Leon and Wendy Black Blackdale Stud – Sheep farming The Blacks have worked this land for almost 100 years, with Leon and Wendy now at the helm of one of the biggest family-run NZ stud sheep operations, grazing more than 5,000 animals on 370ha. Blackdale Stud aims to produce the best sheep genetics in the country, attracting many visitors from around the world. Biosecurity is a major focus, running a […]
Region: Southland
Meet the BFEA Entrants from the Southland Region
What are they up to now? Abe and Anita de Wolde – Woldwide Dairy Group
The couple’s business, Woldwide Dairy Group, takes a values based approach around the core elements of people, planet and profit. Abe and Anita believe that any farming practice undertaken in their organisation should be socially, environmentally and economically sustainable. Growing substantially over the years, Woldwide now comprises 6 farms, Woldwide One to Five and Woldwide […]
An openness to learn and share knowledge key to success
But that’s one thing the Eades themselves certainly aren’t. In fact, connecting with other farmers and whānau on a regular basis is a huge part of their incredibly successful operation, where they run 2700 sheep and 82 beef on a stunning piece of land made up of semi-rolling hills, river flats and fenced-off native bush. […]
Big savings with on-site native nursery
Setting up an on-farm indigenous plant nursery is potentially saving one Southland farming couple hundreds of thousands of dollars, plus heading off a growing demand for native vegetation. Kiwi ingenuity is evident all over the Gore dairy farm of Chris and Desiree Giles, with their entrepreneurial approach earning them three 2020 Ballance Farm Environment Awards. […]
2020 Southland Regional Supreme Winners
Geordie & Frances Eade of Granity Downs – Intensive sheep & beef. Big picture thinking that balances business risk with sustainability is guiding the development of this Riverton sheep and beef, breeding and finishing farm. The result is sustainable productivity, achieved with a highly organised operation that puts family life first at this well-cared for property. […]
2020 Southland Entrants
Here are our wonderful 2020 entrants for the Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards. We congratulate them all for becoming involved in the awards programme – it’s a privilege to have learned more about their food and fibre production businesses. Robert & Cate Willis, Bobcat Dairy — Riverton Dairy Fourth-generation Southland farmer Robert Willis was brought up on his family’s […]
Andrew and Vanessa Wilkinson – Calsi Farms
2020 finalists: Andrew & Vanessa Wilkinson of Calsi Farms – Dairy. Over the past 10 years, Andrew and Vanessa have gone from strength-to-strength on this Southland dairy farm, successfully balancing environmental achievements with profitability. As shareholders and contract milkers, they are actively involved in any decisions and enjoy bringing creative ideas to the table. Calsi […]
Robert and Cate Willis – Bobcat
2020 finalists: Robert & Cate Willis of Bobcat – Dairy. Fourth-generation Southland farmer Robert Willis was brought up on his family’s sheep farm, however it was cows that really caught his interest and led to the conversion of this dairy property. The fully self-contained farm is a high-performing dairy unit set against a stunning backdrop […]
Chris and Desiree Giles – Waimumu Downs
The property has almost doubled in size since the original farm purchase five years ago and it now runs about 550 dairy cows and 250 replacement stock. The judges praised the couple’s well-thought-out conversion that includes the building of a calf shed that makes great use of light and solar power. During the conversion, the […]
2019 Southland Regional Supreme Winners
Kepler Farm in Te Anau was announced the Regional Supreme Winner at this evening’s 2019 Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards run by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust. The Ballance Farm Environment Awards champion sustainable farming and growing through an awards programme which sees one Regional Supreme Winner selected from each of the 11 regions […]
Michael Bashford – NIAGARA DOWNS LTD
Michael Bashford is a farmer with conscience and credibility. He lives by the motto “look after the sheep, and they will look after you”. Bashford is committed to ensuring the welfare of his animals in a way that is simple, effective and efficient, and the judges were rightfully impressed by what has been created on […]
Duncan & Kerralie Falconer – CRAIGIE GLEN
The adage ‘you are the company you keep’ rings true in all the best ways with Duncan and Kerralie Falconer. Supported by a network of trusted advisers; efficient contractors; and Duncan’s parents, the Falconers have built a robust dynamic with a lot of knowledge and expertise dedicated to their cause, including a sheep shearer who […]
Kepler Farm – Travis Leslie & Catriona Cunningham
Kepler Farm, managed by Travis Leslie and Catriona Cunningham, has a glowing reputation. Coveting Landcorp’s highest eating quality status – the farm is part of Landcorp’s genetic programme – Kepler commands attention for all the right reasons. Travis and Catriona’s brilliant results culminated in taking the top title of Southland Ballance Farm Environment Award Regional […]
Dean & Sarah Rabbidge – Rabbidge Farms
Since 1889, farming has united every generation of the Rabbidges. The family’s connection to the land they live and farm on – and their wider district – is characterised by profound respect. The evolution of Rabbidge Farms owes to great foresight and ambition. Over the years, diversification of the land and operation has been achieved […]
2018 Southland Regional Supreme Winners
Mataura dairy farmers Ryan and Abby Moseby have won the Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Good milk production in only the fourth year after conversion along with care for the environment, water quality and biodiversity are features of this year’s Southland supreme winner announced at a dinner at the Ascot Park Hotel, Invercargill, on Thursday […]
2017 Southland Regional Supreme Winners
Glenham farmers David, Alanna and Julie Clarke run their sheep breeding and finishing and dairy grazing business, Elgin Park Farms Ltd, on 315ha of gentle rolling to steep country in Eastern Southland, close to the western fingers of the Catlins Forest Park. The Ballance Farm Environment Award judges said it was a beautiful property being […]
2016 Southland Regional Supreme Winners
Redcliff farmers Shane Gibbons and Bridget Speight are Supreme winners of the 2016 Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Shane and Bridget own 1880ha Whare Creek, a sheep, beef and dairy support farm at the southern end of the Te Anau basin. Last year Whare Creek wintered over 14,500 stock units, including young dairy grazers, 8,700 […]
2015 Southland Regional Supreme Winners
Te Anau sheep and dairy farmers Robert and Anna Kempthorne run Mavora Farms Ltd, a successful self-contained dairy and sheep operation spread over 613ha in the Te Anau Basin. In partnership with Robert’s parents Bruce and Linda, the Kempthornes converted the family drystock farm and a neighbouring property in 2007, creating the first dairy farm […]
2014 Southland Regional Supreme Winners
Andrew and HeatherTripp embrace the mantle of stewardship that comes with being in charge of this 17,000 su historic property at Kaiwera, south east of Gore. “We see ourselves very much as stewards here, and that guides every decision we make,” says Andrew, whose grandfather Charlie Tripp bought the property in 1924. Andrew and Heather […]
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 […]