Sheep and beef farmers take top honours at environment award

26 June 2012

Sheep and beef farmers take top honours at environment awards

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is delighted to congratulate Otago sheep and beef farmers Blair and Jane Smith for winning the national title in the 2012 Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

The Smiths were awarded the Gordon Stephenson Trophy, having been chosen from nine regional supreme winners.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Scott Champion said the acknowledgement of sheep and beef farming operations leading the way with sustainable farming practices was great news.

“Sheep and beef farmers have long seen themselves as custodians of the land, working it profitably while ensuring the land is improved for future generations.

“Beef + Lamb New Zealand sponsors the Ballance Farm Environment Awards because of its focus on showcasing farmers working sustainably and caring for the environment.

“This is the second year in a row that sheep and beef farmers have won the national trophy – Grant and Bernie Weller of Southland won it last year and undertook a Beef + Lamb New Zealand-supported visit to Europe where they met industry representatives in key markets and had the opportunity to share their farming practices.

“We will be working Blair and Jane Smith in the months ahead to ensure their great story of farming in an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable way is heard both within and beyond the sector.”

About Beef + Lamb New Zealand:

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd is the farmer owned industry organisation representing New Zealand’s sheep and beef farmers. Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd invests farmer levies to help develop a growing sheep and beef industry providing sustainable returns for future generations. Beef + Lamb New Zealand has four programmes – Farm, Market, People and Information – to deliver innovative tools and services to support informed decision making, and continuous improvement in market access, product positioning and farming systems for New Zealand’s sheep and beef sector.

ENDS

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