Following on from the great success of FTMTA GRASS 2010 at Gurteen Agricultural College in May of last year, planning has already started in relation to next year’s event. FTMTA GRASS 2010 was the first running of a national grassland technology demonstration event in Ireland and was a highlight of the farm machinery year. Visitor numbers were far in excess of those expected with up to 10,000 people attending the event and enjoying a great day. The considerable efforts of the exhibitors with regard to presentation and display resulted in a fantastic visual spectacle on the day with a great array of machinery on site.
Those present got the opportunity to witness ongoing demonstrations throughout the day in the grass, reseeding, silage pit, slurry spreading and farm yard manure spreading areas as well as the chance to view the numerous trade stands. All demonstrations were most impressive and were well attended. The central location at Gurteen lent itself well to the event being adjacent to a main road and easily accessible from all over the country with good parking provision on site and a well laid out site available for multiple demonstrations and trade stands.
It came as no surprise, given the success of FTMTA GRASS 2010, when the FTMTA announced shortly afterwards that it intended to make such an event a regular feature on alternate years to the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show.
It has also been decided that the event will in future be called FTMTA GRASS & MUCK to more accurately reflect the full nature of the event as the slurry and farmyard manure spreading demonstrations were a very well attended feature of the 2010 event.
The 2012 event will take place at Gurteen Agricultural College during May of 2012 with an exact date yet to be confirmed. Exhibitor packs will be issued later this year and will be sent to all exhibitors from the 2010 event and the 2011 FTMTA Farm Machinery Show. Any other firms interested in exhibiting at FTMTA GRASS & MUCK 2011 should inform the FTMTA on 045 409309 or at show@ftmta.ie so that they will also receive the exhibitor pack when it is issued.
