Farmer of the Year Awards Return with €20,000 fund

Farmer of the Year Awards Return with €20,000 fund

The hunt is on for the country's top farmers as the Zurich Farming Independent Farmer of the Year Awards returns with a fantastic prize fund of over €20,000.

If you believe you are one of the best producers in the country or you know one of the top farmers now is your chance to get recognition for all the hard work.

You can log on to www.farmeroftheyear.ie to apply online or to download a form to enter by post. The awards are free to enter and farmers can nominate themselves or alternatively be nominated by a third party.

There are a wide range of categories available to enter including Beef, Sheep, Dairy, Tillage, Equestrian, Alternative Farm Enterprises and Rising Stars, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award and a Grand Prix Award for the overall Farmer of the Year for 2016.

Last year's Lifetime Achievement Award went to Anna May McHugh for her dedicated service to the National Ploughing Association.

In addition there is a category to promote excellence in farm safety, which is being sponsored by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).

The Alternative Farm Enterprise category gives farmers involved in more niche enterprises such as vegetables, fruit, pigs, poultry, flowers, and organics, along with those engaged in forestry, an opportunity to show-case their achievements. The Rising Star section is aimed at recognising the huge pool of talent that is coming up through the ranks of Irish agriculture.

Award winners will share a prize fund of €20,000 which will be presented at a glitzy ceremony in The Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin on Friday May 20, 2016.

The competition is run in conjunction with Zurich Insurance, and with categories sponsored by ICMSA, ICSA, Teagasc, Landrover and the Health and Safety Authority.

Michael Doyle, head of sales and agri-business with Zurich Insurance, said that the company was thrilled to be involved in the initiative for the third year in a row.

"As one of the country's leading providers of farm insurance, we are proud to continue as title sponsor of these prestigious awards, which are now an annual highlight in the farming calendar," he said.

"The Farmer of the Year Awards highlight the dedication and innovation which has been witnessed in the farming community over the past few years, and celebrate the high achievers in the industry. We are delighted to be involved in recognising these successes and look forward to seeing this year's entries."

-Independant Farming