2006 Awards

A Manawahe family that looks to get maximum enjoyment from their farm are the supreme award winners of this year’s Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

The family team of John and Jean, and Tim and Jo Mackintosh also won the Rabobank Life and Land Award, the Wrightson Habitat Improvement Award and the Environment Bay of Plenty Environmental Award at a special ceremony in Te Puke.

The awards, which are coordinated regionally by Environment Bay of Plenty, are designed to encourage farmers to support and adopt sustainable farming practices.

The Mackintoshs operate Chattan Farm in Manawahe, which they do with a focus for creating a well-managed sustainable property. They began working on the farm in 1972 when John and Jean purchased 390 hectares. They added to it in 1994, buying an extra 108 hectares from a neighbouring farm. In 2000 Tim and Jo began share-farming, leasing the farm in 2004 and also buying a neighbouring 220 hectare block.

2006 Supreme Award Winner

Winners of:
· Rabobank Land and Life Award
· Wrightson Habitat Improvement Award
· Environment Bay of Plenty Environmental Award

John and Jean Mackintosh initially purchased 390 hectares in Manawahe in 1972. They added to it in 1994 when they bought a further 108 hectares from a neighbouring farm. Tim and Jo Mackintosh began share farming in 2000, leasing the farm in 2004 and also buying a neighbouring 220 hectare block.

On the farm they run sheep and beef plus dairy grazers. Livestock condition is good and animal welfare is given high importance. They have also planted 28 hectares with radiata pine and 20 hectares with other species. The plantings are protected through fencing and pest control measures.

The Mackintoshs’ mission statement is ‘to get maximum enjoyment from the farm’. This is achieved by striving for a profitable farm with high quality livestock. Their focus is for a well-managed sustainable property that is protected from pests and enhanced through features like plantings and fencing. Allowing family and others to enjoy the property is also important and they permit their property to be used for walking, horseriding, shooting and by caravan clubs.

The family is continuously looking at ways to improve the farm and their business without compromising the environment. They maintain excellent records electronically, allowing them to review progress plan positively for the future.

The MackIntosh family are very passionate about the district and active in their local community. They are involved in activities such as: trustee for a school board, school bus driving, Bay of Plenty Farm Forestry, being a Monitor Farm, Eucalypt committee, Manawahe News and a have a high level of involvement in Federated Farmers.

The Mackintosh family have a Queen Elizabeth II covenant on their property, and are part of the Manawahe Kokako Trust for Kokako restoration. They also work with Environment Bay of Plenty on land use plans and have been involved as part of the Manawahe Eco Trust for protection of the Manawahe Corridor. All of this involvement demonstrates a strong commitment to a better environment for the community.

Future plans include confirming a Family Succession Plan, planting more trees for shade, shelter and production, plus developing more recreational activities on the property. The family also continually seek to optimise their management systems, which in turn will contribute to their property’s sustainability.

Winners of PPCS Best Livestock Farm Award

David and Theresa Gee operate a dairy heifer grazing property on 158 hectares. The farm was in seven paddocks 34 years ago and now it is in 148. These paddocks are fenced to contours, separating the easy and flat areas from the steep for better land use and control.

The farm is a peninsula within the Ohiwa Harbour. It has a fenced buffer zone around its perimeter that has been planted for regeneration. The property has 10 ponds that are all protected and planted for duck habitat. All drains are fenced.

There are excellent pest management control strategies in place to protect their property and they have enhanced the natural environment with tree plantings and fenced areas.

They keep excellent records including individual client records for stock performance go back as far as12 years.

The heifers are kept in owner’s mobs as much as possible and are farmed in nine groups of 60 head. This reduces competition and enhances management of both livestock and pasture. Each group has 16 paddocks, which gives an early winter rotation of up to 35 days and down to 12 days in spring. Under very wet conditions the mobs may be shifted twice each day to avoid damage to pasture and soil.

Their strong community involvement includes Coastguard, harriers, cycle club, farm discussion groups and care groups David and Theresa are active in their local environment as well as conscientiously striving to improve it.

Winners of Ballance Nutrient Management Award

Bruce and Tessa Calder run a highly productive dry stock and forestry farming operation with a remarkable amount of passion and pride. Their focus is to simplify the present farm programme but retain an efficient, effective and profitable business.

They have a long-term commitment to their environment.

Stock health is excellent with animal welfare of prime importance. Stocking rates are closely monitored to protect their steeper land from erosion. 

Bruce and Tessa have strong community involvement, which includes the Bay of Plenty Horse Society, New Zealand Hunt Association, Parent Teachers Association and farm discussion groups.

They readily participate in farming forums and use information networks at every available opportunity. The Calders have had a professional Nutrient Management Plan prepared by their local fertiliser company for the entire farm. Fertiliser and crop records are kept in detail to allow reviews of inputs against production and provide a basis for planning of future applications. It is worth noting that this farm moves from a base stocking rate of 5K stock units to approx 13K in June of each year (grazing in-calf dairy cows). This is right against the trend of everyday farming and therefore requires a superior nutrient planning program.  Such a program is in place.

Winners of Livestock Improvement Best Dairy Farm Award

Stuart and Alison strive to be good farmers seeking enjoyment, fulfilment and success, from their farming enterprise, whilst at the same time pursuing their a goal of a sustainable and successful farm. They have both been involved in farming for most of their lives and run their enterprise with everyday awareness and a focus on common sense decision making.

Paton Farms is farmed in two separate blocks/herds, with a separate runoff for young stock. It’s all found on 190 hectares. Each year approximately 400 cows are milked and 120 calves are reared, with no stock losses for the current year. Livestock condition is excellent. This is evidence of their animal health management programme, which features regular checks and health updates from their veterinary advisor.

Most important to the Patons are their livestock because  ‘if they look after the stock – the stock will look after them’. They are very conscientious about anything relating to animal welfare.

Stuart and Alison manage each manage a herd of their own and have a strong teamwork approach to other aspects of their farming business

They have strategically fenced and protected waterways plus river access, and will continue to search for ways to increase the quality and production from each block.

Winners of Hill Laboratories Best Harvest Farm Award and Gallagher Innovation Award

Paul and Sheryl Steens have been involved in the bee keeping industry for about 25 years and have lived on their current property for 21 years. From a beginning with just three hives, their business has grown and developed at a fast pace, faster in fact than some within the industry would have envisaged. They expect to have approx 6,500 hives established across areas of the North Island by the end of the year.

They have an innovative approach to their beekeeping programme on numerous fronts. An example is that every pallet, hive and lid used within their business can be traced at all times by a computer based program of bar coding.  This has huge potential for management in the future and if a problem should arise at a particular site every hive in or near to the affected site can be separated and detailed accordingly.

The Steens are actively involved in the research and science behind honey production and have developed an innovative program to reward farmers based on the yield from their respective properties.

The enterprise has staff that are enthusiastic and involved. There are 15 permanent and up to 12 casual staff. All are encouraged to develop and grow within the business.

The Steens are leaders in the New Zealand honey industry and will continue to challenge all aspects of the honey industry and their own involvement.

Winners of Environment Bay of Plenty Environmental Award

For environmental excellence in the plantings and landscaping around the auxiliary buildings.

The assessors were impressed with the commitment of Ellen and Charles to a program of tree and landscape planting.  Areas of the farm lack sufficient shade for their livestock and this is being remedied with plantings of both native and exotic trees.

To protect their cows on very hot days a system of automatic gates has been established to allow their animals access to what shade is presently available.

Ellen is to be congratulated on her landscaping efforts around the dairy and associated buildings.  To use her own words “ the dairy area is my office and I want a pleasant environment to work in”.