DLL’s financial solutions are helping agricultural services business Auton’s Ag to keep up with the latest and greatest farming technologies
Situated in northeast Tasmania, Scott Auton runs a 400-acre farm focusing on beef and cropping operations – growing potatoes, onions, poppies and grain.
He is also the business owner and operator of Auton’s Agricultural Services (Auton’s Ag), which provides a local agricultural contracting service – including hay and silage contracting, grain and poppy harvesting and direct and conventional seeding and ground preparation.
“As part of this service we will go to a customer’s farm and put their product in the ground for them, such as a seed or fertiliser,” Scott says.
Being a farmer himself, the business owner and operator can also cut grass for customers and turn that into hay or silage – both popular options for feeding livestock when they are unable to graze during the winter.
Nearly two decades ago, Scott was introduced to DLL after buying machinery through the Claas Harvest Centre in Latrobe, Tasmania.
The Claas Harvest Centre signed up Auton’s Ag with DLL’s finance – forming a working relationship that is still going today.
Having built a relationship with DLL over the best part of 20 years, Auton’s Ag knows its finances are in good hands when purchasing agricultural machinery.
Financial solutions
Every five years, the Tasmanian-based business buys new machinery for its contracting services and Scott looks to DLL’s financial solutions to help do this.
“DLL is really good at helping us keep up with the latest and greatest agricultural technology and machinery,” Scott says.
“We have had our machinery loans specifically tailored towards us and DLL has very competitive interest rates.”
Working with multiple major machinery suppliers, Scott says DLL’s process for customers is easy.
“The alliances with those companies are attractive because they always come as a package deal, so you normally get very competitive rates,” he says.
Industry awareness
With a specialised food and agriculture business unit, DLL is well-informed about the industry – making conversations easier and helping to instil a sense of trust in customers like Auton’s Ag.
The Tasmanian-based farmer says he has a positive working relationship with local DLL account manager Aydan Morse, who makes it easy when agreeing to deals with the equipment finance provider.
“Aydan is our local man on the ground here and he knows the industry and clients very well,” Scott says.
“Since he’s been on the scene, I’ve been going to him for a lot of finance.”
This reassurance and sense of trust has contributed to a long-standing relationship between Auton’s Ag and DLL – purchasing plenty of machinery over the years.
Most recently, Auton’s Ag purchased a tractor, a mulcher, and balers, rakes and tedders.
“Nearly all of our machinery has been sourced through DLL’s help,” Scott says.
The business owner and operator says it is a pleasant experience dealing with DLL’s employees who know and understand the agricultural game.
When asked what makes DLL stand out over its competitors, Scott said it is the way the business caters specifically to each of its clients and understands their needs.
“We were having a tough time financially six or seven years ago and DLL were really good at understanding,” he says.
“They helped us through a really bad winter and it wasn’t a problem at all for them. DLL was more than happy to help out, so when they do those sorts of things for you, they are always going to be pretty high on our list when looking for financing.”
For more information on DLL’s financial solutions, visit dllgroup.com/au/en-au or call +61 2 9113 5000
To learn more about Auton’s Agricultural Services call Scott Auton on +61 428 574 801 or email autonsag@gmail.com