T¯ırau farmers reign supreme
Tı¯rau dairy and beef farmers Adrian and Pauline Ball have come out on top during this year’s 2019 Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
The couple, who for 30 years have run Dennley Farms Ltd in Rangipai Rd off State Highway 27, were announced Regional Supreme Winner of the annual awards held last week.
They were one of five finalists for the Waikato award with Matira sheep and beef farmers Malcolm and Sally Lee and Kevin Burke, Ohaupo Kiwifruit orcharders Richard and Robyn Glenn, Te Awamutu dairy, dairy support, sheep and crop farmers Graeme and Karen Saunders and Nathan and Vanessa McCluskie, and fellow South Waikato dairy farm owners Phil and Maree White and contract milkers Mike White and Daphne Missirlis from Putaruru also in the running.
The Balls, who also have a dry stock block along the Waihou River near the famous Blue Spring, said the win was a huge honour.
‘‘There were five supreme award finalists for the whole of the Waikato so it was quite humbling to win as they are all good farmers,’’ Pauline said.
Adrian said he was impressed by the calibre of the finalists.
‘‘It could have gone to any of us really and it is humbling to think what we have been doing for so long is right,’’ he said. That includes aspiring to model low input, low footprint, high animal welfare values and the Balls have achieved best practice agronomy to optimise crop and animal yields without compromising environmental health.
They have retired land for extensive planting at both sites, installing three duck ponds for biodiversity, eliminated the use of palm kernel by growing all their own feed, and work closely with nutrient suppliers to ensure fertilisers are applied at appropriate times and that soil testing is undertaken on pasture every other year and annually on cropped land.
The dry stock farm is also 100 per cent off-the-grid using solar power, a deep well water supply, and solar electric fencing.
Adrian said their success comes down to having an open mind.
‘‘We have been thinking about ways to try and solve the problems we face with the environment, sustainability and social licence for a long time. I am of the belief that we can achieve these goals without losing profitability.
‘‘Farming is pretty unique in that a lot of people share knowledge but you have to have an open mind. I think that the reason why this farm has done so well with a lot of things is that we never dwell on the past, we’ve always got an open mind,’’ he said.
Pauline said being proactive was also key.
‘‘The Waikato Regional Council along with the South Waikato Environment Initiatives Fund have been supportive about what we have done plating along the river,’’ Adrian said.
Regional Supreme Winner from 11 regions will now be profiled at the awards’ National Sustainability Showcase in Hamilton on Thursday, June 6, with each in the running for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy.
‘‘There were five supreme award finalists for the whole of the Waikato so it was quite humbling to win as they are all good farmers.’’