Award-winning brothers achieve major farm ownership milestone
Dairy farming siblings Manoj Kumar and Sumit Kamboj's message to other immigrants is simple - work hard and you will be rewarded.
New Zealand 2022 Share Farmer of the Year Will Green says it's a huge honour to be recognised in such a competitive industry.
"Especially as NZ is renowned worldwide for being a leader in dairy and providing a clear career progression pathway," he told Dairy News.
Originally from the UK, 34-year old Green is a sharemilker on the 270ha Dairy Holdings Lts property in Hinds, mid-Canterbury, milking 1,060 cows.
A lot of hard work and sacrifice is behind Green's rise to the top.
Along the way he tasted success, winning the 2018 Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Manager of the Year and then being the 2018 national runner-up.
Green says the efforts of him, his partner Sally Eames and his workers have been recognised.
"Our efforts have been justly rewarded to help us work towards our goals; it's been a lot of fun along the way too."
Apart from his hard work, Green attributes his success to strong mentors, a simple pasture-focused system and a great team of staff and rural professionals.
"Having hugely supportive parents and partner has been really helpful too. Without have a great team around us we wouldn't be able to take time away from the day-to-day to achieve things like the dairy awards.
"We have a strong focus on team culture and you are only as strong as your weakest link so we do our utmost to ensure that our team members are not only happy, but feel motivated, engaged, and [are] adding real value to the progression of the business."
Green says his win was also well received in the UK where many friends and family members watched the livestream of the awards night.
Green's advice to anyone entering the dairy industry is to find "a good boss/mentor who is willing to invest time and knowledge in you".
"Attend as many discussion groups and courses as you can, get your face out there, ask lots of questions and get involved and become an active member of your local community.
"And, of course, enter the dairy awards."
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) awards. As part of a series looking at this year’s rural winners, Leo Argent talked with Ginny Dodunski, winner of the Veterinary Impact Award for raising the profile of the Wormwise programme.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.