Greetings from Union Farm Equipment, Inc. This has been a busy year for all of us.

Now is the time to prepare for winter. The Almanac is predicting snow and fluctuating temperatures, a typical winter in mid-coast Maine. Today we have high winds that have knocked out power in parts of Knox and Lincoln Counties. Fuel prices continue to climb; gasoline is now more than $2.00 per gallon and heating oil will follow. Steel is double what it was last year and still climbing. Fortunately Union Farm Equipment, Inc. is well stocked to help overcome these problems.

In order to combat rising prices we are stocking a large selection of implements. We have been holding prices as low as possible, however the rising fuel and steel prices have driven many implements up 10% or more this year. We expect this trend to continue. If you have postponed a purchase you may wish to rethink, it is very likely you will pay more next year. Be sure to talk to your accountant, there may be significant tax savings for purchases made before the end of the year.

LEAF CLEANUP

The leaves are falling and soon we will be faced with raking them up. To help make this chore less daunting we have blowers and vacuums in stock. Echo handheld and backpack blowers will make short work of the leaves on your lawn. Echo has the #1 rated 2-stroke engine. All Echo engines pass the most stringent emissions ratings in effect today. These quality blowers have a two-year homeowner and a one-year commercial warranty. The quiet running Billy Goat wheeled Blowers are ideal for leaf cleanup in larger areas as are the Billy Goat Lawn Vacuums to clean up the smaller yard. Not only will the vacuums pick up the leaves, but they will also shred them to reduce the pile. Bearcat self-contained and tractor mounted chipper/shredders that will chip up fallen branches and shred leaves for faster composting. Please stop by for a demo on any of the fall cleanup options.

Echo Powerblowers
Billygoat Lawn Vacuums

STANDBY POWER SOURCES

The hurricane season has been less than kind to Florida. We should keep in mind that the coast of Maine is by no means immune to severe storms. Honda has shipped all available generators to Florida and suspended generator ordering. Right now we are reasonably well stocked with larger generators, but we are unsure how the supply from Honda will be later this fall and winter. If you were planning to purchase a generator this is a very good time to act. Honda is offering 12 months no payment, no interest for qualified buyers.

If you have yet to see the new 5000 and 7000 watt inverter generators, please stop by for a demonstration. These units are able to run at varying rpm based upon the demand for power. Because these units run at slower rpm much of the time you should have reduced noise, reduced fuel consumption and longer life span. Honda Generators

We also have Winco automatic standby generators. These automatic units are wired in permanently and will start and transfer power whenever the power goes out. In addition these units will start and test themselves on a regular basis. Anyone who is unable, unwilling or just too busy to deal with a manual transfer switch and portable generator should check into these quality automatic systems from Winco. Winco automatic standby generators

YEAR END

Now is the time to talk with your accountant. The accelerated depreciation many took advantage of last year is available again this year. It is possible that a purchase this fall could help significantly lower your taxes. The tractor or excavator you have been considering may be a better deal than you thought.

NEW HOLLAND

The New Holland TZ24 is here. This subcompact tractor is the newest addition to the New Holland Line up. These tractors feature the New Holland exclusive, Sensitrac automatic four-wheel drive. If you are looking for a lot of power in a small tractor be sure to stop by and test-drive the TZ24.

We are well stocked in New Holland compact tractors, up to the TC55, one of the most powerful compact tractors on the market today. New Holland compact tractors are loaded with features like a swivel seat to ease operation of three point hitch implements; an electric high low switch on the hydrostatic transmissions to make shifting easier; a sloping hood for best in class visibility; and many other innovations.

KUBOTA

Kubota sales have been growing for us and for Kubota in general. Kubota has had several years in a row of over 20% growth. This summer demand exceeded supply and Kubota has yet to get caught up. We have tractors coming before the end of the year, we are swapping tractors with other dealers to fill retails, but field inventories are low and it may be difficult to find the right tractor immediately.

Do not despair. We should have plenty of tractors for this winter and next spring. It is likely that we will see price increases. Other manufacturers have already raised prices due to fuel and steel increases. Thus far Kubota has only moderately adjusted prices.

Kubota's Dealer meeting is the end of October. They will be showcasing new models for 2005. We expect a replacement for the L4300DT, B2710HSD and B2910HSD. We are certain there will be other surprises waiting for us as well.

ALTERNATIVE HEAT

Oil has hit $55.00 a barrel. Diesel fuel is over $2.00 a gallon. Home heating oil is over $1.70 a gallon. There appears to be no end in sight for this year as the heating season approaches. If you burn wood we have chain saws, wood splitters, PTO saws, winches and log arches to help you.

Everyone who has a tractor, a wood lot and a woodstove can benefit from a logging winch. We stock Fransgard V2800 and V4000 to fit most compact tractors. These winches will pull the trees to the tractor and then lift the butt end so transport out of the woods is easier. The winch comes with a 150' cable so it is easier to keep the tractor out of dangerous situations. This long cable also eliminates driving over young trees so the impact of harvesting can be minimized. Fransgard

Additionally, we also stock several three point hitch log arches. These units can be configured in several ways. We have simple log arches that will haul out a single tree. These log arches may be combined with a special top link that will allow multiple log skids. We also have a T-bar that provides the advantage of a trailer hitch. All of these units can be seen on our specials page or in our showroom. Three-point hitch log arches

We are well stocked with wood splitters and more are on the way. We carry Timberwolf Splitters. These quality wood splitters are either powered by a Honda engine or a PTO pump. To make wood splitting less of a chore Timberwolf has optional log lifts and 4 way wedges. We also stock a Kelley three-point hitch wood splitter that runs off the tractor hydraulics. This is a more economical wood splitter, with a slower cycle time than the Timberwolf. If you are only splitting a couple cords, this may be the answer. Timberwolf Splitters

We stock Echo chain saws. These saws carry a 2-year homeowner warranty and a one-year commercial warranty. All of the saws we sell include free lifetime chain sharpening. In addition we stock a good selection of safety gear including; helmets, chain saw chaps, gloves and ear muffs. We have felling wedges, chain saw chain, chain saw files, chain saw bars, 2-cycle oil and bar and chain oil. Echo chain saws

SERVICE

We are running our "We Care, Winter Care Special" for generators and snow blowers through Thanksgiving. For only $59.95 we will pick up your snow blower or generator, service the unit and deliver it back to you home. Please call Wendell at 1-800-935-7999 to schedule an appointment.

If you have yet to service your tractor before winter our service van is available to come to your site and do a complete service so the tractor will be ready to go when the snow flies.

PARTS

We are well stocked with many accessories to help make winter operation easier on you and your tractor. We have canopies, auxiliary lights, radios, tire chains, as well as fuel conditioner. To minimize confusion when refueling your tractor we have yellow diesel cans in stock.

With Christmas just around the corner our shelves are stocked with toys. Please stop by and ask one of the parts "elves" for help picking out the right present for your tractor fan.

"The Friendly Folks"