Young farmer identifies gap in the market for new baling solution
A farm contractor from North Devon reflects on how responding to customer demand for better silage options has shaped the direction of his business, leading to improved efficiency and positive feedback from his clients.
In North Devon, Dave Leworthy, who runs his own contracting business, has built a reputation for quality work, from mowing to baling and more.
He recently expanded his offerings to include film and film bale wrapping, a decision that’s proven to be a game-changer for his business and customers alike.
Growing up on his family farm near Barnstaple, he hoped to farm on a larger scale himself, but soon realised that expanding and securing land was not going to be straightforward.
“The reality of acquiring ground was tougher than I thought. So, I decided to turn to contracting,” he says.
In 2019, he bought his first tractor and began hedge trimming and mowing on weekends alongside his full-time job with a local contractor, before setting up entirely on his own in 2021.
“I had the machinery and the idea was that contracting would support me while I eventually transitioned into farming, but now I firmly believe my future is with the contracting business,” he says.
The enterprise soon flourished, offering mowing, baling, raking, fencing, and hedge trimming across the North Devon area.
A new offering
As his business expanded, Mr Leworthy received specific requests, particularly from livestock farmers, for film and film wrapping to improve silage quality and longevity, and he soon realised the value this addition would bring.
I used Baletite, Silotite’s film and film solution, at my previous job, and it always performed far better than other options.
“We’d tried several different makes of film, but the cheaper stuff always let us down. The reel would dent easily, or tear and then the film wouldn’t feed through the baler.
We would fight over who got to use Baletite when film was delivered to the yard. You could throw Baletite off the roof of a house and it would still work.
Mr Leworthy’s investment in a McHale Fusion 4 Plus baler with film and film capability in 2024 marked a major shift in his business offering.
“When I decided to switch to film and film, I knew the McHale Fusion was the right baler to make it happen.”
He says reliable dealer support was crucial in his decision to upgrade his baler, and while the investment was substantial, he felt confident in his choice, thanks to the strong support from Halse South West.
“No matter what you need, you can ring up Halse, and they always sort things out,” he adds.
Since adopting film and film wrapping, he has seen his business grow rapidly.
“Last year, I baled just under 10,000 bales, a significant jump from the previous season, with an even split between film and net wrapped bales,” he says.
Customer feedback
The response from Mr Leworthy’s customers has been overwhelmingly positive.
“My clients love the fact that the film stays intact, and the bale holds its shape better, it also offers smoother feed-out and simplified recycling,” he explains.
“The outside layer of a bale is most susceptible to spoilage, but the film and film system provides a stronger oxygen barrier, which dramatically reduces the chance of this.”
Unlike net-wrapped bales, the film and wrap don’t need to be separated before recycling, which is one less job to think about during feed out.
“It may not seem like the cheapest option up front, but the increased protection to forage quality and ease of handling make up for it in the long run,” he adds.
Growing the business with quality equipment
Going forward, he plans to expand his offering further.
“I’m always looking for gaps in the market. If there’s demand for a service, I’m willing to try it.”
Mr Leworthy’s journey from small-scale farmer to successful contractor shows the value of investing in quality equipment, with the integration of Baletite film and film wrapping improving efficiency and building customer trust.
To find out more, click here.