Simms Contracts is a County Armagh based family business which provides first-class silage contracting and agri building services. We travelled to Poyntzpass and caught up with Colin Simms to find out more about this exceptional operation.
For over three decades, Simms Contracts has become synonymous with providing outstanding silage contracting solutions at a keen price. A range of other agri contracting services is also provided, and the Simms family also specialise in the construction of farm buildings, making them the first port of call for farmers from across County Armagh and beyond.
Reflecting on the genesis of the longstanding business, Colin Simms notes: “My father Alan started doing silage over 30 years ago and it has just grown since then. He used to have pigs and calves and he did that in the mornings before drawing grass for his uncle in the evenings. He worked for his uncle for a few years before taking that business over himself.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Alan developed an unrivalled reputation for excellence over the ensuing years and decades; today himself and Colin are partners in the family business and Simms Contracts has become a veritable byword for excellence in everything they do.
“He bought a Fiat 11090 and gradually built it up to five Fiat 11090s,” Colin continues. Today there is a varied and flexible fleet of tractors. “We do a lot of silage throughout the summer as well as a lot of slurry.”
Included in the impressive fleet are five Redrock slurry tankers and the Simms’ have just recently taken possession of a new SlurryKat umbilical pumping system. Tractor-wise, Alan and Colin run six Claas units – four 640s and two 697s – as well as a New Holland P6080 and two of the aforementioned blue Fiat 11090s.
Some of the other items of machinery on hand include dump trailers, front and back mowers, a Claas trail mower, a Claas 890 Speedstar harvester, a JCB 531-70, a loading shovel and a Claas 2900 rake.
Simms Contracts uses only the best machinery that money can buy and every piece of equipment is maintained in premium condition at all times. When it comes to sourcing new machinery, it’s hard to beat the service provided by nearby Claas agent Ashfield & Wilson in Dungannon. “We do most of our dealings with them and they give a good warranty as well as a great service. In fairness, the Claas gear won’t give you much bother,” says Colin.
Keeping the fleet fresh and trouble-free is paramount when it comes to offering customers optimal levels of service. “We change them often enough,” Colin confirms, “We purchased some new tractors last year and we’re currently pricing a new Ford P7210 tractor for the summer time.”
Between silage in the summer, slurry in the winter and some building work, Simms Contracts keep themselves busy all year around. “The slurry keeps us busy for most of the winter and we’re then kept busy with the sheds until the silage starts again,” Colin notes. “We also do some of our own repairs and machinery work, so you are always going.”
Regarding the exact nature of the building contracting work, the Armagh man adds: “It’s mostly work for local lads – sheds, re-roofing, replacing timbers, building walls, etc. The shovel comes in useful as it has a nine-metre reach. The work finds us – we don’t have to advertise. Our reputation just spreads through word of mouth from previous jobs we have done and there’s generally always somebody looking to have something done.”
Working within a 10-15-mile radius of Poyntzpass, between Newry and Armagh, Simm Contracts does some 4,000 acres of grass silage per year. “We don’t do any maize or whole crop silage at all,” Colin points out.
By providing high-quality, prompt and cost-effective solutions with a minimum of fuss, Simms Contracts enjoys a stellar reputation for achieving the highest levels of customer satisfaction. For this reason, they benefit from a substantial amount of repeat custom, including strong relationships with many families going back three decades and more.
Regarding the absolute insistence on high quality, Colin notes: “If you can’t do the job right, then there’s no point doing it at all. You also have to give your customers value for money and we do our best to keep them happy every way you can. Farmers are looking for quality work at a fair price and that’s what you have to deliver.”
As well as Alan and Colin, full-time employment is generated for two others. “We also have a crew of drivers that we can call upon whenever required. They are all local farmers and when the silage starts, they are just a phone call away.”
Looking to the future, the plan is to consolidate the popular contracting business and hold onto existing customers by continuing to offer a premium service at the right price. “We’ll continue to try our best,” Colin concludes. “We’re not going to get too excited because money is hard to get in. Dairy farmers are under intense pressure and they haven’t got much money at the moment, which is falling back on the contractors. It’s tough at the minute, so we will proceed with caution.”
Going forward, Simms Contracts boasts the experience, expertise and diligence to continue providing top-quality contracting solutions to its legion of satisfied customers. The prognosis for the future is bright, indeed.
Simms Contracts,
51 Ballydougherty Road,
Poyntzpass,
County Armagh
BT356SA.
Tel: 07540555886
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 4 No 3, March 2016
