FCI welcomes new Irish Farmers Journal initiative

The Association of Farm Contractors of Ireland (FCI) has welcomed the initiative whereby the activities of the association will be a key part of a regular fortnightly column in the Irish Farmers Journal.

John Sheehy, FCI chair, has welcomed the opportunity to put the case for supporting a vibrant farm contracting sector to a wider farming public.

“We will be bringing our views on how farm contractors can provide cost-effective and skilled labour to Irish farms in supporting farming to meet new challenges of the future,” he said.

“Our research has shown that farm contractors in Ireland employ close to 10,000 people operating machines on farms. Contractors use more than 500 million litres of diesel annually in carrying out this farm work and operate more than 20,000 tractors; this is about one third of the national fleet. Our machines harvest more than five million bales of silage each year, along with spreading more than 20bn litres of slurry, as well as establishing and harvesting many different crops,” he added.

Sheehy said: “We want farmers and contractors to enhance their working relationships in a more farm management focused way. We also want farm contractors and their operators to be part of the movement towards a safer farming industry.”

FCI official member of CEETTAR

The FCI, the national association representing farm contractors in Ireland, was inaugurated as the Irish member of CEETTAR, the European association of agricultural contractors, on Friday 6 February at the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show in the Punchestown Event Centre, Punchestown, Naas, Co Kildare. The inauguration took place at a special meeting of FCI, which CEETTAR secretary general Jan Maris from the Netherlands attended.

FCI has been an active partner in CEETTAR since 2012 and has now been welcomed as a formal member of the European association, with partner associations in 12 EU countries. Maris said: “I was impressed by the enthusiasm and ambitions of the board of FCI. I think FCI is acting very professionally and can have the role of excellent example for other members of CEETTAR.’’

FCI AGM in April

The annual general meeting (AGM) of the FCI will take place on Wednesday 30 April at the Maldron Medway Hotel, Portlaoise, at 8pm. The AGM will include a review of activities for 2014 and the election of officers for the 2015. FCI chair John Sheehy has urged all members to attend and contribute to the development of the association. All regional chairpersons and secretaries will be attending the meeting and discussing their plans for the future of the association.

Forestry contractors part of CEETTAR

The European forestry contractors’ association is now also part of CEETTAR. The merger was logical as forestry contractors often use the same agricultural tractors and machines as agricultural contractors. Across Europe, the forestry and related sectors is made up of almost 452,000 companies, employing 3.5m people, which represents 7% of the economic growth.