Up to 1,171 farmers risk incurring a €5,000 penalty for failing to sign up to an Environment Protection Agency (EPA) water register.

Farmers using over 25,000 litres of water per day must sign up to the online register or risk the once-off penalty, but according to the EPA not a single farmer has signed up to the register to date.

These farmers have to sign the register before the 16 November deadline. After the deadline, all new abstractions exceeding 25,000 litres per day will need to register within one month of starting.

During the drought earlier this year many farmers were depending on water abstractions from local rivers to supply water to thirsty livestock or to irrigate their parched crops.
After all a milking dairy cow drinks about 30 to 50 gallons of water each day. During periods of heat stress water intake may double so for the typical 80 cow herd a farmer could need up to 60.000 gallons of water for a week’s supply.

As regards potatoes during the months of July and August the crop requires 3½ mm of water per acre every 24 hours and that is a lot of water if there is no rainfall during this period. Modern potato varieties are sensitive to soil water deficits and need frequent, shallow irrigation.

A 120 to 150 day potato crop consumes from 500 to 700 mm of water, and depletion of more than 50 percent of the total available soil water during the growing period results in lower yields. 27,154 gallons (102789 litres) of water will cover one acre, one inch deep. Discounting runoff and evaporation, this is considered an average weekly requirement to maintain soil moisture.

The register is part of a tightening of restrictions around farm water usage, with legislation being worked on by the Dept. of Housing as part of the River Basin and Management Plan announced earlier this year which included an increased focus on farm water inspections.

Local authorities have also availed of existing rules to crack down on pesticide and fertiliser use within a 250-metre zone of water abstraction points on farmland under nitrates regulations.

While affected farmers accept that protecting water is in the public interest, they point out that this limits their land use and decreases the value of farmland.

According to the IFA environment chair Thomas Cooney “over the years, farmers have allowed wells to be drilled on their lands to provide their neighbours with a water supply, which over time has been taken over by local authorities and now Irish Water.”

However the bottom line is that framers who need water for their livestock and crops will simply have to register with the EPA for water abstraction licences.

Dealers can expect many more farmers to invest in an improved water supply infra structure for 2019, to purchase tanks for rainwater harvesting, to buy irrigation equipment, solar water pumps, miles of water piping, bigger water troughs etc.

Husqvarna has expanded its UK & Ireland team with the appointment of Stephen Irvine as business manager - Ireland.

To fully capitalise on the growth opportunities in Ireland, the company has separated the management of its Forest & Garden and Construction divisions.

Stephen Irvine will manage the Forest & Garden business for the whole of Ireland. George Caskey, who has over 20 years’ experience with Husqvarna, will manage the Construction business for the whole of Ireland from January 2019.

Stephen joins Husqvarna with 30 years’ experience in the automotive sector, managing dealer networks and aftersales programmes.

On his new appointment, Stephen commented, “I’m excited to take on this new challenge and happy to have joined Husqvarna. My experience in aftersales and managing dealer networks will strengthen relationships with dealers and help drive the Forest & Garden business forward in Ireland. I’m looking forward to working with my new colleagues to grow the brand even further.”

UK Commercial Director, Ken Brewster added, “We are delighted that Stephen is joining the UK & Ireland team. His experience in a parallel industry will be really valuable in further developing our distributor and dealer networks across Ireland. We have experienced tremendous growth for the last 2 years, the appointment of a dedicated Forest & Garden business manager will ensure we are able to continue the trend and introduce a raft of new initiatives.”

On 14th & 15th November this week at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, Johnson Gilpin & Co will celebrate 50 years in business with The Johnston Gilpin & Co Showcase.

Johnston Gilpin & Co

The Lisburn-based dealers say the Showcase will encompass the entire Johnston Gilpin & Co franchise network to form an event which they say will include the "largest dealer display of agricultural and horticultural equipment ever seen in Ireland, from the smallest garden machine to the largest tractor in production today".

The event will include live demos, product launches and product specialists will all be on hand to answer visitors' enquiries. 

A full range of Johnston Gilpin and John Deere merchandise will also be available to purchase.

Opening times are 2pm-10pm on Wednesday 14th and 10am-10pm on Thursday 15th November.

According to Michael Smyth from Irish Grass Machinery they are selling a lot of salt spreaders at present, mostly SnowEx, with a mix of walk behinds and mounted models.

The sales have definitely started earlier this season and are ahead of this time last year, says Michael.

Customers are a good mix of county councils who have to prepare for a cold winter and landscape contractors who see spreading salt as a good way to supplement their summer work.

The late snow in March it would seem is still fresh in peoples' minds.

The success of the CLAAS Apprenticeship scheme was evident at the recent graduation where a record number of apprentices received their Graduation certificates.

A total of 25 young technicians received their certificates at the Graduation Ceremony held at the CLAAS Training Academy at Saxham. Of these, 21 students were studying for the Agricultural Technician apprenticeship, with the remaining four completing the Parts apprenticeship.

CLAAS Apprentices

The number of independent CLAAS dealers investing in the training of young technicians and their company’s future service provision, is also evident in the fact that over half of the new graduates are from independent dealerships throughout both the UK and Ireland.

Over the previous four years, the Agricultural Technician students have split their time between formal training blocks lasting 3-6 weeks at either Reaseheath College in Cheshire or SRUC Barony Campus at Dumfries, at time spent gaining practical experience with their supporting dealer, resulting in them receiving an IMI National Diploma in Agricultural Engineering, which is the equivalent of three ‘A’ Levels.

Similarly, the four students on the 3-year CLAAS Parts Sales & Marketing apprenticeship have split their time between formal training at Reaseheath College and practical time spent back at their dealership, working towards a Level 3 Diploma in Vehicle Parts Operations, which again is the equivalent of three ‘A’ Levels.

Within the cohort, three students were also recognised for their overall contribution to the course. Landbased Engineering apprentices Ben Storr and Andrew Shorten were awarded ‘Apprentice contributing most to the CLAAS Apprenticeship’ awards for Reaseheath and Barony respectively, with Harriet Simpson winning the Parts Apprenticeship award from Reaseheath. In addition, Jacob Chater was also named the Reaseheath ‘Landbased Engineering Apprentice of the Year’ in 2017 at the completion of the formal education section of his training.

Following their graduation from the CLAAS Apprenticeship scheme, all the apprentices were invited to attend the Apprentice Graduation Celebration Trip. Over the course of four days they travelled through France and Germany, visiting the CLAAS Tractor factory at Le Mans, the worldwide parts centre at Hamm and the CLAAS Group headquarters at Harsewinkel, so as to gain more insightabout CLAAS as a global company.

This, however, is described as just the start of their training with CLAAS. Having qualified, the young technicians will have access to ongoing training and development aligned to the Landbased Technician Accreditation (LTA) scheme. Having gained LTA 2 status, with further training and dealer experience, they will have the opportunity to reach product specific LTA 3 (Master Mechanic) status before going onto the highest LTA 4 (Master Technician) level, or even into more senior management roles within their dealerships or with CLAAS.

Graduating were:

AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN APPRENTICES

• Francis Shannon; Leinster Farm Machines, Duleek
• Andrew Shorten: McCarthys, Cork
• Jake Henderson: Gordons, Castle Douglas
• Matthew McAvoy: Gordons, Berryhill
• George Leightley: Rickerby, Alnwick
• Joseph Rumney: Rickerby, Carlisle
• Peter Clifford: Rickerby, Bowburn
• Lewis Blair: Rickerby, Dunbar
• David Clark: Sellars, Old Meldrum
• Ewan Will: Sellars, Old Meldrum
• James Colwell: Hamblys, Redruth
• Dan Olive: Hamblys, Honiton
• Alex Hewer: Morris Corfield, Broseley
• Steven Bickley: Olivers, Petworth
• Jacob Chater: CLAAS Manns, Halesworth
• Will Harvey: CLAAS Manns, Saxham
• Joe Klopper: CLAAS Manns, Saxham
• Matthew Codling: CLAAS Manns, Thursford
• Ben Storr: CLAAS Eastern, Ulceby Cross
• Jack Walker: CLAAS Eastern, Sinderby
• Laurence Watkins-Jones: CLAAS Western, Dorchester

Parts Sales & Marketing Apprentices:

• Harriet Simpson: CLAAS Eastern, Markham Moor
• James MacCallum: CLAAS Eastern, Ulceby Cross
• Zak Bright: CLAAS Western, Dorchester
• Charlie Tustin: CLAAS Western, Evesham

Pellenc has launched what they describe as "the first truly professional ‘on-board’ battery range" - The Pellenc Alpha range.

The range sees two new batteries (P260 and P520) which can be directly fitted to the tools or fitted to a new harness.

Comprising the Helion Alpha hedge trimmers and the Excelion Alpha grass strimmer, two tools which use the latest on-board batteries, the 260 and 520, the company says it was designed to bring together ergonomics and efficiency. 

The Helion Alpha hedge trimmers: handling and power

The Helion Alpha allows for precision pruning of hedges or other shrubs, particularly on hard, dry wood. Its cutter bar combines increased thickness (2.25 mm), tooth opening (33 mm) and strength.

Pellenc say its engine ensures excellent performance and allows for cuts of up to 33 mm in diameter. In addition to offering 3 different working speeds, it is 100% waterproof and features a new cutter bar orientation system.

The Excelion Alpha grass cutter

Able to cut dense patches as well as soft grasses, the Pellenc say the Excelion Alpha can be used for mowing or road-side finishing work, in cities and gardens alike.

The company says it synthesises high cutting capacities (6400 rpm, 400 mm with 2.4 mm wire), making it efficient on all surfaces. They continue by saying its Alphacut cutting head and rotation speed guarantee high-quality mulching, even on tough grasses. 

The Alpha harness
The Pellenc Alpha back harness can be equipped with the new 260 and 520 batteries in order to use them with all tools within the Pellenc range. Pellenc say their engineers designed the carrying ergonomics and ease of use with particular care.

All Pellenc batteries and tools come with a three-year commercial warranty and are distributed in Ireland exclusively by Etesia UK.

EGO, the cordless outdoor power tool specialist, has helped horticulture students put theory into practice at Bridgwater and Taunton College in Somerset, England.

Sixty students from the college’s horticulture, green keeping, sports turf, countryside management and arboriculture courses attended. Apprentices and employers, who are undertaking the new Apprenticeship Standard, were also invited in to take part in this special training day.

Designed to raise awareness of battery-powered cordless technology, the day included a theory session in the morning, followed by a practical session in the afternoon.

Attendees were able to test the tools at the Cannington Golf Centre where they performed a variety of gardening work. This included trimming hedges down during opening hours, which would otherwise be limited due to the noise of petrol tools.

“Air pollution, noise pollution and sustainability are all clearly huge issues in today’s society. More and more, we can see how petrol-based equipment does not combat these problems, and in fact adds to them,” said Peter Melrose, President (EMEA) at EGO.

“That’s why initiatives like this where we can educate young people entering the trade is so important. With the cordless technology from EGO, we deliver the same power as an equivalent petrol tool, but with less fumes, that’s much quieter and much more sustainable for the planet.”

Cary Rawlings, Assessor/Trainer at Bridgwater & Taunton College, said, “I initially met the EGO team at Saltex 2017. We were thrilled to develop this relationship so that our students get to hear about the latest innovations and technology.”

The training day proved a hit with all parties. Jacob Camplin, a Level 2 Greenkeeping Apprentice, said, “Today was very enjoyable. I learnt about the benefits of battery-operated equipment over petrol.”

Attendees were all provided with EGO’s new FAQ document, giving detailed insight on battery technology and how it compares to petrol. The opportunity to understand how servicing and maintenance works with these tools was also a key part of the module, which included EGO’s mowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers and line trimmers.

Peter Melrose concluded, “It was great to partner with the Bridgwater and Taunton College and the day was a great success. It’s fantastic to see students gain exposure to a credible alternative to petrol, and we hope to hold another similar event again soon.”