The search is officially underway for the 28th FBD Young Farmer of the Year.

Applications and nominations for this year's awards are due to open tomorrow (Thursday May 7).

The FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards, run by Macra in partnership with the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) and Macra Agricultural Skillnet have been recognising the achievements of young farmers since 1999.

For almost three decades, the awards have highlighted the innovation, leadership and dedication shown by young farmers across the country.

Young Farmer of the Year

This year’s awards will again feature a range of categories, including:

Dairy:
Drystock (beef and sheep);
Other enterprises (including horticulture, pigs, poultry, tillage, equine and forestry);
Land mobility (including collaborative arrangements, share milking and contract rearing);
Career farm management.

Winners from each category will compete for the overall title of 2026 FBD Young Farmer of the Year.

Additional awards include Best Young Entrant (Under 23 years-of-age) and the Macra Agricultural Skillnet Biodiversity Award.

The overall winner will receive €5,000, while each category winner and the Best Young Entrant will receive €1,000.

The Macra Agricultural Skillnet Biodiversity Award winner will receive €500.

All winners will also receive vouchers from the FBD Hotel Group and FBD Insurance.

Awards

Macra national president Josephine O’Neill encouraged Macra members to enter this year's awards.

"It continues to be a fantastic opportunity for Macra members to highlight the extremely high standards to which they operate, their knowledge and skills and their ability to adapt to new challenges, innovation and technology," she said.

IFA president Francie Gorman said the competition is hugely important in the context of generational renewal for the farming sector.

"This year’s participants will follow in the footsteps of those who have displayed their leadership credentials in the past, and I have no doubt they will go on to forge strong careers," he said.

Emer O’Byrne, national head of branch strategy and sales performance at FBD Insurance said that FBD is proud to continue its sponsorship of the competition.

"The FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards highlight the innovation, leadership and resilience that define modern Irish agriculture.

"Each year, we’re inspired by young farmers driving the sector forward and shaping a sustainable future for Irish farming," she said.

Entries for this year's competition can be submitted on the Macra website, with the closing date for applications on Friday, July 3, 2026.