On the Mower side, the Crosby family run two Taarup Mo Cos -- a TA4332T 10ft 6in trailed machine along with a front mounted TA3632F—the two combined giving them a 21ft cut. Both machines were purchased in 2011, from Clarke’s in Kells, replacing their earlier John Deere 1365’s.
Jim looks after all the mowing and has put 2700 acres through the combination already in 2011 with a few acres still to go, even at this late stage in early October. The Crosby’s try to keep the machinery fresh, usually changing mowers every five years. They keep a spare Taarup TA4032-now five years old- as a standby in the event of a breakdown.
“How do you like the front / rear combination”? I asked Jim. “They worked very well all year, with little or no stops. We did have a ram problem in the beginning but this was sorted by Clarke’s lads. Some crops were really heavy this year, at one stage we had a swath a full 10ft wide, and heavy, going into the Harvester, so it was a good year to test them.”
How about running costs? “Pretty trouble free year” says Jim. “We usually have to fit skids—an expensive business, but not with the Taarup. I think our only costs were a few knives and a few conditioner tines”
Manoeuvrability: “How do you find getting the machines around” I asked. “It’s just fine” says Jim, “once you are turning left into a field it’s easy to steer the rear mower behind you. We’ve had no problem getting the units around even if it looks long”
In the winter period the Crosby family run two hedge cutters, an Arbocut plus a new PA6500T McConnel purchased this year as well.
How has your year been? I asked—“Actually “said Donal “it's been a good year. We generally have the same clients year in and year out -- we know our customers and they know us.
The autumn change was showing on this cool evening in early October. I left the team to get on with the work of loading some cattle. It’s good to see satisfied contractors, who obviously have satisfied customers themselves.
For further information on any of the machines please call Paraic McCarthy, Grass Product Specialist at Kverneland Group Ltd Kilkenny at 087 –9508510, or for further local knowledge from the Crosby’s phone Jim, Donal or Mark Crosby on 086 – 6082529.
