Consolidation in the ag equipment industry isn’t limited to dealers. Over the last year or so there’s been a flurry of merger and acquisition activity among equipment manufacturers, particularly when it comes to shortline or specialty equipment. The U.S. agricultural machinery manufacturing industry includes about 1,100 companies, with combined annual revenue of about $24 billion, according to the VDMA Agricultural Machinery Assn. It is likely more acquisitions and mergers will emerge as the ag market…