Wednesday, 01 September 2021 12:55

Award winners urge farmers to enter

Written by  Staff Reporters
Jeff Martin and Helen Linssen, Te Karoa Farms in Kaeo, say taking part in the awards is an "incredible experience". Jeff Martin and Helen Linssen, Te Karoa Farms in Kaeo, say taking part in the awards is an "incredible experience".

The supreme winners of the 2020 Ballance Farm Environment Awards Northland region are urging farmers to enter the competition.

Jeff Martin and Helen Linssen, Te Karoa Farms in Kaeo, are telling farmers and growers taking part in an "incredible experience".

Helen Linssen says their motivation to enter the awards was to highlight how much work goes on behind the scenes in farming, and to put their local community on the map.

"We'd developed the property using 18-30 years of knowledge. It was a blank canvas, and we were careful to future proof and take in mind the environmental footprint as we worked.

"We wanted to show the public the engine room, the behind the scenes! It also felt like we were showing leadership in our community and putting a spotlight on Kaeo."

Helen encourages other businesses to enter the awards, even if they don't think they're doing anything extraordinary.

"A lot of the time, people are already doing great things, they just don't realise what they're doing is great! Entering these awards really made us realised how much of what we were doing was taking us in the right direction."

Robin Nitschke, a keen committee member and winner of several of the awards in 2018 also highlight the benefit to businesses to have an independent judge give feedback on your property.

"I knew it would have a big benefit for us, our business was assessed from a fresh set of eyes.

"The report came through and we hadn't picked up on a few of the comments and we made improvements. It was really valuable having your operation assessed by independent people. It was also great promotion for our orchard and business and so valuable for ongoing growth."

Entries are now open for the 2021 Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

All farmers and horticulturists, including orchardists, vegetable growers and viticulturists within the geographic area covered by the Northland Regional Council are eligible to enter until October 15. The first round of judging takes place in November.

Farmers and growers can enter online at www.bfea.org.nz or contact regional coordinator Ellie Ball at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 09 430 3109 ext 6.

More like this

A broad approach to environment

OPINION: As an on-farm judge for the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for many years, I’ve witnessed first-hand how dramatically New Zealand agriculture and horticulture has transformed over the past three decades.

'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.

Great stewards of the land

James and Debbie Stewart of Dairylands in the Manawatū are no strangers to taking home the silverware.

Rewarding farmers who embrace sustainability

Winners of DairyNZ’s Sustainability and Stewardship awards in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards have their eyes firmly fixed on progressing a positive future for New Zealand dairy.

Featured

Fieldays to rebuild Mystery Creek services building

The iconic services building at National Fieldays' Mystery Creek site will be demolished to make way for a "contemporary replacement that better serves the needs of both the community and event organisers," says board chair Jenni Vernon.

National

Machinery & Products

New McHale terra drive axle option

Well-known for its Fusion baler wrapper combination, Irish manufacturer McHale has launched an interesting option at the recent Irish Ploughing…

Amazone unveils flagship spreader

With the price of fertiliser still significantly higher than 2024, there is an increased onus on ensuring its spread accurately at…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Fonterra vote

OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.

Follow the police beat

OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter