Latest News

For everything Ruralco and Real Farmer

15Jul

Environmental sustainability leads to win

Words and image supplied by NZ Farm Environment Trust

 

Run by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, the awards champion sustainable farming and growing. The Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards were announced on 14 July.

Since 1989, the Everests have expanded this Ashburton property to the 255ha effective farm it is today, developing a sustainable beef and dairy business that balances the needs of people, animals, economics and the environment.

In 2010, they developed the property into a dairy farm and currently milk 750 cows on a predominantly pasture-based system. When they established the 225ha milking platform that year, the best technology of the day was incorporated, and considered both labour and the environment.

With environmental sustainability at the core of this family business, they have successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions and Nitrogen loss and have established more than 20km of shelter and riparian plantings. The judges praised how the farm team’s skills were used to enable sustainable business outcomes. They were impressed with monitoring areas on the farm, along with the extensive planting that has taken place.

“It’s evident that there’s a long-term commitment to environmental stewardship. They have a strong, evidence-based understanding of how the farm business impacts the environment. There’s good implementation of their succession plan.” Flemington Farm also won the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management, DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship, Hill Laboratories Agri-Science, Norwood Agri-Business Management, Environment Canterbury Water Quality and Synlait Climate Stewardship

awards.

 

Details of the Field Day at Flemington Farm will be available at: www.nzfeawards.org.nz and the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust Facebook page.

 

OTHER CANTERBURY BALLANCE FARM ENVIRONMENT AWARD WINNERS 2022:

• Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award: Geoff and Rochelle Spark, Torlesse Farm

• Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award: Matt & Claire Smith - Managers,

Boyd Macdonald – CE of Lone Star Farms, Caberfeidh Station – Lone Star Farms

• Massey University Innovation Award: Matt & Claire Smith - Managers, Boyd

Macdonald – CE of Lone Star Farms, Caberfeidh Station – Lone Star Farms

• WaterForce Wise with Water Award: Matt & Claire Smith - Managers, Boyd

Macdonald - CE of Lone Star Farms, Caberfeidh Station – Lone Star Farms

Related

Resilience behind Ruralco success and positive financial results

Resilience behind Ruralco success and positive financial results

Despite uncertainty around Covid and regulatory compliance issues, Ruralco has shown it is more resi...

Read More
Setting up for cereal success

Setting up for cereal success

Look back and plan ahead to get the most from your autumn sown cereal crops.

Read More
Farmer recognition and appreciation behind Ruralco’s “Farmers. We’ve Got Your Back” campaign

Farmer recognition and appreciation behind Ruralco’s “Farmers. We’ve Got Your Back” campaign

Nationwide appreciation and recognition for the hard mahi put in by our farmers on a daily basis is ...

Read More
Test deep for cereals

Test deep for cereals

Deep-rooting crops such as cereals can access nitrogen deep in the soil profile, so a deeper soil te...

Read More
A new era of Wagyu excellence

A new era of Wagyu excellence

Having teamed up with Southern Stations Wagyu, Michael Schat has moved away from the dairy industry ...

Read More
Ikebana: The art of Japanese flower arrangement

Ikebana: The art of Japanese flower arrangement

Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, which emphasizes minimalism, harmony,...

Read More




Account Selector