The Ulster Farmers’ Union, along with competition sponsors Fane Valley and Bayer, have crowned Mark McCollum from the UFU North East Londonderry group first place in the Winter Wheat category this year.

A very close second place was awarded to Raymond, David and William Wilson of the UFU Ards group, with Jim Fulton of the UFU North West Londonderry group receiving a respectable third place.

The county winners were:

1st Place Winners, Mark McCollum with his dog Bruno from the UFU North East Londonderry group.

placeholder image — 1st Place Winners, Mark McCollum with his dog Bruno from the UFU North East Londonderry group.

Antrim

Sam Wadsworth

Armagh

Richard Hunniford and Sons

2nd Place Winners, William, Isobel, Raymond, Archie and David Wilson from Ards group.

Down

Raymond, David and William Wilson

Londonderry

Mark McCollumn Jnr with Jim Fulton

Tyrone

Christopher Bell

Northern Ireland final judge, Leigh McClean, said: “Good entries across the board and a pleasure to judge. The top three really stood out, very difficult to choose between them. However, the winner was just ahead on yield potential, a thick uniform crop with large, well filled out heads.”

UFU deputy president, Clement Lynch, said: “I would like to thank our sponsors Fane Valley and Bayer who support and promote our cereal competitions. A big thanks also goes to the competition judges, UFU group managers who co-ordinate the local competitions, and the many UFU members who took the time to enter this year’s Winter Wheat competition.”

The awards for the Winter Barley, Oats, Winter Wheat and Spring Barley cereal competition categories will be officially presented at the 2026 UFU and sponsors Cereals Competition Awards and lunch planned for later this year.