A newly launched website offers comprehensive information on the awards that now run in eight regions throughout the country.
Accessed through www.nzfeatrust.org.nz or www.bfea.org.nz the website is a joint venture between the New Zealand Farm Environment Award Trust and the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
The New Zealand Farm Environment Award Trust is an independent non-profit organisation that “seeks to advance sustainable environmental management of land and other resources on farms”. The Trust owns and operates the Ballance Farm Environment Awards and manages several extension projects.
NZFEA general manager David Natzke says the website is part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to promote the awards and sustainable farming in general.
“The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are now recognised as one of New Zealand’s most prestigious farming events,” he says.
“The website highlights the work the Trust does and promotes the initiatives undertaken by farmers to improve environmental sustainability.”
As well as information on sustainable farming and award events, the website also contains detailed information on previous award winners around the country. Visitors to the site can also download entry information for the 2008 awards.
The last of the 2007 regional award winners were announced in early May and David Natzke says he is delighted with the recognition the event received this year. The annual awards drew an excellent number of entries and the regional award evenings were all well attended.
“The awards are now a very strong brand with good national recognition and that’s due in no small way to the efforts of our organisational and judging teams across each region and the ongoing support of our sponsors.”
These sponsors include Ballance Agri-Nutrients, PPCS, LIC, Gallagher Group, Hill Laboratories and PGG Wrightson. The awards are also backed by Environment Waikato, Environment Bay of Plenty, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Horizons Regional Council, Environment Canterbury, Otago Regional Council and the Northland Regional Council.
