Two BGAJ members took home top honours in the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ awards programme, presented at the Congress in Croatia in September.
Celebrating the IFAJ’s 70th anniversary, the 2026 IFAJ Star Prize awards, supported by Alliance Tires, recognised outstanding agricultural journalism published or broadcast during 2025.
Supreme Guild Award
Danusia Osiowy won the Supreme Guild Award for her Farmers Weekly article: ‘A comprehensive guide to neurodiversity-friendly communications’.
“Since this isn’t a typical topic in agriculture, it was smart to use statistics from a survey by Farmers Weekly on what communication barriers exist on farms,” said one judge. “It framed how widespread the issue is and made the article immediately relevant. The way in which the info is presented keeps the reader’s attention.
“I also appreciated the clear way forward presented in the article to help those working with neurodivergents to communicate better. The use of case studies really brought home the impact that neurodivergency has on people, and how best to work with neurodivergents. Importantly, the tools provided can be applied in any work environment to improve communication, relationships and the team’s productivity.”
Another judge added: “The article excels across all evaluation criteria. It addresses a highly relevant yet underexplored topic in agriculture with originality, depth, and strong practical value. By combining research, expert insights, case studies, and practical tools, it delivers content that is authoritative, accessible, and highly impactful. The editorial execution is outstanding, supported by rigorous reporting, clear writing, and exceptional credibility.”
The guide can be read here https://cutt.ly/NymPPdqW.
Star Prize for Audio
Anna Jones won the Star Prize for Audio, with her radio episode ‘Corn Belt People’ praised as “an exceptional example of journalism”.
“Her initial instinct to lobby BBC Radio 4 to commission travel to the 2025 Iowa State Fair was spot on,” said one judge. “Her interviews, largely with supporters of Donald Trump, were done with empathy and objectivity. Particularly poignant was the interview with an older woman living alone in a disused bank – a woman who was witness to rural decline. This was a beautifully paced, balanced and fair piece, with professional soundscaping, narrative and editing. A worthy winner.”
The episode can be listened to here https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002j5n8.
Harvest Lunch 2026
Our annual harvest celebration is the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, colleagues and network with other agricultural communicators.
