For the third consecutive year, AgriLand – Ireland’s largest farming news portal – is once again delighted to offer one lucky farmer the opportunity to farm free for a year.

Following on from the success of the Farm Free competitions in 2015 and 2016, this year’s giveaway is even bigger and better; thousands of euro worth of prizes are up for grabs.

With the support of some market-leading brands, the 2017 Farm Free competition will see one lucky farmer take home a whole host of valuable prizes.

1. 10t of Yara fertiliser

This year, Yara is offering the winner 10t of YaraBela Nutri Zincote fertiliser. It’s part of Yara’s Zincote range and it contains multiple micronutrients, as well as an essential nitrogen and sulphur provision.

In addition, to review its success, the prize will also include a broad-spectrum soil and leaf analysis.

2. €1,000 GAIN ruminant feed voucher

In addition to the fertiliser, the lucky winner will also received a €1,000 ruminant feed voucher from GAIN Animal Nutrition.

GAIN Animal Nutrition is Ireland’s biggest feed selling brand. It provides complete nutritional solutions for a wide range of animals including: dairy cows; beef cattle; and sheep.

Using advanced feed manufacturing technology and nutrition research, together with fully-traceable ingredients, GAIN Animal Nutrition offers high-quality, consistent and nutritious feeds to its customers.

3. A 6m Pottinger tedder

Pottinger Ireland will present the winner with a brand-new HIT 6.61 tedder. With a working width of 6m, Pottinger says the machine can be powered by a tractor of just 40hp.

The HIT 6.61 tedder comes equipped with six rotors and it was designed for farmers who value high specifications and ease-of-use.

According to Pottinger, the six-rotor machines provide excellent ground adaptation; the best crop intake; and an even spreading pattern.

4. Farm account software and Cashminder from AgriNet

The lucky winner will also receive farm accounts software from AgriNet, along with its Cashminder product. Full training, including a grass measuring masterclass, will also be provided.

Since 1994, AgriNet has been helping farmers make the right management decisions for more profitable farming, as well as looking after their legislative requirements.

It covers the complete range of software from grassland, herd and financial management.

5. €1,000 Worth Of Elanco Products

In association with Elanco, we are giving away up to €1,000 worth of Elanco products. The winner will have a choice between Elanco’s CLiK or CLiKZiN products for sheep or Fasinex for cattle.

6. €1,400 worth of Ecoysl silage additive

Supplied by Ecoysl, the prize includes enough silage additive to treat 1,000t of grass silage – valued at €1,400.

Ecosyl also offers a range of silage additive applicators suitable for all types of forage harvesting systems.

7. Smaxtec Bolus system worth over €5,000

Sponsored by Efficient Farm Systems, a Smaxtec Bolus system – worth over €5,000 – is also up for grabs in this year’s Farm Free competition.

The Smaxtec system is a hi-tech, smart bolus that measures temperature, activity and pH. This is a heat detection, health monitoring, pH and calving system. The prize consists of 25 smart boli, a base station, a repeater (range extender), an applicator and installation.

What does the system provide:
  • Heat detection alerts;
  • Calving alerts;
  • Early illness detection;
  • Increase in feed conversion efficiency through pH monitoring (separate Premium bolus);
  • Heat stress alerts;
  • Water intake monitoring.

8. A Tru-Test EziWeigh7i Indicator

O’Donovan Engineering will supply the competition’s winner with a Tru-Test EziWeigh7i indicator. Retailing at over €900, the product is an accurate and easy-to-use, mid-level indicator.

With the capability to record information against electronic identification (EID) or visual tags, the operator can easily capture and analyse individual animal performance and history.

The device also replaces guesswork with the facts, as the EziWeigh7i displays live weight gain since the previous weighing session; it also shows the animal’s performance right there in the yard.

9. Cow comfort products valued at €1,000

Galway-based company, Creva Agri International, is giving away €1,000 worth of cow comfort products.

The winner will be able to choose from continuous rolls of rubber, manufactured by Huber Technik, or individual rubber mats supplied Dobro. In addition, Creva Agri International will also give the winner an Agri-Plastics group hutch and fence.

10. A weekend away

The final prize in this year’s Farm Free competition is a weekend break. Sponsored by FBD, the prize is a weekend break for two in any of the FBD hotels.

Enter the competition

For your chance to be – what we believe – the luckiest farmer in Ireland, enter our competition below. Enter the competition here