Author: National Ploughing Association

Cistercian College Roscrea is back at this years’s National ploughing championships.   The College exhibition stand is located in the Duhallow Pavilion.   Following the success of its initiative over the last 15 years the College is setting out again to raise its profile and highlight the advantages and attractions of boarding school education for boys at this high profile and well attended event.

Cistercian College Roscrea, one of three remaining seven-day boarding schools for boys in the State, has students from all over the country, many who come from a farming background. The school has a strong agricultural tradition, adjoining as it does the 350 hectare Mount St Joseph Abbey farm. From 1916 until the mid 1930’s the College instituted a Farmers Class which could be seen as a forerunner of the course in Agricultural science on the Leaving Certificate programme today. A “Model Farm” was set up where members of the Farmers Class received the necessary training in agriculture. It had its own class hall where English, Maths and Geography were also taught.

A high standard in academic excellence and a balanced curriculum founded on a strong Christian ethos has earned Cistercian College Roscrea an exemplary reputation in second level boarding education. In this year’s Leaving Certificate, the majority of students took the higher level option in all subjects. More notably, all of the students sitting higher level science subjects excelled in their choice.

Cistercian College Roscrea is also noted for its sporting and cultural achievements. It is strong in both rugby and hurling, and also encourages students to participate in sports such as tennis, horse riding, golf and swimming. It is home to a state of art sports complex, and indoor heated swimming pool and golf course. Emphasis is also placed on cultural activities with students participating in an annual Opera and various dramatic and choral productions. Founded by the Cistercian monks in 1905, the college has produced many of the country’s best known politicians, statesmen and business men.

Find us at Duhallow – Educational and Business Stand no 742 Block 3 – Row 30

The new Twose TP 6750T is a really heavy duty model with 6.75 meters reach, telescopic outer arm, parallel arm linkage and fully independent hydraulic system with high power cast iron pumps and motors. Also showing for the first time will be the new electronic joystick controls providing full precision proportional controls of all the hedger arm movements.

The Sulky range of fertiliser spreaders, seed drills and power harrows will include the new DX Series fertiliser spreaders providing increased accuracy and capacity with more spreading widths and increased operator comfort.

The MX loader range has become the benchmark when it comes to premium agricultural loaders. The perfect partner for today’s modern tractor, the MX T and U Series loaders are designed for intensive use and provides unequalled performance, user comfort, safety and durability.

The Bargam sprayer range includes tractor mounted, trailed, self-propelled and amenity models with a wide range of tank sizes with manual or hydraulic folding booms to suit both grassland and tillage farmers. The addition of Precision Farming technology offers solutions to large scale arable farmers. The new Grimpeur Self Propelled sprayer has been a particular favourite with potato growers due to its ability to operate in very difficuty working conditions. All Bargam sprayers are fully compliant with the mandatory CE standards.

The all new SIP range of mowers, tedders and rakes will complete the comprehensive display on the Farmec Ireland Ltd stand number 475 in Block 20 at the National Ploughing Championships.

 FARM JOBS

FRS Farm Relief Services are running a recruitment drive on the stand this year, hiring farm workers and in particular milkers. You can talk to FRS staff about the roles and apply online there and then for the many nationwide positions. There are full-time and part-time opportunities offering flexibility, competitive rates, training, experience and career progression. FRS operators will share their own experiences. Experienced milkers are invited to apply, but training is available for candidates who show the right attitude and enthusiasm to upskill. For more information visit www.frsfarmrelief.ie/careers

SEE HERDWATCH FOR YOURSELF

Meet the Herdwatch team to get a demonstration and special offers of the award winning App used by thousands of farmers to save time and lessen the burden of compliance paperwork. You can sign up for a free trail or the special ploughing offer on the FRS stand or at the Innovation Arena. The Herdwatch team, along with their mascot ‘Herdie’, invite you to see Herdwatch for yourself.www.herdwatch.ie

3 STEPS TO SPRAYER COMPLIANCE – TRAINING, TESTING & REPORTING

FRS now provides Farmers with the three steps to spraying compliance: Training, Testing and Reporting. Under the new SUD (Sustainable Use Directive) farmers not only need to complete sprayer training they now need to have their sprayers tested by an approved equipment inspector. FRS Training are delivering sprayer training and testing nationwide and the Herdwatch App provides a handy way of recording and reporting sprays compliance, which will all be demonstrated on the FRS stand and on the big screen! Visitors also have the chance to win a sprayer test.

TYING OFF FENCING DEMONSTRATIONS

If you are interested in fencing, but would like a few tips from the experts, the FRS Fencing team will be instilling their know-how and demonstrating how to tie off wire and fence correctly at the FRS stand.Visitors also have the chance to win €500 worth of Tinsley wire products.

Visit FRS Farm Relief, FRS Fencing, FRS Training and Herdwatch on Stand 409, Row 18. Go to www.facebook.com/frsnetworkfor more information and videos.

2016 will see Spearhead Machinery Ltd exhibiting at the National Ploughing Championships alongside its newly created Irish Dealer Network, Spearhead Ireland.

With an ever increasing network of dealers across the country who are revving up to support the product range, Spearhead will be showcasing a number of reach, rotary and flail mowers- including several models within the Twiga Mid series – to whet the appetite of the Ploughing Championship visitor.

TWIGA MID SERIES

Combining many years of hedgecutter design with the latest technology, Spearhead’s best-selling, Twiga Mid series reach mower provides exceptional performance, reliability, durability and ease of operation.

Power is delivered by a potent 75hp fully independent hydraulic system favoured by the most demanding of cutting professionals.

The machine is available with sideways reach options of 5.5, 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0 metres with rear mounting as standard. The 5.5 and 6.0 metre options can be delivered with a forward reach arm set for improved visibility, whilst the 6.5 and 7.0 metre versions are both telescopic as standard.

Presented with the possibility to be fitted with a multitude of attachments and available with a quick attach coupling system for ease of exchange the Twiga Mid series is action packed with power and performance.

A choice of Precision Proportional, Multipilot and Propilot controls give a huge choice of operating systems which allow fingertip action of the arm and head movements to deliver precise control and exemplary operator comfort throughout the working day.

Parallel arm action is fitted as standard and makes the Twiga Mid series simple to use as the arm geometry maintains the same cutting head angle as it moves in and out.

Safety protection is offered in the form of a hydraulic break out ram which when activated lifts the cutting head clear of obstructions and automatically returns it once the obstruction has been cleared.

Designed for large scale farmers, contractors and local authorities – the Twiga Mid range offers, a host of customisation options, Spearhead’s most advanced control systems and long term output, robustness and durability time honed and proven in conditions around the world.

MULTICUT 300

Alongside the Twiga Reach Mowers will be the ever popular Multicut 300, Spearhead’s market leading rotary topper which is of extremely robust construction and designed specifically for the rigorous conditions of set a side, general mowing, scrub, gorse and rush clearance.

Featuring twin rotors with massive double blade holders and beastly 13mm thick spring steel blades, the Mulitcut 300 is capable of cutting and mulching material up to 80mm thick.

Shaft driven throughout, the machine is especially suited to continuous and rigorous use where less substantial machines fail.

HC 130 AND HC160 ROTARY HEAD

Spearhead will also present a new concept in hedgecutting during the show, the new HC130 and HC160 rotary heads.

Suitable for cutting and shredding hedges, the machines deliver improved cutting results, less debris and improved efficiency for professional operators.

Featuring a blade system consisting of 18 special hardened blades mounted on three rotors the machine delivers an exemplary finish in material up to 40mm thick.

The show takes place from the 20^th – 22^nd September in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly and will feature Spearheads strongest presence yet.