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Kubota Canada has a new president

Kubota Canada has a new president

Yannick Montagano succeeds retiring Bob Hickey as president of Kubota Canada Ltd.

By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com;

Kubota Canada Ltd. has a new president—Yannick Montagano, who succeeds the retiring Bob Hickey who led the tractor and compact equipment company since 2013.

Montagano is a 25-year veteran of Canada’s industrial sector, moving from his role of Kubota Canada Vice President of Sales, Marketing, Service and Engineering, which he has held since 2018.

“Kubota Canada has cemented itself as one of the country’s premier tractor and compact equipment distributors during our proud 47-year history, and I am thrilled and honored to have been selected to lead this great company into the future,” said Montagano. “It is crucial that we at Kubota Canada continue to honour our commitment to innovation and to our customers and dealers, both of which remain at the heart of our business. I look forward to working with the rest of the executive team as we continue to build on the exceptional growth Kubota Canada has seen under Bob’s guidance.”
 
The retiring Hickey worked over 40 years with Kubota Canada—joined in 1981 as a controller before moving up to president. He contributed to an unprecedented period of growth for the company, leaving it in an incredibly strong position, with over $1 billion in sales projected for 2022.
 
“I am very proud to have had a lifelong association with such a world-class organization,” said Hickey. “Kubota Canada has been such an important factor in my life, and it feels so good to be leaving with the company still at the top of its game. I look forward to watching Yannick and the executive leadership team steer Kubota Canada to continued growth and success.”
 
This leadership transition comes at a time of substantial investment for Kubota in Canada, including over $80 million for a new state-of-the-art corporate office and 500,000 square foot warehouse space in Pickering, Ontario. The grand opening of the facility is set for October 2022.

Kubota also recently opened a new 280-acre Research and Development Centre in the state of Georgia for its US and Canadian customers. The US$85-million investment by Kubota is 100 percent powered by renewable energy and was built on the sustainable principles that are in keeping with the company’s global mission to use technology and efficient operations and practices.

Kubota Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kubota Corporation, a tractor and heavy equipment manufacturer based in Osaka, Japan. Kubota Canada markets and distributes Kubota engineered and manufactured machinery and equipment, including a complete line of tractors of up to 200 Gross HP, performance-matched implements, compact construction, commercial turf and landscaping products, utility vehicles, and consumer lawn and garden equipment.

Kubota Canada is also the Canadian distributor for Great Plains, Kverneland, and Land Pride products, all of which are also wholly owned subsidiaries of Kubota Corporation.  

Company information is available at www.kubota.ca.


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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