Saving time focus of machinery show for farmers

TECHNOLOGY to free up time on the farm, so that new sources of income can be developed, was on the minds of many farmers visiting the Farm Machinery Show, which concludes this evening at the Punchestown Event Centre.

Dairy farmers were looking at machinery for handling, fertiliser and silaging, and discussing the latest findings on how automatic milking can free up time.

A trail at Gelli Aur Agricultural College in Wales showed it takes just three and three quarter hours per day to feed, check and clean the milking station and cow accommodation for a 50-strong herd, with automatic milking.