Record entries for ag award
The Farmax Emerging Rural Professional of the Year Award has received a record number of nominations this year.
EAST COAST AgFirst consultant Hilton Collier is the new president of the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management, replacing Wayne Allan who’s completed the standard two-year term in the role.
“Wayne has been a driving force in developing NZIPIM’s new strategic plan and instrumental in its implementation,” says Collier, who says there’s an increasing need for NZIPIM and its members to play a leadership role within the primary industry, within and beyond the farm gate.
“This includes positioning our farmers and growers to capture global market opportunities and ensure we have a highly profitable primary sector to levels New Zealand formerly enjoyed as one of the best standards of living in the OECD.”
NZIPIM has 700 members including agribusiness and farm management consultants, education providers, farm financiers, accountants, farmers, rural valuers, vets and fertiliser firms.
It’s aim is to promote excellence in primary industry through professional standards, conduct, recognition and continuous professional development of members, and promoting and encouraging people into primary industry careers. Its annual conference is at Lincoln August 5-7. See www.nzipim.co.nz.
Collier is a B.AgSci graduate of Lincoln who joined MAF in 1985 as a farm advisory officer then founded AgFirst group in 1995.
His client base includes many substantial Maori farming operations. In 2012 he completed a Food and Agribusiness Market Experience (FAME) programme including a study tour of China.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.