My first ‘real’ job after leaving horticultural college was as a head gardener in a local convent. My job was to keep the lawns and flower beds in good order and supply the nuns with fresh vegetables for most of the year. I had replaced the former head gardener who had just retired and I had lots of ideas as to how I would do the tasks that lay ahead of me.

Going through the old sheds I came across an old walk behind Howard rotavator. The last time I saw such a machine was in my grandfather’s garden, which he used to till the soil. I was keen to get this Howard working but when I took it out it wouldn’t start.

Getting nowhere, I decided to bring it down to the local lawnmower shop, which had a garage. The mechanic there looked at it and, seeing the condition of it, said ‘You’d be better off getting a new machine, by the time you have paid for getting this one back to working order”. Disappointed with hearing this I left and brought the Howard back to the convent. I then remembered that John, a neighbour of mine, had his own car garage so I decided to pay him a visit. He looked at the old Howard and said “Leave it with me and I’ll see what I can do”. Several days later I returned to John and to my pleasant surprise the rotavator was back in full working order, for little remuneration. John had been in the trade for many years and gained lots of experience. He knew all about engines like the back of his hand.

I used the machine for the rest of that season before I moved on to a new job later in the year.

There are many good mechanics around the country who, like John, are worth their weight in gold. When the time comes for them to leave their job or retire they will be difficult to replace. This leaves a dilemma for garage owners, and dealers as it is hard to get trained and experienced mechanics in the agri and sportsturf sector. There is a growing need for young qualified apprentices in agricultural mechanics.

There are some places in Ireland that specialize in agricultural and groundcare mechanical training.

CAFRE at their Greenmount Campus in Co. Antrim offer a Level 3 in Land-based Engineering. This is a full-time two year course which includes summer work experience. However, the closing date to apply for the next course, starting in September 2019, is the end of June so those interested need to apply straight away. Phone Dr. Stephen Graham on 048 94426745 for more details or email him at stephen.graham@daera-ni.gov.uk You can also apply online by visiting www.cafre.ac.uk

Generation Apprenticeship offer an Agricultural Mechanics Apprenticeship which, on successful completion, the apprentice is awarded a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft – Agricultural Mechanics. This apprenticeship consists of four on-the-job phases with an approved employer and three off-the-job phases in an educational organisation. Apprentices will be invited to attend their off-the-job training phases in accordance with the SOLAS scheduling system. For more information visit www.apprenticeship.ie

A number of John Deere dealers were targeted in a series of thefts in the midlands and east of the country, while some farmers also fell victim, in what has been described as a ‘coordinated’ criminal act.

Templetuohy Farm Machinery (TFM) had two branches targeted, in Laois and Wexford, with the thieves making off with a number of display (GPS / precision farming) screens and similar electronic equipment from inside the tractors.

One of the affected tractors: The equipment was ripped from the cab. Image source: Templetuohy Farm Machinery Facebook page

Pat Costello, sales manager with TFM, said that they were still trying to account for the total cost of everything that was taken.

Costello said that the total cost of the stolen equipment could be as high as €80,000 to €90,000.

He said that the thefts were most likely coordinated, and that the thieves were “well tuned in” to what they were doing.

Costello also said that he was aware of a number of farmers who were targeted in a similar way.

Meanwhile, Meath Farm Machinery in Co. Meath was also targeted, with a representative of that dealership saying that they also had equipment stolen from John Deere tractors.
Meath Farm Machinery is trying to establish when the equipment was taken and the total value of it.

The dealership’s representative said that the group was also trying to determine how the thieves could use the stolen items, pointing out that there are recorded serial numbers on the equipment.

Source: Agriland

Weidemann Ireland is delighted to announce they have acquired a new dealer.

They have welcomed Whelans Garage of Ennis, Co. Clare to their dealer network. Whelans Garage will be covering Counties Clare and Limerick.

Weidemann Ireland Sales Manager John O'Boyle was delighted to officially welcome them on board and is pictured below with Joe Whelan (Junior).

From left: Joe Whelan (Junior) of Whelans Garage and John O’Boyle, Weidemann Ireland Sales Manager

Whelan's Garage are a long established business with 3 locations in Clare and South Galway (Loughrea and Kilrush). With over 40 staff, they are renowned for excellent dealer facilities and great aftersales backup due to the large team of highly trained technicians. They have a selection of new Weidemann machines in stock and also can supply any model

There have been a number of innovations in mowing technology recently.

The Toro eTriFlex triplex mower is an example of such a machine, which significantly reduces noise.

The eTriFlex is a classic example of Toro responding to customer demand by creating a machine which significantly reduces noise. The new hydraulics-free Greensmaster eTriFlex 3360 with lithium-ion battery cuts noise to deliver quiet, leak-free, clean cutting. This allows work to start earlier and may circumvent noise regulations. It will help avoid complaints from area residents and prevent having to delay mowing certain greens early in the morning or during the day. Plus, with greens ready earlier, it could enhance revenue by allowing earlier tee times.

The new Greensmaster 1021 brings a new level of consistency to pedestrian mowing and takes all that was revolutionary, popular and legacy-making about the 1000 pedestrian mower and adds design improvements to make operation smoother, green-to-green cut more consistent and adjustment easier.

Toro’s new Greensmaster 1021

The 21-inch mower features a new telescoping loop handle which can be easily adjusted to comfortably accommodate operators of all heights and skill levels and handle isolation mounts to give the cutting unit constant contact with the ground throughout the mowing process.

David Cole, managing director at Reesink Turfcare, an official UK distributor for Toro, says: “These machines demonstrate the latest in terms of cutting-edge design and technology and our dedication to bringing our customers the very latest advancements in the industry.”

Czech tractor manufacturer, Zetor has announced completion of what it terms a ‘comprehensive market assessment and reorganisation’ and is poised to set the brand on what Nigel Wilson, their Sales Director for UK and Ireland, says will be ‘a new and more progressive path’.

Foreseeing what they believe will be a ‘high opportunity’ for Zetor in Ireland, the company is underpinning its plans on a realigned and reinvigorated 10-strong dealer network, with more appointments to come, and a vastly-expanded model range that includes units not previously part of Zetor’s offering here.

To the fore representing Zetor on-the-ground in Ireland will be their sales manager Gerry Rabbitte, supported on the after-sales side by their technical support specialist, Eamon Cleary.

Responding to some recent online media reports that Rabbitte says were ‘somewhat wide of the mark in matters of opinion and detail’, the plan being pursued by Zetor will be to ‘revive and build upon the tremendous position that Zetor holds in the minds of Irish farmers since the brand was first introduced in Ireland in the 1940s’.

Spearheaded by a dealer network that includes some new to the brand and others loyal to it over decades, the intention over time will be to increase the existing complement up to 20 in number with vacancies remaining to be filled Dublin, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan and in Northern Ireland.

Those currently appointed to represent the brand are: Donegal Farm Machinery (Letterkenny), Jacob Farm Services (Enniscrone), Kevin Brogan Tractors (Roscommon), Brogan Tractor Sales (Tuam), Western Tractors Ltd. (Ballinasloe), Alan King Agri Sales Ltd. (Tipperary), O’Flynn’s Garage (Ballyporeen), Eardly Agri Services Ltd (Kilkenny), West Waterford Agri Sales (Tallow) and Goff Agri & Plant Sales (Wexford).

On the model front – spanning the 40hp to 170hp power band – main focus will fall on their popular 80hp MAJOR series, now being manufactured in an attractive and trendy bodywork which follows the new ZETOR design language prepared by legendary Italian design studio, Pininfarina. High on the list also will be the latest generation 76hp to 117hp PROXIMA, the 96hp to 147hp FORTERRA and the most powerful six-cylinder, 150hp or 171hp, top-of-the-range CRYSTAL.

Completing the line-up are two models less well-known here – the compact and manoeuvrable 43hp to 50hp UTILIX, a model designed for work on small farms, parks, gardens and sports facilities, and a 67hp HORTUS, a model equipped for front loader work and fitted with 24/24 transmission in mechanical or PowerShuttle format.

With more than 50,000 units sold since first introduced here over 50 years ago, Zetor has always been viewed as a long-life, reliable and easy-on-the-pocket workhorse with many models introduced in earlier years still in regular use on farms around the country – spare parts for which are available through the Zetor dealer network.

Now configured to be more competitive than before, and offering what Zetor claims will be ‘greater value to customers’, dealers will have the additional support of a new finance partnership between Zetor and Finance Ireland through which customer purchases and dealer stocking arrangements can be funded.

With distribution now under the direct control of Zetor HQ in Brno, Czech Republic, future logistical arrangements regarding model supply, parts distribution and administration will be managed through the company’s UK base in Coventry. Zetor UK Eardly Agricultural Service Pat Brogan Western Tractor Goff Agri & Plant Sales.

Source: The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI)

Massey Ferguson recently announced that it will introduce three new tractors ranging from 75-95hp, aimed specifically for farmers on hilly terrains.

Massey Ferguson has developed a high-specification three-tractor range for hilly conditions. Massey claims the three models within the 3700 AL series (3707 AL 75hp, 3708 AL 85hp and 3709 AL 95hp) come with a choice of standard or wide, flat floor or tunnel cab option, which can reduce the overall height to less than 2.44m.

Power and speed

Power for all three models is delivered by a 3.4l four-cylinder engine which does not require AdBlue, further reducing running costs.

All models will be equipped with Massey’s 24/12 power shuttle transmission with speedshift – a dual-speed powershift offering simple operation of the eight clutchless changes in each of the three ranges, using the buttons located on the gear lever.

A multifunction joystick will enable control of the transmission functions such as direction changes, powershifts and a declutch button, as well as control over spool valves.
Its electrically operated three-point linkage has a capacity of 3t, with the inclusion of 540/540E PTO as standard. The series has a hydraulic pump capable of outputting 95l/min, with two electro-hydraulic spools as standard, although the option is there to increase this to four.