Changes have been made to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.
The sharemilker/equity farmer of the year competition will now be known as the share farmer of the year and be open to those who are self employed and responsible for all aspects of the farm business.
The contest is likely to attract entries from herd owning and variable order sharemilkers, contract milkers, equity partners or managers, and lessees.
Dairy manager of the year replaces farm manager of the year and is open to all salaried farm workers charged with implementing farm policies and plans, and with some responsibility to meet farm goals.
The dairy trainee of the year has been altered so entrants must be aged between 18 and 25 (previously up to 30) to attract new entrants to dairy farming and genuine trainees.
Awards executive chairman Gavin Roden was excited about the changes, saying organisers wanted to get as many people into the awards programme as possible.
It was hoped the changes would give a more even spread of entries across the three competitions.
Entries in the 2016 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards will be received from October 20 to November 30.