"Many other tractors do not like their bonnets pointing to the sky for too long as it causes problems in the transmissions and engines, but the Valtra thrives on this work and I have not had any problems with their engines or transmissions," says partner Neville Marsh.
Neville and his wife Jill have owned Marsh Contracting for 20 years and now daughter Tammy and son Daniel are involved. The business is based on their 50ha farm with 5ha of kiwifruit, avocados and grazing land for cattle. Their client base extends to Pikowai down SH2, to Rotorua and to Tauranga in the north.
"We give a full agricultural service and our main aim is to give satisfaction to all our customers."
Services include silage and hay, mowing, drying, baling, square and rounds, stacking or to pits where required and wrapping. They have two truck and trailers so hay and silage bales can be transported, and the trucks are used alongside forage harvesters.
Cultivation includes all ground preparation for all crops including grass. Also maize planting, harvesting as well as soil aeration.
Machinery includes 13 tractors including orchard machines, four mower/conditioners, and round and square balers.
Marsh Contracting has two Valtra model Versu tractors – a T171 run for three years and their newest, a T172 bought from Piako Tractors Ltd, Rotorua. Both models are 170hp.
"They are used in all parts of our business but were specifically bought for rolling and compacting stacks as they are heavy tractors, and with weights and tyres filled with water weigh 13 tonnes."
A bonus is that the tractors have high clearance with the drive shaft to the front wheels being enclosed so there is no chance of grass being caught up. The steps to the cab also fold back to stop any grass entanglement.
When buying a Valtra direct from the factory buyers can order their own specifications including colour, to suit their needs. Marsh ordered five double bank hydraulic outlets and a Valtra factory fitted loader with electronic controls plumbed into the arm rest. "It is the quickest responding loader I have ever worked with."
The loader has soft ride with quick attachment for buckets and forks. The air bag front suspension is the same as fitted to Volvo trucks. The tractors have synchromesh transmissions with all electric gear changing and have a top road speed of 50km/h.
Tel 07 533 1887
