For the past 40 years, Noel Delaney Agri Services Ltd has been carrying out all types of agricultural contract work from its base in Kilmanagh, Co. Kilkenny. Noel is joined by his nephew Edward Delahunty, who explains more about the family-run operation.
Noel set up his contracting business in 1975 to cater for the needs of local farmers. Over the years, it has grown to provide a complete agricultural contracting service, including all forms of precision-chop silaging, corn, maize and beet harvesting, baling and wrapping, reseeding, dung spreading and excavation work. Noel Delaney Agri Services also supplies washed beet, maize and straw to farmers in the area.
Noel and Edward have a wide range of machinery to carry out your work quickly and efficiently, providing you with value-for-money and an alternative to investing in your own expensive equipment.
Edward, who came on board about 20 years ago, also runs a busy dairy and beef farm in nearby Freshford. With the help of his parents Martin and Jenny, and brother Eoin, he milks 115 British Friesian cows twice a day. The milk is supplied to Glanbia in Ballyragget. Edward believes the excellent working relationship he enjoys with Noel has been a big factor in the contract company’s success.
The knowledge, skill and expertise of its staff, as well as the quality of its equipment, are other reasons why Noel Delaney Agri Services is a leader in its field. The business delivers the value and quality farmers expect from their agricultural contracting partner.
Noel and Edward have a fleet of eight tractors dedicated to their contracting work. Seven are John Deere with the other being a Leyland 272 Synchro, which is used for rolling corn. The John Deere models are R150 (x2), R140, R210, 7920, 6610 and 6330.
Other plant / equipment operated by the uncle-and-nephew include a John Deere 77 forage harvester, a Volvo L705 loading shovel, a John Deere 9580 combine harvester, a JCB TM300 loading shovel, a pair of Welger round balers (one combi), a new set of Krone butterfly mowers, front and back Taarup mowers, a Claas rake, a John Deere 740I sprayer, a JCB JF130 track machine, a Bunning dung spreader, two five-furrow Kverneland ploughs, a new three-legged sub-soiler, a Rabe disc harrow, a Riecam beet harvester, a 26ft tri-axle trailer used for drawing beet and five Dooley silage trailers (four 20ft and one 22ft). Two new Dooley 22ft trailers have been ordered for next year.
It goes without saying that all machines are upgraded on a regular basis to avoid breakdowns and downtime.
Reflecting on the 2015 silage season, Edward says: “We weren’t as busy as last year. The cuts were back because many farmers had silage left over from the previous year. I would put that down to the relatively mild winter we had.”
The company has a large and loyal client-base in the Kilkenny area, with most of their customers being beef or dairy farmers.
“Many of our customers have been with us for the last 40 years. They have struck with us through thick and thin because we offer a professional, clean, reliable and flexible service. We are always prepared to go the extra mile to look after their needs.”
Noel and Edward are busy all year round with their agricultural contracting business. In the early part of the year, the focus is on reseeding and dung spreading. The silage season, which typically runs from May to September, is a particularly hectic time for the team who will work around the clock to keep their clients happy. Corn, maize and beet harvesting takes centre stage at the backend of the year.
The business partners, who have one full-time employee in Mario and take on additional staff at peak times, grow between 4,500 and 5,000 tonnes of beet every year which they wash and supply to local farmers. They also grow barley and wheat which is supplied to Charles R Wynne Ltd in Moone, Co. Kildare. A leading agriculture merchant with a second branch in Tullow, Co. Carlow, Wynne’s service all sectors of farming from feed to tillage. Their nutrition and agronomy experts are always on hand to guide and advise farmers on feeding strategies and growing crops.
Additionally, Noel Delaney Agri Services supplies straw and maize to the local farming community.
“We won’t grow maize unless there is a demand for it,” Edward explains.
“Because it’s such an expensive crop to grow, we need to know at the start of the year the exact amount our customers need. They know there and then how much it’s going to cost them. Maize is a popular crop with dairy farmers in particular. But for many farmers, beet represents better value for money.”
Edward, who is married to Lucy and is father to Conor (five) and Olivia (two), concludes by saying: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for their support down through the years, and we look forward to continuing to serve them for many more years to come.”
For all your agriculture contracting needs in and around Kilmanagh, look no further than Noel Delaney Agri Services.
Noel Delaney Agri Services Ltd
Kilmanagh,
Co. Kilkenny.
Telephone: 086 2771487 or 086 2750398
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 11, December 2015
