CLICK HERE for photos from the 2016 Cream Awards
The 4th annual Cream Awards – Dairy Industry Trade Awards – went off superbly once again. All were in good spirits and positive about the year ahead. “Times are a challenge” said one, “but then that’s when farmers come to the fore, we can really pull out the stops and make something happen, we’re ‘doers’ and whatever happens we will rise to the challenge.”
The awards were created to recognise some of the brightest, and best business and people across the dairy industry and this year the list of winners was impressive.
A welcome by NFU President Meurig Raymond MBE was followed by an address from the 2015 Cream Awards winners Arla Foods Ash Amirahmadi. The Judging panel and organisers also recognised the outstanding contribution to the dairy industry by the late John Beckett detailing some of his many achievements across the years.
As a highly respected Director of Belton Cheese, past President of the RABDF, Chairman of Genus and the creation of The MBA Agrifarm Charitable Fund to allow enterprising farmers to study for an MBA at the Cranfield School of Management. John will be missed by everyone.
Our compere was Phil Oldershaw.
The Cream Award winner for 2016 – winning the John Beckett Memorial Cup
The cup was presented to the winner by Meurig Raymond MBE President of the National Farmers Union and received by David Craven on behalf of Grosvenor.
Winner – Grosvenor Farms
The judges all concluded this was a ‘top drawer’ company showing excellence in everything they do. One judge noted Grosvenor demonstrated that there was no inconsistency between modern industrial farms and the attention to welfare.
Food Chain Marketing Award sponsored by
NSF Agriculture
Winner – Kingdom Cheddar (OMSCo)
The organic co-operative, said judges maximised global opportunities for the benefit of the membership as a result of a dynamic and bold approach to milk marketing, benefiting from strong partnerships and a clear brand strategy.
Highly Commended – Yorvale
Commended – Tesco and the Fair for Farmer’s Guarantee
Award for Innovation sponsored by EB Equipment
Winner – Dairymaster Swiftflow Commander
The judges all applauded Dairymaster’s constant commitment to innovation in new technology, creating much needed products and innovations that drive efficiencies. The swiftflow commander impressed the judges for this dairy monitoring tool of the cow’s milking, feeding and animal health including innovative speech technology as part of its communications.
Highly Commended – Silostop
Highly Commended – Shearwell automatic drench gun
Health & Welfare Award sponsored by
Ceva Animal Health
Winner – David Craven, Grosvenor Farms
Grosvenor was the first choice for all the judges who just felt that every aspect of the business impressed them making it a model farm for the industry. High technology to drive high welfare and impressive calving index making it a stand out farm. Liked the focus on getting the right people into the business with the right skills..
Highly Commended – Lynsey Awde, Messrs Awde
Young Farmer of the Year sponsored by
New Holland Agriculture
The judges awarded two young farmers to win this award:
Jack Ayles of AP Farming
Hayden Jenkin of Treworgie Farm
Jack – said the judges was an ambitious team focused young farmer with a good handle on all aspects of management – a great ambassador for the industry.
Hayden – Lots of character, huge attention to detail a good farmer/innovator judges said Hayden had the kind of passion needed to make this a successful business.
The judges also commended Claire Howlett – Wicton Farm,
David Irwin – Redhouse Holsteins, Tom Percy – West Orchard Farm, Lucy Turnbull – Messrs Awde, Ben Keen- Chilcote Manor and Robert Cooke – Clotton Hall Farm.
High Tech Farm Award
Winner – Wyke Farm
Excellent story for the processing sector said one judge, putting ‘high tech’ into sustainability, it was said it was nice to see how use of high technology can lead to a more environmentally friendly farm and that this story needed to be understood by the public. The first national cheese brand to be 100% self sufficient with their own energy created from solar and biogas.
Highly Commended – Grosvenor Farms
High Feed Efficiency Award sponsored by
Mole Valley Farmers
Winner – Sion Davies, Coombe Farm
A large herd with an outstanding high milk yield. A strong emphasis on cow comfort is evident said the judges whilst maximising the benefits of feed efficiency at every stage. Production of high quality silage and maize, resulting in twice the national average at around 4000 litres of milk produced from forage.
Highly Commended – Angus Gaudie, Stamfrey Farm Organics
High Yield Farm Award
Winner – Sandy Mitchell, Kennetside Heads
Some impressive stats across all key metrics Kennetside stood out for the judges for their solid team approach to health & welfare, impressive calving interval, strong vet support, and production metrics demonstrating stability.
Highly Commended – John Cameron Wood Park Farm, University of Liverpool.
Dairy Vet of the Year sponsored by Zoetis
Winner – Peter Orpin, Park Veterinary Group, and myhealthyherd.
The judges said that Peter Orpin stands out as the kind of vet that the industry should be proud of. A vet whose dedication to the task at hand sees him go beyond that of the every day. Ever innovating, ever planning a new line of attack in the pursuit of health & welfare of knowledge transfer and pushing the boundaries of healthcare.
A highly influential vet that many can look to emulate. He states, ‘it’s a combination of benchmarking, education and teamwork that can help deliver results to customers and the wider dairy industry.
The judges awarded Highly Commended to two vets
Treenie Bowser, Parklands Veterinary Group
Dr Kathryn Hart, George Farm Vets
The judges also commended the following: Darrell Irwin – Willows Farm Vets, Phil Elkins – Westpoint Farm Vets, Dave Coombes – Cedar Farm Vets.
High Fertility Farm Award sponsored by Holstein
Winner – Jack Elliott – G & J Elliott
Judges felt there was a strong ‘team’ element with his nutritionist, vet and Cogent technician helping to make this a highly efficient operator. Good pregnancy rates, 11,000 litres on 3 times a day milking. With all the staff focused on day-to-day fertility management and a feeling of constant information gathering and analysis, the judges felt this farm had got it cracked.
Highly Commended – Mark Moore, Whiteoaks Farming
Dairy team of the Year sponsored by Bio-Energy Ingredients
Winner – Westpoint Farm Vets
Good communication is essential in any business, judges liked the focus on sharing and building knowledge across practices, a real joined up approach to knowledge transfer, ‘slick communicators’ said one judge, very good at marketing themselves and what they do.
Dairy Ambassador of the Year for 2016
Winner – Heather Wheeler MP for South Derbyshire
The judges also awarded MP Heather Wheeler the Dairy Ambassador of the Year award for her services to dairy in raising awareness at the very highest levels of the need for support for dairy farmers from government and policy makers.
The judges awarded Highly Commended to:
DEREK ARMSTRONG, AHDB
NEIL SADLER – T SADLER & SON
ANDREW GILMAN – STAFFOLD FARM
Derek Armstrong said the judges was highly respected in the industry and someone whose efforts went far beyond that of his role at the AHDB.
Neil Sadler was applauded for the way the judges said he engaged so well with the general public about farming and dairy issues in a way that was both positive and proactive.
Andrew Gilman fulfils the ambassador role very well said one, again engaging so well with the public and seeing that they should use their knowledge and expertise to help the wider public understand more about farming.
Award for Innovation in Exports sponsored by OMSCo
Winner – Jersey Dairy
Jersey Dairy really stood out with the dairy judges, great teamwork, lots of energy and innovation, a highly enthusiastic chairman it was felt their ‘opportunism’ should be awarded. They’ve had some difficulties in the past and as one judge said, you’d think someone put a bomb under them and everything moved forward 100%.
The judges awarded Highly Commended to Belton Cheese
Taste of Excellence Award sponsored by Morrison’s Supermarkets
Winner – Wensleydale Creamery for their Lemon Curd Yorkshire Yoghurt
Highly Commended – Appleby Creamery for their Scottish Blue Cheese
Highly Commended – Brymor real ginger dairy ice cream
Photos from the event will be available online shortly at www.farmbusiness.cc
For more information contact the organisers on 01892 662746
Caroline@calderwood.cc. Next year’s event will be on the 6th of September 2017.
