Winton Sharemilkers Take Top Dairy Award

Media release: Southland Dairy Industry Awards

STRICTLY EMBARGOED TO 11PM 31 MARCH 2007

Winton Sharemilkers Take Top Dairy Award

Winton sharemilkers Donald Kidd and Loshni Manikam have taken top honours at tonight’s Dairy Industry Awards in Invercargill winning the title 2007 Southland Sharemilker of the Year.

Meanwhile, Wyndham farm managers Daniel Woolsey and Emily Fraser were named 2007 Southland Farm Manager of the Year.

Donald Kidd and Loshni Manikan and Daniel Woolsey and Emily Fraser will now go forward to represent Southland in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Sharemilker of the Year and Farm Manager of the Year national final to be held in Invercargill on May 12, competing for a combined national prize pool of more than $100,000.

Donald and Loshni are 50/50 sharemilkers, milking 218 cows on 72 eff ha owned by Craig and Jane Sandford, producing 103,000kg/ms.

The couple attributes their success to their business and financial abilities and their focus on a low cost, high production system. Their future farming goals include moving to bigger jobs – first 600, then 900 cows – buying a bigger run-off and eventually, farm ownership.

Donald was brought up on a dairy farm in Dargaville. He managed the 200 cow family farm for five years then managed a 300 cow farm in Whangarei. The couple moved to Southland in 2004 for their first 50/50 sharemilking job, milking 220 cows. Loshni is a city girl from Durban, South Africa.

Daniel Woolsey and Emily Fraser are milking 433 cows on 136 eff ha owned by Umanui Trust with anticipated production of 184,000 kg/ms for year ended May 31 2007. The couple hopes to become 50/50 sharemilkers with 400-450 cows by the 2008-2009 season. Their long term goal is for a happy, healthy and wealthy retirement.

The national final is being held in Invercargill as the home of Elaine and Wayne Cook, 2006 Sharemilkers of the Year who went on to win the national title.

Runner up for the Southland Sharemilker of the Year was Mike and Daina Tuffin. Third place went to Grahma and Glenda Haynes. Runner up for Farm Manager was Glenn and Lynn Johnston.

A field day will be held on Donald Kidd and Loshni Manikam’s property at 368 Mayfield road, RD 3 Winton on April 19 at 10.30am. A field day will be held on Daniel Woolsey and Emily Fraser’s property, 1050 Seaward downs Gorge Road, RD3 Wyndham on April 13 at 10.30am.

Other results included

Farm Manager of the Year Merit Awards
Dairy InSight Human Resource Management Award Glenn and Lynn Johnston
RD1 Farm Management Award Daniel Woolsey and Emily Fraser
Westpac Farm Financial Management Award Daniel Woolsey and Emily Fraser
Sharemilker of the Year Merit Awards
Best Lower Order Sharemilker Award Graham and Glenda Haynes
Best Livestock Award Graham and Glenda Haynes
Karen Vreugdenhil Career Blended Lifestyle Award Donald Kidd and Loshni Manikam
Clause Wuest Memorial encouragement Award Malcolm and Paula Dynes
ACC Workplace Safety Discounts Award Bob and Nicki White
Blue Wing Honda ATV Safety Award Grahan and Glenda Haynes
Dairy InSight First Time entrant Award Graham and Glenda Haynes
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award Mike and Daina Tuffin
Federated Farmers Leadership Award Graham and Glenda Haynes
LIC Recording and Productivity Award Mike and Daina Tuffin
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award Mike and Daina Tuffin
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award Donald Kidd and Loshni Manjkam
Westpac Business Performance Award Donald Kidd and Loshni Manikam

Ends

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