Soil Farmer of the Year 2025

Three farmers championing soil health and regenerative practices were recognised in the 2025 Soil Farmer of the Year competition.

Jointly run by the Farm Carbon Toolkit and Innovation for Agriculture, the award celebrates farmers across the UK who are leading the way in managing soil as a living resource.

Winner

First place Went to John Joseph, who manages 100ha of sandy loam soils at Trecorras Farm in Herefordshire. He was presented with the award at last month’s Groundswell event.

Mr Joseph has reshaped the way soils are understood and managed on his farm. Key practices now include companion crops, a seven-year rotation which incorporates grassland into the arable system, 100% direct drilling and reduced inputs.

Competition judge Jade Prince, a soil specialist at competition co-sponsor Hutchinsons, praised the way Mr Joseph had re-evaluated his business over the past decade with clarity of purpose and scalability.

“Every decision on John’s farm has a clear agronomic and economic rationale,” she said. “What stood out was his ability to link soil management to business viability, showing that good soil makes good business sense.”

Runner-up

Second place went to Jonathan Hodgson, who farms 285ha of clay soils in East Yorkshire. His system centres on strip tillage, companion cropping, cover crops, and integrated livestock, the elimination of seed dressings and insecticides.

“Jonathan’s approach to enterprise stacking was particularly inspiring,” said Ms Prince.

“From growing barley for his own distillery to producing dual-purpose flax and grazing sheep on cover crops, he is building diversity and resilience into both soil and business.”

Third place

Third place was awarded to Andrew Mahon, who manages 800ha of Hanslope clay in Bedfordshire.

Since 2015, Mr Mahon has shifted to a predominantly direct drill system, with shallow discing being used to establish small seeds.

He focuses on addressing localised compaction and increasing biological activity through targeted interventions.

Deborah Crossan, head of soils and natural resources at Innovation for Agriculture, said Mr Mahon had pioneering on-farm applications of compost extract and biological feed at drilling.

“His attention to soil biology and microbial support is not just progressive, it’s proving highly effective in driving organic matter gains and establishment success.”

Farm walks

Each of the three winning farmers will host on-farm events to share their soil management strategies in action. These farm walks will offer valuable insights for fellow farmers looking to build soil resilience and cut input reliance.

“Seeing these systems on the ground is invaluable,” said Ms Crossan. “They demonstrate how different soil types, farming systems and business models can all benefit from a soil-first approach.”

Details about the farm walks will be announced via the Farm Carbon Toolkit and Innovation for Agriculture websites, newsletters and social media channels in the coming weeks.