On this page: Nationwide Ballance Farm Environment awards, invitation for entries (2012 awards), why you should enter, comments from past entrants, learning from leaders project
Nationwide Ballance Farm Environment awards
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are conducted annually in the Waikato by the Farm Environment Award Trust-Waikato with support from the Waikato Regional Council and a number of farming industry sponsors. The purpose of the awards is to encourage sustainable agricultural practices.
In the years that the awards have been running in the Waikato, what defines sustainable farming practices has changed and developed. The key question the trust asks is, "Can what is being done now, still be working successfully in 100 years?"
Award categories include:
- Supreme Award
- Ballance nutrient management award
- PCG Wrightson land and life award
- Waikato Regional Council water protection award
- Gallagher innovation award
- Hill Laboratories harvest award
- Livestock Improvement dairy farm award
- PPCS livestock farm award.
- In the Waikato region, prizes are also available for the Waikato Forest and Bird native forest restoration award.
Find out more about the trust and awards on the Ballance Farm Awards website.
2012 Ballance Farm Environment Awards - Invitation for entries
The closing date for 2012 entries in the Waikato region was Friday, 14 October 2011.
Why you should enter
The benefits of entering the Ballance Farm Environment Awards include:
- linking sustainable farming practices to long-term profitability
- discussing practical farm information and business with judges from a range of fields
- gathering new ideas and different methods from other entrants
- confirming that your current farm management practices are sustainable
- prizes and recognition.
Comments from past entrants
"Taking part gave us the opportunity to examine the company's farming and business practises and to receive outsiders comments."
"It gets you thinking about specifics and gives you a great new perspective. It's good to know it's okay to think outside the square!"
"I would definitely encourage others to enter. It helps you refocus and confirm the direction you're going in."
"Entering these awards certainly heightened our environmental awareness. It has given us valuable new connections with some really great people, which has allowed a much clearer pathway to a better approach towards farming sustainably, as opposed to just profitably."
Learning from leaders project
In recent years the NZFEA Trust has carried out the Learning from Leaders Project, the objective of which is to spread the knowledge gained from the BFEA to a wider audience via practical, farmer-led learning events.
For more information see the Sustainable Farming Fund page on the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's website.
Contact us
If you wish to receive information about the awards contact us, providing your name, address, telephone number and type of farm.
Farmers in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Southland, Greater Wellington, Manawatu/Wanganui, Northland and Otago regions are eligible to enter.
| Email: |
waikato@bfea.org.nz |
| Post: |
Farm Environment Award Trust - Waikato
P O Box 4464
Hamilton East |
| Phone: |
Waikato Regional Council’s Freephone 0800 800 401 |
| Fax: |
(07) 853 2260 |