A well-known figure in south Wales agriculture has been tempted out of retirement to help create a new business selling farm machinery.

Terry Coles supplied many hundreds of tractors and implements to farmers and contractors through his dealership JG Plant, which he sold in 2014 to enjoy a well-earned retirement.

Steve Evans

“Devastatingly for all concerned, the business was placed in administration at the end of last year and overnight my loyal and friendly customers in the Bridgend area and beyond found themselves with no local source of parts and service for their machines,” he explains.

“It was partly in response to that situation, but also to realise an opportunity for some younger friends in the trade, that I agreed to help set up our new dealership.”

T C Agriculture, operating from premises on the Brackla Trading Estate in Coity near Bridgend, has been formed by Terry, workshop technicians Will Lean and David Howells (who is also involved in sales), and parts/stores manager Steve Evans.

Collectively, they have many years’ experience with agricultural machinery and are pooling their expertise to create a business supporting farming and other rural enterprises across south Wales.

“Having bought the parts stock at the Bridgend depot, we were immediately able to supply service consumables, replacement parts and all the other small but essential items that farmers need day-to-day,” said Terry.

“We’re also providing workshop services such as repairs and routine servicing, and we planned to only trade in used tractors and machinery - but then we had the opportunity to take on McCormick, and having studied the products, it was irresistable; I think they have great potential in our area.”

Terry also says that having access to genuine parts for past McCormick and legacy Case IH tractors operating in the area was another attraction for himself and his colleagues in taking on the franchise.