Cash, o’seas travel for Farmer of the Year

A $5000 cash prize and an overseas trip are up for grabs in the 2012 New South Wales Farmer of the Year Award.

Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, and NSW Farmers’ Association president, Fiona Simson, are encouraging all farmers to nominate for the prestigious award for which entries close on Friday, September 28.

Ms Hodgkinson says the annual awards recognise excellence in agriculture through management skills, innovation, profitability, environmental sustainability and community involvement.

“These awards recognise and pay tribute to the resilience and vision of NSW’s 40,000 farmers,” Ms Hodgkinson says in a statement.

“The common theme among past finalists is their determination to push the boundaries, to produce quality products and to run efficient, profitable and sustainable business.

“I am immensely proud of our state’s primary industries sector, and awards such as NSW Farmer of the Year shine a spotlight on our best

Ms Simson says the finalists play an important part in promoting the sector and educating urban audiences about farmers’ contributions on many levels.

“As land managers, the environmental and innovation credentials of farmers are sometimes overlooked, so we want farmers that can share their approaches with their industry peers, and also act as ambassadors to the broader community,” says Ms Simson.

“The awards are a celebration of our industries’ achievements and resilience, and I would strongly encourage our many talented farmers of NSW to enter.”

Fourth-generation Merino producer from Wellington, Norm Smith, winner of the 2011 NSW Farmer of the Year title, has described the award as a rewarding experience.

Farmer of the Year wins a cash prize of $5000 plus joins an overseas farming-related tour group, and the runner-up will take home $5000.

Application forms are available at www.nswfarmers.org.au or at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au and entries close Friday, September 28.