increase font size
The event will be hosted in the Bay of Islands.
A celebration of environmental excellence will be held for the first time in Northland next year.
The New Zealand Farm Environment Trust's National Sustainability Showcase recognises the efforts of Supreme Winners in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA). The event is to be held on June 22, 2016, at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Bay of Islands. The showcase will highlight the very best of New Zealand farming and is expected to draw more than 300 farming leaders and industry representatives.
"Northland is a long-standing supporter of the awards, so it's a great way of acknowledging the region's contribution to the competition. Northland farmers have been through some tough times over the last decade but they have continued to back the awards and we've seen some exceptional examples of sustainable farming come out of the region." says NZFE Trust chair, Simon Saunders.
Bill Shepherd, chair of the Northland Regional Council, says the council is delighted the showcase will be held in Northland.
"We view the awards as a very worthwhile concept to support because they encourage sustainable land management, which is a key council goal, and reinforce the crucial message that profitability does not need to come at the expense of our environment." he says.
He says the showcase will put the spotlight on Northland, providing the region with a great opportunity to highlight environmental excellence.
Northland BFEA chairman Shayne O'Shea, a past supreme winner, says the showcase will be a "magic event" for Northland.
"Having hundreds of farming leaders and industry people from around the country coming here gives us a fantastic forum to show off the jewel in New Zealand's farming crown."
"We had winners from sheep and beef, dairying and the horticultural sectors and it was great to bring them all together to celebrate their achievements and see how the primary industry in the region has evolved since the competition began."
Entries are still open for the 2016 Northland BFEA and O'Shea says all farmers and horticulturists should consider entering the competition.
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are open to all farming types. Entry is free and entry forms are available online at www.bfea.org.nz
Iconic New Zealand food company Pic’s Peanut Butter has kicked off a project to look at the feasibility of growing peanuts commercially in Northland, with backing from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
A $300 million project has been signed to try and prevent sediment loss from land to sea at Kaipara Harbour.
This year's Kate Sheppard Memorial Award recipient will support research to ultimately help New Zealand farmers choose forages for best production and drought resistance.
Irish agritech company MagGrow has won the International Innovation Award at the 2020 Fieldays Innovations Competition.
An 18-year-old dairy cow in North Canterbury has achieved a rare accolade.
The first apple to be commercially released from the Hot Climate Programme is receiving rave reviews from growers in Italy, France and the UK, according to horticultural company T&G.
OPINION: Yes, 2021 is well and truly upon us. Like it or not, here we are!
Leading New Zealand fresh vegetable grower LeaderBrand says it is thrilled to be cementing its roots in Pukekohe, South Auckland.
OPINION: There used to be a phrase that stated that ‘NZ lived off the sheep’s back’.
A new group established to revise the fortunes of New Zealand’s struggling strong wool sector says it has already raised more than $500,000 and is starting to roll out its work programme.
While Hew Dalrymple was beginning his journey with broccoli, brother Roger became involved in a state-of-the-art blueberry growing operation, which sees the fruit grown in hydroponic pots in huge tunnel houses.
This old mutt understands the country’s trendy, woke, vegan community (all four of them) is taking time out from being…
Your old mate wonders if the over-reaching do-gooder who set up a North Canterbury cow sanctuary “to save retired dairy…
