Awards for trio of innovators exploring fresh fields
Three farmers from the region have been heralded as exemplars after winning national accolades recognising their innovative practices.
The British Farming Awards saw James Johnson, who runs Mallard Grange Farm three miles west of Ripon alongside his father Charles, named Regenerative Farmer of the Year.
Judges praised the regenerative agricultural system, featuring multi-paddock grazing, diverse herbal leys, reduced tillage and direct drilling, Mr Johnson has used to transform production, profitability and biodiversity since being hit by extreme weather in 2019 and 2020.
The farm’s 140 suckler cows and 400 ewes use native, forage-efficient genetics, while pasture-raised hens follow grazing livestock, helping control pests and return nutrients naturally, and arable practices include diverse cover crops, manure applications and reduced artificial fertiliser use.
Sheep at the 300-hectare farm also graze cereal crops in spring, helping reduce disease pressure and fungicide requirements. These changes have cut fertiliser costs to around a third of previous levels, while improved soil structure and deeper rooting increase resilience to drought and heavy rainfall. Reduced wormer use has also lowered veterinary costs.
Mr Johnson said: “Farming is going through the hardest time at the moment, there are so many uncertainties, but I’ve always been a glass half full kind of person, so it’s amazing to come together and showcase what we do to all the people in the industry, especially the youngsters coming up”.
The awards also saw NFU Livestock Board Chair and North Riding and Durham County Chair Clare Wise named Agriculture's Woman of the Year.
Judges highlighted how Ms Wise had transformed the family farm, replacing its pedigree Texel flock with 500 commercial sheep, introducing Total Mixed Ration feeding and bringing more operations in-house.
She said: “Growing up you did not just have to be as good as a man, you had to be better, do not think you are not enough because in this industry you absolutely are.”
Meanwhile, Malham regenerative farmer Neil Heseltine and his partner, Leigh, have been recognised for their work with the Country Trust and Sustainble Food Trust in providing farm-based education, through residential and day visits, helping connect children with sheep, cattle, soil, wildflowers and the wider story of the Yorkshire Dales.
After receiving the Living Landscapes Award at the National Park Protector Awards, organised by Campaign for National Parks, Mr Heseltine said the farm now had 25 visits annually, he said: “When the children come to us we talk bout food production, but we also talk about we try to produce food that is in harmony with nature.
"We try to make it as much fun as possible and try not to make it aa classroom lerning process. We think it’s important to get kids into the fields and have quite a bit of time where kids can literally explore the wildlife and landscape.”