Gf July 2012
GUARDIAN FARMING
Sheep - Versatile and sustainable
p 3-4-5
An Ashburton Guardian Feature
2
native awareness
Contributed by Mary Ralston, Forest and bird
Protection of roadside vegetation Three examples of native vegetation in the Ashburton District have recently received greater protection. Landscape Protection Agreements have been designated over three roadside remnants in a special agreement between the Ashburton District Council and the QEII Trust. This is a great step forward in the protection of the dwindling number of remnants of native vegetation in our area. Roadsides are often the last repository of native vegetation in areas where there has been major land development for agriculture or urban development. Even these areas are now under threat as agriculture intensifies – irrigation and fertiliser application can affect roadsides as well as paddocks and dairy cattle and sheep grazing on roadsides can trample
and destroy existing vegetation. Signs will go up along the roadsides next week. The Landscape Protection Agreements are significant because, as well as officially recognising that the strips of vegetation are important, the council is taking steps to raise the awareness of its roading department staff and contractors so that they will be aware of the vegetation’s value. There have been cases in other areas where council staff have been unaware that a certain strip of roadside vegetation was significant and have dug it up to lay cables or widen roads. Hopefully the designation and in-house education will reduce the risk of that happening here.
The recognition of roadside vegetation has come about through the work of the Biodiversity Working Group, a group including Forest and Bird members, Federated Farmers, QEII, Ashburton District Council staff and others, which was set up to raise awareness and protect remaining native vegetation in the Ashburton District Council’s area. This group instigated the survey of the remaining vegetation on the plains that was conducted this summer. After the results have been collated, more roadsides may be given protection. The QEII Trust is an independent organisation set up in 1977 to protect examples of native vegetation on private land. Landowners with a native vegetation remnant or wetland can apply to the trust
Likewise, it is hoped that the signs and publicity will alert farmers in the area to the fact that roadsides may be a special area even though they are not fenced off.
Gf GUARDIAN FARMING
Any feedback is welcome, any comments about our magazine, letters or story suggestions. Please direct any correspondence to: Linda Clarke, on 307-7971 email: linda.c@theguardian.co.nz or write to PO Box 77, Ashburton. Advertising: Phone 307-7900 Email: emma.j@theguardian.co.nz Publication date: July 10, 2012 Next issue: August 7, 2012 An advertising feature for the Ashburton Guardian. Any opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Guardian Farming or the Ashburton Guardian.
to have a covenant put on the remnant and may qualify for help with the costs of surveying and fencing. Over the past 35 years over 111,000 ha of native vegetation has been protected by private landowners, which is a magnificent achievement. Even though many of the covenants are quite small, much of the vegetation protected by the covenants is in lowland areas which are not well represented in national parks and other public conservation areas, so has a great significance. The local representative of the QEII Trust is Rob Smith. He is interested to hear from landowners who may have some native vegetation, special wetland or landscape feature on their property that they would like to covenant. His email address is robsmith@slingshot.co.nz and phone number 03-689-7735.
Photos supplied
A wetland on Snowdon Station protected by a QEII covenant. (above) The lovely yellow flower of the Bulbinella- given protection along a roadside. (right)
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3
Benefits of sheep
Linda Clarke, Ashburton Guardian rural reporter
Sheep farming vital to our region
Sheep farming has been an important part of Mid Canterbury’s economic history. For 170 years, sheep have been bred extensively for wool and meat; now dairy farmers dominate the landscape.
Photos Tetsuro Mitomo 020712-TM-049
David Bennett and his wife Mavis.
Wakanui farmer David Bennett is a man committed to keeping sheep on the district’s radar, despite the boom in dairying. It is no surprise then that as president of the Ashburton A&P Association, David has chosen sheep as the theme of this year’s annual show. Versatile and sustainable, sheep are winners, he says. “We have bred sheep as long as I have been farming. My grandfather and father before me farmed sheep, and now my son Andrew.” The annual A&P show in October is an opportunity to promote what sheep farmers do and in Mid Canterbury sheep are still big business. They support an industry including two meat works, stock agents, stock transporters, shearers and those in the animal health business. “In my view,” says David, “sheep are still important to Mid Canterbury. It is a smaller area that they are run on, especially breeding ewes, but there are still a lot of cropping farmers trading lambs through the winter and it is a good part of their income.” Story continues on page 4.
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Benefits of sheep Sheep are versatile animals because they Dorran, and work follows a predictable produce meat and wool, he says. “They are seasonal cycle. a good source of protein and their wool has Their 600 breeding ewes have just been great attributes, though synthetics have scanned in the lead-up to lambing, which taken a lot of the market away.” starts later this month. The scanning figures He believes however there will always be a show a lambing percentage in the mid-160 place in Mid Canterbury for sheep, despite per cent. dwindling flock numbers. Lambing is a five-week operation He says the way water is distributed involving frequent stock checks. Inevitably around the district means dairying has there are a few orphans; David mothers flourished, but there are many drier areas them on as best he can but always keeps still suitable for sheep. “Sheep are happy a couple aside for the neighbours’ young anywhere and everywhere. When the children. settlers came to Canterbury, they ran them He says July is cold for lambing, but good from the foothills to the coast.” planning of pastures and sheltered areas David and his wife Mavis, and their son helps to ensure good survival rate of the Andrew farm their Beach Road block, Glen newborns.
Storms can happen any time, even light changed the farm plan to farm a meat snowfalls – that is just part of the challenge breed. It has led to a better quality prime of managing stock. lamb, quicker maturing. We have really focused on meat, producing as many lambs The farm’s ewe flock is a composite Poll as we can and getting them to a good Dorset Corriedale, mated to a meat breed weight, around 18-19kg. That has been sire, aiming to produce early spring lambs our most profitable way to go.” A hangover for the market. The ewes lamb in July from his father’s time on the farm is a small and early August, with lambs being sold flock of stud English Leicester sheep, valued predominantly throughout October and more for their wool. He can’t part with them November; this suits the lighter river flats because they are part of the farm’s history. which make up approximately a third of the farm and are prone to dry out by early The farm is a total of 360ha, half in summer. Wakanui soils suitable for intensive cropping. They grow mainly wheat, barley There has been a deliberate change of and ryegrass with white clover, peas, focus over the years to breeding sheep for potatoes and bok choy in rotation. their meat. “When wool was worth so little, we
Story continues over page.
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Benefits of sheep
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Irrigation is via a centre pivot, travelling irrigator and a few k-lines. David says water controls what can be achieved on the farm. It will shape the plans that son Andrew has in the years to come. The younger Bennett holds not quite the same enthusiasm for his parents’ flock. He says water allows people to do things on-farm that are more profitable than sheep. It is hard to argue, given the meat schedule this season. It started at $9kg and is now $5.50. Industry issues aside, the Bennetts show no signs of converting.
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breeding sheep. “I grew up with sheep. Dad’s breed was English Leicester. We went to shows with them and helped get them ready, as well as work on the commercial sheep flock.” As a boy, David and his two brothers travelled to A&P shows all over the province and helped manage the mob through crutching, drenching and lambing. He says a lot more farmers were into breeding stud sheep back then because there was a strong market. He has held onto his own stud breeder’s status until recently, when demand for his Poll Dorset rams dried up. There is still some friendly rivalry amongst breeders at today’s A&P shows, however the farmers are older and it remains a challenge to keep the young guns interested. “There are fewer people breeding sheep and it is difficult to get young people into it unless they are born and bred. And especially if dairying keeps going the way it is. It would have to be more profitable for people to get back into it.”
David says the farm has areas that remain unirrigated and a breeding flock, so sheep The Ashburton A&P Association plans to keep still rule. “Water allows people to do other sheep firmly in the spotlight at this year’s show, things that are more profitable. But you with plans well advanced for a show feature have to accept what you have and make the involving local meat and wool businesses. best use of your area” and David still enjoys
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Contributed by Kerry Maw, Rural Women
The mail must get through – need v want New Zealand Post is working to update its Deed of Understanding with the Government which has not been reviewed since 1998. They have made a commitment to closely engage with Rural Women New Zealand to ensure the rural community is kept informed, with the aim of ensuring there is a viable, sustainable network for the future. With the ever expanding use of technology, NZ Post is facing unprecedented challenges to their core business of mail delivery. In the past decade the volume of mail has fallen by 20 per cent. That drop in volume is continuing, with nearly 40 million fewer mail items posted in the past year alone. And it is estimated that mail volumes will halve again by 2018. In addition, the costs of maintaining the current postal delivery network have increased in the past decade with a 20 per cent growth in the number of addresses New Zealand Post is required to deliver to at least five or six days per week.
advantage of the convenience of digital messaging channels. So obviously NZ Post has to seriously look at how it can continue to provide a sustainable postal services network. To achieve any changes they must amend the Deed of Understanding with the Crown. Part of this process will probably be for the Government to call for public submissions on a discussion document. As part of amending the Deed, NZ Post are seeking flexibility around delivery frequency and possible changes to the postal network, changes which they anticipate will happen over a number of years as they work towards ensuring a sustainable service is in place. So, if we are to continue to have a viable and efficient postal service, we must consider what we need that service to provide. And we must also consider what we are prepared to pay for it.
When I think about what I want from a postal service, compared to what I need, the answers are different. I’ve asked myself a few questions.
be the end of the world if I have to buy those things online in future because there are fewer post agencies? Maybe not. Or maybe I’ll have to use a post agency I might want the mail delivered every day which might be set up inside, say, the supermarket rather than in a shop on its but do I need to have my mail delivered own. Doubt if that will kill me. Might even every day? Is there anything that arrives be a lot more convenient. in my mail that couldn’t wait another day to be delivered? Probably not. If it’s Sometimes it costs more to have things that urgent, it will probably come by fax sent to me because I’m rural. Does that or email anyway. So maybe delivery on matter? It’s definitely an annoying part alternate days might be OK. of living rurally. But maybe I could have it sent to a friend/family member in town Do I need to have weekend deliveries? for less cost and pick it up from there next Well, I don’t get deliveries on long time I’m in town? weekends now and I’ve survived. So it shouldn’t matter too much if I don’t get Obviously the answers for you will be the mail on Saturdays. different as we all have different needs. Do I need to have my mail delivered to The key is to think about what is needed my home? Well, I’m a rural customer and from the postal service, and to be realistic my mailbox is already 3km from my home. about the cost we are prepared to pay. So will it matter if I pick my mail up from The consultation and public submission somewhere else? Depending on where process will an opportunity for us to be that is, probably not. flexible in our thinking and come up Being a rural customer, the postie brings with some innovative solutions to ensure the postal service is sustainable into the me the newspaper and some bread and future. It’s a chance to think outside the maybe a few other things sometimes. square, get involved, have your say and How difficult will it be if that doesn’t help NZ Post design a service which will happen as it does now? I might have to watch the TV or internet news and padlock meet your needs. the bread bin. With thanks to John Tulloch, NZ Post
Yes, it would be lovely to have a post-box on every street, post shops or agencies Those two trends – declining volumes open seven days a week, post delivered to and increasing fixed costs - will continue our home every day, parcels delivered to as people increasingly choose to share information and documents electronically our door and so on. But we all know that is not realistic in the long term. In today’s through using email, TXT, Twitter, Facebook, and Skype, to name a few. The world we cannot always have what we planned rollout of high-speed broadband want, but we should be able to have what we need if we are prepared to compromise It’s nice to go into a post shop or agency will further advance these trends, as and be flexible in our thinking. to buy post bags and stamps, but will it a growing number of people take
External Communications Manager, for statistical and factual information.
7
Contributed by Neal Shaw, ATS Chief Executive
niche marketing
Does scale mean relevance? that ”can-do” mentality we are famous for, we can continue to have relevance in these markets and this adds value for both the consumer and the producer. Many of these As a nation we have not let our size principles can also be applied on a local or geographic isolation limit us. New level. Numerous business and farming Zealand by its sheer size is a small player operations face the same challenges albeit internationally; add our geographic isolation on a much smaller scale. and it would be easy to assume that New We still have to have relevance, regardless Zealand would be a poor performer. of our size and to do this we have to be Instead, we perform well in a number of creative and forward thinking. Scale or market places because we are innovative size cannot be the only or most important and forward thinking. As a nation we are factor. If it were how would all of our small also good at finding niche markets and at companies, farms or businesses survive? forging excellent relationships to secure They survive because they have found lasting contracts and agreements. their niche and because they know and We have had to be adaptive and responsive understand their customers and markets. to change. Over the past 30 years there It’s this knowledge and attitude which can have been dramatic changes in what we also support the profit versus productivity produce for export and where it goes. As dilemma many businesses face. Businesses a consequence we have had to adapt or have to be innovative in how they operate shift our thinking resulting in many success so they can get the balance right between stories. these important factors. An example of this could be the relocation of dairy farmers from There are plenty of examples such as the North Island to our region. Merino wool, milk related products and chilled meat exports. These and many When they come here they are able to other commodity based items have found add scale to their operations but their sometimes highly lucrative markets because productivity levels have also had to increase of our ability to determine a specific need to match the size of their operations. Feed and develop products to match. There production is very different here because of is plenty of science, research, technical our soil types and growing conditions, and support and development behind many is arguably more expensive. Scale may have of these successes along with an ounce of led to greater profits but it has come with good luck or great timing. New Zealand higher productivity costs too. has not strayed too far from its traditional This means the profit margin may agricultural exports. By engaging a bit of Relevance in business is vital to success, without it we would be unable to compete locally, nationally or globally.
Encouraging farmers to use NAIT New Zealand’s major livestock industries have welcomed the recently introduced enhancements to its national animal identification and tracing scheme (NAIT). The improved system, which replaces the previous visual identification scheme with electronic tags and movement recording, went live for cattle on July 1 and will bring deer in on March 1, 2013. “The move to electronic identification presents some real opportunities for New Zealand to reinforce, in our overseas markets, our on-going commitment to producing high quality and safe food,” says Ben O’Brien, General Manager, Market Access, Beef + Lamb New Zealand. “The enhancement of our traceability systems will put us at the forefront in those high value overseas markets where consumers increasingly demand assurances regarding the traceability of their food.”
says DairyNZ spokesperson Elizabeth Dixon. “NAIT enhances our response toolbox in the event of such an emergency.” The entry into force of the enhanced scheme follows a long period of industry-government collaboration. “Much hard work has got us to where we are today – and while there remains a transitional period ahead for cattle, and to introduce deer into the new electronic recording system, it has been a good example of how industry and the government can partner to support initiatives in New Zealand’s interest,” says Mark O’Connor, CEO of Deer Industry NZ.
NAIT registrations have topped 35,000 indicating a high degree of awareness among the cattle industries of the scheme. Industry groups acknowledged that as a change to the previous visual tag scheme, it would take time for The NAIT scheme is also viewed as farmers to understand and adjust to an important development in New the new system. Zealand’s biosecurity readiness and Farmers are encouraged to seek response. help from NAIT and other industry “We invest heavily in biosecurity professionals through the transition because an incursion of an period. As a first step, people in unwanted pest or disease like food charge of animals should register and mouth disease is the single biggest threat to our industries,” with NAIT at www.nait.co.nz.
not reflect the effort put into growing productivity. When you increase Merino wool, one of New Zealand’s productivity you have to invest more which best products. increases your costs. You may end up changing the way you operate your business for little financial gain. Often you will get one or the other when it comes to profit versus productivity, but the ultimate aim is to get both. Some businesses achieve this, especially when there is little or no debt. It depends on their creativity and planning and where they choose to put their time and money. Efforts to increase productivity often centre on reducing input costs and increasing efficiencies. There comes a tipping point where productivity for productivities sake is not an option because this is when you can risk losing your marketplace relevance and the very thing that sets you apart from your competitors. Smaller business operations cannot afford to lose that edge. What often sets them apart from bigger ventures is their high quality products and service. Without these vital ingredients they are just the same as their competitors but with higher overheads. Being small has many advantages and the potential these businesses, farming operations or even countries (such as ours) have, shouldn’t be underestimated. Scale doesn’t matter if you are not able to respond to your customers and markets with what is relevant to them. It is about how you react to the changing environment whether it’s on a global scale or much closer to home.
8
Farm vehicle
An Ashburton Advertising Feature by Brian Tiernan
New Zealand – Land of the four-wheel drive One day, back in 2005, I was paying a visit to my Da’s house in Ireland to see my older sister Anne who had just returned from a year-long trip around the world with her Kiwi boyfriend Matt. One of the necessary evils of having to meet a family member under these circumstances is the part of the reunion when the holiday snaps are produced from a handbag and passed around from sibling to sibling and every single photograph, no matter how dull or repetitive or fuzzy, must be treated with a level of reverence and wonder that should really only have ever been used once before in all of human history, when the baby Jesus himself was being passed from wise man to wise man. And so, being the loving brother that I am, I raised my eyebrows in pretend awe as each new scene was delivered to my hands, and I vocalised my delight and gratitude at being granted this privilege through a succession of “wows” , “mmmms” and a couple of “where was this one taken?” (although that last one must be used sparingly for fear of being told anything more than a place and perhaps a time). Then, without any fanfare or introduction,
somewhere between the Fiji and the Australia snaps, came a bunch of 30 or so photographs that actually grabbed my attention.
and only a short drive away from where that photo of Rakaia Gorge was taken, writing a piece about the place where I now work and live. But as educating and day dreamy as those snaps of my sister’s Stunning scenes of snow-capped peaks were, there was one key element of South rising from lush plains framed by clear blue Island life that was absent from almost all of skies, glaciers and sub-tropical forests, them, the ubiquitous 4WD. golden beaches and country pubs with Of course, we have 4wd vehicles in locals who bore more than a passing Ireland too, from the farm pick-up to the resemblance to the locals down my local! family wagon, but even on the very first “Where was this one taken?” I asked again and again, all the while hoping that what I day I walked around town I noticed how looked like when I was genuinely interested so many more people here use them than in knowing the answer was at least vaguely back at home. And I now know without a doubt that to really get the most out of this similar to what I looked like earlier when incredible island you are going to need one. I had about as much interest in knowing answers as a cat has in taking swimming Over the course of my time here I’ve had lesson… from a dog. many memorable trips and I have been lucky enough to experience many different The response was direct and simple… aspects of Kiwi life. “That’s the South Island of New Zealand Brian, you should go there, you’d love it.” I’ve been on road trips to Hokitika and And I can very clearly remember taking a Queenstown, with one sober driver and second look at a photo of Rakaia Gorge and four not-so-sober passengers, and what thinking to myself “Hmm… I wonder… will I seemed like half a ton of camping gear. ever get there?.” I’ve been duck hunting on farms and And so here I am, seven years later, in possum hunting down river beds, fishing good old Ashburton, smack bang in the and camping at lakes and on beaches and middle of the South Island of New Zealand snowboarding up Mount Hutt. I’ve even
been allowed to help out on a friend’s farm once or twice (which doesn’t sound like much but to a towny like me it was kind of a big deal!) And what is the one thing that binds all these great experiences together? It’s the 4WD vehicle. And so, like a famous man once said, I have a dream. Maybe it’s not so grand as to unify all colours and all creeds, but for me it’s every bit as important. With a bit of luck, I’ll persuade my dear old dad to put on his travelling pants and make the trip all the way from Ireland to this far corner of the earth. I’ll meet him at Christchurch airport and wheel his bags out to my newly acquired but well worn Hilux Surf. We’ll load up and hit the road for a few weeks together travelling and exploring the length and breadth of this great island of yours. And at the end of it I’ll say “there you go Da, now you know why I love it so much. Don’t expect me home anytime soon.” So whether you’ve got a trusty Toyota, a new Navara or snowboarder’s Subaru, look after your truck and it will look after you. All these machines have certainly looked after me.
New Years Day 2012 on a west coast beach on the back of a Hilux.
A Nissan Navara Transporting “convicts” at the Hokitika Wild Foods Festival 2012.
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Ballance environment awards
Passion and productivity make a winning combination “Passion, pride and productivity” is the motto Blair and Jane Smith apply to their award-winning North Otago farming business.
cause of agriculture in New Zealand.” While sheep and beef ambassadors for New Zealand agriculture “and showing production is the mainstay of their farming operation, that productivity and environmental sustainability can go Simon says the Smiths also have a deep understanding of hand-in-hand”. New Zealand farming and horticulture in general. The Smiths were recently named national winners of the Entries for the 2013 Ballance Farm Environment Awards 2012 Ballance Farm Environment Awards, collecting the “They are deserved winners of the Gordon Stephenson open later this year and Jane urges other farmers to give it prestigious Gordon Stephenson trophy at the New Zealand trophy and they will make excellent ambassadors for New a go. Farm Environment (NZFE) Trust’s Sustainability Showcase Zealand farming.” “We’d certainly encourage any farmer to enter the in June. Blair and Jane run Newhaven Farms Ltd – a North Otago awards. It’s worth it for the judging process alone.” Jane Smith says winning the title was a complete but sheep, beef, forestry and dairy support operation that For more information on the Ballance Farm Environment welcome surprise. The supreme winners from the other spans three family-owned properties totalling Awards visit www.bfea.org.nz eight regions were all of an extremely high calibre, she 1528ha. says, and spending time with them was an “inspiring Primary Industries Minister, David Carter (right) with Blair and Jane says they entered the 2012 Otago Jane Smith winners of the Ballance Farm Environment Award. experience”. Ballance Farm Environment Awards “They are all great ambassadors for their industry and for because they wanted to find out what the good practice in environmental sustainability.” competition was all about. Simon Saunders, deputy chairman of the New Zealand “It was a great opportunity to have Farm Environment Trust and chairman of the national specialist judges evaluate our farming judging panel, says picking a winner from the nine business.” supreme winners was no easy task. His experienced judging team, which included Jamie Strang, Warwick Catto, The Smiths certainly Jacqueline Rowarth, Alistair Polson and Paul Lamont, had weren’t expecting to win to make tough decisions. the supreme award on their first attempt. “All of the supreme winners demonstrated a huge amount of passion and commitment – not just for their Winning the national own farming businesses but for New Zealand agriculture award has capped off a as a whole.” great year for the couple and Jane says they were But the Smiths had the ‘X factor’ and this shone through highly motivated by during the formal interview process. the achievements of “Blair and Jane are an absolutely fantastic team and last year’s national they run a very well organised farming operation with winners, Southland an excellent business plan that focuses not only on farmers Grant and production but also on social and environmental goals. Bernie Weller. She says They have superb leadership skills and they demonstrated she and Blair are ready for great clarity of thought on how they could advance the the responsibility of being
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It’s a dog’s life
No lifestyle block would be complete without a dog. Our townie-turnedcountry girl Barbara can relate. 030512-JH-059
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11
lifestyle
Dogs. Interesting breed of animal, very loyal, but also like having another kid at times. When I was young living on a farm we had lots of sheep dogs. Dad would have had at least five at all times and they worked hard. They always listened and did as they where told. As children we were never allowed to play with the dogs as dad said they were working dogs - you play with them, they become naughty and will not listen to him. So they were never allowed inside or even inside the house gate to the garden. And believe me they never came in the gate to the house they always stayed on the other side even if it was open. They knew their place. So when offered a dog just after we moved here I thought that would be okay. A very large dog, a Rottweiler crossed with a labrador. Tom hates dogs but didn’t say a word when we went to check him out. The kids where so excited until we came face to face with him. He was huge. Tom stepped back, not too sure about all this, but the girls went straight up to him. “Don’t do that,” I said. “He doesn’t know you.” Too late, they were patting him. He was happy, and very well behaved. Tom was just looking at the size of his teeth. We talked to the owners and they loved him but their section was too small for him. They said he was trained for duck shooting
so didn’t bark, and would not jump up unless told too. He would not even eat unless he got the okay, he would just sit and look at his food and drool.
rounding up the two pet sheep. He thinks they want to play with him, which they do. And the cows show him no respect.
An hour later we went home with the dog.
The dog and Tom have turned out best friends, though Tom is still a bit wary of those teeth.
He was never to be inside. He was never to sleep inside. He was to never travel in my car. But all the rules I laid down went out the window in the first 24 hours.
The dog still doesn’t bark and is not the best at telling us that we have visitors, but people do take their time getting out of the car when they see him.
We had a few issues in the first few He’s great with the children, including our months. He missed the kids when they friend’s one-year-old. were at school so would wander down to Not once has he barked or snapped at the neighbour’s place. She would ring to anyone. We are careful though because tell us and tie him up. We are very lucky you never know. that they are great neighbours because they could have shot him on sight being on The dog is so much part of the family a sheep farm. that he sits on the kids’ knees if they are But there were a couple of times I couldn’t sitting on the ground watching TV. If they find him. He doesn’t bark, remember? I lie down he will lie beside them, some days spent over an hour looking for him one day I think he thinks he is human not a dog. then found him in the chook house, with Even the cats don’t care he is around. the chooks, because he likes eggs. To be truthful, everyone really loves I was so happy that he was there and having him in the family but some days he not wandering the roads. “But couldn’t is too big to be inside the house. We can’t you have just barked so I hadn’t spent the change it now, he would get depressed afternoon looking for you,” I told him. This and sad if he couldn’t be with us at night. has happened more than once - the next He gets upset if we go away for the day time I locked him in the garage and spent and lock him in his cage. 20 minutes looking for him. We are doing If we get another dog it will be an outside well now, at least he doesn’t wander off one! Ha! Ha! the property. He is not overly good at
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12
inspirational lesson
Shane Bichan.
Owaka herd manager is farming to succeed mine’s wife did it last year or the year before “Farm ownership is the big one,” he says. and she highly recommended it.” “We want to be 50:50 sharemilking within five years on the family farm. All the goals Shane enjoyed the visits they made to top performing farms as part of the course we set last year we’ve almost achieved now, and highlights the chicken and beef farms we’ve bought calves and paying off the house is the next one.” visited as stand outs to him. They also There are no course fees as the course is visited a robotic dairy farm and cropping After finishing his Level 4 training, sponsored by FIL New Zealand farm. he is planning to go on and complete “I’ve lived on a dairy farm all my life,” “We visited these places to see people AgITO’s National Diploma in Agribusiness Shane said. “I did my trade as a builder and who were pushing the boundaries and Management (Level 5). came back to the family farm. I’ve been showing you it could be done. We also back for four years and I’m currently the went to the FIL factory – I’d like to give a big “I’m going to go on and do the diploma. I want to do the business management herd manager milking 420 cows.” thanks to them as sponsor.” certificate, it’s something I really need to He started training with AgITO after his For Shane another benefit of the course learn about.” return to dairy farming. was meeting the other highly motivated Shane was the recipient of the FIL “I’ve done Milk Quality Stage One and Two participants. Emerging Leader Award at Farming to and Dealing with Dairy Farm Effluent, and “I’ve formed a network of contacts and Succeed and is enthusiastic when asked if all Level 3 courses. I’m currently doing my friends – we’re going to organise a catch National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 4). up soon,” he says. “By the end of it everyone he would recommend the course to others. Level 4 is more challenging and puts the had these new ideas, it was great talking “I’ve recommended it to everyone already,” pressure on.” to everyone else and hearing what they he laughs. “It’s a shame there isn’t another thought.” He applied for Farming to Succeed after course like it that isn’t for farmers, I’ve got hearing about the positive experience of a Shane is taking his new ideas and looking townie mates who could be doing things previous year’s attendee. differently and who need a course like to the future and how he will achieve his Farming to Succeed. It’s one of the most career goals. He says he has a list of goals “My training adviser Russell Stuck said I should try to apply and a good mate of pinned to the fridge. valuable courses I’ve ever done.”
Owaka herd manager Shane Bichan says his Topics covered include career eyes have been opened to opportunities development, staged capital growth in the agriculture industry after attending and asset management, goal setting AgITO’s South Island Farming to Succeed. and motivation, successful business partnerships, financial development, time “It was brilliant, it was an eye opener, I management and managing stress. came home on such a buzz. I came away with a new mentor – course facilitator Grant Taylor is an amazing man. “He talked about turning your blinkers off and seeing what else is out there – I would’ve been happy to listen to him each day even without the farms we visited. “We talked about where we’re going and different opportunities. My partner and I have started our first venture and bought 50 calves, so we’re trying to sell them at the moment.” Farming to Succeed runs once yearly over five days, during which participants go through a structured series of workshops, farm visits and discussion groups. Participants work with course facilitator Grant Taylor and other leading agribusiness practitioners to explore the key ingredients required for the achievement of personal and business success. Only 25 people are accepted to each course.
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13
more grass = more milk
Contributed by Graeme Pile, Fertigation Systems
Time to think laterally about nitrogen With the price of urea jumping 12.5 per cent, from $780/ tonne to $880/tonne, farmers may want to consider other methods of applying nitrogen to pastures and crops.
Sustain. Change from conventional farming to biological farming methods, enabling the soil to take nitrogen from the air and convert it into soil nitrogen for plant use.
as occurs with urea. Why is urea different? Plants can take up nitrogen in several chemical forms. The most common are: ammonium (NH4+), which has a positive charge; nitrate (NO3-), which has a negative charge; and urea, ((NH2)2CO), The use of nitrogen on farms has grown significantly in Apply nitrogen products that are taken up more efficiently which has no charge and is therefore prone to leaching. recent years. The March edition of the Fertiliser Research by the plant and have less nitrogen wastage in the (You can read more about this at www.greenhouse. Newsletter spells it out clearly: New Zealand’s use of conversion process. cornell.edu/crops/factsheets/ nitrogen-based fertiliser has increased from 250,000 tonne Options 1 and 2 are used by some farmers now, nitrogen_form.pdf.) I believe in 2000 to 360,000 tonnes in 2011. especially the top 20 per cent operators, who know it is fertiliser companies should While there has been an increase in dairy farm conversions profitable to spend more time measuring and to farm be giving farmers clearer – and that will account for some of the increase – most sustainably. information around will be from increased urea use on existing dairy farms, as which products can increase Option 3 will be a step too far for most. It takes time farmers strive to grow more grass to produce more milk. profitability while also reducing to move from conventional farming to biological And sheep and cropping farmers have not been blind to the environmental impact on soils and farming. However, farming methods – such as no nitrogen’s ability to increase production. Their use of urea is waterways. till and no stubble burning – are not that radical also up, as they strive to remain profitable. and help the soil’s organic matter increase and As one farmer told me recently, he won’t But urea’s cost increase will put a bigger dent into profits naturally hold onto more nutrients. change until there is a monetary than expected, due to static or dropping commodity prices. incentive or a regulation change. Be Finally, there is option 4. By using liquid careful what you wish for. Could urea’s So what are the options when it comes to nitrogen use? In nitrogen products, such as Ravensdown’s N-40 price increase be a small financial my view, there are essentially four paths to choose from: or Fertigation Systems’ Nitrogen Plus, farmers incentive to change? And could the can apply nitrogen directly onto the plant leaf Measure the amount of nitrogen in the soil at the start new groundwater rules introduced or soil. of the season and only apply what is required to top up by the Otago Regional Council this reserve. Apply nitrogen products that have nitrogen Plants are then able to readily absorb the nutrients earlier this year be the regulatory inhibitors incorporated, such as Ballance Agri-Nutrients’ without nitrogen being lost to volatisation or leaching, incentive?
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14
environment
Contributed by Sheryl Stivens
Why buy fertiliser when you can make your own? In winter many of the earth’s activities happen under the ground. It is a great time of year to plan how to work with nature and begin to experiment with making your own fertilisers. All organic matter is a resource that can be composted to enrich the soil and increase earthworm populations – nature’s recyclers.
can be scaled up or down depending on the availability of compostable materials and the environmental and economic benefits you can see by making your own fertilisers.
Nearly 50% of the waste thrown out by households is food waste. The average household in New Zealand throws out On the farm any leftover sileage, stack bottom, straw or 1.5 kilos of food waste a day. This food waste can easily be hay, prunings from gorse hedges or trees, manure, calf turned into something useful such as fertiliser or compost bedding, leaf matter, sawdust, the bottom of the woodshed saving dollars on buying rubbish bags as well as saving on or the shearing shed can all be pushed up with the frontbuying compost and fertilisers. end loader into a tidy pile or windrow. You can also choose The Hungry Bin eats your food waste to make a compost bunker with concrete blocks or old wooden pallets to contain the compost pile. Designed and manufactured in New Zealand the Hungry Bin attracted lots of attention at both the Ellerslie Flower NB When choosing a compost site, be mindful that liquid Show and the 2012 Mystery Creek Fieldays. The Hungry run-off from composting piles of organic materials can Bin creates an ideal living environment for compost or tiger leach into waterways or into groundwater or aquifers in worms to eat waste 24 hours per day and can process up high water table areas or near rivers. to 2kg of food waste daily including tea bags, paper towels Cover the pile with black sileage plastic, if you don’t have etc. In the chill of winter the wheeled bin is so handy near any ask a neighbour for his and toss some tyres on top to the kitchen door, lift the lid and empty in any pumpkin weigh the plastic cover down. bits, fruit etc that is going off as well as the daily food waste container from the kitchen bench. A point of difference for In 6–8 weeks pull the cover off and push the heap over the Hungry Bin from many other worm bins is how easy it with your front end loader before covering again for is to get the liquid out of the bottom tray or to get the rich another six weeks. So long as there is enough moisture natural fertilizer that the worms have made by unclipping in the materials you use, you will be amazed at how this the bottom tray from the funnel shaped bin and removing heap will heat up and break down by late spring, early summer into a rich composted soil conditioner. Any large a tray of worm castings as needed. The nutrient rich liquid can be used to water vegetable seedlings and is renowned sticks or branches in the heap can be put aside to build for keeping black spot and aphids away from your roses. the base for the next heap. You can spray your compost pile with beneficial bacteria (EM) to increase the beneficial The high quality natural fertiliser is great when planting breakdown of woody materials, enhance the final product out seedlings; place a handful in the planting whole or side and prevent any odour. This is particularly useful if you dress vegetables or roses to give them a boost. want to bury any carcasses or dead animals in your pile to return them to the earth. The worms will soon find the pile The Hungry Bin is on display at the Eco Education Centre alongside the Mastagard Recycling Shed, Range Road as it cools and turn the rich materials into worm castings. This may only provide enough composted soil conditioner Ashburton. Freephone 0800 627 824 for help with home composting or recycling. for the farmhouse garden and the orchard initially but
The Hungry Bin can process up to 2kg of food wast a day.
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15
the law on chemicals
Contributed by Environment Canterbury
Agrichemicals safety checks timely An unidentified farm substance thought to have killed six pigs on a Mid Canterbury farmlet sparked a major hazardous materials response by emergency services recently. It also prompted a warning to farmers to assess and deal with any unwanted chemicals on their property.
Photos Tetsuro Mitomo 300612-TM-270
300612-TM-226
300612-TM-273
300612-TM-228
Have you seen any of these on your property? • Unrinsed containers and drums lying around the back of the yards • Dead grass around the storage shed • Unlabelled containers in the storage shed • Agrichemicals being stored in the pump shed • Old rusty drums with no bottoms. If you have, then it’s time for an agrichemicals safety check.
What does the law say? The Resource Management Act 1991 makes it illegal to discharge any contaminants into water, either directly or through land contamination, without a resource consent (unless this is permitted by a rule in a regional plan). Therefore any spills or leaks from your agrichemical store that get into soil or water could cause an offence under the RMA and could result in heavy fines. The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 puts in place controls
on storage of hazardous substances including requirements for emergency management, tracking of substances and safe handling. Most of the agrichemicals used on your farm will be hazardous substances, so you will need to become familiar with HSNO requirements. The Health Safety and Employment Act 1992 also places a responsibility on employers to identify hazards from chemicals. Your chemical store should be lockable and secure, made of non-combustible materials, protected from direct sunlight, large enough to allow for segregation of incompatible chemicals, well ventilated, clearly labelled with No Smoking and an orange HAZCHEM 2WE Agrichemicals sign, bunded and have an impervious floor, so that any spills are contained within the storage area.
containment around storage areas. Where you place chemicals within the store can reduce the risk of spills and accidents. You should store large liquid containers at floor level, powders, granules and other dry formulations above liquids, vaccines and other heat sensitive products under refrigeration, drums no more than two high. Some products must be segregated in the storage areas. Keep insecticides and fungicides away from herbicides, drenches away from dips and fumigants away from other chemicals. Your chemical supplier should be able to provide you with information on chemical compatibility.
should include either the schedule heading (e.g. Poison), or the correct pictogram for the chemical. Usually, for agrichemicals these will be class 6 (Toxic) and class 9 (Ecotoxic). If old labels deteriorate or fall off, put on new labels. If you can’t get a replacement label, make sure the identification is as permanent as possible. There is always a risk of an accident when you use or handle chemicals. The potential harmful effects of a chemical spill can be greatly reduced by having the correct equipment on hand and using it effectively.
Make sure that anyone on your property that uses chemicals knows what to do in an emergency. A simple procedure sheet on the wall of the store can help. This should Always store the following substances in a include all the relevant emergency phone separate building from fertilisers, fuels and numbers. lubricants, pool chemicals, any animal or In a major spill, try to contain the spillage human feedstuffs, explosives. as best as you can without placing yourself Packaging and labelling are also Secondary containment means a system in danger. that will contain any spills from the primary important. The label on an agrichemical container has useful information on storage Call the Emergency Services 111 and container (e.g. the can of agrichemical). Environment Canterbury’s Pollution Hotline: and handling. HSNO requires that every It has always been the best practice 0800 76 55 88. approach to have some form of secondary agrichemical must have a label and this
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16
2012 budget
Contributed by John Leadley
Time to tighten the mo Like many of my peers I had left school and joined the workforce at age 15, thereby contributing to the public purse by way of taxation. Contrast this with today when about 50 per Maybe it’s because of our Mixed Member Proportional system cent of the population are still in formal education (polytech or of governance, or the fact that three-yearly electoral cycles university) at age 20. Many of course don’t become permanent make incumbent parties nervous, but something needs to members of the workforce until their mid-20s after significant change. tertiary studies and extended overseas travel. All very laudable from a knowledge base perspective, assuming eventual return Budget 2012, produced in a climate of potential global to employment in New Zealand. recession was a virtual non-event. I’m not sure of the reason but to me the 2012 National Party budget was a timid, if not gutless document.
However not only do these folk contribute little by way of taxation during this period but many actually deplete government reserves by what I see as a rather loose and Certainly it was no time for handouts, indeed quite the generous student loan facility. Availability of government loans opposite. The lingering effects of international debt, mediocre certainly provides essential assistance to ongoing study but GPD growth, and the ongoing impact of failed finance the system is open to abuse in its current format. A generation companies and the Christchurch earthquakes make for a sober ago, bonding of Pacific Island students to study in New outlook. Zealand as part of loan eligibility worked well to the benefit of both parties. One factor only now manifesting itself as a huge monetary expense, will be the significant and ongoing effect of Why can’t a similar system operate today? necessary changes to the building code as a consequence According to Government sources the student loan debt at of the earthquakes. While already becoming apparent in the 1st April 2012 totalled $411.6 million dollars of which $290 Ashburton District, these changes are set to become national million was owed from those overseas. This is more than standards, along with huge monetary consequences. double the 2008 figure. While insurance payouts go some way to finance rebuilding At the other end of the employment spectrum I believe related to earthquake damage, there is no such backstop for there should not be a universal expectation that at age replacement or refurbishment due to building code change. 65 the welfare state will provide the basic income for The monetary implications to the national economy is huge. retirement. So what do I believe the budget should have delivered, Forty to fifty years of active employment should bearing in mind it is much easier to be critical than provide ample opportunity, given responsible financial constructive? planning, to save a small “nest-egg” for retirement. Fiscally In 1970 the ratio of superannuitants to workers (taxpayers) responsible long-term planning should at least see a debt was quoted as 1:25 – similar analysis today gives a 1:5 ratio. free home at age 65 in most instances. Some tinkering here, a few changes there, re-emphasis to other areas but nothing of real content.
Many people entering retirement (and universal In recent years poor advice from so called “experts” in the superannuation) today have been in the workforce for 50 years, field of financial advice and consultancy havs stripped many simply because the level of tertiary education in the 1950s was couples of their retirement savings. We should all learn from much lower than today’s expectation. these experiences. Story continues over page
17
2012 budget
Contributed by John Leadley
oney belt – and the rules Fortunately, for some years now, compulsory retirement clauses relating to age in employment contracts have been removed. Often the work ethic and in depth knowledge of senior employees is a preferred resource, to the rather blasé attitude to employment of some of our younger folk.
incrementally increase the price of tobacco products – but why wait till January 2013? Current events around the country with student protests, binge drinking and general lack of self and community pride, surely demand similar constraints in pricing and availability of alcohol. Pending alcohol reforms may deliver, but with a record of extreme timidity, I’m not optimistic.
Current flexible work contracts with their somewhat generous leave and sickness entitlements have seemingly encouraged a minority of employees to adopt an attitude that employment is a right, whereas in fact I believe it is a privilege. Loss of income from excise tax on these products is surely Most importantly it is certainly a two-way street. balanced by less time off work, fewer hospital admissions and With the decreased physicality of many roles today resulting decreased property damage. Once again, government thinking is far too short term. from technological advances over the generations, it is not unrealistic to expect a significant proportion of the population Despite Minister Bennett’s attempts to decrease welfare to work beyond age 65. This of course is already happening dependency among solo parents, there is still need for a “hard in many areas but needs greater acknowledgment and line” approach for those who believe the “government” owes encouragement. them a living. They are well out of line. Surely it is not unrealistic with later entry to the workforce New Zealand’s working population deserves a less timid to also exit somewhat later, particularly with 50 per cent of approach. today’s newborn expected to become centenarians. I was looking for a meaningful message that would halt the nation’s growing dependence on the welfare state.
Finally some wise words sent from a friend.
You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating John Key’s adamant refusal to raise the age of entitlement for the wealthy out of prosperity. Universal Superannuation is errant nonsense. What one person receives without working for, another In this column in 2009 I advocated, starting 2012, raising the person must work for without receiving. age of entitlement by one year every four years. This would The government cannot give to anybody anything that the mean that by 2028 entitlement for universal superannuation government does not first take from somebody else. would be 70 years old. Transitioning in this manner would allow time to reprioritise savings accordingly, and for Kiwi You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. Saver to fully establish its benefits. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to As in all welfare systems there will be a small minority of work because the other half is going to take care of them, and genuine cases for whom other assistance may be needed. This would need to be accommodated for people engaged in hard when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that physical occupations, for when retraining for lighter work or is the beginning of the end of any nation. part-time employment could well be an option. One of the positives of Budget 2112 was the decision to
Food for thought! Indeed.
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19
Contributed by Rob Stevenson
performance management
Finding the perfect job There is an endless supply of information, courses, know and quantify the part they play in your and experts offering you the chance to develop successes and failures is vital if you wish them to better processes, systems and strategies for contribute their best. greater productivity and wealth. Almost all have Take the example of a corner shop: some merit. Great, now you know – yet again what it is you need to change or improve so your business soars.
• There is a steady trade and the staff are happy, reliable and honest, but the business continues to struggle financially.
Performance Management and Human Resource Management is taking the information and advice you get from these sources, your banker, accountant and other advisers, and packaging it in a way your team understands.
• The owner knows what their daily break even point (turnover) is, but is struggling to achieve this without pressuring the staff.
My top 10 tips
for applicants
There are certainly boundaries as to how much of your business information should be released to your team. However, allowing the team to
#10 Before applying, read the advertisement, then make sure you cover the skills they request. For example if they say “must have machinery experience”, in your covering letter or application (written or verbal) state what machinery experience you have. #9 Do not type one covering letter and send to the email addresses of 10 prospective employers. By all means apply for more than one position but if an employer feels you could not be bothered to apply specifically to their position they will likely not bother replying to your application. #8 Where a cellphone number is provided to apply, ring it, don’t send a text. Once you have decided to enquire about a job, do it, the early bird gets the worm. #7 Make sure any message on your phone makes you sound mature and reliable (if your mother doesn’t like it, get rid of it, at least until you have your new job).
Performance management is about finding a strategy to reach these targets and presenting it in a positive way. Not as a criticism of anyone’s current performance.
#5 When applying by email, ensure you give a phone number for the employer to ring you. If you are hard to catch at home or have poor cellphone coverage, give the employer an idea of a good time to ring you. #4 When you have an option of applying by phone and email. Send your letter of application and/or CV by email and then ring to ensure it has arrived, this gives you two chances to impress. #3 Always keep your word. If you say you will send a CV this evening and can’t, contact the person and explain why. #2 If you are going to be late for an interview and ring to let the employer know, assuming the reason is good, that should not hurt your chances too much. If you arrive late without explanation you will have some ground to make-up.
#1 Employers are looking for specific skills, but the most important qualities are reliability, #6 If you are expecting a prospective employer honesty, and genuine desire to get THIS position and do you’re very best to SUCCEED. to ring you then pick up when they do, do not let it ring because you don’t recognise the If you have an issue you would like to see number. An employee who is hard to get hold addressed or comments please email of is a real negative. rob@teamwork-si.co.nz or phone Rob on 975 8505.
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scholarship
Lucky Young Farmer member awarded trip of a lifetime A Wellington Young Farmer is the first recipient young people have been hosted overseas since of a scholarship designed to help young people the programme’s inception. with a rural interest see the world. This year’s AgriVenture New Zealand Young AgriVenture New Zealand teamed up with Farmers Scholarship recipient Kirsty Dickins New Zealand Young Farmers this year to award was delighted to be gifted the award especially the AgriVenture scholarship to Kirsty Dickins, of because “she wasn’t really expecting to win.” Wellington. AgriVenture program manager Pauline Norrish The scholarship is valued at $7000 and said AgriVenture Global was delighted to be includes a fully paid six to twelve month arranging an around the world programme AgriVenture programme to the recipient’s for Miss Dickins. “We believe that she will be choice of destination country. a great ambassador for NZYF and AgriVenture during her travels overseas.” AgriVenture gives young people aged between 18 and 30 the opportunity to travel Miss Dickins said it was “super exciting” when and work on a farm, in horticulture or home she made it to the final stage of the application management in Australia, New Zealand, process, which included a phone interview, Canada, USA, Europe and Japan. as she was already part way through the application process to take an AgriVenture The programme is run by the International exchange. Agricultural Exchange Association (IAEA), a non-governmental, non-profit membership “I just want to say thank you to NZYF and organisation which has been operating farm AgriVenture because I was already planning work placements since 1965. Around 30,000 on doing an exchange with AgriVenture after
seeing one of their brochures - this scholarship is just going to make things so much easier.” Miss Dickins is planning to start her year-long exchange later this year after visiting Africa. She will be splitting her time between Canada and Europe and is looking forward to experiencing different farming systems while seeing the world. “This is a good opportunity to do something I really enjoy while getting the chance to travel as well.” She is keen to learn new things about agriculture while overseas and intends to bring that knowledge back home to an on-farm sheep and beef role upon her return. Miss Dickins studied a Bachelor of Applied Science at Lincoln University before she began working for Landcorp two years ago. She started as a Business Technician and is currently employed as a Business Manager who oversees a portfolio of three farms.