Farmers achieve ‘exceptional standards’ at the 2011 AFMP awards
Adam Ball, of Spond Farm in Staffordshire, has been named as Arla Foods Milk Partnership Farmer of the Year in the 2011 AFMP awards, after achieving phenomenal business success and gaining high standards of animal welfare.
This year, Arla introduced five new awards, to recognise the efforts and hard work of AFMP members in supplying a high quality product to Arla. Categories included: best on-farm welfare initiative; best on farm environmental initiative; highest milk quality, based on data for 2010-11 including bactoscan levels and cell counts; most accurate forecast, based on forecast submitted versus actual milk supplied from April 2010 to March 2011; and farmer of the year.
The Farmer of the Year award goes to the farmer judged best in three areas of dairy farming: business, demonstrating how they have moved the business forward in the last five years; welfare, outline breeding, welfare and rearing policies; and environmental, demonstrating how they’re protecting their farm’s natural resources, aiding biodiversity, and any initiatives engaging with the local community or wider public audience.
Over the last five years, Adam has expanded his business from 123 cows on 167 acres, to more than 220 cows on 364 acres, and has seen a five fold increase in profit in the same period. He also goes into schools to talk about being a dairy farmer, and regularly hosts school and pre-school visits as well as taking part in Open Farm Sunday.
Adam said: "I’m really thrilled and feel very honoured to have won this award. Recognition must be given to the team at Spond Farm too and everyone associated with the farm. We all work very hard and put a great deal of effort into constantly improving the business. I’m also really pleased that Arla celebrates the good work of farmers through these awards as they’re excellent for recognising the commitment we all put in."
Ash Amirahmadi, head of milk procurement at Arla and one of the judges for the Farmer of the Year award, said: "Adam has invested heavily in his business and has high standards of animal welfare. He is very engaging, positive and forward thinking, with sound business control and is also very customer aware.
It is a great achievement to be awarded AFMP Farmer of the Year and Adam should be extremely proud of the standards he has reached on farm and the progress he’s made with his business."
Two other AFMP members were highly commended for the award: Graham Worsey, of Rough Grounds Farm in Derbyshire, was described by the judges as having ’lots of drive and passion, and excellent animal welfare standards’; and Allan Throup, of Higher House Farm, in West Yorkshire, had made good investment in improving animal welfare and efficiency leading to phenomenal milk quality.
Jonathan Ovens, AFMP Chairman, said: "These awards help to recognise the efforts and dedication shown by our members in delivering a high quality product to Arla. Everyone shortlisted for an award this year achieved exceptional standards."
Each category winner was awarded £750 along with a plaque, at Arla’s District Chairman’s dinner earlier this month, with the farmer of the year receiving £1000.
