3 days ago
DAFM in the market for a new reverse drive tractor
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is currently inviting tenders for the supply and delivery of a new tractor.
According to the tender documents, the department is seeking a four-wheel drive (4WD) reverse drive agricultural tractor with a horsepower requirment of between 130-160hp.
The new tractor must be delivered to Kildalton Agricultural College, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny.
The document also notes that tenders must allow for trade in of a 2000 New Holland TS115 tractor (115hp).
The estimated value of the tender, which closes for submissions at 2:00p.m on July 18, is €120,000 excluding VAT.
DAFM is responsible for the Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) trials of new varieties of agricultural crop species.
Newly bred crop varieties are submitted to the department for evaluation by European and world plant breeders via their Irish agents.
Varieties are independently assessed for yield, quality and agronomic traits. The most suitable varieties from National List trials are assessed for a further one or two sowings to determine their suitability for inclusion on the recommended list.
The department's crop policy, evaluation and certification division operates farms at various locations around the country and also has trials on farmer sites.
At the DAFM centres, commercial crops are grown in conjunction with the trials.
The tender documents outline that these tasks require tractors and other machinery in order to prepare the soil for sowing, crop husbandry including spraying plant protection products and spreading fertiliser and other duties such as moving grain trailers.
"The new tractor is sought to replace a 2000 registration New Holland TS115 tractor (115HP), to afford the division a tractor with additional specification, efficiency and health and safety features," the document states.
