Farmers urged to enter awards

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are quickly approaching.

Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards regional co-ordinator Jessie Waite says she hopes to see a good number of people attend an information evening in Stratford on the awards where they can get a better understanding of the awards, and what businesses can benefit from entering.

“The awards offer farmers and growers an opportunity to have experienced farmers and agribusiness professionals provide constructive feedback on their business plan.

“The feedback we get from entrants is that the process is so easy, it’s not daunting and they learn a lot about their business,” she says.

South Taranaki farmers Nicola and Peter Carver won the national Gordon Stephenson Award in 2017 and will do a presentation on an overseas trip (which was part of their national prize) during the night.

Also speaking at the information evening is the 2018 Taranaki award winners the Gibbs Family.

Jessie says the dairy farm, 3km south of Manaia on the south Taranaki coast, is among those supervised by Leedom Gibbs, one of Grant and Dinny’s three daughters. Half of the farm is irrigated with two centrepivots and contains a wetland that was established as part of the farm’s development.

Water for the irrigation system is taken by consent from the Waiokura Stream and stock water comes from the Waimate West Water Scheme, on which Grant is a trustee.

Jessie says there is no obligation to enter the awards by attending the information evening.

■ The information evening will be held at the Shakee Pear, in Stratford on Thursday, August 30 from 7pm. For more information, contact Jessie Waite on 027 423 8417 or email Taranaki@bfea.org.nz