County Down Farmer Wins National Award for Putting Nature at the Heart of Farming
A farmer from near Strangford in County Down has been honoured at the Balmoral Show today (14th May) for his outstanding work in protecting the environment while producing top-quality local food.
Dale Orr, who runs an organic beef and lamb farm with his wife, has won the Environmental Champion Award through the prestigious M&S Select Farm Awards 2025. Dale supplies lamb to M&S through ABP Linden.
The award celebrates farmers who are leading the way in sustainable agriculture – looking after the land while producing delicious, nutritious food for M&S customers across the UK and Ireland.
Farming 330 acres, Dale has created rich, diverse grasslands full of clovers and herbs like chicory, plantain, and sheep’s parsley. These natural pastures help his animals thrive, boost biodiversity, improve soil health, and cut the need for artificial fertilisers and chemical treatments.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to receive this award,” said Dale. “Our goal has always been to farm in a way that’s good for our animals, our local environment, and future generations. It’s great to see that being recognised.”
As well as being better for nature, Dale’s approach means his lambs grow faster and reach market weight earlier, all while spending most of the year outdoors grazing. His cattle and sheep graze for at least 240 days a year, and the ewes have access to fresh pasture all year round except for lambing in March.
“His commitment to soil health, biodiversity and animal welfare is reflected not only in the quality of the food he produces, but in the positive impact he’s making on the land. We’re proud to work with farmers like Dale who are leading the way towards a more sustainable future for food.”
Dale’s farm has been organic for more than 25 years, and he’s always looking for new ways to reduce his environmental impact – from investing in solar power to cutting carbon emissions and sharing ideas with other farmers in his local community.
Dale is part of the PRISM 2030 sustainability programme, which helps farmers track and reduce emissions.
Peter Kennedy, Agriculture Manager at M&S, praised Dale’s forward-thinking approach and said: “Dale is an outstanding example of how traditional farming values can work hand in hand with modern sustainability practices.
The M&S Select Farm Awards were presented at a special event on the M&S stand at the Balmoral Show, where Dale joined other winning farmers from across the UK and Ireland. The Environmental Champion Award recognises leadership in reducing environmental impact, improving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable practices.
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