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NRC Award winners host Ballance Farm Environment Award field day

Andrew and Vicky Booth of Jade Dairies, Titoki opened their farm for the Ballance Farm Environment Award (BFEA) winners field day on Wednesday 17 May.

As well as being the regional supreme winners of the 2023 BFEA, the Booths were the winner of the Northland Regional Council  (NRC) Water Quality Enhancement Award.

The day covered a range of topics, including how the farm is building resilience to climate change alongside long-term financial resilience and the importance of biodiversity and biosecurity.

The field day included a visit to the wetland where NRC staff from the Biodiversity and Land Management teams gave talks on Wetlands and the benefits of active land management, and the resources and support available from NRC.

The day was attended by several NRC Councillors, including Deputy Chair Jack Craw, Clrs Amy Macdonald, Joe Carr, John Blackwell and Geoff Crawford, as well as Hon Willow-Jean Prime, MP for Northland and Minister of Conservation and NRC CEO Jonathan Gibbard.

For more information on support available for landowners, see our funding for landowners information or call 0800 002 004 and ask for the land management team.

For more information on biodiversity and the funding and support available to community groups, individuals or landowners go to: www.nrc.govt.nz/biodiversitymatters or contact NRC’s biodiversity advisors at: [email protected]

Clrs Carr Blackwell and MacDonald with farmers Andrew and Vicky Booth and NRC CEO Jonathan Gibbard.

In front are Clr Joe Carr with farmers Andrew and Vicky Booth, Clrs Amy Macdonald and Jack Craw with NRC CEO Jonathan Gibbard, and Clrs Geoff Crawford and John Blackwell behind.

People on farm listening to person speaking.

NRC Deputy Chair Clr Jack Craw in discussion with Andrew and Vicky Booth at the wetland.

Group of people wearing gumboots on the farm.

NRC staff leading discussions at the wetland.

People outside a dairy shed.

NRC CEO Jonathan Gibbard with Clr Amy Macdonald and Minister Prime