Tim Wins WRA Award for Innovative Farming Practices
Tim Orlando-Reep of Manawanui Stock Trading Co has won the Waikato River Authority Catchment Improvement Award for his outstanding leadership in sustainable farming at the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Operating a modestly sized 176-hectare farm near Waikato, Tim has combined clever thinking and forward planning to boost beef production while enhancing environmental stewardship. Under his guidance, Manawanui produces prime beef and sequesters carbon, with 70% of the farm’s income generated from livestock and the remainder from carbon credits through the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
Tim has registered 75 hectares under the ETS, planting pine, poplar, and willow to sequester about 26 tonnes of carbon per hectare annually. His five-year plan targets a 10% production increase each year while prioritising soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable land management.
The judges praised Tim’s adoption of precision farming techniques, regenerative grazing, and strategic planting of native vegetation to protect waterways and improve biodiversity. Manawanui stands as a model for balancing economic success with environmental responsibility.
