Irrigation environmental manager keen to start working with farmers

Waimakariri Irrigation Limited's new internal environmental manager, Ben Howden.

The opportunity to spend more time on-farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).

Howden is the first fulltime internal environmental manager to work for the co-operative.

He said that demonstrated the importance WIL placed on assisting shareholders to meet their environmental requirements, while also responding to current and future environmental challenges.

“Spending more time out on-farm with shareholders while also considering what the future holds really appeals to me,” Howden said.

“I am keen to get to know our shareholders and find out how I can help them to achieve their environmental goals.”

Growing up on his family’s farm near Ashburton, Howden understands what it takes to operate a successful farm on a practical level.

After high school, he attended Canterbury University, where he gained a master’s degree in environmental science, before starting his career as an environmental analyst with Rangitata Dairies in South Canterbury.

While working for Rangitata Dairies, Howden focused on providing on-farm and consent support for the company’s farming operations.

He then moved to Irricon, where he spent five years working as an environmental consultant with a focus on consents and auditing when Farm Environment Plans (FEPs) became a requirement for farmers.

“A year after I started at Irricon, Environment Canterbury launched their FEP auditing programme, so I provided practical advice to farmers and carried out audits,” Howden said.

“There was a lot to learn during this period for both consultants and farmers.”

In 2021, Howden took up a principal consultant role with Ravensdown, leading a team of consultants based in mid-Canterbury to support farmers in meeting their regulatory requirements and environmental goals.

“I enjoyed leading a team and had the opportunity to work in a large organisation where I could gain a lot of experience and learn new skills.

“After a few years, I wanted to spend more time out on-farm again and being able to work closely with farmers is what attracted me to the role with WIL.”

Howden sees challenges and opportunities ahead for WIL’s shareholders and is looking forward to helping them navigate options for a sustainable farming future.

“Obviously, we have challenges in terms of regulation and climate change, but we also have plenty of opportunities including technology and efficiency gains.

“The irrigation scheme also has an opportunity as a co-operative to secure a more sustainable and reliable water supply.”

Along with building strong relationships with WIL’s shareholders and familiarising himself with the irrigation scheme, Howden will be supporting the preparation of WIL’s discharge consent renewal during the first few months of his new role.

When Howden isn’t out on-farm, he will be based in WIL’s new office, which is located upstairs in Conway Lane in Rangiora.

He is happy to visit shareholders on-farm and they are also welcome to visit him at his office.

“I am pretty down to earth and approachable so I hope shareholders will give me a call and I will do my best to support them to achieve their environmental goals.”

In his free time, Howden enjoys sport and the outdoors and shares his love of nature with his young family. They live in Darfield.

“I love diving, fishing, hunting and cricket,” he said.

“Going away camping is another activity we enjoy doing as a family. We like to be outside doing stuff whenever possible.”