Rooted in the land, driven by service: the story of Quigley Contracting

Quigley Contracting’s roots run deep in Mid Canterbury, where the Quigley family has been farming since 1961.

Modern gear and experienced operators ensure every job is completed to the highest standard.

Quigley Contracting officially launched in April 2003, but the real story starts long before that. It starts with a young farmer, supportive parents, a few key pieces of machinery and a simple goal: to support the needs of the family sheep farm.

In those early days, the equipment list was modest - a 3x3 square baler, a tractor, vee rake, wrapper and a couple of old truck trailers. Leasing additional tractors and vehicles from Andrew Quigley’s parents David and Jill Quigley, who helped get things off the ground. Their support was foundational to the business, both in terms of practical backing and the confidence it gave to build something meaningful.

At the outset the vision was humble - simply to service the home farm. But like many ventures that grow out of necessity and passion, it didn’t stay small for long.

The first couple of seasons were a tight knit affair. It was very much a family effort, with everyone rolling up their sleeves to get the work done. It quickly became clear that one size fits all wouldn’t work in this region. Clients wanted choice and reliability, and they needed a team that could turn up on time and get the job done right.

By the end of year two, the baler fleet had grown from one to four, with Quigley Contracting adapting rapidly to meet demand. In 2006 the company added its first silage harvester, following a long round of discussions with local farmers. It was clear that chopped silage would play a key role in the region, offering the most efficient way to move large volumes of feed. That insight came not from watching competitors but from listening directly to clients.

By 2008, Quigley Contracting had added a second forage harvester, expanded the baler fleet to eight and acquired trucks and gear to support the growing demand. A management team had also stepped up helping manage day to day operations. That support was critical as the business scaled, and it signalled a shift from a family operation to a well structured company capable of servicing large areas and diverse farming operations.

In 2011 the business expanded again, this time into cultivation and drilling. The catalyst was land ownership. With land to manage, it made sense to invest in the equipment needed to do the job properly. But like many good ideas, what started as a way to service their own land quickly became a commercial service for others.

Equipment availability was stretched, and the demand from clients for reliable cultivation and drilling soon eclipsed the original plan. That same year, the company invested in a fodder beet planter. The crop was emerging as a strong performer for winter grazing, and Quigley Contracting could see the potential early.

The following year, they imported their first fodder beet harvester from the UK, one of only two in the country at the time. Fodder beet rapidly gained popularity in the region and has since become a staple diet for winter feed in Mid Canterbury and beyond.

In 2013, further innovation arrived in the form of effluent umbilical systems. One of the management team at the time pushed for the investment. Like many things in contracting, it was a slow burn at first. The system took time to master, but perseverance paid off. The slurry side of the business has continued to progress and adapt over the years. They are currently operating two large volume tankers which meet the demands of their clients.

Across the two decades since it started, Quigley Contracting has seen the region and the industry change. Machinery has become more advanced, more efficient and significantly more reliable. The early days of Freeman balers are long gone, replaced by Claas and Krone balers capable of delivering higher density bales with better throughput.

Auto steer has become the norm in many of the tractors, increasing precision and reducing operator fatigue. Embracing technology has not been about chasing trends but about finding ways to deliver a better outcome for clients - and that has remained a consistent focus.

Mid Canterbury itself has also transformed. Irrigation is now widespread and sophisticated. The shift from border dyke systems to ponds, roto rainers and now pressurised pivot systems has changed the productivity and potential of the landscape. That evolution has come with new challenges and expectations, especially around service delivery, compliance and health and safety.

These days, Quigley Contracting is no longer just about a run of the mill contracting service. It is about people - those who work in the business, those who rely on it and trying to bring forward the latest in innovation and technology to the agricultural community.

Recognising the need to maintain a high standard of service, a management team has continued to grow through the business which each member a crucial part of the structure enabling the business to maintain the consistency and quality that clients expect.

“The clients make the business, but it all starts from the right foundations,” says Sam Nelson, sales and account manager.
“We stand by our team, constantly in pursuit of providing the best service to our clients to be a key partner in their progress.”

A proud quality of Quigley Contracting is providing a pathway to success for its people. This steams across the entirety of the business with many success stories from the workshop, management and admin team who have all progressed their carriers often from an operational roll or from a work experience position.

As the business has continued to grow it has explored several structures around client facing and sustainability. Quigleys has found itself a core, experienced management team which has allowed time and headspace to think strategically and innovate ideas alongside where any improvements can be made.

“Capacity and scale is only achieved by having the right people in the right places,” says Tim Pearce, chopping and transport manager.
“In order to provide success, the key is building a team of like minded people to ensure every job is done to the best possible standard.”

As agriculture has progressed, health and safety has become more of a major focus on and off farm. Quigley Contracting takes that responsibility seriously, making sure everyone in the business understands their role in creating a safe working environment. The management team plays a key part in embedding those values and practices, ensuring that every job is done with care and that everyone gets home safely at the end of each day.

At its core, the business remains grounded in the values it started with - reliability, service and doing the job right. From mowing and baling to wrapping and transporting, Quigley Contracting offers a comprehensive start to finish service across all types of forage. Whether it is rounds, square or bulk fine chop, they can do it all.

Their silage services are equally flexible. With three forage harvesters and loader wagons in the fleet, they can cater to both short and long haul situations. With additional technology such as a silage bagger this adds another layer of efficiency and storage flexibility.

Stack quality is a point of pride, with experienced stack operators, quality control and a focus on presentation that goes beyond just getting the job done. Covers are supplied as needed, and stacks are regularly finished and covered by the team.

From maize and grass to cereal and lucerne, all crops are handled with care and the right gear. On the cultivation and drilling side, the company has assembled a wide range of equipment to ensure the right tool for every job. There is no one size fits all solution in farming, and Quigley Contracting has responded by offering versatility and depth.

The list is long and impressive. They offer a range of primary and secondary cultivation machinery, which is capable of dealing with the various soil types Canterbury has to offer from light silty soils through to more challenging rocky soils.

This then leads on to their drilling and planting fleet with equal amounts of flexibility ranging from direct drills, cultivation drills, precision planters and broadcasting drills. This fleet has been built deliberately, to offer a solution for every soil type, farm system and seasonal condition.

Transport is another key service area. With 15 truck units, of which most high productivity motor vehicles carrying in excess of 32 tonnes, the business can move silage, bales, grain, fertiliser, pig manure, wood chip and more. Augers and grain vacs add flexibility across product types, and knowledge inter island freight networks ensures that North Island logistics are efficient and cost effective.

Matched with high density baling, this makes for an unbeatable transport solution. Quigleys are excited to be adding a purpose built bulk blower unit which offers another layer of service for their clients.

As any business would admit it takes the right team to keep the wheels turning and the business successful on the day to day basis, Quigleys have found themselves in a very fortunate position where full time and season based labour is fulfilled by many passionate and energetic people from around the world.

Quigley Contracting recruits a skilled team of operators every year from September through March with people coming from many backgrounds and industries all with the same goal in mind of graining the New Zealand experience.

“Every year is a different rollercoaster ride,” says operations manager Rob Raisbeck.
“You get to meet a huge amount of people from all backgrounds while watching the agricultural industry develop in exciting ways.”

Quigley’s are now operating out of their new purpose built yard, based in Winslow 5 minutes out of Ashburton, just an hour south of Christchurch. Support is provided from the outset - from airport pickup, fully catered accommodation and a friendly welcoming team of people with similar interests in the agricultural industry.

That focus on looking after people is one of the reasons the business has sustained success for over two decades. Loyal clients have stood by the company, and loyal staff have built a culture of pride, performance and teamwork.

Running a business like this is a privilege and it is not one taken lightly. In the words of the owner, the business is only as good as its people - and in this case those people are making a lasting difference to the farms they support and the region they serve.

The future for Quigley Contracting looks strong. With the right gear, the right people and the right approach, they have a constant pursuit to innovate whilst maintaining the roots of what the company was built on. They continue to prove that a local business with deep roots and a clear purpose can not only survive in a changing agricultural landscape but thrive.