The Addington Fund charity held their annual Cornwall Farm Business Awards last month, and awarded Rob Halliday from Tremeer Farm near Liskeard as the Best Young Farmer 2017.

The event recognises those excelling in their field and Rob's journey into farming impressed the judges.

In 2008 Rob, together with his wife Louise, were successful in the tender for Tremeer Farm, an 85-acre Cornwall County Council Farm.

With limited funds and no machinery or livestock, they managed to make a success of the farm through a heifer rearing contract, which would pay them per head per day.

At the same time Rob also took on an organic share farming agreement and a contract agreement with a third farm.

After two years of contract rearing, Rob focussed his efforts on his own suckler herd, predominately Aberdeen Angus, which are all reared on farm to finish.

TB played a huge factor in the management decisions on the farm, and Rob has worked within the restraints of TB to make this a profitable business.

Rob believes in adding value and over the past two years has introduced a beef box scheme in the local area, working with the local abattoir, and also runs a 120-flock of Lleyn sheep which he crosses with a Suftex, finding the cross is suited to the Cornwall landscape.

In addition, Rob also runs a forage wagon contracting business, offers consultancy work and is currently on the Cornwall NFU management board as tenants representative.

Jo Wingfield, NatWest’s senior relationship manager and judge for the Cornwall Young Farmer Award category, said: "Rob’s attention to detail is outstanding, and his continued focus on profitability is a key element in his success.

"He is always challenging himself and questioning how he can improve his business.

"His desire to farm is inspirational and he is an incredibly worthy winner of the 2017 award.”