VFF concern on spare parts, tyre shortages at grain harvest

Chartering two planes full of spare parts and working 24-hour shifts. These are the lengths machinery providers are going to as demand for parts soars ahead of a bumper harvest.

Grain growers are wary of long breakdowns at harvest due to potential spare part shortages. Picture: ANDY ROGERS

The Victorian Farmers Federation is warning farmers to be prepared for potential shortages of tyres and spare parts for farm equipment this harvest.

VFF grains group chairman Ashley Fraser said the expected bumper harvest could turn into a “horror story” if there was a shortage of spare parts for all types of machinery and equipment.

“We hear that manufacturers have got no parts worldwide,” Mr Fraser said.

Fellow VFF grains councillor Jason Mellings, of Carron, west of Donald, said tyre resellers had told him harvester tyres were going to be hard to get during harvest.

“Even now, they are hard to get,” Mr Mellings said.

Another grains councillor, Ryan Milgate, from Minyip, said he had ordered new grain trailers in time for harvest but they were about two months behind because the manufacturer was battling to source axles and hoists for them.

“Our machinery dealer is also telling us to order knife sections, knife guards and bearings in case we need them during harvest,” Mr Milgate said.

Tractor and Machinery Association executive director Gary Northover said his industry was no different to many commodity-based sectors in suffering supply chain issues relating to spare parts and general stock.

“Demand has been unexpectedly high and harvest is expected to be a record,” Mr Northover said.

“Most of our major members had anticipated a lot of this and taken steps (to offset a shortage of machinery spare parts).

“John Deere chartered two planes to bring 100 tonnes of parts into Australia because they just can’t get them here through normal freight deliveries.

“Its distribution centre in Melbourne is running 24-hour shifts.

“Case New Holland has also ramped up its parts distribution.”

Principal of John Deere dealerships across Western Victoria and South Australia, Peter Emmett, said he had made sure his network had plenty of spare parts.

“And if we haven’t John Deere would charter planes (to bring in parts),” Mr Emmett said.
“If a season looks like it is booming and they’re caught short, they will fly spare parts in.

“They have done it before.”

US farmers are experiencing similar problems with a shortage of tyres and spare parts at harvest.

There have been reports of theft of parts from a machinery dealership in Iowa.