The Southland and Otago dairy industry awards regions are to merge for the 2014 competition.
New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards national convener Chris Keeping said organisers made the decision to merge the Southland and Otago regions in late July as it was believed that the merged region would be stronger, creating a better competition for entrants.
''The executive committee has deliberated on the future of the regions for some time, and came to its decision on the basis that it is most important that entrants are guaranteed a competition and the opportunity to compete in the national finals,'' Mrs Keeping said.
Disappointing entries forced the Otago region to revamp its contest this year with only Otago's Dairy Trainee of the Year winner progressing to the national final. She said organisers wanted to prevent a similar fate recurring.
Otago's organising committee received three entries for the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year 2013 event and four for the Farm Manager of the Year.
Otago's Dairy Trainee of the Year competition attracted 12 entries.
Planning and preparations for the 2014 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards' New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions are well under way and entries will be received online from November 1.
Mrs Keeping said the 2014 Southland/Otago region would have two conveners - one representing each of the pre-merged regions - and one main committee with two subcommittees.
All entrants in the merged region will take part in preliminary judging to determine the six finalists in each competition. A final round of judging will then determine the winners. It is anticipated the 2014 Southland/Otago Dairy Industry Awards winners will be announced at an awards function in Gore on March 1, 2014.
Speaking on Monday, next year's Southland co-convener Sharn Roskam who, along with her husband Billy, of Winton, won the Southland Sharemilker of the Year competition in 2012, said although they were ''pretty excited going forward'' about the news, they did not wish to make any further comments until after a joint committee meeting being held last night.