The Association of Farm Contractors in Ireland (FCI) will be inaugurated as the Irish member of the European organisation of agricultural and rural contractors (CEETTAR) at a meeting at 4pm on Friday 6 February at the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show in Punchestown.

FCI chairman John Sheehy has welcomed all farm contractors to attend the meeting, which will include light refreshments. CEETTAR secretary general Jan Maris from the Netherlands and director Eric Drésin from Brussels will attend the meeting. They will outline the opportunities for contractors and the importance of being part of a European organisation.

Active partner

FCI has been an active partner in CEETTAR since 2012 and is now being welcomed as a formal member of the European association, with partner associations in 12 EU countries.

FCI will use this important occasion to generate support for the opportunities that are present from a strong European link, where Irish contractors can learn new strategies for best practice to ensure efficiency through training in skills in areas of machinery management, sustainability and operator safety.

The meeting will include a presentation from Sam Shine of Samco, himself a former farm contractor. Sam will outline the global opportunities and developments that may impact on contractors in the future.

FCI will have a stand at the event (No 335 in Pavilion 3) with an opportunity for farm contractors and farmers to win some valuable prizes.

There will be a special draw for farmers to name their contractor and the winning name drawn from the entries will win a prize for the entrant as well as one for the contractor that is nominated.