A west Dorset couple have made it to the final of a farming competition.

Sophie and Tom Gregory have been named as finalists in the Young Organic Farmer/Grower of the Year Award.

The couple operate an organic dairy business at the 400-hectacre Home Farm on the Sadborow estate in west Dorset, which houses 360 Irish and Friesian organic cows.

The panel of judges was impressed by their emphasis on soil health, which has included trialling alternative soil management strategies, and the introduction of a potentially valuable composting system, as well as the use of productive, multi-species leys and slot seeding clover in the longer-term pastures is the basis of the all-grass system for their cows.

Lucy MacLennan, ORC’s CEO, said the quality of entrants for this year’s award was extremely high: “They each operate in very different ways, but they all share a passion for organic farming and demonstrate all the skills required to make a success of their business. 

"As the need to embrace organic farming methods becomes ever more evident if we are to combat climate change and address biodiversity loss, we are so proud of our finalists for the difference they are making.”

This is the second year of the award organised by Organic Research Centre and the winner will be announced at the National Organic Conference on July 4, 2023, with a winning prize of £1,500 and a selection of books on organic and agroecological farming worth over £500 from Chelsea Green Publishing, which specialises in books on the politics and practice of sustainable living.