The IMMA new machinery awards scheme, which started life in 2014, kicks off again this month, as David Cousins explains

It had been a long time since there was a national farm machinery awards scheme in the UK, but last year’s inaugural International Machinery Manufacturers’ Awards showed how well these things can work.

See also: farm kit makers rewarded

The aim is the same as last year – to reward companies who have produced machines that show particular innovation, effectiveness and value.

Also, as last year, it’s organised by the Cereals Event and supported by the AEA, The Institution of Agricultural Engineers, The Royal Agricultural University and Farmers Weekly.

Who can enter?

The scheme is open to all companies that sell farm machinery in the UK, whether the equipment is home-grown or made elsewhere.

There are four categories – cultivations equipment, harvest machinery, sprayers and tractors.

Cultivations equipment could range from ploughs to power harrows and from rolls to strip-till drills. Harvest machinery could include everything from combines to chaser bins and trailers to grain dryers.

Meanwhile, sprayers could include mounted, trailed or self-propelled models and any related equipment such as nozzles, bowsers and nurse tanks. The final category is tractors.

All machines entered must have been launched in the past 18 months, but they don’t have to have been exhibited at the Cereals Event.

Who will be judging it?

Prof Dick Godwin, Harper Adams University (soils and cultivation); Prof Toby Mottram, Royal Agricultural University (robotics); Peter Redman (IAgrE); Prof Paul Miller, NIAB (sprayer expert); Philip Clappison, 2013 Farmers Weekly Contractor of the Year and David Cousins, Farmers Weekly.

What are the judges looking for?

The independent judging panel will be looking for the most innovative products on the market, using the following criteria: innovation, cost-effectiveness and value.

Prizes will be awarded on the first day of the show, 10 June. The winning machines will be shown on a special stand at the Cereals event being held Boothby Graffoe, near Lincoln where they can be viewed by farmers.

When is the closing date?

24 April 2015.

Can farmers nominate machines too?

Yes, just go to the Cereals Event website where you can nominate recently purchased machines of your own that you think are particularly praiseworthy.

Which machines won last year?

Cultivation equipment

Winner – Cousins of Emneth Surface seed-bed cultivator
Runner-up – Lemken Solitair drill
Third prize – Cultivating Solutions RLM low-disturbance toolbar

Sprayers

Winner – Garford Robocrop weed-imaging spot sprayer
Runner-up – Househam Merlin self-propelled sprayer
Third prize – Hypro Duo React nozzle body

Tractors

Winner – John Deere DirectDrive transmission
Runner-up – Massey Ferguson 6600-series tractors

Harvest equipment

Winner – McHale Fusion 3 Plus baler-wrapper
Runner-up – Case-IH Axial-Flow 230-series combine harvester
Third prize – Martin Lishman Barn Owl grain store monitoring system.