Applications for the new Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Mechanisation course starting in IT Tralee in September, must be submitted to the college no later than Friday, 7 August.

To apply for a place on the course, potential students must have been accepted by a sponsoring farm machinery business which will provide the required work placements. Applicants may be required to attend for interview with IT Tralee as part of the admission process and offers of places will be subject to the candidate achieving the required results in their Leaving Certificate.

FTMTA is encouraging member firms to support the course and asks that firms planning to take on trainees for the service role from this year’s schoolleavers consider this route, which is designed to produce the agricultural technicians needed by the industry for the future. Strong interest has been expressed in the course by leading farm machinery dealerships representing major brands on the Irish market.

New appointment at John Deere

FTMTA member John Deere Ltd has appointed Bob Holt as branch customer support manager for the UK and Ireland, replacing Stuart Minter, who has retired after more than 36 years with the company.

Bob has a Diploma in Agricultural Engineering from Caythorpe College and a BSc in agricultural technology and management from Cranfield Institute of Technology. He began his career with John Deere Ltd as a branch management trainee in 1994 and became a demonstrator in July of that year, followed by assignments as a training instructor and area manager product support.

In 2001, Bob accepted a field service position at a John Deere harvesting equipment factory in the US and in June 2003 he moved to Germany to become a senior service engineer. After returning to Britain in 2005, he held the positions of harvesting product support specialist, manager technical services/customer support and division customer support manager.

Stuart Minter joined John Deere in 1979 as a service trainee and technical instructor at the British training centre. He was subsequently area service manager and then territory manager for southern England before becoming division service manager for the UK and Ireland in 1986 and customer support manager in 2010. Stuart was responsible for developing John Deere’s dealer service standards, and was closely involved with the “Look Behind You” campaign to promote safe tractor and trailer braking.

Be a part of a stronger farm machinery industry – join the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association – contact FTMTA at 045 409309 or membership@ftmta.ie for details.