It's time to apply to FAB if a career on the land is what you'd like. FAB, the Farm Apprenticeship Board, wants to hear from any young person who yearns to work in the open down on the farm. FAB runs a three-year training programme to prepare people for careers as farm managers. It's recruiting at moment with vacancies from 130 to 140 young people in the eleven agricultural colleges around the country.

The agri-food sector accounts for 14 per cent of gross domestic product, 15.5 per cent of total exports and over 13 per cent of total employment. This year 49 young farmers successfully completed the three-year training programme, graduating in March. During the FAB programme trainees work on commercial farms, attend day courses on all aspects of farm management, do project work and keep records and journals.

Each year FAB, which was established in 1964, presents awards to its top three graduates. This is the 19th year of the awards. In first place this year was Aidan Lawless from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. David Jennings from Leap, Co Cork, was second and Eamon O'Connor from Knocknagoshel, Tralee, Co Kerry, third.

For information contact the Farm Apprenticeship Board at the Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12 - phone (01) 450 1166, fax (01) 450 0902.