Farmer of the Year 2016: Coles recognises the achievements of Australian farming families

AS AN Australian-owned food retailer with suppliers across the country, Coles is delighted to support The Weekly Times in making its awards national for the first time.

National heroes: Coles and The Weekly Times recognise the achievements of farmers from all around the country.

AS AN Australian-owned food retailer with suppliers across the country, Coles is delighted to support The Weekly Times in making its awards national for the first time.

The Weekly Times Coles Farmer of the Year Awards is one way Coles helps recognise the achievements of hard-working farmers who continually adopt innovative new ways to produce great quality, locally grown food for Australian families.

This year’s winners are great examples of how innovative Australia’s leading farmers are adopting new technology and new production methods to get ahead.

Overall winners David and Prue Bondfield, who are cattle producers at Dalveen in Queensland’s Southern Downs region, are enhancing their performance recording by using cloud-based technology.

Cropping Farmers of the Year Brad and Kate Jones, from Tammin in Western Australia, are using two decades of soil data to drive investment returns.

Dairy Farmers of the Year Simon and Lauren Finger, from Yannathan in Victoria, have adopted once-a-day milking to improve labour management, cut costs and enhance the welfare of their animals.

FARM Magazine Innovative Farmers of the Year the Cain family, from Natte Yallock in Victoria, have launched an online store and sell single origin oats directly to customers.

Horticulture Farmers of the Year the Ceravolo family, from the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, have introduced fruit probe technology to accurately monitor growth, fertigation and irrigation requirements of hanging fruits.

And Sheep Farmers of the Year Ben and Cheryl Duxson, from Marnoo in Victoria, are leaders in adopting Australian Sheep Breeding Values and sheep genomics into their breeding program.

Congratulations to all winners who personify the bold innovation in agriculture and food production we continually witness around Australia.