COMMUNITY groups in the West Devon farming industry could be in line for a £1,000 cash prize, offered to the winner of the Prince of Wales Award.

The award is aimed at rural community organisations which are helping to build local sustainability through initiatives such as communal composting, vegetable growing and floral decorations.

Entries are invited now for three awards, to be presented at this year's Devon County Show on May 20 to 22, which is staged by the Devon County Agricultural Association.

The John Neason Award for Progressive Farming offers the winner £750 and the runner-up £250 and is targeted at farmers in Devon who have found exciting and innovative ways of improving their businesses, either by collaboration with other farmers, or through new productivity-boosting techniques, or through developing new enterprises such as on-farm food processing, farm tourism projects or the conversion of redundant buildings.

The DCAA Long Service Awards recognise the long and devoted service put in by the county's agricultural and horticultural workforce. Cash awards of £50, £30 and £20 will be made to longest serving employees who have worked for more than 30 years.

The closing date for entries is February 26, 2010. For more information, including application forms, visit http://www.dcshow.org">www.dcshow.org or call Julie Wallace on 01392 353710.