Community champions Bumnuts innovation nomination | Crookwell Gazette

Community champions have been recognised at the NSW and ACT Regional Achievement and Community Awards.

The winners were announced at a gala dinner and presentation night in the Blue Mountains on November 8.

On-farm innovation: Richard Bush, NSW Crowns Land Commissioner with Theresa and Craig Robinson from Bumnuts, Gunning. Photo supplied.

Bumnuts from Gunning were nominated for the second year running for their ‘spirit of innovation’ for the Prime Super Agricultural Innovation Award. The winner was doctor Amy Moss from Armidale.

Dr Moss’ research on how to improve chicken meat production efficiency could save costs and increase production worldwide.

The award is for people or businesses in the agricultural chain who develop new products, open new market opportunities despite the challenges of climate change, soil types or location.

Theresa and Craig Robinson’s Gunning farm is holistic and has continued to be committed to animal welfare and sustainable farming practices since Bumnuts was established in 2013.

“A good egg business is only as good as its flock and overcoming breeding and biosecurity concerns have generated many positive outcomes for our business,” the Robinsons said.

They have custom-designed mobile huts built on-farm and integrated into a rotational grazing system with cows and sheep reducing the need for synthetic chemicals as chickens provide fertiliser for the paddocks.

The sheds were designed and built by the Robinsons and are insulated, provide protection from predators, operate using solar panels, and are double the housing capacity of market sheds.

The larger capacity sheds, recently designed and built, stock 3500 chickens and maintain low-stocking densities.

The Robinsons have also started raising their own chickens and have been able to transition chicks from custom-built brooders at four weeks of age; and, at six weeks of age, start moving between brooder and roosting sheds over four weeks, then onto pasture.

The Robinsons continue to support the community by providing 17,100 eggs to OzHarvest, helping to feed 8550 people as well as supporting community organisations.

The winners included: