West Otago deer farmers Eddie and Bronwyn Brock have won the 2003 Lincoln University Foundation Farmer of the Year title.
The Brocks, of Merino Downs, near Tapanui, won from a field of five finalists after the "public presentation" round at Lincoln University today (2 Dec.). They win a $10,000 travel award.
Overall the judging for the five finalists involved on-farm inspections, off-farm interviews at Lincoln University, and an examination of financial statements.
The entry category for the 2003 awards was Excellence In Land-based Business.
In second place, winning a $3000 award, were Canterbury pig farmers Murray and Helen Battersby of Sheffield, and third were Canterbury cropping farmers Gary and Tania Coker of Dorie, winners of a $2000 prize.
The Brocks farm 200 hectares, on a property they have owned for the past 15 years, and this year they will winter 400 mixed weaners, 500 mixed stags and 500 mixed age hinds.
The farm's main output is velvet, followed by live sales for venison followed by trophy stags sold to the trophy market.
At the heart of the Brocks operation is artificial insemination and they have been pioneers in the use of large scale and early AI in the deer industry.
"Early AI - our time frame is 1 March 26 March - gives rise to early fawning and this has proved to give fawns higher growth rates as pasture is best for lactating hinds early," said Eddie.
"All AI and pasture grown is aimed at adding value to existing stock so that we can pass on genetically better animals to the industry and be paid a premium for doing so.
"Within our herd we have three lines of animals bred for differing traits - velvet producing sires; body weight gains; trophy stags.
"This diversifies our income."
The Brocks intensive breeding operation has led to the development of a sire reference scheme that enables their clients to benefit from weight and velvet gains.
In recent years the couple have established their own farm stag and hind sale which involves using pre-recorded videos of all individual animals on sale.
Second place-getters Murray and Helen Battersby described themselves as representatives of an endangered species - the New Zealand pig farmer. They are however surviving through having recognised and exploited the market for tender lean pork.
They identified the factors in pork tenderness and using these they market their branded product to top quality butchers and restaurants at a premium price.
Their brand, "Murrellen" pork, has become a name well regarded at the higher end of the restaurant trade and in households prepared to pay a premium for a guaranteed product.
In 1999 their farm became the first piggery accredited with the Pork Industry Board benchmark of PQIP.
In third place, cropping farmers Gary and Tania Coker also work closely with specific end-users.
"Our philosophy is to grow crops that can be sold directly to the end- user," says Gary.
"The reason for this is it assists in providing the grower with a good understanding of the customer's requirements and ensures that feedback is direct and immediate."
Through the consistent quality of their products, customers such as McCain's and Tally's have contracted for increased acreages, making it a win-win situation for everyone. They grow a wide range of crops for processing or seed including wheat, barley, peas, corn, beetroot, carrot, white clover and potatoes. They also farm some cattle to fit in with rotations.
Originally from South Canterbury, Gary moved to Mid-Canterbury in 1995 and the couple purchased their Dorie property in 2000.
The other two finalists were sheep farmers Arnold and Fiona Gray of Orawia, Southland, and specialist contractors Jeremy and Kate Simpson of Rakaia, Canterbury.
In presenting the awards, Lincoln University Foundation trust board member Rosemary Acland said that with agriculture so vital to New Zealand's economy it was "reassuring" to have farmers of the calibre of this year's finalists showing what New Zealand can do.
The Lincoln University Foundation Farmer of the Year competition has now been going for over 20 years and for the past nine years Rabobank has been involved as principal sponsor.
Rabobank's Regional Manager Don Kennedy said the event promoted excellence and innovation in agriculture and every year the enthusiasm of the finalists for what they do is always infectious.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Ian Collins, Journalist
Lincoln University, Canterbury
Tel: 64 3 325 2811 ext 8549
Email: Ian Collins