‘We need to show people in secondary school that being a mechanic can offer a good life’

New FTMTA president Diarmuid Claridge urges more young people to consider doing apprenticeships rather than go to university, and discusses the issues facing his sector

Working as an agricultural mechanic does not mean “rolling around in oil and grease” it’s about working with the highest level of technology, and there are serious opportunities for young people in the sector, according to new FTMTA president Diarmuid Claridge.

The Kilkenny native started out his career as an apprenticeship with Murphy’s Motors, a New Holland dealer in Glenmore, and is now managing director of Pöttinger Ireland.

Education

One of his main goals as president is to encourage more young people into the farm machinery industry.

“I’d like to see more young people involved, especially as there’s a skills shortage there now,” Diarmuid says.

“After finishing secondary school I completed an agricultural apprenticeship with a local New Holland dealer because four years in college just didn’t appeal to me.

“I went to Australia where I worked as a fitter and welder on a largescale cotton and cereal farm for a few years.

“I eventually came home and worked for different companies, such as Massey Ferguson and Lemken before moving onto my current role with Pöttinger.”

He feels that many young people are being blocked from taking a similar path by parents pushing them towards university education as opposed to apprenticeships.

“Parents want their kids to go to college, but that’s not the only way to have a successful career,” Diarmuid says.

“When people think of working in a workshop, they think they’ll be rolling around in oil and grease, but it’s far from that.

“Today’s agri-mechanics are highly trained people working with the highest level of technology, with a specialised skill-set.

“Many agri-dealerships today have proper career ladders in place for employees that want to work their way up and progress in the industry.

“We need to show people in secondary schools that being a mechanic can offer a good life.”

Improve FTMTA image

Being heavily involved in the industry, Diarmuid felt he had a lot to offer the FTMTA and got involved so he could help move the organisation forward.

“I joined to meet new people but also to give something back to the industry,” he says.

“We need to improve the brand image of the FTMTA a lot of farmers might not know what we do, but a lot of unseen work goes on that farmers and dealerships benefit from, both directly and indirectly. Being a member has huge benefits.”

Brexit

While Covid-19 has dominated the headlines in recent months, Diarmuid is cautious about the

Chains of office:

New FTMTA president Diarmuid Claridge is determined to “improve the brand image” of his organisation

threat of Brexit, which still looms large over the industry.

“If you had asked me back in March how sales would go for this summer season, I wouldn’t have been so positive considering the potential effects of Covid-19.

“However, our manufacturing plants took the necessary steps early on and we were able to keep producing machines and parts to fulfil our promise to our customers.

“Brexit is looming in the distance and I don’t think Boris Johnson will produce ‘the magic spell’ where it will pass by without affecting us in some way, but whatever the effect will be, we will have to adapt and change in a similar way as we have done these past few months.

“Agriculture is a very resilient industry and we have been through similar situations before, so I have no doubt we’ll get out of this one now.”

Technology advances

While technology in farming has progressed rapidly in recent years, Diarmuid still feels Ireland is still a little behind the rest of the world.

“Tech in farming is always growing. We’re one of the slower markets to adapt places like the USA and parts of mainland Europe are ahead of us in this regard. In countries like Japan, for example, there are already autonomous tractors working, with one guy sitting in an office controlling three tractors in a field.

“However, farming is becoming more professional 20-30 years ago, if you mentioned measuring grass you’d be laughed at. But today we’re harvesting silage and we’re measuring the quality and volume of

it constantly. “Machines are getting bigger but it’s a welcome change

this new tech is adding cost to machines but in the long run it will mean there is more saving and increased profits for the end user.”

Farm safety

Another area where Diarmuid feels improvements need to be made is the area of farm safety, where he feels the whole industry must shoulder more responsibility.

“As machinery manufacturers, we also need to focus on safety. We have a responsibility to ensure lives aren’t being lost through incorrect operation.

“It will always be a challenge to make people aware of the dangers but we must continually look for new and improved ways to keep people safe.

“We all have a responsibility to look out for each other.

“Farming and farmyards can be very busy places, there is a lot going on, but we shouldn’t be afraid to point our safety concerns, for example like uncovered slurry pits or damaged PTO guards, for fear of being told to mind our own business.

“We have a responsibility to keep each other safe.”

‘Whatever the effect of Brexit will be, we will have to adapt and change in a similar way as we have done with Covid these past few months’

‘As machinery manufacturers, we also need to focus on safety. We have a responsibility to ensure lives aren’t being lost through incorrect operation’