Beef + Lamb New Zealand congratulates all the winners in this year’s Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
B+LNZ's CEO Sam McIvor says it was pleasing to see that sheep and beef farmers were well represented in this year’s Awards winning eight of the ten regional Supreme Awards.
“This is no accident as around 24 percent or 2.8 million hectares of this country’s native vegetation is growing on sheep and beef farms and our farmers have proved themselves to be outstanding guardians of the land. “
“All regional Supreme Winners show that environmental guardianship and productivity and profitability go hand-in-hand. They all demonstrated an in-depth understanding of their physical resources and have used science, innovation, monitoring and measuring to run diverse and sustainable businesses while protecting their soil, water and native biodiversity.”
Beef + Lamb New Zealand is a national sponsor of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards which celebrate farmer and grower achievement, showcase good farm practices and share positive farming stories with a wide audience.
“Beef + Lamb New Zealand has been proud to support the Awards, in particular the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Award, since 2010."
"The Awards give farmers and growers the opportunity to tell their story and be recognised for the work they put into growing their businesses and enhancing their environment.
“Every year we see fantastic coverage of the Awards and positive stories in regional papers around the country about the great work farmers are doing," says Mr McIvor.
When judging the Awards, judges take into account animal and plant care, biodiversity, business health, climate, people and wellbeing, soil, water and waste management.
The Supreme Winner from each of the ten regions involved in this year’s awards will go through to be considered for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the Trust’s National Showcase in Hamilton in June. The recipients of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy then become 2024’s National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing.