Based in Usk, Colbinstown, Co Kildare, Ross & Mark Barrett Agri & Plant Hire is a leading family-run agricultural contractor which covers the full range of services for its customers. Irish Tractor Agri & Plant caught up with Mark Barrett to discuss the ins and outs of the business, its impressive fleet and the experienced team behind the work.
Since its inception in 2008, Ross & Mark Barrett Agri & Plant Hire has established itself as a trusted name in the Irish agricultural contracting sector.
A family-run business with deep roots in farming, the Barretts have built a reputation for reliability, expertise and an impressive fleet of machinery that keeps them at the forefront of the industry.
That fleet has seen two new CLAAS tractors added to the yard in Colbinstown from Leinster Farm Machines – a trusted name in which the Barretts themselves have been doing business with for the past seven years now. The Barretts also purchased a Volvo L90G loader from Cathal Cogan Trading in January
Irish Tractor Agri & Plant touched base with Mark Barrett recently to get an inside look at the business, its operations and the team that keeps everything running smoothly.
“The business has been established since 2008,” Mark outlined. “Myself and my brother Ross are working here, so there are five lads working here and another couple of lads in the summer. My father (Joe) used to be with us. He passed away last year.”
The Barrett family’s history in agriculture stretches back generations. Their late father, Joe, spent decades of his life in farming and contracting, creating long-standing relationships with clients.
“Our father had been in the business for many years before we took over. He worked steadily for a long time, stepped back for a while, then returned to it again before we gradually took on more ourselves,” Mark recalled.
“We still have two customers who’ve been with us for more than 50 years, since our father was running the business.”
This continuity and personal touch have set Ross & Mark Barrett Agri & Plant Hire apart in an industry that frequently depends on transient labour and short-term contracts.
When asked what the business specialises in, Mark lists a wide range of services.
“It’d be mainly slurry, reseeding, bale silage, self-propelled wagon silage, plant hire, hedge cutting, site clearance and tree removal that we do,” he stated.
That diversity allows the Barretts to respond flexibly to customer needs across both farming and land management.
Whether it’s preparing a field for a new crop, removing overgrown hedgerows or assisting with large-scale silage operations, the company can handle a project from start to finish.
This Kildare venture possesses a combination of experienced men and modern machinery that ensures work is completed efficiently and to a high standard.
Like so many agricultural contractors in this country, the Barretts face constant challenges from weather and seasonal pressures.
“Business at the moment is not too bad. You’re always fighting against weather and dates. The window’s getting smaller now to do the work and the weather’s not getting any better,” Mark noted.
Currently, much of the company’s work revolves around slurry application and site preparation and it’s always willing to go the extra mile to meet customer satisfaction.
“We’re mostly at pipe slurry and site work there at the moment. We’ve a lot of work in Kildare and we go into Kilkenny, Drogheda, Waterford and went to Ennis last year to pick up silage for a friend that broke down,” said Mark.
Flexibility and responsiveness are key traits for the team. Whether traveling across counties or adapting to sudden changes in weather, the Barretts ensure that their clients’ needs are met on time.
A key factor behind the success of Ross & Mark Barrett Agri & Plant Hire is its continued investment in modern, reliable machinery.
“We’ve a new CLAAS Arion 660 and a new 650 coming there in the next few weeks. We’ve two new mowers, dump trailers, silage trailers and a few other things coming,” Mark explained.
The Barretts’ partnership with Leinster Farm Machines has been instrumental in keeping their fleet up to date.
“We get all our CLAAS tractors from Leinster Farm Machines. 2019 was the first deal we made with them and, since that time, we’ve bought eight tractors off them. We’ve found them very good to deal with since Day One, their service is excellent and that’s why we stay dealing with them.”
In addition to tractors, the business continues to expand its capabilities with specialised equipment.
“We might invest in a new digger and some additional equipment. We recently purchased a new mulcher as well, so we’ll be adding a few more items,” Mark noted.
This continual investment ensures that Ross & Mark Barrett Agri & Plant Hire can tackle a wider variety of jobs efficiently while maintaining the high standards their clients expect.
At the heart of the company’s continued success is a small but highly skilled team.
“We try to get through the work as quickly as possible and do it as clean as possible. Everyone has to make a living,” Mark said.
The approach emphasises precision, professionalism and dedication.
Whether it’s a large-scale silage operation or a more intricate hedge-cutting project, the Barretts’ hands-on involvement and the experience of their team guarantee quality results every time.
The family-run nature of the business also fosters a strong sense of responsibility and continuity. Long-term employees and seasonal workers alike contribute to a team culture that values hard work, reliability and client satisfaction.
Looking towards the months ahead for the business, the Barretts are focused on steady growth and maintaining their reputation.
“We’d like to just stay tipping away the same as last year. There’s a lot of work there coming down the pipeline in the next couple of months,” Mark said.
Their plans include expanding the machinery fleet further and continuing to adapt to evolving customer needs.
By combining traditional farming know-how with modern technology and machinery, Ross & Mark Barrett Agri & Plant Hire positions itself for continued success in the competitive agricultural sector.
Ross & Mark Barrett Agri & Plant Hire
Usk,
Colbinstown,
Co Kildare
Mobile: 085-7892642 (Ross) 085 230 2928 (Mark)
Email: [email protected]
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 14 No 1, Spring 2026
Featured, Ross & Mark Barrett Agri & Plant Hire
