Farm and Garden Machinery Wholesalers NAICS 423820

Aug 6, 2025 - Killing Weeds With Electricity

• Electric control technologies can eradicate weeds just as effectively as herbicides or mechanical methods, Turf Magazine reports citing a recent article published in the journal Weed Science. Moreover, the study found killing weeds with electricity poses minimal risks to crops, soil, or the environment, despite displaying a potentially higher fire hazard risk if dry crop residues are present. The research, which was conducted at vineyards in Australia, used a tractor fitted with an Zasso™ XPower electric weed control machine that featured a rear-mounted XPower 36 kW power supply unit and an XPS applicator mounted on each side, with six electrode arrays per applicator, according to Turf Magazine. The study demonstrated that electric weed control has comparable efficiency to that achieved using herbicides and will be of particular importance in situations where herbicide resistance is increasingly problematic and for organic growers because there is no chemical residue.
• Commercial farms account for the largest share of debt held by US farms despite representing the smallest share of farms by number, according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service. Since 1996, commercial farms’ share of all farm debt swelled from less than half of total sector debt to 69% in 2023. Their high debt share reflects their reliance on financing for capital-intensive activities, including investments in land and equipment. By comparison, the debt share for intermediate and residential farms fell from 1996 to 2023: from 18% to 13% for residential farms and 36% to 18% for intermediate farms, per the ERS. In 2024, farm debt at agricultural banks grew considerably and delinquency rates increased from historic lows amid weaker conditions in the agricultural economy that drove demand for production loans and led to slightly higher farm loan delinquency rates, per the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

• The high cost of new farm equipment is leading many growers to shift their replacement strategies, with some opting to extend the lifespan of their current machines, while others are investing in late-model, low-hour used equipment through auction or dealer channels, Farm Equipment reports. Leasing activity also began increasing in the second half of 2024 as producers began exploring methods to reduce equipment costs. With farm incomes projected to be lower this year and prices for new machinery high, strong demand for used equipment is expected to persist. “Producers may take a wait-and-see approach in the first half of 2025, potentially delaying equipment upgrades as the spring planting season approaches,” Lucas Scheibe, an AgDirect territory manager in North Dakota told FE, adding “However, if policy and tax conditions remain favorable, improved commodity prices could bolster farm income and influence buying decisions."
• The producer price index for machinery and supply wholesalers, which measures prices before reaching consumers, rose 6.8% in June compared to a year ago after posting a flat previous June-versus-June annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Industry producer prices were at near record highs in June, easing only slightly from their record May, which came despite declining sales as farmers pulled back on purchases due to rising equipment costs and tariff uncertainty. Employment by farm and garden machinery and equipment merchant wholesalers shrank 6.3% year over year in May while the average industry wage rose 5.4% over the same period to $31.48 per hour, BLS data show.