Tony Dodunski Wins Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award
Milking cows in the environmentally sensitive Lake Ellesemere/Te Waihora catchment in Canterbury has kept Tony Dodunski on his toes.
Public speaking, feed budgeting, interviews, farm finances and explaining goals are among the many things entrants in the NZ Dairy Industry Awards learn, says the awards executive chair Rachel Baker.
“Building people capability is the core purpose of the awards,” she says.
“By providing a platform for entrants to learn about farming and themselves, connect with others and achieve their goals we are helping to fast-track the development of many farmers each year.
“Many of our past and current entrants are in leadership roles in dairy and their communities.”
Volunteer farmers and national sponsors ensure this opportunity is available year after year.
The awards were created by farmers 30 years ago, starting with the NZ Sharemilker of the Year (now Share Farmer of the Year), then two more categories -- Dairy Manager of the Year (formerly Farm Manager of the Year) and Dairy Trainee of the Year -- have since been added. People on work visas were this year allowed to enter the dairy manager and dairy trainee categories.
Regional winners for 2019 will be judged again soon in the NZ share farmer, dairy manager and dairy trainee categories to be announced at the National Awards in Wellington on the May 11. Regional results and national awards tickets are available at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz
The awards are sponsored by Westpac, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, DairyNZ and Primary ITO.
DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.
While the Government has moved quickly to make commercial hauliers' lot easier during the current fuel crisis, they appear to be stuck in the creep box when it comes to the agricultural industry.
Waikato farmers have been told that the Government’s new planning system legislation and the region’s Plan Change 1 (PC1) “won’t mesh together very well”.
Farmer owned co-operative Ravensdown has signed a two-year naming rights sponsorship of the Canterbury A&P Show.
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