CLIMMAR focuses on dealer issues

FTMTA president Richard Harris and the association's chief executive Michael Moroney attended the annual CLIMMAR congress in Switzerland last week where issues affecting the farm machinery industry across Europe were discussed over two days. CLIMMAR is the European umbrella body for the farm machinery industry in Europe and represents dealer associations from 15 EU countries, which account for over 22,000 farm machinery companies.

The meeting discussed a range of topics from the development of a used machinery guide price system to the issue of tractor and trailer legislation on European roads. The Irish delegation raised this issue against a background of the difficulty that farmers and contractors are facing with regard to the use of tractor trailers on public roads. CLIMMAR is preparing a European document on this issue, to identify the legislative and testing needs of modern farm machinery.

The CLIMMAR congress also provided an opportunity for the exchange of cost information for farm machinery companies. One of the more interesting points to emerge from the European surveys carried out prior to the congress was the fact that Irish labour costs are among the highest in Europe. These, in turn, have a negative impact on the profitability of farm machinery businesses in this country.

Aside, there was a discussion on the Leonardo exchange programme for apprentice mechanics, which Ireland has been involved in during recent years.