2006 Northland BFEA Winners

Pakaraka beef farmers win first Northland Ballance Farm Environment Supreme Award

The Jack family of Pakaraka has been named Supreme Award winner of the inaugural Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Bay of Island beef farmers Ned and Alec Jack have a high level of understanding of sustainable land management, according to the award judges.

The judges were very impressed with the ongoing work on this property, which is into the third generation of ownership by the Jack family and focuses on profitability while fulfilling environmental goals. The Jack family (Ned and Amber, and Alec and Kelly) also won the PPCS Livestock Farm Award and the Rabobank Land and Life Award.

The Jack family business benefits from an excellent working relationship between Alec and his father Ned, who has had 60 years on the property. Ned is gradually handing over the day-to-day management and financial control. Alec is accomplished in looking outside the square for innovative ideas in farming, a result of his Massey University degree and time spent off-farm working for Air New Zealand and travelling the world.

Although the 564ha (400ha effective) property is all cattle, it contains a variety of stock classes and management plans. Beef production is well above the Northland average at 300 to 350kg/ha annually. Alec has added about 80 cows and calves into what had become a steer finishing property. He uses Friesian Hereford-cross nurse cows, which suckle their own calf and a purchased Friesian calf.

Pasture production is maximized throughout the property by the retirement of steep, wet and erosion prone gullies and slopes allowing the remaining grass to be well fertilised and grazed. Nearly all riparian and wetland areas have been fenced and left to regenerate or planted with production forestry. The property contains 140ha of fenced native bush. Extensive use is made of shade throughout the farm with poplar and pine timberlines.

Other winners were:

Hill Laboratories Harvest Award
Gavin and Sue Stilwell, Maropiu, Dargaville

Gallagher Innovation Award
Tom and Kathy Pow, Mata

Livestock Improvement Dairy Farm Award
Ian and June Wilson, Puketi Rd, Kerikeri

Ballance Nutrient Management Award
Ian and June Wilson, Puketi Rd, Kerikeri

PGG Wrightson Habitat Improvement Award
Ian and June Wilson, Puketi Rd, Kerikeri

Northland Regional Council Water Quality Enhancement Award
Ian and June Wilson, Puketi Rd, Kerikeri