Future Farmer Award 2009

A Murray Trust Initiative
financially supported by Scottish Natural Heritage
award presentation sponsored by Savills

Entries open 1st January 2009
Entries close 13th April 2009

Submit your ideas now for the sustainable farming award

Are you trying to manage your land in ways which promote environmental sustainability? Would you like to share your ideas with others? If so, the Future Farmer Award could help you.

Each year a pioneering Scottish farmer is awarded £4,000 and a package of practical support to help them communicate their ideas to other land managers. The cash can be used either to fund a specific project or simply to allow the winner take time away from their farm work to speak at events or host farm walks.

The Award was set up to encourage creative thinking and positive action on sustainability in Scottish agriculture. It aims to help farmers learn from each other about practical ways of making land management more sustainable - things which can be seen working on the ground on Scottish farms.

Your idea does not have to be unique, just something which you feel other farmers could be interested in learning about. The Award organisers are interested in wide range of initiatives, including:

• Managing soils to reduce flooding risk
• Integrating native woodland management with grazing livestock
• Choosing crops varieties which are resilient to wet summers
• Developing new ideas for productive and sustainable management of hill ground
• Running farm machinery on farm-produced bio-fuel
• Creating the right conditions for commercially useful 'wild' plants to grow
• Cutting CO2 emissions on-farm and in supply chains

Other ideas are welcome. The key is that you are prepared to share your knowledge and experience of putting them into practice.

The Future Farmer Award opens for entries on the 1st January 2009, with a closing date of the 13th April. Anyone who is responsible for managing productive land in Scotland is eligible, whether they are an owner, tenant, crofter or employee.

The initial submission process is straightforward - you simply have to fill in the entry form, which must include a few paragraphs in your own words about why you would like to enter the Award. Alternatively, if you know someone else who has good ideas, you can nominate them and the organisers will contact them asking for further information.

Full details about the Award are at www.futurefarmer.org.uk along with case studies, photos and a video clip about the 2008 Award.

The Future Farmer Award is an initiative of the Murray Trust and is financially supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. The presentation of the Award is sponsored by Savills and will take place at the Royal Highland Show in June 2009.

For further information contact the Award Co-ordinator, Anna Ashmole, on 01899 830 536 or email anna@ashmole.org.uk.