Recognising role of farm contractors
This year’s national farm contractor conference organised by the Association of Farm Contractors of Ireland (FCI) focuses on the theme of ‘Recognising the role of the Farm Contractor’. The one-day event, to be held at The Hub, Cillin Hill, Dublin Road, Kilkenny, brings together contractors and suppliers to their important farming service in a unique setting.
FCI national chair John Sheehy has urged all farm contractors to support the event. “We know the importance of supporting our own sector by strong representation. The farm contractor sector needs a show of strength in order to get recognition for the important role that generations of machinery operators have played in supporting the emergence of what is now a world-class food industry, based on Irish farm output,” says Sheehy.
“We aim to provide Irish farm contractors with recognition for generations of dedication through our conference and exhibition that will highlight our important role in farming, so we need all farm contractors to come to this important event,” he says.
The event opens with an address by FCI national chair John Sheehy, from a well-known silage contracting family business. John’s late father Maurice was an early adapter of modern high-output silage harvesting systems in the 1970s. John’s business continues that tradition, along with expertise in slurry management and maize-growing in the south Limerick area from his base near Bruree. John will outline the role of the farm contractor and propose recognition of the important function of the farm contractor for a progressive Irish farming sector.
The FCI is the Irish member of the European farm contractors association CEETTAR. The FCI conference will include a presentation from Klaus Pentzlin, president of CEETTAR, who will be visiting Ireland especially for the event. Klaus is a working farm contractor himself based in northern Germany and he will discuss what farm contractors can learn from one another across Europe to be more efficient and more profitable.
The issue of cost control and cost management has always been an important one for farm contractors who invest in high capital-cost machines. Independent farm consultant PJ Phelan will give the FCI conference a detailed presentation on tractor and machinery costing for a contractor business.
PJ has worked with farm contractors across the country in identifying costs and developing strategies to make their businesses more profitable. His presentation will provide an interesting insight for many farm contractors.
For many years, farm contractors have sought to understand and evaluate their role within farming. The conference will hear a presentation from Eamonn O’Reilly of the agricultural team at AIB Bank on the issue of where farm contractors fit into national agricultural finance policies among the major banks. For farm contractors, this is an important presentation as it outlines where they see their role in the future investment decisions that are taking place on Irish farms.
This will be followed by lunch and an afternoon exhibition of machinery in the giant exhibition centre. The event will be supported by a large number of farm machinery companies.
Among the major farm machinery companies to participate are Farmhand Ltd, Kelly’s of Borris (Claas), JR Perry Ltd (New Holland), Pat O’Donnell & Co (Volvo), Tanco, TFM (John Deere) and Egmont Agri. There will be a number of exhibits from major suppliers to the farm contractor, including Agriknives, Agrigear, Bridgestone, Dipetane, Dromone, Farm Industrial, Farm & Plant, FBD Insurance, Finol, Fossland Agri, Hydraseal, JMC Parts and Kingswood Computing to name but a few.
There will be a number of mini seminars running through the afternoon in conjunction with the exhibition. These will deal with issues of the new Road Safety Authority (RSA) trailer rules, safety in contracting, insurance needs for the farm contractor business and an update on diesel fuel additives. The FCI conference and exhibition is open to all farming contractors in Ireland. Entry costs €20 and includes full lunch and a full presentation pack.
Conference programme
10.00 Registration and tea/coffee
10.30 Welcome address by John Sheehy,
national chair FCI
& presentation - What is a farm contractor?
10.45 Farm contractors in Europe – what we can learn from one another?
Klaus Pentzlin, president of CEETTAR
11.15 Farm contracting costs – a modern perspective
PJ Phelan, independent agricultural consultant
12.00 Where do farm contractors fit into agri finance
policies?
Eamonn O’Reilly, AIB Bank
12.30 Lunch
Conference sponsor – JMC Parts
Mini seminars – exhibition arena
2.30 Trailer rules – prepare for change
James Maloney, Irish Farmers Journal
3.00 Farm contracting in safety
Health & Safety Authority
3.30 Insurance – plan your renewal
FBD Insurance
4.00 Diphethane a fuel update
Drew McDonald, Diphethane Ireland
FCI – a voice for farm contractors
The structure of the Association of Farm Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has been developing to give regional representation to working farm contractors. The association is run through 10 regions, where a regional chair and secretary are elected by the membership. The regional chair and secretary are in turn automatically returned as members of the association’s national executive council.
The 10 FCI regions are as follows:
Northeast (Meath/Louth/Monaghan/Cavan);Cork;Mid-west (Limerick/Kerry);West (Clare, Galway, Mayo, & Roscommon);East (Kildare/Wicklow/Dublin);Northwest (Donegal/Sligo/Leitrim);Southeast (Wexford/Waterford);Midlands (Offaly/Westmeath/Longford);South Midlands (Tipperary/Carlow/Kilkenny/Laois);Northern Ireland (Antrim/Armagh/Derry/Down/Fermanagh/Tyrone).The FCI National Council has elected a number of committees in order to progress the activities of the association. The aim of the committee structure is to allow busy contractors who are officers of the association to get additional support.
There were four committees formed, Finance & Management, Safety, Membership/Development and Events/Education.
The following were the elected members of the committees:
Finance & Management Committee
Chair: John Sheehy, FCI chair; Christopher Weldon (Meath), Martin Fleming (Galway), Peter Farrelly (Meath) and Timmy O’Brien (Cork).
Safety Committee
Chair: Timmy O’Brien; Shane Nolan (Galway), Roger Perry (Kildare) and Philip Heery (Meath).
Membership/Development
Chair: Peter Farrelly (Meath); Padraig O’Brien (Tipperary) and John Hughes (Kilkenny).
Events/Education
Chair: Norman Egar (Kildare); Richard White (Tipperary) and Gerard O’Donoghue (Limerick).
Recognising role of farm contractors
This year’s national farm contractor conference organised by the Association of Farm Contractors of Ireland (FCI) focuses on the theme of ‘Recognising the role of the Farm Contractor’. The one-day event, to be held at The Hub, Cillin Hill, Dublin Road, Kilkenny, brings together contractors and suppliers to their important farming service in a unique setting.
FCI national chair John Sheehy has urged all farm contractors to support the event. “We know the importance of supporting our own sector by strong representation. The farm contractor sector needs a show of strength in order to get recognition for the important role that generations of machinery operators have played in supporting the emergence of what is now a world-class food industry, based on Irish farm output,” says Sheehy.
“We aim to provide Irish farm contractors with recognition for generations of dedication through our conference and exhibition that will highlight our important role in farming, so we need all farm contractors to come to this important event,” he says.
The event opens with an address by FCI national chair John Sheehy, from a well-known silage contracting family business. John’s late father Maurice was an early adapter of modern high-output silage harvesting systems in the 1970s. John’s business continues that tradition, along with expertise in slurry management and maize-growing in the south Limerick area from his base near Bruree. John will outline the role of the farm contractor and propose recognition of the important function of the farm contractor for a progressive Irish farming sector.
The FCI is the Irish member of the European farm contractors association CEETTAR. The FCI conference will include a presentation from Klaus Pentzlin, president of CEETTAR, who will be visiting Ireland especially for the event. Klaus is a working farm contractor himself based in northern Germany and he will discuss what farm contractors can learn from one another across Europe to be more efficient and more profitable.
The issue of cost control and cost management has always been an important one for farm contractors who invest in high capital-cost machines. Independent farm consultant PJ Phelan will give the FCI conference a detailed presentation on tractor and machinery costing for a contractor business.
PJ has worked with farm contractors across the country in identifying costs and developing strategies to make their businesses more profitable. His presentation will provide an interesting insight for many farm contractors.
For many years, farm contractors have sought to understand and evaluate their role within farming. The conference will hear a presentation from Eamonn O’Reilly of the agricultural team at AIB Bank on the issue of where farm contractors fit into national agricultural finance policies among the major banks. For farm contractors, this is an important presentation as it outlines where they see their role in the future investment decisions that are taking place on Irish farms.
This will be followed by lunch and an afternoon exhibition of machinery in the giant exhibition centre. The event will be supported by a large number of farm machinery companies.
Among the major farm machinery companies to participate are Farmhand Ltd, Kelly’s of Borris (Claas), JR Perry Ltd (New Holland), Pat O’Donnell & Co (Volvo), Tanco, TFM (John Deere) and Egmont Agri. There will be a number of exhibits from major suppliers to the farm contractor, including Agriknives, Agrigear, Bridgestone, Dipetane, Dromone, Farm Industrial, Farm & Plant, FBD Insurance, Finol, Fossland Agri, Hydraseal, JMC Parts and Kingswood Computing to name but a few.
There will be a number of mini seminars running through the afternoon in conjunction with the exhibition. These will deal with issues of the new Road Safety Authority (RSA) trailer rules, safety in contracting, insurance needs for the farm contractor business and an update on diesel fuel additives. The FCI conference and exhibition is open to all farming contractors in Ireland. Entry costs €20 and includes full lunch and a full presentation pack.
Conference programme
10.00 Registration and tea/coffee
10.30 Welcome address by John Sheehy,
national chair FCI
& presentation - What is a farm contractor?
10.45 Farm contractors in Europe – what we can learn from one another?
Klaus Pentzlin, president of CEETTAR
11.15 Farm contracting costs – a modern perspective
PJ Phelan, independent agricultural consultant
12.00 Where do farm contractors fit into agri finance
policies?
Eamonn O’Reilly, AIB Bank
12.30 Lunch
Conference sponsor – JMC Parts
Mini seminars – exhibition arena
2.30 Trailer rules – prepare for change
James Maloney, Irish Farmers Journal
3.00 Farm contracting in safety
Health & Safety Authority
3.30 Insurance – plan your renewal
FBD Insurance
4.00 Diphethane a fuel update
Drew McDonald, Diphethane Ireland
FCI – a voice for farm contractors
The structure of the Association of Farm Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has been developing to give regional representation to working farm contractors. The association is run through 10 regions, where a regional chair and secretary are elected by the membership. The regional chair and secretary are in turn automatically returned as members of the association’s national executive council.
The 10 FCI regions are as follows:
Northeast (Meath/Louth/Monaghan/Cavan);Cork;Mid-west (Limerick/Kerry);West (Clare, Galway, Mayo, & Roscommon);East (Kildare/Wicklow/Dublin);Northwest (Donegal/Sligo/Leitrim);Southeast (Wexford/Waterford);Midlands (Offaly/Westmeath/Longford);South Midlands (Tipperary/Carlow/Kilkenny/Laois);Northern Ireland (Antrim/Armagh/Derry/Down/Fermanagh/Tyrone).The FCI National Council has elected a number of committees in order to progress the activities of the association. The aim of the committee structure is to allow busy contractors who are officers of the association to get additional support.
There were four committees formed, Finance & Management, Safety, Membership/Development and Events/Education.
The following were the elected members of the committees:
Finance & Management Committee
Chair: John Sheehy, FCI chair; Christopher Weldon (Meath), Martin Fleming (Galway), Peter Farrelly (Meath) and Timmy O’Brien (Cork).
Safety Committee
Chair: Timmy O’Brien; Shane Nolan (Galway), Roger Perry (Kildare) and Philip Heery (Meath).
Membership/Development
Chair: Peter Farrelly (Meath); Padraig O’Brien (Tipperary) and John Hughes (Kilkenny).
Events/Education
Chair: Norman Egar (Kildare); Richard White (Tipperary) and Gerard O’Donoghue (Limerick).
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