Canterbury Farming, September 2016

September 2016 Edition

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

Encouraging ground water signs

In pursuit of a decent cup of tea

P3

Small cattle with a big history

P26

P4

Far from nowhere Page 8–9

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September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

Comparing green footprints

Encouraging ground water signs

A Lincoln University PhD student is putting New Zealand’s vaunted paddock-based dairy industry to the test.

Hafiz M. Abrar Ilyas is comparing the difference between pastoral dairy farms and confined animal feeding operations dairy systems in terms of energy consumption and environmental emissions.

He says it is something that has not been done before but needs to be looked at if New Zealand is to take its environmental responsibilities seriously.

“Pastoral dairy farming systems are common in New Zealand while the CAFO system is relatively new, but increasing in numbers especially in the South Island.

“The core advantage of using CAFOs system is that they have minimum soil disturbance, have more

control over climate events and research has shown they can achieve higher milk production per cow,” he says.

However, are they more energy efficient and able to reduce emissions? A direct comparison will let the numbers speak for themselves.

“The intensification of New Zealand’s dairy industry, including its vertical and horizontal expansion could cause serious environmental issues,” Mr Ilyas says.

New Zealand’s agriculture sector produces 46 per cent of its greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2014 Ministry for the Environment report.

Dedicated efforts and studies

Early signs indicate that some bore levels in the Stage One area of the Central Plains Water Ltd’s irrigation scheme now contain more water compared with 2015 levels.

are required to look into the environmental impact the dairy industry is having on New Zealand, he says.

“The findings of this study can be useful for making environmental policy regarding NZ dairy production systems as well as help farmers in selecting appropriate farm management practices for the sustainability of the New Zealand dairy industry.”

A qualified engineer, he is being supervised

by Dr Majeed Safa and Professor Alison Bailey and will be surveying farmers using both systems, and hopes to have results in June, 2017.

Stage One of the scheme, which encompasses 22,163 hectares mainly between the Rakaia and Selwyn rivers, sees the introduction of low nutrient alpine water to irrigate the pastures compared with the traditional extraction from an artesian bore.

Derek Crombie, chief executive of Central Plains Water Ltd, said that in a drought year these ear ly indications are very encouraging.

“These Stage One readings are in contrast to those for the neighbouring Darfield/Greendale/Kirwee area which is not yet part of the scheme, where lower bore readings were recorded in 2016 compared with 2015,” he said.

“This region will, however, be covered by CPWL when

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it rolls out Stage Two of the Scheme with the aim to start irrigation in September 2018.”

Stage One existing groundwater ir rigator s switched off 75 percent of their groundwater abstraction during the 2015/16 season, leaving 80 million cubic metres of water in the aquifers.

“By reducing the number of groundwater dependant farmers we are able to take the pressure off the aquifers so they can be replenished from rainfall and snowmelt percolating through the ground.

“Over time, we are expecting to see a real increase in the base flows in lowland streams and inflows to Lake Ellesmere/ Te Waihora.” CPWL requires all its scheme irrigators to

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implement an approved Farm Environment Plan prepared by a suitably qualified person.

Prior to September 1 2015, the scheme had 101 FEPs in place and no water was provided to farms that didn’t have an FEP in place. This process will continue across all stages of the scheme.

Stage One FEP audits commenced in August 2016 and CPWL is aiming for these to be completed towards the end of the second quarter 2017.

The results of these audits will focus further training for irrigators to assist with the continual improvements required in order to achieve reductions in nitrogen discharge as required by CPW’s consent.

“This is a positive step in the right direction for sustainable farming and future proofing the groundwater aquifers of the Canterbury Plains,” said Mr Crombie.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

Bees get boost from Kiwi kids Thousands of bee-friendly gardens will be blooming all over New Zealand thanks to the next generation of bee-loving school children and an initiative from Bayer New Zealand and Apiculture New Zealand.

As par t of the Bee Aware Month celebrations in September, Bayer and Apiculture New Zealand, with the help of Yates, supplied 1,040 schools through Garden to Table Trust and Enviroschools with packets of bee-friendly plant seed mixes.

Bayer farm animal products marketing manager George Reeves said it wanted to help promote flowering gardens at schools to increase access to food and nesting habitats for bees and other pollinators.

As a responsible life science company with many years’ experience in bee health topics, Bayer understands that healthy bees are necessary, not only as pollinators for sustainable food production and as honey producers but also for the important role they play in many ecosystems around the world.

Bayer supplied the schools, aged from early childhood centres to secondary schools, with a packet of wildflower seeds which will provide food for bees all season long — a small commitment to a big

cause, ApiNZ CEO Daniel Paul said. Each packet of seeds also came with an educational information booklet about the honey bee and how planting seeds can help.

Mr Paul said all of the organisations wor king together shared the same ethos of caring for the environment and honey bees in a sustainable way.

“Bees pollinate one-third of the food we eat and life without them would be a struggle, but it’s a two-way street. Bees need us to plant food they can eat to keep them buzzing.

“At the moment the bee population here is increasing; there are close to 700,000 hives in New Zealand, but that doesn’t mean the honey bee is free from challenges

and they still need our help.

“It’s great to see Kiwi kids getting involved and showing Kiwi bees some love.

Hopefully, we are not only building bee-friendly gardens but the next generation of bee-friendly New Zealanders and maybe even beekeepers.”

BAM was celebrated across New Zealand throughout September and the month long campaign was devoted to making New Zealanders think about the honey bee and it’s critically impor tant role in our biodiversity and economy.

New Zealand’s bee population contribute about $5 billion to our economy annually.

New Zealand’s manuka honey is some of the highest valued honey in the world.

September 2016

3

Transforming streams Fencing and riparian planting combined with over 20 years work by the local community has transformed the Waikakahi Stream near Glenavy from a muddy bog into a pristine waterway.

In the 1990s local farmer Chris Paul decided to take action to improve the stream.

He contacted Environment Canterbury and set up a joint public meeting which was wellattended by the local community. Wor king groups which included far mer s, community members, Glenavy School pupils. Fish and Game and Environment Canterbury staff were set up to take water quality samples and to carry out fish and bird counts.

Lower Waitaki-South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee chair Kate White describes the project as a perfect example of “what can be achieved when a community works collaboratively.

“Ever yone worked together and decided what needed to be done from the first meeting.

At the next meeting six months later one farmer hadn’t done his fencing so he turned around and did it overnight.”

Kate has noticed a huge

change in the stream which she credits the combination of riparian planting, fencing, stock exclusion and silt traps with transforming the stream into a crystal clear waterway.

C aw t h r o n Institute freshwater ecologist Robin Holmes, who began a study of the stream in 2012, says his results highlight

the importance of fencing and riparian planting. “The most important aspect was fencing and we found that this needs to be at least three to five metres back from the stream edge.”

Robin hopes to secure government funding to carry out further studies which would also be supported by the zone committee.

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September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

Andrew and Jennie McWhannell are passionate about supplying tea lovers with a decent cuppa

T

by Ayla Miller

Roseglen Tea of Canterbury holds a special place in local farming history and it is this, combined with the loyal following, that motivated Jennie and Andrew McWhannell to bring it back after a five year absence from the New Zealand market.

he tea, imported from Sri Lanka, was first available at Cuddon and Stewart Ltd, a rural merchandise store which Andrew’s father, and later himself, owned with several other Directors.

The company supplied everything to do with farming with the exception of machinery, from dish washing liquid to fencing equipment and tea.

In 2006 Cuddon and Stewart Ltd was sold and the tea disappeared off the market. “The tea had a great following mainly in North

Canterbury. People started to ask Andrew where they could get that tea because they missed it,” says Jennie.

After the earthquakes the family sold up in Christchurch and moved to Amberley.

A year after settling in the couple continued to get requests for the tea and they decided to see if they could import it themselves.

“We approached the same tea estate that Cuddon and Stewart had used all those years ago in Sri Lanka.”

Everything fell into place, and not long after they began importing bulk boxes, Jennie

was approached by a local graphic designer named Margot Korhonen.

Margot was also relatively new to the Amberley area and had seen an article in the paper announcing that the tea was back. She offered her services if they needed any assistance setting up this new business.

“Margot did all our branding and after some marketing sessions, we decided to bring in smaller boxes of tea for households or individuals who didn’t need 5kg of tea!” says Jennie.

“This also presented the

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CANTERBURY FARMING opportunity to attend local markets and A and P Shows.”

“She designed our logo and our website and brought the brand into the 2000’s.

Although we still kept it very traditional she made it a bit funky and a bit fun but still in keeping with the old style.”

At this stage they were just importing Broken Orange Peko tea which Jennie describes as “old fashioned tea , just like Grandma used to make.”

“There are so many different teas out there these days and often people just want a normal decent cup of tea.

“We sold it in bulk to farmers who would be buying it for the house, the shearers and the workers.

“We still have farmers that buy 800 tea bags every three months. They are good tea drinkers and very loyal customers.”

Jennie says the business is a family affair and their three daughters 12-year-old Mollie, 10-year-old Meg and 8-year-old Eve all chip in with the deliveries. “When Paul, the local delivery guy, comes

in his van we all stand at the back of the truck and unload the tea in a human train and have a yarn.

“We don’t have forklifts because we do everything at home and we are all about keeping it local.”

Andrew and Jennie both work in other jobs and run Roseglen Tea as a sideline business but they have made it work.

“I’m passionate about this particular tea because it has a rich history that is close to our hearts,” says Jennie. “We do it mainly because it has such a loyal following.”

As a further feather in their cap, Roseglen Tea of Canterbury loose tea and tea bags will soon be available in Canterbury’s iconic department store Ballantynes. Jennie was accepted to attend the Ballantynes Bring it to the Boardroom promotion in July.

After pitching the product and story to a buyer, Jennie was asked to attend a ‘market day.’

“Cuddon and Stewart Ltd were known for their fantastic

September 2016

5

Jennie McWhannell says Roseglen Tea of Canterbury has a rich farming history and a loyal following customer service. They used to be called the Ballantynes of the farming world so it is quite ironic that things have come full circle. It will be available in Christchurch and Timaru Ballantynes from October.” Jennie says as

a family they are all loving the move from the city to the country.

“The girls are always out on their bikes which they couldn’t do when we were in Christchurch because we lived on a busy road. They

love the open space and have been embracing country life.

“I grew up in a small town in the Waikato so I feel like I’m home.

“I’m loving rural town life, working and living in the same community.”

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September 2016

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

CANTERBURY FARMING

Money Talk

with Andrew Wyllie

Investment markets update Covering the three months ended 31 August 2016 Global Environment: UK pares global growth for now Over the three months to August, both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) lowered their economic growth outlooks in response to the economic impact of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.

Brexit fears have since eased and global growth looks to have strengthened in recent months.

The United States economy continues to be the best of the larger economies, despite the three months to June which revealed that recovery and employment data were lower than expected. This and the upcoming November Presidential Election suggest that any US monetary policy tightening is therefore now more likely to be pushed into 2017.

Elsewhere, Asian economies continue to be the fastest growing. New

Zealand is well positioned in a regional sense, with the economy being boosted by immigration which is driving the construction sector.

This strength is evident in confidence sur veys, with both business and consumer surveys reporting a positive outlook.

Equity markets respond positively to results Reviewing equity market returns over the three months to August, offshore returns were mainly negative despite most equity markets being positive in their local currency terms. The underlying gains reflected the generally positive earnings results during the August reporting season. US, European and UK equity markets had the strongest positive net earnings revisions amongst international markets, but the stronger New Zealand dollar reduced any associated market gains. UK returns were particularly hard hit by currency, with the British

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Pound (GBP) weakening post the vote to exit the European Union.

New Zealand equities delivered the strongest returns overall, as New Zealand’s reporting season was very positive. Over the last five years larger capitalisation companies have been the primary driver of performance, however there has more recently been a shift towards midcapitalisation companies which offer greater valuation support. This may be a reflection of lower foreign investment flows, although New Zealand’s relative growth and stable outlook should continue to see New Zealand remain in favour from a global investor’s perspective.

Australian equities still performed relatively well despite a more mixed reporting season where there were more downgrades than upgrades. EPS (earnings per share) growth in Australia is expected to recover in FY17

and FY18 (after the last two years of declining EPS). This resulted in gains in Australian dollar terms over the quarter.

Looking forward, even with downgrades having been made, the Materials, Utilities and Healthcare sectors are expected to deliver double-

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digit earnings growth over the next two years. Market growth is expected to be more modest, but still +7.0% p.a.

Fixed Interest Markets The UK vote to leave the European Union is likely to result in stimulatory monetary conditions for longer, while recent US data should also result in a delay to the next interest rate tightening in the US. Combined with extensive quantitative monetar y policies, long-term bond yields have fallen significantly over the three months to August and over the year.

In response to the low absolute interest rate levels, there has been an increase in corporate issuance.

Accordingly, corporate bond returns have until recently lagged those of government stock. Issuance continues to allow investors to be more selective in which offers to participate in and to improve the overall quality of portfolios.

With expectations that the US Federal Reserve may be reluctant to raise rates in the US again while data there remains mixed, and economic

conditions in New Zealand are looking more robust in the near-term, it’s likely the New Zealand dollar will stay stronger for some time. With policy makers in New Zealand retaining more flexibility to ease both monetary and fiscal policy in the event of a market event or economic slowdown, investors should remain biased towards domestic investment opportunities.

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.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

Country Law

Ronald W. Angland & Son LAWYERS

with Ronald W. Angland & Son

The property (relationships) act and your will The legislation affecting relationship property introduced totally new concepts in property division on the break-up of a marriage, a de facto relationship and civil union. It also provided a remedy for a spouse or partner who had not been adequately provided for in the deceased’s person’s Will or in their intestate estate.

The basic rule is that if a spouse or partner does not inherit at least one half of the relationship property which is defined in the legislation they may choose one of two options, either Option A or Option B. Option A provides that a surviving spouse intends to apply to the Court for a division of the relationship property.

On the other hand the survivor may elect Option B and under that option may elect not to make any application to the Court for a division of the relationship property or they may elect to receive the provision which has been made for them under

the deceased’s person’s Will or their entitlement under an intestacy.

There are strict time limits for the making of any of the elections which are irrevocable once made. The election must also be made before any proceedings are commenced.

The choice is made by the survivor having a notice of their choice prepared and signed.

Thereafter it must be signed and certified by a lawyer that he/she has discussed the effect of the notice with the survivor.

The notice must then be given to the administrator

of the deceased person’s estate or lodged in the High Cour t Registr y.

If a surviving spouse or partner fails to make an election within the prescribed time, they will be deemed to have elected Option B which means that they get what was left to them under the deceased’s Will or nothing if they were not included in the Will.

It is always a stressful time when a spouse or par tner dies and it is incumbent on everyone who is in a relationship to make adequate provision for their surviving spouse or partner.

It can also be a delicate task

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to balance the rights of a spouse or partner against the rights of children of a previous relationship. A successful claim by a surviving spouse or partner will take priority over any other person’s claims or rights.

Always seek legal advice before making a Will which is likely to be challenged. You may not initially like the advice you get but it is important to have a discussion with someone who is independent of your family.

This article has been prepared by Bessie Paterson, a Partner at Ronald W Angland & Son, Solicitors, 2 Chapman Street, Leeston

September 2016

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8

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

PART THREE

F

M

FRO R A

N

O

by Ann Morgan

WH

ER

E

Colin Drummond and his partner Erin Cassie own Erewhon Station which is home to 4500 merino sheep, 300 hereford cattle, 300 deer and 65 horses of which more than half are clydesdales.

U

sing the team of clydesdales to get crops in the ground and to do most of the tractor and stock work by horseback or on foot and living off the grid is a way of life to those on Erewhon Station.

“Besides having our clydesdales, sheep, cattle and our tourism venture, we

also have tahr and we share graze deer for a friend on our property. He is running them for the velvet market. We run the hinds in conjunction with him and when they are weaned we send him the stags and sell the does,” said Erin.

“Erewhon was one of the earliest deer farms in the

country. The wild deer would come down and decimate the paddocks. To stop this the original owners built a big deer fence and at night they would go and shut the gate catching the animals.

This gave them an instant deer farm. A lot of them ended up at Mt Hutt Station.

“Deer thrive well on land

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other animals can’t survive so well on. They stop plants going rank and out of control and we are then able to use the extra feed which grows up when they have cleared the unwanted growth.”

Erin says the hereford cattle are the same. They can break up a lot of the country that the sheep can not get into so the couple farm 300 head of cattle for cross grazing. The cattle eat the tussock and this allows the sweeter grass to come through from underneath for the sheep.

“A place like this needs to be farmed cautiously. We don’t want to overgraze the land. We have big tahr mobs too. They are from Himalaya and are a large goat like animal. They were introduced many years ago for sport.

We personally don’t really

Erin Cassie often enters horse drawn ploughing competitions with Erewhons horses

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CANTERBURY FARMING hunt them, they are amazing animals. They can gallop up on the sheer rock face and stand on the rocky edge of a mountain or ridge and they can handle the really bad weather.

“Their numbers need to be managed but they are good for opening up the scrub country. We like to work in with them.”

Erin believes for Kiwi’s to have the opportunity to own and operate a high country station is an important part of keeping New Zealand history alive.

“We have workers come and stay for board and food for the experience and to learn about working with the horses. We are one of the last places to use clydesdales.

Colin has been working with the breed for more than a decade.”

Colin and Erin enter horse drawn ploughing competitions with their horse teams.

“Ploughs work different everywhere. You can try your hardest and sometimes the plough or the horses play up.

This can be really frustrating as you need to be able to get the two working together,” says Erin.

“The back horses need to be working with the front ones. They love the work and they are like a top sports team. Most of the tractor work is done with a team of clydesdales, and the stock

September 2016

9

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Horses are predominantly quicker to ride most places on Erewhon Station

work is carried out on foot or on horseback.

“We use horses because they are predominantly quicker to ride most places, and it doesn’t matter what the river is doing, we can still get back. The clydesdale team started off as a hobby, but have turned into a costefficient way of getting the crops in the ground and getting around the station safely. “Part of the experience

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Hitching up the collars and chains to the clydesdales and fitting them to the wagon.

It is a lifestyle many people dream of but few ever experience.” As one of the

last traditionally run stations in New Zealand, Erewhon is Colin and Erin’s home and they say this property with soaring mountains and cavernous valleys will continue to be worked as a high country station for years to come.

“In the big scheme of things, we are insignificant but you always want to leave things better for the next generation.”

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September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

• �he D�rper • EXPERIENCE

by A� M�r�an Don and Eunice Edgecombe live in Rolleston with their flock of dorper sheep. Don grew up on dairy and pig farms whilst Eunice grew up on dairy and sheep properties.

“I

left school the day I turned 15 and at that stage I had both stud pigs and Ayrshire cows,” said Don. “I loved my animals from a very young age and wanted to have sheep but my father’s comment was always ‘I’m not having any of those stupid things on my farm.’ “ In 1976 Don sold his stud Ayrshires and shifted to Gore working on a town supply dairy and sheep unit where he had his first taste of real sheep farming.

He then worked on a 2500 ewe property achieving more than 160 percent lambing before returning to dairy and sharemilking for 11 years. By this stage he had met and married Eunice.

After a change in direction and dabbling in various ventures they moved to Rolleston and purchased the Kwik Kerb business which they still run today.

There was always a pull to the farming life and this was accomplished in 2011 when they leased a block of land

and purchased 143 ewes.

“These Coopworth-based ewes were used to being well fed and found it quite a shock to be expected to perform on dry land browntop grass,” said Don. “We got the lambs through to weaning okay, but made the big mistake of trying to fatten them into January only to find we got the same money for them that we could have got at weaning in early December.

“We researched and found the Dorper breed which originated in South Africa and

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CANTERBURY FARMING were bred to thrive on dry land and have exceptional growth rates to weaning. Eunice’s cousin Cyril Mullen was one of the first to have the Dorper breed in New Zealand and he was able to give us valuable advice.”

The sheep are a good breed for the Canterbury climate. In the 1930’s the South African Department of Agriculture decided to develop a new sheep breed with good lambing percentages and produced a high quality carcass. The Dorper is a cross of the Dorset horn and a Blackhead Persian.

The White Dorper was then developed with the use of the Van Rooy breed.

“Our first purchase of Dorpers was on election day in 2011 of a White Dorper ram we called him ‘Mr Key’ hoping he would be ‘our key to a brighter future’.

“Our main purchase was a line of mainly registered ewes from the North Island.

After the rubbish ones were culled we were left with several excellent breeding ewes including ‘Petunia’ who is having a big impact on our flock with six daughters and the use of a son and grandson. Her daughter ‘Petal’ was judged Champion Dorper ewe at the 2015 Canterbury Show.

“We purchased the ram Dorper Lodge ‘Mickey’ who is also having a big impact in the flock. His 22 two tooth daughters this year are rearing 200 per cent lambs.

They are very good milking

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Don says Dorper sheep have great natures and are a hardy, fast growing breed ewes which equates to good growth weights.

“We now have 130 ewes and 40 hoggets lambing with 172 percent rearing overall and we have a small texel stud which are performing well. Our aim is to have all surplus lambs off the farm by the end of November, this is achieved by lambing in July.”

The couple rear and sell the top ram lambs for breeding and surplus ewe lambs are also sold for breeding.

“We love our Dorpers.

Do we pamper them? Some

get an extra scratch on the head but if they don’t perform commercially they have no place here nor do they get sold to other people for breeding,” says Don. “We are very hard on feet and legs with a scoring system of one to five in place to record this trait, a one being a perfectly formed foot.”

Ewe lambs that are kept for breeding need to score under a three and ram lambs that do not score a one or two are culled.

“Our future breeding is in place with lambs born this

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September 2016

WATER AND IRRIGATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

Irrigation Issues with Dr Tony Davoren A sense of déjà vu It happens nearly every irrigation season. It has happened again and despite all the advice, measuring technology, field days, workshops and other informative means, inappropriate and ill-advised irrigation is here to stay.

Last September I looked back through articles I have written for Farming Canterbury over the last 10 or so years and I stated I could just reproduce any one of those for this month. What

triggered this thought again was a drive to Waihao Downs on September 22 for an irrigation scheme workshop and two or three surprises.

Firstly, while we knew we would see irrigators going we

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were initially pleased just a few were going. Coming back we were surprised by how many neighbours of those we saw on the way down were irrigating. A message we should have stressed at the workshop was “manage irrigation according to what your neighbour does.”

Secondly, we were amazed at how many pivots were going but how few rotational irrigation (roto-rainer, K-line and the like) were going, many on the same farms. These are just the systems that should be irrigating because they do need to finish a round in in 7-10-12 days (whatever the round length).

Thirdly, how slow a rotorainer was travelling in a paddock alongside SH1 — it had travelled about 150m in 6 hours (the elapsed time from when we passed it on the way down and on the way back). Definitely on a 24 hour run applying ??mm (probably around 60-65mm if it was pumping 35L/s) — this when the soil moisture deficit is about 15-20mm.

Plumbing

Figure 1. Soil moisture on Lismore silt loam under pasture, mid-plains.

I had just spent an hour or so in a hole in the ground demonstrating to farmers how to measure soil moisture and advising that nothing beats measurements — I could only smile on the way back. It was déjà vu — the “phenomenon of having the strong sensation that an event or experience currently being experienced has already been experienced in the past”. And it had been

almost to the day when I was heading back from running a course in Oamaru last year.

It seems logical to me then that one would look at some measurements before irrigating, especially with centre pivots. Take a look at the soil moisture record in the mid-plains between Kirwee and Darfield (Figure 1). So why irrigate any earlier?

Following the rainfall on 9-10

September, pasture water use has yet to lower the soil moisture content to the point at which we would start the centre pivot, let alone reach the stress point.

Allowing for an increase in water use with increased day length and slightly higher temperatures, the lower operating level for the centre pivot will be reached about 1-2 October.

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WATER AND IRRIGATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

13

Weather Watch by Tony Trewinnard Cool start to uncertain outlook As expected August was a cold month, not just for Canterbury but for New Zealand as a whole.

Persistent periods of southeasterly airflow brought some storms and low level snow events early in the month, but the second half of the month was calmer but still cool.

Overall mean temperatures for the month were — 0.5 to — 1.0deg colder than the average, but the first two weeks of the month were especially cold, amongst the coldest two-week periods in Canterbury in the last 50 years. Sunshine hours for August were 10-15% above normal, while rainfall was generally 60-100% of the usual, but a little above normal in parts of South Canterbury.

At the time of writing, the first half of September has been mild with plenty of northwesterly airflow days as predicted last month, but the third week of the month has been cloudy and cold with lighter easterly airflow, and this pattern looks set to continue for a few weeks,

which was what I expected would happen in October.

In the tropical Pacific, ocean temperatures remain cooler than usual along the equator indicating a weak La Nina is in effect, but computer model projections are now split between those expecting the La Nina to remain weak or possibly decay towards a neutral pattern, and those that expect the current development of increasing Southern Oscillation Index values will lead to a moderate La Nina event developing through the spring and early summer. Assuming a stronger La Nina signal develops, then this could change the anticyclonic, settled forecast for summer to a more unsettled and stormy one.

We just have to sit tight and wait and see how this pans out. Until there is a clearer indication of just how far the La Nina might develop its hard to have confidence in any predictions for the summer months.

October is showing up as a month with reduced westerly airflow over New Zealand, due to lower than normal air pressures over the country.

Expect to see periods of airflow from the northeast frequently. More northeasterly airflow usually means cool to near normal temperatures in inland Canterbury, but the Canterbury coast can be quite cold. Rainfall should be near normal or perhaps a little wetter than normal, but sunshine hours will be reduced.

November is currently showing as a similar month to October, but with more anticyclones passing over the South Island and hence an expectation of sunnier, drier weather.

Temperatures should be mild inland, but again the east coast of the South Island could be cool with the

Rainfall

Temperature

Sunshine

Airflow

October

A little wetter than normal

Cooler than normal

Cloudier than normal

Often northeast

November

Drier than normal

Milder than normal

A little sunnier than normal

More anticyclones

December

Drier than normal

Milder than normal

Sunnier than normal

More anticyclones

January

Near normal

Near normal

A little cloudier than normal

Some low pressure systems

onshore winds. Rainfall could be well below normal.

December takes this idea even further and my current data and analogs suggest the month will see anticyclones dominant over the country with few periods of westerly airflow. This should bring another month of warmer than usual temperatures, increasing sunshine hours,

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September 2016

FOCUS ON IRRIGATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

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100 IT’S NOT A TARGET

Andrew Curtis, Irrigation New Zealand CEO

Electioneering The anti-irrigation movement has become more and more vocal over recent months.

Much of this relates to the upcoming local body elections as candidates compete to find their point of difference.

IrrigationNZ has a strict policy of not endorsing individuals or parties in local body and national elections.

We take an apolitical approach as it allows us to more easily form a professional working relationship with whoever ends up in power. It’s extremely difficult to do this if the person or party you have sided with during the election is not successful.

Irrigators need to be aware that this is the start of what will likely be a year of noise and improper accusations as we move towards the general election. The recent Hawke’s Bay campylobacter outbreak epitomises this.

Self-proclaimed exper ts were quick to bag intensive agriculture without even

Irrigating farmers keeping abreast of political challenges at the moment

knowing the facts. I spent nine years living and working in Hawke’s Bay and can’t remember an intensive livestock farm anywhere near the water supply bore fields for Havelock North. However, an issue this incident does bring to the fore is the need for better well-head protection.

How many of us have bores that are open, well cases that are not sealed or no backflow prevention in place for fertigation injection equipment? For all irrigators that take from bores, the

above need to be high on the priority list — check and take action accordingly. It is part of your social licence to operate.

Farm Environment Plan audits are starting to reveal an interesting picture around irrigation practice. In summary there is a fair way to go before the majority of us are at good practice. Regular checking and maintenance of equipment could be improved, but poor irrigation scheduling is by far the biggest challenge.

IrrigationNZ will be running numerous soil moisture

monitoring workshops and irrigation scheduling training courses this summer, so keep an eye on our online events calendar for one near you.

For assessing irrigation system performance we’re releasing the first ‘Check It — Bucket Test’ app next month.

This will make checking how much water is being applied child’s play.

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FOCUS ON IRRIGATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

15

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Aquaflex has become a vital part of many farm environmental plans and is well proven for both irrigation and effluent dispersal for industrial, dairy and vineyard applications.

Soil moisture is a critical factor in many farming application areas as it affects growth, quality and profit. Having visibility of soil moisture levels across the farm empowers farm managers to strategically plan irrigation and allocate resources to areas that need it most.

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To advertise in the Canterbury Farming Please call 03 347 2314 These include the field capacity — the maximum amount of water the soil can hold against the force of gravity and the Permanent Wilting Point which is the water content where most plants will wilt and fail to recover. It also covers the Plant Available Water which

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September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

Lock in the gains DairyNZ is encouraging farmers to lock in the gains achieved in the past two seasons, as a pasture-first farm system will continue to provide payback as the milk price rises.

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Chief executive Tim Mackle says the increase to $5.25 per kilogram MS for the forecast 2016/17 Fonterra Farmgate milk price is terrific news for dairy farmers.

“This brings many farm businesses to around the 2016/17 break-even milk price of $5.05 per kilogram MS, once retrospective payments and dividends are taken into account. This means fewer farmers will need to borrow extra funds this season,” says Mr Mackle.

“Retrospective payments for next year have also been boosted by 20-25 cents in this announcement, to more than $1 per kilogram MS. Farmers will therefore look at the advance rates and test the effect on their cash flow budget — and winter 2017 will look more promising as the retrospective payments come through.”

D a i r y N Z ’s Ta c t i c s campaign continues to work with farmers to improve business returns under the reduced milk price.

“Many far ms have developed a disciplined approach to their farm system, having reduced costs and maximised the amount of pasture eaten. Now is the time to continue that focus and regain some lost income,” says Mr Mackle.

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“Making maximum use of pasture is key to any farm’s profitability. With this price increase it’s important to take the opportunity to lock in the gains made over the recent couple of seasons.

“Most farmers who have debt have added to that debt following the successive cash losses. It’s crucial they keep

a focus on generating cash to pay that back.”

Farmers are encouraged to re-run cashflow budgets, talk with their bank and reforecast overdrafts and cash flow for the season.

The Tactics campaign has helped farmers control costs, make timely decisions, utilise pasture and focus on cost-

effective systems during the low milk price.

Budget case studies are available online, detailing the financial spending of topperforming dairy farms and helping farmers identify ways to minimise the impact of lower milk prices.

For more information, visit www.dairynz.co.nz/tactics.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

17

18

September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

Forestry Market Report

SHARPLES LOGGING ltd

Allan Laurie MNZIF, Laurie Forestry Ltd

Sitting idle

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.

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

• Comprehensive Health & Safety Management System.

• Stump removal and Root-raking.

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FELLING TREES?

THINK SAFETY

The developing trend of under supply of domestic sawlogs has dominated the round the table discussion over the month. In Canterbury, we are seeing sawmills stopped for extended periods waiting for logs.

This is not at all good for the maintenance of a vibrant market place. I have long campaigned the importance of our domestic sawmillers in our market opportunity line up. To see them sitting idle is extremely worrying. The general feedback from other management companies is certainly along the lines of constrained supply. The September 13 wind storm is definitely starting to bite with a reasonable chunk of the mid 20-year-old stands lost at time they would normally have been available.

In most supply/demand situations we would expect a lack of supply to impact log price. In this case, the local mills compete with larger, very aggressive producers in Nelson and the North Island. They happily flood the Canterbury market to the extent of increasing warehouse stocks. These stocks wait to pounce on any vestige of supply where the need to maintain cash flow often conflicts with the need

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to make margin. Meanwhile export prices basically just keep chugging along. India and Korea are currently offering wharf gate price points very marginally better than China but overall prices at wharf gate NZ are stable to very slightly firm.

In the case of the dominant market of China log prices increased US$3 — 4 per cubic metre in the market for September sales.

However this increase was offset by an almost equal and opposite force called the rise and rise of the NZ$/US$ exchange rate. Based on the current trend for exchange rate firming, we would need to see continuing lifts in sales prices to avoid price drops at the wharf gate next month.

China eastern seaboard inventory remains relatively stable at 3.51 million cubic metres of which New Zealand/Australia supplied Radiata pine logs make up about 1.95 million. Daily port off take has lifted very slightly to about 60,000 cubic metres per day — the equivalent of about 1.7 typical log vessels leaving NZ. In China, daily uplift is generally a 7-day a week operation.

I will be in the China market next week so my report next month will be able to report in more detail on the current situation. However the general consensus is key factors surrounding construction rates in China, coupled with the Government’s key infrastructure policies continue to add tinges of nervousness and uncertainty.

Credit lines are also under some scrutiny with central banks being generally more cautious. Companies able to

issue Letters of Credit remain much more conservative with the results being higher deposit rates for LC’s to be issued. All of this air of uncertainty adds to a pot of business as usual, with warning signs rather than road blocks ensuring the volume and log price traffic should remain at the right speed limit for the time being.

When in China next week I will be speaking at a Supply Chain and Logistics conference in Qingdao. This will be an opportunity to push the NZ inc brand but more importantly to emphasise the need to reflect on the negative factors impacting NZ Forest Growers. I am adamant we should take every opportunity to advise our China partners about the NZ scene.

For example fluctuating prices are a big negative

NEED A WELDER?

impacting the bottom line, also investment decisions and staff recruitment and retention. This element impacts the China scene just as much as NZ. I believe both sides should aim to behave more collaboratively and use the information tools we have to respond more astutely to clear signals.

Pruned log quality is a big issue with the delays in the time it takes to get logs from the forest in NZ to the factory in China well exceeding the time constraints required to limit sap stain. To my mind the only solution is for China buyers to secure contracts to mill the logs in NZ thus ensuring the lumber arrives in the market both fit for purpose but also in a manner that will help the mouldings and furniture segment to grow for both nations.

And as we cut and thrust our way forward there continues to be no question in my mind the NZ plantation industry will continually increase its role at providing a significant return to NZ growers. It 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.

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

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming

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CANTERBURY FARMING

Country Matters

with Rob Cope-Williams

Hydroboracite Quality Forestry Boron, Fertilising over 100,000 hectares of NZ forests.

I have banged on about farming needing a PR exercise and that city children are a million miles away from knowing anything about nature for years, and now, thankfully, a supermarket chain has picked up the ball.

Takes you back to when you were being taught about farming and nature as a child.

Most of us had bantams so we could learn about poultry. We had pet lambs or pet calves to feed so we learnt about looking after animal nutrients and feed demands, and we were expected to harvest, if not cultivate the vege garden.

City children in those days all seemed to have relatives in the country who could give them a crash course on farming during the school holidays.

That has all gone as the PC world wrapped the city children in cotton wool and their focus turned to their parents paying to have them enter tained rather than entertaining themselves.

So thanks again to New World who are, at the cost of their fruit and vege sections, introducing young people to growing things and getting personal with nature.

What New World probably didn’t expect was that adults

Contact Joanna 027 333 7933 andymccord@xtra.co.nz www.techforest.co.nz

ANDY McCORD TECHNICAL FOREST SERVICES LTD

SAFETY FIRST ON THE FARM are just as excited about the wee pots as the children are.

I know of families who are driving miles into another town because they don’t have a New World supermarket in their own town, and I can

assure you there are now very few windowsills that don’t have the little pots on them. My rocket plants are nearly ready to be put into a bigger pot and face the great outdoors on the deck.

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19

DO YOU WANT TO PROTECT YOUR TREES FROM DROUGHT?

Well done New World New World supermarkets are giving away little pots of soil and seed for anyone who spends more than $40.00 and the more you spend, the more little pots you get.

The instructions explain how to start the process of growing the range of 24 edible plants that range from salad ingredients, through veges and a wide range of herbs.

Aimed at children, the blurb explains the process and encourages them to pot the plants into bigger pots and explains how long the process will take and how long it will be before they can be eaten.

I think that is a huge step forward for city children who wouldn’t give a thought as to where their food comes from or how it is grown.

Imagine the pride on their little faces when the seedlings sprout, and the care they take of the plants as they grow day by day.

Then of course the pride they will feel when it comes to harvest time.

September 2016

To find out more call us on 03 343 4101 or visit www.forestmanagement.co.nz

20

September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

SEED & GRAIN Establishing healthy crops

Brassica crops can increase stock productivity and therefore increase farm profitability. Like any crop, sound planning and attention to detail is the key to successful brassica production.

Brassica management is important in consistently growing and grazing high yielding, profitable crops.

There are many factors which influence this including crop rotation, soil fertility and

establishment techniques through to animal health.

Brassica forage crops can be considered in any situation where quantity and quality of pasture is limiting stock potential. They

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produce large yields of high quality, homegrown forage from options that can be fed from early summer through to late winter.

Good establishment techniques are important for brassicas, more so than for pasture, because of their low sowing rates. Plant population has a large influence on crop yield, so seed treatments are important to the success of crops.

Brassicas can benefit from following another crop such as short-term ryegrass or cereal.

This gives the opportunity to fix underlying problems with paddocks such as poor drainage and fertility and provides a better seed bed for brassicas. Longer term, new pasture sown post brassicas will benefit from fewer pests and weeds, especially grass weeds like browntop. It can also be a good idea to apply insecticide when spraying out old pasture.

When sowing into cultivated paddocks, a fine, firm, moist, weed-free seedbed is essential. Bury

previous pasture or crop or residues to reduce the risk of pests and diseases.

Seed should be sown shallow no more than 10 millimetres to ensure good, even establishment of the crop. A level seedbed with good consolidation can greatly help achieve an even sowing depth.

Insect damage can be catastrophic to seedling brassicas and seed treatment is always recommended.

Treating seed will reduce the risk of crop damage and failure during establishment.

Weeds must be controlled

from the outset as they compete strongly with brassica seedlings. Preemergent herbicides can be incorporated into the seedbed before sowing.

Fathen, redshank and nodding thistle can be a problem in second year crops.

These are best controlled in the first year crop by stopping their seeding.

Pests can cause serious damage to brassica crops, during establishment and through the life of the crop.

Monitor them daily for the first 14 days after emergence and then weekly. Brassicas

provide a bulk amount of high quality feed to maximise growth rates and increase the number of stock finished or maintained per hectare.

A brassica crop provides a break from pasture, decreasing pest levels, eliminating weed problems and with fertiliser, helps correct soil fertility problems, resulting in cleaner, higher producing pasture.

Using brassicas helps avoid parasites and pathogens that cause animal health problems such as facial eczema and ryegrass staggers.

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SEED AND GRAIN

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

21

Understanding crop needs No two farming operations are the same, there are many companies that specialise in advising farmers of the right products and crops for their situations.

There is an extensive range of seeds available, annual and perennial and often include locally grown seeds as an option. Finding the right match of seed to soil for the ultimate results on each farm is important.

What is required from a new pasture or forage crop can depend on the farm system and feed demands of the stock. Many seeds can come custom mixed or in sow alone varieties.

New varieties of seeds are often coming onto the market including high production dairy pasture mixes, non ryegrass pasture mixes, Italian or hybrid ryegrasses, annual clovers and herbs.

Brassica includes leaf turnips, rape, turnip, kale and swede with forage cereals offering white and black oats, millet, ryecorn and forage barley.

Specialist crops can include lucerne, red clover and plantain. Lifestyle properties often have different needs

and may require a mixture allowing a range of species to graze and will produce a high yield.

A newly seeded pasture should ideally not be grazed until the plants have reached approximately 16–18 centimetres, then they should only be grazed lightly to begin with. Lime and fertiliser should be applied according to the results obtained. Lime should be applied six months prior to planting whilst fertiliser can be applied at planting time.

When setting up a paddock it is important to consider the planting direction of the crop, it can be more accurate to allocate rows rather than by square metre. With Fodder beet for example, if the crop is grazed across the planting rows (typically 0.5m), then it is easy for staff to allocate a number of rows.

If the standards are correctly placed, the inter-row spacings will reduce the risk of cows eating significantly

more dry matter from under the wire.

Consider the risks for crop type. Fodder beet has a higher risk of acidosis due to the high soluble sugar content of the bulb and the ability of cows to eat large quantities of crop in a short time.

Kale and s we d e s tend to have increased concentrations of nitrates at the start of winter and glucosinolates at the end of winter when the plant is more mature.

Do not feed brassicas in their reproductive growth phase, recognisable when new growth, flowers and seed heads develop and the stems of swedes elongate.

Knowing what fertiliser is best for your crops and pasture, whether it be lime or organic seaweed based, there are many options available.

Ensuring your crops and land are well nourished before planting, will ensure your animals have the best goodness in their feed supply.

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22

September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING ADVERTORIAL

ADVERTORIAL

Helping with arthritis I could fill a book with the testimonies of clients that are experiencing significant improvements in joints affected by osteoarthritis (OA).

As an example I have been working with someone with OA in her ankles and back. Through diet we wanted to reduce inflammation but also help lose a few kilos to take more pressure from the affected joints.

Back arthritis is generally the least responsive to diet and supplements. Because of this we started with much higher doses of supplements. We added high levels of anti-inflammatory omega-3 with higher doses of broad spectrum antioxidants and minerals.

We added a temporary antioxidant booster and a double dose of my joint formula.

In the first two months she was on over 1,500mg of high grade chondroitin and glucosamine with

200mg of 95% curcumin (turmeric) extract. Within two months she started to notice the difference.

She has been able to significantly reduce pain medication and has greater mobility. As a bonus her energy has improved and feels much better in herself.

Last week I carried out a monthly review with another client in her mid80s who had arthritis in her shoulder and hands.

She commented on how much better these were.

Nutritional therapy can have unexpected improvements. This client also had a longterm problem with very dry skin. While it has taken time to improve, here we have an 85-year-old whose joints and skin have improved significantly.

Many people respond to health problems by

purchasing supplements at the supermarket, health store or that advertise on TV. There is nothing wrong with that but in my experience the best results come from using a full nutritional programme covering diet, supplements and appropriate lifestyle changes. These are the steps that can really make a difference.

Give me a call or email if you need more information.

John Arts (B.Soc. Sci, Dip Tch, Adv. Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For personalised advice, contact John on 0800 423559 or email john@abundant.co.nz.

Join his full weekly newsletter at www. abundant.co.nz.

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Simply amazing safari Africa was a ‘bucket list’ destination which Anna Peka dreamed of. She never imagined the opportunity would arise to join a Masihambe Afrika Tours Wild Life and Game Parks safari. Last May her dream came true.

“Arriving in Johannesburg I took a Soweto Tour which incorporated visiting Nelson Mandela’s house,” said Anna.

“Our adventure began the next morning and that night two big hippos were feeding on the lodge’s lawn only a few feet away, it was amazing.”

Anna said they drove the panoramic route with its sweeping vistas and views as they headed towards Kruger National Park.

“As we entered the gates, a large male rhino walked so close to us we could almost touch him.

“We had many close encounters with a multitude of wildlife including beautiful birds.

“We saw three of the big five early in the trip — elephant, buffalo, and rhino.

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mode on their chase. We saw leopards, elephants with their babies, and other animals. “ We visited the Makgadikgadi Pans and the water paradise of the Okavango Delta, cruised the Mokoro’s through the reeds, experienced Nile crocodiles and learnt about the land and its traditional medicines.

“At Tuli Game Reserve, between South Africa and Botswana, we walked to a hyena den where the mother lay totally relaxed as cameras clicked madly.

“Every aspect of the Wild Life and Game Parks safari was outstanding.

“I have the African bug and I hope my story encourages the African dream in you to join a Masihambe Afrika safari too.”

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We stayed in Mapungubwe National Park on the border of Botswana with treetop walkways, incredible rock formations and giant baobab trees.

“We watched a pride of lions and at night we relaxed around a campfire whilst listening to the calls of the wild.”

At Matopos National Park they tracked rhino on foot with no fences between them. It was another heart racing and adrenaline pumping experience and she says Victoria Falls is a breathtaking sight — even more impressive from the air.

“We cruised the Chobe River — very close to elephants as they fed on the grass along the banks, and joined a pack of wild dogs in full hunting

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CANTERBURY FARMING September 2016

23

24

September 2016

LIFESTYLE BLOCKS

CANTERBURY FARMING

Fire safety on your property Living rurally means there are many things to think about, including the distance from your nearest fire station, so it is especially important you have the necessary fire safety precautions in place.

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It could take a while for a fire truck to reach your property so you need to make sure you have all safety measures in place to firstly avoid a fire and secondly minimise the damage.

A fire moves quickly and in no time at all, what looks like an easily manageable flame, can turn into a raging inferno.

Make sure you have fire extinguishers located strategically around the property.

Think about where a fire could break out and place them accordingly.

Machinery, workshops, vehicles and in the kitchen are just a few of the places a fire might start. When you have burn-offs, as many lifestyleblock owners and farmers do, make sure it is completely out before leaving it.

Check the weather before lighting one to make sure the wind won’t blow it towards buildings or treelines.

Always contact your local council for permits and to check if there are any fire bans on at the time, prior

to lighting your burn off. Be aware that hot machinery can spark particularly dry paddocks, so never leave machinery to cool down on dry grass.

If hay is baled when it is green it can heat up and spontaneously combust when stacked so keep this in mind when baling.

Embers from barbecues can also lead to fires. With the slightest breath of wind,

what looked like a dead fire can reignite and cause a lot of damage.

Make sure all ashes are completely cold and doused with water and never leave barbecue fires unattended.

Keep horse trucks and tractors safe from fires by checking for birds nests.

These nests are often found under the bonnet — so check for these every time you use your vehicle — and

can combust easily when exposed to heat.

You can never be too careful when it comes to fire safety.

Fires cause major damage to your property or business and is a serious danger to you, your family and your livestock, so make sure you take all the necessary precautions all year around and especially during the hot summer months.

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LIFESTYLE BLOCKS

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

GRAND BIRTHDAY SALE Sat 8th October 9am - 2pm Husqvarna

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25

26

September 2016

LIFESTYLE BLOCKS

CANTERBURY FARMING

TON

NDY

A BY

EN BRY

HORNED DEXTER CATTLE HAVE RETAINED THE HARDY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IRISH HILL CATTLE THEY WERE BRED FROM IN THE 1700S

F

rom the long-horned and rugged highland cattle of Scotland to the famous black Angus and the ubiquitous Friesian, we’re used to seeing all manner of colours and quirks among modern stock.

The Dexter, however, is a little special. Compact and diminutive of stature, these cattle are enjoying a renaissance of popularity — not just because of the

WHEN CATTLE WERE FIRST BRED FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES FROM THE WILD AUROCHS OF PRE-HISTORIC EUROPE, THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THE TRIBESPEOPLE WHO SET OUT TO TAME THEM COULD HAVE FORESEEN THE DIVERSITY OF BREEDS THEY WOULD UNLOCK.

ASHBURTON OPEN DAY 15th-16th October Saturday & Sunday 10am - 3pm.

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Dexter Cattle Society

unique nature and visual appeal of their breed, but also because of the quality of their milk and meat.

The Dexter name is ancient Greek for ‘fortunate’ or ‘skilled’ — as in the term dextrous. Certainly, the originator of the breed, a Mr Dexter of Tipperary, Ireland, proved both lucky and skilled when he turned his hand to developing the perfect cattle beast for

smallholdings on rugged land. This historic figure in rural animal husbandry was no idle experimenter, even if history has overlooked his first name. He had been tasked in the late 1700s to produce an ideal cattle breed for the farms of the central Irish county.

Mr Dexter bred from a beast of small stature but abundant productivity — so much so that despite

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THE SHORT-LEGGED DEXTER MAY BE SMALL ON STATURE, BUT THESE PLACID AND PRODUCTIVE ANIMALS ARE BIG ON PERSONALITY their small size the Dexter is known to give up to ten litres of milk per day. So it was that a varied skein of bloodlines, all from hill cattle valued in the distant past for their tractability, small size, resilience and productivity came together.

Co-incidentally, Dexter’s breeding project preserved some of the genetics of cattle which had roamed Ireland since the stone age, and possibly since the retreat of the great glaciers.

The Dexter breed was introduced to England in 1882, and by 1886 they were proudly displayed at agricultural shows.

The popularity of the breed saw the establishment of a Dexter breeders’ society in England at a time when the

two existing New Zealand groups for Dexter breeders and farmers came together to form a single entity — the Dexter Cattle Society of New Zealand.

Needless to say, they are avid advocates of the breed, with a growing rollcall of members all across the country. As of this year the DCSNZ herd registry numbered over 1600, a healthy increase and a great pool of stock from which to breed. There is a big focus among DCSNZ members to promote Dexters, set and maintain breed standards, and ensure a healthy and vibrant bloodline going forward.

Talking to other societies of a similar structure around the world not only helps

Empire was taking a keen interest in the agricultural development of her colonies.

It was not long before the Dexter arrived in New Zealand. In 1904 a small herd was established but soon dwindled away. It would be a further 70 years or more before the Dexter was reestablished here Sure footed, coloured black, red or brown, the Dexter is a cattle beast with charisma. Their short stature — usually 1/3 of a metre shorter than the common Friesian. Some boast short curving horns, while others are ‘polled’ — naturally without horns. The easy-tomanage attitude of the breed is appreciated by new fans of the Dexter to this day.

In the year 2000 the

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CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

27

POPULAR AS A SHOW BREED FOR OVER 150 YEARS, THE DEXTER IS A GREAT CHOICE FOR YOUNG FARMERS, AS THEY ARE COMPACT, DOCILE AND EASY TO RAISE preserve the Dexter here, it also shares information with those who want to see the breed thrive in it’s native British Isles. Part of that mission involves holding open

days when the public can get up close with Dexter cattle and talk shop with those who own and farm them.

Just such an event is set to happen this October in

Canterbury, and it’s a great opportunity to get educated, ask questions, and find out about a cattle breed that’s short on stature but long on productivity and personality.

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September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

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In the early years the company was involved in community projects and growing native plants. This has now grown into a full suite of services from ecological restoration, large and small commercial projects and bespoke residential projects.

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over the years, specialising in eco-sourcing native plants to greatly enhance biodiversity, helping to sustain diverse and specific gene pools.

Wai-Ora Forest Landscapes are committed to enhancing Canterbury’s environment, be it through ecological restoration or municipal and commercial projects.

New general manager Br yn Price says: “We are constantly evaluating ourselves so that we can provide an efficient friendly service and we are proud

to contribute to the work the Wai-Ora Trust does rehabilitating people.”

What projects have WaiOra been involved in lately?

Along with private customers, they have been involved in some high profile building projects like the Awly building and Opus house in Christchurch city.

They also provided landscaping for some of the new large subdivisions such as Prestons to the North and Te Whariki in Lincoln.

Municipal projects like

Halswell library and pool and the shops across the road were also enhanced by Wai-Ora. Of course there are many ongoing projects which you don’t see at first glance, many of these are ecological restoration projects.

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September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

O’Connor Comments with Damien O’Connor

ADVERTORIAL

Canterbury spray contracting Last word to the Chinese business using new technology Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture

Farmers are hard working Kiwis who deal with the realities of climate, livestock and everyday risk management.

They generally trust their advisers and company executives. Politicians on the other hand are very wary of what we get told. We have access to plenty of advice.

Much of it conflicting and confusing. But it is our job to analyse that advice and make the best decision for the right reasons, the future of New Zealand.

Last week the National Government’s Overseas Investment Office approved the takeover of our largest meat company, Silver Fern Farms, one that has been owned by farmers through a co-operative structure.

The complex arrangements effectively means control goes to the Chinese in spite of what the directors say.

Other than a token cash payment to the farmer-

owners, there is no assurance that more money will be paid to farmers for their livestock.

The simple truth acknowledged by a surprised farming leader, is that less supply does not mean more money for lambs, just as ownership by the Chinese does not mean better market returns.

The economics of food supply means those marketing to consumers pay as little as they can for their raw materials. Profit maximisation is the name of the game and regardless of whether it’s a short-term or long-term game, the winnings go to the owners.

In my view the best interests of New Zealand and its farmers have not been served well by this takeover. The realities of

To advertise in the Canterbury Farming

commercial objectives and the limited leverage farmers have to ensure they get a fair deal, means a big reduction in long-term security for the co-operative shareholders of Silver Fern Farms.

Co-operatives we r e formed not because farmers like running big processing companies but because they needed to have more certainty that their efforts on the farm were not wasted by opportunist and unfair traders.

The vision of founding cooperative shareholders in the Silver Fern Farms company just got a lot darker with the decision of the Overseas Investment Office to allow control to go to the Chinese company Shanghai Maling.

The Chinese have the last word in this deal.

Please call 03 347 2314

Hide Spraying Ltd who are based in Rangiora have been spraying Canterbury crops since 1947 when the late Ellis Hide started the business.

In more recent years Ellis’s son Graham and now grandson Andrew have been operating the business. Between Graham and Andrew, they have over 90 years of spraying experience and also specialise in fertiliser spreading, sheep dipping and run the local Rangiora AgRecovery depot.

Four years ago the Hide’s made a change to Li-1000™ as their preferred adjuvant when spraying glyphosate for spray out applications.

Andrew says “He likes Li1000 due to its great effect on his spray swath, where it cuts out the fine droplet sizes and reduces spray drift markedly.” Because of this feature it allows him to finish spraying a job if the

conditions turn marginal.

The sticking, spreading and penetration attributes of Li1000 all help glyphosate give a more complete weed control. Andrew also says the antifoam feature of Li-1000 helps with tank filling and transporting spray mixtures around farms, which has been a big improvement over the organo-silicone adjuvant used previously.

A n d r e w ’s father Graham says “we are fully registered chemical applicators and follow the Growsafe Code of Practice for the management of agrichemicals. We like to keep up to date with the everchanging legislation and application equipment.”

Pete de Jong, who is the Regional Manager

for Etec Crop Solutions locally says “Many crop protection products have poor leaf retention and spreading properties.

“Li-1000 is a high performance penetrating surfactant which optimises performance of systemic and translaminar products.

With increased speed of penetration, Li-1000 improves rainfastness and gives excellent drift reduction when used with glyphosate and sulfonyl ureas herbicides.”

For more details on Hide Spraying visit w w w. h i d e s p r a y i n g . co.nz and for more information on Li-1000 visit www.etec.co.nz or call 0800 100 325.

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CANTERBURY FARMING September 2016

The power of foresight Not all trees and shrubs are suitable for planting near power lines, so take a moment to look up before you plant.

Natives

The key thing is to ensure that fully grown trees and shrubs are well within the safe fall zone of power lines

Fall Zone

Common name

Coprosma propinqua

Mingimingi

Coprosma robusta

Karamu

Corokia cotoneaster

Korokio, Wire-netting bush

Phormium tenax

Flax, Harakeke

Fuchsia excorticata

Kotukutuku, Tree fuchsia

Hebe salicifolia

Koromiko

Leptospermum scoparium

Manuka

Macropiper exelsum

Kawakawa, Pepper tree

Olearia lineata

Small-leaved tree daisy

Pittosporum tenuifolium

Kohuhu

Psuedopanax arboreus

Fivefinger, Whauwhaupaku

Pseudopanax crassifolius

Horoeka, Lancewood

Sophora microphylla

South Island Kowhai

Exotics

Safe Fall Zone

There’s a wide selection of native and exotic trees suitable for planting near power lines that provide good shelter, are drought resistant and easy to maintain, as well as providing a good habitat for pollinators.

Botanical name

Ask your local nursery for some advice and about the benefits of a native/exotic mixed planting regime.

For more information visit oriongroup.co.nz or call us on 0800 363 9898.

Botanical name

Common name

Escallonia sp.

Apple Blossom

Malus sp.

Crab Apple

Cupressus spp.*

Cypress*

Acer spp.

Maples

Thuja spp.*

Thuja*

Viburnum spp.

Viburnum

* True dwarf variety.

If planting an exotic hedge, choose a slow growing variety such as Cupressus leylandii, Cupressus arizonica and Cupressus torulosa(Bowral) or Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd”

31

32

September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

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Good farming is about sustainability, in keeping critical nutrients in your soil and out of New Zealand waterways.

“Water and land management remains one of New Zealand’s greatest environmental challenges. In particular, there is potential to look more closely at the relationship between sedimentation of waterways and soil losses from land use. The loss of elite soils is also of particular interest.”

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CUTTING COSTS TO FARMERS, SPRING 2016

New for this season, 12 row precision planter for all your Fodder Beet requirements, save money by putting the fertiliser on at planting and where the plants need it. Drill is equipped with trash discs so stones are swept out of the way to prevent bounce and Individual Planter shutoffs. Also planting maize in narrow rows or we can plant at normal row spacing (Convert to 8 row with fertiliser). Also available 7 furrow fully mounted plough, Atlas 6m Bednar discs with the largest diameter discs for primary cultivation, 8m Bednar cultivator and a 4m ripper cultivators Horsch 6m Pronto Seed/Fertiliser Drill saving costs by putting the fertiliser on in the seed zone.

This season we have set up our Windrower with 5m mower and Steel roll Conditioner for improved Wilting of forage crops, SAVE COSTS by getting us to group the crop in either 10m rows or 15m rows to save raking and make the following baling/forage harvesting MORE EFFICIENT. We can also harvest your silage and bale your grass crops this coming season. Harvester is equipped Auto chop length in relation to DM % for better Silage.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

From the Minister

Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries

Sheep dairying a sign of successful diversification As calving and lambing is in full swing there are positive signs on the horizon for farmers.

After a tough few years there are good signs for the dairy industry with Fonterra lifting their forecast payout to $5.25 a kg of milk solids plus dividend, taking it to well over the average break-even mark for most farmers. It’s a great morale boost for hardworking farmers following some very positive GDT results.

Most other industries have had strong seasons with beef returns higher than normal and horticulture exports up 20%, led by kiwifruit, wine and apples. Seafood is also up 15% and arable 14% which shows we have a strong and diversified primary sector.

A good example of diversification is a new programme announced recently to boost the sheep dairy industry.

‘Sheep — Horizon Three’ is a $31.4 million partnership between Spring Sheep Milk Co. and the Ministry for Primary Industries, as part of the Primary Growth Partnership (PGP).

It’s an exciting and comprehensive programme for an industry which has huge potential.

It will involve new genetics, new farming systems. and developing high premium niche products. New Zealand operators will be involved in all parts of the value chain.

As part of the programme a research farm will be established to increase the genetic merit of the sheep and there will be a strong

focus on developing the right skills for successful sheep milk farming.

The global sheep milk industry is estimated to be worth $6.5 billion and is growing strongly, especially in Asia where many people are intolerant of cow’s milk.

We have a massive opportunity to tap into this market and position New Zealand as a producer of premium products.

Another benefit is that sheep dairying has much less of an environmental footprint than traditional dairying.

The programme is expected to generate revenues of at least $200 million per year by 2030 from sheep milk, and new, highvalue related products like ice-cream.

As part of the contracting process MPI and Spring Sheep will agree how other sheep dairy operators will be able to benefit from the programme, including the supply of milk to Spring Sheep and open access to improved dairy sheep genetics and knowledge.

This will be another success story for the Primary Growth Partnership, which is supporting world-leading research and innovation in the primary sector.

Government and industry are together investing $727 million into 19 current projects covering areas like fertiliser application, fishing net designs, remote control

logging technology, and developing high-value meat and dairy products.

All of these projects are estimated to add at least

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34

September 2016

EFFLUENT AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

CANTERBURY FARMING

Building effluent storage When making the decision to install a new farm dairy effluent storage pond, there is a process and various factors to consider including planning, working with consultants and contractors, and design options.

A well-designed and managed pond can provide the owner or farm manager with peace of mind, increased flexibility so you can determine when to irrigate at a time that suits, more effective utilisation of nutrients and water, reduced risk of effluent non-compliance and environmental protection.

A site investigation prior to design and construction is important to make sure the pond can be built to be structurally sound given the site conditions and to meet regulations.

When designing a pond there are three key things you want.

These are a sealed pond to avoid leakage to groundwater, a well designed structure that also allows for ongoing operation and maintenance, and is appropriately sized for the volume of effluent produced

now and in the foreseeable future and a pond that meets regional and district council and Building Act requirements.

Planning is critical as poor information now will compromise the whole project and your effluent pond may never meet your needs.

Ensure your designer and contractor has the right information. It is best to future-proof your system by making sure your future intentions with your farm are taken into account.

You do not want your new pond to be inappropriate or unable to cope in five years time.

Using the right people for the job is important to getting a good pond as it is a technical job and requires specialist knowledge.

This will provide assurance that the investment will be appropriate for your farm and

your farming system and the pond will comply with regional council requirements.

When choosing who to use, consider their experience what type of warranty and/or certification of work do they offer and if they have experience working with your specific regional council rules.

Also do they have farmer or industry professional references and are they acceptable to the person signing off on the work.

A written contract will protect your interests and set out your rights and obligations.

Having a suitable contract in place before design or construction begins is critical to ensure that both parties are clear about what they should expect.

It also gives your engineer/contractor an incentive to get things right first time.

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ADVERTORIAL

The fertiliser value of effluent As spring rolls around again and cultivation is underway, have you given any thought to the amount of fertilizer that will go with the kale or fodder beet that is about to be sown for next winter’s feed crops?

What about the effluent sitting in the primary pond of your dairy shed effluent ponds? Have you ever had it tested so that you can calculate what the fertilizer value is, or does it sit there growing lush clover and giant weeds as a problem to be dealt with another day?

Would spreading it on this year’s beet, kale or maize ground be a good idea?

Do you ever wonder why some ponds have minimal crust yet yours has always had a thick crust?

Do the chemicals used in the shed affect your pond? Could your effluent be worth more as fertilizer if it were treated

as opposed to being spread untreated? Slurry Solutions Ltd offers pond management services throughout Canterbur y including regular maintenance, testing to determine nutrient value (which can include soil testing and fertilizer recommendations with one of our partners), complete pumping and spreading of effluent using our umbilical system and ongoing pond management to maintain a crust and weed free primary pond.

Along with N and P, effluent also contains a lot of K which beet and maize like so it makes good sense

to spread effluent on those paddocks prior to planting.

One of our clients had fodder beet yields for the 2016 winter ranging from 22t/ha to 29t/ha over several paddocks.

The 29t/ha crop had 120m3 per hectare of effluent applied before the final cultivation. The conventional fertilizer applied was reduced by 20-25 per cent on this paddock, so it was a very good result.

Contact us for obligation free quotes and competitive pricing in the Canterbury area with free use of the stirrer for ponds booked off this advert for 2016.

SOLVE YOUR EFFLUENT PROBLEMS THE EASY WAY • High volume slurry spreading • Retain more N in slurry than spraying • Dribble bar system means slurry doesn’t completely cover pasture • Minimises smell

• No lane or gateway damage • Stock can still use lanes when hose laid • Cubic metre charge out • Stirrer with pond liner protection • Stirrer extension for above ground tanks

• Septic & Holding Tank Cleaning • Dairy Pond & Saucer Emptying • Liquid & Hazardous Waste Collection • Grease Trap Servicing • Bulk Liquid Transporting • Hydro Excavation • Concrete Slurry Wash  Tank & Silo Cleaning  Fresh Water Delivery  Effluent Stirrers Available  Rubbish Skip Hire  Water Blasting Services  Drain Unblocking & Cleaning  Drain CCTV Inspections  Interceptor Cleaning

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EFFLUENT AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

Choosing the right effluent system

New technology allows for the development of tools and programmes to help with effluent, water and nutrient management decisions on farm. Many expensive regional council fines can be avoided if a fail-safe device is installed on their irrigator.

There are several companies developing dairy effluent treatment systems that they believe will offer options for farmers, but these need to be carefully evaluated.

Recently there has been interest in biogas capture from dairy effluent and

September 2016

Effluent — problem or asset?

A King Country effluent pond that was once a problem has switched to yielding valuable nutrients after using Impact Bacterial Treatment.

The owner noticed the production dropping on the 40ha irrigated part of the farm and noticed the cows delay their move onto the sprayed paddocks for up to three weeks.

After using Impact the pink crust and bottom sludge began reducing. The spray became thinner, much less smelly and the grass much more palatable. The cows would eat it just a few days after irrigation.

“The silage I get from the effluent sprayed paddocks is rich, green and nutritions,” said the owner.

The system has expanded each year since he started using Impact. “It’s pretty much free fertiliser and I want to make better use of it.”

converting to electricity for use on farm or selling to the grid.

It has been developed for farmers and for companies looking to offer this technology to dairy farmers with assistance from experts around New Zealand.

Many farmers consider using recycled dairy effluent water for washdown which is a good idea, although there are strict food safety regulations that you need to understand and manage to prevent any possible risks to food safety.

He started growing maize as a summer crop to get through the January–February feed pinches. The Impact treated effluent was applied to the crop paddocks before planting.

“One of the yields from the irrigated paddocks was unbelievable. I couldn’t get over how much maize I was able to Harvest,” he said.

Other farmers have made the following comments: “The cleanliness of the pond is just incredible” — Helen.

“Impact was the best thing that ever happened to me” — Mark.

“My biggest problem now is seeing where the effluent spray starts and finishes as it’s so clean” — Gerald.

We will design and construct your storage ponds from start to finish and: • Save you time and money • Reduce the risk of effluent non-compliance • Give you environmental protection • Be more effective in utilisation of nutrients and water

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Liner options include Clay, GCL and HDPE • Dairy Conversions • Water Storage Ponds • Stock Races • Siteworks • Underpasses • Track Maintenance • Driveways / Landscaping • Forestry • Tree Removal • Border Dyking • Bulk Earthworks • Screening

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ADVERTORIAL

When deciding what effluent system to choose or upgrade to, it is important you know what questions to ask — gather information and seek professional advice.

A system needs to work for many seasons so you should consider finding the right person to ask and to do the work, as well as being clear about what you need from your system and what it will need to achieve in the future.

One option is the travelling irrigator. This is the traditional design with a storm water diversion in the yard. Effluent flows from the yard to a storage facility via gravity feed or pump and is then irrigated to land through the travelling irrigator.

It is important to be aware of the landscape and rainfall on the property as this plays a big part in affecting how effluent is managed.

Pay close attention to the soil drainage characteristics, landscape contour and also rainfall and moisture deficits.

Make sure you have assessed the soil as the management practices need to be suited to the environment they are being used on to prevent loss of effluent in the surrounding area.

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36

September 2016

EFFLUENT AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

CANTERBURY FARMING

Keeping on top of effluent

Maximising effluent gains Storing effluent can bring with it a number of advantages if done correctly such as being able to store effluent during the winter or early spring and avoid applying when plant growth is slow and soils are saturated.

Storage also helps reduce workload during busy periods such as calving in early spring.

It can reduce leaching or ponding of effluent by the ability to store during periods of prolonged wet weather while strategically applying effluent can result in increased growth and reduced use of Nitrogen based fertilisers.

You may also have the ability to apply a lower rate over a larger area resulting in better utilisation of potassium and nitrogen.

It is recommended that a sand trap is installed within your system. Some farms and shed builders have removed them which allows heavy sediment to enter the storage ponds.

This can make for expensive cleaning or de-sludging at a later date.

If the sand and small stones are kept out of the ponds the slurry can be agitated to a point where it can be easily pumped.

Choosing a two-pond system removes the heavy sediment and organic matter from the raw effluent so the by-product can be injected via the irrigation system.

The major benefit is that they can generally operate under gravity meaning less potential for problems and costs associated with pumps and stirrers.

Liner Irrigation Storage is another option, although with most liners costing between $10 and $12 per square metre, it is important

to get maximum utilisation of the liner by creating a deep storage facility.

For the proposal of newly constructed lined storage a minimum depth of eight metres should be used as a benchmark.

Bare in mind regional councils have very strong views on trying to build such structures in or over flood plains.

Flood plain areas are likely to create some scrutiny during the consent process, prolong consenting time, and in most cases be rejected.

By taking your time and considering your options you can choose an efficient and effective effluent management system which will save you a lot of time and money in the future.

SMOKE ALARMS Save Lives BE FIRE SAFE

Having good effluent management means a well-designed effluent system and processes to make sure it is collected and the right amount is applied to pasture at the right time.

Other benefits include saving on fertiliser, improved soil health, less illness amongst animals and a good relationship with council over rules and resource consents.

The key to good decision making is understanding the soil water deficit. It is essential to prevent ponding and run-off, and to avoid applying effluent to saturated soils.

Soil water deficit is the amount of water/effluent which can be applied to the soil before it reaches field capacity.

Field capacity refers to the amount of water held in the soil after excess water has drained away. If effluent is added at field capacity it will likely result in ponding, run-off or leaching.

It is believed that the average dairy cow produces about $25 worth of nutrients annually. This means for a 400 cow dairy herd this represents about $10,000 of nutrients annually. If these nutrients are used effectively then this significantly reduces

the fertiliser bill. A handy tool for farmers is available on the Dairy NZ website to calculate nutrient loadings and application rates for dairy effluent based on a number of customisable inputs. This means that farmers can manage the application of their effluent nutrients with greater precision. Keeping on top of maintenance tasks for irrigation application

BUILDING PRODUCTS

Lake Kainui Farm, Horsham Downs – installed by Total Irrigation

equipment is essential for good performance and many farmers like to keep a regular check on their application depths and rates.

Spreading effluent solids requires specialist machinery which is suited to the type of effluent being spread.

Check out Dairy NZ’s website for handy checklists regarding this process.

EFFLUENT PONDS

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LIVESTOCK

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

37

Soil Matters with Peter Burton Summer surplus — the measure of success The official advice has been to arrange calving in July in order to maximise milk harvest before the end of December. This points up a lack of faith in summer pasture production. the first week in November every year. Doubtless it’s a combination of factors, however the timing has been the same for at least the last 30 years.

With increased stalk and seed head, grasses, particularly annuals, are less digestible and stock intake reduces, with production declining accordingly.

Clover, on the other hand, thrives in warmer temperatures and, being highly digestible as well as containing three to four times the calcium of grasses, it’s the ideal feed for maintaining milk solid production.

Clover dominant pasture also maintains quality for a longer period, allowing the ideal 30-day grazing interval to be maintained from late December until autumn rain arrives, when the interval can be further lengthened.

Pasture growth figures from two properties in the Edgecumbe region during the 08 — 09 season highlighted the difference between a

conventionally fer tilised property where 235kg N/ha was applied, and a property using Functional Fertilisers total nutrient programme applying 25kgN/ha.

Functional Fer tiliser programmes include higher calcium inputs to help create the conditions that favour vigorous clover growth, along with required phosphorus, sulphur, potassium, and magnesium inputs.

Although the Functional Fertiliser property grew a little less pasture in late winter and early spring, over November, December and January it grew on average 62.5kg DM/ha day, 74% more than the 35.8kg DM/ ha for the conventionally fertilised property.

Over the following three months of February, March, and April the Functional Fertiliser property grew an average of 44.8kg DM/ha, 55% more than the 28.8kg DM/ha for the conventional property. For the six months from November 1 through

to April 30, the difference in pasture production was a substantial 3,869kgDM/ha, or an average 21.3kgDM/ha of extra high quality milking tucker per day.

For the season from June 1, 08 — May 31, 09 the Functional Fertiliser property grew a total of 16,187kg DM/ha, compared to the conventionally fer tilised property’s 12,895kg DM/ha.

During last season (15– 16) the growth difference between the two properties had widened to over 7,000kg DM/ha, with the conventionally fer tilised property anchored at a similar level to the earlier year, and the Functional Fertiliser property growing 20,600kg DM/ha. So before dismissing the guy in the district busily making hay over summer as ‘under stocked’, give thought to the possibility that his animals may be producing significantly more milk each

than those on neighbouring ‘conventional’ farms due to their consumption of high quality clover-rich pasture, and he was using his ‘surplus’ for winter supplement.

His costs will also be less, as the requirement for fertiliser nitrogen is negligible as it’s being fixed free of charge by clover, and he farms with the comfort of knowing

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Yet by discounting the value of summer growth, the potential available from one third of the lactation period is largely ignored. But longterm growth figures from the major dairying areas (with perhaps the exception of Canterbury) do not support the concept of unreliable and slow summer growth.

Summer pasture production can be variable due to excess heat and lack of moisture however management practices often have the biggest impact.

A lack of appreciation of summer growth potential by many farmers means a large chunk of low-cost production is possibly being squandered.

Maximising the potential of mid-season pasture is a case of working with reliable local measures.

High fertility grasses go from vegetative to reproductive mode as soon as soil temperatures reach 20°C. In the Waikato, coastal Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, and Manawatu this happens

38

September 2016

LIVESTOCK

CANTERBURY FARMING

Wool Perspective

From Rob Cochrane GM, Procurement, PGG Wrightson Wool

More returns for your wool.

Mixed fortunes for wool growers

Carrfields Primary Wool (CP Wool) is a 50/50 joint venture between Carrfields and Primary Wool Cooperative (PWC), a 100% wool grower owned co-operative.

An unfortunate combination of reduced Chinese buyer interest and a reluctance by a number of wool growers to meet the market means that recent wool auctions suffered rather high pass-in rates.

• CP Wool has stores in key locations across NZ

With a significant reliance on China as a major export destination for New Zealand wool, the lack of competition from that country in recent months has impacted heavily on the market, lowering returns in comparison to last year’s price levels for many growers of fine crossbred and medium to strong mid-micron wool types.

The two September wool auctions conducted in Christchurch drew widespread support from growers across the South Island and bale numbers catalogued exceeded the “roster” in both cases, with approximately 23,000 bales catalogued in total comprised of a good mix of all wool types.

Apar t from the wellreported and well-known dry conditions affecting several areas within Canterbury, weather patterns over the past couple of months have assisted shearers to get the job done with very few, if any, interruptions to the wool harvesting programme.

Wool broker stores have been likened to a bee-hive with trucks laden with wool bales lined up each day waiting to be unloaded before returning

• CP Wool offers significant benefits and advantages to New Zealand wool producers Talk to your local CP Wool representative about maximising the returns on your wool clip.

Contact your Canterbury representative Mark Greenlaw Roger Fuller Grant Andrew Nicola Peddie

027 227 8898 027 583 6993 027 481 6219 027 949 0240

www.cpwool.co.nz

Kevin James Wool The Working Wool Buyer

NO commission!

NO transport costs! NO guess work!

to farm wool sheds to be reloaded and the trip repeated.

Crossbred full-length fleece types although cheaper than earlier in the season remained in reasonable demand throughout September with buyers focused on well grown, good character wools containing low vegetable matter contamination.

Second-shear types were examined critically by exporters and once again the shorter wools took the brunt of the downturn.

Longer second-shear types were in a slightly better space with a few more competitors bidding on those. With the crossbred hogget wool season upon us all eyes normally turn to China to buy crossbred hoggets in the approximately 29 to 34 micron ranges.

However with few buyers representing China appearing interested, prices for those types were at similar levels to coarser short wools with no premiums evident.

Some magnificent Halfbred and Corriedale wools were on offer during September but buyers were very selective according to

style and micron and many of the medium and coarse types returned disappointing levels to growers who were hoping for levels similar to last year.

The finer edge however drew good support with many fleece types around 25 microns reaching well in excess of 1000 cents per clean kilogram, and 24 micron from 1100 to 1200 clean. Once again a very good standard of wool preparation was evident from the wool samples displayed prior to sale.

With the Merino wool season in full-swing the quantity of those types offered during September increased

Attn All Sheep Farmers Obtain maximum returns for your dags

M.R.Wools, based in North Canterbury, has export orders for dagwool and requires DRY woolly dags immediately.

Bale lines XBD 80c/kg, 1/2 BD $1.10, Merino $2.00/kg delivered.

Call Wayne on 027 446 1977 to discuss freight options & queries.

Payment terms: direct credit on arrival. Send directly to: M R Wools, 1469 Main North Road, Waikuku, North Canterbury.

Ring Kevin and there’ll be no rep in a new Falcon to see you.

Kevin will turn up with the truck and certified scales.

He will load the wool and pay you on the day!

From mainline to dags see if you can find any wool buyer who will go further or work harder for your wool.

Phone Kevin today and get the best out of your wool.

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significantly on August. The Christchurch auction enjoyed a renewed rally of grower support compared to recent years and a large number of clips contained in the PGG Wrightson catalogue were of an exceptional standard.

If there was any negative comment at all from buyers it was that a few wools were slightly over-long for their processor customers.

Key focus from exporters was towards wools which were very sound for fibre strength, measuring better 38nkt or better, well skirted and even for length, but not over-classed.

With the lower levels for crossbred wools likely to continue into the near future growers are urged to ensure their wools are prepared well.

Growers must maximize their returns by skirting well and keeping similar lengths and strengths together.

A reminder that readers should visit the Campaign for Wool website and in particular encourage children and grand-children to visit www.woolinschools.nz to appreciate why we should all specify wool! That’s my view.

Ph: 027 591 8454

Ange Armstrong Ph: 027 436 2603

Helping grow the country

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DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

39

ADVERTORIAL

Transitioning from OptiGuard to Optimate The Opti-product range of animal feed additives currently consist of two products aimed at dairy ruminants.

The first, OptiGuard, was launched this season and has earned phenomenal reviews for both its ease of use and resulting scour-free healthy young livestock. The second product, Optimate, is a BPM zeolite product, recommended for use in dry and lactating cows. It plays an important role in cow health, pasture health and as a tool to help you mitigate nitrogen leaching problems.

What is Optimate?

Both OptiGuard and Optimate products are natural BPM zeolites derived from local TVZ deposits and differ in grading or ‘fineness’, with the finest grade (approximately 40µm) to be used in calves — OptiGuard, and a coarser grade (approximately 120µm) developed for use in adult dairy cows — Optimate.

Why feed Optimate?

Now that the super-busy calving season is slowly winding down, it is time to focus our attention more on mum. This is where Optimate comes into play, helping to prevent milk fever and ketosis, as well as aiding cow fertility.

Milk fever or hypocalcaemia is an acute deficiency of calcium and it occurs normally around calving. This is because milk

contains a lot of calcium and once the cow starts milking, suddenly from one day to the next there is a huge drain of calcium from the body via the milk.

The body may not be able to cope with this and blood calcium levels will get dangerously low. Optimate can help as it binds calcium and therefore effectively lowers the available dietary calcium level. By feeding it during late lactation and during the dry period it can help to maintain a lowcalcium diet.

Ketosis is another common metabolic disorder in early lactation. It takes the cow at least 8–12 weeks to maximise her DMI, which means that during the early stages of lactation she spends more energy than she takes in.

Overseas research shows that supplementing cows throughout the year with zeolites significantly reduces the incidence of ketosis.

Spring is the time you will be working to get the cows in calf again. Pastures are often very high in nitrogen which can lead to excessive levels of ammonium in the rumen.

High ammonia and urea levels in the blood of cows has been linked to fertility

* Enhances the nutritional value of stock feed

problems and may also contribute to embryo loss in lactating cows. BPM zeolites can help manage high levels of ammonium and also help to lower blood urea levels.

Including Optimate into the diet of lactating cows to help manage getting and keeping cows in calf, makes good sense.

Optimate is available in 25 kilogram bags. For more information call Kelvin on 0800 678 444 or visit our website www.bpmnz.co.nz.

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September 2016

DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

Hoof Print with Fred Hoekstra

HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING

Challenging assumptions The season is now well under way and the Winter has been very good to us during calving — at least here in Canterbury.

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But even with a good Spring we still get lame cows.

Why is this? What are the risk factors for lameness? We see an increased prevalence of lameness during mating, and animals in housed environments have different lameness challenges. There also seems to be challenges associated with diet that may contribute to lameness. The question then becomes ‘what are the real causes’?

Research has shown that rough tracks and poor animal handling increase the prevalence of lameness.

This is great information to have but, in and of itself, is of little value because there are farms with tracks that are so good that you could land a plane on them if they were a bit wider and yet lameness is very much an issue on some of those farms.

There are farmers who are very conscious of, and particular with their animal handling — eg no pushing in the yard and staying 20 metres behind the cows when they walk to the cowshed and,

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once again, some have major lameness issues. And, of course, there are farms where the tracks are perfect and animal handling is fully under control and still the problem of lameness remains. The question therefore must be: “Why does research tend to only point to rough lanes and animal handling as the major causes of lameness in dairy cows?” Could it be that the focus on this one issue creates a blind spot where we are missing alternative causes?

Research is great and can be very helpful to understand the environment around us.

Often we understand a theory to be true but when a proper trial is being conducted it turns out that our theories are incorrect. Research is done starting with a limited understanding of the ‘truth’.

Even if we know quite a lot about the subject, it is still limited. It is also very difficult to eliminate the bias factor when it comes to research and be 100% objective. So, assuming that the research is done properly doesn’t mean that the conclusion drawn

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from that research is correct.

This is why theories are often changed or even ‘proven’ wrong. A classic example of this is the research on eating eggs. I can choose whatever research result suits me on any given morning to justify me eating an egg or not.

So, when we read a research paper that tells us that tracks and animal handling have an influence on the prevalence of lameness then that is the only conclusion you can draw from that. If you, the reader, then draw the conclusion that the research means that stones are the reason why bad tracks and bad animal handling is a problem then you have jumped to a conclusion based on assumptions.

It may be an assumption coming from the research but nevertheless it is still an assumption. In order to ‘prove’ that it is the stones that are the culprit we need more targeted research to find evidence. As far as I am aware there has never been research done that supports that theory. I have heard arguments that say that

it doesn’t matter because we know from the research that we need to handle our animals well and there are benefits in improving our tracks. This is true, however, without proper understanding we can never eliminate a problem completely. Whilst I don’t believe it is possible to completely eliminate lameness, how close we get will depend on understanding what the true causes of the problem are.

Is it possible that bad tracks increase the prevalence of lameness because the cows spend more time per 24 hours on walking and therefore that decreases their available time for resting?

Is it possible that poor animal handling increases stress hormones in the body beyond healthy levels and this contributes to problems like lameness? Research has shown a link with resting time, stress and lameness (Time Management for Dairy Cows — Michigan Dairy Review) Let me know what you think, email me: fred@veehof. co.nz

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DAIRY

Uncommon sense

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

David Law, Managing Director of Forward Farming Consultancy

Rivers plan leads to change The passing of the Waikato Healthy Rivers Plan will instil new impetus for farmers across the country to change the way they manage their farms in the future.

Farmers of course, will be angry that the bureaucracy of regional councils will soon lead to another round of reasons to whip the living daylights out of them, as if they haven’t endured enough already.

Federated Farmers will continue to do its political best to soften the blow and the public perception of farmers may drop a notch or two.

This has caused me to climb to the top of the hill and look out at the big picture.

Several pivotal questions come to light over this dilemma.

• Do we really have a problem with our streams, rivers and lakes?

Yes, we do.

• Is there an excess of phosphates and nitrates leaching through our soils and into our waterways?

Yes, there is.

• Is it fair and just to blame the farmer for this mess?

No, I do not believe that we should blame the farmer entirely.

There are two factors contributing to the pollution of our waterways; • Effluent management and cattle having access • Phosphate and nitrogen application compromising the plant’s ability to hold on to those nutrients.

I do believe the industry has the first question under control and this does require direct input from the farmer.

Compliance on rules and regulations under general circumstances should be the responsibility of the farmer.

However, I believe the second question is another story! Fertiliser application and soil nutrient needs for pasture and cropping is generally a practice which farmers leave to a specialist.

These specialists are called

MINI EXCAVATION

Site works Land clearing & development work All drainage work with lazer Clamshell holes Hedge & stump removal

on by farmers to advise them on what they need to grow their grass and crops. Possibly 95 percent of fertiliser in New Zealand is sold by two large companies, Ballance and Ravensdown. Interestingly, it is rumoured that these two large companies have influence on the education of soil and fertiliser scientists in New Zealand. I was impressed upon reading Ballance’s website to find that most of the specialists who are employed by them to advise and guide farmers what to buy, are very well educated indeed.

While I was pouring another mug of coffee I got to thinking, what do these big companies make? Now I know why those environmentalists are so

mad. Those companies have turned their well — educated scientists into salesmen!

Farmers have been brainwashed and swear allegiance to these specialists who are now leaving them holding the can. It appears that this great science that has been taught needs an overhaul.

Maybe it’s someone else’s turn. I hear a leading scientist is rambling on about some new science which he doesn’t understand. Maybe if he stopped communicating and listened, he might learn something!

So just a gentle suggestion to councils: turn around and throw the stones the other way and give the farmers a break!

DRIVE PHONE FREE!

A helmet is a must while riding a quad bike around the farm.

Pond crust gone for 10th the cost?

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41

42

September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARM EQUIPMENT & MACHINERY Blurring the line in the sand

by Andy Bryenton

There was a time when 100 horsepower was considered a peppy amount of ponies under the hood for a sports car. When your two-seater, low-slung roadster was light enough, the magical triple digits were sure to send sales and performance reviews into the stratosphere.

These days, in the age of the twin-turbo, eco-boost, high compression future, 100 horsepower seems wheezy and outdated. Until you pop it into an ultra-lightweight sideby-side.

That’s just what Polaris have done with their new General, a compact and rugged little machine which draws on the DNA of two very different parents.

Look at it in a certain light and you’ll see the heritage of the Polaris Ranger, a nononsense lugger which has become a bit of a fixture on Kiwi farms thanks to its torque, go-anywhere ride, and its undemanding price.

Squint just right though and you’ll clearly see the imprint of the fire-breathing RZR — the machine which so recently burned up the offroad scene in New Zealand as the ORANZ race series rolled through.

It’s a tough call having one foot in both camps, but the

M

General does it with class.

It’s almost tempting to think that its designation refers not to the ‘top brass’ rank in the military, but to that old handle for the armed forces’ jeep — itself a contraction of the term ‘general purpose’.

That’s because 100hp in a machine this nimble and small — with a rocksteady footing — feels like a rocket pack, good for both fun and serious missions.

The General boasts a whole chestful of medals for first place, too — fastest time to 40mph on any terrain, quickest engaging AWD, most torque in its class — but the real kicker is 500 kilos of loadout to play with. That means the ability to really use this crossover for work and play, taking it to the trail, the forest or the beach after a hard day of work.

Polaris are quick to point out that this may very well mean twice the time out of the shed, and they’ve built

The General mixes up recreational thrills with serious farm work to make a compelling package

the General tough enough to cope. So that the human component won’t wear out easily, the General’s cockpit also feels more like that

ID CANTERBURY ACHINERY

We Buy, Sell & Trade Machinery

Ring to Hire Machinery!

Water Ballast Rollers ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� From $3,500 Vibroflex 36 Tyne Trailing Cultivator ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� Coming in Kuhn 4 Disc Hyd Lift Disc Mower ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $1,250 Kuhn 4 Disc C�w Conditioner Mower ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $3,250 Dunhill 8 Furrow on Land Plough ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $3,500 Hardie 400 Litre 15Mtr Sprayer �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $1,100 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 $1,200 Grubber Trailing ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $6,750 Gregoire Besson 5 Mtr� Disc Hyd Fold ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $16,000 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 Duncan 800 Discs Tidy �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $2,500 QuickHitch as new Heavy �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$750 Gray 10FT Water Ballast Roller �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� NEW POA Duncan 734 Direct Drill �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $9,750 Kverneland TLA 5�5 Maxitill ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $6,750 James Single leg ripper ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $1,000 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 Kverneland NG300 H4 Power Harrow ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $7,900 McHale Soft Hands ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� NEW $3,150 Fuel Tanks �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� From $200 Hustler 4000 Bale Feeder��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $10,500 Vogel & Noot 5 furrow vari width very tidy ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� POA Duncan 13 Tyne 3PTL Grubber �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$750 Heavy Duty Quick Hitch ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $1,050 Hustler Katipo Sprayer Duraboom Foam Markers ������������������������������������������������������������������ POA

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

172 Wills Street Ashburton • Tel/Fax: 03 308 9889 Mob: 0274 341 040 • E: n.stockdill@xtra.co.nz

of a road-going car than a stripped-out off-roader. All in all, it’s a machine that walks a fine line, like the first SUVs did. And while there

were naysayers when the original Land Cruisers and Land Rovers left the mud for the tarmac, we all know how that worked out. The General

may just be the ticket for those who would love both a working machine and a racer, delivering reliability as well as thrills.

DO YOU HAVE AN OVERSIZE, OVERWEIGHT PROBLEM? WE’LL TAKE A LOAD OFF YOUR MIND...

Heavy Machinery Transportation Real people who get the job done in a professional way.

CANTERBURY HEAVY HAULAGE Phone 0800 88 11 88 Email natalie@canterburyheavyhaulage.co.nz

CANTERBU RY HEAVY HAULAGE

FARM EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

43

A giant in its field

by Andy Bryenton

RADIATORS

Nobody could ever accuse the Case Optum 300 of being a machine designed by half measures. Standing impressively tall and fitted out with massive, turf-gripping tyres a man can stand up inside, this heavy duty tractor is the key to intensive pasture management this spring.

LTD

SINCE 1989

• Industrial Radiators • Oil Coolers • Intercoolers • Clean/Test/Repair/New • Marine Coolers/Condensers

www.industrialradiators.co.nz jimmy@industrialradiators.co.nz 40 Hands Road | Middleton | Christchurch 8024 Ph: 03 338 8016 | Fax: 03 338 8017

HEADER

Repairs & Spares • Concaves Manufactured new for all makes and models. Built specially for NZ conditions.

Also repairs and alterations.

• Drums & Bars Manufactured and repaired.

All makes and models. Preseason checks done on farm.

• Sieves & Riddles Repairs, rebuilds and Winner of the coveted ‘machine of the year’ medal at Europe’s giant Agritechnica expo, Case can be justifiably proud of the advancements they’ve packed into the Optum’s notso-diminutive frame.

These range from greater fuel savings and environmental protection through lower emissions, all the way through to the innovation which gives this tractor its name — a powerful, infinitely versatile CVT transmission, similar to that found in some modern automobiles.

That means no more gear changes, as well as a

useful on-road cruising speed and a variety of options to creep over pasture without disturbing the biota beneath.

A tractor this large — and we’re talking a 5.7-metre tall colossus here — should not be so nimble, but the engineers at Case have worked their witchcraft to ensure responsive handling.

It’s also worth noting that driver comfort has been advanced along with the power output of the Optum — a good thing, as with both front and rear power take-offs ready to accept the biggest of implements, this is one machine destined to spend a long time in the

field! That’s all the more important in these days of intensive agriculture, when a tractor is expected to do much more than pull a single implement at a time. In the wide pasturelands of Europe — some of which are a neat parallel to our own plains — the Optum impressed the Agritechnica judges and others with its ability to break the ground and undersow in a single pass. Even the biggest implements are no challenge to such a large machine, which, when kitted out with double wheels, has a surprisingly gentle touch on the turf for all its bulk.

Combining sheer muscle

and mass with eco-friendly emissions controls and driver-pleasing ergonomics, the Optum currently sits as king of the hill in the tractor world — at least by decree of the European judges.

You can bet that its competitors will be inspired to greater feats as they challenge its dominance — that, after all, is the nature of progress.

specially designed stepped sieves for small seed applications. Cleaner Sample - Less Loss

• General Engineering Fabrication, steelwork, repairs, sheet metal.

ELLESMERE ENGINEERING LTD

(Formerly D.C. Newburry & Co, Southbridge)

Ph: 03 324 2145 • Mobile: 027 331 9821 www.ellesmereengineering.co.nz 185 Jollies Road Southbridge

CANTERBURY ROCK PICKING SPECIALIST

PANEL BEATING & SPRAY PAINTING Repairs | Refurbishment |Maintenance

Trucks • Buses • Coaches & Motorhomes • Caravans Trailers • Farm Machinery • Jet Boats Light Engineering • Certified Seat Belt Installer

Insurance Work P: 307 0378 or 027 427 4007 17 Range Street, Ashburton, 7700 E: busandtruckbodywork@xtra.co.nz

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• Cost effective way to remove rocks • Increased production • No need to heavy roll • Perfect seed bed normally achieved • Reduces lameness in cows • Expensive irrigation better utilised

Phone 0274 555 307 or 03 312 6366 www.rockpicking.co.nz

Get your seed in on time, with Great results for less money.

Call 0800 dry hire today

44

September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARM EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

GENUINE KUBOTA LOADERS Kubota M100GX, Including Loader & 3rd Service Free 50hr Service Beacon Fire Extinguisher Limited to Aged New Stock Only (4x units available nationwide) Drive Away

$79,900+GST

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Kubota M126GX, Including Loader & 3rd Service Free 50hr Service Beacon Fire Extinguisher Limited to Aged New Stock Only (4x Units available nationwide) Drive Away

$89,900+GST

*Conditions apply

Add a genuine Kubota loader on all MGX and M40 purchases for just $4,990+GST*

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*Offer valid from 1st May to 30th November 2016 or while stocks last and is available only when purchasing a new Kubota MGX or M40 Series tractor.

Prices exclude GST. **Finance is based on 30% deposit and 36 month total term. Lending criteria apply.

Farm Machinery Centre

CHRISTCHURCH

James Blackler 0274 794 374 | Rennie Barnes 027 433 7714 | Stephanie Radley 027 432 5640 726 MAIN SOUTH ROAD, CHRISTCHURCH • Phone: 03 349 5089 • salesch@norwood.co.nz www.norwood.co.nz/christchurch

drilling’s all about timing. let’s get the ground covered with taege airseeders!

- Flexible ‘S’ tynes with hard wearing tungsten tips for excellent penetration.

- Strong, hot-dipped galvanised framing, protecting your investment.

- Creates outstanding tilth for higher strike rates.

- Easiest computerised sponge metering system on the market to calibrate.

- Works on same principles as our proven 3m drills, but double the area.

Drills – Tyre rollers – CulTivaTors – PosTDrivers – snow Plows – CusTom BuilDs Trevor Goodeve 027 222 6050 (24 Hours, 7 days)

sales@taege.com

A Ground Breaking Company Since 1923

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FARM EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

45

Technology for better harvests

by Andy Bryenton

CHAPMAN AGRICULTURE LTD

Thanks to the work of George R. R. Martin, many people have heard the name of the fictional Stark clan — a hardy northern family in his Game of Thrones novel and television series.

But in the world of farming, there is a very real Stark family from the far north of Europe and their contribution to agriculture has proven just as revolutionary as the politics and intrigue of their namesakes on the printed page.

In the 1960s, Rune and Siw Stark farmed 12 hectares near Vaderstad, Sweden.

Tired of having to construct a wooden harrow frame each year, as was the custom, Rune decided to forge one out of steel — and the rest is history.

Basing a business on the ethos of toughness and reliability, Rune had soon traded in the tractor seat for an office chair and established a factory building a new generation of farming equipment.

Today, his Vaderstad company has gone far beyond simple tine harrows — though their research and development into soil productivity and cultivation devices has borne fruit in

both a figurative and a literal sense. To keep up with demand for better yields and consistent results, Vaderstad has taken the lead in developing new kinds of seed drill technology, perfecting a science begun using lengths of bamboo tube in ancient China.

One such new idea is the BioDrill, a small modular seed drill which is able to dispense even small amounts of seed with astonishing accuracy. The big difference with this machine is that it is not a dedicated implement, but is instead mounted ‘piggyback’ on a tine harrow or other cultivator, turning it into a one-pass sowing solution.

Small amounts down to one kilogram per hectare can be achieved thanks to the BioDrill’s high-tech metering system and precise electric drive.

At the other end of the spectrum sits the SeedHawk — a dedicated, cuttingedge seed drill made to be

deployed by high horsepower tractors. Fully adjustable, this implement can place seed and fertiliser at just the right depth across the varied topography of a single field.

In one pass, the SeedHawk opens the furrow, enables conduits to open in the sidewall for moisture and root growth, deposits the seed and a delivery of fertiliser, then closes the furrow again.

Vaderstad has even gone so far as to incorporate a mini ‘soil ridge’ effect after consolidation, producing a

microclimate effect to aid growth. With attention to fine details like this, it’s no wonder that this innovative company has grown from a small 12-hectare Swedish farm into one of the giants of the agricultural world.

By incorporating many tasks into a single machine, as they do with both the BioDrill and SeedHawk concepts, Vaderstad is also working to ensure better fuel economy, greater yields and, in the end, better productivity for farmers.

• Vaderstad 5m Topdown • Vaderstad 6.5m Carrier • Vaderstad 6m Spirit drill with APV Broadcasting unit.

• 7 Farrow reversible Plough • Kverneland 12row Monopill SE Beet Planter • Amazone 8row Maize Planter • Pit Silage / Balage • Trading of supplement feed.

Importer of Machinery

Chapman Agriculture

Allan Chapman • P:03 310 2545 M:027 221 5264 • E:ahcc@xtra.co.nz

Whatever the Season

... there’s a Bailey Trailer that meets your needs

2 axle AG Chieftain drawbar transport trailer, 15,500kg carrying capacity. From $34,900+gst

9m Chieftain 4 axle step frame 4 axle pull trailer, 19,500kg payload, From $85,000+gst

20 ton Chieftain square bodied dump trailer, 20 ton payload on fully sprung commercial axles.

Hydraulic and air brakes.

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13.5m Chieftain step deck semi, 30 ton payload.

Priced from $105,000+gst

MK4 RANGE OF SEEDMATIC TINE DRILLS • Vibrating 25mm tines handle trash with ease

• Choice of models - available as Tine and T-Boot or Concave Disc opener

• 2.5m, 3m up to 3.5m sowing width • Seed & Fertiliser option available

• Disc coulter as standard

3 EQUAL PAYMENTS FROM

233 Alford Forest Road, Ashburton 03 307 7153 www.powerfarmingashburton.co.nz

• 125mm or 5 inch row spacing with 14inch coulters to assist with heavy trash and matted turf • Disc coulter as standard

3 EQUAL PAYMENTS

PLUS GST

Power Farming Ashburton

Special Deal: $59,000+gst

Greywacke Road, Harewood Phone 021 228 3246 CALL US NOW 0800 451 451 www.mtctractors.com

THE NEW GENERATION 3000 SERIES GRASSFARMER. • Ability to sow accurately from 1kg up to 350kg of seed per hectare

3 axle commercial Chieftan drawbar trailer, 18 ton payload.

Priced from $69,000+gst

Terms & Conditions apply. See instore for details.

Find us on

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9,990

PLUS GST

46

September 2016

RURAL WHEELS

CANTERBURY FARMING

New chapter in a motoring legend

COVERED & CARRIED

by Andy Bryenton

There are some names in the world of internal combustion which evoke images of racing glory, grand-touring luxury or off-road grit. Just mention Rolls-Royce, Ferrari or Land Rover, and a whole history springs to mind. But there are few, even in such lofty company, which call up such a tradition as that of the United States’ most famous two-wheeled icon — Harley Davidson.

2006 Isuzu FVZ 1400 280hp, 9 speed sychro manual, spring suspension.

7.3m deck on twist locks, Very tidy truck.

Curtainsider body option available.

$68,000 + GST Kim Harris Mobile 027 545 7973

0800 379 899

www.prestigecv.co.nz

Melrose

Offroad Karts F am y frieil dly fun, n fun, fun

A&

P show da sta ndI1 y 3

With a history spanning over a century, this is one badge embraced by racers, weekend cruisers and rebels alike. From the original ‘silent grey fellow’ through to the ‘knucklehead’ V-twin of World War Two, through to the big powerful V-rod of the present day, the story of the machines from Milwaukee would seem to describe an upward curve of displacement and power.

But that’s a stereotype which, in true rebellious fashion, Harley Davidson is set to challenge with its Street 500 range.

Stripped back and pared down to the essentials of city riding, the Street 500 is a pure Harley down to the nuts and bolts, but it is no big highway cruiser. With a 500cc Revolution X engine, finely balanced frame and frugal fuel economy, this is a bike meant to take on the competition in a sector usually dominated by the Japanese motorcycle giants. It’s not the first Harley Davidson to

go below the 883 Sportster in terms of displacement, but it is a new take on a classic design, reminiscent in many ways of classic British bikes from the golden age rather than the wicked custom Road Kings and Fat Boys which made the Harley name synonymous with two-wheeled power and style. That may seem a touch blasphemous,

but it’s a growing market niche in the crowded urban jungle. The Street 500 is, as you’d expect from a real HD, no slouch when the horizon beckons. Liquid cooling means the 500 never loses its cool in gridlock, but this lightest Harley of all still packs a wallop of torque when the lights turn green.

In true form for a machine

ZERO TURN

kids 7- 11

$2995

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MOWERS Robust Commercial Mowers.

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1/3

100 IT’S NOT A TARGET

bearing the classic black and orange badge, there’s no part of the Street 500 which doesn’t look mean, lean and customisable.

It’s a breath of fresh air in more ways than one — a city cruiser proudly selfdescribed as a ‘cafe racer’, but one which stands out in the crowd, with retro styling cues that leave no doubt as to its heritage. It’s a Harley Davidson for those who may never have considered getting into the saddle of this iconic brand — an enticement away from the Japanese and Euro street fighters and into a very affordable take on motorcycling’s most enduring classic.

DEPOSIT IN 1 YEAR IN 2 YEARS

6.9%. Must be GST registered - Call for other finance offers and full terms & conditions.

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zeroturnmowers.co.nz

John Pilbrow 03 318 1112 2082 Old West Coast Rd, Kirwee, Christchurch.

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RURAL WHEELS

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

47

Power, prejudice and purists

by Andy Bryenton

Not messing with a good recipe seems to be evergreen advice.

From Marmite to chocolate to the formula for mind-numbing reality television, the correct dollops and drops which make up success need to be carefully doled out.

It’s the same in the world of motoring, where (as the head designers at Porsche can attest) there is no such thing as too much of a winning formula.

Or is there? When the new Ford Mustang was released with the option of a two-litre ecoBoost engine, strapped with double turbos, the outraged intake of breath could have emptied several Dearborn-sized assembly plants of oxygen. The Mustang, they said — the same ‘they’ who know for certain about certain celebrity persuasions — has to be a V8. Case closed. Chapter and verse. Less displacement means brand debasement.

Then, one chilly spring morning, I stepped aboard a stainless-steel silver convertible Mustang equipped with the ecoBoost power plant. I put figures, quoted 0–60 times and prejudice out of mind and simply drove.

What a revelation.

Cast adrift from the expectation of the Mustang as a snarling V8 beast, the visceral pleasure of commanding 300 horsepower in a vehicle cut loose from excess weight up front is immediate. It has been said before, but there is something of the feel of Nissan’s old (pre current-form techno rocket) GT Skyline in the way that the Mustang handles its large proportions with grace, and all with what seems on paper to be a tiny handful of displacement.

Certainly, if one were to take on the purists in their own language, the ecoBoost makes sense. Better fuel economy is not part of the lexicon for many V8 stalwarts, but when a car accelerates this smoothly, corners this neatly and boasts a neat, mechanically satisfying gearshift (I was not tempted by the paddles on the fat, grippy wheel), then it’s hard to agree with those who

opine that ‘half the engine is missing’.

The only place where the lack of a full eight-pack is truly felt is aurally — there is nothing, not even Ford’s sonic wizardry, which can replace the hellfire chorus of a big mill. But, to be fair, the ecoBoost does have a very fine stereo and I do have AC/DC’s seminal Back in Black on hand. In reality, it’s tough to question whether the sound of the GT’s V8 alone is enough to justify the price difference.

Yes, of course, there is a slight edge on power. There is that drag-race velocity which has the potential to get slightly heftier speeding tickets in the V8.

It is, after all, a fantastic machine. But on a country road, on a spring morning, with preconceptions put aside, the 2.3 ecoBoost Mustang is simply excellent in and of itself. Try to find more fun for the price tag.

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RURAL WHEELS

CANTERBURY FARMING

September 2016

Discovering new horizons

by Andy Bryenton

When the first Land Rover Discovery made its debut in 1989, the concept of a sports utility vehicle was a new and somewhat challenging one. In fact, the company was still trying to shake loose of the conception of its vehicles as military ordnance — either that, or the denizens of aristocratic Englishmen’s grouse moors.

The Land Rover top brass were determined to break new ground and fight back against the rise of the Japanese automakers — to the extent that they instructed the designers of their new Discovery to throw out current trends and makeover the so-called ‘project jay’ as a lifestyle accessory.

They may have done away with the planned sunglass holder in the middle of the steering wheel, but the blueprint of the Discovery proved extremely popular. The

first edition soldiered on until 1998 and was embraced as a family wagon, a tow vehicle for boaties, an off-road trekker and, ultimately, a status symbol. Four generations of the Discovery have come and gone, and each one has seen an increase in luxury. But now Land Rover is stepping out in a new direction, adding something which the large and imposing ‘disco’ has apparently lacked until now — sportiness.

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Is it time for lime on your property but it’s not in the budget and you are thinking you will do it next year. The benefits of lime are well known, but the cost of applying large volumes can put a dent in cash flows.

From a farmer’s point of view, when it comes to lime, it is a matter of finding a balance between effective application and plant availability.

The finer the lime, the more immediate the reaction — the smaller the particle size, the greater the surface area and the quicker the effect in the soil, however, the finer the lime, the greater the chance is of it being carried away by the wind and not reaching and settling on the targeted area — your farm.

If the particle size of the lime has a greater agronomic impact than coarse grade lime, (which can remain sitting on the surface as large unused lumps), then less volume of fine lime needs to be applied.

If you could apply 10-20 percent of the lime you would normally apply, at one third the total cost, then wouldn’t you see sense in applying fine lime more regularly if you could get it to land where you wanted it to. When it’s time

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September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

IN NEED OF A NEW WORK HORSE? Avon City Ford would like to welcome Andrew McWhannell, our new rural sales representative, joining us with over 30 years of experience in the rural industry.

Call Andrew today! 027 534 0450

Avon City Ford Cnr Main South Rd and Epsom Rd, Sockburn | 03 348 4129 | 0800 655 551 Rangiora Service Centre | 78 Ivory St | 03 313 7059 | avoncityford.co.nz

Apply Gypsum Now

The benefits of gypsum in soil treatment are well known, but its value goes well beyond this: • Helps mitigate the flow of nitrates and phosphorus in New Zealand waterways • Can be used to address the issue of built up sodium from applied effluent • Reduces surface run-off and drainage loss, reduces preferential flow of water run-off in soil • Can be applied by a number of different means to target risk zones • Assists with addressing high soil potassium or magnesium levels and when soil PH is already at a high enough level.

• 100% more soluble than lime. for more about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation visit www.gypsum.co.nz Rates vary per farm and soil type. Applications can last for up to three years.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

the ‘last’ word

September 2016

51

with Rob Cope-Williams

Kiwi cunning still here New Zealand chaps have been known for either making stuff because they need something to do whatever, or importing something and making it twice as efficient.

Perhaps that’s why there are so many restoring tractors, as the urge is there, even if the need isn’t. Anyway, let’s look at the modern day back yarder.

While computers have taken over the driving of everything from small family cars to a huge combines, GPS rules over naked eye appraisal of crops. Few farmers would know how to sew up a bag of wheat, let alone do it in a cloud of dust on a swaying platform while the towing tractor moves at the same speed. However heavy the crop, there are young guys who use modern technology to their own sense of Kiwi ingenuity.

Trevor Crowe is a local guy who loves building very fast rally and race cars, and blowing the doors off the taylor-made cars. Most have V8 motors placed in a lightweight chassis and body and yes, he drives them really fast. All this while he runs a successful car sales and repair company. What makes me very happy is that

Trevor has employed a young guy who has his sights set on taking Kiwi cunning the next step in motorsport.

Josh Mitchell has his next five years of motorsport set out and is building his

own car to do it in. Taking Trevor’s cunning in building a hybrid, Josh is building a four-wheel-drive rocket that will be used on a variety of tracks, including sprints with a series of hairpin

Pasture Warrant of Fitness

and re-engages the four-wheel drive under power. Aged in his 20s this Kiwi is out-thinking the computer models around the world.

Thank goodness we still have the Kiwi cunning.

ONE50 and Prospect ryegrasses pass the test season after season.

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corners. My comment was about understeer and bags of handbrake.

No, says Josh, he has developed a computer program that disengages the front wheels under braking

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To find out how Prospect and ONE50 can maximise production on your farm, contact 0800 183 358, visit agricom.co.nz or visit your local seed merchant.

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The jet boat is an example and that was simply because of braided rivers on a high country farm and the need for a boat that could navigate shallow water.

In the 1930s through to the 60s motor racing chaps were building ‘specials’ to race because they couldn’t lay their hands on purposebuilt race cars.

Those that did were normally embarrassed by being beaten by the locally produced ‘contraptions’.

Then came years of imported factory cars and apart from a few home-built saloons, the sport became a bit cheque book focussed.

However let’s not lose sight of the agricultural world.

The years of keeping machinery going with bits of number eight wire was as real as the wire itself, but alas, as the gear got bigger, and contractors took over the arable work, farmers concentrated on what they were growing and how they could make more for less than enjoying the workshop.

52

September 2016

CANTERBURY FARMING

Topcon X Family Consoles More choices in precision means better decisions • • • •

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