fbpx
Print this page
Friday, 05 August 2022 15:55

Whisky in the jar at New Zealand's Arable Awards

Written by  Staff Reporters
Rob and Toni Auld were presented with the Innovation Award. Rob and Toni Auld were presented with the Innovation Award.

The Innovation title at last night’s New Zealand Arable Awards went to Southland’s Auld Farm Distillery.

The distillery, an enterprise from Rob and Toni Auld, makes a range of three gins from a base alcohol of oats, wheat, and barley.

Auld Farm Distillery has achieved multiple world firsts with their products, something not entirely uncommon for an arable sector seen as world-leading in several categories on the international seed market.

Also a winner was Federated Farmers arable executive member David Birkett who was named Arable Farmer of the Year.

Birkett, who farms at Leeston, Canterbury, was noted as a recognized leader in environmental and sustainable farming, with a focus on soil quality. He is open to trialling any approach to reduce synthetic inputs, like biological products, cover crops, retaining straw, and is always willing to share his knowledge and results.

Former Federated Farmers national vice president Karen Williams with her husband Mick received the Environment & Sustainability Award.

Mick and Karen Williams FBTW

Karen Williams (left) and husband Mick Williams (right) were presented with the Environment & Sustainability Award.

Angela Clifford was named the 2022 Food Champion for her passionate advocacy for the arable industry. Clifford founded the organization EatNZ, which she uses to promote New Zealand-grown and produced food.

Full List of Winners

  • Agronomist of the Year: Roger Lasham, Ashburton
  • Grower of the Year – Grain: David & Anna Irving, Larnark Downs, South Canterbury
  • Grower of the Year – Small Seed: Hamish Marr, Methven
  • Grower of the Year – Maize: Chris Pellow, Chris Pellow Produce, Waikato
  • Emerging Talent Award: Lauren Beattie, Rakaia, South Canterbury
  • Environment & Sustainability Award: Karen & Mick Williams, Ahiaruhe Farm, Wairarapa
  • Arable Farmer of the Year: David Birkett, Birkett Farming, Leeston
  • Innovation Award: Rob and Toni Auld, Auld Farm Distillery, Southland
  • Arable Food Champion: Angela Clifford, EatNZ

More like this

Editorial: RMA reforms uproar

OPINION: The euphoria over the Government’s two new bills to replace the broken Resource Management Act is over.

Editorial: Having a rural voice

OPINION: The past few weeks have been tough on farms across the North Island: floods and storms have caused damage and disruption to families and businesses.

Popular Reads

Featured

Govt Commits $4m to Rural Wellbeing Initiatives

Govt Commits $4m to Rural Wellbeing Initiatives

While the District Field Days brought with it a welcome dose of sunshine, it also attracted a significant cohort of sitting members from the Beehive – as one might expect in an election year.

Shane Jordan Beats Brother to Win NZ Timbersports Title

While not all sibling rivalries come to blows, one headline event at the recent New Zealand Rural Games held in Palmerston North certainly did, when reigning World Champion Jack Jordan was denied the opportunity of defending his world title in Europe later this year, after being beaten by his big brother’s superior axle blows, at the Stihl Timbersports Nationals.

National

Machinery & Products

Chinese Tractors Eye Western Europe

Chinese Tractors Eye Western Europe

Having caused quite a stir at last year’s Agritechnica, Chinese manufacturer Zoomlion is reported to be conducting large-scale field trials…

Franz Grimme Turns 80

Franz Grimme recently celebrated his 80th birthday earlier March and continues to be an entrepreneur with passion and pioneering spirit,…