Ray Darley Agricultural Contractors History
The business was started by Ray Darley in 1984. Having served time as a agricultural engineer with both Ford tractor, and Massey Ferguson tractor & machinery dealerships, and attending Askham Bryan college, where he achieved C & G agricultural engineering qualifications.
Ray then set up business on his own, initially carrying out farm to farm tractor, machinery, welding, and fabrication repairs.
This was from a humble start with just £500, a box of tools, together with good knowledge of tractors, machinery, welding, and fabrication skills, and a mini pickup!.... What memories!
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As time went by and the business expanded, Ray purchased his first tractor to hire out. This was a 1979 County 7600 Four. Shortly after a new McConnel PA35 hedge cutter, 550 John Deere round baler, Ferri straw chopper, Standen Cyclone single row sugar beet harvester were bought, together with a second tractor, this time a 1977 Ford 6700 (still owned). |
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As the business slowly grew, Ray specialized in silage, hay, haylage, and straw baling, sugar and fodder beet drilling/harvesting, and hedge cutting services, along with the tractor and machinery repairs. |
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Over the years the baling has increased, with the purchase of various round and big square balers, and today two round and six big square balers are used to produce the many thousands of bales made each year.
Straw is also bought in the swath, baled and sold as part of the business. Ray Darley Agricultural Contractors also produce and supply quality hay and haylage for the equestrian market, and offer silage, hay and haylage making services to our customers. |
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The sugar beet side of the business went from the small single row harvester, to various three, four, and six row machines, and around 2000 acres harvested per year, with drilling, spraying, inter-row hoeing, and weed wiping services carried out.
Unfortunately due to the closure of the York factory in 2006 this has now reduced somewhat, with just fodder beet crops being catered for. We also grow our own fodder beet that is sold to our many customers. |
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Hedge cutting has always been part of the business, and we have always had McConnel machines. They have served us very well. We take great pride in making that extra special job, with excellent workmanship carried out at all times! |
Today we still offer a full range of services, all carried out in the same professional manner as years gone by.
We feel very fortunate to have a good, reliable, experienced, honest workforce, where team work is essential, and everyone "gets on together", without of which the business would not be what it is today!
In 2007 we purchased Lowmoor farm. This is situated at Rillington Lowmoor, bordering the river Derwent. We grow cereals, fodder beet, and selected grasses for the hay/haylage market. We also have a Stabiliser suckler herd, sheep, and fatten beef cattle on the farm.
We are very pleased and grateful to say, over the past three decades we have generated lots of very loyal customers and friends, many of which have been with us since those early days back in 1984.....
"Big or small, we cater for all"!! ....
