You're joking - not another one! (in a Bristol accent).
 
Although to be fair it has actually been quite a while now since we've had a general election - it just doesn't feel like it, what with the number of Prime Ministers they've given us in the meantime.
 
But what do you, our dealer readers, think about the prospect of a general election? Does the change of government, to whichever colour, directly affect the fortunes of your dealership significantly? Or do you believe pretty much regardless of who gets in, you continue doing your own thing on your own terms? It would be great if you were able to let us know today in the comments below.
 
I can recall in the past, dealers telling us how simply the distraction of a general election campaign can curtail customers coming into their stores to a degree. Whether this is people just keeping their powder dry at the prospect of potential change, or the public having other things on their minds rather than their machinery needs, I'm not sure?
 
At least this campaign is a relative short six-week period - although it does of course coincide with the European Football Championships and the start of Wimbledon fortnight. Again, I'm aware that dealers have spoken previously about how major summer sporting tournaments such as these, can also mean the public are too preoccupied to find time to visit showrooms. 
 
But beyond the superficial - and thankfully, temporary - nature of a campaign itself, what are the actual governmental policy areas that impact dealers and how they trade?
 
I suppose one of the biggest of recent years (or any years?) has of course been Brexit. Now, I'm no political expert, but I don't think any party is riding on a ticket that is proposing to reverse it. So we'll park that one as read.

Looking at other aspects of political clout, would I be right in surmising that the area that a government has control over, that impacts dealers most significantly, would be economic policy? This will of course, directly influence the confidence and spending power of your customers. Policy areas such as austerity measures or taxation levels presumably can be felt in the dealership?

I suppose regulatory changes and compliance laws should also be a consideration? If emission standards or noise levels are on a party's agenda for example, these could shape which machinery options are chosen to be stocked in store presumably?

Equally government policies aimed at your primary customer groups must be important. What are their agricultural sector aims affecting farmers? What are their thoughts on spending in our parks and public green spaces that will hit your commercial end-user consumers?

These, and other policy areas, will be in dealers' minds I suppose, when the upcoming party manifestos are released. As ever though, the independent dealer will be able to take advantage of their agility and pivot the business relatively quickly if needs must. Political storms will have been weathered in the past and will be again no doubt.

But what are your thoughts? Specifically considering how they impact your dealership, are there any areas of policy you are looking to a government to implement? Or equally, are there any that you are especially afraid of?

Please let us know in the comments below.

STIGA's SC 100e Kit cordless pruning shears won 'Garden Tool Of The Year' at the DIY Week Awards.

Sam Dixon and Stuart Chick (centre) collected the award of behalf of STIGA - pictured here with host, Jimmy Mcghie and Kate Murphy managing director of Brookes & Co

Marketing coordinator, Sam Dixon and national account manager Stuart Chick were on hand at the awards event which took place in Covent Garden last week (Friday 17th May 2024).

The judges said, “The design and quality of this tool really stand out and mean it should perform well and last a long time, an all round great product!”

Amanda Kincaid, marketing manager at STIGA UK said, "We are so chuffed to bits to have won this amazing award. Our designers have really shown their amazing skill with the ergonomic design of the new STIGA SC 100e which makes this battery pruner both functional and comfortable to use allowing you to work efficiently and quickly. We know that many gardeners and florists are really thrilled with this handy gardening tool and we have had some super feedback already from them"

The DIY Week Awards is a scheme for the recognition of excellence from across the DIY, home improvement and garden sectors, organised by DIY Week publisher Datateam Business Media.

Kuhn Farm Machinery say they are the first machinery manufacturer to partner with Agriculture Plastics Environment UK (APE UK) to support responsible management of agricultural plastics and improve the recycling from farms.

 
APE UK is a non-profit organisation focussed on improving the management of agricultural plastics, by engaging with farmers, core members of the supply chain and the agricultural industry, to support recycling and sustainability when disposing of the products.
 
Ian Creasey, APE UK’s CEO, says the goal is for industry-wide collaboration. “Less than 30% of used agri-plastics are recycled in the UK, and APE UK’s objective is to build a national plastics recovery and collection scheme to increase this to 75% within five years. We are engaging with the farming sector and government to incentivise agri-plastics recycling and support the development of cost-effective recycling services for farmers and growers. As an industry, we can’t continue to ignore the impact managing plastic waste incorrectly has on the environment.”
 
The initiative requires a collaborative approach and Kuhn say they have already taken steps to ensure waste plastic is easier to manage, with film binding introduced on its standard and combination balers. By removing net binding and creating one waste product, farmers can save time and be more efficient when sorting the waste.
 
The manufacturer's grassland product specialist, Rhodri Jenkins, says the company is committed to making the recycling process easier for farmers. “Our wide product portfolio means users are handling plastics daily, whether that’s chemical cans, baler twine or bale wrap. If we can help promote more efficient and cost-effective ways to manage these waste products off farm, then we can start to make the current problem part of the solution.”
 
Rhodri continued, “Through innovative technology, such as our 750mm stretch-film rolls that have a much higher pre-stretch ratio compared with wider conventional rolls, we can cut film costs by up to 37%. This has a value to the farmer at both ends of the chain as it is more cost-effective to buy and there is less waste to dispose of.”
 
Building awareness around the initiative in agriculture and horticulture, while engaging with farmers and government, will create buy-in across the whole industry. APE UK has partnered with agri-plastic producers, as well as distributors such as Carrs Billington, Mole Valley and Wynnstay.
 
Kuhn will be exhibiting at the Welsh Grassland event, where more information on the partnership, and innovative ways to reduce wrap use, will be available to visitors. 

Organisers, the GMA, have announced the theme for this year's SALTEX, which is returning for its 78th edition, as “Uniting the Industry, Powering Progress.”

The Association said in a statement, "SALTEX enables the industry to continually progress by bringing together people from all around the world and helping drive innovation, education, and networking."

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA explained, “Each year, SALTEX plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of grounds care. This year, we are focusing on uniting the industry and powering progress by providing a platform for professionals to connect, learn, and advance their skills.” 

This year’s show features a programme including the Learning LIVE schedule, where visitors can hear from the industry’s leading experts, as well as grounds care professionals from the country’s top sports grounds, covering industry hot topics. There will also be opportunities to speak with grassroots pitch advisors from the GMA and representatives from the National-Governing Bodies to receive technical advice as well as guidance on accessing much-needed funding and ways to upskill through the Grounds Management Framework. This is in addition to the opportunities to network, earn CPD points and speak to experts offering career advice. 

This year’s event is set to take place from 30th to 31st October at the NEC Birmingham.

Yamaha Motor Europe (YME) has recognised The Ashbury Golf Resort, as their 2024 Golf Facility of the Year at a short ceremony, which took place recently at their golf and leisure complex, in Fowley Cross near Okehampton in Devon.

(L-R) Roland-Jan Schippers YME; Steve Harris, operations director; Ryan Gross, workshop manager; Peter Gross, courses manager and Carl Stuart, YME-UK

The Ashbury Golf Resort is the 9th largest golf complex in the world and owns and operates over 430 Yamaha golf cars, which are used across their four 18-hole courses, an 18-hole par-3 course and a 9-hole Academy course.

Organisers say the Golf Facility of the Year award recognises the provision of an impressive and remarkable golf experience for members and guests, while being regarded as a first-class golf operation. It highlights the connection between Yamaha and its partners and recognises the excellent golfing facilities and the year-round maintenance which goes into making The Ashbury Resort such a leading golfing destination. 

Roland-Jan Schippers from YME’s European head office in the Netherlands presented Steve Harris, operations director at the resort, with a crystal trophy, a signed certificated from Yamaha’s head office in Japan, champagne and a WaveRunner Safari experience.

The WaveRunner Safari is a marine outdoor adventure, utilising Yamaha Personal Water Craft, which will allow the golf team to spend a day exploring the Cornish coast, in recognition of their excellent efforts.

Some of Ashbury’s Yamaha golf car fleet

Commenting on the award, operations director Steve Harris said, “We were delighted when we were recognised with this award; it was a complete surprise and reflects our close working relationship with Yamaha. With the size of our golf car fleet, we have to ensure that they are well presented and functioning as they should, so access to an excellent after sales team and all the various parts required is vital to us. In that respect, we are completely self-sufficient and use an online computer system which links directly to Yamaha’s UK headquarters in Woking for ordering genuine parts and accessories."

Roland-Jan Schippers concluded saying, “The Ashbury Golf Resort is a superb example of the dedication that is required to produce a great golfing experience at a large-scale destination. The partnership between ourselves and Ashbury is very strong and we are delighted that they appreciate the benefits that our golf cars bring to their operations. 

“We appreciate their loyalty, their commitment to the Yamaha brand and our excellent business partnership. They are deserved winners of this award.”

The bold new look of the next-generation Case IH Axial-Flow combine has won an internationally-acclaimed prize, taking a Red Dot Design Award for product design.

Judged annually, the Red Dot Design Award is one of the world’s largest design competitions, and its label has become established internationally as a sought-after mark of quality for good design.

Major advances in the new AF include a 775hp engine, an active dynamic cleaning system, 20,000-litre grain tank, 210 litres/second unloading rate and headers of up to 15m (50ft). 

The new technology is packaged within a fresh new style that introduced a new look to the range, designed to show that this is a different class of combine. The design team from Case IH and its parent CNH will receive the Red Dot Design award for the AF at a special ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best’ ceremony, to be held at the Aalto Theater in Essen, Germany, on June 24.

“The receipt of a Red Dot Design Award is a great honour for the design team behind the new Axial Flow,” says David Wilkie, industrial design director at Case IH parent CNH.

“We wanted to create a look that showed this combine is much more than a refresh of existing ideas in terms of internal engineering, and is something really very different. I’m really pleased the Red Dot jury recognised our efforts to create a style that matches the Axial-Flow AF’s considerable substance.”

Organisers have announced that free registration for GroundsFest 2024 is now open.

The show which takes place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on September 10 and 11, is set to return, with an expanded lineup of exhibitors as well as new features and experiences promised.

Alongside returning features such as the outdoor demos, free educational seminars, free practical training, and live music festival, the organisers have announced a new attraction this year called Machinery Nation Live, This, they say, will allow visitors to watch brands compete in a machinery face-off and participate in equipment challenges for a chance to win prizes.

Also announced by the organisers, every person who registers to attend will have a chance to win a Toro ProStripe 560 pedestrian mower. 

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