MEDIA RELEASE

Bay awards a chance to learn how to farm sustainably
For immediate release: Monday 12 March 2007

A Bay of Plenty environment award that supports farmers on “the journey to sustainability” has announced its finalists for 2007.

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards, which are coordinated regionally by Environment Bay of Plenty, will be presented at a ceremony in Te Puke on Tuesday 3 April.

Leader of the assessors’ team, Ian Pirani, says the finalists are yet again “a fantastic bunch. Without exception, they are very high calibre. It was exciting to visit all their properties and find out what they are doing.”

This year’s finalists are:

- Stuart and Alison Paton of Murupara (dairy)
- Stewart and Anne Koopal of Rerewhakaaitu, Rotorua (dairy)
- Doug and Ruth Espin of Te Puke (kiwifruit)
- Steve Saunders from the Plus Group (orchard management company)
- Jim and Robyn Coster, and Allen and Sue Coster of Tauranga (livestock)

Mr Pirani says the awards promote a way of farming that is both practical and profitable. He emphasises that they are a learning opportunity rather than a competition. “Farming sustainably is a journey rather than an end result. It’s about taking one step, and then the next, and then another.” Some people have entered several times, taking advantage of the expert assessment of their properties and farm practices.

Over the next year or two, they have put in place many of the recommendations. “They’ve then entered again to check how they going and to pick the brains of the assessment team yet again. It’s really a competition against yourself rather than against other farmers.”

The event is now run in eight regions of New Zealand. Principal sponsor Ballance Agri-Nutrients is joined in supporting the awards by LIC, PPCS, PGG Wrightson, Gallagher and Hill Laboratories. Environment Bay of Plenty is the regional partner.

ENDS

© Scoop Media