Irish Tractor January 2016

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€3.95 Stg£2.95

January 2016 Vol. 4 No. 1

Paddy Barron Agri Ltd.

C&F Green Energy

BH Tree Services

Quigley’s Garage

Rockview Engineering Ltd.

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2 Agri News

Contents

Irish Tractor & Agri is published by DG Press, Kells Business Park, Kells, Co. Meath Telephone: (046) 9241923 Fax: (046) 9241926 e mail:

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F-CON Offer a five star quality product and service

E Flahavan & Sons Ltd In Ireland, the name synonymous with porridge

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Joe Kelly Fruit & Veg Suppliers of quality fresh produce 6

Crowe Agricultural Consultants

57 Sean Fullerton

West of Ireland main Claas dealers

60 C&F Green Energy

A glowing business since 2001

10 Quigleys Garage

14 Golden Vale Co-operative Mart

One of the country’s biggest mart groups

17 McPhilips Woodshavings Ltd

Providers of animal bedding, to the poultry, equestrian and dairy sectors nationwide

20 Ashgrove Stables Trainer Eoin Doyle

24 Rockview Engineering Ltd.

Ireland’s only manufacturer of bespoke turnkey poultry houses

32 Balloy Farm Ltd.

The Leonard family, farming in Stamullen, Co. Meath

36 Abbeygold Feeds Ltd.

Manufacturers of animal feed products

40 Sean Fitzpatrick Ardbraccan Farm Machinery

Top quality service to a large customer base

43 Tullyallen Mobile Tyres

Celebrating ten years in business

46 Denis W Cullen Beechcourt Stables A trainer with an excellent reputation

Email: contact@lynngroupmedia.com

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Cavanagh Free Range Eggs Ltd. Irish Quality Food & Drink Award winners

Lisnamuck Holstein herd Design, manufacture and install small to medium sized wind turbines

63 BH Tree Services Ltd.

High quality, safe, compliant, professional and efficient tree surgery solutions

70 Thompson & Son Agri Ltd.

Family run business providing a high quality service

75 Colin Bowe Racing Ltd.

Up and coming racehorse trainer

78 Foulksmills Stores

One stop shop for all agri, building, hardware and DIY fuel needs

80 E Boyes & Sons

In dairy farming for nearly a century

86 Scotts On-Farm Services

Leading the way in their core business

88 Paddy Barron Agri Ltd.

More than 50 years in the business of agricultural contracting

92 Dan Donovan & Co. Ltd Unrivalled agri services

94 Gilligan Meats

Providing a complete farm to fork service

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Over 250 attend MAJOR Slurry Day

The MAJOR Slurry Info Day was held on Friday December 11th at the MAJOR depot in Ballyhaunis. The event was organised in response to customers’ requests for more information about the changes facing Irish farmers from GLAS and TAMS II schemes.

Applications for these schemes have been submitted already, but many farmers and contractors were expressing uncertainty about what system was most suitable for their particular operation. “The TAMS II scheme is encouraging a move towards a more environmentally sound method of slurry application,” explained Martin Walsh from MAJOR Equipment. “Legislation and regulations will eventually prohibit the spreading of slurry by the traditional splash plate method,” he said.

The MAJOR Slurry Info Day There are plenty of manufacturers of slurry application equipment to choose from but the options available can be bewildering, with some products not suitable or appropriate for Irish conditions. The event attracted over 250 people interesting in making the move towards dribble bar and trailing shoe slurry application systems.

“We’re delighted with the turn out,” said Martin. “Some people have travelled long distances from all over the country including Kerry and Kilkenny. Many of our dealers were also present here today to help their customers. The feedback we’ve received is very positive. Customers have said they found the day extremely beneficial,” concluded Martin.

A Smorgasbord of new machines from New Holland at LAMMA

New Holland will use LAMMA 2016 to present its newest machinery to its largest audience yet. Following a successful launch at Agritechnica and subsequent customer and dealer days, the New Holland stand at LAMMA will host its newest tractor, combine and forage harvester among an impressive 17-model line-up of the company’s machinery range.

The award winning T7.315 Heavy Duty Tractor is expected to be the main attraction on the stand. The two-model T7 Heavy Duty tractors pack more horsepower on a dynamic chassis, making them suitable for numerous applications, including primary and secondary cultivations, drilling and general haulage. Maximum horsepower of 288 or 313 is available all the time on the T7.290 New Holland at LAMMA 2016 and T7.315 respectively, while maximum torque of 1282Nm is available over 500rpm with no turbo lag.

Other new machines set to be showcased on the stand include the new CX8.80 combine harvester and FR Forage Cruiser 650.

Both were launched at Agritechnica and include updated cabs to offer premium comfort and a productive workspace for operators.

The new T8 tractor series with Tier 4B engines will make its presence known on the stand, as one of the largest and highest horsepower tractors in New Holland’s line up. The Tier 4B engines use the company’s ECOBlue™ HI-eSCR technology, which offers improved engine performance and reduced fuel consumption without the need for additional diesel particulate filters and engine gas re-circulation.

James Ashworth, New Holland’s Marketing Manager, said: “LAMMA presents the first opportunity for many UK farmers, and those further afield, to see our new machines and we’re looking forward to giving them the guided tour on the stand. LAMMA remains an important date in the New Holland calendar and we are delighted to continue to support this ever-growing event.”

Other equipment on New Holland’s stand includes two machines from its range of construction equipment, including the L220 Skid Steer and W170 Wheeled loader which are now available through selected New Holland dealers.

The machinery line-up on the New Holland stand is planned as follows: NEW CX8.80 with 22ft header, NEW FR Forage Cruiser 650, NEW T7.315 Heavy Duty, NEW T8 Tier4B, Big Baler 1290, Roll Belt 150, L220 Skid Steer, W170 Wheeled loader, T7.260, T7.210, T7.225, T6.175, T6.160 Auto Command, T5.105, T4.95, LM7.42 Elite Telehandler, Boomer 50, PLM (Precision Land Management) Trailer.

LAMMA event will take place on the 20th and 21st January 2016 at the East of England showground near Peterborough.

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Basildon rocks to heavy metal at New Holland tractor launch New Holland has launched its new Heavy Duty T7.290 and T7.315 tractors to customers and dealers at a Heavy Metal-themed event at its Basildon manufacturing facility.

The new T7.315 model was revealed in appropriately dramatic rock fashion. Accompanied by rock music and a smoke and light show, it was the climax of New Holland’s Heavy Metal event which showcased the newest high horsepower tractor ranges available to its UK dealers and farmers.

The new two-model T7 Heavy Duty range will be built at the Basildon plant. These are the most powerful tractors ever built in Basildon, representing a milestone in the manufacturing facility’s history and the development of a new manufacturing line has been necessary to build the machines.

James Ashworth, New Holland’s UK and ROI marketing manager, A Heavy Metal-themed event at Basildon who opened the Heavy Metal event, said: “We’re incredibly proud to present these new models to our customers and dealers. Our customers have been asking for more power on the T7 range, and now we’ve delivered it.”

Designed and built to meet customer demands, the T7 Heavy Duty tractors provide the additional horsepower needed for powerhungry operations, without the need to move up to a larger chassis machine. Maximum horsepower of 288 or 313 is available all the time on the T7.290 and T7.315 respectively.

The six cylinder NEF engine used in current T7 models has been retained, with additional power provided by an electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger (EVGT). This provides the additional ‘lugging power’ required to operate at low engine speeds and instantly reacts to changes in load, without any turbo-lag.

Continuously variable transmission is provided by New Holland’s award-winning Auto Command™. The four direct drive points offer 100% mechanical efficiency and have been positioned to perfectly match the most frequently used speeds during high-speed field work, transport and heavy cultivation operations.

Significant fuel savings when undertaking PTO work have been made possible by a four-speed rear PTO and a two-speed front PTO. Engine rpm can be adjusted via the in-cab speed shift to take account of changing conditions and implement demands, to maximise engine efficiency.

Re-designed hydraulic circuits have reduced parasitic losses with no oil moving unless it is required. Additional fuel savings can be achieved via the 220 l/min pump, which produces significant oil flow even at low engine speeds.

To improve up-time in the field, New Holland has increased fuel tank capacity on the Heavy Duty models to 630 litres. This should help those who want to maximise their time by working late into the night without re-fuelling.

New Holland’s IntelliCruise™ ISOBUS Class 3 tractor-baler automation technology will be a benefit for those with large volumes of straw to bale, and particularly for owners of New Holland’s BigBaler, for which the T7 Heavy Duty has been engineered to match.

The technology enables the baler to control the tractor’s speed to optimise feed rate and produce consistent bale density and slice thickness.

Despite the additional weight and power of the Heavy Duty models, they are light on their feet provided correct tyres and pressures are selected. Larger group 48 and 49 tyres (2050mm and 2150mm diameters) with a rear tyre width up to 900mm can be fitted to the T7.290 and T7.315. The larger tyre results in improved traction and minimises soil compaction. Operators will even have the ability to monitor tyre pressure from the cab via the IntelliView IV display.

Across its machinery range New Holland has particularly focussed on operator comfort. Super quiet cabs are driver-friendly with improved safety from increased visibility and new lighting packages. A choice of seats is on offer for a comfortable ride, plus air conditioning and a host of ergonomic features and control layout options to improve efficiency and help reduce fatigue.

SPECIALISE IN AGRICULTURAL & TRACTOR TYRES TYRE SUPPLY & REPAIRS TO ALL TRUCK & AGRI VEHICLES Ballyda, Danesfort, Co.Kilkenny | Email: philipireland@live.ie

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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New yeild boosting SHREDLAGE Crop Processor

At LAMMA, CLAAS will be displaying a completely new crop processor, the MCC SHREDLAGE, which provides another major step forward in crop processing technology and has been proven to increase milk yield by up to 2.0 litres a cow, so boosting revenue, and to enable output from home-grown forage to be maximised without the need for bought-in concentrates.

CLAAS has led the way in corn cracking technology for forage harvesters since they developed the first corn cracking system for the JAGUAR back in the late 1980’s, when the ability to crack maize kernels on the forager to improve digestibility and increase yields or weight gain was seen as a major step forward.

The new MCC SHREDLAGE crop processor is an innovative processing technology for conditioning long-cut maize using the CLAAS JAGUAR forage harvester. The SHREDLAGE process, for which CLAAS has acquired the license, was developed in the USA, where it has already been used successfully by dairy producers for a number of years.

SHREDLAGE involves chopping the maize to a long chop length of 26-30mm. The crucial part of the process is the subsequent conditioning using the MCC SHREDLAGE cracker technology.

The two LorenCut rollers have 110 and 145 teeth and there is a 50% speed difference between the two. The unique aspect of the rollers is that they also have a counter-rotating spiral groove, so that as the crop passes through the rollers, it is also pulled apart by the sideways movement of the teeth, so that the cob pieces are fully broken down and the kernels crushed to break them open completely. As a result, the stalk material is shredded very effectively in the longitudinal direction and the bark is peeled off by the special roller structure.

The intensive shredding of the material significantly increases the surface area of the chopped crop, which results in much improved bacterial fermentation in the clamp and subsequently during digestion in the rumen of the cow.

Studies by the University of Wisconsin, USA, have found that SHREDLAGE significantly increases the structural suitability of maize silage for the rumen, while also improving the availability of starch from all parts of the plant. This resulted in an increase in daily milk production from the herds covered by the study of up to 2.0 litres per cow. Furthermore, the rumen-friendly structure of the silage also improved the health of the herds.

The MCC SHREDLAGE

The results of the study correspond to the experiences of dairy farmers in the USA and Germany, who are already feeding long-cut maize silage to their animals. They also report a slight increase in silage intake, a flatter lactation curve and calmer animals. None of the farms involved in the study experienced any problems during the ensiling process of the longer maize crops.

New MCC MAX rollers In addition to the new MCC SHREDLAGE processor, CLAAS will also have on display the latest MCC MAX rollers, which are designed for use in chop lengths from 722mm.

Instead of the conventional sawtooth profile, the two rollers utilise 15 sawtooth rings with a 30% speed difference between the two. As the crop passes through the rings it is not only crushed, but also sheared, ensuring that the kernels are more intensively conditioned and the stalk material is shredded.

As with the new SHREDLAGE rollers, this provides a greater surface area to that digestible starch is increased, which will benefit both livestock farmers but also operators of AD plants. It will also benefit the operator as it will allow them to meet the needs of a wider range of customers, without needing to change the corn cracker on the forager.

MCC concept The new MCC SHREDLAGE and MCC MAX rollers are the latest addition to the CLAAS MCC (Multi Crop Cracker) modular concept. The MCC system is based on a single Crop Cracker housing in which the range of different MCC CLASSIC, MCC MAX and MCC SHREDLAGE cracker rollers can be quickly and easily inserted and used.

By only needing to change the rollers for different crops of chop lengths, instead of the whole housing, this provides the operator with far greater flexibility and reduced downtime.

WANT TO SEE YOUR STORY FEATURED ON THESE PAGES? Then get in touch with us at contact@lynngroupmedia.com 4

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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John Deere’s flagship 9620RX tractor

John Deere highlights new kit at LAMMA

John Deere’s flagship 9620RX tractor and 8800i self-propelled forage harvester, range-topping 6155R tractor, PowrSpray solution system for R900i Series trailed sprayers and both entry level W-Series and redesigned T-Series combine harvesters are among the new machines for 2016 being featured for the first time on the John Deere stand at LAMMA in January, following their initial European launch at Agritechnica.

In addition, the latest FarmSight precision farming developments on show include the MyJobsConnect job management tool and the prototype John Deere Manure Sensing system, which is based on the same HarvestLab near-infrared (NIR) sensor technology used on the 8000 Series foragers.

The new four-track 9620RX tractor had a starring role in the 2015 Lord Mayor’s Show in London in November, in support of the Worshipful Company of Farmers modern livery company and the NFU’s Back British Farming campaign.

It was driven in the parade behind a fully restored John Deere 4020 tractor from the 1960s, to help illustrate technological progress in agriculture and to mark 50 years of John Deere Limited in the UK and Ireland – the company started trading from its present day site at Langar, near Nottingham, in January 1966. The 4020, nicknamed BEV after its original registration plate, will also be featured alongside the 9620RX on the company’s stand at LAMMA. The new mid-size 6R Series tractors, including the 6155R, feature the latest Stage IV engines rated from 110 to 155hp, improved manoeuvrability, enhanced operator comfort and a wide range of transmission options. John Deere’s intelligent power management system (IPM) provides a 20 to 30hp boost on the four-cylinder models and 40hp on the six-cylinder versions.

These tractors feature CommandARM controls and a Generation 4 CommandCenter touch screen monitor with swipe function display, while the redesigned TLS+ front axle suspension offers improved steering and driving on the road. An electrical loaderready joystick is also available for use with John Deere’s latest R Series front loaders, which feature new mounting frames and hood guards and are easy to attach and operate.

PowrSpray is the company’s latest innovative development in crop care technology, and features two hydraulically-driven centrifugal pumps. The first fills the sprayer at up to 1200 litres/min, while the second, a 1000 litre/min spraying pump, has Direct Rate Control for fast changes of application rate and the highest spraying accuracy.

The self-priming, low pressure filling pump fills the sprayer rapidly even with the tractor engine at idle, thus reducing fuel use and noise during the filling process. In addition, Direct Rate Control of the spraying pump is able to adjust between minimum and maximum output in less than three seconds, increasing rate control accuracy to a level that conventional systems cannot match, particularly for variable rate applications.

John Deere’s new T-Series combines have undergone a comprehensive redesign for the 2016 harvest. Many components have been changed to achieve the best straw walker combine performance possible, enabling operators to achieve an increase in output of up to 15 per cent.

The result of this redesign is a number of leading features in this class of combine, including the largest active separation area on the market and a larger cleaning shoe area; the fastest unloading rate and crop conversion; exclusive 40kph top speed and tracks; increased precision farming benefits with ConnectedCombine and MyJohnDeere.com; and more power from the new Stage IV engines.

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Martin with his father, Paddy, and two kids, Roisin and Padraig

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First choice for Agri Consultants

artin Crowe Agricultural Consultants in Doon, Co Limerick has built up a glowing business since being first established in 2002. Irish Tractor & Agri caught up with the man himself to learn more about the services he provides and how else he serves the industry.

So far as Agricultural Consultants go, not many more have a better reputation for the quality of the service in which they provide than Limerick man Martin Crowe.

Since setting up his consultancy firm, Martin has specialised in work in

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knowledge transfer (ie discussion discussion groups. Anything to do with groups), TAMS applications, Planning farming schemes, I do it.”

Permissions and Drawings for Agricultural A graduate from University College Sheds.

Dublin, Martin is an adviser to farmers A dairy farmer and Pure Friesian Breeder himself, Martin’s family has been steeped in farming for generations and CONTACT DETAILS his love for the agricultural industry has since led him towards a career where he Crowe Agricultural Consultants now offers advice to others in the same field as him.

Address: Carraigmore, “We’re based in Carrigmore in Doon, Co Doon, Co Limerick Limerick,” explained Martin.

“I’d have set up the company 13 years Tel: 086 8290769 ago and I do all forms of schemes for Email: mcrowe@eircom.net farmers, from general farm advice to IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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One of the sheds designed by Martin Crowe

with both technical and department of agriculture schemes advice and is currently specialising in dairying.

He is also a qualified facilitator for discussion groups of which he is running a number of.

“I’ve a degree in Agricultural Science from UCD and I would have started farming on my own back in 1998, doing small bits and pieces,” he stated. “Then I got into agri consultancy and haven’t really looked back from it, to be honest.

I love the work I’m doing at the moment now.

“Business is very good. Right now I’m doing a lot of work on planning permission and then on top of that I work on my own farm myself, so there’s no let up for me really. At the moment, I’m farming about 180 acres and milking 120 cows.”

The past couple of years may have saw a stinging recession hit the industry, along with many others, but so far as Martin is concerned he has come away unscathed for the most part.

“It affected the department schemes alright but our line of work here wasn’t really hit,” he said.

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

“We’ve been benefiting from the recent upturn now with regards to new planning permissions being put in and other new projects going ahead, so we can’t have any complaints.”

The clientele base is close by, according to Martin, who has gained their business and trust through a reliable service and the valuable experience he has gained down the years.

“Our customers would be local enough. Most of them would be all within a 30-mile radius and a large portion of them would be dairy and beef farmers,” he explained.

“I’m a pure Friesian breeder myself and two years ago we celebrated over 60 years breeding Friesians of Dunum, which started back in 1953.”

In July of last year, the Irish Pure Friesian Club hosted its ‘Open Day’ at

the farm of Martin and Paddy Crowe & family in Carrigmore, Doon, Co Limerick.

The day was a fitting tribute to the herd which celebrated over 60 years of Pedigree Friesian breeding.

Martin is the third generation to farm the land following in the footsteps of his father Paddy and grandfather Timothy H. The family began farming in Carrigmore, Doon in the 1800s by milking Shorthorns and today the milking herd consists of 102 spring calving pedigree registered Pure Friesian cows with all replacements reared on farm.

The ‘Dunum’ herd was founded in the spring of 1953 when Timothy H. Crowe bought three pedigree cows. He called the herd Dunum because he maintained it was the Latin name for Doon, the local village. Around that time AI was being introduced and he used the best bulls standing in local AI Patrick Crowe, Timothy’s son, then

Martin Crowe Agricultural Consultants are based in Carrigmore in Doon, Co Limerick

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MIKE BARRY

Agricultural Contractor Ayle, Oola, Co. Tipperary

• Silage Cutting • Umbilical Slurry Spreading System • Slurry Spreading & Agitating • Side Spreading • Reversible Ploughing • Rotavating • Hedge Cutting

• Stone Raking • Land Levelling • Power Harrowing • One Pass Reseeding • Round Baling • Dump Trailer Hire • Excavator Hire

ALL TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL WORK CATERED FOR

Bradshaw Bros

Tel: 062-76137 Mobile: 086-2537627

Best Wishes To Crowe Agricultural Consultants

Best Wishes To Crowe Agricultural Consultants, From Agri Contractor & Plant Hire

For a comprehensive & professional range of contracting services

Contact Liam 087-2755787 Agri Contact James 087-9491043

Glengar, Doon, Co. Limerick

Plant Hire

O’DWYER STEEL, DUNDRUM

Tel: 062 71102. Fax: 062 71412. E: Mail: mryan@odwyersteel.ie

www.odwyersteel.ie

SUPPLIERS OF ALL TYPES OF FARM & INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS. COMPETITIVE PRICES. FULLY INSURED. SUPPLY & ERECT OR IN KITFORM. Contact: JOHn HAnLy 087 8138343 MATT RyAn 087 8138341 Wishing Crowe Agricultural Consultants Continued Success

Wishing Crowe Agricultural Consultants Continued Success

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR COMPANY FEATURED IN Irish Tractor & Agri Magazine Call Barry now on 00353 (0) 46 9241923

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IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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took over the running of the herd and continued to breed Friesians. Â As a result of the widespread switch to Holsteins in the late 80s and early 90s, Patrick had great difficulty in sourcing quality British Friesian AI bulls, but he has Dovea AI and the late Dermot Cahill (RIP) to thank for the supply of proven bulls during this time.

During his time at the helm, Paddy built up a large network of customers from Louth to Kerry and everywhere in between, who bought replacement heifers and breeding bulls.

Many loyal customers still return to the Dunum herd for breeding stock today and Patrick was also was a founding member of the Limerick and Clare Friesian Breeders club, serving as chairman of the club in the 1980s.

Martin would take over the reins when he took on the responsibility of the farm in 1998 and he continued the breeding policy adopted by his father. The reason for this was that he was impressed by the excellent fertility of the Pure Friesian whilst at the same time maintaining high production yields, with a herd average of 1,500 gallons at the time.

The success of the Friesian breeding policy is evidenced by the continued strong demand for Dunum breeding stock.

In 2007, the Dunum Sneacta 32 was the first Pure Friesian awarded the IHFA Diamond Lifetime Production Award.

The Dunum herd IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

Martin Crowe Agricultural Consultants has been established since 2002

embarked on the show circuit with the introduction of Pure Friesian classes at the Emerald Expo and the Tullamore show and by 2011 the Dunum Sneacta 86 won the champion Pure Friesian at both shows.

Since first becoming involved, Martin has always placed great emphasis on herd health by screening the milk quarterly for diseases and also

screening cows twice annually for Johnes. This has gone a long way in guaranteeing him a healthy and trouble free herd.

Martin is currently a member of the Agricultural Consultant Association and is a former chairman of his local GAA club Doon, whom compete in Limerick’s east division. He also currently serves as lotto chairman for the club.

The Crowe family have been steeped in farming for generations

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“We're on the ground talking to farmers and we know the troubles they are up against” - Padraic Quigley

Quigley’s Garage - a Class act Q

uigley's Garage are proud to be the west of Ireland's main Claas dealers. With a full range available and more being added all the time, they can help you with your investment.

CONTACT DETAILS

Quigley's Garage

Ahascragh Ballinasloe Co. Galway Mobile: +353 87 935 35 52 Phone: 0909 68 85 88 Fax: 0909 68 85 85 Email: info@quigleysgarage.ie Website: www.quigleysgarage.ie

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Situated in Ahascragh, close to Ballinasloe, Quigley's Garage was founded by Padraic Quigley and his wife Bernadette in 2001. They started out life by selling second hand tractors before the opportunity arose to acquire the Claas franchise in 2006. It's fair to say that hey haven't looked back since.

In a very short time, Claas has become established as a leading tractor manufacturer throughout Europe, offering a choice of 34 models between 72 and 524 hp: the Xerion 4x4 highhorsepower tractors, the Axion, Arion and Axos standard tractors, the compact Elios class and the Nexosmodels in the narrow gauge range.

This extensive and impressive portfolio is specifically designed to meet the needs of modern agriculture. Enormous pulling power, ease of operation and wealth of intelligent systems are all characteristics of a Claas tractor.

To compliment their main Claas dealership, Quigley's also supply a range of carefully selected products to cater for all agricultural requirements.

Quigley's Garage was founded by Padraic and Bernadette Quigley in 2001

They stock a wide range of quality products from world leading manufacturers such as Teagle, Hi Spec, Sulky, NC, Hardi, Bomford, Strautmann and Erth to allow unrivalled choice.

“The acquisition of the Claas dealership turned the business around completely,” recalled Padraic in conversation with Irish Tractor & Agri

The Quigley's haven't looked back ever since acquiring the Claas franchise in 2006.

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

magazine.

“Claas is a flagship brand which is synonymous with quality and reliability and it has proven to be very popular with our customers. We are the Claas main dealers for Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. The first few years were tough but there has been a big upsurge in interest the last three to four years. People are coming to us with their enquires.”

Born and bred on the family farm in Mountbellew, Padraic and his brother Seamus, the company's Sales Manager, both possess an in depth knowledge of the range of products which the company offers and they are always keen to offer helpful advice to existing and potential customers.

They always strive to ensure that the needs and expectations of their customers are met at all times and rely on an experienced staff which totals 12. To that end, they are very fortunate that some members of their staff have been with the company for many years. Their friendly team are fully trained up and endeavour to help

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Continued Best Wishes To Quigley’s Garage, From

Specialise In Batteries And Recycling Ballyduff, Thurles, Co. Tipperary Tel: 0504-45510 | Fax: 0504-45511 www.hi-volt.net

M&M Fleming Agri Best Wishes To Quigley’s Garage, From

For All Your Agri Needs

SLURRY TILLING, MOWING BALING, SUBSOILING GRAIN HARVEESTING ETC

Mountbellew, Galway Tel:087-2545904

Kennedy Bros Agri

Enda Sweeney Best Wishes & Continued Success To Quigley’s Garage, From

AGRI & PLANT HIRE LTD

Tel:087-2382627

Ballinahattina, Mountbellew, Co. Galway

Kieran Murray Contracting

Email: endasweeney@gmail.com

Cornafulla, Athlone, Co. Westmeath T:087-2671179

Email: kieranmurraycontracting@hotmail.com Best Wishes To Quigley’s Garage

Ballyforan, Co. Roscommon

Tel:086-0678221 or 087-6222172

Beckett Agri E:kennedytom78@gmail.com

Continued Best Wishes To Quigley’s Garage

Continued Best Wishes To Quigley’s Garage

Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway

Tel:086-7829040 E:martinbeckett7530@gmail.com 12

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customers with any queries they may have relating to a new purchase or the maintenance of existing equipment.

“When we started out we had just two employees on the payroll. We consider ourselves very lucky that, with the exception of apprentices, all of our employees are long serving members of staff with invaluable experience. All our workers are local too.

“It also helps big time that myself and Seamus come from a farming background. We're on the ground talking to farmers and we know the troubles they are up against. We have three service vehicles on the road and also a recovery truck for pick up of tractors and machinery. We cover all Ireland for deliveries and collection.”

Open Monday to Saturday (9am to 6pm), Quigley's offer a fast and competitive sales service, tailored precisely to their customers needs, with 14 years of satisfied customers to prove it.

Their machinery section has expanded widely from ploughs, harrows, subsoilers, grabs manure shakers, mowers, tedders and lots of others When you most need your machine, they will be there to offer their highest standard of service because with their after-sales support, it’s not just about supplying a filter or doing an oil change, it’s about providing the best solution to their customers needs wrapped up with industry leading parts and service support.

And not content to rest on their laurels, Padraic revealed that they are currently in the process of applying for planning permission for a brand new workshop.

The importance of reputation can't be over-estimated in the tractor sales market and Padraic identified the loyal customer support they receive from the local farming community as a vital ingredient in their winning formula.

“Business is going very well for us at the moment, so far it has been a good year for sales. Claas finance is a massive help.

They're on the ball when it comes to setting up payment methods with farmers and contractors which suit their needs.

“We pride ourselves on our good customer service and the business' image.

The challenge is to keep that good name and the service we provide right because if that dips, sales will dip.”

Feel free to contact Quigley's Garage with any questions and they will be more than happy to help where they can.

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

Quigley's Garage are proud to be the west of Ireland's main Claas dealers.

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GVM designed_Layout 1 18/12/2015 12:25 Page 1

60 years and counting G

olden Vale Co-Op Marts boast excellent modern livestock markets in prime locations which is supported by a highly experienced team of auctioneers and staff. Recent times have seen an increase in the cattle and calf numbers traded through their marts.

PJ Buckley, Chief Executive, GVM Group

14

Golden Vale Marts Co-Op is one of the country's biggest mart groups, operating a network of five marts at Kilmallock, Abbeyfeale, Dromcollogher, Tullamore and Carrigallen in Leitrim.

Providing a proficient service to sellers and buyers, collectively, GVM predicts sales of 120,000 cattle and calves and 35,000 sheep during 2015. “We also operate a direct farm to farm business and sell a couple of thousand animals through that,� explained Chief Executive Officer PJ Buckley.

GVM Co-Op was founded in 1956 meaning that it will celebrate 60 years in existence next year. The first mart was opened in Kilmallock in 1958 and it would be accurate to say that the business has grown beyond recognition since then.

With more than one string to their bow, Golden Vale Marts' business portfolio also includes auctioneering and foreign property interests.

The society's 5,500 shareholders will

CONTACT DETAILS Golden Vale Co-Operative Mart Central Office Kilmallock Co. Limerick

Phone: (063) 98050

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

GVM designed_Layout 1 18/12/2015 12:25 Page 2

GVM's Kilmallock Mart staff, left to right: Denis Kirby, Cecilia McNamara, Margaret Noonan, Mary Garvey, Margaret Cooke, Michael Tobin

have good cause to celebrate next year's milestone birthday because last year GVM realised an operating profit of €2.7m and €1.46m profit before taxation. The shareholders funds currently stands at €19.4m.

PJ joined Golden Vale Marts as Financial Controller in 1992 and was elevated to the position of CEO in 2000. In recent years, the Society has overseen a substantial capital investment aimed at providing buyers and sellers with up-todate and fit for purpose premises.

“The Group stretches from Abbeyfeale on the Kerry border right up to Leitrim,” he replied when asked the secrets of their success. “We've invested a lot in our facilities over the last three to four years. In terms of upgrading our facilities for our customers we have spent €1m since 2010.

“We're very conscious of the need to improve the marts for the people that use them. Sellers need to get animals in quickly and efficiently and what happens around the ring is obviously critical. . From a buyers perspective, they want to get the animals out quickly and efficiently. We wanted to improve the mart experience for the buyers and sellers.”

One of GVM's aims is to provide a reliable, quality service which is both professional and personal. At all times, they try to ensure that the service they provide to their customers is personalised and second to none.

GVM's services are delivered by a strong team of talented and experienced people. The have approximately 100 employees on the payroll and they pride themselves on the quality of their workforce.

“We are service business and a lot of our success is very much down to the quality and commitment of our people. We're extremely fortunate to have a high calibre workforce,” PJ IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

added.

“As a group we've never been afraid to look beyond marts, we have not been afraid to look at other projects and invest

Antoinette Daly, Manager, Tullamore Mart

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GVM designed_Layout 1 18/12/2015 12:25 Page 3

Helen Kells, Manager, Carrigallen Mart

Richard Ryan, Property Manager, GVM Auctioneers, Kilmallock

where we think there is potential.

“The Property Auctioneering division was established in 1970s and we have property offices in Kilmallock, Limerick city and Tullamore, Co Offaly. We're also involved in Property Investment and own two NCT centres in Abbeyfeale and Charleville, Co Cork and an Investment Property in Shannon.

“We also have investment property in Poland and Germany while in the last number of years we diversified into renewable energy. We sold our win farm interests for a profit of €6m in 2011. In addition, we also have an interest in a joint-venture in Wexford, Biogreen Energy Products.”

The hub of GVM's business is the livestock marts and they are renowned for their flexible approach to meeting the requirements of all of their customers. The team at Golden Vale Marts work hard to achieve high attendance at all their sales by continuously building on their reputation for quality service and top prices.

With a long standing customer base, it is an approach that has helped them to stand the test of time and should continue to serve them in good stead as they look ahead to the future.

“We've come through a lot of challenges at this stage,” PJ pointed out. “The last five years were pretty challenging in terms of the economic

downturn. And there are always going to be many challenges when you are involved in different businesses but, at this stage, the challenge for us is to keep improving the service we provide and grow the Co-Op for the shareholders.

“With the continued commitment of our employees, and the support of our buyers and sellers, we want to be the best we can be.”

Best Wishes To GVM Group

Congratulations GVM Group On 60 Years In Business

Congratulations GVM Group On 60 Years In Business From

Visit our Shop and Showrooms for a free quotation of all your home and building needs" RENOVATE, MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE YOUR HOME WITH CAHILL’S HOMEVALUE HARDWARE, SERVING OUR CUSTOMERS SINCE 1972 16

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

mcphillips designed_Layout 1 18/12/2015 12:56 Page 1

McPhillips Woodshavings delivers quality animal bedding nationwide.

A flourishing business

M

cPhillips Woodshavings Ltd. is one of Ireland’s leading distributors of wood shavings, delivering quality animal bedding to some of the country’s best-known poultry producers and equestrian centres. We caught up with proprietor Sean McPhillips at his North Monaghan base to find out more about this exceptional family business.

McPhillips Woodshavings Ltd. supplies animal bedding to the poultry, equestrian and dairy (sawdust) sectors nationwide. A quick glance at their customer list speaks for itself, revealing names like Grove Turkeys, Cobb Europe, Cavan Equestrian Centre, Hogans Turkeys, Whitaker Turkeys, Western Brand Group and Manor Farm Group.

McPhillips’ high-quality products are 100% pure white softwood kiln-dried shavings with no recycled materials or MDF content. Every bale is dust extracted and composed of clean dry soft wood shavings, making it an excellent choice for animal bedding.

The consistent quality of these bales is achieved through an advanced production and control process, providing an ultracompressed bale using state-of-the-art equipment. Each 25kg bale is vacuumpacked using a weather-proof, heavy gauge plastic cover which is then heatsealed. Bales are then built on a 36-strong IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

pallet, which is in turn wrapped and protected from all weather conditions.

Shavings are readily available in bales or bulk and sawdust can also be provided in bags or in bulk.

The benefits of McPhillips wood shavings are manifold: quality-assured poultry bedding offers biosecurity, excellent absorption, comfort, hygiene and better crop results; sawdust is super absorbent, ideal for cow mats and offers a practical and value-for-money solution; equestrian shavings boast excellent soakage and absorption properties and are also soft, comfortable and easy to muck out.

Reflecting on the genesis of the family business, Sean McPhillips notes: “My late father, John, started the business in 1979 and I took over in 2010. We used to trade as John McPhillips Shavings but rebranded as McPhillips Woodshavings Ltd. five years ago.

“My father had broiler chickens himself and was also farming beef cattle. He found that it was very difficult to get a good supply of quality shavings so he started getting them himself from Agnew & Co., the timber importers in Redhills, County Cavan. They just had a small mill at the time and as they have grown, we have grown. He started using those shavings on his own farm and soon enough other poultry growers in the locality were making enquiries about them and he realised that there could be a business opportunity there, so he started supplying them.

“From there, we branched out and got into different timber mills in Dublin, Galway (ECC, Cornamona) and Clare and started bringing the shavings up to Monaghan for distribution. One thing led to another and the business kept growing. He started to supply Grove Turkeys – and still does – and then Western Brand in Mayo also came on board and we picked up more and more customers before getting into the equestrian side of things about ten years ago.”

The business model is simple but effective. “We take the shavings from the timber mills and distribute them into the poultry farms and other clients,” says Sean.

“We have our own baler in situ at Agnew & Co., baling the 25kilo packs, which are popular with equestrian centres for topping up etc. As well as poultry farms and equestrian centres, we also supply dairy farmers with sawdust, straw and bales of

CONTACT DETAILS McPhillips Woodshavings Ltd.,

Drumloo South, Newbliss, County Monaghan.

Tel: 047 54818 Mobile: 086 8844027 E: mcphillipsshavingsltd@gmail.com www.mcphillipsshavings.ie

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PORTLAOISE T: 057-8621224 F: 057-8620723 Sales Peter Tallon +44 7747 898 224 Email: info@ids.ie www.ids.ie

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Pig Equipment, Poultry Equipment and Dairy Feeding Equipment Specialists in stainless steel fabrication for the food processing industry.

Explore our new Hydromoll Dairy Feed System Agents for: Big Dutchman, Skov, Steinen & many more. Irelands leading supplier of pig, poultry and dairy equipment for over 30 years.

Best Wishes & Continued Success To McPhillips Woodshavings

Continued Success To McPhillips Woodshavings From

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Tel:+353 (0)18078816 Mobile: +353 (0)87 2990856 Email: dublin@erinpackaging.com Pre-Primed, Pre-Painted & Pre-Varnished wood products now available Redwood, Whitewood & Solid White Oak DIY Packs t Door Frames t Architraves

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Best Wishes To McPhillips Woodshavings, From

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR COMPANY FEATURED IN

Call Barry now on 00353 (0) 46 9241923 Irish Tractor & Agri Magazine

18

Reliable, competitive prices for Fuel always guaranteed.

VISIT OUR HARDWARE STORE FOR ALL YOUR BUILDING, PLUMBING, GARDENING AND DIY NEEDS.

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mcphillips designed_Layout 1 18/12/2015 12:56 Page 3

Direct employment is generated for a team of seven.

The fleet is maintained in top-top condition The genesis of McPhillips Woodshavings goes back to 1979

Serving customers around the clock

Comfort is appreciated by all creatures, great and small

A superb service is provided from the North Monaghan base IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

shavings.”

Wood shavings would have been classified as waste a decade-and-ahalf ago but are now considered to be a byproduct, which means an increase in cost for the Newbliss-based business. However, this hasn’t prevented Sean – and his father before him – from continuing to develop at an impressive rate.

Sean operates a fleet of four Scania artics - from a vintage ’95-reg up to a 2008 model – all maintained in excellent condition at all times. He has three curtainsiders with Moffett Mounties for pallets of bales as well as two walking floor trailers to draw bulk loads in and out.

Gainful employment is provided to a team of seven. “I have three drivers as well as myself, while my wife Laura runs the office and we also have two guys baling the shavings for us at Agnew & Co. “Next year, we are hoping to do even more bales. We’re building a new facility here in Newbliss and will put in our own baler. We’re getting more shavings in from Galway and will bale them ourselves here

on site.”

Meanwhile, on the home farm, Sean still keeps some 75,000 broiler chickens (selling to Manor Farm) as well as having 120 acres of forestry land which will be ready for harvesting in about 20 years – a good investment for the future!

Speaking of the future, the Monaghan man is optimistic about the prospects of the business going forward.

“We’re kept busy all year around and it’s growing all the time,” he states. “We’re looking forward to opening our own baling facility and that should lead to further employment – another two or three men, anyway.

There are more poultry sheds going up all the time between Western Brand and the Carton Group in Cavan / Monaghan, which means more business for us. Hopefully that will continue.

“We also started doing baled straw this year, which we bring from Wexford to beef and dairy farmers nationwide. We’re covering a lot of bases now and I suppose you are always on the lookout for new openings.”

The bold entrepreneurial streak that led to the genesis of McPhillips Woodshavings Ltd. 36 years ago is still very much alive and well!

Sean plans to expand the business in 2016

Sean McPhillips took over the running of the family business in 2010

One of Sean’s trusty Scanias hard at work

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eoin doyle designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:12 Page 1

Breenainthemycra scored a hat trick of wins in 2015

E

Out on his Eoin

oin Doyle’s Ashgrove Stables in Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny has produced over 270 winners. The 36-year-old currently has 28 horses in training, the majority of which are owned by syndicates.

three children, Katie (10), Maebh (five) and Noel (three), took over the family stables in Ashgrove in 2001, having inherited a love for racing from his late father Noel.

Noel was perhaps best-known as the founder of Suir Engineering – which is one of the country’s leading electrical The well-known national hunt and flat firms – in 1984. After Noel’s passing in trainer, who is married to Gemma and has 1997, most of Suir Engineering’s shares

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CONTACT DETAILS Ashgrove Stables

Ashgrove, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny.

Telephone: 051 895171 Mobile: 086 2719453 IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

eoin doyle designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:12 Page 2

rested with his wife, Pauline, who eventually sold the Waterford-based company after 10 years to the Dutch giant Imtech.

Eoin has fond memories of a youth spent lining out for the Mooncoin hurlers and accompanying his father to race meetings all over the country. Noel owned a number of racehorses, which fuelled Eoin’s passion for the ‘Sport of Kings’.

The youngster’s fascination with all things equine led to him riding as an amateur jockey for three seasons and spending summers with the legendary Aidan O’Brien at his old stables in Owning.

Despite having enjoyed a relatively successful career as a trainer to date, Doyle has yet to fulfil his dream which is to train a Grade 1 winner. “That’s the goal for every trainer and that’s what I’ve been working towards since I got my licence.

I won’t be happy until I achieve that,” he says.

Arguably Eoin’s most successful horse has been The Fonze, which won 16 races for him on the flat and over hurdles. The Fonze’s biggest win came in the Red Mills Grade 2 Chase in Gowran in 2010 when he beat the great War of Attrition. Other quality horses have included Mojito Royale, Coin Man, Ucan Bolt, No Full, which ran in the 2008 Grand National, and Satu, which won the Ladbrokes Grade 2 Hurdle in Killarney in 2012. The Rossmiester, Hawaii Five Nil and Raggletagglegypsy have also produced the goods for Eoin.

“We had some great years – 2010, 2012 and 2013 immediately spring to mind,” the affable trainer continues.

“The Fonze was a brilliant horse for us. We also trained Mountainous to win a Point to Point IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

National hunt and flat trainer Eoin Doyle

Ashgrove Stables sponsoring Mooncoin GAA, l/r: Paddy Crowley, Liam Sutton, Alan Walsh, Eoin Doyle, John Crowley, Johnny Ryan, Eoin Henebery

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Ryans Pub Best Wishes To Ashgrove Stables From

Carrigeen, Co. Kilkenny • Tel: 051-895607

Best Wishes To Ashgrove Stables, From

D.C. Poultry Ltd, Unit 542, Greenogue Industrial Estate, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin.

Tel: 01 257 3810.

Email: dcpoultry@eircom.net www.dcpoultry.com

Best Wishes & Continued Success To Ashgrove Stables From

Elcon Engineering, Grange, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny T: 086-2740601 T:051-896910 F:051-896911 Email: info@elconengineering.com

Best Wishes To Ashgrove Stables From

CAR SERVICE - TRUCK -AGRI- TYRESBRAKE PADS - BATTERIES Thank you for your business!

Rathkieran, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny Tel:051-895993 Mobile: 086-7887723 Email: info@suirauto.ie www.suirauto.ie

IRISH &

AGRI

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR COMPANY FEATURED

Wishing Continued Success To Ashgrove Stables

22 O’Connell Street, Waterford.

Tel:051-874856 Email: enquiries@hdkeane.com

www.hdkeane.com

22

Call Barry now on 00353 (0) 46 9241923 IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

eoin doyle designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:13 Page 4

before he was sold on to Richard Lee who won the Welsh National with him in 2013.”

As a relatively small trainer, Eoin faces a constant challenge to retain his best horses.

“Many of our best horses are sold to big clients in England.

That’s the nature of the business. We bring a lot of young horses through from the Point to Point scene and they are sold on. It’s always difficult to hold onto your best stock. That’s why it’s so important to have new and quality stock coming through to replace them.”

At the time of writing, Ashgrove Stables had 10 winners on the track so far this year, including three-in-a-row on the flat in Roscommon, Clonmel and Limerick. The Stable’s brightest prospects would appear to be Breenainthemycra, Scoresheet and Jetstream Joe. Eoin’s jockeys include Donagh Meyler, Mikey Butler and AF O’Neill.

Ashgrove Stables are located on the outskirts of Mooncoin in south Co. Kilkenny. The state-of-the-art facilities include a new six furlong woodchip gallop, a three furlong circle gap, two horse walkers, a schooling ground, a lunging area and 46 stables. The stables’ paddocks afford horses a well-deserved

The Fonze has won 16 races for Ashgrove Stables, including the Red Mills Grade 2 Chase IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

Mountainous

break from their training routines. Friendly and dedicated staff provide a personal service for your horse.

Like all Kilkenny men, Eoin loves his hurling. As a youngster, he played for Mooncoin and won numerous underage titles before receiving a call-up to the South Kilkenny minor squad in 1997. However, his interest in horse racing outweighed other commitments and he has concentrated solely on that for the last 15 years.

Ashgrove Stables assumed the sponsorship of Mooncoin GAA from Suir Engineering and continues to support the club to this day. Mooncoin is one of Kilkenny’s most successful clubs with 12 senior hurling championships and one senior football championship to its credit. It has produced numerous All-Ireland hurling medal winners, including the famous Dick ‘Drug’ Walsh, who captained Kilkenny to All-Ireland wins in 1907, 1909 and 1913.

Unsurprisingly, Eoin is a huge admirer of Brian Cody, who recently guided the Cats to their 11th Liam MacCarthy Cup since 2000.

“Brian is the greatest manager the game has ever seen. He’s an inspiration to all. If I could be half as successful as him as a trainer, I’d be very happy!” he concludes.

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rockview designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:55 Page 1

Rockview is Ireland’s only manufacturer of bespoke, turnkey poultry houses

Ireland’s only turnkey poultry house manufacturer

R

ockview Engineering Ltd. is Ireland’s only manufacturer of bespoke, turnkey poultry houses, providing a comprehensive, professional, island-wide service from design and groundworks through to the complete building of the units. We dropped into the pioneering company’s Derrylin, County Fermanagh base to find out more about this unique, market-leading operation from founder Shane Teague.

In a very short space of time, Rockview Engineering Ltd. has established itself as Ireland’s premier poultry house and agricultural building manufacturer, rapidly

24

becoming the farmer’s first-choice whilst ensuring quality workmanship from start to finish, with good relationships contractor.

Offering a wide range of poultry houses specific to the farmer’s requirements – with a choice of either timber frame or CONTACT DETAILS steel frame structures - Rockview Engineering is the only poultry house Rockview Engineering Ltd., manufacturer in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland that has job16 Knockninny Road, specific, highly-skilled and -qualified Derrylin, personnel in place to accommodate a full County Fermanagh, turnkey facility for all types of poultry United Kingdom, housing, from greenfield site to concrete BT92 9JS. works to the timber / steel frame unit.

The business has been developed Tel: 078 5796 1036 (NI) / around this unique and attractive turnkey 0044 78 5796 1036 (ROI) service, and Rockview’s breeder housing, Email: info@rockviewengineering.com commercial egg free range and broiler rockviewengineering.com units are built on-time and to budget IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

rockview designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:55 Page 2

Rockview is a highly-preferred builder for Moy Park, Ready Egg and Carton Brothers

maintained with clients not just during the building phase but throughout the lifetime of each house.

Rockview Engineering was established in November, 2011 by Shane Teague – a civil engineer with a decade’s experience of timber frame construction - to service a gap that was identified within the poultry sector.

Sales have grown at an exponential rate since the company’s inception, with markets being serviced in Ireland north and south as well as Scotland.

All major producers of chickens and commercial eggs in Ireland recommend Rockview Engineering to both new growers and long-term growers who require refurbishment or repair work carried out. By listening to customer requirements, Shane can offer advice on improvements in order to provide the best solution for the farmer. Only the best materials are chosen for each

58 Clonkee Road, Cavanagh, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh BT92 8FH Tel: 028 6773 7889 John Hall - 07857964436 Eileen Hall - 07857964468 Email: info@cavanaghfreerangeeggs.co.uk

Work in progress

Best wishes & continued success to all at Rockview Engineering

www.cavanaghfreerangeeggs.co.uk IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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rockview designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:55 Page 3

Best Wishes & Continued Success To

Rockview Engineering From

the sheeting centre....

Drumlish Rd., Mohill, Co. Leitrim Tel: 00353 71 9631162 Fax: 00353 71 9631519 E: info@modular.ie www.modular.ie Best Wishes To Rockview Engineering

Lough Egish, Co. Monaghan

Tel:042-9745085 (042) 9745094 Fax: (042) 9745146 Int Code (00 353 42)

Wilsons Steel Supplies & Services Ltd. T/A Rollspan Sheeting & Purlins “Cut to Length”

Best Wishes & Continued Success To Rockview Engineering Services provided UK & ROI

Accounts Preparation | Tax Compliance & Planning Payroll & VAT | Financial Projections & Cashflow Planning Bank Negotiations | Computerised Accounts Training

27 Main Street, Belleek Co. Fermanagh,BT93 3FY Tel: +44 (0) 28 6865 9090

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84 Main Street,Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh,BT92 9LA Tel: +44 (0) 28 6774 1825

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Best Wishes To Rockview Engineering, From

Best wishes to Rockview Engineering for the years ahead

FARM INSURANCE

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FOR A COMPETITIVE QUOTE ON: - TRACTOR INSURANCE - FARM LIABILITY - QUADS - OUTBUILDINGS - LIVESTOCK etc.

Call: 028-6634 0774 26

www.irishtractor.ie For All Your Farming News

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rockview designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:55 Page 4

All projects are completed on time, on budget and to exact customer requirements

contract and highly-skilled joiners and steel fabricators assemble the poultry units in accordance with Auto CAD drawings. All drawings are discussed with the farmer prior to manufacture to ensure that all measurements and specifications are exactly as required.

Reflecting on how he came to set the business up just over four years ago, proprietor Shane notes: “I had worked for the previous six years as a QS for a timber frame manufacturer, doing everything from single builds to housing schemes involving hundreds of homes. When the property market collapsed, I spotted an opening in poultry and decided to set up Rockview Engineering to design, manufacture and erect poultry houses.

“A lot of doors closed before they started to open but gradually farmers started to see where we were coming from, by quickly noticing the quality of the service we were providing. Being a qualified civil engineer and from a strong engineering background is a big help. It gives clients the peace of mind of knowing that they are dealing with a professional organisation and that a lot of thought and expertise is invested into each and every job.”

In addition to the proven professionalism and expertise of Rockview Engineering, the fact that they provide an unrivalled one-stop shop solution is

In a short space of time, Rockview has established itself as a market-leading operation

Rockview handles the complete project from start to finish.

Shane Teague spotted an opening in the market to design, manufacture and erect poultry houses

The superior quality of Rockview Engineering’s units is recognised island-wide.

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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rockview designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:55 Page 5

another major plus. “We take it from the grass up,” Shane confirms. “We do the groundworks, the timber or steel frame, the concrete, the house, the drainage etc. We carry out the complete build and then have an electrical and mechanical company that comes in behind us - we work in conjunction with both them and the client to finish the building off.”

Why poultry?

What persuaded Shane to enter this particular market? “We’re from a rural background and farming is very prominent here. If we were to rely on the ‘fancy work’ – i.e. the housing

“When the property market collapsed, I spotted an opening in poultry.”

– we wouldn’t have survived the recession. Farming has remained strong and our turnover had tripled each year since we started, so it’s a good sector to be working in. We are totally committed to the sector for the future as we are continually looking at new products and offering these to our clients.”

Rockview Engineering is extremely well thought of in the industry for the superior quality of its units. They are the highly-preferred builder for Moy Park, Ready Egg, Carton Brothers / Manor Farm for both new builds and renovations. All of the top

A stunning refurbishment job completed by Rockview Engineering.

28

producers have the assurety that we will finish each building to our highest standards with all buildings being left extremely bio secure.

From being made redundant, Shane now oversees a team of 40 men, including three teams of joiners, 2 teams of concrete pavers plus a crew of steel fabricators. Of course, none of this has happened by chance and an inordinate amount of work is invested into ensuring the continued success of the business. The buck stops with the founder, who deals with people on a one-to-one basis and is always available to customers to discuss future and current projects: “I’d put in 80-hour shifts most weeks,” he confirms.

“You have to be on hand and you have to take the calls. I make myself available at all times and I never try to avoid anybody. A problem is only a problem for as long as you do nothing about it.

“People are dealing with me directly and what you see is what you get. I could be out setting foundations or putting in concrete or sitting around a table with designers/architects and clients preparing for our next big project. People know they can trust us and that we will do what we say we are going to do, if not more. That’s why we get so much repeat

business and referrals. We never let anybody down.”

Elaborating further on the success of the business, the 33-year-old entrepreneur continues: “The high-quality workmanship is also important and I have very good lads working alongside me. There’s not a day goes by that you don’t learn something and you can then take that forward and put that experience to use for our next contract. When you are out on the ground, you will learn all the time and improve the business.”

The fact that Rockview Engineering is the only contractor in Ireland providing a complete finished project gives the County Fermanagh manufacturer a decided edge over the opposition. Although specialising in poultry houses primarily, Shane also has the capacity to manufacture piggeries, cattle houses and any other type of agri building alongside with first and 2nd fix joinery works for domestic builds.

“We’re busy all year around and have never had a dip in production,” he concludes.

“We’ve experienced constant growth and we’d be hoping to achieve continued growth going forward on the back of a consistently high-quality product and service. I’m also hoping to break into new markets and to expand further into the UK.” IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

joe kelly designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:37 Page 1

I

e fresh approach

reland is renowned for producing some of the best fruit and veg in the world as our climate is perfect for the growing of certain food products.

There are many growers all over the country, and this industry employs thousands of people as they supply shops, hotels, restaurant, hospitals, the public and other sectors.

Fruit & veg can come in a variety of forms as they are now companies that prepare them and ensure that are ready for use.

One such company is Joe Kelly Fruit & Veg, which is based in Skreen, Co Sligo.

Joe set up the business 36 years ago and they are still going strong today.

The background to this family run business is intriguing to say the least as Joe and his wife Phil initially set up a fruit & veg distribution company building it up to supply major supermarkets, shops and

The company is based in Skreen, Co Sligo

restaurants across the north west of the country, engaging local workers and drivers to meet the demand.

However, the introduction of central distribution for supermarkets began to be implemented from 2000 and this meant that local suppliers such as Joe Kelly were no longer used, and this began the decline of his original customer list and business.

Many businesses would have just given up and closed down, but Joe showed a fighting spirit that reveals the reason why they have been so successful over the years.

Joe Kelly responded to this change with courageous investment and innovation.

With the help of Sligo Leader Company, Sligo County Enterprise Board, and other bodies, Joe formed a plan to move into prepared and packaged fresh vegetables, supplying Restaurants, Hotels, Hospitals and other large catering organisations.

“We have built our reputation on the quality of the fresh produce we source and the highest level of service we provide to our customers,” said Joe. “To this day, we have stayed true to what’s important to us and to what our

CONTACT DETAILS Joe Kelly Fruit & Veg

Some of the fruit is imported from Europe IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

Skreen, Co. Sligo, Ireland.

Tel: 071 91 76 413 Mob: 087 25 70 547 Email: joekellyfruits@eircom.net

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Best Wishes & Continued Success To Joe Kelly Fruit & Veg, From

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... fuel you can trust!

SPECIALISING IN HOME HEATING & COMMERCIAL FUELS NATIONWIDE

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Continued success to all at Joe Kelly Fruit & Veg.

ALL FRESH PRODUCE

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all at Casey Kavanagh & Company

44 John Street, Sligo Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors Tel:071-9142666 • Fax:071-9162506 Email: caseykavanagh@eircom.net 30

&

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joe kelly designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:37 Page 3

name stands for tasty fruit and veg delivered fresh to you every day.

“We practically had to start all over again from scratch. It wasn’t easy getting the business up and running again. Our big break came when Sligo’s busiest restaurant Yeats Tabern gave us their business and they are still with us today.”

Joe added that only the best of growers are used to source their products, which come from many different farms around the country.

“We go to great lengths to select only the finest quality fruit & vegetables through our network of Irish growers and indeed some of our fruit comes from Holland and Spain also. We pack, prepare and deliver to our customers nationwide every day. We guarantee you the very best in season product which will taste great every time.”

Joe stressed that they stick to a number of policies and by doing this he feels that they can maintain the level of service that their customers have become used too.

“Over the years, we have learned from experience and we follow the same key points all the time, some of these include no quibble return of any product recently freshly packaged - No added Chemicals - All Natural Preparation Any volume of any product available Prompt Delivery - Own Preparation line - Health Board Compliant - Own Delivery

Cara Pharmacy MD Ramona Nicholas presents the Overall Sligo Business Award to Joe Gannon, Kelly Fresh Foods with Minister of State for Small Business John Perry TD in attendance

vehicles and Drivers - Daily vehicle check.”

Some of the products that Kelly’s supply their customers with are Peeled Potatoes, Sliced diced batton carrots, Sliced diced baton swede, Prepared Cabbage, Fresh Chips cut daily, Pre packed salads, Fresh fruit salads, Sliced diced red & white onion.

“Prepared vegetables and fresh fruit & veg are delivered daily all over the West of Ireland. We are one of Ireland’s leading, locally sourced distributor of fresh produce, freshly prepared food and catering products,” added Joe. “Everything prepared daily on our own purpose built premises to HSE standards, fully HACCP approved. We are also one of the largest privately owned fruit and vegetable companies in Ireland. We are dedicated to

Staff at Kelly Fresh Fruit prepare stock for delivery IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

sourcing the finest and freshest produce available worldwide. We are 100% committed to sourcing Irish products whenever suitable quality is available.”

Having come through a number of recessions, Joe admits that every decision regarding the business has to be taken with the utmost of care.

“We are fortunate to have a very good customer base many of who have been with us a number of years. Expansion is something that we are looking at, but with the way things are, we won’t be doing much for the next 12 months or so.

“Certainly, the recessions have made us stronger as a company and I don’t feel the last one is fully over yet, especially in the west of the country. We have become more educated and that means everybody in business has done so.

“We’re pleased with the direction that the business is heading and as long as we can keep the customers happy and ensure we maintain the same level of service that everything should be ok.”

The Joe Kelly name is synonymous with fresh fruit and veg

31

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Joseph Leonard says there are many advantages to topless cubicles

T

A family affair

he Leonard family have been farming in Stamullen, Co. Meath for almost a century. Joseph Leonard, a 2014 Nuffield scholar, is currently milking 500 cows on his Balloy Farm and is also involved with his younger brother Michael in Bellewstown Golf Course, a business they set up together in 2004.

In the last 12 months, Joseph – who carries out the farm duties with his brother Matthew, father Simon and Rob Loosley – has increased the size of his dairy herd from 300 to 500 cows. This has been made possible by a partnership with a neighbouring farm which has brought in an additional 45 hectares and extra winter housing.

“We have ramped up our milk production over the past few years,”

32

explains Joseph, who was awarded the 2014 Nuffield Scholarship.

“We’ve gone from milking 180 cows 10 years ago to 500 now. We upped the herd size to 300 in 2012 after buying extra milk quotas, and we’ve been able to expand further thanks to the abolition of the quota system last April and the partnership we entered into with Darragh McCullagh of Ear to the Ground fame and his father Eamon, which has worked out well for both parties. We are currently farming about 550 acres between our own land and land which we rent.”

The expanded crossbred herd produces 2.2 million litres of milk per year, which is supplied to Lakeland Dairies in Bailieborough, Co. Cavan. The Leonards are among 2,200 dairy farmers who supply to the Lakeland Dairies Group, which processes about 1 billion litres of milk annually into a range of valued added dairy foodservice products and

functional dairy food ingredients that are exported to 70 countries worldwide.

Balloy Farm wouldn’t be the busy enterprise it is today if the Leonard’s hadn’t adopted a low-cost philosophy in their approach to grass-based milk production system and to their facilities.

The 40-unit milking parlour was built by Joseph, Matthew and Simon in the winter of 2009/2010. They also constructed a six million-litre lined lagoon in 2008, while a 500-place topless cubicle unit was also

CONTACT DETAILS

Balloy Farm Ltd,

Balloy, Stamullen, Co. Meath.

Email: jsleonard@eircom.net IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

balloy farm designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:09 Page 2

built in 2009 on the site of an existing wintering pad. In 2012, a tunnel was constructed to link the two sections of the milking platform together.

Apart from the obvious savings in building and structural costs, Joseph says there are many advantages to topless cubicles.

“I would highly recommend topless cubicles to any dairy farmer.

The rising cost of woodchip was one of the main reasons why we opted for this unit. There is less effluent as we’ve reduced the overall size of our wintering facilities,” he notes. “The cows are very happy and healthy – they put on a proper winter coat when they are wintered outside. Also, there is no shock to their systems when they go out to grass in February.

If you leave a gate open in a normal shed, the cows will go out. That’s a fact. We have a bank of clay beside the cubicles which keeps the wind out.”

He adds: “Our policy has always been to keep our costs as low as possible. When we built our new milking parlour, we didn’t splash out a particular brand of milking machine. We did nearly all of the work ourselves.

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

The cows enjoying their silage!

“We reduce our feeding costs by getting our cows out to grass as soon as possible after calving, which starts in February and runs until April. They are 98 per cent grass-fed. We feed our calves from birth once a day from the cow’s milk in the morning which reduces the labour requirement and the need for milk heating equipment. We also milk

once a day in February to maximise milk price and reduce labour cost.”

Joseph isn’t unduly concerned about the low prices farmers have been receiving for their milk since the EU quotas were lifted.

“If anything, 2015 wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. Reduced milk prices had been globally forecasted due to

The Leonard's built the milking parlour themselves in 2009/2010

33

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Continued Best Wishes To Balloy Farm Statutory Auditors, Accountants & Insolvency Practitioners 66a Newtown Business Park, Boyne Business Park, Drogheda, Co. Louth

Tel: 041 9832331 | Fax: 041 9801543 Email: info@doylekelly.com www.doylekelly.com

33 Hillside, Skerries, Co. Dublin

Tel: 086-1016737

Email: mickdwyer5@gmail.com

Delighted to be associated with BALLOY FARM & Wish Them Continued Success

Best Wishes to Balloy Farm, from Industrial/Commercial Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Chill & Freezer Coldrooms Refrigerated Display Cabinets |Draft Beer Cooling Bulk Milk Tanks | Air Conditioning

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POTATO & GRAIN GROWERS & CONTRACT WORKS

The Paddock, Preston Hill, Stamullen, Co. Meath

Tel: 086-6060252 Tel:086-1220058

Best wishes & continued success to Balloy Farm

Best Wishes To Balloy Farm, From

Suppliers of Fertilizer, Alkaline Grain, Maize, Animal Feeds & Silage Additives for the Agricultural Sector.

Harristown, Ardee, Co. Louth.

Office Ph: 353 (0)41- 6853688 M: 353 (0) 86- 2452650

Email: info@marksvillefarms.ie www.marksvillefarms.ie

Continued success to all at BALLOY FARM, from

AGRI-CONTRACTOR

SPECIALISING IN SILAGE CUTTING & MAIZE SUPPLYING

Magoney, Inniskeen, Co. Louth Tel: 087-2197199

34

LEADING SUPPLIER OF MILKING EQUIPMENT

PLEASED TO SUPPLY MILKING PARLOURS TO BALLOY FARM 107 Farriter Road, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone BT70 1PN

Tel: 028 8776 1314 Fax: 028 8776 1251 Email: info@stinsonequipment.com www.stinsonequipment.com Continued Success To Balloy Farm

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www.bellewstowngolfclub.ie

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

balloy farm designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:09 Page 4

overproduction, so I was braced for it after the high of the previous two years. I will, however, start to worry if the prices don’t show an improvement by next spring,” he says.

Married to Mairead and father to four children, Joseph was honoured to be awarded a 2014 Nuffield Ireland Scholarship for his topic ‘To investigate and develop Stress Management Systems in Farming in Ireland’. As an industry, the affable dairy farmer feels agriculture needs to recognise that the farmer is the single most important factor in the success of the business and that while technical ability/efficiency are important, it is crucial that farmers are taught to respect their own limitations and needs as well as their ambitions and capabilities.

The objective of the Irish Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust is to identify future leaders of Irish agriculture and facilitate their ambition to bring about meaningful change for the benefit of their community.

In 2001, Joseph and Michael Leonard, with the support of their father, made the brave and radical decision to transform what had been a 150-acre beef farm in Bellewstown into a golf course. And, after building it themselves, Bellewstown Golf Course was open for business within three years.

The farm was originally purchased by Simon in the mid-1970s when a large part of the Hilltown Estate was sold, running it in conjunction with the home farm in Balloy.

Michael, who was then working in banking in Dublin, now runs the 18-hole Par 72 championship length course, which has catered for the dramatic increase in population in the area and is set to the north of Bellewstown Racecourse and with a stunning view over the surrounding countryside to the distant Mourne Mountains and the Irish Sea.

Joseph's daughter Leah helping out on a farm walk IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

O’ROURKE’S Best wishes to Balloy Farm, from The Leonard herd is 98 per cent grass-fed

FALLEN ANIMAL COLLECTIONS OFFERING THE FARMING COMMUNITY THE LOWEST REMOVAL RATES

Rathgillan, Nobber, Co. Meath

Tel: 046-9052293 - 087-9212855 For a cheaper, more environmentally friendly service - Prompt professional service - Leak proof trucks - Dept. Agricultural Licence No.: Kn16

The crossbred herd produces 2.2 million litres of milk per year

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‘Quality, value and service’

AbbeyGold Feeds Ltd sell in bulk, with 500kg bags

36

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

abbeygold designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:48 Page 2

C

oming up on four years since he first started AbbeyGold Feeds Ltd, David Casey is still going strong in the producing and selling of animal feeds. Irish Tractor & Agri caught up with the company’s director to find out more.

Quality value and service are the vital philosophies for the future of every business to some degree, but since David Casey started AbbeyGold Feeds Ltd he lives and dies by them.

Located in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, Casey’s AbbeyGold Feeds Ltd manufactures animal feeds products and maintain the belief that their unique connection as a small business is that they care more for the quality of the product and the service for the farmer.

The way David sees it, this allows for a good rapport to develop and build on.

Having studied Mechanical Engineering in both Carlow IT and the University of Limerick, David worked as an engineer before taking the decision to go out on his own and work for himself in 2011. A year later, his own company was officially started and he hasn’t looked back since.

“We’re fully licensed since 2012 and would have two working here part-time at the moment,” said David.

“Basically, what we are is an animal feeds facility that produces the best quality products. We manufacture products which cater mainly for Dairy,

Beef and Sheep animals.”

The roots of David’s interest in the agricultural industry go back to his grandfather, Frank Casey.

Back in the 1940s, Frank Casey had a thrashing mill around the Abbeyleix area, along with David's father Declan they processed grain in the locality then they also rolled and sold barley to local farmers.

David has brought the tradition into the next phase and set-up a computerised mixing and milling operation in Abbeyleix that converts grain into nutrient balanced animal compound feed.

Frank started a grain mill of his own – one of the first in Republic of Ireland at the time, according to David, and his grandson accepts: “I guess you could say I’m following in his footsteps now a bit.”

He continued: “I studied Mechanical Enigneering in CIT and UL and I was working as a stockist for other mills up until 2012. I started out on my own then and my goal was to add value to grain and try and build the business from that because I knew there was an opening there.”

From that day onwards, the company has grown from strength to strength in the space of four short years.

AbbeyGold Feeds Ltd are also on the ground and can manufacture formulations that are required quick and easy. The main ingredients they use are Rolled Barely, Rolled Wheat, Rolled Oats and Flake Maize, which are used to

achieve high energy diets.

While the main aspect of the business is animal feeds, they also stock a full range of animal minerals, grass seed and mineral buckets and no cheap alternative filler ingredients with low feed value are used.

AbbeyGold Feeds Ltd also supplies Actisaf Yeast, which improves the overall performance of ruminant animals and reduces the chances of acidosis in high intake diets.

In order to help improve the ration they have, AbbeyGold Feeds Ltd has constructed a grain conditioning plant.

The conditioning plant cleans, screens and conditions the cereal grain to a consistent specification and achieves an improved textured ration.

This solves the problem of whole barley in rations and allows for a much flatter grain roll, increased digestion in rumen, reduce risk of acidosis and better presentation in rations. This is one of the reasons why they went to the trouble of erecting their own condition plant.

“The business is expanding all the time

CONTACT DETAILS AbbeyGold Feeds Address: Tullyroe, Abbeyleix, Co Laois Mob: 086 8353304

All smiles as another load is ready for delivery IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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Frank Casey had his own thrashing mill back in the 1940s

and we’re here six days a week,” explained the Managing Director.

“We built a grain conditioning plant and it was entirely constructed in house. It took two around two months to build and the benefits of it are consistency in the grain’s quality with less dust particles floating about. It also allows for increasing weight gain in animals, improving profits for our customers.”

There is also a bagging plant, which David expanded on: “All our rations are always made to order, allowing our rations to be the freshest when delivered to the end customer. This we believe is one of our major advantages as no deterioration has occurred,” he stated.

The weight gain plays a significant part for David’s company and is a one of the reasons why he went to the trouble of erecting his own conditioning plant. This all leads to increased weight gain and increased profit for the farmer (ie the customer).

At the moment, AbbeyGold Feeds Ltd are currently selling in bulk, with bags of 500kg on offer and they can currently blow meal into bins as well. They also recently installed a 25kg bag that allows smaller quantities of product to be sold, such as Whole Barley, Flaked Maize, Whole Wheat and all of the compound rations.

So how is business at the moment? David enthusiastically explained to us: “Business is on the up. At the moment, we’re increasing our customer base all the time through our quality, value and

Best Wishes To Casey’s AbbeyGold Feeds, From

Suppliers of Industrial Flexible Bulk Packaging

Donagh O Shea, Account Manager Greif

3003 Euro Business Park, Little Island, Co. Cork

Office: +353 (0) 21 4353017 Fax: + 353 (0) 21 4354074 Mobile: +353 (0) 87 9892025 Email: donagh.oshea@greif.com www.greif-flexibles.com

38

service,” he explained.

Starting up his company in the middle of a stinging economic downturn didn’t discourage David either. The way he looked at it, there was no better time to start.

“The best time to start a business is in a recession, between cheaper labour and looking ahead to the good times you can’t really ask for more. So started up and I’m glad I did because I haven’t looked back since,” he beamed.

As for the customers which have supported him from the start, David explained that many of them would be local farmers based in Abbeyleix, where his company is based – closed to

Roe Agri Services Wishing Casey’s AbbeyGold Feeds Continued Success From

Tillage Specialists & General Agri Contracting Contact Gary 087-6165272 Clifford 087-2537786 Ballacolla, Portlaoise, Co.Laois E:roe_agri12@yahoo.com

Best Wishes To Casey’s AbbeyGold Feeds, From

Joe Hearns Groundworks & Construction Services

New House Builds Extensions Farm Building All Groundworks KILBRICKEN, MOUNTRATH, CO. LAOIS Mobile: 086-3811405 IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

abbeygold designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:48 Page 4

AbbeyGold Feeds Ltd manufactures animal feeds products

the town’s well-known golf course.

“They are all mostly local and they you’d have a few from Portlaoise,” David stated.

“We feel we are top for quality but always have room for improvement and are always on the lookout for new innovative ways of improving our product.

“There’s no doubt about that and our motto here would be: ‘quality, value and service’ – those are the three things that matter most to us here, because we know that they are crucial to the customer as well.”

Going by that motto, it’s clear that David did his research into customer wants before setting up the company.

Sound delivery of his product is another vital part of gaining repeat business for David, so he has made sure that AbbeyGold Feeds take care of their clients in that department as well.

“We have a full range of delivery options available and our meal can be also collected from our yard,” he outlined.

“We have a tipper trailer here to help us with deliveries and most of the bags that IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

we supply are half-tonne bags, as I said, so they’d be loaded for the customer.

“We are coming into our busiest time of the year now when the frost is on the ground. We also supply grass seeds and a full range of minerals. We’ve a grain conditioning unit as well which helps us to achieve consistent grain quality.”

The AbbeyGold Feeds Ltd store is

open from 9am to 6pm from Monday through Saturday and orders can be placed with David (see mobile number below), so do not hesitate to contact him anytime.

You can check get information on the company’s latest stock and offers on Facebook www.facebook.com/abbeygoldfeeds/

AbbeyGold Feeds Ltd was started by David Casey in 2012

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Experience is the key

W

hen it comes to agricultural contracting, time is of the essence, certainly during the summer months when silage and baling are two services can are confined to small windows, especially given the nature of the Irish weather.

In fairness, the 2015 summer, while although not sending us all for the sun block on a regular basis, was a particularly dry period and there was enough windows of opportunity for contractors to get through their work load.

The pressure and demands of harvesting silage or baling is well and truly off, but this does not mean that contractors rest on their laurels for the remainder of the year.

Many provide a wide range of services that sees them spread slurry, plough, hedge cutting and in some cases plant work keeps them going over the coming

40

months.

Maintenance of their fleet are also high on the list of priorities as it is essential to have machinery that will not give them ‘trouble’ during the peak of the year.

Indeed, the quality of machinery that contractors use means that there is little maintenance to be done as they use state of the art tractors, harvesters, mowers and the likes.

Many farmers have made the transition from farming to contracting and in some cases, they keep both going as is the situation with Trim, Co Meath based farmer Sean Fitzpatrick & Sons.

Sean moved from his native Northern Ireland to the Royal County a couple of decades ago. Having bought a small farm, he has now extended that to 1,500 acres where he does some tillage, silage, wholecrop and maize as well as sucklers to finished beef.

However, a number of years ago, Sean

decided to spread his wings as so to speak and delve into the agri-contracting business. Having done all his own work on his land, he had the experience to make the transition an easy one.

While still operating the farm, Sean is able to service the needs of an everincreasing customer base that is growing all the time. Also located in Sean’s yard at Ardbraccan is Royal Town and Country Stores, a very busy Agricultural Merchant

CONTACT DETAILS

Sean Fitzpatrick Ardbraccan Farm Machinery Ardbraccan, Kilmessan, Co Meath

Tel: 046-9431922 Mob: 087-9136694 IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

sean fitzpatrick designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:32 Page 2

business which leases its premises from Sean. Royal Town and Country work closely with Sean to supply inputs to his farming business.

“I came here about 20 years ago and bought a farm of land, we have expanded that over the years and between land I own and rent, we would be farming in the region of 1,500 acres,” said Sean.

To carry out such a workload, Sean not only has a reliable staff, but his two sons Tommy and James are also involved in the day to day running of the

business.

“I decided to get into the contracting business a number of years ago, we were doing our own work anyway and we had the machinery, so we got some work form local farmers and it has grown from there.”

Sean admits that you need a reliable fleet to carry out the work, especially the silage when as we stated already time is not on your side.

“During the summer, we would run two silage crews. That helps us get through many acres a day. We know what the farmer wants as we have been there ourselves and that is to get in and out as quickly as possible while doing a good job.

“It helps having the two crews operating. We use Krone harvesters and butterfly mowers, while the tractors are all John Deere or New Holland. We actually bought two New Hollands this year off Lyons & Burton in Kildare and they give a great service, while we also do business with Meath Farm Machinery as well and they’re very good too.”

With five new John Deere added to the fleet that means there are seven new tractors and seven new trailers in a highly efficent fleet.

As much of the fleet is still under warranty, this cuts down on the maintenance needed, but Sean revealed that they still check the machinery regularly.

“We would give them a check every now and again to make sure there’s no small problems that could turn into big ones. We have a big range of machinery here, so it is in our best interest to do so.”

Sean added that they are kept busy throughout the year with the other services that they provide to their customers.

“At the moment we are doing a good bit of sowing, while IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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Some of the impressive fleet

the slurry has finished up for the winter break, there is also a good bit of hedge cutting to be done.”

Another service that the family run business provides is farm hire and this sees them hire out machinery to customers.

“We would have tankers, muck spreaders, land levellers and a wide range of other machinery here for hire. This saves the farmer from investing in a machine that they may only use once a year for a small period. They can come here, hire whatever they need off us and drop it back when they’re finished.”

The Fitzpatrick family are certainly progressive and not afraid to take on new challenges which they have proven they can do over the years and it’s no surprise to learn that Sean is open to further expansion if the opportunity arises.

“We’d be happy with the way things are going at the moment, but who knows what the future holds. If there is a chance to expand and it suits us then we will take it.”

Michael O’Byrne Best Wishes To Sean Fitzpatrick From

SOLICITORS

Kenlis Place, Kells, Co. Meath Tel:046-924 7500 Email: info@obyrnelaw.ie

Wishing Continued Success To

Sean Fitzpatrick From

Best Wishes & Continued Success To Sean Fitzpatrick

Lyons & Burton Ltd., Kilcock, Co. Kildare Tel:01-6287444

Rattigan Agri The Power To Produce

Kilmer, Ballivor, Co. Meath | Tel:087-9544864

Best Wishes To Sean, Tommy, James & Continued Success In The Future 42

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

tullyallen mobile designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:18 Page 1

A premier mobile tyre service

C

Tullyallen Mobile Tyres was set-up in 2005

elebrating 10 years in business, Tullyallen Mobile Tyres provide a Louth mobile tyres service and are available to supply new tyres, part worn tyres for all types of vehicles in Tullyallen and surrounding areas. We spoke to MD George O’Brien to find out more.

“If this year is anything to go by, I’d hope to have the same again in 2016,” buzzed George O’Brien about the last 12 months at Tullyallen Mobile Tyres.

Being as busy as he has been recently is IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

never a bad complaint to have, but no one knows better than George himself how hard he has worked for it.

Since finding his company in 2005, George has been on the road ever since, repairing tyres all throughout the midland counties and their surrounding areas, which, as one can imagine, can be a demanding task for a one-man operation.

Tullyallen Mobile Tyres has made it work through and their reputation for providing a fast and efficient service is a glowing one, which sees the same customers coming back to its owner and founder time and

time again.

“We’re based in Tullyallen, Drogheda and I would have started the business in 2005 - it’s just me working here,” explained George.

“Basically what I do is when someone gets a puncture or whatever; I come along there and then and fix it for you. We can vulcanise tyres here and we do anything from a tractor to a wheelbarrow.”

Fixing a wide range of tyres, along with providing a reliable service, goes a long way in George’s chosen line of work. It’s the reason why his company will be moving into its 11th year in 2016 and he’s excited about what the future holds.

With state of the art equipment and a quality customer service, Tullyallen Mobile Tyres are providing a consistent level of top class service to Agricultural, Commercial and Private Sectors.

Operating since ‘05, Tullyallen Mobile tyres have the experience to provide mobile tyres services for the Agricultural Commercial and Private Sector, services include new tyres, part worn tyres, discount tyres, flat wheel repair, tyres for cars tyres , van tyres, tractor tyres, truck, lorry, forklift tyres for all types of vehicles.

Emergency puncture repairs are a speciality of the Drogheda-based mobile tyre company and they provide a 24-hour puncture repair tyre service for agricultural, private and commercial customers.

George’s background in tyre repairs stretches back to the days of when he was a young teenager and after a few years he

CONTACT DETAILS Tullyallen Mobile Tyres Address: Tullyallen, Drogheda, Co Louth

E: tullyallenmobiletyres@hotmail.com Mob: 086 8099774

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started to realise there was a gap in the market for the unique service in which he now provides.

“I started fitting tyres when I was 13 years old in a garage in Drogheda and I also worked in a garage in Dunleek,” said George.

“So I noticed then that there were only a handful of people doing the kind of work that I’m into now. What I’m doing now is a 24-hour service, seven days a week and three years ago Christmas morning was one of my busiest days. That’s the demand.”

Nowadays Tullyallen Mobile Tyres provides a 24-hour puncture repair and breakdown service that can come to you when and wherever needed. This includes places such as at your work, home, at the side of the road or the M1 motorway, providing you with a fast, quality, professional and a great value emergency tyre puncture repair service.

Emergency tyre repair services provided by Tullyallen Mobile Tyres include puncture repair, M1 motorway puncture emergencies, flat wheel repair, breakdown repairs, flat wheel repairs, alloy wheel repair, slow

Tullyallen Mobile Tyres provides its service in Co Louth and its surrounding areas

puncture repair and many more tyre emergency repairs.

Summer 2015 was a busy one for George, who was kept on the road nearly seven days a week once the silage cutting was in full flow.

“This past summer would have been

very busy from when the first blade of grass was cut up until October nearly,” he said.

“During a busy day in the summer, I could get eight call outs between four or five different counties. That would be a typical busy day for me and you can have

Another tyre repaired

44

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

tullyallen mobile designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:18 Page 3

a fairly hectic schedule once the cutting starts.”

With a 24 hour call out tyre service catering for the agricultural sector and using highly equipped mobile tyre equipment, Tullyallen Mobile Tyres are qualified to fix any agriculture tyre emergency you may have.

Available for any Agriculture tyre emergency, no emergency is too small for George’s company and at very competitive rates.

Tullyallen Mobile Tyres Agriculture Tyre Services include, tractor tyre repair, new tractor tyres, 4x4 tyre replacement agriculture machinery tyre repairs and many more.

It’s only now (November) that he finds the time to get some work one the administration end up to date.

“This is the only time of year that I’ve been able to get paper work done,” he said. “There aren’t a lot of people doing this the way I do. I’ve seen lads get into this line of work then forget how hard the work actually is.”

Apart from the agricultural side, industrial work keeps George busy as well. He provide a complete industrial tyre service throughout Co Louth and uses top of the range on-site fitting equipment, while also being able to carry out all types of tyre maintenance.

Tullyallen Mobile Tyres service provide industrial tyres and fitting service for all types of Industrial vehicles including forklifts, trucks, counterbalance trucks, warehouse reach trucks and many more.

The fleet George operates with includes two Ford Transits and a 4x4, while he carries almost every brand of tyre you can name.

“We do every tyre here - from Michelin tyres to the cheapest kind of tyre you can get,” he stated.

“We have been getting our tyres off Agri Gear in Cavan since 2005 and they’re very good to deal with.”

As for customers that have been with him from the beginning, George continued: “The likes of Thomas Delaney Agri

James Collier Agri Contractor Best Wishes To Tullyallen Mobile Tyres From

PLOUGHING | SOWING | RE-SEEDING COMBINING & ROUND BALE SILAGE

Clogherhead, Co. Louth | Tel:087-2603302

Contractors and the Drogheda Council would be with me from when I started nearly, so it’s great to keep their business.

“I think they choose Tullyallen Mobile Tyres first because of the quality service that’s provided and the manner in which it’s provided in.”

It’s hard to argue with George there.

As for 2016, he is hoping for and looking forward to another busy 12 months, with the possibility of taking on some staff if it gets any busier.

“Hopefully that will be down the line sometime – maybe even next year! So we can have two vans on the road full-time and that then will be able to see us take on twice the work load,” he said.

“That’s the way it’s heading anyway and I suppose it isn’t a bad complaint to have in the times that are in it.”

Not at all, George.

Best Wishes & Continued Success To Tullyallen Mobile Tyres

We provide a very wide range of services including a large range of slurry and irrigation equipment in stock to suit most vac tanks and spreaders.We carry a large selection of oils, batteries, pto’s, lights and wearable parts for ploughs, harrows and mowers.

We provide a very efficient service and repair department.

TULLYALLEN AGRI SERVICES SUPPLIES new vac tanks, slurry pumps, toppers, aerators, cattle and silage trailers, tub feeders, grazers, bale handling equipment, including wrappers and much more. We also have a great range of second hand machinery.

Golf Course Road, Tullyallen, Drogheda, Co. Louth • Tel: 041 -9839651 •

www.tullyallenagriservices.com

Gerard Healy Mob: 087 2567363 • Louis Kelly Mob: 086 3565952 Stephen Healy Mob: 086 6088823 • Gordon Healy Mob: 086 3873761

Continued Best Wishes To Tullyallen Mobile Tyres

N HILL AGRI LTD CAR

086-8239189 086-6022563

AID

AN H ALLIGAN

Alexander Reid, Navan, Co. Meath

Continued Best Wishes To Tullyallen Mobile Tyres From

Kellystown, Slane, Co. Meath

NATIONAL HAULIER FULL C.M.R. and R.H.A. INSURANCE COVER

BULK HAULAGE

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

Tel:041-9826405 Mob:086-2668107

E:christymongey@eircom.net

Continued Best Wishes To Tullyallen Mobile Tyres

MURPHY & CO CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

26A Magdalene Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth

T: 041 983 1771 | 041 984 5504 F: 041 983 8561 E: patricia@murphyandco.ie www.murphyandco.ie 45

beechcourt designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:29 Page 1

December, 2015 and it’s another winner for Denis W Cullen as Barry Geraghty pilots A Great View (4) to the post at Punchestown

Keeping Beechcourt Stables on the map

W

ith over 50 winners to his name already, horse trainer Denis Cullen has carved out an excellent reputation for himself since taking the reins at Beechcourt Stables in 2009. We met up with the affable Dublinborn handler at his well-appointed County Kildare base to find out more.

Denis W Cullen took over training at Beechcourt Stables from his late fatherin-law Michael O'Brien six years ago, having previously rode 110 winners as an amateur jockey. Some of the highlights from his successful riding career included partnering Sudden Shock to victory for Jonjo O’Neill in the 4-mile National Hunt

46

Chase at the 2003 Cheltenham Festival as well as piloting Forget The Past to the Grade 1 Ascon / Rohcon Novice Chase at Leopardstown for his father-in-law and mentor.

Beechcourt Stables is very much a family-run operation, with Denis and his wife Ann-Marie ably assisted in day-today activities by their children Annalise and Christopher, while Michael’s wife, Ann, also remains involved. The facilities at Beechcourt are second to none: 58 stables within 55 picturesque and immaculately-maintained acres are complemented by three all-weather gallops, schooling facilities, an equine spa and a couple of horse walkers.

Originally from Churchtown in Dublin, Denis has been based in Lilywhite territory for almost a quarter of a century,

where he served Michael O’Brien as both a jockey and assistant trainer. The pair had a very close relationship and Denis would be quick to admit that his father-inlaw taught him almost everything he knows about horses. Today, Beechcourt Stables is keeping Michael’s legacy alive

CONTACT DETAILS

Denis W Cullen Beechcourt Stables,

Newlands, Naas, County Kildare.

Tel: 086 2478177 Email: reecullen@gmail.com IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

beechcourt designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:29 Page 2

Dublin-born trainer Denis Cullen

while also affording Denis the opportunity to make his own mark.

Which he is doing with distinction... It didn’t take Denis long to get up and running with his first winner, Better Times in a bumper at Cork, and further maiden-season successes quickly followed with Unforgivable, Little Barney, Whosaidso etc.. Having hit the ground running, Denis is now in his sixth season and has so far had more than 50 winners, including eight since May, one of the most recent being By The Banks which defied odds of 66/1 to triumph at Kilbeggan on Friday, September 4th.

Reflecting on how he first started working with horses, Denis notes: “I had an uncle, Denis Cullen, who used to train horses and we used to ride out for Bill Durkin while I was still at school. After leaving school, I moved to Kildare and had four or five years with Niall Madden and also worked with John Mulhern before linking up with Michael O’Brien.”

Denis built up his confidence as a handler while working for Michael as assistant and took out his licence in November, 2009. The pair had some great wins together and that IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

experience gave Denis a solid grounding to bring Beechcourt Stables forward into the new decade.

Exactly six years on, Denis is pleased to report that things are going very well: “We’re tipping along,” he says, modestly.

“I was lucky to take over a top-drawer set-up here and it’s definitely one of the better yards. I’m training around 35 horses at the minute and I’m pleased with how they are developing.”

There have been many great days out.

Shin A Vee struck gold in the opener at the Punchestown Festival on May 1st this year, while Baby Dinnis won at Dundalk and Leopardstown in April and

June respectively. Old Supporter won twice within a week at Tramore and Killarney in August. By The Banks came home first at Kilbeggan on September 4th.

With Barry Geraghty on board, Dysios won at Leopardstown in December 28th, 2013; Essex had a great win at the Listowel Festival in 2011. Meanwhile, also in 2011, in the Tote Trifecta Maiden, an inspired ride from Barry O’Neill handed Catch The Moment a shock victory in the fourth race on Day Three of the Galway Festival. Always prominent, the Denis Cullen-trained runner continued to pull away from the chasing

Denis took over the running of Beechcourt Stables from his father-in-law, Michael O’Brien

47

beechcourt designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:29 Page 3

Best Wishes To Denis & Ann-Marie Cullen From

MERVYN’S SERVICE STATION Petrol | Diesel | Oil | Car Wash Coal |Logs | Briquettes | Gas | Turf

Kilcullen Road, Naas, Co. Kildare Tel:045-879046 | E:mervynsnaas@gmail.com

CCTV Automated Gate & Entry Systems Electrical Contractor

18 The Grove, Hunter’s Run, Navan Rd, Dublin 15

Continued Success To Denis & Ann-Marie Cullen

Best Wishes & Continued Success To Denis Cullen From

George Delahunt Maudlins Industrial Estate, Monread Road, Naas, Co. Kildare Tel: 045 876710 Fax: 054 875728 www.naasfarmmachinery.ie Best Wishes & Continued Success To Denis, Ann-Marie & All At Beechcourt Stables From

Liam & Paul Dowling Mullacash, Naas, Co. Kildare

Best Wishes To Denis Cullen, From

Chartered Accountants Dublin | Naas | Mayo

www.tynandillon.ie

74 Northumberland Rd, Dublin 4.

T: +353 (1) 6684442 F: +353 (1) 6686413E: dublin@tynandillon.ie

3 Elm House,Millennium Park,Naas, Co. Kildare T: +353 (45) 852240 F: +353 (45) 852034 E: naas@tynandillon.ie Clare St, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo T: +353 (94) 963 0261 F: +353 (94) 963 0678 E: mayo@tynandillon.ie

48

Service & Repairs • Brakes & Clutches NCT Preparation • DOE Preparation Fully Computerised Engine Diagnositics Full Range Of Quality Tyres • Mobile Phone Hands Free Kits Software for all types of cars Naas Industrial Estate, Naas, Co. Kildare Tel: (045) 856 050 or (045) 856 655 Mobile: (087) 833 1231 Email: info@autowise.ie • www.autowise.ie

Wishing Denis, Ann-Maire & Staff Every Success In The Future

Best Wishes To Denis Cullen From

Fahey Brothers Farriers

Thomas 086-2369863 Paul: 087-2369864 Cloneygath, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

Furlong Gallops Ltd Best Wishes & Continued Success To Denis & Ann-Marie Cullen From

Thomas Furlong

Woodview Camblin, New Ross, Co. Wexford T:051-421894 M: 087-2541729 E: furlonggallops@gmail.com IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

beechcourt designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:29 Page 4

Beechcourt always has a selection of fine horses for sale

pack and no rivals ever got nearer as he stayed in front to win by three lengths at 25/1.

Denis has earned a reputation as something of a festivals specialist. “I like the festivals and we always try to have our horses ready for them,” he confirms. “Obviously, they are very competitive and you have to have your animal in good order to have any chance, but we enjoy the challenge.”

Going forward, Denis is confident that the good times will continue: “I have a couple of nice young horse coming along that I’m excited about,” he reveals. “A Great View - winner of Punchestown in December! - is a promising four-year-old owned by JP McManus, while I’m also looking forward to seeing more of Dysios, who’s now a second season novice and coming close.

“I’ve also bought a couple of nice animals at the sales and we are in the process of breaking them and they’re tipping along nicely. We always have some nice horses for sale. You need to have something in the shop window to run your business and we always try to have something in there.”

At present, Beechcourt Stables provides employment to a team of five. “We have very good staff who have been with us a long time. The yard is very well laid out and the staff work hard. We all get along very well together, which is important.”

The gradual upturn in the economy is welcome. “We’ve just been through a real tough time with the recession but there are fellas starting to creep back into it again,” says Denis. “From our own point of view, we’re still learning and improving all the time, and starting to get a little bit of recognition.

“Ideally, you need an anchor tenant. We’ve had ownerbreeders who have been very good to us, but if you could land an anchor tenant who could bring in ten-twelve a year, that would be a major boost. Having said that, a lot of owners – like Tim Conroy, Kieron Gammell and Mr McManus – have been

Work gallop and schooling fences at Beechcourt Stables IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

very good to us and very loyal, and have been with us a long time. They are good owners and they have stuck with us, which is very important.”

In the medium term, Denis’ goal is to gradually increase the quality of the horses in his stables: “We have 58 boxes and would generally have 35-40 horse here, which is a nice number,” he concludes. “I would rather go with upping the quality rather than trying to get up to 100 horses. I’d be looking at the likes of John Kiely, who doesn’t have a massive string but has a massive strike rate.

“We seem to be getting a nicer type of horse each year and we are leaving no stone unturned in preparing them. It’s working well but there are very few overnight successes. It takes time to develop the horse so you have to be patient with them.”

Second-to-none facilities include this sand gallop

A view of the main yard at Beechcourt Stables in County Kildare

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fcon designed_Layout 1 04/01/2016 11:34 Page 1

One of the company’s agricultural sheds in the production stage

F

A quality service

-CON Civil and Structural Engineering offers a five-star quality of product and service. Irish Tractor & Agri spoke to MD Stephen Fitzpatrick to find out what they’re about.

and its staff have years of experience delivering high quality civil and structural engineering projects.

The company was founded by Stephen Fitzpatrick in 2012 and his mantra has always been to place a great emphasis on offering superior quality of product and customer service, with all Ideally located in the country’s Midlands, projects designed to meet the F-CON Civil and Structural Engineering customers’ individual needs.

50

CONTACT DETAILS F-CON Address: Clonsast, Rathangan, Co. Kildare Tel: 086 - 1091703 Web: www.f-con.ie E-mail: steve@f-con.ie

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

fcon designed_Layout 1 04/01/2016 11:34 Page 2

Based between Portarlington and Rathangan, F-CON have completed projects in many counties all over Ireland and boast years of experience in the building and engineering sector.

They complete their projects to the highest standards by using the best materials, with all projects designed to suit the needs of each individual customer.

F-CON offers a wide range of products and services which includes; Structural Steel, Sheeting & Cladding, Structural Concrete, Foundations & Groundworks, Plant Hire & Drainage, Flatpack Sheds and Agriculttural Buildings.

Since starting up his venture, Stephen has always maintained that gaining repeat business from satisfied customers was the name of the game for him.

“We’re established three years and we have six staff here now. I’ve a brother (Robert) here helping me out as well,” explained Stephen.

“What we do is mainly farm buildings and industrial buildings, offering turn-key package to the customer. Once the customer is happy with the job we’ve done you’ll have a strong chance that he’ll be calling you again for the next job.”

F-CON uses its sister company PFM fabrication for the completion of all its structural steel, PFM fabrication has achieved compliance with the requirements of I.S. EN 1090 for CE marking of structural steel up to execution class 2.

The company’s premises has a large capacity at 8,500 square feet where they have assembled a state-of-the-art

Stephen Fitzpatrick founded F-CON in 2012 IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

fabrication warehouse. This enables them to ensure that the steel they use in their construction projects is detailed to the highest specifications.

F-CON, after all, is a leading supplier of structural steel buildings and components to the Commercial, Domestic and Agricultural sectors and all the buildings fabricated in its workshop are designed to suit each individual customer.

They have a diverse range of capabilities to suit your manufacturing and construction needs, and can take on the whole project in a turnkey package or they can be subcontracted to complete specialist works.

F-CON also sell structural steel in a flat-pack format to customers who want to complete their own installation.

Stephen’s background before starting the company had been in always been in Civil and Structural Engineering – it’s what he loves to do – so, from his perspective, it only made since to start his own company and see where he could take it from there.

So far, it has been going well and one can tell by his tone that he’s excited for the future.

“When I finished school, I had been doing this kind of work so it eventually got to the point where I decided to go out on my own,” said Stephen.

“I feel that I’m very good at what I do and we as a team work extremely hard to ensure that quality work & customer satisfaction is achieved at all times. I’m happy to report that we’re quite busy at the moment.”

“Coming into the Christmas time would usually be the busiest time of year, hopefully that trend will continue again, and we’re just happy to be kept busy at the minute.”

F-CON have also invested in and embraced new techniques in their industry and keep themselves up to date with advances in products and materials. As such, you will find they provide a comprehensive range of services that can be adapted to any project type or design.

Stephen and his team can offer all of their customers a complete Sheeting and Cladding systems service, including all types of works from the smallest repair to an entire roof and wall system.

F-CON have years of experience and have completed many projects in the formwork and steel fixing industry. They set the highest standards in reinforced

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fcon designed_Layout 1 04/01/2016 11:34 Page 3

Best Wishes To F-Con Engineering, From “Logistics without Limits”

TASCC Approved Haulier

Jamestown, Ballybrittas, Co. Laois.

Email:noonstransportltd@eircom.net Phone:057 86 26360 Mobile: Christy Noons: 086 261 9768 Pete Noons:- 086 285 3243 Fax:057 86 26901 www.noonstransport.com

Boumatic GM & GEA Farm Equipment Manual, Compressed Air, Electric & Batch Feed Systems Flexi Augers and Meal Bins Dairy Water Heaters & Boilers Wash Down Pumps & Power Washers Full Range of Chemicals Stocked Water Pumps: Shallow, Deep Well & Submersible Pumps Water Softeners, Iron Filters & UV Units For Bacterial Control

Drinagh , Mountmellick, Co.Laois T:057-8644100 | M: 087-2604026 7 Days Service Available Continued Best Wishes To F-Con Engineering

Best Wishes To F-Con Engineering, From Wishing Continued Success To F-Con Engineering

Track Machines | Mini Excavators Wheeled Excavators | Backhoe Loaders Dumpers | Telehandler Tibohine, French Park, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon Office: 094- 9870100 Padraig: 086- 8109204 Pat: 087- 2581001 www.gaynorplantsales.com | E:info@gaynorplantsales.com

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS REGISTERED AUDITORS Clonminch House, Clonminch Hi-Technology Park, Tullamore, Co.Offaly

Tel:057- 93 66700 Email: info@bca.ie www.bca.ie

Continued success to F-Con Engineering, from

Best Wishes to F-Con Engineering

Rampark, Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth Telephone: (+353) 42 93 76314 Fax: (+353) 42 93 76113 www.oconnorroofing.ie

Tel:0504-52151 • Mob:087-2831415 • Mob:086-1603221

www.irishtractor.ie For All Your Farming News

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Clonsast, Rathangan, Co. Kildare Phone: 057 862 9069 Fax: 057 862 9177

www.pfm.ie

Continued best wishes to all at F-Con Engineering IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

fcon designed_Layout 1 04/01/2016 11:34 Page 4

F-CON supply and erect a wide range of agricultural buildings

concrete construction and offer a broad range of skill and knowledge. F-CON use both prefabricated formwork systems and made on site timber formwork to suit more bespoke projects.

F-CON provide an experienced and reliable service to their customers. They can complete Slatted Tanks, Soilage Pits and Dung Steads in any shape or size to suit the customers’ own personal requirements.

Also provided are CAD drawings of all projects before the build commences, allowing the customer to review it and request any changes they would prefer.

F-CON will complete all foundation and concrete works, finished to the highest standards.

Stephen and co place great emphasis on neatness and attention to detail on all projects and always aims to ensure minimum disruption to the customer while working on a project.

“We’d do around 20 farm buildings a year but what would keep us busy all year round is the various different types IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

of work that we do,” said the Managing Director.

“Any customer likes to deal with the one person, so what we aim to do is quality finished work that keeps them coming back to us. Our biggest aim is to be able to go back to the same customer because they’re happy with the last job we’ve done for them.”

He added: “We would like to think we are competitive with our prices for the standard of work completed, with us we give a farmers’ yard every bit as much attention as any industrial or commercial project.”

F-CON supply and erect a wide range of agricultural buildings, arriving to site the with high quality equipment required to complete the highest standards of work. The company is fully insured and adhere to stringent health and safety regulations ensuring optimum working conditions for each project.

F-CON provides for a wide range of roof covering systems which can be seen on the company’s website (www.f-con.ie)

and at the moment they are occupied with a few projects, as their MD explained: “We’re doing a cubicle house at the minute, we did a milking parlour for the same customer before and now we’re back in the same yard again. As I said, that’s what we aim for.”

Stephen and his team can work with the customer on Milking Parlour projects from as early as design stage, providing construction drawings (including Plans, Elevations, Layouts etc) all completed to Department of Agriculture minimum specifications S101 & S106.

They understand the need of dairy farmers to have their construction work completed through the closed period of milking or the fact that farmers need to remain milking while the construction process is on-going. That’s why, at all times, they make every effort to facilitate the farmer’s needs while working on a project.

So if it’s excellence in Civil and Structural Engineering you’re looking for, look no further than F-CON.

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flahavans designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:51 Page 1

The Flahavan’s mill at Kilmacthomas

A

A warm feeling

s the winter months descend on us, thoughts of a warm breakfast to help people start the day are very much to the forefront of our minds.

And one food dominates all others when it comes to a good healthy start to the day and that is porridge, which is a dish made by boiling ground, crushed, or chopped starchy plants - typically grain - in water and/or milk, often with flavourings. It is usually served hot in a bowl. It may be

54

sweetened with sugar, honey etc. and served as a sweet dish, or mixed with spices, vegetables etc to make a savoury dish.

The term is often used specifically for oat porridge (called oatmeal in the U.S. and parts of Canada), which is eaten for breakfast with salt, sugar, milk, cream and/or butter, and sometimes other flavourings. Oat porridge is also sold in ready-made or partly-cooked form as an instant breakfast.

Despite the establishment of bacon and

CONTACT DETAILS E. Flahavan & Sons Limited, Kilnagrange Mills, Kilmacthomas, County Waterford

Telephone: +353-51-294107 Fax: +353-51-294308

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

flahavans designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:51 Page 2

eggs as the "traditional Irish breakfast" in the nineteenth century, porridge still retained its place as a regular breakfast dish.

In Ireland, the name most synonymous with porridge is Flahavan’s or the company name of E. Flahavan & Sons Limited.

The Flahavan family have been milling oats at the mill in Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford for over 200 years.

The original mill was a watermill driven by the River Mahon in Kilmacthomas. In those days, the mill was used for the contract milling of grains for local farm growers and oat growers. This is where the farmer’s oats were then milled and the milled oatmeal was returned to him. He was charged for this service. At this time, the oatmeal was a coarser type than the Flahavan's "flaked" oatmeal we know today.

In 1935 it was decided to expand the mill and to put in an oatflaking facility. Oatflaking produced a finer flake, which is faster to cook. By 1959, Flahavan’s completed the construction of its current mill building.

The first family connection to the Flahavan’s name can be traced back to about 1785 when Thomas Dunn took over the mill. Dunn was the great-great-

The range of products that Flahavan’s produce IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

great-grandfather of John Flahavan who is the Managing Director of the company today.

Nowadays, the Flahavan's factory produces oats-based breakfast cereals, rolled oats, cereals, muesli, Flapjacks and granola.

John along with his son James and daughter Annie are the latest generation to steer one of Ireland’s oldest companies into the next era.

Flahavan’s is very much a local business and not only are there 65 local people employed in the business, but all their traditional oats are bought from local farmers.

“We would be dealing with farmers within a 50 or 60 mile radius and a lot of those would be supplying us with oats for many, many years,” said John.

“We are a significant employer in the area, especially for a rural area like Kilmacthomas. We are continuing to develop the business and we have installed a new unit to produce granola and flap jacks which resulted in 8 new jobs being created.”

John revealed that their customer base has expanded over the years and they are now truly considered a worldwide supplier of their products.

“Our products are being sold in 14 or 15 countries around the world including places like the U.S, Israel and South Korea, which has grown considerably in the last eighteen months or so.

“Twenty five per cent of our market would be the U.K, we are delighted to be the No 1 brand of Organic Porridge there and we are continuously developing the business in order to maintain the high standards that we have set for ourselves and our customers over the years.”

Flahavan’s have gone through many changes down through the years with one of the biggest coming in 1999 when the decision was made move away from the animal feed that they produced and concentrate solely on food products.

“It was a massive change at the time as the animal feeds was a huge part of our business, but we felt that it would be beneficial for us to focus just on the food products.

“Since then we have had a heavy focus on New Product Development and we are adding to our range all the time and we have a great variety of products available to our customers.”

In an age when diets and health are being looked upon more closely, many people will be delighted to hear that oatmeal products are low in saturated fat - foods that are low in fat are considered important in diets such as those to treat

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flahavans designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:51 Page 3

heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Oats have a low to medium glycaemic Index - foods with a low to medium GI and high soluble fibre content (such as oats, beans and lentils) can help reduce blood cholesterol as part of a healthy diet). They are high in soluble fibre. They are naturally low in salt and sugar.

The success of the business can be gauged by the many awards the company has received over the years including more recently by securing five gold stars at the prestigious 'Great Taste Awards 2014', the best Green Supplier/Most Eco Friendly Supplier at the 2014 Checkout National FMCG Awards, also shortlisted as National Champion in the European Business Awards and winner of the Food and Drink Category Award at the Ulster Bank Business Awards.

DCH STRUCTURAL STEEL

John and James Flahavan survey the crops

Farm & Industrial Building

Dunabrattin, Annestown, Co. Waterford Email: info@dchstructuralsteel.com

Tel:087-2754279 Tel:051-396777

Best Wishes To E. Flahavan & Sons Limited

A vintage van kept in pristine condition

Barry Power Builders Limited Best Wishes & Continued Success To

E. Flahavan & Sons Limited From

Farm Industrial FULLY INSURED & C2 REGISTERED

Contact Barry on 086-2561064 Jonestown, Carrick On Suir, Co. Waterford

56

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

fullerton farm designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:54 Page 1

Robotic milking in action

e generation game

A

pproximately 400 farmers from across Northern Ireland turned out for this year's Annual National Milk Records (NMR) Open Day which was hosted by the Fullerton family of Lisnamuck Holsteins. Sean

Fullerton recalls an eventful day in unique insight into the management conversation with Irish Tractor practices that have been put in place to deliver the growth in the business that has magazine. been achieved over the past number of One of the highlights of the dairying year years.

The theme for the day was “driving dairy in Northern Ireland, the NMR Open Day efficiency – from birth to bulk tank” and is designed to give those in attendance a presentations were given by the host Sean Fullerton, David Mawhinney, McLarnon Feeds; Mairead O'Grady, MSD; Liam Young, Drumrainey Vets; Lucy Andrews, NMR and Dr Ronald Annett, McLarnon Feeds.

The talks ranged from subjects such as 'herd performance, management and

CONTACT DETAILS Sean Fullerton

Getting ready for the NMR Open Day, l/r: David Mawhinney, McLarnon Feeds; Ivor Hyndman, NMR; Kevin Fullerton, host; Sean Fullerton, host; Seamus McGuickin, McLarnon Feeds IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

Lisnamuck Holsteins 42 Lisnamuck Road Maghera Co Derry

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feeding' to 'getting calves on target for a lifetime of productivity' to 'efficiency through genomic testing' to 'zero grazing – the merits and the costs'.

“It was a great success,” commented Sean Fullerton, “there were no bad comments anyway! It went the way it was planned so everyone seemed to be happy and there was a a big turnout with over 400 people attending.”

How did the Fullerton family get picked to host the day? “I was caught unawares

a bit,” he recalled. “Ivor Hyndman of NMR asked me would I be interested in hosting the day. I said I'd think about it but the next thing I knew it was a done deal – but it worked out well.”

Sean might be doing himself something of a disservice with that modest answer because the Fullerton's farm was the perfect fit to be associated with such a prestigious event.

Their herd has expanded from 140 to 240 cows over the past five years, with

Zero grazing at Fullertons Farm

58

high-yielding cows milked through a robot and the end product sold to Green Pastures in Donegal.

Very much the definition of a family effort, Sean is joined in the day-to-day running of the business by his father Patrick, son Kevin and wife Margaret and all have a say in the decision making process.

“The Fullertons have been here for generations,” Sean outlined. “My father left school over 50 years ago and started milking. I left school in 1988, we had 30 cows then and today we have 240.

We gradually increased the number over the years but particularly in the last five years when we added an extra 100.

“My son Kevin, who attended Greenmount College, has been working full-time with us since 2011 while my wife Margaret, who left her job a year ago, looks after the accounts and the robot. There are also two uncles and two cousins who help out at silage time.

“It's a family affair, we don't employ anyone outside of the family and my father is still very active on a daily basis.”

The Lisnamuck herd of full pedigree Holstein Friesians is currently averaging 9,476 litres with excellent butterfat and protein levels with 3,500 litres produced from forage. Cell counts are below 100,000 cells per/ml.

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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The introduction of zero grazing system has reaped huge dividends for the Fullerton's.

“The zero grazing approach has worked well for us,” Sean added. “Putting the cows out to grass is not a feasible option on the farm: so we bring the fresh grass to the cows.

“We plan to introduce the fresh grass into their diets as early in the spring as possible and we will continue on with this approach well into the autumn.

“Achieving the highest possible standards of grassland management is a key objective for the business. We reseed up to 50 acres each year.”

The recent installation of SAC Futureline Max robots on the farm has proven to be money well spent in helping to save time and, most importantly,

The big crowd touring Lisnamuck Holsteins

ensure that all fresh cows are milked consistently well at all times.

Excellent cow fertility is another cornerstone of the Fullerton's approach while no stone is left unturned in the calf rearing practices in operation on the farm. Every aspect of the young animals’ nutritional, health and welfare needs are addressed. As a result, heifers are

brought through to calving at around 24 months with little or no difficulty.

The only dark cloud on the horizon is the current milk price but as Sean pragmatically puts it: “That is the biggest challenge but that's the challenge for everybody in the dairy industry at the minute.”

Best Wishes & Continued Success To

Sean Fullerton From

If you own a farm or industrial buildings we are the company to call for all your construction and repair needs.

AGRICULTURAL & INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS 101A Iniscarn Road, Magherafelt BT45 5NJ

E: info@grantplantandconstruction.co.uk Phone: 028 7962 7234 Mobile : 07753 937 567

www.grantplantandconstruction.co.uk IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

Wishing Continued Success To Sean Fullerton

Robotic Milking | Traditional Milking | Slurry Handling Feeding Equipment | Energy Saving | Health/Hygiene 36 Agharan Road, Newmills,Dungannon, Co Tyrone, BT71 4HG

Office: + 44 28 8774 8042 Mobile: + 44 77 2585 3828 E: andrew@pearson-ni.com www.pearson-ni.com

Best Wishes To Sean Fullerton From

Mary O’Kane

Leanne McGuckin Rachel Toner

51 St. Patricks Street, Draperstown Co. Derry BT45 7AJ Tel:028-7962 8333 Fax:028-7962 8128 Email: office@okaneboyle.com 59

c&f green energy designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 14:05 Page 1

C&F Green Energy wind turbines can significantly reduce farm energy costs

Reduce your farm energy costs with C&F

C

&F Green Energy design, manufacture and install small to medium sized wind turbines which can offer substantial savings on annual energy costs for the farm, home and across all industry sectors.

We visited the pioneering Irish company’s manufacturing plant in Athenry, County Galway to find out more about the exciting product range from Amanda Flaherty. This

60

global firm with a local face has manufactured and installed over 1,000 units across Ireland and the UK. With new installations occurring in Italy, Switzerland, France and Japan in 2015, this pioneering company has made great progress since its inception a decade ago.

C&F Green Energy is part of the globally-renowned, Irish-owned C&F Group, which was established in Galway in 1989 and now employs over 1,800

CONTACT DETAILS

C&F Green Energy

Cashla, Athenry County Galway.

Tel: 091 787221 Email: info@cfgreenenergy.com www.cfgreenenergy.com

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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people in seven sites worldwide (Ireland, Germany, UK, Czech Republic, Philippines, USA and China), with turnover of €140m.

The C&F Group supplies key components to the automotive, IT, air conditioning and refrigeration industries and has been awarded multiple global contracts by major companies such as IBM, EMC, BMW Group, Mercedes, Ford, Volkswagen Group and Thermo King.

C&F Green Energy was established in 2006 when the group, with a wealth of experience in manufacturing recognised the need to provide a more powerful and safer wind energy solution for the farm, business and homes.

The Group was established by Galway man John Flaherty, who was a toolmaker by trade. With C&F Green Energy, his aim was to provide a cost effective wind energy solution to farmers and small businesses. “Here in Ireland, we currently have 147 turbines installed, while we have about 900 in the UK, most of which are owned by farmers,” notes John’s daughter Amanda. “The most popular turbines are CF2020kW, annually these will produce between 45,000 and 55,000kW of energy an average site.”

The company assembled a world-class team of industrial design experts to deliver solutions based on innovation and engineering excellence. All C&F Energy wind turbines boast advanced megawatt technology not commonly found in small to medium sized wind turbines. Unrivalled power performance as well as being aesthetically pleasing and competitively-priced makes C&F Green Energy wind turbines a worthwhile investment.

This design technology and competitive pricing has enabled them to compete efficiently in the European and global wind markets. The sale of C&F Green Energy’s wind turbines has

Best Wishes & Continued Success To C&F Green Energy From

Suppliers of Polyester, Vinyl Ester and Urethane Acrylic resins along with glassfibre reinforcements to the Composite Industry for over 60 years.

Unit 7a, Dunboyne Ind Estate, Dunboyne, Co. Meath Tel:01-8015656

www.scottbader.com

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

The turbines are manufactured on site in Galway

spread rapidly throughout Ireland and the UK as well as, more recently, into mainland Europe and beyond. Offices were opened in Italy and Japan in 2014, and a USA office is scheduled to open in 2016.

Turbines are also sold to investors. Three of the large CF6060kW turbines have just been installed in Italy and 27 more have been shipped, with ten more on their way before the end of January.

Twelve CF20-20kW turbines been shipped to Japan at the time of writing with an additional 30 due to be shipped in the first quarter of 2016.

While wind turbines on farms are more viable in the UK &Northern Ireland than in Ireland , (as farmers there are paid for energy that they don’t use and which is exported back into the grid) Irish customers can still obtain substantial savings on annually energy costs, particularly those who run dairy farms and piggeries, poultry producers, mushroom growers etc.

“They can make massive savings on their electricity costs every year and there is definitely a big payback despite the initial cost of installation.”

Are Delighted To Be Associated With

C&F GREEN ENERGY

And Wish Them Continued Success K V STEEL SERVICES LTD

Unit 3, Heath Road, Darlaston, West Midlands WS10 8LP Tel. 0121 526 5666 Fax 0121 568 6611 Email sales@kvsteel.co.uk

www.kvsteel.co.uk

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Regarding the cost of having a turbine installed, C&F Green Energy can work with its partners to help secure agreeable finance for farmers to help offset this. The turbines are wholly manufactured on site in Galway. “The nacelle, blades and all the components, generators etc. are built here. We also design and programme the controller and our engineers design the towers as well.”

A complete, one-stop shop service is provided from start to finish. “We design, manufacture, supply and install the turbines and do all the work ourselves,” Amanda confirms. “We put in the foundations, put the turbine in place and service it thereafter. We monitor it using GSM monitoring software and the controller is linked to our 24/7 control room remotely.”

Farmers who have had C&F wind There are 147 C&F Green Energy wind turbines installed in Ireland thus far turbines installed on their farms have been very impressed by the turbine.” results. For example, dairy farmer Willie Donohue reports the Fellow dairy farmer Kevin Callanan is in complete agreement: following positive experience: “We have 125 milking cows, and out energy usage is very high.

“Our 150 P.B.R. Holstein herd produces liquid milk all year Since installing our CF20 wind turbine in 2012, our electricity round for Aurivo Co-op. Our energy demands are high, bills have reduced by 85%. We are extremely satisfied with our particularly given that we require a hot wash of the dairy unit investment.” every morning and evening. I had always thought that we had Regarding the future of this global-reaching family business a suitable site for a wind turbine and having looked at the Amanda says they will continue to develop and supply a various makes and models, I decided that C&F Green Energy growing range of cost-effective wind turbines: “We are produced the best machine on the market. developing our 250kw turbine at the moment – the CF 250,” “Since installing our CF20 wind turbine, my energy costs have she concludes. “This is a larger turbine to complement our been massively reduced. The wind turbine heats the hot water current range -CF11, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75 and 100. It is currently tank through an immersion to 100°c every day, even in very in design and we hope to launch the CF250 in the summer of low winds. Our electricity bills have been greatly cut too. During 2016 to suit both investors and large farmers, targeting the the windier months we've found that our electricity bills were Northern Ireland market specifically.” reduced by over 70%. With results like this, any dairy farmer As ever, considering the high quality of C&F Green Energy’s with an open site has to consider a C&F Green Energy wind products, global demand is certain to follow.

Continued Best Wishes To C&F Green Energy 62

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

bh tree designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:14 Page 1

BH Tree Services provides professional and compliant solutions

B

For tree surgery solutions, call the professionals!

H Tree Services Ltd. provides high-quality, safe, compliant, professional and efficient tree surgery solutions to a wide range of commercial and domestic customers, including Waterford and Cork County Councils and the ESB. We dropped into their HQ in Tallow, County Waterford to find out more about this exceptional operation from their management team of joint-MD Liam Barry, Health & Safety Manager Yvonne O’Shea, office Manager Camelia Bontiu and Accountant Con Coakley.

During the decade since it was established in 2005, BH Tree Services Ltd. has quickly developed a reputation for providing high-quality, professional and specialised services to clients in the utilities, public and private sectors.

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

Using vastly-experienced crews and state-of-the-art equipment, BH Tree Services Ltd can provide a complete solution from the first point of contact right through to execution. The client is kept in the loop at all times and projects are carried out with the minimum of disruption, to the highest standards of workmanship, and with strict adherence to Health and Safety requirements.

In addition to all types of tree surgery, BH Tree Services Ltd offers a vast range of services including site consultation and reports; wood chipping and stump grinding; waterway clearance; cleaning and restoration of parklands; site clearance and grass mulching.

They operate all the latest specialist equipment needed to provide unrivalled forestry solutions and are fully-certified to the highest standards governed by the NSAI, NPTC (National Proficiency Test Council - City and Guilds) and MEWPS -

(Mobile Elevated Working Platforms), with all equipment regularly tested by an L.O.L.E.R (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) inspector.

BH Tree Services also hold Rail Track, Safe Pass and First Aid & Traffic Management certification as well as being

CONTACT DETAILS BH Tree Services Ltd., Youghal Road, Tallow, County Waterford.

Tel: 086 8247230 Email: liam@bhtreeservices.ie www.bhtreeservices.ie

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Continued success to all at BH Tree Services

David Quirke Best Wishes To BH Tree Services From

PLANT HIRE & GROUNDWORKS

Glenakip, Rathcormac, Co.Cork

Tel:087-6785404

Dublin Road, Fermoy, Co. Cork

Wishing Continued Success To BH Tree Services From FOR ALL YOUR CAR PARTS NEEDS Fermoy, Co. Cork

025 32357

www.avondhumotorfactors.com Continued success to all at BH Tree Services, from

Shannonvale Fibre Tubes Limited West Cork Technology Park, Clonakilty, Co. Cork Tel: 00353 238 356 72

www.carbonfibretubesuk.co.uk

MANUFACTURERS OF CARBON FIBRE AND GLASS COMPOSITE TUBES

Wishing All At BH Tree Services Continued Success 64

INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING SERvICES Unit 10, Gateway Business Park, Knockgriffin, Midleton, Co. Cork Tel: 021-4636638 Mob: 087 6654265 IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

bh tree designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:14 Page 3

members of the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) and NISO (National Irish Safety Organisation).

As a leader in the arboriculture sector and the first arboriculture company in Ireland to achieve ISO 18001 accreditation (and to receive a NISO award), BH Tree Services employs and trains local people to the highest standard pertaining to the forestry / tree surgery industry. It developed its workforce by demonstrating a proactive approach to Health & Safety, training workers to achieve the highest possible standards and adapting a zero-harm strategy, where the safety of all employees and the public is paramount.

BH Tree Services Ltd, also carries the distinction of being the only company in its field to employ a full-time environmental scientist, namely Pat O'Callaghan. When they have works to carry out in forestries, near waterways or in areas of historical interests, Heath &

Safety manager Yvonne O’Shea (Msc. Occ SHWW, CMIOSH) and Pat go on site, conduct an environmental survey, take coordinates, read ordinance maps, and then map on the NPWS/SAC (National Parks & Wildlife Service Special Areas of Conservation).

If there are areas where they need to meet with the Park Rangers, these meetings are arranged to ensure that all areas of concern are addressed prior to BH Tree Services Ltd. mobilising its crew and units on site. Doing this survey ensures that they as the contractor and the client are adhering to all environmental legislation.

When you’re running a business that is fully compliant and above board, the ongoing presence of unauthorised and unregulated cowboy operators competing for work is a source of obvious frustration. “It’s tough because we have invested heavily in upscaling and in getting over the last few years.

When you are complying and there are people in the black economy who are not playing ball, it can be tough,” notes Liam Barry.

Yvonne O’Shea continues: “We are fully compliant and in June we became the first company in our industry in Ireland to achieve ISO 18001 certification for our safety management system. We were the first company to be given a clean sheet by the auditor and we had nothing to improve upon. We are still the only company in this industry in the 32 counties to hold that certification.

“Our crews are fully compliant with all relevant legislation to ensure the safety of both themselves and the people they are working for. We hold safety talks and issue a monthly newsletter and the crews are continuously reassessed and upskilled.”

In a vital contribution to the local economy that should not be overlooked, BH Tree Services generates gainful

All crew members are vastly-experienced and highly-skilled IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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Best Wishes & Continued Success To BH TREE SERVICES From

MULCHERS STUMP GRINDERS | MOWERS Green Equipment Supplies Ltd, Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford.

THE PROFESSIONALS..

DRIvE NISSAN NP300

Fermoy Nissan

Dublin Road, Fermoy, Co. Cork Tel:025-31555 www.fermoy.nissan.ie

Continued Best Wishes To BH Tree Services

o o l H T y i r e e l k L c t d u Sales & Services M

Contact: + 353 (0)86 24 25 237 Email: ges@live.ie

www.greenequipmentsupplies.ie

Best Wishes & Continued Success To BH Tree Services From

Riverside Way, Midleton, Co. Cork Tel:021-463 1432

ELECTRICAL HAMMERS | ANGLE GRINDERS | CHAINSAWS | LAWNMOWERS | GENERATORS | ROTOVATORS Best Wishes to

BH Tree Services Ltd from

FORESTRY CONTRACTOR

Susan Griffin and all at

Building 6500, Avenue 6000, Airport Business Park, Cork, Ireland.

Tel: +353214299002 • Fax: +353214299012 • Web: www.insightrm.ie IBA Member and Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

66

William Houlihan & Co Ltd Best Wishes To BH Tree Services From

Ballyanchor, Lismore, Co. Waterford T:087-2590831 E: wmhoulihan73@gmail.com IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

bh tree designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:15 Page 5

A professional approach to every job has led to BH Tree Services being recognised for excellence throughout the forestry industry, from l/r: Liam Barry, Camelia Bontiu, John Shanahan, Yvonne O’Shea and Dan Buckley

employment for 53 people on a fulltime basis. “Most of them are local and many of them came from the construction industry and I upskilled them,” Liam notes. “I also took a lot of them off the dole and we trained them at our own expense, with no help whatsoever from the State in terms of grants or any assistance. It can take up to €8,000 + wages to professionally upskill a man to work in this area, so it’s a significant investment.

“The very least you would expect in return is that the relevant bodies should be dealing appropriately with those who are cutting corners and not complying. When you are completely above board, you incur a lot of expenses that the cowboys don’t have to worry about.

“Public bodies will insist that you

The latest specialist equipment is used to provide unrivalled services.

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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Tree Fields Nursery Ltd Ardfinnan Road, Cahir, Co. Tipperary Email: info@treefields.ie Ph: +353 52 744 5320 Fax: +353 52 744 5321

ONE OF EUROPE’S PREMIER QUALITY TREE GROWERS

Continued success to all at BH Tree Ser vices

www.treefields.ie

DOUGLAS FOREST & GARDEN, Ballycurreen Rd, Frankfield, Cork Tel: 021-4965132 email info@arborist.ie

Ladysbridge Cork Phone: 087-1278884 021 4667171 Email: mbsecurity@live.ie

www.mbsecurity.ie

www.arborist.ie

Continued success to all at BH Tree Services

Geaney & O’Neill Commercial Mowers

Best Wishes to all at BH Tree Services, From

Maintenance & Sales Of Professional Turf Care Equipment

Brooklodge, Glanmire, Cork - +353 21 4822465 West Street, Tallow, Waterford - +353 58 55970 Email: info@thelawnmowerman.ie www.thelawnmowerman.ie

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR COMPANY FEATURED IN

Wishing BH Tree Services Continued Success

O’LEARY PLANT HIRE Best wishes & continued success to Liam Barry & BH Tree Services, from

AGRICULTURAL, PLANT & COMMERCIAL SERVICE & REPAIRS Clykeel, Rathcormac, Co. Cork Tel: 087-2666678

Best wishes & continued success to BH Tree Services from

Irish Tractor & Agri Magazine

Call Barry now on 00353 (0) 46 9241923 68

Tel:+44 (0)15242 62922 E: enquiries@unimogs.co.uk www.unimogs.co.uk

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

bh tree designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:15 Page 7

Clients include Waterford and Cork County Councils and the ESB.

have x, y and z, but they will also come along and try to cut your price. How can you keep upskilling personnel and remain fully compliant and then have your rates cut?”

The fact that BH Tree Services Ltd is the only contractor with ISO 18001 currently working for the ESB speaks for itself. “I believe people should work together with a common goal. We are all striving to get to the same place, with safety and quality delivered in a professional capacity. I take great satisfaction from the fact that I have so many people all going home to their families with a wage at the end of the week and they are working in an industry where there will never be a recession if they keep up the Standards.

“We all have to pay taxes and comply and I have no problem with that but we have created all these jobs and we get IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

nothing in return. I won’t sacrifice safety and quality at any cost and I will never do slipshod work but I’m convinced that the State should be doing more to safeguard the work we have created and level the pitch.

“As for my own staff, I cannot speak highly enough about them. We have leaders here in safety and management and we also have tremendous people out in the field, all of them doing brilliant work.”

Looking to the future, Liam is confident that the company can continue to move forward. “We are in the process of securing a unique piece of equipment which will be the only one of its kind in Ireland and will be hugely beneficial to both the commercial and farming sectors. This will put is up there with Germany, Austria and Britain. While there is huge cost involved again, this

equipment will enable us to provide a great service to the community and will also lock down 10-15 jobs.

“There is tremendous untapped potential for this industry. If we got positivity from people in every county in Ireland, there is the potential there to train 50 people a year nationwide over the next five or six years. Young men could be unskilled and they could make a good living out of it, with qualifications that would be recognised worldwide.

People with foresight should sit down and come up with a proper plan, invest in People, Safety and Quality and there will be a future for people in the Industry, which would be of great benefit to the agri community, with all forests nationwide looked after in a professional manner.”

For this visionary idea, BH Tree Services provides the ideal template!

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A

î “e perfect service

gricultural contractors play a central role in Irish Agriculture. It is estimated that 80% of the heavily mechanised work, such as silage making, is done by contractors.

Agricultural Contractors have benefitted greatly from the evolution of technology, but there is one thing that cannot be surpassed and that is experience.

Being able to know what a customer wants and giving them the service that they require can only be achieved through a modern fleet of machinery.

Agricultural contractors are an integral part of the farming industry and without them; many farmers would not be able to get their work done.

Farmers are a loyal breed though and if they are happy with the work being done, they are unlikely to change.

There are many agricultural contractors that have been providing a loyal and efficient service to their customers for many years and one of these is Edward Thompson ably assisted by his brother Robert and loyal staff.

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For the past 33 years, Laois based Thompson and Son Agri Ltd is a family run business based focused on providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction to the farming community.

Edward hails from a farming background and this has helped him know what his customers want which has been of a huge benefit to not only him,

CONTACT DETAILS Thompson & Son Agri Ltd Borroughan, Erril, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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but his customers also while it also helped when it came to attracting new business over the years.

“The emphasis is on keeping the customers happy that is the main thing,” said Edward. “No business will grow unless you are providing the right service and that is something that we would be very conscious of.”

Situated in Erril, Edward’s customer base is within a 20 mile radius, and many of these customers have been employing him and his team to do a wide range of services for many years.

“We provide a wide range of services that include all things connected to arable, silage, baling, reseeding, slurry, dung spreading and hedge cutting. A lot of the customers would be with me since the start and I suppose that is a sign that we are doing something right. They know that they will get a good service from us and it is up to us to ensure that continues. Also some of the staff is with us many years and they are very experienced, which helps get the work done so efficiently,” added Edward.

“Without doubt the best form of advertisement is word of mouth.

If you do a good job for someone and they spread the word, what better endorsement could you get?”

To carry out his duties to the highest standard possible, Edwards admits that he needs a fleet of machinery to maximise their workload.

As the business grew, so too did the quality of machinery that Edward used and today, he has an impressive fleet that is regularly updated.

"We have a wide range of machinery to carry out the work quickly and efficiently, providing the customer with value for money and an alternative to investing in their own expensive equipment and with over 33 years’ experience in agricultural contracting, we feel that we can give them what they want."

The adverse weather conditions in Ireland mean that the services provided by agricultural contractors are IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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Tom Shaw Farm Machinery Best Wishes To Thompson & Son Agri, From

Continued Success To Thompson & Son Agri, From

FARM PLASTICS RECYCLING SERVICES Dromoyle, Birr, Co. Offaly T:057- 9131147 F: 057- 9131913 www.tsfm.ie

Main Deutz-Fahr & SAME Tractor Dealer

Stephen Eustace Best Wishes To Thompson & Son Agri, From

AGRI CONTRACTING

Tullow, Co. Carlow E: stephen.eustace@hotmail.com

Tel:087-6322321

Clonkeen, Portlaoise, Laois P: 00353 (0) 57- 8622204 F: 00353 (0) 57- 8622247 E: walker@walkerrecycling.ie

www.walkerrecycling.com

W.X. WHITE SOLICITORS

Principal William X.White B.C.L.

Continued Best Wishes To

Thompson & Son Agri Clarmallagh House, Bank Place, Portlaoise, Co. Laois R32 A091 Tel:057-8661881 Fax:057-8622038 E:info@wxwsolicitors.ie www.wxwsolicitors.com

Best Wishes To Thompson & Son Agri, From The

ery achin

le

Peop

M

Kellys of Borris, Dublin Rd, Borris, Co. Carlow

Ardcarney, Ruan, Co. Clare

Best Wishes & Continued Success Going Forward To Edward & The Team At Thompson & Son Agri

Tel: 065 683 7632 Fax: 01 437 0749

Joe Hargroves 086-3580077 email: info@noli.ie

www.oloughlinfinancial.ie

NOEL O’LOUGHLIN T/A NOEL O’LOUGHLIN INSURANCE SERVICES IS REGULATED BY THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND

W: www.kob.ie E: info@kob.ie Tel:059-9773207

Best wishes to Thompson & Son Agri, from

A.R. ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD. New Aglish, Carrigeen, Co. Kilkenny via Waterford

Tel: 087-2594595

LARGE SELECTION OF MODELS AVAILABLE TO CHOOSE FROM FOR BOTH FARMER & CONTRACTOR CONTINUED SUCCESS & BEST WISHES TO ALL AT THOMPSON & SON AGRI 72

30 Years in Business est: 1983

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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procedures that have great time constraints and can't be achieved at the same time every year, but when we do get ‘dry spells’, it is essential for agricultural contractors to move quickly.

To do this, they need a modern and efficient fleet of machinery that will stand up to the demands of this hectic period.

The fleet of tractors include Valtra Claas and New Holland. Four 10ft Claas mowers are used for knocking meadows, while a Claas 850 Harvester picks up.

“The fleet would be upgraded regularly.

When you are making silage you can’t afford any breakdowns as there is a small window of opportunity to get the work done due to the weather in this country.

“When purchasing new machinery, we would mainly deal with Kelly’s of Borris, Tom Shaw and WR Shaw while the bulk of our machinery repair is done by

Castlefleming Farm Machinery.”

For many years, Edward has provided a top quality service to a large customer base as the agricultural contractor built up a reputation for reliability and efficiency and he revealed that the summer period is certainly the busier time during the year “During the winter months, which is probably our quietest time, we would ensure that all the machinery is

Continued success to all at Thompson & Son Agri, from

maintained and ready for our peak time during the summer months.

Asides from the contracting work, Edward farms in the region of 250 acres of land which is used for sucklers and corn.

“We’d be always kept busy with the farm even in winter, there is always something to be done. My son Richard is coming along now and he is the future.”

Beechfield Products Tel: 0505-21991 Fax: 0505-24652

INTERNATIONAL LICENSED TRANSPORT Animal Collection Service Licensed Haulage & Skip Hire Beechwalk, Roscrea. Mobile: 086-2546403/2074254 Email: jhastings@eircom.net Wishing Continued Success From Beechfield Products & Hastings Family

LEINSTER Tom Dawson Email: tom@reagroup.ie Tel: 086 8238283

Continued success to Thompson & Son Agri, from

Gurtderrybeg, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary

Tel: 087-2462214

E: johnrussellagri@gmail.com

SPECIALISTS IN: WAGON SILAGE - LIME FERTILISER SPREADING - HEDGECUTTING

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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Colin Bowe has 50 horses in training

F

Winner alright

rom a farming background, Colin Bowe is an up-andcoming racehorse trainer based near Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. He is particularly wellknown on the Point-to-Point circuit, being a three-time National Handlers’ Point-to-Point champion.

The 41-year-old set up Colin Bowe Racing Ltd in the townland of Kiltealy after learning his trade with both Jim Bolger and Aidan O’Brien. His uncle Jay Bowe is owner of the nearby Kiltealy Stud, which has produced many great thoroughbred stallions, including Sky Boy, Taldi and Porter Rhodes. Anamatic and Twinkle Bee have also brought Jay success in the eventing spheres.

Colin started breaking in half-bred horses before moving onto pre-training horses for the racecourse. From there, the natural progression was to begin

74

training point-to-pointers. He won National Handlers’ Point-to-Point Championships in 2009-‘10 and 2011-‘12, and currently shares the title with his neighbour, Donnchadh Doyle. Colin drew level with Donnchadh on 28 wins each for the 2014-’15 season after Theatre Mole was first home in the mares’ maiden race in Kinsale last May. “It’s bizarre to think that the two of us are from the same parish, but point-to-point has always been strong in this part of the country,” notes Colin, who has 50 horses in training and had already six winners in the current Point-to-Point season when we spoke in November.

“About 90 per cent of the horses I train are point-to-pointers. You could say I’m in the business of buying and selling. It’s always difficult to hold onto your best stock. That’s why it’s so important to have new and quality stock coming through to replace them.”

One horse he has succeeded in holding on to and is making quite a name for

himself is Shantou Flyer. Owned by Sean O’Neill, the five-year-old gelding has been very successful since switching to fences, winning the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown in November.

This was the fourth win from five starts over the bigger obstacles for him. Colin has identified the marathon National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as the primary long-term target for his star

CONTACT DETAILS Colin Bowe Racing Ltd Kiltealy, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Telephone: 053 9255607 Mobile: 087 6332567 Email: milestonestables@gmail.com IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

colin bowe designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:10 Page 2

Colin Bowe speaks to jockey Davy Russell after he won The Guinness Dublin Porter Beginners Steeplechase on board Shantou Flyer at the 2015 Galway Festival

performer.

Colin has put a number of smart horses through his hands, most notably the Grade 1-class chaser Snowy Morning, which had 10 wins on the track, the Grade 1-winning novice hurdler Shinrock Paddy and Western Warhouse, who was a 33-1 winner of the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham in 2014 for David Pipe. Indeed, the former was his first winner between the flags when triumphing at Clonmel in May 2005.

Colin saddled his first runner on the racecourse at Fairyhouse in February 2010 when Jan Jandura finished sixth in a bumper. His first winner came two months later when Model County Lass prevailed in a bumper at Tramore. He doubled his tally a little over a month later by sending out Lively Lass to win a bumper at Wexford.

The affable trainer, who by then had acquired his full training licence, went on to enjoy great success with the unbeaten point-to-pointer, Askanna – the John Aspelowned mare won six races in-arow in 2010.

“She was the first horse I had IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

a run of wins with on the track,” he fondly recalls.

“Little King Robin, Our Victoria and Glibbin were three other good mares I’ve had. Shantou Flyer was the first gelding to win for me. We’re hoping to send him

to Cheltenham in a couple of months’ time and have high hopes for him going forward.”

As well as having 50 stables in Kiltealy, which is roughly the same distance from Enniscorthy as it is from Bunclody, Colin

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CONTINUED BEST WISHES TO COLIN BOWE RACING

76

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Wells, Gorey, Co. Wexford Y25 TX09 Email: iwp@eircom.net Phone: (+353) 53 9130095 Fax: (+353) 53 9130240

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IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

colin bowe designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:10 Page 4

has a five-furlong uphill gallop (located on his father Philip’s land), two horse walkers, a schooling strip and a lunging area.

The stables’ paddocks afford horses a well-deserved break from their training routines. Friendly and dedicated staff provide a personal service for the horses.

Colin Bowe Racing Ltd’s headman is Brendan Walsh who is ably assisted by Matthew Byrne, Diarmuid ‘Charlie’ Swan and Craig Casey, who rides out the horses. The stables jockeys are Barry O’Neill and Rob James, while John Doyle also dons the stable’s blue and white colours from time to time. Professional jockeys Michael Fogarty, Mark Walsh, Davy Russell and Sean Flanagan have all ridden for Colin on the track.

Bowe has between 25 and 30 owners on his books. He owns about half of the young stock himself and jointly owns some of the other horses.

“If you bought 10 horses and four of them were good, you’d get by,” he says.

“I’m quite happy with the amount of stock I have at the moment.

Fifty is a nice number. I enjoy a very good relationship with the owners, many of who are from the local farming community and have IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

been with me from the start. The vast majority of owners nowadays are middle-aged people with no mortgages. It’s an expensive hobby, unfortunately.”

Colin and his wife Fiona have three children – Katie (10), Aimee (five) and Bobby (three). Katie has inherited her father’s passion for horses and has competed in local shows with her pony Kipper.

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Foulksmills Store caters for all your agri, building, hardware, DIY and fuel requirements

F

Foulksmills Store has all you need

oulksmills Store in Co. Wexford is a one-stop shop for all your agri, building, hardware, DIY and fuel needs. The former co-op has received tremendous support from the local community since it was taken over four years ago by brothers Anthony and Pat Roche.

Foulksmills Store opened its doors on August 29 2011, some eight months after Glanbia had decided to close the premises. For the Roche brothers from Ballyshannon, who had previously worked in Slaney Building Supplies in Clonroche and C&D Providers in Larkin’s Cross respectively, the venture represented a huge gamble as the country was in the depths of recession at the time.

But thanks to the support of the people of the area, and the hard work and dedication of Anthony and Pat,

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Foulksmills Store has taken off in a big way. Not only has it retained its existing client-base, it has also picked up many new customers by providing a professional, friendly and cost-effective service as well as a centre for all your agri, building, hardware, DIY and fuel requirements.

“We are much more than a farm supplies business,” Anthony points out.

“We’d like to think that our customers can get anything they want under the one roof. We stock everything from calf feeders and drainage pipes to electric power tools and stoves. You name it, we have it.

“We have grown steadily over the past four years and have taken on two full-time staff in Tom Cadogan and Jimmy Moran.

Things have gone better than expected and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for the support they have given us. There is a great sense of community spirit in Foulksmills

and we have certainly benefited from that.”

Situated in south Co. Wexford, four miles from Wellingtonbridge and between New Ross and Wexford town, Foulksmills Store stocks a huge range of farming products for every need. The list includes: bagged animal feed (supplied by Quinn’s of Baltinglass); stud cubes; calf nuts; milk replacer; dog food; rolled barley; wheat; maize; bird peanuts.

A wide range of grassland sprays,

CONTACT DETAILS Foulksmills Store

Foulksmills, Co. Wexford.

Telephone: 051 565600 Email: foulksmillsstore@eircom.net IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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including Gallup, Grazon 90; Doxstar, Pastore, Mortox 50; all types of sheepwire, barbed wire, high tensile fence wire, mains and PEL battery fencers, electric fence wire, insulators, gripples, handles etc.

Rough round treated stakes 2, 3, 4, and 5� 4ft-6ft, pencil stakes, creosote stakes, square fence posts, strainer posts, gate posts; a wide range of dairy hygiene products - Biocel, Multisan, Quarto etc; Hydradare (water pipe), Philmac fittings, ballcock and floats.

Silage wrap, silage covers, Acorn and Farmer netting, bailer twine; land drainage pipe and twinwall drainage pipe; Watson’s and More Grass grass seed and lawn seed; Mastercal bedding lime; Castle oxide shed paint; a comprehensive range of Sparex replacement tractor parts.

JFC calf feeders, troughs, footbaths, cubicles, cattle mats, cattle-handling equipment, calving gates, mobile crushes etc.

As an agent for the Maxammon mineral range for dairy, dry cows and beef cattle, Foulksmills Store attracts customers from far beyond the local area. Since its inception in 2010, this enhanced grain feeding system has been a revolution for many livestock farmers and a

8 I BUDGS4 PV H JO Q MFT1 N

blades, hydraulic, engine oil, tractor oil springboard to develop new feeding and wd40 as well as greases, petrol concepts within Harbro quality livestock cans, buckets, shovels and forks. nutrition.

There is also a range of footwear, “Maxammon has been very successful wellingtons, rain gear, jackets and hand for us. It is mixed through grain, thus tools, accessories, cutting discs, rope, eliminating the need for buying animal sledges, brushes etc. In the gardening rations. The benefits include increased section, you will find a range of garden protein intake and animal performance. chemicals and feeds, windbreaker, It is a much cheaper option in the long chicken wire, compost, wheel barrows, run,� Anthony explains. bird nuts, knapsack sprayers, wood Also catering for all your building, preservatives / creosote and trellises. hardware and fuel needs, Foulksmills In addition, Foulksmills Store carries a Store stocks coal, gas, kerosene, range of prepacked ironmongery, nuts briquettes, logs and kindling, and and bolts, door handles and accessories. supplies both motor and agri diesel.

Customers can also find a range of Building products available include interior paints, varnishes, satinwood, mesh, blocks, lintels, cills, kerbs, paving paint brushes and roller sets, silicones slabs, chimney pots, sand and gravel and tiling products and masonary paint. loose and tonne bags, plasterboard, Recently, the store became an agent for insulated plasterboard, insulation, $JSDPEJO Henley stoves and accessories. cement, lime, skimcoat, angle beads, F 5IF PSJH 1 plywood, timber, slates, ridges, dpcs, JO New stock is continuously arriving at DPME IPU BM EFUFSHFOU TUF polythenes, roof windows, oak sleepers.

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U o 4UFSJ $PME XB UFSHFOFoulksmills Store is open from Monday and manhole covers. For your hardware MJ T UFDIOPMP I QSPHSBN 6OJR TFS GPS ZPVS )PU H B8am VFFriday OE to 6pm and Z to needs, there is PAO timber, waste FOTthrough 1 P UBTTJVfrom V XBUFS and SJ H FGm DJF N )ZESP BOE MBSH on OSaturdays O U from 9am D copper piping, Qual-PEX and plumbing JEF Be sure MF F S QMBOUT $ BOJOH JO toY5pm.

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3FWPMVUP MU UBO LT TDBMF QSFOBSZ BOE 6OJRVF m OBM SJO WFOUBUJW & Continued &MJNJOBUF Best Wishes Success To TF TBOJUJT F FS BOE &MJNJOBUF T SFRVJSFNFOU GP S BDJEStore, from F SJTL PG XBUFS T UIFoulksmills 5#$ TQJL EFTDBMJOH FT GSPN m 6TFE XJU OBM SJOT I $JSDPE F JOF 1 PS .VMUJTBO BT BO F #JPDFM -UE W FOJOH *SFMBOE MF

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Rockgrove, Little Island, Co. Cork.

Tel: 353 (0)21 435 3516 E: info@biocel.ie www.biocel.ie

IRISH LEADING MANUFACTURER OF DAIRY DETERGENTS & TEAT CARE PRODUCTS

Best Wishes & Continued Success To Foulksmills Store, From

Main Street, Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow.

All Fuel Cards Accepted Tel: 059 6481266 Email:sales@quinns.ie www.quinns.ie IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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boyes designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:04 Page 1

Ploughing and reseeding underway on the farm

A Boyes family tradition T

he Boyes family have been in dairy for nearly a century. Last year, they took the decision to milk their 350-strong Pennygate Herd three times a day, which has resulted in increased milk yield and an improvement in the overall health of the herd.

The milking parlour gets plenty of use!

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their sons Richard and Andrew with one other full time employee. His other children Philip, Emma and Jacqui and daughter-in-law Suzanne help out when required. Currently, Kenneth farms 230 acres of his own and a further 600 acres in rented land. Calving is all year round and all young stock is reared. Heifers are kept as replacements and the bulls are reared for beef.

The family’s sizeable herd of Holstein Friesian and Dairy Shorthorns are milked thrice daily, at 6am, 2pm and again at 10pm. The milking duties are shared between the family members and friends.

The Boyes’ have been milking cows in Moira since 1921 when Joseph Boyes bought a farm close to the village where counties Down, Armagh and Antrim all meet.

Joseph’s son Edward, who died aged 90 in 2006, ran the farm for many years CONTACT DETAILS before passing it down to his sons Raymond, William E Boyes & Sons and current owner 23A Halfpenny Gate Road, Kenneth.

The Moira, enterprise still trades Co. Armagh BT670HW as E Boyes & Sons.

Kenneth farms full Telephone: 077 03497919 time alongside his Email: kenneth.boyes@btinternet.com wife Linda and two of

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

boyes designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:04 Page 2

“We’ve been milking cows every year since 1921 with the exception of 1958 when we lost the herd to TB,” Kenneth explains.

“We recovered from that and built the herd back up to 40 within a couple of years. Throughout the years we have steadily increased the size of the herd to its present figure of 350. The herd is divided evenly between Dairy Shorthorn and Holstein. We rear all our own stock and grow about 100 acres of both wheat and barley; and a further 100 acres of maize, the bulk of which we keep as feedstuff. We try to be as self-sufficient as possible.”

E Boyes & Sons produces approximately 3 million litres of milk per year – the average yield of each cow is 8,500 litres – which is supplied to the Lakeland Dairies-owned Pritchitt’s in Newtownards. The Lakeland Dairies Group is one of Ireland’s largest farmerowned dairy cooperatives. On a daily basis, fresh milk is collected from over 2,200 family farms, operating with a 15county catchment area. From these lush pastures, Lakeland Dairies’ products reach over 70 countries worldwide.

The Group has grown into a global market leader in the manufacturing of dairy-based products. Its foodservice products are developed with the professional in mind, delivering highquality, yet functional products to busy kitchens and bakeries around the world.

The Pennygate Herd is milked in a state-of-the-art Dairymaster Rapid Exit 30/60 parlour which was installed in 2008. The 30-unit parlour – the first of its kind in the country – can milk 350 cows in less than two hours with two operators being present for milking.

With the installation of his new parlour, Kenneth decided to include Auto ID and Milk Metres which he finds very useful as it allows him the see the volume of milk produced by each animal at a glance. He also opted for Automatic Cluster Removers which he has stated are extremely efficient as they prevent over or under milking of cows and it also saves a job in the pit. The installation of an AutoWasher and Drafting and VoiceAssist (parlour sound messaging system) has also reduced the workload for the affable dairy farmer.

The Boyes’ also installed a diversion line which feeds directly into the calves housing, saving them the labour intensive task of carrying buckets around the farm. The diversion line also proves very effective by enabling all of the cows to be milked together, therefore reducing the need to separate a specific cow to IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

The Boyes' keep most of their own wheat and barley

Slurry tankers parked in the farmyard

Some of the young stock on the Boyes farm

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boyes designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:04 Page 3

The Pennygate Herd is milked three times a day

wait until the end.

Furthermore a Swiftflo Plus bailing system was installed, which allows each row of cows to exit the parlour quickly. A feeding facility ensures the cows get what they require, as they feed to yield and thus leads to a more content cow in the parlour and assists in the training process of heifers.

Kenneth has discovered that there are more pros than cons to milking his herd three times a day.

“Our daily milk production has increased significantly since we went from milking twice a day last year,” he says.

“We also find that the cows are more content and are less likely to suffer from mastitis. We had the extra space and facilities, so we decided it was worth a try. As we had just purchased a neighbouring farm, we realised that by milking three times a day, we could help to ease the financial burden associated with this.”

On the other hand, he added “The downside to milking three times a day is that it is much more labour intensive and you’re milking at unsociable times. But so far, the positive impact on our business had made it worthwhile.”

Like all dairy farmers, Kenneth is struggling to cope with the collapse in milk prices.

“Milk prices are at their lowest since 1968, so you can understand why so many farmers are struggling. There is an oversupply of milk on the global market at present and things won’t improve until that is rectified. Prices have always fluctuated, but I fear it will take longer than usual for them to recover this time around.”

Let’s hope for everyone’s sake that they recover soon.

E BOYES & SONS, Continued success to from

14-16 High Street, Belfast BT1 2BS Tel: 028 90 326 878 Fax: 028 90 323 473

www.shean-dickson-merrick.com 82

Fuel Supplier to E Boyes & Sons for over 20 years 49 Gravelhill Rd,Maze, Lisburn, County Antrim,BT27 5RW Telephone: 028 9262 1741 www.morrowfuels.co.uk Doing our best for you

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

cavanagh eggs designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 13:12 Page 1

Eileen and John with their sons Brian and Aaron

Another egg-tastic achievement for Cavanagh!

C

avanagh Free Range Eggs Ltd recently celebrated winning an Irish Quality Food and Drink Award in the Eggs category. It’s the latest prestigious accolade to come the Co. Fermanagh company’s way, having also received a gold star at the 2014 Great Taste Awards.

Having travelled to Dublin’s Mansion House for the glittering 2015 Irish Quality Food and Drinks Awards ceremony on September 16 last more in hope than expectation, Cavanagh Free Range Eggs IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

proprietors John and Eileen Hall were both surprised and delighted with their win.

“We are still in shock,” Eileen admits.

“We never thought it could be possible to win this prestigious award. Getting shortlisted was a fantastic achievement, but to actually win the category is absolutely amazing. It makes the time and effort that we put into producing our multiaward winning eggs worthwhile.

“Winning the Great Taste Award in 2014 was excellent too, but this is just the icing on the cake!”

The Irish Quality Food and Drinks Awards were open to all food and drink retailers, producers and manufacturers across the

CONTACT DETAILS Cavanagh Free Range Eggs Ltd 58 Clonkee Road, Cavanagh, Newtownbutler, Co, Fermanagh, BT92 8FH. Telephone: 028 6773 7889

E: info@cavanaghfreerangeeggs.co.uk Web: www.cavanaghfreerangeeggs.co.uk

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Eileen and John Hall could afford to smile after picking up an Irish Quality Food and Drinks award

Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

They set out to recognise excellence in food and drink product development from a wide variety of companies across Ireland.

In awarding Cavanagh Free Range Eggs a gold star in the 2014 Great Taste Awards, the judges described their product as: “a good golden yolk – well rounded with a firm, clean white. A delicious flavour… creamy and deliciously natural.” Great Taste is organised by the

flock by another 25 per cent in 2016).

Guild of Fine Food and is the recognised benchmark for speciality food and drink Having grown up on the farm, both sons worldwide. show a keen interest in the business.

In addition, Eileen was a finalist in the The Hall’s have transformed what was a 2015 Irish Farmers Journal FBD Women beef and sheep enterprise into a thriving & Agriculture Award, which was a further rural business which produces 250,000 boost for the family-run business’ growing free range eggs per week (13 million per reputation. year) and also employ five full-time staff.

John, from Newbliss, Co. Monaghan, The hens have the freedom to roam in and Eileen, from Castlepollard, Co. large fenced paddocks, which are dotted Westmeath, married in September 2000 with mature oak, ash and chestnut trees. and bought a 70-acre farm in the townland Additional woodland has also recently of Cavanagh near the border town of been planted which will act as shade as it Newtownbutler. They built their first free matures. The tranquil fields around the range hen house the following year and barns are ideally suited for hens as they housed their first flock of birds, numbering can forage during the day and return to the 5,100, in January 2002.

The couple’s first son, Brian, was born in March 2002, and their second son, Aaron, was born in August 2003, the same month as the second hen house was completed. Two more hen houses were built in 2005 and 2011, and last year saw the construction of a fifth hen house, which has allowed the family to increase their flock to 42,000 The green and yellow packs have become a familiar sight on (they plan to grow the shop shelves

Best Wishes & Continued Success To Cavanagh Free Range Eggs

84

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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safety of their individual barn perches at night.

“We firmly believe that contented hens lay the best quality eggs,” Eileen says.

Up until February 2012, the eggs went to a local packer. But following the launch of the Cavanagh Free Range brand in March 2012, the Hall’s set up their own packing centre to grade, pack, market and deliver their eggs local and further afield to shops, hotels, restaurants, farm shops and wholesalers.

“Since investing in a Moba 2000 egg grading and packing machine, we are able to do everything here on site,” Eileen adds.

The green and yellow Cavanagh Free Range Egg packs have become a common sight on shop shelves, including those of Spar, SuperValu, Costcutter, Nisa and Day Today. The company also supplies a number of hotels, including The Merchant Hotel in Belfast and the Lough Erne Golf Resort in Enniskillen, which hosted the G8 Summit in 2013, as well as several cafes and restaurants throughout Ireland.

“Our name is getting out there. We’re the only egg producers to have won Irish Quality Food and Drink and Great Taste Awards.

That, and the quality of our free range eggs, is standing to us,” the affable egg producer notes.

“Our emphasis on high welfare standards is also beginning to pay dividends for us. Consumers are a lot more conscious about animal welfare standards nowadays, and as there is no longer a huge difference in price between free range eggs and those laid in enriched cages, they are increasingly choosing free range egg brands. People like to know where their food is coming from at the end of the day.

“The five-star Merchant Hotel in Belfast was the first hotel to recognise the quality of our eggs. And when the G8 Summit was held at the Lough Erne Golf Resort, our eggs were the only ones used, so there’s a good chance that world leaders like Barack Obama and David Cameron ate some of our eggs during their time spent there!”

Cavanagh aims to supply the high end of the hospitality and food service sector with their exceptional quality eggs. They look to enhance the current range of eggs on offer in the supermarkets

Best Wishes & Continued Success To Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, From

Eileen and John with two of their laying hens

and to provide the consumer with the option of purchasing a flavoursome egg resembling the eggs of a bygone era by producing them in the traditional way on their own farm.

Following rigorous audit checks, the business was accredited

by SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval) last year. The Cavanagh eggs are also produced to Lion Code standard. The Lion scheme is the only UK egg-specific assurance scheme that meets the stringent standards of the EN 45011 international accreditation standard.

MOHAN FARM SERVICES The Hall's with some of their free range flock

Silverwood Cold Stores, Silverwood Road, Lurgan BT66 6LN

INTERNATIONAL REFRIGERATION & GENERAL ROAD HAULAGE Tel: +44 (0)28 38 347700 | Fax: +44 (0) 28 38 312351 Email: trans@morganmclernon.com

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

Contact James on 078 33733388 Corlatt, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh

Best Wishes To Cavanagh Free Range Eggs 85

Scotts farm designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:19 Page 1

F

A first class service

or 30 years now, Scott’s Onfarm Services in Comber, Co Down have been leading the way in their core business of Cattle Hoof Trimming and Freeze Branding. Irish Tractor & Agri caught up with company owner Brian Scott to find out all about his company which are sole UK and Ireland agents for the SOS Cow Pacifier, and main agents for Anka Hydraulic Hoof Trimming Crushes.

After working on farms in Australia and New Zealand in the early 1980’s, Brian Scott decided to set up his own farm services company, and his primary ethos was based on the customers’ needs coming first.

Scott’s On-farm Service was the first to offer a professional hoof trimming service in Northern Ireland in 1985.

Since then, the entire team at Scott’s On-farm Services has been committed to meeting those needs and, as a result, a high percentage of their business is from repeat customers and referrals.

“Our core business was and still is cattle hoof trimming and freeze branding, but since then we’ve diversified into things like training professional hoof trimmers, farmers and farm staff, and supplying the

Scott’s On-farm Services was established in 1985

best equipment available, to enable jobs to be carried out safely for both animals and operators.” explained Brian.

“In our Hoof Trimming Courses we operate the “Dutch five-step method” and we show them how to go through each

The company’s primary business is still hoof trimming after 30 years

86

step, so that they can lift a foot and know how to trim with confidence. Most of the professional trimmers and even some vets in Northern Ireland have been trained by us, and lots of farmers have been on our courses also.”

SOS Cow Pacifiers are another relatively new aspect of the business which has taken off with huge success, as they’ve proven fantastic for breaking in heifers in the milking parlour and getting cows to stop kicking, plus any work on udders, feet and head is made a lot safer for animals and people.

A fresh calved heifer can be trained in a few days to stand without the need for kick bars or ropes. It keeps the milking routine very calm and quiet and as heifers suffer no pain or discomfort it doesn’t stop them coming into the parlour. They will quite happily eat their meal while the Pacifier is used on them.

Therefore you don’t get the “row from hell” coming in at the end of milking.

Over 400 Pacifiers have been sold to date, including about two dozen sold to dairy farmers with Robotic milking systems. If you go near a heifer in a Robot with a kick bar it’s the first thing will put her off wanting to come back to IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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get milked. Because the Pacifier is completely pain-free it doesn’t keep them from entering the Robot, and only a few uses are needed to train them.

It also stimulates milk letdown, so there’s no need for injections, and you only need to save one misbehaving heifer and the costs are recovered.

The Pacifier can also be used on suckler cows to get them to stand for putting extra calves to them or for any treatments such as mastitis control. It’s also great for helping with branding, dehorning and especially castrations.

You can even get the animal to lift its leg while the procedure is carried out. No need for anyone holding tails!!

The Pacifier makes many tasks a oneman-job!!

Basically any reason the animal needs to stand relatively still, the Pacifier will enable treatments to be carried out safely and quietly for all concerned.

At the moment, hundreds of these units are being used throughout the world, including New Zealand, Australia, Canada, America and South Africa.

“We sell all over, including the UK and Ireland, Latvia and Poland more recently, as well,” said Brian.

On average, Scott’s On-farm Services treat approximately 15,000 cows per year, using the latest hydraulic crushes for comfort and safety of cattle.

Preventative trims and treatment of lame cows and Demotec Easy Blocs used to alleviate pain and aid recovery.

We are main agents for Anka Hydraulic Hoof Trimming Crushes but also buy and sell all makes of trimming crushes from basic farmer’s models at £500 to professional contractor’s models at over £30,000. We source a lot of crushes from mainland UK and normally have a few in stock at any time. If anyone is looking for a crush and let us know their budget and type of crush we will do our best to find one. On a recent trip to the UK a Wopa 51 was supplied tom a farmer in Scotland and a Wopa and GDS crush were brought back from southern England.

In the very near future we intend making our own range or trimming crushes, based on our 3o years of experience as a professional hoof trimmer.

They use the best equipment, tools and accessories on the market to offer a world class service to keep cows mobile and pain-free. As a result, a high percentage of their business is from repeat customers and referrals, which is what every company strives for.

At the moment, business has been “kept steady”, according to Brian, with the IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

Scott’s On-farm Services treat approximately 15,000 cows per year

downturn in milk prices playing its part, regular customers have always as he explained: appreciated; hence why they continue to come back.

“The downturn in milk prices has “We still have customers that we’ve affected most businesses. Some farmers been going to from the very beginning aren’t doing as much trimming because and we’ve seen some changes in that the milk cheques aren’t as big at the time. Cow numbers have increased but moment. The more proactive farmers are the labour numbers haven’t and some still doing preventative trimming as “lame places have a one-man unit with over cows are costly”. An average cost of a 150 cows.” lame cow can cost the farmer as much Crushes are another successful portion as £250 in lost milk, antibiotics, lost of the company, which is a main agent for condition and subsequent fertility Anka Crushes in Ireland. They also buy problems. One cull cow pays for a whole and sell used crushes and offer training lot of trimming!! courses (from 1 day basic to 5 day “Herds have become bigger and bigger professional) for farmers, staff and and lameness is becoming more of a people wishing to pursue a career in problem for farmers. The average farm the cattle foot care industry. now consists of 200 cows, whereas when Scott’s On-farm Services have trained I started in 1985 the average herd was hundreds of people and former students probably around 50 cows. As herds have of their hoof care courses are now become larger, most farmers haven’t the working in various locations around the time or the proper equipment to carry out world. their own hoof trimming. This is where Brian can be contacted at any time for the services of a professional trimmer are advice on 0044 7808 192952. invaluable. We can trim whole herds in a Email: Brian@soshoofcare.com day or so, or smaller numbers of lame Or check out the website: cows in a short time.” www.soshoofcare.com “I started running hoof trimming courses in Northern Best Wishes & Continued Success Ireland over 25 years To Scott’s On-Farm Services ago, initially to train From our own staff. Since then we have trained well over 200 trimmers and farmers all over Ireland. We’ve had plenty coming up 69 Tullynagardy Road, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT23 4TB from the south to do Phone :- +44 (0)28 9181 3634 it – even as far as Fax :- +44 (0)28 9181 5958 Cork.”

Brian’s expertise is www.cooke-bros.co.uk something that his

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Paddy Barron Agri have a vast selection of machinery

A cost-effective, reliable solution W

ith more than 50 years in business to fall back on, Paddy Barron Agri Ltd is a family owned and operated firm carrying out agricultural contracting in County Waterford. Irish Tractor & Agri magazine caught up with proprietor Paddy Barron to find out why his customers keep coming back for more.

The name Paddy Barron Agri Ltd is synonymous with high quality work in local Waterford agricultural circles.

Offering the highest standard of quality using up-to-date machinery is at the core of the business according to Paddy.

Paddy and his team are renowned for reliability when it comes to providing a complete service from plough to harvest and they are available to fully support the farmer throughout the year in a range of farming services

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from cultivation to harvest and sowing to mowing.

“My father James, who passed away in 2009, set up the business 50 years ago.

I've been contracting all my life having joined the family business 30 years ago,” revealed the affable Paddy.

Based in Knockanore, Paddy currently has four employees on the payroll while his brother Michael, who runs the family farm, also lends a helping hand when required.

Specialising in all areas of agricultural contracting, they pride themselves on offering a professional and reliable service with modern equipment.

CONTACT DETAILS Paddy Barron Agri Limited Killanthony Knockanore Co.Waterford

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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Competitive prices are available to farmers and landowners and a wide array of contracting services are provided to a large number of long-standing, satisfied customers.

These include silage cutting, ploughing, tilling, sowing, slurry spreading, baling and grass reseeding.

Their attention to customer service is second to none and if there is any problem, large or small, they have always tried to resolve it to the best of our ability to the customer’s satisfaction.

They appreciate the fact that their customers have very demanding work schedules and that working with weather cycles can be difficult.

Therefore, when you call them they get to work immediately scheduling specific machines with experienced operators and delivering them on time.

Put simply, you can depend on them to meet those allimportant harvest deadlines because Paddy fully appreciates the importance of providing a prompt and efficient service at highly competitive prices.

“We cover a 30 mile radius from Knockanore and we've approximately 35 customers on the go at the minute. Most of those have been with us since my father's time so we're obviously doing something right. We've had no complaints about the service we provide.”

With weather patterns constantly changing and

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

customers eager to manage their costs, Paddy Barron Agri aim to provide a costeffective and punctual service to remove any stress from their customers' farming operations.

The Waterford outfit has a policy of continuous investment and maintenance in their machinery and equipment.

This ensures that their equipment is constantly maintained and in good and safe operational condition.

Their major machinery and plant include six Deutz and five John Deere tractors along with a vast array of associated machinery such as slurry tanks, sprayers, lime spreaders, silage, trailers, balers, loaders and mowers.

Their customers receive personal attention on a daily business and much of their strengths are due to their flexibility and willingness to fit in with a client's own particular operations.

For example, Paddy Barron & Co can provide a complete solution or if required a part service depending on the particular situation at the time.

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Best Wishes To PADDY BARRON AGRI

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IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

barron agri designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:33 Page 4

“This year was very busy as weather was good and there was good grass growth,” Paddy acknowledged. “Looking ahead to the future, we'd be optimistic because we provide a good and reliable service to our customers and, obviously, that is something they appreciate.”

As agricultural contractors, Paddy

Barron Agri are able to provide the farmer with a cost effective and useful alternative for many of their farming operations and their personal aim is to deliver all of their services in an efficient manner at competitive prices.

Paddy and his team pride themselves in taking the time to ensure that the end result is high quality forage for their clients.

So, if you are on the look out for a professional agricultural contractor in the Waterford area, then contact Paddy. He will be glad to provide you with a quote for your particular requirements.

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dan donovan designed_Layout 1 31/12/2015 12:30 Page 1

Key members of the Dan Donovan & Co Ltd. team (from left): Joe O’Herlihy (general manager), John Joe Looney, Mary O’Callaghan (MD), Rose McCarthy, Jerry Casey, Martina Sisk, Liam Buckley

A proud legacy of agri solutions on Leeside

D

an Donovan & Co. Ltd. has been supplying customers from the Lee Valley / West Cork region with unrivalled agri services, general merchant, fuel and grocery solutions for almost seven decades. We met up with general manager Joe O’Herlihy to find out more about this wide-ranging, longserving family-run business, which has become an inherent part of the community it serves.

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The genesis of Dan Donovan & Co. Ltd. dates back to the early 1940s, when the eponymous Dan founded the company in Berrings, on the outskirts of Cork city, west.

Today, the O’Callaghan family fronts the business, Mary O’Callaghan having become MD following the sudden death of her husband, also Dan, some five years ago. All the qualities and positive characteristics that epitomise an archetypal family business remain inherent in the dayto-day running of the long-established

operation.

“It is very much a family business and we pride ourselves on offering our customers a personal touch,” notes general manager Joe O’Herlihy. “We’re located on the west side of the city, with strong attachments to the Lee Valley region. Our catchment area would extend from here to the city boundaries. From Mallow down to Cork city and west as far as Macroom is the traditional heartland Dan Donovan & Co. serves.”

IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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very difficult and uncertain Like most businesses, the period in dairy farming for the enterprise started from humble next nine-ten months. All we and uncomplicated origins, can do is be here to support providing a vital service to the our customers. surrounding rural community. “It “The mutual benefit of doing began as a mill and also business with the same transported cattle as well as people over a long number of supplying seed and some years is that they are here fertiliser,” Joe continues. with us and we are there with “They’ve also always had their them – through thick and thin. own coal business in the winter, We are an independent and which is an important part of the distinctive business and we overall business.” are the only merchant in this Dan Donovan & Co supplies an part of the country offering excellent range of animal feeds. people an independent “Traditionally, we would have a choice. very close relationship with Macroom Mills and we’d also “We offer a good broad have a close relationship with range of products that are Southern Mills in Cork at the well-priced, while quality is moment, stocking the complete critically important. range of beef, dairy and calf Customers simply won’t feed, in bulk and bags. We also accept any product that stock Liffey Mills calf rations. diminishes their end product “As the majority of our – they can’t afford to. There customers would be in dairy, we is absolutely no room also supply a full range of whatsoever for compromise fertilisers, seeds, chemicals, on quality because demands disinfectants, detergents etc. on the dairy sector are Along with the feed, that intense and they can’t allow represents the core of the any inferior quality into their Donal and Sean O’Callaghan – sons of MD Mary O’Callaghan. Both are business. In addition to that, we secondary school teachers and help out at Dan Donovan chain of production because & Co. Ltd. on Saturdays also sell groceries, coal and the repercussions would be petrol / diesel. It’s a community drastic for their livelihoods. farmers.

“As we’re in the middle of an shop really, with anything and everything “Of course it’s a challenge to produce a intensive dairy region, we stock a full range that our customers might need.” high-quality product at a price that dairy of grassland and dairy hygiene products,” And the customer is king! (To this end, farmers can afford, and the gap between Joe confirms.

“All the products are tested one of the many superb, added-value their input costs and output prices is and approved by the Department and we products being passed on to customers at becoming unsustainably small, but we carry the Top Five range of disinfectants, present is an innovative new type of have been here for a long time and we will detergents and sterilisers. We’d also have fertiliser from Grassland Agro): “We are support our customers in the long haul any everything from silage covers to bale silage here to provide a top-quality service. way we can.” plastic and anything else that a dairy Anybody who works here lives in the In another important contribution to the farmer might require. Our customers community and knows all the customers. local economy, Dan Donovan & Co Ltd. include a lot of families who have been We are acutely aware of the need to generates gainful employment for a fulldealing with us for generations and there supply a great range of fertilisers and we time team of seven, three of whom are are very close ties there.” work closely with all of the wholesaler drivers, who deliver products throughout Of course, it goes without saying that providers. We stock Gouldings,Target, the region, normally within 24 hours. they wouldn’t keep coming back if the Nitrofert, Grassland Kilkenny, Yara and Without the commitment and service of our Grassland Agro. products and service weren’t up to scratch. employees, the business wouldn’t survive.

“Grassland Agro has a division which is Remember, these are businessmen and It’s all part of the unrivalled service that’s promoting a range of enhanced fertilisers women at the end of the day! “They want defined this impressive enterprise since and soil conditioners and we are trying to a good product and service and we are Day One! educate our customers about the benefits confident that we offer that, along with a of these products in terms of soil fertility personal service and competitive pricing. and growth etc. so that they can get the We don’t get all of their business all of the best out of their grass platforms. There are time but we strive to get some of it and to CONTACT DETAILS a number of different brands that fall into offer them choices.” this category and the results speak for While the dairy sector is tipping along, themselves. It is a more-expensive option Joe points out that there’s little room for than conventional fertiliser but a lot of trials Dan Donovan & Co. Ltd., complacency or over-confidence: and research and tests have been carried “Everybody was delighted when the quotas out and marked improvements in Ballyshonin, went but then the cold winds of low production and fertility have been Berrings, commodity prices soon came through and recorded.” we have to be able to adapt to how prices County Cork.

It would be fair to say that the vast fluctuate and to customers’ predicaments, Tel: 021 7332153 majority of customers are local dairy especially now as we are heading into a IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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Premium beef and lamb; from farm to fork

F

or over a century, Gilligan Meats have reared high-quality, award-winning beef on the family farm in County Roscommon. Twenty-five years ago, they began butchering and selling their own succulent produce, thereby providing a complete service from farm to fork.

We travelled to their base in Four Mile House on the outskirts of Roscommon town and met up with managing director Padraic Gilligan to find out more about this exceptional operation.

Gilligan Meats is one of the few family-owned, run farmingand-butcher operations in Ireland. As such, they are in a unique position to control and maximise quality and consistency of their meat as well as providing customers with assurance and full traceability of all products.

During the summer of 2015, Gilligan’s celebrated the 100th anniversary of their superb family farm, based on Derrane Road, Four Mile House – an area renowned for its limestoneenriched soil, providing

CONTACT DETAILS Gilligan Meats,

Derrane Road, Four Mile House, County Roscommon.

Tel: 090 6629788 Mobile: 086 8323199 Email: info@gilliganmeats.ie

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scientifically-proven added benefits to the animals reared there.

In 2000, Padraic Gilligan – who possesses an extensive background in agriculture and livestock - invested in a purpose-built meat processing facility adjacent to the family farm, a move which has taken the business to the next level as they now provide a completely self-sufficient supply of premium beef and lamb.

Padraic’s knowledge and experience of farming allows him to ensure absolute integrity through every link in this supply chain, from feedstuffs and raw material right through to the selection, maturation, refrigeration and presentation of the beef and lamb.

Meanwhile, his son Alan has also grown up with the business and is qualified in every aspect of the company’s operation including livestock rearing, slaughtering, boning, butchery and business management. In keeping with tradition, farm manager Chris is also a key player on the team, with direction from internationally-renowned dietician Gerry Giggins.

Gilligan Meats have a massive passion for producing quality beef and, as such, maintain full control over every aspect of beef production, i.e. environment, animal husbandry, diet, slaughtering and packaging. They keep a consistent supply of top quality beef seven days per week, 52 weeks of the year.

Gilligans’ meat is known for its colour. “Tender & Tasty” is their motto and all of their beef

Warren Massey (left), Head Chef of Drury Buildings restaurant, selects prime cuts for his menu with Alan Gilligan

Three generations of the Gilligan family, Padraic with his son Alan and grandson Fionn IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

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is guaranteed all-Heifer beef, which is vastly superior to steer or bull beef.

They are renowned innovators in the field of low carbon footprint meat production, maintaining their farming and processing facilities to the highest standards. This – in conjunction with growing their own feed - ensures a highly-contained and carbon-efficient process.

As a result of their fully self-contained practice, they can guarantee the traceability and quality of all meat.

Reflecting on the genesis of the business, Padraic Gilligan notes: “My father came here to Derrane one hundred years ago and started farming and producing beef. We went into the meat business in ’91 when we bought a shop in Roscommon and also started a small abattoir. After a few years, we found that we were restricted size-wise so we got planning permission and built the new processing facility in ’99, which was opened in 2000.

“We extended that factory in 2004 and again in ’08 and we are currently in the process of extending it for the third time.

We’ve come through the recession and now that we are out the other end of it, we find that people have more interest in good food.”

Self-sufficiency has given Gilligan Meats a distinctive edge on the competition. “We grow the cereals, harvest them and feed the cattle with our own feedstuffs,” he confirms. “We do our own silage and do all our own work around the farm. We operate all our own machinery and do literally everything ourselves, which gives us complete control over every part of the production process.

“The feeding of the cattle is without doubt the most scientific

Alan Gilligan with some prime cuts IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI

The beef is guaranteed all-Heifer

Gilligan Meats at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Ireland at the Citywest Hotel

At the family farm, l/r: Padraic Gilligan, Alan Gilligan and Chris Gilligan

aspect of the whole enterprise,” he continues. “We have regular trials carried out on our farms of innovative new feeds. At the moment, we are doing one with seaweed-based minerals.” “Also to guarantee a superior quality product, we ensure that all our livestock is reared and handled humanely in strictly-controlled, stress-free conditions.”

Unsurprisingly, Gilligan Meats regularly pick up the top awards on offer in the industry. This year alone they have picked up the European Angus Society award for their fillet, striploin and ribeye steaks as well as being voted overall Supreme Champion.

They also collected the Great Taste award for both their steak and their new ribeye steak burger, which was launched this year. The ribeye burger also picked up a silver medal at the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards, where Gilligan’s consistently gain national recognition. “There was no good quality steak burger on the market and we wanted to offer one that wasn’t made from scraps,” Padraic reveals. “It’s a different type of burger – 4% fat-based and you can cook it in the oven. We felt that there was a market there for that type of product and the response so far suggests that we were right.”

As well as their own shop, Gilligan Meats also sell their premium beef and lamb through all five Joyces Supermarkets in Galway as well as Fresh Opportunities in Dublin and up to 25 high-class restaurants in the capital.

“Quality is what we are all about,” Padraic stresses.

“Our attention to detail with the cattle is different to any other farm. First of all, we like to have them very comfortable and this includes playing music to them so that they are not under any stress, even when they are going to be slaughtered.

They are always in the same relaxed environment and this results in a higher-quality meat.

“All the research that has been conducted in this area shows that music has a big

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Best Wishes To Gilligan Meats, From

Suppliers of Fertilizer, Alkaline Grain, Maize, Animal Feeds & Silage Additives for the Agricultural Sector.

Gerry, Martin and Gearoid with the Gold Star ‘Great Taste Award’ winning Rib Eye Steak Burgers

part to play in the animals’ happiness. And the bottom line is that if the animals aren’t happy then you won’t produce good beef.”

A family-run enterprise, Gilligan Meats currently provide gainful employment to a team of 19, including Padraic’s wife Grainne and son Alan. “Alan is the main link in the chain now,” Padraic states. “He runs the business; he has the energy for it.

He has devoted all his life to this business and has helped to build it up to where it is today. He will now drive it forward to ensure that we stay at the top, which requires a lot of effort and energy and attention to detail.

“We’re very lucky to have great staff here. We have good people in every department, from the office to the floor, and without them we wouldn’t have a business.”

Looking to the future, Padraic reassures us that there will be no let-up in the continuous quest to keep producing the highest-quality beef and lamb. “We are always going to new, higher levels and that’s where it is at,” he concludes. “There are always new developments. New innovations and new products are the way forward. We are toying with some new ideas at the minute and we’ll see how they go when we take them to market.”

If Gilligan Meats’ exemplary track record for producing superb, mouth-watering products is anything to go by, these will be extremely well received!

Best Wishes & Continued Success To

GILLIGAN MEATS From

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Office Ph: 353 (0)41- 6853688 M: 353 (0) 86- 2452650

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