The hunt is on to find the best sheep farmer in Scotland.
Sheep farmers who think they are top of the flocks are urged to enter the AgriScot Scottish Sheep Farm of the Year award.
The competition was formally launched at last year’s AgriScot event and it follows on from the success of the event’s Scottish Dairy Farm and Scotch Beef Farm of the Year competitions.
The competition is open to any farm with a sheep enterprise in Scotland.
One of the judges of the competition is renowned sheep farmer John Scott, of Fearn Farm, Tain, who is this year hosting the Highland Sheep event at his farm on Tuesday, June 9.
“What we are looking for is not necessarily the best-of-the-best in terms of show wins or top prices. This award is more about making the most of the resources available to you; a hill unit producing a respectable number of store lambs stands just as good a chance of winning as a high index pedigree flock,” said Mr Scott.
“Myself and fellow judges, sheep specialist Rhidian Jones, of SAC Consulting, and Richard Blake, of our sponsors Thorntons Solicitors, would encourage anyone who is actively working to ensure sheep play a positive part in the output of their farm to enter this award.
“We are excited about this opportunity to showcase the quality of Scotland’s sheep farms and delighted that the AgriScot directors, including recently appointed Hamish Dykes, of Lambing Live fame, have put their event four square behind our sector.”
Farmers wishing to enter the competition are encouraged to email enquiries@agriscot.co.uk.
The deadline for entries is the end of September and judging will take place in October before the winner is revealed at this year’s AgriScot event on Wednesday, November 18.
Judges will be looking for entries that demonstrate the farmer has a strong grip on their costs of production, as well as assessing flock health and welfare, and forage and grazing management.
AgriScot chairman Andrew Moir, who farms at Mains of Thornton, Laurencekirk, said: “We will be actively looking for entries from sheep farms at the forthcoming events and shows throughout the summer.
“However I would encourage people to enter now. Lambing is over on most farms and the grass is growing; this is a positive and slightly less busy time on many sheep farms, and a great time to enter this award. We want to know how good your sheep enterprise is. I would say sheep farmers have nothing to lose, and potentially great kudos to gain.”