All tracks lead to the Ploughing for 2016

Visitors to this year’s National Ploughing Championships will have the opportunity to get train transport from around Ireland to travel to Tullamore, where Bus Éireann will operate a shuttle service for the short (5km) trip to the Screggan site over the days from Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 September.

Anna May McHugh, managing director of the National Ploughing Association (NPA), said: “This service is a huge opportunity for visitors and exhibitors to leave the car at home and use public transport to get to the Ploughing Championships, which will have the knock-on effect of visitors being dropped off much closer to the entrance gate, less traffic on the road and easier access. For those that need to drive, Tullamore is so centrally located in Ireland that it is an ideal venue, easily reached from all parts of the country.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The NPA will this year be piloting a park and ride system for Dublin traffic. The service will be complimentary and operate frequently each way throughout the three days, giving visitors the added benefit of a drop-off point within a few hundred metres of exhibition arena.

100th Keenan Alltech machine sold

Keenan has sold its 100th wagon under new owners Alltech to a dairy farmer in Tipperary. The open day and sales day held at the Keenan factory on 29 June was the first official event held since the acquisition of the company by Alltech. Robbie Walker, the new CEO at Keenan, commented that he was delighted with the progress made so far and the sale of 100 Keenan Alltech machines.

He promised that the company will continue to innovate and be at the forefront of feeding technology. More than 600 people attended on the day from across the country. The international reach of the Keenan brand was demonstrated with visitors from Africa, Canada and the UK.

The factory tours allowed visitors see inside the manufacturing process, while guest speakers dedicated to dairy and beef systems delivered key notes on nutrition and grassland management. Alltech appears to be the white knight that has secured the future of the Keenan brand and the jobs in Borris, Co Carlow. ?

Cross Grain Services

Jason Cross has set up a new business called Cross Grain Services. This sees Jason move into the grain-drying field. Cross Grain Services will have the full range of Pedrotti grain driers. This will see Jason cover the country exclusively for this brand. The Fratelli Pedrotti Company was founded at the beginning of the 1950s. Since the end of the 1970s, it has specialised in driers. The range is now exported all over the world.