Ballance Kapuni plant hit by gas supply issues
Fertiliser co-operative Ballance has written down $88 million - the full value of its Kapuni urea plant in Taranaki - from its balance sheet in the face of a looming gas shortage.
Farmers and growers are being encouraged to enter this year’s Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
The awards are organised by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, a charity promoting sustainable farming and growing.
Trust chair Joannne van Polanen, who farms in Mid-Canterbury, says the primary sector needs to tell its stories.
“These awards enable farmers and growers to share the positive actions they are involved in with their local community and to a wider audience.”
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 relaxed and friendly and climate 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,” she says.
Many past entrants say their involvement has helped their personal development because they get to meet and be inspired by like-minded people.
People may nominate another farming or growing business they feel would benefit from involvement in the awards programme.
Entries to the 2018-19 Ballance Farm Environment Awards close late October. The entrants and award winners will be announced at regional functions next autumn.
Entry is free and simple online at: www.bfea.org.nz
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.