Grass fever in the air at Grass & Muck 2016

The FTMTA Grass & Muck 2016 held in Gurteen College on Thursday 12 May turned out to be a big success.

18 May 2016

Grass fever in the air at Grass & Muck 2016

Massey Ferguson had the their new lineup of grass equipment on show, including front- and side-mounted mowers. The unit pictured is a 7718 Dyna 6 fitted with the DM 306 front and rear mower conditioner combination. Both mowers are retailing at €18,000 plus VAT. Photo: Donal O'Leary

The Lemken Vega sprayer was shown for the first time in Ireland. According to Lemken sales manager Diarmuid Claridge there was a lot of interest in the machine. Photo: Donal O'Leary

The Kuhn VBP 2190 variable chamber baler and wrapper combination has a 230cm cam track pickup. The new high-performance baler can produce 10% heavier bales in dry crops, according to the manufacturer. All VB balers, except balers with the OptiFlow system, are equipped with Integral Rotor Technology. Kuhn said this short-distance intake system ensures even feeding. Prices are expected to be in the region of €70,000 plus VAT. Photo: Donal O'Leary

The JCB 435S Agri is fitted with the latest 6.7-litre Cummins QSB turbocharged diesel engine. It has a six-speed ZF powershift transmission with torque lock-up in every gear. The manufacturer says this will ensure optimum power performance when climbing silage pits. The 435S also features the new Intelligent Clutch Cut-Off (ICCO) feature and the 264-litre/min twin piston pump hydraulics package. There are open differentials for hard ground, limited slip differentials for soft, muddy terrain, and

In action for the first time was the Hi-Spec AutoCut RH 1050-Rear Mower. This is a completely new machine from Hi-Spec. The trailed unit, according to the manufacturer, can completely handle its own weight, which reduces the size of the tractor needed. The company believes 180hp will drive the non-conditioner version, with 250hp required for the conditioner model. The machine features many novel ideas including the hydraulic suspension system which works over a 500mm float, allowing the mower to

The McHale ProGlide mower combination performed for the first time in public at Grass & Muck. The manufacturer has given a great deal of attention to the suspension on the mower for even level cutting. Photo: Donal O'Leary

Farmhand had the non-stop Ultima baler from Krone on show. The latest Krone Ultima CF 155 XC bales, wraps and unloads bales on the move, producing up to 50% more bales per hour than conventional balers. Krone also claims that its pre-compression technology ensures the highest bale density. Photo: Donal O'Leary

PJ Callan featured the Einbock P-BOX-STI pneumatic airseeder with electrical seed amount dosage. With the P-BOX-STI, all the usual kinds of seeds up to a size of 5mm can be sown, depending on the amount of seeding and the working speed, with an easy adjustment from about 1kg to 300kg/ha. The P-BOX-STI can be attached to all Einbock machines as well as to machines from other manufacturers, such as harrows, disc harrows and landrollers. A clever pressure switch on the toplink shuts off the seed f

Noel Condell from Laois is the importer for the PBE Slurry Spike. The Slurry spike makes a slot for the slurry to go in, while also aerating ground at the same time. According to Noel this machine gets the slurry down into the root system where it is needed. Noel says the result of this is 40-50% better uptake of nutrients from the slurry and the added benefit of aeration at the same time. This machine will be featured in the Irish Farmers Journal in the coming weeks. Photo: Donal O'Leary

The JCB Fastrack and Pottinger Combiline attracted a lot of attention on the day. Photo: Donal O'Leary

Sheila Collins, Clonakilty, Co Cork, won the Kverneland Tarrup Tedder Competition. Sheila along with her sons Joesph and Felix were presented with her TA 8055 Tedder at FTMTA Grass & Muck by Kverneland Group Ireland Sales staff Paraic McCarthy and Leonard Hovenden. Photo: Donal O'Leary

Despite the dubious start to the weather on the day, the crowds turned out in force. By the end of the day sun cream, ice cream and hats were required as the temperature soared.

FTMTA CEO Gary Ryan has told the Irish Farmers Journal that officially 10,250 attended the event. With 119 exhibitors, there was a noticeable increase in size. Many of the exhibitors we caught up with during the day were delighted with the number of leads they picked up during the show. The reaction from the general public was extremely positive also, with plenty of live action to keep them entertained. Colin Gleeson, area sales manager for Massey Ferguson, reported that a deal was done for a MF 7715 tractor and a twin rotor rake on the day.