In the latest from our series that takes a peek inside the nation’s machinery sheds, we head to Hampshire to quiz Steve Shulter of contractor Tri Counties Biogas

How did you get started?

I started off doing general agricultural contracting and fencing work, but after meeting the owner of a large AD plant 18 months ago I was offered the opportunity to provide the feedstock.

I had only £5,000 to start the business, but together with my business partner, Daniel Chippendale, and our logistics manager, Will Page, we are now providing more than 100,000t of feedstock a year, plus removal and spreading 80,000t of digestate.

We’ve also got a number of contract farming agreements and carry out contracting work with the foragers and spreaders. As another sideline, we offer a liquid waste disposal service with the lorries and tankers.

See also: Best of our What’s in Your Shed series

How loyal are you to individual brands?

We have a good working relationship with John Deere – in our opinion, its guidance and mapping technology is streets ahead of the competition. The Harvest Lab system on the foragers gives us information on dry matter, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, sugars, starches and proteins.

Who is your favourite dealer?

Most machinery comes from New Forest Farm Machinery. The service is excellent and they will go out of their way to help us if we have a problem. They have also really helped us grow the business over the past 18 months.

Favourite piece of kit?

The foragers – when they are sawing down 12 rows of maize to 5mm chunks it’s an awesome sight. And with both machines going we are able to clear 220 acres a day.

The 30cu m Veenhuis tanker is also a pleasure to use. It’s one of only three in Europe and with the 36m Vogelsang boom on the back you can cover some serious acres in a day.

Including the John Deere 8370R we’ve got on the front, the outfit cost a slightly scary £400,000. However, we have so much digestate to shift, we couldn’t do without it.

Least-favourite piece of kit?

We had a 2013 New Holland BB1290 baler that was nothing but trouble – something different went wrong with it almost every day. In the end New Holland took it back and gave us another.

Latest purchase?

The 8800i forager will be in grass soon and if the 8600i is anything to go by it should take some beating. The 6m Kuhn Espro drill is also a relative newcomer. So far we have drilled 1,500 acres with it and everything that has gone in looks fantastic. We have been really impressed with it, particularly with the accuracy of the seed placement.

Oldest machine still at work?

Probably the small Veenhuis tanker. It’s about 20 years old and is still going strong. I bought it on eBay for £6,000 and refurbished it – and it now acts as a really handy back-up machine for the two bigger tankers.

How long do you keep your machines?

We tend to keep machines until the end of their warranty period. If the machine has been reliable, we will consider keeping it. But we always keep one eye on new technology coming out and how it could benefit us and our customers.

What’s next on your wish list?

Possibly some triple mowers with groupers or a second loading shovel to run alongside the Case 721F.

Worst machinery mishap?

Clipping an electrical pylon with the forager and sending a local village into darkness has to be up there!

Most expensive repair bill?

It’s not a repair but do we seem to eat our way through grinding stones on the foragers – they add up.

Best invention?

We made a frame for removing wheels from machinery. It makes the job a lot safer and simpler.

What couldn’t you live without in the workshop?

The air greaser – it saves so much time filling up the auto-lube systems on the foragers, tankers and the shovel.

Do you buy second-hand?

We will by second-hand if the right machine comes along, but more often than not we’ll purchase new because of the warranty. Reliability is so important for us.

Favourite job and least-favourite job?

Favourite job: Foraging maize – with 12 rows going at a time, you’re processing 200t/hour. There’s not much to beat it.

Least-favourite: Clearing up silage sheets from clamps on a cold, wet day – it’s the pits.

What’s your everyday transport?

I’ve got a 2011 VW Amarok. It is really comfy on the road and handles like a car.

Best tractor you have ever had?

The 6215R has been a fantastic tractor and has done everything we have asked of it. It’s good on fuel, easy to drive and feels about the right size for its power output.

Worst tractor you have ever had?

Because we purchase most tractors new and keep them under warranty, we haven’t really had a bad one. We had a New Holland 6080 a few years ago that did have a couple of niggles, but thankfully they didn’t cost us a penny.

Biggest machinery bargain?

The small Veenhuis tanker has been brilliant, it didn’t cost the earth and does an excellent job. It is a testament to the build quality of their tankers and gives us a lot of confidence in the newer ones we have bought.

Biggest myth to do with machinery?

Fuel consumption figures. Get the machine in the field and do your own tests. It’s the only way to find out which machine is most efficient.