Farmers urged to enter Ballance Farm Environment Awards

Judging co-ordinator Andrea Hanna says every farmer/grower can benefit from the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Farmers and growers are being encouraged to enter the 2018 Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Entries for the awards, organised by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust to promote land stewardship by showcasing sustainable farming, opened last week in 11 regions (following regional council boundaries), each with their own judging timetable.

NZFE Trust national judging co-ordinator Andrea Hanna said all farmers and horticulturists, including orchardists, vegetable growers and viticulturists, were eligible to enter. Most contenders entered seeking high-quality feedback from independent rural professionals that they could use to improve their business.

"It's not just targeted at top farmers. Every farmer should take the opportunity to enter," she said, adding that the awards proved that good farming practices and sound business management went hand in hand.

Participants were also encouraged to share ideas and innovations with the wider farming community.

Entering the awards took two minutes, by completing a simple form available at www.bfea.org.nz.

"It costs nothing to enter, and the awards programme offers excellent educational opportunities for any farmer and grower who is interested in improving the sustainability of their farming business, including key social, economic and environmental outcomes," Mrs Hanna said.

The judging teams had a wide range of skills, and looked at all parts of the farming business. Judging was conducted in a relaxed, friendly manner, and climatic factors were taken into account.

"In the past we've found farmers can be reluctant to enter if their farm has been affected by wet weather or drought, but the judges know severe climatic events are part of farming, and will look beyond this at the wider picture," she added.

Providing the entrant agreed to be involved, other people were able to nominate a farming or growing business.

* More information is available on the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust website.