Our History
Farming since 1919
The Long family has been farming at Hall Farm since 1919, which was part of the Duke of Norfolk’ estate, when Colonel Gerald Hanslip Long began as a tenant farmer shortly after the First World War. Gerald played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Bury St Edmunds Sugar Beet Factory during the 1920s, marking the beginning of the family’s deep-rooted contribution to the local agricultural industry.
A new chapter in the 1960’s
The farm was later purchased in the 1960s by Robert Lawsell Long, who became renowned for his award-winning Suffolk Sheep, selling to clients across the globe. Over the years, Hall Farm evolved from a traditional mixed arable and livestock farm into a thriving root farming business.
Going from strength to strength
At its peak, Hall Farm’s 850 acres supported over 40 workers; today, with advanced machinery and modern practices, the operation is five times larger and run by just 10 full-time staff. In the 1990s, Robert’s son Andrew Long had the vision to expand into vegetable production, capitalising on the exceptional quality of the farm’s soils.
This led to the construction of the first reservoir in 1992, followed by a second in 2001. In 2002, the development of the Hollow Road storage hub began, which has since grown into the central hub of Long Farms' vegetable operations, symbolising the family’s forward-thinking approach and commitment to innovation.
Expanding our offering
Clopton Green was purchased by the Long family in 2017 as part of their continued expansion and investment in high-quality agricultural land. Recognising the potential of the site, an application for an abstraction licence was submitted in 2021 to enable irrigation and enhance the farm’s productivity.
Following the successful approval of the licence, a reservoir was constructed in 2023, significantly increasing the farm's water security and growing capabilities. With this infrastructure in place, Clopton has become a fully integrated part of the Long Farms operation, capable of producing both high-quality vegetables and cereals.
