Ravensdown, the farmer-owned fertiliser co-operative, is the new sponsor for the NZ Guild of Agricultural Journalists and Communicators prestigious Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award.

Regarded as the premier award for agricultural communicators, it will be known as the Ravensdown Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award.

Next year will be the 31st year an industry champion will be honoured and the $2500 cash prize from Ravensdown will be presented alongside a large greenstone trophy at the awards dinner at the NZ National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek.

'The Guild welcomes Ravensdown into its family of sponsors, and hopes the relationship will continue for another 30 years,” says guild secretary Sue Miller.

The Ravensdown sponsorship replaces that by Landcorp which had been associated with the prestigious award for the past 30 years.

Newly signed primary sponsor Ravensdown's Chief Executive Greg Campbell says the award is about "honouring the people and groups who are showcasing and communicating relevant and important information to both the sector and the wider audience with a vested interest in what we produce".

'New Zealand's primary industry is made up of a diverse bunch of sectors, from scientists to teachers to farmers and everything in-between, all working towards a common goal of being the world's best and most sustainable producer of food.

'There are significant challenges and innovations that these people deal with and those stories and learnings need to be told. That's why Ravensdown wants to champion those talented communicators who do just that,” says Greg.

'We're thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the New Zealand Guild of Agricultural Journalists and Communicators who run the awards on making sure every part of the primary sector is acknowledged and honoured.”

Nominations open early May next year, which must come from Guild members, however anyone in the sector can be nominated.