22/08/2026
More outstanding results for Methven this week at the ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ...
Congratulations to ๐๐๐ฅ & ๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ฐ - who were named the 2026 Arable Farmers of the Year.
The Arable Farmer of the Year is selected from the winners of:
the Seed Grower of the Year (๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฐ๐ฌ) ,
the Maize Grower of the Year (๐๐๐ซ๐ค ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐จ๐ง) ,
the Cereal Grower of the Year (๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฎ)
and the Positive Environmental Impact Grower of the Year (๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ญ ๐
๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ).
โฆ
๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐
๐๐ฆ๐: - ๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ณ๐ข๐, ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ.
โฆ
๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ has been managing director of Methvenโs South Pacific Seeds (SPS) from its beginnings in the early 1990s. Since then, it has grown to be New Zealandโs largest vegetable seed production company. McKayโs Hall of Fame citation read: โWith SPS, John developed production systems and grower networks that enabled arable farmers to successfully produce specialist seed crops such as carrot, radish, Chinese cabbage, and he has worked hard to develop new markets for those seeds, particularly in Asia." โHe is also recognised for his investment and contribution to industry research and capability.โ
โฆ
Passionate arable farmer ๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ณ๐ข๐ has been a significant figure in New Zealandโs pasture seed and forage industry for several decades. McKenzieโs Hall of Fame citation said his influence extended beyond seed sales across many roles including โcommercial plant breeding, research commercialisation, export-oriented agribusiness, integration of science and farming practice and the development of New Zealand forage genetics for global marketsโ....
๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง have focused on arable farming at their property in Wakanui, near Ashburton, for more than 30 years. Throughout that time, they have been proactive and positive supporters of the arable industry. They achieved Guinness World Records for wheat yields twice, and Eric has worked closely with researchers throughout his farming career. โThe Watsonsโ farm has hosted dozens of grain and seed trials, and Eric has always been generous in sharing his knowledge and advice with other growers, young or old, local or international,โ the Hall of Fame citation read...
๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ, who passed away earlier this year, was a senior research agronomist at PGG Wrightson Seeds, where he and his team researched and developed techniques to increase seed yields and improve production to get the most out of crops. Kelly was a great communicator who was generous in sharing his knowledge and enjoyed mentoring the next generation of seed researchers. Growers and his research and agronomy peers regarded him as โa walking encyclopedia on all aspects of seed productionโ.
๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐:
โข Innovation Award - Marty and Georgina Skurr
โข Working Together Award โ The SCID Rebuild Team
โข Positive Environmental Impact Award โ Lovett Family Farms
โข Agronomist of the Year โ Sean Mulligan
โข United Wheat Growers Feed Wheat Award โ Andrew and Amy Darling from Adar Farming Ltd.
โข United Wheat Growers Milling Wheat Award โ Dan and Tash White from Willowbank Ag
โข United Wheat Growers Premium Milling Wheat Award โ Robin and Lisa Kingsbury from Tahuri Farm.
