Located outside Ballylynan in Laois, Cathal Quinn runs a contracting business covering parts of Laois, Kildare and Carlow. The business was started by his father in the 1960s. Cathal runs a fleet of modern machinery and always has an eye on the bottom line. Sitting at the kitchen table, I asked Cathal some questions about his business.

How long are you in business?

The business has been in its current form for the last 20 years and I’ve been running it on my own for the last nine years.

What services do you supply?

Mowing, baling, wrapping, dung-spreading, grassland spraying, fertiliser spreading, hedge-cutting, sowing grass seed and wild bird cover, flail-topping, ploughing, slurry-spreading and bale handling.

What is the best machine you have ever bought?

A Marshall dung spreader, bought second-hand eight years ago for small money and it has been trouble-free except for standard wear and tear.

What is the worst machine you have had in your fleet?

A John Deere 6920s that I bought from the UK that gave constant trouble. It would pull a house down on the rare occasion that it was not in the workshop. I believe that it had been tampered with in a previous life and was producing too much power and was literally pulling itself apart.

What is the dream purchase?

The dream at the minute is a shiny new JCB Fastrac 4220. I’ve taken a shine to it.

Do you do most of your own repairs?

Along with my uncle, I undertake most of the maintenance on the machinery, but some of the newer equipment requires dealer support, as it has gone very advanced.

Do you use GPS technology in your business?

There are two simple guidance systems fitted – one Teejet and one Topcon. These are used for grassland fertiliser spreading and grassland spraying. Grassland spraying is a part of the business that has grown massively this year since the purchase of a trailed sprayer. I will cover 1,000 acres of grassland before the end of May, mainly spraying for docks and rushes.

How many bales do you make each year?

Thirteen to fourteen thousand bales per year, mostly silage, with some hay and very little straw. I also wrap and handle 95% of the bales made.

Have you undertaken any different jobs recently?

With the introduction of wild bird cover under GLAS, I find myself ploughing and sowing these in the spring and mulching them with a Cyclone flail topper. The day before, I was using my Claas rake to row up elephant grass/miscanthus for baling.

How is business?

Business is very good at the minute and I am always looking to expand into different areas of contracting. I’m also pushing my business on Facebook. I’m amazed that I have accumulated 2,000 followers on the Quinn Agri page.

Quinn Agri fleet

Tractors

2014 Claas Aron 630 Cebis

2004 New Holland Tm155

2001 John Deere 6910s

1993 Massey Ferguson 3085

Loaders

1997 Matbro TR 250

Balers

2008 McHale Fusion 2 (83,500 bales)

2017 McHale Fusion 3 (20 bales)

Other machinery