Macra na Feirme has introduced a new photo competition giving Irish farm families the chance to win a €200 gift voucher each month in 2017.

As well as these monthly prizes, the overall winner at the end of the year will receive €1,000.

The Macra na Feirme #OriginGreen #ItStartsHere sustainable Irish farming photo competition is supported by Bord Bia.

The competition sets out to raise awareness about the achievements and beauty of sustainable practices on Irish farms.

Irish farmers can see every day at first hand and throughout the seasons of the year, the beauty and images associated with sustainable farming practices, according to Macra.

Sean Finan, President of Macra na Feirme, has encouraged farmers to ‘get snapping,’ whether it’s on a mobile phone or camera, to showcase Irish sustainable farming practices throughout the seasons of the year.

Finan also reminded farmers that they can enter every month to be in with a chance to win.

How to Enter the Competition

People can enter instantly on Twitter by tagging @MacraNaFeirme and using the hashtags #OriginGreen #ItStartsHere.

Alternatively, photographs can also be email to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Photo competition, Origin Green It Starts Here’.

All entrants, on Twitter or email, must include their name, location of the photograph, the date the picture was taken and brief description of what is captured in the picture.

Many Irish farmers have been farming for generations in ways that respect the environment, respect the welfare of animals and are a vital part of the social fabric of their local communities.

“Increasingly those who use the carbon navigator as part of Bord Bia’s Quality Assurance Programmes see how they can measure their efforts as part of Origin Green.”

These farmers can then see how they can identify new or expanded ways to make improvements on their farms and, as a result, are part of the Origin Green programme, he added.

Origin Green is the only sustainability programme in the world that operates on a national scale, according to Bord Bias Consumer and Trade Marketing Manager Teresa Brophy.

“Research tells us that Irish consumers are becoming increasingly proud of the sustainability work on Irish farms, so we also want to help to forge that bridge by showcasing the sustainable work being done on Irish farms and the benefits to our beautiful countryside and heritage.

“In light of significantly growth in populations, Origin Green contributes towards the security of food and resources such as land and water for the planet; but at farm level also has real and tangible benefits in relation to improved efficiencies and profitability as well as protecting the land and farm for future generations.”

Further details about competition rules and how to enter are available on online.