Environmental honour surprises Matariki pair

An environment award was the last thing George and Sarah Tatham expected to get from the years of work they put into their Homewood farm _ but were nevertheless delighted to receive the kudos this week.
The Tathams were named supreme winners of the 2010 Greater Wellington/Wairarapa Ballance Farm Environment Awards at a special ceremony at Masterton's Copthorne Hotel and Resort on Thursday night.
As well as the Supreme Award, they also picked up the Ballance Nutrient Management Award and the New Zealand Farm Environment Award Trust Livestock Award.
''We were just over the moon, really _ it's a great honour to recieve any award and this one was no different,'' Mr Tatham told the Times-Age.
The family were singled out for their efforts to make their 2070ha property more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
''I think being sustainable and looking to the future has become a much more important part of our system,'' Mr Tatham said.
Their impressive farming operation, Matariki, is just south of Riversdale Beach and comprises about 1485ha effective, featuring 5km of coastline.
Sheep, beef cattle and dairy grazers are farmed on flat or medium hill contour, with the steeper land taken out of grazing and planted in either production forestry or natives.
The Tathams also grow seed and forage crops.
Like George's parents Bob and Terry, George and Sarah have focused on creating a better farm for the next generation and they have invested heavily in infrastructure and environmental enhancement.
Recent improvements include a major upgrade of the water reticulation system and the creation of a laneway system to improve stock movement.
An ambitious fencing plan is under way and this is run in conjunction with an extensive native planting programme.
Two major estuaries on the farm have been fenced and the Tathams are continuing to fence other waterways and small gullies.
They have also fenced off areas of native bush and are continuing to plant pines on the poorer areas of the farm.
A poplar planting programme started by Bob Tatham has provided major benefits for erosion control and this is an ongoing priority for George and Sarah.
With assistance from the regional council, they have also started removing willows that are hindering waterflow in some waterways.
Some parts of the farm are cropped and, in most years, the Tathams will grow about 30ha of seed peas and 30-50ha of seed barley.
They also plant about 50ha of summer forage and 30ha of winter forage.
Fertiliser is applied according to the results of a nutrient budget which takes into account variations in contour and soil type.
Ballance Farm Environment Award (BFEA) judges noted the Tathams' strong focus on increasing soil fertility and production, and their ''good understanding of carbon farming opportunities on marginal land''.
Staff members are highly valued and have ''clearly delegated areas of responsibility''.
Judges also praised the land-use choices, their well planned subdivision and shelterbelts, and the good retention of native tree cover.
Matariki is a focus farm for the Meat and Wool NZ Wairarapa Monitor Farm Group and judges said this had ''added huge value'' to the management of the business.
George and Sarah have two children _ Poppy, 2, and Freddy, 1. A field day will be held on Matariki in May.
Other winners in the 2010 Greater Wellington/Wairarapa Ballance Farm Environment Awards were:
LIC Dairy Farm Award and PGG Wrightson Land and Life Award: Bryce and Kylie Baron.
Hill Laboratories Harvest Award and Massey University Discovery Award: Marinus van der Put and family.
Greater Wellington Regional Council Special Places Award: Bill and Jill Maunsell (managers Rod & Andrea Easton).
Akura Conservation Centre Lifestyle Farm/Small Block Award: Dougal and Denise MacKenzie.