Kim Schmidt

Kim Schmidt

Kim Schmidt is the Executive Editor of Farm Equipment and the host of Ag Equipment Intelligence’s On The Record. An award-winning writer, she worked 7 years in business-to-business trade media before joining Lessiter Media in 2012. She is a journalism graduate of Marquette University.

Contact: kschmidt@lessitermedia.com

ARTICLES

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On the Record

CNH Industrial Reports Falling Ag Sales, Acquires K-Line & ATI

The latest episode of On the Record is now available! CNH Industrial made a lot of news recently, including its latest earnings report, acquisitions of K-Line and ATI, and joining up with Deere, Claas and 365FarmNet. In the Technology Corner, Jack Zemlicka discusses Raven’s recent acquisition of two autonomy companies. Also in this episode, we review Rocky Mountain Dealership’s latest earnings, as well the earnings for Alamo and AGCO. Associate Research Editor Ben Thorpe shares an update on USDA’s interim hemp guidelines.
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On the Record

Majors Start Pushing Leasing Again

The latest episode of On the Record is now available! In this week’s episode we explore Deere and CNH Industrial’s push toward leased equipment, a slowdown in farm lending during the third quarter and the results of Baird and Ag Equipment Intelligence’s first survey of shortline equipment manufacturers. We also discuss the aging population of both dealers and farmers and how that’s impacting the ag industry. In the Technology Corner, Jack Zemlicka discusses a service-centric focus to precision sales.
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On the Record

Best Bets for 2020: Lawn and Garden & Precision Farming Equipment

The latest episode of On the Record is now available! In this week’s episode we take a look at Ag Equipment Intelligence’s 2020 Dealer Business Outlook & Trends report, specifically examining what dealers said were their “Best Bets” for upcoming year, along with concerns over the rising price of new equipment. In the Technology Corner, Jack Zemlicka discusses dealers’ hiring plans for precision farming specialists in 2020. Also in this episode, the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank reports farmland values are holding steady in the 11th District, African Swine Fever’s potential impact on U.S. ag and equipment sales, and an update on the hemp market.
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On the Record

Dealers Less Optimistic Heading into 2020

The latest episode of On the Record is now available! In this episode we discuss the preliminary results of Ag Equipment Intelligence and Farm Equipment’s 2020 Dealer Business Outlook & Trends survey, which indicates that overall dealers aren’t as optimistic heading into 2020 as they were a year ago. We also discuss how ag tech data company Conservis is developing tools to help farmers connect real-time field data with financial reports. Also in this episode: IFS regulations on bonus depreciation and interest expenses, positive sales trends for a number of product categories, Deere’s new CEO’s focus on the U.S. market and more.
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On the Record

CNH Industrial 5-Year Plan Includes Spinning Off ‘On-Highway’ and Consolidating Dealer Network

The latest episode of On the Record is now available! Ag Equipment Intelligence editors were on hand for CNH Industrial’s announcement of its 5-year strategic plan, which includes spinning off its “On-Highway” business. Also in this episode, we review Titan Machinery’s 2Q results, provide updates on precision farming and New Holland from the Farm Progress Show, and review one analyst’s observation on corn prices.
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On the Record

Are Bobcat and Farmtrac Tractors Returning to the U.S.?

The latest episode of On the Record is now available! In this week's episode we discuss two tractor lines that had disappeared from the U.S. market — Bobcat and Farmtrac — that are set to make a return. In the Technology Corner Jack Zemlicka discusses dealers' 5-year precision revenue outlook. Also in this episode, Deere & Co.'s third quarter earnings report and Cervus Equipment's second quarter earnings.
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On the Record

Rocky Mountain Dealerships Reports Tough Second Quarter

The latest episode of On the Record is now available! In this week’s episode, we look at the second quarter earnings reports for several dealers and manufacturers, including AGCO, Rocky Mountain Dealerships and CNH Industrial. In the Technology Corner, Jack Zemlicka shares how transitioning to smaller, autonomous implements will require a substantial shift for manufacturers and dealers, with cost-savings being the driving factor. We also discuss the rising Ag Economy Barometer, bringing a more optimistic perspective on farmland values and influencing decisions on large equipment. Also, in this episode, we break down the 2019 Market Facilitation Program, and we discuss the on-going battle over North Dakota’s ‘Dealers Bill of Rights’.
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On the Record

How Real is the Potential in the Hemp Market?

The latest episode of On the Record is now available! In this week’s episode we look at the emerging hemp industry and what it could mean for the farm machinery business. In the Technology Corner, Jack Zemlicka shares some insights on how ag start-ups, particularly on the software side, could offer some lucrative opportunities for dealers. We also discuss tractor and combine sales first half of the year for and what we might expect the second half of the year. Also in this episode, dealers and manufacturers say hay and forage equipment sales have seen a nice pick up recently, and we discuss the moderate increases in non-real estate farm lending.
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On the Record

Ethanol Exports Could Grow, But Little Impact on Equipment Sales

The latest episode of On the Record is now available! In this week's program we look at a recent CoBank report on the potential for ethanol production growth over the next decade. Also in this episode, Jack Zemlicka discusses the post-planting mindset of "selling solutions" in the Technology Corner, and we dig into some of the results of the 6th annual Strip-Till Practices study from Strip-Till Farmer, another drop in machinery loans in the Dallas Federal Reserve district and improved 2Q revenues for Art's Way.
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On the Record

Could 2020 Be the Year the Ag Equipment Market Bounces Back?

The latest episode of On the Record is now available! In this week’s program we discuss how the wet weather and late planting could be setting the stage for improved corn prices and farm equipment sales. Also in this episode: more action in the “Right to Repair” fight, how trade concerns are impacting Canadian equipment sales, and a California law that is creating headaches for dealers.
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