Southland Sharemilkers Out To Increase Stake

Southland Sharemilkers Out To Increase Stake In Industry

In their second season 50% sharemilking, Stefan and Annalize du Plessis have won the 2010 Southland Sharemilker of the Year title and nearly $17,000 in cash and prizes.

The couple is 50% sharemilking 650 cows on a 240ha Dipton farm owned by Mosa Farming Ltd, a company formed by Owen and Margaret Westlake of Winton and the du Plessis’.

Their short term goal is to increase their stake in Mosa Farming from 40% to 100%.

The du Plessis’ had entered the competition before and say they continually work to grow their business and knowledge of the industry.

“Our long term goal is to be able to own our own farm or to be able to invest in other investments and opportunities coming up. We also want to be good employers and help our staff to grow and educate themselves.”

The 2010 Southland Farm Manager of the Year, Don Moore, and 2010 Southland Dairy Trainee of the Year, Adam Coley, were also announced at the Southland Dairy Industry Awards dinner held at the Invercargill Workingmens Club last night.

Second place in the Southland Sharemilker of the Year contest went to Otautau 50% sharemilkers Scott and Chantal Hindrup, who are milking 315 cows on an 115ha farm owned by Joy Nicol. The Hindrup’s won $8000 in cash and prizes.

Otautau 25% sharemilker Nick Tomsett placed third, winning $6000.

The 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.

The 2010 Southland Farm Manager of the Year, Don Moore, aims to finalise a lower order sharemilking position for the new season beginning on June 1.

The Gore farm manager, who won $8700, aims to progress to 50% sharemilking in two years and farm ownership by 2016. He is currently managing a 280ha farm milking 820 cows for Bruce Cunningham and Stu Telfer.

Gore equity farm manager Kevin Hall placed second in the Southland Farm Manager of the Year contest, winning $4000. Third place went to Wyndham farm manager Bryden Rufford, who won $3000.

Previous competition experience helped 21-year-old Adam Coley win the 2010 Southland Dairy Trainee of the Year competition and $4700 in cash and prizes.

It was the second time Mr Coley had entered the awards, doing so again to test his farming knowledge. “After I first entered the competition, I got feedback from the judges and this outlined my strengths and weaknesses and helped me improve my skills and knowledge.”

He is currently working for a farm syndicate, Otara Dairies, milking 850 cows on 340ha at Tokanui. “My ultimate goal is to own my own farm, but in the short term I am looking forward to buying some cows and progressing to a 50% sharemilking role.

“I am a very motivated person. I love my job and look forward to what the future will bring,” Mr Coley says.

Gore farm assistant Mark Aitken, 18, placed second and Seaward Downs farm assistant Tony Mennell, 21, was third. They won $600 and $300 respectively.

All three winners will now compete for the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year titles and a prize pool of more than $130,000 in Rotorua on May 15.

Southland Sharemilkers of the Year Stefan and Annalize du Plessis will host a field day on April 22, while Southland Farm Manager of the Year Don Moore will host a field day on the Gore farm he manages on April 15. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

ENDS

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