| 81 Crucial agricultural support for Otago Ross explains the scope of KJ & H Chalmers Ltd, highlighting that their work includes ploughing, direct drilling, precision planting, and general farm cartage. Bernadette Cooney RURAL SERVICES » K J & H Chalmers Limited South Otago rural contracting business KJ & H Chalmers Ltd at Waitepeka near Balclutha, provide crucial agricultural support to Otago farmers by offering substantial value, highly efficient, seeding and cultivation services. Owned and operated by South Otago local Ross Chalmers, the business evolved out of his father’s dairy farming enterprise. Ross took over the contracting run over from his brother, more than 10 years ago, growing client numbers by providing quality seed drilling and crop cultivation services. “We’re fortunate to have built up a very good clientele over the 15 years we’ve been operating it,” says Ross, “and we’re committed to providing high quality, fair priced services done well and efficiently.” Ross explains the scope of KJ & H Chalmers Ltd, highlighting that their work includes ploughing, direct drilling, precision planting, and general farm cartage. “We do predominantly cultivation and seeding,” Ross says. “We used to do baling as well, but we’ve handed that over to Scott Chittock who’s been with us for five years now. He is still working for us, but he also runs his own baling operation.” This transition allows Ross to focus more heavily on cultivation, which becomes particularly busy between mid-September and Christmas time. A period Ross describes as flat out with seeding. “Then we’ll plant cereals and fodder beets, swedes and kale and direct drill brassicas about mid-November.” The season started out wetter than usual says Ross and some paddocks needed pumping dry, including on his own family farm which is diversified across sheep, beef, and dairy farming. “We had about 170mls of extra rain in early spring, so we’ve had a couple of tractors away pumping floodwater off farms.” KJ & H Chalmers Ltd contracting business has well maintained, specialised equipment including a 12-row precision planter for fodder beet and swede seed, and a three-metre triple disc Allen direct drill, made in New Zealand. “It’s designed for handling thrash and stubble, while maintaining accurate seed depth,” Ross notes. “We have four tractors and a roller and grubber and plough and a couple of drills. The precision planter and tip trailer, aerator and mole plough get worked a lot.” The equipment allows them to tackle various on farm tasks from clearing, ploughing, and seeding entire paddocks to cultivating crops to rock and bale cartage. With a solid reputation for quality work, and Ross prides himself on providing value for his clients. “It’s about efficiencies and doing it smarter and getting better results,” he says. As a farmer himself, Ross understands the demands Proudly supporting KJ & H Chalmers Ltd 10 HIGH STREET, BALCLUTHA PH (03) 4182664 I , PROUD TO SUPPORT KJ & H CHALMERS LIMITED I I KJ & H Chalmers Ltd on and the needs of his clients. He is committed to supporting the Otago farming community by providing essential services efficiently and effectively. Aside from the contracting business, Ross oversees the Chalmers family farm, carrying 320 dairy cows, 1200 ewes, and about 300 beef cattle. The dairy operation, is run by a contract milker, allowing Ross to focus on capital work. KJ & H Chalmers Ltd are a dependable farming partner with a growing reputation for bringing benefits to farmers through its higher efficiencies and versatility.
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