A record 566 entries have been received for the 2013 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.
National convener Chris Keeping said entries were up from the previous best of 525.
A total of 144 entries were received in the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year competition, 171 for the New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year title and 251 entries in the New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year contest.
The Canterbury/North Otago region, one of 12 that organises regional competitions in the awards, received the most entries - 83 - with 40 of those in the dairy trainee contest.
This year's entrants will first compete in one of the regional competitions. Regional winners will progress to the national final in Wellington on May 24.