Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Based in Leicestershire, Osbaston House Farm is the seventh Strategic Cereal Farm to join the AHDB network since the programme started in 2017.
The programme puts cutting-edge research and innovation into practice on commercial farms around the UK.
Will was selected because of his passion for arable farming and interest in exploring new technologies and approaches.
His appointment follows a recent recruitment drive, which will also see a new Strategic Cereal Farm in Scotland launched later this year.
Currently, we have two other active farms: Strategic Cereal Farm East and Strategic Cereal Farm North.
Osbaston House Farm includes 650 ha arable land, 100 ha grassland and an indoor poultry unit (with about 150,000 birds).
The arable rotation comprises wheat, maize and winter beans. The farm has two full-time arable employees.
Oilseed rape is no longer grown, partly due to cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) pressures. However, Will has not written it off permanently, because of its value as a break crop.
The business also participates in environmental schemes and has several other income-generating activities, including glamping, dog walking and a livery.
The farm aims to make the most out of organic materials. For example, the chicken manure from the poultry unit is used on the farm.
Cover crops (usually, rye, vetch and clovers) and catch crops are also grown, which are grazed by sheep (not owned by the farm).
The farm has not used insecticides for over six years.
Will was named Cereal Grower of the Year in 2021 (National Arable and Grassland Awards) and Arable Farmer of the Year in 2022 (Farmers Weekly Awards).
In 2024, he became the vice chair of the Maize Growers Association (MGA). He also has various roles on other boards/committees, which include the NFU and the AHDB Nutrient Management Guide (RB209).
Keen to try new approaches and refine established ways of working, the farm is already engaged in research. Will wants to take this to the next level during his time as a strategic cereal farmer.
- New technologies (from precision farming to artificial intelligence)
- Biostimulants
- Timing of organic manures (comparing with bagged alternatives)
- Managing fungicide resistance
- Tyre pressure and trafficking
- Optimising cultivations
- Undersowing maize for following wheat crop
- Assessing maize vs wheat
Will said:
“I look forward to hosting new trials and demonstrations to find solutions to problems experienced by arable farmers and sharing the results for everyone’s benefit.”
Henny Lowth, who manages the Strategic Cereal Farm programme at AHDB, said:
“We are excited that Will has joined the Strategic Cereal Farm network. He has the key traits of a strategic cereal farmer, which include being open-minded and receptive to new ways of working.
“Will has a wealth of knowledge and expertise, including on-farm trials experience, which provide a great foundation for next six years.”
The initial priority for Strategic Cereal Farm Midlands is to establish a steering group (these often include the farm’s agronomist and like-minded farmers) to identify ideas for on-farm trials.
Strategic Cereal Farm Midlands will run from 2025 to 2031.