Saturday, 25 June 2022 11:55

2022 Regional Supreme Winners named in Auckland Ballance Farm Environment Awards

Written by  Staff Reporters
Rick and Shirley-Ann Mannering Rick and Shirley-Ann Mannering

Shirley-Ann and Rick Mannering have been named 2022 Regional Supreme Winners in the Auckland Balance Farm Environment Awards.

Run by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, the awards champion sustainable farming and growing, with the Auckland awards announced earlier this week on 21 June.

The Mannerings own Waytemore Farms in Paparimu, a sheep, beef and dairy farm, consisting of three family farm holdings managed as one entity by the Mannerings.

1,177ha supports one dairy farm and the sheep and beef farm, while a nearby block of 277ha supports another dairy farm.

The Mannerings run a breeding flock of 2,100 Romney ewes, along with 720 beef cattle, and 860 dairy cows with 360 replacements. It’s a mostly closed model where the dairy and beef operations support each other.

The property features a substantial amount of native forest and significant effort goes into conservation work, including sustained predator control and fencing off well-established indigenous forests, waterways and wetlands.

To ensure their focus on sustainable farming is continued, the Mannerings have employed a farm manager trained in ecology and a dedicated farm ranger trained in conservation biology.

The judges praised the team’s farming practices which have resulted in excellent production and stock health alongside regeneration of the special native bush blocks.

“The Mannerings have shown a lifelong passion for combining a profitable, mixed-farm unit while protecting and enhancing the considerable natural assets found on-farm,” said the judges. “The business structure has been set up to support this environmental focus.”

A public field day will be held at Waytemore Farms in October 2022.

Auckland Balance Farm Environment Award Winners 2022

  • Regional Supreme Award: Shirley-Ann and Rick Mannering, Waytemore Farms
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award: Shirley-Ann and Rick Mannering, Waytemore Farms
  • Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award: Shirley-Ann and Rick Mannering, Waytemore Farms
  • Massey University Innovation Award: Shirley-Ann and Rick Mannering, Waytemore Farms
  • Auckland Council Water Quality Enhancement Award: Shirley-Ann and Rick Mannering, Waytemore Farms
  • Balance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award: Shane & Jenny Hood and Gill & Kevin Adshead, Mataia Farm & Manaia Properties
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award: Auckland Council – Atiu Creek Regional Park
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award: Shane & Jenny Hood and Gill & Kevin Adshead, Mataia Farm & Manaia Properties
  • WaterForce Farm Stewardship Award: Rob & Rachel Cashmore, Cashmore Farms

More like this

Te Puke farmers win award

The family behind Te Ranga farms have won the regional supreme award at the Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Forward thinking sees farming family win award

Simon and Josi Beamish and Hugo & Pip Beamish of Awapai have been announced as the regional supreme winners at the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Gisborne this week.

New ambassadors set the standard

Otago sheep and beef farmers Steven and Kellie Nichol won the coveted Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the recent Ballance Farm Environment Awards. As such, they also become the 2023 national ambassadors for sustainable farming and growing.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter