A Kaitaia dairy farming couple have won the supreme title at the Northland Ballance farm environment awards.
Brian and Gaye Simms milk a small herd of up to 112 cows on more than one hundred hectares that is relatively steep terrain.
Judges praised them for their sound management of farming on steep land, while also managing extreme dry conditions.
They were also commended for the work they had put into creating an attractive and diverse landscape while protecting soils and water.
The Simms also graze cattle and grow pines and other exotic tree species on the farm which they are planning on converting to beef production at the end of this season.
