East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Award Winners Announced

A commitment to continuous improvement earns Simon and Lou White of Ludlow Farms the Regional Supreme Award at the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Simon and Lou White of Ludlow Farms in Ōtāne have been named Regional Supreme Winners at the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Hastings this evening.

The White’s arable, sheep and beef finishing farm spans 1,015ha (900ha effective), with the business’s resilience and success built on a foundation of diversification and innovation. Five generations of the White family have farmed on land around Ōtāne, with Simon and Lou taking over the running of Ludlow Farms in 2007. In addition to Ludlow Farms, the Whites also lease two cropping properties at Onga Onga. They grow vegetables, vegetable seeds, stockfeed and malting barley, along with hemp which is processed at their co-founded hempery. In addition, they finish prime lamb and beef and have just built a state-of-the-art seed-drying complex.

Judges noted that the Whites are early adopters of innovation and technology where it introduces efficiencies and sustainable outcomes, such as precision agriculture systems and sustainable water harvesting and storage. They also commended their approach to diversification and specialty product development, underpinned by first-hand market knowledge and strong business networks.

A key to the Whites’ success is a commitment to continuous improvement. They have invested in innovative technology, with Simon spearheading the development of a cutting-edge seed drying facility on Ludlow Farm, a co-funded initiative designed to support small seed processing in Hawke's Bay, serving both their needs and those of other growers in the region.

Productivity is boosted by 'precision agriculture' and practices such as strip-tilling, using liquid fertilisers and bio-stimulants and advanced crop management software. Soil health is a priority, with a focus on optimising nutrient management, ultimately leading to impressive lamb and bull weights.

The farm also prioritises water conservation, with a large on-farm dam ensuring water security and variable rate irrigation calibrated to crop demand and soil type to ensure maximum water use efficiency. To limit the level of contaminants leaving the property, the Whites have fenced and planted waterways, installed sediment traps and carefully manage the use of chemical inputs.

In awarding the Regional Supreme Award, judges noted that Ludlow Farms is a strong family business that is highly regarded in the community and consistently outperforms in all areas. “Ludlow Farms is an outstanding example of a resilient business demonstrating sustainable business practices across all areas.”

Simon and Lou also won the following awards:

• Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil and Nutrient Management Award

• Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award

• Norwood Farming Efficiency Award

• Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award

• NZFET Innovation Award

Other East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Award winners include:

Tom and Anna Tennent — T & A Tennent Trust, Takapau

• Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award

• NZFET Biodiversity Award

Leith and Tracy Ashworth — Ash Ridge Wines, Maraekakaho

• Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award

• East Coast Farming for the Future Award

The awards also served to showcase two local catchment groups as part of the Catchment Group Showcase – the Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust and the Makara Catchment Group. The Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust was established in 2022 to restore the health of the Ahuriri Estuary and address declining water quality and biodiversity loss. With funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries in 2023, the group’s efforts have already yielded positive results, with landowners implementing erosion control measures, restoring wetlands and planting riparian buffers. Ongoing monitoring of water quality and biodiversity will continue to inform their restoration efforts. Similarly, the Makara Catchment Group, formed in 2022 as part of the Tukituki Land Care Catchment Collective, leveraged grant opportunities to develop a State of the Catchment Report. This report, based on extensive analysis of the 12,500ha catchment, farmer interviews, and Farm Environmental Management Plans, provides valuable insights for future conservation efforts.

The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are run by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust and champion sustainable farming and growing. Simon and Lou will join the Supreme Winners from the ten other regions involved in the awards in being considered for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the Trust’s National Showcase in Wellington in June. The recipients of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy then become 2025’s National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing.

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