Family-run JE Lawrence & Son ended a 71-year New Holland franchise on 8 September 2026, serving notice at its single branch in Clarbeston Road, Pembrokeshire.

The dealership, six miles north-east of Haverfordwest, became a Ford Tractor dealer in 1954 and took on the JCB Agriculture franchise in 2008.

Managing director Richard Lawrence told customers: "We have today handed our resignation to New Holland, ending a relationship which began in 1954. We will be able to supply parts and machines and carry out warranty work until September 2027, as we are now in a 12-month notice period."

JE Lawrence will now focus on JCB tractors and "new opportunities" while CNH moves quickly to plug the gap. Gwili Jones, currently operating from Lampeter in Ceredigion and Carmarthen, takes over Pembrokeshire with immediate effect and becomes exclusive authorised dealer from September 2027. The business plans a third branch, likely near Letterston north of Haverfordwest.

What changes for south-east Wales New Holland customers?

T Alun Jones & Son at Dryslwyn, Carmarthenshire has been awarded the south-east Wales territory served since 2019 by David Evans Agricultural at Llancarfan near Barry. David Evans loses the franchise in July 2027. CNH stressed continuity of support for customers through the handover and thanked David Evans Agricultural for its commitment over many years.

Why are Case IH dealers consolidating in Kent and Sussex?

Ernest Doe & Sons and Haynes Brothers have agreed terms for Haynes to acquire the property, assets and trade of Ernest Doe Power at Ringmer near Lewes, East Sussex. Haynes Agricultural will occupy the Ringmer premises, transfer New Holland and JCB operations there and close its Uckfield branch five miles north-east.

The deal, expected to conclude in early November, completes Haynes' "dual-brand CNH strategy".

Managing director James Broadley said: "This will be the final part of the jigsaw in creating the business we have been working towards for several years, completing our dual-brand CNH strategy and giving us a strong, sustainable platform for the future."

Ernest Doe & Sons said the move reflects a shared view that the Kent and Sussex tractor market can no longer support separate Case IH and New Holland dealerships. The firm retains branches at Albourne near Hurstpierpoint, Dartford in Kent and Esher in Surrey.

What other franchise moves shaped September?

• Vogelsang appointed Robert Cole Agricultural Engineering at Holsworthy, Devon as its south-west England retail outlet for slurry kit.
• Tafe UK & Ireland now lists approaching 20 UK dealers after adding Border Plant at Smallwood near Sandbach, Cheshire alongside its existing McCormick franchise. Best known for low-cost "scraper-spec" models, Tafe now also offers 18hp compacts to 75hp loader tractors.
• WB Machinery Sales, founded by 19-year-old Tom Wisson-Burton, has taken a Tafe tractor franchise from its base near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
• Crawfords Automotive takes Ineos Grenadier 4×4 sales into Essex, Kent and East Sussex via its Writtle and Charing branches, lifting Grenadier sales centres to eight.
• Dieci filled the telehandler vacuum left by Merlo's earlier withdrawal, adding Cranworth Farm Services in Norfolk, RC Boreham at Pleshey near Chelmsford and Krone dealer KP Agri at Llandow in south Wales.
• TH White Agriculture's new Shrewsbury branch is now Amazone's Shropshire outlet, replacing Pontesbury Tractors.

Where are specialist franchises gaining ground?

Kirkland UK at Sutton Valence near Maidstone has switched from Tobroco-Giant to Weidemann for compact wheeled loaders, expanding its southern territory across Kent, East and West Sussex, Surrey and south-east Hampshire. The same dealer will supply Vitibot Bakus autonomous vineyard robots from SDF Group alongside Deutz-Fahr tractors.

Managing director Scott Worsley sees electric-drive robots as the answer to declining vineyard labour: the Vitibot Bakus straddle "tractors" are claimed to mitigate labour cost rises while meeting sustainable production demand.

Other moves include:

• Polaris Great Britain adding Balmers GM at Burnley, Lancashire and Wakefield, West Yorkshire to its ATV network.
• Agri-Linc taking Sumo's Norfolk and Suffolk territory on top of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.
• All three Cornish Tractors branches at Chasewater, Wadebridge and Treburley now representing Sumo.
• Tong Engineering becoming Flikweert Vision's dealer for southern England and Wales for optical potato and onion sorting kit.
• Loncin's Ireland-based UK importer signing Redlynch Tractors across its three southern branches and pushing the GB dealer network towards 30 outlets, with new points at South Molton, Okehampton and Holsworthy in Devon plus Torbay and Redruth.

What should customers watch next?

The 12-month notice periods running until September 2027 leave machinery users in west and south-east Wales with two clear handover dates to plan around. Haynes' Ringmer deal should conclude by early November, with the Uckfield branch closure to follow. Former Pottinger dealers CJ Keitch Engineering and Fry & Son have secured a service, parts and warranty role for Devon and Cornwall customers after losing the franchise to Masons Kings on 1 August, joined by RC Engineering at Bude.