FTMTA Farm Machinery Trade Auction

The second FTMTA Farm Machinery Trade Auction took place on Saturday 24 February at Punchestown Event Centre. The fine, dry weather on the day, coupled with forecasts of very difficult weather conditions to follow, meant a smaller attendance than the very large numbers at the first auction in September because farmers were catching up with farm work.

Many potential buyers had to miss the auction on this occasion as they sought to get through work while they could. That said, there were probably more good online bidders than at the previous auction although they were clearly more focused on certain lots such as tractors and teleporters.

FTMTA introduced the concept of an auction to sell stock from members only as a mechanism to provide an additional marketing platform for members’ excess inventory. FTMTA believes that an additional channel to facilitate the sale of used machinery is needed by the trade and that this concept will develop over time to be a valuable service provided by the association for the benefit of member firms.

Additional FTMTA Grass & Muck stands

As advised recently, all of the working grass machinery demonstration plots for this year’s FTMTA Grass & Muck event to be held at Gurteen College near Birr on Thursday 17 May have now been fully booked.

Demand for static stand exhibition space in the trade village area has also been very strong and all the original stand positions have now been sold.

It has proved possible in recent days to alter the layout slightly to make some additional static stand space available. There are only a very limited number of these additional stands available and all those interested in exhibiting at the event are encouraged to submit their completed application forms as soon as possible.

There will be no further stand possibilities after these stands are sold. The exhibitor application pack for non-members of FTMTA can be downloaded from the FTMTA website at www.ftmta.ie. Application packs for FTMTA member firms and further details can be obtained by contacting the FTMTA office on 045-409309 or at admin@ftmta.ie.

This year’s FTMTA Grass & Muck event will be the largest ever and will be the flagship event for the Irish farm machinery industry in 2018.

Some 11,500 visitors attended the 2016 event and the organisers hope to see that figure exceeded this year. Online tickets will go on sale via a link on the FTMTA website in the coming weeks and will be available at a discount to the price on the day until Friday 11 May.