Canterbury Farming, August 2015

August 2015 Edition

29,200 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast

Keeping farming in the family

Land use consents part of future P8

Pasture myth busted

P18

Horses, livestock and fencing Page 16–17

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August 2015

CANTERBURY FARMING

Making a difference together Ten North Canterbury farmers affected by drought will have help turning their bare brown paddocks green again this spring under a unique new initiative.

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Project North Canterbury — led by South Canterbury based Duncan Ag — will provide each farmer with free advice, soil testing, fertiliser, seed, spraying and drilling to renovate five hectares with new pasture for each farmer so they can start growing grass again as soon as possible. The unique offer is the result of five New Zealand owned rural companies joining forces to give both short and long-term support for those affected by unprecedented drought conditions in North Canterbury over the past several months.

“The North Canterbury Drought Relief Committee selected the farmers through a ‘nominate your neighbour’ process,” said Craig McIsaac from no-till machiner y specialist Duncan Ag. “Soil Matter s are providing the soil testing and recommendations, Viafos will supply the fertiliser.

Specialty Seeds are donating the seeds and DJ and AM Harrison Spraying along with NuFarm are providing any spraying needs.

“We will pay for the contractor and provide a Duncan seed drill so there is no wear and tear on the contractor’s machine,” he explains.

All the companies involved wanted to do something practical for the North Canterbury farming

community, and banding together to restore dead paddocks was seen as a way to help make a real difference.

“We all share a similar focus on the importance of looking after farm soils and pastures as well as supporting long-term farm productivity.

We want the results of Project North Canterbury to

continue benefitting these farms in future seasons, not just this spring. Having said that, we also recognise the urgent and immediate need for feed, so we’ll be tackling the situation as soon as conditions permit.”

Two key benefits of notill paddock renewal in this context are preserving soil

moisture and rapid plant establishment, and both the fertiliser and seed recommendations will also be aimed at future-proofing the paddocks in question.

The project got underway on August 11 and will continue through until mid September starting with soil testing and fertiliser advice.

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Go Further

Canterbury Farming prints material contributed by freelance journalists, contributing columnists and letters from readers.

The information and opinions published are not necessarily those of Canterbury Farming or its staff.

Canterbury Farming takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

Diverse entries for Farmer of the Year

3

PLAN AHEAD

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A wide range of agricultural efforts will be represented at this year’s Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year award.

As well as the usual sheep and beef entries, this year’s entries include a mussel farm from Marlborough, a Canterbury saffron grower, an organic dairy farm, a gourmet fruit producer from South Canterbury, an organic red meats farm in Southland, and for the first time a West Coast farm is also entering.

Twelve entries have been received from all over the South Island and Lincoln Univer sity Foundation Chairman Ben Todhunter says he is pleased with the selection.

“Early in the life of this competition it was a challenge to get entries. However as the prestige of the competition has grown and word has spread about its value to entrants and the agricultural industry generally, numbers have built up. We deliberately aim for quality of entrants rather than quantity, so our criteria for farming excellence sets a high bar.

“Our focus will be to maintain this level of very high standards and further enhance the reputation of the competition as one of New Zealand’s premiere farming awards.”

August 2015

TAKE A TAXI HOME

South Island Farmer of the Year 2014 winners from Patoa Farms, Steve and Josie Sterne with their daughter Holly

The first stage begins with regional judging teams visiting the farms. Finalists will be announced in midOctober and the finals will be held at Lincoln University on November 18.

All entrants will receive an evaluation of their business and the winner will hold a field day in the first quarter of 2016, along with receiving a $20,000 grant to be used for travel or study to increase their business knowledge.

Finalists win one of four $5,000 special category prizes made up of the Silver Fern Farms’ red meat producer ‘Plate to Pasture’ award for best consumer awareness, the Farmlands award for best resource management, the AGSTAFF award for human resource management, and the Lincoln University award for innovation and technology.

“The Lincoln University Foundation was formed to

encourage excellence in farm business practice,” said Mr Todhunter.

“This annual competition is a great vehicle for that. It rewards farming leadership and innovation, and uses the finals’ night and winners’ field day, plus on-line presentations, to make that knowledge available to the wider farming community.”

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August 2015

CANTERBURY FARMING

Rural women awards open Young viticulturists awarded Entries have opened for the Enterprising Rural Women Awards 2015, offering women who run their own rural businesses the opportunity to boost their profiles and gain recognition for their achievements.

“This year is very special as we have a lot of interest in the awards and we’re already fielding enquiries from women keen to enter,” says Rural Women NZ national president, Wendy McGowan.

Last year’s supreme winners, Keri Johnston and Haidee McCabe from Irricon Resource Solutions have come on board as sponsors.

“They want other women in rural businesses to have an opportunity to get the benefits that their business has gained since winning.

We also welcome NZ Post as a significant sponsor for the awards.”

There are four award categories in 2015: Love of the Land — for land based businesses; Help — I need somebody — for businesses providing any type of service — from retailers to agricultural contractors; Making it in Rural — for businesses that involve manufacturing or creativity; Stay, Play Rural — for businesses engaged in rural tourism or hospitality.

Each category winner will receive $1,000 in prize money and a trophy, with a further $1,000 going to the supreme winner. To enter the awards,

Rural Women NZ national president, Wendy McGowan

women have to own and operate a small business with less than 10 full-time equivalent staff, based in a rural area, and the business must have been running for at least two years. If in partnership, women must be an active partner of 50 per cent or more

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in the business. Contact enquiries@ruralwomen. org.nz.

Entries close Friday September 18 and the awards will be presented at the Rural Women NZ national conference in Nelson on Saturday November 21.

Four finalists represented their regions in the 2015 Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year national finals underway from August 25–27 in Hawke’s Bay. Matt Duggan of Marlborough and Mike Winter of Central Otago represented the South Island going up against Caleb Dennis of Hawke’s Bay and Scott Lanceley of Wairarapa.

The four were selected out of 24 contestants who competed in the regional finals all over New Zealand.

Matt Duggan has been Marlborough Young Viticulturist twice before and brought with him experience and determination for his last chance to enter at the age of 29.

Mike Winter also brought a lot of experience having been the CO Young Viticulturist of the Year 2014.

The finals began with a round of practical questions as well as the Biostarts Hortysports at Te Awa Winery.

The contestants answered a round of practical and theory questions and were interviewed by key figures in the wine industry followed by a quick fire buzzer round on August 27.

They then delivered speeches to over 400 wine industry delegates at the Bragato Wine Awards dinner that evening.

This annual competition is now in its 10th year and aims to give young viticulturists the

opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge and make a name for themselves within the industry.

The winner receives a trophy along with a years use of a Hyundai Santa Fe, a $5,000 travel voucher, $2,000 cash and Spiegelau

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wine glasses, and will represent the winegrowing industr y at the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition in November.

For updated details on the winner visit The Young Viticulturist of the Year Facebook page.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

Country Matters with Rob Cope-Williams

Walking — hang in or get out Reports about people wanting to get out of farming completely or changing their land use to something else that is profitable are getting more plentiful.

Obviously dairy farmers are the main subject with respect to forecasts of a run of severe losses looming larger than the Pacific Ocean, but cropping farmers are now joining in on the chorus.

Dairying falls into two categories — the land owners who want to get out of sharing a huge loss with their sharemilker, and the sharemilkers who want to bail out because they can’t afford to take the losses.

Lawyers are the key. Take your contract to your lawyer and get them to go through the contract with a fine tooth comb.

Those who I have talked with have said that if there isn’t an out clause in the contract, one option is to get both parties around a table and look for a way to settle the situation.

A case of both sides knowing the facts and coming to a solution that

means they can both get out with the minimum of losses.

That sounds hard to do and it can be, but I understand from those who mediate such meetings that it is a lot better than trying to trade out.

I also understand that some sharemilkers are putting themselves into liquidation and while that sounds an easy option, again the advice is ensure your lawyer has gone through your contract to ensure all liability is covered off.

It isn’t the world prices that are driving cropping farmers into walking, it’s the new raft of compliance costs.

Dennis Carter will point out to you that he has to comply to 11 different rules and at a cost that is crippling farmers.

He says he gets several phone calls a week from cropping farmers asking his advice what to do and he says there are no answers. It

seems the regional councils and others are determined to make it impossible to farm so the older generation of farmers are selling up and letting corporates or young people who can handle the changes required taking over.

In other words cropping farms are being sold because they are no longer viable.

That, along with dairying being in the spotlight for the all the wrong reasons will very likely bring a drop in land prices.

Everyone is trying to stop the prices rising in Auckland, but it’s in the rural scene that people spend their whole working life earning very little to get a capital gain when they retire.

Never lose sight of the fact the farming industry has taken a lot of serious hidings before and survived, and we will survive this one as well, but yes it does hurt very badly when it does happen.

August 2015

From the Minister Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries

Overall trade is still strong in Primary Sector There’s been a lot of talk about the dairy sector over the last month with Fonterra’s reduced payout forecast.

This is disappointing but not a surprise given how volatile global prices for dairy have been recently.

It’s pleasing to see Fonterra is offering further support with a 50 cent kgMS advance payment, which is effectively an interest free loan. This is a good pragmatic move and will be welcomed by farmers.

Clearly it’s going to be a tough year for many, so we need to remind ourselves that this is a temporary fluctuation and part of a cycle. Prices will bounce back — it’s a question of when, not if.

It’s also important not to overlook the other parts of the primary sector that are doing really well.

Horticulture is having a boom year with exports now worth over $4 billion for the first time. As part of this, fruit exports are now worth $2 billion.

Beef export earnings reached $3.1 billion over the March 2015 year, a massive increase of 35% over the previous year.

This is partly due to strong demand from the United States, and is forecast to continue for at least a few more years yet.

We are likely to fill our beef quota to the US this year for the first time ever.

And the wine sector is also having a record year with exports worth $1.4 billion last year. The outlook for the overall primary sector is strong, with exports expected to increase by 17 per cent out to $41 billion by 2019.

The reason for this confidence is that we are seeing global population and incomes growing, especially on our doorstep with Asia. As people grow increasingly wealthy they want to consume more

protein and more highquality foods.

This is why trade deals like the TPP (and the existing deals with China, Korea and Taiwan) are so important. As a trading nation we need to sell what we produce and overcome the barriers imposed on our exporters.

It’s not just the primary sector flourishing either.

Industries like tourism, IT and manufacturing are growing strongly thanks to our flexible and resilient economy.

So let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture just because one sector is having a tough year. Our economy is growing, jobs are being created and we are set to be back in surplus next year.

Given the economic challenges in many other countries, we should be really proud of all this.

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August 2015

CANTERBURY FARMING

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

Country Law

Money Talk with Andrew Wyllie

with Ronald W. Angland & Son

Investment markets update

Fencing covenants There is legislation on the books dealing with fences between neighbours.

There are a few different arrangements that can occur.

Occasionally there are agreements that there be no fence between properties.

More often, with new subdivisions especially, there will be fencing covenants registered on titles to properties.

A fencing covenant is a legal arrangement which puts the costs of erecting a boundary fence solely on one party. This could occur where one party has subdivided off and sold a part of their previous property or where a developer has created a full residential subdivision and does not wish to be responsible for costs of fencing.

A covenant under the Fencing Act puts an obligation on the other party to cover the full costs of fencing — this could be a significant issue if you are considering buying a large rural property subject to one.

These kind of covenants last for twelve years. The burden of paying for the fence runs with the property on which the servient covenant is noted, but the benefit of not having to pay only lasts while the original owner remains; if the party not responsible for paying sells the burden imposed on the neighbour ends.

Both the time frame and the change of party can result in redundant fencing covenants remaining on titles well after their use-by date as fencing covenants do not automatically disappear once they become redundant.

It is a straight-forward process removing a redundant fencing covenant from a title. If you are purchasing a property and your lawyer notes a redundant fencing covenant on the title you can ask them to raise it under the requisitions procedure of the contract and have the vendor remove it from the title on settlement.

The issue is neither here nor there and is really just

Personalised investment advice

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a matter of tidiness. If there is no covenant or agreement in place the default position is that each neighbour is liable as to a half-share in an adjoining fence. The standard for a fence is that it must be “adequate.”

If there are dramas about the adequacy of fencing or a dispute about the need for a fence, the costs and quality of a fence, etc., the Fencing Act sets out the process for properly arguing your case.

If you want your neighbour to contribute their half-share and they have disputed this, the first step is to serve notice on them detailing the planned fence, costs, etc.

The neighbour then has 21 days to object to the plan by serving a cross-notice, setting out their plan.

If you still can’t agree the next step is to head off to the Disputes Tribunal.

If a neighbour is digging their heels in refusing to contribute, the other one needs to be mindful that they can’t be asked to contribute for costs of work done prior to notice being served, or between service of the notice and service of a cross-notice, or while the matter is still disputed.

John Angland Leeston (03) 324 3033 john@anglands.co.nz Craig Wakelin Leeston (03) 324 3033 craig@anglands.co.nz

Disclosure Statements are available on request and free of charge.

Covering the three months ended 31 July 2015.

The ‘wall of worry’ always exists around financial markets. Forgotten during bull markets and over-used during bear markets, the attention on Greek issues and the collapse in Chinese equity markets provides some evidence that we continue to climb this wall. However, neither event is derailing financial markets or the global economic recovery.

Greece is less important than it was five years ago.

Indebtedness remains extreme but foreign private sector exposures have been reduced materially.

This means any secondary impacts should be smaller.

Chinese economic growth is expected to slow but the changes in share prices are not a reflection of the Chinese economy and should have negligible impact on it, given 90% of Chinese household savings are in banks not equities. Instead we continue to focus on the rebound in United States macro data and the emerging cyclical recovery in Europe.

In our view, the central issue (in terms of market direction) is the pending divergence in monetary policy expected in the second half of 2015, which would result in more significant interest rate differences between major global economic regions. In

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particular the United States Federal Reserve is expected to take the first step in normalising policy (towards higher interest rates) while the next steps in the United Kingdom will also be towards a tightening (higher interest rate) bias. This would be in contrast with the lower interest rate stances in Europe, Japan and also the downward rate bias in New Zealand and Australia.

Exchange rates movements are expected to be the transmission mechanism.

Global Equity Markets Headline equity returns were mixed over the past three months. Of the markets we monitor the worst performers were Hong Kong equities. These were impacted by Chinese equity market falls. Clearly Chinese equities ran up too far in the first part of 2015. Following the recent declines, forward PE multiples now appear more realistic.

Developed markets fared the best with most markets delivering double-digit (in New Zealand dollars) returns, taking into account the weaker New Zealand dollar. Japanese and United States equities provided the strongest gains with Japanese equity returns bolstered by significant monetary policy stimulus.

United States equity returns were largely currency driven, with market performance following the historic trend of ‘marking time’ ahead of pending interest rate rises.

Australian and New Zealand equity markets Australian equities under perfor med most markets, with resource sectors declining along with commodity prices.

Banks continue to be under pressure with the regulator increasing the banks’ capital adequacy requirements, with further increases expected.

Consumer sectors were also

weak with both the retail and media sectors declining.

Healthcare companies and others with foreign earnings were the strongest performers. Our New Zealand equity market managed a positive return but was held back by a weaker electricity sector. The sector has had plenty happening recently including the decision to keep Tiwai Point smelter open and Origin Energy selling its Contact Energy stake.

Fixed interest market In the New Zealand fixed interest market, interest rates were dominated by a cut of 25 basis points to the Official Cash Rate with indications that further easing was likely.

Two more cuts are now priced into forward rates. This is great news for borrowers, but it becomes harder for income investors. Expected increases in United States short-term interest rates later this year are likely to be staged, with the impacts gauged before successive moves are made.

We also expect authorities to be cautious about fixed interest market instability, should longer-dated bonds rise too rapidly. This, and surplus global capital, should mean any increases in global longer-term bonds will be moderated.

If you’re new to investing please see Forsyth Barr’s Introduction to Investing guide available at www.forsythbarr. co.nz/investing-with-us/ new-to-investing/ or contact Andrew Wyllie, an Authorised Financial Adviser with Forsyth Barr in Christchurch. He can be contacted regarding portfolio management, fixed interest, or share investments on 0800 367 227 or andrew. wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz.

This column is general in nature and should not be regarded as personalised investment advice. Disclosure Statements are available on request and free of charge.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

Technology takes flight

Technology that is advancing rapidly in major arable areas throughout the world has arrived in Mid Canterbury.

The fully autonomous senseFly eBee Ag drone weighs 750g, has a wingspan of 96cm and a battery-powered flight time of up to 40 minutes enabling coverage of 120ha. It can fly in winds up to 45km/h.

An on-board 12MP Near Infrared crop imaging camera picks up the infrared reflectance in plants, which gives an indication of chlorophyll amounts present.

The more chlorophyll the healthier the plant.

Using Swiss developed software, the captured information is downloaded onto a computer generating an NDVI image of the crop, which can be downloaded into most precision agriculture programs including Agleader, Trimble, Precision planting and John Deere monitors as a shape file map and following a quick scout in field by the farmer or his/her consultant to determine a prescription fertiliser or chemical application. This allows farmers to target specific areas for weed control or

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applying fertiliser. It allows for simple onsite information pointing to obvious problem areas in a crop that maybe not yet visible.

RGB or natural colour using an 18MP camera can produce sub 3cm resolution imaging.

“I can offer quality orthomosaic photography that I can transform into georeferenced 2D orthomosaic images and digital elevation models (DEMs),” Mr Allan said.

“The turnaround is 24–48 hours.” Typical crop flight and analysis depending on area is reasonably quick whereas full RGB survey and 3D visualisation can be somewhat longer.

The device can also be used to conduct stockpile calculations and carry out corridor and project mapping.

Mr Allan says the technology is easy to use and cheaper than traditional aerial photography and not so much dependent on weather being perfect.

The technology can be

ACCOUNTANCY T ASK F ORCE L

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M

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applied to environmental protection work such as measuring coastal erosion and river control/ protection programmes.

Flight boundaries can be supplied by way of a KML file captured from Google Earth, which allows a flight plan to be created beforehand.

“The files are easily created, and I just upload it to the drone, Alternatively I can turn up on site and as long as there is cell data available, customise a flight plan on site.”

Making a flight plan beforehand is a good idea if terrain is challenging enabling a simulation to be conducted. Applications of use are endless where the acquisition of localised aerial data is required.

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August 2015

CANTERBURY FARMING

KEEPING FARMING IN THE FAMILY

BY AYLA MILLER

Despite being a long way from his home in the Netherlands, Peter Schouten feels quite at ease dairy farming on a large block of land in West Eyreton, Canterbury.

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e now lives on this property with his wife Kristy and twoyear-old daughter Emma, neighbouring his parents and brother’s farm.

Coming from a keen farming background Peter always knew he would be a

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“My parents knew my brother and I wanted to get into dairy farming. They saw oppor tunities overseas.

They looked at France, Germany and Canada before finally stumbling across New Zealand.”

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CANTERBURY FARMING with it. As they only milked 135 cows in the Netherlands, the average being 40–50, this was a huge amount of land for them.

As time went on and the family got more accustomed to the New Zealand way of farming, more land was purchased, eventually splitting it so that the two boys had their own farms right next door to their parents.

“Farming next door to your brother and parents is an advantage,” Peter says.

“We can bounce ideas off one another.”

This also means they are able to invest in machinery to help them out which would not be economically viable for the average farmer.

“Between family members we have the shared use of a number of larger implements, amongst those an air-seeder and disc-cultivator, but own a range of other implements ourselves allowing us to get most of the machinery work done in-house. For some of the more specialist machinery such as silage choppers and combine harvesters we still rely on the support of contractors.”

There is an increasing amount of technology used on the farms.

“The tractor is fitted with GPS and autosteer which allows for increased efficiency of the tractor and implements but also reduces

August 2015

9

The Eyrewell shed with automatic calf feeders Getting used to the New Zealand way of farming was a challenge for the Schouten family but they have since taken to it like cows to pasture driver fatigue. We also have automatic calf feeders in the shed.”

Peter says the move to New Zealand was pretty calculated.

“I remember being asked by our parents what

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we thought of the idea. We were pretty serious about the farming industry and everything just fell into place.”

These days getting into farming is increasingly difficult and without his parents, he and his brother

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“You need to find someone who can be security when purchasing land.”

He says it’s his competitive nature that motivates him.

“Farming has about a million

different challenges. There is always something to consider.

“We grow our own barley and I enjoy having really nice pastures. When you do it right you can see the mass of feed. I suppose I take pleasure in that.

“We have a run-off that we lease up the road, and I have just bought a farm down the road six kilometres away from

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our existing farm.” When will he stop? “Farming is a bit of a moving target,” he says.

In other words not for a very long time.

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August 2015

WATER

CANTERBURY FARMING

The ‘Know to make it Flow’ Andrew Curtis, Irrigation New Zealand CEO

Innovation Award entries sought People, companies and projects demonstrating innovation in irrigation will be sought out next month for IrrigationNZ’s ‘Innovation in Irrigation Award’.

The judging process for the highly-prestigious award has been revamped with entries opening on September 1, and closing at the end of October. This should make it easier for participants to get

their applications in before they get too busy with the irrigation season, university holidays and the Christmas silly season.

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Award’ recognises innovation excellence in the sector — whether it be an innovative practice or behaviour, an innovative product or technology or innovative community thinking around irrigation.

Presented ever y two years at IrrigationNZ’s biennial Conference and Expo, Aquaduct NZ won in 2014 for its ground-breaking solution for the manufacture of irrigation pipe for Valetta Irrigation Scheme’s underground piping project.

The innovative aspects of this entry included the creation of a factory in a paddock to produce pipe onsite. This slashed welding requirements by 80% and reduced installation time and costs. The company supplied 84km of pipe in sizes from 1.6m diameter to 200mm — in lengths up to 250 metres — for Valetta’s scheme upgrade. Other innovative features included machinery designed and adapted specifically for the Canterbury Plain’s unique

cobblestone conditions and vibrating technology which perfectly bedded the pipe network greatly increasing its longevity.

Finalists in 2014 included FieldNET and K-line G-Set. FieldNET have created irrigation management technology which has drastically reduced the use of water, time and labour when scheduling irrigation.

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in better use of resources and greater yields. K-Line G-SET is a low maintenance irrigation system ideal for use on awkward-shaped terrain and steep hills as it offers more flexibility than traditional irrigation. Operating via a solar-powered battery system, the G-Set system sits just high enough above the ground for its sprinklers to work efficiently but low enough so stock don’t rub on it.

A highly commended entrant in 2014 was IQ-H20 for its pod irrigation system.

Particularly useful for hill country use, this system is designed to apply the correct amount of water to the right areas on paddocks without run off. So now we’ve reminded you about the types of innovation the irrigation sector can produce, get your thinking caps on and send us some possible nominees.

We know there’s lots more examples out there and we’d love to see a greater range of entries for our 2016 ‘Innovation in Irrigation Award.’

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August 2015

11

Irrigation Issues with Dr Tony Daveron Spring is nigh — right?

July and August have produced some spring-like days and soil moisture has been all over the place. Soil moisture deficits have been developing on a regular basis but we are still a few weeks away from considering irrigation – save that annual volume.

September 1 is closer than fur ther away and according to the calendar that is the first day of the southern hemisphere spring.

However, the Vernal (Spring) equinox occurs on 23 September (at 8.23pm to be precise) and this marks the beginning of the astronomical Spring.

Regardless of one’s definition of Spring , somewhere b e t we e n September 1 and September 23 is when the action ramps up for irrigation. It is during this period that soil temperatures begin a steady rise and will consistently stay above that magical 10°C base for crops to ‘enjoy’ growing — probably also that temperature we all enjoy as well.

So where do we sit right now? Soil temperature has not reached or exceeded that 10°C base since mid-May and as at August 22 was 5°C at 9am — half of that magical 10°C. Our NW weekends (remember those 20°C Saturdays and Sundays

Figure 1

Wouldn’t that be nice and no wonder the plantain was growing furiously when I was up there recently. (see figure 2) • How close then are we to irrigating? Closer in May and even June when quite large deficit (by irrigation standards) developed than we are right now. But those NW days in August developed deficits of 10– 12mm in between southerly events.

recently) are very obvious in the record when soil temperatures snuck up toward 9°C. Nothing like a cold southerly to dump those temperatures again. (see figure 1) How about farming on the East Coast of the North Island around Gisborne.

August has already resulted in a period with soil temperatures above 10°C and their temperatures are hovering around 8–9°C.

Figure 2

• Does that mean we are close to irrigating pasture?

Not really. As at August 22 at this location there was still 24mm of readily available water to use and current water use is about 1mm/ day — that is 24 days before

irrigation, if it doesn’t rain.

While water use will steadily increase toward 1.5–2mm/ day by mid-September, there is no panic.

• Just be ready to go about the end of the first week of September I reckon.

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August 2015

WATER

CANTERBURY FARMING

MERGE LIKE A ZIP

Weather Watch

by Tony Trewinnard

El Niño still holding strong Like the previous few months, July saw increasing frequency of southwesterly airflow over New Zealand with anticyclones in the Tasman Sea and low pressure systems moving to the east. Consequently temperatures were cool and rainfall reduced in Canterbury.

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Overall temperatures for July were a little below normal, generally by up to −0.5°. Day time maximum temperatures were near normal overall. Night time minimum temperatures were colder than usual, and much colder in some inland areas which, like June, saw significant frosts. Sunshine hours were above normal, by 15–25%. Rainfall totals were lower than usual across the region, with totals 60–80% of normal in most parts of Mid and North Canterbury, but under 50% of normal in much of South Canterbury.

By near the end of August this month was also shaping up as colder than normal as southwesterly airflow remained dominant. Rainfall and sunshine totals were near normal.

In the tropical Pacific, ocean temperatures remain clearly in El Niño territory. A strong El Niño is currently in place, and is responsible for

Rainfall

Temperature

Sunshine

Airflow

September

Near normal

Colder than normal

A little sunnier than normal

More south westerlies

October

Near normal

A little colder than normal

Near Normal

More south westerlies

November

Drier than normal

A little colder than normal

A little sunnier than normal

More south westerlies

December

Drier than normal

Near normal

Sunnier than normal

More south westerlies

the frequent southwesterly airflows over New Zealand this winter. We expect this El Niño to peak in the next month or two.

All computer models predict a strong El Niño over the next three to four months. We still expect this current event to be peaking around late September or October, and then slowly decaying during the summer.

A strong La Nina event often follows short-lived El Niños of this type and this looks increasingly likely later next year.

As we move towards a peak in El Niño (which will cover the period till about mid October) we expect to see ongoing frequent periods of cool southwest airflow over New Zealand with regular rainfalls over Canterbury. However,

once we pass the peak and move towards La Nina we often see a shift to more westerly airflow.

Given that we expect all of 2016 to see a steady trend from strong El Niño to strong La Nina by year’s end, this raises the prospect that many months in 2016 could be drier than normal. While its too early to be making specific predictions about individual months next year, the current developing pattern is increasingly suggestive of dry seasons ahead.

For September and at least part of October we expect to see anticyclones dominant in the Tasman Sea with some low pressure systems over or near New Zealand, and frequent periods of southwesterly airflow. Inevitably, some of

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these southwesterly airflows will bring cold outbreaks with rain. Therefore we expect Canterbury to see mostly near normal rainfall for the next few months, with sunshine hours possibly a little above normal, and mean temperatures colder than usual.

From later in October or November we will start to experience an enhanced period of spring westerly airflow which may herald a prolonged period of drier than normal months. Sunshine hours are likely to be at least normal, and probably above normal through the spring and into early summer.

Temperatures are likely to be cooler than usual, particularly at night with the incidence of spring frosts higher than usual.

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14

August 2015

CANTERBURY FARMING

FORESTRY & LOGGING

Forestry Market Report Allan Laurie MNZIF, Laurie Forestry Ltd Act of faith has been rewarded Export market conditions for both log and lumber have continued to be dominated by the China economy, with factors conspiring against any resurgence in the short to medium term.

Several new factors are emerging with respect to the NZ Log and Lumber trade.

This ‘hot of the press’ report references these factors and attempts to predict how they relate to what we can expect

over the next two to three months. The New Zealand domestic market continues to provide a stable and best bottom line position for forest growers. For the most part sawmills are paying the

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best prices and their supply and demand is broadly in balance. As always there are exceptions.

The last five to six months has been a very good pricing period for pruned logs. Prices are close to the best ever paid. I am delighted to see forest owners who invested in that act of faith operation called pruning 20–25 years ago, are being proved to be well justified in their decision.

Across the China eastern seaboard, the all por t inventory for softwood logs has dropped to about 4 million cubic metres from a high 4.7 mil in May/June.

Daily usage (consumption) has risen to a not too shabby 55,000 cubic metres per day, up 10,000 on last month.

Year on year this is still about 10,000 per day less than the norm for this time of year.

The big issues right now are cash, Letters of Credit (LCs) and volumes of lumber arriving from the Pacific North West and Russia. Although China domestic consumption is reasonable, some trade is being conducted on extended

terms and fire sales prices to move distressed cargos.

A number of LC issuing companies have exited the log trade quoting risk as the reason. For the first time in a long time, I am hearing of several shipments of distressed lumber from Canada heading to China.

There are also at least three distressed shipments of logs from NZ — regrettably not a first. Distressed means the cargo includes aged stock and/or fresh stock that has been shipped without LCs or contracts confirmed. This means sellers have not been able to conclude sales prior to shipping and will land high risk cargo that will find its own value position, often well below the market.

My spies also report seeing a lot of very old stocks of logs sitting on Ports in China. Some of this situation is the consequence of difficulties securing LCs and some relates to the cat and mouse game being played out between sellers and buyers.

The problem here is sorting out which one is the cat!

Added to the pot of negativity at present, is a rapidly declining RMB/ US$ exchange rate. China exporting manufacturers are able to pick up some sales advantages via exchange rate but are discounting to achieve volume. In the log trade the declining exchange rate is lifting the value of NZ logs with the domestic price (Kiwi logs traded from ports to China factories in RMB currency) severely debilitating any trading margins.

The bottom line for all of this is the market indicator A grade settlements for August sales hovering in a US$90 to $95 per cubic metre band. Most commentators are suggesting there will be another US$5 per cubic metre drop on September.

At a NZ wharf gate basis, a decline in the Kiwi dollar against the US is having a positive bottom line impact.

Shipping rates are also under downward pressure. However these two factors will not offset a fundamental need

by NZ suppliers to reduce volumes being shipped to

China if any sort of recovery is to be realised. In August a total 23 log vessels are confirmed to be destined for China which equates to about 700,000 cubic metres. This is a significant drop of about 10 vessels or 300,000 cubic metres less compared to the same time last year.

It is also pleasing to see a couple of large NZ forest owners conceding they will have to slow down production in response to ‘adverse market factors’. This is the first time the large companies have responded to everyone else’s reality. If production can drop further, we may all be able to afford to buy some presents for our loved ones for Christmas.

It continues to be thoroughly important to remember the trees keep growing regardless and peoples of the world continue to need wood for wide ranging reasons. Thus, it has never been more timely to remember, the only way forward for climate, country and the planet is to get out there and plant more trees!

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FORESTRY & LOGGING

CANTERBURY FARMING

National standards outlined The recently released National Environmental Standard on Plantation Forestry has drawn a varied reaction in the industry, and outside it and is expected to become law in 2016. creating both operational uncer tainty for forestr y companies and uncertain environmental outcomes Mr Smith has also released the new guide on implementing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.

“The guide is part of the government’s commitment to providing support for regions to implement the new policy on freshwater. It recognises the role of communities in making decisions about their freshwater resources, and it has been designed to assist local authorities to make more consistent decisions based on better evidence.

“This guidance builds on work already carried out, requiring water metering, our support for the work of the Land and Water Forum, and the five-fold increase in Government funding for freshwater clean-ups.

We will be consulting on further steps to improve freshwater management following engagements with iwi leaders and the Land and Water Forum.”

Dr Smith also outlined the government’s forward programme of national

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we can use these tools to make our system of resource management work better,” Dr Smith says.

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Reduce the risk of power cuts CUT DOWN – consider removing tall trees that could fall through power lines.

Orion New Zealand Limited owns and operates the electricity distribution network in central Canterbury between the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers. oriongroup.co.nz

TRIM EARLY – if you can’t cut down the tree, keep remaining trees trimmed to at least 2.5m from low voltage lines or at least 4m from high voltage lines. Ideally further.

BE SAFE – please call Orion on 0800 363 9898 for a list of qualified contractors.

PLANT WISELY – ask us about safe planting distances and power line friendly trees and shrubs.

15

Waitohi

by Paul Campbell

At the Environmental Defence Society’s August conference in Auckland, minister Nick Smith explained that it is about rules for planting, managing and harvesting trees that are aligned to the actual level of erosion, invasive Wilding pine or fish spawning.

The NES under the Resource Management Act is a bid to streamline forestry operations and improve environmental outcomes.“It’s not on which side of some arbitrary local government boundar y you are on,” he said.

“A key problem with the RMA is that there has been too little central government direction on major issues.

We are stepping up our programme of National Policy Statements, National Environmental Standards and national guidance to get better environmental results at less cost.”

The NES was first mooted in 2009 but had been delayed while the government settled freshwater policy to deal with what officials judged had become a level of ‘unwarranted variation’ across 78 different local bodies’ rules for forestry operations,

August 2015

FALL ZONE FALL ZONE

16

August 2015

CANTERBURY FARMING

HORSES, LIVESTOCK AND FENCING

by Ann Morgan

Living on a dairy farm between Lincoln & Christchurch, Jim Donald grew up on his parents farm in the Wairarapa.

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“M

y grandfather had stud sheep and beef cattle, and he bred the famous horse ‘Rising Fast’ in 1954 when he won the Melbourne Cup. The pictures are still in the Greytown hotel,” said Jim. “He won the Caulfield Cup, the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup in one year.

Not many horses do that — it was a personal feat. All my family are involved in stud cattle or sheep and a few of us do the horse thing. I am trying to get near where my grandfather got way back then.”

Jim is focussing on pacing and trotting. “I am playing around with a brood mare, it’s like all livestock — you have livestock and dead stock.

Don’t get your hopes up until

you get there but if you don’t take a risk in life, you won’t get there.” He left school at 16 and went to Telford to see if there were other farming options available which he didn’t know about.

“Later I got the travel bug, so my brother and I went to Australia. It was a great way to start life and meet great stockmen. They were way ahead of New Zealand because of the size of the country and their cattle and sheep battery is so much bigger than ours, but they can make bigger mistakes too in saying that.

“We had a fencing contract to do but it never eventuated so we started showing cattle, we worked with the Brahman and Sussex breed, I learnt so much. Then I went to Zimbabwe and did the hunting

Jim Donald started his “Two Boys” fencing company with an old tractor and cheap post driver

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CANTERBURY FARMING experience thing. I was living the dream. Travelling was the best university of life.

He returned to New Zealand and started the ‘Two Boys’ fencing company.

“I have been going for 15 years and employ two workers — Stru Ley and Bruce Cameron. We also build sheds, stables and yards, and I employ a qualified engineer, Andrew Sawley, he does drawings and is the brain box of design.

The team will travel anywhere if the job is right.

No job is too big or too small. They work with 10 acre blocks, rural fencing and farming clients.

“I am a member of the Fencing Contractors Association of NZ and am an accredited fencer. What I love about the association is that anyone, anywhere in New Zealand helps each other out if we are caught short with staff or someone is crook or needs a hand. We all drop our tools and help, there are not many industries that do that. That’s makes this one extra special.

“I had always wanted a farm but never had the opportunity when I was younger so with the little money I had I bought a tractor and cheap post driver. I started as a one man band and as my client base grew I expanded. We then purchased a more modern

August 2015

17

Wear a helmet.

A helmet is a must while riding a quad bike around the farm.

A

Jim’s daughters Libby and Rose and their mother Jane have had a lot of experience with horses and farm work tractor and post driver. My daughters Libby and Rose and their mother Jane are all good on the fence line.

Jane lives on 100 acres where we originally settled with a few horses, sheep and cattle.

She ran a horse trekking business for a few years and she dealt with a lot of Japanese English language schools from town.

They got to experience life with horses, and farm work, and how living in the country works.

“We were involved with Poll/Dorset sheep for more than 15 years, selling rams all over New Zealand. We bought

a ram in from Australia and helped change the shape of the sheep here. It is the most popular meat sheep crossed with Merino in Australia and is a very exciting animal.

I believe it is a very underrated breed.

“The sheep have no black fibres in their wool so they are a good crossing sheep and they are very maternal.

They have a pink nose and consistently accomplish 150160 per cent lambing and are a pretty easy care sheep.“ Jim is also involved with Quantum Laboratories performing soil tests. “It’s all about soil and setting up a programme for the individual

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August 2015

15.2mm

CANTERBURY FARMING

Blueprint to handover

11.7mm

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Land use consents part of future As regional councils across New Zealand roll out their land and water plans, the farming sector faces a whole raft of new challenges.

“There are different definitions and timelines floating around depending on where you happen to farm, but one of these looming new challenges is the issue of land use consent.

Farmers have always faced discharge and groundwater take consents,” said Environmental Consultant at Ravensdown, Chris Tidey.

“The impact of the new requirement for a land use consent is potentially huge.

Behind all the jargon and ‘planning speak’, it can be easy to forget the fact that this consent is about the future of your farm over the next five to 25 years.”

He says that while its importance can not be underestimated, the land use consent process and terminology can be daunting.

“When it comes to nutrient management, here are ways to approach the consent conundrum. Insist on a

certified advisor. Given the complexity of what is required when applying for a resource consent and the potential economic implications to your farming business, it is vitally important that the farm consultant undertaking this work is suitably qualified and experienced in farm systems and knows your business inside and out.

“When it comes to your nutrient management advisor or environmental consultant, cer tification is a good indicator of the individual’s expertise. For example, Ravensdown Environmental Consultants are all certified under the Certified Nutrient Management Advisor scheme which was developed by the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand and DairyNZ. “For complex and fast-changing resource management issues, a specialist law firm like Anderson Lloyd could

hold many advantages over a traditional conveyancing lawyer.

“Outsource advice but own the problem. Whoever you choose to advise you, remember it’s only advice.

What gets recommended and decided could determine your farm management practices potentially for decades. It is extremely important that the landowner takes responsibility and is 100 per cent comfortable with any potential changes in farm management before submitting the resource consent application.

He says a plan is important as most land use consent applications require a farm management plan. Depending on the region, this can be called a Farm Environment Nutrient Management or a Farm Environmental Management Plan.

“Whatever it is called, this document essentially outlines

Farm Bridges - Precast and Prestressed Concrete

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the management practices on the farm and aims to minimise the nutrient, sediment and microbial losses to surface water and groundwater.

“The plan will also include the outputs of an ‘overseer’ nutrient budget and a plan as to how the applicant will comply with regional council regulations. The document gives the landowner a chance to discuss any environmental achievements and other good management practices which may not be accounted for in an ‘overseer’ nutrient budget,

such as extensive riparian planting or the creation of a functional wetland.

“Look for low-hanging fruit. You don’t always have to jump straight to large system changes that vary from traditional farming practices such as a reduction in stocking rate, large reductions in nitrogen fertiliser, the introduction of herd homes or earlier culling in the autumn.”

Mr Tidey says while in some cases these may be viable options, for example,

with dairy conversions on land where nutrients are already over-allocated, the most prudent approach is to start with ‘low-hanging fruit’.

“This commonly includes — removing mid-winter nitrogen applications, increasing the size of the effluent block, upgrading effluent systems, effluent storage, increasing water use efficiency through soil moisture monitoring, using low-protein supplementary feeds and wintering stock off-farm.”

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BLUEPRINT TO HANDOVER

CANTERBURY FARMING

When everything is new

19

Read the paper online canfarm.co.nz

You have the section and now it is time to build your home — a milestone in anyone’s life.

But where do you start?

Once you have your architects or building company lined up, the first step is a blueprint. A plan on paper, or more likely than not in today’s world, on a computer screen.

Now, with the fastpaced world we live in, people are getting used to the convenience of digital formats, allowing them to be quickly delivered by email. These house plans will usually concentrate on the architecture and the building itself and will not usually specify interior finishes. Part of the fun of building a new home is choosing those finishes, hardware and appliances.

The floor plan is probably your greatest planning tool and includes most of the critical dimensions and specs needed to build the home.

They act as a kind of road map of your home, showing how the different spaces relate to each other.

Many plans will include the electrical elements — lights and plugs etc.

An overhead look at cabinets, plumbing and appliances can be provided here, helping you in turn to

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Be sure to file change of address forms with the post office and notify your insurance company. Look into getting electricity, internet and gas hooked up if it isn’t already so you know who your providers are.

If your new house is not already equipped with a

security system, you may want to consider setting one up.

This is the time to make sure you know where the electrical circuit breakers, water cutoff valves and other key aspects of your home are located and how to operate them.

So then it is time for the final touches, the drapes, and carpets and the furniture.

Often a new home means new appliances and furniture, and a new start. After the final

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Of course it doesn’t end there. While under construction you dwelling place will have occupied all your attention. Once inside, there’s the matter of the outside area, perhaps a garden, a patio, a pergola.

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BLUEPRINT TO HANDOVER

CANTERBURY FARMING

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Boundaryline Fencing Systems offer a wide range of fences and gates to provide effective solutions to enhance and protect any property.

The range includes pool fencing, privacy fencing, security fencing and their wellknown Post&Rail for rural and lifestyle properties.

Boundaryline Post&Rail fencing systems are popular with rural property owners because they are cost effective and aesthetically pleasing.

They are commonly used on driveways for farms and lifestyle blocks and can act as boundary markers without breaking any views.

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use them for front boundaries and entranceways; as we always say, first impressions count,” says Boundaryline’s Jay McGaveston.

“We’ll work with the homeowner, and with their builder, fencer, or landscaper to work out a solution that’s best for each property.”

All Boundaryline fence systems are designed to be installed easily with minimal site disruption. The unique

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BLUEPRINT TO HANDOVER

CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

21

From paper to palace Before embarking on a design journey it is important to choose the right captain to guide you through the creative waves.

It is only logical that the most successful projects are born out of harmonious relationships between client and architect built with the same pillars we base all our relationships on; trust, respect and communication.

Many people feel more comfortable choosing an architect that has been recommended by a friend and it is important to make sure they are the right fit for you and your design.

As this relationship will be long-term, a good personality fit is essential. Assertiveness and taking a healthy interest in the project is another thing clients must remember.

Clients should have an active role in making sure the end result is their dream in three dimension. Organise for regular updates either

over email, phone or face to face. The planning stage is especially important. Ask as many questions as it takes to fully understand the design.

You are not expected to have all the answers but a clear idea of the process is something that will make it much easier.

Keeping an open mind is also important as this allows the architect freedom to express their creativity and ensure you reap the benefits of their education and experience.

It is advised that clients keep well informed throughout the process and make sure you are clear about what you expect from your architect.

Communicate in a way that means both parties are on the same page at all stages of the process. Involve your

architect when choosing a builder. It is essential that the relationship between all three parties is collaborative. Word of mouth recommendations is a valuable way of compiling a shortlist.

Request to see work of those on the list to help further the decision process.

Explore magazines and contact people in the industry for further advice.

Before meeting with an architect put your thoughts and expectations down on paper. This helps as a starting point and leaves room for evolution.

Ask the architect to write down their understanding of what you want to check if their understanding is correct. Discuss fees and services early on to eliminate surprises down the track.

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August 2015

BLUEPRINT TO HANDOVER

CANTERBURY FARMING

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If your property needs a refresh or a completely new landscape design ensure you have a plan in mind. It is important to consider exactly what you wish to achieve.

If you have never designed a garden before it may become overwhelming with the choices available so make a list of the things you want and need. Would you like a vegetable garden or an outdoor play area for your children? Is a deck needed for social occasions or a spa pool area, an art studio or man cave?

Draw a map of the property and the places you plan things to be. Where would the trees go, what coloured flowers or plants do you like?

Maybe use coloured pencils to show the array of colour.

Are there extra windy areas which may need more shelter trees planted and take notes of where the property gets the most sun and where it is throughout the day.

Consider a focal point to work around such as sculptures, a blossom tree, a native plant section which attracts birds or a fish pond.

Garden centres can help with choices and advise on the different climates and what works well where and which plants work best for

each situation or they can recommend designers to work with you. If you decide to work with a landscape architect or designer they can consult and look at the plan you have drawn and will get an understanding of the

direction you would like the garden or yard to go in and they can advise further.

Ensure they know your likes and dislikes and get a clear understanding of your budget. They can give estimates of costs for each

stage of development or the project as a whole.

Landscaping can add great value to a property, however be careful of overspending and remember all gardens need maintenance to keep looking good.

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BLUEPRINT TO HANDOVER

CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

23

Checklist for your dreams Those who engage a builder to build a new home or renovate an older one usually have a checklist to ensure that their dreams and needs are conveyed to the tradesmen clearly.

But those who enlist Craig O’Keefe Builders Ltd, a home construction extension and renovation company drawing its clientele from the Central South Island, but predominantly working in the South Canterbury region, will find a checklist they might not have expected — and the offer of pre-build concept graphics including colour schemes to help clients picture the finished job.

Director Craig O’Keefe and his team, finalists in the 2015 Business Excellence Awards run by the South Canterbury

Chamber of Commerce, use a build quality checklist, a written document unique to the firm, to ensure each stage of the project meets Craig’s high standards before moving on to the next stage.

It is this attention to quality and client satisfaction that has brought success so far in the local awards and comes on top of a Bronze Medal in the national House of the Year Awards.

From small beginnings with one employee, the company has doubled in size every year.

Craig says that success is due to quality of work, a fantastic team and skilful management.

“But it is also due to focussing on home extensions and renovations,” he says.

“Unlike starting from ground up, home renovations can bring some challenges in supply of materials such as finials found on 1920s villas and obsolete gauges of rustic weatherboarding.

Concentrating on this has allowed us to source reliable supplies.”

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August 2015

CANTERBURY FARMING

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Many farmers believe you can count on an extra 100 grams milk solids produced with each kilogram of dry matter supplement added to the system however DairyNZ senior scientist Jane Kay has set about to bust this myth once and for all.

Ms Kay discovered that the total milk solids response to supplementary feed is on average much lower than previously thought.

Research conditions see supplementary feeds return 70-80g MS/kg DM. This is approximately 7.5g MS/ MJ ME offered, and with small herd sizes, loss of supplements is restricted and waste is avoided through careful management to maintain quality.

Commercial farms have reported the average MS response to supplement as being 55g MS/kg DM. This study has found that despite the potential to increase total intake and increase production through adding supplements to pasture, the actual MS response is variable to less than expected.

There are several factors affecting the MS response to supplements including the reduction in pasture intake occurring when supplements are distributed and wastage of supplement which will vary depending on infrastructure, type of supplement and method of feeding as well as energy that is not partitioned directly to milk production.

The greatest impact on MS response is the decrease in the amount of pasture consumption when the herd is fed supplements.

This is referred to as substitution and depends on how hungry the cow is. I f she is very hungry there are lower grazing residuals, meaning a lower rate of substitution and a greater MS response.

Other factors affecting the MS response in pasture

DairyNZ senior scientist Jane Kay

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CROP AND PASTURE PREP

CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

25

Lessons from the past can help us in the future With the price of commodities looking lower than expected, apart from Beef, we need to ensure that the crops grown produce their Maximum Economic Yield. With this in mind I was researching papers on Legumes and came across one that was published in the 1930s by Adams, a Research Chemist, at Lincoln College.

In 1930 he published a paper entitled Molybdenum as a catalyst in the Biological fixation of Nitrogen. Using Azotobacter Chrococcum a free living nitrogen fixing bacterium, he showed that if a plant was grown in a nitrogen free nutrient solution, its growth was stimulated 100 fold by the addition of a very small amount of Sodium Molybdate.

Also in 1936, a gentleman named Steinburg showed that Aspergillus Niger (a fungus) needed traces of Molybdenum for complete growth and

lead him to suggest that it may play a part in reduction of Nitrate.

So what does this old research have relevance to today’s wor ld of precision agriculture?

Molybdenum plays a dual role in the nutrition of legumes.

1. It is needed to enable the symbiotic bacteria to perform their function of fixing atmospheric nitrogen.

2. It is needed in a much smaller amount for the reduction of Nitrate.

Coating the seed with Molybdenum with the Nutriseed treatments, provides the Bacteria & Fungi in the soil an essential trace element that will ensure the seedling gets the Nitrogen that it needs to develop into a strong plant.

An investment of $5 per hectare can have a return on investment of 100% which is what the research suggests back in 1930s.

Using an old recipe to succeed t o d ay ’s difficult economic farming environment.

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Last season’s maize crop was the biggest by far using the fertiliser and agronomy provided by the boys from Agrichem. We are now evaluating different seed treatments to improve our establishment and yield. Graeme and Pete are always available, informative and keen to lend a hand – especially treating seeds late at night!”

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August 2015

CANTERBURY FARMING

CROP AND PASTURE PREP

Right renewal plan makes your grass go further Imagine what your farm working expenses would look like if all your paddocks grew as much as your best ones. Every extra kg of pasture grown and utilised helps make every kg of milksolids cheaper to produce. But on most farms, the difference in pasture production between your best paddocks, and those which grow the least, is typically 100%.

This spring, the best way to uncover this potential for profit is to quantify exactly how much each of your paddocks grows.

This is one of three tips in a new booklet from Agriseeds about making your pasture go further in 2015/16.

“Done well, pasture renewal will decrease c/

kgMS costs, and improve farm profitability at a payout of $3.85/kg milksolids.

So it remains a key tool in ensuring the sustainability of your farm business but done wrongly, pasture renewal is a waste of money,” advises pasture expert Graham Kerr, Agriseeds. New pastures typically grow 3–5 tonnes

more DM/ha/year than old, poor producing grass, clover and weeds.

Plus they have higher metabolisable energy (ME), are better utilised, offer better seasonal growth and are easier to manage for optimal quality, which all adds up to more MS/ha. The new booklet gives farmers

FERTILISE It all starts with fertile soil. For fast grass growth in early spring – and for high quality grazing later on – your soil

a framework to create the right renewal programme for their own situation this spring.

“We are happy to come and help in working through this, to make sure you are confident you have the right level of investment, and will get the returns from it.

“Just give us a call,” Graham says.

He says Canterbury is a special case because of its relatively short history of dairying.

“Many of our dair y farms were dryland sheep properties only 20–25 years

ago. The legacy of that is that we have an on-going fight with browntop, sweet vernal, cocksfoot and other pasture weeds that can really hold back MS production.

If we don’t maintain on-going renewal of this land, pasture production will drop. The alternative is buying in feed and I can tell you pasture renewal is a much better investment because you get to feed it to your animals again and again.”

For more detail phone 0800 449 955 or visit www. agriseeds.co.nz.

needs to be at the right pH range, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur fertility at the start of lambing.

Nutrient rich soil feeds both pasture quantity and quality,

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helping you lamb ewes at the recommended pasture height of at least 3.5cm, and supplying enough grass so they can keep eating up to 4% of their own body weight in pasture DM every day and milk well right through to weaning.

Lambs can digest grass from 3 weeks old, but milk is a must to hit their peak – at no other time is it easier or faster to grow lambs at 400 g/head/day than when they’re still on mum.

In spring, the only thing that usually prevents this is pasture

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growth rate, and the most common cause of slow growth – apart from temperature – is soil deficient in P, S, K and N.

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Feed field days address fluctuations He says at a $3.65 milk price the difference between poor feed management, where little assessment of indicators such as grazing residuals are made, and optimal feed management, where pasture decisions are based on accurate feed allocation, can be worth hundreds of dollars per hectare.

“Even a few tweaks to daily management can make a difference. The events will help dairy farmers identify areas where they can make these ‘tweaks’ and also get their staff on board.”

The field days will focus on grazing management skills — effective use of supplements and developing an efficient feed management process for the farm team.

DairyNZ experts from research and development will provide in-paddock demonstrations and practical tips for allocating pasture.

Milk response to supplement and decision rules around supplement use to ensure the best return will also be covered.

“For all farmers the ability to add in or take out the correct supplements as pasture supply, milk price and climate dictate, is important to help keep costs under control,” says Mr McCarthy.

For field day event details visit dairynz.co.nz/tactics.

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Read the paper online canfarm.co.nz

Tips and information to help manage the ups and downs of the fluctuating milk price will be provided at a series of DairyNZ events in September and October.

The Feed Tactics field days will focus on helping farmers get the best returns from all feeds used on-farm.

The nationwide events follow on from one-on-one feed review visits which provided more than 750 farms with an assessment of feed allocation and grazing management in early spring.

DairyNZ’s Sean McCarthy says about one third of the farms visited were ‘spot on’ with their feed management, with the majority just needing slight refinements.

“Most farmers just needed to make a few tweaks to their pasture management to ensure pasture growth and quality were maximised,” says Mr McCarthy.

“For many of these farmers, feed allowance was an issue. They were overestimating the amount of feed a cow can eat in early lactation and therefore leaving slightly higher than target residuals and grazing too much area per day.

“This is just one example where changes in feed management can really pay off down the track. Profitable farmers, no matter what system they run, have a ‘pasture first’ mentality. They measure and work to optimise the cheapest feed source — home grown pasture — and then incorporate supplements where a clear economic response is achieved.

August 2015

GET THEM ACROSS THE ADVANTAGE LINE WITH Nutrition is the key to optimum performance.

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28

August 2015

CROP AND PASTURE PREP

CANTERBURY FARMING

The mighty brassica High in energy and protein, brassicas pack a nutritional punch. Whether you’re looking to finish young stock, seeking a summersafe crop or simply a forage that will weather a potentially dry season, brassicas are some of the best of the bunch.

In New Zealand, brassicas are also used to avoid animal health-related problems like ryegrass staggers and facial eczema. Not only do they reduce the risk of healthrelated issues, brassicas leave the soil in good condition for re-establishing new pastures. And thanks to a colossal root structure that can burrow well below the root-depth of other crops to seek nutrients and water, they are an ideal part of any crop rotation programme.

Looking at establishing brassica? Here’s some handy hints to maximising returns on your efforts.

1. Search and select Choose the total area you want to sow based on feed requirements. Versatile brassicas work as part of a regressing programme and longer-term cropping sequences. Having a good crop rotation is an important part of sustainable farming practice. It is possible to continue cropping the same paddock for multiple seasons. However, the risk of weeds, pests and diseases

will rise if this continues for years, affecting yield and feed quality. Test your soil at least six months before sowing so you know in good time what fertiliser your brassicas need.

Optimum nutrient status for brassica: • Soil pH: 5.8–6.2 • Olsen P: 25–30 (sedimentary & ash) • QT Potassium: 5–8 • Sulphate-S: 3–8 • QT Magnesium: 8–10 2. Spray-out Brassicas, like every cop, will be more successful if the old crop or pasture and weeds are removed, because they compete for vital nutrients, water and space. Glyphosate is one of the best herbicides to use, but it does not control all weeds. And don’t stop with herbicide — use an insecticide to reduce the number of damaging insects.

3. Prep the seed bed Create a fine, firm and weed-free seedbed and, if you’re direct drilling, remove as much of the previous paddock trash as possible.

This will reduce the effect insects may have on the

establishing crop and reduce the drag on nitrogen available from microbes breaking down the trash, freeing it up for the newly sown crop.

Pre-emergence herbicides control weeds before they have a chance to compete with the crop. Trifluralin (Triflow 480) controls a range of broadleaf and grass weeds, some of which are difficult to control with post-emergence herbicides, like chickweed, spurrey and wirweed. Trifluralin does need to be incorporated into the soil prior to sowing, but this can be part of the normal seedbed preparation process in cultivated situations.

4. Establishing the crop The quicker the plants emerge and establish, the quicker they can start photosynthesising, which makes for a better yield. But, there is a trade-off between sowing early to maximise yield and how quickly a crop can establish. The warmer the soil (given adequate moisture) the faster the establishment. Sowing too early in colder soils will

slow down establishment, increasing the risk of weed competition. The soil temperatures need to be at least 10°C and rising prior to sowing brassicas.

Sowing depth is also impor tant as forage brassica seeds are small and require shallow drilling, ideally 10-15mm, for quick establishment.

Use treated seeds and slug bait to reduce the impact any insects may have on the emerging plants. Using a nitrogen-based starter fertiliser, such as Cropmaster DAP, will help establishment by providing ready access to nutrients for the small emerging plants.

Research from D. R. Stevens et al. (2008) has shown that adding urea in early spring, before double spraying for brassica crops to be sown in December, can help boost the crop yields to a level similar as that achieved with N fertiliser applied later in the season.

5. It’s not over yet Regular crop monitoring is essential. Look first for any

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sign of insect damage and secondly for weeds. Even if you’ve used insecticide and seed treatment, insects are mobile and can come in from surrounding areas.

With Proteor’s high quality, animal performance potential can be maximised.

Sowing at 4-5kg/ha will keep the stem thickness down, increasing stock utilisation later in the season.

Continue to monitor after establishment as other pests such as aphids and caterpillars can cause significant damage at more advanced stages.

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CROP AND PASTURE PREP

CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

29

Looking for greener pastures One probably doesn’t think in terms of tired paddocks all that often, but it is a fact of farming life that rotation and renewal is a matter of huge importance. Pasture renewal is replacing older, less productive pasture with new grass and forage.

Pasture growth can decline over long grazing and often the best way of improvement is renewal. Modern forage cultivars are available to suit all forms of farming with the bottom line to improve productivity.

They have been developed specifically to quickly establish and to produce higher amounts of dry matter, resist pests and disease and be more palatable and beneficial to stock. Replacing tired pasture is one of the simplest ways to boost onfarm production and to lift the operational bottom line.

New pasture is simply much more productive at the end of the day.

It is the most efficient way to counter their effects of weed invasion, eliminate low quality grasses, dry conditions, wet/flooding, poor fertility, poor drainage, diseases, insects, pugging, soil compaction, overgrazing and dare we say simply lack of attention from management.

Old pastures produces less dry matter, are lower in ME and stock preference, and this decline compounds as the pasture ages.

Successful pasture renewal can increase dry matter per hectare per year by around 3–6 tonnes. Modern pasture cultivars enable farmers to choose when a new pasture will be most productive and when it goes to seed.

They can produce more grass in winter, summer and autumn than traditional pastures and in fact ryegrasses offer more than six week’s difference between available seeding dates.

Because new grazing gets used more uniformly, it’s easier for farmers to control the quantity of residual dry matter when animals are moved. The optimum postgrazing residual means optimum ME regrowth and increased animal performance at the next productive grazing.

Oi!

New pastures consistently produce an average of 0.5 more megajoules of ME/kg DM — on top of the extra dry matter produced by a new pasture. Most new perennial ryegrass cultivars are available with new endophytes developed to solve particular problems in different regions.

The endophyte occurring naturally in New Zealand r yegrass pastures — ‘standard’ or ‘wild’ endophyte — makes its host ryegrass plants resistant to some insect pests, but was found in the 1980s to cause ryegrass staggers and heat stress in animals.

New endophytes are continuing to be developed to maintain good animal health while enhancing pest resistance. As well as Argentine stem weevil, new endophytes provide resistance to pasture mealy bug, black beetle and root aphid, with more pests likely to be added to this list.

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August 2015

CANTERBURY FARMING

CROP AND PASTURE PREP

CUTTING COSTS TO FARMERS, SPRING 2015

New for this season, 12 row precision planter for all your Fodder Beet requirements, save money by putting the fertiliser on at planting and where the plants need it. Drill is equipped with trash discs so stones are swept out of the way to prevent bounce and Individual Planter shutoffs. Also planting maize in narrow rows or we can plant at normal row spacing (Convert to 8 row with fertiliser). Also available 7 furrow fully mounted plough, Atlas 6m Bednar discs with the largest diameter discs for primary cultivation, 8m Bednar cultivator and a 4m ripper cultivators Horsch 6m Pronto Seed/Fertiliser Drill saving costs by putting the fertiliser on in the seed zone.

This season we have set up our Windrower with 5m mower and Steel roll Conditioner for improved Wilting of forage crops, SAVE COSTS by getting us to group the crop in either 10m rows or 15m rows to save raking and make the following baling/forage harvesting MORE EFFICIENT. We can also harvest your silage and bale your grass crops this coming season. Harvester is equipped Auto chop length in relation to DM % for better Silage.

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CROP AND PASTURE PREP

August 2015

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Registered Broadacre Spraying Contractor Based in the Selwyn district Operating two machines: – Hino 4wd truck mounted Amazone 24m rig – Bargam 24m self-propelled “Proof of placement” now standard

CONTACT BEVAN HUSSEY

027 454 1843

Natural Cost Effective Fertiliser

Slow Release NPK | Soil Conditioning | Organic Matter | Totally Natural “Your Chicken Litter Specialists” W: www.poulfert.co.nz P: 03 349 2411 | 0800 NPK NOW

ORDER NOW For Next Season

Maximise your yield and strengthen your crop with • OrganiBOR® is a continuous release boron fertilizer • OrganiBOR® reduces hollow heart / weak stems in forage brassicas • OrganiBOR® is backed by NZ generated forage brassica data trials • OrganiBOR® is easily added with lime, fertilizer, slurry mixes or broadcast on its own www.omnia.net.nz 0800 774 629

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August 2015

CROP AND PASTURE PREP

CANTERBURY FARMING

Good Fertiliser Is Wasted, Unless It’s Applied Accurately “Get the right spreader” “Strength and flexibility that amazes for its simplicity and accuracy”.

• • • • •

3500 to 5000 litre trailing models Optional boarder control limiter Covers available Robust frames Exceptional paint finish

“Top on reliability and Top on precision, the entire spreading width”.

• 12 to 28m spread width • Stainless steel hopper base and spreading equipment • Models available with computer management • Easy adjustment of spreading equipment • Varnishing process for Anti corrosion • Spread pattern tested locally • 3500 to 5000 litre models • Hydraulic Disc control

Contact us to discuss your needs 0800 802 478 E: sales@rataindustries.co.nz W: www.rataindustries.co.nz

For an on farm consultation and balance of your farm’s soil, contact either: • Trevor Pearce 027 230 9934, Trevor@sollys.co.nz • Peter Whitaker 03 525 9843, sales@goldenbaydolomite.co.nz

Contact one of our team for a soil test

www.goldenbaydolomite.co.nz

CROP AND PASTURE PREP

CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

33

Reduce growing costs without sacrifice to yield Two proven approaches can significantly reduce costs at a time of reduced market prices.

Agronomy Solutions believe that by adopting these practices you can maintain profitability and farm smarter.

Running the Claydon Hybrid Direct Strip Till Drill and Precision Nutrient Management variable rate

fertiliser system side by side just makes perfect sense.

The Claydon Hybrid is not only a direct drill but can also

be a min till and conventional drill — so incredibly versatile.

When used as a direct strip till system, compared to a conventional system it has been shown to take 1 ⁄5 time at 1 ⁄3 of the cost.

Designed by a United Kingdom farmer in the 1980s to combat the cereal price slump. With continual improvement and development, being sold in over 26 countries the Claydon remains a market leader in direct drill systems. Benefits

seen by New Zealand farmers include: Less soil erosion, firmer paddocks to allow timely applications, moisture retained in dry conditions, fast and efficient seeding and beating the weather in a catchy season.

Preserving structure and nutrient values at all levels is paramount to ensure efficient crop production.

Using Precision Nutrient Management, every hectare of a farm is soil tested and tailor made — crop specific

fertiliser recommendations are made to spread at a variable rate across the area.

Growers see reduced inputs and increased yields.

These two initiatives provide the perfect basis for precise, effective farm production at a time when efficiency is key.

For more information contact info@ agronomysolutions.co.nz or visit agronomysolutions. co.nz.

Locally owned and operated Proud to be servicing the farming community in North Otago, Mid & South Canterbury Claydon Hybrid at work at Biggs Agriculture, Fairlie

CANTERBURY ROCK PICKING SPECIALIST

Book Now for Spring

www.ruraltransport.co.nz

• Modern Spreader Trucks • Spreadmark Certified • Equipped with GPS Guidance and Mapping • 4 Wheel Drive - low ground compaction • Single Wheels for Tram Line Spreading • Large capacity 6 wheel truck & trailer units • Experienced Operators.

Call Hamish on 03 308 4079 Call Kent in Kurow on 03 436 0849 Call Kerry in Fairlie on 03 685 8911

Call today to discuss your fertiliser requirements

• Cost effective way to remove rocks • Increased production • No need to heavy roll • Perfect seed bed normally achieved • Reduces lameness in cows • Expensive irrigation better utilised

Phone 0274 555 307 or 03 312 6366 www.rockpicking.co.nz

• Custom Design • Installation • Manufacturing • Quality Imports • Service • Support • Experience Phone: (O3) 308 6022 Email: office@raymayne.co.nz www.raymayne.co.nz

34

August 2015

CROP AND PASTURE PREP

CANTERBURY FARMING

Changes for good Just as the agriculture sector is a changing scene, so to is Chapman Agriculture Limited with the acquisition of new equipment ensuring continued efficient and reliable service in the sector.

Although the core part of the company’s business is still silage harvesting and brokering of grass and maize silage, in the last year it has updated its cultivation gear with the purchase of Vaderstad Top Down and Carrier cultivators, and is very pleased with the results.

On the planting side of things, a Vaderstad Spirit drill has also been purchased

and the addition of an APV broadcasting unit has been mounted.

This has enabled Allan Chapman to broadcast seed between rows. This year he has also added a new Keverneland Monopill 12 row beet planter and an Amazon 8 row maize drill to his planting equipment, with all these operations done with GPS Autosteer.

• Vaderstad 5m Topdown • Vaderstad 6.5m Carrier • Vaderstad 6m Spirit drill with APV Broadcasting unit.

• 7 Farrow reversible Plough

Importer of Machinery

Allan believes in having the right machine designed for the right job and operating the best machine on the market for that job.

Over the last two years Allan and his wife Leanne have also diversified into the importation of agricultural machiner y, initially with bringing gear in for their own company. They are now expanding this side of the

• Kverneland 12row Monopill SE Beet Planter • Amazone 8row Maize Planter • Pit Silage / Balage • Trading of supplement feed.

Chapman Agriculture

Allan Chapman • P:03 310 2545 • M:027 221 5264 • E:ahcc@xtra.co.nz

business and have had plenty of interest from both farmers and contractors.

Allan and his team are busy getting organised for

EITHER WAY IT’S 20K

another season and are looking forward to providing excellent service with a high quality product to both existing and new clients.

“If we all work together in these changeable times our businesses will stay strong and continue long into the future,” he says.

MIND YOuR sPEED AROuND sCHOOL BusEs

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For Your Full Canterbury, North Otago & Upper South Island Service Leaders in Ag Aviation Aerial Topdressing Specialists Spreaders of Nitrogen, all fertiliser and Lime products

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CROP AND PASTURE PREP

CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

35

RAVPROAUG15-CF

Proteor kale – proven producer Proteor kale is a popular choice for all the right reasons: • A thoroughly proven high performance kale • High leaf to stem ratio for higher livestock performance potential • Suitable for sheep, cattle or deer Take control of your winter feed with a proven producer – Proteor Kale. Talk to your Ravensdown Agri Manager or call our Customer Centre on 0800 100 123.

Driven. For your success 0800 100 123 www.ravensdown.co.nz

Why does TAEGE AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT produce such good results?

ANSWER IS our own vibrating tyne and tungsten faced tip.

GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY BUT NOT ‘CHEAP’ SUPER EFFECTIVE BUT NOT EXPENSIVE CLEVER BUT NOT COMPLICATED CLASS WITH CLOUT

TILTH GROW SEED. We use the same proven angle mounted tyne system on all our machines, because it works better than anything else in most conditions.

IT REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE

A Ground BreAkinG CompAny

WWW.TAEGE.COM

Trevor - 027 222 6050 or a dealer near you. sales@taege.com

36

August 2015

CROP AND PASTURE PREP

CANTERBURY FARMING

Pay attention!

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M

Bio Marinus™ is made from a sustainable fishing resource, freshly processed at our state of the art facility in Christchurch at low temperatures to maintain the integrity of naturally occurring nutrients. Bio Marinus™ is also a valuable source of fish oil including Omega 3, vitamins, proteins, macro and trace minerals. Biologically active soils have the ability to retain moisture and release nutrients ensuring greater

production, faster rotations and increased bounce back from stress.

Healthy soils need products that can feed the soil and replenish organisms.

By increasing the range and availability of nutrients, and by feeding these soil organisms we can increase available compounds for plant growth and animal development while encouraging stronger and deeper root growth. We all aim for more production,

healthier crops and a move to more sustainable environmentally friendly practices, however soil fertility is much more than simple ratios of NPK. So, how do we do this without affecting yields and quality?

The solution is simple — Bio Marinus™. Whether you require biological or certified organic inputs, we have the answer for you.

Once established, this low input biological approach

to growing plants is clean, powerful, and sustainable.

We believe Bio Marinus™ Liquid Fish Fertiliser is one of the most complex and complete fertilisers produced in New Zealand.

Bio Marinus™ is stable, non-toxic, has a nil withholding period and is compatible with most herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. Filtration below 250 microns ensures easy mixing, with no blockages.

ID CANTERBURY ACHINERY

We Buy,Sell & Trade Machinery

Ring to Hire Machinery!

Gregoire Besson 5Mtr Discs ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� $15,000 Hustler 2000 & 4000 Bale Feeders �����������������������������������������������������������From $4,000 Heavy Roller Water ballast ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $7,000 Dunhill 8 Furrow on land plough ����������������������������������������������������������������������� $3,500 Fiat 880 DT Tractor C/W Loader ���������������������������������������������������������������������� $7,000 Sulky DPX 28 Fert Spdr 2013 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� $6,900 Alo 1�5 Silage Grabs Shipment Arrived ������������������������������������������������������������� $5,000 Chain Harrows 6,8 & 12FT ������������������������������������������������������������������������ From $350 Cambridge Rollers 10ft,11ft & 22ft ����������������������������������������������������������From $2,000 Grubbers Trailing& 3PTL �������������������������������������������������������������������������From $3,500 Hydes Hyd Postdriver ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Coming In 2�4 Long Hay Feeders ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$900 Celli 2�5Mtrs Roto Hoe�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $6,500 Alo Universal (Good for Maize Silage) bucket Grab ����������������������������������������� $6,100 Robertson Combi Tandem Waggon ������������������������������������������������������������������ $4,750 Page Tandem Axle Tip Trailer ������������������������������������������������������������������������� $11,000 Gray 10FT Water Ballast Roller �������������������������������������������������������������������� New POA Duncan 701 Drill C/W Eclispe Box �������������������������������������������������������������������� $4,250 Kverneland TLA 5�5 Maxitill ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $6,750 Prattley Alloy Tailing Yards ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $7,500 Sweep 2�4 wide ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $2,250 Cattle Ramp ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $2,400 Kverneland NC 300 Power Harrow ������������������������������������������������������������������� $8,500 Nobili BNG 310 Mulcher ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $8,250 Grader Blades �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� From $550 Fiat 250 Tractor ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $2,000 Watson 6�3 Rollers www�walter-watson�co�uk ���������������������������������������������� In Stock Grain Feeder 750kgs Appx� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $1,600 Giltrap Gearbox Topper 2�7Mtr Cut ������������������������������������������������������������������ $3,500 Snow Ploughs ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������From $2,150 Taege 2 Bale Feeder ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $7,500 Pearson Silage Grab ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $3,750 Subsoilers 5 Leg ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������From $7,250 Tandem Trailer 4�1x2�45 Reg & wof ������������������������������������������������������������������ $3,500 Trailer 2 Axles Turntable �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $10,000 Taarup Mulcher 2�10 Wide �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $1,500 Savabak Sheep Loader ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$250 Sunbeam Shearing Machine ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������$400

Just a Small Selection of our Stock • We Buy, Sell & Trade Machinery All Prices + GST • www.midcanterburymachinery.co.nz

172 Wills Street Ashburton Tel/Fax: 03 308 9889 Mob: 0274 341 040 E: n.stockdill@xtra.co.nz

LIQUID FISH FERTILISER NutrieNts From the sea, For healthier soils, healthier PlaNts aNd healthier aNimals ✓ Unique Enzymatic Production Process ✓ Soil Biology Enhancing Compounds ✓ A Complete Range of Major and Trace minerals ✓ Selected Beneficial Microbes for Soil and Plant ✓ Improves Plant Productivity and Condition ✓ Improves Health & Productivity of Animals ✓ Non Toxic. Nil Withholding Period Visit our website for further information on these products, and to view our full product range:

www.biomarinus.co.nz United Fisheries Ltd 50-58 Parkhouse Road, Sockburn, Christchurch Phone: 03 343 0587 Fax: 03 348 6788 Email: biomarinus@unitedfisheries.co.nz

CROP AND PASTURE PREP

Pasture Seed establishment Successful pasture establishment starts with planning. A rushed decision can result in late-planting, weed invasion, low feed production in the first winter and spring, and poor persistence. Use the following simple checklist to help ensure that your pasture renewal programme is successful.

1. Paddock Selection Begin with the paddock with the greatest difference between current and potential performance, as the return on investment will be higher.

2. Paddock Preparation Control weeds and weedseed production in the spring and summer prior to sowing a new pasture. Techniques available include mowing, silage, and fodder crops.

Obtain a soil fertility test and seek advice on correcting any deficiencies.

3. Sowing Assess what insects are present, or likely to be, and decide on the best seed treatment or spraying options.

Common problem insects are Argentine stem weevil, black beetle, grass grub, porina, and slugs (direct-drilling).

Order seed several weeks before planting from Specialty Seeds, with instructions on seed treatment you require so it will be available when you are ready to sow.

Wait until pastures are actively growing in earlyspring and autumn, then use a knockdown spray in order to control germinating weeds.

Sowing can commence three to five days later.

Ensure that cultivated paddocks are even, and have a fine and firm seed bed.

Sow seed at no deeper than 10mm depth. Deep sowing is the most common cause of poor clover establishment.

Press-wheels or a roller are often needed for seedsoil contact and to get the pasture up quickly and evenly. Paddocks that are being direct-drilled should also be level and clear of excessive trash.

Use fertiliser at sowing.

Ready access to nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) will ensure rapid and vigorous early growth.

4. Monitoring the paddock after sowing Frequently monitor newly sown pastures for weed and insect pests. Controlling weeds early requires less chemical, is more effective and often has less impact on the sown pasture.

Insect pests can decimate an emerging pasture — prompt action prevents significant plant losses and loss of production.

Contact your local chemical expert to inspect your new pasture and make recommendations suitable for your situation 5. First grazing First grazing should only occur once the plant has begun to tiller out and is at least 10cm high.

CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

37

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming Please call 03 347 2314 or email sales@canfarm.co.nz

Aerial Agricultural Services Services we provide: • Solid/Fine Particle Fertiliser Application • Brushweed/Crop Spraying • General Lifting – Tanks/Fencelines • Mustering • Fire Lighting/Fighting • Wilding Pine Control • Aerial Photography/Scenic Flights • Charter - Fishing/Hunting • Flight Training • 8 Wheeler Flat Deck/Hiab with 5 tonne lift

Operating Canterbury-wide

Ensure plants are firmly anchored in the ground before grazing and avoid over-grazing or pugging damage. Young stock (such as lambs or calves) are best, and avoid grazing when the soil is wet.

Consider an application of N-based fertiliser after the first grazing. For information on pasture seed selection

and advice on pasture establishment please contact Specialty Seeds 0800 727 8873, e-mail stephen@ specseed.co.nz or check out www.specseed.co.nz.

Phone: 03 310 6815 0800 929 246 www.way2go.co.nz

Ballagh Contracting ltd AGRICULTURE CONTRACTORS

Please Call Sam 027 279 1344 A/h 03 318 6542 or John 027 432 1988 A/h 03 318 6847 Now Operating: Precision Fodder Beet planter, Pottinger Cultivation Drill

The cultivation season is nearing. Whether you are replacing or upgrading your harrows, now is the time to contact your local agent to order.

Contact our team directly for free advice on your choice of harrow.

Phone/Fax 03 347 8516 | www.lyndonharrows.co.nz | Email info@lyndonharrows@co.nz

38

August 2015

CANTERBURY FARMING

CROP AND PASTURE PREP

Successful establishment and management of new pasture The objective of ideal pasture renovation is to create conditions that favour good germination, growth and establishment of the new pasture species. The correct management of these new pastures is important to ensure that they produce to their best ability, not only in the short term, but in the long term as well. best possible start it can.

These include: Soil fertility Prior to embar king on a pasture renovation programme, soil analyses should always be undertaken to evaluate fer tility deficiencies in order for the new grass to perform to its ability.

Which species to sow?

In order to make the best choice of species to sow, it is necessary to identify factors which have caused the failure of existing pastures, as well as to decide in what season pasture production

is required and how different pasture species will fit into the overall farm management system. For example, other plant species such as Chicory, Plantain and Red Clover could be included to increase feed quality and to increase summer/autumn production.

Weed/insect control We e d and insect infestation reduces the successful establishment and ongoing performance of pastures and is often a prime reason for the renovation or renewal of the existing sward.

Good control (spraying with Glyphosate etc.) of the

NEED TO GET YOUR SEED IN ON TIME?

✁

When considering which paddocks to renovate, a number of important aspects should be considered before sowing. Factors to take into consideration include the condition and composition of pastures (proportion of desirable and undesirable species), the incidence of problem weeds, pests and diseases and other physical factors such as poor drainage or a rough surface caused by pugging etc.

Prior to sowing, there are also a number of factors to consider to ensure your new pastures gets the

existing old pasture should be undertaken before the new pasture is sown. The addition of slug bait at sowing will also help to enhance establishment of new pasture, especially if the seed is to be sown by direct drill (no cultivation).

Post grazing management After the new pasture has emerged, there are also a number of factors to consider to ensure the new pasture continues to thrive.

First grazing Before the first grazing, the new grass should be given the ‘pluck test’ to assess whether or not it is ready to be grazed. This should be done by simply plucking the new grass with your thumb and forefinger.

If the new grass breaks off when ‘plucked’ the pasture

is ready to be grazed. If the grass is pulled out of the soil wait another few weeks and reassess then.

The first grazing of this new pasture should be done with young animals, preferably calves or young heifers. This first grazing should only last about 24 hours or until the stock have lightly and evenly grazed the paddock. The purpose of this first light grazing is to encourage the tillering of the grass. Tillering out is essential for grasses to perform to their maximum ability. This early first grazing will also give clover a chance to compete with the new grass by reducing the shading effect of the faster establishing grasses.

Nitrogen The application of Nitrogen will also aid in the

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Dry Hire a Taege Seed Drill - From $45/ha 0800 DRY HIRE (0800 379 447)

tillering process as well as enhancing pasture growth.

Regular applications of small amounts of nitrogen (30kg N/ha) will be more effective than fewer and larger applications.

However it is important to regularly graze the new pasture to give the clover a chance to compete.

Gibberellic Acid (ProGibb etc.) should not be applied to new grass until it is over twelve months of age.

Weed spraying Early applications of herbicides should be made to ensure that the weeds are sprayed when they are young.

Waiting until the weeds are big will reduce the effectiveness of the herbicide and will cost more money!

Selective, clover friendly herbicides should be used.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER

Providing great service, utilising experienced staff on quality machinery and equipment.

• • • •

Cartage Crop Harvesting (grass, whole crop, maize and fodder beet) Cultivation Direct Drilling

• • • •

Fodder Beet & Maize Planting Hay & Balage (round, medium & large squares, individual or tube wrapped) Feed Trading (maize, grass, cereal, fodder beet, barley, bales) Spreading (4 types of spreaders to meet all requirements)

Contact Peter – 0274 388 097 / (03) 315 6369

Operating Since 1990

EDUCATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

39

ADVERTORIAL

Tradition, culture and family

Timaru Girls High School and Hostel offers every girl the opportunity to nurture her talents and accept responsibility to become a self-confident young woman equipped both personally and academically to face the future.

We proudly maintain strong cultural traditions with an emphasis on selfmotivation, high personal values, mutual respect and discipline. These combine to provide our girls with an experience that is not only enjoyable but which also fosters a true sense of self-worth.

The educational framework in place at Timaru Girls’ High School begins with a broad based programme for junior girls, leading to a wide range of specialist study areas during their senior years.

Programmes are available to cater for the individual needs of girls at each level and to further expand their personal development in preparation for tertiary education or the work force.

The principal and staff at Timaru Girls’ High School make it a priority to interact directly with the girls, maintaining that all-important personal contact through the period that many regard as the most significant formative

G A IN N E W S K IL L S !

SPECIALISING IN: Tracks, Wheels & Rollers Endorsements

MillBRICK LTD

FORKLIFT TRAINING

phone Rob 0212 777 615

'Making Pathways to the Stars'

years of all. Girls from many different backgrounds and nationalities add a welcome diversity to life at Timaru Girls’ High School, providing a valuable insight into and an understanding of other cultures and societies.

The culture of our school is based on its long proud history and sound traditions which provide our girls with the sound base from which to take their first confident steps out into the wide world.

Boarding facilities - situated

in the park-like grounds of the school ‘The House’ is home to students from all over the South Island. It offers many benefits within a safe and caring family environment.

Students are encouraged to focus on their studies, discover and explore new opportunities and have fun while they are doing it.

We do ever ything possible to ensure the girls’ academic, co-curricular and social interactions are rewarding, productive and

Sm all Cl asse s,

Big H ea rt,

Big A chie ve m e nts

6 Cameron Street Waimate

We have a new Modern Learning Principal: Anne Pratt Environment which enhances learning.

Email: office@st-pats.co.nz Pop in and see us!

Phone: 03 689 8584 Fax: 03 689 8784

enjoyable experiences.

Students are encouraged to achieve their potential and enjoy a measure of independence by learning to live with, trust, and respect their peers. The bonds students form as boarders become lifetime friendships beyond high school.

We welcome you to come and visit Timaru Girls’ High School and Hostel, educating South Canterbury’s young women since 1880. timarugirls.school.nz.

Now enrolling children from New Entrants to Year 6 Contact the school for further information and an enrolment pack...

Phone: 03 302 8500 Email: office@methven.school.nz Website: www.methven.school.nz

Arrive Alive...Don’t Drink and Drive

A career where your office is outdoors.

Study a Bachelor of Forestry Science at New Zealand's only university based School of Forestry and look forward to: • Practical, hands-on courses • Rewarding career paths • Working in one of New Zealand's biggest export industries • Employment in New Zealand and overseas More information www.canterbury.ac.nz/forestry forestry@canterbury.ac.nz 03 364 2109

FORESTRY

www.st-pats.co.nz

K NOW L E D GE I S P O W E R

Hostel enrolments now open EnROLLInG nOw fOR 2016

Tradition, Culture, family TIMARU GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL

A TRADITION OF EDUCATION FOR 135 YEARS

principal@timarugirls.school.nz | 03 688 1122 | Cain Street, Timaru | www.timarugirls.school.nz

40

August 2015

EDUCATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

ADVERTORIAL

ADVERTORIAL

Pride in excellence At Nelson College for Girls we take great PRIDE in all that we do.

We offer high quality, affordable education for young women in a very dynamic and supportive environment. Our Boarding Hostel, Clarice Johnstone House, offers high quality accommodation for up to 150 students, from New Zealand and overseas. For many of our boarders, there are significant opportunities for them to be involved in sporting and cultural activities that would not otherwise be available to them.

Our boarding students are part of a very large family, proactively supported by our senior students through a wide variety of student led activities. Nelson College for Girls has a strong house system and all of our boarders are members of the same house, Whangamoa.

They are passionate participants in all house activities in the school and revel in the ‘purple’ house succeeding well.

Our Year 9–12 students live in Clarice Johnstone House where they enjoy considerable facilities for study and recreation. Our

Small School, big heart, great record

Garin College has yet again proved to be a school of choice in the ‘Top of the South’.

Year 13 students have the privilege of living in the Levels building.

This ver y modern accommodation, opened in 2011, provides them with a more independent living experience, while still ensuring our most senior students play a pivotal role in creating the family atmosphere of the boarding community.

Our boarders enjoy academic success, make lifelong friendships and enjoy strong connections within the school and its community. They take PRIDE in taking part in activities such as sporting clubs, choirs, jazz bands and drama productions. These are wonderful opportunities for them. Nelson College

for Girls has an outstanding reputation for academic excellence.

This is demonstrated strongly by our NCEA and Scholarship results for 2014. For example over 90% of our year 11 and year 12 students were awarded a National Certificate. At the end of 2014, in the Scholarship examinations, a total of 18 Scholarships were gained by our students. Our boarders are well represented in these statistics.

Enrolments are now being accepted for 2015. Join our happy family! For more information contact Jo Purcell on 03 548 1332.

Email: boarding@ ncg.school.nz or visit our website www.ncg.school. nz/boarding.

Nelson College for Girls

High Quality Education in a Modern, Dynamic Environment

Why is this — what are the hallmarks of a college that has excelled in NCEA, the Arts, cultural and sporting endeavours?

As the only South Island Catholic Secondary School north of Christchurch, it mirrors values of Father Garin who opened schools and orphanages in the local area to help people aspire to reach fulfillment in their lives.

This legacy drives the Garin College Community towards excellence in all areas of school life.

One key factor to this success is that staff are

selected, not just as superior classroom practitioners, but also as individuals who have lived interesting and varied lives, with histories that can inspire and motivate students.

From professional writers to performing artists and respected sportspeople, staff ‘walk the talk’ as they encourage, motivate and support students to be the best they can be.

Small class sizes, innovative learning methods — including laptops as main learning tools in class — and a commitment to innovation, review and development set

the scene for the remarkable academic record achieved in 2014.

The off-site hostels offer comfortable, secure and caring family environments for up to 56 young people and contribute to the college’s success.

If Garin sounds like the learning environment for your child, visit the website and contact our enrolments officer Shona Erasmuson, or the hostel manager Robert Booth to arrange a tour.

Places/spaces exist for both Catholic and nonCatholic students.

Garin College

Small School, Big Heart Garin College is a co-educational Catholic College with boarding facilities for boys and girls based in Richmond, Nelson. Our modern facilities and extensive grounds back onto Saxton Field, Tasman’s premier sporting grounds. We have a number of places for non-Catholic students.

Why choose Garin College • Small community based Catholic College • Modern facilities in beautiful grounds • A safe and caring environment • Family style hostel • Fantastic results for all students, NCEA, Rock Quest, Stage Challenge, Sports, Outdoor adventure and more Our off-site boarding hostels provide a welcoming family environment for students away from home and our boarders achieve well above the national average at all levels of NCEA. To find out more about boarding contact Robert Booth on 027 654 4835 e-mail robertbooth@cloud.garincollege.ac.nz obertbooth@cloud.garincollege.ac.nz or visit our website.

PRIDE

e c n e l l e c x in E

Nelson College for Girls, PO Box 842, Nelson, 7040

03 548 3104

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Garin College, 35 Champion Road, Richmond, Nelson P: +64 3 543 9488 F: +64 3 543 9489 Email: achieve@garincollege.ac.nz www.garincollege.ac.nz

EDUCATION

New branch for forestry industry

by Ayla Miller

The University of Canterbury’s School of Forestry is conducting research that could mean more options for the forestry industry.

CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

Riding link for regional park Soon horse-riding enthusiasts will have something to celebrate with the development of a 350 hectare horse-riding area in the Waimakariri River Regional Park providing a dedicated facility that links the equestrian facilities in the Mcleans Island area.

The trails will provide riders with a safe riding environment in the forest between Chattertons and Weedons Ross Roads away from vehicles.

Environment Canterbury Regional Parks team leader David Owen said there has been demand for such a facility from local equestriennes.

“With the Selwyn District experiencing significant growth in recent years, there is now even more demand for outdoor amenities that

local people can enjoy.

“We have been working closely with the Selwyn District Council to secure funding and develop a plan for the new area and we’ve met with interested parties and formed an advisory group. Fulton Hogan is also contributing to the project by providing direct assistance with staff and machinery.

“The dedicated horse riding area will include at least 10km of safe riding trails through pine forest.

There will also be plenty

of parking for horse floats and toilet facilities so we’re sure it will be very popular with the local community,” he said. It is believed the development will open early to mid next year.

The Waimakariri River Regional Park offers recreational opportunities whilst also conserving forest and biodiversity.

Already the park caters to mountain bikers, walking trails and bike riding trails, horse riding, fishing and other river related activities.

EMERGENCY

University field day attendees listening in the workshop to Marlborough Lines project manager, Geoff Hoare explain the use of highly durable and strong eucalypt timbers for crossarms

The school is investigating which species of eucalyptus trees produce the fastest growing and best quality timber to provide a natural alter native to some treated wood.

University of Canterbury senior lecturer Dr Clemens Altaner says the research has narrowed down the selection to five different species.

“The School of Forestry is part of the New Zealand Dryland Forest Initiative, a consortium of several partners who have an interest in growing eucalyptus. There are around 800 different eucalyptus species and some of them make nice wood which is very stiff, strong and naturally durable.

“This means it does not decay when it is put in the ground which is very important for wood used outdoors.

Many of these posts such as ones used for growing vines in the wine industry are made from non-durable wood like radiata pine which have preser vatives like chromated copper arsenate added.

Eucalyptus timber will be in high demand for the wine industry as CCA is restricted in many countries. This means that New Zealand wine growers are keen to avoid the treated timber and are on the look out for naturally durable alternatives.

“Our idea is to grow these eucalyptus species in New Zealand to replace CCA treated wood and in doing so create wood that is of the finest quality. This could also help to do something about the illegally harvested timber trade such as kwila or rosewood as our trees will be sustainable and offer the same properties.”

The programme has been running for almost 10 years and many tests had to be done to learn which species grew well in New Zealand’s colder conditions.

Dr Altaner says the reason there are very few people who breed trees for timber properties is because of the time it takes to measure properties and the scale it takes to produce accurate results.

“If you have a breeding programme, you have to measure 10,000 trees to make any good impact.

“If your measurements take a day to analyse you get nowhere. We do it much quicker and by looking at young trees reduce breeding cycles.”

The project is targeting areas on the east coast such as Marlborough.

“Radiata pine do not grow well in these areas because it is too dry, but eucalyptus are quite used to dry situations, coming out of Australia,” says Dr Altaner.

The trees also grow well on steep land and can be used to prevent erosion. As they resprout when cut down, unlike radiata, their roots are still alive which helps to hold soil together.

Turnover time is directly linked with profitability and Dr Altaner says this scheme has a quick rotation.

“We think it will take 10 years or so before you can get posts. It is quicker to get revenue because you don’t need very big trees.”

41

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42

August 2015 CANTERBURY FARMING

Fish and game appeal

Fish and Game officers have made an urgent appeal for game bird hunters to send in any duck band information they have – after a “disappointingly slow” response to the annual call for returns. ‘Please send us your duck details’.

Senior Fish and Game Officer Matthew McDougall says the return of band details has been unusually poor for this time of year.

Mallard ducks are trapped and banded at various locations in summer and hunters are asked to send in details of any banded birds they bag, including the band number and where it was harvested.

“Normally by this time we would have received details on 10 to 18 per cent of those

birds we banded in January, and about three percent of the bands from the previous year, January 2014. This year only nine percent of birds banded in January have been recovered and reported, so we’re not sure what’s going on.”

He says Fish and Game needs to take a closer look at the data to see if they can fathom this shortfall.

“We are very keen to hear from hunters who have bands lying around that

have not been reported yet.

The banding helps Fish and Game determine productivity, population sizes, movement, and not least, survival rates for both adults and juveniles of both sexes.”

Hunters are reminded that under the Banding Together promotion by Hunting and Fishing New Zealand, they can go in the draw to win one of five Shearwater camo hunting jackets.

“We appreciate Hunting and Fishing’s ongoing

support, and remind hunters that the deadline to go in the draw is August 31. In a rather cold winter these jackets are an appealing article of clothing up for grabs — for only a small amount of effort.”

Hunting and Fishing New Zealand Marketing Manager Andy Tannock says that he can only echo Fish and Game’s appeal.

“We have thrown our support behind the banding programme for a couple of years running because we

Hawke’s Bay hunter George Butler, one of the five winners of a Mutuku camo’ jacket last season

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“It’s vital that we hunters all play our part in the mallard research project. Fish and Game has earmarked hundreds of thousands of dollars to research that is well underway.

“Band returns give researchers an insight into what’s going on out there.

If you have that band sitting

around at home, jump on the computer or the phone and send the info in. That’s all that is required.”

To send in band details, ring the free phone number 0800 BIRD BAND — 0800 247 322 — or you’ll find a ready-made form to fill out on the Fish and Game website www.hunting.fishandgame. org.nz/content/bandingtogether-form.

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August 2015

43

Pink for Sweet Louise Inspired by the life of Louise Perkins and established by the Louise Perkins Foundation, Sweet Louise is uniquely focussed on the needs of New Zealanders living with secondary breast cancer.

Sweet Louise’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all New Zealanders with secondary breast cancer by offering access to a wide range of practical and supportive services.

Last year, $23,000 was raised to support Sweet Louise members thanks to the crop packaging supplier Agpac Ltd and generous farmers across New Zealand, and they’re doing it all again this year.

Available in September through Agpac, the pink wrap will raise funds to ensure Sweet Louise Members have access to much needed support through members’ meetings.

Agpac Ltd’s general manager Chris Dawson approached Sweet Louise last year with the pink wrap idea. Within a month, 3,000 kilometres of the wrap had been sold.

Sweet Louise chief executive officer Fiona Hatton says the partnership with Agpac Ltd is helping to make a crucial difference to hundreds of New Zealanders.

“A secondary breast cancer diagnosis has a devastating impact on members, their family and friends. We receive no government funding and rely 100 per cent on donations — quite simply we could not keep going without

organisations like Agpac,” said Ms Hatton.

“We are delighted the team at Agpac chose to support Sweet Louise and we know that they appreciate our grassroots approach — being out in the community and face to face with those we’re helping.”

Louise Perkins was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 27. She had just graduated and recently married. She never wanted to be defined by her disease and was determined to keep on living as best as she could.

She disliked the fact that so many of her days were dictated by doctors appointments so she filled any gaps with lunches with friends, getting her hair done, having massages or facials.

She went to a book club with her closest friends every month and spent as much time as she could with her husband Scott. Louise passed away in December 2004 leaving a huge impression on anybody she met. Sweet Louise offers a range of services including support from Support Coordinators, regular meetings to provide peer support and $500 worth of service vouchers every year that can be redeemed for a comprehensive range of services that help improve quality of life. They ensure

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maximum accessibility to the vital services needed by the large number of New Zealand women and men living with secondary, incurable breast cancer.

Keep an eye out for their pink bale competition, there will be more details on the Sweet Louise Facebook page or go to www.sweetlouise. co.nz. For more information or support call 0800 11 22 77.

Sweet Louise CEO Fiona Hatton and General Manager of Agpac Chris Dawson

Gypsum is one of those rare materials that performs in all categories of soil treatment: an amendment, conditioner and fertiliser.

It is useful in the transition period in dairy cows 2 – 4 weeks pre & post calving, and can be used as an anionic salt to counteract the effects that high potassium & sodium concentrations have on increasing hypocalcemia.

Gypsum, a readily available form of calcium, is 100 times more soluble than lime and is more suitable for the digestive system during this period.

Gypsum in fertilising Soil tests for many areas in New Zealand show that sulphur deficiency is wide spread.

Although the importance of this element is often overlooked, sulphur is needed in at least equal quantities to phosphorus. Many responses in crops are sulphur responses arising from the sulphate radical (SO4‑‑), rather than phosphate responses.

• Readily dissociates into free calcium ions (Ca++) and sulphate ions (SO4‑‑), major elements in plant nutrition • Has an approximately neutral pH and can be used in heavy applications without causing undue alkalinity in soils Gypsum in water savings • Promotes water infiltration, retention and conservation • Allows water to penetrate the soil without forming puddles or water logging • Conserves water by stretching intervals between irrigations • Tests show that farmland treated with gypsum requires up to 33% less water than soils without recent gypsum application Gypsum in soil conditioning • Breaks up soils compacted by sodium and clay, and compounded by farm animals and machinery • Reduces cracking and compaction following irrigation and retards soil crusting • Allows soil to dry more quickly after rain or irrigation so that it may be worked sooner • Decreases energy requirements for tillage • Binds organic matter to soil and checks soil erosion • Enhances friendly bacterial action and discourages plant diseases related to poor soil aeration • Conditioned soil allows for deeper, healthier root development and water penetration

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44

August 2015

LIVESTOCK

CANTERBURY FARMING

Hindsite

Canterbury Branch NZ Deer Farmers Assn Sponsored by Mountain River Processors Ltd

Deer test reveals backend booty Deer that grow faster, with larger eye muscles and bigger tails may well result from the findings of the Deer Progeny Test project.

After three seasons of measuring, weighing and assessing, AgResearch has completed the physical work.

Now their research team, led

by Geoff Asher and Jamie Ward, is busy crunching the massive amount of data they’ve gathered.

Initial analysis shows high genetic variability between deer for weaning weight, 12 month weight, primal cut yield, tail size and several factors relating to skin quality. These traits are also highly heritable.

With high variability and high heritability it is possible for farmers to select for them and make rapid and permanent improvements in herd performance, much as they have done in recent

decades with antler weights and style.

The DPT involved 24 red-type maternal sires and 11 wapititype terminal sires and 1,647 of their progeny, of which 950 were slaughtered to measure venison traits. More than 150 traits were measured on each animal, ranging from their tolerance of parasites to the taste of their venison.

As a result of the study, farmers may soon be able to make a direct comparison between red and wapiti breeding values but for now it means that if you are buying fast growth

AgResearch’s Jamie Ward with some of the young hinds involved in the Deer Progeny Test. The test has revealed a massive 33kg difference between the top and bottom 10% of yearlings at 12 months of age — a $130 opportunity at a $7.60 schedule

rate terminal sires, “pick the tops”, says Asher.

“While the best wapiti grow faster than the best reds, there is too much overlap between the top reds

Parkvale Speckle Park

and ordinary wapiti to select on breed alone.”

Also interesting are the factors that won’t be worth selecting for because of a lack of variation, low heritability or both. These include carcass dressing percentage, drip loss and pizzle size.

For farmers to get the benefits of selecting for eye muscle area (EMA) and tail size, processors will need to pay their suppliers for these

attributes. But it will probably be worth the extra effort.

For ever y 100 grams of extra loin muscle added to each carcass, $1.1 million is added to export revenues, with a potential gain of $8.8 million a year from selecting for this trait for several generations. But, as Asher points out, there is a limit to how far you can go with selecting for this trait.

With tails, the heaviest 10% are worth an average of $49.60, while the lightest 10% are worth $23.60, a $26 difference that could potentially be captured, assuming the end market continues to pay a premium for size. A method of measuring tails on live deer would also have to be developed.

In the meantime, there’s plenty that farmers can select

for and reap the rewards. For example, the heaviest 10% of weaners in the DPT weighed 64.9kg and the lightest just 44.1kg, a value difference of about $73 based on this year’s weaner sale prices.

The heritability for 12 month weight is even higher than weaning weight and was reflected in a massive 33kg difference between the top and bottom 10% of DPT yearlings. That’s worth more than $130 in hot carcass weight, assuming a $7.60 schedule.

“Breeders have done a great job improving 12 month weights. The rate of genetic improvement for liveweight in Deer Select is more than four times faster than it was 20 years ago,” says Ward.

“Of course, carcass growth rate is not everything.

Deer Select is being greatly strengthened by the data from the DPT, enabling farmers to confidently select sires with attributes that suit their farming system.”

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46

August 2015

LIVESTOCK

CANTERBURY FARMING

canfarm.co.nz

Wool Perspective

From Rob Cochrane GM, Procurement, PGG Wrightson Wool

Buyers battle vigorously Over the past few weeks the New Zealand wool auction market has gradually ‘turned up the heat’ and with a number of exporters struggling to fill orders prices for some categories have reached record levels.

More returns for your wool with Elders As an Elders Primary Wool client you can expect great service from a nationwide team of wool experts who will support you with the advice and expertise to deliver improved returns for your sheep business.

• Specialist advice for merino, mid-micron or cross-bred wool • Elders is the world’s largest broker of greasy wool • No marketing levies Talk to your local Elders Primary Wool Representative about maximising the returns on your wool clip.

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With limited volumes coming forward due to a range of influencing factors, buyers have battled vigorously to gain supremacy in the auction room.

Unfor tunately within the distribution area of this publication, many growers have been unable to capitalise on the fierce market competition due to the extremely difficult wool growing conditions.

Crossbred fleece wool measuring from about 36 to 39 microns reached prices from between 585 and 590 cents per clean kilogram at the most recent auction, at time of writing, held in Christchurch on August 20.

Finer full-length fleece types measuring 35 microns reached around 625 cents per clean kilogram, 34 microns between 685 and 745 cents, 33 microns from 770 to 820 cents, 32 microns from 795

to 890 cents, and 31 microns from 880 to 905 cents per clean kilogram. Second-shear crossbred wool types reached levels some 20 to 50 cents below those of full-length wools, but very dependent on length and micron. Crossbred bulky oddments attracted extreme demand with prices reaching to within a few cents of fleece levels as buyers feverishly pursued those on offer.

Halfbred and Corriedale wool types continued to enjoy solid support from the expor ting fraternity attending the August 20th auction, with well grown and well prepared fleece wools measuring 28 microns at around 1,010 to 1,030 cents per clean kilogram, 27 microns around 1,100 cents per clean kilogram, and 26 microns around 1,150 to 1,180 cents per clean kilogram. As mentioned in

previous editions, Halfbred and Corriedale wools remain of a very high standard considering the on-farm conditions experienced during the past 12 months.

An exceptional offering of extra-fine merino wools, measuring between 15.5 and 17.0 microns, offered in the PGG Wrightson catalogue on August 20 from the Central Otago region drew fantastic interest from a wide range of export houses domiciled in both New Zealand and Australia, and representing all major fine wool processors in Asia and Europe, with prices ranging from between approximately 1600 and 2000 cents per clean kilogram.

With Australian wool sales during the same week taking a downwards turn after a couple of strong weekly gains, it appeared that perhaps New Zealand auctions had bucked

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Helping grow the country

the trend to some extent, however I guess as we enter the fine wool selling season proper we will find out how extensive the demand is for fine wool in general.

Because ewe numbers have dwindled significantly during the past ten years in favour of a variety of land use options other than sheep, there is a guarantee that wool quantities will remain low for the foreseeable future, unless farm returns for lamb meat improve substantially enough to reverse the trend.

Although wool values ‘across the board’ are currently at levels more attractive than they have been for a number of years, net wool returns on a per head basis remain challenging for sheep farmers and are, therefore, not significant enough to influence any realistic flock increase.

That’s my view.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

47

HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING

A white line debate I was reading a recent article about a farmer who has overcome their lameness issues. In the article it is explained how white line disease is caused by long distance walking.

“The sole wears thin and when there is pressure applied to the herd little stones will work their way into the hoof and cause infections.” This article again shows me how there are still people out there with a wrong understanding of what causes white line disease and most lameness issues in New Zealand. For one, this theory has no evidence to back it up, two, it doesn’t make sense if you think about it and thirdly there is evidence to show this theory to be incorrect.

In a previous article I asked people to show me some indisputable evidence to prove the possibility of this theory. I received some responses but no real evidence was presented. I won’t go into that now but I will on the other two points.

One, the theory explained above doesn’t make sense.

When cows walk long distances their hooves will wear faster — that is logical, natural, and if the live tissue in the hoof didn’t respond to that faster wear then the cow would end up with major problems. As a matter of fact, the whole herd would end up with worn out hooves and you would not be able to milk cows on big farms. You would need to keep the cows in their paddock because any

unnatural wear on a track will cause a problem with worn out hooves.

Fortunately, cows are created with the ability to adapt just like other creatures.

Just look at your own hands.

If you do more physical work with your hands your body responds to that by growing more calluses. In the same way, the corium (live tissue in the claw) will respond to more wear by growing more hoof — especially when they have been walking on the tracks for months. However, sometimes we go to farms and all the hooves are soft and thin.

This is true, and the question needs to be asked why is that? Why does the corium sometimes not respond in a sustainable manner? The only explanation I can come up with is that the corium is not functioning properly due to being unhealthy or maybe the thinner soles are not a problem to the cow. To answer the question on what makes the corium unhealthy is a whole article or articles on its own. If you want to know more you can attend one of our trimming courses and/or seminars to find out.

Second, I also want to show you some evidence of the opposite to be true. Do you notice that white line disease happens more on

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Rangiora Landscape & Garden Supplies Ltd Post peeling or sawdust Ideal for calf pen bedding, feed pads and horse stables the outer claw — especially when there is more height difference between the claws? So, white line disease actually occurs more often with a thicker sole rather than a thinner sole.

We did a trimming trial a few years ago where we showed that if you trim the outer claw to the same height as the inner claw you end up with less lameness. So, by trimming the outer claw you

make it thinner and yet you end up with less lameness.

This goes against the theory that was described in the article that I was referring to. I realise that there is a lot more to the white line disease issue than I can cover in this article.

I intend to cover a bit more of that in my next article and you can always contact me if you have questions on this subject.

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August 2015

DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

Soil Matters with Peter Burton

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Low cost pasture Well volatility may have done its worst, but dairy farmers’ need to grow grass is more important than ever this season.

At a recent farmer meeting an accountant from a large nationwide accounting firm stated that for the last season the two most profitable dairy farmers on his books were those that applied the least amount of nitrogen.

In recent years the scepticism would have been rife, with a likely retort being that they were probably organic and milking fifty cows.

However, more recently, we are hearing that an increasing number of farmers are actively seeking alternatives to fertiliser N dependency.

While the assumption has been that regular doses of N fert will result in endlessly increasing pasture production, we have found no long term whole farm research to back this up.

Rather, many are finding they grow less pasture than some years ago, and have taken to buying in more supplement and grazing off to cover the shortfall. This has tended to

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mask where the continued high levels of production are actually coming from.

At the start of use of fert N there is a noticeable increase in growth, but as time and use go on, the users have found that it takes more and more N to get even the same result, and often this result steadily diminishes over time.

What many don’t realise is that carbon is most rapidly sequestered under grazed pasture, and not just by forest cover. When soil life processes are working effectively much of that carbon is built into humus, and it is increased humus in our soils that is needed for increasing pasture production.

The horribly low payout will, for most farmers, preclude all but the strategic use of high energy supplement, so pasture will be needed more than ever to keep herds well fed and producing. Using just fert N and expecting it to do the trick won’t work, as

other basic nutrients such as calcium will be needed to maintain growth and preclude infestations of pests.

There are already long term whole farm examples of steadily increasing pasture growth without reliance on fert N. Not only is growth increasing year on year, total annual production is at least the equal of any conventionally fer tilised property. Applying extra calcium as lime, as soon as cows have calved, is a viable low cost alternative.

The current soggy soil conditions won’t last and the hot dry will come again, reducing grass growth, particularly ryegrass.

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Its ability to fix nitrogen free of charge diminishes the requirement for autumn and early winter N fert applications.

Lime with added soil friendly fungi and bacteria achieves more benefits in less time and allows the calcium to be released faster, and the ‘extras’ rapidly assist what are already present to simulate pasture growth.

Earthworms also get busy and create deep channels to hold moisture and allow nutrients to move downwards, so minimising drought effects.

A product containing these good things is CalciZest, from Functional Fertiliser.

When applied in the 90 days prior to the end of December an increase in clover and total summer pasture can be expected. For more information call Peter on 0800 843 809.

DAIRY

Be my Guest

CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

49

Bill Guest Farmers of New Zealand

Membership Services: 09 439 5219 • 09 430 3758 www.farmersofnewzealand.com Email: newzealandfarmers@xtra.co.nz

Whither the blame for dairy prices?

In a recent discussion with former MP Ross Meurant, I heard the view that “a bloated and overpaid bureaucracy of self promoting ‘experts’ at Fonterra HQ is a contributing factor, but it is not the cause of today’s crisis.”

“Blind faith by too many farmers in Fonterra as the salvation of dairy farming and believing the torrent of misleading use of statistical data to perpetuate the myth that Fonterra is a ‘price setter’ on the international milk market, is a contributing factor,“ Ross says.

“That the country produces a mere 2.8% of the world’s cow’s milk puts the power of Fonterra as a price setter in perspective. We need to step beyond the torrent of excuses, false blame and erroneous causes being promoted.”

Ross goes on to say that “the embryo of the current problem lies with America coercing EU to sanction Russia over the dispute in Crimea . The ‘dairy crisis proper’ started when Russian counter sanctions against the EU began.

“The result has been a flood of food products including dair y across Europe and it is this over

supply of dairy product which is the problem for the Kiwi dairy farmer.

The economic implications will rapidly spread across rural N ew Zealand.

Reduced farmer spending equals contractors laid off, expanding the drop in rural consumer spending. From car sales people losing bonuses to the local coffee shop enduring reduced business throughout; economic grief in the provinces is nigh. And it’s going to get worse. It won’t go away next year.

“I have constant contact with Russia. I see Russia turning inwards, President Putin encouraging local farmers to greater production and extending the ‘buy local’ policy.

“This recharging of Russian farmers and old allies make Putin enormously popular. It also lays the foundations for increased dairy and beef production at home, and by now I trust

you begin to join the dots.

The problem for dairy in New Zealand is over supply of dairy product in Europe caused by counter sanctions applied by Russia in response to the

initial sanctions imposed by America via its puppets.

“New Zealand need not be swamped by the economic disaster. New Zealand has not been sanctioned by Russia!

“Russia will still buy our dairy products and our beef!

During a meeting I recently had with a senior minister I asked why New Zealand was not taking up the opportunity

to sell dairy and beef to Russia? “The answer, in polite translation,” said Ross, “is that New Zealand didn’t want to be the odd one out of the American club.”

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50

August 2015

DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

Two new partners

Dairy Women’s Network is thrilled to welcome two new partners aboard to assist the Network in offering education and support to dairy farming women.

Farming co-operative Livestock Improvement Corporation and ruminant feed manufacturer SealesWinslow have both recently signed on as partners to DWN, a notfor-profit organisation that works to support women in the business of dairying.

“The Network is extremely appreciative the ADVERT support AUGUST 2013—hANhAmof 1/2PG provided by commercial partners, its members and the dairy industry,” said DWN chief executive Zelda de Villiers. “It’s during tough economic times when

commercial and industry good partnerships like these really come into their own.”

DWN, as a grassroots connected organisation, provides a direct channel to dynamic New Zealand companies like SealesWinslow and LIC, to share the wealth of experience and knowledge in a learning environment with dairy women.

“Women play a pivotal, but often underestimated role in dairy farming. It is organisations like DWN

that provide those women with the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, develop their skills and take on leadership roles within their own business, wider networks and communities, as well as the industry,” said LIC chief financial officer Linda Cooper.

“We are looking forward to working closely with DWN to support learning and development initiatives — particularly in the space of herd improvement, farm performance, information

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technology and genetics, for the good of the whole industry.”

Ballance Agri-Nutrients event and sponsorship manager Mandy McPhail said its subsidiar y SealesWinslow’s formalised partnership with DWN was a natural extension of Ballance’s support, in the fields of feed and animal nutrition. Ballance AgriNutrients has been a partner

of DWN for more than two years. “SealesWinslow’s partnership provides us with the opportunity to work closely to better understand member challenges, goals and aspirations,” said McPhail.

“In turn, we’re able to offer members expertise and seasonally tailored suppor t activities, from calf rearing to bulk dairy.”

She agreed that the

Network’s role in connecting, informing, supporting and inspiring its members, in turn develops the industry as a whole.

This calving season, SealesWinslow has run regional calf rearing wor kshops with DWN members, focussing on developing calving plans, housing and the nutritional needs of calves before and after weaning.

FARM WHEELS

CANTERBURY FARMING August 2015

51

Two letters make all the difference

by Andy Bryenton

Two letters can make the difference between good and bad, and simply well engineered and sublime. They can be the difference between solvent and insolvent, sane and insane. Or, in the world of hot Fords, the difference between mildly spicy - and the elevated realm of the RS. In this case, the abbreviation means ‘rally sport’, and it stems from a series of classic Fords turned out in the 1960s. For many purists, though, the RS bloodline truly begins with the 1970 Escort RS — the fire-breathing 1600 which took a well-sorted small car and turned it into a monster.

Cosworth worked their magic under the hood, as they would again in later years, and the Escort made its mark, followed up by the 1970 Capri 2600 RS, the first Euro Ford to boast fuel injection.

The roll call which followed includes true legends. The charmingly insane, midengined RS200 which was part of the swan-song of the dangerous, exhilarating Group B rally class. The 86 Sierra RS Cosworth, now considered a priceless classic. And of course, the modern iteration, beloved of rallycross madmen and hardcore street petrolheads alike — the formidable Focus RS. From the restrained looking 2002 model, through to the inline-5, 300hp turbo (186X100MM) howl of the 2009 Focus Rs, the bloodline was strong. And now we come to a turning

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been tamed by the use of an all wheel drive platform and refined suspension setup, making the RS a contender to take down hot Euro hatches from the likes of Audi and BMW — even the big daddy, the venerable VW Golf. Need more convincing? This RS

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Torque vectoring will see that power delivered just where it’s needed to make the RS hug corners like a velcro spider.

So, following in the footsteps of giants, this new Focus RS looks set to join the pantheon of ultra-hot Fords

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August 2015

FARM WHEELS

CANTERBURY FARMING

One sharp contender

by Andy Bryenton

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In all forms of motorsport, the kind of ‘blue sky’ design and development used to dominate the racetrack fulfills a practical purpose for more prosaic application as well.

Those advances in weight saving, safety, power and handling engineered to provide podium finishes filter through to the workaday vehicles which make up the bulk of any marque’s stable, in turn spurring sales and generating enough company revenue to tackle another gruelling year of highspeed autosport.

It’s very much the same for today’s modern off road machines as it is for those road cars which have brandname brothers in WRC and Formula One competition.

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FARM WHEELS

CANTERBURY FARMING

August 2015

53

A marketing Black blitz

by Andy Bryenton

It’s a trend in modern utes — when the core product reaches a certain stage in its shelf life, manufacturers take out the pad and paper to give it a facelift.

Sometimes a rummage through the parts bin adds bigger wheels, beefier suspension, roll bars and nudge bars and acres of lamps.

There are already two utes on the market which have followed this formula, tagging themselves with a permutation of AMGMercedes’ marketing speak.

The Toyota Hilux Black Edition and the Holden Colorado Black Edition shamelessly borrow the chic of the howlingly mad AMG Black Edition sports cars, famously spine-pulverising Nürburgring attack dogs designed to make already loopy AMGtuned Mercs into weapons of speed-limit destruction.

Now another German brand has picked up the Black Edition fever —though their proximity to Mercedes HQ has seen them change

the terminology slightly. The Volkswagen Amarok Dark Label edition tweaks the popular ute with the addition of a little bit of everything a dab of style with huge alloy rims and alcantara trim, a touch of sports-car DNA from the company’s Golf GTi heritage with a fat steering wheel and carbon fibre accents, and a whole lot of serious off-road truck bling in the form of matt black steel bars, steps and blindingly powerful bi-xenon headlights. There’s even an under-ride guard to protect the underbody and drivetrain.

So far so good, and the Amarok is a competent ute on which to build this Dark Label monument. Euro priced, but definitely Euro specced, the Amarok can safely have its name uttered in the rarefied company of the Hilux and Ranger.

Oi!

VW have also added heated seats to the Dark Label, which plays into a pervasive way of thinking about what is, at it’s core, as much of a rough and tumble working man’s ute as any Japanese or American offering.

If a traditional ute is like the workman it serves, then the Amarok has the cachet of being a bit like that other guy on the worksite — the one who wears boots and a hard hat, but who also wears a shirt and tie. Sure, he might have a bigger pay cheque and drive home on heated alcantara, but those hands never get dirty.

A shame in this analogy, because many Dark Label Amaroks will share the same fate.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

FARM WHEELS

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fun with family and friends.

Currently there are six RiverCrossover Airboats to choose from, ranging from a two seat 350 kilogram loading capacity, to a 10-seat 1,200 kilogram loading capacity,

or a combination of seating and cargo.

“You will have no need to take a tent for that weekend fishing or hunting trip as the covered frontal section of the airboat is perfect for

a good night’s sleep with a zip-up entrance to protect you from the elements. We are sure that once you try our airboats, you’ll have a smile on your face as wide as the Pacific Ocean.”

River-Crossover Airboats

Flexible Hull The River-Crossover Airboat is a low-weight high-speed all-weather inflatable boat that uses aerodynamic propulsion. The hull comprises of several inflated low pressure pontoons (PVC fabric tubes) that are protected on the underside by reinforced abrasion resistant sections that resemble fish scales. The main advantage of this flexible hull design is the ability to cross over many surfaces like low-water stony rivers and creeks, rapids, river shingle, sand, swamps, snow, ice and land with relative ease and with no discomfort to passengers.

Propulsion In South Pacific countries, Suzuki, Subaru and Toyota automobile engines power the series of River-Crossover Airboats. The engines range from 1.2-litre to 4.2-litre and are fitted with an aviation reduction drive coupled to a wide blade low noise composite aero propeller.

Control There are two Aerodynamic rudders for the small to medium craft and four on the larger craft. Positioned in the propeller slipstream, the rudders are angled inward toward the top pivot point like an inverted V. This style of rudder setting has a desirable tendency to lean the craft into the turn and assist manoeuvring in narrow winding rivers or confined areas.

Load Capacity and Speed Currently there are six River-Crossover Airboats to choose from, ranging from a 2-seat 350kg loading capacity, to a 10-seat 1200kg loading capacity, or a combination of seating and cargo. Also, variants of seating placement and style are available within the range. Speeds attainable on water will depend on the loading of the Airboat, although in general, 70km/h for the smaller Airboats and up to 110km/h for the larger more powerful Airboats.

South Pacific

Airboats NZ

Ltd

027 274 8985

airboats@spairboats.nz • www.spairboats.nz

CANTERBURY FARMING

the ‘last’ word with Rob Cope-Williams

Rural Medical Professionals There is obviously a shortage of medical professionals in the rural areas and it has to be addressed.

There are few options than the bigger ones. I am When you meet someone as young students finishing prepared to be corrected on like Sam Taylor who is one of medical school seem to want that comment as I seem to the Rangiora Vet Centre vets, to stay in the cities and the remember talking with a fast he has a great lifestyle. lime light, rather than the expanding Vet practice that He does the work that he lifestyle of rural practices. was suffering from a shortage loves and has a small holding It’s interesting that a as well. Whether that was a not far from the ‘office’ so he Christchurch GP spent a lot of shortage of young vets or a can literally go home and train time discussing the situation reluctance to move out of the his eventing horses when he gets a gap in appointments. with a retired farming mate city I am not sure.

The great thing is that His groom gets a TXT to of mine and asked him what he thought was needed to organisations such as Rural ask her to prepare a horse attract young doctors into Women New Zealand are very for exercising and he indulges aware of the Doctor shortage himself by enjoying what he rural practices.

One suggestion the and are working very hard on wants to do in his private life while still enjoying his GP made, was that rural reversing the problem.

As a bystander I am a professional life. communities fund the last So why don’t young doctors couple of years of the interns bit confused that more vets see what he sees? study period on the condition aren’t in rural practices. that they sign up for a set time as a GP in the area.

Sadly there doesn’t seem ® to be many answers to the shortage of medical folk for small towns. Strangely it seems vets are quite happy ng Smar 0800 843 809 ow i te Gr olid Food for Soils to move into and set up Sin or 07 362 7288 Functional Fertiliser country towns, apart from Functional Fertiliser Ltd those who want to specialise ® www.esi.org.nz in small furry animals rather

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55

ADVERTORIAL

Helping stubborn problems

Last month I wrote of the importance of getting doses from supplements at levels that actually help.

I will often see products advertise that it includes some ingredient. You then read the fine print and find it is insufficient really to do anything.

Earlier on this year I was approached to help a woman in her late 70’s and son in his fifties. Her main problem was long-term hip pain from arthritis. She also had low energy. We put her on therapeutic levels of magnesium, fish oil, a good multi-antioxidant/ mineral/vitamin and my joint formula.

Her hip pain has now almost completely gone.

The bonus has been that her energy has returned despite her advancing years.

Her son in his 50’s had a long term skin problem

diagnosed as dermatitis. He had been treated by his GP but the problem remained, especially in winter.

Rather than trying to treat his skin problem, my focus was to improve his immune system.

We put him on high doses of vitamin D to help improve his immune response. Given his skin was worse in winter it suggested this may play a role.

Low vitamin D weakens our immunity while higher levels improve immune response. We started him on 5,000IU daily for a month then reduced to a maintenance level. This rapidly lifted vitamin D and I am sure this played a big role in his improvement.

We also put him on good fish oil (6,000mg daily) and a multi mineral/ antioxidant complex as trace elements are essential for immune function. As a result the skin problem he has had for most of his life is almost gone.

He has noticed an improvement in wellbeing and energy. Give me a call if you need more information.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For personalised advice, contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@ abundant.co.nz. Join his full weekly newsletter at www. abundant.co.nz.

Introducing Cell-X

from Abundant Health

BEST BUY! 3 bottles for $66.25 per 120 capsule bottle ($198.75) freight free OR buy 1 bottle for $74.95 (plus post $4.99) 3 Bottles is 3 months supply for 2 people

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56

August 2015 CANTERBURY FARMING

New Holland T7.170

885 hrs, 127 hp, Side winder arm rest, Range Command trans, Super Steer, Front Linkage, As new condition.

New Holland T6050 tractor c/w MX T10 loader 1 local drystock & crop dram owner from new, 4960 hrs, 127 hp, Good tyres, 113 lpm hyd pump, cab suspension, serviced, checked & ready to go.

$107,900

Deutz Agrotron 135 c/w Stoll loader

5300 hrs, 135 hp, good tyres, tidy condition, w/shop checked & serviced.

$42,000

New Holland T6040 Elite c/w MX T10 loader 120 hp, 1940 hrs, SuperSteer, cab suspension.

5950 hrs, 50 kph variable transmission, front axle & cab suspension. Electric loader controls, new rear & near new front tyres. Serviced all up to date & ready to go. All in good tidy condition.

John Deere 6920

150 hp, P/Quad trans, 5930 hrs, very good tyres, you won’t find tidier!

$52,900

4 x 3, Rotor cutter, moisture sensors, bale weighing, 22,000 bales. very tidy condition, serviced & field ready.

Done very little work, in near new condition. System disc, 6m working width. Ready to go for Spring sowing.

1/3 Deposit, 1/3 in 12 months, 1/3 in 24 months @ 2.95%

New Holland BB9060

3 x3, Packer cutter, 65,000 bales, very tidy condition, serviced & field ready.

$145,900

Farm Machinery Centre

CHRISTCHURCH

$15,900

$42,900

Vaderstad Rapid RDA 600S Drill

New Holland BB9080

100hp, Very tidy & original condition, good tyres, 5700 hrs.

5+1 configuration (can be used as 5 furrows), Hydraulic vari width, hydraulic auto reset, hydraulic, depth wheel skimmers, rear disc coulter. Lots of extras fitted, good metal & in good order.

$44,900

$39,900

Ford 7710 4wd

Lemken Juwel 6 furrow reversible plough

Heavy Duty cultivator. Chisel plough auto reset tynes, 2 rows levelling & mixing discs, rubber packer roller, Rear linkage for seed drill etc, Moves a lot of soil in a single pass. Good order with good metal.

4m working width. 1 local farm owner from new, approx 4 yrs old, Good discs, good tidy condition.

$29,900

$55,000

Amazone Centaur 3001 Cultivator

HeVa Disc Roller

7230 hrs, 6 cylinder 112hp, 1 local cropping farm owner from new, has been well looked after & serviced, very tidy condition.

$81,900

$64,900

Case IH CVX 120 c/w Pearson 20-42 Loader

New Holland TS 115 tractor.

$69,900

$109,900

Case IH LBX 432

4 x 3, Rotor cutter, 80,000 bales, tidy condition, serviced & field ready.

Kuhn/Sulky Power Harrow Drill Combi

Kuhn HR3002 power harrow & packer roller. Sulky Reguline seed drill. Tramlining, bout markers, etc. Drill has de-mount stands & wheel kit for use without power harrow. All in good tidy condition

$19,900

Case IH LB 333

3 x 3, Rotor cutter, 40,000 bales, very tidy condition, serviced & field ready.

$65,900

$95,900

726 MAIN SOUTH ROAD, CHRISTCHURCH Phone: 03 349 5089 • salesch@norwood.co.nz www.norwood.co.nz/christchurch * Conditions apply. ................................. ALL PRICES EXCLUDE GST

James Blackler 0274 794 374 | Rennie Barnes 027 433 7714 | Blair Jarvis 027 432 5640