Stahmann Farms Enterprises Pty Ltd, located near Pallamallawa, is in contention for the Primary Producer of the Year Award.

Sustain Ag Global, located in Moree, is in contention for the Technology and Innovation Award.

The awards, run by Monash University Gippsland in association with NAB Agribusiness, recognise the achievements of individuals and businesses in nine key agribusiness areas, including new technology, emerging markets, environmental management and rural enterprise.

Stahmann Farms General Manager Kevin Norman and his team were “thrilled” to be nominated as a finalist.

“The team have been working really hard over the past 12 months and it’s great to see our efforts being recognised,” Mr Norman said.

Stahman Farms completed a $3m irrigation project converting 230 hectares of the orchard from flood irrigation to sub-surface drip irrigation.

“This halved our water use on the majority of the farm, while producing the same yield as the flood,” he said.

According to Mr Norman the farm achieved some of the highest yields and quality in the last 10 years.

“The future outlook for pecans looks very promising,” he said.

According to Mr Norman the team have recently planted 200,000 new pecan trees in three nursery areas, including two field nurseries and one pot nursery.

In addition, several members of the team, especially the late Craig Northey, participated in the Moree Relay for Life, raising in excess of $13,000, with the generous support of local businesses.

Sustain Ag Global will be sending general manager Ros Hubbard along with a few staff to the awards ceremony in Melbourne on December 1.

The local business has been recognised previously at the Australian Innovation Awards and the Moree and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry Excellence in Business Awards.