As agriculture itself has changed over the years, so too has the range and type of machinery that is now common on Irish farms, according to McHale. 

This is especially true in the contracting sector where weather patterns and the need to get things done quickly and effectively has forced operators to think outside the box when it comes to gearing up for the work that must be done.

While the telescopic telehandler has been the most notable addition to the farmer’s fleet, the wheel loader is another piece of plant that has been quietly making its way from the quarry to the farmyard.

One distributor whose activities embrace both sectors – Zetor, Merlo and Komatsu distributor McHale Plant Sales of Birdhill – tells us that, in recent months, they have sold no less than seven Komatsu wheel loaders to agricultural contractors across the country, models of choice being the WA320PZ-6 and WA100M-6.

Customers include well-known names such as Bradys (Nobber), Greaneys (Dingle), Waters (Mitchelstown) and Hanrahans (Cashel).

According to McHale Managing Director Michael McHale ‘Komatsu’s presence at a number of farm equipment exhibitions has focused attention on their usefulness to agricultural contractors.’