Dairy Focus October 2014

Dairy Focus OCTOBER, 2014

Positive industry Pages 3-5 outlook Mid Canterbury farmer Jeremy Duckmanton shares his thoughts on the Dairy Industry Awards.

Phone: 027 255 8501 Scott

Photo Joseph Johnson

2

Matt Jones

Grant Davies

Fred Hoekstra

Farming Dairy Focus

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Staff matters – Matt Jones looks at the looming staff shortage in the agricultural sector.

P18

A brokers view – Grant Davies talks about the upside for non-farmer investors in the Fonterra shareholders’ fund.

P21

Veehof Dairy Services – Fred Hoekstra tells us why prevention is better than cure.

P20

COMMENT FROM EDITOR

F

STAFF MATTERS

A BROKER’S VIEW

VEEHOF DAIRY SERVICES

alling milk prices have come as no surprise to most farmers.

Commentators have been predicting price drops from last season’s record payout Michelle Nelson for months.

By-and-large seasoned dairy farmers seem to have taken the news in their stride; they’ve seen it all before.

But for those who have recently entered the industry, or are in the midst of converting the news has got steadily worse.

Fonterra’s forecast farmgate price for this season started at $7kg/MS – a steep dip from the $8.40kg/MS achieved last season, but still a strong price.

Now down to the $5.30 mark confidence levels also sliding – down to a two-year low, according to Rabobank.

Confidence in rural communities has also been shaken by a predicted $5 billion hit.

With the country’s economy so dependent on dairying, the businesses which can ride this out without impact will be few and far between – less money in means less money to spend.

Farmers in all sectors tend to be resilient: They have to be, they are at the mercy of volatile commodity markets, the weather, imminent

environmental regulations and a myriad of other factors.

However, recent rural suicide statistics point to the fact that RURAL in some case this EDITOR perceived resilience might only be skin deep. Since 2007, 169 farmers have committed suicide, compared with 112 who have died from farming-related incidents, a fact Federated Farmers health and safety spokesperson Katie Milne describes as a national disgrace.

This calls for us all to be mindful of family members, friends and neighbours – don’t be afraid to ask if they are okay.

And if concern mounts, ask for help. Make an appointment with your doctor, or pick up the phone and call one of the following services: ■ ■

■ ■

Lifeline: 0800 543-354 — offers 24 hour telephone counselling Youthline: 0800 376-633 or free text 234 — offers 24-hour telephone and text counselling services for young people.

Samaritans: 0800 726-666 — offers 24 hour telephone counselling.

Tautoko: 0508 828-865 — offers support, information and resources to people at risk of suicide, and their family, whanau and friends.

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CONTACTS We appreciate your feedback.

Editor Email your comments to michelle.n@theguardian.co.nz or phone 03 307 7971.

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Duckmanton: Dairy awards boost business T here are many reasons to enter the Dairy Industry Awards, according to Mid Canterbury dairy farmer Jeremy Duckmanton.

The competition is free to enter; you get free expert advice, you have an opportunity to jump start your career; you can win great prizes; you will meet some of the most positive, progressive people in the industry; the national awards dinner is the equivalent of the dairy industry Oscars.

Jeremy and his fiancé Stacey Evans have stepped up as managers for the Canterbury/ North Otago region for the 2015 awards.

The couple, who have four children, Jack, 11, Isla, 9, Alice, 7, and 10-month-old Gabbie, are in their second

Michelle Nelson

RURAL EDITOR

season as 50/50 sharemilkers for Murray Marshall, milking 1000 cows through an 80-bail rotary shed on a Thompsons Track property. The operation employs four fulltime staff.

“We were lower order sharemilkers in Dorie for five years before that,” Jeremy said.

“During that time I entered the Dairy Industry Awards.

In 2009 I came third in the sharemilker of the year category – in the regional competition. continued over page

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Farming Dairy Focus

from page 3 The following year Jeremy won the regional award and came second in the national competition.

“I’ve been on the committee since then – in general roles, including judging.

“I credit the competition as the reason I’ve got this job.

The contacts I’ve made and the networking that comes with the competition enabled me to get a 50/50 sharemilking job which hadn’t even been advertised.

“Such jobs are few and far between these days, with high land prices putting many farmers off the idea.

“Our farm owner thinks he gets better performance from a 50/50 arrangement – and to be fair when you’ve got $2.5 million invested it’s easy to get out of bed in the morning.

“We are determined to work through that path to farm ownership in the future.”

Jeremy said he’s stayed involved with the awards because it keeps him in touch with the top 25 per cent of farmers in the industry – who tend to be the most positive people.

“That’s not to say there aren’t positive farmers out there who don’t enter the awards, but being involved is a great

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networking opportunity.

“Being around positive people keeps us positive about the dairy industry.

“Now we are employing staff ourselves we are able to give them a start.

“Looking at land ownership, we are right in the front of the push to keep the industry moving forward.

“At the time you think what amazing prizes, but it keeps on giving. Winning was just the beginning of our profile, and that keeps us involved with many aspects of the community, it separates you from everyone else.

“If you enter the competition you are seen as a go-getter to prospective employers looking for positive people, it helps you stand out from other candidates.

Facing a low payout year is even more incentive to enter the Dairy Industry Awards, Jeremy says.

“There is a misconception this year is that the payout is down and businesses will be less profitable than last year so I won’t enter – that couldn’t be further from the truth – it’s an opportunity to let good management stand out.

“Professionally, anyone who enters gets a lot of free advice

Jeremy Duckmanton credits entering the Dairy Industry Awards as the reason he has been able to 121014-JJ-002 rise through the ranks to a 50/50 sharemilking position.

from very experienced people in the industry about how to improve your business. They have generally been through the competition themselves, and are very supportive.

Any criticism is done in a

constructive way.

“Even if the property is a bit rundown it’s an opportunity to prove what you have done.

“We have a farm that’s only five years old. It would be hard to say I did all that because it

was all set up when we came here.

“You are judged on what’s available to you. A farm manager is not expected to refence the farm or build a new shed. The judging is based on

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Farming is a family affair for Stacey Evans and Jeremy Duckmanton, pictured with (from left) Jack, 11, Isla, 9, Alice, 7, and Gabbie, 10 121014-JJ-012 months.

how you manage what you’ve got to work with.

“I had only been sharemilking for three months when I entered for the first time. In the first year of my business it was great to get

excellent advice.

“This flows on from the dairy trainee section, to farm managers to sharemilkers and helps shortcut your career through to the next level.

“Another aspect I really

benefited from was the public speaking component. Running a farm means dealing with people, so the more confident you are when communicating the easier it is.

“And analysing your

business – in terms of human resources, health and safety, pasture management and all the different aspects – is very useful.

“If you can present to the judges how you are going, you

are going to get some feedback, which can be quite specific to various areas you would like to improve on.

“Regardless of where you finish in the competition, your business will be better and so will your career opportunities.

“The majority who have been really successful at the national level have entered the competition multiple times.

There have been some who get through to the nationals the first time around, but they probably don’t get as much out of the competition.

“I entered once and our business improved, I entered again and it moved further ahead.

“Time wise, you are really just presenting what you do on a daily basis.”

Entries to the Dairy Industry Awards opened this week and will close on November 30, earlier than previous years to enable all entries to be finalised before Christmas.

Entries received before November 10 will go in the draw for a prize valued at $1000 in each region.

Next year’s award dinner will be held at the Wigram Airforce Museum – which promises to be a fantastic event celebrating the best in the business.

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Farming Dairy Focus

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Lincoln dairy farm trials s

By Michelle NelsoN michelle.n@theguardian.co.nz

T

rials on a nilinfrastructure, lowinput system at the Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) are showing positive results.

Facing potential tight nitrogen restrictions in Environment Canterbury’s Selwyn Waihora zone, the aim is to increase productivity without increasing the farm’s environmental footprint, by replicating the work done on the Lincoln University Research Dairy Farm (the research farm).

“We had two options – one was to put in some infrastructure so we could keep stock off certain paddocks – soils – at certain times of the year, and control nitrogen loses by restricted grazing,” South Island Dairy Development Centre executive director Ron Pellow said.

“Or the other was to try

and run a nil-infrastructure, low-input which we hoped would be as profitable based on the research farm.

“So after all sorts of discussion we’ve decided to run, as much as we can, an identical system to the Pastoral 21 system on the research farm.”

This year the LUDF is stocking 3.5 cows per hectare, using fertiliser 150kg of nitrogen per hectare, and 200kg dry matter of imported supplements per cow, aiming for 500kg/MS per cow.

“The data is mimicking what they have been able to do on a small scale, with a 560-cow herd here on a 160ha milking platform,” Mr Pellow said.

“It’s exciting where we are to date and we are well set up to keep delivering good results but it is a journey.

“It is quite different to what we’ve done in the past.

We are trying maximize profit within our historical footprint, and we have

changed some of the tactics to achieve that.”

The farm’s environmental footprint encompasses the milking platform and the support land for wintering and the supplements, such as the brought-in silage.

“What we are trying to do this year, to use just enough nitrogen to grow as much grass as possible, in line with this system that we are trying to run – that is to upscale the P21 research, to be as profitable as we were here,

when we were operating a more intensive system.

“We certainly won’t grow as much grass as we possibly could – we know that.”

There are no plans to grow supplements on farm to reduce costs.

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howing positive results ‘Not a lot to trim’ out of budget

T

PHOTO MICHELLE NELSON 141014-MN-030

South Island Dairy Development Centre executive director Ron Pellow takes questions from the audience at the Lincoln University Dairy Farm spring field day.

he initial budget for this season on the Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) was based on a $6.10 milk payout.

When the forecast fell to $5.30, it was reviewed lineby-line, but there was not a lot to trim, farm manager Peter Hancox said.

The budget was pared back in February, in the face of higher nitrogen loses than in past years.

Tough management decisions resulted in culling 11 per cent off stock numbers, knocking 5.2 per cent off the budget.

Silage feeding also stopped in February, and in the first week of March cows were being streamed into a once-aday milking herd.

By mid-April the whole herd was on once a day milking, and in the first week of May more than half the

usual 550-cow herd was still in milk.

“With that we were looking at about $4 working expenses, that is achievable if we do the production – if we don’t it really impacts on our bottom line and our income,” Mr Hancox said.

“In light of the payout drop

“

“We didn’t see anything we could cut out – a lot of the expenses are fixed, obviously by the time we found out what the payout was we had already done our winter grazing, which is one of our bigger costs.”

The only major change this year was the decision

We didn’t see anything we could cut out – a lot of the expenses are fixed

we have gone through that budget again – this farm is already running a very low input system, and using less N and less supplement this season, so it was very hard to see what we could take out, however we ranked where the highest expenses were and asked what we could cut out.

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not to go ahead with the AI synchronisation of the heifers, which has delivered positive results in the past.

“The payout swayed us this year, but they are at a different grazier this year, and the handling facilities were not adequate. If they had been we probably still gone in

and AI’d them on a daily basis and obtained some genetic gain from that,” Mr Hancox.

“We couldn’t afford to cut out fertiliser or reduce AI mating – and trying to save money this year by reducing repairs and maintenance would probably result in higher costs in the future.

“We were very mindful of that – but we very deliberately went through the budget line-by-line to see what we could change in terms of the payout. But it was pretty much fixed, based on the payout.”

Staffing costs account for 23 per cent of the budget, but there are no plans for adjustment.

“In time we might find smarter ways of running it if we continue with the number of cows that we current have, or make further refinements – but not mid-season.”

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Farming Dairy Focus

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Don’t forget irrigation basics

S

uccessful irrigation is about optimising the returns from water applied to pasture. While the irrigation season has only just started, several basic aspects can be commonly overlooked according to Jeremy Burgess, Synlait Milk’s environmental advisor.

“It’s a busy time of year for farmers, but everyone should stop and double check they have the irrigation basics right. Some things may have changed since last season, and it makes sense to adjust for these from the start,” Mr Burgess said.

Conditions of water supply, measuring and reporting water use, managing water supply restrictions and teaching good irrigation practices are four aspects Mr Burgess believes should be addressed now.

“Firstly, make sure you understand all the conditions of your water supply agreement or resource consent. Check in with Environment Canterbury (ECan) or your supplier if you’re unsure,” Mr Burgess

said. “Make sure your staff know these conditions too, particularly if you have new team members. They might not know limits for the amount and timing of water you can use.”

Establish the measuring and reporting methods that work best for you to save headaches throughout the season, adds Mr Burgess.

“Since Resource Management Act regulations were introduced in 2010, all irrigated farms must measure and report on how much water is used. Farms with a water take greater than 20 litres/ second must use meters.”

From November 10, 2014, meters must be installed on

water takes at a flow rate of 10–20 litres/second. Water takes at a flow rate of 5–10 litres/second will also need to be metered from November 2016.

“If you have a service provider collecting water meter data on your behalf, make sure you review this information before it’s sent to ECan.” Mr Burgess advocates contingency planning for water restrictions to manage their impact on production losses.

A possible scenario might be low river levels, which could result in surface water supplies being restricted or shut off.

“While these restrictions

are often beyond your control, having a plan in place will help you manage your bottom line. It’ll also help to avoid noncompliance,” Mr Burgess said.

One of the most common things overlooked in irrigation management is staff training, which Mr Burgess says can make or break a good irrigation season.

He also points out using water effectively and efficiently prevents wasting both water resources and energy required to pump and distribute it.

“Farm staff who aren’t familiar with dairying in Canterbury may not know about our irrigation methods or the priority it holds in

terms of an environmental resource,” Mr Burgess said.

“It’s also a good idea to keep existing staff refreshed with training every now and again to support their upskilling and development.”

Mr Burgess points out Synlait encourages their suppliers to monitor Irrigation New Zealand’s and DairyNZ websites for news and training events that will benefit their farms and staff.

“Irrigation is a critical component of successful dairying in Canterbury, so it makes sense that the more efficiently it operates, the more productive the farm will be,” Mr Burgess said.

Irrigation New Zealand will be holding an Irrigation Operator and Manager training course on November 7 in Dunsandel. The course is aimed at improving the skills and knowledge of those in Canterbury who use irrigation equipment.

Full details for the course and further information on irrigation system management can be found online at www. irrigationnz.co.nz

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Rates go down to push up renewal T

here’s never been a better time than this spring to take advantage of all the benefits of no-till pasture renewal, thanks to a special finance offer from one of New Zealand’s leading seed drill manufacturers.

For a limited time Duncan Ag in South Canterbury has extended payment terms and cut interest rates on its drills to 2.9 per cent to make it easier for farmers to gear up with the best equipment for spring sowing.

That means even the newest Renovator drill, the Renovator TFD, is now available for a third down, with the balance due in two payments over the following 24 months.

“Pastures in some parts of the country - particularly Northland - have taken a beating this season, so a lot of farmers are already looking to do more spring repair and restoration work on their paddocks than they normally would at this time of the year,” Duncan Ag general manager Craig McIsaac said.

“We’re keen to support them in getting their grass factories back up to full speed.

We also want to put the best no-till technology within easy reach of farmers nationwide, with all the associated benefits that brings in terms of improved soil health, reduced soil erosion and increased soil moisture retention.

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farmers are realising the importance of protecting their soils as their most valuable asset, and no-till farming is becoming the rule rather than the exception for anyone who wants to leave their ground in better shape than they found it.”

There are 10 core models in the Duncan Ag seed drill range which qualify for the

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Our service is personalised for you F

uel Storage Systems is a Mid Canterburybased company which has gained a countrywide reputation for products and service.

Run by Ed and Leah Harrison, the company started manufacturing diesel tanks in 2007, to an Environmental Protection Authority's HSNO (Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act) Approved Code of Practice.

They are the only plastic units on the New Zealand market that comply with these tough requirements.

With Ed handling sales, and Leah taking care of the administration and marketing, the couple run an efficient operation, employing two people in production and delivery.

“Our initial launch in the market was with our Sebco 2300 Diesel Station. Since then we have grown the product range to include 9500l, 4800l, 1300l and 500l units,” Leah said.

Sebco Diesel Stations are bunded tanks that house diesel in an insulated clean

environment that virtually eliminates condensation.

The diesel tank inners are made of a special resin, and as they are plastic, no rotting or rusting occurs, providing a sterile environment for fuel and are safe and secure to operate.

All product resins have a high UV rating.

As well as supplying various sizes of diesel stations, the company product range has grown to include transportable tanks for the back of utes, tanks for storing and dispensing the diesel exhaust fluid AdBlue for new SCR engines, and waste oil recovery units.

The AdBlue systems were developed to meet national emission standards which require any new truck or tractor sold to comply.

“We design and manufacture all our products ourselves,” Leah said.

The plastic inners and bunds are roto-moulded by Ashburton-based RX Plastics.

The pumps, wiring, measuring systems and other components are installed in

the Fuel Storage Systems’ workshop.

“We are New Zealand owned and operated and proudly based in Mid Canterbury, supplying quality products which are reliable, secure and safe, meeting the market demands.

“Our service is personalised - the end user deals with the right people, and we deliver from factory to all over the country, using our own vehicles and staff.

“Our customers love our products–they make life easy for them, and ensure their fuel and other products are housed correctly meeting both legal and health and safety requirements.

“Customers dealing with Fuel Storage Systems deal directly with us the designer and manufacturer, which they enjoy.

“We are able to answer all their questions regarding products, suitability for the required application, whether that is farming or industry, and we can give advice on compliancy laws.”

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truck delivering full-time, and into the North Island every two or three weeks.

With an 0800 number customers have access to backup assistance at any time.

“We find though that once these units are up and running we don’t have a lot of instances where we need to revisit. If we do, no problem.”

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL Stuart Russell, of Ngatimaru Farming, thought he was in for a long, hard slog when he suspected he had the fuel-damaging diesel bug in his 2000 gallon overhead tank.

The tank was central to his self-sustaining dairy farm–he had three tractors, two utes and a family car to fuel–and uncertain fuel quality would have been a major setback.

But his fears were dispelled just moments into a phone call to Ed Harrison at Sebco Fuel Storage Systems.

“My personal experience with them was quite unbelievable, brilliant really,” Mr Russell said.

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said I thought I had diesel bug in my tank and that I’d have to change it.

“I thought I might be in for a wait but he called the production manager, and half an hour later called back to say he’ll be out at about 2pm in the afternoon.

“I couldn’t believe it – he was there at 2.05pm (with the new tank).”

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2 12

Farming Dairy Focus

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Benefiting from optimising your herd

By Rensinus schippeR

C

alving is nearly finished and preparations are made for the mating period just around the corner.

Time also needs to be set aside to have the first herd test done. With all these things happening during this short period before mating, things that are important are often set aside for another time and then end up being forgotten about.

Before mating starts, it is critical that we know what the current production of the herd is and more importantly, how we use this information.

In October the first round of herd tests are done to see what the herd is producing from those cows that have calved. Sometimes not all cows are included and most of the time a few cows are left off due to human error eg spilling of the sample during testing or incomplete records on the animal database.

When the results come back this information is reviewed by the farmer. Long lists of cow age, calving date, breed, milk components and production are put in a folder and left on the kitchen table for all those to see what the cows are doing.

The information that comes from a herd test is usually only averaged for the whole herd and the lactation groups, however so much more can be done with the information provided. When I look at the information I like to know how many have fallen below the average range and most times the answer is that too many have not reached the production we come to expect from the age group of the herd.

Over 50 per cent of the heifers, the animals in their first lactation, are producing less than 70 per cent of the average adult cow’s production, when the aim is close to 90 per cent.

That is a huge let-down on the last two years of young stock rearing. We have spent time and effort on all the young animals and we can’t get them to produce them equally as a group.

Losing 20 per cent of production for these particular low producing heifers, means losing about 90 milk solids per lactation and that is wasted opportunity and income.

There are heifers that prove they can produce the milk they should. Unfortunately less than 5 per cent of the heifers produce the same or more as the average cow. The emphasis on rearing young stock better cannot be explained any better than putting a value on what is missed in productivity.

With the realisation of this information we can conclude that the rearing strategy of the young stock as rising one year old and rising two year old needs to be re-evaluated.

Good even growth rate targets every month, adequate

feed and fibre, the right meal for the right amount of time and management in general dictate the difference between farming profitably with heifers in their first lactation, and having them drag the average production down because they are just not up to it.

Looking forward past 50 days in milk we project the potential production this lactation and keep that as a guide for how the season progresses. With follow up herd tests we correct accordingly and evaluate every time the state of productivity and potential mid-season de-stocking strategies. The lower the pay-out the higher production we need to achieve and the earlier we need to sell off those animals that are going to be unprofitable keeping for the cost of the supplements they eat. With these strategies we minimise our losses and optimise the profitability of the farming operation.

At Dairy Business Centre we analyse herd tests to show what the production break down is in the herd, group them according to their production value, corrected for components so we can evenly evaluate different breeds and calculate their projected production for their 305 day lactation.

We identify the cows that need more attention and those that need to go as soon as feed supply is reduced. Evaluate your herd test today to show what can be done to improve the performance in your herd, not just by feeding more but by feeding better and achieve the production your cows are bred for.

For more information on evaluating your herd tests or our monthly weight targets, please contact the Ruminant Nutrition Consultancy team at Dairy Business Centre (NZ) Limited on 03 308 0094, email office@dairybusiness.co.nz.

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www.guardianonline.co.nz

13

Sharemilker solution from the Feds F

ederated Farmers has launched its new Herd Owning Sharemilking Agreement.

This agreement navigates areas where disagreements between farm owners and sharemilkers have previously occurred.

“We are able to respond to industry concerns by updating and improving our contracts and agreements because we’re part of the industry,” Federated Farmers dairy chairman Andrew Hoggard said.

“Many of our spokespeople, myself included, have been sharemilkers or are farm owners who have sharemilkers running our farms, so when updating the federation’s contracts and agreements we’re well placed to ensure they’re up to industry standards, making

life easier for everyone.”

Federated Farmers sharemilker chairperson Neil Filer said the agreement is used in an arrangement where the sharemilker owns the cows and the farm owner owns the land and the milking plant.

“The most important change has been removing the ‘set off ’ provision, so withholding sharemilker payment will be in breach of the agreement,” Mr Filer said.

“We’ve also raised the importance of health and safety, and drug and alcohol obligations by bringing them to the forefront of the agreement.

“There are a whole raft of changes here that’ll improve how the farm business operates, removing opportunities for complications and misunderstandings.

“We’ve even included a dispute resolution flowchart, to show both parties what’s involved if things go wrong.

“Let’s face it, business arrangements can go sour, so it pays

to have yourself covered whether you are the farm owner or the sharemilker, and our contracts and agreements are tested and proven in the industry.”

The new agreement provides greater clarity around dealing with both feed shortages and surpluses.

“Shortfalls at the start of a new agreement, shortages during the agreement and any feed surplus to the contract at the end of the agreement are now consistent with fairness to the parties’ respective costs,” the federation’s sharemilker employers chairperson Tony Wilding said. ‘’This agreement now better focuses decision-making on what’s best for the whole business, rather than how the individual parties may be affected.”

Mr Hoggard said the objective was to create simple, user-friendly and affordable contracts and agreements that’re relevant to the industry.

Federated Farmers members can buy the agreement for $69 and nonmembers for $414.

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2 14

Farming Dairy Focus

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Southland farmers to be surveyed S outhland farmers will be interviewed as scientists start to build a detailed picture of what caused the issue with cattle illness and deaths caused by eating swedes in the region this season.

Around 120 farmers across the region, both affected and unaffected by the swede issue, will be interviewed by a team of 10 people, who will ask them a range of questions on topics such as their farm management practices, cropping and fertiliser history and climatic growing conditions this season.

DairyNZ’s general manager for extension, Craig McBeth, says the purpose of this comprehensive survey is to help DairyNZ establish the cause of the issue facing farmers in Southland.

“We need to understand the wide ranging factors that may have contributed to the outbreak of swede poisoning this spring. These include climate, soil type, trace minerals status, and fertiliser programmes. All these factors can influence the level of several natural compounds found in brassicas that can make them toxic,” he said.

Craig McBeth

The comprehensive survey and involves the local technical working group which includes veterinary representatives, Federated Farmers, PGG Wrightson Seeds and Ministry for Primary Industries.

Mr McBeth said more than 400 farmers replied to DairyNZ’s initial survey sent out last month, and the results have helped the industry research organisation plan the second phase questionnaire and find a range of farmers to interview.

Along with farmer interviews, DairyNZ’s study into the swedes issue has a testing programme covering animals and plants, with control samples collected from crops taken across a number of swede varieties and animals that have not experienced any clinical animal health issues.

“The primary focus for sample collection was animal blood samples and crop tissue from a range of plant parts. We have the plant samples in frozen storage and worked fast to get vital samples before the crop disappeared,” he says.

But Mr McBeth says that until all the data is collected

and analysed, it is premature to speculate on any one cause or a narrow base of potential causes.

“We’ve given farmers as much advice as we can from what we know now. What we need to do is find out more through some robust research so we can give farmers some further evidencebacked advice early next year.

“We expect to have some results from our animal testing back by the end of October, and at that stage we should be able to give some more updated advice. However, the plant sampling is complex and will take much longer because of the robust nature of the testing that we will require.

“We don’t expect any results on the plant front until February next year.

“We are keen to make sure we turn over the relevant stones in our search for answers on this issue. That means we don’t expect to have any conclusive results from this study to share with farmers and others until March, 2015.

Depending on the findings of this work, there may also be a need to design and conduct further research, Mr McBeth said.

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2 16

Farming Dairy Focus

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Technology delivers superior paybac M

aximum pick up of earliest cycling dairy cows is now easier than ever and even more reliable thanks to an automated and technologically-advanced heat detection system from TruTest.

The core function of Tru-Test’s MilkHub Heat Detection System, with Heat Detector patches and an infrared scanner, is to help farmers move their herds’ reproduction performance closer toward to the ideal industry target.

The system builds on the tried and true method of identifying visual signs of standing heat from mounting animals adding an accurate “extra pair of eyes” in the form of the infrared scanner developed by Tru-Test in New Zealand.

Flow-on effects of improved heat detection combine to a compelling rate of return desirable to farmers, staff and bank managers alike.

While money in the bank1 and an improved breeding programme is a much-coveted

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The simplicity of the system, coupled with its visual

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17

ck from heat detection system

is markedly reduced with the automated heat detection system which eliminates the need for staff to check visual signs against tag numbers. In addition, if the

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2 18

Farming Dairy Focus

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Shouldn’t we look after the locals?

Matt Jones

“

STAFF MATTERS

L

ocal unemployment has plummeted while competition from the rebuild tempts some of our best farming talent. We need to get past the idea that sourcing globally snubs our local labour market.

We’ve established that over the next 10 years we need approximately 40,000 more farm workers, so it’s a given that we are going to look outside New Zealand for qualified and experienced farm staff.

Accepting that we have a near dire local skills shortage in our workforce, couldn’t it be a mission to recruit foreigners from afar? Also wouldn’t dealing with all their cultural differences be a headache for a farming operation who’s hiring? In a word, no.

We’ve established that over the next 10 years we need approximately 40,000 more farm workers, so it’s a given that we are going to look outside New Zealand for qualified and experienced farm staff.

Across the globe there is a plentiful labour market filled with highly skilled agricultural workers competing over fewer available jobs.

Opportunities present themselves here in New Zealand for overseas job seekers who want to travel and get life experience on the other side of the world.

Staff from the Netherlands, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, and the Philippines, for example, have a great work ethic and settle easily into the New Zealand culture.

The reputation of New

Zealand’s dairy industry alone is often enough to attract workers of a high calibre to our dairy farms. Junior farm staff want to broaden their horizons by being part of our leading-edge dairy mecca. There’s also an added opportunity where younger people can do paid internships along with comprehensive training to further develop their New Zealand dairy careers.

How do we encourage top farm staff across other sectors to move to another country?

We package up our enviable kiwi rural lifestyle and all it has to offer and

present it in a way that we can attract budding overseas farm workers with the drive, ambition and the skill set we need. Whether it’s offering a competitive salary, upskilling and training or offering free accommodation, these are sought after prerequisites that will get the applications coming in!

Can’t recruiting quality farm staff from a distance present its problems?

Yes, especially if you are new to the process.

Overseas job ads and expos are expensive and time consuming and are you prepared to cope with the possible influx of applicants?

Have you got the time to read through a myriad of CV’s?

On the flipside, if there’s no applicants have you got a plan B? I suggest you do your due diligence and perform multiple checks including police and immigration requirements.

I also recommend building a group of network partners who are ready to help applicants with the issues

they may face relocating to another country (this can take a while). If you don’t have lodgings on your farm, can you arrange accommodation elsewhere if wanted?

After a hard day’s graft are you ready to get on the phone or Skype to do multiple interviews and question referees at insane times of the morning? How will you prevent homesickness and retain staff once they’re here?

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www.guardianonline.co.nz

19

Levet: ‘Most don’t have spare fat to cut’

R

ural Contractors New Zealand is questioning the high cost of machinery and parts that contractors and farmers are paying.

RCNZ president, Steve Levet says with the falling forecast milk price for the coming season dairy farmers are going to need to be careful when making decisions this year – and cost cutting will be top of mind.

“With the reality of a lower dairy payout this year, sheep and beef farmers already under the pump and arable producers also feeling the squeeze – further pressure is going to come on contractors to at least hold or reduce our costs,” he said.

“Rural contractors do not have the luxury or the ability to absorb continued cost increases and just pass them on in our pricing to clients.

So while farmers are not able to wear any price increases; contractors certainly cannot afford to carry on losing money either.”

Mr Levet said rural contracting is a tough business and in today’s highly

Steve Levet

competitive environment it is not easy to make a profit.

“Contractors are already running pretty tight operations and there is not a lot – or in most cases any – fat to cut.”

He says like their farmer clients rural contractors will have to look at reducing

their costs. “For most rural contracting business; one key area of cost is that of machinery and parts. Ask anyone about the costs of parts and they will all tell you the same thing: eyewatering!”

This has seen many contractors – and farmers –

look at sourcing parts from either non-aligned dealers and/or the internet.

“Just like consumers in the other parts of the economy; many rural contractors are finding the attraction and availability of cheaper goods via the internet a genuine way for them to cut costs.”

He admits there are risks of not sourcing parts from machinery dealers – including no guarantee of such goods being ‘genuine’ parts and/or the lack of service back-up when using these non-dealer-sourced parts.

“Yet, despite such risks, many rural contractors are still choosing to source their parts this way – purely because of the huge price savings they can make by doing this.”

Mr Levet said he was not making a direct criticism of machinery dealers, but highlighting an example of the cost problems facing rural contractors and what some are doing to reduce their costs.

“I think most of us would agree this situation is not ideal and if there is a way that both rural contractors and machinery dealers can resolve this issue – then RCNZ is keen to be party to this,” he said.

“Anything that will help lessen our costs and improve the bottom line has got to be a good thing.”

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2 20

Farming Dairy Focus

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Principle of good hoof trimming Fred Hoekstra

W

VEEHOF DAIRY SERVICES

e all know that prevention is better than cure; however, you find you are faced with a number of lame cows. So what can be done about it? This month I would like to look a bit more at what you can do once the cow is lame.

In reality, this is often the only time when a cow is trimmed in New Zealand, so consequently most farmers are the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff when it comes to lame cows.

Trimming lame cows is always reactive management, and trimming cows only when lame doesn’t make good business sense, as lameness issues in herds has a significant impact on profits.

Obviously, just looking at the hoof is not going to fix it,

Claw with block on, creating artificial height.

so more attention is needed.

Assuming that the cow is lame in her claw then by trimming her well we can usually help her tremendously.

The principle of good hoof trimming is that we need to reduce the weight bearing of the sore claw and let the air get to it.

A cow is most commonly lame on her lateral claw because the lateral claw is often overloaded when the cow is walking or standing still on a hard surface.

So, in this case, we don’t

Height difference created through trimming.

just level the two claws to the same height, we actually trim the lateral claw thinner so more weight is transferred to the medial claw.

The more weight we can get off the lateral claw the more rest this claw is going to get. Rest is one of the most common pieces of advice you hear from your doctor and it is also very effective for lame cows.

Some people are worried about making the lateral claw thin. It feels like you make the cow even more tender when

she has a sole thickness not much more than the thickness of a piece of paper.

The thing is that we are reducing the weight on the claw with a thin sole. If we make both claws thin we are possibly going to end up with a problem.

However, cows are very resilient and having thin soles is not necessarily a problem to them unless we make them walk long distances over rough tracks.

If we have made the lateral claw thin and yet we don’t

have a lot of height difference between the medial and lateral claw we can artificially raise the lateral claw by gluing a wooden block under the medial claw. The other thing we need to do is let the air get to the wound. We do this by opening up the wound.

We trim away all loose horn so that live tissue is exposed.

We try not to make the claw bleed because it makes it a whole lot harder to see what you are doing and the healing process only takes longer. It all seems very easy when you read this.

The principal is straightforward but putting it into effect requires a lot of practice and instruction.

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21

Slashing of farmgate milk price Grant Davies

I

A BROKER’S VIEW

t may be counter intuitive, but non-farmer investors in the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund will be pleased to see the recent slashing of the Farmgate Milk Price (FGMP).

The reason for this is the fact that investors in the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund actually only have exposure to the processing arm of Fonterra’s operations.

The FGMP is essentially a cost of production, so when it is high, margins get squeezed. This inverse relationship between the FGMP and the performance of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund is best displayed in the full year result that was released in September, where the company reported a 76 per cent decrease in net profit after tax during a year when

the FGMP was at it all time highs.

Whilst profits for the last financial year were low, Fonterra did manage to produce record revenue. With margins expected to improve markedly in the next financial year, due to decreased input costs and some efficiency gains, earnings should rebound strongly.

This solid forecast has allowed Fonterra to announce an increase in the dividend pay out from 10 cents per share this year to between 25 and 35 cents per share for 2015.

This dividend forecast will be subject to the product mix demand overseas.

Fonterra took the extraordinary step of overruling the FGMP late last year due to an unfavourable product mix. Essentially demand for milk powder (upon which the FGMP is set) outstripped demand for cheese and casein. Cheese and casein account for approximately 30 per cent of Fonterra’s production. With this 30 per cent facing large losses, the board decided to overrule

the FGMP in order to lessen these losses.

These product mix capacity constraints could worsen this year as production is expected to rise. Fonterra are working to improve their processing capability, but additional capacity will take some time to come online.

Investors will also have been pleased to see volume growth of 12 per cent in Asia, with China taking the lead.

Fonterra are still awaiting regulatory approval from the Chinese authorities regarding the $600 million purchase of a stake in Beingmate, a leading infant food manufacturer.

Ironically, there has been push back from some circles in China regarding Fonterra’s investment due to fears of foreign investment, although this is not expected to derail the transaction.

Geo-political difficulties including a Russian ban on European and Unite States dairy imports have changed the supply chain worldwide and may have helped push the FGMP down.

This could see newly

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deregulated European producers channel their products into China as opposed to Russia, increasing Fonterra’s competition in the area. Whilst Fonterra will face headwinds in some quarters, the Fonterra Shareholders Fund is better placed than this time last year.

The likely improved profitability of the Fonterra Shareholder Fund will be little comfort to dairy farmers, as the increased dividend makes but a small dent in the massive drop in the FGML. *Written by Grant Davies, Authorised Financial Advisor at Hamilton Hindin Greene Limited. This article represents general information provided by Hamilton Hindin Greene, who may hold an interest in the security. It does not constitute investment advice.

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2 22

Farming Dairy Focus Irrigation and effluent feature

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Monitoring water use

T

he Great Irrigation Challenge is over for another year. Thanks go to those dairy farmers and rural sector reps that joined us in Ashburton earlier this month for two days of intensive irrigation training.

IrrigationNZ would like to thank principal sponsor Aqualinc and supporting sponsors for their assistance in running this event; ANZ Bank, Environment Canterbury, Nelson Irrigation Corporation of Australia Pty Ltd and EECA. If you didn’t get to the challenge you missed some useful presentations tackling common irrigation challenges.

We will upload workshop notes soon so keep an eye out at www.irrigationnz.co.nz-eventsand-training. On November 7, dairy farmers, managers and staff have the chance to attend a one-day Irrigation Operator and Manager workshop at the Ashburton Event Centre.

The latest advice on irrigation scheduling, regulation, operation, maintenance and calibration will be covered.

Full details, including how to

Paul Reece

register, are on the website.

Water measurement is integral to effective irrigation.

If you don’t know how much water you are applying and whether your irrigation system is reliably delivering, you can’t expect to maximise your pasture potential.

IrrigationNZ takes water measurement seriously.

We developed the Water Measurement Blue Tick Accreditation programme, which is being updated with help from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), regional

councils and industry service providers.

The programme provides guidelines and standards for companies offering water measurement services. It sets minimum requirements for how water meters should be installed and verified, for open and closed conduits, and how water use data should be recorded and reported.

For irrigators, one of the highlights of the Blue Tick programme is the register of accredited providers listing companies whose water

measurement skills and work place systems have been assessed as meeting industry standards. A User Guide for water permit holders is also available to guide farmers through the decision-making process for full pipe (water meter) and open channel installations.

Work on the Blue Tick programme is ongoing and includes developing a national standard for data management and the updating of unit standard workbooks.

IrrigationNZ is always looking for input, so if you would like to be part of this work and have a say, or simply want more information about the programme, look at the website http://irrigationaccreditation. co.nz/watermeasurement/ For those working in water measurement, keeping abreast of regulatory developments is paramount.

IrrigationNZ recently hosted its second Water Meter Master Class in Auckland to discuss current issues facing the water measurement industry. Topics included the national standardisation of

data management, challenges around in-situ verification and how the Australian pattern approval of water meters could potentially be adopted in New Zealand.

More than 30 participants from across New Zealand and Australia took part in the twoday master class.

IrrigationNZ project manager Charlotte Butler, who organised the event, says industry support for this year’s event was up, with around 60 per cent of those attending coming from water measurement companies.

“Given the robust discussions, higher numbers of registrations and positive feedback following this event, we’re confident we’ll be able to follow up with another master class in the future,” she says.

For more information on IrrigationNZ’s accreditation programmes – including water measurement, irrigation design and farm dairy effluent design – look at www.irrigationnz. co.nz or contact Charlotte Butler, IrrigationNZ project manager, on phone 03 3412225.

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Irrigation and effluent feature

www.guardianonline.co.nz

23 21

Stuck in a rut?

T

alk to a farmer about his centre-pivot irrigator and you will inevitably find yourself talking about the problems caused by wheel tracks or ruts, about irrigators getting stuck and breaking drive mechanisms (usually in the middle of the night).

Wheel ruts have up to now, been an inescapable consequence of operating a centre-pivot irrigator. Because the wheels track along the same path on each and every revolution, the ground on this path becomes slightly depressed and from this point on water collects in these depressions and they become a rut.

Over time this rut becomes more of a problem putting strain on the irrigator making it more difficult to drive the wheels.

This inevitably results in machinery failure, and as Murphy’s Law states, it’s usually at the most inconvenient moment.

Filling the ruts is only part of the solution. The job needs to done well with the ruts filled properly, safely and efficiently.

North Canterbury based ICS Farm Machinery manufactures the ICS Rutbuster. This unique piece of machinery is locally designed and manufactured by a New Zealand owned and operated company.It’s a safe, efficient method of dealing with irrigation ruts in a single pass.

The Rutbuster’ s one man operation makes it easy to fill ruts of virtually any depth, there’s no grading of overflow, as required by other systems, and no need to compact after filling the rut.

The Rutbuster is safe to operate as the Tractor wheels straddle the rut rather than drive in it and unlike other machines the Rutbuster fills to the fence line, resulting in a well filled tidy rut.

The Rutbuster is solid and extremely robust; it’s designed for New Zealand’s tough conditions, built by a group of talented dedicated Kiwi’s more specifically a group of Canterbury’s most skilled engineers who take pride in their work.

Advertising feature

The ICS Rutbuster’s popularity has seen the company expand its sales into the overseas market with the company shipping Rutbuster’s off shore on a regular basis.

An Australian agent has recently been appointed to drive sales across the Tasman and the company is enjoying success New Zealand wide as well as across the Tasman.

The Rutbuster comes with a 12 month warranty, customer choice of colour and modifications to suit if required.

If you want to know more don’t hesitate to give ICS Farm Machinery a call on 0800 641 146 Advertising feature

“

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2 24

Farming Dairy Focus Irrigation and effluent feature

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Building a strong team in Ashburton and Central Otago

A

fter two months being the TL Irrigation distributor for New Zealand, New Zealand Agricultural Machinery Group Limited (NZAMG) already has a team up and running in Central Otago and is currently in the process of building a strong team in Ashburton.

NZAMG has employed four people in Central Otago and two people in Ashburton with more positions currently under recruitment putting the new T-L Irrigation distributor on track for the start of the irrigation season.

By November NZAMG expect to be fully operational with parts in the country and fully-staffed with teams ready to assist clients in both regions.

The Central Otago office, which is based in Alexandra, will be headed up by Shane Allan the Branch Manager who has worked in the irrigation sector for many years coordinating and overseeing irrigation projects including installation, commissioning of systems

and service contracts.

Jeff Pierce and Tony Stiles have both been appointed as Sales and Design Engineers and Nigel Oldham has been appointed as the Service Technician. Tony and Nigel both commenced work on the 29th of September with Jeff ready to start on the 20th of October.

Brendan Hawes started on the 29th of September as National Sales Manager and will be based out of NZAMG’s head office in Ashburton.

He comes to the role after nine years’ experience as an irrigation designer, specialising in the design and construction of large scale irrigation distribution networks, and had previously sold T-L Irrigation equipment.

Roy White will also join our Ashburton Branch as National Service Manager on the 5th of November.

Roy comes from a strong agricultural background in farm machinery where he worked for CLAAS Harvest Centre Canterbury for the past 10 years as Customer Service

Manager in Timaru.

Adding irrigation equipment, parts and service to NZAMG is a natural evolution for the Carr Groupowned business.

NZAMG is currently engaging with Irrigation New Zealand to undertake the necessary steps to become an Accredited Irrigation Design Company.

T-L Irrigation approached the Carr Group directly and it felt their products were a good fit with what they are already doing in the agricultural industry and complement our current machinery business.

Like the Carr Group, the Nebraskan-based T-L Irrigation business is familyowned with a strong focus on after-sales service and continuing to innovate to service the agricultural industry.

From one irrigation product 59 years ago, T-L Irrigation now distributes pivot and lateral irrigation equipment through 250 dealers worldwide in 72 countries.

Their hydraulic irrigation systems are proven performers

on higher gradients and undulating terrain and they offer one of the only hydraulically powered pivot and lateral irrigators on the market.

The Carr Group are looking forward to entering the irrigation sector and offering

Meet the T-L Team in Ashburton

Meet the T-L Team in Central Otago

Shane Allan Branch Manager Mobile: 027 807 2376

Ashburton: Office: 03 307 6690 www.tlirr.co.nz

Tony Stiles Jeff Pierce Design & Sales Engineer Design & Sales Engineer Mobile: 027 807 4297 Mobile: 027 807 4299

Central Otago: Office: 03 440 2007

new and existing clients further support to meet their irrigation needs. They invite anyone wanting to know more about T-L Irrigation, to become an account holder or join our database to contact NZAMG directly.

Advertising feature

Nigel Oldham Service Technician Mobile: 027 807 4298

Brendan Hawes Roy White National Sales Manager National Service Manager Mobile: 021 347 985 Mobile: 027 807 5770 (Starts 5/11/2014)

NZAMG Ltd Distributor for T-L Irrigation in New Zealand

Irrigation and effluent feature

www.guardianonline.co.nz

25

What do design accreditations mean?

P romoting excellence in irrigation is one of Irrigation NZ’s main goals, this is shared by Ashburton based company Rainer Irrigation.

The Irrigation Design Accreditation programme is one aspect of this excellence as it provides a new way forward for irrigation design in New Zealand.

The programme ensures all irrigators have a fit for purpose irrigation system, and that all designers support the main six objectives of the Design Code of Practise and standards.

Rainer Irrigation prides itself of sharing common goals with Irrigation NZ through the Irrigation Design Accreditation programme.

These goals include gathering information required for irrigation design inputs, specifying an irrigation system which meets the required performance indicators, designing irrigation systems that perform to specification, applying water efficiently and responsibly, ensuring that all

designed irrigation systems can be operated safely and complying with all regulatory requirements, including consent conditions.

By visiting the Irrigation NZ website www.irrigationnz.co.nz you can find a register of accredited organisations operating within the Irrigation

Design Accreditation programme. Rainer Irrigation have had their design skills and workplace systems assessed by an independent assessment panel and have met the accreditation standard.

Also a member of the Farm Dairy Effluent System Design accreditation programme, Rainer Irrigation can ensure

that all clients have effluent systems that can achieve dairy industry and wider community’s expectations for the land application of dairy effluent.

Objectives such as keeping all untreated effluent out of surface and ground water, keeping all land applied effluent nutrients in the root

zone to capture their nutrient and economic value. As well as ensuring all systems are compliant 365 days a year.

All in all using an accredited irrigation or effluent company ensures that you will be following all guidelines required as well having an up to date and compliant farm.

Advertising feature

Need irrigation? Want efficiency?

Call the irrigation company that is design accredited for farm dairy effluent and irrigation systems.

Cnr Robinson & McNally Streets Phone 03 307 9049 Email rainer@ashburton.co.nz www.rainer.co.nz

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www.guardianonline.co.nz

27

Increase heifer milk production O

ver the next few years many dairy farmers are going to revolutionise the way they rear their heifer calves. This will be driven by a desire to increase heifer milk production. Such is the belief of Chris Collier, national manager for calf rearing for PPP Industries.

“If you restrict the growth of young calves you restrict their performance in their first lactation.”

Traditionally we rear our calves on a restricted milk intake of four-to-five litres/ calf/day on calfaterias.

This encourages calves to consume meal so they can be weaned at an early age.

However in overseas trials the growth rates of calves in the first four-to-five weeks of life increased by 63 per cent by ad-lib feeding when compared with conventional feeding at 4.9 L/calf per day.

In the first two weeks it actually doubled. By accelerating the growth of young calves the right tissue for subsequent milk production is being laid down in the developing mammary

“

Automatic calf feeder.

gland.

In a University of Illinois study heifers produced 10 per cent more protein in their first lactation when they grew faster as calves in spite of

both groups calving at the same live weight. The growth rate in the first three-to-five weeks was driving this result.

If we try to increase milk intakes on our traditional

rearing systems we are likely to run into problems with scours.

The only way we can get around this is to give them multiple drinks per day.

The latest feature is the ability to feed four calves at the same time in four fee d stations

The practical way to do this is with a specialised automatic calf rearing machine.

Urban dominates the automatic calf feeding market in Europe and is now the leading seller in the world.

Urban calf feeders have a number of innovations that make them particularly suited to achieving accelerated growth in young calves.

The latest feature is the ability to feed four calves at the same time in four feed stations.

As a result one farmer has been able to get calves to consume 10 litres of milk 30 days after being on the machine.

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and nutrient plans to improvean p sw soi www.guardianonline.co.nz 2 28 sward and grazing residuals; red Farming Dairy Focus Fertiliser feature lev soil compaction; increase soilsan an Cultivating decisionslevels; thatprovide lead more to success control ove and when nutrients are applied an efficient way to apply nutrie

O

ver the past 60 years science and research in the world has been concentrating on production, and has been very good at it.

The innovation of farmers world-wide has seen yields of produce double, treble and quadruple. The consequence of this has been the huge removal of soil nutrients with only minimal nutrient replacement for example superphosphate and urea.

The real issue, here is, with this huge focus on production, science has neglected the cause of the problems and concentrated on the effect. The ramification of this chemical agriculture system has now created sustainability and environmental issues.

It is difficult for anyone to make decisions that simultaneously consider the social, financial and environmental soundness all necessary for sustainability.

Some decisions may be economically sound, but are implemented at the expense of the environment or the people involved.

Other decisions may be environmentally sound but economically unfeasible or harmful to human welfare.

Not every decision can benefit all three aspects everywhere all of the time, at times making decisions can be very complex and difficult particularly when you make them without adequate information or in stressful conditions with conflicting advice and opinions.

It’s a given now that we have to be profitable, sustainable and environmentally sound and to look beyond just productivity.

We didn’t intentionally decide to operate this way. But were seduced by what chemicals and nitrogen fertilisers could do to increase yields to pay the bills that inevitable got larger.

We were producing a lot of product, but we weren’t consistently profitable, we were always at the mercy of blaming something or someone else, eg the weather, Government, economy, inflation, NZ dollar, US dollar, commodity prices, farm expenses, too much rainfall, not enough

rainfall. We weren’t resilient; we were locked into a high cost system with chemicals, chasing production with high inputs and a big percentage of the financial return going elsewhere and not coming back to the farm and mining the soils nutrients.

Again we didn’t do this intentionally, but sadly we knew of no other way, this was our understanding of science and best practise at the time, promoted by the need to survive financially.

The sad thing is we know how to turn it around, we know what has to be done, but some don’t want to do it.

Farmers must back their own judgement. There are too many people and businesses FARMING the FARMERS, the decisions made and advice given today and over the past 40 years has created the problem we face today.

It’s time for new thinking

Farmers have a tremendous body of knowledge, but what we can bring to the table as we begin to collaborate and build confidence with the farmer, is our knowledge of biological farming and soil fertility problems, by filling in the gaps in the fertility programmes to solve the social, financial and environmental issues with sound proven science.

We are promoting synergistic outcomes, connecting people that are already practising our balanced soil fertility programmes and that are profitable and productive with others who need reassuring or haven’t considered a different approach.

There are dairy farmers already that are producing up to 20 kgs/DM /Ha per day more feed from pastures and applying 200 to 250 kgs of urea less, than some conventional operations. These farmers have a lower requirement for water from irrigation and are not using mineral additives in drinking water and feed rations, and have minimal vet bills.

One of the crops that I grow

is daikon radish for seed, I’ve only needed to spray once in the last five-to-seven years with an insecticide since changing our farming system, prior to this it was normal to spray with a robust fungicide and insecticide programme every 10 to 12 days.

We have grown high yielding wheat, potatoes and kale crops without chemicals similarly.

This is not rocket science but a choice between a high chemicals input system, or a biological approach with a balanced soil fertility programme. We need a new paradigm in our thinking.

Headaches are not caused by lack of aspirin in the body.

A continuation of the present production system would be continuing the economic roller coaster ride.

It’s absolutely possible to meet all sustainable and environmental and the negative health outcomes, with increased productivity and profit with a biological approach; plenty of farmers are doing this already.

By Don Hart-Advertising feature

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This is achieved through providing Total and Soil Fertility Solutions: nutrient plans to improve ‘ Soil sampling, testing and audits sward and grazing residuals; r ‘ Consultations and recommendations with experience, knowledge and sound science ‘ Prescription fertiliser programs for custom blending soilnutrient compaction; increase soil ‘ Sourcing, and having on site over 30 fertiliser products for mixes levels; provide more control o Promoting synergist outcomes for farmers to meet their and when nutrients are applie environmental and sustainability objectives with better production gained from less artificialan nitrogen. efficient way to apply nutr

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pasture duce carbon er where d; and is ents.

nd nutrient plans to improve pasture ward and grazing residuals; reduce il compaction; increase soils carbon www.guardianonline.co.nz vels; provide more control over where nd when nutrients are applied; and is n efficient way to apply nutrients.

0800 337 840 276 246 750 graeme@fertigation.co 20 Hoskyns road, 1375 Springs Road, Linc

Fertigation - the way of the future

I

heard that Steve Hansen was looking at making a few changes to the All Black line up for the game against Australia on Saturday, October 18. He said that if you don’t make a few changes how do you know if things can improve.

This applies to farm practices as well. If farmers don’t try something new or change what they are doing how will they know if what they are doing is the best for their business and environment.

Fertigation is one method that they could try and see if it will improve their business performance.

“the anecdotal findings at this stage is that fertigation reduces leaching compared with spreading of granular urea while providing a better outcome in terms of grass performance”. The full report will be completed in June 2015.

He also noted that fertigation can reduce leaching and with soil moisture monitoring, the results will be even more prominent as Australian growers continue to over apply both water and nutrients. Is this the same here in New Zealand?

3. Grow better Fertigation Pumpquality specials

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the nitrogen is being applied little and often – just as the 276 2 grass needs it. grae This in turn results in less urine spots – which maybe due1375 to the cow’s urine containing less nitrogen. This has yet to be proven as the reason why but as soon as we can catch some urine we will know!!

Crops - in Central Otago a farmer grew, in his words ‘an amazing crop of fodder beet’ under fixed sprinklers with a fertigation pump applying nutrient into the irrigation water. He saved $10,000 in fertiliser application with 6 a helicopter for the next weeks – call us and also used the fertigation s grass and crop Fertigation Pump specials for the next 6 weeks – us Fertigation Pump specials for pump the next 6 weeks – call callwith us to to find find to apply insecticide On a number of farms great success.

Fertigation is an efficient method across the South Island In summary, did to Fertigation Pump specials for the next 6 weeks – call Fertigation is an efficient method to we have been monitoring Fertigation is an saving efficientSteve method todiscover Hansen on us to find fertilise crops, time and money fertilise crops, saving time and money the quality of the grass Saturday night that the fertilise crops, saving time and money while improving yields. grown under fertigation. changes to his team had while improving yields. while improving yields.

Fertigation is an efficient method The main point to come out proven toirrigation beto a good move or Fertigation works with existing irrigation Fertigation works with existing Fertigation works existing irrigation fertilise crops, and money of the monitoring is saving that withtime not?

And will the farmers systems. systems. systems. quality of the grass isyields. more who give fertigation a go this while improving consistent during the month season? Fertigation Fertigation works with existing irrigationis even a Benefi ts are: than with urea.

There is not safer bet as the Aussies have Benefi ts are: Benefi ts are: systems. the spike started to discover this for us No spreading costs No spreading costs No spreading costs already, backed in nitrogen concentration up by farmers Reducing soil compaction, soil compaction, Benefi ts are: 7Reducing to 10 days after the urea here.

Reducing soil compaction, Precision control over where and when for those who bring this advert with them Precision control over where andin when application.

This is costs because Advertising feature No spreading Precision control over where and when

Do you want your nitrogen spreading to look like this

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Do you want your nitrog Fertigation Profit from Sustainability Fertigation spreading to look like th Profit from Sustainability Or this

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How do weisknow Fertigation anthese efficient and effective is things? IfFertigation a truck or tractor Fertigation is an an efficient efficient and and effective effective waydoesn’t to fertilise crops, saving time and have to drive around way to fertilise crops, saving time waythen tothey fertilise crops, saving time and and the paddocks will Fertigation is an efficient and effective money while improving yields.

Fertigation money while improving yields.

Fertigation save $6 to $8 per ha while every improving yields. Fertigation money month.

For the average 700existing Less leaching –irrigation in Australia way to fertilise crops, saving time and liquid nitrogen through pivot Systems works with existing Systems works with irrigation works with existing irrigation cow farmSystems that is $1600 per the Dept of Agriculture irrigation. This project is money whiletoplans improving yields.

Fertigation and nutrient to pasture Visit and plans nutrient plans to improve improve pasture has undertaken a three year just into the second seasonus at Site 441 to find out more and month. nutrient improve pasture study investigating different and Mr Ian Layden, Leader works with existing irrigation 2. Systems It will reduce sward and grazing residuals; reduce sward and grazing residuals; reduce Horticultural Systems sward nitrogen and grazing residuals; reduce types of fertiliser application. & leaching plansincrease and nutrient tourea improve Free lunch soil soils carbon soil compaction; compaction; increase soilspasture carbonInnovation, DAFF, Solid application and has stated soil compaction; increase soils carbon nutrients are applied nutrients soil are compaction, applied sward grazing residuals; reduce levels; provide more control where Reducing levels; and provide more control over over where nutrients are applied12-14 Feb 0800 Going to Southern Field –0800 site 441840 -- 0276 evels; provide more control over where 337 840 Precision control days over where and0800 when soil increase soils carbon and when are and 337337 840 840 0800 337 0276 andcompaction; when nutrients nutrients are applied; applied; and is is 276 246 750 276 2460800 750 337 840 nutrients are applied graeme@fertigation.co.n 0800 337 840 and when nutrients are applied; and is graeme@fertigation.co.n levels; provide more control over where graeme@fertigation.co.nz an efficient way to apply nutrients. graeme@fertigation.co.nz an efficient way to apply nutrients.

276 246 750Lincoln, 20 Hoskyns road, Rollest 1375 Springs Road, 20 Hoskyns road, Rollest 1375 Springs Road, Lincoln, Ca2 Fertigation Pump specials for0800 the 6Ca w 337 840 next graeme@fertigat 0800 337 840 - 0276 andway whentonutrients are applied; and is graeme@fertigation. an efficient apply nutrients.

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0800 337 840 • 0276 246 750 • www.fertigation.co.nz graeme@fertigation.co.nz 20 Hoskyns Road, Rolleston

Do you want nitrogen Fertigation is anyour efficient method t spreading to look like this Do you want your nitrogen fertilise crops, saving time and mo spreading to look like this while improving yields.

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Fertigation Precision control over where and while improving yields. ls carbon way time and Systems works with irrigation 7to fertilise days asaving week Fertigation works with existing irrigation Systems works crops, with existing existing irrigation Benefi ts nutrients are applied Benefi ts are: are: Visit us at spreading Site 441 to find out more systems. money while plans improving yields. Fertigation and to improve pasture and nutrient nutrient plans toYou improve pasture Going to Southern Field days 12-14 Feb – site over where No can ALWAYS No spreading costs costs Systems works with existing irrigation sward and grazing residuals; reduce Reducing soil compaction, sward and grazing residuals; reduce Reducing soilbring compaction, Free for those who this advert in them Benefi ts are: get hold of us Free lunch lunch for those who bring this advert in with with them Visit us at Site 441 to find out more 08 Precision control over and nutrient plans to improve pasture soil compaction; increase soils carbon 0 Precision control over where where and and when when ed; and is soil compaction; increase soils carbon No spreading costs Free on site quote nutrients are applied nutrients are applied sward and grazing residuals; reduce 27 Going to Southern Field days 12-14 Feb – site 441 levels; provide more control over where Reducing soil compaction, Southern Field days 12-14 Febin – site levels; provide more control over where FreeGoing lunchtofor those who bring this advert with441 them g Precision control over where and when Ashburton soil compaction; increase soils carbon gra rients. and and when when nutrients nutrients are are applied; applied; and and is is nutrients are applied

Profit from Sustainability Profit from Sustainability

Fertigation Fertigation Pump Pump specials specials for for the the next next 6 6 weeks weeks – – call call us us to to fin fin

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levels; provide more control over where an way to nutrients.

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0800

0800 337 840 0800 0800 337337 840 840 0800 337 840 -- 027 027 276 246 750 276 246 750 graeme@fertigation.co graeme@fertigation.co Going to Southern Field days 12-14 Feb – site 441 graeme@fertigation.co.nz graeme@fertigation.co.nz 20 Hoskyns road, Rolle 1375 Springs Road, Lincoln, C 20 Hoskyns road, Rolle 1375 Springs Lincoln, C 0800 337 840 Road, 0800 337 840 - 0276 276 246 750 0800 337 840 • 0276 246 750 • www.fertigation.co.nz graeme@fertigation.co.

0800 337 840 • 0276 246 750 • www.fertigation.co.nz graeme@fertigation.co.nz graeme@fertigation.co.nz 620 B Hoskyns Kidman Street, 20 Hoskyns road, Rolle 1375 Springs Road, Lincoln, C graeme@fertigation.co.nz Road, Rolleston Rolleston

2 13

33 tion graeme@fertigation.co.nz 20• www.fertigation.co.nz Hoskyns Road, Ro 0800 337 840 • 0276 246 750

Contact Warren and Gerard to know more! Bremners Road, Ashburton Phone: 0274 192 554 Email: ashburtoncranehire@xtra.co.nz

graeme@fertigation.co.nz 20 Hoskyns Road, Rolleston

2 30

Farming Dairy Focus

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Making life easier by gett I

n the past six months there has been a lot of attention on employment compliance, particularly on farms. So what does a farmer need to do to get it right?

Here industry body DairyNZ gives the rundown on what farmers need to know about three key areas – time recording, minimum wage and accommodation:

TIME RECORDING

Timesheets The best and simplest way of recording hours worked each day is to keep a timesheet for each employee.

Timesheets benefit both the employer and employee as they are an accurate record of the actual hours being worked on-farm. Both parties can monitor that hours are fair and reasonable, as per the employment agreement.

Timesheets can also alert you when the number of hours being worked is too high or

creeping up, allowing managers to manage the risk of fatigue and health and safety on-farm.

Try to make keeping timesheets part of “the way we do things on-farm” so employees respect the process and understand it is part of good people management.

MINIMUM WAGE All employees must be paid at least the minimum wage for every hour they work in a fortnight. This applies to employees who are paid by the hour and employees who receive an annual salary. An employee’s salary cannot be averaged over a season as averaging is capped at a fortnight.

Minimum wage in practice Wages Pay the agreed rate (at least minimum wage) for each hour worked.

PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTING MADE EASY helping our clients achieve EXCELLENT results

Salary Determine how many hours each employee can work each fortnight before their hourly pay would drop below minimum wage. To calculate this, take gross salary, divide by 26 (fortnights in a year) and then divide by $14.25 (current minimum wage).

Because the property is provided for the employee to live in during the period of their employment only, it is called a Service Tenancy. This means the tenancy usually ends when the employment ends and the employer has given the employee two weeks’ notice to leave the house.

Monitor timesheets, and if the employee works more than the maximum number of hours in a fortnight, make a top-up payment to the employee in the relevant pay period.

Legal obligations when providing accommodation: ■

Remember that anyone receiving a top-up payment has worked hard and deserves the extra money. Minimum wage is not a luxurious wage – it is a basic right under New Zealand law.

■

ACCOMMODATION It is common for employers to provide their employees with accommodation on New Zealand dairy farms.

■

Have a tenancy agreement in place. Legally this can sit within the employment agreement, however it is best practice for the two documents to be separated.

This protects both the landlord and employee (as the tenant) if things go wrong.

Agree with the applicant/ employee the rent that will be paid for the accommodation and record this in the tenancy agreement. Ensure that you are charging market rates for the property.

Obtain the employee’s written and signed consent to the rent

From Plucks Effluent Division (since the 1980s)

ADR 500 Effluent Screening Plant COVERED BY N.Z. PATENT APPLICATION No. 591985

C O R E S E RCONTRACTING V I C E S MADE EASY PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY “Grant Hood Contracting Ltd’s philosophy is to provide our clients with superior value and a solution to their contracting needs.

Environmental Award winners

Very low kW at 0.4kW Self cleaning screen, built-in auto wash our clients achieve EXCELLENT results The core services we offer toPhelping our clients are: Effluent is clean enough to be pumped into a pivot H I L O S O P HP Y H I L O S O P H Y system if required “Grant Hood Contracting Ltd’s “Grant Hood Contracting Ltd’s Screens out everything bigger than 1 mm provide our clients philosophy is to provide our clients  DairyNZ accredited Efflphilosophy uentis toPond Design with superior value and a solutionwith to superior value and a solution to Once per year maintenance of a quick look over and their contracting needs. their contracting needs. and Construction wash down

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the 2nd year in a row Toforachieve this we will always provide “We consider the excellence service, environmentin for all N N E RNNER Transportation works we undertake RD RD Pond Construction and Irrigation Development - AWA - AWA workmanship in  Transportation W W IN NER 2 IN NER 2 and are proud our Environmental Award winners a professional peers have recognised Hedge & Stump Removal 192 Racecourse Rd, Ashburton for thefact2nd for year the in a row this manner from our second year in a row.”

03 308 0287 or 0274 832 712 Farm Conversions highly experienced www.granthoodcontracting.co.nz Dairy Tracks - Lime or Gravel R 2 012 R 2 013 “We consider dedicated team the NE NE environment for all of operators and 832 works we undertake 192 Racecourse Rd, Ashburton 03 308- 0287 RD - or 0274WA RD - 712 AWA -A W W management” www.granthoodcontracting.co.nz IN NER 2 IN NER 2 and are proud our

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It is a legal requirement to keep time, wage and holiday records for all employees, regardless of how much they earn. Time and wage records must include the following things.

Hours worked each day, including start time, finish time and any non-paid breaks taken, and days of employment in each pay period.

Wages (by the hour or via a salary) paid each pay day and the method of calculation.

Employee’s name.

■ ■

Employee’s age, if under 20 years.

Employee’s postal address.

Type of work the employee undertakes.

Type of employment agreement – individual or collective (almost all farms use individual agreements).

If a collective agreement is in place, include the title, expiry date and employee classification.

WI N

■

■

Member of

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www.guardianonline.co.nz

31

tting compliance right being deducted from their salary after the deduction of PAYE. If PAYE tax is not paid on the “accommodation allowance or rent” then you will need to pay fringe benefit tax.

Remember that only true cash benefits can be included in gross salary for the purpose of calculating minimum wage.

In practice this means the employee must be free to make the choice to seek alternative accommodation or opt out of the rent deduction agreement without their employment being affected or the employment agreement having to be amended. If an employee doesn’t have this choice then the accommodation offered is a non-cash benefit and cannot be included for the purpose of calculating minimum wage.

For more information on meeting New Zealand legislation and practical ideas for applying this on dairy farms, visit dairynz.co.nz/ people.

For the sake of employees and employers, get employment compliance right from the start.

low pressure

Greener grass, more fertile pastures TM delivers The K-Line Irrigation system right the to er wat of the right amount cost and ely ctiv effe kly, quic s, area efficiently.

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We provide a fast and efficient service to Mid Canterbury • • • • • • •

Septic tank cleaning all systems Portaloos Dairy saucers and sumps Grease traps Swimming pools Drain cleaning truck 24 hours a day 7 days a week - on call Locally owned and operated

Phone Darryl Burrowes on 03 308 5293 or 0274 333 563

BOOK YOUR DAIRY effluent WARRANT OF FITNESS NOW Call Barbara 021 126 2910

THE DAIRY EFFLUENT SPECIALIST WE CAN DESIGN AND BUILD AN EFFLUENT SYSTEM TO SUIT YOUR FARM OR UPGRADE YOUR EXISTING SYSTEM Storage ponds – HDPE Lined

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Let our experience in the industry be part of your farming success

We are in our 6th year of designing and building exceptional dairy effluent systems.

We understand the problems that farmers have with compliance so much that our systems go beyond compliance to industry best practice.

Our quality control is second to none because we do everything ourselves, for you.

No need to organize each aspect of the job, we do it all!

We are backed by some terrific suppliers who will go the extra mile to make things happen.

Give us a call if you are planning on upgrading your system, we are happy to visit your farm to have a straight up, no BS discussion about your dairy effluent.

That visit is

FREE with NO OBLIGATION.

For all enquiries please contact Steve Adam on 021 222 3015 or email steve@eacs.co.nz

www.eacs.co.nz

www.guardianonline.co.nz

33

WOF takes worries out of effluent T

By Dairy NZ

his spring brings not only a welcome surge in pasture growth and milk flow, but for some farmers the headache of effluent management risks taking the glow out of the season’s peak.

DairyNZ has developed the Effluent Warrant of Fitness (WOF) programme that aims to ease effluent headaches by helping farmers ensure their effluent system is fit for purpose all year

round.

The Effluent WOF programme consists of a voluntary, independent inspection of a farmer’s effluent infrastructure and practices.

DairyNZ’s South Island environmental extension specialist Nick Tait says after some extensive “road testing” with over 200 farmers, the Effluent WOF is now available to farmers and rural professionals around the country.

“Getting farmer feedback

during the development of the Effluent WOF programme proved invaluable in fine tuning the assessment process. Farmer input helped to make it as insightful and practical as possible, covering the entire effluent system,” says Nick.

An independent assessor points out areas of risk and suggests practical actions a farmer can take to ensure their system is capable of being compliant 365 days a year.

The three to four hour assessment by the certified

Off pasture infrastructure.

assessor covers the farm’s effluent consents and permitted rules, the storage capacity, nutrient loadings, soil risk, irrigator performance, off-pasture infrastructure, and general health and safety requirements.

One key area farmers have struggled to get a clear line on in the past has been the volume of storage needed on farm.

The WOF process assesses the volume of storage needed taking into account the soil

risk for the farm’s effluent application area and the irrigation equipment available.

“For Canterbury farmers already having to start allowing for upcoming nutrient management constraints on farm operations, completing a WOF and knowing they have efficient, compliant effluent systems will help them continue to operate efficiently under those constraints”, says Nick.

Advertising feature

Testing irrigator performance.

Dairy effluent systems overview

By BarBara aDam, ENviroNmENtal & Civil SolutioNS

T

he purpose of a good dairy effluent system is to effectively collect and distribute farm dairy effluent, maximising its value to the farmer (on average $25 per cow per year nutrient value - [re Dairy NZ farmfact 7-22]) and minimising any adverse effects on our environment.

A system comprises of the physical components and the operational side.

Farm Dairy Effluent (FDE) contains elements that can be both beneficial and detrimental to our environment. Nitrogen and Phosphorous are the two main chemical components of interest.

The value of FDE will vary from farm to farm and can only be ascertained accurately by having the effluent analysed. Soil also has varying compositions and to maximise its performance should also be analysed. To obtain maximum value from the FDE, soils and effluent need to be monitored regularly and the FDE applied where it is needed (within your consent conditions). So analysing and recording of soils, effluent and application is required. Methods can

Having a bit of fun before the poo hits the pond.

range from something very simple as writing in a diary through to fully blown soil mapping and tracking systems with moisture probes. All dairy effluent systems should have an operations manual and staff should be trained.

For the physical components there are several significant, varying factors that need to be considered along with the standard best practice factors.

Cow numbers, feed, collection areas (stand-off pads, feed pads, yards), shed water usage, rainfall, irrigation method, labour units available, expertise of labour units, effluent block, soil types, regional council rules, consent conditions, fail safe controls, automation, measuring and recording requirements, staff turnover and of course cost (to list a few).

Upgrades to existing systems could include a sump and pump .

Many farms may already have an existing system in place that just needs an upgrade and some farms may be starting from scratch as in the case of a conversion.

If starting from scratch it would be good advice to have a dairy effluent system designer involved from the beginning. What happens at the shed can significantly influence the dairy effluent system and there are ways in which to reduce costs and risks that can be planned in a new build.

Examples: • Have the shed roof diverted off the yard.

• Storm water diversions on the yard’s drains and pipes.

For existing systems a gradual upgrade of components is possible, and existing components may still

be included as part of the upgraded system.

Ensure any changes you may be considering in your operation are relayed to the designer.

Besides affecting the operation and effectiveness of your effluent system some changes may also affect the value of your FDE.

Examples: • If you are currently running a travelling irrigator that is getting a bit tired and you are thinking of installing a line on your pivot or injecting - the separation method and/or pump may need to change.

• If you are considering increasing your herd – your effluent block and storage capacity may need to be increased and the

supplements you feed may affect your FDE, therefore its value.

Consider health and safety aspects of the system.

A lot of equipment out in the middle of the pond may be difficult for staff and tradesmen to service.

Submersible pumps need to be lifted out for servicing.

Stirrers and pumps sit in the middle of a pond on pontoons.

Can they be moved to shore and/or tethered to stabilise them while being worked on?

Has there been a hazards identification and management done on the dairy effluent system?

Electricity usage, utilise gravity, watch pump specifications. How many times are you pumping?

Passive separation, weeping wall bunkers etc, use no electricity and no mechanical components.

But it’s difficult to guarantee no blockages in some irrigation processes. Rotating drum separators have less chance of blockage but use electricity and there is risk of mechanical break-downs.

All systems are not the same and what works well on one farm may not work on another farm.

2 34

Farming Dairy Focus

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Robin and Lois Greer

Bu Ca no ild nt w ing er in bu ry • Robust and hardwearing building materials used in all of our homes (Metrapanel).

• Fast build times; typical home completed in 12 weeks • Extremely low maintenance - all internal finishes are made to cope with a demanding lifestyle • Competitive build rates • Stock plans or individual designs available

0800 629 464 | 021 165 8190 | brian@maximhomes.co.nz | www.maximhomes.co.nz

www.guardianonline.co.nz

35

Organic dairy business in finals of SI competition

A

family-owned organic dairy business is one of four finalists of the Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year competition.

Robin and Lois Greer farm at Tuturau,

in Southland, running 120ha of their property as an organic dairy farm, in an operation which includes on-site production of organic dairy products, which they have branded Retro Organics.

They run a conventional dairy farm on the adjoining 160ha property.

Both Robin and Lois grew up in town and have progressed through the dairy industry to farm ownership.

About 20 per cent of the organic milk harvested is processed on-farm into cheese and yoghurt, and to supply the fresh milk market.

The Greers have made a significant investment in technology for the on-farm factory, and were the first in New Zealand to produce lactose-free milk and yoghurt.

The property was also the original trial site for dung beetles, released to assess

WE’LL SEE YOU RIGHT

with the last of their marks coming from their presentations at the finals event at Lincoln University on November 19, after which the winners will be announced.

Lincoln University Foundation judging coordinator Tricia Macfarlane said the standard of entries was again high.

“One of the stand-out features of the finalists this year is the strong family ownership models,” she said.

“These are innovative, successful businesses at the cutting edge of their industry, performing at the levels we would expect of a very sophisticated corporation, but with a strong foundation of family involvement that gives them an assurance of consistency and sustainability.

“I predict a tight and very interesting final at Lincoln next month.”

Specialist Rural & Dairy team

DARE TO COMPARE Delivery Mid Canterbury

their effectiveness in breaking down cow manure, as part of the biological control programme.

Among the aspects of the Greer’s business which impressed the judges was the strong focus on the environment and strict adherence to food safety and quality management, to produce an excellent product with an established brand.

Others vying for the title are Barry and Julie Crawford, who run a sheep breeding and finishing property near Gore, Zino Holdings, a sheep and beef farm operated by Mark and Rachael Zino and Sam and Keri Zino at Hawarden, and Patoa Farms – a Hawarden pig farm managed

by Steve, Josie and Holly Sterne.

The four finalists will be visited and scored by a new set of judges for the second round of the competition,

Key specialist areas: • • • • • • • • • • •

24 Hour Breakdown Service Thermal Imaging Technology Dairy Shed Database Programme Water Pumps – Supply & Installation Dairy Shed Wiring & Design Irrigation Starters & Control Systems Irrigation Preventative Maintenance Welding Repairs Stainless Steel Work General Engineering Switchboard Design & Maintenance 24 hour • Dairy Rubberware service, 7 days Supplies

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Call Helmack ITM today on 307 0412 or email helmack.itm@xtra.co.nz 92 Dobson Street, Ashburton Phone 307 0412 Hours: Mon - Fri 7am - 5.30pm; Sat 8am - 12noon

The Dairy Maintenance check, together with the Dairy Shed Data base Service provided by Laser Electrical, have proved invaluable in the day to day smooth operation of our three dairy sheds

David Turner, Rakaia Island Limited

Phil Moore Laser Electrical Rural Manager

027 443 6001

Phone Phil today to talk about how Laser can work with you to provide a safe and efficient system for your dairy shed, irrigation set-up and general farm electrical needs.

Laser Plumbing & Electrical Ashburton 726 East Street, Ashburton Laser Electrical Rolleston 831 Jones Road, Rolleston

Laser Electrical Geraldine 17 Peel Street, Geraldine Laser Electrical Temuka 44 Vine Street, Temuka

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