Mike and Sharon Barton weren’t deterred by the prospect of a nitrogen cap on the land when they bought their 142ha property, overlooking the Western Bay’s area of Lake Taupo, in 2004.

There were very few land sales in the area at the time they purchased; such was the uncertainty, properties were being listed on the market as either inside or outside the Taupo Catchment. Despite this being Mike and Sharon’s first foray into full-time farming they were clear they wanted to buy, and farm, in an environmentally sustainable manner “not just talk about it”.