The place of the tractor is featured in the pages of a new book that I’ve had great interest in reading, Irish Farming Life, History and Heritage, by Jonathan Bell and Mervyn Watson.

Jonathan and Mervyn have worked as curators in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum for more than 30 years, so they are well qualified on the subject.

This book looks at the social aspects of Irish farming history, including family, neighbours, labourers, servants and a sense of belonging, from the 19th century to recent times, with some interesting facts and figures against the background of a changing society.

The writers note that the mechanisation of crop production was closely tied to the use of tractors. And the pace of tractor introduction was very quick, especially during the two world wars, as farmers responded to Government compulsory tillage policies.

In 1917, when the Irish Department of Agriculture established a tractor section, there were only 70 tractors in Ireland. That was also the year Henry Ford began to manufacture tractors outside Cork.

One year later, there were 640 tractors, according to the records.

Harry Ferguson developed his world-famous, multi-functional tractors in Co Down shortly afterwards.

In 1939, there were only 550 tractors in Northern Ireland, and by 1945 this number had grown to 7,300.

The Economic War and its impact on tractors and life on farms is also recorded in the book. By the 1940s, Northern Ireland had almost double the numbers of tractors than in the south. The book reports that by 1960 there were 22,000 tractors in the south, compared with 9,000 in the North.

The book gives a great sociological background to the history and growth of the National Ploughing Championships and the intense rivalry associated with inter-county ploughing matches.

It describes the establishment of the inter-country ploughing matches and the rivalry of the time – a year before the outbreak of the Economic War with Britain in 1932. The first tractor ploughing class was held more than 10 years later in 1942.

Grow more wheat

It reports how the then Minister for Agriculture Dr James Ryan saw the National Ploughing Championships as the ideal stage to engage with farmers on the issue of growing more wheat, and for farmers to hone their ploughing skills through competition.

For the minister, it was an occasion for farmers and the Government to unite in a common purpose to save the nation. And county committees of agriculture were allowed to give financial grants for farmers to local ploughing societies who entered teams.

Available from Four Courts Press (www.fourcourtspress.ie, 01-4534668) for €24.95 and from good bookshops.

Tractor insurance for vintage road runs – FBD clarifies policy

Following queries on the issue of insurance for non-vintage tractors taking part in vintage events or road runs, FBD has confirmed that all tractors it insures for farming purposes are covered to take part in such events.

FBD says that all tractors covered by its standard tractor motor insurance policy are provided with the necessary insurance cover as required under the road traffic acts.

The FBD tractor motor insurance policy will cover the farming or agricultural contracting use declared and in addition will also cover any participation in vintage road runs as well as any exhibition or display of an insured tractor at such events.

Farming purposes

For example, if a farmer has a modern Massey Ferguson 6480 tractor insured with FBD and he/she has declared their occupation and use of the tractor as being for farming purposes.

If, at some stage, he/she decides to take part in a charity tractor road run or tractor pulling event, the liability to third parties and third party property is fully insured under the FBD policy.

FBD recognises the strong relationship between farming use and participation in such events.

Date Event Location Contact

27 February Alan AM Model Show Cookstown, Tyrone

28 February Mullahead Vintage Ploughing Armagh 044-7710804819

1 March Midland Model & Toy Show Birr, Offaly 086-2464666

1 March North Galway Tractor Run Barnderg, Tuam Galway 087-9793807

8 March IVETA AGM County Arms, Birr, Offaly 086-8672664

8 March Sligo Diecast & Model Show Radisson Hotel, Sligo 086-8472631

15 March Ballyfin Vintage Club Ploughing Laois 087-9172375

15 March St Patrick’s Tractor Run Ballynacally, Clare 086-3935249

16 March Tinahely/Killavaney Tractor Run Tinahely, Wicklow 087-2980860

17 March Nenagh St Patrick’s Day Vintage Tipperary 087-9005163

22 March Armagh City Toy Fair City Hotel Armagh 0044-77426-70023

22 March Rathcormac Vintage Club Run Cork 086-3183459

28-30 March Friends of Ferguson AGM La Mon Hotel Belfast 0044-7860-372304

28 March Mid-Ulster Vintage Tractor Run Moneymore Derry 0044-7887-948543

29-March Knock Down Vintage Road Run Limerick 087-2452695