increase font size
The 2014 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards will take place in 11 regions, including a merged Southland/Otago region.
National convenor Chris Keeping says organisers made the decision to merge the Southland and Otago regions in late July as it is believed that the merged region will be stronger, creating a better competition for entrants.
"The executive committee has deliberated on the future of the regions for some time, and came to its decision on the basis that it is most important that entrants are guaranteed a competition and the opportunity to compete in the national finals," Keeping says.
Disappointing entries forced the Otago region to revamp its contest this year with only Otago's Dairy Trainee of the Year winner progressing to the national final. Keeping says organisers wanted to prevent a similar fate recurring.
New Southland/Otago regional committee chair Helen Hartshorne says the committee is happy to be organising an awards that will be successful.
"It is going to be very satisfying convening these awards as we know we will convene a great competition and have a great event at the end of it."
Planning and preparations for the 2014 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards – 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 – are well underway and entries will be received online from November 1.
Keeping says the 2014 Southland/Otago region will be chaired by Hartshorne and have two sub-committees, each with convenors and representing the two pre-merged regions.
All entrants in the merged region will take part in preliminary judging to determine the six finalists in each competition. A final round of judging will then determine the winners. It is anticipated the 2014 Southland/Otago Dairy Industry Awards winners will be announced at an awards function in Gore on March 1, 2014.
Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for more information on the awards programme.
OPINION: Feds Southland 'pres' Jason Herrick and colleagues who continue the good fight against bureaucratic madness on behalf of farmers, have had another win - for now, at least - getting a court decision granting a 'stay' on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until changes can be made to section 70 of the RMA by central goverment, somtheing they clearly signaled after the election.
Fonterra has named Elizabeth (Liz) Coutts the chair of Mainland Group, the proposed divestment entity of the co-operative’s consumer business.
Afimilk, a global dairy farm management solutions provider, has appointed Justin Miller as the new general manager for New Zealand and Australia.
Economist Shamubeel Eaqub is warning that inequality between countries has fallen markedly over the past 200 years but inequality and political polarisation within countries was on the rise.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes a recent court decision which granted a stay on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until legislative changes can be made by government.
Afimilk, a global dairy farm management solutions provider, has appointed Justin Miller as the new general manager for New Zealand and Australia.
Investing in your people and in your own leadership skills is the path to success for a farming business, says economist Shamubeel Eaqub.
A leading farm consultant says it's likely the dairy season in the Waikato will come to a premature end because of the drought.
Dairy farming siblings Manoj Kumar and Sumit Kamboj's message to other immigrants is simple - work hard and you will be rewarded.
Last season was a mixed bag for Waikato contractors, with early planted forage maize, planted on the dry soils around Cambridge, doing badly after germination and failing to meet potential, says Jeremy Rothery, Jackson Contracting.
A marked turnaround in the financial performance of Canterbury milk company Synlait has halted a threatening exodus of farmer suppliers.
