Farmers Weekly Awards 2015: Young Farmer of the Year

William Willis

Glasoforest, Aberdeenshire

William Willis took a pragmatic look at the business he inherited 10 years ago, and has not stood still since. The farm is restructured, the herd healthier and new installations he has made will set his operation, near Aberdeen, on a steady course for years to come. Winning Young Farmer of the Year is recognition for a decade of hard work, placing his business on a firm footing.

It’s a resounding success for someone who had to take on the family farm after the death of his father while he was still studying at university. Suddenly, William was expected to keep the farm afloat while completing his studies. This he achieved, and the experience seemingly instilled the confidence to transform the business in the years that followed.

See also: More about the Farmers Weekly Awards

He graduated with a 2:1 in agriculture, and was RABDF and Barclay’s dairying student of the year.

The farm is a prime example of how fresh eyes, can give vigour to a farm business.

Today, at 30 years old, he farms in partnership with his mother, managing day-to-day operations and the overall direction of the business.

His guiding hand and hard work have seen the farm making money even when the organic milk price collapsed as the recession hit. Today, net profits are triple those of 2010 and there is confidence and cash available for investment, though the focus is paying off loans taken recently to modernise the business.

William has effectively moved the farm by about 200m, building a new parlour and shifting silage clamps, enabling him to redevelop old farm buildings into houses, with further planning permission to optimise the value of the farm’s “non-agricultural” assets.

Like all progressive farmers, William has an investment plan, and has used the value released from these assets to reinvest in the commercial farming operation. He has improved cow tracks, and partitioned fields to improve sward management and optimise grass utilisation, explaining that previously, cows would tire a field before they were moved.

His mantra throughout has been to rationalise the business and make farming it more efficient.

The quality of forage is a key element of his business model – producing the highest-quality feed possible at the lowest price. “You think grass would be an easy crop to grow, but the more you get into it the more there is to learn,” he says.

William has also focused on his herd’s health, and the genetics. An important step was beginning to administer AI himself, and taking a more active role in the selection of bull semen. Fertility is a target for improvement and, while he hopes to be lifting milk yield from 7,500 litres to above 8,000 litres, he is conscious that pushing production too hard may hit other health measures.

William is beginning to look at further opportunities for gaining a premium for his milk. He has a premium for his organic milk, but is looking at the possibility of processing a portion himself, even making artisan ice cream.

But then that’s William all over: attentive, logical and taking a rational, step-by-step approach to business.

Finalists

Rich Dayment

Crouch Farm, Sussex

Rich has taken on an organic dairy farm with an exciting business model, in which an established partner provides the capital, and he builds up equity in the business with good performance. Fifteen months in and he is storming ahead – managing 520ha of grassland.

Matthew Sharp

The Rising Sun Farm, Tyneside

Matthew’s unbridled enthusiasm for agriculture has shone through all of his great achievements to date. At just 22, he is solely responsible for a farm that specialises in community engagement. Definitely one to watch.

Sponsor’s message

We are proud to be British agriculture’s biggest supporter and through our Future Farmer Foundation programme we know the importance of investment in young farmers. I was impressed at the calibre of finalists this year.

Hannah Donegan, agriculture manager, lamb