Sponsors
You and your background.
Tell us a bit about yourself. What is your home background? What made you decide to study agriculture, and why did you choose the college and the particular course you enrolled on? Did you have to overcome any particular challenges along the way?
Your academic achievements/activities.
Tell us about your achievements related to your current course or your previous studies – exam results, prizes, project work, work placements etc. Which aspects of your course have you particularly enjoyed and why? What are your proudest moments from your studies?
Your other achievements/activities.
What have you achieved outside of your academic studies (e.g. Awards, sporting achievements, leading roles in clubs/organisations, on-farm activities). What are you most proud of outside of your academic studies?
Your future plans.
What do you want to do when you finish your course? Where do you see yourself in 5 years time? 10 years time? What are you going to do to help you achieve these ambitions?
Your voice.
Tell us your views on a farming-related topic that you feel strongly about. Have your views on this topic led you to take any action?
Anything else?
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us that might mark you out as a winner?
Summary.
In summary, why do you think that you should be considered for Ag Student of the Year?
You and your background
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you start farming, what training have you had and what are your roles/responsibilities in the farming business?
Your impact & achievements
What impact have you had on the farm business over the past five years?
What changes have you championed?
What do you think are your greatest achievements?
Your vision
Where do you see your farm business in five years time and how do you plan to achieve this? How do you see yourself developing personally – e.g. your activities/responsibilities/skills/achievements – over that period? Anything else?
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us that might mark you out as a winner?
For example: Are you personally doing anything to make the most of and nurture the natural resources of your farm?
Your profile/wider industry/community role. Are you active on any committees or farmer organisations?
Do you help to promote the image of farming to the wider public?
Summary
In summary, why do you think that you should be considered for Young Farmer of the Year?
You and your background
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you start farming, what training have you had and what are your roles/responsibilities in the farming business?
Your impact & achievements
What impact have you had on the farm business over the past five years?
What changes have you championed?
What do you think are your greatest achievements?
Your vision
Where do you see your farm business in five years time and how do you plan to achieve this? How do you see yourself developing personally – e.g. your activities/responsibilities/skills/achievements – over that period? Anything else?
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us that might mark you out as a winner?
For example: Are you personally doing anything to make the most of and nurture the natural resources of your farm?
Your profile/wider industry/community role. Are you active on any committees or farmer organisations?
Do you help to promote the image of farming to the wider public?
Summary
In summary, why do you think that you should be considered for Young Farmer of the Year?
You and your background
Tell us a bit about your business. How did you start, what training have you had and what are your roles/responsibilities in the farming business?
Which areas of Zambia do you support farmers?
What kind of services or crops/livestock does your organization support
What makes you stand out from the other business providing similar services to yours?
Why do feel deserve the award
Tell us why you think your business deserve to win this award
Your business
Describe your business and how it has developed over the past few years. What have been your main challenges/opportunities and what have you done to tackle them? What do you think are your biggest achievements?
Innovation
How you have improved crop performance/output/profitability/sustainability over the past few years?
Describe what you have done (e.g. changes to working practices, technical innovations) and the results of these actions (e.g. increase in yield, reduction in costs, control of disease/pests),
Your market
Where and how are your products sold?
What do you do to make sure you understand the needs of your customers and how they are changing?
Your vision
Where do you see your business in five years and what do you plan to do to get there?
Anything else?
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about you or your business that might mark you out as a winner?
For example: Your team and the way they are managed?
How you are looking after the natural resources of your farm – e.g. involvement in
stewardship schemes, energy saving/production, water protection, biodiversity your profile/wider industry/community role. For example, do you represent farmers on any
committees, or help to promote the image of farming to the wider public through activities
such as cooperatives
Summary
In summary, why do you think that you should be considered for Arable Farmer of the Year?
Your business
Describe your business and how it has developed over the past few years. What have been your main challenges/opportunities and what have you done to tackle them? What do you think are your biggest achievements?
Innovation
How you have improved your flock performance/output/profitability/sustainability over the past few years? Describe what you have done (e.g. changes to working practices, technical innovations) and the results of these actions (e.g. increase in output, reduction in costs, control of disease/pests), with supporting data if you have it.
Your market
Where and how are your products sold? What do you do to make sure you understand the needs of your customers and how they are changing?
Your vision
Where do you see your business in five years and what do you plan to do to get there?
Anything else?
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about you or your business that might mark you out as a winner?
For example: Your team and the way they are managed?
How you are looking after the natural resources of your farm – e.g. involvement in stewardship schemes, energy saving/production, water protection, biodiversity your profile/wider industry/community role. For example, do you represent farmers on any committees, or help to promote the image of farming to the wider public through activities such as Open Farm Sunday?
Summary
In summary, why do you think that you should be considered for Poultry Farmer of the Year?
1. Describe your system and how it has developed over the past few years. What have been your main challenges/opportunities and what have you done to tackle them?
What do you think are your biggest achievements?
2. Tell us about your current herd performance and how it has improved over recent years (e.g. daily liveweight gain, farrowing rate, mortality rates). What have you done to improve herd performance?
3. Please tell us about your following policies (where relevant):
a. Breeding
b. Feeding and nutrition
c. Herd health
4. What technology are you using on your farm to support day-to-day decision making?
5. How do you benchmark your enterprise against other businesses?
Do you know your cost of production or gross and net margins?
Please include your figures if you have them (this will be kept confidential).
6. What people are involved in your business (e.g. staff, consultants), what roles do they play and how do you ensure you get the best from them?
7. Where and how do you sell/market your product? What do you do to make sure you understand the needs of your customers and how they are changing?
8. What are you doing to protect your natural resources? (e.g. renewables, biodiversity).
Summary
In summary, why do you think that you should be considered for Poultry Farmer of the Year?
1. Describe your system and how it has developed over the past few years. What have been your main challenges/opportunities and what have you done to tackle them?
What do you think are your biggest achievements?
2. Tell us about your current herd/flock performance and how it has improved over recent years (e.g. Dairy gross margin, reproductive performance, animal health). What have you done to improve herd performance?
3. Please tell us about your following policies (where relevant):
a. Breeding
b. Soil and grassland management
c. Feeding and nutrition
d. Herd health
4. What technology are you using on your farm to support day-to-day decision making?
decision-making
5. How do you benchmark your enterprise against other businesses?
6. What people are involved in your business (e.g. staff, consultants), what roles do they play and how do you ensure you get the best from them?
7. Where and how do you sell/market your product?
What do you do to make sure you understand the needs of your customers and how they are changing?
8. What are you doing to protect your natural resources? (e.g. renewables, stewardship schemes, biodiversity).
9. What plans do you have for the future?
Explain the opportunities and challenges ahead and how you plan to exploit or overcome them. Is there anything else that marks you out as a winner? (e.g. wider industry/community role; collaboration with suppliers, customers or other farmers)
Describe your system and how it has developed over the past few years. What have been your main challenges and what have you done to tackle them?
What do you think are your biggest achievements?
Tell us about your current herd performance and how it has improved over recent years (e.g. Rearing %, barren rates, kg of output/ha, gross margin per cow, days to slaughter). What have you done to improve herd performance?
Please tell us about your following policies (where relevant):
a. Breeding
b. Soil and grassland management
c. Feeding and nutrition
d. Herd health What technology are you using on your farm to support day-to-day decision-making? (e.g. performance recording, computer programmes, weigh heads)How do you benchmark your enterprise against other businesses?
Do you know your cost of production or gross and net margins? Please include your figures if you have them (this will be kept confidential).
What people are involved in your business (e.g. staff, consultants), what roles do they play and how do you ensure you get the best from them?
Where and how do you sell/market your product?
What do you do to make sure you understand the needs of your customers and how they are changing?
What are you doing to protect your natural resources? (e.g. renewables, stewardship schemes, biodiversity).
What plans do you have for the future?
Explain the opportunities and challenges ahead and how you plan to exploit or overcome them. Is there anything else that marks you out as a winner? (e.g. wider industry/community role; collaboration with suppliers, customers or other farmers)
Describe your system and how it has developed over the past few years. What have been your main challenges and what have you done to tackle them?
What do you think are your biggest achievements?
Please tell us about your following policies (where relevant):
a. Breeding
b. Pond management
c. Feeding and nutrition
Do you know your cost of production or gross and net margins? Please include your figures if you have them (this will be kept confidential).
What people are involved in your business (e.g. staff, consultants), what roles do they play and how do you ensure you get the best from them?
Where and how do you sell/market your product?
What do you do to make sure you understand the needs of your customers and how they are changing?
What are you doing to protect your natural resources? (e.g. renewables, stewardship schemes, biodiversity).
What plans do you have for the future?
Your business
Describe your business and how it has developed over the past few years. What have been your main challenges/opportunities and what have you done to tackle them? What do you think are your biggest achievements?
Innovation
How you have improved your farm’s performance/output/profitability/sustainability over the past few years? Describe what you have done (e.g. changes to working practices, technical innovations) and the results of these actions (e.g. increase in yield, reduction in costs, control of disease/pests), with supporting data if you have it.
Your market
Where and how are your products sold? What do you do to make sure you understand the needs of your customers and how they are changing?
Your vision
Where do you see your business in five years and what do you plan to do to get there?
Anything else?
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about you or your business that might mark you out as a winner? For example: Your team and the way they are managed?
How you are looking after the natural resources of your farm – e.g. involvement in stewardship schemes, energy saving/production, water protection, biodiversity you profile/wider industry/community role.
Summary
In summary, why do you think that you should be considered for Mixed Farmer of the Year?
Costings: How you manage your operational costs and achieve a profitable business
-How do you calculate how much to charge?
-Do your charges change from year to year?
-How do you charge – by area, hour, etc.?
Do you have different payment plans to suit different customers?
Machinery: Describe your fleet, how it has changed over the years and why you bought those machines
How do you build relationships with potential new customers?
Do you have a close relationship with your local dealers?
Social responsibility:
Adhering to legislation, communicating with the public and looking after the environment
How do you keep up with health and safety laws?
Have you implemented any rules to improve workplace standards?
How many staff do you have?
Where do you find new staff?
Do you offer staff training?
What appraisal and payment schemes do you operate?
Achievements/differentiators:
What would you say are your biggest achievements over the past few years? Why do customers choose you rather than your competitors?Anything else?
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about you or your business that marks you out as a winner?
References: You will be required to provide two character references. Questions for your references will include:
-Contact details including name,
-Address,
-Telephone and email. reference
What services do you supply this client?
How long have you been working for this client?
You and your background
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you start farming, what training have you had and what are your roles/responsibilities in the farming business?
Your impact & achievements
What impact has the digital platform had on the farm business over the past five years?
What changes have you championed?
What do you think are your greatest achievements?
Your vision
Where do you see your farm business in five years time and how do you plan to achieve this? How do you see yourself developing personally – e.g. your activities/responsibilities/skills/achievements – over that period? Anything else?
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us that might mark you out as a winner?
For example: Are you personally doing anything to make the most of and nurture the natural resources of your farm?
Your profile/wider industry/community role. Are you active on any committees or farmer organisations?
Do you help to promote the image of farming to the wider public?
Summary
In summary, why do you think that you should be considered for digital innovator of the year of the Year?
Cooperative background
Tell us a bit about the cooperative. How did it start, what training do you have for your members?
Your impact & achievements
What impact has your cooperative had on the business over the past five years?
What changes has your cooperative championed?
What do you think are your greatest achievements as a cooperative?
Membership
How many member do you have as a cooperative members
Your vision
Where do you see your years' in five years time and how do you plan to achieve this?
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us that might mark your cooperative out as a winner?
For example: is your cooperative doing anything to make the most of and nurture the natural resources of your farm?
Summary
In summary, why do you think that your cooperative should be considered for cooperative of the Year?
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