The $2m venture’s current green field site on the eastern edge of Dalby will be up and running in September, ahead of the arrival of some of the most high tech equipment currently available to farmers in the northern hemisphere.

To be owned and operated by Damien and Marguerite McCormick, in partnership with Moree-based farm machinery business, W J Matthews, the aim of the ‘super dealership’ is to offer Queensland farmers access to a range of headers, tractors, foragers, mowers, conditioners and handling equipment that are noted for their performance credentials.

“It’s a very viable rural area with the potential for us to sell a lot of product,” Mr McCormick said.

“We’ve been given a large geographic area of southern Queensland to look after.

Mr McCormick said he was looking forward to working “very closely” with local farmers.

“It’s not going to easy road for us but it will come,” he said.

“It’s a new venture, it’s very exciting.”

Claas importer Landpower Australia’s Guy Fordham said the Claas name was synonomous with the innovation and technology associated with its range of harvesting machinery.

More recently, it had become known for its full line of tractors.

While the Claas name was once well known in Dalby district, less so more recently, he said this was the “start of a new beginning for the brand”, believing the new harvest centre had the potential to make its mark in Queensland’s highly competitive broadacre sales sector.

Meanwhile, Dalby Mayor Ray Brown says local district farmers have realised the importance of upgrading their technology to meet agriculture’s modern-day demands.

He said the new Claas Harvest Centre would reinforce Dalby’s status as not only being at the forefront of the energy sector but also at the forefront of the agricultural centre.

“It’s reassuring to get a company like Claas to come into our region and set up shop,” Cr Brown said.