Hugh Ritchie Board
Hugh Ritchie is a farmer first and foremost. He farms a 1700ha unit in the Hawke’s Bay taking in breeding stock, finishing lambs and cattle, 700ha cash cropping, cereals, seed and process vegetables. The farm is in its fifth season of irrigation with 250ha irrigated. Hugh completed the cal poly irrigation evaluation course through his Nuffield scholarshsip and this formed the basis of the Dan Bloomer lead irrigation evaluation SFF project.
In off-farm activity he is a Federated Farmers national board member with portfolios in many areas including water issues, usage, quality and allocation. While acting in his Federation role Hugh has responsibility to convey the key water principals of the Federation in public comment. He is also a member and board member of LandWISE, a sustainable cropping group in Hawke’s Bay.