Welcome to our special Farmers Weekly Awards 2007 page. These farming awards showcase the very best of British agriculture.

Below you will find our 36 finalists who will compete to win one of 12 categories to be announced at our farming awards night on 31 October at the Grosvenor House hotel, London.

Each of the Farmers Weekly Farming awards finalists are listed below, and as we profile them, their names will be linked (hyperlinked in blue) to their full stories - facts about their businesses and how their innovations and achievements have made a real difference, as well as a selection of pictures.

Farmers Weekly Beef Farmer of the Year - sponsored by McDonalds 

This farming award recognises best practice and innovation in beef production

Adrian Ivory

Strathisla farms, Moolies, Meigle, Perthshire

• 650ha mixed farming enterprise majoring on 200 head of commercial suckler cows and pedigree Simmental and Charolais cattle. An inspirational pedigree and commercial breeding unit.

Beckhithe Farms

(Barry Brooks and Gary Gray), Hall Farm, Reedham, Norfolk

• Family run and owned mixed beef and arable unit consisting of 3000 head of beef cattle, with 1000 head of Black Limousin suckler cattle run on 1624ha (4015 acres) on ESA marshes. A well-structured and marketed beef business.

Jilly Greed

Fortescue Farm, Thorverton, Exeter, Devon

• A 202ha family-run beef farm, consisting of 180 head of spring-calving South Devon and pedigree Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle. A visionary and passionate commitment to South West regional beef branding.

Farmers Weekly Livestock Adviser of the Year - sponsored by Silotite 

This farming award recognises the impact and influence advisers have on their clients' businesses

Keith Cutler

Endell Vet Group, Salisbury, Wiltshire

• Senior farm animal partner in a mixed vet practice in the cathedral city of Salisbury. Dedicated to helping farmers make the most of their businesses through proactive animal health planning.

David Black

Paragon Vets, Carlisle, Cumbria

• Managing director of Paragon Vets and has been the driving force behind the development of XL Vets, a nationwide network of dedicated farm animal vets. Creating new revenue streams by providing a number of specialist services to clients.

John Vipond

SAC, Edinburgh

• Sheep consultant with SAC, Edinburgh. Commitment to ensuring UK sheep farmers have a profitable and sustainable future through the development of easier-care sheep systems.

Farmers Weekly Sheep Farmer of the Year - sponsored by Farm Health Planning

This farming award is for sheep producers who are demonstrating excellence in their businesses

John Martin

Gordonhall Farms, Greyabbey, Newtonards, Co Down

• Mixed family farm running 500 breeding ewes and 25 suckler cows alongside a small arable enterprise.

John and Helen Renner

North Bellshill, Belford, Northumberland

• Owner occupiers of 146ha North Bellshill, where 320 breeding ewes are run alongside an arable enterprise, which is contracted out to a neighbouring farmer.

Peter Baber

Weir Park Farm, Christow, Exeter, Devon

• A 120ha farm running 650 ewes. Dynamic approach to the sheep industry and a willingness to provide exactly what customers need.

Farmers Weekly Arable Adviser of the Year - sponsored by Crops

This farming award recognises the impact and influence advisers have in the arable sector

Patrick Stephenson

Pickering, North Yorkshire

• Independent agronomist covering 4800ha of mainly combinable crops. Wide experience combined with innovative business and technical ideas.

Steve Portas

Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire

• Masstock agronomist covering 4800ha of combinable crops, plus sugar beet, potatoes and beetroot.

Sean Sparling

Market Rasen, Lincolnshire

• Independent agronomist advising on 5600ha of combinable crops plus roots, potatoes and turf. Passion for farming, the environment and his customers.

Farmers Weekly Dairy Farmer of the Year - sponsored by Cepravin

This farming award recognises the commitment and innovation needed in this sector

Lyndon Edwards

Severndale Farm, Chepstow, Monmouthshire

Q A 210-cow organic Holstein/Friesian and Brown Swiss herd averaging 7500 litres a year. Doubled the size of his business to take advantage of the demand for organic milk.

Paul Colwill

Welsford Farm, Hartland, North Devon

• A 450-cow Holstein/Friesian dairy unit with three full-time employees. Passion for the environment and communicating with the public.

Geoffrey Spence

Low Field Farm, Brompton, Northallerton

• A 350-cow high-output dairy business yielding 10,300 litres a year. Expanded his herd significantly using a strong team of professionals to maintain profitability.

Farmers Weekly Contractor of the Year - sponsored by Kleber

This farming award is for the contractor who demonstrates real value and vision for their customers

David Prouse

Roy Prouse Contractors, Holsworthy, Devon

• Highly diversified contracting business. Reliable, customer-focused attitude that allows a clear margin for profit.

Mike Simpson

Winterborne Kingston, Blandford, Dorset

• One half of a collaborative arrangement with another local contractor allowing both outfits to benefit from cost sharing and economies of scale under the joint venture Pro-Ag Services.

Steven Suggitt

Suggitt Farm Services, East Harling, Norwich, Norfolk

• Focuses on baling and muck handling, but operations rapidly expanding. Developed a diverse range of services and boosted turnover by 1000% since 2003.

Farmers Weekly Local Food Farmer of the Year - sponsored by Farmshop.uk.com

This new farming award identifies individuals who have succesfully developed the local food market  

Chris and Wendy Pope

Barford Farmhouse Ice Cream, Wimbourne, Dorset

• Use milk from the farm's 190 Holstein cows to make premium ice-creams for local distribution.

Colin Dawes

Foxbury Farm Shop, Brize Norton, Oxfordshire

• All the beef, lamb and pork produced on this 242ha unit is sold through the farm shop and butchery.

John Geldard

Plumgarths Hub, Low Foulshaw Levens, Cumbria

• Farm shop, ready-meal business for the catering sector and a hub for 20 regional producers. Remarkable business growth and sound vision of development.

This farming award recognises innovation and expertise in the poultry sector

Lorna and Nick Chippindale

Chippindale Foods, Harrogate, North Yorkshire

• Family-run business, working with more than 15 contract producers to supply own-brand eggs to Morrisons' and independent customers.

Rod Adlington

Turkey Talk, Pheasant Oak Farm, Balsall Common, Coventry

• Turkey business, supplying elite retailers, such as Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, and 250 smaller independents with barn-reared, corn-fed turkeys all year round.

Paul Kelly

Kelly Turkeys, Springate Farm, Danbury, Essex

• Turkey business with 30,000 breeders, hatching 1.6m poults to supply 268 customers a year. A business with strong social responsibility and marketing strategy.

Farmers Weekly Farm Manager of the Year - sponsored by Claas

This farming award is for the farm manager who demonstrates high levels of business and practical expertise

Doug Pickup

Sentry Ltd (North Norfolk), Buildings Farm, Syderstone, King's Lynn, Norfolk

• Contract farming 1835 ha in north Norfolk over seven arable units. Excellent cost control, technical ability and bullish about maximising margins while minimising risk.

Robert Drysdale

The Co-operative Farms, Delab Farm, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire

• Contract farming 1430ha arable cropping plus 150-cow suckler herd and strategic alliance with 450-sow pig herd.

George Perrott

Clinton Farms, Colaton Raleigh, Sidmouth, Devon

• Manages 400ha of arable cropping, two 8300-litre dairy units and 1300 breeding ewes. Focused on local markets for output, excellent ecological awareness and outstanding vision.

Farmers Weekly Countryside Farmer of the Year - sponsored the Environment Agency

This farming award goes to the person best able to show their commitment to the environment in their business

Robert Helliwell

Upper Booth, Edale, Hope Valley, Derbyshire

• A 379ha upland sheep and beef farm with a campsite. Considered biodiversity plan and sensitive use of the natural assets.

Jeremy Padfield

Church Farm, Radstock, Bath, Somerset

• Family-run business incorporating arable and beef enterprises with an equine livery and milkround. Attentive to wildlife and the landscape and tries to be as energy efficient as possible.

Rob Allan

Upton House Estate, Banbury, Oxfordshire

• Manages a privately owned 809ha estate. Skilled farmer, who also contributed to big increases in wildlife numbers.

Farmers Weekly Arable Farmer of the Year - sponsored by Terra

This farming award recognises technical excellence and business vision in the arable sector

Mike Forbes

Omachie Farm, Kingennie, Dundee

• A 485ha mixed farm. Passion for business development having taken over 26ha from his father 12 years ago.

David Sunnucks

Maydays Farm, Mersea Island, Colchester, Essex

• A 566ha unit rented from eight landlords. Skilled business manager, who has placed emphasis on introducing new break crops.

John Barrett

Sentry Ltd (Norfolk), Hedenham, Bungay, Suffolk

• A 1700 ha all-arable contract business farming on five farms. Passion for arable farming and sound business management.

Farmers Weekly Young Farmer of the Year - sponsored by Massey Ferguson

This young farming award for those 35 years old or under recognises brilliance in the next generation

Philip Halhead

Norbreck Farm, Cockerham, Lancashire

• Dairy and beef unit with 200 Holstein Milk cows and followers. Sheep wintered for hill farmers. Highly effective business and marketing plans.

Nick Davies

Brakes Farm, Downton Castle, Ludlow, Shropshire

• Head shepherd on a 485ha estate farm. Skilled flock manager and a high level of environmental and social responsibility.

William Parrish

Stondon Manor, Stondon, Henlow, Bedfordshire

• A 590ha all-arable unit growing combinable crops. Passion for arable farming combined with a determination to make the most of crop marketing opportunities.

Other stories about the Farmers Weekly 2007 Awards...

• Meet the 2007 Farmers Weekly Awards judges
  
• How winning can benefit your business