Overall, used equipment values trended higher in the fourth quarter, according to the latest Machinery Pete’s Quarterly Used Values Index Report. Rural equipment categories mostly trended steady, but higher than the overall index.

Dealers: You can nominate yourself for the 2017 Dealership of the Year — and it only takes a few minutes.

What’s on your mind? What keeps you up at night? What is right or wrong with the rural equipment industry? In this new series, “Dealers Sound Off,” dealers bring up issues related to those questions and our goal is to generate ideas from other dealers who may be facing the same issues.

Rural equipment dealers forecast another good year for overall and aftermarket sales, according to Rural Lifestyle Dealer’s 2017 Dealer Business Trends & Outlook survey, the magazine’s 9th annual. Despite the economic and social turbulence of an election year, these optimistic forecasts follow a very strong year for growth in 2016. Eighty-four percent of dealers think 2017 will be as good as or better than 2016 for total revenue and more than 90% think aftermarket revenue will also be as good as or better than last year. This compares with last year’s survey in which more than 88% of dealers expected 2016 to be as good as or better than 2015 for total revenue and more than 90% expected aftermarket revenue to be as good as or better than 2015.

Proven Power is now in its 20th year of offering winter storage for lawn and garden equipment, having developed processes over the years to make it efficient and profitable.

Would you be interested in a safety video toolbox to share with customers?

Take a look at the overall results and see how you stack up with the views of other dealers.

Nominations are now open for Rural Lifestyle Dealer’s “Dealership of the Year” program. Here are some common reasons for not submitting a nomination — debunked.

Find the issues lurking at your dealership that employees may be afraid to bring up.