A north-east farm machinery firm has been confirmed as the new dealer for McCormick tractors in southern Aberdeenshire, Angus and Tayside.
Mearns Tractors, which is based at Eastdrumhendry, near Laurencekirk, replaces Kirktown Machinery as the McCormick dealer for the area.
The business is run by Andy Smith and his brother Shaun, who runs the family’s contract farming operation.
The brothers bought Mearns Tractors in 2004 as a business specialising in potato machinery, and they have since moved operations to larger premises at East Drumhendry.
The new site includes a workshop, parts store and shop counter selling supplies and models and toy tractors.
McCormick tractors being stocked by the brothers include the models from the X7 Pro Drive range.
Andy Smith said the layout of the new range has brought McCormick tractors up to date with features drivers want.
“Anyone with a bit of tractor driving experience could get in the seat and use the tractor without a lot of instruction,” said Mr Smith.
The firm is also one of four McCormick dealers in the north and north-east now stocking the new mid-range X6 tractors, which replace the MC and X60 series.
The other dealers in the area are: Brian Smith Agricultural Engineers at Cornhill, Banff; Mark Wood Agri-Sales at Insch and JT Cormack at John O’Groats.
McCormick this week confirmed that Mearns Tractors will now provide service and support for McCormick products purchased prior to it taking on the franchise.
It also plans to recruit an extra technician to join Lewis Boyne and Andy Smith in the workshop, while storesman Chris Welsh replaces Ray Loudon who recently retired.