38 |
RURAL SERVICES » Merv McCabe
Business Rural
PHOTOS: Oamaru’s Merv and Jill operate a contracting business, North Otago Ditching and Baling, with their son, Dave – as well as running a tractor-and-machinery business, and a 1320-cow dairy unit at Omarama.
Contractor with a lifetime in dairying Kelly Deeks Dairy farmer, agricultural contractor, and machinery salesman Merv McCabe may be wearing a number of hats, but if it’s to do with the dairy industry, he has probably experienced it. Merv grew up on a small North Otago farm and cut his teeth in agricultural machinery working in his father’s contracting business.
• Irrigation Installation • Dairy Shed Installation • Dairy Shed Maintenance • Dairy Shed Power Efficiency • Master Electrician • Eco Smart Company Calum Reid- Registered Electrical Inspector 40 Bledisloe St, Kurow PO Box 75 Kurow 9446 4 Regina Lane, Oamaru Ph: 0800 360 063 Mob: 0274 368 700 Fax: (03) 436 0053 E-mail: calum@calect.co.nz
www.calect.co.nz
Twenty-six years ago he branched out with his own contracting business, and bought one of the first medium-square balers in the district. “Square bales had been around for a while in Canterbury, but not down here,” he says. “North Otago farmers loved the ease of handling of square bales, and mostly they could shift feed around with the equipment they already had. They didn’t have to gear up like they would with pit silage, and they could still feed silage for better feed quality and no wastage.” A year later, business had grown so much he bought a second square-baler. The business continued to grow steadily and by 1998, Merv needed a workshop to service his equipment and his own mechanic. The owner of Waitaki Tractors and Machinery contacted him and suggested that instead of wasting money on building a new workshop out in the bush, he should make an offer for the firm’s premises in Oamaru. Merv made the invited offer, and North Otago Ag Centre was born. He now works with his wife, Jill, and son, Dave. The business was originally an agency for Massey Ferguson, but Merv wasn’t exactly in love with the brand. “The previous owner had done some research into Valtra tractors, so I did some more research and really liked what I saw,” he says. “They are great quality, well-built machines, and the different features they have really make them stand out from the rest.” It took two years to sell the first Valtra tractor, as the brand was still virtually unknown. But a
• To page 39
The McCabes have been operating North Otago Ditching & Baling for over two decades offering services including tractor work, ploughing, drilling, earthworks, balage, grass and hay sales
Site Assessments • Design & Build Service Standard Plans • Fixed Price Contracts FULL PROJECT MANAGEMENT For all your new home requirements contact: Waitaki & South Canterbury Franchise waitaki@davidreidhomes.co.nz Oamaru Office (03) 43 72730 476 Thames Highway, Oamaru.
Freephone 0800-000-007 www.davidreidhomes.co.nz
We offer a FULL SERVICE from go to whoa WE TAKE THE HASSLE OUT OF YOUR BALING REQUIREMENTS
• Balage • Hay • Round or Square
• Mowing / Conditioning • Raking - Scatter & V-rakes • Baling - Medium & Large Squares • Inoculant Application Available • Tubeline Wrapping • Telehandlers • All Balers equipped with Rotocut for higher compaction and ease of feeding • Our square balers are the highest density balers on the market • 3 Truck & Trailers
16 Wear Street, Oamaru 0800 007 377 | www.mckenzieca.co.nz
North Otago
Ditching & Baling Ltd 9 D RD OAMARU
DAVE: 021 436 403 PH: (03) 439 5833