- Four farmers from across the UK – including three dairy farms – have been shortlisted for this year’s Carbon Farmer of the Year competition in recognition of their efforts to reduce their business’s climate impact
The 2024 Carbon Farmer of the Year Shortlist:
Andrew Brewer from Ennis Barton, Fraddon, Cornwall (Arla supplier)
Jason Mitchell, Gary Logue and Adam Moore from Greenville Dairies Ltd, Newton Stewart, Northern Ireland (Lakeland supplier)
Tom Burge from Oaremead Farm, Lynton, Devon
Wesley Semple from Derryduff Farm, Dungiven, Northern Ireland (Lakeland supplier)
Now in its second year, the annual Carbon Farmer of the Year competition is organised by the Farm Carbon Toolkit and generously sponsored by HSBC Agriculture UK.
The competition aims to find farmers and growers who are engaged with, and passionate about reducing their business’s climate impact through changing management practice to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their businesses.
As part of the competition, the top three farmers will host free farm walks that bring farmers together to share good practice and innovations that result in reduced emissions, as well as improving carbon removal into soils, trees, hedges and non-crop biomass. The competition is becoming widely recognised by organisations working to reduce the emissions from UK agriculture, with many promoting it to their networks to increase participation.
Rob Purdew, Farm Carbon and Soil Advisor with Farm Carbon Toolkit, says
“We’ve been blown away by the quality of the entries for this year’s Carbon Farmer of the Year competition The sheer variety of entries for this year’s competition highlights the fact that, despite differences in farming systems and locations, many farmers are finding truly innovative ways to reduce their business greenhouse gas emissions.
It is particularly positive to see three dairy farmers in this year’s shortlist, given that dairy farming is often in the media spotlight in terms of its environmental impact. We are working with numerous dairy farmers and dairy industry projects that are already showcasing that this doesn’t need to be the case, and that farmers can make simple management changes to significantly improve their carbon and environmental footprints. We’re grateful to everyone who took the time and effort to enter.”
Steve Dunkley, HSBC Agriculture, says
“HSBC UK Agriculture is pleased to support the 2024 Carbon Farmer of the Year competition and the quality of entries has been superb and hugely inspiring. As a business, we’re very keen to support the industry in transitioning towards net zero. While that will take many forms, we have the ambition to help farmers fund investment in the new practices and technologies needed to evolve. The Carbon Farmer of the Year competition is a great way of showcasing how farmers are already achieving these changes and encouraging others to follow their lead. “
The judging process now involves visiting each of the four finalists to learn more about their farming practices before selecting the winners.
The winners of the 2024 Carbon Farmer of the Year competition will be announced at the Farm Carbon Toolkit Annual FIeld Day on the 26th September 2024, this year kindly hosted by 2023 Soil Farmer of the Year winner Billy Lewis at Boycefield Farm, Dilwyn, Herefordshire. A day for farmers, by farmers, the FCT Annual Field Day is about sharing practical experiences for improving performance and resilience in a challenging environment with this year’s event focusing on the value of mixed farming.
Open farm walks at the top three farms will be scheduled to take place in November and December 2024.
For further details about the 2024 Carbon Farmer of the Year competition, contact Rob Purdew, Carbon and Soil Advisor with the Farm Carbon Toolkit, at Rob.Purdew@farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk
For more information, visit www.farmcarbontoolkit.org.uk/carbon-farmer-of-the-year/
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