| 79 nzdairy DAIRY SERVICES » Jackson Ag Spraying Ltd Expanding its role across the Clinton district Kelly Deeks Jackson Ag Spraying is expanding its role across the Clinton district as growing demand from local dairy farmers drives new opportunities for the young contracting business. Owner Matthew Jackson says the four-year-old operation has built its reputation from the ground up, with strong word-of-mouth now placing the business firmly in the region’s core group of trusted providers. Matthew started the business by spraying arable crops after identifying limited openings in baling, silage, and cultivation work. As dairy farming expanded across Clinton, he saw a clear gap in the market for umbilical effluent services - a system with major efficiency and nutrient-use advantages, but one few operators in the local area offered. “Getting into umbilical effluent has gone really well. There aren’t many people doing it in Clinton, and farmers really appreciate being able to make the most of the liquid gold they already have on farm,” he says. “Every client we’ve had has come back, and first-time clients are always blown away by the results.” The shift toward younger farm owners has also supported the contracting business’s rapid growth. Matthew says several long-held family farms have changed hands in the past six months, refreshing the dairy sector and bringing new energy and new ideas. “There’s a lot of young blood coming through in Clinton now. The dairy industry is getting bigger, and that brings more opportunity for us to grow alongside it.” As day-to-day demand has increased, Matthew says the business relies heavily on strong teamwork behind the scenes. Owner Matthew Jackson says the four-year-old operation has built its reputation from the ground up. His partner, Charlotte Tutty, manages the paperwork, handles logistics, and keeps the contracting operation running smoothly. “Charlotte helps with everything from the books to picking things up and dropping things off. She’s the backbone of the company,” he says. Alongside contracting, Matthew is also working full time in dairy farming as part of a long-term plan to go farming for himself. He and his family now run three dairy farms after expanding from one to three over the past two to three years. His brother has taken the lead on developing the newest farm, which required substantial work to get it up and running. “My goal is to keep building my experience, No call out fee 24 hr / 7 day service GORE’S DEDICATED HYDRAULIC HOSE REPAIR & SERVICING SPECIALIST 18 Racecourse Road, Gore | Chris Parish 021 274 9372 CARD ACCEPTED HERE Proud supplier to Jackson Ag Proud to support Jackson Ag Spraying Ltd move into farm management in the next couple of years, and eventually step into contract milking while continuing the contracting business.” Balancing both roles has been challenging, particularly given the specialised skill set required for umbilical effluent work. Labour shortages have added pressure, with few workers coming into the industry with relevant experience. “It’s not something you can just pick up straight away. It takes time to learn, and we need the right people in place so I’m not always hands-on with both the farming and the contracting,” Matthew says. Jackson Ag Spraying currently employs two workers, with a third soon to be added. Matthew continues to do all the spraying himself while the team manages the umbilical system. Dairy farming remains a family tradition for Matthew, whose parents and grandparents also farmed. He enjoys the lifestyle and the daily interaction with farmers, which he says helps strengthen both his farming and contracting businesses. “What I love most is talking to farmers every day about their systems. I learn something new all the time, and being able to apply that knowledge back into what we do is invaluable.” hello@plainsirrigators.co.nz
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