A Western Isles crofter has won the use of a New Holland telehandler for a year as part of a competition run by the Prince’s Countryside Fund.
The fund, established by the Prince of Wales in 2010, aims to enhance the prospects of family farm businesses and the quality of rural life.
It teamed up with British farm machinery manufacturer, New Holland Agriculture, to help businesses get “up to speed” by offering three farmers the loan of a piece of machinery for a year.
Donald Macsween, who crofts in Ness on the Isle of Lewis, is one of the winners. He works on his croft full-time and runs a flock of 500 laying hens, 150 breeding ewes, some Gloucester Old Spot pigs and some Highland cows.
“I have been dreaming of a telehandler for a few years but I haven’t been able to afford one,” said Mr Macsween.
“This will make such a difference to me and my neighbours – now we can be much more efficient and safer in the work that we do.”
He added: “I currently have a 40-year-old tractor, so I will have to get up to speed with how technology has improved.”
More than 50 farmers from across the UK applied for the contest, which set out to provide cutting-edge machinery to young people, new entrants, or those who will make a difference in their local community with access to this type of machinery.
The other winners were Welsh young farmer Rob David, who runs a business supplying meat to pubs, restaurants and shops, and Abbi Mason who runs a community-supported agriculture venture in Gower, Wales.
New Holland’s marketing manager, Mark Crosby, said: “We are extremely proud and pleased to lend our machines to Donald, Rob and Abbi. We hope they will be able to make the most out of our machines, helping their business grow and succeed, while also supporting their local communities.”