They may be young, but the New Zealand Dairy Industry's Canterbury-North Otago sharemilkers of the year are in a hurry.
Temuka sharemilkers Paul Mercer (25) and Desiree Reid (29) have just bought a 50% stake in their first farm and aim to buy the balance in three years.
They are currently sharemilking 580 cows on a 140ha farm at Temuka and anticipate producing 226,000kg of milk solids this season.
Mr Mercer has been in the dairy industry since leaving school, while Ms Reid, who holds a first class honours degree in business management, is also the South Canterbury representative on the Fonterra shareholders' council and has been involved in organising this year's South Island
Dairy Event.
Winchmore sharemilkers Ben and Cate McIntosh were placed second and Mid-Canterbury sharemilkers Mark and Daphne Williams were third.
Nick Hoogeveen, who manages a 1400-cow, 411ha farm near Ashburton, was the farmer manager of the year. Ashburton farm managers Allan and Jan Armour were second and Lindsay Gane, also from Ashburton, was third. Koji Wada, of Ashburton, was the dairy trainee of the year.
A field day will be held on Paul Mercer and Desiree Reid's farm on April 16, and on Mr Hoogeveen's farm on April 18.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Otago regional winners will be announced tonight.