Jordan Agricultural Ltd. in County Carlow supplies a full range of animal feeds, minerals (including the Maxammon mineral range for dairy, dry and beef cows) and chemicals as well as grass, beet and cereal seed. We caught up with founder / proprietor Eoin Jordan, who also provides a full crop consultancy service, to find out more about the excellent range of products and services offered.
Jordan Agri Ltd. was established in 2003 and has since developed into a leading supplier of animal feeds, seeds, minerals and chemicals as well as all associated backup and advisory services. Founder Eoin Jordan comes from a beef and tillage background, growing maize, beet, barley and some spring crops in addition to running a beef fattening unit in conjunction with his father Jimmy and brothers Mick and Niall.
Renowned as a maize crop specialist, Eoin studied Agricultural Science in UCD for four years and did his Masters with Dr George Keane in maize production under plastic and non-plastic. He then spent 18 months working in Midleton, County Cork for Southern Fuel and Farm Supplies (one of Ireland’s select few Maxammon agents).
“I forged strong links with Southern Fuel and Farm Supplies during that time and, when I came home in ’03 and set up my own business here in Leighlinbridge, I continued to deal with them, particularly for maize inputs,” he notes. When Eoin started out on his own, he’d already had a great induction into the business in terms of both education and experience. He began to provide a crop consultancy service throughout Carlow as well as supplying an assortment of crops and seeds.
“We supply for winter barley, winter wheat, winter oats, winter oilseed rape, plus spring barley, wheat, oats and oilseed rape as well as beet, maize and grass seeds and milk powder etc.,” says Eoin. “Maxammon has become a big part of our business over the past three years, with customers treating their own grain. We also supply our own treated grain to beef and dairy farmers.
“The Maxammon range of beef and dairy minerals helps farmers make the most out of their grain,” he stresses. “An animal is very much like a car engine and needs to be finely tuned. This mineral range helps farmers to produce their milk or beef much more efficiently and results in higher-quality yields.”
Jordan Agri has evolved into a one-stop shop for farmers’ needs. “We supply all the inputs – seeds, chemicals and fertilisers – and I also provide a crop consultancy service where I work with the farmer on a weekly or ten-day basis. We have diversified the business significantly over the past three years to also supply minerals (bucket or bag), milk powder and the Maxammon minerals to go with feed. As crops can be seasonal, I’m now running a solid twelve-month business with a steady cash flow all year around,” the proprietor explains.
Jordan Agri is a close-knit operation. Eoin’s brother Mick runs the office and oversees deliveries, which are carried out in-house by Mick’s father-in-law, Martin.
“I’ve taken on two reps – Liam Lacey and Tom Eustace – since 2013 to broaden our customer base and to supply a broader range of products to farmers, be they beef, dairy or tillage. We have had to match their demands with what we supply and that is how the business has evolved. We’ve taken on three agencies which are proving to be very successful – the Maxammon range of minerals; Lactalis, the French milk powder; and Watson Seeds from Scotland, who produce a very good range of grass seed, which we’ve been supplying for the last two years.”
Jordan Agri’s catchment area comprises counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Laois as well as parts of Wexford, Wicklow, Kildare and a substantial swathe of Tipperary. “Basically, within a 40-50 mile radius,” says Eoin. “I’ve been dealing with a lot of the same guys for ten-twelve years and have built the business up from scratch by providing them with the products and services that they demand.”
While anyone can source and supply a product, the exception level of technical service provided by Eoin helps his business to stand out from the crowd. “We’ve built the business up by offering more than just products. We offer strong service and professional advice, walking the crops, advice on feeds and diets and alternatives to traditional methods of compound feeds – an option that has been given to us by Maxammon. At the end of the day, it’s all about finding ways to improve the farmer’s bottom line.
“The farmer wants to become better at what he’s doing; he wants to make more money. They want to find better and more efficient ways of doing things and in Ireland they are very good at adapting to new chemicals or feeds or products. There is nothing better than using homegrown feed and by converting that using Maxammon you end up with a very traceable and sustainable alternative to compound feeds. This treated grain, which can be grown on your own farm, will lead to an increase in proteins and butter fats as well as a live weight gain and very content animals. It’s a win-win situation for both the farmer and the animal.”
With a personal touch, an excellent range of value-added products and a superb back-up service, Jordan Agri is in a strong position going forward. But Eoin is not about to rest on his laurels: “You have to try to keep building your business,” he reasons.
“We have some excellent niche products and the Maxammon, for example, is giving farmers a lot of options. We have a lot of customers who are at the forefront of the industry and are leaders in their field, but I’d like to find a few more key customers. You are always looking for new customers and I’m confident that we’ll find them as farmers are always on the look-out for new products that can increase their efficiency.
“I try to work in partnership with farmers as much as I can, to offer them advice on treating their feed and on turning it into beef or milk as efficiently as possible as well as consulting with them on how to best use the products.”
For as long as Jordan Agri continues to introduce its customers to innovative, cost-effective products and techniques, the ongoing success of this exceptional enterprise is guaranteed.
Jordan Agricultural Ltd.,
Ratheadon,
Leighlinbridge,
County Carlow.
Tel: 059 9723518
Mobile: 086 3844606
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Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 11, December 2015
