Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors (FCI) National Agricultural Contractor Conference, took place at the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise on Wednesday, 4 December, 2024. The Conference topics focused on a range of important issues that impact on the practical work of agricultural contractors in Ireland. The conference was officially opened by Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD. The 2024 FCI National Agricultural Contractor Conference was sponsored by FBD Insurance.

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With non-protected urea being proposed to be banned from September 2025, Dermot Forristal of Teagasc Oak Park examined the issues around spreading accuracy. Dermot outlined for contractors, who provide the bulk of spreading services, how to manage the product and how to deal with new machine settings that will prevail.

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At this time of the year as many contractors provide hedge management on thousands of farms, Dr Alan Moore of Hedgerows Ireland outlined how in his view contractors can deliver sustainable hedgerows. Hedgerows Ireland is a non-governmental organization that formed in 2019 to protest against hedgerow removal by Irish Rail contractors in Co. Tipperary. It has since developed into a national organization that addresses all aspects of hedgerows in Ireland. His presentation was the first one in front of generations of Irish agricultural contractors who have provided hedge management services that have sustained hedgerows as viable stock fences that enhance biodiversity.

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Managing an agricultural contracting business can be a stressful occupation. Finola Colgan from Mental Health Ireland, who has worked with various farming organisations on issues of stress management provided some strategies to help contractors to manage the stresses associated with their business.

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Slurry separation can provide a solution to the practical issues associated with low emission slurry spreading and David Whelan of Vogelsang Ireland examined the options, management strategies and costs associated with slurry separation systems for agricultural contractors.

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With the introduction of a new two-line hydraulic braking system regulation for all new tractors registered after 1 January 2025, Gary Abbott of the Irish Farmers Journal provided an insight into what the changes can mean for new tractor buyers in 2025.

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Michael Moroney, Research Director at FCI examined the issue of contractor profitability based on an examination of accounts of agricultural contractor businesses in 2022 and 2023, whose accounts have been lodged in the Companies Office. This will be a further update on the presentation given at the FCI National Contractor Conference in 2022.

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The three sessions during the day were chaired by FCI Chair John Hughes, Noel Dunne of the Irish Farmers Monthly and Norman Egar, FCI National Vice Chair.

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