Last week you will have pulled out Irish Country Living to find the FBD Insurance National Farmyard Awards launch 2017 across the front cover. FBD Insurance has committed to sponsoring this competition for the ninth year. You will also have noticed Liam Herlihy, dairy farmer from Co Waterford, in the frame. Liam has recently been appointed chair of FBD Insurance. We wish him well.

It seems like only yesterday that the judges were on the farm of last year’s winners in Co Cavan, Eddie and Zara Lynch, with their young family. Still, there’s at least two months before the judges will be visiting this year’s entrants.

Have a proper look at the competition. There is a serious prize fund of over €19,000 for farming families. The farmyard must be a working farmyard. Remember the underlying aim of this competition is to have safer workplaces and also to improve the image of farming through the competition. Don’t be put off by previous winners. Obviously, when Irish Country Living features the pictures from the winning farms, it is the best pictures that are chosen.

TAKE CARE WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHS

Take a look at your own farmyard and see it through the lens. Remember a picture speaks a thousand words. This is important because this is what will get you shortlisted for a visit. Put a bit of time into your photographs. Make sure you include images to represent each criterion: farmyard design, farmyard appearance, health and safety, landscaping, shelter belting and biodiversity. Think about the fact that three strangers will be looking at the photographs trying to get a sense of your farmyard.

Most farmyards have a nucleus of buildings around the working area. Most have untidy areas too where a few days’ work could make a huge difference to the overall impression. Consider your farmyard in a new light.

Focus on the good areas and imagine how you could bring it all together with a good tidy-up – especially if you had the family on board. Motivate them to improve the farmyard appearance. It achieves a number of things. A tidy farmyard is definitely a safer work environment. It also encourages you to put items back in their rightful or designated place. This in turn leads to better time management because you can lay your hand on that wrench or whatever it is that you are trying to find.

Farmers spend a lot of time in their farmyards so why not make it a pleasant working environment. It will also help your sense of wellbeing and pride in what you do. A good farming ethos is then passed on to the next generation. Being tidy and organised are traits that will serve them well throughout their lives. Sow the seeds.

Good signage around the farmyard is also important. It will allow you to communicate with others who enter your farmyard. Have your farm safety statement up to date and your medicines and chemicals stored appropriately. Talk to your Teagasc adviser. He or she will be happy to advise you.

Nominate a farmyard

This year we have two special awards for a Farm Safety Champion and a New Entrant to farming. A New Entrant is defined as someone who has entered farming since 2008. See the details on the website. Each special award carries a prize of €1,000. Oftentimes when I travel around Ireland I see beautiful farmyards and wonder why they have never entered the competition, so do give it some thought this year. Maybe you have neighbours or cousins that you could nominate for the competition. Note that we have returned to the regional format giving farmers a better chance of competing with those from similar farming backgrounds. See www.farmersjournal.ie/farmyard for more. Desk judging will take place on 9 July 2017