Dairy excellence recognised in New Zealand competition

In November we launched the fourth year of the New Zealand Dairy Business of the Year Competition where farmers have the chance to benchmark their business against their counterparts at a considerable saving and with some great prizes to be won.

Entries for this competition that recognises business excellence among dairy farmers will be accepted through until 21 February 2010.  Over 70 farms entered the competition last year and the response by the entrants was overwhelmingly positive.

On 05 May, at the Novotel Tainui in Hamilton, the BNZ Dairy Business of the Year Seminar and Awards will culminate in the confirmation of the winners of this year's competition.

This year we again have BNZ as our Gold Sponsor, with their involvement resulting in an increase in the scope and penetration of the competition. SourceNZ has continued its strong support for the competition as our Silver Sponsor, with Ambreed, Vitec, FMG and Intelact also continuing their support as Bronze sponsors. Swandri are the latest addition to our sponsorship group, coming aboard as our clothing sponsor.

To download an entry form for the BNZ Dairy Business of the Year Competition please click here . To read more about the design of the competition and the activities and timelines then please click here.

All participants in the competition receive a comprehensive Red Sky analysis of their farm performance including numerical reports comparing their farm with district benchmarks and a single page graphical description of their business, outlining their performance in the five key areas that drive profit (click here to view 'dot' report).  They will also receive a written report detailing opportunities to improve profitability (click here to view written report).

Finalists for the six regional and three farm system prizes, as well as the most improved farm business award winner (expected to number 13-15 farms in total) will also be selected to attend a 2-day retreat at the Hilltop Hotel & Nature Resort (Huntly) on 6 & 7 May. The supreme award winner will also be invited to attend the Australian Dairy Business of the Year seminar/awards and retreat, as well as being awarded a major travel prize.

There will be a seminar and awards dinner in Hamilton on 5 May, the day before the retreat. This will be open to all farmers (not just those who enter the competition) and will have a theme of “building more profitable dairy businesses”.

We are thrilled to have the Dairyman as our media partner for the Competition, along with Straight Furrow.  So please fill in the competition entry form enclosed in the next issue of the Dairyman as a first step to greater profitability. It can also be downloaded from this website. The closing date is February 15 and there will be more details on the competition and conference in coming issues.