Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation Ltd

27/02/2026

Excellent to see Sommervilles recognised for the efforts they are making on their beautiful foothills property. Well done team!

Introducing Finalist: Baden and Campbell Sommerville-Somerview Farm

This Mid Canterbury support block shows how intensive dairy grazing and calf rearing can successfully align with outstanding environmental stewardship. Now part of a family succession plan, the operation has a strong focus on water quality, biodiversity and soil health, with stock exclusion and native planting exceeding regulatory requirements. Their environmental work includes restoring extensive waterways, drains and swales, and maintaining large wetland areas. This includes the only known remnant Mānuka wetland on the Ashburton plains.

Extensive wetland and waterway restoration, careful winter grazing management and regular water monitoring are delivering proven environmental gains, while active involvement in the local catchment collective supports wider community outcomes. Somerview stands as a strong example of productive, future-focused farming.

Click the link to learn more about this finalist https://bit.ly/CAN_Somerview-Farm.

To get tickets to this year’s BFEA event in Christchurch on Thursday 5 March, head to 2026 Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards | March 05, 2026

27/02/2026

Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective - MCCC supports a coordinated effort alongside the work of BCI, MHV and other irrigation schemes and demonstrates how - with appropriate resourcing and coordination – individual landowner commitment can be turned into a powerful, district-wide force, ensuring the land remains productive and healthy for generations to come. Great to see their mahi championed by the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards

Each year through the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, we showcase and celebrate the incredible work being done by one of our region’s dedicated catchment groups.

The Catchment Group Showcase recognises the efforts of rural communities working together to improve water quality in our local rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. 🌿💧

Following a similar format to the Awards, sector experts meet with the catchment group to hear their story and assess the great work they’re doing. The group then receives valuable feedback on their activities, along with guidance on future focus areas as they continue on their sustainability journey.

This year, we are proud to showcase the Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective.

Formed in 2021, the Collective has rapidly evolved into a vital hub for farming, community action and science. Covering the Mid Canterbury area — from the Southern Alps to the ocean between the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers — it now has more than 200 members and includes 10 catchment groups.

Sparked by a desire to unify Mid Canterbury’s broad range of environmental efforts, the Collective has secured significant support, including three years of government funding to improve freshwater knowledge and outcomes.

Their goal is to foster intergenerational stewardship across the catchments and demonstrate that profitable farming can coexist with a reduced environmental footprint.

Read more about MCCC here: [https://bit.ly/CAN_Mid-CanterburyCC]

08/03/2025

Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective - MCCC has said it all. Great to catch up with lots of folk from the district and share about the work we are all doing collectively to improve environmental outcomes in our community. And the ☀️☀️☀️came out in force! A great day shared thanks team!

02/03/2025

Mayfield Show this Saturday!! BCI is again looking forward to collaborating with Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective - MCCC, Hekeao Hinds Water Enhancement Trust - HHWET and MHV Water to share more about the work farmers and irrigators are doing to support environmental work in our community. Please pop in and say hi. https://www.facebook.com/share/15HR82G4YN/

09/12/2024

See article on page 66 where Richard Fitzgerald, GM of Enviro Collective Ltd discusses how the ECL team is supporting BCI shareholders and others to achieve Advanced Mitigation environmental standards on farm.

Owned and operated by Carlos Bagrie and Nadia Lim; Royalburn Station was nameda Finalist in the 2024 B+LNZ FMG Rural Champion Award.Bayer Regional Business Manager David Weith’s outstanding contribution to New Zealand’sarable sector has been acknowledged with the Agronomist of the Year 2024 awar...

12/11/2024

01/09/2024

BCI Mixed Arable farmer Malcolm Cairns is hosting one of the sessions at the upcoming Rural Leaders "Engage" professional development program that runs 30th October - 1st November. See flyer for details or contact Lyndsey Dance at Rural Leaders for more info.🌱🌿🐄🐑🍞

"Engage equips participants with the skills and understanding to succeed and the confidence to engage with food and fibre stakeholders. This 3-day immersive introduction helps
participants develop a deeper understanding of the NZ Food and
Fibre Sector and how it is connected to the global economy."

24/07/2024

It’s with immense pride that BCI remembers Jan Early and her long lasting legacy as a director of BCI, and all round wonderful lady. This scholarship in her honour is again generously sponsored by Jan’s family. See details below:

25/04/2024

A great day out for the BCI Board and some of the team, hearing from Hekeao Hinds Water Enhancement Trust - HHWET to better understand the great work they are doing across the catchment to support farmers and the community with achieving environmental outcomes. We encourage shareholders and the community to get involved and learn more about this fabulous initiative.

24/04/2024

Another great news story of a collaborative, solutions focused community initiative. Well done team.

Looking forward to hearing how Ashburton Forks Catchment Group's predator control project goes.
# Eradicating pests to deliver biodiversity :)
⬇️⬇️⬇️
The Ashburton Forks Catchment Group has been running for the past nine months. Led by a committee of local farmers Chris Allen, Richard Wright, Baden Somerville and Sarah Barker, the group is facilitated by local advisor Will Wright and comprised of keen, community-focused farmers who value the catchment approach to managing issues and creating solutions. Early engagement has been strong with positive feedback and involvement from members.
The catchment group’s broad footprint lies in the Ashburton Forks, Staveley, and Alford Forest areas, with a rough boundary of the Rangitata Diversion Race to the west, Thompsons Track to the east, and either side of the North and South Branches of the Ashburton River. Located close to the native bush-clad foothills, with many regionally significant waterways within the area, these features have driven members to focus on long-term goals of enhancing local biodiversity and water quality..
Two workflows have got the ball rolling.
A monthly water quality monitoring programme where farmers take samples from select water bodies across the catchment has been set up. Sampling will provide a greater understanding of what is happening and potentially inform targeted mitigations.
An independent consultant is assessing the robustness of the water quality monitoring programme to allow peace of mind that the information being collected is fit for purpose in the future.
Predator and pest management are other workflows the group is looking into. Many members have already undertaken significant planting projects off their own backs. The leadership group identified that predator control is a crucial piece of the biodiversity puzzle, with possums and hares hammering newly-established native vegetation before it can establish. With the help of local pest control contractor Lawrie Aiken, one member removed just under 1000 hares and possums from his property in a month. The group is aware that pests and predators can travel large distances daily, and it has been acknowledged that without a co-ordinated approach, it is likely new animals will quickly move in to replace old ones. Many farmers are already trapping and shooting, and it is hoped that working together will allow for greater success.
The Ashburton Forks Catchment Group plans to run a pest and predator control month in April with the aim of further engaging members.
Support from the Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective (MCCC) has been pivotal to the group getting up and running and they want to extend their gratitude to MCCC for assistance to date. Working closely with other catchment groups, DOC and community groups in the catchment will ensure the group’s work is co-ordinated, efficient and fit for purpose.
The Ashburton Forks catchment is a unique and special area, and it is great to see the community getting involved to ensure this character is maintained into the future.
Will Wright
Facilitator
Ashburton Forks Catchment Group