Farmers Weekly Awards 2023: Farm Manager of the Year
William Haupt © Tim Scrivener William Haupt impressed the judges with his comprehensive management approach, taking a considered view of opportunities to enhance the business and reduce risk.
On his appointment in 2018, William undertook a full farm review and has led the resulting restructure, streamlining equipment to improve timeliness and attention to detail.
See also: Farmers Weekly Awards 2023: Farm Manager of the Year
This involved selling much of the heavy cultivation equipment and a move to conservation agriculture and controlled-traffic farming.
His initial challenges included blackgrass management, rising fixed costs and a lack of income outside the arable enterprise, which had a narrow range of cropping.
Agronomy was taken back in-hand with occasional strategic support, and all the main inputs are now applied variably.
Cropping has been expanded to include C1 pea seed, malting barley and milling wheat and, this year, a three-way spring wheat blend is being grown on contract for Wildfarmed.
Significant contracting expansion
William has developed contracting income from £5,000/year in 2018 to about £112,000 this year, alongside a renewed 198ha contrac farming agreement, also transitioning this to no-till and putting in a new Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreement.
New collaborations have been set up with other estate businesses, so that the farm now grows and harvests silage and all forage for the estate’s deer enterprise, as well as forage for some of the adjoining safari park animals.
Investment projects
William has designed, secured planning permission for and overseen construction of a 9,000t grain store and drier.
This includes a grant-aided colour sorter to add value, including on contract for third-party grains.
New CS and Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot agreements are in place on the in-hand land, and new cattle housing and a grant-aided handling system was also designed by William.
A straw-for-muck deal, combined with the farm’s own smaller tonnage of farmyard manure, delivers 5,000t to apply this autumn.
Biosolids are used widely and about 400ha of rotational cover crops have been introduced.
After a full health screening of the cross-bred cattle herd, half the animals were sold in 2019 and pedigree Aberdeen Angus introduced.
Winning ways
- Proactive and strategic approach to all decisions
- Sizeable achievements over short period, managing much change with full responsibility
- Manages in a professional and diligent way
- Risk reduction is an important factor in all areas
- Attention to detail to maintain high standard of work, staff development and estate profile
Farm facts
- 1,880ha in-hand (1,480ha arable, plus grassland and stewardship)
- Mainly arable, ALSO extensive contract work and contract farming agreement
- Winter and spring wheat, winter and spring barley, OSR, winter oats, spring peas, winter beans
- Works with other estate enterprises, such as deer feed supply
- Pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle
Staff
Keen to retain and develop staff, William has introduced six-monthly appraisals and set up training days covering subjects such as soil health, and the farm’s environment schemes and their management.
The team are involved in all machinery decisions, and each member of staff has a bespoke training plan, with Basis, Facts and drone training offered, as well as a large range of short courses.
William has a short team meeting every morning, alongside monthly staff and manager meetings, designed to allow a greater feed into the business.
He has also set up a discretionary annual bonus scheme. Good machinery, good staff accommodation and strict safety standards are key, with high levels of machinery maintenance, alongside detailed harvest and lone-worker policies.
William plans to introduce or develop an assistant manager as part of his risk management strategy and investment in people.
A word from our independent judge
“William clearly enjoys what he does and inspires confidence with his calm and capable approach. He is passionate about agriculture and seeks constant improvement in himself, his team and the results they achieve together.”
Richard Price, managing director, Ewematter Farm Consultancy
The FW 2023 Farm Manager of the Year is sponsored by Safety Revolution
“We value the recognition this award bestows on managers who lead their teams with skill, experience and vision, while ensuring the safety of each worker.”
Oliver Dale, managing director, Safety Revolution