Exemplary dairy farm management and care for the environment in a location very visible to members of the public have won the Supreme Award for brother and sister Shayne and Charmaine O’Shea in the 2013 Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Northland Shayne told the judges “every day is show day” as the busy Kokopu Road […]
Industry: Dairy
2013 Northland Regional Supreme Winners
2013 Southland Regional Supreme Winners
Southland dairy conversion pioneers Abe and Anita de Wolde oversee a dairying business milking around 2,800 cows with an energy level that “both impressed and inspired” the award judges. The couple came to New Zealand from The Netherlands in 1990, leaving behind a family dairy farm threatened by urban sprawl. Daughter Lisanne was a toddler […]
2013 Waikato Regional Supreme Winners
Grant Wills and Karen Preston fittingly bestowed the name ‘Tremeer’ – which translates in Cornish to “happy farm” – on the Wills’ 244ha Walton dairy property when they first ventured into dairying, and land ownership. The name, chosen in memory of a stint the couple had working at a rural castle in Cornwall while travelling, […]
2013 Bay of Plenty Regional Supreme Winners
When millions of tonnes of `sludge’ from the collapsing Ruahihi power scheme canal flooded through their land Dennis and Judith McFetridge wondered if they’d ever farm dairy cows there again Today the farm bears little resemblance to that awful September 20 day in 1981. Now it is well fenced and grazing 180 two and three […]
2012 Northland Regional Supreme Winners
A previously non-compliant dairy farm has been reconverted to dairying after several years of dry-stock only, and has quickly won the Supreme Award in the 2012 Ballance Farm Environment Awards for Northland. The Waldens have very impressive all-round farm development, management and environmental skills, the judges commented. In its third year of dairy farm redevelopment, […]
2012 Southland Regional Supreme Winners
Former sheep farmers, Michael and Karen Blomfield have attracted abundant praise from the award judges for the “outstanding dairy farm conversion” on their 220ha Western Southland property. Michael and Karen took over the predominantly flat to rolling property in the Opio district from Michael’s parents John and Joan in 1994, and converted in 2008. The […]
2012 Bay of Plenty Regional Supreme Winners
Whilst Castlerock Farm’s dairy effluent system already complied with council’s requirements, such is Jim and Barbara Hitchock’s commitment to the environment and the sustainability of their venture, they invested a further $150,000 upgrading this part of their business. The decision came after a surprise inspection. “On that day we decided that we could improve our […]
2011 Otago Regional Supreme Winner
Peter and Helen Gilder’s attitude to entering these awards provides a succinct insight into their approach to overseeing this predominantly lowlying 855ha Balclutha dairy and dry stock unit. Explains Peter: “It’s not Helen and I that entered, it’s the farm and the people on it; Landcorp, the whole crew. Two of our senior guys are […]
2011 Waikato Regional Supreme Winners
Back in 1971, when Gordon Blake was establishing a 50ha dairy unit within his family’s 265ha dry stock farm east of Tirau, a neighbour warned him, “it’s a backwards step to go dairying”. Time has proved that neighbour dead wrong. Dairying, says Gordon emphatically, has allowed them to secure the land and lifestyle for descendants. […]
2011 Greater Wellington Regional Supreme Winners
The riparian plantings on Ray and Lyn Craig’s 178ha Carterton dairy farm rank “amongst the best achieved on a dairy farm in New Zealand” according to the award judges. Effective too, says Ray Craig of the plantings, part of extensive erosion control work undertaken in the past 14 years on their land, which hosts the […]
2011 Horizons Regional Supreme Winners
The award judges were impressed with the accomplishments of Rick Morrison and Sharleen Hutching in just their third season of ownership of their first farm, an 83ha (70ha effective) milking platform and nearby 26ha runoff, just south of Eketahuna. Commented the judges: “Their achievement in the development of this dairy farm in just three years […]
2010 Northland Regional Supreme Winners
The lifetime achievement of Brian and Gaye Simms in developing, farming and sustaining their slice of Far North paradise has been hailed by the judges of the Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards for 2010. Brian took up the Kaitaia property of 111ha (70ha effective) 45 years ago when it was mostly bracken fern and manuka […]
2010 Waikato Regional Supreme Winners
Shared values that span generations and an established set of priorities are clear drivers in the Brown partnership. Dairying together on their 320ha Matamata family farm, brothers Wynn and Tony Brown have a clear picture of the crucial role the health of their soil plays to their business. “Our soil is our most valuable asset,” […]
2009 Waikato Regional Supreme Winners
Owners Gray and Marilyn Baldwin and sharemilkers Hamish and Jane Putt are in their second season together with their 410-cow organic dairying operation, just west of Putaruru. It is, according to the award judges, “an impressive farming operation founded on excellent working relationships with sustainability in mind throughout the business”. The Baldwin/Putt team combines top […]