Entries called for the East Coast farm environment awards

The call has gone out to farmers and growers across Tairāwhiti to enter the 2025 Ballance Farm Environment Awards. This year's winners were the Beamish family of Hawke's Bay - (from left) Josi, Hugo and Simon Beamish.

Farmers and growers across the region have been invited to enter the 2025 Ballance Farm Environment Awards to help continue to grow a healthy future for farming.

Facilitated by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, the awards recognise and celebrate excellence and innovation in sustainable farming and growing within the primary sector.

Trust general manager Sarah Harris has invited farmers and growers at any stage of their sustainability journey to get involved.

“Being part of the awards programme is an excellent way to gain constructive feedback on your business, help identify your strengths, and learn from others who are passionate about the food and fibre sector.”

Simon, Josi, Hugo and Pip Beamish of Awapai in the Whanawhana Valley of Hawke’s Bay were named this year’s East Coast regional supreme winners, and encourage anyone considering entering the awards to take up the opportunity.

“The programme is wide-ranging and it’s a good place to get feedback on how your operation is going, if you’re headed in the right direction, where you can learn,” Hugo Beamish said.

“It’s been really special in the sense that we entered the awards to gather more knowledge and as a chance to refocus in the succession plan, where the younger generation are taking on more responsibility; it’s put a lot of information to hand that we can all consider and draw a pathway forward,” Simon Beamish said.

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) programme offers a platform for farmers and growers to showcase, benchmark and enhance the sustainability of their operation through the judging process, whereby rural peers and agribusiness professionals provide valuable feedback, commendations and recommendations.

Judges take a comprehensive approach, evaluating the entire farm system including water and soil management, climate stewardship, biodiversity, waste management, team and community wellbeing, business health, biosecurity and animal care.

The awards also feature a catchment group showcase, which recognises the efforts of a rural community working together to improve water quality, promote good on-farm practices and sustainable land management, and encourage positive environmental and farmer wellbeing outcomes.

The initiative is designed to celebrate the efforts of catchment groups and serves to inspire other communities with examples of good practice.

Entries remain open until October 31, with initial farm visits taking place before the end of the year.

The East Coast BFEA event will be held on March 25, 2025 - providing a valuable opportunity to connect as an industry, share stories and celebrate the outstanding achievements within the primary sector.

The East Coast regional supreme winner will join the 10 other regional winners from across the country to be considered for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the trust’s national showcase at Tākina in Wellington on June 18, 2025.

The winners of this prestigious trophy will become the National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing for 2025.

Entries can be made online at nzfeawards.org.nz