North Canterbury farmers Justin and Melissa Slattery have been named the top sharemilker-equity farmers in this year's dairy industry awards.
The couple, who share-milk more than 500 cows for Norm and Sandra Williamson at Culverden, won the title at the Dairy Industry Awards in Auckland.
The farm manager of the year is James Foote, a former semi-professional rugby player who has been contract-milking more than 400 cows for Russell and Ces Evans at Miranda, near Thames.
James Davidson has been named the dairy trainee of the year.
He has been working on a farm in Darfield, in Canterbury milking 1,400 cows.
The judges said the winners were driving profitably on farms during the forecast period of low milk payouts.