SLR Tractors and Machinery dealer principal Shaun Robinson had an in-depth discussion with Farm Weekly at his Baldivis premises recently.
The subject was German-made Deutz tractors, and Shaun was keen to impress on Torque the popularity of the "other green" tractor.
"Deutz is the third best-selling tractor in Australia behind John Deere and CNH," he said.
"That's based on power segments between 60 and 250hp (45-187kW).''
While the perception remains strong that Deutz is a very competitive brand in the horticulture and viticulture markets, Shaun said 50 per cent of his sales in the past 12 months had been to small broadacre operations.
"The majority of models had power ratings between 130 and 200 horsepower (97-149 kilowatts) and were ear-marked for a range of jobs from loader work to spray, spread and chasing work and some tillage," he said.
Shaun is an original ag mechanic, earning his qualification in England with Massey Ferguson and you don't get much better than an ag mechanic.
He migrated to Australia and worked with Mirco Bros in sales and service dealing mostly with SAME tractors.
He continued in the service and sales game with the then SDF Landgear at Guildford, selling SAME and Deutz Fahr tractors before branching out on his own with a mobile service that lasted for 10 years.
When an opportunity came up two years ago to sell Deutz tractors, he jumped at the chance, setting up his dealership in Baldivis.
While he is centred in market garden territory, enquiries from broadacre farmers are keeping him on his toes.
"Currently we have Deutz models up to 340hp (254kW) and the word is at the end of 2020, Deutz will release a new model with a power rating in excess of 500hp (373kW)," Shaun said.
With high end power models, it won't be long before Shaun is back in big broadacre.