Since my last blog the number of Covid-19 cases have started to decrease, with hospital numbers decreasing as well. We all need to be extra careful and not let our guard down in order to curb this awful virus. Signs are looking good for the months ahead and, with vaccine centres being organised around the country, I hope that we will have a summer where people can travel around the country for holidays and get away breaks. However, it looks like that we will be remaining at Level 5 restrictions up until Easter (instead of March the 5th).

Hotels in my home county of Wexford have already seen bookings soar, as parents want to get away from their homes for well deserved breaks. Some hoteliers are even reporting that it will be a busier summer than last year.

This indicates that people can’t wait to spend their money and it is likely that most of it will be spent in Ireland as travel restrictions abroad will probably be still in place for that bit longer. During the lockdowns, people have had no opportunity to spend their money. This spending spree should have an effect on our own industry as well.

For example, I was speaking to a greenkeeper during the week and he said that, even though his golf course has remained closed since the 24th of December, membership numbers have remained steady. The club anticipates a huge increase in green fees as soon as restrictions are lifted, as people will be anxious to head off for golfing holidays – all within Ireland. This income coming into golf clubs and outdoor recreation areas such as parks and private estates should secure the future viability of these places, on which our industry depends. After all they rely on machinery to maintain their grass, trees and planting areas.

We are fortunate that, during all three lockdowns, sports pitch maintenance was seen as essential work. This meant that greenkeepers and groundstaff were kept in full employment, enabling them to continue with their work, whether it was mowing turf, digging drains, tree surgery or verti draining. These work schedules involved the use of machinery and equipment, so the need for spare parts and servicing still continued. Farming was also deemed essential work so agricultural equipment suppliers were largely unaffected, many operating a click and collect service.

Despite this positive background, some of the big trade shows such as LAMMA have cancelled their events for this year. Those shows, that have decided to proceed, have pushed the event to the end of the year, with some big company names having withdrawn from displaying at some of them. The National and World Ploughing Championships are going ahead in Ratheniska in Co. Laois from 15th -18th September. It will be interesting to see what the attendance will be like at this event. Will it be open to the public or be held behind closed doors, as was the case last year? The National Ploughing Association (NPA) is the organiser of the event and 2021 is a milestone year for them as they celebrate 90 years in existence. The 2019 event attracted 297,000 with almost 1700 exhibitors. What travel and social distancing rules will be applied, if any, this year?

We are still not out of the woods yet but I am optimistic about the remainder of the year. The only cause of concern I have is the supply chain of machine parts coming in and out of the UK as the teething problems of Brexit still need to be worked out

The Toro Company has announced that it acquired Turflynx, a privately held developer of autonomous mowing equipment for golf courses based in Portugal.

Turflynx

In a statement Toro said their new employees will continue to be based in Portugal. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Turflynx introduced the industry’s first fully autonomous, all-electric fairway mower in 2016. 

“As the golf industry continues to focus on improving play, better managing resources and expanding its commitment to environmental sustainability, the application and advancement of technologies will play a critical role,” said Grant Young, general manager for Toro’s Commercial Business.

“We are very excited to integrate the Turflynx team into The Toro Company as we collectively build upon our expertise in autonomous technology, alternate energy, smart-connected products. This acquisition is expected to help expand our GeoLink Solutions portfolio displayed at last year’s Golf Industry Show.”

Following John Deere’s recent business reorganisation in Europe, Brian D’Arcy has been appointed agricultural division sales manager for John Deere Limited with overall responsibility for Ireland, Scotland, Wales and northern England.

Brian D'Arcy

He replaces Chris Meacock, who takes over as turf division sales manager for the UK & Ireland, the Benelux countries and Scandinavia.

Based at Langar, Brian will work alongside Joedy Ibbotson, who continues in his current role as agricultural division sales manager for central and southern England. Both report directly to the sales director for Western Europe Richard Johnson and are responsible for all agricultural product sales and marketing throughout the UK & Irish dealer network.

Brian D’Arcy is a graduate of Tralee Institute of Technology in Ireland, where he gained a degree in Agricultural Engineering Management. He joined John Deere Limited at Langar, Nottingham in July 2007 as a tractor sales demonstration instructor, before being promoted to the role of crop systems specialist in 2009 and then later that same year to agricultural territory manager for Wales and the West Midlands, a position he held until July 2014.

Brian then became UK and Ireland strategic account manager for turf and other non-agricultural products, before moving to Deere’s European HQ in Mannheim, Germany in October 2018 as Region 2 product manager for compact and utility tractors. He was subsequently appointed to the European turf division sales manager role in November 2019, before returning to Langar to take up this new position

Due to the ongoing uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, AgriBriefing, the owners of the UK's LAMMA show, say they have taken the difficult decision to cancel LAMMA 2021 on 25-26 May at the NEC. 

The show will now return to its previous slot at the start of the year. LAMMA 2022 will be held on 11-12 January 2022 at the NEC.

Commenting on the decision, Kate Walsh, event manager for LAMMA said, “The decision was not an easy one. We fully understand how important the show is to the industry and we were keen to make it happen in May. But after listening to the concerns of our stakeholders, and appreciating how much planning and work goes in to preparing for a show like this, a decision had to be made. As always, the safety of our visitors, exhibitors and staff is our top priority. With the lack of clarity around lockdown restrictions, particularly those related to holding trade exhibitions, it became clear an early decision was imperative.

"We would like to thank everyone for the amazing support we have received throughout the year. We know how much everyone wants the show to take place but with the ongoing uncertainty we had to make a decision. Under the current circumstances this feels like the right thing to do. But we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the NEC in January 2022.

"With the level of enquiries and pent-up demand we are seeing, I can promise you our best show yet.”

In 2021 Jacobsen celebrates 100-years in the turf industry. 

In a statement the company said that whilst recognising the company's milestones and achievements over a century is important, their focus on the future has never been stronger. They say this is evidenced with the recent relocation of manufacturing to the Turf Care Center of Excellence in Ipswich, England.

Eclipse 360 ELiTE

The company says the production of the first HR800 wide area rotary mower in Ipswich signals a start to their 100-year celebrations, with more new products launching in 2021 and their renewed pledge to product quality. Due to face-to-face activities being at a minimum right now, the company plan to launch several new online experiences this year, including a brand new standalone Jacobsen website.

Vice president of Turf Simon Rainger explained, "As we move into our second century, we have a vast amount of exciting news and content to share including the launch of the new standalone Jacobsen website, and the introduction of the Eclipse 360 ELiTE and AR530.

"These are both very exciting products for us, and especially the Eclipse 360 ELiTE which is continuing our proud tradition of manufacturing battery powered machinery, but taking a big step forward using the latest lithium-ion technology.

"These machines and other events throughout the year will help us celebrate 100 years of Jacobsen, but I think it is important to recognise the profound impact Covid-19 has had on 2020 from a personal and business perspective and recognise how well the Jacobsen team, and entire turf industry, has adapted and continued to operate."

The Jacobsen 100-year celebrations began in earnest at the end of January with the new website's launch, which brings new and current Jacobsen products to life.

John Deere commercial turfcare dealers in Region 4 can now sell and support Wiedenmann aeration products following an agreement that covers the U.S, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Manny Gan, director, global golf sales & marketing, John Deere said through the agreement, which does not apply to the UK and Europe, the company was ".providing customers with streamlined access to the industry’s top solutions through their John Deere dealer.”

Uwe Wiedenmann, managing partner, Wiedenmann Corporation, added, “John Deere has a reputation for delivering quality products and providing outstanding service, aligning with the Wiedenmann values and making this relationship a natural fit. Through this agreement, we’re offering our aeration solutions to a wider range of customers, in addition to our existing distribution and dealer network, making it easier for them to acquire the products they need."

The organisers of Agritechnica 2021, which is scheduled to take place in November this year, say there are signs of very good participation by agricultural machinery manufacturers from both Germany and abroad.

This announcement follows the confirmation last week from John Deere that they wont attend the Hanover show in 2021 because they do not currently believe the safety of all attendees can be fulfilled.

The organiser of Agritechnica, DLG (German Agricultural Society), say they expect more than 2,000 exhibitors to attend.

"The number of exhibitor registrations to date underscores the importance of Agritechnica as a global platform for agricultural machinery manufacturers and their suppliers," said Freya von Czettritz, project manager for Agritechnica. "Numerous leading agricultural machinery companies have already signed up or are currently in the planning stages of their trade show appearance at the show in Hanover in November. 

“Together with our 'Safe Business' concept for the physical trade fair in Hanover in November, we are working closely with our exhibitors to create the best possible planning conditions for safe and successful participation in the world's leading trade fair for agricultural machinery," added Freya von Czettritz.

Companies that have already registered as exhibitors for this year's show include Claas, AGCO, SDF, Kubota, Amazone, Kuhn, Kverneland, Krone, Horsch, Lemken, Pöttinger, Grimme and Väderstad.

Also from the show organisers this May will be the “Agritechnica digital' platform. Six months ahead of the actual trade show, exhibitors will be able to host their own events on the service and deliver information about their products and services.