'Finding good drivers isn't easy so you need to look after them on wages and conditions'Tom Kirwan runs a self-propelled harvesting and baled silage contracting outfit from his base in Kill, Co Waterford. It is a family run business with a reputation for reliability and at the peak of the season the Kirwan outfit employs between seven and eight staff. Where possible the team try to hire staff who come from a farming background because they tend to know a bit more about looking after machinery. They tend to have a few farmers' sons driving for the outfit who come back for work each season. "Finding reliable drivers isn't easy these days, so I try to look after the lads in terms of proper wages and decent conditions," says Tom.

Source: Irish Independent April 07, 2019 05:03 UTC