2 June 2006 Farmer of Year Competition to highlight Irrigation

‘Irrigation’ is the category for the 2006 Lincoln University Foundation/Rabobank Farmer of the Year Competition.

“The irrigation story is a complex one, perhaps not fully explained by the media,” says Foundation Chair Neil Taylor. “Through this year’s competition the Foundation wants to highlight efficient systems that are out there benefiting production.”

“We had this category for the Farmer of the Year Competition back in 1983 and the topic is even more relevant today.”

For the purposes of the competition ‘Irrigation’ is defined as the efficient, sustainable, profitable and appropriate use of water in a land-based production business.

“What we are aiming to do is identify operators who have recognised that water is a scarce, multi-use resource that needs careful husbandry in order to capture the opportunities it provides in a variety of production systems,” says Mr Taylor.

The 2006 competition is open to any South Island individual, partnership or land-based enterprise and the title and top prize will be awarded to the person, persons or enterprise judged as best showing innovative flair and excellence in both technical and financial matters relating to irrigation.

The competition is open to entrants from all types of land-based production systems, including horticulture, where irrigation systems, of whatever type, are an essential component of the production system.

The winner of the Lincoln University Foundation/Rabobank Farmer of the Year competition receives a $15,000 travel award and there is a runners-up prize of $7500.

The primary objective of the Lincoln University Foundation is to encourage and facilitate the flow of appropriate people to and from New Zealand; people who can contribute to the development of New Zealand’s land-based industries. The awards are presented to enable top performers to travel, either internationally or nationally, and bring back technology or ideas and adapt them to New Zealand’s farming systems.

The Foundation acknowledges the support of Rabobank in this annual competition.

Applications are open now for the 2006 competition and they close on Friday 11 August 2006. The Trustees restrict the competition to South Island entrants only. Application forms and the prospectus are available from Errol Costello at Lincoln University or any branch of Rabobank, free phone 0800 722 622.

Ian Collins, Communications Group, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand