Grassland Awards to Recognise Sustainable Farming

Teagasc has launched a new national competition to spotlight farmers making strong progress in sustainable pasture management, as part of the next phase of the Grass10 campaign.

The Sustainable Pasture Progress Awards will replace the long-running Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year competition, which has helped drive major improvements in grassland management, clover establishment and environmental performance over the past eight years.

Open to all livestock farmers, the new awards will recognise those improving pasture production and utilisation while reducing their environmental footprint. Data from PastureBase Ireland and AgNav will be used to identify winners, with judging based on clover content, fertiliser use, animal output, pasture measurement and carbon footprint.

Each county winner will receive €1,000, while regional winners in Munster, Leinster, and Connacht/Ulster will get an extra €2,000. One overall national winner will also be named, taking home a further €3,000. A total prize fund of €35,000 has been allocated.

The awards will be presented by the Minister for Agriculture at a national celebration event later this year.

Grass10, supported by Teagasc and partners including the Department of Agriculture, AIB, FBD and the Farmers Journal, aims to help livestock farmers grow and use more grass efficiently, with a target of 10 tonnes of pasture dry matter per hectare and 10 grazings per paddock annually.