Northern Powerhouse Farmer Stories: Edd Houghton

18 October 2022

Edd Houghton

Producing 300 tonnes of barley each year for Carling and various real ales is Cheshire farmer Edd Houghton.

As part of the Molson Coors (UK) Carling Western Growers' Group, Edd contract grows Red Tractor assured winter and spring barley for malting, producing enough grain for 9 million pints of beer per annum.

Carling is the only mainstream lager to receive Red Tractor certification, ensuring high quality standards from grain to glass.

400 acres of Edd’s wheat, oil seed rape and oats are processed by Cargill.

To add extra income to the business, Edd contract sprays for 80 local farmers and sells 5,800 straw bales to livestock farmers in the region per annum. He spends £40,000 on 150 tonnes of fertiliser and £13,500 each year on machinery maintenance and repair.

For 11 years running, Edd has hosted national trials for Home-Grown Cereals Authority winter wheat on his farm, attracting 80 farmers from across the UK each year.


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