After receiving the news that Ireland is to receive over €14 billion from Apple from unpaid taxes (including interest) there are plenty of suggestions going around as to where the money should be spent.

I was thinking a lot about this and was wondering how some of that windfall could be used to help our industry. Some would say that there are far more worthy sectors and causes that would benefit from the extra money. The housing crisis and healthcare would be some examples. 

While this may be true, a few thoughts did cross my mind as to how the government could help the dealership sector. We know that a lot of farmers are struggling with lower incomes. This is having a knock-on effect on dealers. We can see this in the constant drop in tractor and machinery sales over the past twelve months. The latest Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) report show a continued downward trend of activity in their August 2024 figures. They report a 21% decline in new tractor registrations compared to August 2023. 

Can anything be done to reverse this trend? Perhaps the government could introduce a capital subsidy scheme aimed at low income farmers that would help them with upgrading their buildings and equipment. Last May a record €250 million in funding was allocated to the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. A similar type scheme to help the agricultural and horticultural sector would be very welcome. This would, for example, enable farmers and growers purchase new tractors that are more work and fuel efficient, which would also be good for the environment.

Another option to help our industry would be to create incentives that would encourage more agricultural mechanic apprenticeships. Many dealerships around the country find difficulty in finding suitably qualified people to help run their workshops or spare parts departments. Some dealers may struggle sending one of their staff to college to get formal training. It may be too costly for them or they may not afford to be down a member of staff while they are studying as they could be away for many weeks at a time. It can be quite difficult and costly to find someone to fill the vacancy while they are away. 

A way that could help would be to get the Apprenticeship Employer Grant increased. It is currently at €2,000 per apprentice. Having this increased may encourage more staff to get trained. Having more qualified staff employed would be of immense benefit to the dealership industry.

I’m sure there are many more ways how some of the €14 billion could be spent to help our sector. If we did get some this windfall it would also benefit the wider economy.

In the meantime, with the National Ploughing Championships starting tomorrow (Tuesday) I hope that good weather will prevail over the three days of the event. According to the National Ploughing Association there has already been “huge interest” to enter the prestigious ‘Machine of the Year’ competition.

For those of you who have taken out trade stands at the National Ploughing Championships I hope that you get plenty of sales and that you bring in new customers to your business.

It was announced recently that Chinese manufacturer Ningbo Daye Garden Machinery is taking over German manufacturer AL-KO Geräte for EUR20 million (USD22.1 million) in order to expand its global footprint.

According to a report on news site, Yicai Global, Daye is buying a 100 percent stake in Kotz-based AL-KO Geräte, supplier of brands such as AL-KO, solo by AL-KO, Masport and Morrison.

The report went on to say, the acquisition will provide Daye with manufacturing bases and technology development centres in Europe.

Service Dealer contacted AL-KO UK, whose md Stewart Anderson told us, "Our dealers will notice very little change following this news. Over the coming months we will sort out some details behind the scenes, but Daye is a quality manufacturer and the AL-KO name is not going anywhere."

Stewart continued, "I'll be honest, I think this is the best thing that could have happened to AL-KO for the brand's long-term future."

Organisers of SALTEX say the show set for its most internationally diverse exhibition to date.

This year’s event will welcome exhibitors and visitors from across the globe. Under the theme 'Uniting the Industry, Powering Progress,; SALTEX 2024 promises an unprecedented number of international exhibitors. The GMA says exhibitors from 14 countries including Canada, India, Japan, Pakistan, and the United States will showcase their latest advancements at the NEC on 30th and 31st October.

Companies such as EGO (Germany), Hilltip (Finland), SGL (Netherlands), EGHOLM (Denmark), and The Aquatrols Company (United States) will be among the 23 international exhibitors displaying their products.

With over 700 square meters of the exhibition space dedicated to international representation, SALTEX say they are a global stage for the latest developments in grounds care. Additionally, visitors from countries such as Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Nepal, and Iceland have already registered.

Sarah Hunter, head of events at the GMA said, "It’s fantastic to see such a vast range of international representation at this year’s exhibition. Every year, we see more and more professionals from around the world coming together to share ideas and learn from each other. This sense of unity is what makes SALTEX so special - it’s not just about showing the latest advancements, but also about growing meaningful connections within the industry."

Four former employees were recently treated to a VIP visit to JCB to mark the 60th anniversary of their recruitment as the company’s first ever apprentices.

Class of '64 - Chris Carnwell, Keith Hepden, Mick Higgs and Nigel Heinich

A total of nine 15-year-old boys started as Craft Apprentices at the Rocester plant in 1964 and four of them - Chris Carnwell, Nigel Heinich, Mick Higgs, and Keith Hepden - retraced their footsteps to the factory to mark the diamond anniversary of the JCB apprenticeship programme. They were welcomed by JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who also started work at JCB in 1964.
 
The quartet were trailblazers for JCB’s apprenticeship scheme, which currently has around 300 apprentices on scheme and in the last 12 years alone has seen the company recruit 1,500 apprentices. When they started work, they were earning £3 a week. During their visit they were given a tour of the Story of JCB exhibition, met some of the newest apprentices and were given a special VIP lunch.
 
Lord Bamford, who served an engineering apprenticeship in France before joining JCB in 1964, said, “The recruitment of our first apprentices 60 years ago laid very firm foundations for the future. We have recruited hundreds of apprentices since those early days and many of them have gone on to senior positions in the company. It really is a fantastic way to start a career.”

Apprentices in 1964
 
Chris Carnwell, now 75, of Tean, near Cheadle, Staffordshire, retired from JCB in 2008 after nearly 45 years with the company.  He qualified as a tool maker after his apprenticeship and ended his career as a senior engineer. He said:  “When I was at school, I was always very good at woodwork and metalwork and used to come top of the class in that field. I wanted to do something to use those practical skills and enquired about getting a position at JCB which, in 1964, was still an up-and-coming company. I had two interviews and was lucky enough to be selected for an apprenticeship along with two others, Billy Brighouse, and John Millward.”
 
Six other apprentices then joined JCB throughout 1964: John Smith, Mick Higgs, Geoff Mellor, Keith Hepden, Don Rushton, and Nigel Heinich. Nigel, 75, of Uttoxeter, joined JCB on August 31st, 1964 said: “Mr Bamford was very proud of that first apprentice intake and he paid particular interest in our progress. For most of us, out of our first wage packet, we had to buy our first pair of steel-capped, toe-tector boots, which we had to wear in the college workshops or the factory. I went on to work for JCB for more than 35 years in many different roles including service technical clerk, training instructor, service supervisor. Sixty years on, it’s a route I’d highly recommend any young person to follow. It sets you up for life.”
 
Mick Higgs, 75, of Wetley Rocks, Stoke-on-Trent, went on to work for JCB 38 years and rose to the position of director and worked for several years for JCB in India. He said: “Starting an apprenticeship at JCB really did lay some fantastic foundations for my career and opened up a world of opportunity for me including working for the company in both India and Germany. Apprenticeships are a route I would recommend to any young person without any hesitation.”
 
Keith Hepden, 75, of Foxt, near Cheadle, said: “One of my favourite memories of those early days was actually a time when I was off ill and my mother spotted Mr JCB’s Cadillac coming up the drive and it turned out to be one of the company’s chauffeurs delivering my wages which were paid in cash those days!”

STIGA has announced that they are now the official groundskeeping partner of Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

The manufacturer and the football club have signed a one-year contract. The sponsorship will run until the end of June 2025. 
 
STIGA will take care of Leverkusen’s training pitches, providing lawn care by using their autonomous robots.
 
Felix Duden, CEO of TecArena-Plus GmbH said, "With STIGA as a new partner in the Sponsors Club, we are extending our commitment to innovative solutions in ground maintenance. Through this partnership, we are backing innovative and environmentally friendly technology in maintaining our playing surfaces with modern mowers. We are looking forward to working together."
 
Marc Gerster, CEO of STIGA Germany and Switzerland added, "As a forward-thinking company we are always looking for exciting collaborations that benefit both sides - also in sponsorship. With their innovative style of play, Bayer 04 Leverkusen under coach Xabi Alonso have made their mark on football in Germany and shown how successful you can be with courage, enthusiasm and passion. These are values we live and breathe at STIGA every day. So we are looking forward to getting up to speed on the pitch together from now."