16 CapitalPress.com Friday, December 31, 2021 Kubota Tractor Co. representatives look forward to in-person show By BRENNA WIEGAND For the Capital Press Kubota dealers are look- ing forward to getting back to an in-person Northwest Ag Show this year. “We have been happy with the attendance of the other shows and fairs we’ve participated in so far this year and we’re really looking for- ward to seeing our custom- ers face-to-face again,” said Brad Wilcox, Kubota Trac- tor Company’s regional sales manager for 21 dealerships across Oregon and South- west Washington. “As ever, our goals for such shows include educating attendees on new farm practices and showing off the latest and greatest equipment, and that works better when they can SEE YOU AT THE SHOW Kubota Tractor Co. is a Major Sponsor of the 2022 Northwest Ag Show. Find them at Booth 615. A Kubota L-3901 tractor armed with pallet forks and backhoe makes short work of moving hay. Kubota’s L-Series tractors combine performance, durability and comfort with rounded contours to improve visibility. sit in the seat, ask questions and grow attached to the equipment.” The first Kubota trac- tor introduced in the U.S. in 1969 was an overnight suc- cess, filling a product void for a sub-compact tractor. S272667-1 Kubota’s popular BX23S sub-compact diesel tractor takes the labor out of a new water line. No longer than a standard garden tractor, BX Series tractors slip easily between trees and other tight places. Today, Kubota offers prod- ucts in a wide variety of seg- ments, with ag equipment representing about 60% of sales. Over the past four decades, Kubota Tractor Company has continued to expand its product line. Today, Kubota is a leading U.S. marketer and distrib- utor of Kubota-engineered and -manufactured machin- ery and equipment. “Kubota is one of the few companies left that will design, engineer, manufac- ture and distribute the prod- uct,” Wilcox said. “With very few exceptions, we do not farm out tractors to be made by somebody else and branded for us. “That’s something very few companies in this indus- try can say,” Wilcox said. “If something happens down the road, we’re not pointing fin- gers at somebody else; we are responsible for that prod- uct for years to come.” With the company ship- ping more tractors than ever, that demand has resulted in many dealership lots looking pretty empty. “Our actual sales have increased by double dig- its per year for the last two years and we’re asking our customers to be patient as to delivery dates as the demand stays sky high,” Wilcox said. Despite inflation and the rising price of fuel, milk, eggs and other commodi- ties over the last 18 months, tractor prices have been an exception to the rule. “While there has only been a minor increase in the cost of new equipment, the value of used equipment has increased sizably, which makes it a very good time to trade up,” Wilcox said. The dramatic increase in building has put excavat- ing equipment in particularly high demand. On the com- mercial ag side, rising labor costs are spurring farmers to employ the use of tractors and other machinery wherever possible. Kubota’s website offers a “Build My Kubota” feature where customers can spec out a Kubota product, get a base price and use the docu- ment to seek out competitive quotes and make informed decisions. “It is a very handy tool that allows consumers to do some shopping and see some differ- ent options and base prices,” Wilcox said. “For nearly 40 years, we have also provided customers with a wide range of financing options, enabling Kubota dealers to tailor a vari- ety of finance and lease pro- grams to meet specific cus- tomer requirements.” S273353-1