For three generations and counting, the Farrellys have been looking after the needs of farmers in Meath and surrounding counties. Established in Carnaross by Ben Farrelly in partnership with his father Peter as recently as 2020, BMF Agri is a relatively new name in agricultural contracting but has hit the ground running as this family business is backed by decades of experience and expertise.
Agricultural contracting is in Ben Farrelly’s DNA, so it’s no surprise that his new venture BMF Agri Ltd. – which the young Carnaross man set up in conjunction with his dad, Peter, only three years ago – has quickly established a stellar reputation for delivering a comprehensive range of exceptional services across the Royal County and into Cavan, Monaghan and Westmeath.
Synonymous with high-quality, value-added contracting solutions, invariably delivered promptly, professionally and efficiently, BMF Agri achieves outstanding results every time through an unbeatable combination of great men and great equipment. A magnificent fleet of tractors and machinery is at the heart of the business and these are operated by a vastly-experienced and meticulous full-time crew of four as well as additional part-time personnel during peak season.
Co-founder Ben Farrelly has worked at contracting all his life and is pleased to report that BMF Agri are extremely busy as we head into the summer of 2023. “This is what I always wanted to do and thankfully it’s going very well so far. Myself and my father run the business and we’d be well known around here. We have a lot of good customers and we do our best to look after them as best we can.”
When it comes to services provided, BMF cover pretty much the full array of agri contracting activities, with the exception of maize. This includes slurry spreading using tanks and the umbilical system, mowing and baling, raking, hedge cutting, digger and drainage work, reseeding (ploughing and direct seeding using an earth seeder), power harrowing, spraying and zero grazing.
At the time of writing, Ben was running five tractors – four fresh and immaculately-maintained John Deeres (two 6155Ms, a 7530 and a 150R) and a trusty Fiat 110 90. “You can’t go wrong with John Deere – I’m very happy with them,” the North Meath contractor enthuses. “We keep all the tractors and machinery in good condition. We have our own workshop here and we try to do most of the repairs ourselves.
“Most of our work is in Meath and Cavan but we do a lot of stitching and go as far as Monaghan and Louth for that. We also have a stone picker, which is in big demand, and we travel a fair bit with that as well. With the zero grazer, we cover Meath and Westmeath and go into a bit of Cavan, too, but we try to keep it as local as we can.
“All the work is for farmers, really, be that the contracting, digger work or hedge cutting,” Ben continues. “We have a Moffett saw head with circular blade on the back of the Fiat as well as a McConnel flail head. Using the diggers, we do a lot of drainage and clearing up for farmers; it’s all agri.”
To consistently provide optimal service levels, contractors regularly invest money into their fleets and BMF Agri cannot be found wanting in this regard. Recent acquisitions include one of the John Deere 6155Ms, a McHale F5500 baler and a stunning brand-new 3,500-gallon Redrock vacuum tank with a new Mastek dribble bar.
Hailing from a strong farming background themselves and therefore cognisant of farmers’ needs, the Farrelly family from Carnaross have been renowned for providing quality agri contracting in North Meath and its environs for more than half a century, going back to the days when Ben’s late grandfather, Mickey Farrelly, paved the way for future generations by offering top-class services to his neighbours.
“It all comes down to quality and efficiency and getting the work done,” says Ben. “That’s what farmer want and that’s what we make sure to provide. We have the men and the machinery to give them the best possible results and thankfully we have a good reputation which leads to a lot of repeat business with regular customers. You have to keep your standards up and give the farmer exactly what he wants.”
Elaborating further on the BMF Agri ethos and the qualities that have so quickly set the business apart as a contractor of choice, Ben adds: “Reliability is key and always carrying out quality work. It’s important to be good to your word: be there on time and make sure you are able to do the job to the best possible standard. Again, this comes back to having the right machines and the right men.”
Looking to the future, Ben says he will play it by ear but that the emphasis will remain very much on quality workmanship and looking after customers: “The cost of machinery is rising every year and the machines are getting bigger,” he concludes. “There’s more money than ever going into that so you have to try to keep busy. The best way to stay busy is to make sure you look after customers every time you drive through their gate.”
BMF Agri Ltd.,
Carnaross,
County Meath.
Tel: 087 9955445
Email: [email protected]
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 11 No 4, August/September 2023
