Kim Schmidt is the Executive Editor of Precision Farming Dealer and Farm Equipment and the host of Ag Equipment Intelligence’s On The Record. An award-winning writer, she worked 7 years in business-to-business trade media before joining Farm Equipment in 2012. She is a journalism graduate of Marquette University.

Contact: kschmidt@lessitermedia.com

10th Annual Awards Program Honors Top North American Dealer

Jenner Precision is Precision Farming Dealer’s Most Valuable Dealership for 2022.

By Kim Schmidt posted on January 31, 2022 | Posted in Precision Sales, Service & Support

The 2022 recipient of Precision Farming Dealer’s 10th annual Most Valuable Dealership is Jenner Precision in Fairbury, Ill.

Battling Burnout & Building Stability

By Kim Schmidt posted on October 6, 2021 | Posted in Dealer Development, Service & Support

Customer service and experience are important to every dealership, but what about when that experience comes at the expense of your precision staff? The topic of burnout is nothing new but continues to be something precision staffs are faced with. During a roundtable discussion at this summer’s Dealership Minds Summit, a group of dealers came to the consensus that call volume is the leading cause of burnout for their precision teams.

A New Approach to Tech Recruitment?

By Kim Schmidt posted on January 7, 2021 | Posted in Dealer Development

Over the last few years when we’ve focused on workforce development — particularly recruiting and training technicians — as a fair amount of focus has been on getting to kids at a younger age or to kids that don’t live on the farm to expose them to the opportunities that exist in agriculture.

PFD Summit

Adopting an Agronomic Mindset in the Precision Department

3 precision farming experts share how they’ve paired agronomy with their precision farming business to provide solutions for the customer.

By Kim Schmidt posted on April 25, 2018

As precision farming departments at farm equipment dealerships evolve, adding agronomic services has been somewhat of a natural progression. But, generating recurring revenue from agronomic services can be a challenge.

Reboot or Recycle? Strategies for Selling & Servicing Used Precision Technology

By Kim Schmidt posted on March 20, 2018 | Posted in Precision Sales, Equipment Compatibility

Among the top things to consider when it comes to taking in a piece of used precision technology are age and condition of the unit, who potential second customers are and how many of the same unit you have in inventory already.

‘Look in the Mirror’ When Branding Your Precision Business

Three dealers discuss how they created a marketing strategy focused on making precision profitable.

By Kim Schmidt posted on March 6, 2017 | Posted in Dealer Development, Service & Support

The first step to establishing a brand for your precision business is taking a look in the mirror and figuring out what exactly you are or what you want to be. You need to look at how you’re different from not just your neighbors but different regions, says Kevin Depies.

[Webinar] Strategies for Marketing Used Equipment

By Kim Schmidt posted on January 13, 2016 | Posted in Precision Sales

This Farm Equipment webinar event featured insights from Greg Peterson, known in the industry as Machinery Pete, and Rick Vacha, regional sales manager with Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers’ ag division. The presenters discussed the current used farm equipment market and how farm equipment dealers can market their used equipment and use auctions to their advantage. [To view any of our webinar replays, you must be logged in with a free user account.]

When competing for new hires, what can precision farming dealers do to make their companies attractive destinations for new graduates, and what tactics should they avoid?

By Kim Schmidt posted on June 29, 2015 | Posted in Precision Agriculture 101, Dealer Development

Kevin Butt, Professor of Agriculture, Ellsworth Community College, Iowa Falls, Iowa: “The biggest thing is for the companies to just be themselves. This is who we are. Don’t try to oversell yourself or make the dealership into something it’s not. Then students or graduates know exactly what they’re getting into and they’re not being promised things you can’t actually offer.

Roundtable Q&A: Winter 2015

By Kim Schmidt posted on February 2, 2015 | Posted in Precision Sales, Equipment Compatibility

With more and more farm equipment coming equipped with precision technology, dealers need to adapt their sales strategy to include service plans and data management.

Roundtable Q&A

How Do You Measure Customer Satisfaction? And More

By Kim Schmidt posted on May 11, 2014 | Posted in Precision Sales

Precision farming can present a number of challenges, and how dealers approach those challenges can differ from one to the next.

Current Issue

Precision Farming Dealer

Dedication to Problem-Solving Drives Strong Precision Service
What Are Your Best & Worst Precision Ideas?
Making the Case for Gamifying Precision Agriculture
Acquisitions, Investments Accelerate OEMs’ Autonomous Capabilities
Strip-Tillers Embrace RTK, Plan Precision Purchases in 2022

Videos

[Technology Corner] Big Investment Enables Verdant Robotics to Rapidly Scale its Fleet

Big news from Verdant Robotics this week as they announced the close of a $46.5 million series A funding round – one of the largest investments in ag robotics to date. Verdant Co-founder Curtis Garner says the funding will enable the company to scale its fleet, build more machines and cover more acres.

Top Directory Listings

Ivy Tech Community College, Lafayette Campus

The college offers an associate degree in Applied Science in Agriculture (60 credit hours). Students enrolled in this program may specialize in precision farming technology by selecting up to 15 credit hours in this area and agriculture business, sales and agronomy.

Lake Region State College - Dakota Precision Ag Center

The college offers an AAS in Precision Agriculture and customized precision ag- related training for agricultural producers, insurance underwriters, equipment dealer and agricultural cooperative employees and others.

HTS Ag Precision Ag Solutions

Offering training on Ag Leader, Trimble, Reichhardt, Norac and Integris Systems in twice yearly customer training events (spring/fall). Also offering individual training opportunities on any HTS Ag products and SMS software, year round.

Kim Schmidt

ARTICLES