Farming sees impressive roll call in 2021 New Year Honours

The hard work and dedication of people working in agriculture across the UK have been recognised in the 2021 New Year Honours list.

Honours for the food and farming community include a range of awards following one of the most challenging years the industry has seen in recent times.

Farming awards include:

Devon dairy farmer Di Wastenage, who is vice chair of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, receives an MBE for her services to the UK dairy industry.

Mrs Wastenage, who farms with husband Pete at Budleigh Salterton, was Farmers Weekly’s Farmer of the Year and Dairy Farmer of the Year in 2015.

Welsh farmer Kate Beavan, of Abergavenny, receives an MBE for services to agriculture.

Perhaps best known for hosting Lambing Live and being a guest presenter on the One Show, she also runs Kate’s Country School teaching traditional rural skills.

Andrew Le Gallais, chairman of the Jersey Milk Marketing Board on the Channel Island of Jersey, receives an MBE for services to the community and to dairy.

Belfast agricultural journalist and broadcaster Ian Harvey receives an MBE for services to agriculture and to charity in Northern Ireland.

Diana Smart, assistant show secretary to the Hertfordshire County Show, receives a BEM for services to agriculture.

See also: The 2020 Farmers Weekly Awards

Other awards of interest to farmers and the agriculture community include:

Knighthood:

Professor Dieter Helm, Defra advisor and chairman of the government’s Natural Capital Committee, for services to the environment, energy and utilities policy.

OBE:

Lynne Bradley, senior plant health and seeds inspector at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, for services to plant health.

Lorraine Maltby, professor of environmental biology at Sheffield University, for services to environmental biology, animal and plant sciences.

Louise Beaton, trustee for the charity Action with Communities in Rural England, for voluntary service to rural communities.

Dr Anna Brown, head of plant health, forestry and contingency planning at the Forestry Commission, for services to forest pathology.

MBE:

William Brown, for services to the food economy in Northern Ireland.

BEM:

Colin Weaver, of Defra’s Animal and Plant Health Agency, for services to science.

Covid-19 work recognised:

This year’s honours include dozens of awards for people who have gone beyond the call of duty to help others during the coronavirus pandemic.

Among them are Defra deputy director Mark Sautereau, who receives an OBE for services to the food supply chain and the vulnerable people, particularly during Covid-19.

Assistant scientific officer Samira Ahmad, of the Animal and Plant Health Agency, receives a BEM for services to animal health during Covid-19 and to the community.