THE National Sheep Association (NSA) has announced the 2016 winner of the George Hedley Memorial Award as Chris Lloyd of AHDB Beef & Lamb.

The annual award recognises an individuals outstanding contribution to the sheep sector. Mr Lloyd, whose career spans 30 years, ultimately won the award for delivering the Better Returns Programme.

Samuel Wharry, NSA chairman, said: "Thanks to Chris’ instrumental input, the industry now benefits from a world-leading knowledge exchange platform. Its success is largely down to Chris’ ability to communicate with sheep farmers and an enthusiasm and drive which will leave a legacy for years to come."

Mr Lloyd was brought up in Essex in a non-farming family, but developed a passion for agriculture from a young age while working on a number of mixed farm enterprises and studying agriculture at Writtle College, Chelmsford.

He graduated in 1987 and spent 16 years with the NSA. He received a Nuffield Scholarship in 1999 to study the sheep industries in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and assess their impact on the UK market.

He later joined Eblex (now AHDB Beef & Lamb), where he was involved in the establishment and launch of Sheep BRP in 2004. He has also overseen the development of numerous technical publications and interactive management tools to aid decisions for 'better returns'.

Mr Lloyd is married with three daughters, and runs 100 ewes in Herefordshire.

He was honoured to receive the award and said: "I enjoy using my knowledge of grassroots farming to explain technical information in a language and format to suit different audiences.

"This has to be the heart of farmer engagement and I am very proud to have been involved in the Better Returns Programme and other activities that have achieved this."