Category: PR

Stands

We will have 2 stands at this years’ NPA event:

1. An Indoor stall at the Exhibitors Marquee (stall number TBC)

• People will meet our sales and marketing team at the Exhibitor Stall and can hear all about the story behind Meade Potato Company – Ireland’s quality fresh and frozen produce provider – and our exciting new product, Meade Irish Rooster Chips.
• We will be running competitions, giving away coupons for our new chips, providing details of upcoming special offers, as well as tokens to try our chips for free at our Chip Bar outside!

2. Our Chip Bar will be located outside (exact location TBC).

• Here people can purchase our tasty chips throughout the day and see our colourful and branded Irish Rooster Chip Bar!
• We will also be giving away coupons to buy our frozen chips in the supermarkets.

The Story

Currently Ireland imports 120,000 tonnes of foreign frozen potato products each year, despite being a nation of great potato producers and connoisseurs!  More interestingly, to produce that 120,000 tonnes of imported frozen potato products requires approx. 240,000 tonnes of fresh potatoes to make – this represents the entire Irish potato crop output per year!  Yet our Irish potato growers suffer year after year when yields are high but there are no markets for their potatoes – our fresh potatoes end up being exported because there is no market here, and on the other hand we’re importing 22 articulated lorries full of frozen potato products each week!   We at Meade Potato Company want to change this.  We want to make a dent in the imports of the multinationals (Green Isle and McCain) and bring stability to the Irish potato industry.

The Company

For over 30 years Meade Potato Company has been growing, packing and bringing top quality potatoes, as well as fruit, vegetables and organic produce, to retailers nationwide from our family farm in Lobinstown, Co Meath.  Now we are putting our passion for potatoes and our knowledge of the humble spud to good use with the production of Meade Irish Rooster Chips.

The Product

We want to give Irish consumers the choice of purchasing an Irish home grown chip when they are shopping in the frozen aisle of their local supermarket.  And what a great product we have produced – Meade Irish Rooster Chips are made exclusively from Ireland’s favourite potato variety – the Rooster, sunflower oil and nothing else; they are naturally gluten free as well so it’s as healthy a chip as can be had.

Feedback

Customers love our chips – the first frozen chip that actually tastes like a potato, and it’s Irish to boot!  They love the fluffiness, the golden colour and the real rooster potato taste. But people are equally amazed by our story – the fact that until now there has been no Irish frozen chips in Ireland, and the fact that we import all our frozen potato products when we are a nation of people who are particular about their spuds and have the growing capability to produce our own frozen potato products!

Business contacts:

Caitriona Dillon, Product Marketing Manager, Meade Irish Rooster Chips – 087 738 5259

Jeni Meade, Senior PR Officer – 086 346 6840

This year at the McHale Plant Sales Stand Zetor will be unveiling their brand new Foretrra HD model premiered previously only at the Zetor roadshow earlier this year. The new Forterra HD will give Zetor an attractive offering at a competitive price in the high performance tractor segment with a choice of three models beginning with a 130hp model followed by a 140hp version and a range-topping 150hp version.

Powered by a 16-valve, turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine that delivers 35% extra torque, the 4-wheel drive HD will have a fully synchronised 30/30 forward/reverse gearbox, front and rear PTO, 40km/h speed and a long service life engine. Power to the front PTO is increased to 90kW while closure of the PTO clutch is dealt with in a new manner using a feedback controlled start-up system.

Stylishly designed yet muscular in appearance, the Forterra HD boasts several new features that include an ergonomic, multiple-function control panel situated on the right of the cab on which all essential controls are comfortably close to the driver’s hand. Particular attention has been paid to reducing noise and vibration inside the suspended driver’s cab. Clear lens technology is employed on headlights and ploughing lights.

Being a big brother to the existing Forterra HSX model, the new Forterra HD is heavier, more stable and bears greater loads on the three-point hitch. It has a 130mm wider wheelbase that, at 2,720mm, provides even better weight distribution and stability. To achieve greater load-bearing capacity, the rear axle is extended by 226mm for 1,800 to 2,000 track widths.

Front axle suspension will be offered as standard on the HD 150 and can be chosen as an option on 130 and 140HD versions. The front driven axle contains a 100% differential lock. To make fieldwork easier, it is equipped with automatic headland turning. Other technical enhancements include an additional four-part hydraulics distributor with electro-hydraulic controls and an additional two-part hydraulics distributor for front three-point linkage and front terminals.

For more information contact your local Zetor dealer – visit www.zetor.ie

McHale Plant Sales Stand will, this year, be host to the renowned WA320PZ-7, the latest edition to the KOMATSU wheel loader line and the exemplary line of innovative and technologically advanced offerings from Komatsu.

With a net horsepower of 165 (123 kW), the WA320-7 is powered by a Komatsu SAA6D107E-2 engine and is EPA Tier 4 Interim and EU Stage IIIB emission certified. Built upon a proven Tier 3 engine platform, Komatsu has leveraged its leadership in technology and innovation to design a more environmentally friendly engine, which decreases fuel consumption by up to 10%, compared to the WA320-6.

The new wheel loader features improved efficiency, lower fuel consumption, improved operator comfort, and enhanced serviceability to maximize productivity while lowering operating costs.

New features of the WA320-7 include:

• SmartLoader Logic
• Responsive Hydrostatic Powertrain System
• Convenient Maintenance and Serviceability
• Enhanced Operator Environment
• EPA Tier 4 Interim and EU Stage IIIB Emission Certified Engine
• Customer peace-of-mind is standard with Komatsu CARE
• Also at the packed McHale Stand this year will be the multi award winning Merlo Turbofarmer – Winner of Machine Of The Year 2014 in the logistics and transport category & Awarded 1 of 4 gold medals at the Agritechnica Awards in Hanover October 2013 for its technological innovation, Merlo were also recognised as one of 12 companies which has had the greatest influence on the evolution of modern agriculture. Irish distributor McHale Plant Sales will be bring a Merlo P34.7 and a P40.7 along to the Ploughing Championships to demonstrate the machines superior features which include;
• Superb visibility with one of the widest cabs on the market
• Three alternative suspension systems (Boom Suspension, Axle Suspension and Cab Suspension – ensuring maximum comfort, increasing safety and performance.
• Hydraulically operated frame levelling – allowing the chassis to be levelled horizontally, compensating for sloping ground
• Merlo’s exclusive boom side-shift system – allows the boom to be positioned with the utmost precision, without having to move the machine
• European type-approval for road use – up to 21 tonnes, where permitted by local regulations.

McHale Plant Sales have been located in Birdhill Co.Tipperary since 1952 where their Sales, Service and Hire centre is located. Additionally their Dublin office in Greenogue business park, Rathcoole Co.Dublin serves as an express GENUINE parts office ensuring customers of the best service at all times. Contact them today on 061 379 600 or visit www.mchaleplantsales.com

Lely the world leader in robotic milking systems and the NPA will once again join forces for a live robotic milking demonstration at this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Stradbally Co. Laois.

A herd of 40 cows will arrive on site the weekend before the event to settle in and during the Ploughing week they will be milked at their leisure as they do on their home farm.

Lely’s, Tomás Cooney commented ‘The cows are milked more frequently than in a traditional system which reflects what happens in nature where a calf suckles the cow many times a day. The Lely Astronaut A4 recognises each cow individually’. Every event from birth until the day the cow leaves the farm is stored on the T4C (time for cows) management program which is then presented clearly to the farmer on a dashboard. It enables him to supply an individual cow with all her needs for optimal health, milk production and well-being.”

Speaking in advance of the NPA press launch tomorrow, Ms Anna May McHugh said “the cows and the robotic milking were a huge attraction for all visitors to the event last year. I’m really delighted that the visiting public will once again have an opportunity to see the whole process in action this year. With many schools and colleges attending, it perfectly highlights the importance of merging science, technology and farming techniques to find positive solutions and innovative processes that can have a great impact on working rural life”.

Kiwi Country Clothing will be providing customers with fantastic New Zealand cold and wet weather clothing… best farm oilskins available in Ireland

From possum fur insoles for farmer’s wellies, to handmade Freddie Adams underwear, Liz McGuinness will kit you out from head to toe… literally!

And you will get a free fitting for your Freddie Adams.

Liz has decided to gift a pair of freddies to anyone who buys an Outback overcoat.

Anyone who visited her shop at the NPA last year will be well aware of the great fun and frolics associated with Ms McGuinness… Fast wit and great service to match the outstanding product range.

And for the ladies; The stunning range of possum merino and possum fur accessories, smart tailored rain proof jackets.

New this season is the premium range of possum fur boots, and Canterbury Sheepskin shoes boots and slippers.

Kiwi Country Clothing also provide solutions for diabetes, raynaud’s and stoma clients.

See them near Entrance 6; Block No. 2 Row No 43 Stand No 719

www.kiwicountryclothing.ie