United Wheatgrowers (UWG) chair Brain Leadley says it is not necessarily about having the best crop, just being involved in the awards is a good opportunity to rub shoulders with others in the industry.
“It’s a chance to benchmark and to learn what makes a crop of wheat great,” Leadley said.
He says the industry is identifying some valuable niches within the sector that growers are stepping up to and proving very capable of producing for.
“The awards are proving an ideal platform for grain growers all over New Zealand to demonstrate the exceptionally high standards this relatively small sector can achieve,” he said.
“It’s also an opportunity when we can showcase our product to the wider public and raise the profile of our industry.”
The awards categories for crops harvested in the 2021 season include premium milling wheat, milling wheat, gristing wheat, feed wheat and biscuit wheat.
New for 2021 is the NZ Grain and Seed Trade Association’s (NZGSTA) agronomist of the year award.
This award is designed to recognise an agronomist who has an endless knowledge of crop production and goes above and beyond to make sure the best possible crop is produced by growers.
Entries close on May 30, with entry forms available online at www.uwg.co.nz/news.cfm
The awards presentation evening will be held in Christchurch on July 7.
