Entries are open for the 2025 Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Facilitated by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, the awards recognise and celebrate excellence and innovation in sustainable farming and growing.
Trust general manager Sarah Harris encouraged farmers and growers at any stage of their sustainability journey to get involved.
“Being part of the awards programme is an excellent way to gain constructive feedback on your business, help identify your strengths, and learn from others who are passionate about the food and fibre sector.”
This year’s National Ambassadors, Hamish and Simon Guild of High Peak Station in Canterbury, encourage anyone who is considering entering the awards to recognise that their business and property will never be perfect.
“The past five years have been very hard for our business, and we certainly felt we were far from perfect and in a rebuilding phase when we entered – but that is also part of our story,” said Hamish.
“Look back at what you’ve achieved to date and take that into account and go for it from there,” said Simon.
“There’s always a reason not to enter and that’s something you need to put behind you and just take the plunge.”
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) programme offers a platform for farmers and growers to showcase, benchmark and enhance the sustainability of their operation through the judging process, whereby rural peers and agribusiness professionals provide valuable feedback, commendations, and recommendations.
Judges take a comprehensive approach, evaluating the entire farm system including water and soil management, climate stewardship, biodiversity, waste management, team and community wellbeing, business health, biosecurity and animal care.
The awards also feature a Catchment Group Showcase, which recognises the efforts of a rural community working together to improve water quality, promote good on-farm practices and sustainable land management, and encourage positive environmental and farmer wellbeing outcomes.
The initiative is designed to celebrate the efforts of catchment groups and serves to inspire other communities with examples of good practice.
Entries for the BFEA are open until October, with initial farm visits taking place before the end of this year. Regional awards events will follow in March and April 2025.
The Regional Supreme Winner from each of the 11 regions will be considered for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the Trust’s National Showcase at Tākina in Wellington on June 18, 2025. The winners of the trophy will become the National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing for 2025.
Entries can be made online at nzfeawards.org.nz
