A rapidly expanding sheep and beef farm at Pongaroa was the supreme winner in the Horizons Region Ballance Farm Environment Awards last week.
There were 10 entrants to the annual awards, and six finalists.
The supreme winners were Shaun and Tracie Baxter, who in 14 years have expanded from weekend farming on a small block to ownership of a 1740ha breeding and finishing business in the Tararua District.
They started in 2002 with a 700ha home farm, and added two complementary blocks after that.
Judges found their stock in excellent condition and said production had lifted as well. Mr Baxter attributed that to use of the Stockcare farm production monitoring programme, and to using reactive rock phosphate, lime, humates and trace elements to feed the soil.
He does quarterly soil assessments, and said he knew the soil was healthier and growing better quality feed.
In 2014 he was judged the Tararua Sheep and Beef Farmer of the Year.
The farm ticked all the sustainability boxes, the judges found. Scrubby gullies have been fenced off, and poles and woodlots planted.
As well as the supreme award, the Baxters got awards for livestock and agribusiness. Micky MacDonald, who farms a Landcorp property at Matiere, won awards for water use and people in agriculture.
Paul and Lisa Charmley, of Dannevirke, won the dairy award and Ian and Steph Strahan from Kiwitea got awards for soil and cropping.
Ross Collier, of Pentwyn Farms in Rangiwaea, won the award for trees on farms.