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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