Author: National Ploughing Association

A Husqvarna Automower® is a machine you wouldn’t be incorrect to think has come from the future, space or even better, BOTH. When the geniuses  at Sweden first came up with the concept a few heads took a sharp turn, but here we are over 20 years later. A point in human-kinds history where we are able to kick our feet up, sit back and enjoy ourselves while our Husqvarna Automower® maintains our lawn. This is instead of us having to drag out a pesky push mower or get ourselves onto a ride-on mower for roughly 2 hours a week. Reminiscing on the story behind Husqvarna Automower® the team in Husqvarna Ireland want to generate their own head turning phenomena at this years National Ploughing Championships.  That is why we’re having a treasure hunt.

You may be asking what will a Husqvarna Automower® treasure hunt consist of, well lets just say A LOT. With us having spent over 20 years talking about all the time a Husqvarna Automower® will save you, it is about time we start talking about what we recommend you do with that time. These suggestions being based on some of the pass times of the staff of Husqvarna Ireland.

To further the idea of a treasure hunt we don’t just have one stand at the National Ploughing Championships, but also have five additional satellite stands. Our main anchor stand located in block 4, row 15, stand 321 is a good base for all attendees to start at to get involved with our Husqvarna Automower® treasure hunt. From our mainstand you will be able to pick up our exclusive Husqvarna Automower® treasure map which will highlight each of our five satellite stands. With each of the satellite stands being its own themed destination for you to see what our staff do instead of mowing their lawn thanks to Husqvarna Automower®.

Where the real fun comes into our Husqvarna Automower® treasure hunt is how you engage with it. At each of the satellite stands there will be a Husqvarna Automower® maintaining the grass. In front of our Husqvarna Automower® we will have a cut-out stand-in sign depicting what our staff do with all the free time their Husqvarna Automower® affords them. We want you to take a photo behind the cut-out stand-in signs and post it to your social media account on Facebook or Instagram tagging us using the hashtag “#HusqvarnaNPC”. Don’t think we would ask you to do all that without offering something in return. If you are bold enough to participate you could be in with a chance to win a prize.

The prize will see one lucky entrant win not only their own Husqvarna Automower®, but also loads of free time as they will no longer have to mow their own lawn. Jokes aside we don’t want to leave our winner twiddling their thumbs with all the free time they’ll now have on their hands thanks to Husqvarna Automower®. To avoid a scenario of thumb twiddling we will also be giving the winner a getaway to a destination that relates to the theme of the cut-out stand-in sign that won them the competition. The getaway destination prize is of a value of €1,000.

How to maximise your chances to win the prize unfortunately doesn’t involve taking hundreds of variations of one photo at the one stand. It does however involve you going to each of the satellite stands to take a photo, which you post on either Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag “#HusqvarnaNPC”. This means you can enter up to five times.

The themes of our five satellite stands are the following;

• Princess Paradise – for all of those who want to spend the time saved not having to maintain their lawn, maintaining their own physical appearance.
• Mermaid’s Tale – The perfect place to express what type  of beach goer you are; are you more likely to be underwater like a mermaid or hanging under a tree protecting your pasty Irish skin from the suns rays like a sloth?
• Smackdown – A perfect spot to make your childhood dreams of becoming a wrestling star come true.
• The Last Rodeo – For any of you out their who are handy on a horse we can confirm the last rodeo is the right spot for you this National Ploughing Championship.
• 19^th Hole – Finally, after you’ve lived a life of adventure and are ready to take it easy, head down to our golf course to pitch a few holes. You might even spot a Husqvarna Automower® maintaining the grounds. 

Don’t be shy we want everyone to be in with a chance to win our amazing prize. But to do so you must tag us using the hashtag “#HusqvarnaNPC”, on either Facebook or Instagram.

We are excited to be using the Show to  launch our recent appointment as Irish Distributors for Hyundai Power Products.

The range includes Generators, Welders, Compressors and Water Pumps, all of which will be on display on our stand Block 1 Row 21 Stand 475.

Specialist technical representatives from Hyundai will be on hand to advise on product range and selection.

More on our company and the Hyundai Power Equipment range can be found on https://cleanmachines.ie/power-equipment/

Bishop Denis Nulty and members of the Diocesan Ploughing Steering Group gathered today on the site of the National Ploughing Championships at Ballintrane, near Fenagh, Co Carlow to launch the Kildare & Leighlin Diocesan Stand. Bishop Denis is delighted to welcome the Ploughing Championships back to the diocese and is looking forward to hosting the Diocesan Stand 399, Block 3, Row 18, from September 17-19.

The theme for this year’s Stand is ‘Digging Deeper – Rooting for Christ’ a continuation of the diocesan campaign exploring new ways to help people understand and deepen their faith. As part of the initiative Bishop Denis has already launched a search for Ireland’s favourite prayer and has also invited people all over the country to get creative and to write a new prayer for the environment. Speaking at today’s launch, Bishop Denis, said; ‘it is fitting that we are launching our Diocesan Stand on the 15^th of August, The Feast of the Assumption, a Holy Day when people all over Ireland are visiting Holy Wells and other pilgrimage sites associated with Our Lady and taking time to pray some of the well-known and favourite prayers to Mary, our Mother. I expect that many of the prayers prayed today will be submitted in our search for Ireland’s favourite prayer. ‘

Bishop Denis also noted that, ‘The Ploughing Championships takes place during the annual Season of Creation, which the Catholic Church marks from 1 September – 4 October. He went on to say; ‘We are all constantly being called to take better care of our common home, the earth, and no group is closer to the earth than those who will attend the ploughing championship. To highlight our close connection with God’s created world I am also inviting people to write a new prayer (no more than 100 words) focusing on the environment and our care and concern for it.

Bishop Nulty is extending his ‘Prayer at the Ploughing’ challenge to people of all ages and all faiths. He is hopeful that many pupils in schools all over the country will take up the challenge to write their own ‘green prayer’ while also submitting their favourite traditional prayer.

People can submit their favourite prayer and their new ‘green prayer’ by sending them to  prayerattheploughing@kandle.ie. The closing date for entries is September 10. 

Visitors to the stand will be invited to vote for their favourite traditional prayer from those shortlisted. The winner of the ‘green prayer’ for the environment will be selected by a guest judge and a €100 ‘One for All’ voucher will be presented to its author.

Bishop Denis went on to talk about the joy of meeting the many people who come to the Diocesan Stand over the three days. Blessing the salt that will be distributed at the Stand this year he said: ‘One of the most popular gifts that the diocese has ever offered was the packs of blessed salt that were first brought to the event at Ratheniska. The salt was sprinkled on the land, on gardens and window boxes and over sick animals.  We know that our visitors appreciate our other gifts, wristbands and prayer cards. They enjoy our various wall displays, the chance to sit, have a cup of tea and a chat. Many people also value the opportunity to spend a little quiet time in prayer.

Commenting on the importance of the National Ploughing Championships event for the diocese, Bishop Nulty said, “Being present at the Ploughing Championships, whenever it is based in the diocese, is always an exciting time for us.  I thank the NPA Managing Director, Anna May McHugh, who is always so supportive of our participation. I thank Eamonn Tracey, our World Ploughing Champion who is with us here today and wish him well and God speed as he travels to Minnesota for this year’s event. 

Bishop Denis concluded by saying that; ‘The whole diocesan team is looking forward to a busy few days in Fenagh in September. In the meantime, I hope that many people will take up my challenge to tell me about their favourite prayer or to pen their own ‘green prayer’. “

For more on the Prayer at the Ploughing initiative see www.kandle.ie.

FRS Farm Relief are launching the new Farm Staff Partnership at the National Ploughing Championships this year.

The Farm Staff Partnership is a fresh new approach by FRS to help farmers manage their year-round staffing requirements.

Farmers now have the opportunity to get their staffing needs assessed by FRS farm staff management specialists and improvement plans put in-place. The vision is to provide a consistent FRS worker all year round for the days the farm needs them, with a commitment from all parties – FRS, staff member and farmer. This model will offer all year-round work to attract workers and while every farmer may not need fulltime staff FRS can co-ordinate the continuity of work between a number of farms.

Many farm staff want the stability of all year-round work and this new partnership will provide this opportunity, without it they would potentially seek employment in other sectors. Farmers require guidance to help them manage their staffing requirements and to adapt to the labour supply market and FRS will provide this.

FRS have researched the market and have identified that there is a disconnect between the supply and demand for farm staff and will assist farmers to assess their individual workload throughout the year and make recommendations to best suit their farm. Work on dairy farms is often seen as seasonal with peak demand from February to May coinciding with our spring calving season. All industries must adapt to market shifts and it is apparent that many workers want longer term continuity of work and will no longer be available on a seasonal capacity.

Under the partnership the farmer commits to taking on an FRS farm worker for the days per week required on a continuous basis through the year. FRS guides the farmer through the process and reviews the contract throughout the year. Sickness and accident support with a death and capital benefit and cashflow planning are also part of the partnership. Members also have the opportunity to be part of the annual Farm Staff Partnership Awards. The complete package will lead to better efficiencies on the farm with safety and personal benefits for the farmer and family, and more job security of the farm staff member.

Peter Byrne, CEO, FRS Network said “As the main provider of farm staff to farmers in Ireland it is imperative that we attract workers to work or come back to working on farms. Farmers and FRS have to compete with other industries for the available workforce as our economy reaches almost full employment. Job security and continuity of work are key factors for any worker and farming must be seen to offer these to attract people into our industry. 

FRS have responded to the changing needs of the industry and hence the development of the FRS Farm Staff Partnership and farmers now need to change the way they plan and manage their staffing requirements. Farmers need to take a look at their yearly workload and realise that they need to commit to FRS to secure staff on a longer-term basis. We have farm staff management specialist in each local office fully prepared to assist the farmer through this change process.”

FRS are calling on all potential farm workers to visit them at the ploughing to talk about the job opportunities that are opening up through this new Farm Staff Partnership approach and welcome all farmers to come to the stand (Row 4, Stand 92) to find out how the partnership can work for them.

Visit www.frsfarmrelief.ie/farmstaff for further information.