Over The Fence #25 - August 2023

VIEWPOINT

Message from your CEO, Richard Wilson Thank you. To everyone who so warmly welcomed the Group Leadership Team over July and August for our first ever Team Torques.

As an action from the Voice Of Our People survey, these visits gave us a great way to get together and talk through Our Compass and what it means to us. And just as importantly, we got to connect, talk, listen and learn more about what’s happening across the network.

But it doesn’t end there. As we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead, Our Compass is there to help guide our decisions and actions to deliver on Our Purpose and Our Goals.

When Herby and Pam started this business 48 years ago, it was to work with the best suppliers to provide the right machinery to help farmers increase productivity and efficiency.

Nearly half a century later, the machinery in our yards may have developed but our reason for being remains rock solid to ensure our customers have the best equipment and back up support we can provide.

As the days get longer and we get ready to move from Winter to Spring off the back of some incredibly busy months of sales and servicing, before we know it harvest season will be with us again.

Thank you for all that you do for our customers and each other.

Richard

OUR COMPASS GUIDES FIRST TEAM TORQUE

A huge thank you to all our teams who welcomed Richard and the Group Leadership Team (GLT) for our very first Team Torques over July and August.

These visits were an action from what you said in the Voice of Our People surveys – that you wanted to hear more often from the GLT about our vision and goals; where we’re going and why. And of course, where we all fit into the big plan.

Why a Compass?

As we navigate our way through the future, what better device to take us there than a compass?

When we face a decision or actions, Our Compass helps us decide if what we want to do will contribute towards our Goals and Measures. But most importantly, help us deliver Our Purpose and Our Way of doing things around here.

When we’re all tuned into Our Compass and heading in the same direction, what an unstoppable powerhouse we are!

Continued on page 2...

WHAT’S INSIDE

9

NOT BOXED IN Escape artists on the job.

13

BETTER THAN CHRISTMAS

Happy customers.

17

BACK SLAPPING CONGRATS

Our recent graduates.

LANDPOWER | CLAAS HARVEST CENTRE TEAM

Richard Wilson (CEO) and Tim Needham (GM – Product) were joined by Herby Whyte (Founder & Owner) during their visit to CLAAS Harvest Centre Esperance.

OUR COMPASS GUIDES FIRST TEAM TORQUE CONT...

Team Torque highlighted how important it is for us to stay connected and work together as a family team, making this an even better place to work. Coming up:

A new version of Our Compass will be coming out to you for your site wall/s.

Dates for the next Team Torque are being confirmed.

We have a new Our Compass section on Harvest Hub full of resources for you to tap into.

HAVE A QUESTION?

Team.Torque@landpower.co.nz

Belinda (B) de Zwart (GM – People and Culture) in full swing with some of the Christchurch Landpower Support Office team.

Darren Sandford (GM – Marketing and Customer Experience) enjoyed getting to know one of our newest teams – CLAAS Harvest Centre Templeton.

Rob Murphy (Group GM – Retail) had a great session with CLAAS Harvest Centre Gippsland.

Tim Needham (GM – Product) and Helen Drijfhout (GM – Technology) were given a warm welcome by CLAAS Harvest Centre Northland.

A NEW ERA IN CANTERBURY & WESTLAND

With the ownership change completed for CLAAS Harvest Centres in Ashburton, Templeton, Timaru, Waipara, and Westland comes a big Landpower family welcome to 58 team members who have transferred from the Carrfields Group (see page 18 and 19).

Canterbury transition – the team supporting the team

The changeover has been epic, with an extraordinary group of people behind the smooth transition. A continuous stream of our subject matter experts from right across Australasia visited the five branches to help set up hardware, provide system training and ongoing support.

From branch and service administration, parts, retail, IT, finance, marketing, and people and culture – and many many more. This team effort very much included our Canterbury Westland team members positively embracing the change, with their knowledge and expertise continuing to enrich our network - a true demonstration of In It Together.

National combine changes

Part of the transition is a new regional powerhouse structure to look after our combine harvester customers and continue Carrfields’ 30 years of sales and service excellence in that part of the business.

Our New Zealand combine sales and service functions are now under six regions with expanded roles for the six sales leads. Greg Ferguson’s (second from right) role has also expanded to include heading up the New Zealand Combine Product team (left to right):

We’re also connecting closely with our customers with a campaign to overview the change and reinforce local support and expertise. Check out the details here.

BEHIND THE SCENES

The engine room which kept chugging away quietly behind the scenes are our administration managers. They worked as a close-knit team during the transition. From onsite training and support for the newly-welcomed Canterbury administration team, to picking up essential tasks when one of their network was away from their home branch on transition work.

Kathryn O’Neill, Administration and Support Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Taranaki (standing) has spent time with Canterbury team members Eimeren Guevarra and Robyn Bain in our Ashburton branch to help provide much appreciated training and transition support on Landpower systems.

South Canterbury/North Otago – Tom Denton, Regional Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Canterbury/Westland.

Hawke’s Bay – Glenn Dear, Managing Director, CLAAS Harvest Centre Hawke’s Bay.

Southland/South Otago – Peter Henderson, Sales Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Southland.

Mid-Canterbury – Adam Clement, Sales Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Canterbury/Westland.

North Canterbury – Willie James, Sales Representative, CLAAS Harvest Centre Templeton.

North Island (excluding Hawke’s Bay) – Todd Fletcher, GM - Retail, North Island.

NATIONAL FIELDAYS DONE & DUSTED

Fieldays®, the largest agricultural event (by area) in the Southern Hemisphere celebrated its 55th year in June.

It is, by size and resource investment, the largest event in the calendar for CLAAS Harvest Centre in New Zealand. Fieldays had 105,000 attendees over the four days.

There was a lot of ‘new’ at Fieldays for CLAAS Harvest Centre – two new marketing team members involved in coordination, a new site, new layout, new Fieldays finance deal, a new interior setup for the marquee, a new caterer, and new machinery on display. Another huge effort achieving a great display for the team.

GEARED UP CUSTOMER CONVERSATIONS

Leading up to Fieldays, the team came up with a cracking deal for customers: Buy Now Pay 2024 with 0% interest until the first repayment in March 2024 ‘so you can get your gear working for you before you pay for it’.

This gave our sales team a really strong customer conversation starter to stand out from the usual ‘rate war’. The offer ran over two months with feedback including:

Shane Powley, Branch Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Northland: “The campaign timing and structure when taking into account current overall costs, customer cashflow, general financial climate and National Fieldays could not have been better. It gave us an opportunity to have customer conversations that would otherwise not have been possible. We’ve had direct success in Northland as a result and further deals are pending.”

Jarred L’Amie, Sales Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Waikato: “This was a great idea by the finance team as it took the whole sale and finance process away from interest rates and totally fitted into a lot of people’s capex. It gave them peace of mind that they can get through the season with great new equipment”.

SEE YA PORTACOMS! (SOON)

Excitement is building in Katanning as the massive site rejuvenation project continues to rocket along. The new office build is coming together and the team can’t wait to leave the portacoms behind and move into their purpose designed space. Meanwhile concrete pours continue around the space for the next stage. Total site completion is scheduled for September/ October 2023.

HORT CONNECTIONS

Hort Connections is the largest horticulture conference and trade show in the Southern Hemisphere. The event began in 2017 and moves location each year, attracting everyone from hobby farmers through to the large corporate entities. This year the event was held in Adelaide and drew over 3,500 attendees across the two days.

Our Landpower Vegetable Centre team (Haydon Martin and Rob Breedveld) put on a great display, and were joined by Paul Rechtien (GRIMME Area Sales Manager) and Pieter Steenbergen (ASA-LIFT Product Specialist Vegetable Harvesting), who while in Australia also travelled with Haydon to visit customers in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.

FARM FEST

The combined efforts of CLAAS Harvest Centre Dalby and our partner dealers Wideland Group and Dover & Sons resulted in a remarkable display of CLAAS and AMAZONE equipment, with the spotlight on the 25 years of XERION special edition. The diverse range of CLAAS and AMAZONE machinery showcased at the event catered to a wide range of customers, including broad-acre farmers, cattle farmers, and vegetable growers, making it a truly inclusive experience.

Farm Fest, boasting participation from over 2,000 companies and attracting more than 60,000 attendees, stands tall as Queensland’s largest and most successful Field Day. The event’s impressive scale and success make it an essential gathering for anyone in the agricultural industry.

YALDHURST BUILD SETTING A CRACKINGPACE

Our new Christchurch facility is on track to be ready by March 2024 to welcome our local CLAAS Harvest Centre branch, New Zealand Support Office and South Island parts distribution warehouse. And by the time you read this, the concrete foundations will have been poured, including the first floor for the office slab. There’s now up to seven subcontractor groups on site at a time as the build is starting to emerge out of the ground.

Check out the latest timelapse video here And keep an eye on Harvest Hub for regular news updates.

Click here to watch a video of the work underway.

Haydon Martin, Paul Rechtien, Rob Breedveld and Pieter Steenbergen.

SPREADING THE GOOD STUFF WITH OUR CUSTOMERS

Helping customers get the most out of their spreaders is what the quarterly AMAZONE training sessions are all about. Blair McAlwee, AMAZONE Product Manager (Australia) gives an insight to the most recent session.

Who was this session for?

We invited customers who’ve purchased fertiliser spreaders from our partner dealer, JJ. Farm Equipment and CLAAS Harvest Centre Wagga Wagga. We also invited local agronomists to help them upskill on fertiliser technology.

What do you mainly focus on?

The functional elements (how the spreader works) and how the delivery system, disc speed and shutter opening contribute to working width, section control and lateral distribution (how evenly the fertiliser is spread over an area).

Which equipment do you run the training on?

Simulated static terminals and machines, as well as in the field with tractors and implements. We also have mobile apps and EasyCheck mats (which customers get when they purchase ISOBUS spreaders). These capture the fertiliser and analyse the accuracy of the spread pattern.

Why is this type of customer training important?

So we can help customers maximise efficiency. We go over the machine setup, common problems and technical questions. Having everyone together is great for engaging with our customers. It’s also really enjoyable.

What are customers most looking to get out of this event?

It’s about getting the most out of their machines. Better understanding the correct setup enables them to get an even spread and accurate spread pattern. This has positive flow-on effects with crop ripening and overall yield.

How far and wide do you take it?

To date we’ve held events in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. We have plans to hold events in other states as well.

BIG SHOUT OUT

Thanks to everyone who worked In It Together to provide such a great experience for our customers:

Adrian De-Marco (Sales Manager) and Deon Wallace (Workshop Foreman) from JJ. Farm Equipment for organising a great venue, and the bump in and out of machines and fertiliser.

Murray Higman (Sales Representative) and Andrew Kearns (Branch Manager) CLAAS Harvest Centre Wagga Wagga for collecting and setting up the training aids.

Mick Beale (Technical Service Manager –Eastern Australia) and Mark Le Page (Product Specialist AMAZONE) for training assistance.

GETTING TO THE HEART OF CLAAS

We’ve set ourselves a bold tractor sales target. As shown in Our Compass and outlined at the recent Team Torque presentations, we’re aiming big. Our target is to become Top 3 for Tractors in market share.

So what better time to invest in and grow a group of sales representatives than to get them to the heart of CLAAS tractor country for indepth product training.

The group of 16 was accompanied by Paul Holdaway, Product Manager CLAAS Tractors (NZ) and Shane Barratt Product Manager CLAAS Tractors (AU). Covering over 2,500km, this was once in a lifetime amazing training experience which Paul and Shane share insights on: Which CLAAS factories did you visit?

Bad Saulgau - where Greenline and Forage Harvest attachments are made.

Hamm-Uentrop - global service and parts centre.

Harsewinkel - to see Combines, Forage Harvesters, and XERION production lines.

Paderborn - to see TERRA TRAC and CMATIC transmissions being made.

Le Mans - to see tractors going down the production line (this was one of the trip highlights).

Also a visit to the AMAZONE Sprayer factory in Bramsche and the Spreader factory in Gaste. What CLAAS training workshops did you complete?

In Harsewinkel at two Training Academy sites - Greffen for an overview of the CLAAS TORION wheel loader, and Steinhangen for CLAAS AXION 900 and XERION.

In Ymeray, France Training Academy - two days of infield and classroom tractor training (see photo).

What did you most want the team to see / learn?

The main focus was getting to Le Mans to experience how advanced this factory is and what has changed over recent years. And while primarily a tractor trip, there was also value in visiting other sites to broaden supplier and product knowledge.

How will our customers benefit?

Our sales representatives now have a much greater insight to the care and precision behind all facets of tractor production. It’s an incredibly powerful experience to be there on site and see it happen in front of you. Their increased knowledge and passion for CLAAS tractors really shows through in their confidence and excitement during those critical customer (current and potential) interactions.

Any highlights or sneak peaks?

As well as the Le Mans factory visit, we did get a sneak peak at the new XERION 12 Series machine before it was officially launched 18 July. “What a machine!”

Outside the CLAAS tractor factory Le Mans (left to right) Jullian Kollmeyer (Country Sales Manager at CLAAS Global Sales, who accompanied the team), Justin James (JJ. Farm Equipment), Paul Holdaway (Product Manager CLAAS Tractors (NZ)), John Main (South Gippsland), Jordan Law (Central Districts), Murray Higman (Wagga Wagga), Phil Rowntree (Kadina), Sam Hallett (Waikato), Jock King (Moree), Wayne Ollermann (Echuca), Shane Barratt (Product Manager CLAAS Tractors (AUS)), Daniel McDonald (Hawke’s Bay), Peter O’Brien (O’Briens Machinery), Willy Moynihan (Taranaki), Dale Guest (Esperance), Phil Short (Southland), Adam Clement (Canterbury/Westland), Latham Gibb (Timaru), Joel Marsh (Northland), Neil Pantlin (CLAAS Le Mans).

5 MINUTES WITH... BROOKE BAYLISS-BROWNE

As our newly appointed Marketing Manager, Brooke brings 20 years of marketing and leadership experience including with global industry leaders and domestic game changers. Most recently she was Head of Brand Experience at Farmlands Co-operative. In her three short months here, Brooke has hit the ground running to get to know our teams, your goals and how the Marketing Team can help maximise opportunities.

Tell us about yourself – where have you come from?

Originally from Auckland, I’m now a proud Cantab living the rural dream in North Canterbury on a lifestyle block. Working with Farmlands for six years gave me a love for the land and a deep understanding of today’s rural challenges. In my spare time I moonlight as a marriage celebrant and am currently attempting to become a dab hand with low and slow bbq!

What’s the main focus of your role here?

As well as people and team leadership, it’s essentially about understanding how best to influence people’s heads, hearts and ultimately their wallets. I have a keen nose for numbers and can work my way around a P&L to get those true insights to help identify and maximise the opportunities where we can make a difference.

What drew you here and what’s got you excited?

I’ve followed the Landpower journey with great interest for some time. I’m intrigued by the entrepreneurial ‘disruptor’ spirit underpinned by traditional family values and really wanted to be part of it.

Rippa Sponsorship

The U6 Bucks were very happy that CLAAS Harvest Centre Waikato sponsored their team training shirts! They had a fantastic year of rippa rugby!

TELL US YOUR STORY.

What excites me most is the appetite throughout the business for growth - mindset, people and operationally. It’s definitely an exciting time!

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

Ready, fire, aim… do it and make it happen. No one sat their way to success.

Which of our three Our Way (Front Up, In It Together, Keep Growing) do you most like, and why?

In It Together is about the power of a collective. My greatest joy comes from working with others to deliver exceptional outcomes!

Where’s your happy place?

Whitianga in the Coromandel - nothing beats the golden sand, sparkling ocean and a big snapper on the hook.

We love to hear and share your stories. Email marketing@landpower.co.nz with what you’re up to along with photos for the next issue.

Brooke presenting at the recent New Zealand Branch Managers’ meeting.

UNSUNG HEROES KEEP TRACTORS ROLLING

Question: How do you get hundreds of tractors out of the containers they’re tightly wedged into?

Answer: Very carefully, but very quickly –customers are waiting!

With Covid creating massive shipping headaches, hundreds of tractors which are normally shipped fully assembled have had to be partially broken down and squeezed into shipping containers to get them here. And once in that container, they’re not so easy to get out.

Our yard and logistics team members in Melbourne and Waikato (with some in Christchurch and Bay of Plenty) have Fronted Up and risen to the challenge since tractors started arriving this way earlier this year.

It’s a race against time to carefully extract each wedged tractor so they can be reassembled in the yard, then securely loaded and trucked off to waiting customers.

Head-scratching moments

It’s never straight forward. If the container endures a rough crossing and gets to this side of the world with even the smallest dent, that can completely trap the tractor. The team has to problem-solve on the go to straighten walls and free the tractor without damaging it.

Getting as many as four a day completed and out the gate is a massive piece of work on top of their normal duties (including a very busy Field Days season). Huge thanks to our unsung heroes digging deep to keep gearing up our customers.

READY FOR IT!

They’re booted, suited and ready to go. The CLAAS Harvest Centre Gippsland team has been supporting their customers with pre-harvest inspections and any other work to help get everyone geared up for the upcoming season. Looking sharp!

Houston… we have a problem! A heart-sinking moment when the dented container arrives. This one’s going to be another head-scratcher.

Freed from its container, another tractor is ready to be reassembled in Waikato and sent off to its new owner.

5 MINUTES WITH... DANIEL CORNELIUS

As one of our newest team members, Daniel says his passion for agriculture started as a young boy looking through a farm fence. Since then, he’s built a wealth of global experience to hit the ground running as our new Product Manager - CLAAS Greenline in Australia.

Tell us about yourself – where have you come from?

Growing up in a small northern German village close to the Danish border, I had a very early interest in dairy and agriculture. I spent time on a dairy farm, then once I had my driver’s licence, shifted my focus onto agricultural machinery. I completed a co-operative study program at CLAAS in Harsewinkel, which gave me insights into almost a dozen different departments, before ending up in their international sales department.

What’s the main focus of your role here?

Supporting our sales representatives with product knowledge, along with opportunities to improve my product group in the Australian market. Also important is ensuring factories in Europe are addressing our Australian-specific product needs.

What drew you here and what’s got you excited?

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. This role was a great chance to stay inside the wider CLAAS family and product range and to gain new insights from down under.

GOING FOR GOALS

For these planning sessions they were recently joined in both New Zealand and Australia by Julian Kollmeyer, Country Sales Manager at CLAAS Global Sales. With Julian (left) during his Australian visit are Howard McDonald Product Specialist – CLAAS Tractors, Paul Birbeck

What are you doing when you’re not at work?

In Germany, I spent a lot of time in the volunteer fire department (and was a member of the main CLAAS Harsewinkel site fire brigade). I enjoy riding my bike and have travelled a lot around Europe to work in maize harvests.

Which of our three Our Way (Front Up, In It Together, Keep Growing) do you most like, and why?

All three are dependent on each other. But In It Together is for me the most crucial one – this is the seed from which all things grow

Where’s your happy place?

I grew up close to the sea, so definitely the coast (it’s good that Australia has many kilometres of coast!).

Reflecting on the year just gone and goals set for the year ahead are an important feature on our Landpower CLAAS Product Managers’ annual calendars.

National Sales & Operations Manager – Australia, Tim Needham General Manager – Product, Shane Barratt CLAAS Team Manager & Product Manager – Tractors.

SAFETY MATTERS

Thank you for helping keep each other safe and well.

What does a site visit from Kylie look like?

I t’s very much an In It Together focus to help keep our people safe and well.

Getting to know our people and where they work took me to CLAAS Harvest Centre Dalby in June. The Dalby team were well prepared to make the most of the visit with a range of challenges they’d identified. We had some really solid conversations covering everything from:

on-site traffic management, working with contractors, managing chemical residue in sprayers, through to more procedural queries around SOPs and vehicle inspections – just to name a few.

Then the Dalby team went straight into action mode – making some key changes which immediately reduced the risk of harm to them, their customers and suppliers. Within a few weeks of my visit, they reported back a list of 14 items they’d identified and actioned. What an impressive result!

Let’s make good things happen from our time together

Whichever site I visit, there are always some site-specific challenges the host team is keen to work through to help reduce the risk of harm to our people and others. So if I’m coming your way, let’s make the most of our time together and really dig into what’s on your mind, and actions we can take.

But most importantly, don’t wait for me to visit. Contact me any time with your question or concern.

Turning learning into actions

Having now visited most of our sites, I’ve collected a significant range of views on what we do well and what we could improve to ensure your safety and wellbeing.

As you will have seen in the recent Team Torque presentations, our three top safety and wellbeing priority actions are:

1. We’re developing a 3-year improvement action plan to build on our approach to safety.

2. We’ll be refreshing our Safety System to make it more relatable, usable and help focus on reducing risk.

3. We’re developing our people so that everyone knows how to play their part in a stronger safety and wellbeing culture.

I’ll keep you up to date with how these are progressing. Thank you everyone who has welcomed me during my visits. I’m really excited about how much you care for the people around you and your commitment to doing your best to work safely so we all get home to our loved ones at the end of each day.

Kylie Petronio Safety & Wellbeing Business Partner

SAFETY QUIZ WINNERS

Thanks everyone who entered our quiz in the last Over the Fence. Congratulations to our three lucky (and safety-aware) winners:

Adrian Dawson (Landpower New Zealand) - a CLAAS multi-function torch.

Alana Hendricks (Landpower Australia) - a CLAAS measuring tape.

Peter Henderson (CLAAS Harvest Centre Southland) - a CLAAS 1:50 scale model.

Reminder about the quiz:

1. I need to report a hazard to help keep my workmates safe, so I:

a. get an Apple iPhone

b. put it in Mango

c. go bananas

2. Our Safer Together Workers’ Forum is mainly to:

a. organise safe social gatherings

b. just keep an eye on how people drive around here

c. help share information to improve health, safety and wellbeing practices across the network

3. The most common body part injured as reported in Mango is:

a. hands

b. legs

c. heads

Kylie (right) enjoying a catchup with some of the Dalby team (l-r): Donna Rasmussen (Administration Manager), Nicholas Portbury (Parts Interpreter), Anthony Eugarde (Sales Manager).

JACK OF ALL CLAAS TRADES

Product Specialist - LEXION, Jack Jordan-Hill first joined us as a keen part-timer while studying agribusiness. Then in late 2022, Jack became a fulltime permanent team member following graduation.

Jack’s managers Steve Reeves (Product Manager – LEXION) and Paul Birbeck (National Sales & Operations Manager – Australia) could see Jack’s thirst for knowledge and passion to Keep Growing. So ahead of the European grain harvest season in July (and facilitated by Julian Kollmeyer, Country Sales Manager at CLAAS Global Sales), Jack has just completed a three-month work placement with CLAAS UK LEXION Product Management.

What Jack got up to over there

Jack supported LEXION customer operator training run by CLAAS UK at their Saxham HQ. With over 400 LEXION operators attending training, it’s a busy place. In his first week, Jack was face-to-face with customers, which he followed up with virtual training sessions via state-of-the-art technology (see photo above).

Jack was also part of the field demo team, machine optimisation, and benchmark testing during harvest.

Geared up for our customers

Steve says Jack’s experience with factory benchmark testing in the field is “LEXION Gold” to build his field operations skills. Steve adds that having fast-tracked Jack’s upskilling will be hugely beneficial to our team and customers to deliver great customer training.

Jack agrees and says, “With the growth of LEXION in Australia, this experience has provided plenty of ideas to help build on our training. The professionalism of the team and facilities at CLAAS UK is outstanding.”

Jack’s August homecoming has him geared up for his first full harvest in Australia, as well as our field days and LEXION operator training season.

Keep Growing our people

While Landpower has a thriving Northern Hemisphere exchange program for Service Technicians, Steve believes this is the first time for a Product team member.

Jack says, “I appreciate the chance to continue developing my presentation skills and product knowledge. The opportunity is a testament to Landpower and CLAAS Harvest Centre who are willing to invest in their people to ‘Keep Growing’.”

HERBY DROPS BY

A highlight for our May New Zealand induction attendees was having an unexpected guest join them. During a visit to the Christchurch Support Office, Herby Whyte dropped by to welcome our newest team members.

Around the table (l-r): Hamish Hassall (Invercargill), Sheena Sidin (Waikato), Rochelle Watson (Invercargill), Daniel Pau (Waikato), Herby Whyte (Founder and Owner Landpower Group), Carly Shaw (Learning & Organisational Development Specialist), Duncan Nicolson (Ranfurly), Tahlee Glasgow (Waikato), George Chapman (Wanaka), Lakshi Usliyanage (Landpower NZ), Michael Grant and Nakita Stevenson (Waikato).

BETTER THAN CHRISTMAS (ALMOST)

Delivery Day always creates a lot of excitement – including for our teams working together with our customers upfront and behind the scenes to make it happen. A huge flurry of activity in the run-up to the end of the financial year created some very proud owners of new machinery.

Alan Judd from Judd Bros Contracting (and two excited side-kicks) with his new CLAAS JAGUAR 960 and 300 PICK UP from CLAAS Harvest Centre Dalby.

Happy spreading to Georgina Farms with their second AMAZONE ZA-TS from CLAAS Harvest Centre Geraldton.

Jake Edwards, Service Manager and Anthony Eugarde, Sales Manager from CLAAS Harvest Centre Dalby celebrating in front of a CLAAS LEXION 7700 TERRA TRAC which was their last customer delivery for the end of the financial year.

Jacob Harris from JJ. Farm Equipment installed and started the AMAZONE ZA-TS spreader for Rod and Peter Andreazza ready for this year’s crop.

Schulz Ag Services in Western Australia looking pretty chuffed with their new CLAAS ARION 640C from CLAAS Harvest Centre Geraldton.

CLAAS Harvest Centre Esperance is gearing its customers up for another cracking harvest. Check out all that CLAAS power including 16 brand new LEXION ready and waiting for their new owners (Photo by Jayde Guest).

JCB STILL DIGGING DEEP FOR DISASTER RECOVERY

Six months after the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle hit the upper North Island, the community and our customers still have many years of recovery ahead.

In our April issue of Over The Fence our CLAAS Harvest Centre Hawke’s Bay team shared their story of being in the midst of the devastation.

From early days, they’ve been operating a new JCB 435 to help clear mountains of silt. Hawke’s Bay has around 63 percent of New Zealand’s pipfruit trees and over half of the orchards were flood damaged.

Wray Wilson, Operations Manager sent this photo of the JCB clearing a T&G (Turners and Growers) orchard in Pakowhai.

The flood waters reached the top of the apple trees and around 30,000 cubic metres of silt had to be shifted off site.

GET TRACTION WITH YOUR VOOP ACTIONS

Thanks to the 87 percent of you who completed the June Voice Of Our People (VOOP) survey, your feedback provided some absolute gems to help make this an even better place to work.

Getting traction on actions is where the rubber hits the road:

The organisation sets an overall Action Plan One action was the recent Team Torque Series from Richard and the Group Leadership Team (GLT). This was in response to our team wanting to hear more regularly about our visions and goals.

Each team sets their own Action Plan. Your team decides what would most improve your own team culture. Action Planning is all about making it happen.

We asked two teams having great success with Action Planning for their top tips:

Rick Spies, Branch Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre

Dalby: “Planning with the entire team and encouraging complete buy-in is super important. But consistent tracking and conversations is what creates the impact.”

T&G is one of the region’s largest growers and employers. Wray says the JCB has been perfect for this work with its mobility, manoeuvrability and load capacity. Huge shout out to the Hawke’s Bay team for their continued care and support for their community.

Shane

“Action Planning has seen a more positive team approach to our common goals. It doesn’t have to be a massive deal - slightly shifting focus in one area and forming a positive approach or habit around it can make a change for the better.”

Questions?

Check out the survey FAQs here. Talk to your manager or reach out to the People and Culture Team in confidence (Linda, Ash or B) or email hrn@landpower.co.nz

Powley, Branch Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Northland:

Our CLAAS Harvest Centre Dalby team enjoyed spending time with Rob Murphy (Group GM – Retail) during the recent Team Torque.

TRAINING IN HOT DEMAND

Shout out to our Technical Support Team who are working hard to meet the enthusiastic demand from our team keen to Keep Growing their skills across our products.

SALES TRAINING CRANKS UP

The first of our Mercuri Sales Training workshops in both Australia and New Zealand were run over July and August to really positive feedback. These are being run to support our new-tointermediate Sales Representatives and Product Specialists with 12 enthusiastic participants in each session. Mercuri provides training for some of the world’s biggest brands including CLAAS UK.

Our Technical Specialists – CLAAS Tractors, Sam Halliwell and Cam Barfoot ran an Electrics and Hydraulics Stage 2 course in early July. With Cam in the photo (right) are David Marsh (CLAAS Harvest Centre Hawke’s Bay) and Ettienne Van Dyk (CLAAS Harvest Centre Bay of Plenty).

Chris Radford, Technical Specialist, JAGUAR & LEXION (NZ and AU), recently ran a CLAAS JAGUAR 500/502 Stage 1 workshop for an enthusiastic group of Apprentices and Service Technicians from CLAAS Harvest Centres: Bay of Plenty, Northland, Templeton, Hawke’s Bay, Dunedin, Timaru, Gippsland, South Gippsland and Echuca.

Alan Wilde, Technical Specialist - AMAZONE, ran training on the relatively new AMAZONE Pantera 4504 self-propelled sprayer. With Orlando Muhs coming over from AMAZONE Germany to facilitate the training, spaces were snapped up by experienced Service Technicians and Technical Specialists from Ashburton, Timaru, Hawke’s Bay, Invercargill, Melbourne and Tasmania.

TRIALING A TROUBLESHOOTERFROM THE FACTORY TO THE FARM

While we regularly host Service Technicians from Europe, Nils Suer recently joined us from a different part of CLAAS. This was a first for us and a trial for CLAAS to host a factory employee

Nils is a factory assembly line mechanic. His ‘day job’ is repairing LEXION post-production. As issues come up during the final acceptance, Nils is there to troubleshoot and repair the machines.

So when asked if he wanted to get out of the German factory and into Australian paddocks for two months, Nils jumped at the chance and joined our CLAAS Harvest Centre Esperance team to support their PDI LEXION work.

Getting stuck in

Ben Kairey, Retail Service Manager (Australia) says Nils was always ready to Front Up to the challenges. “He was part of the team and helping where he could. He never shied away from getting dirty or doing a job out of his comfort zone.”

For Nils, the highlights were the great work team spirit, beautiful beaches, fishing with ‘the boys’, dirt biking and exploring the area. He found the Australian stereotype is true – caring people who made him feel really welcome.

But the story doesn’t end there

Nils so enjoyed his time here that he’s coming back to operate a LEXION on a farm for the upcoming harvest. The

Esperance team has helped him secure a spot with one of their valued customers.

And for us the trial was so successful that we’ll be welcoming two more CLAAS factory employees to support us to deliver more combines to our customers.

Our hardworking teams have been greeted with some stunning sunrises and sunsets over winter.

Michelle Nicolai, Regional Branch Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Otago snapped this pic of the beautiful sunrise that greeted her one chilly morning in Mosgiel.

The team topped off a positive and successful CLAAS XERION Demo Day in sunny Queensland with this stunning sunset appearing just as they were packing up.

Lakhwinder Singh, Workshop Foreman, CLAAS Harvest Centre Bay of Plenty was inspired by the sun setting around the CLAAS XERION 4200.

BACK SLAPPING CONGRATS TO…

…OUR APPRENTICES WHO RECENTLY GRADUATED:

BRAD ROBERTSON

Qualified in April 2023

CLAAS Harvest Centre Southland

ADAM SMITH

Qualified in April 2023

CLAAS Harvest Centre Dalby

NAYLAN ALDRIDGE

Qualified in March 2023

CLAAS Harvest Centre Waikato

JAKE VAN BEEK

Qualified in March 2023

CLAAS Harvest Centre Templeton

JESS BAYLISS

Qualified in March 2023

CLAAS Harvest Centre Templeton

MITCHELL NICOLSON

Qualified in May 2023

CLAAS Harvest Centre Waikato

IT PAYS TO HAVE FRIENDS

We’re looking for more great people. And who better to help than our own great people? You can earn big bucks (up to $5000) if you refer friends, acquaintances or previous work colleagues to one of our vacancies and they’re appointed permanently into a role.

We’re particularly looking for Service Technicians for our CLAAS Harvest Centres. But our scheme includes all other positions where we want to find awesome new team members who share our values: In It Together, Front Up, and Keep Growing.

Everything you need to know is at the bottom the People and Culture section on Harvest Hub here.

Brad Robertson

Adam Smith

Naylan Aldridge

Mitchell Nicolson

Jess Bayliss and Jake Van Beek

WELCOME ABOARD

New Starters

Aaron Clevely, Parts Interpreter, Timaru

Adam Clement, Sales Manager - Canterbury and Westland, Ashburton

Amy Johnston, Service Administrator, Ashburton

Angus Anderson, Apprentice Service Technician, Ashburton

Ashley Patchett, Workshop Foreman, Timaru

Benjamin Gold, Service Technician, Templeton

Benjamin Jackson, Service Technician, Gippsland and South Gippsland

Benjamin Santy, Apprentice Service Technician, Templeton

Bill Le Pine, Apprentice Service Technician, Templeton

Brooke Bayliss-Browne, Marketing Manager, Christchurch

Bryn Rogers, Apprentice Service Technician, Timaru

Callum Davidson, Parts Interpreter, Timaru

Cameron Bradshaw, Apprentice Service Technician, Ashburton

Cameron Horner, Service Technician, Geraldton

Cameron McCarthy, Apprentice Service Technician, Templeton

Charles Ellis, Service Manager, Templeton

Colin Morrison, Service Technician, Timaru

Courtney Carter, Service Administrator, Templeton

Daniel Cornelius, Product Manager – Greenline, Melbourne

Daniel Hutton, Service Technician, Templeton

Daniel Steer, Service Technician, Katanning

Eimeran Guevarra, Business Administrator, Ashburton

George Jennings, Combine Service/Sales Support, Ashburton

Graeme Dewhurst, Parts Interpreter, Rotorua

Gus Jeffries, Apprentice Service Technician, Waipara

Hamish Sloper, Apprentice Parts Interpreter, Ashburton

Jack Cobden, Service Technician, Wagga Wagga

Jack Lamb, Parts Interpreter, Templeton

Jake Van Beek, Apprentice Service Technician, Templeton

Jake de Lange, Service Technician, Northland

Jayson Buckingham, Apprentice Service Technician, Timaru

Jessica Bayliss, Parts Interpreter, Templeton

Johan Rutland, Service Technician, Timaru

Jonathan Gregory, Parts Interpreter, Ashburton

Jordan Wolfenden, Apprentice Service Technician, Templeton

Joe Thompson, Sales Representative, Waikato

Kevin Gibb, Sales Representative, Westland

Lachlan Hazlett, Apprentice Service Technician, Waipara

Latham Gibb, Sales Representative, Timaru

Liam Barnhill, Apprentice Service Technician, Templeton

Lindsay Mulqueen, Service Technician, Templeton

Logan Stockdill, Apprentice Service Technician, Ashburton

Luke Thomas, Apprentice Service Technician, Templeton

Matthew Kuiti, Workshop Foreman, Westland

Matthew Petrie, Regional Branch Manager, Templeton

Matthew Smith, Apprentice Service Technician, Ashburton

Matthew Wright, Talent Acquisition Lead, Christchurch

Michael Brayne, Service Technician, Ashburton

Michael Frost, Workshop Assistant, Ashburton

Michael Ryder, Workshop Foreman, Waipara

Michael Shaw, Workshop Assistant, Southland

Nathan Douglas, Service Technician, Templeton

Nicholas Tuck, Apprentice Service Technician, Ashburton

Nils Suer, Service Technician, Esperance

Ollie Pooler, Apprentice Service Technician, Ashburton

Richard McCraw, Parts Interpreter, Ashburton

Richard Sidey, Sales Representative, Waipara

Robyn Bain, Business Service Administrator, Ashburton

Roy McCleery, Parts Interpreter, Ashburton

Roy White, Service Manager, Timaru

Ryan Monk, Technology Specialist, Ashburton

Sean O’Keefe, Parts Interpreter, Waipara

Stanislav Polyakov, Service Technician, Timaru

Stephanie Cairns, Service Senior Administrator, Ashburton

Stephen Bleach, Service Technician, Northam

Stephen Copping, Service Manager, Ashburton

Thomas Hughes, Service Technician, Templeton

Thomas Smith, Apprentice Service Technician, Ashburton

Thomas Williams, Dealership Support, Ashburton

Tom Denton, Regional Manager - Canterbury & Westland, Timaru

Thomas Williams, Dealership Support, Ashburton

Tom Denton, Regional Manager - Canterbury & Westland, Timaru

William James, Sales Representative, Templeton

William Whiteside, Apprentice Service Technician, Gippsland and South Gippsland

Zac Weir, Service Technician, Timaru

ENTER & WIN!

Congratulations Todd Fletcher, Branch Manager CLAAS Harvest Centre Central Districts for his recent appointment as GM Retail – North Island. A great example of Keep Growing, Todd is also happy to roll up his sleeves (and put on his pinny) to feed the team. Todd is seen here cooking breakfast for his team ahead of their recent Team Torque presentation.

So what’s Todd saying? Send us your best caption and you could be in to win a prize. Email marketing@landpower.co.nz by 29 September.

LANDPOWER

GROUP

WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER

Mark Jordan is the most recent addition to our Board. Mark grew up on a mixed farm in North Canterbury and after graduating from Lincoln University, spent 30 years working in large organisations across the petroleum, apparel, transport, and construction sectors.

In his time as CEO for Allied Concrete and Petroleum, Mark gained governance experience in joint venture companies with multi-nationals and local companies. During his executive career, Mark gained a lot of experience in Australian markets, and lived for a time in Melbourne.

Current governance roles include being Board Chair of EcoCentral waste and recycling, and Keith Andrews Trucks; a company similar to Landpower.

Having worked in some high-risk industries and spent a lot of time involved with health and safety, one of Mark’s favourite sayings is, “Health and safety discussions work best as a conversation not a lecture”.

Mark specialises in family business governance and provides mentoring and coaching for business leaders. For relaxation (and occasional frustration) Mark is a keen fly fisherman and golfer.

Daniel Bates, Parts Manager, Central Districts

NOTICEBOARD

BABIES GALORE!

Shereen Woods (People and Culture Advisor, Landpower NZ) and husband Ty, along with big sister Shay welcomed baby Max on 6 June.

Ryan Hodgkinson (Parts Store Person, Landpower NZ) and wife Rowan welcomed baby Roseanne on 9 July.

HERE’S A CLUE…

If you look closer you’ll see Travis Menghini, Branch Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Katanning showing his hidden talents as Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau. Travis is in the spotlight in August for the Katanning Dramatic Society’s production of ‘The Pink Panther Strikes Again’.

WALLABY POWER

Justin James , Managing Director of JJ. Farm Equipment proudly sponsors their local Griffith Blacks Rugby Club and Junior Club. This jersey is worn by the U14s girls, U16s girls and U16s boys, but they didn’t expect to see it being held up by Brumbies and Wallaby player Tom Hooper. Their local club is a feeder area for the Brumbies with Tom an honorary member. Club members sent him the jersey after a very happy looking Tom was named in the Wallabies squad.

Pauline Graewe (Parts Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Gippsland), welcomed baby Sienna.