Guardian Farming - September 2017

Farming GUARDIAN

SEPTEMBER 2017

CARING FOR THE

ENVIRONMENT Pages 6 – 7

House of Hearing

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Farming

Farming GUARDIAN

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INSIDE

EDITORIAL COMMENT

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PAGE 14–15 THE BENEFITS OF IRRIGATION

Well, the election is nearly here and it’s looking like it’s going to be a whole lot closer than you might have thought only a month ago.

As it’s the last Guardian Farming before the election, it’s probably timely to have a think about whose policies will suit farmers best.

While there’s a multitude of areas you could judge that on, the Science Media Centre recently sent seven political parties 10 sciencerelated questions to gauge their responses ahead of the election. As some of the subject matter involved will directly affect farmers, in this month’s issue we take a look at some of the responses those parties made to a couple of those questions.

The environment, in particular the quality of our fresh water, has become a real election issue.

Earlier this year former Ballance Canterbury Farm Environment Award winners David and Hilary Ward won more recognition, this time a Deer Industry Environmental Award.

Guardian Farming recently visited the Wards on their Fairton property for a chat and a quick trip around the farm to find out more how the operation worked.

David, who appears on the cover of this month’s Guardian Farming with some of the native plants he’s been putting in along fencelines

Colin Williscroft

RURAL REPORTER

around the property, is no stranger to both innovation and sustainability, so it was interesting to hear his views as to why a proposed water tax is misguided, while he also raised the lack of common sense behind the links being made between irrigation and pollution.

While on the subject of irrigation, last week Greenpeace protesters returned to a Central Plains Water dam construction site west of Christchurch.

Arrests were made but the organisation has vowed to keep up its campaign to stop new irrigation projects in what it says is an attempt to draw attention to the state of New Zealand’s rivers.

CPW boss Derek Crombie says their claims are well wide of the mark and they don’t understand the good that irrigation does for the environment. See pages 14 and 15 for more.

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Where do the parties stand?

With the general election only weeks away, the Science Media Centre recently approached the major political parties with 10 science-related policy questions, covering subjects from freshwater quality to climate change, biosecurity to a predator free New Zealand and the use of 1080. Colin Williscroft looks at what the parties’ responses were to a couple of those questions. Nothing was received from NZ First.

Water has turned into one of the biggest issues this election, so it seems an appropriate place to start.

The parties were asked how they planned to tackle the problem of freshwater quality degradation in New Zealand waterways.

National began by highlighting its target of making 90 per cent of New Zealand’s lakes and rivers meet swimmable water quality standards by 2040, compared with the current mark of 72 per cent.

It said that is estimated to come at a cost to the government, farmers and councils of $2 billion over the next 23 years. This is on top of the $140 million already committed by the government to be spent on specific river and lake clean-ups.

“We are moving to a system which requires councils to improve the swimmability

Colin Williscroft

RURAL REPORTER

of their rivers and lakes over the year. This is a significant change. Under the new proposal, over 50,000 kilometres of waterways will be improved for swimming. We will see more and more places suitable for swimming more often.

“The plan is backed up by national regulations requiring stock to be fenced out of waterways, new national policy requirements on regional councils to strengthen their planning rules on issues such as sewage discharges and planting riparian margins, a

new Freshwater Improvement Fund and new maps that clearly identify where improvements are needed.

“We will require monitoring and public reporting to show progress.”

Labour claimed that through its policies, they would restore our rivers and lakes to a truly swimmable state within a generation.

“We’ll help farmers and other owners of waterways with fencing and riparian planting through our Ready for Work programme and we’ll give the regional councils the resources to clean up their waterways through a water royalty. Labour has a suite of other policies to stop water quality getting worse straight away and reverse the damage being done.”

Of course much of the publicity around Labour’s fresh water policy has centred on its water tax proposal, and

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it’s unlikely that’s going to change before the election.

As you would expect, the Green Party, despite not having released its full policy package on water, still had plenty of guidelines it would look to enforce as part of its goal to ensure that, at a minimum, all water bodies be safe for swimming under National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management requirements.

For farmers, that will include a hold on all new conversions of land to dairy farms, introduce rules that require all farms to be fenced from rivers and creeks, and for riverbanks to be planted so that excess run-off is absorbed, and resource consents will be required for intensive land use practices.

No new water storage schemes would be allowed to be built in an effort to keep wild rivers wild.

On top of that the Greens would introduce a charge on water used for irrigation, saying that those who profit from water use should pay for the privilege.

They would also wind up Crown Irrigation Investments, which provides funding to and invests in irrigation schemes.

However, it’s not only rural areas the Greens are targeting.

It plans to look at how urban design can reduce stormwater pollution from entering rivers, while also toughen national standards to limit the amount of pollution going into water.

Other ideas from the Greens include putting an immediate 10 cent/litre levy on water bottling and exports, while local councils will be expected to use the revenue to clean up waterways, and protect drinking water sources and infrastructure.

Continued on next page

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Farming

from page 3 The Maori Party said it would do everything in its power to protect water quality and ensure its availability for all New Zealanders.

That would include supporting funding for the capturing of rainfall and better clean water storage systems, particularly in rural areas.

It would also prioritise action to counter the effects of pollution caused by nitrogen and phosphorus leaching into waterways, while also setting up funding to support community projects such as planting riparian buffers and establishing wetlands.

Water ownership is an issue that has been raised on the hustings and it should come as no surprise that the Maori Party want it addressed.

The party said it wants to impose a moratorium on the sale of water (this includes all water used/sold for commercial use including water exports by foreign companies) so that issues around water, namely quality, management and ownership, can be addressed.

Other Maori Party polices around fresh water include establishing Regional Water Authorities, based on a co-

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governance model between water rights holders and the regional councils, to manage, clean up, and restore our waterways, and to make the national fresh water standard “drinkable”.

Act, meanwhile, said the government should adopt the Land and Water Forum’s recommendation of replacing first-in first-served water use with a system of tradable use rights – emulating our worldleading fisheries’ quota system.

“This would retain farmers’ access to water while also incentivising conservation of water by giving farmers the option of on-selling their quota excess,” it said.

As with Labour and Green party policies on fresh water, farmers could expect to pay more under The Opportunities Party (TOP).

TOP prefaced its response to the question of how it would tackle fresh water quality degradation by saying that the New Zealand environment was “the cornerstone of our key exports (agriculture and tourism) as well as our unparalleled quality of life.

“Currently, we are pursuing economic growth at all cost, predominantly through intensification of land use.

However, we are blind to the

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impacts it is having on our environment, and especially, our water resources.”

It said that industries such as dairy currently get a free ride on environmental externalities (while also receiving subsidies for irrigation), and the taxpayer is forced to pick up the bill for clean-up. This is only going to get worse as we insist on pursuing increased volume of exports over value, driving even more pollutants into New Zealand rivers.

To combat this TOP said it will ensure that all externalities are accounted for.

“Those who are above a sustainable level of pollution will pay, those below will receive payment from the penalty pool, driving all polluters towards best practice.

“The bottom line is to improve the quality of our waterways. By having the rights to the environment written into the constitution we can ensure that every waterway has at least the minimum flow required to retain its aquatic ecosystem.

Commercial allocation can be set above this minimum flow.

TOP will also ensure that there is a price placed on water usage, set by the market.

Another issue close to the

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heart of farmers, and in the news recently due to the mycoplasma bovis outbreak in South Canterbury, is biosecurity.

The parties were asked: “Following a string of biosecurity responses in recent years – from myrtle rust and bonamia to velvet

leaf and the Queensland fruit fly incursion – what will your party do to strengthen our biosecurity preparation and response?”

National responded by saying that Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has always believed that biosecurity was his number

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one priority, which has been backed up with significant funding boosts and initiatives.

“This year’s Budget included a funding boost for biosecurity of $18.4 million, taking total funding to $248 million – a record high,” it said.

“In the last few years MPI has employed 50 new

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biosecurity staff and 20 extra biosecurity detector dog teams, introduced new x-ray scanning machines, a dedicated border clearance levy to meet rising passenger numbers, an inflight video for arriving air travellers, and a new animal health laboratory is under construction. We’ve also

released the Biosecurity 2025 Direction Statement, setting out a long term strategy for engaging all New Zealanders.”

National pointed out that, on average the overall number of incursions per year have been consistent with previous years going back to 2000 – despite strongly increasing passenger and cargo volumes.

“We have around 12 million passenger movements a year across our borders and 175,000 items a day cross our border. Even if we shut down all trade and people movements, incursions can still happen via wind (myrtle rust) and the ocean (bonamia).”

Labour too said it recognised the importance of biosecurity, adding that it would establish an independent biosecurity authority sufficiently resourced and capable of maintaining a robust, pro-active and fit-for-purpose biosecurity framework.

“We’ll also conduct a review of, and invest in improvements to, existing GIAs (government industry agreements) to ensure they are responsive to future risks and opportunities, not just current threats, and we’ll continue to support sectors and research organisations working to reduce the impact

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of introduced biological pests that threaten the viability of existing industries.”

The Greens, meanwhile, called for stricter border security, quarantine and internal biosecurity regimes and capacity than currently exist.

“The Green Party wants to see even higher standards including more stringent inspections overseas.

“Our biosecurity strategy will: be based on a precautionary approach and promote the lowest practical risk; ensure MPI and others constantly improve biosecurity protocols, including controls on seed importation, GE and micro-organisms; and only permit new species of biological control after extensive risk assessment.”

In noting that it was “driven to advance the interests of our people” The Maori Party said Maori needed to be active participants in decisionmaking and implementation of plans for the management of pests and diseases.

“This includes a clear understanding of the complexities of the relevant Maori landscape relating to myrtle rust and the key strategic priorities for Maori.

We are deeply concerned

about the impact of myrtle rust on native species such as pohutukawa and manuka and believe that iwi and hapu need to be at the decision making table in terms of solutions.”

Alarmingly, given the impact a biosecurity incursion would have on New Zealand neither Act nor TOP have very little to bring to the biosecurity conversation.

Act said it did not have a biosecurity policy adding that any “changes in this area should ensure environmental benefits are weighed proportionally against the privacy and freedoms of travellers”.

Given its relatively recent appearance on the political landscape it’s probably not surprising that TOP has not developed policies on every issue that could come up.

In coming straight out and saying “we have not researched this issue” it added that “if it came up we would talk to the experts to understand the issues. Obviously on one hand biosecurity costs money and on the other hand incursions inflict a massive cost on our economy. A precautionary approach is needed.”

The full responses to all 10 questions can be found at www.science.media.co.nz

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Farming

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A eye to the future Ashburton farmers David and Hilary Ward won the Gallagher Technology and Innovation Award at the 2017 Deer Industry Environmental Awards. Colin Williscroft spoke to the Wards about their farm and some of the issues currently facing farmers, and with that, rural communities.

David and Hilary Ward’s farming philosophy sounds deceptively simple and is based on what they say is common sense: “To farm as profitably and efficiently as possible, using sustainable practices and techniques, to improve soil quality, and therefore increasing moisture and nutrient retention”.

Obviously, there’s a fair bit involved in that but when you boil it down, that translates as careful planning, investment in their property and the different sectors they are involved in with an eye to the future, caring for the land, and hard work – lots of hard work.

The Wards own and run Radfield Farm, a fullyirrigated, intensive operation on 385 hectares about 10 kilometres north-east of Ashburton.

In terms of their stock –

between 500 and 1000 weaner deer and well over 6000 lambs – they keep things flexible although finishing is the name of the game.

On top of that the Wards also grow wheat (feed, milling and seed), barley seed, ryegrass, clover, process peas, marrowfat peas and vegetable seed (corn salad, beet, radish, pac choi and spinach), brassica and sometimes grass silage.

One of the few left on the Canterbury Plain to be still finishing deer, David says the reason they’ve stuck with it is a combination of that, through the system they work, it makes economic sense, along with the fact he enjoys farming the animals and gets a lot out of recent innovative industry programmes.

“I do really enjoy working with deer and the P2P (Pasture to Plate) group is working

well. Everyone involved is getting a lot out of it.”

The judges of the deer industry award were particularly impressed by four particular aspects of the Wards’ operation: the integration of the whole farm system through knowledge, planning and attention to detail; the continual enhancement of soil capacity through strategic use of high producing crops and finishing of livestock to fit the farm system; their involvement in a Deer Industry New Zealand advance party, which has led to stronger relationships with suppliers, as well as sharing of knowledge; and strong community input into the development of the local plan, through the sharing of data and understanding of water use and aquifers.

David says to maximise

returns it’s essential to maximise the integration of the whole farm management.

The farm has to work to make money so some can be invested back into the business. That is

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critical, he says, and recent talk of a water tax threatens that, but we’ll get that to that point soon.

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The Wards finish about 500 weaner deer a year on their property near PHOTO COLIN WILLISCROFT 280817-CW-205 Ashburton.

efficient and effective in their use of soil, water and fertiliser as part of a sustainable and profitable farming operation.

The soils on the property are medium to light, Lismore and Eyre stony silt loams.

They are free-draining, David said, with a stony top soil of around 180 to 200mm, on a sub soil of a light, gritty clay in shingle to a further 150 to 200mm on running stony shingle.

Although soil is a fixed resource, how it is treated can greatly alter its characteristics, David says, mainly by altering its structure (its organic matter content) and its water holding ability.

By using no till practices they have managed to double the amount of organic matter in their soils.

One or two specialist winter feed crops are grown on-farm (at least one in the deer-fenced area) one kale and one swede crop. As these take arable crop space, they have to compete economically in terms of supplying winter feed to trading stock.

To perform, these crops have to produce up to 10,000kg/DM/ha, preferably up to 15,000.

The Wards’ recognition at this year’s Deer Industry Environmental Awards is not the first time they have been rewarded for the work they do protecting the environment, as they won the supreme award in 2007 at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for Canterbury.

Not only are they firm believers in farming sustainably, water and fertiliser use is closely measured, and they do their own nitrate leaching testing in order to fully understand what is happening on-farm.

They draw the line however with the argument, used by many in

support of a water tax, that irrigation equals pollution.

“Just because you irrigate does not mean you pollute,” David says.

“We need to use a bit of common sense here.”

He says irrigation allows for more efficient use of water, which is good for the environment, not the other way around.

Like most who work the land, the Wards are no fan of a water tax. They point to a range of other costs, such as rates, insurance and compliance costs, which are all ticking away in the background. Adding another one to the mix just doesn’t make sense, David says.

“You have to remember that you can only tax someone once,” he says, adding that what you would gain from a water tax would be lost at the other end when it came to income tax, meaning less money for things like schools and health services. “It’s inefficient.”

He also points out the positive flowon effects from irrigation, saying it benefits dryland farmers throughout the South Island, through aiding the transfer of stock from store to finishing, and the stabilising effect it has had on markets.

“It’s (the water tax) the wrong way of going about it. How can you grow the economy when you’re making businesses less efficient?”

He says by making farms less profitable or productive, there would be less money available to invest in them, which would be to the detriment of the economy and the environment.

The Wards will receive their deer industry award at an open day to be held at the farm, the date of which is yet to be finalised.

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Campaign targets vulnerable members

Terry Copeland says agri-organisations need to work together to help young PHOTO SUPPLIED farmers deal with mental health problems.

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out to other agri-organisations that want to partner with us in relaying the message over coming months.”At the same time the NZ Young Farmers mental health documentary that D FO P Ewho featured several members R had LO been courageous in telling their story about depression candidly, continued to be viewed by a wide audience, he said.

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“The documentary remains a deliberate attempt by NZ Young Farmers to be transparent on the issue and we are pleased that it has been viewed widely.”

It will also be screened at the Australia/New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine Conference in September, he said.

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highlighting the need to put resources into the mental wellbeing of rural youth, he said.

Copeland said the terminology around suicide was equally as important as the work taking place to prevent it.

“While it’s important that there is more talk in the media around suicide, the term they often use - ‘committed suicide’ - needs to be changed. That implies it is a crime and further stigmatises the issue.

“We remain determined to eradicate that stigma and to foster a culture and network where talking about your feelings is welcomed.”

NZ Young Farmers will hold 12 Good Yarn Workshops throughout New Zealand from the middle of September until the end of November.

The wellness workshops help participants recognise and respond appropriately to friends, family, farming colleagues or customers suffering from stress or mental illness.

Copeland said while the workshops were a vital step forward in dealing with mental health issues, it was also important to realise NZ Young Farmers could not carry the load alone.

“We believe collaboration within our industry is part of the process going forward and we will be reaching

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New Zealand Young Farmers is stepping up its mental health campaign among rural youth with a series of Good Yarn workshops around New Zealand, aimed at supporting vulnerable members.

Following on from the launch of a documentary that featured stories of depression and suicide among members, the organisation will facilitate the mental health workshops in an effort to combat the increase in suicides, particularly among young rural males.

Figures released recently by Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall show the 20 to 24 year-old age group recorded the highest number of suicide deaths at 79 for the year ended June 2017. Of that, 61 of those deaths were males.

Overall, it was the third year in a row that the number of suicides had increased.

Young Farmers’ chief executive Terry Copeland said he was saddened at the statistics.

“Inevitably, the young rural male continues to feature more prominently every year in the statistics and we must do all we can to halt that incline,” he says.

NZ Young Farmers were not immune to the statistics, with a recent suicide of a popular member

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Farming

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Major disruption predicted A new agrifood sector report has found that New Zealand farmers have been quick to adopt smart farming techniques, but few are preparing for major technological disruption.

The report, called Disruptive Technology in the Agrifood Sector, was funded through Microsoft’s Academic Programs initiative and prepared by researchers from the Massey Business School. It examines the impact of cloud computing and other potentially disruptive technologies on the sector.

Researchers interviewed both technologists and members of the agrifood industry – and found there was a gap between how the two groups perceive the future.

“In the agricultural industry people are making really pragmatic business decisions to invest heavily in technology,” lead researcher professor Stephen Kelly said, “but they firmly believe that tomorrow will be like today, just with more technology added.

“Meanwhile the technologists are predicting change at

an unprecedented rate, causing major disruption to business practices and models.”

Kelly said the significance of the findings should not be underestimated, as there could be major implications for the sector.

“What the agrifood sector is currently doing is brilliant, they are agile, very accepting of new technology and continually looking for better ways of doing things. But most aren’t visualising what the industry will look like in 10 years’ time.”

He said New Zealand should

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prepare for the arrival of large, global corporates that can produce so efficiently that cost structures could be halved in a relatively short period of time.

“If that happened, most New Zealand businesses would not be able to compete using their current business models. There are only a few ways to compete: follow a corporate model but you need a lot of capital; find a niche, which is getting increasingly difficult; or take a collaborative network approach.

“Collaboration would allow

smaller firms to get the benefits of associating with larger pillar firms that are better resourced and integrated into global networks.”

While technological developments will lead to improvements in efficiency and production, the report also recognises the potential for technology to improve environmental sustainability and better manage biosecurity risks.

“Better monitoring and control systems are seen as key to reducing negative environmental impacts and closing

biosecurity gaps,” Kelly said.

“Cloud computing and the collection and sharing of more and more data means the industry can work together to improve practices in this space, and they know that’s important for their relationship with consumers and the New Zealand public.”

Microsoft chief technology officer Russell Craig said the research added to the collective understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the agrifood sector.

“It was particularly interesting to see that potential disruptions in the sector need more attention, and that the sector needs to embrace that disruption – we see opportunities for local economic development, creation of new techbased businesses, and an increasing focus on the overall sustainability of the sector,” he said.

“That’s why this is a valuable report which, added to the public domain, will foster discourse about the best ways to sustainably grow these industries in the future.”

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Farming

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Significant tax changes in effect With the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) unveiling the new provisional tax rules that took effect at the start of this financial year, farmers should be satisfied with sensible adjustments to the rules, according to Tony Marshall, tax specialist for Crowe Horwath.

The new regime means that if you pay provisional tax using the standard uplift method, which uses the previous year’s liability with 5 per cent uplift, you will no longer suffer high interest if your tax predictions are incorrect.

“You do not need to pay tax unless you are making money, and with profits rising after a number of lean years, farmers will be reaching a position where they will be required to pay tax, particularly in the dairy industry,” Marshall said.

The biggest change applies to what the IRD refers to as the “safe harbour”, which relates to those who have an actual income tax liability of less than $60,000 and have paid the amounts of tax required as per the

Tony Marshall PHOTO SUPPLIED

standard method at the three provisional tax dates for that year.

They will no longer be charged IRD interest if they miscalculated and did not pay enough provisional tax, as long as the final balance is paid by the terminal tax date.

Two important changes to note are an increase from $50,000 to $60,000 for the safe harbour threshold and the inclusion of all taxpayers, so it does not just apply to individuals.

The other major change applies to medium to large taxpayers – those that have an actual income tax liability of $60,000 or more and have paid their provisional tax that year based on the standard method.

Once again interest will not be charged by the IRD if you paid the amount of tax due using the standard method at your first and second provisional tax dates for that year.

Interest will only apply from the third provisional tax date

on any underpayment of the total tax liability at that date.

For many farmers, the first instalment of provisional tax under the new regime will be due on October 28, so it is important farmers are up-todate, and understand how the new rules will affect them.

“There are many subtle nuances in the rules, which without careful planning could result in the payment of more interest than is necessary,” Marshall said.

“That being said, the new

regime only applies if you meet your uplift method payments, and has no remedy for those who have cashflow constraints, meaning they are unable to make the correct payments on time.”

With the new regime already under way and first instalments looming, it is important all businesses ensure they understand how the changes could affect them, and what their best foot forward using the new rules should be.

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13

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Farming

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Irrigation scheme has positive impact This column was written before the second Greenpeace protest targeting Central Plains Water that was staged last week.

Greenpeace has called for Cantabrians to take part in a peaceful civil disobedience demonstration against ‘big irrigation’ in the next two weeks.

Earlier in August they targeted a Central Plains Water worksite in a protest against ‘big irrigation’.

Unfortunately, many facts they were espousing were incorrect or coloured.

To balance these claims, Cantabrians need to fully understand projects like the Central Plains Water Scheme and its positive impact on the Selwyn Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) catchment and its role in restoring it.

A study undertaken by Irrigation NZ, shows there is no correlation between areas of high irrigation development and regions with poor water quality. In

4%

Derek Crombie

CENTRAL PLAINS WATER

fact, here on our doorstep, Environment Canterbury has already identified that the restoration of Te Waihora cannot be achieved without the CPW scheme and its ability to protect the aquifers.

Concern about our waterways is high and to say that irrigation and/or Central Plains Water is responsible for the condition of the Selwyn River or Te Waihora is wrong.

CPW has been operating for only two years.

The Te Waihora issues have been known for decades.

Stage 1 of the Central Plains Water Scheme has completed its second irrigation season and is already showing benefits.

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over time, by protecting and enhancing the surrounding waterways.

If we fail in this aspect, then the scheme has no future.

Just like farmers, we are caretakers protecting the

quality of our land. How will we do this? There are two key ways.

Firstly, by protecting the aquifers. By taking water from the Rakaia River in a controlled way, we are

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15

on water catchment protecting the aquifers as farmers no longer have to rely on groundwater wells and artesian supplies.

Stage 1 has already completed its second successful irrigation season and is showing some exciting benefits such as existing groundwater irrigators only abstracting 25 per cent of their groundwater allocation during the 2015/16/17 season, leaving 60 million cubic metres of water in the aquifers.

Year-on-year, these quantities of water flowing through the aquifers will have a dramatic positive impact on Te Waihora and the surrounding waterways.

An indicator of our ambition to be a guardian of the environment is that we have recently agreed with ECan to provide a discharge of 3.5 cumecs or 45 million cubic metres per year of water into the Selwyn to replenish the flows.

The claim that irrigation is all about dairy conversions is not correct.

Yes, some farms will convert but they will have to manage

within acceptable nutrient levels, as already mentioned.

Many farmers do not want to go dairy farming and some soils are not suitable, so cropping, sheep, beef and deer will continue to be a major land use.

In our stage 2 area, indications are that only 15 per cent of the area will convert to dairy and the remainder will continue to be top quality cropping land.

The second way of protecting the land is controlling and reducing use of nutrients. Nutrient levels on farms inside the CPW scheme are monitored and audited yearly and with every farm having its own management plan, the reduction in nutrient application is one of the key environmental pillars on which the scheme is built.

In the long term, even with the completion of stage 2, our nutrient discharge levels will be lower in 2022 than they are today because of the advancement of new management practices and consent requirements.

As part of this environmental focus, we have established more than 50 monitoring points downstream of the scheme, have established an environmental management fund of approximately $160,000 per year and also the Te Waihora Enhancement Fund ($160,000/year).

We also work closely with the Selwyn Waihora Water Zone committee, which is implementing the Canterbury Water Management Strategy in the area.

Today’s water issues are the result of problems that have developed over several decades but, with today’s greater knowledge and understanding of environmental issues, the creation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, the introduction of the Land and Water Regional Plan and the effort and desire of companies like CPW, more constructive steps are being taken to address and remedy our water issues.

Derek Crombie is the chief executive of Central Plains Water.

CPW SCHEME SUCCESS Central Plains Water has already played a key role in achieving much success both environmentally and for the local community. This success includes: ■ Introducing 300 million cubic metres of low nutrient alpine water into the catchment.

■ 60 million cubic metres of consented groundwater not abstracted from aquifers in the first two seasons.

■ Introduction of 3.5 cumecs, or 45 million cubic metres of water into the Selwyn River annually to enhance flow in lowland streams and Lake Waihora.

■ Development of a groundwater and drainage plan to monitor and mitigate potential adverse effects that may arise. Monitoring sites are in the Lake Ellesmere/ Te Waihora catchment and streams. They include 29 surface water sites and 23 groundwater bores monitored monthly.

■ Establishment of a ground and surface water expert panel to review monitoring results, review causes, confirm mitigation strategies.

■ Individual farm management programmes have been prepared and audited for 109 farmers in Stage 1.

■ Establishing an environmental management fund of approximately $160,000 per year and a Te Waihora enhancement fund ($160,000/year) for other enhancement projects.

■ Start of the biodiversity enhancement programme with the inaugural plant out by Te Ara Kakariki.

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Farming

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Nutrient management with irrigation Precision agriculture technologies continue to push the limits and allow farmers to sustainably manage natural resources and reduce negative environmental impacts.

Lindsay Corporation, the manufacturers of Growsmart® Precision VRI (variable rate irrigation), have recently released new nutrient management tools giving farmers advanced control and reporting capabilities when applying nutrients through their Precision VRI system.

The exciting new features enable farmers to create irrigation plans to apply effluent, fertigation and/ or chemigation to specific areas under an irrigator with Precision VRI technology.

The intelligent system will automatically switch to a specified plan when the nutrients are being injected into the irrigation water line.

This enables farmers to target resources to maximise yields, ensuring efficient use of inputs such as water and nutrients, yet preventing leaching and run-off.

The Precision VRI

technology individually pulses sprinklers on and off, while also controlling the irrigator speed to modify the application depth along the length of the irrigator.

Control of the irrigator speed and individual valves allows the amount of water and nutrients applied to each area to be carefully regulated, optimising application efficiencies.

As well as varying irrigation

and nutrient application according to spatial variations in soil characteristics, Precision VRI can also be used to avoid irrigating over buildings, tracks, roads and non-productive areas.

Buffered avoidance zones can be placed around environmentally sensitive areas and waterways, which may be particularly prevalent for farmers choosing to apply effluent, fertigation or

chemigation through their irrigator.

Lindsay understand the expectation that farmers are under to demonstrate they can manage natural resources responsibly – to the community, to government and to their neighbours.

Proof-of-placement reports, analysing individual nutrients applied, help farmers to justify responsible nutrient application.

WE MAKE NUTRIENT APPLICATION THIS SIMPLE

Growers can produce reports from a 24-hour period right up to an entire irrigation season which can also be helpful for future decisionmaking.

Growsmart Precision VRI is compatible with centre pivots, laterals, pivoting laterals and reverse pivoting laterals.

It can be installed on new irrigation systems or as an add-on to existing systems.

For more information, contact your local Growsmart

by Lindsay dealer or visit www.growsmartvri.com for more information.

Lindsay Corporation is a leading provider of automated mechanical move irrigation equipment and of transportation safety products.

The company manufactures and markets centre-pivot, lateral-move and hose reel irrigation systems which are sold through its worldwide network of dealers.

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17

Getting on top of Septoria resistance Privileged position for New Zealand cereal growers, but no resting on laurels.

New Zealand cereal growers are in a privileged position when it comes to their ability to act against the scourge of Septoria resistance, if they move now. That’s according to David MacGibbon, CEO of crop protection company Adama New Zealand.

He was commenting on the recent visit by Andy Bailey, a UK researcher and highlyregarded specialist on Septoria tritici (speckled leaf blotch) resistance in cereal crops. A guest of Adama New Zealand, Andy met with around 60 local agronomists, growers and industry influencers during his week-long stay in Canterbury and Southland.

Resistance is a highly complex issue, and its onset is often seemingly subtle.

But David says New Zealand has the relative luxury of leading-edge growers, the right chemistry, and being able to draw on experience from overseas, where the issue presented itself a decade earlier than here.

“Farming is never simple and it can be difficult to attribute yield losses over a single season to just one cause. But non-performance anywhere can be a red flag for things to come and in this case it certainly was.”

He says Adama, as a company, was particularly well placed to help, when Septoria began robbing yields. “We were working on it really early on. And, we had strong products ready to go that we knew, for certain, could make a real difference based on what happened in the UK and Ireland.”

“For us, it was a case of Phoenix and Bolide being in absolutely the right place at the right time. A handful of years earlier, and the need for them would hardly even have existed in this country.”

Phoenix® (Phthalimide – Group M4) with its active ingredient folpet works against Septoria at multiple sites, making it a low risk for resistance development.

Currently there is no known resistance to folpet anywhere in the world.

Phoenix does not interfere with DMI uptake, and in some situations, it even enhances their efficacy. Adama recommends the early season application of Phoenix with DMIs such as Bolide®, which is being launched this season.

Bolide, a new all-rounder Group 3 DMI fungicide (epoxiconazole and

prochloraz) provides broader spectrum control of key cereal diseases and excellent performance against Septoria, with two actives giving better control than standard triazole products.

David says importantly, Adama also knew how best to use Phoenix and Bolide.

“The timing of application of Phoenix at T1 is vital, because just monitoring the crop is not going to be good enough.”

Septoria has a relatively long latent period, which means crops will be infected long before the tell-tale signs appear in the paddock.

“You have to front-foot it. If you leave it too late and leaf 3 is infected, the disease can convey to leaf 2 and the flag leaf, which impacts yield.”

While there was already a good local understanding of resistance, David says hearing the overseas experience first-hand was compelling, and feedback on Andy’s visit was very positive. It would be difficult not to have been motivated hearing Andy’s account of the dramatic decrease in effectiveness of some compounds against Septoria. “Pre 2003, azoles [DMIs] worked really well in the UK in curative situations - they were giving 80 to 90% control. Now that curative action is as little as 30 to 40% at best”, Andy told those attending his sessions.

He said SDHIs too, are increasingly under the microscope in Ireland and the UK. “The situation with the SDHIs now is reaching a level where some of our key influencers believe that we’re almost on the edge of a precipice in terms of actually seeing field performance issues.”

David says while Andy wasn’t pulling any punches, he wasn’t telling New Zealand

Top left: David MacGibbon, CEO Adama New Zealand. Top right: Untreated (Torch wheat).

PHOTOS SUPPLIED Above: Phoenix and Proline® application only, no SDHI application (Torch wheat).

farmers what to do. “Nothing beats someone who’s had their boots in your paddock. Andy was mostly talking about the UK and Ireland: What they’d found worked and why.

Especially around multi-site chemistry.”

He said drawing on this specialist resource made sense. “If we can apply our knowledge, as well as our chemistry, to an issue we will.

Adama has global experts we can draw on, but it’s a two-way street. We’re also achieving some great things here, and they’re keen to learn from us too.”

“It would be easy to take the very high calibre of New Zealand cereal growers and agronomists for granted. But in fact, that technological sophistication is not apparent everywhere in the world.

What it enables is discussions at a level you often don’t get.”

“Kiwi cereal growers know their chemistry, they know nutrition, the varieties and obviously their own properties, histories, soil types and climate, and they do their own research. That opens the door to getting an insight not only into what’s happening

today, or tomorrow, but what might be on the horizon.”

“We need to take full advantage of that if we’re going to be ready for what happens in this industry in the next three to five years.”

With stakes increasingly high and a shrinking chemistry toolbox, David thinks the time for this discussion has definitely arrived.

“There’s no doubt we still have some very strong, older products out there and they are still doing a good job. What’s happening, increasingly, though is that overseas controls are becoming more stringent and that will ultimately affect us, on top of other changes such as fungicide or herbicide resistance.”

“We need to protect the existing chemistry, where we can, with products including multi-sites like Phoenix. And look at solutions incorporating combinations of chemistries or, in the development phase, new ways to use what we already have. Bolide is a good example of that.”

Daren Mabey, Commercial Manager of Adama

New Zealand, who was instrumental in bringing Andy to this country, agrees that the fresh perspective has been very timely.

“People in the industry have been hearing how serious this issue is from those of us on the ground. But with Andy, who’s a respected researcher, they also get a global scientific perspective and a sense of urgency. It really brought home what Septoria resistance has the potential to do.”

Daren had travelled to the UK in 2016 and saw the impact there. “We’re definitely not as far along as they are. At the same time it’d be a mistake to think that it won’t happen here.”

“It’s one thing knowing that there’s a problem, and knowing there’s a solution, it’s another doing something about it. And that’s where we need to be right now.”

For more information on how to future proof your resistance management strategy with Adama products contact your local technical advisor or visit www.adama. com.

Advertising Feature

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PHOENIX or bust.

ÂŽ

Diseases like speckled leaf blotch and scald can devastate crops and cripple businesses. With resistance to established modes of action growing, the only effective approach is a proactive one.

Start early and apply PHOENIX tank-mixed with existing SDHIs and DMIs in your fungicide programme. PHOENIX is your innovative, multi-site protectant that will help you win the resistance battle!

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19

BOLIDE The Multi-Tasker ®

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EQUINE FEATURE

Solving problems with horses There are multiple possible causes of the range of problems people experience with their horses. Solving them is usually a process of elimination.

It is relatively simple when examination by a veterinarian, equine dentist or other professional finds a lesion, a defective body part, an injury or a wound, or a badly fitting saddle which is the obvious cause for any pain, discomfort and associated aberrant behaviour.

However there are many problems not so easily solved because, despite extensive investigations no lesion can be found. Horses can be muscle-sore, stiff, tight, move incorrectly, even be lame, not be able to get canter leads, behave like they have a sore back plus many more signs that seem physical but turn out to be a bio-chemistry imbalance for which there is no physical evidence to explain the symptoms.

If the horse is inadvertently misdiagnosed the treatment is liable to be inappropriate.

Thousands of dollars can

PHOTO SUPPLIED

Jenny Paterson

BSC ZOOLOGY AND BIOLOGY

be spent on every treatment known to mankind, everything except the one thing that would make the most difference – the horse’s basic forage and feed.

When horses are subjected to chronic mineral imbalances from an inappropriate diet, their self-regulating mechanisms struggle and the mineral content of the blood and body fluids have trouble maintaining equilibrium.

This sets off a cascade of problems affecting how our horses see, how they feel, how they move, how their gut works, how they breathe, how they reproduce, causing them to become hyper-sensitive, over-reactive, aggressive, claustrophobic, clingy, allergic, itchy and more.

Understandably affected horses cannot think straight.

Sometimes it’s like they can’t think at all! They ‘react’ rather than ‘respond’. This means they are unsafe to ride! Best not to put anybody (you, your child or your trainer) at risk by getting on a horse that isn’t

functioning normally.

Mineral imbalances are like mind-altering drugs that are distressing and frightening for the horse. Any form of confinement (tying them up, tighter nosebands or reins, more gadgets, putting them in small spaces like horse

trailers), only makes matters worse, as does thinking we have to work through issues or even worse resorting to punishment.

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CalmHealthyHorses

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EQUINE FEATURE

21

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Farming

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Water charges a tax on us all I guess this article has to be about water or at least about who owns it, who uses it and what happens to the royalties (tax) when collected.

It worries the hell out of me when you open up the “who owns the water ‘box’?” because I have always believed no one owns it and everyone can use it.

Obviously, large users should be monitored and measured but charging for it, not so sure if it’s for the country’s benefit.

To the average person in town a water charge for someone using the water and making a profit from its use seems fine but really it’s just about everyone wanting a piece of the action.

If the figures are correct and stay as quoted, if a water royalty becomes a reality approximately $35 million will come out of Mid Canterbury farmers’ pockets - and also out of the our region’s pocket and that will affect the average person on the street.

I really feel this message has yet to get through to the average townie!

Further, if the money

Chris Murdoch

PROPERTY BROKERS

(tax) was to be claimed then how in hell’s name are we going to spend $35 million a year, year in and year out, on making Mid Canterbury rivers swimmable when they already are?

I guess if local government knew they were going to get $35 million a year, they could go out and borrow about $700 millon on day one. Now how would they spend that sort of money?

If there must be a water tax surely the money would be better spent on research and development, on irrigation, water flows, understanding nitrate leeching better, etc.

However, you and I both know where those dollars will end up - paying for city rivers and estuaries to be cleaned up.

Why should farmers’ tax dollars be used for an urban clean up?

What happened to the “those who muck it up, should clean it up” principle?

I like Chris Allen saying “taxes don’t fix problems, solutions fix problems”.

Irrigation does not cause pollution.

Recently we were lucky enough to have David Clark speak to us and one of his comments was that with irrigation, he applies about 1400mm of water per hectare per year.

The cost of the proposed tax on his business will be about $50,000 a year and yet a farm up the road that gets 1400mm of rainfall pays nothing.

Is the Labour Party telling me that the 1400mm rainfall as against, rainfall and irrigation, leach different amounts of nitrates when the same amount of water is applied?

All in all I hope that those who must be obeyed think long and hard about charging the irrigators of this county. A tax for the use of water is a tax on us all.

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SUSTAINABLE FARMING FEATURE

23

Aim for top crops NATURAL FERTILISERS

The relationship between fertilisers and palatability.

The soil is made up of numerous chemical elements where some of them are needed for the growth of plants. However, not all the plant requirements have to come out of the soil.

The major building block (carbon) comes out of the sky through photosynthesis.

When there is a good population of soil biology available nitrogen is taken out of the sky and a bit of rainfall will make it all grow.

However, the soil biology, being a very influential element, is not always being treated this way.

Viafos fertilisers are non-synthetic and co-operate with soil biology better. If the availability of the nutrients is good and in balance, it improves the palatability of the crop.

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In the photo above, you can see where in the paddock the drill ran out of Viafos K-PluS fertiliser. K-PluS is a blend of potassium, phosphate and sulphur in one non-acidic granule.

The newly launched K-PluS has proven itself to be a good drilling fertiliser. Secondly, the fertiliser you pick can have a great impact on the nutrient availability during the germination period.

Conventional fertilisers tend to be acidic.

When a seed is drilled with acidic fertiliser the nutrient availability is lowered due to the lowered pH in the germination zone. To prevent this, use Viafos fertilisers as they are alkaline and stimulate nutrient availability resulting in better crops.

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Farming

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TM

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Enzymatically Hydrolysed Liquid Fish Fertiliser NUTRIENTS FROM THE SEA FOR HEALTHIER SOILS, HEALTHIER PLANTS AND HEALTHIER ANIMALS

Unique enzymatic production process which allows all nutrients to be retained in their natural form.

Feeds important soil organisms such as beneficial bacteria and fungi – all essential for plant and soil health.

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Young New Zealander Alfred Duval has been launched onto the world stage, celebrated for his outstanding achievements as an emerging leader in sustainable forestry.

Duval was awarded the inaugural Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forestry in Rotorua at the NZ Institute of Forestry’s annual awards ceremony on Tuesday September 5.

The new prize was set up earlier this year, to reward and encourage a young New Zealand forestry professional working in the vital area of sustainable forest management.

Similar initiatives have been established in Australia and Canada.

Championed by The Prince of Wales, the award marks a new dawn for the forestry industry, in New Zealand and around the globe.

“This prestigious trophy puts a stake in the ground, and indicates to the next generation of leaders in our industry, the significance of sustainable environmental practices”, NZIF president James Treadwell said.

Duval, with his proven dedication to sustainable forestry, was the clear winner from a short list of high calibre candidates.

“Duval demonstrated an outstanding aptitude for sustainable

forestry management practice on the ground,” Treadwell said.

“He’s an emerging leader with the skills and commitment to inspire others in the industry to follow suit.”

Duval joins a select, but growing group of young leaders with a common passion for sustainable forestry, from throughout the Commonwealth.

These influential young changemakers, now have an international platform to exchange ideas, promote sustainability, and share their knowledge.

The Prince of Wales is a long-term supporter of young people and of sustainability, His Royal Highness said in a video message played at the New Zealand Institute of Forestry annual awards dinner in Rotorua.

“I have high hopes that these young men and women will be a catalyst for change, improving communication and collaboration between national forestry institutes, and ultimately helping to equip the forestry profession to deal wisely with the challenges we face now and in the future,” he said.

The award is a strong signal of the growing recognition that sustainable forestry management principles are valuable to mainstream industry practice

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27

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Farming

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BEE AWARE MONTH

A month to bee aware Bring out your bee costumes and gardening gloves – Bee Aware Month (BAM) is here.

This September, schools, councils, gardeners and bee enthusiasts all over the country will be getting involved in generating awareness about bees.

Apiculture New Zealand (ApiNZ) is running the annual event, a month-long campaign designed to educate New Zealanders about bees and celebrate their vital role in New Zealand’s biodiversity and economy.

Kiwifruit, feijoas, chili peppers and coffee are just a few things that we wouldn’t have without bees, ApiNZ said, adding that about 75 per cent of the world’s food crops depend at least in part on pollination, with the honey bee the most widespread managed pollinator globally.

This year’s theme, Pollination Illumination, is all about shining a spotlight on the benefits bees provide through pollination.

“The pollination story is significant to New Zealand, not only in agriculture and

horticulture but in the role native bees play in maintaining our unique biodiversity,” Karin Kos, ApiNZ chief executive, said.

New Zealand’s smaller native

bees, of which there are 29 species, play an important role in pollinating native flora such as pohutukawa and harakeke.

Kos said that people in both rural and urban spaces can

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play a part in helping bees do their job by creating safe and nourishing spaces for them.

This means growing beefriendly plants and minimising the use of sprays.

Anyone interested in BAM can get involved and keep upto-date with what’s happening via the Bee Aware Month Facebook page and the ApiNZ website BAM page.

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BEE AWARE MONTH

29

Three cheers for the honey bee A recent opinion piece by “Bugman” Ruud Kleinpaste about the threat the honey bee poses to native bees has prompted a response by Apiculture New Zealand (ApiNZ).

The bee industry organisation said Kleinpaste certainly knew how to get a rise out of people, noting that more than a few beekeepers got hot under their protective veils after his recent article titled Honeybees are an invasive threat to native bees.

“We at Apiculture New Zealand are unashamedly here to stick up for the hardworking honey bee and believe that native bees and honey bees can live in harmony, and that there’s room for all,” ApiNZ said.

As Kleinpaste pointed out in his article and in previous articles, the honey bee is by far the world’s most important pollinator of human food crops, with about one-third of our food having some sort of input from these insects.

“Honey bees also produce that amazing and nutritious food source, honey, which is one of the oldest, natural foods known to humans,” ApiNZ said.

“Today, there’s a lot more uses of honey beyond spreading it on your toast and adding to the hot, soothing lemon drink. Increasingly, we are seeing New Zealand honey, particularly manuka honey, widely used in supplements, in skincare, and in exciting new developments around medicinal products, including wound dressings.

But enough about the honey, let’s get back to the honey bee.

“In New Zealand, their role as pollinators is critical, particularly in the production of our growing horticulture industry, including apples, pears, kiwifruit and stone fruit,

as well as the commercial vegetable seed industry and indeed the clover pollination of all our farmlands,” ApiNZ said.

“Honey bees tend to be in these types of place whereas the native bees seem to prefer a more undisturbed landscape.

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“We think that’s nothing to be ashamed about and much that should be celebrated.

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ApiNZ also said people should not forget the enjoyment and pleasure hobbyist beekeepers around the country get from having bees and producing their own honey. The growth of beehive numbers around the country includes a lot of New Zealanders looking to enjoy a few hives in their backyards.

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“We think there’s a place for the honey bee and the native bee, and as Ruud himself admits, the truth is we know little about the native bee. It’s great that we’re starting to see research on the native bee but let’s get more facts about them before we turn on the honey bee. Our friendly little bees are certainly no bully in the bee world.”

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BEE AWARE MONTH

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Celebrating the honey bee with TranzApline Honey When spring begins, it marks an idyllic time in this wonderful region, full of open spaces and world-renowned landscapes. As the warmth of the season rolls through the mountains, the north-westerly wind blows, caressing the flora, marking the start of the beekeeping season.

Bees will shortly start collecting the fresh pollen from the flowers that bloom across the beautiful South Island of New Zealand.

TranzAlpine Honey, a Canterbury based and locallyowned beekeeping operation, produces unique, certified organic honey renowned around the world for its outstanding taste and health benefits.

Spring is an important time of the year for beekeepers and their bees. After getting through the winter, where bee numbers in hives drops, spring is the time where bee numbers build again. It’s very important the bees across Canterbury have access to good sources of pollen in spring, general manager Yuriy Soshnikov said.

With the new season approaching, TranzAlpine beekeepers can be seen across the region preparing its’ hives for the new harvest.

Organic honey will again be harvested in remote areas of the Canterbury high country and West Coast, away from the agrichemicals that unfortunately have become commonplace in modern, intensive farming practices.

However, producing organic honey is much more than simply avoiding chemicals, synthetic additives and excessive heating. It is also about total product traceability from the very beginning of

A beekeeper checks hives and bees in an isolated part of the PHOTOS SUPPLIED Canterbury High Country.

production until it reaches the consumer.

Bee diseases and intensive agriculture’s growth has meant many beekeepers have opted out of the industry,as it is easier producing conventional honey and not having to fulfil organic requirements.

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People have become more aware of the advantages of consuming organic produce, and supermarkets are increasingly catering for those who wants to buy organic products. On top of that there is also a greater understanding of the importance of protecting the natural environment.

With a trustworthy beekeeping heritage passed down through generations, hidden within the hills of this magical land, TranzAlpine Honey is proud to be able to produce some of the finest organic honeys in the world.

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31

New Zealand to host conference The International Tri-Conference for Precision Agriculture is being held in Hamilton next month.

Hosted by the Precision Agricultural Association of New Zealand, the event is a forum for researchers, growers and farmers to meet, discuss, influence and learn from some of the most influential people in precision agriculture research and application from around the world.

Being held at the Claudelands Conference and Exhibition Centre from October 16 to 18, it will incorporate the seventh Asian-Australasian Conference on Precision Agriculture (ACPA), the first Asian-Australasian Conference on Precision Agriculture and Livestock Farming and Digital Farmer and Grower 2017.

The ACPA is one of three international precision agriculture conferences that are conducted biannually as part of a series – each held in different locations around the world.

At the ACPA, scientists will present and discuss the research and development of

precision agriculture.

The conference will include field trips to view practical examples of ongoing precision agriculture and horticulture in New Zealand.

In collaboration with the ACPA, the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia will hold a symposium on arable production using precision agriculture.

Presentations from keynote presenters will include: a world view, diversity and

advancement, automisation, hands-free robot fields, and proximal and remote crop sensing.

The conference on precision pasture and livestock farming, which is being held simultaneously with the other two events, will highlight knowledge and tools for managing pasture and animals.

Presentations from keynote speakers will include what can be learnt from utilising developing countries; precision

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medicine, what can it offer; and benefits, limitations and expectations of animal-based farm information management systems.

The main focus of the third conference, Digital Farmer and Grower 2017, is to demonstrate how to adapt precision agriculture technologies for use in production systems.

It will also address how practitioners can meet growing demands of consumers by the use of precision technolo-

gies and ensure future sustainability.

Three sessions over two days will cover precision agriculture adaptation and use for permanent crops, arable crops, and pastures and livestock. A fourth session will examine ways precision agriculture already helps farmers and growers to produce “within limits”.

There are two post conference tours being held in conjunction with ACPA, beginning on October 19.

The first tour will take in the central North Island, including Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo and Hawke’s Bay, offering a variety of farming, viticulture, horticulture and agritech visits.

There’s also a South Island tour, which starts and ends in Christchurch. Those who take part will visit the central South Island, viewing a robotic dairy system, precision arable production, variable rate irrigation, while also finding out more about new fertiliser product technology.

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Soil organism survival a wake-up call Tiny creatures in soil that attack plants have shown the ability to survive for at least three years stored in dry conditions in a recent AgResearch study, giving new insights into the biosecurity threats posed by passenger travel and trade between countries.

The findings of the study also add to the discussions about how best to detect these creatures, called nematodes, before they cross borders and potentially reduce yields of important crops and pasture.

Nematodes are very small worm-like organisms. They can be extremely hardy and can have both beneficial and detrimental impacts.

The harmful ones, the plant parasitic nematodes (PPN), include species that attack plants reducing their growth and survival.

In the study, funded

by AgResearch via the Better Border Biosecurity collaboration, soil collected from a native forest and an organic orchard were stored separately in cupboards at room temperature for a period of 36 months.

Samples were then taken at regular intervals to see if any nematodes could be recovered from the soil and, if they could, whether they were able to infect plant hosts.

“In the study we used different methods to detect nematodes — including a water misting technique to draw them out of the soil, and a baiting method — where we grew white clover and ryegrass plants in pots containing a soil sample,” explain the authors.

“One of the PPN we looked at was

the root lesion nematode. What we found was that lesion nematodes were able to successfully invade the roots of ryegrass even after 36 months,” AgResearch nematologist Lee Aalders said.

“They were also able to produce offspring at 13 months. Interestingly, no PPN were recovered from soil stored beyond the 13th month using the three-day misting technique.”

This means that given the right conditions, PPN in soil, which is carried on sea freight, footwear or used machinery, and protected from sun or extreme heat, will survive if they end up near a suitable host plant. This is a result that may not be detected using an extraction test like misting.

For quarantine officials around the world, this result is an important find, as it reinforces the risk associated with soil that, even though it may look sterile, unwanted nematodes may be present in and undetected until paired with a suitable host plant.

“In the context of biosecurity, we think that the development of a generic test for plant parasitic nematodes–based around a molecular based bioassay — would enhance the probability of detection of PPNs and, therefore, prevent unwanted incursions beyond the border.”

Earlier this year, another AgResearch study into the survival rates of various transported soil organisms concluded that biosecurity risks from soil organisms will increase with declining transport duration and increasing protection from environmental extremes.

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35

Recycle more – waste less With the September roll-out of the wheelie bin recycling system, recycling just got so much easier in Ashburton.

In other areas, combining clean plastic bottles and containers, all paper, cardboard and cans, as well as loose and empty clean plastic shopping bags, into the one recycling bin has increased recycling volumes by more than 50 per cent.

Glass is collected separately so it can be colour-sorted and sent to Auckland to be recycled into new bottles and jars to support New Zealand manufactured glass, which proudly has a 62 per cent recycled content.

Recycle more and waste less is the general aim. The red lidded bin for general waste/ non recyclable items may seem small to some households. So what can be done to reduce your rubbish?

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This will keep out the sunlight, increase the warmth and give you a great crop, as well as attracting earthworms to your soil.

Stop spraying your lawns so you can use the lawn clippings as a mulch and a compost layer for heat and moisture.

Single-use plastic bags seem to be capturing the headlines.

A campaign led by Wellington

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Mayor Justin Lester is calling on the government for a charge on bags, with the vast majority of the nation’s mayors signing on in support.

It’s also struck a chord with the public, where a petition by Samuel Marsden Collegiate students that calls for a 10 cent charge on plastic bags has gained more than 10,000 signatures.

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And why do we even put up with single-use bags that are not strong enough to carry several glass bottles?

So if we could get people to stop and think about their consumption, even if in just a small way, shouldn’t we do that?

And there’s a pretty simple solution for single-use plastic bags, one that’s tried and true - a compulsory levy at the point of sale.

In England, plastic bag use dropped more than 85 per cent after a charge of 5 pence was introduced. Kenya and

All welcome. Inquiries call 0800 627824 some other African countries have gone one step further and totally banned single use plastic bags.

It remains to be seen what will happen here with plastic shopping bags. The proposed levy allows flexibility and gives people freedom of choice - they can still have their bag if they pay for it.

And as shown in England, paying for bags does make a difference.

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Trip provides different perspective In the middle 10 days of August, while it was raining, flooding and recharging groundwater in Canterbury, it was the complete opposite in Washington state in the USA. A few days there brought back memories and reminded me that not all farming is as intensive as it is in Canterbury, but that it’s equally as stressful.

I was in the US visiting our key suppliers of soil moisture equipment, while also stopping off to see longtime friends near Pullman, in the south-east of Washington state.

There was no rain, in fact quite the opposite, with a temperature of 33 degrees on arrival in Spokane at 9.30pm, and 40.5° in Walla Walla the next day.

I managed to get to sit in our long-time friend’s combine for the last 50 acres of their 2600 acre wheat harvest near Pullman. It was hot again and ended a continuous harvest, with not a day lost in three weeks.

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by their standards (about 70 bushels/acre), they were pretty pleased with their harvest, averaging about 100 bushels/acre (about 6.7 T/ha).

Not a bad yield for dryland winter-sown wheat despite the “heat wave” of the previous six or so weeks. The club wheat variety is a soft white variety bred for and grown almost exclusively in the Pacific Northwest and is mostly used in the production of cookies/biscuits, cakebaking (especially Japanese sponge cake) and noodles.

The Palouse is a 50,000-square-kilometre area of fertile rolling hills with deep loess (up to 75m thick) lying over basalt lava flows.

It is “fun” harvesting (well any mechanical work) on these hills, sitting horizontal

In the United States, wheat is trucked to a co-op facility to be plastic wrapped.

and looking down at the draper front on what seems an unnatural angle. The use of a draper front is a more recent addition to their arsenal for wheat harvest, allowing them to leave little stubble behind for the direct drilling of the next wheat crop.

For the “iron diseased” readers, there is nothing different in machinery, just a different environment – 4WD CASE 8230 header, 40 foot draper front, tracked tractor (CASE again), 400 bushel (11T) bank-out wagon (I think we call them field bins?) and

semi-trailer trucks.

They were trucking to a Pacific Northwest Farmers Co-op facility, where the elevators were mostly full of club and hard red winter wheat, with two 500,000 bushel or 13,600T stockpiles to be plastic wrapped!

I’m sure I couldn’t finish this article without the inevitable – what do they get paid? The spot price varies from day to day. On August 14 when I was at Genesee, club wheat was worth $US5.60/bushel and, if my maths are right, the equivalent of $US206/T.

However, the grower sending to Genesee doesn’t get this amount because everything is moved from the Pacific coast to the market and they pay $US0.73/bushel in transport, reducing their gross to $US179/T. Do they make money? Well my long-time friend wasn’t sure but could probably work it out. However, he did know he made good money from their only other crop garbanzo beans (chick peas).

When I left they had begun to spray off 1600 acres of garbs for harvest in about 10 days.

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Case IH MXU115 X 5247 Hrs

$52,000 + GST

Shibaura 6340

6385 Hrs

3625Hrs

$11,000 + GST

$69,000 + GST

$97,000 + GST

Case IH 1680 Axial Flow

Case IH 2188

$65,00 + GST

$120,000+GST

Case IH 8010 Axial Flow

Case IH 8575 3’ x 3’

Paddon CR16V Rake

$19,000 + GST

Howard 2.4mtr Rotary Hoe

$22,000 + GST

Robertson Little Ripper Bale Feeder

$250,000 + GST

Pottinger 10.11T Tedder ex Demo

$35,000 + GST

Bogballe M2W Speader c/w Scales

3.5mtr cut, New Machine

Tidy

New

$14,500 + GST

$6,000 + GST

$16,000+GST

Kverneland Maxitil

Alpego RH300 Power Harrow Rear packer roller, very tidy

McIntosh CP900SF

Goweil G3020Q

Amazone Cirrus 4001

5 mtr working width with tine Harrows

$22,000 + GST

$30,000 + GST

$40,000 + GST

11200 bales

$45,000 + GST

$8,500 + GST

$23,000 + GST

Silage Wagon

Profi Bale Wrapper

For more information, or to view any of our tractors, contact: Ashburton 03 307 8027 Amberley 03 314 9055 Leeston 03 324 3791 Timaru 03 688 2179 www.cochranes.net.nz

$21,000 + GST

Super 4mtr Drill c/w Rear Rollers

38 2

Farming

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Four out of five New Zealand native

Wrybill chicks face an uncertain future: the government department charged with managing our PHOTO CRAIG MCKENZIE braided rivers does little to control weeds or predators.

We hear a lot about the trouble many of New Zealand’s birds face. Most people know that the kiwi – our national bird – is rare. Most kiwi chicks face almost certain death from stoats if they aren’t in an area that has significant pest control.

The cheeky kea, New Zealand’s alpine parrot, is rarer than the kiwi. It nests in hollows in the ground so is very susceptible to attack by predators. On the ocean, away from introduced rats, stoats and cats, the story is different but not any better – many penguin species are in decline and more than 15,000 seabirds every year are killed in commercial fishing nets and longlines.

Of our 168 native birds, four out of five are in trouble.

One-third sit on the brink of extinction. The main problems are predators, habitat loss and fishing techniques. Our native bird decline has reached a crisis, and many government departments aren’t helping.

There’s no doubt our native birds, especially the 93 endemic species (ones that

Mary Ralston

FOREST AND BIRD

only live in New Zealand) have features that make them especially vulnerable. Being flightless, laying eggs on the ground, having a single egg (unlike sparrows that can have multiple eggs and clutches) and no built-in fear of predators puts them on the back foot when faced with a hungry cat.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Jan Wright, wrote a report recently on the dire predicament facing our birds. She commended the government on its Predator Free 2050 initiative, but stressed that we need a plan – and funding – to realise this vision.

“We need sustained control of predators over more large areas, so that bigger

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Neumanns Tyres will attend to your tyre requirements anywhere and anytime in Mid Canterbury

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www.guardianonline.co.nz

39

birds in trouble populations of birds can thrive.

Small isolated bird populations can become inbred,” Wright said.

A major underlying environmental issue is that many government departments aren’t funded or directed to protect the environment.

The Predator Free 2050 goal doesn’t seem to be a priority for the government: the Department of Conservation is woefully underfunded for widescale and sustained pest control and other departments that should be managing significant areas of habitat for native birds – such as LINZ (Land Information New Zealand) – are not doing it.

LINZ is meant to manage the riverbeds that are home to many of our rare birds – black-billed gulls, stilts, wrybills, dotterels, terns – but they are very much missing when it comes to controlling the weeds that choke the riverbeds and provide cover for predators.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is in the conflicting situation of both promoting and policing the

commercial fishing fleet. It could do a lot more to stop the by-catch of birds. The Ministry of Business and Innovation (MBIE) is promoting mining in areas of extremely high conservation value, such as the Buller Plateau on the West Coast.

The government needs to prioritise conservation, not set it up to fail. We need a wholeof-government approach to this crisis, not a token or piecemeal effort.

To get to a Predator Free New Zealand by 2050, and save our precious native wildlife, we have to give it our best shot.

Above - The Antipodean Albatross is one of the seabird species vulnerable to PHOTO SUPPLIED longline fishing.

Left - Black-billed gulls are one of our special local birds that nest on the Ashburton River.

We are the experts in:

Underpasses Laneways Effluent Ponds

Phone Dave Rowlands 027 484 1114 Diesel Workshop direct line: 308 7400

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40 2

Farming

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FRIDAY 6th OCTOBER WALKER & HUSQVARNA RIDE-ON MOWER

DEMO DAY Alex Wood from CLAAS Harvest Centre in Tinwald, would like to invite you to the dealership between 10am and 3pm on Friday 6th of October for a chance to demo his range of Walker and Husqvarna mowers. There will also be a range of other products on display, like the brand new Husqvarna Water Blasters.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

- Learn about The Walker Advantage Come and join me at CLAAS Harvest Centre Main South Road, Tinwald, Ashburton For more information on the Demo Day or Products and Services we offer Contact: Alex Wood - 03 307 9400 | 027 4384 377 www.walkermowers.co.nz

www.husqvarna.com