As well as its support of flagship national events, Ballance sponsors a variety of regional activities, industry conferences and monitor farms throughout the country. The sponsorship programme at Ballance is designed to help enhance information gathering and sharing, so that the whole farming community can benefit.
Ballance's sponsorship budget for the current financial year is fully committed; however, we welcome approaches from key agricultural interests in the future.
The following are just some of the events that Ballance currently sponsors.
BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award
Ballance has been a silver sponsor of the Maori Excellence in Farming Award since 2004. As a second-tier sponsor of this distinguished competition, we provide both financial and practical support to assist in the smooth running of the event. Although Ballance staff are not involved in the judging of the competition, a senior company representative takes on the role of judging co-ordinator. The goal of the BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award is to recognise and celebrate Maori excellence in sheep, beef, goat and dairy farming.
Westpac Dairy Conference
Ballance has been a key sponsor of the Westpac Dairy Conference since 2001. Our support of this event takes two forms. Firstly, we supply fertiliser for the WestpacTrust Whareroa Research Centre in Hawera, which has a long-term dairying research programme in place. The R&D work that is carried out at Whareroa is profiled at the annual conference, along with contributions from other industry specialists. Around 300 delegates attend the conference each year, which has a strong practical emphasis, featuring several field days. Ballance further contributes to this conference by sponsoring one of the most important sessions of the day - lunch, the time when everyone gets the opportunity to mingle and talk one-on-one with the experts.
Large Herds Conference
Ballance has been a long-time supporter of the national Large Herds Conference, with both staff and directors attending regularly. This conference focuses on large-scale dairying, and the challenges facing this sector of the rural industry. However, they welcome delegates with herds of any size, as all can benefit from hearing about the leading-edge ideas within the dairy industry. Each year there are around 400 attendees, who are treated to farm visits, evening entertainment, technical workshops and presentations. Ballance generally sponsors one of the practical, on-farm activities. For more information on the Large Herds Conference, click here.
ASB Agribusiness Conference
Previously known as the Sheep and Beef Conference, in 2006 this event was renamed the ASB Agribusiness Conference in recognition of the wider interests of many of the delegates. Ballance transferred its support to the newly named conference, sponsoring speaker Richard Vallance, a consultant to one of the largest Maori trusts in the Rotorua area. Richard's focus at the inaugural conference was on ensuring a sustainable future, a theme that has great synergy with Ballance's company vision. Around 500 delegates attend this conference, among them many of Ballance's staff, directors and shareholders. The conference typically covers a blend of topics, including technical information, business issues and personal development. For more information on the ASB Agribusiness Conference, click here.
Dairy3 Conference
The Dairy3 Conference offers delegates the chance to learn from leading dairy farmers, Dexcel staff and Massey University experts. The highly professional, well-run event is held annually and attracts around 600 attendees each year. It is widely acknowledged as one of the industry's leading dairy conferences. Its strong technical focus is complemented by practical workshops and entertaining speakers who are prepared to challenge entrenched patterns of thinking and stimulate discussion. There is also a section aimed directly at industry newcomers - the ‘Big Day Off'. This practical, on-farm, hands-on session is sponsored by Ballance, and we also try to sponsor one other session within the conference. In 2006, Ballance was the sponsor of the session that focused on environmental issues and featured speakers from Dexcel, AgResearch, Massey University, plus the inimitable weatherman Augie Auer. For more information on the Dairy3 Conference, click here.
Women in Dairying National Conference
The Network for Women in Dairying runs its national conference annually, holding it alternately in the South and North Islands. An innovative, professional event, it recognises the diverse and often misunderstood role of women in the dairy industry. Ballance is proud to support not only the conference, but also the Network itself, which runs an email discussion group, allowing information to be shared at the click of a mouse. For more information on the Women in Dairying National Conference, click here.
Groundspreaders Conference
Ballance has supported the New Zealand Groundspread Association's national conference since its inception back in 1956 and in 2006 helped the Association celebrate its 50th anniversary by once again being a platinum sponsor of the conference. The conference is traditionally held over four days and provides a forum in which relevant issues can be brought to delegates' attention and discussed. It also offers the chance for people in the industry to get together and have some fun. Ballance recognises that independent groundspreaders are key stakeholders in the wider agricultural industry. As such, we take the opportunity each year to not only sponsor the conference, but to help in the organisation of the event. For more information on the Groundspreaders Conference, click here.
Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre Conference
Every year the Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre at Massey University hosts an industry conference that gives researchers an opportunity to present the results of their research into fertiliser-related issues. The conferences have been held since 1987, and today attract a very strong following from those involved directly in the fertiliser industry, researchers and representatives from regulatory bodies. Ballance supports this conference financially, encourages attendance by key staff and where appropriate, presents conference papers. For more information on the Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre Conference, click here.
New Zealand Agricultural Aviation Association Conference
The NZAAA Conference offers those in the industry an opportunity to meet and discuss issues related to aerial top-dressing. Ballance has a strong interest in supporting this conference, partly because of the benefits of aerial top-dressing to many of its shareholders, and partly because of its ownership of agricultural aviation company, Super Air. For more information on the New Zealand Agricultural Aviation Association Conference, click here.
Pioneer Maize Consultants Conference
Maize is an essential part of many farming operations, and Ballance is proud to sponsor the Pioneer Maize Consultants Conference, at which leading industry specialists and researchers share information on the efficient production and use of this versatile feedstuff. This well-run and well-attended conference features speakers from a range of backgrounds, offering something for all delegates. As well as being a key sponsor of the Consultants Conference, Ballance is also a gold sponsor of the Pioneer Maize Contractors Conference, aimed at a more specialist market. For more information on the Pioneer conferences, click here.
The Farmingshow
Ballance regularly contributes to the Farmingshow, an hour-long rural feature, originally aired on an independently owned Southland radio station. The Farmingshow can now be heard throughout the country, and is also accessible online. Click here for around-the-clock access to the latest news and comment on farming, the economy, politics, sport and weather.
