THE Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia is set to tackle several issues facing the industry.

Acting TMA executive director Richard Lewis said the peak body is re-focusing its efforts to ensure its activities remain relevant and provide value to members.

The TMA represents importers, manufacturers and dealers of agricultural machinery in Australia.

Richard said while the TMA had successfully lobbied for legislation reform in areas such as workplace safety and developed various codes of practice for machinery, it would now look at other factors such as skills shortages and business management.

Richard made the call following last week's TMA annual general meeting, held in Melbourne.

At the AGM it was agreed Richard would remain acting executive director, a position he has held since Vin Delahunty resigned late last year.

Richard said it was time for the TMA to take a fresh approach.

"The ag machinery industry has changed dramatically in recent years and we have to ensure the TMA remains relevant and provides excellent value to its members," Richard said.

"Many machinery dealerships have become much larger and hence dealers are facing new challenges associated with running large businesses.

"Gone are the days when the dealership would simply be run by a sole proprietor and a mechanic."

Richard said the TMA will target issues such as retaining staff and business management training.

"Like many other industries, we will also be looking to attract younger people to the machinery game and importantly, keeping them there.

"There are many exciting developments and technology such as precision farming and GPS in agricultural machinery and in some cases, it's ag machinery which is driving the technology and its application.

"The machinery industry in Australia is a billion dollar business and we have to ensure it keeps pace.

"It appears we have come through the financial crisis relatively unscathed so we are well placed to move ahead," he said.

Richard said while some other industries such as earthmoving were facing challenges with finance, this was not the case for agricultural machinery.

"Financing for machinery dealership sales and floorplan inventory continues to be well served by strong funders," Richard said.

"The finance market has opened up for machinery considerably in recent years and financiers will fund almost anything sold by dealerships.

"That's a big advantage over dealerships in other sectors and bodes well for the future of the machinery industry."

At last week's AGM Michael Armstrong, Armstrong Tyres, was re-elected chairman and Mark Taylor of Kubota Tractor Australia was re-elected deputy chairman.