A total of 1,196 people are on the list, with just over three quarters of the recipients people who have undertaken work in their local community.
Among this year's recipients is the Hertfordshire farmer who founded agriculture’s annual ‘open day’. Ian Pigott, from Thrales End, Harpenden, came up with the idea for Open Farm Sunday after undertaking a Nuffield Scholarship in 2002 which included research on reconnecting children with agriculture. He recieves an OBE (read more here).
Elsewhere, Shirley and John Hanson, who farm near Leominster, and have fostered more than 300 children in nearly four decades, were named MBEs. The Kington, Weobley and Wyeside NFU members received the honour for their services to children and family (read more here).
Anthony Burgess, the chairman of Harper Adams University Development Trust, was awarded an MBE for his services to higher education, governance and fundraising (more).
You can read the full 2016 New Year Honours list here. We've picked out those with links to the countryside, food or farming below.
Knights Bachelor
Knighthoods
- Henry Campbell BELLINGHAM, member of parliament for North West Norfolk. For political and parliamentary service (Norfolk).
- The Right Honourable Edward Jonathan DAVEY, For political and public service (Surrey).
Order of the Bath
Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Clare MORIARTY, lately director general, Rail Executive, Department for Transport, currently permanent secretary at Defra. For services to transport (Petersfield, Hampshire).
Order of the British Empire
Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- The Right Honourable Rosalie (Rosie) WINTERTON, member of parliament for Doncaster Central and opposition chief whip. For political and parliamentary service (Doncaster, South Yorkshire).
Order of the British Empire
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Conrad BIRD, director, GREAT Britain Campaign. For services to UK Government communications and trade (London).
- Paul Maurice FULLER, QFSM chief fire officer, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to the fire and rescue service (Bromham, Bedfordshire).
- Professor Nigel Paul GIBBENS, chief veterinary officer, Defra. For services to the veterinary profession and animal welfare (Epsom, Surrey).
- Professor Peter John MATTHEWS, OBE chairman, Natural Resources Wales. For services to environmental management (Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire).
- Neil O'CONNOR, director, fire, resilience and emergencies, Department for Communities and Local Government. For services to fire safety and flood resilience (Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire).
- Charles David RANDELL, external member, Prudential Regulation Authority, and non-executive director, DECC. For services to financial stability and climate change policy (London).
- Dr Nina Maria SKORUPSKA, chief executive, Renewable Energy Association, and non-executive director, WISE campaign. For services to renewables and equality in the energy industry (London).
- Andrew John SMITH, OBE, chief executive, Hampshire County Council. For services to local government (Winchester, Hampshire).
Order of the British Empire
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Stephen John ASHBY, lately policy adviser, international plant health, Defra. For services to protecting plant health (Dunnington, North Yorkshire).
- Nigel BLACKLER, head of strategy, enterprise and environment, Cornwall Council. For services to transport in Cornwall (St Agnes, Cornwall).
- Clare Emma, Mrs BLAMPIED, managing director, Sacla UK Ltd. For services to the food industry (Seer Green, Buckinghamshire).
- Professor William DONACHIE, for services to animal and veterinary biosciences (East Calder, West Lothian).
- Dr Josephine FARRAR, chief executive, Bath and North East Somerset Council. For services to local government (Bath, Somerset).
- David Robert JORDAN, lately executive director of operations, Environment Agency. For services to the environment and international environmental protection (Winchester, Hampshire).
- Dr Patricia Jane MUCAVELE, head of nutrition, Children’s Food Trust. For services to children and families and to charity (Wisbech, Cambridgeshire).
- Christopher Lennox NAPIER, chairman, Hampshire branch, Campaign to Protect Rural England. For services to the environment and the rural community in southern England (Petersfield, Hampshire).
- Ian William PIGOTT, farmer and founder, Open Farm Sunday, and chairman, Farming and Countryside Education. For services to agricultural and countryside education (Harpenden, Hertfordshire).
- Councillor John Robert RIDDLE, chairman, Northumberland National Park. For services to the community, environment, and business in Northumberland (Hexham, Northumberland).
- John Christian VARLEY, TD estate director, Clinton Devon Estates. For services to agriculture, the environment and the rural community (Sidmouth, Devon).
- Councillor John Keith WEIGHELL, lately leader, North Yorkshire County Council. For services to local government (Bedale, North Yorkshire).
Order of the British Empire
Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Stephen Thomas Richard ABSALOM, chairman, Dyfryn Clydach Volunteers. For services to the community and to the environment in Neath Port Talbot (Neath Abbey, Neath Port Talbot).
- Anthony Robert William BOSTOCK, chief executive, Severn Rivers Trust. For services to angling and the environment in the River Severn catchment area (Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire).
- Anthony Frederick BURGESS, chairman, Harper Adams University Development Trust. For services to higher education governance and fundraising (Newport, Shropshire).
- Brian Robert EDWARDS, councillor, South Staffordshire Council. For services to local government (Stourton, Staffordshire).
- Wilma Carol Grant, Mrs HARPER, director, corporate and forestry support division, Forestry Commission. For public and voluntary services to the Forestry Sector (Edinburgh).
- Jane Carol, Mrs HOWORTH, chief executive officer, British Hen Welfare Trust. For services to battery hen welfare (South Molton, Devon).
- Rosalie Mary, Mrs JAMES, for services to agriculture in Wales (Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire).
- Professor Michael Andrew Henry JOHNSTON, chief executive, Dairy Council for Northern Ireland. For services to the dairy industry in Northern Ireland (Ballyclare, Antrim).
- Ms Alice LESTER, programme manager, Planning Advisory Service. For services to planning (London).
- John William LOCKWOOD, honorary chairman, Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. For services to agriculture in Lincolnshire (Cammeringham, Lincolnshire).
- Ms Carmel Bridget MCCONNELL, founder, Magic Breakfast charity. For services to school food (London).
- Ms Diane MCCREA, lately vice chair of the board and chair of the Welsh Committee, Consumer Council for Water. For services to the Water Industry and its Customers (Cardiff, South Glamorgan).
- Peter James OGDEN, senior executive officer, Defra. For services to public administration and voluntary service to young people and charity (Kent).
- Benjamin Anthony PARKER, chairman, River Bourne Community Farm. For voluntary service to the community in Salisbury, Wiltshire (Salisbury, Wiltshire).
- Philip James ROUND, lately chief executive, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training Association. For services to apprenticeships and skills (Herefordshire).
- Peter SUNDERLAND, DL, for voluntary service to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the community in West Yorkshire (Westbury, Buckinghamshire).
- Ella Daphne, Mrs TILLEY (Daphne), farmer. For services to the food industry and particularly Welsh Lamb (Henllan, Denbighshire).
- Dr Anthony Ffoulkes WILLIAMS, chairman, subgroup on maternal and child nutrition, Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. For services to nutrition in infants and children (Kingston upon Thames, Surrey).
- Philip Rowland WOLFE, founder and chairman, Westmill Solar Co-operative and Community Energy England. For services to renewable energy and the energy sector (North Moreton, Oxfordshire).
Order of the British Empire
Medallist of the Order of the British Empire
- Sarah Elizabeth Airey, Mrs BAIN, president, Black Down and Hindhead Supporters Group, National Trust. For services to conservation in Surrey and West Sussex (Surrey).
- Kenneth BALL, station manager, Consett Fire Station, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service. For services to fire and rescue and the community in County Durham (Consett, Durham).
- Rosemary Ann, Mrs BURNS, for services to local government and to the community in Sussex (Hassocks, West Sussex).
- Miss Margaret DAWSON, for services to the Hambleton District Show and to charity (Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire).
- Councillor William (Billy) HILL, for services to the community and charity in Horden, County Durham (Peterlee, Durham).
- Canon Keith Cyril INESON, agricultural chaplain and coordinator, Cheshire Farm Community Network, for services to the farming community in Cheshire (Wimboldsey, Cheshire).
- Richard Henry KING, retained watch manager, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to fire and rescue and to emergency medical care (Spalding, Lincolnshire).
- Penry Alan LEWIS, for services to conservation and angling in Mid Wales (Rhayader, Powys).
- Marion, Mrs LOCKHART, honorary industrial secretary, Glendale Show. For services to the Glendale Show and the community in Wooler, Northumberland (Wooler, Northumberland).
- Paul Anthony MYERS, mayor, Midsomer Norton. For services to the community (Midsomer Norton, Somerset).
- Brian Keith READER, lately Surrey area footpath secretary, The Ramblers. For services to promoting the Rights of Way network in Surrey (Woking, Surrey).
- Linda Margaret, Mrs SMITH, parish and district councillor, Chalfont St. Peter. For services to local government and the community in Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire (Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire).
- Nicholas Andrew SMITH, woodland officer, Forestry Commission. For services to the forestry and environmental sectors in Herefordshire and to ornithology (Eaton Bishop, Herefordshire).
- (Norman) Alan STENNETT, broadcaster. For services to the Farming industry and broadcasting in Lincolnshire (Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire).
- Ian WASHBURN, drum major, Devon and Somerset Ceremonial Unit, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services. For voluntary services to music and firefighters' welfare (Saltash, Cornwall).