James Stafford wrote his last column in 2007.

James Stafford farms 200ha in a family partnerships at Pickwick Lodge Farm, Corsham. He is currently in charge of spraying over 2,400ha of land a year including winter wheat, winter oilseed rape, winter oats and spring barley grass.

It’s been an exciting few years for James, culminating in an award winning year in 2012, when he picked up the Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year accolade.

“It was the third time of entering actually, I think the first year I was nowhere near, second time round I got to the regional final and then third time lucky,” he says.

James has increased the acreage on his own farm by 20ha while also increasing the amount of contracting he does to around 80ha along with another 140ha of spraying.

“I do all the spraying on the farm as well as increasing the amount of contracting over the years.

“On the business side of things I think our risk management has improved. Eight years ago we would sell it all; our winter barley would go through the winter months then we would sell our cattle later in the year, which would then take us through to the summer.

“I’ve made small improvements every year, but I think one of my best decisions was adopting non-inversion tillage and reducing the reliance on the plough. I bought one cultivator for £3,500 and it’s been a superb bit of kit – there is no need to spend excessive amounts all the time,” he says.

Since adopting min till, James has seen benefits on his soil. “The use of non inversion techniques and introducing manure is really coming to fruition now. The soil structure has improved and earthworms are thriving. The importance of earthworms is often underestimated.”

On the machinery side, James recently switched from a Massey Ferguson 7256F to a New Holland CX8030. The acquisition of a new Massey Ferguson 6480 a few weeks ago has also helped bring the tractor fleet on his farm up to date.