On the Road with Northland: Trade Show Insights

Over the past month, the Northland Capital team has been on the road, connecting with customers, dealers, manufacturers and industry professionals at trade shows across the country.

From agriculture and recycling to transportation, these events give our team an opportunity to meet face-to-face with the people and businesses we serve, learn what they’re seeing in their markets and better understand the opportunities and challenges shaping equipment investment.

Agriculture: Technology Meets Practical Needs

Our team attended several major agricultural events, including Farm Progress, Great Lakes Trade Expo, Husker Harvest Days, Big Iron, Ohio Farm Science Review and World Dairy Expo.

One theme was hard to miss: technology continues to transform agriculture. AI, precision agriculture,

autonomous and electric equipment, drones, intelligent sprayers and automated systems were prominent across the shows. In specialty crops and dairy, automation is increasingly focused on practical challenges such as labor availability, efficiency and productivity.

At the same time, producers are carefully evaluating major capital investments. Tight margins, high input costs, commodity-price fluctuations and working-capital pressures continue to influence equipment purchasing decisions. The result is an agricultural market where innovation remains strong, but equipment investments are being considered carefully based on the value and efficiency they can bring to the operation.

Transportation: A Selective Recovery

Transportation conversations at the CFCA Summit and NTTC Tank Truck Week reflected a market that is showing signs of improvement while buyers remain disciplined about capital spending.

Equipment purchases are increasingly driven by operating needs and the business case for the investment. At the same time, higher equipment costs, fuel prices, workforce challenges and broader economic uncertainty continue to influence purchasing decisions. Manufacturers are also

reporting extended production backlogs, with many builds reaching into the first and second quarters of 2027.

“Customers are being thoughtful about where they invest. They’re buying when the equipment solves an operating need and makes business sense,” said Wyman Rothanburg, Director of Businsess Development.

For Northland, these conversations reinforced the value of bringing financing into the equipment-buying process early and working alongside dealers and manufacturers to make financing a part of the sales conversation.

Recycling: Automation and Efficiency

At Scrap Expo, our team saw similar themes around technology and efficiency. Equipment and processing trends included increased automation, advanced sorting systems and more efficient metal separation.

Processors are also investing in technologies that can produce cleaner and more consistent material, helping meet increasingly specific requirements from downstream consumers. As with agriculture, technology is playing an important role in helping businesses improve efficiency and maximize the value of their operations.

Connecting Beyond the Show Floor

While each industry faces its own unique challenges, a common theme emerged across this month’s events: businesses are looking for ways to invest in equipment and technology that solve real operating challenges, improve efficiency and support long-term growth.

Trade shows give our team the opportunity to hear those conversations firsthand. Just as importantly, they allow us to strengthen relationships with our customers, dealers and manufacturers and build new connections throughout the industries we serve.

We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to connect with our team over the past month. We look forward to continuing those conversations and helping our customers and dealer partners find financing solutions that fit their equipment needs.

Ready to plan for what’s next? Contact us. We’re always happy to connect and talk through how our flexible financing solutions can support growth in your operation.