| 43 The Ballance Farm Environment Awards » Black Peak Farming Huge achievement for Ben and Rebecca By blending intensive bull beef finishing with strawberry growing and a high-tech herb business, the Trotters have effectively redefined the boundaries of a modern family farm. Aimee Wilson Winning five Ballance farm awards in their first year of the competition is a huge achievement for Ben and Rebecca Trotter along with their team and family, who farm beef together with a successful strawberry and climate controlled greens business near Wanaka. Ben said the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award was the biggest highlight, “given we have put in a lot of years into refining our livestock system,” to now using a beef system that matches the soil types and pasture growth curve. High value herbs and leafy greens are grown in water that is rich in nutrients supported by their alpine sourced water supply, and the solution when changed out is repurposed and then spread out onto the paddocks to feed the pasture on the beef farm. By blending intensive bull beef finishing with strawberry growing and a high-tech herb business, the Trotters have effectively redefined the boundaries of a modern family farm. Thousands of people now come to pick their strawberries during summer, and they are often in kitchens around Queenstown and Wanaka with most of the local restaurants supporting a circular food economy. The judges praised their ability to identify a market gap and move quickly to fill it. This agility has resulted in them evolving from traditional producers into savvy retailers, thanks to proper marketing. And now the couple are keen to use their local community footprint to collaborate and support other local growers in the area selling their produce. Efficiency is the cornerstone of their business success. Ben was an agronomist with Agriocom early in his career and from some of the knowledge gained in his role deployed a specialised rotational grazing system to finish the 480 bulls on legume rich pastures. This helps build soil structure and moisture retention given they are farming in an arid dry climate. The farming/horticulture business model is now equally split between all three areas - but it was almost a matter of having to. “Three to four years of low returns in bull beef gave us the push,” Ben said. Ben said their leafy greens business has taken off and they are very competitive – based on their proximity to market and lack of food miles. The greens and herbs are often harvested the same day they are consumed which results in freshness and quality for foodservice and they highly value their retailers for supporting local. “The objective of the farming business is to grow more, waste less and optimise feed quality.” In the Ballance Farm Awards, Black Peak Farming, Alpine Fresh and Red Bridge Berries was awarded; Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award; NZFET Innovation Award; Hill Labs Agri-Science Award; Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award; and the FMG Risk Management Award. Ben said the success has been in transitioning from a farming business as a producer, to more of an integrated business where they have a lot more contact with customers, retailers and end users. Their five year goal is to improve the customer experience and work with the community even more. “Every year we have this philosophy of giving more back to our community while growing our business.” ANZCO Foods is proud to partner with Ben and Rebecca Trotter, of Black Peak Farming PADDOCK BY PADDOCK. CORNER BY CORNER. Using our in-depth knowledge of customers’ land, businesses and objectives, we tailor highly specific solutions that differ from farm to farm, even paddock to paddock. To ensure these agronomy-led solutions stay on track for success, we also regularly walk the crops corner to corner to make recommendations along the way. To find out more go to catalystag.co.nz Proudly Supporting Black Peak Farming
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