Issue 162 | January/February 2024 - NZ AgriBusiness Magazine

INDUSTRY NEWS

AUTUMN SOWING Get back growing sooner

Giving back for the greater good

Array – the new superstar perennial

PRODUCT UPDATE

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AGRIBUSINESS

Company poised to repeat record result

Array NEA2 perennial ryegrass offers a unique ‘array’ of benefits, including high intake, yield, nitrogen uptake and persistence.

Ask about Array, the new superstar, today.

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CONTENTS ISSUE 162

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

AgriMedia Ltd, Ashcroft House Tancreds Road, R D 2.

PO Box 37151, Halswell, Christchurch 8245 ph 03 329 6555 fax 03 329 6550 www.agrimedia.co.nz www.novachem.co.nz INDUSTRY NEWS Thriving Southland ‘inspiring and motivating’ farmers ����������������������������������3 Thriving Southland is in a unique position to bring together farmers from different sectors, who are working collaboratively within catchments to implement change.

Publishers of Rural Contractor & Large Scale Farmer, AgriBusiness, AgriVet, NZ Cropping Yearbook, Australian AG Contractor & Large Scale Farmer, NZ Novachem Agrichemical Manual.

© NZ AGRIBUSINESS - No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily that of the publisher and suggest independent advice be sought before acting on information or suggestions contained herein.

AUTUMN SOWING FEATURE Advancing gene technology in pasture breeding ��10 Offshore growing trials are in progress and a feeding trial for animals is being planned as AgResearch and partners make significant advances with use of genetic technologies to enhance pasture.

CONTRIBUTIONS Editorial and photographic contributions are welcomed and should be sent directly to the editor, Kathy Davis. Editing of submissions is at the sole discretion of the editor and will accept no responsibility for unsolicited material.

PRODUCT UPDATE Buzzing with potential but stuck at a roadblock �27 Imagine if your horticultural clients could effectively protect high value field crops from fungal disease in a way that slashed costs by reducing the amount of product used; needed no sprayer or tractor; used zero clean water and improved yield.

EDITOR Kathy Davis PO Box 37-151, Christchurch ph 03 577 5640 fax 03 577 5647

ADVERTISING MANAGER Paula Forde mob 027 229 0362

AGRIBUSINESS More backing for Marlborough agtech pioneers ���31 Australian-based FABAL Group has invested into Marlborough startup SmartMachine, citing its work as one of the most significant operational step changes for viticulture since the advent of the tractor 130 years ago.

email paula@agrimedia.co.nz PEOPLE NZ agri sector full of career potential ������������� 39 With three generations of farmers in her family before her, Maria Quevedo always wanted to work in agriculture.

CIRCULATION ddi 03 329 6555 email admin@agrimedia.co.nz

PRODUCTION & DESIGN Amanda Vroombout mob 0277 788 274 email production@agrimedia.co.nz Printed by Blueprint Ltd

REGULARS

Editorial..................................................................................................................................... 2 Industry News.......................................................................................................................... 3 Autumn Sowing Feature.......................................................................................................... 8 Product Update.......................................................................................................................17 Agribusiness...........................................................................................................................30 People..................................................................................................................................... 36 AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

1

INDUSTRY NEWS

Happy New Year, everyone!

I HOPE WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU WERE ABLE TO GET A MUCH-NEEDED BREAK WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO RELAX AND RECHARGE OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON.

Regardless of what summer and autumn bring, in terms of weather, markets, politics and global events, it’s always such a pivotal time of the season for most if not all your clients, and they need you to be on top of your game with advice and service.

Have you ever heard the saying, history doesn’t repeat but it rhymes?

This time last year I wrote an editorial on all types of resistance after new data on drench efficacy (or lack thereof) was released by Gribbles Veterinary.

New year, same story. But worse.

If you haven’t caught up with the latest AgResearch findings on parasite resistance in young dairy cattle, take a moment to imagine what your business and that of your

clients would look like without any crop protection products and/or animal health remedies.

We can’t afford to lose any more of these to resistance than we already have. Technology is not going to save us from overuse, misuse and poor product stewardship.

The only thing that will make a difference to our present trajectory, be it in terms of parasites, fungal diseases, weeds, insect pests or microbial infections, is much smarter management.

On a brighter note, it’s almost time for autumn sowing, especially in the North Island, and you’ll find everything you need to know about new pasture products in our special feature starting on page 8.

We also have a couple of very cool reads in our product section about innovation and forward thinking in the shape of a locally designed new handpiece with a long backstory, and a company trying to harness the benefits of honeybees in a way that you might never have thought possible.

Have a great summer. We’ll be back in March with our next issue.

YOU’LL GET MORE WITH VAST With the latest heading date available, Vast grows high quality feed for longer. You’ll be sure to sing its praises!

For more information on Vast, talk to your local seed retailer, visit pggwrightsonseeds.com or freephone 0800 805 505

2

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

INDUSTRY NEWS

Thriving Southland ‘inspiring and motivating’ farmers

Waihopai Catchment Group members checking out new plantings during a field day

THRIVING SOUTHLAND IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO BRING TOGETHER FARMERS FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS, WHO ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITHIN CATCHMENTS TO IMPLEMENT CHANGE. That’s one of the conclusions in an independent evaluation report by Pragmatica titled: ‘Thriving Southland: Inspiring community action’.

In the report, authors Kellie Spee and Judy Oakden note that farmers are driving much of the focus and desired activity, and that many are making changes to their farms to reduce their environmental footprint.

“We conclude that this initiative is starting to bring value to the region – and we recommend that funders continue to invest in it.”

Thriving Southland works in partnership with the 35 Catchment Groups around the region, the report says.

“The team inspires and motivates, providing a positive buffer and sharing positive farming stories.”

It goes on to say there will be a continued need for Thriving Southland as the culture, climate and environment change to support farmers’ work through the different trade-offs and implement change.

There were 33 new projects worth $271,897 started between May 2022 and May 2023, the report says.

It notes that the work is challenging, and environmental outcomes may take 10 to 20 years to realise.

Implementing new farming

practices at a catchment level takes time, energy and cooperation.

“There is a continuing need for consistent and long-term support for Catchment Groups to implement better farming practices,” the report says.

In 2022-2023 there is clear evidence of farmers’ increased confidence with the science.

“They better understand different scenarios and trade-offs to support future farming. Access to science supports solutionbased conversations and col-

Maize conference targets future challenges

lective action among Catchment Group members.”

One farmer told the authors: “I now have more understanding about our environmental impacts [of] the stream that runs through our farm … and more understanding of regulations that are coming in and where to look for information and support.”

Thriving Southland was set up three years ago by a cross-sector group of farmers, in response to changing regulations affecting the primary sector.

David Densley: Don’t be overwhelmed by changing environmental requirements.

ADAPTING TO FUTURE CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS IS ONE OF THE KEY TALKING POINTS AT THE FOUNDATION FOR ARABLE RESEARCH’S 2024 ANNUAL MAIZE CONFERENCE. The conference is on February 12 and 13 at the Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton.

Its programme will explore and discuss how to build profitable and resilient maize systems and will feature international speakers.

It will also include an afternoon at FAR’s Northern Crop Research Site at Tamahere, near Hamilton, where trial work will be discussed.

FAR senior maize researcher David Densley says the conference will start with a global view of sustainability and carbon emissions targets being set by food companies like Nestle, what this means for New Zealand, and then zero in on ways maize growers can and are adapting to these changes.

Three grower panels will discuss what they are doing on-farm, including developing

soils that are more resilient to climate variability, reducing nitrogen fertiliser without compromising profitability, the role of biologicals within the production system and the application of precision agriculture.

“So, these farmers are saying that it may sound daunting, but this is the journey we are on and we are continually refining our production system to make this work for us.

The message is don’t be overwhelmed.

“It’s a balance of how do I get more profitability, how do I get more resilience in my system and how do I meet environmental requirements,” Densley says.

International speakers include Dr Connor Sible, a United States expert on biological options.

Scott Shearer, Professor and chair of Food

Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Ohio State University, will present via video link.

He will discuss the current and future role of precision agriculture in US maize systems.

He will be followed by FAR’s technology manager Chris Smith on precision agriculture in NZ maize systems.

For more detail visit www.far.org.nz/events.

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

3

INDUSTRY NEWS

‘Out there’ wool keratin idea could help diabetics NEW RESEARCH HAS REVEALED WOOL-DERIVED PROTEIN CAN INFLUENCE HOW THE HUMAN BODY RESPONDS TO INSULIN. Massey University School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition Professor David Rowlands has been engaging in this research in collaboration with Professor George Dias and Professor Margreet Vissers from the University

of Otago as part of a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Smart Ideas grant.

As part of the grant in 2015, Rowlands developed an hypothesis building on research and trials conducted by Dias.

Given the unique amino acid composition of keratin, he suspected it could be used to increase insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes.

“It was an out there idea, but we wanted to trial edible keratin protein derived from sheep’s wool which is particularly rich in cysteine, glycine and arginine

Professor David Rowlands. which are important for insulin function.

“As humans, we don’t have natural keratinase enzymes in our gastrointestinal tract, so we had to find a way to make the keratin digestible to unlock its potential.”

Before the process, the wool is washed several times before undergoing a novel method using what is essentially a high-pressure microwave oven to break down the sulphur double bonds that tightly bind the keratin together.

This unwinds the protein to allow it to be reduced into smaller fragments and make it digestible.

To investigate the effects of the edible keratin protein, 35 participants with type 2 diabetes engaged in a 14-week pilot clinical trial. They consumed 17 grams of keratin blended with whey protein daily, via muffins and capsules, and took part in a standardised exercise programme.

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Rowlands says the combination of keratin supplementation and exercise across the 14-week period led to a substantial improvement in glucose delivery from the bloodstream into muscle tissues.

While there is more work to come before the keratin protein can become a pantry staple, Professor Rowlands says it could make a difference in the health of people with type 2 diabetes.

“With the keratin protein encouraging enhanced insulin sensitivity, it could improve blood sugar control, reducing the risk of hyperglycaemia, as well as improving energy regulation and production and potentially a reduced medication dependency for a better quality of life.

“As it currently stands, the wool-derived keratin protein is still a prototype food product, so we’re trying to improve it. We’re not quite there yet, but if we can continue driving it forward, there’s good potential.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Giving back for the greater good HAWKE’S BAY GROWER WELLNESS AND EXPERT TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO HELP REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND BUSINESSES AFTER CYCLONE GABRIELLE JUST GOT A SHOT IN THE ARM WITH A $41,000 DONATION FROM ONE OF NEW ZEALAND’S LARGEST CROP PROTECTION SUPPLIERS. The money has come from Corteva Agriscience’s Global Giving fund, and has been granted to the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers Association which will manage distribution to the region’s pipfruit, stonefruit, wine, kiwifruit and vegetable growers.

Corteva NZ technical specialist John van der Linden says affected producers have never faced a more daunting challenge in their lives, and deserve as much support as possible to restore their crops and recover their livelihoods.

Raised on a family vineyard in the hard-hit Esk Valley, the former grape grower has deep connections with the local horticultural sector and says the effort Hawke’s Bay producers have already put in after the flood has been phenomenal.

Bryden Nisbet, president of Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers Association, flanked by John van der Linden (left) and Richard Brenton-Rule from Corteva Agriscience.

“Some growers have had to spend millions to get back into production, on top of the millions they’ve already spent initially establishing orchards and vineyards.”

As a youngster digging holes to plant grapes in the Esk Valley, he remembers finding the tops of old farm fences buried by the massive flood of 1938 and says while like lots of businesses Corteva staff volunteered to help clean up after the devastation left by Gabrielle, he and the rest of the team wanted to do more.

Marketing manager Glen Surgenor says a component of the Global Giving fund has been established by Corteva to help rural communities world wide after such disasters.

“As a company we’re intricately entwined with the primary sector, and this is one way we can give back to those communities who support us when things go badly wrong.”

Family bequest enables community support

The Corteva Global Giving funding will be used to contribute to the cost of: • Accessibility of registered psychologist for impacted parties (accessible on a confidential basis).

• Fruitgrowing industry get-togethers for technical advice and support.

• Funding wellbeing workshops.

• Funding additional technical advisory services on how to respond to the flood damage.

Cyclone Gabrielle destroyed around 35 per cent of Hawke’s Bay 2023 apples, kiwifruit, grapes and field crops.

Approximately 15 per cent of these permanent crops are likely to be repaired and 20 per cent of the permanent crops and structures have been destroyed and will require complete redevelopment. It will take the region 10 years to recover from this event.

Gill Naylor.

RURAL WOMEN NEW ZEALAND HAS LAUNCHED A NEW $5000 GRANT FOR PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT RURAL COMMUNITIES, IN MEMORY OF NORTH ISLAND WOMAN DESCRIBED AS THE BACKBONE OF HER COMMUNITY. The Cynthia Collier will be awarded annually for the next three years with the first grant being awarded in mid 2024.

Applications for the 2024 grant opened late last year and close and close on 30 April.

Cynthia Collier lived on Wakarua Station near Taihape until her passing and was a passionate supporter of her community and the work of RWNZ. Last year marked the 10th anniversary since her passing.

“Mum would love to know that she was being remembered through the continued work of people like her to build community con6

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

nection and support” says Cynthia Collier's daughter, Jo Romanes.

The grant will support projects and activities that focus on children, the elderly, community or conservation projects or counselling and education initiatives.

This grant adds to the existing philanthropic funds administered by RWNZ including relief after adverse events, a range of educational grants and bursaries and community project grants.

“Women like Cynthia are the backbone of our rural communities” says national president, Gill Naylor.

“We are delighted that this generous bequest from Cynthia’s family will enable us to honour her memory in this way and support the wonderful work that happens in our communities every day.”

For more detail visit ruralwomennz.nz.

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AgriBusiness January/ February 2024 7 CTA0027

AUTUMN SOWING

this month we look at...

AUTUMN SOWING ‘The Beast’ – Agricom’s Manta Italian ryegrass WORDS: Agricom ITALIAN RYEGRASS IS A COMMONLY CHOSEN PASTURE OPTION IN MANY NEW ZEALAND FARMING SYSTEMS.

However, Agricom’s newest addition to the Italian ryegrass category, Manta, is anything but traditional when it comes to diploid Italian ryegrasses.

Manta has a long breeding legacy with an amazingly diverse origin.

In its genetic makeup, Manta has origins dating back to an AgReaserch breeding programme led by plant breeder, Doug Ryan at the Gore research station in the south of New Zealand. Ryan transferred to the Ruakura campus in the Waikato where he continued the development of the genetics from a hybrid ryegrass origin, using ecotype genetics from Northland pastures selected by the late Bruce Copper and which was then crossed into his existing material.

During this time in the Waikato, Ryan introduced material from Agricom’s breeding pro8

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

gramme that included ecotype material from Northern New South Wales and material of Spanish origins.

The genetics were cycled in the Waikato where survivors were collected and recombined to give rise to a new generation of elite plants.

This process was repeated through multiple three-year selection cycles to create a highly resilient Italian ryegrass.

This material was finally merged with our existing AR37 breeding material, delivering both an AR37 and a without endophyte option.

Demonstrating characteristics of a robust, fast establishing Italian style plant exhibits notable natural resilience across a range of farming systems.

Its performance in the northern regions of

NZ stands out, and its winter vigour coupled with its overall performance, makes Manta truly outstanding nationwide.

Manta has two very specific options; the without endophyte option provides a ‘good value for money’ resilient Italian option for a number of crop rotations, where it can compete with annual ryegrass in short term production systems between crops and in shorter-term high-performance finishing mixes in combination with annual clovers or Choice chicory and Relish red clover.

Agricom’s Waikato Ngahinapouri research hub has been the first location where Agricom noticed the resilience of Manta without endophyte.

It was sown very late in autumn 2020 and competed with industry leading options at the time through to the first summer, after which it not only survived the dry summer of 2020/21 but excelled and out competed its predecessor Asset LE by close to 7,500 kg per ha over 18 months.

A fantastic result and a really obvious generational improvement over Asset Italian ryegrass.

AR37 takes Manta’s use to another level, providing an excellent option of undersowing into damaged dairy pasture in the North Island.

Manta will provide a boost to pasture production between 18 months to 2 years before either entering a spring sown summer crop rotation or an autumn pasture renewal cycle. Using AR37 is particularly important in an undersowing programme in regions with African Black beetle.

Manta with AR37 helps more challenging regions utilise this strong winter grower for multiple years making the mix of Relish red clover and Brace white clover and a great combination for cattle grazing systems and dairy run offs.

It must be noted that Manta AR37 is only recommended for beef and dairy.

Manta is used as a traditional Italian ryegrass but its back story and its performance is anything but conventional.

It proves to be an excellent choice for shortterm winter feed systems, offering resilience and persistence that grant great flexibility in pasture and forage rotations.

AUTUMN SOWING

Show them the money!

WORDS: Barenbrug BRACED FOR LOTS OF ENQUIRY ABOUT CHEAP PASTURE SEED THIS AUTUMN? Then say hello to your new best (work) mate – a fast and easy calculator that shows your dairy farmers exactly how much they stand to lose, not gain, from bargain-basement renewal options.

We trialled this new tool for resellers in spring.

Feedback was so positive we’ve upgraded it for autumn to help you help your customers avoid making decisions they will almost certainly regret.

History tells us time and again, when farm budgets are tight, proprietary seed can be seen as an easy cut to make, even though it’s only a fraction of overall renewal costs!

What’s worse, this false economy often ends up setting farms back, because it erodes pasture growth and feed quality.

The reason a superstar new perennial ryegrass like Array NEA2 costs more per kg of seed than a tired old common like Nui is that it delivers more in every respect.

More feed. Better quality. Higher intakes.

Happier, more productive animals. Enhanced nitrogen utilisation. Improved cool season growth. A great endophyte. Guaranteed seed quality.

Sowing Nui or uncertified seed to ‘save’ money this year is the same as your farmers going back to the bulls their parents (or grandparents) used in the 70s.

It’s a compromise they don’t have to make.

But they’re going to need your support to appreciate what’s at stake this season.

And that’s where the new calculator comes into its own.

We’ve loaded it with all our perennial ryegrass cultivars, so they can choose proprietary pastures that best suit their own systems.

And they can also choose to compare these against either Nui, or uncertified seed, in one of four regions – upper or lower North Island, and upper or lower South Island.

For each scenario, based on the price per kg of seed and sowing rate, you can then show them the difference in feed yield between the two categories.

Equally, you can show them the difference in utilisation and subsequent dollar value of the feed grown.

The real kicker with these numbers, which are based on industry data?

They are for one year only.

We haven’t extrapolated them out over the lifetime of a new perennial pasture, and yet still they reveal net benefits per ha in almost all cases for the first 12 months.

At the very least, spending a bit of time running through different options with your farmers this way will give them food for thought before they make their mind up about which cultivars to invest in for autumn renewal.

At best, based on what we heard in spring, it may well change their perception of what constitutes true value for money in the current financial climate.

“Give me good pasture!”

– all cows, everywhere.

Either way, it’s an opportunity for you to confirm you’re there for them with practical advice and solutions at a time when many are feeling the stress of a tight budget.

For more detail, contact your local Barenbrug area manager.

Risky business The only thing worse for your farmers than missing out on feed yield and quality if they sow cheap, or uncertified pasture seed this autumn is not knowing for sure what’s in the bag.

This can and does cause so many headaches. Poor germination. Pasture failure. Unwanted weeds suddenly growing on their farm they’ve never had before.

No endophyte, when they think they have endophyte. Sowing something that turns out to be different from what they believed they were getting.

We know all the ways faulty seed can cost their business, and we obsess about this so neither you nor they have to worry about it.

Every line of certified seed from Barenbrug comes with its own seed analysis certificate confirming (and tracing) its genetic identity, and showing its purity and germination test results.

If it contains endophyte, there’s a test result for that too.

Bottom line – in a high-risk business, subject to so many unpredictable forces, our certified seed is as close to a sure thing as your farmers will ever get. Trust what’s in the bag; sow with confidence.

Cheap seed is expensive feed.

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

9

AUTUMN SOWING

Luke Cooney, science team leader – climate change and forage innovations, working with HME Ryegrass plants in containment at AgResearch.

Advancing gene technology in pasture breeding OFFSHORE GROWING TRIALS ARE IN PROGRESS AND A FEEDING TRIAL FOR ANIMALS IS BEING PLANNED AS AGRESEARCH AND PARTNERS MAKE SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES WITH USE OF GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES TO ENHANCE PASTURE. AgResearch scientists are working with industry and government partners on three research programmes where genetic modification or gene editing technologies are being used to make changes that add to productivity and animal welfare, while reducing environmental impacts from livestock farming.

Gene editing and genetic modification tech-

John Caradus – genetic modification and gene editing may help farmers reduce their environmental footprint while remaining productive and profitable.

10

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

nologies can be used to change the DNA of a living organism, such as a plant or animal, through either inserting, replacing, or deleting genetic material.

In New Zealand, current regulations do not allow the release of gene edited or genetically modified organisms without approval through a rigorous process.

“Food production is facing many challenges worldwide.

“There is a growing population to feed and at the same time pressure to reduce environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change,” says senior scientist and head of AgResearch subsidiary Grasslanz Technology, John Caradus.

“Tools such as genetic modification and gene editing may offer some solutions to help farmers and food producers reduce their environmental footprint while remaining productive and profitable.

“This is why we are doing the research to see what is possible and what the benefits and risks are. In a NZ context, we also need to know that these solutions will work for farmers and growers in our unique conditions.”

One of the research programmes is called High Metabolisable Energy (HME) Ryegrass, where AgResearch scientists have been

working with the support of the government and commercial partners Grasslanz Technology, PGG Wrightson Seeds and DairyNZ to modify the ryegrass for increased animal nutrition and reduced environmental impacts.

By adding and modifying two plant genes to increase lipid content in the leaf of the HME Ryegrass, it is expected to add to productivity while reducing emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from the livestock, as well as reduced nitrate leaching.

The HME Ryegrass has been grown indoors in containment in NZ and outdoors in field trials in the United States.

Further growing trials may take place in Australia, but in the meantime, planning is underway for a trial that is expected to start late next year, in which lambs will be fed both the HME Ryegrass and a control ryegrass.

To enable this, work is now underway to grow enough of the ryegrass in contained glasshouses in NZ that can be ensiled (preserved) for feeding to the lambs when the trial begins.

Scientists expect the feeding trial to provide insights on methane emissions and urinary nitrogen excretion.

Further confirmation in cattle will need to be performed in outdoor trials, most likely in Australia at a later date.

In the two other research programmes, field trials are underway in Australia, where the regulations differ from NZ. These are High Condensed Tannin (HiCT) white clover, which is modified to boost the level of condensed tannins in the clover.

The results seen to date in containment in NZ suggest reductions in methane emissions and nitrogen leaching from livestock in excess of 15 per cent are potentially achievable. Consumption of the white clover with increased condensed tannins is also expected to reduce the occurrence of a condition known as bloat that can be fatal for both sheep and cattle.

Following field trials in the United States, permission has now been granted for further field trials of the HiCT white clover in Victoria, Australia, for a period for up to four years.

The first field trial was recently planted.

The other research programme involves gene editing to enhance selected fungi called Epichloë endophytes, which live inside ryegrass and form a mutually beneficial relationship with the grass – deterring insect pests from eating the ryegrass and improving plant growth and persistence.

These gene edited endophytes are added to seed being produced in Victoria to allow three sets of field trials to be planted in spring 2024 in both Victoria and New South Wales.

The aim is to gather data to ascertain the value and effectiveness of these gene edited endophytes ahead of a potential application to field test the ryegrass containing gene edited endophytes in NZ.

AUTUMN SOWING

Innovation helps NZ farmers WORDS: Germinal GERMINAL BREEDS PASTURE FOR PRODUCTION, PROFIT AND LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINT. Its innovation is cutting edge and delivers truly sustainable pasture options for farmers.

New Zealand farmers can improve their systems by simply switching grass and clover cultivars.

C O N N E C T I N G D ATA , T R A N S F O R M I N G A G R I C U LT U R E

Flagship products from the climate smart range include Aber High Sugar Grasses (HSG) uniquely more efficient at promoting increased capture of feed protein and improving production.

Clover varieties like the world’s first hybrid DoubleRoot clover provide essential tools for growing truly resilient pasture.

Award-winning Aber HSG Ruminants are inherently inefficient at converting herbage protein, using only about 20 per cent eaten, with the rest mostly wasted in urine—costly for production, the environment, and farmers' bottom lines.

Losses are caused by the imbalance between available energy and grass protein.

Rumen microbes metabolise protein quickly but need readily available energy to utilise the resulting N for production.

Aber HSG are proven to improve this energy imbalance with lower fibre and increased water-soluble carbohydrates compared to standard diploid perennial ryegrass.

Grazing Aber HSG ensures rumen microbes have a steady supply of fuel to keep processing grass protein with less N excreted.

Importantly, animals can tell the difference; trial data shows a preference for Germinal products in palatability.

These two attributes encourage increased pasture intake.

Germinal has also selectively bred Aber

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AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

11

AUTUMN SOWING

Get back growing sooner SHORTCUTS AREN’T ALWAYS A GOOD THING WHEN IT COMES TO SOWING NEW PASTURE IN AUTUMN. Richard Bell.

But what if there was a shortcut that actually helped your farmers do a better job?

Recommend the right glyphosate for spraying out ahead of pasture renewal this season, and they’ll enjoy a shortcut that fast tracks their other tasks, and adds flexibility to their programme.

That’s because paddocks sprayed with CRUCIAL® (Group 9) can be grazed, cultivated or drilled just one day after application when spraying annual weeds, and three days for perennial weeds.

That’s two to four days sooner than some other glyphosate formulations.

And that means farmers using CRUCIAL can get new grass sown quicker with less downtime, and move onto other jobs sooner, knowing that if for some reason their plans change, they have extra leeway.

HSG, prioritising strong, dense root growth and tillering, aiding establishment with good ground cover. They are proven to persist, recovering quickly after grazing and dry spells.

World first DoubleRoot clovers DoubleRoot encapsulates Germinal’s breeding innovation—a world first successful hybrid of Caucasian and white clover.

AberLasting is the first DoubleRoot variety.

Farmers gain the dual advantages of both 12

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

Nufarm territory manager Richard Bell says now more than ever, time is money for farmers, and getting the fastest possible turnaround at autumn sowing is a great way to farm smarter, not harder, on a tight schedule.

CRUCIAL helps achieve this in another important way – when applied as recommended with Pulse® Penetrant, it carries a 15 minute rainfastness commercial performance guarantee.

That sets a new benchmark in terms of flexibility and knowing the job is done properly even when conditions are unpredictable and challenging.

“A fast, reliable kill at the outset makes the rest of the process much more efficient, and helps ensure a good outcome,” Bell says.

This is especially the case if your customers use minimum tillage or direct drilling to reduce soil disturbance.

“In these situations, it’s imperative they use the best option - they need their glyphosate formulation to do the job right the first time.”

Another good tip to help your farmers get the best out of autumn sowing?

“Make sure they spray when target weed species are green and growing, with enough leaf area for the herbicide to land on, and penetrate, so it can do its job properly.”

Spraying out paddocks that are moisture stressed and/or newly grazed, with minimal re-growth, doesn’t give a good result.

Farmers really need to build this into their pre-plant plan this autumn, he says.

CRUCIAL is the foundation of a good pre-plant herbicide programme.

But don’t let your farmers assume it will kill all weeds present without first taking a good look at what species are present.

varieties in one clover, a winning formula for growing more sustainable pasture.

The dual root growth forms are distinctive, and able to produce both aboveground stolons and underground rhizomes.

Like white clover, DoubleRoot is a good performer in a range of climatic and grazing conditions, producing good-quality protein.

With the combined natural resilience of Caucasian clovers, an underground root

“CRUCIAL is very good at killing grass weeds, and pre-plant is the last chance to get rid of these before sowing new grass. But for some broadleaf weeds, they will need to add different chemistry.”

Regardless of what type of system they have, or what type of grass they’re sowing this season, Bell says it’s really important farmers tick all the boxes in terms of preparation.

“When finances are stretched, attention to detail matters more than ever. New pasture sown this autumn is essential for farmers’ on-going productivity and efficiency. History tells without a strong home-grown pasture base, tight times become even tighter. So the job has to be done right.”

CRUCIAL is the only formulation in the world which combines three glyphosate salts - potassium, monomethylamine and ammonium.

It has a high load of active ingredient (600 grams per litre), meaning more weed killing power per litre, using less product per ha.

It pours easily, won’t foam and tank mixes superbly with other products. It comes in a range of pack sizes, from the OHS-friendly 15 litre pack, all the way up to the larger 1000 L pod options.

For more detail talk to your Nufarm Territory Manager.

system is more tolerant of environmental stresses, drought and cold as well as grazing pressure.

DoubleRoot powers pasture’s ability to naturally fix N, reducing the need for artificial N fertiliser as well as feeding itself and companion grasses.

Ask for Germinal to gain the climate-smart competitive advantage.

For more detail visit www.germinal.co.nz.

AUTUMN SOWING

The rule-breaking ryegrass WORDS: PGG Wrightson Seeds WHOEVER SAID WATCHING GRASS GROW WAS BORING NEEDS TO CHECK OUT VAST TETRAPLOID PERENNIAL RYEGRASS. Vast is the next generation in tetraploid perennial ryegrass breeding, delivering the ultimate combination of density, quality, production, and grazing preference for New Zealand farmers to maximise stock performance and productivity.

Vast is special with an extremely late heading date of +36 days, putting it in a league of its own.

Plus, Vast is visually appealing, being very dark green in colour, giving a feeling of satisfaction as you watch the grass grow.

“This is what makes Vast so exciting,” says Wayne Nichol, PGG Wrightson Seeds national technical manager.

“Vast is so unique to farm systems because we simply haven’t had that combination of tetraploid and extreme late heading before to push feed longer into the season, but also maintain that summer quality.”

Vast with AR37 endophyte comes stacked with benefits: • Strong annual production with exceptional summer and autumn productivity.

• Extremely late heading date (+36 days) boosting late season pasture quality.

• Tiller density approaching diploid types to enhance persistence.

• Tetraploid grazing preference to drive palatability.

• Excellent rust tolerance to improve summer and autumn palatability.

With the unique advantage of late spring and summer dry matter (DM) production, excellent rust tolerance and low levels of continual seed head appearance, Vast provides leafy, exceptional quality feed, for longer.

This all adds up to potential benefits of a slower post-peak decline in milk solids production for spring calving dairy herds, better ewe lactational performance, heavier lambs and calves due to pre and post weaning growth rates and better in-calf and lamb rates.

Nichol says Vast was carefully selected by PGG Wrightson Seeds plant breeders with a focus on low levels of seed head production through the summer months.

“Under grazing, Vast may in some circumstances have very few seed heads observed.

If a seed head is seen, it is expected to be short and sharp, maintaining a leafy, highquality sward that has a significant positive impact on summer pasture quality.”

Nichol has recently been appointed as PGG Wrightson Seeds national technical manager, which has seen him return to Kimihia Research Centre in Canterbury after spend-

ing numerous years in Otago.

In his third decade with the company, he brings years of experience in farm systems of various scales across NZ, using his knowledge of agronomy and animal nutrition to help identify and develop new products that add profitability and sustainability.

He sees a key part of his role working with all parts of the business including the PGG Wrightson Seeds research and development team and its strategic partners.

Integral to the role is connecting what we see in the field to the future development of products and technologies for PGG Wrightson Seeds.

“This is the value of PGG Wrightson Seeds - by the time we go commercial we have a full understanding of the product or a technology’s performance and its fit on-farm and this is supported by the PGG Wrightson Seeds team which are spread across NZ who help deliver it through its various retailer networks.”

He is excited by what the new role offers, heading a team of extension forage agronomists led by Lydia Proffit.

Ethan Butcher has taken on a new created role of forage specialist and works closely with our in-house veterinarian nutritionist specialist, Charlotte Westwood.

Our team runs the regional trials that test our products across different environmental conditions and farm systems; they are our go to for when we go commercial.

The technical extension team links research and development with sales, consolidating the information generated through trials to relay to farmers and retailers.

Farm systems are evolving, due to changes in climate, markets and regulatory requirements, and the need to maintain and grow farm profitability.

PGG Wrightson Seeds is continually focusing on meeting these demands and challenges NZ farmers are facing including developing

Wayne Nichol. products that have multiple ‘stacked’ benefits.

Vast is a great example of what can be achieved.

Products such as AR37 endophyte, Cleancrop brassica system and Pallaton Raphno® are just some of the ways we have met this ongoing change and in the pipeline are the next generational changes.

It's an exciting time for PGG Wrightson Seeds with some exceptional products such as Vast entering the portfolio.

For Wayne Nichol, working with a great team delivering products that open new opportunities in terms of farm system fit is what makes him so passionate about what he does.

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

13

AUTUMN SOWING

Minimise mud and pugging with Sultan WORDS: RAGT ARE YOUR FARMERS LOOKING FOR AN ANNUAL RYEGRASS PASTURE THAT WILL BE MORE RESILIENT TO WINTER GRAZING, REDUCING THE RISK OF SOIL DAMAGE? Sultan diploid annual ryegrass is a great solution.

Sultan directly addresses practical challenges encountered by farmers.

As a diploid, it offers a denser crop with more seeds per hectare compared to tetraploids, and a higher number of tillers per plant.

This boosts pasture competitiveness against weeds and increasing resilience.

Sultan’s increased plant and tiller numbers also contribute to a reduction in bare ground, minimising the risk of mud during winter grazing.

Reduced pasture damage from pugging will accelerate recovery and a potential increase in overall yield, with the greater growth leading to enhanced nitrogen utilisation from animal excretion, thereby minimising the risk of nitrogen leaching.

An investment in Sultan saves up to $56* per hectare compared to tetraploid annual ryegrass.

This allows farmers to access high-quality, proprietary seed without sacrificing performance a critical consideration in a market flooded with uncertified or Variety Not Specified (VNS) seed.

Sultan is a strategic investment for farmers this autumn, especially those who are seek-

Standby for a rampage as frenzy gains ground

ing to optimise their operations economically, practically, and sustainably.

With Sultan, the benefits are evident: more seed per dollar spent, a denser and more resilient crop, reduced risk of muddy areas, increased re-growth ability, and better nitrogen utilisation.

Think solutions. Think RAGT. For more information visit www.ragt.nz *Prices from November 2023.

enhance animal performance, In time, Rampage will replace Zoom in Cropmark’s portfolio.

In the latest National Forage Variety TriCROPMARK SEEDS IS GEARING UP FOR AN EXCITING AUTUMN WITH als 2023-2024 Italian THE HIGH PERFORMING RAMPAGE ANNUAL RYEGRASS AND FRENZY ryegrass summary for HYBRID RYEGRASS. All New Zealand, Frenzy hybrid ryegrass was the highest perLate-heading Rampage annual Being a tetraploid, forage qual- forming variety, the company ryegrass is a tetraploid bred for ity is high with excellent palat- says. particularly fast establishment ability and grazing utilization.

While Davidson and his team and strong winter and spring “Sown at 25-30 kg per ha, are delighted with the outcome, growth.

Rampage is an ideal option to Frenzy’s showing in the NFVT New Zealand sales manager fit in between maize and other comes as no surprise to them.

Callum Davidson says the summer crops, or sown if quick “Frenzy has performed consistnew cultivar is the top annual feed is needed after a dry sum- ently highly in all the trials it has ryegrass in the 2023 - 2024 mer. It is suitable for all livestock entered into.

National Forage Variety Trial types,” Davidson adds.

“Its key attribute is its speed (NFVT) results with exceptional Late heading helps maintain of establishment, which is unriforage quality into late spring to valled. This makes it ideal when yield across all seasons.

14

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

farmers need ‘quick feed’ and for stitching into old or damaged pastures to extend their life and lift productivity.”

Frenzy is also entered in the NFVT hybrid ryegrass trials which are run over three years at sites around NZ. “We expect to see a similar level of performance ranking for Frenzy in the NFVT®’s hybrid trials once the relevant summary is published,” Davidson adds.

Being a tetraploid, Frenzy offers very high energy feed and is extremely palatable to sheep, cattle and deer.

Typically, it can be sown alone at 25 kg per ha; in a mix at 20 kg per ha with clovers and herbs, or stitched into existing pasture alone at 15 kg per ha.

For more detail visit www.cropmarkseeds.com.

BEE RESPONSIBLE Farmers and beekeepers can work together for the coexistence of agriculture and bees.

Improve pollinator habits by planting flower boarders and maintaining hedgerows and unsprayed headlands.

Implement an integrated pest management plan to apply pesticides only when necessary.

Coordinate in advance with local beekeepers before spraying so nearby hives can be moved or otherwise protected.

Use genuine products only and alert authorities of counterfeit or illegal pesticides that have unknown impacts on wildlife.

Follow the instructions on the label to ensure you use the recommended dose.

Avoid spraying in windy conditions to prevent spray drift.

Use drift-reduction application equipment that is well maintained and calibrated.

Avoid contamination from spray liquids when mixing, and properly dispose of waste and other used materials.

Avoid spraying pesticides when bees are foraging and plants are flowering.

Minimise dust from treated seed by carefully pouring it out of bags. Use seed planting machinery that eliminates the production of dust, and clean seed equipment regurally.

16

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

Beekeepers should follow good management practices including good hygiene, disease control, proper feeding, ensuring access to warter, genetic diversity and moving hives from areas to be sprayed.

PRODUCT UPDATE

Should we change the way we grow barley?

BARLEY MANAGEMENT IS BEING REVIEWED IN FAR TRIALS TO GAUGE WHETHER CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS, PARTICULARLY AROUND NITROGEN RATES AND TIMINGS, ARE STILL FIT FOR PURPOSE.

The Canterbury trials are canvasing a range of different nitrogen (N) and plant growth regulator (PGR) treatments for autumn and spring sown barley crops based on predicted yield.

FAR cereals researcher Jacqueline (Jax) Straathof says FAR received several grower requests to review its barley management guidance.

Since these were last updated, in 2014, plant genetics and chemistry have changed.

Some growers are also encountering problems with lodging and high screenings in barley.

Current guidance indicates that barley generally utilises 20 to 25 kg N for each tonne of grain produced.

This year FAR initiated a new project ‘Optimising agronomic management of autumn and spring sown barley’ to re-evaluate agronomic management of barley and establish a new regional guidance.

Nitrogen and PGR management will be examined to identify the sweet spot between N rate and PGR management to reduce lodging and brackling without compromising grain quality.

FAR cereals researcher Jacqueline (Jax) Straathof is trialling different nitrogen rates in barley.

Straathof is carrying out the trial work with another FAR researcher, Emmanuel Chakwizira.

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• Low aftermath heading for an Italian ryegrass

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17

PRODUCT UPDATE

Local technology provider now offers more PRECISION AG SPECIALIST VANTAGE NEW ZEALAND SAYS FARMERS AND GROWERS NATIONWIDE WILL BENEFIT FROM ITS RECENT ACQUISITION OF CARRFIELDS’ SOIL MOISTURE MANAGEMENT AND MAPPING SERVICES.

Both companies are based in Canterbury.

Vantage is the only authorised Trimble hardware and software reseller in NZ, and provides a range of PA products and services including soil mapping and moisture monitoring, precision nutrient management and guidance solutions.

Co-founder and business development manager Jemma Mulvihill is enthusiastic about the deal with Carrfields to take over the METOS range of instruments, and confident it will deliver unparalleled benefits to its customers.

“The company remains dedicated to driving innovation and excellence in precision agriculture, and this acquisition is a testament to that commitment,” she says.

“We are committed to providing our customers the very best products and service, and the METOS product range compliments and further enhances our offering.”

Existing customers can expect the continuation of top-tier customer support.

With precision ag specialists across NZ, Vantage will continue to provide prompt assistance, ensuring inquiries and concerns are

addressed quickly and effectively.

Both companies are committed to a seamless transition, and all customer orders, future installations, and ongoing services will proceed without interruption.

In addition to product and support continuity, Vantage is determined to provide customers with ongoing training and education, Mulvihill says.

Customers will have access to comprehensive resources empowering them with the knowledge required to maximise the potential of advanced solutions from METOS. “We enjoy discussing and providing solutions to each farmer’s individual requirements and look forward to working alongside METOS users to continue the great service they experienced with Carrfields.”

METOS instruments provide precise, sitespecific meteorological insights, and monitor air and soil temperature, relative humidity, evapotranspiration, rainfall, wind speed, and direction plus much more.

This data helps farmers and growers determine optimal irrigation and spraying schedules based on real-time evapotranspiration and crop requirements.

Users can also strategically schedule fertiliser applications based on soil nutrient lev-

• Two autumn sown trials at the Chertsey Arable Site (irrigated and non-irrigated). These are trialling low, medium and high N rates.

Plots all have the same PGR on-label treatment to better identify plant response to N rates.

• One spring barley trial on a farm near Lincoln.

• One autumn and one spring barley demonstration trial at the Kowhai Arable Research Site at Lincoln with multiple combinations of N rates and PGRs. The Kowhai trials are non-replicated and are designed to screen N and PGR rates that are worth further exploration.

Two barley varieties are being trialled, Transformer and Laureate.

Data will be collected on tillering, biomass, stem length and thickness, lodging and brackling and grain quality.

NDVI (used to quantify vegetation greenness) measurements and soil and leaf N samples will be taken regularly.

“The results should give more up-to-date information about the ef18

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

els and crop growth stages, minimising costs while maximising crop productivity.

“The ability to monitor weather conditions in real-time enables farmers to proactively mitigate risks associated with frost damage and other weather-related challenges, safeguarding their crops and investments,” Mulvihill adds.

And the system facilitates strategic planning of field operations by providing critical information on wind speed and direction too, enabling farmers to optimise their workflow.

Disease modelling has been developed with leading scientists to utilise data from cloud-connected weather stations to predict disease progression of over 80 different diseases in 45+ crops.

The result is that growers can identify infection risks hourly, optimising fungicide application for enhanced crop protection and yield.

METOS also offers a revolutionary insect monitoring solution that uses historical and real-time data to predict pest occurrences.

Equipped with cameras, electronic traps enable remote inspections, reducing field visits and optimising pesticide timing for efficient pest management.

For more detail visit vantage-nz.com.

fect of nitrogen on the growth of the plants and the effect on grain quality and lodging/brackling,” Straathof says.

“This information should help develop further trials in order to find the optimal treatment rates for Canterbury, with plans to expand it to other arable regions in future.”

FAR’s cereals team has been boosted by Straathof’s appointment 12 months ago.

She has spent most of her working life involved with Plant Breeders’ Rights trials, initially in the Netherlands and then in New Zealand after emigrating in 2018.

“Jax’s appointment has allowed us to have the resources for a more comprehensive barley programme, which we are looking forward to expanding in the coming seasons,” FAR senior cereals researcher Jo Drummond says.

“She brings energy and experience to the team and has already made an impact.”

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Both products are easy to use and provide a higher level of safety for you, the environment and key beneficial insects - when used as directed, so you can be pest-free and confident in the choice you have made.

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PRODUCT UPDATE

‘The figures don’t lie’ - limit FE impact, save thousands FARMERS CAN AVOID LOSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BY TAKING EARLY STEPS TO MANAGE FACIAL ECZEMA (FE), A SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL CONDITION IN SHEEP, CATTLE, DEER, LLAMAS, AND ALPACAS. FE is a problem throughout the North Island and, to a lesser extent, the north of the South Island. The peak risk period is December through to May. ADAMA New Zealand commercial manager Bryce Simpson says while there is no silver bullet, a comprehensive programme can make a huge difference to farmers’ bottom line.

“The figures don’t lie. Scientific studies have shown that even sub-clinical FE can reduce milk production in dairy herds by up to 50 per cent. That’s serious money in anyone’s books.”

He says the impact on weight gain for stock can be equally devastating.

“And there’s a knock-on effect on general animal health.”

Simpson says a four-step attack is best.

“A mix of herbs in pastures, including plantain and chicory; dosing with zinc; breeding using FE tolerant animals, and careful grazing management minimise risk.”

Alongside those, he recommends ADAMA’s broad spectrum Chief Fungicide which, he explains, is proven to reduce the build-up of toxic spores.

Constantly present, the spores of the fungus Pithomyces chartarum, which produce the facial eczema-causing toxin sporidesmin, multiply rapidly in the lower pasture sward in humid conditions.

When ingested, the toxin causes damage to

animals’ liver.

Simpson says 18 to 20 degrees with 90 per cent relative humidity is a handy rule of thumb for accelerated spore multiplication but it’s not wise to rely on ambient conditions alone.

“People will tell you that it ‘hasn’t been that humid’. But at the base of the sward, it can be much warmer with more moisture – after even a relatively light dew.

“Treating with Chief Fungicide before spore counts reach 20,000, is advised to keep spore levels low.”

He says factors such as shading by hedges and animals being grazed in sheltered valleys can increase FE risk.

“Spore counts are specific to farms or even areas within a farm.”

When using Chief Fungicide, he says it is important to ensure full coverage of all areas likely to be grazed, including fence lines, near hedges and under trees.

Simpson says it’s recommended to use Chief Fungicide with a super spreader, ideally on short or recently grazed pasture.

“It’s vital to get Chief Fungicide into the base of the sward where the spores are located.” He also suggests spraying early in the morning

or after a heavy dew, especially if spraying by helicopter, to ensure Chief Fungicide gets to the base of the plants.

There is no specific withholding period for grazing.

Simpson says it could be 24 hours, in an emergency, but ‘the longer the better’.

During danger periods, stock should be grazed in treated areas only.

If a heavy rainfall occurs within three days of treatment, the pasture should be resprayed.

“But 10 ml of rainfall over a day won’t be a problem.”

For more information on spray timings and how to prevent FE with Chief Fungicide, contact your local ADAMA commercial manager and visit www.adama.com.

Updated look for veteran supplier NEW ZEALAND OWNED MANUFACTURER AND DISTRIBUTOR BELL-BOOTH HAS LAUNCHED A NEW VISUAL IDENTITY. With a 63-year history of providing innovative and quality products for the agricultural sector, this initiative not only modernises the Bell-Booth brand but also sets the stage for continued innovation and exceptional service, the company says.

Director Stephen Bell-Booth explains the brand modernisa20

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

tion is a reflection of their desire to continue to evolve, ensuring they continue to support the needs of their customers, today and in the future.

“I am thrilled to turn the page on another chapter in BellBooth’s storied history.

“With six decades under our belt, this change is more than a

visual evolution.

“It is a testament to our commitment to continuous innovation and improvement, both of which have played a key role in our journey to date.”

After 60 years, the company remains as committed as ever to continue to grow and succeed alongside New Zealand farmers,

he says.

“The updated brand mark represents a coming together of sorts – a destination where likeminded individuals can come together to share information, resources, and solutions that elevate the animals, people and businesses that power NZ’s economy forward.”

PRODUCT UPDATE

Funding boost for visionary venture A FORWARD-THINKING ENGINEERING START-UP HAS SCORED SEED FUNDING FOR ITS INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO GREENHOUSE PEST AND DISEASE DETECTION. The team behind PlantPeepers received $15,000 for their monitoring tool to help greenhouse growers detect plant diseases and pests.

Greenhouse growers have long grappled with the challenge of plant diseases and pests, which account for up to 40 per cent of crop losses.

Now, a new venture led by a team of Auckland University Faculty of Engineering staff and students aims be the seed of change for these growers.

The team were runners-up in the Velocity $100k Challenge, an entrepreneurship competition that has helped start-ups find success on a global stage.

They received $15,000 seed funding for their venture, PlantPeepers, a monitoring tool to help greenhouse growers detect plant diseases and pests in their early stages.

Their disease detection system uses an agriculture robot with a multispectral camera that can differentiate between diseased leaves and healthy ones, allowing for early detection.

So far, the system has been used to effectively detect spider mites on bean plants.

The next step is to enhance the detection algorithm to cover a wider range of crop species, pests and diseases.

“The primary contributor to crop losses is the delayed detection of diseases, leading to outbreaks in greenhouses,” says Mahla Nejati, PlantPeepers founder and research

The PlantPeepers team, from left, Els Jermyn, Violet Liu, Alek Poradek, Alek Poradek, Mahla Nejati, Jay Hodge and Jason Chen. fellow at the Faculty of Engineering.

“This issue was brought to our attention by growers and pest control companies seeking a solution. In response to this challenge, we developed and tested our advanced monitoring system specifically tailored for New Zealand greenhouses.”

The team, which includes students Violet Liu and Jason Chen (Faculty of Engineering), and Els Jermyn (Faculty of Science), say PlantPeepers helps crop growers proactively prevent outbreaks and reduces the need

for pesticides, providing them with a more sustainable and efficient approach to managing their crops.

“Our approach yields significant environmental benefits by employing standby robots in the greenhouse as opposed to manual scouting. This not only reduces the need for people to physically travel to the greenhouse, consequently lowering energy consumption and carbon footprint, but it also enhances food production efficiency by mitigating crop loss,” says Nejati.

New system applies to 2025 seed crops Ryegrass is New Zealand’s top certified seed crop.

THE NZ SEEDS AUTHORITY (NZSA) EXECUTIVE HAS ANNOUNCED THE NEW SEED CERTIFICATION INFORMATION SYSTEM (SCIS) WILL BE DEPLOYED FOR THE 2025 GROWING AND HARVEST SEASON RATHER THAN THIS YEAR. There was no longer enough time to engage and train all seed growers and processors before the current harvest began in late November, the authority said.

“The delay in launch will only be for a few months, as crop entries for sowing of crops for 2025 harvest will start early next year and these will be administered in SCIS.” AsureQuality will administer field inspections and issue grower declaration paperAgriBusiness January/ February 2024

21

PRODUCT UPDATE

Du-Wett - giving it 100 per cent in spray programmes INSECTS, INCLUDING DESTRUCTIVE WHITE BUTTERFLY, DIAMOND BACK MOTHS, APHIDS AND FALL ARMYWORM, THRIVE IN HOT, DRY CONDITIONS. And with El Niño on the weather radar that’s not good news for crop yields this coming season.

David Lingan, UPL NZ’s adjuvant product manager, says with control of insects by insecticides heavily dependent on contact or ingestion, 100 per cent coverage of the plant is absolutely essential.

“That’s doubly true when you add the challenge of achieving coverage of waxy foliage such as dense forage brassica crops.

“Using Du-Wett will definitely enhance spray performance. It makes every droplet of active work that much harder.”

Lingan says one spray droplet

containing Du Wett can provide up to 20 times the spread of active compared to spray applied without an adjuvant, and at least six to eight times compared to a conventional, non-ionic adjuvant.

Du-Wett reduces the surface tension of spray droplets, forming a thinner film over the surface of leaves.

“Super spreaders get the active everywhere that it counts.”

Lingan recommends ‘going early and going hard’ with insect protection and the super spreader.

While some insecticides and spraying itself (especially by heli-

Cabbage seedling sprayed with Du-Wett.

work in the usual manner to growers for delivery of seed to processing stores after the 2024 harvest.

All operating processes for seed processor Ministry Approved Organisations (MAOs) will remain as status quo, the authority says.

A significant change coming into effect in 2024 is that certification charges for certified crops from the 2024 harvest will be invoiced by the NZSA instead of AsureQuality.

“This is so that the NZSA can begin recovering costs for the development of SCIS and 22

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

copter) can be costly, he says DuWett will more than pay for itself.

“Using it means you don’t have to do the spray job twice. Like they say: Do it once and do it right!

“With Du-Wett you cover a greater area, faster, with less water volume, and get better coverage. That makes spraying so much more cost effective.”

Water’s high surface tension doesn’t give the spread or coverage needed for optimal spray performance, Lingan says.

And, contrary to popular belief, more water will not improve coverage.

“Increasingly farmers are looking to make savings, and conserve water, without compromising spray efficacy.”

He says previously super spreaders were once considered an add-on, a nice-to-have.

“Maybe that was due to a limited understanding of the potential benefits.

“When we went out to spray our crops and paddocks, ironically, we were overlooking one very important component in the

tank: the water.

“It was used to dilute the chemistry and (we hoped) provide adequate coverage to our crops. It was almost an afterthought. Yet, by volume, it has almost always been the most common ingredient in the spray tank!”

Lingan says scientific recognition of the potential benefits of reducing water volumes goes back quite a way.

Elliott Chemicals Limited (now UPL NZ) began work on adjuvants in this country more than two decades ago.

Du-Wett, an organisilicone super spreader, is backed by many years of dedicated research and development.

He also reinforces the need to monitor crops closely for pest presence including the use of pheromone traps.

“Prevention is better than cure.

Once insects are into corn and maize in particular, it’s difficult to control them.”

For more information on DuWett contact your local technical specialist or David Lingan at UPL NZ.

Cabbage seedling with no Du-Wett – spot the difference.

start paying back industry organisations that have provided funding for its development.”

This certification fee will replace the current Certification Charge and Seed Test Levy that appears on AsureQuality invoices.

This charge is expected to be between 2.75c - 3c/kg for growers.

The same or slightly higher charge will be applied to seed companies, following a final reconciliation of how much each sector has already contributed to SCIS development.

According to interim statistics issued by As-

ureQuality the total area of certified seed in NZ is around 44,000 hectares.

An analysis of the different varietal groups shows herbage and amenity grasses represent around 70 per cent of the total certification area.

The second leading group was legumes with around 16 per cent of the hectarage, followed by brassicas at 8 per cent and arable crops with 5 per cent of the area.

The top certified seed crops are ryegrass, clover, and cocksfoot.

PRODUCT UPDATE

Surveillance kits mitigate FAW risk WORDS: Key Industries.

AS THE THREAT OF FALL ARMY WORM (FAW) HANGS OVER CROP GROWERS, EMERGING MAIZE CROPS OFFER THESE PESTS A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE. What are the specific dangers, and what steps can growers take to mitigate the risk of FAW infestation?

The enemy’s strength In the famous book ‘The Art of War’, master strategist Sun Tzu asserted: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you needn’t fear the result of a hundred battles.”

His expanded point is this: Winning comes from knowing and exploiting the enemy’s vulnerabilities while shielding your own weaknesses from their strengths.

Neutralise and attack.

Aside from their capacity to migrate long distances and their lightening-speed in breeding, the primary advantage of FAW is their stealth.

As maize crops grow, FAW eggs and larvae hide deep within the whorl of developing plants. Concealed from sight, infestations can break out before farmers are aware their crops have been invaded.

Neutralising the enemy’s advantage If secrecy is a key to FAW’s breeding success, how can growers remove this advantage?

Key Industries Monitoring Kits.

Monitoring kits are pheromone traps, specifically engineered to attract the male moths of the species of Army Worm now threatening New Zealand.

Captured moths are a clear sign that FAW larvae are living within a grower’s crop.

In this regard, they function like smoke alarms, giving an early warning that a problem exists that needs to be dealt with immediately.

From defence to attack Once a Key Industries Monitoring Kit captures a moth, the next step is to carry out inspection walks to determine the extent of the infestation.

This will allow growers to carry out targeted spray programmes to preserve their crops.

Each monitoring kit contains three stations with sufficient pheromone lure for three months of trapping.

Positioning them on the windward side ensures effective dispersion of pheromones into the field.

Checking them twice a week is also crucial for pest detection.

Know the enemy.

Only a team can win the war While early warning detection will save the individual farmer, it’s the nationwide approach that will safeguard crop-growing industries.

To this end, FAR is continually refining a predictive system that will provide growers with early warnings of the migration movements of FAW. To enhance predictive accuracy, FAR requires a network of pheromone traps down the length of the country, with growers calling in moth-capture details to their central database. To report capture findings, email Ashley.Mills@far.org.nz.

Be a good neighbour — keep your farm predator free Keeping farms, feed, equipment, and livestock safe requires a community

Join your neighbours in taking care of your local landscape through predator control. Our toolbox will guide you through the secrets to being successful and keeping costs down.

Download your Guide to Predator Control on Farms from: predatorfreenz.org/farms 24

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

PRODUCT UPDATE

Hot off the production line - meet the world’s best cordless handpiece!

WORDS: Ian Carr, Rurtec TIME HAS SEEN A CHANGE FROM THE DAYS WHEN ANY SHEARING/WOOL REMOVAL REQUIRED ANIMALS TO BE DRAGGED OVER THE SHEARING BOARD TO BE DEALT WITH BY THE MACHINES INSTALLED ABOVE.

For a longer time hand shears have been an option.

The advent of mains powered corded handpieces and hang up in the yards dagging plants enabled crutching and dagging to be done with the animals standing.

Handpieces attached to portable batteries, either on the belt or in a back pack, further enhanced what could be done away from the shearing shed.

Meanwhile many power tool equipment and animal clipper manufacturers were moving towards having an attached battery pack.

In 2009 the first cordless handpiece was developed in China by a particularly resolute gentleman that wouldn’t let the challenge of the more extreme vibration of a shearing handpiece beat him!

In 2018 Rurtec partnered with this man and his factory to bring a range of cordfree clippers and the original LANATI Gold Handpiece to the market.

Cordfree convenience was an instant success across a market including sheep farmers, lifestyle blockers and those that shear their sheep, as well as dairy farmers trimming dirty tails that since 2019 can no longer be docked.

While the convenience was obvious, there was always the niggling thought of ‘why couldn’t a cordless handpiece be more slimline like a normal handpiece?’

At the same time motor and lithium battery technology was moving forward so…

In January 2020, a slimline, high torque cordfree handpiece was drawn and began its journey to reality.

A journey unfortunately interrupted, like much in the world, by COVID-19 and a resulting lack of travel to enable face to face and immediate hands on feedback during the development process.

COVID-19 also delivered a distraction with demand for an unprecedented six containers of MATINGMARK and other products to manufacture and ship to the Northern Hemisphere.

This had the Rurtec factory on overdrive with many more staff and some very long weeks required to

make it happen.

They do say great things take time.

Delays aside, much development time and expense, and nine prototypes later, the new LANATI ASTRON is now flowing off the production line!

The unique slimline design can be enjoyed by all and is particularly easier for those with small hands or arthritis or other hand afflictions to get their mitt around.

The brushless, slotless 18 V motor produces torque that makes shearing speed more comparable to that achieved on the board.

It will power a wide/concave comb through the fleece with ease leaving the current cordless options in the dust.

The use of a trilateral metal drive cog system and motor trip for safety and to prevent machine damage are both advances on the available cordless technology.

The first comment from most who pick up the LANATI ASTRON handpiece for the first time is how light it is.

It is a similar weight to a machine driven handpiece, even with the battery included.

The ASTRON handpiece comes with a three year warranty.

Like the existing LANATI products, the ASTRON handpiece should be returned to Rurtec for any servicing. Rurtec also sharpens combs and cutters and clipper blades.

Draws to win a free ASTRON handpiece have been held at recent field days. The winner of the December 2022 Fieldays draw is Caitlyn Boros of Waipa Valley and the winner of the 2023 CD/Kirwee field days draw is Jack Deighton of Taihape.

Rurtec is excited to be launching the LANATI ASTRON handpiece to New Zealand and the world.

We believe it is the world’s best cordless handpiece and the international interest to date certainly supports that.

The original gold LANATI handpiece and red clipper will continue to be available.

For more details call 0800 RURTEC or visit rurtec.com

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

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PRODUCT UPDATE

Numbers tell the story on dairy nitrogen loss LESS NITROGEN IS BEING LOST FROM DAIRY FARMS IN CANTERBURY, ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT. Independent analysis of more than 1200 farm records on OverseerFM shows a 27.5 per cent decrease in mean nitrogen loss per hectare over five years to 2021-22.

The number-crunching reveals that across about 302,000 ha of dairy production land, the mean nitrogen loss per hectare in 2016-17 was 63.8 kg.

This reduced to 46.2 kg per hectare in 2021-22.

Jill Gower, chief executive of Overseer, says the analysis is a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation about improving farming’s environmental footprint in Canterbury.

The assessment provided estimates of trends in nitrogen loss after considering the size of dairy

farms in terms of herd size and productive area.

The analysis assesses withinyear variability in nitrogen loss across farms and sub-regions and concludes that despite this variability, there is a statistically significant downward trend yearover-year.

For the entire Canterbury region, the OverseerFM data reported an average decrease in nitrogen loss of 5.7 per cent per year for the six years from 2016– 17 to 2021–22.

The Waimakariri sub region had the smallest reduction of 3.6 per cent per year, while the Ashburton sub region showed the largest reduction of 6.6 per cent nitrogen loss per year.

“OverseerFM is a crucial deci-

sion support tool providing information and insights to individual farmers and growers,” Gower says.

“The purpose of this analysis was to establish whether Overseer could also provide a reliable source of data at a regional or sub-regional level.

“In Canterbury, where the regional council and processors require dairy farmers to use OverseerFM, this analysis confirms our picture of the number of farms and extent of dairy farming is consistent with other sources of information.

“Equally important, the data scientists found no evidence farmers were attempting to ‘game’

the model by manipulating their inputs. This helps give confidence in Overseer’s results.”

Gower says it’s important to keep in mind this data measures nitrogen loss to soil on farms, not nitrogen levels in rivers, that is, the outcomes of farm system choices.

OverseerFM also does not record other impacts on river water quality such as urban development and population growth in river catchments.

The report shows when farmers have good information and support tools, they will make necessary changes to improve their environmental footprint, she adds.

Closing the loop on irrigation OLD DRIPLINE IS GETTING A NEW LEASE ON LIFE, THANKS TO A NOVEL RECYCLING PARTNERSHIP WHICH AIMS TO CLOSE THE LOOP AND TURN IT BACK INTO IRRIGATION PRODUCTS.

Netafim’s Aaron Edmunds, left, with Neal Shaw from Plasback.

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AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

Manufacturers Netafim and Plasback say they’re excited to have teamed up for the Recoil Programme initiative.

This allows growers with end of life dripline to contact Netafim and arrange a recoiling machine to collect the plastic tubing from the field.

Then Plasback will arrange for collection or provide suitable drop-off points for the coiled material.

Currently this material is recycled into other plastic products, but the goal of the partnership is to achieve a closed-loop solution, where the processed material can be re-used in the manufacture of irrigation products at Netafim’s factory in Australia.

Aaron Edmunds, Netafim’s managing director, says as a global leader in irrigation, the company has a strong mandate to provide

solutions for its products when they’re worn out and need to be replaced.

“With a long history of providing irrigation products in New Zealand, we’re really pleased to be able to work with Plasback to provide a great solution for our clients in this space.”

Plasback commercial manager Neal Shaw says the new partnership is a great development that will bolster Plasback’s collection and recycling efforts.

Since 2006, Netafim has offered an end-oflife recycling program, working closely with selected recycling partners, and purchases recycled resin derived from old dripline which is then used in making new drip line and other irrigation products, reducing its reliance on fossil-fuel derived resins.

For more detail visit plasback.co.nz.

PRODUCT UPDATE

Buzzing with potential but stuck at a roadblock IMAGINE IF YOUR HORTICULTURAL CLIENTS COULD EFFECTIVELY PROTECT HIGH VALUE FIELD CROPS FROM FUNGAL DISEASE IN A WAY THAT SLASHED COSTS BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCT USED; NEEDED

No machinery needed - bee vectoring uses nature’s hardest workers to improve disease control.

NO SPRAYER OR TRACTOR; USED ZERO CLEAN WATER AND IMPROVED YIELD. If Botry-Zen had its way, there’d be no imagining, just doing.

The technology in question – known as bee vectoring – is approved and going gangbusters in crops like almonds, blueberries and strawberries in North America, with market growth constrained only by supply of necessary equipment.

At its simplest, bee vectoring utilises nature’s hardest workers, honeybees, to carry biocontrol agents to crop flowers as they pollinate.

The bees pick up a fine powder of biocontrol material as they leave the hive, and spread it naturally and efficiently.

Peter Foster, operations manager at Botry-Zen, is pumped about the opportunities for New Zealand field growers, but there’s a roadblock to widespread commercial rollout.

The system is not registered with ACVM (Ministry of Primary Industries), and cannot be used on our major export crop, kiwifruit.

Not only is it not registered, because it’s completely new to the regulatory framework, there’s

as yet no clear definition of what information and research might be required to even apply for registration.

Foster says at the moment Botry-Zen and its partners, including first-to-market developer BVT Inc of Canada, are stuck, because they’ve assessed the cost of trying to achieve registration to be somewhere around $400,000.

Test work has already been done using bees to vector BotryZen in Canada, with no ill effects on the bees.

“Now we are looking to trial this product on blueberries or strawberries at pollination time to control costly fungal diseases like botrytis and sclerotinia. This will confirm the system’s ability to control disease, which is part of possible registration requirements,” Foster says.

“There are a couple of companies in NZ using bumblebees this same way in glasshouses, but honeybees are better suited to field crops, which is why we’ve been working on this for a while now.”

The potential benefits of deploying bee vectoring in NZ field crops on a commercial scale are compelling.

“The question is not so much

The bees are fake in this picture but the technology is real! Special dispensers containing powdered biocontrol agents are placed on hives so bees collect the product as they leave and distribute it naturally through the crop.

why would we do this, but why aren’t we already?

“For the grower, bee vectoring is a much more targeted approach to getting powder products like biological control products or/and pollen into the crop, so they use much less product, at much less cost. Plus there’s no machinery required, which is another saving, and they also benefit from not having to use clean water for spraying.”

Water use reduction would also be significant at both a regional and national level; using more bees would benefit regional biodiversity, and less use of ma-

chinery aligns with NZ’s national decarbonisation goals.

Foster says more purpose-bred bees are becoming necessary as pollinator numbers decline throughout the world, meaning growers will increasingly rely on bees being brought onto their properties in the first place.

“In NZ although we have an abundance of native bees and other insects that are able to pollinate, some crops are difficult for growers to be able to control disease using biological products and they are forced to use conventional products.

“There is a range of reasons for

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PRODUCT UPDATE

Deal accelerates early lameness detection AUTOMATED LIVESTOCK MONITORING DEVELOPER OMNIEYE HAS PARTNERED WITH WAIKATO MILKING SYSTEMS TO ‘REVOLUTIONIZE’ THE NEW ZEALAND DAIRY INDUSTRY. OmniEye offers a camera-based, unobtrusive visual livestock monitoring solution designed to detect early signs of lameness in cows.

The system uses state-of-the-art technology, expertly trained by veterinarians and machine learning.

“We know the system is world-class,” says CEO Andrew Christie.

“It’s been created in NZ by AI scientists and developers to tackle a critical challenge. We are already achieving more than one million cow locomotion scores per month, and this partnership with Waikato Milking Systems is an incredible step forward in connecting and solving a problem for more Kiwi farmers.

We’re excited to kick this off.”

Waikato Milking Systems executive chairman Jamie Mikkelson says OmniEye helps farmers tackle lameness early, and make informed management decisions around

prompt and effective treatment to prevent costly herd health issues.

“Detecting lameness and other animal traits can reduce recovery time, boost milk production, enhance labour efficiency, and result in cost savings. It also streamlines reproduction processes and reduces the need for culling.

“This partnership between Waikato Milking Systems and OmniEye marks another significant milestone in delivering innovative solutions that improve the welfare and productivity of dairy herds,” Mikkelson says.

Collecting tens of thousands of data points and transforming them into valuable insights, OmniEye is able to identify signs of lameness and potential trends in herd health.

The system utilises the DairyNZ locomotion scoring system and seamlessly sends the scores of each cow, accompanied by supporting videos conveniently to the owner's

this strategy, like leaf canopies that obstruct disease control products getting to their target, or netting that obstructs native bees from being able to pollinate crops.”

Strawberries, kiwifruit, blueberries, blackcurrants and boysenberries are just a few of the crops that would benefit from this system.

The concept of bee vectoring dates back to the 1990s, and was pioneered by the University of Guelph in Ontario.

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AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

digital dashboard.

Christie says the technology transforms a big problem into a simple dashboard, giving farmers scores ranging from zero to three.

Zero indicates no action required, while three is a very lame cow.

The system is easily installed and is facilitated by OmniEye, using a small computer device on the farm, connected to a camera located at the exit race.

Video footage is streamed to the cloud, where machine learning models detect and score cows identified using existing EID readers.

The online dashboard for remote monitoring ensures convenience and accessibility for farm staff, veterinarians, and stakeholders.

“Research shows that lameness costs the dairy industry millions of dollars every year, and we know that by supporting farmers with a proactive tool we can help to identify a lame cow early and save them at least $500 per head,” Christie says.

Based in Dunedin, OmniEye comprises a team of experts with broad experience in farming, agritech, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and software development.

As well as lameness detection, it is also in the process of developing additional products, including body condition scoring.

For more detail visit www.omnieye.co.nz.

Biocontrol agents are diluted in powder-based diluent and placed in special dispensers which are then mounted onto or inside honeybee hives.

The bees pass through these dispensers as they leave the hives and the formulation clings to their body hairs, rubbing off onto crop flowers when they land to collect pollen or nectar.

For more detail visit www.botryzen.co.nz.

PRODUCT UPDATE

Virtual fencing beef game changer BEEF FARMERS WILL BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE UTILISATION GAINS OF ROTATIONAL GRAZING IF THEY USE HALTER, THE COMPANY SAYS. James Parsons.

It launched its virtual fencing system to beef farmers late last year, after rapid growth in the dairy industry.

Northland hill-country farmer and former Beef and Lamb New Zealand chair James Parsons owns a 600 ha Angus stud farm and is one of Halter’s first beef customers.

He says the system is a gamechanger “Effortless rotational grazing on hill country beef farms is an untapped lever for achieving more sustainable and profitable production; Halter is a technology that can make best practice possible and bring hill country farming into a new era,” says Parsons.

“Within our first month, cows have been trained and are now on daily shifts. Uncollared calves

are creep-grazing ahead of mum, which we anticipate will bring a significant jump in weaning weight. This was impossible to achieve even with expensive conventional fencing.”

Virtual fencing will also help to better protect soils, increase soil carbon sequestration to reduce net emissions, retire unutilised land without reducing stocking rate, and protect waterways and native biodiversity via stock exclusion - at a time when costly new fencing regulations are coming into effect throughout NZ. Pasture utilisation on beef farms ranges from 40-70 per cent, compared to 80-90 per cent in dairy systems.

Halter CEO Craig Piggott says rotational grazing is proven to be better for grass regrowth and

quality, with daily allocations and back-fencing preventing overgrazing or undergrazing and optimising feed intake.

“But, historically, adoption of rotational grazing on beef farms has been limited given the expensive fencing infrastructure and time intensive labour involved.

“Virtual fencing can unlock this grazing best practice, including on hill country terrain that has been difficult to farm efficiently.”

Piggott says rotational grazing with beef cattle on two daily shifts can significantly improve grazing efficiency and productivity per ha, compared with extensive systems, and virtual fencing gives this flexibility with no extra fencing infrastructure or labour.

Potential flow-on effects include better liveweights, calving rates and calf weaning weights, with sheep and beef farmers also gaining better sheep performance due to the pasture grooming role cattle perform.

Piggott says many beef farmers have been watching and waiting for Halter.

“Beef farmers have told us virtual fencing could be the most transformational change the industry has seen. They’re imagining how this could unlock vast areas of unutilised pasture and leverage that land to help counter industry headwinds.

“It’s a huge leap forward, and the production and sustainability gains our first customers are expecting are fairly profound.”

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AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

29

AGRIBUSINESS

Animal and Plant Health NZ's wish list for a thriving sector

By Liz Shackleton IN AN EVER-EVOLVING LANDSCAPE, THE PAST YEAR HAS PRESENTED MORE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW ZEALAND'S ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH SECTOR. As we look back, it becomes evident that collaboration between government and industry is crucial to navigating the complexities of the sector.

Animal and Plant Health NZ has outlined a wish list that underscores the need for government support, innovation, and strategic partnerships.

Supporting all New Zealanders – this is an enduring focus for us through our purpose of healthy crops and healthy animals safeguarding our sustainability.

Our members have helped underpin the backbone and the front line of the NZ primary sector and economy.

They support frontline biosecurity responses, ensure food security and safety, reduce food loss, and keep the cost of food down for communities.

They also play essential roles in protecting animal welfare and health, including human health.

Power of common purpose Taking a helicopter view, there has never been a more important time for NZ food and fibre to make some collective, pivotal decisions on how we respond to ongoing economic challenges, shocks to our biosecurity and food systems, digital transformations, a decarbonising world, ageing population, evolving geopolitics and boosting our productivity at home.

The right tools for resilience The unpredictable forces of nature, such as Cyclone Gabrielle, have underscored the vulnerability of our agricultural and horticultural systems.

The aftermath of the cyclone has prompted a reevaluation of our preparedness and the necessity for robust systems to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events.

A spike in diseases such as leptospirosis after the cyclone emphasises the need to protect human and animal health.

It highlights the importance of proactive measures to safeguard the well-being of our communities, including maintaining vaccination programmes as a critical tool in preventing the spread of diseases.

The emergence of fall armyworm and the 30

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

need to be prepared for other biosecurity incursions is vital to protect our horticultural industry.

A proactive approach is crucial to prevent the devastating impact of invasive species on our agricultural and horticultural ecosystems.

Capacity to withstand and recover As we brace for more adverse events at home, we look to our international agreements and commitments that agriculture and food production must urgently adapt to respond to climate change.

Rising to this challenge requires a loaded toolkit for managing pests and diseases.

Enabling policy and a stable and outcomesbased regulatory framework will be critical so NZ and global investors can continue to do business here and plan with certainty.

Match fit regulation and systems NZ’s regulatory system must be streamlined and adequately resourced to support innovation needed to underpin export trade, of which 87 per cent is agriculturally based.

There are opportunities to modernise and transform how we approach our innovative product pipeline.

Outdated legislation such as the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms and Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Acts are no longer fit for the challenges that lie ahead.

The impact of institutional performance on overall economic performance cannot be underestimated.

Now more than ever, taxpayers, farmers, growers, business leaders are all seeking reassurance on the value for money and outcomes.

Unlocking innovation Newer, more effective, and more environmentally-friendly compounds for controlling pests and diseases are available, but more solutions are removed from NZ’s toolkit than are replaced every year.

The pipeline to innovation must be unblocked.

While Free Trade Agreements have opened doors for better trade access, policy restrictions limit our ability to access the tools

Liz Shackleton. needed for a thriving industry.

The same will be important in our responsible use journeys with the tools we want to preserve in our toolkit for the next generation.

This includes embracing responsible use, integrated pest management (IPM), and smart technology; exploring innovative options such as biologicals and inhibitors, and introducing the possibility of gene technology.

Strategic partnerships Our significant challenges will only escalate if we maintain the status quo. A coordinated NZ Inc response with common language and understanding is necessary.

As NZ looks to engage new overseas technology, aligned messaging that is factual, science and evidence based, and takes people on the journey is vital.

We are stronger together Transformation will take time, effort and courage.

Our chances improve if government and industry agree on a common purpose, strategic priorities, and roles and responsibilities.

Liz Shackleton is chief executive of Animal and Plant Health NZ, the industry association for companies that manufacture and distribute crop protection and animal health products.

AGRIBUSINESS

Healthcare investors eye rural opportunity A $20 MILLION DEVELOPMENT IS SET TO BOOST ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN AND NEAR ONE OF THE SOUTH ISLAND’S FASTEST-GROWING RURAL TOWNS. According to Stats NZ, the population of Amberley in North Canterbury’s Hurunui District rose 58 per cent over 12 years.

Eight new subdivisions and a new $200m retirement village have seen record numbers of consents issued in the town.

Council forecasts suggest the population will more than double before land availability begins to constrain growth.

Industry experts say this rapid population growth has not been matched by the development of healthcare infrastructure, forcing thousands of residents to drive at least 26 km to the nearest town centre for medical, dental, physiotherapy and other health services.

A recent University of Otago study found rates of mortality higher for rural populations such as North Canterbury, with researchers finding access to pri-

mary and secondary health care challenging for those outside of urban areas.

The three-level, 3,000sq health and wellness facility is planned for a vacant site next to the Brackenfields Shopping Centre, and is subject to planning approval.

Alan Henderson, director of Erskine Owen, the company behind a property syndicate formed to purchase Brackenfields, says access to health care providers is typically poor throughout NZ’s rural townships “Initial discussions with residents indicate there is significant demand for additional health services in the area.

“The health care model we are developing now is designed to support the needs of the community for decades into the future and we want to consult with stakeholders in the wider area to

Amberley’s growth has outstripped its healthcare infrastructure. ensure it can effectively meet local needs,” he says.

“While still in the planning phase, there is scope to shape this into a state-of-the-art medical and wellness facility which

would support the needs of those in the wider region, as well as those travelling north on SH1, however, the development could evolve to meet other retail needs as well,” he says.

Alan Henderson.

More backing for Marlborough agtech pioneers AUSTRALIAN-BASED FABAL GROUP HAS INVESTED INTO MARLBOROUGH STARTUP SMARTMACHINE, CITING ITS WORK AS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL STEP CHANGES FOR VITICULTURE SINCE THE ADVENT OF THE TRACTOR 130 YEARS AGO. SmartMachine’s first funding round raised $1.93 million, securing ongoing support from multinational Pernod Ricard Winemakers and attracting new investors FABAL Investments, New Zealand Growth Capital

Fund, Angel Investors Marlborough and Angel HQ. Company spokesman Andrew Kersley says that at a time where the investment market has been challenging, this successful close really highlights the uniqueness

From left, Smart Machine founders Nicholas Gledhill, Walter Langlois, and Andrew Kersley. of the product offering and value proposition that the company’s products and service offer to global horticultural industries.

SmartMachine’s flagship product Oxin is the world’s first fully autonomous, multi-tasking viticultural robotic tractor.

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

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AGRIBUSINESS

Company poised to repeat record result WESTLAND MILK PRODUCTS HAS CREDITED STAFF AND SUPPLIERS FOR WHAT’S SHAPING UP AS ANOTHER RECORD ANNUAL PERFORMANCE. One of three finalists in the 2023 Deloitte Top 200 Awards for the Most Improved Performance New Zealand Business award, Westland CEO Richard Wyeth says the remarkable turnaround has been a team effort.

“Great things are happening at Westland and this is all due to the hard work, dedication and teamwork of our staff and the commitment to quality and professionalism day in and day out from our suppliers,’’ he says.

“Across the company, we are extremely grateful for everyone’s efforts but it’s also important that we maintain our focus to ensure we continue to play a major role in the economy and the community of the West Coast.’’

In 2022, Westland Milk Products staged a significant financial turnaround, posting record sales and a $NZ120 million rebound in profit compared to the previous year.

“The 2022 result definitely pro-

These cutting-edge machines promise to revolutionise the viticulture landscapes by enabling greater operational efficiencies and addressing the challenges posed by the on32

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

Richard Wyeth. vided us with a lot of incentive and now we’re focused on maintaining that momentum as much as possible,’’ Wyeth says.

Despite the challenges of 2023, including a sluggish global economy and volatile trading conditions, the company is expected to deliver another billion-dollar revenue financial year and a similar profit to 2022.

“This expected result is even more meaningful for us. It means we’ve improved the business to the point that we have a healthy, growing business, year on year.’’

Wyeth says major investments in people and infrastructure by parent company Yili have played a major role in the turnaround as well as the company’s focus on a high-value product strategy.

A $70 million lactaferrin plant is now underway at Hokitika, and is expected to be operational mid 2024.

going labour shortages the industry faces.

FABAL Group chief executive Ashley Keegan says after looking hard at the global landscape, this technology and the team behind

Global demand for lactoferrin in the last five years has far outstripped Westland’s production capacity with demand expected to continue to increase.

The state-of-the-art new facility will have the capability to produce multiple new bioactive products and the option for future expansion.

With the addition of spraydried lactoferrin to complement Westland’s freeze-dried lactoferrin range, it will be one of the only lactoferrin manufacturers in the world capable of producing both formats on the one site, a unique advantage for its customers.

“We cannot improve on the incredible quality of the natural product our farmers produce but we can ensure that we extract maximum value for that product, and our lactoferrin strategy is a critical part of that,” Wyeth says.

it has the potential to be one of the most significant operational step changes for the industry since the advent of the tractor over 130 years ago.

Foundation partner Pernod Ricard Winemakers has backed the product and business from the beginning.

Viticulture transformation manager David Allen says the company is proud of its continued investment in SmartMachine’s technology and seeing first-hand how it can revolutionise the viticulture landscape.

Angel Investors Marlborough led the round with good follow-on support from Angel HQ. Kersley says both groups have members with great experience and connections in the markets SmartMachine is targeting.

“It’s really uplifting to have these NZ groups backing a NZ business.

“We are focusing on building out our revenue model in NZ, and establishing our market position in Australia, while strategically working through our launch in the United States.”

AGRIBUSINESS

Dedicated retail site to boost wool flooring IN WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE AN INDUSTRY FIRST, BREMWORTH WILL OPEN A BRICK-AND-MORTAR RETAIL PRESENCE AS IT LOOKS TO GROW ITS SHARE OF THE DOMESTIC AND EXPORT RUG MARKETS.

If successful, the prototype brand experience and retail concept store in Auckland will be expanded throughout New Zealand and Australia.

The store is designed to address issues faced by consumers unable to find floor coverings to match the size of their furniture by designing customised rugs on-site that are an exact fit for the space.

Greg Smith, CEO of Bremworth, says the

local rug industry is highly fragmented and research shows over half of rug purchases

by Kiwis are made offline.

Opening the store will help the company diversify into a growing segment of the market and address complexity that can be associ-

ated with the category.

“Traditionally most Kiwi homes would have had carpet in the lounge, however, there is an established trend towards the use of hard flooring in these living spaces - which may then be covered with a showpiece rug.

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AGRIBUSINESS

Aussies snap up more Marlborough grapes ASX-LISTED TREASURY WINE ESTATES (TWE), ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST WINE COMPANIES, PLANS TO BUY A BIG PREMIUM VINEYARD IN MARLBOROUGH, EXPANDING ITS LOCAL FOOTPRINT FROM 505 HA TO 750 HA. The purchase of Weta Estate on State Highway 6 in the Wairau Valley is subject to government approval, and is expected to settle this quarter.

Listed earlier in 2023, it comprises just over 200 ha of sauvignon blanc, pinot gris and pinot noir vines and suppled Constellation Brands until the end of the 2023 harvest.

North-facing, and adjacent to the Wairau River, it has resource consent to draw and store up to 14,370 cubic metres of water a day for irrigation, and has its own dammed reservoir.

Treasury Wine Estates chief supply and sustainability officer Kerrin Petty says acquiring the new vineyard is an important step in expanding the company’s premium wine portfolio and ensuring it remains in front of evolving consumer preferences.

Grapes from the new vineyard

will be used in future vintages of the company’s New Zealand wine brands including Matua and Squealing Pig. “Consumers love our NZ wines particularly in the U.S where Matua is known as one of their ‘hot brands'.

“We want to keep making the wines that consumers love and with lighter varietals continuing to trend, this additional vineyard will ensure we can keep up with consumer demand, now and well into the future.”

The deal is the latest premium vineyard acquisition for TWE in the past two years, following purchases in the United States, Australia and France.

Kerrin Petty says buying the Wairau Valley block aligns with TWE’s plans to ensure all waste streams are being used either on its vineyards or going through its wastewater plant, to ensure that

“We know that for many consumers purchasing a rug online or from a small sample can be challenging.

“Despite the advance in online retail, there is a segment of the market where shopping for flooring is still a very tactile experience and a high involvement purchase.

“Most rugs are sold through big box department or furniture stores, a dominant brand hasn't emerged in this part of the market yet and consumers have little flexibility when it comes to the size of the product, let alone whether it is made with NZ wool.”

Smith says the company sold over $1.1 million worth of rugs through it's online store last year, with sales up 45% over the previous 12 months.

“The performance of our e-commerce channel in a relatively short time frame has given us confidence that there is considerable demand for our product and opportunity for the wool sector.”

34

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

Kerrin Petty. it can reuse and recycle as best it can.

Recently TWE entered a partnership with local company Robotics Plus to provide hybrid autonomous vehicles that use artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiencies and provide data-driven insights.

“We’re paving the way for innovative and sustainable vineyard production. Our NZ vineyards are going to be the first across our business to have two unmanned autonomous vehicles. The technology used by Robotics Plus is the first that can be delivered at

scale across our operations, improving environmental sustainability while providing a solution for widespread labour shortages impacting the agriculture industry.

“It’s going to allow us to work more efficiently, gather data over the course of the growing season and make more informed management decisions.”

TWE NZ brand Matua was the first winery to plant sauvignon blanc vines in NZ in 1969, and to produce the first bottle of NZ sauvignon blanc in 1974, 50 years ago.

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PEOPLE

‘The world needs smart chemistry’ FROM LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE TO VITICULTURE TO RETAIL MANAGEMENT AND KEY ACCOUNTS, PHILLIP DASLER’S PATHWAY INTO AND SUBSEQUENT CAREER IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION HAS SPANNED BOTH HANDS-ON PRODUCTION AND HELPING OTHER GROWERS GET THE BEST OUT OF THEIR OWN CROPS. Now he’s taken up a new challenge that still keeps him close to the industry he loves, moving into the manufacturing and supply sector as Adama NZ’s new national sales manager.

Not only is it time to give someone new an opportunity to fill his previous role, he’s keen to dive deeper into a vital part of the primary industry as a whole.

“It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while,” says the long-time Blenheim resident, who comes to Adama from key account

management and governance at Fruitfed Supplies.

“I enjoy crop protection. Having been involved in the industry for 20 years now, I’ve used these inputs myself, and I’ve supported them in the market.

“I’m really interested in the science behind them, and in being part of a process that delivers practical solutions to the end user.

Some of the products that are coming out now are so incredibly intelligent and innovative; it’s exciting to see how the industry has evolved.

“The world needs smart chemistry that compliments and adds to the evolving growing practices and consumer demands, alongside everything else that contributes to profitable crop production.”

Born on the West Coast, Dasler grew up in Taranaki on a lifestyle block before doing a degree in landscape architecture.

Always in the background however has been a keen interest in the wine industry, along with an affinity for horticulture in general.

So it didn’t take long for the idea of learning how to grow grapes to become more interesting than a career in landscaping.

Dasler trained in viticulture in Australia, then started on the ground floor, working in vineyard picking and pruning gangs.

Back in NZ, he joined Oyster Bay in Marlborough and continued advancing through to assistant manager there before joining what

Phillip Dasler. was then Williams and Kettle as a technical rep.

That led to managing the Marlborough business for Fruitfed Supplies, and subsequently to key accounts and corporate governance.

His takeaway advice for anyone contemplating early career choices with an interest in ag/hort but no industry-specific background?

“Don’t pigeonhole yourself! If you want to work in this industry, there are heaps of opportunities. You don’t have to be off a farm or an orchard to have a great career in the NZ primary sector.”

Dasler started with Adama early December.

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AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

PEOPLE

Change of guard for premium fertiliser supplier GLEN BAYLIS HAS BEEN APPOINTED COUNTRY MANAGER FOR YARA NEW ZEALAND, SUCCEEDING MICHAEL WAITES WHO RETIRED AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. Baylis was promoted from his previous role with Yara NZ as commercial manager and spent more than 20 years with the company as North Island manager and agronomist.

Both he and Waites have been part of the tight-knit local Yara team for much of their careers in the NZ primary sector, and pay credit to the company’s culture, premium products and people

Glen Baylis.

as key reasons for their longevity in the business.

“Everyone wants to work for a company with products that growers need and trust!” Baylis points out.

“Yara products are so highly regarded in the market, with such a history and reputation – a lot of them are household names in NZ horticulture; growers know the brands, they know the logos.

We’re lucky in that respect.

“And also our distribution network here would be highly sought after in Yara markets globally, because of the loyalty of our distributors. We have relationships that go back over two decades – the trust is there.”

Waites, who grew up on a Hawke’s Bay cropping farm, and started his career working in orchards and rural supplies, joined what was then Phosyn in 1995, hired David Spencer, agronomy and crop solutions manager in 1998, and hired Baylis in 1999.

That was the genesis of a longestablished team that now totals seven and has grown Yara market share in NZ every year except for two – 2008, after the global financial crisis; and 2023, which has been affected not

Primary sector research best career choice ever WHEN HER FIRST AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYER-TO-BE ASKED WHAT HER TOUCHPOINTS WERE FOR THE NEW ZEALAND PRIMARY INDUSTRY, TANIA GUNN’S ANSWER WAS SIMPLE: COUNTRY CALENDAR.

Michael Waites. only by unprecedented weather here, but global market disruption in the wake of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Phosyn’s acquisition by Yara in 2003 was when the business really started to make inroads into a category historically dominated by commodity fertiliser, says Waites, whose time with the company included four years as country manager of both Australia and NZ. “Over the past 20 years, the market has become hugely more sophisticated.

“Fertiliser is no longer a dump and hope strategy. Those days are gone. Now it’s all about the right product, at the right time, at the right rate.”

As end users have changed, so too has Yara itself, evolving from manufacture and supply of crop nutrition to food solutions to nature positive solutions, Waites says.

Decarbonisation is a huge global focus for the company now.

It has just announced plans to reduce annual CO2 emissions from ammonia production by 800,000 tonnes at its Netherlands site, one of the world’s largest ammonia and mineral fertiliser plants.

Baylis says this is part of the company staying ahead of the game in the years to come.

“Being able to offer carbon certificates for our products going forward is going to be very important. We’re also doing a lot of work with sustainable solutions and application tools like variable rate spreading, as well as reducing our reliance on natural gas to manufacture fertilisers.”

A very exciting pending development in foliar fertilisers is Yara’s newly formulated range of bio-stimulants, which are expected to be released in NZ in the coming 12 months, he says.

“Probably our biggest single challenge at the moment here is grower profitability – the rising cost of production has made balancing the books tight for many producers.

“But offset against that is the fact that our products are based on sound agronomic advice and provide such efficiencies that we’re able to offer growers a really solid value proposition.

“And we can guarantee our quality – we know our products are crop safe, with traceability second to none. These things matter more than ever when profits are under pressure.”

Coming from an urban background, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology and a Masters in Ecology, the legendary weekly television show was up to that point her only real exposure to rural NZ. But that hasn’t stopped her from making applied agricultural research and science her best career choice ever.

Gunn’s skills in data analysis and trial design got her into the rural sector over a decade ago, and she’s never looked back.

The former research manager for Genetic Technologies is now broadening her scope again as field scientist for Corteva Agriscience, based at the company’s international R&D site at Waireka on the Taranaki coast.

It didn’t take long after starting that first ag job with Genetic Technologies to find out doing research that could then be deployed for real change on-farm was much more rewarding than simply doing science for the sake of science.

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

37

PEOPLE

New role and fresh faces at Barenbrug MARK SHAND HAS BEEN APPOINTED PASTURE SYSTEMS TEAM LEADER FOR PASTURE AND FORAGE BREEDER BARENBRUG, EFFECTIVE 1 DECEMBER. Shand joined the company late 2019 as pasture systems agronomist for the upper South Island, and will continue to provide technical and product support to resellers and farmers throughout the region.

He remains based at Barenbrug’s head office in Canterbury for the new role, which includes oversight of the company’s large nationwide network of farm systems trials, and co-ordination of agronomists in other regions.

Raised on a Rangitikei sheep and beef farm, Shand spent eight years working in nutrient management prior to joining Barenbrug and holds an agricultural science degree at Lincoln University.

Barenbrug commercial manager Graham Kerr says farmers and resellers alike will benefit from his comprehensive technical background and understanding of both dairy and red meat farming.

“Pasture systems provides a critical technical support element of our focus in the market, not just in terms of product back-up but to enhance the performance of New Zealand’s pastoral sector as a whole.”

Helping inform Shand’s knowledge is firsthand experience of what actually goes into a

“I really loved being able to see projects through from start to finish, rather than passing the work on to the next person in the chain; and to know that I would have to translate the science behind the results to growers in a way they would find useful.

That’s always been really satisfying.”

After 10 years working with maize, including overseeing the national hybrid testing and trial programme, as well as agronomy and environmental research, Gunn is excited about working with a range of other crops at Waireka, including wheat, barley, grapes and apples.

There she’s involved in both global discovery trials for Cor38

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

From left, Jordan Shrimpton, Hannah Wilson and Mark Shand. bag of proprietary seed before it is shipped to stores and sold to farmers for sowing.

Central Canterbury is home to many specialist seed growers, and he worked closely with these producers during his time as a farm nutrient advisor to help them get the best out of their crops.

“There’s a lot involved in getting that seed into the bag, more than many people realise!”

At a time when NZ farmers are facing reduced product prices and high input costs, helping them utilise their home-grown pasture and forage to the max is more important than ever, he says.

“Pasture has always been the foundation of our success as primary producers, and a key priority for us here at Barenbrug is supporting farmers to continue improving management and utilisation of this resource in every way we can, especially in the current financial environment.”

A big part of that is constantly developing new and improved cultivars, but practical, hands-on research and advice is also crucial.

“They go hand in hand – you can’t capture the full potential of new genetics without

teva’s international R&D programme, and also works alongside NZ R&D manager Matt Denton-Giles on registration trials for new products in the domestic market.

Corteva appealed not just for its philosophy, but also for the opportunity to extend her knowledge of both agriculture and horticulture while retaining that focus on applied science that can and does make a real difference to NZ farmers and growers.

“I was ready for a new direction. It’s been a good challenge to shift into crop protection, and build my understanding of the different trial processes involved. It’s also really exciting to look at different crops!”

the resources, tools and backup to bring out their best on your own farm.”

Also taking on new roles at Barenbrug recently are Hannah Wilson, as plant breeding technician; and Jordan Shrimpton, as the latest Barenbrug graduate.

Wilson recently completed a BAgSc with Honours at Lincoln University.

She’s wanted to be involved in the agricultural sector for as long as she can remember, and plants are equally a long-held interest, so she’s excited to be able to bring both together as she embarks on her career.

She joins the Barenbrug R&D team with a range of responsibilities.

Shrimpton also recently completed a BAgSc with Honours at Lincoln, and will spend the next 18 months working in a variety of roles throughout the company, including research, trials, seed production, marketing, seed testing, customer services and logistics.

The Barenbrug graduate programme includes trips to the NZ Grassland Association conference, field work in the Waikato, and time with Barenbrug Australia.

Mark Shand can be reached at 021 312 427 or mshand@barenbrug.co.nz.

Tania Gunn.

PEOPLE

NZ agri sector full of career potential WITH THREE GENERATIONS OF FARMERS IN HER FAMILY BEFORE HER, MARIA QUEVEDO ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK IN AGRICULTURE. She didn’t realise that dream would come to fruition in New Zealand, rather than her home country of Argentina, but she’s very glad it has.

In fact, it’s the warm welcome and ongoing generosity of NZ rural professionals that helped transform what began as a 12 month backpacking visit into a deeply satisfying agri career for the newly appointed Syngenta territory sales manager.

Quevedo was not long out of university with a degree in ag science when she landed in NZ 13 years ago, and liked it enough that after her visa expired, she went to Australia and Asia for six months and then came back here to work on a dairy farm.

Raised in a country where everyone uses horses – not motor-

bikes – to shift farm animals, she loved her Australian experience in the outback cattle industry, and really wanted to work on a NZ beef farm.

But there was one problem. She had no dogs, and with at that stage less fluent English than she has now, plus minimal understanding of the role dogs play in our sheep and beef industry, she could not understand why prospective employers always wanted to know how many dogs she had.

“I got a bit confused! What were these dogs they kept asking about?”

To learn more about NZ farming, she went back to school, doing a Masters in Agricultural Systems at Lincoln University.

It was a great way to meet peo-

Maria Quevedo. ple in the industry and prepare for her first role as a farm nutrient advisor for cropping and dairy farmers in South Canterbury.

When the Syngenta position came up, covering the central and lower South Island from Ashburton down to Invercargill, it was an opportunity too good to miss.

“I actually worked for just over a year for Syngenta Argentina before I started travelling so I was familiar with the company.”

The grand-daughter of an agronomist, Quevedo spent most of her childhood summers walking crops, and her family continues to grow mainly soy-

beans and breeding cattle in a business originally founded by her great-grandfather after he immigrated from Spain to Argentina in the late 1800s.

So what’s kept her in NZ – complete with citizenship instead of returning to Argentina?

“The people I’ve met along the way! It’s such an amazing sector to work in, full of very knowledgeable people. They’re friendly and open, always willing to share information and help each other, which really aligns with my values, and there are so many opportunities here.”

Maria Quevedo can be reached at 021 984 079 or maria.quevedo@syngenta.com.

Contract researcher continues to grow CONTRACT RESEARCH ORGANISATION PASTURE FIRST RESEARCH HAS AGAIN EXPANDED ITS FOOTPRINT THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND BY EMPLOYING A NEW RESEARCH AGRONOMIST FOR ITS SOUTHERN NORTH ISLAND OPERATION. Karen Silva joined the company in October 2023 and will be a valued asset to the team, Pasture First Research says.

Based in Whanganui, Silva will cover the key southern North Island regions of Taranaki, Manawatu and Horowhenua, undertaking all seed, crop protection and fertiliser and biostimulant research trials in the region.

With a Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Agricultural Science, majoring in vegetable and flower production, and almost fifteen years experience in the vegetable and market garden industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Pasture First Research.

Before making the move, Silva was employed by Woodhaven Gardens (Horowhenua) in a range of roles including agronomy and production management, and most recently was production manager and head

of production planning and environmental compliance.

These positions included crop scouting for weeds, diseases, and pests; undertaking research trials on a range of agrochemicals and fertilizer products and seed variety selection trials for seed companies.

Silva was also involved in development and crop production on the farm, as well as being responsible for the environmental compliance processes.

Overall she managed and planned land resources for 23 individual crop types covering 700 hectares of production.

Crops included broccoli, leeks, spring onions, Asian vegetables, parsley, pumpkin, maize and cover crops.

Silva’s appointment brings the total number of research agronomists throughout NZ for Pasture First Research to seven. She joins

Karen Silva.

Tim Reynolds (Waikato), Susan Neighbours (Hawke's Bay) and John van Den Bosch, Nick Reed, Breanna Taylor and Nigel Johnston (Canterbury).

Karen Silva can be contacted at 027 224 9094 or karen@pasturefirst.co.nz.

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

39

PEOPLE

‘Stumbling’ into hort no barrier to success NELSON ORCHARDIST MERYN WHITEHEAD HAS WON THE COVETED TITLE OF NEW ZEALAND YOUNG HORTICULTURIST OF THE YEAR. The 29-year-old is a team co-ordinator at Vailima Orchard, a fourth-generation, familyowned business with more than 200 ha of apple orchards stretching over the Tasman District’s Waimea plains.

Representing the fruit and vegetable sector, Whitehead was up against six other finalists representing winegrowers, amenity horticulture, plant producers, landscapers, arborists and florist and flower growers.

“The other competitors knew their stuff and were an intimidating bunch to go up against,” she says.

“Having said that, it never felt like a competition; we were more like a support group for each other. It was a lovely group to be with and I felt privileged and lucky to be part of that.”

For Whitehead, who has been at Vailima Or-

Meryn Whitehead. chard for three years, becoming an orchardist was never a clear-cut career decision.

She’d always figured she wanted to work outdoors, but it took a trip across the world to NZ to clarify what that would look like.

“After leaving university in Wales I decided to come travelling before beginning a career.

I reached NZ and did some seasonal work on a small-scale stone fruit orchard in Hastings and enjoyed it so much I went back the next summer.

“In my travels around NZ, between these two seasons, I met a Kiwi and decided to give NZ a bit more of my time than originally planned. That was eight years ago!”

While Whitehead stumbled into orchard work, she’s found it ticks a lot of her desired career boxes.

“I've always been active and love that this job lets me get out and about with the practical side of things, but also love the office work I do, whether that's organising teams, or coming up with ways to make work more efficient, and easier for our staff.”

She enjoys the variety and especially relishes the opportunity to encourage newer or

Luisetti Seeds welcomes new manager JAIME SHONE HAS JOINED LUISETTI SEEDS AS THE COMPANY’S SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER. Born and raised in Christchurch, Shone’s education began at the University of Canterbury, where she pursued a degree in psychology, setting the stage for her people focused career.

Since then, she has spent the past 19 years in various roles at Lincoln University, including leading the student recruitment, alumni, engagement, and outreach teams.

She also served on the University Council as staff representative and for a brief period was one of the business development managers at Lincoln Agritech, working with and between researchers and industry.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to be part of the Luisetti team,” she says.

“The fact that the family-owned company 40

AgriBusiness January/ February 2024

has been around for 90 years is such a rare occurrence these days and is something that really sets it apart. I am proud to be a small part of its illustrious history.”

Shone’s transition into the seed and grain sector might seem like a change of scenery, but her passion for the industry is undeniable, Luisetti Seeds says.

“Her arrival marks an exciting chapter in our journey. Her extensive experience and genuine passion for her work make her a valuable addition to our team.”

Beyond her professional endeavours, Shone enjoys the physical challenge of doing long walks in the Port Hills and spending quality time at Lake Brunner with husband Michael.

younger staff members to push themselves, and to find the area of the business which they really enjoy. Now as Young Horticulturist of the Year she’s even more committed to this.

“I know I want to keep encouraging other people to take these chances and opportunities like this competition as it really pays off.

And I want to pass on my passion for an industry I have stumbled into and want young people to see there are opportunities in this industry for anyone,” she says.

Young Horticulturist Competition chairperson Hamish Gates says the competition – now in its 18th year – continues to seed the future of horticulture.

“We feel very privileged to be able to continue fostering the future leaders of this wonderful industry. Over the past few years, we have seen rapidly growing support from our sectors, helpers, and sponsors alike. As a result, we are getting finalists who are more prepared, more impressive, and more competitive showing off their talent. Horticulture's future is in highly skilled and capable hands,” he says.

Jaime Shone.

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