Now in its 25th year, the AgriScot Silage Competition has opened for entries to showcase the very best of this year’s silage production from across the country.
The longest running silage competition in the UK, with entries from over 3,000 farmers since it began, it now receives hundreds of applications each year.
Silage will be judged across the following four categories: Young Farmer (for those aged 30 years and under), Beef Clamp, Dairy Clamp and the Big Bale. The competition will be judged in two stages, one on paper from a silage analysis, and one physical assessment.
The finalists will be announced in the weeks before the live judging at AgriScot on Wednesday 19th November 2025.
This year’s unique challenges
“The sponsors and judges always look forward to receiving the entries”, says Andrew Best, Seed Specialist at Watson Seeds, and organiser of the AgriScot Silage Competition and prize sponsors.
“I’m expecting to see some variation in silage quality depending on cutting date. Every growing year is different but the weather through this silage season is a complete contrast to last year. With an unusually dry spring and summer it’s been a challenging season. We’ve been faced with a long drought period which has led to a rapid reduction in grass growth.
“I expect those who sacrificed some yield and took an early cut in May will have had better quality silage and it will have helped to reset the field for subsequent cuts. Those who held off until later in the year ran into drought issues leading to a reduction in quality, so it will be interesting to see the results from the later cuts.
“The competition is great to be part of, and it also highlights the value in knowing your silage so you can supplement according to the fluctuating weather conditions. It is a competition that recognises the input and hard work that goes into making silage and why it matters.”
How the competition works
The first stage: Chemical Analysis
The first stage is an entry submitted by email. Judges will initially examine the silage analysis report from each applicant, evaluating metabolisable energy, crude protein and dry matter. Along with the silage analysis, entrants should include the silage cut date. The top five entries in each category will move on to further testing.
From these, a second round of chemical analysis will reduce the field to the top three finalists in each class.
The second stage: Fresh Sample Judging
The top three entries from each category will then be asked to provide fresh silage samples for live judging at AgriScot on Wednesday 19th November to select the winners.
This year’s expert judges – David Lawrie and James Baillie, both from livestock farms – will not only select the winners but will also explain their decision during the live final in the AgriScot ring. The winners of each category will be awarded with 10 acres of any Watson Seeds Castle Mixture, with second and third place, receiving five and two acres, respectively.
Chair of AgriScot, Gilmour Lawrie, says,
“The silage competition is one of the longest standing events at AgriScot and consistently draws interest from attendees.
“While farmers are always striving to produce top quality forage, entering a competition like this and coming out on top offers valuable recognition and reinforces the hard work and expertise behind the achievement. I wish everyone the very best with their entries.”
How to enter
Prior to submitting an entry for chemical forage analysis, competitors should ask permission from the silage owner and confirm that the silage will be available for fresh sampling – should it reach the final stage of the competition.
Entries for the first stage are open and must be submitted by Friday 24th October 2025 to Andrew Best at abest@watsonseeds.com. Find out more at www.agriscot.co.uk
For those not wishing to enter the competition, but looking to attend AgriScot on Wednesday 19th November, you can now register for free entry by visiting the AgriScot website. With over 240 exhibitors covering all sectors of agriculture, there is something for every farm business.