The Irish Farmers Journal team has secured 12 places on the shortlist for the 2020 Agri Guild awards.

The prestigious awards, hosted by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists and sponsored by FBD Insurance, aim to encourage excellence in the reporting of farming, food and rural life on the island of Ireland.

This year’s awards will be live-streamed to attendees from the RDS Dublin, on Friday 18 December from 3pm to 4pm.

The ceremony will be hosted by RTÉ broadcaster Damien O’Reilly and chair of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists Amy Forde.

It will also feature an address from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue.

Entries

More than 200 entries were received for this year's awards, which were reviewed by an independent judging panel.

Irish Farmers Journal editor Justin McCarthy said: "Having secured a huge number of all shortlistings, I am delighted that the judges have recognised the energy, commitment and capacity of the team in the Irish Farmers Journal.

"This is a team that is focused on continuously generating high-quality news and technical content for farmers and the rural communities. I wish them all the very best when category winners are announced next week."

Shortlist for the 2020 Agri Guild awards

Best news article

  • Irish gang behind EU machinery ring - Hannah Quinn-Mulligan, Irish Farmers Journal
  • Over 28,000ac of farmland controlled by vulture funds - Hannah Quinn-Mulligan, Irish Farmers Journal
  • Farmers running the gauntlet at Liffey Meats - Damian McCarney, Anglo Celt

    • Best feature article

  • The beef battle of Britain may be about to come full circle - Declan O'Brien, Farming Independent
  • Larry Goodman's finances - a three-week investigative series - Lorcan Allen and Hannah Quinn-Mulligan, Irish Farmers Journal
  • Round the kitchen table - Mairead Lavery, Irish Farmers Journal

    • Best technical article

  • Natural capital - Odile Evans, Irish Farmers Journal
  • Value destruction of liquid milk - Lorcan Allen and Jack Kennedy, Irish Farmers Journal
  • High tech plasma reactor adds more value to slurry - Chris McCullough, Profi International

    • Best visual report

  • Beef protests - Fran McNulty, RTÉ
  • Commonage farming – Darragh McCullough, Indiepics - Ear to the Ground
  • Cashel Mart - Paula Williams & Helen Carroll, Indiepics - Ear to the Ground

    • Best audio report

  • Potato harvest - Fran McNulty, RTÉ
  • Farming Matters outside broadcast in Co Down - Nicola Weir & David Maxwell, BBC Radio Ulster
  • Angela Hogan’s story - Jim Finn
  • Environmental sustainability and financial wellbeing of farm families - Damien O’Reilly, Countrywide, RTÉ

    • Best targeted campaign

  • ABP Angus youth challenge Northern Ireland – MF Communication
  • Incredible edibles – Agri Aware
  • Dairy Ireland – IFP Media
  • Farm succession – Odile Evans, Irish Farmers Journal

    • Best COVID reporting

  • The final journey - Mairead Lavery, Irish Farmers Journal
  • COVID-19 virus knows no borders - Michael Fisher, The Northern Standard
  • Road to recovery - Matt O'Keeffe, Irish Farmers Monthly

    • Best COVID communications

  • The transformation of Teagasc communications - Eric Donald, Teagasc
  • COVID-19 innovations and initiatives - Irish Farmers Journal
  • Certified Irish Angus repositioning campaign in the year of COVID - Gemma Smyth Communications

    • Rising Star

  • Claire Fox, Agri Aware
  • Hannah Quinn-Mulligan, Irish Farmers Journal
  • Barry Cassidy, Irish Farmers Journal

    • Best photograph

    Breath - Donal O'Leary, Irish Farmers Journal

    My wee Fergie - John McVitty, Impartial Reporter

    Wild Atlantic - Valerie O'Sullivan

    Tossing the Sheaves - Cliff Donaldson, Farm Week