FORWARD-THINKING FARMER COULD WIN £4000

Organisers of the Future Farmer Award, which is run by the Elizabeth Murray Trust in association with NFU Scotland, are inviting farmers, crofters and land managers to apply for the 2011 Future Farmer Award.

The winning farmer or farm business will receive £4000, a commemorative plaque in recognition of their innovative farming practice and a package of support to help them promote their ideas to other farmers and land managers.

The deadline for applications is Friday 29 April 2011.

The award is able to support a wide range of initiatives, for example:

· Managing soils to reduce flooding risks;
· Cutting C02 emissions on the farm and in the supply chain;
· Improving stock quality;
· Integrating native woodland management with grazing livestock;
· Choosing crop varieties which are resilient to difficult weather conditions;
· Productive and sustainable management of hill ground;
· Running farm machinery on farm-produced biofuel; and
· Creating conditions suitable for the growth of commercial wild plants.

Chairman of the Elizabeth Murray Trust, Harvey Macmillan said:

“The Award aims to showcase ways in which Scotland can produce food, fibre and wood products from farms and crofts in a commercially viable way while maintaining the natural capital of the land and minimising the ecological footprint of farming activities. Your ideas can incorporate nature conservation or leisure activities but there must be a core element of productive farming.

“Other ideas are welcome - and there will be many - and anyone who is responsible for managing productive land in Scotland is eligible, whether they are an owner, tenant, crofter or employee. We are particularly interested in ideas which combine environmental sustainability with economic advantage.

“Applicants should be keen to promote their ideas to fellow farmers, policy makers and the media, and will receive support to do this from a co-ordinator appointed by the Murray Trust. I would encourage farmers of all types of farming system, be they conventional or other to apply.

“The Award seeks to promote practical innovative ideas for improving sustainability. This means that your ideas do not have to be new or unique so long as they work and you are willing to inspire others to try them.”