Diversification award for North Yorkshire farmer (From York Press)
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Diversification award for North Yorkshire farmer Ian Burrows
10:04am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in Business news
Ian Burrows, seen here with his dog, Nina, has been named Diversification Farmer Of The Year
A NORTH Yorkshire farmer has been named Diversification Farmer Of The Year at the Farmers’ Weekly Awards held in London.
Ian Burrows, managing director of Newhay Feeds, transformed his farming business, based in Woodhall, near Selby, by investing in and developing new drying and dust extraction techniques, which enables Newhay to retain 95 per cent of the nutritional value of its hay yield from the day it is cut.
This has led to an increase in annual sales from £30,000 to more than £750,000 last year.
Ian said: “We are obviously delighted and I still can’t believe we have actually won. As soon as word got out my phone hasn’t stopped ringing, it is truly amazing.”
The judges said: “Ian has secured a future for his family’s farming business by growing and supplying high- quality Timothy grass hay products to the pet market.
“From a standing start, his self-belief has turned Newhay Feeds into a business with an annual turnover of more than £750,000.
“By embracing new thinking, he shows it is possible for smaller family farms to thrive, not just survive.”
