One of the most talked-about sessions looked at creating a culture of advancement and growth within a precision dealership. Skip Klinefelter, owner of Linco-Precision in El Paso, Ill., noted during his opening general session that success and survival of precision dealers will require continuous collaboration and internal problem-solving — both of which are cornerstones of stability.

As dealers turn their attention to the new year, 2019 looks to be a relatively strong one for precision sales. According to Ag Equipment Intelligence's 2019 Dealer Business Outlook & Trends report, some 40% of North American dealers cited precision farming products as their best bet for improving unit sales this year.

Equipment automation, drone-based nutrient application and hybrid or electric machinery are among the innovations which are trending toward broader application, perhaps as soon as 2025, according to results of a recent study conducted by consulting company Roland Berger.

The manufacturing models of the farm equipment and automotive industries are intertwined, with innovations developed for consumer vehicles often finding their way into the production of ag machinery.

In our most recent Technology Corner segment, we posed the question of whether ag equipment manufacturers will face the same workforce and production dilemmas as the auto industry, as engineers refine electronic and autonomous machinery.

Learning from early experience selling and supporting the recurring revenue program, Devin Dubois, vice president of Integrated Solutions with Western Sales, recently helped expand the dealership’s precision platform to include independent precision software support for 6 other dealer groups in the region.

On my way into work I stopped at a gas station along my usual route to fill up. It’s a station I’ve frequented many times, and often will specifically visit because they have a promotional program which allows me to shave a few cents off each gallon.

We’ve all had those times in our careers where we’ve needed some validation of a decision — good or bad, right or wrong — and use the outcome as a learning experience.