Kilmaurs Mains, a prominent farm located in Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire, is known not just for its dairy farming history but also for its exceptional contracting services, becoming a go-to name in Ayrshire.
The farm, managed by the Smith family since 1890, has seen several transformations, with the most significant change occurring when two of five brothers, Ian and Andy Smith, ventured into the contracting business. The Smith brothers’ journey into contracting began in the early 1980s, following a decision to move away from dairy farming as their primary focus.
Over the years, Kilmaurs Mains has built a strong reputation in the local community, known for their reliability, high-quality service, and commitment to customer satisfaction.
Q. Who is involved in the contracting business?
A. Between my brother Andy and me, we manage a team of seven full-time workers. We all get on great; rarely do we ever fall out. Many of the lads have been with us for some time, which speaks to the great work environment we have here. My wife, Mary, plays a crucial role in overseeing the admin side of things and ensuring the boys are well-fed – arguably one of the most important roles in the whole operation!
During the peak silage season, we occasionally call in additional help from our neighbour, John Currie, at Southhook Farm.
Q. What contracting work do you carry out with the tractors?
A. We handle a variety of tasks, including slurry spreading, ploughing, drilling, pit silage, and round baling. We also used to have a long-standing gritting contract, using both tractors and lorries. However, after 18 years, we decided to let it go. The rates had dropped, and it was no longer viable for us to continue.
A. We maintain a close relationship with J S Montgomery in Beith, who supplies our entire John Deere tractor fleet.
Q. How do you rate your dealer backup?
A. We’ve had a strong relationship with J S Montgomery since 1996. Whether it’s servicing or sales, every department provides excellent service. We’re also fortunate that if a tractor needs repairs, we can unhook it and replace it with another, so we’re not always in need of an immediate service response
A. Our fleet consists of a range of tractors to suit different tasks. We started with a 6R 195, primarily driven by Bob, who handles most of the one-pass operations. In the summer, this tractor is typically paired with a set of McHale triple mowers.
We also have two 6R 165s used for spreading fertiliser and baling. Additionally, our fleet includes three 6R 130s, one stays with the forage wagon at the dairy, while the other two are used for spraying with me or on the silage rake with Andy.
The majority of our fleet is made up of seven 6R 155s, which are versatile and fill in the gaps as needed, handling a bit of everything, including haulage.
A. In all honesty, it’s the men that drive them that make the choice. These are the only tractors they want to drive. They’re doing the work with them and have found them to be reliable.
Q. Have you experienced any common faults or breakdowns?
A. We’ve encountered the odd minor issue here and there, but touch wood, we haven’t experienced any recurring problems.
A. It’s difficult to pinpoint running costs these days because the cost of tractors varies so much.
Q. Who services the tractors?
A. We handle the servicing of tractors that are out of warranty ourselves. John Deere now requires tractors under warranty to be serviced by the dealer. Don’t get me wrong, J S Montgomery is very thorough in their work, but with the rising cost of parts and labour, it adds to the overall expense compared to doing the work ourselves.
A. We typically run our tractors up to around 5000 to 6000 hours, on average trading in two each year.
Q. How would you spec a new tractor - is it job or driver dependant?
A. We consult with the drivers before bringing in a new tractor. We discuss factors such as transmission type, spool valves, whether or not to include CommandPro, and even down to tyre size.
A. If I had to choose, I’d go back to my Ford 7610s. Those were tractors you could repair entirely yourself, and we used to have quite a few. I remember bringing one into the workshop at 9 pm needing a new clutch, and by midnight, it was back out.
As for the John Deeres, the 6400 and 6R 130 stand out. I do all the spraying, and the 6R 130 with its four cylinders suits me well. When we’re busy, and they give me a four-cylinder tractor on a rake, I can keep ahead of two balers.
A. Personally, no, but that’s just my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, when we first got auto-steer, JS Montgomery came out and showed me how to set it up. Yet, the next morning, when I went out to go spraying, it wasn’t working
Q. Are you having to run your tractors for longer due to higher costs to change?
A. Yes, within the last year, we’ve only changed one tractor so far.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep up, and I’m not sure where the job is heading when you’re looking at over £150,000 for a new tractor. Considering the rising costs of fuel and labour, we’ve had to increase our rates significantly – I’ve raised the price of silage by 10%. Fortunately, we haven’t faced any pushback from our loyal customers, but these are tough times for everyone.
A. I don’t anticipate a need to expand. We bought a loading shovel two years ago, and now we have an extra tractor. At this point, I think we’re well-equipped for the foreseeable future.
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