A Powys farmer has been recognised for his innovative work to make his farm more environmentally friendly.

Edward Vaughan who runs his family farm near Llanerfyl won the Sir Bryner Jones Memorial award at this year’s Royal Welsh Show.

This year the award was given to the “individual who has successfully implemented any innovations or techniques towards net zero within their farming business and who is an inspiration to the industry”.

Mr Vaughan was one of two Powys farmers on the three-man shortlist with Ben Williams from Llanhamlach, near Brecon, also being recognised for his efforts.

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Mr Vaguhan said he was very happy with the recognition for his work and was honoured to get this year’s award.

“It’s fantastic. It has been a very nice day for me and my family,” said Mr Vaughan. “I was very surprised to win the award and I felt that it was a great honour. This award has been going back years and I am very proud.”

Mr Vaughan said the work on the farm was part of a long-term project at the site which is now beginning to pay off.

“Before this we have run a traditional farm. It’s always been a family farm,” said Mr Vaughan. “We started to diversify in 2012.

“We basically changed from then. First of all, we had a wind turbine, later on we added an anaerobic digestor so that started the road to net zero.”

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The changes Mr Vaughan has made to his farm has allowed him to not only be self-sufficient but also produce energy for the local area.

“The anaerobic digestor captures the methane produced by the waste of the animals which is obviously harmful for the environment.

“Then it starts converting that into electricity and that is then sent to the local grid. We don’t have to use all of it, we use what we want and the surplus is sent to the local electricity supplier.”

The judges this year said “such was the standard of entries every contestant excelled above others in one of my scoring categories.

“There was not one visit we made which did not teach us something to share with others.”