Contracting with quads

cathaloc

I have a couple of quads which I use around the farm. Really, they dont get a lot of use apart from using them to move cattle or carrying a chainsaw or a few stakes if I'm at something down the fields. One is a Suzuki LT160 2wd which is really more of a toy than anything else, the other is a Honda Big Red 4wd, which is a decent machine - good power in it.

Neither are worth a whole lot, but being unemployed at the moment, every penny counts and I want to make them earn their keep! I was planning to buy a lick sprayer and do a small bit of hire work with it. The only thing is, if I'm going to the trouble of advertising etc, I want to be able to do more than just spraying. I know you can get fertiliser shakers for quads, but I can't imagine there would be much demand for that? Surely every farmer would have their own shaker, or am I wrong in that?

I'm racking my brains trying to think of some other service people would pay for - any ideas?

Username John

Not meaning to be negative - but whats the cost for insurance for contracting with quads? I know nothing about it, but it just seems like it could be one of those things that could be mad high, so might be worth checking out...

reilig

I used to do a lot of contracting work with the rush licker when I was younger, but I found that it drained up in recent years. A lot of farmers bought their own. Some people stopped licking because they found that spraying was giving a much better kill and kept the rushes away for longer. We still do quite a bit of spraying with the tractor sprayer for different people around home. There's not a whole lot to be made from it but it keeps the old man busy in his retirement. Around us, most farmers have their own fertilizer spreaders. I remember a few years ago, a neighbour complaining when he got a guy in to spread his fertilizer that he put too much on one field and not enough on another. In fairness, he put the same amount on all fields, but the farmer just wasn't happy because he didn't do it himself.

Don't know if there is any other type of contracting for quads.

cathaloc

Username John wrote: »

Not meaning to be negative - but whats the cost for insurance for contracting with quads? I know nothing about it, but it just seems like it could be one of those things that could be mad high, so might be worth checking out...

Surprisingly enough, its quite cheap. Was the first thing I checked out and for once, was pleasantly surprised.

reilig wrote: »

I used to do a lot of contracting work with the rush licker when I was younger, but I found that it drained up in recent years. A lot of farmers bought their own. Some people stopped licking because they found that spraying was giving a much better kill and kept the rushes away for longer. We still do quite a bit of spraying with the tractor sprayer for different people around home. There's not a whole lot to be made from it but it keeps the old man busy in his retirement. Around us, most farmers have their own fertilizer spreaders. I remember a few years ago, a neighbour complaining when he got a guy in to spread his fertilizer that he put too much on one field and not enough on another. In fairness, he put the same amount on all fields, but the farmer just wasn't happy because he didn't do it himself.

Don't know if there is any other type of contracting for quads.

Yes, there are a lot more lickers around now than there were a few years ago. I'd say there is still a bit of demand in my area (North Cork) though - lots of small farmers there that wouldnt have much gear like.

Yeah, thought most farmers would have a spreader alright. Its hard to kep farmers happy alright, especially with how expensive fertiliser has gotten. I could see the sort of issue you mention coming up alright.

agrostar

There may also be an opening for mapping fields and paddock sizes using a Patchwork GPS System. You have to buy a GPS alright but these have been around for years so the technology you would imagine would be alot cheaper. One of my friends is a part-time farmer and six years ago wanted to be able to improve his accuracy when spreading fertilizer on silage and well grazed ground as well as enabling him to spread fert at night:rolleyes::rolleyes:.
He now has it mounted on his quad and used it to record all the paddock areas. The Patchwork works off the free satilites but if you were to be contracting you may have to subscribe to ensure reliable supply of satilite signal. The way it works on his GPS is drive around the perimeter of the paddock/field to be mapped(he travels at 15-20mph:):)dont know if there is a recommended speed or not) The satilites will track your movements and draw in the area being mapped on the handheld device when you have completed the perimeter it will automatically record the area inside. I am sure you can get additional software to download all the data to your computer and you can print out the shape of the field and the acreage for future reference.

JOAT

Is there much tillage in your area? one option could be spreading of slug pellets on tillage ground. im in north cork aswel and from what i know there aren't many in the area doing it. It would be very seasonal work but the cost of one of those spreaders, id imagine, wouldn't cost an awful lot. Could be worth looking into

JohnBoy

Mornin Cathal,

I'd say there's a market for it alright, spot spraying maybe too?

I suppose the advantage, and disadvantage is that quad implements are relatively cheap, small buy in for you, but if people see the value of your work they might decide to tool up themselves.


The mapping thing would mean a bigger spend, but if you could get your hands on the gear and some suitable software I reckon there'll be a market for mapping and designing paddock systems in the next few years as lads start scaling up in dairying.

mantua

I'd imagine a Snowplow might come in handy for clearing peoples drives and maybe bringing turf home for elderly people or people without tractors! see some people around us hire out quads to bring home turf!!

hedgecutting eddie

a guy around here spreads slug pellets ,grass seeds ,clover into grass swarths,stubble turnips ,kale etc all he has is a slug pellet spreader on the back he does have gps system also a sprayer wud b handy for spraying under neath elec wire for dairy boys