Lift in forecast payout creates opportunities for farmers

24 November 2016

Lift in forecast payout creates opportunities for farmers

The recent increase in the forecast pay-out to $6 per kilogram of milksolids for the 2017 season means this year for Fonterra farmers, the perfect opportunity for farmers to enter the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards and ensure they on the right track business-wise.

NZDIA General Manager Chris Keeping said farmers entering the Awards this year will use the competitions process to analyse their financial situation and look at how to best utilise the money, when it comes in.

“The Dairy Industry Awards encourage share farmers, dairy managers and dairy trainees to pull their business apart and scrutinise why they operate the way they do,” explains Chris.

“The Awards give you the opportunity to learn about your own business, grow yourselves and network amongst like-minded people and professionals,”

“Entering the competitions remains one of the best ways farmers can raise their profile and reputation, make useful connections and have some fun along the way.”

2016 Share Farmers of the Year, Mark and Jaime Arnold say entering the Awards was one of the best decisions they have ever made.

“With the higher forecast pay-out, there might be more room for movement in certain areas. The Awards process gives you an opportunity to actually sit down and look at what you’ve done and how you can do it better or different,” explains Jaime. “You want to make sure you are making the right choices.”

Entries for Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year close on November 30, and the national winners will share from a prize pool of over $190,000.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra Farm Source, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian Energy and Ravensdown, along with industry partner Primary ITO.

The Share Farmer of the Year competition is open to self-employed farmers responsible for the day-to-day running of the farm. Dairy Manager of the Year is open to salaried farm staff, in job roles such as farm manager, herd manager and production manager. Dairy Trainee of the Year is open to salaried farm staff, but must be aged between 18 to 25 years with no more than three years full-time experience on a dairy farm.

Full entry criteria must be met to enter and can be found at dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

ENDS

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