JCB set to celebrate 80th milestone and vows to continue support of British farming
JCB celebrates its 80th year in 2025 at a time when the agricultural industry is facing some of its toughest ever challenges.
JCB was founded in 1945 with a range of innovative machinery.
Today the company is only one of two tractor manufacturers in Britain and the country’s only manufacturer of telescopic handlers, which are widely used in farming.
Last month that support extended to joining the inheritance tax demonstration in London, providing a coach to the Capital for dozens of JCB employees involved in its farming businesses.
As JCB looks forward to its 80th anniversary year, the company says its quest to provide the agricultural sector with ever more efficient and productive machines for farming is undiminished.
JCB’s optimism that farmers will ultimately pull through is what sustains the company’s enthusiasm for on-going product investment, says John Smith, JCB Agriculture managing director.
“Farmers are resilient and adaptive, with a tenacious determination to get the job done, whatever is thrown at them, as demonstrated time and time again over the years,” he said.
“At JCB, we remain committed to investing in the design, engineering and manufacture of new products to support British farming, with machines that cut costs through increased productivity and efficiency.”
Machinery manufacturers and dealers of all shapes and sizes also faced challenges in 2024 as livestock producers and crop growers alike pulled in their belts in the face of another year of difficult weather conditions, high interest rates and, since the October budget especially, business confidence battered by a raft of unfavourable tax measures.
Sales of new tractors over 50hp, a traditional barometer of agricultural business sentiment, were down 15% by the end of November, with industry pundits predicting the lowest year-end figure since the 1990s.
With some farmers and contractors inclined to hang on to their tractors and equipment for longer than usual, parts back-up and local service support take on added importance.
John added: “I’m pleased to say we have a very strong dealer network throughout the UK with well-managed dealerships who will, in partnership with our World Parts Centre in Staffordshire, continue to provide the machine support that farmers and contractors need.”
