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.