Manawatu Farming Lifestyles, November 2021

Stumpies Services Ltd. Stump Grinding Services

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Growing trees for bees Pages 4–5

Spring lambs leap to market

Twenty-five years caring for the land

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Become part of the festival

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November 2021 MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

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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 General Manager: Deb Wright | deb.wright@integrity.nz | 021 639 696 Editorial: Ann van Engelen, Denise Gunn, Paul Campbell, Andy Bryenton Advertising: Ruth Webb 027 525 9172 Accounts: accounts@integrity.nz Distribution: Laurie Willetts Website: www.farminglifestyles.co.nz

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MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

New award for rural sports

November 2021

A new disability award has been introduced to the Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.

Now in its sixth year, the rural sports awards honour the best of New Zealand’s rural athletes, volunteers and administrators.

Former Olympic medallist rower, Nathan Twaddle, is the awards convenor of judges.

“We are proud to announce a new award; the Future Post Award for Rural Sportsperson with a Disability,” he said.

“We want to ensure our awards are open to everyone. The new award will ensure those rural sports athletes with disabilities are recognised.”

Mr Twaddle also welcomed Courtesy Ford as the new sponsor of the Lifetime Legacy Award.

Norwood chief executive Tim Myers said the awards recognise those who are passionate about heritage sports.

“They give it all they’ve got, and it’s fitting that we celebrate their commitment and character.

“Every year, it is awe-inspiring to hear the stories and achievements of rural sports athletes, many of whom are world champions in their discipline.

“It’s also heartening to hear about the dedication of rural sports administrators to their sports. Many of them are the glue that keeps heritage sports alive in rural Aotearoa today,” he said.

Nominations for the 2022 awards are now open for: The PTS Logistics New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year Award The Skellerup New Zealand Rural Sportswoman of the Year Award The Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year Award The Levno Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Rural Sports Award The Courtesy Ford Lifetime Legacy Award FuturePost Award for a Rural Sportsperson with a Disability Two other awards will be announced during the Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards gala function.

The Sir Brian Lochore Memorial Award for Outstanding Sportsperson from a Rural Background — finalists and the winner are announced on the night of the awards.

The Norwood Supreme New Zealand Rural Sportsperson Award — judges select one overall winner to go home with the 2022 Supreme Award.

Nominations close Monday, January 17 2022 at 4pm. The awards cover fields as varied as wood-chopping, shearing, horse-riding, tree-climbing, shooting, Highland heavies, gumboot throwing and fencing. Finalists will be announced in February, and awards presented at a gala

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Norwood chief executive Tim Myers, left, with the 2020 Norwood New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year, Allan Oldfield

function held at the Awapuni Racecourse, Palmerston North, on Friday, March 11 2022.

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November 2021 MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

GROWING

Establishing their Trees for Bees nursery has added another branch to Jason and Amanda Prior’s commercial beekeeping business.

TREES FOR

BEES

BY DENISE GUNN

T

welve years ago, the couple started their beekeeping enterprise, which has since grown to one of the largest operations in the region. Jason, Amanda and their team produce a range of natural, raw and creamed honey under the label DownUnder Honey. The business supplies local foodstuffs stores, Farmlands stores and exports the remaining honey to Europe, Asia and the US. In 2017, Jason and Amanda set up their Trees for Bees nursery on their Cheltenham lifestyle block, just north of Feilding. With the DownUnder Honey enterprise also on the property, the two business branches complement each other well.

Jason said DownUnder Honey is very much about promoting sustainable beekeeping and encouraging farmers, and other landowners, to plant their properties.

“Nationally, this is gaining momentum, so it’s great to see more awareness out there. We sell all of our honey products from our on-site shop. So having the nursery open seven days allows us to keep an open door for local honey sales also.”

Federated Farmers launched the Trees for Bees NZ initiative in 2009, ensuring there are sufficient pollen and nectar sources for honey bees throughout the nation.

Jason and Amanda’s Trees for Bees nursery grows plants and trees specifically with bees in mind.

“All our trees and shrubs flower, which is great for gardens and amenity planting.

“We grow everything that the Trees for Bees project identified, including their work on flowering willows. We also added their garden plant list plus developed our own line of flowering eucalyptus based on our own research.

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“Over the years, we have added more species based on feedback and observation. If it flowers, and is known to be well-liked by pollinators and birds, we will look at stocking it.”

Jason holds a Bachelor of Agriculture from Massey University and has always held an interest in horticulture. He’s been able to tap into the knowledge of one of their beekeepers, who previously worked

as an orchardist and as a nurseryman.

Jason said there was a lot of work involved in getting the nursery up and running.

“We had to learn how to propagate plants, where and when to source seeds, and how to grow them. Probably the biggest thing is we had to develop all the facilities from scratch.”

The team also makes potting mix on-site.

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Some of the team potting up trees and shrubs

Five full-time employees, with some additional employees for the summer period, form the nursery team. The nursery workers join the team of five beekeepers.

“Spring and summer, we get stocks ready for the next planting season,” said Jason.

“We do seed collecting all year. Over the early summer period, we are potting up seedlings. Winter is the busy period for dispatch and also sales, so staff do a lot more work with customers over this period. We are open seven days through the planting season.”

Planning consultancy is also available with previous projects focussing on whole farms planted for nectar and pollen production.

“We also do a lot of smaller-scale planning for lifestyle blocks and new subdivisions.”

Trees for Bees grow a wide range of fruit trees with close to 100 varieties currently available. In addition to selling to the public, the nursery supplies other

Measuring the height of trees in the nursery

wholesalers, garden centres and councils along with a significant amount of mail order business.

Further developments on the property continue, including the planting of 2,000 apple trees, mostly heirloom varieties.

“We planted the on-site orchard two years ago, so we expect it to start producing commercial quantities in about 18 months.”

Jason and Amanda hope to offer a range of fresh fruit when in season.

“We have also done extensive planting on the 36 acres we have here to showcase the many trees we grow and sell.

“There has been a lot of work in developing a wide range of plants and also establishing facilities to grow these successfully. There has been a massive amount of effort put into getting the nursery where it is. If we look back at what we started with, it’s been a big undertaking — something that all the team should be proud of,” said Jason.

November 2021

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November 2021 MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES

SPRING LAMBS LEAP TO MARKET

BY DENISE GUNN

Coastal Spring Lamb farmer, Daniel Gordon, is a fourth-generation farmer on the family’s 328ha coastal property, Rotokawa, near Whanganui.

F

or the past 13 years, Daniel has farmed at Rotokawa. The property was initially purchased by his grandmother, Jeannie Lilburn, in 1975.

Daniel farms in partnership with his father, Ross, and brother, Ollie. Ross and Daniel set up the Awarua Grazing Company Ltd in 2013, seeing it as an opportunity to take advantage of the differing strengths of their two properties. Ross has farmed the 400ha hill country property, Awarua, east of Taihape, for more than 40 years.

Daniel’s brother, Ollie, joined the farming operation in 2017.

In 2014, Ross and Daniel were approached by Coastal Spring Lamb owner Richard Redmayne with an opportunity to supply lambs for the business.

Daniel said this was an exciting opportunity with Awarua Grazing Company Ltd first supplying Coastal Spring Lamb in the 2014/2015 season.

“Rotokawa winters 1,400 to 1,500 five and six-year ewes. Five-year ewes are shifted from the hill country property to

Rotokawa, with the balance bought in to top up numbers.”

A split lambing system at Rotokawa, along with a warmer coastal climate, sees the first lambs on the ground at the start of July, with a later lambing in early August. Lambs are marketed from mid to late October, with the majority sold by mid-January.

“The properties run very well together.

The main strength in the hills of Taihape is the breeding stock, and the earlier coastal climate of Whanganui has strengths that lend it to being more of a finishing farm.”

Awarua winters 2,100 mixed-age ewes and 650 hoggets, which are also mated.

Lambing starts early September, and the first lambs weaned mid-December before moving them to Rotokawa for finishing.

The remaining lambs are shifted to Rotokawa from January as space allows.

Daniel said lamb numbers in recent times have been very consistent, with 4,500– 5,000 lambs supplied to Coastal Lamb.

Romney rams for the breeding flock are sourced from Wai-iti in the Wairarapa.

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A split lambing system at Rotokawa sees the first lambs on the ground at the start of July, with a later lambing in early August

The 328ha coastal property, Rotokawa, near Whanganui, supplies lambs for Coastal Spring Lamb

“The Wai-iti rams are modern type Romneys, with a good balance of high fertility, outstanding mothering ability, and good growth rates, which have been found to suit the challenging Taihape hills environment.

“Terminal rams used at both Awarua and Rotokawa are the Suftex; half Suffolk, half Texel, also sourced from Wai-iti. The Suftex rams combine high growth rates of the Suffolk, with the muscling and yield attributes of the Texel.”

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Daniel Gordon has farmed at Rotokawa for the past 13 years

Various forage crops are grown at Rotokawa for the lamb finishing operation.

“Our lambs enjoy grazing on grass and herbs that are slightly salted by the sea breeze.

“Six hectares of lucerne is currently grown on the sand country but with the intent of increasing to 12ha this season.

Lucerne has a taproot, which allows it to extract water from deeper in the soil profile, perfect for the drier sand country.

“Another 15–20ha of chicory clover herb mixes for summer lamb forage, and an additional 5–10ha of summer-grazed kale for lambs.”

In addition to the sheep breeding operation, the two farms integrate beef breeding and finishing.

Daniel said around 90–100 Angus cows and heifers calve at Awarua.

“All progeny are wintered in Taihape, and then 45 to 50 steers are shifted to Rotokawa at 12–15 months old. The heifers remain in Taihape with 30 or so bulled, and the remaining 15–20 heifers marketed before the following winter.”

Bulls are sourced annually from Mark and Sherrie Stokman at Stokman Angus, north of Taupo.

“The Stokman bulls are bred for calving ease, fertility, growth and carcase traits, but it is the super quiet temperament that we value. The Stokman bulls have noticeably helped calving ease and temperament for our first calving heifers and have very few issues.”

A smaller 35 Angus cow herd grazes on Rotokawa. Cattle on both farms are sold prime. Daniel’s involvement with Coastal Spring Lamb gives him a great sense of job satisfaction.

“We get great value from being part of the brand. Seeing our product in the market or at a restaurant, we find it very rewarding, and I get a real kick out of that.

“For Ollie and I, as fourth-generation farmers, we both get a great deal of satisfaction from this great opportunity we have been given; of continuing on the family farm as caretakers of the land for the next generation.”

Ewes and lambs graze on grass and herbs slightly salted by the sea breeze

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November 2021 MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

WOOD IS GOOD Forestry news and events: November

East Coast Councils’ anti-forestry drive environmentally and economically destructive Foresters are calling a proposed anti-forestry coalition of local bodies a prejudiced step backwards in time and destructive for their communities both environmentally and economically.

The mayors of Tararua and Wairoa have written to fellow mayors throughout New Zealand wanting money to fund a report designed to show that forestry is negative and ought to be restricted.

The President of the Forest Owners Association, Phil Taylor, says it is contradictory for the Wairoa District to declare climate change to be a key issue in its Long-Term Plan in January, and a few months later leads a national charge to put every obstacle in the way of achieving carbon sequestration through forestry.

“Unfortunately, some council leaders are also off-beam with their understanding of the economics of forestry as well, the recent MPI commissioned PwC Report quite clearly found forestry was much higher in earning power and employment than using the hill country land for continuing to farm livestock.”

Farm Forestry Association President, Graham West, says the terms of reference the Wairoa and Tararua mayors have set out for their report, are fixated on forestry and don’t look at the diverse and long-term interests of their constituency.

“The mayors demand a long-term plan for forestry. But they haven’t done the same for farming, East Coast councils should be carefully looking at the impact of climate change in an already dry region and what viable land use options there are, including a mix of forestry. Forbidding tree planting is not going to increase wool prices, nor ward off the threat of synthetic meat.

New local processing industries, for both food and fibre need to be developed, which will support farming communities in the longer term.”

“Tree farming will supply the raw material for the rapidly emerging bioeconomy, and that in turn may need new tree species instead of radiata pine. The mayors should be encouraging a report which is broader and objective. A report like this could help councils build a resilient economy for their communities.”

Phil Taylor says some councils, such as Hawkes Bay Regional Council, are taking advantage of opportunities for forestry.

“Some councils see forestry as a good income earning investment for future generations, and doing their bit for the environment at the same time. In this case, Hawkes Bay is grappling to meet new government water quality standards, while at the same time one of their districts is trying to make the job to comply harder.

Foresters are welcoming recognition for tree planting.

Foresters have welcomed recognition by the Ministry for the Environments’ new discussion reduction report released last week. The report has for the first time laid out how NZ may deal with carbon emissions from its various sectors. (Still omitting the Agricultural sector, which although contributing nearly half of all NZ emissions, has till 2025 to come up with its own measures for reducing these emissions.)

New forestry plantings have been estimated by the MoE to be needed in the region of 1 million hectares if New Zealand is to have a good crack at meeting any carbon measurement targets. Currently we have failed to meet all targets. This could see the need for another 5 Kaingaroa Forest’s across NZ, but in the end the scale of our nurseries and infrastructure will cap these new plantings. There’s only so much a forester can do!

The new report also highlights the role forestry will play in biofuels for replacing fossil fuels in NZ. Estimates

are that Fonterra alone will require three to four million tonnes a year of biomass to replace coal that is currently drying all their milk power for export.

Just to supply Fonterra would need another 200,000ha of forests planted to supply this biomass. Bioenergy Association of NZ executive officer Brian Cox says work already done shows 60% of coal could be replaced with existing biomass sources coming from both large plantation forests and large on-farm woodlots.

Forestry is not just a one-trick pony and plays an equal future role in other sectors reducing their emissions as well as storing carbon and producing timber for all the products we need.

The MoE report highlights the key role that reforestation will play in our carbon neutral future with consultation workshops and submissions available for the public open now.

The full emissions discussion paper can be viewed at www.environment.govt.nz (Article taken from Farmersweekly)

Regional economies also stand the most to benefit from New Zealand’s move away from fossil fuels to woodbased bioenergy. This imminent transformation to satisfy overseas consumers of our primary products, has already been recognised by a significant part of the agriculture sector who have not been slow to embrace forestry. It would be a good time for local government to do an objective analysis of land use choice and opportunities. Our industry would be delighted to have input into this, as I am sure would Federated Farmers and other farm organisations.”

“What none of us need is a call to legislate against farmer choices based on what appears to be a set of prejudices to keep farms free of any trees.”

Phil Taylor President Forest Owners Association Graham West President Farm Forestry Association

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.

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November 2021

9

ADVERTORIAL

Farm succession planning With the average age of NZ farmers rising, many farmers face the challenge of deciding what will happen to the farm after they have gone. What is needed is a written farm succession plan.

An effective plan enables a smooth transition of farm ownership and control to the next generation with appropriate legal structures in place that serve the whole family. Many people shy away from getting to grips with a plan. There are often significant roadblocks such as the farmer/parents being afraid or unsure of how to talk to their children about what they intend.

The increase of the average size of the economic farming unit raises capital requirements and possibly exposes the business to more debt; the difficulty in keeping up the momentum in implementing the farm succession plan; acknowledging that every farm and family is unique and there is no one size fits all solution.

So, where do you start? A farm succession plan first requires the farm owner to initiate a conversation with their family and professional advisers about the future. The farm owner will need to decide whether the succession

plan has the farm at the centre of the decision making or the family who own it — this is crucial.

If the farm is the centre of the succession plan, then the decisions of the farm owners will revolve around how to maintain and develop the existing farm so that it does not fall out of the family ownership. If the family is at the centre of the succession plan, decisions regarding what to do with the farm will revolve around what is best for the family both now and in the future.

In farm succession planning exercising a team approach will bring about the best results. This team should include the farm owners, your lawyer, accountant and banker. It is critical that all these advisers are prepared to work together and listen to your wishes. It is important that the expectations of each child are managed well regarding future farm ownership and what role they hope to play. A family meeting as part of your succession planning creates an

opportunity for open discussion amongst all family members.

Regardless of who is on the farm, it is a good idea to listen to the whole family.

You might be surprised who would like the farm retained and who is not concerned. If a particular member of the family is appointed as the successor in terms of farm ownership, it is important for everybody to have confidence that the successor has the skills and aptitude for running the farm successfully. The plan needs to realistically address the capital requirements of the family members who continue farming and the level of debt that is sustainable.

The goal is to ensure success for the next generation.

Legal advice should be sought on what farm ownership structures should be implemented and the obligations you will have to non-farming family members compared to the farming family members. Advice should be sought regarding the Family Protection

Act and the impact of the Property (Relationships) Act. You will need to make sure your wills are up to date, regardless of whether or not trust/s are in place. If trust/s are in place, a Memorandum of Wishes setting out the intentions for those trusts is required.

In farm succession planning, issues can become too hard, and the roadblocks we talked about earlier start to appear.

It is important to appoint an independent person to be in charge of keeping up the momentum so that a plan is put in place, implemented and reviewed regularly to ensure it is working.

Every family is unique. It has a different number of children, debt loading, skillbase and farm characteristics and expectations from each child. Don’t delay in getting your farm succession plan up and running; in the long run, you will be happy to tackle this now.

If you would like to get in touch, please call Doug Rowan at CS Law on 06 368 9239.

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November 2021 MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

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MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

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TWENTY-FIVE

YEARS CARING

FOR THE LAND

BY DENISE GUNN

• All year growing season

New Zealand Landcare Trust marks its 25th anniversary this year with the knowledge it has helped to preserve and protect the nation’s land, rivers and streams for future generations.

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he trust, established as an independent charitable organisation by a key group of non-governmental organisations, follows the Australian model. It brings together production, environment and recreation groups together to tackle the challenges of sustainable land and water management.

These trustee organisations include Federated Farms of New Zealand, Federation of Maori Authorities, Rural Women New Zealand, Ecologic Foundation, Royal Forest and Bird Society, Federation Mountain Clubs, and Fish and Game New Zealand.

NZ Landcare Trust CEO Dr Nick Edgar said these trustee organisations govern the trust and collectively represent most

develop leading-edge approaches to sustainable agricultural systems.

We are facilitators. We support grassroots action and locals driving the solutions themselves.”

To get projects up and running, the NZLT either involves the community or farmers and local volunteers approach the trust. When it involves the community, key people are sought to work with, events are held, the project’s profile is raised, people become involved, and it grows organically. If key people are already involved, NZLT works to include others, supports the existing volunteers, raises the project’s profile, and seeks more support from agencies.

“I think we generally choose projects that support the local community and others agencies that are going to make a positive difference in the long-term.”

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privately-owned land-use interests in New Zealand.

“When NZ Landcare Trust was established with a collaborative governance model in the 1990s, it was novel. It has now become the norm.”

Sustainable land management through community involvement is the trust’s mission. It has a grassroots approach, focussing on landowner and community action on the ground.

“Landcare is about people taking control of their local environment,” said Dr Edgar.

“Anyone can get involved because Landcare puts ownership of land and water management issues in the hands of local people, helping to build community capacity and encouraging shared solutions.

“NZ Landcare Trust works with farmers and rural landowners to

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For the past 25 years, the trust has supported hundreds of Landcare groups and farmers to plant trees, fence and protect rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands, and support the protection and enhancement of some of New Zealand’s iconic national areas.

Regional coordinators are located around New Zealand.

Dr Edgar said the coordinators’ focus is on building the essential skills, knowledge and capacity to change to environmentally sustainable farming within the landowner community.

NZ Landcare Trust North Island team leader Nardene Berry said she has enjoyed working with fantastic people in the different projects she has been involved in during the years.

“There are dedicated and passionate people doing awesome work, and I feel privileged to support them in a small way.”

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As the organisation is a national independent, apolitical, not-for-profit organisation, funding continues to be a struggle, particularly from the corporate sector.

Dr Edgar said in addition, fiscal limitations mean it can be hard to grow the NZLT. “Another challenge is trying to provide evidence of change in the short term from problems that have been created over many generations. An element of faith is required for long-term outcomes.”

Throughout New Zealand Landcare Trust’s 25-year history, there have been many notable projects across the nation.

It has also backed groups in the beginning stages that have gone on to become their own entities. It has also been recognised nationally and internationally.

In 2019, the NZLT received the community contribution award at the

Westpac Waikato Business Awards.

The trust’s Aorere River Project won the inaugural Morgan Foundation NZ Riverprize at the International Riversymposium Gala Dinner in Brisbane.

“The trust undertakes a critical and unique role in promoting sustainable land use in the rural sector,” said Dr Edgar.

“Quite simply, we aim to protect and restore natural waterways and increase biodiversity.”

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November 2021 MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

CHRISTMAS

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BY DENISE GUNN On buying a small lifestyle block, Whanganui couple Micheal and Jan Spicer decided growing Christmas trees would be an ideal use of their land.

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icheal was born in Whanganui, growing up on a 1,100-acre property across two farms shared by his mother, his aunt and their husbands. The original farm, bought in the 1850s, remained in the same family until it was sold 20 years ago.

Although Jan spent the first 12 years of her life growing up in Havelock North, she spent a lot of time on her grandparents’ farms in Taihape. Her father eventually

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took over his parents’ Taihape farm, running it as a sheep and beef unit. When her father died, Jan’s mother shifted the family to Whanganui, enrolling her in a full-time, one-year secretarial course.

Micheal and Jan’s goal was always to own a lifestyle property, achieving this in 2011.

Jan said they pondered how to use the land better, settling on Christmas trees and creating Christmas Trees on Somerset.

During their first year of developing their Christmas tree business, Micheal and Jan planted 300 trees. They bagged a further 100 to sell as living trees.

However, after two years, they abandoned the idea of bagged trees due to the triple workload this created.

“Our first challenge was finding a supplier. We had decided to go with becoming a Christmas tree farm in October of 2017, but we had no joy finding a supplier with any available seedlings.

This is when we discovered, from the final

call to a supplier, that we needed to have ordered them way back in the January or early February of a year.

Luckily for us, this large supplier had 400 left over from another order that wasn’t required.”

They buy Pinus radiata seedlings at around 30 centimetres in height.

“They are Pinus radiata but have been developed by our supplier as a Christmas tree variety due to having four needles rather than three, and so are fuller,” said Jan. Working out a planting rotation system was next on the list. Around 500 trees are planted each year.

Jan does the initial pruning to shape the trees and care for them. When the trees have been growing for 18 months, Micheal takes over caring for them.

“Pruning to shape these trees has been more extensive due to our property being in what must be a microclimate.

So each tree needs to be shaped as an individual as their growing habits are quite different from each other. We have around four main prunes each year and mini makeovers as required.”

Learning by trial and error, the couple also received a little guidance at the start from a Hawke’s Bay grower.

“The trees, from planting to selling time, are with us for two and a half years,” said Jan. “The highlight is definitely the joy these trees bring to our customers and the happiness and laughter we see as families wander through choosing their perfect tree. So much fun for both us and for them too.”

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MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

November 2021

15

BUSINESS PROFILE

Farmer’s inspiration has business pumping

by Andy Bryenton

Water is the stuff of life for farmers, a precious resource that can’t be overstated, but in a hot, dry summer, it’s sometimes hard to source. One home-grown company is set to change that.

Recent rules changes and the intense scrutiny of the government’s Three Waters policy have thrown water issues into the spotlight, at the same time as changing technology has pushed advancements in solar power. Enter a smart solution, solar-powered remote pumps, able to reliably draw up water from underground or even source it from streams and dams far away from the power grid.

One early adopter has branched out from enjoying the savings and practicality of solar water pumps to supplying other farmers. Frustrated by breakdowns and hassles with his existing internal combustion pumps, Agri Solar Ltd owner and livestock farmer Matthew Lowry looked critically at his other options, researching the possibility of employing solar power to drive his water flow.

The result, he says, paid for itself within a year. The next stage was to replicate this success with friends and neighbours. Then came the establishment of a business taking the solar idea from his farm to others all around the country.

That was back in 2017, and technology and uptake have surged ahead since.

Agri Solar has sourced pumps with amazing economy, power

and pumping abilities to draw up water from the ground in all sorts of scenarios. They also put an emphasis on Kiwi made products, supporting local industries and matching perfectly with manufacturers who know the New Zealand farming landscape.

As Agri Solar comes from a farming background, the business has been built from the ground up to serve the needs of the rural sector. The philosophy Matthew has deployed is all about making sure his customers get what they need from their solar install.

It’s a business that’s all about relationships, honesty and finding the right fit for each job. To add peace of mind, Agri Solar offers a twoyear warranty on their installs, which exceeds, in many cases, the time it takes to pay back the initial investment with hassle-free, maintenance-free, cool flowing water.

In the same way battery-operated power tools enabled smarter, more tactical work in far-flung parts of the farm, solar-powered water pumps offer flexibility and a dependable solution.

Take a closer look before summer hits by talking to your local solar experts, or visit agrisolar.co.nz to see the range on offer.

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November 2021 MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS ADVERTORIAL

Summer is in swing Isn’t it great to finally see sunshine outside? With a long, wet, cold winter behind us the forecast is for a long, hot, dry summer.

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Now is the busiest time for Central Mower Services as customers get out their mowers, line trimmers and pressure washers to get their properties shipshape ready for barbecues and (hopefully) spending time with family and friends outside.

If you need your equipment serviced or repaired, call to book in. CMS can order any parts required before you take in your machinery and give you an estimate on turn-around times.

Rob has loan trailers to borrow so you can bring your machinery in to save you time waiting for a time slot for their pickup service.

Sourcing parts and whole goods is still an issue; all spring ordering was completed in April/May this year.

However, there are still some products that have been hard to get into the country. The advice from Rob is — if you see something that you like and can physically touch it — buy It! Limited stock is available for Huster, Stiga and Cub

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With the best-selling items being zero turn mowers, call in, and Rob can help diagnose the right machine for the job.

As an independent retailer, Central Mowers only stocks products they know and trust. So for those trusted brands like Masport, Lawnmaster, Echo, Shindaiwa,

Oleo-Mac, Hustler, Cub Cadet, Victa, Makita, come in and talk to an expert.

For great service and industry knowledge, please visit Rob, Megan and the team at Central Mowers, your home of outdoor power equipment servicing the Manawatu region for more than 10 years. 696 Tremaine Avenue, Palmerston North. Phone 06 355 2967.

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November 2021

17

ADVERTORIAL

Golden Bay Dolomite NZ’s most loved magnesium.

Become part of the festival The Kimbolton Sculpture Festival is once again being held on April 2, 2022 at Kimbolton with entries now open for the New Zealand Rural Sculpture Awards.

Building on three successful festivals, the Kimbolton Sculpture Festival 2022 will be bigger than ever, and we want you to be a part of it. We invite you to make 2022 your year not just to be an observer but a participant — a maker of your own dreamt-up marvel.

Now, you may think that’s for others.

Still, creativity and making is part of human nature, and this festival is a celebration of grabbing what’s at hand and having a go.

Local Pam Corpe has entered every year and has won her fair share of mantlepiece hardware. Her brother-inlaw Terry Hawkins is the one to beat, and Pam already has big plans.

“I know what I am going to make for next year’s festival, and I am starting to have a play with how I am going to actually do it,” Pam says.

Pam makes things out of the bits and bobs she finds in her shed or on the farm.

She has a magpie’s eye, and her hilltop house is scattered with quirky sculptures.

“I see something and think, well, I could make something out of that one day. I use what I find; that’s my definition of my art.”

Pam won the big prize at the last festival with her Oroua Bird sculpture, but Terry trounced her for the People’s Choice Award with his Shearing Shed Kiwi.

With seven awards for adults and seven youth awards with $18,000 prize money up for grabs, there are plenty of options for first-time have-a-go sculptors and experienced sculptors to enter.

You could win the top prize of $5,000, you could walk away with the People’s Choice Award, or you could just have a heap of fun along the way.

You can build. You can fix. Now create. Why not use some of that stuff that’s lying around the property and put your welding, hammering and problemsolving skills to creative use.

So, now is the time to get to your shed and show what you can do. Grab a chainsaw, some welding gear or just chip away.

call 0800 436 566 or visit www.dolomite.co.nz

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www.landscape-supply-yard.co.nz Credit: Carly Thomas

Kimbolton sculptor Pam Corpe with her farmer and his dog, sculpted out of large balls of barbed wire

“I see something and think, well, I could make something out of that one day.

I use what I find; that’s my definition of my art.”

Be part of the Kimbolton Sculpture Festival in a big way. Start dreaming, start plotting and most importantly, start making. Have a go; you never know what you can do unless you try. You might even be able to sell your creation.

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The Kimbolton Sculpture Festival 2022 is going to be an open door to creativity.

Entries close March 30 2022, for more details and to enter, visit ruralart.nz.

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18

November 2021 MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

STUDENTS SHINE WITH

WOODWORK

BY DENISE GUNN Whanganui Collegiate students Benjamin Poulton and Jessica Johnstone took out the top awards at this year’s Secondary Schools Creative Woodskills Competition.

J

essica won the Level 1–3 section with her dining chair project. She made the frame out of mahogany, and crafted the seat and back from maple.

Although Jessica liked the maple finish, she also wanted to use mahogany due to a sentimental family connection.

“I wanted to have something that I could look back on and relate to.”

In February, Jessica started the design aspect, beginning construction soon afterwards. She completed it in September.

“One of the most challenging aspects was when our teacher was unwell and unable to support the project. We really missed the connection of our teacher, and I felt I needed reassurance from her that I was completing the project correctly.

“I spent a lot of time emailing and communicating with Ms Fuller while she was at home. This helped to ease the stress and give me reassurance on my project.”

Jessica entered the competition to get feedback and see how her projects compared with others.

“I didn’t expect I would win. I have never won awards with my building projects before.”

The concept for Benjamin’s project came after discussion with his teacher. He decided to design a comfortable outdoor bench seat, able to withstand the weather and chose Kwila to create his project.

“It is about one metre long and has half-moon shaped legs. I have oiled it to a lovely dark colour with two coats of oil, which will also protect it from the weather.”

Benjamin’s project took around 30 hours to complete. He won the junior section.

“I felt very proud of what I had made and excited to receive the prize. It is a great feeling to start with a design on paper and then actually build it so others can use it.”

Denis Hocking of the Middle Districts Farm Forestry Association initiated the competition around 15 years ago.

He said his aim was to raise interest in the decorative furniture timbers that

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Benjamin’s Kwila outdoor bench

many farm foresters were growing as alternatives to radiata pine.

“In particular, Tasmanian blackwood, cypresses (macrocarpa and close

Jessica’s dining chair project

relatives) and various eucalypts, but there are others including native timbers.”

Denis has supplied farm-grown and milled timber for the competition over

A cheval mirror, crafted by Bele Longuet-Higgins of Longburn Adventist College, placed second in the Level 1–3 section

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MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

November 2021

19

Second place in the junior section went to Feilding High School student Zac Brunton’s electric ukulele

Jessica Johnstone with her winning entry in the Level 1–3 section

the years, but entrants are not required to use these. Some other farm foresters have also supplied timber.

Although the main competition organisation is now in the hands of UCOL tutor Rowan Dicks, Denis still has a role organising prizes with support from Mark Smith-Pilling of Smith-Pilling Rewinds Powertool Centre.

“I’m always so impressed by the quality of the entry pieces. We have a lot of talented young woodworkers who, in turn, are supported by a number of very dedicated and capable teachers. In a carbon-constrained world, wood is a wonderful resource, and we need to be using it as widely as possible.”

Junior winner Benjamin Poulton with his winning entry

Rowan said 10 different schools across the region had entered the competition during the years.

“I am now the main organiser, and I see the potential in these students who are clearly passionate about making. UCOL has had a few students, some winners, come to study furniture design after leaving school.

“The competition pieces are judged on the innovative and effective use of these timbers in furniture-making.”

Rowan said UCOL had been the main sponsor alongside the Middle Districts Farm Forestry Association and Smith Pilling Rewinds Powertool Centre.

Whanganui Collegiate head of technology, Alistair Duff, talks students through what the competition involves, and that is a good goal to aim towards.

“The project is being created anyway, but with the competition carrot available, students tend to look harder at a quality finish. Students only work on their projects at school. They start at the beginning of the school year with a fresh pallet of ideas.”

Two other Whanganui Collegiate students, Lucas Bishop and Sophie Mickelson placed third in the junior and Level 1–3 sections, respectively.

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November 2021 MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS ADVERTORIAL

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Standard Interest Rate, currently 25.99% p.a. applies to any outstanding balance at end of interest free period. Lending criteria, fees, T&Cs apply. Rate and fees correct as at date of publication, subject to change. Columbus Financial Services Limited or Consumer Finance Limited (as applicable) reserve the right to amend, suspend or terminate the offer and these terms and conditions at any time without notice. Mastercard is a registered trademark and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated

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22

November 2021 MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS ADVERTORIAL

ADVERTORIAL

Not feeling your best?

by John Arts

I have a younger client who had poor immunity with regular colds, low energy and generally feeling unwell for no medical reason.

Our first priority was to improve his immune system. Despite what you read, you cannot ‘boost’ your immune system. Our immune system is a complex, interconnected group of cells and tissue types.

Our immune system is highly dependent on nutrients. Of these, the most important is vitamin D, which acts as a master controller of our immune responses. Then there is a long list of trace minerals and some vitamins. I often talk to people who take vitamin C and zinc for their immunity.

These are important, but just two of many. This is where a well-formulated comprehensive multi-mineral, multivitamin and multi-antioxidant can be very helpful as they can provide all the important nutrients, not just some of them.

Having regular colds, especially in winter, can be the first sign of poor immune responses. You may have a

great immune system, but it may be half asleep or just disorganised. I put my client on an initial higher dose of my multi-nutritional formula to lift critical nutrients rapidly. We also included vitamin D. He has been delighted with the response. He has been through winter without a cold and with much more energy. The bonus has been that the niggling low-grade depression has gone, probably from lifting vitamin D. Our bodies have a huge capacity to heal and restore but only if we give it the nutrients it needs. Give yourself a three-month challenge; you may well be surprised.

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 423559 or email john@abundant.co.nz. Join his all-new newsletter at abundant.co.nz.

Strong and reliable on the farm Tuatara Machinery Limited is a New Zealand company that has been producing side-by-side vehicles under the Tuatara brand for more than eight years, creating a workhorse that is strong and reliable and built for commercial use on farms.

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MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES November 2021

OPINION

Over it

by Jane Gray

23

RELOCATABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR SALE

I don’t know about you but I’m over it.

T, WORK, P EA L Y,

AY

BU

There are so many things going on in our country right now that I am getting a little sick and tired of it.

I have been vaccinated because I think it is the right thing to do, and to get back to some sense of normality, we will have to be 90% double vaccinated. How will that ever happen? For whatever reason, there are too many that have no wish to be vaccinated.

The government is now using the fear of restrictions to force the vaccination issue, no jab, no job, no freedom. If the fear of getting sick isnt enough of an incentive, then why does the government think that what they have proposed is going to work, and when it doesn’t, then what?

The poor old employer is now being made responsible for monitoring vaccination status for staff and those that walk in. It is just another layer of stress put on already highly stressed businesses.

Perhaps, it is time to open up our internal borders so family and friends can

be together, so businesses can open their doors and trade normally and just let the chips fall where they may as far as the unvaccinated and Covid are concerned.

Perhaps improve our health system to cope rather than spending billions keeping the country tied up because of those that don’t want to comply.

Why is the government not addressing the supply issues we keep hearing about?

The lack of stock is a major concern for all, especially coming into Christmas, the biggest revenue generator for retail; but with no stock, what happens? I want to buy local, but if local can’t supply, what’s the alternative?

Covid is here to stay, and we all need to be able to learn to live with it. However, we choose to do that; it is an individual’s choice rather than the government’s. All I will say is consider your choice with our children and civic responsibilities in mind.

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24

November 2021 MANAWATU FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

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