Farm machinery dealers ( (Continued from Page ASS) occupancy expenses—the cost of land and facilities—which jumped from 1.24 percent of sales in 1979 to 1.42 percent in 1981. Other rising expenses also pressed dealers. Salaries com prised 35 percent of total dealer ship expenses in 1981, the largest cost element. The figure would be even higher, but salaries of mechanics and servicemen are charged to their sales accounts. Dealers’ efforts to restrain rising costs are evident in developments concerning salary expenses. CUT YOUR COSTS SHOP AT E.M. HERR'S TODAY OmKMfMM as Complete Lina jSvf —T*iKu) _ _ . cawafi^gui^^ ✓ \ VJlr/ of DeLavan ■""™ f/T -a.—«4» Sprayer Parts YT^S. Fl* Up Your \ Sprayer NOW \ SfSls%; * SAVE WJ 1 E.U POLYETHnaf PerFt Twine 3/8- 70P.5.1. 1/2" H & S MANURE SPREADER T~ CLEARANCE . SAVE UP TO , L SAVE OVER 30% | 30% .HllPltl^y I On Manure Spreader Aprons C °Brands e * w/Gratz Chain & Silage Wagon Aprons - QUANTITY PRICES Pkg. Of 25 - 824.75 99* sms ? ALKi ‘ >O“Ai M(| I". DRAINAGE PIPES KENDALL UDDER CREME SOFTENS CHAPPED Sj teats m Contains lanolin to soften sun burned and chapped teats and udders 28 02 SALE 4,bBoz ' SALE Ss» *5" mi 99 »I 2" Although salaries as a percent of total sales increased from 3.1 to 5.4 percent from 1979 to 1981, average dealership personnel dropped 7 percent from 14.1 to 13.1 persons, reflecting the sluggish market. From 1970 to 1981, sales per em ployee more than tripled from about 158,000 to over 1188,000. The net effect of all of these rising expenses and sluggish sales has been an erosion of profits. In the early 1970’5, average net operating profit was 124,250, rising to $86,190 in 1979, but declining to $55,596 in 1981. Net profit on sales Per FI 14* 14* is* 3/4" Y-TEX EAR TAGS Gal. Diameter PRICES ON POLY TANKS 110 200 300 28* 31* -SPECIAL PANELS *ls** Sip 34”x16” Reg. SALE 34"x16’ Hpg 18.95 *15.99 52”xl6’Cattle 19.95 17.99 52"x16' 20.95 18.99 Combination .WetJJpote . Root • Curing Erosion Development Problems . Terrace Drainage . Poor Yielding , Wa ter Table • HHteide Seeps Control Reg. Price 30” $114.95 32" $169.95 38” $199.95 48" $279.95 alone dropped from about $30,000 m 1979 to a net loss of almost $7,000 in 1981. Weighing heavily on farm machinery sales and profits is the anemic farm income performance of the past few years. When far mers are in a financial bind, they defer expensive equipment pur chases as much as possible, making do with equipment on hand. Cheaper used equipment and parts and service sales, which provide less profit, become a larger portion of a dealer’s total business. The slump in equipment sales has created a buyers’ market SALE •95** Uprights Available *I49 95 65,550.1300, 1600 gal. •IS4* 9 *265" which forced down the average profit margin on new and used equipment from 9.9 percent in 1979 to 8.6 percent in 1981—about a 13- percent drop. From 1980 to 1981, the profit margin for parts was almost flat at about 31 percent, but the profit margin on service labor increased over 1 percent to almost 38 perc or,t EGGS Distributor of Blue Bell, Pa. WATER WASHERS for Hog, Poultry & Veal Animal Confinement Operations Warwick Hot and Cold Water Washers deliver over 2000 psi of profitable cleaning power for your toughest jobs. Our patented diaphragm pi can't be damaged by runnii dry! , 'A/'\>^vvarwick AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR - SALES & SERVICE FARMERSVIUi EQUIPMENT RD 4, East Farmersville Rd., Ephrata, PA 17522 Located in the Village of Farmersville, Lancaster County 717-354-4271 Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, May 24,1983—A37 Manufacturer of ALL ALUMINUM TRUCK BODIES Livestock, Grain and Bulk Feed Aluminum Grain Body iMmall Refrigerated Trailers Sales & Service Available with electric or gaso line power and a complete fine of special application accessories INC. While profit margins tightened, the dealers’ assets, as stacked against liabilities, declined in 1981. Faced with growing inventories and slow sales turnover, dealers have seen average ownership equity—assets minus liabilities decline from 29.3 in 1979 to 24.6 in 1981. 717-354-4971