Mapping a future in business

Realising a lifetime passion for farming, technology and sales.

Andrew Murray has joined Northern Ireland's growing list of entrepreneurs with an innovative new business aimed at farmers keen to cut costs and help the environment.

With the support of Invest Northern Ireland's Go for it programme, Andrew combined his specialist farming skills and his experience as UK sales manager for a major agricultural equipment maker, to set up AM-Agri, a precision farming business that shows farmers how they can save money on fertiliser costs using the latest GPS technology.

"It's quite simple, really," said Andrew. "For decades, farmers have been applying hundreds of thousands of tonnes of fertiliser and other nutrients to their crops without knowing which parts of their land needed it most – a costly exercise and one which doesn't do the environment a lot of good."

"Fortunately, the technology is now available to change all that in the form of 'GPS Nutrient Mapping', which locates the specific areas of land that need particular attention. Thus, smaller applications mean smaller bills and less impact on the environment."

Andrew spent months researching the technology, the market and its potential use in Northern Ireland. "The more I looked into it, the more I realised that this technology could save farmers hundreds of thousands of pounds - particularly now when fertiliser costs are soaring."

With a HND in Agriculture & Mechanisation, specialising in cropping, and with direct experience farming in England and Australia, Andrew is sure he has made the right move.

"I've always wanted to start my own business, so when this technology became available, I just knew it was meant for me," said Andrew, who wisely signed up for the Go for it programme to help advance his plans.

"The Go for it programme gave me focus, bringing me right up to speed with essential business practices such as financial and business planning, tax matters and marketing. Most importantly, they took me seriously. They gave me the confidence to push ahead with my plans and the ability to act on them.

"The programme also taught me to do thorough research at every stage, to believe in myself and to ask for advice anytime I need it."

With the programme complete and his business up and running, Andrew is upbeat about his future.

"The business is only six months old, but I'm delighted at the interest in the service. I still have a lot of work to do educating potential customers about the benefits and I'm currently presenting to groups of farmers across Northern Ireland. It's a direct approach and it seems to be working!" 

"I know that at the end of the day, only I can make this business a success – and that's what drives me even more."

The Go for it Programme is provided by Invest Northern Ireland and is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund. For details, log on to www.goforitni.com.