Canterbury Farming, July 2016

July 2016 Edition

30,287 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast

Board represents variety

Saving the mud fish

P7

A half century of toughness

P18

P8

Far from nowhere Page 10–11

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July 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

Working within limits Growing environmental limits have lead to Ballance Agri-Nutrients forming a specialist Farm Sustainability Services team to meet the growing need for nutrient budgeting services and farm environmental plans.

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Team leader, Alastair Taylor, says the move builds on Ballance’s nutrient budgeting services initiated in 2013 to support Canterbury farmers in meeting the compliance requirements of the Canterbury Regional Land and Water Plan.

Far m Sustainability Ser vices folds in the contractual work Ballance currently does for dairy companies, irrigation schemes, levy boards and commercial par tners to analyse and interpret nutrient loss data.

It will also draw on products and technology developed through Ballance’s $19.5 million Clearview Innovations Primary Growth Partnership programme with the Ministry for Primary Industries. This includes N-Guru, a model that more accurately predicts pasture responses to nitrogen, and MitAgator, which takes data from Overseer files and links them with farm mapping data to identify the areas on farm at risk of losing nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and bacteria and determine which mitigation techniques will be most effective.

“We’re always aiming to stay one step ahead of what our farmers need and last year we identified environmental constraints as likely to be one

Alistair Taylor, Ballance Agri-Nurtrients Farm Sustainability Services’ team leader

of the largest impacts on their businesses. When we talked to our farmers they identified sustainability as being at the heart of this, with its environmental, economic and social aspects,” says Alastair.

The Farm Sustainability Services team will meet growing demand for analysis of year-end farm nutrient

data for dairy companies and year-end nutrient budget reports for irrigation schemes, regional councils, and resource consents. It also expects to work with proactive farmers building up a database of their nutrient performance ahead of moves by their regional councils to impose nutrient limits. Having

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an on-farm database gives farmers and their primary industry groups like DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand better information to work with when negotiating local limits.

Alastair says nutrient advice has been offered by Ballance for many years, and investing additional resources and time to developing the specialist Farm Sustainability Services team is a step up to providing better support for farmers to enable them to make sustainable and profitable decisions.

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Canterbury Farming prints material contributed by freelance journalists, contributing columnists and letters from readers.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

Cash for best bull calves Dairy farmers in the thick of calving are being offered thousands of dollars for their best bull calves by CRV Ambreed.

The company is offering farmers who breed the best bull calves $4,000 if they are selected for the CRV Progeny Test Programme. That $4,000 could turn into $11,000 from graduation payments or more if royalty options are taken.

CRV Breeding Program manager Aaron Parker said with calving now underway, a lucrative source of extra income could be dropping in farm paddocks across the country right now.

“As well as being welcome income for dairy farmers, delivering their best bulls to CRV Ambreed will contribute to genetic diversity, and thus advancement across the national herd. Farmers know best when it comes to their herds.”

Elite bull calves are usually sourced through contract mating, stud breeders and CRV Ambreed’s embr yo transfer programme, but it is through farmers nominating their bull calves on the open market where more unique bulls are discovered.

“We’re really looking for bulls whose daughters will be efficient and easy to manage for our farmers,” said Mr Parker.

CRV Ambreed is building its genetic portfolio to suit the broad range of environments, conditions and farming

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Okura Stud farmers, Luke and Lyna Beehre, offered CRV Ambreed a breeding superstar through the open market in 2005.

Okura Lika Murmur S3J, who recently retired, came from their Northland stud and contributed to the national dairy herd with almost 500,000 semen doses. He sired 22,464 herd testing daughters in New Zealand and many legendary sons. His genetics were also popular in South Africa,

North America and Australia.

“He’s bred outstanding sons and daughters with super production, udder and capacity traits,” he said.

“Hundreds of his cows have been contract mated in New Zealand and as a sire of sons he has produced some of the country’s best jersey bulls.”

The more bulls like Mumur in CRV Ambreed’s breeding programme, the greater genetic diversity feeds through to New Zealand’s national herd and the higher the genetic gain. Bull

calves from any sires will be considered by CRV Ambreed.

“Farmers we haven’t worked with before could potentially have the genetic diversity that we are looking for and could hold the industry’s next superstar.

We are really keen to talk to these farmers right across the country.”

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July 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

A WORLD OF CHEESE

BY ANN MORGAN Diana and Alan Hawkins and John and Heather Lamers decided to purchase the Karikaas cheese factory in Whiterock Road, Loburn when it came up for sale from founders Karin and Rients Rypma in 2004.

A

lan is a dairy farm consultant whilst his wife Diana works as a food technologist and the couple live on site. Diana manages the company whilst John and Heather are dairy farmers and live in the Rolleston area.

“The name Karikaas is a combination of Karin and Rient’s names. When they decided to sell John came to investigate what was involved and we decided to purchase the company together,” said Diana.

The factory is in a rural area and the couples employ 13 local staff.

“All of our seasonal milk is supplied by local dairy farmers Andrew and Julie Mehrtens from Oxford.

“Julie feeds her cows well.

She has beautiful fat animals that produce lovely full milk.

They have a nice blend with good minerals and it is full of solids.

“We have a close relationship with the Mehrtens. I know what they feed their stock so we know what to expect in the milk.

This ensures our quality standards are maintained.

“There are daily composition variations and slow changes over the season

but basically we know what we are getting. We monitor composition and modify our processes ourselves to produce consistent products.” Once collected, the milk is pumped into the pasteuriser and then goes into the cheese vats where culture and rennet is added and it is left to set.

“The mixture becomes like a great big jelly which ends up looking like junket dessert. We then cut and stir it. The whey drains out and curd starts to harden, then we hoop (put it into moulds). The cheeses go under the press before going to the brine

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Diana receiving the 2016 Champion Original Cheese award for the Pumahana brand from sponsor Fonterra Co-op Group Casey Thomas

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CANTERBURY FARMING room and are floated in brine.

“Cheeses are salted and turned in the brine bath every morning and night. After twoand-a-half to three days they are transferred into the store room to mature. Some have been held for six years as a vintage. The big round cheese are sold in age categories after two months.”

Once made the products go to stores such as Pak ‘n’ Save, New World, Countdown and Fresh Choice.

The factory has a small Dutch delicatessen on site and sell a range of Dutch treats including salty liquorice, biscotti and ginger cake along with their cheeses and yoghurts.

“The Dutch goodies are sourced from a Dutch importer. We are in the middle of nowhere, it’s not exactly passing traffic. Often when people first come out, they phone us thinking they are lost. We are open Monday to Friday 8.30am–4.30pm and are closed weekends and public holidays.

“We make Dutch cheeses like gouda, leyden and

maasdam which is a jarlsberg equivalent and a variety of New Zealand types, all aged and designed for Kiwi’s and flavoured differently. Our Whiterock cheese is an English style that we made because of the English people who have moved here. They like a sharp taste which is different to what Dutch prefer.”

They also produce yoghurt, buttermilk and kwark which is a fresh cheese.

“We have to be good in the industry to succeed. We only sell quality. Each new batch is tasted. We can tell if something isn’t quite right simply by taste. ”The couples regularly do well in cheese competitions. This year they have won five golds medals and a silver at the New Zealand Cheese Awards. “All of our cheeses win medals.

We chase a category win, like the Best Dutch, or the best NZ Original, that is a real stroke for the cheese maker.

The medals are important from a commercial point of view and you have to reach a high standard.

July 2016

5

The factory at Loburn employ local staff and they produce cheeses like gouda, leyden and maasdam and other products “The basis of our existence and quality comes from the one farm. We are very lucky that Fonterra allow us to continue to use the same milk all year which

provides consistency of supply. “We will continue to develop our market. The food movement is becoming more popular for a wide range of international foods.

“I entered the industry with the food and science background but learnt how to make the Karikaas cheese when I moved here. It is a heritage.

“Karin and Rients did the hard yards to get started and we have been able to maintain the effort they put in. It has been good — we really enjoy what we do.”

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July 2016

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

CANTERBURY FARMING

A quiet achiever Mid-Canterbury farmer Athol New has been named the 48th FMG Young Farmer of the Year — after performing strongly across all sections of the country’s pre-eminent rural contest.

For a lad from Kamo High in Northland — who didn’t come from the traditional farming background — it’s an overwhelmingly incredible achievement — and Athol was understandably emotional as he accepted the Cloak of Knowledge during the grand final ceremony in Timaru recently.

“I was shocked. I never expected it — but it’s all down to the team I work with.

They are so supportive and encourage and inspire me.”

Athol works within the Senior Leadership Team at Purata Farms supplying independent milk company Synlait Milk and leads a team of over ten staff.

The 30-year-old was quick to respect the past and credited his rise through the dairy industry to his old agriculture teacher at Kamo High who encouraged him to head to Lincoln University and study an agricultural commerce degree.

Athol’s win is significant in a year when the dairy industry has its fair share of challenges.

NZ Young Farmers’ CEO Terry Copeland said Athol represented the often unacknowledged high achievers of the primary industry and said he was the embodiment of the wide array of skills those in the industry need to have to succeed.

“This contest showcases the

Money Talk with Andrew Wyllie

Investment Markets Update Covering the three months ended 30 June 2016

Mid-Canterbury farmer Athol New is the 48th FMG Young Farmer of the Year

extraordinary depth of talent that we have in the agricultural sector and continues to help progress and discover vital leadership for the sector.

From Whangarei with no farming background to managing multi-million dollar complex dairy businesses and now winning the FMG Young Farmer of the

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Year, Athol shows the exciting opportunities in our industry.”

FMG’s chief operations officer Conrad Wilkshire said “Athol’s win is testament to what can be achieved if you’re prepared to push yourself and invest in yourself as a leader.

“Athol’s strong showing in this contest means the real opportunity actually lies in front of him now. He’s set himself a wonderful platform to become a great ambassador for the dairy industry. I think his story, his raw ability, and now tonight’s success is quite inspirational to be honest — a very deserving winner and a huge asset to the industry. I think we should all be quite excited by what this guy will achieve for agriculture in New Zealand.”

Global Environment ‘Brexit’ a reminder of geopolitical risk In a world where growth in the world’s major economies is slow, geopolitical outcomes such as the United Kingdom referendum and its unexpected ‘leave’ vote provide a reminder of the risks to the fragile recovery.

A period of financial market volatility ensued, although this was short-lived. This was despite expectations of the UK’s exit path from Europe being long and convoluted.

However, the long goodbye may weigh on trade and investment decisions.

Employment growth in the UK, and possibly EU, may slow as hiring intentions are put on hold. Already economic growth forecasts for the UK and Europe are being trimmed.

However, it is not all doom and gloom. The United States economy continues to grow, with real GDP rising around 2% on an annual basis.

Even in Europe things are not all bad, with business confidence in Germany strong and German manufacturing and non-manufacturing production indices robust.

Reviewing equity market returns over the last three months, the fallout from the UK referendum showed up in New Zealand dollar (NZD) returns for European and UK equities.

Actual returns were mixed in local currencies and after adjusting for currency impacts, slightly negative across the markets we follow.

New Zealand Equity Market New Zealand equities managed a positive return despite the market experiencing a very brief period of concern surrounding ‘Brexit’. This reflects the lower

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direct earnings exposure that New Zealand companies have to the UK or Europe, with the expected ‘lower for longer’ interest rates maintaining the dividend yield attraction of New Zealand equities.

Foreign ownership is also expected to remain supportive with ownership having shifted towards more passive investment. This should mean it would take a prolonged period of volatility before offshore investment in New Zealand equities would be reduced. However, valuation multiples for the majority of large cap companies remain high. Accordingly, earnings forecasts need to be delivered upon for current market values to be maintained.

Global Equity Markets US equities provided the best returns out of the developed markets. This was supported by the economic outlook. The US dollar (USD) also strengthened post ‘Brexit’.

Australian equities performed relatively strongly during the last three months with all sectors of the market, except Consumer Staples, posting positive returns. The Resource and Healthcare sectors were the standouts.

However, gains were largely offset as political uncertainty post the Federal Election and the prospect of little reform and a deteriorating fiscal deficit, meant the Australian dollar weakened.

European and UK equity returns were the weakest in NZD terms, as the UK referendum increased risk in the region. UK equities actually benefitted from the weaker British Pound (GBP), but the weaker currency still resulted in returns being negative from a NZD perspective.

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Fixed Interest Markets ‘Risk-off ’ post the unexpected suppor t for ‘Brexit’ meant bond yields fell over the last three months.

Long term bond yields are now over 100 basis points lower than a year ago, at record lows. Central Bank support has been signalled and lower-for-longer interest rates should now be expected.

Even before the uncertainty created by the UK referendum, the negative interest rate policies in Europe and Japan had seen unusual investment behaviour, with the Republic of Ireland able to issue a 100-year bond at an interest rate of 2.35%. This was at an interest rate lower than the then US 30-year bond and not that many years after Ireland had been bailed out.

The Spanish have followed suit with investors accepting 50-year bonds, despite Spain defaulting on its obligations on average every 26 years.

Domestically, issuance was very strong over the last three months and in particular, issuance of senior debt securities. This increase in choice has allowed investors to be more selective in participating in offerings and in positioning debt portfolios.

If you’re new to investing please see Forsyth Barr’s Introduction to Investing guide available at http://www. forsythbarr.co.nz/investingwith-us/new-to-investing/ or to discuss your investment options please contact Andrew Wyllie, an Authorised Financial Adviser with Forsyth Barr in Christchurch. He can be contacted regarding portfolio management, fixed interest, or share investments on 0800 367 227 or andrew. wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz.

This column is general in nature and should not be regarded as personalised investment advice. Disclosure Statements are available on request and free of charge.

DRIVE TO THE CONDITIONS THIS WINTER

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

Board represents variety For the first time in NZ Young Farmer history the four elected members of the Governance Board are not currently working on the land but instead are rural professionals — reflecting the wide variance of exciting careers on offer in the primary industry. these oppor tunities for young people.” NZ Young Farmers CEO Terry Copeland said he was delighted with the calibre of the newly elected board members.

“These are highly skilled individuals who have already demonstrated leadership within their own careers.

I have no doubt they will be a great asset to the board.”

NZ Young Farmers is a non-profit organisation which aims to develop leadership skills of their members and provide a network of likeminded individuals.

There are 70 Young Farmer clubs around the country and together they organise meetings, competitions, social activities and events.

The clubs aim to add value to the agri-sector by supporting the youth in the industry and providing collaboration and partnership within the dair y, sheep and beef industries.

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Social Media expert and owner of Grass Roots Media NZ, Chelsea Millar from the Taranaki/Manawatu Young Farmer region, and farm consultant Sam Waugh from the Tasman region, have both been elected to the board alongside chairman and marketing executive for Miraka, Jason Te Brake, and PGG Wrightson animal nutrition technical specialist, Nadine Huitema.

The four current Young Farmer members will join Independent director Jeff Grant, Strategic Partner Elaine Cook, and FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest management committee chairman, Dean Rabbidge.

Chelsea wants to use her position to strengthen and grow the NZ Young Farmers organisation and to develop a stronger leadership pathway for emerging leaders among members.

For Sam, NZ Young Farmers is in a prime position to provide opportunities for young people to build skills in primary industry leadership. “My drive is to help create and develop

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July 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

BY ANN MORGAN

Anita Spencer is a Biodiversity Ranger for the Department of Conservation in North Canterbury, specialising in protection of threatened native species across the region, including New Zealand’s native mudfish.

“I

have been working here for 15 years now. My main responsibility is general threatened species work focussing on species such as mudfish, lizards, plants, penguins, bittern and moths,” said Anita. “ We identify key populations of threatened species and I monitor and survey them over time. I also do active management. I have a number of predator traps targeting stoats, hedgehogs, feral cats and other pests which are checked monthly.

Hedgehogs are bad for lizards. They are really

numerous and you don’t realise how many are out there in the landscape.”

One of the species Anita is particularly passionate about is the native Canterbury mudfish.

New Zealand’s mudfish are small, native freshwater fish found in a variety of freshwater habitats such as wetlands, pools in swamp forests and slow-flowing streams and drains, and have long, stocky bodies, reduced fins, slippery skin, and no scales.

“There are five species of mudfish in New Zealand, all of which are either ‘at risk’

or ‘threatened’ under the NZ Threat Classification System.

These are the Canterbury, brown, black, Northland and Chatham Island mudfish.

They grow to around 9–12 centimetres long. The largest I know of was 17 centimetres.

“Canterbury mudfish are the most threatened and are only found in our region in a limited number of waterways on the Canterbury Plains, between the Ashley and the Waitaki Rivers.”

“They were discovered in Oxford by Mr Burrows, a farmer. This is quite apt as they do burrow. They can burrow down to tree roots

Anita Spencer is passionate about saving Canterbury mudfish populations which are one of the five species found in New Zealand

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CANTERBURY FARMING

New Zealand’s native mudfish are in the threatened species group nearly extinct. There are a lot of setbacks, such as habitat being destroyed because people don’t realise they live there or don’t care.

“They aren’t found in big rivers — the conditions aren’t right for them. We are trying to re-establish them at safe sites but it is preferable to protect them where they currently exist. Unfortunately we are not having a lot of luck protecting them, especially on the lowland plans.”

Anita says it would be great if landowners were more aware of the situation.

“They don’t have a lot of requirements, they just need a fenced site if possible, even for streams that don’t have permanent water so if it dries out stock can’t trample the fish. They prefer good water quality and lay their eggs on water plants in the streams.

“We have moved some fish to the Isaacs Wildlife Trust. This is helping conserve them. Last year I monitored and found 23 fish in one pond and this year we found 230. All they need is good conditions and to be left alone. They don’t

hurt anything. “We have several endangered fish in Canterbury — this is a sign of the way we have been treating our waterways. At times I am standing on a site and there is not one native thing left.

Then I can put a fish trap in the stream and find a single mud fish. This shows how tough they are and I believe we have a responsibility to nature to protect as much as we can.”

If you think you have mudfish on your property contact DOC for advice on how to survey for them.

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming Please call 03 347 2314 or email sales@canfarm.co.nz

16CHCH005

and in cracks. As long as it is a moist site they can survive for up to two months without water.”

Eventually they will starve or toxins will build up in their systems if the water doesn’t return to their habitat.

“The adults are nocturnal and fairly secretive so a lot of landowners on properties I survey don’t think they have them. I set fish traps overnight and the next day we could pull up several in the trap. Land owners are often quite surprised to see them.

“A big female can produce thousands of eggs. When populations are low they can increase quite fast in the correct environment. The young are born in spring and are active in the day, this saves them from being eaten by their parents.

“They eat mosquito larvae and are a unique fish and have a simple life. They can absorb oxygen through their skin.

“It is not easy for them to survive. Our native eels eat them, but they have coexisted together for a long time. The brown trout will eliminate whole populations of mudfish.

“Mudfish prefer to be in permanent water and have been pushed out to the marginal habitat to survive.

It is the hardest species to work with as I know they are

9

July 2016

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10

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

N

FRO AR

O

M

F

PART ONE

by Ann Morgan

WH

ER

E

Colin Drummond and his partner Erin Cassie own Erewhon Station which is 35,000 acres set at the head of the Rangitata River and is home to 4,500 merino sheep, 300 hereford cattle, 300 deer and at least 65 horses, of which at least half are Clydesdales.

T

he name Erewhon is a play on the word ‘nowhere’, but this property set across a valley with jagged peaks and big rivers is somewhere many people like to visit.

Erin is originally from Fairlie and was a teacher.

Colin grew up on a dairy farm in Motueka and he moved to the property in 1998. The couple met through their mutual love of Clydesdales.

“The horses are the lifeblood of the station and are totally ruled by their bellies. They do work hard for their keep,” said Erin.

“We are off the grid and have our own hydro power scheme.

Our main income is wool. We run ewes and wethers and we have the Hereford cattle for cross grazing purposes.

There’s a lot more horses in spring when the foals are on the ground.

“They are all work horses — brood mares or young ones growing up.”

The couple also cross breed — half draft horses and Clydesdale mares with thoroughbred or station bred stallions.

“The crossbreeds are great for showing or hunting.

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We sell up to 10 foals every year and we also run a small tourism operation. We have bus groups visit and they see an eight horse team discing.

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The tourism idea was born out of working the Clydesdale teams. People would stop on the side of the road intrigued by the vision and they would ask the couple lots of questions.

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Erin Cassie and Colin Drummond share a mutual love of the land and Clydesdale horses photo courtesy Alan Gillard Photography

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11

Teams of horses to work the land in Erewhon Station rather than vehicles

The dogs are an important part of the Erewhon team and get a well deserved ride home after a hard day’s work

week for people to come in and experience our lifestyle.

They love seeing the high country scenery and the Clydesdales add to that. It is a unique experience.

“When Colin first came here he used pack horses to go out to camp and for mustering. It is 16–17 kilometres to the hut with supplies such as food, firewood and fencing gear.

“We eventually started to build up a team of Clydesdale horses with a few mares and then we added the wagon to cart the goods.”

Erin says they started working them on the land, ploughing, discing, harrowing and rolling to get them ready to pull the wagon. “They love it.

“There is no substitute for hard work. We don’t work them as hard as they did in the old days when everything was horse power.

“They are our passion and hobby. They totally earn their keep. Any horse that doesn’t quite present what we need is sold. There is a good market for them because they are already proven and trained.”

Colin and Erin also grow and harvest their own oats and cut them into chaff to feed the horses. This helps cut food costs down.

The station’s main source of income is from the Merino sheep. “The Merino are great — the wool is a renewable resource and is a fantastic natural product that lasts well,” Erin says.

“All the natural properties are impor tant. In our environment the wool is very reliable and it doesn’t catch fire which is crucial when you are around camp fires. We encourage our guests to wear merino clothing and it is an unwritten rule for musterers up here and essential for the packie working over the fire.

Merino is soft and keeps you warm in winter and if you get wet, cool in summer, and it doesn’t get smelly.

“The sheep are a hardy breed and can climb around the mountainside easily. We couldn’t run anything else because they wouldn’t cope in the environment. Our wethers deal with about 100 inches of rain a year and their wool gives them the natural

insulation. “It is an excellent meat to eat as well. The grasses here are not oversprayed or fertilised and it makes a sweet tender meat.”

The Merinos have exceptionally fine wool and shearing takes place in early October. The ewes are blade shorn.

This old style of shearing provides more protection for them and leaves more wool the body. “We allow for a six month winter in a bad year.

Our rams come out from being with the ewes in midJuly. We are months behind other farmers,” says Erin.

Read more on Erewhon Station in the August issue of Canterbury Farming.

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July 2016

WATER & IRRIGATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

Weather Watch by Tony Trewinnard Next winter?

For a change this month, here’s some thoughts on what we might call the ‘ultra-long range’ outlook, thinking about what might shape next summer, autumn, and even next winter.

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how could anybody have any reasonable ideas about next winter when we haven’t even finished this one yet! But bear with me, you may be surprised to know that some of the models and other sources we use do look ahead a full 12 months, and they suggest some ideas about what may be coming. Let’s not call this a prediction yet — just some thinking out loud based on what’s currently in play.

In the last few weeks a number of the more trustworthy forecast models have started to diverge. In particular, of four key models two are continuing to suggest a moderate La Nina event will appear through the spring and remain through the summer and into autumn.

The other two had the same idea last month, but have now switched to suggesting a weak to almost non-existent La Nina (ie essentially neutral in the tropical Pacific).

At the same time, the analog years I use to match up with past seasons have also split the same way —

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some suggesting full-on La Nina years are a good guide for the summer season, some suggesting only weak or nearneutral years.

However, what’s common to all of these sources is an expectation of less frequent and weaker periods of westerly airflow, and more periods of airflow from other directions, especially from between north and east. All also have an expectation of at least normal rainfall for most parts of New Zealand and warmer than normal temperatures. This applies across both the spring and summer seasons.

While the details remain to be ironed out in future updates, it appears that the east and north of the South Island is at risk of wetter, stormier conditions, while the west and south of the South Island may be drier than usual. For most areas a milder but wetter (or normal rainfall) spring and summer would be good for grass farmers, perhaps not so good for crops and growers (think

harvest complications and increased disease risk). So, early ideas for this summer: wet where it’s usually dry, and dry where it usually rains reliably — warmer than normal just about everywhere.

Now here’s where it gets interesting (and highly speculative — don’t go betting the ranch on this next idea just yet please!).

The spring and summer warmth is underpinned by an expectation of on-going warmer than usual ocean temperatures around New Zealand, and the on-going trend to northerly airflow driven by what we weathernutters call the QBO. Both of these have been factors in our recent autumn and current winter conditions and both should be dominant influences on our coming spring and probably summer.

But when we get to the autumn months (March to May) there are indications the ocean temperatures will be getting colder than normal in the Pacific east of New Zealand. However the

Tasman Sea is expected to remain warm, so with a La Nina in play we can expect some low pressure systems to develop there and move over New Zealand. So, early thoughts for autumn: wet but not warm — maybe even cold.

At about the same time the QBO is expected to switch to its more southerly phase, which raises the intriguing and rather worrying prospect of next winter featuring the triple whammy of: more southerly airflows, colder than normal ocean temperatures east and south of the country and a weak to moderate La Nina which would develop more storms in the warm Tasman Sea and develop periods of easterly quarter airflow over the country.

Needless to say, this would be a harsh winter if these conditions do combine, bringing the potential for considerable storminess, snow, and plenty of cloudy cold weather. Early advice for next winter — buy a new pair of gumboots and gather plenty of firewood!

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The ‘Know to make it Flow’ Andrew Curtis, Irrigation New Zealand CEO

Infrastructure under spotlight Thanks to IrrigationNZ’s partnership with Willis Towers Watson, an infrastructure forum for schemes was held this year.

New Zealand’s partnership with Willis Towers Watson, an infrastructure forum for schemes was held this year.

This involved a workshop on the lessons from piping irrigation schemes to date.

The pros and cons of the different pipe material types and the different stages of the design and install process were discussed. A report is now being prepared which will be available by September.

This workshop was followed by another focussing on considerations for the use of seasonal water transfer platforms within irrigation schemes. A potential tool to better allow water to flow to its highest value use during times of restriction as opposed to the present scenario where shareholders take an equal cut.

Another first has been the hosting of a forum

in Alexandra for Central Otago schemes, again in conjunction with Willis Towers Watson. This adds to the quarterly Ashburton forums we currently run for irrigation schemes in Canterbury and North Otago. The forum was well attended with over 20 scheme representatives in the room. It was decided the forum should become a six-monthly commitment for Central Otago schemes, allowing IrrigationNZ to better understand and communicate both local and national issues to irrigators in this area. The next meeting will likely be late September.

We are grateful to Willis Towers Watson for partnering with us to provide funding support for these networking events. As our Risk Advice Partner — Infrastructure, Willis Towers Watson brings global advisory, broking and

solutions experience to assist the irrigation industry in protecting and strengthening our asset base.

Winter is a good time for reflecting on what you can do to improve your business and your personal skills. Opportunities for both irrigating farmers and industry professionals exist next month with the launch of the Irrigation Manager qualification, alongside an Irrigation Fundamentals course being held in the North Island.

Registrations for the Irrigation Manager qualification (also known as the NZ Certificate in Irrigation Management) have just opened. This qualification only runs once a year and numbers are limited to eight on each course.

11th and 12th August — Broad-acre, to be held in

Lincoln, Canterbury. 17th and 18th August — Drip micro, to be held in Hastings.

The key difference between the one day Irrigation Manager training workshops and the qualification is that the latter is a Level 4 NZQA certificate which provides more in-depth knowledge into irrigation systems and practice. It is a qualification that shows you are at the top of your game in irrigation management and those participating will be amongst the first to qualify nationwide.

Understanding regulatory requirements and determining irrigation needs and appropriate scheduling will be fundamental. You will also learn how to operate and maintain irrigation systems to reduce costly downtime and be exposed to new technologies that complement efficient irrigation practice.

Our second winter training offering, the Irrigation Fundamentals course, is a two day workshop aimed at related industry professionals as a beginner’s introduction to irrigation.

Whatever your association with irrigation, IrrigationNZ has an option for you. Don’t get left behind. Check out irrigationnz.co.nz/training for details on upcoming events in your region.

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

13

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14

July 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

It pays to lighten the load – Transpower’s Demand Response programme

A growing number of South Canterbury organisations are benefiting from Transpower’s Demand Response Programme.

Grant Hall from Timaru District Council beside their wastewater treatment ponds

B

usinesses that join the programme can opt to reduce their electricity use at certain times when demand on the transmission grid is high.

In return, Transpower provides payment – enabling businesses to increase revenue, and in many cases, to reduce costs.

At times when the National Grid becomes constrained in certain period i.e. on a cold, winter’s night, Transpower contacts local programme participants, offering to pay them to reduce the power they take from the grid over that time.

For each event, the price offered is different, and participants can decide whether to accept or decline the offer. Those who

choose to take part may turn on back-up generators, reduce water pressure in their irrigation systems or switch off non-essential plant to achieve this.

South Canterbury District Health Board and Timaru District Council’s Drainage and Water Department participate in the programme. Both organisations use back-up generators to cover their electricity needs during demand response events. Grant Hall, Timaru District Council’s Drainage and Water Manager, has found that the programme not only increases revenue but has also helped his team find ways to use their generator to help manage their own energy use.

“Our electricity tariff is based

on our maximum demand, so if we can smooth those high demand peaks it could save us money overall,” he says.

One reason for Transpower’s focus in South Canterbury is the demand that irrigation schemes can place on transmission capacity. In this region, where farms continue to be converted from sheep or beef to dairying, there are more consented irrigation projects underway.

Last year, Waihao Downs irrigation scheme became interested in the programme and as a result, the scheme was designed and built with an easy way to participate in demand response, offering a maximum of 3 MW to the grid when needed.

Because sometimes we need your help to lighten the load.

Waihao Downs pumping stations can efficiently pump outside a demand response event time window, so that water is already distributed to farms the length of the valley beforehand.

Those farms then have sufficient water in their irrigation network to meet their needs without further pumping required during the event.

Other South Canterbury organisations benefiting from the programme include Timaru New World, St John of God Hauora Trust and Alpine Energy.

While most of Transpower’s Demand Response participants are large businesses, Transpower is keen to expand the programme to include smaller agri-businesses

Pumps at Waihau Downs irrigation scheme

and farms – especially those using irrigation. If your business or farm has a peak load greater than 20 kW, and has a time-of-use meter, Transpower would like to hear from you.

If you would like to know more, contact Quintin Tahau, Transpower’s Demand Response Manager, at Quintin.Tahau@ transpower.co.nz.

CANTERBURY FARMING

FORESTRY

July 2016

15

HARRIS TRAINING S E R V I C E S LT D

BUSINESS PROFILE

Money does grow on trees Have you heard of the ETS. It is the Emissions Trading Scheme and it could be a shortcut to good returns if you start planting trees.

The ETS assists New Zealand to meet international climate change obligations and puts a price on greenhouse gases which creates incentives to reduce emissions and increase tree planting.

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generate an additional revenue stream from your forest. This allows you to get a return on your investment sooner, or you can use them to offset other business activities to achieve carbonneutral status.

The market for carbon credits is looking very healthy.

For example, in February of this year, they had a value of $9.

At our last check they were sitting at more than $17, and if history is anything to go by, they’ll keep rising. Furthermore, the

government is getting behind this scheme, recognising the need to plant more trees.

Other opportunities on offer is the Afforestation Grant Scheme (AGS) in which the government will pay $1,300 per hectare for planting green field/pasture land.

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16

July 2016 CANTERBURY FARMING

FORESTRY & LOGGING

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

17

Forestry Market Report Allan Laurie MNZIF, Laurie Forestry Ltd Plant more trees Over the last month log prices have weakened slightly for export grades but remained stable to very slightly firm across the domestic segment.

The export price softening at wharf gate New Zealand ports is largely the result of movement in the Kiwi$/US$ exchange rate and small increases in shipping costs.

Meanwhile settlements in China CIF US$ per cubic metre basis, have remained slightly weak to flat.

Some domestic sawmills have really struggled for log supply over the last month, particularly in Canterbury where a flat to reduced supply profile has impacted.

Some of this appears to be driven by lower harvest levels consequent on the 2013 wind damage event in tandem with some logging crews working in poorer quality woodlots and forests. This has reduced the better framing grade log supply favoured by local mills.

In India, prices on a net at wharf gate NZ basis, have been good to strong reflecting slighter better returns than a China comparative. Based on the number of vessels heading to India at present we see a significant oversupply looming and therefore prices

will inevitably take a hit in August.

Meanwhile in our key market of China, earlier predictions of price pressure downward have not come to pass. Consumption levels across the eastern seaboard have remained stronger than expected up to mid-July running at around 58,000 cubic metres per day. This is the equivalent of about 1.5 million cubic metres per month. For the first two weeks of July, inventory has been in the order of 3.35 million cubic metres, again, much lower than most were predicting. Of the total softwood inventory, NZ and Australia logs comprise about 2.1 million cubic metres, which reflects a fall of 10,000 cubic metres per week, month to date.

An important thermometer in the China eastern seaboard trade is the domestic price for logs sold from ports to China customers. Month to date in June log prices across the Shangdong and Shanghai regions is in a range RMB790 to 850 per Chinese cubic

metre. This is the equivalent of about NZ$170 to $190 per cubic metre but also reflects port discharge, log storage and customs clearance costs.

All of this is contrary to our earlier predictions of softening in to August sales.

We would now expect stability at or about price levels US$115 per JAS cubic metre A grade basis.

We also believe key factors remain fragile enough to ensure it would be unwise for either side to push too hard up or down to avoid there being negative impacts for both sides.

The pruned log market in China has experienced the most significant correction seen for some time. CIF prices have come off US$20 per cubic metre over the last three weeks, much to the consternation of NZ forest growers. This correction is due to a range of factors: The furniture industry in China remains weak consequent to domestic and export demand with a corresponding decrease

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in demand for logs; A new hardwood from Africa has arrived in volume and is being offered at prices below current Radiata pine pruned logs; NZ logs are rife with sap stain from our late summer arrivals with any aged logs being offered at the same prices as A grade to move them; The emerging China softwood furniture market is becoming increasingly discerning toward quality and the negative impacts of sap stain and low clearwood recovery; NZ has been exporting far more pruned logs to China than there was ever a market for, in part due to lack of any real investment in market development.

Hence our reality chickens have now come home to roost and we can anticipate they will stay on the perch for some time.

However it is still worth remembering the new prices in the market in July/August are still well ahead of where

they were 12 months ago so it is not all bad. And so it is the commercial plantation industr y is enjoying a good run.

Prices are stable and at very good levels compared to

the two year rolling average.

Thus it is has never been more timely to remember the only way forward for climate, country and the planet, is to get out there and plant more trees.

SHARPLES LOGGING ltd Harvesting, Land Clearing & In-forest Engineering Services Provided in Canterbury • Environmental Management Earthmoving and Land Clearing.

• Woodlot/Farm Roading & Skid-Site Construction.

• Tree felling, thinning, Shelter belt removal.

• Pre-harvest Planning and Configuration.

• Value Recovery of Grades and Volume for Log Sales.

• Quality Control – Harvesting, Environmental and Cut-over Waste.

• Comprehensive Health & Safety Management System.

• Stump removal and Root-raking.

Ph: 03 313 2390 Cell: 027 431 6861

www.sharpleslogging.co.nz

18

FORESTRY & LOGGING

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

A half century of toughness ANDY McCORD TECHNICAL FOREST SERVICES LTD

“Supplying quality Forestry Boron for over 15 years New Zealand wide”

HYDROBORACITE - REQUIRES ONE APPLICATION PER CROP ROTATION - IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR FORESTRY - IS AN ORGANIC PRODUCT

Sammi McCord

Managing Director

Joanna Woods

Operations Manager 03 313 4953 027 333 7933 andymccord@xtra.co.nz

When John Deere first began their forestry operations in 1965 the silviculture industry was a very different place. Times may have changed, but the demand for tough and reliable machinery has only grown with the decades, and now, 50 years on, the men behind the big yellow and green machines have unleashed what they’re calling the most rugged series of forestry skidders yet.

The John Deere L series are certainly built big enough to handle the demands of modern intensive forestry.

Deere agents canvassed the workers on the ground, bringing back lots of demands for their research and development team to work with. Suggestions like bigger, tougher axles, a more voluminous grapple, and easier to service componentry were put on the table as non-negotiables, and it was possible to deliver with the addition of new technology.

For example, the 848L and 848L both pack the biggest

THE CHAIN MAN LTD Specialist Rigging and Lifting Supplies

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The Chain Man has a vast range of products catering to all industries: • Forestry • Farming • Engineering • Construction • Demolition

• Craneage • Transport • Haulage • Rigging • Maritime

John Deere have 50 years of experience building skidders, but over 170 innovating in the field of hard-working machines

John Deere skidder axle ever, promising 15,000 hours of operational life.

The L series was also designed to excel in delivering horsepower and torque — both vital to bringing in the big harvests. Over 1270 Newton metres to be exact at the top of the range, from an engine designed from the

ground up to last through long and gruelling hours in often dusty, damp or hostile conditions. The addition of a CVT (continuously variable transmission) box means that the speed of engine revolutions remains constant, delivering less fluid use, less wear and tear, and subsequently less downtime

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Stockists of: Snow, Traction and Skidder Chains, Choker Hooks, Logging chain and wire, Lifting and lashing gear.

Unit 1, 1 Cass Street, Christchurch Ph: (03) 366 1528 | Fax: (03) 366 1573 Email: sales@chainman.co.nz | www.chainman.co.nz

Want to turn your shelterbelt or woodlot into Firewood?

Let us take care of it!

Clearwater Firewood specialises in contract firewood processing for Canterbury farmers.

• We take care of WorkSafe issues • We’re fast and efficient • We process your ready-felled and limbed trees onsite • We can process logs up to 450mm in diameter • We’ll be servicing the Mackenzie district in the Spring.

For more information or an appraisal, call Ronald on 027 286 6831.

www.clearwaterfirewood.co.nz

• Forestry • Earthmoving • Civil Mobile Welding • Onsite Fabrication • • Air Arc Goughing • Gas Cutting • Bucket Repairs/Rebuilds

SRT

CONTRACTORS & HIRE

Phone 027 632 2996

for repairs and maintenance.

The engine will auto-idle if left inactive for a period of time set by the operator, and autoshutdown if left even longer.

The business end of the range-topping 948L is a grapple 25 percent bigger than that on the largest of the outgoing H series Deere machines, and that’s not the only superlative figure which can be added to the L series scoresheet. After fettling the new skidders through 11,000 hours of testing in the forest, operator comfort and safety have unsurprisingly been greatly improved as well, with noise in the cabin reduced by a quarter, and larger windows fitted to afford an all-round view. The option to rotate the entire command seat, and even to drive by joystick make the L series intuitive to operate, cutting down on both fatigue and time training new staff.

Both the 848L and 948L — along with their smaller cousins in the series — are a fitting tribute to a half century of logging experience. John Deere have spared nothing to make this an anniversary worth celebrating, and look forward to many more.

ICS LOG SPLITTERS TRAILED LOG SPLITTER that you saw this ad and $8800+ Mention you’ll receive a $750 FUEL voucher* Stock available

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ICS

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CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

19

FOCUS ON FERTILISER Knowledge key to soil management In a country where soil management with nutrients is an integral part of the farming industry, knowledge in the use of fertiliser and nutrient choices is paramount.

Massey University has worked with the Fertilser Association of New Zealand and AgResearch to ensure skills in this sector are maintained and extended.

Analysing farm nutrient budgets and developing nutrient management plans to enable the efficient use of nutrients on farms are skills required by farm consultants, fer tiliser company field officers and regional council staff.

The Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre (FLRC) at Massey University has developed courses in Sustainable Nutrient Management (SNM —

Intermediate and Advanced levels) that provide rural professionals with skills and training in the operation and interpretation of nutrient budgeting software.

Preparing a nutrient budget for a farm requires use of nutrient budgeting software and a good knowledge of the properties and distribution of New Zealand soils, pasture nutrition and how farm management influences the cycling of nutrients in grazed pasture systems.

Massey’s prospectus says an introductor y level of this knowledge is required for those attending the Intermediate course,

Sustainable Nutrient Management in New Zealand Agriculture.

This introductory level is normally gained either through tertiary study of soil science, pasture agronomy and land resource management, or ‘in the job experience’.

Massey offers rural professionals wishing to embark on the course of study for a Massey University Certificate of Completion , an ‘Introductory Notes and Mastery Test’ from the university to refresh and enhance knowledge.

Those interested can register for online use at http://www.overseer.org.

nz/iv. ‘We assume that most people embarking on the Intermediate SNM course are already familiar with some aspects of soil fertility, fertilisers and plant and animal nutrition’, the prospectus says.

Proessional qualifications are key to the ongoing fight to protect Canterbury and all New Zealand waterways.

The water quality of lakes and within water bodies can be affected by increased nutrient inputs, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus.

If other conditions, such as temperature and light are conducive to growth, high nutrient levels in water can lead to excessive weed and algal growth and accumulation of nitrate in water sources can result in the World Health Organisation’s recommended limits being exceeded.

Sources of nutrient could be excessive fertiliser use resulting in run-off or leaching, or effluent or urine from stock with nutrients leaching into groundwater and

then waterways, or livestock effluent directly entering streams and rivers.

Non-agricultural inputs include sewage treatment discharges and urban stormwater run-off.

Fertiliser nutrients might enter waterways if best management practices for fertiliser use are not followed.

This includes spreading fer tiliser too close to wa t e r way s , fer tilising shortly before heavy rainfall, fertilising in windy conditions and using excess fertiliser

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Ph Alwyn 021709429 or e-mail titan-landscape@hotmail.com or visit my display at 11 Broughs Rd, Christchurch.

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• Modern Spreader Trucks • Spreadmark Certified • Equipped with GPS Guidance and Mapping • 4 Wheel Drive - low ground compaction • Single Wheels for Tram Line Spreading • Large capacity 6 wheel truck & trailer units • Experienced Operators.

Call Hamish on 03 308 4079 Call Kent in Kurow on 03 436 0849 Call Kerry in Fairlie on 03 685 8911

Call today to discuss your fertiliser requirements

SKYFARMERS

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We need your help as much as you need ours Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust.

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Contact: Duncan Hart

0274 811 915 or 03 302 8400

July 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

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Don’t miss this unique opportunity to save thousands on the legendary Deutz-Fahr Agrotron Series. We have a limited number of low hour, near new 4 and 6 cylinder (from 110hp to 130hp) models throughout the country ranging from 500 hours up to 2000 hours.

All are New Zealand new and have full service history and come with a 24 month factory backed Power Train Warranty.

We know it’s tough out there, so here is a great way to keep productive and save money!

Alistair Horrocks 027 703 7804 (North Island)

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FOCUS ON FERTILISER

Planning means good security A farm management plan goes a long way in securing property against breaching regional council regulations on fertiliser and nutrient contamination, particularly as applied to waterways.

A comprehensive farm plan will not only record fertiliser storage and application but also other ‘hotspots’ which may include silage pits, offal pits, farm dumps, feed pads, effluent ponds, stock yards, stock ramps, stock wintering areas, flat areas at the bottom of a catchment and wash down areas.

The farm map should include land management units, soil types, paddock boundaries, farm tracks, buildings, and a ny sensitive areas.

Land management units are parcels of the farm that are similar in soil type, contour, management etc.

Management units may be individual paddocks or groups of paddocks.

The soil names are less important than the properties of the soil, such as its texture (sand, silt, clay, peat), drainage characteristics, and the potential rooting depth (depth to stones, water table, iron pan etc).

Regional councils should have copies of soil maps for your region but simple tactile examination of the soils will determine if they are sands, silts or clays.

Problems with drainage may be seen as bluegrey bands in the profile.

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

21

“When magnesium inputs are required, Golden Bay Dolomite provides the simplest and most effective option.” call 0800 4 Dolomite

0800 436 566

NZ’s Finest Magnesium Fertiliser

FOR ALL YOUR SPREADING REQUIREMENTS

Regular, recorded visual soil assessments (VSA) provide valuable data about changes in your soil’s quality. Electromagnetic (EM) surveys can tell you about paddock scale variation in soil properties and this is a starting point for variable management for fertilisers — nutrients and irrigation. EM mapping is a process that maps the relative conductivity of the soils in your paddock.

Environmentally sensitive areas include retired areas, steep slopes, wet lands, native bush, waterway,

wash-down areas and areas where water ponds.

Appropriate placement of fertiliser stocks as well as depth of farm dumps and offal pits is important to minimise nutrients getting into water bodies. It’s probably not practical to move existing dumps or offal holes, but farmers should carefully consider potential environmental effects when installing new ones.

Check your regional council regulations and requirements.

A good farm plan will also show fer tilisers

stored separate from other chemicals in dry conditions.

Provide pallets to keep large drums or bags off the floor. Shelves for smaller containers should have a lip to keep the containers from sliding off easily.

Keep the storage area locked and clearly labelled as a fertiliser storage area and prevent unauthorised use. Labels on the windows and doors of the building give firefighters information about fertilisers and other products present during an emergency response to a fire or a spill.

Ballance, Ravensdown, Superior Minerals Bulk Stores, all General & Livestock Cartage.

We look forward to your call!

0800 BARWOODS or 03 685 8583

114 Allandale Road Fairlie, Canterbury barwoods@barwoods.co.nz

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Order before 26 August and save 10% on all SAM Fertiliser Spreaders!

53 CARTERS ROAD, AMBERLEY NZ T: 0800 908 908 E: sales@nce.net.nz www.northcanterburyequipment.co.nz

22

July 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

FOCUS ON FERTILISER

Get Your Fertiliser In The Right Place At The Right Time “Get the right spreader” Agrex XDI The XDI fertiliser spreaders have a standard hopper loading volume of 1500 litres which can be increased to 3000 litres by simply adding, at any given time, an extension. The spreading diagrams supplied with the machine enable the operator to regulate the working width and the fertiliser load for a spreading width of up to 32m. The XDI fertiliser spreaders allow for normal spreading, late spreading (which is indispensable when it is necessary to fertilise areas where crops reach an impressive height) and the spreading of edges. Other optional equipment for the XDI Spreaders includes a Folding PVC cover, Computer Control, GPS guidance, Mobile deflector and Tail lights.

Optional Equipment Computer for speed, fertiliser flow and data management Folding PVC cover Tail lights Mobile deflector GPS guidance

BY

Contact us to discuss your needs 0800 802 478 E: sales@rataindustries.co.nz W: www.rataindustries.co.nz

Just like a typical factory, your soil is filled with workers. These are the organisms that are labouring to make tonnes of healthy grass for your herd. Without this underground workforce, nothing grows. They are literally that important.

Meet Your Grass-growing Workers

This is your fertiliser without proper Magnesium and Calcium Standard NPK grows grass, but...

Chances are your grass grower of choice is a standard NPK fertiliser. Most farmers go for that. That’s because they’ve been told that Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium are the three key nutrients for growing pasture.

And there’s no doubt that NPK works. Every farmer can see the grass growing results for themselves. But there are a couple of things you can’t see.

The Two Missing Gears Even though your one-size-fits all fertiliser will do a job for you, it won’t condition the soil, grow grass and ultimately produce milk as well as it should. Not if two crucial elements are missing.

When we say “everything” and “all the elements” we also mean the nutrients already existing in your soil and the millions of living organisms in the soil that are largely responsible for grass growth and soil health.

Before we examine what Calcium and Magnesium actually do, it’s worth looking at what’s really going on beneath the grass.

Your Soil is a Brown Factory Think of what a factory is: a place where goods are manufactured manufactured.

But manufacturing requires more than just a location. To produce goods, a factory needs to be filled with workers – labourers who have specific jobs that enable products to be made.

Calcium and Magnesium.

These two elements are crucial to a proper fertiliser programme. That’s because Ca and Mg regulate and activate the other nutrients. They are the nutrients that link everything together to enable all the elements to function at full capacity.

Your Soil is a Brown Factory where Grass is Made.

What Magnesium Does Magnesium is essential for plant growth. It is actively involved in photosynthesis and also plays an important role in plant respiration and energy metabolism.

• Mg is a carrier for Phosphorus so will ensure a steady flow of Phosphorous to the plant.

• Mg increases nitrogen fixation in legumes.

• Mg is an enzyme activator and constituent of many enzymes.

• Mg is responsible for sugar synthesis and starch translocation.

• Mg enables nutrient uptake control.

Worker #1: Good bacteria.

In the soil factory, these guy make nutrients available to plants, increase nutrient retention, and enhance soil structure to improve the flow of water and reduce erosion. They release plant growth hormones that stimulate root growth and improve root architecture. They detoxify soil and suppress disease by protecting plants from Pathogens.

Magnesium is also necessary in hundreds of animal biochemical pathways, particularly those involved in nerve function. Ruminants also require magnesium for efficient feed conversion and metabolism.

Worker #2: Fungi Fungi decompose complex carbon compounds and improve the accumulation of organic matter. Some fungi produce hormones and antibiotics which enhance root growth and provide disease suppression. Others physically bind soil particles into aggregates which helps air and water flow as well as the transportation of nutrients to plants.

Some off-the-shelf fertilisers have a Mg/Ca component in them. Should work, right? It depends. The Ca and Mg in standard fertilisers are chemically produced in laboratories. In artificially hardened forms, these nutrients are far less effective than the organic Ca/Mg that soil biology and plants prefer.

But I already use Calcium and Magnesium!

Golden Bay Dolomite is Organic

Worker #3: Protozoa Protozoa are single-celled microorganisms that are active near the root zone. Protozoa release excess nitrogen and nutrients for plants to use and also help soil particles to bind together to provide pore space for retention and exchange of air and water.

Dolomite is a 59% calcium 39% magnesium carbonate occurring as a completely natural rock deposit found in New Zealand only at Mount Burnett, Golden Bay. Dolomite’s magnesium release rate makes it the perfect magnesium controlled release fertiliser. As plant root acid secretions in the soil work on dolomite, its rate of breakdown accelerates in demand to plant requirements, releasing both magnesium and calcium in quantities sufficient to meet requirements, something even a mixture of lime and MgO can’t do.

Worker #4: Nematodes These non-segmented worms mineralise nutrients into plantavailable forms and consume disease-causing organisms.

Worker #5: Soil Arthropods These guys improve the soil factory structure through burrowing. Their fecal pellets help bind soil particles and their waste is rich in plant nutrients.

Worker #6: Earthworms These guys improve soil stability, porosity, and moistureholding capacity by burrowing and binding soil. They even help root growth by creating channels lined with nutrients.

The burrows of vertical earthworms pipe air deeper into the soil, stimulating microbial nutrient cycling at those deeper levels. During droughts these tunnels allow for deep plant root penetration into subsoil regions of higher moisture content.

How Calcium Helps Calcium is known as the King of minerals. That’s because Ca is the transportation nutrient that enhances the uptake of many other nutrients. Some of its functions include: • Promotes healthy root, stem and leaf growth • Improves the soil environment for micro-organisms • Should be between 60 - 70% soil base saturation Fertiliser effectiveness is based around the calcium content of your soil. If the base saturation calcium is below 60% then nutrient uptake is restricted.

.

Call us for a FREE soil consultation

Contact Golden Bay Dolomite on

03 5259843 or email

sales@g les@golden les@g goldenbaydo a lomite.co.nz aydo

FOCUS ON FERTILISER

CANTERBURY FARMING

ADVERTORIAL

M

Diversity drives soil health are under performing and negating financial benefits to the grower.

The phrase used heavily in the media and science circles is that everything should be ‘science-based’ and they suggest that if you are not promoting ‘science-based’ agriculture production systems, anything else is side-lined to the realm of pseudoscience.

New information and science in the last decade, that wasn’t available 4050 years ago about soil biology and the microbial life in the soil, is not recognised, understood or practised, and in many cases the same recommendations from the fertiliser industry and advisers still exists that is failing farmers. Farmers want only, what’s true and works.

Whilst having worms in the soil and organic matter, is an indicator of biological activity, the soil will never reach its full potential, in its ability to support

higher microbial populations and will never become sustainable as long as high rates of synthetic fertilisers are used, along with mono plant species. A diverse multi species pasture or cover crop, above the ground, produces a diverse range of microorganisms below the ground.

Healthy soils require balanced soil chemistry, balanced plant nutrition supports healthy, diverse populations of soil microbes the real aim is to have a system in place and create an environment that stimulates and builds up the numbers of the existing microbes in the soil.

Most of the traditional farming methods and former best practises in fertilisers and management are doing the opposite.

An ideal textbook soil has five per cent organic matter, 45 per cent minerals, 25 per cent air and 25 per cent water. The Kinsey — Albrecht system of soil fertility achieves this,

by utilising soil chemistry to affect the physics which determines the environment for the biology.

This is an essential part of the biological farming system, managing air and water, creating an environment where the micro and macro organisms can flourish, to mineralise and sequester soil nutrients.

Important, it’s not the fertiliser that feeds the plant, it is the soil that feeds the plant.

The Kinsey — Albrecht system creates a better system for the biology and increases aggregate stability, proven fact.

Once the biological soil function is restored, for example natural N-fixation and P-solubilisation then a reduction of applied fertilisers over time is all that’s necessary to maintain production.

The end result — substantial, economic, environmental and sustainability benefits.

Growing Top Soils is a biological process.

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Operating the new Bredal K45 Spreading Unit

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SOIL HEALTH IS THE KEY we focus on balancing soil nutrients and on soil health

For the growers we support, healthy soils lead to higher prots It's the unifying principle behind our work:

Building soil health is the only way to consistently,

Every product, every step is designed to build healthy, life sustaining soils.

sustainably, increase yields and resilience

Healthy soils support stronger more resilient plants

Top farming through

produce higher yields produce more nutritious food and forage We welcome enquiries

Don Hart 027 432 0187 Biological Farming & Soil Fertility Consultant Lydia Gundry 027 698 9907 B.Sc Plant Science & Horticulture

Dol mlte GOLDEN

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l

l

NZ s Finest Magnesium Fertiliser

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23

Books and spread charts to 28 mtrs 2800 kgs max. Very good order, comes complete with cover and lights.

Under every hectare of productive land in the first 1.5 centimetres of top soil there is approximately 2,250 kilograms of microbes.

There is more weight of biology underground, than the animals on top.

We supply food for the animals on top of the soil, because we understand that to get production from the animals or crops they require nutrition, but sadly neglect to feed and nurture the animals under our feet.

Traditional fertiliser practices and excessive nitrogen applications are failing farmers. The efficiency of applied N is generally less than 50 per cent due to losses from leaching, volatilisation and denitrification.

This inefficiencies costs farmers a lot of money as well as contributing to environmental issues, which seems extraordinary really, when there is a proven clover based pastoral production system that would supply most of the nitrogen required.

However the fertiliser and management systems that are still being used are counterproductive to achieve this goal. They

July 2016

To o s TOTAL SOIL FERTILITY SOLUTIONS

24

July 2016

FOCUS ON FERTILISER

CANTERBURY FARMING

BUSINESS PROFILE

Enhancing soil biologically

NORTH CANTERBURY LTD

Power-up your soil with Bio Marinus — fertiliser manufactured by United Fisheries Ltd from a sustainable fishing resource, utilising the offal from United Fisheries’ fish processing plant.

Locally Owned & Operated

The unique enzymatic production process retains the proteins, fish oil, including Omega 3, amino acids, and naturally occurring vitamins and trace elements.

Soil fertility is much more than simple ratios of NPK. It needs products that can feed the soil and replenish organisms.

By increasing the range and availability of nutrients and by feeding this soil organisms (the army under the soil), we can encourage stronger and deeper root growth and the availability of compounds for nutritional plant growth.

Biologically active soils have the ability to retain moisture and release nutrients, helping to increase disease resistance and ensuring greater production.

Bio Marinus is designed to provide a high quality, cost effective range of fertilisers for use in agriculture and horticulture. This biological approach for growing plants is powerful, sustainable and environment friendly.

The Liquid Fish Fertiliser is one of the most complex and complete fertilisers ever produced. Whether you are organic or conventional, it

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

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

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

Can assist with the increase of biological activity and organic matter production which helps retain nutrients and soil moisture.

Helps to increase disease resistance and can help to reduce the need for insecticides and fungicides.

Complete major and trace mineral range.

Non-toxic, nil withholding period.

Biological and Organic options available.

Visit www.biomarinus.co.nz for further information PRODUCED BY: UNITED FISHERIES LTD 50-58 PARKHOUSE ROAD CHRISTCHURCH 8042

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can help with better farming practices. The product can be used on its own or combined with other products. It benefits soils, plants and it maintains grass productivity.

By applying soil or foliar fertilisation, the fertiliser may help to increase soil biodiversity and biomass, increase nitrogen use efficiency, increase the uptake of calcium and magnesium and also may help in reducing leachate into waterways.

The product provides a more sustainable approach, allowing you to cut back on using chemical dependent food sources, and instead create good populations of specific microbes that will take care of plant nourishment.

Biological methods create plants that are more selfsufficient, usually needing only crop residues such as mulches, plus occasional applications of compost and trace minerals.

In cases where rapid growth or dr y matter production is required, a combination of Bio Marinus along with nitrogen based products can provide you with similar if not better results with less input. The sum effectiveness is greater than the individual components as they form a symbiotic relationship working together, assisting each other’s modes of action.

Bio Marinus is available in different ranges — hydrolysed fish fertiliser with

natural nutrients from the sea to feed the soil army or as a biological or organic form with added beneficial biology like Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma and Mycorrhizae fungi. Mycorrhizae forms a network of filaments around the root system and works in a symbiotic relationship with the plants by bringing the nutrients from the soil to the plants.

The product is stable, non-toxic, has no withholding period, and is compatible with most herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.

It is filtered to 200 microns to ensure no nozzle blockage.

Bio Marinus helps create healthy soils, healthy plants and healthy animals for future generations.

STONE CRUSHING Our Heavy Duty Machinery is Perfect for Roading and the Development of Stoney Farm Land • Stone paddocks upto 300mm in diameter down to 25mm • Laneways and Driveways • Raw River Bed Gravel (unscreeened) • Coarse Lime Rock • Recycled material - concrete, brick etc.

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FOCUS ON FERTILISER BUSINESS PROFILE

The natural fertiliser Poulfert chicken litter has long been recognised as a cost effective natural fertiliser, sought after not only for its nutrient value (NPK) but also the benefits of organic matter.

The family owned company has operated from its Templeton base since 2004, specialising in the bulk supply and spreading of Poulfert throughout the greater Canterbury area. The product is sourced from chicken raising farms strategically placed around Canterbury.

“Poulfert has really gained favour as a natural fertiliser.

Customers in dair ying, horticulture and cropping are all seeing the benefits of using the product,” said manager Marty Peoples.

“In addition to the NPK nutrient value, the organic matter of the product is especially beneficial in its soil conditioning capacity, particularly in Canterbury where organic matter is often light.”

Much of Canterbur y farmland has suffered from years of cultivation which has allowed organic matter to be eroded through prevailing winds.

Conventional fertilisers with a chemistry base are

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

25

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not able to replace this vital ingredient. Poulfert has a dry wood shavings base and has a dry sawdust/sand texture.

Upon application the product adds to the soil structure, breaking down slowly, providing nutrients to plants in keeping with their ability to absorb. Application rates depend on ground type,

fertiliser history, and crop type. A typical application as a maintenance fertiliser is 2.5 tonne to the hectare, increasing as the need for the nutrient value dictates.

The product is available all year around, with the company operating specialised bulk cartage and spreading equipment

DRIVE TO THE

with GPS accuracy and proof of placement.

They are Spreadmark certified and offer proof of placement through live time precision tracking.

Contact Mar ty and Tracey for more information or to discuss the use of Poulfer t on your farm.

Call 0800 NPK NOW.

CONDITIONS THIS WINTER

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FERTILISER SPREADERS

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26

FOCUS ON FERTILISER

July 2016 CANTERBURY FARMING

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Gypsum is one of those rare materials that performs in all categories of soil treatment: an amendment, conditioner and fertiliser.

It is useful in the transition period in dairy cows 2 – 4 weeks pre & post calving, and can be used as an anionic salt to counteract the effects that high potassium & sodium concentrations have on increasing hypocalcemia.

Gypsum, a readily available form of calcium, is 100 times more soluble than lime and is more suitable for the digestive system during this period.

Gypsum in fertilising Soil tests for many areas in New Zealand show that sulphur deficiency is wide spread. Although the importance of this element is often overlooked, sulphur is needed in at least equal quantities to phosphorus. Many responses in crops are sulphur responses arising from the sulphate radical (SO4‑‑), rather than phosphate responses.

• Readily dissociates into free calcium ions (Ca++) and sulphate ions (SO4‑‑), major elements in plant nutrition • Has an approximately neutral pH and can be used in heavy applications without causing undue alkalinity in soils Gypsum in water savings • Promotes water infiltration, retention and conservation • Allows water to penetrate the soil without forming puddles or water logging • Conserves water by stretching intervals between irrigations • Tests show that farmland treated with gypsum requires up to 33% less water than soils without recent gypsum application Gypsum in soil conditioning • Breaks up soils compacted by sodium and clay, and compounded by farm animals and machinery • Reduces cracking and compaction following irrigation and retards soil crusting • Allows soil to dry more quickly after rain or irrigation so that it may be worked sooner • Decreases energy requirements for tillage • Binds organic matter to soil and checks soil erosion • Enhances friendly bacterial action and discourages plant diseases related to poor soil aeration • Conditioned soil allows for deeper, healthier root development and water penetration Gypsum in amendment • Displaces sodium binding clay soils • Reduces high soil aluminium levels • Suppresses the soil acidification effects of growing crops and the prolonged use of acidifying fertilisers

For further information please contact your local farm supplier or Telephone: 0800 100 442 Visit our website at www.gypsum.co.nz

FOCUS ON FERTILISER BUSINESS PROFILE

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

27

BUSINESS PROFILE

Legendary on the farm Healthy soil, healthy crops In 1966, Versatile was the first company to mass produce articulated four-wheel drive tractors. Five decades later Versatile tractors are known around the world for reliability, durability and ease of service and maintenance.

The modern era of Versatile tractors upholds the reputation of longevity while maximising functionality and operator convenience.

Pairing the industryrenowned engine and transmission combination with the proven outboard planetary system and largest cab in the segment, has created one of the best tractors in the field today.

The Ve r s a t i l e Legendar y Limited Edition features historic red and yellow paint, special decals, and pays tribute to 50 years of continuous four-wheel drive tractor production.

R e c e n t l y, Po we r Far ming Ashbur ton proudly delivered one of these 50th Anniversary coloured tractors to Peter Butterick at Butterick family farms in Wakanui.

Peter also owns the first NZ New Versatile Pivot steer tractor, an 895 which sold in 1981 in mid-Canterbury.

This Versatile 520 will be put to work on cultivation jobs on Peter’s farm. It was

an honour to have the old and the new lined up together for a photo shot at Power Farming Ashburton before delivery.

Versatile also build front wheel assist tractors up to 360 horsepower, pivot steer tractors up to 620 horsepower on both wheels, and the industry leading Delta

track option. All come GPS ready, with and without PTO and rear linkage.

For more information call Simon or Blair at Power Farming Ashburton on 03 307 7153 or visit their website or facebook page to see the anniversary tractor being delivered.

Amuri Transport (1989) Ltd Livestock • Bulk Grain • Shingle • Fertiliser Application • Daily Freight Service

Many farmers are enthusiastic about learning what goes on, in and with their soil.

Fertiliser is often treated only as a sale, rather than being part of a plan managed by someone who is focussed on helping achieve better results for the longer term for both crops and animals.

“Very little of what we grow and remove from our land can be produced without soil yet so many take it for granted. Many people don’t seem to care or are given terrible advice,” says Calvin Bracken of Canterbury based Sustainable Soils.

Calvin is an ex-dairy farmer who understands situations from both sides of the fence. Sustainable Soils can provide you with a programme to help produce good benefits from your soil. These include: more total and even spread of feed throughout the seasons, increased per animal production, lower animal ill-health costs, reduced reliance on fertiliser N

Calvin Bracken with clients Ashley and Warrick Seaton standing in a paddock of swedes grown with Sustainable Soils programme

inputs, and less pest and disease pressure.

The team pass on knowledge and provide guidance about soil management and studious fertiliser application.

“It is critical soil analysis looks at more than just Ph and NPK. Considering the base saturation percentage for calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium is imperative. These elements and hydrogen is what make up the Ph factor and they need to be at the correct ratio to each other. Trace minerals are also important,” said Calvin.

Clients confirm old pastures perform like new,

often better, pasture colour is superior with better balanced soil and stock are more content and healthy. Where possible the team use natural fertilisers, like Viafos Guano phosphate which mitigates phosphate nutrient runoff and has very low cadmium.

“Natural options encourage and enhance soil biology which promote soil health, humus development, root growth, nutrient management and importantly plant and stock health. These factors can only be good for consumers.“ For more information, contact the team at Sustainable Soils on 03 312 6865 or 0800 65 65 88.

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Blair Jackson

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28

July 2016

FOCUS ON FERTILISER

CANTERBURY FARMING

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Don’t Drink and Drive 2016

There’s a school of thought seemingly prevalent among the science and farming communities in New Zealand that, although changes are required to soil fertility systems in order to stem further environmental damage, they can be made by tweaking the existing urea fuelled conventional system.

Recent reports indicate that some of our pastoral soils have been losing carbon at the rate of one tonne per hectare per year for the last twenty to thirty years.

Carbon is the foundation of future farming and growing, with the most productive soils being those with the greatest amount of carbon, and under present systems, we’re chewing through our productive base at an ever increasing rate.

Overseas trial work shows that the reason for the loss is almost certainly the use of fertiliser nitrogen, particularly urea, of which over 750,000 tonnes is applied each year to pastoral land in NZ. Urea, according to the research, stimulates bacterial activity, which in turn utilises carbon for energy. If this use of carbon is greater than the amount sequestered, there is a net loss and, as a

result, physical soil structures deteriorate, and nutrient and moisture storage as well as plant growth steadily decline.

Tweaking the existing systems won’t provide the necessar y fundamental changes, and there appears to be no genuine alternative technology coming out of mainstream science.

There is, however, another pathway and, at the base of the most effective is Golden Bay Dolomite; essentially a magnesium fertiliser and not appropriate for use where natural magnesium levels are high.

However, in most dairy farm situations magnesium is an ongoing requirement.

There are cheaper magnesium products than dolomite, but none that are as effective.

Dolomite is a naturally occurring rock containing both calcium and magnesium. The normal

annual application rate of 200–220kg/ha provides 23–25kg magnesium/ha, and may be applied at any time.

The main reason for considering its use is the positive effect it has on calcium/magnesium related metabolic disorders in spring, and these effects can often be almost immediate.

The response to the initial treatment is usually rapid and often no further action is required.

Dolomite is a powerful soil conditioner in its own right, alleviating at least some of the downward pressure caused by heavy feet which means excess water drains more readily.

Magnesium is a carrier of phosphorus and valuable when phosphorus inputs are being reduced to limit fertiliser costs.

With improved soil structures clovers are

FARM PLANNER

healthier and fix more nitrogen, with the potential damage by flea and weevil reduced.

Clover’s ability to replace fertiliser nitrogen is critical to the future of farming, and its value as milking and fattening tucker is also often underestimated.

It contains three to four times the amount of calcium of grasses and is more digestible, and animals fed a diet rich in clover produce at significantly higher levels.

When applied prior to November, nitrogen inputs can then be steadily reduced, encouraging clover growth over summer and early autumn.

Spreading dolomite is a useful first step in the implementation of a more efficient and effective programme.

For more information call Peter on 0800 436 566 (0800 4 Dolomite)

2016

Farmers....

It’s that time of year again to order and apply Dolomite to your farm to combine animal health and liming (pH lift) in just ONE cost saving application.

It is a proven fact by applying Dolomite, not only achieves RAPID pH INCREASE starting in as little as 6 weeks, it also builds your ideal soil structure — Reduces the reliance of pasture dusting and Nitrogen inputs — Consistently lower fertiliser inputs — Stronger, more vigorous clover and plant growth.

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FOCUS ON FERTILISER

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

29

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With the current economic climate flagging an essential need to reduce costs, and the importance of ensuring dollars are spent in the most effective areas, Agronomy Solutions are focussing on the fundamentally important issues of promoting yield and productivity, whilst making savings.

Agronomy Solutions Precision Nutrient Management’s service is set apart from others with its one clear price for the complete job, from sampling through to production of GPS variable rate fertiliser maps and files.

Supported by agronomists both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, it is backed by decades of research and experience.

From the moment the Agronomy Solutions team set foot on a farm, attention to detail is key, realising the importance of getting the basics right before moving on to more intricate details. Taking the bare

facts, a crop or plant cannot flourish if it doesn’t have the correct nutrients and growing conditions.

Whilst there are many factors that determine crop success, we have little control over most of them, however soil fertility and structure is the biggest driver that can be influenced.

Ensuring the correct amount of nutrient is exactly where it is needed is paramount to getting the best end result.

By putting time and energy into what can be changed can implement the very first building block for better future crops, with increased yields and improved farm profit.

Sampling every hectare of a paddock enables decision making to be on a much more informed basis, and rather than a reduced blanket rate to cut costs, the fertiliser can be spread to target the lower areas whilst putting less or none on more fertile balanced areas.

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30

July 2016

DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

Hoof Print

with Fred Hoekstra

HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING

What is the cause?

We have had a lot of response to my last article. Most people seem to agree that we do have laminitis, however it appears that the perception is that the main cause of laminitis is related to feeding issues yet there are many other ways for cows to get laminitis.

Last month I named stress as a major cause, but you could put other things on that list like mastitis, retained afterbirth, calving etc. When you suddenly get many lame

cows and you can’t relate it to an obvious incident, you could think back 6 or 8 weeks and see what had changed in the diet. Things like taking silage out of the diet, running

out of grass, starting to feed meal or the like, and these are certainly good possible reasons why your cows are lame.

I also mentioned that resting time is a ver y important contributing factor for lameness. This seems to be overlooked and grossly underestimated as a cause of lameness. I would class it as at least as important as diet. Particularly, in our pasture-based farming systems, it pays to put a lot of thinking into the time budget.

You should work on a time allocation of 12–14 hours of resting time, 8 hours of eating time, half hour drinking and 1 hour of socialising per 24 hours. So that leaves you about 2.5 hours per day to walk your cows to the cowshed, milk them and walk them back again. This allows just 1 hour and 15min

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So, when a cow is not laying down she is not resting and this causes lameness — not because the hooves can’t handle the pressure for long periods, there is no evidence for that argument, but because the cow is under stress with lots of stress hormones floating around through the body. Some of you may think this to be a bit farfetched but science has shown a strong correlation between standing time and lameness.

A thought — if you look at any herd that is being milked every 16 hours, you will find that most of those cows are happier to walk again with the change of routine. Why is that?

Would cows change their behaviour that dramatically if all their basic needs were already provided for? I don’t have space to further expand on this now, but if you have any comments or questions just send me an email to fred@veehof.co.nz.

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per milking twice a day. Most cows in NZ don’t get that. The first cows in might but the last ones certainly don’t, so over time the czows become very run down and this is why they don’t want to walk anymore towards the end of the season. They hang around the cowshed depriving themselves of needed rest which makes them even more run down so they are harder to move again, and so the spiral goes on. Therefore, when cows are being starved of resting time, they are under stress and just to prove a point. Try the following: start depriving yourself of a couple of hours sleep every night — how long are you able to keep that up for before your productivity, your health and your general well-being begins to suffer?

It is no different for cows.

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DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

31

Preparing for the big chill

by Andy Bryenton

The key to delivering better results for our primary industries lies in ensuring that New Zealand products retain their reputation for supreme quality.

Despite the vicissitudes of the global dairy market, this means a commitment to an ongoing programme of oversight at the ‘grass roots’ level. That’s the message from the Ministry of Primary Industries, which is committed to the rollout of new guidelines for best practice in cooling milk on farms.

With a deadline of full compliance set for June 1 2018, this means an aggressive campaign of upgrades across the sector.

Under the Ministry’s New Zealand Code of Practice for the Design and Operation of Farm Dairies, milk must be cooled to a minimum of 10°C within four hours of the start of milking, and to a maximum of 6°C by either six hours from the commencement of milking or two hours from the end of milking, whichever comes soonest.

This is not just intended to provide a nationwide standard to promote a healthier, higher quality product to flow-on to

processing facilities and eventually to the consumer here and overseas. It’s also intended to provide an incentive for farmers to invest in more energy-efficient, modern methods of cooling — a cost which can account for up to 30 per cent of the energy expenditure in the dairy shed.

Dairy NZ advise that plate heat exchangers remain the single best means to ensure compliance with the incoming guidelines. Using similar principles to a modern heat pump air conditioner, these arrays of thin metal plates circulate cold water in close proximity to the warm milk, leaching away heat into the water itself.

Even with such systems in place, maintenance to ensure peak performance is the key to both rapid cooling and energy efficiency — clean plates and a rapid flow of cool water ensure a fast drop to the 6 degree threshold.

The alternative — direct expansion refrigeration of

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a ‘dimple layer’ inside the bulk milk tank — has the disadvantage of using onpeak power, but regardless of the system used, secondary additions such as ice banks and thermal stores can bolster performance and help meet requirements.

Milk processing companies and the ministry acknowledge that achieving the goals outlined in their plan before the 2018 deadline will require a substantial investment, but stress that such an outlay in infrastructure may very well pay for itself in the long term through energy cost savings — as well as enabling the competitive positioning of Kiwi dairy products on the global stage.

While the current volatile status of the international dairy market makes this proposition a contentious one for many farmers, the overall message remains that this is a necessary step in safeguarding the entire sector for the future.

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32

July 2016

DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

SMOKE ALARMS

Uncommon sense

Save Lives

It’s flat “The earth is flat. How do I know?

Because everyone around here believes it.”

Pond crust gone for 10th the cost?

True!

Three hundred years ago, a statement like that wouldn’t have raised a single eyebrow.

Back then, belief in a flat earth was so entrenched, it was preposterous to think otherwise, and if you did, you were labelled a mad man.

That’s how widely held convictions work. The sheer number of ’believers’ creates a pressure that makes it easy to conform and very difficult to entertain another idea.

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Back in 2002, some farmers regarded me as a ‘round earther’ because I began to seriously look at running my farm on biological principles. It doesn’t work, they told me. It’s airy-fairy, they laughed. That’s not how we do it, they said.

How do we do it? What are the widespread beliefs that farmers hold to so deeply it seems to them ludicrous to think otherwise?

Superphosphate and urea are the way to grow grass.

Grass should be grazed at 2800kg/ha to maintain quality. At 2.5 leaf growth stage grass begins to die and should be grazed by then for best quality and production. Grass roots grow to 75mm, overseer measures leaching below the root zone, weeds are bad and should be sprayed, ryegrass is superior and is the feed of

David Law, Managing Director of Forward Farming Consultancy

choice on a dairy farm, soil biology doesn’t affect grass growth, as well as nitrate leaching mainly comes from urine patches.

These things are true. How do I know? Because everyone around here believes it.

That includes the farm consultants who are trained to believe in and preach these conventional concepts.

I believed as well.

Until 2002, when I decided to put some other ideas to the test. I challenged the belief that good production was determined by a high usage of nitrogen.

I discovered that it’s not, and took the farm from growing 14 ton dm/ha/yr using 150 units of nitrogen/ ha/yr to 19 ton dm/ha/ yr by only using 30 units of nitrogen.

Here’s some other ‘round earth’ things I discovered: Farming practices that work with the soil’s biology grows significantly longer root systems. The roots on my farm measured 800mm. That in itself mitigated leaching and grew better grass.

Biologically correct soil nutrition grows nutrientdense feed that has far more palatability. This type of grass can be allowed to grow longer and can be grazed clean by cows at 3300kg/ha. With a longer grazing period more grass is grown, meaning less dependance on boughtin feed. When all 16 soil nutrients are in their right percentages, the biological activity in the soil increases significantly. This increase in good organisms produces more enzymes which digest the feed in the cow’s gut. This results in better conversion of feed to milk.

You do not see weeping walls or effluent management machinery on biologically efficient farms. That’s because the better digestion rates significantly reduce the solid matter in the effluent.

Also, the transfer of good biological activity from the soil-grass-gut-effluent means that the pond contains a higher ratio of fibre-eating bacteria. These microbes liquefy the pond.

The higher ratio of good soil organisms suppresses the activity of soil pathogens.

This causes a drop in animal sickness — mastitis, facial eczema, foot rot, and the need for remedial measures.

Higher biological activity creates better soil physiology.

This increases drainage which reduces pugging. It also raises the soil temperature which shrinks your winter season length and reduces dry periods because of the extended root systems.

That’s what I discovered from 10 years of biological farming.

Do other farmers have to go through all that in order to believe in a better science?

No. All they need is to see a comparative trial — properly done — where the procedures are transparent, and politics are left out.

More on that next time.

DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

33

sheds ‘n shelters

Soil Matters with Peter Burton

WE CAN DESIGN ANY SIZE TO FIT YOUR REQUIREMENTS

The rules have changed, and changed again Last month’s article headed, ‘The rules have changed’, started with, ‘the European Union has just refused to grant Monsanto a new licence for Glyphosate’.

On June 29 in the United Kingdom’s Guardian there was an article headed, Controversial chemical in Roundup weed killer escapes immediate ban, followed by, Glyphosate, key ingredient in Monsanto’s best selling herbicide, has its European licence extended for 18 months despite warnings from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) it is ‘probably carcinogenic’.

Further digging through articles in ‘The Guardian’ revealed that the European Commission had submitted to the demands of various countries’ regulator y agencies for a continuance, despite it being revealed that countries such as Germany had actually had their papers written by representatives of agrichemical companies, citing ‘lack of resources’ to do the work by the regulators themselves.

Eighteen months is long

enough for the merits and potential dangers of glyphosate to hopefully be robustly debated. There will be those that will wring their hands and stridently demand that its use must cease immediately, and there will be those that sigh deeply and believe that it signals that common sense has prevailed, and all is well with current farming systems.

Change is coming, of that we can be certain — it’s the only constant in life, and perhaps we’re already well into a far reaching change period — only time will tell.

Safe and high quality food What is accepted is that the buying public world-wide are increasingly demanding, and are prepared to pay extra, for ‘safe’ food, particularly for their children, and these folk must be New

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He claims that we’re in an era of, revolutions in medical science, breakthroughs in nanotechnology, and the fusion of digital, biological and physical technologies.

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July 2016

DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

BUSINESS PROFILE

Give calves a boost With spring calving upon us, launching a new calf anti-scour feed supplement to the marketplace now is good timing for farmers.

OptiGuard anti-scour is set to boost calf health.

OptiGuard is a very finely milled natural mineral called zeolite. Zeolite is an alumino silicate with a porous threedimensional honeycomb framework with a net negative charge. The combined honeycomb framework and net negative charge, allows Zeolite to absorb both liquids and compounds.

When fed to calves this provides many advantages

to their d ev e l o p i n g immune systems.

“OptiGuard significantly reduces scours whilst enhancing a calf’s resistance to disease and aiding their digestion processes. This allows calves to grow to weight more quickly and wean earlier,” explains Kelvin Johansson, agricultural product manager at Blue Pacific Minerals.

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“Scouring in calves is the highest contributor to dehydration. Removing the possibility of dehydration enables the calf to utilise the nutrients it is being fed.

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Trial data showed OptiGuard absorbed 98 percent of aflatoxins within 15 minutes of feeding, therefore reducing the possibility of scouring due to toxins in their environment. (NB: there are about 400 known mycotoxins, and aflatoxins

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OptiGuard will be joining the growing range of BioGro certified agricultural health products offered by South Waikato based business, Blue Pacific Minerals.

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No: 2846

LIVESTOCK

Wool Perspective

CANTERBURY FARMING

shorn fleece, plus well grown pre-lamb-shorn mid-micron types which, whilst selling at reduced levels compared to earlier, did command interest at a reasonable level from the exporting trade. The June 30 auction could best be described though as being ‘a tough day at the office’ for brokers who failed to clear their catalogues and passedin approximately thirty-eight percent from the auctioneer’s rostrum for not reaching grower reserve prices, with the majority of wool sold on the day at below presale estimates.

July 7 was the opening day of the 2016/17 ‘season’ with Napier holding a North Island wool auction which somehow had a similar feel about it to that of opening day of duckshooting, with a few bids fired early missing the target by a long way, a few more bids getting close but passing the targets, and a few bids hitting the target but not quite as perfectly as desired.

With another wool auction the following week on July 14

signalling the South Island’s beginning for the season, brokers and growers there could be forgiven for feeling a bit like the unfortunate ducks at the end of the day, with feathers, heads and guts removed and suitably stuffed!

However, when comparing prices this year versus last year at a similar time, crossbred wool prices are not really too dissimilar in Kiwi cents per kilogram terms, and considering that in early July 2015 the exchange rate was nearer to $US0.66 than $US0.72 prices are possibly healthier than perhaps we give credit?

Sure the market was considerably dearer earlier in the current calendar year as stocks of processed wool, in yarn, cloth or finished product form, were obviously somewhat depleted, and raw wool volumes coming forward were similarly depleted due to lower sheep numbers, causing a simple demand versus supply imbalance more recently, and as earlier mentioned, the usual Chinese

influence has definitely been obvious by its absence, once again showing our reliance upon that nation to underpin commodity wool types.

Although quite different in both volume and ‘bread and butter’ types, the Australian wool market has also recently been subjected to weakening prices (albeit much less ‘across the board’ compared to New Zealand) due to less influence there from Chinese buying interests.

Looking forward no-one can accurately forecast what may or may not happen to the wool market, however the basics are unchanged in that New Zealand still has low sheep numbers therefore wool production will also be limited, and best practice inshed preparation standards ensure that exporters can buy with confidence.

Regardless of market influences, most of which we cannot control, New Zealand’s reputation as a producer of very good wool remains high.

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From Rob Cochrane GM, Procurement, PGG Wrightson Wool

Demand uncertainty affects wool pricing After a fairly reliable and stable 2015/16 wool season, the final few auctions during June delivered a much weaker demand resulting in wool prices in general easing considerably and in some instances dramatically.

A South Island wool auction held on June 30 presented a much larger than anticipated catalogue to the export trade, due mainly to a very good spell of weather across the country enabling many flocks to be shorn earlier than usual.

Along with uncertainty after the Brexit referendum result, the wild fluctuation of currencies immediately following that shock, plus lesser demand from Chinese buying interests, something which had become more obvious since around April/ May this year, prices across the board slumped, with short second-shear wools the most affected.

If there were any brighter spots included in the June 30 auction, they were for fulllength crossbred pre-lamb-

July 2016

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July 2016

LIVESTOCK

CANTERBURY FARMING

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Deer farmers trial winter feed options Human youngsters don’t have a monopoly when it comes to being fussy eaters. Young deer can also be notoriously picky if they are presented with poor-quality feed during their first autumn and winter.

Feeding them — and their adult herd mates — well through this crucial period is a topic attracting increasing attention from deer farmers involved in the industry’s Advance Party programme.

While pasture will always form the bulk of deer’s diet, winter crops are starting to play an increasing role. At a recent national Advance Party workshop in Methven, about 65 deer farmers from throughout New Zealand shared their experiences with use of brassica crops and other sources of feed such as silage and fodder beet.

Advance Par ties are motivated groups of farmers working as a team to improve productivity and profitability.

They are funded by Deer Industry NZ and the MPI Sustainable Farming Fund.

North Canterbury deer farmer Hamish Cameron learned this autumn that

there’s no substitute for pasture quality. He initially ran one mob of weaners on some older pasture supplemented with grain.

“There was plenty of pasture available and we thought that the grain would help compensate for the lack of quality. That didn’t turn out to be the case and the weight gains were disappointing,” he said. A second mob, also supplemented with grain, was run on new pasture with herbs in the mix. “That mob did much better.”

Cameron said his farm’s deer unit had recently been expanded and older pasture within it will eventually be renewed. For this winter he’s moved 200 weaners onto fodder beet and another mob of 84 onto rape.

“The weaners going onto the beet didn’t handle the transition too well for the first month, but they are starting

to get into it now and I’m looking forward to weighing them again. The weaners on the rape are doing really well.

They were weighed going onto the crop and had gained an average 118 grams a day 30 days later.”

Cameron plans to swap the mobs from rape to fodder beet and vice versa after 60– 65 days.

“That was one bit of advice that came through strongly at the workshop — deer can get tired of a crop after a couple of months.”

John Travers, who runs a deer velvet herd on the northern outskirts of Timaru, has switched from wintering with silage and baleage to fodder beet and kale for the first time this year.

“Hearing about the experience of others at the workshop who had been using fodder beet for a while was incredibly helpful,” he

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said. “I also picked up good practical tips, like how to adapt old tractor tyres as cheap feed troughs.”

For young deer in venison herds that have been weaned in late summer, the priority is to maintain growth through winter so they are well placed to reach target weights the following spring for the valuable chilled market in Europe.

For stags farmed for their velvet antler, winter feeding is important to regain the weight they have lost during the autumn roar and boost antler growth in the following spring , and pregnant hinds need to maintain good body condition through winter to set them up for the demands of lactation after they give birth in early summer.

The challenge with deer is that they have evolved to ‘mark time’ over cold northern winters.

Weight gain resumes when plant growth fires up in spring, through summer to early autumn.

That doesn’t quite fit with New Zealand’s seasonal pasture growth patterns and market demands.

Fodder beet is especially popular in the South Island and deer farmers have been learning to balance the energy it provides with adequate intakes of protein and fibre from other sources.

Attendees at the workshop agreed that all deer, especially those picky youngsters going through their first winter, can get tired of grazing a crop or feeding on silage, particularly when they get wind of fresh grass growth in early spring.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

the ‘last’ word with Rob Cope-Williams

Are computers now people, or vice versa?

That isn’t a dumb question after what has happened in my world recently.

My car, like all modern machines, is controlled by computers and it tells when a door is open, the lights are on, in fact it turns them on for me in case I didn’t notice it was getting dark, it tells me if a bulb blows and a huge range of other frustrating things that I really don’t need to know.

Seriously, do I really need to know how much fuel I am using, how far I can travel with the fuel in the tank, even though there is a fuel gauge, and do I need to know my average speed over the past however long. No but it does. It’s latest little trick was to flash a message that the car was suffering from ‘restricted performance’.

A quick trip to my mechanical chaps who plugged in a computer that told them that a cell in the battery had died so a new one was needed. Now I knew that because the car wouldn’t

start the previous day but the computer had to step in and make me think the car was about to blow up or die a horrid death. A new battery has been fitted and the flashing lights have retreated for the meantime.

My parallel about humans and computers is that our bodies are very similar to a computer inasmuch as it sends us a variety of messages that we should really take notice of even if we think the modern world is over complicated.

I have talked about and written about stress for years, and you may know it comes from the heart because I have been there done that and it is very horrid. Plus having been there I know the signs and take the wee white pills.

However over the past few weeks things got on top of me and my wee internal computer kicked in with messages: ‘You are constantly tired’, ‘You

can’t concentrate’, ‘It’s very OK to have a third scotch’, ‘your shoulders and back hurt because your posture is so bad’, ‘You are dizzy when you get out of bed for a reason’ and so on.

No flashing lights, well none I saw, but they were certainly flashing. I even got to the point of writing a list of where things were, the combinations and log-ins for the computer, who needs to be contacted regarding wills and accountant reports etc.

Yup the damn spiral had taken hold. Thankfully a mate asked me to race his little car at Ruapuna and suddenly I was able to spring out of bed in the morning, the posture instantly came right, I am very sure I am not going to die next week, and I have found stacks of energy.

Listen to your computer and do something for you.

You are you and you are very important.

July 2016

37

O’Connor Comments with Damien O’Connor Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture

Change for the better Young farmers from around the country converged in Timaru for their annual conference and the 2016 FMG Young Farmer Competition.

As usual it was a great rural event held at the time of year when many rural Kiwis can take a few days to travel and catch up with friends young and old. The practical day held at Caroline Bay was convenient for competitors and spectators.

The timing of the other parts of the competition were not so well coordinated and many stalwarts, including myself, missed the traditional quiz night finale that used to be prime time television viewing.

Much has changed in the world of agriculture since I was a member of YFC. New Zealand has diversified its economy — new skills for new jobs in creative and innovative sectors are the way forward to a more productive economy, so we are told. Competitions that involve old skills are

replaced on television by cooking and unreality TV which is the new trend.

It’s no wonder New Zealand has the highest level of debt across every sector of our community. We have a widening gap between rich and poor. Traders and speculators make fortunes while working people at every level struggle to get ahead. The facts are we have our priorities wrong as a nation and the sooner we work out what is important for the long-term benefit of New Zealanders, the sooner we will see Young Farmer of the Year back onto prime time television.

Farming has been and will always be a big part of our culture, our communities and our economy. But the level of understanding of that importance will only be improved if we make the

effort to explain and educate the vast majority of Kiwis who never have any regular contact with farms.

While we can sit back and moan about the ignorance, without our effor ts to educate the townies, misunderstanding and misinformation will prevail.

That is when we can get our priorities wrong and why the 86% of Kiwis who live in urban NZ but rely on rural industries to drive our collective economy, get them wrong too. The fact that the Young Farmer of the Year competition has not received the recognition it deserves in recent years is perhaps a clear indication that we need change to occur in many places, especially when it comes to our nation’s priorities, to nationwide policies and to National’s politicians.

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July 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

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I find it amazing that some top dairy farms are unable to get staff.

Sure there is a lot of media hype and tall poppy trimming going on but surely people can see through all that and realise that although the dairy industry may have gone quiet, it is always darkest before dawn.

Is it a case of New Zealanders not wanting to work as milk harvesters — that they think working as farm hands is below them, or is it just that they can’t see past their noses. We all know that a majority of dairy farm workers are from overseas — people who work hard, and

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are very happy to enjoy the outdoors and learn about an industry that is still the backbone of our nation, but it is fair to suggest that most of them won’t become industry leaders, that is the domain of New Zealanders who see being a farm worker as part of an industry unofficial apprenticeship. Yup the pay may not be as much as their mates in the city who work Monday to Friday, but will their mates end up owning a farm and employing staff because they have learnt their trade and climbed a ladder that has no parallel.

It is interesting that the last two FMG Young Farmer of the Year winners are dairy farmers, one from the

West Melton 1016 Weedons Ross Road

West Melton 1016 Weedons Ross Road

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Established sheltercomplex ensures privacy and completion so prevailing get in nowwinds. whileFor youthose can.looking shelter from the for a lifestyle there are fenced paddocks, 3 bay barn, firewood treeshave and an established crop.

Our owners enjoyed their Lucerne time here but withvery thepopular children all grown up itlocal is time to are The local school and amenities down size walk and hand ownership just a short or bikethe ridebaton away.ofWest Melton is to the nextalucky owner. undergoing massive change with the new shopping complex nearing completion so get in now while you Forcan.

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Frank Dowle

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industry but the present one had no farming experience before entering the industry.

As a young man he is well up the ladder and will be heading towards a brilliant future. You can’t find that sort of opportunity in many other industries.

But back to the lack of labour.

Take the Stewart Family for example. They are top stud breeders who have been farming on Tulls Road just inland from Waikuku for three generations.

The stud was launched in 1953 so there is a stack of knowledge within the family and there is there to be shared. Waikuku is about 33 minutes away from

Christchurch on a bad day so a nightlife is almost on your door step, and with staggered calving the workload is spread offering a steady year rather than massive dollops of little sleep and long hours.

However they literally can’t get anyone to apply, let alone apply and not be suitable.

Seriously, are the modern generation so indulgent and sure that the world owes them a living that they can’t see a huge chance for greatness when it is staring them in the face.

Get your nieces and nephews to apply for a future, their e-mail address is g.nstewart@xtra.co.nz and watch the youngsters blossom into farming greats.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

Irrigation Issues When will it rain ‘It always rains after a dry spell’ so they say. are as low as they have ever been and as low as the early — mid 70s in this mid–north area of Canterbury.

I realise I always write about water level in bore M36/1926 as a key deepish mid-plains observation bore to keep an eye on. Groundwater levels shown in Figure 1 are the lowest recorded since the bore was installed in 1984.

While the 2016 water levels are the lowest recorded, low water levels have occurred before — in the early 2000s especially 2006, and again in 2008.

I have calculated the rainfall totals for the period when irrigation would have ceased in each season (usually when there has been a large rainfall of 50mm+ in mid-March to mid-April through to September 1).

What is evident is: • Low water levels have occurred before — early 2000s and 2008; • Low water levels always

follow low winter recharge (the red bars); • High water levels always follow high winter recharge (the black bars).

V isually, F igure 1 suggests there needs to be more than 300mm rainfall in the March–September period to significantly raise groundwater levels.

2016 is a long way below 300mm, up to early July just over 100mm, and clearly there has been ‘diddly squat’ recharge from that rainfall.

Just to prove bore M36/1926 is no aberration, I have done the same analysis for bore L35/0163 also in the mid-plains area.

Just like M36/1926, the 2016 water levels are the lowest recorded, just like the late 1960s and early 1970s — that is low water levels have occurred before. I have plotted the same rainfall totals as for M36/1926.

What is evident is:

• Low water levels have occurred before — late 1960s and early 1970s; • Low water levels always follow low winter recharge (the red bars); • High water levels always follow high winter recharge (the black bars).

As in Figure 1 there needs to be 300mm (or more) rainfall in the MarchSeptember period to get a big recharge and high water levels at the beginning of the next irrigation season.

What are the chances of recharging to a reasonable level before mid-late August or at worst mid-September?

If you were a betting person the odds might be akin to the Jaguars winning the Super Rugby title — not good in other words.

I hope I am wrong and I know if I am there will be some unhappy calvers and lambers around the country side.

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Avoid Drink Driving

with Dr Tony Daveron

Saying it now after two years of low rainfall, the saying is said through gritted teeth.

The old saying/philosophy is now running a bit thin — just like the rainfall.

Over the last two months I have had the opportunity to present to different groups about how the lack of rainfall is affecting groundwater levels. While rain has begun to provide relief for parts of Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Otago, Marlborough, and parts of Canterbury that have also been in drought, North Canterbury continues to miss out. Some think the current drought is as bad as (or worse than) 1967–68, others reckon 1973–74, others 1997–98, others just the driest they have ever seen and I remember vividly 1988– 89. No matter the season or seasons, there is agreement we have seen conditions of similar magnitude before.

And so it is reflected in the groundwater levels — they

July 2016

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Manufactured from egg powder produced from vaccinated hens.

Combinations available against Rotavirus, Cryptosporidia, E Coli, Salmonella and Coronavirus.

Rotagen “Combo” is available in 500gm, 1Kg and 2.5 Kg packs

40

July 2016

RURAL WHEELS

CANTERBURY FARMING

Next generational game changer by our motoring specialist

Subaru’s dominance of the world rally scene in the 1990s began with the rise of the deep blue, four-wheel drive missile they called the WRX. A beast on and off the track — where a road-going variant became a favourite with tuners and fast-fours afficionados — the WRX started life lean and mean.

As generations passed, however, it gained all the weight associated with driver comforts and modern safety features, while its arch rival

the Mitsubishi Evo sailed over the edge of twitchy performance. When the WRX was king, one of the favourite models on offer was a four door station wagon, combining a little practicality with the turbocharged madness. New Zealand took to the WRX wagon with enthusiasm, matched by our love affair

with other ‘estate’ Subarus — the ubiquitous silver Legacy enjoyed the dubious honour for some time of being our nation’s most stolen car. Then came our new automotive crush, the SUV, and wagons of every marque faded into the sunset. Today, in most showrooms, the crossover 4x4 rules the roost, with very

FORD | MUSTANG

M

ID CANTERBURY ACHINERY

We Buy, Sell & Trade Machinery

Ring to Hire Machinery!

A distinctive name for a car with big boots to fill. The WRX successor does it with style

few true station wagons to of a James Bond villain — that it evokes the feeling of be found. it’s refreshingly easy to see the old original WRX wagon, That’s why the new Subaru what the Levorg is about. and it’s clear that great Levorg is bucking all kinds The WRX wagon may have lengths have been gone to to of trends. It’s a wagon in a skipped a generation, but achieve just that. But the final world of compact sedans and it’s back with an aggressive clue — and a bit of a surprise crossover SUVs. It picks up and angular new facelift and — is hidden in the name of where the WRX of the past the requisite smooth boxer- the Levorg. left off. With the new Legacy configured 2 litres under the It stands for LEgacy 3.6 turning heads but not hood to offer up 197 kilowatts eVOlution touRinG — meaning available with all that extra of power. that this diminutive dynamo boot space, it’s slotting into All the precision and poise is in fact meant to replace just the WRX but the the Subaru stable with big of the regular WRX is right not pac ca ing kg tow ity ity 3,0 capac • different ing : • 3,0 kg tow 0000 PRICE ER OLD faithful old Legacy as well, boots to fill in bothFAR directions. here despite the REH : ICE SHA PR DS ER AN ML lit OLD sp 50/50lit th /50 ANDS SHAREH wi50 ats FARML • 7 se th wiof ats 7 se Setting aside the very rear roofline — a • small feat and sp that finally, unthinkably at r se rea at r sebest distinctive name — which engineering magic.rea The —iseSubaru have produced contr ive cru ol ol ntr Adapt • ise co ive apt Ad • 1 has been compared to that accolade anyone could give® cru is -ve anhic Evo. 1 le SY®NC -vehicle 2 RCRC • SY• NC 2 in2 in +O+O 2 ation nicon temtem com syssys nicati mumu com

Water Ballast Rollers ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� From $3,500 Gregoire Besson 5Mtr Discs ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $15,000 Taege 2 Bale Feeder ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$7,250 Hustler 2000 (Done a Lot of Work) ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$3,850 Dunhill 8 Furrow on Land Plough ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$3,500 Aitchison 10ft Maxitill Tidy ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$1,900 Sulky DPX 28 Fert Spdr 2013 �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$6,900 Alo 1�5 Silage Grabs (Shipment Arrived) ������������������������������������������������������������������������������$5,000 Roller Rings 25 24”X3” Heavy ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Each $60 Cambridge Rollers 10ft,11ft & 22ft ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� From $2,000 Grubber Trailing ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$6,750 Duncan 13Tyne 1 1/4 Tyne Grubber �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$1,250 Kloughn25 Tyne Trailing Grubber (Very tidy) ��������������������������������������������������������������������� $11,250 Celli 2�5Mtrs Roto Hoe���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$6,500 Hay Feeders, 1�4 & 2�4 mtrs long ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� From $500 Hustler 8000 Bale Feeder��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $25,500 Express Speed Disc 3000 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� AS NEW POA Gray 10FT Water Ballast Roller �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� NEW POA Duncan 734 Direct Drill ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$9,750 Kverneland TLA 5�5 Maxitill �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$6,750 Ferguson 9Tyne Grubber c/w Moulders ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������$600 Duncan 701 Drill C/W Eclipse Box ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$4,250 Case Tractor MX100C C/W Loader ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Sell or Hire Cattle Ramp �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$2,400 Nobili BNG 310 Mulcher �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$8,250 Grader Blades ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� From $500 Fiat 250 Tractor �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$2,000 Watson 6�3 Rollers (www�walter-watson�co�uk) ��������������������������������������������������������������� In Stock Cambell & Bowis Bale feeder ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$4,000 Pearson Silage Grab Euro Fitting ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$3,700 Subsoilers 5 & 7 leg ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� From $6,750 Auger 4 1/2 Mtre c/w Electric Motor �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������$1,300 Fuel Tanks �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� From $300 Trimax Mulcher 1�5Mtr ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� From $1,750 Tandem Trailer 4�1x2�45 (Reg & wof) �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������$3,500 Trailer 2 Axles Turntable ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $10,000 GTDi e I4 Di e ne ne ngingi oBoos Ecoos I4 GT • 1.5L t™t™ Kverneland NG300 H4 Power Harrow ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������$7,900 : oB ICE Ec PR ER 1.5L • OLD s REH val : ter ICE SHA e in PR DS AN����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� MLDS servic FAR SHAREHOLDER 12 mo e intervalsNEW $3,150 McHale FAR Soft AN 0km / MLHands servic nthnth 20,00 • ,00 12 mo 0km / • 20 Bale Forks �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� From $650 ion gat avi te n elli 2 • Sat ellite navigation Hustler 4000 Bale Feeder��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2$10,500 • Sat tem sys on ati nic mu ® tem om hicle c ommunication sys SY®NC • NC Vogel & Noot 5 furrow vari width very 1tidy ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� POA hicle c -ve-ve 2 in2 in SY • 1 Uni Silage Wagon Tandem ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$6,000 ICE: AREHOLDER PR Heavy Duty Quick Hitch �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$1,050 FARMLANDS SH Older 2 Bale Trailing Feeders ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ From $1,350

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2015 FORD | MUSTANG 0 TSB CH HATArgosy OST2006 BOCummins O C E D e N in E ng R i e 520, 18 spd manual, air rear, T TD t™ I4 G FOCUS tervals • 1.5L EcoBoos onth service in

28 AT AVON 03 347 2314 ON THE GROUND NOW CITY FORD. Kim Harris or email Mobile 027 545 7973 172 Wills Street Ashburton • Tel/Fax: 03 308 9889 FORD | MUSTAN G 0800 379 899 sales@canfarm.co.nz COME TO A LOOK OR TO ARRANGE A TEST Mob: 0274IN 341 040 • E: HAVE n.stockdill@xtra.co.nz www.prestigecv.co.nz $

99

Just a Small Selection of our Stock • We Buy, Sell & Trade Machinery +ORC1 All Prices + GST • www.midcanterburymachinery.co.nz

/ 12 m 7.3m stock deck.

• 20,000km 2 igation av n te lli te Sa • ication system ® hicle commun ve n2 i NC • SY

Please call

$50,000 + GST.

D W BOOST AW A T O S C O D O E W B A O D T S EC N D E O R B EN i e O R T TENMORE DRIVE. CALL US ON 0800 655 551 DETAILS. D EC G GAngine R PRICE: • 2.0L EcoBoost™ GTD KU AATR GFOR UU KK ngine OLDE Di eDi e ise contro 2.0L EcoBoost™ GT GT

3355

35

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D DE D R W A O T F S O L O B A O C C E O D N L E 00 99 KUGA TR CICEO: NTAC$$T6 YOU6R6 VE T I R RC +O D 6 T RC +O S PR R 6 E R DE OL E 6 T EH L AR SH A A R LER FAR ML AN DS UR LO OE A FOORRDDDFDE L A C F L A C O O L Y R T C U A O T Y N T 990 RIVE TOODD CCOONTAC Y! !

A Y A T D E T S IV E R T D A T RC S R E +O O $ FFOR A T OLDER PRICE: REHREH SHASHA NDSNDS MLAMLA FARFAR

35

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on dealerships. Special pricing cipating Ford New Zealand until 31st August 2016, perative shareholders at parti 2016 Co-o s July land 1st Farm from to able able is avail GST and is avail is not 1. Farmlands special pricing and Everest Trend includes , options and accessories and h, Kuga Trend EcoBoost AWD ial price excludes on road costs Focus Trend EcoBoost Hatc Zealand dealerships. The spec www.ford.co.nz/sync visit New e Ford pleas ing lity, cipat atibi parti comp at r or while stocks last, phone and media playe any other special offers. 2. For available in conjunction with

Avon City Ford AnywhereFord Ford999900 Anywhere $ $ All-New 2015 FORD | MUSTANG 288

1. Farmlands special pricing is available to Farmlands Co-operative shareholders at participating Zealand dealerships.

Special pricing 1. Farmlands special pricing is available to Farmlands Co-operative shareholders at participating FordFord NewNew Zealand dealerships.

Special pricing on on Focus Trend EcoBoost Hatch, Kuga Trend EcoBoost AWD Everest Trend includes is available 1st July August 2016, Focus Trend EcoBoost Hatch, Kuga Trend EcoBoost AWD andand Everest Trend includes GSTGST andand is available fromfrom 1st July 20162016 untiluntil 31st31st August 2016, or while stocks at participating Zealand dealerships. special excludes on road costs, options accessories is not or while stocks last,last, at participating FordFord NewNew Zealand dealerships.

TheThe special priceprice excludes on road costs, options andand accessories andand is not available in conjunction other special offers.

2. For phone media player compatibility, please www.ford.co.nz/sync available in conjunction withwith anyany other special offers.

2. For phone andand media player compatibility, please visitvisit www.ford.co.nz/sync

Avon City Ford

Anywhere Ford | anywhereford.co.nz H ad655 TC HA ST H TC OO VILLE | P 01 234 5678 HA OB LE EC ST MP D Cnr Main South RdFO andCU Epsom Rd, Sockburn | 03 348 4129 | 0800 551 OO SA | EN OB TR EC Ro S Go Further le D mp SaTDi engine 123 I4 G CUS TRENStPRIC Eco TDi engine • 1.5L Rangiora ServiceFO Centre | 78 Ivory 313 7059 | I4 G avoncityford.co.nz st™st™ E: • 1.5L BooBoo Eco OLDER | 03 NDS SHAREH ER PRICE:

ice intervals

serv FAR REHOLD onth 12 m NDS SHA ice intervals MLAMLA serv onth • 20,0 12 m Cnr Main South Rd andFAR Epsom Rd, Sockburn • | 20,0 m /m / 00k00k ion igat nav llite Sate ion • 2 igat nav llite Sate 2 CHRISTCHURCH | 03 348 4129 or 0800 655• 551 ® C®2 in-vehicle com municat emem systsyst ion ion • SYN C 2 in-vehicle communicat 1 SYN • 1 Rangiora Service Centre | 78 Ivory St |RC 03 RC313 7059 | avoncityford.co.nz +O+O

RURAL WHEELS

Adventure ahead

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

41

NEED A TRAILER? Our quality NZ made SRT Trailers are built to a Standard, not to a price.

by Andy Bryenton

Triumph motorcycles have always seemed a more refined choice when it comes to power and prestige on two wheels — with a pedigree stretching back to 1902 and a stable of names including the Thruxton, Bonneville and Trident, there’s a hint of true English heritage to the brand.

But despite the fact that Triumph excel at producing beautifully crafted, classic inspired machines — take a look at the new T120 Bonneville for example — they’re dedicated to new technology. From the early days of Triumph’s ‘reboot’, the management have looked to the future while preserving the best aesthetic cues of the past, and the recipe has cooked up some modern classics.

Now it’s the turn of a Triumph icon to get a boost from some cutting-edge tech.

The original Triumph Tiger was a speedy little single cylinder scrambler, built before world war two. It evolved into Triumph’s ‘go anywhere’ model, but with the advent of this year’s new generation there may very well be no terrain the Tiger Explorer can’t tame. This is thanks in part to a massive increase in power over the old ‘37 — a 12 valve, triple cylinder 1215cc engine generating biblical amounts of torque.

It’s the biggest engine in its class, and it’s mated to a six speed box with a super high sixth gear for lazy revs

• • • • • •

Hot Dip Galvanised Full Chassis Quality NZ made components Competitive pricing Can freight nationwide We include standard what others see as optional extras – call us to see!

SRT Trailers Ltd The new Tiger Explorer is worlds away from the simple single-pot scrambler of the 1930s

and fuel economy on those long, open-road hauls. The choice between road and wilderness is defined by the two models in the Tiger range — the XC for the rough stuff and the XR for the highway.

Don’t be fooled — the XR isn’t restricted to lovely fresh tarmac. But it’s the XC which can really get stuck in to the mud, sand, gravel and dirt of the wider world, thanks to some very clever thinking and design.

Both models of Tiger Explorer share the same computerised brain — an unthinkable luxury back in the 1930s. As well as delivering

confidence-inducing rider modes for different conditions — including one for rain and slippery roads which would prove a godsend right now in New Zealand — the ‘brain’ of the Tiger also deploys a socalled Triumph Semi Active Suspension System.

This uses no less than three gyroscopes and three accelerometers to measure the speed, pitch, yaw and roll of the bike, adjusting the suspension damping accordingly.

It’s technology which you’d have found only in a cruise missile not so long ago, and it makes the Explorer — in

*Mahindra offers consist of either 0% finance over 3 year (36 Months) or $3000 cash back, paid by way of Visa prezzy card, when you purchase any brand new Mahindra Pik Up or Genio variant. Both offers are based on our recommended retail price.

The 0% finance offer is to approved applicants of Auto Finance Direct Limited only. On road costs of $950 applies to both offers. Establishment fee of $450, PPSR fee of $13 and a $10 monthly account fee applies to 0% finance offer. These offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or discounts and must end at midnight on 31 August 2016 or while stocks last. MD Distributors Limited reserves the right to vary, withdraw or extend either of these offers. Terms and conditions apply.

both variants — as sure footed as a the proverbial mountain goat.

With a crisp and angular new look, stuffed with futuristic technology and ready to ride from here to Siberia if that’s what you’re planning for the day, the Tiger Explorer is positive proof that Triumph can take on the thoroughly modern adventure bike segment of the market and deliver the goods.

With more and more riders opting for this style of machine to explore new horizons, it’s well worth a closer look.

For more info or to order yours phone

0800 697 886

www.srttrailers.co.nz • e-mail: sales@srttrailers.co.nz * Offer open to every trailer ordered until the end of August 2016

100 IT’S NOT A TARGET

42

July 2016

RURAL WHEELS

CANTERBURY FARMING

NO NONSENSE WORKER – NOT A SHOW PONY The Suzuki Farm Worker 4X4 is just that, a worker. For much the same price as a quad or UTV* you get a proper farm vehicle with protection from the elements and practical, no-nonsense features you’ll use every day.

See us now for a test drive.

FARM WORKER WELLSIDE $17,990

INCL GST

*The Farm Worker 4X4 is a practical alternative to Quads and UTVs. It cannot be registered for use on NZ roads.

Optional towbar, bullbars and Maxxis tyres shown. Prices and savings include GST.

ARTHUR BURKE LTD AMBERLEY - ESTABLISHED 1935 North Canterbury Suzuki Dealer Markham Street, Amberley • Phone 03 314 0132 James Carr • Phone 027 706 4856

Trade in your dunger and we’ll give you a minimum of $750 towards a new Suzuki TF125 Mudbug. So wheel in and see us now.

We pay you $750 minimum trade on a new Mudbug when you bring in your old two wheel farm bike – going or not. Offer valid until 30 September 2016 or while stocks last.

Epsom Rd, Sockburn, Christchurch www.avoncitymotorcycles.co.nz

TF125K5

$3,995

INC GST

LESS $750 MINIMUM TRADE-IN

03 341 3490

Geoff Latimer – Rural Sales 027 437 2790 | Scott McIntosh – Manager/Sales 027 201 4188 | Eliot Ashmore-Price – Sales 027 334 2460

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Before

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RURAL WHEELS

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2016

43

Delivering the goods Ford’s Transit van series has a been a favourite throughout its history With a distinguished track record as not only the van of choice for couriers, BBC film crews and countless tradespeople since its inception in the 1960s, but also holding the dubious honour of being the first choice of British bank robbers. Statistics can be strange things sometimes.

Still, the tradies and crims alike — along with touring bands, moving companies and florists — latched on to the transit’s blend of space, handling and power in an era when most vans possessed the shape and relative velocity of toasters.

Now, as Ford dominate the light commercial landscape with their Ranger utility, it’s a good time to look at its highsided stablemate, which is racking up the honours in its own right.

The Ford Transit Custom is striking for a few reasons as soon as it pulls into view.

The first is that it does away with the fallacy that vans should be plain sheet metal boxes on wheels. A dash of

the same design flair which has made the new Mustang a must-have can be seen from the front grille all the way down the deeply speedcreased sides.

In the cockpit it’s far less like the old traditional van’s three-seater ‘church pew’ and more like the front of a modern sedan, with controls — including Ford’s sublime Sync II digital suite — befitting a car rather than a cargo hauler. An especially nice touch is the removal of the traditional van’s dog-leg shifter, replacing either an additional stalk off the ‘tree’ or an immensely attenuated stick with a sporty little shortthrow knob on a plinth.

Get up and go is provided by a Duratorq diesel with stop-go technology, making this a perfect choice for those who grind through the urban jungle on jobs. Fuel savings are further improved by clever use of injection tech, paring back the fuel bill to 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres.

That’s not bad when you consider the big trick up the

PREVENT FIRES

Transit Custom’s sleeve — the sheer amount of cargo which this van can carry.

With flip-open hatches under the seats from the rear cargo space, the Transit can transport pipes and timbers three metres long. It can swallow up three Euro-style pallets, with ample tie-down points and massive floorto-ceiling doors, eliminating anything to snag or foul up the ingress or egress of heavy packages.

All of that before you consider the additional 2,750 kilos of towing capacity on call. Despite this, the Transit Custom is small enough to ease into covered carparks, and boasts a turning circle some big sedans would envy.

Ford have clearly talked to drivers across a number of trades to develop this machine — the winner of the International Van of the Year award in the year of its release.

If you’re looking for a hard working vehicle to drive business growth, it’s definitely a good place to start.

The Ford Transit Custom packs in more features as well as more cargo

HURRY, LAST DAYS

The CAN-AM DEFENDER is here. Prices starting from

DEFENDER TOUGH CAPABLE CLEVER

$18,173

* FREE accessory package to the value of $2,000 on selected models.

Call today to book your on farm demonstration.

3 year unlimited KM warranty * Terms & Conditions apply

For further info contact:

Ben Stewart: 021 533 144 or 03 688 7517 127b Hilton Highway Washdyke Timaru • www.timarucanam.co.nz

Check your machinery today.

Nests are a major cause of tractor & machinery fires.

®

Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4WD

CARS - TRUCKS - VANS - 4WDS

New + Used Lamps for Cars, Trucks, Vans, 4WD, Motorhomes, Trailers & LEDs. We can repair your existing lights including: Headlamp Adjusters, Lens Refurbishment and Plastic Welding.

699

$

FROM

* +GST

*Lease rate based on a non maintained operating lease for 60,000 kms over 48 months for a Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4WD Auto. Normal credit criteria and conditions apply. Model pictured may differ from model quoted. Other terms and km’s available on request. Offer available until 30 September 2016.

The Mobility Scooter Carrier • Holds up to 225kgs, easily managing the largest mobility scooter • Has a ramp for effortless loading and unloading of your mobility scooter

For all your Automotive Lamp Requirements

• Folds up against the rear of your vehicle when not in use

our

Use y

here

Introduces

Available from Gluyas Ford

0800 225 483 Card

MOBILITY MATE

per month

Phone:

F: 03 371 1101 E: carlights@carlights.co.nz 325 Brougham Street, Christchurch

+ GST

• Stores easily against your garage wall 79 Kermode Street, Ashburton | www.gluyasford.nz Go Further P 0800 GLUYAS (458 927) or 03 307 5800

www.mobilitymate.co.nz Freephone 0800 344 2083

44

July 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

When aggressive action is needed

THE LELY TULIP MULTIDISC IS SURE TO GET THE JOB DONE. The Lely Tulip Multidisc is the ideal tool for minimum tillage applications such as; •

Stubble incorporation for moisture retention

•

Effective weed control

•

Increasing organic matter in soil

•

Mulch and breakdown trash residue

•

Integrated sub-soiler tines with hydraulic stone protection

•

Seedbed preparation for trouble free seeding.

Your Multidisc harrows can be fitted with a Tulip trailing system, providing ideal options for bigger machines on smaller tractors. The range includes Tulip Multidiscs with a 1.8m to 12m working width, including foldable options within a 3m transport width.

To take aggressive action and ensure the job’s done right the first time call your local JJ's dealer today!

www.lely.co.nz

JJ Ltd Timaru 280 Hilton Highway (03) 688 7401

innovators in agriculture

JJ Ltd Christchurch 33 Hickory Place (03) 344 5645

JJ Ltd Ashburton 9A McGregor Lane (03) 307 6031