Comment – A Connected World

As the week has progressed two separate, but connected pieces of news have caught my eye.

Across the Atlantic, the Agricultural Trade Deficit is getting bigger by the minute, and is the largest on record, as Trumps tariffs take effect.  With the example of soybeans, China has switched from US beans to South American sourced product as a reaction to the tariffs.  Have a read here for more from the US.

Closer to home the much whispered demise of Dunstall Holdings, and Rea Valley Tractors in particular has resulted in a very rapid reshuffling of the dealer deck of cards for both JCB and Kuhn. As an aside, the only direct online reference to the insolvency of RVT is that New Holland posted on social media on Wednesday that Rea Valley Tractors Ltd, has ceased trading. We would like to reassure all our customers that you can continue to contact any local New Holland dealer for any New Holland issued warranty, equipment servicing and new equipment purchases. 

I caught up with several industry colleagues at the Westmorland County Show on Wednesday. I don’t know if it was the forecast rain, but the atmosphere was muted, with numerous conversations regarding the fallout in the west of the country following RVT’s news.

As we approach the middle of September its raining (again), and for the record the August rainfall was 102mm, not quite the lowest on record (79mm in ’21) or the highest (272mm in ’20).

I wish you well for the week ahead.

Andy