Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, May 2014

Taranaki

FARMING Lifestyles May 2014 Edition

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

Pampas grass must be destroyed P3

Growing different flavours from around the world P6–7

Pay it forward concept teaches young people to cook P18

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A vision for the future Page 4–5

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May 2014

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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

Phone: 0800 466 793 Advertising: Kelvin Green — 021 431 090

Editorial: Denise Gunn — 06 329 7701

Email: info@nsmm.co.nz

Website: www.farminglifestyles.co.nz

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by Denise Gunn

Seven bovine tuberculosis infected dairy herds in the Taranaki region have been cleared of the disease.

Accounts: Lesley Robinson | accounts@nsmm.co.nz

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Infected Taranaki herds cleared of TB The initial cause of TB in these seven herds is still under investigation through tracing stock movements up to five years prior to the disease being detected.

A TBfree New Zealand spokesperson said the cleared herds are a strong reminder to herdowners in the Taranaki region, and throughout the country, to remain vigilant when buying, selling or moving livestock.

“In the case of the Taranaki herds, there were no signs of noncompliance on the part of TB spread can be laid at the possums door the affected farmers.”

“However, herd-owners need to As a precautionary measure, ensure the person they purchased the contractors trapped wild animals in stock from has correctly completed the area to check for the disease. The an Animal Status Declaration form so results from post mortems performed they are aware of the TB status of any on more than 1,300 possums, animals coming onto their property,” showed there was no indication the he said. disease has spread to Taranaki’s wild Currently TBfree New Zealand is animal populations. working with an infected herd in the The TBfree spokesperson said the Stratford area. traceability of potentially infected The spokesperson said TBfree New livestock has greatly benefited from the Zealand was confident that infection NAIT scheme. would be cleared quickly.

“NAIT is proving invaluable in tracing When an animal is diagnosed with TB, an animal’s movement history. the entire herd must pass two skin tests “Cattle and deer farmers should and a follow-up blood test before it can ensure their herds are registered with be declared free of infection. both TBfree New Zealand and NAIT.” To register, visit www.nait.co.nz.

Tests on cattle and deer in the Farmers can check an animal’s TB Opunake and Inglewood areas will continue for another season to check status and when it was last tested by for any potential herd infections. If no calling TBfree New Zealand on 0800 further TB cases are detected, these 482 4636 before moving the stock onto tests will then be relaxed. their property.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Pampas grass must be destroyed

May 2014

by Denise Gunn

With new pampas growth appearing in Taranaki, land occupiers are reminded to destroy this invasive grass.

The two varieties of pampas which grow in New Zealand, common pampas (Cortaderia selloana) and purple pampas (Cortaderia jubata), are native to South America. Both species are found throughout Taranaki and are classed as eradication pest plants in the Taranaki Regional Council’s Pest Plant Management Strategy. Under the strategy, land occupiers are required to eradicate both varieties.

Taranaki Regional Council’s environmental services manager Steve Ellis said alternatives for shelter include trees, flaxes, and native toetoe.

These alternatives provide shelter, enhance landscape values, and biodiversity values.

“Pampas should not be confused with native toetoe, which has a waxy surface on the leaf base,” said Mr Ellis.

“And unlike toetoe, mature pampas plants have tightly curled dead leaves at their base.”

Pampas has the ability to cover large open spaces in a short period of time

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and is a threat to native plant growth and horticulture production. It reduces visibility on roadsides and can become a fire hazard as it produces a large amount of dry matter. Pests such as rats, mice, rabbits and possums also inhabit areas with pampas.

Taranaki Regional Council recommends physical removal of pampas or spraying with herbicides.

Spring and early summer is the ideal time to spray pampas.

Young plants can be pulled out of the ground after the soil has been loosened. A bulldozer may be required to remove large plants. Pampas can be disposed of through mulching or composting.

After the initial removal of pampas, it is important to revisit the site on an annual basis to control regrowth.

For further information, phone the Taranaki Regional Council on 0800 736 222 and ask for a biosecurity officer.

Alternatively visit www.trc.govt.nz/ pest-plants.

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May 2014

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

BY DENISE GUNN

One of three finalists for this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy, Te Rua o Te Moko Ltd, is a 170ha (effective) dairy farm, milking 500 Jersey cross cows near Normanby.

E

stablished through the amalgamation of smaller blocks owned by four Maori trusts with 1,100 owners, the farm began its inaugural season in 2009. At the conclusion of that season, Te Rua o Te Moko achieved all its business objectives, and increased the business’ equity by 71 percent.

Te Rua o Te Moko doesn’t just operate solely as a dairy operation. A training scheme also runs on the farm for descendants of its shareholders and other young people. Last year Land Based Training took on eight trainees to

work towards a Certificate in Agriculture Level Three, with a second intake of eight young people on the farm this year.

The farm is currently managed by 50 percent sharemilkers, Michael and Ruth Prankerd, who took on the position in June 2012.

The couple have held a long-standing goal to work in the dairy industry and found it ticks all the right boxes for them.

Although Michael grew up on a Taranaki dairy farm, Ruth was raised in New Plymouth. Despite a city upbringing, Ruth always had a desire to work in the dairy industry, spending school holidays

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working on dairy farms. Michael said he enjoys the challenge working in the dairy industry brings with it.

“It’s an industry where you can start from having nothing to owning a multimillion dollar business,” he said.

“They have similar goals in working towards farm ownership,” “I also like working with a team of people, enjoy working with people in all stages of their careers, and with livestock.” The couple met while studying at Massey University. After

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graduating, they worked together on dairy farms in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom.

They worked as 50 percent sharemilkers in Taranaki before taking on the sharemilking position at Te Rua o Te Moko.

Michael said increasing their herd size was a big driving factor for taking on their current position.

The professionalism of the team also impressed the couple.

“They have similar goals in working towards farm ownership,” said Michael.

“We believe that as herd-owning sharemilkers, our cows will ‘lead’ us to realising our long-term goal of farm ownership.

“We feel that sharing our goals with all of our stakeholders is important

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Sharemilkers Ruth and Michael Prankerd

in being held accountable to actually achieving them.” Two full-time staff are also employed at Te Rua o Te Moko, and the Prankerds run a two herd approach system with their staff members managing one herd each.

Sire selection for the Prankerds herd is based on conformation and breed traits, resulting in a medium-sized crossbred cow.

Te Rua o Te Moko is building up its own Jersey crossbred herd, targeting a June 1 2015 completion date. These cows are currently leased to the sharemilkers and to other farmers. When the current 50 percent sharemilking arrangement expires at the end of the 2015-2016

season, Te Rua o Te Moko will then be in a position to take full control of farm management.

Although the farm’s stocking rate is currently limited by the small 28-bale rotary cow shed, milking seasons are extended by growing turnips and maize on the farm.

This season’s production is expected to exceed 200,000 kgMS or 1,176 kgMS/ha.

Te Rua o Te Moko chairman Dion Maaka said the farm’s success has been made possible through the passion and entrepreneurial spirit of the owners.

“It has required an openness to collaborate to bring together four trusts,

May 2014

Te Rua o Te Moko field day

over 1,100 owners and other parties to commit to a common vision.

“The aim is to utilise the land fully, establish a resource to train Maori so we can grow our own farm capabilities and a commitment to excellence so that we can bring prosperity and opportunities for future generations.

“We are both humbled to be selected as a finalist and excited to be able to showcase our farm business as a potential model for others.”

One of the organisations that has contributed to the success of this venture is Te Tumu Paeroa (formerly

called the Maori Trustee). This independent professional trustee organisation manages 2,000 Maori land trusts, companies and ventures for Maori land owners.

Te Tumu Paeroa assisted with facilitating the collaboration of four trusts as it was clear that through working together the owners could achieve more with scale.

As well as providing a loan to help get the venture underway, the organisation continues to provide assistance to the Board with planning, performance, and monitoring services.

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May 2014

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Growing different flavours from around the world

BY DENISE GUNN

When Frances Rogers was looking to bring in a second income for her family, but still be at home for her children, she looked at utilising the two hectares that she and her husband Tony owned near Waitara.

“I was a dental nurse, the land was there and I wanted to be home for our children,” said Frances.

“I kept thinking of something I could grow to be different.

“I also had to be able to manage it myself.”

After joining a co-operative sending produce to Wellington, Frances initially settled on growing peppers. Chillies were included the following year. “We were one of the first four to be growing

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Frances out in the garden

chillies in New Zealand,” said Frances.

“The seed used to come from the United States.”

That was over 30 years ago and during that time Frances added more unusual types of vegetables as she built up her Q Garden business. All this was achieved with no previous gardening knowledge.

Frances said she learnt along the way.

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Produce was sold by auction system all around New Zealand. Tamarillos were also grown and exported.

In her commercial kitchen, Frances created a wide range of marmalades, chutneys, jams, sauces and relishes using produce from her garden.

Five years ago Frances sold the Q Garden condiment business, which included her original recipes, to a Whangamata couple.

Frances continues to grow chillies, peppers, eggplant, globe artichokes and other vegetables, together with many herbs, but has downsized to a smaller area of land, renaming it Post-Q Garden.

“The challenge now is to make good use of space,” said Frances.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Produce continues to be sold to Moore Wilson during the harvest season. Bundles of chillies, along with vegetables and herbs, are also sold from the couple’s stall at the Taranaki Farmers Market.

Frances said being able to supply favourite chillies to others, especially immigrants searching for a taste from their homeland, is very satisfying.

In return, Frances said the feedback from customers has been wonderful.

“They are such nice people — regular and loyal.”

Known locally as Mrs Q, and with her well-earned reputation for growing exotic chillies, Frances has regular customers around the country who continue to get their favourites by courier.

Currently 1,100 chilli plants from 24 different varieties are growing at Post-Q Gardens. Frances said she has 240 plants of some varieties, and keeps written records detailing everything she plants. “The novelty of planting seeds has never worn off.”

Although the more common seed varieties are bought through Kings Seeds catalogues, Frances has been given several exotic types of chilli seeds by immigrants who have settled in Taranaki.

Seeds are started in a small tunnel house and raised on a hot bed in August. The following month they are brought outside in boxes to harden.

Rows of polythene are laid in early October and as soon as the weather is favourable, the seedlings are transplanted.

“It’s best not to have them stressed in the beginning,” said Frances.

The weather always throws in a few challenges but Frances is quite philosophical about it.

“You have to take the good with the bad.

“That’s the game we are in,” she said.

With the seasonal work full-on from August to June, Frances spends much of the day outside in the garden.

And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“There’s always something to do,” she said.

“I can’t think of a better way to spend my semi-retirement.”

May 2014

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May 2014 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

ADVERTORIAL

Claim back your Natural Capital

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.

How lucky are we to be blessed with all these free assets. These are all available to us and contribute to a large part of our farming and our food production.

Without all this natural capital farming and food production would struggle to exist.

We are dependent upon this natural capital so we need to look after it.

The last 30 years of agro-chemical production has seen the erosion of our soils, pollution of our foreshore and waterways, food contamination (e.g. cadmium issue) and the devastation of our bee population and other pollinators who are an essential key to food production.

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 Adrian Rowe (North Taranaki) on 021 873 304, or John Winter (South Taranaki) on 021 738 513 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.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

May 2014

FA R M W H E E L S

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Big fun, small footprint

by Andy Bryenton

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 world-beating 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 snub-nosed, pugnacious grille and a hood swept up into the windscreen pillars, the EcoSport has the image of a pared-down 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

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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 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.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

May 2014

Soil Matters

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Underpinning the dairy industry is the steadily increasing demand for protein in the form of milk, cheese, and other highly nutritious protein products derived from pasture. It’s a strong industry and with competent management at all levels a rosy future is guaranteed.

The sheep and beef industry relies largely on the demand for grass fed meat, and we produce unique products that savvy overseas purchasers are prepared to pay a premium for.

The qualities of wool cannot be replicated and the cost of producing other fibres with inferior performance steadily increases and still prices paid for wool continue to languish.

The price received is largely dependent on our ability to sell its less obvious benefits to prospective customers so there’s still some distance to go before its true value is realised.

Beneath all of this lies the true foundation of New Zealand’s pastoral farming, a benign climate, clean water, and soil.

There’s little in the short term that can be done to influence the climate, and with clean water largely dependent on what we apply to our soils, the top few centimetres of this country is the aspect we can most immediately influence.

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Dr Graham Sparling, our most internationally recognised and acclaimed soil scientist, in 2004 stated that, “It’s a sobering thought that our entire high tech world is ultimately supported by life in the top 20cm of the soil.”

It follows that the healthiest soils produce not only the most but the highest quality.

The proposition that growing less increases quality simply doesn’t wash — those growing the most pasture also produce the highest quality. There is a group of farmers whose production doesn’t fit current models, and for this growing number of elite farmers, fertiliser nitrogen when used is applied sparingly and strategically, however a product common to nearly all where magnesium is required, is the application of dolomite.

Farmers applying dolomite seldom treat animals for calcium/magnesium related metabolic disorders, and because all health issues are linked their overall animal ill health costs are low — often very low. Production both per animal and hectare is also significantly higher than district average.

Dolomite, a naturally occurring rock, contains 11.5% magnesium and 24% calcium and it is this ratio that is at the heart of the often extraordinary improvement in both animal and soil health, with the real value assessed from its performance, the purpose for which it is applied. The dollar cost of cows requiring veterinary treatment in spring is easily calculated, as is the value of a calf saved. Production increases are less easily figured however the value is just as real.

Dolomite contains both calcium and magnesium in the form of carbonate. The release rate is the same for both ensuring that pasture over winter contains between 0.22 and 0.25% magnesium and close to 0.60% calcium.

Animals fully fed on pasture containing these levels seamlessly make the transition from pre calving where magnesium is essential to post calving when extra calcium is required.

A single annual application of Golden Bay dolomite at 200kg/ha provides 23kg/ha of magnesium, a sound maintenance rate for intensive dairy, and a similar rate once every second year to intensive sheep and beef breeding enterprises provides outstanding cover.

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TARANAKI 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 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.

11

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

May 2014

DAIRY

13

Hoof Print with Fred Hoekstra

HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING

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 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

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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

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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

Farm economic viability is a major New Zealand problem with the national farm debt increasing to a whopping $50 billion.

A number of high-debt farms are being sold up, with banks giving notice to farming clients to either refinance elsewhere or sell. Many of these farmers have been pressured by the bank to sign confidentiality documents where they are unable to take any legal action

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against the bank and, if they do, they guarantee to pay the bank’s legal costs.

At a recent Farmers of New Zealand meeting a number of members met with lawyer John Waugh who specialises in dealing with banks. These farmers were advised that banks are bound by the Code of Banking Practice and the Fair Trading Act which deals with misleading conduct in relation to service and false or misleading representation. The issue of bank Swap and CARL loans was also discussed.

Farmers were advised to seek sound legal advice prior to signing any documents pertaining to bank loans or surrendering right to legal action. There is Court law in New Zealand which clearly defines there is no property in a witness, which means that no confidentiality agreement can muzzle a witness where there has been a breach of statutory law processes.

Farmers cited cases where they felt they had been induced by a particular bank lender into taking out loans. It

is alleged that the lender stated they did not need to have independent valuations done prior to the purchasing of their farms and that the lender would rely on his own valuation processes.

The lender supplied his own budget projections and what he believed the borrowers would gain through increasing their loans. These borrowers soon found themselves in deep trouble.

One farm borrower claimed that he was unable to contact the local bank lender that he was dealing with over his interest rates.

The farmer then contacted the bank’s head office and when bank officials arrived at his farm, unbeknown to them, the farmer was underneath his tractor making repairs and heard the bank officials commenting as they gazed over the property, that whoever had authorised the farm loan must have been crazy.

Over a 12 month period the debt servicing on this particular farm loan was in excess of 114%. Another farmer

received an in-depth legal opinion after the same bank foreclosed on the family, stating that if the farmer had not been induced into purchasing the extra land by the representation of the bank’s official, they would not have lost their property. The legal opinion states there are two areas of law that are relevant to this farmer’s circumstances.

The first is negligent misstatement and the second is Section 6 of the Contractual Remedies Act 1993.

Section 6 of the Contractual Remedies Act 1979 provides: “If a party to a contract has been induced to enter into it by a misrepresentation, whether innocent or fraudulent, made to him by or on behalf of another party to that contract: (a) He shall be entitled to damages from that other party in the same manner and to the same extent as if the representation were a term of the contract that has been broken; and (b) He shall not, in the case of a fraudulent misrepresentation, or of an innocent misrepresentation made negligently, be entitled to damages from that other party for deceit or negligence in respect of that representation.”

The farmer’s legal advisors considered it likely that the bank would be found liable if a claim were brought for negligent misstatement or an application made under Section 6 of the Contractual Remedies Act 1979.

The farmer ended up with no farm and no money to seek legal remedies.

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

LIVESTOCK

May 2014

15

Cut and carry or grazing

by Rob Cope-Williams

It would seem that we are fast approaching the crossroads with respect to dairying in sheds, barns or whatever you want to call them, and whether it is still viable for our dairy farmers to continue grazing as the main method of feeding stock.

There are more and more feed pads being put into place and now there’s a sizeable increase in covered sheds with all the cows being snuggly indoors with their constant supply of feed, fresh water, padded beds and back scratchers.

Those who have already taken the plunge and are using such facilities are reporting a very sizeable increase in production, contented cows and happy workers.

The diet is able to include such things as potatoes and other ‘goodies’ that the cows really enjoy and respond very well too.

So the question now is just how far will the swing go and who will be able to afford to climb onto the wave. There are a lot of opportunities for other farmers to become growers of dairying feed, literally becoming a total support system growing a variety of food ranging from lucerne through to beet and everything in between.

A case of intensive farming without the animals, early morning starts and if it is raining, staying warm inside the

tractor cab. With the advent of very sophisticated irrigation units and some very clever cultivars the support industry is there ready and waiting.

I am assured that the costs of importing feed onto a dairy unit are well covered by the increase in production.

So will it become a case of the majority of new conversations being small holdings with very large sheds, or will the industry stay with the all grass system that many are now suggesting is outdated.

Perhaps the hardest point to consider is how much it would cost to convert the current all grass system into a housed unit and whether the present debt loading could be increased to take the second huge step.

I suspect that there are many farmers who would love to keep up with the trend and enjoy the advantages of the covered style of farming, but wouldn’t be able to service the extra debt, especially with the interest rates very likely to continue to rise.

We certainly do live in interesting times!

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16

May 2014

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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 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

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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.

The Stripper that gets it off, Everytime!

Interview by Dave Hare,

is on the inside or outside of your home". "I am very proud of it and the results it has a ahieved. "With Cooper's having been used on well over 70,000 homes", Simon says,"anyone can easily strip anything covered in paint or varnish, even weatherboards and windows baked by the sun for over 100 years, for that matter. "I asked Simon about the current problems related to safe lead removal. "Because there is no dust or heat vapour generated". He said, "lead poisoning is not a concern".

"Simon Cooper and his family will be at the Mystery Creek Fieldays, demonstrating just how easy DIY stripping can be."

Coopers was started by Simon Cooper in the early eighties.

At that time, Simon was a cabinet maker with a boutique shop in Wellington making and restoring fine furniture. Disillusioned with the standard of current paint strippers and with a flair for chemistry, Simon set about making something that was easy to use and actually worked.

I asked him, what on earth possessed to try and change the norm?

"I was sick of not only how difficult it was to use the current strippers, but I thought it was a complete waste of time to have to sand" Simon said, "Why sand when the person who made the item sanded it in the first place. I was determined to make a system that was easy and made sanding obsolete, saving my valuable time". Simon is kiwi born and bred as a dairy farmer's son he was taught at a young age to work things out rather

Simon Cooper showing just how easy DIY stripping can be

than to accept things as they are. At high School he developed a passion for working with wood and his love of fine furniture began. Once Simon developed his own brew and methods the word got out and he started to get a demand for his amazing stripper. Today, over 30 years later, Simon's 'brew' has become the 'Cooper's Strip Club', a complete DIY restoration system, family owned, available throughout New Zealand and Australia. "Cooper's is different to conventional strippers in so many ways," Simon says, "the main one being that it will strip any finish from any surface, whether the finish

Simon with his Wife Dorri and sons Lance and George will be at the Mystery Creek Fieldays showing the public just how easy stripping can be.

He says "if you have a project in mind you owe it to yourselfto check out just how easy it can be".

I asked "What about stripping all the other stuff out there?" Simon simply says, "Any paint or varnish, from any surface, such as enamel, acrylic, two pack and powder coat paints as well as polyurethane, lacquer, varnish, shellac, oils and stains from timber, veneers, ply, composite boards, metals, concrete, brick, plaster and glass". "So it does it all then!" I said, Simon smiles at me and says, "I wouldn't have made it if it didn't".

No Sanding Easy!

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

May 2014

17

New hope for long BACK or NECK PAIN? term back pain sufferers Show 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.

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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Bring this ad along for a free treatment

Inversion helps to: • • • •

Relieve Back Pain Relieve Neck Pain Relieve Muscle Tension Stimulate Blood and Lymph Flow • Improve Posture • Increase Flexibility • Reduce the Effects of Aging caused by Gravity

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!”

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

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18

May 2014

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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.

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.

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

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“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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Merle will receive an AutoPot Starter Kit valued at $120+GST. Thank you to all those who entered.

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

May 2014

19

BOOK REVIEW

It’s the real Radio Hauraki story

by Paul Campbell

It’s an old adage that fact often surpasses fantasy in terms of fascination, and it has certainly been proven in a new account of the Radio Hauraki adventure, one that saw a bunch of young kiwis take on the establishment and turn it upside down — after a struggle.

In 1970 I was lucky to land a reporting job with the fledgling Radio Hauraki, when the newly licensed landbased station opened in Auckland’s Caltex House, overlooking the Western Viaduct basin from where it was launched as a pirate venture just four years earlier.

It was a radio station that could be heard the length and breadth of the country at night, when atmospherics found the signal booming into rural areas from North Cape to the Bluff.

Many was the Saturday night shift when we ‘news-guys’ found ourselves fielding request calls for the ‘good-guys’ on the air.

From Kaitaia to Taranaki, to the West Coast of the South Island, and points further afield, we heard from woolshed parties, wedding knees-ups in the local hall, or just family groups settled in by the homestead fire. They all wanted a bit of rock’n roll, the Beatles, the Eagles, or maybe Gordon Lightfoot to brighten up their lives. Radio Hauraki’s rural audience certainly equalled its urban listeners.

So when the movie 3-Mile Limit arrived on theatre screens recently, I was eager to see our story told on film.

Unfortunately, the cinematic offering was

an historical mish-mash “based on a true story” but to me, nothing more than the product of a script-writer’s hallucinations.

So I decided to wait for the television docu-drama on Radio Hauraki that I knew was scheduled for TVNZ’s Sunday Theatre this winter, on the grounds that it was blessed by top journalist and author, Adrian Blackburn, who collaborated with the makers, Lippy Films, as a consultant.

But Blackburn was one step ahead of me. He was an integral part of the Hauraki story as friend and confidant of the founding ‘revolutionaries’ and the then New Zealand Herald reporter with ‘the inside story’ .

Now his just released The Radio Pirates, How Hauraki Rocked The Boat, has arrived to document the story in fine style, bringing a vital part of New Zealand history and heritage right up to date.

It is a truly impressive book — a document that belongs on every New Zealand bookshelf and beyond as a testament to what can be achieved

by belief, faith, hard work, and great courage. Some might add, just a little craziness.

The government nanny state had always dictated the airwaves, with

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music reminiscent of Kornonski’s Bowel Movement in Fugue Minor the standard listening fare on state broadcaster NZBC. Those same night-time atmospherics then had kiwi kids fiddling the radio dial in desperation to catch spasmodic transmissions from 2UE, a rock station across the Tasman in Sydney.

But then came Radio Hauraki, a Heath Robinson studio and transmission conglomeration 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. The government in effect kowtowed to a peaceful revolution.

The full account of this startling story, spanning 244 pages and featuring a stunning selection of photographs, is now contained in Blackburn’s magnificent book.

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

TARANAKI FARMING

CLASSIFIEDS Phone 0800 466 793 For Sale STOLEN QUAD-BIKES? You won’t find any listed here, but you can pre-empt this kind of thing happening and protect your fuel too. Visit www.parabeam.co.nz or call 0508 727 223 for more information.

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May 2014

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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