Dennington Hall Farms, near Woodbridge, is 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.
The farm manager Ryan McCormack has been named the 2025 Farmers Weekly Farm Manager of the Year.
This is in recognition of his work to modernise farming operations at the 1,600 hectare farm, which features 1,200 hectares of regenerative arable land, growing wheat, barley and oats, also has a suckler herd of Red Poll cattle and a flying flock of lambs to manage the cover crops.
Working closely with the Rous family, which owns the farm, Mr McCormack has been praised for his environmental approach to farming, clear grasp of financial management and for prioritising staff safety and wellbeing.
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.
Mr McCormack 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.
Schemes crucial to continued environmental benefits
Much of the farm’s phenomenal environmental success has been achieved through working with the government’s SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) and by being in a Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreement.
In October, the NFU secured a one-year extension for Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreements for thousands of farmers following several months of campaigning.
Mr McCormack welcomed this news but warned that uncertainty remains and urged the government to reopen SFI as soon as possible.
He said: “I’m very heartened by the Countryside Stewardship announcement. It’s good news and a step in the right direction and long may it continue.”
But he added: “I would love to see something more set in stone for the future.
“SFI and Countryside Stewardship are crucial to the work we do and that is the case for many other farmers.
“The schemes have helped us to bring huge benefits to the environment.
“We have highlighted this to MPs and the government needs to help us continue this great environmental work.
“Without the funding, and with the huge pressures farmers are facing, many will just have to do whatever they can to survive and much of this positive environmental work could discontinue.”
Mr McCormack, who lives in Framlingham, praised how the NFU is uniting the industry to tackle the many challenges farmers are facing.
He is NFU Suffolk Coastal Branch Chair and a member of the NFU National Crops Board.
Mr McCormack said: “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.”
Exciting opportunities
Mr McCormack, who volunteers for Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue, said, despite the challenges there are exciting opportunities in farming for young people.
His five-person team on the farm has an average age of just 27.
Mr McCormack moved from his family home in Northern Ireland to England at the age of 18, working in Kent before moving to Suffolk in 2022, said: “There are some great older farmers, with invaluable experience I have also seen a fresh enthusiasm from younger farmers.
“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.”
Mr McCormack also spoke of his pride at being named Farmers Weekly Farm Manager of the Year.
He said: “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.”