Lincoln University Foundation South Island farmers of the year Doug, Wendy, Fraser and Shelley Avery will open Bonavaree to the rural community to show how they transformed their drought-prone farm into a profitable unit.

The field day, The Wings of Change, is on 18 February 2011 at 120 Grassmere Road, Seddon, Marlborough. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by 11 February.

Visitors are advised to bring a 4WD however those who don’t have one will be allocated spare seats.

Lincoln University Foundation chairman Neil Taylor expects several hundred people from Hawkes Bay through to Southland will attend the field day.

”It is an opportunity for all farmers, especially those with similar soils and climatic conditions, to learn how the Averys overcame adverse conditions by transforming their farming system.

“By integrating animal and plant relationships they have attained outstanding performance,” says Mr Taylor.

“Where others have partly introduced Lucerne to their properties the Averys have done it across the whole farming system and integrated it with other plants to ensure best results.”

Last year, for the first time, the South Island Farmer of the Year competition was opened to all farming sectors which Mr Taylor says ensured high calibre entries from across the South Island.

The first round of judging involved an on-farm inspection, the second round involved application analysis at Lincoln University, after which four finalists were selected. A second on-farm inspection was held and in November each finalist gave a 15-minute public presentation at Lincoln University followed by the award ceremony and dinner.

The Averys won the title South Island Farmer of the Year 2010 and a $15,000 education/travel award, which they will use to observe farming systems overseas.

Preparation has begun for the 2011 Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year competition – innovation will remain the core requirement for entry – and entrants will be called for in May.

You can find out more about the Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year competition by visiting www.lincolnuniversityfoundation.org.nz.

ENDS

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