The Farmers Weekly Awards in October marked a night of celebration as Agrii customers clinched the titles of Arable Farmer of the Year and Diversification Farmer of the Year.

Neil White, steward of Greenknowe Farm in the Borders, emerged victorious as Arable Farmer of the Year. Spanning 238 hectares, his farm boasts a diverse rotation including winter wheat, winter malting barley, HEAR oilseed rape, oats, beans, and spring malting barley, capitalizing on local markets to secure premiums.

Judges commended Neil's transition to a strip-till regenerative system, noting its dual benefits of cost reduction and yield enhancement. This transformation has not only bolstered Greenknowe Farm's profitability but has also afforded Neil the autonomy to manage the farm single-handedly.

While the Borders region is renowned for high-yielding arable farms, traditional tillage-based systems prevail due to variable weather conditions. Neil has become a local authority on strip-tillage, readily sharing his expertise. He recently addressed a local i-Farm event, providing insights into his farm and the lessons learned.

Agrii agronomist Iain Sanderson provides Neil with indispensable agronomic guidance, alongside another agronomist. "Neil's attainment of the Arable Farmer of the Year accolade is richly deserved," remarks Iain. "Having supported Neil since the inception of his new system nearly a decade ago, witnessing his hard work culminate in success is truly gratifying."

The Diversification Farmer of the Year laurels were bestowed upon Johnny and Clare Clapp, proprietors of Red Linhay in Devon. Their thriving 1,000-hectare mixed beef and arable farm is bolstered by an array of enterprises including an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant, a straw pelleting business, self-storage units, and a business park.

The Clapps' ventures are self-sustaining, with some arable land dedicated to producing feedstock for their AD plant, while the digestate enriches the fields. Wheat straw from their crops fuels the straw pelleting business, supplying pet suppliers with cat litter.

Leveraging its strategic location off the M5, the business park and self-storage enterprises contribute a consistently profitable revenue stream to the entire operation.

Agrii serves as the primary supplier of crop inputs for the Clapp's enterprise, with Agrii agronomist Mark Smyth serving as their main point of contact. "The Diversification Farmer of the Year Award is a testament to Johnny and Clare's unwavering dedication in nurturing their business over the years," remarks Mark. "I eagerly anticipate continuing to support them as their enterprise flourishes."