In total, 55 U.S. and Canadian dealerships including equipment dealerships with precision departments, precision only operations and precision retailers, were nominated by their farm customers, precision equipment suppliers and their own employees.
Again this year, an independent panel of judges was asked to evaluate precision ag sales growth and how dealerships are generating revenue from hardware, software and precision service sales.
The judges also analyzed less quantifiable elements that define the best precision farming dealership, such as employee training, performance standards, innovation, long-term business plan and community involvement.
Breaking the Mold
While precision farming is often associated with tangible technology products that farm customers connect to a tractor or attach to a planter, data management and agronomy are increasingly valuable commodities.
Progressive dealers are incorporating more than standard sales and service of precision technology to position them for the future as profitable businesses.
In the case of Wheat Growers, the diverse co-operative ag retailer set itself apart from the other nominees with an aggressive, yet calculated approach to precision farming growth during the last 2 decades.
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Most Valuable |
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Dr. Harold F. Reetz, Jr.
Terry Brase, Professor of Agricultural Geospatial Technologies, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Thomas Krill, Instructor and Consultant, Jerkins Creative Consulting, Benton, Ill.Though perhaps not a precision farming dealer in the traditional sense, Wheat Growers generates about one third of its revenue from precision hardware sales of 5 different brands. Nearly 70% of profits come from precision service, specifically through the co-op’s Management Zone-Based [MZB] crop input platform. Since 2011, SDWG has nearly doubled precision service revenue from $3.9 million to $7.4 million in 2013.
Overall, the co-op has increased precision ag sales more than two-fold during the last 3 years, and has a defined vision to increase its precision footprint in the coming years through an evolving combination of hardware, service and agronomic support.
As the judges noted this year, selling complete precision solutions, rather than just products, positions the co-op as a successful organization well into the future.
Nominate a Dealership for the 2015 MVD
It’s never too early to nominate candidates for next year’s Precision Farming Dealer Most Valuable Dealership program. We’re inviting you to participate by submitting entries for precision farming dealers.
Please nominate all the dealers you feel are worthy of consideration by our judges.
There is no limit to the number of nominations you can submit, and if you prefer, we will not reveal to the dealers who nominated them for this honor.
Open to all precision farming dealers in the U.S. and Canada, Precision Farming Dealer will again be recognizing the organization that demonstrates the best in sales, service and support of precision farming technology.
We hope that you’ll choose to participate in this program and help showcase the finest precision farming dealers in our industry. Visit www.precisionfarmingdealer.com for profiles of past winners.
For more information or questions, contact Jack Zemlicka at 262-782-4480 ext. 441 or e-mail jzemlicka@lesspub.com.
