Back saver

BACK SAVER: Winter presents a dilemma for the eco-conscious: Do we hire someone to plow our driveway, cringe as we fire up the snow blower or get out the shovel and hope our back doesn't hate us for it later? Now there's an easier, emission-free option called the Sno Wovel ($120). A shovel blade mounted on what looks like an oversized bicycle wheel, it's received invention awards from Popular Mechanics and Time. And a University of Massachusetts study determined the Wovel "reduces lower back stress to something akin to 'simply walking' and dramatically reduces overall physical exertion by as much as 75-80% or more versus traditional snow shovels."

CONTACT: Structured Solutions II, LLC, www.wovel.com.

do it!

Easy Remove the flower spikes of summer-flowering heathers - you can use shears taking care not to cut into old wood, as it won't re- shoot.

As soon as all the leaves drop off your old apple tree, prune those gnarled branches and reshape the tree so that it looks more interesting, and gives a better yield of fruit. Look closely at the branches: the ones that bear clusters or spurs should be left untouched, as they will carry next year's fruit. Remove damaged, diseased and crossing branches, thinning the congested growth in the centre of the plant to allow for good air circulation.DIY itChilly nights bring about dramatic changes in the garden. While deciduous trees and shrubs are putting on a great show as their leaves change to vibrant colours before falling to the ground, evergreens such as bergenias and mahonia are also turning sumptuous plummy and claret shades, and the variegated euonymus is taking on pink tones after the leaves are frosted. You will also see a marked change in the dwarf pines Winter Sun and Ophir, which turn from green to gold as winter sets in.Good ideaDesign itCUT a potato in half, carve out shapes - say, holly leaves and berries - then paint and make your own Christmas cards.Tie in splayed branches on columnar conifers to improve their shape and, if snow is forecast, to prevent them from breaking under the weight.Get pruningTake root cuttings of perennials with thick, fleshy roots, including phlox, oriental poppies and verbascums.Cover brassicas with netting to protect them from pigeons.Effort Clear leaves from lawns, paths, gravel, gutters and drain grilles. Use a blower or vac for large areas. Compost the leaves to make a soil-conditioning leaf mould.Cover root crops on the veg plot with straw to prevent the soil from freezing, which will make harvesting easier. Don't cover parsnips, as they have a sweeter taste after they've been under frost!

CUT a potato in half, carve out shapes - say, holly leaves and berries - then paint and make your own Christmas cards.

Plowing on

City officials have been receiving a lot of telephone calls and e- mails since a winter storm hit the area on Christmas Eve, and most of them don't have anything to do with wishing someone a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays.

It all happened, no doubt, and still is happening somewhere in Topeka as this sentence is being written.We sympathize with those who had their driveways and walks cleared before the snowplows arrived and had to pick up the shovel or crank up the snow blower again. But we're not writing today to lodge our own complaint, or dwell on the inconveniences that arrive with every winter storm of consequence and should be routine for anyone who has lived in Kansas for any length of time.That's not to slight the substantial efforts of those who work for the state, county, township and smaller cities and sacrificed their holiday and weekend to push snow from the highways, roads and streets in their jurisdiction. But Topeka's efforts generally draw the most criticism when residents don't think the snow is being moved quickly enough or in the proper manner -- probably because city crews have more driveways to block and sidewalks to cover.That the work continues does nothing to diminish the importance of their labor.Covering that much pavement takes time and, given the amount of snow to move, city officials were wise to call on contract crews early for assistance. That decision paid dividends when several of the city's plow trucks experienced mechanical problems Sunday evening. Bevens said it was only on Monday and Tuesday that crews and equipment assigned to the main trafficways and arterial streets could turn much of their attention to residential streets.City spokesman David Bevens says Topeka has about 800 linear miles of streets and more than 2,000 lane miles. (A one-mile stretch of a four-lane street equals four lane miles.)Mother Nature may determine whether that task is finished before the next snowfall, but we certainly can't fault the city's effort over a very white Christmas weekend.Before the next snowflakes fall, we want to recognize the yeoman's effort put forth by the city and contract employees who worked around the clock on Christmas and throughout the three-day weekend in an attempt to clear city streets of more than 11 inches of snow.

Mother Nature may determine whether that task is finished before the next snowfall, but we certainly can't fault the city's effort over a very white Christmas weekend.

Alamo Group Inc. Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend

SEGUIN, Texas -- Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE: ALG) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share, payable February 3, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 19, 2010.

This release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company’s actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market demand, competition, weather, seasonality, currency-related issues, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.

This release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company’s actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market demand, competition, weather, seasonality, currency-related issues, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.

Some people are born to revel in the snow and coldSTRANDED

Who knew the "it" gifts for the holiday season should have been tire socks for the car and a snow blower? Or tire chains? Or snow shoes?

We should have forgotten about the video games and Zhu Zhu Pets for the kids and made room for two-person sleds and water-wicking gloves that can form the perfect snowball. Even skis or ice skates would have been more useful than most of what was discovered under the tree.It looks like this winter season will continue to provide snow and sub-zero temperatures. If you plan to run to the store before the next predicted snow event, I suggest in addition to milk and bread, you purchase toilet paper, chocolate and a cheap sled. I may even add a doughnut or two to my list.Maybe I love winter because of the last-minute errands my dad would decide to run after a new snowfall. When he asked for volunteers to go with him, I rarely declined because I knew we would end up in an empty parking lot doing doughnuts in his smokin' burnt orange Buick LaSabre. You couldn't miss us if you had happened to drive by. It was the car with the conspicuous round, just-a-shade- lighter-than-the-body-paint spot on the back rear panel of the driver's side. I called the mark our Polish family crest.It could be the childhood memories of school snow days that shut down everything except sledding, ice skating and Chicago Bears games. The snow was so deep after one snowstorm that my siblings and I were able to build a fort underneath the snow. The fort tunneled throughout part of the backyard and kept us occupied for hours. I think mom came outside once to bring us sandwiches. Well, she may have checked again to make sure we were still breathing and able to finish chores later.Those trips always left me pondering one question, though. Why are milk and bread the items we stock up on before predicted snow events? Do we consume more French toast during snowstorms?My affinity for winter could be traced to my Chicago roots, but that wouldn't explain why some in my family are not as fond of the cold weather and snow as I am.Don't get me started about summer, though. It's my least favorite season and has been since I was a teenager. That is when I realized no matter how much time I spent sunbathing, the freckles were not going to meld into a perfect tan and the resulting red skin tone -- or what my parents called a "sunburn" -- was not meant to match the red highlights of my hair.Vicki Estes is a Topeka freelance writer. She can be reached at vaestes@sbcglobal.net.I am not sure why winter has become my favorite season, especially when I love rustling through the fallen leaves of autumn and smelling the newly sprouted flower bulbs of the spring.

Vicki Estes is a Topeka freelance writer. She can be reached at vaestes@sbcglobal.net.

Introducing new products

Pick the right time for your test and include oil secondary operations.

The time to introduce a lubricant is not during a production run unless extra machine time has been set aside to test the product. The test also should examine how the lubricant performs with secondary operations like welding, brazing, plating or painting.Tool life and making the part are the most important. If you cannot make the part, the rest of the process is irrelevant. The shop floor is much like the weather. You get new jobs to make, and you have the same tools (lubricants) to make them. This is kind of like fighting a 15-inch snowstorm with a snow shovel. The shovel works, but a snow blower is better.This is when the panic call comes in to you, the lubricant supplier. You will hear things like, "Your oil is no good." In reality, the difficulty could be � tool, material or machine problem, but the pressure will be to get the machine running and keep it running. In response, you introduce a new lubricant one or two steps up the matrix in terms of performance and finish the job.Everyone breathes a sigh of relief because the job is out of the machine. The next day you get a call from the finishing department. They are under pressure to get the parts out the door, and they cannot get the lubricant off. At this point, the new product that made you a hero the day before will have you in deep doo-doo.My personal war with Did Man Winter rages on. He sends a blizzard, I get the snow blower [tool). He sends a dusting of snow, I get the snow shovel (tool). He sends a freezing rain, I get out the salt (chemistry]. For every punch he throws, it seems I have a counterpunch. The problem is the time it takes to get back to normal after each punch.We should have worked on the chemistry for the process in advance. The lubricants we put on have to come off. With snow, even though I remove the majority of the snow with tools, some snow and ice remain bonded to the sidewalk. For this portion of the job, I have to use chemistry.The shop floor is a lot like the weather. You never know when it will send its next nasty little surprise, and you do not know how much time it will take to overcome the difficulty. That is why shop floors spend so much time streamlining their manufacturing processes.Pete Oglevie is president of International Production Technologies in Port Washington, Wis. You can reach him at poglevie@wi.rr.com.Consider an order of 100,000 parts. If the scheduler has set aside 40 hours of time on a machine that produces 50 parts per minute, you have G 1/2 hours for the setup and any problems that come up during the run. If setting up the machine takes EO minutes, you have six hours for problems. If you take three hours to pul I the tool from the machine for tool room work, you have three hours left. Pull the tool one more time, take 20 minutes to reset the machine, and you have only two hours and 40 minutes to finish a three-hour job. There is not enough time.Let's look at two areas that cause the majority of problems with meta I working fluids, the lubricant where we generally have the greatest need for new products. The first is tool life. The second is part finish.

Pete Oglevie is president of International Production Technologies in Port Washington, Wis. You can reach him at poglevie@wi.rr.com.

Commentary: Nothing like a good snow storm to let the mind drift

I never took the time to buy a snow blower or have sons, so when a nor'easter batters Long Island's North Shore, I have to slip a bottle of low-dose aspirin into the pocket of my parka and head outside chanting, "lift with the knees, lift with the knees."

Funny how he only worried about the neighbor kid.I try to use the time creatively, pondering, for example, what exactly it is that Tom Suozzi does for Cablevision, or thinking up ways to pay down the federal debt.Eventually, Dad installed heating wires that helped with the roof melting, although they created giant icicles that stretched from the eaves all the way to the ground, giving the house a kind of Carlsbad Cavern look that lasted until early spring.I'm calling Washington as soon as I finish the driveway.One of our neighbors was so far off the road he had to sign up for 17 phones, and when a call came in you couldn't tell if you were at a fire muster or a Lon Cheney movie.We used to get real snow back then, none of this modern-day, pretty-boy, by-the-inch business, but feet of it, overnight.(My favorite, roughly translated, means, "May the Black Plague crawl up your rectum.")After a really big storm, Dad would obsess for a day or two about the roof caving in, then finally climb up there to push the snow off, each shovelful punctuated with a grunt and a Ukrainian expletive so foul my mother would make the kids stay in the house even though none of us spoke the language.With insulated underwear, a sweater, coat, ski pants, scarf, hat, extra socks and buckle-up boots, getting dressed to shovel was almost as tiring as the actual snow removal.It would get so cold that men were allowed to wear their socks to bed. We'd have winters so bad you'd occasionally see a chicken with a capon.My brother and I would get rousted early, while it was still dark, so we'd have time to dig out my father's truck and uncover the mailbox before grabbing a little breakfast and heading off to school.I could never really tell who chose which.Today, they cancel school if the News 12 meteorologist has a cough.Recent idea: a national lottery in which the winner doesn't get cash but is exempted from ever paying income tax again.School, by the way, was canceled for snow exactly twice in the 12 years I attended up there, and I think one of them was actually a federal holiday.This allowed him to obsess about the icicles crashing through a window or killing the neighbor kid.I'm good at shoveling snow, having grown up in New Hampshire before global warming, back in the days when the White Mountains deserved their name and winter temperatures reached depths that would flash-freeze whatever was in your nostrils the second you stepped outside.You wouldn't think you could develop a sweat at 25-below, but you can. Just not in the nostrils.That's right: We actually had to shovel uphill, both ways.Long driveways were a boon for the telephone company when I was a boy, because Ma Bell would only give you 100 feet of line from the pole to the house for every handset you agreed to take.Believe it or not, they actually had roads in New Hampshire back then, but nobody liked to live very close to them. Instead, most residents had long, winding driveways that took you in a couple of acres, past your yellow pines, your rusting pickups and the odd chunk of granite. Part of it was privacy, part of it making sure you had enough room to "live free or die," as the state motto goes.Our driveway wasn't as long as that, but it was horseshoe shaped and, since the house was built on a knoll, sloped in two directions.And wait for the plow to come back.It's not the cold and back-breaking work that bothers me most about shoveling snow, but the boredom of it all, the mindless pushing, lifting and flipping, performed over and over again until you finally reach the plow pile at the end of the driveway and hack through the crust and ice boulders and, at long last, get to head inside for Advil and brandy.

I'm calling Washington as soon as I finish the driveway.

Wheeled snow shovel

The new Folding Frame Sno Wovel[R] combines safety for the user, protection of the environment, and high-performance. The Sno Wovel is the only human-powered snow removal device performing equal to or better than a snow blower. The Sno Wovel's zero-carbon footprint and maintenance-free design makes it a formidable competitor to noisy combustion engine snow blowers and the patented design results in a 3-4 times reduction in lower back stress and cardio exertion over manual shovels. It is fully adjust able for body type and size and the folding frame model quickly folds down for easy and portable storage. Unique accessories include gravel wheels, a chipper plate for ice and packed snow, and an advanced composite snap-on wear strip to extend shovel life. STRUCTURED SOLUTIONS II, 877.699.6835, WWW.SNOWOVEL.COM

1023 E and 1026 R compact tractors and attachments

The new John Deere 1023E/1026R tractor platform was developed from the ground up to improve attachability and customer satisfaction. New implements, including a series of front-end loaders, a snow blower, and a series of AutoConnect[TM] mowers, were developed with the new tractor platform. The two tractor models will be differentiated with power level and basic or premium options. The loaders will also be differentiated with basic or premium operator features.

803-372-8753Grovetown, Georgia, USAJohn Deerewww.deere.comThe 54D and 60D AutoConnect mowers greatly increase the speed and ease of attaching or removing a mower. AutoConnect mowers represent the first application of this technology to the sub-compact tractor market and are designed to complement the 1 Series tractors. The mower allows automatic attaching of the mid-mount mower and its PTO drive system to the 1 Series tractors.

www.deere.com

Chinese auction and all that jazz

Jazz, door prizes and auction items made for a fun, social event along with fundraising at the Torah School of Greater Washington's Eighth Annual Chinese Auction Sunday night at Beth Shalom Congregation.

Some 300 people turned out for the event to support the Potomac school (grades K6), noted event chair Jessica Eizenstat. "It was definitely a standing-room-only crowd," she said.Among those who came for the cool jazz, food and a chance to win prizes and bid for such items as a snow blower, an iPod nano, Judaica and more was Silver Spring's Jodi Mailman, who said she's come to the shul's annual auction all eight years, but "I never win." However, her daughter, Alana, 17, was one of Sunday's winners, of a scrapbooking kit, "with all the accoutrements."

The grand prize - a two-year car lease for a Honda Civic (or cash) - went to Rabbi Yosef and Ivy Edelstein of Silver Spring.

Smart fixes for big problems

I KNOW THAT SPRING IS FINALLY UPON US because my wife has started organizing her vegetable gar, den. The garden, like the start of baseball season and the sound of lawn mowers instead of snow blowers, is a sure sign of longer days and warmer evenings.

Florida students must wonder where the state's priorities lie when they read that Governor Rick Scott's proposed budget cuts $3.3 billion from overall education funding. Meanwhile, lawmakers want state funds to build golf courses and hotels--in each of the five state parks. This is in a state that already has more golf courses--over 1,000--than any other state.Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has proposed a budget that actually increases higher education funding by $10 million. It won't close the funding gap, but it will help hold back tuition increases.New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says he will reject tuition increases in the state's schools. Good news for families perhaps, but the schools are working through a 30 percent funding reduction from the last three years.Write to Tim Goral at tgoral@universiybusiness.com.In Washington State, college and university leaders were told they would face $600 million in cuts in the next two years--about half their previous funding--and that they should prepare for an additional $180 million in cuts if tax revenue doesn't improve. Either way, officials at the University of Washington predict tuition will have to increase more than the 11 percent currently proposed.Colleges and universities--and students--are paying the price, and there doesn't seem to be a way out.The other sure sign, unfortunately, is the seemingly endless news reports of higher ed budget cuts, coupled with tuition hikes at both public and private institutions across the country. In all, 43 states have made significant cuts to their higher education budgets, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (www.cbpp.org).Still, there are some hopefuls signs.Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbert has proposed dramatic cuts to education, including cutting $625 million, or about 50 percent, of funding meant for 14 state-owned universities, as well as Temple University, Penn State, Lincoln University, and the University of Pittsburgh.The University of Arizona, for example, wants to counteract state funding cuts by raising tuition and fees by $1,790 next year, a 22 percent hike. The budget proposed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer would also cut the state's funding to Maricopa County community colleges by $38.4 million, or 85 percent.

Write to Tim Goral at tgoral@universiybusiness.com.

5 Things You Should Know About Spring & Summer Lawn Care

Finally, it's that wonderful time of year here in Canada, when we can say with relative certainty that the snow is long gone. Of course that means it's time to turn our thoughts from snow blowers to lawn mowers and spring and summer lawn care . So if the melted snow has revealed a lawn that is less than ideal, here are five important things you should know about Spring & Summer lawn care , from your neighbourhood experts at GreenLawn.

Prior to applying lawn fertilizer , raking and thatch removal are vital parts of your springtime lawn care regimen. So if you haven't already, grab your rake and clear any leftover winter debris from your lawn. Then give it a more thorough raking to remove any thatch. Thatch is a dry, light brown layer of stems and roots that develops between your lawn and the soil. Because thatch can increase insect and disease problems, you'll want to be sure to have it taken care of.GreenLawn has been making Canadian lawns lush for over 30 years. With 11 locations across the nation, we provide lawn care, tree and shrub care , landscape and maintenance services for residential and commercial clients of all types and sizes. To learn more about GreenLawn lawn care services or to schedule lawn care service, please visit http://local.greenlawncanada.com/Lawn-Care .Lawns fertilizers should be applied at specific intervals, as part of a seasonal fertilization program, however; homeowners must be careful to add the right amount at the right time. Because, while adding spring lawn fertilizer is an important part of springtime lawn care, adding too much spring lawn fertilizer can actually cause weed growth and disease. In terms of applying fertilizers during the summer season, adding lawn fertilizer too late in the season will encourage growth at a time when grass should be slowing its growth in preparation for winter.While it may be practically impossible to prevent weed seeds from finding their way into your lawn, there are things you can do to help make your lawn an unfavourable place for them to grow. Lawn aeration, adjusting fertilizing schedules and even changing the height of your mower blade can all play a part in discouraging weed growth. Of course, if weeds continue to be a problem, the best thing you can do is to call your local GreenLawn lawn care specialists for professional weed control help.2. Raking Isn't Just for Fall Leaves5. Hiring a Lawn Care Service Can be Affordable3. Apply the Right Lawn Fertilizer at the Right Time1. Timing is EverythingContacts: GreenLawn Canada http://local.greenlawncanada.comAbout GreenLawnIn addition to timing, when adding lawn fertilizer as part of your lawn care program it's very important to use the right kind of fertilizer. When staring down aisles of different fertilizers; choosing the right fertilizer can seem a little daunting. Make sure you read the labels carefully and get to know the needs of your lawn. To be 100% sure that your lawn receives the right care at the right time, contact a professional lawn care service like your local GreenLawn.If you've been looking over at your neighbour's lawn and thinking the grass really is greener on the other side, take comfort in knowing that you can have a healthy, beautiful lawn this summer too. Lawn care really is affordable! Your local GreenLawn can give your lawn the love it deserves with lawn care service such as fertilization, weed control, pest control and more, and all at a price you can afford. So this year, instead of worrying about the basics of lawn fertilization or hunting dandelions, call on the professionals, sit back and enjoy the results.4. Yes, You Can Help Prevent Weed Growth

Contacts: GreenLawn Canada http://local.greenlawncanada.com

Going Up Or Down? Do Both With Mammoth’s Ski/Bike Package When The Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Opens June 24th

MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. -- It’s been an epic winter at Mammoth, but that hasn’t stopped the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park trail crew from getting out the snow blowers and digging out the bike park trails for opening day.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the leading four-season mountain resort in California. With 1.3 million annual skier visits, Mammoth Mountain is currently the third most frequented ski resort in the United States. The company owns and operates a variety of resort businesses including recreation, hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage and retail. Specific businesses owned and operated by Mammoth Mountain include Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, June Mountain, Tamarack Lodge and Resort, Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures, Mammoth Mountain Bike Park and the Mammoth Mountain Inn. Mammoth Mountain also operates Juniper Springs Resort, the Village Lodge and Sierra Star Golf Course in Mammoth Lakes, California. For more information on Mammoth Mountain, visit MammothMountain.com or call 800.MAMMOTH.Mammoth is still experiencing the benefits of the snowiest winter ever at the resort with over 55 FEET of snow fall and will keep the lifts running daily for skiing and snowboarding through July 4, 2011. For the most recent resort conditions, please visit: http://www.mammothmountain.com/MyMammoth/In this video, Bike Park Supervisor Mark Hendrickson talks about what’s in store for visitors: http://youtu.be/frLkAhBpekkEven better, from June 24 through July 4, fans of groomed snow and fast singletrack can enjoy unlimited skiing and biking in one day for only $79, only $7 more than a standalone adult lift ticket. For those who don’t want to bring both ski gear and bike gear up to the mountain, add a 2-hour bike rental or protective gear rental for only $20 each. Try out a bike from Mammoth’s brand new fleet of rental bikes from Rocky Mountain Bicycles and experience the best of both worlds.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the leading four-season mountain resort in California. With 1.3 million annual skier visits, Mammoth Mountain is currently the third most frequented ski resort in the United States. The company owns and operates a variety of resort businesses including recreation, hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage and retail. Specific businesses owned and operated by Mammoth Mountain include Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, June Mountain, Tamarack Lodge and Resort, Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures, Mammoth Mountain Bike Park and the Mammoth Mountain Inn. Mammoth Mountain also operates Juniper Springs Resort, the Village Lodge and Sierra Star Golf Course in Mammoth Lakes, California. For more information on Mammoth Mountain, visit MammothMountain.com or call 800.MAMMOTH.

Kubota BX2660

The Kubota BX2660 sub-compact tractor is equipped with Kubota's powerful 3-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine. Combining power, comfort and versatility, the Kubota BX2660 features 4-wheel-drive, 2-range transmission with differential lock, hydrostatic power steering, rigid ROPS and deluxe high-back seat. With 25.5 gross hp. and simple 1-lever loader operation, the BX2660 is compatible with a full line of performance-matched implements, including box scraper, front and rear blades, rotary tiller, snow blower, sweeper and more. The BX2660's front loader has a maximum lift height of 71.3 inches with a 4.9-cubic-foot bucket capacity.

Kubota Tractor Corp.

McCormick USA, Woods Equipment announce strategic alliance

McCormick USA, Inc. (Duluth, Ga.) and Woods Equipment Company (Oregon, Ill.) announced on June 15 that they have formed a strategic partnership to offer Woods attachments through McCormick USA's nationwide dealer network.

Rehor and Johnson agree that the partnership's strength will be built on both companies' philosophy of "doing business simply" and corporate cultures revitalized by a focus on dealer profitability. Both share aggressive growth objectives and are enjoying momentum in the marketplace, bolstered by strong brand identities, recognized for a premium product."Being able to offer quality Woods products in red with the McCormick brand will truly strengthen our full offering of compact, utility and Ag tractors," said McCormick CEO Doug Rehor. "Now our customers can get a single-brand solution for their tractor and attachment needs, which opens up better retail financing opportunities and a true tractor-attachment system. Further, our dealers will also be able to floor-plan the McCormick by Woods attachments, along with their McCormick brand tractors. This offers unprecedented flexibility to them as they manage their equipment inventories."This alliance covers a full line of agriculture and landscape equipment, including cutters; finish and zero-turn mowers; front-end loaders; backhoes; snow blowers; and assorted scrapers, discs, rakes, post-hole diggers, stump grinders and blades. All equipment covered under this agreement will be McCormick red and branded "McCormick by Woods."According to Jerry Johnson, president of Woods Products Division, "Woods is proud to be affiliated with such a well-recognized brand in partnering with McCormick. Blending OEM and dealer-direct customers allows us to optimize our cost structure in building the highest-quality equipment in the market.

Rehor and Johnson agree that the partnership's strength will be built on both companies' philosophy of "doing business simply" and corporate cultures revitalized by a focus on dealer profitability. Both share aggressive growth objectives and are enjoying momentum in the marketplace, bolstered by strong brand identities, recognized for a premium product.

Snow Blowers - Why Should I Buy a Snow Thrower

You may be asking yourself why do I need a snow blower; I am in great shape and it is great exercise, or you may be thinking why spend money on a snow thrower when a shovel can do the same job for less. Both of these are valid points however there are health benefits that a snow blower can give you that using a shovel cannot. Although using a snow thrower may be less strenuous than using a shovel, the risk of back injury can be greatly reduced.

For more information about what to look for in a snow thrower, check out Tim's product review site by clicking the link below.Using a shovel to get the snow off your driveway and sidewalk is very labor intensive task and can cause you to over use or pull a muscle in your back or arms, this in turn can cause you to take time off work; if you are older, shoveling snow could potentially cause a heart attack if you over do it. There is also the risk that you may slip and fall if there is ice under the snow that you do not see.People have been using shovels for hundreds of years, so why do you need a snow blower. Many people have been asking this same question for years. There are a number of reasons to purchase a snow blower. The health benefits are one of the main reasons to purchase one.Buying a snow thrower does not have to be hard if you do a little research on which one you need. If there is not a lot of snow that you have to clear, a one stage or single stage thrower should be sufficient. This type of blower has one metal and one rubber auger that spins very fast and throws the snow off the path. If you live in a place where it snows heavier or more regularly, then a two stage snow blower would be the better choice for you. A two stage blower has a metal auger that turns slower than a single blower and the auger does not touch the ground, an added bonus because of this is that you can use this blower on gravel and other loose surfaces.

For more information about what to look for in a snow thrower, check out Tim's product review site by clicking the link below.

Worldlawn expands distribution

Mike Navojosky, national sales manager for Worldlawn Power Equipment, Beatrice, Neb., recently announced the addition of distributors General Power Equipment and Beaver Valley Supply, and an expanded territory awarded to Lawn Equipment Enterprises, Inc.

For additional information, visit www.worldlawnpowerequip.comGeneral Power Equipment, Columbus, Ohio, will work the territory of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. Based in Denver, Colo., Beaver Valley Supply will represent World-lawn in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico. Lawn Equipment Enterprises, Waycross, Ga., now covers Florida in addition to Georgia and Alabama.

For additional information, visit www.worldlawnpowerequip.com

Toro And The Legendary Toro Snow Blower

When it comes to manufacturing home and garden tools that make a difference... you can always rely on Toro. Toro has built a reputation for helping to create the greenest lawns on the block and the clearest driveways during the wintertime. This reputation for quality and reliability began almost immediately when the Toro Motor Company was formed in 1914, when the company experienced immediate growth and interest in their products and subsequently more and more satisfied customers encouraged business further growth.

Electric Snowthrower: With the Power Shovel Plus and the 1800 Power Curve, all a user has to do is simply plug in the machinery without the hassle of worrying about gas or oil for their snow equipment.Two-Stage Power Max: The Power Max line (6000, 826 LE, 828 LXE, 1028 LXE, and 1128 OXE models) is full of power, easy-to-use, and highly reliable.Single Stage: The CCR Powerlite, CCR 2450 GTS, and CCR 3650 GTS snow blower models are compact and lightweight, making maneuvering around multi-level landscaping and accommodating paved drive and walkways a much easier task.As growth progressed, Toro was able to expand as a business by hiring more employees, including a fresh crop of ingenious developers and forward-thinkers. The number of their top-notch products has continued to grow to this day, bringing numerous Toro snow blowers, leaf blowers and lawn mowers into almost every neighborhood in North America. Over the years, the Toro Company also racked up many firsts in the industry: it was the first manufacturer to offer a lawnmower with an electric start, the first to use bag attachments with each mower and the first to provide a "Guaranteed to Start" warranty.Toro products have always been legendary: when you try out Toro machinery for the first time, you will understand why!Two-Stage Power Throw: With the Power Throw 522, the heavy gauge steel and cast aluminum parts provide an efficiently tough machine able to tackle the worst of snow accumulation.Toro's Impressive Line of Snow Blowers Toro offers a satisfying line of reliable snow blowers able to tackle the longest driveway or the most stubborn sidewalk when the winter begins to reach full swing. The company offers many different types of snow blowers aimed to cater to a versatile crop of customers. There are specific snow blower models made to fulfill simple sidewalks, decks and patios, while others are built for heavy-duty snow removal for driveways measuring about three cars wide.Today, Toro continues to push the limits of snow blower and lawn care innovation at their headquarters in Bloomington, Minnesota. Under the Toro name, an assortment of high-quality machinery and convenient products has established a stronghold on the homeowner, professional and business markets. The last 15 years of the company's history has seen a broadening of business horizons, as Toro now caters to municipal parks, cemeteries, gated communities, and in recent years has come to dominate the golf course irrigation market.The Toro name, reputation, and company policy also follows the desire to preserve and enhance the splendor of the environment. Products are built to stay safe, clean, quiet and gentle on natural resources. Toro also cares for their customers, as they actively give back to their industry and numerous communities through the Toro Foundation. With every purchase of a Toro snow blower or any other product bearing the illustrious Toro name, a portion of the proceeds are returned to a given community and the turf industry. Toro also has a Scholars Program, which aims to cultivate future leaders in the world of outdoor landscaping.Snow Commander: To easily remove snow with a high level of power, speed and maneuverability, the Snow Commander provides the unique Power Propel System and the durable, high-output R*Tek engine.

Toro products have always been legendary: when you try out Toro machinery for the first time, you will understand why!

Alamo Group Inc. Acquires Schulte Industries, Ltd

Business Editors

"It will give retailers a headsup on the weekend' explained Scott Bernhardt, senior vp-manufacturing and retail for Planalytics. if the short-range weather forecast calls for a mild fall weekend in a typically cold climate, local residents might decide, en masse, to recoat their driveways. Demand might also be prompted by an end-cap promotion of driveway sealer.With an accuracy rate of 75 percent for analysis made a year in advance, Planalytics can sometimes miss the mark. Last month, Sears was expecting a cold spell that never materialized in the North Central states. Rand, Sears' merchandiser, could also use better information on precipitation. "I'd like to know how many inches of snow are coming," he said, only half in jest. But overall, Rand said he is pleased with Planalytics' reports, which he can now make available to his regional vps through a Web-based browser.Planalytics, which also provides services to agricultural and energy suppliers, targets multistate retailers with revenues of $100 million and up. Farm and fleet retailer Tractor Supply with $690 million in 1999 sales uses Planalytics to keep tabs on the climates in its 28-state trading area.Planalytics attaches a "weather favorability" number to seasonal products that takes into account past sales history in a particular location. Some of the more obvious examples in the home-centered channel are patio furniture, garden chemicals and space heaters. But other candidates include power washers, interior paint and humidifiers. Using Planalytics' favorability numbers, merchandise and logistics managers can factor the weather into their supply chain.Using a model that analyzes historical sales data and future weather trends, Sears can determine -- with a certain margin of error, of course -- consumer demand for certain products in different geographical regions. If a cold snap is expected for a certain sales territory, Sears can make sure those stores have plenty of car batteries and warm outerwear in stock. "Two years ago, during the summer of 1998, a lot of retailers ran out of air conditioners," Rand recalled. "We didn't.""Millions of dollars in merchandise, interest and holding costs can result from one [bad] decision," said Jonathan Rand, director of merchandise information for Sears. For the past five years, the nation's fourth-largest retailer has used impact weather forecasting to help plan its warehouse shipments, particularly with seasonal merchandise. "Usually our national buys don't vary much from year to year," Rand explained. "Store allocation is the issue."Smaller retailers who can't afford Planalytics' services needn't be left out in the cold. Those willing to try their hand at weather-impact forecasting can always log onto to weatherplanner.com, a free Internet service that provides moisture and temperature ranges for different geographical regions up to a year in advance."We're a seasonal, weather-driven business, and the weather is very different in the southern part of Texas than in North Dakota," said Blake Fohl, vp-advertising and marketing for the Nashville, Tenn.-based dealer. Tractor Supply uses weather-favorability reports to adjust inventory levels and determine the timing and steepness of markdowns. The information supplied by Planalytics also helps Fohl decide on where and when to place advertisements.Ron Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of Alamo Group, commented, "Schulte is a good fit with Alamo both from a product and geographic point of view. Further, the acquisition gives us manufacturing capabilities in Canada, which we plan to use for continuing Schulte production, as well as to help expand Alamo's overall penetration of the Canadian market."

This release contains forward looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market demand, competition, weather, seasonality, currency-related issues, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.

Retailers use sales forecasts to det in front of the weather - Brief Article

Long- and short-range tracking services offer insight before seasonal merchandising decisions are made

"It's not a hard and fast tool, but it's been very good [in determining] the beginning and ending of seasons," Fohl said.Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE:ALG) is pleased to announce that effective today, it acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Schulte Industries, Ltd. and all of its affiliated and related companies. Schulte Industries is a privately owned Canadian manufacturer of mechanical rotary mowers, snow blowers and rock removal equipment.This release contains forward looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market demand, competition, weather, seasonality, currency-related issues, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.pleased to have Jim, Earl and their entire team with us on an ongoing basis. The Schulte products are highly regarded within the agricultural and industrial industries both in North America and overseas, which will strengthen our leading position in our major markets."For additional information, visit www.worldlawnpowerequip.comNATIONAL REPORT -- The vicissitudes of weather have always perplexed retailers whose stores sell out of fans every summer and come up short on snow-blowers after a winter storm. But "impact" weather forecasting, a kind of service that predicts consumer demand based on long-range weather data, is cutting down on guesswork for some larger industry retail chains.General Power Equipment, Columbus, Ohio, will work the territory of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. Based in Denver, Colo., Beaver Valley Supply will represent World-lawn in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico. Lawn Equipment Enterprises, Waycross, Ga., now covers Florida in addition to Georgia and Alabama.On average, the weather-impact forecasts are provided a year in advance. But Planalytics is also testing a "short-range" weather forecasting service that would help store managers make decisions on advertising, product placement and staffing levels.Jim Carnago commented, "In addition to the marketing synergies that will be realized by joining Alamo Group, Schulte will be able to preserve the close relationships that have been built with our customers and employees." Earl Schulte added, "The transaction should enable us to expand our product distribution by cross-selling our product offerings with Alamo."The Schulte family of companies was founded by John Schulte in 1923 and is managed jointly by Earl Schulte and Jim Carnago. Operations are conducted out of their headquarters in Englefeld, Saskatchewan, Canada, where it employs approximately 90 people. Schulte has major markets in the U.S. and Canada, and serves both the agricultural and industrial markets. Sales for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2000 were approximately US$12 million.As production of mowers and snow blowers gears up in Beatrice, Worldlawn is expanding its engineering staff and giving them the directive to develop new, innovative, made-in-the-USA power equipment for the North American market.

Smaller retailers who can't afford Planalytics' services needn't be left out in the cold. Those willing to try their hand at weather-impact forecasting can always log onto to weatherplanner.com, a free Internet service that provides moisture and temperature ranges for different geographical regions up to a year in advance.

Worldlawn expands distribution

Mike Navojosky, national sales manager for Worldlawn Power Equipment, Beatrice, Neb., recently announced the addition of distributors General Power Equipment and Beaver Valley Supply, and an expanded territory awarded to Lawn Equipment Enterprises, Inc.

Both Earl Schulte and Jim Carnago will continue managing the company, which will become a subsidiary of Alamo Group. Mr. Robinson added, "We are extremelyAlamo Group is a leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and service of high quality equipment for right-of-way maintenance and agriculture. Our products include tractor-mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, street sweepers, agricultural implements and related after market parts and services. The Company, founded in 1969, has over 1,400 employees and operates eleven plants in the United States and Europe as of March 2000. The corporate offices of Alamo Group Inc. are located in Seguin, Texas and the headquarters for the Company's European operations are located in Salford Priors, England.

For additional information, visit www.worldlawnpowerequip.com

Ventrac ET200

The Ventrac ET200 turbine blower provides the power and control to perform cleanup work simply, quietly and efficiently. Specifically, it can be used to blow leaves and light snow, as well as remove debris from sidewalks, parking lots and other areas. The ET200's front discharge nozzle can be hydraulically rotated 360 degrees from the comfort of the operator's seat. The dual-action front bumper/deflector protects the nozzle from damage. When the nozzle is pointed downward, the deflector bars on the bumper direct the airflow forward, clearing a path directly in front of the tractor.

Ventrac byVenture Products Inc. Fill in 209 on reader service form or visit http://OneRs.hotims.com/14647.209

Canadian government awards airport funding

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Among them was a private dinner at the terminal earlier this month, led by authority board President Randall Tobias. The dinner brought together airline officials and prominent local leaders. The 44 guests included Indiana Secretary of Commerce Nathan Feltman, BioCrossroads CEO David Johnson and the new CEO of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, Don Welsh. Welsh previously headed Seattle's visitors' association.Other events this month at the terminal included a reception for arts groups, coordinated by local event planner Donna Imus, for whom the authority set aside up to $60,000 in September.The new terminal is a veritable art museum, with millions of dollars in public art from artists nationwide, all in the name of marketing Indianapolis to the visitors who pass through.Events like this were largely to recognize a job well done by thousands of workers who helped build the massive project on time and on budget.

((Comments on this story may be sent to aii.feedback@m2.com))

Authority spends big on events for midfield

Building a new airport terminal is expensive, so much so that even opening the doors in proper fashion doesn't come cheap.

The Canadian government has announced an investment in three Canadian airports.Airport officials say taxpayer money was not used for the events. The funds came from airlines and other airport users.But in the aggregate, the spending would be enough to buy two runway-clearing snow blowers. Or five years of airport refuse disposal under terms of a new, fiveyear contract with Ray's Trash Service.Gerig said Tobias wanted to use the occasion of the opening of the terminal in part to better familiarize airlines with the business community and its needs for additional air service here. At the same time, "the community got to hear the difficulties the airlines are going through right now," Gerig said.The expenditures are a sliver of the $1.1 billion outlay for the midfield terminal at Indianapolis International Airport, to open Nov. 11.Funding from the Airports Capital Assistance Program is intended to improve safety at the Fort Chipewyan, Grande Prairie and High Level airports.The Airports Capital Assistance Program provides finance to capital projects relating to safety, asset protection and operating cost reduction.Airport records show the authority board in September authorized another $275,000 to food and beverage and other vendors for opening events.He added that Tobias intends to use the event as a springboard for additional forums involving economic development and air travel.The airport tours were free and familiarized local residents with not only the configuration of the terminal but also how to find it. The new terminal is accessible from Exit 68 on Interstate 70 rather than from Interstate 465 as the current terminal is.((Comments on this story may be sent to aii.feedback@m2.com))"The airlines were very impressed with who we had," said Sease Gerig principal Lou Gerig."The more of those people who came to community days, the better. ... It was very important to our airline partners that we had this."Fort Chipewyan will receive CAD685,000 for wildlife control fencing; Grande Prairie will receive CAD105,414 in order to purchase a sand truck and a truck-mounted sander and CAD366,570 for a replacement snow blower; and High Level will receive CAD277,495 for a front-end loader and attachments.The contracts include up to $120,000 to Jug's Catering Services for a Sept. 6 contractor's event that fed 8,000 people at $15 a head.Trice said officials also hope attention to the terminal helps pique the interest of air travelers in the region. The Cincinnati area alone generates an estimated 35,000 travelers at Indianapolis International each year. Some employers in that region encourage their employees to drive to Indianapolis International, where a diversity of airlines creates lower fares to many destinations than from Cincinnati's Delta Air Lines-dominated airport.In the last two months, the Indianapolis Airport Authority board has approved spending at least $850,000 toward grand-opening parties and events in the form of contracts with caterers, event planners and public relations firms.Airlines are covering the bulk of bond payments on the new terminal, in part through higher fees they'll pay to land there beginning next year.Managing that event was locally based Rayna-Traylor Events, to which the airport authority on Sept. 5 authorized paying up to $245,000.Airport officials say events that on the surface appear frivolous have a purpose that will pay dividends later. Among them was a public tour of the facility Oct. 11-12 that drew an estimated 30,000 visitors.Meanwhile, the airport board in September authorized paying up to $150,000 to prominent Indianapolis public relations firm Sease Gerig & Associates for opening events and other airport services.

Airport officials say taxpayer money was not used for the events. The funds came from airlines and other airport users.

Author: O'Malley, Chris

ConsumerSearch.com Helps Value-Conscious Shoppers Find the Best Bets This Holiday Season

NEW YORK -- ConsumerSearch.com (www.ConsumerSearch.com) today launched a complete redesign that will further help value-conscious shoppers by making it easier to access the reviews and analysis the site has amassed on a wide range of products and services.

Other new features include an updated search function that makes it easier and faster to get relevant information and a tool that allows recommendations to be shared via popular social networks, social bookmarking services, as well as via e-mail.This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com4. Verify the condition of the lubricant. You want to monitor the lubricant to insure it's up to cleanliness standards. A good sampling program must be instituted. If it sounds like I'm preaching the Oil Monitoring Analysis certification training offered by STLE, I am. But let's take it even further for critical machines and add things like infra-red and vibration analyses. Use the tools we have at our disposal to make sure the machine is ready to perform.1. Get the proper lubricant. I have found that it's best to start from scratch. Go to the books and find the original specification for the machine. Make sure any rebuilds have not changed the original specification. This is important because replacing oil that was being used may be duplicating a mistake made in the past on a lubricant survey. If this sounds like I don't trust the work done by others, the truth is I don't.Last year my snow blower got quite a workout. We had record snowfall, and the machine was barely limping along by the end of the season. This year I figure there is about a month before the first big snows, and it's time to get the snow blower ready: new paint, oil change, adjust the belts, grease the bearings and fix the drive gear and friction drive. All the things the snow blower needs to get through another winter."This year people are seeking reassurance about their buying decisions," says Cella Irvine, president and CEO, The About Group. "With so many resources available, general Internet research can become confusing, time-consuming and sometimes overwhelming - our job is to simplify the process. ConsumerSearch.com's new look allows users to find the information they seek from credible sources, quickly and efficiently."Pete Oglevie is president of International Production Technologies in Port Washington, Wis. You can reach him at poglevie@intprotec.com.The About Group comprises the Web sites About.com, ConsumerSearch.com, UCompareHealthCare.com and Caloriecount.about.com. About.com is one of the Web's leading producers of original content. The site's expert Guides provide users with accurate and unbiased information to help them live happier, healthier and more successful lives. ConsumerSearch.com analyzes expert and user-generated consumer product reviews and recommends the best products to purchase based on their findings. UCompareHealthCare.com provides dynamic interactive tools that enable users to measure the quality of healthcare services. Caloriecount.about.com offers weight management tools, social support and nutritional information to help users achieve their diet goals.To accomplish this I want to remind you of four important points.

This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com