2025 field work

[Frog]

How much does having good support folks, agronomist, good sales dudes, etc come into your decision process? or is it strictly price?

While price is certainly a factor, support is incredibly important. As I mentioned in some of my earlier posts in another thread, it's a key reason for my decision to change this year.

For example, when it comes to equipment, I believe that Deere products are well-made and have good resale value, and they charge for it. However, the local support from my dealer had been terrible. I experienced a planter problem and was left idle in the field for days, begging for assistance. The CNH dealer provided me with a used planter to help me get ahead of the rain and evaluate their equipment. Because of this level of support, we switched to New Holland tractors and combines, and we are glad we did.

 

[JEFF420]

I can’t be the only one that finds it ironic that Channel has sponsorships with CF and Iowa Everywhere. If you know anything about how that brand was started it definitely doesn’t align.

can you breakdown more? interested

 

[WISCY1895]

can you breakdown more? interested

I know there are great people who sell the brand but yeah not exactly aligned with Chris talking about supporting local independent media.

Channel the seed brand was created after Monsanto purchased like 20 independent seed brands over the years. Basically took all their branding and ties to specific geographic areas and rolled all of them under the Channel Seed umbrella.

 

[NWICY]

How much does having good support folks, agronomist, good sales dudes, etc come into your decision process? or is it strictly price?

I'm pretty sure I'm on the smaller side of most people posting in this thread. I put quite a bit of value on support staff and resources. If I like the folks I'm working with and they give me good information etc. As long as price is competitive I'm not switching.

 

[Beernuts]

While price is certainly a factor, support is incredibly important. As I mentioned in some of my earlier posts in another thread, it's a key reason for my decision to change this year.

For example, when it comes to equipment, I believe that Deere products are well-made and have good resale value, and they charge for it. However, the local support from my dealer had been terrible. I experienced a planter problem and was left idle in the field for days, begging for assistance. The CNH dealer provided me with a used planter to help me get ahead of the rain and evaluate their equipment. Because of this level of support, we switched to New Holland tractors and combines, and we are glad we did.

Just curious what area of the state are you in? Have had a very similar experience and have switched my tillage and combine to New Holland for the dealership support.

 

[Frog]

Just curious what area of the state are you in? Have had a very similar experience and have switched my tillage and combine to New Holland for the dealership support.

I'm in Eastern Iowa, Beernuts. The closest town that most people might recognize is Walcott.

 

[Beernuts]

I'm in Eastern Iowa, Beernuts. The closest town that most people might recognize is Walcott.

IMO we appear to be on the edge of a serious problem in agriculture....reliable dealership labor and supplies (parts access). At our local JD store we have been short 2 full time mechanics and they moved the shop foreman to a central location. Thus, depending on timing of the breakdown, response time can be a couple of hours to several days...and in ag that can be critical to profit potential.

The dealership is trying to find mechanics, but as the work forces is aging in agriculture the pool of great candidates is very, very small. And when a great young mechanic is trained, he leaves to a better job...which leads us to being down two mechanics again.

It feels like having fellow farming friends that can help is just a critical today as it was 100 years ago.

 

[BCClone]

I'm in Eastern Iowa, Beernuts. The closest town that most people might recognize is Walcott.

You didn’t use the DeWitt JD dealership did you?

 

[Frog]

You didn’t use the DeWitt JD dealership did you?

No.

My dad bought a lot of equipment from Mohr/Eldridge and they were excellent! Consolidation happened and things slowly went downhill.

I don't want to mention names, but look west on I-80 to the next town; there is a Deere dealer there. The town might be Durant. LOL. Muscatine, too.

 

[BCClone]

No.

My dad bought a lot of equipment from Mohr/Eldridge and they were excellent! Consolidation happened and things slowly went downhill.

I don't want to mention names, but look west on I-80 to the next town; there is a Deere dealer there. The town might be Durant. LOL. Muscatine, too.

I asked because the previous owner (sold around 1996-2000) had his main 2 in NC Iowa and is a big ISU fan.

 

[BCClone]

Also, from the last couple pages, it’s apparent that the Becks CEO or higher member isnt an ISU fan since this thread is still running unlike the others.

 

[JEFF420]

all the mom and pop Deere Dealerships are mega dealers now right?

lost all that small town stuff

 

[BCClone]

all the mom and pop Deere Dealerships are mega dealers now right?

lost all that small town stuff

Yeah. Deere required certain levels of sales.

 

[NWICY]

all the mom and pop Deere Dealerships are mega dealers now right?

lost all that small town stuff

Definitely at least a chain of several. Some are multistate nowadays I believe.

 

[Frog]

IMO we appear to be on the edge of a serious problem in agriculture....reliable dealership labor and supplies (parts access). At our local JD store we have been short 2 full time mechanics and they moved the shop foreman to a central location. Thus, depending on timing of the breakdown, response time can be a couple of hours to several days...and in ag that can be critical to profit potential.

The dealership is trying to find mechanics, but as the work forces is aging in agriculture the pool of great candidates is very, very small. And when a great young mechanic is trained, he leaves to a better job...which leads us to being down two mechanics again.

It feels like having fellow farming friends that can help is just a critical today as it was 100 years ago.

The need for mechanics is significant, and I also hear that overtime is becoming more of an issue during the spring and fall.

Being mechanically inclined has always been incredibly helpful, yet when service is needed, prompt attention is essential. Like many others, I try not to cry wolf and am willing to wait if possible. I recently made the stupid mistake of backing up and plugging the planter, so I called CNH for a service call, especially since rain was forecasted and the field was the farthest away—referred to as H Field. They assured me they would address it the next day, but at around 2:30 AM, they texted me to say they had fixed it. Great service!

 

[Die4Cy]

The need for mechanics is significant, and I also hear that overtime is becoming more of an issue during the spring and fall.

Dealership overhead must be out of this world. A good tech I know left the local dealership after a dozen or so years, bought a service truck, and went independent doing repairs at the owners' farm. He charges half of what the dealer does and says he's making out significantly better personally. Since he's often a couple weeks out on work, there's obviously demand for more of this.

 

[Frog]

Dealership overhead must be out of this world. A good tech I know left the local dealership after a dozen or so years, bought a service truck, and went independent doing repairs at the owners' farm. He charges half of what the dealer does and says he's making out significantly better personally. Since he's often a couple weeks out on work, there's obviously demand for more of this.

If he is good, he should train and franchise. Sounds like a great investment opportunity.

 

[Sparkplug]

How much does having good support folks, agronomist, good sales dudes, etc come into your decision process? or is it strictly price?

Last week we were applying anhydrous. We needed additional tanks. The tanks were delivered in no time. A hose was leaking. Their repair truck was here in less than 20 minutes (he was about 15 miles away) He knew he didn’t have the correct hose in his truck so called the shop to have one brought. Both got here at the same time This is why I changed suppliers. May be higher prices but get great service

 

[swiacy]

I’ve often wondered about the methodology used when the Drouth maps are compiled. There are times in the summer when our area is shown as very dry to extreme drouth and I will check tile lines and they are running water. The lawns may be brown and surface dirt is dry but enough subsoil moisture is present to produce tile water. With drouth tolerant hybrids, we have had surprising yields in dry weather. How accurate are those maps?

 

[BCClone]

I’ve often wondered about the methodology used when the Drouth maps are compiled. There are times in the summer when our area is shown as very dry to extreme drouth and I will check tile lines and they are running water. The lawns may be brown and surface dirt is dry but enough subsoil moisture is present to produce tile water. With drouth tolerant hybrids, we have had surprising yields in dry weather. How accurate are those maps?

They are slow to remove a drought. There are sites where you can find groundwater levels. I remember last year seeing the drought map saying my area was in one but groundwater measurements were extremely high.

I’m thinking Elwynn Taylor is incharge of the drought maps with the way they react.