2019 Spring HP Magazine

Spring 2019

High Performance Magazine

2019 Henty preview

p6

Burkes named Grower of the Year p14

High Performance Magazine Edition 21 Spring 2019

Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/hutcheonandpearce

Contents

03

04

Rod and Lisa celebrate 30 years with H&P

08

Trailed sprayer an Aussie first at Henty

10

12

14

16

18

For all editorial and advertising enquiries, contact:

Michael Casey Group Marketing Manager michael.casey@hutcheonandpearce.com.au

Welcome to the 2019 Spring edition

Brett’s career changing course

Burkes named rice Grower of the Year

Show of support for mental health

2019 AEM: Focusing in on the customer

Spring Catalogue overview

DONATE BLOOD THIS SPRING 1 in 3 people you know will need a blood donation in their lifetime.

If you’re fit and healthy be the sunshine in someone’s life by becoming a blood donor!

Call 13 14 95 to make an appointment or visit www.donateblood.com.au and sign up to the Hutcheon & Pearce Community.

2

Hutcheon & Pearce

Welcome

Welcome to the 2019 Spring edition of High Performance Magazine.

A

s we head into longer days, many of us are preparing for the busy times approaching: cutting hay, dropping canola and starting harvest. There’s set to be some long days ahead as we head toward Christmas!

One thing that has our attention right now is gearing up for the big event on our business and social calendar, the Henty Machinery Field Days. Running September 17-19, the 56th Annual Henty Machinery Field Days is once again sure to have something for everyone on the land. If you’re anything like me, hearing that jingle in the lead up to the event will get you all fired up about getting amongst it at Henty.

I have vivid memories of attending the field days with my father and uncle as a kid. I didn’t really venture much past the Hutcheon & Pearce stand as it has always been the centre of my attention and that, of course, continues to this day. But Henty has always been the one time of year where we can catch up with a large percentage of our clients and just have a good chat. While it is the perfect chance to showcase all the latest and greatest in John Deere equipment, socialising with all our customers and suppliers and even our competitors would probably be the biggest Henty drawcard for me.

This year we have more than 50 Hutcheon & Pearce staff members on hand to meet the crowds in attendance. It’s always such a big team effort to get ready for Henty and it’s something we work towards all year. You can read more of what’s on offer in this edition and we look forward to seeing you all there.

This issue, you can also read more about our All Employee Meeting (where we renewed our focus on our customers and exceptional support) and Peter and Renee Burke who have taken out the 2019 SunRice Grower of the Year title. The Burkes are to be commended on their efforts claiming that accolade, especially given the tough seasonal conditions, and we really look forward to seeing what they achieve into the future.

We also caught up with two long-serving employees, Lisa Schulz and Rod O’Brien, who both chalk up 30 years with H&P this year.

There are many staff who have been with us for years and these milestone moments are always a good reminder that, by far, the most important asset our company has is its people. We simply can’t achieve what we achieve every day without great people.

To have someone prepared to work for the one organisation for that long shows that we must be on the right track and I think it reflects the fact that we’re in agriculture, which I believe is the best industry to work in and I’m incredibly proud to have such committed people working for Hutcheon & Pearce.

Our team is always here to support you, irrespective of how the season falls. Come talk to us at Henty, pick up your copy of our bumper Spring Catalogue and let us know how we can support you throughout harvest and beyond.

Arron

Spring 2019

3

High Performance Magazine Spring 2019

Standing the test of time Hutcheon and Pearce employees Lisa Schultz and Rod O’Brien celebrate 30 years of service.

T

he year is 1989. Bob Hawke is Prime Minister.

Acropolis Now premieres on our small screens.

Hawthorn claims the VFL flag over Geelong and Hutcheon & Pearce recruit two team members who have stood the test of time.

Spare Parts Managers Rod O’Brien and Lisa Schulz both chalk up 30 years with H&P this year.

When Lisa Schulz started at the Temora Branch of Hutcheon & Pearce in October 1989 her most important job for the week was driving to Coolamon to collect the pays, which came as cash in envelopes.

Temora born and bred, Lisa worked for a bank in Canberra before starting off with John Deere at a dealer in Lismore. She later moved on to dealerships in Brisbane and Caboolture and eventually back home to Temora.

“I started out as the junior admin and went into workshop admin, sales admin and then spare parts.

“What I like most about the job is that you just never know what’s going to happen each day. There’s quite a bit of problem solving – finding the right part for the job – but I find if you listen first and get as much information as you can, you’ll usually be on the right track.”

4

Hutcheon & Pearce

Rod O’Brien was just 16 when he started at Hutcheon & Pearce in Coolamon.

“I started on the 20th of March. Ted Hutcheon actually rang me on my birthday in early March to offer me the job and the rest is history.

“I started as an apprentice plant mechanic. I was on the tools, sort of just helping out all the main mechanics at the time, and then progressed through the ranks. I think it was 12 years as a mechanic before Vincent Leary – who has been here more than 30 years as well – approached me for a job in parts and I took that opportunity and started back at the bottom.

“I was the guy out the back just picking orders and doing errands and worked my way up to the counter and progressed into Spare Parts Manager about five years ago. I think it’s good that I came from a mechanical background, so I have that product knowledge, which comes in handy, and I’m happy to pass that on to the guys I work with.”

Both Lisa and Rod point to the emergence of new technology as the single biggest change they’ve seen in 30 years on the job.

“Technology and therefore the products we sell, the way we do business as a company and the way our customers do business has all changed,” Lisa said.

There is constant change and progression within our business.

Hutcheon & Pearce is always looking to the future to see how we can embrace change.

“Part numbers used to be looked up on a fiche machine and then we’d place orders over the phone.

“You’d spend hours ordering over the phone. It was a great revolution when the fax machine came along! Now it’s all computerised and, yeah, it’s beautiful.

“I think farming used to be considered a lifestyle but now it is a business. Our customers are a lot more savvy, and the introduction of the internet and new technology has brought about enormous changes in the way our farmers think and the way they farm.

“It seems farming is a young man’s game now. Farmers are using GPS to accurately sow and spray their paddocks.

“And there is constant change and progression within our business. Hutcheon & Pearce is always looking to the future to see how we can embrace change.”

One thing that has remained the same is the family values Hutcheon & Pearce lives by.

“When I started here, I was single and I’ve since got married, had two kids, got a mortgage, bought a block of dirt, built a house. At one stage I was in hospital for three months and they supported me through it all,” Lisa said.

“Hutcheon & Pearce is a company loyal to its employees. We’ve had droughts before, and I would see other organisations cutting people back, taking their hours to four days a week but that never happened with Hutcheon & Pearce. It didn’t matter who was at the helm, employees were treated well. They’ve supported me, so I support them.”

For Rod, Hutcheon & Pearce is more than just work.

“Hutcheon & Pearce is just like another family because you build good relationships with the people you work with and you help each other out. I enjoy seeing all the young kids come through starting from the bottom, thinking I was there once. If they apply themselves to the best of their ability, then the sky’s the limit.

“We had our All Employee Meeting on 14 August, so every single employee from Hutcheon & Pearce was in the room, and it’s so good. You look around and there’s 270, 280 other people and you just know they’ve got the same feeling, they all bleed green, they’re there for the one thing, one big extended family.”

Spring 2019

5

High Performance Magazine Spring 2019

H&P Henty game strong this season September is known for two things – footy finals and the Henty Machinery Field Days.

It probably won’t surprise you that at Hutcheon & Pearce, we treat the HMFD as our very own grand final, with months of preparation going into those three magnificent days.

T

he H&P team is assembled. We’ve trained hard and we’re ready to pull on our boots and leave nothing in the tank at this year’s Henty Machinery Field Days. According to Sales Operations Manager Andrew Watt, it’s set to be a big one again this year, with plenty on offer for the farmer and all the family.

“Obviously, it’s a machinery field day and our focus is on the green machines. This year we have plenty to show the mixed farmer including our utility tractors with multiple implements for use throughout the crop production cycle.

We’ll also be putting seeders, balers, mowers and sprayers through their paces, including the M900i Trailed Sprayer, which is so good we’ve entered it in Machine of the Year.

This year, we’re all about showing Green-on-Green solutions across all price points.

“Each year we try to keep it fresh and you can always count on us to have something for the kids. We have crowd favourite George the Farmer and lots of activities, including a George the Farmer colouring-in competition. Entry forms will be available on site at Henty as well as a colouring-in station for kids. Prizes will be one of three $100 Hutcheon & Pearce gift vouchers, awarded in three age groups: 3-6 years, 7-10 years and 11-15 years.”

As always coffee and lozenges will be the order of the day for Hutcheon & Pearce staff, with the 50-strong team expecting to talk to thousands of customers and punters across the three days.

“Henty is our major focus. We treat it like a grand final and work all year to try and make sure that the event kicks all the goals we can. We start planning with the Henty committee at the beginning of the year.

6

Hutcheon & Pearce

“It’s the only field days that we focus on as a Group and we try and get representatives from every location there. We invest roughly $100,000 in making the event what it is every year.

Our mantra is to keep it a truly machinery-based field days, so that’s why we give it the very best backing and support we can, and the best machines, of course!”

Machines large and small Group Sales Manager Andrew Sands is excited to be showcasing a full spectrum of Green.

“Basically, anyone that’s got any sort of interest in small farming right through to large farming, we have you covered.

“We’ve got our merchandise and our kids’ toys in the tent, and from that we flow onto things like our ride-on lawn mowers, our small compact utility tractors, our small tractors and into our large ag equipment like larger tractors, combine harvesting equipment, spraying equipment, and a lot of our haymaking, tillage and seeding equipment will also be there.

“Henty’s a pivotal time for us in that by the time it hits, we normally have a very clear idea of what the dry area farming community’s looking at doing for the year with crop harvesting or hay production. So, we normally have a much better projection of the season based on what rainfall we’ve had and what the crop projections are going to be, and by that period of time, we normally have a really good indication of what the water allocations are going to be like for our irrigated areas. We can then plan with our customers what their programs are going to be based on those water allocations.

“It really helps us understand what we’ve got ahead for the next three to four months, and of course, it’s one of our best opportunities to speak with our growers. It’s a great opportunity to see them and catch up but also to potentially show them the new products, discuss the differences and help them find the best machine for the job. Chatting with our customers is always the highlight.”

“Each year, Henty looks at different themes and this year it’s about adapting to change. I think Henty plays an important role in looking at innovation and how industry can prepare for what’s to come, and that’s part of the Hutcheon & Pearce ethos, too. We’re always looking to ensure we’re at the front of change and helping our customers to adapt and thrive. That underpins our culture and I’m stoked to be on this panel talking about these big issues.”

Community and change In tough times like this, Henty is more than just a place to look at the latest and greatest in farm machinery.

“It’s a chance to get off the farm and talk to like-minded people,” Andrew Watt said.

You’ll find H&P at site 489-498 (Block M) We hope to see you there!

“Henty is a time to see some friendly faces that you otherwise don’t see during the year, and a great place to access supplies and services.

“We love being part of the HMFD community. We get a lot of people coming up for a chat and they often spend not just five or 10 minutes but hours on end talking to our staff. In fact, the H&P site becomes its own little community, which is great.”

Part of H&P’s contribution to Henty this year is sitting on the AgriFutures Australia NextGen Ag Panel, which is the first in a series of seminars taking place on Wednesday 18 September.

“The panel is being chaired by Jo Palmer, 2019 NSW-ACT Rural Woman of the Year. We’ll be talking about the changes in technology in agriculture and how farmers will need to adapt to changing technology to meet the challenges of feeding and clothing the world.

Spring 2019

7

High Performance Magazine Spring 2019

Trailed Sprayer an Aussie first at Henty In an Australian first, the John Deere M900i Trailed Sprayer will be on display at the Hutcheon & Pearce site at Henty Machinery Field Days.

W

hether you’re growing cereals or high-end speciality crops, a sprayer that gives you great accuracy, maximises up-time and reduces input costs is a must.

As H&P Sales Operations Manager Andrew Watt explains, this is exactly what the M900i Trailed Sprayer is designed to do.

“From the simplicity of manual control to the convenience of integrated technology, you can choose how to use the M900i to boost productivity throughout the crop protection cycle.

8

“The M900i is plug-and-play with John Deere technology as well as any ISOBUS screen, so things like rate control and section control come as standard.

When it comes to up-time, the M900 series has been designed based on the same insights as the John Deere R900i platform, using tried and tested components such as tank, boom, frame and axles to meet quality and reliability levels H&P customers expect from a trailed sprayer, and maximising up-time and performance.

“It’s ideal for the mixed farmer who is looking for a good sized boom but isn’t in the market for a self-propelled sprayer. Potentially it would suit someone upgrading from an older Hardi or Goldacres sprayer, and while it can go behind any tractor, it pairs beautifully with John Deere machines.”

“From filling up, to spraying and rinsing, the ergonomic layout of the operator’s station with manual or semi automatic valves will command the liquid in the right direction. All functions are within arm’s length and all machines come with a multi-functional lever for fast and easy operation.

Hutcheon & Pearce

John Deere M944i Trailer Sprayer “They come in multiple tank sizes up to 6000 litres, so in terms of capacity, the M900 is right up there but are not so large they require an upgrade in tractor. This means it can go behind that mixed farmer’s tractor quite nicely and you only need 170-200 horsepower to pull it.”

On display In a coup for the Hutcheon & Pearce Group, the M900i will be shown to Australian farmers for the first time at the Henty Machinery Field Days, 17-19 September.

• 4,400L tank volume • 620L rinse tank • ISOBUS automatic rate control • Optional BoomTrac™ automatic boom tilt & height control with headland management

“These are the first two demonstration units to land in Australia and we’re excited for everyone to see them in action. Our sales team are extremely excited because they’ve been asking us to stock these trailed sprayers for years, based on the needs they’ve been seeing.”

Spring 2019

9

High Performance Magazine Spring 2019

Focusing in on the customer In challenging seasonal conditions, it’s more important than ever for H&P that we tune in to our customers and their needs.

A

s our CEO Arron Hutcheon explains, this year’s All Employee Meeting (AEM) at Wagga’s Civic Theatre on Wednesday 14 August focused on improving our game so we can improve outcomes for our customers on-farm.

“I think you don’t really know where you’re going wrong unless you hear it. Sometimes it’s a difficult message to deliver because no one likes hearing how they’ve let somebody down or where they’re not delivering or adding value.

“Summarising the theme of the day, we looked at one key thing that’s going to differentiate us from our competition, especially in these tougher seasonal conditions when a lot of our customers aren’t in a position to upgrade equipment, and that’s doubling down on offering exceptional customer support.”

“But agriculture is a high dollar value, low margin business, and it’s important for our employees to have a good understanding about what some of our decisions can mean. It’s about understanding what’s at stake for our customer, and once you have that understanding, you can work together as a partnership, rather than the traditional, transactional type relationship.

The AEM was broken into three key areas: a management panel talking about what exceptional customer support means; a panel of employees from different dealerships and departments across the Group talking about situations where they have let down customers or gone over and above to deliver great customer service; and a customer talking through his interpretation of customer support.

“One of our Cowra customers, Rod Wright, and his family came down and participated in the last part of the AEM. He talked about customer service, not only from us but from other people he deals with in the market.

“Rod gave us an insight into times he’s been let down and what that meant to him financially and why he really wanted us all to focus on having a strong sense of urgency, especially in peak periods. He also communicated how we had delivered that exceptional support through those peak periods and why he was appreciative of that.

10

Hutcheon & Pearce

“I think hearing from staff and then hearing from one of our customers really gave a well-rounded view of what we’re trying to achieve.”

“Agriculture is a high dollar value, low margin business, and it’s important for our employees to have a good understanding about what our decisions can mean.”

Agility to adapt The AEM ended with a presentation by adventurer, documentary maker and motivational speaker, Justin Jones who, along with his mate Cas, kayaked from Australia to New Zealand and skied from the coast of Antarctica (Hercules Inlet) to the South Pole and back. Both feats were completely unsupported and unassisted.

“We know there isn’t a challenge we encounter at H&P that doesn’t have a solution. It’s just a matter of getting out and finding it.

“Four years on, and the AEM is absolutely one of our biggest events. It’s not a decision made lightly – to close all 11 stores for the day – but we know that it helps build a stronger organisation which, in turn, will add value to our customers.

That’s what it’s all about.”

“Jonesy had a very inspirational story and there were a lot of messages for everyone to take out of his talk. It was truly fascinating to see how they went about these adventures and the one thing I learned is that you can never plan enough. It’s all about the planning and preparation and the training and everything that goes into it. But more importantly, once you put the very best plan you can in place, sometimes changes outside your control will mean you need to adjust your plan to continue moving forward.

“The tie-back for me was that we’ve got a really good plan for the business moving forward but the drought has thrown a bit of a curveball. So above having a great plan, we’ve had to readjust the plan and change our approach on a few things, which is the way to overcome adversity.”

Arron said he hopes the AEM helped H&P staff realise that they don’t necessarily need to tweak much in day-to-day operations to give our customers a huge advantage.

Justin & Cas kayaking from Australia to New Zealand completely unsupported and unassisted.

Spring 2019

11

High Performance Magazine Spring 2019

Brett’s career changing course From the wilds of Africa to the food bowl of Australia, Brett Norman’s career has covered plenty of ground.

Wagga Branch Manager Brett (top left) with Wagga service Manager Matt (right).

D

espite an impressive CV – including playing rugby union for his nation and running a John Deere dealership in Mozambique – the Zimbabwe-born father of two has always managed staff on instinct rather than intellect.

That all changed after Brett recently completed a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management at TAFE NSW Griffith, with the course dramatically altering the way he viewed the art and science of people management.

The branch manager of Hutcheon & Pearce Wagga said the course was a professional “light bulb moment”.

“I was someone with 20 years of people management experience and I had a lot of really good ideas, but no real formal training to call upon to make that experience work at an optimum level.

“I’m managing 33 people here at Hutcheon & Pearce and they all have different personalities. My job is to make them better at what they do but also more happy in what they do.

“If the object of the course was to make me reflect deeply on my style of management, it succeeded to make me do this to exhaustion. I have spent many, many hours throwing the simplest of questions back and forward in my mind, dissembling and rebuilding, grafting and cloning until I was happy with the outcome.

“The course forced me into research that I did not know existed - making concrete beliefs crumble and replacing them with moveable, pliable and transparent alternatives.

“Most of all, the course has given me the platform to build structure into what was previously random chaos inside of my head.”

12

Hutcheon & Pearce

The dividend of more effective management can be profound, according to a recent Gallup poll, which found an astonishing 49% of workers were disengaged in the workplace.

Brett said the format of the course had forced him to challenge his views on management.

“My classmates were from all walks of life and we would use each other’s experience and knowledge to help solve common problems.”

The Certificate IV in Leadership and Management is aimed at people in a current leadership role looking to develop their skill set or those hoping to progress to a leadership role. As well as leadership, it covers broad course areas including innovation, continuous improvement and work effectiveness.

TAFE NSW Leadership and Management Teacher Nicole Martin said the course is interactive and varied, with discussions based on the realities of the workplace.

“The course involved three days of face-to-face learning each quarter, with the rest completed online. Participants love the learning environment and being able to share their professional challenges and listen to the stories of others.”

Credit: TAFE NSW

The course forced me into research that I did not know existed - making concrete beliefs crumble and replacing them with moveable, pliable and transparent alternatives.

2019 SPRING CATALOGUE OUT NOW! OUR BEST

John Deere 1025R Utility Tractor

compact tractor

Powerful 25 hp diesel engine

SELLING

Standard 4WD with Cruise Control

T

Easy-to-operate, TwinTouch™ hydrostatic transmission AutoConnect™ mid-mower deck, loader and backhoe attachments available STARTING FROM

$15,990* Inc GST

FINANCE FROM

$ 77 ^ per week

1

^1 Conditions Apply. John Deere Financial Limited. Approved commercial applicants only.

Based on Recommended List Price $15,990 for 1025R on a 36 month term at annual percentage rate of 20% deposit and GST back. Weekly repayments calculated on $331.19 monthly payment multiplied by 12 months divided by 52 weeks. Fees and charges apply.

Expires on 31/10/2019.

GET MORE DONE:

ADD A LOADER Talk to your local Hutcheon & Pearce dealer

John Deere 3038E Utility Tractor

FINANCE FR

OM

$95

Powerful 37 hp diesel engine Standard 4WD, power steering and simple controls

per week ^2

Easy-to-operate, TwinTouch™ hydrostatic transmission

T

Handle heavier loader work with a tight turning circle STARTING FROM

$19,990* Inc GST ^2 Conditions Apply. John Deere Financial Limited. Approved commercial applicants only.

Based on Recommended List Price $19,990 for 3038E on a 36 month term at annual percentage rate of 20% deposit and GST back. Weekly repayments calculated on $411.04 monthly payment multiplied by 12 months divided by 52 weeks. Fees and charges apply.

Expires on 31/10/2019.

GET MORE DONE:

ADD A LOADER Talk to your local Hutcheon & Pearce dealer

OUR BEST

John Deere 5055E 2WD Utility Tractor

SELLING 2WD TRACTOR

Powerful John Deere 55 hp diesel engine T

High hydraulic flow and lift capacity 12F/12R PowrReverser™ transmission STARTING FROM

$19,990* Inc GST

ROM FINANCE F

$ 95 ^ per week

3

GET MORE DONE:

ADD A LOADER Talk to your local Hutcheon & Pearce dealer

^3 Conditions Apply. John Deere Financial Limited. Approved commercial applicants only.

Based on Recommended List Price $19,990 for 5055E 2WD on a 36 month term at annual percentage rate of 20% deposit and GST back. Weekly repayments calculated on $411.04 monthly payment multiplied by 12 months divided by 52 weeks. Fees and charges apply.

Expires on 31/10/2019.

www.hutcheonandpearce.com.au *All prices shown in Australian dollars including GST. Prices are for in-stock MY18 units and are until October 31st 2019. Images are for illustrative purposes only.

T10 Year Warranty details and conditions apply. For more information and to view the Terms & Conditions contact your local Hutcheon & Pearce Dealership.

Spring 2019 13

High Performance Magazine Spring 2019

Burkes named rice Grower of the Year Jerilderie rice growers Peter and Renee Burke have been named 2019 SunRice Grower of the Year.

The long time H&P customers were recognised for both their high yields and high water use efficiency at the Ricegrowers’ Association conference and gala dinner, held in Corowa in early August.

T

he moment Peter Burke realised he’d been named 2019 SunRice Grower of the Year, he was left speechless.

“To be honest, at the start when we got announced, we were in shock. We don’t think we’re any better than anyone else. We still don’t. We respect our abilities as farmers, but we know there’s a lot more we can and will do.” Renee adds, “We’re proud but for us it’s more about the industry and this puts the industry in a good light. Nothing’s better than a good news story but we were back at work the next day.”

Growing up in Jerilderie the youngest of nine children, Peter describes his farming operations as mixed cropping.

“We grow rice, oats, wheat, barley and canola. They’re the main crops. It’s not a huge operation. Just a husband and wife, four kids and one employee.

“We bought the farm in ’99 and have bought another four since.

This year we planted 200 hectares of rice and the year before we had 700, so we cut right back. The water situation means that it’s like a desert down here. We buy our water years out, which is quite different to the mainstream farmer.

“We’re doing it back-to-front to everyone else relying on allocation. When they don’t have any allocation, they don’t have water, but we only buy water products that deliver every year, so we aren’t relying on allocation. That means we can plan our seasons.

14

Hutcheon & Pearce

“We started doing that in a smaller way in 2000. In probably the last five or six years I’ve done it in a pretty big way. I did it that way because I knew right from day dot that water is king. You got water; you will do well. But you’ve got to get the right sort of product. I didn’t like having all my eggs in the one basket. You’ve got to have several different water options, and some will work one year and not the other. The way it has panned out, every single one of our water products is delivering 100% water.”

While he grew up with John Deere equipment, Peter said when he was starting out, he bought whatever he could afford, so his machinery brands resembled a rainbow. He now runs all Green – a 4730 John Deere self-propelled sprayer, two 8R John Deere tractors, a 1890 drill seeder, a 1870 parallelogram sowing machine, 1910 air seeding cart and a S680 header.

“We’ve still got the old original 4250 John Deere, 1985 model and while it doesn’t play a big role in terms of tech, it’s our runaround.

“I’m the youngest of nine and my father is still a rice grower.

Mum and Dad (Rose and John Burke) were Jack Armstrong’s customers, as were Renee’s parents (Kaye and Allen Callaghan).

They had Armstrong and then Hutcheon & Pearce machinery and I always used to say, ‘I’d love to get a John Deere but I just can’t afford it’ and they’d say, ‘That’s all right. We’re here when you do need something.’

“Some farmers might inherit their farms, and then they might have one or two machinery loans, and off they go. Well, we had everything financed. But I’m not complaining. I think that’s a lot of my background. And probably also being the youngest child, I’ve had to fight for everything. Including meals!

Photo courtesy of Rice Extension

“It’s good to be able to go to them for the machinery but also call TECSight about the technology. The technology has come so far, it’s a whole different way of thinking now. We’re only just coming around to it.”

Always striving While Peter and Renee’s 2018-19 rice yield of 13tonnes/ha was 33% above the Murray Valley five-year industry average, Renee said it won’t stop them seeking to improve.

“We’re never happy with our yield and that’s probably the key to it. If we were happy with it, we would never have gotten better.

Your crop is only as good as the next one you grow. So, while the yield was good and we’ve put a lot of work in over the years to make sure our team is on the same page, we’re always striving to be better.

“When I say our team, I’m talking about our drivers, our bank manager, our workforce, our water brokers, insurance guys, even Hutcheon & Pearce. Anyone that’s associated with our business has got to fit our farm profile.

Your crop is only as good as the next one you grow. So, while the yield was good and we’ve put a lot of work in over the years to make sure our team is on the same page, we’re always striving to be better.

“Without everyone on the same page, it’s like turning up and playing footy without doing the pre-season. You’ve got to be able to line all your dots up or those yields won’t happen.”

Spring 2019

15

High Performance Magazine Spring 2019

Show of support for mental health At Hutcheon & Pearce we have the pleasure of working with farmers every day, walking beside our customers through good seasons and bad.

S

ome of our communities are doing it tough right now, which is why we threw our support behind a Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) initiative to provide financial year diaries to people in the Murrumbidgee impacted by drought.

The diary includes important information about self-care, gratitude, managing stress and how to support a loved one or friend if you’re worried about their mental health or wellbeing.

MPHN CEO Melissa Neal said the diaries are an initiative of its drought steering committee, which helps make decisions on activities funded under the Australian Government’s Empowering Our Communities program to support mental health and wellbeing in drought affected communities.

“Through this funding, we’re rolling out a range of mental health support initiatives to help farmers and communities to deal with the uncertainty, stress and anxiety of drought conditions, and this diary is one strategy to help build local community capacity and to reduce stigma around mental health.

“Scattered throughout the diary are tips for managing stress, how to identify if someone might need support, do’s and don’ts of Christmas, when you should seek help for depression, and most importantly, where to go to seek help.

“With the help of our supporters like Hutcheon & Pearce, people across the Murrumbidgee will be able to collect their diary.”

Hutcheon & Pearce Group Marketing Manager Michael Casey said the diary is a good way to raise awareness about mental health.

“The more we can work together to reduce stigma around mental health and get people access to the help they need, the better.

16

Hutcheon & Pearce

The more we can work together to reduce stigma around mental health and get people access to the help they need, the better.

“That’s why we were more than happy to support this diary and invite you to head into your local Hutcheon & Pearce branch to grab your free copy or get one from our stand at Henty.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency call: The Murrumbidgee Accessline 1800 011 944 Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 Lifeline 13 11 14 or Call 000.

To access the Head to Health website visit www.headtohealth.gov.au

Cowra Branch: Looking after your tractor and your community Since taking over the John Deere dealership in Cowra in 1998, Hutcheon & Pearce has become a well-known part of the community.

Cowra born and bred Branch Manager Matt Newham leads a team of 16 staff looking after a wide range of customers.

“We’re lucky here in Cowra. It’s quite a diverse area, so we get to deal with the whole range of ag, from small acreage/Mum and Dad type farms, through the large-scale broadacre properties.

“In the past 20 years, the Hutcheon & Pearce team here has doubled in size and today we have a combined wealth of industry experience and range of backgrounds.

“Some staff are from Cowra and the wider area like Cargo, Cudal, Canowindra and Young. We’ve also got a couple of South African guys on the team, including our Service Manager, Carel.

“We also have a Service Foreman, Jake, who is from the UK. He’s been with Hutcheon & Pearce for about 18 months but in that role for just a few weeks. Having another very capable technician to look after the hour-to-hour running of the workshop allows Carel to focus on servicing our clients’ needs.”

Apart from preparing their customers for harvest, the Cowra team is also busy throwing their support behind the community, supporting Agricultural shows and smaller community events.

“There’s half a dozen small local shows and we get behind them with sponsorship, tractors for the tractor pull events and prizes for the guys that bring the equipment or bring their vintage tractors out. We also get behind the local Sheepdog Trials.

“We do this because these types of events are key to building community. It’s a great chance for people to come together and have a day out with their family, and we’re all for supporting that.

“At the Group level, we also support the Australian Red Cross Blood Service and Ronald McDonald House because at Hutcheon & Pearce, it’s not just about servicing your tractor when it’s broken. It’s about supporting our people when the chips are down. We pride ourselves on it.”

One thing the Cowra team will be focused on in coming weeks are pre-season checks.

“It’s a fairly optimistic outlook for the season, and we’re lucky in the Cowra area in that, yes, there’s a drought going on, but we have not been affected to the extent that a lot of other places have.

“Still, our main focus is our preventative maintenance program to keep our customers running the best they can within their tighter budgets. This means going over each machine with our comprehensive pre-season check and developing a repair plan and quote for what needs to be done ahead of the season.

“It is the best way to alert customers to issues with their equipment before it’s out in the field, breaking down, and it saves both time and money.”

From Left: Cowra Service Foreman Jake O’Hara, Branch Manager Matt Newham and Service manager Carel-Frik Meintjes are focused on delivering second to none service to Cowra and surrounds in the lead up to, and during, harvest.

Spring 2019

17

High Performance Magazine Spring 2019

Best sellers bumper to bumper Spring is the perfect time to get your yard in tip-top shape and source the right tools for the task. Our 2019 Spring Catalogue brings you all the Green machines needed to make that job easier.

E

ach year, our Spring Catalogue sets out products for people who own large lifestyle blocks right through to smaller farms. This year is no different, bringing you the very best in lawnmowers through to Gators, Compact Utility Tractors through to Heavy Duty Tractors.

Group Sales Manager Andrew Sands said this year’s catalogue is full of bestsellers.

“It’s a very complex market at times and the range of options available on farm machinery can be overwhelming, even to us as a dealer.

“In the catalogue we break that down to simplify it so when someone is looking at a tractor, for example, they can clearly see the features and understand the price points between the different models. The catalogue really narrows down the tractor models and highlights our best sellers.

“I’m often asked, ‘What’s the best value for money?’ and this catalogue clearly demonstrates what our best packages are and sets out pricing and inclusions.”

18

Hutcheon & Pearce

Andrew explained that the content of each Hutcheon & Pearce package draws on conversations directly with clients.

“We have around 30 sales professionals on staff and they obviously have a lot of conversations with customers.

We’re continually engaging in feedback with customers who are telling us about their requirements and budgets and this happens over a long period of time, so we get a really good understanding of the customer and their changing requirements.

“One of the fantastic things about John Deere is that the majority of John Deere products are manufactured to order, either for retail orders from customers or from a dealerships like us for floor stock. That means each machine can be built in many different ways, with a lot of variations, but so many options can sometimes confuse the customer.

“So, we take all of the options available, aggregate what our clients are looking for and build packages that are cost effective and have the features people want. It can save our customers a lot of time in research and comparisons.

“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into making sure this Spring Catalogue really hits the brief on giving people what they need.”

Many of the machines featured in the catalogue will be on display at the Henty Machinery Field Days between 17-19 September. Special Field Days offers include free scheduled servicing on certain machines, representing an additional saving on top of the already reduced catalogue price.

“Customers should also know about our industry-leading warranty on our Series 1 to 5 tractors. It’s a 10 year, 1000 hour warranty, which none of our competitors currently offer. It’s something we’ve developed specifically for our customers who have lower operating hours per year but require a longer life span on their machine. It really gives people some confidence that they have a 10 year warranty behind them.

“And while it’s our intention to have everything that’s in that catalogue at Henty, if people can’t make it there there’s no need to worry. We’re always more than happy to go out and do an obligation free demonstration on their farm.

Alternatively, they can head into their local branch and take a look at the machines in stock.”

Spring Catalogue out now!

Grab your copy from your local branch before October 31.

Spring 2019

19

SEAMLESS MACHINE INTEGRATION CAN REDUCE COSTS, MINIMISE RISK AND IMPROVE YIELD.

Increase productivity and accuracy at end of row turns with AutoTrac™ Turn Automation guidance.

Integrate all your farm data across each production step with Operations Center.

Share Coverage Maps, Yield Maps, and Guidance Lines between machines with In-Field Data Sharing.

Visit us today to see how Precision Ag Technology can reduce your input costs and enhance yield potential.

Reduce overlaps and wastage by automatically controlling implement sections with SectionCommand™.

PRECISION PAYS

Hutcheon & Pearce whatever the job, get it done.

ALBURY PO Box 823 Hume Highway Lavington NSW 2641 Phone: (02) 6058 6800

COWRA PO Box 160 64-68 Young Road Cowra NSW 2794 Phone: (02) 6341 4800

COLEAMBALLY 32 Bencubbin Way Coleambally NSW 2707 Phone: (02) 6954 4280

FINLEY 16 Riverina Highway Finley NSW 2713 Phone: (03) 5883 1655

CONDOBOLIN 1a May Street Condobolin NSW 287t7 Phone: (02) 6891 2222

GRIFFITH 98 Oakes Rd Griffith NSW 2680 Phone: (02) 69695300

www.hutcheonandpearce.com.au

LAKE CARGELLIGO PO Box 2013 Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672 Phone: (02) 6898 1305

TEMORA 101 Kitchener Road Temora NSW 2666 Phone: (02) 6977 1100

ORANGE 26 Scott Place Orange NSW 2800 Phone: (02) 6362 9988

WAGGA WAGGA PO Box 5485 57 Moorong Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 Phone: (02) 6933 7900

FORBES PO Box 17 56 Angus Clarke Drive Forbes NSW 2871 Phone: (02) 6862 1666

TECSight® Support Centre (02) 5924 5111