Ballance Farm Environment Awards

Celebrating farmers and growers who lead the way in caring for Aotearoa’s land, water, and communities, inspiring others through innovation and sustainable practice.

About the Awards.

At the heart of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards lies a celebration of farmers and growers who are making a meaningful difference for land, water and community. Run annually by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, the BFEA programme highlights outstanding farming systems, showcases great practice and shares real-world stories of environmental sustainability and innovation across Aotearoa.

Learn more

Discover what’s happening in your region.

Discover everything happening in your region, from key award dates and farm open days to current and past winners. Meet local sponsors, explore inspiring farms, and find your regional contact.

Northland

View region

Auckland

View region

Waikato

View region

Bay of Plenty

View region

East Coast

View region

Taranaki

View region

Horizons

View region

Greater Wellington

View region

Canterbury

View region

Otago

View region

Southland

View region

The Awards process.

From entry to celebration, an outline of what you can expect from the Ballance Farm Environment Awards journey.

Learn more

Frequently asked questions.

Have a question about the Ballance Farm Environment Awards? Find clear and straightforward answers on eligibility, entry, judging, winners and more so you can decide how best to get involved, prepare your farm or connect with us.

Learn more

Nationally sponsored awards.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award

This Award focuses on the management of soil and nutrients. A strong understanding of nutrients and nutrient budgeting is demonstrated. The impacts of nutrients and management practices on both soil fertility as well as surface and ground water are understood and well managed.

Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award

This Award is focused on the all-important people side of the farming and growing business. It recognises the importance of staff management, succession, community involvement, health and safety and other practices associated with people management and wellbeing.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award

This Award recognises the livestock farmer who demonstrates a commitment to long-term land and animal stewardship. It considers sustainable use of land, labour and capital resources, with livestock well cared for and stock class and type managed appropriately to the land contour and soil type.

DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award

This Award recognises dairy farmers who demonstrate a strong commitment to managing, protecting and enhancing their environment. It focuses on sustainable on-farm actions that show high standards of environmental care and sustainable use of the land, stock, labour and capital resources.

Hill Labs Agri-Science Award

This Award recognises excellence in the use of science and monitoring to optimise productivity and minimise environmental impacts. A good understanding of soil, water, plant and crop protection should be demonstrated, with supporting measurement and monitoring in evidence.

Norwood Farming Efficiency Award

This Award recognises the farmer or grower who is actively focused on resource use efficiency. It takes into account different types of efficiency such as equipment or fuel efficiency or precision agriculture and recognises those who are making data driven decisions to determine resource use.

Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award

This award recognises how farmers and growers manage a successful, sustainable farm business, including the use of business plans, benchmarking and succession planning. It also acknowledges engagement with industry professionals and networks that support long-term business sustainability.

Ministry for the Environment Biodiversity Award

This award recognises the biological diversity of the farming and growing business. It acknowledges the mahi of both the present and past guardians (Kaitiaki) of the land that have created an environment that encourages and allows biodiversity to thrive.

FMG Risk Management Award

This award recognises those who have identified and proactively managed any risks that could negatively impact their business to minimise the likelihood or severity of those risks. This covers all aspects of people management and farm planning, including business and financial risk management.

Regionally sponsored awards.

WaterForce Safe Water Recognition Award

The Safe Water Recognition Award celebrates farmers who demonstrate leadership in providing safe, clean drinking water on-farm. It recognises efforts to protect human health and uphold water quality standards through thoughtful system design, proactive testing, and responsible water management.

Northland Regional Council Water Quality Enhancement Award

This Award recognises initiatives to protect and enhance water quality and biodiversity within the water that flows through and from the property, including limiting pollutants through good land management practices such as soil conservation, wetland protection and riparian management practices.

Auckland Council Water Quality Enhancement Award

This Award is given in recognition of a conscious awareness of the link between land management practices and water quality. The recipient will excel in one or more of the following areas; nutrient management, soil conservation and riparian management.

Auckland BFEA Farm Stewardship Award

The recipient of this award demonstrates excellence in farm stewardship, possibly by protecting or enhancing a special place, or by using sustainable management practices.

Bay Of Plenty Regional Council Farming for the Future Award

This award recognises environmentally sustainable farming that remains profitable. It focuses on innovation in land, water and biodiversity management and is measured as progress towards the full implementation of a farm or orchard environment plan, while considering farm or orchard profitability.

Zespri Kiwifruit Orchard Award

This Award identifies the kiwifruit orchard that most clearly demonstrates the use of sustainable orchard practices and management. It focuses on environmental responsibility, economic return, community awareness and the ethical management of resources, including labour and orchard inputs.

Waikato Regional Council Water Protection Award

This Award is given in recognition of excellent knowledge and attitude towards riparian management. The recipient will have sound mitigation strategies in place, including good soil conservation measures and strategic planting near water bodies.

Waikato River Authority Catchment Improvement Award

This award recognises a farmer who has assessed how their farm impacts the river and its tributaries, implemented changes to improve the river’s mauri (well-being), and can clearly articulate a vision for future environmental enhancements.

East Coast Farming for the Future Award

This Award is co-sponsored by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and the Gisborne District Council and recognises profitable, environmentally sustainable farming. It focuses on innovation in land management, soil conservation, provision for climate change and engagement with local government.

Taranaki Regional Council Sustainability Award

This Award recognises the farmer demonstrates leadership and commitment to sustainable farming practices and environmental stewardship.

Horizons Regional Council Award for the Integration of Trees

This Award recognises the farmer who has planted trees to improve the sustainability of the property. It encompasses soil erosion, biodiversity, stock well-being and aesthetics.

Greater Wellington Regional Council Award

This Award recognises outstanding use of plant materials to optimise land use, thereby enabling nature-based solutions in a farm system by reducing flood and erosion risk, improving animal welfare, enhancing biodiversity and water quality, and sequestering carbon.

Environment Canterbury Water Quality Award

This Award recognises farming practices that reflect the importance of this natural resource to the region and the connection between land use practices and water quality. The recipient will show an awareness of the impact of their operation on water quality and will have taken steps to manage this.

Otago Regional Council Water Enhancement Award

This Award recognises on-farm developments and management practices that sustain and support healthy ground and surface water. It looks at the range of environmentally sound water management measures taken on the property to protect, sustain and enhance water quality.

Environment Southland Water Quality and Biodiversity Award

This Award recognises the farmer who demonstrates sustainable farming practices, particularly with regards to water quality and biodiversity.