As I mentioned last month the calibre of nominations this year has been outstanding. Thanks to our 2016 Platinum sponsors, WFI for their support of the awards.

I have great pleasure in announcing the winners of the 2016 Farmer of the Year Awards and would like to congratulate Matthew Keith of Woongoolba Queensland, as our Farmer of the Year.

As I wrote last month, Australian Agriculture has a bright future and our Young Farmer of the Year, Troy Blackman of Upper Orara, NSW, is a shining example of what we can look forward to from our farmers of the future. 

Thanks to Case IH for sponsoring the 2016 Young Farmer of the Year.

Looking back, Australian agriculture has a rich and rightly proud history and Dennis Howe of Walkamin, Queensland epitomises what it means to be a farming legend, taking out our inaugural Farming Legend of the Year award. Thanks to Prime Super for sponsoring the 2016 Farming Legend of the Year.

We rely on the expertise and professionalism of many who work in agriculture, but who may not farm themselves. This year we wanted to acknowledge those that go the extra mile to source and divulge knowledge and for 2016, Ken Solly from Naracoorte, South Australia receives our Rural Consultant of the Year award.

Of course, the community is the glue that holds our farming regions together. We all know someone who volunteers plenty of time and invests care in ensuring our rural community is a great place to work and live.

We felt that this contribution to our industry deserved rightful acknowledgement and would like to congratulate Michael Badcock of Forth, Tasmania for winning the Rural Community Leader award.

This year we also wanted to highlight three areas Kondinin Group has built a reputation for championing; innovation, diversification and technology.

Congratulations respectfully to Dennis Howe, Michael Badcock and the Bulmer family of Lindenow, Victoria for taking our these Kondinin Group Awards of Excellence for 2016.

BE FIRE READY

As I write this I am on the road through Victoria and South Australia having been asked by GRDC to talk to farmer groups in these areas about harvester fires. A small diversion to Mallala en-route saw me catch up with the Mallala Ag-Bureau at their regular meeting. The Mallala Ag-Bureau are a great group of farmers who were tragically affected by the Pinery fires in November last year.

The meeting was excellent with a range of discussions around farm equipment technology and fi re suppression.

Sharing time and talking with a group still reeling from the emotional and financial stress fires can have on a community, it was a poignant reminder that fires can have a serious impact at harvest. Be sure to take the time to meet with your harvest team, discuss what will happen if there is a fire. Establish communication plans, UHF channels, extinguishing plans and escape routes. That investment in time could save machinery, crops and lives.

There are some impressive looking crops around the country this year, there are others who have felt the brunt of mother nature through frost and waterlogging damage. If you are harvesting, enjoy it and please stay safe.