The principal activity carried out on the Duddo Estate is growing arable crops for food production. The emphasis is on low cost production with special attention paid to improving soil structure and fertility, all carried out in a manner which is friendly to the environment.

Over 650 Ha of wheat (the biggest crop) is produced on the 1450 Ha predominantly owned holding. Also grown are oilseed rape, winter oats, winter beans, potatoes and winter and spring barley.

Crop establishment is carried out using mostly reduced tillage systems to preserve and improve the soil structure with up to 30% of the farmed area mouldboard ploughed each year.

Most farm operations are carried out by our own employees with our own machinery. Specialist potato contractors help with potato planting and lifting.All tractors and combines currently carry the green “John Deere” badge and are replaced every three to four years. GPS technology has improved accuracy and efficiency over recent years as well as easing the long summer hours for our skilled operatives. Simba/Great Plains, Sumo, Kuhn, Vaderstad and McConnell brands dominate the cultivation and farm machinery fleet.

The majority of the crops harvested are stored on the farm. The modern Kentra continuous flow grain dryer is heavily used at harvest time in these northern areas where wheat harvest rarely starts before September. Potatoes are stored in 1T wooden boxes in refrigerated stores

A sister company, Frank Dakin & Son, operates from Shifnal, Shropshire growing 786 Ha of similar arable crops on owned, rented and contract farmed land. There is a north/south interchange of labour and machinery between the two farms. Every summer one of the 600 horse power combines journeys 260 miles north on a low loader to help with the later harvest at Duddo. Our best effort was once combining until 10pm in Shropshire, loading up, overnight transport to Northumberland and cutting again by 9am!