Waikato Farming Lifestyle February 2021

February 2021 edition

Free-range innovation Pages 4–5

Transport system investment

P3

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The western challenge

Seizing farming opportunities

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February 2021

WAIKATO FarMING LIFeSTyLeS

Regional councillor suspended

Integrity community media

Waikato regional councillors have voted to suspend elected member Fred Lichtwark from all committees, subcommittees and other representative roles over angry and abusive behaviour.

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

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The suspension will remain in place until August 31, 2021, at which time it will be reviewed. Cr Lichtwark will remain a member of the full council, which meets monthly and as required.

The decision was made following a full and fair independent investigation into three complaints against Cr Lichtwark last November under the Waikato Regional Council Code of Conduct for Elected Members.

A number of recommendations were made by the independent investigator.

These were discussed with all involved ,and it was decided this week that: • apologies are required to be made to the council and the individual complainants • appropriate training be undertaken to address an angry and abusive communications style • mentoring be provided • an email and social media policy be developed for elected members, and training be provided on it Consideration will also be given by the regional council to whether to engage LGNZ EquiP to customise a training workshop for elected members on communication and

engagement with councillors, staff and the public.

“I want to reassure our communities that today’s decision does not affect Cr Lichtwark’s ability to represent his constituents. He will continue working with his elected member colleagues and be able to keep up with council business,” said WRC chair Russ Rimmington.

“He will continue to receive agendas and be able to sit in on any meeting he wishes to attend but will not be able to participate unless the committee chair grants permission to do so — even then, he will not be able to vote.

In full council meetings, he will be able to raise matters in line with standing orders, and vote.

“While this investigation has been underway, councillors have continued to work together in the best interests of our communities. Recently we came together for some full and frank talks over three days before agreeing our proposed budget and work programme for the next 10 years.

“I am confident that this robust decision-making can and will continue over the remainder of this term.”

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February 2021

Transport system investment

A plan that proposes an $8 billion investment in the Waikato region’s land transport system has been signed off for public consultation.

Developed by the Regional Transport Committee, the plan sets out how the region’s land transport system will be developed for the next 30 years.

“This plan will position the region well to make the transformative changes that are needed to provide for our growing and diverse communities,” said Waikato regional councillor and committee chair Hugh Vercoe.

“Ultimately, the committee wants to make sure our transport system is as sustainable, safe and accessible as possible, where no one is killed or seriously injured.

“We have signalled a 34 per cent increase in investment from our last plan in 2018, which includes a huge leap in funding for walking and cycling activities, as well as big increases for road maintenance.

“Through this plan, we have also looked at protecting the efficiency and resilience of our strategic transport corridors because they play such a pivotal role in the upper North Island and national economic freight and logistics system.

“The plan prioritises providing for the access and mobility needs of our communities, including facilitating a future integrated land use and transport system to provide for our growing Hamilton-Waikato metro spatial area.”

He said the committee had also looked at ways to meet climate change

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For all things P.V.C and Canvas Significant projects in the draft plan include seeing the • UTE & TRAILER COVERS completion of the Waikato • CANOPIES Expressway in this RLTP • TONNEAU COVERS term and advocating for its • REPAIRS & RESTITCHES extension from Cambridge • CARAVAN AWNINGS • BOAT COVERS to Piarere and other state • TARPS highway resilience projects • DROP SHEETS such as SH1 Bulli Point at • INFLATABLES REPAIRS Taupo and the Awakino Gorge on SH3.

021 038 4394 mikeatwoodcanvas@outlook.com Significant road safety improvements through the Road to Zero Programme around the region include a package of works to address speed management around schools, and funding for operating and enhancing the Te Huia passenger rail Hugh Vercoe, Waikato regional councillor and committee chair service between Waikato delivers on the wellbeings of our diverse and Auckland.

“As a committee, we have worked Waikato communities.”

Consultation on the draft plan opened closely with key stakeholders to determine the transport objectives on Friday, February 19 and closes at and priorities and to identify significant 11.59pm on Sunday, March 21. To read transport activities that we are seeking the draft plan and make a submission, government investment in,” said visit waikatoregion.govt.nz/rltp.

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February 2021

WAIKATO FarMING LIFeSTyLeS

Free-range innovation

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN

rob Darby began raising free-range chickens to provide his family with good quality eggs 40 years ago, and his hobby turned into an international egg supply experience.

“A

s a child, I always had battery hens to care for, but they often had walking issues. I brought my farm in 1979 and discovered I couldn’t get hold of any free-range chickens,” says Rob. “I started raising my own, and suddenly everyone wanted chickens and eggs. I had to grow more chickens, and in the early 80s, I started supplying my true free-range eggs to Harvest Whole Foods in Grey Lynn, and that is how FRENZ began. The goodness of freerange wasn’t very known then. They classed an egg as an egg. I was getting calls from the authorities saying I needed a licence for each bird over 99 birds but you couldn’t buy licences unless someone was leaving the industry.

“Robert Muldoon lost the election, and Roger Douglas listened to our story, and he then deregulated the industry.

One day a visitor told us to sell our product to America. We did this for 20 years, and now we supply Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau and a few other islands in Asia.

“We realised we had to get eggs overseas at the same price as it costs us to send them to Hamilton, and we had to pack them according to the USDA standards. They also need sanitising because they come from a hen’s backside, and cross-contamination can make you sick.”

Rob says it is like not washing a fruit or vegetable before eating when it has been sitting on a shop shelf.

as a farmer, rob Darby began growing his own free-range chickens with the belief that an egg is not just an egg

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“We had to figure out how to get chilled eggs to anywhere in the world and looked at how Captain Cook did it 200 years ago. He covered eggs in duck wax, and they stayed fresh at the right temperature.

“No one made good sanitisers, so 10 years ago we bought an egg grader machine and designed a machine that washes, sanitises and oils each egg.

Our technology uses UV and shows us internal imperfections as well. We also produce 50kW per hour of our own power with solar panels.

“America changed their organic rules, and the dollar got too high, so now we focus on Asia. They like to know what they are eating and try their best to put what is good into their bodies.

“We use non-GMO grains and utilise mussel waste for our hens. This puts more omega and higher proteins into our certified BioGro organic eggs. We now have around 14 farmers supplying us from Waikato, Bombay, Pukekohe and Kaipara.

“Our farmers usually have brown shavers or hyline hens. A truck is constantly going up and down the motorway collecting eggs. They come to our plant for processing.”

Rob helped the SPCA write their standards back in the 90s. ”They have since switched to European standards. True free-range means hens are never locked up. The hens’ house door is left open 24/7. We have fences around our properties and rodent control, and there is a ratio of

February 2021

Since retiring from farming, rob’s wife Seae now has her own flock of 40 hens and two roosters named Peter Pan and brandy hens per acre. They go out every day and have fresh paddocks to run around.

“They go out in the morning and get nice dewy grass and grubs. They return to lay their egg in the nest boxes and then go out again and preen their feathers and socialise. At dusk, they go home to roost. Every few days, they move to fresh paddocks.

“Egg protein is one of the highest forms of protein you can get. It is usually used to measure other forms of protein.

We now have our special mussel formula and are always thinking of other waste products that we can utilise for our chickens. It doesn’t make it cheaper, but it does make it better.

“We have increased the omegas nearly three times in our eggs using mussel waste.

“They already had higher amounts from the hens being out in the field and sunshine. Mussels are known to help with arthritis and inflammatory issues.

The hen gets the shell, salt, protein and goodness and includes it in the egg.

“In the past, it was always said an egg is an egg, but it is not. An egg is a full meal full of amazing proteins and nutrients. If you give children an egg,

they won’t snack as much. If you have an egg in the house, you have a meal such as an omelette, scrambled, fried or boiled.

“We recently gave up farming after 40 years, and my wife Seae now has 40 chickens and two roosters at home. They are such a good thing for little children too. They make an amazing pet as they love to be around you. The future for us is to continue growing our business.

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February 2021

WAIKATO FarMING LIFeSTyLeS

The western challenge

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN ANNA DAWSON GREW UP IN AN URBAN AREA AND NOW LIVES ON A LIFESTYLE BLOCK, AND THAT ENABLES HER TO CONTINUE HER PASSION FOR HORSES AND HORSE SPORT.

“I

came from a very non-horsey family, but at primary school, my friends had horses, and I got my first horse when I was 11 years old,” says Anna.

“I rode on a farm where we kept my pony at the time. When I was in my early 20s, I got my first Quarter Horse and discovered a couple of cousins were involved in western riding. I went along to an event with friends and brought my first young horse to participate and have been involved for 17 years now. Western riding originates from the USA and is the

working horsemen style of riding on the ranch. It has progressed to the showing side, where we have a few different classes, such as showmanship with the halter. This is classed on the person with the best precision and safety of handling the horse from the ground.

“We have to show our ability to control the horse at a walk, jog, stop, back up, and turn around. We perform to a pattern that is set by the judges, and you are not meant to touch the horse.

“Western pleasure is another class that is judged on performance, manners,

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COMPETITORS PARTICIPATING IN WESTERN RIDING GET TO SHOW THEIR ABILITY OF CONTROLLING AND WORKING WITH THEIR HORSE IN VARIOUS DISCIPLINES

confirmation and how they perform at the walk, jog and lope. They have to be smooth and comfortable to ride.

“Western trail is another pattern class that you ride in individually, and it is on negotiating various obstacles such as gates, side passes, poles and other things. The emphasis is on the manners, response of the rider, the horse’s attitude and how well they perform over the obstacles.

“I really enjoy training horses. When you get involved in events like this, they say you should buy a seasoned horse that can teach you, but I do it backwards. I get a young horse, train it myself and work through the levels. That came from not being able to afford the schoolmasters, so I had to learn to do it myself.

“Although you have your ups and downs, training your own horse is very rewarding. Through the Western Riding

Club, we have had various clinicians visit from overseas. Learning from them has been fun too.

“I have been involved in cutting for the last six years. I travel around Waikato and the Hawke’s Bay region for cutting and western shows on a regular basis.

There are other classes like reining and cattle classes.”

The levels of rider are Youth, Rookie, Novice Amateur and Amateur, and then professional.

“Cutting is having a herd of cattle in the arena, and you need to go and cut one cow out and keep it from going back into the herd. It is also very American.

It is how they cut the stock out of the herds for branding on a ranch. It is very exhilarating.

“I got involved by purchasing an experienced Quarter Horse. A friend of mine was also very interested, so we went to an event in Taupo together. I

February 2021

7

ANNA SAYS COMPETING IN CUTTING IS A GOOD CHALLENGE FOR THE HORSE AND RIDER’S BRAIN

trained my western horse to do cutting.

My friend purchased an already-trained cutting horse, and we travel to various events to compete.

“No animals get hurt. Each cutting run is only two and a half minutes. We cut two to three cattle from the herd in each run. Herds can be anything from 20–30 cattle in them, depending on the number of competitors in each class.

The cows are only out of the herd for a very short time.

“The pressure is on our brains. Most horses love the challenge of cutting. You can tell a horse that is really into it as it knuckles down and gets on with the job. Horses that aren’t interested are best taken into a different discipline like western riding. I have five horses and am considering another. Anyone can get involved in these sports, and all clubs

encourage riders from all disciplines to come along.

“Western riding clubs have fun days, have-a-go days and training clinics.

Generally, people of all ages and levels of horse and rider enjoy the challenge.

Most clubs including the New Zealand Western Riding Federation and New Zealand Cutting Horse Association, have Facebook pages.

“It is great watching beginners achieve and get more confident with their horses. Most older riders are always there to help if you need it. I love everything about horses.

“Horses generally have a willingness and trainability, and they are always there for you.

“They are good company, similar to a dog being man’s best friend, horses for me are my best friend.”

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February 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

PART ONE

SEIZING FARMING OPPORTUNITIES

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN Lana and Cam Brown both grew up in the rural Whangarei area and have become farmers who have transitioned from Northland, to Southland and on to Australia in the dairy industry.

“M

y parents decided to get out of town and moved to Whakapara to be in the country when I was young. I went to Hikurangi Primary and Kamo High School,” says Lana.

“Cam grew up nearby, and his family had a farm at Whangarei Heads. We eventually married, and dairy farmed out at Opuawhanga for four years. We had a herd of approximately 300 Friesian mix with Ayrshires. In 2004 Cam and I moved to Invercargill dairy farming and gaining experience.

“A moving company took our belongings in a truck, and we drove our ute towing a trailer with our dozen chickens, dogs and our two cats in the vehicle with us. We had our three children

and my dad too. It was interesting as we had to find motels that would take us with all of our animals along the way.

“In his younger days Cam had gone to an agriculture school in Dunedin, but we still had to learn about the weather patterns. The first night at Edendale we woke up freezing because I had left all the windows open in the house.

“We had taken our cows with us, and they were covered in snow. Being Northland cows and not used to that type of cold they didn’t know what the hang was going on. Our dogs didn’t know how to walk in snow — it was an amazing shock for all of us.

“The farm had a barn for the stock, so we put the cows in there when it got too cold. The troughs would freeze over,

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and we had to smash the ice on top for the cows to get water and we grew turnips for feed. Our cows weren’t used to turnips, and you needed to be aware that they could choke as they ate them like apples.

“Another new thing for us was the Edendale dairy factory would ship excess whey to farms for the stock. The whey was placed in the cows’ troughs as a supplement, which the cattle really enjoyed.

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“It started as free, but as it became popular, we had to pay. The cows loved the product, but the factory eventually stopped supplying it as it became good to spread on farms to help with grass growth instead.

“When our time there came to an end we wanted to buy our own farm. We looked everywhere but couldn’t afford anything in New Zealand so decided to try Australia. We flew there five times looking for farms and purchased one in Katamatite, Victoria in 2007.

“We had 800 acres and milked a herd of 400 mixed Friesian cows. We were shocked at the size of the cows.

“They were huge as they were a different breed to what we were used to in New Zealand.

“Australians thought the bigger the cow, the better but they were too heavy for the paddocks, and they also ate more. You don’t need big cows to get a good quantity of milk, so over the years we sold some and brought new stock in.

“Not long after we moved there we were able to purchase another 200 acres off a neighbour. We built our herd up to 800 milking through a 50 bale rotary in partnership with another Kiwi family.”

Lana and Cam’s moving experience had encouraged other Kiwis to also look at Australia due to the affordability of purchasing a farm.

“After three years we decided to go out on our own and purchased a farm of 380 acres with no cows as we had invested all of our money in the land.

We were lucky as we had found a great stock agent who helped us get started.

February 2021

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STAY AFLOAT Cam and Lana Brown have taken their farming experience to Australia as a way to afford to buy their own property

He initially gave us 30 cows that we paid off over time.

“The farm had a 60 bale rotary, and with the 30 cows, it took us 10 minutes to milk.

“We slowly built our herd up to a mixed herd of 600 Friesian, Ayrshire and other breeds. We then bought a neighbouring farm, and our daughter

and her partner worked it for us and milked 250 cows there for three years.”

In 2012 the Browns were hit by a major flood that saw their farm go under water and their world turned upside down. They have continued to farm but have come up with alternative ways to create income. Read part two of the Brown’s story next month.

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February 2021

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Cool season Captain wins in winter Less than six months before pastoral farmers must comply with strict limits on nitrogen use, plantain is back in the spotlight for autumn sowing this year.

One plantain, in particular, is providing great cool-season growth. That means it mops up more soil nitrogen at the riskiest time of the year for leaching, plus it provides extra feed when it is most needed on-farm.

Pasture systems specialist, Blair Cotching, says Captain CSP (cool season plantain) has been specifically bred to keep growing during the cooler months of the year.

That is very important for reducing soil nitrogen (N) losses, particularly in the current regulatory environment.

“Many farmers are looking for ways to mitigate the risk of soil N loss from their systems while maintaining sustainable levels of production.

“Industry research has shown plantain has real potential here, to the point where it is now included in Overseer.”

Captain’s value to both red meat and dairy producers extends beyond a strong environmental profile, says Blair, who heads the pasture systems team at Barenbrug.

Captain also grows strongly in other seasons and performs particularly well in the summer despite being bred for cool-season performance.

“In terms of stock performance, it’s palatable, easily digested and rich in essential minerals and trace elements. So there are distinct animal nutrition benefits, on top of its use as an N-mitigation tool.”

Grazing utilisation is good because Captain remains obviously upright in the pasture year-round.

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Captain CSP, front and centre, showing its winter growth advantage compared to other plantain cultivars

Captain has shown good persistence in mixed-sward trials. Well-managed, it will thrive for up to three years.

Blair says a key benefit is the ability to use the new plantain in different ways, depending on farmers’ individual priorities. In red meat systems, for example, mixed with red and white clovers, Captain offers a high live weight gain finishing crop. Alternatively, it can be part of a perennial pasture mix. Dairy farmers can sow it as a specialist three to four-year pasture, mixed with hybrid ryegrass and white clover or include it with new autumn-sown perennial ryegrass pastures.

“It’s also well-suited to over-sowing into thin pastures in spring.”

Barenbrug is working to develop new plantain cultivars, with both environmental and animal nutrition benefits in mind, he says.

New

“We have two goals with our plantain research, both revolving around N mitigation.

“The first is breeding improved plantains, with even more cool-season growth to utilise more N in winter. The second is to increase the levels of the secondary metabolites that help reduce N leaching.”

Seed for Captain CSP is available for autumn sowing now. For more detail, contact your merchant.

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February 2021

WAIKATO FarMING LIFeSTyLeS

RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS ADVERTORIAL

Vowles Transport Ltd Formed in 1986, Vowles Transport Ltd was established by Lindsay and Heather Vowles, initially focussing on the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions transporting eggs around various locations.

“From that platform, the love of linehaul grew, and our passion for the industry has expanded over the years.

We now focus on providing a New Zealand wide service,” says general manager Matt Schwass.

“Our infrastructure supports the transport operation with stores in both Morrinsville and Rolleston to facilitate our customers’ logistical needs. With the purchase of Morrinsville Transport in 2018, this gave us the local presence in the golden triangle and opened new opportunities and avenues for different freighting needs.

“Being based in the middle of New Zealand’s cream of the country, Vowles has always had a farm delivery focus.

From one bag to full 30-tonne bulk loads, VTL can offer supply and cartage for all bulk feed or pastoral needs.”

The company can also provide metal, fertiliser and landscape supplies by the truckload.

“We also offer the option of bagged fertiliser or feed as well. This helps with time frames for farmers as we supply and deliver. From one pallet through to a full truck and trailer load. We have a variety of modern curtainside combinations to

FOR ALL YOUR BULK CARTAGE REQUIREMENTS

meet our customers’ requirements, with both ambient, chilled and frozen options if required.

“Our team of expert drivers ensure all products are handled with the greatest respect. We are registered under the Regulated Control and NP1 scheme to give clients full confidence when we are moving your food and export animal products in a controlled manner.

“Our units have GPS tracking and full communication services to keep your mind at ease — knowing that your freight tracking is only a phone call away.

“Today, after 30-plus years in transport, Vowles Transport Ltd is still a family-owned and operated business.

Call today for a chat about how we can help with your on-farm delivery needs.”

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WAIKATO FarMING LIFeSTyLeS

February 2021

RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS

by Andy Bryenton

13

A lighter tread on soil

It’s a well-known fact that soil health is affected by compaction, both from animal pugging and the action of today’s large, heavy agricultural machines. Now tyre manufacturers and engineers are working to turn this around.

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Soil is a complex mixture of solid minerals and organic components, interspersed with water, air and living organisms. When a tractor or implement weighs down on this structure, the gaps close up, expelling the life-giving water and oxygen, which help good bacteria and soil microbes thrive. There’s even the chance that the roots of plants will have to divert around compacted clumps, expending the energy of the plant that you’d rather went into saleable crops.

On modern farms around the world, yield losses due to compaction are roughly 20%. It can even reach 50% in certain cases, such as areas with damp loam or a clay-based soil structure.

That’s a significant financial setback, so tyre and tractor manufacturers have been hard at work to rectify the issue and provide smart solutions. One example comes from a recent British

We service…

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initiative on soil health and compaction.

Richard Hutchins, an agricultural tyre specialist at Continental, David Purdy, from John Deere, and soil scientist, John Williams, joined forces to highlight how farming practices must change to protect productivity. Mr Williams suggested that up to 30% of soils in the UK are severely degraded. “Where soils have been placed in this category, there is very little porosity, and the soil has become grey and compacted, making it difficult for crops to root and for the land to drain,” he explained.

Continental Tyres has found a way to offset compaction damage through tyre technology. Their new, very high flexion (VF) tyres with a single bead wire are more flexible and can be run at lower pressures. VF tyres carry 40% more load than a standard tyre at the same pressure.

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Alternatively, in the field, the pressure of VF tyres can be lowered by 40% compared to standard tyres, even when carrying the same load. That spreads the weight of the vehicle over a larger surface area and reduces soil compaction. Meanwhile, manufacturers of tractors and implements are experimenting with materials technology to craft lighter, more soil friendly implements and tractors.

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February 2021

WAIKATO FarMING LIFeSTyLeS

RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS

TANK WATER SERVICES

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100 IT’S NOT A TARGET

Health and safety online

by Andy Bryenton

It can be one of the biggest headaches for the modern farmer; the Byzantine world of health and safety management presents new rules on a regular basis, with some that seem to defy the concept of common sense.

It can seem like a herculean task to keep visitors to your property safe enough to meet the strict modern standards. When there’s a partnership between agricultural contractors and landowners involving heavy machinery on the land, the issues can multiply.

Efficient management of this paperwork storm is available through many popular apps to prevent a total overload, but with so many on the market, which one is best for you?

Aside from cost, or lack thereof, (one local health and safety app for rural environments, Zero Harm Farm, went out free to rural not-for-profits back in 2018), the prime check-boxes to tick involve ease of use, customer support, compatibility with your other information technology systems, and that good old standard — word of mouth feedback from farming friends and neighbours.

In a market with many options, some even carried by major rural supply companies you may already be partnered up with, it pays to be integrated.

For example, talk to your agricultural contractors and see if you can get on the same app platform for better collaboration.

Otherwise, the rules for picking the right app boil down to the same simple considerations which underlie regular

Health and Safety have gone mobile, reducing paperwork and stress.

However, which app to choose for greatest ease and peace of mind?

health and safety thinking. Does the app let you clearly identify all significant hazards on your farm, and then offer options to either eliminate or isolate them, while tracking these actions for the benefit of potential visitors and coworkers? Does the app provide an easier way to monitor hazards, thus minimising their potential to cause harm, and if it does so, is it in real-time with pertinent alerts about changing circumstances or specific jobs? Perhaps most importantly,

is the method the app used to help you record data easy to use, uncluttered and streamlined?

If you’re new to making the change, it pays to look at several options, and have a good look at the in-depth and long-term data management available from each product. No doubt, apps like these are the way of the future. It’s all about picking one you are comfortable with to manage an important part of your business.

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WAIKATO FarMING LIFeSTyLeS

February 2021

RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS

Case sweep engineering awards

by Andy Bryenton

Case IH Agriculture has come out on top at 2021’s prestigious American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers AE50 awards.

The awards are conferred not by judges testing machines in the style of a ‘car of the year’ contest but decided by a panel of international engineering experts. Winners are chosen on the basis of their impact on advanced engineering for the food and agricultural industries.

True to the name, the 50 best products from around the world are named on the final list. This year the awards ceremony went virtual, as the ASABE Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference took precautions to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Case IH fielded five-award winning innovations this time around. Their own engineers cite the brand’s successful Customer Driven Product Design programme, which reshapes the Case range according to feedback from the thousands of farmers and contractors out there using their tractors in the field.

“The process has proven to be key in helping farmers increase productivity, profitability, and safety while at the same time reducing cost and labour,” says the company’s valedictory address following news of the win.

The AFS Connect™ Steiger series of tractors took out one award and

15

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Case IH has scored a swag of engineering-based awards at the first of 2021’s big international agricultural competitions, the AE50

represents the brand’s largest and most powerful tractor range. Cutting edge data management, a redesigned, ergonomic cab and built-in 4G connectivity sealed the deal for judges.

The LB436 HD large square baler was awarded for its use of a bale chamber that is 16% longer and provides up to 55% more plunger force than other models. As such, the bales produced are denser and more consistent. The Axial-Flow®250 series was awarded for

making it easier to make adjustments for better harvesting, while the new Category 3/4n three-point hitch quick coupler from Case’s Magnum tractors took a trophy home for adding durability and longevity.

Even the company’s new MultiControl armrest received positive attention, as it helps pack more fingertip controls into an ergonomic space, and was developed with the use of VR and 3D printing technology.

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February 2021

WAIKATO FarMING LIFeSTyLeS

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Independent M bovis review

February 2021

17

Federated Farmers say it is pleased the government is committed to finding out what more can be learnt from the country’s handling of the biosecurity response to Mycoplasma bovis.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has announced it will conduct an independent review into the M bovis response. The disease was first detected in New Zealand in 2017 and is likely to have entered the country two years before that.

Federated Farmers called for an independent review at its national council meeting in June 2018.

“We have been waiting a long time for this, and even five years on, it is still well worth doing,” says Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard.

“In 2018, the then national president Katie Milne wrote to the Minister for Biosecurity, Damien O’Connor, requesting a review of New Zealand’s biosecurity system, including an independent review of the M bovis response.

“At the time, the minister said it was still too early to do a review. We accept that the challenge of tracking, managing, and eventually controlling M bovis has required a huge effort and a great deal of patience from all concerned.”

Federated Farmers has reiterated its call, publicly and privately, on a number of occasions.

“We have all learnt a lot from this biosecurity response, not just MPI. This will not be a witch-hunt to highlight all the things that didn’t go well. Rather it is an effort to capture what we have learned so we can all be better prepared.”

In 2018, the then Federated Farmers national president Katie Milne requested an independent review of the M bovis response

It is standard practice for MPI to review its biosecurity responses, but they are not normally independent reviews.

“An independent review will give the results considerable clout and should

give us all a solid platform to learn from and build on for future responses. The name of the game is to learn how to be better prepared because this could always happen again.

“Federated Farmers is looking forward to its opportunity to feed into the review, and it will encourage the review panel to talk to key Feds provincial people and affected farmers.”

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February 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

DAIRY

ADVERTORIAL

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Rhonda and Steven Bamford use the Allflex cow collar monitoring system on their 920 cow Jersey herd. That helps relieve time pressure on Rhonda and the team during mating.

“The decision to use the Allflex monitoring system and invest in collar technology was an easy one,” says Steven.

“We knew Allflex was a trusted brand with experienced people. Our rep knew we were early adopters to tech and that we were looking for ways to take the pressure off me and not be so reliant on me during mating.

“We have access to accurate, reliable information and get early detection of cows who are under pressure. The collar allows us time to focus on the goal of achieving an empty rate of five per cent.”

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Rhonda and Steven Bamford use the Allflex Monitoring System on their herd

measure rumination amongst other indicators which provide the optimal time for artificially inseminating a cow.

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During milking, the cows that are on that report are automatically drafted out ready for the AI technician,” says Rhonda.

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“I no longer spend hours in the shed visually eyeballing each cow and selecting those that are showing signs of bulling.

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visual signs of distress. That has been of equal value. We now confidently transition cows from the colostrum mob to the milking mob and back again, not just after they have calved but during the season too.”

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WAIKATO FarMING LIFeSTyLeS

February 2021

19

Dairy sector world leaders

by Andy Bryenton

When it comes to emissions from dairy cattle, New Zealand leads the world. Not in the volume of greenhouse gases produced, but quite the opposite, according to a recent report by AgResearch.

The accepted measure of the environmental impact from dairying records the amount of carbon dioxide or its equivalent (CO2e) released for every kilogram of ‘fat and protein corrected’ milk (FPCM). Hence, a low score for ‘CO2e per kilo of FPCM’ is desirable.

AgResearch’s analysis proves that for 2020, New Zealand dairy farmers had the world’s lowest carbon footprint — at nearly half the emissions of other international producers.

This is a long way from the assurances of climate armageddon via farming which were touted in the not so distant past by opponents to the dairy industry.

The exact figure sits at 0.74kg per kilo FPCM, with the average across all recorded dairy producers confirmed as 1.37kg per kilo FPCM. New Zealand farmers beat out most of our European rivals in agriculture convincingly, with a total less than half that of the CO2e emissions recorded in places like Germany and Italy.

The United States and Canada were also beaten by a wide margin, with the countries faring worst in the

poll being those with limited modern infrastructure or challenging terrain and conditions; Peru, Costa Rica and Kenya are examples of these.

AgResearch scientists Andre Mazzetto and Stewart Ledgard followed exacting International Organisation for Standardisation rules to come up with these figures, providing an insight into our progress in better farming practices. “We reviewed international studies and recalculated their footprints in a systematic way, using methods accepted internationally to provide a fair and robust comparison between different countries,” Mazzetto is quoted as saying.

“Bearing in mind, countries may have different emission profiles and different ways of calculating their footprints for milk production, we believe we have reached the best possible comparison from the data available.”

He concurred that there was still room for us to perform even better, as other nations on the list work to reduce their own emissions footprints and new technologies become available.

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20

February 2021

WAIKATO FarMING LIFeSTyLeS

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