15/10/2026
Congratulations to Graham Parks for winning Grassland Farmer of the Year!
Well done to all the finalists and thanks to British Farming Awards for organising a brilliant night!
Congratulations to Graham Parks who has been named Grassland Farmer of the Year 2026!
For Graham Parks, proactive grassland management has been at the heart of a successful beef enterprise for more than two decades. Farming 117.6ha, including 16.6ha owned and 101ha tenanted, Graham buys around 250 calves from a single spring-calving Arla dairy herd, predominantly Aberdeen Angus and Hereford, before developing them into grass-fed beef cattle.
Graham has rotationally grazed cattle for 23 years, a system inspired by a dairy farm where he saw the potential of producing milk from forage. Today, around 95% of his cattle’s diet comes from grass and forage, helping reduce concentrate costs while improving performance.
Strict rotational grazing has also transformed the farm’s land. When Graham took on his current tenancy 10 years ago, around 100 acres were heavily affected by ragwort and a further 40 acres by creeping thistle. Through grazing management and topping, without using sprays, w**d levels have fallen by more than 99%. Since 2020, Graham has introduced herbal leys to improve soil health, drought resilience and reduce fertiliser requirements, while weekly grass-growth recording through Agrinet has strengthened decision-making. These measures have helped reduce finishing age from 32 to 27 months, while profitability has tripled in five years.
Environmental stewardship is equally important. Streams have been fenced, hedgerows planted, fertiliser use reduced and 25 acres entered into GS4. Graham also uses annual carbon audits to track progress. With beef prices currently providing an opportunity to reinvest, Graham is focused on securing the business’s future while continuing to demonstrate how productive beef farming and environmental improvement can work hand in hand.
Morrisons Germinal Farmers Guardian
