Two Southland farms in final

Two Southland farming businesses have made it to the finals of the 2014 Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year competition.

Robin and Lois Greer, of Tuturau, operate both a conventional and an organic dairy farm on adjoining properties and produce their own brand of organic dairy products.

Barry and Julie Crawford run a sheep breeding and finishing property near Gore with a strong focus on high-end lamb meat production. The other two finalists are from Hawarden, North Canterbury.

Zino Holdings Ltd is operated by Mark and Rachael Zino and Sam and Keri Zino.

The 1008ha property focuses on breeding and fattening sheep, deer and beef cattle.

Patoa Farms Ltd, managed by Steve and Josie Sterne, with Holly Sterne, is a 580ha pig farm.

It produces about 15% of New Zealand's pork in an outdoor free-roaming stock operation.

The four finalists will be visited and scored by a new set of judges for the second round of the competition, with the last of their marks coming from their presentations at the finals event at Lincoln University on November 19, at the end of which the winners will be announced.

Lincoln University Foundation judging co-ordinator Tricia Macfarlane said the standard of entries was again high.

''One of the standout features of the finalists this year is the strong family ownership models,'' Ms Macfarlane said.

''These are innovative, successful businesses at the cutting edge of their industry, performing at the levels we would expect of a very sophisticated corporation, but with a strong foundation of family involvement that gives them an assurance of consistency and sustainability.

''I predict a tight and very interesting final at Lincoln next month.''

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