Reliable irrigation crucial to hort sector
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says access to reliable irrigation water is essential for a thriving horticultural sector.
Four New Zealand farmers have been selected as finalists of the inaugural Zimmatic Sustainable Irrigation Awards.
They are Ben and Anna Gillespie (Central Otago), Brock & Gemma Hamilton (North Otago), Ted Rollinson (Mid-Canterbury), Nick Webster (North Otago).
The awards aim to celebrate excellence in sustainable irrigation and encourage Australian and New Zealand farmers to share ideas for achieving sustainable freshwater management.
Each entrant was judged on: sustainable irrigation management; irrigation-driven improvements, which may include cost reductions, environmental outcomes, yield improvements and/or improved efficiencies; waterway protection; stewardship/community.
Irrigation NZ chair and Irricon Resource Solutions principal, Keri Johnston, is head judge for the awards. She says all four finalists demonstrated a high level of achievement across all four categories, which set them apart from the others.
“Our finalists all have farm businesses with values and philosophies based on environmental stewardship, care of the land, water and community, and being caretakers for the next generation.
“These finalists also demonstrated a level of considered decision-making in relation to irrigation system design.
“They are all using technology to their advantage, while taking steps to maximise efficiency and minimise environmental impacts.
“It was obvious these farmers have a deep understanding of their properties and their unique challenges. They have used clever thinking and an innovative approach to tackle these challenges, rather than just trying to tick the box.
“From supporting their peers to helping with education in schools, we were also impressed by the outstanding community leadership demonstrated by some of our finalists.”
Johnston says while only four NZ farmers were chosen as finalists, all entrants should be commended for their commitment to responsible water management both on and off the farm.
Awards coordinator Sarah Elliot says the judges were impressed by the standard of entries and effort that went into many of the submissions.
On-farm judging will take place in the spring before the supreme winner is announced.
The competition is run by agricultural irrigation systems leader, Zimmatic, with support from New Zealand Awards partners IrrigationNZ, Vantage NZ and Irricon.
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.