Northern Farming Lifestyles, May 2014

Northern

Farming Lifestyles May 2014 Edition

33,200 copies DELIVERED FREE to every farm and rural delivery address from Albany to Cape Reinga

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Cutting edge dairying Pages 8–9

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May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

Drought roadshow for Northland farmers

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

Phone: 09 439 6933 or 0800 466 793 • Fax: 09 439 6930 Email: info@thelifestyler.co.nz Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville Physical Address: Lifestyler House, 107 River Road, Dargaville

Northern Farming Lifestyles Distribution area

General Manager: Deb Wright | 021 639 9633 Editorial: Paul Campbell Andy Bryenton Colin Patterson Joanne Speechly Cynthia Matthews Advertising: Betty Willetts

Graphic Design: Gavin Bainbridge Jan Balcombe Paul Bakulich James Menzies Jessica Wright Greer Mackay Production: Brenda Ilton Vivian Webb

Accounts: Lesley Robinson | accounts@nsmm.co.nz Distribution: Laurie Willetts Website: www.farminglifestyles.co.nz

Audited distribution details

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Print run 33,200. ABC audited circulation 33,000, audited Jan–Dec 2013. DELIVERED FREE to every farm and rural delivery address from Albany to Cape Reinga.

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“As climate change really begins to make its presence felt with increasingly extreme weather patterns, farmers in drought-prone regions need to think seriously about how they’re going to rise to the challenges ahead. I’m living proof

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Inspirational farmer Doug Avery

that making radical changes to meet the climate challenges works — it has transformed by family, my farm and my life — and I want to spread the message far and wide.”

In 1998, after successive and prolonged droughts, in desperation, Doug attended a seminar about lucerne.

“That hour transformed the Avery family’s future more than I could ever have imagined.”

Since then the family’s farm production and profitability curve continues to trend upwards each year.

“Here in New Zealand we’re standing on an agricultural gold mine but many farmers still do not have the confidence to make the change. Many farms have hit the ‘ryegrass’ ceiling. There is no way through without change.”

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES May 2014

Farming exchange relived in Dargaville

3

by Colin Patterson

In the late 1960s a group of kiwi young farmers jetted off to the other side of the world to find out how their counterparts operated. grazing. There was nothing to compare it with.”

Mr Bishop says he was the secondyoungest of the kiwis on the exchange.

A number have passed on and some are getting elderly.

So he and wife Margaret got to work organising a reunion at the Kaipara Vintage Machinery Club.

“We didn’t know how many would make a 50th reunion. So we decided to organise a 47th.”

Back together after 44 years the young farmers enjoyed a weekend in Dargaville

Nearly half a century later, older and perhaps wiser, they came to Dargaville over the weekend to remember the agricultural exchange that changed many of their lives. One of them was Dargaville resident John Bishop. In the late 1960s he was farming at Pouto and heard about the exchange through his local Young Farmers Club.

So he applied.

“Pretty well anyone who applied got in. It was a working exchange — it’s still going today. Seventy-two of us went.”

In fact, there were so many young kiwis they had to charter a plane to take them all to the USA and Canada, where they spent six months, before heading for Europe.

Mr Bishop found himself on a grain farm in the Canadian province of Alberta. “It was flat as far as you could see. Everything was much bigger than in New Zealand. The tractors were 250 horsepower. In New Zealand they were around 70.”

Mr Bishop was the only worker on the farm, apart from the owner. But a few

of his fellow New Zealanders worked at neighbouring farms and were able to get together at weekends. Before they started they also had a two-week bus trip to the USA.

In Europe, Mr Bishop went to Denmark where he worked on a dairy and pig farm. Being Europe, all animals were kept indoors. “The cows were 100% indoors. There was zero

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May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

Found a hill almost THREE DECADES ON

BY JOANNE SPEECHLY

Passion and persistence has paid off for award winning Kaipara dairy farmers Annette and Murray Williams but after twenty-seven successful years, Lostahill Jerseys will now continue under new ownership.

T

he boutique herd has won countless awards for high production and is widely recognised for breeding high quality stock however, after much deliberation and soul searching, Annette and Murray have decided to move on to pastures anew.

“If the body was younger, I would never give up this job!” quips Annette, who registered her first Jersey cow before she was a teenager.

“The decision to sell has definitely not been an easy one but we have our health to consider and I guess there

comes a time when we have to think about slowing down and taking life a bit easier.

“We have been running several beef units as well as the dairy farm and it has been a very time-consuming operation, so we’re looking forward to having the time to pursue other interests.”

The ‘retirement’ farm however, is actually a 304 hectare beef unit at Tinopai with panoramic views of the Kaipara Harbour, so the only retiring going on will be that of the twelve ‘old favourite’ Jerseys that will live out their days on the rolling hill country.

Murray and Annette with Lostahill Bars Sheba. Ex

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Murray and Annette with Lostahill Vicks Phillipa. Ex in April 2014.

Annette will continue working with the new owners as a breeding consultant and says this has made the decision to sell somewhat easier.

“It means I won’t lose sight of the herd — I will be able to see the cows and have some input into their future. It also gives me huge satisfaction to see the herd being retained as a stud and I am more than pleased with the caring attitude of the new owners and their commitment to the stud going forward.

Lostahill Jerseys is particularly notable for achieving high production using low cost farming practices and a pasture-based system, feeding grass, baleage and crop. Annette favours American genetics to breed a Jersey cow that is taller and stronger, with good capacity, udders and legs and produces more milk and protein.

“The cows will be going into new feeding system where I believe they’ll be fed total mixed rations along with a grass-based system, which I believe is a good thing given the prevalence of droughts

Lostahill Earn’s Poppett. Ex

in Northland in recent years. The purchasers believe that with their system of feeding, the cows have the genetics to do even higher production in the future.”

The herd of 165 cows was first registered with Jersey NZ in 1987 and between 1990 and 2008, the herd won the award for highest producing Jersey herd under 200 cows on 16 occasions.

It also won the national title, the Dawson Bruce award for highest producing Jersey herd in New Zealand — up to 150 cows for the 1995– 96 season.

The 2011–12 season saw the herd create a record for Jerseys in Northland by producing 5,004 litres per cow and 460 milk solids.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed the last twentyseven years as Jersey breeders but it’s time to move on and we can look back at our achievements with pride.”

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May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

Mad Bush Farm suits Liz just ďŹ ne

BY COLIN PATTERSON

ON HER 10-ACRE BLOCK JUST OUT OF MAUNGATUROTO, LIZ CLARK IS HAVING THE TIME OF HER LIFE.

H

er two cows are more likely to be in her neighbour’s property than hers. Her Jersey bull named The Terrorist has been in her house, has followed her to the mailbox and has stood in her mother’s fishpond.

It’s just another day in paradise for Liz Clark.

Born in Auckland, at an early age she and her family moved to the West Auckland suburb of Henderson.

At the time there were a number of dairy farms in the area and Liz became intrigued at the sight of cows

undergoing their daily rituals. “I always wanted to be a farmer and to own a horse,� says Liz. “I was told the only way I could be a farmer was to marry a farmer.�

After finishing at Avondale College she married at age 19. In 1985 she and her then husband moved to Helensville.

Although Helensville was then a rural servicing town, her lifestyle was not rural. “We lived in a box house on a 700 square metre section.�

However, Liz got to know Jack Hannam, patron of the Waitemata Hunt.

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Liz Clark’s youngest daughter Michelle (15) with her champion calf (owned by Wes & Sheryl Cullen of Maungaturoto) at the Otamatea Christian School Pet Day in 2012

Through him she resumed riding horses and working at horse ranches.

The breakup of her marriage finally provided Liz with the opportunity to achieve her desire — her aim of a rural lifestyle. When her ex-husband indicated he wanted his half-share of matrimonial property, Liz sold her home. “I decided to move north,� says Liz. “I looked at Dargaville. But it was too far from Auckland. So I settled on

Maungaturoto. It was the best thing I ever did.�

She bought a 10-acre block and engaged local builder Tony Greenfield to build her and her three daughters a home.

One of the first things she found about her land is that it was infested by possums. “We have bush on the farm and it was plagued with possums. They made me mad, so I called my farm Mad Bush Farm.�

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In her first year Liz killed 300 possums and in her decade on the land she estimates she has killed around 2,000.

Her experiences farming the land and protecting the bush led her to start a blog called the Mad Bush Blog. Also, Liz’s Facebook Page — again called Mad Bush Farm — is full of photos and observations, of her animals, her farming experiences, about the local environment and the heritage of the Kaipara.

But Liz was pragmatic enough to realise that farming a couple of cows, two bulls and a few chooks (until her dog ate them) was not likely to be a profitable enterprise.

The problem, says Liz, is the soil. “It’s got a pH of 8.7 which means it is very alkaline. It’s got clay on top and it’s really tough. Getting anything to grow is almost impossible.

Kumara would rot in the ground because it’s so wet.”

So she has branched out.

For four years she worked as a Liz Clark’s second-oldest daughter Inaya (aged 16) with property manager for Ray White her awards from St John Maungaturoto Youth Division until a reorganisation made her redundant. From her blog she developed Liz’s immediate plans are to return to an interest in writing. She has become full-time work and help her youngest two a contributor to Rural Living magazine daughters as they finish at Otamatea and has had some pieces published in Christian School. But there are no plans the Kaipara Lifestyler. to move. “I love it here. It’s where I She has also put her writing skills want to spend the rest of my life. I’m at the disposal of the community. Liz an Aucklander who has become a local. edited Maungaturoto Matters — a People here get together and help monthly community newsletter for four each other.” years until 2011. She is now writing a book about her experiences at Mad Bush Farm, although she has no idea when it will be published.

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May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

Cutting edge DAIRYING

BY COLIN PATTERSON

If you are driving on State Highway 12 about 5km north of Dargaville there is a farm that for nearly a century has been at the cutting edge of innovation and research in dairying.

T

he Northland Agricultural Research Farm was set up in the 1920s as the Northern Wairoa Experimental and Research Farm. It aimed to lead the way in showing new techniques for young farmers and to provide training

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wide focus it had developed over the years and membership and ownership was expanded to all dairy farmers in Northland.

Five years later, ownership of the farm was transferred to the BNZ Northland Development Trust, an organisation set up by Fonterra and Dairy NZ. The trust also took ownership of a Fonterra research farm near Hikurangi, north of Whangarei.

The Dargaville farm is in the midst of a three-year trial comparing the performance of cows fed ryegrass and those whose predominant diet is kikuyu.

Farm manager Karla Frost says the trial means the farm’s 260 cows have been split into two herds that are milked

separately, with the milk separated into two vats so that they can be analysed, both for quality and quantity.

That recording of results is a big part of Karla Frost’s work. In many ways she’s like any other farmer. She looks after her stock, ensures they are fed and the cows are milked, the fences mended and everything else is in order. “I treat it as my farm,” says Karla. My job is to make sure everything is done. I make all the day-to-day decisions.”

Most of the 90-hectare (222 acre) farm is lowland in the Kaihu River valley. ”It’s difficult to manage in winter because the soils are clay and get extremely wet. It gets dry in summer.

It’s a challenging farm to run.”

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES May 2014

The Northland Agricultural research occupies a site just a few kilometres north of Dargaville

That difficulty is compounded by the requirements of the trials. It’s vital that the herds remained separated and that their feed is not varied in any way. Otherwise hundreds of hours of work could go down the drain.

Every week she walks the farm, measuring grass growth in every paddock. She also records how many kilograms of palm kernel and maize the cows are fed and passes that data on to agricultural consultant Chris Boom of Ag First who provides advice to the farm on all farming matters.

Every two weeks she sends in a report to Dairy NZ updating farmers on production. Dairy NZ sends on those reports to its members and puts them on its farm database. She also attends committee meetings every fortnight where members — mostly local farmers — examine progress on the farm.

These meetings are also open to farmers. There are also periodic field days when around 90

farmers on average come from all over Northland to walk the paddocks and be updated on progress with trials. Karla has to ensure she is well prepared and that the farm is in good enough shape to cope with a few more boots than normal tramping through its paddocks. Then there are tour groups and sponsors who pay periodic visits. Karla hosts them all.

Karla came to the research farm in June 2013 after seeing the manager’s job advertised. She applied and was successful. It’s been a busy year but she has enjoyed the work.

She intends staying for at least one more year to finish the current trial. Karla says she might move on then or stay for a further year to organise the

“I treat it as my farm”

I can’t take risks here..

Karla manages the research farm and treats it as if it were her own

start of the next trial. Eventually, Karla would like to own her own farm. Managing a research farm is the best possible training for that eventuality. b a r n s s h e d s g a r a g e s 0 9

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Natural Capital is all those natural assets which we take for granted, to the extent that our abuse of this natural capital is either dying or eroding away.

What is natural capital? It is our soil, our plants, our trees, our animals, our birds, our fish, our atmosphere, our mineral deposits, our sun, our oxygen, our nitrogen, our carbon, our rain, our clouds, our rivers, our micro-organisms, our bees our eco-system and our sea.

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In 2000 the United Nations called for the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

The key messages from that report were: • Everyone in the world depends on nature and ecosystem services to provide the conditions for a decent healthy and secure life • Humans have made unprecedented changes to ecosystems in recent decades

to meet growing demands for food, fresh water, fibre and energy • Human activities have taken the planet to the edge of a massive wave of species extinctions, further threatening our wellbeing • The loss of services derived from ecosystems is a significant barrier to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty, hunger and disease • The pressure on ecosystems will increase globally in coming decades unless human attitudes and actions change • Measures to conserve natural resources are more likely to succeed if local communities are given ownership of them, share the benefits and are involved in decisions • Better protection of natural assets will require coordinated efforts across all sectors of government, business and international institutions Just take plants for example: without plants there would be no food, no fibre, no forests etc. Plants are dependent upon, land without our topsoil all life would struggle and farming wouldn’t exist. Under our present agro-chemical system we are losing 200 to 300 million tonnes of topsoil per year through erosion (Parliamentary Commissioner

for the Environment. 2004. Growing for good: Intensive farming, sustainability and New Zealand’s environment.

Wellington. Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.) Topsoil is the gut or stomach of the plant and it needs soil and the micro-organisms within to grow and proliferate. Most of the plants’ mineral requirements come directly out of the atmosphere for free. 45% carbon as CO2, 45% oxygen, 6% hydrogen and 1.5% nitrogen, that’s 97.5% of the plants mineral requirement for free — it has always been this way. Evidence exists that in the presence of artificial nitrogen (urea) the natural fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere by soil micro-organisms stops and as a result it is increasingly difficult for the farmers to give up the use of the artificial product.

Farmers on an Agrissentials program fix all their nitrogen requirements straight out of the atmosphere via the plant and the micro-organisms for free. In their live, living soils nitrogen is stored in the organic matter ready for release to the plant when required. The farmer is not governed by the weather or reliant on transport — the free nitrogen is stored, ready to go and coupled with this natural nitrogen is the return of clover to the pasture — the best feed rumen animals can get for growth and production.

There is a better, eco friendly, more economical way to be farming — to find out how, phone 0800 THE KEY that’s 0800 843 539 today for a FREE INFO PACK or you can contact your friendly representative Chris Storm on 021 738 609 (North of State Highway 14) or Mike Jujnovich on 021 669 059 (South of State Highway 14) to find out how we can make your farm more successful.

There’s never been a better time to call us with our autumn sale on now, that has massive nationwide FREIGHT FREE DEALS (some conditions apply) on bulk units of Rok Solid, Roketlime and Oceans 100. HURRY — Offer ends this month!

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES May 2014

11

ADVERTORIAL

Queen’s Birthday workshop weekend in Dargaville Dargaville Arts Association will hold a series of two-day workshops over Queen’s Birthday Weekend in Dargaville, utilising the creative talents of local artists. prestigious International UK British Bead Competition held in London in 2011. A regular entrant in the Adornment section of the Kaipara Community Art Awards, she won first and third placings in 2012 and first and second in the same awards last year.

Acrylic painting artist and teacher, Pauline Gough, says her aim is to paint joyously and she works quickly in order to maintain a fresh result. Known for her vibrant paintings, she says her intent is not necessarily precise accuracy.

Pauline enjoys working with thick

acrylic paint and often uses a palette knife. More recently she has also been enjoying creating smaller, framed oil pastel and ink paintings. Her works are held in private collections in New Zealand and overseas — she exhibits regularly and has recently featured in The New Zealand Artist.

Well-known vocal teachers and performing artists in their own right, Peter and Maura Flower, will need little introduction. The couple are heavily involved with Otamatea Repertory Theatre, teaching aspiring singers and actors, performing and directing.

The inspirational vocal coaches are keen to help people of all ages and abilities to realise their potential and can guarantee that all participants will finish the workshop sounding better than when they arrived.

The workshops are $65 for residents of the Kaipara, covering both days, and $85 for non-residents.

There are limited spaces for these workshops so to make a booking either call in to Muddy Waters Gallery, Dargaville or contact DAA chairperson Allan Mortensen on 09 439 6933, 021 439 697 or am@nsmm.co.nz.

ARTS WEEKEND in Dargaville QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

Arts ion

Associat

The three workshops, each showcasing a very different discipline, are acrylic painting, wirework jewellery and harmony. The event will conclude with an art auction, dinner and variety show at the Northern Wairoa Hotel on Sunday evening.

Jewellery designer, Jenny Crundwell, has been making high class jewellery using beading, ceramics, sterling silver and copper wirework for close to a decade and is also a fully qualified Art Clay Silver tutor.

Jenny’s collaborative work with another artist, won third place at the

Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1, 2014

Workshops Acrylic Painting with Pauline Gough Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1, 10:30am to 3:00pm Pauline has had a very successful year selling her paintings locally, nationally and internationally and we are thrilled that she has agreed to hold a workshop to share her knowledge. This workshop is aimed for beginners to advanced painters and is not about ‘know how’ but about being inspired and creating.

Although Pauline will demonstrate certain techniques, the intention is for you to get excited about the business of painting and find your own style. The most important thing is to have fun and surprise yourself!

Dinner Variety Show Art Auction Sunday June 1

At the Northern Wairoa Hotel, Dargaville Wirework Jewellery with Jennifer Crundwell Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1, 10:30am to 3:00pm Also a fully qualified tutor in Art Clay Silver, she has also produced fine pieces using beading, and ceramics, enjoying success with a collaborative pendant, taking 3rd place in the prestigious International UK Bead Competition held in London.

A regular entrant in the Adornment Section of the Kaipara Art Awards, she took out 1st and 3rd in 2012, and 1st and 2nd in the 2013 event.

Harmony Singing with Maura & Peter Flower Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1, 10:30am to 3:00pm Singing harmony is a true art form. Why does it sound so good, and how does it work? This workshop is an amazing opportunity to learn with two inspirational vocal coaches. Maura and Peter Flower need little introduction to the people of Northland. They are both heavily involved with Kaipara’s own Otamatea Repertory Theatre where they teach aspiring singers and actors of all ages and abilities. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced singer, you will come away from this workshop, sounding better than when you arrived.

Kaipara Residents $65 — Non-Kaipara Residents $85 (covers both days)

5:00pm Pre dinner drinks and view artwork prior to auction 6:00pm Variety Concert (first half) 7:00pm Smorgasbord roast dinner and dessert 8:00pm Art Auction 9:00pm Variety Concert (second half)

Tickets $35.00 per person Early bookings for Workshops and the Variety Concert-Dinner are advisable To book, email am@thelifestyler.co.nz or phone Allan at 09 439 6933 or 021 439 697 Variety Show-Dinner tickets and Workshop booking forms also available at Muddy Waters Gallery, Parenga St, Dargaville and the Kaipara Lifestyler office, 107 River Rd, Dargaville

12

May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

FA R M W H E E L S

by Andy Bryenton

The rebel from the south

The world of side by side UTVs is a tough one to break into — even the big names in off road machinery have found that they need a unique selling point to entice buyers away from market-leading brands.

We’ve seen machines with six and eight wheels, amphibious crawlers, tip up trays, variable seating, all kinds of engines — it’s an arms race to create the ultimate in versatility for the hunters and farmers who buy these hardworking vehicles.

Now the team from Bad Boy Mowers have thrown their hat in the ring, and they’ve done so in a fashion which well suits their roots in rural Arkansas, USA. The company, born out of a working man’s toolshed to create tougher, more reliable, more powerful ride-on mowers, has created the Intimidator, a UTV built so tough it looks ready to withstand a major warzone.

The Bad Boy/Intimidator folks aren’t messing around. Any company which goes from two men in a garage to a market leading position in John Deere’s back yard this fast deserves a look. And the Intimidator, with its focus on strong, welded-steel components, seems a good fit for the way Kiwi farmers treat their UTVs as well.

From front to back, 1.25 inch tubular steel a-arms support gas-charged coilover shocks. — The chassis is built like that of a tank. The engine (available

$19950

+GST

in petrol, electric, or a thumping, torqueheavy 1,000cc diesel) is mid-mounted low for a good centre of gravity, and up top options include seating for up to six burly men, or a full six foot truck deck and seats for two.

Twin-pot automotive style brakes round out a safety package that includes three point belts and full rollover protection.

The Intimidator lives up to its name with power, though, more than anything else. The diesel unit has a rated towing capacity of 2,100 pounds — that’s 950 kilos — and a further 540 kilos on the back deck. That’s a ton of grunt, in almost literal terms. If a buyer is considering a new UTV for work rather than play, this is a figure that’s hard to look past.

The old adage is that they do things bigger in Texas, but in this case the state of Arkansas has done America proud, producing a UTV which is truly bigger, bolder and brawnier than the rest. If some other models on the market today are equated with SUVs, then think of this as the full military Humvee — ready to go to war against the hardest terrain it can find.

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great mate

deal

• We will cover half the mileage cost on all on-farm servicing • A 10% discount off the invoice total if paid by the 20th of the following month • And finally DOUBLE fly buys points on all work completed buy the end of October 2014 and paid by the 20th of the following month • 3 months deferred payment on all Baler servicing All work must be carried out by the 31st for October 2014

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Call into REDLINE and speak to Matt Hall.

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FA R M M A C H I N E RY

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES May 2014

FA R M W H E E L S

by Andy Bryenton

13

Big fun, small footprint

Remember the small SUV? The fun little Suzuki Escudo, the diminutive RAV 4 — heck, even the venerable MacGuyver had his Jeep Wrangler.

Light, sure-footed and with tons of pep, these small firecrackers were a big hit in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Then most successive models started piling on the bulk, until many were as large as the family sports utilities they replaced. Now Ford have reinvented this segment of small, go-anywhere fun machine with the new EcoSport, carrying on the winning formula of their worldbeating Fiesta hatchback. The recipe — more power from less displacement, and more enjoyment from less size.

The EcoSport tips the scales as a lightweight, with the Trend model we tested packing only 1.5 litres under the hood. But, like the surprising little 1 litre Ecoboost Fiesta, this new machine is a revelation.

First — the looks. Imposing and unique from the front, with a snubnosed, pugnacious grille and a hood swept up into the windscreen pillars, the EcoSport has the image of a pareddown Ford Kuga from the side, and boasts a nice surprise at the back — a rear mounted spare wheel mounted Land-Rover fashion. This isn’t just to display the little sport utility’s off-road intentions — it’s also a way to cleverly

add room inside, where the comfort and cutting-edge layout of the Fiesta have been nicely tweaked to fit the new mould. Microsoft’s smart Sync system rounds out a very comprehensive infotainment suite.

On the road, the EcoSport is stable, and corners with minimal roll, tracking smooth and precise — a neat trick for any SUV. The 1.5 we tested came mated to a double-clutch six speed auto, which shifts seamlessly through the gears, getting the most out of the 92 kilowatts on offer.

Once again, Ford have managed to squeeze a lot of power out of a small unit, and the good news keeps coming, because the EcoSport will indeed also be available with the stunning 1 litre turbo mill from that spicy hot Fiesta.

When it does, expect a petrol-sipping 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres.

The verdict is a simple one in this case. Competition in this segment of the market is set to heat up, with Holden bringing out the new Trax and Nissan’s quirky Juke already selling well. But with the EcoSport Ford have set the bar dauntingly high. It’s spacious enough for the family, handles well, possesses

The all new The Honda all new Pioneer Honda 700 Pioneer Range.

700 Ran

enough power to surprise (if not to thrill V8 hungry petrolheads), and ticks the biggest box of all, coming in at less than $30,000. That’s a competent and cool package, especially when you consider the unique look of the little Ford — it will stand out in the crowd for all the right reasons.

While most sports utilities have become school run barges or armoured cars, the EcoSport goes back to the roots, with that ineffable ‘smile on your face’ factor to the fore. Think of it as the Fiesta’s big brother — with a lifetime gym membership and muscles to match.

Load it. Do it.

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For more information contact your local New Holland dealer today.

1

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[ Front Diff Lock ]

PIONEER 700-4

Available while stocks last.

At participating Honda dealers only.

Prices exclude GST. Contact your local Honda Dealer for more information.

Kerikeri Mid North Honda, SH10, Waipapa, Ph 09 407 7736 Kaitaia Archibald Motors, 143 Commerce St, Ph 09 408 1900 Whangarei Planet Honda, 20 Port Road, Whangarei, Ph 09 438 9780 Dargaville Dargaville Honda, Jervois St SH14, Ph 09 439 1089 Warkworth Honda Warkworth, 10 Morrison Drive, Ph 09 425 9498

14

May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

FA R M W H E E L S

Innovation dominates road and dirt

by Andy Bryenton

The rough and rugged logging roads and off-road trails in West Auckland’s Woodhill forest were no match for the latest tyre tech at the recent Mickey Thompson 2014 product launch.

A day spent learning about the new ATZ p3 on-road/off-road tyres was split between a workshop on the science behind the new tyre’s development and some hands-on practical work in the field.

Representing for Mickey Thompson were some serious machines, including the Taupo 1000 off road championship winning Nissan Patrol (retrofitted with a thumping V8) and Dan Cowper’s mud-slinging monster of an off-roader — readers might recognise Dan from Suzuki’s TV coverage of off-road trials; he’s the one who was often standing on the top of the podium!

Representing the Kaipara — and bringing us all the information about Mickey Thompson’s latest — were the team from Gas and Tyre Services,

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Mickey Thompson tyres give an edge to champion off road drivers and their machines

the trucks which took part in the Mickey Thompson open day were champions in their own right, just like the Baja-beating machines the legendary founder of the tyre company used to build and drive.

The more conventional Nissan Patrol (still recognisable as a production SUV, but beefed up with more power and tough, race-bred suspension) and the Dan Cowper designed and built extreme off-roader pictured here are both Kiwi creations decked out with Mickey Thompson rubber.

You’ll find off road drivers at all levels of competition — from weekend enthusiasts to winch challenge drivers all the way up to the competitors in the Taupo 1000 off road race — take special care choosing tyres which provide excellent grip and get that power to the ground.

This need for maximum performance is what started Mickey himself designing tyres and wheels, then ultimately whole cars for sports as disparate as rock crawling, speedway and drag racing.

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who were more than happy to tackle the technical side of things before heading out to the forest for some practical demonstrations.

The new ATZ p3 is a breakthrough in that it allows drivers to have one set of wheels for almost all occasions.

With stable, quiet performance onroad and a mighty amount of grip across sand, dust, dirt and mud, this innovative tyre combines extra thick PowerPly reinforcement with super-tough sidewalls and a scientifically formulated tread pattern to spit out loose stones and grip like a gecko’s footprint. All of which was proven in the real world as the trucks on the day’s excursion slogged through tough terrain to a wellearned rest.

Mickey Thompson himself would have been proud of how his name carries on in the world of off road racing. Two of

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Winter’s on the way, with plenty of mud to spare. Make sure you’re ready to face the onslaught with top quality tyres for your tractors & implements.

Put our service & prices to the test! www.gasandtyre.co.nz

Gas & Tyre SER V ICES

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES May 2014

ADVERTORIAL

EITHER WAY IT’S 20K

Three decades and still going strong Wagener Stoves offer you genuine NZ Made products with local backup and support and a wealth of experience gained from over 30 years in the heating industry.

The CookTop Wagener Stove has been a proven performer in homes throughout the country for more than three decades.

Popular features of this radiant heater are its large cooking surface which can easily accommodate three or four pots to cook an entire meal, and a log box base for wood storage with an attached poker.

The CookTop Wagener Stove is a compact, robust and very affordable wood fire. Its deep brick lined firebox can take man sized logs for excellent heat output and long burn times. In addition when fitted with a ‘Lion’ wetback the CookTop Wagener Stove will also heat your hot water. This robust stove can be found in locations as diverse as rural homes in Northland to Department of Conservation huts in Te Anau and it is very popular with landlords.

Airlie from Kohukohu says: ‘After many years of toughing it out we finally decided to put in a wood burning stove and chose the Wagener CookTop — probably one of the better decisions we have ever made.

The house is a typical old Far North farm house — big, draughty, high stud, rabbit warren of rooms — everything that makes a house difficult to heat, and to make matters worse it is situated on a very cold and damp site, tucked beneath the Panguru ranges.

Despite our misgivings about the ability of any stove to warm the entire house the CookTop does just that.

‘As for cooking on it — brilliant. It will boil a pot more quickly than if it is placed on an electric stove, and we have found that it’s possible to literally cover the surface of it with saucepans to produce an entire meal. Wood consumption is good and it is very easy to light.

COOKTOP WAGENER STOVE Affordable & Efficient with a solid history of Performance

• Home Heating • Stove Top Cooking • Logbox Base • Poker • Optional Hot Water N

EW

ZEALAND MA D

15

We would recommend the Wagener CookTop to anyone considering putting in a wood burner’.

For more information please phone 09 408 2469 or visit www.wagenerstoves. co.nz.

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After hours: Phone Ben Keith 027 496 7872 Email: hainesnorthland@xtra.co.nz

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Enclose your patio/deck area with our roll up curtains

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Waipapa Loop Road PH 401 7370 www.canvasandshades.co.nz

DICKSONS FOR… Suppliers of ALL grades of Aggregates Blue & Brown Sawdust and woodchips mix Brown Rock for cattle raceways Bulk Haulage — Hire of Trucks & Trailers Roading Equipment — Transporter Glenbervie and Tutukaka locations … CALL NOW

Quality Service and Products • 4m Power Harrow + air-seeder

Dicksons Transport & Quarries Ltd phone

09 437 5903

mobile

021 932 129

email

dicksonstql@xtra.co.nz

• Conventional Haybaling • Round Haylage & Hay • Square Haylage & Hay • Grass & Maize Silage • Cultivation

For all your shelterbelt, hedge and tree trimming, call Cuffy.

• Regrassing & Drilling • Buy Standing Grass

Mob. 027 292 8360 A/h. 09 435 5333

Ask us about Fodder Beets for your area

Treeline

TRIMMING

www.treelinetrimming.co.nz

CONTRACTING LTD

Phone: 09 431 2236 • Graham: 0274 492 394 Clare Borck: 027 522 8477 Email: borckcontracting@xtra.co.nz

16

May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

All change in the cowshed

Northern

Farming Lifestyles

Read the paper online farminglifestyles.co.nz Ca$h for scrap metal!

by Paul Campbell

Under the shadow of drought conditions, with many herds dried off early, the seasonal change in the dairy industry may be a little less busy this year.

Overdrafts have been strained with supplementary feed bills, less in milk receipts and with many an anxious eye on grass growth over the coming

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cooler months. Nevertheless, change will take place as the annual migration of the New Zealand dairy industry comes round once again, heralding

Contessa

a busy few weeks at the start of the new dairy season, with farms changing hands and share milkers moving on to new contracts. Dairy herds will also be

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES May 2014

AU LAG E L H E T IM

D.

L

moving on to new pastures, but in all likelihood, movement will be somewhat restricted after the prolonged drought, which has yet to see any real recovery of feed stocks as winter closes in.

It’s expected to be September before there is a quantum improvement in conditions when spring growth will hopefully see things settle back to something like normal.

But drought or not, the sheer weight of the dairy industry, with more cows than people in New Zealand makes Gypsy Week a significant event.

To the forefront at this time are local councils, as stock take to the road in trucks, or in local cases, to the road on the hoof. Stock transports are being reminded to keep the highways and byways clear of effluent discharge or spillage.

Stock should be ‘stood’ overnight, before being embarked.

Road transport officials point out that effluent from trucks can create hazards for motorists, especially at this time of the year, when stock movements are intensified.

Waterways can also be fouled with effluent washed into them.

‘Truck drivers should ensure their effluent storage tanks are emptied before each load and regularly use stock truck effluent disposal sites,’ states a Federated Farmers’ advice leaflet.

As well as animals, hundreds of households may be on the move as well, as being a sharemilker taking up a new contract means having all of your household possessions in a truck with

TE KUITI LIVESTOCK HAULAGE COVERING NZ WIDE

your stock not far behind. Federated Farmers has issued tips to smooth the way over Gypsy Week.

These include: • Standing cows off green feed for a minimum of four hours and up to 12 hours to empty themselves, instead, feeding them straw, hay or baleage with free access to water • Booking stock transport in advance and asking for an estimated time of arrival to allow cows to stand off for the recommended minimum time • Checking the transport operator has a plan for the journey, covering effluent disposal sites and adequate stops and rest periods, particularly for cows on long journeys.

• Talking to the farmer at the other end about when to expect stock to arrive

CONCRETE

Read the paper online farminglifestyles.co.nz www.skyworkhelicopters.com Professional Helicopter Services

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May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

National Fieldays

11–14th

NZ

JUNE

2014

Fieldays — the ‘competitive advantage’ The National Fieldays at Mystery Creek, Hamilton will be held from 11th–14th June 2014, with this year’s premier feature theme summing up the country’s agricultural aspirations as Managing Resources for a Competitive Advantage.

The four day event attracts in excess of 125,000 visitors to a huge variety of trade exhibits, rural based competition and inventions, along with fun, food and entertainment. The University of Waikato and the NZ National Fieldays

Society have signed an agreement which sees the university enter its eighth year as a strategic partner of fieldays — the largest agribusiness event in the southern hemisphere. Waikato University Vice-Chancellor Professor

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How you can save money by keeping your See us at tdheDays el nal Fi septic system effective and healthy NatioSite PE31 Septic tanks and multi-stage septic systems are delicately balanced environments. It does not take much to upset them. Common practice is to ignore the septic system until problems occur. Good and best economical practice is to always keep your septic system well maintained.

A malfunctioning septic system can become a health hazard.

When a system is not maintained or operated as a delicately balanced environment, problems occur.These problems include nasty odours, leach line blockages, untreated liquid rising to the surface, toilets gurgling and taking time to empty. At this stage your septic system is a serious health hazard to you and your children. Human waste produces faecal coliform bacteria, a source of viral and bacterial gastroenteritis as well as Hepatitis A and other diseases. Hepatitis can be a debilitating condition and cause long-term harm to children.

There are only three remedies.

One: stop using the septic system until it recovers.

This can take over a month and is not normally practical. Two: excavate your septic system and relocate it.This is very costly and time consuming, sometimes requiring new resource consents and different systems. Three: treat your septic system with Septi-Cure™ every six months.

Septi-Cure is Cost effective.

By far the most cost effective solution is to pour one litre of Septi-Cure™ down each toilet bowl every six months.This simple action will help keep your system working at top efficiency by reducing solids and scum. Instead of emptying your tank frequently, the reduction in solids and scum saves you expensive pump out costs.Your irrigation field and leach lines will become clear of slimes and blockages so nature can handle the gradual seepage and evaporation for you. When this is happening your system will be

operating effectively and not endangering you or your family’s health.

What is Septi-Cure™ Septi-Cure™ is a concentrated mixture of selected naturally occurring microorganisms.

These harmless tiny organisms live and multiply by feeding on waste material. When introduced to your septic tank system, they go to work straight away digesting waste material, reducing solids and scum, allowing your septic system to start operating to its maximum efficiency. As they progress through to your irrigation field they feed on the slimes that prevent seepage and evaporation. When seepage and evaporation return to normal, you have reduced the risk of contaminating groundwater and the environment as well as reducing the chances of infection for you and your family. Eventually, they get washed out of the system and have to be replaced to continue their work.This is why you introduce SeptiCure™ to your septic system every six months for maximum efficiency.

A satisfied customer in Hamilton has been using Septi-Cure™ for three years.

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

Roy Crawford says the partnership ‘makes sense’ as both organisations have always shared a mutual interest in contributing to, and growing, the agricultural sector.

“Being a part of such an agriculturally rich region we are delighted to once again support an event which is at the forefront of agricultural innovation. The university has a shared interest with Fieldays in the agricultural sector, from our research which we will be showcasing, to our students who undertake internships with the many agricultural organisations

and our graduates who are employed in the agricultural sector.”

CEO of National Fieldays Society, Mr Jon Calder, says they are delighted to have the University on board as one of Fieldays’ two strategic partners for the next three years.

“The relationship between the university and Fieldays has grown and evolved over the past eight years to the point where we now have a true partnership.”

“We’ve been working with the university over the past 18 months

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National Fieldays

19

11–14th

JUNE

2014

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to look at new opportunities to create solutions and outputs that will help advance New Zealand agriculture. Our goal has been to find new ways to showcase each other’s strengths and create a year round relationship rather than just coming together for four days in June.”

“The result is a series of projects we will work on over the next three years that will see Fieldays support the university’s research and work in areas such as agribusiness, earth and water science, as well as helping build awareness of careers in agriculture and the educational pathways available. It is exciting to have a partner that is actively solving problems and providing solutions that advance agriculture, which is one

of Fieldays’ founding principles,” Mr Calder says.

Professor Crawford says Fieldays is not only an opportunity to showcase what the University of Waikato does for the region, but it is a chance to connect with other businesses, colleagues and alumni.

They will showcase research which has impacts and implications on the agricultural sector.

“We encourage our staff, students and the wider community to visit our site over the four days. Our researchers will be present, as well as ambassadors, so we welcome everyone to visit our site in the Premier Feature area to see how we are making a difference to landbased industries.”

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20

May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

National Fieldays New hope for long term back pain sufferers Inversion Therapy is rapidly gaining a reputation for success with long-term sufferers of Back pain. Inversion New Zealand was started seven years ago

by Dave and Nancy Hare, Dave had suffered over twenty years of back pain from Degenerated Discs and had basically given up and decided to just live with it. “To me surgery was never an option” he said “as long as I still could walk, there was hope”.

Dave tried everything; every time he was overseas he would search for anything that could possibly help.

While on one of these overseas trip eight years ago, Dave discovered the Teeter Hang-Ups. “The first time I tried it, the pain disappeared and I was completely pain free for about 30 minutes, nothing had done that” he told me. Dave never believed it would fix him, “as specialists had told me it was irreversible”, “I now knew I had a place to go every time I wanted some serious relief”.

To Dave’s surprise the more he used the table the longer the pain stayed away, until after nearly three months he was completely pain free, “I couldn’t believe it’ he told me “I had spent large amounts of money on every form of treatment available and here was something I had never heard of sorting it out for me in a very short period of time” It was then Dave decided to

introduce Teeter into New Zealand and Inversion NZ was born.

Over the years INZ have helped thousands of people get some serious relief and have seen results in not only backs, but necks, hips, knees, posture, circulation, increased height, blood pressure and lots more. “We have testimonials from people with over fifty years of back problems and even have them in a number of schools in New Zealand for their special needs children” he told me, “the blood to the brain helps these kids and the results are excellent” What this means for the aging population is that it maintains the health of the brain as we all get older.

INZ now have a division putting them into Industry as Back Pain costs companies a considerable amount of lost production.

Both Dave and Nancy will be attending the show, Dave told me that he realised that, had he not tried the Teeter for himself he would still be suffering, “I would still be a miserable grumpy bugger, living with pain”, “that is why we do the shows, people need to try it for themselves”, “we let the tables do the talking” he told me.

Come along to the National Fieldays for a treatment, if you have completely resigned yourself to having Back Pain for the rest of your life, the chances are you will be pleasantly surprised.

BACK or NECK PAIN? If you suffer from Back or Neck Pain then come along to our stand at the National Fieldays from the 11th to 14th June at the Lifestyle Marquee close to gate 4, sites LS86 and LS87.

In 2006, a three and a half year medical study using the Teeter Hang-Ups was completed in the Regional Neuroscience Centre at Newcastle General Hospital. It was conducted by one of the UK’s leading Neurosurgeons and authorities on back care and it was found that Inversion Therapy reduced the need for spinal surgery for Sciatica by 77% compared to 22% with traditional methods of treatment.

We will set the table to the relaxing angle of 20 degrees, which gently relieves the pressure on your spine and leaves you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

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NZ

JUNE

2014

Fieldays fashion extravaganza Satirist and television presenter Te Radar is to MC the finale of this year’s Fieldays Ag Art Wear competition.

Celebrating 20 years of creativity the competition this year welcomes fashion designer, successful entrepreneur, and philanthropist Annah Stretton as the Ambassador and Head Judge for the Ag Art Wear Awards.

“The Ag Art Wear Awards offer creative New Zealanders the opportunity to mix design and art with an agricultural flavour — to support these awards, ADVERTORIAL

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RECHARGE Battery Revitalizer and Conditioner will dissolve those sulphur ions back into the electrolyte to hold the charge again, effectively re-aciding the battery.

Recharge is available from Farmlands and Auto-One in the NI and CRT Farmcentres and Butler Automarts in the South Island, and will be featured at the forthcoming National Fieldays at Mystery Creek on site K-19a as usual. You can also check out the revamped website www.recharge.net.nz and the new FaceBook page.

And yes you can treat sealed batteries — just ask Gerard how.

Email gerard@recharge.net.nz or call 0800 36 33 36. Recharge is also great for deep cycle batteries like forklifts, golf carts, scissor hoists and lighting system batteries.

especially in the Waikato, is something that offers a nice fit to our brand,” said Annah.

Ag Art wear is a garment design competition with three categories: Avant Garde; Designer Traditional and the newly created Classroom Couture category. Designers are limited to creating artistic garments using materials sourced from the farm, rural industries or the natural environment.

Entrants from New Zealand and Australia will compete for an $11,000 prize pool, with a judging panel of elite designers, including Annah Stretton and local textile designer Marion Manson at Ag Art Wear ‘Designer in the Field’ Gala Dinner and Awards show.

Tickets are now available for Friday June 13 at the Clarence Street Theatre, Hamilton VIP tables can be booked at $1,240 for a table of 8. General admission is $39.

For further information contact Mystery Creek Events Centre: Phone 07 843 4497 or info@mysterycreek.co.nz.

Two daily shows can be seen during Fieldays at the Fieldays Theatre on E Street.

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After seven years in NZ there are now enough people using the Teeter Hang-Ups to dispel the last of any doubts that these really do work if you suffer from Back or Neck Pain or simply just want to age healthily, bring this ad along for a free 10 minute treatment. “I promise that you will be pleasantly surprised!”

A lot of people in our Recharge Conditioning Program are getting 8 to 10 years out of their batteries. Just dose them when you buy them, treat them every two years and give them an overnight charge twice a year between treatments and eliminate the sulphation problem,

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT TO THE FIELDAYS, PHONE US FOR THE SHOW SPECIAL.

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11–14th

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES May 2014

DAIRY

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I am up on the North Island at the moment teaching hoof care. During the workshops we talk about what causes lameness.

When I ask the different groups what they think the main cause of lameness is ‘stone bruises, sole penetration and white line separation from twisting on concrete’ are the most common reasons given. The trainees are usually quite adamant about these causes, but when I ask them to give me some solid evidence to back up their claims, they usually goes quiet. There are some attempts with answers like ‘we find the stones in the hoof’ and — ‘if I walk over stones on bare feet, I get sore feet’.

This however is not conclusive evidence. I get stones stuck in the bottom of my gumboot but that doesn’t mean that those stones created the nice patterns in the sole of my gumboot, rather it is the case that the patterns already existing in the sole of the gumboot allow the stone to get stuck, and because you get sore feet when you walk with bare feet on stones doesn’t mean that the cow is experiencing stones in the same way.

Remember, cows don’t walk on bare feet — they have hooves (like if you were wearing gumboots). Also, you may be sore if you try walking over stones for just one day, but if you walk on stones

every day for the next few weeks you will soon be able to run on them. Why then is it that so many people are convinced about stones being the main cause of lameness?

I have not yet seen any convincing evidence to support these claims.

I know that a number of you who are reading this article will think that I have no idea what I am talking about. I know this because the trainees tell me at the hoof trimming workshops.

We are being told by advisors, veterinarians, colleges and ourselves that stones and twisting or pushing cows on concrete causes stone bruises, sole penetration and white line separation. I guess that if we say it often enough we really believe it, even to the point that we are not questioning our beliefs anymore.

I challenge anyone to show me some real evidence. Give me something indisputable with which to back up these claims and I will write in my next article that I am wrong. If you are not sure about the whole thing but somebody else is making those claims, I would like

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you to challenge that person to write to me. This is not about wanting to be right or wanting to be different.

This is about working out the truth. The reason why it is so important to know the truth about the causes of lameness is because it will influence the way we combat it and the effectiveness of our efforts.

I do strongly believe that the physical forces of stones and twisting on concrete have very little or no effect on bruises or white line separation. If it did then none of you would have a valid reason for having lame cows and there would not be any difference between making cows walk on stoney tracks and breaking cow’s tails.

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May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES May 2014

DAIRY

A dog’s tail …

About pigs an’ pollyticks

Ya gotta hand it to the Boss. He rilly knows about pollyticks an’ wots goin’ on. Eye no this ‘cos we was up ata killin’ shed, wear Boss does tha muttons for the house, an tha odd wild pig wot we get ova the back ofa farm, ona bush line.

Well, we wen’ up tha back at ferst lite ina mornin’ ana Boss bowled a pig wiv’ his old riffle an’ we got it back ta the proppitty ona back ofva big red quod bike he got atta Feel Daze. It was a bittofa bother rilly, cos I had ta run home steda ridin’.

Well anyway readas, Boss was dressin tha porka, an he was deelin’ to tha guts wen’ he sed: ”Juss like old Shane Jonses Dog. He gone an’ gutted tha Laber Pary wen he took a noo job with that Machavelly McCully.”

Must admit readas, I didint rilly unnerstand’ tha Boss, but Sharlene, his gerlfrend, was ina shed too, an’ she sed Boss was a ‘sick puppy.’

That further konfused me, an’ I decided it didint matter enyway ‘cos I not voitin’ in any lections eh?

Well, afta Boss an’ Sharlene bagged upa wild porka ina freeza, they hadacupatee an’ Boss carried on about pollyticks.

“Ya gotta hand it ta Mr Ki an’ his maytes,” he sed.

“There goes that David Cunningliff makin’ more lection promises. He was gunna say the Laber Party gonna stop that ADVERTORIAL

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legal marijahooley stuff, but ole John Ki got ta heer about it, an tole that Peter Dumm ta ban the stuff first.”

That was about wen Sharlene wint an’ fired up her komputa.

Sed she was chekin eemails. An then she yelled atta Boss: “That Mr Morris Willimsin has chucked in his ministas job.”

Eye thort she mint that new bloke ina dog colla like mine wot’s atta cherch ina village. But then Sharlene tole tha Boss it was a guvmint minista wot sent sum eemails ta the coppers about a mate wot was ina cactus (Boss has tole me that’s wot ya say win ya get in trubble).

“Yip,” sed Sharlene. “This lection is gunner be a bit like skittils eh? Bowl one ova on one side, an then bowl one over ona other. Bit of luck, there won’t be enuff pollys left win we go inta town ta vote.”

“Nah,” seda Boss. “Long as we got troff ta feed out of, we got plinty of pollys ta choose from.”

Yip readas. I’m bluddy glad I don’t gotta vote. Anyway, got sum wild pork for tea.

Cheers, Billy.

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24

May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

brought to you by

Forestry Market Report Allan Laurie MNZIF Laurie Forestry Ltd

The China market has become a focus over the last few weeks as worrying signs start to appear.

It is looking like we have hit the high point in terms of price after a wonderful ‘bull run’ over the last year.

Following Chinese New Year the general expectation was factories would kick into gear, construction projects would get under way, and overall activity would increase in anticipation of spring.

However there has been much less spring in the market than expected — indeed more of a solid thump.

The Chinese Government have continued to adopt economy cooling

Read the paper online www.farminglifestyles.co.nz

measures as they try to stem the tide of rapid inflation. The construction sector tends to be the target with constrained credit lines hampering new project starts. Consumption levels have been low since CNY whilst New Zealand and Australia particularly, have continued to pump the logs in. As a consequence log inventory levels have lifted rapidly, hitting an all time high approaching five million cubic metres, more that four months’ supply.

At these levels buyers have closed up shop, LC’s are becoming harder to confirm and all in all it has become a

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little ugly. As one might expect, prices are very much under downward pressure but not nearly to a level the inventory suggests they should be. As reported last month the market indicator A grade hit a high of US$160 per cubic metre. April settlements have been in the order of US$155–$158. General sentiment is suggesting US$150 might be reached in May. At present this level appears to be the market bottom line with most commentary suggesting a US$10 reduction will be enough to bring balance. Importantly also buyers in China cannot afford to let the price go too low or they will be left holding high cost stock and eroded margins. In fact negative margins and reduced sales together a very squirmy bank manager would be the order of the day.

Importantly also it was only five months ago when we reached US$150 on the way up and we thought all our Christmases had come at once. So, you can leave the gun in the cupboard, it is certainly not time to be contemplating ending it all now!

Shipping costs have been ramping uncomfortably so but again we appear to have reached the peak for the moment.

As soon as shipping companies see prices dropping this will also be a catalyst for change or at least some more fervent negotiations. For the moment we are securing charters in the US$38–$40 per cubic metre bracket although we have heard some have had to settle at up to US$42.

A FOREX rate against the US of $0.86+ is reaching in to the realms of

First for tyres.

the ridiculous and is certainly eroding wharf gate prices in NZ. Every cent erodes about $1.55 per cubic metre off the wharf gate price at the current sales levels. All indicators are for a continuance of this most unhealthy situation for exporters. The Christchurch market is certainly chugging along now.

The big issue for sawmills is supply with forest harvest focussing on wind damage recovery and that does not always mean logs suitable for the domestic sawmills focussed on house framing.

Indeed the combined effect of generally younger age classes being recovered and therefore smaller trees, together with a lot of logs now being sap stained, mills are really struggling for supply. There is certainly a lot of price pressure out there but sawmills are also struggling with any lumber price increases. Large volumes of Northern South Island and North Island lumber are flooding in to Christchurch. This leaves the market well sated for supply with little appetite for price lifts.

More recent news out of the Nelson and Rotorua areas is suggesting some constrained log supply also, I suspect, as forest owners chase the more lucrative export log market. Perhaps some domestic ‘correction’ is not in the too distant future.

All in all a more subdued and negative tone this month, but on the back of some very good times in the market indeed. Thus, it has never been more timely to remember the only way forward for climate, country and the planet is to get out there and plant more trees!

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The Independent Forestry Safety Review Panel has agreed on a framework and work is well underway on the development of a public consultation document.

Panel chair, George Adams said: “the framework will help the panel engage with industry stakeholders and the public. All parts of the industry have to work together to ensure the forest is a safe place to work. It is about workers being able to go home at the end of a working day, every day.”

The panel has drawn on the work of the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety.

The taskforce formed a view that there were three key features which ‘combine together within a workplace to determine the workplaces’ safety culture, and collectively impact on the workplace health and safety outcomes’.

In summary, these features relate to the workplace, people within it and work organisation.

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It will also set out some options for change.

The panel will be inviting feedback on the issues and on the options. It will be asking for written submissions and will travel to some forestry regions in mid to late June over a period of three weeks, meeting with key industry stakeholders, forestry health and safety experts, and forestry contractors and workers in the regions.

Details of the consultation process will be made available on the Review’s website — www.ifsr.co.nz.

To signal interest in attending the consultation process people can email — info@ifsr.co.nz.

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May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

LIVESTOCK

Wool Perspective

From Rob Cochrane GM, Procurement, PGG Wrightson Wool

Good demand holds firm Wool prices held on well during the past month or so despite a sky-rocketing Kiwi dollar driven mainly by a steadily weakening greenback, as well as limited demand from Chinese buying interests.

Auction sale catalogues were certainly not fully subscribed as some growers opted to accept farm gate prices amid the uncertainty of exchange rate influences. However the majority of all auction catalogues were cleared at better than anticipated prices.

Reasonably solid offerings of lamb’s wool were displayed throughout March with a fair number of the crossbreds testing a little coarser than the previous year.

This was mainly due to being shorn later than normal plus having had a very good start to life as the ewes were generally in very good condition and

milked particularly well with good grass growth throughout the weaning period.

Staple length was also comparatively longer than normal as a result of the good feeding conditions experienced in general. Prices for crossbred lambs’ wool ranged from around 535 cents per kilogram clean to around 495 cents per kilogram clean, but much depended upon micron and length. A few crossbred early-shorn hoggets (long lambs) measuring around the 32 to 33 micron range sold at levels around the 535 cent mark on a clean price basis.

Mid-micron lambs’ wool types were mostly well sought and, once again depending on micron and length, fetched around 825 cents per kilogram clean for the finer edge down to around 560 for the much coarser types. Crossbred fleece prices remained fairly steady.

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However some of the more inferior types were erratic for price towards the end of March but gained significant ground during early April and, in some instances, sold at levels not too far shy of the better style wools.

Second-shear wool types probably enjoyed the best of the market provided they displayed good colour and character, and staple length was around the 75mm or better mark.

Oddment types again sold well with the better washing colour bulky oddments receiving good support from the exporting trade.

From the beginning of April the South Island returned to a fortnightly auction schedule, after a rather hectic weekly roster between January and March, through until late June.

This reflected the diminished quantities of wool available during the autumn and winter months. When the pre-lamb shearers do begin in June it will be interesting to note just how much impact the continual change in land use has had since a similar time last year, when there was certainly less wool available compared to the previous season.

It’s anticipated there will be less wool available again this season.

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still remains relevant however, with seemingly more wool being sold outside of the auction system, on a percentage basis, direct to export and/or first stage processors, it can become more difficult to gauge exactly what the demand is and from whom, and what level ‘market’ prices should be at, on a type-for-type basis.

Most ‘serious wool growers’ should have the ability to compare their wool type to a current market level in order to establish where their wools fit in the broader picture, and how fluctuations could affect their income stream.

If growers lose that ability, due to increased direct sales and a perhaps less transparent (than auction) selling mechanism, maximum return could be compromised.

This might see an even lesser (than present) emphasis placed on wool importance within the over-all sheep industry into the future.

We at PGG Wrightson place significant emphasis on wool quality and preparation standards due to the demand from our manufacturing customers around the world, many of whom buy their wool via our year round forward contracts available to grower suppliers. That’s my view.

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES May 2014

LIVESTOCK

Be my Guest

Bill Guest Farmers of New Zealand Membership Services: 09 439 5219 • 09 430 3758 www.farmersofnewzealand.com Email: newzealandfarmers@xtra.co.nz

Water wars Over the last 100 years we have all witnessed the developed nations spending billions of dollars on military hardware to defend and enforce access rights to the world oil reserves, much of which is in the Middle East.

Most people would not be concerned about this tumultuous area if it wasn’t for its valuable oil resource.

During the next 100 years with the world population expanding out of control, the fight for access to fresh water supplies could cause water wars. It is predicted that Egypt, whose population is 68 million could reach 97 million by 2025.

It gets no significant rainfall and relies on irrigated and seasonal floods from the Nile River and water stored behind the Aswan High Dam. Any interference of its water source

by Sudan or Ethiopia could starve Egypt.

Egypt is military-powerful but vulnerable because of a lack of water.

The World Bank has suggested that water wars are not far off. The

United States Intelligence Community Assessment of Global Water Security predicts that by 2030 humanity’s ‘annual global water requirements’ will exceed ‘current sustainable water supplies’ by forty percent, and says that without intervention water insecurity will generate widespread social and political insecurity and could contribute to state failure in regions important to US national security.

In China with 1.26 billion, the water table is dropping one metre per year due to over-pumping and the Chinese admit that 300 cities are running short of water.

They are diverting water from agriculture and farmers causing them to go out of business. Some rivers are so polluted with heavy metals they can’t be used for agriculture. It is predicted that as farmers go out of business China will have to import more food.

In India, with 1 billion people, key aquifers are being over-pumped, and while Israel has invented many

technologies such as desalination plants to convert sea water to fresh water, overpumping of its aquifers is allowing sea water to pollute drinking water.

In New Zealand we believe we are water-rich. The last thing we can imagine is that our fresh water supply could be in the future under threat through manmade pollution of our waterways, and that over-pumping will cause our water tables to drop significantly.

We New Zealanders should take a strong interest in the government’s policy decision to promote water storage throughout New Zealand and monitoring the use of our valuable fresh water resource.

Regional Councils have already initiated moves to quantify the fresh water resource in their regions and how the resource needs to be planned for and managed so everyone gets a fair share.

This includes councils working with catchment groups to discuss the freshwater resource and how best to manage it.

New Zealand farmers by law have an inherent right to take water supplies for their animals and to assist them in their farming practices, but many ask, if in fact farmers have the right to use unlimited water resources.

In many parts of the country now, water bores are being monitored by the placement of water meters and investigative studies are being undertaken to quantify the size of underground water aquifers.

27

We all need to be involved in the future water management discussions that are going to take place.

New Zealand, a small country, is seen by many throughout the world as the land of milk and honey. I believe that as people in other parts of the world come under pressure through the shortage of food and fresh water, New Zealand will come under increased pressure to accept more immigration. New Zealand’s economic wealth is through our ability to produce above our national consumption requirements and export our food and water products to the rest of the world and we must protect this.

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28

May 2014

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

LIVESTOCK

My point of view

Allen Cookson

Cancerous growth A talkback host said that Christchurch should grow to over a million population ‘stretching from the coast to the Southern Alps’. Overwhelmingly, callers’ responses to this were supportive of the idea.

No consideration of the loss of export earnings resulting from loss of farmland sacrificed for housing! How would all these extra people be employed? Low wage manufacturing attempting to

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match Asian competitors? What about quality of life? A similar proposal for Auckland envisaged the city expanding to Helensville. Jim Childerstone’s March article in ‘Canterbury Farming’ mentions the Ministry of Immigration’s plan to boost our population to 10 million.

The distinguished Chilean ecological economist Manfred Max-Neef developed the ‘threshold hypothesis’ that when an economic system grows beyond a certain size, the attendant costs exceed the benefits.

Already Auckland firms, recognising the principle, have started relocating to Hamilton.

Some farmers understand the principle as it applies

to their land. I doubt that Fonterra recognises it.

‘Biocapacity’ equals the area of land and water available per human/ city/country/planet to supply useful biological material to humans and absorb wastes sustainably. ‘Ecological footprint’ means the area of productive land and water needed to sustain a human/ city/country/planet at their current consumption level. Subtract ecological footprint from biocapacity.

A positive answer means the country is an ‘ecological creditor’. A negative answer means an ‘ecological debtor’.

New Zealand is one of the few ecological creditor countries (ecological credit 5.88 ha per person). But this is not because of low per capita ecological footprint. Our consumption of fossil fuels is very high, mainly because of our transport. Were it not for our small population, we would be an ecological debtor country.

All ecological creditor countries have small populations for their areas. The worst ecological debtor ‘country’ I have

spotted in research statistics is United Arab Emirates with an ecological deficit of 9.83 ha per person.

Clearly this is because of the low biocapacity of the desert and the high consumption of oil. Earth as a whole has an ecological deficit of 0.9 ha per person. Present human activity is unsustainable.

What are New Zealand’s choices for our future economy? We could continue to supply ecological debtor countries with ‘virtual land’ in the form of food and timber, preferably adding value to these products by processing them here.

We could also develop and sell our skills in science, engineering, information technology, etc. In return we would import materials unavailable to us, and cheap manufactures.

Or we could fill up our land with people who would consume most of the food we produce. To balance our international accounts we would have to lower wages in manufacturing and tourism and destroy our environment.

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There is a big change happening in Pat’s Healing Centre in the main street of Waipu.

After 19 years running her clinic for humans and animals Pat Hunter is ready for partial retirement. She returned from trekking in Nepal in April and is enthused about spending more time tramping, trekking and exploring, as well as more gardening at home.

“This was the first clinic of its kind to open and there was immediate interest in

what I was doing, she says. “The practice has grown steadily over the years and has involved me in treating many animal patients as well as human with a wide range of herbal preparations.”

Whilst closing the clinic at the end of June, Pat will be taking Animalherbs forward into the future. Pat says “It’s hard to say goodbye

to all my human patients, but I will continue to supply ongoing medicine repeats for human clients as well as many other products for humans.” www.animalherbs.co.nz will continue to run as normal giving help to animals and supplying all her current products for animals.

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES May 2014

RURAL WOMEN

Pay it forward concept teaches young people to cook

by Denise Gunn

Concerns about the lack of cooking skills amongst young dairy farm workers, and knowing they eat too much takeaway food, has led Northland dairy farmer Louise Giltrap to find a solution.

Louise would like to see women open their kitchens, or hire the local community hall, to teach simple cooking skills to young people in their district.

“I would like to see a little Mexican wave of cooking classes going the length of the country,” she said.

Louise sees the cooking class concept as a bit of fun and would like to motivate women to get amongst the young people in their district, to pay it forward with a random act of kindness.

“There are lots of young guys out there living on pre-cooked sausages and bread,” said Louise.

“Everyone is so busy buying the farm next door, they’ve forgotten how it all fits together.”

As a working mum on a dairy farm, Louise knows how tiring it can be at the end of the day to put a meal on the table. “I want to get these guys feeling confident about cooking and preparing a filling meal when they come in.”

Louise has also set up a Facebook page ‘Young Farmers Pay it forward Cooking Classes’ to post ingredients, simple recipes and photos.

Research supports natural compounds for high cholesterol A clinical trial into tangerine and red palm extract is for me one of the most important studies into natural support for cardiovascular health. A study ‘Citrus Flavonoids and Tocotrienols for Hypercholesterolemia’ (high cholesterol)

by Rosa, Xian-Lu and Guthrie, 2007 identified the cardiovascular benefits of a patented combination of these extracts. This was a high quality double-blind placebo controlled trial with the objective to see if these compounds had any effect on blood cholesterol and other heart risk factors.

The study involved 120 people, otherwise healthy people, with high cholesterol. They were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 was given a tangerine flavone extract combined with the palm fruit extract Tocomin® and the other group a placebo (sugar pill). After 12 weeks all groups were given a blood test. The results showed that on average, those receiving the active ingredients reduced total cholesterol by 27%. This was reflected in a reduction of potentially dangerous LDL cholesterol by 25% with a small increase of beneficial HDL cholesterol of 4%.

Triglycerides are the transported fat from excess calories and can lead to heart disease and these reduced by 31%.

Many people have been prescribed cholesterol lowering medications called statins. These are very effective at reducing cholesterol as they inhibit the liver enzyme needed to create cholesterol. However this same enzyme is needed for critically important co enzyme Q10.

By reducing CoQ10, statins can cause many side effects such as fatigue and muscle pain. I recommend most people on statins take CoQ10 as CoQsol® but please call me to see if this is right for you.

There is a large group of people who cannot tolerate statins and another group who would prefer to use nondrug solutions to improve heart health. The compounds in the above trial are now available to the public Give me call if you would like more information.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. Contact John on 0800 423559 or email john@ johnarts.co.nz. Join his full weekly newsletter at www. abundant.co.nz.

Ingredients required for stir-fry beef, chips and salad (above)

She has at least eight dishes that can be assembled in less than 40 minutes.

“I use them all the time as well as the more adventurous stuff I’m capable of,” she said.

“However it seems I actually need to show someone how jolly simple it needs to be for these young people to start feeling confident.”

Louise would like the cooking classes to include teaching young people how to think ahead while they are grocery shopping.

“It’s all about food assembly.”

To enquire about setting up cooking classes in your district, contact Louise at gsgiltrap@xtra.co.nz.

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

May 2014

BOOK REVIEW

The real Radio Hauraki story

by Paul Campbell

It’s an old adage that fact often surpasses fantasy and it has been proven in a new account of the Radio Hauraki adventure. In 1970’s I was on the news staff of the fledgling Radio Hauraki.

When the movie 3-Mile Limit arrived on theatre screens recently, I was eager to see our story told on film. But it was an historical mish-mash — the product of a script-writers’ over-active imagination.

However a television movie on Radio Hauraki is due on TVNZ’s Sunday Theatre this winter, and is based on the work of fellow journalist and author, Adrian Blackburn, a friend and confidant of the founding ‘revolutionaries’ — the then New Zealand Herald reporter with

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‘the inside story’. His just released book, The Radio Pirates, How Hauraki Rocked The Boat, has arrived to truly document the Radio Hauraki story, bringing a vital part of New Zealand history right up to date.

It is a truly impressive book that belongs on every New Zealand bookshelf and beyond as a testament to what can be achieved by belief, faith, hard work, and just a little craziness.

Radio Hauraki was originally a Heath Robinson studio and transmission station involving extensive Number 8 wire thinking, aboard the dilapidated coastal trader MV Tiri, broadcasting from a tiny segment of international water off Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

And the world changed in New Zealand. Today, the airwaves are swamped with stations. That was not the case in Hauraki’s day.

The full startling story, almost 140 pages and featuring a stunning selection of photographs, is now contained in Blackburn’s excellent book.

The Radio Pirates: How Hauraki Rocked the Boat, is available at www.radiopiratesthebook.com at $39.90, plus postage and packaging

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“Experience & Advice You Can Trust”.

Nurseries & Plants

CHAIN & SPROCKET KITS DIRT OR FARM BIKE. SAVE 10% off RRP If you get them fitted at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636. www.atvtyres.co.nz. Be quick — offer ends 31/5/14.

SUBTROPICA NURSERY. A wide range of subtropical fruiting and ornamental plants by courier throughout NZ. Bananas, cherimoya, casimiroa, kava, lucuma, pineapples and much, much more.

Visit www.subtropica.co.nz or catalogue $5 from Subtropica, Massey Rd, R.D.2, Waipu.

CHAINS FOR lifting, logging, transport, tiedowns, lifting slings, shackles, hooks, welding services, light engineering. Call Rob at Northland Farm & Forestry Supplies 09 407 8969 or call into 2/8 Skippers Lane, Waipapa.

BARE ROOTED pine seedlings for sale from Northland’s largest pine seedling nursery. Available from May onwards. Phone Kevin Strawbridge at Northland Forestry Nursery Ltd, 027 483 0460 or email nfn@xtra.co.nz.

NEED NEW ATV TYRES? GET 20% OFF RRP & FREE FITTING at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636. www.atvtyres. co.nz. Be quick — offer ends 31/5/14.

Sheep Shearing ANY SIZE flock. Top quality job, good rates. Phone Rob 027 209 0942.

For Sale

ATV FARM BIKE MX SPARES INTRODUCTORY OFFER New Customers Receive 7.5% discount off RRP for all stocked items with this voucher at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi.

Phone 0800 963 636 www.atvtyres.co.nz Be quick – offer ends 31/5/14. Conditions apply.

ATV SERVICE Receive 10% discount off RRP for standard service parts* with this voucher when you get your ATV serviced at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street Hikurangi Phone 0800 963 636 | www.atvtyres.co.nz. *Conditions apply, offer ends 31/5/14.

MX FARM BIKE SERVICE

Water Tank Services TANK WATER TESTING. Find out what harmful ‘bugs’ are present in your drinking water. Samples tested for Coliforms, a written report supplied and remedial actions suggested. Contact Simon at 09 422 9345 or at tankwater@xtra.co.nz.

Energy Efficiency DO YOU LIVE IN A WINDY SPOT? 3 phase wind turbines starting at $2,200 includes 450 watt turbine, 6m pole, charge controller and inverter, Batteries not included. Ring Colin at Windpower Waikato Phone 0274 831 041 A/H 07 843 7983 Email colin@windpowerwaikato.co.nz WINDMILL WATER pumps by Ferguson Windmills Company. Phone 09 412 8655. www.windmills.co.nz. sales@windmills.co.nz

Dog Kennels ARTHURS DOG kennels/run. Suitable for larger dogs. Fully enclosed 4m x 2m mesh run with two sliding doors. Plus three integral kennels.

All galvanised steel construction. $1,750 ono.

Call Robyn on 09 420 3066 or 021 0245 0596.

ROAD SAFETY

Receive 7.5% discount off RRP for standard service parts* with this voucher when you get your MX / Farm Bike serviced at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636. www.atvtyres.co.nz *Conditions apply, offer ends 31/5/14

Animal Health Products APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, Garlic & Manuka Honey 20L - $49.95, 200L - $450 or 1000L - $2000 + GST with free delivery. Black Type Minerals Ltd. Phone 021 185 1501. www.blacktypeminerals.co.nz

DRIVE TO THE CONDITIONS

32

May 2014 NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

WORK HARD. RIDE SMOOTH. $10,995 SAVE $2500 $14,995 SAVE $500

*

*

INC GST

INC GST

• 549cc 4-Stroke EFI Engine • On-Demand True All-Wheel Drive • Rolled Independent Rear Suspension • 680kg Towing Capacity • Anti-kickback steering • Active Decent Control and Engine Braking System

HEAVY DUTY FEATURES •N NEW Sealed driveshaft splines • NEW Sealed suspension bushings

• 455cc Engine with Polaris Variable Transmission • On Demand True All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) with Turf Mode • Certified Roll-Over Protection Structure (ROPS) • Independent Front & Adjustable Rear Suspension • 64 km/h Top Speed • Dump Box Capacity - 227kg • Towing Capacity - 567kg

RANGER DIESEL FINANCE OFFERS 0%P.A. OVER 24 MONTHS ^

1/3 UPFRONT

1/3 IN 12 MONTHS

1/3 IN 24 MONTHS

OW RS N E D R NG O TAKI

$11,995

$12,495

• Engine Braking System & 4 Wheel Descent Control (4WDC) • Built for Australia with Heavy Duty “HD” Features: - Sealed Driveshaft Splines - Sealed Ball Joints - Sealed Suspension Bushings • Mirrors, Indicators and Horn • Dump Box with 180kg Capacity • Electronic Power Steering

INC GST

• Adjustable Seat and Steering Wheel • Rear Rack Capacity - 110kg • 3-Point Seatbelt and Protective Netting • Unique Single Passenger Cab Design • Independent Front & Adjustable Rear Suspension • Certified Roll-Over Protection Structure (ROPS)

ROUSE MOTORCYCLES

1 KING STREET, HIKURANGI. PH: (09) 433 8471

MAUNGATUROTO MOTORCYCLES LTD

117 HURNDALL ST, MAUNGATUROTO. PH: (09) 431 8555

INC GST

KUMEU CHAINSAW W & MOWER SERVICES MAIN ROAD, HUAPAI. PH: (09) 412 8109

CA MO MOTORCYCLES LTD

725 POUTO ROAD, DARGAVILLE. PH: (09) 439 0170

*Offer ends 30/6/14 or earlier if stocks run out. Only available at participating Polaris dealers. Not valid with any other offer. Excludes fleet clients. ^Subject to credit approval, fees, terms and conditions apply.

Based on a 24 month Hire Purchase Contract. To approved Registered GST No Holders for business purposes only on applications for Polaris Ranger 900 Diesel models. Offer expires 30/6/2014. Polaris Finance is a program operated by De Lage Landen Ltd Company No: 135515.

0800 440 290 www.polaris.co.nz