Charlie and Jody McCaig from Taranaki were named Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year and Nick Bertram from Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa became the Farm Manager of the Year at the awards in Auckland last night.
It was fitting the McCaig’s came from Taranaki to take the 25th award because the contest had its roots there, where the idea was born in the 1970s before the first national contest was held in 1990, national convenor Chris Keeping said.
All winners exemplify the trends evident from this year’s awards, including the use of the industry’s career pathway to progress, the adoption of smart technology on farms and the talent being attracted to the dairy industry,” she said.
Sharemilker/Equity Farmer head Judge Leo van den Beuken, a Canterbury farmer, said people were now better at progressing along the career pathway that has always been available in the industry.
“For 10 of the 11 farms we visited farm ownership is not a dream, it’s a reality.
“Most of the sharemilkers plan to move into equity farming as the vehicle they will use to get to full ownership and most plan to achieve that goal in five to 10 years.
“They showed us the evidence to back up their goals.
“They plan to have a substantial share in their farm and they are going to increase that share or sell out of their share to buy a farm of their own.”
The McCaigs have been in the dairy industry less than five years and have amassed an impressive record in that time, winning the region’s farm manager title in 2011.
“I judged them three years ago and then a big thing for them was to save $10,000 a year. They said they would be herd owners in 10 years and they have achieved that goal in just three years.”
Van den Beuken said the high milksolids payout had helped.
“But people can see the vehicle and the pathway.”
Nick Bertram
“By using GPS technology they were able to cut the switch so the irrigator stops applying as the pivot moves over a water lane or sensitive area. It’s clever stuff.”
When judges left the Featherston farm being contract milked by Bertram, they were buzzing.
“He has really picked up a below average performing farm and made the most of the resources available to him,” Irvine said.
“He is doing the basics well and has a good handle on finances and how his farm decisions were affecting the farm owners’ finances.”
Bertram, 27, is contract milking 260 cows for David and Lorraine Osborne at Featherston. He won $30,500 in prizes.
“Nick had also developed his own feed budgeting spreadsheet to help with his decision-making and nitrogen and supplement inputs to ensure pasture targets were met.”
It was a tight contest for the top three places, with Ngatea contract milker Simon Player placing second and winning $9000 in prizes.
“Both Nick and Simon are really good all-rounders and they have also built strong relationships with their farm owners which may provide future opportunities for them,” Irvine said.
Third place-getter, Oxford farm manager Phillip Colombus, had become a leader in staff training for Ngai Tahu’s growing dairy farming business.
“Phillip is training staff through a number of good initiatives and then they progress on to other farms.”
Colombus won $8000 in prizes.
“He had access to great technology and was applying it really well.”
Dairy trainee head judge and Taranaki farmer Paul Davidson said the trainees had been exposed to what is possible during the past week’s study tour, which introduced them to successful farmers.
“The study tour has opened their eyes to opportunities in the industry, the career pathway, and how fast they can achieve goals. Many have since revised their own goals.”
Hone is excited about the dairy industry and the career pathway that it has, Davidson said.
Hone, 24, won $18,400 in prizes and is in her third season in the industry, working on a 250-cow farm for Michelle and Ross Davison near Taupo. She completed her first marathon in last weekend’s 50th Rotorua marathon.
“We think she will be a great ambassador for dairy trainees and the industry and she can clearly see there is a pathway for her in the industry.
“She had a positive and bubbly vibe about her,” he said.
Winton farm assistant Josh Lavender placed second in the trainee contest, winning $3500.
“Josh has been a standout his whole life and has very strong goal-setting. He is going to succeed in whatever he does.”
Both Hone and Lavender hold bachelor degrees.
Galatea farm assistant Cameron Luxton placed third in the trainee contest, winning $2000 in prizes.
“He had completed a building apprenticeship but was really excited about the opportunities our industry has compared to building,” Davidson said.
2014 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year
Winner – Charlie and Jody McCaig, Taranaki
Runner-up – Kevin and Sara O’Neill, Canterbury/North Otago
Third – Duncan and Kim Fraser, Manawatu
DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Charlie and Jody McCaig
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Chris and Carla Staples, West Coast/Top of the South
Federated Farmers of NZ Leadership Award – Donald & Kirsten Watson, Central Plateau
Fonterra Interview Award – Charlie and Jody McCaig
Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Charlie and Jody McCaig
LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Duncan and Kim Fraser
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Charlie and Jody McCaig
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Donald and Kirsten Watson
Triplejump Risk Management Award – Duncan and Kim Fraser
Westpac Business Performance Award – Charlie and Jody McCaig
2014 New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year
Winner – Nick Bertram, Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa
Runner-up – Simon Player, Auckland/Hauraki
Third – Phillip Colombus, Canterbury/North Otago
DairyNZ Interview Award – Sam Ebbett, Manawatu
Fonterra Best Practice Award – Phillip Colombus
Meridian Energy Leadership Award – Jared Crawford, Southland/Otago
PrimaryITO Human Resource Management Award – Phillip Colombus
RD1 Farm Management Award – Nick Bertram
Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Nick Bertram
2014 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year
Winner – Ruth Hone, Central Plateau
Runner-up – Josh Lavender, Southland/Otago
Third – Cameron Luxton, Bay of Plenty
DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Matthew Snedden, Northland.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, RD1 and Triplejump with industry partner Primary ITO.
Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for more information on the award winners.
