Listen: Farmers are good buggers too - Rob Kempthorne

Today's "good bugger" was not only the 2003 Young Farmer of the Year but is also a former winner of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for the Southland region.

Dairy and sheep farmer Rob Kempthorne spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay about what he does on his farm that helps the environment.

Kempthorne reckons giving up an area of land on the flat to create a wetland does more good for water quality than the "impractical aspect of fencing all hill country."

Rob says a wetland is more cost-effective and "would achieve the right outcome for the environment and the farmer."