THE South West Scotland Grassland Society’s annual forage competition reached it’s climax with the annual presentation of awards at Amisfield Hall last week.

The overall award for the best silage went to Allan Smith of Barneighthill Farm, Mauchline, with the Michael Milligan prize for attention to detail for the 2019 competition going to David Yates of Meikle Firthhead, Dalbeattie. The best New Entrant award went to Sjoerd van der Spruit, of Challoch Farm, Leswalt, Stranraer.

The SWSGS was grateful for the services of the judge, Sion Williams, farms manager with Buccleuch Estates, Bowhill, Selkirk, for his time in judging the finalists for the competition, completed over three days at the start of this month.

Ayrshire County Prize Robert Smith Barneighthill Farm, Mauchline.

Dumfries County Prize - Cowhill Trust (Scott McGill), Kerricks Farm, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries.

Stewartry County Prize - David Yates, Meikle Firthhead, Dalbeattie.

Wigtownshire County Prize - Thomas Birkett, West Cairhgaan, (Craigncrosh), Dummore, Stranraer.

Young Farmers Dairy Prize - 1, Ewan Paul Greigsland, Johnstonbridge, Lockerbie; 2, Sjoerd van der Spruit, Challoch Farm, Leswalt, Stranraer; 3, Frazer Kennedy, Chapelcroft, Lockerbie.

Young Farmers beef Prize - l, John Ramsay, Whitefield, Glenluce; 2, Steven Paterson, Hartbush, Amisfield, Dumfries; 3, Jack Hamilton, Newton Farm, Gatehouse of Fleet.

Open Dairy - 1, Allan Smith, Barneighthill Farm, Machine; 2, David Yates, Meikle Firthhead, Dalbeattie; 3, Cowhill Trust, (Scott McGill), Kerricks Farm, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries.

Open Beef - 1, Andrew McFadzean, Dalchomie Farm, Maybole; 2, Andrew Nelson, Cogarth, Parton, Castle Douglas; 3, John and Johnny Fisher, Meikle Larbrax, Leswalt, Stranraer.

Maize - 1, Cowhill Trust (Scott McGill), Kerricks Farm, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries.

Whole crop - S Craig, Back of Wall, Glenluce; 2, H&K Farms (Angus Brown), Charlesfield, Annan; 3, Bryce and Robert Sloan, Darnlaw, Auchenleck, Cumnock.

Contractors Prize - Drew Watson, Byeloch, Mouswald, Dumfries; 2, Peter Cowan, East Lanegate, Lochmaben.

Big Bale - John Watson, High Mark, Stranraer; 2, Messrs David Kennedy & Sons, Chapelcroft, Lockerbie; 3, Alastair Wylie & Son, Broadstone Farm, Gateside, Beith.

Michael Milligan Prize for attention to detail for 2019 competition - David Yates, Meikle Firthhead, Dalbeattie

Best silage in competition - Allan Smith, Barneighthill Farm, Mauchline.

Best New Entrant - Sjoerd van der Spruit, Challoch Farm, Leswalt, Stranraer.

This followed a farm tour at the winter meeting of the society at the host farm, Hartbush, Amisfield, run by the Paterson family.