Dealer update: CNH shake-up continues to cause a stir

CNH dealers continue to make the headlines as one Wales dealer serves notice on its New Holland franchise, two expand their territories, and others take a pragmatic approach to Case IH representation and support in south-east England. 

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JE Lawrence quits New Holland

South-west Wales machinery dealer JE Lawrence & Son, operating from a single branch at Clarbeston Road in Pembrokeshire, has served notice on its New Holland franchise.

In a brief statement issued to customers via social media on 8 September, managing director Richard Lawrence said: “We have today handed our resignation to New Holland, ending a relationship which began in 1954. We will be able to supply parts and machines and carry out warranty work until September 2027, as we are now in a 12-month notice period.”

JE Lawrence & Son’s fuel oil distribution and agricultural machinery operation, located six miles north-east of Haverfordwest, became a Ford Tractor dealer in 1954 and took on the JCB Agriculture franchise in 2008.

Richard said: “We will now be able to completely focus on selling JCB tractors throughout our JCB territory and we will also be able to make the most of new opportunities. Our first priority now is to look after those customers who have been loyal to us.”

Just a few days after JE Lawrence’s declaration, CNH announced that existing New Holland dealer Gwili Jones will serve the Pembrokeshire territory with immediate effect and become the exclusive authorised dealer from September 2027.

The business, which currently operates from branches near Lampeter in Ceredigion and Carmarthen to the south, plans to open a third branch, likely in the Letterston area north of Haverfordwest.

Commenting on the appointment, Gwili Jones partner Gruff Davies said: “Having already supported customers throughout the county for a number of years, we’re excited to take the next step and further develop our presence in the area.”

T Alun Jones gains New Holland territory

There are also changes for New Holland sales, service and parts operations in south-east Wales with the award of more territory for T Alun Jones & Son.

The long-standing single-branch dealer based at Dryslwyn, Carmarthenshire has been awarded the territory served since 2019 by David Evans Agricultural at Llancarfan near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan; this business will lose the New Holland franchise in July 2027.

David Rapkins of CNH said: “Our priority throughout this transition is to ensure continuity of support for customers in south-east Wales.

“We thank David Evans Agricultural for its valued commitment and service over many years and are confident the T Alun Jones team will provide the high standards of sales, service and parts support that New Holland customers expect.”

David Evans was appointed by New Holland in 2019, covering the M4 corridor from Chepstow to Gower, having previously handled McCormick and then Valtra.

Haynes Agri set to further expand Case IH area

Ernest Doe & Sons and Haynes Brothers have come to the pragmatic decision to consolidate their Case IH presence in south-east England. Initial terms have been agreed for Haynes to acquire the property, assets and trade of Ernest Doe Power at Ringmer near Lewes, East Sussex, which will then be occupied by Haynes Agricultural and continue to carry Case IH.

Once the deal is concluded, likely in early November, Haynes plans to transfer its New Holland and JCB operations to the more attractive Ringmer premises and close its Uckfield branch just five miles to the north-east.

James Broadley, managing director of Haynes Agricultural, commented: “This will be the final part of the jigsaw in creating the business we have been working towards for several years, completing our dual-brand CNH strategy and giving us a strong, sustainable platform for the future.”

In its announcement, Ernest Doe & Sons says the deal results from a shared view that the agricultural tractor market across Kent and Sussex can no longer support separate Case IH and New Holland dealerships serving the same territory.

A year ago, Haynes acquired the Ernest Doe Power operation in Kent to take on the Case IH franchise across the whole of the county.

Ernest Doe is not exiting the region, the company emphasises; its branches at Albourne near Hurstpierpoint, Sussex; Dartford in Kent; and Esher in Surrey will remain open and continue to offer a comprehensive range of agricultural machinery, including Merlo telehandlers, alongside construction and groundscare equipment.

Vogelsang appoints Robert Cole

Slurry application specialist Vogelsang has appointed Robert Cole Agricultural Engineering, the JCB and Krone dealer at Holsworthy in Devon, as its retail outlet for south-west England.

The agreement comes as the dealership run by Bob and Kerry Oates alongside a team of 17 staff members prepares recently-purchased new premises in Holsworthy that will enable the business to grow.

Second branch for AY Morton at Carnwath

Sales and support for Polaris ATVs, Solis tractors and Winton implements are now available from AY Morton’s second location. The depot and country store at Carnwath complements Alastair Morton’s business at Strathaven, south Lanarkshire and service centre at Heathfield near Ayr.

Tafe Tractors pairs with Border Plant in Cheshire…

To complement its McCormick franchise, Border Plant at Smallwood near Sandbach, Cheshire has added Tafe tractors to its franchise portfolio, taking the number of dealer outlets for the Indian-built range to approaching 20. Best known in the UK for its relatively low-cost “scraper-spec” models, Tafe now also has a more modern range of open and cabbed machines from 18hp compacts to 75hp loader tractors.

…and WB Machinery in Cambridgeshire

A machinery sales and support business founded by 19-year-old Tom Wisson-Burton has been given the opportunity to sell tractors by Comvex Machinery, aka Tafe UK & Ireland, which imports the machines.

Based on the family farm near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, Wisson-Burton Machinery Sales also supplies complementary compact tractor implements such as reach mowers and toppers from Winton and pasture slitters from Oxdale.

Geo Agar for Aodes in NE Yorkshire

All-terrain side-by-sides from Chinese manufacturer Aodes are now in the showroom at Geo Agar’s Ravenscar dealership near Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The Aodes products, imported by Boss Off-Road Vehicles, will be sold alongside Agar’s Honda ATV and UTV franchise.

Vegcraft takes on Ryetec implements

Farmers and growers in the Dundee and Arbroath area can now source Ryetec tillage implements and tractor-mounted front weight and tool boxes from Vegcraft Agricultural Engineering at Camylie near Arbroath on the east coast.

These complement Vegcraft’s own vegetable crop harvesting systems, trailers, spraying support bowsers and related products as part of the McDonald Agri farming and contracting business.

Balmers GM join Polaris ATV network

Polaris Great Britain has signed up John Deere and Ransomes Jacobsen groundscare machinery specialist Balmers GM at its Dunnockshaw main branch near Burnley, Lancashire and at Wakefield in West Yorkshire.

Mark Balmer, dealer principal, said: “It’s great to be partnering with the UK’s market leader for utility vehicles; the demand from both new and existing customers has blown us away, with new opportunities created thanks to a more affordable price point that doesn’t compromise on the quality and performance.”

Sumo appoints Truro Tractors and expands Agri-Linc territory

Machinery importer and manufacturer Agri-Linc has been awarded Sumo’s Norfolk and Suffolk territory, previously covered by Thurlow Nunn Standen (TNS), to build on its existing area of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.

Meanwhile, all three branches operated by Cornwall dealership Cornish Tractors – at Chasewater, Wadebridge and Treburley – are now representing Sumo and its range of tillage and drilling machinery.

AgVantage signs up to Scanstone

The Yorkshire branch of specialist machinery dealership AgVantage has been appointed by Scanstone to supply the Scottish manufacturer’s vegetable crop de-stoners, trailed harvesters and soil-preparation equipment.

Key replacement parts are held at the Beverley location, with further support provided by Scanstone’s Brigg, North Lincolnshire-based parts and service team for a product range that complements the DeWulf harvesting and Wifo handling products, and other franchises supported out of AgVantage’s base in Coates near Peterborough, Cambs.

Dealer duo go new with McCormick

The machinery servicing, repair and sales businesses run by Adam Willis near Richmond, North Yorkshire and Andrew Frost at Wooler, Northumberland, have taken on their first tractor franchise by joining the McCormick dealer network.

Jonny Newton, newly appointed commercial manager at Argo Tractor’s McCormick GB operation, said: “It’s been great working with Adam and Andrew to get things moving; I’m looking forward to building a strong relationship with them and supporting the businesses as they grow the McCormick brand across their respective areas.”

Crawfords appointed Grenadier dealer

The commercial vehicles arm of agricultural machinery dealer Crawfords has been appointed as an Ineos Grenadier 4×4 dealer for a territory taking in Essex, Kent and East Sussex served by its branches at Writtle and Charing.

Complementing the Isuzu D-Max and Maxus franchises across the same area, these two Crawfords outlets take Grenadier sales centres to eight, including a Compass Tractors sister operation at Bridgwater, Somerset, and a larger network of service outlets – among them, Chandlers branches at Belton, Nottinghamsshire and Horncastle, Lincolnshire.

Yamaha ATV lands at Highland Leisure Sport

Farms and estates in the Scottish Highlands can now call on Invergordon-based ATV dealership Highland Leisure Sport for Yamaha-related sales, servicing and parts.

The appointment complements the company’s existing CFMoto and Corvus offerings, and associated implements from Logic and Wessex.

Kirkland automates vineyard operations…

Fruit and vine machinery importer and dealer Kirkland has been appointed to supply and support Vitibot autonomous vineyard robots from SDF Group alongside Deutz-Fahr specialist tractors.

Scott Worsley, Kirkland managing director, believes autonomous technology is needed to counter a decline in labour availability and rising costs, which the Vitibot Bakus straddle “tractors” are claimed to mitigate, while meeting demand for sustainable production through electric drive.

…and switches to Weidemann for loaders

A switch from Tobroco-Giant to Weidemann has given Kirkland a bigger sales and service territory for compact wheeled loaders, including regular and telescopic boom models, and compact telescopic handlers.

From its base at Sutton Valence near Maidstone, the company’s Weidemann territory stretches across the south of England, taking in Kent, East and West Sussex, Surrey and south-east Hampshire.

TH White bags Amazone in Shropshire

The new Shrewsbury branch opened by TH White Agriculture earlier this year is now Amazone’s outlet for sales parts and service in Shropshire, in place of Pontesbury Tractors.

TH White’s Fosse Cross branch near Cirencester has also joined the Amazone network; in this case, the appointment fills a long-standing gap between the areas covered by JJ Farm Services, Far Stanley near Cheltenham to the north and Barnes Agricultural Services, Dauntsey, near Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, to the south.

Horizon appoints WJW Engineering

A fabrication and mechanical engineering business has taken on Horizon Agriculture’s direct drill range at its Quenington base near Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

Will Walmsley of WJW Engineering & Attachments explained: “Horizon was looking for representation in an area that we already cover and I absolutely love that the drills are designed and built in the UK to the highest level of build quality and design.

“We’ve been working on our service support for over 10 years and have worked for Keenan on their diet feeders since 2019; I felt we could also offer Horizon the sales focus that established dealers with multiple franchises perhaps could not.”

Mills Machinery hauls in CLH Trailers

Mini hydraulic tippers and stock haulers built by CLH Trailers are now available from Mills Machinery at South Molton in Devon following the dealership’s appointment to the company’s retail network.

At its manufacturing facility in St Clears, Carmarthenshire, CLH produces several designs for ATVs, including solid- and mesh-sided trailers for sheep, calf and piglet movements, feed dispensing trailers, and road-going stock and flatbed trailers.

RC Engineering now stocking Graham Edwards

North Cornwall dealership RC Engineering & Agri Parts Depot at Bude has added Graham Edwards Trailers to its stocking agreements, alongside Conor slurry kit and Plant-Mec brushes, sweepers and cow cubicle bedding equipment.

At its factory in Full Sutton, near York, Graham Edwards builds general-purpose, livestock and all-terrain vehicle trailers, as well as commercial flatbed, tipping and plant designs.

Samagri for Sky Agri in Hampshire

Farm machinery importer and local dealer Samagri is filling a gap in Sky Agriculture’s distribution network, covering Hampshire and neighbouring areas of south Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Dorset and Wiltshire.

Located at Herriard near Basingstoke, Steve Berry’s Samagri team is also the southern dealer for Bergmann spreaders, local dealer for NRH Engineering and Sumo, and the importer of Kockerling tillage kit and Virkar drills.

Tong has a vision for Flikweert

Dutch optical sorting specialist Flikweert Vision has appointed Lincolnshire-based potato kit manufacturer Tong Engineering as its dealer for southern England and Wales, joining Scottish outlet CC Powell in supporting UK potato-growing customers.

Flikweert Vision specialises in optical sorting of potatoes and onions, developing camera-based systems engineered to deliver more consistent crop quality, reliable defect detection and higher throughput.