Boots Off, Brains Unplugged
OPINION: Across the country, farmers are juggling stock, pasture, animal health, fertiliser, contractors, staff, weather, cash flow and an endless list of jobs that cannot wait.
Winning three category awards in their first time in the competition was a bonus for the Bartletts, who run a 950-cow operation on 526ha at Halcombe, north of Feilding.
“We certainly didn’t expect to win anything,” says Ellen, “we entered because we wanted to find out what we were doing right and what things we could improve on. We also felt it was important to support the awards because they do such a great job of showcasing the good work done by farmers.”
While business and environmental sustainability has always been a key focus for George and Ellen, their involvement in the awards inspired them to keep looking for ways to improve further.
“The judging process spurred us into action [on] some areas where we can do better,” says Ellen. “It was great to have the judges come onfarm and offer us an outside perspective. They asked questions that were challenging in a positive way and George enjoyed answering them and explaining what we were trying to achieve.”
The Bartletts won the LIC Dairy Farm Award, the PGG Wrightson Land and Life Award and the WaterForce Integrated Management Award; the latter recognises farmers who have developed water systems for their own farms.
BFEA judges said the Bartletts manage and maintain their water resources to a high standard while continually investigating further water storage options.
“The farm is on a water scheme, so our water allocation is tightly restricted,” says Ellen. “We don’t irrigate and we make every effort to recycle and re-use whatever water we can.”
For example, ‘green water’ collected in a third-stage effluent pond is used for yard washdown. Rainwater is collected where possible, and all waterlines are constantly monitored for leaks.
“We have to be very careful with our water, so we treat it as one of our most valuable assets.”
The Bartletts also won praise for their staff management.
“Staff are very important to us and when we entered the awards we got the whole team involved and explained what we were aiming to do. They were all supportive and the fact we won three awards reflects well upon them.”
Ellen and George encourage other farmers to give the Ballance Farm Environment Awards a go. “It’s not all about winning, it’s about learning. Just enjoy the process and what you can gain from it,” says Ellen.
George says farmers shouldn’t wait until they have finished their farm improvements “bec603-341ause there is always more to do and the feedback gained could help you prioritise this”.
Entries for the 2016 awards close on September 25.
Entry forms are available at www.bfea.org.nz
