INSIDE AGRI-TURF

Chris Biddle revisits a 2020 interview with Robin Lennie, former Managing Director at Stihl GB recorded during COVID-19 restrictions.

The conversation highlights Robin’s 30 year career, Stihl's business growth, and the impact of the pandemic on his retirement plans. It also explores the dynamics between manufacturers and dealers, especially relating to changes in distribution channels and strategies as Robin reflects on the importance of effective communication in managing change.

The episode concludes with Chris discussing the dealer reaction to Stihl's recent policy changes and emphasizes the need for maintaining strong dealer relationships.

Chris Biddle announces the comeback of his podcast, Inside Agri-Turf, after a summer break.

He reflects on his extensive career in the land-based engineering industry and expresses his passion for sharing stories and insights about farm and grass machinery, and introduces new podcast features, such as 'A View from the Long Grass' and 'What Happened Next?'

There are previews of upcoming content, including industry trends and pivotal events like Stihl's product distribution shift to Screwfix and a forthcoming update on heritage engine maker Briggs Stratton who have just emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

He discusses the challenges faced by the industry, the future for garden machinery dealers and weather impacts.

There is also a telling comparison of agricultural engineering with Formula One and he addresses the often-underappreciated role of turf professionals, defending their craft against recent derogatory comments.

After four years, I have decided to bring down the curtain on my Inside Agri-Turf podcast for reasons that I explain during this episode.

It's been an exciting and highly satisfying journey that I would not have missed for the world.

Huge thanks to all the wonderful guests from all over the world who contributed their time and expertise on a range of thought-provoking episodes - and to the listeners who tuned in and download almost 12,000 episodes.

Sincere thanks to some special contributors for their valuable help and advice, including:

St John Craner, rural sales and marketing guru in New Zealand Agrarian Ltd

Dan Pratt, Customer Service specialist DAP Consultancy

Wesley Baker of Founder of Canterbury AI Wesley Baker

LISTEN to the full first regular episode with Ruth Bailey and Keith Christian from June 2020

VIEW all the episodes since 2020

Thank you and best wishes to everyone engaged in land-based engineering

[email protected]

This is the first of a series of monthly episodes called AGRI-TURF AGENDA, an audio magazine with some of the current news stories of interest or relevance to the land-based engineering community.

This February 2024 issue carries the news of the collapse of the Small Robot Company. Whether small scale could be better than big scale farm autonomy featuring Kit Franklin? Could the tractor become a political weapon in the UK with an eye-witness report from Dan Pratt in Paris? Why have I recently had a battery implanted in my back?  The overkill of turf shows.

01:56 Small Robot Company runs out of runway

09:20 Retro-fitting existing machinery for an automated farm.

12:15 Why have I recently had a battery implanted in my back?

 14:45 Could tractors become a political weapon in the UK?

22:20 An over-kill of turf shows?

INSIDE AGRI-TURF WEBSITE

Episode produced, hosted and edited by Chris Biddle

What is the media today?  It used to be newspapers or magazines - or broadcast media, television and radio.  Today, anyone can be a ‘journalist’ spreading news, views, comment and opinion through social media – that is largely unrestricted and unregulated.

To help me answer that question, I’m delighted to be joined by Andrew Harvey for 30 years a main presenter for BBC Television News, and latterly for ITN. 

After leaving the television arena, Andrew set up and now runs Harvey Leach, a media training company.

During this episode we cover the value of establishing good press contacts, and also advice on how to react when a crisis situation attracts the interest of the media.

Andrew also provides a fascinating insight into his days presenting television prime time news bulletins.

LINK

Harvey Leach Media Training

Dan Schultz describes himself as an agribusiness psychotherapist - an eye catching description if there ever was one

Without the need for a ‘patients’ couch, Dan helps agri-tech companies around the world think differently about how they market and commercialise their products for this new software driven age.

He says that the evolution of agriculture will be more about the evolution of business models than new pieces of equipment or technology.

Despite that, Dan is not an exponent of ‘in with the new, out with the old’.

“Although we will be working in this super, highly technical software age, the one thing that is never going to change is that you are selling to a farmer, you are selling to a business, you are selling to a person’

Dan Schultz website

Dan Schultz on LinkedIn

I've taken extracts from Inside Agri-Turf episodes over the past four years, featuring some of the women who have successfully carved a career in land-based engineering so helping to counter the image of it being a male dominated profession.

The episode includes a tribute to the late Caroline Drummond MBE, the driving force behind LEAF who died in 2022 at the age of 58. She had appeared on a panel discussion on Agricultural Engineering and the Environment, recorded in February 2022 just weeks before her untimely death.

The guests featured in this episode are:

01:30 Caroline Drummond MBE (LEAF) - full episode

10:26 Marion Perrett-Pearson (Severn Trent Water) - full episode

15:12 Laura Bassnet (Ernest Doe Ltd) - full episode

25:15 Lauren Savage (AP Air Europe) - full episode

32:00 Poppy Burrough (JCB) - full episode

Today I'm introducing a new show IN THE MIX.

During the past three year over 120 guests have featured on the Inside Agri-Turf podcast. All have had tales to tell, advice to pass on and experiences to relate that are relevant to those working in this extraordinary land-based engineering industry.

Tucked away in our back-catalogue are some wonderful contributions, some a reminder of challenging times such as working through the pandemic.

IN THE MIX will be published monthly in addition to the regular output.

Extracts featured in this first episode, together with time-stamps are:

04:20 The Role of Trade Associations (Episode 2) featuring Ruth Bailey (AEA) and Keith Christian (then BAGMA) on how the associations worked together during COVID-19

12:22 From Tanks to Tractors (Episode 24) with Jeremy Gibbs of Forces Farming and Will Foster, Ben Burgess Ltd on opportunities in land-based engineering for those leaving the Services

25:58 The Road to Resilience (Episode 114). Ultra runner Andrew Findley on the ways to meet and conquer those times when the going gets tough in business and in personal life.

27:42 World Cup to Grass Roots (Episode 69). Keith Kent headed the pitch management team at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium for 15 years, before being appointed to lead the pitch management team at the Rugby Football Union's Twickenham stadium

Small businesses (SMEs) are the heartbeat of the UK economy with almost 400,00 founded each year by those with a desire to follow their dream. 

But who supports the founders? 

In this episode I talk to Ollie Austen, co-founder of the peer-to-peer networking group Start-up2standup.

Started in 2020, the group is tailored exclusively for start-up founders who wish to connect with other entrepreneurs to learn, share ideas, seek answers and access talks and events to help improve and grow their business.

There are around 5.6 million SMEs in the UK, which is defined as a business organisation with 1-49 employees – but revealingly 5.3 million of those are classified as micro-SME’s with 1-9 employees!

LINK

Start-up2standup

In the first of a two-part episode on staffing, PAUL HARRIS of Real Success Ltd provided down-to-earth and practical advice on RECRUITING the right staff.  He advised employers not to panic when faced with sudden staffing needs. Careful planning is necessary to identify likely candidates, leading to crafting an offer of employment - with legal obligations.

In Part 2, Paul focusses on RETENTION.  He says that clear, upfront and two-way communication with all members of staffing on a regular basis is the golden rule for ensuring, as far as possible, that loyal, skilled staff - stay loyal.  Good working conditions and positivity will often outweigh issues of money.

Paul Harris's 'Magic Formula'

(S+K+A) + A = P

(Skills + Knowledge + Attitude) + Alignment = Performance Score

Paul explains at 20:42

LINKS

Real Success Ltd

LISTEN to Paul with Part One on Recruitment