Winners of some of the best farms in the county are announced

The presentation to award 15 certificates and three large trophies and tankards will take place on Thursday July 8 at Ash Farm, All Saints, near Halesworth. The annual competition is sponsored by The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AMC) PLC and Robinson and Hall, Land and Property consultants and representatives will be on hand to award the prizes. The competition this year attracted about 20 entries and has three entry categories: Small farms (up to 200 hectares), Medium Farms (200-399 hectares) and Large farms (over 400 hectares) It is also open to farm contractors enabling an owner to enter his farm which is run by a contractor for day to day operations. Contractors can enter their total business, comprising owned or hired land and any subsequent contract farming operations, in addition there are several special awards.

Sue Allington, Regional Agricultural Manager for AMC East Anglia commented: “I am very pleased that AMC have the opportunity to support the competition again this year. We are delighted to continue to encourage sound and well run farming businesses and the competition really does promote the excellence of Suffolk farming in terms of farm practice and farm investment strategies.” 

Chris Leney, Partner at“Robinson & Hall said “We are delighted to have been involved in Farm Business Competition again this year. As with previous years, the quality of entries have been exceptional, and the judges have certainly had their work cut out deciding on the winners. The two days of judging have allowed the judges and stewards to see and experience Suffolk farming at its best.”

Praising the entrants of the small farms category, farmer judges from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Edward Walters and David Passmore said Jason and Katharine Salisbury, who farm 60 dairy cattle on 85 acres, at Whitegate Farm, Creeting St Mary, are “inspirational examples of a first generation farming couple who thanks to their drive and vision have established themselves and achieved success in such a very short time and added considerable value to their milk with the introduction of their Suffolk Gold and Blue Cheeses and direct milk sales.”

Pig farmers the Mortimers of Fir Tree Farm, Metfield, collected second prize and the award for best livestock enterprise for their 2540 pig units comprising 240 breeding sows, 1000 finishers and 1300 other pigs. Making use of dirty water as well as a contract baking business and supply of pork to the village shop and other outlets  impressed the judges who said, ”An extremely knowledgeable pig farmer with a great passion for his business and the pig industry. Fir Tree Farm is an excellent example of a pig unit on a small area with a good cooperative with the neighbouring arable farmer. The business was also diversifying into dirty water contracting and looking to add value with pork products.” Third prize was won by Sarah and David Robertson of Valley Road, Wickham Market for their variety of diversification projects including development of a children’s residential holiday centre. Judges commented,” We were extremely impressed by the way she engaged so many children and young people with her horse related activities which also created considerable employment.”

Winners of the medium farm category are Ash Farm Partners All Saints, Halesworth, who also picked up the award for the best livestock enterprise. Judges Edward Bishop and Richard Davey remarked on its exceptional crops, particularly wheat, and a good balance of arable and livestock – it has 200 hectares of wheat, 16 hectares of beans and 69 of oil seed rape, seven of barley and 450 beef cattle and 300 veal calves.

Second, Nigel Rolph who farms 340 hectares at Grove Farm, Ufford, was praised for the farm’s social and community involvement with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and sugar beet crops.

Finally P C Kindred  the trading name of Crabbes and Park Farm, Parham won the third prize and the best crop award for oil seed rape and was praised for being “ a very well farmed farm with exceptional seed crops.” “The farming we saw was of exceptional standard. The farmers integrated good farming practice with conservation, producing habitats for wildlife without compromising the quality and efficiency of their land management. The diversifications were imaginative and brought people onto the farms and contributed vital income,” said Ed Bishop.

In the large farm category John Brown and Sons of Bury St Edmunds who farms 829 hectares, the majority wheat, but also sugar beet and oil seed rape was the winner. His diversification projects include a carp and coarse fishery, trout fishery, wedding and events venues, holiday lets, soil blending as well as commercial and residential lettings.

Second prize went to a previous winner F G Taylor of Clopton, who entered three farms and contract farming agreements. The farms participate in the Entry Level Scheme and Countryside Stewardship and have a pool hare, horse riding schemes, hold hangar dances and WWII open days as well as have a war museum used for educational visits.

The final winner in this category was Jack Webber at Copdoes Farm, Great Welnetham near Bury for 546 hectares of combinable crops, peas and oil seed rape.

Three other special prizes were awarded in each category as listed below.

Sponsors Susan Allington, East Anglia Regional agricultural manager of AMC and Chris Leney, Partner of Robinson & Hall, Land and Property Consultants, accompanied the judges.

Judging is based on the whole business and its overall management which leaves a substantial part of the marking under an overall business management heading. Sub-headings include management of the farms, including enterprise management, marketing, employment and investment strategy.  They also considered business sustainability of land occupation including product development, diversification and long-term development as well as the farm’s social and community involvement, acknowledging its need to acknowledge its role in the community through activities including local education, public land use or employment and facilities for clubs.