The Grassland Farmer of the Year competition recognises farmers who are achieving high levels of grass utilisation in a sustainable manner.

The the objective is to promote excellence in grassland management among all livestock farmers, dairy, beef and sheep producers.

The Grassland Farmer of the Year competition is being run as part of the Teagasc Grass10 grassland campaign and is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc, Allied Irish Bank, FBD Insurance, Grassland Agro and Irish Farmers Journal.

Categories

The competition has seven categories, with an overall prize fund of €30,000. Enterprise awards include dairy, sheep, beef suckling and non-suckling categories.

Other categories include disadvantaged land winner, sustainable farming winner and a young farmer (under 30 years) category winner. The young farmer category can include entrants who are farm managers or farming in a collaborative arrangement.

Each category winner will receive €3,500. The overall winner will be selected from the seven category winners and will receive an additional €2,500.

Entering the competition has been a huge help

Bryan Daniels was the 2019 overall winner and sustainability category winner of the Grassland Farmer of the Year competition.

Bryan says entering the competition has been a huge help by giving him access to previous winners' farms and learning techniques that work for them, how they have grown tonnes of grass and how they utilise during difficult times of year.

Hear why he entered the competition and how it has benefited him:

Apply online here

Completed application forms should be submitted on or before Friday 11 September 2020.