'Just take the plunge'
‘Just take the plunge’ - that’s the message from Hamish and Simon Guild of High Peak Station, Canterbury to anyone considering entering the 2025 Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Organisers of the 2023 Ballance Farm Environment Awards are hoping for a record number of entries.
Run by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, the awards celebrate farmer and grower achievement, and showcase good practice on farm and highlight positive farming stories.
Trust chair Joanne van Polanen says the response from farmers, sponsors, and supporters to the recently held regional award events indicate there will be a strong number of entries to the 2023 event.
"The overwhelming consensus was that not only did the entrants really value the attention and positive feedback throughout, but those attending the awards functons and the resulting winners' field days were grateful for the chance to connect with their peers and to be able to hear others' stories," van Polanen says.
"It isn't until you can't, that you realise how important it is to connect with industry peers in a supportive and positive setting."
Entries are open until October 15. Assessment considers the farm system including animal and plant care, biodiversity, business health, climate, people and wellbeing, soil, water and waste management.
Over the past two years Covid posed a major challenge for those involved with the awards.
The regional awards programme was adjusted to fit lockdown and level parameters, and ultimately able to be completed. Covid not only affected the number of entries but judging visits and the awards events.
"We have weathered the storm that has been Covid-19, and early indications hint that conditions are now ripe for a bumper crop of award entries," says van Polanen.
The 2023 categories are:
- Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
- Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
- Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Award
- DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
- Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award
- Norwood Agri-Business Management Award
- NZ Farm Environment Trust Biodiversity Award
- NZ Landcare Trust Catchment Group Award
The 2022 national sustainability showcase will be held in Christchurch on November 24.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) awards. As part of a series looking at this year’s rural winners, Leo Argent talked with Ginny Dodunski, winner of the Veterinary Impact Award for raising the profile of the Wormwise programme.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.