Manawatu Farming Lifestyles, June 2022

June 2022 edition

Hard work achieves goals Pages 8–9

Flowers create a blooming business

Hands-on environmental approach

P4

Welcome to the Region P6

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June 2022 MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

Plant Pass launched

by Denise Gunn The Manawatu Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by Integrity Community Media, a privately owned NZ company.

Phone: 0800 466 793 Email: info@integrity.nz Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville Physical Address: 107 River Road, Dargaville Editor: Deb Wright 021 639 696 deb.wright@integrity.nz Journalists: Denise Gunn | Ann van Engelen | Andy Bryenton Advertising: Monique McKenzie 027 525 9172 Production: Gavin Bainbridge | Anna Fredericksen | Kelsey Hansen | Liz Clark Accounts: accounts@integrity.nz Distribution: Laurie Willetts Printed by: NZME Website: farminglifestyles.co.nz

The recent launch of Plant Pass, a new multi-sector plant production biosecurity scheme, has seen nearly 40 nurseries registered, with 10 of those fully certified.

Opinions expressed in this publication and in advertising inserts, by contributors or advertisers, are not necessarily those of Integrity Community Media. All inserts delivered with the publication are not produced by Integrity Community Media.

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The recent launch of Plant Pass, a new multi-sector plant production biosecurity scheme, has seen nearly 40 nurseries registered, with 10 of those fully certified.

Plant Pass is a voluntary certification scheme assisting plant producers in New Zealand to recognise quality biosecurity practice. The programme also provides assurance for plant buyers.

Three years of work has gone into Plant Pass, similar to industry certification schemes already operating in Australia, Great Britain, Europe and the United States. It is funded and organised jointly by the Ministry for Primary Industries and primary sector industry bodies through the Government Industry Agreement.

The GIA Operational Agreement partners include MPI, Forest Owners’ Association, NZ Avocado, Kiwi Vine Health, NZ Winegrowers, Citrus NZ and NZPPI. Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said on behalf of the Ministry of Primary Industries, Biosecurity New Zealand is proud to be the lead signatory to the Plant Buyers’ Accord and support Plant Pass.

“It demonstrates our commitment to support New Zealand plant producers and aligns with Biosecurity New Zealand’s role in protecting Aotearoa from the harmful pests and diseases that can cause damage to our environment, economy and culture.

“Plant producers play a crucial role in New Zealand’s biosecurity system, and we value this opportunity to work in

partnership with other agencies, councils and plant industry bodies on this proactive certification programme.”

The Plant Buyers’ Accord has been established as a mechanism for buyers to influence, encourage or require their plant producers to participate in Plant Pass. Alongside MPI, four other major groups have signed the accord, including New Zealand Avocado and Kiwifruit Vine Health, the Department of Conservation and Auckland Council.

New Zealand Avocado biosecurity and programme manager Brad Siebert said New Zealand Avocado encourages its growers to purchase avocado plants from Plant Pass certified nurseries.

New Zealand Avocado also requires avocado nurseries to meet the Plant Pass core standard as a prerequisite for the industry’s own standard Avocado High Health Scheme.

“We see Plant Pass covering everything required for biosecurity risk mitigation in nurseries, so now the AHHS is a module and complementary to Plant Pass. It streamlines the whole process right through to reduced auditing costs and makes achieving good biosecurity more straightforward.”

A Plant Pass workshop for plant producers will be held at the Palmerston North Conference and Function Centre on Thursday, July 7, from 10am–4.30pm.

Further information on Plant Pass is available at plantpass.org.nz

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Stopbank protection vital

by Denise Gunn

June 2022

3

With the wetter months upon us, Horizons Regional Council reminds rural communities to keep grazing stock off stopbanks to ensure they can best perform their function as an essential flood protection asset.

The reminder applies to farmers and owners of lifestyle blocks as wetter soil conditions, combined with heavy animals or smaller animals that dig, can weaken the region’s stopbanks.

Stopbanks are a primary flood protection tool throughout the region.

Horizons manage and maintain almost 500km of stopbanks, protecting more than 46,000ha of land. Millions of dollars are invested in system improvements and building new stopbanks.

Horizons central area engineer Cliff Thomas said the main purpose of stopbanks is to provide essential flood protection for thousands of people throughout the region.

“While stopbanks can be grazed by cattle less than 18 months old in summer when the ground is firm, grazing cattle is not permitted unless approval is given by river management staff between 15 June and 15 September,” he said.

“As wet weather has set in, we have seen a number of stock on banks that have caused minor damage. When conditions are favourable, these will be repaired. However, it is a statutory offence to damage the stopbanks, and

landowners can be held liable to pay for any resulting repairs.”

Mr Thomas said stopbanks require careful management, and it is very important that there is enough grass to prevent scouring in a flood event. Stock damage can increase the potential for this to happen.

“We really appreciate the effort many farmers put in to control stock damage caused by grazing during the year. We just want to remind people that it is the time of year again where stock do need to be grazed elsewhere to avoid any damage.

“Stopbanks not only protect property and production worth billions of dollars, but they also ensure the safety of many in our community.

“That’s why it is important to reinforce the importance of looking after our stopbanks to anyone who may be grazing stock.

“Any chain is only as strong as its weakest link. All it takes is one breached section of stopbank to flood hundreds of hectares of farmland and potentially impact homes and people’s lives.”

The Moutoa Sluice Gates, constructed between 1959 to 1962, play a vital role

Credit: Denise Gunn

The Moutoa Sluice Gates, with floodway and stopbanks, play a vital role in the Lower Manawatū Scheme

in the Lower Manawatū Scheme. This scheme includes 250km of stopbanks and protects 320km² of rural land.

Horizons recently upgraded the stopbank in Tangimoana to make the area more resilient to flooding

and improve response time to flood events. The work is part of the Lower Rangitīkei Project.

A stopbank grazing guidelines pamphlet is available to view online at horizons.govt. nz. Hard copies are available on request.

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June 2022 MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

FLOWERS CREATE

A BLOOMING BUSINESS

BY DENISE GUNN During the course of three years, Caroline O’Neill has transformed an area of land into a blooming flower farm.

C

aroline spent 20 years working in another industry before deciding to combine her love of growing flowers into a business.

“While I do not have a formal horticulture background, I do come from a long line of women who gardened, especially my grandma, who could throw a packet of seeds over her shoulder, and they would all germinate.

“I have always enjoyed growing and picking flowers, either for myself or for others.” Caroline’s flower farm is located at Awahuri.

“I own a 5.5ha lifestyle block with my husband, with the flower growing taking up 800 square metres.”

On leaving her job in 2019, Caroline bought a book titled The Flower Farmer’s Year by Georgie Newbury, and then started following her directions.

As her lifestyle block’s soil consists of heavy loam, raised beds measuring 15m x 1m were constructed. The couple also bought a tunnel house.

“The intention was to buy something that was ideal for raising seedlings in, but when the opportunity to buy a 400

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Caroline grows flowers all year round

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Caroline said this purchase turned the entire business plan on its head. “What was supposed to be a small operation that

I could work in by myself has morphed into growing a lot more stems, and some speciality floristry varieties, such as Limonium. A shed was added to the end of the tunnel house and a chiller. Now I just need staff.”

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June 2022

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Caroline’s flower farm, In My Garden Ltd, is located at Awahuri

The flower farm’s tunnel house is put to good use, especially during winter

A vast variety of flowers are grown indoors and outdoors on the property

Rows of flower beds in the tunnel house

A wide variety of flowers are grown at Caroline’s In My Garden Ltd. “During the summer months, or wedding season, I am able to grow flowers that do not traditionally have a long vase life but have trending colours and interesting textures.

Flowers that add the wow to a bridal bouquet. They add dance, if you like.”

Her tunnel house is put to good use during the winter, growing essentials for the florist trade. “My flowers are grown indoors and outdoors. Having a tunnel house makes for a better night’s sleep when the wind is howling, and the rain is pouring, knowing that your precious blooms are not being smashed to bits.”

Dried flowers have made a comeback in the past few years too. “I grow the well-known varieties for drying such as strawflowers and statice, but I find that

even dahlias and zinnias dry well and hold their colour too.”

Most mornings, Caroline is out picking flowers early. The flowers are then prepared and stored in the chiller.

“I wholesale directly to local florists, which involves letting them know what has been picked and is available for a Monday and Thursday delivery.”

Caroline also sells her flowers wholesale through the online sales marketplace 4Mooi. It involves selecting which flowers are going to be advertised for sale, uploading photos and a blurb, then waiting for an email notification of the sale. Packing begins, and the flowers are taken to the courier for delivery.

As a member of Flower Collective Manawatū, Caroline meets with flower farmers from Ataahua Blooms and

Handpicked Flower Farm each Thursday, from spring to autumn, at the Milson Scout Hall in Palmerston North. After florists visit the hall to select and purchase flowers, the doors are open to the public.

“By collaborating, we are able to fulfil larger orders. We offer both fresh and dried stems.”

Each Friday, from spring to autumn, Caroline sells her flowers at the Feilding Farmer’s Market. She also delivers fresh flowers to the Waireka Honey Centre on SH1 near Rongotea.

“The feedback from the public has been wonderful,” she said. “I have a subscription for corporates, with The

Factory being my first customer. Each Monday, I provide them with a jug of fresh, colourful flowers. I am planning to expand subscriptions to the general public in spring.”

Planning for the following season is ongoing. As some of Caroline’s flowers are grown from seeds imported from the northern hemisphere, these varieties need to be ordered almost a year in advance.

“People buy flowers for a reason; either in times of joy or sorrow. When someone buys a bouquet from me and tells me why they are purchasing it, that is what brings me joy.”

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June 2022 MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

HANDS-ON

L A T N E M N O R I ENV APPROACH

BY DENISE GUNN Since embarking on an Enviroschool journey three years ago, Shannon School has become actively involved in the programme.

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Pupils harvesting vegetables from one of the school’s gardens

As a result of these initiatives, there has been a significant reduction in general waste. “We went from eight skip bins full of waste in 2017 to a household-

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sized wheelie bin that gets emptied once a week. We are virtually wastefree, even with our Healthy Lunches in Schools programme.”

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The school follows three different methods to deal with food waste. Four worm farms take care of the majority of food waste, and paper and cardboard are recycled, with the cardboard used as mulch in the gardens. Paper towels are composted.

“Non-worm farm food waste is directed into the school garden compost or our bokashi composting system. The castings and liquid fertiliser from the worm farms and the liquid fertilisers from the Bokashi system are used directly in the gardens.

“The compost from the four-bay compost bin is used when creating new raised vegetable gardens and to top-up existing gardens.”

Oral health waste, writing equipment, gluesticks and coffee pods are recycled through Terracycle. The community also supports this programme by dropping off their recyclable waste.

BU

T

he Horowhenua school has followed a path of environmental and sustainable practices for many years, extending this into the community.

Teacher and Enviroschool leader Adam McCallum’s passion for the environment and sustainability had placed him in an ideal position to guide the students.

“We have an Enviro group called the Kakariki Kiwis, which consists of 10 students who drive all our Enviroschool’s mahi,” said Adam.

“We started this group with a smaller number of students initially but have interest from another 20 students to join this group.

All other students have involvement in Enviroschool’s activities on a regular basis.”

Vegetable, herb and fruit gardens have been established on the school grounds.

Two Vegepods were purchased through a Horizons Regional Council grant.

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The recycling programme at Shannon School is also available to the community

As part of the Ka Ora Ka Ako Healthy Lunches in Schools Programme, two cooks deliver the school’s programme on-site. Students help grow food for this programme on a weekly basis. Recent examples of harvesting include lettuces for wraps, radishes in guacamole and tomatoes in pasta. Community members have volunteered in the school gardens for many years too.

Students are fully committed to the Enviroschools programme and taking part in a range of activities. The community has also been involved with the school, taking part in various planting days around the district.

“We went on a trip to Horseshoe Bend to learn with the other Enviroschools in the Manawatū,” said Year 6 student Erin.

“We also went to Edible Backyard to get comfrey roots to plant around our fruit trees, which have now grown really big.”

Year 8 student Abi also enjoys going on trips. “We went to Horseshoe Bend, and I held lizards and skinks,” she said.

“We did lots of hands-on activities, like making lizard tracing tunnels, and heard about tracking pekapeka (bats).”

In 2020, funding was approved for 50 native trees through Trees that Count.

These trees were planted in a dedicated native nature play area. A number of former pupils and community members have also donated native trees with a permanent plaque beside each one.

“Kath Irvine from Edible Gardens in Ohau was a big driving force in the establishment of this area to support bird and bee life in our kura,” said Adam.

“Our community loves that we are fully involved in any community planting projects and that we are actively interested in our environment.”

June 2022

Fifty native trees were funded through Trees that Count, while some former pupils and community members donated others

Pupils tending a vegetable garden

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June 2022 MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

HARD WORK

ACHIEVES GOALS

BY DENISE GUNN

Through hard work, grit and determination, Zane and Mel Scott eventually bought their dream far near Wanganui in 2017.

T

he couple has not only turned their property into a working farm.

They’ve also created a place to train horses, hold horse camps, treks and clinics, provide riding lessons and a range of other services.

“We are also all about people,” said Mel. “Our aim for the property is for it to be a place where people can come and enjoy the wide-open spaces, experience being on a farm, develop themselves, be accepted and grow in confidence, and refine leadership skills.

“We want people to create lifelong memories via an encounter with

horses, the farming way of life and fun in the outdoors.”

Mel grew up on a sheep and beef farm near Kai Iwi, where motorbikes were the preferred choice of transport. Several falls from bucking ponies had previously discouraged Mel from riding.

Zane’s parents were dairy farmers in Waikato before converting a couple of farms to deer in the 1980s. His first horse arrived when he was a child, and Zane attended the local Pukeatua Pony Club. On leaving school, Zane completed a farming course and began dairy farming.

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The couple met, married and worked as children’s pastors in Te Awamutu, also starting a family during this time.

Five years later, they began work on an intensive bull beef techno farm at Miranda in the Firth of Thames.

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MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

Horse camps held on the farm are extremely popular

After a promised opportunity to go into business with their employer never eventuated, Zane and Mel bought a motorhome. They travelled around New Zealand for two years doing itinerate children’s ministries at churches, camps and schools.

“During this time, we went to several different horse camps, which is where the dream to own our own farm and run our own horse camps began.”

At the first of these camps, Mel went on a long weekend trek across the mudflats from Katikati to Matakana Island.

“I had such a great time and decided horses were actually pretty fun,” she said.

The couple settled in Katikati, where horse trainer Graeme Savill taught Zane

to start horses using a mix of natural horsemanship techniques.

A journey to Living Springs camp and conference centre at Lyttelton Harbour followed. Zane ran the farm park, and Mel took care of the outdoor adventure education and kids camps. They ventured further to Southland to lower-order sharemilk and contract milk for seven years, saving money for their own place.

The search for a suitable farm to buy then began, bringing them to their present 91ha hill country block.

The farm was very run-down, and there was no house. However, the neighbour’s lifestyle block, with a Totalspan shed house, also came up for sale, and the couple ended up buying that too.

June 2022

9

Mustering cattle

Zane bought a digger, opened up all the tracks and dug out the ponds to prevent them from drying out during summer.

Mel said water was a massive issue initially. A truckload was bought every eight days to supply the house and cattle and to mix with milk powder to feed 300 calves until a solution was found.

“We capture water from a weeping crack in a rock that never drys out, in a very small catchment dam that we made.

This is then pumped with a solar pump up to several 30,000-litre tanks, and gravity feeds out from there.”

The woolshed was converted into an indoor riding area and tack area, and a round pen was built for Zane to start and train horses in. New yards were

also constructed, and the old timber was recycled for other uses around the property. Totara battens, hand-split by Mel’s grandfather, were repurposed as fences around the section.

The couple run 65 white-faced beef cows and their calves and a new flock of four Wiltshire sheep. They’ve hand-reared 135 Friesian bull calves, selling half and raising the remainder to sell as yearlings.

“We’ve also contract-reared Wagyu calves for our first two years on our farm.”

Zane and Mel own a string of horses and stand a Quarter Horse stallion, Gotta Noble Legacy, at stud.

“We meet so many amazing and interesting people who come here. Being able to live the dream is a highlight every day.”

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June 2022 MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

WHANGANUI

Full steam ahead for markets

by Denise Gunn

In the 15 years since Whanganui River Markets first opened to the public, the number of stallholders has increased from eight to 150, drawing around 300 visitors each week.

Market convenor Annette Main said the market was established following a discussion with friends about the need to increase the availability of local produce to the community.

“At the time, many local growers had ceased operating as they couldn’t get the supermarkets to buy their produce. So we started with a mixed market — a couple of producers, plants and crafts under the name The River Traders.

“The market grew quickly over the first few years. We established a section for

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our small group of growers, and it wasn’t long until others saw it as a viable outlet for their produce.

“It’s grown hugely. Now well over 150 stalls with room for more on holiday weekends. Around 300 visitors weekly, but as we are an outdoor market, numbers vary according to the weather challenges.”

Whanganui River Markets now incorporates The River Traders and the Whanganui Farmers’ Markets with a wide variety of stallholders selling everything from produce, baking, ready-to-eat foods, plants, garden furniture, art and toys.

“It’s a massive range,” said Annette.

Stallholders from around the region attend the market on a regular basis.

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Visiting the Whanganui River Markets on a Saturday morning is a popular activity

“Often, we will have stalls from as far away as Auckland and Wellington. Some follow markets all year round.”

As a member of Farmers’ Market New Zealand, rules apply to the Whanganui Farmer’s Market section. Annette said primarily, food is sold at the farmer’s market with exceptions for plants and flowers.

Food must also be produced within a defined local area, which is either a two-hour drive or 100km radius from the market. Vendors must also be directly involved in the growing or production process of the food.

A three-member trust, which also supports other community events and activities, oversees the Whanganui River Markets.

“It’s grown to become Whanganui’s favourite Saturday morning activity. We are proud of running 52 events a year, so there is always something to do on a Saturday in Whanganui.”

There are plans for the markets to become plastic-free, aiming to have this in place within the next couple of months.

“We are well on the way to achieving this,” said Annette. “Long-term, we would love to have a covered space for a section of the market most prone to weather challenges, but this depends on council and iwi plans for the area.”

Whanganui River Markets are open on the downtown riverbank at Moutoa Quay every Saturday between 8.30am to 1pm.

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MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

June 2022

11

WHANGANUI ADVERTORIAL

Electrical team meets demand

by Denise Gunn

With an experienced and qualified team available 24/7, MacEll Maintenance Electrical Ltd covers an extensive range of industrial, commercial, rural and domestic electrical and security requirements.

Based in Wanganui, the business is centrally located to support the Whanganui, Manawatu, Rangitikei and King Country regions. Staff also travel to clients in Levin and Taupo and have installed Gallagher access control systems around New Zealand.

Business owner Chris Rennie bought MacEll Maintenance Electrical Ltd in 2016, bringing years of experience with him. After completing his apprenticeship, which began in Wanganui, Chris worked as a subcontractor on new housing and commercial electrical on Australia’s Gold Coast.

He then travelled to England, spending six years with his own company, working on large commercial projects.

“My final year was spent working for British Rail on overland high tension switching for the live rails. I ran a team of guys and was fortunate enough to work

in France, Scotland and Wales,” said Chris.

On his return to Wanganui in 2007, he worked for Walker and Thomas. “I did a variety of industrial and commercial work, including process control, large factories, dairy and shift work for Affco. I was the chief electrician at Affco Feilding for seven years and installed new rotary dairy sheds and shearing plants.

“I have been extremely fortunate to have gained a wide range of skills and worked under some high-quality tradesmen who believed in high-quality workmanship. I have carried this ethos with me wherever I have worked.”

Specialist skills, knowledge and experience and a reputation for professionalism and reliability have seen MacEll Electrical Maintenance Ltd grow steadily during the past five years.

“We are a very diverse business covering security and access control, CCTV, industrial controls and

electrical, commercial installs, dairy and rural electrical, heat pumps and domestic.

“We hold several government contracts, prison, district courts and the Whanganui District Health Board.”

MacEll Maintenance Electrical Ltd is also a member of Master Electricians.

“All our tradesmen are qualified electricians and trained security technicians,” said Chris.

“We understand the rural sector and the demands. We have the staff with excellent skills in the area, and we prioritise this sector 24 hours.”

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June 2022 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

WHANGANUI

Meeting, making and mending

by Denise Gunn

Men’s Shed Wanganui provides a place for retired men and women to work on hobby and interest projects while enjoying the company of others.

Shed manager Ivan Stick said Menz Shed New Zealand was primarily set up for men who have worked all their lives, then retire.

Sheds have sprung up throughout the country with a range of machinery for members to use on personal and community projects. With some retirees left wondering how to fill in each day when their jobs and careers end, the organisation gives members a sense of purpose, friendship and opportunities to learn new skills.

Ivan said retirement is fine for a period of time, then people begin to wonder ‘what now?’

“One just can’t drive an armchair all the rest of their days. I have a mate or two who have been farmers all of their lives, and it is ‘I can’t stop, what would I do’. They don’t have any hobbies for later in life. It is something that is needful.”

“The sheds are set up right through the country for retirees where, if you have a project, you can come and do it or get help to do it.”

Retirees can also just call in for a yarn and a cup of tea or coffee, and a biscuit.

“We do mostly woodwork, a small amount of simple upholstery and some light engineering. We have a good range of machinery to use as some people have had good workshops, room and now haven’t got those things anymore.

“The annual sub is $25 a year, and that gives you access to the equipment that we have, if you can safely use it or learn to use it. Let’s face it, most cockies can turn their hand to most things.”

Men and women from all walks of life belong to Men’s Shed Wanganui.

“We make anything from departure boxes (coffins), to planter boxes, to letter boxes, to bumble bee nest boxes, to children’s games, plus anything else in between.”

A variety of items are also mended.

Men’s Shed Wanganui is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am until around 2.30pm-3pm at 292 Wickstead Street.

Contact Ivan on 027 229 0994 for further information.

Retiree Rob Pointon working on a project at Men’s Shed Whanganui

The GMC Chiropractors with sponsored Junior Stock car racers: The Symes Family

Calving Season - Pre season training for your spine with GMC Chiropractors This time of year our local farmers are drying off cows, or preparing to do so. It is a time when you can look forward to tying up loose ends, getting to those jobs that never seem to get done during the season, and hopefully take a well earned break! It is a good time to get ready and organised for the winter and upcoming calving season.

Being a farmer is undoubtedly tough on the body with the work being unrelenting, heavy and repetitive (especially when milking). The upside is, the health benefits of plenty of fresh air, sunshine and the fitness and strength gained.

Every year at GMC Chiropractors we see an influx of new patients and returned patients who suffer an injury during calving season. Many farmers are carrying a degree of chronic issues on their lower backs and/or shoulders from years of heavy physical work that are significantly aggravated by lifting and carrying heavy buckets of milk, lifting and carrying the awkward and uncooperative loads of calves. This can lead to sprains, strains-and in the worst cases- injuries to the spinal discs which can lead to severe pain and dysfunction that can result in time off work (which is often not possible for farmers!).

7 LOCATIONS: New Plymouth, Whanganui, Hawera, Stratford, Feilding, Palmerston North & Horowhenua

This year we propose you break the cycle and engage in some “pre-season training”with GMC Chiropractors. While you have the time, we will focus on discovering what your underlying issues are, work towards resolving them and strengthening your spine and improving nervous system function in order to prevent injuries this calving season. Our process includes an initial consultation which includes a detailed health history, a physical examination/ testing and x-rays if required (available at our New Plymouth, Hawera, Whanganui & Feilding offices).

Following this visit our Chiropractors give you a Report of Findings in which you will learn about the health of your spine and nervous system, how we can help you, the tools you will need to help yourself, followed by your first adjustment.

Please call us today to book your initial consultation so you can enjoy a pain free calving season.

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MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

June 2022

New Zealand now making hydrogen fuel

13

by Andy Bryenton

Hydrogen for fuel cells is being produced in New Zealand, with a facility near Mokai, in the Taupo region now online and manufactured for the private market.

Known as Halcyon, the hydrogen venture is a joint one, split half and half between the Tūaropaki Trust and the Obayashi Corporation of Japan. It was opened in December last year and is now turning renewable electricity into transport-fuel grade hydrogen.

“Tūaropaki has sustainability as one of its guiding principles, and the green hydrogen project, with the involvement of Obayashi and their sustainable development goals, is a perfect fit,” says trust CEO Steve Murray.

“Ultimately, we are looking at a national hydrogen supply chain that includes transportation, site storage and refuelling infrastructure. Transport emissions in New Zealand contribute around 25% of our total emissions, so targeting reduction in transport, and in particular heavy transport, will make a major contribution to carbon reduction. Hydrogen is a solution that is ready to implement now,” Murray says.

The hydrogen producers are putting faith in their product, too, with the purchase of Hyundai’s NEXO vehicles for their company fleet. The NEXO hydrogenpowered vehicle utilises a hydrogen fuel cell which acts as a miniature power station under the hood. The only output is pure water. As the Mokai power station is geothermal, this means true zero-carbon driving is achievable.

NEXO hydrogen vehicles are out on the roads representing Halcyon, a local producer of hydrogen fuel

Hyundai is not the only automaker interested in a hydrogen future. While bridging the gap with electric and hybrid vehicles, Toyota has also developed hydrogen-powered vehicles like the Mirai, a car that has already sold 11,000 units in Europe.

In New Zealand, a recent groupshare agreement between eight major

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businesses, including the Warehouse Group and Air New Zealand, has put Mirai models in the hands of corporate fleet drivers. Similarly, the Tūaropaki-branded NEXOs on the road in the central North Island will serve to promote the idea of hydrogen as the fuel of tomorrow.

Moreover, because it uses electricity and seawater to create hydrogen, the

process has even been posited as a replacement industry for Tiwai Point, should aluminium production cease there due to market constraints.

Hydrogen, unlike battery power, is quick to refuel and banishes range anxiety but currently lacks pervasive infrastructure, something Halcyon is aiming to change.

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June 2022 MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

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MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

June 2022

15

ADVERTORIAL

A daily grind

by Amy Fifita

Stump Grinding Hawke’s Bay is a husband and wife team that will clear unnecessary tree bases from the region’s properties.

“We have, what we believe to be, the largest stump grinder in New Zealand.

We like to focus on commercial stump grinding — for rural, orchards and lifestyle blocks,” says co-owner Sarah Curd.

“We can get rid of large and mini stumps with an incomparably high amount of efficiency.

“My husband and I work as a team.

He is on the go constantly and will go and price things straight away. We have our transport, which means we can get our machines to the jobs when they need to be.”

Other options cost more time and money, whereas stump grinding

“We have a 22-tonne track machine and an 11-tonne machine on wheels that is more suitable for places that need more care for the turf like golf courses.”

Stump Grinding Hawke’s Bay is a cheaper and faster method for grinding your remaining tree bases into mulch

machines will mulch wood cleanly and efficiently. The company has two machines to suit different customer needs.

“We have a 22-tonne track machine and an 11-tonne machine on wheels that is more suitable for places that need more care for the turf like golf courses. The tracks on the big machine would rip it up.

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“For your options on getting rid of stumps, we are the most economically viable choice. Our machine goes to the stump and grinds it down to half a metre deep to be suitable for cropping and planting.

“You’ll have some wonderful wood chips, which are great for mulching

things around the gardens and can break down into the soil over time.

“Visit our Facebook page, Stump Grinding Hawke’s Bay, to view our videos.”

Call 0800 STUMPS or visit their Facebook page — facebook.com/ stumpgrindinghb.

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June 2022 MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

WOOD IS GOOD Forestry news and events: June

GOOD REASONS FOR PLANTATION FORESTRY STILL APPLY A Rangitīkei farmer believes production forestry, rather than permanent carbon credit pine forests, will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide jobs and economic value.

Many farms in New Zealand have been converted to forestry in recent years due to rising carbon prices, but the Government recently proposed to remove exotic forests, which include pine forests, from the Emissions Trading Scheme from next year.

Denis Hocking farms sand dune country near Bulls, about 50% in sheep and beef, and 50% in forestry. A forestry advocate, he believed there was too much anti-forestry sentiment. Rural communities have feared for the loss of farms and workers due to farmland being turned into long-term carbon credit pine forests. Hocking said forestry had been a more productive earner than sheep and beef farming for decades on “poorer” land, production forestry was a better mitigator of greenhouse gas emissions than permanent carbon forests, wood was a valuable resource and low-energy alternative to steel, and there was labour demand for production forestry.

land where forestry should be planted – not flat arable land – but there was a need for more timber.

“Timber has got to take the place of steel and concrete in our building because it locks up carbon in relatively low emissions compared with cement.”

He said a third of every tree, the tops and the branches, had value as biomass that could be used for fuel to run power plants, which is done in Europe, while the logs could also be sold.

“You can get a bloody good income without actually doing anything. I would suggest Government policy should be directed to trying to persuade people [into production forestry], which will generate a lot more export value.”

He said forestry, not planted on prime pastoral land, earned twice the amount per hectare per year than sheep and beef farming.

Production forestry still offset carbon emissions and the timber could be used as a substitute for fossil-fuel-intensive materials, with overseas processors keen on New Zealand timber.

“I do not like the idea of building up forestry sinks, just plant and build up all the carbon we can and just bugger off. I think we are leaving a liability for the future generations.

Denis Hocking shows students around his farm forestry for a field trip.

“Production forestry makes a lot more sense for emissions than permanent sinks. Wood can play a follow-up role to that carbon storage.” He believed no-shear sheep were likely to lead to more job losses in rural centres than forestry, and having farming cadets learn forestry skills would restore jobs.

Massey University emeritus professor of sustainable energy and climate mitigation Ralph Sims had a similar attitude to Hocking.

“If it’s managed properly, it’s far better to do that than just plant trees, let them absorb carbon and walk away and get paid for the carbon, which is the concern for farmers.”

He said production forestry had three products: logs, biomass for fuel and carbon credits for reducing emissions. Ralph said a hectare of land which had been in native bush for thousands of years contained about 300 tonnes of carbon, but if those trees were cut down and the land planted with pinus radiata, it contained about 180 tonnes.

By cutting it down and replanting it, over a decade it would average about 90 tonnes of carbon, while replanting in native bush would take about 150 years to get back to 300 tonnes. He said native forestry had its place, particularly in hill country that should never have been deforested. It depended on the type of

Timber milled on his farm is used for building fences. Denis Hocking shows hot it works.

Forestry Events Calendar

The Southern North Island Wood Council provides a collective voice for the sector in Island Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu, Wairarapa, Tararua andforestry sector Theforestry Southern North Wood Council provides a collective voice for the Wellington.

Members have a common interest in ensuring the long-term in Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu, Wairarapa, Tararua and Wellington. Members have a success of the in sector.

Membership is open to anyof company or individual withisan common interest ensuring the long-term success the sector.

Membership open to any interest in the local wood industry. company or individual with an interest in the local wood industry.

Erica Kinder, Wood Council CEO, be contacted more information.

Erica Kinder, SNISNI Wood Council CEO, cancan be contacted for for more information. sniwoodcouncil@gmail.com

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MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

June 2022

17

ADVERTORIAL

A ride on the wild side When you sign up for a week-long ride around the southernmost point of the North Island, you are treated to wild scenery, wild food and wild people pulled together in an elegant and comfortable package that delivers more than most people would ever expect.

New Zealand’s greatest new ride is the Remutaka, Palliser and Tora, starting and finishing at Martinborough Wine Village. You will experience fine dining and fine accommodation, while meeting a collection of characters as you pass through private farmland made accessible exclusively to Green Jersey Explorer Tours.

On your fi rst evening, you are welcomed to Wairarapa with po ˉwhiri at a local marae. Mana whenua acknowledge your presence and provide their blessing as we pass through their rohe. You will also be told the history of this place through the lens of iwi Ma ˉori.

Your journey across the Remutaka Rail Trail from Upper Hutt finishes with dinner at the Whiteswan Country Hotel in Greytown. During this day of riding, you will cross two dramatic suspension bridges. One, the recently completed Tauherenikau Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in New Zealand — it is firmly tied to the adjacent rail bridge.

Cycling across Palliser Ridge is a rare pleasure, meeting the farmers and seeing their paddock to plate products, talking about a future-focussed farming philosophy.

It is not unusual for discussion to turn to topics like farm succession and capital structures when a group of like-minded individuals find themselves together.

Quickly, a group’s attention turns to crayfish, pa ˉua, Pilsner and Pinot after a day riding the Palliser Bay Coast and visiting the Putangirua Pinnacles. John Priest (JP) is ready to entertain at the Waimeha Camping and cabins. Fun and games are assured.

The ride from Ngawi to Tora is another rare treat and is fully guided.

You find yourself in a remote, wild coastal area, with the odd fence to clamber over, stream to cross, and a huge amount of history to discover and learn about. Two nights are spent at the Tora Cookhouse, one of the original Tora Coastal Walk accommodations.

Riders choose whether to relax during a day in Tora, go for a ride, walk or enjoy an Italian Cooking class and night sky experience. Tora and Jenny Boyne will show up and say g’day. They are two local legends and love to chat about how life on the edge (of New Zealand) is.

A final backroad ride into Martinborough completes the five night, six day experience of a lifetime.

This adventure is suitable for most riders who are experienced off road riders on moderate terrain.

Visit greenjersey.co.nz/remutakapalliser-tora-6-day. Tours from $1,950pp (group price). Email reservations@ greenjersey.co.nz.

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June 2022 MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

Floral royalty

ADVERTORIAL

Not feeling your best?

(Part one)

by John Arts

One of the most rewarding things I do is to hear stories from clients. I have an older client who was healthy but had low energy and felt flat despite no medical reasons.

I had started her on a programme that involved three supplements: A winter Vitamin D booster to lift her immune responses, some Omega 3 fish oil to reduce inflammation and most importantly my multi-antioxidant, multimineral, multivitamin supplement. She reported her energy levels were steadily rising and felt so much better in herself.

My standard advice is that if you feel unwell you should get a medical checkup. If there is no particular medical reason for feeling low in energy we then turn our attention to micro-nutrients; the minerals, vitamins and antioxidants that are responsible for maintaining the health of our cells.

As I often repeat, ‘a healthy cell is a healthy body’.

When we improve the health of cells, we improve the health of the tissue comprising those cells.

In the case of my client, I suspect that we helped the processes that

produce the energy our bodies need.

Firstly, we need to make sure that we have plenty of the vitamins and minerals that directly affect energy.

Secondly, we need to protect our energy systems with antioxidants.

The list of micronutrients needed for this is long. My multi-nutritional supplement has more than 50 ingredients, and most of these play some part in energy.

If you are low in energy and generally not at your best, I suggest you do what I recommended for my client for at least three months.

You may well be surprised with the benefits you can really feel.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv. Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@abundant.co.nz. Join his all-new newsletter at abundant.co.nz.

John Arts recommends

Cell eXtra

by Liz Clark

If you live in an area where frosts come during winter, the peony is the queen of flowers in the spring and summer months.

Cultivated worldwide peonies are the perfect addition to the cut flower garden.

They come in three distinct forms — herbaceous, tree and Itoh.

Herbaceous peonies develop buds on the crown during the summer, at the base of the current season’s annual shoots. The large buds grow into stems the following growing season, while the smaller ones remain dormant. The tree peony, in the summer, develops large buds at the tip of the annual growth and near its foot.

In autumn, the leaves shed and the new stems become woody and perennial.

The Itoh was developed in 1948 by Toyko-based horticulturist Toichi Itoh. He used pollen from the yellow tree peony, Alice Harding, to fertilise the herbaceous Katoden cultivar resulting in a new category of herbaceous peonies. These varieties have leaves like tree peonies, numerous large flowers from late spring to early autumn, and peony wilt resistance.

The early cultivars developed include Yellow Crown, Yellow Dream, Yellow Emperor and Yellow Heaven.

Herbaceous peony tubers can be planted in autumn and early winter to enable the roots to establish during the cooler months for spring flowering.

Choose a warm, sunny site away from trees, overhanging branches and other shrubs.

Peonies need a separate area where they can be placed permanently

The soil should be enriched with aged organic matter before planting. Ideally, the soil pH should be around 6.5–7.

Add dolomite lime if the soil is too acidic or more organic matter if too alkaline.

Specialist growers advise avoiding compost when planting peonies due to the high risk of botrytis, which causes the roots and leaves to rot.

Plant the tubers five centimetres below the soil surface, allowing spacing at least 60cm between each one. The eye should be facing upwards, and the root placement should be at a slight angle. Avoid using straw or hay as mulch during the dry summer months — bark is preferable. New tubers can take several years to establish, so patience is needed.

“Cell eXtra has all the essential minerals needed for the thousands of enzymes that made our body function. If we have insufficient minerals and vitamins this can cause disease and prevent healing of established problems.

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Damage from free radicals causes many health problems. Cell eXtra contains some of nature’s most potent antioxidants to help build your antioxidant defences against free radical damage to body tissues. Try Cell eXtra for 3 months and see what you have been missing. Call me to see if Cell eXtra is right for you.”

John Arts, Founder, Abundant Health

What is in Cell eXtra?

Cell eXtra contains nature’s most potent antioxidants to protect from free radical damage including grape seed OPC, Green tea, Bilberry, Goji, Hesperidin, Lutein, Lycopene, Beta carotene and vitamins C and E. Cell eXtra is a full multi-vitamin with vitamins C,D,E and a full B complex.

Cell eXtra is a full multi-mineral including calcium, magnesium, potassium with trace minerals selenium, zinc, copper, boron, manganese, iron, molybdenum, chromium, silicon, iodine, vanadium and a 50+ trace mineral complex.

How can Cell-X help you?

Abundant Health

Protects joints against free radical damage

Supports heart health and circulation

Supports immune function and optimum energy levels.

Includes a specific eye health formula

Always read the label and use as instructed. Consult your doctor if symptoms persist.

TO ORDER PHONE: 0800 423 559

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MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

June 2022

19

E D U C AT I O N & T R A I N I N G ADVERTORIAL

A top co-educational world Once a necessity and now a preference, students thrive on the academic, sporting, cultural, service and leadership opportunities made possible by boarding at school.

At Whanganui Collegiate, celebrating diverse learning is at the forefront

Students will tell you that their education house is more than where they stay — it quickly becomes a connection for life.

With four boys’ houses and two girls’ houses, Whanganui Collegiate School is the leading co-educational boarding and day school in the lower North Island.

“Boys and girls think, problem-solve, and react differently in social situations; therefore, they learn from each other’s differences,” says headmaster Wayne Brown.

“At this school, boys and girls learn to support each other, to work together, and as a result, are well equipped for life after college — it is a co-educational world.”

All students require quality and personalised teaching. At Whanganui Collegiate, celebrating diverse learning is at the forefront of what we do,

focussing on empowering students with the academic, social and personal skills required to study and achieve.

“More importantly, Whanganui Collegiate is where families are united,” says Brown.

Parents can support all their children, in the same weekend, at the same school.

Thus, the family structure is strengthened through the critical years of secondary schooling — developing a child of promise to a young adult of great character.

Learn more about Whanganui Collegiate School by joining us on Saturday, August 27, for our Term Three Tour Day and see first-hand our 168 years of custodial uniqueness partnered with 21st-century learning.

Register your attendance by visiting collegiate.school.nz.

A Connection For Life

Today's boarders thrive on academic , sporting and cultural opportunities boarding makes possible and they love being with their friends all the time.

Boarding at Whanganui Collegiate School is not simply a place to live and learn but quickly becomes a connection for life.

Discover for yourself what sets Whanganui Collegiate School apart. Arrange a personal tour or join us at our next Tour Day.

Term Three Open Day Saturday 27 August

www.collegiate.school.nz

20

June 2022 MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

E D U C AT I O N & T R A I N I N G

New skills outweigh training bills

by Andy Bryenton

In a tight labour market, smart businesses are seeking ways to keep hold of good employees, and upskilling could be just as valuable to this as wages.

It has long been known that building up the skills of staff is a big bonus for businesses. The additional abilities invested in will be deployed to improve customer satisfaction, productivity and competition; a clear win. However, there’s a psychological aspect to teaching staff new abilities which is cast into sharp focus by the current job market.

Experts, such as those at the prestigious Harvard University business school, now think that in-house training should not even be counted as an expense. They outline four core reasons why.

Firstly, training is an employee benefit, just like a company car or stock options. In an age when tertiary education costs, being trained in new skills, for example, a new computer programming language or first aid, by your employer is seen as a valuable gift. Certainly, it’s intended for use within the company, but it’s often transferrable, and it adds to a person’s ever-evolving CV. Secondly, it’s an exercise in trust.

Being chosen to learn more displays an employer’s confidence in a person’s intellect, ability to adapt, and general capabilities. It’s a clear mark of respect,

which suggests that those in charge of company strategy see you as suitable for advancement to more varied duties.

That trust aspect goes both ways, as a solid course of on-the-job training or an upskilling course says ‘we want you to stick with us’. In a job market where the much-touted gig economy is often viewed negatively for its lack of security, being given training often means you’re wanted for the long term. By corollary, it’s a way of indicating that an employee is trusted not to take those new skills and leave.

The final factor is simple economics.

The benefits of upskilling far outweigh the initial investment cost. Gifting an employee with new abilities may pay dividends for years to come, for an investment of only a few weeks of parttime study or an intensive course lasting a few days. During that time, those who have received that extra training can reinforce each other’s learning and will be better suited to making the company they work for competitive. Upskilling also certainly beats trying to find a new, specialist employee for a role in a straitened employment market.

Learning on the job means taking someone already successful in their role and making them even better, rather than gambling on finding someone new and unknown

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MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

June 2022

21

E D U C AT I O N & T R A I N I N G ADVERTORIAL

Get ahead at school

NumberWorks’nWords Palmerston North specialises in providing individualised maths and English tuition to children ages 5–16.

Learning at NumberWorks’nWords is fun and rewarding

methods are also incorporated into teaching practices. Maths and English tutoring with NumberWorks’nWords are beneficial for students who need extra support or are falling behind at school

and those who require extension work that challenges them.

If you are interested in learning more about where your child is at with their learning, get in touch with

Natalie at NumberWorks’nWords Palmerston North, and book a free assessment today.

For a free assessment and introductory lesson contact Myra on 06 354 3211.

Faithful & Daring

Learning at NumberWorks’nWords is fun and rewarding, which is why students love it! After disruptions to schooling, catching up and closing gaps is more important than ever.

Tutoring with NumberWorks’nWords Palmerston North helps students build confidence and improve their school results. The tuition is personalised to each student, based on their learning goals, school curriculum, and the outcomes of their learning assessment.

NumberWorks’nWords offers free assessments in maths and English, which identify gaps and weaknesses. With this information, in conjunction with the parents and child, the team develops a personalised tutoring programme to meet the child’s learning needs.

The in-centre tuition is customised to each child and delivered by trained tutors who are experts in their subjects.

NumberWorks’nWords Palmerston North has a personalised approach to tuition, which caters to students of all abilities and complements the work that students do at school.

NumberWorks’nWords tuition is computer-based, using bespoke tutoring software. Traditional learning

We are an independent, co-educational, Anglican day school for students in Years 0 to 8. St George’s opened in 1927. We grow compassionate citizens who are determined to build positive communities.

We believe that nurturing happiness, hope, wellbeing, and engagement in each student are essential dispositions required for learning to ignite, and for citizenship to develop. At St George’s we encourage and challenge our students to be faithful and daring in all that they do.

Families choose St George’s because we encourage Discovery and nurture every child. Our facilities are state of the art and support the delivery of our Discovery curricula.

We offer small class sizes and personalised learning for each student, and as an Anglican School we are strong and proud of our values and traditions. The relationship we build between home and School is essential to our success, so together we can provide an ‘arms wide round’ approach for our students.

Our offer to students from Years 1-8 is responsive and respectful to the individual, by supporting each child to learn in a wide range of values based, academic, sporting, community, and cultural areas. We embrace competition and promote fair play, whether it is on our many Sports exchanges or weekly interschool sports games, interhouse competitions like chess, music, performing arts and other inter-school and regional events.

The key to the success of our personalised learning vision is the arms wide round approach for each student. This involves building the vital partnership between home and school, with our teachers, parents and caregivers working together and building relationships, with the best interests of the child at the heart of all that we do.

Our teachers ignite and support student voice, choice, and agency to build character, citizenship, and community. Our teachers are highly skilled professionals who love working with and for our students. We are passionate about ‘Discovery’ teaching and learning. Discovery is a way of teaching and learning at St George’s in all curriculum areas. It springboards from essential foundations of daily, core curriculum subjects such as Mathematics and English. A Discovery curriculum requires inquiry, collaboration, problem solving, sustainability, awe and wonder in learning, and promotes community. This is our commitment to best practice teaching and learning for each student.

We encourage higher order thinking with all students, and because of this our students are more caring, critical, and creative thinkers.

Our students are supported to be creators of digital solutions, to think generously to explore and to innovate, and to be agile thinkers. Discovery enables us to grow great citizens who can contribute to building caring and sustainable communities.

Our students know it only takes one person to make a positive difference in our community.

You are warmly welcomed to make an appointment to visit our School and discuss your child’s ‘Discovery’ at St George’s School.

132 Liverpool Street, Whanganui 4500 | admin@stgeorges.school.nz | +64 6 349 0298 www.stgeorges.school.nz | instagram.com/stgeorgesnz | facebook.com/stgeorgesnz

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June 2022 MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

DAIRY AND LIVESTOCK

Carbon creep devouring rural New Zealand

by Andy Bryenton

Richard Alspach is a farmer with decades of on-the-land experience residing in the Kaipara District.

After a career spanning dairy and red sector livestock and participation in the leadership of Federated Farmers, he voices his concerns on the consequences of carbon credit forestation.

“At $80 per carbon unit, the profit is better than farming,” says Richard. He referred to the growing trend for farmers to abandon the red meat and wool sectors to sell up and give their land over to carbon forestry.

“Almost any meat and wool farm being bought right now is being bought by forestry interests, and many of these interests are offshore. Six new conglomerates were approved by the Overseas Investment Office recently to buy up New Zealand lands for forests.”

Richard remembers the instigation of the Mangakahia Forest in 1982, which came with promises of local processing, internal roading, and massive employment. While none of these promises fully eventuated, says Richard, at least the joint venture by NZ

“It is a government’s duty to protect a nation’s competitive advantage.”

Richard Alspach says that carbon-credit forestry is eating up farmland to the detriment of rural communities and the long-term economy

Forest Products and Shell was intended to create harvested wood. This forest displaced a quarter million stock units,

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with economic knock-on effects, which were to the detriment of farming support industries and farming support towns in the mid-north.

Now, a situation has emerged he believes incentivises farmers to leave the industry.

“Nick Smith, and the government he was part of, deliberately collapsed the carbon market so that they could claim compliance with the Kyoto protocols, while doing nothing to curb our real carbon emissions,” says Richard. “This left us exposed to the current situation where farming and rural communities are

being sacrificed to avoid the country as a whole having to front up to an addiction to the burning of fossil fuels.”

While Richard agrees that climate change is a real threat and that something must be done, he also opines that the farming sector here is already making changes and taking action which other sectors are not following. Farmers are being vilified when their real contribution to emissions is shrinking.

One solution to mass forestation, which kills profitable farming and kneecaps the Kiwi economy to the benefit of offshore carbon investors and polluters, is to examine a plan change adopted by the Hobson County Council in the 1980s.

Scheme Change 9E classified some land as flat, productive agricultural land forbidden for forestry. Rural AF land was hilly, marginal for stock and useful for forestry. Meanwhile, Rural A land required a resource consent to be afforested.

A similar rule in the forthcoming replacement of the RMA may ameliorate the carbon creep that is rapidly devouring farmland.

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MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

June 2022

DAIRY AND LIVESTOCK

23

ADVERTORIAL

Making big things happen The day the new 20,000L Nevada Slurry Tanker arrived on Myles McKeefry and Marty Genet’s farm in Woodville was exciting and nerve racking at the same time.

How well would their new 145hp tractor pull a tanker more than three times the size of their previous one?

Myles and Marty jointly own two farms operating side by side in Woodville, Manawatu. Together, the farming business comprises 430ha, with a target production of 240,000kg/MS — each has its own cow shed.

One farm has effluent flowing into a sump, which is then pumped out to irrigators, and excess effluent is stored in an above-ground tank. The other farm stores effluent in a pond, which is spread with a slurry tanker. Their previous slurry tanker was a wee 7,000L Joskin that had worked well with the old tractor.

Fast-forward to 2021 and a new 145hp tractor was welcomed on to the farm. With the new pulling power, now was the time Myles had been waiting for, to seriously look at upgrading the slurry tanker to a larger Nevada.

“I’d been talking with Lloyd about a 14,000L slurry tanker since that’s the recommended size for our size tractor, but Marty thought we should go bigger,” Myles McKeefry says.

Marty had been doing some research of his own.

“What really sold the slurry tanker to me was the website and in-depth detail of the product. With Nevada slurry tankers being so easy to pull and our paddocks being

Myles McKeefry says the Nevada slurry tanker has exceeded expectations

relatively flat, I figured the new tractor could handle more. The added value in having the extra capacity and more wheels on the ground more than justified the small increase in cost between a 14,000L and a 20,000L,” says Marty Genet.

Marty had Myles convinced, so they went for it and couldn’t be happier with their decision.

“The tractor handles it well. We like that we can store effluent for weeks then just do one-day spreading, where, with the old 7,000L, we’d be spending heaps of time chasing our tails. The Nevada slurry tanker has exceeded our expectations.

If anyone is looking at getting a tandem axle, I’d happily tell them the benefits of upgrading to a tridem,” Marty Genet said.

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June 2022 MANAWATU FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

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