Even in a pandemic, the wheels of equipment keep spinning for spring planting, and local businesses are adapting to meet the unique needs of farmers.

Dan Kruse is the Location/Sales Manager for SEMA Equipment in Caledonia. As one of six locations for the John Deere dealership company, Kruse said they’ve made changes to day-to-day interactions to protect the customers and staff. Barricades in front of the parts counter create space between customers and personnel, and they try to maintain six feet of distance during interactions.

“Other than that, it is kind of business as usual,” Kruse said. “We’re trying to keep a sense of normalcy because our customers haven’t stopped farming. They haven’t stopped milking cows. They haven’t stopped feeding their pigs, and they still expect the same level of service from us.”

He noticed a jump in activity in recent weeks with anhydrous moving, corn planters receiving service, and farmers putting soybeans in the ground. Kruse added even while working in the field, he is not getting into tractor cabs to talk with farmers like in the past. Although they need farmers there to help diagnose equipment concerns, safe distance became a directive.

“We haven't turned anybody down as far as going to fix anything, and we never will,” Kruse said.

There also have not been issues with getting shipments of parts. In fact, Kruse said they have more staff in the parts department than before, increasing their capacity and ability to deliver to customers.

“It looks like it is going to be full force here for the next month or month and a half,” Kruse said. “We would just like to remind everybody to keep shopping locally and support smaller businesses. They are doing what they can to try to survive, and we hope everybody is doing their part to keep the smaller communities vibrant so we are here to rebound from this when it passes through.”

-Kaitlyn Riley 

Even in a pandemic, the wheels of equipment keep spinning for spring planting, and local businesses are adapting to meet the unique needs of farmers.
Dan Kruse is the Location/Sales Manager for SEMA Equipment in Caledonia. As one of six locations for the John Deere dealership company, Kruse said they&rsquo;ve made changes to day-to-day interactions to protect the customers and staff. Barricades in front of the parts counter create space between customers and personnel, and they try to maintain six feet of distance during interactions.
&ldquo;Other than that, it is kind of business as usual,&rdquo; Kruse said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re trying to keep a sense of normalcy because our customers haven&rsquo;t stopped farming. They haven&rsquo;t stopped milking cows. They haven&rsquo;t stopped feeding their pigs, and they still expect the same level of service from us.&rdquo;
He noticed a jump in activity in recent weeks with anhydrous moving, corn planters receiving service, and farmers putting soybeans in the ground. Kruse added even while working in the field, he is not getting into tractor cabs to talk with farmers like in the past. Although they need farmers there to help diagnose equipment concerns, safe distance became a directive.
&ldquo;We haven't turned anybody down as far as going to fix anything, and we never will,&rdquo; Kruse said.
There also have not been issues with getting shipments of parts. In fact, Kruse said they have more staff in the parts department than before, increasing their capacity and ability to deliver to customers.
&ldquo;It looks like it is going to be full force here for the next month or month and a half,&rdquo; Kruse said. &ldquo;We would just like to remind everybody to keep shopping locally and support smaller businesses. They are doing what they can to try to survive, and we hope everybody is doing their part to keep the smaller communities vibrant so we are here to rebound from this when it passes through.&rdquo;
-Kaitlyn Riley&nbsp;

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

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