LandWISE People, Membership

Inaugural Achievement Awards

LandWISE introduced two new awards at the 2019 Conference. They recognise outstanding achievement among our members.

The Board determined that neither would be awarded lightly or necessarily regularly. They are to be special and valued.

In 2019, the inaugural year, both Awards were presented to Hugh Ritchie of Drumpeel Farms.

LandWISE Manager Dan Bloomer presenting the Sustainability Award to inaugural recipient, Hugh Ritchie

The LandWISE Sustainability Award

The Sustainability Award represents a no-till tine, reflecting technology and our origins working towards minimising soil erosion and improving soil quality. The base is 100 year old native New Zealand Black Mairie recycled from a fireplace surround, representing sustainability and longevity.

The LandWISE Sustainability Award

Honorary Membership

The Board has created a new category, “Honorary Life Member” and awarded this the Hugh Ritchie.

A spage engraved and presented to Hugh Ritchie, our first Honorary Life Member

A Recipient of the LandWISE Honorary Life Membership will have shown extraordinary commitment including:

  • Active contribution to the management, direction and development of LandWISE
  • Active for 5 or more years as a LandWISE member/supporter/board member
  • Actively promoting and helping raise the profile of LandWISE

An Honorary Life Member will have been an active ambassador for LandWISE.

Hugh seemed happy with his award!

Hugh has been involved in LandWISE since its inception, joining with Dan Bloomer, Stuart MacIntyre and Moray Grant to investigate ways to avoid soil loss from wind erosion. This resulted in projects to refine strip-tillage and then into auto-steer and precision farming investigations. 

Following his Nuffield Scholarship, Hugh strongly promoted strip-tillage and the need for better irrigation management and system checks.

Hugh’s awareness of the need to check irrigation systems led to our project on Irrigation Performance which now forms the basis of Irrigation New Zealand’s Code of Practice for Piped Irrigation Performance Assessment and NZQA qualifications. The Bucket tests that are increasingly part of the farming scene are the direct result of this initiative.

Hugh was Chair of LandWISE for over ten years, and while no longer a Board member continues to provide practical and intellectual support. The foundation he helped establish has proved solid, and allows us to continue as we do today.