Three of the five finalists in a South Island-wide farming competition are from the South.
Colin and Stefan Mavor, from Rosebery, in North Otago; Cameron and Michelle Clark, from Purakuiti, in the Catlins; and Adrian and Anne Lawson, from Morton Mains, in Southland, are the local representatives in the Lincoln Foundation-Rabobank-Ravensdown Farmer of the Year contest.
The other finalists are Richard and Jane Maxwell, from Cheviot, and Tim and Sara Coop, from Port Levy, Banks Peninsula.
The theme of this year's contest was meat production.
The father-and-son Mavor operation farms sheep and steers on 635ha, including 350ha of leased land, inland from Oamaru.
The Mavors have a sheep breeding operation and buy steer calves, predominantly Angus, which they winter and sell to Five Star Beef.
They irrigate 125ha with a k-line system and 75% of lambs were sold prime by the end of February.
The Clarks farm sheep and beef on 400ha of coastal Catlins country, with 70% of the stock sheep and 30% cattle.
All stock is finished on the farm.
Previous winners of the national ewe hogget competition, the Clarks aim to have a low-cost business producing top quality stock.
The Lawsons farm sheep on 163ha at Morton Mains with an aim of breeding easy-care Romney ewes, which lamb without aid, wean their own body weight in high growth-rate lambs, and cut a heavy, quality fleece.
Their flock lamb at 150% and lamb weights exceed 19kg.
The farm stocking rate is 14 stock unit per ha.
In 2004, the couple were the New Zealand Romney Farmers of the Year.
The Lincoln Foundation-Rabobank-Ravensdown Farmer of the Year winner will be announced on November 25.