Wool generally steady
The combined North and South Island Wool Auction comprising 13,900 bales saw a 90% clearance despite a firmer NZ dollar, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson reports.
Nicky Dawson says the award confirmed their 366ha farming operation was on the right track for sustainability. “Farming has to be profitable, but you have to look after the resources you’ve got. As food producers we have to be accountable to consumers and to the environment.”
Nick Dawson says entering the competition was a good opportunity to represent the dairy industry and show the wider farming community that in sustainability “there are some half-decent dairy farmers out there”. Like other regions, the dairy industry in Hawke’s Bay has struggled with the ‘dirty dairying’ label. “I think most dairy farmers have really pulled their socks up in recent years.”
He says the Ballance Farm Environment Awards help show many dairy farmers care deeply about the environment and are trying their best to improve sustainability.
The Dawsons have now won the LIC Dairy Farm Award – an award that recognises dairy farmers who demonstrate “in a practical way the choices that have been made to farm for the long term”— two years in a row. They also won the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Nutrient Management Award in the 2012 competition.
Judges praised the couple’s long-term view of their sharefarming business and the high performance of their farm. They said Dawsons run a well-planned dairy unit with excellent soil and water management and sound staffing policies.
“The Dawsons have a passion to be successful, great community involvement and an excellent work-to-family ratio.”
Since winning the award, the Dawsons have expanded their operation again, this year buying a neighbouring bull beef farm. Much of this will be converted to dairying.
Nicky Dawson says their involvement with the Ballance Farm Environment Awards has been thoroughly enjoyable. “The awards are a great way to show the rest of the country the good things dairy farmers are doing.”
With other dairy farmers the Dawsons were invited to attend last year’s Building Dairy Environment Leaders forum, in Waikato. They visited Waikato farms and heard speakers from a range of industries.
Mixing with other dairy farmers and industry leaders was rewarding and motivating, Dawson says. He urges other dairy farmers to enter. Entrants learn and get inspired by other like-minded farmers. “People are scared of losing face, but it’s not that type of competition. It’s all about being yourself and learning as much as you can.”
Nick says the benefits make entering worthwhile. “There is definitely no point in sitting on your hands. Get out there and enter.”
Entries for the East Coast 2013 Ballance Farm Environment Awards are now open and entry forms can be downloaded from the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust website at www.nzfeatrust.org.nz
For more information on the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, contact David Natzke, general manager, New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, phone 07 834 0400, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
