76 | Grown business through word-of-mouth RURAL SERVICES » Alex Reid Contracting Ltd Ever since the days of shearing in America, Ireland, Wales, Western Australia and New Zealand, Alex Reid has loved a good yarn with the farmers, and learning about their lives, and he reckons that has been one of the keys to his ag-contracting business over the years. “The ability to talk, be reliable, do a good job and have good staff — that’s what it’s all about. You can’t build a business overnight, but you can do it slowly and have good staff and gear along the way.” It was the early 2000s when Alex decided the time was right to return from Western Australia with his young family and start a life back in New Zealand. He took on farm work in Western Southland for a couple of years, then established Alex Reid Contracting in 2004, initially providing casual labour to local farmers before buying a Ford County and a set of discs at a clearance sale. From those humble beginnings, Alex has grown the business through word-of-mouth and now contracts to sheep, beef and dairy farmers throughout the Southland and Otago regions, supported by a six local team members, and a fleet of modern equipment and machinery. “We provide the full cultivation, drilling and sowing service both for sheep and beef farmers and dairy farmers. We also provide effluent services for the dairy industry, including four Keenan muck spreaders, a slurry tanker for sumps and smaller effluent ponds, an umbilical slurry system for the removal and spreading of large amounts of effluent from ponds, and pond stirrers.” A Bobcat is used to clean out calf sheds, herd homes and yards of any type or size, and for many years Alex has provided a sheep conveyor for drenching, inoculating, ear tagging, mouthing and uddering. “During the winter months we work in with different excavation contractors providing tractors, trailers, heavy rollers and a plate compactor for fixing up dairy lanes and farm tracks. We’ve recently purchased a strip-till, which uses minimum tillage, and is used for planting winter crops like fodder beet and swedes. It’s a precision planter that cultivates and rips the row, plants the seed, spins slug bait out the back, and also fertilises. All farmers have to do is spray the paddock off; no ploughing involved. This is a positive for the environment as it stops the cows sinking in and eliminates any erosion. Richard Loader Bulls RUs &Machinery Ltd are proud to support Alex Reid Contracting. For all your: Tractor Tyres, Dual wheels, Rowcropwheels, Ag implements, and new& usedMachinery. The rows are 500mm apart and the ground in between the rows isn’t touched.” Like everyone in the ag-industry, the weather can create a challenge, particularly during those busy spring months, and while last season was not too bad, previous seasons have been impacted by heavy and consistent rain. “The cultivation work can build up pretty quickly. When that happens you just have to manage it as best you can. I have extra machinery to help with this, and casual staff who are willing to help. Over the years you build strong relationships with the farmers who you work for, and you always go out to do the best job you can for them, and to understand what they want. Contracting to sheep, beef and dairy farmers throughout Southland and Otago is now part of Alex’s business. Alex provides effluent services for the dairy industry, including four Keenan muck spreaders, a slurry tanker for sumps and smaller effluent ponds, an umbilical slurry system for the removal and spreading of large amounts of effluent from ponds, and pond stirrers.
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