fbpx
Renewable Energy

Energy Crop Harvesting & Management

Renewable Energy

At O J Neil Contracting, we are experts in the growing and harvesting of energy crops for the anaerobic digestion sector. We have been involved in the AD market since 2010 when the first fully operational plant was commissioned in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

Since those early days, we have built an enviable reputation for quality of service and use best-in-class equipment enabling our customers to gain maximum returns from their facilities.

Speak to a specialist

Olly Neil

Owner and founder of both the contracting and biomass businesses, Olly sets out the strategy and direction for both companies and ensures all compliances are met.

Maximising Yield and Income

Harvesting a perennial energy crop is a precise procedure that you need to get right. By harvesting your energy crop at the optimum time, you will increase both your gas and physical yields and give yourself the best entry for the following and future years crop. Protecting your asset, the soil, is our utmost priority.

At O J Neil Contracting, we have the expertise and experience of growing and harvesting both whole crop rye and energy maize to maximise your yield from every planted hectare of land. There are several factors that will determine the optimum results:

  • Soil type
  • Crop choice
  • Plant density and row spacing
  • Nutritional requirements of the crop
  • Drilling and harvest dates (each energy crop has its own window for optimum harvesting)
  • Level of risk

Custom Services for the Anaerobic Digestion Sector

With three forage harvesters totalling 2765HP, a team of highly skilled operatives and excellent safe site management, we can provide you with the expert advice and hands-on assistance you need. Whether we provide our own machinery and staff or manage your team on your behalf, our goal is the same – to maximise your yield, deliver a quality product and enhance the longevity of your AD Site.

Our services include:

  • Maize harvesting – Our three forage harvesters cut from 3mm to 17mm so we can service the anaerobic digestion market and the livestock sector.
  • Whole crop harvesting – We have two whole crop rye harvesters fitted with direct cut whole crop headers.
  • Drilling – Our Horsch Maestro single seed drill features auto row shut-off, smart seed placement and a Topcon RTK guided rig to ensure unbeatable accuracy. 
  • Clamping – We operate both loading shovels and tractors fitted with dozer blades. 
  • Liquid digestive injection and solid digestate spreading – Our self-propelled Vredo spreaders take care of our solid spreading, while our 22500-litre Joskin Euroliner injects liquid digestive directly into the soil. 
  • Haulage – We organise haulage solutions on your behalf and offer both walking floor services and tankering for our liquid products.  

We pride ourselves on the quality and precision of all of our work. We take the utmost care of your fields and margins and work to protect the legacy of your plantation to maximise your yields for years to come.

cusom-services-tractor-digging-piling
Back to Agricultural Contracting Services

Our Renewable Energy Service in Numbers

At O J Neil Contracting, our energy crop harvesting team: 

  • Operate three forage harvesters and can cut more than 400 acres of maize a day
  • Has harvesting contracts with nine anaerobic digestion plants
  • Harvest 162,000 energy crops per year

To find out more about our energy crop harvesting services, please give our renewable energy operations manager Richard James on 07885 294681 or email office@ojneilcontracting.co.uk

renewables
Back to Agricultural Contracting Services

Key facts

  • 0

    acres a day cut by forage harvesters

  • 0

    anaerobic digestion plants harvesting contracts

  • 0

    energy crops harvested per year