Dairy farmers could win a Honda farm bike just by entering the 2013 Bay of Plenty regional contest of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards by December 1.

Entries close on December 20 but regional convenor and past winner, Charlotte Jones of Whakatane says those who get in early are in the draw for the bike.

Charlotte Jones, Bay of Plenty regional convenor for the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards with husband Scott, won the 2011 Bay of Plenty Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title.

Charlotte, who with husband Scott won the 2011 Bay of Plenty Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title, says farm owners, sharemilkers, equity farmers, farm managers, contract milkers and dairy trainees are all eligible to enter.

'We are encouraging new entrants to participate in the awards which are simple to enter and bring lots of benefits personally as well as to their careers or businesses.”

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner AgITO.

The Bay of Plenty awards are also supported by Level one sponsors Bell Booth, BlackmanSpargo, Business Results Group, GPSit, International Nutritionals Ltd, Milkbar and Planwise.

The region's level two sponsors are Bay Vets, Eastern Bay Sprayers, Pioneer Seeds, Te Puke Vets, NZ Wide Freeze Brands, and Silver Fern Farms Ltd.

Entries can be made online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz from November 1 in the Bay of Plenty Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions. Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz to enter or for more information.