Two new awards open to help young farmers progress to farm ownership
Entries have opened for two awards in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) programme, aimed at helping young farmers progress to farm ownership.
The latest series draws attention to the use of solar energy to power a cowshed and two houses on a Matakana Island farm, the importance of riparian planting and fencing, and ensuring environmental considerations guide upgrades to farm facilities.
Supply Fonterra programme director Lisa Payne says the third Farm Focus series shows the dedication dairy farmers have to working in harmony with the environment and ensuring that future generations will be able to enjoy the land.
"Our farmers are passionate about protecting the health of New Zealand's waterways and natural resources. They have fenced more than 95 per cent of farm waterways and are well advanced on effluent and herd management and managing nutrients," she says.
"In filming this latest series it's quite clear that farmers have their eye on the future, ensuring that on-farm decisions and investments will leave the land in good stead for the next generation of farmers and New Zealanders."
In this series:
One of seven farming families on Matakana Island, where a Fonterra tanker collects milk by ferry, show how they have utilised the island's natural resources to increase energy efficiency.
A former vet and school teacher explain their focus on fencing and riparian planting to ensure future generations will be able to enjoy the farm's natural streams.
A husband and wife team from coastal Southland work closely with key industry representatives to fence waterways and plant 10,000 trees, plants and vegetation to protect the coastline environment.
A farming couple from the Waikato discuss how environmental impacts were a key consideration when investing in a new cowshed and effluent system.
The four Farm Focus videos are now available on Fonterra's YouTube channel. The videos will also be posted on Fonterra's Facebook and Twitter pages under the hashtag #farmfocus.
Keep up to date with www.twitter.com/Fonterra and search #farmfocus for further details.
