Positive vibes

Well readers, it is February already. The farming year is well on its way with slurry, hedgecutting, ploughing – where possible – and tillage kits all being looked at. Storm Éowyn brought things to a halt, along with the few days of snow we had in January, but it is now, as I pen this, getting back to business as usual, thankfully.

Change has been the name of January’s game and we have Trump back in the White House again, Micheál Martin is the new taoiseach, and Martin Heydon is the new agriculture minister. A long-overdue ceasefire in Gaza will, hopefully, stick and it is possible that Russia and Ukraine might broker a deal. We hope for white smoke there and a more stable environment for all.

So now, down to the business in hand. It is said that good news doesn’t sell newspapers and be that as it may, since the start of January this year, there has been some great positivity, and it deserves headlines!

Beef prices are at record levels; up and higher than what was paid back in June 2022 when record prices were achieved. This year could be the year of a beef resurge. The sheep trade is very strong with factories willing to pay top prices. The live trade has also jumped upwards.

Dairy is still forging ahead and tillage farmers are more confident about prices this harvest season. So there are bright lights at the end of tunnels and green shoots of growth appearing in the agri-scene. This is great for the sector, and for restoring confidence. Now, back to the newly elected Government and its proposed plan for farming in this country. Some of the items on the table include an increase in a sheep and suckler payment scheme, and a farm retirement scheme, which I feel, personally, will open the gates to more young farmers coming in to the business. We have an ageing farmer population; the youth is the future. There is also to be a red-line stance on the controversial Mercosur deal, and we will have more on these developments over the next few months.

On the machinery front, I visited LAMMA 2025 last month and what a fantastic show it was! More than 650 stands covering all things agri. Here is a quick roundup of the runners and riders who launched new kit at the show. First up is SlurryKat, the Northern Ireland-based manufacturer, that launched a new 24m dribble bar; Kubota launched the new Kubota M7 series of tractors along with a new Kubota pivot loader; and UK-based Teagle launched two new models of straw blowers – I will have more on these in later issues.

Major Equipment launched a new mulching header for mulching larger materials. Massey launched the new 5M series, Case showed an extensive range of new kit, and New Holland showed its new T5 tractor and all the latest models over all ranges.

Mastek uncovered its new Combi Engine Pump, Quicke showed its all-new N-series front loader (full information available from Farmhand), and McHale Engineering showed its new range of balers and rakes for the 2025 grass season.

JCB made a big announcement at the show when they formally announced a new dealer set up in Ireland – full details in our machinery section. The company also showed an extensive range of new and upgraded kit as well.

Though the Irish tractor market dipped last year by 12 per cent year on year, and the UK had its worst year in tractor sales since 1998, down by 13 per cent, year on year, there was an upbeat and positive mood at LAMMA. Here, as the Spring Farm Machinery shows take place, reports are coming in that the air of confidence is slowly starting to creep in here, too. There are far more positive vibes now than this time last year.

To finish, I would like to wish the incoming president of the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA), Maurice Kelly, of Kelly’s of Borris, and his new committee, the very best for 2025/2026.

Until next month, farm wisely, farm safely!