Dairy News 22 February 2022

West Coast farmers face another deluge. PAGE 3 TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Safety around power tools PAGE 26

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Reduces wastage, saves costs PAGE 16-17 FEBRUARY 22, 2022 ISSUE 488 // www.dairynews.co.nz

GONG FOR BREAKING THE MOULD Rhys Roberts, Align Farms, (with children Lottie and Gus) wins Zanda McDonald Award for doing things differently PAGE 10

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

NEWS // 3

West Coast faces costly clean-up PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

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THE RECENT floods on the West Coast hit

farmers much harder than last July’s downpour, says West Coast Federated Farmers president Bede O’Connor.

He says these recent floods were more of a rural event, whereas the July event was “urban”.

O’Connor says the recent event has affected a lot more places, especially those around Reefton, Inangahua, at Shenandoah, Springs Junction and in the lower Buller area where he farms and which was badly hit in July as well.

“Reefton and Inangahua didn’t get that badly affected in July, but this time they have taken the brunt of the storm,” he told Dairy News.

“There is quite a bit of infrastructure damage with fences and tracks gone and some have had access to run-offs cut as well.

“There have also been a number of coastal farms that have been affected by streams blowing out and changing course on farms or running over paddocks. They aren’t even anywhere near the Buller River but there was such intense rain that a number of farms have had streams cut and tanker tracks destroyed,” he says.

At this time of the year, it’s quite possible for some farmers to turn things around fairly quickly because the grass is still growing.

“But for other guys it will be ongoing infrastructure repairs such as fencing and deciding if they are going to have to re-seed or not,” says O’Connor.

“For some of them, the river moved fifty metres from where it was and the same for the streams, so it’s not just a simple fix and it involves diggers moving gravel and doing things like that,” he says O’Connor says farmers like himself in the

A flood-ravaged cow shed in Inangahua Valley, West Coast.

lower Buller, who were hit in July, have suffered similar damage to what they did then. He says about 25% of his pasture has been damaged by silt in the latest event but it is fixable and is what you get from farming near a river.

“It’s a bit annoying because we had just finished repairs from the last flood a week or two before this event, and we are now probably going to have to re-grass again,” he says.

O’Connor now milks 280 cows on his 160 hectare effective block. He says he had to lease out 40 cows after the July floods which wrecked much of his pasture. He’s now milking once a day. But he says if the weather is good in the coming months

they should be able to recover through a bit of clever management and thinking outside the box.

Further north up the coast at Karamea, farmers also suffered damage to their properties, but O’Connor says, with probably one exception, most of the problems have been fixed. He says the fact that road to Karamea was blocked by slips meant that milk tankers from Westland Milk Products couldn’t get through. He says milk had to be dumped for two or three days.

O’Connor is also a member of the local Rural Support Trust and he’s urging farmers who need help to ask for it and also to look after their neighbours and help out other farmers in need.

DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

4 // NEWS

Council-farmer bond important JESSICA MARSHALL jessica@ruralnews.co.nz

THE RELATIONSHIP

between council and farmers is important, says outgoing Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips.

“I’ve always had a clear view that… we’ve got some regulatory responsibilities but actually we are focused on improving outcomes, we can’t do that without a good relationship with farmers,” Phillips told Dairy News after announcing that he will retire from the role in May. That relationship hasn’t been without its tensions with some farmers, he says, but overall it’s been a positive one.

“I think if you look at some of the things we’ve done, we’ve changed our compliance activities, put-

ting some emphasis on shed talks and those types of things.”

Phillips says he believes education has played a ‘real part’ in the relationship between ES and farmers.

“We’re also making sure that staff work with farmers and other consent holders to understand their consent conditions when they’re applying for things,” he says.

“If you look at what we’re doing around intensive winter grazing – our rural community and the region has done really well in terms of changing our wintering practices, and that’s happened really quickly,” he says.

The winter grazing regulations came into effect in Southland almost three years ago in May 2019.

“We’ve seen a real significant shift in improvement and that’s through

Outgoing Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips.

us working with industry and farmer groups to do that.

“That hasn’t happened

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on its own,” he says, adding that there is still work to be done.

“I’m not saying we’re

relaxed because we’ve got another winter coming up.”

Phillips also highlights

the efforts made by ES and landowners around Velvetleaf in 2016.

“We worked initially with MPI [Ministry for Primary Industries] but then on our own with farmer groups… to actually get out there and inspect the paddocks effected and we actually spent a lot of money and a lot of time doing that, and that was a really collaborative effort.”

He says the region has been “really lucky” because the hard work that went into those biosecurity efforts have paid off.

“We have really low reinfestation here, we’re not seeing much Velvetleaf at all which is pretty amazing.”

He says another key relationship for ES has been with Rural Support Trusts in the region.

“We formed a real

close bond during the floods of two years ago,” he says, adding the floods of February 2020 seem like a “distant memory” now.

“That was the biggest flood we’ve ever had on record. Our stock banks stood the test of time and largely kept the water in, but we had Rural Support Trust on site.

“We worked closely with them through that process as they worked with farmers, they got a sense of the things we were working on so that was an excellent effort,” he says.

Phillips will end his 10-year tenure as chief executive in May 2022 but will continue with his governance roles, including as co-chair of the BioHeritage Challenge and as ES’s appointed representative on the board of Predator Free Rakiura.

DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

NEWS // 5

Invasion threat helping push global dairy prices higher SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FEAR OF a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine is the latest factor behind the surge in global dairy prices.

Westpac senior agri economist Nathan Penny points out that both countries are major grain producers, while Russia is also a major oil/gas supplier. “As a result, the tensions are putting further upward pressure on already sky-high global grain and fertiliser prices,” says Penny.

“In turn, this is adding even more upward pressure on global dairy prices.”

Global dairy prices have seen unprecedented growth in recent months.

After last week’s gains on Global Dairy Trade,

Russia’s threat of invading Ukraine is helping send dairy prices soaring.

overall prices are around 43% above their five-year average. Penny notes that the price strength overnight was broad based.

“All of the products that we monitor posted price gains. Skim milk powder prices led the price gains (up 6.0%), with butter prices posting the next-biggest gain

of 5.1%.

“Notably, butter and cheddar prices posted fresh record highs, while anhydrous milk fat prices are now the second-highest on record,” he says.

He points out that on the global dairy supply side, “essentially everything that could go wrong has gone wrong”.

Over the year to date, bad New Zealand weather has put the brakes on milk production.

NZ milk production is now expected to fall by 3% compared to last season. Penny says, previously, he expected production to fall by 1.5%.

Meanwhile, dairy production elsewhere is also

seen during the current boom.

“We’d expected further price gains in the near term, so today’s result doesn’t impact our forecast much.

“Still, it’s good to have yet more confirmation. We’ve long said that a record-high farmgate milk price for the current season is a certainty at this point; the question is exactly how high it will go.”

suggest strong underlying dairy demand is supporting prices, not a shortage of one or two products.

He notes that price gains over the first couple of months of 2022 have been widespread and sustained, so that the overall GDT index is now only a few points shy of its previous record high back in 2013.

“And back then, the index was largely being boosted by WMP and SMP, rather than the widespread gains we’ve

soft. “Indeed, a similar combination of bad weather and high feed and other costs has hit production in other key exporters such as the EU and US,” he says.

“We can now add Ukraine-Russia tensions to the supply mix.”

ASB economist Nat Keall says the key takeaway for him is that dairy price gains are proving broad-based across all product types.

Keall says that’s a positive given it continues to

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winter grazing this season.

“We appreciate the hard work farmers have put in improving their wintering practices over the last few years.

“There is a continued spotlight on Southland farmers’ wintering practices so they need to be prepared and vigilant through winter to ensure their wintering practices continue to improve.”

Flights will focus on identifying winter grazing paddocks that may pose a risk to water quality when animals are grazing.

Staff will also be assessing paddocks from the roadside for potential problems.

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practices in Southland revs up this month.

Environment Southland says its staff will be out and about in the region identifying potential winter grazing risks to help farmers prepare for the upcoming season.

Environment Southland, with support from DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb New Zealand, will take a look at cultivated forage crop paddocks from the air and by land, to identify areas that may pose issues for water quality this winter.

The land sustainability team will then follow up directly with those farmers identified with higher-risk

paddocks to ensure there is a strategic grazing plan in place, and to offer advice on managing the issues that could arise from these paddocks.

The council says poor intensive winter grazing practices can cause significant damage to Southland’s freshwater quality through sediment and effluent runoff leading to excess nitrogen, phosphorus and bacteria to waterways. It can also affect soil structure and health, and in some cases animal welfare.

Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips says he is keen to ensure farmers are supported to be well prepared for

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

6 // NEWS

Another record milk price for Open Country suppliers $9 FIXED!

SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

OPEN COUNTRY Dairy has offered a fixed milk price of $9/kgMS to its farmer suppliers for next season.

Chief executive Steve Koekemoer says there has been a good uptake of the offer.

“Being able to lock in a milk price of $9 for a portion of your milk for the upcoming season seems a very sensible approach,” he says.

“Although the short-term view looks very positive, we know that the tide can change easily within a year and FMP gives farmers some certainty at prices that work for their business.”

Koekemoer believes the medium- to longterm outlook will depend on several factors, including global supply chains freeing up, costs coming under control and the ability for the big exporting dairy producing countries to ramp up supply.

“To date, this has been limited, but we expect it to change at some point when Covid volatilities ease.”

OPEN COUNTRY

Dairy suppliers are in for another record milk price next month.

For milk supplied to the Talley’s–owned processor during December and January, and paid in March, Open Country suppliers are in line for a new price range of $9.45/ kgMS to $9.75/kgMS. Open Country chief executive Steve Koekemoer says global dairy price rises are unprecedented.

“We are entering territory that we have not seen before with both pricing and foreign exchange delivering record returns to all dairy farmers.

“This has meant another upward revision in our forecast for the balance of the season.

“It will also mean another record-breaking settlement as we head into March.”

The final milk price is being finalised and Koekemoer is confident that the

milk price will be in this range.

Earlier this month country’s second largest milk processor broke the $9/kgMS milk price barrier for the first time,

Open Country suppliers are in line for another record milk price next month.

paying $9.01/kgMS for milk supplied in October and November last year.

Open Country pays its milk suppliers in full four times during the year.

Koekemoer says it has been another solid month as prices continue to rise

for dairy ingredients.

“And we have been well placed to take advantage of it,” he says. “We have been able to align our product mix to capture the best returns for our products in the market, which has been

awesome to see.

“It is not often that every product group performs extremely well, but for now it seems they are all on an upward trajectory.”

Open Country has also adjusted its forecast for

the May period to a range of $9.45 to $9.75/kgMS. This period includes milk supplied between February and May and farmers will be paid out in August. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

Fonterra opens up GDT to key investors FONTERRA IS opening up ownership of its successful global dairy auction platform to two strategic partners.

The New Zealand’s Exchange (NZX) and the European Energy Exchange (EEX) are set to take an equal one-third ownership of Global Dairy Trade (GDT), launched by the co-op in 2008 and which has to date traded dairy products worth over US$30 billion.

The deal is subject to the approval of boards, clearance from European or any other relevant competition law authorities, and finalisation of transaction documentation. It is expected to be completed mid-2022.

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says the move to a broader ownership structure marks the next step in the evolution of GDT. It further enhances the standing of GDT as an independent, neutral

and transparent price discovery platform, giving it a presence in prominent international dairy producing regions, and creating future growth opportunities, says Hurrell.

“This is good news for our farmer owners, unit holders, and all dairy industry participants and is expected to lead to greater volumes being traded on GDT. “It will bring more participants and transactions, stimulating further

growth of risk management contracts available on financial trading platforms.

“We all know that dairy is one of the most volatile traded commodities,” he says.

“This partnership is another step in helping to manage this risk for everyone – from the farmer through to the customer at the end of the supply chain.

“A more liquid dairy-trading envi-

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ronment allows for the growth of financial tools which can be used by all participants to better manage price volatility.”

Hurrell says Fonterra’s focus has been about securing the best partners and that NZX and EEX share the co-op’s vision for a stronger, more liquid auction platform that benefits all involved. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

NEWS // 7

A win for vets JESSICA MARSHALL jessica@ruralnews.co.nz

THE DECISION by

the Government to classify veterinarians as critical workers is being welcomed by the industry.

New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) chief executive Kevin Bryant says the decision is one that is hugely important to the industry.

“It will help reduce disruption to veterinary services as Phase Two of the Government’s Omicron response now gets underway,” says Bryant.

Critical worker status means vets will be able to continue working if they are labelled a close contact of someone with Covid-19, so long as they return daily negative rapid antigen tests (RATs).

They will also need to self-isolate outside of work.

Bryant told Dairy News that now is one of the busiest times of the year for the dairy sector, so the decision comes as a big relief.

“Veterinarians and their teams that are registered as critical workers will be in a better position to manage their services, so that they can keep visiting farms and treating animals,” he says.

Bryant says that with borders closed and fewer overseas vets able to enter New Zealand, veterinary teams have been under the pump to meet demand.

“Staff shortages are putting some clinics under enormous pressure to meet client needs in a timely manner. This has seen teams working long hours, taking minimal time off to recoup, and managing ongoing afterhours support.”

In an update to veterinarians last week, the New Zealand Veterinary Council claimed the selfassessment tool offered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) wasn’t clear whether companion animal services qualified for critical worker status.

“This form is just a tool, and does not need to

STATE SUPPORT FOR STRICKEN FARMERS THE GOVERNMENT is making $200,000 avail-

able to the local Rural Support Trust to help West Coast farmers and growers recover from these latest floods.

Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor says the funding will help speed up the recovery of farming businesses. It includes wellbeing support and specialist technical advice and enables the use of Enhanced Taskforce Green workers should they be required to help.

“The funding will help farmers and growers across Buller, Grey and Westland districts along with Nelson/Tasman and Marlborough districts, many of whom are facing a huge clean-up after the wettest February on record triggered widespread flooding. Floodwaters caused by two severe weather events in the space of a week damaged infrastructure, farm buildings, and paddocks, left feed crops submerged and washed away bales of winter supplementary feed,” he says.

O’Connor says MPI along with government will continue to assess whether further support is needed as the full extent of the flood damage becomes more apparent over the coming weeks.

He says farmers needing help to manage feed shortages are encouraged to contact their levy body, such as DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand, or Federated Farmers. He says those needing support around dealing with floods are encouraged to visit the MPI Website.

be completed to register as a critical service,” the update reads.

“The Government’s policy is clear that critical services include both those involved in food production and animal health and welfare.”

To register as a critical service, vets will need to

log in to MBIE’s Business Connect service and select the Close Contact Exemption Scheme Register. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews NZ Veterinary Association chief executive Kevin Bryant.

DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

8 // OPINION

Rain rejuvenates maize crop!

I AM a maize tragic.

While that may come as a surprise to some, those who have read this column over the last few years will know exactly where I am coming from.

I absolutely love maize.

I have been involved with the maize industry and have grown maize on our own account for nearly 25 years. Yet each season I discover something new about maize and I have an even greater admiration for plant breeders and researchers who continually deliver new hybrids that can handle the increasing challenges the environment seems to throw at us.

This has been particularly true this season. At home, near Hamilton, we had just 6mm of rain from the 15th of December to the 6th of February when we received 75mm of rain over two days.

Before the rain, some areas of our maize were showing severe drought stress, while other places were “just hanging in there”. When it was dry, I avoided walking through the crop as it was pretty depressing watching the plants suffer. However, since the rain, I have walked my crop and I am amazed how well it has come through this long period of little rain. I put

GEOGARD

this down to three things: Plant genetics In previous articles I have talked about maize’s high water use efficiency (WUE) which is about three times that of ryegrass. This means for every litre of water available, maize produces three times more dry matter than a perennial ryegrass paddock. Maize, a C4 plant like kikuyu or paspalum, is inherently water efficient but drought tolerance has also been a key focus of maize breeders. A few years ago, the team at Pioneer introduced the AQUAmax designation for some of our hybrids. For a hybrid to qualify, it needs to meet certain criteria for performance in water-restricted environments. Over the last few years, we have planted P9911 AQUAmax® at home on our light sandy loam soils.

Nearly every year it has more than met our expectations despite the chal-

Plant breeders and researchers continually deliver new hybrids that can handle the increasing challenges the environment seems to throw at us.

lenges our growing environment throws at it.

The right management for our growing environment I am a dairy systems specialist, not a maize agronomist. We grow maize ourselves on dry, sandy soils. When we first started growing maize, we did what our maize growing friends did. We never had a crop failure but some years our profitability wasn’t as high as I wanted it to be. It

took us some years to realise that our repeat cropping ground on dry soils was not the same as our friend’s high fertility ash or peat paddocks with better water holding capacity.

My colleague, Barry McCarter (maize product manager for Pioneer brand seeds), talks about the “Right Product under the Right Management planted in the Right Paddock”. With support from Pioneer’s agronomy

team, we shortened up our hybrids from a longer 113 CRM hybrid to P9911, a 100 CRM hybrid, altered our plant population to better reflect the growing environment and reduced our fertiliser input by 200kg urea/ha. Now we produce consistent yields with higher profitability and our system is more environmentally friendly.

The take home message is to get the right advice on the right management and the right hybrid for your

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paddock.

Our contractor The contractor you use is also important. We have worked with the same contractor for the whole time we have grown maize silage. Each year he goes out of his way to do the best job he can for us.

By doing the job well and mostly on time, he helps set us up for success.

This year the wet weather meant it was tough to get seed in the ground at the planned time. The con-

tractor’s team not only kept us up to date with where they were at, but they worked long hours when the weather was good to try and catch up.

So, if you are thinking about growing maize, I would encourage you to go ahead and do it. And then you will experience for yourself the wonderful plant that is maize.

• Ian Williams is a Pioneer maize specialist. Contact him at iwilliams@genetic. co.nz

IN BRIEF China-NZ FTA upgrade AN UPGRADED free trade agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and China comes into force from April 7.

“This upgrade is a significant step for us and forms part of a body of work we’re doing to drive our economic recovery from Covid,” Trade and Export Minister Damien O’Connor says.

The date was agreed in a virtual meeting last week between O’Connor and his Chinese counterpart, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.

Goods and services exports between China and New Zealand reached $20.1 billion in the year ending June 2021. O’Connor says New Zealand businesses will benefit from up-to-date rules underpinning trade.

“This upgrade modernises the original 2008 New Zealand-China FTA to ensure it remains fit for purpose,” he says.

The upgrade also includes new market access commitments in goods and services, and additional trade facilitation measures.

“In terms of goods, the upgrade will deliver further market access improvements, resulting in tariff-free access for 99 percent of New Zealand’s $4 billion wood and paper trade to China, once fully implemented.

“Our existing FTA will also be augmented by new chapters in e-commerce, competition policy, government procurement and the environment.”

DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

NEWS // 9

Vaccination, planning ‘will get you through Covid’ RURAL COMMUNITIES have

been told that vaccination and planning are the best defences against Covid19 causing disruptions on farm.

The Waikato Rural Support Trust is urging rural communities to get their boosters to help prevent possible disruptions to meat processing, work forces and the wider supply chain, particularly at a time when the dry weather has been already testing the agricultural sector.

Waikato Federated Farmers president Jacqui Hann says contingencies are needed as it’s highly likely that everyone will

become either a close contact of, or contract, Covid-19.

“Focus on planning ahead for supplies as Covid continues to play havoc with supply chain logistics.

“If we get sick, we may not be able to work, some for a longer time than others, and in critical situations we might end up in hospital. Being prepared will put us on the front foot.”

Ohinewai farmer and group chair Neil Bateup points out that the need to self-isolate will bring challenges to farming families and their businesses.

Bateup, who also chairs the national Rural

Support Trust, says it is important to think and talk to family and neighbours in the event of an outbreak on the farm.

The Rural Support Trust has been working with district health boards, Ministry of Social Development and Ministry for Primary Industries, with input from various agricultural industries, Waikato Civil Defence Group and Auckland Emergency Management as part of the Waikato Primary Industries Adverse Event Cluster, to plan how best to support rural communities during Covid-19.

Bateup says if a farmer or a grower contracts

Covid-19 they will be asked, by their respective DHB, if they would like to be referred to the Rural Support Trust for support.

“We encourage you to allow this referral, and don’t hesitate to make contact if there is a need.

We can tailor support to suit your needs and listen to any concerns you may have. We can also help navigate challenges and utilise the network across agencies where needed.

“Our rural communities will need to come together and support each other as Covid-19 spreads,” says Bateup.

The Waikato Rural Support Trust has facilitators who are rural

Waikato Federated Farmers president Jacqui Hann says contingencies are needed as it’s highly likely that everyone will become either a close contact of, or contract, Covid-19.

people and work with industry bodies and partners to navigate, support and help access relevant practical information, advice and support to the rural community. Its services are confidential.

The Waikato Primary Industries Adverse Event Cluster covers the South Auckland and Waikato regions and was set up in 2016 to bring together agencies from the primary industries, central and local government to prepare for and coordinate responses to adverse events.

Contact numbers and resources for farmers: www.rural-support.org. nz or 0800 787 254

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

10 // NEWS

Young leader keen to break the mould NIGEL MALTHUS

A MID-CANTERBURY

dairy farmer passionate about innovation and continued improvement has been named this year’s winner of the New Zealand Zanda McDonald Award.

Chosen by the judges for what they called his entrepreneurial and innovative approach, Rhys Roberts is the chief executive of Align Farms, which runs seven farms – six dairy and one dairy support – all between the Ashburton and Rangitata Rivers in Mid-Canterbury.

It also runs a market garden and a “vertically integrated” yoghurt business with its own brand sold throughout the country.

Zanda McDonald Award Patron Shane McManaway said Roberts was highly ambitious, and prepared to break the mould of the past and do things differently.

“Some of the results he’s seeing, due to his innovative approach, are nothing short of exceptional. He has a strong environmental and wellbeing focus, as well as creating a significant difference to the company’s bottom line.”

A major example of Roberts’ approach is that he is currently running a

trial of regenerative practises on one of the Align farms, with 148ha being farmed regeneratively and 140ha farmed conventionally.

“There’s two vats, two herds, two everything, and we compare the data so that we can get true and accurate data on the effects of low-impact farming – from milk production, grass growth through to profitability.

“We share all that data on our website on a weekly basis.”

Roberts says they did not want to just say that regenerative agriculture was great because emotionally it sounded great – they wanted the data.

“What we’re seeing is that productivity has dropped back and profitability at this stage looks like it’s going to be $800 a hectare lower on the regen side than from the conventional side.”

However, it was early days, he said.

“I’ve got 20 years of conventional experience and 20 minutes of regenerative, so we’re taking the time until we build up how we farm in that environment.

“So to be fair, we probably put it down as a success to date, even though there is a drop of profitability which obviously we are not happy about.

“It’s better than expectation, although our

expectation wasn’t very high when we started.”

Roberts says there are some important lessons coming out of the regenerative trial, such as dropping stock rates while improving per cow performance.

“We’re seeing some really great stuff from the pasture production point of view around introducing diverse species. We believe that that’s going to be a really big success of the trial and also believe that slower or long round lengths is another really key learning that we’re taking out of it.”

Roberts has been with the Align about 10 years, five as CEO, and leads a business with peak staffing of about 30.

The yoghurt business produces the Cyclops brand, which came out top in two separate comparison tests by Stuff in 2015 and 2017.

Roberts says the yoghurt takes only a small portion of the group’s milk but that is growing “on a daily basis” as demand grows. Most of the milk goes to mainstream processors, the various farms supplying Fonterra, Westland and Synlait.

Align also runs its own market g6arden on one of the farms. Roberts says that was established because of a vision within the business to supply its

Align Farms CEO Rhys Roberts with his wife Kiri examine the pasture on one the group’s farms in Mid-Canterbury.

teams with 60% of their diet on-farm, and not just milk and meat.

The teams get a weekly veggie box “and there are also chickens that follow the cows, so they get eggs as well,” he says.

The surplus is sold commercially, either in farmers’ markets, by eCommerce platforms, or through word of mouth.

Roberts says the well-being of the staff is important and he is passionate about “future work places.”

That meant asking what the workplace was going to look like in 2030 and trying to achieve that by 2025, then looking ahead to 2040 and repeating the process, trying to continuously improve and evolve. @dairy_news

FOCUS ON REDUCING EMISSIONS RHYS ROBERTS says plenty of challenges are facing New Zealand agri sector and emissions is “an area that we’re staying close to at the moment.”

With some team members passionate around e-bikes and solar power generation, the group is doing a lot in that space, he says.

“And then the other one is just improving our genetics by breeding the ‘perfect cow’ but also looking at introducing some low methane and low-N genetics into our herd as well.”

The Zanda McDonald Award is named in honour of Zanda McDonald, a leader of the Queensland beef industry who was prominent both in encouraging young people and in promoting trans-Tasman networking in the primary industries. He died in an accident at the age of 41 in 2013. The award was established the following year to recognise and support young people in primary industry on either side of the Tasman.

For the past two years separate Australian and New Zealand winners have been chosen because of Covid border closures.

The recent rise of the Omicron variant also scuppered plans for this year’s four New Zealand finalists to meet the judges in a three-day event with presentations, media training, guest speakers and farm visits, and it instead went online.

Roberts’ prize package will include personally-tailored mentoring trips and training in his chosen topic, which he says is more than likely to be around vertical integration and associated business models.

Roberts says it is also important to help grow and promote the award itself. Each year’s winners are automatically part of the judging panel the following year.

“Anyone under-35 that wants to enter, then I am certainly a sounding board for them. I think it’s been a great process and I’d like to make it even better for the next year.”

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

WORLD NEWS // 11

Arla beats Covid, posts solid result EUROEPAN COOPERATIVE Arla Food

reported a solid performance in 2021 despite continued disruptions from the pandemic and high inflation.

Total revenue lifted 5.6% to $19 billion, driven mainly by higher sales prices and strategic branded sales growth of 4.5%.

Arla’s performance price – which measures the value created per kgMS for farmer shareholders – was 67c in 2021 compared to 62c in 2020.

The co-op, owned by nearly 13,000 European dairy farmers, says shareholders were again challenged throughout 2021 due to rising costs and additional requirements on their farms.

Arla says it maintained a competitive pre-paid milk price that increased by 23% throughout the year.

Arla Foods chairman Jan Toft Nørgaard says 2021 was a tough year on farms as both members and the company were impacted by the continued effects of the pandemic and rapidly rising production costs.

“As such, I am proud that our company has been able to deliver a performance price that puts Arla among the market

leaders in Europe and that supports our farmer owners.

“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of farmers, employees and management, we successfully navigated this challenging environment and secured a high value for our milk.”

To support farmers, Arla unveiled a new policy, increasing supplementary payments to farmer owners to 2.6c/ kgMS instead of 1.7c/ kgMS, provided the company achieves an annual net profit of at least 2.8% of revenue.

Retail sales in 2021 again reached the top end of expectations: strategic brands delivered 4.5% branded volume growth.

Arla met the continued high consumer demand for in-home dairy products seeing Arla, Castello and Starbucks brands exceeding their unprecedented branded growth in 2020 and butter brand Lurpak gaining market shares in both Denmark and UK. Online sales soared 17%.

Arla chief executive Peter Tuborgh says its strategic brands performed exceptionally well in 2021 as consumer appetite for high quality, natural nutritious dairy products remained strong around the world.

ALL-AROUND TOP RETURNS ARLA DIVIDES its business into four commercial segments and all reported growth in sales and revenue.

Arla Europe continued to gain market shares in the majority of the European markets with a strong branded portfolio, delivering year-onyear market share improvement of 0.3% across categories and despite fewer in-home meal occasions as lockdowns lifted.

The company says its European Foodservice business captured the opportunities with strong delivery, key account management and agility as the hospitality sector re-opened in many countries and delivered 7.8% branded volume growth.

Arla International delivered branded volume driven growth of 9.1% on top of the previous year’s 11.6%.

Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI), a 100% subsidiary of Arla, grew its value-add segment by 14.5%. However, significant increases in raw material and energy prices challenged margins.

“Month on month, we managed sales and operations firmly to maintain product availability amidst fluctuating demand between in-home consumption,

dining out and on-the-go as lockdowns eased and we returned to the workplace,” says Tuborgh.

Arla says its performance puts the co-op among the market leaders in Europe.

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

12 // OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

Let’s get ready for Omicron!

MILKING IT...

Bring in the clowns THE CIRCUS at Parliament grounds has been raising a few eyebrows.

One that would have caught the eye of farmers would have been the Speaker authorising that water sprinklers be turned on for long periods in a bid to soak protestors and force them out. It didn’t flush the protestors out but did turn the grounds into a bog, with muddy run-off.

As some farmers have pointed out, if the effluent sprinkler is turned on for long periods on a farm, it normally invites a visit from the regional council environmental officers. A breach of consent would normally invite a warning, fine or even prosecution!

Bad apples THE BAD apples are everywhere.

UK dairy farmers are seething after a BBC Panorama programme last week showed what it calls poor welfare practice on an unidentified Welsh dairy farm.

Much of the programme was filmed by an undercover representative of animal rights group Animal Equality.

But herein lies the problem; it was shot on one farm and the programme didn’t show the 99% other dairy farms in the UK producing quality milk with the highest animal welfare standards.

In New Zealand, the dairy sector has also fallen victim to activists secretly shooting footage on one farm and then using it to unfairly tarnish the image of the whole industry.

CEO departs THE WORLD’S largest dairy company Lactalis has parted ways with its chief executive.

The Lactalis group announced the departure of managing director Philippe Palazzi, who took office just a year ago. And they were not hiding the reason for his sudden exit.

“As the conditions for alignment with the Group’s strategy could not be met, Emmanuel Besnier, Chairman of the Lactalis group, and Philippe Palazzi, Chief Executive Officer, are ending their collaboration as of February 3, 2022”, explains the group in a press release.

Media reports say the two men couldn’t agree about their visions for 2033, the date on which Lactalis will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

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A step too far?

ISSN 1175-463X

THERE ARE many fitness trackers, like Fitbit and Apple Watches, for humans.

Now there’s one for cows! Stellaps, a tech startup based in Bangalore, India, is introducing a cow-wearable device called mooON. The company explained the device as “like a Fitbit for cattle [that] goes around the animal’s leg, and [tracks] their activity levels”. mooON not only tracks the cows’ steps, but also tracks vaccination and artificial insemination schedules, sharing important health markers with farmers and veterinarians.

IT’S ONLY a matter of time before a positive case of Covid19 turns up on-farm.

The question for farmers is, are their businesses prepared if one does?

Industry groups are urging to have a plan to ensure the farm can continue to operate if the farmer, an employee, or a family member contracts Covid.

The need to self-isolate will bring challenges to farming families and their businesses. If you haven’t, now is the time to talk to your family and neighbours about what you would do to continue your operations should you, a team member or a family member contract Covid.

The new fast-moving Omicron presents greater challenges.

A farmer may be required to leave his/her property quickly.

The advice is that having a plan will help give you peace of mind that others will be able to step in and help.

Have a plan in the event you are required to leave your property and are unable to look after your animals, staff and business.

Each plan will be unique to individual circumstances, to allow family, friends or neighbours to come in and tend to the immediate needs of livestock.

DairyNZ encourages farmers to ensure employees get vaccinated, wear a mask, and maintain their distance while they work – and stick to well-ventilated or outdoor areas when working with others.

Having two separate bubbles is a great way to be able to maintain farm operations, in the event that there is a case in one bubble. Generally, the other bubble would not be affected as long as there is good ventilation in indoor spaces, with masks worn and fully vaccinated staff.

The Rural Support Trust has been working with district health boards, Ministry of Social Development and Ministry for Primary Industries, with input from various agricultural industries.

According to the Trust, if a farmer or a grower contracts Covid they will be asked by their respective DHB if they would like to be referred to the Trust for support.

The message to farmers is seek this referral. The Trust can tailor support to suit their needs and listen to any concerns they may have. Rural communities will need to come together and support each other as Covid spreads.

They have done this every time the sector faces a natural disaster. It will be the same this time.

Omicron is coming but together the dairy industry can and will ride it out.

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

OPINION // 13

Earning Co-op Difference payment companies like Synlait and Open Country both have similar sustainability initiatives to meet the demands of government and the market, demonstrating that this is not a single organisational shift, but an industry one.

It can be a hard decision to invest in changing your business for what

CHRIS GAWLER

FARMERS MUST

be optimists or they wouldn’t still be a farmer.

Farming is built on selfassurance that the work done today will pay off down the road, that the financial and labour sacrifices will act as investments for the future.

Fonterra’s Co-operative Difference Payment follows that same principle. Acting as an incentive for farmers to make changes now that will better position their business for the future, the scheme is Fonterra’s investment into the future of New Zealand dairy farming.

What do I need to know?

While dairy farmers will be aware of The Co-operative Difference framework introduced in 2019, the milk payment is still relatively new, coming in during Q1 2021.

From 1 June 2021, Fonterra changed the way farmers are paid for their milk through the introduction of a new milk payment parameter. This saw a certain proportion of a farm’s milk payment influenced by the farm’s progress under the Co-operative Difference framework by up to 10 cents/kgMS, baked into the current price. Progress is determined by the farm’s sustainability credentials and milk quality.

The Co-operative Difference Payment is divided into two parts: Seven cents per kgMS for achievement under four focus areas: ■ Environment: Have a farm environment plan in place and be achieving 3 out of the 4 key practices ■ Animals: Have an animal wellbeing plan signed off by your vet annually ■ People and Community: Achieve 100% on the Dairy NZ Workplace 360 Assessment at foundation level ■ Co-op and Prosperity: Maintain a full and accurate online Farm Dairy Diary Three cents per kgMS for milk that meets the ‘Excellence’ standard under the Milk Quality framework, once the pre-

may not feel like a large yield. And in the case of the Co-operative Difference Payment, farmers may have to increase overhead costs that result in less output. On top of finding ways to meet the new 190kg nitrogen cap rule imposed in July this year, this can seem like too much, too fast.

But these changes won’t be the last. Sustainability and good practice are going to be the leading narratives in agriculture for the foreseeable future, so continuing to meet these changes when they come into effect will position your business for future success. Making incremental changes now

will be far easier than having to do a total overhaul of your farm and its practices, which could slow or stop business for a period of time. Spreading the cost of improvements over time by making ongoing changes is also easier than having to front up with the full cost of a radical rebuild.

Demand for more sustainable farming is only going to increase. Farmers continue to lead from the front to preserve and grow a sustainable legacy for generations to come.

For more information on achieving the Co-operative Difference Payment, contact Chris Gawler at Chris.

Gawler@bakertillys.nz

Chris Gawler

vious criteria have been met.

To find out more about how to achieve the criteria for the Co-operative Difference Payment speak with a local advisor.

Why should I change my business for 10 cents?

The Co-op Difference Payment may seem like yet another piece of compliance to add to a growing list… and only for 10 cents.

But as mentioned, this is Fonterra’s investment into the future of New Zealand dairy farming. By incentivising practices that improve quality and sustainability, Fonterra can help New Zealand hold its position in the market and respond to the growing expectation for sustainably produced, high-quality dairy from over-seas markets.

It also represents an investment for farmers.

For those farm owners that make the changes to meet both 7 and 3 cent criteria, they are not actually doing it for cents per kgMS. They are doing it to secure the future of their asset, that their dairy will continually be selected and sold, and to enable them to continue producing high quality dairy.

While it’s 10 cents today, the Co-operative Difference Payment framework also has the flexibility to evolve and change over time, potentially increasing the payout total. So, positioning your business to reap the small rewards of the scheme for today could have big benefits down the track.

Fonterra’s Co-operative and the future of dairy Fonterra is on a mission to be a more attractive option to farmers, recently passing a vote to adopt a more flexible shareholding structure, among other changes.

It’s not alone. Dairy

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

14 // NEWS

Merger signals ‘new era’ for fert companies THE MERGER of fertiliser companies – Fertco and TerraCare – signals a new era for customers, says Fertco chief executive Warwick Voyce.

He says when Fertco was looking to extend its customer base into new areas, Te Awamutu-based fertiliser company TerraCare was seeking a buyer.

He says the purchase seemed like the obvious solution for both companies.

Fertco completed the purchase of TerraCare from the Macky family on February 8.

“We’re very excited to be welcoming a new era for both companies,” says Voyce.

He says both companies share similar philosophies in regard to looking after clients and the environment.

Fertco aims to add TerraCare’s branded products to its range. He says the purchase is akin to an amalgamation of the two companies, rather than one being taken over by the other.

“We’re aiming to learn from TerraCare’s IP so we can improve the offerings for both sets of customers.”

He says TerraCare’s clients will still be able to get customised fertiliser recommendations based on soil and herbage tests, as this has always been the Fertco way too.

They will still be able to purchase the same types of products that minimise environmental impacts, such as Di-calcic Phosphate and controlled release nitrogen products.

Fertco, a Bay of Plenty company based near the Port of Tauranga, currently services the BoP, Waikato, and King Country regions, while TerraCare, with its Te Awamutu factory, has a customer base in the Waikato, King Country, Manawatu, and lower North Island.

TerraCare’s field representatives have joined Fertco.

Voyce says customers will still be dealing with the same field represen-

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tatives.

“What will be different, and part of the new era though, are the nutrient budgeting and compliance services that Fertco

intends to offer all of its customers.

“Our team are very pleased to offer Fertco’s products and services to a greater audience of farm-

ers and growers.

“We have long been asked to have a distribution option in the Waikato and we know this move will improve our ser-

vice to current customers and encourages others to enquire as to how Fertco can help farmers have a better fertiliser experience.”

DAIRY AWARDS REGIONAL DINNERS GOING AHEAD ORGANISERS OF the New Zealand Dairy Industry Award are going ahead with regional award dinners despite Omicron taking hold.

Judging for the 11 regional programmes are underway around the country and regional award dinners will be held over the next two months.

Organisers say, after consultation with regional teams and national sponsors, the much-anticipated evenings will continue, following government guidelines for events at ‘red traffic light’ settings.

“We know these award dinners are an important part of the rural community’s calendar on many

levels, which is why we will follow government guidelines to deliver an evening where success can be recognised and celebrated,” says NZDIA general manager Robin Congdon.

“This means the dinners will have a maximum attendance of 100 people, who will be required to show vaccine passes at the venue.

We realise capping numbers means some will miss out, and for those who can’t attend, the events will be livestreamed on the relevant regional dairy industry award Facebook page.”

Tickets will be offered directly to finalists, their supporters, entrants and sponsors.

Any

remaining general admission tickets will be made available online.

“Of course, in the current environment, we understand some people may be hesitant about attending the dinners, and we respect their decision if they don’t want to attend,” says Congdon.

“Our remit is to deliver the Awards programme and the benefits it brings to dairy farmers.

“We are rapt judging will continue and entrants will be able to receive feedback and benefit from benchmarking themselves against others, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of best practice.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

LATEST STORIES EVERY DAY www.dairynews.co.nz

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

16 // MANAGEMENT

Plastic feed pad delivers maize, PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

REDUCING WASTAGE

from feeding-out maize silage and at the same time keeping labour costs to the minimum drove Horowhenua dairy farmer and businessman Rod Agar to build a plasticcovered feed pad on one his two dairy farms.

He installed a 120 x 12m plastic feed pad on his farm at the tiny settlement of Kuku, between the townships of Levin and Otaki. He milks 280 cows which produce about 120,000 kgMS on the 135ha effective farm.

Kuku Farms is on the western side of State Highway 1 where the soils are 50/50 mix of peat and sand. Agar also owns a slightly larger dairy farm close to Otaki.

The feed pad is an imposing sight, situated on flat land about 200 metres from the actual dairy shed, which is located on a hill above the covered feed pad.

The structure resembles a large glass house with a roof and sides and, yes, it gets hot during the summer days. Down each side of the feed pad is a continuous trough into which is fed the maize silage.

But Agar says it is strictly a feed pad and not a stand-off pad.

“In our case, the cows are only on the feed pad for about three quarters of an hour before the two milkings,” he told Dairy News.

“Most stand-off pads, the cows can be there for 20 hours a day. Because in our case the cows are only there for a short time, we have allocated them just four square metres of space. If it was a standoff pad it would need to be four times the size,” he says.

The system is designed to minimise milking time.

All the gates on the prop-

erty are automatic and open at about 4am, then cows make their own way to the shed. Waiting for them is a ration of about 5kg of maize silage. This is actually put in the troughs before the afternoon milking on the previous day and Rod Agar says there is sufficient feed for two milkings.

After the cows have tucked into the maize silage for about half an hour, they are let out and make their way to the dairy shed. Agar says it only took about five days for the cows to get used to the system, which he says works 99% of the time.

“One of the benefits is that staff don’t have to get up so early to bring the cows in.

“The other advantage is that the night paddocks can be anywhere on the farm. People normally have night paddocks around the shed to bring the cows, in but with the cows bringing themselves in, you can use whatever paddocks, wherever you want,” he says.

The story about the plastic feed pad was told at a recent DairyNZ discussion group meeting on the farm, attended by about twenty local farmers and rural professionals who were shown the

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building and had the opportunity to ask questions about it.

Agar says he got the idea of the feed pad after reading an article in a farming magazine and started making inquiries about what other farmers were doing around the country.

He made contact with a dairy farmer in Ruakākā in Northland who built a similar plastic house over his existing concrete feed pad.

“While we liked the concept, we were trying to get away from concrete and get away from water because its water in these fed pads, be it rain

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or wash-down water, that carries the manure that is problem,” he says.

So after talking to a number of consultants, Agar came up with a different solution.

He put down a layer of sand and on it a continuous layer of plastic with a vee in the middle. On the plastic sits a drainage pipe and over that a further 200mm of sand to protect the plastic.

On top of all that is about another 400mm of coarse wood chips and fence post peelings which form a matting designed to absorb the urine and manure.

“The drain is con-

DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

MANAGEMENT // 17

labour costs savings nected to a storage tank but in reality there is nothing in it because the woodchips absorb the urine. The floor of the shed is dry so there is no need to turn it over or remove it anytime soon. We believe this could last for up to five years before we need to replace the woodchips,” says Agar.

He does admit to one challenge with the shed which was evident at the field day – the heat inside the shed during the hot summer.

Agar says they are looking at replacing some of the plastic panels with shade cloth to let in more air and reduce heat stress for cows in summer afternoons.

Most of the silage used in the fed pad is grown on the farm and Rod Agar says the benefits of shed stack up well. He

BEING PROACTIVE DAIRYNZ CONSULTING officer Fran very high prices, and also not be able Bennett facilitated the discussion to get it straight away,” she says. group on Rod Agar’s farm.

Fran Bennett says farmers need She says the main reason for to have clear plans about what holding it on the farm was to look at might happen if they or their staff the plastic house and see how that catch Covid. She says they need to has impacted the management on set up systems in advance, such the farm. as rosters and bubbles, to keep “Obviously it staff separated and is easing manensure they don’t agement become in contact with cause the cows people who do have are able to bring Covid. themselves up “The question is, if to the house, you get a whole lot of instead of having staff who are wiped people bring out, who is going to them in from milk and who’s going the paddock to be able to step which also saved in? Rurally we have labour. The been so out of the other issue was whole Covid thing, the utilisation and in the rural areas DairyNZ consulting officer Fran of supplemenpeople feel quite Bennett. tary feed and the protected anyway reduced wastage,” she says. because a lot of us just stick on our Bennett says, besides looking farms and don’t go out. But the govat the plastic house, the discussion ernment modelling suggests that group had a chance to talk about Covid is going to be very widespread other issues of the day and to focus now and I think it’s only a matter of them on what needs to be done in time before we will be dealing with the future. She says this included it on farm, and the ramifications are focusing on setting up for the end of serious,” she says. the season, batting the full innings Despite Covid, Bennett says it’s making sure they are finishing really important that farmers stay positive strongly – setting up to be in good in what is a high payout year. She stead for next year. says they should manage their busi“Obviously a real spanner in the nesses wisely and consider paying works this year is Covid and making off debt and or putting aside some sure they have contingency plans cash for a so-called rainy day. for supply chain interruptions; are “I guess the real thing is planning they going to be able to get rid of cull and being proactive as opposed to cows and, if not, what are they going being passive and not ‘winging it’. to be doing with them? Also making Making sure you have got a strong sure they have got contracts for feed strategy for the end of the season because if they get short they are and making sure that you are set up potentially going to be looking at for next season,” she says.

Horowhenua farmer Rod Agar

says normally the wastage of maize silage fed out on pasture could be as high as 40%.

“In this case it’s around 5% and then there are the benefits of staff being able to use their

time more productively rather than spending hours ushering in cows to milking,” he says.

DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

18 // MANAGEMENT

Heat detector removes stress out of autumn calving HEAT DETECTION is a challenge in any season, but autumn calvers know that cold and wet weather slows cows down, making heats harder to call with confidence.

According to the makers of Flashmate heat detector, anxiety over `lost milk’ from missed heats and poor-quality submissions can drive up stress levels on farm.

Robert Buchanan farms 280 cows at Inglewood and faced a steep heat detection learningcurve some years ago.

Flashmate says Buchanan’s search for a solution that could deliver a top result, without the stress, and at an affordable cost has been paying off for many years now.

“Our empty rates have dropped a lot. Last year we didn’t have any empty two-year-olds and I had one empty three-yearold, so something’s obviously working for us,” Buchanan says.

He was determined to make a step up in performance from tail paint, without lifting farm costs long-term. This was important, given the possibility of future downturns which can extend or even eliminate the payback on higher-cost commitments.

Next came considerations of training and staff requirements, along with effort to interpret data needed to make your own final heat decisions. With long-term resilience in

Robert Buchanan farms 280 cows at Inglewood and faced a steep heat detection learning-curve some years ago.

mind, he opted to keep it really simple.

“We’ve trialled collars and found Flashmates are

a lot more attainable in terms of cost.

“It all corresponds, they fit in well with a

system like ours. We try to keep costs down and I‘ve used them six years in a row. There’s no lying

with it really, it’s either on or off.”

In winter weather, cows may be cycling,

even if they’re not making this obvious to the team.

Silent heats drag down submissions, impacting six-week in-calf and empty rates.

“We’re picking up silent heats with hardly any marking on tail paint.

You’re definitely picking up more cows earlier and picking up those cows that you’d normally miss,” says Buchanan.

And later in the mating period, poor submissions carry additional risk.

“Flashmates are another visual thing you can say, ‘that cow, she’s definitely not on’ [so] you don’t put that cow up for AI, so you’re not getting that embryonic loss.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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ANIMAL HEALTH // 19

Warnings out on FE PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

CONDITIONS ARE

ripe for facial eczema to become a problem for dairy farmers in the coming weeks, says James Allen, AgFirst.

The Waikato-based consultant says up until now the conditions in the region have been extremely dry and pasture covers low, so FE hasn’t really been a problem.

But in recent weeks most areas have had some rain and very hot humid weather and, while it hasn’t become a problem yet, Allen warns the potential is there now for the situation to change.

“We haven’t seen any high spore counts up until now, but the conditions are now ripe for it to become a problem over the next few weeks, so

we are encouraging farmers to get into full readiness mode by monitoring the situation and getting applications ready deal with FE,” he told Dairy News.

Allen says the majority of farmers would still be putting zinc into stock water, but he adds that spraying fungicide on pasture to kill the spores can also be very good in the right situation.

He says local vets are providing spore testing services these days and he urges farmers to take some samples in to them and see what’s going on.

“My message to farmers is that FE could be a problem in two or three weeks time, so they should keep a really close watch on spore count levels and start zinc treatment right now,” he says. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

FE could be a problem in two or three weeks time, so farmers are urged to keep a really close watch on spore count levels and start zinc treatment right now.

SPORES WILL RETURN IN THE Manawatu and Horowhenua regions, the high rainfall has washed a lot of the spores off the pasture, according to The Dairy Vet’s Fraser Abernethy.

His veterinarian business deals exclusively with dairy farmers and he, like many vets, is keeping a close watch on FE at present.

He says normally this is a problem in March and April but this year the conditions are such that FE could be on the scene earlier.

Abernethy says if the heat and humidity return in coming weeks, the spores will return.

“So farmers should be monitoring spore counts well and

they should be heading on full protection doses of zinc because it takes up to two weeks to build up enough protective levels,” he told Dairy News.

“The other thing that is very cost effective for farmers to do when spore counts are still low is to spray pastures against the fungus that causes the spores.

Once the spore counts are high, it’s a waste of time because the fungicide doesn’t kill the spores but it does kill the fungus, and at the moment that could be a good preventative option,” he says.

Abernethy says while milk production is falling in the lower North Island due to the lack of

dry matter in pasture, cow condition is still pretty good. He says his client farmers are feeding out now as they normally do around this time of the year to maintain cow condition in preparation for next season.

But he adds, it hasn’t been an easy year for the cows.

Hot weather has led to some badly heat stressed cows, despite people’s efforts to mitigate this.

“Then we have had wet and cold conditions, and heat stress again, and to add to the woes, the pasture has not been the greatest. So cows have had everything chucked at them in the last few months,” he says.

CRITICAL WORKER STATUS A WIN FOR VETS THE NEW Zealand Veterinary

Association (NZVA) has welcomed a recent announcement that vets and other animal welfare professionals are now included in the Government’s critical worker category.

The decision allows people in animal welfare roles to register as a critical worker, meaning they can continue working if they are a close contact of someone with Covid-19, provided they return daily negative rapid antigen tests.

Critical workers will still need

to isolate outside of work.

NZVA chief executive Kevin Bryant says the decision gives already stretched veterinary teams more certainty about their availability to treat animals as the Omicron outbreak continues.

“We are very pleased with [this] news. It puts vets in a much stronger position to reduce any disruption that Omicron may have on their services,” he says.

“Veterinary teams have been working exceptionally hard to meet their clients’ needs during the cur-

rent vet shortage.

“They now have the mechanism in place that will help to keep essential services operating when Omicron becomes widespread.

Under the rules, animal welfare professionals can now register with the Government that they are a critical worker.”

Bryant is encouraging veterinary practices to register their entire teams, which will allow veterinary nurses, technicians and other essential workers in their clinics to be included in the scheme.

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

20 // MILK COOLING

Keeping the heat and stress MILK COOLING affects

milk quality: the quicker the milk is cooled after milking, the better the quality when it is collected from the farm.

Therefore, choosing the right cooling system for your farm means less energy costs for the farmer and less risk of penalties linked to milk temperature.

According to DairyNZ, milk cooling accounts for about 30% of the total energy costs of operating a dairy.

Energy demand and farm dairy operating costs can be reduced using different options that involve heat recovery from your cooling system.

Here are some of the milk cooling systems available in New Zealand:

The quicker the milk is cooled after milking, the better the quality when it is collected from the farm.

Ice Bank The Ice Bank solution works by building a

mass of ice between milkings. Then, during milking, water is circulated

through the ice, reducing the water temperature to near zero degrees.

Choosing the right cooling system for your farm means less energy costs for the farmer and less risk of penalties linked to milk temperature.

The chilled water is passed through a double bank plate cooler to cool milk to approximately 4°C before it reaches the vat.

Warmed water generated from the milking process is returned to the ice bank and cooled again.

It boasts a smaller footprint and better efficiency.

A small footprint means the Ice Bank can easily be accommodated in existing dairy parlours, and is ideal for herds of up to 600 cows, but can also be sized for larger herds.

It manufactures ice between milkings with little or no impact on electricity supply, and minimises the amount of water required.

Milk enters the milk vat at the industry standard, generally around 6°C, but can enter the

vat from 5°C depending on the farm’s logistics.

Existing units can sometimes be used to run the Ice Bank and cool the milk once it has entered the vat.

Smaller sized systems are delivered to site, tested and filled with refrigerant, greatly reducing the cost of an initial installation.

Water chilling solution An all-in-one precooling water chiller solution can include a plug-in chiller unit with the option of a preplumbed water holding tank. Thermal storage systems use a large storage tank to hold and chill a large volume of water.

They are easily installed and maintained and are a common form of farm pre-cooling system in New Zealand.

The mix and match

system can be configured to meet farming needs. All components are designed for optimum system performance. All components, fittings and polyethylene pipes are included and delivered to farm ready for install, reducing time and cost.

The pre-welded plastic joins in the tank reduce the likelihood of leaks.

Heat recovery can be added to the water chiller to efficiently heat dairy shed water.

Suitable for all dairy farm sizes, the Water Chiller requires sufficient space to accommodate a water tank and water chilling unit – and depending on the volume of milk per milking, the water tank size can vary from 10,000 to 30,000 litres.

The size of the Water Chiller unit and volume of the water tank determines how long it takes to bring the water in the tank down to the recommended temperature – often around 6°C, enabling milk to enter the milk vat at around 9°C. The chiller on the vat then reduces and maintains the milk temperature to the industry standard, generally between 4°C and 6°C. Similar to Ice Banks, the unit chills milk between milkings with little or no impact on electricity supply, with the chilled water cooling the milk through the on-farm plate cooler.

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MILK COOLING // 21

out of your milk vats On-demand snap chilling Farms can rapidly reduce milk temperature with glycol precooling.

These systems use a mixture of food-grade glycol and water to create the chilled fluid on demand, at milking time. With a correctly sized refrigeration unit, the system can chill milk to 4°C before entering the vat.

The compact glycol solution is ideal for farms with high water temperatures and a good supply of power during the milking period.

Glycol Snap Chilling units are ideal for large, continuous 24/7 farming operations, new parlours with more than six hour milkings, or large herd farms – due to the specific levels of electricity required.

Powered by inverter technology, Glycol Snap

Chilling units are able to ramp up to match the load required and deliver power savings of up to 40% over standard compressors.

Each Glycol unit is sized to ensure the milk temperature is approximately 6°C when it enters the milk vat – and a backup unit on the base of the tank is recommended to keep the milk to the industry standard while in the milk vat.

Glycol chilling can also be supplied with standard technology.

Polar wrap vat insulation Durable high-quality vat insulation saves power by reducing the effects of outside temperatures and will help milk chill faster.

For farmers on the cusp of compliance, vat insulation may save them needing to invest in more

costly cooling systems.

Milk vat chilling Milk vat chilling is another cost-effective option for farms whose milk is collected every other day.

The milk vat chilling system chills milk once it is in the milk vat, and utilises inverter compressors and electronic valves to ensure precise load matching and maximum energy efficiency.

Vertical air discharge, with fan variable speed drive, maximises heat rejection regardless of the wind direction, optimising performance in all ambient temperatures.

The efficiency of the unit to chill milk below 10°C is reliant on cool water temperatures. The milk vat chilling system can be easily retrofitted into existing dairy parlours between milkings.

According to DairyNZ, milk cooling accounts for about 30% of the total energy costs of operating a dairy.

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

22 // MILK COOLING

Milk quality – a key factor MILK QUALITY is a key

driver of value for Fonterra.

It enables the co-operative to meet market regulations and the expectations of customers and consumers.

“When we get our milk quality right, we see improved quality, flavour, functionality, shelf life and yields.

“Low quality milk puts our reputation at risk, increases the risk of product quality failures and drives up the costs of transport and manufacturing.”

From 1 June 2021, Fonterra changed the way farmers are paid for their milk through the introduction of a new milk payment parameter.

The 10 cent Co-operative Difference payment is made up of: 7 cents/kgMS for achievement under the Environment, Co-op & Prosperity, Animals, and People & Community focus areas.

Once these have been achieved; 3 cents/kgMS for milk that meets the ‘Excellence’ standard under the Milk Quality framework.

The Milk Quality standard is measured and graded when the tanker driver collects and tests the milk. The milk is graded as either a downgrade, quality, or excellence.

The excellence grade is awarded when the milk meets a higher level of quality, above Fonterra’s milk parameters.

From 1 June 2021, Fonterra changed the way farmers are paid for their milk through the introduction of a new milk payment parameter.

MILK COOLING REGULATIONS NEW MILK cooling regulations came into effect from June 1 2018.

The rules state that raw milk must: a) be cooled to 10°C or below within four hours of the commencement of milking; and b) be cooled to 6°C or below within the sooner of: i) six hours from the commencement of milking, or ii) two hours from the completion of milking; and c) be held at or below 6°C without freezing until collection or the next milking; and d) must not exceed 10°C during subsequent milkings.

The rules apply to all farms.

Once the farmer achieves an excellence grade of 30 days across the season, then every day they achieve that grade would see the farmer qualify for the 3c/kgMS payment.

Fonterra says the Co-

operative Difference means pulling the best of what farmers do into five focus areas and making sure they become the strongest possible foundations for the co-op.

“It doesn’t mean losing your unique way of doing

Milk cooling regulations have been place for over three years.

things on your farm.

“Instead, it will help us all work together as a strong co-operative.

“Getting the best returns is determined by our ability to access

opportunities, markets, and premium prices. It is also important that the wider community value our role and our approach to farming, animal wellbeing and guardianship

IS YOUR MILK COOLING SORTED? The quality of your milk determines your bottom line.

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of the land, so that dairy farming is seen as an attractive and respected career choice for future generations.

“This means staying at the forefront of issues

such as quality, safety and sustainability.

“That is what The Cooperative Difference is all about.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

MILK COOLING // 23

Aiming for top quality milk MACHINE CLEANING systems maintain

milk quality by aiming to remove all milk residues from the plant and destroying any resident bacteria.

The benefits of selecting the right cleaning system include: ■ Increased milking efficiency: installing a well designed system will ensure efficient operation.

■ Reduced costs: installing the right system will keep operating costs to a minimum.

■ Automation of the cleaning process can be advantageous as it provides consistency of operation, eliminates human error, and prevents health and safety issues associated with handling strong chemicals and hot water.

■ If the cleaning process is automated the operator needs to periodically check the automation to ensure the plant is cleaning properly.

Machine cleaning requirements An easy-to-operate method of cleaning the pit and milking platform is essential. Some larger dairies are installing automatic washing systems on their milking platforms.

This is especially useful if the dairy is used for long periods of time.

Features of a cleaning system A cleaning system should have the following features: ■ Adequately sized and configured wash line.

■ Minimum flow rate of 3 litres/ minute/ cluster.

■ Flow rate through the first jetter should not greatly exceed the last.

A flushing pulsator/ air injector may be installed at the end of the milk line to ensure it is cleaned effectively. If the milk line is a loop line then a tap is installed near one of the milk line entries to the receiver with a flushing pulsator/air injector installed before the tap, at the top of the milk line.

During washing the tap is closed and the flushing pulsator/air injector turned on.

Cause minimal liner stretch and distortion ■ A high flow, rapid dump hot water service to save time filling drums.

■ Ensure liners and jetters are compatible.

■ Circulation cleaning systems This type of system is recommended for all dairies.

At the completion of milking, the clusters are connected to ‘jetters’ that are in turn connected to a wash line.

When the milking plant is turned on the vacuum created by the plant draws water from the wash tub through the wash line.

When hot washing, the water should be circulated through the plant for 5-7 minutes, or until it reaches the minimum dump temperature (about 55°C). This is done by connecting a recycle line from the delivery line to the wash tub.

To ensure effective cleaning a minimum water flow of 3 L/min is required through each cluster.

To clean the milk line effectively a flushing pulsator/air injector ■

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is normally needed. The flushing pulsator injects air and water into the milk line every 30-45 secs.

This injection of water

and air creates a turbulent flow of wash water through the milk line which helps to effectively clean the milk line.

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

24 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Diet feeders help manage summer pinch points MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

AS SUMMER droughts

appear to be more common, diet feeder wagons can become an important tool in herd

management by offering farmers consistency, quality, and flexibility in supplementary feed they deliver to their animals.

Abbey Diet Feeders offer a unique chopping and mixing action that helps the animal

to digest the maximum amount of nutrients from the feed they have eaten, to drive performance, but also allowing inputs to be managed efficiently, improving milk and meat yield per kg dry matter intake.

Abbey Diet Feeders offer a unique chopping and mixing action.

Let the results speak for themselves.

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Andrew Mabey, Mabey Contracting - Wairarapa/Manawatu

”

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The Abbey Machinery Diet Feeder range consists of 17 vertical auger diet feeders from 8 to 33.5 cubic metre capacity.

The layout features a unique low auger profile, combined with an elevated top knife for improved bale processing and mixing. In addition, equipped with seven knives per auger, a long counter knife comes further up the feeder from the floor aids a faster breakdown of material, while an auger throughshaft design imparts added strength and prevents twisting, ensuring a long working life.

Counter knives at the rear of the wagon are designed to hold the bale against the augers and knives for a more consistent chop, while also preventing the bale climbing upwards in the mixer tub. The feeders have the option of hydraulically operated counter knives,

meaning the farmer can adjust the knives from in-cab without the need for a manual pin.

The main gearbox is mounted high up into the auger for guaranteed stability and working life, with the option of a cablecontrolled change-over function for 2-speed gearboxes on vertical diet feeders.

All Abbey Diet Feeders are supplied with the latest 2810 Digi-Star Weighing System, an intuitive management tool to access and analyse feed data instantly. The system helps optimise TMR inputs through precision loading and discharge, thereby improving profitability. Used in conjunction with a free mobile app for in-cab control, the need for manual feed composition sheets is removed.

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DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 25

Pasture work made easy MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

THOSE LOOKING

to use direct seeding to establish, rejuvenate or repair grass paddocks or plant catch crops might want to take a closer look at the recently introduced Erth Engineering Agriseeder.

Marketed by Ag and Civil Machinery Direct Ltd, a division of Waikato Tractors in Hamilton, the 3m, 24-row model features a galvanised, heavy-

tour system acts a secondary suspension, with the benefit of better ground following in undulating terrain. In operation, each coulter block is pushed downwards using individual hydraulic cylinders.

Each of the cylinders is connected, so the downward pressure is equalised over the full width of the machine, despite undulating ground.

The system is also said to improve machine reliability by reducing loads on the frame mounting points and bearing

The recently introduced Erth Engineering Agriseeder.

FARM DAIRY EFFLUENT SYSTEMS FOR ANY SIZE DAIRY FARM

Seed distribution is taken care of using a Kverneland-sourced system, with seed metering via a land wheel drive and fanbased pneumatic distribution. duty, linkage-mounted frame that weighs in around 1,500kg. This carries three independent sections, each carrying eight coulters, mounted to the frame using 40mm heavy-duty torsional rubbers that help absorb shock loads, while also allowing more travel and flexibility.

Offering a row spacing of 125mm (5 inches), the coulter arms have 4.5mm Forge de Niaux boron steel soil engaging tips, followed by an angled and scalloped single-disc assembly, both combining to create a 7mm wide band, where the crumbled soil creates a microclimate offering the seed moisture and the seedling protection as it emerges.

Sales manager at Waikato Tractors, Ben Peters, says, “By direct drilling into a firm seedbed, seeds are positioned in the fertile areas of the upper levels of the soil profile, moisture is retained and stones and trash are left undisturbed, while the turnaround back to grazing is also reduced.”

As part of the standard equipment, an Autocon-

assemblies throughout the machine.

Seed distribution is taken care of using a Kverneland-sourced system, with seed metering via a land wheel drive and fan-based pneumatic distribution, with seeds passing down individual pipes to the coulters.

The system features a 400-litre plastic hopper, accessed via a galvanised ladder to a loading platform with a safety rail.

Fan speed and seeding information is displayed on a simple readout on the side of the seed hopper, while at the rear of the machine a full width flat roller is fitted for load distribution and consolidation post-seeding.

A range of options includes weight frames for difficult ground conditions, front and rear harrows for conventional tillage situations or improved seed covering in very dry conditions and a second hopper for use with double-entry coulters for fertiliser application at the same time as seeding. www.agandcivilmachinery.co.nz

Megapond Effluent Storage System • • • • •

Megapond Dairy effluent storage Nominal 250,000 to 4 million litre capacity Modular, on–site installation Standard panel height used for all sizes

Hypond • • • •

40,000 to 140,000 litre capacity Modular, site assembled Easily transported, lifted and assembled Keys together providing excellent strength

Stonetrap & Effluent wedges • • • • • •

BRANCHES NATIONWIDE

0800 496 377

hyndsrural.co.nz

Easy installation Range of sizes 40 mPa Strong and durable concrete Effluent wedge One piece pre cast Drive through options Regional variations

DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

26 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Hot spell exposes safety risks with power tools MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

WHILE THERE is always

the problem of security, the recent hot spell has also exposed safety risks.

With cordless power tools becoming more common for use off the grid, safety concerns are being raised about the fire risks of devices left unattended in tractors, utes and other vehicles.

The problem centres around lithium-ion batteries that can get very hot if left exposed to sunlight and, if temperatures get hot enough, could explode. Safety advisors suggest that with recent daily temperatures reach-

With cordless power tools becoming more common for use off the grid, safety concerns are being raised about the fire risks of devices left unattended in tractors, utes and other vehicles. ing the high 20’s, the internal temperature of parked vehicles can easily approach 40 degrees C when left in direct sunlight. As the lithium-ion battery is an essential part of devices such as mobile phones, laptops and power tools, they should always be stored correctly, preferably, in the case of power tool, with the battery removed from the

tool.

Indeed, quite recently, this writer experienced the issue, when he left an i-Phone in the central cubby of an SUV, while he did a 15-minute dash around a supermarket.

On his return, he found the phone, protected in a matt black case, was very hot to the touch and displayed a message that read, “This device is over-

The problem centres around lithium-ion batteries that can get very hot if left exposed to sunlight.

heated, please allow to cool before use”.

In transport circles,

lithium-ion batteries are classified as dangerous goods under the Danger-

ous Goods Code, so every effort should be taken to transport them safely and

remove fire risks by storing them away from direct sunlight.

‘BUILT TO LAST LONGER’

BvL Mixer Wagons are built tougher so they last longer

It’s that simple!

North Island - Gerry Clare 021 245 4471 South Island - Jethro Boakes 021 513 368 20221701 BvL final.indd 1

www.webbline.co.nz 17/01/2022 9:22:34 am

DAIRY NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2022

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 27

Kubota finds a ready home markd@ruralnews.co.nz

HAVING MADE the

decision to break into the higher horsepower market, particularly for Europe and North America, Kubota has recently hit the 10,000-unit production milestone for its M7 Series tractors.

Developed in 2014, then produced at its European Centre of Excellence at Bierne, near Dunkirk on the northern coast of

reverse direction changes.

A creeper option takes the number of available speeds to 54 F/27R, while an auto-shifting function monitors engine loads to make seamless changes in light load situations.

Maximum speed is 40 or 50km/h, the latter with front suspension fitted.

For those looking for more precise control with increased performance and efficiency, the KVT transmission takes the variable/ stepless route, allowing precise control

Increasingly popular in New Zealand, the M7-2 range is offered in 12 different models, combining the three power outputs and four different equipment specifications, so offering users a wide range of customisable options.

France, the tractors have gone on to be increasingly popular around the globe, and is now marketing in 32 countries including Australasia.

The first M7001 series, first produced in late 2015, were offered in 130, 150 and 170hp outputs, dubbed M7131, M7151 and M7171, before the second series was introduced in 2018 and picked up the numbering of M7132, M7152 and M7172.

Increasingly popular in New Zealand, the M7-2 range is offered in 12 different models, combining the three power outputs and four different equipment specifications, so offering users a wide range of customisable options.

At the heart of the tractors, Kubota’s own four-cylinder, 6.1 litre engine meets Tier 4 emission regulations, while featuring a 2,100rpm rated engine speed, maximum power delivered at 1,900rpm and a 330-litre capacity fuel tank.

Transmission options include a 30F/15 R speed semi-powershift set up, featuring 5 main speeds, 6 powershift steps and an electro-hydraulic power shuttle for forward/

of speed, while also allowing the tractor to operate at a higher 11.5 tonne maximum permissible weight.

In the 4-post, air-conditioned cabin, the operator is offered comfortable seating and excellent visibility, with an ergonomically designed right hand armrest allowing easy access to all the tractors main functions. A choice of 7 or 12-inch, full colour, touch screen monitor is mounted at the front of the armrest, to allow precision control of all tractor functions while also delivering important data on the tractor’s status.

Programming is by touchscreen or soft button navigation, while the system also offers full ISOBUS integration and compatibility.

At the business end, the PTO system offers 540/540E/1000/1000E operating speeds, while the 130hp variant features a fixed displacement hydraulic pump delivering 80l/min and the 50 and 170hp models configured with a closed centre, load sensing pump pushing out 110l/min. All models offer lower link sensing with electronic draft control, a choice of up to 5 rear

remotes and 5,530 kg lift capacity.

Wheel and Tyre equipment is 28-inch front and 38-inch rear, with a choice of flanged or 110-inch bar

axle dependent on model.

Offered in Standard, Deluxe, Premium and Premium KVT variants, each grade delivers an increasingly higher specification.

Kubota has recently hit the 10,000-unit production milestone for its M7 Series tractors.

NEXT LEVEL PERFORMANCE. ENTRY LEVEL PRICE.

Surprisingly, the new Giltrap WideTrac fertiliser spreader with unrivalled high specs, outstanding performance and built-in durability comes without a high price tag.

The WideTrac comes standard with a 780mm wide belt so it can handle anything you throw at it and delivers it in the most precise way - eliminating wastage, and saving you time and money.

Its simple to use digital interface lets you quickly and easily set density, spread rate and width at the touch of a button.

Engineered Performance by Giltrap Ag

And being hydraulically driven means it can all be controlled from the comfort of your cab.

Engineered tough and built tough, the Giltrap WideTrac’s internally reinforced 4, 6 and 8 tonne plastic-moulded bins sit on a hot-dipped galvanised steel frame for years of trouble-free ownership.

So what would you expect to pay for all this? Be pleasantly surprised. Visit your local dealer. For more information go to giltrapag.co.nz or call us on 07 873 4199.

TRACTA_GIL64421_NZ_GIL_WT_DN

MARK DANIEL

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206314 Nufarm Dairy News FLUME FP 265x390.indd 1

15/12/21 9:10 AM