• A Feb. 28 report from World Construction Network said Kubota had filed a patent for an audio signaling system for automated machines...
• CNH Industrial announced March 4 a strategic alliance with Telecom Argentina to bring 4G connectivity and digital services...
• John Deere reported that changing a 620 horsepower 9R tractor to a fully electric version would mean adding almost 60 batteries...
• Chevron Corp. subsidiary Chevron Renewable Energy Group Inc. will close 2 U.S. biodiesel production plants amid market challenges...
• Unverferth Manufacturing is looking to hire 45-55 additional people to support increased demand and diversification...
• Kubota is considering making its own batteries for its ag equipment...
• Drone, sensors and software solutions provider AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. announced on March 7 the appointment of retired U.S. Army Major General...
• In its March 8 WASDE report update, USDA’s 2023-24 U.S. ending stocks are estimated at 2.172 billion bushels of corn...
• VDMA reported German tractor registrations up 2% year-over-year in February (up 1% year-to-date)...
• CEMA’s general business climate index decreased to a reading of –55 in the March survey vs. –52 last month...    

This standing feature in the Ag Equipment Intelligence newsletter will catalogue notable dealership merger & acquisition activity since the previous newsletter.

• Layoffs Hit Hutson Inc. 
• ‘Made in USA’ Influence has Changed in Last 5 Years

• Tire manufacturer Bridgestone announced Dec. 20 it had sold its Russian business to Russian holding company S8 Capital, which includes a tire manufacturing plant, a sales and marketing office and about 1,000 employees.
• Engine manufacturer Cummins agreed to a record-setting $1.7 billion fine in the settlement of a lawsuit by the U.S. Justice Department and California, according to a Jan. 10 report from Reuters.
• As part of its efforts to electrify critical off-highway machinery, Bosch Rexroth announced Jan. 9 a partnership with thermal management manufacturer Modine.
• Kinze has purchased a 443-acre agricultural land tract south of the Phoenix, Ariz., metro area, according to a Jan. 4 report from BNN.
• During this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Doosan Bobcat revealed an autonomous and electric articulating tractor — the Bobcat AT450X enabled by Agtonomy.
• Ag equipment distributor AgLine Distributing & Equipment officially began operations at a Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians facility in Carthage, Miss., earlier this month, according to a Dec. 27 report from The Nebosha Democrat.
• Implement manufacturer Lemken has brought South African no-till drill manufacturer Equalizer — which it acquired in January 2023 — to Canada for field testing, according to a Jan. 14 report from Grainews.
• In its Jan. 12 WASDE report, USDA’s 2023-24 U.S. ending stocks are estimated at 2.162 billion bushels of corn (vs. consensus 2.094 billion bushels) and 280 million bushels of soybeans (vs. consensus 242 million bushels).
• VDMA reported German tractor registrations down 1% year-over-year in December (flattish in 2023). Registrations in the 100+ horsepower category were up 4% year-over-year (up 5% in 2023).
• Tractor Zoom, a provider of farm equipment and heavy machinery valuation data, announced Dec. 20 the acquisition of Anvil App Works, a salesforce OEM partner with CRM solutions built for equipment dealerships.
• Oxbo announced Dec. 21 it will acquire Westside Equipment Co. in Madera, Calif, a manufacturer of tomato and pistachio harvesting equipment.