The search is on for the 21st FBD Young Farmer of the Year. Organised by Macra na Feirme and supported by the IFA, there are seven additional awards on offer alongside the main prize this year.

Young farmers involved in sectors such as dairy, drystock (beef and sheep), land mobility and other enterprises (including horticulture, pigs, poultry, tillage) are invited to enter and the winner of each sector will compete to be crowned the 2019 FBD Young Farmer of the Year.

This year, there are also feature awards for the best emerging farmer, carbon efficiency and biodiversity. The land mobility category will focus on farmers who display innovative solutions to accessing and utilising land for farming. This includes farming arrangements that best demonstrate the benefits of collaborations such as long-term leases, registered partnerships, share-farming, share-milking and contract-rearing for all parties involved. There is also a biodiversity award supported by the National Rural Network.

The land mobility award will focus on farmers who display innovative solutions to accessing and utilising land for farming.

The farm collaboration award will focus on collaborative farming arrangements that best demonstrate the benefits of collaborations such as long-term leases, registered partnerships, share-farming, share-milking and contract-rearing for all parties involved. There is also a biodiversity award this year supported by the National Rural Network.

The winner of the 2019 FBD Young Farmer of the Year will receive a travel bursary and the opportunity to experience farm practices abroad, while also developing their skills. As in previous years, all county winners will also receive an award.

You can nominate a young farmer for one of the categories or you can enter yourself by visiting macra.ie/yfy.

The closing date for applications is 21 June. The final takes place on 3 September in the FBD Castleknock Hotel, Dublin.