Podcasts about equipment manufacturers aem

Welcome back to the Top Contractor School Podcast, where contractors come to grow stronger, scale smarter, and build businesses that last.  In this episode, Eric Guy sits down with John Somers, Vice President of Construction & Utility Sector at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), to unpack where the construction industry is heading—and what contractors need to do to stay ahead. From technology and workforce challenges to leadership, collaboration, and innovation, John shares insight from nearly two decades helping bridge the gap between manufacturers, contractors, and policymakers. 

Today’s guest is Curt Blades. He is a Senior Vice President with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and talks about farm machinery and challenges facing the industry today. http://www.ParamountBroadcasting.com/audio/podcasts/2025/20250521ABR.mp3

Today’s guest is Curt Blades. Curt is Senior Vice President of Agriculture Services with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) in Milwaukee, WI. http://www.ParamountBroadcasting.com/audio/podcasts/2024/20240821ABR.mp3

Kip Eideberg is Senior Vice President Government & Industry Relations at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). He discusses their visit to Knoxville and Pella this week.

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak talks to Curt Blades, Senior Vice President of Industry Sectors & Product Leadership at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers about trends in farm equipment sales.  In the ever-evolving landscape of agriculture, staying ahead of trends is crucial. Understanding shifts in the market, especially regarding agricultural equipment, is essential for farmers, manufacturers, and industry professionals alike. Curt Blades, with a background rooted in marketing, business development, and leadership, offers insights into these trends. Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, Curt is deeply committed to driving innovation and progress within the industry.Blades, who comes from a farming background, is the perfect guide through the complexities of agricultural equipment sales. With a career dedicated to innovation and technology within the agricultural space, his journey reflects a deep understanding of the industry's intricacies.In this episode, Curt Blades discusses the March 2024 AG tractor combined sales report, providing valuable insights into the current market trends. He highlighted the significance of the recent increase in unit sales of 100-plus horsepower AG tractors in the US, indicating an overall optimism for the long-term value of agriculture.According to Blades, the sales of tractors above 100 horsepower, often used as true row crop tractors, saw a notable increase, pointing towards farmers' confidence in the future of agriculture. This optimism is in stark contrast to the softness observed in other segments of the market, such as small tractors, shore tractors, and compact utilities.Blades emphasized the importance of understanding historical sales data to recognize clear trends, for example how tractor sales often correlate with corn prices, offering valuable insights into market behavior. Moreover, he shed light on the contrast between US and Canadian sales figures, showing similar trends in both markets.Despite potential challenges like global economic instability, Blades remains optimistic about the long-term stability of the agriculture industry. He believes that the future of agriculture lies in innovation and sustainability, with farmers playing a crucial role in embracing these changes.Looking ahead, Blades discussed strategies for manufacturers to capitalize on growing demands. He emphasized the need for manufacturers to manage their supply chains effectively, ensuring resilience and efficiency. He also highlighted the role of technology and innovation in driving operational efficiencies for farmers.As the agricultural industry continues to evolve, insights from experts like Curt Blades provide valuable guidance for navigating market trends and making informed decisions. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, the future of agriculture looks promising, driven by advancements in technology and a commitment to progress.To learn more about Curt Blades and his work, visit the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) website at https://AEM.org #farmequipment #farming #agricultureNorth American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.comThis episode is sponsored by INTENT - Collect and interpret geospatial agronomic data with speed, precision, and scale. Learn more at https://intent.agWant to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.comThe ultimate destination for online farm equipment auctions!Visit https://agr.fyi/fastline-auctionsRegister for the July 13, 2023 webinar at https://NorthAmericanAg.com/fastline-webinarSubscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

In this episode, we had a conversation with John Rozum about his experience producing the record-breaking The Utility Expo, fueled by federal funding from historic and transformative legislation passed in 2021. In fact, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is expected to increase federal spending on infrastructure by about $550 billion over the next decade, nearly all through grants to state and local governments, which own much of the nation's infrastructure. The biennial trade show returned to Louisville, Ky., with more than 21,000 utility construction professionals from all 50 states and 60 countries. The trade show, held Sept. 26-28 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, featured more than 900 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and solutions for the utility construction industry. Exhibits covered a record 1.5 million net square feet, and the event featured equipment test drives and interactive product demonstrations.  The Utility Expo is owned by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, a North America-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers with more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide.  The equipment manufacturing industry in the United States supports 2.3 million jobs and contributes roughly $316 billion to the economy every year. In addition to The Utility Expo, AEM also owns and produces CONEXPO-CON/AGG, The International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE), and the Commodity Classic. We talked about: How The Utility Expo increased attendance by 30% over its last show in 2021 and by 10% over its previous attendance record in 2019  How the biennial show grew from 1.3 to 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space The new community zone that debuted in 2023 Why the show has made its home in Louisville since 1987 What's trending in utility equipment: Sustainable equipment and accessories The state of the utility industry: Strong due to infrastructure investments, which are expected to increase in coming years And so much more! Podcast host Danica Tormohlen also shared the top five new stories from Trade Show News Network, Exhibit News Now and Corporate Event News that were published in mid September 2023. Our guest John Rozum, Senior Director, Ag & Utility Exhibitions and Events for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), is a self-described “event nerd” with more than two decades of experience leading some of the largest trade shows in the United States. He plays a critical role in the planning and execution of industry-leading trade shows such as The Utility Expo, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and The International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE), as well as the Commodity Classic. Rozum is currently serving as chairperson of the Major American Trade Show Organizers (MATSO) and president of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA). Rozum joined AEM in 2013 as the organization's attendee acquisition manager, and he currently serves as Show Director for The Utility Expo and IFPE. Prior to joining AEM, he worked in several sales and event management consulting roles, including more than a decade spent leading the trade show for the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. john earned a Bachelor of Science in both Ag Journalism and Poultry Science from the University of Wisconsin. Connect with him on LinkedIn here. Podcast Host: Danica Tormohlen An award-winning journalist who has covered the trade show industry since 1994, Danica Tormohlen is VP of Content forTarsus Group, which was recently acquired by Informa for $940 million. In her role, she oversees content for Trade Show News Network, Corporate Event News and Exhibit News Now. These leading media brands publish websites, newsletters, social media channels, video, podcasts and online and in-person programming for the trade show, corporate event and exhibition industries. Tormohlen currently serves as a board member for Women in Exhibitions Network North America chapter. She has been a speaker and moderator at major industry events, including the TSNN Awards, IMEX, IAEE, SISO, UFI, ESCA and Large Show Roundtable — to name a few.   Thank you to our sponsor! Zenus What if you could prove your event is working with hard facts and learn how to make it even better? With Zenus's Ethical Vision AI, you can protect your budget and have detailed reporting. Learn how that's all possible at Zenus.AI 

This is a fun interview with Kip Eideberg, SVP, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), covering all topics around increased equipment manufacturing in the United States. We're headquartered in beautiful Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I'm obviously in Washington, D.C., overseeing our government relations activities. A team's mission is to help move the equipment manufacturing industry forward. That means partly to ensure that the United States is the number one place in this world for equipment manufacturers to succeed, create jobs, invest in their communities, and make world-class equipment for the American market and markets worldwide. So we are very proud of that mission. 00:00 Introduction02:33 Overview of the AEM05:51 Manufacturing is a Critical Part of the US economy12:59 Geopolitical and manufacturing in Germany18:20 Regulatory Process ImprovementThank you, Kip, for stopping by the ENB podcast and for your hard work improving the supply chain in the U.S. The energy sector needs serious help as we need more energy products sourced in the U.S. - Stu. Follow Kip on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eideberg/Check out the Association of Equipment Manufacturers at https://www.aem.org/.#job #manufacturing #podcast #energysecurity #regulation #border​ENB Top NewsENBEnergy DashboardENB PodcastENB Substack

You just can't find the people these days, right? Anyone in the manufacturing, engineering, or construction industries knows that the top challenge right now is finding talent. There's a shortage of willing and able workers in the U.S. – and immigration policies make it difficult to bring in talent from overseas. In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we head to Washington D.C. for a special live panel discussion from the Celebration of Construction on the National Mall. Marsia Geldert-Murphey, ASCE President-Elect, Thayer Long, President of the Association for Print Technologies and Steve Hall, Executive VP of ACEC, explore the reasons behind the talent shortage, how public policy could help, and how organizations are trying to attract the next generation of workers. In this episode, find out: What employers can do to grow their applicant pool How firms are trying to attract talent Why you need to move people to the opportunities How public policy could help Why immigration rules need to be revisited What drives young people How organizations are reaching out to school and college-aged students Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It's feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “When you look at countries like Germany, Belarus, South Korea, UAE, 30% of their graduates are STEM graduates. In the United States, it's 19%. It's a math problem. We just do not have enough people. So we have got to improve our immigration program.” – Marsia “There's a lot of drivers that motivate young people today, and I don't think they always think about engineering as a way of accomplishing those goals. So [we need] messaging like that to young people through STEM programs.” - Steve “If the government put a quarter of the amount of effort into promoting an apprenticeship and a career in the construction trade as they do by subsidizing and supporting college education, it'd have a tremendous impact to bring more people into our field.” - Thayer Links & mentions: Association for Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), an organization that's advancing equipment manufacturers in the global marketplace. They're on a mission not only to help businesses succeed but to build a community so that the industry as a whole can make positive, lasting change. American Society of Civil Engineers, the nation's oldest engineering society that represents more than 150,000 members in 177 countries. Independent Electrical Contractors, a national trade association for merit shop electrical and systems contractors. American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the business voice of America's engineering industry, representing nearly 6,000 firms to advocate for policies at federal, state and local levels. Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

In Episode 50 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with Kip Eideberg, Senior VP at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) about issues impacting America's manufacturing sector.Run of ShowIntro: Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!01:00 - Kip Eideberg takes a few moments to talk about AEM and its mission.04:40 - The heavy Texas footprint of AEM members.05:50 - AEM's Midwestern origins, and how it has evolved. How has policy driven that?08:30 - Recent Economic Impact study published by AEM. A story of strength, resilience and a return to a "new normal."11:00 - Challenges for manufacturers in sourcing qualified workers. Currently 85,000 job openings across the industries AEM supports.13:05 - AEM's highly-successful "I make America" campaign. Just generated over 80,000 letters to congress in support of Farm Bill, policies to incentivize domestic energy production, and permitting reform.15:50 - The lack of any sense of urgency on the permitting issue - what can be done to change it?19:00 - How the failures of the permitting system is negatively impacting the public, business and the environment. Even national security.21:50 - Almost all permitting delays are the outgrowth of major environmental and safety laws, along with stakeholder rights protections. Presents a real conundrum from a public policy standpoint.24:00 - Why energy costs are key to U.S. manufacturing.26:15 - Supply chain challenges in the manufacturing sector. Have things improved in the last 2 years?30:00 - Where you can find Kip and AEM.AEM Website: www.aem.orgI Make America Campaign: www.imakeamerica.orgUSOGA Website: www.USOGA.orgSponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedInDB Energy Questions Energy Transition Absurdities SubstackThe Crude Truth with Rey TrevinoRey Trevino LinkedInEnergy Transition Weekly ConversationIrina Slav LinkedInArmando Cavanha LinkedIn ENB Top NewsENBEnergy DashboardENB PodcastENB Substack

The Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) held its semi-annual Plugfest at Commodity Classic last month at Orlando, Florida, in order to continue to make technology easier and more transparent to the farming community. The AEF was founded in 2008 by John Deere, Komatsu, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), AGCO, Case IH, New Holland, Claas,... Read More

It's Day Three of CONEXPO/CON-AGG, and Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce national managing editor Vince Versace and digital media editor Warren Frey are covering the show and reporting from the floor on what they've seen at the biggest construction trade show and conference in North America. On this episode Warren spoke to Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) senior vice-president of government and industry relations Kip Eideberg about a recent AEM economic report that points to a mostly optimistic outlook post-pandemic with a few caveats. Waren also spoke to Gearflow founder and CEO Luke Powers about how digital technology can create new efficiencies and improve communication for both those selling and using heavy equipment, especially in terms of sourcing needed parts for fleets. You can listen to The Construction Record on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music's podcast section. Follow our social media feeds for CONEXPO updates at @DCN_Canada, @JOC_Canada and @TCR_Cast, and you can view Reels and daily livestreams at The Construction Record's Instagram. Thanks for listening! DCN-JOC News Services

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has released its February numbers, and although they are showing a mixed bag in both the U.S. Canada, combine sales have spiked. And not just by a small increase either — a whopping 247 per cent year-over-year increase in Canada, and a 165 per cent bump in the U.S.... Read More

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Curt Blades, Senior Vice President of Agriculture Services & Forestry Curt Blades at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers presents AEM's recent equipment report:"COMBINE HARVESTERS, 4WD TRACTORS GROW DESPITE OVERALL LOSSES IN NOVEMBER"Combine harvester sales remain positive, joined by 4WD units for both the U.S. and Canadian markets, while total tractors fell in both countries according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).Total U.S. ag equipment unit sales fell overall, though the largest units grew. U.S. total farm tractor sales fell 20.8 percent for the month of November compared to 2021, with the sub-40hp segment leading losses at 27.9 percent. U.S. self-propelled combine sales for the month grew 8.3 percent to 314 units sold, one of only two segments positive for the year (up 15.7% YTD). The other segment growing YTD, 100+hp units, grew 6.2 percent for the month (now up 13.3 percent YTD). Total farm tractor sales are down 14.5 percent year-to-date.The full reports can be found in the Market Data section of the AEM website under Ag Tractor and Combine Reports.U.S.:  https://www.aem.org/market-data/stati...Canada:  https://www.aem.org/market-data/stati...  AEM is the North America-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers with more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide. The equipment manufacturing industry in the United States supports 2.8 million jobs and contributes roughly $288 billion to the economy every year.AEM Senior Vice President of Agriculture Services & Forestry Curt Blades joined the Association of Equipment Manufacturers in 2017, having worked in agriculture industry in marketing, business development, and leadership roles for the previous twenty years. As Senior Vice President of Agriculture Services & Forestry, Blades is responsible for the strategic direction of agriculture programs and services for AEM members.  In addition, he oversees the organizations Safety & Product Leadership group —including leading AEM's sustainability efforts.  In these roles, he serves as primary liaison with ag-specific industry organizations, cuSponsored by Tractors and Troubadours:Your weekly connection to agriculture industry newsmakers, hot-button industry issues, educational topics, rural lifestyle features and the best in true country music. Brought to you by Rural Strong Media.Listen now at https://ruralstrongmedia.com/tractors-and-troubadours/ Lasso helps the cattle sector decrease its emissions and farms receive the recognition and real dollars they deserve by doing so.Our platform will play a key role in making cattle farming carbon neutral and financially sustainable, eliminating nearly 15% of total global warming potential.Visit https://agr.fyi/lasso to learn more.

AGRIBUSINESS REPORT PODCAST – Guest: Curt Blades is Senior VP with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and talks about the most recent trends in ag machinery sales (tractors and … Read More

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight Chrissy Wozniak learns about the incredible advances that have taken place in the dairy industry over the last few decades. Austin Gellings director of Agricultural Services for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) & Fabian Bernal M.S., PAS, the Global Head of Sustainability, DeLaval Group, talk about their recent study of the industry. The results are truly astounding!Austin is a Wisconsin native that grew up on his family farm where he still helps raise hay and livestock today. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens point with a major in marketing. He then attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he received an MBA.In his roll with AEM Austin serves as the liaison for AEM's dairy, manure management, specialty crops, sprayer, and water management equipment groups. He also works with agricultural members to help address and solve various industry issues.Fabian is a native of Bogota, Colombia and attended the University of La Salle. He graduated from WKU with a major in Agri-Business and Ag-Economics. He also graduated with a Master's degree in animal science (large animal nutrition) from WKU. His special interests are Animal welfare, Dairy Sustainability, Livestock Management, Dairy Nutrition, Physiology of Lactation, Animal Pathology, Cow Comfort, and Ag Business Management. Sustainability is a key part of DeLaval's business strategy, and in this role, Fabian helps ensure that DeLaval is at the forefront and delivering upon our vision by supporting Group Management as well as working in close cooperation with all parts of the DeLaval organization.AEM is the leading organization in North America advancing construction and agriculture equipment manufacturers and their value chain partners in the global marketplace. In enabling growth together, AEM and its members build momentum for the equipment manufacturing industry and the markets it serves. Learn more about AEM at aem.org.Energrow's oilseed pressing system helps farmers CRUSH their feed costs.The easy way to make fresh, home-grown, high-quality meal + expeller-pressed oil, right on the farm. The fully automated, turnkey CRUSH-Pro is easy to set up and run 24/7. Learn more at - https://agr.fyi/energrowSponsored by Tractors and Troubadours:Your weekly connection to agriculture industry newsmakers, hot-button industry issues, educational topics, rural lifestyle features and the best in true country music. Brought to you by Rural Strong Media.Listen now at https://ruralstrongmedia.com/tractors-and-troubadours/ Unconventional Ag is the industry source to discover how to differentiate products and processes and take advantage of emerging markets related to specialty oilseeds, grains, and their bi-products.Visit us at - https://agr.fyi/uag

Kip Heidelberg, senior vice president of government and industry relations at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) joined AgriTalk and shared how he believes the CHIPS Act will keep up with trends in the manufacturing world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kip Heidelberg, senior vice president of government and industry relations at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) joined AgriTalk and shared future manufacturing trends. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kip Heidelberg, senior vice president of government and industry relations at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) joined AgriTalk and shared insight on if the supply chain will get better. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kip Heidelberg, senior vice president of government and industry relations at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) joined AgriTalk. HE shares the impact of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and when we will see results See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's an iron only show this morning with Greg Peterson – Machinery Pete – giving us his Pick of the Week and talking about other recent auctions plus Kip Eideberg, senior vice president of government and industry relations at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) joins us to discuss the Chips and Science Act plus other issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ag machinery sales are showing a decline compared to last year, looking at the first seven months of 2022, however, this isn’t necessarily indicative of a bad year, says the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). The AEM flash report for the month of July shows a decrease of 7 per cent for tractor sales in Canada... Read More

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with Derek Smith, the founder of Constructionlab Ltd. and the inventor of JOBSITE, the construction-focused board game. Smith explained how the idea for the board game sprang from looking for a way to get the family together and off their tablets and computers during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and evolved into North America's only board game with a construction theme. Smith, who is the former executive director for the London & District Construction Association, said he playtested the game through contacts in the industry and others, and hopes the game helps both as a fun group activity and a way to educate those interested in construction to learn about the industry. You can listen to The Construction Record and TCR Express on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music's podcast, and you can listen to the previous podcast featuring Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) vice-president of construction and utility sectors John Somers here. Thanks for listening and we'll see you next episode. DCN-JOC News Services

On this episode of the Construction Record Podcast, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) vice-president of construction and utility sectors John Somers about the future of heavy equipment.   Somers explained that artificial intelligence and sensors have allowed for more precise and efficient uses of heavy equipment, including the possibility in the near future of people working on job sites remotely, operating heavy equipment from home as connections speeds increase and latency decreases. He also detailed some of AEM's findings about the future of the construction industry in a recent white paper titled “The Future of Building.” You can listen to The Construction Record and TCR Express on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music's podcast, and you can listen to the previous podcast featuring TransPod Inc. CEO and co-founder Sebastien Gendron here. Thanks for listening and we'll see you next episode. DCN-JOC News Services

Happy day-after-host-Shaun-Haney’s birthday to you all! On today’s episode of RealAg Radio, you’ll hear: Dave Gallant of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA), on their Ag Advance program; Megan Tanel, president of the Association of the Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) on a recent white paper they released; Cornie Thiessen of ADAMA Canada, on supply chain issues and... Read More

Happy day-after-host-Shaun-Haney’s birthday to you all! On today’s episode of RealAg Radio, you’ll hear: Dave Gallant of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA), on their Ag Advance program; Megan Tanel, president of the Association of the Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) on a recent white paper they released; Cornie Thiessen of ADAMA Canada, on supply chain issues and... Read More

This trade group which is 125 years old and has more than 1,000 member companies is the leading organization in North America advancing construction and agriculture equipment manufacturers in the global marketplace while using some unique programing to achieve their advocacy goals. ABOUT the GUEST Wade Balkonis is the Director, Grassroots Advocacy at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). A 125-year-old trade association, AEM consists of more than 1,000 member companies, representing 200+ product lines in the off-road agriculture, construction, mining, and forestry equipment industry. Wade is responsible for the 10+ year old I Make America campaign which advocates on behalf of the 2.8 million men and women of the industry. Prior to this position, Wade managed the PAC and grassroots programs for Walgreens and H&R Block, worked in constituent relations roles for a Member of Congress and the Mayor of the City of Milwaukee, and worked in Office of Federal Contract Compliance (OFCCP) for private industry. Thank you to our sponsor: Rap Index, tell them Roger sent you. https://www.rapindex.com   This podcast is dedicated to the art of advocacy. Contact Voices In Advocacy at: www.VoicesinAdvocacy.com 480 488-9150 At Voices in Advocacy, we work with organizations that want to inspire, educate, engage, and activate their supports to become even better influential advocates

This morning's show is loaded with iron. First we have Greg Peterson – Machinery Pete – give us his Pick of the Week and preview some upcoming auctions. Then we have a conversation with Kip Eideberg, senior vice president of government and industry relations for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Conner, president of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and former USDA Deputy Secretary, joins us to discuss the vaccination mandate and its enforcement through OSHA. Kip Eideberg is the senior vice president of government and industry relations at the Association for Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and he joins us to discuss the infrastructure bill and the recent relaxation of steel and aluminum tariffs. There was breaking news this morning concerning the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act and joining us to discuss it is Matt Deppe, CEO of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello Interactors,It’s hard to miss news about global supply chain woes these days. Between Covid, natural disasters, and strained trade relations with China it seems unlikely we’ll see anything that looks like normal for some time. But companies aren’t waiting to find out. They’re taking matters into their own hands. Or so they think. As interactors, you’re special individuals self-selected to be a part of an evolutionary journey. You’re also members of an attentive community so I welcome your participation.Please leave your comments below or email me directly.Now let’s go…MARIA CANTWELL AND THE CHAIN GANG“There are some people who are saying, ‘Look, what I need is short term because this is never going to happen again,’ ” she said. “Then there are other people who are saying, ‘This is going to happen more often than we think.’ The world is a very different place, and it’s not just the pandemic. It’s natural disasters. It’s the floods down in the South. It’s tornadoes, it’s hurricanes.”These are the words of Ellen Kullman. She’s the CEO of Carbon Inc., a 3-D printing company. She’s also the former CEO of DuPont, sits on the board of directors for Goldman Sachs and Dell, is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a recognized leader in global science and engineering, and once chaired the US-China Business Council.She knows a thing or two about global supply chains; which have had their fair share of attention recently. As global corporations have pushed their employees to work Harder, Better, Faster, and Stronger. They must appease shareholders demanding perpetual growth, even at the cost to people and the environment. To do so, they rely on other parts of the globe for raw materials and labor – a spatial fix.Covid has taken a 200-year capitalism strategy believed to be immune to disruption and has created a supply chain pandemic. Just as the disease is testing our body’s immune system, it’s also testing the resiliency of networked global supply chains.The onset of the pandemic showed early signs of vulnerability when global corporations were hit by governmental restrictions. Without notice borders around the world were closed, lockdowns prevented employees from working, and no sooner were facemasks recommended did we run out of supply. Dr. Gary Gereffi from Duke’s Global Value Chains Center said,“China accounted for about 60% of U.S. face mask imports prior to the pandemic, but China suspended its exports of face masks worldwide as it dealt with its own outbreak of COVID-19 cases in early 2020.”It wasn’t until late August that the supply gap was filled by U.S. producers.Gereffi was testifying on July 15, 2021, in a hearing chaired by Democratic U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell on “Implementing Supply Chain Resiliency.” The meeting was in reaction to one of Biden’s first executive orders. It launched a 100-day review identifying vulnerabilities in the nation’s supply chains and how to address them.The witnesses in the hearing included Gereffi from academia and five others from government agencies and the business sector. Their testimonies paint an accurate state of the country’s complicated over reliance on the global supply chain. They also had asks of the government that you might expect; more government funding, private-public partnerships, subsidies, or for the government to get out of the way. Or, in the case of Lex Taylor, a confusing mix of all the above.William A. (Lex) Taylor III runs The Taylor Group of Companies, Inc. It was founded in 1927 as Taylor Machine Works in Louisville, Mississippi. Did I mention the ranking member and co-chair seated alongside Cantwell was U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi?The Taylor Group is now a privately held holding company for Taylor Machine Works (heavy industrial forklifts), Taylor Power Systems (power generators), and Taylor Defense (remanufactured military material).Taylor complained about the lack of resiliency in the global supply chain. He said the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) had quickly come up with a plan for how to circumvent the Covid caused supply chain conundrums called operation “Floorplan”. It was modelled after what he deemed a “successful Payroll Protection Program the Congress instituted at the Small Business Administration.” A clear nod to a government success story by a devote capitalist.But he claimed operation “Floorplan“ failed “because of the political wrangling and failure of the government to understand the big-picture consequences of letting supply chains falter.” Yet the association seemed ok asking the government to bankroll his “Floorplan” program.He went on about how every private company involved in his vast and deep supply chain began raising their prices to control their limited and dwindling supplies – a tried and true trick of the free-market system. Compounding inflation among suppliers forced him to ultimately raise his prices too; all the while trying to stay afloat. He said, “we have kept our lines running but are facing 30% to 75% price increases either from our vendors or the transportation companies, or a combination of both.”What gouged him the most was unbridled free-market pricing; a practical solution driven by the private sector. At the same time, he wanted federal dollars to fix the problem with a government subsidized “Floorplan.”But while he and his employees benefitted from the government run Payroll Protection Program – and he wished the federal government would have funded his “Floorplan” – he would rather the free-market solve his problems. Even though the free market created the bulk of his financial pain.In his closing remarks he said, “My request is that this committee not act to overcorrect with solutions that may cause unintended consequences. Rather, I encourage you to support the free-market system and allow it to do what it does best and find solutions that are practical and driven by the private sector.” Price gouging is a practical mechanism of the free-market. A solution? Maybe not.BOEING BOEING GONEIn her opening remarks, Maria Cantwell said, “I would say, Senator Wicker, I'm not sure 20 years ago, if we would've had the same hearing.”Twenty years ago Cantwell was in her first year as a U.S. Senator. Amassing independent wealth from her time in the software industry, she threw a lot of her own money into her campaign against the eleven year incumbent, Republican Slade Gorton. Microsoft was her biggest donor, followed by two law firms, and the fourth largest campaign contributor was Boeing.Six months later Boeing sought their own spatial fix and announced they were moving their corporate headquarters to Chicago. By September of 2001, after being headquartered in Seattle since 1916, the Boeing corporate offices fell vacant.Eight years later, in 2009, after the 2008 financial crisis, Boeing applied another spatial fix moving an assembly plant from Washington to South Carolina. North Charleston’s economy had been devastated by the closure of a naval shipyard and the Great Recession. They were experiencing record high unemployment rates. So the state offered Boeing an incentive to move their factory. If Boeing could create 3,800 jobs and invest $750 million over the next seven years, the state would pitch in another $450 million.Boeing had already been dealing with ugly union strikes in Washington. Four of their last seven contract negotiations ended in strikes. Conservatives blamed the machinists while liberals blamed Boeing. Either way, South Carolina was union free. An unorganized labor force is attractive to corporations because they can dictate the terms of pay uncontested. Some states, and nations, will even suppress or ban unions in hopes of attracting businesses to their regions.Frank Larkin of the Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said in 2009, “It became clear early on that the company was less interested in making a deal than they were in getting more incentives out of South Carolina…The longer they sat at the table with us, the more South Carolina offered them."Just 2.7% of South Carolina’s labor force is unionized – the lowest in the United States. Since the plant opened in 2011, Boeing has been fighting attempts by employees to unionize. In 2017, 3,000 employees tried and failed to unionize. A year later they succeeded despite Boeing funding a widespread media campaign against it.So, Boeing took them to court. Because litigation slows down unionization, it buys time for Boeing to continue to use their wealth, power, and strength to disrupt the momentum of organizers. It also provides opportunities to fire employees as a way of sending a message to workers.In November of 2018 they fired air force veteran, Richard Mester and two others for failing to report a bird strike on a Boeing engine. Mester had been doing this line of work for 30 years and knows a bird strike when he sees it. The Guardian reported, “He had just bought a house and had two daughters in college when he was terminated.” Mester said, “It was easy to see it was because we were union members…Boeing has no qualms about squashing any possibility of a union down here. Unfortunately we were the result of that.”Despite the dwindling Boeing presence in Washington state, Maria Cantwell did mentioned in her opening remarks, “I can say for me in the state of Washington, aviation supply chain is something we're very proud of. More than 150,000 people work in that supply chain that continue to innovate and create new products…[this] is where the innovation is happening in the supply chain.”She’s referring to an insight offered in a testimony by Richard Aboulafia, the VP of Analysis at the Teal Group in Fairfax, Virginia. Out of the gate he exposed the realities of the aviation supply chain by talking about value, innovation, and vulnerability.He said, “For a typical Boeing jetliner, 80% of the value gets added at the supplier level…When Boeing sells a jetliner…suppliers, collectively, realize more revenue than [Boeing does].”He added, “the innovation that takes place in aviation happens at the supplier level, and not at the prime level. Boeing’s 737 jetliner [has] been in production for around half a century. But the…successful transformation of these aircraft is because of the tremendous innovation that has taken place at the supplier level.”Perhaps this explains why Washington state has not fought to win back the union heavy airplane assembly business. As Microsoft rose in the 90s and Amazon in the 2000s, the area attracted higher paying white collar engineering talent that fed into the aviation supply industry. Washington’s aviation history catalyzed a new industrial trajectory; what evolutionary economists call path dependence.Aboulafia continued, “As with most complex manufactured products, an aircraft production system is only as strong as its weakest link. The supply chain, crucial to industry success, is also its greatest Vulnerability.”China is fully aware of this vulnerability. Aboulafia said, “China, notably, is not a significant source of aircraft components, even from transplant factories. In fact, at the peak level of U.S.-China aerospace trade, the trade balance between the two countries was 17-1 in the U.S.’s favor.”This does not bode well for U.S. aviation suppliers. Aboulafia said, “The only area of serious concern, outside of Covid-19 itself, is China, the biggest single export market (and tied with the US for biggest single market). At the peak level of deliveries to China, 2018, the country took 23% of all jetliner deliveries worldwide. This has fallen precipitously, for both market reasons and due to geopolitical factors. This trade is under threat, due to slowing in-country growth rates, China’s reluctance to recertify Boeing’s 737MAX, and the U.S. Government’s decision to put Western components for China’s ambitious national aircraft programs on a possibly restrictive export list.”Furthermore, Covid put a real dent in the airlines biggest revenue generator – international business travel. It’s forced them to ground planes and halt new orders. And while business is picking up again, the companies bringing supply chains closer to home will be taking fewer overseas business trips to Asia.The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Italian apparel company, Benetton is planning to “cut its Asia-based production by half in the next 12 to 16 months and move the work to countries on the Mediterranean.” It’s an end to a decades old reliance on Asian labor and supply chains that “requires regular visits to make sure manufacturing and materials meet quality standards and some aspects, such as production timing, aren’t under the company’s control overseas.” (1)HOG TIED ON THE SUPPLY SIDEReading and watching the testimonies from Cantwell’s hearing, I couldn’t help notice the yearning for the glory days of the 20th century Fordist era when America dominated manufacturing and supply chains. The Duke professor, Dr. Gereffi, gushed over the reemergence of the furniture and textile industry in North Carolina and how his state excels at efficient pig processing.Lex Taylor sees dollars signs with a “Floorplan” that can build more trucks, generators, and recycled military parts. And while Boeing has all but ceded the airline market to AirBus, Cantwell wants the 150,000 aviation experts in Washington state to at least be supplying parts.Some of these aging, all male except Cantwell, boomers testifying at the hearing are of the age where I can imagine them reminiscing on the golden years of the nationalist “America First” sentiment that Trump tapped into in 2016. Wicker would have turned 16 in 1967, the end of the Fordism era.But there were also testimonies that looked to a Post-Fordist industrial era. IBM’s Dr. Dario Gill talked about their semiconductor lab in New York and how their public-private partnership will produce new chips out of the factory in Malta, New York. Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senator from New York, helped seal that deal with the $110 billion Endless Frontier Act; $10 billion of which goes toward hubs like those in New York. The North Carolina Research Triangle hopes to get on that money as well. Dr. Gereffi talked of how North Carolina’s booming weaving loom know-how could transmogrify from cotton into silicon.The Endless Frontier Act is a bipartisan bill intended to counter China’s semiconductor dominance. But, again, it falls victim to this outdated notion that America can return to our Fordist days. I know I’m over simplifying, but it takes a special combination of hubris and ignorance to believe you can replace 30 years of global supply networks, throughput, and intellectual property with a ‘Made in America’ stamp. Federal funding is needed to remedy our supply chain woes, but chest pounding nationalistic protectionism won’t get us there.The most reasoned testimony in Cantwell’s hearing came from James A. Lewis. He’s a Senior Vice President and Director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said, “Two things broke that global supply chain. The first is the rise of a predatory China that will use any means to displace competitors in its quest for global primacy. The second is the COVID-19 pandemic, which produced an understandable desire in many nations to reduce their dependence on foreign suppliers and instead rely on national capabilities.”He talked about how America got spooked when we realized how much we relied on China for necessary medical supplies. It prompted many in the U.S. to “want to move some critical production back onto their territories.” He’s right.Atlanta home builder PulteGroup got fed up with delays and is building an automated assembly plant in South Carolina. Majestic Steel USA is opening new facilities across the country to avoid impediments in the supply chain. Climate calamities are also forcing companies to rethink supply chains. Paint powerhouse Sherman-Williams got fed up with Hurricane delays at southern ports. They bought a company with sites in Oregon and South Carolina to handle the load.But as Lewis point out, in many ways this is just copying China and may be short sighted. Even the knee jerk reaction from Schumer and the Endless Frontier Act. He said, “This supply chain nationalism is reinforced by growing and powerful competition for technological leadership and by events like the semiconductor shortage.”He continues, “Twentieth century American innovation was national, but today’s innovation base is international, with strong research and commercial links between the United States, Europe, and Asia.” And he rightfully concludes, “A country that cuts itself off from this international innovation system will fall behind.”China has assumed America, and Europe, have been in decline since the end of the Cold War in 1989. They recognized the strategy of the U.S. and our allies was to seek regions to either invade, persuade, or buy. And then, theoretically, establish a Western style democracy to further build out a global supply chain, buy labor, and manufacture and sell goods and services.So they invested heavily in industry within China and then expanded globally investing in 70 countries worldwide in infrastructure. Their One Belt One Road initiative has been building mines, dams, ports, railroads, airports, solar installations and more around the world to control the extraction and flow of resources and capital.It’s like a parasitic super-structure on top of the West’s established global supply chain. It grows their dominance by feeding off of Western consumerism and neoliberal economic policies; all the while continuing to spoon Chinese made goods to the perpetually hungry mouths of American consumers.John A. Lewis concluded his remarks with a stern directive:“The U.S. must respond to China’s hostility, but we can no longer rely on market forces alone to advance the national interest. Defensive actions alone will not suffice. These themes all point to the need for a renewed industrial strategy, but it cannot simply duplicate previous policies because we are now in a world where the private sector leads. This means the task [for America] is to find where government intervention can best support a multinational commercial innovation base.”A renewed industrial strategy is needed, indeed. But, so is a new economic creed that doesn’t breed greed. Subscribe at interplace.io

On Tuesday, we saw a big pop higher in world veg oil markets including soybean oil. That gave us strength in the soybean market as well. Corn was quiet and wheat was under pressure. We talk about all of that and more with Bill Biedermann of AgMarket.net on today's show. Then, we discuss rural road safety during harvest with Curt Blades from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

In this episode of The DL, Diesel Laptops Founder and CEO Tyler Robertson is joined by John Rozum, Director of Ag & Utility Exhibitions and Events at Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) to talk all about expos, recent changes, what to expect in the future and what AEM does. AEM provides services for companies that manufacture equipment, product and services used worldwide in the Construction, Agriculture, Forestry, Mining, and Utility industries, as well as a wide array of benefits that help members. John explains how Covid-19 was devastating to the events and hospitality industries, however, it has changed the way the industry thinks and how they do things, regarding contingencies, contracting, and communications. As some shows have moved to virtual, they do not allow for the same tactile experience that a live event would, so shows are evolving to meet new needs. In the future we can expect larger spaces, improved experiences, etc., starting with The Utility Expo, coming up September 28-30, 2021. Other changes to expect to from exhibitors will be innovative autonomous and semi-autonomous equipment, as manufacturers improve and build upon the technology. It's just not diagnostics, it is diagnostics done right. Go find your right tools and equipment that you need for your business. A great place to do that is at The Utility Expo. John Rozum's recommended expos: The Utility Expo - https://www.theutilityexpo.com CONEXPO-CON/AGG - https://www.conexpoconagg.com World of Asphalt - https://www.worldofasphalt.com Commodity Classic - https://commodityclassic.com Connect with John Rozum on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrozum/ Connect with Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-equipment-manufacturers-aem-/ Learn more about Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) on their website - https://www.aem.org Learn more about The Utility Expo on their website - https://www.theutilityexpo.com

Rebuild with purpose. Kip Eideberg, Sr. Vice President at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), joined the podcast to talk about infrastructure and manufacturing. He shared results from AEM's recent Infrastructure Vision 2050 report and the need for federal infrastructure investments to be targeted at States and local governments. He also discussed rural broadband and building the manufacturing workforce. Host: Kirsten Wyatt 

Tyne Morgan is this morning's guest host and she has a conversation with Nic Beck of Clark's Ag Supply about critical parts and material shortages. Kip Eideberg is the senior vice president of government and industry relations at the Association for Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and he provides feedback on President Biden's address last night plus AEM's priorities with working with the Biden administration. Nigel Holderby, director of disaster public affairs at the American Red Cross reports on recent statistics regarding home fires and tips for what to do if your house catches fire. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a lot of stuff happening with equipment lately — from sales numbers, to what’s going on with the shortage of components, to price increases. To explain it all, for today’s RealAg LIVE! our host Shaun Haney is  joined by Curt Blades, senior vice president of ag services at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).... Read More

Jason Andringa is President & CEO at Vermeer Corporation, a global industrial and agricultural equipment manufacturing company making a real impact. Listen to Dr. Allie in conversation with Jason Andringa as they speak on Innovations and Health Protections at Vermeer Corporation. Prior to his current role, Jason served in the following previous roles at Vermeer: President & COO, President – Forage and Environmental Solutions, Vice President – Dealer Distribution and Global Accounts, Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (based in the Netherlands), and Segment Manager – New Products and Markets in the Environmental business segment. Jason serves on the Vermeer Board of Directors and also on the Board of Directors of Raven Industries and the Board of Advisors for Camcraft, Inc. Jason serves on the Board of Directors of the following associations: National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). He serves on the Board of Trustees for The Nature Conservancy of Iowa and Central College. He also serves on the US-Brazil CEO Forum and the President's Advisory Council for Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA). Before joining Vermeer in 2005, Jason was an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Jason graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Calvin College and later completed advanced degrees including a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California (USC Marshall School of Business). Jason and his wife Carrie live in Pella, Iowa with their three children. This interview was recorded on May 6, 2020. You can follow Vermeer here: Facebook: Vermeer Corporation Twitter: @Vermeercorp LinkedIn: Vermeer Corporation Instagram: @Vermeercorp Please note that the contents of Coping with COVID-19 are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on Coping with COVID-19. As always, if you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you're having suicidal thoughts, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately. Thank you for listening to Coping with COVID-19 by Dr. Allie. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app