Guardian Farming December

Guardian

farming

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising Feature

December 2010

interesting • informative • essential

SUPPLEMENT APR 2010

Taking baby steps to a big vision ... page 3 A decade of development ... page 6

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Page 2

GUARDIAN FARMING

What’s inside/happening

contents Improving efficiency, production ..........................P4 Health report raises rural concerns .......................P5 A decade of development................................... P6, 7 Industrial estate ...................................................... P8, 9 Water whisperings ....... ........................................... P10 Winchmore update .................................................. P11 Services 24/7 ....................................................... P12, 13 Early drought predictions ..................................... P14 ‘Dairy cow-itis’ in horses ........................................ .P15 Irrigation feature................................................ P16, 17 Ken Ring - tides of the earth ...........................P18-20

Guardian

farming interesting • informative • essential

Any feedback is welcome, any comments about our magazine, letters or story suggestions.

Please direct any correspondence to: Amanda Niblett, on 307-7927 email: amanda.n@theguardian.co.nz or to: Lance Isbister, on 307-7953 email: lance.i@theguardian.co.nz or write to PO Box 77, Ashburton.

Advertising: Phone 307-7900 Email: jack.p@theguardian.co.nz Publication date: December 7, 2010.

Next issue: January 11, 2011 An advertising feature for the Ashburton Guardian. Any opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Guardian Farming or the Ashburton Guardian.

Event

calendar

December 10

Tue 7 Wed 8 Thur 9 Fri 10 Sat 11 Sun 12 Mon 13 Tue 14 Wed 15 Thur 16 Fri 17 Sat 18 Sun 19 Mon 20 Tue 21 Wed 22 Thur 23 Fri 24 Sat 25 Sun 26 Mon 27 Tue 28 Wed 29 Thur 30 Fri 31 Sat 1 Sun 2 Mon 3 Tues 4 Wed 5 Thur 6 Fri 7 Sat 8 Sun 8 Mon 10 Tue 11

• Canterbury Park All Prime Bobby Calves and Pigs • Tinwald • Canterbury Park Store Sheep and Lamb • Mayfield on-farm lamb • Temuka Store Cattle

• Temuka • Canterbury Park All Prime Bobby Calves and Pigs • Tinwald • Canterbury Park Store Sheep, Lamb and Store Cattle

• Canterbury Park All Stock • Temuka • Tinwald • Canterbury Park Store Sheep, Lamb and Store Cattle • Temuka Store Cattle • CHRISTMAS DAY • BOXING DAY

• NEW YEAR’S DAY

• Canterbury Park All Stock • Temuka Store Cattle

• Temuka • Canterbury Park All Prime Stock Pigs • Tinwald

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Page 3

Taking baby steps to a big vision

Linda Clarke, Reporter, Ashburton Guardian

Farmers on the Mayfield Hinds Irrigation Scheme have taken baby steps towards a $100 million project to pipe most of their open race network.

“Immediately we go on restrictions, we have to cut flows to farmers. Autumn is the worst time, if there has been no nor’-west rainfall.”

He said farmers needed to take an inter-generational view of the project, though that was difficult given onfarm decisions were usually dictated by profit margins.

It is a big picture, best scenario project, requiring longterm vision for the largest irrigation scheme in New Zealand.

Water is also lost through seepage in the earth-lined open channels of the scheme, which was developed in the 1940s by the Ministry of Works. The network has some 220km of races.

He said farmers also needed to monitor what it was costing them in energy to pump water through irrigators.

The Mayfield Hinds scheme draws water from the Rangitata River via the Rangitata Diversion Race and distributes it to 145 farmers to irrigate 32,000 hectares.

Forty-five per cent of the receiving farmland is in dairying, with the remainder dairy support and cropping.

Change is inevitable for the scheme, as it plays catch-up to the ever changing land use.

Mr Tait said the storage ponds would go a long way to providing a buffer against restrictions, but piping would bring even more efficiencies in water use. Piping will reduce losses, and could increase the water available to farmers by 20% (enough to irrigate another 6500 hectares).

The increased allowance will allow irrigators to meet Scheme general manager Hamish Tait said reliability of demand from scheme water, reducing the volume of irrigation water was the biggest issue for users and piping supplementary water abstracted from underground the scheme would eliminate seepage and evaporation aquifers. and free up more water for farmers.

With pipes, pressurised water could also be delivered It is generally accepted that most scheme races will to farmers’ gates, reducing the need to pump water to ultimately be piped and this project is about optimising irrigators. Savings on electricity could be around $190/ha the design to supply pressurised water to existing and a year. new users.

Mr Tait said the natural gravity of the plains allowed The Mayfield scheme’s farmer shareholders have already pressurisation in pipes, though main feeder lines would agreed to the construction of three big storage ponds, remain open. so water not needed by farmers on rainy days could be To help prepare more detailed costings of the piping saved and used when water-takes were restricted. project, the scheme applied for money from MAF’s Mr Tait said reliable water was essential for farmers, Community Irrigation Fund. The Government department 75% of whom had converted from border-dyke to spray has agreed to provide $158,125, half the total design cost. irrigation.

Mr Tait said farmers would be kept abreast of “High value crops suffer if they get moisture stress. It is developments and would eventually have to vote on definitely not about putting more water on but getting it progressing the project. on when you need it.”

“We are under no illusions. It will be difficult to get across The RDR takes water from the Rangitata and Ashburton the line without some support from Government and Rivers, and restrictions are all but inevitable on the latter. various parties.”

It Hauls.

In every sense of the word.

“Over time we anticipate that energy costs will continue to increase, historically electricity prices have increased at a rate of 4% per annum, though this may increase with things like ETS. “Farmers need to look at ways to keep costs down and subsequently the cost of food production.”

The scheme has also been able to watch developments as other RDR schemes have converted to pipe networks.

Ashburton Lyndhurst piped part of its scheme 18 months ago, and is considering expansion.

The Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation Scheme is also piped and just coming on stream.

Mr Tait said while water would boost production for farmers, there were economic benefits to the wider community.

It would create more work for local agricultural service and support industries, boost school rolls and the district’s population as more workers were needed.

He said pipes also created a possibility of hydrogeneration, and electricity could be sold on the national grid.

Hamish has been managing the Mayfield Hinds Irrigation Scheme since June 2009. He grew up at Lowcliffe, went to Canterbury University and emerged with a mechanical engineering degree.

He has worked in Scotland, and returned last year, attracted by the challenges of the Mayfield Hinds scheme.

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Page 4

GUARDIAN FARMING

Improving efficiency, production

Neal Shaw, ATS Chief Executive

The new national regulations for water measuring should be welcomed as an additional on-farm management tool aimed at improving production and efficiency and not bemoaned as just another compliance cost to farmers.

the rural industry throughout Canterbury.

Instrumental to this rapid growth and strategic vision is the Hydrocom Alliance.

This alliance is made up of three partners – Watermetrics NZ Ltd, Streats (Aquaflex), and Boraman Consultants. As a result of this alliance, Watermetrics is able to offer a complete service for water and effluent management.

The Resource Management (Measurement and Reporting of Water Takes) Regulations 2010 came into force on November 10, 2010 and mean all water takes of more than five litres a second need to be metered.

There is a staggered approach to the introduction of this legislation, with existing consent holders having between two and six years to comply – depending on their water take allocations.

The regulations are a central Government initiative aimed at creating better management of New Zealand’s freshwater.

It’s a move which has been welcomed by Environment Canterbury which is charged with issuing and monitoring water consents in our region.

According to Environment Canterbury, more than 1700 (or 23 per cent) of wells in Canterbury already have water meters.

That means there’s still around 5600 yet to comply and that doesn’t include the 1200 or so surface water takes also without water measuring systems.

Environment Canterbury estimates around 185 water meters will need to be installed each month over the coming two years –

both to meet the new regulations and to accommodate the usual allocation of new consents.

The regional council has been working with other industry players to come up with a set of guidelines to best meet these new regulations and this process has included the establishing of standards for the installation and verification of water measuring systems.

There are around 70 companies in this region which are authorised by Environment Canterbury to provide water measuring services and one of these is Watermetrics NZ Ltd. ATS owns 50 per cent of this company, while two local farmers make up the remaining 50 per cent shareholding.

This business has evolved into being a key provider of water management solutions to

ATS recognises the importance and significance of water in our district, and this was the main reason we decided to become involved in this company. The cost of irrigation and the effective management of our water resources are important issues facing our members and the farming community as a whole. ATS sees the relationship as fitting very well with our core business of lowering input costs for farmers.

Companies such as Watermetrics also have the added benefit of helping farmers not just comply with the new regulations, but to also take monitoring and measuring to another level. Farmers have many options available to them by way of new technology, which is continuing to evolve. For example, farmers can go off-farm and still access on-farm data remotely to determine whether irrigation is needed or not.

More in-depth monitoring can help with more efficient farm practices, which can save time and money. For some farmers the compulsory measuring and reporting regulations will be their first taste of this sort of technology

and will provide them with the opportunity to develop these skills further. It is a bit like the introduction of GST reporting, which has encouraged and made budgeting the norm for many of today’s farmers.

Environment Minister, Dr Nick Smith has been quoted as saying “We can’t manage what we don’t measure.” He said the new regulations will affect 11,000 water take consents around New Zealand and that currently only 31 per cent of allocated water is measured.

The information gained from improved measuring and reporting procedures will help determine how much water is actually taken and when this valuable resource can be best managed in the future.

It is important when faced with the task of installing meters that farmers remember we all have a responsibility to manage this finite resource.

I would encourage farmers to not look at it as a compliance cost, but instead see it as the management tool it is – one that is capable of improving efficiency and production.

The farming community has a reputation of often resisting change, with much legislation interpreted as being anti-farming. This isn’t the case with this legislation and it is important farmers get on with complying with the new rules and make the most of an opportunity to improve their farming operations through better and meaningful measuring and reporting practices.

Give your car the Xmas Pampering it deserves!

The complete service centre We believe good things stand the test of time, which is why at Ashburton Toyota your servicing will be carried out by our team of trained technicians, that have over 130 years of combined experience. Five of our technicians are certified to issue WOF’s, to get your car safe and legal as soon as possible. Here is the great news - we don’t just service Toyotas!

We service, maintain and repair ALL makes and models of cars, as well as trailers and caravans.

The Service Manager, Brian Hurst, leads the service department from the front. “Our service technicians know past and present Toyotas, and other makes and models inside and out, giving you

piece of mind that you can bring any vehicle to us and we will have it back to you in pristine condition in no time”. Our technicians receive constant training and up-skilling, so they are up to date in the latest levels of safety requirements.

Our supreme customer satisfaction doesn’t start and finish within the workshop. We will pick up and drop off your car, within the Ashburton town boundary for free! Now that’s what we call service.

When you book your next service with us, ask about our loan car that we have available on a booking system.

Remember to book it with us though, as it is so popular, we want to make sure it is available when you need it.

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, there is no better time to ensure the safety of yourself and your family by getting your car, boat trailer and caravan safety checked by our skilled technicians. We will ensure your wheel bearings are safe, if you are towing we will check the connections and make sure your cooling systems can handle the extra load, and we will check your battery.

We do it all, from full engine reconditions, to engine diagnostics, WOF repairs and Pre-purchase inspections.

Ashburton Toyota, we care about your car almost as much as you do.

Your car faithfully carries you to all of your important events, 365 days of the year. Before the holiday season approaches, book your car for our famous 30 point safety check to ensure your car will safely get you to your destination this Christmas.

The cost of our check is minimal compared to what repairs on the road could cost you if you should break down while on holiday.

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Page 5

Health report raises rural concerns Kerry Maw

A recently released Ministry of Health report estimating a 24% shortfall in regulated health staff by 2021 should be of great concern to everyone. The report predicts these shortages are a “key threat to the health system’s ability to provide a full range of accessible, high-quality health services” which may particularly affect rural and provincial areas.

New Zealand has a complex system with each of the country’s 21 District Health Boards (DHBs) developing their own strategies for provision of health services and apportioning funding and resources in line with Government policy and priorities set in those strategies.

With a predicted shortage of 23,000 health workers by 2021, there is a dangerous potential for a lack of consistency which could see New Zealand slip into a “post code” style health system, where the level, availability, and access to health services depends on where you live.

constraints, leading to cuts in the amount of support offered to clients. These factors cause real concern that there is disparity and inequity creeping into the health system, with rural communities likely to be the losers in terms of access to services.

The Ministry has identified a significant challenge for New Zealand’s health system and the impact on rural communities, and must now take action. Well trained and experienced health workers don’t just appear by magic. Rural Women New Zealand appreciates that it is not practical or realistic to have a full range of top level specialists and health services in every rural location.

However it is essential that equitable access to services is retained for people in those rural communities.

The Ministry needs to ensure they have plans in place to ensure there is sufficient funding to provide advanced training, better recruitment and retention policies for staff, improve the availability of resources and services, Already we see differences in the delivery of services widen the range of services which can be provided by around New Zealand, particularly in the area of homecare. appropriately trained rural practice nurses and homecare DHBs have contracts with service providers for delivery of workers, and develop some practical and innovative homecare services. However each is different in the way enhancements to the way services are provided. Issues the DHB pays for the services both in terms of wages and such as distance from specialised services, and personal travel costs. costs for travel and accommodation to access those services must be more appropriately addressed.

The potential outcome is that support workers might be paid different rates for the same work depending Initiatives which could be further investigated might on which DHB is involved. And where travel costs are include enhancing and extending the range of mobile insufficiently paid for, it becomes increasingly difficult bus services currently in place such as the mobile surgical for service providers to adequately support rural clients. bus, the Breastcreeen Aotearoa bus, and the mobile DHBs also seem to have slightly different interpretations dental clinics. Perhaps mobilising other services could be of the entry criteria which must be met before a client is investigated such as radiology, pharmacies, outpatients deemed eligible to receive support, and also the level of clinics, physiotherapy/occupational therapy to name a support that will be provided. few.

Most of these differences appear to be driven by financial

Perhaps, also, the Ministry could look at the great

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Page 6

GUARDIAN FARMING

A decade of development When I exited active farm ownership 10 years ago I was aware that the industry was poised facing huge challenges, both in the area of range of production and product marketing.

Equally the rapid expansion of dairying in the Ashburton District was challenging the environmental sustainability of our soils and water, to a degree previously unknown.

Since ceasing active day-to-day farming involvement eight years ago, I’ve watched with interest the changes taking place not only on our own family farm but across the District and indeed the total farming industry.

What I have observed has reinforced the view that intensified farming will continue to play a key role in the wealth economy of the District, both now and in the foreseeable future.

My preference would be for no greater expansion in land use for dairying.

Latest published land use survey figures indicate that half of the arable land in the District is now utilised either for dairy farming or dairy support grazing. Much of this support land is also producing a variety of other crops as well of course.

My opposition to further dairy expansion stems more from a desire to see land use flexibility maintained on our diverse

range of soil types, than any significant concerns over environmental issues often focused on dairying.

I acknowledge that current product prices point firmly to dairy expansion as the most profitable land use at the present time – I doubt this will always be the case.

In the 150 year history of farming in the District it has always been a cyclical industry - no doubt this will continue to be the case.

Rising living standards and an almost insatiable demand for protein in these Pacific neighbours provide huge opportunities for positive trading options.

The key to make this happen is land use efficiency.

The years since I left farming have seen

three particular areas where these efficiencies have been generated, and as yet have nowhere near reached their full potential to ensure sustainable production.

Firstly the universal acceptance of the need for nutrient budgeting to maximise crop and pasture yields. Gone forever are the days when a couple of hundredweight of super annually and a ton of lime per acre every few years was the norm.

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Page 7

John Leadley

Much more is known about soil health, specific crop nutrient requirements, time of application and relationship to growth stage, than was the case in the past. Fertilisation is now more about a prescription for the crop to be raised to full potential, than previously.

to productive capacity has been brought about by the increased use of crop residue incorporation and feedlot manure to raise organic content of the soil. Modern multi-till equipment has enabled this to take place with resultant significant improvement in water retention capacity.

This knowledge coupled with enhanced crop breeding programmes has enabled consistently increasing average yields without detriment to latent soil fertility.

An additional benefit is quick reestablishment of ground cover and root development preventing wind blow which was a significant problem 50 years ago.

Secondly and closely linked is the ongoing efficiency improvements in respect of irrigation dirtribution and effectiveness brought about by modern irrigation applicators, particularly centre pivot and lateral move systems.

Twenty-five years ago I purchased land which had not been cultivated for 47 years. Olsen phosphate test 2, Ph 4.5.

Eyre stony silt loam and about six inches of topsoil. The latent fertility of this land with its cover of brown top, sorrel, hair grass, thistles and even some tussocks was virtually nil.

The ability to apply small amounts of water frequently to meet crop demand has enabled much better use of our precious water resource with significantly lower labour inputs.

Changing from the high volume demand of the border-dyke system to overhead distribution has enabled much more land to be covered with the same amount of water with no production decrease. No more the attitude “I better take the water while it’s available” (even if moisture levels were average). On-farm storage has largely alleviated this issue.

A less dramatic but third enhancement

Within six months we top-dressed six tonne of lime plus 500kg superphosphate/ Ha and installed irrigation (Rotarainer) and fallowed for winter feed.

After losing much of the fine topsoil – and no doubt some of the fertiliser – in a howling nor’-wester, the resultant green feed crop was very disappointing, despite fortnightly irrigation.

The soil quite simply had no “guts”.

Under today’s modern farming systems that same land consistently produces 12+ tonne/Ha crops of wheat and 20+ tonne/

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Ha of maize silage using feedlot manure, straw incorporation and green feed winter dairy grazing under centre pivot irrigation.

Most significantly the ground water nitrate level continues to decrease despite being in the groundwater plume of an area of large dairy farms and two major meat processing works. This surely is sustainable farming production.

Each of these three areas provides ongoing potential for further improvement with the knowledge base and technological advances that now surround the agricultural sector.

Other areas which offer significant efficiency opportunities with rising Asian living standards and demand for protein include; • A high fertility sheep breeding industry focused on high quality portion packed cuts from high yielding 20 -25 kg lamb carcases. Carcase conformation already plays a major role in product value.

• The use of gender and breed selection techniques in the dairy industry to enable a significant dairy beef industry to be developed to service the growing Asian market for this product.

• Opportunities for high yielding dairy beef stock are only touching the surface currently – more research is needed.

• Furthermore – I continue to believe

that water use efficiency still has many gains available – we are still only using less that 10% of available water and most of it only once.

Piped gravity fed sources for power generation and irrigation are logical multi-benefit means of efficient water use without compromising recreational and environmental values. The Opuha scheme is a wonderful win-win-win example.

I firmly believe that the Canterbury Water Management Strategy has the mandate to achieve and deliver these outcomes.

If the Government is serious about increasing food exports for long term benefits to the total economy the need for inter-generational monetary support is obvious in these areas of development.

Surely a much more worthwhile investment than some of the current “feel good” projects like Rugby World Cup that seem to be the focus for Government largesse.

In the next 10 years agricultural expansion can continue and gain momentum from the previous decade, and can be achieved without environmental degradation.

So please Mr Key and friends, don’t sell off our productive land to overseas owners.

This family (country’s) silver should remain in New Zealand ownership.

Page 8

GUARDIAN FARMING

Ashburton

Industrial Estate

A Unique Building Experience

Top Left: Owners John Smitheram and Geoff Frew, along with office administrator Caroline Sinclair are the friendly faces that will assist with your next house build.

Top Right: Smitheram and Frew were contracted for the commercial exterior and office renovation at Mead Motors.

Right: A home currently under construction with Smitheram and Frew in Tinwald, featuring exterior columns, three car garaging and Oamaru Stone cladding.

Story: Amanda Niblett Smitheram and Frew have long been well known names throughout Mid-Canterbury, previously on the rugby field, and now their reputation for building unique, quality homes is well established within the community.

11 years ago Geoff Frew went into business with John Smitheram, and the combination has been a success. Geoff was a builder, while John a joiner, so together they could offer a one stop package to fully complete a wide

variety of homes. Now the business focuses fully on home construction, but well respected joiner Steve Beveridge works on site at Smitheram and Frew’s Industrial Park site, so they are still able to offer the complete service.

Smitheram and Frew like to make the building process easy and stress free. From start to finish, they can handle every step, ensuring when they hand over the house, your home is ready for you to move into immediately. They

have the ability to offer unique plans, specific to your requirements. This enables you to alter any specification, increase or decrease any space in any room and add any additional feature, making your new home truly unique and stunning.

Smitheram and Frew will sell you the complete package. From the initial design of the plans, taking care of all consents, inspections and code of compliance, to ensuring all

structural and finishing details are completed to a high standard. When they quote your new home, everything is included so there are no suprises at the completion.

What you have been quoted is what you will pay, unless you have made specific changes during the building process. They will work with you on every detail, offering cost effective solutions, or sourcing the highest quality fittings.

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Ashburton

Industrial Estate

Page 9

More security

PGG Wrightson added to scheme PGG Wrightson Finance Limited has been accepted as a participant in the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, one of the few finance companies that meet the quality criteria of being financially sound and having a strong customer ethic under the newly expanded scheme.

Under the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008, retail financial service providers are required to belong to an approved dispute resolution scheme by December 1, 2010.

The Banking Ombudsman recently extended its Dispute Resolution Scheme to some non bank deposit-takers who are regulated by the Reserve Bank, have a minimum credit rating of BB, and can demonstrate high quality internal dispute resolution services.

CEO Mark Darrow said joining the scheme will be seen positively by customers.

“PGG Wrightson Finance has a robust complaints handling process which is now further strengthened by working with an independent and well respected scheme

through the Banking Ombudsman.

“More broadly, today is a significant day for non-bank deposit-takers with a raft of further new regulatory requirements coming into force. In addition to the requirement to join a disputes resolution service, other new requirements include capital adequacy, liquidity and registration as a financial services provider.

This is part of significant change in the finance sector to increase transparency, governance and robustness.”

Mr Darrow said PGG Wrightson Finance has been an early adopter of these significant regulatory changes, not only meeting but exceeding the new standards.

“Ultimately, we believe this raises the bar for finance companies and provides another layer of oversight and surety for our investors. We fully support the new regulations as a positive step towards the promotion of good governance in the sector.”

SKYFARMERS Top: Exterior columns give the home a classy, European feel.

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Because they are local lads and here for the long haul, they use local contractors, to ensure the quality of the end result.

They personally guarantee all their work and as members of Certified Builders New Zealand they are able to offer a 10 year guarantee. As well as building new houses they do alterations and renovations and have travelled as far as Central Otago in the south and North Canterbury in the north.

Currently they have 8 building staff, working on different projects throughout Canterbury. Geoff makes a point of being on-site at every project regularly, and encourage you as the home owner to visit the site regularly, to make sure that what you initially envisaged is what the end result is heading towards.

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Water Whisperings A slow irrigation season? In some cases and in some locations, the weather and subsequent crop growth has resulted in a repetition of conditions experienced in part of the 2009-10 season.

No blatant equinox stories this month.

The spring is almost over and officially will be over when you read this article.

We seem to be in a holding pattern of “up and down” weather, especially the rainfall and temperature variation. This has meant a little stop and start for some irrigators.

I do remember writing a very similar article about the same time last season – though because I am a bit of a computer hoarder I find it was actually January.

However, the comments I made then apply to what is panning out again this season.

The season has been somewhat “up and down” with: • Rainfall varying last weekend (November 21-22) from 15-18mm to 35mm and similarly with previous rainfall events (assuming the rain gauge is correctly sited), • Temperatures also varying quite wildly, with a minimum of 3 degrees last Tuesday after the cool southerly of the weekend.

• Some “bitterish” southerly winds decreasing the “feels like” temperature for a couple of days, and

• This pattern occurring every 10-14 days until now.

So returning to my article last January describing conditions in December 2009, this same weather pattern has meant some crops, “cereals and ryegrasses in particular have grown in their optimum conditions”. That these crops are in the “zone” has resulted in healthy leaves and plenty of them.

They are able to intercept much of the incoming radiation with photosynthesis and transpiration at close to potential rates. Fortunately, nor’-west winds that rapidly increase the demand for water have been largely absent. For crops, this has resulted in a holding pattern of sorts for irrigation. It has not resulted in time off, but rather a pick and choose for irrigation with some crops like clover requiring little or no irrigation. In addition, there has been less pressure on pasture irrigation with everyone keeping up.

Rainfall measurement? Above I noted “I assumed” rain gauges are correctly sited. Not only is the type of rain gauge important but so is the siting of it. If you use a manual gauge, (the ones you read after each rainfall) and write the amount in your diary, the best is a Marquis or Nylex 1000 (as shown).

This is the standard for measuring daily

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rainfall, unless you invest in a tipping bucket type that meets the measurement standard.

But, you will spend much more than $50 on such a gauge.

Other rain gauges (the wedge type, small opening tipping buckets and the like) tend to under-catch rainfall compared to the standard.

What is important is where you site your rain gauge. There are some obvious no-no’s: • Somewhere where you will measure rainfall • Not anywhere where irrigation will affect the catch, or • Preferably not on your roof (it is too exposed and/or sheltered).

The rule of thumb: The rain gauge needs to be located as shown in the little schematic. The “rule-ofthumb” (the official standard) is four times the height of any object away from the object. Obviously, if the gauge is too close to the tree for example, then if the rain is left-to-right the gauge will under-catch. And, if the rain is right-to-left, the gauge will over-catch. If the “correct” rainfall is not being measured, irrigation management decisions will not be right.

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Winchmore update – December Can you believe how fast this year has gone? Universities are breaking up, high schools are sitting exams and primary schools are winding down.

In light of some recent events I guess now is the time we should be thinking of safety on the farm with children wanting to be out helping, or showing their city cousins or friends visiting the machinery and how it all works.

Machinery and water hold a fascination for a lot of children so rules or guidelines need to be reminded of or set. I mention all this simply because of having contact with a young guy who these past two weeks has been finishing off his work experience as part of his engineering diploma with us here on the farm.

Health and Safety and OSH guidelines that I am required to follow mean that Andrew is able to leave the farm as fit and healthy as he arrived, satisfied with the work he has done and to go on to start a new opportunity to contribute his skills to our future.

So many times I have been frustrated with the rules and regulations of Health and Safety, only because it is “common sense” to those of us who have been around a while, but our responsibility is to safeguard as best we can, the generation that will be taking over from us.

Page 11

John Carson

Our rainfall has this month decided to catch up to being almost “average” with 55.4mm as at today the 23rd, even though most of it has fallen in two big dumps, it will and has helped crops and pasture alike, especially with soil temperatures ranging between 10.6° C and 17.2° C. The maize drilled on the 3rd has had a good start and is well away, although a few plants have been attacked by greasy cut worm and so I will be spraying them, followed next week by a weed spray.

I am really quite impressed with how easy the maize is to manage, after the spraying there will be a split dressing of urea and then irrigation as the cobs start to fill.

It actually fits in well with regard to irrigation for us. We can keep our pastures well watered up to January and then the maize gets its turn and then the rest of the season the water is split between the pasture and kale.

There is no problem then with irrigating everything required on a fortnightly round.

The stock are doing well with most of the science sheep performing as they should, the exception being the few lambs who insist on getting tangled in the flexinet electric fences.

Farms and especially farm machinery can be dangerous especially to the unwary. Keep a close eye on any visitors to your farm over the holidays.

In between tractor work and irrigating we have had a chance to tidy up a few areas on the farm where the electric fences needed attention in preparation for some more young dairy grazers arriving next month.

New Text

In the meantime the days are hot and sunny, we have had no water restrictions, crops, stock and staff are fit and well and most things we have control of are looking okay.

Remember to be safe.

Page 12

GUARDIAN FARMING

24/7 on farm servicing

“Totally Dependable!�

Left: Laser Electrial Ashburton team Bottom Left: Laser Plumbing Ashburton team Bottom Right:Steve Ellis (Technical Manager – Rolleston) and Brent Christie (Managing Director) working on a touch screen PLC programme at PGG Wrightsons

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These two words say it all and when it comes to Laser Plumbing and Laser Electrical, you can depend on them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

They are a highly skilled team of locally based electricians and plumbers committed to meeting and exceeding your expectations. Being part of a small rural community they have adapted their services to ensure their teams provide a complete solution to all their clients. Give them a try and you’ll learn why they remain their customers’ ďŹ rst choice when selecting an electrical or plumbing contractor.

Laser Electrical Rural and Dairy Services Division are experienced in installations of all types of new dairy sheds and pumping systems. They are able to carry out repairs and maintenance on any brand of milking and pumping system and also specialise in irrigation and grain handling systems, operating their own digger, crane truck, bucket truck and scissor lift for heavy duty jobs, and a valuable 24 hour breakdown service many have come to rely on.

Become a member of their Dairy Maintenance Programme and Dairy Shed Database to avoid breakdowns this holiday season. Using thermal imaging technology the team at Laser Electrical can detect faults before a breakdown occurs. This service also includes complete checks of electrical, refrigeration, pumps, plumbing and dairy plant helping to ensure your shed runs smoothly and efďŹ ciently.

With the launch of Laser Plumbing in Ashburton they are pleased to be able to offer the same on call services from the Plumbing Division and will also be available for all repairs and maintenance over the festive season. Laser Plumbing also specialise in all your plumbing, gas ďŹ tting, drain laying, sheet metal fabrication, and butynol requirements.

Full services around the clock include all domestic, commercial, industrial and rural electrical and plumbing requirements. Offering the highest level of responsiveness and reliability to ensure your plumbing and electrical needs remain headache free combined with years of experience and qualiďŹ cations of both teams ensure that Laser can deliver the promise of being – ‘Totally Dependable’

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Page 13

24/7 on farm servicing

ACL – Your contracting company

ACL has established itself as a leading company in the local civil contracting field with a workforce in excess of 90 staff and has proven itself in a dynamic and challenging market through performance and quality.

We operate a modern fleet of excavators, trucks, graders, loaders and specialized plant as well as light vehicles and construction equipment.

ACL specialises in road sealing, asphalt supply and placing, subdivision siteworks, kerb & channel construction, utilities installation and maintenance as well as transport and excavation jobs and dairy underpass supply and installation. We also operate a modern truck and heavy vehicle workshop, Aggregate production yard, bulk landscape supplies and a Readymix Association certified concrete plant.

ACL Workshop

ACL are here if you need us over the holiday break to repair your heavy vehicle if the unexpected occurs.

Our workshop closes at mid-day on the 23rd of December, and re-opens again on the 29th of December.

We close again for the Statutory holidays only, returning on the 5th of January.

We have an on-call mechanic available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays, if the unexpected occurs and you need an emergency repair to your truck, trailer or excavator.

Repairs can be conducted at our fully equipped workshop, or we can visit you on the road or farm should you break down.

We also have a range of Caltex oils and Baldwin filters

available if your stocks run low during the holiday season.

For our emergency after hours mechanic, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, please phone us on 308 7400 and you will be given the number of our on-call mechanic.

ACL Plumbing

The ACL Plumbing department has been responsible for the Ashburton District Councils Utilities Contract for over 16 years. The contract involves the repair and maintenance of the entire Mid-Canterbury water, stormwater and sewer network in Ashburton as well as local towns and communities.

We have experienced and fully qualified staff maintaining the regions three sewage treatment plants and 13 water treatment plants to ensure trouble free, continuous service.

The department also runs a CCTV camera to check the integrity and quality of new and existing drains and water mains.

ACL has its own fleet of diggers, drain clearing equipment and plant service vehicles and we are the Mid-Canterbury agent for Biolytix Septic tank systems.

We offer a 24 hour per day, 7 days per week service, should you need us.

Should you have an emergency with blocked drains, stormwater, effluent or sewer systems, we are here to help.

We are here to assist with both domestic and commercial issues, to keep you flowing over the holiday period.

For emergency help over the holiday season, please phone 308 4039 and you will be directed to our emergency on call plumber.

ACL is on standby to handle even the biggest of problems, to make sure your holiday season flows without issues. The ACL Drainage truck and qualified technicians are ready to tackle your drainage and flow issues, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ACL’s fully equipped workshop and qualified mechanics are on call this holiday season to attend to your heavy vehicle emergencies.

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ACL can service your Heavy Vehicle or Agricultural Machinery, keeping it reliable during the busy seasons.

We can assist with pre COF checks and repairs.

Don’t let a mechanical breakdown cost you time and money! ACL have a fleet of service vehicles, operating 24 / 7, to visit you on farm to get you rolling again.

Give us a call to stock up on quality Caltex oil and Baldwin filters, available in pails and 200l drums.

Book your engine maintenance or overhaul with our expert servicemen.

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Page 14

GUARDIAN FARMING

Early drought fears Wellington – Federated Farmers leaders say they are worried that dry conditions starting to develop around the country may signal a summer drought.

The month’s warmest day was recorded in Cromwell (32.3degC), which was the town’s highest November temperature in more than 60 years.

“In the Waikato, we’re seeing low soil moisture levels that we don’t normally expect to see until the end of January and after the winter we’ve had that’s not good at all,” said the lobby group’s Waikato provincial president Stew Wadey.

Towns across the central North Island, including Taupo, New Plymouth, Wanganui, also broke records, and some farming areas have had no rain for more than four weeks: Wanganui and Dargaville had 10mm in November, and Taupo and Hamilton both received 16mm — all well below average.

The Waikato regional drought committee will meet next week to discuss the situation, but Mr Wadey said that in the meantime he was warning farmers who were struggling to lower their stocking rates.

The top of the North Island is bracing itself for a dry summer too, with many areas drier in Northland than this time last year, and Agriculture Minister David Carter said he was considering declaring a drought in both Waikato and Northland.

“I myself am running fewer cows than last year to ensure I don’t run out of feed,” “It’s abnormally dry at this time of year... he said. and there is no significant rain forecast,” he said.

Many regions were also experiencing higher temperatures than normal: on “I think we are going to have potentially Sunday Hamilton recorded the highest quite serious drought issues over the next temperature for November in 90 years: month or two.

28.1degC. “We may consider — in the not-tooThe National Institute of Water and distant future — declaring drought.”

Atmospheric Research last week released figures that show several warm weather Farmers did not usually see such dry records were smashed last month, conditions until at least January, and especially in the South Island, where climate records show the Southern temperatures were up to 3.5degC higher Oscillation Index — which calculates than the usual average. the difference in atmospheric pressure

between Tahiti and Darwin — has moved in ways similar to the summer of 20072008, when a severe La Nina drought cost the New Zealand economy $2.8 billion.

Mr Carter also urged farmers to make decisions on stocking rates sooner, rather than later.

“Those that make the hard calls early, are the ones that tend to get through the drought best,” he said.

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The return of dry conditions showed New Zealand was already facing climate changes from global warming, such as intensification of rainfalls: “In many cases we’re seeing annual rainfall figures being the same as normal but the rainfall occurrence are far larger, and in shorter periods of time,” said Mr Carter.

“It is a clear demonstration of the effects of climate change.”

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Equine

Page 15

Jenny Paterson B.Sc Horsemanship NZ Ltd

‘Dairy Cow-it is’ in Horses!

Lots of horses get ‘dairy cow-itis’. In other words they are consuming lots of feed but you would never know it by their appearance! Like most dairy cows these horses have ‘no top-line’, you can see their ribs and sometimes back-bone.

This translates in horses to saddle-fitting problems from trying to fit a saddle to a hollow shaped back. Usually there will be other associated issues concerning health of the hind-gut flora and behaviour.

To reverse this syndrome is actually easy if you have the right setup. You just do exactly the opposite to what dairy farmers do!

A horse with ‘dairy cow-it is’! Look at the similarities in condition.

A combination of the following points will get excellent results.

1. Feed as much hay as the horse will eat.

If your horse is chronically thin and has soft to sloppy manure, you may need to turn an area into a ‘dry lot’ by spraying out or scraping the grass off. This is the best thing you can do to ensure the flora in the hind-gut is healthy.

2. Feed the right minerals. The disturbance to the horses electrolyte balances caused by high potassium, low sodium, calcium & magnesium from the grass is a major cause

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listening to the whole story as explained on “Changes in the Grass Make Changes in the Horse”.

You should see a marked difference in one-two weeks and they will continue to improve from there. Contrary to popular belief horses don’t actually NEED green grass to be fabulously healthy!

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Page 16

GUARDIAN FARMING

Irrigation

Andrew Curtis CEO Irrigation New Zealand Inc www.irrigationnz.co.nz

Optimising water management

Accurate water measurement is consistent with the future direction of the irrigation industry. As from November 10th, 2010, a new national regulation will require the majority of permit holders to Andrew Curtis measure and report their irrigation water use.

In order to optimise water management in New Zealand, water measuring and reporting of water takes is an essential part of the equation. Quite simply – you can’t manage water if you don’t measure it.

A detailed explanation of the new regulation can be found on the MfE website www.mfe. govt.nz/rma/central/measuring-reportingwater-takes.html.

In summary there are four requirements of the regulation: • all consented takes greater than 5l/s to install and maintain an accurate water measuring device (+/-5% for full pipes and +/-10% open channel) • daily readings to be taken and recorded • annual records to provided to your regional council • have your water measuring device checked for accuracy (verified) every five years

So why is water measurement important?

Better resource management We are at or rapidly approaching water allocation limits in many regions of NZ. However, the science council’s use to set these limits is plagued with assumptions, one of these relates to actual water use. Currently a variety of methods are used to convert the allocated volumes on your resource consent into ‘guesstimates’ of your actual use. If we are to improve on the status quo, and more importantly enable greater certainty (reduce risk) in the setting of allocation limits, we need to provide accurate water use data to better inform the decision making process.

Much of the allocated water in NZ is underutilised, tied up on paper (resource consents). This is currently preventing us realising the potential of our greatest asset – the water resource. In reality 100% use of the allocated water in NZ is not possible as we have variable rainfall inputs – wet and dry years. Growers don’t pump water unless they have to because it costs! Despite this, there is potential to increase allocation efficiency by 10-15%. This would have significant positive impacts on both regional and the national economy. Water measurement (particularly real-time) provides the framework to allow this transfer of water to easily occur. Irrigators need to get smart and move forward with this opportunity.

Increased profitability through better irrigation management

Despite the extra cost associated with water measurement, there is much opportunity for improving crop and irrigation management, and therefore grower profitability.

Both quality and yield are paramount for profitability so knowing your crop is getting the irrigation it needs, and at the right time is essential (irrigation scheduling). The simplest way of checking this is by using your water measuring device to work out the applied depth (mm) using the volume of water applied and the area irrigated. Growers can then fine tune their irrigation system applications with confidence.

Simple water measurement checks can be combined with other simple checks such as energy use (pump efficiency) and system pressures to determine irrigation system performance. This allows timely preventative maintenance to be carried out rather than growers dealing with major breakdowns during the irrigation system. A number of simple practical tools have been produced that walk growers through these useful checks. They are available at www.irrigationnz.co.nz – follow the link to the IrrigationNZ Knowledge Centre.

Another opportunity lies in the area of benchmarking performance against both peers and the ‘optimum’ water use.

IrrigationNZ currently has a project underway to establish a framework for this using the growers in the Rakaia-Selwyn zone, Canterbury, as a practical case study What do growers need to know when

installing a water measuring device?

Unfortunately installing an accurate water meter is not straight forward, particularly in ‘cramped’ existing irrigation headworks with multiple valves and filters. Turbulent flow causes eddies in the water flow that make it difficult for many water measuring devices to accurately record the flow. IrrigationNZ has produced a user guide to walk growers through the decision making process, available at www.irrigationnz.co.nz.

Growers also need to undertake a ‘whole of life’ cost analysis of their proposed installation. From this you’ll likely find the cheapest upfront capital cost water measuring device is not the cheapest option long-term. You get what you pay for – quality meters result in a long lifespan and cheaper verification costs.

Types of water measuring devices

Electromagnetic An electromagnetic meter consists of a section of pipe with a magnetic field around it and electrodes to detect electrical voltage changes. When a fluid passes through the pipe an electrical voltage is created which is proportional to the fluids velocity. The electrodes detect the voltages generated by the fluid which is then converted to a velocity from which the flow rate can be derived.

Advantages • high degree of accuracy (+/- 0.15% - 2%)

GUARDIAN FARMING

Irrigation

Page 17

Andrew Curtis CEO Irrigation New Zealand Inc www.irrigationnz.co.nz

and consistent over full flow range • wide flow range and no obstructions to flow • robust with only minimal routine maintenance required • no moving parts and long life span Disadvantages • repairs require skilled technician and specialised equipment Mechanical An impellor is rotated by water passing through the meter, which is translated to a volumetric reading. The mechanism is calibrated by an adjustable device which is pre-set and security sealed. The meters are available in various sizes and have to be full of water during measuring.

Advantages • reliable and accurate means of measurement providing correctly installed • relatively low initial cost • in-line maintenance with simple efficient mechanism • headworks replacement readily available Disadvantages • difficult to detect malfunction or interference to meter while operating if operated without a datalogger • prone to wear (silt, pumice, glacial flour), resulting in loss of accuracy • some head loss characteristics Ultrasonic These use sound waves to measure water velocity and convert this to a flow rate.

Transducers are fixed on the outside of the pipe and a transit time method is used to calculate the velocity of water within the pipe.

The transit time method calculates velocity

from the differences in time for an impulse to pass between the two transducers.

Advantages • robust with minimal routine maintenance required • simple to install and no moving parts • same meter can be used in a wide range of pipe sizes Disadvantages • repairs require skilled technician and specialised equipment • power supply required • electronic components vulnerable to lightning damage.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council approved installer program.

Growers can learn more about water measuring, its challenges and opportunities (including the accreditation scheme for service providers), with a visit to www.irrigationnz.co.nz.

Finally, IrrigationNZ encourages irrigators to ‘get things in motion’ when it comes to the water measurement regulations. There are

Irrigation Layout & design

IrrigationNZ Implementation Package INZ, in partnership with MfE, MAF and stakeholders from the Water Measurement Taskforce (including HorticultureNZ), has led the development of an implementation package to run alongside the regulations.

The aim of this is to give irrigators certainty around the water measurement installation, verification and data provision. The package includes industry guidelines and a quality assurance program – an accreditation program for water measurement service providers. This will ensure quality and consistent water measurement throughout NZ, driving cost efficiencies and giving certainty as to the accuracy of water measurement.

Included in the industry guidelines has been the establishment of a system to register service providers of water measurement services. This builds on the Environment Canterbury Water Meter Request for Proposals Panel (RFP) process and the

likely to be challenges with respect to both supply of water measuring devices (NZ is one of many countries globally that have recently introduced mandatory water measurement) and their installation within the regulatory timeframes. Discretion will likely only be shown by regulators if you’ve genuinely embarked on the process – leaving it to the last minute will not cut the mustard.

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Page 18

GUARDIAN FARMING

Tides of the earth We think we know about high and low tides, king tides when the moon comes closer, and when this occasion combines with a full or new moon. We think we know about neap tides, when tidal variation is less and the sea doesn’t come up the beach as much or go out as far.

We are taught in school that tides are the sea’s surface rising and falling, caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and to a lesser degree the sun. This pull of the moon bulges up the sea on the side of the earth nearest under the moon and, for symmetry, a smaller bulge develops on the other side. As the earth spins under the moon every 24 hours, any one point will have two high tides and two low tides.

All very reasonable and logical. Pity that it’s wrong.

The behaviour of the ocean does not follow the way we were taught. In fact, the sea acts just the other way, and when the moon is overhead it is more often low tide, not high tide.

In Kaikoura, Otago, Adelaide and Melbourne, moonoverhead is closer to low tide. But fishermen, sailors, surfers and swimmers live happily with the standard idea of tides because the calculations to predict them work well enough. Tide tables based on a formula can accurately predict years in advance.

The formula must be corrected for shape of the coast, shape of the depth contours offshore, local water currents and other conditions such as changes in salinity and water flow from estuaries.

The tidal formula predicts relationships of earth, sun and moon then calibrates the results to particular localities using fudge factors. Once you know the offsets, all you do is add or subtract this from where the tide should be,

given the position of sun and moon. So why is it wrong?

Well, the theory of tides was devised before we realised what the planet itself was made of, before we understood how gravity works, and before we knew anything about the deep ocean. The original idea was simple - solid Earth, liquid Ocean. Sea lifts up when moon passes over, with lots of rushing tidal currents in and out of coastal passes.

Sea being fluid can move, land being solid cannot.

liquid ocean follows the moon-controlled bulge exactly, land masses less flexible than water distort the curve.

Small ocean islands are exposed summits of submerged mountains and have tides of about a metre either side of the mean sea level. The smaller and more remote the island, the less the tide range. Far from the influence of continents, the tide is usually low or near low when the moon is directly overhead.

Now we know better. Our whole planet is influenced by the pull of the moon, and Earth is mostly liquid, being composed of a molten core, with the continents, which includes the land under the oceans, floating like icebergs on the surface. The moon distorts the inner liquid sphere making the resultant earth tides measurable even in the middle of the largest continent.

Tidal motion lessens moving away from continents.

There are exceptions. Tahiti has only one tide per day because the massive continent of Eurasia sits exactly on Tahiti’s opposite side of the earth, its greater movement dampening the gravitational bulge on the Tahiti side. The larger continents cause more drastic dampening on the distortion of the planetary crust.

When the moon is over the equator, the land rises about 55cm, over Moscow about 30cm and over New Zealand about 20cm. The land is the true tide - both the sea floor and what rises above the sea. Sea-tides rise and fall the same amount in the middle of the ocean as at the coast.

The land rises and pushes the sea up; but not as much.

Daily, as the moon transits overhead, the land rises more than the sea, and the sea drains away.

When the gravitational effect causes the continent to warp or tilt, ocean tides can exceed 10 or, in rare cases, 20 metres as the edge of the land lifts out of the sea. The reason Japan has the most earthquakes is because it is right next to a huge land mass. New Zealand has a lot of shakes because we are over the conjunction of two great tectonic plates.

Local tidal height is determined by difference in rise between land and sea. The massive movement of water from estuaries and lagoons is only indirectly caused by the gravitational effect. It is not a tidal wave rushing in and out of the harbour. The harbour is lifting up and descending and the water is, quite naturally, sloshing in and out as this happens. This is not what we were taught.

The closer the sea is to land, the more the ocean level changes, with the open sea changing least, because land and sea react differently to lunar gravity. While the

Like water, land is always trying to move. Earthquakes always occur because land finds other land in its way so seeks pathways around the blockage, as a stock car wends its way past other cars.

It is time to look at the larger story of the tides in order to understand tectonics and with recent Canterbury events well overdue to look at the moon and sun in a deeper understanding of how they affect everything on this flexible earth.

Gravity happens right now, to the whole planet at the

To all of our wonderful customers From the team at Hoopers have a merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.

5 Range St | Riverside Industrial Estate | Ashburton Telephone 03 307 7055 | Mobile 021 487 598

GUARDIAN FARMING

Page 19

Ken Ring

same time. The bulge created by the moon is a collective change in molecular motion created by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. The greatest change in molecular motion is on the part of the planet nearest to sun and moon - the surface.

Imagine pushing down on a soft rubber ball as you roll it along a table. The whole ball distorts. In that way the gravity effect of moon and sun mis-shapens Earth everywhere, right to the core and through to the opposite side of the planet.

As with the egging of a ball, as earth rotates under the moon, the molecular effect remains at its maximum directly under the moon. If the moon vanished instantly, the effect would vanish in the very short time it would take the planet to bounce back to a more uniform, unbulged, shape. The gravity bulge from the moon remains perfectly stationary under the moon. The gravity bulge from the sun stays perfectly stationary under the sun.

So the tidal effect does not move water around the planet every day, although it appears to. It does not directly move water anywhere. In the open sea, when the moon daily passes over, the water stays where it is, moving in whatever direction it happened to be moving anyway.

large coastal plateau or lagoon, the ocean may require two or more hours to flow away from the rising land. There will be strong tidal currents in these areas, continuing an hour or two after the actual high or low tide has passed.

The effect of the moon is that the water molecules alter their motion, along with all the rest of the molecules of the There are many little known studies that have reported a positive correlation between the earth tide and planet, so the whole mass elevates by an amount relative earthquake occurrence. Cantabrians have experienced to the diameter of the planet. The land does the same. thousands of land-tide aftershocks akin to ripples after a Although the effect of gravity is instant the resultant rising big splash, or surges after a kingtide high watermark. or sinking land mass takes time, and only after that is The changing distance separating moon and earth affects the water tide determined. The time of high and low tide all tide heights. When the moon is at perigee, the range varies depending on local topography. Where there is a

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increases, and when it is at apogee, the range shrinks.

Every 7½ lunations (the full cycles from full moon to new to full), perigee coincides with either a new or full moon causing perigean spring tides with the largest tidal range.

September 7 was such a date.

A lunation is 29.53 days. The next such dates are 20 February 20, March 22 and April 18. Until then New Zealand should have a relatively quiet landscape.

Further reading: http://www.zisin.geophys.tohoku.ac.jp/ohtake/ ohtake1-51.pdf

Page 20

GUARDIAN FARMING

Weather by The Moon: December Forecast Summary, outlook period Number of rain days: Precipitation potential times: Mostly dry

About 6-8 December 8th-15th, 28th, 30th December 1st-7th, 17th-25th

Wettest periods:

December 14th-15th, 28th

Warmest maximum temperatures:

December 14th, 23rd

Coolest maximum temperatures:

December 29th-31st

Warmest minimums:

December 20th-21st

Coldest minimums: Sunniest days: Best days for outdoor recreation: Cloudiest:

December 1st-2nd, 24th December 24th-26th December 1st-7th December 11th-18th

Estimated precipation for Ashburton:

63mm

Rakaia:

94mm

Methven:

80mm

Estimated sunshine amount for Ashburton:

157hrs (December average 195hrs)

General December may be average to drier, with less sunshine than normal and average temperatures. Two distinct precipitation spells are likely, around mid month and about the last days. There may be chances of localised flooding at the end of the first week. Atmospheric disturbances bring windier conditions about 1st-3rd, 6th, 13th-14th, 20th22nd, 25th-29th.

The potential for maxima averages is 17-20°C and for minima 6-9°C.