| 85 nzdairy “We not only plant the crops but we are out there monitoring them for weed control and insect control, we’re trying to keep it all inhouse.” DAIRY SERVICES » Nicholson Contracting Crop monitoring part of wrap-around service Kelly Deeks Nicholson Contracting on the Hauraki Plains is providing a wrap-around cultivation service which includes monitoring to ensure farmers get the most out of their crops as they possibly can. Nicholson Contracting is now in the hands of its former operations manager Hayden Webster, who along with his business partners bought the 25-year-old business from its founder Scott Nicholson earlier this year. Nicholson Contracting was one of Hayden’s clients in his former position of PGG Wrightson rep out of Morrinsville, and when Scott asked Hayden for help to run his business two years ago, it was a no-brainer. “He had good gear and good clients, so I came up here and started running the operations. When Scott offered me to buy the business two years That's why we take the time to get to know you. We know that people are at the heart of every business Our number one goal, to take the fear out of accounting. Good business is built with good people. The team at Shelley Tweedy & Associates are passionate about business and the clients they serve. P (07) 827 6102 W shelleytweedy.co.nz E office@shelleytweedy.co.nz Proudly Supplying Nicholson Contracting with Fendt and MF Tractors and Machinery Hamilton & Otorohanga 07 843 7237 waikatotractors.co.nz later, it was another no-brainer for me. I had been dealing with all the clients, the staff, and the machinery for the past two years.” Hayden has inherited some specialised machinery with his purchase of Nicholson Contracting, including a Horsch Pronto seed drill which drills in fertiliser with the seed, not only for grass crops but also for spring crops such as turnips, rape, kale, chicory, and sorghum. “With one pass of the tractor, we drill in the seed and the fertiliser right next to it. We’re not aerating the soil too much and with the really harsh summers we are having up here, this enables us to keep the moisture in the soil.” This service has proven so popular with Nicholson Contracting that Hayden has had to go out and but a second Horsch Pronto. Hayden is committed to keeping Nicholson Contracting ahead of the pack with technology, and has the latest NRI sensor which measures the dry matter of maize crops and maps the tonnage of the crop as its being harvested. “We can have a report to the farmer within 24 hours of spraying, planting, or harvesting.” Dairy farm compliance is providing Nicholson Contracting’s Horsch Pronto seed drill drills in fertiliser with the seed, not only for grass crops but also for spring crops such as turnips, rape, kale, chicory, and sorghum. a steady stream of work for Nicholson Contracting, and this type of tech makes monitoring and reporting easier for everyone. Hayden is passionate about his industry and about solving farmers’ problems, and he brings all of his experience from Wrightons across to his new business. Highlighted in his previous position was the need for crop monitoring, so Hayden offers this as part of his service. “We not only plant the crops but we are out there monitoring them for weed control and insect control, we’re trying to keep it all in-house. Being able to provide this support service means we can ensure crops are being checked and treated for insect and weed pressure at the right time, as well as selecting the optimal harvest conditions. This way we can help farmers to maximise their crop yields.”
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