NOMINATIONS for Farm Woman of the Year award are now open.

The unsung female heroes of farming and rural communities will once again be celebrated at this year's Royal Bath and West Show from 1-4 June 2016.

The Farm Woman of the Year Award celebrates the often unseen, behind-the-scenes contribution of women to the industry and the communities built around it.

Whether it's a hands-on role running or working with a farming business, managing the finances, or someone providing vital emotional support to those around her, judges are looking for women who have truly made a difference.

Nominees could be the backbone of a rural community facing tough times or a hard-working member of the farming workforce, besides their roles as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts or even grandmothers.

On Tuesday Environment Secretary Liz Truss helped celebrate International Women's Day by joining leading women in farming from across the country for a roundtable discussion on issues affecting female workers in the agriculture industry.

"The increasing number of women looking to a career in food and farming is positive and exciting. Farming, like any industry, needs to attract new talent and ideas and harness the skills of both young women and men," Ms Truss said.

"With agricultural often perceived as a male-dominated industry, it’s important we recognise the leading role women are playing. Now I want to see the industry build on this and more women taking on jobs in farming."

Today, women make up 28% of the British agricultural workforce and the numbers of women running farms has steadily increased to just over 25,000.

Universities and colleges are also reporting a rise in female students taking agricultural courses.

Judging of the shortlisted nominations will take place on 8 May and the winner will be announced at the Royal Bath & West Show on 3 June.

As well as being named Farm Woman of the Year 2016, the winner will receive £500 and all shortlisted entrants will get their turn in the spotlight with VIP Ladies' Day tickets to the Show.

To nominate someone for the Farm Woman of the Year 2016 Award, entrants are asked to tell judges in no more than 250 words what makes the woman they are nominating special and why she deserves to win the award.

Entry forms are available online at www.bathandwest.com, or for more information contact Julie Kitching on 01749 822235.