Central Plateau Winners Go One Better

Central Plateau Winners Go One Better

The 2013 Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Garth and Nicola Thomson, learnt that persistence does pay off, after placing second in the contest last year.

The couple won $15,300 in cash and prizes by taking out the premier contest at the Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua last night. The other major winners were Blair and Andrea Muggeridge, the region’s Farm Managers of the Year, and Todd Adamson, the 2013 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year.

“We found that entering the awards had refined and enhanced our focus within the industry, our farming operation, and us personally,” Garth and Nicola Thomson said. “We also gained information that was pertinent to our business and applied this easily to our farming business.”

The couple 40% equity farm manage a 370-cow farm at Atiamuri and plan to increase their equity stake within the business. “Our goal is to operate a sustainable and simple economic farm business.”

Second place in the sharemilker/equity farmer contest went to Rotorua 23% sharemilkers Alistair and Sarah Coatsworth, who won $8300 in prizes, and third went to Reporoa 50% sharemilkers Johan and Theona Blom, winning $5400.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner AgITO.

The 2013 Central Plateau Farm Managers of the Year, Blair and Andrea Muggeridge, are good at growing grass to feed the farm’s large herd.

The couple, who won $10,000 in cash and prizes, are managing a 1000 cow Reporoa farm for Trevor and Harriet Hamilton.

“We run a fertiliser programme (based on soil tests) that allows us to grow 15 tonnes of grass a hectare compared to the average farm in the region growing 11 tonnes. The owner also has a run-off for silage and buys in palm kernel to fill in any gaps and enable us to milk until the end of May. We need the supplement as we have a high stocking rate.”

It was the second time the Muggeridges had entered the awards, saying they benefited from the opportunity to have their business analysed. Their goal is to invest in land, either on their own or in partnership.

Runner-up in the farm manager contest was Tokoroa farm managers Johan and Sebil Van Der Merwe, who won $5100 in prizes, and third went to Rotorua farm manager Todd Halliday, who won $2500.

The 2013 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year, Todd Adamson, has fallen for the right girl. Mr Adamson, aged 24, is currently second-in-charge on the 400 cow Atiamuri farm owned by the parents of his fiancée, Amy Driver. He plans to take over as farm manager on Gary and Trish Driver’s farm in the coming season.

The qualified electrician won $5500 in prizes.

“I entered the awards for the first time to further my knowledge in the dairy industry, challenge myself in the competition and to meet other like-minded people in the way of contestants and sponsors.”

Mr Adamson says he plans to complete more industry courses to help him progress in the industry. After managing, he would like to progress into contract milking or lower order sharemilking and work towards herd and farm ownership.

Second place in the dairy trainee contest went to Taupo farm assistant Reece Cox, who won $2400, and third was Rotorua assistant Wade Sutton, who won $800 in prizes.

Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Garth and Nicola Thomson, will host a field day on April 10, while Central Plateau Farm Managers of the Year, Blair and Andrew Muggeridge, will host a field day on the Rotorua farm they manage on April 3. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

Sharemilker/Equity Farmer Merit Awards:
• BlackmanSpargo Legal Audit Award – Alistair & Sarah Coatsworth
• Piako Tractors Lower Order Sharemilker Award – Alistair & Sarah Coatsworth
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Alistair & Sarah Coatsworth
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Johan & Theona Blom
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award – Ross & Karla Shaw
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Garth & Nicola Thomson
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Brad Snowdon
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Todd & Liz Portsmouth
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Johan & Theona Blom
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Garth & Nicola Thomson

Farm Manager Merit Awards:
• The Vet Club Rotorua Animal Health Management Award – Johan & Sebil Van Der Merwe
• AgITO Human Resource Management Award – Johan & Sebil Van Der Merwe
• Fonterra Best Practice Award – Todd Halliday
• RD1 Farm Management Award – Blair & Andrea Muggeridge
• Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Blair & Andrew Muggeridge

Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:
• DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Tristan Cassin
• T H Enterprises Ltd Farming Knowledge Award – Reece Cox

ENDS

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