Now don't that beat all....

Just the other day, I posted a link about how the farm subsidies were going to be phased out.

JD Seller even started a thread about how that will not happen.

I just got a call from the local FSA wanting to verify my address. I gave my address, They then informed me that I had a corn base (which I knew) but haven't claimed in years. I told them I don't raise corn anymore. They told me that's OK, you still need to come in and sign up for the subsidy before the 27th of this month.

Then they asked if I had lost any livestock?(LLIP)? That I just need to bring in a 'dated' pic and get reimbursed 75% value for the loss.

I am dumb-founded...don't know what to say about this.

You were right JD Seller.

Yup.

It's not about the farmers, its about insurance and bankers and cheap food.

Of course, was just reading in the paper, a town here of around 4000 people is giving a $339,000 subsidy to a JD dealership that is building new, and an $800,000 grant application for apartments and businesses on Main Street for low income people.

That's over a million bucks this month for 4000 people.

The city folk get their dollar bill shower too.

Paul

I seen the Kibble story too. In the same story they referenced the former Caseys property. Did Caseys move or leave town?

Are you talking about the Sleepy Eye Kibble? We are wiring his new building in Blue Earth right now and will be doing the addition and Minnesota Lake. Hope we get this one too. Was wondering where he was getting all the cash. Do you have a link to the article?

Kibble is owned by Brandt Holdings, based in Fargo. Used to work for a different branch of them... couldn't squeeze an extra nickle out of them here.

I didn't know that. Is there more then one Kibble? The man that owns these Kibbles lives about a mile from the Mankato shop. Last name is Kibble not sure of first name.

Don't worry it won't be long until there won't be nothing for nobody. That is what happens when you pay people to do nothing. Very similar to everyone getting the same regardless of what they do. This is the system that cause a famine in Russia that starved millions.

Casey's gave up on trying to move, they wanted to build a truck access able gas station across the street out a block or two, and the powers that be were only allowing one access at the new location. Not workable. Dot is trying to figure out how to put a roundabout there and so aren't agreeable to anything at this time...... They are staying at their current location, which is not bad and was remodeled not long ago. Just can't fit semis in a corner gas station.....

From what I read there were 2 kibble brothers and each grouped up 10 dealerships or so, and then joined together into one, which the paper keeps saying is the biggest JD dealer network in the country. I don't know how accurate that info is, only what I read, and thought there were much larger dealerships in northern MN and in other states.....

I only have a JD planter and a swather, so I do very little Green business. My Green friends are rather stressed by the changes, it hasn't been a smooth transition from what I'm told. But change is always hard for old Germans to accept so I don't know how it will settle out. I understand the shop rates changed quite a bit, with a dozen fees added to the bottom of the bill - likely standard everywhere else, didn't used to be 'here'. I farm between the 2 places they closed, I tease my Green friends now they have to drive as far for parts as I do for my Silver combine......

I think the ag dealership network and parts availability is in for a world of hurt and change as we go through the coming ag ecconomy. I wouldn't sleep putting up new locations at this time.....

Paul

Local paper limits access to stories for free. I see the topic here, not sure if you are allowed access to 3 articles or not, blah blah.....

Paul
Maybe the article

Found a better explanation of the franchise.

http://www.faribaultcountyregister.com/page/content.detail/id/509160/Big-changes-for-John-Deere-dealers.html

They are cousins, not brothers as I had said.

It appears perhaps 4 of the locations were closed by now, and most of the others are getting refurbished or rebuilt?

Paul
Kibble story

RDO and C&B got alot of locations. Never heard of Kibble much till lately.

Potters and Bruggemans served a unique crowd in my opinion. They were smaller outfits geared towards the smaller farmer. It wasn't by accident that there were always alot of 6620 - 8820 combines on their lots.

The Kibble I met owned the store in Montevideo. He started out with basically nothing, in a small building and really went to town. When I worked for Consolidated Ag, we went on a tour of his operation in Monte. He seemed well organized and his service manager had been with him quite a while. He claimed he went over each and every shop ticket that went through the shop himself. I understand he stepped down a few years ago and turned it over to his son. That must be Butch according to the article. I know nothing of their operation now and assumed it was just one Kibble but apparently, two cousins and a third party now. To me, bigger is NOT better. So doggone impersonal. Just another wrench in the tool box when you work for them. I got out of Consolidated Ag , went to one owner dealership, but now it has incorporated also. It is just different, not for the better.

Actually not that many 88xx machines ever around here. 7720 was real popular, along with the 6620. Still are a lot.

Myself, farming changed a lot in the past 40 years. I can understand some consolidation. The Red folks got. 2-3 dealerships together a decade ago, that seemed to go well for the most part.

Paul