If you’ve been burning the midnight oil building a new machine, modifying an existing implement to transform its performance, or developing a neat gadget that saves time, money or hassle, then why not try to bag some free cash for your troubles.

Farmers Weekly’s long-running Farm Inventions Competition seeks to rewards farmers and contractors for their ingenuity – no matter whether the creation is big or small.

See also: Home-built 6m straw rake saves Northants farmer £10k

The total prize pot this year is £2,550, spread across three categories that cover everything from perfectly welded drills to simple knick-knacks knocked together on a rainy afternoon.

Several of the entries from the past couple of years have subsequently been taken on by manufacturers.

And many will have inspired like-minded farmers to develop something similar of their own.

So, as well as the cash prize, it serves as a great opportunity to get your invention in the shop window.

And help others that might be struggling to come up with machinery workarounds without resorting to buying new.

Who is eligible to enter?

The terms of entry are simple – it just needs to have been built by a farmer or contractor and have a use on the farm.

What are the prizes?

Prize money is the same across the three categories: simple, intermediate and complex.

The winners of each will take home £500, there’s £250 for the runners-up, and third-placers get £100.

Which category will my machine be in?

Simple – items that took a day or so to knock together and are fairly basic in the way they work, but still save time or money.

Intermediate – more sophisticated builds, perhaps with a simple form of hydraulic or electrical system.

Complex – inventions that have taken months or years to design and build, usually incorporating an engine or complicated combination of electrics and hydraulics.

How do I enter?

Just email brief details of what the machine is, how it works and what you use it for to oliver.mark@markallengroup.com.

Be sure to include a couple of decent-quality pictures and a contact phone number.

Alternatively, you can get in touch via Farmers Weekly’s Facebook account.

The closing date is 23 January 2026.