NSW Farmer of the Year award 2012
Finalists announced
A MIXED cropping and sheep farming couple from Henty and a ricegrower from Leeton in southern NSW have been selected as the two finalists in the 2012 NSW Farmer of the Year Award.
The finalists are:
- Peter and Alison Campbell, who crop about two-thirds of their 1550 hectare property west of Henty and run a Merino self replacing flock. The Campbells rotate lucerne, clover and cocksfoot pastures with a wheat-canola cropping operation, with a view to maximising profit while maintaining the sustainability of their natural resource base.
- Garry Knagge, who grows rice, irrigated barley and dryland wheat, and runs Merino and first-cross breeding ewes on two adjoining irrigation farms at Gogeldrie west of Leeton in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. With wife Marg, Garry has continued the environmental and sustainability work on the properties - started by his grandfather and carried on by his father - protecting remnant vegetation and planting new vegetation.
Selection process
Applications for this year’s award closed on 5 October 2012.
A diverse field of farmers across a broad cross-section of extensive and intensive, plant and animal industries applied for this year’s award.
The judges said the entrants exemplified those in the farming industry who continue to show innovation, resilience – and run profitable enterprises while protecting their natural resources.
About the award
The NSW Farmer of the Year award recognises outstanding achievement, focussing on management skills, use of innovation, profitability, environmental sustainability and community involvement.
The Award is an initiative of NSW Farmers and NSW Department of Primary Industries, with support from The Land and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.
The Farmer of the Year wins a cash prize of $5000 plus joins an overseas farming related tour group, and the runner up a $5,000 prize. The winner will be announced in Sydney later this year.
The recipient of NSW Farmer of the Year 2012 award will be announced on Wednesday, 5 December 2012.