Lisburn, Co Antrim based Wilkinson Contracts are flexible when it comes to satisfying the needs of their customers. Reliability is a key factor in their successful delivery of completed jobs on time while proprietor Fergal Wilkinson has a vast knowledge to fall back on.
With over 30 years experience in agricultural contracting and the operation of machinery, Wilkinson Contracts can provide a cost effective and time saving alternative for many of your farming operations.
Offering an extensive range of agricultural contracting services, with modern and reliable equipment, they can help you to keep your farm running smoothly.
Fergal Wilkinson established the business back in 1984 and Wilkinson Contracts has survived the test of time thanks to their unwavering commitment to satisfying their customers needs on every job.
Fergal prides himself in investing in the latest high quality equipment and machinery. Their extensive range enables them to provide an extensive list of services which includes: silage, slurry, digger work, dump trailer hire, hedge cutting, round baling, ploughing, power harrowing and raking.
Growing up, Fergal cut his teeth on the family farm before going down the contracting route.
“I was a reared on the family farm, my father (Tommy) had a small dairy herd of about 30 cows,” he recalled in conversation with Irish Tractor & Agri magazine. “My father started doing a bit of renovating and spraying in 1953 and provided a baling service around the country up until the early seventies.
“Not long after leaving school I started doing a small bit of contracting and the business just took off from there.
“I started out with a New Holland 339 Double Chop before adding a Deutz Fahr FH 900 Precision Chop Harvester the following year in 1985. Our fleet of tractors and machinery has grown considerably since then.
“I still run the farm, we keep store and suckler cattle here on 80 acres just outside of Lisburn but the agricultural contracting work has grown a lot over the years. We have seven to eight part-timers working with us during the busy summer months while there are three of us here during the winter months.”
Fergal’s 23-year-old son Conor has inherited his father’s passion for contracting work and is very much part and parcel of the family business while Fergal is grateful for the continued loyalty that he has received from his customer base.
“We have customers from as far away as Bangor in Down to Dromara, Hillsborough. 95% of the farmers we deal with are long standing customers, many of them have stayed loyal to us down through the years since we started.
“We lost a few along the way, some retired or quit farming, but we’ve also gained some new ones, particularly in the last few years. It’s swings and roundabouts.”
Why do farmers continue to pick up the phone to call Wilkinson Contracts on a regular basis?
“Over the years we’ve always supplied a good service to our customers. We always try to be there on time once the weather permits. Thankfully, business has been very good, people seem to be happy with the service they get off us so I suppose that’s why they stay loyal.”
The weather, as Fergal hinted at, is the bane of many a farmer and contractors’ life. Life would be a lot simpler if Mother Nature stuck to the script!
“That’s the biggest challenge, every contractor will tell you that,” he quipped. “If you have the weather on your side, the work would get done in half the time and be a lot more cost efficient.
“But look, it’s a labour of love for us. I like being out and about and meeting new people. We’d always like to expand every now and again but the way the last 10 years went have made it very difficult. More and more lads have got into contracting and there’s a lot more competition out there but it’s a way of life that I enjoy.”
Wilkinson Contracts can provide a complete or part service. With their vast experience and competitive prices, Fergal and his team aim to provide the best service possible.
One of Wilkinson Contracts’ customers, local dairy farmer Paul McCullagh said: “Fergal is a great friend and is very approachable and dependable. He provides a top class service and does all my hedge cutting, round baling, spreading, slurry, ploughing etc.”
Fergal finished by saying: “I’d like to thank all of our customers for their continued support. We would not be here without them while new customers are always welcome.”
Why not contact Fergal or Conor at the numbers below to see just how cost effective Wilkinson Contracts can be.
Wilkinson Contracts
34A Killultagh Road
Lisburn
Co Antrim
BT28 2NX
Fergal: 00447803018358
Conor: 00447907941258
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 5 No 2, March 2017
