Canterbury-based dairy enterprise Synlait Farms clinched the Lincoln University Foundation's South Island Farmer of the Year competition for 2012 last night (Thursday, November 8).
Judges said Synlait's entry was as a prime example of New Zealand's leadership role in innovative and entrepreneurial agricultural practice.
Chief Judge Bob Simpson said all four finalists demonstrated leadership, excellence and innovation.
"Any of the finalists could have won this award tonight," Simpson said. "But in the finish it was Synlait's blend of family-based traditional farming practices with the very best of modern corporate innovation and management systems that saw this multi-farm company stand out. Synlait's approach to its people, its stock and its land can be held up as an example of what can be achieved when good leadership and good people go hand-in-hand."
Juliet Maclean CEO of Synlait Farms welcomed the win on behalf of her team.
"In an owner-operated business, at the end of the day what you've achieved can be measured by your own efforts," she said.
"But at the end of a Synlait day our success is measured by our large team of people. The three Synlait founders, John Penno, Ben Dingle and myself come from farming families, and really that's how we work at Synlait too, it's just that our Synlait Farms family is a lot bigger."
Ashburton farmers Deane and Joanne Taylor, who run a specialist mixed arable property supplemented by dairy grazing, store lambs and breeding ewes, supplemented by a spraying business and publishing Latitude magazine, were runners up and winners of the best presentation of the night at the finals held at Lincoln University.
The other finalists were Gavin Loxton with Sue Allan from Sawdon Station near Lake Tekapo, and Andy and Kate Chapman from upper Rakaia Gorge.
"Judging between a corporate entry like Synlait Farms and family-owned farms proved a challenge," said Ben Todhunter, chair of the Lincoln University Foundation and one of the judges. "Synlait's win tonight was a close-run thing. All of the entries displayed true leadership, excellence of practice and innovation of the sort that put New Zealand on the global map as an international leader in agricultural practice."
Winners receive a $15,000 travel award to study farming practice overseas, and are assisted to host a field day on their property to profile their business.
Popular Reads
A significant fertiliser breakthrough?
Former ACT MP and Federated Farmers president Owen Jennings believes he's come across a new fertilising method in Australia that…Waikato cattle farmers fined $23,000
A Waikato cattle farming family have been fined $23,000 for failing to provide sufficient food and care for their animals,…Farmers oppose work visa changes
Farmers are crying foul over changes announced by the Government this week to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme.No easy ride for struggling sheep farmers
Stubbornly high farm input costs, a slow Chinese recovery and a flood of Australian lamb onto the global market are…Farmers fined for cattle abuse
A Waikato cattle farming family have been fined $23,000 for failing to provide sufficient food and care for their animals,…Featured
PGW revises earnings guidance as farmer spending drops
Rural trader PGG Wrightson has revised its operating earnings guidance, saying trading conditions have deteriorated since the last market update in February.
An 'amaizing' season
It's been a bumper season for maize and other supplements in the eastern Bay of Plenty.
Leaders connect to plan continued tree planting
Leading farmers from around New Zealand connected to share environmental stories and inspiration and build relationships at the Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) national forum in Wellington last month.
AgriZeroNZ invests $5m on low emissions farm pasture
AgriZeroNZ, a joint venture fast-tracking emissions reduction tools for farmers, is pouring $5 million in a biotech company to develop a low emissions farm pasture with increased productivity gains.
Fonterra, Sharesies join to make share trading easier
Fonterra is teaming up with wealth app provider Sharesies to make it easier for its farmer shareholders to trade co-op shares among themselves.
Planting natives for the future
Te Awamutu dairy farmers Doug, Penny, Josh and Bayley Storey have planted more than 25,000 native trees on the family farm, adding to a generations-old native forest.
National
Protect productivity from red tape
Productive industries shouldn’t be strangled in red tape, they need to be able to operate and grow, using technology to…Profit focus falls off the radar
The dairy industry has lost its mojo in the last six or seven years, according to a leading dairy farmer,…Frontline biosecurity 'untouchable'
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has reiterated that 'frontline' biosecurity services within Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will not be cut…AI the key to foodservice?
Could smaller foodservice operators take advantage of the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI)?Migrant farmer 'lets the side down'
An appalling case of migrant worker exploitation on a Southland farm isn't acceptable, says Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre.Machinery & Products
New name, new ideas
KGM New Zealand, is part of the London headquartered Inchcape Group, who increased its NZ presence in August 2023 with…Amazing Amazone drill - 75 years and counting
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the first Amazone seed drill – the 2m wide horse-drawn D1 launched in…All-terrain fert spreading mode
Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…Rubber mats keep pushy cows steady
Waikato farm manager Grant McLaggan knew he had a problem two years ago when a few pushy cows ended up in…Can-Am showcases range
Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.» Latest Print Issues Online
Milking It
Plant-based bubble bursts
OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…
Poor investments backfire
OPINION: Synlait's financial woes won’t be going away anytime soon.