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Profitability a key factor in award win for sustainable farming

For immediate release: EMBARGOED until 2pm on Tuesday 3 April

A Tauranga sheep and beef property which has been in the same family for half a century has won the supreme award in this year’s Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Jim and Robyn Coster, their son Allen and his wife Sue work together to run Mataiwhetu Station, a 300ha farm located in the lower Kaimai area. Along with other recipients, they received their award at a special ceremony attended by more than 100 people in Te Puke on Tuesday 3 April.

The Ballance Farm Environment Award’s regional chairman John Bourke says the annual awards promote a way of farming that is both practical and profitable. “Early on, some farmers were a bit sceptical about the awards because they felt it was not really possible to be environmentally-focused and really profitable at the same time. Over the past three years, we’ve proved to them that that’s not the case. The last three supreme award winners have all been extremely profitable businesses.”

The Coster family follow in the footsteps of Manawahe farmers Jean and John Mackintosh, last year’s supreme award winners, and Opotiki kiwifruit orchardists, Brett and Rachael Wotton, who won in 2005.

Now in their fifth year, the awards are coordinated regionally by Environment Bay of Plenty. Chairman John Cronin says they align strongly with the regional council’s objectives. “We know that the best farmers have always looked after their farm environment. Environment Bay of Plenty’s strong involvement in these awards both recognises that long-standing commitment and urges others to do the same.”
The event is now run in eight regions of New Zealand. Principal sponsor Ballance Agri-Nutrients is joined in supporting the awards by LIC, PPCS, PGG Wrightson, Gallagher and Hill Laboratories. Environment Bay of Plenty is the regional partner.

The Award Winners

The Coster family, Tauranga
Supreme Award Winner and winner of PPCS Best Livestock Farm Award
The Coster family’s beef and sheep property in the lower Kaimai was a “grass desert” once – but half a century on it is now the supreme award winner in this year’s Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The property’s name, Mataiwhetu, means “the place you stand and see the stars”. It’s obvious the Coster family – Jim and Robyn, their son Allen and his wife Sue - have not only looked up at the stars but have also worked with what lies underfoot. Over the years, they have loved and looked after their land well. Because of this, they are well deserving of the supreme award, says Mr Bourke.
Over the years, the Costers have protected most of the streams, waterways and gullies on the property. They have also helped ensure the preservation of 100,000 acres of the Kaimai Forest for the creation of a park for future generations.
The assessment team was impressed by the good condition of the Coster family’s stock, which has won them previous awards elsewhere. Allen and Sue have also progressively altered stock policies for better profitability and to reduce the effect on the usually wet but drought-prone and puggable soils. They modified stock to fit the soil conditions, putting lighter stock on the lighter soil of the steep hill country.
The farm recently became a Monitor Farm, which means the Costers have now opened their business to other farmers to share information and explore more sustainable farming practices for the future.

Stuart and Alison Paton, Galatea
LIC Best Dairy Farm Award
PGG Wrightson Habitat Improvement Award

Stuart and Alison Paton are no strangers to the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Last year, they also won an award – but they didn’t sit back on their laurels afterwards. Instead, they have worked on improvements suggested by the assessors, and will no doubt do so again this time. Since their last assessment, the Patons have altered the contours of their farm to reduce fertiliser leaching. They have reduced their farm’s environmental impacts by retiring more land along waterways.
The Patons manage two properties and a stock runoff farm at Galatea. Alison is in charge of the home farm which runs 170 friesian cows while Stuart takes responsibility for the second property and its herd of 230.
Stuart and Allison Paton recognise the value of looking after the environment that their stock live in. They provide them with ample shade and multiple water troughs, and have installed automatic gates. Their primary concern is their stock’s wellbeing. If the stock, the pasture and the soil are not stressed then production increases – and it has. The Patons are a great team who really look after their stock’s health and wellbeing, resulting in excellent production.

Doug and Ruth Espin, Te Puke
Hill Laboratories Best Harvest Farm Award
Doug and Ruth Espin have proved that organic growing can be a good business decision as well as a rewarding lifestyle. Their kiwifruit orchard of 3.2 canopy hectares produces an average of 10,000 trays a hectare – much more than the industry average for organic production. That’s one of the outstanding factors the assessors took in to account when deciding on this award. They were also impressed by the innovative wind generators Doug built to counter the effects of frost on production.
Doug and Ruth have grown organically for the past 10 years after converting the orchard they purchased near Maketu in 1982. They run a well-ordered operation. Their close cooperation strongly contributes to the success of their venture. Most of all, they have a real commitment to sustainability.

Steve Saunders, Gro Plus Ltd, Pollen Plus Ltd, Te Puna
Ballance Nutrient Management Award and Gallagher Innovation Award
Gro Plus Ltd provides a one-stop shop service for kiwifruit orchard management. Based at Te Puna, it is the largest independently-owned company of its kind in New Zealand, representing 102 orchards and managing about 400 ha. Associated company Pollen Plus Ltd is one of the largest kiwifruit pollen producers in the world.
Steve Saunders is the company’s owner. He has built a strong and vibrant business in just a few years. But more than that, he is a man of vision and enterprise who is not afraid to experiment. Innovation is a key activity within the company. As part of this, Steve has carried out innovative experiments with rates of fertilisation, pollination rates and isolation techniques. He also shares his successes with others – and the assessors really liked that.
Steve’s business excels across many levels of activity, in a client’s orchard, in the company’s meeting room, with research and development, and within the local community. He provides an example of best industry practice.

Winston Fleming, Rotorua
Environment Bay of Plenty Environmental Award
Winston Fleming is a “kiwi character” who has a farm near Rotorua with a tourist operation on the side. He has a real love for the land, and is passionate about protecting the environment. Winston has fenced off areas of native and regenerating bush on his 210 ha Kaharoa property. He is also very strong on animal pest control, especially trapping feral goats.

Anne and Stewart Koopal, Rotorua
Environment Bay of Plenty Environmental Award
Anne and Stewart Koopal believe in leading by example. They hold field days on their 204ha property at Rerewhakaaitu and are leading lights in a number of groups that encourage sustainable farming practices, including riparian restoration. The Koopals are very keen environmentalists and have a positive desire to protect the environment. They have made changes to their farming practices to support their belief, and have plans to do more. They are very aware of the sensitive lake environment.

Supreme Award Winner Field Day
The Coster family will be hosting a field day on their property on Wednesday 9 May. Please check Environment Bay of Plenty’s website, www.envbop.govt.nz for details.

ENDS

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