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Conor Halpin
Conor Halpin
Journalism intern.
Reading Time: 4 minutes

‘I don’t think I would survive contracting if I wasn’t able to do mechanical work’

As part of this week’s Contractor of the Week segment, That’s Farming speaks to Ted O’ Leary, from Ted O’ Leary Agricultural Contracting, about his mechanical and contracting experience, and apprenticeship which influenced his career path.

Completing an apprenticeship in the B&D garage, Cork fixing Leyland trucks sowed the seed for Ted O’ Leary (57).

The Tulligmore, Ballinahassig, Co. Cork native, hails from a 90-acre beef and dairy farm. Traditionally, they milked 70 cows and raised 25 beef cattle for many generations since the 1980s.

At the tender age of sixteen, he first set his sights on carving a mechanical and contracting career. During his time at Nyhan Transport, he gained valuable experience, hauling milk to Dairygold Co-op from dairy farms and carrying out maintenance on trucks.

Mechanical experience  

He gathered eight years of valuable mechanical experience with both companies and carries out 99% of his maintenance work in the contracting fleet

“Even when I was at mechanical work, I took time off to go at the silage season. I was always very interested in tractor work or machinery.” Ted O’Leary told That’s Farming.

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“I never regretted doing mechanic work. I don’t think I would survive contracting if I wasn’t able to do mechanical work, because the price of garages would break me.”

Ted O’ Leary Agricultural Contracting, tractor, machinery, Massey Ferguson

Building the contracting firm  

In 1989, he established the firm with the aid of a Woodchester Capital hire purchase. Today, he has two full-time employees in the business.

Furthermore, he purchased a Same Tiger tractor, a Bomford hedge cutter and a Ruscon slurry tanker.

Over several years, with word of mouth, his contracting business built, beginning with slurry spreading, silage cutting, and hedge-cutting services.

His extensive fleet of tractors now includes a Massey Ferguson 7720, Massey Ferguson 7718, and Massey Ferguson 6490.

Remaining loyal to the AGCO brand, he said the Massey Ferguson is driver-friendly and runs economically better.

“l started by myself, and I built it up slowly over the years. It was nearly always Masseys; the only other tractor I had in between was a Valtra 190.”

Ted O’ Leary Agricultural Contracting, tractors, machinery

Machinery and services  

His father had a single chop and double chop harvester. However, his brother Arthur, accomplished silage cutting along with him.

At the time, a grant was required. Whereas, they had to cut silage for two neighbours to have access to buying a harvester. Arthur still helps out Ted with his son, Shane, during peak times.

Today, Ted owns a Major LGP 2400, Major LGP 2600 tanker, Joskin 2500 tanker (with trailing shoe), and NC agitator. Secondly,

He possesses a PICHON agitator, SlurryKat umbilical system (with trailing shoe), a Kverneland five furrow plough, Kuhn power harrow and seeder, and Dowdrell rotavator.

O’Leary also has a ClAS Jaguar 8860 harvester, JCB 416 loader, Kuhn butterfly mowers. Also dominating the fleet are four 20ft Lynch trailers and a selection of rakes, mowers, and hedge-cutting equipment.

His range of services include slurry spreading, silage-cutting, mowing, raking, agitating, dung and fertiliser spreading.

Additionally, he offers ploughing, tilling, reseeding, hedge-cutting (circular saw and flail head), land levelling and rotavating.

Ted O’ Leary Agricultural Contracting

Cost and safety  

According to O Leary, machinery costs and health and safety regulations will play a key role in the future, especially in the area of slurry management, to allow these jobs to continue safely.

“There’s always rules and regulations. I suppose slurry is another big change. The main challenges are trying to keep on top of the machinery. The rates aren’t going up as quick as the inflation on machinery.”

Ted O’ Leary Agricultural Contracting, tractors, machinery

Plans

To conclude, he hopes to further his contracting services and build his customer base. At the moment, he is very happy with his current contracting operations.

Above all, yearly changes will be made to the fleet to keep everything in good working order. A possible investment is a new mower this year.

“We’re kept going all the time, myself and the two workmen. We have enough to keep us going. There is no point in putting ourselves under pressure.”

“The key element is a good relationship with your customers and not getting heavily involved in debt. Keeping on top of payments and collecting money.” Ted O’Leary concluded.

More information 

To find out more, Ted O’ Leary Agricultural Contracting click here.

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