As the year comes to a close, Rural Lifestyle Dealer has compiled the top articles from each month of 2020. Take a look at what stories were trending on RuralLifestylDealer.com in January 2020.

1. Jury Orders John Deere to Pay $5 Million for Tractor Death

A Payne County, Okla., jury awarded a Stillwater, Okla., woman $5 million in a civil suit that followed her husband's death in a tractor accident.

The jury found Deere & Co., the manufacturer of John Deere tractors, to be responsible for the May 25, 2014, death of James Beall, age 38, of Stillwater, when the tractor he was driving rolled over, trapping him underneath. Shylah Beall, his widow, was represented by Smolen Law, a Tulsa, Okla., firm.

2. Kubota Unveils Prototypes of Electric Tractors, Compact Construction Machinery

Kubota Corp. recently unveiled prototypes of electric tractors and electric compact construction machinery (mini excavators), which are currently under development, at a new product exhibition held in Kyoto City, Japan. Kubota will proceed with the continuous development by conducting demonstration experiments and analyzing the needs of local users.

3. Deere & Co. Lays out 2020 Gameplan

Deere & Co. leaders will lean on further developments in advanced farming techniques to create more efficient machines while cutting costs through its voluntary buyout program for a better financial future.

Deere CEO John May, who took over the top position in November after previously serving as chief operating officer for the Moline-based ag manufacturer, gave remarks to stakeholders Wednesday at the Consumer Electronics Show, a trade show in Las Vegas.

4. Doosan Bobcat Announces Investment in New Dealer Trade-in Program

Doosan Bobcat Inc. announces the launch of a new dealer program, Trade-ins Made Easy, the result of a strategic partnership between Bobcat Co., Doosan Financial Solutions and Sandhills Global. The program is designed to enhance the ability of dealerships to manage equipment trade-ins.

“We are committed to offering ongoing innovative, value-added solutions to support our dealer network,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “This new program will provide greater accessibility to real-world evaluations and empower our dealers to achieve greater levels of success.”

5. Toro to Acquire Ventrac

The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire privately-held Venture Products, Inc., the manufacturer of Ventrac-branded products. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is currently anticipated to close before the end of The Toro Company’s fiscal 2020 second quarter.

Based in Orrville, Ohio, Ventrac is a leading manufacturer of articulating turf, landscape, and snow and ice management equipment for the grounds, landscape contractor, golf, municipal and rural acreage markets. With a combination of power and maneuverability, Ventrac products are designed to enable the operator to use the equipment in a variety of settings with ease.

6. Honda Power Equipment Products Offered at Lowe's

Honda Power Equipment, a business unit of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and manufacturer and marketer of a complete range of outdoor power equipment products, announce a new alliance with Lowe’s. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE  50 home improvement company serving more than 18 million customers a week in the United States and Canada. 

Honda will supply Lowe’s with a range of its premium, high-quality outdoor power products including walk-behind lawn mowers, generators, snow blowers, tillers, pumps and string trimmers for residential and commercial applications.

7. [Video] Earn More Profits from Parts

“Parts are where the profits are and parts have always been the lifeblood of our business. It’s the biggest reason for us to be in the power equipment business,” says Dan Weingartz, owner of Weingartz, a 6-store dealership in Michigan. Weingartz will share how they are achieving success by gathering data, having the right pricing strategies, making the most of purchasing programs and utilizing trained experts.”

8. [Video] Managing Your Sales Team for Peak Performance

Sales managers have different management styles and each sales person has a different personality. Twenty-five-year sales management expert Ryan Dohrn will share 10 tips for overcoming differences, working together and achieving peak performance.

9. 5 Manufacturing Trends to Watch in 2020

 Both the immediate and long-term future of the manufacturing industry will be defined by the development of several ever-evolving and cutting-edge trends and technologies. Many of these trends and technologies are poised to have a significant impact in 2020 and beyond, so it’s critically important for manufacturers to develop a keen understanding of what they are, how they will grow over time, and how they will impact those within the industry — both this year and in the future.

10. 5 Simple Ways to Be a Better Boss

Being the boss is one of the top five challenges cited by small business owners. Below are five simple leadership qualities entrepreneurs can embrace to be a better “boss” and better manage their employees.