Tasman Dairy Winners Taking Time Out

The winners of the 2010 West Coast Top of the South Sharemilkers of the Year, Chris and Donna Murphy, are having a break from the industry next season to take stock of their career.

“We are taking a year off farming, and will re-evaluate where we want to re-enter the dairy industry in the 2011-2012 season.”

The couple, who won $13,200 in cash and prizes, has been dairy farming for seven years and is currently 30% sharemilking 280 cows for Bruce and Jocelyn Palmer at Murchison.

The 2010 West Coast Top of the South Farm Manager of the Year, Maria Carlson, and 2010 West Coast Top of the South Dairy Trainee of the Year, Andrea Harvey, were also announced at the regional Dairy Industry Awards dinner held at Shantytown, near Greymouth, last night.

It was the second time the Murphys had entered the awards. “The competition makes you leave your comfort zone, especially with three complete strangers looking at all aspects of your farm business. The feedback you receive gives a whole new perspective on yourselves and your business.”

Their strengths are a good relationship with the farm owners and their ability to work together as a team.

Second place in the 2010 West Coast Top of the South Sharemilker of the Year contest went to David and Katrina Simpson, who are 50% sharemilking 330 cows at Whataroa, south of Hokitika. They won $5000 in cash and prizes.

Reefton 23% sharemilkers Danny King and Kate Hands placed third, winning $3000.

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 West Coast Top of the South Farm Manager of the Year Maria Carlson is originally from Sweden and came to New Zealand nearly five years ago to pursue her dairying career. She won $7900 in cash and prizes.

Miss Carlson, aged 24, began as a dairy trainee and has progressed in the industry to currently be farm manager on a 220ha farm at Canvastown, near Havelock, owned by Kenny and Orla Kyle. It is milking 590 cows and on track to produce 175,000kg milksolids this season.

It was the second time she had entered the awards, saying she had gained support and credibility from the experience.

She says a strength of her business is getting the basics right. “There is also good communication and support between the owner, manager and staff. Everybody feels involved and can make a difference to their day so the farm runs more efficiently.”

Springs Junction farm manager Sarel Jacobs placed second in the competition, winning $4000, and Inangahua Junction farm managers Gordon and Rabecca Storer placed third, winning $2600.

The 2010 West Coast Top of the South Dairy Trainee of the Year Andrea Harvey wants to progress up the dairy farming ladder. She is keen to go sharemilking and to also further her Agriculture ITO qualifications. Miss Harvey, 21, won $3500.

She is currently herd manager on a 145ha farm milking 350 cows owned by Owen and Gill Couper at Rai Valley, near Blenheim.

“My studies have furthered my knowledge and understanding a lot and I’ve also enjoyed learning what other farmers in the area are doing and trying on their farms, as well as what new technology is coming out.”

Miss Harvey is active in the Young Farmers Club and local A& P Shows.

Takaka assistant manager Adam Boaz, 29, placed second and Blackball dairy assistant Kenton Sinclair-Donnelly, 46, placed third in the dairy trainee contest. They won $800 and $450 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.

West Coast Top of the South Sharemilkers of the Year Chris and Donna Murphy will host a field day on April 13, while West Coast Top of the South Farm Manager of the Year Maria Carlson will host a field day on the Havelock farm she manages on April 16. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.co..nz.

Sharemilker Merit Awards:
DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Danny King & Kate Hands
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Chris & Donna Murphy
Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) Leadership Award – Mark & Debbie van Beek
Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Chris & Donna Murphy
LIC Recording and Productivity Award – George & Val Paterson
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Chris & Donna Murphy
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – David & Katrina Simpson
Westpac Business Performance Award – David & Katrina Simpson

Farm Manager Merit Awards:
CMP Farm Pride and Presentation Award – Sarel Jacobs
DairyNZ Human Resource Management Award – Sarel Jacobs
RD1 Farm Management Award – Maria Carlson
Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Gordon & Rabecca Storer