76 | RURAL SERVICES » Ireland Contracting Grass and maize a focus for contractor Forage harvesting accounts for the bulk of Ireland Contracting’s work. Kelly Deeks Agricultural contractor Ireland Contracting has South Waikato farmers covered, with more than 30 years of experience and specialisation in cultivating, planting, baling, and harvesting grass and maize, as well as growing and harvesting maize and grass for sale in several locations around the district. Established in 1993, and owned and operated by Tony and Sharon Ireland with a permanent team of Kiwi staff, Ireland Contracting runs harvesters, loader wagons, balers, cultivation, planting, and fertiliser spreading equipment, as well as a digger for earthworks, along with a fleet of trucks and tractors. Forage harvesting accounts for the bulk of Ireland Contracting’s work, and Tony and Sharon are always looking for ways to make the job faster and smoother. “To this end, most of our trucks are automatic with moving floor bins and automatic covers,” Sharon says. “Trucks and tractor/trailors are fast and efficient which reduces costs for the customer.” During the grass season from October to February, Ireland Contracting runs one or both of its Claas Jaguar harvesters, as well as a high quality inoculant to reduce wastage, especially when grass is wetter or drier than usual, to increase quality and therefore increase milk production. Both harvesters are on the go for the maize season which covers a hectic six to eight week period between February and April. Apart from farmers’ own grass and maize, Ireland Contracting sells grass and maize grown on its own blocks at Tirau, Putaruru, Tokoroa, and Mangakino, and is contracted to several large maize growers to harvest and sell their maize. Tony and Sharon continue to grow this side of their operation with the Mangakino block recentlypurchased in August. Sharon says some local farmers don’t have enough land to grow the feed they need, or they have land that isn’t adequate for growing maize. “Especially since it’s such a long growing process,” she says. “Sprayout is done in September/October by Andrew Hemming and we start cultivating and planting in October/November. Harvesting starts in March for Tirau and Putaruru, and not until April for Tokoroa.That’s a long time for land to be out of production, especially when we don’t know what the weather is going to do.” Having these plots in different locations, while still within a 45km radius of Ireland Contracting’s workshop in Tokoroa township, means customers thoughout the district are always in close proximity to the feed they need, and cartage costs are kept to a minimum. Tony and Sharon are supported in their supplementary feed business by PGG Wrightson technical field representative Mark Enevoldson. “He’s our goto person whenever we have issues and whenever we need information. “We have to get the whole process right from the start, from sprayout, cultivation,planting, growing, and all the way through to harvest so the product is always an excellent quality product.” Not only does this operation provide high quality feed for local farmers, but it has the added benefit of creating work for Ireland Contracting’s staff. Drivers from overseas are brought in to grow the team during the busy grass and maize seasons, then Ireland Contracting retains its Kiwi drivers who spend the winter repairing and maintaining machinery, as well as performing groundwork, contouring, race and track work. approved by OEMs for more information visit tenz.nz
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