A ‘Perfect Storm’ for Farming is Encouraging Many Businesses to Re-Evaluate Their Approach
Jeff Claydon on rethinking establishment
Government and Defra must regain farmers’ trust
Feb 2026 The apparent lack of understanding of the agricultural sector by government / Defra is making it almost impossible for farmers to operate viable businesses and do their job of feeding the nation, says Suffolk arable farmer Jeff Claydon. 23 February 2026 Since the start of 2026 it has rained virtually every day here …
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With history repeating itself now is the time to ‘Think Change’
With lacklustre world commodity prices squeezing profitability the situation in farming today parallels that in 2002 when Jeff Claydon was forced to reduce production costs or see his family’s arable enterprise in Suffolk go out of business. The crop establishment system he invented then has ensured that the Claydon farm has made a profit every …
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Challenging Season Highlights
THE NEED TO CONTROL COSTS Below-average yields and low prices this harvest underline the importance of maximising efficiency across every aspect of crop production, emphasises Jeff Claydon, Suffolk arable farmer and inventor of the Claydon Opti-Till® direct seeding system. August 2025 In the article I wrote last August I mentioned that after an exceedingly difficult …
Time to Focus on key priorities
Cutting per-tonne costs, boosting yields, maximising income and building healthier soils; these should be key priorities given the challenges facing the farming sector, says Jeff Claydon, Suffolk arable farmer and inventor of the Claydon Opti-Till® direct seeding system. 25 May 2025 Hanslope series clay certainly brings significant challenges and makes timeliness essential, but this spring …
Make time to plan the best way forward for your farming business
The time has come to assess how you will be able to farm in the future and calculate the best options for your business going forward, says Jeff Claydon, Suffolk arable farmer and inventor of the Claydon Opti-Till® direct seeding system. Feb 2025 Here in Suffolk, grey skies and cold weather have characterised the first …
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We’re changing how we manage the Claydon farm
In a political environment where farming is battling increasing headwinds, Suffolk arable farmer and inventor of the Claydon Opti-Till® direct seeding system, Jeff Claydon is focusing on minimising risk and maximising income. November 2024         I have always been an optimistic farmer, but right now I am struggling. I’m not normally one to get political, but …
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Timing is everything
Reflecting on last season’s challenges and the lessons learned Jeff Claydon, Suffolk arable farmer and inventor of the Claydon Opti-Till® direct seeding system, outlines some of the changes he will be making for the 2025 harvest. August 2024  The title of my last article ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ (Issue 28 – July …
The Claydon Opti-Till® crop establishment system
The Claydon Opti-Till® crop establishment system delivers a wide range of environmental benefi ts and cost savings. It creates ideal growing conditions for crops which means that yields are healthy too. This helps farms stay profi table even in tough financial times. SOIL BENEFITS The Claydon Opti-Till® system delivers many soil health benefi ts through …
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The good, the bad and the ugly
Farmers should be congratulated for continuing to produce food at low prices by constantly fine-tuning their businesses and keeping updated with the latest machinery, plant breeding developments and precision management techniques, says Jeff Claydon. The inventor of the Opti-Till® direct seeding system contemplates the challenges for UK farming and provides an update on the Claydon family’s arable farm in Suffolk.