Lower North Island farmers “cautiously optimistic” heading into winter – DairyNZ
Cautiously optimistic is how DairyNZ's regional manager for the lower North Island, Mark Laurence describes the mood of farmers in his patch.
National convenor Chris Keeping says 33 entries were received online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz yesterday – the first day people could enter the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions.
"We are pretty happy with that and it's 10 more than entered on the first day last year," she says.
"The first entrant was a dairy trainee from the Hawke's Bay Wairarapa region who must have entered before milking as the entry was up very early in the morning."
Keeping says the Auckland Hauraki region held its first launch event in Ngatea on the Hauraki Plains last night and that had resulted in seven entrants.
Most regions are holding launch events for people interested in entering the awards this month, details of which are on the website www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
The 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.
More than 500 people are expected to enter the 2013 awards before entries close on December 20.
