Muriwai farmers Rob and Sandra Faulkner and Bruce and Jo Graham have been named Supreme winners of the 2014 East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Supreme winners of the 2014 East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards Bruce and Jo Graham and Rob and Sandra Faulkner.

The Faulkners and Grahams run the 600ha family farm Wairakaia, south of Gisborne.

At a special Ballance Farm Environment Awards ceremony on February 20, Wairakaia also collected the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award, the Hill Laboratories Harvest Award, the Massey University Innovation Award and The East Coast Farming For The Future Award.

Wairakaia is a sheep, beef and cropping operation, running about 5000 stock units on contour ranging from flat to very steep and growing about 190ha of maize, squash and seed corn on owned and leased land.

The business has 32ha of forestry, 10ha of citrus and 1ha of tree lucerne. It also has a poplar nursery that supplies the farm and sells about 1000 poles annually.

BFEA judges noted the farm's high-producing, quality stock and good mix of genetics. The cropping programme has been successfully integrated with stock finishing and the operation achieves consistent crop yields, with the inclusion of citrus providing increased diversity. Judges also noted the excellent pasture and soil management and the consideration given to effects on both land and water.

The farm was originally settled by Rob and Jo's great-grandparents in 1900. Subsequent generations of the family planted trees for agroforestry, erosion control and aesthetics.

Erosion control is ongoing and the planting is varied, with BFEA judges noting the 'careful selection of biodiversity plantings for public viewing”.

While all partners contribute to the running of the business, Rob and Bruce form the core working partnership.

Each has a defined role and complementary skills.

BFEA judges praised the structure of the business which enables the family to maintain its partnership 'during intense development and off-farm activities at national, regional and local levels”.

A BFEA field day will be held on Wairakaia on Thursday, March 27, 2014.

Other winners In the 2014 East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards were:

Meridian Energy Excellence Award: Art and Jill Eastham, Whatatutu.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award: Bruce Nimon, Hastings.

PGG Wrightson Land and Life Award: Richard and Robyn Busby, Makorori Station, Whangara.

WaterForce Integrated Management Award: Leicester and Margaret Gray and Callum and Sarah Gray, Waipawa.

Donaghys Farm Stewardship Award: Tom and Linda Savage, Te Karaka.

LIC Merit Award: Dave and Tracey Thompson, Takapau.