Rotorua dry stock farmers John and Catherine Ford are the 2015 Ballance Farm Environment Awards national winners.

This is the first time a North Island farming business has won this award.

Catherine and John Ford, the National Ballance Farm Environment Award winners for 2015 pictured with the plaque which honours John's father who initially developed their Highlands Station.

The award-winning Highlands Station team is from left: Daniel Hodson, Bronwyn Edwards, Kevin Kelly, Colin Mead, Catherine and John Ford, and George Bulled.

From 10 outstanding regional supreme winners this large 1240ha sheep and cattle property stood out in terms of environmental sustainability and impressive production and performance figures.

Highlands Station is situated within the Lake Tarawera and Rotokakahi (Green Lake) catchments so the careful and responsible management of nutrient runoff was rated by the winners as one of their most critical on farm issues to get right.

The award judges were impressed with the deep knowledge shown by John and Catherine about techniques to achieve this including the careful mix of stock and up to 200 detention dams built to slow down runoff and scouring from the hills during heavy rainfall.

Detaining water allows it to infiltrate the pervious pumice layer and substantially reduce the runoff of phosphate into waterways and lakes.

Winning this national award is about ensuring that the business of farming sits comfortably beside environmental sustainability.

Highlands Station sheep and cattle production and profitability was rated in the top five per cent in the country with excellent stock in top class condition producing an impressive economic farm surplus.

Alongside this, the judges saw wise and appropriate land use based on soil capabilities, extensive native bush reserves with 140ha in QEII National Trust covenants and other bush areas protected with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and good shelter and shade for stock.

Staff relationships and management were excellent with John and Catherine very ready to seek external advice on any issue when needed.

The winners and the property had strong ties to their community and displayed a deep understanding of a wide range of topics during the interview stage of the competition.

This Rotorua property had the ‘wow' factor; it stood out as something special when visited by the judges who say John and Catherine are very worthy winners of the Gordon Stephenson trophy, and as the 2015 Ballance Farm Environment Awards National Winners they will be excellent ambassadors.

They have clearly demonstrated that profitable farming and good environmental management go hand in hand.