FARMER David Fisher feels his fortunes are looking up after he reaped a top award.

The 54-year-old, who runs Manor Farm, at Hampnett, near Northleach, has scooped Champion Farm in Moreton Show Society's annual Farms and Crops competition.

And he says the future of agriculture as a whole is also looking brighter.

The tenant farmer, who manages a number of farms, entered his own 628 acres into the prestigious annual contest.

His farm supports arable crops and 75 pedigree Simmental suckler cows.

He said: "I've had 15 years of hard work for very little return and just managed to keep my head above water.

"But prices of barley, wheat and oilseed rape, as well as beef and lamb, have gone up.

"Now we're getting a bit more of a return. Everybody's doing better than they did and there's a bit of room now for investment in the industry. We can now spend some money on modernising and becoming more efficient and sustainable."

His farm, which gained the best small farm title, was pitted against three others – last year's champion, Guiting Manor Farms, as well as this year's best medium farm, Greg Dancer from Churchill, and large farm winner, Barrington Park Estate.

Mr Fisher is used to close scrutiny because he has won the title twice before.

Judges examined everything from general husbandry and machinery to livestock management and conservation issues.

"I enjoy entering and good competition keeps standards high," said Mr Fisher.

"I like to think my farm could be judged any day of the year – I don't just get my brush and shovel out once.

"We have an eye for detail and put the time in. Despite the drought, the crops look well and tidy.

"I'm into precision farming with GPS equipment, sensitive to the environment and heavily into conservation."

Farms and Crops chairwoman, Ros Allen, said Mr Fisher had been up against some high-calibre opponents.

"It's a great achievement for him to beat these farms," she said. "All prices are quite good at the moment, but you can't generalise on the state of farming."

R & J Baldwyn, of Hidcote Boyce, Chipping Campden, took the Brassey Cup for best crop production overall.

OPINION, P8