The countdown has begun to find the next Supreme Bay of Plenty Ballance Environmental farmers.
Facilitated by the New Zealand Farm Environment (NZFE) Trust, the awards promote best-practice land management by showcasing the work of people farming in a way that is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.
Open to all farming and horticultural types, the 2016 awards will be held in 11 regions, with Auckland joining the competition for the first time.
Trust national judging co-ordinator Andrea Hanna said every farmer, including orchardists, vegetable growers and viticulturists, should enter.
"Most people enter because they want high quality feedback on how their farming operation stacks up in terms of environmental and economic sustainability," she said.