A farmer who moved to Suffolk in 2022 to head up a top farm says he is “absolutely delighted” after being crowned national Farm Manager of the Year.
Ryan McCormack was there to receive his award from Farmers’ Weekly at a glittering ceremony in London’s Grosvenor Hotel on October 2.
He attended with wife Sally and step-daughter Evie, as well as his boss – Laura Rous of Dennington Hall Farms – and faced a nail-biting wait as it was the eighth category.
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Ryan McCormack(Image: Dennington Hall Farms)
He was up against tough competition from two other finalists, one of which – Tom Forrest of Frederick Hiam Ltd, Brandon – is also from Suffolk.
Judges were impressed by Ryan’s performance after joining the historic estate at Dennington, which is owned by the Rous family.
Robert Rous – who is president of the Suffolk Show – has handed over management of the farm business to his daughter, Laura.
Red Poll cattle at Dennington Hall Farms(Image: Dennington Hall Farms)
Ryan says he was “surprised” to win and “quite nervous” in the lead-up as there were 1200 people at the event.
“I was very, very happy to be awarded it,” he adds.
Under a new direction taken by Laura, the 1,600ha farm, near Framlingham, has adopted a regenerative approach using a 12-year rotation system.
It was an early adopter of the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Ryan and his team have strived to improve efficiency. He has also begun retailing beef from the farm’s Red Poll herd.
A turtle dove at Dennington(Image: Dennington Hall Farms)
Judges were impressed by the outstanding environmental successes the team has achieved, with the estate now home to more than 1,000 species of insects and 12 bird species which are on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s UK Red List of birds needing urgent conservation action.
Ryan also manages 1,200ha of regenerative arable land, where he grows wheat, barley and oats.
As well as a suckler herd of Red Poll cattle, the farm hosts a flying flock of lambs to manage cover crops.
He was praised for his environmental approach to farming, clear grasp of financial management and for prioritising staff safety and wellbeing.
Laura Rous and Ryan McCormack at the Suffolk Show this year(Image: Lucy Taylor)
Staff are offered private medical care and he strives to ensure a good work-life balance, he says.
In 2018 he completed a Worshipful Company of Farmers agricultural business management course – a residential three-week course.
“One of my goals was to be a Farmers’ Weekly awards winner – it took me seven years,” he says.
Ryan – who was born and brought up in County Down, Northern Ireland, where his father was manager at Lakeland Dairies – decided to move to Kent at the age of 18 to take up a job on an arable farm on the Isle of Sheppey.
“That was 18 years ago,” he says. He then moved to Dennington to take up his dream job as farm manager. Now he manages a five-strong team with an average age of 27.
“I absolutely love it. I feel like Suffolk is home now – whether that be the people, the farming, the industry, the villages and towns – it feels very nice and welcoming,” he says.
“It’s got a better feel about it than anywhere.”
Judges noted the farm’s strong focus on air, water and soil quality, which is supporting efforts to tackle climate change by removing harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Ryan and his team manage 115 ponds and 160km of hedgerow, supporting a wide array of animals, fostering a thriving ecosystem.
They are also campaigning to save the turtle dove.
Robert Rous with daughter Laura – owners of Dennington Hall Farms(Image: Sonya Duncan)
Much of the farm’s phenomenal environmental success has been achieved through working with the government’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and by being in a Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreement.
Ryan – who lives in Framlingham – has campaigned for the industry and is a keen supporter of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).
He is NFU Suffolk Coastal Branch chair and a member of the NFU National Crops Board.
“The NFU is doing a great job of bringing people together to help each other and the industry as a whole. I really enjoy being a part of it,” he says.
He also volunteers for Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue and is keen to promote exciting opportunities in farming for young people.
“There are some great older farmers with invaluable experience. I have also seen a fresh enthusiasm from younger farmers,” he says.
“The industry is changing. There are a wide range of exciting career opportunities in farming, working with the latest technologies and being at the forefront of the latest innovations to support the environment and improve efficiency, while working outdoors in beautiful parts of the countryside.”
Judges said that in just over three years, Ryan has made his mark at Dennington Hall Farms, “bringing enthusiasm, energy and attention to detail, with environmental stewardship central to the approach”.
His focus is on soil health over the estate’s 310 fields – which have an average size of 6ha.
Business systems on the farm have been modernised with cloud-based accounting and administrative tools and out in the fields, remote cattle collars have been introduced for the pedigree Red Poll sucklers.
Much of the farm’s grain is sold through the Fram Farmers co-op.
Crops include mustard for Colman’s, malting barley which goes to malt firm Muntons of Stowmarket and sugar beet for British Sugar in Bury St Edmunds.
Judges said: “Ryan seeks the best from his team, the land and the market, always with environmental imperatives in mind. He is open and constructive, with a clear grasp of financial management.”
Ryan says he is “very proud” to have won.
“The award means a lot to me. I work with a great team and they have been a big part of this.
“Farmers have had a very tough 24 months, with the extreme weather, government policies, input cost rises and commodity prices.
“I think it is important to celebrate success stories and awards like this help to give farmers a bit of recognition.”
* Chris Fogden – who runs 1,200 sows on the Euston Estate – was a finalist for Pig Farmer of the Year at the awards. He was pipped to the post by Mike Durrant of Bunns Farm in Norfolk.
Ryan McCormack with his award(Image: Dennington Hall Farms)
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