Medbury Farm will host a field day in mid-June at the Dalzells Road North property. The Medbury Farm board members had completed a governance course before the tragic sudden death of founding farm partner Eric Jacomb (husband of Janet Girvan) in January 2016. As resident equity partners, the Hislops said they wanted to enter the awards to fulfil a wish of Eric’s and show what was good practice, have pride in what they are doing and to counter negative press about the dairy industry.

Over the past 15 years and with the equity involvement of Mark Daly from 2008, the business has developed to two farm dairies and housing for six staff members on the property. The original 50-bale rotary milking 500 cows has been joined by a second farm dairy and the farm business boosted to a carrying capacity of 1240 cows with 300 replacement heifers. It is producing more than 540,000kgMS annually, with yield figures of 1550kgMS/ha and 445kgMS/cow.

An original border-dyke irrigation system using water from the Hurunui River has been upgraded to a more efficient centre-pivot and supplementary sprinkler system. Spray irrigation across the whole property draws on water from Medbury Irrigation Company Limited. Aquaflex soil moisture sensors are also employed to help irrigation management decisions and stock water meters feed information by telemetry to the farm computers.

The judges commended Medbury Farm Limited for its outstanding documentation, health and safety programme, Farm Environment Plan and the five-year Environmental Action Plan.

The farm dairy effluent systems have been showcased by Fonterra to its sustainable dairying advisors. Soil structure is protected by use of stand-off areas in a quarry and in forest areas.

Medbury Farm has fenced and planted its boundaries to the Waitohi and Hurunui Rivers, planted natives around both farm dairies and fenced off some wetlands. Medbury Farm encourages and helps employees on work visas to gain residency and has a touch rugby team entered in the local competition.

AWARDS WON:

• 2018 Canterbury Regional Supreme Award
• Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
• CB Norwood Distributors Ltd Agri-Business Management Award
• DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
• Environment Canterbury Water Quality Award
• Bayleys Canterbury People in Primary Sector Award