Claydon Drills appoints Genesis Agri as its new distributor in Northern Ireland

The two companies will collaborate for the first time at Ireland’s largest agricultural trade show, the Balmoral Spring Farm Machinery Show in the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Lisburn, on 28th and 29th January.

David Furber, Claydon’s UK sales manager, said: “This is a significant strategic development for Claydon, one that we are delighted to announce.

“Genesis Agri’s background in selling and supporting specialist technical products within the farming sector and related industries will ensure that Claydon customers in Northern Ireland benefit from expert knowledge, service and support.”

‘Products tailored to customers’ specific requirements’

“Claydon dovetails perfectly with my ethos and approach, which is to supply products that I would be happy to use,” Stephen Lewis, founder of Genesis.

He added: “My focus is on achieving sustainable growth by cultivating strong, lasting partnerships with manufacturers and supplying customers with products tailored to their specific requirements.”

Mr Lewis explained that farmers in Northern Ireland have traditionally used plough/combi drill or min-till techniques to establish their crops, which is still the case. However, there is increasing pressure to reduce production costs and improve efficiency and soil health whilst maintaining or raising crop yields, so we want to be positioned to meet these changing requirements.

“Claydon is well known and highly respected by farmers who appreciate Opti-Till machinery, which is reliable, versatile and has low running costs. We are looking to build on those brand characteristics to increase adoption in Northern Ireland and have invested in a 3m Claydon Evolution mounted drill with stone protection, which will be the most popular configuration,” he concluded.

Designed by farmers for farmers

Farming businesses of all sizes and types, including those in the dairy sector, increasingly recognise the financial, operational, and environmental benefits of the Claydon Opti-Till System, the manufacturer said.

Designed by farmers for farmers and manufactured in the UK, it suits all farm situations, crops and soil types.

Compared with traditional methods, Opti-Till allows businesses to operate much more efficiently, profitably and sustainably, using just 10 per cent of the fuel required for a traditional plough-based system, reducing tractor hours and saving labour.

Additionally, it provides significant improvements in timeliness, soil health and structure, lowers carbon emissions, reduces soil erosion and generates many environmental benefits, Claydon said.

At the heart of the Claydon Opti-Till System are the company’s Evolution (mounted) and Hybrid (trailed) drills from 3m to 8m wide. They incorporate unique leading tine technology, which makes them exceptionally versatile.

Moving the optimum amount of soil, but only where needed in the seeding and rooting zone, the leading tine creates tilth and drainage, aerates the soil and alleviates compaction to produce the perfect growing environment for fast germination.

Soil between the seeded bands is left undisturbed, helping to support farm traffic whilst conserving moisture for the plants to tap into.

Designed primarily to drill directly into stubble, Claydon drills can also be used in plough or min-till scenarios. They will work in all types of soil, from heavy clay to light sandy soils, and in all conditions, from baked ground to wetter soils.

Discover more

Virtually any crop that can be air-sown can be drilled with a Claydon Drill, from spring and winter varieties of small seeds such as oilseed rape, linseed, mustard, stubble turnips, hemp, grasses, kale, coriander and radish to medium seeds like wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale and sorghum, along with large seeds such as maize, peas and beans.

The cost of using Claydon Opti-Till is significantly lower than a traditional approach. Instead of the 150-180 litres of fuel/ha required to establish crops using a plough-based system, with Opti-Till the heavy land Claydon farm uses 10-15 litres/ha, averaging 12l/ha, including stubble management and drilling.

At just £3-£4/ha the cost of wearing metal is extremely low, and as soils become healthier, the power required to work them and the cost of wearing metal continue to decline.

The Claydon range also includes straw harrows, which are available as 3m, 7.5m and 9m mounted versions or 12.5m and 15m trailed models.

The 6m TerraStar light rotary cultivator is ideal for hard, dry situations or where more soil movement is required, while TerraBlade inter-row hoes from 3m to 8m wide enable growers to control weeds in band-sown crops more efficiently and more effectively than using chemicals alone, providing further significant cost and environmental benefits.

Finally, the Claydon Mole Drainer is a single-leg implement which combines the benefits of mounted and trailed designs without the drawbacks of either.

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