The FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards are an opportunity for you to represent your county and your enterprise while receiving an independent review and advice on your farm.

As well as an overall €3,000 travel bursary for the winner, there are prizes for the top young beef, sheep, dairy, tillage and other (pigs, poultry, horticulture) category farmers.

The aim of the competition is to recognise and reward the top young farmers in the country in all sectors. Entrants are judged according to a number of criteria, including farm business initiative and innovation, levels of farm efficiency and enterprise quality, farm safety and environmental protection awareness, as well as agricultural knowledge and community involvement.

A representative from each enterprise will be chosen in every county and they will benefit from a targeted regional technical day for their sector. There, they will develop their specific skills and compete against their counterparts from other counties.

Invaluable experience

Macra na Feirme national president Seán Finan encouraged all young farmers to enter, as it provides young farmers with an invaluable experience and learning opportunity.

"As a previous county winner, I found that participating in the competition offered a once-off chance to meet fellow young farmers, learn from their experiences and to share knowledge with each other, but most importantly identify ways to further grow and develop your farm business," he said.

The competition was launched this week by organisers Macra na Feirme, sponsors FBD and partners the IFA, with the help of the current FBD Young Farmer of the Year, Jonathan Marry, a pig farmer from Louth.

IFA national chair Jer Bergin said: "I have no doubt that we have a huge reservoir of young farming talent in this country, which needs to be nurtured into the industry. For the future, a viable income will be very important to attract the calibre required to drive the sector forward. The next government will have to address this issue. My message to young farmers out there is to participate. Being involved has never been more important."

Who can enter?

To enter the competition farmers must be:

  • Under 35 on 1 January 2016 and a member of Macra na Feirme or the IFA.
  • Involved in the running of the farm on which they currently work for at least three years, either full- or part-time.
  • The closing date for applications and nominations is 8 April. Download the application form here.