The judging panel for the 2016 FBD Young Farmer of the Year will be chaired by Michael Hoey from Country Crest. He will be joined by Pat O’Toole from the Irish Farmers Journal, former Macra president Thomas Honner, Bord Bia’s Joe Burke, Tommy Boland from UCD and John Donoghue from IFAC Accountants.

The final takes place on Tuesday in the Boyne Valley Hotel, Co Louth, and there will be a farm walk on the 2015 winner’s farm, Jonathan Marry. Of the 30 semi-finalists, six will go forward for the final round of interviews. The winner will be announced on the night and FBD CEO Fiona Muldoon is presenting the awards.

The finalists will be judged on farm business initiative and innovation, farm safety, knowledge of farm production costs, vision and planning for the future farm business, agricultural knowledge, community involvement and personal development initiatives.