There has been some discussion about the Nebraska tractor test on TBN before, but I did not know they were in jeopardy. This sounds like good news about helping people get tractor info:
Striving to Keep Tractor Tests
- 1/24/2005
by Charlene Finck
link to article
If you spoke up to help protect tractor performance testing in the U.S., pat yourself on the back. After reading in Farm Journal about the aggressive push being made by the Iowa-Nebraska Farm Equipment Dealers Association to repeal the law requiring Nebraska tractor tests, tractor owners and farm groups let Nebraska legislators know how important the law is to U.S. farmers in every state. Speaking out changed the momentum of the movement—and the law was saved. The Nebraska Tractor Test Lab continues to test tractors in Lincoln, Neb.
The issue also captured attention from farm organizations, policy makers and other machinery industry stakeholders. “All of a sudden, we realized that Nebraska tractor tests were at risk of being discontinued,” says Chuck Spencer, director of national legislation and policy development for the Illinois Farm Bureau. “We need unbiased, third-party tractor tests to provide critical information to farmers who are making buying decisions.”
The Illinois group got busy and recently persuaded the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) to adopt language supporting the establishment of a national tractor performance testing law—which would take the place of the Nebraska rule. Spencer and the Illinois folks are now reaching out to other state Farm Bureaus to support the initiative. “We’d like to have a federal format in place that would have the same requirements that the Nebraska law has now,” says Jerry Parkin, John Deere’s director of state public affairs. “We think it’s right to require tractors to be tested. Moving to a national level removes the burden from Nebraska.”
Odd as it may seem, the Nebraska rule requiring that tractors above 40 hp be tested before they can be sold within the state’s borders is the only law mandating performance testing in the U.S. And since the same rule doesn’t exist in neighboring states, Nebraska dealers are at a competitive disadvantage for selling non-tested tractors. Getting a federal rule in place could change that and level the selling field.
“The fact that the regulation could be a non-budgetary item [the lab is self-funded through testing fees] makes it more likely that something can be achieved,” Parkin says.
Even though the AFBF supports that approach, the Nebraska Farm Bureau wants things to stay the way they are. “Nebraska farmers are very proud of the tractor test lab and want to make sure it keeps testing tractors,” says Keith Olsen, president of the group. “What we have in place is working—and has been for years. Plus, there’s always a risk with getting federal rules involved.”
That position is shared by the Nebraska Farmer’s Union and the Center for Rural Affairs.
Regardless of customer opinions, the dealer group still seems determined to make changes in the law. As a part of that drive, Nebraska state Sen. Robert Kremer recently proposed a bill that would raise the horsepower level of tractors required to be tested from 40 hp to 100 hp. A hearing for the bill will be held in late February or early March in the Nebraska legislature. Testimony at the hearing will influence what happens from that point.
Those close to the tractor testing issue universally believe that the bi-state dealer group will continue chipping away at the testing law. That’s part of what is motivating tractor makers to support a national approach to testing. “We favor tractor testing and a federal law that mandates it,” says Rich Nelson, spokesman for CNH. “We’re participating with trade associations on the issue and will work to help make something happen at the federal level.” Like CNH and John Deere, most players in the industry support putting the existing rules into a federal format. However, it is uncertain how that will be achieved.
To gather input from tractor buyers and other stakeholders, the U.S. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Coordinating Committee that oversees the Nebraska testing lab will host a public forum this month (see sidebar). “We want to generate some good discussion and get input on what should be done in the future,” says Richard Job, AGCO engineer and committee member who pulled the forum together. “We want to listen, answer questions and identify the feelings and priorities of those present. It’s a public forum for open dialogue.”
The attention the issue is garnering is a key step toward preserving the tractor performance tests. The action taken—and results—will be watched carefully by Farm Journal and interested parties that literally stretch around the globe. “What happens with the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab and tractor testing in the U.S. will have an impact on OECD tractor testing around the world,” says Ottmar Degrell, who is in charge of the DLG tractor test station near Frankfurt, Germany. “The Nebraska lab not only helps protect farmers in the U.S., but by extension, in other countries.”
Make Your Voice Heard At This Public Forum
You have a chance to make your opinions regarding the future of tractor performance testing in the U.S. known. Mark Feb. 16 on your calendar and meet at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky. A public forum will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 108 of the South Wing Conference Center at the Louisville Fair & Exposition Center.
The forum is hosted by the U.S. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Coordinating Committee, which is the official technical body that oversees performance testing at the Nebraska Tractor Testing Lab in Lincoln, Neb.
In an effort to protect testing for tractors in the U.S., the National Farm Bureau Federation is working toward a federal tractor testing law. At the same time, the Iowa-Nebraska Farm Equipment Dealers Association is pushing the Nebraska legislature to pass a bill in 2005 that raises the horsepower requirement for tractors tested from 40 hp to 100 hp.
Representatives from tractor manufacturers, industry associations and groups involved in the process will be on hand to hear your opinions and answer questions. This is a terrific opportunity to be heard!
Tractor Performance Testing Public Forum
Wednesday, Feb. 16—1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
South Wing Conference Center, Room 108
National Farm Machinery Show
Kentucky Fair & Expo Center
Louisville, Ky.
Striving to Keep Tractor Tests
- 1/24/2005
by Charlene Finck
link to article
If you spoke up to help protect tractor performance testing in the U.S., pat yourself on the back. After reading in Farm Journal about the aggressive push being made by the Iowa-Nebraska Farm Equipment Dealers Association to repeal the law requiring Nebraska tractor tests, tractor owners and farm groups let Nebraska legislators know how important the law is to U.S. farmers in every state. Speaking out changed the momentum of the movement—and the law was saved. The Nebraska Tractor Test Lab continues to test tractors in Lincoln, Neb.
The issue also captured attention from farm organizations, policy makers and other machinery industry stakeholders. “All of a sudden, we realized that Nebraska tractor tests were at risk of being discontinued,” says Chuck Spencer, director of national legislation and policy development for the Illinois Farm Bureau. “We need unbiased, third-party tractor tests to provide critical information to farmers who are making buying decisions.”
The Illinois group got busy and recently persuaded the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) to adopt language supporting the establishment of a national tractor performance testing law—which would take the place of the Nebraska rule. Spencer and the Illinois folks are now reaching out to other state Farm Bureaus to support the initiative. “We’d like to have a federal format in place that would have the same requirements that the Nebraska law has now,” says Jerry Parkin, John Deere’s director of state public affairs. “We think it’s right to require tractors to be tested. Moving to a national level removes the burden from Nebraska.”
Odd as it may seem, the Nebraska rule requiring that tractors above 40 hp be tested before they can be sold within the state’s borders is the only law mandating performance testing in the U.S. And since the same rule doesn’t exist in neighboring states, Nebraska dealers are at a competitive disadvantage for selling non-tested tractors. Getting a federal rule in place could change that and level the selling field.
“The fact that the regulation could be a non-budgetary item [the lab is self-funded through testing fees] makes it more likely that something can be achieved,” Parkin says.
Even though the AFBF supports that approach, the Nebraska Farm Bureau wants things to stay the way they are. “Nebraska farmers are very proud of the tractor test lab and want to make sure it keeps testing tractors,” says Keith Olsen, president of the group. “What we have in place is working—and has been for years. Plus, there’s always a risk with getting federal rules involved.”
That position is shared by the Nebraska Farmer’s Union and the Center for Rural Affairs.
Regardless of customer opinions, the dealer group still seems determined to make changes in the law. As a part of that drive, Nebraska state Sen. Robert Kremer recently proposed a bill that would raise the horsepower level of tractors required to be tested from 40 hp to 100 hp. A hearing for the bill will be held in late February or early March in the Nebraska legislature. Testimony at the hearing will influence what happens from that point.
Those close to the tractor testing issue universally believe that the bi-state dealer group will continue chipping away at the testing law. That’s part of what is motivating tractor makers to support a national approach to testing. “We favor tractor testing and a federal law that mandates it,” says Rich Nelson, spokesman for CNH. “We’re participating with trade associations on the issue and will work to help make something happen at the federal level.” Like CNH and John Deere, most players in the industry support putting the existing rules into a federal format. However, it is uncertain how that will be achieved.
To gather input from tractor buyers and other stakeholders, the U.S. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Coordinating Committee that oversees the Nebraska testing lab will host a public forum this month (see sidebar). “We want to generate some good discussion and get input on what should be done in the future,” says Richard Job, AGCO engineer and committee member who pulled the forum together. “We want to listen, answer questions and identify the feelings and priorities of those present. It’s a public forum for open dialogue.”
The attention the issue is garnering is a key step toward preserving the tractor performance tests. The action taken—and results—will be watched carefully by Farm Journal and interested parties that literally stretch around the globe. “What happens with the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab and tractor testing in the U.S. will have an impact on OECD tractor testing around the world,” says Ottmar Degrell, who is in charge of the DLG tractor test station near Frankfurt, Germany. “The Nebraska lab not only helps protect farmers in the U.S., but by extension, in other countries.”
Make Your Voice Heard At This Public Forum
You have a chance to make your opinions regarding the future of tractor performance testing in the U.S. known. Mark Feb. 16 on your calendar and meet at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky. A public forum will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 108 of the South Wing Conference Center at the Louisville Fair & Exposition Center.
The forum is hosted by the U.S. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Coordinating Committee, which is the official technical body that oversees performance testing at the Nebraska Tractor Testing Lab in Lincoln, Neb.
In an effort to protect testing for tractors in the U.S., the National Farm Bureau Federation is working toward a federal tractor testing law. At the same time, the Iowa-Nebraska Farm Equipment Dealers Association is pushing the Nebraska legislature to pass a bill in 2005 that raises the horsepower requirement for tractors tested from 40 hp to 100 hp.
Representatives from tractor manufacturers, industry associations and groups involved in the process will be on hand to hear your opinions and answer questions. This is a terrific opportunity to be heard!
Tractor Performance Testing Public Forum
Wednesday, Feb. 16—1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
South Wing Conference Center, Room 108
National Farm Machinery Show
Kentucky Fair & Expo Center
Louisville, Ky.