A self-confessed former sceptic of the values of retiring marginal farmland is the Supreme winner in the 2014 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Drystock farmers of Katikati Rick Burke and Jan Loney were awarded the title at a dinner in Tauranga last night where Rick admitted that he didn't always see the value of retiring marginal grazing land and planting riparian areas.

Supreme winners of the 2014 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards Rick Burke and Jan Loney of Katikati.

Supreme winners of the 2014 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards Rick Burke and Jan Loney of Katikati (centre) with members of the Seddon Family Trust which has a major holding in Pukekauri Farms from the left Bridget Daldy, James Burke, Jane Seddon and Tom Seddon.

It was his father-in-law the late Derry Seddon, who changed his view and Rick says he's grateful he did.

'Derry was heavily involved in the farm's Land and Environment Plan and over 17 years made an enormous contribution towards its environmental achievements,” Rick .

Rick and Jan, who farm 350ha Pukekauri Farms in the foothills of the Kaimai Ranges, also won the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Award, WaterForce Integrated Management Award, Donaghys Farm Stewardship Award and a Bay of Plenty Regional Council Environmental Award 2.

Rick says retiring marginal land on the farm has resulted in a lift in production, eliminated problems with moving stock from difficult areas, reduced weed control and fertiliser costs and brought an over-all enhancement to the farm's native wild life and vista.

'Since we fenced them out, the water quality of the streams on the farm have returned to close to what they were 100 years ago. As a keen fisherman I'm happy to know our streams are not having an adverse effect on the Tauranga Harbour into which they eventually flow,” he says.

Pukekauri is made up of 250ha owned by the Seddon Family Trust, a 50ha joint venture between the Seddon Family Trust and Rick Burke, plus a further 50ha owned by Rick. The combined properties are farmed by Rick and Jan as one unit to provide an economic and sustainable block.

A total of 212ha is effective grazing land, with 110ha in covenanted mature native bush, wetlands and riparian planting and 28ha in plantation pines, redwoods and Cyprus lusitanica.

BFEA judges praised Jan and Rick's teamwork and excellent people skills, noting the outstanding plantings on riparian areas and marginal land that 'look stunning and greatly enhance biodiversity”.

They were also impressed with the excellent production being achieved on the rest of the farm.

The retirement of weed and erosion-prone land has simplified management and resulted in an increase in production and profitability from the grazed areas. Protecting and planting streams has also reduced flooding and erosion.

Rick and Jan run sheep, bull beef and dairy grazers, aiming to obtain the best possible return per kilogram of drymatter from an all-grass system.

Stock health was excellent, judges said, and the farm was achieving above average production for the region.

Pastures were well maintained and there is real 'synergy between environmental planning and the excellent production of the farmed area”.

While relatively new to farming, Jan makes an important contribution to the operation, using her skills to improve business monitoring and goal setting.

Judges also noted good stock health, sound financial management, good nutrient management and a 'very strong community engagement”.

'The focus is always back to people and people skills. There is strong teamwork between Rick and Jan.”

A BFEA field day will be held on Pukekauri Farms, with the date to be advised.

Jan Loney and Rick Burke of Katikati are supreme winners of the 2014 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Water quality on Pukekauri Farm has improved significantly since the streams were fenced out.

Other winners in the 2014 BoP Ballance Farm Environment Awards are:

Hill Laboratories Harvest Award, PGG Wrightson Land and Life Award, Bay of Plenty Regional Council Environmental Award 1; Trevor and Harriet Hamilton, Rere Lake Ltd, Rotorua.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award, LIC Dairy Farm Award, Meridian Energy Excellence Award; R.L and H.S. McKenzie Ltd, Lachlan and Heather McKenzie, Sherwood Farm, Rotorua.

Massey University Innovation Award: Dreamfields Farm Ltd, Bruce and Judy Woods, Whakatane.

For more information on the 2014 BoP Ballance Farm Environment Awards and the Supreme Award field day, contact BFEA Regional Coordinator Kirsten Winter, phone (0275) 721 244 or email [email protected].