20 August 2008 Farmer of Year close-off date approaching fast

This year’s category is “Meat Production” and the competition is open to those in the South Island carrying out pastoral farming and wintering at least 1500 stock units with at least 65 percent of gross income derived from store and/or finished livestock sales. There are a few other entry criteria and for full details you can download the entry prospectus from http://events.lincoln.ac.nz/lufoundation/ or contact Errol Costello at Lincoln University on (03) 3253 832, email costelle@lincoln.ac.nz .

The top prize is an overseas travel award valued at $15,000 and there is a prize for the  runner-up valued at $7500. 

Winning the award gives the Farmer of the Year title- holder the opportunity to travel overseas to study international farming operations and technology and bring back to New Zealand practices, ideas and information of use and value to their own operation and, through that, to the country as a whole. 

Co-ordinating judge Neil Gow of Lincoln University says the primary objective of the Lincoln University Foundation is to encourage people to contribute to the development of New Zealand’s land-based industries and the competition exists to reward and encourage the professional practice of those who are showing all-round excellence in their land- based activities.

“The Farmer of the Year awards are about encouraging farmers to show innovation, efficiency and sustainability in their farming practice and to share their knowledge with the wider farming community.”

This year marks a quarter century of the Lincoln University Foundation rewarding farming excellence through the Farmer of the Year awards. The Foundation’s Farmer of the Year event started in 1983 with the category “Irrigation” and over the years it has identified and rewarded a showcase of South Island farming talent.

“Over the past 25 years the event has benefitted not only the winning farmers, but South Island farming generally,” says Neil Gow.

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