Open Country opens butter plant
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
"We are just so rapt with the response and at the level of competition that will take place to determine the winners," national convenor Chris Keeping says.
A total of 144 entries were received in the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year competition, 171 entrants will compete for the New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year title and 251 entries were received in the New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year contest.
"It's the most entries we have had in both the farm manager and the dairy trainee contests, with the trainee contest in particular just going from strength to strength," Keeping says.
"It is obvious entrants are becoming more aware of the benefits to be gained by entering the awards to have some fun and progress their dairy farming career."
Entries in the sharemilker/equity farmer contest were also up (by five) on last year.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner AgITO.
The Canterbury/North Otago region – one of 12 that organises regional competitions in the awards – has received the most entries. The region received 83 entries, with nearly half of those entries (40) in the dairy trainee contest.
"Waikato topped the regions last year, but has had to settle for second place this year with 73 entries, although it has the most farm managers entered with 29."
Other regions to do well include Central Plateau and Taranaki, both with 52 entries, and Northland with 48.
Keeping says the entrants will first compete in one of the regional competitions being held around the country, with the regional winners progressing to the national final to be held in Wellington on May 24.
She says the entrants will be invited to attend information evenings later this month to meet other entrants and sponsors, and gain information about the judging process, which takes place throughout February.
Further information about the awards and a timeline of the awards programme can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
