Entries for the 2016 Agricultural Journalism awards are now being accepted, with the winner set to be announced on November 4.

The biennial journalism awards, organised by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists, aims to encourage excellence in agricultural journalism.

The awards are open to members and non-members of the Guild with deadline for applications closing on September 16.

Journalists, photographers, broadcasters or public relations practitioners whose work has been published or broadcast in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland are invited to apply.

Agriculture, food and rural affairs should be the dominant theme across all entries. To qualify entries must have been researched, published or broadcast between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2016.

Submissions must be relevant to either farming, food production, agri-business, the rural environment, forestry, fisheries or rural affairs, while applications can be made as part of a team or on your own.

‘The Bull’ is an overall award that recognises outstanding merit in agri-journalism, with the winner chosen from one of the other category winners.

The range and scope of possible entries is broad and diverse. Entries could include a feature on farm families, on an agri-business, or on a niche food producer, according to the application form.

The panel of judges will be chaired by Alan Dukes, former Government Minister and Leader of Fine Gael.

He will be joined by five others on the panel including Richard Wright, former Agricultural Correspondent for BBC Northern Ireland and Ray Ryan, former Agricultural Correspondent for the Irish Examiner.

The awards are held with the support of FBD Insurance with the awards ceremony taking place in the Castleknock Hotel and Spa on Friday, November 4.