WHEN Central Queensland cattle producer Leo Neill-Ballantine recently went in search of a new tractor for his family’s Calliope operation, he was seeking a multi-functional machine suitable for a range of on-farm applications.
Leo’s research led him to the new JCB Conag Equipment dealership in nearby Gladstone, where he sourced a new JCB 531-70 Agri Loadall to use on the family’s Galloway Plains property.
The property will have been in the Neill-Ballantine family for 150 years in 2013. Today, Leo and his father, Jim, run the breeding operation, which comprises 16,200ha (40,000 acres).
 |
Since taking delivery of the JCB Loadall, Leo said he’s been more than impressed with its capabilities. “We were going to get a new tractor and we wanted a loader as well, so we looked at different bobcats, loaders and tractors, and found the JCB Loadall best fit what we wanted,” Leo said. “It’s impossible so far to find anything to fault on it, including useability and fuel economy. “Eventually we will use it for everything – we’re going to get a digger, round-bale grab and probably a slasher. |
“So far we’ve used it for everything from fencing to doing fire breaks and putting feed out.” The JCB Loadall has been a symbol of agricultural innovation since 1977, when JCB first introduced the telescopic handler concept, making it one of the most versatile machines on-farm.
The Neill-Ballantine’s purchase is the first piece of agricultural equipment the new JCB Conag dealership has sold since it opened six weeks ago as the retail arm of the well-known Diesel Services Gladstone.
JCB Conag Sales Manager Mike Moy said the business was a natural extension of the already existing service centre provided by Diesel Services, which has been operating in Gladstone for the past 10 years.
“We’ve taken on JCB agriculture and construction equipment and we are negotiating with other franchises as well,” Mike said.
Mike is no stranger to the agricultural equipment sector, having been in the industry in Central Queensland since 1979, specialising in the hay and silage sector.
“On the agricultural side, JCB produces a range of telescopic Loadalls, Fastrac tractors, 4WD Loaders and skid steer loaders, while the construction side includes backhoes, excavators and many other machines.”
The new dealership covers an area stretching south to Bundaberg, north to St Lawrence and west to Emerald.
JCB Conag has factory trained sales, service and parts specialists assisting customers in improving their productivity. In addition to the sale of new JCB agricultural and construction equipment, the business also has a wide range of used equipment backed up by full product support from its modern service and sales facility stocking the full range of genuine JCB parts and attachments.