FW Awards: Meet the 2026 Mixed Farmer of the Year finalists

This year’s mixed farmer of the year finalists show a strong sense of business resilience and are producing exceptional beef cattle from contrasting systems.

See also: FW Awards: Meet the 2026 Farm Manager of the Year finalists

The finalists

• Stephen Matthews-Jones, Upper House Farm, Powys
• Edward Walters, Bower Farm, Berkshire
• JL White & Son, Manor Farm, East Yorkshire

The judges

• Ashley Jones – FW’s 2025 Mixed Farmer and overall Farmer of the Year winner, farming beef, sheep and arable in Cornwall.
• Andrew Robinson – Senior agricultural partner for agricultural accountants Armstrong Watson LLP, based in Northumberland.
• Emma Gillbard – FW’s deputy arable editor, specialising in
  soil health and crop nutrition. She has worked for the arable team for seven years.

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Stephen Matthews-Jones, Upper House Farm, Powys

On a 170ha mixed farm in Wales, Stephen Matthews-Jones is producing 12m eggs over 80 weeks and fattens more than 1,000 lambs and 30 cattle each year.

Looking to add a new enterprise to his existing beef and sheep farm, sixth-generation farmer Stephen diversified into laying hens in 2016. He now has two sheds, encompassing 32,000 laying hens.

The business has grown tenfold over the past 10 years, including expansion of a second chicken shed in 2020 and a new packing machine, saving an hour of labour a day. The business can now pack 30,000 eggs in just 90 minutes. 

Stephen has a strong focus on welfare, proven by the fact his flock is taken to plus 80 weeks, with exceptional feather cover. In fact, egg mass is nearly 0.5kg above breed target.

Antibiotics are not used in the laying hens, instead focusing on preventative and alternative health measures.

Water is treated with acid and chlorine through an automated system with nutritional supplements added to feed when required. 

Sheep

Running 780 Welsh Mule and Scotch Blackface Mule ewes, Stephen achieves scanning rates averaging 185%.

Scotch Mules are put to pedigree Suffolk rams on, with Texel and Texel-cross Charollais rams on the Welsh mules.

Lambs are sold directly to the abattoir, via the Dunbia Taste the Difference Gold scheme, which supplies Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, and Tesco, averaging 20.2kg deadweight.

During lambing time, Stephen and wife Kate use probiotics, spraying a pruex-type probiotic into individual pens each day to promote beneficial bacteria and reduce harmful pathogens.

Each newborn lamb is dosed with a garlic-based alternative helping reduce watery mouth.

Vaccination programmes, including toxoplasmosis and abortion vaccines such as Cevac, have significantly reduced losses, particularly in younger ewes, reducing reliance on antibiotics.

Cattle

Calving takes place mainly in March, aligning with lambing to maximise labour efficiency.

The cattle enterprise provides an additional income stream and valuable farmyard manure, which goes on to the arable land.

Cattle are generally sold to ABP, and on average, bulls weigh close to 400kg deadweight, achieving predominantly grade R and U3L.

Stephen keeps British Blue cross dairy suckler cows, which are either put to a Limousin or Parthenaise bull.

Trace element management is another key focus as land is deficient in selenium and iodine.

Mineral buckets and bolusing has led to noticeable improvements in calf health, including stronger suckling behaviour at birth, better colostrum quality, and a reduction in calf scour cases.

Arable

The arable operation supports the wider farm by producing feed and bedding, improving overall self-sufficiency. Any surplus is sold to offset purchased inputs.

The farm grows spring barley, oats, wheat and fodder radish that are grazed by sheep. The arable land receives poultry manure and muck to reduce artificial fertiliser use.

Winter wheat yields frequently hit 10t/ha, thanks to the mixed farming methods keeping weed pressure low and soil biology high.

For the past year, beehives have been on site, working with a local beekeeper to produce honey and attract pollinators to the farm.

The farm installed 57kW of solar panels on the poultry shed roofs, which has reduced electricity costs by one-third.

Community

Outside the farm, Stephen is actively involved in the local community particularly as a club leader for Radnor Valley Young Farmers Club, where he frequently coaches livestock judging and public speaking.

Stephen credits his workman, Jamie – who has worked at the farm for more than a decade – for his help and support over the years, alongside experienced lamber Fred and veterinary students that have helped each lambing for more than 20 years.

Stephen and Kate’s 14-year-old twins, Cerys and Owen, also actively help in the poultry shed, grading packing eggs and working with sheep in their spare time.

“Supporting young people – whether through work placements or involvement in Young Farmers – is something I value highly,” says Stephen.

The farm is also hosting the local ploughing match this September.

The numbers

• 32,000 laying hens
• 1,000 lambs fattened per year
• 30 suckler cows, with followers
• 90min time it takes to pack 30,000 eggs
• 185% average scanning percentage

Farm facts

• 170ha mixed farm in Wales, with laying hens, sheep, beef and arable
• The farm installed 57kW of solar panels on shed roofs, reducing electricity costs by one-third
• Probiotics are used in lambing pens to promote beneficial bacteria
• Mixed farming methods mean wheat yields frequently achieve 10t/ha

What the judges liked

• Quality laying hen flock with exceptional feather cover
• Clear integration between each enterprise
• Strong focus on premium supermarket schemes
• Impressive food output per hectare

What the judges say

The farm produces what the market wants to maximise margins, not solely output focused. The attention to animal welfare and detail was clear to see, evidenced by the extra weeks of production achieved by the free-range hen enterprise.

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Edward Walters, Bower Farm, Berkshire

Edward Walters has developed an integrated farming system of 16,000 free-range turkeys and fattens 650 dairy beef cattle a year, alongside 500ha of cropping.

The beef enterprise involves rearing dairy beef calves – mainly Angus-cross – utilising strategic grazing and outwintering techniques targeted around herbal leys to reduce concentrate use.

Herbal leys have proved far more resilient than traditional grass systems in drought years, with deeper-rooting plants able to remain productive for longer.

Earlier this spring, cattle averaged an impressive 2.2kg of daily liveweight gain over a six-week period on herbal leys after being outwintered.

Cattle are taken through to finish at about 20-24 months. Beef is sold through the Kepak Aberdeen Angus Scheme or via specialist regenerative beef outlet Grassroots Farmers.

Membership requires an annual audit, including a full carbon assessment, which showed Edward’s beef system generated around 50% less carbon than a standard beef unit.

Arable

The arable business grows a mixture of feed and milling wheat, spring malting barley, oilseed rape, peas and spring oats.

The cropping benefits significantly from the livestock and herbal leys, with cattle integrated into the rotation and cover crops used to increase soil organic matter and improve soil health.

Much of the spring cropping ground is also utilised for outwintering yearling beef cattle.

The cropping area is a combination of tenanted and contract-farmed land, taking the total farmed area to more than 1,000ha.

Turkeys

The business also includes a successful free-range turkey business supplying premium Christmas birds to independent retailers. This incorporates 12,000 turkeys on site and 4,000 organic turkeys off site.

From seven weeks of age, turkeys are fed a home-mixed ration using wheat and oats grown on the farm.

This provides greater traceability, flexibility and control over feed quality, while making better use of home-grown crops.

The business primarily supplies butchers and farm shops across southern England.

However, through membership of the Scottish Butchers Federation, Edward has also established a strong customer base with independent butchers throughout Scotland.

Investment in modern processing facilities, combined with an advanced IT system for ordering and stock control, has enabled the business to expand significantly while improving efficiency and customer service.

Grant funding has also supported the installation of a modern weighing system, allowing every flock to be managed according to its specific strain.

Birds are housed in dedicated sheds, enabling accurate monitoring of growth rates and allowing feeding programmes to be adjusted to ensure each flock consistently meets market specifications.

Looking ahead

Edward sees the greatest opportunity in expanding the integrated beef and arable model through additional rented and contract-farmed land.

“The combination of livestock and cropping allows us to offer something different,” he explains.

“By integrating cattle into the rotation and improving soil health, we can often make marginal arable land perform better than conventional systems.”

Edward manages a team of keen workers. He credits his 25-year-old beef herd manager who plays a key role in driving performance improvements, as well as his arable foreman, Philip, both of which embrace all aspects of technology.

Beyond the farmgate, Edward is heavily involved in the local agricultural community.

He has served on the committee of the local ploughing match for 22 years and is currently chairman, while also supporting the local agricultural show for the past 15 years.

The farm regularly welcomes visitors through organised farm tours for local farming groups and has previously taken part in Open Farm Sunday. It is also home to a dog-walking facility.

Edward also runs an agricultural consultancy business, using his experience to secure two Mid Tier stewardship agreements and other project funding for the home farm, including major capital works with buildings and fencing.

The numbers

• 50% less carbon produced on farm than average beef unit
• 2.2kg of daily liveweight gain averaged over a six-week period at grass after being outwintered
• 22 years served on the committee of the local ploughing match
• 500ha of arable cropping including wheat, spring barley, oilseed rape, peas and oats

Farm facts

• 1,100ha farm in a mix of tenanted and contract farm agreements
• Farm produces 16,000 turkeys and 650 fat cattle a year
• Turkeys are supplied to butchers and farm shops across southern England and as far as Scotland
• Edwards also works as a farm consultant

What the judges liked

• Livestock, arable and environmental management all working together
• Effective use of multiple assets to extract improved value
• High-yielding crops thanks to integration of livestock
• Impressive focus on finances

What the judges say

A mixed farm with livestock, arable and environmental management all working together. It was interesting to see the multiple use of assets to enhance value – for example, doubling up cattle and turkey sheds at different times of year.

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JL White & Son, Manor Farm, East Yorkshire

JL White & Son is a modern mixed family farming business encompassing arable, beef and diversification enterprises.

Run by brothers Oliver and Christian White, alongside their mother, Pam, the family are bursting with enthusiasm for British agriculture.

The family now fatten more than 350 store cattle each year and, in 2023, built a new cattle finishing unit without borrowing any money – a testament to their determination and careful financial management.

Looking to improve cattle performance, the new shed was kitted out with “dawn to dusk” lights to drive feed intake, which they believe has produced an extra 0.15kg of daily livewight gain.

Cattle are typically purchased at 450kg and grown on to about 500kg before finishing indoors – focusing on Angus cattle, which they find outperform continental breeds by 0.4kg/day.

All the barley grown on the farm is fed to the cattle. The family has also developed partnerships with two local bird feed companies, utilising by-products to create a cost-effective, high-performance ration.

On the arable side, the family grow seed crops under contract for agronomy firm Agrii. This currently includes 15ha of seed wheat and 25ha of seed oats, providing a valuable premium over conventional grain markets.

They also grow 15ha of vining peas for The Green Pea Company co-operative, supplying into Birds Eye.

Camping, caravans and pumpkins

A key stage in the farm’s development came 12 years ago when the family secured a 70ha farm on a 20-year farm business tenancy, following a competitive application process involving more than 60 applicants.

Due to the farm’s proximity to a large urban population, the family identified an opportunity to diversify into tourism.

Oliver and his wife have successfully run the farm’s campsite for the past 10 years, which is now complemented by an expanding pumpkin patch covering 3ha that produces more than 20,000 pumpkins annually.

The attraction has continued to evolve, with pick-your-own sunflowers added in recent years and, new for this season, a pick-your-own wildflower field, extending the visitor season and broadening the farm’s offering.

Farming ambassadors

The family is committed to promoting farming to the wider public. The campsite and pick-your-own enterprises bring thousands of visitors onto the farm each year, helping to showcase modern agriculture in a positive light.

Numerous school visits take place at the pumpkin patch each autumn, giving local primary schoolchildren the opportunity to learn how food is grown.

The business has also recently been accepted onto the Rural Payment Agency’s school visits programme, further strengthening its educational work.

During pumpkin season, the family donates thousands of pumpkins to local schools, nurseries, care homes and soup kitchens.

They also work closely with local media, having featured on the radio, to help communicate farming and food production to a wider audience.

Looking ahead, the family plan to further expand the beef enterprise by increasing shed capacity to accommodate an additional 60 head over the next two years. If that’s not enough, Oliver and Christian also run a baling and silage contracting business.

The farm is currently in a Countryside Stewardship scheme, where the family plan to enter the Sustainable Farming Incentive when this becomes available. Investment has also been made in renewable energy, including a 12kW wind turbine and a biomass boiler that supplies the campsite.

Alongside the farm business, both brothers bring valuable external experience.

Oliver has worked for Promar International for more than 18 years on the Farm Business Survey, giving the business strong insight into benchmarking, financial performance, and business development.

Christian previously undertook contract work within the poultry sector, bringing additional expertise to the family business.

The numbers

• 20,000 pumpkins grown annually
• 0.15kg of extra daily liveweight gain by fitting dawn to dusk lights
• 350 cattle fattened a year with plans to increase by another 60
• 15ha of vining peas grown for Birds Eye

Farm facts

• 250ha farmed area, encompassing beef, arable and diversifications
• Winter barley fed to beef herd and other crops sold off farm, including to premium seed markets
• Home to a caravan and camping site business for the past 10 years
• Pumpkin patch is a popular attraction on the farm, with numerous school visits
• Run a baling and silage contracting business.

What the judges liked

• Passionate and enthusiastic ambassadors of British agriculture
• Remarkable beef finishing unit, with attention to detail
• Strong diversification enterprises
• Profound handle of costs and plenty of vision for the future

What the judges say

A true family farm, with each member having their own responsibility. The cattle and arable were integrated well with herbal leys in the rotation. Successful business expansion over the years with diversification enterprises.