Dairy Optimism Boosts Awards

For Immediate Release
11 November 2009

Dairy Optimism Boosts Awards

Rising returns in the dairy industry are raising organisers hopes of record entries in the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.

“Fonterra’s latest payout announcement has boosted farmer optimism and helps to make people feel better about what they are doing on farm and how they are doing it,” National Convenor Chris Keeping says. “That also makes people more likely to want to enter one of our awards.”

Entries in the awards – the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year – are now open and close on December 24.

More than $700,000 in cash and prizes is on offer to entrants through 12 regional competitions and the national final, where the winners of each regional contest compete for national honours.

Ms Keeping says it is pleasing the dairy industry is recovering from the tough times of the past 18 months, as it had tightened the employment market and opportunities for progression.

“Renewed optimism is likely to mean increased job opportunities or investment in staff, so participation and ultimately success in the awards is likely to boost the prospects of dairy trainees, farm managers and sharemilkers keen to make the most of any opportunities.”

Nearly 400 people entered this year’s awards and Ms Keeping hopes more than 400 people will enter the 2010 awards.

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 Agriculture ITO.

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
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