Every year the Melplash Agricultural Society invites local farmers who live within a 12 mile radius of Melplash village church to take part in the Society’s farm competition.
Each farm entered is visited by a team of judges who walk the farm to look at the husbandry of crops and the livestock, how well the environment is cared for, the maintenance of machinery and fixed assets, etc.
They also talk to the farmer and/or farm manager to find out how they manage their business, looking at profitability, use of resources and what their plans are for the future.
There are four categories – Small Farm (199 acres or less), Medium Farm (200 – 599 acres), Large Farm (600+ acres) and new this year the Best Managed Specialist Dairy farm.
The results this year are:
The best managed and cultivated farm, and for the best managed livestock, on farms 199 acres or fewer (Small category).
Judges: John Wyatt & Andrew Kempster
Steward: John Yeates
Winner: David and Ruth Wilkins, Rampisham Hill Farm, Rampisham
2nd Dan and Jo Stover, Lower Brimley Coombe Farm, Stoke Abbott
Best Environmental Practice: Dan and Jo Stover, Lower Brimley Coombe Farm, Stoke Abbott.
For the best managed and cultivated farm, and for the best managed Llvestock,
on farms 200-599 acres (Medium category)
Judges: John Wyatt & Andrew Kempster
Steward: John Yeates
Winner: Andrew Romans, Charity Farm, Litton Cheney
2nd: Kevin & Edward Goodfellow and Jo Goodfellow, Higher Silkhay Farm, Netherbury
3rd: Kevin and James Wallbridge, Bridge Farm, Hooke
Best Ley & Best Environmental Practice: Kevin & Edward Goodfellow and Jo Goodfellow, Higher Silkhay Farm, Netherbury
For the best managed and cultivated farm and for the best managed livestock, on farms over 600 acres (Large category)
Judges: Rodney Down & Craig Down
Steward: George Wyatt
Winner: Brian Huxter, Symondsbury Estate, Symondsbury, Bridport
Joint 2nd Nick and Claire Bragg, Frogmary Green Farm, South Petherton & James Bowditch, R. B. Bowditch & Sons, North Bowood Farm, Salway Ash
Best Ley & Best Environmental Practice: R.J. Maltby, Long Barrow Farm, Long Bredy
For the best managed and cultivated farm and for the best managed specialist dairy farm
Judge: James Cossins
Steward: Michael Fooks
Winner: Jim Loescher, Denhay Farms, Broadoak
2nd: Stephen Raymond, Childhay Organic Farm, Beaminster
3rd: Edward Bowditch, Cooper Dean Estate, Netherbury
Best Ley & Best Environmental Practice: Jim Loescher, Denhay Farms, Broadoak
Brian Huxter, farm manager at Symondsbury Estate, said: “Being the winner of the society’s large farms category was great news for all the team. It is great recognition for the hard work and commitment that the team put into the estate throughout the year.
Jim Loescher, managing director at Denhay Farms, Broadoak, said: “I am both thrilled and proud that Denhay have been awarded first place in the specialist dairy farm competition.
“The result reflects the huge effort put in by everybody at Denhay. The dairy and youngstock teams who have continued to improve herd performance, the arable team who have produced excellent forage in what has been a very difficult season and Importantly the farm office who have provided essential support.”
Trophies will be presented to first placed winners at the Melplash Show on 23 August.
