A total of 58 farmers entered the Ashburton A&P Association winterfeed competition this year, with five first-time entrants winning prizes.

Association president and winterfeed convener Ben Stock said the competition ran over two "really full days" visiting 58 crops around the district.

This season's dry conditions were reflected in the entries, with only one dryland crop put forward for the competition.

Stock said the entries were of consistent high quality and quantity over drops including rape, kale, oats, fodderbeet and mixed feed.

Ben Galbraith was the overall winner, taking home the Ravensdown Trophy. Shayne Jones placed second overall and Tony Petrie won the judge's choice award.

The top rape growers were Hugh Copland (first place) and Peter Lowe.

The top three spots for kale went to Leighton Jones, Michael Copland and David Butterick.

The swede category winners were David Bell, High Copland and Andy Grant.

The mixed winterfeed winner was Andrew Harcourt with Robin Kingsbury in second place.

The oats winners were Robin Kingsbury, David Butterick and Dan and Tash White.

Ben Galbraith won the fodderbeet section with Shane Jones and Tim Wilkinson placing second and third.

Stock encouraged farmers to enter the competition even if they didn't think they had an award winning crop.

"We're always looking for new entrants to come on board," he said.

By Sharon Davis