WE don't hear enough about the contribution farmers in the Three Counties make to our lives.

They help provide our food, maintain the countryside that so many of us love and are the bedrock of our rural economies.

We want to salute them. That's why we have organised the Three Counties Farming Awards, which aims to celebrate all that is best about agricultural industry in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The countdown has begun to the closure of awards nominations on Wednesday, April 10, so get your entry in now (and don't forget that you can nominate yourself)!

There are 12 categories including sheep, cattle, pig, poultry, fruit/hop and arable farmer of the year, as well as young farmer, farming contractor and farming hero.

The awards are being organised by Newsquest Media Group, publisher of the Three Counties Farmer, and its sister newspapers and websites the Stroud News and Journal, Gloucestershire Gazette, Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, Worcester News, Hereford Times, Malvern Gazette, Ledbury Reporter, Evesham and Cotswold Journal, Tenbury Wells Advertiser, Kidderminster Shuttle, Bromsgrove Advertiser, Redditch Advertiser and Droitwich Advertiser.

The headline sponsor is Harper Adams University.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Three Counties Showground on Thursday, June 13.

Click here to find out more and submit a nomination for the awards.