'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.
With the agricultural sector facing many challenges, the relevance of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) could not be greater, says organiser Simon Saunders.
Saunders, chairman of New Zealand Farm Environment (NZFE) Trust, says challenges facing the sector include issues surrounding water quality and nutrient loss.
Therefore, the relevance of the NZFE Trust and the BFEA could not be greater, he says.
"It's critical that the farmer's voice is heard. The BFEA programme is continually doing this through entrants and award-winning farmers showcasing what they are achieving, sharing the knowledge ideas and skills that will drive better environmental, economic and social outcomes for New Zealand's most important sector."
According to the NZFE Trust's annual report, released this week, it celebrated another successful year.
The organisation has continued to grow through 2015, with another region- Auckland- signing up.
"We are delighted to have the Auckland region in the Awards for the 2016 programme," says Saunders.
"Having Auckland on board is a huge step towards being able to offer a complete national programme. We are almost there."
NZFE Trust also formalised a long standing partnership between Environment Southland and the BFEA. Saunders says the Trust is looking forward to developing this partnership further "to not only benefit the continued success of the BFEA in Southland, but all agriculture in Southland".
Nationally, the BFEA programme continues to draw accolades and capture strong media interest. Farmer attendance at BFEA field days across the country was outstanding, and these field days and other NZFE Trust events "keep delivering the very important messages on what New Zealand farmers are achieving".
Newly appointed National Fieldays chief executive Richard Lindroos says his team is ready, excited and looking forward to delivering the four-day event next month.
More than 70 farmers from across the North and South Islands recently spent a dayand- a-half learning new business management and planning skills at Rabobank Ag Pathways Programmes held in Invercargill, Ashburton and Hawera.
Government ministers cannot miss the ‘SOS’ – save our sheep call - from New Zealand farmers.
A tax advisory specialist is hailing a 20% tax deduction to spur business asset purchases as a golden opportunity for agribusiness.
Sheep and beef farmers have voted to approve Beef + Lamb New Zealand signing an operational agreement between the agricultural sector and the Government on foot and mouth disease readiness and response.
The head of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers organisation NZKGI says the points raised in a report about the sector by Waikato University professor Frank Scrimgeour were not a surprise.
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