In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, we look at Compeer Financial and PepsiCo’s pilot program to help lower the cost of strip-till equipment for farmers. In the Technology Corner, Noah Newman visits with Rob Saik, founder and CEO of Vi by VisorPRO. Also in this episode, the number of Big Dealers dropped again in 2026 and the latest Dealer Sentiments Report shows prices were up 1.5% vs. the prior report.

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, we look at President Trump's tariff reduction on ag equipment, the latest dealer sales forecasts, and how high input costs are keeping farmer sentiment down. In the Technology Corner, Noah Newman visits with Stotz Equipment precision specialist Jake Nordenberg. Also in this episode, coverage on the legal considerations for CNH's reorganization of its Case IH and New Holland dealer network management and the cancellation of a John Deere dealer merger in Manitoba.

Introducing a new product — or in our case a new event — can be equal parts excitement and nerve-racking. We did the attendee survey and polling on the need and formula, we lined up key presenters and sought input for the themed roundtable discussions. But you never quite know how the customer is going to respond to a format altogether different than anything the’ve attended before. Until you take the plunge you never really know.

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, we look at the impact interest rates are having on the ag market. In the Technology Corner, Noah Newman visits with strip-tiller Robert Boyle. Also in this episode, coverage from the first-ever Ag Equipment Intelligence Executive Summit, CNH moves to a dual branding model and Ritchie Bros. completes its acquisition of BigIron.

Expectations are that customers are going to treat Ballweg employees with respect. If they don’t, Tom Ballweg is clear with them. “It’s easier for me to get a new customer than a new employee."

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, we review the decline in farmer sentiment in April, which saw the Ag Economy Barometer and the Farm Capital Investment Index drop to their lowest levels since October 2024. In the Technology Corner, Noah Newman visits with Stotz Equipment.

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, Art’s Way Mfg. benefited from increased demand for its ag segment products, reporting Q1 sales up 27.3%. We also cover major business moves as Yetter finalizes the Martin-Till acquisition, catching up with Steve Martin and Derek Allensworth on what customers and dealers can expect going forward.

Lessiter Media CEO and longtime Farm Equipment editor Mike Lessiter shares a preview of the inaugural, invitation-only Ag Equipment Intelligence Executive Summit that will be held just outside of Chicago-O’Hare airport on May 19-20, 2026.

Learn more at https://www.farm-equipment.com/aei-executive-summit

Veteran editor Mike Lessiter shares observations of having reported on the business of farm machinery for 20-plus years.

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, we have details on Deere agreeing to pay $99 million into a settlement fund for the right-to-repair class action lawsuit, and what this means for dealers as Eric Wareham discusses R2R legislation in states like Iowa.