Source: Farm Equipment Mark Your Calendar 2013 Area Meetings - TBA 2014 Joint Annual Convention February 2-5 Ritz Carlton - Amelia Island, FL 2014 Joint Summer Conference July 20-23 Hilton Sandestin - Destin, FL Large Farms Likely to be Affected by Business Expensing Limits Most dealers will tell you that at least part of the surge in new equipment sales during the past few years was fueled by generous depreciation rules. Despite this, the February 2013 issue of USDA’s Amber Waves magazine suggests that it will be the larger farm operations that will be most affected by the upcoming changes to the rules. The ability of business owners, including farmers, to deduct the cost of depreciable capital in the year of purchase reduces their tax liability and encourages additional investment. Although the cap is scheduled to drop in 2014, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended provisions allowing depreciable property to be expensed currently, while retroactively raising the 2012 expensing limit. Based on the 2010 Agricultural Resource Mangement Survey (ARMS), about 18% of all farms reported investing more than the prior 2012 expensing limit of $139,000, while just over 1% invested more than the revised limit of $500,000. If the expense limit drops to $25,000 in 2014, as current law provides, large farms would be affected most. Less than 20% of smaller farms – those with less than $250,000 in annual sales – invested more than $25,000 in 2010, while nearly 55% of large farms reported capital purchases exceeding that amount. Source: Ag Equipment Intelligence 12 September-October 2013 / Dealers Choice Stuff You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know! Serving Farm, Industrial, Irrigation, Outdoor Power, and Turf Dealers Southern Equipment Dealers Association 115 Park Place • Dublin, Georgia 31021 Ph (478) 272-5400 • Fax (478) 272-1015 Billy L. Adams, CAE President/CEO CHAIRMAN Jerry Toomey Toomey Equipment Co. Theodore AL (K) VICE CHAIRMAN Ricky Smith Smith Tractor Co. Jay, FL (JD) 2nd VICE CHAIRMAN Scott DeMott DeMott Tractor Co. Moultrie, GA (C-IH/MF) IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Larry Blackmon SunSouth, LLC Foley, AL (JD) NAEDA DIRECTOR Milton Noland Martin Truck & Tractor Aliceville, AL (C-IH/K) DIRECTORS Randy Anderson Aimtrac Cordele, GA (C-IH) Larry Cole Cole’s Equipment Co. Dalton, GA (JD/K) Lester Killebrew SunSouth Abbeville, AL Ronnie Lott Talladega Int’l Truck & Tractor Co., Inc. Talladega, AL Keith Marshall Ag-Pro Companies Thomasville, GA (JD) (C-IH/K) (JD) Dan Middleton Baldwin Tractor & Equipment Robertsdale, AL Will Nelson, III Nelson Tractor Co. Blairsville, GA Bob Rodriguez George’s Mower Service Riverview, FL (K) (JD/NH/K) (OPE) Affiliated With North American Equipment Dealers Association Serving Farm, Industrial, and Outdoor Power Dealers • Men can read smaller print than women can. Women can hear better. • Coca-Cola was originally green. • It is impossible to lick your elbow. • The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska • The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38% • The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $16,400 • The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour: 61,000 • The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer • The San Francisco cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments. • Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: - Spades – King David - Hearts – Charlemange - Clubs – Alexander the Great - Diamonds – Julius Ceasar • 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 • If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes. • Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4 – John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn’t added until 5 years later. • Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what? A. Their birthplace • Q. If you were the spell out numbers, how far would you have to go before you would find the letter “A”? A. One thousand • Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common? A. All were invented by women. Courtesy of Iowa-Nebraska Associaton Ag Groups Calling on House to Approve Immigration Reform More than 400 U.S. businesses, advocacy and farm organizations called on the House to enact immigration reform legislation. In a letter signed by a broad cross section of industries that includes agriculture, housing, retail, tourism, hospitality, technology and more, the coalition asked U.S. House Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to enact legislation that would bring meaningful reforms to critical components of the nation’s immigration system. “Reform of an outdated, broken immigration system is essential if we are to achieve a fully revitalized economy that provides rewarding and lasting jobs and opportunities for all Americans,” the letter said. “Thought leaders from across the ideological spectrum agree that enacting immigration reform now will accelerate U.S. economic growth at a critical time when it has struggled to recover, and will help to enable sustained growth for decades to come. Don right, reform will also serve to protect and complement our U.S. workforce, generating greater productivity and economic activity that will lead to new innovations, products, business and jobs in communities across the U.S.” The organizations say failure to act is not an option and that the industries cannot afford to be content and watch a generation-old immigration system work more and more against the overall national interest. Source: Shortliner