A bevy of Mid Cantabrians are in the running for top gongs at next month’s Arable Awards.
Six award categories will recognise all aspects of the arable sector, from seed production, farming and growing, and agronomy to environmental impact and innovation.
Ashburton farmer and finalist for the Pioneer Maize Grower of the Year, Mark Shera, who was also a finalist last year, initially didn’t know he had been nominated for this year’s awards.
“It was a bit out of the blue.”
Shera mentioned that the awards were an excellent way to provide positive exposure to an otherwise quiet industry, which plays a crucial role in supporting all other farming sectors.
“We just tick away, so it’s good to have some appreciation for what we do.”
The PGG Wrightson Seed Grower of the Year has also seen nominations from Mid Canterbury.
John McCaw from McCaw Farming Ltd and Tim and James Robinson from Robinson Farming Partnership in Methven are finalists.
The winners from the three grower categories and the Positive Environmental Impact Award will compete for the prestigious title of Arable Farmer of the Year, which will be announced on the night.
Nicola Pace, originally from Methven, is a finalist in the Agronomist of the Year category.
Judges noted her work with the Mount Hutt College agricultural programme, where she mentors students who want to pursue careers in the sector.
The awards are a collaboration between Federated Farmers, the Foundation for Arable Research, the United Wheat Growers Association, and the New Zealand Grain, Seed, and Trade Association.
“The awards are about celebrating all that’s good in our arable sector – the innovation, commitment and achievements of the best of us,” Federated Farmers arable chairperson and event spokesperson David Birkett said.
“It hasn’t been an easy season for arable farmers, with rising costs and variable returns, so it’s great to see a strong crop of high-calibre award entries this year.”
Birkett said the Positive Environmental Impact Award and Innovation Award are especially significant.
“I’m excited about the finalists for those categories because they’re all people helping us to create a stronger and more sustainable arable sector.”
Ashburton farmer Angus Mackenzie is a finalist for the Positive Environmental Impact Award, going up against Feilding’s Tim Gorton and Waikato’s Daniel Finlayson.
It is the second time Mackenzie has made the finals in the Arable Awards, having been nominated for the Environmental and Sustainability Award last year but losing the title to Andrew and Amy Darling from Timaru.
The awards will be hosted at Wigram Airforce Base on August 15.
2024 Arable Awards finalists
Barenbrug Innovation Award
Finalists:
Brent Austin – Austin Farming Ltd, Ashburton
Anna Gillum – PGG Wrightson Seeds, Lincoln
Dr Soonie Chng – The NZ Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, Lincoln
FMG Positive Environment Impact Award
Finalists:
Tim Gorton – Gorton Farming Ltd, Feilding
Angus McKenzie – Wairuna Farm Ltd, Ashburton
Daniel Finlayson – Methleigh Farms Ltd, Waikato
Pioneer Grower of the Year – Maize
Finalists:
Mark Shera – Parkfields Farm, Ashburton
Alan Henderson – Cranleigh Agri-business Trust, Te Awamutu
Simon Nitschke – Arable Solutions, Marton
Pgg Wrightson Seeds Grower of the Year – Seed
Finalists:
John McCaw – McCaw Farming Ltd, Methven
Tim & James Robinson – Robinson Farming Partnership, Methven
Scott Rome – Waifield Farm Ltd, Gore
Bayer Grower of the Year – Cereal
Morgan & Karen Horrell, MKH Farming, Gore
Peter Hewson, Esk Valley Farming, Canterbury
Brad Lindsay, Arhee Farming, Southland
NZGSTA Agronomist of the Year
Finalists:
Sam Sturgess – Catalyst Performance Agronomy, Omararu
David Weith – Bayer, Timaru
Nicola Pace – RAGT NZ, Christchurch
BASF Working Together Award
Finalists:
Grass weed control AGG – South Canterbury
Growers Leading Change: Liquid Injection Arable Growth Group – Ashburton
Oilseed Rape Monitor Farms – South Canterbury
Hall of Fame and Arable Farmer of the Year to be announced on the night.
By Claire Inkson
