At the Arable Farmer of the Year award ceremony in Christchurch last week, judges praised the fourth generation farmer for his "steep learning curve" to adapt the family farm in Riversdale and to prioritise seed production in a "very short time".
Judges also noted his involvement in a local catchment group and him being the Southland representative on the Federated Farmers herbage seed group.
About 75% of his 600ha family property Waifield Farm was mixed cropping.
The rest of the farm was used to run sheep and beef and for winter grazing.
About two-thirds of the arable crop was wheat and barley, which was mostly eaten by dairy cows.
The rest of the arable business was producing small seeds including Asian brassicas, clover, grass seed, mustard, peas and red beet.
Crops had been grown on Waifield Farm for about 30 years.
Breeding ewe numbers had decreased as the arable side of the business had upscaled over the past 15 years.
The business introduced small-seed production about five years ago to diversify the crop from the dairy industry to spread some of the risk.
Livestock numbers had decreased on Waifield Farm, but those which remained added value to their arable system by producing organic matter to improve soil health, he said.
