Practical advice farmers and contractors can use to help protect staff and visitors from Covid-19

From a dealer perspective, many have said that the outbreak and subsequent issues regarding social distancing and hygiene precautions are adding time to already tight schedules as farmers and contractors gear up for the season.

However, they are also registering increased demands for parts and servicing in anticipation of a full-scale lockdown.

Kubota and Kverneland dealer Battlefield Machinery says the parts department has been exceptionally busy, with the recent break in weather prompting a flurry of activity in the field. The company has started a parts delivery service in order to limit the amount of people coming to the depot.

This has proved very popular it says, freeing up time for farmers to work in the field. While its depot has not formally shut, the door is, except for urgent matters. A collection point has been set up outside for urgent parts to be collected.

John Deere dealership Farol says while mechanical breakdowns are still dealt with in much the same way as before, it is only sending out one technician to ensure the two-person rule is adhered to. Its staff have been given a full briefing on hygiene and carry hand sanitiser to use before, during and after the visit. Likewise, disinfecting wipes are carried to wipe down contact points such as door handles and steering wheels.

From a technology point of view, the company says it is making more use of remote display access through JD Link for diagnostics and tutorials rather than instructing from inside the cab. The company has also advised its customers to use its eBay store for common parts like filters, with overnight delivery. It is also doing daily parts runs in the local areas around each of its five depots, once enough parts orders have been accumulated.