Q8 Oils Cavan Farm Machinery Show launch

The 2015 Q8 Oils Cavan Farm Machinery Show will take place at the Cavan Equestrian Centre, Co Cavan. This popular annual event will once again showcase all the best the farm machinery industry has to offer at a time of year when agri professionals are keen to examine new technology and purchase items for the busy season ahead.

Every area of the Cavan Equestrian Centre will be filled to accommodate both existing and new exhibitors and their wide range of products and services. Opening hours will be from 1pm till 10pm on 3, 4 and 5 February.

Anyone who would like further information should contact AJS Promotions on 048-82840200.

Gold at SIMA for panoramic cab from Claas

The award-winning cab on the Claas Arion has a new design allowing the windscreen and the polycarbonate roof to connect to each other without an upper crossbar. This gives the driver a completely new feeling of space and an unimpaired 90° field of view over the front loader.

Félix Garrad, product manager of the Arion 400, states: “The panoramic cab is ideal for working with a front loader. We needed a solution which on the one hand ensured safety and reliability, while on the other hand doing away with components like the upper crossbar, which limits visibility.”

According to Claas, the driver’s view of the front loader is not impaired by any blind spots. This allows the driver to always sit in a comfortable position. Claas claims this cab design avoids all of the repetitive movements which place stress on the neck and lumbar spine of the driver and can cause back problems.

Tractor reaches South Pole

The Massey Ferguson 5610 arrived at the South Pole, finishing the Antarctica expedition after a 2,500km trek over the ice. The tractor, driven by Manon Ossevoort, completed the journey on 9 December.

It was an incredibly challenging trip across the ice, taking 17 days of tough driving. With the Antarctic’s constant daylight at this time of year, the team created their own 30-hour days, driving the MF 5610 hard for 23 hours or more at a stretch, pausing only briefly for routine maintenance and driver changeover before pushing on. The tractor engine has been running virtually non-stop since the expedition started on 22 November.

Not surprisingly, both the tractor and team were left battered and bruised by the hostile environment and ferocious surface conditions. Along the way, they tackled treacherous crevasse fields, steep climbs, punishing sastrugi (solid ice-waves as much as a metre high) and deep, soft snow. Crossing the Gabienz Mountains at 3,400m altitude, temperatures dropped to -56°C with wind chill. At one point, a massive solar storm blacked out communications. Well done to all involved.

Know if the tractor is being stolen

A new security device that immediately sends tractor and machinery owners notification when the lock is being tampered with has just come on to the Irish market.

Known as WatchLock, the device is a sophisticated padlock that sends an immediate notification to various registered users, whether as SMS or email, or a push notification to a mobile app, if the lock is tampered with in any way.

The padlock can be fitted to any tractor, machinery or piece of construction equipment – even on the steering wheel. If the lock is tampered with, forced or struck, the lock will send out an immediate alert to users so they know in real time what happens when it happens.

Another device, the tamper-proof Blockstem, simply slots together over the hydraulic steering axle ram of any self-propelled machine, and is locked in place with a unique key when the wheels are at full lock. Once fitted, the unit not only acts as an effective visual deterrent, it also means the vehicle can only go round in circles, preventing the vehicle from being loaded or driven away, even if the thief has the ignition key.

For further information and prices on the Blockstem and WatchLock devices, contact Richard Baxter on 01902 744475 or 01902 753842 or mobile 07849 260095. Or visit www.derwenttradinginter nationalltd.co.uk.

Embrace Ireland

Embrace Ireland held its first AGM on Thursday 11 December. The meeting was well attended, with the mission of the organisation outlined for the coming year.

The sentiment and plans for the future are very much centred on the support for farm families involved in accidents, and also creating awareness to promote safety on Irish farms. A couple of very interesting ideas on developing farm safety apps for mobile phones and tablets were put forward.

The meeting also heard from Diane Banville and Brian Rohan, both directly affected by fatal farm accidents, on the horrifying experience of the inquest procedure after an accident.

Brian said it was very hard to listen to the clinical way the information was analysed and the deliberations on the cause of the accident. The organisation agreed that this is an area in which families will need support in the future. The meeting thanked the immense contribution of Brian and Norma Rohan in developing this organisation.

The meeting also announced the new directors: Larry O’Loughlin, Teagasc; Peter Byrne, FRS; Joe Thompson, counsellor; Ger Keenan, Keenan Systems; Diane Banville, Wexford; Angela Hogan, Tipperary; Peter Gohery, Galway; and Brian Rohan, Laois.

This week’s machine of week is a Fiat 110-90. This tractor is a 1995 model with 8,500 hours on the clock. It is described as being in good condition. The price of the tractor is €12,000 with no VAT docket available. For further information, contact Patrick 086-3870361.