Farm Agri UK to show Taege machine in the UK for the first time

Farm Agri UK to show Taege machine in the UK for the first time

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 and will be exhibiting some of the machines at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show.

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 Aitchinson Agri UK.

“We decided to offer Taege as an alternative to the Aitchison drill,” says 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 customise 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 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 6m. Plus, it makes a range of 3m-6m cultivators and trailed tyre rollers.

“The build quality of the drills with a fully galvanised chassis is first class,” says Neil. “There are a few moving parts and adjustments, basically it is set seed rate and depth and go.”

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.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to see a Taege 3m combi seed and fertiliser drill, a 3m low compaction tyre roller, and an Aitchison 3m seed only drill on the Farm Agri UK stand at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show.

After attending as a visitor for the past three years, this is the first time that Neil and Farm Agri UK have exhibited at the show.

“We’re delighted to be exhibiting at the Midlands Machinery Show this year,” says Neil. “As we’re based in Nottinghamshire, we feel that the show is the perfect opportunity to reach out to local farmers and build up our network.

“It’s also the right platform for us to demonstrate the Taege machines not only because of the locality, but also because of the timing of the show, allowing us the demonstrate these machines early for next year’s season.”

The Midlands Machinery Show will be held on 20 and 21 November at Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire.

Entry and parking is free, but visitors should pre-register at www.midlandsmachineryshow.com.