A NORTH Yorkshire farming family has won a major business award for excellence.

Mr Edward Taylor, his wife, Dorothy, and son, Jeremy, were due to receive the ADAS award at this week's European dairy farming event at Stoneleigh.

ADAS launched its concept of total profit management specifically for the agricultural sector June. TPM enables farmers to make informed business decisions through process analysis and benchmarking techniques.

The Taylor family farms 600 acres of grassland at Broughton, near Skipton. Their Smellows herd of pedigree Holsteins was founded in 1967 and the sale of stock has always been an integral part of the business.

The 200-cow dairy herd is supported by 200 head of youngstock and a flock of 750 lowland breeding ewes, mainly Mules, and a number of pedigree Texels.

Mr Edward Taylor is well known for his work with the Holstein Friesian Society and for the role he took in the formation of Holstein United Kingdom and Ireland