Agricultural contracting lobbying group PAC chair Michael Sheehan says there seems to be confusion regarding the RSA announcement of NCT-type testing for tractors. PAC has been monitoring Directive 2014/45/EU, along with other EU legislation.

The new legislation deals with a small percentage of those using T5 tractors for commercial use; the majority of both large and small tractors will not be required to undergo any sort of testing.

The testing does not apply to tractors used solely for agricultural work and this is stated clearly in both the aforementioned directive and the RSA document.

Sheehan is of the opinion that this move is more about levelling the playing pitch around the whole issue of haulage for hire and reward.

Tom Murphy of PAC said it needs to be decided once and for all who and what vehicles can move agricultural produce. He said the present legislation puts additional costs on farmers who are already hard-pressed.

PAC has long conceded that long-distance haulage using agricultural tractors was not on. However, the lobby group argues that agricultural contractors must be allowed to move agricultural produce ove r short distances.

Sheehan said: “As professional agricultural contractors we keep our machinery well maintained, because any down-time costs us money. However, statistics show that farm vehicles/machinery were involved in 47% of farm fatalities and 58% of that equipment was at least 10 years old.”

PAC predicts that NCT-type testing for all tractors will come and that there will be a cost involved.