Readings range between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral.

Overall: The region鈥檚 overall reading for September fell to 44.7 from 50.3 in August.

Farm equipment sales: The September farm equipment sales index increased to a very weak 25.0 from August鈥檚 22.2.

Farming and ranchland prices: For the fourth time in the past five months, the farm and ranchland price index climbed above growth neutral, increasing to 50.1 from 47.2 in August. 鈥淔arm and ranchland values have been holding up much better than farm and ranching income,鈥� said Goss.

Hiring: The new hiring index for September sank to 49.5 from August鈥檚 50.1. The rural job market for farms, ranches and non-farm rural employers has remained weak for the last several months.

鈥淚n September, 5.3% of bankers reported an upturn in hiring by Rural Mainstreet businesses. This was unchanged from the August report,鈥� said Goss.

Confidence: Rural bankers remain pessimistic about economic growth for their area over the next six months. The September economic confidence index tumbled to a weak 26.3 from 31.6 in August. 

鈥淒espite improving grain prices, rising trade tensions and higher input costs continued to weigh on banker confidence,鈥� said Goss.

Source:

The 婷婷激情五月天 (FEMA) has extended the submission deadline for its inaugural AgTech Arena Pitch Competition to September 28, 2026, giving agtech innovators additional time to showcase their technologies to the agricultural equipment industry.

The competition will bring emerging agtech companies together with manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, investors and industry leaders during FEMA鈥檚 2026 Marketing & Distribution Convention, October 27鈥�29 at the New Orleans Marriott.

Five startups will be selected to present their solutions live before a panel of industry professionals and convention attendees. The winning startup will receive a $10,000 grand prize, and convention attendees will have the opportunity to vote for a $1,000 People鈥檚 Choice Award.

The AgTech Arena is open to innovative startups developing technologies and solutions in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, autonomous systems, precision agriculture, sensors, software and advanced manufacturing. University teams and researchers with strong commercial potential are also encouraged to apply.

Selected participants must be present in New Orleans October 27鈥�29 to deliver their pitch in person at FEMA鈥檚 Marketing & Distribution Convention.

New Submission Deadline: September 28, 2026

Agtech innovators interested in participating can submit their proposals at FarmEquip.org/AgTechPitchContest.

The AgTech Arena Pitch Competition is presented in collaboration with AgTech Alchemy.

Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa tried to add Prop 12 language, but the attempt was denied by Chairman John Boozman from Arkansas, who said the time to make amendments in committee has passed.

鈥淚owa鈥檚 livestock producers deserve more than expressions of support. They deserve action. They deserve an honest debate, which I was denied today,鈥� she says.

There continues to be opposition in committee to the SNAP nutrition provisions part of the farm bill. Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota says a one-year delay in state cost sharing still isn鈥檛 enough, and that needs to be resolved as the bill moves forward.听

鈥淚f we don鈥檛 at least change the numbers or where it hits for the error rate for the second year, we鈥檙e going to have this unfair situation. We are in good faith, and I appreciate the chairman trying to fix that second year.鈥�

Klobuchar also noted concerns about a decision to take money away from conservation programs.

Senator John Hoeven from North Dakota says there鈥檚 time for debate on the Senate floor, because time is running out to pass a farm bill.

鈥淔armers are facing very low commodity prices, high input costs. They need our help. They need this farm bill,鈥� says Hoeven.

The full U.S. Senate is now expected to consider the bill, but it鈥檚 unclear when that might happen. The chamber is scheduled to remain in session into early October. The House adjourned this week, earlier than expected.

Source:

If you haven鈥檛 downloaded the FEMA app yet, now is the perfect time. And if you already have the app, be sure to refresh or update it to make sure you have the latest features and information.

Download or refresh the app today using the QR code or by visiting to access the latest updates and features.

Your Farm Show Directory Is Ready

Did you know you can use the FEMA app to access the Farm Show Directory? The directory helps you stay up to date on farm show dates and locations, and the RSVP feature is now working, making it easy to let FEMA know which shows you plan to attend.

To access the directory, tap 鈥淔arm Show Guide鈥� at the bottom of the home screen. Look for the tractor icon.

From there, you can search for shows by city, state/province, or event name. Each listing includes event dates, location information, website links, and contact details.

Get Convention-Ready with the FEMA App

If you鈥檝e had the app for a while, refresh it today so you can take advantage of the latest updates. You can also use it during the Marketing & Distribution Convention in New Orelans to find attendees, view sessions and schedules, bookmark sessions, schedule meetings and more.

Stay tuned to the Shortliner for more app tips and tricks!

Tye鈥檚 connection to FEMA and the shortline equipment industry spans decades. He served as President of FEMA from 1991 to 1992 and has been a member of FEMA鈥檚 Risk Management Committee for 27 years. Through that involvement, he has continued to contribute his experience and perspective to issues affecting manufacturers and the broader shortline industry.

A respected business leader, engineer, and entrepreneur, Tye built his career around innovation, manufacturing, and growth in the agricultural equipment industry. After earning engineering degrees from Texas Tech University and Oklahoma State University, he held leadership positions in manufacturing before taking the helm of a small, family-owned farm equipment company in Lockney, Texas.

Under his leadership, the company grew into Ag婷婷激情五月天 Group, a major North American manufacturer that was later acquired by AGCO Corporation. Tye鈥檚 contributions to the farm equipment industry were further recognized with his induction into the Farm 婷婷激情五月天 Shortline Legends Hall of Fame.

While his professional accomplishments have had a broad industry impact, Tye continues to support his community and the agricultural equipment industry through civic leadership and investment. Tye resides in Plainview, TX, with his wife, Vel.

FEMA congratulates John Tye on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for his many years of leadership and service to the association, the shortline industry, and the West Texas community.

Source:

The company will return 150 employees to Seeding and Cylinder Operations in Moline and approximately 225 employees to Harvester Works in East Moline. The additional workforce will help build dealer inventory ahead of upcoming planting and harvest cycles, support long-term operational planning, and position the company to continue serving customers through all operating environments, including future labor negotiations.

Source:

From economic trends and autonomous technology to tariffs, insurance and risk management, this year鈥檚 speakers will offer insights you can take back to your business.

Alex Weber will kick off the convention with the Opening Breakfast Keynote, 鈥淭he Unstoppable You,鈥� on Wednesday, October 28, from 8:00鈥�9:30 a.m. Weber鈥檚 energetic presentation will focus on personal and professional growth, resilience and reaching your full potential.

Patrick Luce and Jeremy Bess of Stantec Consulting Services will provide an Economic Outlook on Thursday, October 29, examining economic trends and market conditions affecting manufacturers, distributors and the agricultural equipment industry.

Technology takes center stage with Chris Hunsaker, Founder and CEO of Acuitus Ag, presenting 鈥淎g Autonomy鈥檚 鈥楽tate of the State鈥欌�� on Wednesday, October 28. Hunsaker will explore the current state of autonomous agriculture and what may be ahead.

Michael Devereaux, Partner with Wipfli Advisory LLC, will bring tax, tariffs and technology together in 鈥淭ax, Tariffs & Technology: A Manufacturing Mashup, New Orleans Style鈥� on Wednesday, October 28. His session will examine how these issues intersect for today鈥檚 manufacturers.

The Sentry Insurance team, Matt Beigel, Trent Waltenberg and Bryant Hintz, will present 鈥淧rotecting Your Bottom Line: Smart Liability & Risk Management Solutions鈥� Wednesday, October 28. The session will cover product liability, safety inspections, property protection and resources available to FEMA members.

And there鈥檚 more! The convention will also feature sessions on equipment market trends and data, payments and cash flow, risk management and other topics important to today鈥檚 equipment businesses.

Additional details will be announced as the agenda is finalized.

The future is in the room. Will you be?

FEMA 2026 Marketing & Distribution Convention
October 27鈥�29, 2026 | New Orleans Marriott

Some notable numbers and takeaways:

• Nearly 600 exhibitors participated in 2026.
• New features included the Agronomy Zone and the first official Drone Zone in Boone, along with expanded field demonstrations.
• One interesting business indicator: 28% of paid booth square footage from 2025 was already rebooked for the 2027 show through the new on-site exhibitor rebooking office. Farm Progress characterized that as evidence of exhibitor confidence in the event.

For shortline manufacturers, the mood was more cautious than celebratory, with farmers continuing to weigh equipment purchases carefully in the face of tight margins. At the same time, the focus on efficiency, productivity and specialized equipment continues to create opportunities for shortliners offering solutions that can deliver a clear return on investment.

Source:

Corn | Holding Firm

Corn remains relatively strong heading into harvest. December corn was trading around $5.34 per bushel on September 16, roughly where it stood in late August. The market continues to balance strong recent price performance against expectations for substantial U.S. production and the progress of the harvest.

Soybeans | Higher

Soybeans have continued to move higher since late August. November futures were around $13.20 per bushel on September 16, compared with approximately $12.60 three weeks ago. Export demand, including renewed Chinese buying, has provided support.

Wheat | Higher

Wheat remains one of the stronger grain markets. Chicago wheat was around $7.31 per bushel on September 16, compared with roughly $6.80 in late August. CME Group reported Chicago wheat among the strongest agricultural commodities in August, with a monthly gain of nearly 18%. Global supply concerns and export developments continue to influence the market.

Cattle | Strong but Under Pressure

Cattle prices remain historically high, but the market has softened from earlier 2026 levels. Live cattle were around $220 per hundredweight on September 16, while CME Group reported live cattle down 6.4% during August. Tight supplies continue to support prices, but producers are watching demand and import policy closely.

Diesel | Rising Sharply

Diesel is the biggest cost story this week. The U.S. average reached $6.285 per gallon for the week of September 14, up from $5.652 on August 24 and $5.967 the previous week. Midwest diesel reached $6.250 per gallon. The increase is particularly significant heading into harvest, adding pressure to farm operating costs, transportation and manufacturing.

Fertilizer | Mixed

Fertilizer prices have shown some movement since the August update, although the overall picture remains mixed. Prices remain an important consideration as producers begin making decisions for the 2027 crop. The market continues to be influenced by natural gas costs, global supply and seasonal demand.

Financing | New Headwind

The Federal Reserve raised the federal funds target range by 0.25 percentage point on September 16, to 3.75%鈥�4.00%. The Fed said economic activity is expanding at a solid pace but noted that inflation remains elevated. For equipment manufacturers and dealers, borrowing costs remain an important consideration for customers evaluating large equipment purchases and inventory financing.

Tariffs & Manufacturing Costs | Still Watching

Trade policy remains an important consideration for manufacturers, particularly those purchasing steel, aluminum, electronics and other imported components. While there has not been a major new development this week that warrants a full update, tariffs and sourcing costs remain factors manufacturers should continue to monitor.

婷婷激情五月天 Market | Uneven

The broader equipment market continues to show a split between large agricultural equipment and smaller equipment categories. Deere’s most recent results showed continued pressure in large agriculture while Small Ag & Turf has been more resilient. Industry data also continues to point toward tighter equipment demand following the downturn of the past several years.

Bottom Line

The biggest changes this week are higher soybean and wheat prices, sharply higher diesel costs and the Federal Reserve’s rate increase. Corn remains relatively steady, while cattle prices have softened from earlier highs. For shortline manufacturers, the combination of stronger commodity prices and significantly higher fuel costs creates a mixed environment heading into harvest, while financing costs remain an important factor in equipment purchasing decisions.

Sources: USDA, USDA-NASS, CME Group, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Federal Reserve, Deere & Company, Reuters and industry market reports.

That effort is entering a new chapter with the launch of Industry Affairs, the new name for NAEDA鈥檚 Industry Relations Task Force (IRTF). The program will continue NAEDA鈥檚 work on dealer advocacy and manufacturer engagement while expanding its partnership with the Association of 婷婷激情五月天 Distributors (AED).

The partnership brings together industry experience, manufacturer relationships, and dealer perspectives to create a more coordinated approach to industry issues and encourage earlier, more productive conversations between dealers and manufacturers.

Source:

| FEMA member since 1957