By now many US companies will have released their second quarter (Q2) earnings results. These include agricultural and sportsturf machinery companies. Some have already reported their Q2 figures back in May, such as John Deere, while The Toro Company reported their earnings in early June. CNH Industrial is due to announce its Q2 results this Friday (29th July). The earnings results were a mixed bag with some companies showing an improvement over the same period in 2021. Those that saw a decrease in earnings gave economic and political reasons for this. “The decrease was largely driven by higher material, freight and manufacturing costs . . ” would be familiar lines in their reports.

I don’t want to dwell too much on financials in my blog this week, but I couldn’t help but notice how the US dollar has strengthened against the euro. Last week saw both currencies on a par with each other. That was the first time this happened in twenty years. What effect will this have for dealers? Any machines sold in Ireland that are imported from the US are now more expensive to purchase. To put it into perspective, in May of last year €1 was worth $1.22. That is a 22% price swing. This cost increase may need to be passed on to customers. When you add this to the fuel, transport, and fertiliser price increases, it could affect sales. 

Last Thursday the European Central Bank increased its interest rate by 0.5%. This was the first interest rate hike in eleven years. This will make taking out a business loan more expensive. 

Looking on the bright side, real life show season is back with us once again, after a two year gap. The FTMTA held a successful trade show in Punchestown on the 13th and 14th of July last. It was their first live show since 2019 with thousands attending. People were able to meet up once again, Exhibitors were delighted to showcase their range of machines and see people try out their equipment, for real. New tractor models were on display but what caught many people’s attention was the new 100% methane-powered tractor from New Holland, which, according to Liam Hayde, New Holland’s area sales manager for Ireland, is the first of its kind in the world. The tractor is a modified version of the T6 180. Could this be the trend for the future? It certainly is a step in the right direction. Many questions were asked about this type of fuel from the visitors such as: How is it stored? How is it made? Where can it be bought? Will it be expensive? Is it readily available?

Another show that took place was the GLAS exhibition at the National Basketball Arena in Dublin. This took place last Thursday (21st July). Admission was for trade only and free for practitioners in the horticulture, sportsturf, grounds maintenance and related sectors. The theme of the show was ‘Your industry. Your event”. Key topics included, the changing face of retail and ecommerce, green city initiatives, smart technology, career development, upskilling and more.

One of the biggest events to look forward to this year is the National and World Ploughing Championships. This will take place at Ratheniska, Co Laois from September 20th  - 22nd. Many dealers and distributors will be exhibiting at the show. Let’s hope for fine weather.

TAP, the publishers of Service Dealer Ireland and TurfPro, gathered national and international staff in Oxfordshire on Tuesday 19th July, to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary.

Members of TAP and TAP Spain celebrating the 20th anniversary

Owner Duncan Murray-Clarke said, "Wow, where did that time go! I mean 20 years is quite a while and during that time we have worked through financial crashes, wars and massive people displacement, climate change, the birth of Social Media and the death of the traditional media channel mix as we know them. Oh, and a world changing pandemic that will impact us for years to come."

"So it does beg the question, why on earth is TAP still in business? Lots of very strong advertising and communications agencies have sadly fallen victim to some of these adverse conditions and ceased to be.

"As time has gone on, certain elements have become much clearer to me. I am not talking about the complexities of world trading conditions or the ever-changing marketing acronyms! No it is simpler than that (or I am simpler than that). And many of these fundamental but simple elements have been key to TAP’s trading strength and the calibre of our output."

Duncan continued, "We have always changed when we felt it was right and sometimes this change has bought on quite a fundamental shift in direction. For example evolving an agency that was reliant on Travel and Tourism to an agency whose turnover is 85%+ from the agriculture and food production sectors.  And thank goodness we did.

"We also moved very quickly into the content and social media space and will always be assuming we are still behind where we need to be and looking to better our knowledge.

"So, whenever I get asked by someone starting on a new venture for any advice. It isn’t that complicated. Be different, don’t be slugging it out with loads of other businesses.  Think about a real point of difference that separates you away from other businesses in your sector.  And you have (at the moment) the advantage of being small.  So when the time is right, don’t be afraid to evolve and change, because the world is moving very quickly at the moment."

The specially commissioned TAP20 gin

Duncan concluded, saying, "Because of our ability to adapt, I absolutely believe we are up there as one of the best ag specialist content agencies around.  Well I would say that wouldn’t I? But we are now in the privileged position that The TAP Group is working with most of the key global players in world crop science and many of these clients have been with us for a while and the trust and working understanding that has been built up is special. So, thank you to all our clients who have placed their trust in us over the last 20 years.

"But who am I kidding? TAP doesn’t make nuts and bolts. We sell knowledge and expertise and it has to be good. We would be nothing without our people and accumulated knowledge – just a logo and a website. One thing Covid has taught us is we need our colleagues now more than ever and there has been a real shift in attitude towards working with people and their priorities, instead of just employing people. The traditional ad agency management style of diluted ethics, survival of the fittest and full on egos are no longer with us.

"One final thing. I don’t want to belittle what we do but keeping it simple has been a real strength. Over the years we have been able to focus on what is important and what is engaging."

Kubota Corporation has announced their intention to merge the lawnmower business division of Italian manufacturer Officine BIEFFEBI (BFB) and its subsidiary Gianni Ferrari (GF) into a new wholly-owned subsidiary of Kubota Holdings B.V., Kubota’s European subsidiary for its agricultural industrial machinery business.

The company says the creation of this new subsidiary, which will be called Kubota Gianni Ferrari S.R.L., will expand their range of groundcare products, aimed at turf professionals. By integrating these new resources into its sales, production and development processes, Kubota Holdings Europe say they will speed up the expansion of this business line in Europe. 

Officine BIEFFEBI and Gianni Ferrari have a large market share in Europe for centre collect front mowers (CCFM), a segment of medium to large  professional mowers for which Kubota say demand has been growing steadily in recent years. In particular they say, both companies enjoy popularity in the UK, Italy, France and Germany, among other Western European countries.

In an official statement Kubota said even though their lawnmower division in Europe had been showing "solid growth in the professional and high-end consumer segment", the new company, Kubota Gianni Ferrari S.R.L., will have "even vaster capabilities to develop and manufacture lawn equipment in Europe, including the highly-demanded CCFM."

Kubota's CCFM segment will thus also receive a boost and will have the company's sales and dealer support network at its disposal. 

The closing of this transaction is subject to the completion of the condition precedents including the obtainment of the Golden Power clearance. (The Golden Power is the special power of the Italian government to limit or stop foreign direct investments and corporate transactions involving Italian strategic assets).

Well known County Galway business Martyns Grasslawns have recently become the dealers for Schouten Machinery in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Damien Martyn

Schouten Machinery specialise in flail mower collectors designed for collecting high volumes of grass. They can be tipped at any height, and are very manoeuverable. Damien Martyn, company director with MartynsGrasslawns, said “Our target market for Schouten Machinery will be county councils for collection of grass along verges and roundabouts. These can also be used for leaf collection and scarifying. They can also be used on golf courses, turf farms and racecourses”.

Martyns Grasslawns have also been appointed agents for VGR Topchanger – sand injection system. Aeration holes are immediately filled with wet sand. The sand is injected deep into the soil by the TopChanger. It minimises the amount of any residual sand left on the surface, which leads to improved water infiltration in the lower levels of the soil. As a result, the top layer stays dryer so improving the playing surface.

Martyns Grasslawns was established in 1987 by Brian Martyn. The company was the first in Ireland to grow turf. It started out with just 5 acres. Growth within the industry placed greater emphasis on the need to expand and at its peak the business had 240 acres. As the company came in contact with various clients it saw a need for the supply and hire of equipment such as compact tractors, landscape equipment, golf course equipment and drainage equipment,

“Both Schouten Machinery and VGR Topchanger fit in very well with our business model of lawn and sportsturf specialists.  Adding these to our range will offer our customers even more choice of products. We are very excited about these new dealerships”, said Damien.

BAGMA have been announced as a sponsor of this year's Service Dealer Conference & Awards.

Taking place on Thursday 24th November 2022 once again at the Double Tree by Hilton Oxford Belfry Hotel, Thame, Oxfordshire, the theme for this year's event is Sustaining Dealerships.

BAGMA have been confirmed as a Networking Sponsor of the event.

BAGMA's Keith Christian, Brian Sangster and Richard Jenkins at a previous Service Dealer Conference & Awards

Keith Christian, Director of BAGMA said, "BAGMA is very excited to continue sponsoring the Service Dealer Conference and Awards.

"They are both important events and a great way for the industry to get together, learn something and to celebrate success.”

Additional details regarding the Service Dealer Conference & Awards, including further sponsors and a full speaker line-up, will be announced soon.

DeLacy Executive Recruitment have been announced as a sponsor of this year's Service Dealer Conference & Awards.

Taking place on Thursday 24th November 2022 once again at the Double Tree by Hilton Oxford Belfry Hotel, Thame, Oxfordshire, the theme for this year's event is Sustaining Dealerships.

The company has been confirmed as a Content Sponsor of the event.

Stuart Goodinson, managing director of the company, said, "DeLacy are delighted to sponsor the Service Dealer Conference & Awards for the first time, as we know how valuable a resource for the dealer sector the event has become.

"De Lacy Executive provides recruitment services in Agriculture and Agri Food in the UK and Europe. We work with clients to find the best people for their businesses and we work with candidates to find them the best business to fulfil their ambitions."

Additional details regarding the Service Dealer Conference & Awards, including further sponsors and a full speaker line-up, will be announced soon.

Organisers say the Outdoor Demo Yard at this year's Equip Exposition, is newly expanded to nearly 30 acres.

The trade event will be held from October 18th - 21st 2022 in Louisville, Kentucky at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC). The show draws thousands of attendees and 1,000+ exhibitors that cover 675,000 square feet of indoor exhibit space in addition to the Outdoor Demo Yard, where attendees can get hands-on to see how the equipment handles and performs before making buying decisions.

“Companies that have never reserved outdoor demonstration areas to show their products are lining up to be outside this year,” says Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which owns the show.
 
The demo area hours start earlier this year, with additional Wednesday hours from 12pm- 5pm. It' also open on Thursday, October 20 from 9am- 5pm and on Friday, October 21 from 9am-1pm.
 
“As the industry innovates, more technology is being introduced into landscape care and planning. The Outdoor Demo Yard is where you can see and try the newest developments in our industry – from the latest robotic and zero-turn mowers to the toughest UTVs,” said Kris. “Additionally, changing regulations in California are forcing sizable shifts in what equipment can be sold and used, and Equip Exposition is the best place to see and get a hands-on experience with the equipment of the future.”
 
Also back by popular demand is the UTV Driving Experience, where attendees can drive and compare the latest vehicles while putting them through their paces on curves, hills, rocks, and bumps. Attendees 16 or older with a valid driver’s license will be able to drive alongside a representative of the manufacturer who can answer questions about the vehicle.

John Lawrence, director of strategic golf for The Toro Company, has been chosen as the 2022 recipient of the ASGCA Donald Ross Award.

John Lawrence

The award, given annually since 1976, is presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to the game of golf and the profession of golf course architecture. It will be presented to Lawrence at the ASGCA Annual Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, on Oct. 3 at the Donald Ross Banquet.

Lawrence has spent his entire career working in and around golf, starting with a Toro Distributor for North and South Carolina, E. J. Smith and Sons Company. When the company split, Lawrence stayed with the new company, Smith Turf and Irrigation, which focused on the professional side of the Toro irrigation distribution business and led him to develop relationships with golf course superintendents, owners, developers and architects. 

He eventually came to work for The Toro Company when Turf Care Products, another Toro Distributor he led, was sold to Toro in the early 2000s. Lawrence, in his work on the professional side of irrigation, was mentored by Toro’s Dr. Jim Watson. He taught him the benefits of working closely with universities with turfgrass programs, golf course superintendents and golf course architects. He also learned about the importance of relationship building from another mentor (and 2005 Donald Ross Award honoree), Toro’s John Singleton.

Lawrence’s work with ASGCA members and ASGCA as an entity connects him in unique ways to the profession of golf course architecture. He splits his time at Toro between his strategic golf role and Toro’s corporate accounts team, which is responsible for managing many of Toro’s key golf course customers worldwide. Toro’s business model encourages relationship building, and Lawrence has spent his time over the past two decades traveling from golf project to golf project around the world supporting the work of golf course architects. 

“A young architect might view John Lawrence as merely a strategic name to add to their list of contacts. But describing John as ‘a good networking partner’ barely scratches the surface,” ASGCA President Jason Straka said. “John is the epitome of what the Donald Ross Award was created to honor. He truly has made a significant contribution to the game and the profession because of his ability to find that missing piece to move a project to success, and most importantly to help an architect or friend in need”. 

Lawrence has been instrumental in bringing knowledge, networking and support to ASGCA since his hiring by The Toro Company. One of his first ASGCA projects was to bring Toro sponsorship to Remodeling University, an early 2000s “short course to a better course” seminar series conducted nationwide to educate golf course stakeholders on how to plan and execute successful remodels. The company has also, with Lawrence’s active involvement, organized three educational seminars for ASGCA members (two at Toro headquarters, one at University of Notre Dame), sponsored four international architectural study tours, and, through the Toro Foundation, funded several ASGCA-published books (on environmental development, water, and the ROI of remodeling), and supported ASGCA’ Forward Tee Initiative. 

The Donald Ross Award is not the first time ASGCA has recognised Lawrence’s contributions to the organization and profession: he is also a three-time Presidential Citation winner and was the first non-ASGCA member invited to sit on the ASGCA Foundation Board of Directors. 

The Donald Ross Award is presented by the ASGCA Awards Committee, co-chaired by ASGCA Past Presidents Steve Smyers, ASGCA, and Rees Jones, ASGCA Fellow (the 2013 Donald Ross Award recipient).

This October, travel to Louisville, Kentucky, and make your mark at Equip Exposition; the outdoor living, landscape, and power equipment industry's international trade show.

Equip Expo, formerly GIE+EXPO, is the proving ground—the one trade show where you can “test before you invest” in new products, innovations and even ideas for your business.

• See the Latest Products and Manufacturer Lines
• Entertainment Includes Trace Adkins Performance on October 20
• Learn from Industry Experts Bob Clements and Sara Hey
• 3 Days and Nearly 30 Acres to Demo
• Enroll in our Dealer Management Education

To book discounted lodging and to learn more about Equip Expo on October 18-21 go to equipexposition.com