Dairy awards finals heading to Queenstown
The 2024 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) national champions will be crowned in Queenstown in May next year.
Dairy Trainee of the Year Peter O'Connor is both honoured and surprised with his win.
"There were a large number of entries across New Zealand and when I signed up I did not expect to be the national winner.
"There were a range of skills all the trainee finalists brought to the awards and I was lucky enough to be the one that came out on top fr the challenges we were judged on," he told Dairy News.
He is currently 2IC on Leighton and Michelle Pye's 242ha, 900-cow Mayfield property and will progress to a new role managing a 400-cow farm near Lauriston in the 2022-23 season.
For other Kiwis looking to dairying as a career, O'Connor says there are so many opportunities waiting to be taken and the outdoor lifestyle is great.
"I love aways being outdoors and with animals, every day is different and there's always something new to learn or and improve on the farm.
"Lots of great employers are out there who will help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to move up positions and the dairy industry has a great pathway to go from just starting out on-farm to owning your own business and potentially your own farm."
O'Connor says his employers Steve and Rosie Ketter have always answered any questions he had.
They have given him more responsibility as his knowledge and experience has grown.
"They have involved me in discussions with the farm consultant and other professionals who come on farm.
"Being exposed to that side of the farming business as well as the day-to-day tasks has been great.
"The high standards we work to ensure I do jobs properly and learn the correct way things should be done, which not only helped me in the competition but will also set my standards high in years to come."
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.
OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…
OPINION: Synlait's financial woes won’t be going away anytime soon.