Greetings, all!
Does AgriMarketing Magazine know something we don't?
Here's the link, or read below:
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MONTANA TRACTORS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR LS TRACTORS SOLD THROUGH FARMTRAC
Mar. 11, 2008
Farm Equipment magazine reports:
Through correspondence received on March 10, 2008, Ted Wade, Montana Tractors vice-chairman and co-owner, announced that members of Montana Tractors' ownership group had just returned from New Delhi, India where it had meetings with the owners and executive management team of Escorts, Ltd. the parent company of Farmtrac North America.
"The meetings were held to discuss the possible business options available between the two companies," Wade says.
"We have been in discussions with Escorts off and on for the better parts of two years. We had not, prior to these meetings, been able to find a definition to the scope of what a relationship would mean between our two companies today and or in the future. We now feel we are close to bringing closure to these discussions. Montana Tractors plans on being very aggressive in growing its market share in what is going to be a very challenging compact tractor market this year. We felt we could not finalize our business plans for this year without bringing some closure to these conversations."
Exclusive of these conversations, Montana Tractors has announced it will provide parts/service through its network on all LS tractors sold through the Farmtrac network, as long as the dealer is an existing Montana Dealer or becomes a Montana Dealer in the future.
"The Montana Tractor brand and our dealer network have been and shall remain the main focus of our future business strategy," comments Wade. "We will continue to look at opportunities to grow our business both internally and externally as value-add business opportunities present themselves. At this juncture, we continue to emphasize our commitment to all our associates, dealers and customers."
Montana Tractors is a privately-held corporation, located in Springdale, Ark., and distributes compact and utility tractors throughout its dealer base in North America. It is the fastest-growing brand of compact and utility tractors with models ranging from 23-to-70 horsepower. Montana Tractors currently employs approximately 70 personnel and assembles product at its plant in Springdale, as well as holds a distribution network of over 250 dealers in North America.
Farmtrac North America has been a distributor of compact and utility tractors in the U.S. until it ceased business operations in late January. Its operation in Tarboro, N.C., was placed in receivership by a North Carolina court last week.
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I think AgriMarketing missed the mark on this one.
For the record, they did not contact me regarding this story nor am I a contributor to it.
After phone and e-mail inquiries, they have continued to decline running detailed content about the Farmtrac situation. I'm unsure why they're not interested in getting it right.
More important: Farmtrac retailers, customer and readers in general should be careful what is printed about the FNA situation, and check for its validity.
Dealers et al, feel free to weigh in on this one.
The reading public will be interested in your takes on it.
Regards,
--blueliner