Wednesday, 15 July 2015

Entries open for 2015 NSW Farmer of the Year award

Minister for Primary Industries Lands and Water Niall Blair and NSW Farmers President elect Derek Schoen today announced applications for the prestigious 2015 NSW Farmer of the Year Award are now open.

Mr Blair said the annual awards were important to recognise the state’s rural champions.

“Right across the state there are farmers who are quietly going about their business but contributing massively to our $12 billion primary industries sector – these awards make sure the unsung heroes of the land are honoured,” Mr Blair said.

“We all know farmers in our communities who are pioneers in their fields by putting best strategies in place to manage their businesses profitably and sustainably – and I encourage farmers to enter, to make sure their achievements are acknowledged.”

NSW Farmers President elect Derek Schoen said the successful 2015 ‘Farmer of the Year’ will be awarded $10,000 and the other finalists will receive $2000.

“The NSW Farmer of the Year Award is a chance to identify outstanding farmers, by focusing on a combination of entrants’ agricultural management skills, use of innovation, profitability, environmental sustainability and community involvement,” Mr Schoen said.

“It’s also a chance to recognise and celebrate agricultural excellence across all categories of farming.”

Derek and Kirrily Blomfield, a beef cattle farming couple from the Liverpool Plains in northern NSW, were named the 2014 NSW Farmers of the Year.

The award is an initiative of the NSW Department of Primary Industries and NSW Farmers, with support from The Land and WorkCover NSW.

It was officially launched at NSW Farmers conference by Minister Blair today.

Application forms are available at www.nswfarmers.org.au or at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au, and entries close Friday 11 September 2015.