Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, March 2015

Taranaki

FARMING Lifestyles

March 2015 Edition

10,000 copies DELIVERED FREE to every rural delivery address in Taranaki

Young farmers gearing up for regional final

Taratahi trainee to take up job in Ireland

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Pink bales make a difference

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New Zealand fits the bill for AgriVenture trainees Page 6–7

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March 2015

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Steak of Origin underway

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

The hunt for New Zealand’s top steak is underway.

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

Website: taranakifarming.co.nz

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AUDITED CIRCULATION Print run 10,006. ABC audited circulation 9,885 audited Jan–Dec 2014.

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SEPTIC TANK OWNERS How you can save money by keeping your septic system effective and healthy

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 the 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 Septi-Cure™ 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.

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The grand final judges for 2014

More than 300 entries have been received from farmers, retailers, wholesalers and foodservice suppliers across the country for this year’s Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Steak of Origin competition. And all will be vying for the title of the nation’s most tender and tasty steak.

Entries will now go on to be scientifically tested at Carne Technologies in Cambridge for initial analysis.

Following three weeks of aging, each sirloin is tested for a number of factors including tenderness, colour, marbling and succulence. The top 20 per cent from each class will be determined from this analysis and announced as semi-finalists.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Limited chief executive officer Dr Scott Champion said the competition is always keenly contested.

“New Zealand beef is renowned internationally as being top quality and farmers are justifiably proud of the product they produce. “It’s the icing on the cake to take out the Steak of Origin

grand champion trophy.” In addition to the breed categories for farmers, there are also sections for retail, wholesale and foodservice suppliers.

Semi-finalists will be announced on April 24, and will then go on to a taste test held at Auckland University of Technology’s Hospitality Department on May 1.

This test will determine which semifinalists will progress to the final stage of the competition.

Finalists will be judged at the grand final in Palmerston North on May 11.

The judging panel includes Beef and Lamb ambassador chef Marc Soper, food writer Lauraine Jacobs, and head judge Graham Hawkes.

The Grand Champion will receive $5,000 prize money, trophy and shield.

Winners from each class will receive $1,500 and a plaque.

The Supreme Brand Champion will also be awarded at the grand final.

Now into its 13th year, the Steak of Origin competition is also supported by global animal health company Zoetis.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Young farmers gearing up for regional final

March 2015

3

by Denise Gunn

Young farmers across the region are putting in the hard yards as they prepare for the Taranaki/Manawatu regional final of the ANZ Young Farmer Contest on March 28.

Three district events were held recently in Manawatu and Taranaki to find the top eight contestants to compete in the regional final.

Mar ton Young Farmers Club dominated the district competitions with four members qualifying for the regionals — Peter Fitz-Herbert, a sheep and beef farmer near Hunterville; Nigel Will, a beef and dairy farmer from Rongotea; Beef + Lamb New Zealand environment extension manager Eric van Reenan; and Taihape sheep and beef farmer James Roger. Both Peter and Nigel have previously represented the Taranaki-Manawatu region at the national finals in the past.

Sharemilker Jayden Harvey from the Central Taranaki Young Farmers Club; veterinary science student and Opiki Young Farmers Club member Samantha Edgar; Taranaki sharemilker Kane Hughes of the Alton Young Farmers Club; and agribusiness banker Cameron Black, representing the Massey Young Farmers Club, also secured spots at the regional final.

The regional competition will be held in two sections — a practical day followed by an evening show with dinner,

speeches and a quiz round. The practical day, which is free for spectators, will be held on Palmerston North’s Railway Land, starting between 8–8.30am.

Challenges set for competitors during past competitions have included fencing, changing tyres, drenching sheep, and bagging potatoes all while judges are checking that safety precautions are being taken. The evening section will be held at the Convention Centre.

Taranaki/Manawatu Young Farmers field officer Megan Bates said there is also entertainment planned at The Grand Hotel afterwards.

The top placed young farmer from the regional final will go forward to the 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest.

Seven grand finalists, selected from each Young Farmer regional final held throughout New Zealand, will compete for the national championship title.

TeenAg and AgriKids will also be competing at the regional final in Palmerston North through school and individual entries.

“They complete their qualifiers on the day and the winners of this move onto a race,” said Megan.

Young Farmers regional final set for March 28

“Those who place then attend the grand final.” The 2015 ANZ Young

Farmer Contest will be held in Taupo from July 2–4.

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March 2015

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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HI TRAIN A T A R E TO TAKE UP JOB

E

IN IRELAND

by Denise Gunn

Taratahi trainee Hamuera (Hamu) Treanor is taking up the job of a lifetime this month as he heads to Ireland to work on a dairy farm.

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amu is currently in the final stages of completing work experience on a Manawatu dairy farm — the final component for the National Certificate in Farm Skills (Work Ready) (Level 3). This qualification has been made available in Palmerston North through Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre working in partnership with the Universal College of Learning. With his work experience drawing to a close, Hamu asked Taratahi tutor Barry Don about the availability of full-time positions.

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Around the same time, Irish dairy farmer David Deasy had made an enquiry through Taratahi’s website as he was looking for a New Zealand dairy farm worker to fill a position on his farm. David had employed New Zealand workers in the past and was pleased with their work. Barry had received an email notification of the Irish dairy farm position and thought it would suit Hamu.

“When Barry first told me about a job in Ireland, I thought he meant the South Island,” said Hamu.

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“Outstanding in the field”

“It took me a few minutes to get my head around the job being over the other side of the world.

“I had never considered working overseas.”

Hamu will be stepping out of his comfort zone travelling to Ireland to take up the position but is looking forward to the challenge.

The family-orientated 20-year-old grew up in Palmerston North and has only just travelled internationally once — to Fiji on a school trip.

“I’m mentally preparing myself, not knowing anyone and especially not having family regularly dropping by will be a challenge,” said Hamu.

However one familiar face will be accompanying Hamu — his partner Sheridan Hokianga.

“It will be an opportunity of a lifetime for both of us,” said Hamu.

“Sheridan has worked with me in all my dairying jobs, so she will be working alongside me in Ireland too.”

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With overwhelming encouragement from Sheridan, both their families and all the Taratahi tutors, it didn’t take Hamu long to work out this was an opportunity that would change his life. And he hasn’t set a date for when he will return to New Zealand yet. “I am hoping to go for 10 years — longer if I can,” he said.

“I will be taking every chance to climb the ladder to set myself up to return to New Zealand to buy my own dairy farm.”

Barry has played a particularly supportive role in Hamu’s life over the past year and has shared many stories of his own OE in his early 20s.

“I jumped on a plane back in the 70s and my ‘can do’ attitude helped me secure roles managing dairy farms,” he said.

Barry said the experience broadened his horizons and changed his life. He believes a similar opportunity would do the same for Hamu.

He’s such a diligent, capable and likeable young man

”

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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Checking on the herd

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Hosing down the cowshed “My advice to him was not to come back for at least three years. He’s such a diligent, capable and likeable young man.

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“Hamu and Sheridan will be working on two neighbouring dairy farms based

in Clonakilty in County Cork. I’ve been told the farming practices over in Ireland are years behind what we have in New Zealand, so it will be great to learn some of the traditional farming ways,” said Hamu.

“The trip is constantly in my thoughts every day — I am nervous but also very excited.”

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March 2015

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Two AgriVenture trainees from England have found working in New Zealand has fitted the bill for learning more about grass-based farming systems.

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ill Green and Edward Hildred have spent time based on Brocklehurst Farms near Inglewood. Will worked as a trainee on the Brocklehurst family farms for 12 months in 2009/10, and recently returned to work there. Edward is partly through his AgriVenture experience on the same property.

David and Janette Brocklehurst bought the original family farm east of Inglewood in 1967, adding three more properties over the next 32 years.

Two of their sons Jamie and Shane, together with wives Megan and Mandy and their families, now manage the four Brocklehurst sheep and beef farms, running close to 5,500 breeding ewes, 1,400 hoggets and 300 beef cows on

a total area of roughly 2,023 hectares (1,416ha effective).

The Brocklehurst family have hosted several AgriVenture trainees over the years from England, Denmark, Wales, Scotland and Canada. Some of the trainees stay for six months while others stay for one year.

AgriVenture is run by the International Agricultural Exchange Association — an organisation which has been operating farm work placements since 1965.

When in England, Will works on his family’s dairy, beef and sheep farm in Shropshire. His father was an AgriVenture trainee 30 years ago and this prompted Will’s decision to follow his footsteps.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES March 2015

Edward at work on a Brocklehurst family farm

From left: Jamie Brocklehurst and Edward Hildred

studies at Sparsholt Agricultural College before he came to New Zealand.

“I decided to do this placement in early 2014 after an AgriVenture spokesperson pitched a talk to us at college,” he said.

“Lots of my family and friends said New Zealand is a great place to go to with a great landscape.”

He said it was also an ideal opportunity to see livestock in a totally different system to the United Kingdom.

Edward has found adjusting to Taranaki’s steep hills and ridgelines challenging compared to the terrain of the farm he worked on in Oxfordshire.

“The thing that stood out the most was arriving in mid-lambing and not going near a sheep in lamb until they had lambed,” he said.

Edward’s previous experience with lambing was with sheep in an indoor environment. Docking lambs and finding

sheds dedicated to shearing in New Zealand have also been an eye-opener.

Both men have found their first AgriVenture stint in New Zealand to be a positive, rewarding experience.

Edward would like to further his farming experience through working with stock in either the United States or Canada.

“I would recommend this to anyone considering to do a year out on placement, especially with AgriVenture, as they guarantee work throughout the time you are here. It’s a great way to meet people from all over the world with similar interests and backgrounds.”

Although Will has no plans to work in other countries at this stage, he has been looking forward to returning to New Zealand.

“I have just been dying to come back and work in New Zealand again, almost from the day I left.”

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Spokesperson Mandy Mair said AgriVenture offers a unique opportunity for young people aged 18–30 to travel and work on farm placements overseas.

“The experience you gain on your farm work placement provides an excellent basis on which to choose or continue your career.

“We aim to provide you with an AgriVenture programme and an experience that money can’t buy,” she said.

r

Will chose to work in New Zealand as he was interested in learning more about low input, grass-based farming.

He lists his best experience in New Zealand so far to be the people, their attitudes to life, work, and the countryside.

“And how warmly everybody welcomed me and were so easy to get along with,” he said.

On his initial arrival to Brocklehurst Farms, Will had only worked on his family’s farm. He found the size and scale of the farming operation challenging.

“It was a lot bigger in stock numbers and amount of acres than what I was used to at home,” he said.

“It massively opened my eyes about different farming practices and attitudes.”

An 8,500 acre arable farm, mostly contract farmed in Oxfordshire, is home for Edward. He had just completed his

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March 2015

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

e t a v o n e r r o d l To bui

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Avoid Drink Driving

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Recycling water

With dry summers becoming increasingly common, water is no longer something we can take for granted. Whilst those in town have been enjoying summer without a worry in the world, rural residents are concerned about how full their water tanks are.

There are many different ways to conserve water and recycling greywater is a good place to start.

The gravity or manual greywater system recycles water from sinks, dishwashers, washing machines and showers.

This uses gravity to bring greywater to areas that need it, eliminating the need for pumps or electricity.

This is a general type of system that can be filtered, depending on use. A basic component of a gravity system is the diverter valve which can direct the water to filters or to disposal areas.

A typical gravity greywater system channels water from a source to mulch basins or gardens.

Packaged greywater systems use electricity or a pump to send greywater to different locations around the home.

These use filtration or disinfection processes to cleanse the water which can be stored in a tank until needed.

The Northland Regional Council recommends gardeners check soil moisture before watering and if it is moist below 10 centimetres you can skip the watering altogether.

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Checking the soil in dry weather ensures you water only when it is really needed.

Greywater contains many beneficial nutrients that boost gardens if natural detergents are used.

Soaking a garden every few days conserves more water and encourages plants to send roots deeper to seek

out moisture. Making sure to water the ground rather than the leaves means plants take up moisture through feeder roots.

Watering by hand or a well-designed irrigation system is most efficient. By following these tips, those with water tanks can rest easy knowing they haven’t wasted a drop.

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e t a v o n e r r o d l To bui

March 2015

To consent, or not?

Thinking about building or renovating? Then it’s time to start asking some questions: Am I allowed to do this? Do I need a resource and/or a building consent?

Who do I need to talk to? What are my obligations? How long will it take?

How much will it cost? And what can I do if it goes wrong?

Firstly, a building consent is the formal approval granted by your local council that allows a person to carry out building work. Most projects will require consent and getting it is the owner’s responsibility.

Under the Building Act 2004, building work which requires consent may include, but is not limited to, alterations and additions, the demolition of existing buildings, sitework and installing communications aerials. The list is long, so it is important to get the correct information from the get-go.

Usually, exempted works are those which will not impact on the structural integrity or safety components of the building.

However, no matter how minor the project is, all building work must be carried out in accordance with the

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Building Act, the Building Code and the local authority’s district plan.

Some projects may also require resource consent and this should be sorted at the time your plans are being drawn. For example, if you are adding a room and the foundations require major earthworks or if the new room will be closer to the boundary than allowed in the district plan, then you will need consent.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website provides a step by step beginner’s guide to the resource and building consent processes and the Northland Regional Council website provides information specific to activities in this region. See www.dbh.govt.nz/rma-guideindex and www.nrc.govt.nz/consents for more information.

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March 2015

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

ADVERTORIAL

Soil Awareness at Forefront

by John K Morris CEO of Agrissentials

After two years of intensive work, 2015 has been declared The International Year of Soils by the 68th United Nations General Assembly.

Soil and water are the two most important ingredients for all life on our planet and without them life would not exist. As a soil fanatic, it is gratifying that soil is recognised, as it has spent many years below the scene, as dirt, with very little recognition of its powerful ability to look after and support all life on our planet. Farming would not exist without it.

As a commercial grower I used to think that dirt was just a medium to stand the plant in.

The supposedly real deal was the synthetic NPK fertiliser to boost plant growth, and it did. However the synthetic nature and solubility of these types of fertiliser has over the years demineralised our soils down to dirt, taking the essential life out of the soil.

The perpetrator of the NPK balance sheet theory, Justus Von Liebig made the observation that plant

growth yields were in exact proportions to the minerals removed from the soil. Incorrect, if this was accepted as fact, how can we explain nature’s ability to achieve growth when chemical fertilisers are not added; such as the planets natural forests, jungles, savannahs and the likes of the Serengeti plains, the oldest self sustaining farm on the planet.

If this NPK theory is relevant, the problem of soil degradation would not be an issue today.

Von Liebig’s theory has no foundation in nature fertility as it leaves out the biological cycle of life in the soil. In the United States Department of Agriculture, year book 1957, Von Liebig’s NPK theory was discounted as having no basis in the overall picture of soil fertility or management.

Liebig, himself denounced the balance sheet theory before his death. Amazingly, this unscientific theory

has dominated and degraded soils on the planet for the past 175 years. How does that impact on present NPK soil science doctorates? Why have science and the agricultural research centres held so tight to this false principal in its recommendations to the farming fraternity? Could it be possible that this false theory sits well with industrial farming and the manufacture of chemicals?

The soil is a living entity containing such diverse microorganism, that today, the study of these organisms is one of the most complicated (and misunderstood) sciences. Of all microorganisms bacteria make up the greatest number in the society of the soil. They are diverse in species and perform many different functions in the fertility cycle. Some are involved in fixation of nitrogen, both from the air and from the breakdown of organic matter. They control the nitrogen, carbon, sulphur and iron cycles in the soil. Bacteria are predominant in the creation of enzymes and the breakdown of mineral elements into available plant nutrients.

These little creatures are designed and programmed to manage the soil. Agrissentials fertilisers contain bacteria, algae, fungi (especially mycorrhizal, the number one micro organism) protozoa and actinonmycetes. These microorganisms are the first to dine at the mineral table converting all minerals to a plant available form. Agrissentials multi– mineral, microbial rich fertilisers can introduce you to this superb natural system. Agrissentials fertilisers contain both minerals and micro-organisms to remineralise and bring life back to soils.

Another added benefit with Agrissentials best on earth fertilisers is that they can be applied at anytime (so you don’t have to wait for rain) whatever the weather. Don’t get caught in the fertiliser queue — get your fertiliser on now. There is a better way. Give us a call today and make a change for good. Freephone 0800 THE KEY that’s 0800 843 539 today for a FREE INFO PACK or you can contact your friendly representative Adrian Rowe on 021 873 304 to find out how we can make your farm more successful.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

March 2015

11

ADVERTORIAL

Kiwi Fertiliser has completed its stable of quality fertiliser products Kiwi Fertiliser Company Limited was formed as a result of declining results, particularly with pastures, kiwifruit and avocado’s.

However the work we do is not limited to these crops as our programme works with all crops, trees and vines. We work exclusively with Kinsey Agricultural Services (KAS) of Missouri USA with soil audits conducted by Perry Agricultural Laboratory (PAL) also of Missouri USA.

At Kiwi Fertiliser we have no generic fertiliser blends. We soil audit each individual property or part thereof and we make up a recommendation based on the deficiencies or excesses found and offer a prioritised custom blend to suit each soil’s needs. Over the past sixty years as NPK has been promoted, we often find that calcium and

On a PAL test we need to see sulphur at 50 ppm on high producing dairy farms and at least 20 ppm or higher on sheep and beef farms. As sulphur is an anion and easily leached owing to rainfall we need to top sulphur up annually.

Sulphur has been highly underrated in NZ.

We have five years of solid results behind us based on the teachings Dr William Albrecht.

William A. Albrecht (1888-1974) was the foremost authority on the relation of soil fertility to human health and earned four degrees from the University of Illinois. He went on to be emeritus Professor of Soils at the University of Missouri. Dr Albrecht saw a direct link between soil quality and food quality; a link which necessarily lent itself to human health.

His work made clear that health stems from the soil. He drew direct connections between poor quality forage crops, and ill health in livestock.

He developed base-level requirements for soil nutrients which are still successfully being used today. Dr Albrecht’s work has been diligently continued, taught and improved by Neal Kinsey.

The programme works exceedingly well here in NZ, as it does in 70 other countries. The industrial age of big acid plants producing copious amounts of superphosphate and dumping it on farmland whether it needs phosphate or not is well and truly over. It is our opinion that the acid plants at the various ports around NZ are relics of a past industry, nevertheless an industry that did the country proud until the mid-eighties.

From the mid-eighties on it has been a race to the bottom for farmer shareholders. Amalgamations and takeovers in the fertiliser industry and various shut downs of inefficient acid plants has left two major Co-op’s in NZ that act more like corporates than Co-op’s; they seem more concerned about volume sales that are focussed on individual market share, big ego’s and power.

They appear to be involved in price collusion and to be focussed on lowest cost rather than providing quality products. They are not serving clients well by focussing on offering solutions for their respective shareholders that will add to a potentially vast improvement in animal health, pasture and crop health, and client profit.

Typical pasture produced by our fertiliser.

This paddock yields over 23tDM/yr and rising. magnesium have been grossly ignored, as have sulphur, boron and copper along with a number of other nutrients.

In soils that have a total exchange capacity (TEC) of 8.69 to 19.34 we aim to get Calcium to 68% and Magnesium to 12% of TEC; this is a very important aspect of the work we conduct. At Kiwi Fertiliser we treat calcium carbonate and Dolomite as true fertiliser inputs.

Applying Ag lime on its own generally leads to severe magnesium deficiencies; as calcium builds in soils there is generally a one to one reaction with magnesium. As calcium moves up by 1%, magnesium decreases by 1%. This is why we do not recommend a separate liming programme; we will recommend addressing magnesium and have it build to the correct level.

Some magnesium products will build in the soil: others will not.

On our test we like to see phosphate at 560 kg/ ha on a Bray II test. Below this we recommend Sechura RPR in order to build phosphate. 80% of the soils we audit have phosphate levels well above where they need to be.

Ray Shearer in his healthy crop of millet awaiting its first harvest.

We also want to see potassium at 919 kg/ha or between 2 to 5% base saturation. Potassium is a necessary input; another input that we find low on most soil audits. We invariably recommend potassium sulphate in our fertiliser mixes.

We want to maintain boron at 1.75 - 2.00 ppm, mostly we see B at 0.6 to 0.8, less than half of where this important element should be. Boron is another underrated fertiliser input in NZ. Copper needs to be 5 ppm; mostly we see copper at 0.6 - 0.9 ppm, certainly below 2ppm. In crops and vines we like to see copper 10 - 15 ppm.

We fully understand that nitrogen is an important element in a true fertiliser programme, to this end we invariably recommend ammonium sulphate as a nitrogen input; sulphur is a bonus. Many of our clients have changed from urea to ammonium sulphate and notice the difference. Among other positives, we find ammonium sulphate enhances phosphate efficiency.

Our clients invariably report markedly improved animal health as a result of changing from their NPK regime to the Albrecht/ Kinsey system of soil fertility, as animal health improves vet bills subside, condition score

SECHURA RPR

Reactive Phosphate Rock improves, somatic cell counts reduce and allround quality improves.

Average means mediocre. This is not in the mindset of our clients who are focussed on producing quality while remaining profitable, our clients are producing nutrient dense pastures and food by focussing and demanding quality inputs that affect positive change. The goal of lifting productivity and profit in agriculture is real; we are pleased to be in a position to effect positive change and work with positive clients who are “making it happen”. We invest in educating our soil fertility advisors with the knowledge of our soils programme; many of our people have attended Advanced 1 & 2 training with Neal Kinsey and other biological practitioners. Our role is also to reeducate farmers that there are permanent solutions to all of their issues relating to soil, pastures, pests and diseases, and animal health.

The race to the bottom is a lousy goal. We look forward to working with farmers and agribusiness people who want to join the journey to the top.

SECHURA RPR

Reactive Phosphate Rock Kiwi Fertiliser has completed filling its stable of quality fertiliser products by securing a shipment of Sechura RPR to arrive @ the Port of Tauranga mid-March.

Sechura RPR is an unadulterated naturally occurring reactive phosphate rock that is a well proven alternative to superphosphate and reverted super (dicalcic) in all situations.

We will recommend phosphate to those properties that are requiring capital dressings of P according to our soil audit, many properties we audit have excessive Phosphate.

Phosphate P % > 10 Sulphur S04-S % >2 Calcium Ca % > 27 As Calcium Carbonate >67 Total Neutralizing Power >70 In terms of CaCo3 Citric Solubility > 45%

Soil audits & recommendations in association with Kinsey Agricultural Services Missouri

Better Soils - Better Profits - Better Phone Ron McLean.....Ph: 0800 549 433 | Brett Petersen.....Ph: 0800549 442 | Trichel Stark....Ph: 0800 549 450

visit our new website: www.kiwifertiliser.co.nz • Focused on Farmer Education & Empowerment • Quality Orientated • Easily Understood Approach • Latest Soil Technology • Honesty & Integrity

12

March 2015

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

RURAL WHEELS

SMOKE ALARMS

ADVERTORIAL

Save Lives Canterbury Farmer gets 17 year battery Life Lead acid batteries usually die prematurely from sulfation buildup on internal lead plates.

Battery additive

Battery Revitalizer & Conditioner 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,

DO NOT RELY ON THE ALTERNATOR A car battery can be treated for around $5.

Available at :

0800 36 33 36 – www.recharge.net.nz

According to Gerard Anselmi of RECHARGE Battery Revitalizer & Conditioner, sulphation is very easy to treat and prevent premature battery failure with their simple Recharge Battery Conditioning Programme, “We have been saying for years that farmers are getting 8 to 10yrs in our battery conditioning programme. However, most shows we do these days, we meet people using our RECHARGE Battery Conditioning Programme with 12 and 14 year old batteries often still going,” says Anselmi.

“In fact last year we had 3 farmers with 17 year old batteries, one was still going strong. The last one was a Canterbury farmer at the Christchurch A&P show in November 2014, and he was very pleased with the results,” says Anselmi. “After 16 years on the market in NZ and 10 years in Australia I would not be surprised if we bettered that figure given time.”

A RECHARGE treatment will dissolve the lead sulphate build-up turning those sulphur ions back into sulphuric acid electrolyte holding electrons. “We are chemically reversing the sulfation buildup process, one chemical reaction to counter another,” says Anselmi.

“Once treated a battery is essentially running at full capacity, provided the lead plates are still in good condition.

Prevention is the key, treat them early, repeat every 2–3 years and keep them charged.”

Recharge is available from Farmlands and Auto-One stores and will also be featured at the National Fieldays at Mystery Creek in June as usual. You can

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March 2015

RURAL WHEELS

13

Built for the tough stuff

by Andy Bryenton

“SEE US FOR SAFE MOTORING OVER THE HOLIDAYS”

They’re the biggest auto maker you may never have heard of — with a combined output measured in the hundreds of thousands of vehicles.

From the successor to the Willys jeep through to aircraft and mighty military transports and tractors, Mahindra are a force to be reckoned with.

Mahindra’s Pik-up is relatively new to these shores, and the fully kitted out version we were given to test drive — complete with bull bars, a double cab and a timber-and-steel deck — looks as different from its competitors in the utility sector as the outgoing Land Rover Defender did from a RAV4. If the term ‘military’ comes to mind, that’s no mistake — the Indian army, one of the world’s biggest forces, looks to Mahindra for transport. The other word which comes to mind is ‘spacious’, as the interior boasts enough room for a whole burly crew, with ample legroom and headroom for those in the back seats. Even behind a double cab, the back deck is the size you’d find on some single-cab utes, and looking at the single cab variant wellside, one can tell that these machines are made to indulge heavy, bulky loads.

That means a ton on the back, four passengers, two and half tons towing capacity — and the ability to take that load anywhere.

Our test track for the Pik-up was not a parking lot (though it did slide neatly into a supermarket parking space).

Not even a country gravel road. No — the Mahindra’s minders insisted we take their new ute properly off road — which meant visiting a range of coastal sandstone cliffs, rolling, rutted paddocks and steep hills.

Even with road tyres, the Pik-up handled some rough and rollicking terrain with aplomb, tackling steep hills, dirt and deep sand. It did it all with a

sense of mechanically engineered acuity — the nicely balanced click and slide of a rifle bolt.

Under that tough exterior, Mahindra’s 2.2 litre turbo diesel packs parts by Bosch, and the kind of variable geometry turbocharger pioneered by the Porsche 911. Eaton supply a clever automatic differential locking system. The fivespeed manual box recalls certain great off-road utes we could name, but shouldn’t. It all comes together to create a balanced and functional whole.

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March 2015

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

RURAL WHEELS Manawatu

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ADVERTORIAL

Find a kart to suit you

Whether it’s for use on the farm or just having fun, you will find a Go Kart to suit you at Go Karts Direct.

Specialising in an impressive selection of Drifta go karts and two seater buggies the latest additions are the New 2015 model Adventurer 250cc and 150cc (photo) two seater farm buggies. Also the Explorer Drifta 110cc two seater buggy ideal for younger children, and the Blazer Drifta single seater 200c featuring a wet clutch engine with reduction gear box.

Both these models have chunky off-road tyres and good ground clearance so ideal for use around the farm, orchards, and lifestyle blocks and any large open grass space.

Go Karts Direct will have a full range of karts to suit all ages on display at the Northland Fields Days.

These are great fun for all ages and ‘it’s also a great way for children to learn driving techniques and control out in the open spaces’.

They also now cater for the younger three — six year age group with Pedal Powered Go Karts.

Other new products to be on display will

be the mini Ride-On Tractor and Trailer unit. This 110cc ATV has three forward gears and reverse, electric start, front and rear suspension, hydraulic brakes, and lights and indicators. These very impressive tractors are ideal for kids around the farm.

For the men who have everything, we will also have the ‘ride-on motorised chilly bin’. The go karts come pre-assembled

and are easy to put together, a good project for everyone to be involved in.

They can be freighted direct to customers anywhere in New Zealand at discounted freight rates. All prices include GST and Tax Invoices issued.

All products can be viewed at the website which is user friendly and informative, with action photos and video.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

March 2015

Au���� MAINTENANCE The potential of good pasture

HOLESL‘IRN’GUS

The need to consider pasture quality as well as quantity in feeding livestock has increased exponentially in recent years with the economic growth of the industry, and this is particularly due to a move towards production to customer specification, particularly for carcass weight and timing of supply.

As stocking rates have dropped and per animal performance targets have become more important, pasture quality has become a critical constraint to achieving potential growth rates.

Findings from New Zealand and international research have been refined into The Beef and Lamb New Zealand Pasture Quality Workshop to provide a simple method of assessing pasture quality in the field for everyday use on-farm.

Visual assessments of dead matter, legume content, grass leaf and grass stem are turned into quantitative estimates of nutritive value by the computer package Q-Graze, which adds the effects of grazing to estimate the growth of young animals on that pasture. Measuring the nutritive value of a pasture can be done by direct laboratory assessment or by indirect visual assessment.

Laboratory measurements include metabolisable energy (ME), digestibility, fibre and protein.

How much do animals eat and why?

What drives potential intake? The potential feed intake of animals is determined by physiological state (e.g. pregnancy, lactation, sex) and genetics.

The animals’ health and the feed offered determine whether the potential is reached.

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SAFETY FIRST ON THE FARM Intake is influenced by the amount of pasture offered to the animal, commonly estimated as pasture cover, pre — and post-grazing dry matter yield or height.

The more that is offered, the more that can potentially be eaten, up to a maximum where increased pasture dry matter yield has no more influence on intake and liveweight gain.

This has to be balanced by the need to keep pasture quality high, ensure good regrowth and maintain economic stocking rates.

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March 2015

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

March 2015

LIVESTOCK

Wool Perspective

17

From Rob Cochrane GM, Procurement, PGG Wrightson Wool

Wool market rebounds

After a rather disappointing start to the 2015 calendar year with large volumes of crossbred fleece wool being passed in from the auctioneer’s rostrum at the first January auction, the wool market rebounded in late January with further improvement experienced in February, due to renewed interest from the exporting trade as new orders began to filter through from overseas mills.

During late January and through until time of writing in mid-February, a substantial volume of lamb’s wool was offered via the auction system with prices extremely buoyant compared to earlier predictions.

Crossbred fleece prices (both full length and early-shorn types) regained most of their lost ground to reach levels around 520 cents per clean kilogram by February 12.

Buyer interest in second-shear types remained fully firm with prices for these wools reaching levels just off the pace of full length fleece at around 495 to 500 cents per clean kilogram. Crossbred lamb’s wool was, as usual at this time of the year, a feature at each auction during February and buyers were keen to bid on all lamb’s wool but with particular interest in those measuring finer than 30 microns.

Those measuring 27.5 microns reached levels just above the 700 cents per clean kilogram mark, whilst 28.5 to 29 micron types received approximately 690 cents, and 29.5 micron approximately 680 cents.

Coarser crossbred lamb’s wool in the 30 to 31 micron ranges also sold extremely well reaching 655 and 630 cents per clean kilogram respectively.

Halbred and Corriedale wool types continued to draw very good support from the exporting trade and were keenly bid for. Any lines of similarly bred lamb’s wool were extremely well sought after.

Limited Merino wool types were offered during the early February period however those offered generally sold at levels equal to those received in Australian brokers’ catalogues, where large volumes were catalogued and with noticeable market improvement

predominantly for the best wool types.

Buyer comment in Australia at time of writing was that the poorer tender wools catalogued recently, but held over from earlier sales this season, remained difficult to place.

Sheep numbers have been decreasing at a rather rapid rate over the past ten years and, along with that, the obvious decrease in wool volume has perhaps offered an optimistic outlook for those growers who have stuck with a traditional dual purpose sheep breed, however we have witnessed a roller-coaster wool market soaring to extremely good highs but dipping, often very quickly, to unexplainable lows before travelling along more modest humps and hollows prior to the surge beginning again.

Whilst there appear to be some very good orders on exporters’ books at present with processors in places like

China, United Kingdom, Europe, India, as well as Australia and local mills, there are manufacturers using wool who are loathe to commit too far ahead and some who have already indicated that they have larger than desirable quantities of stock on hand at present and therefore will only commit to buy again once those stocks have reduced.

PGG Wrightson have secured some very good forward orders, via its subsidiary Bloch and Behrens, for a variety of wool types including crossbred, mid-micron and merino types, many of which are being forward contracted with wool growers currently.

Whilst forward contracts offer certainty some maybe limited for quantity therefore growers should be in contact with their PGG Wrightson wool representative early with expressions of interest. That’s my view.

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March 2015

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I still get asked the question: “How many lame cows is it acceptable to have on a farm?” For many this seems to be an issue.

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Maybe you need those numbers to gain confidence that what you are doing is good enough. Maybe you need some guidance when you have discussions with your staff, your boss or with the owner. Whatever the reason for that question, I don’t think that anyone can actually answer it, for any attempt to answer it would be based on opinion rather than anything else.

In New Zealand the fast majority of lameness originates from laminitis. I know that many people still disagree with me on that one. A much more common belief is that lameness is mainly caused by the physical forces that come on the hooves when the cows are being pushed over rough tracks and in the yard. If that is the case, then the question of how many lame cows is acceptable is easy to answer. It should be ‘none’ because a lame cow would be the result of animal abuse and animal abuse should not be acceptable at any level. The problem is, however, that there is no evidence to back up the stone bruise theory

or whiteline separation from twisting and pushing on concrete. As I asked in a previous article, if you have some evidence, please let me know.

So, when I say that most lameness in New Zealand is laminitis-related what do I mean? Even though the terminology is technically not correct, when I talk about laminitis I am talking about unhealthy or damaged live tissue in the claw. As I said before, there is no evidence that a stone makes this live tissue unhealthy.

It is much more diet and stress-related.

Things like, not enough fibre, not enough to eat (controlled starvation), not enough water (especially at the cow shed), changing the diet too quickly, not enough resting time, slippery yards, dark, hot cow sheds and the list goes on. Pushing cows on the tracks and in the yard belong in that list as well, because you are stressing a cow when you do that. So, with these thoughts in mind, then the way we combat lameness will be different. We may add fibre to the diet, we may put water troughs near the

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cow shed, maybe even some sprinklers on the yard to minimise heat stress, have smaller herds, and have less cows and so on. This means that the original question is now much more relevant because there has to be a balance. It is easy to stop lameness from happening.

Just milk 100 cows and give them lots of hay. You won’t have lame cows but you will not make an income either.

So, in other words, there needs to be a balance between stress levels on the cows and profitability.

Because of that I would say that if you have no laminitis in your herd you are not pushing your farm hard enough.

I actually have not been on a farm where there is no laminitis, so that is not really the issue. Most farms have too much laminitis because the stress/profit levels are too far out (which reduces profit anyway). Because of all this my answer to the original question on how many lame cows is acceptable comes with a counter question: how much is lameness allowed to cost to you?

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March 2015

RURAL WOMEN

Pink bales make a difference

Twenty-three thousand dollars will go a long way in supporting men and women living with secondary breast cancer.

The money has been raised through a novel initiative, which has seen pink silage bales dotted around the countryside.

Crop packaging suppliers, Agpac, sold 3,000 kilometres of pink silage wrap to farmers across New Zealand and a portion of the sales have been donated to Sweet Louise, a charity that supports people living with secondary breast cancer.

Sweet Louise chief executive officer Fiona Hatton says the partnership with Agpac is helping to make a crucial difference to the lives of hundreds of New Zealanders.

“A secondary breast cancer diagnosis has a devastating impact — on individuals, their family and friends.

“We are delighted that the team at Agpac chose to support Sweet Louise and we know that they appreciate our grass roots approach — being out in the

community and face to face with those we are helping. Sweet Louise receives no government funding. We rely 100% on donations and quite simply, we could not keep going without organisations like Agpac.”

Agpac general manager Chris Dawson says the initiative has been really popular and the limited supply of silage and netwrap has sold well.

“The support we have received from farmers, contractors and from rural newspapers has been very gratifying.”

Ms Hatton agrees, “We are very grateful that Agpac came up with this idea to help Sweet Louise and we have all been humbled by how the farming community has embraced the initiative.

“We want to say a big thank you to the hundreds of Kiwi farmers who have shown their support and purchased pink wrap. It has been wonderful to see New Zealand dotted with pink bales.”

19

Books for Schools in Honiara When Rural Women New Zealand members heard about the devastating floods in The Solomons last year, they decided to do something to help.

They set a goal to raise money and replace the hundreds of books that were lost when 40 schools were washed away or damaged in the floods.

Through raffles, donations, the sale of plants and sponsored walks members raised $11,500.

This month, during International Women’s Day celebrations, Rural Women NZ members were thrilled to receive photos of the books in the hands of happy Solomon Islands’ school children.

“With the assistance of Penguin Random House, we were able to purchase 4,000 school reading books to the retail value of $34,000,” says Rural Women NZ national president, Wendy McGowan.

These were divided up into sets of 100 books for each of the 40 schools and packaged into vermin and waterproof plastic boxes before being shipped.

“We received the exciting news before Christmas that the books were on their way to The Solomons, where

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the NZ High Commission arranged the waiver of Customs Duty and liaised with the local Ministry of Education to distribute the books.”

Anna Reid of the NZ High Commission in The Solomons says, “I had a lovely chat with each of the Head Teachers and explained the background. They were all extremely grateful for Rural Women’s support, and all mentioned how they didn’t have enough books, and so it was an extremely relevant contribution.”

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