Lemken and TFM have launched their Plough Operator of the Year 2018 competition at Kildalton College. This competition has been running for a number of years. The idea of the contest is to assess the ploughing abilities of the advanced machinery and crops students.

The competition is run over a period in the spring of the year whenever the conditions are agreeable. Derek Delahunty says that the competition is not only about the quality of the ploughing but as much about the attitude of the contestant and the ability of the student to take advice and guidance from the expert judges.

For the competition, Lemken supplied a brand new Jewel 7 MVT four-furrow plough and TFM supplied a John Deere 6155R. On the morning of the launch, the class of 2018 were given a run-through of the main attributes of the Jewel 7 and an outline of the setting up of the plough to get the best out of it in the field.

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The next day will take place in the field when the weather improves and the students will be given hands-on instruction on the use of the plough and tractor. The final assessment will be on a plough test day, where a practical and interview based assessment will take place.

Attitude

Derek was keen to point out that the final day is important but the attitude of the student throughout the process will be paramount. The winner of the competition will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Lemken factory in Germany and some Lemken branded attire.

A TFM/Lemken demo day will happen on 8 March in Carlow. The demo day will take place on Patrick Lennon’s farm (between the Fighting Cocks Pub and Fenagh village in Co Carlow). On display or working on the day will be at least six ploughs, a selection of cultivators and four different drill combinations.

The majority of the machines will be working with some on static display. These machines will be connected to the latest from John Deere including the new 6250R.