Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • October 2025
    • September 2025
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Subscribe
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. October 2025
    2. September 2025
    3. August 2025
    4. 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    5. July 2025
    6. June 2025
    7. 2025 Innovation supplement
    8. May 2025
    9. April 2025
    10. March 2025
    11. 2025 Buildings supplement
    12. February 2025
    13. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    14. January 2025
    15. December 2024
    16. November 2024
    17. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    18. October 2024
    19. September 2024
    20. August 2024
    21. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    22. July 2024
    23. June 2024
    24. 2024 Innovation supplement
    25. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    26. May 2024
    27. April 2024
    28. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    29. March 2024
    30. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    31. February 2024
    32. January 2024
    33. December 2023
    34. November 2023
    35. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    36. October 2023
    37. September 2023
    38. Health Supplement
    Featured

    October 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    October 2, 2025
    Recent

    October 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    October 2, 2025

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
News

Lincolnshire outdoor producer wins Farmers Weekly Pig Farmer of the Year award

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverOctober 8, 20243 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
James Roos. Credit Jim Varney

Lincolnshire producer James Ross has won the 2024 Farmers Weekly Pig Farmer of the Year award, with the judges describing him as a ‘shining example of the attitude and passion needed to ensure the longevity of the British pig industry’.

James, who received his award the Farmers Weekly awards in London last week, is farm manager of a 1,750-sow herd, which runs across two outdoor units, operating a two-week batch, five-week weaning system, using largely single-sire, purebred Landrace genetics. They produce weaned pigs for BQP, with James now targeting 10kg average weaning weights, an increase from the 8-9kg previously.

Dyke Farm, founded in 2021, acts as a multiplier herd, producing its own replacement gilts using single sire Landrace semen, and F1’s for Elms Farm, which was established in 2018, using large white semen.

The two units are separately from each other, with their own staff and machinery, helping to ensure good biosecurity.

The approach has been ramped up over the past year following a devastating PRRS outbreak in January 2023. Although this had a huge impact on the business, James said it was a big learning curve and presented an opportunity to double down on management and, as a result, production is now better than the pre-PRRS levels.

Next generation

Thorough record-keeping is an important part of the attention to detail that has made the farm a success and, according to James, is integral to maintaining high standards and production levels.

The unit employs eight staff, one of which is part time, and a staff WhatsApp group ensure everyone is aware of the tasks to be completed, and what other staff members are doing, on a daily basis.

James organises regular team building events, such as comedy nights and cinema trips, to help gel the team, and has a passion for bringing in people from outside the industry. He offers comprehensive training, on and off the farm, to make new staff feel valued and invested in.

“I have a passion for training and guiding the next generation of farmers, and leading them into the industry,” he said.

“It can be very rewarding to take people who have never worked on farms before and train them up [to be] top level stockman and machinery operators.

“Yes, it is time consuming – and requires a lot of patience – but for me, this is all worth it. Nothing would be possible without their hard work.”

To minimise the impact of pigs on the soil, James establishes grass leys before re-siting pigs and leaves grass margins around the edges of the fields, which enhances and preserves soil structure. Wildflower strips have also been planted to provide opportunities for pollinators.

What the judges said

The judges, who included the NPA’s Katie Jarvis, said: “James is a shining example of the attitude and passion needed to ensure the longevity of the British pig industry. The farm and the herd are reaping the rewards of his attention to detail.”

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleNPA welcomes plans to push back EU deforestation regulation for a year
Next Article Staying a step ahead of PCV2 to avoid its hidden costs
Alistair Driver

Editor Pig World, group editor Agronomist and Arable Farmer and Farm Contractor. National Pig Association webmaster. Former political editor at Farmers Guardian. Occasional media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm. Works from a shed in his Oxfordshire garden.

Read Similar Stories

Brazilian pork production forecast to rise, as it becomes a bigger player on the global stage

October 20, 2025

Defra welfare advisors call for CO2 to be phased out as a means of stunning pigs

October 16, 2025

GB pig prices for week ending October 11, 2025 – SPP falls for third successive week

October 15, 2025
Latest News

Brazilian pork production forecast to rise, as it becomes a bigger player on the global stage

October 20, 2025

Defra welfare advisors call for CO2 to be phased out as a means of stunning pigs

October 16, 2025

Serious about pig welfare? So are we

October 16, 2025
Sponsored Content

Serious about pig welfare? So are we

October 16, 2025

All Vaccines Are Not Equal

September 15, 2025
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Unit Manager – Ref 1788 Northern Ireland

    • County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1787 North Yorkshire

    • North Yorkshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson/FarmWorker – Ref 1786 Essex

    • Essex
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.