Arable industry honours two

Canterbury cropping farmer Syd Worsfold was named Arable Farmer of the Year, an award his peers say has been well earned.
The award recognises excellence in the sector, acknowledging someone who balances production and profit drivers against environmental, sustainability and other compliance requirements. 
Worsfold fits that bill, arable vice-chairman Brian Leadley said. 
“Syd has worked extensively not only for the betterment of his own arable farming business but also his peers and future generations of arable farmers.”
Outgoing arable chairman Guy Wigley described Worsfold as a quiet, unassuming and effective leader.
“This award is in recognition of his achievements, leadership and contribution to the arable industry, which, despite contributing $750 million to the nation’s GDP, typically flies under the radar,” Wigley said.
Worsfold, who farms 400 hectares at Greendale in partnership with his son, was North Canterbury arable chairman from 1992 to 1994 then served on the arable council.
He has been involved with United Wheatgrowers for the past 30 years, first as an electoral college member then a director.
Worsfold on the committee that set up the Foundation for Arable Research and a member of the Northern South Island Arable Research Group (ARG). 
He has also been a member of the Arable Industry Marketing Initiative committee (AIMI) since its inception.
A leading advocate for biosecurity and former FAR chief executive Nick Pyke was presented with the Federated Farmers Biosecurity Farmer of the Year Award.
Newly elected arable chairwoman Karen Williams said Pyke has always been a strong advocate for farmers and growers over biosecurity at three borders – national, regional and the farmgate.
“He has been involved in the velvetleaf, pea weevil and blackgrass responses, sitting on both the governance group and in a number of industry stakeholder groups. 
“He’s also been actively involved in developing a strong and viable GIA framework for the cropping industry,” Williams said. 
“Nick has a strong sense of what are the right management decisions to make for the overall industry but also has a lot of empathy for growers and how decisions will affect them on the ground.”
Wigley said Pyke was outstanding in each of the responses the arable industry was involved in over the past three years and the award acknowledges his efforts.
“Nick was able to provide credible scientific information to aid in the response decision-making and ensure the best outcomes for arable farmers were achieved,” Wigley said.