One fifth of Krone BiG M machines sold globally go to Ireland

Farmhand’s sales and marketing director Stephen Scrivener said that 20 % of all Krone BiG M self‑propelled mower conditioners manufactured each year are shipped to Ireland.

Farmhand is the exclusive distributor for Krone, Amazone, Quicke, APV and Zuidberg on the island of Ireland. Scrivener told Agriland that the BiG M has “a really big following” in the country, noting its manoeuvrability and speed are vital for the short Irish grass‑cutting season.

The BiG M, first launched by Krone in 1996, arrived in Ireland in 1998. The current BiG M 450 model delivers 449 hp, features infinitely variable hydraulic all‑wheel drive and can cover up to 17 ha (42 ac) per hour, with GPS‑protected steering, SectionControl and other automated functions to reduce operator fatigue.

Scrivener added that the BiG M and the later BiG X forage harvester have raised Krone’s brand recognition in Ireland and are crucial to the German manufacturer’s global sales.

Farmhand also supplies the Amazone Pantera self‑propelled sprayer, with a 6 600 L tank and boom widths of 24‑48 m. Scrivener said about ten Panteras have been sold in the last five years and that demand for self‑propelled sprayers is growing.

Quicke front loaders, first imported to Ireland by Farmhand in 1963, remain a staple on Irish farms, with roughly 40 000 units sold since the brand’s introduction.

Source: Agriland. Photo: Felix Zink / Pexels.