05/05/2005 - Could you
be the farmer who wins the title of Environment
Agency Countryside Farmer of the Year 2005?
In the first year of the Farmers Weekly Agricultural
Awards the Environment Agency is the official
sponsor of the search for a farmer who can
demonstrate responsible farm management combined
with first-class care for conservation and
the environment.
Do you limit the risk of pollution on your
farm? Do you take measures to avoid soil erosion
and to improve water quality? Do you conserve
habitats for wildlife? Do you spread the word
on best practice and get involved in farming
and countryside matters in your community?
If so, why not enter yourself? All you need
to do is fill in a short application form
to share your approach to issues ranging from
conservation and climate change through to
Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reform.
Farmers are rarely recognised for the enormous
amount of precious time and energy they put
into protecting countryside environment. It's
not just the wildlife, hedges and patchwork
fields, but also the extra effort put into
everyday farming operations to protect and
enhance the quality of our soil and water.
In launching these awards, Farmers Weekly,
and the Environment Agency as one of its partners,
aim to put that right.
Barbara Young, Environment Agency Chief Executive
said, "We are delighted to support the
Farmers Weekly Agricultural Awards and recognise
the valuable contribution that farmers make
to caring for the countryside. We hope that
this award will inspire environmental stewardship
to be at the heart of every farm business.
We look forward to receiving your nominations
for Countryside Farmer of the Year."
If you think that you’ve got what it takes
or know someone who does, you can find an
application form at http://www.fwi.co.uk/gr/awards
or call Jacqui Winn on 020 8652 4002. Completed
applications should be sent to: Farmers Weekly
Awards, Farmers Weekly, Quadrant House, The
Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5AS. All entries
must be received by 30 June 2005.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Further information on the Farmers Weekly
Agriculture Awards 2005 can be found at www.fwi.co.uk
including full details of all the competition
categories.
Winners will be announced on 30 November 2005
at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel,
London.
Farmers spend an estimated 1.5m hours a year
maintaining hedges
There are more that 13,000ha of field margins
in the UK
There are more than 230, 900 ponds maintained
by farmers in the UK
