AN exciting new competition has been announced within the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs – Young Farmer of the Year, following ideas from members as the appetite and passion for agricultural activities within the organisation grows. 

Loosely based on a competition in New Zealand, members can enter for a qualifying day at Caledonian Marts, Stirling, on Saturday, February 3, from which six individuals will go forward for the final at the Royal Highland Show, with £1000 prize money up for grabs as well as accommodation and tickets to the Oxford Farming Conference. 

The qualifier will have challenges spread across all aspects of agriculture – arable, dairy, beef and sheep, machinery and business, and participates must compete in at least three of these four in order to qualify for the Highland. Members will gain points throughout – five for participation, 25 points for first place, 20 for second, 16 points for third place, 12 for fourth and nine points for fifth.

Within the dairy section, members will either perform or talk through a five-step trimming method, select bulls for certain cows and justify why they would be the best breeding match, and fill in a questionnaire. 

The beef and sheep category will see members look at condition scoring and how to deal with livestock that is too lean or too fat, select bulls most suited for a certain scenario based on Estimated Breeding Values and justify their answer, as well as silage analysis and grazing requirements within forage management. 

Those in the arable competition will be shown a picture of a crop and have to name the crop, identify the disease, give cultural control methods (such as variety choice, rotation, trash control, cultivation methods, effects of climate/rainfall) as well as chemical control options (name the active products, mention prophylactic treatments, resistance management/use of differing chemical groups). They will also be required to calibrate a sprayer and give details on crop rotation and establishment. 

If participating in the machinery section, members will complete a health and safety quiz, handle a forklift and drive an ATV, as well as weld. 

At the final held at the Highland Show, 100 points will be available throughout the competition which will include an agri quiz on the stage at the YF centre as well as more in-depth questions off stage, a race to set up a three-strand electric fence, and an ATV driving demonstration.

Finalists must also complete a case study in advance with assistance from an RBS business manager. The winner will be announced at a dinner on the Friday evening of the show. 

Those wishing to enter should follow the link on the SAYFC website.