Two Horowhenua entrants in awards

Ballance Farm Environment Awards on

Two of this year’s Ballance Farm Environment Awards entrants for the Horizons region are Horowhenua farmers.

One are Blair and Anna Robinson of Te Rohenga Farm, a sheep and beef farm run a profitably farm with almost 5500 animals across 850ha.

Most of their income is derived from sheep, including a Perendale stud and lamb finishing programme.

About 30 per cent of their income is from Angus beef and about 10 per cent from selling deer velvet.

They also run an events and tourism business.

In 2020, 30ha of steep hill country was retired into a pine forestry block to sequester carbon.

Water and soil quality is carefully managed and greenhouse gas emissions are monitored.

Trees have been planted across the property — boosting water quality, reducing soil erosion and off-setting carbon emissions.

Waterways have been fenced, complemented with significant riparian planting.

An animal health plan helps to ensure that stock is kept in good condition, while ongoing pasture renewal is helping to boost production without increasing the farm’s carbon footprint.

In Foxton Josh Millard manages Pa¯mu Farms of New Zealand’s Tongariro Dairy Unit.

Tongariro is part of the Pa¯mu Farms of New Zealand suite of properties and farm manager Josh Millard embraces the Pa¯mu philosophy of putting the care of land and animals first.

Tongariro is moving from conventional farming to producing organic milk.

That requires a change to the farm’s reproduction management system, and trialling alternative pasture species that work for both land and animals.

Josh’s goal is to feed the cows on grass all year round, supported as needed by fresh crops grown on-farm.

In 2020, 630 cows were milked producing 243,000kg of milk solids.

As they move to the organic system, stock numbers will be reduced to 450, with a target of 450kg of milk solids per cow.

A wide range of sustainability initiatives have been implemented, including the careful management of water, soil and nutrients.

Greenhouse gas emissions are closely monitored and are reducing thanks to the shift to organics and careful business planning.

“We are thrilled to have received a range of excellent entries from across the country for this year’s awards,” said NZFET chairwoman Joanne van Polanen.

“It shows that despite all of the disruptions to business and life in general, farmers and growers across New Zealand are committed to environmentally sustainable practices.

“We are thrilled to be able to recognise and share their stories.”

To ensure the safety of staff, entrants and judges, the regional awards events, due to start in March, have been postponed until June and July.

“We are determined to run in-person functions to celebrate the entrants, but will do this when it can be done more safely,” said van Polanen.

The entrants from the Horizons region include farmers across sheep and beef, dairy, maize, honey and tourism.

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards function for the Horizons region is planned for Thursday, July 7.