ALL ABOUT TRACTORS

By PAUL WALLEM 

I again attended the annual Dealer Minds Summit, conducted by Farm Equipment Strategies/Lessiter Media Publications.

Farm equipment group leaders attend. They represent dealership groups, from small groups of less than 10 to large groups of 50 or more.

For two days, different group leaders describe to each other how they function, to improve service to you, their customers.

Group brands of all colors are present. Specialized consultants, such as parts department inventory specialists, make presentations.

Both major and short-line manufacturers presented information on their recent releases. During the difficult years of 1980-1986, I was a dealer. During that time, total farm equipment dealerships in the U.S. declined from 11,300 to 5,800. Farmers and ranchers lost almost one of every two dealers in their community. Farm equipment dealers do not want to ever let that happen again.

Now the dealer groups are working hard to not just service but to give you better access to parts and equipment. Many group dealers seek needed parts from each other overnight. They share technical information as well.

Another advantage to you with groups is the access to a financially sound buying group that will buy your local dealer upon retirement. Sound management and personnel will continue, and you will benefit by the dealership’s constant presence.

Group meetings like this dealer conference better prepare your dealership to serve you. I wish there had been conferences like this back in the 80s.

Allis Chalmers in green paint until 1930

The Allis Chalmers “Gathering of the Orange” occurred at the recent Penfield, Ill., I&I Antique Tractor & Gas Engine event.

The shock to many guests was the appearance of Green AC tractors. It is not well known that the AC tractors were all green during the 20s.

Supposedly, Harry Merrit, AC tractor division director, was in California when he witnessed a large field of green poppy blossoms. He returned to Milwaukee with a flower, and from then on, the tractors were painted a green color which was called “Persian orange.”

From 1930 and thereafter, the tractor color returned to “real orange.”

Kubota

Kubota announced they are the No. 1 selling tractor brand in the U.S. for 20 years, running through Dec. 31, 2025. This reflects total unit sales value of tractor categories that include utility tractor, utility loader, utility TLB and 4WD Ag tractors.

CNH “Farmer Pulse” report

A survey of 217 North American farmers during May 2026 found that nearly 9 out of 10 are using auto guide technology. More than half expect to invest in additional precision technology over the next two years.

Eric Shuman, global product manager of precision technology at CNH, said this: “The next chapter of precision agriculture will be defined by making technology easier to use, easier to trust and easier to prove its value. This research shows that farmers recognize the benefits of precision technology and are ready to continue investing in it.”

The opportunity now is to remove the barriers that slow adaptation by delivering solutions that are intuitive, reliable and built around the realities of farming.

Paul Wallem was raised on an Illinois dairy farm. He spent 13 years with corporate IH on domestic and foreign assignments. He resigned to own and operate two IH dealerships. He is the author of THE BREAKUP of IH and SUCCESSES & INDUSTRY FIRSTS of IH. Send comments to pwallem9@gmail.com.