Five farmers from across England have been shortlisted for the Soil Farmer of the Year 2026 competition, recognising practical approaches to soil management that are improving resilience, reducing costs and supporting profitable farm businesses.
The finalists are Paul Baker from Devon, Colin Chappell from Lincolnshire, Chris Mighall from Surrey, Chris Molyneux from Lancashire and Tom Fairfax from Northumberland.
Together, the finalists represent a wide range of farming systems and enterprises, from field vegetables and organic production to conventional arable and mixed sheep and beef enterprises, demonstrating that good soil management principles can be applied successfully across very different businesses.
Head of soil and natural resources at Innovation for Agriculture, Deborah Crossan, one of the judges for the 2026 competition, shares that the farmers selected as finalists were all able to demonstrate how soil management was delivering tangible benefits for their farm businesses.
“Across the entries we've seen reductions in fuel and input costs, greater resilience to drought and wet weather, and systems that support both livestock and crop performance,” she says. “These are practical changes that are making a real difference to profitability and long-term resilience.”
The winners of the 2026 competition will be announced at 4pm on Wednesday 1st July in the Grass Tent at Groundswell, where all five finalists will share the management decisions, challenges and lessons that have shaped their soil health journeys.
“Anyone interested in improving soil function, reducing inputs or building resilience into their farm business will find plenty of practical ideas to take home,” says Ms Crossan.
“The Awards Ceremony provides a rare opportunity to hear directly from farmers working in very different systems but united by a common focus on healthy, functioning soils. It is also an excellent opportunity for anyone considering entering the competition in future years.”
The Soil Farmer of the Year competition is run by Farm Carbon Toolkit and Innovation for Agriculture, and is sponsored by Cotswold Seeds and Hutchinsons. The winning farms will host a series of farm walks later in the year, giving farmers the opportunity to see the practices discussed at Groundswell in action and hear first-hand how they have influenced business performance.
