Tasmanian farmers win two national awards

The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) today congratulated the two Tasmanian farmers who last night were named national winners at the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards in Melbourne.

Grant Archer is the Dairy Farmer of the Year and Bernard Brain Diversification Farmer of the Year.

Grant Archer owns a farm near Smithton but also share farms at Cressy and Symmons Plains The farms run a total of 2800 cows. The award recognises his good stock-management techniques and efficient use of a new milking system across the three dairies.

Bernard Brain farms at Rotherwood and his production ranges from lambs, beef cattle, fennel, poppies, cabbage seed, malting barley, dry peas and grapes. Irrigation has been one of the keys. His property has a 3800 megalitre water licence allowing his irrigation area to be expanded by 100ha to 350 ha over the past seven years with a capital investment of $1.1 million.

TFGA chief executive Jan Davis said the two awards were just recognition of the incredible, research-based professionalism of modern Tasmanian farming.

“Grant and Bernard are role models for our industry. We are very proud of them,” she said.

The Australian Farmer of the Year Awards are hosted by Kondinin Group, ABC Rural and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.
Jan Davis http://www.tfga.com.au/