Award winning farmers visit Massey

The national winners of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards visited Massey’s Manawatu campus last week to meet with researchers from the Institute of Natural Resources and learn about their research programme.

Blair and Jane Smith, who farm in North Otago, were judged the national winners of the awards in June. Together they run Newhaven Farms Ltd – a North Otago sheep, beef, forestry and dairy support operation that spans three family-owned properties totalling 1528ha.

They spent a day at Massey, visiting a number of the farms and talking with staff involved in agricultural research.

Professor Hedley and Mark Osborne showed them trials involving novel pastures for lamb finishing and then dairy research to reduce nitrate leaching, while farm manager Byron Taylor provided an overview of the Massey farming operation.

Mrs Smith says visiting the University provided a great insight into some of the research that could help them in the future.

“We take a long-term view on everything we do, and were excited to come here because there’s a proven scientific approach to everything,” she says. “It’s great to know the information here has been peer-reviewed and is independent.”

While they were primarily sheep and beef farmers, they were also interested in research being carried out for the dairy industry, she says.

Massey University sponsors the Discovery Award in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards recognising the development and implementation of farming systems that are economically and environmentally sustainable.

Professor Hedley says Massey is proud to have sponsored the awards, “particularly when it encouraged motivated and enthusiastic farmers like Blair and Jane to enter their farm and set out their goals, which were to achieve a more sustainable future for their community.

“We look forward to them returning to Massey in February as our guests at the Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre Workshop, which will focus on increasing nutrient use efficiency on farms.”