Businesses chip in to help farmers
Banks and rural businesses are chipping in to help farmers in Southland and Otago.
Farmers and growers are being encouraged to enter the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for 2018-19.
The awards are organised by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, a charity set up to promote sustainable farming and growing.
Trust chair Joannne van Polanen, who farms in Mid-Canterbury, says there is a lot of discussion about the need for the primary sector to tell our stories.
“The awards provide an opportunity for farmers and growers to share the positive actions they are involved in with their local community and a wider audience.”
The trust’s national judging co-ordinator, Andrea Hanna says all farmers and growers, including orchardists, vegetable growers and viticulturists, are eligible to enter.
“Each entrant is visited by a small group of rural professionals who identify opportunities to improve the financial and environmental sustainability of the farm business. It’s not just targeted at top farmers. The awards are an important opportunity to grow and learn from others.”
Hanna explains that the judging teams have a wide range of skills and look at all parts of the farming business. Judging is conducted in a relaxed and friendly manner and climatic factors are taken into account.
“In the past we’ve found farmers can be reluctant to enter if their farm has been affected by unseasonal weather or some other event. But the judges understand that unexpected challenges are part of farming and will look beyond this at the wider picture,” Hanna says.
She says that many past entrants say their involvement has helped their personal development because they get to meet and be inspired by a range of like-minded people.
Entering the Awards is free and takes two minutes by completing a simple form, available online at www.bfea.org.nz.
People are able to nominate another farming or growing business they feel would benefit from involvement in the awards programme.
Entries to the Ballance Farm Environment Awards close at the end of October. The entrants and award winners are showcased in regional functionsheld throughout the country in Autumn 2019.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…