Federated Farmers: Dairy awards has makeover

Dairy farmers can lift spirits by entering for the 2016 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) where they can showcase their talents and farms and exchange ideas.

Does entering the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) during this down time in the industry make sense?

You bet it does, for both the contestants and their farm owners.

Most of those who are eligible to enter the Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions will have never farmed through these tight times before.

These awards are one way contestants can develop financial strategies and farm policies to better cope with the economic climate. It will also position them well for the future.

This competition helps contestants focus on what they do and what they can do better. It also provides the opportunity to prove they really are good farmers, making the best of what they've got.

The events expose contestants to rural professionals, sponsors, judges and other farmers in the competition. All give valuable feedback which helps fine tune their farming systems.

This competition helps contestants focus on what they do and what they can do better. It also provides the opportunity to prove they really are good farmers, making the best of what they've got.

Ann Thompson

Entering these competitions is not just about winning.

Some entrants have entered multiple times and enjoy the opportunity to test new systems learnt during the event.

They fine tune their businesses, and this allows the latest contestants to gain even more from the competition.

Experience and adapting to circumstances is valued and the dairy industry is well known for encouraging young people to travel across the country to new jobs with new challenges.

The farm owners win because they have contestants on their farms who are keen to make their farming business a better one.

The 2016 NZDIA competition will follow a new format. Three categories remain but they are split differently, based on age, experience and level of responsibility.

The Share Farmer of the Year (SFOTY) is the top level, open to those dairy farmers who are self employed and responsible for all aspects of the business. This category now includes sharemilkers, contract milkers, equity partners, managers and lessees, with up to 50 per cent equity in the business.

The Dairy Manager of the Year (DMOTY) is open to all salaried workers on the dairy farm who have the responsibility for carrying out farm policies and plans. These include farm managers, herd managers, 2ICs, farm assistants and production assistants.

Arguably the greatest change has been made at entry-level of the competition, the Dairy Trainee of the Year (DTOTY).

This is now truly aimed at young, new dairy industry entrants, with the age restriction falling between 18 and 25 years, experience in the industry restricted to just three years and limiting the qualifications an entrant can hold to NZQA Level 4 or below.

Those with more experience or older will be able to enter the DMOTY category.

These changes have been made to encourage progression through the dairy industry, to allow the youngsters to shine, to push those in the middle to perform and those with full responsibility to compete against their peers.

Federated Farmers is just one of the family of sponsors and we offer the Federated Farmers' Leadership Merit Award.

 Entries to the 2016 NZDIA competition open from October 20. For more information and to enter the awards go to www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.