| 77 Direct drilling, cultivation and spray specialists Hunter Ag Services concentrates on these three main services and doing them well. RURAL SERVICES » Hunter Ag Services So he went back to the tractors and worked for Steven Harper for a year, before purchasing his Duncan Enviro Direct Drill and leasinghis 7430 JD tractor. “Our business has grown significantly since then,” Rebecca says. “We now operate Massey Ferguson Tractors, multiple direct drills, power harrows, roller drills, cultivators, and more.” Hunter Ag Services’ agricultural spraying division really complements the business well. Originally purchasing a tractor mounted sprayer to do the odd job, demand for this service grew and now Hunter Ag Services runs three trucks of varying sizes, a Unimog, an Atego, and the everreliable Mitsi, plus a tractor-mounted spray unit. “We find the spraying side of the business helps us and our clients have a seamless job from start to finish, as there is no waiting around for another contractor to come in and spray out before we can get into the paddocks,” Rebecca says. “Roger likes to be busy, but not too busy that we let clients down and turn up late. His pet hate is being late!” All of Hunter Ag Services’ machinery has excellent technology including GPS systems and Tabula, ensuring the best possible job for clients and the best possible service for their investment. Hunter Ag Service’s client base has grown significantly, and the business now travels about two hours up the Napier-Taupo Road and the Taihape Road, and also an hour and a half south to Tikokino. “This has meant year by year we are employing more staff to join our team,” Rebecca says. “We currently have four full-time staff who have been with us for quite some time. A couple of them had not long left school and never driven tractors before, but with Roger preferring to train people up to the way that he likes the jobs completed, it has worked well.” Whilst some properties are flat, Hunter Ag Services also does a lot of hill work which while enjoyable, some of them are not for the fainthearted. Roger trains his staff to be able to operate any piece of machinery. “Some might have their favourite piece of gear which Roger normally leaves them on, but it’s great to be able to jump on anything and be confident.” Rebecca says Hunter Ag Services staff are a great bunch of people who get along and enjoy a good laugh. They know when the season is in full swing in spring and autumn that the job needs to get done, and after the autumn season is complete the whole team goes away for a Mid-Winter Christmas party in Taupo. Kelly Deeks Specialising in direct drilling, cultivation, and agricultural spraying on Hawke’s Bay sheep, beef,and dairy farms, Hunter Ag Services concentrates on these three main services and doing them well, with continuous updates to fleet and machinery and a skilled and experienced long-standing team. Hunter Ag Services, based in the Pukehamoamoa district of Hastings, was established by Roger and Rebecca Hunter in 2013. The location has the business nicely central to many of its clients. Roger’s energy for machinery started when he left school and worked for another agricultural contractor, then moving onto trucks and becoming an owner-driver with Total Transport in Taupo. Roger tried dispatching for a while, but office life wasn’t for him. Power Farming Hawkes Bay | 06 879 9998 Proud to support Hunter Ag Services Ltd Proud supplier to Hunter Ag Services E. parts@agtech.co.nz | office@agtech.co.nz Ph. 06 879 5233 | 027 441 7909 “We find the spraying side of the business helps us and our clients have a seamless job from start to finish, as there is no waiting around for another contractor to come in and spray out before we can get into the paddocks.”
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