Claremorris, County Mayo-based Dolan Agri offers a vast range of agricultural products and services, including innovative small-scale contracting. We caught up with owner John Dolan to take a close look at this multifaceted, trailblazing operation.
Dolan Agri – formerly known as Daniel Dolan Agri Services Ltd. – was founded in 2010 by John Dolan, the third generation of his family to be extensively involved in the agricultural sector. This proud tradition in agriculture and agricultural contracting dates back to the 1950s.
Over the years, the wide-ranging, professional family business has built up an unparalleled name for high-quality, cost-effective work in the local community and beyond. The business model was changed in 2010 to give rise to a smaller and more specialised, evolving, small-scale contracting operation (offering a unique range of services) as well as the supply of a wide variety of quality products and services.
As a result of this evolution, the customer base has spread throughout Connacht and Dolan Agri have also diversified into farm supplies, John Deere Parts, agri chemicals and animal medicines (the agri supplies and parts departments are open 24/7).
John Dolan prides himself on introducing new innovation taken from extensive experience from many different countries, colleges, and universities. Over the years, Dolans have traditionally been at the forefront in utilising new methods and machine technology in the greater Mayo area and John hopes to continue this into the future.
John, whose father Daniel and grandfather Bertie were both known throughout the region as outstanding agri contractors, studied extensively in Ireland, the United States and the UK before working for Simba in both Russia and Lithuania. He opted to come back to Ireland and set up on his own in 2010 and received great support and encouragement from his then employers.
“We have gone into innovative, small-scale contracting: Güttler seeder contracts, subsoil and GPS fertiliser spreading, as well as the supply of fertiliser.” It’s no major surprise that John decided to go down a different road to his competitors. Innovation is in the blood. His father introduced the first reversible plough and self-propelled harvester to the local area as well as the first John Deere GPS system in 2000.
“As we had been using John Deere tractors ourselves since 1989, we then went into John Deere parts and servicing – an area we knew well from our own experience with the brand. We got the Güttler dealership this year and have also taken up the Fransguard dealership in 2014.”
Popular Güttler machines include prism rollers, front presses (simplex or duplex) and the Güttler GreenMaster modular system consisting of three machines in one. Fransguard, meanwhile, manufactures disc mowers, rotary rakes, combi-rakes, front rakes, swath wilters and rotor rakes.
“As we were doing John Deere parts, we also got into EZ Solutions and bought 90% of that company, incorporated it into our business, and started doing engine remapping and AdBlue,” John continues.
EZ Solutions provides engine remapping, AdBlue, DPF, fuel saving and performance solutions to car, van, tractor and plant operators, resulting in greater power and increased economy. EZ Solutions performance or economy software make it possible for vehicles to reach their full potential. An EZ Solutions vehicle will provide safer overtaking, better fuel economy and a smoother more pleasurable drive whilst eliminating the need for buying a new vehicle,
Whether a customer wants higher power, more torque, less AdBlue consumption, troublesome diesel particulate filters fixed, smoother gains across the rev range, a broader power band, or simply better fuel economy, then EZ Solutions have the knowledge and capability to reshape an engine’s characteristics around the driver’s habits.
Dolan Agri have a long tradition in agricultural contracting and pride themselves in constant machinery innovation, with a growing customer base across Mayo, Galway, Sligo and Roscommon.
At the time of writing, Dolan Agri was preparing to launch an innovative new point-of-sale website (JDAgriparts.com), not only sourcing the cheapest parts online but also allowing customers to view 3D images of parts to ensure that they are getting the exact item they require. “A farmer will be able to see what they are buying and can get the cheapest part delivered directly to their door,” John notes.
As well as John and Danny Dolan (who oversees the contracting end of things), other key personnel include Danielle Cusack (who has a Degree in Agricultural Science and is in the middle of her Veterinary Degree), John’s cousin David, and Matthew Mackin.
Contracting services provided include bale transporting, raking and tedding, ring rolling, subsoiling, fertiliser spreading and direct seeding. Direct seeding has become the cornerstone of the contracting service since 2011. Dolan Agri has clocked up over 3,000 acres and boasts a wealth of experience in growing grass and root crops. Their machine can work by direct seeding or by conventional methods, depending on soil and ground conditions.
“We’re also selling second-hand machinery now and we can provide free, impartial advice to people buying machinery. We have often accompanied people to look at machines to help them make a decision on whether or not to purchase. We have a good mixture of loyal and new customers and are looking forward to further increasing our customer base.”
All in all, Dolan Agri provides a vast range of services under one roof and founder John Dolan is very pleased with how the business has evolved since its genesis. “I believe in innovation and we are constantly trying to be different to everybody else,” he concludes. “We offer unique services that nobody else is offering and we will expand into other areas in the future.”
Dolan Agri
Ballyglass, Scardaune, Claremorris,
County Mayo.
Tel: 094 9364178
Mobile: 087/086 2503621
Fax: 094 936417
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 1, January/February 2015
