East Retford-based Farm Agri UK is about to take delivery of the first shipment of cultivators and drills made in New Zealand by Taege Engineering.
Farm Agri UK was established in April this year, but the husband-and-wife team of Neil and Emma Ford behind it are no strangers to the UK drill scene having imported the Aitchison brand for over four years through Aitchison Agri UK.
“We decided to offer Taege as an alternative to the Aitchison drill,” comments Neil. “Not only does the New Zealand manufacturer offer a wider range of simple and affordable drills in electronic and manual seed dispensing, seed is drilled using a different seed to soil point. Also, there are more options to customize them for individual farming operations.”
Founded in 1923, and based in Sheffield, near Christchurch, Taege claims the lion’s share of tined drill sales in its homeland, but while it has a country-wide dealer network in place New Zealand and a distributor in Australia, its arable tackle has never been marketed in the UK and Ireland.
The current portfolio includes air seeders and conventional and direct drills in working widths up to 6.0m. Plus, it makes a range of 3.0m-6.0m cultivators and trailed tyre rollers.
“The build quality of the drills with a fully galvanised chassis is first class,” continues Neil, “and there are few moving parts and adjustments. Basically, it is set seed rate and depth and go.”
The new UK and Ireland importer is currently waiting for the first shipment to arrive in Felixstowe. “We will initially take delivery of a 3.0m seed only and 3.0m seed/fertilizer (stainless steel fertiliser hopper option). Plus, a 3.0m tyre roller to follow the 4.8m and 6.0m air seeders. We will also have a number of 3.0m to 6.0m cultivators and rollers.”
The company would still like to sell drills direct to keep the price competitive. “However, as we are a new company to this fiercely competitive market, we have decided to look for dealers in the UK and Ireland. We have already appointed one for southern Ireland and are currently in further discussions.”
Neil is confident that there is a market for Taege kit. “The quality is equal to existing UK and European manufacturers, and the drills are competitively priced making them far more affordable even for small-medium farms who may currently rely on contractors for drilling or traditional style drilling methods.”
As a rough guide, a 3.0m seed only drill is expected to retail for approx. £23,000 (excludes VAT and commissioning).
Farm Agri UK is not just the UK and Ireland importer for Taege but has also taken on all territory north of the equator. “We are currently touring Europe and the Nordics looking for suitable distributors.”
Back to the UK and Ireland where the company is currently looking for farmers and contractors to try out the first Taege drills. A series of working demonstrations are planned early November, and there will be an opportunity to see a Taege 3.0m combi seed and fertilizer drill, 3.0m low compaction tyre roller, and Aitchison 3.0m seed only drill on the Farm Agri UK stand at the Midlands Machinery Show in Newark on 20 and 21 November, 2024.
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