A CRICCIETH farmer has made it through to the final round of the national Excellence in Farming awards.

John Hughes, who farms at Ynysgain Fawr, has been named as a finalist in this year’s northern regional round of the ForFarmers Excellence in Farming Awards, in the Forage Manager of the Year award.

John manages his 115-head Holstein-Friesian herd together with son, Sion, and has a particular focus on achieving a significant proportion of milk from forage.

ForFarmers account manager, Guto Jones, explained why he put John forward for the award: “John is incredibly focused on making the best silage he can, and treats grass with the same care as any other arable crop.

“Sixty per cent of the overall 7,500 litres/cow/year yield comes from forage on a farm of just over 100ha; a great achievement, especially as replacements are also reared on the farm.

“Regular re-seeding maintains sward performance and soil is analysed to keep an eye on condition.

“I am delighted that he has been named as a regional finalist in this year’s awards.”

The northern regional finalists were announced at the UK Dairy Day in Telford on Wednesday, 13 September.

John is one of two finalists in the northern region in the Forage Manager of the Year Award category.

Both will soon go head-to-head with two further farmers from the south of the country in the final round, with one finally being crowned the national winner at an event in London in November.