Taylor was presented with the prestigious Award at Parliament House, Canberra, yesterday, at a lunch hosted by the Kondinin Group and ABC Rural.
Taylor is a sixth-generation wool grower who has built a reputation around his future-focused approach and his management of 4000 sheep, production of sustainable superfine Merino wool, mixed Angus cattle herd, timber mill and farm stay accommodation.
Through tree planting and rotational grazing, he has increased stocking capacity, lambing percentages, reduced degradation, and sequestered carbon for the future.
"My family has been farming in the New England region of NSW for more than 180 years, and I would like to see them still farming this area for centuries to come. I have followed in my parent's footsteps of caring for our land with regenerative goals and showing how you can integrate both a successful grazing enterprise and agroforestry program," Taylor said.
Ben White, general manager of Research at Kondinin Group, said Michael's ability to run numerous enterprises in synergy, while keeping the care of his land at the forefront, is highly commendable.
Young Farmer of the Year, sponsored by McDonald's Australia, was awarded to Brad Egan, from Scaddan in Western Australia. Egan also won the Award for Excellence in Innovation, sponsored by Telstra.
Other category winners were:
- Livestock grazier and vegetable grower, Jake Ryan, Manjimup, WA, who won the 2022 Award for Excellence in Diversification.
- New England cattleman, Richard Wright, who won the 2022 Farming Legend of the Year Award.
- Matt Norton, Toowoomba, Queensland, who won the 2022 Rural Consultant of the Year Award, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience.
- University of Adelaide student, James Easter, who won the 2022 Agricultural Student of the Year Award, sponsored by AgriFutures.
- Undera, Victoria, dairy farmer and ag advocate Sarah Parker, who won the 2022 Rural Community Leader of the Year Award.
- Grain grower James Venning, South Australia, who won the 2022 Award for Excellence in Technology, sponsored by New Holland.
- Mental health and wellbeing advocate Dr Kate Gunn, who won the 2022 Award for Excellence in Agricultural Research, sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Congratulations to all the 2022 Australian Farmer of the Year Awards recipients. The Awards are an acknowledgment of their dedication, passion and involvement in a vibrant Australian agricultural industry.
Kondinin Group would also like to acknowledge the continued support of all sponsors and supporters of the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards. In particular, Awards co-hosts ABC Rural and Platinum sponsors WFI.
The 2022 Award sponsors are: McDonald's Australia, Corteva Agriscience, AgriFutures Australia, Telstra, New Holland and ACIAR; Industry Supporters: National Farmers' Federation, AgSafe, Goldacres and Blundstone; Leadership Program supported by the Australian Government; and Media Partner RM William's OUTback.
