Perkins Power on the Farm Award

The opulent surroundings of The Ritz hotel in London was the magnificent venue for the presentation of the Guild’s Perkins Engines sponsored Power on the Farm award.

In his introduction, Nigel Baseley, marketing director, reiterated Perkins support of the Guild: "Perkins Engines continues to be a proud sponsor of this award, maintaining that important association with an industry with which the company has become synonymous over the years," he said. "The Power on the Farm award is an opportunity to recognise and reward the best in agricultural journalism."

An article on different strategies for saving fuel – from cultivation techniques requiring fewer passes to exploiting the power characteristics of modern tractor diesel engines - was judged the winning entry.

Written by freelance Peter Hill and published in the monthly Classic Tractor, edited by fellow Guild member Rory Day, the article was "relevant to all farmers and loaded with information," said the judges.

"This fact-packed article was a pleasure to read and easy to recall; it engaged the reader from the start and, being written at a time of near record fuel costs, the article's relevance and usefulness are unquestioned," they added.

"The reader is both informed and challenged to select and apply the many techniques described. Combining huge scope with closely written rationale, this article is a worthy winner in the best tradition of the Perkins Power Award."

Nigel Baseley presents Peter Hill with the Power on the Farm Award 2010

The runner-up prize was secured by Emily Padfield, deputy machinery editor on Farmers Weekly, for an article on telematics, the electronic systems that are increasingly used on combine harvesters to remotely monitor and record field performance and which allow remote adjustment of machine settings.

Award judges Rachael Porter (the 2009 winner), former Perkins agricultural sales director John Baxter and Guild chairman Nick Bond said of Emily’s entry: "The author presented a highly readable guide to the capabilities of telematics and by avoiding jargon and emphasising features, the article packed a lot of information into a succinct guide, with just enough technical depth to be convincing.

"If the article had balanced users' experience with manufacturers' claims, it may have made top spot: nonetheless the informative and engaging style, dealing with this difficult topic, ensured the well merited runner up prize."

Emily Padfield receives the runner-up award from Nigel Baseley of Perkins Engines

Nigel Baseley applauded the Guild and the work of its members in communicating information to the farming industry, a sentiment echoed by Guild president Lord Cameron of Dillington, who thanked the Perkins Engines marketing team for the valued support of the award.

Guild members and Perkins marketing staff with John Williams, executive chef at the The Ritz. Front row (left to right): 2010 award winner Peter Hill and runner-up Emily Padfield. Second row: Nigel Baseley and Annette Johnson of Perkins, Rachael Porter, Howard Venters, John Baxter of Perkins, Guild president Lord Cameron and Guild chairman Nick Bond. Third row: Guild deputy chairman Adrian Bell with Adrian Talbot, Neil Kitson and John Levick of Perkins, and Ray Vale.

• Read Peter’s article here
• Read Emily’s article here

Stunning views from one of London’s most famous landmark buildings, officially 30 St Mary Axe but commonly known as 'the gherkin', thrilled Guild members gathered for the presentation of the 2008 'Power on the Farm' award sponsored by Perkins Engines.

"The 'Power on the Farm' award continues to be an opportunity to recognise and reward the best in agricultural journalism," said Steven Smith, director of sales to agricultural vehicle manufacturers. "Over the years, the entries have tackled many of the subjects pertinent to the industry and this year's crop was no different."

Lofty award – Steven Smith of Perkins Engines (centre) with Power on the Farm award winners against a London backdrop seen from the heights of the Swiss Re building aka 'the gerkhin'.

The judges, who had the difficult task of deciding who would carry off the title of farming's sharpest scribe, were former Perkins off-highway sales director John Baxter, who provides some critical continuity having judged the award for the past four years; last year’s winner Mike Green; and Guild chairman Joe Watson.

They had a more than usually difficult task in reaching their verdict such was the diversity of subject matter of this year's entries. They included topics from the strategic implications of climate change through to hands-on technical analyses of equipment.

However, the judges concluded that an article in Farmers Weekly by machinery editor David Cousins was a worthy winner.

"The simplicity, concise style and a touch of humour pulled us all into the compelling narrative of 'A Day in the Life of a Combine Mechanic'," said the judges. "The author’s lightness of touch provided the perfect foil for the necessary technical and chronological details to produce a cohesive, informative and entertaining piece... in the best traditions of this long standing award."

David Cousins (left) receives his Power on the Farm award winner's prize from Steven Smith of sponsor Perkins Engines.

After receiving his £2000 first prize, David commented: "I'm delighted to win this award which celebrates good writing and is an incentive for us all to improve the quality of our work, especially at a time when journalists are under pressure to turn out ever greater quantities of articles and other material."

• To see David's winning article click here

The winner of the £1000 runner-up prize, Mike Abram, deputy editor of Crops magazine, was complimented by the judges for a "crisp and business-like" article on the energy crop willow coppice and its processing. They described it as useful to participants in the sector but with the "readability" to give insight to a much wider audience.

Mike Abram (right) received the runners-up prize for an article on willow coppice grown as an energy crop.

• To see Mike's winning article click here

Andrew Pearce won the Guild's Perkins 'Power Award' for an article published in Farmers Weekly on agricultural vehicle vibration and its implications for drivers of tractors and self-propelled machinery.

• Click here to see Andrew's winning article

Runner-up Andy Collings entered a feature from Classic Tractor on the topic of roadworthiness standards and testing of agricultural tractors.

Simon Kelsall (centre), Perkins Engines agricultural account director, presented the £2000 first prize for the 2006 Perkins 'Power Award' to Andrew Pearce (right) and the runner-up £1000 cheque to Andy Collings.