A Cheltenham farmer has won this year’s Nabim/HGCA Milling Wheat Challenge.

This was the 5th time the awards have been run, and the winner was announced last night (30 October) at the Ritz London.

Joe Edwards of Boddington Estates LTD took the title of Milling Wheat Grower of the Year 2014. His farms have contracts with Warburtons, Openfield, Frontier and Glencore.

The competition is held to identify arable farmers who consistently produce quality milling wheat, and to highlight their skills and methods of farming.

Runners up in the competition were Bob Chapman of South Lodge Farm, Barnwell and Rick Davies of Newton Lodge, Buckinghamshire.

Alex Waugh, director general of Nabim said: “The night was a great success! All finalists were very proud to be there and they do a great job producing top quality wheat for bread making.

“UK wheat accounts for 80% of what millers use, so it is important to both encourage famers producing good quality wheat and recognise the fact that they do a superb job.”

Wheat yields have been exceptionally high this year thanks to ‘near perfect’ growing conditions.