I hope you had a pleasant St. Patrick's weekend. In the gardening world in Ireland, St. Patrick's day has always been the traditional time when it was safe to plant potatoes outside, without the risk of the tubers getting frost damage. This was also the time when other horticultural practices were carried out.

 
With the fine weather and a stretch in daylight hours, people are now beginning to get out into their gardens once again. One of the jobs they will be doing is getting out the lawnmower to give the grass its first cut of the year. Many will bring their mowers to their local dealer to get its annual service done, many, as usual, leaving it until the last minute. Some will discover that their mower doesn’t work anymore and will need replacing.

This is an important time of year for dealers as well. It’s just ahead of when farmers and growers will be sowing their crops. Having adequate supplies of those much needed spare parts to have on hand will be important - bearings, filters, belts, hydraulic hoses, universal joints and so on. Keeping an adequate stock of parts is not as easy as it sounds and remains one of the many challenges facing dealers in Ireland at the moment. Since the war in Ukraine dealers have had problems with ordering spare parts due to supply shortages. As we all know too well, the war also caused the price of energy and materials to soar, including metals. However, the situation is not as bad as it used to be, but there are still issues to be addressed.

It’s hard to understand why the cost of buying in machinery parts still remain high, despite the fact that many of the materials are now well below pre-war prices. For example, iron ore and steel prices are back to what they were in December 2020. Many will argue that transport costs still remain high and this is keeping the cost of machines and spare parts to where they are, even though, just like material costs, energy prices are also at pre-war levels. Natural gas, for example is at its lowest price since August 2020. Electricity bills have not come down in line with energy prices either. There is help available for businesses experiencing high energy costs.

Your business may qualify for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS). The TBESS was introduced to support businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas (energy) costs. Your business can make a claim under the scheme if it:

• is tax compliant
• carries on a Case I trade or Case II profession. This includes charities and approved sporting bodies that carry on certain activities
• has experienced a significant increase of 50% or more in its electricity and, or natural gas average unit price.

Qualifying businesses can claim for 40% of the increases in their energy bills. More information on TBESS can be found on www.revenue.ie 

Another challenge we face is the cost of borrowing. Last Thursday the European Central Bank increased its interest rates by another 0.5%. This puts pressure on many householders who are paying mortgages. It also puts pressure on businesses who have or are about to take out a loan to expand their business. 

Despite these challenges, demand for machinery is still strong. The Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) recently reported 712 new tractor registrations for January and February. This is an increase of 11% compared to the same period last year. All we need is to be able to deliver them to our customers and on time.
  

Husqvarna Group has published its 2022 Sustainovate Report, the annual summary of the company's work with decreasing carbon emissions, developing circular innovations and inspiring more people to make sustainable choices. 

Sustainovate is described by the Group as its approach in combining its innovation capability with a commitment to sustainability. Through Sustainovate, Husqvarna Group say they are rethinking how products can be used more efficiently, produce them with resource-smart materials and power them with non-fossil fuel alternatives.  

"Husqvarna Group is a company that thrives on transformation. This capability has never been more important as we lead our industry into low-carbon, resource-smart solutions. We are building an ever-stronger Group by capturing new opportunities that strengthen our position," says Pavel Hajman, acting CEO of Husqvarna Group.

Summarizing 2022, the Group's CO2 footprint reduction is at -32% which is on track with the Science based target of a -35% CO2 reduction across the value chain between 2015 and 2025.

Husqvarna Group's ambitions include increasing the share of electrified motorised products to 67% by 2026 from 34% today. Although demand for electrical and autonomous products is growing, supply-chain disruptions impacted the ability to deliver electrical products according to plan during 2022.

The second target within Sustainovate addresses circularity, where the Group aims to "rethink and redesign for a resource-smart customer experience". By the end of 2022, ten circular innovations were launched and the company says the work continues towards the target of 50 launched circular innovations by 2025. The final target, to empower 5 million customers and colleagues to make sustainable choices, had reached 572,000 by the end of 2022.

During the autumn of 2022, the Group announced an acceleration program for the shift to an increased low carbon offering and will increase R&D

investments in autonomous mowers, battery, smart watering, and professional products.

Equip Exposition, the international trade show that is taking place from October 17-20 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, has announced their entertainment lineup for this year.

Third Eye Blind will headline a “thank you” concert at the KFC YUM! Center on Thursday, October 19, for the event’s first-ever arena concert.

Equip say this special arena concert acknowledges their many significant friends and partners that have welcomed the trade show to Louisville for 40 years, and promises to be a "rocking great time" for Equip Exposition attendees. 

“We’re celebrating our 40th anniversary of Expo, and we couldn’t have grown to this point without the support of thousands of people - from our attendees and exhibitors at the show to the bartenders and hotel staff throughout the city,” says Kris Kiser, President of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, which owns and manages the trade show.

“They all make the ‘Expo experience’ possible, and we want to say thank you with this concert.”

He adds, “The entire industry comes to Expo, and now everyone who participates can come to the party. It’s on us.” 

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Registered attendees and exhibitors for Equip Exposition may attend all three nights of entertainment for free with their registration badges serving as tickets.

In addition to the concert at the KFC YUM! Center, entertainment during the 2023 three-day event include:

• House band, The Crashers with a jamming Welcome Party at the downtown Kentucky International Convention Center on Tuesday night, October 17. Food and hors d’oeuvres will be provided and there will be a cash bar for drinks.
• A free Fourth Street Live! Concert by the Juicebox Heroes starting at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18 in Louisville’s historic downtown.
• World-champion, Kentucky-based chainsaw carver, Abby Peterson, at the Kentucky Exposition Center, October 18 - 20, to carve a statue of TurfMutt Foundation spokesdog, Mulligan the TurfMutt.

“Equip Expo offers a week-long experience for a range of interconnected industries - including outdoor power equipment, landscaping, hardscaping, tree care, design, lighting, irrigation and more,” said Kris. “While business is going on, fun is definitely part of the equation.”

Equip Exposition hotel reservations are open and making plans early on where to stay is strongly encouraged. Registration to the show will open in April.

Equip Expo 2022 was the largest show in its 40-year history. "We sold every inch of both indoor and outdoor exhibit space last year, and, in fact, had a waiting list," said Kris. "I encourage anyone seeking to participate in this year's show to act quickly - starting with reserving your hotel room. If you're going to fly in, book it today."

It was 20 years ago, on the 23rd February 2003, that Helmut Claas signed the agreement to acquire a majority stake in Renault Agriculture.

Since then, Claas say they have gradually consolidated their position as a full system provider on the international stage and invested in efficiency and productivity-boosting innovations along with state-of-the-art production processes.

While the company's 150,000th standard tractor left the Le Mans factory in spring 2019, the 200,000 mark is expected to be reached in this 20th anniversary year.

Today Claas Tractor in Le Mans produces more than 60 different models from 75 to 445 hp as well as exporting tractors to 80 countries around the world, including North America as of 2019.

For more on the history of Le Mans click here.

The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) is inviting entries for its Technical Innovation Awards.

Described as recognising design and innovation across the agricultural and rural sectors, organisers say the awards showcase inventions and innovations that demonstrate a positive impact on agriculture, horticulture, equestrian, forestry, renewable energy and estate activities.

Entries must relate to machines, appliances, technical components or important ancillary equipment and should be commercially available or prototypes in development. All entries are judged and benchmarked on individual merit. 
 
The judging format will be a hybrid of in-person demonstrations, user evaluation and electronic submissions. The entry deadline is Sunday 9th April and entries can be made via the Royal Highland Show website.
 
New for 2023, winners will be presented with their awards and have their winning products displayed in a new arena dedicated to agricultural innovation at this year’s Royal Highland Show in June. 
 
RHASS Chief Steward of Technical Innovation, Christopher Shepherd said, “There is a strong focus on agricultural innovation this year at RHASS and that will be reflected with the Royal Highland Show’s new agri demo arena. Innovations of all kinds will be on display there, with our award winners taking pride of place."

Fifty per cent of the proceeds of Cereals 2023  visitor tickets will go to benefit the Multiple System Atrophy Trust, a cause close to the host farmer’s heart, and a fundraiser will be held in the afternoon of day one,13 June in Sarah's Wood

The two-day event is being held at a new site this year - Thoresby Estate in Nottinghamshire - on 13-14 June. The 4,860ha estate has been in the Pierrepont family since the 1590s – and the current incumbent, Gregor Pierrepont, says he had no hesitation in choosing the charity. 

“It’s very close to our hearts as it was set up by my aunt Sarah, who was afflicted by this very rare disease,” he explains. The Trust provides specialist nurses and research to support people living with the disease, and Cereals will host a special fundraiser at Sarah’s Wood on 13 June.

Cereals say that as ever this year, they will showcase the latest developments in arable agronomy, machinery, technology and business advice. Exhibitor numbers are already 30% up, year-on-year, and the event will include four new features, says event manager, Alli McEntyre. 

These are an Energy and Biomass Hub; hosting seminars on how to navigate rising energy costs, the AgAnalyst Academy; which will explore how to get the most from precision agriculture, the Cereals Stories Stage; featuring guest farmers talking about how social media has changed their business, and the Bednar Arrive and Ride experience; this will give visitors the chance to ride alongside a selection of Bednar’s towed implements to see them up close and in action. And back by popular demand is the Isuzu Off-road Driving Experience.

Crop plots remain at the heart of the event, and this year will see five new crop plots as well as the returning wheat and winter barley feature. Curated by Ceres Rural, the feature will allow farmers to see a selection of leading Recommended List (RL) varieties side-by-side. 

Demonstrations will take place in the sold-out Syngenta Sprays and Sprayers Arena and expanded Drill Demos - and visitors will be able to check out Garford’s mechanical weeding demonstrations, as well as working demos by Bednar, Case, IH, Hardi, and New Holland. There will also be expanded Robotics and Automation Demos including the autonomous field robot Agbot by AgXeed.

 
“Cereals is set to host an impressive 400 exhibitors with 115+ new bookings,” says Ms McEntyre. “These include machinery specialists Weaving Machinery, Alpego, Vogelsang, and Bednar, as well as seed breeders RAGT, crop protection specialist Berthoud, and agri-business consultants Brown & Co."

Early bird tickets are £10 each until 13 April 2023. Thereafter, online tickets will be £15 each until 12 June 2023. Tickets purchased on the gate will be £20 each.

Toro is excited to introduce our new professional handheld products run on our 60V* Flex Force Power System® and work with our entire line of Revolution commercial grade handheld tools and walk-behind mowers. The backpack, available as a power source for our blower, string, and hedge trimmers, is built for comfort and ready to keep jobs moving all day. It has the capacity for you to swap batteries, so when one battery is done, you’re not. Our 60V power comes to you fast: just 50 minutes to charge our largest battery to 100% and easily outpacing the charging speed of larger, lower voltage batteries.

Revolution Trimmer

• Rugged solid shaft designed to withstand anything you dish out.
• 41cm (16″) cutting width and 24mm line come standard with increased line capacity.
• Bump-feed/easy-load head keeps you moving without any threading hassles.
• Rear-mounted, high-efficiency brushless motor optimizes performance and torque.
• Always shows up to work with up to 240 minutes of runtime.
• Variable 2-speed operation produces 5300 or 6400 rpm to match the demand.
• Included shoulder harness eases the load.
• Backed by a 2-year warranty.
• Part of the 60V Flex-Force Power System® that works with a full line of commercial grade tools.
• Tool only, batteries and chargers sold separately.

Revolution Hedge Trimmer

• 66cm (26″) bar with 3cm (1.2″) cutting capacity cuts through the thickest bushes.
• Dual-sided cutting blades run both directions to work more efficiently.
• Reverse mode for quick unjamming.
• 180° rotating handle for vertical or horizontal cutting with the flick of a wrist.
• Top side blade guard for plant gathering.
• All-day runtime up to 600 minutes
• Variable 2-speed operation produces 3200 or 4100 spm to match any size job.
• Backed by a 2-year warranty.
• Part of the 60V Flex-Force Power System® that works with a full line of commercial grade tools.
• Tool only, batteries and chargers sold separately.

Revolution Backpack Leaf Blower

• Comfortable, sturdy backpack with integrated handle, LED battery diagnostics and capacity to carry two batteries.
• Interchangeable arm cannon or power tether
• Powerful blower, 730 CFM at 160 MPH for massive air volume that makes easy work of every pile.
• Variable speed trigger with turbo boost and cruise control lets you effortlessly match power to the situation.
• Included storage strap for compact footprint.
• Part of the 60V Flex-Force Power System® that works with a full line of commercial grade tools.
• Tool only, batteries and chargers sold separately.

Revolution Powerlink Tether

• Keeps your backpack power source connected to your commercial Revolution tools.
• Removes battery weight from tools: faster work and less fatigue.
• Doubles handheld tool battery capacity so you always have power at hand.

60V MAX* Flex-Force 10 AH Battery

• 33% more capacity over our current largest 60V battery.
• Interchangeable in all 60V Revolution commercial grade tools.
• Easy to remove and quickly swap to keep you powered and moving.
• Integrated carrying handle.
• Increased over-mold for more rugged operation and drop resistance.
• Part of the 60V Flex-Force Power System® that works with a full line of commercial grade tools.

60V MAX* Flex-Force 6-Pod Charger

• 12 AMP rapid charger to repower fast.
• 6-pod battery charging capacity.
• Charges any combination of 60V Flex-Force Batteries.
• 2 charge modes: sequential rapid mode charges a 10 Ah battery to full in 50 minutes; standard equal mode steadily brings batteries up to full charge in unison.
• 6 battery charging pods to keep you charged and moving.
• Part of the 60V Flex-Force Power System® that works with a full line of commercial grade tools.

For more information on Toro, please visit www.toro.com/en-gb or to become a dealer of Toro U.K. Limited, please email our sales team.

*Battery manufacturer rating = 60V maximum & 54V typical usage. Actual voltage varies with load.