WITH SCOTTISH farmers getting their first chance to see a whole host of fresh New Holland tractors at Scotgrass, in Dumfries, last week, comes the news that three Scottish dealerships have underlined just how important north of the Border is to the brand.

On parade last week was a comprehensive line-up of tractors from the new T5, T6 and the more established T7 ranges. Ideally suited to Scottish needs, the T5.120 and T6.145 tractors were shown working on the company's demonstration plot, with the T5s seen as ideal for livestock farmers, while the T6s will have appeal in mixed farming operations.

That was all great news for Scotland's award-winning New Holland dealerships, which were lauded at a recent awards ceremony.

Lloyd - with outlets in Dumfries, Carlisle, Penrith, Kelso, Newcastle, Bishop Auckland and Alnwick - was named as the 'Large volume tractor and harvester' Dealer of the Year; while Aberdeen-based Ravenhill, was runner up in that category; and Fife Tractors was winner of the 'Medium tractor and minor harvester' Dealer of the Year.

New Holland UK's managing director, Andrew Watson, said: "The broad reach of our network means that our customers are never more than 25 miles away from a New Holland dealer. Our dealers range from small to large, with some relatively new, and some family-run businesses that are almost a century old.

"Our common objective regardless of size, location or age is to provide the best possible products to support the market and our valued customers. Crowning a single dealer as the overall winner for each individual category can be a challenge as all our dealers continue to impress us year after year and as such we consider the runner up position as an equally impressive achievement."