Waikato Farming Lifestyles, January 2016

Waikato

FARMING Lifestyles

January 2016 Edition

30,300 copies DELIVERED FREE to every rural delivery address in Waikato and King Country

Blueberry Delights

OVER THE CATTLE STOP Match the numbers to the ads

Influenced by granddad

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See page 2 for details

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January 2016

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

Feather in cap for Poultry trainee

The Waikato Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by NorthSouth Multi Media Ltd, a privately owned NZ company.

Dahook Azzam regards her job at an Inghams Enterprises meat chicken breeder farm as an ideal opportunity to combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience.

Phone: 0800 466 793 Email: info@nsmm.co.nz General Manager: Deb Wright | debw@nsmm.co.nz 021 639 696 Production Manager: Jessica Wright Editorial: Denise Gunn Paul Campbell Andy Bryenton Ayla Miller Ann Morgan

Graphic Design: Gavin Bainbridge Dylan Hansen Callum McDonald James Menzies

MEMBER OF:

Advertising: Betty Willetts Peter Mansfield

Production: Viv Webb Lara Ozkan

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

Audited distribution details Print run 30,300. DELIVERED FREE to every rural delivery address in Waikato and King Country.

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Dahook Azzam, 2015 Poultry Trainee of the Year on right, receives her award from PIANZ Chairman, Adrian Revell

Her enthusiasm for her new career in a new country has played a key role in her recent win of the Poultry Trainee of the Year Award for 2015. The award is given each year to the top-performing trainee in all of the training courses run by the poultry industry in co-operation with the Primary Industry Training Organisation.

Dahook is currently an assistant farm manager whose role includes daily feeding, watering and environmental checks of the birds as well as farm and staff management and data entry.

“It is a very good combination,” she says. “I have the hands-on experience of being a worker with some responsibilities as a manager, so it is a very useful and practical thing for my career.”

Originally from Jordan, where she gained a Master’s degree in animal science and then worked as a science teacher, Dahook immigrated to New Zealand two years ago with her husband and three children. After she began work at a privately-owned meat chicken farm her work ethic and determination caught the eye of Inghams and led to the offer of her current role. Dahook

says Inghams’ good reputation in the breeding and rearing area of the chicken supply chain was a definite drawcard.

Dahook’s decision to undertake a Level three National Certificate course in Poultry Husbandry was the next step. The one-year course is aimed at personnel currently in or progressing towards supervisory or management roles and comprises a mix of on-thejob training, written assessments and attendance at a block course.

Dahook says the study and training experience boosted her professional knowledge and confidence and encouraged her commitment to achieving high standards. She is now looking to study at Level Four.

As part of her award, Dahook travelled to Auckland to meet the PIANZ Board and attend a lunch at which she was the guest of honour.

“The Poultry Trainee of the Year Award reflects the industry’s strong commitment to training and education,” says executive director of the Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand Michael Brooks.

Over the cattle stop feature What’s happening over the cattle stop? As any farmer knows, the answer is — ‘everything!’ — as you can see in our light-hearted front page cartoon. This January the Northern Farming Lifestyles is a little different, as we’ve matched all of the

top agricultural support businesses between our covers with a bustling rural scene on page one.

The aim of the game is to match the numbers next to each little image of Kiwi farm life to the businesses who exemplify them.

Over the cattle stop map key

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Contact Mike Hopkins

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9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Landscaping maintenance, e.g. tree trimmers Livestock Hunting, Fishing & Outdoors IT and Professional Services Fuel Rural Women Forestry Education Real Estate

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES January 2016

App goes further

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by Ayla Miller

Kiwi entrepreneur Dan Hall, inventor of the Fence Detective app, has recently launched his creation on iTunes and is in the running for a Callaghan Innovation award in three different categories.

Dan says he had no idea his lightbulb moment would take him this far and is currently a candidate for the Maori entrepreneur, agricultural and mobile category.

The Fence Detective detects whether or not an electric fence is on and Dan hopes his app will encourage people to explore their surroundings as well as to pursue their own innovative ideas.

“You don’t have to be in America to come up with a good idea, you can do it right here in our own back yard,” Dan says.

He is also working closely with New Zealand Walking Access on their educational resource Both Sides of the Fence which motivates children to learn more about their natural environment.

“It’s all about encouraging younger people to get outside and enjoy their environment and get them away from the TV.” The idea came to him when he needed to cross an electric fence whilst out walking.

“I thought why can’t I point my phone at the fence, you seem to be able to do everything else with phones, so

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January 2016

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

BLUEBERRY

BY AYLA MILLER

Blueberries have been a big part of Paul and Mieke de Groot’s life since moving from Holland in 1980, and they have passed on their love for the fruit to their children Marco and Marije who have now combined their orchards to make up Monavale Blueberries.

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ttracted by the opportunity to own their own land, like many immigrants to New Zealand, and seeing the Waikato as being very similar to their homeland, they bought a 10 acre property in Cambridge.

The land consisted of ‘oligotrophic’ peat and was covered in gorse, blackberry and ti-tree scrub.

By 1987 the de Groot’s house was completed and blueberries were planted along with feijoas and boysenberries.

The blueberries flourished and eventually

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the other crops were phased out. Paul and Mieke purchased a neighbouring 10 acre block in 1989, and slowly began to develop this land into a viable orchard block. In 1991, they purchased a further 10 acres.

Their son Marco and his wife Kath bought a neighbouring 10 acre block and when they were ready, planted this property in blueberries as well, trading under the name Monavale Estate.

Later their daughter Marije and her husband Richard purchased another

5 Cafe Irresistiblue is surrounded by views of the orchard where visitors can relax and enjoy the fruits of the de Groot families labour

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The Monavale Blueberries team from left: Richard Banks, Marco de Groot, Mieke de Groot, Oliver de Groot, Marije Banks, Kath de Groot and Paul de Groot

neighbouring 10 acre block and began trading under Irresistible Blueberries — Irresistiblue.

By 2002 the three properties were combined and so Monavale Blueberries was born. The men became full-time employees working with Paul and the women left their jobs to start families and look after the office duties working with Mieke.

Marije says being able to play a part in growing the family business has been an amazing experience and one she has got a lot of satisfaction from especially “when I walk over the orchard and realise we started by planting only two acres of blueberries to now having more than 80 acres planted — and developing a range of organic blueberry products as well as opening Café Irresistiblue. I am also very proud of the fact that we grow organically. It is a lot of hard work, but we just love being able to offer healthy, organically grown blueberries and blueberry products to our customers,” she says.

From humble beginnings, Monavale Blueberries now employ over 150 seasonal employees, as well as 10 fulltime staff and have grown to become the largest BioGro certified organic blueberry orchard in New Zealand with over 50 acres of fully certified crop and more than 42,000 blueberry bushes.

“We are currently expanding our orchard as we have recently purchased more land and are in the process of planting over 25,000 more plants.

It takes around four years before a blueberry plant produces after planting.

We grow 23 different varieties, and produce fruit from November till early April, depending on the weather,” says Marije.

They now export blueberries all around the world, including Australia, USA and Asia and say keeping their produce and farm organic was a strategic decision by Paul as he had experienced what chemicals can do to land and a person’s health in previous work.

“All of our bushes are hand weeded,

scrub cut between the bushes and then mown between the rows. We are certified organic by BioGro New Zealand.

We do not use any chemical fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides or insecticides,” Marije says.

Growing organically is more time consuming and labour intensive with extra costs for the certification process, organic fertilisers and maintaining the property organically, however the de Groot family believe these extra costs are worth it for the positive environmental impact and benefits that growing organically generates.

Monavale Blueberries also have a cafe on site which focusses on the organic blueberry products, and has views towards Pirongia, Kakepuku and Maungatautari mountains.

“We opened Café Irresistiblue in December 2009, so that our customers could experience a delicious meal and drink and enjoy amazing views over the orchard,” Marije says.

Future plans include expanding their

blueberry products, particularly their 100 percent pure organic blueberry juice — Monavale Pressed Organic Blueberries, organic blueberry and apple juice, and organic blueberry powder.

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January 2016

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

LIFE’S A

GAME Twenty eight year old self confessed gamer, Helen Glynn, has managed to fit a lot into her life including farming for two months in Missouri, working on the infamous Crafar Farms, and helping to manage a strip club in Taupo. Now she is milking 600 cows in Matakohe on an 80 bale rotary, enjoying some quality time with her Xbox and looks forward to her next adventure.

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espite growing up in the urban part of Taupo, she has always been around animals, and was one of the top six eventers in New Zealand when she was only 12 years old.

When she left school she went to work for a racing stable in Cambridge.

There, her love of animals grew, and that marked the beginning of her career in the farming industry.

“Dad drove me up to Rangitaiki for an interview when I was 16 years old and that’s how I got started in dairy farming,” she says.

After that she worked for a number of different farms around the area for

the Crafar’s, trying to help as best she could under the circumstances, until the opportunity came up to spend two months working on a dairy farm in Missouri in the United States. Before her 21st birthday, Helen moved back to Taupo after having enough wild life experiences to last a lifetime.

“I don’t do critters,” she says. “Every morning there would be something new when you turn on the lights in the milking shed, from a snake, to a frog, to a coyote. We are pretty lucky not to have that over here.”

She didn’t want to look at another cow for a while after that so she went to help her mother run a strip club in

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Helen and fellow farmer Valeria Maw don’t mind getting their hands dirty Taupo whilst also working for a security company away from the city. After a year trying to save the drowning business she had enough, packed up her truck, and moved to Ruawai to stay with a friend. After a while she got the job in Matakohe and settled into Northland life but says after working non stop for a good portion of her youth she now feels like she should be enjoying life a bit more.

“I’ve worked pretty hard the last 10 years of my life and I’ve sort of hit a wall now.”

She says she still enjoys milking cows and would one day like to own a farm of her own although admits she isn’t holding her breath.

“If the market picks up I eventually want to have my own farm, but for the next 5–10 years, it doesn’t look very good.” When she isn’t working, or playing Call of Duty and Modern Warfare, she

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TYRE CENTRE

Helen’s loyal working dogs go wherever she goes

transfers her first-person shooter skills to real life and goes hunting with mates.

“We go fishing, shooting possums or eeling, just normal stuff.”

She would recommend farming to other young people as a career but only if it isn’t their only choice.

“If they are doing it to progress in life I’d definitely recommend it. It’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle. You can’t just take it on like a 9–5 job.”

The best part about the lifestyle is that her working dogs, Gambit and Chaos, have a better life, her horse Max gets a paddock and she doesn’t have to pay grazing she jokes.

She has considered breaking in horses as being her next challenge.

“I’ve been watching Keeping up with the Kaimanawas a lot. That interested me and I’ve been sorting out friends’ horses.” Max is testament to Helen’s skills.

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“He hated people at first but we are friends now. I’m all for the natural horsemanship. He went from being a mongrel to now I can ride him around the paddock with no saddle. There has only ever been one horse I couldn’t sort and that horse I took down to my mother’s family in Opotiki. He couldn’t be used in eventing but he’s fine to be ridden around with a bit of rope.”

She doesn’t want to make any set plans for the future. “In my life, if I plan something it never works out, so I just go with the flow.”

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January 2016

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

INFLUENCED

BY GRANDDAD

by Ann Morgan Gemma-Jean Brice is 21 years old and spent a lot of time with her grandfather Dick Brice on his farm when she was young and he taught her about farming. She moved to the Waikato at 18 years old to a farm where family friends helped her to put those skills into practice and get into the industry.

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make hay. He encouraged me to look at farming as a career.”

Gemma started training with Ag ITO which is now Primary ITO, studying for level two general skills, and then moved on to milk quality stage one.

“My initial farming courses were in Te Awamutu. I went on to level three health and husbandry and am now studying level three feeding and pasture. I have found these courses really helpful and loved getting off the farm and meeting other young farmers my age.

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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES January 2016

able to take what we learn back to the farm and put it into practise like bike safety, mastitis and how to identify and manage sick or lame cows.

“I like Te Awamutu, it’s a really awesome little town and has everything you need. I enjoyed being a part of a really loving and friendly community — Ngahinapouri. They always wave when driving past and ask how you are going.

We had many farmers and neighbours’ dinners on our road.

“I got the job in the Waikato because our friend’s calving worker went back to Chile and they offered me a threemonth trial and I ended up staying for 16 months.”

Gemma had a bad car accident and had to stop working. As she recovered she worked on a farm up the road but decided it was time for a change and went for interviews in Taranaki and is now a dairy farm assistant in Mangorei, milking a 540 mixed cross herd.

“I worked on an Ayrshire farm for a few months but their finances became tight so I couldn’t continue and I went full-time relief milking whilst I looked for permanent work. I then found this job and work for contract milkers.

“Here we have a 40-aside herringbone with 282 hectares mapped which is flat to rolling with a few steep paddocks and there is a stream that runs right around the boundary which makes it nice and scenic. I love nature and being outside every day working with the animals and riding the motorbikes.

“We milk twice a day and are on grass only at the moment as our farm is still really green because we get quite a lot of rain. There is a run-off down the road where 90 percent of our supplements are made, silage and hay, and this

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Gemma-Jean encourages others who want to go farming to try it is where the calves and heifers go.”

Gemma says the climate was a lot hotter in the Waikato than in Taranaki.

“There was hardly any rain through January and February, but the very cold winter mornings were always really cold and I would warm my hands in hot water after getting the cows in.

“I entered my first Young Farmers competition last year. There were only two girls competing and I found this to be a great experience, it definitely boosted my confidence as I didn’t know what to expect.

“I would suggest to other girls who want to go farming, not to be put off.

It is definitely not just a man’s job, it is really rewarding. If you are curious, give it a go, you can go as far as you like

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in the industry, including management.

The Taranaki area is very different for me compared to the Waikato. It’s always really special when I go back and visit and see all my old cows and see how things are going and changing. I have lots of fond memories, it’s where I learnt how to milk and ride a twowheel motorbike.

“There is nothing else I would rather do. I love farming and want to go as far as I can with the career.”

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January 2016

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

ADVERTORIAL

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Equestrian excellence on show

A new way to enjoy the scenery

A new international equestrian showcase, Riding with the Stars, will take place on February 12 and 13 in the heart of the Waikato horse country, featuring a lineup of international horses and riders.

“Over two nights the choreographed arena-style production will present Australasia’s top horsemen and women in an indoor spectacular, as well as performances and workshops from the Wilson sisters — the stars of the television show Keeping up with the Kaimanawas,” said event director Andrew Hansen .

“On Friday, February 12, dressage and show jumpers from both sides of the Tasman will compete with the line-up including three-time Australian Olympian Vicki Roycroft, New Zealand’s Katie Laurie, olympian Maurice Beatson, and Australian star Billy Raymont.”

Mr Hansen added: “bestselling author, Kelly Wilson will also make an appearance”, while it will be “the only appearance of the Australian contingent in New Zealand this season.

“The dressage competitors are some of the best from both sides of the Tasman.

“With more than $16,000 in prize money on the line between the dressage and showjumping classes, there’ll be no concessions given between these

14

EQUESTRIAN PLAYGROUND PRICING: Daily Casual Rate: $20 per horse per day (BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL) Price for Pony Clubs Groups: $15 per horse per day. Indoor Lights: $2 per 20mins (NB $2 coins only or by arrangement) Exclusive Indoor Hireage: $250 + GST per day

fiercely competitive rivals. On the second night, Saturday, February 13, the Wilson sisters will replicate all the excitement of their television series in a specially choreographed performance showcasing their very special relationship with these wild horses.”

Riding with the Stars is being promoted by the Hansen family and Definitive Events Australia,which promotes Australia’s largest equestrian festival, Equitana, in Melbourne.

“This inaugural event promises an up-close international experience with all the production and effects you’d find in the best Vegas show,” Mr Hansen added.

“The focus is on presenting topnotch world-class entertainment and production that shows equestrian in a whole new way.

“We are very excited to be bringing Kiwis a real edge-of-your-seat horse event that the whole family can enjoy — the kind that has never before been seen in New Zealand.”

Riding with the Stars is being held at Claudelands Arena in Hamilton with tickets available from Ticketek.

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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES January 2016

11

Rural connections A web-based business throughout New Zealand Better broadband and mobile coverage has been rolled out across the country this year as a result of investments made

by Vodafone.

Thirty new cell sites have been built in the last 12 months and 27 existing cell sites have been upgraded under the Rural Broadband Initiative which Vodafone delivers in partnership with Chorus and the Government.

Vodafone has built a further 14 rural cell sites and upgraded 125 existing cell sites to 4G as part of its own investment.

Now almost 75 percent of rural New Zealanders have access to wireless broadband connections capable of delivering speeds on par with, or faster than those experienced in urban centres.

“As we’re nearing the end of the RBI build phase it is exciting to see demand for our new mobile and wireless broadband services grow month on month,” said Vodafone technology director Tony Baird.

“There are more than 700,000 Kiwis living and working in rural New Zealand and they all need access to more mobile coverage and faster broadband services — they are the powerhouse of our economy. It has been hugely rewarding to learn how different communities and businesses are starting to really benefit from better connectivity in rural New Zealand as a result of this investment.

“With Vodafone’s rural broadband network and new coverage innovations, our long-term vision is to reach over 99 percent of places where Kiwis live, work and play,” said Tony.

NZ Farmers Livestock Ltd deals nationally in bobby calf procurement, processing and marketing in the North Island, with just over 40 livestock agents turning over $200 millionplus.

The business is supported by a web-based system MyLiveStock.co.nz that advertises stock and supports our bobby calf activity and is recognised as one of the leading websites in the industry.

Clients can now also actively list their stock and requirements to a large database of farmers throughout New Zealand.

The team is based around offices in the Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Manawatu and the lower South Island, and the business is strongly supported by saleyard operations presenting a critical shop window

supporting a large part of the business that happens ‘in the paddock’.

NZFLL is 33% owned by agents and as such staff are critical to NZFLL success substantially mitigating the agent-loss risk that affects most relationship-based agency businesses.

NZFLL has also just recently acquired a share in Redshaw Livestock a very strong beef and sheep Hawke’s Bay livestock company and will take a larger share over three years, while keeping the same business plan of NZFLL with the agents owning a share of the business.

Vodafone technology director, Tony Baird

“Earlier in the year we welcomed the Government’s 2025 target of speeds of over 50Mbps to virtually all New Zealanders — and we have the technology roadmap to deliver it.”

Vodafone will continue to deliver on its RBI contract, bringing the total number of completed RBI cell sites to 154, and upgraded cell sites to 387, ahead of contractual dates.

Upon completion of the programme, over 290,000 homes and businesses in rural New Zealand will have access to high speed wireless broadband.

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January 2016

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

STARTING FARMING YOUNG

by Ann Morgan

Brogan Collins is 23 years old and with his wife Danielle manages a small farm of 110 hectares in Ngaruawahia of 340 cross bred cows. The property is 50/50 steep and flat with five different soil types and they also have a 100 hectare and a 20 hectare runoff.

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his means we need to be careful between seasons where we put the stock due to the conditions this creates. Some will dry up a lot quicker than others and we can’t afford the grass to go to waste, so use all the feed in these paddocks as it is available,” said Brogan.

“We go into the wetter paddocks early. If we see the forecast is for rain and those paddocks are due to be grazed soon, we will go in a bit sooner to avoid pugging rather than go in as per planned and risk ruining the paddock.

“We have two young children. We personally didn’t grow up on farms — we grew up in town. My granddad had his

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own little dairy unit in Otorohanga which he sold when I was young — other than that we both grew up in town.

“My whole life I thought I’d either join the police force or go farming. When I was 15 years old my parents separated and I saw the opportunity to get free accommodation if I farmed so I looked for a farming job and started on my 16th birthday.”

Brogan says he mostly learnt on the job until two and a half years ago when he decided to get his level three ITO’s to prove on paper that he can farm.

“When I first went farming I saw it as — you milk cows, you set up fences, and you go home. It wasn’t until I actually started that I realised there is a lot more in between and after milking, it wasn’t so simple. Once I realised this I enjoyed it a lot more.

“We try to run a low cost system. We feed kernel if necessary and just do grass, silage and maize. We don’t make hay because we don’t have anywhere to store it.

“We try to keep low operating costs rather than getting as much as we can out of the cow. We don’t put urea on our farm, only use fertiliser twice a year. We found that there is not a lot of difference between using it or not. The difference in production is minimal.

“I enjoy the job. The fact that your hours can be flexible makes it even better, especially if you work on a small farm. On a hot sunny day I can go to the beach between milkings and work later when it is cooler.”

Danielle helps with milkings and rears the calves along with the farm owner.

“When I wanted to get into farming, because I had no experience, it was nearly impossible to find a farmer to employ me. I applied for anything I could in the North Island.

“Eventually a farming consultant rang me and said he knew of a job that wasn’t advertised and that is how I started.

Now, when I have needed staff, I have

13

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He has now been there for 18 months and is progressing well.

“That’s my quiet little goal, to get as many young farmers into the career as possible, especially those who have no farming background.

“My grandfather comes out regularly and has a look at what I have done, looks at my grass and gives his opinion which is good — I appreciate that. He is very knowledgeable.

“Farming is what you make of it. You can’t change the negatives, if you can’t change it why worry about it. Farming is really interesting once you get into it, there are so many different styles and opinions, but no one is right and no one is wrong. There are so many

different ways of doing it and I believe it is personal preference. Happy cows equal a happy farmer.”

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January 2016

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES January 2016

Power surge drives success

15

by Andy Bryenton

As the old saying goes ‘there’s no replacement for displacement’ — a term coined to justify big power and big engine blocks in muscle cars. While modern turbochargers and high compression systems may have given the lie to this old adage, over at CanAm the boys in research and development certainly believe that there’s some truth to the catchphrase yet.

That’s why the incoming 2016 range of ATVs from the big North American marque is all about power. A trio of brand new, modern and horsepowerladen new Rotax engines is at the heart of this redesign, upping the ante for competitors in an arms race of power reminiscent of that fought by the big German automakers during the mid 2000s. At the top of the tree, the fully revamped 89 horse, 976cc liquidcooled eight-valve Rotax V-twin engine in the Outlander 1000R gains a nine per cent power boost, putting it head and shoulders above anything else in its bracket.

Throwing down the gauntlet to the big names out of Japan and America, Rotax engineers have redesigned the pistons to wring more power out of the 80 degree mill, and have added a beefier 54mm throttle body and a whole new engine head from the successful Can-Am Maverick. It’s the first instance of reverse engineering tech from a sideby-side UTV down to a quad in the engine bay, and it shows how seriously this power surge is being taken over

10

at Can-Am. The same head-swap and massive 54mm throttle body have been ‘hot-rodded’ onto another midrange favourite, the Outlander 850.

Sitting in the ‘middleweight’ division, this machine may lack the raw fury of the 1,000cc which weighs in above it, but Can-Ams in this category have proven a willing and versatile choice on the farm. The 2016 model is powered by a 78 horsepower, liquid-cooled, 854cc power plant, delivering 10 per cent more grunt and 7 per cent more torque than last year.

Torque is where it’s at for the smallest of the new Rotax offerings, with a big 9 per cent boost for the 570 series of quads. The new 48hp, eight-valve, liquid-cooled single overhead cam 570cc V-Twin under the Outlander’s tank offers improved performance all round, packing larger pistons, a longer stroke and a higher connecting rod to increase all the vital stats while not impacting top speed. The 570 replaces the dependable old 500cc Rotax twin, but thanks to technological advances, this new mill’s power-to-fuel consumption

figures are still superb. Sitting at the heart of a huge range of new models, these powerful and versatile engines are a clear challenge to the competition — and a clear invitation to enjoy a test drive at your local Can-Am shop soon!

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January 2016

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

A dog’s tail…

Back ta werk? Nah......

Well readas, hear we are in 2016, an’ orl back to werk. Me an’ Boss have bin with kontracters doing sum silage ona farm. Boss has also bin chortlin’ away about the front paddick wot he planted in maize. He reckins we got a millyin dollar rain so we shood have a grate crop.

“All in all, Dog,” he sed, “the New Yeer got off ta a good start.”

Mine you readas, ya shooda bin hear for New Yeers Eve! Boss an’ Sharlene hada big nees up inna woollshed. They had their mates over for a barby an’ drinkies. Well, they was dancin’ an’ singin’ an’ than at midnite, that Gazza set offa firewerks.

Not only did that skare tha helloutame, but he set fire to a hay bale. Boss hadda pour beer froma keg all over Gazza before he got burned too.

3

Then his mate Pete tripped over wile he was dancin’ wiv Plumbas gerlfrend, an’ knocked over tha drinks table.

Broken bottils everwhere. But Bob tha golfer went to the clubhouse an’ got sum more.

Orl rite for Boss an’ them, but a borda colly needs his rest. I was up orl night eh?

Any way, as I sed, Boss was chortlin’ away about crops as Recks an’ Cracka, tha kontractors, were packin’ up an headin’for the pub when Sharlene called us in fer smoko. She hada papa froma kattil stop atta road gate, an’ tole Boss not ta get to ixited. “Look here deah,” she sed. “They reckin the stock markit in fer a but of a fall, ‘cos China mite be fudgin’ tha books. (I wasint sure wot that ment, but Boss sat down an’ pickt up the papa.)

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“Bit of a wurry,” he sed. “Hear we are with a good crop of maize, plenty of feed stored away, hada darn good lambing last year, beef prices okay, an’ now we gotta wurry about stock markits.”

Well readas, I thort stock markits were held over atta Matakohe saleyards.

But Boss sed it was orl about munny` goin’ round tha world. “Ya see Dog, if China sneezis, we mite getta cold, or even the floo.”

Well, I mite tell yer, this was soundin’ a bit sad after a beaut New Yeer party, anna good crop, an’ lots silage. But then Sharlene hada grate ideea.

“Its too soon ta wurry about all this,” she sed. “We still got a coupla months of beaut summer to go. I reckin we shud hitch the boat ona ute, pack up tha tent, an’ go to Poto.

Lots peeple gone back ta werk now, so plenty of campin’ space. They got sum good fish ata Tinerpy fishin’ contest, so we shud git some good feeds of snappa. An’ Dog kin chase sticks an’ seegulls instead of lookin’afta kattil beests an’ sheep.”

Well I tell yer readas — yer neva saw me an Boss move so fast. “Yep Dog,” he sed. “Let tha blimmin werld go by

itself for a wile. Summertime, an’ tha livin’ is easy eh?

That’s my Boss! Happy New Yeer readas!

Billy

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18

January 2016

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

Hoof Print

with Fred Hoekstra

HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & TRAINING

Preventative hoof trimming What is preventative hoof trimming? I have been on farms where they had done their own preventative hoof trimming during the year.

When I started doing my trimming I had to explain what I was doing and it turned out to be quite different from the way that they did it.

This made me wonder how many people out there actually understand preventative hoof trimming and what its benefits are. Preventative hoof trimming is not cutting out white line cracks and

any other issues that you may find in a claw. If anything, you will probably make things worse for the cow if that is all you do. If all lameness issues are caused by physical damage then it would make sense to cut out any deformities, but the problem starts on the inside of the claw, in the live tissue, not the outside.

If the live tissue (corium) is unhealthy, then preventative hoof trimming will not heal it. But with preventative hoof trimming we can reduce the stresses on that corium enabling it to heal quicker.

The ideal is to have both claws on the one foot carrying the same amount of weight. If one claw is bigger (usually the outer one) it will carry more weight.

This, in itself, is not necessarily a problem as most cows have a bigger outer claw than the inner one, but not all cows go lame. Most cows have laminitis as well but not all cows are lame because of that either, depending on how severe the laminitis is. A cow that has laminitis has all claws affected.

If the outer claw is bigger and therefore carrying a greater proportion

of the weight the corium is under more stress in that claw compared to the inner claw — this is why most cows are lame on the outer claw. So, the first step that any preventative hoof trimming should entail is paring away the sole on the outer claw. This will reduce the weight and the stress on the live tissue in that claw.

If we trim a cow that has a white line issue and we open it up, exposing the corium without taking the sole down, then there is a good chance that the corium will prolapse because that claw is still carrying too much weight. This

obviously creates more problems for the cow than benefitting her. I know it sounds simple and straightforward but it takes skill to achieve that balance. Both claws need to be level and flat, but on the other hand they are not allowed to get too thin either.

That is why it takes more advanced training and time to become more proficient at hoof trimming. If you are keen to learn to become a better hoof trimmer then contact Veehof Dairy Services on 0800 833 463 to find out what training options are available to you.

9

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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES January 2016

19

Soil Matters with Peter Burton Keeping carbon in the ground, not in the air The environmental debate around intensive pastoral farming and fresh water quality is gaining momentum, and people are rapidly taking positions, with the ‘don’t blame me’ lobby seemingly gathering popularity.

Two things worth bearing in mind are, that a supply of clean fresh drinking water for both humans and animals now and into the future is non-negotiable in this country. Nothing less is acceptable — and rightly so.

Secondly, everyone wins when we finally reach that situation. Noone is ultimately disadvantaged by a sustainable environment, although in the short term some may have to change their practises, which may involve extra initial cost. And it’s not just farming that is coming under the microscope. In our area ageing septic tanks, some of which were probably no more than an old steel container sunk in the ground, are no longer fully effective or acceptable, and the cost of alternatives is considerable.

A 30km direct pipeline to the urban treatment plant was found to be both expensive and culturally insensitive.

After consultation, the communities here have agreed to take responsibility for their own waste via local treatment plants using bacterial processes — essentially sophisticated versions of the old septic tank.

When it comes to water nearly every drop of water in our lakes, rivers, and

aquifers has travelled through or over the land surface. Soil is the ultimate filter, and when water is able to permeate it and steadily percolate downwards, a cleansing process takes place.

And it’s carbon that has the lead role in this. As a country we’re a net carbon emitter, which no amount of cheap carbon credits will change.

The solution, however, is simple as it’s under permanent grazed pasture that carbon is most rapidly sequestered.

Intensive pastoral farming, seen by most as the greatest emitter, is actually potentially the carbon saviour, with one proviso. The use of nitrogen fertiliser must be limited, as excess nitrogen limits the speed at which carbon stocks can be built.

At present 600,000 tonnes of urea per year are applied to our pastures, with conservatively 500,000 tonnes applied to intensive dairy land, which equates on average to 135kgN/ha. With an increasing number of farmers using less, there are obviously a significant number using more than that amount.

Farms where pasture growth has become reliant on regular applications of chemical nitrogen are also those

properties that dry out more quickly with the onset of summer, have an increasing requirement for pasture renewal, and suffer from severe infestations of insect pests.

Conversely, those that use minimal amounts, and have replaced most of the energy provided by such nitrogen with alternative inputs that stimulate the speed of nutrient cycling, are finding that less feed is required by their cows to produce each kilogram of milk solids, lambs fatten more rapidly, and there is a greatly reduced requirement for animal ill-health intervention.

The transition to a long-term plentiful permanent pasture discipline, based on actively N-fixing clover and grasses by using alternative non-urea fertiliser, can be achieved amazingly rapidly,

with no interim loss in production.

However a commitment to doing regular observations of both pasture and animals, (not just a quick whiz by on the motorbike), is a requirement for complete success.

Some new ‘converts’ to such a system often express real trepidation during their first season, when a known fixed farm management formula is replaced by a flexible, principle based one.

However trepidation is rapidly followed by pleasure from a growing awareness of improved pasture quality.

The knowledge that it is possible to enhance and influence natural systems (rather than just replace them) to achieve this, is genuinely satisfying.

For more information call Peter on 0800 843 809.

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20

January 2016

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

Retailer of Rural Piping and Farm Supplies

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