A record number of entries for the 2011 Farmers Weekly Awards has been whittled down to the select few with a number of Scottish farmers on the shortlist.
Date:
Wed, 22 Jun 2011
Source:
Farmers Weekly
The shortlist includes:
FARM MANAGER OF THE YEAR
• Andrew Nottage, Cambridgeshire
Andrew juggles conventional and organic arable crops on this 850ha farm, including potatoes grown for Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Tesco.
• Charlie Russell, Ayrshire
Spread across a 5,060ha estate, Charlie oversees 350 home-bred elite health-status suckler cows, a 1,200-ewe easycare hill flock and 700 cross-bred grazing dairy cows.
• Simon Thompson, Suffolk
Simon is farm manager of a 1,000ha arable farm, that supports sugar beet, vining peas, combinable crops and Higher-Level Stewardship.
LOCAL FOOD FARMER OF THE YEAR
• Andrew and Debbie Booth, Aberdeenshire
This business has developed catering, wholesale, specialist retailer, and farmers' market outlets for its prime Aberdeen Angus cattle, lamb and other produce.
• Miranda Kendall and Simon Gibson, Suffolk
Added value and a range of complementary enterprises ensure 95% of the home-milled cereals, vegetables, pigs and turkeys are sold locally or direct off the farm.
• Will Simkin, Staffordshire
Home-grown food for the local community from more than 35 horticultural crops, outdoor pigs and pedigree Hereford cattle, is the essence of Essington Fruit Farm, that Will runs with his parents Richard and Mary.
GREEN ENERGY FARMER OF THE YEAR
• John Gilliland, Londonderry, Northern Ireland
John has been at the forefront of promoting bioenergy and grows 130ha short-rotation willow, processed, dried and sold as renewable heat.
• Neil Gourlay, Dumfries
A sustainable farmhouse is being built within this 1,940ha beef and lamb unit, which features two micro-hydro systems, while there are plans for a larger wind farm.
• Peter Barfoot, West Sussex
An anaerobic digestion plant converts 25,000t of green waste to electricity and heat, reducing the carbon footprint of this vegetable business by 97%.
DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR
• Gavin Fowler, Devon
Gavin has taken Higher Boode Farm, Braunton, from loss to profit over five years. Cross breeding has been a key strategy in improving health and fertility.
• Fergus McDowall, Galloway
Costs of production, environment and herd health are high on the agenda for the McDowall family, who have grown the business to a herd of 500.
• Peter Willes, Devon
Parkham Farms has driven down costs of production, while increasing yields and expanding cow numbers to 2,100, all while focusing on cow comfort and health.
SHEEP FARMER OF THE YEAR
• Simon and Rachael Stott, Lancashire
The Stott family specialises in sheep dairying, with 450 milk sheep producing milk sold across the North of England through their own co-operative.
• Douglas and Lynda Graham, Stirlingshire
Technical and financial efficiency is crucial to success for Douglas and Lynda, who run 1,000 ewes and a herd of 100 pedigree Limousin cows across 280ha.
• Kevin Harrison, Avon
With 800 lambing ewes and 140 ewe lambs on a mixed hill farm in a lowland area between Bath and Bristol, Performance and appearance are key indicators that matter to Kevin.
ARABLE FARMER OF THE YEAR
• Ben Binder, Kent
Ben manages 748ha of cropping, including 188ha as a collaboration with a neighbour, growing milling wheat, feed wheat, oilseed rape, spring beans and millet.
• Andrew and Richard Ramply, Cambridgeshire
Andrew and Richard farm 1,295ha as a family partnership, growing wheat, barley, oilseed rape, beans and miscanthus.
• Colin McGregor, Berwickshire
Farming a total of 2,831ha in the Scottish Borders, Colin manages a farming business that spans wheat, oilseed rape, barley, vining peas, potatoes and spring beans.
The Awards will be presented at a glittering ceremony at the London Grosvenor House Hotel on 6th October.
View the full shortlist.
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