Impartial, expert judging is essential to the success of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Members of the judging team are chosen for their specialist skills, knowledge and experience in the farming sector. Judges typically come from organisations such as Federated Farmers, Agriculture New Zealand, the Farm Forestry Association, various conservation boards, Landcare Trust, banks and regional councils. Farm consultants and Ballance technical sales representatives are also frequently involved in the judging process.
The judging process is extensive and encompasses the whole farming system. Judges spend time on the farm with the entrant, with the aim of gaining a complete understanding of the farm and its management. Entrants are encouraged to discuss their goals, achievements and weaknesses with the judging team. By doing this, entrants can get the most benefit from the whole process.
What the judges are looking for
The judges in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards are interested in entrants' plans for their farms, the reasons for their decisions and the success of their strategies. They also look at the way the land is managed so that production goals are met.
A range of questions are addressed on each farm:
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are open to all types of farm in New Zealand, and the specific questions asked on any farm will be tailored to individual ventures, but in all cases the judges are looking for examples of profitable farming married to long-term environmental and economic sustainability.
