Herefordshire farmer John Joseph was named the top winner of the 2025 Soil Farmer of the Year after stealing the spotlight for his extraordinary commitment to soil health and regenerative farming.
The race, co-hosted by farm carbon toolkits and innovations for agriculture, recognizes British farmers who treat soil as a vital living resource.
The Ground Swell event was awarded the top prize to John Joseph, who manages 100 hectares of Sandilome soil at Trecolas Farm in Herefordshire.
Over the past decade, John has implemented a seven-year rotation incorporating grasslands into the cultivation system, employing 100% direct excavation and altering soil management on his farm by reducing inputs.
Jade Prince, a soil specialist and competition judge for the Hutchinsons, praised John for his “clearness of purpose and scalability.”
She said: “Every decision on John’s farm has clear agronomic and economic grounds. What stood out was the ability to link soil management to business viability, indicating that good soil has good business implications.”
Second place went to Jonathan Hodgson. Jonathan Hodgson farms 285 hectares of clay soil at Great Newsom Farm in East Yorkshire.
His approaches include strip tillage, companion crops, cover crops, integrated livestock, seed dressing and pesticide removal.
“Jonathan’s approach to enterprise stacking was particularly exciting,” Prince added. “From growing barley for his own distillery to producing double-purpose flax and grazing sheep on cover crops, he builds diversity and resilience in both the soil and the business.”
Third place was awarded to Andrew Mahon, who manages 800 hectares of Hanslope Clay in Bedfordshire.
Since 2015, Andrew has mainly adopted direct drilling, with shallow drilling to establish small seeds. He is currently focusing on mitigating local soil compaction and enhancing biological activity through targeted interventions.
Deborah Croston, head of Soils and Natural Resources for Innovation for Agriculture, praised Andrew’s pioneering use of biological inputs.
“Andrew pioneered the farm application of Johnson Sue compost extracts and biological feeds during drilling.
“His attention to soil biology and support for microorganisms has proven to be highly effective in promoting successful organic benefits and establishment,” he said.
Following the award, the three winners will each hold an event on the farm, demonstrating their soil management skills.
These farm walks provide valuable learning opportunities for other farmers with the aim of improving soil resilience and reducing input dependence.
“It’s invaluable to see these systems on the ground,” Croston said. “They show how different soil types, agricultural systems, and business models all benefit from a soil-first approach.”
