The pride of the Co-op was on display at the recent New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, celebrating innovation, achievement and the best of dairy farming.
This year saw more than 20 nominations for the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award, which recognises and celebrates dairy farmers who demonstrate leadership in their approach to sustainability and who are passionate about the four pillars of Responsible Dairying - people and community, finance, environment and animal welfare. Congratulations to all the nominees and finalists and the amazing work achieved on farm.
Exemplifying a farming system that minimises its footprint on the environment, Manawatū farmers James and Debbie Stewart were presented with the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award and John Wilson Memorial Trophy at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Gala dinner.
As part of the award, they received $10,000 Farm Source dollars to help them continue their responsible farming journey.
Award head panellist Michael Hide says each of the nominated farms were unique and achieving great things in their own way. Debbie and James’ work on their farm shone through.
“We were left with one big question following our time with Debbie and James – what more could anyone do to demonstrate the notion of ‘responsible dairying’? Their passion, professionalism and leadership within the industry across all aspects of their business is beyond impressive and only surpassed by their dedication to giving back to their local community. James and Debbie are aware of their roles as ambassadors for the dairy industry and their community engagement is evident with the farm designed from an ‘Open Farm’ perspective,” Michael says.
Having a strategic view towards sustainable farming has been a key driver for Debbie and James.
The 580ha farm has expanded over generations, with the original piece of land having been owned by the Stewart family since 1886. In 1999, the family converted 100ha into dairy. The success of the operation led to expansion and today Stewart Dairylands has two milking platforms across 350ha milking more than 800 cows. It also has an additional 230ha of support land in place between the milking platforms.
Environmental initiatives on farm include solar panels on the dairy shed, water recycling, a separator in the shed allowing them to make their own compost from solid effluent and irrigate the liquid nutrients across the farm, partnerships with researchers, creation of a wetland, and planting of more than 12,000 native trees and plants in the last 10 years. The farm policy is to plant 1000 native trees a year.
Debbie Stewart says it was an honour to receive the award and she and James were amazed at the amount of work being done in the sustainability and environmental space around the country by dairy farmers.
“We feel like a lot of people are doing incredible things, we’re just part of the story. We’re very aware of our position within our community (our farm borders the main roads) and our environment, and we have always had a focus on presenting the farm well. We often host international visits and education providers and showcase what we’re doing and what more can be done to minimise our footprint on the land.
We’ve become a monitor farm trialling different crops and are about to install an underpass that will make our calving operation far more efficient,” Debbie says.
“Our family has always seen the land as a special canvas that we continue to work, enhance and leave in better shape for the next generation.”
Full results from the New Zealand Dairy Awards can be viewed on the Dairy Industry Awards website.