48 | RURAL SERVICES » Farm Effluent Cleaning ‘It’s been hard work but a good journey’ The business works across South Otago, offering aeration, balage, cultivation, fencing, mowing and allied services. Sue Russell The last year has seen significant development for Milton-based agricultural building contractor Joe Herbert Contracting Ltd, with the purchase and inclusion into the business of Farm Effluent Services from former owners Jeanette and Devon Baird. Joe says the decision to purchase made sense for a number of reasons. “I’ve operated the contracting business since 2002. A friend of mine was getting out of the business so we bought it from him back then and over the years we’ve consolidated our services to customers. It’s been hard work but a good journey to date and now we have Farm Effluent Services that sort of dove-tails nicely into what we do,” says Joe. The business works across South Otago, offering aeration, balage, cultivation, fencing, mowing and allied services. A team of seven employees work in the company, though Joe says, with the acquisition of Farm Effluent Cleaning Services the number engaged full-time will need to grow, Joe tends to fill in on the machinery when required and he says he’s looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that will come from this new development. Farm Effluent Cleaning was first set up about 2008 and, as a family-run business quickly established a strong reputation in Otago and Southland, specialising in effluent collection and dispersal services for the dairy farming sector. By helping turn waste into nutrient rich fertiliser, the business serves to enhance dairy farmers profitability and sustainability. Another string to the bow comes in the form of providing farmers with on-farm roading formation and maintenance. “We looked at the scope of services the business offered and felt it would be a very good fit to add to our contracting business activities,” Joe explains. Asked how business has been and how environmental changes impact services Joe says what he’s observed is that time-frames to get projects done have become more intensified. “Shorter windows to get feed in the ground. It has become more challenging and I need some more tractors but I’ve been in this industry long enough to know that, with good communication with customers they understand you can only do what is possible on any given day.” Success comes down to listening well to clients to ascertain just exactly what they need. He’s been delivering services to farmer clients long enough now to have established good working relationships with them. The company is a member of the New Zealand Contractors Federation. He says belonging to this organisation gives weight to the quality of their work and professional capability. “We also have some young drivers on board. The muck-spreading business came with two young guys.” All three sons are involved in the company as well and the fleet includes seven tractors with Green Star technology on board. Joe says with the acquisition of Farm Effluent Cleaning Services he feels the business is more sustainable. Gear is regularly maintained and the services of Correct Mechanics are engaged. “They are a great team and local engineers Maguire Engineering are regularly on hand as soon as we need them. They help immensely at very short notices.” The ebb and flow of work, dictated by the seasons, is an aspect to being a contractor that Joe enjoys. “You have to be flexible enough to understand what it is you can and can’t control. Now we have the effluent cleaning side to the business, there’s a better spread of work through the seasons and that’s a good position to be in. I’m positive about the future and we’re lucky enough to have a very good team on board and great clients.” “Now we have the effluent cleaning side to the business, there’s a better spread of work through the seasons and that’s a good position to be in.” MILTON LTD For all your general engineering needs Proudly supporting FarmE uentCleaning Kelvin&SamMaguire 027 392 6373 303Union St, Milton maguire.eng@xtra.co.nz Proud to work alongside Jim and Jacinta Stevenson, and the Strathview Hampshires team JOIN OTAGO FARM MACHINERY ON FACEBOOK! www.sfml.co.nz MOSGIEL 03 489 0472 CROMWELL 03 445 1046 Your local John Deere dealer Proud to support Joe Herbert Contracting - a trusted, locally-owned contracting business with proven experience I 489 0472 CROMWELL 03 445 1046 www.of .co.nz
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