| 75 nzdairy DAIRY SERVICES » BlueGrass Contracting Big investment in machinery, tech Russell Fredric Experience, innovation and running ef cient systems while aiming to protect the environment are cornerstones of BlueGrass Contracting’s operations. Although the company’s core business revolves around cultivating and harvesting large areas of lucerne, grass and maize, it has evolved to provide a wide variety of services covering transport, ef uent, stock feed and farm race solutions. As the company has grown, it has invested heavily in machinery and technology that meets the seasonal demands of its large and varied client base. At the heart of BlueGrass’ powered eet is its 14 tractors comprising 11 Case and three Fendt, and 19 Foden and DAF truck units of various con gurations, three Claas ne-chop harvesters and three JCB stackers. BlueGrass managing director Brook Nettleton says the decision to run Foden and DAF trucks happened somewhat organically with the purchase of six former Fonterra milk tanker tractor units in 2008. “That’s where our trucking business began. We bought those and a couple more and now we’ve probably got the biggest Foden eet in New Zealand.” The eet comprises four 2011 models, six 2004 to 2006 models, ve DAF’s and two each of Isuzu’s and Hino’s plus a Fuso. The highest mileage truck in the eet has clocked up around two million kilometres. Because there is a lot of interchangeability between Foden and DAF parts, it made sense for subsequent truck purchases to be DAF. “We couldn’t justify having $300,000 to $500,000 units when they weren’t working all the time. They are a real nice truck and comfy and people like driving them, and when they are done up, they look like a new truck. • to page 76 As the company has grown, it has invested heavily in machinery and technology that meets the seasonal demands of its large client base.
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