Farmers urged to apply now for sustainability Award

The Future Farmer Award, which promotes practical ideas for improving the environmental sustainability of farming in Scotland, has extended its application deadline by a fortnight. Applications are now welcome until the end of April.

The award, which is in its first year, is backed by the Elizabeth Murray Trust and Scottish Natural Heritage. Each year the Award will give a trailblazing Scottish farmer a package of support to help them communicate their ideas to other farmers and land managers.

The organisers are looking for someone who is already improving the environmental sustainability of how they farm and would like the opportunity to inspire other land managers. The award, which includes £4,000, is intended to help the farmer make time over the coming year to promote their ideas.

Anna Ashmole, co-ordinator of the award, said: "I've heard from a number of farmers who are interested in the Award but what with the lambing season and trying to get their heads around the SRDP programme, they've not found time to apply yet. Some people have only recently have heard about the Award. We're therefore extending the deadline until the 30th April. If you are trying to farm more sustainably and think that others could learn from your experiences, please do apply. It's not a complicated process - you just have describe what you are doing in your own words."

Full details of the Award, including an application form, are at www.futurefarmer.org.uk or are available by email from anna@futurefarmer.org.uk

The Award will be presented on World Environment Day, the 5th June.

The Future Farmer Award will highlight practical ways in which farmers can contribute to government objectives on environmental sustainability [4]. It will help farmers consider new ideas when putting together applications for funding under Rural Development Contracts.

The Future Farmer Award will also feed in to the new National Discussion on food by raising awareness of down-to-earth ways in which farmers can contribute to a 'greener Scotland' by reducing the environmental impact of food production.