The Farmers Mart Spring 2017 - Issue 50 | Page 68

McArthur Agriculture been achieved by forging similar close Mecmar style relationships with other key manufacturers such as Perry of Oakley, Bentnall Rowlands, Moore Concrete for continuous flow and floor dry systems, including all sizes of hoppers and silos etc. The beauty of these relationships is that farmers can come to McArthur’s with an idea, a problem, a new or refurbishment project etc, knowing that the entire process from start to finish will be managed with the greatest of expertise from design to completion. The whole process revolving around the farmers and his needs, and the process always completed with a half-day showing him how to use it. That is only the start of the relationship for help and advice is always on hand whenever required. The result has been rapid progress installing new large-scale grain drying and processing plants. The employees McArthur Agriculture sends to client 68 Spring 2017 www.farmers-mart.co.uk farms are ambassadors for the company. “We get a lot of compliments from people about our guys, says John. They have a mixture of farming and industrial background and we can send them to any kind of drier, confident that they’ll fix it. And then the next investment the farmer makes is with us. Good technicians are not born, we create them here.” It is an approach that really works. I attended their two- day annual open event and very quickly the factory was busy with farmers who had made the effort to come and discuss their needs. Whether it’s an open day or a show the team really enjoy discussing solutions and ideas with farmers for their grain drying problems. They are happy to help and advise anyone. Today, Stewart’s role is as company Chairman, and he has moved into semi- retirement. John is the Managing Director, and Scott is in sales – but still very attached to his pickup truck full of tools. “How many salesmen do you know who carry tools?” asked Stewart. “We’ve come a long way since I used to feed cattle in the morning and then set off to Scotland or Cornwall or East Anglia to talk to farmers about grain drying. Today people queue up to talk to us; people we’ve never met before. I started from nothing; now the boys have a platform to continue growing the company, and in its way that’s just as hard as the job I’ve had to do – but I’m confident they’ll be able to do it,” he said. And I can see what he means.