Top Farming Operations Honoured In 2010 Awards

Top Farming Operations Honoured In 2010 Farm Environment Awards

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards have wrapped up for another year, with leading farmers from eight regions recognised for their contributions to environmental sustainability.

The awards celebrate those people who use best practises to farm in a manner that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable.

The Greater Wellington/Wairarapa was the last region to hold its Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) ceremony, with George and Sarah Tatham, who run a sheep, beef and dairy support operation near Masterton, named supreme winners.

Kaitaia dairy farmers Brian and Gaye Simms were supreme winners for the Northland region and Tiroroa Farms Ltd, a dairy farming partnership between Wynn and Tracy Brown and Tony and Coby Brown, was supreme winner for the Waikato.

Pikowai farmers Bruce and Tessa Calder, who run a sheep, beef, dairy support and forestry operation, were supreme winners for the Bay of Plenty, and Aria sheep and beef farmers Ken and Sue Ballantyne were supreme winners in the Horizons region.

The top award for the Canterbury region went to Hawarden sheep, beef, deer and forestry farmers Dugald and Mandy Rutherford, and Waitahuna sheep and forestry farmers Ronald and Carol Alderton, who farm in partnership with their son David and his partner Paula, were supreme winners for the Otago region.

Waimea Valley sheep, beef and deer farmers Elliot and Janine King were supreme winners of the 2010 Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

New Zealand Farm Environment Award Trust general manager David Natzke says despite tough economic and climatic conditions, it's been another highly successful year for the awards.

"Again I was impressed by the enthusiasm, commitment and skill shown by the supreme winners. The calibre of all entrants was first class and everyone that entered the competition found it a truly worthwhile experience."

As well as the supreme award winners, a host of other category award winners were recognised for their efforts in improving environmental management.

Mr Natzke says supreme award winners from around the country will gather for a Sustainability Showcase in Christchurch on June 25.

Supreme winners become ambassadors for environmental management and their skills and knowledge will be utilised by the wider farming community.

Entries for the 2011 Ballance Farm Environment Awards open later this year.

Key sponsors of the 2010 awards include Ballance Agri-Nutrients, LIC, Hill Laboratories, Massey University, PGG Wrightson and the New Zealand Farm Environment Award Trust.

The awards are also backed by Environment Waikato, Environment Bay of Plenty, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Horizons Regional Council, Environment Canterbury, Otago Regional Council and the Northland Regional Council.

ENDS

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