They are Grant Brothers of Croydon, Lumsden dairy farmers Jason and Sandy Herrick, Otapiri Gorge farmers Nick and Alexis Wadworth and AB Lime’s dairy farming operation.
But, only one farming business will take home the supreme award at a function to be held at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill on April 4.
The finalists were judged on every aspect of their business including environmental management, productivity and profitability through to family and community involvement.
Grant Brothers are fifth generation hill country farmers who operate an extensive sheep and beef farming business at Croydon, near Gore.
They operate four farms that span more than 4000 hectares, all owned and managed by brothers Cameron and Robert and their father Peter Grant.
They run 21,800 ewes, 950 beef cows and 7500 hoggets and aim to finish all stock, with the addition of 4000 to 5000 store lambs.
A lot of work has gone into growing the business through additional land purchases and sustainable development – guided by simple yet effective systems.
The Grants are consistently achieving 150% lambing.
AB Lime’s Steve Smith and Mitchel Smith.
A lot of waterways have been fenced and they have been complemented with large riparian buffers.
Native trees have helped reduce bank erosion and run-off, while peat bogs and tussock areas are being protected and there is extensive weed and pest control.
The Grants have a strong work ethic, balancing this with good community connections that include working with local iwi when planting native species, and being part of local catchment groups.
There has been significant investment in infrastructure, including the farm’s water system.
Sharemilkers Jason and Sandy Herrick are part of a water-users group that looks after its local aquifer, but that’s not the only environmental project they are tackling.
At Murray Creek, they’re also developing wetlands and planning to create a thriving habitat for the Bittern bird.
Having a good understanding of irrigation management has been beneficial for the Herricks who have sharemilked at the Lumsden property for the past nine years.
Husband and wfie Jason and Sandy Herrick.
Their production figures tell a story of trial and tribulations, as they aim to strike a balance between producing more milk with less cows.
They winter 960 cows on 374ha, and milk through a sophisticated 50-bale rotary milking shed.
The farm has 234ha of irrigated land and features 7.2km of fenced off waterways.
The Herricks are strong mental wellbeing advocates and have spoken publicly about the importance of farmers taking care of themselves to prevent burnout.
They have shared their personal experiences nationwide, speaking to farmers through Agproud, Whatever with Wiggy and AgriConnect days.
In the rolling hill country of the Otapiri Gorge, Nick and Alexis Wadworth are making a name for themselves as they strive to improve Bare Hill Farming’s efficiency and productivity.
Bare Hill Farm spans 2000ha with the couple running 7900 sheep and beef stock units alongside a small amount of forestry.
There’s been steady change at Bare Hill Farming as the couple strives to improve both efficiency and productivity.
Nick and Alexis Wadworth with daughter Addison.
The Wadworths are transitioning from Romdale to Wiltshire sheep to reduce the costs associated with producing wool.
They are trialling various methods to establish crops – aiming to reduce reliance on chemicals and improve soil health.
They’re also in the early stages of managing and protecting existing native bush areas.
They have a sophisticated rubbish recycling programme that includes removing the contents of an old dump site, recycling farm and household rubbish, and not burying any waste.
A major achievement has been using Nick’s engineering qualifications to design a new set of cattleyards, and to develop their own water scheme.
AB Lime’s dairy farm is one of a suite of businesses owned by AB Lime.
General manager Steve Smith leads the team behind AB Lime, with the wider operation including dairy support blocks, quarrying, fertiliser sales and distribution and a landfill.
Four families own AB Lime with representatives from each sitting on the board and many living on the property.
Established in 2013, the dairy farm has a platform of 380ha and generates 15% of AB Lime’s income.
The team peak milks 940 cows, which produced 470,000 kilograms of milk solids in the 2021-22 season.
AB Lime is always looking to improve the business’s environmental impact as they strive for a modest financial profit.
Farm goals are guided by extensive water quality testing and data analysis that has been carried out since the farm was converted.
A full-time biodiversity ranger has been employed to help with sustainability initiatives, which include the fencing of vulnerable areas and planting thousands of native trees.
They actively manage a 63ha area of remnant native bush and have developed a native nursery that produces 15,000 trees annually.
There has also been significant investment in other environmental enhancements, including installation of a sediment control bund and the construction of a composting wintering barn.
