An Omarama Station farmer says the vandalism of his irrigation system was sad and thoughtless.

Richard Subtil woke on Saturday morning to find 44 tyres on his Pivot Irrigators had been slashed, wreaking 30-thousand-dollars' worth of damage.

His farm has been praised for its efforts to work towards sustainable farming.

Mr Subtil said the attack shows the continued divide between rural and urban New Zealand.

He believes it may have been an environmental protest, from someone with an issue with irrigation.