agriculture
Contracting Services
From first cut to final bale, we provide agricultural contracting that’s built around your land, your season and your operation, not a one size fits all schedule.
Our services
What distinguishes CG Shaw from larger agricultural contractors is straightforward: Matt has a personal interest in the outcome of every project his team takes on. He assesses each site himself, agrees the scope of work directly with the client, and oversees delivery. That level of ownership simply isn’t available from a business operating at national scale.
We work with a broad range of agricultural clients, from small and medium livestock farms to large private rural estates, landowners managing mixed agricultural land, and farms undergoing change of use or habitat transition. Whatever the scale of your operation, the standard of service remains the same.
DRILLING
FORAGE SERVICES
BAILING
Precision Drilling
Timely, accurate drilling makes the difference between a good crop and a difficult one. We work to your conditions, getting seed in the ground at exactly the right moment.
We run a Väderstad Tempo 6m high speed, high accuracy drill, giving us plenty of capacity even through the busy April drilling window. Trial work we helped conduct in 2014 showed a yield benefit of over 10% compared to a standard grain drill, alongside improved dry matter at harvest.
Both drills are capable of applying conventional and micro granular fertiliser. We also enjoy working with our customers to prepare the best possible seedbed, using tined cultivators or a power harrow when needed, because getting that right has a massive effect on the potential of the crop.
Forage Services
We handle the full forage operation, from cutting to carting, across grass, whole crop and maize. Quality at every stage matters, poor forage costs you money all winter, so we don’t cut corners.
- Grass silage
- Wholecrop
- Maize
We run two 9m mower combinations fitted with grouper belts, allowing us to swath up to 9m of grass in a single pass straight from the mower, producing clean silage free from soil and stone contamination, even in difficult conditions.
For merging, we use a Kuhn Merge Max 950, which delivers cleaner windrows, lower ash content and reduced leaf loss on delicate crops like lucerne and clover.
We have five KTwo push-off trailers available which are supplied depending on field distance, with one fitted with a weighing system to keep yield totals accurate throughout the job. At the clamp, we use both an Albutt buckrake and a Holaras Silagepacker to maximise consolidation, improving fermentation, reducing dry matter losses and increasing clamp capacity.
Our Claas forage harvester is fitted with a NIR sensor that measures the dry matter content of harvested grass in real time as we work. This means we can react on the day, adjusting how the clamp is built or applying the right additive, rather than waiting on lab results that arrive after the job is done. Independent testing confirmed the sensor’s accuracy is comparable to official laboratory methods, giving you and us confidence in the quality of every load. Add sentenac about total yeield we are measuring – how many tonnes in the clamp which is being done through the harvester which is close to weighing every trailor load, not going to be 100% accurate – but a good indication.
Baling
We will get your bales made to the standard your stock deserves, working efficiently to make the most of the weather window.
For straw and grass baling, we run 4 string 80*90cm Krone and Massey Balers and a 6 string 120*90cm high density hi speed Krone Baler.
All are equipped with in chamber and probe moisture sensing to ensure the straw is at the correct moisture content to bale. Bale length can be tailored to suit individual customers’ requirements.
Our approach
What sets us apart from larger contractors is simple, we have a personal stake in every job we take on. We will visit your site ourselves, agree the scope of work directly with you, and stay as your point of contact throughout.
We work with all kinds of agricultural clients, from small family livestock farms to large private rural estates, mixed landholdings, and farms going through change of use or habitat transition. Whatever the scale, the standard of service doesn’t change.
Working with us
GET IN TOUCH
Call us directly or drop us a message, we’ll get back to you within 24 hours to talk through what you need.
FREE SITE VISIT
We visit your site in person to assess the job properly before any quotation is prepared. No obligation.
CLEAR PROPOSAL
You receive a detailed, straightforward quotation, agreed scope with realistic timelines.
WORK BEGINS
Our professional team carries out the work. Our owner remains your direct point of contact from start to finish.
Common questions from our agricultural clients
Do you work with farms of all sizes, or only large estates?
We work with clients across the full spectrum, from small family livestock farms through to large private rural estates. The scale of the operation doesn’t determine the level of service. Each job receives the same site assessment and personal oversight regardless of size.
Can you handle one off projects as well as ongoing contracts?
Yes, we work on both. Whether you need a one-off job or a longer-term arrangement, we’ll agree a structure that suits you.
Are you fully insured?
Yes. We carry full public liability and agricultural contractor insurance. Documentation is available on request prior to any work commencing.
How far in advance do I need to book?
It depends on the time of year and the nature of the work. Seasonal jobs, silage, harvest support and similar, book up well in advance and are best discussed early. For clearance, preparation and other work, lead times are generally shorter. Contact Matt to discuss your timeline.
What areas do you cover?
We are based in New Alresford and cover agricultural work across Hampshire, including Winchester, Alton, Basingstoke, Andover, Romsey, Petersfield and the Test Valley, and into parts of Surrey, Wiltshire and Dorset.
Contact
admin@cgshaw.co.uk
Matt Shaw: 07732 928754
Address
Arches, New Farm Road
New Alresford, SO24 9QH