Manawatu Farming Lifestyles, January 2017

Manawatu

FARMING Lifestyles

January 2017 Edition

12,965 copies DELIVERED FREE to every rural delivery address in Manawatu

OVER THE CATTLE STOP

MICROBES MINERALS SUNLIGHT WATER

Shear hard work pays off

Match the numbers to the ads

Agrissentials

Best on earth Organx™ Fertilisers

See page 2 for details

P4

7

Let us turn your dream into reality!

One hundred percent locally owned, we are proud of our reputation for high quality workmanship, great service, and excellent value for money. With a wealth of Ready-To-Build designs, plus a full Design & Build service, there is a Landmark for everyone. Additionally, all of our homes come with a Masterbuild Guarantee, ensuring full peace of mind.

Contact:

06 2802364 0800 477 110 117 Broadway Ave, Palmerston North

Don’t build a house, build a Landmark

www.landmarkhomes.co.nz

2

January 2017

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

Groundwater levels near irrigators cause concern

The Manawatu Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by NorthSouth Multi Media Ltd, a privately owned New Zealand company.

With an increase in the number of irrigators around parts of the region, some neighbouring property owners have expressed concerns about the effects on the water levels of their own bores.

Phone: 0800 466 793 Advertising: Betty Willets, Kelvin Green, Shane Hendriks, Lara Ozkan Editorial: Denise Gunn — 06 329 7701 Email: info@nsmm.co.nz

Website: manawatufarming.co.nz

Accounts: accounts@nsmm.co.nz

MEMBER OF:

AUDITED CIRCULATION Print run 12,965.

8

Increase your productivity with the dry matter heavy-weight.

FAST ESTABLISHING REGROWTH

COST EFFECTIVE GREEN FEED

EXCELLENT PALATABILITY

Devour is a westerworlds tetraploid ryegrass.

• A performance ryegrass delivering increasing dry matter yields as the season goes on.

• Contains roughly twice the sugars, carbohydrates and water of a diploid grass.

• Easier to digest and therefore a high voluntary intake by stock.

• Open erect growth makes Devour more clover friendly.

www.specseed.co.nz 4

NO ENDOPHYTE

A farmer watches huge volumes of water being pumped out of the ground from his neighbour’s farm, into a drain over several days, just 60 metres from his house and 80 metres from his own bore

A group of property owners and one local member of parliament met recently to discuss this issue.

The group are concerned that their bores are running out of water since the installation of new irrigators. Local contractors and fencers have also noticed a significant drop in water tables over the past few years.

However, Horizons Regional Council allays these concerns.

Horizons Regional Council groundwater scientist Stephen Collins said farmers that rely on their bore may notice the water level dropping during summer.

“While it is possible large irrigators can affect the local groundwater level, there are a range of factors that can affect the water level in a bore, such as seasonal water level fluctuations.

The previous three summers in the Manawatu have been particularly dry and we are finding that, in some areas at least, the winter rain has not recharged to pre-summer levels and this is likely to be affecting some bore owners.

“All water take applications, whether they are for irrigation, industrial use or water supply, need to be accompanied by an assessment of environmental effects.

“An assessment generally includes the likely effect that their activity will have on surface water bodies, neighbouring bores and the overall water resource.”

Mr Collins said this would address the likely effects that irrigation would have on water levels in neighbouring bores.

“Horizons would suggest any water users that are having difficulty with water supply from their bore to contact their local well driller to assess the situation in the first instance, or a pump specialist if they rely on free-flowing artesian pressure.

“If water users have ongoing issues with water supply, our groundwater team is also available for further advice and can be contacted at groundwater@ horizons.govt.nz or on 0508 800 800.”

The group’s spokesman said pump specialists would not be able to help those with smaller bores and well drillers could only put a new well in.

Over the cattle stop feature What’s happening over the cattle stop? As any farmer knows, the answer is — ‘everything!’ — as you can see in our light-hearted front page cartoon. This January the Northern Farming Lifestyles is a little different, as we’ve matched all of the

top agricultural support businesses between our covers with a bustling rural scene on page one.

The aim of the game is to match the numbers next to each little image of Kiwi farm life to the businesses who exemplify them.

Over the cattle stop map key 1 2

Excavators • • Graders Bulldozers • • Loaders Dump Trucks • • Rollers & Compaction Access equipment • • Large range of machinery

Ring for all your hire requirements

FREEPHONE 0800 447 392 Wellington | Palmerston North

www.hireways.co.nz | hire@hireways.co.nz

3 4 5 6 7

8

9

Septic/Effluent Heating, insulation, solar Water, drainage, storage, pools All vehicles, e.g. bikes, tractors Mechanical Repairs Farm Buildings, e.g. sheds, roofing, feedpads, cowsheds Building eg: Housing Companies, Contractors, Plumbers Houses, Electrical, Wiring etc Pasture Management Fertilisers, agri chemicals including applicators, orchardists Landscaping maintenance

10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Livestock Fishing, Hunting, Outdoors, Function Centres, Travel & Accomodation IT and Professional Services Fuel Around the Home Forestry Education Real Estate Dairying Rural Women, Health & Beauty Horticulture

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

January 2017

3

New Zealand AgriFood Investment Week returns for 2017 The New Zealand AgriFood Investment Week is set to return to the Manawatu in March.

In association with ASB, the New Zealand AgriFood Investment Week is designed to help New Zealand agrifood businesses succeed through the development of innovation, investment and people.

Project managed by the Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA), the week is set to deliver a dedicated programme of events designed to connect, challenge and grow the agrifood industry.

CEDA chairman Malcolm Bailey said the week will engage and bring together participants from right across the food value chain — from molecule to mouth — to attend nationally important forums, showcases and workshops.

The Sheep Milk New Zealand conference, New Zealand Future Farms, New Zealand Agribusiness Investment Showcase, ASB Perspective 2025, Central Districts Field Days, and Plate of Origin are national highlights of the week.

“The events are designed to establish

connections, fuel problem solving and encourage debate,” said Mr Bailey.

A number of regional showcases will also be on display such as Accelerate 25, Ballance Farm Environment Awards and a Manawatu Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness network event. ASB general manager rural Mark Heer said ASB is delighted to return as a sponsor to AgriFood Investment Week 2017.

“The inaugural event was a terrific success, showcasing innovation and investment opportunities within the agrifood sector and providing valuable connections and inspiration for those involved.

“The sector is rich in opportunity, and the week does a great job promoting awareness and bringing together leaders from across the agricultural value chain.

“ASB is very proud to sponsor this event, and it will be another calendar highlight for ASB’s rural team in 2017.”

New Zealand AgriFood Investment Week will take place from March 13–18.

7

ASB general manager rural Mark Heer opens the inaugural New Zealand Agri Investment Week in 2016

12

14

THE CLEAR SOLUTION

Spotless Glass For The Future Contact details: 0800 48 48 76 and website: www.vitroglaze.co.nz This specialised home service is backed by a lifetime warranty on new glass and a 5 year warranty on existing glass.

One off affordable application.

12 New Zealand AgriFood Investment Week

Programme Highlights Monday 13th March Sheep Milk NZ Conference

Tuesday 14th March NZ Future Farms Conference Plate of Origin Commences

Wednesday 15th March NZAgInvest Youth Day NZAgInvest Presents: Future Leaders

Thursday 16th March Central Districts Field Days NZ Agribusiness Investment Showcase

ONE PURPOSE • ONE WEEK • ONE CONVERSATION

Ballance Farm Environment Awards Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Networker

Friday 17th March ASB Perspective 2025 Central Districts Field Days facebook.com/ NZAgInvest

@NZAgInvest #NZAgInvest

www.NZAgInvest.co.nz

@PlateofOrigin #PlateofOrigin

4

January 2017

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

SHEAR HARD WORK PAYS OFF As a former member of the New Zealand Defence Force, Mitch Williams was deployed to some of the world’s hotspots. Now settled back in New Zealand, he’s shearing sheep and alpacas, as well as clipping the tails of dairy cattle.

BY DENISE GUNN

M

itch grew up on a 16-acre lifestyle block in Canterbury.

His father owns an electrical firm in Christchurch and when Mitch left school, he began an apprenticeship with one of his father’s businesses.

After completing his apprenticeship to qualify as an electrician, Mitch joined the New Zealand Army.

“I wanted to do something different so I joined the army as a sparky,” he said.

During his ten years in the army, Mitch was deployed to the desert sands of Iraq and Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain.

“I stayed in the army until 2010/2011 and then worked for an electrical company for another year or so in

Christchurch, working on dairy sheds and rural irrigation.”

With friends working as shearers, Mitch decided this was an industry he would also like to work in. He completed a full-time shearing course through TECTRA and began work in Jason Price’s shearing gang in Canterbury.

Shearing has taken him throughout northern Canterbury to work on a variety of farms and stations. He has also spent time shearing in Italy.

“Shearing is really different in Italy,” said Mitch. “They don’t have shearing sheds or rousies — they use shearing trailers.” Mitch said Italy’s sheep are mostly milking or meat breeds.

12

SERVING MANAWATU FOR OVER 100 YEARS CR Law Cooper Rapley Lawyers has an efficient, professional team of legal advisors who care, listen and communicate.

We work with our clients to achieve their desired outcome.

Call Palmerston North 06 353 5210 or Feilding 06 323 4282

or visit www.crlaw.co.nz for our full range of services

Mitch Williams offers mobile shearing and tail clipping services in the Rangitikei, Horowhenua and Manawatu districts

“We go in winter or summer to shear them when it’s quieter here in New Zealand. The fleece is mostly used for insulation.”

In 2015 Mitch formed a mobile business from his Manawatu base, shearing sheep and alpacas, as well as dairy cow tail clipping. Mitch can clip an average of 120 cow’s tails an

10

Equi-Sel Organic Selenium

FeedAid Feed Enhancer

Compose Calming and Settling

Liquid Blood Haematinic Tonic

hour, working either while the cows are being milked or standing in the shed. He uses a professional, portable clipping handpiece for the task. Tail clipping helps keep the udder clean and doesn’t prevent the cow from swatting flies.

“A pre-winter tail clip keeps them clean over winter.” With the demands on his mobile shearing and tail clipping

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

business growing, Mitch now travels all over the Rangitikei, Horowhenua and Manawatu districts.

“I don’t mind travelling,” he said.

“I enjoy meeting people and want to build up enough work so I can sustainably continue.”

Mitch’s clients range from lifestyle block owners with large flocks of sheep, to people with a pet lamb grazing the back lawn. He also offers drenching and hoof clipping for sheep and alpacas.

The demand for alpaca shearing is growing and Mitch learnt this technique from a large-scale breeder.

Due to the alpaca’s rigid backbone, the alpacas cannot be shorn in the same manner as sheep. The animals are usually placed on their side with restraints to keep them as still as possible. If shorn while lying down, the alpaca is placed on a shearing board or specialised sharing table. Either electric hand-pieces or hand-shears can be used. Fleece is removed from one side of the alpaca then it is rolled over to shear the other side.

Alpaca shearing has added diversification to Mitch’s mobile shearing business.

Mitch said a big drawcard to being his own boss is the flexibility of working hours, enabling him to spend more time with his two daughters. He also enjoys the physical aspect of his work and

January 2017

5

DRIVE PHONE FREE! 4 ANZ SURPLUS TRUCKS NZ Wide Service

0800 33 33 98

WE PAY CASH!! MOTOR HOMES TRUCKS VANS UTES 4X4 EVEN CARS

Is Your Truck Surplus To Requirement Fleet Upgrade COF Issues Not Running then you have what we want!!

0800 33 33 98

Alpaca shearing and dairy cow tail clipping has added diversification to Mitch’s businesses

15

being out and about. Although shearing tends to be seasonal work, Mitch is kept busy all-year-round with electrical work. He is also working on a few other creative enterprises. Eventually, with all of his businesses running, Mitch plans to employ an additional labour unit.

ARE YOUR GIRLS LAYING GOLDEN EGGS? No, we didn’t think so!

10

PROFESSIONAL | HARDWORKING | RELIABLE Forestry crew available for small or large woodlots

But do you ever wonder if the cost of keeping chickens outweigh the cost of the eggs they produce?

A Grandpas Feeder will help keep your feed costs low, saving you $$

CALL RAMON NOW 027 496 2546

The John Deere 6 Series Tractors -

We like to let our customers do the talking.

To see what they have to say, visit our website www.grandpasfeeders.co.nz

4

PERFORMANCE without Compromise

Email: mark@grandpasfeeders.co.nz | Phone: 07 552 5225 or 027 276 9794

18

Your First Choice in Rural Service and Supplies.

Everytime.

Select the best model for you and discover the exceptional level of performance this extraordinary range of tractors can offer. With horsepower ranging from 100 to 215, there is a model to suit your needs - perfectly.

FINANCE AVAILABLE FROM

1.49 %

*

P.A.

0800 333 737

cervusequipment.co.nz

Contact your local CERVUS EQUIPMENT today and be prepared to be impressed.

0800 4 U 2 MILK Palmerston North Branch 160 Fairs Road | 06 357 7723 Pahiatua Branch 149 Main Street | 06 376 7770

OPEN 24/7

FEILDING - 06 350 0042 15 Darragh Road info@macdougalls.co.nz macdougalls.co.nz

*CONDITIONS: Finance is available through John Deere Financial Ltd to approved commercial applicants only. Fees & charges apply. Offer is based on a 20% deposit, GST back & 36 month term. If not amended or withdrawn earlier, the promotion expires 28 February 2017.

6

January 2017 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

A journey with Guernseys

BY DENISE GUNN

Ken and Leslie Lichtwark run a dual-breed milking operation near Hunterville, with a passion for both Guernsey and Holstein Friesians.

T

he couple have found Guernseys to be an alternative to crossbreeding and the breed has long featured in the Lichtwark’s herd.

Raised on a Waikato dairy farm, Ken has always worked in the dairy industry.

Leslie began her career working in a bank. The pair managed a dairy farm in the Coromandel for five years before moving into a sharemilking position near Matamata. They bought a small herd of cows, comprising of mostly Jersey, with some Friesians and cross-breeds.

It was during a visit to the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek that the couple first viewed Guernsey cattle. Ken said that due to Guernsey

8

being a minor breed, there were no purebred stock in New Zealand, so they had to breed up from another base.

“In the early 1990s we purchased and imported a Guernsey yearling called Crookslea Victory Susan from Neville and Margaret Wilkie in Victoria, Australia. We also imported embryos from the Ran Don Stud in Canada and we managed to get two Jasper heifers.

From those two heifers today we now have six descendants.”

In 2003 the Lichtwark family moved to the central Hawke’s Bay. Six years ago they moved to Hunterville where Ken manages Mellington Dairy for the Bull family. The 256ha farm employs

Ken and Leslie (standing and seated on the right) with a Guernsey New Zealand conference tour group to their farm

18 3

SIS BALL COCK VALVE Price $99.50+GST Freight free anywhere in NZ

• Buy 10 receive 12 and 2x service kits • 3 models available – all the one price • Nearly indestructible • Only NZ Manufacturer providing lifetime guarantee in body of the ballcock

We do a range of agricultural contracting jobs including silage, hay bales, ploughing and drilling, crops and rural carting, conventional hay baling and cartage.

Call Andrew: 027 444 9833 akpedley@compassnet.co.nz 10

www.sisballcock.co.nz | 0800 175 720 Only available direct from manufacturer

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

8 Functional Fertiliser Ltd have created

® DoloZest DoloZest ®

Gr

ow i

ng Smar

te r

five staff, including Ken and Leslie.

“We are all on a roster of six days and two days off,” said Ken. The farm’s high input feeding system provides 4,500kg wet and 2,250kg of dry matter per cow, per year. A further 1.5 tonne of grain is fed in the shed.

Annual production for the farm has been close to 440,000kgMS or around 520kgMS per cow. The 940-cow herd calves three times a year — in July, August and September. The Litchwark’s cows, currently 130 Holstein Friesians and 30 Guernseys, run with the herd. “It fits into the farm system,” said Leslie.

Ken said Leslie’s main job is feeding all the calves. For the past 26 years, the Lichtwark family have shown their dairy cattle.

“Our daughters, Sharlotte and Phillippa, when they were young, were keen on showing and competing in young handlers competitions with the Guernseys and Holstein Friesians,” said Ken. Sharlotte won an exchange trip to go to Australia in 2008 to an All Breeds Youth Camp in Gippsland. She went to Campertown to Total Livestock Genetics for a week and travelled to Shepparton to help Neville Wilkie, Mark and Tyson Shea at the International Dairy Week.”

Both daughters are now married with children. Although Phillippa no longer shows dairy cattle, Sharlotte is still very involved with breeding, showing and helping out at the annual New Zealand Dairy Event.

Now the next generation is showing an interest with Ken and Leslie’s granddaughter making an entrance in

7

January 2017

Functional Fertiliser Sin

ce 2010

0800 843 809 www.esi.org.nz

&&CalciZest CalciZest

The soil-biology based fertilisers that promote longer deeper roots, increased pasture growth and carbon sequestration.

Claims backed by years of on-farm data collection

4

Our Pole Sheds are awesome!!!

The couple’s granddaughter Elizabeth is showing a keen interest in Guernseys

the ring. “Our granddaughter Elizabeth has shown her first calf, Keslie Ladokda Adelle, this year at the New Zealand Dairy Event.” Ken and Leslie continue to show their Guernseys at the New Zealand

Dairy Event and travel to Taranaki to compete in a couple of shows each year.

They belong to Guernsey New Zealand as well as the New Zealand Holstein Friesian Association breed societies.

7

Call Tim at Venluree today for quality New Zealand made Blinds.

Ph: 0800 836 587

RuralLink Buildings can be custom designed to your specifications and are Exclusive to Eastown

Blinds Curtains Screens Security Awnings Shutters

NZ FREE MADE & DESIGNED

DELIVERY*

DIY FULL

OR

BUILD

* WITHIN 30KM OF EASTOWN BUILDLINK YARD

Landscaping | Building | Fencing

eastown

TIMBER & FENCING

QUALIT Y TI M B E R, B EST PR ICES 4 Holyoake Street, Wanganui East. Ph: 349 0040 Open: Mon-Fri 7:30am to 5pm Sat: 8:30 am - Noon www.eastownbuildlink.co.nz

or 021 517 3536

Read the paper online farminglifestyles.co.nz

visit us at www.venluree.co.nz

18

THE FASTEST

& MOST

AFFORDABLE WAY OF INCREASING SOIL pH ON HILL COUNTRY FARMS

pH  New patented application technology  Only the Finest grade Ag lime applied evenly  Less costs, better efficiency

6

5.9 5.8 5.7 5.6 5.5

CALL US TODAY 0800 2 ROTOR (0800 276 867) | WWW.ROTORWORK.CO.NZ

January 2017

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

9

TRIMMING PRICES, NOT QUALITY.

RED HOT PRICE

122C

$194

21.7cc - 0.76kW - 4.4kg Smart Start®, Auto-return stop switch, Low noise engine, Adjustable handle, Tap ‘N Go™ trimmer head.

WAS $279

*Save up to $100 on selected models. $189 refers to model 122C. Offers valid 1/9/16 – 28/02/2017 at participating dealers only.

was $399

122LK 21.7cc 0.6kW - 4.7kg

NOW $349

322L 22.5cc 0.75kW - 4.2kg

was $499

525LST 25.4cc 0.95kW - 4.7kg

NOW $449

was $849

was $899

was $729

NOW $629

135R 34.6cc 1.4kW - 6.8kg

NOW $799

525RS 25.4cc 0.95kW - 5.0kg

NOW $749

HEDGE YOUR BETS was $549

499

$ 122HD45

save 50

Bar length 45cm - Teeth opening 28mm, Low Vib®, Smart Start®, Auto-return stop switch, Low noise engine.

HOT OFFER

1049

$

*

$

21.7cc - 0.6kW - 4.7kg

226HD60s

319

$

125B

21.7cc - 0.6kW - 4.9kg Bar length 60cm - Teeth opening 28mm, Low Vib®, Smart Start®, Autoreturn stop switch, Low noise engine, 5-way adjustable rear handle.

28.0cc - 0.8kW - 4.2kg Air Speed 209kph, E-Tech® engine, Auto-return stop switch, Cruise control, In-line air outlet, Adjustable tube length.

YOU COULD TAKE IT HOME TODAY

30 3

MONTHS INTEREST FREE^

3,999

TS138 $ Husqvarna Series™ Intek engine 17.5hp* - 38” Cutting Deck.

Automatic transmission.

5,799

$ TS246 Husqvarna Endurance Series™ V-Twin engine 22.0hp* - 46” Reinforced Cutting Deck

Z242E TM Husqvarna Endurance Series * V-Twin engine 20.0hp 42” TM ClearCut Fabricated Cutting Deck.

5,999

R216 Briggs & Stratton Intek engine 9.6kW@2900rpm 94cm Cutting Deck,

$

Don’t wait any longer, buy it now!

30 3

Don’t wait any longer, you could take your new Husqvarna Garden Tractor home today with 30 months interest free on purchases $2,599 and over. Offer ends 28th February 2017 ^Available at participating Husqvarna Dealers only. Conditions apply, visit www.husqvarna.com or see instore for details.

MONTHS INTEREST FREE^

7,499

$

Ask us about our 5 year warranty*

30 Months, NO DEPOSIT, INTEREST FREE^

*Conditions apply, see instore for details or visit husqvarna.com.au

TAKE THE HUSQVARNA AUTOMOWER CHALLENGE! 320

FA C T I TIS A

305

O N

S

8

DAY UA

RANT

30 3

MONTHS INTEREST FREE^

was $2,599

45 G

Working area up to 500m2 Cutting width 17cm Cutting height 20-50mm - Li-ion battery 3 Cutting blades

Working area up to 6000m2 Cutting width 32cm - GPS remote module. PIN/ Alarm, Timer

2,299

$

EE

Hunterville Service Centre Ltd Robbies Mechanical Services Paragon Motorcycles Ltd Feilding Chainsaw & Mower 1988 Ltd

3,999

$

265ACX

was $5,999

5,499

$

www.husqvarna.co.nz

Call your local authorised Husqvarna Servicing Dealer, Hunterville Marton Wanganui Feilding

Working area up to 2200m2 Cutting width 22cm Cutting height 20-50mm - Li-ion battery 3 Cutting blades

06 06 06 06

322 8360 327 7115 345 0001 323 4144

Palmerston North Palmerston North Levin

City Honda Norwood Farm Machinery Palmerston North Andersons Outdoor Machinery Ltd

06 357 7027 06 351 2799 06 368 9665

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

Master of mulching

January 2017

9

20

by Andy Bryenton

Lifestyle blocks can be rewarding and picturesque — after all the hard work of clearing scrub and taming invasive undergrowth is done, of course. Breaking in new ground on this kind of scale may be too small a task to warrant a massive tractor slasher or bobcat, but it’s too much for the average mower.

That’s where Kiwi company Masport have found a brand new niche for a new breed of ride-on machine — a beefed-up, hard-core cousin to the average lawn tractor which they call the Crossjet.

A cross breed of conventional mower and the kind of big slasher deployed by farmers to make new pasture from rugged regrowth, the Crossjet chews through its meal of blackberry, kikuyu and reeds with an insatiable appetite, shredding it all down with a pair of flail blades driven by a high-capacity V-twin engine.

In a practical test, clearing half an acre neglected for over three years, the Crossjet was undaunted by growth up to waist height.

The two-wheel-drive version — perfect for level ground — uses its weight and a set of tube steel nudge bars to crush even the gnarliest growth under, where a seriously heavyduty cutting deck takes matters in hand.

Even small wattle saplings, immature gorse and other pithy fare came out the other side as finger-length mulch, without the engine missing a beat.

Lining up on some serious overgrowth — head high in some places and laced with blackberry canes — the Crossjet plowed right in, and with some artful use of the machine’s small turning circle and hand-operated forward and

P: 06 364 2206 E: otakihydroponics@clear.net.nz 1083 SH1 OTAKI

ummer time in the garden is both a feast for the eye and the palate, however, we are not the only ones feasting from our vegetable patch.

The White butterfly caterpillar can do an enormous amount of damage in a very short space of time.

reverse throttle, the lot was soon razed flat. In fact, it was never necessary to engage the optional diff lock to get out of tight spots — an option that’s there if the green stuff really gets stroppy.

About the only criticism one could level at this machine is that the throttle control — which must be constantly operated by your right hand — needs a

firm grip, and perhaps a glove if you’re in the saddle for extended periods of time. Even after a solid hour of chopping, it had only depleted half a tank of gas, too. For just a little more than the average ride-on — and less than a commercial zero-turn — it’s the perfect companion for lifestyle block owners with big ground to cover.

Some will say it is a waste of time growing brassicas at this time of the year but I have found a successful way to get a head start on cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower for the winter.

I grow all my brassicas under the cover of bug net. Making completely sure that the entire bed is covered, and oh that feeling of sheer pleasure watching the white butterfly trying in vain to find a way in.

7

SAFETY FIRST

ON THE FARM

JOHN GOMMANS DIRECTOR

0274 443 268 LOOK OUT FOR YOUR WORK MATES

6

7

10

we boar in!

SUPPLYING YOU WITH YOUR CONCRETING & METAL NEEDS

1050 Tremaine Ave Palmerston North Phone: 06 355 5284 Email: info@pcsmanawatu.co.nz

pcsmanawatu.co.nz

18

18

Stu’s Agricultural Contracting Limited

est 2001

WANTED FOR SHEARING AND FENCING • Competitive rates • 20 years experience • FCANZ member • Contract & hourly rates • Professional team

do your sheep, fencing & bank balance justice All enquiries welcome; Ph: 027 413 4580 or 06 342 4803 or email: stusagri@farmside.co.nz

The key points to successful growing at this time of the year are:• Giving your garden a good deep watering once every few days.

• Checking all your brassica seedlings are free of caterpillar eggs before you plant under bug net.

• Before planting seedlings give them a good soak in a weak solution of worm tea or seaweed tea to get them off to the best possible start.

Don’t let the bugs be the winners in your garden this summer.

Come and see our range of cloche frames and bug net.

Rock Picker NZ Importer & Operator New Zealand’s Best Rock Picker

Have you got a problem with rocks, stones and wood laying in your paddocks?

Reduce mower & bailer damage and increase grass productivity.

Call Country Machinery NOW! Great Rates - Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Call Now Dean: 027 550 7986 Office: 06 329 3900 • A/h: 06 323 1279 Email: info@countrymachinery.co.nz • Cnr SH1 and SH3, Sanson

Follow my blog for more on getting the best from your vegetable patch

KIVI-PEKA

www.otakihydro.co.nz/blog HAPPY GARDENING TO YOU ALL

10

January 2017 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

ADVERTORIAL

Assumption vs reality

by John K Morris CEO of Agrissentials

With the increasing global demand for certified organic food, comes a myriad of assumptions and fairy tales, fabricated by the chemical cowboys, in an endeavour to continue to sell their toxic chemical products.

Hello cowboys! The consumers have already changed and are demanding safe, certified, nutritiously dense food produced in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner.

The chemical age is on the way out, as consumers call out for healthy, wholesome food produced from healthy, wholesome soils that maintain a healthy, wholesome environment.

7

Here at Agrissentials we specialise in multi-mineral, microbial rich, live, living fertilisers designed to bring health and vitality back to soils and back to our food, together with enhancement of the environment, the waterways, the lakes and the fore shores.

This new consumer demand for better quality food opens the door to all aspects of food production, plus better returns

BRANDERSON HOMES LTD PRE BUILT HOMES

OFFICE LOCATED AT: 37 HAUTAPU RD, CAMBRIDGE � TELEPHONE: 07 827 3901 Email: branderson.homes@xtra.co.nz ������������������� Web: www.brandersonhomes.co.nz Please send us an information pack about your Transportable Pre-Built Homes Name Address Phone __________________________ Style/Size Please mail to: Branderson Homes Ltd, PO Box 434, Cambridge, 3450

for better quality food. The change from agro-chemical production to natural certified production is seamless. It all happens in the soil with Agrissentials best on earth Organx™ fertilisers by increasing the microbial wealth and the multi-mineral value in the soil. The other two critical factors are sunlight and water. Get this equation right and production happens.

Agrissentials multi-mineral system is The Key to plant, animal and human immunity. Instead of just synthetic N, P and K, Agrissentials fertilisers have a full complement of macro elements and trace minerals, necessary to build strong immunity to fight pest and disease.

The natural minerals in Agrissentials fertilisers are converted by the microorganisms to a plant available form, and wrapped in humus, so that they don’t leach from the soil. The plant’s roots reach into the humus and extract the minerals they need.

Within this system these minerals are recognised at the cellular level of the plant — the ultimate level for plant uptake, growth and energy. The plant then passes these minerals onto the animals and humans, which in turn helps to build their immune systems.

It’s a cunning old natural plan that has

been operating on the planet for millions of years.

Please, also note that the humus manufactured by the microorganisms not only holds the minerals from leaching, but also increases the water retaining quality in the soil.

As a commercial grower for twenty odd years and a commercial fertiliser manufacturer for 30 years, I have experienced both sides of the fence, both the natural and the chemical. Whoever set up the natural system installed all the checks and balances to sustain life on the planet — the ultimate being a full complement of natural minerals, to build immunity into all life.

The introduction of the NPK balance sheet theory and its lack of natural minerals has opened up a wide corridor for the introduction of pharmaceutical rescue remedies, sorry no cures.

If you are looking for an opportunity to increase revenue on the farm, think seriously about organics, and give us a call on 0800 THE KEY for a FREE INFO PACK, that’s 0800 843 539 to find out how we can partner with you to find a better way of farming. Alternatively you can contact your best on earth fertiliser representative Ben Tippins on 021 738 601 to grab your special deal today.

8

Introducing Agrissentials Microbial Mascot

“Tommy Tardigrada” Representing front row material for good healthy soil!

Tommy weighs in at approx .0005 of a gram, with an overall height of .5 of a millimetre, almost the size of a poppy seed.

Tommy and his billions of “tardigrada” friends are at the “coal face” of soil enhancement, bringing life and vitality to the soil.

The more diversity of micro-organisms you have in your soil the more production you will gain from your soil. www.agrissentials.com 0800 843 539

rok@agrissentials.com

Best on earth Organx™ fertilisers

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

January 2017

11

12

Local > Reliable > Fas 0800 484 363

Local > Reliable > Fast > Broadband

Get

connected Just because you live in the country, doesn’t mean you should have to put up with slow, expensive broadband.

Inspire Net is a local Internet Service Provider which specialises in providing local, reliable, fast broadband.

We’ve put on our gumboots, dug trenches to lay cable and installed wireless networks to bring high speed, reliable broadband to you - at a reasonable price.

So go to inspire.net.nz to find out whether we are in a paddock near you, and if we’re not, get in touch to find out how we can partner with you and your neighbours to bring the world to your gate.

inspire.net.nz

0800 484 363

12

January 2017

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

More than an extra pair of hands

Be water wise this summer

by Andy Bryenton

When there’s plenty to move around the farm — from sacks of fert to bales of feed and more — it’s easy to wish for another pair of hands. Or, in the case of Merlo’s Turbofarmer telehandler, one extremely large, hydraulic powered hand that can do it all.

Merlo has been in the business of shifting heavy agricultural loads since the early 1980s — when the rest of us were still listening to new wave — the engineers from Piedmont, Italy were designing a whole new way to transport pallets, scoops and bales of just about anything.

Having already designed goanywhere concrete mixers and tracked vehicles, Merlo SpA bosses conceived of a combination tractor, forklift and telescopic-boom crane. Calling it the SM30, Merlo debuted their new machine to huge enthusiasm.

Today, with the benefit of three more decades of tuning and improvements, the top agricultural telehandler in the business just might be the big, capable Merlo TF42.7CS-156.

Call it the top-tier Turbofarmer for short, but don’t call it underpowered — under the hood the Italians have teamed up with ag engineering giant Deutz-Fahr to pack in a 156-horsepower four-litre diesel. This German-made mill complies with rigorous emissions standards, but still churns out a phenomenal amount of torque to get all those jobs done — 609 Newton-metres at a mere 1,600rpm. With a traditional side-cab

DON’T WASTE IT 2

7

12

14

MASTER PLUMBER 24/7 • Plumbing • Pumps • Drainage • Water Tanks • Gas • Solar • Water Filtration System • Gas & Wood Fires

email: info@semtex.co.nz Ph: 022 194 5892 web: www.semtex.co.nz 15

design offering extreme visibility, and intuitive controls to manage the varied optional boom-end tools available, this telehandler makes short work of major lifting and carrying.

Its small turning radius enables ease of access to sheds and barns, and that extending boom gives it a long reach beyond that of tractor-mounted handling systems. For the big farm, where there’s always plenty to stow, transport and

deploy, this extra pair of hands actually does the job of several other men and machines.

If you need to transport up to 4,200 kilos at a time, or reach above seven metres and out three, then there’s no substitute for a heavy duty telehandler, and it makes sense to take a close look at the latest offering from the company who started the revolution in the first place.

4

WE ARE THE TREE EXPERTS 100% GUARANTEED Professionally Qualified to Deliver a Quality Service • All Tree Removals • Tree Reductions • Confined Tree Removals • Formative pruning • Fruit Tree Pruning • Total Tree & Shrub Management • Storm Damage • Stump Grinding • Wood Splitting • Fire Wood • Landscape Design & Construction • Consultancy Service • Full Insurance COUNCIL APPROVED ARBORIST, MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORICULTURE

For competitive quotes and advice you can trust

www.guardiantreeservices.co.nz

06 354 6990

ROBERTSON TYRE SERVICES

SPECIALISTS IN AGRICULTURAL TYRE SALES AND SERVICE MITAS TYRES

THE HARDWORKING CTX200 ⊲ Dependable 197cc air-cooled 4-stroke 2-valve single cylinder engine.

5-speed transmission. ⊲ Sealed long-life O-ring drive chain.

Back-up kick start and electric starter with CDI ignition. ⊲ Dismount while still in gear thanks to the manual clutch with handlebar mounted lock. ⊲ Controlled suspension action and improved handling thanks to the large diameter front forks with long 158mm travel.

ON YOUR FARM FOR

$5,495

PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY

INC GST

Servicing the Manawatu

visit

200 Taupo Quay, Wanganui P: 06 345 4149 | Geoff: 027 431 5050

ROBERTSON TYRE SERVICES Contact: Matt or Terry | Phone: 06 355 5082 56 Railway Road, Palmerston North | Email: tyres@robertsons.co.nz

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

Irrigation Matters with Clem Powell

13

January 2017

Save Lives

The mystery of pipelines Pipelines are those expensive things you have to have to convey water or other fluids (or gases) and best bought at cheapest possible price — correct? Wrong! If you consider it, they are often difficult to alter if the system is incorrect.

All liquids and gases moving along a containment vessel have pressure loss due to friction from the walls and turbulence from various changes in the shape or direction of the vessel.

Temperature of the liquid also has a bearing, but let’s keep it to the most basic issue of pressure loss.

Also some things which can be done to cut down on the turbulence including long radius bends instead of tight bends, welded fittings in place of threaded sockets, etc. One of the biggest mysteries for amateurs is the relationship between pipe sizes and friction loss/flow rate. In a nutshell, the friction loss multiplies as the pipe size reduces — they are not proportional!

Often a bargain price for next-sizesmaller pipe has a major negative impact on the efficiency of the system.

As a scenario: Consider a small block irrigation scheme of 4ha. The well and shared pump are 200m into neighbouring property and the most distant hydrant on the block is a further 300m, making maximum delivery length of 500m.

The flow required is 300L/min. At this

point it doesn’t matter what type of irrigator is used, seeing as we’re only considering the pressure loss in the main pipeline.

Sizes discussed will all be internal to avoid confusion between PVC, LDPE and MDOD pipe options (never mind aluminium).

If 3" pipe were used the friction/pressure loss could be 9psi for the full distance, if 2½" used could be 22psi loss, 2¼" could be 50psi loss, and good ole 2" alkathene could be 87psi loss! This is without the pressure required to run the irrigator or allowing for rising ground, etc. If 2" alkathene were selected for this job then the pump would quite possibly need to be 7.5hp larger than if 3" pipe were used.

Rather a sober consideration for a small system and a great energy waste which

6

7

18

10

20

DANNEVIRKE

FARM SHEDS

No job too big, No job too small

could easily be avoided. Next time — The mystery of pumps!

If you wish to have further discussion regarding this article you can contact Clem Powell on 027 599 9273.

T: Nigel Walshe 06 374 6045 155 – 163 High St, Dannevirke OPEN 7 DAYS HOURS: Mon–Fri 7:30am–5pm Sat 9am–4pm, Sun 10am–4pm Timber Yard Sat 9am–1pm, Sunday Closed

1

3

PUMPING PROBLEM? NO PROBLEM FOR US!

ATTENTION SEPTIC TANK OWNERS Save money by keeping your septic system effective and healthy

Ferbo Diesel Drive Pumps

Ferbo Hard Hose Irrigators for Water & Effluent

Septic tanks and multi-stage septic systems are delicately balanced environments. It does not take much to upset them. Common practice is to ignore the septic system until problems occur, such as nasty odours, leach line blockages, untreated liquid rising to the surface or gurgling toilets taking time to empty. Good practice is to always keep your septic system well maintained.

ELECTRIC SAER SPECIAL! 7.5kw Washdown or Irrigation Pump Usually $1899+gst | Now $1399+gst

0800 426 296

IRRI-MAX

LTD

027 599 9273 www.irrimax.co.nz

septi-cure is:

10

› Cost Effective › Easy To use › Improves Soakage

› Reduces Solids and Scums › Eliminates Nasty Odours › Reduces Costly Pump-outs

Breakthrough Product Developed for your Septic Tank

Meet Your Local Wool Representative at PGG Wrightson Wool

Want to find the best way to market your wool?

A satisfied customer in Hamilton has been using Septi-Cure for over five years.

He says this allows them to have an odour free septic tank with low maintenance costs. He also says that his service person is amazed at how well Septi-Cure works, keeping their tank in very good condition. * Results May Vary Before*

Expertise is only a phone call away PGG Wrightson Wool Ltd handles in excess of 350,000 bales annually through its wool store network strategically positioned around New Zealand and its export company Bloch and Behrens.

Andrew Anderson Feilding/Taihape

027 7029 496

Tony Cox

Wanganui

027 5965 144

Eric Constable

Wanganui/Taranaki 027 4409 784

0800 109 202

www.ecoworld.co.nz

After*

Also Available from:

14

January 2017

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

Soil Matters with Peter Burton What you may not already know A popular belief at present is that a concerted push to reduce the environmental pressure of intensive pastoral farming will mean less pasture grown, resulting in decreasing total farm production, smaller factories and associated infrastructure, fewer dollars being circulated and a decline in economic activity, with communities as a whole suffering.

In essence, there is an acceptance that present pasture and farm production can only be maintained through the continued degradation of soil. Total milk solid production per hectare has risen over the last thirty years, mainly

15

BOYD LTD

CONTRACTING

Woodlot Harvesting

Aaron Boyd 027 323 2693

due to increased supplement being fed and fewer animals being wintered at home. Over the same period the amount of total permanent pasture grown on intensive pastoral farms has steadily fallen in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

Organic carbon levels in these soils over the same time have also declined, and soils containing the most carbon have the greatest production potential. The link between carbon and production is fully appreciated by profitable farmers, with the most expensive soils being those that are blackest and deepest.

Historically it was always understood that continuously cropped soils yielded less over time, and the remedy was to return those areas to grazed permanent pasture. If soil could be recovered then, why is that not happening now?

Modern agriculture has focussed on the nutrient content of soil (mainly NPK), with the inference being that every other aspect is of lesser importance.

Maybe if carbon had been included in the measures, the environmental problems faced now would have been avoided. Soil organic carbon is the basis

of humus and provides storage for both nutrient and moisture. There’s a direct link between carbon and nitrogen, so as carbon is sequestered, extra nitrogen can be stored.

Carbon acts as a filter, and when it comes to food production, the primary role of pastoral farming, reduced carbon in the soil means less filtering takes place and more spray residue and heavy metal makes its way to us through the food produced from it.

A recent article by Blake Holbrook of Rabobank states that the way forward for NZ agriculture is to embrace sustainability. The majority of purchasers have no connection with land and farming practices, but do have a firmly held concept of sustainability.

As they are the folk that are prepared to pay top dollar for quality food, it is their requirements that must be satisfied for us to achieve those prices.

The other option is to continue to provide commodity products sold at auction for a fraction of the price.

It’s the story behind the food that people buy, eg where and how grown, and can we go on doing it indefinitely? We

all use those multiple criteria, whether we appreciate it or not. Buying decisions are 100% emotional and when it comes to food, those with higher incomes are becoming increasingly choosy.

Clean and green is fast becoming outdated. Farmers must go well beyond meeting minimum standards and embrace farming practices that are shown to be truly sustainable, with the cornerstone being soil organic carbon positive.

There are products and practices already well-refined that provide farmers with this ability to continuously increase production, outperforming their conventional neighbours, at significantly lower cost.

Groups of these switched-on operators are working together to sell their products into markets willing to pay more money than can be made from conventionally produced and marketed commodities.

It’s early days for this movement, but momentum is building, and those that get there first will benefit most. For more information contact Peter on 0800 843 809.

4

11

THE SIDE-BY-SIDE THAT’S GOT IT ALL

$19,995 EX GST 100% finance available to approved purchasers

NEW UPGRADE MODEL NEW YEAR SPECIAL

$1,000 OFF

1100EFI SO MANY FEATURES

listed price until end of January

1100cc 4 cyl. 16 valve engine, 5 x speed transmission, hydraulic clutch, 2WD / 4WD, diff. lock front & rear, max speed 70kph, snorkel, motorised tipping rear deck, fully foldable windscreen, front mounted electric winch, roof mounted LED light bar, all steel construction, disc brakes all round, amazing carrying capacity (front, roof, rear tray), road registrable, dimensions 3270x1550x2065 (mm) (LxWxH).

GET YOUR LICENCE AND INFO FAST at

www.fishandgame.org.nz 10

11

18

20

BUY DIRECT FROM THE IMPORTER! Lifestyle Tractors & Machinery Ltd • www.lifestyletractors.co.nz

Tel. 03 347 4956 • Mob. 027 477 0070 • Email. tractors@lifestyletractors.co.nz

12

19

Whitehead

Chiropractic Clinic

Request an appointment today Phone: 06 357 8981

A new design, as a result of two years consultation with DOC! A better, more effective, light weight and easy-to-use trap that anyone can use!

For use wherever possums are present. From the manufacturers of the DOC Series 100,200 and 250 Traps.

To place your order or request more information email

sales@trapinator.co.nz

www.trapinator.com

or ph 09 5794089 or stop in to our factory 7A Carmont Pl, Mt Wellington, Auckland

Passes Nawac humane guidelines!

HEADACHES NERVE PAIN NECK & BACK PAIN LEG & HIP PAIN WELLNESS CARE

A SAFER OPTION FOR • Back pain • Neck Pain • Hip Pain

Welcome to Whitehead Chiropractic Centre Trusted Locally for over 50 years in Pain Management and Prevention Studies show that as the cervical spine is rehabilitated and adjusted, balance and posture will naturally improve without any additional specific balance or posture training.

This is also important information for an aging population in regards to fall prevention; getting regular adjustments can help reduce the risk of further catastrophic injury.

341 Featherston Street Palmerston North ACC registered

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

Uncommon sense

15

January 2017

David Law, Managing Director of Forward Farming Consultancy

The answer does lie in the soil A lot can be learned or assumed by a slow drive down a farmer’s tanker track, particularly if cattle are close enough to observe.

To a trained eye, the state of their health is very noticeable, and often the reasons for them not looking in top condition can also be obvious.

Arriving at the cowshed can be an eye opener. Empty pallets of containers of used products lying around the implement shed can tell its own story.

One particular shed I visited recently had no room for implements as every imaginable additive was stored there!

After greeting the farmer we made our way to the primary reason for which I had been called, the effluent pond.

Then the real discussion began as we related the state of the pond to their management systems.

I will walk you through the issues in this column just as I worked through them with the farmer. Modern farming is plagued by back-to-front thinking, where it seems the main additive missing is common sense.

This farmer then asked me to visit his friend, who was experiencing major animal health issues on his farm, and despite seeking expert advice he had been unable to find any real solution.

He started the season on June 1 with 500 cows to calve, and now has a little over 460 to complete the season with.

Twenty-two cows died from metabolic problems, 63 had clinical milk fever, and some aborted. Although these cows will be milked, they will only make good milking cows look bad when counted as an average. This problem has been ongoing for four years. The solution given to fix the problem?

More additives! Last summer, farmers, particularly in the North Island, were plagued by uncontrollable facial eczema despite near toxic levels of zinc being administered.

The season before, Waikato vets were puzzled by large numbers of young cows breaking their shoulders. They would just be walking along and they would collapse. When you talk around, this problem is quite common. Let’s apply some common sense and look at the big picture.

If additives can fix a lot of these ailments then there must be something missing somewhere. Some simple questions arise: • Could this possibly be associated with what the cows eat?

• Is there something missing in the feed?

• What is causing deficiencies in the feed?

• If grass is grown in soil, is this where the problem is?

For the last 40 years the fertiliser industry has adopted the NPK approach.

Some forward thinking people call this incomplete soil nutrition.

Science states 16 elements are needed to grow balanced grass.

After 40 years of largely NPK dominance (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), then just maybe, without using my calculator, there are approximately 13 nutrients running a tad low in the soils.

The general thinking could be that it is too expensive to fully balance the soil and as a result, other nutrients needed are fed directly to the cow as an additive. So we now see the additive industry booming.

Interesting point — prior to my visit, the farmer that had 22 cows die had been given a fertiliser recommendation

4

10

18

20

Farm Fit & Fit For Farms Topselling Range Range 60–100kms

of 500kg/ha Superphosphate and 800kg/ha of urea. No attention was given to the elements which will help his metabolic problems. A good full soil test will show up the elements lacking and highlight the cause of this farmer’s frustration. There is a trial in Methven comparing two farms; one using the NPK (incomplete soil nutrition plus additives, and the other farm using the Albecht/Kinsey system of soil fertility.

The Albrecht/Kinsey approach of balancing and providing full soil nutrition may assume a higher cost, but they are showing superior results and higher profits overall.

Particularly interesting is that the NPK farm developed serious grass staggers, killing five cows, and 12 down-cows required treatment over a

two-week period as bad weather struck during the third rotation (Oct and Nov).

Although magnesium-chloride was being administered, the cows drank less water over this period and hence a magnesium deficiency appeared. The treatment was to begin dusting with magnesium on the NPK farm. The Albrecht/Kinsey farm had abundant and balanced magnesium and calcium reserves in the soil to carry them through without issue.

From my observations, the modern scientific approach of full soil nutrition and a comprehensive soil analysis will highlight the cause of animal health problems and reduce your animal wastage. Evidence has shown that soils with low zinc create challenges in avoiding eczema. This will be your next issue to face.

11

7

18

TOPLINE FENCING CONTRACTORS Members of the Fencing Contractors Association

“WHEN EXPERIENCE COUNTS”

The Constant Angle Knife Sharpening System

RIES

SE PRECISION

The indexed rotating clamping system 3 Angle adjustments 12°, 20°, 25° Your knife is always in the same place • High Grade Stainless Steel • Hygienic • Easy Care Commercial fencing • Enclosures • Farm fences School fences • Residential fencing • Retaining Walls Topline Fencing is a provider of quality fencing for over 26 years. You can choose from a wide variety of fencing materials, such as chain link, wood, electric, and invisible.

Deluxe Precision Kit Pictured

T: 06 368 9849 | M: 0274 549 573 E: toplinefencing@xtra.co.nz W: www.toplinefencing.co.nz

See our website for the full range www.scarysharp.co.nz Talk to the manufacturer toll free 0800 175 720

8 • CANTERBURY • STRIKER • BRASSICAS • CUTTER • WHITE CLOVER • ENTICER • ALURE • HARVEY • RILEY • WHEAT • BARLEY • OATS • PEAS • RED CLOVER • PERENNIALS AND ANNUALS

Farm • Fishing • Hunting • Bach • Trails • Recreation • Fun The Electric Bike Specialists .....

6 Centennial Drive, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North www.ezyrider.bike

Pay attention!

around road works

A IN &

SEED DRESSI

ID G E CRSEEDS

GR

NG

QUA LITY PASTURE SEED

LOAD UP FOR 2017 SOWDOWN For All Seed requirements and advice on sowing pastures, please contact: Cridge Seeds Ltd – Doyleston – Canterbury Meeting farming requirements throughout the generations Phone 03 324 3951 or Stu 027 432 3834 or Aaron 022 608 9251 or Julie 027 324 4431

16

January 2017

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

Steps to joint health

by John Arts

Part one: Osteoarthritis can cause anything from mild discomfort to seriously restricting quality of life. While medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs provide predictable results, nutritional therapy is more unpredictable.

Experimentation is important. Some people find their arthritis is greatly influenced by diet while others less so. I generally recommend that people keep clear of common citrus fruits and acidic fruits in general. I am helping one person who by trial and error has found she is very sensitive to strawberries. I am not sure why but small joint arthritis, especially hand joints, seem to be more sensitive to acidic foods. I start most people on an anti-inflammatory diet. The key components are to reduce inflammatory fats, reduce sugars and refined carbohydrates. We target antiinflammatory oils, appropriate protein sources and increase antioxidant dense plant foods. Over the next few columns we will explore the specific components of this type of eating. Not

only will it help joints but is excellent for general health.

With supplements, my general approach is to start people on a programme that is most likely to get a positive response in six to eight weeks.

I like to keep things simple and usually start with high doses of Omega-3 fish oil for its anti-inflammatory function.

To this we to add 1,500mg of high grade chondroitin sulphate, 1,500mg of glucosamine sulphate and 200mg of a 95% bioavailable curcumin (turmeric) extract. In some cases, especially spinal arthritis, I add antioxidant complexes and extra magnesium to relax tissue surrounding the joint.

We will maintain these high initial doses usually for one to three months before reducing. Most people start to notice the difference after six weeks. Feel free to contact me for 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.

19

• Bettaflex is a joint support formula to promote healthy joint cartilage function.

• Bettaflex combines high grade chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine sulphate and a potent 95% curcumin (turmeric) extract.

• Each capsule of Bettaflex contains 382mg of high grade chondroitin, 425mg of glucosamine and 50mg of curcumin extract.

How can Bettaflex help?

• Chondroitin and glucosamine are building blocks of cartilage.

• Supplementation with correct levels can support healthy cartilage function and cartilage repair processes.

• Curcumin from turmeric helps to balance joint immune function to support joint health.

• Research suggests chondroitin is effective only at levels of over 700mg daily.

John Arts comments:

“I formulated Bettaflex based on the latest research into natural compounds that can help with joint support and function. The normal dose is 2 capsules daily but I recommend a double dose for the first 1-2 bottles to saturate joint tissue.”

(John Arts, Founder Abundant Health Ltd)

Abundant Health

In From Empire’s Servant to Global Citizen, distinguished historian Professor Michael Belgrave details the academic determination and political will that drove Massey’s creation and the myriad changes across its history.

The personalities of university leaders Geoffrey Peren, William Riddet, Alan Stewart and Neil Waters leap from its pages, and it is liberally peppered with anecdotes, including that of the infamous 1969 edition of the capping magazine Masskerade, edited by Tom Scott, which ended up before the Indecent Publications Tribunal.

From Empire’s Servant to Global Citizen is a timely, comprehensive and candid account of one of New This publication takes a lively look at how an agricultural college Zealand’s most progressive and grew up to become a leading intellectual centre of excellence entrepreneurial universities.

Belgrave’s engaging and at times critical their future and the way they teach the approach enlivens the debate about coming generations of New Zealanders what our universities are for and why and foreign students matters.

POHANGINA VA L L E Y E S TAT E

V I N E YA R D : : OL I V E G ROV E

What is Bettaflex?

$79.95 for 3 bottles free freight or 1 bottle for $28.95 plus $4.99 postage

From Empire’s Servant to Global Citizen — A History of Massey University

19

Abundant Health Bettaflex Super Joint Formula

BEST BUY!

REVIEW

Pohangina Valley Estate is a boutique vineyard owned by Bronwyn & Nick Dymock and Fiona McMorran, set in the picturesque Pohangina Valley, 23 km from Palmerston North.

All Pohangina Valley Estate wines are produced from grapes grown in the vineyard. Three varieties lead as award-winning wines: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The intensive hands-on approach to vineyard management by the owners, combined with the creative skills of Chris Buring, winemaker of Oak House, Martinborough produce a consistent quality product.

The vineyard also produces a unique blend of Pinot Gris and Chardonnay which “dances on the palate”.

Cellar door open every Sunday 11am - 4:30pm

P: 06 354 7948 | M: 021 322 871 1034 Valley Road RD 14 Ashhurst

1

info@pohanginavalleyestate.co.nz www.pohanginavalleyestate.co.nz

18

Cautions: Always read the label and use only as directed. See your health care practitioner if symptoms persist.

TO ORDER PHONE: 0800 423 559

Or order online at www.abundant.co.nz or post a cheque to Abundant Health Ltd, PO Box 4347, Mt Maunganui South, 3149

DRIVE SAFE On Rural Roads

0508 SLURRY / 027 350 7281 Liquid & Solid Effluent Spreading, Septic Tank Cleaning, Biosolid Application

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER

pedleyslurry.co.nz

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES January 2017

17

WE’VE GOT YOU

COVERED Gisborne 06 863 1693

Wairoa

06 838 8105

Taihape

Hawera

Hastings

06 388 2091

06 278 0420

06 872 9720

Waipukurau

Wanganui

06 858 6073

06 349 2000

Dannevirke

Feilding

06 374 4636

06 323 0076

Levin

06 367 0820

Masterton 06 370 1866

Thinking of selling?

For a free property appraisal, contact your local expert today.

Rural | Lifestyle | Residential www.pggwre.co.nz

Licensed REAA 2008

Helping grow the country

17

18

January 2017

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

18

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

0800 436 566

NZ’s Finest Magnesium Fertiliser

20

14

QUALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE

Choosing the right flooring solution is not as easy as it sounds. That’s why at Rangitikei Floorings, we have an expert team to help you with the decision making process.

Services provided: • Measure and Quote • Solutions Consultation • Colour Consultation • Product Installation • Flooring Repairs • Industry training

Keeping children safe on farms

Farmers are being encouraged to keep children safe on farms over the school holidays with a heightened risk of accidents.

Accidents involving children on the farm peak over December and January, and account for more than 22 per cent of injuries to those aged 15 years and under. Seven children died as a result of an accident on a farm between 2013– 2015. In the 12 years up until 2015, nearly 20,000 children were injured on the farm.

WorkSafe’s sector leader Agriculture Al McCone says children are a vital component of farming family life and it is important this tradition continues.

“We do not want to stop children having fun on the farm or helping out mum and dad with jobs, however farmers are responsible for ensuring children are not put at risk. Managing the risks for children is different from managing them for adults,” said Mr McCone.

“Many risks can easily be managed by, for example, using vehicles suitable for passengers, fencing artificial ponds, covering pits or even creating ‘safe kid zones’ in dairy sheds, or working together with neighbours as farmers have always done.

“This means farming parents can still keep their children safe during busy

3 FARM SUPPLIES | IRRIGATION | COMMERCIAL DOMESTIC SUPPLIES | LIFESTYLE BLOCKS WELL REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE

work times.” Parents or carers should lock doors to stop children getting into areas they shouldn’t and remove keys from vehicles children aren’t to drive.

“Even if you have safety guards on machinery, these may still have holes small enough for children to put their hands through. Many farmers were used to working alone for much of the year, but it was a good idea to think about health and safety when children joined them on the farm,” said Mr McCone.

10

12

All three deaths involving children aged between 5 and 15 since 2013 involved a child operating a quad bike.

“Only those trained and experienced should operate a quad bike,” said Mr McCone.

“Quad bike riders under 16 years are two and a half times more likely to be injured compared to drivers aged 16–34 years old.”

Visit saferfarms.org.nz for guidance on keeping children safe on farms.

18

MASSEY VETS CONTACT US P: 06 354 2755 F: 06 355 5445 E: ayoung@rangitikeifloorings.com www.rangitikeifloorings.com

FREE No Obligation Quotes Professional Water Well Drillers Well Drilling for 43 Years

Avoid Drink Driving BE THE SOBER D FOr a nIGHT 4

PHONE

06 368 3252

MOBILE

0274 948 860

WEBSITE www.webbdrill.co.nz

16

TRAINING

STUDY WITH US INFORMATION MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9:00AM TO 4:00PM COST

FREE START ON ANY

MONDAY!

ANIMAL PRODUCTION SEMINAR The Animal Production Seminar will be held at Massey University Palmerston North on 26 January 2017 from 7pm to 9pm.

The seminar topics will include facial eczema, pasture management, drought, nutrition and weighing.

AUTOMOTIVE

COURSE

F A R M

NZQA unit standards relating to the automotive and allied trades are included in the courses...

• • • •

Workshop safety • Engine operation theory Engineering and MIG welding • Tune-up Cooling systems, brake servicing • General servicing Fault identification • One on one literacy support available

LEVEL 1: 14 WEEKS – 45 CREDITS LEVEL 2: 26 WEEKS – 80 CREDITS LEVEL 3: 42 WEEKS – 120 CREDITS 10 Edgeware Rd, Palmerston North P: 06 357 3869 | Txt: 027 492 1118 E: enquiries@autotraining.co.nz

NO COURSE FEES // BOOKS Supplied // Boots Supplied // OVERALLS Supplied

To register, email: L.M.England@massey.ac.nz or call: (06) 350 0528

COME AND MEET THE TEAM! NIBBLES AND DRINKS START AT 6:30PM

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

Summertime food care

WANTED TO BUY:

The heat is on as the summer really gets into gear prompting the Ministry for Primary Industries to remind people to make sure they can properly enjoy food over the holiday period.

MPI’s Peter Thomson says there is a heightened risk of foodborne illness during summer and the holidays in particular.

“During summer we tend to do more cooking or preparing of food outside at picnics, barbecues and on camping trips, which means foods might be out of the fridge for longer than usual,” says Mr Thomson.

“Warmer, more humid weather also increases the risk factor.”

“We have a very good food safety system in New Zealand with good rules to make sure food is safe and suitable for consumption. However consumers also have a role to play in keeping themselves, their friends and family safe from foodborne illness.”

Fortunately, you can reduce the risk of you, your family or friends having a nasty foodborne illness by following simple food safety steps: • Remember the 3Cs — Clean, Cook, Chill — to help keep harmful bugs at bay • Begin with clean hands — wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap and dry your hands for 20 seconds before and after handling all food, including fresh produce

• Barbecue safely by cooking meat thoroughly — meat should be steaming hot (over 75 degrees Celsius) all the way through • Keep raw food separate from cooked food. Don’t use a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, or seafood for anything else unless the plate has first been washed in hot, soapy water. Keep utensils and surfaces clean.

• Washing fresh produce under running water is an important part of ensuring your favourite fruits and vegetables are safe to consume • Many pre-cut, bagged fresh produce items like lettuce are pre-washed.

If the package label indicates the contents have been pre-washed, you do not need to wash it again.

• Most harmful bacteria cannot grow at low refrigeration temperatures.

Set your fridge temperature between 2 degrees Celsius and 5 degrees.

“Cooking destroys harmful bugs.

Cooking some specific higher risk foods, like bean sprouts, frozen imported berries or raw milk for instance, will help keep you safe. While some consumers may wish to eat these products without cooking, they need to understand there is a risk in doing so,” says Mr Thomson.

Standing Grass & Harvested Straw Contact Jason 0800 276 748

18

Following the basic food safety steps can prevent nasty illnesses spoiling your summer fun

18

Pond crust gone for 10th the cost?

Yep!

Call 0800 475 877 Forward Farming Consultancy For Complete Effluent Management New Zealand Distributor of Slurry Bugs

3

1

RONGOTEA

MANAWATU FARMING CLASSIFIEDS

Phone 0800 466 793

19

January 2017

Phone (06) 324 8426 • Pumps for All Purposes • Irrigation Systems • Bore Pumps • Water Purification • Farm Effluent Systems • Dairy Equipment • Reporoa Backing Gates • WETTIT Dealer

Financial

Houle

BANK SAID NO? We specialise in Farm Finance, working capital and debt consolidation. Also welcome applications from property developers, builder’s and first home buyers. Call 0800 888 449 or email bill@gfbl.co.nz.

GEA Farm Technologies

Leaders in Pump Technology

IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH INNOVATIVE DESIGN & ANYTIME SERVICE

Animal Health Products HIGH CELL Count? Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic & Manuka Honey 20L $49.95, 200L $450 or 1000L $2,000 +GST with free delivery. Black Type Minerals Ltd. Phone 021 185 1501. blacktypeminerals.co.nz.

F: (06) 324 8427 • E: info@farmsupplies.co.nz • W: www.farmsupplies.co.nz

Manawatu Rural Marketplace

TOWBARS

GORDYS FLYTRAP FITTING®

Available from PGG Wrightson & Farmlands.

UV Protected Polycarbonate.

Fits on any container with a flat surface.

Instructions supplied with the fitting.

$20 plus p&p

GORDYS FLYTRAP FITTING 21 LITCHFIELD ST, BLENHEIM

Email: elaine.gordon@xtra.co.nz www.gordys-flytrap-fitting.com Patented in New Zealand/Australia

FREEPHONE 0800 447 392 Wellington | Palmerston North

FROM $59

021 721 046 Nathan Bromley

ALL Repairs. All makes & models of pleasure craft.

AL Mobile or pick-up & delivery service available.

Wanganui Aero Club

06 345 0914

www.wanganuiaeroclub.co.nz

• Wrought Iron • Light Engineering

T

www.hireways.co.nz | E: hire@hireways.co.nz

Reel Marine QUALIFIED & CERTIFIED MARINE TECHNICIAN Email: reelmarine2009@gmail.com www.reelmarine.co.nz

‘Import’ vehicle towbars are our speciality

Servicing the Lower North Island for all rental equipment

ableau owbars

77a Waldegrave Street Palmerston North Phone 06 357 3255 • Fax 06 357 3696 tableau.towbars@inspire.net.nz

WAZZA’S SEPTIC SERVICING • Specialising in Advantex Systems • Able to service most septic systems • Registered Drainlayer • Competitive prices • Qualified service agent for Orenco Systems 027 685 8889 | 06 324 8773 wazzassepticservicing@hotmail.com

20

MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

January 2017

1

3

6

FREE DELIVERY ORDERS OVER $1000

7

Retailer of Rural Piping and Farm Supplies

0800 RURAL DIRECT

January 2017

Happy New Year...

MAXI drain

r alle Sm o s l sa coil lable i ava

Punched & Unpunched Drain Coil

310 $ 299 $

110mm OD x 100m 160mm OD x 45m

110mm x 425m & 160mm x 190m Drainage Contractors call for a quote

200mm 250mm 315mm 375mm 450mm

ID nominal bore

Pressure rating (PSI)

130 116 94 72 65 50

$ per 100m

$ 73 $141 $182 $223 $264 $346

25mm 32mm 40mm 50mm 63mm

$ 95.00 $135.00 $240.00 $305.00 $425.00

$ per 100m

$127 $159 $216 $325 $495

$ per 200m

$248 $310 $421 $634 $965

Other pressure ratings also available Suits compression and electrofusion fittings

EFFLUENT pipe

DRAG hose

8 BAR RATED - SUITS CAMLOCKS

90mm 110mm

141.00

MDPE pressure pipe p Outside diameter

6m Price

$ 6.87 per metre $ 8.90 per metre $11.68 per metre

$

Anka & Hansen fittings available Available 200m coils

Joiners and custom fittings available

75mm

20mm x 100m 116PSI

9 Bar Rural Pressure Pipe

Recycled HDPE Culvert Pipe Diameter

Rural Nominal Bore Pipe 15mm 20mm 25mm 32mm 40mm 50mm

MEGA ROLLS AVAILABLE

ENVIRO CULVERT pipe

LDPE water pipe

LDPE IRRIGATOR DRAG HOSE 90mm

$8

Hard-wearing LDPE suits AG camlocks

.90

63mm x 50m

per metre

63mm x 100m

Suitable for above ground use.

Available 50m and 100m

75mm x 50m

199.00 $ 389.00 $ 299.00 $

MAXI culvert Twinwall Culvert Pipe

SIZE NOMINAL ID

100mm 150mm 225mm 300mm 375mm 450mm 525mm 600mm 750mm

6M PRICE

$ 30 $ 65 $ 159 $ 275 $ 367 $ 525 $ 585 $ 788 $1100

3M PRICE

$95 $165 $220 $315 $378 $473 $663

TARANAKI/WHANGANUI

525mm x 6m

$

.00

585

Incorporating the strength of corrugated Ma outer shell with the smooth de in n ew inner wall to optimise hydraulics Ze ala nd Full range of fittings available Rubber ring seals available for water tight joins

83 Wallscourt Place Normanby Phone (06) 272 8187 Email taranaki@ruraldirect.net.nz

MANAWATU/HAWKES BAY

77728 State Highway 2 Dannervirke Phone (06) 374 8971 Email manawatu@ruraldirect.net.nz

All items in this advertisement are while stocks last. Phone Rural Direct for conditions of delivery. ALL PRICES INCLUDE GST.