NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, said Scott’s Dorrigo beef and potato farm was one of three eminent finalists – he’s up against a Goulburn turkey grower and a beef cattle producing couple from Quirindi for the coveted prize.

“NSW clearly has some of the best farmers in the world, and this no doubt led to a very difficult task for the judges to single out just a few of them as finalists,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“The difficulty was compounded not only by the quality of the field, but the diversity of the applicants coming from across the livestock, cropping and horticulture industries.

“These finalists are leaders in their fields – pushing the boundaries through innovation and vision in regards to all aspects of their enterprise including production, supply chains and marketing.”

Scott runs a 635-hectare diversified enterprise, spread across three properties near Dorrigo.

The farm enterprise involves producing Woolworths yearling cattle from a 400-cow breeding herd; a potato growing business, producing 700 tonnes of crisping potatoes per annum, grown under contract to a major company, and a contract planting business, providing services to North Coast and Dorrigo plateau farmers.

The business is a partnership with Scott’s father Neville, and Scott’s role is to both manage the day-to-day activities and make decisions for the business in-line with a succession plan.

The cattle enterprise uses European, British and bos indicus cross cattle to produce calves weighing 220 kilograms to 280kg with five millimetres to 17mm of fat cover at 15 months of age. Calves are finished in an on-farm feedlot, with the maize silage feed ration also grown on-farm under centre pivot irrigation.

The potato business is conducted on 25 hectares and produces crisping potatoes for Smiths. The crisping production system suits the business model of a high value, low labour production system, helping to keep costs down.

Scott’s aim is to balance profitability and sustainability by ensuring the latest production techniques are used to maximise productivity, while staying within the production capacity of the land.

To achieve this, cropping activities are carried out only on areas with suitable soils and slope. Areas deemed unsuitable are used for grazing, while timbered tracts are retained for stock shelter, conservation and aesthetic values.

NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson said this year’s award nominations highlighted the breadth of the State’s primary production sector.

“These are quality individuals, indicative of the healthy state of our industry,” Mrs Simson said.

“The different ages of the applicants, the way they were responding to challenges and the different focuses they have in their enterprises was inspiring.

“The Farmer of the Year initiative has produced some excellent industry champions in the last 11 years – and we look forward to this year’s finalists joining that impressive network.”

The annual award recognises outstanding achievement, focussing on management skills, innovation, profitability, environmental sustainability and community involvement.

The Farmer of the Year wins a cash prize of more than $10,000 and the runners up receive a $2000 prize. The award is an initiative of NSW Farmers and NSW Department of Primary Industries, with support from The Land, the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW and WorkCover NSW.