“Innovative Dairying” is the category for the 2007 Lincoln University Foundation/Rabobank/Ravensdown Farmer of the Year Competition and applications are open now.
The competition is for South Island entrants only and application forms and the prospectus are available from Errol Costello at Lincoln University email costelle@lincoln.ac.nz or from any branch of Rabobank, free phone 0800 722 622. The prospectus may also be downloaded from http://events.lincoln.ac.nz/lufoundation/ .
“Dairying is a great industry in New Zealand and expanding rapidly in the South Island. However it is not always perceived positively by the public,” says Lincoln University Foundation Chair Neil Taylor.
“Through the 2007 Farmer of the Year Competition the Foundation wants to highlight the many innovations that dairy farmers have developed which benefit production and the environment.”
For the purposes of the competition “Innovative Dairying” is defined as: commercial dairy farming where there has been an emphasis on the development of, and/or use of, new technologies, new systems, new business models, new marketing strategies and new dairy products.
“Through the competition we hope to identify farmers who have recognised opportunities to re-engineer traditional methods and systems by responding positively to changing environmental and market demands and opportunities,” says Mr Taylor.
“Examples of the innovation we want to highlight are once-a-day milking, nutrient balancing, 600-day lactations, and imaginative ways of using the potential energy of water. We are keen to see what top dairy farmers are doing and learn from them.”
The 2007 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 dairying.
The winner of the Lincoln University Foundation/Rabobank/Ravensdown 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.
Rabobank, the world’s largest specialist food and agribusiness bank, has supported the Foundation’s Farmer of the Year awards since 1994. In supporting the competition, Rabobank has now been joined by Ravensdown.
A New Zealand farmer-owned co-operative, Ravensdown is New Zealand’s leading fertiliser supplier and developed EcoN in conjunction with Lincoln University. It is also one of the leading suppliers of agricultural chemicals and animal health products.
Applications for this year’s competition close on Friday 21 September 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Errol Costello, Professional Development Group, Lincoln University.
Tel: +64 3 325 2811 ext 7832. Email: costelle@lincoln.ac.nz