Rural News 4 June 2013

DAIRY AWARDS Sharemilker/equity award seen as stepping stone to farm ownership. PAGE 11

NATIONAL FIELDAYS Innovation still at the fore front of Fieldays. PAGES 35-60

OPINION

RURALNEWS

Advisory panel encourages rural people to be part of shaping our country’s future.

PAGE 28

TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

JUNE 4, 2013: ISSUE 539

www.ruralnews.co.nz

Cock-up, not conspiracy P E T E R BU R K E & PAM TIPA

PEOPLE SHOULD not start reading conspiracies into the China meat debacle – it was just a “stuff up”, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy. While New Zealand meat may now be moving off the wharves in China, in Wellington the spotlight has shifted onto the bureaucrats and the system which sparked the fiasco.

Guy has asked the director-general of MPI to investigate how his department caused the chaos, which saw New Zealand meat exports to China stranded at that country’s ports for several weeks.

The problem has been put down to a bureaucratic slip-up which saw Chinese officials refusing to accept New Zealand export certificates in the name of MPI as opposed to the original NZ Food Safety Authority.

Guy has done what few cabinet ministers have in the past and publicly hit out at his officials. He told Rural News that he’s asked Wayne McNee to look into how this has happened and hopes to get that report in about a month.

“I didn’t get enough visibility on this particular issue earlier enough. I am disappointed in my officials. MPI has been a high performing ministry and they issue about 12,000 export documents

a week,” Guy added. “This is bread and butter for them – it’s their core business as the regulator. Wayne knows I am disappointed. He has apologised to me, to Chinese officials and to the meat industry; this should never have happened but unfortunately it has.

“I have asked Wayne McNee to get to the bottom of this and provide some reassurance back to ministers that it won’t happen again.”

Guy says one of the things being looked at is basing another official in China to deal with exports to that country. At present there is one person in Beijing.

However, Guy says with this incident he wasn’t advised about the issue early enough.

“I have been keeping in regular contact with the meat industry and have been giving them regular briefings. It’s been great that they have been communicating through to MPI through this whole situation and they have kept relatively calm.”

• The blame game - page 3 @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

The Linklater brothers Paul and Scott are ‘upbeet’ about a new system they’ve developed for growing fodder crops. With the help of a BLNZ grant, the pair have built their own unique strip tillage machine and worked out a system for planting the trial crop.

The early results show significant savings can be made using their new technology. See the next issue of Rural News for details.

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Farmers to fund reform research PA M T I PA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

BEEF+LAMB NZ will fund research into any proposals for industry reform which come forward from the meat companies, Mike Petersen says.

Such analysis must focus on what any changes will mean for farmers, which is “critically important”, he says. Petersen has also floated the idea of tradable slaughter rights as a transitional measure to ensure that something comes out of the push for reform.

Beef+Lamb makes significant investment in research, extension, market access, skills, training and leadership development, Petersen told the Scene and Herd conference call last week.

“But all of that will come to nothing if we don’t have a better performing industry and if we don’t have farmers getting better and more consistent returns.”

Beef+Lamb is supporting the Meat Industry Excellence group, but also wants to fund analysis on the proposals that come from the current meat company talks.

“We need to make sure whatever proposal might be brought forward is in the long-term interests of farmers so we are pretty keen to put in some resource and effort.” Having that research is “critically important for farmers to buy into any reform package that might be presented”.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

news 3 issue 539

www.ruralnews.co.nz

News ������������������������������ 1-16 World ������������������������������ 18 Markets �������������������� 20-21 Agribusiness ������������22-24 Hound, Edna ������������������� 26 Contacts ������������������������� 26 Opinion ����������������������� 26-29 Management ����������� 30-34 nz fieldays preview ��������������������� 35-60 Animal Health �������� 61-64 Machinery and Products ������������������ 65-69 Rural Trader �����������70-71 Head Office Top Floor, 29 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 Phone: 09-307 0399 Fax: 09-307 0122 Postal Address PO Box 3855, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140 Published by: Rural News Group Printed by: PMP Print Contacts Editorial: editor@ruralnews.co.nz Advertising material: davef@ruralnews.co.nz Rural News online: www.ruralnews.co.nz Subscriptions: subsrndn@ruralnews.co.nz ABC audited circulation 80,767 as at 31.12.2012

Guy backed for caning Ministry a n drew swa llow andrews@ruralnews.co.nz

PRIMARY INDUSTRY Minister Nathan Guy’s blaming of MPI for the Chinese meat mess has been backed by two rural importer/exporters who believe the debacle highlights the need for a culture shift at the ministry.

“He’s exposed the idiots who have caused this problem,” Otago Angus breeder and vet Neil Sanderson told Rural News. “Why should [Guy] take the rap for this?”

Sanderson’s embryo and semen export business was shut down with all others in 2007 because he says a report from EU inspectors found serious failings in MAF’s administration of such exports.

While MAF subsequently found issues with some exporters’ facilities and procedures, including his own, those were minor in comparison. “MAF had to change the law to fix their problems. What the EU really didn’t like was the use of third party verifiers.” It took years for MAF/MPI to resolve the issues and a follow up audit by the EU in 2012 still found failings.

The delay has cost him hundreds

Dairy debt

Labour points the finger LABOUR’S PRIMARY Industries spokesman, Damien O’Connor, has labelled the situation ‘absolutely chaotic’.

He told Rural News that one of the major problems has been that the Food Safety Authority was merged with MPI. He says there is now one big government agency with a range of responsibilities such as trade negotiations, biosecurity, food safety and forestry development.

O’Connor wants the Food Safety Authority and Biosecurity split out from MPI and made into separate standalone agencies. He claims by doing this, they will not be compromised by the other areas of responsibility within MPI. But Nathan Guy has rubbished O’Connor’s plan saying it will lead to a ‘bloated bureaucracy’ and that MPI doesn’t need tipping on its head.

thousands of dollars in lost income and should have been resolved much faster, and much more efficiently, he believes.

“Their response to any problem is to employ more people and form committees because no one person wants to be responsible for anything.”

Farm machinery importer and largescale cropping farmer Jeremy Talbot echoes Sanderson’s concerns.

“MAF, or MPI as it now is, has become so tied up with process it’s paralysis by analysis.”

Instead of listening to the practical advice of people at the coalface – farmers and MPI’s field staff – MPI in Wel-

lington seems bent on coming up with its own answers, Talbot says. “They spend so long analysing incursions that they’re out of control before they do anything about it.”

He’s also frustrated by the ministry’s failure to act on what he believes are biosecurity breaches just waiting to happen, such as a serious livestock disease or invasive weed incursion through PKE, or herbicide resistant grassweeds in imported grains.

Federated Farmers’ president Bruce Wills says MPI and New Zealand as a whole needs to take a hard look in the mirror, in light of the meat export issue.

RABOBANK’S HEAD of food and agribusiness banking, Hamish Midgley, is predicting a rise in dairy farm debt.

He told Rural News that dairy debt has doubled in the past 10 years from $9/kgMS to the present $19/kgMS and says it could rise $2 more because of the drought.

The higher Fonterra payout for next season will if anything only marginally change these numbers, he says.

“A study done in 2006 – I am not sure how relevant it is now – showed 20% of dairy farmers then had no debt but 10% held 52% of the debt. If you look at today’s total dairy debt, which is about $31 billion, and halve that number, it would mean 1000-odd dairy farmers would hold $15 million debt each.”

Midgley says the challenges facing the dairy industry include volatile markets and potentially increased costs due to tougher environmental rules, especially on the control of effluent.

“If farmers need to spend money to meet regulatory requirements we are 100% behind that.

But that doesn’t come for free and I think some farmers are going to have to make some substantial investments over the next few years.” – Peter Burke

pm opens farmers mill Farmers Mill production manager Steve Yerbury (left) talks Prime Minister John Key, Farmers Mill chairman Murray Turley, Rangitata MP and Associate Agriculture Minister Jo Goodhew through the workings of the new mill in Timaru during its opening last week.

“I am never going to forget today,” the Prime Minister told the 200 local growers and business people gathered for the ceremony. “Next time I’m having a Krispie in the Beehive I’ll know exactly where it’s coming from… The quality coming out of this mill will be enjoyed by people around New Zealand and across the world.”

Chairman Murray Turley says the 12 grower-shareholders behind the $10m mill stressed the homegrown nature of the business too.

“This is a logical progression, to move up the value chain and offer customers the chance to buy New Zealand milled flour, made from New Zealand grown wheat, made by a New Zealand own company,” he told Rural News. “It’s about securing options for us as growers and controlling our own destiny.”

The mill has the potential to handle 28,000t of wheat/year and has biscuit maker Griffins and local baker and stock feed firm Couplands as its cornerstone customers.

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4 news Westland joins party WESTLAND MILK Products has predicted a payout for the 2013-14 season of $6.60 to $7/kgMS – an increase of 60-70 cents on the current season.

The Hokitika dairy cooperative also confirmed its forecast payout for this season of $6 to $6.30/kgMS excluding retentions.

Chief executive Rod Quin says the forward view for the dairy market is relatively strong, even with the recent decline from the highs of six weeks ago. He says the strong outlook is being driven by on-going firm demand and the expected shortfall of milk supply from key exporting markets.

“The market is showing signs of

supply constraints and higher than average prices are expected throughout next season.

“With the market particularly volatile as a result of the drought, we expect prices to be higher at the start of the season and remain relatively high throughout.”

Quin says the high value of the New Zealand dollar remains an issue; it is contributing to the volatility of the dairy export market and impacting the timing and value of final contracts under negotiation for the 2012/13 season.

“The value of dollar will remain an issue for exporters in 2013/14, making forecasting a real challenge.”

Something for dairy farmers to cheer about! sudesh kissun sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

DROUGHT-RAVAGED dairy farmers have received a financial boost with Fonterra’s new forecast milk payout announced last week.

The co-op has announced a farmgate milk price of $7/kgMS for the 2013-14 season – $1.20 more than last seeason. Fonterra farmers will also get an advance of $5/kgMS for their milk.

Fonterra normally pays farmers in advance 65% of the opening forecast milk price. However, Fonterra chairman John Wilson says strong global dairy prices and balance sheet allow it to pay 71% of the forecast price in advance.

Dairy farmers, particularly those in the North Island, were hit hard in the drought. DairyNZ estimates the average North Island farmer has lost $100,000 in farm income and spent an extra $57,000 on supplementary feed to keep cows in milk.

Wilson says Fonterra is aware of cashflow problems facing many farmers and the higher advance will take some pressure off their balance sheets. “We know last season’s milk

payout of $5.80/ kgMS was one of the lowest in recent years,” he told Rural News.

Global dairy prices were weak for the first half of the last season, but rose rapidly in the last six months. In recent weeks prices have begun to ease.

Wilson expects prices to remain strong.

“Strong dairy prices combined with Fonterra’s strong balance sheet and cashflow have enabled us to give farmers a higher advance. This is the cooperative way of doing things.”

Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Willy Leferink says a $5 advance rate is great news for farmers. But he cautions that drought-affected farmers still have a long way to go. “We don’t realise how difficult it has been for some farmers. But a big tick for Fonterra for coming up with a strong forecast payout.”

Milk growth slowing THE FUNDAMENTAL supply-and-demand balance has shifted, says Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings.

Global milk production growth is slowing as a result of unfavourable weather in many key milk production regions.

“Although we are seeing modest production growth in the US, recent cold conditions in Europe have had a negative impact on crops and dairy, and the outlook remains mixed.”

Milk production growth in 2013 for the top 15 exporting countries is projected at 0.5% or 1.2 billion litres, well below the 1.8% (4.5 billion litres) growth levels seen in 2012.

“In general, the global economic outlook remains steady but with some downside risk. In the US modest growth continues, while China has managed a soft landing with the consensus on growth at around 7.8%.”

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Fonterra Shareholders Council chairman Ian Brown says the payout reinforces the co-op’s strong position.

A higher advance also puts farmers in a healthier position and provides them greater flexibility in running their farms, he says. “It will help to relieve some of the pressure many have faced as a result of the drought, but as we operate in a volatile market I urge farmers to be prudent in their financial planning for next season.”

The board will announce its forecast cash payout, which comprises the forecast farmgate milk price and the dividend payout for 201314 season in July.

Fonterra has confirmed the 201213 payout of $6.12/kgMS, made up of a milk price of $5.80/kgMS and a dividend of 32c/share.

Brown says farmers should feel very positive about the 2012-13 results. “Commodity prices were low for a large part of the financial year but it is really encouraging to see the milk price improving and this will help farmers.” @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews

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news 5

Enviro plans applauded and panned! sing on nitrate is appropriate in Taupo’s catchment because the lake is nitrate limited, but not in Manawatu where the main problem is sediment. Despite that, Horizons’ One Plan is all about nitrogen, he noted. “Why? I don’t know!”

Edmeades also applauded ORC chief executive Peter Bodecker’s comments about aiming to meet the three goals of the RMA: social,

a n d rew swa llow andrews@ruralnews.co.nz

THE HIGHLANDERS rugby team may be making Otago farmers despair, but when it comes to water policy, it seems their region is top of the table, judging by the comments of one expert.

“I’ve come to a place of enlightenment,” soil scientist and farm adviser Doug Edmeades told a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand Nutrient Nous seminar in Otago.

Having listened to speakers from Otago Regional Council (ORC) outline the region’s approach to meeting national water quality objectives with its Plan Change 6A, Edmeades said

Pointing out the issues: Doug Edmeades.

the council seemed to be saying, “ ‘We trust you; we just want to help you get there’. That’s so, so different from many other regions.”

ORC also recognises that the risk of water contamination comes from

four categories of contaminants – nitrate, phosphorus, sediment, and pathogens, he noted.

“Everywhere else you go they’re all besotted with nitrogen!”

As the Land and Water Forum (LAWF) second

economic, and environmental. In some regions – again he cited Horizons – the social and economic seemed to have been forgotten. While the One Plan is “a done deal”, other regions’ plans or plan variations aimed at giving effect to Government’s National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management are still works in progress.

Farmers need to make sure they’re sufficiently

report recognised, which contaminants are of concern will depend on the catchment. “It’s ridiculous to think we should apply the same water quality standards to all catchments,” he stressed.

For example, focus-

informed about what’s happening in their region before they commit to what, in many cases, will be significant investment to meet regional council requirements, he said.

“Regional councils have a responsibility to supply this information to you in a form that you can easily understand.”

• South Otago farmers facing ORC’s plans: p34. In stream nitrate monitoring: p32.

Top Quality, High Spec

His baby is not perfect ONE BONE Edmeades did have to pick with ORC, and many other regions, is the use of the nutrient budgeting model Overseer as a regulatory tool.

“I am very, very concerned at the way Overseer is being used.

I think I can rightly claim to be a father of Overseer… and we made it very clear from the outset that it was an expert system to be used by experts to do ‘what-if’ analyses. It’s a good tool to do that but it’s not perfect and the error at the minimum is plus or minus 30%, and that’s if we have perfect knowledge [of inputs], and of course we don’t have perfect information to put into it.”

A slight change in the soil texture entry could throw results out by “another 30%” and with a few other variables tweaked, predictions could easily swing

over 100% one way or another, he warned.

“It should not be used as a regulatory tool.”

Councils proposing to do that risked “litigation after litigation” from experts arguing on behalf of clients that data entered into Overseer was wrong.

ORC chief executive Peter Bodecker acknowledged the error issue with Overseer, but said the question about whether councils should be using it or not had been answered in court already when Federated Farmers challenge to Horizon’s use of Overseer in One Plan was dismissed.

“That’s the reason we are using it…. If we’ve got a catchment that’s clearing up as a result of farmers using a whole heap of measures, including Overseer, that’s what we’re after.”

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Bodecker explained that in Otago from 2014, records of nitrogen loss to groundwater, as calculated on Overseer 6, must be made available to ORC on request.

How often such requests will be made will depend on how water quality in a particular catchment is tracking, he suggested.

“If the catchment is going well the requirement to do that will be minimal. If you’re in a catchment that’s not so good we’ll be trying to find out why and who might be contributing.”

ORC has set a default nitrogen discharge limit to be met by 2020 of 30kgN/ha/year but certain sensitive or “mapped” aquifers, such as those of the Ettrick or Kakanui rivers, and the lower Waitaki plain, have a 20kgN/ha limit, and the Alpine lake catchments a 10kgN/ha/year limit.

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6 news China’s challenge is to know the bureaucracy PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

CHINA WILL, over time, consume huge amounts more New Zealand deer velvet products, says an entrepreneur who’s been operating in that market for at least 30 years.

Speaking at the recent Deer Association conference in Wellington, Colin Stevenson, from Te Awamutu, says the Chinese understand health and wellbeing and many of them now have large sums of money.

“If you have ready-totake products they believe are healthy, they are going to buy them. Once it’s in a westernized form and it’s easy for people to consume they’ll do it. They are as busy as we are in New Zealand and don’t want to go home and spend six

or eight hours preparing a traditional potion.”

Stevenson says in China velvet products are used as an additive in wine, hard alcohol in blends in liquorice root or ginseng or countless traditional herbs.

“I have seen it in drink sachets, where it’s just a healthy drink, and in snack bars. Additives are where you need to be if you want to add value to your country.”

Stevenson has watched China’s progress for 30 years, from the days when there were just 4000 taxis in Beijing to now when there are close to a million.

He says the Chinese market is full of challenges and the key to being successful there is understanding how its bureaucracy works

Colin Stevenson says the chinese markt is full of challenges.

“When you go to China and try to convince them you have a product you want to sell to them, there is not just one department you’ll have to convince – there could be 10 different departments and each has to sign it off. So with deer you are dealing with scientists, health departments, food safety, customs – all to be convinced your product is safe, and similar to what they understand it to be, and they have actu-

ally got to register it.”

Stevenson says all the New Zealand deer velvet that still goes into China is classed as an ‘agricultural’ product. But that doesn’t mean you can sell it labelled as ‘origin of New Zealand’.

“I know lots of products that are full of New Zealand velvet, but not one of them’s labelled ‘origin of New Zealand’. In all my travels there, I have only seen one shop that had a sign up saying this velvet comes from wild New Zealand red deer.”

The goal for Stevenson is to get New Zealand red deer velvet classified by the Chinese as a ‘healthy food product’. He says this would pave the way for the products carrying the New Zealand brand but says it’s far from simple to achieve this.

Deer’s outlook bright PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

THE DEER industry has been through the worst and its outlook is good, says the head of food and agribusiness banking at Rabobank.

Speaking at the Deer Association Conference, Hamish Midgley says any new industry, such as the deer sector, goes through a series of ups and downs.

He says with a strong industry body behind it, the deer sector is looking a sustainable and viable industry.

“From Rabobank’s point of view, we think the deer industry is an excellent industry in the high quality products it puts out – velvet, venison and byproducts.

“We believe, in most cases, the deer industry is doing a lot to ensure quality standards and environmental standards are high and we’d like to see it grow.”

Midgley says deer products, over the last few years, have been far less volatile than sheep and beef and taking this into account it has the ability to grow at a sustainable level. He believes deer farming has come under some pressure from land use by dairying, especially in the South Island.

Hamish Midgley

“We have seen a lot of intensive deer farms on the plains being bought up by dairy farmers for conversion. They have removed the fences, removed the shelter belts and put a dairy shed in the middle.

We are seeing land use change on those intensive areas and the same is happening to a lesser extent out in the hills.”

One thing puzzling Midgley is the lack of investment in the deer industry.

He notes that while debt levels over the last ten years in the dairy sector have trebled, and in the case of sheep and beef doubled, debt in the deer industry has only increased by 54%.

“So that either means they are a conservative bunch of farmers and/or their industry hasn’t kept pace with the expansion of other industries. Personally, I think it’s a bit of both.”

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news 7

High dollar hindering deer industry’s growth and profits PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

THE DEER industry says the biggest inhibitor of its growth is the exchange rate.

Outgoing chief executive Mark O’Connor told Rural News at the industry’s annual conference in Wellington last week that while they didn’t want to sound like victims the reality was that the high New Zealand dollar was a real problem.

“At the moment our schedule for venison is about $6.35/kg. If we were working with last year’s exchange rate now and with this year’s prices it would be more like $7.40 and if we were back to 2009 it would be over $10.”

O’Connor says there are definitely markets for

more products. At the moment, 400,000 animals are being slaughtered, but in 2007 it was more like 600,000 animals at very good prices. “So we know the market can handle more venison.”

O’Connor says the number of deer farmed in New Zealand has dropped from about 1.7 million deer in 2002, to one million now.

“So we haven’t seen the reinvestment in deer that we’d like to see. The hind slaughter is about 48%, not quite enough to keep the industry moving ahead.

The challenge we’ve got is that there are not enough animals being kept and we’d rather the slaughter rate for hinds was about 42%.

“There are some young people entering the indus-

try and some existing deer farmers are expanding – but not enough.”

O’Connor says greater profitability and higher market prices are needed to ‘kick start’ the industry.

“If there is money in it people will invest. There are a whole lot of advantages to deer over other farming options. Deer require relatively low labour inputs and they are a joy to farm.

“So there are many reasons why people would pick up deer, as long as the money is there for them.”

Some are making an effort to increase consumption of venison on the domestic market and O’Connor says all the reports indicate this campaign is going well. He says consumers seem to relate well to the lean, healthy

Outgoing Deer NZ chief Mark O’Connor says the high dollar was a real problem.

attributes of venison.

In respect of velvet, China is rapidly becoming a significant consumer.

More velvet is heading there, some being consumed in that market and some re-exported to South Korea.

“What that means for us now is that people are investing working capital and buying New Zealand velvet. That’s a real advantage for us and China will become a consuming

market in its own right.”

He says the attributes New Zealand velvet is seen to have are very positive for the future.

On the venison side O’Connor is more cautious. He says venison is not traditionally consumed in that market and while there are undoubtedly opportunities, the Chinese market has its own set of challenges. @rural_news

Fond farewells THIS YEAR’S deer conference was marked by farewells and awards, most notably to chief executive Mark O’Connor, 13 years in the role and a veteran of the industry’s tough times.

While he’s a born and bred Wellingtonian, without a farming background, O’Connor says the personal highlight for him has been belonging to such a progressive, positive industry.

“I am proud of the team we have put together at Deer NZ. They are high performers doing a good job for the people they work for. We went through a tough time as an industry from 2002 to 2006 and I am proud and pleased at how the industry came out of it.

“We came out of it with a larger market because more venison is consumed in our markets and our guys hung in there and they are doing it for the long haul. We have had lots of wins along the way with new customers and better trade access.”

O’Connor says the whole experience for him has been a good one.

In recognition of his contribution to the industry, O’Connor was presented with a painting of the Dart River by the painter Peter Beadle.

Also honoured was the soon-to-retire head of Landcorp, Chris Kelly. He was presented with a fine deer statue by the chairman of Deer Industry NZ, Andy Macfarlane.

The Deer Industry Association award was won by the Fallow Association and the prestigious Matuschka Award, for the unsung hero in the industry, by Philip Irwin of Hawkes Bay.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

news 9

NZ dollar on the way back to earth? a low of 75.02cents on May 23, 2012.

The current economic conditions mean it is more likely the dollar will head towards 75.02 than towards the previous high of 86.41 over the next three-six months. The biggest threat to the Kiwi’s decline is our Reserve Bank (RBNZ) raising interest rates to cool an overheated domestic residential property market.

This threat is was put sightly at ease when the Government stated in the recent Budget that it was in favour of a low interest rate environment going forward and housing prices could largely be stabilised by increasing the property supply by building new houses.

Whether or not this is true remains to be seen.

However, the talk of lower interest rates for longer will help keep the Kiwi grounded as higher interest rates make New Zealand a more attractive

investment for overseas fund managers, pushing up the demand for our dollar.

The foundation for recent US economic strength is a hotly contested debate: some argue that the only reason the US is seeing a rise in fortunes is due to all the money printing by the US

Federal Reserve. If this is true, a sharp downturn

could follow as soon as the extra money stops flowing and inflation takes hold.

There is debate on whether the US dollar’s rise can be sustained, but ultimately the greenback will rise as the US returns to more conventional monetary policy and depending on how quickly they scale back the money

printing programme.

The US recovery is still fragile even with ultraloose monetary policy and, with the prospect of higher inflation, the USD will be responsive to any speed bumps on the road to US economic recovery.

From a New Zealand perspective, the NZD trade-weighted index is

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A “highlight” was Zespri Green – about 70% of Zespri’s exported volume – which had an average increase of 21% per tray. This gave Green growers their highest-ever average returns of $37,959 per hectare.

Zespri chairman Peter McBride says the results came from a strong focus by Zespri on lifting Green profitability in recent years, combined with improving performance both at orchard and post-harvest levels. “This has been a team effort and is particularly pleasing in the context of deteriorating foreign exchange rates in Zespri’s key markets,” McBride says.

Zespri Gold returns per hectare were $101,973, up 12% from the previous year. About half of the new Gold crop, G3, marketed as SunGold, was sold in Europe with “an excellent response from consumers and customers”.

McBride also welcomed an “outstanding performance” in the China market, with volumes sold up 9% and market returns up 21% compared with 2011/12, to $117.3 million, or 11% of Zespri’s total market returns.

“It is well known that we have been dealing with some challenging issues in China, including transitioning to a new management team and improving our business practices – but we have been determined to make that transition without disrupting the business,” McBride says. “This result suggests our management, together with our new import partners, are achieving both our change management and sales objectives.”

“Psa has significantly impacted Gold volume,” says chief executive Lain Jager. “Gold sales were down 16% in 2012/13 to 24.6 million trays, from 29.1 million trays the previous year. This impact will be even more pronounced in 2013/14, with Gold volumes down to about 13 million trays for the year.” They expect Gold volumes will begin to recover after the 2013 season, he says. – Pam Tipa

still slightly above what the RBNZ assumed in its March monetary policy statement, which is regarded as uncomfortably high. Few would disagree especially in the export sector, but it’s comforting to know economic conditions are right for the Kiwi dollar to come back further during 2013.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

10 news

Kiwifruit industry still backs Zespri PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

FIFTEEN KIWIFRUIT post-harvest operators and the national growers’ body have come out in support of Zespri and the single desk structure.

The post-harvest operators, who claim they represent about 76% of

kiwifruit exports, says they are concerned an “anonymous minority” in the kiwifruit industry are using Zespri’s “historical” customs issue in China “as an attempt to destabilise our industry structure”.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) has written to Prime Min-

ister John Key in support.

This follows media coverage surrounding the conviction of a Zespri subsidiary and a manager on smuggling charges. In a separate but related case, an import agent was jailed for 13 years last year on customs duty charges. In his recent appeal against his jail sentence he also

laid the blame at Zespri’s feet.

The post-harvest operators say collectively they have $450 million in investments in orchards, packing facilities and related assets. “We are each competitors for crop volume within New Zealand, however collectively we remain strong support-

ers of the New Zealand integrated kiwifruit industry structure, with Zespri as our marketer and owner of the world’s premium kiwifruit brand,” they say in an open letter.

They say they know the success of their individual organisations relies on the New Zealand kiwifruit industry achieving the

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this situation …. Some of us are both Zespri growershareholders and/or representatives of Zespri grower-shareholders. We are the ones best positioned to hold Zespri to account to ensure it keeps delivering to the high standards we demand of it.”

Meanwhile they say the current speculation and campaigning against Zespri will do more damage to grower interests than the customs

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The 15 companies say Zespri must be left to work this issue through China’s court system. “Once the legal system in China has delivered its final verdict, the New Zealand kiwifruit industry will then be in a better position to understand what led to

matter itself.

NZKGI chairman Neil Trebilco also says in his letter to the Prime Minister that kiwifruit growers and the kiwifruit industry’s future success in a very competitive world market rely on the continuation of the single desk.

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Zespri’s historical issues in a single market do not diminish growers’ support for the single desk selling model.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

news 11

Dairy award a stepping stone on way SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

WINNING THE top dairy industry award last month is just the start for Southland couple Don and Jess Moore.

The 2013 Sharemilker/ Equity Farmer of the Year winners plan to use it as a stepping stone in their progress. Short term the Moores will continue 50/50 sharemilking with the Cunningham brothers but farm ownership remains the ultimate goal.

Moore is a former deep sea fisherman who switched to dairy farming five years ago. It has proved a successful move,

as in 2010 he won the Southland Farm Manager of the Year title on the same farm where he now 50% sharemilks 950 cows.

Chairman of the threemember judging panel Brian Power described the Moores as “infectious”.

“They have a great way of coming across and there’s no pretense.”

Moore, 28, says winning the national title has been a “humbling and amazing experience. It was great to have three people analysing your business for free,” he told Rural News.

The experience of the 2013 dairy industry awards will help then grow as dairy farmers, he says.

“This is just the start… we will use this to push forward.”

He paid tribute to his wife Jess, 26. The Moores left their five-month son at home with Jess’s parents to attend the final week of the judging and awards night in Wellington. “This is a team effort and we both put in just as much.

I would not be the winner without her input.”

Don’s message to other young farmers in the dairy industry is simpleone’s destiny in one’s own hands. “Where you end up will be determined by your own efforts. Destiny is in your hands and you get whatever you put in.”

Passion to progress CANTERBURY FARM manager Richard Pearse won the 2013 New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year.

He was achieving “exceptional” production in his first year managing on a first year dairy farm conversion, head farm manager judge Tory Pedersen says.

“The clear message the finalists gave us this year was their passion for the industry and their desire to progress. They are also focused on best practice farming and are very conscious of public perceptions.”

Pearse, 30, won $29,200 in prizes and is contract milking 950

cows for Graham and Jane Thomas at Ashburton. With his veterinarian partner, Susan Geddes, the couple aims to progress to sharemilking or equity farming and ultimately owning a 1000 cow property.

Manawatu/Rangitikei/Horowhenua representatives Michael and Raewyn Hills were placed second in the farm manager contest winning $12,500 in prizes; Northland’s Niall and Delwyn McKenzie were third, taking home $3650 in prizes.

The 2013 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year title was won by James Warren, Winton.

The couple won $43,200 in prizes. The judges also commented on their good relationship with the farm owners.

“They had a great relationship with the farm owners, Bruce and Sue, and Jeff and Edith Cunningham, and this had enabled them to progress from managing to sharemilking on the property, Power says.

“They have an innovative way of leasing the cows from the owners to buy. They had also defined their values and aspirations for the farm and were

using that information to plan capital development.”

Staff were well supported by the Moores. “We got a great feel about the HR systems and the integration of their staff into the business,” Power says.

The runners-up in the sharemilker/equity farmer contest were Morgan and Hayley Easton from Canterbury/North Otago, winning $19,000 in prizes, and Garth and Nicola Thomson from Central Plateau placed third, winning $13,600 in prizes.

Don and Jess Moore winners of 2013 Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year award.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

12 news

Pressure on for cleaner, greener production PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

A MARKET is emerging in China for cleaner, greener food and if this could happen in China, it could happen anywhere, says Australian sustainability advisor Paul Gilding.

Because China faces both high pollution and population growth, it has “concertinaed” the whole issue of environmental action into a shorter time frame, Gilding told a Fonterra Shareholders Council seminar.

“China is the bellwether of this issue. We see strong action by government, we see acute pollution in resources, much

worse than we face here, and we see the market being an avenue for change,” says Gilding. “If we look at China, which we think of as being a dirty country… we are now seeing incredible growth in green industry [there].”

For instance, he said, it had beaten Germany to become the world’s biggest player in solar energy.

Gilding, who advises business globally on environmental issues, was invited to speak at Shareholders Council “Grow Your Mind” seminars around the country.

Gilding, an ex-boss of Greenpeace, told Rural News that he understood some would find it surpris-

ing he would be invited to speak at dairy farmer forums, but it showed that Fonterra wanted to hear outside views. He has spent 20 years advising businesses globally on the environmental issues, but had seen a “big shift” by major corporations in the last three to four years.

Gilding said the New Zealand dairy industry is “defensive” on environmental issues as it saw itself as being attacked, but New Zealand farmers should get on board because it would be good for business. The market pressure for sustainability is now “unstoppable”.

“My argument is, it is good for you – you have

natural advantages in sustainability as an industry which means the stronger the market demand, the better off you will be,” he said. “Being pasture fed as the base of the industry is a plus. You’ve also got the co-op structure, a really under-utilised advantage.

The world is deeply cynical about corporate generally.” Another advantage was simply being from New Zealand. “You have to build and protect that reputation.”

Gilding told the seminar that economists predict the world economy will quadruple by 2050 but he says resources are constrained today and will be four times as constrained

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by that time. He argued that if we did not change the way we do things, that growth will not be achieved.

He said he wasn’t talking about a crisis in human civilisation: “This is not a doom and gloom story – this story is just that we have to change.” And he supported the market economy as a good way of human beings driving themselves forward and innovating.

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economy wasn’t restricted by the availability or resources – in fact they got cheaper and cheaper; until about 10 years ago there was an average 1.5% annual decrease in commodity prices across the world over 100 years.

“That party is over – we have come to a point where we’re not suddenly going to run out of resources but the resources are no longer freely available and not getting cheaper.”

Gilding said everyone who has looked at the issue comes to the same conclusion including economists, business people, the US military, Standards and Poor and big corporations such as Unilever, DuPont, Walmart and General Electric.

“We have to change the way we do things. In that change we win or lose – if we are ready for it we will win, and if we aren’t ready for it we won’t.

“This is an economic view, this is a business view about constraints … this is not about polar bears or fluffy animals – this is about resources that feed the economy.”

Big businesses such as Unilever, DuPont and Walmart are now managing this issue as a core business problem, driving it back through the supply chain. They see that governments have agreed

Australia business advisor on sustainability, Paul Gilding, at the Fonterra Shareholders Council seminar.

action is needed on emissions – and want to get ahead of the game.

“If we don’t change the way we do things, we won’t grow. It is no longer if we grow too fast we will damage the environment – it is now an economic issue if we don’t change what we do, we simply won’t grow,” Gilding said.

While a fan of technology, he does not think it can develop fast enough to allow for, for instance, growth to quadruple by 2050 within the resource constraints we have. We have to find out how to grow within those resource constraints.

Gilding said all the biggest science bodies and every government globally agreed the world is facing climate change. The arctic ice was melting at a rate 80 years earlier than predicted.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

14 news

Sheep industry does well against odds PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

THE BIGGEST threat to the sheep industry in New Zealand is the competition for grass – especially from the dairy industry, says ag consultant Peter

says.

“There’s been a dramatic increase… and what’s caused this are a couple of things: the uptake of better ram genetics with better rams being bred by breeders, and, second,much better

Fennessey, a speaker at a recent BLNZ science day at Feilding.

Despite the pressure on the sheep industry it’s performed remarkably well with productivity per ewe having increased by 90% over the past 25 years, he

pasture management and much better management overall.”

The real impact of composite sheep breeds is something for the future, but the gains to date have been as a result of simply better genetics within

existing breeds and better management, he says. The challenge for the sheep industry is to maintain the momentum of the past 25 years which has seen lambing percentages rise, lamb carcass weights increase and ewe weights

Peter Fennessey says ewe production has lifted 90% over the last 25 years.

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increase.

Fennessey says overall ewe productivity has improved by 86%. “The productivity challenge is how do we maintain this ongoing productivity which is about 2.5% per year over the past 25 years?

I am very optimistic about the sheep industry, despite all the grumbles that things are not very good.

“For example, we are now killing lambs at a much younger age than we used to 25 years ago. If you look at the pattern of kill, virtually our total production from New Zealand is not much different from what it was 25 years ago.”

Fennessey believes that over the next few years, the sheep industry needs to continue the momentum and increase the national lambing percentage, improve ewe weights which will help this and also reduce the ‘disappearance’ rate of ewes. He says at present about 10% of the ewe flock is ‘lost’ each year and this causes significant problems.

“The other big challenge is the competition for grass. The inexorable

march of the dairy industry on grass has seen sheep pushed further back to the hills. About half our sheep are now held on the hard hills – that’s an enormous shift.

“The other one is getting the marketing right. Getting the story right along the whole chain from the farm into the market. The consumer and the farmer are effectively sitting at the same table now. Farmers need to start thinking about farming like the consumer is watching their every move.”

Fennessey says this is fundamental when you have a premium product such as lamb.

The other big challenge for the industry is succession planning and getting good, young people interested in a career in agriculture. He says the sector has got to look at cunning ways to get them there.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

16 news Conflict over environment and animal rights PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

A MASSEY University lecturer says an ‘interesting conflict’ is brewing in New Zealand betweean environmentalists and animal rights activists.

Kevin Stafford, a veterinarian and specialist in animal welfare at Massey University, says the two

groups appear to be on a collision course. Animal welfare activists appear to want pigs and hens outside, while the environmentalists are concerned about the impact of animal waste on free-draining soils.

Stafford says one of the challenges facing the pig industry is animal welfare.

The European Union has just published the findings

of a major study of animal welfare, which includes introducing the concept that animals should be kept in a ‘positive emotional state’ and ‘experience pleasure’. He has difficulty measuring what ‘happiness’ might mean to animals.

“I think you can look at a group of animals that are well-fed, in a comfortable

situation, in a correct social group and say – ‘well they look happy’. They are not aggressive to one another, they are relaxed looking, but beyond making that sort of general observation I am not sure we can do very much.”

According to Stafford, scientists must deal with many issues like malnutrition, disease, physical

discomfort, limited behavioural opportunities, pain and fear. A lot of work has been done by animal scientists on those topics for 30 to 40 years.

“In terms of fear, the concept of having freedom from fear is not what we are talking about. The concept is about limiting the amount of fear. We know in the pig industry if you

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reduce the amount of chronic fear that pigs experience, their productivity increases by 7-10%, a massive increase.

“In the dairy industry, if the cows are unfraid, comfortable and happy you’ll probably increase productivity by 3 to 5%.”

Stafford says people want to see Kevin Stafford animals exhibit ‘normal behaviour’, the EU are calling a ‘posibut this is an ‘interesting’ tive emotional experience’ concept.

I think that is more diffi“Normal means everycult. In fact, I am not too thing and normal means sure what it’s about.” nothing. What we are talkStafford says New Zeaing about when we say the land has a very high stannormal behaviour is what dard of animal welfare by society says is acceptable international standards. behaviour – not what is biological normal or natu@rural_news ral. For animals to live what facebook.com/ruralnews

Food providence

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STAFFORD SAYS that a trendy issue at the moment, with affluent consumers, is that of ‘food providence’.

He says it’s coming from people are concerned about what they eat rather than those just having enough food to eat.

“Food providence is about where food comes from and it concerns mostly people who are eating processed food. It’s probably not such a big issue in New Zealand as it might be in New York.

“It’s about how food is ‘managed’ and that includes animal welfare. It also includes the environment, the behaviour of farmers to their animals and a whole range of issues.”

People in New Zealand, and around the world, are becoming more removed from farming, but still have a perception of what rural life might be. Stafford says, for example, the long running television series Country Calendar gives New Zealanders a certain perception of what rural life is about.

However, he says the majority people are too far removed from the difficulties of making a living from farming.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

18 world

Aussie farmers applaud package FARMER GROUPS across Australia have applauded the Federal Government’s Farm Finance package, unveiled in late April.

It is intended to provide $60 million in loans in each state and the Northern Territory over two years to help farmers restructure their debts.

The money will be administered by the states to farms who can show they are viable but under financial stress.

Extra rural financial counsellors will be hired

to work with agricultural businesses, while a tax relief deposit scheme will be overhauled, including raising the off-farm income threshold to $100,000.

The assistance package follows a rural finance roundtable held in October last year, convened by Mr Swan, who said he had been concerned to hear how farmers had been hit by the high Australian dollar and depreciating land values.

“These are big issues

for our farmers and mean many of our farming businesses find themselves moving towards a negative equity situation,’’ Swan said.

The Western Australia Farmers Federation (WAFarmers) warned farmers that the funding package was unlikely to be available to producers until July, at the earliest. WAFarmers president, Dale Park, said he believed the package would be available from July 1 but the details of exactly how

this would be distributed and who would be eligible was yet to be quantified.

The Federal Government’s Farm Finance package initially offered farmers concessional loans of up to $650,000 over five years, then at market interest rates for the 20-year life of the loan to help them restructure debt and invest in productivity.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Tuohey also welcomed the package.

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BOB KATTER’S Australia Party will working with governments to establish introduce the Fair Milk Mark Bill to the an industry ombudsman and a national Queensland State Parliament, which mandatory code of conduct, and this aims to introduce a fair milk mark on remains the primary focus of our negoa milk bottle that SHOWS the farmer tiations with both major parties,” Tesswas paid a price above the cost of pro- mann said “But we welcome this recognition of duction.

The member for Dalrymple, Shane the crisis from Mr Knuth. It is clear that measures must be Knuth, who will introduce the bill, “The industry remains urgently taken to stem the losses said the market- committed to working being inflicted ing tool would be with governments to on the industry. non-compulsory Without governand hoped it would establish an industry ment action, the “address the market ombudsman and a implications for failures resulting the Queensland from the supermar- national mandatory industry are dire.” ket duopoly”. code of conduct.”

Tesmman said Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation president it was time for the Federal Government Brian Tessmann said most Queensland and the opposition to spell out what dairy farmers are currently receiving their policy intentions are and where prices less than the true cost of produc- they stand in supporting the Queensland industry and other dairy farmers being tion.

Mr Tessmann said the QDO wel- impacted right around Australia.

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“The industry remains committed to admits stronger rules are required.”

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

beef market trends

Market snapshot Meat c/kgCWT

North Island

South Island

Change c/kg

Change c/kg

Last Week

Last Week

BEEF PRICES

LAMB PRICES Change

c/kgCWT NI

lamb market trends

+3

P2 Steer - 300kg

Last Week

2 Wks Ago

Last Year

Change

c/kgCWT

NI Lamb

+2

YM - 13.5kg

Last Week

2 Wks Ago

Last Year

4.25

4.22

4.00

4.83

4.81

5.46

M2 Bull - 300kg

n/c

4.20

4.20

4.10

PM - 16.0kg

+2

4.85

4.83

5.48

P2 Cow - 230kg

n/c

3.40

3.40

3.12

PX - 19.0kg

+2

4.87

4.85

5.50

PH - 22.0kg

+2

4.88

4.86

5.51

Lamb - PM 16.0kg

+2

4.85

+5

4.75

Steer - P2 300kg

+3

4.25

+5

3.85

M Cow - 200kg

n/c

3.28

3.28

2.97

Bull - M2 300kg

n/c

4.20

+5

3.77

Local Trade - 230kg

n/c

4.20

4.20

4.02

Mutton

MX1 - 21kg

+2

2.92

2.90

3.20

Venison - AP 60kg

n/c

6.25

n/c

6.45

P2 Steer - 300kg

+5

3.85

3.80

3.67

SI Lamb

YM - 13.5kg

+5

4.75

4.70

5.41

M2 Bull - 300kg

+5

3.77

3.72

3.80

PM - 16.0kg

+5

4.75

4.70

5.43

P2 Cow - 230kg

n/c

2.90

2.90

2.80

PX - 19.0kg

+5

4.75

4.70

5.45

M Cow - 200kg

n/c

2.70

2.70

2.70

PH - 22.0kg

+5

4.75

4.70

5.46

Local Trade - 230kg

n/c

3.90

3.90

3.85

+5

2.68

2.63

3.15

SI

North Island 16.0kg M Lamb Price $6.5

NZ Slaughter

$5.5 $4.5 $3.5 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

South Island 16.0kg M Lamb Price $6.5

$5.5 5yr Ave Last Year This Year

$4.5

$3.5 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

NZ Slaughter

Estimated Weekly Kill Change

Cattle NI

+5%

41.0

39.1

46.9

50.0

+2%

Lamb NI

+5%

141

135

200

187

Cattle SI

26.7

26.1

25.7

22.7

-13%

238

275

293

280

Cattle NZ

+4%

Lamb SI

67.7

65.2

72.6

72.7

+41%

Lamb NZ

-7%

380

409

493

467

Bull NI

6.9

4.9

5.6

6.9

-25%

38

50

37

62

Bull SI

+13%

Mutton NZ

1.8

1.6

1.8

1.9

Str & Hfr NI

+1%

14.6

14.5

14.4

16.8

Str & Hfr SI

-1%

6.9

7.0

6.2

7.1

Cows NI

-1%

19.5

19.7

26.9

26.3

Cows SI

+3%

18.0

17.5

17.7

13.8

Last Year 5yr Ave

NZ Weekly Beef Kill

80

1000s

Apr

May

Last Year This Year

Mar

5yr Ave Last Year This Year

$3.5 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

South Island 300kg Steer Price

$4.5

Change

Jun

Last Week

2 Wks Ago

Jul

May

Jun

Jul

Last Week

2 Wks Ago

Last Year 5yr Ave

UK Leg £/lb

+5

1.75

1.70

1.68

1.82

NZ$/kg

+18

7.19

7.01

7.70

8.97

Demand Indicator - UK Leg Price Last Year 5yr Ave

95CL US$/lb

-6

2.02

2.08

2.11

1.76

NZ$/kg

-12

5.49

5.61

6.17

5.30

$2.30

Apr

Change

Export Market Demand

$4.0

Last Year 5yr Ave

NZ Weekly Lamb Kill

900 750 600 450 300 150 0

This Year

Mar

3 Wks Ago

Export Market Demand

Last Year

0 Feb

2Wks Ago

Change

Feb

60

20

North Island 300kg Bull Price

Estimated Weekly Kill

3 Wks Ago

40 $4.5

MX1 - 21kg

2Wks Ago

1000s 5yr Ave Last Year This Year

Mutton

Demand Indicator - US 95CL Beef Last Year

£2.50

Last Year This Year

£2.00 £1.50 £1.00 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

This Year

$4.0

$2.10 $3.5

Procurement Indicator Change

2Wks Ago

3 Wks Ago

% Returned NI

-1%

68.8%

69.9%

72.8%

61.7%

% Returned SI

+0%

65.6%

65.6%

72.1%

59.9%

5yr Ave Last Year This Year

$1.90 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

$3.0 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Procurement Indicator

$7.5 $7.0

Change

3 Wks Ago

% Returned NI

+2%

76.5%

74.5%

65.30%

72.8%

% Returned SI

+2%

67.8%

66.0%

61.6%

66.3%

80% 5yr Ave Last Year This Year

$6.5 $6.0 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

South Island 60kg Stag Price

$8.0 $7.5

Procurement Indicator - North I. 2Wks Ago

North Island 60kg Stag Price

$8.0

Last Year 5yr Ave

Procurement Indicator - North I.

Last Year This Year

60% Mar

May

Jul

Procurement Indicator - South I. Last Year This Year

$7.0 $6.5

110% 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% Mar

Last Year This Year

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

70%

80%

5yr Ave

Last Year 5yr Ave

Procurement Indicator - South I. 105% 95% 85% 75% 65% 55% 45% Mar

Last Year This Year

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

70%

Last Year

Venison Prices

This Year

$6.0 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

60% Mar

May

Change

Jul

Beef & venison prices are reported as gross (before normal levies & charges are deducted). Lamb & mutton prices are reported nett (after levies & charges are deducted).

Note: Freight is paid in the North Island but not by all companies in the South Island.

Last Week

2 Wks Ago

Last Year 5yr Ave

NI Stag - 60kg

n/c

6.25

6.25

7.10

7.36

SI Stag - 60kg

n/c

6.45

6.45

7.20

7.64

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

news BEEF

price watch WOOL PRICE WATCH Change

23-May

09-May

Coarse Xbred Indic.

+23

4.25

4.02

4.38

Fine Xbred Indicator

+18

5.03

4.85

5.25

Lamb Indicator

+19

5.00

4.81

5.05

Mid Micron Indic.

+11

8.18

8.07

9.40

Company margins tighten for cattle

Indicators in NZ$

Competition for cattle has resulted in more upward pressure on cattle prices over the last two weeks. Last week 300kg steer were in the $4.20-$4.25/kg range in the North Island and up to $4.30/kg.

South Island prices are also beginning to lift with 300kg steers at $3.85/kg last week. But procurement competition is less pronounced in the south with the cattle kill still running at high levels. While the dollar is lower than it has been, US imported beef prices continue to struggle which is putting more pressure on meat company margins. This is likely to limit the upside for farmgate prices in the short-term. The margin between 95CL bull prices and the farmgate price is now $1.29/kg which is 15% lower than 4 weeks ago and 10% lower than the 5yr average for this time. But farmgate prices in the South Island are likely to close the gap on their North Island counterparts in coming weeks as cattle kill rates diminish.

US cow kill may keep pressure on market Summer is not far around the corner in the US and while rain has fallen in many areas, the regions of importance to the beef industry remain in severe drought. According to Denver's Livestock Marketing Centre, 45% of the US beef cow herd currently resides in states with 40% or more of their pastures rated as poor or very poor compared to just 6% last year. Meyer and Steiner believe this has the potential to pressure the grinding market further as there is every likelihood more cows will be forced out for kill as many have been holding on for the spring rains which have not eventuated.

There are also high numbers of heifers being held for beef cow replacements and these also seem destined for kill as options are limited under the parched conditions.

Wool Indicator Trends

600

CXI

550

North Island lamb prices to crack $5/kg Farmgate prices for lamb have been heading higher in both islands over the last two weeks. Prices in the North Island are poised to break through the $5/kg mark. South Island prices are about 20c/kg lower with the lamb kill there in better shape relatively. But the South Island kill has been dropping quickly and overall the weekly NZ lamb kill is running around 20% lower than last year and 5-year average levels for this time. More rain in most regions, improvements in overseas market prices, the lower dollar and winter supply contract prices are all providing more confidence and certainty in the lamb market. This is definitely evident in store lamb pricing in the North Island in particular where 32kg male lambs prices have lifted by at least 20c/kg in the last 4 weeks. Another winter contract has been released in the North Island recently with prices ranging from $5.25/kg in early July to $5.85/kg in late Oct.

Positive rumblings in overseas lamb markets There has been more optimism shown by NZ exporters in recent weeks as a lack of lamb drives prices up in many of our main overseas markets. UK CKT leg prices saw a sizeable lift recently. UK buyers are aware of NZ’s supply situation and have finally upped their game as their own domestic product is mainly going to the EU. Stocks are gradually being whittled down in the EU and most are expecting positive price movements in the next 4-6weeks in this market. And there are the same expectations for the US market although at present cheap Aussie product is taking precedence.

WOOL Wool prices bolstered by weaker dollar Wool prices at the May 23 wool sale lifted significantly on the back of the softer NZ$ with the weighted currency indicator down 3.9% on the last sale on 9th May. Prices were also underpinned by limited supplies and more buyer interest. The coarse crossbred market indicators lifted 23c/kg or around 5%. But pricing in US dollar terms was steady to slightly easier for most indicators suggesting underlying market demand is only stable.

FXI

LI

Indicators in NZ$/T Butter Skim Milk Powder Whole Milk Powder Cheddar

500 450

Change

Last 2 Wks

Prev. 2 Wks

Last Year 3980

-115

5118

5232

+299

5889

5589

3682

+98

6490

6392

3881

+202

5673

5470

4776

Dairy Prices Trends

7,000

SMP But.

6,000

WMP Ched.

5,000

400

4,000

350 300 May

Jul

Sep

Nov

Jan

3,000 May

Mar

Coarse Xbred Indicator

600

Jul

500

Sep

Nov

Jan

Mar

Whole Milk Powder Price (NZ$)

7,500 Last Year This Year

Last Year

6,500

This Year

5,500 400

4,500

300 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Overseas Price Indicators Indicators in US$/kg Coarse Xbred Indicator Fine Xbred Indicator Mid Micron Indicator

3,500 Mar

23-May

Last Year

09-May

+2

3.42

3.40

3.38

-6

4.04

4.10

4.05

-5

4.02

4.07

3.90

-25

6.58

6.83

7.26

Indicators in US$/T Butter Skim Milk Powder Whole Milk Powder Cheddar

Wool Indicator in US$

550

CXI

500

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Overseas Price Indicators

Change

Lamb Indicator

LAMB

DAIRY PRICE WATCH Last Year

Last 2 Wks

Prev. 2 Wks

Last Year

-250

4150

4400

3000

+75

4775

4700

2775

-113

5263

5375

2925

n/c

4600

4600

3600

Change

Dairy Prices in US$/Tonne

FXI

LI

SMP .But

5,500

450

WMP .Ched

4,500

400 350

3,500

300 250 May

Jul

Sep

Nov

Jan

2,500 May

Mar

Coarse Xbred Indictor in US$ 500 Last Year This Year

450 400 350 300 250 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

6,000 5,500 5,000 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 Mar

CURRENCY WATCH vs. NZ Dollar

Last Week 2 Wks Ago 4 Wks Ago Last Year

0.90

0.811

0.817

0.851

0.754

Euro

0.627

0.634

0.654

0.601

UK pound

0.537

0.535

0.551

0.481

0.75

Aus dollar

0.835

0.832

0.826

0.772

Japan yen

82.79

83.50

84.53

59.97

0.70 Mar

Euro Last Year This Year

0.62 0.58

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Nov

Jan

Mar

Whole Milk Powder Price in US$/T Last Year This Year

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

US Dollar

Aug

Last Year

0.85

US dollar

0.66

Jul

This Year

0.80

UK 0.58 0.56 0.54 0.52 0.50 0.48 0.46 Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Pound Last Year This Year

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

With the support of our award-winning Agri Managers, we can provide you with the knowledge and expertise you need to help your agri business grow. And with access to local product and sector specialists, plus their contacts in local communities and industry bodies, our Agri Managers can introduce you to the people that can help your business succeed. To contact your local Agri Manager call 0800 269 787.

ANZ0934P\TBWA

Rural News // june 4, 2013

22 agribusiness

francis wolfgram Finance Matters

NZ Dairy Market Product

GDT Auction 1 Mth 3 Mths Change in 14/05/2013 Change Change 2013 NZD/Tonne

Whole Milk Powder(WMP)

$5,775

-9.5%

42.5%

52.3%

Skim Milk Powder(SMP)

$5,200

Butter Milk Powder(BMP)

$4,740

-8.4%

20.7%

19.0%

Trade Weighted Index (GDT- TWI)

5,562

-9.4%

33.7%

39.2%

-12.3%

25.6%

30.5%

THE GDT auction on May 15 showed a drop of -9.4% on the Trade Weighted Index (TWI). The whole milk powder (WMP) price was a big contributor down -9.5% and butter milk powder (BMP) down -8.4%. Amongst the other major product groups, skim milk powder (SMP) down a whopping -12.3% suggesting the trim café latte may not be flavour of the month; cheese did not trade. The recent pullback in dairy prices has been understandable due to the huge run they had at the start of the year and drought supply concerns ease.

It’s a mixed bag overseas but in general supply remains low and prices remain high on international dairy markets. The cool-off in prices is healthy; overheated markets create risk for everyone and the reality is the whole milk powder price is up over 50% this year; anyone would have taken that at the start of 2013. The Fonterra TAF launch has been hailed a success, driven firstly by the unit price having risen dramatically and farmers having taken up their right to sell some of the economic rights to the shares. This has given farmers another cashflow option at a handy time, coming after a terrible drought in some parts of the country.

new zealand agri shares NZX Code

Company

Prices as at 27/05/2013

Prices as at 14/05/2013

Change

Divdend Yield

LIC

Livestock Improvement Corporation

$5.80

$6.20

-$0.40

9.22%

SKL

Skellerup Holdings

$1.40

$1.42

-$0.02

8.11%

PGW

PGG Wrightson Limited

$0.35

$0.35

$0.00

9.26%

SAN

Sanford Limited

$4.65

$4.90

-$0.25

7.05%

HBY

Hellaby Holdings

$2.86

$2.97

-$0.11

6.34%

HNZ

Heartland New Zealand

$0.80

$0.81

-$0.01

6.08%

SEK

Seeka Kiwifruit Industries Limited

$1.85

$1.80

$0.05

4.76%

DGL

Delegat’s Group Limited

$4.00

$4.10

-$0.10

3.21%

FSF

Fonterra Units

$7.65

$7.97

-$0.32

1.99%

US Agricultural Commodity Prices Commodity

Units

Live Cattle

USD/Kg

Feeder Cattle Lean Hogs

Price This Price Last Change Issue Issue $2.629

$2.655

-$0.027

USD/Kg

$3.187

$3.233

-$0.046

USD/Kg

$2.057

$1.995

$0.062

Greasy Wool

USD/Kg

$10.75

$10.750

$0.000

Corn

USD/ Bushel

$6.57

$6.395

$0.178

Wheat

USD/ Bushel

$6.975

$7.058

-$0.083

CORN FOR delivery after the US harvest has risen over the last two weeks under speculation the US government is expected to release a report that may show wet weather slowed planting in the Midwest, which will in turn reduce supply. Wheat prices have dropped back as rain improved crops in parts of central Ukraine and north eastern Russia; warm wet weather over the next two weeks will aid wheat development easing world supply concerns.

Hog futures rose to a 10 month high on speculation demand for US pork will increase with beef costs close to a 9-year high. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report on May 23 on meat production over the previous year. Commercial red meat production in the United States totalled 4.09 billion pounds in April, up 6% from the 3.86 billion pounds produced in April 2012. Beef production, at 2.13 billion pounds, was 7% above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totalled 2.73 million head, up 6% from April 2012. Pork production totalled 1.94 billion pounds, up 5% from the previous year. Hog slaughter 9.36 million head, up 6% from April 2012. The average live weight was down 1 pound from the previous year at 277 pounds.

NOT UNLIKE the dairy market the New Zealand share market (NZX) has had a pullback recently and again the reasons are somewhat similar – a natural cool off after a steep price rise. The agrishares we cover in this article are all those that pay dividends listed on the NZX under the sector category ‘primary’. This is the category of the Fonterra shareholders fund. From now on we will cover the exact shares in the NZX primary sector share index.

Despite the mix of shares the primary sector is poorly represented on the NZX overall. Some traditional New Zealand businesses think of the sharemarket as a place of risk which of course it is, but it’s also a place for industry to raise capital and for any New Zealand agribusiness looking to expand, the sharemarket can be looked at as a place to raise capital. We will bring you information of the relationship between the primary industries sector and the New Zealand sharemarket. Any share discussed is by no means a recommendation to buy or sell any particular share, but simply a representation of what is happening in the companies listed in the NZX primary sector share index.

This table and information is in no way a recommendation to buy or sell any share but a list of New Zealand agrishares that have the highest dividends.

Please consult your financial advisor before entering into any sharemarket investment.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

agribusiness 23

Zespri running to keep ahead of game pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

THE GLOBAL business environment is evolving so quickly it’s “about running to keep up so we are not made obsolete,” Zespri chief Lain Jager says.

“Two high-level strategic thoughts occupy our minds: where will our growth come from and how can we develop our advantage so we can make a margin and be profitable?” he told the Go Global export conference in Auckland.

Jager outlined three main areas of growth: developing markets such as ASEAN, China, Middle East, Brazil, Mexico – and it takes time and resource.

Another avenue of growth is new products.

Releasing Zespri Gold in the last few years generated “fantastic” returns.

“Just as importantly it develops something exciting in the market – it gives us something to sell to our retail partners,” he says.

“Finally, we are marketing health – people are concerned and do want quality food. It’s a really crowded space, and so deep questions are asked about how you differentiate yourself.”

Jager said Zespri is owned by 2700 kiwifruit growers with 13,000ha

World domination JAGER SAYS Zespri wants to have the leading portfolio of kiwifruit products globally.

A range of new competitor Gold products are coming through, but just having Gold is not sustainable as Zespri’s competitive advantage.

He says they need new products, the best Green and Gold and a quality that’s recognisable through the brand.

“What underpins the brand and our ability to differentiate our brand is the quality of the offering,” Jager explains. “We talk about single point of entry, integrated industry model. That’s about not competing with each other to innovate to develop these cultivars, to market the offering, but working together in some parts of the supply chain.”

He says having products available 12 months of the year was important to retail partners and distributors.

“So suddenly you have gone from a seasonal business to a 12-month-a-year business and it’s just got a whole lot more value to it.”

and about 400,000 tonnes of kiwifruit per annum exported globally. They also sourced fruit from Japan, Korea, Italy and France. To illustrate the degree of competition, Jager showed a photo of a few of New Zealand’s “brown and hairy kiwifruit” lost in an array of competing and colourful fruit in a display.

“So how are you going to develop margin?

There’s one way I am pretty sure you’re not – that is by going into the commodity business.”

He says New Zealand is too small and too far

from markets to make a margin in the commodity space. “Really successful commodity businesses are based on low-cost production, proximity to markets, low-cost access to capital. That’s not us, so we’ve got to differentiate.”

Zespri has about one third of the global kiwifruit trade and about three-quarters of the margin. “That’s the differentiate story, that’s the premium story.”

He says to be in the high margin differentiated space you have to invest disproportionately

in R&D, design, marketing and after-sales service. “So where do you compete, where to you cooperate? I heard John Banks say the other morning Zespri is a monopoly, I thought that was very rude.”

New Zealand kiwifruit growers do work together in some functions of the supply chain, he said.

They work together in distribution management, branding, marketing, innovation and export operations.

“The total amount of capital the New Zealand kiwifruit growers have invested in that part of the business model is $70m.

Zespri doesn’t grow kiwifruit, we don’t pack kiwifruit, we certainly don’t distribute kiwifruit in the markets; if you look at the capital invested in those parts of the supply chain – that’s about $3.5b.”

Jager says there’s a genuine question for New Zealand export business about where you work collaboratively to build scale and where you compete.

He said it’s an important question when thinking about the incentive design of your business.

He said people rarely talk about incentive design but it’s important in building a differentiated supply chains.

“We have people grow-

ing kiwifruit and post-harvest partners worth about $600m and we’ve got big distribution partners offshore – much bigger than Zespri. And we’ve got massive retail partners offshore.”

Zespri chief executive Lain Jager says New Zealand export businesses should look at where they collaborate to build scale and where they compete.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

24 agribusiness

Kiwi firm tackles burger giant at home PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

US ICONIC company McDonald’s may have dumped lambburgers – but a thriving New Zealand fast-food company plans to take on the land of beef and burgers on its home ground.

After a successful drive

into the Middle East, Burger Fuel, whose premium burgers are based on New Zealand beef, is strategising to enter the US, says New Zealand Trade and Enterprise chief executive Peter Chrisp.

“Talk about coals to Newcastle,” Chrisp joked at the GoGlobal conference for exporters in

Auckland recently. “Burger Fuel is not just premium quality but they get a premium price, built fresh on Anzco beef.”

He was using Burger Fuel as an example of food and beverage going premium and leveraging the New Zealand story. Chrisp cited it as a big trend in future exporting along

with more processing of our primary produce: food processing has grown 15% annually over the last 10 years. Food research and development is also growing and he is excited to see Callaghan Innovation enter the scene. “They are going to get behind a lot of companies and accelerate that innovation.”

The digital sector in New Zealand is also on the up, he said citing another company involved with the primary sector – TracMap. “They have generated a 20% increase in the productivity of fertiliser application by using GPS technology…. This is the story of this country; because we have been

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isolated a long way from the world, because we are small, we’ve got this ingenuity built into our DNA.” Chrisp said another trend is working together.

The big models such as Zespri and Fonterra have done a great job of building scale by collaboration, he said. But we are now seeing smaller companies sharing to build brand or the development costs of the supply chain. Some are sharing as they get to the market, others earlier in the process, in research and technology. “This not in our DNA to do this – this is counter DNA – but it is really important.”

There are a lot of opportunities, Chrisp said, but New Zealand is limited by scale – an export “peanut”. People are changing their business models, going premium and becoming design-led.

Australia: facing problems but still the best first market and an extension of the domestic market.

Phil O’Reilly, chief executive of BusinessNZ, said ASEAN presents big opportunities for us.

But some of those coun-

NZTE chief executive Peter Chrisp says New Zealanders have ingenuity in their DNA.

tries are the hardest in the world to do business with.

“So some of the challenges for ASEAN is about where you go, how you de-risk your process.”

But with Australia facing headwinds and Europe in difficulty, it is time to look at growth opportunities in less obvious areas. He is seeing increasing confidence among New Zealand businesses. They have accepted the “new normal” and decided to be successful in spite of issues such as traditional markets in disarray or the high dollar.

Asia not just China NEW ZEALAND businesses talk about their Asia strategy, but actually they are only talking about China, says Greg Reynolds, manager director of Your Business in Asia.

“It is important to realise this other dynamic is happening – South East Asia and India,” he told the Go Global conference.

“Why would you put all your eggs in one basket and in an economy that’s going through lots of changes when there are other economies and a dynamic happening in this region? Are you busy thinking that China is Asia and therefore I should go there?

“There’s 600 million plus people in ASEAN and so many economies at different levels there’s a dynamic happening. Arguably it’s perhaps easier to get into.”

If you have mega production China is great, he said, but if not, maybe you should be somewhere else. The Philippines has a long attachment to the USA and Australia is heavily involved in Indonesia, so he did not think they were a good bet unless an exporter had a particular strategy.

With New Zealand as a country of small-tomedium enterprises, he thought they have better opportunities in central Asia, such as Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. Although he gets many inquiries about Myanmar, there’s no “quick buck” except for major infrastructure at present.

“You have these two major Asia economies, China and Vietnam, looking and talking to each other and looking for trade; you have this whole dynamic in the centre of ASEAN area. Some people say I am anti-China; all I am saying is there is another way of looking at the whole Asian region.”

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

26 opinion editorial

edna

Focus needed THERE ARE growing concerns about the actions – or lack of them in many cases – of the Ministry for Primary Industries in relation to its core functions.

Reports that many hundreds of tonnes of New Zealand meat were held up on the wharves of China for almost a month, due to certification issues supposedly managed by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), has only added to these.

This latest China meat issue comes on top of a number of other problems that can be traced right back to MPI’s door. These include how and why the Psa disease that has decimated our kiwifruit industry was allowed into New Zealand, worries about the cleanliness of PKE imports from Malaysia, and the pig industry’s continuing court action over allowing fresh pork imports into New Zealand and the attendant risk of bringing the deadly PRRS disease to our shores.

And to top it all off, current director general Wayne McNee is about to pack his bags and head for the greener pastures of LIC. This potential leadership vacuum, and repeated failures of what should be core business functions for MPI, is a major concern for the primary sector and the wider economy.

As Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said, in relation to the Chinese meat export debacle, “Accurately certifying exports of New Zealand agricultural goods is a core function of the ministry and this mistake should never have occurred. Officials have a responsibility to meat exporters and to all New Zealanders to get the basic details right.”

Guy now must act quickly to tidy up and steady the ship at MPI. A good start would be the appointment of a strong, practical and demanding new chief executive to replace McNee. MPI’s new boss must ensure the ministry is clearly focussed on its core functions and be quick to reprimand – and replace if necessary – staff who are not up to their jobs. Accountability should not just be expected, but demanded.

The predictably partisan political call by Labour’s Damien O’Connor for Guy to resign over the Chinese meat issue does not do him, or the wider primary sector, any favours. The minister did not cock up the certification issue; it was staff at MPI who did, and that is where the blame should and does lie.

Meanwhile, O’Connor’s ‘back to the future’ fix for MPI by reinstating the old Food Safety, Biosecurity and MAF bureaucracies is the last thing the ministry needs or the sector wants. If Labour seriously believes that more bureaucracy, public servants and red tape is the answer to taking our primary sector – and the country – forward, then they deserve to continue to languish in opposition.

RURAL NEWS HEAD OFFICE POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 3855, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140 PUBLISHER: Brian Hight .............................................. Ph 09 307 0399 GENERAL MANAGER: Adam Fricker ........................................... Ph 09 913 9632 CONSULTING EDITOR: David Anderson .......................................Ph 09 307 0399 davida@ruralnews.co.nz

“I know pipes are frozen, the power’s down, feed is short and the stock are stranded but be reasonable Edna – I can’t miss Fieldays!”

the hound

Want to share your opinion or gossip with the Hound?

Send your emails to: hound@ruralnews.co.nz

Dying region?

Famous!

Feel the hate!

THE HOUND sees that controversial regional council Horizons Regional Council recently trumpeted the release of its latest ‘State of Environment’ report. According to HRC, this report provides a snapshot of the region’s land, air and water resources. As a mate of the Hound’s opined, it will be interesting to see how HRC’s next report looks in 5-7 years – particularly in relation to the amount of productive farmland left in the region – if its highly unpopular One Plan is implemented in its current state. As they say: watch this space.

YOUR OLD mate notes that former MP Aaron Gilmore saw his career go down the toilet after a boozy night out and asking a waiter: “Did he know who he was”. Well it seems the disease of being a big-noter is not restricted to no-name politicians. Your canine crusader notes that rural broadcaster and Farming Show host Jamie ‘do you know who I am’ McKay tried a similar trick after a boozy weekend at the national 7s rugby weekend. A complaint against Newstalk ZB’s Farming Show host was recently upheld by the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

THE HOUND has noticed a real upping of ante – and the ‘anti’ – between Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and his Labour counterpart Damien O’Connor over the past couple of months.

O’Connor has been quick to put the boot into Guy – even insinuating the Minister is to blame for things such as lack of meat industry reform, biosecurity incursions and Chinese blockades of our meat exports.

Meanwhile, Guy has been quick to retaliate by jumping on a reversal in Labour Party support for the Ruataniwha water scheme in the Hawkes Bay as proof that O’Connor is impotent in the Labour team. Must be an election on the horizon!

TECHNICAL EDITOR: Andrew Swallow ................... Ph 03 688 2080 PRODUCTION: Dave Ferguson ........................Ph 09 913 9633 Becky Williams ........................Ph 09 913 9634 REPORTERS: Sudesh Kissun ....................... Ph 09 913 9627 Pamela Tipa ............................ Ph 09 913 9630 Peter Burke .............................Ph 06 362 6319 SUB-EDITOR: Neil Keating ............................Ph 09 913 9628 WEBSITE PRODUCER: James Anderson .................... Ph 09 913 9621

A bit of a deer Another WHILE RURAL News record year?

Group’s erstwhile competitor NZX generously sponsor the deer industry awards, this old mutt suggests that in future when it comes to the ‘miniature trophy’ presented to the winner, the stock market owners might spend a few extra bucks and invest in a more robust award. As their representative prepared to hand the miniature over at the prestigious awards, it was discovered that one of the antlers on the deer had broken off so the winner was left holding the trophy and a spare bit of antler. Not exactly fantastic plastic – a bit like the sponsor’s publications!

YOUR OLD mate is often accused of being cynical about his views on life and that is probably a fair cop – especially at this time of year with National Fieldays just around the corner. Because without fail, this mutt reckons, we will soon start seeing a whole lot of media hype from Fieldays organisers about record crowds, record spending and record records. I guess no one can ever accuse the Fieldays crowd of having a lack of enthusiasm or theatre.

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER: Ted Darley .......... Ph 07 854 6292/021 832 505 ted@ruralnews.co.nz

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SOUTH ISLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Kaye Sutherland Ph 03 337 3828/021 221 1994 kayes@ruralnews.co.nz

TAURANGA SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Tony Hopkinson .. Ph 07 579 1010/021 949 226 hoppy1@clear.net.nz

ABC audited circulation 80,767 as at 31.12.2012

Rural News is published by Rural News Group Ltd. All editorial copy and photographs are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions or comments expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of staff, management or directors of Rural News Group Ltd.

Rural News // june 4, 2013

opinion 27

Steady as she goes Budget 2013 IAN PROUD FOOT

NATIONAL’S FIFTH budget was possibly its most political offering to date, with little to excite the business community in general and the primary sector specifically.

From an economic perspective, the Government has essentially served up more of the same for the coming year: tight limits on spending, continued investment to support Christchurch’s recovery, more mixed ownership IPOs and modest spending to support the Government’s business growth agenda.

At face value there is little in the budget for the primary sector in gen-

eral, or the dairy sector specifically. This is best demonstrated by there having been only one budget media release from the Minister for Primary Industries. This related to the budget’s confirmation of the Government’s pre-existing pledge to pay $80 million from the Future Fund as seed capital for irrigation schemes.

The budget contained no new specific initiatives for the primary sector despite the Government’s desire to have exports lead the economy’s recovery.

Looking through the funding plans set out in Vote Primary Industries, other than an allowance of $65 million for aquaculture settlements with iwi,

the most notable feature is a $3.5 million reduction in funding for domestic and border biosecurity. In light of the recent report from the auditorgeneral on biosecurity preparedness we are surprised to see a real decrease in spending on this critical area in the budget.

A key component of

the budget is the $400 million export focused growth package. This provides new funding for research and simplifies various programmes into two targeted schemes, depending on the scale of a company’s investment, which should somewhat benefit the primary sector. The export package also increases

funding for promoting tourism and education, particularly in Asian markets.

We have argued in recent years, that the most significant contribution the government could make to developing primary sector export markets would be to fund companies to employ

local people in Asia to grow market knowledge and assist in developing products that meet the needs of consumers. A fraction of the $200 million being spent on tourism and education could be transformational to many developing agri-food exporters growing their market positions in Asia.

The industry should be grateful that in general the Government is comfortable allowing it the freedom to take responsibility for its own future without loading it up with additional regulations and cost.

• Ian Proudfoot is global sector leader for agribusiness, KPMG in New Zealand.

ag twits Rural News’ irreverent and hypothetical look at what’s happening in the farming world

NO

Top Bleats view all jamiefarmingshow: I am a very powerful and important man don’t you know – just like my good mate @aarongilmoreformermp. So don’t mess with me! #dontyouknowwhoiam thatguynathan: All that New Zealand meat stuck in ships off the coast of China was not the only things frozen around here. Me and my @MPI team moved like a slow-moving glacier on this problem! #norush

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damienoconnormp: Typical @thatguynathan letting Chinese push you around again. If I was minister, I’d tell those little, yellow buggers they can’t buy our farms but must buy our meat. #talktoughinopposition thatguynathan: Hey @damienoconnormp at least I don’t have a reject ex-MP like @stuartnash setting my party’s policy on agriculture and water storage! #upyours richardyoungmie: I’m very happy to report that our Meat Industry Excellence Group is making wonderful progress on industry reform.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

28 opinion

Rural input vital for constitutional reforms DairyNZ board chair and farmer Hon John Luxton, a member of the Constitutional Advisory Panel, is encouraging rural people to be part of shaping New Zealand’s future.

OUR RURAL communities and our rural businesses remain the backbone to New Zealand’s success.

The pragmatism and clearsightedness of rural people is essential to the public debate we’re currently having about how the country is run, and what’s important for our future.

I’ve noticed people’s eyes glaze over when I

mention the word ‘constitution’. Many people don’t know we have a constitution at all. What happens then, if we frame this conversation around people sharing their aspirations, their ideas and hopes for the future?

On the land we’re concerned with this year’s weather and prices, this year’s climate so far as it

affects our businesses.

Nationally our discussions are often limited to thinking in terms of the three-year parliamentary cycle. But as the cochair of the Constitutional Advisory Panel, Sir Tipene O’Regan, has said, we’re getting better at projecting ahead. He used the example of how we’ve come on board, as a country, with

a national superannuation programme that commits us all to saving for our futures.

You’ve probably thought about farm development for the future, and about your family’s future, and what you want for them. Our conversation about the constitution isn’t so far away from that – what’s working, what

isn’t, and how could we improve it?

Our constitution has been described by some commentators as a road map, a declaration of how we want to move forward as a country. Others have said it’s difficult to see how the constitution is relevant in our day-to-day lives. There’s no doubt it’s relevant: the constitution

John Luxton

determines who exercises power and the checks and balances on that power.

It also protects people’s rights.

The panel wants to hear your views on: 1. The pros and cons of having our constitution written down in a single document.

2. The role of the Bill of Rights Act 1990 in our constitution.

tution would encompass those values they held dear – from job security for young people, and specialist education for disabled people, through to Treaty of Waitangi issues, and the feeling that New Zealand can be home to people from many nations.

What are the things that you want to protect?

What about the Treaty of Waitangi, where does it

What are the things that you want to protect? What about the Treaty of Waitangi, where does it belong? Inside the constitution, or an umbrella over it? Or elsewhere?

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3. The role of the Treaty of Waitangi in our constitution.

4. Maori representation in local and national government.

5. Electoral issues, such as the size of the Parliament and length of its term.

If you’re happy with the status quo, it’s just as vital for you to make a submission. If you don’t, then a reasonable assumption is that you’re happy with the outcome, whatever it is. Making a submission is just as important as casting your vote in the parliamentary elections.

A group of young people met in Wellington recently to ask questions about the constitution.

They began by thinking about their favourite things about New Zealand – ranging from pure water and clean beaches to whitebait, and the fact that we’re small enough to have an active, national debate about how we might prepare for the future. They talked about what was most important to them, and following on from that, what sort of consti-

belong? Inside the constitution, or an umbrella over it? Or elsewhere?

The website www.ourconstitution.org.nz has resources and an easy-touse submission guide. All the resources are available free of charge through the website or you may prefer to order the printed material by phoning 0508 411 411. We also have a Facebook page at www.facebook. com/TheConstitutionConversation, where you can find out what others are saying. Submissions must be in by July 1.

Footnote: As well as being a member of the government-appointed Constitutional Advisory Panel, Hon John Luxton is chair of DairyNZ and has farming interests supplying Fonterra, Westland and Tatua. He’s a former Minister of Agriculture, was a cabinet minister for nine years, and spent seven years in international agricultural consulting. As a farmer he was an A.C. Cameron award winner. He is a trustee of the Massey University Foundation, and is co-chair of the Waikato River Authority.

Rural News // june 4, 2013

opinion 29

NZ farming is truly a super power SITTING IN the World Farmers Organisation general assembly in Japan – the ‘UN of farming’ – I was struck by how farmers feed families the world over.

The farmers there came from the developing world right through to the economic elite of the G8.

New Zealand may be small in population, but we are an agricultural super power. And there I became the Oceania board representative on the WFO; it is amazing to be engaged in farmer-to-farmer diplomacy.

Every second, at least two more humans are born into the world than leave it so the world needs its farmers. Feeding the globe is a huge opportunity to take our farming skills, knowledge and abilities out into the world, something some of our exporters are doing. Yet farmers are also critical to the wise management of the world’s precious land and water resources.

It is not smooth sailing because one of the biggest problems farmers face revolves around trade barriers and subsidies.

Earlier this year, Beef+Lamb NZ put the cost of tariffs on New Zealand’s red meat exports at an amazing $19,000 for each farm.

Extend that to our other primary exports and you get an idea of what tariffs are costing not just us, but all New Zealanders. Imagine what effect this has upon developing economies.

Federated Farmers is convinced trade barriers have to go if we are to create a level playing field.

It is not just an economic imperative but a moral one.

Through agreements like the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership), New Zealand will be negotiating trade barriers away.

For developing economies, tariffs and subsidies are an insidious poverty trap.

Doing something about these barriers and blockages to trade is what the WFO general assembly has committed itself to.

The WFO has agreed a landmark trade policy.

At least 50 farming

bodies are committed to the parallel elimination of export subsidies combined with discipline on all export measures which have similar effects.

Strengthened rules like this should apply to export prohibition/restriction and taxes on exports too.

It is simply unprecedented for farmer organisations to work together to reduce trade-distorting domestic support. Yet this does not mean unfettered trade as the policy allows for special and differential treatment for developing and the least developed countries.

Getting 50 countries to agree to anything is a challenge and you do not get perfect outcomes. We had to compromise on geographical indications and country-of-origin requirements, but what we got in return was their use to distinguish rather than become, potentially, non-tariff trade barriers.

We also saw strong support for the World Trade Organisation concluding multilateral trade negotiations like Doha. Yet, WTO compatible bilateral and regional trade agreements, like the TPP, also work.

Maybe the New Zealand story, in which farming has gone from sunset to sunrise, provides inspiration.

Until it joined the European Union (EU) in 1973, Britain was our alpha and omega. We grew meat and fibre and sent it north along with 90% of our butter and 75% of our cheese. In return, we got British Leyland vehicles of dubious quality; but that changed when Britain entered the EU. Our economy and outlook has reoriented towards Europe, the United States and Asia.

Putting one or two interventionist hiccups to one side, we eventually followed in the late Margaret Thatcher’s economic footsteps.

Meeting farmers in Japan is significant in another regard. Japan is New Zealand’s fourthlargest trading partner and recently announced its intention to join negotiations on the TPP. While we are a net food exporter Japan is the world’s largest net food importer. Our two economies have a nat-

ural synergy and 20 years ago our two-way trade was about ten times greater than our then two-way trade with China. Today, that trade is about half of our trade with China.

Part of that change reflects China’s impressive economic growth but it is really an advertisement for trade access and

openness. Since 2008, when we signed the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement, New Zealand’s exports to that country have trebled.

Trade helps to even out demand and supply while helping to meet the world’s ever-increasing need for food. Providing farmers everywhere with

increased market opportunities helps to improve incomes, prosperity and economic growth. That benefits not only rural communities but all communities • Bruce Wills is the President of Federated Farmers and is the Oceania Board member for the World Farmers Organisation (WFO).

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

30 management

Te Hape wraps up Ahuwhenua On Friday night, the winner of this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy for excellence in Maori farming will be announced at a huge gala dinner in Hawkes Bay. Peter Burke reports from Te Hape Station and the last of this year’s three finalists’ field days.

ABOUT 40km southeast of Te Kuiti on State Highway 30 is Te Hape Station.

It’s near the small settlement of Bennydale and neighbours a number of

other Maori trust operations, notably Wairarapa Moana.

Te Hape’s 4,641ha farm is split into two management blocks with cattle

and sheep handling facilities at each end of its length. Stock units total 30,781, comprising 20,374 Perendale sheep and 2,256 Angus-based cattle. The

property also contains some very sacred sites relating to their ancestor Rereahu.

The station is run by Te Hape B Trust which has

854 beneficial owners or shareholders. Such widespread ownership is typical of Maori Trusts and it presents challenges.

Heading Te Hape B is Hardie Pene. If the name sounds familiar it’s probably because of the public profile he’s gained bidding against Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin to acquire two dairy farms originally owned by the Crafar empire.

Pene might come across as a fairly ‘laid back’ character, but his commitment, passion and leadership qualities over the years have lifted performance of Te Hape’s farming. He says they entered the Ahuwhenua Awards to get a good benchmark on the operation and raise the profile of Te Hape B. Pene has been involved in the Trust for 17 years and says it was his ‘nannies’ who saw that he had

the leadership qualities to become involved.

Good governance is one of the reasons why the station has been so successful, he believes, and it’s an issue Pene has some strong views on.

“It’s important that you aspire to the principle that governance is not management. I don’t expect to see any of my trustee colleagues come down to the farm, rolling up their sleeves and mucking in with the staff. Their role is to set the policy and direction and ensure their strategic intent is carried through,” he says.

Making a profit is a key goal. Judges in the early rounds stated they were impressed with Te Hape’s average gross farm revenue of $831/ha/year, 2% higher than the Beef + Lamb New Zealand farm survey benchmark average for the class of property. Judges also noted earnings before interest, tax and rent was $288/ha, 4% above the benchmark average.

Good as those figures may be, Pene says they’re still in the development phase and are only 80% there. Regrassing and fertiliser are two big ticket items, while continuing to pay cash dividends and grants to their shareholders.

“We pay 30% of our net profit as a dividend and on top of that we have education grants that we pay to our people. We also give money to the eight Marae that whakapapa back to the whenuua or the decedents of Rereahu,” he says.

As with all Maori farms, environmental issues rank alongside profitability. The Trust has set aside1200ha in a Nga Whenua Rahui covenant, equivalent to a QE II covernant.

Te Hape has a history of entrepreneurship. At one stage it was among the largest organic sheep and beef farms in the country but markets failed to live up to expectation so conventional practices resumed. It is now

Lambing at 130% is the target with the Perendale ewe flock.

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management 31

Trophy finalists’ field days which turned about 350ha into highly productive pasture but was put on hold in 2007, is back underway with another 150ha earmarked for development.

Winter crops of swedes and kale are mainly used for finishing cattle.

McNae says a lot of progress has been made in Trust chairman Hardie Pene with his niece at the field day.

Farm manager Ian Valler.

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Ian Valler is the farm manager, with six staff helping him run the property.

He’s a fan of Perendales, having farmed them before coming to Te Hape.

“I like the hardiness of them. They are free moving and very good mothers. They are easy to work with and suit this type of country.”

Lambing percentage is up to about 122% and Valler is targeting 130%.

They mate hoggets with about three-quarters of them getting in lamb producing a drop of about 80%.

Calving percentage for the mainly Angus herd is about 88%.

Valler says he loves the locality, despite its cold winters. Grass growth can be virtually nil for up to four months so one of his key targets is growing enough feed to winter ewes and cows, and finish the last of the lambs. The end of May is when he aims to have all lambs gone, with the help of plantain as a summer crop.

“We’ve sown plantain for the last three years,” says AgFirst consultant Darren McNae, who advises on the station.

“The confidence to do that came from a three year trial run on the farm

by PGG Wrightsons. Plantain was one of the crops they used and we saw that it could perform in this environment and were encouraged by it.”

Some 60ha has now been sown and a re-grassing programme started in the early 2000s,

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investigating a manuka honey operation, which could involve replanting manuka on land which was cleared of the species back in the 1940s and 50s.

Success has not come easily for the station. When the farm was handed back to the Trust in 1974 it came with $2.5 million debt which they had to pay off.

“One of the concerns was that this property contained a number of significant Waahi tapu sites and at the time the bank owned the mortgage over the property. We were always fearful if we didn’t satisfy the banks and make the payments we would lose the property.”

Pene says being an Ahuwhenua finalist is important to the trust and its people. For too long they have been critical of what’s been done on the properties and poor in celebrating success.

At 500m above sealevel, the station presents challenges, notably growing sufficient feed and supplement for stock.

However, the contour isn’t too severe, mostly rolling, and winter brassicas are grown for ewes and cattle, with plantain used to finish lambs.

Nearly 200 people turned out for the field day and while rain threatened, it held off sufficiently for visitors to view key locations and developments, and hear from farm staff and advisors.

farm facts

win the coveted award this year will be revealed Friday (June 7). Te Hape’s fellow finalists are Te Uranga B2, Tauramanui, and Te Awahohono Forest Trust’s Tarawera Station, Hawkes Bay. Alternatively go to www. ruralnews.co.nz for back issues online.

the last four years.

“We have seen a system that was giving from just under 200kg/ha of product to a system that in the last year produced 249kg/ha out the gate – that’s close to a 25% improvement. In the next three years we could lift this to 270 kgs.”

Which finalist will

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

32 management

Cutting edge nitrate loss research at SDF Ground-breaking nitrate loss research, the year’s performance, and a glimpse of next year’s budget were on the agenda at a recent Southland (dairy) Demonstration Farm focus day. Andrew Swallow reports.

YOU’VE GOT

LICE

FOR MOST months of last year the Tomoporakau Stream leaving the Southland Demonstration Farm contained less nitrate than when it flowed onto the property.

While that finding from groundbreaking research by Lincoln University – with funding from Ravensdown – is good news for the farm and possibly the wider dairy industry, it is just a first year finding, stress the researchers involved.

“This is a really challenging but interesting project,” Lincoln University’s Prof Keith Cameron told a recent focus day held near the farm.

“The question we were asked to answer was what impact is the Southland Demonstration Farm having on the stream?” While it’s a simple question, answering it is far more complex, as Cameron relayed.

Detailed GPS mapping of the relatively flat farm found 138ha of the 295ha drains into the stream. How much water drains is calculated by deducting evapotranspiration from rainfall, and when it drains is worked out by monitoring groundwater levels across the farm.

When the water table is high, the farm contributes to stream flow;

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Pleasing result: Lincoln’s prof Keith Cameron checks the nitrate reading in the stream after the focus day.

when it’s low the stream contributes to groundwater. During low-flow periods water entering the farm in the stream can take 50 to 100hours to reach the exit point; during high flows “it could be just an hour,” says Cameron.

A network of groundwater sensors has been set up across the farm to monitor groundwater level, and flow meters installed in box-section inlets and outlets where the stream enters and exits the farm, so the amount of water coming onto and off the farm via the stream can be measured.

The final part of the monitoring is continuously piping samples from those entry and exit points to two $25,000 sensors which log the nitrate content of the stream water using UV light in real-time.

What they’ve revealed is that the nitrate content is highly variable, from 0.1mg/L at one point in February last year, to a couple of spikes of nearly 13mg/L in early June.

During those spikes, nitrate content of the stream increased as it crossed the farm, but from July through to the latest data presented, nitrate content was nearly always lower in water leaving the farm (see graph).

Total nitrate loss from the farm down the stream equated to 43kgN/ha, which correlates well with the

three-year mean calculated by Overseer of 48kgN/ha.

Cameron noted most of the nitrate leaching loss from the farm was in winter. “At that time of year the stream will be cold so the biological impact of leaching occurring here is probably less than if it was in summer.”

The fact the farm winters-on also means it is likely to experience higher nitrate losses than a farm that sends the herd away for wintering. Last winter about 11.5ha of winter crop was grazed in the stream catchment area.

This year it’s a similar area, though the farm has nearly 32ha of crop in total.

Farm manager Barry Bethune suggests a large effluent pond commissioned in the spring could mean a better result from this year’s monitoring, but Cameron counters that without eco-n “it’s possible we’ll see an increase in nitrogen lost.”

However, with only one year’s data so far, the headline message to date is to beware of spot readings of water nitrate content. “Simply taking low resolution nitrate spot readings and not measuring full water dynamics could lead to misleading conclusions about the environmental footprint of the farm,” he warned.

With $350,000 invested over three years already, another conclusion is that “this is a really expensive thing to do: it’s extremely difficult and time consuming,” he said to Rural News.

Rural News // june 4, 2013

management 33 On course to beat budget only 4% of the herd below 4.0, De Klerk and farm manager Barry Bethune are confident they can still get to BCS 5.0 at calving. “Last year we averaged one BCS put on over winter.”

They’ve split the herd three ways into light, medium and fat mobs.

During the last couple of weeks of the season the “fat” mob weren’t on any supplement, and were grazed furthest from the shed, while the lights got

vious seasons, better than most farms, while still achieving gains in BCS. With winter fodder crop yields across Southland back 15-30% on normal, and the demonstration farm being no exception, the importance test cuts and dry matter measurement to accurately assess feed available was stressed at the

extra feed and short walks.

Over winter the lights will get the most and best winter feed allocation: 15kgDM/head/day made up one-third baleage, twothirds fodder beet.

The medium mob are on 7-8kgDM/day of fodder beet with 4-5kgDM/day of baleage, and the fat mob are on swedes.

“We’re targeting our early calving cows and light cows with the fodder beet,” says Bethune.

Heifers are on 10kgDM/ day of a 50/50 allocation of kale and baleage.

Baleage has been preplaced at 6m intervals in all paddocks to minimise damage feeding out during winter.

“Two years ago we had it along the fencelines thinking we could grow a bit extra crop and put it in afterwards but we did heaps of damage to the paddocks.”

Portable water troughs are used, secured to stakes to ensure they’re not tipped over, and breaks back-fenced so cows have two days area to feed/loaf on.

“It’s a simple system with one shift a day. In bad weather last year we did occasionally do double shifts but I’m not sure we gained anything from that.”

Analysis of residues as part of Dairy NZ’s Southern Wintering Systems project shows 80-90% utilisation achieved in pre-

field day.

One farmer present suggested taking 4m or 5m lengths of a fodder beet row and dividing by 2.0 or 2.5 to get back to 1m2 is a much better bet than the standard 2m length, assuming 50cm row-spacing.

His point was endorsed

by PGW representatives present.

The Tomoporakau Stream on Southland’s dairy demonstration farm.

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DESPITE A three month “green drought” the Southland Demonstration Farm is set to beat budget, thanks to better-than-predicted production exceeding a slight over-run in costs.

The 295ha, 800-cow unit was 6% ahead of budget production when it hosted its final field day of the year last month, though at one point it was 15% ahead.

That extra production has diluted 2% overbudget costs, mainly due to blow-outs on animal health, repairs and maintenance, vehicles and wages, to bring farm working expenses in under budget at $3.99/ kgMS. Local accountant data for 2011/12 season shows average FWE in the area to be $4.58/kgMS, said consultant Howard de Klerk, a member of the farm’s management team, at the recent focus day. “So $3.99 is a good achievement.”

Production per hectare and per cow tracked above all previous seasons until April, when 12 weeks of dry weather started to hit home, despite extra feeding. The dry followed floods in January. “So it wasn’t just an easy season that’s making the figures look good,” noted de Klerk.

Grass growth through February, March and April tracked around 25kgDM/ ha, when the average for the farm through those months is more like 60kgDM/ha. To compensate, an average of 4.3kgDM/cow/day of supplement was fed, with up to 6.4kgDM/cow/day at one point.

For the latter part of the dry the supplement wasn’t so much for production, as maintaining body condition and protecting pasture, said de Klerk. “If we hadn’t put in that extra feed they would have decked it completely.”

As it was, pasture growth bounced back to over 50kgDM/ha following a good rain at the end of April, but has since dropped back below 25kgDM/ha as winter sets in.

Cow condition has suffered a little, but with the independently scored average at BCS 4.3, and

That’s what works out here.

Rural News // june 4, 2013

34 management

Tackling water limits in Otago a n d rew swa l low

IT’S GOING to take time and considerable investment to meet the measures Otago Regional Council is promoting to improve

water quality, judging by the comments of two south Otago sheep and beef farmers to a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand nutrient nous seminar.

However, both accept

the need for change and are already taking steps to reduce their farms’ impacts.

At Taumata, Ken Campbell says he’s “pretty lucky” to have most waterways

already fenced, with extensive planting, thanks to his parents’ hard work.

They also put in plenty of ponds that act as sediment traps and an agroforestry block, without

Ken Campbell’s home farm waterways are mostly fenced, but lease blocks present more of a challenge.

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a waterway through it, is proving valuable as a dry area to keep stock in if wet conditions mean they’ll make a mess in paddocks.

However, on three lease blocks he farms, it’s a different story. Hot-wires are having to be used extensively to keep stock out of creeks.

Direct-drilling is used where possible for winter crops as “it leaves firmer ground which doesn’t pug-up as much. And we leave grass buffers round any waterways when we’re spraying off.”

Grazing is managed to minimise the chance of run-off reaching waterways, leaving gullies to graze last and only when it’s dry.

With ewes, four-day shifts mean lower spot stocking rates, reducing pugging if it turns wet.

He’s already done a nutrient budget with his Ravensdown rep, but having done it for all four blocks as one; he accepts he’ll probably have to look at doing the exercise for individual blocks.

“It’s just a wee bit hard to pin-point which blocks all the production comes from.”

Soil tests and the budget show their standard fertiliser regime of 250kg/ ha/year is adding about 6kg/ha/year of phosphorus over off-take. Nitrogen loss to water works out at 8kg/ ha/year.

“It’s at the low end so we’re quite happy with that,” Campbell adds.

“Going forward, I can see doing nutrient budgets is going to be quite a useful tool. For example, if we do look at dairy grazing it will tell me if I’ll have a problem.”

Peter McNab, at Lochindorb Station, faces even more of a challenge as a result of the water standards ORC wants. He expects he’s going to have to fence most of the 27km of waterways on the sta-

tion.

“We’re going to have to do that to minimise the risk of breaking the [water quality] standard. That’s going to be a bit of challenge, especially if we have too many more years like this with lambs at $70/ head.”

McNabb already uses hot-wires to keep cattle out of the water-ways, but hillside springs are posing a particular problem. One solution is piping springs into a trough, with an outlet to a drain. But with them emerging at every 50m along some hillsides, and the difficulty of getting a digger to them, it’s a costly exercise and doing them all just isn’t going to be practical.

Fencing off the farm’s water-ways is going to present another challenge: stock-water.

“I’m keen on the idea of not having to pump water – pumps always seem to breakdown at Christmas or when you’re about to go to a rugby test. So I want a water source high enough up that the system can be gravity fed. We’ve been monitoring them, but most dried up in the summer.”

McNab welcomes ORC’s plan to measure water content at medium flows, avoiding floods, and the extension to 2020 to reach the water quality targets.

“Education is going to be the key to help farmers accept this process and what they can do when things turn to custard… like when a mob of cattle do push down a fence and get in a creek.”

He also warns fencing off areas could allow noxious weeds such as gorse to recover.

“It’s a catch 22. We certainly don’t want to see water quality deteriorate any more than it has but it’s a challenge to protect it in a way that is affordable and sustainable economically.”

Rural News // june 4, 2013

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38 nz national fieldays mystery creek, hamilton, 13-16 june 2013

Taking our farming prowess global THIS MONTH’S National Fieldays will do more than just launch new products; inventors will be helped take their inventions to the global market.

Fieldays’ chief executive Jon Calder says the Innovation Centre will have “a package deal” for inventors.

“Apart from helping showcasing new products, we will help inventors develop business plans, look at funding opportunities and manage IP,” he told Rural News.

Innovation has always been at the heart of Fieldays and one of the principles on which the event was founded.

“We’ve seen a number of individuals and companies launch new products and innovations at Fieldays, going on to achieve global success.”

This year organisers are partnering with business guru SODA to build on Fieldays success. “It enables us to help foster entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity in new ways, creating a program which gives aspiring innovators a path to market,” says Calder.

SODA will select up to ten commer-

cially viable inventions participating in the Fieldays Innovation Centre to showcase, and will support the inventors to get their invention pitch-ready prior to the big event. The event will follow a similar format to the acclaimed ‘Dragon’s Den’ programme where participants pitch their inventions to a panel of esteemed investors and business leaders in the hope of securing advice and investment.

The theme of this year’s Fieldays is ‘Getting down to Business in the Global Economy’.

Calder expects record numbers. Delegations will come from India, China, Russia, Afghanistan, Ireland, Chile and Colombia, and more. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is bringing trade delegations from several countries.

Calder says New Zealand agriculture is squarely placed to feed the growing global population. “The world’s population is projected to increase from 7 billion to 9b by 2050 and New Zealand’s agribusiness sector is squarely placed to [help] improve productivity, efficiency

and effectiveness on the global stage,” he told Dairy News.

He points out MPI is working on doubling agricultural exports by 2025 and is a sponsor of the premier feature.

MPI will have a hub in the main pavilion. It will also hold seminars open to all visitors.

“The National Agricultural Fieldays will be a showcase for New Zealand’s primary industries and an excellent venue for talking about how to ensure growth,” says outgoing MPI directorgeneral Wayne McNee. “It’s an event where rural people of every kind come together and we’re excited to be part of it.

“MPI views its role as partnering with and enabling the primary industries, with a particular focus on supporting growth in the value of exports.

This will be built on an understanding of industry participants’ challenges and opportunities.”

Calder says many countries are banking on New Zealand’s intellectual know-how, systems and technology to

Jon Calder

meet the increasing global demand for high quality, safe and sustainable agricultural products.

Last year, Calder visited China and India with them Primary Industries

Minister David Carter. This month Calder was in Canada and Russia promoting the Fieldays. “This year’s international attendees will exceed past Fieldays,” he says.

Exhibitors move in EXHIBITORS HAVE started work on their National Fieldays sites.

Fieldays general manager Jon Calder says gates were opened to exhibitors on May 21. About 1000 exhibitors have registered for the event.

Calder expects at least 130,000

visitors during the four-day event.

He says a number of aspects have been overhauled including a redesign of the innovation centre.

A support programme has been developed enabling innovators to develop and market their inventions.

enhancing the benefits of New Zealand’s natural resources

Rural News // june 4, 2013

nz national fieldays 39

Minister pushes MPI link PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

THE MINISTRY for Primary Industries (MPI) is beefing up its presence and involvement with National Fieldays this year, says minister Nathan Guy. “The ministry is going to be a major sponsor of

Fieldays this year. It’s a good move given the thousands of rural and business people who attend this premiere event every year,” Guy told Rural News.

“A major priority for MPI, and myself as minister, is growing our primary sector exports. By having a greater presence at Fieldays we can talk about the

big issues like trade, biosecurity, drought, irrigation, Maori agribusiness and innovation.

“I expect this will be a valuable experience for MPI officials to engage with farmers on their strategy of ‘Grow and Protect’.

I think visitors will leave with a much greater sense of what MPI does, and the

challenges and opportunities New Zealand’s primary industries are facing.”

MPI will have a hub in the main pavilion and will run seminars open to all visitors.

MPI views its role as partnering with and enabling New Zealand primary industries, to promote export growth.

The Fieldays theme, ‘Getting down to business in the global economy’, is one that MPI relates to strongly, it says. Visitors can attend MPI seminars to tease out what this means in practice, or visit MPI representatives at the Hub. Jon Calder, Fieldays chief executive, says, “Fiel-

days’ focus has always been on the advancement of New Zealand agriculture on the domestic and now global stage.

“New Zealand’s export growth is critical to our success as a nation, and MPI plays a vital role in working with and supporting the primary sector to deliver and realise its

Nathan Guy

potential. Fieldays partnership with MPI creates new opportunities to work together.”

A site for visionary eyes THE MPI site will catch visitors’ eyes with two stacked containers right at the main entrance to the pavilion.

The four site themes, drawn from the MPI ‘Strategy 2030’, will explain how New Zealand can: Maximise export opportunities through market access and assurance; Increase sustainable resource use, highlighting the freshwater work; Improve sector productivity, highlighting the work with Maori agribusiness; Protect from biological risk, with a multi-layered biosecurity system, including the quarantine dogs that work at the border. These will be on-site for visitors on Friday.

MPI is also running seminars : Wednesday 12 June, ‘Meet the Minister’: MPI Minister Nathan Guy will outline his vision for the sector and take questions.

Situation and Outlook What impacts has the drought had on primary industry production and trade? An airing of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report, hot off the press for the Fieldays.

Thursday 13 June, ‘Are we facing a skills shortage?’

What skills will the primary industries need in 2025?

We need to focus on this now. Hear a panel’s views and take part in discussion.

‘Growing New Zealand – doubling primary industry exports by 2025’: Hear how MPI is working with the primary sector to find innovative ways to double the value of our primary exports. Learn about work underway and discuss how this ambitious target can be met.

Friday 14 June, ‘Lifting the performance of Maori agribusiness’. How can we work better to grow the value of Maori agribusiness? Hear how MPI is working with Maori agribusiness. Delivering to international markets. Where are markets going and how can we meet them? s See u e at Sit L11

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40 nz national fieldays

LIC’s chat with farmers

New Minda calving app from LIC.

LIC WILL have a bit of everything on its Fieldays site this year, but what they’re looking forward to most of all is getting out and talking with farmers.

The co-op will be showcasing some new innovations, but more importantly, it’s about the conversations they get to have with farmers, says

marketing manager Blair Hoad.

“For us, the Fieldays is about getting our staff together from all over the country, under one roof, and being available to chat with farmers about the challenges they’re currently facing.

“We’ve got a number of products that have been

developed on the principle of improving farm profitability, but there is no one size fits all, so it’s these events and the conversations we have that allow us to provide farmers with solutions that best suit their needs and farming system.”

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“LIC staff are passionate about dairy farming, they live and breathe the products and services every day, and the Fieldays is a great opportunity for them to share that passion with our farmers. We love it.

It’s always a very positive event and one we’re proud

to be a part of.”

Products and services up for discussion will include genetic gain, animal health, six-week in-calf rate, the new generation Protrack Vector farm automation system, and the new Minda Calving mobile application for Android and Apple iOS.

Record entries for innovation competition THE FIELDAYS Innovation Centre Competition is the perfect forum for inventors to introduce their primary industry themed, ‘homegrown’ designs to a local and global audience, say the organisers.

“By creating an opportunity for inventors to showcase their designs and prototypes, which are then critiqued by key industry leaders, it’s the ideal way for Kiwis to get past the first, crucial step to gaining commercial success in New Zealand and beyond.”

With a serious prize pool available for inventors in the following categories; Grassroots, Launch NZ and International (covering local and global, individual and company entrants), they must “wow” judges to be in with a chance of winning financial and mentoring support. The goal: to establish their invention across local and global territories and gain commercial success.

This year has seen more entries than ever before, with over 70 innovations that reveal ideas, designs and prototypes within multiple primary industry categories – especially agriculture and horticulture.

Tony Smith, team leader at Fieldays’ Innovation Centre, who has been involved with judging, says that the competition is becoming more popular as word spreads about the success of past entrants.

“From the beginning the Innovation Centre has been an integral aspect of Fieldays. Globally, New Zealand is seen to be the leader and at the forefront of innovation for the agricultural sector.

“This competition is an opportunity for inventors to be heard by key people on an annual basis. There is so much work that goes into the projects from individuals or companies, we want to be able to capture and harness that talent and drive innovations forward on a local and global scale. We have had much success in this regard.

“Every year, judges look at originality, uniqueness and what’s new in the function or method presented.

Also rated is how it’s better than anything already offered on the market and how it will benefit agriculture – especially if it is a solution to a widespread problem which would create a positive commercial outcome. Final considerations are for technical viability and safety. I’m really looking forward to what discoveries await this year and am already anticipating further success stories,” says Smith.

Also involved, is key sponsor and intellectual property specialists, James and Wells, who are crucial to a large scale ‘reveal’ such as this. Their goal is to ensure the time and hard-earned money inventors have spent researching and developing a clever idea achieves the commercial success it deserves.

“The key to owning your invention is to apply for intellectual property protection before it goes public. Just for Fieldays, we’ve arranged a special exemption to the no disclosure rule, which can be used as a last resort,” says James and Wells partner Ceri Wells.

The Innovations Centre is open from 8am, Wednesday 12 June. www.fieldays.co.nz

Rural News // june 4, 2013

nz national fieldays 41

Agri sector vital to global economy G RA HA M T U RLEY

FOR 40 YEARS, we at ANZ have been pulling on our gumboots and getting in among it at National Fieldays. We’ve seen a lot of change during that time, and one of the biggest changes we’ve noticed is the growing awareness among farmers of where their products will be sold.

It was only a few decades ago that the thing most farmers were focused on was production – how to get the most of their farms. This is still true. In fact, more efficient and sustainable farming is more important than ever.

Less of a consideration was the other end of the supply chain.

For decades Britain was our biggest market. We produced meat, dairy and horticultural products, put them on the ship and that was where the involvement of most

producers ended.

Today, it’s a very different story.

Britain is no longer our biggest market, and the world has become one globalised marketplace. Companies, co-operatives and producers can now sell to dozens of markets.

Some of the most important will be the growth markets of Asia.

Global demand for agricultural products will increase by 60% by 2050 compared to 2005-07. This highlights the significant increase in demand for basic materials to support urbanisation. Rising incomes have also led to increased calorie consumption and higher protein diets.

The opportunity for New Zealand is huge. ANZ’s recent ‘Greener Pastures’ report found that New Zealand has the potential to capture $1.3 trillion more in agricultural exports between now

and 2050.

This is why the theme of this year’s Fieldays, ‘Getting down to business in the global economy’ is so important for every producer in New Zealand.

Realising the opportunity identified in ‘Greener Pastures’ won’t just happen. The key will be to gain a deep understanding of these markets and build strong relationships.

Regardless of where you are in the globalised world, getting these right is the foundation of success in a new market.

We also know that to take full advantage of New Zealand’s place in the global economy, we will need around $340 billion in additional capital over the next four decades to drive production growth and support farm turnover.

The challenges for the sector will be to find innovative ways to attract domestic and foreign

Stay safer – plan your trip to Fieldays

Graham Turley

investments such as attracting skilled labour, enhancing agri education and intensifying the focus on national R&D. ANZ is in a great position to help producers and exporters take advantage of these opportunities.

In recent years this has been a big topic of discussion in the ANZ tent at Fieldays, and we’re expecting the same to be true this year.

We’re not only New Zealand’s biggest rural lender, but we’re also the only local bank that has an onthe-ground presence in 32 markets globally.

TAKE TIME to plan your journey before driving to the Fieldays to help reduce the risk of crashes, Waikato Regional Council cautions.

With an increase in traffic volumes on routes heading towards Mystery Creek from Wednesday 12 June to Saturday 15 June, it’s crucial that you plan your trip before you turn the key and allow a little extra time for your journey.

“Driving on rural Waikato roads can be hazardous so it pays to pre-plan your route, keep your speed down and be on the lookout for the unexpected. Risks can be minimised if drivers are alert, courteous and patient,” said council road safety coordinator Monique Haines.

Here are her suggestions: Leave before or after peak travel times Check your route before you come to the Fieldays by visiting www.onthemove.govt.nz for up-to-date traffic information Allow a little extra time for your journey – be patient Take an alternative route avoiding heavy traffic on SH1 and SH3 especially at Airport Road If you are travelling for more than 2 hours share the driving and take regular breaks Take a bus to the Fieldays from the Transport Centre on Bryce Street or from the Knox Street car park in Hamilton (see www.busit.govt.nz).

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

42 nz national fieldays

Latest handheld EID GALLAGHER WILL celebrate its 75th birthday in style at the National Fieldays.

Gallagher key account manager Darrell Jones says the company will offer outstanding giveaways and specials – and “massive savings on selected Energizer models”.

And it will unveil its latest EID and weighscale products, including the “ground-breaking” HR4 handheld EID tag reader and data recorder.

The HR4 resembles the company’s HR3 EID tag reader but it does more – it’s a powerful data collector. Beyond tag reading it can record treatments and animal traits, and recall historic information on an animal dating back to when it was scanned.

Group marketing manager Mark Harris says the HR4 is the next big thing

in EID technology – “the most capable hand-held reader on the market… transcending the gap between a basic tag reader and a practical animal recording and management tool,

enabling farmers to record and view previous animal data both at or away from the weighing site”.

Built for user-friendly data capture, the HR4 has a large colour display and an intuitive menu system for easy setup. “The HR4 is specifically designed to make it easy for farmers to capture value on-farm from the use of EID tags.”

Also on the Gallagher site will be new fencing

gear such as live tip offsets, driveway gates and the latest version of the live fence indicator – a clever device for showing the fence is working.

Permanently attached to the fence, this has a flashing pulse display to assure the user the fence is functioning properly, day

and night. Darrell Jones says the live fence indicator shows the company is continually improving its products.

Another example is the transport lock that now features on Gallagher’s geared electric fencing reels. This improvement overcomes a common and annoying problem for farmers.

“One minute you are happily riding along on the farm bike with all your fencing reels sitting on the back. Then you hit a few bumps and your fencing reels go everywhere.”

Made from impact-resistant glass-fibre nylon, the transport lock enables the fencing reel to be securely latched to the transport tray on a farm bike. “It can also be used to lock the reel onto a wire to prevent stock from knocking it off the fence.”

The HR4 resembles the HR3 EID tag but does move.

A fulltime demonstrator will be at the Gallagher site to explain products.

Territory managers will also attend.

Side by side gaining ground MIKE WIL K I N S

KAWASAKI’S GLOBAL reputation has been built on innovation and being first to bring exciting new products to the market. Those of you showing some grey hair will remember the triple cylinder, two stroke road bikes of the early 1970s and of course Kawasaki’s development of the jet ski in 1972.

Another Kawasaki first was the introduction of the four wheel model named Mule in 1988. Yes, Kawasaki has been producing side-by-sides, or UTVs, for 25 years.

Wind the clock forward to 2013 and we find ten or more reputable brands offering side-by-sides as an alternative to the farm quad bike.

The popularity of the sideby-side is growing. Industry sales figures for the first four months of 2013 show that sideby-sides represent at least 20% of total farm four wheeler sales.

There‘s a variety of reasons for their growing popularity, not least the simple, easy-touse, car-type controls including a steering wheel. Options of a roof and front windscreen

are great in wet or cold weather and strong safety cages plus seat belts provide improved driver and passenger protection.

From the single 450cc model offered

by Kawasaki in 1988, the range of Kawasaki Mules, Trans Mules and Teryx now extends to twelve different variations from 400cc petrol to 950cc diesel as well as two and four seat options.

There will always be a use for quads on New Zealand farms; they are as essential as the horse once was. But in more and more situations, the side-by-side UTV is doing the job the quad once did.

• Mike Wilkins is the managing director of Kawasaki New Zealand.

www.gallagher.co.nz

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44 nz national fieldays

Nostalgia for some in red tractor re-launch

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CASE IH plans to re-launch the for light ground cultivation, front- provide good visibility when working Farmall, the time-honoured name end loader operations, baler opera- with loaders”.

The drive chain haa wet multifrom the International Harvester tion and transport.

The new models will come with plate clutch (Cerametalic) for smooth family, at National Fieldays.

Farmall was mass-produced in the larger engine capacity, suited to more effortless shifting and durability.

Says Case IH, “The Farmall JX 1920s in the US by McCormick-Deer- general farm usage. The 8000 series is a basic cost effiing (later rebadged Intercient tractor, easy to national Harvester). It Farmall JX series will be aimed operate, offering a was rugged, versatile and 12x12 transmission cheap. At least 5 million at small to medium-sized land sold worldwide. owners for light ground cultivation, with optional 20x12 creeper; 51.7L/m The original Farmall front-end loader operations, baler hydraulics with the tractors – remember the option of a standard angled-in front wheels, operation and transport. two, or an offering of close together? – were popular in New Zealand in the 1950s as will have Tier 3, 4-cylinder turbo up to four rear remotes.”

Simple also are its independent utility tractors and for vegetable cul- charged intercooler, fuel efficient engines from 56-81kW (1kW = 1.34hp). hydraulic and steering pumps, the tivation and harvest.

There’s new styling of course – transmission housing providing a The idea behind the Farmall hasn’t changed, Case IH says. The tractor is “new ergonomic cab and unparal- common reservoir for the transmisstill versatile, performs well and is a leled comfort, cab noise cut by 2dB. sion oil, hydraulic system oil, steering The cab shows curved tinted glass system oil and the rear axle oil. good all-rounder.

Farmall JX series will be aimed at with a similar control layout to bigger Tel. 0800 CASE IH small to medium-sized land owners Case IH tractors. Large roof windows www.caseih.co.nz

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

nz national fieldays 45

Top-class research on display Landcare Research, Dairy NZ, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regional councils and government departments.

The university has always been a strong supporter of Fieldays, with its first vicechancellor, Sir Don Llewellyn, among the instigators of the expo.

“We are located in the heart of the most important agricultural region in the country.” commodity, University of Waikato researchers are at the leading edge of agricultural research, a spokesman says.

Vice-chancellor professor Roy Crawford says it is no surprise the university is committed to ag R&D. “We are located in the heart of the most important agricultural region in the country.

“The University of Waikato has developed enduring partnerships and research collaborations with leading agricultural organisations. Our students undertake internships with these organisations and many go on to have very successful and rewarding careers with them.”

Among the organisations the university works closely with are Fonterra, AgResearch, GNS Science,

The university is now in its seventh year as a Fieldays partner.

Sustainability is a major theme this year. It covers scientific, economic and environmental sustainability.

“While much of this research could not have been done outside the laboratory, it has implications for the agricultural sector and we need to make sure we are communicating that to the people who can benefit from the outcomes of our work,” Llewellyn says.

“Fieldays also gives us the opportunity to catch up with friends, colleagues and alumni from all over New Zealand and around the world, many who make a point of visiting the university stand.”

Unwrap a Birthday Offer from Gallagher It’s our 75th birthday and we’re celebrating!

Visit the Gallagher site at National Fieldays® to see our great birthday product offers and some very exciting NEW products.

BE QUICK - WE HAVE LIMITED STOCK!

Economic boost for Waikato PROFESSOR ROY Crawford says Fieldays and the University of Waikato pump about $1 billion into the Waikato economy each year.

The theme ‘Getting Down to Business in the Global Economy’is topical, the university having recently signed agreements with key universities in China to foster relationships.

Crawford says university “ambassadors” will be at Fieldays.

www.gallagher.co.nz

HAP BIRT PY HDA Y

UNIVERSITY OF Waikato, a principal partner of National Fieldays, will promote “groundbreaking” agricultural research at the Mystery Creek event.

From using microbes to remove excess nitrogen from land to transforming agricultural waste into a valuable

Spotlight on the Waikato: Prime Minister John Key and Waikato University’s Vice Chancellor Roy Crawford deep in discussion at last year’s Fieldays.

Rural News // june 4, 2013

46 nz national fieldays

Wheeling out good deals BLUE WING Honda says it will be “getting down to business in the global economy” at National Fieldays.

Coffees are on the house while visitors talk to one of the company’s team about business on-farm, with a new Honda farm bike or ATV. All the favourite Hondas will be on display: the hard working Honda Big Red (side x side MUV), the full range of quads, farm bikes and

The Big Red MUV will be in full demonstration mode, on challenging terrain. power equipment.

The fully automatic TRX 680 or the TRX500 model range has manual, auto and power steering options to suit. The workhorse of the Honda family is the TRX420 range which comes in auto and manual power steering options.

The Big Red MUV will be in full demonstration mode, on challenging terrain.

Also on display will be the full Honda farm bike range including the new dual purpose CRF250L, the farm designed CTX200, the CRF230, the CRF150, our kids bikes

and the popular and versatile XR125 Duster.

Honda Power Equipment will mount an interactive display of Inverter and framed generators, water pumps, garden care equipment and stationary engines for power equipment conversion.

Honda is offering no deposit and interest free finance terms until 2014 on selected quads, farm bikes and power equipment.

Quad roll-over device saves its first user GARET H G I LLAT T

AN ATV Lifeguard quad rollbar has for the first time saved a user’s life, says the maker, Ag-Tech Industries.

New Zealander Aedan Bryan, a farm manager on a property in Chile, was riding his quad fitted with a Lifeguard roll-over protection device his mother had brought from New Zealand. It is said to have prevented the machine rolling over him.

The unit fitted by Bryan was the first of the maker’s commercial Lifeguard models, says marketing manager Weston Stewart.

“His mum was the first one to get one, and she desperately wanted one just before she was about to fly out of New Zealand, so we sent that out a bit earlier than other back orders.”

Bryan says the device is a useful aid on a large property on steep terrain. “Part of my farm has an elevation of 140-200m above sea level; it is dangerous in some parts.”

“Parts of my farm has an elevation of 140-200m above sea level: it is dangerous in some parts.”

He says he had not long mounted the protection device on his 500cc Honda quad when he ended up needing it after a late night hunt for his neighbour’s horse. “I was coming down a narrow stock track which is rough and steep, standing up on the quad travelling about 30km/h with a spotlight in my left hand and my right hand steering. I dodged to the right to miss blackberry hanging over the track, only to clip the right front wheel on the bank, pulling the steering in my right hand towards me, causing the bike quickly to flip downhill to the left, throwing me off in the direction it was about to roll.”

Bryan acted quickly, crouching, but was still unsure what was going to happen next.

He says the ATV Lifeguard performed well in the circumstances, “supporting the back end of the bike in the air as it rolled in the pitch black darkness over my head and back, slightly squashing me underneath. After it rolled over me it landed back on all four wheels still running.”

Bryan has used a T-bar roll protection device in the past but felt that could have done serious damage in the circumstances. “Having one of those that night the bike would have landed on me pinning me to the ground and perhaps crushing me under it, especially dangerous at that time of night with no one knowing where you are and living alone.”

A plastic toolbox mounted at the front of the quad saved the handlebars and Bryan says he has since had the bike serviced with the mechanic finding no faults. “I have it serviced every month on the farm and nothing appears to be damaged.”

Tel. 09 439 7166 www.atvlifeguard.co.nz

Rural News // june 4, 2013

nz national fieldays 47

Get a better ride POLARIS INDUSTRIES is offering “fantastic” Fieldays specials on Sportsman quad and Ranger side-byside models.

The best-value 4x4 quad Polaris Sportsman 400 HO, and the bestselling automatic 4x4 quad Polaris Sportsman 500 HO, are now available for $7822 ex GST (save $1500) and $8691 ex GST (save $2000) respectively.

Says Polaris, “With their legendary smooth Sportsman ride and a long list of distinctive Polaris features including Polaris variable transmission,

independent rear suspension, on demand true allwheel drive, four wheel disk brakes and sealed front storage, the Sportsman 400 HO and 500 HO represent great value.”

And the Sportsman 550 lineup, including the 550 XP, 550 EPS and 550 X2, is now available with $1100 cash back.

The Sportsman 550

Machines set for launch

range includes features such as independent rear suspension, on demand true all-wheel drive, anti-kickback steering for smooth handling, 12 inches ground clearance and active descent control with an engine braking system.

The 550 EPS model adds power steering and the 550 X2 adds turf mode and a rear dump box which in less than 10 seconds can be switched to a passenger place.

REESE AGRI will launch five new machines at National Fieldays, reports the New Zealand sales manager, Jon Norfolk.

From the seed drill department will come the company’s first pneumatic disc drill, the Aitchison Airpro 4132D. This drill has a sowing width of 4m, with 32 individually mounted concave seeding discs with 125mm (5”) row spacing.

It is only 2.75m wide when folded, which makes light work of getting into the tightest of gateways, Norfolk says.

Aitchison will also have the latest Seedmatic release, the Seedmatic 4124CT Tine Drill. This drill has 125mm (5”) row spacing, larger 14” disc coulters and a completely new tine and point

assembly which is more streamlined for the best trash clearance.

The Rodent-Stop mechanism which features on the Grassfarmer range is also fitted to this drill. Rear tow-hitch, inset wheels and many other features.

Other machines on site will be the new self propelled tube wrapper. This wrapper is the second one in the company’s stable.

It has its own power supply, can wrap round and square bales up to 1.5m, and is controlled remotely.

The Bale-Bug balefeeder will also attract attention, along with the “revolutionary and very practical” Agrispred SNG80 Causmag spreader. www.reeseagri.com

Buck’n good deals on buck’n good gear.

For quality, NZ made products that are reliable and versatile, come and visit the Bucktons team at the Fieldays on site C37.

sales@bucktons.co.nz 07 533 1259 www.bucktons.co.nz

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

48 nz national fieldays

Pasture meter automated, user friendly p e t e r bu r k e

A NEW pasture meter launching at Fieldays by C-Dax is automated, coming with a control console.

It can be used on the company’s spreaders and sprayers.

The pasture meter will be launched at the Fieldays.

It is notable for its computing power and the range of data held in the console, says C-Dax managing director Greig Shearer.

“This takes it from just a device that tells you pasture cover to a device that has integrated information con-

C-Dax managing director Greg Shearer (right) and Dr Robert Murray with the automated pasture meter.

nected to software. The technology is more user friendly and will enable more farmers to come into this technology because it’s easier to operate… and doesn’t demand they be completely computer literate.”

Using GPS the farmer is able to follow the same path around a paddock every time they take a measurement. “When you enter a paddock, the previous trail comes up automatically and you can follow this.”

Using the console, farmers are able

to access a map of their farm from C-Dax SmartMaps and then draw in their paddocks which in the past was a major and costly exercise usually done by a consultant.

The new pasture meter complete with console will cost $12,425 but C-Dax has other less expensive pasture meters which start at $5685.

About 24% of dairy farmers measure pasture and Shearer hopes to see this rise soon to 60%.

The new high tech console can be

used on C-Dax spreaders and sprayers.

Shearer says farmers can set the application rate they wish to spread or spray at in the console and the unit will automatically control this using GPS. If an area of the farm has been previously spread or sprayed in a given operation, the machine will automatically cut out when it passes over this spot.

Shearer says the new technology will help dairy farmers comply with new environmental rules being set by councils.

Think about what’s coming up Plan your trip before you turn the key.

Have a safe journey on Waikato roads.

Rural News // june 4, 2013

nz national fieldays 49

Fieldays visit leads to calfshed overhaul A FREE on-farm consultation sparked a visit to the Milkbar National Fieldays site and a $1000 calf shed overhaul and a big drop in calf mortality, say Canterbury contract milkers Michael and Susie Woodward.

The couple are contract milkers on Synlait’s Te Pirita property Robindale Dairies, a 2000 cow, 600ha property 40 minutes south west of Christchurch.

About 500 replacement calves are reared each year in a 14 bay shed and while Susie says they now get good results they were concerned with the farms yearly historical losses of 5-15%. “Results weren’t good and we knew we could do it better.”

On the Milkbar site at Fieldays the Woodwards brainstormed better calf rearing and facilities with the company’s principals Ross and Dianne McInnes.

The original facility was a 14 bay lean-to shed with pens 4 x 10m, divided by a gate into two smaller pens.

All access to the pens was from the front.

With water troughs placed at the back of each pen, it meant that there was little option to rear calves separately in each smaller pen. It also meant mud and disease could be easily brought in via the laneway used to feed calves from the front of the shed.

They had even considered creating new facilities to rear young stock but decided in the end a new structure wouldn’t provide a good return on investment. “We were looking for new ideas; it wouldn’t have been good enough to just pour money into a new shed, especially when we could be facing the same problems in three or four years.”

Milkbar’s ideas were effective and easy to carry out. “The whole upgrade cost $1000.The biggest expense was the plywood for the pen dividers and I hired a digger to put posts into the floor so I could swing some more gates.”

The McInnes’ suggested minimising the

need to go into each calf pen would reduce disease transfer.

Woodwards did this by cutting an opening into each end of the shed and then re-organising the pens so there was a corridor through the middle of the shed and pens were sized to hold 8-10 calves.

This has eased calf flow management and calf feeding as pens can be emptied individually without disturbing calves in other pens, Susie says. “I can get half of the replacement calves into the shed at once, but in smaller groups compared to the old design it makes it a lot easier for feeding and attention to detail.

The camber of the shed had been found to allow water to drain to the back of the shed where calves sleeping.

So they used metal to re-adjust the camber and the digger to create drainage at the back of the shed, Michael says. “Sawdust had built up at the back of the shed and when that got wet that would leak through into the calf shed which would make the whole back of the shed damp.”

Bacteria and bugs were reduced byh these changes and by changing the water and grain feeding system.

Water and grain troughs had previously been large and on the ground, so prone to collect faecal matter.

They changed to smaller, wall and fencemounted feeders which allowed them to keep inputs fresher and cleaner.

“We installed 14 extra water and feed troughs [at a cost of] a few extra ballcocks and recycled rumensin drums.”

The changes have slashed calf mortality rate to not more than 1%, says Michael. “We didn’t lose a single calf the first year after we had worked on the calf shed and last year it was still under 1%.”

They have also reduced nutritional scouring with the use of milkbar’s teats after seeing how effective they were on another Synlait farm they were managing. “The reason why we liked the teats is that they

make the calves generate more saliva which allows better digestion of milk. It just reaffirms why we do what we do.”

With all teats being replaced on a yearly basis Susie says it actually cost

less to replace teats in the shed with milkbar teats.

Tel. 0800 104 119 www.milkbar.co.nz

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

50 nz national fieldays

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Change of ownership AGRICULTURE MACHNERY supplier Fieldmaster has changed ownership and its new-look team will be at Fieldays..

New owners Myles

Cooper and Paul Ayers have years of business experience, says marketing manager Rachel Stock.

Stock, a former dairy farmer who represented

New Zealand in dressage at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, is responsible for marketing and events.

“We will do all we can to make sure every-

one who deals with Fieldmaster from now on gets quick, fair and honest service,” she told Rural News.

“We have inherited some great product lines and we have a whole heap more in development. It’s an opportunity to consolidate on the great machinery Fieldmaster is known for, while being on the cutting edge of future technology in Agriculture Fieldmaster’s revamped sales team includes Dave McSorley, who spent 10 years with the company before leaving two years ago.

“Dave is back in the Fieldmaster sales team to give effective support to our dealer network. He has a long relationship with many of our customers and will be driving the length and breadth of the North Island,” says Stock.

Dennis King, another member of the sales team, is a farm-machinery veteran, and Peter Clark, known to the South Island agriculture sector, started as Fieldmaster’s rep there in January.

Fieldmaster started in the 1950s dealing mainly in grass cutting equipment.

In recent years, it has moved to a full line up of attachments for both tractors and ATVs. www.fieldmaster.co.nz

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

nz national fieldays 51 Award for flipping soil research FLIPPING SOIL in drought-prone areas helps pasture growth, says a University of Waikato masters student whose work is now funded by a Fieldays scholarship and DairyNZ support.

Nadia Laubscher’s scholarship funds her study of soil flipping in the Galatea basin, especially the effect this has on

soil makeup and moisture retention. The area in the southeast Bay of Plenty is notoriously droughtaffected.

Soil flipping involves digging into the top 1-2m of soil and tipping it end over end, mixing the different layers of soil. The underlying pumice layers are broken up in the process and buried soil that

Soil flipping involves digging into the top 1-2m of soil and tipping it end over end, mixing the different layers of soil. contains more clay and nutrients are brought to the surface.

“The soil in the Galatea basin is really drought prone in summer, Laub-

We’re a

scher says. Farmers there rely on irrigation, bringing in feed, or reducing stocking rates.

“I’m investigating soils flipped in different areas,

comparing this to a neighbouring control area, and measuring the moisture retention of the soils.”

Soil flipping was first trailed in Westport in 1992 to improve drainage by breaking up underlying iron pans. However, it may also help farmers to improve the moisture retention of their pasture during dry periods.

University of Waikato Masters student Nadia Laubscher has won a Fieldays scholarship to look at how soil flipping could help drought-prone areas.

big part of your business

University of Waikato student Talia Hicks has won a Fieldays scholarship to help her PhD study into decolouring bloodmeal used to make bioplastic.

Student seeks to decolour bloodmeal UNIVERSITY OF Waikato PhD student Talia Hicks has won a Fieldays scholarship for her work looking at how to decolour bloodmeal and work this into the bioplastic manufacturing process.

She’s working with Dr Johan Verbeek on the project, being commercialised by Aduro Biopolymers, a natural resource materials and biopolymer company.

Bloodmeal bioplastic uses low-value animal waste to create a high-value plastic that breaks down without polluting the environment. Applications include agricultural plastic sheeting, seedling trays, plant pots and biodegradable golf tees.

Earlier this year Aduro Biopolymers secured investment from meat processor Wallace Corporation.

Hicks’ research is aimed at changing the colour of the bioplastic without compromising its physical integrity.

“I’m looking at what happens when you bleach the bloodmeal feedstock used to produce bioplastic. When you bleach something you end up with structural changes to the product. I’m looking at what changes do happen, and how these changed the properties of the product.”

She’s working backwards after a colleague figured out how to alter the colour through trial and error. “The bioplastic was originally black but now it’s a honey colour and translucent. I’m looking at what changes happened during the bleaching process, and how these changed the properties of the bioplastic.

“The bleaching has run on effects on the manufacturing process. Anything that physically changes the product also influences the manufacturing process; we’ll lose some steps and add some others.”

Fieldays Society funds the university’s Sir Don Llewellyn Scholarship worth $22,000 in total each year.

Do you want to increase productivity and profits?

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Talk to the team at MIMICO. We are the New Zealand distributors for KOBELCO excavators, parts and service.

We’ll have a selection of Kobelco products on display at Fieldays®.

You’ll also find some Atlas Copco products and Crane Sales New Zealand brands on site, including Effer, Maxilift and Traccess.

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Rural-News_June2013.indd 1

28/05/2013 11:04:14 a.m.

Rural News // june 4, 2013

52 nz national fieldays

R&D spend evident in new products ABOUT 6% of Lely’s annual global turnover goes into product R&D, and this investment will be reflected in products on show at Fieldays. They will include Lely Splendimo PC series and 300 FS; the Hibiscus 815 CD Vario; the Welger RP 545; and the Tigo 40SD Profi.

The new Lely Splendimo PC Series embodies ten big improvements including maximum room for crop throughput, and minimising the mowers’ power requirement and running costs. Other updates are a new cutter bar, quick switch obstacle safety and improved balance to ensure stability.

The Lely Splendimo 300FS front mower is ideal for cut and carry. The all new Lely Splendimo 300FS is ideal for zero grazing, due to low power requirements and narrow swaths, and working

on slopes, due to its low centre of gravity.

The Lely Hibiscus 815 CD Vario offers many possibilities to the farmers as it features a hydraulic working width adjustment. During the raking operation, the tractor driver can adjust the working width and the swath width by means of a double acting spool valve.

The Lely Welger RP 545 offers a wide range of possibilities to meet the demands of farmers and contractors. The Lely Welger RP 545 has new 50mm double roller Profi bearings in the tensioning system making the baler more durable.

The new E-link Pro is more userfriendly as the touch screen display is clear and offers more space for useful information.

The Lely Tigo 40 SD Profi has the perfect gentle loading system and can be fitted with an optional hydraulically driven side discharge

Trough valves have it all TIRED OF unreliable, leaking or jamming trough valves? asks Hansen Products, Whangarei.

“You may be frustrated with the ongoing hassle stealing precious time and energy away from other jobs,” the company comments. A simple solution is at hand.

Hansen Products is known for reliable poly pipe fittings, threaded pipe fittings and valves.

The Hibiscus 815 CD Vario

conveyor. The Lely Tigo 40 SD Profi is a versatile wagon with 26m3 capacity that is ideal for goat farmers. The range consists of wagons with many options up to 60m3 and a tridem self-levelling pneumatic suspension.

For dairy solutions, many new developments will be shown on

the Lely Astronaut A4 milking robots, including a comprehensive management system with standard fat and protein measurement, mastitis control and heat detection systems.

The latest robots suit farms from 30 to ,000 cows in grazing systems or housed in barns.

Hansen Products is known for reliable poly pipe fittings, threaded pipe fittings and valves. Now it offers high performance trough valves of reliable design that incur none of the problems inherent in other brands of trough valves.

Design features include high volume flows, quality materials and packaged with multiple connections for every install. “And there are key features that set them apart from the rest,” Hansen says.

Their patented ‘slipper fit piston’ design in the Superflo trough valve eliminates ‘stuck valve syndrome’ – no more overflowing or empty troughs.

And the soft close of the Maxflo trough/tank valve eliminates water hammer which can seriously strain a system, the company says.

Operating range is 0.02--12 bar. www.hansenproducts.co.nz

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Tow and Fert

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

54 nz national fieldays

Fert spreading made easy GARETH GILLATT

Two new models of Suspender fertiliser spreaders will be launched.

TWO NEW models of the popular suspended-fertiliser Tow and Fert will be launched at Fieldays.

See Us At Fieldays Site PA 1B

Launched in late 2011, the mixing and spraying Tow and Fert Multi 1000 applicator has been a popular seller here and in Australia where Metalform

struck it out on its own on the back of the 1000 litre mixing and spreading activation tools.

They are extending that range with a 1200 litre 3PL model and 4000 litre trailed model made for tractors 90hp and higher.

Marketing manager Tim Henman says the Multi 1200 was developed to offer an affordable nimble sprayer. “It’s made for every farmer wanting to apply fine particle fertiliser or mix and dissolve urea. No other spray unit on the market can do this except for models in our range.”

The pumping, mixing and spraying is powered by the hydraulics, eliminating the need for an external motor and Henman says this makes it a lighter unit than the Multi 1000, even though it is able to contain 200 more litres of solution and weighs 350kg without the optional crane arm.

The solution is sprayed via a single nozzle which has a 14m spread and the 1200 can be used to cover 15ha before it needs refilling. Scales and a hydraulic lifting arm are optional

extras with the lifting arm capable of lifting 1 tonne.

While the 1200 was designed for small to medium-sized farming operations the Tow and Fert Multi 4000 is meant for large operations and contractors.

With a 24m spray width and a 4000 litre capacity the tandem axle trailed unit is able to spread fertiliser over 40-50ha before being refilled.

While the unit can weigh as much 10 tonnes when full, Henman says it weighs just 2.6 t empty.

Weight on the unit is kept down by using a PTOdriven mixing mechanism.

“A PTO system is used for the mixing mechanism and hydraulics is used for the spraying.”

A hydraulic lifting arm is available as an optional extra and the 4000 can be operated behind tractors with ratings of 120hp or more. Henman says the two new models have been developed to provide the unique mixing capabilities of the Tow and Fert system to a wider range of users.”

Tel. 0508 747 040

Rural News // june 4, 2013

nz national fieldays 55

Great food starts with great soil FIELDAYS VISITORS can learn more about the connection between great food and quality soil from displays by leading producers of beef, vegetables, apples and wine. These will team up with Ballance Agri-Nutrients to help visitors make the essential food/soil connection.

Ballance general manager sales Andrew Reid explains that high quality food comes from high quality soil, “an integral part of the success of our farmers. In fact the whole New Zealand economy starts with those three inches of topsoil.

“Premium producers are those who focus on the quality of their soil first and we’re working alongside them with advice and science-backed nutrients so they consistently achieve the best productivity and profitability from their land.”

Reid says Ballance customers Te Whanga Angus Stud, BEL Group, AS Wilcox and Mr Apple represent some

of the best in the business, and consistently achieve great results “from the ground up”. They will be sharing their experience and produce at the event.

The Borthwick family’s Te Whanga farm, in Wairarapa, is one of New Zealand’s iconic sheep and beef stations with an associated winery. BEL Group operates eight dairy farms producing 2.7 million kgMS in Central Hawke’s Bay. A.S. Wilcox has been growing and packing high quality potatoes, carrots and onions since the 1930s at Pukekohe, Ohakune and Waikato in the North Island and Rakaia in the South Island. Mr Apple operates 34 orchards and New Zealand’s largest vertically integrated apple grower, packer and exporter, exporting 3 million to 3.5 million cartons per year.

“These are all very different operations, working with different soil types and climatic conditions, but their attention to whole-of-farm

nutrients is the common denominator in their success. As a co-operative, we’re here to support farmers’ success, providing the right products and advice so they can achieve their farm’s goals,” says Reid.

Reid says Ballance also acknowledges that food production must be sustainable, and through the co-operative’s seven year Clearview Innovations R&D the company is investing in new science to gain innovative products backed by sound science.

With the Ballance Agri-Nutrients site somewhat famous for its good pies, Reid says that this year there is a “purpose to the pies”, with the produce on show at the site being transformed into pies by guest chef Michael Van de Elzen.

The presenter of the TV show, Food Truck and owner of the new Food Truck Garage will run three cooking demonstrations a day.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

56 nz national fieldays

New fuel store suits smaller useage FUEL STORAGE Systems Ltd, maker of Sebco diesel, waste oil and AdBlue storage tanks, will launch a new model, the Sebco 1300L diesel station, at Fieldays.

Inquiries from farmers and industry showed that these users did not need to store large volumes of diesel, but still wanted a compliant, safe and secure tank, Sebco managing director Ed Harrison says.

“What we discovered was operators with a lower diesel use have also upgraded to vehicles with a common rail engine, such as the farm ute, or SUV that the family use. These require clean fuel and the design of our bunding system virtually eliminates condensation; the inner vessel cannot rot or rust, so the f uel dispensed from the Sebco 1300 is as clean

as it can be.”

The Sebco 1300 has the same quality components as the Sebco 2300 and 4800, such as a choice between the Piusi Cube 56 (240 or 12 volt systems) offering flow of up to 56lpm. It also has 4m of delivery hose with auto shutoff nozzle so there is no fear of spilling while you fill.

It also comes standard with a 5 micron water separating clear captor filter for peace of mind. All pumping equipment, hose and nozzle are located behind a lock up door that offers security and the whole unit is a tidy way of storing diesel.

Sebco offers a two-year warranty on pumping equipment, five-year warranty on the rotomoulded tanks and a 25-year design life.

Meet the team!

Tread-in steel post sets new standards STRAINRITE FENCING Systems will launch its new steel post tread-in at National Fieldays.

General manager Brian Collins says this latest product incorporates key design features that set it apart from other competitor products. The products are made at Strainrite’s Wellington plant.

Key features include a novel moulded integral insulated handle, designed to protect the user from electric shock, particularly when moving a live break when hot wires often touch the steel shaft.

“The feedback from field trials has been fantastic; proving attention to design detail can make a huge difference to product performance.”

Each insulator incorporates Strainrite’s proven angled hook design. This reduces the likelihood of unintended tape detachment that can occur in high winds.

There are five height positions for polywire, polytape and braid, including an option for 40mm / 1 ½ “ hot tape at the maximum height position of 900mm out of the ground.

The shaft is galvanised spring steel, with a galvanised spring steel foot crimped in place. With no welded joints, this product exhibits excellent corrosion resistance coupled with high strength and proven ground holding ability.

Collins says “the feedback from field trials has been fantastic; proving attention to design detail can make a huge difference to product performance”.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

nz national fieldays 57

Tedder manoeuvrable in grass, fast on the road

adapt well to the ground conditions. This means the machine runs more smoothly, which in turn protects the stubble.

The freedom of movement of the individual machine parts provides for better scanning and outstanding

along the centre of gravity of the machine. This reduces the drawbar load on the tractor, enabling smaller tractors to be used and substantially reducing the energy consumption.

The transport wheels act as guide wheels in the working position and

ground following.

A ‘fast’ chassis enables more efficient working.

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road and on sloping terrain.

Tel. 06 356 4920 www.fella.co.nz

VETMARKER WILL display its standard model for tailing lambs and its new Weigh Vetmarker, released last year to an “excellent reception”, the company says. It will share the Prattley site.

Lambs are loaded into the Vetmarker and weighed before continuing down the Vetmarker for all your other animal health needs at tailing time.

Canterbury farmer Nick Hamilton, and Matt Holden, Hastings, used the Weigh Vetmarker last year.

Hamilton says it “proved its worth on our transition farms where we have been doing several operations at tailing time”.

“The lambs are weighed, EID tagged, earmarked, injected, tailed and sprayed for fly as fast as the guys can lift them. It’s easy on the lambs and the workers.”

The Vetmarker docking chute proved a real success, says Hastings sheep farmer Matt Holden.

“Not only with its spray and release system, which works really well. Also the onboard scales are revolutionary, especially with all our lambs being tagged at docking. To have the ability to monitor individual growth rates throughout lactation is potentially very powerful on-farm information.

“With the clever design of the Vetmarker we felt no time was compromised with the lambs being weighed at docking time; in fact it was very efficient and the docking gang was impressed.”

Tel. 0800 362 537 www.vetmarker.co.nz

SEE US AT SITE J7

Porta Trough Stock Water Management made easy • Easy to roll cylindrical trough body (eases pipe coiling for storage/ distribution/relocation) • Recessed pockets to protect pipe fittings from stock • Comes with full flow valve rated to a maximum pressure of 80PSI

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Tedder manoeuvrable in grass, fast on the road NEW FROM grass machinery specialist Fella is the TH 13010 Trans tedder (12.70m working width) – manoeuvrable and easy to transport fast, the distributor says.

Transport length is only 5.60m, achieved by double folding the two halves of the frame.

During transport the machine lies horizontally on the chassis, and it is claimed easy to steer despite its width.

In contrast to previous eight-rotor models, the new tedder has ten rotors, each with six arms and the tine securing system as standard.

Another advantage is the main axis, which lies

Weigh Vetmarker proves its worth

Visit the RX Plastics site D83 & D85 for more information.

www.rxplastics.co.nz

Rural News // june 4, 2013

58 nz national fieldays

Oz, Kiwi bachelors set to Three Aussies are through to the finals of the Fieldays Rural Bachelor of the Year Title 2013. They join five Kiwis.

Fieldays spokeswoman Vicki Annison says based on the strength of the entrants from Australia the organisers decided to add the top three entrants to our pool of eight. “I’m sure it will make for a great trans-Tasman contest as they compete and showcase their skills, strength and character.

“These men have already shown on paper that they have the drive and determination to contest the Kiwi lads’ reign, as well as meet our gorgeous Kiwi ladies while competing.

“We’ll see a great competition unfold as they try to prove they have what it takes to take out the coveted Golden Gumboot trophy.”

Beginning on Monday June 10 with an Amazing Race style kick-off, the finalists will then be on-site at Fieldays to wow female fans as they compete in four days of heats to test their agriculture-derived skills, No 8 wire innovative attitude and good all-round charisma.

One lucky bachelor will also be crowned People’s Choice.

Fans will be able to read about the finalists and follow their exploits on social media – via individual Facebook and Twitter accounts – prior to and during the competition. www.facebook.com/Fieldays

Glen Hammond Geraldine, Canterbury (30) This southern sheep farmer works the family farm and is social and full of old school charm.

Whether he’s playing golf, heading to the hills for a hunt or playing songs on his guitar at a camp fire, he’s always up for a challenge.

Skilled behind the bar – a result of pulling pints overseas – this Cantabrian’s rural lifestyle has limited his opportunities to meet that special someone.

A true romantic, his ultimate date involves being flown into a high country hut for a night with a roast leg of lamb and a few ‘tins’ of Speights to share, whist sitting in front of an open fire and chatting up a storm. www.fb.com/FieldaysGlen

Fergus King Matamata, AKA ‘Proud Local Boy’ (26) The sharemilker from Waikato is Fieldays’ local boy.

He studied at Lincoln University so he knows the south.

Has business skills but is more at home stock handling and keeping an eye on his herd of girls than driving a desk. Loves hunting, fishing, rugby, touch rugby and mountain running.

His perfect date: “A walk up Wairere Falls, which look out on the magical Waikato and my farm, followed by a dinner of roast lamb cooked while we’ve been out walking, plus a few wines and a lot of conversation.” www.facebook.com/FieldaysFergus

Sam Trethewey Victoria (29) A Tasmanian third-generation farmer, he now lives in Victoria on a family farm. He’s a TAFE graduate and well-travelled adventurer who’s big on family values.

Handy with a tractor, training dogs and mustering sheep; also known as a sweet talker and wordsmith.

Hard working and passionate about farming, Sam’s excited about New Zealand. He’s visited before and reckons he could live here. Seeks a Kiwi lass who’s confident, challenging and pushes the boundaries. Ideal date: dinner on the town and a show in Sydney or a picnic lunch on the back of a ute. www.facebook.com/FieldaysSam

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nz national fieldays 59

wow sheilas at Fieldays Dan Korff

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NSW (33)

Korff is a Merino stud farm manager. He’s super organised, looking after his flock and teaching his apprentices ( jackeroos) core farming skills.

Sports interests include indoor netball. Korff’s also a keen leather and wood worker who will take a brief from a special lady.

Perfect date: something the lass would want to do. His ideas centre on a paddock stroll and early session at the flicks, leaving time for a good chat afterwards. Describes himself as a romantic. www.facebook.com/FieldaysDan

Simon Washer Taranaki (25) This sharemilker is a keen Young Farmers Club’ member, busy all day catching up with farm staff, contractors, and going to town for supplies.

A motocross and trail riding fan, his dream date is an evening picnic on the farm, with a view of the beach cliff top, watching the sunset. You’d be sharing a bottle of wine and dining out on Kiwi classic ‘fish n chips’ with plenty of good conversation.

Has a penchant for spaghetti bolognaise, is well settled in farm life and seeks that special someone. www.fb.com/FieldaysSimon

From NSW, Andrew is a horticulture professional working on an organic permaculture farm, responsible for management and regenerative farming practices for food and cattle.

Keen to make sure Australian youth get interested and involved in organic farming.

His ideal date is to get his sweetheart out on a yacht to unwind, relax and watch the sunset over a fine bottle of wine. www.facebook.com/FieldaysAndrew

This ex-city slicker is now at home in the country; in fact, he’s never been happier since making the switch.

He’s convinced he’s now ‘living the dream’; only the special lady is missing.

A jack of all trades, this skilled handyman has ace farming skills, especially when looking after a herd of cows. He’s also into cooking, music, films, art, comics and reading theology and philosophy. www.fb.com/FieldaysTom

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A typical day is spent doing trials and gathering data to keep NZ on the cutting edge globally.

This Crusader enjoys cricket and football, hanging out with mates and reading crime novels. Domestic duties have hampered his search for a dream girl. Imagine a bunch of flowers and a candlelit five course meal at a fancy restaurant, plus a boogie at the club afterwards. www.facebook.com/FieldaysMonty

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

60 nz national fieldays

Tracmap to release improved guidance system GARE T H G I LLAT T

THE 2013 Mystery Creek Fieldays will be the launch site for a dramatically improved Fertiliser GPS receiver and software which allows farmers to request variable fertiliser application rates says Tracmap national agricultural sales manager Lance Nuttall.

The company plans to offer its new 500 series GPS units to contractors at the field days which Nuttall says will provide

spreading service providers with a faster, more accurate, better looking experience than the current 465 series system.

The unit comes with a dual GPS and GLONASS receiver with “Glide” smoothing which is renowned for its reliability and an accuracy of up to 30 cm which was only available as an optional extra on the previous model.

An ARM V-71 processor with 500MG of RAM provides approximately 8 times the process-

ing capacity of the present system says Nuttall.

“It will handle larger and more complex maps and jobs, while at the same time providing richer detail.”

This is backed up with a 640 by 420 display which Nuttall says is four times better than the 465.”People will notice much sharper detail, particularly for words printed on screen, which makes them easier to read.”

Internal memory has jumped from 512MB to

2GB with further expansion to 8GB possible and the ability to plug a USB directly into the unit.

“The key point of the new hardware is that it allows us to start adding additional functions to the system which will provide farmers and other users with even more benefits and uses for their system.”

TracMap hardware isn’t the only thing to get an overhaul with Nuttall saying they have worked on the software as well.

Updated software,

which is compatable with 465 and the new 500 units gives users an incredible level of control unique to GPS mapping systems.

New features include the ability to apply fertiliser at variable rates of perscription maps and and auto on/off function which allows software to automatically stop trucks

spreading fertiliser when the truck travels over any areas blocked out by the farmer on maps.

Users can now also load street maps & topographical imagery on the screen as well as sendingand receiving SMS messages.

Nuttall is excited about the changes. “With over 7,000 registered users of

TracLink, and 2,000 GPS systems in vehicles around New Zealand and offshore, being able to provide upgrades to existing users that ensures they continue to get benefit from TracMap is great. It is the right thing to do for New Zealand Agriculture.” www.tracmap.com Ph. 0800 87 22 62

Innovation under spotlight TOP PLAYERS in agribusiness will get together the night before the Fieldays to discuss building export earnings from agribusiness innovation.

The University Commercialisation offices of New Zealand (UCONZ) symposium event is hosted by the University of Waikato and keynote speakers include the Minister for Economic Development Steven Joyce, Director General of the Ministry for Primary Industries Wayne McNee and Sarah Kennedy who is managing director of Fonterra Nutrition.

Chaired by Waikato University’s Professor of Agribusiness Jacque-

line Rowarth, the panel will include Dr John Sharpe, CEO of CytonomeST, a high-tech Boston-based company that develops laser-based biomedical instrumentation, Dr Bert Quin, director of international fertiliser consultancy Quin Environmentals (NZ) Ltd, Geoff Furniss, chief executive of advanced fruit processing technology company, BBC Technologies Ltd and Stuart Gordon, chief executive of Waikato Innovation Park Ltd and former chief executive of Livestock Improvement Corporation.

On a lighter note, judging will take place for the finals of an inaugural Waikato Milk Cocktail competition.

Rural News // june 4, 2013

animal health 61

Annual TB tests irk deer men SUD ES H K I SSU N sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

SOME DEER farmers are being forced to TB test their herds annually and are blaming the dairy industry and its ever increasing stock movements.

A recent cluster of TB outbreaks in Taranaki dairy herds prompted the Animal Health Board to declare 10km zones around the clusters. Within the zones annual testing is required and three deer farmers have found themselves subject to that requirement.

NZ Deer Farmers Association president Kris Orange says deer farmers are frustrated with the extra costs associated with annual TB tests and believes increased movement of stock, especially in the dairy industry, is a key factor.

“Dairy herds are sent away for grazing and they are sold and mixed with other herds. There’s more movement of stock in the dairy industry than other sectors,” he told Rural News.

The deer farmers in Taranaki are facing extra costs as a result through no fault of their own.

Another area of con-

cern, says Orange, is that AHB is unaware of animal movements: it only gets involved “after the event”.

“NAIT monitors movement but the AHB doesn’t know. It’s essential they talk to each other on this.”

Deer farmers attending the Deer NZ annual conference in Wellington last month quizzed Dr Paul Livingstone, AHB’s TB eradication and research manager on the issue.

Orange hopes OSPRI- a new body formed through the merger of AHB and NAIT- will be able to deal with the matter more effectively.

TB is always in the back of the mind of deer farmers, he says, and while there aren’t many outbreaks in the deer herd, it is much more common in dairy and beef cattle because of greater stock movement.

An AHB spokesman says the majority of animals in Taranaki remain on a three-yearly TB testing programme. However, following the recent dairy herd infections near Opunake and Inglewood about 750 herds within a 10-kilometre radius of the two clusters of infected herds have been placed on an annual testing programme.

The three deer herds are among those in the Ingle-

wood zone requiring annual testing.

The spokesman says the direct cause of the recent herd infections is still being investigated. He says there’s no suggestion that the owners of the infected herds are at fault.

“The TB control programme is tracing all live-

stock movements off and onto the infected properties and a precautionary trapping and post mortem programme has begun to ensure TB is not present in wild animals.

“Information provided by the NAIT scheme on the movement and location of individual animals is

already proving useful in the investigation process.”

Animals are also inspected for TB at meat processing plants, he points out.

Stock movements in other sectors, notably dairy, are a concern, says Deer Farmers Association president Kris Orange (inset).

Bobby calf study finds problems UNDER AGE and malnourished bobby calves arriving at slaughter plants have prompted Ministry of Primary Industries veterinary inspectors to call for further investigation of pre-transport management.

Their call, made in the May edition of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal, follows a study of calves that died or were condemned as unfit for processing at a Southland plant in 2011.

Report author Gareth Thomas told Rural News’ sister paper, Dairy News, that while it is disappointing any calves arrive in such a condition, the positive in the study is that the numbers were low.

“It was only one premises and overall less than 1% died so the sample was a small number of a small number.”

However, of that sample, “a reasonable proportion” showed signs their handling hadn’t met best practice guidelines.

Of all calves delivered, 0.7% died pre-slaughter and 0.4% were condemned post slaughter, giving a total of 247 or 1.1% that were lost from production.

Digestive tract disorders – read scours – were the biggest killer, accounting for 41% of deaths, followed by unknown and omphalitis (navel infections).

Thomas’s message to dairy farmers likely to be selling bobby calves in the next few months is simple: treat them as you would your replacement heifer calves, and don’t put them on the truck until they are at least four days old, fit and healthy.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

62 animal health

Warning on feed change practice a n d rew swa llow andrews@ruralnews.co.nz

EXTRA VIGILANCE is needed in changing diets with dairy cows, particularly as the use of bought in supplements increases, says a fertiliser and nutrition firm that has good cause to be making such warnings.

In spring 2009 Fertco launched a granulated mineral supplement called MineralBoost. It contained three macro minerals: calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide

and sodium chloride, and was designed to be fed with other animal feeds, including palm kernel.

The granulation was designed to result in less blend segregation and therefore improved physical properties and improved uptake by the animals.

Sales were going well but in December 2011 it was withdrawn following suggestions there was a link with salmonella outbreaks, notably in Taranaki.

While there was no

scientific evidence to support the claim the withdrawal was deemed the best approach to protect customers’ interests, says chief executive Warwick Voyce.

Extensive independent research was done, including by Gribbles Veterinary and Lincoln University’s Jim Gibbs into suggested links between the product and salmonella. No evidence was found.

A separate Fonterra survey on supplementary feeding also found no reliable, consistent

or dependable link of a causal nature between MineralBoost and salmonella.

With this affirmation that the product was safe, Fertco upgraded it and relaunched it in August last year as MineralBoostG2, with support from industry bodies including Fonterra, Agriculture Compounds & Veterinary Medicines and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

“However, mud tends to stick, and it continues to be a challenging time for Fertco,” says the firm’s chief executive, Warwick Voyce.

“Perception can often be seen as reality and by the time investigations were completed, the reputation of Fertco had been tarnished and the impact on the MineralBoost product was significant.”

Without accounting for loss of earnings or reputational damage, the withdrawal, investigation and relaunch cost Fertco just short of $1m, he told Rural News. “To be honest it almost sunk our little

Fertco’s Warwick Voyce

company.”

Now he’s urging others to learn from Fertco’s experience. The firm’s investigations found the most common factor in the salmonella cases was that farmers’ were making sudden or rapid changes to cows’ diets.

Voyce says farmers and advisors need to heed that and take care to ensure feeds are introduced to cows’ diets in a responsible and educated manner which won’t make the animals more susceptible to disease.

“This has to start with correct advice from product producers and suppliers, and if farmers have any concerns about changing their cow’s diet, they should seek the advice of a nutritional expert.”

Relaunched: Fertco’s With hindsight, granulated mineral mix. the granulation out as a possible cause process used to make of increased cases of MineralBoost meant it salmonella, he adds. “This was a standalone product could have happened to on the market in 2011 anyone.” and it was easy to single

Aussies adopt ovine Johnes’ plan AUSTRALIA HAS agreed a revised National Ovine Johnes Disease (OJD) Management Plan to take effect from July 1, following extensive consultation with producers, industry and state governments.

Central to the plan is a new national Sheep Health Statement (SHS), a disease risk assessment tool that provides producers with the relevant information to make

WEEK 6

WEEK 5

informed purchasing decisions. The SHS includes recognition of OJD vaccination and testing results and uses ‘Yes / No’ questions to allow buyers to make quick, informed biosecurity decisions.

Sheep Council of Australia president Ian McColl says the onus will be on producers to request a completed SHS when purchasing sheep. “The SHS will provide advice on the health status of sheep – not

WEEK 4

just OJD – and will allow buyers to assess disease risks against their own individual circumstances.”

Following producer feedback, national trading restrictions, zones or areas in relation to OJD are abolished in the 2013-18 plan. However, McColl notes some areas or states may choose to put in place entry requirements with regards johnes’ status.

For more see www.ojd.com.au

WEEK 3

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

animal health 63

Better calves, better cows science behind the process, and to farm consultants looking to maximise the on-farm production and profitability of their clients.”

Margerison presented her initial findings from the controlled studies involving 40 calves to the American Dairy Science Association in 2011 (Rural News, August 2, 2011).

In that initial presentation a 12% or 49kg increase in milk solids in the calves’ first lactation was reported, as was on-farm survey data from 6,900 cows over two lactation cycles which found some farms using the product increased milk production by as much as 18%.

At the time it cost about $60 more per calf reared on a Queen of Calves programme than on traditional feeding methods.

Bell-Booth told Rural News the cost per calf this season will be about $80 over a conventional rear-

Massey’s research found a 10% increase in growth rate.

ing regime.

He also points out the Massey work probably understates the gains as both the control and treated groups were given the first stage of Queen of Calves programme, the X-Factor product, for their first 18 days.

“We think that probably advanced the control group by about 6 days…

Hundreds of farmers are telling us the time to weaning is reduced [by the full programme] by about two weeks.”

At present Bell-Booth is only recommending the programme for wholemilk feeding situations, not where powdered product is being used.

“All our research has been done with whole milk but we are researching use with milk powders.”

Schmallenburg vaccine released in UK A VACCINE to protect sheep and cattle from the Schmallenburg Virus which has swept Europe has been approved for use in the UK. “This is the culmination of intensive activity on the part of MSD Animal Health and the (UK) Veterinary Medicines

Directorate to make a safe and effective vaccine available to tackle Schmallenberg,” says VMD chief executive Pete Borriello.

Voluntary reports suggest 1,753 farms in Great Britain have livestock which have tested positive for the virus, which

causes birth defects.

The British Veterinary Association welcomed the news.

“Given the serious worry that this new disease has caused and the significant losses that individual farmers have faced, the news that a vaccine is now available should be warmly

welcomed,” says BVA president Peter Jones.

“Although we are aware that previous exposure to the virus provides some immunity there remains a lot of uncertainty about how long the immunity will last and which animals in the herd or flock have been exposed.”

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requires 16% less hard feed and 9% less milk to achieve its weaning weight, and in an 8-day shorter period,” BellBooth chief executive, Stephen Bell-Booth, explained to Rural News.

In the Massey work, heifers reared from Queen of Calves-treated calves, produced 28kgMS or 12% more milk solids in their first lactation (when correcting for fat and protein), equating to $170 more revenue per heifer at current payouts.

The decision by the US Journal of Dairy Science to publish the research is “the ultimate confirmation” the Queen of Calves nutrition programme enables farmers to significantly increase milk production, says BellBooth.

“It’s scientifically proven by the top dairy research publication in the world. This will send a strong message to vets who will appreciate the

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WEEK 2

WEEK 1

avoid sleepy sickness in my ewes”.

PrE-lamb With confidEncE

5/27/13 4:36 PM

“Last year I vaccinated my ewes 2 weeks prior to lambing.

After yarding, 15 or 20 ewes were slow to move off, and many of them sat down and wouldn’t get up. We called the vet in, but even with treatment we lost 12 ewes to Sleepy Sickness.

The vet said mustering and yarding so close to lambing pushed them over the edge – and they were all twin bearing.

This year I’m using NILVAX – you can vaccinate 6

weeks before lambing, so they’re not at so much risk. I feel like I’m giving them the best treatment, and the best care before lambing”

ELE-00800-RN-B

Those are the headline findings of a Massey andrews@ruralnews.co.nz University research paper lead by Dr Jean MargeriCALVES GIVEN a proson soon to be published gramme of prebiotics, probiotics, selected carbo- in the US Journal of Dairy hydrates and amino acids, Science, says specialist feed firm Bell-Booth. grew 10% faster, with less Its product, Queen feed, and produced more of Calves, which delivmilk when they became ered the gains, is made cows. from marine and land plant extracts and enhances the nutritional value and physical nature of milk, reducing the risk of fat deposition.

There is a small nutritional value in the product itself, but “the major factor” is increase in energy a calf gets from milk.

“We’re talking about a calf that has a 10% higher growth rate; that has 23% more skeletal Stephen Belldevelopment at Booth on farm.

12 weeks, that ANDREW SWALLOW

Rural News // june 4, 2013

64 animal health

Year to use long acting drench?

LIGHT EWES, likely due to the recent drought, deserve all the help they can get prior to lambing this year, says Merial.

Low feed covers following a difficult summer and autumn mean preg-

Desired result: but skinny ewes now facing worm challenge will need protecting say vets.

nant ewes are currently more susceptible to parasites than usual in some regions, and faecal eggs counts (FEC) are showing the results.

Merial relays veterinary comments endorsing that,

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such as those Anthony Oswald, Taihape Veterinary Services.

“There have been some high FEC’s in those ewes under nutritional stress, and we expect we’ll be doing a lot of counts over the next few months, especially around scanning time, to help farmers identify mobs with high worm burdens,” Oswald told Merial.

Merial says both he and Gisborne vet John Meban, Eastland Veterinary Services, stress the situation varies widely between districts, and advise careful monitoring particularly for multiple bearing ewes with a condition score of 2.5 or less.

Broader use of longacting parasite treatments such as BIONIC capsules may be warranted for these animals this year, but as with any drench decision, the first step is parasite risk assessment.

It is also important to remember when long acting products are used steps must be taken to mitigate selection pressure for resistance.

Meban says this may mean leaving some animals untreated or following treated animals with untreated to create refugia or mop up resistant worms.

“There are several decisions to be made depending on feed availability, ewe age, ewe condition score, number of lambs on board and stocking rates.

Most importantly drench choice should be based on knowing the drench resis-

tance status for your property.

“For some of our farmers, who destocked early, there may well now be an opportunity to try and recover body weight in light ewes post-scanning.

Others have a long way to go before they’re out of the woods.”

Oswald says depending on feed situation and ewe condition, he and his farmer clients will be looking at using long acting anthelmintics in some situations, to provide parasite protection 6-8 weeks ahead of lambing, instead of the standard 3-4 weeks.

“We’re all aware of the issues long-acting products have in relation to drench resistance, but in a season like this, ewe productivity and welfare are also priorities.”

Justin Hurst, technical services and regulatory affairs manager for Merial Ancare, says there’s a narrow window in which to set up flocks for lambing this year.

“In general… seriously contemplate those twinbearing ewes that are still on the farm; evaluate the environment in terms of the need to manage parasites to maintain productivity in those animals and act accordingly in consultation with [your] vet.”

Less worm challenge during the drought doesn’t mean there won’t be worms there during winter, he adds.

“Worms come back with a vengeance in New Zealand pastoral conditions and systems.”

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WORM MANAGEMENT needs a holistic approach and that outlined on the WormBoss website is a good example, says Novartis Australia vet, Ben Brown. “[It] goes beyond just rotating drenches to also consider factors such as grazing management, genetics and nutrition for example,” he says.

The website, www.wormboss.com.au was developed in 2005 by Sheep CRC and relaunched last year. It’s designed to help producers develop management plans specific to their local environment, with advice on worm control tools and a database to assist drench selection.

Rural News // june 4, 2013

machinery & products 65

Debut for new generation tractor THE AWARD-WINNING Deutz Fahr 7250 TTV tractor will be a strong motive-power attraction at Fieldays this year, claims its local distributor.

The German-made 7250 TTV is reckoned one of the most highly-awarded machines of recent times – completely new machine and taking DeutzFahr to a new level in the international tractor market, says Ross Nesdale, the national marketing manager of New Zealand distributor, Power Farming Wholesale Ltd. “The 7250 is designed to be very reliable, efficient and economic and is the ideal tractor for large scale farmers and contractors,” he says. “It is the outcome of years of Deutz-Fahr research and development to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, while retaining the power a tractor of this size requires.”

The 7250 TTV is one of the most decorated tractors of recent years. It was International Tractor of the Year 2013 and was named Golden Tractor for Design at the International Agricultural

Machinery Exhibition at Bologna last year. It also won the Technical Innovation Award at Bologna for its innovative trailer hitch system. And in 2012, it won

From an operator’s perspective, the 7250 TTV represents a major advance in efficiency, versatility and comfort, Power Farming says.

an international Good Design Award in a noteworthy contest run by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design in association with the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies.

It is powered by the new six-cylinder Deutz TCD 6.1 litre engine, which delivers a maximum 263hp and can run on biodiesel, 100% pure diesel or a combination of both. Maximum power is reached at 1900rpm and maximum

torque of 1600rpm, which remains virtually constant between 950 and 1650 rpm, the usual range for many operations.

Emission gases are treated by an SCR catalytic converter, which breaks them down to atmospheric nitrogen and water vapour, two elements that are harmless to the environment.

Transmission combines mechanical and hydrostatic systems and is continuously variable, optimising engine power without unnecessary loading or fuel wastage.

The 7250 TTV has three drive mode options; automatic, manual and pto.

In automatic mode – the optimum choice for field and transport operations – the operator selects the speed and the tractor will work out the optimum revs and CVT ratio to maintain that speed. Manual mode allows the operator to control engine and tractor speeds independently, while in pto mode the pto speed is kept constant regardless of the tractor’s ground speed, which is controlled by the operator.

There are three performance options; automatic, economy and power. Economy is transmission led for light work to keep fuel consumption to a minimum, power is engine-led when the work load is heavier, and automatic lets the machine decide the best options for optimum performance.

Pto speeds are electrically selected, with 540E, 1000 and 1000E options, and remote control from the rear mudguards is standard.

Controls in the cab are well laid out and while the electronics might appear daunting to technophobes, operators acknowledge they do make life easy, and make the 7250 more productive and efficient.

The new MaxiVision cab offers excellent 360-degree visibility.

Nesdale believes there’ll be a lot of interest in the new machine.

“Deutz-Fahr’s market share is growing in New Zealand as farmers switch on to this highly reputable brand,” he says. “When advanced power, technology, reliability and performance are paramount, we reckon the 7250, with its range of features too vast to list, fits that bill perfectly.”

Tel. 07 902-2200 or 021 910 586

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

66 machinery & products

Eye in sky saves seed

More bouquets for big baler

A GPS-ACTUATED row shut-off device newly available from Kuhn conserves seed during planting.

Called Switchplant, it works with Kuhn consoles FM-750, FM-1000, CFX-750 and FmX from Trimble and X30 and GX45 from Top Con. These GPS consoles send a signal to the KMS412 seeding controller and to the electric row disengagement gear.

When the seed drill arrives in an area of the field already sown, one by one the rows are automatically disengaged. This way, no patch is sown twice, the plant distribution is optimal and competition between plants is averted.

This equipment can be fitted on the Kuhn Planter 3 and Maxima 2 seeding units up to 12 rows for Trimble and Top Con. It can also be installed on all frame types: M (single bar), TS (telescopic single), TD (telescopic double), TI (telescopic with adjustable spacing), TI M (telescopic with multiple adjustable spacing), R (foldable), RX (foldable front wheels) and RXL (foldable large width).

NEW HOLLAND’S BigBaler large square baler range has won another award – the 2012 Good Design award conferred by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies. The award is for outstanding design and styling.

“The BigBaler has increased capacity by up to 20% and density by up to 5%, and has revolutionised large square baler styling, increasing productivity and enhancing the operator experience as never before,” said New Holland Agriculture’s product director of hay and forage and crop production, Bob Hatz.

The company says the award “cements the BigBaler’s segment-leading position on both sides of the Atlantic”. A recent North American AE50 award focused on the BigBaler’s productivity and efficiency, with outputs as high as 110 bales/hour.

And a Silver Innovation Medal awarded for the BigBaler at the Sima Exhibition, Paris, in February, was for “outstanding safety features and its operator friendly design,” says New Holland.

Productivity enhancing features include the MaxiSweep pickup to ensure constant smooth feeding, and the SmartFill system which gives uniform flake formation by means of a network of sensors.

The maker says variants of its large square balers have pioneered baling firsts which are now industry standards, e.g. double knot technology, electronic proportional density control and the pre-compression chamber.

The BigBaler is made in Zedelgem, Belgium.

Tel. 0800 585 007 www.kuhn.co.nz

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LATEST STORIES EVERY DAY Get upto date news at www.ruralnews.co.nz MS1433

Pichon are one of Europe’s largest and most experienced producers of slurry and muck handling machinery. Pichon tankers, spreaders and pond stirrers represent cutting edge innovation combined with the highest possible build quality.

Pichon spreading equipment is second to none!

Have a look at these superb new machines at the National Fieldays® and see for yourself how Pichon can be integrated into your slurry and muck handling system.

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

machinery & products 67

Smoothing out the cost of maintenance GARE T H G I LLAT T

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE specialist Programmed Property Services is streamlining the cleaning and painting of a Northland farmer’s grain drying and silo complex.

Grain farmer and harvester David Wordsworth, Dargaville, owns Grainco, supplying maize grain to stockfood manufacturers, dairy farmers, drystock farmers and lifestyle block owners in Northland. The grain is stored in massive silos, the largest holding 1100 ton.

Wordsworth, who bought the business in 2005, says he and his wife Adrienne knew they needed to tidy up the existing silos but didn’t have the resources. “The place was pretty dirty, it needed repainting and just generally tidying up. It would have been too difficult to do ourselves and the costs of getting a contractor in would have been overly high.”

At Fieldays 2006 he discovered the Programmed site and says signing a twelve year paint and maintenance contract with the company made it possible to have the work done. “With the contract the cost was spread over twelve years. That’s what

appealed, it made it affordable. We just needed to pay a certain amount each month so it meant we could budget for it a little better.”

The company offers multiple year contracts to do most of the work up front, then continue maintenance during the contract period, while the client spreads the cost over the whole contract time.

Programmed New Zealand sales manager Tony Jane says the company is flexible about the payment conditions with flexipayment and traditional payment plans. “With a programme in place no matter what [the weather], building assets are being maintained.”

The company painted the largest silo in the first year of the contract, returning every year to waterblast the building and retouch paintwork.

Wordsworth says the company doesn’t take long to finish work, despite having to effectively get around a structure six stories high. Washing and touchup work normally takes a week. “They wash it all down then paint…. They have used abseilers to do some of the silos.”

Wordsworth is impressed with the pro-

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Landcorp trials Quad safety frame GARETH GILLATT

LANDCORP IS testing ATV Lifeguard quad rollover frames on two of its farms, reports the maker, Ag-Tech.

Two new Honda TRX500 quads – one each on a coastal Northland farm and a Central Otago hill country farm – are putting the frames to the test.

The six month trial began in February, organised by Ag-Tech and Landcorp’s national manager for staff relations and training, Al McCone.

“Landcorp agreed to assist in the development and trialling because of rollovers..., every one with the potential to result in serious injury or death,” McCone says.

“We want to know if it is an impediment to safe use of the vehicle in work situations: does the device impede vision, or significantly alter handling to the detriment of safety. We are not so interested in some

Landcorp is trialling ATV safety frames on its farms.

of the non-safety effects such as loading spray tanks.”

Quads have rolled on both the Landcorp farms and the company wants to protect the riders. “We know that the standard rigid RoP has the potential to cause major injuries, although it remains unproven whether this is better or worse than any

alternative result, and we wanted to be able to say we had explored all options for keeping our people safe.”

The trials are at an early stage and results are so far varied. “An example of the variation we have seen is one set of feedback that says the dogs like having something to lean against and another set says the dogs dislike it.

“We also have some riders saying it impedes rear vision and others saying it doesn’t. The real test will be how people feel about it after six months of use.”

An earlier destruction test proved fruitful in improving the build of the device. “In initial destruction testing we helped identify a fault in the

design of the ratchet and subsequent testing of the improved design showed the device has huge impact resistance.”

ATV Lifeguard marketing manager Weston Stewart says the company is making a point of getting information from all ATV lifeguard users. “We do get feedback from others who use them.”

Four decades of digging celebrated KUBOTA THIS year celebrates 40 years of making excavators, a work that began in Hirakata, Japan, in 1974 with the Kubota KH-1 mini excavator.

It sold this first version for clearing construction sites.

Five years (1979) later the first Kubota excavator arrived in Australia and New Zealand – the KH-1D. The brand soon became known for reliability and performance, gaining good market share in Australasia.

In 1991the company launched the current KX series of conventional tail swing excavators, updated and improved for 20 years.

The newest, the KX018-4, is made in a Kubota factory at

Zweibruecken, Germany.

The zero tail swing U series followed in 2002 in response to a shift towards excavator usage in tighter areas.

Tel. 0800 KUBOTA www.kubota.co.nz

Rural News // june 4, 2013

machinery & products 69

A real Maestro in precision planting HORSCH HAS moved into precision planting equipment, launching the Maestro, reports CB Norwood.

Horsch single seed technology is a completely new development, the company says. Its precise singling and control capabilities “usher in the future of pneumatic single seed planting technology”.

The Maestro can be universally used for maize, soy, sunflowers, beet and canola.

Its key features are “unique” metering (extremely small single grains) and the control of the placement quality.

The metering device, “extremely compact”, consists of a metering unit and integrated electric drive that do not need talc/ graphite sealing in the vacuum sector. This means it is wear-free and does not require a high torque drive. The electronic unit combines

motor, gear drive, bearing and job computer in one compact housing.

The machine uses a new metering disc which, unlike previous designs, does not have holes, but open slots facing outwards. In combination with the new singling scraper the design produces good results in a wide range from 0 to 30 Hertz, the maker says. (30 Hertz corresponds to an approximate driving speed of 15km/h for the usual 90,000 seeds/ha of maize.)

“The gentle transition of the seed from a circular to a linear movement in the placement area is crucial for these results,” says the company. Seed is delivered into the seed tube without any disturbing centrifugal forces and the level of accuracy does not depend on the rpm (frequency) of the metering disc.

The integrated dropper/tube seed sensor controls sowing; it exactly monitors the number of seeds, and their spacing. A display

unit enables the driver to see the exact misses and doubles, as well as the variation coefficient for each single row; he can therefore react to different conditions and to seed quality or seedbed condition, so can use the machine to its full potential.

The Maestro CC is available as an 8-row machine with 70, 75 and 80cm row spacing and as a 12-row machine with 45 and 50cm row spacing. The seed wagon fertiliser capacity is 2800 litres and the individual seed boxes have a capacity of 70 litres each. Power requirement is 100hp.

The Maestro SW is available with 12 and 24 seed rows with 70 and 75cm row spacing; the seed wagon capacity is 2000 litres and 7000 litres for seed and fertiliser respectively.

Tel. 06 356 4920 www.horsch.co.nz

New ways to keep warm and dry ORINGI HAS been selling it’s Belgium-made gear in New Zealand for 20 years. All garments are made of Flexothane, a knit fabric and polyurethane which are bonded to give 100% waterproofing, yet comfortable.

Also excellent wind and cold properties.

The garment fit is very generous in length and in width, the company says.

Oringi manufactures for all types of farming and outdoor needs specialising in dairy, sheep and beef protective clothing.

We recommend Oringi garments are aired inside out after use, never to be left sitting on gumboots and washed regularly in the washing machine to ensure longer life.

New garment lines recently released are Flexothane mittens, lined and unlined, Karaka jacket and white overtrousers for hunting and competition riding.

We also have coming a Flexothane short sleeved, quilt lined vest for extreme comfort that stops the wind and keeps your body warm.

Our tough super lightweight highly breathable jackets, leggings, and bib overtrousers are designed so that you are warm, comfortable and dry in all conditions you will work in.

A wide range of New Zealand made socks and a wide range of gloves as well.

Tel. 0800 469 423 www.oringi.co.nz

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Rural News // june 4, 2013

70 rural trader Your advert here

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Rural News apologises for the incorrect pricing that appeared in this advertisement in our May 7 issue.

MOBILE FEED TROUGHS FOR: MEAL, MOLASSES, PALM KERNEL, MAIZE SILAGE, ETC ETC

(PROMPT DELIVERY) L

00 4m - 8

t Budge

ar drawb l

inc $1945

4m - 1100L

Deluxe

3 wheel

$3250 incl

lvert 6m cu ile) (mob

l

inc $1299

McKee Plastics, Feilding Branch | Phone 0800 625 826 | Hamilton Branch | Phone 07 847 7788 sales@mckeeplastics.co.nz | www.mckeeplastics.co.nz

Rural News // june 4, 2013

rural trader 71 FLY OR LICE PROBLEM?

Chicken Litter

• Available to south Waikato dairy farmers to be picked up from site • About 3000 tonnes per year • Just over 480 tonnes available approximately every six weeks • Available for long term contract

‘Avoid Roll-overs’

See us at NATIONAL FIELDAYS Site F65

Be ahead of the scramble for natural fertilisers “The world is finally waking up to the long term damages of artificial fertilisers and the resulting loss of topsoil.”

Secure a long term Email your interest for discussion to supply contract now. Lucyann45@yahoo.com.au

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Country & City Contacts 0800 287 437 or Ph: 03-387 0794 or see our website www.countrycontacts.co.nz

• The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 Unique • Quality construction and options self adjusting • Get the contractors choice sides • Direct from the manufacturer • Efficient application and unequalled cost savings

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on Duals for more traction, stability, flotation, towing power, versatility.

Rubber Safety Matting • ATV Carrier Mats • Exit/Entry Areas • Calf Trailers • Horse Floats & Trucks • Weigh Platforms • Bale Mats • Comfort Mats for Wet & Dry Areas • Utility Deck Matting

Clic Wheel Systems Ltd, Rotorua

Ph/Fax 07 347 2292

www.clicdualwheels.co.nz

FLYSTRIKE AND LICE

Phone: 0800 80 8570 www.burgessmatting.co.nz

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Amazing cover

59

$ FREE DELIVERY LITRE www.enviropaints.co.nz 0800 50 ENVIRO (0800 50 368476) PER 10

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PPP Super Jetter

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• PPP have a cost effective solution for you • Storage silos from 6 tonnes upwards • Contact PPP • A trusted name in farming • Serving rural NZ for over 50 yrs

  

WE’RE ONLINE

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Phone: 04 384 7683 • Fax: 04 384 7689 Email: info@metshop.co.nz 5 Swan Lane (off Cuba Street) PO Box 9254, Wellington 6141 www.metshop.co.nz

CRAIGCO SENSOR JET DEAL TO FLY AND LICE • Cost Effective • Complete Package • Unbeatable pricing • Performance Guaranteed

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  

www.painfreeday.co.nz

TOP DOG BOX

Accomodates up to 4 dogs 6 individual air vents Removable centre board 2 lockable galvanised gates In-house drainage Fits all wellside & flatdeck utes (2 models) ❱❱ Raised floor for insulation ❱❱ Tie down lugs on each side. ❱❱ ❱❱ ❱❱ ❱❱ ❱❱ ❱❱

Free Range & Barn Eggs SUPPLIERS OF:

• Nest boxes - manual or automated • Feed & Drinking • Plastic egg trays

GST $699 incl

NORTH ISLAND PRICE ONLY

QUALITY PRODUCTS MADE IN EUROPE OR BY PPP

❖

A trusted name in Poultry Industry for over 50 years ❖

Phone 0800 625 826 www.mckeeplastics.co.nz

FLEXISKIN RAINWEAR SALE! 40% OFF OFFER AVAILABLE 2 WEEKS ONLY! NEW! WATERPROOF, BREATHABLE & LIGHTWEIGHT $80 valued at $200 $70 valued at $140 Please add $10 Freight per order

❖

• Make a big job quick & easy • Total body coverage, 2.5 litres/sheep

 

Weatherstations, unusual gifts and science support for over 40 years...

Fantastic Penetration

NO ONE BEATS OUR PRICE

$100 $60 valued at $190 valued at $120

SEE THE BIG BRANDS AT MYSTERY CREEK 53

A te Si

NEW N163 – UNLEASHED AT FIELDAYS An excellent power to weight ratio, compact dimensions coupled with 700 Nm of torque and a wide variety of unique features make the N163 a perfect all-round tractor.

The two available models, N163 Versu and Direct, are the most powerful four-cylinder tractors in the world.

In addition to the state-of-the-art AGCO POWER engine, the front end of the tractor has been designed to ensure outstanding agility and performance.

Visit us online at www.valtra.com | Freecall 0800 825 872 Valtra is a worldwide brand of AGCO Corporation.

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NEW MF7600 SERIES TRACTORS.

A4 9

FUEL EFFICIENT, EASY TO DRIVE – MAKES ANY JOB EASY. Machine of the Year 2012 Winner, Agritechnica, Germany 8 models ranging from 140 – 235 hp Generation II SCR engine technology for more power, efficiency and 19% less fuel

See the NEW MF7600 at National Fieldays!

www.masseyferguson.co.nz Freecall 0800 025 872

fendt.co.nz

Fendt Efficient Technology – Coming to National Fieldays

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Si 1

A5

Optimum profitability: we’ve got the formula Fendt Efficient Technology. Efficiency boosting features, embodied by the Fendt 700, 800 and 900 Vario Tractors, deliver the essence of profitability. Giving you more from less.

Now to the power of 3

Fendt 700, 800 & 900 | 145-390 hp

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