New Horizon Magazine

NEW

SPRING 2019

Making the long-term count IN THIS ISSUE PRECISION RULES P4/5 TRACTOR DOWNSIZE P8 COST OF OWNERSHIP P16

BI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTER FROM

WELCOME

Welcome to this new edition of The Hunt Forest Group Horizon newsletter.

The very recent announcement of the amalgamation of R. Hunt Ltd and New Forest Farm Machinery Ltd - to become Hunt Forest Group Ltd., has been met very positively from all our customers throughout and beyond our county trading territories of Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Somerset, Dorset and Isle of Wight. We are two, long established family-businesses and are already sharing many of our best skills between the different outlets. Our relationships have always been very positive and we feel this has become a natural conclusion to the many years of successful trading both companies have had.

Today, the Hunt Forest Group specialises in and expands upon the key industry sectors of agricultural machinery, professional turf machinery, construction equipment, homeowner machinery, equine resources and integrated solutions. With such a broad range of industry sectors available through our six regional branches, our aim is always to offer a ‘one-stop-shop facility for all types of customers and businesses, looking for technical facilities and resources that will enable them to maximise the returns on their investments. The main franchises we hold includes John Deere, the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural and professional turf machinery - it’s a company we have been associated with since 1967. We know the products, we know the resources and we know how to provide the best after-sales support to our customers.

Our people are our biggest asset. Hunt Forest Group consists of 115 trained, certified, qualified technicians, sales specialists and support staff, all ready, willing and able to respond to customer requests whether it be for parts supply, maintenance, repair or optimisation requirements. Likewise, highly qualified personnel who live and breathe integrated solutions and connected farm management programmes are ready and able to support our

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customers applying new technologies and providing training where necessary. The ultimate goal is to take the technology of integrated solutions and make it simple for everyone to use.

As part of our new business plan, we have already taken on new team members, all of whom are undergoing thorough and precise training programmes to prepare them in maintaining our high standards and strategies for customer support. We are a local employer and local people are who make our business successful.

The family culture of our company reflects the understanding we have of our customers and their needs. We are without question a family business, and always will be. We always do business professionally, with trust and integrity, qualities you will find running through the veins of the Hunt Forest Group.

Whether you own and operate a quarter horsepower mower or the latest 1000hp self-propelled forage harvester, it matters not, you are still our customer, we will always welcome you and we will provide the ultimate support for whatever your needs.

Welcome to our newsletter, read inside about some of the published customer experiences, find out more about what the Hunt Forest Group can do for you and we will always extend a welcome to you at any of our branches or when you call.

Enjoy your read Tim Hunt Managing Director Hunt Forest Group Ltd.

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Doing it right!

The enthusiasm and excitement that permeates throughout our team and indeed in us as individuals, is a reflection of how right this planned merger feels. Our two established, family businesses got to where we are today because of years of hard work, investment in people, commitment to our customers and belief in ourselves. The Hunt Forest Group today, offers both our staff and our customers a stable and strong business environment, focussed around industry leading products and in sectors that covers some of the most integral parts of life itself: agriculture, recreation (in the form of professional turf), and construction.

Personally, in my new role as Sales Director - Turf and Construction, we will expand and continue to build upon our reputable business strengths, broadening our distinct benefits to customers, in providing the ultimate customer experience. We will take our years of expertise and product experience in these key sectors, and expand them to the full geographical reaches of the Hunt Forest territory. Likewise, the agricultural prowess that has evolved in both businesses, stemming back to the early 1960s will receive even greater impetus, particularly in fields of integrated solutions, advanced technologies and products which are viewed as industry leaders. Back this up with our renowned customer support and we see a future that will continue to provide the ultimate customer resource and a successful future.

Jointly, our business development ethos has always revolved around doing the job right, fulfilling customer needs in a timely manner and being forthright in providing trustworthy and reliable support. We enter this new phase of our business activities with enthusiasm, optimism and by developing our teams of skilled and credentialed specialists to maintain our positioning as ‘the’ go-to resource for our expanding customer base. We continue to look at constantly developing ways to differentiate ourselves from other businesses. We want to take what we offer to the next level of achievement and with it further our positioning in providing the ultimate customer experience. We look forward to developing our business relationships with existing customers and in providing the right resources for new customers who are looking to improve and enhance their current standards.

Welcome to The Hunt Forest Group, with you, we look forward to growing together.

Ed Smales Sales Director, Construction and Professional Turf Equipment Hunt Forest Group Ltd

NSTS Testing offer With increasing chemical costs and shorter spraying windows, it is vital that your sprayer is reliable and performing accurately - and within the law!

Hunt Forest Group offers full NSTS testing for all makes and models of agricultural sprayer either on-site or at one of our local branches.

Testing will be carried out by one of our certified technicians.

Take advantage of our fixed-price sprayer testing offer at only £10 + VAT per metre, plus test certificate at £36.85 + VAT Operators present during the test can also claim NROSO points.

Where further repairs are required to successfully pass the test, we offer a 20% labour discount.

Special offer! Receive 10% discount on all John Deere branded nozzles when ordered at time of testing.

Contact your local Hunt Forest Group branch to schedule your sprayer test.

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Technology is leaps and bounds above third-party options

Simon Hill, Estate Manager at Strattons Farms. “The Hunt team is unbeatable and that makes a big difference to us.”

At Strattons Farms Limited Liability Partnership, cost of operation is the main driver behind the enterprise’s investment programme in farm equipment. The 1700 acre mixed farming enterprise, situated just outside Kingsclere, Berkshire was one of the first regional farming businesses to install RTK technology and widely uses GreenStar Agricultural Management Solutions (AMS), to provide full monitoring and machine control at every stage of field operation.

Estate Manager, Simon Hill has used a number of different agricultural machinery brands over the years, but the financial analysis of performance, together with an accurate history of residual values, is showing a clear difference between advertising claims and reality.

“Our combine harvester and all our tractors are John Deere for a number of reasons,” commented Simon Hill. “Firstly, we’ve dealt with our local John Deere dealer, R Hunt Ltd for some seventeen years and it seems like every member of their team has a dedication to customer service, that very few dealers can come close to. When you acquire a product from R Hunt Ltd., every member of the company, from the managing director - all the way through to the apprentice, is willing to support you, no matter what their job or role in the company. We all know that the demands of a mixed farming enterprise means that call-outs will often occur late at night, over the weekend or during special holidays and the Hunt team are always there, regardless of what time or how the weather might be. They are unbeatable - and that makes a big difference to us.”

After-sales support is probably the most important factor when considering operating key machinery during demanding

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periods, but for Stratton Farms LLP, “the quality in manufacture of John Deere equipment, is far superior to anything else out on the market,” added Simon. “Build quality shines through in terms of reliability and we hardly ever experience machine failures in the field. There are some competitive brands out there that we have used and they have not lived-up to the manufacturer’s claims by a long stretch, both in terms of reliability and fuel consumption. One combine brand we had previously, had such poor residual value that it cost us a fortune when trading-in - that will not happen again. That’s something a lot of owners would be wise to consider, the actual residual value of a tractor or a combine after five or more years of field-work.

I have to say, with our John Deere products, I have often been surprised at just how much they traded-in for over and above our written-down value. Yes, we do take care of our equipment and that pays handsomely with regards to increased used value.

Future customers can often tell when a machine has been well cared-for and are prepared to pay a little more for that quality.

That means payback for both parties.”

Integrated Solutions technology is a major component for the farming business and significantly assists professional farming enterprises in maximising the efficiency of each operation. “The capability of Tim and Lawrence as part of Hunt’s AMS systems team is quite exceptional.” commented Simon. “they really know this technology inside out. They have been working with us throughout to try and squeeze every drop of improved efficiency in terms of fuel savings, applied inputs, variable rates and overall cost analysis. It can make a major difference to costs and yields versus inputs. Again, the John Deere GreenStar product is leaps and bounds above anything else out there and you don’t need me to tell you that. You just have to look at all the different brands of tractors, combines and sprayers that operate in this area and most of them are fitted with the GreenStar receiver. It’s a better product because it is intuitive to use, it’s serviced and supported by our John Deere dealer, therefore the back-up is almost immediate. Most other brands use a third-party product which is nearly always reliant on third-party support and that does not compare with the exceptional back-up we receive from Tim Hunt and his team.” he concluded.

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Powerful support resource for precision technology

Lawrence Matthews Hunt Forest Group Integrated Solutions Specialist.

As John Deere continues to push the boundaries with its Precision Ag Technology products from machine guidance to data management, there is an ever increasing need for a high level of customer training and support to ensure that the customer is getting the most from the products at his or her disposal.

With the coming together of R Hunt Ltd and New Forest Farm Machinery, this will bring together the experience of five Precision Ag Product Support Specialists. These specialists bring a wide variety of knowledge with them from practical hands-on agricultural skills, to many years of dealer know-how all supported by John Deere training.

The key role of these specialists is to demonstrate and support those John Deere products which utilise any Precision Ag technology; from mowers to tractors, combines to sprayers, foragers and beyond. This can range from a phone call to answer a customer query, a visit to a farm to optimise a product or an in depth training school held at one of the two training rooms across the group.

Training is such an important part of the business as machines and equipment can offer a variety of technology and we feel it is important that our customers are trained regularly and to a very high standard so that they can utilise the products that they have at their disposal.

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The latest offerings from the John Deere Precision Ag department include updates to the Generation 4 CommandCenter display, which are now available in its 6R, 7R, 8R, 9R tractors and new S700 series combines. These updates released in its 18-2 software bundle include the ability to run side by side maps allowing, for example, the operator to monitor a yield and moisture map at the same time, on an S700 series combine. Flags are also now available on the Gen 4 as well as the ability to delete the flags when no longer required – a function not available on the 2630 display.

With remote technology also advancing at a very fast pace, we can now use the new John Deere MyOperations app to help utilise machine optimisation from the office, car or home. For example, on the new S700 series combines we can use the app to remotely optimise the combine if the operator so wishes.

We can connect remotely and change the concave, rotor, fan or sieve settings as required to help the operator get the best performance out of their machine. This tool will prove to be invaluable for the dealership specialist when helping new or less experienced operators.

Data is also a very valuable tool to the customer and John Deere offers a number of solutions to allow this to be saved and stored on the display, or to be sent wirelessly to MyJohnDeere our data and telematics portal. Sending data via WDT – (Wireless Data Transfer) allows the operator to continue with their work whilst saved work is sent straight to MyJohnDeere in the farm office or tablet for the manager to view. This eliminates the risk of data being lost and makes documentation easy. We can also send files from MyJohnDeere to the operators display in the cab.

Please feel free to drop in to your local branch of Hunt Forest Group to discuss any John Deere technology needs and pick up a brochure.

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Strawberry farm boosts handling efficiency

Farm Manager Vova Karavan “Since our Kramers arrived on the farm in early 2018, we have seen significant benefit in speed of operation, faster turn-around and more precise storage and packaging operations.”

Since 1996, commercial strawberry production has been underway at East Boldre, Brockenhurst, and growth of the business means that today, New Forest Fruit Company is a major player in the production of strawberries for the UK market. Supplying major supermarket chains, wholesalers, restaurants and local shops, the company employs just under 500 staff and produces no less than 4000 tons of strawberries every year. Some 80 hectares of strawberry are under production, with five hectares under glass for the early Spring market, and 20 hectares under poly-tunnel with the rest being field grown.

Farm Manager, Vova Karavan has been with the company since 2000 and says, “Being on the south-coast, the geographical location of our operation is advantageous to strawberry production. We start supplying our customers in early March, from the heated greenhouses. Field production uses a special fleece to keep the plants warm, with harvesting usually starting about mid-April and we go right through until early December.

We have three sites, plus our own packing facility and we are a very labour intensive business.”

With high volumes of materials handling occurring throughout the year, the business initially utilised one of the materials handlers from their farming operation but it was big and cumbersome and not able to manoeuvre around the facilities very easily. As there were three sites, there was constant demand for site maintenance, loading and unloading - both in the field and at the packing facility, so machine availability was always in demand.

“As we have grown,” added Vova, “so has the need for us to become highly efficient at handling a time-sensitive crop and

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so we have invested in the very latest Kramer tele-handlers.

Since they arrived on the farm earlier in the year, we have seen significant benefit in speed of operation, faster turn-around and more precise storage and packaging operations.”

New Forest Farm Machinery (NFFM) at Blashford have been supplying machinery and providing after-sales service and backup for the business since it started, with both John Deere and Kramer products in their brand portfolio. “We have come to rely on New Forest Farm Machinery because of their excellent backup and support.” commented Vova, “they are great people and we trust whatever they sell, because they provide such perfect back-up. We ordered two new Kramer 276 tele-handlers and they supplied them in our corporate colour of black, as we take a lot of pride in how we present ourselves to the marketplace.

The operators love them, they are comfortable, easy to operate and they work from morning til dusk seven days a week across the three sites. They’ve proven to be a great investment for our business.”

The Kramer 276 is a compact tele-handler, ideal for working in the poly-tunnels and manoeuvring around tight areas with limited space. They have a lift capacity of 2700kgs, a lift height of just under 6 metres and have four-wheel steer. There are larger capacity models in the range but the Kramer 276 was a perfect fit for Vova and his team. New Forest Fruit ordered their machines with an Air Seat and `a Soft-ride specification to help get maximum performance at every turn.

“We’ve considered all kinds of brands, but the Kramer 276 was our ultimate choice. It is very well built, ”enthused Vova, “even though they are compact, they handle all kinds of materials with ease, they come as standard with a heavy-duty pick-up hitch and are built for the job. They have excellent stability, a smooth ride and with lots of little journeys in and out of fields and facilities, that means a lot for our operators. Front attachments are easy on and off and New Forest Farm Machinery takes care of all our servicing needs. I couldn’t wish for a more suited machine or setup for our site. I’m very happy with our decision.” He concluded.

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Key promotions

Following the formation of The Hunt Forest Group, we have appointed some key members of our team into group roles throughout the company.

We’d like to make their formal announcements and introductions by posting a brief bio and job role within our first group newsletter.

Group Marketing Manager - Anna Cull Anna joined our company in 2012 and has driven our marketing activities throughout. She graduated from Solent University and the Chartered Institute of Marketing, as a Certified Marketing Professional. These honed skills and expertise will hold her in good stead, taking on the entire marketing programming for our group throughout the south of England. As one of the largest John Deere dealer groups in the UK, Hunt Forest Group will be developing stronger corporate themes to its marketing strategies, with the aim of keeping our customers fully informed across the entire breadth of our marketplace. Anna will coordinate group marketing activities from her office at our Tilshead branch.

Group Ag Parts Manager - Ross Campbell Ross joined our Chilbolton branch six years ago as a trainee. He was promoted to Parts Manager at our Tilshead branch three years ago and, because of his capabilities in effective parts planning, has been promoted to Group Parts Manager. He grew up in farming and has excelled in the John Deere Management Training programme and has a full understanding of forward planning, with regard to helping customers take advantage of cost effective, out-of-season parts ordering. He is an excellent team manager and his skills and leadership will help other members of our team to build upon their knowledge and customerfacing capabilities, helping existing and future customers to benefit from our ultimate customer experience.

Group Service Manager - James Lane With a National Diploma in Land-based Technologies, James joined us in 2008 already experienced and certified in his trade as a workshop technician. He specialises in Tractors and Sprayers and because of his expertise, people skills and abilities to liaise with customers, in 2013 was promoted to Workshop Foreman at our Tilshead branch. With his dedication to customer satisfaction and his personal goal in making sure every customer’s experience is as good as it can be, he has been promoted to Group Service Manager. James is looking forward to developing the service facilities throughout the group that will provide smooth running of the workshops and a reliable after-sales service response always available, whenever the customer calls.

Group Turf Parts Manager - David Harrison Dave is an ex-Dorchester Grammar School student who started working with John Deere machinery in 1981. He joined New Forest Farm Machinery as Parts Manager in 1998 and has been responsible for the development and expansion of the company’s parts business throughout Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire ever-since. In his new role as Group Turf Parts Manager, Dave will focus specifically on parts support for the professional turf sector of the business, driving department efficiency throughout the entire group of six branches. Dave’s expertise and team management skills position him well to ensure our customers will receive the very best after-sales support and parts back-up from a team of talented support staff.

Group Turf Service Manager - Wayne Britton Wayne joined New Forest Farm Machinery in 2011 as Service Technician. He has undergone thorough training programmes via John Deere University (JDU) and he graduated from Autetec college with Level 1, 2 and 3 City and Guild, holds a National Craftsman Certificate and, an RTITB Level 1, 2 and 3. Shortly after joining New Forest, he took on the role as Turf Service Manager for the branch, where he helped the team develop ways of enhancing customer service practice that has resulted in a significant success levels for rated customer experience. In his new role as Group Turf Service Manager, Wayne sees it as a considerable stepup, particularly as he will now be responsible for the entire turf service practices throughout the company’s six local branches.

Group FarmSight Manager - Lawrence Matthews Larry has been at the forefront of FarmSight and Integrated Solutions technology since it was introduced by John Deere. He graduated from Sparsholt Agricultural College with a Diploma in Agriculture, joined R Hunt Ltd in 2002 as product demonstrator and then, as the AMS technology was introduced, he took on the role of AMS Specialists for the dealership. He has numerous JDU technical qualifications and certifications as well as a wealth of practical experience . Larry’s skills and knowledge will help grow the Hunt Forest Group’s integrated solutions technology throughout both agriculture and the professional turf sectors and he will be supported by a dedicated FarmSight team of trained and qualified specialists.

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Tractor down-size boosts performance

Ed Parsons. “With the John Deere 6250R, I was blown away by its levels of power and torque - just immense. I was very impressed.”

There’s always something special about a John Deere 7 Series tractor that was manufactured in Waterloo, Iowa, USA. Most Waterloo tractors came with the renowned and trusted 9.0 Litre six-cylinder engine that was basically bulletproof and would lug away, day-in, day-out pulling heavy draft implements. Having owned his John Deere 7260 since 2011, Ed Parsons, at Parsons Farming, who farms around 2200 acres of arable land in and around Redlynch, near Salisbury, had no reason to change it out, except that it was getting long in the tooth and falling behind on technology.

But what to buy?

“I wanted a big performer,” said Ed Parsons, “but I was sceptical about moving away from a Waterloo tractor. The 7260 is a great draft machine, but for us it doesn’t get used so much for general duties because it is big and heavy. Last Spring, our local John Deere dealer, New Forest Farm Machinery (NFFM) bought out a demonstrator 6250R for us to try and to be honest, I was blown away by its levels of power and torque - just immense. I was very impressed.”

The 6250R has rated power of 250hp, with a power reserve that takes output up to over 300hp. It uses the John Deere 6.8 Litre six cylinder engine and is the flagship of the 6 Series range. Its wheelbase is 2.9 metres and weighs only 9.3 tonnes, compared with the 7260 at around 12 tonnes.

manoeuvrable. We probably only clock-up around six or seven hundred hours a year on the 7260, so it’s not being used to its maximum capability. I also needed to get a new set of tyres and, the technology was starting to lag behind - so to keep it, I didn’t feel that was a justifiable investment. Instead, I decided to upgrade to the 6250R.” Flexibility of weighting-up a tractor according to the task has become far more important today, particularly where cost of operation through fuel usage comes under greater management scrutiny. “Where necessary, like when pulling a four metre Topdown, we can add a one ton weight on the rear linkage and fifteen hundred kilos on the front end,” said Ed, “By weighting up we get big performance and it doesn’t take long to add or remove weights. If we are fertiliser spreading, I don’t see the justification of carrying around all that dead-weight unless it is being used, so we tend to ballast our tractor specifically for the job in hand. Unnecessary weight means excess fuel consumption, which just adds cost to the operation. With the new 6250R, we’ve got a light tractor or a heavy tractor with all the power we need - so it’s given us far more flexibility in the field.”

Ed uses technology to the max and the 6250R doesn’t disappoint.

“I’m GreenStar mad,”added Ed, “the new technology on the 6250R is amazing and it helps me to maximise performance and minimise cost by providing me with valuable, accurate performance data. We also chose a direct-drive transmission to give us maximum power utilisation and I’m really impressed with how this tractor performs in the field. It’s like a Jack Russell on steroids!” He concluded.

“We’ve also got a John Deere 6210R that we’ve had since 2014,” added Ed, “and it’s done over four thousand five hundred hours (4500), and hasn’t put a foot wrong. It gets used far more on general duties than the 7260 because it’s much lighter and more

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H U N T F O R E S T. C O M

New team members

With the continuing growth of our company, it is important for us to take on new team members to maintain business efficiency and ensure the quality of our ongoing customer service. We are publishing here, bios and pictures of the latest recruits, to join the Hunt Forest Group.

Kirsty Harrison - Sales Ledger Kirsty joined Hunt Forest Group in October 2018, taking on the role of Sales Ledger Administrator, based out of the Chilbolton office in Hampshire. With a career background in handling sales ledger roles within the automotive industry, Kirsty brings significant expertise to our company where she deals with all aspects of invoicing, whole-goods orders, accounts admin, payments management and statement control. Kirsty’s family has been involved with agriculture and rural activities in the Salisbury area and when she saw the opportunity advertised, she thought it would be an ideal career move. Kirsty has a love for rural life, and enjoys spending some of her spare time on the shoot, beating and stalking with her parents.

Tom Ferrier - Workshop Manager Tom completed his NDA at Plumpton College in 1999 and has a wealth of experience in many aspects of farming, farm machinery and heavy plant equipment. He ran an Agricultural engineering business in Surrey with his brother before moving to the Isle of Wight in 2014.

He has worked with The Hunt Forest Group since May 17 and was promoted to Workshop Manager at the Isle of Wight branch, in September 18. He heads-up a team of four workshop techs and handles all management aspects of maintenance and repair requirements throughout the island. One of the things Tom loves about working for the company is, he says, ‘that his heart is in the industry and he feels that in his role, he is an integral part of the agricultural community.”

William Helen - Parts Advisor With 23yrs of lecturing in agricultural engineering at Sparsholt College, you would acknowledge that William Helen knows a thing or two about agricultural and professional turf machinery. He has also spent part of his career with a major combine manufacturer. William joined The Hunt Forest Group in October 18 as a Parts Advisor and is focussed on providing highly efficient parts support for customers throughout our wide range of product sectors. William’s role is to liaise with workshop technicians and directly with customers, managing the efficient and timely supply of parts to meet maintenance and repair jobs in the system. William loves his job and especially the friendly attitude in the company both from fellow employees and the many customers who visit the branch facilities.

Jen Wiggall - Parts Advisor Jen joined The Hunt Forest Group in October 18 and took on the role of Parts Advisor at our Tilshead, Wiltshire branch. She had previously studied vehicle mechanics at Sparsholt College, and has spent much time working on a large farming estate, so has a very good understanding of our industries. She is currently undergoing a thorough John Deere parts training programme, to bring her up to speed with all the systems and processes that are involved with an advanced parts management process. Jen says that she loves the people she works with at Hunt Forest and has always enjoyed John Deere tractors. Interesting to note that her hobby is ‘drifting’ - which sounds really exciting. Jen also has a keen interest in shooting and can be found beating on the estate that she lives on in the shooting season

Andrew Bowey - Branch Manager - Sparkford Andrew joins us as Branch Manager for our newly opened Sparkford branch. Andrew brings a very high level of expertise to our company, having had a successful career managing golf course groups and machinery businesses across the UK. He has significant experience in dealership sales and management roles, much of which is related to the John Deere franchise and he has a deep understanding of our product ranges and capabilities. Andrew holds an HND in Sports Management and has undergone high level training programmes within John Deere University (JDU) completing the Navigator programme, which focusses on coaching and getting the best from team members. He is a great asset to our company. Make sure you say hello when visiting the Sparkford branch.

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Hire costs are beaten by residual value

To hire or not to hire - that is the question! It was a dilemma facing Will Tyers, who had bought a residential property with land near Bere Regis in Dorset and he wants to develop the site, once gaining the all-important planning permission. But considering his equipment needs and carefully evaluating the period of time and the cost of hire of an excavator, the hire figures just didn’t stack up.

“I bought this old cottage that needs a lot of work,” said Will, “it’s probably going to require starting from scratch, a bit of demolition, digging out all the footings, installing drainage and a septic tank and so it’s quite a big project. When I got prices for the hire of an excavator for between twelve and eighteen months, the cost was prohibitive. It’s common knowledge that hire equipment has been well-used and often troublesome and I didn’t want to go down that route, so I spent some time on youtube, looking at video reports of users and which machines were considered the most reliable and best value for money, because buying was the alternative.”

Will is an engineer and had recently returned to the UK, having been in the construction industry in Canada. He knew a thing or two about machinery and was looking for a mini-excavator that was capable of handling the trenching needs as well as for some demolition work and moving materials around the site.

“I was quite surprised at the feedback from youtube,” added Will, “the reliability and residual value of the market leaders was not as good as I had expected. The Yanmar product had some excellent user testimonials and so I decided to look for a local Yanmar dealer to see what they had on offer. It turned out that the local dealer, New Forest Farm Machinery, was also a John Deere dealer and from my experience In Canada, John Deere equipment was very reliable and the back-up service they provided just made life so much easier. That’s what I needed for

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this project! I was thinking that if my experience overseas was anything to go by, then I was likely to get the same service here in the UK.” New Forest Farm Machinery is a main dealer for many of the top-leading brands in the UK, including John Deere for agricultural and professional turf equipment as well as Yanmar, for construction machinery. “The youtube feedback was very positive about the Yanmar range,” enthused Will, “users liked the strength and reliability of the product and the ease of operation. So I met with the construction specialist at New Forest, Chris Barnes and he was extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. They have great back-up facilities and that gave me a lot of confidence in the product and after-sales support. When we discussed pricing, it was an absolute no brainer - compared with hiring. I was so impressed, that I bought the machine.”

Will decided on a Yanmar ViO17 Compact excavator, with a 10kW 3 cylinder Yanmar diesel engine, over 3400 lbf at the bucket and a zero tail-swing at the rear, so easy to manoeuvre.

He bought it with three buckets, 12”, 24” and 36” so it’s capable of handling a wide range of jobs.

“I was really surprised at the cost difference between the top brands,” added Will, “the Yanmar is a much better deal financially, I would also say that it’s built better than the leading brands, it has a great engine - that is used in so many applications worldwide and is renowned for reliability. The operating position is very comfortable with plenty of room and it is extremely quiet.

I just spent all day working on it and it’s whisper quiet. It’s a great product, is doing exactly what I want of it. Even though I’ve taken a hit on the VAT, once I finish this project in around eighteen months time, the residual value of the Yanmar will be significant.

I’m thinking I will get back close to what I paid for it! Now that’s a deal that makes total sense. Forget hiring!” he concluded.

H U N T F O R E S T. C O M

THE ALL NEW ISUZU D-MAX YOURS FOR AS LITTLE AS

£250* PER MONTH!

Pictures are for illustration purposes only and actual product may vary * £744 deposit (3 months down payment). Price based on 48 month term contract hire, 10000 miles per year, excluding VAT. Deposit required. Prices are subject to change at any time. Terms and conditions available on request. Ask us for more details

Special Introductory Offer from Hunt Forest Group WHILE STOCKS LAST

SV08 MICRO DIGGER FROM JUST

£50

PER WEEK*

SV18 MINI EXCAVATOR FROM JUST

£70

PER WEEK*

SV26 MINI EXCAVATOR FROM JUST

£100

PER WEEK*

THESE VERY SPECIAL OFFERS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY WHILE STOCKS LAST. ACT TODAY, BECAUSE AT THESE PRICES, THEY WILL BE SOLD OUT BEFORE YOU KNOW IT! Terms & Conditions apply * Prices include one grading bucket and two digging buckets. Finance subject to status. The above offer relates to a Hire Purchase Agreement only. Options are available for Operating Lease or tailored finance packages - ask us for more details. * Hunt Forest Group, Main Dealer for Yanmar Construction Equipment for Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset

H U N T F O R E S T. C O M

11

Quality investment pays dividends for the long term

Paul Froud “With proven reliability and a much higher specification than other brands, it made total sense to buy John Deere.”

When high profile sports facilities, private estates or local authorities are looking for more than grounds maintenance support, they turn to a specialist sports-ground construction company such as PJ & CM Froud. Run by two brothers, Paul and Chris Froud and based in Verwood, Dorset the company is renowned throughout the South of England for building and developing a wide range of high quality sports amenities including, golf greens, tennis courts, croquet lawns, Pétanque and rugby pitches - to name but a few. Having been in business since 1985 the company has developed a wealth of knowledge and experience which they invest into producing the ultimate workmanship, just what their clients ordered.

At the time of writing, Paul and Chris and their team were working on a drainage project on one of five of the West Course greens at the Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club in Sussex. This was immediately being followed by a similar project at Bognor Regis Golf Course. “We’ve worked on projects for the Royal Ashdown Forest now for a number of years,” commented Paul Froud, “we also work on major projects for clients such as Southampton City Council and the Ageas Bowl in Hampshire. These are of course high-profile clients but we also carry out a lot of work for many private clients, estates and properties, because they are looking to maximise their investment on the highest quality finish. We take a lot of pride in getting the exact results for our customers and in ensuring the finished job adds value to their properties for the long-term.”

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Earlier in the year, two of the Froud’s main compact tractors were stolen from a worksite and it left them somewhat in the lurch.

“We’ve always run John Deere compact tractors, “ added Paul, “because they have proven to be extremely reliable and we went back to our regular John Deere dealer, New Forest Farm Machinery and replaced the tractors like for like. We’ve dealt with New Forest Farm since 1985 and they have always given us excellent service and back-up on our specialist grounds-care equipment, so we knew we were getting the right kit and the right support.”

They took delivery of a new John Deere 4049M and a 3045R with front loader, both of which are kitted up with three doubleacting spool valves and free-flow return valve to operate the host of specialist equipment such as trenching machinery, which they use for their wide array of contract work.

“We’ve looked at a number of other brands out there, “ said Paul, “but the John Deere is streaks ahead of other makes both in terms of reliability and performance and what’s more it’s the only one that we can fit three double-acting hydraulic valves to without going to major expense. We get a great return on investment from the John Deere’s. For example one model 4300 that we bought twenty years ago, is still running like a dream.

We have it on extra-wide 750mm tyres so it handles steep banks on some of the challenging golf courses in the area and does a great job. It’s been an amazing investment and it’ll last for many years to come. We’re going to be looking at the latest 6130R tractor in the Spring, kitted out with AutoPowr, Autotrac and Mobile RTK accuracy, which will give us even greater capability in our special golf course projects. We always like to make sure that our company, our work ethic and the machinery we operate reflect a level of quality that our customers acknowledge, by asking us back, time-after-time because they recognise that making the right investment, pays dividends for the future.” he concluded.

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Lasting impression of perfection

Head of Grounds, Graham Kitley “despite the long, hot and dry summer, the grounds are in excellent condition.”

With an educational lineage that can be traced back through five centuries to the reign of Henry VIII, Hazlegrove Preparatory School, part of the King’s School Bruton Foundation, is considered one of the foremost prep schools in England. Whilst its curriculum incorporates a broad and intense foundation of essential educational subjects, the school is renowned for its sporting prowess, with many team and individual championship achievements to its name. Some 35 acres are dedicated to a wide range of sporting facilities which includes; four cricket pitches, five rugby pitches, a six hole golf-course, putting greens, a croquet lawn, athletics track, rounders, hockey, tennis, plus two Astro’s, to name but a few.

Head of Grounds, Graham Kitley runs a four-strong grounds maintenance team and they have their work cut out, year-round to keep on top of the daily demands. “When I first arrived here just under two years ago,” said Graham Kitley, “the playing fields and sports surfaces needed improvement. They had lacked proper maintenance for some time and so I set about rejuvenating and re-establishing the fields and pitches. Today, despite the long, hot and dry summer, the grounds are in excellent condition.”

Hazlegrove’s ground maintenance team use ‘top-end’ professional turf equipment to prepare and maintain the grass areas. They run two John Deere Gators, a John Deere 7700A Fairway mower, and a John Deere 2653B Triple precision mower to get the perfect finish. “We take a lot of pride in the preparation of our pitches,” added Graham, “they receive lots of attention because they are used constantly, year-round. I have a great deal of experience with John Deere equipment and much prefer it over other brands. For example, the weight of

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the precision cylinders and the quality of the power brushes is far superior to anything else out there. It makes a big difference to the end result and I always want our pitches and fields to look perfect every time.”

One of the first machine upgrades was to change out one of the school’s ancient gators, that had been incredibly reliable over the years, but was ready for an upgrade, so they bought a new John Deere TX from New Forest Farm Machinery. Added Graham, “New Forest Farm Machinery’s main depot is based near Ringwood, but the company has just opened a new branch at Sparkford, which means we are now going to have machinery support right on our doorstep, and we are really happy with that. We don’t have a mechanic on-site and so we rely on the technicians at New Forest to take care of our maintenance and repair requirements and they do a great job. They also run a weekly parts delivery service that has proven to be a great asset in their customer support - nobody else offers that level of service. They literally bend over backwards for us.

For me, having the right machinery, the right support and backup, means that my team and I have the best opportunity to maintain and even surpass the quality of expectation from our sports fields. Over the years, very high standards have been clearly established by Hazlegrove, so today, when teams and visitors come to our school for whatever reason, we want them to leave with a lasting impression of absolute perfection.” he concluded.

Hazlegrove’s Cricket pitches have been the best they have ever been

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Building on the future

Site Manager, Jim Crouch “we need equipment that is not only capable, but reliable for the long-term.”

As a Government approved, ‘help-to-buy’ builder with a full NHBC guarantee certification, 1215 Heritage Homes is renowned for being a builder of smaller, unique developments and, with higher quality specifications. The company is currently concentrating on new builds and redevelopments in the Wiltshire area and is looking to expand developments but maintain its level of uniqueness.

1215 Heritage Homes’ Site Manager, Jim Crouch and his team are currently working on one of the new residential development sites in Alderbury, near Salisbury “We’ve made some serious investments in new machinery, which makes our task much simpler, more productive and more manageable,” said Jim. “Site clearance often means removal of tree stumps, installing drainage and building roadways and a whole lot more, so we need to have equipment that is not only capable, but has a long, reliable working life to ensure a cost-effective operation.”

Earlier this year, the company took delivery of two new excavators, ideally suited to residential construction projects and Jim and his team have already seen the benefits of machine capabilities. “We’ve bought a new Yanmar Vi080 - an eight tonne machine,” said Jim “and a Yanmar SV18 - compact, a onepoint eight tonne machine for working in confined spaces. yet it’s capable of carrying out significant groundwork. The workload capabilities of both machines have been phenomenal and we’ve really got a lot of the current site cleared and are starting to establish footings, drainage and roadway construction.”

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Specification of the Vi080 consists of just under 60hp engine power and a maximum digging force up to 63.6kN (6.5tonnes), while maximum lifting capacity exceeds 8 tonnes. The track system is variable and the operator’s cab and controls are classed as some of the most comfortable in the industry and are considered more than a step-up from the main industry leading brands. Likewise on the SV18, this compact is powered by a three-cylinder 9.5kW/12.9hp diesel engine, has a maximum digging force of over 15.4kN (1.6tonne) with a maximum lift capacity of just under 2 tonnes. Both excavators have a zero tail-swing, which means they can work close to buildings and objects, without interference, even at full-power.

“Before we bought the Yanmar, we did a lot of research,” added Jim, “we wanted to get a good feel for what was the most reliable and the best value-for money in our industry. You’d think the market leaders would have been the favourite, but that’s not the case. The feedback we got was that the Yanmar product was better made, more reliable, easier to operate and, it was less expensive.”

Armed with all that knowledge on what to buy, Jim went to his local Yanmar dealer, New Forest Farm Machinery in Ringwood to look at the range of products they had available.

“They sell and service a wide range of agricultural and construction equipment,” enthused Jim, “so really know what they are talking about. We’ve bought equipment from them before and the entire team always put 110% behind everything they do. They are looking after the servicing and maintenance of our Yanmars to make sure we keep them in tip-top condition. We are very pleased with our Yanmar purchases and we know that the residual value will be of significant benefit to our business.

They’ve got a lot of work ahead of them and we plan to keep them for the long-term.” he concluded

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Cutting costs of maintenance through investment

Dave Clark (left) Head of Maintenance and assistant John Kelly, “we found the Yanmar to be the best deal by far among any of the brands.”

With over 100 years history of working with children and youth aged between five and twenty-four, the charity, UK Youth is ‘committed to ensuring all young people are empowered to build bright futures, regardless of their background or circumstances.’

Headquartered in the New Forest national park, UK Youth’s Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Centre is based on some 60 acres of park and woodland, caters for all ages and provides rural activities including; camping, kayaking, canoeing, high-ropes, zip-wires, mountain-biking, swimming and a whole lot more. At any one time they could be entertaining up to 600 visitors and annually the throughput exceeds 7000, many using the camping or lodging facilities in the grounds.

As many as 60 full-time employees operate the facility, but managing and maintaining the outdoor facilities are Dave Clark - Head of Maintenance, and his assistant, John Kelly who have their hands full, keeping everything operational, especially during the height of the season. “I’ve been here twenty years now,” said Dave “and there is always a lot to do to make sure the grounds and facilities are kept in a clean, tidy condition. We are always expanding our resources and we get heavily involved with developing new outdoor activities for our visitors. Our main aim is to give young people from all over the country, a chance to experience rural life and try out things they wouldn’t normally have access to.”

especially if an operator was included, was eating up our budget.

So we decided to take a look at what was available to buy and were very surprised at what we could get for our money.”

The Avon Tyrrell team looked at various brands of mini excavator, but found that the best deal by far was to acquire a new Yanmar SV26 mini excavator from their local Yanmar dealer, New Forest Farm Machinery. “It’s a three tonne machine,” commented Dave, “perfect for what we need and when we looked at the financing figures, was a far better deal than hiring - by a big margin. Comparing it with other makes, the overall package was a no-brainer and our decision to buy has helped me manage my budget much more effectively.”

New Forest Farm Machinery provides sales and after-sales service for a wide range of equipment including construction, agriculture, professional turf and equine and this is not the first dealings the charity have had with New Forest. “We’ve already acquired a John Deere compact tractor with loader and mower deck from New Forest,” added Dave “and they have been really helpful with maintenance and support. When we invest for the long-term, we need reliable equipment and also the resources of a fully qualified support team to get the best from our investment. For us, New Forest Farm Machinery have proven to be the best back-up providers in the area. The Yanmar and John Deere products both have a reputation for quality and reliability and that very much reflects the service we like to provide to our visitors.” he concluded.

Avon Tyrrell’s grounds maintenance strategy used to be based on hiring in equipment - such as excavators and loaders, as it was needed, but Dave Clark changed the policy recently because hire costs were consuming much of his budget. “The need for a powerful and reliable excavator on site has become almost a daily requirement, particularly where we need to remove tree stumps or create play areas” added Dave, “but the cost of hire,

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Cost of ownership returns premium value

Chris Awdry, “the team at Roger Hunt have bent over backwards to assist us and I think that support, is something you can’t put a price on.”

Operating within a radius of 40 miles of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, Ashton Farms Ltd., is arguably the largest agricultural contracting business in the South-West. It was established in 1980 and today, provides a complete range of contract services that covers virtually every farming need from muck/slurry spreading, cultivation, sowing, chemical and fertiliser application as well as harvesting - both grain and silage. Driving the business is Chris Awdry, and his prime tractor fleet on the farm consists of twenty John Deeres, which include three of the old 3050/3350 models, used mainly for yard work and minor duties.

Being a progressive contracting business, the company relies heavily on integrated solutions, based on the John Deere GreenStar software package. “Without doubt,” commented Chris Awdry, “the John Deere AMS software is far in advance of anything else out there! I’ve used the other brands and so I know what really works. What I appreciate most about GreenStar and the Starfire receivers is that they are transferable and, almost any operator can get on any of our John Deere machines installed with AutoTrac and can promptly operate the equipment without any difficulty - it’s just very efficient. We use the technology to confirm acreage covered, recording of application rates, yield and other management data which we provide directly to our customers.”

Of the John Deere tractor fleet, the tracked 8360RT is the top end of the range for heavy cultivation work, with the rest of the tasks being carried out by a wide range of horsepowers from 215hp all the way down to 125hp. “Because we carry out such a wide range of farm tasks,” added Chris, “I like to match the tractor size to the implement and utilise around eighty per

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cent (80%) of the tractor’s horsepower to achieve maximum efficiency. That’s why we run a wide range of tractors with varying horsepowers. I see no point in going to the expense of using a three hundred (300) hp tractor for silage or grain-carting, when a 6125R with pneumatic brakes is perfectly capable of fulfilling that role. It’s just so much more cost-effective. All our tractors are specified with pneumatic brakes because yes, we need maximum flexibility with minimum operating cost but we also focus on absolute safety.”

Operating such a diverse, year-round contracting business requires skilled labour and the company employs twenty fulltime operatives with all kinds of skill levels. Added Chris, “In order to keep my team fully employed through the seasons, we like to carry out our own maintenance and servicing duties, generally choosing periods when it’s wet or when there is a lull between contract duties. For years, I’ve always bought my John Deere machinery from my local dealer R Hunt Ltd and they provide an excellent back-up service - always have done. They support our staff by carrying out the technical aspects of the servicing duties and of course for any repair or warranty work.

We tend to keep our main tractors for around three years or five thousand (5000) hours and we generally don’t get any serious breakdown problems from the John Deere kit.”

Cost of ownership plays a major part in successfully running a busy agricultural contracting business, so how has Chris Awdry evaluated his main choice of tractor? “I’ve always found that the John Deere’s hold their value very well,” commented Chris.

“We have used more expensive tractors but have found that the difference in the initial investment is never returned at trade-in and the John Deere’s give us the best value for money. Having used R Hunt Ltd for all my John Deere and ancillary equipment, they know what we expect and how we like to be taken care of.

I can genuinely say that whenever there has been a time when we needed extra-support or prompt machine replacement, the team at Roger Hunt have bent over backwards to assist us and I think that support, is something you can’t put a price on.” he concluded.

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Special end-of-season Kuhn discounts While stocks last!

Optimer 5003 Disc - ex-demo; £29,995 + VAT Axis 50.2 Fertiliser Spreader - new stock £22,299 + VAT GyroTedder 5202 - new stock £5995 + VAT BP280 Shredder - new stock £6395 + VAT Haybob 300 - new stock £2395 + VAT All machines carry a full Kuhn manufacturer’s warranty Ask us for details

John Deere SF600 for just £1300 + VAT!*

SPECIAL PROMOTION OFFER

Significantly improve your machine’s productivity, crop quality and yield potential, while reducing cost of operation and enhancing operator comfort.

Pros of SF6000: • Triple StarFire accuracy offering 3 times better signal correction than previous receiver generations.

• Enhanced signal range • Theft protection bracket • Even better serviceability

Improved SF1 Signal: • A fantastic tool for tillage, harvesting and grassland applications.

• +15cm pass to pass accuracy • No license fees • Terrain Compensation Module in base model • GLONASS in base model.

Contact your local Hunt Forest Group branch for further information and to discuss your requirements in detail.

T&C’s: This price includes the trade in of your existing SF3000 receiver. Upgrades to SF3 and RTK on request.

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Up & Coming Events Sherbourne Country Fayre 27th May (Monday) Royal Bath and West show 29th May - 1st June (Wednesday - Saturday) New Forest & Hampshire Country Show 30th July - 1st August (Wednesday - Friday) Ellingham & Ringwood Agricultural Society 10th August (Saturday) Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society 14th August (Wednesday) Alresford Agricultural Show 7th September (Saturday) Romsey Show 14th September (Saturday)

JD 209LT BARREL OFFER Free with every 209Litre barrel order of Hy-Gard or Plus 50 II, receive a 20Litre drum of John Deere Cool Gard II (RRP £66.40 + VAT) at no cost!

Cool Gard II Benefits • Up to 6-year/6,000-hour service life • Optimized maintenance costs thru longer service intervals • Fully formulated, ready-to-use solution for long-life stability and performance • Protection against corrosion and deposits • Cavitation control for a longer liner life and more.

• Efficient water pump performance.

• Reliable freeze-point protection until -37°C

Hy Gard £543.40 + VAT

Plus 50II £574.05 + VAT This is subject to change at anytime.

For more information, contact your Hunt Forest Group parts department at any of our six local branches

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H U N T F O R E S T. C O M

Special offers!

from £3750 + VAT

from £9500 + VAT

All machines are currently new, in-stock.

Prices available while stock last.

All GreenMech machines come with a full, three-year, unlimited hours, no-quibble warranty for total peace of mind

from £13150 + VAT

Watch out for details of our hands-on ‘Chipper-Day’ in February 2019 - details to follow

End of Season - Ex Demonstrator Sale

2653B £POA

X950 £POA

2500B £POA

We have a full range of ex-demonstration John Deere 1 series, 2 series and 3 Series Compact Tractors at unbelievable prices - while stocks last

865M £POA

220SL £POA

Full-manufacturer’s warranty with all of the ex-demonstrator units.

Prices available while stocks last.

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GREENSHIELD EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR TOTAL PEACE OF MIND

TRACTORS

COMBINES

SPFH

SPRAYERS

Warranty coverage on existing or newly acquired, used equipment.

Available on John Deere Tractors, Combines, Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters and Self-Propelled Sprayers.

• • • • • •

Full-cover machine warranty on certified, used John Deere machinery Ideal for extending warranty on machines that have run out of existing PowerGard warranty Can extend warranty incrementally, year on year - spreads cash-flow Can be integrated with a fixed service and maintenance package (recommended) Provides a full machine health-check as part of acceptance Choice of 3, 6, 12 or 24 month extended warranty schemes

NO DEDUCTIBLE

Terms and conditions apply - ask for details

CHILBOLTON T. +44 1264 860 532 CHILBOLTON T. +44 (0) 1264 860 532

ISLE OF WIGHT T. +44 1983 721 426 ISLE OF WIGHT T. +44 (0) 1983 721 426

NORTH WARNBOROUGH T. +44 1256 704 268 NORTH WARNBOROUGH T. +44 (0) 1256 704 268

TILSHEAD T. +44 1980 621 114 TILSHEAD T. +44 (0) 1980 621 114

H UHN T TFFOO R ESST.T. CM OM UN RE CO

RINGWOOD T. +44 1425 472572 RINGWOOD T. +44 (0) 1425 472572

SPARKFORD T. +44 1935 318810 SPARKFORD T. +44 (0) 1935 318810