The Macra na Feirme/Aurivo Co-op silage competition is open to Macra na Feirme young farmer members in Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Galway, Leitrim, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford and Westmeath.

Sample bags are being distributed through the young farmer development groups.

The bag is accompanied by a simple application form, which must be returned in the envelope with the silage sample. Samples will be tested by Aurivo at its testing laboratory.

Entrants will be contacted by Aurivo farm commercial specialists/nutritionists with their results and receive any nutrition advice that they require.

A young farmer information meeting will be held in December 2016 in a central location within the northwest to discuss the results.

A young farmer competition entrant who attends the young farmer information meeting will be entered into a free raffle on the night for prizes sponsored by Nutrias/Homeland.

The information meeting will be attended by Aurivo farm commercial specialists/nutritionists who will give overall global advice on the results and also tips towards next spring and increasing silage and grass quality.

At the information meeting, the young farmers with the top three silage samples will be interviewed by a judging panel and the winner will be announced. Judging will be based on the farmer’s silage sample result, but also on their farming methods.

Macra na Feirme northwest vice-president Caroline O’Dowd said: “It’s very important that young farmers are aware of the quality of their feed to ensure that it returns in terms of animal performance. This competition aims to encourage young farmers to get their silage tested and use the result to make management decisions in terms of their feeding regime.”

The deadline for return of samples to Aurivo is Friday 18 November 2016.

For further information about the competition, contact Caroline O’Dowd, Macra na Feirme northwest vice-president on 087-626 5789.