Invoice time for contractors

As the first-cut silage harvesting is coming to an end on many farms, FCI chairman John Sheehy reports that weather conditions this year were kind to contractors and most of the work was completed in relatively good conditions.

Many contractors are now spreading slurry and John has issued a warning to be especially careful of the dangers of slurry gases as temperatures are high and winds have been low.

FCI is also recommending that this break in silage making activities is a good time to prepare customer invoices. The association advises all contractors to ensure that all silage work is invoiced before second cuts begin as, with increases in diesel prices, cashflow could be an issue as the season progresses.

Charity barbecue moves to Clare

FCI is preparing for its annual charity barbecue, which this year will take on Sunday 19 July at the yard of north Clare contractor and FCI executive council member Shane Nolan of Finavarra, near Kinvara. Finavarra is located on the picturesque south coast of Galway Bay, on the borders of Clare and Galway. Shane has opened up his yard for the event, which this year is raising funds for Embrace Farm and Galway Hospice.

FCI members from across the country are invited to join with Shane and the team from the western regional association of FCI to make the event a major success.

There will be music and a great opportunity for contractors and their families to get together in a social gathering.

Last year’s FCI charity barbecue held at Timmy O’Brien’s yard at Churchtown, outside Mallow, Co Cork, raised almost €15,000 for farming related charities.

Insight from Danish group

The FCI delegation at the CEETTAR congress in Denmark had a very useful meeting with the Danish contractor’s association Danske Maskinstationer og Entreprenorer (DME) general secretary Bent Juul Jorgensen. He gave them a valuable insight into how the DME was structured and how it has been so successful in achieving a membership of 753 contracting companies.

DME includes contractors who are farm contractors as well as earth-moving and forestry contractors. The association provides a range of services including an insurance and staff recruitment service in addition to being an effective lobbying force for contractors. DME is made up of 13 regional groups and the forestry contractor group. It celebrated 50 years in existence in 2013 and employs 15 full-time staff.