A week after the excitement of the Ploughing, it’s back to the grindstone. Reports from those in the trade who attended the show are quite positive. The general feeling is that farmers are aware of their own situations with income and are adjusting their investments in machines accordingly.

That said, most exhibitors are very happy with the leads generated over the three days. This week we look at the talent in Irish manufacturing, not just from the established companies. There are many budding innovators creating good concepts for machines, from bale chasers to one-pass tillage equipment.

This week we publish the first of a two-part article on the best value in 100hp tractors at the moment. Many budget brands have quite good offerings, and the main brands also have some good options for lower specification models.

Many mixed dairy and drystock farms are in need of a reliable workhorse. This week Michael Moroney takes to the road with the new model Tiguan from Volkswagen. This growing market segment is popular with many country roads drivers.

Amazone buys Vogel & Noot plough factory in Hungary

The Amazone Group has purchased the plough production facility of the company Vogel & Noot based in Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary. As part of a bidding consortium, a total of three investors were awarded major parts of the Vogel & Noot group on 19 September 2016. From this process Amazone secured the plough production.

The parent company, Vogel & Noot Landmaschinen GmbH & Co KG in Wartberg, Austria, had filed for insolvency at the beginning of August 2016. The subsidiary in Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary, was not insolvent and will be taken over completely by Amazone.

Amazone will use the Vogel & Noot range of ploughs to complement its own range of products and this acquisition will also ensure continuity in the provision of spare parts for the current range of Vogel & Noot ploughs.

WR Shaw expands territory

Midlands New Holland dealer WR Shaw is expanding in to counties Westmeath and Longford after being officially appointed by New Holland as the main dealer for this region. WR Shaw is the number one seller of tractors for New Holland in Ireland. Billy Shaw said he is “delighted with the opportunity to service existing New Holland customers in the area, and to compete for sales in the new area”.

Colm Geraghty has joined the sales team to concentrate on the new area. Colm has extensive experience with New Holland, having worked as a demonstrator across Europe.

Same Deutz Fahr manager

Colin Bell has recently been appointed area sales manager for Ireland for Same Deutz Fahr. Colin had previously worked with Lely as well as other tractor brands.

Colin said: “I am fully confident in the products and look forward to helping support the dealer network and meeting customers.”

Buyer beware of online machinery

The dangers of buying machinery online was highlighted by the recent experience of a Tipperary farmer.

James Croker from Emly sourced what he thought was an Italian-made mower from a machinery website. He paid the asking price via credit card online and the mower was delivered as agreed.

However, according to James, the mower was not for fit for purpose. The 1.4m mower was bought to top rushes and scrub in grassland. The mower vibrated, the hood shook, flails loosened, and it took five to six passes to get the job done. James contacted the seller and they agreed to send a higher spec mower out. James was to pay the difference between the prices of the mowers if it worked.

Investigating further, James found that the mowers were not built in Italy, and had no CE mark. James contacted the retailer, who admitted the mower was Chinese-built and not Italian. The second mower, sold as a higher specification machine, had a bigger hood, frame, and essentially all the same components inside. This mower had all the same issues as the previous model. The mowers were powered by a Ford 7810 and the tractor has ample output to work either machine comfortably.

The lesson is for the buyer to beware and know exactly the type and quality of machine offered. The price may be lower than a similar machine in the dealer’s yard, yet if it does not work it could be costly in the long run.