With the maize harvest complete, the annual slurry spreading window firmly shut it was time for Ireland’s contractors to ease the foot off the pedal for a few weeks. Following the huge success of Grassmen ‘Fulla The Pipe’ launch in 2010 where we raised £4000, Moover decided what better way to kick off the Christmas period than with an outing to the charity launch of the latest DVD release in the Grassmen series – ‘Green Fever’.
On December 2nd 2011 in the Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena, ‘Green Fever’ was shown cinematic style on three huge screens to an audience of just under 1000 people. A diesel fired evening, the dust and smoke was thick and fast on the big screen from three very different counties on the Island.
In the deep south, Cork dairy country provides the setting for Troy Contracting where Mark Troy has inherited his father Eamonn’s business. In an unconventional setup, Mark works year round as an accountant in Bandon but for the pressured 3 weeks of first cut silage and 2 weeks of second cut he gets to enjoy his first love, the grass. An experienced team of men provide the means to maintain a relentless campaign during the short Cork grass season. Number two is staff member Nelius, a mechanic by trade who has been with the business for 28 years and operates the twin engine Claas 970 at the maize harvest. These two men provide alternative views on the kit they operate. For Mark it’s all about the figures, and they have to add up. Typically a contractor will run a single brand of tractors in the fleet for simplicity in maintenance and a better deal when trading in, but Mark’s attention to the numbers means Troy Contracting hire in a lot of kit at peak season. The result is a unique and impartial comparison of Fendt, John Deere, Massey Ferguson and New Holland from an accountant’s perspective. Straight talking Nelius also supplements this with his mechanical knowledge and experience.
Back in the North, McKelvey Harvesting are based in the county Down hills, providing a silage service to mostly beef farmers. A family run business, brothers Brian and Ivan have stepped back from contracting to concentrate on their 300 head of cattle and agricultural store in Ballynahinch, leaving Thomas to take charge of the fleet of John Deeres. A new 7750 harvester replaces the outgoing 7700, and a single Fendt 820 has nudged out one of the fleet of 30 series Deere tractors thanks to its Vario gearbox. Working hand in hand with the McKelveys is the Patterson family, three brothers consumed by ‘Green Fever’. Not content with maintaining a 120 acre golf course all year round, they also put their new flagship Fendt 828 to work on a set of Claas butterfly mowers and supply additional trailers when required. An efficient operation, this youthful team are fairly relaxed on the job, and enjoy nothing more than winding each other up with cryptic nicknames and tall tales. Watch out for ‘Boo-Boo’ who often appears to take the brunt of it but is actually the linchpin of all the Mckelvey craic.
Finally in the Fermanagh wetlands Read Agri Contracts from Maguiresbridge put on a demonstration of perseverance second to none. With 4 feet of rain on their side of Lough Erne, the conditions are tough in a normal year and 2011 was far from normal. One of the most scenic landscapes in the North, stunning panoramic views are available on the few dry days of the silage season. However, heavy land and steep ground provide a challenging environment for Barry Read to build his contracting business every time he leaves the yard. A new 9060 adds some extra horse power to his outgoing 9050 New Holland harvester and a series of low roofed clamps prevents the use of a typical workhorse on the pit. Instead ‘Wang’ is put through his paces on a rigid Manitou telehandler as a fleet of heavy smoking Valtras haul the loads in. With every past season eventful (and a Facebook gallery to prove it), there is no shortage of stories from the talkative team. One story in particular about a dung spreader highlights that it’s all about the way you tell it.
Thanks to all who attended the event, where in conjunction with 'The Big Give' the final total of £18000 was donated between Marie Curie Cancer Care and Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. A gallery from the event can be seen here.