Just a few days are left to nominate Wales’ next woman farmer of the year. The competition, which is run by NFU Cymru / NFU Mutual, offers £500 prize money.

The Wales Woman Farmer of the Year 2018 competition is now in its 22nd year.

It aims to celebrate the contribution of hard-working women in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry.

“Previous winners have raised the profile of women in agriculture and used their success to reach out and encourage other women,” said NFU Cymru president, John Davies.

“The Wales Woman Farmer of the Year award is there to champion the role that women make to farming businesses and wider rural life.

“Over the years we have seen some exceptional winners of this award, and we look forward to receiving applications for the 2018 title.”

Last year’s winner

Last year the com winner Victoria Shervington-Jones runs poultry farm Country Fresh Eggs, which is based just outside Newport.

The enterprise farm consists of 39,500 layers, a packing plant and two delivery vans, allowing the business to have full integration of the food supply chain – from producing to packing and even distribution.

The farm delivers as far east as Bristol, west to Cowbridge and north to Abergavenny.

‘A critical role in agriculture’

Cathy Davies, NFU Mutual agent and NFU Aberystwyth group secretary, said: “We’ve seen a fantastic rise in the number of women farmers in the industry, many running farms themselves, and leading diversification enterprises to increase farm income.

“We are proud to recognise the critical role these women play in Welsh agriculture and hope that this award will inspire other women in Wales to take centre stage and influence farming in the future.”

The winner of the Wales Woman Farmer of the Year 2018 competition will receive £500 and the person who nominates the winner will receive £50 of local farm shop vouchers or goods.

The closing date for the competition is Monday, June 25, 2018.

If you are interested in entering or know someone who you think is worthy of being NFU Cymru / NFU Mutual Wales Woman Farmer of the Year 2018, contact NFU Cymru for an application form.