Monday, 16 May 2022 12:47

Craigmore Farming Services scoop dairy award

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Craigmore Farming Services general manager farming Stuart Taylor and agri relationships manager Caroline Amyes with the award. Craigmore Farming Services general manager farming Stuart Taylor and agri relationships manager Caroline Amyes with the award.

The winner of the 2022 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award has been commended for its focus on adapting individual farm systems to the land, resources and staff.

Craigmore Farming Services, Canterbury/North Otago were named the winner at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards on Saturday night in Christchurch and received the John Wilson Memorial Trophy.

 The prestigious award was introduced by NZDIA  and Fonterra to recognise dairy farmers who demonstrate leadership in their approach to sustainability and who are respected by their fellow farmers and their community for their attitude and role in sustainable dairying.

“It was a privilege to engage with all three finalists and the quality of the presentations was exceptional,” says head judge Conall Buchanan.

Fellow judge Charlotte Rutherford from Fonterra agrees.

“The future of the industry feels in such good hands when you are able to spend time with people like our finalists.”

“It’s encouraging and motivating and you wish you could send them out around the country to speak to all farmers because we left the room energised by what they had to say.” Rutherford says.

While all the finalists were impressive, the winning entry represented by Stuart Taylor, general manager farming and Caroline Amyes, agri relationship partner, stood out due to Craigmore’s focus on adapting individual farm systems to the land, resources and the people involved. 

“This is a strength that our industry will increasingly use in the years ahead,” say the judges. 

One of Craigmore’s philosophies is that there is no single perfect system.

“Craigmore begins with the people that are going to be on the land and their motivations and goals for the land and animals.

“People influence the system that the farms adopt because the passion and drive was linked to the people that were running the farms,” says judge Melissa Slattery.

The judges were impressed at Craigmore’s philosophy of adapting the farm system on each one of their 22 farms to suit the environment and the people. 

The judges say Craigmore are demonstrating and implementing new technology that’s proven to function in a way that achievable and realistic for other farmers.

"Craigmore are leading change and using different innovations on different farms to help create solutions that other farmers could then use, including dung beetles, working on their significant natural areas, a composting barn, boluses and are trialling Halter on one of their farms,” say the judges.

“Just like every farmer, Craigmore are on a journey and are continually seeking ways to grow and challenge themselves.”

More like this

An opportunity to connect!

The 2021 NZ Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) Farm Manager of the Year Christopher Vila spoke at the 2022 awards night held recently in Christchurch. Here's his speech...

'A huge honour'

New Zealand 2022 Share Farmer of the Year Will Green says it's a huge honour to be recognised in such a competitive industry.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

AGTEK and ARGO part ways

After 12 years of representing the Landini and McCormick brands in New Zealand, Bay of Plenty-based AGTEK and the brands’…

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter