Dealerships have an energy and optimism when the countryside greens up -- which can wane as the temperatures rises. This is especially true for rural lifestyle dealers who also serve farmers rushing to finish spring planting or harvest summer grains.

"Neighbor to Neighbor"? is more than just a marketing tagline for Faivre Implement, a John Deere dealership with two Wisconsin locations: Stevens Point and Westfield. It is the philosophy behind the dealership's ambitious communication initiative: Neighbors magazine.

USDA Rural Development and Federated REA recently awarded a $740,000 no-interest loan (for up to 10 years) to AGCO. The loan is for a major expansion project nearing completion on AGCO’s Jackson, Minn., campus.

Think of a conversation where you're the only one talking. You have great things to share and the other person might be interested for a while. We have one-sided conversations all the time in marketing

Communication expert Ellen LaRose outlines common obstacles you may be facing right now -- and strategies for overcoming them.

The agriculture division of Lessiter Publications has named Lynn Woolf as managing editor for Rural Lifestyle Dealer magazine. Rural Lifestyle Dealer provides information, tools and business strategies for hobby farmers, agri-businesses, large estate owners, landscape and light construction contractors and more.

This expert bow hunter created an online hunting community, using a variety of equipment to develop a 310-acre whitetail deer habitat.

Blog, short for web log, is a communication tool that takes strategy, time and creativity. Done right, that time and effort can result in big benefits to your dealership.

Social media is changing how we talk to our customers and how our customers talk to --Sara Steever and about us. The tools offer tremendous opportunities for your dealership, are fairly easy to use, and many are even free. In fact, you could begin posting updates on Facebook, sending tweets on Twitter and writing blogs today.

Social media is changing how we talk to our customers and how our customers talk to — and about — us.