Dairy Compliance Awards recognise Hawke's Bay farmers achievements

by Hawke's Bay App
Tuesday, Dec 15, 2020 9:07 AM

The dairy industry and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council have adopted the shared goal to achieve 100 per cent compliance with all resource consents, and are 80 per cent towards the goal, celebrated at the Dairy Compliance Awards.

In its eighth year, the Dairy Compliance Awards recognise Hawke’s Bay dairy farmers who consistently achieve full compliance with their resource consents, including water takes, farm dairy effluent, and air discharge consents.

Over the years, overall compliance has improved from 71 per cent in 2012-13 to 80 per cent in 2019-20.

At last week's event, 38 of 75 farms had been fully compliant for five years. Fourteen farms have been fully compliant since the scheme began in 2008-09. Three farms were recognised at the Silver 4-year level.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council policy and regulation group manager Katrina Brunton congratulated each of the awarded dairy farms.

“The scheme is important, and we are committed to work in partnership with the sector, and work through challenges together and continue to celebrate progress,” she said.

“We work closely with individual operators to help them achieve environmental compliance, which is crucial to the long-term success of dairy farming.”

“We acknowledge the dairy sector’s important contribution to our economy in what has been a difficult year with the challenge of COVID-19 and lockdown."

Central Hawkes Bay dairy farmer Elliot Cooper says he and other farms acknowledge the work of the Regional Council and staff to help farmers.

“It’s definitely a partnership between us and the Council. We don’t go it alone. It’s not an easy job for the Council, with so much regulation coming down the pipeline, and we appreciate what they do.”

The Dairy Awards are supported by sponsors Ravensdown, Farmlands, Fonterra and Stoney Creek.

Ravensdown’s senior agri manager Thomas Taylor recognised the great work of dairy farmers in Hawke’s Bay running fully compliant operations.

“We’re proud of our partnership with the sector and congratulate these people on managing their farms in an environmentally responsible way,” he said.

Tony Haslett, Fonterra’s Hawke’s Bay area manager, says in the future, there will be incentives through milk payments for farmers to obtain supply standards in which compliance with the regulator will be important.

Rhys Hellyer from Farmlands says the company was pleased to be a sponsor for such a positive award scheme.

The council handed out Stoney Creek’s Rammer Jackets as spot prizes at the awards on Thursday. Stoney Creek’s Nigel Wilson says it’s great to sponsor the event for the first time, and support dairy farmers.

Dairy Compliance Awards 2020 recipients:

GOLD Award:

Anacott Farms Limited Partnership
Ashton Family Trust
C D & B M Blatchford
Bluff Views Limited
Brylee Farm Limited
Cameron Dairies Limited (Black Rd)
Cameron Dairies Limited (Boyle Rd)
Cavan Downs Trust
C J J Chrystal
Cooper Del Este Limited (2819 SH50)
Cooper Del Este Limited (2697 SH50)
Feather Holdings Limited
Flat Hill Trust
Galloway Enterprises Limited
Glasha Farming Company Limited
Great Glen Farm Limited
Hayward Standring Trust
HB Pastural
J H & J Hedley
Wairua Farm Trust
Lansdown Family Trust
Longrow Dairies Limited -Kowhai Terrace
Lyon Family Trust
Lyons Family Partnership
Kaweka Dairy Limited (Willowford)
Kaweka Dairy Limited (Hawkston)
Matu Farms Limited
McBaxter Investments Limited
Mitchell Dairy Farms Limited (High Rd)
Pine Estate Limited
Seven Oaks Partnership
Te Repo Farms Limited
Thompson Perry Family Trust
Trustees of the Estate of P M Barry (Hedley)
Tuki Tuki Awa Limited
Waikare Dairy Company Limited
Waikare Dairy Company Limited (Tutira)
Wantara Farms Limited
Watts & Son Limited