May I presumably be one of the last to say Happy New Year to you all today!

It's great to be back with you this afternoon, bringing you all the latest news and developments from the industry to your inbox each and every Friday lunchtime. Again this year I'll try to be as close to midday each week as humanly possible. I do hope if I ever fall down a hole or something and the Weekly Update doesn't appear, someone will think to send out a search party...

Anyway, you may have noticed already that we're continuing a first-edition-after-the-Christmas-break tradition today, by looking back at what were the Top Ten most read stories throughout the year just gone. It's always a fascinating activity for me, putting the list together and once again the most popular news items are a mixed bag of stories which clearly stood out to readers for a variety of reasons. As ever the stories tend to be extremes - either good, bad or surprising. Do have a read through and see if you can guess what the number one is.

There is another sense of deja-vu with today's edition as I do recall that the first issue of 2019 also sadly reported on a break-in to a dealership which had occurred over the festive period. The story today of Culverwells in Kent being targeted is bad enough, but is made even more shocking when you watch the CCTV footage on Kent Online and see just how brazen and casual the thieves are - filling up their vehicle with chainsaws and strimmers. It's a horrible sight to behold.

We're aware that dealers across the country are all too often suffering from burglaries and it seems that most security methods employed can be circumnavigated by determined criminals. I know we've asked before, but if anyone has any advice they'd like to pass on to other dealer readers, regarding security procedures which they are particularly in favour of, please let us know in the comments below.

Getting back to the new year, January is the month for new beginnings and we have a couple of major trade shows coming up which could potentially act as inspiration for some new products to grace the floor-space of your dealerships.

Kicking the industry's year off, next week the LAMMA show takes place at the NEC for the second time, following last year's inaugural indoor event. Running on Tuesday and Wednesday, the huge undertaking which takes up 11 sold-out halls in Birmingham will be full of kit of interest to our agricultural machinery dealer readers.

This will be followed up in a couple of weeks time with the BTME show in Harrogate, organised by BIGGA. Taking place from Tuesday 21st to Thursday 23rd, the event is always of interest to dealers of professional turfcare machinery looking to see what's new.

Both of these events could be described as sophomore efforts, following on from a major change to both of their formats in 2019 - LAMMA with the change of venue and BTME with the complete change of layout within the International Centre. It will be interesting to see how the organisers build on what they started last year and continue to engage with and attempt to satisfy both visitors and exhibitors alike. Service Dealer will of course, report from both.

Throughout 2020, we continue to want to hear from our readers - it is your journal after all. Please always feel free to comment below articles on this Weekly Update and get in touch if there's anything you feel we should know about. Ours is a policy of wanting to reflect as many dealer and industry voices as possible.

On the night of December 29, Culverwells' branch in Tenterden, Kent, was broken into with thieves getting away with a haul of chainsaws, strimmers and hedgcutters.

In a statement on their Facebook page, Culverwells said, "Last night [Dec 29th] at 22.45pm our Tenterden branch was broken into by four masked men driving a blue Honda CRV. They cut through locks and then used the Honda to pull open security gates and rip out the shop doors."

A total of 15 chainsaws were taken along with 3 hedgecutters and 5 strimmers. Culverwells describe the haul as having a retail value in excess of £10,000.

This picture of the smashed, towed-out doors appeared on Culverwell's Facebook page and Kent Online

The robbery was captured on CCTV - which can be viewed on the Kent Online website.

Employee John Emerson is quoted by Kent Online, saying, "It's gutting that people think they've got a right to break-in somewhere and take what they want."

Culverwells have detailed the taken machines on their Facebook page, asking people to share the information in an effort to make the units "too hot to handle". The stolen items are:

Chainsaws

• Stihl MS181 s/n 516457263
• Stihl MS181 s/n 517854263
• Stihl MS211C-BE s/n 521110127
• Stihl MS231 s/n 185516342
• Stihl MS291 s/n 186423090
• Stihl MS391 s/n 184279157
• Stihl MSA200C-BQ s/n 440736216
• Husqvarna 120MK11 s/n 3436891
• Husqvarna 236E s/n 0602415
• Husqvarna 390XP s/n 2100367
• Husqvarna 435MK11 s/n 2600923
• Husqvarna 450 s/n 2601534
• Husqvarna 550XP s/n 1401985

Hedgecutters

• Husqvarna 115i HD45 s/n 1300634
• Husqvarna 122 HD60 s/n 2500172
• Mountfield MHJ2424 s/n 802ZJ103659

Strimmers

• Husqvarna 122C s/n 4500104
• Husqvarna 525RJX s/n 4900196
• Stihl FS50CE s/n 517454759
• Stihl FS55R s/n 816459557
• Stihl FS91R s/n 515110604

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 01843 222289 quoting reference 46/246701/19.

Organisers of the LAMMA show have said that agricultural businesses looking to drive their export sales in key markets across the globe will be able to obtain expert advice from specialists at the Department for International Trade when the event returns to the NEC next week (7th and 8th January).

LAMMA believes that as the UK prepares to leave the EU and trade negotiations begin in earnest, many existing and budding exporters of agricultural machinery, equipment and services will be keen to discuss the opportunities in different markets to help in their decision making.

Specialists from the DIT’s Agri-tech team will highlight export opportunities in several markets, including Latin America, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Africa and Asia (see below).

LAMMA say these five regions have been identified as offering some of the best export prospects for agriculture technology.

The DIT Agri-tech Team promotes UK exports and inward investment and also says they help "drive sustainable intensification of agriculture to provide global access to sufficient, safe, healthy food".

The team is made up of private sector specialists and civil servants. Working alongside DIT’s global network of in-country experts in over 100 markets, the team provides tailored advice and support to businesses or institutions looking to develop in overseas markets.

Presentations: DIT (Export Advice Hub, stand 8.922 Hall 8)

Agri-Tech Export Opportunities in Latin America – Dr Elizabeth Warham FRSB
Elizabeth leads the Agri-Tech team. She has expertise and experience in plant sciences, and technology development more broadly across the agri-food sector.

Agri-Tech Export Opportunities in Eastern Europe and Central Asia Network: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkey (EECAN) – Ellis Emwanta
As Agri-Tech Trade Manager, Ellis works with colleagues across the UK, international network and partners helping UK businesses export overseas.

Agri-Tech Export Opportunities in Africa – Toyosi Ogunshola
Toyosi is the Trade Account Manager, organising the team’s engagement in key trade events and working with UK companies looking to expand their international business.

Agri-Tech Export Opportunities in Asia – Hadyn Craig
Haydn is the Agri Business Specialist within the DIT Agri-Tech Trade team. He also works with the UK Agri-Tech Innovation Centres developing international opportunities to showcase UK innovation and to develop collaborative projects.

It has been reported in the U.S that John Deere has completed a $24 million, 22,000 square foot project that adds 12 jobs and 2 presses used to punch out steel parts at their Horicon Works manufacturing facility in Horicon, Wisconsin.

Trade journal, Farm Equipment says, this comes three years after a $43 million, 388,000 square foot expansion project at the same facility.

Horicon Works employs more than 1,200 people and produces lawnmowers and snowblowers at its downtown plant, while Building 101 on the city’s southern edge manufacturers parts for UTVs.

The latest expansion project at Building 101, which includes $250,000 in funding from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., adds a $1.8 million 700-ton press and a $3.2 million 1,100-ton press. Another 700-ton press will come in March that will replace an older model.

Steve Johnson, who has been factory manager since 2010 and has worked for John Deere for 40 years, said business at Horicon has grown 50% since 2010 thanks in large part to increased sales of Gators and riding lawn tractors. In addition, Horicon Works is also making parts for John Deere facilities in Georgia, Tennessee, Iowa and Illinois.

The Toro Company has reported results for its fourth quarter and full fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.

The company announced that full-year net sales increased 19.8% over the prior fiscal year to a record $3.1 billion.

The company attributed this success to the acquisition of Charles Machine Works and strong demand for their snow and ice management products.

Toro acquired the maker of the Ditch Witch products last year

Richard M. Olson, Toro’s chairman and chief executive officer, said, "We concluded fiscal 2019 by exceeding the $3 billion revenue milestone and delivering strong gross margin and revenue growth momentum heading into fiscal 2020.

"The year was marked by record results, the transformational acquisition of Charles Machine Works and strong demand for snow and ice management products in our professional and residential segments. New product introductions contributed to our growth, such as the stand-on BOSS Snowrator, the redesigned Power Clear snow thrower and the Flex-Force lithium-ion battery-powered products with all season capability.

"I would like to thank our team and channel partners for their dedication, consistent execution, and continued focus on our end customers.”

Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Highlights

• Net sales of $3,138.1 million, up 19.8% compared to fiscal 2018 net sales of $2,618.7 million
• Net earnings of $274.0 million, up 0.8% compared to fiscal 2018 net earnings of $271.9 million; *Adjusted net earnings of $324.3 million, up 11.8% compared to fiscal 2018 adjusted net earnings of $290.1 million

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2019 Financial Highlights

• Net sales of $734.4 million, up 36.2% compared to fiscal 2018 net sales of $539.3 million
• Net earnings of $38.3 million, down 2.0% compared to fiscal 2018 net earnings of $39.0 million; *Adjusted net earnings of $51.8 million, up 51.5% compared to fiscal 2018 adjusted net earnings of $34.2 million

Looking ahead to 2020 Richard M Olson said, “With the first quarter of fiscal 2020 underway, we are encouraged by the retail activity in our professional and residential snow and ice management products. The fundamentals of the business remain strong and we expect to generate higher levels of free cash flow and return value to our shareholders through dividends and share repurchases."

Following the roll-out of a three-year warranty on Kverneland power harrows, the company has announced that the same guarantee now extends to their power harrow drill combinations - with choices increased via the arrival of a new grain and fertiliser model, called the e-drill Maxi Plus.

New e-drill Maxi Plus

Based on the existing e-drill Maxi, this new version gains a split hopper design and dual metering units, also lending the e-drill Maxi Plus to companion cropping. The company says its 2,000-litre hopper can be divided as 60:40, 70:30 or 100:0. Working widths are 3m, 3.5m and 4m, with prices starting from £35,622.

The three-year parts and labour warranty is available to those customers who register their machine online through http://my.kverneland.com and also have their machine serviced annually by a Kverneland dealer.

BIGGA say the finalists of their 2020 Awards have once again shown what talented and passionate greenkeeping teams can achieve when supported by the clubs where they work.

The BTME event will be taking place once again at the Harrogate Convention Centre from Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23 January 2020, with more than 5,000 turf managers, greenkeepers, golf club owners and decision makers expected to take part in the exhibition and educational programme.

2019 BIGGA Award winner Jack Percival

One of the highlights each year is the BIGGA Welcome Celebration, sponsored for the first time in 2020 by Campey Turf Care Systems. Taking place on the opening night of BTME and hosted by respected journalist and golf enthusiast Naga Munchetty, the Welcome Celebration will reveal the winners of the BIGGA Awards 2020.

The finalists of the BIGGA Awards 2020 are:

Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year sponsored by Rigby Taylor

• Craig Haldane and the team at The Gleneagles Hotel and Golf Courses for hosting The 2019 Solheim Cup
• Grant Peters and the team at Parkstone Golf Club for hosting the European Ladies Amateur Championship
• Graham Brumpton and the team at Ipswich Golf Club (Purdis Heath) for hosting the English Women’s Stroke Play

Greenkeeping Project of the Year sponsored by Baroness and Kubota

• Darren Anderson and the team at Bromborough Golf Club
• Andrew Kerr MG and the team at Surbiton Golf Club
• Robert George and the team at Thorndon Park Golf Club

The winner of the Outstanding Contribution of the Year sponsored by Jacobsen will be revealed on the night.

BIGGA Chief Executive Officer Jim Croxton said, “Last year’s refreshed BIGGA Awards were an incredible success, with the story of our member Jack Percival and his efforts to support the homeless in his home town leading to a standing ovation and bringing a fitting end to the Welcome Celebration.

“We thought it may be a tough act to follow, but I’m delighted that throughout the past year BIGGA members have once again redefined what it’s possible to achieve out on the course and what it means to be part of the greenkeeping community. The nominations we received this year were of an incredibly high standard and it’s testament to everyone who got involved that the judges had such a difficult decision in determining the finalists.

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a BIGGA member or team of greenkeepers this year and I look forward to seeing each of the finalists at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration in Harrogate for what promises to be a fantastic opening to our annual exhibition.”

In March 2020, creators Drone Ag will launch newdrone technology that they say will help farmers to walk crops more efficiently.

Known as Skippy Scout, the new technology is a crop monitoring app that uses drones to automatically capture images which are analysed by artificial intelligence (AI) to offer arable farmers vital broad acre crop insight.

Skippy Scout uses high resolution images taken using a drone to analyse crops and show evidence of weeds or pests

The phone-based app uses GPS and mapping software to fly a drone to points in a field selected by the farmer. The images taken by the drone are interpreted by the app to provide an accurate green area index (GAI) and count emerging plants. The quality of image collected can also identify weeds and the company says it is accurate enough to capture insect damage on a single leaf.

Jack Wrangham, founder of Drone Ag, and his team have spent the last eighteen months developing the software and during 2019 worked with 200 triallists. These ranged from farmers and agronomists to universities such as Harper Adams. He says he sees drones as an essential tool for farmers today and also believes that in the next five years drones will help provide much of the information needed to aid precision farming decisions.

Jack said, “Farmers have always walked their crops. However, the time available to do this in the traditional way is diminishing. As farm sizes increase and labour units per hectare decline, the risk of losing crops because a problem has not been identified quickly enough will increase. Skippy Scout offers every farmer the chance to see and evaluate crops easily and efficiently using just a phone and a drone.”

Skippy Scout is a phone-based application that connects to a drone. The farmer chooses points using maps of their farm that are stored in the phone app. The drone then flies to the selection taking images at each point. The images are fed back to the phone for analysis and AI in the app interprets the images to offer the operator information and advice. Each set of results is recorded to allow for future comparisons to be made year on year.

Jack continued, “Technology is not a threat to farming, it is an aid that can save time and money. Adapting farming methods to make use of technology like Skippy is crucial if agriculture is going to provide for the world’s ever-growing population."

Drone Ag was able to crowdfund the investment needed to develop Skippy Scout and will launch the product in March 2020. A partnership with drone specialists Heliguy will offer farmers the opportunity to lease a package of drone and software, allowing those interested to experiment and learn how drones can benefit their farm.

Garden Trader is helping send quality leads to specialist garden machinery dealers in the UK. It has been designed to support and promote our dealer industry to consumers who are specifically searching for garden machinery products and services.

It is easy and quick to register and costs just £96 + VAT per year to be listed and all revenues in 2020 will be reinvested into promoting the site online.

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