In my late teens, when I became interested in horticulture, one of the things I used to look forward to the most, was receiving the new catalogues in the post from the various seed companies - Unwins, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons, to name but a few.

I was always excited with the new varieties (now known as cultivars) of flowers that were being introduced for the coming season, particularly the F1 hybrids. These catalogues were not just about listing and giving the prices of the different seeds of flowers and vegetables that the companies were selling but they also acted as a mine of information, often giving advice on when and how to sow, as well as giving the required temperatures needed to successfully germinate the seeds. 

As time moved on I qualified as a horticulturalist and began my career in the golf course maintenance industry. The seed catalogues were no more in my new life. Instead, they were replaced by visiting trade shows, particularly the stands where the machinery companies were exhibiting. Trade shows I attended would occur between November and February. I would be too busy on the golf course to be able to take the time off attending shows at any other time of the year.

What I looked forward to the most at these shows was looking at and finding out about the new machines and technology that was being introduced. When I became head greenkeeper of my golf course I would often attend a show with the view of buying new equipment that I had persuaded my golf course owners to purchase. Once they approved the amount of money that was to be spent, they left it up to me to decide on what machine to purchase, as long as it was at the best price. 

This is always something that dealers keep in mind when exhibiting. They know that there are many buyers on the floor so negotiating the best deal that suits both buyer and seller is important.

I did a lot of bargaining with the dealers. Having so many of them under one roof was great. After narrowing down the dealer I would purchase from, a follow up visit to my golf course by the dealer would be the next stage. He would bring his machine with him, often leaving it with me for a week to allow me give it a test run and put it through its paces. Giving the greenkeeping staff the opportunity to test it as well was important as they would be the ones who would be operating the machine.

My purchasing machinery days are long over but I am still fascinated with the new machines that are being launched, each year. This year in particular has seen a lot of new equipment introduced to shows such as LAMMA, BTME and the GIS show, which started yesterday in Orlando. Many new machines powered by alternative fuels are leading the way. I am particularly excited about those machines that are powered using hydrogen technology.

If you exhibited at any of the shows during the past few weeks, I hope that it was a success for you and that it was worth your while exhibiting. Just like the seed catalogues, you also give a lot of knowledge and expertise to your potential customers.

John Deere’s agricultural and sports turf machinery will be available through a single, larger dealer in the counties of Antrim, Derry/Londonderry, Armagh and Down after Stephen W Moore LTD announced that it is acquiring its neighbouring franchise, Johnston Gilpin & Co LTD. 

L-R: Neale McConnell; Randal McConnell; Donn McConnell; Alison Moore; Stephen Moore

Both Coleraine and Lisburn branches will continue trading from the current locations, and Deere says that customers will experience a simplification of all aspects of parts and service in the region as a result of the move, which is in line with their Dealer of Tomorrow strategy. 

All Johnston Gilpin & Co employees will be transferred to Stephen W Moore, and the company’s branch in Lisburn will continue to trade under the name Johnston Gilpin. 

The expanded dealership will offer the full range of John Deere agricultural machinery as well as domestic and professional turf care products.

Dealer principal Stephen Moore said, “This is an exciting time as we prepare to nearly double the size of our business with the next stage of our evolution. 

“We have known the McConnell family and the Johnston Gilpin group for many years and the whole team has done a fantastic job serving agricultural and turf care customers in the territory. It is clear we share the same core values around delivering unrivalled customer service so I am looking forward to integrating the two businesses under the Stephen W Moore banner.

“The transition will be smooth and steady, ensuring that it’s business as usual for our customers while we are learning from each other behind the scenes.” 

Stephen W Moore has been a John Deere dealer since 2008 in Coleraine.

“As well as covering a larger area and the benefits that scale brings to a business like ours, we will now be able to offer the full range of professional turf care machines, parts, service and technical knowledge,” Stephen added. “As one franchise with access to more machines, parts and know-how, the training and advice we can offer to customers and staff will continue to improve.”

John Deere’s division sales manager, Brian D’Arcy, said, “The acquisition is a great fit for our dealer network and the new, larger business - backed up by the support from John Deere - is an extremely strong proposition for our customers in Northern Ireland.

“Both companies are well established with knowledgeable staff and connected support. Looking ahead, the business will go from strength to strength and be in a position to make the future investments required in facilities, logistics and advanced precision technologies.

“Our special thanks go to Donn, Randal, Neale and all the McConnell family for their valuable and longstanding contribution to the industry after serving as a dealer in the area for John Deere for the past 54 years.”

Toro U.K. Limited have announced they are touring Ireland with Cyril Johnston, their Irish distributor for both the Hayter and Toro brands.

Consumer, landscape contractor, siteworks and construction products will be available for current and potential dealers to see and use.

The events begin on Monday 27th February at Millbrook Lodge Country House Hotel in Ballynahinch, just outside Belfast and culminate near Mallow on Friday 3rd March, with Wednesday 1st March at Glasson Lakehouse, outside Athlone.
 
Not only will there be the full product range available for hands on demos, but the Toro U.K. team will also be delivering presentations on the product line-up, company vision and future plans with Cyril Johnston. Along with lunch and the opportunity to meet some of the UK team, Toro say the days promise to be informative for all.
 
Craig Hoare, sales & marketing manager commented, “Toro has a long established relationship with Cyril Johnston dating back to the 1950s when they placed their first order, a copy of which is framed at Toro U.K. headquarters. We are proud to have Cyril Johnston as our exclusive Toro distributor for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and we are pleased to support them and their Dealers, old and new with this tour.  

"We look forward to sharing all the exciting products available to the Irish market”.
 
To register interest or find out more, email sales.uk@toro.com

John Deere has informed dealers and customers that they will not be attending the next SIMA show in November 2024 in Paris.  

One of the main reasons they cite for this decision is to allow "..greater focus on country specific dealer and customer events throughout 2024."

Andreas Jess, John Deere marketing director for Region 2 explained further, “COVID 19 has changed the event landscape and the way customers want to interact with us is also evolving.

"Ag and Turf trade shows are a long-established way of engaging with farmers and contractors, but we are also exploring alternative communication channels that combine both digital and face-to-face activities. These will allow us to better demonstrate our innovative technologies and production system-based solutions and, at the same time, reach a wider audience.”  

He added, “customers are increasingly interested in how Precision Ag can support their operations across the entire agricultural production cycle, and this requires a different approach to share ideas and demonstrate solutions.”

Deere went on to explain that increased focus on in-country customer events will also support the company's transition to " . .a more streamlined business that puts the customer at the center." They also said, "It is also a question of utilising resources in the most efficient way over the mid- to long-term."

Looking ahead to other exhibitions, Tilmann Köller, responsible for John Deere public relations and shows & events for Region 2 added, “We are currently planning our European dealer and customer events for 2024 which require synchronization with our markets in North America. The first announcements will be in March 2024, and we are very excited about the news we will share.”

John Deere say they " . .still see an important role for trade shows in the future but would welcome international trade fair organisations to review their current timetables to allow greater flexibility for other promotional activities."

Kverneland Group has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in French company BC Technique SAS, which produces the Phenix Agrosystem brand of inter-row cultivators, rotary hoes, guidance interfaces and tine harrows.

L-R: Yasukazu Kamada, the president and CEO of Kverneland Group with Mathias Bounon, the current owner of Phenix Agrosystem

The manufacturer says this latest acquisition is a move that provides access to range of sustainable farming solutions, enabling growers to achieve efficient, accurate and consistent mechanical weed control.

While the Phenix brand will continue to be available in those markets where it currently exists, these products will be introduced as Kverneland products, available through the Kverneland dealer network.

Phenix inter-row cultivators, rotary hoes, guidance interfaces and tine harrows will be available as Kverneland-branded equipment

The portfolio includes the Helios star-wheel equipped rotary hoe; Lynx guidance interface with colour scanning self-steering camera for use with any existing hoe; and the high-tech X-Green guidance interface solution that can be equipped with up to two colour scanning self-steering cameras.

In addition, the product range includes the Onyx series of row-specific tined hoes offering working widths from 3-12m. 

Product specifications and pricing details are still to be announced, with the first models expected to arrive during Spring 2023.

JCB is set to showcase what it describes as its "super-efficient hydrogen combustion technology" on the international stage for the first time ever with a debut in North America.

Lord Bamford beside the JCB hydrogen engine

The wraps will come off their brand new hydrogen combustion engine - the company’s zero-carbon emissions solution for agricultural and construction equipment - at the Conexpo 2023 show in Las Vegas as part of the International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE).

JCB Chairman Lord Bamford is leading the project to develop JCB’s hydrogen technology. He said, “The JCB engineering team has made enormous strides in a short space of time to develop a hydrogen internal combustion engine and it already powers a JCB prototype backhoe loader and a Loadall telescopic hander. As the first construction equipment company to develop a fully working combustion engine fuelled by hydrogen, I’m delighted we are now able to present this technology on the international stage.”

JCB say their commitment to reducing emissions goes back almost 25 years and boast their latest diesel engines have delivered a 97% reduction in NOx emissions since 1999 and a 98% reduction in particulates. Today they say their diesel-powered machines also emit 50% less CO2 compared with those manufactured in 2010.

The company's clean diesel engine technology will also be showcased on the stand in Las Vegas.

Kubota has launched a new website called Kubota Group Solutions Hub.

This new platform is an initiative from Kubota Holdings Europe (KHE) that they say is designed to bring together customer solutions from multiple brands under the Kubota Group umbrella. These include Kubota, Great Plains, Kverneland, Vicon, Fede and ROC.

The company says the site brings together various customers' stories that enable users to overcome industry challenges, under the themes of innovation, sustainability, connectivity, automation and efficiency. 

A spokesperson said, "Each story describes the challenge faced and the solution provided from each brand, along with videos and customer testimonials. And at the conclusion of each story, there is a description of how these solutions specifically contribute towards the achievement of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals."

Visitors to the site can discover various stories shared by Kubota’s tractor, construction and engine divisions, as well as from Kverneland Group (Kverneland, Vicon and ROC), Great Plains Manufacturing and Fede.

Toro is excited to introduce new machines to its Revolution Series of battery-powered commercial lawncare equipment, designed to meet the evolving demands of landscape contractors. Now consisting of ride-on and stand-on machines, walk-behind lawnmowers, and handheld tools, the Revolution Series offers flexibility, cuts down on emissions and can complete more jobs with less hassle.

Grandstand® Revolution

The Toro GrandStand Revolution stand-on mower is a powerful machine designed for high performance and professional lawncare pros focused on optimising their businesses with the next generation of landscaping equipment. It’s the same ride you’ve come to trust with its space-saving, flip-up platform, only now it is powered by Toro’s durable HyperCell™ batteries.

Featuring a Turbo Force deck with adjustable baffle, operators can adjust the deck baffle to get the most pristine cut in any conditions. The Turbo Force deck is a 50 KSI 7-gauge high strength steel deck, complemented with an extra strength tubular chassis and durably rugged I-beam front-end. It also features industry-leading dual capture anti-scalp rollers to ensure the highest quality of cut in the harshest terrain. Discharge and disperse clippings with the industry’s highest IQ system—rubber discharge chute clears obstacles, while debris dispersion is second to none.

Rough bumps and challenging terrain are all in a day’s work. Feeling them shouldn’t have to be. The Toro GrandStand Revolution combines the speed and comfort of a zero-turn rider with the on-and-off ease of a wide area walk-behind — creating a fast, manoeuvrable and more productive alternative to meet your quiet, battery-powered, efficient mowing needs.

Z Master® Revolution

The past and present just became the future with the new Toro® Z Master® Revolution zero-turn mower. Built on Toro’s commercial-grade Z Master 4000 Series frame and legendary Turbo Force® deck, the new Toro Z Master Revolution offers robust battery-powered go-all-day comfort with Toro’s patented MyRIDE® suspension system. The suspended operator platform and easy to adjust, personalised ride settings maximize comfort. All day run time from Toro’s HyperCell Power System seals the deal.

Revolution Professional Hand Tools

Revolution professional handheld products run on our 60V* Flex Force Power System® and work with our entire line of Revolution commercial grade handheld tools. 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.

Horizon360™

The best thing about the two new Toro ride-ons is that they come Horizon360 capable. Toro’s new business software for landscape contractors drives more profits and increases business efficiency and effectiveness.

This powerful, new, all-in-one software suite allows landscape contractors to more effectively track the productivity of their crews and equipment, automate their billing process, and enhance the time management of their businesses. Horizon360 also offers proof of service, job notes and office notes, real-time equipment tracking and a bi-lingual phone app for managing scheduling, weather events and multiple crews.

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 today.