Kubota equipment may be growing in size and horsepower but the company remains loyal to its roots, according to the long-time Kubota dealer at Stratford, Ontario.
“The company originated in Japan and it’s still a Japanese company. Their claim to fame back then was smaller, good quality utility equipment, mostly tractors,” Bob Downham of D&S Downham Equipment said.
“They haven’t drifted away from their core customer base; they’ve just broadened their scope.”
An example of that broader scope is the M7 tractor series launched in 2015. Designed by Kubota’s engineering team and built in France, they are available with up to 170 horsepower—certainly not small tractors.
The first Kubota tractors to enter the North American market was a 21-horsepower model shipped in 1969.
Downham, who has been Kubota dealer for 25 years, said the company has helped fill the need for “modern” compact tractors and the equipment.
“No one else at the time was in that market,” Downham said.
“You see a lot of smaller acreages where farming is a part-time job where they use smaller tractors and it’s also a lifestyle choice for people.”
Small farmers, greenhouse operators, and rural acreage owners are among the target audience for the equipment but they also meet the needs of large operators such as dairy farmers with specific, small-equipment needs.
Today, the smallest Kubota available in North America has 18 horsepower or just under 14 on the PTO and a list price of just over $11,000. From there, horsepower choices range up to those available in the new M7 line.
When Kubota purchased Great Plains earlier this year, Land Pride, and Ontario Land Pride sales rep John Ferguson, were part of the deal. Land Pride equipment like this small, food crop seeder is now painted Kubota orange.
Kubota’s core market was enhanced in 2016 with the purchase of Great Plains Manufacturing and its subsidiary, Land Pride, accompany specializing in a range of small mowers and implements, much of which is suited to Kubota’s smaller tractors.
John Ferguson, now with Kubota’s sales team, said Land Pride was started in 1986 by the founder of Great Plains, Roy Applequist. The equipment is manufactured in four different factories in Kansas.
“They ship it overseas, to Europe, Australia and other destinations and up here to Canada,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson and Downham were both at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock in September.
- Jeffrey Carter