National win recognises love for land

John and Catherine Ford of Highlands Station, Tarawera.

John and Catherine Ford own the 1240ha Highlands Station -- a productive and well-maintained hill-country farm south of Rotorua.

In the Lake Tarawera and Rotokakahi catchments, the farm's distinctive contour was shaped by volcanic activity which flattened forests, carved out hill faces and left the area covered in phosphate-rich mud.

John's father, Allen, began developing Highlands Station in the 1930s and award judges noted the Fords' "strong family history of commitment to agriculture".

Highlands Station has a "much loved feel" and its outstanding meat and wool production puts it among New Zealand's leading sheep and beef farms.

The Fords are very careful to manage the volcanic soils appropriately, with practices matched to the land's capabilities and catchment. Highlands Station also has extensive native bush, including 140ha under QEII National Trust covenants.

John is passionate about minimising erosion on the challenging contour. A network of almost 200 retention dams reduces run-off and scouring during heavy rainfall. This well-designed system also mitigates phosphate loss. Stock performance on the property is excellent.

Judges also praised John and Catherine's "effective and outstanding staff management programme".

The Fords are very aware of encouraging and guiding staff.

"We are the owners and take the financial risk but our staff produce the results which make it viable," says Catherine.

Judges' comments:

John and Catherine Ford from Rotorua are the National Ballance Farm Environment Award winners for 2015, the first North Island farming business owners to win this award.

From 10 outstanding regional supreme winners, this large sheep and cattle property stood out in environmental sustainability and impressive production and performance figures. The careful and responsible management of nutrient run-off was rated by the Fords as one of their most critical issues to get right.

The judges were impressed with the deep knowledge shown by John and Catherine on techniques to achieve this, including the careful mix of stock and up to 200 retention dams. Retaining water allows it to infiltrate the pervious pumice layer and substantially reduce run-off of phosphate into waterways and lakes.

Winning this national award is about ensuring the business of farming sits comfortably beside environmental sustainability. Highlands Station sheep and cattle production and profitability was rated in the top 5 per cent in the country with excellent stock in top class condition producing an impressive economic farm surplus.

Alongside this the judges saw wise and appropriate land use based on soil capabilities, extensive native bush reserves with 140ha in QEII National Trust covenants and other bush areas protected with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and good shelter and shade for stock.

Staff relationships and management were excellent with John and Catherine very ready to seek external advice. The winners and the property had strong ties to their community and displayed a deep understanding of a wide range of topics.

This Rotorua property had the "wow" factor; for visiting judges, it stood out as something special.

John and Catherine are very worthy winners of the Gordon Stephenson trophy and, as the 2015 Ballance Farm Environment Awards national winners, they will be excellent ambassadors. They have clearly demonstrated that profitable farming and good environmental management go hand in hand.

For more information see: bfea.org.nz.