AgriScot has 23 new stands covering across all of agriculture

This trade-focused event, where businesses come to meet farmers face-to-face, share expertise and new product offerings, usually benefits agricultural businesses and forges important relationships for years to come.

It is one of the main business events in the UK where farmers can grasp the opportunity to meet with suppliers, hear the latest in ag tech, from health care to machinery, and take advantage of the huge range of expertise on offer, all in one place.

With rising costs impacting farm businesses across the board, this year’s event will be focused on what exhibitors can offer farmers to help cut down on inputs and increase farm efficiency.

Farmer John MacInnes, from the Isle of Iona, has been the trade stands manager at AgriScot since joining the team at Rural Projects, who deliver the event, in 2001. He explained why exhibitors are so fundamental to the success of the day.

“The exhibitors have always been the most important part of AgriScot, they have provided the financial backing to allow us to offer such a fantastic free event and the quality of trade stands we deliver year on year, is testament to the brilliant businesses we have supporting the agricultural sector," he said.

“Since the event evolved from DairyScot to AgriScot in 2001, there has been a progression away from dairy-only focussed trade standards, to a wide range of exhibitors catering for all farming sectors.

“Ultimately, our exhibitors are here to do business. They may have a new product to launch through suppliers and it is a good chance to make trade contacts as well as network with farmers. Agriculture is a people industry, and people like to meet face-to-face to buy products and find out more about new technology, whatever may benefit their business.”

It is not just about providing a strong line-up of trade stands but ensuring that there is good engagement from visitors to make the most of what is on offer. John explained that AgriScot had high retention rates for exhibitors and the organising team strives to maintain those links year on year, but are also delighted to have some new exhibitors involved this year.

“We were able to free up some space this year to accommodate around 25 new exhibitors, which is good as it freshens up our offering and allows us to showcase new products,” he continued. “We are hearing from exhibitors that keeping costs in check will be a big focus this year and visitors to AgriScot can expect to be offered advice and solutions to keeping costs down and driving efficiency.

“I would urge people swithering about whether to come along, to make the trip, as no matter what sector you’re in, you will discover something new and leave with learning points which will be worthwhile to your own business.”

The 23 new exhibitors are:

1, Agri-Epi Centre

2, Spaldings

3, GT Bunning and Sons

4, Te Pari Products (UK)

5, Tilhill

6, SAVECO Environmental

7, Feedlync and Herdlync

8, smaXtec

9, Powered Pasture

10, N2 Applied

11, ADM

12, DALBO UK

13, iLivestock (Duradiamond Software)

14, Treeline Woodlands

15, SIB Services Machinery

16, Nimrod Veterinary Products

17, Close Brothers Asset Finance

18, QUICKBLOCK

19, Cefetra

20, ICL UK Sales

21, Liquid Mineral Services

22, Self Guard (TAS Farmer's Eye)

23, Aberdeen- Angus Cattle Society

Spotlight on some of this year’s exhibitors

Thorburn Group

Livestock handling and shed building suppliers, Thorburn Group UK, will be returning to AgriScot for the third time, with father and son team, Alistair and Euan Thorburn, looking forward to meeting with customers and sharing their recent expansion plans.

The family-run business, formerly known as JS Thorburn and Sons, has undergone a change in leadership and brand over the past year and is investing £5m as part of a new business expansion at Duns Industrial Estate, covering six acres in the Scottish Borders.

The first stage of operations at the new premises begins this November but it isn’t the only exciting change for the group, who recently bought Premier Livestock Handling, hoping to expand the offering of cattle crushes.

Thorburn Group supply equipment and sheds across the British Isles and they have 10 teams on the ground, with around 75 members of staff. Sales director of the group, Ian Learmonth, explained why AgriScot was critical to their brand.

“AgriScot is one of the top shows for us at Thorburn as you get constant business from the first minute of the day until the last. As we are expanding our business, we can’t just rely on word of mouth, we need to be going to shows to meet with new customers and get our name out there in the agricultural industry.

“We are bringing some Premier Livestock cattle crushes onto the stand and will have a Clipex crush and sheep handler for visitors to check out. For us, it is not just about sales on the day but meeting folk and sharing advice, as it is a great business opportunity, and you often find yourself getting phone calls six months down the line from people you’ve met on the day.”

Fullwoodhead Dairy Supplies

Ayrshire-based business, Fullwoodhead Dairy Supplies, is one of the longest standing supporters of AgriScot, having taken a stand since the show began.

The business has been in the Wilson family for 41 years and is located at Ayr Mart, Whitefordhill, and supplies dairy equipment across the whole of Scotland and northern England.

Director Scott Wilson explained that they are updating their portfolio all the time to offer customers the most competitive service and the latest products, and aim to be a one-stop-shop for dairy supplies.

They have been working closely with new companies to stock a range of new products ranging from robotics and milking parlours from DeLaval, to teat scrubbing equipment from Northern Dairy Equipment.

Visitors to their stand at AgriScot this year will be able to get a close-up view of different products they are stocking including Holm and Laue calf rearing equipment, new light systems from DairyLight, a new scraper system and teat scrubbing equipment.

Scott said: “We have revamped our stand at AgriScot this year and hope to offer a more professional outfit with lots of our latest products for visitors to come and see. We are pleased to announce that we will be working with recent Cream Award Winners, Herdvision, supplying its revolutionary body condition and lameness scoring camera and there will be a representative from the company on our stand.

“AgriScot is a brilliant business show full of people who are focused on improving their farms. We get lots of enquiries every year, it is an important part of our calendar year and after two years away with Covid-19, we’re looking forward to seeing our customers all in one place - an opportunity which doesn’t come around very often.”

Stewart Trailers

Husband and wife team, Mandy and James Stewart, are well known trailer manufacturers based in Aberdeenshire.

Stewart manufactures a wide range of high spec' trailers, most of which are built to order and include items ranging from grain/silage trailers to livestock containers.

The company offers a number of optional extra items such as hydraulic cover systems, on board weigh systems with four weigh cells and electric powered steering and believe that the cutting-edge technology they use in their designs, sets themselves apart from others on the market.

The design team are always looking for new technology that they can utilise on their trailers and this year were delighted to receive a Royal Highland Show Technical Innovation Award for trailers designed and built for a specialised carrot grower.

For the Stewarts, AgriScot is an important date. “I enjoy AgriScot,” explained James. “For me, it is a real business event. It’s always a busy day and we see the right kind of people there”.

Mandy agreed, adding: “AgriScot is held at the right time of year for us to speak to customers about their capital expenditure planned for the following year. Our team are particularly looking forward to the event this year and the opportunity to speak to customers face to face again.”

The past couple of years have been just as challenging for the Stewarts as everyone else, however during that time they have expanded their factory and invested heavily in new plant and machinery, including the purchase of a new laser cutting machine and the installation of a shot-blasting plant.

Krone UK

Hay and forage equipment suppliers, Krone UK, is based in Leeds, with dealers operating across Scotland and will be exhibiting a wide variety of products at AgriScot.

The team will be showcasing an MX Wagon, a compact and powerful forage wagon that has many features such as pivoting headboard, vertical tailgate and also drawbar suspension for a comfortable ride.

Also on the stand will be a Comprima CF 155 XC Plus – an all-round combi baler for any type of crop. Standard on all Comprima models is the NovoGrip slat and belt conveyor, which ensures bales are well shaped and ensures effective bale role in all conditions.

The team will also be displaying a VariPack 190 XC, which is a high-capacity belt baler for dry crops and an EasyCut F 320 CV Mower, which has has the option for a push-type, or pull-type cutterbar which reduces the machines weight and makes a compact machine.

Finally, they will be discussing and showcasing the EasyWrap 165 which is a convenient attachment that can handle the heaviest bales when hitched to a tractor with lower lifting powers.

Krone UK commented: “We are excited to be back at AgriScot and look forward to communicating with new and existing customers within the area. This is a great opportunity to support our local dealers and showcase our fantastic product range.”

Hamilton Ross Group

Hamilton Ross Group is a family-run business which has been operating for more than 90 years, with experience in sales, servicing, parts and hire of new and second-hand machinery and equipment.

It works with many well-known brands across groundcare, construction, garden power, forestry and arb, and animal health.

It is continuously investing in their workshops, ensuring service and repairs are carried out to the highest standards required for today’s machinery and their service departments are on-hand to deal with breakdowns, planned maintenance, contracts and service agreements.

Branch locations are strategically located across the Central Belt in Bishopton, Tarbolton, Campbeltown, Perth, Lanark and Cupar, to ensure swift access to parts when required, to keep machinery up and running and to reduce costly down-time in farming.

A number of representatives from the sales teams at all of the Hamilton Ross Group depots across Scotland will be attending AgriScot, to showcase leading brands and displaying three of the latest tractors from Massey Ferguson, Fendt and Valtra.

A spokesman commented: “We are excited to be back at AgriScot in person this year, it’s a great event to showcase the latest machinery we have to offer and to spend time with our customers and assist them in any questions they may have about our products.”

Spread-a-Bale

Global machinery manufacturer, Spread-a-Bale, supplies a range of straw spreading machines which are designed to help livestock farmers improve both their efficiency and profitability. The team attending AgriScot are hoping that their machines will appeal to visitors with livestock housed in straw-bedded yards.

Its machines spread any bale in less than a minute and without chopping, saving on straw and lowering dust levels, and being self-loading, they require only one tractor loader.

The British-based company was developed two decades ago and has since built a global network of dealers and distributors trading in 25 countries and within five Continents.

Spread-a-Bale will be showcasing three machines at AgriScot: their popular Mini HD for 1.75t loaders and hard round and rectangular bales, and two machines launched earlier in 2022 – the Micro for 1t loaders and the Side Throw, designed to negotiate buildings with narrow passageways.

The Micro is suitable for 1-2t lift capacity loaders and ideal for spreading 5-foot round straw bales and half a rectangular bale. It can throw straw up to 12m and is built on a 595kg lightweight steel chassis and bracketing system.

The Side Throw is suited for buildings with narrow access doors from 2m wide and spreads all rectangular bales up to 1m high and 2.75m long. It has a single vertical rotor spreading to the left with a spread pattern of 1m wide and 6-7m throw.

Commenting on their attendance at AgriScot, a spokesman said: “After a three-year absence, we can’t wait to get back to AgriScot. It’s a genuinely nice, well organised event that’s very well attended.”

Honda

Honda is returning to AgriScot this November with their Power Products range of ATVs and UTVs.

The well-known automobile manufacturers and its range of utility and all-terrain vehicles have become an essential part of the daily routine for many involved in forestry, farming, gamekeeping, equestrian or snow clearing, built for use in all weathers, across all terrains and for a wide range of jobs.

Honda and Logic Equipment will be showcasing at AgriScot this year together, on stand 231 in the Upland Hall, displaying a range of products, including Honda’s TRX420 ATV and TRX520, as well as their Honda Pioneer 520.

The Honda team will also be joined on the stand by four dealers, who are there to offer visitors to the stand, expert knowledge and advice on their products.

A Datatool Stealth will be included with every new ATV and Pioneer 520 purchased at Honda’s dealerships and they are offering a free EASI rider ATV safety training course with every purchase of a new ATV.

A full list of exhibitors can be found at www.agriscot.com.