92 | RURAL SERVICES » Multi Ag Ltd Multi Ag fleet and team still growing About seven permanent staff are employed, with seasonal workers, subcontractors and labour hire supporting the busiest months. Russell Fredric Multi Ag has grown from a single baler and two tractors into a year-round agricultural contracting business serving South Canterbury from its Waimate base. Established in 2015, the business was founded by Craig Wilson and his twin brother Scott after the pair returned from Australia, where they had worked in agriculture and mining. Starting with an individual wrapper, a baler, two Massey Ferguson tractors and a rake, the business steadily expanded before Craig later took sole ownership. Today Multi Ag provides cultivation, precision sowing, direct drilling, spraying, spreading, harvesting and transport. Its fleet now includes 15 Massey Ferguson tractors, forage harvesters, a combine harvester, four truck and trailer units and a wide range of specialised equipment, allowing the business to deliver complete contracting packages throughout much of the farming year. “The goal was always to get into farming eventually, using contracting to build equity and relationships. We’ve grown by working hard, doing what we say we’re going to do and building good rapport with clients,” Craig says. While grass harvesting provided the starting point, the business has progressively broadened its services to create more consistent work throughout the year. That diversity also gives clients access to one contractor capable of supporting everything from cultivation and planting through to harvesting, feed production and transport. About seven permanent staff are employed, with seasonal workers, subcontractors and labour hire supporting the busiest months between August and mid-May. Alongside contracting, Multi Ag also farms leased and owned land, giving the team experience across both contracting and production. “We’ve chased work in every season so we can keep a sustainable local crew busy for the whole year. The locals understand the weather, they know our clients and they’re prepared to dig in when the conditions demand it.” The years spent working on large Australian farming enterprises continue to influence how the business operates, Craig says. Preparation, preventative maintenance and carrying critical parts all help minimise downtime when weather windows are tight, while the expectation that jobs are completed efficiently continues to shape the way the business works. That practical approach extends to the team. Rather than specialising on one machine, staff are expected to develop a broad range of skills by operating, servicing and maintaining equipment across the fleet. ® CRUCIAL is a registered trademark of Nufarm Australia Limited. ® Pulse is a registered trademark of Nufarm Technologies USA Pty Ltd. Tick all the boxes. It’s CRUCIAL®. SCAN ME Contact your local Nufarm Business Development Manager 0800 NUFARM or visit us at nufarm.co.nz/discovercrucial “I want everyone to be an all-rounder. You’re not just sitting in the seat driving a machine. You’re servicing it, understanding how it works and being able to jump from mowing to raking, cultivating or drilling. The variety helps people learn and grow.” Technology increasingly supports how Multi Ag plans, manages and delivers its work rather than replacing the practical skills needed in the field. Digital job management and machine tracking systems allow the team to monitor machinery, logistics and job progress in real time, while GPS guidance, sectional spray control and variable-rate fertiliser applications provide accurate records and proof of placement for customers. Artificial intelligence is also proving valuable, from helping diagnose machinery faults in the workshop to quickly identifying weeds and suitable agrichemicals, allowing staff to access information faster while keeping their focus on the work that still relies on practical experience. “The more information we have, the better decisions we can make. It’s about having an efficient season and making the most of every opportunity when the conditions are right.” Better information. Better decisions. Supporting Multi Ag with one connected view across their operation. 0800 482 285 | nz.sales@tabula.live Now capturing work beyond the cab, bringing every job into one system.
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