Note 1 - Description of the Company

9 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2011

Nature of Operations [Text Block]

(1) Description of the Company

Unless otherwise specified, as used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Art’s-Way,” and the “Company,” refer to Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in Armstrong, Iowa, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

We began operations as a farm equipment manufacturer in 1956.  Since that time, we have become a major worldwide manufacturer of agricultural equipment.  Our principal manufacturing plant is located in Armstrong, Iowa.

We have organized our business into three operating segments. Management separately evaluates the financial results of each segment because each is a strategic business unit offering different products and requiring different technology and marketing strategies.  Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. manufactures farm equipment under its own and private labels.  Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. has two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries.  Art’s-Way Vessels, Inc. (“Art’s-Way Vessels”) manufactures pressure vessels and Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. (“Art’s-Way Scientific”) manufactures modular buildings for various uses, commonly animal containment and research laboratories. For detailed financial information relating to segment reporting, see Note 14, “Segment Information.”