Lake Taupo farmers Mike and Sharon Barton have turned what others might see as a negative, into a positive branding opportunity.

BFEA judges say the ’vertical growth” of the business has allowed it to capture a premium by directly supplying quality beef to consumers.

The Bartons, who farm the 142ha Glen Emmreth Farm on the western side of Lake Taupo, also won the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management award and the Massey University Innovation award.

Mike and Sharon bought the Tihoi farm in 2004 at a time when strict environmental legislation to protect the health of the lake was looming. They faced this challenge head-on, determined to make their farm as environmentally sustainable as possible.

BFEA judges say the business “has been built from its inception with the understanding that it must be made environmentally sustainable in an extremely difficult location”.

Judges praised the Barton’s proactive mindset and huge commitment to furthering industry change “to true environmental accountability and sustainability”.

Glen Emmreth Farm carries 2000 stock units on 128ha effective land, including an 8ha lease block. Running an all-grass system, first-cross Charolais/Angus heifers are bought in as weaners and finished as rising two year olds.

Contour is mostly flat to rolling with some steep faces around a stream running through the farm and adjacent reserve land into Lake Taupo. The Bartons have completed considerable environmental work on the farm, including fencing and planting riparian areas. They’ve also installed new crossings and a dam, and built a central farm race for improved access and soil protection.

A former chairman of farmer group Taupo Lake Care, Mike is now a trustee for the Lake Taupo Protection Trust, which is the body charged with reducing the catchment’s nitrogen output. He and Sharon successfully ‘agitated’ for science and research funding specifically for farming in the Taupo area, and Glen Emmreth became the host farm for a five-year AgResearch trial.

The Bartons have been heavily involved in this research, which BFEA judges say has provided a catalyst “to get farmers to think outside of their conventional ways and challenge themselves to be more environmentally aware and responsible”.

They said the Bartons’ contribution to development of a target-based methodology will greatly assist New Zealand’s farming industry, including farm environment management.

“This farm model shows there are different ways of doing things, with outcomes that can fit into tight restrictions.”

Judges also noted the couple’s willingness to challenge conventional wisdom about optimum biological Olsen P levels under pumice soil. The extensive use of Overseer in conjunction with interim results from leaching research has aided decision-making on the farm.