Marlborough Sheep and Beef Farmer of the Year competition and the lion’s share of the $70,000 prize package.
The inaugural competition attracted six strong entries with the top three within five points of one another.
Contest chairman Chris Dawkins said the Harvey’s Merino and cattle breeding and finishing operation was very strong in the financial performance and production categories.
“They scored really well across the quadruple bottom line which includes finances, production, land resource management and social and governance.”
The Harvey family farms 6000 stock units of Merino ewes and Angus-cross cattle on high country.
Stand-out achievements included an extremely high reproductive performance for Merinos giving financial rewards from both lamb and wool. Achievements include a 168% ewe pregnancy scanning.
Second place went to Ward farmers Fraser and Shelley Avery, in partnership with Doug and Wendy Avery, Bonavaree.
Third place was awarded to Havelock farmers Paul and Muff Newton, Kaituna Ridges, and fourth place to Clarence brothers George and Ben Murray, with parents John and Robyn, Woodbank.
Support for the inaugural competition from sponsors had been impressive, he said, with $70,000 of prize money and goods and services donated by national and local businesses, including naming rights sponsors Westpac and Bayleys Marlborough Real Estate.
The six entries had a geographic spread from the inland Kaikoura Road to the Marlborough Sounds.
A public field day to profile the business and the competition will be held at the Harvey’s property, Glen Orkney, in February. The competition is supported by Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Westpac Marlborough agribusiness manager Richard Borrell, a member of the judging team, said the top competitors showed an ability to minimise the impact of tough times and a sound understanding of their business model to invest when there was a dollar to be made.
“They regularly monitor actual returns versus their budget, they know what income is coming in over the season and have the confidence to undertake long-term investments.”
Some entrants had the driest season for 100 years yet still entered, showing resilience and the ability to look long term, Borrell said.
Diversity of approaches to sheep and beef farming and land use showed up during judging. There were different systems for finishing stock, including both summer and winter finishing, and different approaches to bonus land uses like carbon farming and honey production.
Marlborough traditionally punched above its weight in South Island competitions, with four recent winners of the Lincoln University South Island Farmer of the Year from the district.
“This new competition is the first chance for local farm businesses to go head-to-head and we have had tremendous support for the competition from Marlborough agribusinesses,” Dawkins said.
The judging team was Peter Anderson, Lachie Grant, Dawkins, Greg Sheppard and Borrell.
