The country’s top arable farmers have been recognised for their diversity, entrepreneurship and commitment to quality at the inaugural New Zealand Arable Awards in Christchurch.
Federated Farmers and other arable groups have held awards before, but this was the first time a combined event was held, backed by the federation along with the Foundation for Arable Research, United Wheatgrowers and the Grain & Seed Trade Association.
Rob and Toni Auld, owners of Southland’s Auld Farm Distillery, won the Innovation Award for creating their range of spirits from oats, wheat and barley. The couple make whisky from purple wheat, black oats and black barley, and produce three gins from a base alcohol of oat, wheat and barley. They have achieved several world firsts with their products.
Federated Farmers arable executive member David Birkett, who farms at Leeston, Canterbury, was named Arable Farmer of the Year.
Birkett is a recognised leader in environmental/sustainable farming, with a focus on improving soil quality.
He is open to trialling any approach to reduce synthetic inputs, such as biological products, cover crops, retaining straw and more, and is always willing to share his knowledge and results, good or bad.
Former Federated Farmers national vice-president Karen Williams and husband Mick won the Environment & Sustainability Award.
Arable industry advocate Angela Clifford was named 2022 Food Champion.
Clifford formed the organisation EatNZ, and through this she promotes NZ-grown or -produced food.
She set up the EatNZ grain food hui, where NZ grain growers have been able to talk about the grain-based food products they produce and showcase them in front of an audience of chefs and food critics.
In 2021, the arable sector produced 2.3 million tonnes, a 31% increase from 2018, when total arable production was 1.8m tonnes.
Total grain and pulse production of 2.2m tonnes was a 30% increase from 2018. Meanwhile, seeds for sowing production grew by 40% from 58,268t in 2018 to 81,470t in 2021.
In 2021, the arable sector directly produced crops worth $1 billion. These sales went upstream of the arable sector and created total sales of all goods and services of $2.2b.
These total sales were equivalent to a contribution of $932 million to New Zealand’s gross domestic product. This has seen the arable sector increase its contribution to GDP from 0.3% of national GDP to 0.34%.
The contribution to GDP is sufficient to support 7687 full-time-equivalent employees.
The full list of winners are:
* Agronomist of the Year: Roger Lasham, Ashburton
* Grower of the Year – Grain: David & Anna Irving, Lanark Downs, South Canterbury
* Grower of the Year – Small: Seed: Hamish Marr, Methven
* Grower of the Year – Maize: Chris Pellow, Pellow Produce, Waikato
* Emerging Talent Award: Lauren Beattie, Rakaia, South Canterbury
* Environment & Sustainability Award: Karen & Mick Williams Ahiaruhe Farm, Wairarapa
* Arable Farmer of the Year: David Birkett from Birkett Farming, Leeston
* Innovation Award: Rob and Toni Auld from Auld Distillery, Southland
* Arable Food Champion: Angela Clifford from Eat New Zealand.
