East Otago farmers Simon and Kirstin Engelbrecht are the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Award winners for 2017. Photo: ODT.

An East Otago sheep and beef farming family has won the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Award.

Simon and Kirstin Engelbrecht — and their four children Oscar (19), Sam (16), Anna (14), and Charles (12) — operated as a united team with a clear passion for farming and a high work ethic, awards judges said of the win, announced at a gala dinner at the Glenroy Auditorium in Dunedin last night.

Judges noted the couple’s  communication with the community, farm safety policy, and a demonstrable community and industry commitment.

The Engelbrechts’ 7500 stock unit East Otago sheep and beef business is based on their 611ha home farm, Stoneburn, near Palmerston.

Mr Engelbrecht bought  Stoneburn, a rolling hill country property, in 2005 and in 2014 added a 28ha coastal lease block and purchased Goodwood, a 185ha farm with similar contour to Stoneburn, 20 minutes towards the coast from home.

He began farming at 19, when he borrowed 100% of the money needed to lease a property.

The judges noted the high production being achieved for the class of land and said the stock were in good health and performance was exceptionally high.

This winter Mr Engelbrecht planned to run 3700 Coopdale ewes, 1200 hoggets, 1430 fattening lambs, 120 breeding heifers and cows, 176 rising-2-year fattening cattle, and rams and bulls for breeding.

The awards judges noted the best practice management to reduce sediment runoff and protect soil structure.

The Engelbrechts did not hesitate to take stock off crop in very wet conditions.

A QEII National Trust covenant over 2ha of bush in a steep gully on Goodwood, with views across the sea to the Otago Peninsula, would serve as a retirement spot for the Engelbrechts.

 

Other  awards

• Soil  management award,  Agri-business management award: Nelson and Fiona Hancox, West Otago sheep and beef farmers.

• Dairy Farm Award,  quality water management award: Ben and Tanya Davie, Clydevale, Hejlea Dairies.

• Innovation award,  Integrated management award: Simon, Sarah, Allan and Eris Paterson, Armidale Merino Stud, Gimmerburn district.

• Farm stewardship Award in partnership with QEII National Trust and the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust: Graham and Pam Hunter, Hunter Farm, near Lawrence.