THE Farmers Weekly 2024 awards finalists have just been announced.

One of the Mixed Farmer of the Year finalists is Andrew, Tracey and Robert Speed from Briddicott Farm in Somerset.

The Farmers Weekly Awards is the biggest night in the farming calendar. They recognise and reward farmers for innovation, hard work and commitment to the industry. The Awards celebrate the best farmers in he country by telling their stories.

They aim to spread best practice, inspire others and influence the public about the role that they play in today’s society. The awards are in their twentieth year and are sponsored by some of the biggest names in the industry.

To book tickets for this year’s awards, visit https://www.fwi.co.uk/ms/events/farmers-weekly-awards/, and you can also find the full shortlist of awards nominees.

The Mixed Farmer of the Year finalists are as follows: 

Jack Bosworth, Spains Hall, Essex

Since returning to the family pig and arable farm in 2017, Jack has doubled the herd to 300 sows and cut labour costs by more than £80 a head.

Andrew, Tracey and Robert Speed, Briddicott Farm, Somerset

The Speeds run a beef, sheep and arable farm with 195 Hereford sucklers and 1,400 ewes which they uniquely lamb three times in two years.

Nick and Lucy Tyler, Kingsplay Farming, Wiltshire

Nick and Lucy run a 500-cow dairy unit, and 300 Wagyu-cross beef cattle. About 40% of the farm’s combinable cropping area is designated for animal feed, keeping dairy concentrate costs below 10p/litre.