Regional Partners

The Otago Regional Council is pleased to support the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The awards aim of recognising excellence in sustainable farm management is closely aligned to many of ORC’s policies and goals.

For example, ORC is now consulting on a new effects-based approach for the improvement and maintenance of water quality in Otago rivers, lakes, and streams. These proposed changes will encourage farmers to manage their farm discharge from drains, runoff, and leaching. In some catchments this will mean farmers may have to incorporate environmental farm management practices to meet water quality standards associated with this approach.

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards help farmers plan for the future through its focus on the implementation of good farming practices. Sharing the award entrants and winners management methods among the wider farming community motivates all farmers to think about ways of farming that will support their families, staff, land, waterways, crops, and livestock over the long term.

These awards complement ORC strategies of working directly with local communities to improve water and land environments, as well as economic and social conditions. We value our association with them.

Stephen Woodhead

Chairman

Click here to view the Otago Regional Council website for more information…