History

Albert Hildred, whilst still serving in The Royal Air Force established Boston Crop Sprayers as an agricultural business in 1955. His first sprayer was a 1948 John Deere tractor unit and the first operator was Maurice Houghton.

In the early days Maurice would set off in the John Deere to go to Long Sutton and farmers would stop him along the way and ask him to spray their crops. The first spraying seasons were only a few months long and there was a limited choice of about six chemicals.

The business developed over the next few years and was run as a partnership between Albert and his wife Kit with two spray operators. Application equipment improved greatly during the seventies and Boston Crop Sprayers developed one of the first Forward Control Sprayers. This was built in their own workshops and based on a Ford tractor.

In 1988 as a result of Albert's Parkinson's disease, the business was handed over to sons David and Mark Hildred. Jim Blaylock also joined the newly formed Limited Company as Technical Director. Under David and Jim’s direction the company grew and broadened its customer base whilst Mark continued with his accountancy.

By 1996 the business had grown to a stage where it needed the new chemistry only available to larger companies. It formed the perfect alliance with HL Hutchinson Ltd, also a family owned agrochemical business. This gave the company and its customers the benefit of combining agronomy advice, contracting requirements and access to a comprehensive stock of agrochemicals and sprayer parts. Uniquely this offered farmers in Lincolnshire a full range of Agrochemicals, Technical advice, Contracting services as well as Application machinery sales and service from one site.

In January 2003 the machinery business expanded into Wisbech taking over the well-established machinery business of Hutchinson's at North End.

Spring 2008 saw the opening of their new purpose built head offices, much expanded workshop and stores at Frampton Fen.

Boston Crop Sprayers now has 13 full time employees and very sophisticated application equipment to cater for the protocols required.