TOP root crop farmers, brothers Nicholas and Paul Dunn, are retiring from exhibiting at North Yorkshire agricultural shows after enjoying their best year in the awards line-up.

Their kale has never been beaten at the seven shows where they have exhibited, and their farmhouse home, New Leas Farm, Helmsley, is adorned with rosettes and certificates of their 32 first prizes, 24 seconds and 27 thirds with their agricultural produce of kale, swedes and fodder beet.

But they have decided to quit while they are at the top, says Paul, who receives his pension next May, and which Nicholas is already drawing.

Paul’s son, Phillip, plans to take over the running of their near 200-acre farm when he completes his studies in farm management at the University of Newcastle.

“Growing root crops like kale and swedes is becoming a dying art,” said Paul this week.

“You are constantly battling against flea beetle, wood pigeons and weeds. If you want good roots you have to spend time hoeing and cruffling – and hoeing isn’t done on tractor seats!” said Paul.

The Dunn brothers, like several dairy farmers in Ryedale, were victims of the collapse of Dairy Farmers of Britain earlier this year.

“We lost more than £30,000 and I feel the dairy industry is now in a shambles,” he said.

“Farmers should be paid more for the milk they produce and I believe the public would be willing to pay more if they knew the farmer was getting it.”

As well as being a successful dairy and arable farmer, Paul has also made his mark as an author, with his book “Dunn and Dusted” which has become one of Ryedale’s best sellers, telling the story of his farming experiences over many years.

He and Nicholas took over New Leas Farm from their father. Of the 193 acres of land north of Helmsley on the Stokesley road, 60 acres is used for cereal crops and the rest, grass for the dairy herd.

“We won’t be giving up working – we just want to make time to do other things,” said Paul.