Six farmers have been shortlisted for the Soil Farmer of the Year 2025 competition, in recognition of their approach, actions and results in improving the soil health in their farming systems.
Shortlisted Farmers
Andrew Mahon from Bromborough Estate in Bedfordshire, John Joseph from Trecorras Farm in Herefordshire, Jonathan Hodgson from Great Newsome Farm in East Yorkshire, Paul Baker from Wishay Farm in Devon, Robert Whittal from Square Farm in Monmouthshire, and Will Oliver from A H Oliver and Son in Leicestershire.
The 2025 competition has attracted entries from a vast range of farms, from arable only to all livestock systems, from just a few acres to over 800 hectares.
Business Development and Technical Director Becky Willson from Farm Carbon Toolkit, one of the judges for the 2025 competition, shares that the shortlisting process itself has been a challenging exercise.
“The first step was anonymised, so we were reviewing entry forms and comparing vastly different farms. But what is interesting when looking at it through the lens of soil health, is that the same themes emerge time and time again.
“We’ve seen entries where the actions being taken to improve the soil are helping farms to save input costs, improve resilience to weather events such as drought and in some cases diversify incomes,” she says.
Following the final round of judging, which includes a farm visit, the winners will be announced at Groundswell 2025. Attendees at the Groundswell session, which is taking place at 7pm on Wednesday 2nd July at Speakers Corner, will hear directly from all the finalists about their ideas, practices and results relating to soil health in their farming systems.
There will also be the opportunity to visit each of the top three farms for a farm walk later this year.
The Soil Farmer of the Year competition is run by Farm Carbon Toolkit and Innovation for Agriculture, and is sponsored by Cotswold Seeds and Hutchinsons.
“The competition brings farmers together to celebrate and learn from how the winners have implemented practices to improve their soil and farm business resilience.
“For anyone thinking about coming to either the Groundswell session or the farm walks, I would say go for it, it’s an invaluable way to hear honest perspectives and learn from other farmers’ experiences,” Becky Willson concludes.
Issued by: Natasha Smith E: [email protected] T: 07544655356 Farm Carbon Toolkit contact: Tilly Kimble-Wilde E: [email protected]
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Innovation for Agriculture is an independent, charitable organisation working to make UK agriculture more sustainable, profitable and resilient. Through interactive workshops, on-farm demonstrations and practical events, IfA aims to provide UK farmers with solutions of real commercial value
- Farm Carbon Toolkit is an independent, farmer-led Community Interest Company, supporting farmers to measure, understand and act on their greenhouse gas emissions, while improving their business resilience for the future. For over a decade, Farm Carbon Toolkit has delivered a range of practical projects, tools and services that have inspired real action on the ground. Organisations they work with include farmer groups, Duchy of Cornwall, First Milk, Tesco, Yeo Valley and WWF. The Farm Carbon Calculator is a leading on-farm carbon audit tool, used by over 7,000 farmers in the UK and beyond. To find out more visit www.farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk
- The competition is being judged by a panel including representatives from IfA and Farm Carbon Toolkit, Cotswold Seeds, Hutchinsons and previous Soil Farmer of the Year winners.
