KIOTI Tractor Names Winner of Its First Responders ‘Shout Out’ Video Contest

Dec 27, 2017

KIOTI Tractor, a division of Daedong-USA, Inc., just announced Vernon Search and Rescue as the winning organization of its First Responders ‘Shout Out’ video contest, which ended Dec. 1. For the contest, KIOTI prompted first responder organizations to submit videos via Facebook for the chance to win a MECHRON utility vehicle. Organizations were asked to create a video sharing who they are, their location, why they need a MECHRON and how it would be used if they won.

Vernon Search and Rescue is a volunteer, nonprofit charitable Society, which has provided search and rescue services to North Okanagan, a region in British Columbia’s interior, since 1960. Vernon Search and Rescue specializes in searching for lost or missing persons, rescue operations, evidence searches, body recoveries and emergency evacuations. The four-wheel drive and 12-inch ground clearance features on the MECHRON will assist the organization in navigating through the area’s rugged terrain.

“First responders sacrifice their safety to protect and serve their communities every day,” said Peter Dong-Kyun Kim, president and CEO of Daedong-USA, Inc. KIOTI Tractor Division. “KIOTI wanted to recognize and reward those tireless efforts in an exciting way and give something that would help them succeed. We feel honored to be able to contribute the KIOTI MECHRON to such a great organization, and we know that it will be put to good use in their rescue efforts.”

Jake and John Wiebe of Timberstar Tractor, the local authorized KIOTI Tractor dealer, delivered the MECHRON 2240 to Vernon Search and Rescue during the organization’s annual Christmas party earlier this month. “First responders are heroes and we were proud to present the KIOTI MECHRON 2240 to the Vernon Search and Rescue Team on behalf of Peter Kim and the entire KIOTI family,” said Jake Wiebe, president of Timberstar Tractor. “While most of us are enjoying the comfort of home, these first responders are willing to go out in the treacherous terrain of the British Columbia mountains to track a lost hiker, a stranded biker, or a snowmobiler who’s stuck, and bring them back home safely to their families.”

“Christmas came early thanks to KIOTI Tractor and our local superheroes at Timberstar! Our members were completely taken by surprise with the dramatic reveal and delivery of our new MECHRON that we won through the First Responders ‘Shout Out’ contest,” says Trevor Honigman, director of events and promotions, and public information officer at Vernon Search and Rescue. “Many thanks to all of those responsible from KIOTI headquarters and our local KIOTI dealership for making our Christmas party truly unforgettable!”

During the contest, the organization witnessed support from its entire city, region, province, nation and even from those abroad. The Vernon Search and Rescue team plans to use the MECHRON for all search and rescue missions and is eager to use its strengths for their specific needs.

Source : Kioti

Video: 2025 USDA December Crop Report a “Dud” + Trump $12 Billion U.S. Farm Aid

The USDA December crop report was friendly corn, neutral soybeans and bearish wheat. The USDA did surprise and increase the 25/26 U.S. corn export forecast to a new record high at 3.2 billion bushels now up 12% vs. last year vs. prior at +9% vs. the export pace to date up 30% the best in 10 years even higher than 20/21! The USDA left the 25/26 U.S. soybean export pace unchanged at 1.635 billion bushels. Higher global wheat supplies will remain a weight and headwind for wheat into year end and start of 2026.
Mexico is now the #1 buyer of U.S. corn, soybeans (usually China), wheat and pork!
USDA also released its long-term early projections but expect more changes by February of 2026.
Trump announces a $12 billion U.S. farmer aid package to be paid out by February 28, 2026. This helps no one but the ag banks, farm equipment companies, seed and fertilizer companies. It does prevent more farmer bushels from being sold near-term but is not bullish grain prices long-term. The Trump administration should focus on increasing U.S. domestic demand and propping up grain futures so farmers can cover their higher costs, up since COVID of 2020.
The China U.S. soybean purchase tracker now stands at 4.521 mmt or 38% of the 12 mmt promised by China at year end or is it end of February or the growing season? Why the discrepancy vs. the fact sheet. The optics are poor for the Trump administration.
After surging to contract highs U.S. natural gas futures plunged over 30+% in just 5-trading days!
Silver traded to new record highs as the debasement and de dollarization trade continued but technicals remain overbought near-term.
Soybean futures remained in correction mode after the funds went record long futures on Nov. 19 +233,000 contracts but the $10.80 support should hold into year end when the fund profit taking/liquidation comes to an end from the year end, end of month and end of quarter selling.
The U.S. Fed cut interest rates for the 3rd time by 25 basis points to a range of 3.50 – 3.75% and they will only cut one more time in 2026 and once in 20267/ but when Powell is gone next April the replacement is willing to cut more aggressively and we could see U.S. interest rates fall to 2.0% very bullish for ag and stocks as it could reignite inflation into 2027.
After 2 months of being drier than normal in Brazil the rains have finally arrived for the 1st half of December, and a record crop is still in the cards but if this pattern continues and verifies it could start to delay the harvest. Argentina after being too wet has turned dry but they are too small, compared top Brazil in the grand picture.
The Canadian dollar surged to $0.73 after better-than-expected employment data with 180,000 new jobs in the past 3-months and 3rd quarter GDP at +2.6% but this could be short-lived.
The latest CFTC report as of 11-19-2025 reported a record long fund position in soybeans at +233,000 contracts when 2026 March soybean futures peaked on 11-19-25 at $11.724/bu.