The best of British farming!

WE were thrilled to join the best in British agriculture at our industry’s most glamorous night out – the Farmer’s Weekly Awards!

Rural Asset Finance sponsored the Contractor Of The Year category at the glitzy black-tie event in the heart of London’s West End.

More than 1,100 guests from across the UK helped honour the best of British farming before partying into the night at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Rural Asset Finance CEO Matthew Smart joined event host Alexander Armstrong on stage to reveal the contractor of the year as Kelso-based company Crop Services, which offers spraying, spreading and other contract services across the Scottish Borders, Fife, Angus, Dumfrieshire and Northumberland.

Matthew said the company, whose director Douglas Stephen received the award wearing a striking pair of tartan trousers, fully deserved the prize.

“It was a great honour to present the award to Crop Services,” he added. “They provide a fantastic example of the type of excellent, efficient contractor that helps underpin the whole of the farming industry.

“We are delighted to be part of an event like this which recognise the hard work and innovation of farmers and other agricultural businesses right across our sector,” he added. “It’s great to reward the winners as outstanding examples of the work farmers do. Agricultural workers are the backbone of our country and deserve their moment in the spotlight.

“But more than that, these awards are a rare and well-deserved opportunity for farmers from all over the country to come together, relax and connect in a social setting. It’s a great night out!”

Crop Services  beat fellow finalists Gary Hogarth Agri Assist, also from the Scottish Borders, and Berkshire-based Rookery Farms. The judges said: “The adoption of technology has been the driving force behind Crop Services’ growth – adding value to its spraying and spreading division, and improving application efficiency to improve yields and profit margins.”