Top young farmer eyes sharemilking job
The 2024 FMG Young Farmer of the Year George Dodson is hoping that the win is a stepping stone to his dream job of sharemilking next season.
Douglas McGregor is the seventh grand finalist to be named in the 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest.
The thirty-year-old dairy farmer took first place at the Northern Regional Final in Dargaville on Saturday 18 April after a very tense and closely scored competition.
McGregor went home with a prize pack worth over $10,000 including cash, scholarships, and products and services.
This was McGregor's second attempt at regional final level of the ANZ Young Farmer Contest. He is a very active member of the Bay of Island Young Farmers Club and is the Northern Region vice-chairman. McGregor was competing against 26-year-old Anna Simpson, who doubles as the winner's partner.
Second place went to 28-year-old herd manager, Guy Bakewell, of the Bay of Islands Young Farmers Club. He took home $2,900 worth of prizes. Bakewell also took home top honours in both the Lincoln University Agri-Growth Challenge and the Ravensdown Agri-Skills Challenge.
Third place went to Whangarei Young Farmers Club member, Jake Thompson (26). Thompson won the AGMARDT Agri-Business Challenge. Fourth place went to Colin Beazley (28) from the Kaipara Young Farmers Club – Colin was called up to compete a week before the regional final after one Contestant broke his collarbone.
The Silver Fern Farms Agri-Sports Challenge winner was 26-year-old Kelvin Meek of the Franklin Young Farmers Club.
Douglas McGregor is the last Grand Finalist selected for the 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest. He will join six Contestants from around the country in Taupo 2 – 4 July at Grand Final in a bid to take home the title of 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest Grand Champion.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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