Flick through the current Farmers Weekly and on page twenty-eight there’s a familiar face. Our JVFG consultant and analyst, Jamie Gwatkin, is shortlisted as one of the three finalists in the Farmers Weekly Farm Adviser of the Year 2016.

“Operating in East Anglia, Jamie has helped to transform many a business” explains the judging team’s summary. “Weeding out the bad bits and concentrating on the good. His attention to detail helps underpin profit, while his positive attitude clearly rubs off on his many and varied clients.”

Expert in Joint Ventures

At JVFG we have seen the attention to detail at each report and review of the benchmarking he does for our members’ data. Jamie’s expertise in joint venture farming obviously caught the judges’ attention. Being involved with six joint ventures gives Jamie unparalleled access to the evidence of how and why joint venture farming works so well in many instances.

At each of our member meetings, where we discuss the results of the benchmarking across all the businesses in JVFG, it could be a challenge to deliver both the good news and the disappointing on the gains made or lost in the pursuit of improved performance. We respect the Gwatkin approach: giving insight to the machinery combinations and methods that work and encouragement to put into practice the tips on tools and techniques to make progress.

Adviser the wiser

The competition between advisers is tough. Other finalists in Farm Adviser of the Year 2016 include Marek Nowakowski, from Oxfordshire’s Wildlife Farming Company (detail of his work), and Colin Gravatt of Humphrey Feeds and Pullets of Hampshire. It’s heartening to see that across this farming country of ours there are such high quality, productive and respected farm advisers.

Nevertheless finding a high quality adviser that matches your business can be a challenge. As JVFG we have Jamie Gwatkin as our adviser and analyst. Joining JVFG gives members access to this leading joint venture consultant.

The judges’ deliberations will, as they often say, be long and hard as the standard is so high. But we can’t wait until we can flick through the Farmers Weekly after the results are announced in October to read that ‘our Jamie’ has won.