increase font size
New Zealand farming does not celebrate success enough, says Dr William Rolleston, Federated Farmers national president.
"As the farmer-comedian Te Radar told us at Federated Farmers' National Conference, we do not take time to stop and appreciate just how good our farmers really are," he says.
Rolleston says this is why competitions like the South Island Farmer of the Year matter.
"They are our chance to show urban New Zealand the excellence of our farming systems. We can only show off our industry if people enter into competitions like this.
"In that respect there isn't a lot of time left as nominations and entries close on 1 August.
"You may not have much time but it is worth it with a $20,000 travel grant for the winner and four special category prizes worth $5,000 each. There is also the huge benefit of getting judges to provide your farm business with a free independent assessment.
"Leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, all the hallmarks of South Island farming, is what the Lincoln University Foundation Trust is looking for in the entries."
Entries can be made directly by farmers or by anyone else singling out a farm business as being a worthy nominee.
To nominate someone or to get an entry form for yourself, visit www.lincolnuniversityfoundation.org.nz.
The 2013 award was won by the winemaker, Peter Yealands.
Judging takes place September/October and the final will be held at Lincoln University in November.
"What we're hoping for is for farmers and the friends of farmers to take this opportunity because the South Island's next top farmer is out there," says Rolleston.
Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers arable chair, Bevan Lill, said Beef + Lamb NZ data indicated that for the last six years, the average arable return on investment was about 0.8% while inflation ran about 4% - so the average arable farm was going backwards at about 3% a year.
For the first time in a quarter of a century, Federated Farmers has something positive to say about the Labour Party’s climate change policy leading into a general election.
Rural leader Mark Hooper has been appointed as an independent director to the NZPork board, bringing extensive farming, governance and advocacy experience to the role.
The terrible floods that hit the Wairarapa may have subsided, but the danger to farmers still exists, according to local Federated Farmers president Rob Hickson.
Will a stronger, more coordinated voice help rebuild confidence and improve returns in the wool sector?
In Dacre, near Invercargill in New Zealand’s South Island, Bruce Dinnington is running a dairy operation unlike any other.
A free online platform aggregating governance vacancies across rural and regional New Zealand has been launched.
Environment Minister Nicola Grigg has announced details of a new rural plastics recycling scheme.
Agricultural drone operators say that a government decision to allow lower-risk drone work without certification won’t lower standards but drive innovation and efficiency.
OPINION: Warning bells are ringing in the arable sector.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.
OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…
