Territory expansion, branches opening and closing, franchises won, lost and relinquished are all key developments in our latest dealer news update.

See also: Britain’s biggest machinery dealers ranked by turnover

New Holland replaces RVT

New Holland has announced sweeping changes to its network in the wake of Rea Valley Tractors’ (RVT) demise, with the territory divvied up among a clutch of existing dealers.

Lloyd will push south to cover all of Lancashire from the Cabus Nook depot it opened in 2024, and Cheshire from a new facility – the firm’s ninth – in Holmes Chapel.

Meanwhile, TH White takes up the baton in the Shropshire and Knighton areas, and New Holland customers in Derbyshire and Staffordshire will be reacquainting themselves with Russells.

The dealership has been reallocated the territory it was stripped of last year to accommodate RVT’s ill-fated expansion.

Details are yet to be announced for Welshpool, north Powys and north Wales.

The RVT story will conclude with an auction of its remaining assets on 30 October.

BPI is hosting the sale, which includes a 2022 John Deere 8RX 410 and 2019 T670i combine, 2024 Valtra Q305, 2023 New Holland T7.210, 2021 JCB 4220 Fastrac and 2019 Case IH Optum 300.

Ireland’s quits Kubota

A lack of more powerful six-cylinder tractors in the Kubota range has prompted Ireland’s Farm Machinery to quit the franchise; the triple branch Lincolnshire dealership will no longer represent Kubota from February 2026.

Jonathan Ireland said the prospect of larger additions to the Japanese firm’s offering “weighed heavily” in the dealership’s 2014 decision to take on the franchise.

But having failed to materialise, he adds “we do not want to be Kubota dealers anymore.”

Kubota does have six-cylinder tractors, the Cummins-powered M8 Series built as part of a joint venture by Versatile, but they are not sold outside North America.

“All other franchises we hold will remain, we shall be investing further in our successful hire business and we are excited about the new Energreen franchise as well as other brands coming on board soon,” said Jonathan.

As a consequence of the decision, the Ireland’s branch at Market Rasen will close at the beginning of December this year, with customers asked to trade through the Sutterton or Carrington (near Boston) outlets.

Ernest Doe to shut Braintree branch

The Braintree outlet of Ernest Doe & Sons, representing New Holland, is to close at the end of November as the dealership rationalises its Essex depots.

All staff are retained and the Doe Power branch at Fyfield is now running the New Holland franchise alongside existing Case IH operations.

Angus Doe, managing director, said: “With farming facing new challenges and wider economic pressures, these changes are designed to ensure we remain a strong, reliable partner for our customers while maintaining full coverage across the region.”

Dual franchising has also been adopted at Doe’s Ulting headquarters near Maldon, where Case IH has joined New Holland and other franchises.

Hayley Hill, marketing manager, explained:

“When we took on the former Burdens Group branches in south Lincolnshire last year they also operated as dual franchise depots and, as that’s worked well for us, it was decided to do the same at Fyfield and Ulting, giving local customers more choice.”

New Sudbury depot for Sharmans Agricultural

Sharmans has been quick to find premises for a depot to service its newly-awarded JCB territory in the wake of the Rea Valley Tractors collapse.

The planned facility at Moat Farm is just a mile south of RVT’s purpose-built Cubley branch, which RVT acquired from Russells 12 months before its ill-fated expansion plan with New Holland failed with the appointment of administrators in September this year.

Sharmans was recruited by JCB to support customers throughout Derbyshire plus Staffordshire east of the M6, with Shropshire and Staffordshire west of the M6 going to Chandlers RFM JCB.

A dealer for mid-Wales is yet to be appointed but Emyr Evans further west is providing parts and service support in the meantime.

Double territory boost for John Bownes

JCB signage was dusted off and returned to prominence as John Bownes scored a double territory boost in September.

The Staffs-based firm rescinded its January 2023 decision to remove the dealership from its network, and Valtra added the Lancashire sales area to the company’s Cheshire coverage.

Valtra’s Lancashire territory, previously covered by Malpas Tractors before the company’s financial collapse in 2024, is a substantial gain. This has justified the recruitment of an additional salesman.

Winning back JCB’s Cheshire territory lost to Rea Valley Tractors has been widely welcomed by supportive customers.

Kuhn goes with RVW Pugh

A sizeable hole in its dealer coverage was quickly plugged by Kuhn Farm Machinery with the appointment of RVW Pugh in the wake of Rea Valley Tractors’ demise and, earlier, Malpas Tractors.

RVW Pugh and its TR Machinery subsidiary now handles Kuhn’s full range of grass and arable machinery across Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire, south Lancashire and mid-Wales from all four branches.

The Lathom, south Lancashire location has become a Kuhn big baler specialist for Cheshire and south Lancs.

Burgess and RDM get Kuhn promotion

Across the country in the eastern counties, Ben Burgess is also providing specialist expertise for Kuhn SB baler sales and support.

It is centred on the Coates branch near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, but available throughout the Burgess network.

And Robert Davies Machinery, an existing Kuhn big baler specialist located between Welshpool and Shrewsbury, has had a shot in the arm now that it has access to the full range of Kuhn equipment – not just grass kit – including feeders and arable equipment.

Agri Service secures new partners

Kent-based dealership Agri Service has secured three new partnerships – one as a customer support agent for sprayer maker Househam Group, complementing an existing agreement with Agrifac.

Agri Service, which specialises in on-farm repairs, maintenance and servicing, is also now an outlet for Aodes all-terrain vehicles from Boss ORV for Kent and East Sussex, and the Kramp product range.

It covers replacement parts, consumables, tools and so on.

AL Agri adds Aodes and Schaffer

Boss ORV’s Aodes quad and side-by-side ATVs are also now available through AL Agri at its Haughs of Ballinshoe base near Forfar, Angus.

In addition, the Case IH dealership has also secured Schaffer’s mini loader and telescopic wheeled loader franchise via importer H Fulton Tractors at Dungiven in Northern Ireland.

The firm is continuing to build a portfolio that currently includes Claydon drills and Pottinger equipment.

Patchwork takes on Billericay nozzle sales

Shortly after moving to new premises in Cwmbran, spraying control specialist Patchwork Technology secured a sales agreement with Billericay Farm Services for the Essex manufacturer’s spray nozzles and caps.

These are available through Patchwork’s online store.

Sky’s not the limit for Cornthwaite

Five-branch John Deere dealership Cornthwaite Group has been appointed Sky Agriculture’s full-line dealer across Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, and Dumfries and Galloway.

Sky’s Mark Whalley said:

“Cornthwaite Group has a reputation for exceptional customer care and technical expertise, and its depot locations are perfectly placed to strengthen and complement our established dealer network.”

Double dealer appointments for McCormick

Dorset Tractors, an agricultural machinery repair, servicing and maintenance business at Blandford Forum, has taken on McCormick as its first sales franchise.

Company director Sam Percy said: “We’ve been growing year-on-year, but felt we could offer something more to our customers while retaining full commitment to our long-established core business.”

In Suffolk, meanwhile, DJ Agri Services is the new representative for McCormick in the county.

The business was set up in the wake of Suffolk Agri’s collapse in 2024 by former technician David Filby who has 18 years’ experience with the tractors.

The fledgling business has also secured Teagle, McCauley Trailers and Sealey tools, and now employs Nigel Pedrick to look after sales and parts.

Pecks expands veg kit offering

Taking on the Standen Engineering franchise has expanded the range of kit available from G&J Peck for potatoes and other vegetable crops, from bed formers and rotary tillers to planter systems, toppers and bespoke crop solutions.

As part of its branch consolidation plan, the employee-owned dealership has quit its long-occupied Ely headquarters.

It started operating mid-September from temporary facilities at its new Chatteris location in Cambridgeshire.

AVR potato kit shifts to Doe

Ernest Doe & Sons is now representing Belgian potato equipment manufacturer AVR from all branches, with an experienced sales team and strong after-sales support, notes Andrew Starbuck, AVR country manager.

Previously handled by G&J Peck, support for AVR products also benefits from the appointment of two independent service agents – Jackson Agri & Plant covering Yorkshire, and Matt Horler Agricultural Engineering in Devon.

Fife Tractors and KP Agri forage for Krone

Krone has appointed Fife Tractors at Cupar to bolster its sales and customer support in Angus, south-east Scotland, complementing Wilks Brothers at Murthly near Perth and Alan Mackay Machinery, Forfar.

Elsewhere, KP Agri a Krone sub-dealer for the past four years, has won promotion to full authorised dealer status at its Llandow base near Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales.

The dealership has also secured Horsch as its supplier of cultivation, drilling and spraying equipment.

It provides sales, parts and service support throughout Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and across south Wales to Newport.

Huskisson steps in for Bobcat

Liverpool-based Huskisson has been appointed by Bobcat as its dealer for the Isle of Man, Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester, and Clwyd in north Wales, replacing Norwest Plant.

Though primarily supplying industrial and construction contractors, Huskisson dealer principal Dave Parr says he sees opportunities for Bobcat sales into the agricultural sector, especially in north Wales.

Kramp acquires parts range as Deere closes Vapormatic

John Deere has closed its Vapormatic subsidiary in Devon after 75 years of trading with the loss of some 90 jobs.

The product range has transferred to Kramp, with orders processed either through Vapormatic dealers or Kramp’s online portal.

The move is part of Deere’s global aftermarket operations restructuring as it pursues a three-tier parts strategy comprising OEM, Reman and Alternatives ranges (the latter for non-Deere machines) available exclusively through John Deere dealers.

New importer set up

VSM Grow Tech is a new business established earlier this year to represent a selection of manufacturers producing tillage, slurry application and specialist salad- and vegetable-growing kit.

French cultivation and seeding equipment firm Agrisem, and Italian specialists Ferrari Growtech, Forigo, MOM and Oliver Agro are the first clutch of machinery makers on the books.

Founder Richard Parish is looking to sign dealers where they complement the company’s direct-sales approach.

BA Bush appointed Interfit Point dealer

Interfit, an international supplier of wheels and tyres, service and technical support for material handling, agriculture and construction markets, has appointed BA Bush as a Interfit Point dealer for eastern England.

BA Bush is one of Britain’s largest agricultural tyre retailers. It has 31 owned or joint-venture sites having opened in Attleborough, Norfolk; Scarborough, North Yorkshire; and Lincoln so far this year, and Wakefield in 2024.

Cotswold and H&C go green

Cirencester-based Cotswold Farm Machinery is complementing its Case IH Farmlift telehandler and Schaffer telescopic wheeled loader products with the full range of Merlo telescopic handlers.

CFM took on Schaffer for Gloucestershire and surrounding areas early last year after it lost the JCB franchise to Chandlers RFM JCB.

It has now benefited from Lister Wilder relinquishing the Merlo franchise at its Bibury branch near Cirencester and represents the Italian manufacturer from mid- to south Gloucestershire, eastwards to Burford.

Henton & Chattell has also joined the Merlo dealer network, covering the Midlands and East Midlands out of its Newark premises, newly-acquired from Farmstar and otherwise focused on an extended Kubota territory.

Sellars secures Chafer

Claas full-line dealer Sellars Agriculture has secured a new partnership supplying and supporting Chafer crop sprayers and Horstine precision applicators.

Sellars will provide coverage north of Edinburgh from all seven of its branches while Chafer’s existing dealer Merse Agriculture continues to operate south of the city, including the Scottish Borders.

Charlies adds Yamaha to its portfolio

The complete range of Yamaha all-terrain and turf vehicles has been added to the product portfolio of Charlies Ag & Turf, the Powys-based John Deere dealer, covering mid-Wales and Shropshire.

A “significant expansion” of the firm’s premises at Coed-y-Dinas near Welshpool is promised, including a new purpose-built showroom with space dedicated to Yamaha quads and side-by-side ATVs.

C&O and Daltons hitch up with Ifor Williams

The Willand branch of C&O Tractors, located just off the M5 east of Tiverton, Devon, has secured the Ifor Williams Trailers agency for the county and neighbouring Somerset.

It’s one of five depots operated by C&O across southern England, stretching from Uffculme, north of Exeter in Devon to Funtingdon, West Sussex, the latter being the only branch not carrying the Massey Ferguson franchise.

Meanwhile, Daltons ATV at Talsarn, near Lampeter in Ceredigion has also secured Ifor Williams Trailers, covering a large swathe of mid- and west Wales.

This will require extra hours for the firm’s technicians and additional staff in future, says John Dalton.