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Kubota increases Escorts Limited shareholding

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Kubota increases Escorts Limited shareholding: Kubota has reached an agreement with Escorts Limited under which Kubota will increase its shareholding in the Indian tractor manufacturer.

Escorts Limited is a major tractor manufacturer in the Indian market, reportedly the world’s largest tractor market in terms of unit sales. The company also manufactures and distributes construction machinery as well as other products.

Kubota increases Escorts Limited shareholding

Kubota increases Escorts Limited shareholding

The practice in India of utilising tractors year-round for carrying loads, in addition to usual agricultural work, means that the machines are designed to be highly durable with a basic specification and at reasonable prices.

With the aim of addressing market needs in India, Kubota strengthened its partnership with Escorts Limited, specialised in developing and manufacturing such tractors – referred to as ‘basic tractors’ – by establishing a joint venture manufacturing company in 2019 and through a direct equity investment in 2020.

Kubota has decided to increase its shareholding in Escorts Limited, based on expectations for the basic tractor market to expand in emerging countries including India. The move will also utilise combined resources in an effective manner and further strengthen the partnership between the two companies.

As a result of this, the collaboration will produce quality and affordable basic tractors utilising Escorts Limited’s knowhow in the sector and Kubota’s accumulated product development knowledge and capabilities. Kubota will also utilise both companies’ distribution networks by offering a wide range of product offerings, ranging from high-performance to basic tractors.

By positioning Escorts Limited as an important foundation for basic tractors in the future, Kubota will consider developing and manufacturing of basic combine harvesters and construction machineries targeting India and other emerging markets.

The first tractors from the collaboration to be marketed in Europe will be available at the end of 2022.

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St Andrews sunrise wins competition

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St Andrews sunrise wins competition: An early morning image of sunrise over the Castle Course at St Andrews Links has been proclaimed the winner of the 2021 BIGGA Annual Photographic Competition.

Taken by Course Manager Jonathan Wood, the image shows the course bathed in early morning light, with greenkeepers working in the background and atmospheric Scottish skies overhead.

St Andrews sunrise wins competition

St Andrews sunrise wins competition

Jonathan said: “Working on a golf course, you get to see the most incredible sunrises and so my camera goes everywhere with me. It’s funny, I would change holes a lot because it was a good excuse to take my camera out and when I spotted that scene, I jumped out of the buggy and fired off a couple of shots. It was a good morning for it and I just knew it was going to be a good photo.

“I have always had an interest in photography and from a mental health point of view, photography has certainly helped me over the past two years. You don’t have to have a fancy camera, but it’s an excuse to go outside and you realise that in the bigger scheme of things we are quite small.”

Jonathan is now a two-time winner of BIGGA’s annual photo competition, having been successful in 2014 with an image he took while course manager at Trevose in Cornwall. He wins a Nikon digital camera worth £365 and a framed print of his image, to be presented during the BIGGA Welcome Celebration at BTME 2022 in January.

From competition entries received throughout the year, 24 finalists were chosen and put up for public voting on BIGGA’s social media channels. Photographer Mike Hyde of Carefree Golf Photography also lent his expertise to the judging process.

Mike explained why Jonathan’s photograph was the pick of the bunch. He said: “When I shoot, I try and create imagery that evokes emotion and this picture absolutely does that for me. It stirs a desire to get out and play golf, although I would probably rather be taking photographs in that light!”

For the first time, entries into the competition were divided into three categories: Greenkeeping, Landscape and Wildlife.

While Jonathan’s photograph won the Landscape category, Joe Simpson of Ipswich Golf Club won the Greenkeeping category and Laura Sayer-Hall of Wallasey Golf Club won the Wildlife category. Category winners all receive a £150 shopping voucher.

Twelve images were selected for the BIGGA 2022 desktop calendar, which is distributed with the January edition of Greenkeeper International, the monthly magazine for members of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA).

Registration for BTME 2022 and the associated Continue to Learn education programme is open. The event takes place from 23 to 27 January 2022 and you can find out more by heading to the BTME website, www.btme.org.uk

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MM60 helps The Pilgrims

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MM60 helps The Pilgrims: MM60 grass seed has been the ideal mixture to help get Boston United FC’s new pitch off to the best possible start – according to Head Groundsman Jim Portas.

At the end of the 2019/20 season Boston United, nicknamed The Pilgrims, left their York Street home to move to a new stadium – the Jakemans Community Stadium. It was an investment with the aim of providing Boston United and its community foundation a secure future.

MM60 helps The Pilgrims

MM60 helps The Pilgrims

Anticipation was high but unfortunately the pandemic meant that the first season in the new stadium was somewhat quiet, much to the regret of Jim.

“The fans were not allowed in, and it was a shame, especially as it was a new era for the club,” he said. “From the players point of view, it was also unfortunate because they had started really well up until the season became null and void. It was a fantastic new pitch, with MM60 seed at its foundation.”

MM60 is the UK’s leading winter sports renovation mixture and can be attributed with playing a key role in many of the finest sporting venues you see today. The 100% Ryegrass formula, which is perfect for divot repair, is renowned for its extremely fast germination and its high wear tolerance. It produces fantastic aesthetic qualities, and its high disease resistance provides ultimate protection.

MM60 is also treated with HEADSTART® GOLD, which is a further development of the well-recognised Headstart treatment and has been developed using the latest scientific findings and field experience. It is a natural revolutionary grass seed treatment that ensures rapid germination. It is perfect for enhancing performance sports fields, golf courses, lawns and amenity turf.

Jim admitted that he can’t take credit for the initial decision to use MM60, but he will certainly be continuing to use it for a long time to come.

“The seed was selected by Fine Turf (the chosen sports turf contractor), but from what I have seen, they absolutely made the right choice. In that first year the seed germinated after just six days, and it gave us fantastic coverage.

“It was so good that I made the decision to overseed with it in May in preparation for the new season. This time around it took slightly longer to germinate because of the weather conditions but as soon as it came through, it really took off.

“It was put to the test pretty quickly,” continued Jim. “Because the fans had been away for so long, the club arranged for four pre-season friendlies to take place all at home – we just wanted the fans back.

MM60 helps The Pilgrims

MM60 helps The Pilgrims

“We allowed 8 weeks for the pitch to establish and then the games came thick and fast. It stood up incredibly well with no problems at all.

“The seed was brilliant in the first year and has been even better in the second year – the colour of it, the strength of it, and the consistency have all been faultless.

“I will continue to use MM60 for renovations, and in the meantime, I’ll put some down in the areas that need it – in the high usage areas throughout the season.

“Overall, the fans love the stadium, and the players love the pitch. It’s a good time for Boston United FC.”

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s new website www.mm-seeds.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed

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Timberwolf announces expansion of area

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Timberwolf announces expansion of area: Timberwolf have announced the expansion of area for its dealer Lister Wilder. The machinery dealer recently announced the opening of its Bristol/Bath branch at Keynsham. Following this announcement Timberwolf have awarded Lister Wilder official dealer status for the surrounding area of their new depot.

Phill Hughes (Sales & Hire Director) pictured commented “This is a very exciting announcement for us as we look to increase our coverage in the Arboriculture market. We are already Timberwolf dealers from three of our other branches and have a great relationship with them as the UKs leading chipper franchise – Our Arb customer base spans groundcare contractors, councils and tree surgeons, all of which know and use Timberwolf chippers as their go-to brand. With the opening of the new Bristol/Bath branch we will be able to offer #SaleswithService across the two cities, and provide the service levels that our Arb customers expect”

Timberwolf announces expansion of area

Timberwolf announces expansion of area

Lister Wilder have held the Timberwolf franchise for 20 years and built up a reputable customer base from its three depots. This new appointment will allow for Lister Wilder to further expand its arboriculture customer base in a new area.

Guy Marshlain, Sales and Marketing Director at Timberwolf said, “Having worked with Lister Wilder for 20-years, the Timberwolf team would like to congratulate them on their ongoing developments and the planned opening of their new dealer branch at Keynsham.”

We look forward to continuing our positive relationship and would like to encourage all arborists in the local area to pop in and meet the Lister Wilder team to discuss their wood chipper requirements.”

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Electric BTME from Reesink

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Electric BTME from Reesink: Reesink UK will bring its electric stars to BTME. From Toro, the ground-breaking first all-electric riding greensmower, the industry-leading electric utility vehicle and the new lithium-ion battery version of a classic pedestrian mower, as well as multiple electric carrier options from STAR EV, will all be on stand 420.

There’s no question electric is the future of the industry and Toro has consistently led the way with the development required to get this technology to market. See the Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370, the break-through everyone was waiting for, bringing no emissions, less noise and easier maintenance without any compromise on the quality of cut expected from a Toro riding greensmower.

Electric BTME from Reesink

Electric BTME from Reesink

The new electric Toro Greensmaster eFlex 1021 is the lithium-ion battery-powered version of the popular flex-head walk-behind Flex1021 greensmower. All the innovation of the original with patented proven Flex technology and popular telescoping handle, but powered by clean, green energy. It will be on stand alongside the Toro Workman GTXe utility vehicle, another machine with advanced lithium-ion battery technology and was hugely influential in Toro’s journey towards battery power.

Continuing the electric theme with its extensive range of battery-powered golf buggies is STAR EV. The first time the brand has been represented at the show with its latest plug-in electric utility vehicle for the UK market, the Capella Work Machine and Capella 48-2-HCX, both are purposefully designed to help move people and equipment around quietly, safely and efficiently.

Toro irrigation will be well represented by Lynx Central Control system, famed for its easy, precise remote control access, and an extensive range of Toro sprinklers. Continuing the water theme are Concept 3 and Fractional lake and pond aerators from Otterbine and a two-wire Grower irrigation controller from SRC for simple wall-mounted control.

And there’ll also be the first chance to see one of the newly redesigned and reimagined tractors from TYM. Part of TYM’s major brand overhaul, the 37hp T395 has a new look, a Stage V compliant diesel engine and a raft of improvements for a more productive performance. It will be joined by the AgriMetal Blower attachment, which is the perfect attachment for winter debris maintenance work.

Stand 420 will be home to Toro electric machinery, Toro irrigation, Otterbine, SRC, STAR EV, TYM tractors and AgriMetal attachments – making it a must-have visit on your trip to Harrogate.

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