Making a dividend to pay to maintain high standards of kit, is the way forward for JA Gilston Agricultural Contractors, based in Co Durham, who feature in our Contractor’s Yard series. Founded by John Alastair Gilston, in 1981, at the age of 18 years old, it has been a lifetime commitment in making it the success it is today. Now run alongside his son, James and with two full-time employees, as well as a secretary, who works one day a week, and and engineer working flexible hours. Although now trying to specialise specifically into forage harvesting, there are still a number of services the team have on offer, which run alongside a variety of council-run contracts for grass and winter maintenance.