In the past month, the Macra na Feirme/FBD Young Farmer of the Year and the Macra Young Farmer Skillnet/Dawn Meats Young Beef Farmer Sustainability Programme have been launched. Both programmes represent a huge opportunity for young farmers to progress their career and build on their farming knowledge that will benefit them for years to come.

FBD Young Farmer of the Year

The FBD Young Farmer of the Year is one of the most prestigious awards in the Irish agriculture sector and the search has begun to see who will succeed Kevin Moran as the 2017 Macra na Feirme/FBD Young Farmer of the Year. Entries are sought from all farming sectors (beef, dairy, sheep and others including horticulture, pigs, poultry and tillage).

The winner will receive a travel bursary and the opportunity to experience farm practices abroad while developing their skills. There will also be a new Future Farmer Award this year for an emerging young farmer under the age of 23. As in previous years, county winners will also receive an award. You can nominate a young farmer for Young Farmer of the Year or you can enter yourself by visiting macra.ie/youngfarmer. The closing date for applications is 1 September 2017. Farmers must be under 35 on 1 January 2017 and a member of Macra na Feirme or the IFA and involved in the running of the farm on which they currently work for a least three years, either full-time or part-time.

Macra Young Farmer Skillnet/ Dawn Meats Young Beef Farmer Sustainability Programme

Macra Young Farmer Skillnet and Dawn Meats are inviting young farmers to apply for a place on the programme, which runs for eight months and will equip participants to:

  • Analyse and evaluate their business and to make choices for future growth.
  • Understand the customer requirements in the retail marketplace and how to meet those requirements.
  • Identify practices on individual farms to enhance sustainability and profitability;
  • Share and communicate the knowledge gained from the programme with fellow young beef farmers.

    • Apply for the programme online at www.macra.ie/ybfsp. Places are limited so applicants should apply early before the closing date of 3 September 2017.