Waikato Farming Lifestyles, March 2012

Wa i k a to

Farming Lifestyles

March 2012 Edition

Phone: 09 439 6933 | Freephone: 0800 466 793 | Fax: 09 439 6930

Page 6-7

Page 8-9

Page 16

The solution to your lifestyle block problems

Wholly Cow it’s ‘the market kids’

A farming shift to the sun?

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HONEY a sweet tasting success for family Page 4-5

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March 2012

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

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Regulations governing the safe movement of stock on Waikato rural roads will become universal in July, when Franklin farmers will be brought into the fold

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Waikato

Farming Lifestyles

Stock rules to cover district

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On July 1, farmers in the former Franklin district area will join the remainder of the Waikato district in coming under the Waikato District Council Livestock Movement Bylaw passed in 2011.

New regulations are designed to protect farmers, motorists and stock with a simple set of rules that govern how stock can be moved on public roads.

“The Livestock Movement Bylaw has two key goals; to protect the safety of all who use the roads and to protect the road itself from stock damage,” said council’s general manager of roading and projects, Ian Gooden.

“Safety on rural roads is an increasingly important issue as population growth and the increasing popularity of lifestyle blocks mean more people use rural roads, often at faster speeds.

“The council has listened to feedback from farmers in passing a bylaw which addresses the differing needs of farmers, road users and the council as the custodian of the roads,” Mr Gooden said.

The bylaw identifies four types of stock movement:

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In urban areas or roads which have more than 2,000 vehicles a day, moving stock is prohibited.

On sealed roads, livestock will need a Livestock Movement Permit.

On unsealed roads, livestock can be moved without a permit subject to certain conditions.

All movement of dairy stock will require a Dairy Crossing Permit, regardless of whether the road is sealed or unsealed.

Permits are free, allow for multiple crossings, and are valid for up to five years.

Safety measures will have to be implemented, including warning signs, flashing amber lights and dayglo safety vests.

For more information on the bylaw visit http://www.waikatodc.govt.nz/ services/roading-and-transportation/ Livestock-Movement-Bylaw.aspx

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

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

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Tomorrow’s farms today Clean and green has become a catch-phrase that has now embedded itself in the Kiwi psyche, not least in the rural sector, where it adds a cachet to our primary produce exports, apart from promoting a tourism experience.

In the Waikato, innovation is once again to the fore with Tomorrow’s Farms Today, a three-year project that has kicked off in the central plateau portion of the Waikato River catchment.

As advised by the Waikato Regional Council, the programme has been undertaken to better understand what some farmers are doing to minimise their environmental footprint, while still retaining a good level of profitability.

The farmer group consists of 25 farms, from Reporoa, Atiamuri, Bennydale and Broadlands. Those involved are from Mangakino, south to Orakei Korako. This area involves land that feeds a part of the river that is classed as a high priority water body for the Waikato catchment.

In time, farmers in the region may face increased pressure to reduce their diffuse nutrient, pathogen and sediment losses to the wider environment. It appears some farms are already low leaching, and doing a good job of being nutrient efficient within their systems, so the farmer group aims to find out

a couple of workshops for the group as a whole, and a field day annually on a couple of farms that are operating in ways that are both nutrient efficient and profitable, and that are resilient to a range in milk and feed prices.

Meanwhile, figures for 2011 released by the council show Waikato farmers made significant environmental gains under dairy effluent management rules. Monitoring of farm compliance with permitted activity rules showed just 12 per cent of properties were significantly non-compliant, compared to 27 per cent the year before.

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what the range of the farm systems look like, and just how profitable they really are. The group hopes to better understand what modifications, if any are required to make to their own farm systems over the next few years.

To do this, all farms are analysed over a threeyear period for their key performance indicators in economic and environmental areas.

The project involves two individual farm visits for each farm each year for three years, along with

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March 2012

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

Honey

a sweet tasting success for family

by Annette Lambly

Martin Lynch had been a hobbyist beekeeper for many years before he and his wife Stephanie realised bees could actually help diversify their income

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he couple purchased a 4.2 hectare block at Horsham Downs near Hamilton in 2002. Martin an electrical engineer had inherited a few beehives from his father and the couple set about building up their number of hives.

Owner/Operator Dave Phillips

Martin and Stephanie Lynch enjoy the personal contact they have with the business

Initially it was just an interest. Stephanie who works part time for a software company has always been interested in natural healthy food, while Martin, after working at a desk all week, enjoyed managing the bees and the physical nature of the work.

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beeswax. The family-owned business manages around 100 hives on the home farm and at two other Waikato sites.

One of the things Martin learned as a hobbyist beekeeper was he could obtain sensational honey from only a small number of hives — the secret was the nearby floral sources and how you processed the honey.

The couple wanted to make their honey unique to Waikato and for this reason Sweetree has chosen its hive sites carefully. The Marokopa Valley was the first site chosen. It’s in coastal hill country with extensive native bush.

Three varieties of distinctive honey are harvested from this area which they sell as Marokopa Spring, Marokopa Summer and Marokopa Manuka.

In the first season the heketara tree flowered profusely and the honey from this site had a distinctive toffee-tasting honey, while the following season was rewarewa, followed by kamahi/rewarewa — all marketed as Marokopa Spring.

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Waikato Farming Lifestyles March 2012 Mid season (December to January) the manuka flowers and these frames of honey are separated out and the remaining honey (hill country flowers and rata) is sold as Marokopa Summer.

The hives closer to home produce a pasture blend of clover, thistle and buttercup. While the honey harvested on the Four Brothers Farm, between Hamilton and Raglan, close to surrounding native bush and high country pastures is predominantly clover and kanuka.

Sweetree never mixes the honey from one site with another, leaving it to the bees to do their own mixing.

“Bees are amazing creatures and produce wonderful natural food,” says Stephanie.

“Each apiary location has its own special nuance and character and this is reflected in the honey. We don’t heat our products any higher than would occur naturally in the beehive.

This means the natural enzymes present in the honey are preserved and you end up with a product that is not only great tasting but as nature intended.”

The enterprise produces about four tonnes of honey per year.

Martin collecting honey from one of the hive sites

are “Bees amazing

“Our operation is small enough that we can take care of every aspect and ensure that the very best quality is delivered.”

creatures and produce wonderful natural food

“We enjoy working together on the business and our boys, Daniel (nine years) and Matthew (seven years) are talking about how they can be involved too, so that is great.”

”

Sweetree is currently offering bags of premixed flower seeds of ‘proven bee favourites’. The proceeds of all sales goes to the National Beekeepers Association to help save the New Zealand bees.

Worldwide honey bee numbers are in decline as their natural habitats are destroyed by agricultural mechanisation and chemical practises. There is a call for farmers and landowners to restore pollinator-friendly habitats, including key flowering plants near crop-producing fields and to take more care with the choice, timing and application of insecticides and other chemicals. The demise of the honey bee would threaten the pollination of 80-90 percent of the world’s food supplies.

Sweetree products can be bought on-line at www. sweetreehoney.co.nz, through selected stores nationwide or at the Hamilton’s Farmers Market.

“We love the markets. We enjoy people’s reactions when they taste our honey, and love to see them coming back for more. Many have become good friends,” said Stephanie.

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March 2012

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

The solution to your lifestyle block problems

by Annette Lambly-Robinson

Owning a lifestyle block can be time consuming and physically challenging, especially if you lack the right equipment for the job, or simply don’t have the time, or knowledge to keep up with all those necessary tasks

F

or lifestylers finding themselves in need of a hand, former dairy farmer John Kiddle could be the answer to having all those pressing jobs done.

John and his wife Lucy, now lifestylers themselves, have used their combined experience to establish Lifestyles Solutions and Services, which not only does chores such as spraying, topping, fencing, relief milking and a holiday farm care service (for those needing a holiday), but offers practical advice on animal and pasture care, management and planning.

for a couple of years to take advantage of the falling property market before buying the house and three and a half acres.”

“When we first moved I worked at the events centre at Mystery Creek — sort of a `jack of all trades’ keeping the grounds and centre tidy and well maintained.” he said.

It was during the various events held at Mystery Creek John said he repeatedly heard “we own a lifestyle farm and haven’t got the time — don’t know what we are doing — or haven’t got the gear.”

After 30 years of dairying at various locations in the larger Waikato region, he and Lucy decided in 2007 to move to Taupiri, to be closer to family.

“I thought it could be an opportunity for a niche business and two and half years ago we established our business.”

“The recession was starting to bite so we rented

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7

“

it’s very rewarding,” he says.

Whether it be cleaning up a paddock, While he can do most of the basic jobs himself, John doesn’t do repairing or building a new fence, or hay making, cropping or shearing. pruning trees that have been causing a “I have contacts for these more specialised jobs,” he said. “We problem — when you see what a difference are building a data base of recommended contractors for those you have made it’s very rewarding areas it is uneconomical to travel to ourselves.” that range from city dwellers with a small They will travel as far as Cambridge and block in the country, to clients who work Karopiro in the south, and as far north as full time and have only limited time to Te Kauwhata, Whatawhata in the west and Morrinsville in work on their own block, to retirees who the east. are living on their little bit of paradise “If two or three neighbours get together while I’m in the but need a little help managing some same area I can do a cheaper rate.” of the more physical tasks.

John says it has been harder than he thought kick-starting “Getting some help with the heavy a new business in the current economic climate which see or difficult tasks means these older clients having to tighten their belts. He is optimistic in thinking people aren’t being forced into moving the economy will improve in the near future, and admits he into town because they can’t cope with really enjoys the self satisfaction of knowing he is helping the property,” said John. others out — “it’s very rewarding.”

“We aim to provide relevant services Need a hand — check out what Lifestyles Solutions and so people can enjoy their time on the land.

Services can offer on www.lifestylers.net.nz We also give advice for those wishing to take a more hands on approach in the future. We can even help out with perpurchase checks to see if the property is suitable for the purchaser’s needs.

In fact we can just check the property out in general — services such as water supply, bore and septic tank may not have been maintained well and could be an unforseen problem for the new owner if not checked prior to purchase.”

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”

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With thirty years of experience behind him former dairy farmer John Kiddle copes easily with relief milking job

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March 2012

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

Wholly Cow it’s

‘the market kids’

T

Five years ago Tom Andrews — a Waikato roading contractor — traded in his job to be a dry stock farmer and co-owner of Wholly Cow — a business which specialises in selling their own ‘home-grown’ meat direct to the customer

he family used to live in Raglan, but Tom, who spent a lot of time contracting wanted more ‘closer’ family time and the opportunity to enjoy the wide open spaces.

“The roading work was a full-on lifestyle I used to do with my old man.

I was never around for my wife and four children, so I thought, bugger it, I’ll have a change,” he said.

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He and his wife Carrie, a fine arts graduate who specialises in ceramics, along with their four children, Olivia 15, Reuben 13, Luke 11 and eight-year-old Grace, settled in for the ‘good life’ on the land.

“The urban scene’s not for me, I don’t like big cities, ‘cause I like to see what’s coming over the next hill and get out there working with the dogs,” he says.

At first the family farmed the dry stock for the commercial market, with their animals going to the usual largescale freezing works.

Since then they have hit on the idea of direct selling their own meat to the customer and the ‘Wholly Cow’ business was formed.

The animals are killed at a smaller certified abattoir near Ruakura. It is then boned and cut at a butchery in Hamilton with Tom helping out with this process and the family then package it accordingly.

They sell at the Cambridge, Hamilton and Tauranga farmers markets and also have some private customers.

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For people wanting “ scotch fillet steak, it’s better to have heifers which are around 250kgs on the hook, as opposed to big cave man steaks from steers of around 350kgs

Waikato Farming Lifestyles March 2012 more time on the sports field as a Waikato representative hockey and cricket player,” laughs proud dad Tom. “They are all known as ‘the market kids’ our lot,” says Tom. “We are at the markets every weekend — rain, hail or shine. The customers know they can get their meat there and they trust us to be there. That trust takes time to build up,” he says.

He reckons whatever the family do in the future, it would seem it will definitely be together.

”

Demand for the meat is growing so much the family are now looking to open a store to sell the packaged meat during the week.

Since the farmers markets operate only on the weekends the Andrews’ want to be able to meet the needs of those customers wanting to shop outside of the market times.

“We want to sell to people who want to shop during the week and to families who find it hard to get to the weekend markets because of other commitments such as sport,” said Tom. All the meat is Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries approved. The Ruakura plant processes meat for supermarket chains, is registered, operates under a stringent certifying process, and conforms to the New Zealand Food Safety standards.

The meat also meets the local authorities rules and regulations governing farmers markets.

Tom says there is quite a lot of work in preparing the animals for killing. Heifers are quicker animals to process and their cuts are not too big for customers — therefore the meat is easier to sell.

“For people wanting scotch fillet steak, it’s better to have heifers which are around 250kgs on the hook, as opposed to big cave man steaks from steers of around 350kgs.

“I had one steak that was like a bloody mini roast and it just about did me in,” he laughs.

Olivia, the eldest daughter sells the meat at the farmers’ markets and her younger siblings help out with the family operation (maybe with the exception of Reuben). “Sports mad, Reuben spends

Tom is kept busy at the markets

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In most cases this is just a slow deterioration in the structure of blood vessels especially a lack of the antioxidants that protect the proteins (collagen and elastin) that make up most of blood vessels. Over time this increases the resistance of blood meaning your

heart has to work harder to circulate blood to your cells.

A study by hypertension researcher De Champlain (2004) “Oxidative Stress in Hypertension” concluded with: “Moreover, our studies suggest that the chronic treatment with appropriate antioxidative therapies could prevent the development of hypertension.”

My experience is that people with primary hypertension can get real benefits from intensive antioxidant therapy.

Osteoarthritis is also caused by the slow breakdown of antioxidant defences. In this case the target of excess free radicals is cartilage cells. When these cells die the result is a slow erosion of joint tissue. This attracts inflammation and we end up with sore, stiff or worn out joints. The same principle can also affect our energy where excess free radicals damage our energy conversion systems leading to a slow decline in energy levels.

If you are a baby boomer concerned about your health it is important to have a plan to help with current health problems and to ensure that your health can sustain you in your later years.

John Arts is the founder of Abundant Health Ltd. You can contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@johnarts.co.nz. You can join his weekly newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz.

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FARM

Wheels March 2012

Maxxum offers maximum performance Case tractors and the International Harvester brand enjoy a long history of innovation and quality — they stand at the forefront of agricultural machinery

technology as one of the ‘big names’ in the business. When a company is in this position it’s easy to push the envelope with superlatives — bigger,

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more powerful, more rugged, more highly advanced. But it’s a more difficult proposition to achieve the fine balance between power, price and size which produces a truly superb all-rounder — a tractor which suits the multi-disciplinary demands of the modern Kiwi farm.

Case IH more than rise to the challenge with the Maxxum X-line series, a medium-horsepower tractor able to fulfil a number of roles. With a choice of engines spanning the popular 100 to 140hp band (and the option of a powerful intercooler turbo to add grunt) there’s a surprising amount of gutsy torque from this mid-sized machine.

But the real surprise comes when you add up the running costs — for a tractor which can effortlessly bale, lift, feed out and harrow the cost in diesel is miniscule. Technology really has come a long way in this vital area to keep overheads down.

Second only to the versatile platform of the Maxxum series is the amount of

additional machinery which can adapt the tractor for a variety of roles. The versatility of an easy coupling front hitch system with integrated PTO is complemented by exterior fender switches for operating stationary implements, and when it comes to lifting and carrying the Maxxum teams up with the Lynx C-series loader to get the job done with ease. A neat feature of the Maxxum is the upper loader view window which makes operating the Lynx (or any high-up applications) safe and easily visible.

Designing a tractor to suit the multiple needs of the modern Kiwi farmer is a balancing act between size, applications, cost and ongoing upkeep, and with the Maxxum X-line series Case IH have ticked all the boxes.

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Farm Wheels – Waikato Farming Lifestyles March 2012

11

FA R M W H E E L S

Licence changes to counter road toll

by Paul Campbell

Tough new tests for young people going for their driving licences are now in effect, with a major impact on rural residents, who will have to travel to larger urban centres for the tests This has prompted criticism that urban areas are rather different from rural roads, more seal than gravel, and driving conditions are not quite the same.

However, those defending the new regime point out that the tests are more stringent, and getting ready for them leaves no room for lax preparation.

Young drivers are in fact expected to fail the new restricted licence tests unless they put in some serious practise, say driving instructors.

The New Zealand Transport Agency defends its new hard line approach, saying one teenager dies on the nation’s

More than 700 “ Kiwi teenagers died in road crashes in the past decade ”

roads every week.

Restricted and full car licence tests have now changed and motorcycle tests will have a new restricted test introduced in October.

The restricted car test will now take one hour, with 45 minutes of driving, while the full test will be 30 minutes.

NZTA chief executive, Geoff Dangerfield, said both tests would be harder to pass than previous versions and drivers would need to have done at least 120 hours of supervised practise first.

“A higher standard of driving will be needed to pass – that is the whole point, and we make no apologies for that. This is about making new drivers safer drivers by encouraging them to take the time to develop their skills.

“The more experience that drivers gain in the learner licencing phase, the less likely they are to crash when they begin driving alone. We are doing young

people no favours with a ‘once-overlightly’ approach’.”

More than 700 Kiwi teenagers died in road crashes in the past decade, and New Zealand had the highest road death rate in the OECD for 16-17 year olds.

Research showed young drivers who completed 120 hours of supervised practise on their learner licence had a solo-driving crash rate 40 per cent lower than those who did only 50 hours.

To prepare for the tests, young drivers should be practising in all possible

conditions, including on seal and gravel, in wet weather and at night.

The new tests have the endorsement of V8 Supercar driver and youth driving advocate, Greg Murphy.

“The move to a longer, more exacting test is a good one. New Zealand’s death and injury statistics are a terrible witness to the fact that we have too many young drivers on our roads who have had very little supervision or training, and as a result, lack the key skills necessary to become safe drivers.”

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March 2012

Waikato Farming Lifestyles – Farm Wheels

FA R M W H E E L S

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In fact the company began life 150 years ago as a joint British and North American merger, bringing together the people who built the world’s first combine harvester with the visionary engineer who brought us the three-point linkage.

Never a company to rest on their laurels, Massey Ferguson have been innovators and trend setters through the years, and with modern farms calling for greater and greater productivity they have stayed amongst the luminaries in their field by producing some of the best tractors on earth.

This year’s range are no exception, with the MF 6400 With 150 years of experience, especially singled out as a Massey Ferguson know how to make great tractors great all-round workhorse, providing power with comfort for a demanding day’s work on the MF 6400 a comfortable ‘office’ for the farm. And while up to 170 horsepower is on tap to provide the working farmer. Instruments are both ample traction and power to front and rear linkages, the clustered in intuitive groupings to operate real advantage here is at the driver’s fingertips in the form onboard systems and linked machinery, of a comfortable air-conditioned cabin designed by farmers, and everything is well illuminated — for farmers. not just the dials themselves, but the Heat reflective glass has been used to construct the high- exterior by night as well under a battery visibility cab, and noise has been dramatically reduced to make of xenon lights.

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All in all, the Massey Ferguson 6400 series is a tractor which takes into consideration the most vital working part in any agri-business — the farmer. The driver’s seat of this capable and well-built machine is the perfect place to oversee greater productivity on your farm, and must be experienced to be believed.

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Waikato Farming Lifestyles March 2012

Dairy farm effluent systems liability warning for employees

by Bill Guest, Farmers of New Zealand

Farm employees and managers could face bankruptcy through large dairy farm effluent prosecution fines, if recent warnings given by the Environment Court are upheld, that farm managers and employees could be held liable A Northland dairy farmer was recently prosecuted in the Environment Court for effluent spillages that occurred on his farm. His defence was that his farm manager was the person responsible for the operation of the effluent system and therefore the farm owner was not responsible and liable. The Judge did not agree with the employer’s submissions, However, he stated that dairy farm managers could be held legally responsible and liable to prosecution for unlawful effluent spillages resulting from any breaches of the farm resource consent conditions, resulting in substantial fines which recent prosecutions have shown, may exceed their annual remuneration package as an employee. The Judge’s comments raise a number of interesting issues as to whether the farm manager should be responsible for such breaches when the employee is not an independent contractor, such as a variable order or

50/50 sharemilker. There is case law which clearly demonstrates what the status is of an independent contractor and an employee. Under the Employment Relations Act employees are not required to have Public Liability Insurance as they have no ownership stake in the business and do not share in the risk of the business.

and provide to the farm manager (the employee), a farm effluent disposal operational and maintenance plan that meets the resource consent requirements.

13

The issue of whether a farm manager or employee is responsible will be tested no doubt, in future Environment Court proceedings.

Employees and farm managers should be aware that they should ensure that they receive qualified third party advice before they sign their employment agreements. Farmers of New Zealand employment agreements specifically deal with this farm effluent disposal issue.

The farm manager is required to lubricate the pump and spray unit and notify the employer of any defects immediately. It is the farm owner/ employer’s responsibility to meet the cost of maintaining the farm effluent system and to rectify any defects immediately and record it.

Images from Albertland William Harold Marsh, farmer, father, early Albertlander and adventurous photographer captured a time of enchantment, when life was lived at a slower pace and governed by a different set of values, priorities and ambitions.

Employers are required under the Employment Relations Act to give very clear directions to the employee, providing a Job Description showing the employee the required standards to be met. Employers are also required to provide the necessary training as to operation and maintenance of plant such as effluent systems.

This landmark commemorative book by Paul Campbell tells the story of the Albertlanders’ arrival and settling of the Kaipara area, and features many of Harold Marsh’s photographs that have been painstakingly restored.

A rare opportunity to purchase a signed, numbered and recorded, collectors’ edition of an outstanding New Zealand publication YOU CHOOSE: Collectors’ Gold Edition 500 copies only, signed and numbered with the details of the original owners recorded at the Albertland Heritage Centre: a family treasure. $138 plus $15 postage and packaging within NZ — Only 500 copies of the gold edition will ever be produced.

OR: Silver Edition – $95 plus $15 postage and packaging within NZ. Phone 09 439 6933 – Postal address PO Box 474, Dargaville Email info@echopublishing.co.nz Website www.echopublishing.co.nz

It is the farm owner/employer, who must obtain the necessary resource consent from the local authority to dispose of effluent and provide the systems for the disposal of that effluent

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14

March 2012

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

Notes from the shed with Mark With the payout McKewen high and interest low, it’s a really good time to

fix the things that are causing some grief around the Dairy.

Before you upgrade to new Milfos cup removers or a Milfos Variable Drive Vacuum System it would be sensible to evaluate things that could impact on your proposed upgrade.

Sparkies generally do a great job, however, we regularly come across wiring of all sorts that has been installed incorrectly.

For instance we see the right cable used on say, a milk pump controller, but still bundled with everything else so it creates interference with the controller and bingo, a slightly crazy controller. Unless you know what to look for it can be a painful process to find as it looks like a faulty controller. hopefully and it’s great have a goodfrom ThisWhile is important for alltosorts of systems pulsationavoiding controllersaggravating to cup removers and the more sophisticated the more you have to be. We costlycareful breakdowns. season, it’s important to the looksystem at the recommend data cables far away from power possible. coming drykeeping off when most as people To go oneasbetter, talk with your local We have all heard about stray out. voltage, yes itMilfos does exist and can cause all sorts have machine tests carried Service Partner and get them of issues, we have found a major source is the cable and terminations between What tends to happen is that to tell you about the iCARE Scheduled Variable drives and Motors. everyone wants their machine tests Maintenance Programme.

There around is a lot ofthe documentation drives with regard to the done same time.supplied While with variable This programme will allow you to cable to be used and metal glands for terminations etc, these are minimums and a service partners try to accommodate tailor make a programme to suit your good Sparky will follow manufacturer’s recommendations or better. If in doubt everyone, along with other major requirements and budget. get it checked. project work and upgrades, sometimes The Milfos iCARE Don’t forget the effluent or water pump, same deal, and move theprogramme electric fencetakes delays can happen with the high the stress out of shed maintenance, unit to the implement shed, they can be an interference nasty in the dairy. workload. rightMilfos down to ormaking you For sensible advice on Upgrades, find your local dealer Area Salessure Manager have filter socks on hand when you There’s really no reason why the at www.milfos.com.

There are a lot of things happening in the farming business, and as per usual the weather has dictated, with a bumper season for a lot of areas.

at See us icts l Distr Centra for your ays Field D Free hoof D. free DV rpen and ha knife s deals. great

Do you know how to treat this cow?

Join us at the Central Districts Field Days to find out how Come and visit us at the Central Districts Field Days, Palmerston North 15–17 March, SITE 061. Grab yourself a FREE Hoofcare DVD and learn the proper way to treat lame cows. While you are at it, bring along your hoof knives for a free sharpen and watch our live trimming demonstration. We have new products we are launching as well – with sizzling hot intro deals. We look forward to seeing you there!

SEE YOU AT THE CENTRAL DISTRICTS FIELD DAYS

machine tests can’t be done during the year between milkings, while it’s not so busy.

Qualified hoof trimmer Fred Hoekstra

“I look forward to personally meeting you at our live demonstration”

The service partners are good at working around your milking schedule. Also, the upside of getting work done during the year is that the service partners will have the time to carry out routine maintenance to keep your machine in top working order,

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need them.

If you are considering an upgrade to your dairy, it would be a good idea to talk with your local Milfos Service Partner to arrange an evaluation as it is getting quite busy out there.

To check out Milfos products and services or to find your local Milfos Service Partner go to www.milfos.com.

The power of nature with the reliability of science.

Table 1: BCS � All plant and pumps very low kW � Self cleaning screen � Self cleaning ponds � Effluent is clean enough to be pumped into a pivot system if required � Screens out everything bigger than 1 mm

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� Meets even the toughest New Zealand Effluent Enviro Standards � Has the Most Even Rain Cover over wetted width in New Zealand by far � Has a Rain Rate of 5mm or less across total wetted width, not just the centre area. (please see in the independently proved graph) The new irrigator is still backed up by our very tough and well proven drive system, no blockage mast, booms and nozzles.

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Nutritional Strategies to dry off Cows at Target Condition Scores

by Dr. Julian Waters (BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD,CBiol, MSB, RNutr, CPAg, MNZIPIM)

Management and feeding of cows over the next three to four months will significantly influence milk yields and fertility during their subsequent lactation. It is important to assess cows’ body condition scores (BCS) now, then devise and implement some strategies to achieve target condition scores at least one month prior to calving, as they will not increase from then on. BCS of mature cows should be 5 to 5.5, and two and three-year -olds at least 5.5 at calving.

Visually assessing BSC can be subjective as one person’s score of 4 is another’s 3. It can become more objective by inviting your consultant or neighbour to score your cows, and attending workshops such as those held by DairyNZ. They have also produced a very good condition scoring booklet.

Don’t just rely on automatic weighing systems as weight increases may not fully reflect changes in BCS. The following table copied from the DairyNZ website indicates the length of dry period required by cows, of varying BCS, to achieve target condition at calving. The shorter the lactation the less milk produced, thus income per cow. Also, it takes more feed to gain condition when cows are dry as opposed to milking. Therefore, it is generally more cost effective to feed cows to gain condition during mid and late lactation, than dry them off early due to excessive loss of condition. Feed quality is important when trying to put condition on cows, as demonstrated in a recent study Table 1: Dry-off time based on body condition score and time to calving BCS Cow 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0

BCS

Days cows need to be dried off Days cows need to be dried off before calving before calving Rising 3 Autumn pasture Autumn pasture + supplement year old fed above maintenance 3.5 160 120 4.0 130 100 4.5 100 80 5.0 70 60 5.5 Calving Calving

where dry cows required an additional 210 kg DM of autumn pasture on top of maintenance to gain one BCS, but only 125-150 kg of DM of a good quality supplement.

High starch or sugar feeds like cereal grains, maize or whole crop silages tend to work best when targeting condition gain. Mineral supplements containing selenium and zinc may also be beneficial, as these are essential components in the formation of keratin plugs and in udder regeneration.

Most trace mineral supplements also contain the other key trace minerals, cobalt, copper and iodine. Balancer mixes containing the key major minerals should be fed if supplementary feeds contribute a significant part of the diet, as they tend to be low in these minerals.

Using a feed ration programme can help determine the most appropriate products to feed.

Mineral supplements can be supplied in a number of forms and via a variety of delivery systems, such as via water or molasses, free access loose licks, balancers with forage, meal or pellets.

The form and route depend on a number of factors, such as location of cows, water supplies and dosing systems, types of supplements being fed and feeding systems. It is a case of working out which system best suits the farm, facilities, resources and staff

Waikato Farming Lifestyles March 2012

15

Nutrition through Autumn Autumn is a good time to try new feed blends without the added production or calving pressures that come with spring, says Ravensdown Nutrition Business Manager Stephen Fink.

“It’s a good time to try something different without having to worry about factors affecting peak production, so we’re reducing the price of our high energy blends to encourage farmers to try a blend and confirm the response — to try it and find they’ll like it.

“It also means farmers know their cows are comfortable with the change well before spring.”

Anecdotally, farmers are confirming the pricing of blends are hundreds of dollars a tonne cheaper than pelletised feeds and the response is just as good, particularly on farms with shed-based feed systems.

Mr Fink says there are two crucial steps farmers should take at this time of year.

“One is to do body condition scores and the other is to make sure they’re looking at the lowest 30% of the cows when they score them, not just the top. It’s always the bottom third of the herd that gives farmers problems. Cows should be at body condition score five at dry-off as well as calving.”

Grass, in most areas is plentiful at the moment and the main topic of discussion is how to best utilise the feed grown and keep quality through the autumn, he says.

“Adding high energy blends such as Dairy Hi Carb 27, Dairy Energy Boost or Dairy Hi Carb Plus will help maintain energy levels in the diet and offer the best chance to maximise production opportunities and put condition on cows.

“Where feed is looking short, PKE will provide an economic supplement and will help maintain energy and protein levels over summer. Importantly with spore counts on the rise, Zinc oxide (for facial eczema control) and macro-minerals can also be added to our blends through our Pick and Mix capability. Often adding minerals and trace elements via feed is the most cost-effective method of delivery as well as avoiding potential wastage.”

Stephen Fink says contracting Ravensdown’s blends or PKE provides certainty of price and availability so “talk to your account manager or our Customer Centre on 0800 100 123 about the best option for your farm.”

16

March 2012

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

Alternative Power

A farming shift to the sun?

Across New Zealand, homes and business are switching to the benefits of solar water heating, and while some rural properties are converting some energy supply to solar, studies show that the farming community is lagging behind This is despite the fact that the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) provides financial contributions up to $1,000 — only to residential owner occupiers — to install solar hot water heating systems.

With dairy farmers in particular, using substational amounts of energy, at it seems ever-rising prices, it would seem a logical step to join the shift to the sun.

There is a long list of businesses that benefit from solar energy, starting at the top.

The re-vamped Government House leads by example with a solar water heating installation that is expected to offset at least 18MW of energy per year and up to 240 tonnes of carbon over its 25–30 year predicted life span.

The solar system includes eight 30tube panels flush mounted and elevated

100mm from the roof, so that cleaning of the cladding is possible.

The system design includes three high quality 430-litre duplex stainless steel preheat tanks that feed a gas boiler and ring main system.

But of particular importance to dairy farmers is the fact that a crack in the Maui pipeline crippled many businesses in the central and upper North Island last October — and saw farmers pouring thousands of litres of milk down the drain.

Even though the Maui gas leak devastated many, keen swimmers at Cameron Pools in Mt Roskill, Auckland enjoyed warm 27˚C pool water, as the management turned off the gas and turned on it’s solar system. The 275 sqm of panels are capable of generating around 200kW. Auckland Airport’s new international

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passenger terminal is one of the first buildings in New Zealand to receive world-recognised accreditation for its sustainable and energy efficient design.

The roof of the building incorporates 300 square metres of photovoltaic cells, which produce 49,000 kWh every year towards lighting, as well as solar water heaters for hot water.

And if there should be any rural doubt — many of DoC’s offshore island installations have converted from diesel generation to solar.

There have been small-scale renewable electricity generation systems installed on five islands around New Zealand. Reducing diesel consumption and switching to renewable generation plant is shown to be cost effective in a wide range of situations and circumstances.

Five New Zealand schools have also opted to heat their pools using solar energy resulting in an extended swimming season and warmer pool water.

The schools’ solar heating systems were installed between 2009 and 2010.

The systems ranged in size from 36 square metres to 148 square metres, and ranged in price from around $10,000 to $27,000. Grants available from EECA helped offset some of the cost of the outlay.

So there are good savings to be made.

It’s estimated that while 32 percent of a dairy farm power bill comes from water heating — solar still hasn’t featured strongly in energy plans.

Government incentives, rising electricity prices and improvements in solar technology should see a rural realisation that the sun is the way to go.

The Heat Pump Shop

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Waikato Farming Lifestyles March 2012

F or

Rural Women

17

Colour your spring with bulbs

Wanting to colour your spring garden — think bulbs. Most of us are enjoying the fact summer has finally arrived, so it’s hard to think March officially heralds the first day of autumn. Bulb catalogues are out now and as usual are full of the wonderful colours, shapes and smells we associate with these plants.

The earliest bulbs to flower are the crocus. Like all bulbs, they are suitable for beneath shrubs and trees or in containers or rock gardens. They produce many flowers from each bulb, making a great early display.

For fragrance you can’t beat hyacinths and freesia, picked or growing naturally the perfume fills the air. The classic spring flower still remains the daffodil and jonquil, while tulips, anemones and ranunculus provide such a wide array of colour there is something for everyone.

It’s still a little early for gladioli, but with careful planning you can have a wonderful selection of colour.

Curled up with a good book

New product on the market

Check out these books at your closest book seller or library

Radiance Ageless Beauty

Title: A Walk in the Park

Title: The out of office girl

Author: Jill Mansell Publisher: Headline Publishing Group RRP: $36.99

Author: Nicola Doherty Publisher: Headline Publishing Group RRP: $34.99

A sweet, funny and romantic novel. It’s eighteen years since Lara ran away from home at the age of sixteen, after a row with her boyfriend Flynn, and with a fairly major problem she felt she had to deal with on her own. Now she’s back, with her teenage daughter Gigi. Soon she’s joyfully reunited with her childhood best friend Evie, who’s due shortly to marry the love of her life. Then there’s Flynn — the boy Lara left behind, now a very attractive, single man. How happy will he be to find out about the secret Lara’s been keeping from him all these years? And when the dust settles, can love be rekindled?

Alice Roberts may work on celebrity autobiographies, but her life is anything but A-list. She’s stuck in the office in rainy London for the summer, overlooked by her boss and she’s just been dumped by text message. Things couldn’t really get much worse. But things are about to change . . .

Chick ‘lit’ at its best.

When her boss Olivia is taken ill, Alice is sent on the work trip of a lifetime: to a villa in Sicily, to edit the autobiography of Hollywood bad boy Luther Carson. But it’s not all yachts and nightclubs.

Luther’s arrogant agent Sam wants him to ditch the book. Luther himself is gorgeous, charming and impossible to read. There only seems to be one way to get his attention, and it definitely involves mixing business with pleasure.

Alice is out of the office, and into deep trouble.

Airfoam is the only system designed specifically for insulating existing walls without having to remove cladding or linings. And one of the best times to insulate is during the warmer months.

Reduce mould, dampness and draughts, creating a healthy, comfortable and energy efficient home by completing the insulation of your home.

Ensuring that money spent on heating or cooling is spent wisely. Like you see in the EECA adverts on TV. In summer, heat invades through uninsulated walls, and makes the home hot and stuffy. By insulating the walls of your home the heat entering the home is reduced, resulting in a more comfortable inside environment in summer, as well as winter.

They also contain silica, zinc, selenium, Vitamin E, C and betacarotene. Unlike many skin products this is not a topical treatment. One capsule is taken twice daily, with or without food. Reported as ideal for problem skin, for those that smoke, are exposed to pollutants or a lot of sun, and helps to maintain smooth, wrinkle-free skin.

Available at selected chemists

Expected release mid-March.

How well insulated are the walls of your home?

If your home was built before 1991, chances are you are living in a home with no wall insulation. Research has shown that just insulating your ceiling and under floor does not significantly reduce the heat lost from your home. It is important to complete the thermal envelope of your home by also insulating your walls.

New to the market, Radiance Ageless Beauty capsules contain hydrolysed South Pacific marine collagen, to support hydration, Bay of Plenty kiwifruit skin and Marlborough sauvignon blanc grape seed extract to create an antioxidant duo and enzogenol pine bark extract from New Zealand’s Pinus radiata forests — an agedefying antioxidant.

Until end of March

Airfoam can be installed from the inside or outside, is cost effective and there is no need to move out during the installation, which only takes 1 – 2 days. Airfoam is safe, no fuss, sound absorbing and inhibits rodents and insects.

Airfoam is an ideal solution for landlords or farmers wishing to improve living conditions for tenants or workers. If you would like further information or an obligation free measure and quotation, give Leigh a call on 07 853 8663 or 0800 HEATSAVERS (0800 432 872)

Covering the Waikato, BOP and Coromandel Areas. We have a large range of fabric and wallpaper from Europe and the New Zealand fabric houses, also a large range of children’s samples. All types of blinds available.

Come visit our new showroom & onsite workroom

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www.airfoam.co.nz | 0800 HEATSAVERS

Was YOUR home built before 1991?

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Renovating or Building New?

30

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www.treetownkitchens.co.nz

18

March 2012

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

Fishing, Hunting

Outdoors

Hunting season and food safety

by Paul Campbell

The opening months of autumn turns thoughts to that great Kiwi opportunity of hunting for the larder, and the Waikato region is richly resourced Fallow deer, wild pigs, and of course a wide variety of game birds attract hunters from around the country and overseas as the seasons get underway in April and May. Amongst the fertile pasture land are a number of low bush clad ranges, which provide good habitat for wild pigs, there are deer to be hunted with a DoC permit east of Cambridge, and waterfowl are abundant in the broad wetland areas particularly near Te Kauwhata and the Whangamarino and Kopuatai wetland areas. Scattered populations of waterfowl can be found along the Waikato River, on the hydro lakes, and pheasant, California quail and brown quail are

found throughout the region in low numbers.

The hunting fraternity is conversant with fish and game rules, licences and permits, but fewer may be conversant with the rules of hunting for the pot — the safety and preparation of the catch.

We have a wide variety of wild foods virtually on our doorstep and MAF Food Safety has some helpful advice in preparing noncommercial wild foods Callipepla californica — the California quail for personal use and making safe decisions about what we especially if the gut is punctured, and incorrect handling after dressing. catch, store and eat.

There are two main food safety risks The second risk is chemical hunters face from wild game and game contamination. This may be caused by birds. the animal eating poison baits used The first is bacterial contamination, to control possums and other vermin, which is usually the result of external or wild pigs scavenging on poisoned wounds or sores on the animal, cross carcasses of animals that have eaten contamination during field dressing, poison baits.

The quality and safety of wild game is directly related to the health of the animal and how well the meat is looked after in the field and at home.

where fun lives

Some hunters prefer to have listed butchers process game. You can share your wild game meat with family, friends or visitors as long as you don’t exchange it for money or other goods or services.

A restaurant can cook your meat, but again only for you and your immediate party.

where fun lives auTHorised dealer

LakeLLand Marine LTd Lake LTd

Pier 87 TauPo o Boa BoaT HarBour, TauPo 0800 888 500

where fun lives www.lakelandmarine.co.nz For all your hunting, camping, security and survival supplies Northern

Farming Lifestyles

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Because no assurances can be given about whether the meat is fit to eat, you cannot donate, raffle, trade or sell wild game or game birds. For example, you can’t give meat to your local school to raffle, donate meat to a food bank or sell the meat at a farmers’ market.

FisHing trips On snapa sLapa 2 In the far North based at Whatuwhiwhi, Doubtless Bay

Dive trips by arrangement • Marlin • Tuna • Hapuka • Kingfish • Snapper Prices from $100/person (min 3)

09 406 7680 • 027 453 5258 www.fishingnz.net.nz

Waikato Farming Lifestyles March 2012

19

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2

Situated next to the Transport Centre 383 Anglesea Street, Hamilton.

Call in and see us or phone us 0800 73 68 23, options 2, 2 www.hamiltoncarrentals.co.nz

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We supply cars and vans, small runabouts through to 8, 10 or 12 seater vehicles.

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BAY AUDIOLOGY has a full hearing protection range and is avaliable at seven convenient locations throughout the Waikato.

BAY AUDIOLOGY is avaliable at seven convenient locations throughout the Waikato and can save you up to 15% off selected hearing aids! Terms and conditions apply.

FARM BRIDGES Phone Pat now 0800 222 189, visit www.bridgeitnz.co.nz. Bridge It NZ Ltd. FURNITURE MOVING Around NZ or around the world. Single items or house lots. Pro Packing, moving, insurance. Via trucks, containers, shared loads. Ph 0800 496 753 www.worldmoving.co.nz.

“Experience & Advice You Can Trust”.

NEED A 4X4 Farm Truck? Call Farmstruck 4x4 Ltd. today for all your on-farm 4x4 needs. Located at 10 Manchester Place, Te Rapa, Hamilton.

Phone 0800 4X4 TRUCKS. Don’t get stuck with anything else!

NEED A New Tractor? Let us find it for you. Call Asia Pacific Machinery Ltd. brokers and let us do the leg work. We can also arrange finance. Call 0800 888 343.

20

March 2012

Waikato Farming Lifestyles

Makita EA3200S Chainsaw

The New Makita 32cc 14’’ Chainsaw

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with a touch and stop switch system to eliminate flooding.

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For Full dETAIlS phoNE 0 00 MAkITA or vISIT www.MAkITA.Co.Nz

Mowers&Chainsaws Five Cross Roads Mowers & Chainsaws

Ph 07 855 7100 • Web www.5xrmc.co.nz Email fivexmowers@xtra.co.nz 242 Peachgrove Road, Hamilton, 3252