Forty-five farmers have entered the 2014 Bay of Plenty Dairy Awards, helping make this a record year nationally for entries.

Amy Fowler, BOP regional convener for the awards, believes renewed enthusiasm for the dairy industry is among the reasons for the record 572 entries in this year's New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.

For Bay of Plenty entrants, made up of six sharemilkers, nine farm managers and 30 dairy trainees, judging begins in the middle of February.

Nationally, nearly 300 entries have been received in the 2014 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competition; and national convenor Chris Keeping says the response from dairy trainees has been 'phenomenal”.

'It is such a positive indicator for the dairy industry to have so many young people putting themselves forward to have their skills tested and to raise their profile and position in the industry. Many have entered before and obviously enjoyed the benefits of taking part.”

Chris says 292 entries have been received in the trainee contest, up from 251 last year and just more than 100 in 2008, when the contest began.

'Interest in the trainee contest is growing each year and we like to think the awards experience does help to motivate, lift confidence and enhance industry enthusiasm for those who enter.”

Chris says all trainee entrants have to be aged under 30 and have been in the industry for less than five years.

'It is extremely competitive for those that enter. One of the best bits about it is the friends they make with other trainee entrants that are also focused on progressing in the industry.”

There are 115 entries received for the 2014 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year contest and 165 entries received in the New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year.

The Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards dinner is on March 19, the Central Plateau dinner is on March 18 and the Waikato awards are on March 21.

The Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, RD1, Triplejump, along with industry partner Primary ITO (formerly AgITO). The entrants are split among 11 regional competitions, with Canterbury/North Otago receiving the most entries overall with 73 entrants. Of those entrants, 40 alone are entered in the region's dairy trainee competition. The Southland/Otago and Waikato regions weren't far behind, with 66 and 64 entries respectively and the Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa region received 60 entries.

Judging began in the South Island at the end of January and the first regional winners will be announced in early March. For more information, visit: www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz