Lakeland announces young farmer competition
A candid photograph of a female dairy farmer rounding up stray cattle and directing them towards the milking shed on an overcast day
Lakeland Dairies has announced the creation of a young farmer competition which will be part of the co-op’s annual milk quality awards.
The award is aimed at recognising the activity and involvement of young farmers in bringing new ideas to the family farm.
The winner will receive a €2,000 or £2,000 support to take part in an agricultural study tour of their choice before the end of 2025.
The winner of the young farmer competition will be announced at a ceremony to mark the Lakeland Dairies’ milk quality awards on June 19.
Criteria for the competition include:
- The farmer must be under 35 years of age before the awards on June 19;
- The farmer must be supplying Lakeland Dairies;
- The farmer must be farming in their own right or have an active involvement in the family farm;
- The farmer must have completed a relevant agricultural qualification;
- The farmer must demonstrate a clear commitment to farming practices including grassland management, breeding, milk quality and sustainability.
Announcing the new competition at the Balmoral Show this week, Eamon Duignan, member relations manager with Lakeland Dairies, said that "recognising and rewarding the activity of young farmers is critical to fostering the next generation of dairy farmers".
"Dairy farming is a hugely rewarding but challenging profession and we want to assist farmers in gathering knowledge from across the world by providing support to partake in an agricultural study tour," Mr Duignan said.
