Equipment Dealers Association

Welcome to Farm Equipment's podcast.

In this episode, I sat down with Brian McGuire, president and CEO of Associated Equipment Distributors, and Brett Davis, CEO of the North American Equipment Dealers Association.

The two organizations announced in late September 2026 plans to merge into one unified dealer association, bringing the strengths of each group together.

I caught up with the two execs to discuss how we got to this place, what's next, and why this is what's best for dealers and the industry.

Dealer associations.

The proposed Associated Equipment Distributors North American Equipment Dealers Association merger, to be called Associated Equipment Dealers, shows that associations are responding to the consolidation trend, too.

This development might be referred to as version 4.0.

The MOU crafted a year ago telegraphed the sensible path toward a merger, but the timetable came swifter than expected.

If approved, North American Equipment Dealers Association's members should find a greater federal presence, while AED members will get a crash course in dealer advocacy and manufacturer relations should the construction dealers wish to get into the ring with their OEMs.

North American Equipment Dealers Association CEO Brett Davis says the merger combines the best of both organizations, while also noting AED's strength in fundraising.

One voice for the industry makes sense, he says, and combining the resources gives us a much stronger voice.

North American Equipment Dealers Association chair Steve Hunt of H&R Agripower told me about the clout that the new organization will have on Capitol Hill.

they're selling well too

their farmers are holding on to them longer so And the North American Equipment Dealers Association and Associated Equipment Distributors have announced plans to merge in January.

The merger will create a stronger, unified organization that will operate as the Associated Equipment Dealers and serve equipment dealers and distributors across the United States and Canada.

Advocacy and industry affairs are on the agenda along with building education, workforce development, dealer-manufacturer relations, research events, and member services.

Here's an update on what's currently impacting the ag equipment industry.

[upbeat music] On September 24th, the North American Equipment Dealers Association and Associated Equipment Distributors announced plans to merge effective January 2027.

The merged organizations will operate as Associated Equipment Dealers and will be headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, the current home of AED.

The Canadian headquarters will remain in Calgary, Alberta.

Back to you, Kim.

Thanks, Noah.

The North American Equipment Dealers Association's annual dealer manufacturer relations survey results are out, and Kubota Canada once again came out on top with the highest average mean score for the full line manufacturers.

Dealers can rate up to seven manufacturers they carry and rank them based on their experience in 11 categories, including product quality, availability and technical support, parts availability, quality and return policies, communication, warranty, marketing and advertising support, with a separate rating for overall satisfaction.

So, you know, I as as my point is, as the consolidation rolls forward, I hope some of these guys still stick around because the other deal, and we'll close this one out, was, you know, talking about basically scale.

So the North American Equipment Dealers Association merged with the Associated Equipment Dealers Association, They'll be based out of here in suburban Chicago.

But once again, this particular one, which is more important to dealerships and those who sell ag equipment, those types of things, it gives them some juice in a market where they need some juice.

So 7,800 dealer locations.

The North American Equipment Dealers Association and associated equipment distributors are planning to merge into a new group, the Associated Equipment Dealers.

The new group will represent equipment dealers in the U.S. and Canada and, according to a press release, is meant to bring together the strengths, expertise, and resources of both associations with a shared goal, that to provide greater value to members and a stronger voice for equipment dealers.

Steve Hunt, chairman of NAEDA's board of directors, said the merger is, quote, about putting dealers first and positioning our industry for the future.

The Iowa Corn Growers Association says immediate policy action is needed out of Washington to lower diesel prices.

Farmers who depend on the fuel to power their harvest face a major hardship as national on-highway diesel prices are up nearly 60% versus last year, the group says.