Three innovative Irish agricultural companies will feature on the Enterprise Ireland stand at LAMMA, the UK’s largest machinery show, next month.

It has been an exciting year of machinery launches and events. This week I look back at the highlights of the first six months in the machinery and equipment world as reported on these pages.

Machinery fans are spoiled for choice next week, as LAMMA 2016 in the UK, and coser to home in Co Cork, Millstreet’s Q8 Farm Machinery Show, both open their exhibitions next Wednesday and Thursday.

Macra na Feirme’s Young Farmers Positive Forum, backed by AIB, was a huge success with 90 young farmers in attendance in Birr, Co Offaly.

Macra’s inaugural Young Farmers Positive Forum in association with AIB aims to deliver relevant targeted information to young farmers to help them pave the way for a successful career in farming.

Herdwatch, which is part of the FRS Network, has been profiled in the prestigious SFA National Small Business Awards 2015 as one of five emerging new businesses.

Digital innovation will be a vital ingredient in future agri-business and tourism success, according to West Cork Development Partnership.

Managing live data on your herd via mobile phone can eliminate up to four hours of paperwork per week, says dairy farmer and Herdwatch app user Andrew Darmody.

Herdwatch is the only cross-platform mobile service approved by the Department of Agriculture, allowing farmers to register calves directly from compatible smart-phones, tablets, laptops and PCs, anytime and anywhere, according to FRS Network (Farm Relief Services).

At the Ploughing Championships next week, FRS Network will preview a mobile herd manager system which they will have available later in the year.