Just when we thought we were making progress with the coronavirus, we heard about the surge in positive cases in meat factories in the midlands. This forced the government to impose restrictions in Counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly for two weeks.

One has to feel sorry for the businesses in these counties that were doing their best to conform with the HSE and government Covid-19 guidelines. The hospitality sector, in particular, who are struggling to make ends meet, are probably feeling it the hardest.

I hope that the dealers in County Laois, Kildare and Offaly are doing OK. One dealer in Co. Kildare told me that their spare parts section is holding up as they send out parts to their customers using a courier but, because of Covid-19, delivery times may be delayed by a day as the demand for couriers has surged during the pandemic.

Machinery demonstrations have gone quiet as a result of sales to sports clubs falling since March. It’s a strange time we are in. As a result of the coronavirus, the few demonstrations that are taking place are done at a distance. The dealer rep. has to watch from afar as the client works the new machine as best he or she can. It’s hard to imagine a dealer watching a potential customer operate a new machine without being beside them to show how the machine works. When the demonstration is over the machine has to be washed down and sanitised. Will this be the way of the future? Is this the new normal?

At the end of each year we get the data on new tractor sales for the year. This year we will probably see a notable drop. I would be interested to see similar data on new sportsturf machinery sales. I suspect they will be down as well. Golf clubs, in particular, are in a position similar to the financial crisis of 2008. Back then, because money was tight, clubs held off purchasing new machinery. Instead, they maintained their existing fleet. I suspect 2020 will be similar.

No income from green fees was generated from the 27th of March to the18th of May, due to the lockdown. Add to the fact that international tourists, holidaying in Ireland, have fallen sharply. Many golf clubs and golf resorts in Ireland rely on tourism for income, not only for green fees but also for accommodation in their hotels or holiday homes. So money is not freely available as before which will have a knock-on affect on new machinery sales. However, on the positive side, spare parts sales have remained steady. I suspect sales of second hand tractors and sportsturf machinery will be steady or show an increase on the previous year.

Let’s hope that the restrictions in County Laois, Offaly and Kildare will soon be lifted and that restrictions won’t be imposed on other counties. It all depends on the numbers of positive cases being reported. It is up to us to keep acting responsibly, especially when it comes to socialising in hotels and in bars that sell food. There is a real worry that, as long as pubs remain closed, there will be an increase in the number of house parties taking place.

With that in mind it is so important to continue wearing your mask and keep your social distance.

The theme of this year’s conference (working smarter) is absolutely spot on for the times we are living in.

Over the last month or so it has become clear that whatever the guidelines are, the right thing to do would be to make the conference and awards completely virtual.

However, with the event building in energy over the past few years, I could only see a 100% virtual conference as a step backwards, reducing the impact for the dealers and quite simply not offering the sponsors the value they deserve.

So, we have very reluctantly decided, like so many other events this year, to sidestep this particular delivery as opposed to swinging the bat at it.

The great news is that in preparing for this years’ conference in such conditions, we have come up with the most amazing theme and programme as well as developing the hybrid approach, enabling us next year to offer you some of the conference content free of charge through broadcast. So, as Boris would say, it is oven ready . . .

I finally would like to thank the sponsors that stuck with us as we planned and re-planned the event. Your support and enthusiasm for the event is heart-warming and I look forward to buying you all a drink next year.

Reports from the U.S suggest that the largest unsecured creditors of Briggs & Stratton, believe a business reorganisation rather than an assets auction could result in a better financial outcome for the company’s trade creditors, retiree health plan and pensioners.

The Milwaukee Business Journal says these creditors wish to delay the manufacturer’s fast-track plan to sell its assets at auction.

As reported previously, Briggs & Stratton entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with private equity firm KPS Capital Partners named as a staking-horse bidder - with a figure of $550 agreed to purchase most of the small engine maker's assets. KPS is also to contribute $265 million to debtor-in-possession financing to keep the company operating during the process.

The Milwaukee Business Journal writes, " . .the company proposes an auction process with an Aug. 28 bid deadline and a Sept. 11 hearing on the sale. That would complete the Chapter 11 process within 7.5 weeks of Briggs & Stratton’s bankruptcy filing and allegedly give an unfair advantage to stalking-horse bidder KPS Capital Partners, said attorneys representing the holders of $195 million in senior unsecured notes."

The local business journal goes on to say, "If the bankruptcy court judge approves the Briggs-KPS proposal, the company’s retiree benefits plan, pension obligations and trade creditors “stand to receive very little if anything,” the note holders said.

"The company said its board voted prior to the Chapter 11 filing to terminate the company's group insurance plan for retirees, which provides retiree health and welfare benefits. With the termination, benefits will cease on Aug. 31.

"A reorganization plan, on the other hand, could potentially preserve some financial value for those stakeholders and others, the objection states.

"The note holders suggest that selling Briggs' “several distinct businesses” separately rather than as a whole “may realize optimal value.” Another possibility would be a combination of selling some non-core assets and reorganizing the company’s core business, the note holders said.

"The note holders also questioned Briggs & Stratton’s statements about the need for $275 million to maintain its product inventory when the company reported large inventory levels for the quarter ending March 31. The creditors said heavy spending on building inventory is “puzzling” and “must be scrutinized.”"

Swaine Agri, based in Rhode, Co. Offaly, has recently been appointed as a Valtra dealer for Co. Offaly, north Kildare and part of Co. Laois.

The Swaine Agri team

Starting as a tractor and spare parts supplier, Liam Swaine - the proprietor of Swaine Agri - has over 30 years of experience in the industry. He says that he is “very happy with the inclusion of the Valtra brand to complement the expanding stable of product lines”.

Our business, for many years, has been based on supplying good quality second-hand tractors with a strong focus on service and repairs.

He added: “With the recent addition of the Farmhand franchises – to supply new Krone, Amazone and Quicke machinery – our customer base has further expanded. We are seeing more and more demand each year for new equipment.

“The next logical step was to look for a reputable tractor franchise to add to our expanding machinery portfolio – one that we can stand behind. Signing up with Valtra – a well-established brand in Ireland with a great reputation for durability in our tough working conditions – is a great addition to our business.

Valtra’s Andy Miller added his comments, saying: “We are very pleased that Swaine Agri has joined the Valtra team. The business has an established background in supplying and maintaining second-hand tractors, so adding a new tractor franchise is the next step for Liam.

“We look forward to working closely with Swaine Agri to grow the Valtra brand in central Ireland.”

Source: Agriland.ie

Farmhand, the sole Irish importers for Krone, Amazone, Quicke, APV and Zuidberg have appointed Ben Buckley as area sales manager for the South.

Ben, who has been working for Farmhand for the past 12 months doing machinery demonstrations, will be covering Munster as well as Carlow and Wicklow.

Ben studied Agri. engineering in IT Tralee and worked for a prominent silage contractor in Cork during the summer for the past 5 years before making the move to Farmhand.

“We are delighted to have Ben on board. He really impressed us during the BigM Mowing the Country Tour that he did last year and we are confident he is going to be a strong sales contact for our dealer network” said sales director, Stephen Scrivener.

“I am really looking forward to this new challenge. Farmhand have some premium brands and I am looking forward to help further promote them in my new role” commented Ben.

Last week The Ad Plain (TAP), part of the same group as Service Dealer Ireland, held the first of two webinars presenting the results of their 2020 Tractor Insight Survey.

The survey first ran in 2019 and provided a benchmark for this year’s findings. Promoted through Service Dealer, dealers examined the performance of tractor brands stocked, and graded them based on six performance areas including value for money, quality and innovation. Dealers were also asked to rate what the manufacturers offered in terms of aftersales care, marketing and training support.

TAP say they were pleased with the sample size who responded, saying that 63 dealerships took part - which out of an estimated 750 agricultural dealerships in the UK is a decent number (almost 10%) in terms of research engagement. Shaun Cooper, head of insight at TAP said, “We appreciate the time and support provided by dealers, especially during Covid."

The quantitative data was subsequently supported with qualitative phone interviews with dealers, helping the researcher to probe areas in more depth and shared real examples on why their feelings should be incorporated in the results.

Shaun Cooper said, “The report has been created to help brands understand areas servicing dealers would like to see improvement and how these areas compare from one brand to another.”

Shaun continued, “The results proved very interesting, especially in regard to the changing nature of the relationship between dealers and manufacturer resulting from market consolidation, technology and digital marketing. Not surprisingly, the manufacturer’s approach to dealer continues to be number one consideration for dealers on which brand is stocked in their stores.

“We drilled down with further investigation to better understand why, revealing there are some real concerns from the dealer perspective, more so than last year. In essence, many expressed the partnership has shifted over the years from what once existed at a personal level based on mutual business values servicing the local market, to what is now a far more corporate engagement. The emphasis is evolving, especially how technology is affecting operations, the product and marketing.”

To discover all the results which the insight highlighted, you can sign up to receive the report in full for free here. TAP say it’s due to be published within the next few weeks.

If you missed last week's webinar, and you want to delve into the results further, you can sign up here for the next one which will be held on Thursday 6th September.

In the meantime, any questions regarding the results can be directed to Shaun Cooper or Oliver Belt at TAP.

BIGGA's BTME event will not take place in  Harrogate, England in January 2021 as anticipated, with the association promising an alternative ‘festival of turf’ planned for summer 2021.

The event’s organisers, the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association, say they have cancelled the popular trade exhibition due to the ongoing uncertainty relating to the coronavirus pandemic, having prioritised the health and wellbeing of its members, exhibitors, staff and other attendees.

The decision was taken following consultation with members of the association and regular dialogue with representatives of the Harrogate Convention Centre and other major stakeholders. It was agreed the hosting of a gathering of turf professionals from across the globe would create an unacceptable risk of infection, potentially putting lives at risk.

BIGGA’s education programme, Continue to Learn, is held alongside BTME each year and will still take place during January 2021, albeit as an online event and with an altered timetable designed to reflect the new digital platform. BIGGA say a full programme of speakers will enable their members to access the education they have come to expect from the comfort of home or at their place of employment.

BIGGA have said their announcement of an alternative event in summer 2021 will enable them to explore options for hosting the event outdoors, which current understanding of the infectious disease indicates will make for a safe event and will allow improved social distancing measures to be implemented. BIGGA hope that many of the exhibitors who had signed up for BTME 2021 will support this new event and the Association says they will be liaising with exhibitors over the coming weeks to discuss the opportunities it presents.

The Harrogate Convention Centre, home to BTME since its inauguration as the European Turf Management Exhibition (ETME) in 1989, has been utilised as an NHS Nightingale Hospital since the peak of the outbreak in April and BIGGA say they are incredibly proud to be associated with a venue that has been transformed to enable the treatment of COVID-19 patients, should the need arise.

However, the alteration of dates will require a new venue to be found and discussions are underway with potential event hosts. Details will be released in due course.

It is anticipated that BTME will return to the Harrogate Convention Centre in January 2022.

BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton said, “The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has sent shockwaves across our industry and BIGGA members have worked admirably in difficult circumstances to enable the continuing success of the facilities they maintain. The work they are doing in a safe and socially-distanced manner is admirable and has undoubtedly led to an increased confidence in golf as a safe pastime during these uncertain times.

“With member health and wellbeing being BIGGA’s absolute priority, it was immediately clear that to invite thousands of turf professionals from across the globe to attend an exhibition during a season when there is anticipated to be an increased risk of disease transmission would be negligent and expose attendees to undue risk.

“BIGGA considers it important to host an annual event and BTME plays a vital role in the calendar year for the turf industry. BTME is an opportunity to come together to celebrate the achievements of the previous year, while building new contacts and looking forward to the future. We feel it is important to retain this community spirit where possible, especially considering the hardships we have all faced, and so we are exploring the possibility of hosting a safe and accessible alternative event in summer 2021. I’m excited about the possibilities presented by this and am confident our new ‘festival of turf’ will be as exciting and influential as ever.”

BIGGA Head of Member Development Sami Strutt is responsible for the organisation of Continue to Learn, working with members to develop an engaging and relevant education programme each year.

Sami said: “Although the association will have no physical presence in Harrogate during January, we will be hosting Continue to Learn as a digital event and I’m certain the spirit of Harrogate week will be as strong as ever before.

“We have engaged with BIGGA members through our annual Members’ Choice survey and are in the process of building an incredible series of online learning that will enable BIGGA members to continue their professional development, wherever in the world they may be.”

The new Redexim Speed-Seed from Charterhouse Turf Machinery features a remodelled variable seed rate calibration system.

The range of dimple seeders has been extended to feature four width options - 1.1m, 1.5m, 2m and 2.3m. It utilises a spiked sarel roller, to create 990 holes per m2, and a rear brush which sweeps the delivered seed into the mass of holes down to depths of up to 20mm, leaving a groomed finish in its wake. An optional second spiked roller can be equipped to double the number of pockets created.

In addition to the new sizes and the new styling of the machine, the key introduction is a new seed calibration system. The metering sections make ratio adjustments simple and accurate, while a new mixing bar and individual seeding elements ensure good, even distribution and less wastage – even when sowing small bent grass seed.

The seed system is fed by a tray with a maximum capacity of up to 337 litres (in the 2.3m width variant), and all four models offer a seeding speed of 7.5mph.