Your chance to become a Farmers Weekly columnist

Do you have a good sense of the issues that matter to farmers? Do you have strong opinions? Can you articulate them clearly and concisely?

If so, you could be just the person we are looking for, because Farmers Weekly is on the hunt for a new contributor to join its stable of regular opinion writers.

We want someone who can write informatively and entertainingly on a wide range of topics.

We don’t expect you to be an expert on every subject. Far from it. But we are looking for someone who understands the subjects that are important to farmers and their families, and can  consistently write thought-provoking articles about them.

See more from all our Opinion writers

It is certainly not a prerequisite that you have any writing experience. Some of FW’s best columnists over the years have come to the position with no writing background. But they have won an army of loyal readers though their hard-hitting and humorous observations, some drawing on personal experience. The best columnists always make readers think – and sometimes make them laugh or even cry.

Similarly, it is by no means necessary that applicants already have a profile in the industry (although those who do are very welcome to apply).

Basically, we need someone who can write about the hot topics in our industry in a way readers can connect with. Whether you are 18 or 80, male or female, based in Land’s End or John O’Groats is irrelevant.

This is a rare opportunity to join a team of high-profile, widely respected contributors, including David Richardson, Elizabeth Elder, Matthew Naylor and Neale McQuistin.

To be considered, we want you to send us a 600-word article on a topic of your choice that you think would be suitable for the Opinion pages of Farmers Weekly.

Please also send three other ideas for topics you would like to write about – all we need is a couple of lines summarising each.

Feel free to supply any additional information you feel will convince us of your suitability. There will be a fee paid, so we would need someone who can generate their own ideas, work to deadlines and write accurately.

The successful candidate would be expected to contribute one 600-word article every five weeks, with the potential to write more, subject to agreement.

Send this to tim.relf@rbi.co.uk by Wednesday 5 August. Please include examples of your written work, your Twitter handle and website/blog if applicable.