Farming for Nature voting closes next week
Farming for Nature (FFN) voting for seven farm finalists from across the country, including Westmeath farmer Gerard Deegan, one of seven Ambassadors, remains open to the public.
The initiative aims to highlight the valuable work farmers do in promoting and nurturing nature on their land and this year the awards received a huge increase in nominations.
Westmeath farmer Gerard Deegan is one of seven Ambassadors chosen for the 2021 Farming for Nature public vote awards.
Now these farmers need your support.
The public have until midnight on October 22 to view a short series of farm videos and choose who they feel should win the overall Farming for Nature Public Vote Award.
To view the videos and vote, go to www.farmingfornature.ie.
Now in its fourth year, FFN was set up with an aim to source, share and celebrate the stories of farmers across Ireland who manage their land in a way that sustains nature, while providing a livelihood for their family.
Nominations are sought annually from a panel of environmental experts and through a rigorous system of interviews, farm visits and assessments by a panel of judges, 23 of these farmers were selected as Ambassadors in 2021.
This year’s ambassadors come from across Ireland and include beef, sheep, horticulture, dairy and tillage farmers who manage a wide range of very valuable habitats including species-rich grasslands and heaths, wetlands, woodlands and hedgerows.
The ambassador network is made up of family farms, couples, and male and female farmers.
The seven ambassadors will be featured at the annual Burren Winterage Weekend on October 23, when the winner of the public vote will be announced.
The Burren Winterage Weekend includes a dedicated FFN day, consisting of farm walks, farmer-led discussions and the annual awards ceremony.
FFN believe it is more important than ever that these voices from the land are heard as they know far more about practical actions for sustainability than most of us.
To find out more about the Burren Winterage Weekend and to register for events go to www.burrenwinterage.com.
The Farming for Nature Awards are sponsored by Bord Bia and supported by a wide range of farming and conservation interests including the Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Rural Network.
The deadline for 2021 voting is midnight Friday October 22, 2021.
For more information go to our website www.farmingfornature.ie or contact info@farmingfornature.ie.