A System Developed Through Real Farming Experience
The Claydon Opti-Till® approach is built on a clear and effective principle: loosen the soil where the crop needs it and protect the structure between the rows. By preparing a defined rooting zone while maintaining firm ground between seeded bands, the drill supports drainage, root development and long-term soil resilience.
This approach has been proven across thousands of hectares, from lighter land to heavier clay soils, in both conventional and reduced tillage systems. The result is consistent crop establishment without unnecessary soil movement.
Every Hybrid T-Trailed and Evolution M-Mounted drill reflects that experience. The engineering remains straightforward, robust and serviceable, designed to withstand demanding workloads while creating the perfect environment for crops to thrive.
From farms reducing cultivation intensity to those fully committed to direct drill systems, Claydon drills are built to deliver reliability, operational efficiency and sustained soil health over the long term. Season after season, they provide growers with confidence in both crop performance and system durability.
Used by thousands of farms worldwide.
20+ years of innovation
Family-owned & British-built
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Hear from our farmers
“We had always been used to seeing perfectly brown seedbeds with no straw showing, followed by even, narrow crop rows. It was the visual aspect of the new system which was perhaps the hardest thing for my father and me to get used to. Even after drilling, the fields looked just like stubbles. “It takes time and thought to change to a new system”.
James Harris
“Having used conventional cultivations and become used to seeing perfect-looking seedbeds for so many years moving to the Claydon System was a huge leap of faith and it took time to get used to the idea that it would look different.
But, the results prove that you can’t judge a crop by its initial appearance and what really counts is how much goes into the combine tank.”
Rick Davies
“When I was thinking of changing to the Claydon Opti-Till® direct seeding system many people had an opinion. Comments ranged from ‘you won’t be able to go when it is wet’ to ‘you’ll get a lot of weed issues’, but none had tried it for themselves and were in no position to judge.”
Wayne Turnbull
Our Seed Drill Range
Claydon seed drills are designed to reduce passes, lower establishment costs and support long term soil performance. The range is built to suit different farm sizes, tractor capacities and working widths, giving farmers a practical solution for a wide range of arable systems.
Hybrid T Trailed Seed Drills
Built for larger acreages and higher output, the Hybrid T-Trailed Seed Drills are designed for efficient seed drilling across a wide range of soil conditions. With larger hopper capacity and wider working widths, they are well suited to contractors and medium-to-large arable farms.
Using the proven direct drill approach, the Hybrid T-Trailed establishes crops in a single pass, reducing fuel use while supporting long-term soil health.
- Prepares and seeds in one operation: The drill uses a “leading tine” technique to cultivate the rooting zone and seed in a single pass.
- Depth control through stable ground contact: It features a self-levelling chassis and depth wheels that run on undisturbed ground to maintain a constant seeding depth.
- Accurate seed placement in variable conditions: The two-tine technology is designed to cope with weather extremes and various soil types by moving soil only in the growing zone.
- Improved manoeuvrability: As a tractor-mounted unit, it is inherently more manoeuvrable and compact than trailed versions, making it ideal for smaller or irregular fields.
Evolution M-Mounted Seed Drills
The M-Mounted Seed Drills are a practical choice for smaller to medium-sized farms or where manoeuvrability is important. Mounted directly on the tractor, they offer a simple, reliable seed drill machine for day-to-day crop establishment.
Available in popular sizes such as the 3m seed drill, the M-Mounted suits a wide range of tractors and is ideal for farms adopting regenerative farming or conservation farming practices.
- Defined rooting zone: The leading tine breaks up compaction and aerates the soil exactly where the seed will be placed.
- Improved drainage: By creating a channel beneath the seed, the leading tine ensures water drains away from the seed row, preventing waterlogging and aiding early root development.
- Firm ground between rows: The layout leaves ‘undisturbed banks’ of soil between seeded rows, which supports the weight of tractors and sprayers for future field operations without causing deep ruts.
- High-residue conditions: Its high-clearance design and optional front cutting discs allow it to operate effectively in residues
Think Change
Challenging Times Call for Smarter Thinking. Think Change with Claydon
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CLAYDON SEED DRILLS SYSTEM
HOW IT WORKS
Both the Evolution M-Mounted and Hybrid T-Trailed drills follow the same core principle, but they are designed for different farm sizes and farming operations.
Evolution M Mounted
- Better suited to small and medium farms where manoeuvrability and lower entry cost are important.
- Mounted configuration keeps the machine compact and agile in smaller or irregular fields.
- Hopper capacity up to around 2,500–2,700 litres, suitable for efficient output without excessive machine weight.
Case Studies
See how Claydon Drills have helped farmers across the world achieve real-life results — saving fuel, reducing unnecessary field passes and protecting soil structure while improving operational efficiency, soil health and overall crop performance.
Norfolk – Astley Farms
[vc_row full_width="stretch_row_content" css=".vc_custom_1771500090054{background-image: url(https://claydondr... Read More
Suffolk – T G Harris & Son
“What we needed was a drill which was well priced, simple, practical and reliable, yet could cope with a wide ... Read More
Cumbria – George Douglas
“Since changing to Claydon Opti-Till® we have seen a dramatic change in the health and structure of our soils,... Read More
Devon – Church Town Farm
“I had not realised just how large the time and fuel savings would be . . the Claydon Hybrid is easier on the ... Read More
Midlothian – Penicuik Estate
“I needed a drill which was very versatile and would operate reliably in any situation. Although others worke... Read More
North Yorkshire – W Rooke & Sons
“Timeliness is key to everything that we do here. We have only 10 days to combine winter barley, bale the str... Read More
Wiltshire – Peter Wilson
"I questioned why on earth we were still spending every waking hour for weeks on end working with a plough and... Read More
Lincolnshire – Will Gilman
“We have seen a massive reduction in the hours which our three tractors clock up since switching to direct see... Read More
Lincolnshire – Paul Sheardown
“Since switching from conventional direct drilling to direct seeding with the Claydon Opti-Till® System the pe... Read More
Yorkshire – Wayne Turnbull
“Traditional no-till direct drilling proved too risky, so I went back to Claydon Opti-Till® direct seeding as ... Read More
East Yorkshire – Sam Middleton
"Our largest field is 50 hectares and had a legacy of light blackgrass from years of conventional cultivations... Read More
Oxfordshire – Clattercote Priory
“We had tried disc-type direct drills in the past, but crop establishment was not good enough to risk going do... Read More
About Us
A farming family with a passion for better machinery.
The Claydon family has been farming the heavy clay land of Suffolk since the early 1900s. Jeffrey and Frank Claydon are the third generation to work the same fields under the E.T. Claydon and Sons name, and they still farm that land today. In 1981, the family began manufacturing with the launch of the Claydon Yield-o-Meter, a pioneering yield monitoring system. That spirit of innovation led to the development of the Opti-Till seed drilling system. Today, multiple farms across the UK and beyond rely on our machinery to save time, cut costs and protect soil health.
The Claydon Hybrid is very versatile and has created a much improved, more open soil structure which is much better able to support the weight of following machinery. The land walks so much better now and has become almost self-healing.
In the first year the Claydon drill saved us 30,000 litres of fuel compared with our previous system. At 70 pence per litre that alone represented a saving of £21,000, but there were numerous other immediate benefits in terms of timeliness, time saving, better crops and much lower costs.
The Claydon System buys us time on our difficult ground and the main advantage for us is the speed and efficiency of the system. We can comfortably drill 32-40ha in a day. Given our steep banks, stones and some fiddly fields that’s a decent rate, and far more than we could achieve with the plough.
Get In Touch
We love to listen and we are eagerly waiting to talk to you regarding your project. Get in touch with us if you have any queries and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Contact Information
info@claydondrill.com
Phone
+44 (0)1440 820327
Visitors and deliveries
Claydon Drills/ Claydon Yield-o-Meter Ltd
Bunters Road
Wickhambrook
Newmarket
Suffolk, CB8 8XY
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FAQs
Everything you need to know about Claydon agricultural machinery and conservation farming.
The Evolution M-Mounted Drill suits smaller to medium acreages, lower-horsepower tractors and more irregular fields.
The Hybrid T-Trailed Drill is better suited to larger farms, contractors and situations where higher output is required.
Power requirement depends on the working width and soil type. A 3m mounted seed drill will usually suit tractors from around 120–150 hp, while larger trailed drills may require 180–300 hp or more, particularly in heavier soils or higher output situations.
Yes. The leading tine loosens the rooting zone and creates drainage beneath the seed, which helps crops establish in heavier soils. Many UK growers use Claydon drills specifically to manage heavier land and reduce compaction issues.
A seed drill places seed into the soil at a set depth and spacing, usually in rows, to give more even emergence and better seed use. A seeder is a broader term that can include machines which spread seed on the surface with less control over depth and spacing.
No. Claydon drills are designed for direct drilling into stubble or after minimal cultivation. Some farms still plough occasionally as part of their rotation, but many reduce or remove ploughing altogether once the system is established.