Brian Cleary farms beside the sea in Bunmahon, Co Waterford, farming around 150 acres overlooking the sea. He milks 90 cows, having expanded sensibly from 60 since the abolition of quotas.

Brian and his father have always had Fiat tractors. Currently there are four Fiat-derived tractors on the farm in differing states of repair. All are working but the sea air hasn’t done them any favours.

Brian said that if machinery of any sort is left outside that metal rot will set in amazingly quickly.

The main working tractor is a very fresh New Holland 110-90 which was purchased in 2014. When it arrived on to the Cleary farm it had done a paltry 4,004 hours. This 110-90 is the serious workhorse on this farm, where it carries out all the fertiliser spreading with a 1.5tonne Rauch spreader, and all the topping, mowing for silage with a Kverneland 4032 with a swarther.

On the day I was on farm, the venerable New Holland was hooked to a 2,500-gallon Hi-Spec galvanised tanker – a sizeable load for the 110. Brian said that the New Holland is more than able for the big tanker on his farm.

When we went out to the fields to spread it was amazing how well drained and dry the land is when this close to the sea. When new in 1997, the New Holland 110 would have produced 110hp from its 5.9l six-cylinder diesel engine. It is this engine that makes the 110 a serious favourite among tractor fans. With its high revving distinctive sound, it is music to the enthusiast’s ears.

Brain said that there is no need for a radio as “the engine noise is the best music to listen to”. With the tanker full going up a hill I would have to agree with him.

He likes these tractors because of the simplicity of them. In the early noughties, he bought a modern (shall remain nameless) brand of tractor and it didn’t go well, with massive repair bills due to a minor problem.

90 series

He decided that the 90 series was the way to go. Brian has worked for contractors in the area for the last 20 plus years. When working for one of these contractors 20 years ago, his mount for the silage season was a Fiat 100-90. So when this tractor came up for sale in May last year, Brian had to buy it. He followed it to a dealer in Wexford and now it works along with the terracotta New Holland.

The day I was there, it was on the agitator but often used as a back-up to the 110. When new, the 100-90 would have produced 100hp from its slightly smaller 5.4l six-cylinder diesel engine.

Despite the power difference, Brian said that the 100 is more than capable of stepping into the shoes of the bigger tractor when required. In another shed, there is yet another 90 series, this one a 80-90. This tractor is in need of restoration and Brian has all the bits required for the job including a completely refurbished cab frame.

Currently it is attached to a hedge cutter and has been earning its keep despite the “modified exhaust” and porous cab. He hopes to have the trio of 90s working this summer.

Brian says that he is always on the lookout for different machines and recently he picked up a Krone Turbo silage wagon with a very interesting added feature. It has eight wheels instead of four, making it perfect for Brian’s version of zero-grazing.

He mows down the grass and picks it up with the old Krone which he finds gives him a couple of extra weeks at the end of the season where he can travel with the extra wheels.

Fresh grass

The Krone also comes with the ability to dispense the grass from the side of the wagon. This makes it a good machine for Brian to get fresh grass to his cows for as long as possible. Brian shows that with good mechanical skills and an interest in classic machinery, all the work on a modern and productive dairy farm can be undertaken with interesting and easily maintained equipment.