It has been just over one year since a Turkish-based company —Basak Tractor, a division of ASKO holdings–purchased the vast majority of Canada’s only farm tractor manufacturer.
Buhler Industries makes Versatile brand tractors and tillage equipment in Winnipeg, as well as the Farm King brand grain handling equipment in Morden, Manitoba.
CJWW Agriculture Director Neil Billinger spoke to Omer Atabek, vice president of sales and marketing with Versatile at the Western Canadian Crop Production Show in Saskatoon on January 15th.
Atabek indicated the company is working to increase U.S. market share with special emphasis on Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Texas
He is taking a wait-and-see approach regarding potential American tariffs.
“It might hurt maybe, we don’t know,” said Atabek “We are just watching what happens next. Now that the US election is over, (President) Trump is saying different words and different strategy, but I don’t know in Canada (if) there will be a negative effect”.
You can listen to the interview below:
