Show time

The farm-machinery industry in Ireland is a key cog in the overall workings of the agri-food industry and is central to the future of our farming communities. Its economic importance, the innovative solutions it offers and the career opportunities it holds are issues that FTMTA executive director Michael Farrelly is keen to highlight, alongside the existing challenges that need to be addressed: “Throughout Covid restrictions, there was supply chain disruption, which led to much longer delivery times. While we are seeing some light at end of tunnel regarding this, there are still some challenges out there. Because of the long supply timeline, machinery dealers had to get into pre-ordering machinery much earlier; that can lead to problems such as high stock levels. Anecdotally, I am seeing that while business in general is good for Irish dealers, there is a higher level of stock in the yard. However, the value of second-hand equipment is strong and that is very important for dealerships.”

Recruitment

“No matter who you talk to and what sector they are in, the biggest issue for everyone currently is recruitment, and it is no different for the machinery sector. There are serious staff shortages – right across the board, in every area, whether it is admin, welders or salespeople. But what we are very much focused on is a critical shortage of agricultural mechanics. We recently surveyed members on this topic and the results showed that there is a shortfall of approximately 600 qualified mechanics in the industry here in Ireland and that is having a huge impact. We are trying to liaise with all the relevant bodies to see if we can work in a joined-up way to alleviate the pressure and attract more people into the industry. A lot of manufacturers are also running recruitment campaigns.”

Michael believes that it is also about telling the right stories, showcasing the possibilities and educating people on the career progression that is evident within the trade. “There are so many examples of key figures within the machinery world who started out as mechanics and are now in very senior roles. The industry is fast-moving and innovative – we need to showcase this better. And we need colleges offering tailored courses that the industry requires; if this happens, there will be huge support from the industry in terms of work placement and sharing knowledge from the sector. That kind of collaboration between industry, colleges and even schools is very important.”

Showtime

Traditionally, the FTMTA always ran a large indoor show in Punchestown during the winter months but during Covid restrictions this was not possible. “Last year we ran with a summer show and it was very successful for us, but our aim is to get back to where we were, with an indoor show in the winter that is out of sync with Agritechnica. In 2024 we hope to return to this and then have a Grass & Muck event the following year.

“We got great feedback from the public and exhibitors on our summer show last year and we are really looking forward to this year’s event. The main comment from those attending last year was on the quality of the attendees and exhibitors; the right people were there. I think the strength of our show is that it is a machinery show and doesn’t try to be anything else. It is where the experts are. And I think that large manufacturers are being more choosey about attending shows in general. The FTMTA Farm Machinery Show is 100 per cent about farm machinery so it attracts the right people – attendees don’t want to know how much a machine is, they already know that! They want to get into the technicalities. We need to remember that and make sure we don’t ever lose sight that this is a machinery show and not a country fair. Some organisations run shows as a commercial enterprise; we certainly don’t run them to lose money but our core reason for hosting the show is to benefit our members.”

Government support

There is a huge amount of change happening within agriculture as a whole, being driven primarily by policies addressing climate action. Michael believes that the machinery sector should have a place at the table here and notes that interaction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is fundamental to this. “I would estimate that the machinery industry in Ireland is worth over €1bn euro annually to the economy in terms of sales, and that is not even when you factor in all the other businesses that benefit from the industry as well; the tentacles of our dealerships reach far and wide and drive a lot of economic activity to rural areas.

“There needs to be much more interaction between the Department of Agriculture and us; the changes coming down the track for Ireland’s agri-food sector are intrinsically linked to our machinery sector. For example, the push until recently was to go bigger and bigger with horsepower but now, with a focus on the organic farming sector, there is a need for smaller equipment, which we would have been selling 15 years ago. Unless there is better engagement, there won’t be the stock in the market to meet these requirements. Also, with TAMS, a lot is focused on the bigger tillage farmers in terms of precision farming but I think that everyone could benefit from precision ag so we should be making it more widely available to farmers.

“In addition, contractors are excluded from the TAMS grants and, while I can understand some of the reasons here, the reality of the situation is that most of the slurry and chemical spraying is done by contractors and there has to be very heavy investment in equipment. Should the Department be looking at other ways to incentivise contractors to help them invest in new technology?”

Future of farming

Concluding, Michael points to the innovation evident on farms today and comments on what is coming down the track: “Already, widely across Ireland we have robots milking cows; we have tractors that almost drive themselves with millimetre accuracy; and sprayers that can accurately apply inputs according to what is needed to minimise impact on biodiversity. This is game-changer stuff and there is so much more coming down the line. It is really exciting. What will be interesting to watch over the next five to 10 years is what can be gleaned from the big data that is being collected right now out in the fields. This information will drive the next steps.”