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Secure your table at this years awards
and join some of the biggest names
in the industry
Deadline for entries is 30th April 2012.
Awards night held on Thursday 4th October 2012.
Farmers Weekly Awards 2012 has been generously supported by our sponsors to ensure this is yet another successful year.
Click on one of the logos below to learn more about our sponsors
How are the Awards judged?
The finalists are selected by an independent panel of experts that includes an expert for that sector, last year’s winner and a member of the Farmers Weekly editorial team.
Three short-listed finalists will be selected from the entries for each category by this judging team.
Each of these finalists is visited by the category judging team during the summer.
The sponsor will also take part in the visits as well as a photographer.
Meet the judges:
Meet the first confirmed judges – over the coming weeks the full list will be announced here.
JOCK WILLMOTT
Partner, Strutt and Parker
Judging category: Arable Farmer of the Year
Biography: Jock Willmott works for S&P’s farming department which dovetails in with the land management and farm agency teams.
He is a partner in the firm and his main responsibilities are:
Judging Tip:
“What I am looking for is a businesses that punchs above its weight for the resources at its disposal, businesses that are consistent and focussed on profitable farming with an eye on the future.”
SIMON MARSH
Senior Lecturer, Harper Adams University College
Judging category: Beef Farmer of the Year
Biography: Simon comes from a Lancashire farming family and studied Agriculture at Newcastle University in 1977. He worked as a beef cattle specialist with ADAS for 6 years in Cumbria before moving to the Midlands to work for Rumenco as Technical Manager for a period of 12 years.
In 1999 he took the post of Senior Lecturer – Beef Specialist at Harper Adams University College with responsibility for all beef production teaching as well as research on the Colleges 100 head bull beef unit.
Simon has presented over 50 scientific papers at numerous conferences including: The British Society of Animal Science, British Cattle Breeders, British Cattle Veterinary Association and Maize Growers Association.
Judging tip:
“I will be looking for a beef producer who is putting science into practice.
“Someone who is running an efficient system that is both sustainable, but more importantly, profitable.
“This is for all beef producers – with either sucklers or dairy-bred beef cattle, with either continentals or native breeds on either an intensive or extensive system.”
GEOFF SANSOME
Director, Natural England
Judging category: Countryside Farmer of the Year
Biography: Geoff Sansome is currently the Performance Director for Natural England. Geoff has over 30 years of experience in advising farmers as an agronomist, environmentalist and International development consultant.
The common theme throughout his career has been one of helping farmers adapt to new technologies and change.
He is also a working partner in a family farm in Worcestershire and knows first-hand the issues surrounding the integration of countryside management and agri-environment schemes with commercial farming for the benefit of biodiversity.
Geoff is a Nuffield Farming Scholar and has gained extensive experience of how other countries are rising to the similar environmental challenges our farmers are faced with.
As a result of his Nuffield studies he has returned to North America several times to help the development of their Farm Environmental Planning approaches, complementing his previous experience in over twenty different countries.
Judging tip:
“The critical issue for me is that the farmer has an understanding of, and belief in the wildlife enhancements they are delivering as part of their day to day business operations.
“I will be looking for how countryside management takes its place not only as an enterprise alongside other enterprises on the farm, but also how it complements and adds value to the wider farm business.
“Quite simply if the environmental subsidies stopped tomorrow would the farm continue with its current environmental practices which protect and enhance biodiversity.”
DAVID COTTON
Chairman, RABDF
Judging category: Dairy Farmer of the Year
Biography: David Cotton is the current chairman of the RABDF. He is a fourth generation dairy farmer in central Somerset where he farms a herd of 160 cows on 600 acres. The farm has diversified and boasts office accommodation, a small campsite and is currently looking into developing more office space and renewable energy.
David is also a director of Kingshill Farming Company, an arable business set up in 1999, farming 1,500 acres. He has previously attended the Worshipful Company of Farmers Agricultural Business Management Course and the IAgrM Leadership Course and is a member of the Council of the Royal Bath and West of England Society, an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies and on the Council of MilkLink.
Judging tip:
“It is not just about the performance but looking at the all round business; whether the farm is wholly focussed on dairy or has other enterprises, how the farm relates to the local community, whether the farmer has other interests outside of the farm and what the long term prospects are for that business.
“There is no one way to be a dairy farmer and how the resources of that business are managed is very important.”
ALAN SPEDDING
Freelance rural consultant
Judging category: Diversification Farmer of the Year
Biography: Alan Spedding was born on a Lancashire dairy farm and has a degree in agriculture from Nottingham University and in arts from the Open University.
He was a beef specialist with the Meat and Livestock Commission, and ran the beef unit at Stoneleigh, then was Communications manager at RASE.
In 2002 he became a freelance consultant and has developed RuSource which sends out short briefings weekly to 1200 rural professionals.
He is editor of the RASE Journal and Secretary of the Amenity Forum (doing a Voluntary Initiative for the amenity Sector). He has published reports for RASE (‘New Blood’) on getting new people into agriculture and for the Farm Crisis Network (‘Stress and Loss) on the impact of bovine TB on Farming Families.
He has run the RASE Eqvalan Equine dissertation prize for 10 years and helped set up and run BIAC Young Consultant of the Year for three years.
Judging tip:
“I expect there to be plenty bright, imaginative people running profitable enterprise so I will be looking among them for something fresh and new”.
ANDREW JANAWAY
Farmer, Hampshire
Judging category: Farm Adviser of the Year
Biograhpy: Andrew Janaway farms 1,500ha in Hampshire and 400Ha in Angus, Scotland, in partnership with brothers Gavin and Duncan.
The business focuses on producing seed and processing potatoes, combinable crops and organic vegetables.
There is also an organic free-range egg enterprise and a beef suckler herd.
Judging tip:
“Advisers play a crucial role in many successful farm businesses.
“I’d expect our winner to have a combination of professionalism, practical understanding and a strong empathy with their client and client’s business helping them to achieve clearly defined goals.”
PHILIP WYNN
Director, Wynn Business Partnerships Ltd
Judging category: Farm Contractor of the Year
Biography: Philip started his farm management career on mixed farms in the southern England before moving to Lincolnshire in 1983.
In 1986 he formed Aubourn Farming which was developed into a national rural consultancy business operating as a subsidiary of Savills plc. He was appointed Head of Agribusiness for Savills before leaving to initiate Wynn Business Partnerships in 2006.
During the 18 years of Aubourn’s development, he cultivated a strong practical understanding of running successful large scale farming operations.
Today, he has responsibility for the management of 8,000 acres and provides strategic and financial advice to a wide range of corporate and family businesses involved in both general farming and fresh produce. In addition, he undertakes a number of non-executive roles and is Chairman of two farming cooperatives.
Judging Tip:
“I will be seeking to find the contractor that continually delights his farming clients through his efficient and cost effective delivery.
“This top rate service will need to be carefully linked to the profitability of his own business and his ability to reinvest in both efficiency and new technology to ensure the operation is sustainable for the long term.”
FRANCIS MORDAUNT
Farm business adviser and agriculture industry analyst
Judging category: Farm Manager of the Year
Biography: Francis has 42 years’ experience in farm business advice and information, working with businesses from Cornwall to Caithness and from Kent to Wester Ross.
He started as an agricultural business consultant in the private sector after graduating from Durham and Reading Universities.
After 20 years in commercial agricultural business consultancy in the English Midlands and with SAC in Scotland, he joined Andersons in 1988 to open the company’s offices in Edinburgh and became a partner in 1996, moving to the head office in Melton Mowbray.
The business research team which he subsequently ran for The Andersons Centre until his retirement in 2009 specialises in interpreting the implications of the CAP for farmers, landowners, professionals and agribusinesses. It also publishes the ABC Professional Update, the Budgeting and Costing Book and the John Nix Pocketbook.
Judging tip:
“The successful farm manager should have a strategic plan that has taken into account the location and resources of the business and likely future government support and policy change.
“They should have excellent technical and financial skills, staff leadership and development, and an awareness of environmental issues”.
MEURIG RAYMOND
Deputy President, NFU
Judging category: Farmworker of the Year
Biography: Meurig was re-elected for a fourth term to serve as deputy president of the NFU in February this year. He farms 3,100 acres in Pembrokeshire in partnership with his twin brother.
The farm grows 2,000 acres of combinable crops and 270 acres of potatoes.
There are 620 dairy cows, with 300 followers.
The farm also has 600 head of beef cattle and around 2,500 store lambs, fattened during winter.
Meurig, born in 1952, was elected local branch chairman of the NFU in 1979 and Pembrokeshire county chairman in 1989.
In 1992 he became the Welsh NFU treasurer and served as the Pembrokeshire delegate on NFU Council between 1995 and 2004.
He served as vice-chairman of the NFU Cereals Committee between 1999 and 2001 and on the Agricultural Wages Board for six years from 1998. He was elected as Vice President of the NFU in 2004 and became Deputy President in 2006.
Meurig represented Wales on the Home Grown Cereals Authority between 1997 and 2004 and he served on the Council of Food from Britain between 1997and 2003. He became a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society in 2000 and was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in January 2005 for his services to agriculture.
Meurig is also a board member of Flood Risk Management Wales, Vice Chairman of Assured Food Standards, and also serves as a trustee of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI).
Judging tip:
“A good farmworker obviously needs to be dedicated, hard-working and highly motivated. But I will also be looking at how they use modern, sophisticated equipment and the extent to which they are able to grasp new innovations.
“I will also be looking for a good working relationship with the farmer and rest of the team.”
ANDREW KNEESHAW
Managing Director, Farm Energy Centre
Judging category: Green Energy Farmer of the Year
Biography: Andrew originates from East Yorkshire. His father was a butcher turned agricultural supply rep.
He attended the University of Bradford to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering and started his career working for the Yorkshire Electricity Board.
He soon started doing energy advisory work for the company and moved to Stoneleigh in 1982 to continue this with the Farm Energy Centre.
He’s been there every since. During that time (which he admits is far too long to work at one place) he’s done nationally recognised technical work in energy systems for livestock housing, waste treatment, crop storage and drying, dairy and horticulture – in fact in most areas of the land based industries.
He’s seen the emphasis change from how we can use more energy to increase production to how we can stop using it and remain viable. Now the managing director of the Farm Energy Centre he continues to be involved in both one-farm and strategic energy work.
Judging tip:
“Just in the same way that a bible printer cannot expect eternal salvation, a renewable energy producer cannot necessarily expect to be regarded as a great environmentalist. How someone uses energy is arguably more important than the fact that they generate it.
“I’ll be looking for someone who understands their energy use; knows where it goes and has made rational steps to minimize it. Energy use and generation must occupy their rightful place and dovetail in with the wider aspirations of the farm business both environmentally and financially.”
COLIN DENNIS, CBE
Chair, English Food & Drink Alliance
Judging category: Local Food Farmer of the Year
Biography: Professor Colin Dennis CBE, DL is chair of the English Food & Drink Alliance whose members are regional food groups providing support services to over 3000 small and medium food enterprises..
This appointment follows a distinguished career in food science and technology, culminating in 21 years as Director-General of Campden BRI, formerly Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association Group.
Prior to this he worked for 11 years at the Institute of Food Research in Norwich.
He is also President of the Institute of Food Science and Technology, a governor and visiting professor at the Royal Agricultural College, a board member of the National Skills Academy, the International Food Information Service and of the Countryside and Community Research Institute.
Colin was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the agri-food industry in 2009 and continues to work as a private consultant to businesses and governments around the world.
Judging tip:
“The winner of this award will be a passionate advocate for local food, valuing integrity of the produce extremely highly.
“I will be looking for people with sound business sense and a clear vision.”
“They will be adapting successfully and profitably to challenging new conditions with the help of enthusiastic and well-motivated employees who share that vision.”
DR ZOE DAVIES
General Manager, National Pig Association
Judging category: Pig Farmer of the Year
Biography: Zoe Davies was appointed the National Pig Association’s (NPA) Regions Manager in 2008, following five years with DEFRA where she managed the research and development on animal health and welfare. She is now the NPA’s general manager.
She has hands-on practical farming experience as manager of a British Quality Pigs research farm as well as a doctorate.
She is currently on a Nuffield Scholarship exploring the impacts of global food demand on the British pig industry.
Judging tip:
“I am looking for someone who is not simply running a fantastic business, but who understands and inspires their staff and customers.
“They need to be thinking creatively and driving forward innovations in productivity, welfare and customer focus.
“It’s also vital that they demonstrate passion for the industry in which they work and show they appreciate the importance of being part of the bigger picture of farming.”
JASON GITTINS
Senior Consultant, ADAS
Judging category: Poultry Farmer of the Year
Biography: Jason Gittins is a Senior Consultant with ADAS, working in the Sustainable Livestock Group.
He studied Agricultural Science at Nottingham University and has now worked for ADAS for over 25 years.
Much of his work is within the poultry sector and he operates throughout England and Wales, working with a range of commercial companies including producers, integrated companies and at retail level.
He works closely with UK Government Departments and Agencies, mainly dealing with the impacts of legislation and policy on the poultry sector.
His main areas of input include animal welfare, pollution control, sustainability and product quality.
Judging tip:
“This award is open to all poultry farmers, whether they are involved in eggs or poultry meat. In judging this year’s competition, I will be looking for someone with enthusiasm who can demonstrate success through technical efficiency, innovation and marketing.
“Someone who can anticipate future challenges and plan accordingly. And finally, someone who sets a positive example that can inspire others. ”
DR LIZ GENEVER
EBLEX livestock scientist
Judging category: Sheep Farmer of the Year
Biography: Dr Liz Genever has been a beef and sheep scientist with EBLEX for six years. She works within the R&D team and looks after a range of EBLEX-funded research projects.She will be involved with over 50 farm events a year, and will also write technical booklets for the Better Returns Programme. Her current area of interest is grass and forage management, and getting more producers to measure their grass.
She comes from a mixed farm in South Lincolnshire, and has been helping with the sheep since the age of three.
Judging tip:
“I am particularly interested in sheep producers who are maximising their use of grass and forage.
“I will also be looking for businesses that are thinking ahead with regards to the changing climate and lamb consumption.
“An understanding of cost of production, liveweight gains and ewe efficiency would also be ideal
PAUL WILSON
Director, Rural Business Research Unit, University of Nottingham
Judging category: Young Farmer of the Year
Biography: Paul Wilson comes from a farming background in Cumbria’s Eden Valley. A graduate of Newcastle upon Tyne (BSc and PhD in Agricultural Economics), he is Associate Professor of Agricultural Management and Economics, and Director of the University of Nottingham’s Rural Business Research Unit.
Dr Wilson is also Chief Executive Officer of Rural Business Research, leading the highly respected Farm Business Survey research programme for England.
His specific research interests include farm profitability, farm efficiency, farm to retail price transmission and bioenergy.
Dr Wilson is also course manager for the BSc Agricultural degrees at Nottingham, which includes three new agricultural degrees for students entering University in September 2012.
Nottingham’s research and teaching focuses upon the fundamental and applied aspects of agricultural science and business management, with food security for a growing world population being a key focus.
Judging tip:
“The winner needs to apply science, technology and business knowhow, information and skills to drive forward a profitable and environmentally sustainable farming business.
“Drawing upon a strong passion for farming, they must demonstrate attention to detail, business vision and energy to enhance the image of agriculture to consumers and society”.
