Southland Farmers Named 2026 Sustainable Farming Ambassadors
Michelle and Tony Roberts didn't inherit the farming business they have today. They’ve built it from the ground up.
Run by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, the awards champion sustainable farming and growing.
The winners of the awards were announced at a function earlier this week on 28 June.
Working together as a team, Jane and Mark have made numerous improvements to the 1,500ha sheep and cattle farm where they fun 4,400 ewes, 2,200 trade lambs and just over 1,800 cattle.
Alongside their valued staff, they have developed the farm so it’s in better shape than when they arrived – in terms of both the environmental and financial performance.
Pasture management has resulted in highly productive stock, while infrastructure improvements encompass fencing, water reticulation and building a bridge across the Mōtū River.
The river has been fenced off to create a wetland area with native planting planned along its banks to provide shelter and enhance biodiversity.
The judges said they were impressed with how Mark and Jane’s complementary skills enabled them to run a profitable business while undertaking significant environmental projects.
“This energetic couple walk the talk. They complement each other in the business and work to their strengths, with one managing the stock, and the other managing the operations and development of the property,” the judges said.
A field day will be held at Alcuin Station later this year.
East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Award Winners
- Regional Supreme Award: Mark & Jane Johnson
- Balance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award: Mark & Jane Johnson
- Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award: Mark & Jane Johnson
- Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award: Mark & Jane Johnson
- Norwood Agri-Business Management Award: Mark & Jane Johnson
- East Coast Farming for the Future Award: Mark & Jane Johnson
- Bayleys People in the Primary Sector Award: Tim & Cathie Forde, Forde Ltd
- Massey University Innovation Award: Tim & Cathie Forde, Forde Ltd
- WaterForce Wise with Water Award: Willie Lyons (director) and Timothy Fairweather (farm manager), Glenalvon
- East Coast Regional Biodiversity Award: Kim & Annemarie Goodwin, Kawera
