Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald and NSW Farmers’ Association President Jock Laurie today encouraged northern NSW farmers to take up the opportunity later this month of visiting the largest beef cattle enterprise on the north coast - Yulgilbar Station.

"Yulgilbar Station, which is managed by the 2007 NSW Farmer of The Year Rob Sinnamon, is opening its gates for a field day on Thursday 22 May," Mr Macdonald said.

"This is a great chance for people to come along and see how a showcase, large-scale beef production enterprise operates," he said.

Mr Laurie said Yulgilbar Station runs 6000 Santa Gertrudis cattle and is home for Santa Gertrudis Stud number 13.

"It is a truly iconic NSW rural property, with first class management recognised as the best in the State," he said.

The day, to be held at "The Broadwater Division", Yulgilbar Station, Baryulgil, will feature a range of information displays and speakers on biosecurity, the Farmer of the Year initiative and current beef cattle research projects.

Hosts Rob and Lorraine Sinnamon said a selection of Yulgilbar sale bulls, breeding females and steers would be on display.

Rob will speak at the field day about his involvement in the 2007 Farmer of the Year Awards and is encouraging other farmers to have a go this year.

The NSW Farmer of the Year and NSW Young Farmer of the Year Awards, launched last month by Minister Macdonald and Mr Laurie, are designed to recognise excellence in farming within NSW.

A joint initiative by NSW Farmers’ Association and NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), and supported by the Royal Agricultural Society and the Land, the awards have a particular focus on acknowledging farmers who combine sustainable environment practices with profitable production.

To further develop and improve their farming enterprise the Farmer of the Year will be awarded $10,000 and the Young Farmer of the Year will be awarded $5,000.

For an application form, farmers can go to www.nswfarmers.org.au or contact and NSW DPI office.

The awards will be presented at the NSW Farmers’ Association Annual Conference dinner on July 30, 2008.

The field day at Yulgilbar Station will begin on 22 May at 9am and finish at 3pm. A complimentary lunch and morning tea are included.

Please register by Wednesday 16 May to Rob and Lorraine Sinnamon, Yulgilbar Station, Baryulgil phone: 02 66472101, fax: 02 66472232 or email: yulgilbar@bigpond.com

Media contact: Trudy Glasgow (for Minister Macdonald) 02 8289 3928, Ellen McNamara (for NSW Farmers’ Association) 0429 990 218