Diversifying the farming enterprise to incorporate a contracting business is what James Ingram of A and D Ingram contracting based near Huntly, has successfully achieved.
Having started out on his own doing some self-employed contracting at the age of 17, mainly baling to start with and progressing over the years to sowing crops, James joined his parents, Alistair and Diane in the family farming business, A and D Ingram, in 2017.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Section here
The business was established in the 1980s by his grandparents, Alistair and Doreen Ingram. At this time contracting was a minimal part of the business and included helping neighbours bale and combine, which has grown over the years to help maximise farm profits.
Currently the business is still run by James and his parents supported by his wife, Karin in admin tasks, with the mixed farming enterprise running across 200 acres.
How long have you been contracting for?
Around about 18 years.
Main services supplied?
Sowing, mowing, raking, baling, wrapping, turnip sowing, turnip harvesting and combining. In recent months I have also started to do some fencing work.
In the winter months I also do some snow clearing when required for Strathdeveron Garden Services.
Do you offer any niche services?
I would have to say ridging turnips and sowing in 26-inch drills.
How did you establish your business?
Contracting started off with helping neighbours and fellow contractor, DGB Contracts. He showed me some of the skill set required for contracting works and it went from there…
What did you do in order to grow the business?
Over the years machinery has progressed becoming bigger and more efficient. There is also more technology with autosteer being more widely used.
We have managed to just keep adding to our fleet and try to offer more services.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Section here
What areas do you cover?
Our main focus is between Aberdeenshire and Morayshire.
What keeps you busiest throughout the year?
Baling would be the busiest service, however turnip harvesting gives me steady work from autumn through to spring.
How important are your staff to the business?
We are very much a small team but still rely on help during our busy times. We get two seasonal workers contracted in to allow us to provide the best service to our customers in peak season.
Chris and Euan have been working with me for the past six years and two years respectively. Without them it would be a struggle to keep up with the workload. As well as Chris and Euan there are some family and friends that help from time to time.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Section here
How brand loyal are you and which dealerships do you mainly use?
When it comes to tractors, I would say we are very brand loyal being Case IH for many years, dealerships we use are Netherton, Mackays Machinery, Sellars and AL Agri.
What main brands do you use?
Case IH, McHale, Claas, Kuhn, Lemken, JCB, Kverneland and Stewart trailers.
Favourite machine?
Claas 570+ Terra Trac combine.
Newest and oldest piece of kit?
Our most recent edition to the fleet would be the Case IH Puma CVX with front loader which just arrived on farm last month, with the oldest piece of equipment being the turnip sower circa from the1970s.
New gadgets ... do they work and what’s the most useful?
Malwaki Fuel staple gun would be the gadget that comes to mind, saving time and energy making fencing jobs quicker.
Best bits of contracting?
When the sun is shining, and everyone is busy and making progress. The social aspect of speaking with customers and fellow contractors finding out about different farming systems etc. It truly is a real community feel.
Worst bits about contracting?
The breakdowns, as you know you are letting the customer down if this happens. I am lucky that I have a good reliable back up service from a few small independent agri mechanic and tyre businesses which I can call upon at any time of day and they will do their best to accommodate.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Section here
Advice for a new contractor?
Establish a good working relationship with customers by being reliable, consistent, and having good time management.
In this industry weather is a major factor in planning works so it is inevitable at times, plans will change that’s why good communication is imperative to ensure you are keeping the customer up to date.
If you do that you are more than likely to be asked back for future work.
Also don’t hesitate in asking for help from other contractors to get the job done when facing time pressures.
How does the weather impact the job?
The weather increases the pressure to get the work done in a smaller time frame, this adds to the farmers stress levels if the weather isn’t favourable.
On a personal note, it is hard to plan family time with changeable weather conditions as when you get the more favourable conditions the work needs to be done. It is very much how everyone will be feeling this season with the wet conditions being experienced, we just must go to it when there is a dry day.
Check out more of these photos in our Photo Section here
Biggest change over the years?
How heavily reliant we have become on technology to do the job, with tractors being more computerised. Another change would be the staff shortage in the agriculture industry.
Prices for contracting services have not risen as sharply as we have seen in the cost of machinery, fuel, insurances, and wages.
They have increased gradually over the years, as a farmer myself, I appreciate that margins are smaller and therefore I try and keep prices fair.
Interests out with the business?
Spending time with my family, my wife, Karin and our kids, Alistair (three) and Heidi (one).
I enjoy attending local shows and this year has seen me dip my toes into wild swimming which given more time I hope to be able to do more often.
Charity events?
Over the past three Christmas Eves my wife and I have organised a charity tractor run in our local town of Huntly and surrounding area with help from some family and friends.
Each year has seen the event going from strength to strength with number of participants and variety of agri vehicles having increased each year.
• Christmas Eve Tractor Run 2021; 67 vehicles participated in aid of Diabetes UK raising £4002
• Christmas Eve Tractor Run 2022; 152 vehicles participated in aid of Alzheimer’s Scotland raising £10,080
• Christmas Eve Tractor Run 2023; 224 vehicles participated in aid of RSABI and The ARCHIE Foundation raising £4385 and £4280 respectively (Total £8665)
We may organise these events, but they wouldn’t really be anything without the support of the participants and the community of Huntly and surrounding areas. It leaves us in awe of just how much support the event receives each year.
Demand for local contracting?
It is steady due to labour shortages on farms along with the cost of machinery not being financially viable for some farmers.
Struggles of contracting?
Being at the forefront of the rising cost of machinery and making new purchases justifiable. And the changing weather patterns.
How are you future proofing your business?
Future-proofing the business is a hard one as I am very much reliant on farmers keeping going.
We also try and keep our fleet fresh and reliable along with looking out for different opportunities/niches to provide services to the industry.
At some point in the future, I will need to look into yield mapping and variable rate as this is the route we will have to go down in the future.
Concerns for the future?
The lack of young people coming into farming and with how farming can sustain itself with the increasing costs.
However, we all know that there is always going to be a need for food to be put on the table.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here