Coast & Country April 2018

Tractor attraction t as sitting o t the ac o apapa on some land and needed a pro ect, sa s eorge ardner, a o t his ďŹ rst tractor a 9 ase eneral rpose in 9 9 oda the ai ato intage ractor and achiner l nc mem er and vintage tractor enth siast has a personal collection all he s restored himsel hich man o ld long or ead his stor on pages 9 Photo: Catherine Fry.

F l o o d R e s i l i e n c e PG 4-5

Al t e r n a t i v e En e r g y PG 15

Y o u n g Gr o w e r PG 20-21

Da i r y In d u s t r y Aw a r d s PG 23-25

F i e l d a y s Pr e v i e w PG 33-37

K i w i f r u i t PG 43-45

Co u n t r y Li v i n g PG 48-51

Page 2

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

o

e res o d to challe es a d successes

his mo th mar s o e year si ce oodi o er helmed the aster ay o Ple ty re io a d the a itai i i er urst its a s a d o ed throu h d ecum e to shi dama i more tha 300 homes on April 6.

www.coastandcountrynews.co.nz

this editio o Coast Cou try e s e e cau ht u ith a armer a d a orchardist e first i ter ie ed i ay 2 1 he they ere deali ith the immediate e ects o the oodi . oday e see ho they e reco ered. See pages 39 and 51. e e also re isited ederated armers ro i cial reside t arryl e se the ma ehi d the rural res o se a d reco ery e ort to see ho eo le, their homes a d li elihoods are today a d the lesso s lear ed rom the e e t. See pages 4 and 5. ut the reco ery or is still o oi ay o Ple ty e io al Cou cil s ro ect ma a er o ood reco ery Paula Cha ma details ho 2 sites o ri er a or drai dama e ha e ee ide tified or re air or rom the aitu a Catchme t Co trol Scheme throu h to the aioe a tara i ers Scheme. See more on this three-year project on page 18. i i ruit har esti seaso has arri ed ut it has t come ithout its challe es. arly i dicatio s redict there ill e a la our shorta e similar to the situatio i the a e s ay. See page 6.

Plus, a u usually et year has ro ers o deri i they ill ha e e ou h dry matter i their ruit. See page 44. ut there s ood e s too. or the first time es ri ter atio al a d Pla t ood esearch s oi tly ru reedi ro ramme is e teri the third a d last sta e o e aluatio i re commercialisatio o a red ariety.

Kiwi Farmers Love Gypsum

Federated Farmers BOP provincial president Darryl Jensen. Photo: Anne Boswell. his mea s red i i ruit culti ars are ei har ested a d ut throu h the e tire e ort su ly chai o a co tai ed scale. See page 3. d P ou ro er a i a der ei de shares her our ey to ecomi a leadi you ro ers that or s ith a ocado ro ers. See pages 20 and 21.

Plus the re io al airy dustry ard i ers or the ai ato, ay o Ple ty a d Ce tral Plateau eature o pages 23, 24 and 25. d there s already tal o the u comi ieldays a d hat ill e i store i u e. Take a sneak-peak on pages 34, 35, 36 and 37. astly, ust a t to ac o led e the or arryl e se a d his reco ery team, ederated armers, P C a d the ay o Ple ty ural Su ort rust ha e achie ed so ar i aster P. a y hours aid or olu teered ha e ee oured i to the re io day a d i ht to hel eo le et themsel es, their commu ities a d their li elihoods ac o trac . ell do e d tha you to all o our i ter ie ees, colum ists, co tri utors, a d Su edia team or ma i me eel so elcome a d hel i me fi d my eet ith this first editio . ho e you e oy readi it.

Merle Foster

APP LY N OW

A natural, pH neutral, source of calcium and sulphur for improved soil quality and crop yields.

Improves soil structure by adding calcium which is needed to flocculate clays in acid and alkaline soil Contains non acidic sulphur, an important nutrient in the production of green protein rich leaf material As a fertiliser CaSO4-2H2O is a pH neutral source of readily available calcium and sulphur Suppresses soil borne root disease such as armalleria which are often present in anaerobic soil conditions Prevents waterlogging of soil where high sodium, swelling clay and excess water result in drainage issues for more about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation visit www.gypsum.co.nz

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

ed i i ruit su a d it does it s hard to redict hat s oi o .

So he e re o timisi the er orma ce o a culti ar sometimes the culti ars are ery ri id a d ill e sta le i er orma ce across multi le cli mates. ut sometimes its ery lastic a d e es a lot i ho er orms i di ere t e iro me ts. ut u til test them e ill ot o .

Precommercial

Some examples of red kiwifruit.

rya says there s al ays a oi t at the recom mercial sta e he it has to e decided hether to roceed ith commercial release. e re at the early sta es o recommercial e re ust etti the olume ram ed u e ou h to u der ta e some real su ly chai le el trials. hat is this seaso s acti ities. Pre era ly e do a out t o to three seaso s de e di ho thi s are trac i . he at that oi t e ould orm u a usi ess case to say oes this ma e se se to us as a i dustry, as a cou

ly chai test a irst surrou ded y it so a ythi ro i o is almost y de ault Psa tolera t .

So ho co fide t is he that a red ill e commercially released rom the three culti ars o o er t is millio s o dollars to e aluate arieties at this third sta e so you do t do that li htly. he challe e is you lear a lot at e ery sta e. So e re lear i a lot o ho its er ormi i a commercial e iro me t, at lar e scale orchards so you ca e er e 1 er ce t co fide t that hat you ha e ill e commercially ia le u til you collect all o the data to sho it is.

Four generations

e re a out our e eratio s do the i eli e o im ro i the are ts. hose are ts ha e roduced o s ri a d those seeds are ei e aluated. Some o those seeds ha e ee selected a d cutti s ha e ee ut i to clo al trials o di ere t orchards arou d the cou try. hat s hat e call the seco d sta e o e aluatio . he third sta e e re em ar i o o is here e ta e the ery est o these a d do re commercial trials, says rya his is here e truly ut them i a lar escale orchard e iro me t a d the ro ers ro them a d e ut that olume throu h the su ly chai . e ta e them to co sumers, ut them o the shel , or ith su ermar ets, ta e them i to co sumers homes a d see hat they thi o it. e fi d out i they store it i the ruit o l or the rid e, are they ha y ith ho lo the eati i do is i their e iro me t. s eri all o these thi s is oi o i this third sta e. rya says they re test ro i the three culti ars i a d uro e. e ill test them i sia i the e t e years. So e mi ht ro it i a d it does t store ell a d the ro it taly

ut e re co fide t e ou h to s e d a e millio s to e aluate the arie ties e e ot. ased o that e either s e d te s o hu dreds o millio dollars at the e t sta e commerciali satio . r e do t. he e arieties reedi ro ramme is u ded y es ri ter atio al, Pla t ood esearch, a d the o er me t. t is ma a ed y Pla t ood esearch a d es ri ter atio al to ether. he total i estme t i the e tire ro ramme is a out m a year.

Merle Foster

10 DAYS ONLY - OFFER ENDS 15 APRIL

or the first time red i i ruit culti ars are ei har ested a d ut throu h the e tire e ort su ly chai o a co tai ed scale rom ei ro o a e eala d orchard to reachi the mouth o a o erseas co sumer. es ri ter atio al a d Pla t ood esearch s oi tly ru reedi ro ramme is e teri the third a d last sta e o e aluatio i re commercialisa tio o a red ariety. es ri ter atio al s o eratio s ma a er or i i ruit e culti ar de elo me t rya Par es says har esti o red ruit rom the three culti ars is u der ay a d it ill o throu h the su ly chai or t o three seaso s de e di ho thi s are trac i e ore a usi ess case is ormed to decide hether to commercialise a y o them.

Page 3

GET INTO A FULLY OPTIONED HOT SPRING® SPA WITH

LIMITED TO THE FIRST

200 SOLD

USA FACTORY DIRECT OFFER Zespri International’s operations manager for kiwifruit new cultivar development Bryan Parkes with some examples of red kiwifruit at Te Puke. try, as es ri a it s a i credi ly cross u ctio al team that e a es the hole i dustry. ro ers a d su ly chai , ac houses, research scie tists, the mar eti team, lo istics teams, shi i teams, su ermar ets e eryo e is i ol ed i testi this roduct. So it s a it li e lau chi a roc et. hey all ha e to i e the ree li ht or it to ha e i each area or it to e ood to lau ch ecause e eryo e has to e ha y ith the ultimate roduct. hat s the rocess e re oi throu h. rya says the ro ramme has ee or i o a red i i ruit or commercialisatio or 2 years. out se e years a o e ere etti close to a commercial release o a red e had a e i the ro ramme ut he Psa arri ed it tur ed out those t o culti ars ere oth too se siti e to Psa to e commercially ia le. hat as ood e s a d ad e s ecause it too us 1 years to et to that oi t the they died i ro t o us, ut at least they died e ore commercial release. rya says the three culti ars ei tested this seaso ha e all ro u i a Psa e iro me t e re

When you purchase ANY spa from the feature rich Limelight range or the luxurious Highlife range you will recieve, ABSOLUTELY FREE - factory fitted Bluetooth® Sound, ACE Salt Water System, Spa Vac and Pre-Filter Systems, valued at over $5000.

Highlife® SPA RANGE

FORD SPA POOLS 34 CHAPEL ST, TAURANGA

Limelight® SPA RANGE

24 OTHER LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE 07 578 5866 - SPASHOP.CO.NZ

* Terms & Conditions apply: $5,000 of Extras FREE are ACE® Salt Water System, Bluetooth® Music System, Spa Vac and Pre-Filter Systems with any spa purchase from the Limelight or Highlife spa pool ranges sold at full RRP. Offer available from 6 April to 15 April 2018. See hotspring.co.nz for more details.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 4

isi

to the challe es o the lood aters

early ril 2 1 the aster ay o Ple ty to of Edgecumbe and surrounding rural areas received a hammering from the remnants of Cyclone Debbie, with more tha 1 mm o rai alli i t o days. ril oodi o er helmed the area, orci arms, orchards a d rural homes u der ater a d the a itai i i er to urst its a s a d o throu h d ecum e dama i more tha homes. e year o , Coast a d Cou try e s has cau ht u ith a armer see a e , a orchardist see a e 1 a ected y the oodi , lus ay o Ple ty e io al Cou cil s lood eco ery eam o their or so ar see a e 1 . ere, e tal to the ma behind the rural response and recovery effort to see how people, their homes and livelihoods fare today and the lessons learned.

look after themselves – when that breach happened a lot of farms went under water.”

The next need was helping farmers evacuate stock.

The response team set up a drop-in hub at Wilson and Sandra James’ house and an 0800 number.

So ‘Hotel James’ was our hub for the immediate response stage. From here they passed information onto agencies and businesses involved. the first 2 hours e mo ed a imals. uri the first hours almost a imals ere transported out of harm’s way. They went where they could i itially i the ay o Ple ty, says arryl.

An aerial shot of the town of Edgecumbe.

“There’s still two dairy farmers – one each in Edgecumbe and Taneatua – who are not back in their houses yet,” says Federated Farmers provincial president Darryl Jensen.

Lot Job or 25 f s Deal more or

8 Pepper St PO Box 17, Matamata Freephone:

0800 562 382

www.jobevalves.com

“They’re farming their properties and have accommodation nearby but are not back in their homes.

“Then there’s various lifestylers who aren’t back in their properties yet either. Some have insurance issues they’re trying to sort out.”

The Paengaroa dairy farmer, led the rural response and recovery efforts after waking up on April 6 to fi d oodi at ear y ells d i Pa amoa. he a call came sayi the a itai i i er had breached it banks in Edgecumbe – and things escalated. There he began what would be a large-scale rural response and recovery mission. arryl first isited lla a , ear d ecum e, who became his go-to person for local knowledge.

“When an adverse event happens the top priority during the initial response mode is human and animal welfare. So we addressed those.”

“Some farmers went into Edgecumbe to help people get on tractors and get out. Others had to

LakeRotorua

Unknown territory

“Originally, dairy farmers placed their stock on farms where they could still be milked thinking ‘in a fortnight’s time we’ll bring them back’ but that wasn’t feasible so the animals were dried off and sent away to winter grazing all over the North Island.”

Water on some farms took more than two weeks to recede, fi ally re eali dead astures, silted ri ers, at e ces, dama ed yards, races, um s, arm e ui ment – you name it, it was in ruin.

“It was unknown territory for us,” says Darryl, who says o ce ood aters receded his team s i est tas was getting farming materials into the area so farmers could rebuild their businesses.

“We called up Farmlands, Farm Source, Wrightsons etc to get as much product – grass seed and fertiliser – to the area as possible so farmers could resow grass, and also ensured helicopters, spreaders and top-dressing planes were ready to spread fertilisers.

The main route into Galatea was destroyed so they organised getting trucks in via an inland route.

“A continuing disruption was the big slip in the Waimana Gorge.

“To get into Waimana you had to go around Ohope and Nukuhou.”

Darryl says one of the worst affected rural areas was right next to Edgecumbe.

...continued

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 5

Building resilience after the event continued...

they fit o that chai o eed . you o , you ca ma e la s or your reco ery e orts .

“I think that applies to those in town or on farms – because if you don’t know where you are, you can’t make plans and that’s been one of the huge frustrations. And it’s been a big learning curve for all of us.”

Building resilience

In January and February minor weather has caused ‘freshers’. “These are resh o s o ater a d because areas haven’t received restoration work yet some farmers got ooded a ai , so it s ee a o o ing saga for them. And it is tough – so what we’re trying to do, along with the councils, is build resilience.

“So no matter what nature chucks at us we can bounce back. And get our farms going as quickly as we can.”

Specialising in Specialising in • • • • • •

Merle Foster

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

A new normal

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

“Then there were areas not in the media spotlight – Galatea, Taneatua, Ruatoki, Waimana – up valleys and roads off the beaten track. They just boxed on as rural people do.”

Going from response mode to recovery was when it hit some farmers of what they had lost.

Darryl says a big challenge was keeping people’s mental wellbeing in check. “It’s easy to say now but in hindsight what farmers were trying to do was control the uncontrollable. Fixing the damage to their properties was out of The amount of water was too much for a lot of their scope. If this event ever infrastructure in the EBOP. happens again – and I’m involved – we’ll focus on controlling what digger working on a neighbouring farm we can control. and not theirs but when you explain “That can take the stress out of your life because the big picture, there are priority areas. you’re really pushing yourself to the limit trying to do thers ill e fi ed at a later sta e. what you can’t do.”

Darryl has also learnt people need Those that coped well surrounded themselves to be aware of where they sit on the with help. “Stoic farmers who said: ‘I can look after ladder of minor to major myself’ ended up crashing and burning. That is need in such an event – where the Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust came with response organisations in.” A facilitator would visit and help resolve the having to deal with thouissues or problems at hand. sands of people and their By spring – with calving season approaching – welfare. some were reaching breaking point from continually “An issue has been comrepairing their properties from April. The BOP Rural munication because many Support Trust hired Northlander Ben Smith to relief- people don’t know where milk and carry out farm duties for those desperately One farmer used his silage in need of time out. ales to stop ood aters “This gave the farmer some respite out of the cowentering his property. shed and off-farm for a few days. We ran workshops, DairyNZ Rural Support Trust tried to help farmers cope. Pioneer brought ex-All Black John Kirwan to A milk tanker town to speak about depression. The Rural Support caught in the Trust got Doug Avery in to speak on how he and his . ood aters family coped farming in stressful times.”

• Removal chipping of whole tr Removal / chipping/ of whole trees On site for chipping for pads stand off p On site •chipping stand off • Wood chip for sale Wood chip for sale Orchardremoval shelter removal Orchard• shelter • Stump removal Stump removal Woodlot marketing all tree s Woodlot• marketing of all tree of species

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

DoloZest DoloZest DoloZest && CalciZest CalciZest DoloZest & CalciZest 0800 843 809

0800 843 809

Today, Darryl says while most farms are back to normal – for many it is a ‘new normal’ because none ill ot e hat they ere re ood. he eather e e ts a d ood aters ha e cha ed Functional Fertiliser Functional Fertiliser the dynamics. Out of rivers there is 100ha that has supplies full been lost, washed out to sea.” supplies nutrient full nutrient Functionalbased Fertiliser For example in Galatea the whole dynamics of packages on on packages based supplies full nutrient that river has changed, says Darryl. “Reinstating the Functional ®Fertiliser ® Rangitaiki and Whirinaki rivers is a huge ongoing packages basedfull onnutrient supplies issue. Bay of Plenty Regional Council is trying to packages®based on rectify that but as they say – there is a new normal for ® that river and we don’t know what it is yet.

For For application by by “In some places it’s estimated up to 2m of silt has application For application by built up in riverbeds so the water level has changed groundspreader or aerial groundspreader or aerial groundspreader or aerial between 1.5m and 2m – so it might not take so Functional Fertiliser For application by much rai o or that area to ood. supplies full nutrient groundspreader or aerial Darryl says BOPRC had 550 work sites where work packages based on was needed on BOP rivers. By early-February 85 were ® completed. “Some can be two-three days’ work while www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz others require three weeks to a month. So they’ve www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz Future Farming prioritised jobs. Some farmers get frustrated seeing a TheThe Future ofof Farming www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz The Future of Farming

& CalciZest

DoloZest & CalciZest

For application by The groundspreader or aerial

Future of Farming

www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz

The Future of Farming

Star 3080 75HP, 4 cylinder. 4WD. Low seat height, best priced tractor in the market.

Star 3080 75HP, 4 cylinder. 4WD. Low seat

Quasar 90 Super low. 90HP, 4 cylinder. height, best priced tractor in the market.

4WD. Super low seat height.

Quasar 90 Super low. 90HP, 4 cylinder.

4WD. Super low seat height.

295 Jellicoe Street, Te Puke A 295 Jellicoe Street, Te Puke P 07 573 4910 www.boptractors.co.nz A

P

07 573 4910 www.boptractors.co.nz

conditions Only available while stock lasts, subject to change without notice. Photo may show optional extras. conditions: *Terms &Terms & conditions: Only available while stock lasts, subject to change without notice. Photo may show optional extras. *

A ASK ABOUT PTION FINANCE O YOU TO SUIT

TA ASK ABOUPTION FINANCE O YOU TO SUIT

49,900 49,900 $

$

+GST

+GST

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 6

Labour shortage looms

international students available for work this year The kiwifruit FOREST HARVESTING & industry is forecasting a less and that will mean a greater reliance on backpackers labour shortage for this harvest season, and New Zealanders.

SOLUTIONS saying early signs indicate the Bay of Plenty FOREST HARVESTING & MARKETINGFOREST “Other regions have experienced a shortage of will face a lackHARVESTING of backpackers similar to the&backpackers – and if the Bay of Plenty experiences MARKETING SOLUTIONS FOREST HARVESTING &the same issue, it will enhance the labour shortage,” situation in the Hawke’s Bay.

MARKETING SOLUTIONS MARKETING SOLUTIONS Bumper apple and pear seasons occurring in the a e s ay a d o or ers to fill ruit ic i ositio s has see the i istry o Social e el opment declare a seasonal labour shortage in the region. This means overseas visitors who already hold visitor permits can now gain permits for working on orchards a d i eyards to fill the a .

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc CEO Nikki oh so says here i the ay o Ple ty ma y em loy ers in the kiwifruit industry are currently looking for or ers to fill roles i the orchards a d the ac houses “but until we get into harvest fully we won’t understand the extent of the shortage”.

With 2018 forecasted to be a good harvest – with volumes for this season expected to be higher than last year – “it is expected similar levels of labour will be required for this year’s harvest,” says Nikki.

“Figures from 2016 show that around 60 per cent of the kiwifruit industry’s seasonal workers are New Zealanders with around 10 per cent backpackers, 15 per centFunctional Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme Fertiliser Functional Fertiliser workers and 15 per cent international students. supplies full nutrient supplies full o e er, e a tici ate that therenutrient are si ifica tly Functionalbased Fertiliser packages on on packages based supplies full nutrient Functional ®Fertiliser ® packages basedfull onnutrient supplies packages®based on

FOREST HARVESTING & PROFESSIONAL HARVESTING MARKETING SOLUTIONS FOREST HARVESTING & Office:SYSTEMS 07 347 8344 • Fax: 07 347 8345 MARKETING SOLUTIONS

47 8344 • Fax: 07 347 8345

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

Office: 07 347 8344 • Fax: 07 347 8345

0800 843 809

Office: 07 347 8344 • Fax: 07 347 8345 Office: 07 347 8344 • Fax: 07 347 8345 Office: 07 347 8344 • Fax: 07 347 8345

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

Unit 6, 1318 Pukuatua St, PO Box 525, Rotorua kuatua St, PO Box 525, Rotorua

says Nikki.

As a result, the kiwifruit industry is watching the Hawke’s Bay situation closely. “Given the issues in the Hawke’s Bay, labour is also top of mind for the kiwifruit industry at this time,” says Nikki.

The kiwifruit industry utilises about 9600 seasonal workers – the majority during harvest.

A 2017 report on the economic contribution of kiwifruit industry expansion to the Bay of Plenty, Northland and NZ economies by the University of Waikato found the direct impact from kiwifruit ro i as ell as o o s rom i dustrial a d retail sectors – amounted to a revenue for the BOP of $1,808.8 billion in 2015/2016. “We expect that due to the expected increase in volumes this season that this revenue will increase slightly,” says Nikki.

“The crop this year is expected to be a small increase from last year, particularly in relation to Sungold as new planting matures. he i dustry is e ected to ro si ifica tly i the e t 1 years re ecti la ti s o Su old that have taken place in the last two years and the intention for 700ha of licence to be released this year a d o oi or the e t fi e years.

R 2018.

McCORMICK X6.4 VT-DRIVE. TRACTOR OF THE YEAR 2018.

0800 843 809

ence.

For For application by by application For application by groundspreader or aerial groundspreader or aerial groundspreader or aerial

& CalciZest

Functional Fertiliser For application by supplies full nutrient groundspreader or aerial packages based on ®

DoloZest www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz Future Farming & CalciZest TheThe Future ofof Farming www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz The Future of Farming

For application by The groundspreader or aerial

www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz

The Future of Farming

he title wardcontenders that he

were many and formidable, but McCormick’s technological periority made the difference: X6.4 VT-Drive beat them all and earned the title “Tractor of the Year 2018” in the Best Utility category. A prestigious award that Distributed by stifies to the strength, efficiency and quality of McCormick tractors.

ormick is a worldwide brand of the ARGO Group of Companies. Terms & conditions apply.

0800 843 809

Unit 6, 1318 Pukuatua St, PO Box 525, Rotorua Box 525, Rotorua DoloZest DoloZest Exports to rise above $42 billion New Zealand’s primary industry exports are forecast DoloZest && CalciZest ® to rise nearly 11 per cent in the year ending June 2018 CalciZest Tribute to excellence.

DoloZest & CalciZest to $42.2 billion. This would be the largest annual

Unit 1318 Pukuatua St, Box Rotorua Unit 6, 6, 1318 Pukuatua St, PO PO Box525, 525, Rotorua Unit 6, 1318 Pukuatua St, PO

Distributed by

Future of Farming

increase since 2014, according to the Ministry for Primary dustries latest uarterly u date. ur Situa tion and Outlook for Primary Industries report shows export revenue across all sectors has been incredibly strong in the past year, particularly for dairy, meat and forestry,” says MPI’s policy and trade acting deputy director general Jarred Mair.“Dairy export revenue is pipped to increase by more than 14 per cent in 2018 due to a reco ery i rices i the ast 12 1 mo ths.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 7

New fumigation methods explored to stop stink bugs The Ministry for Primary Industries is looking into the feasibility of allowing the use o sul uryl uoride umi atio o ul carriers at New Zealand ports.

Plus, the ministry is permitting ships to be fogged with the insecticide permethrin in NZ waters – since the start of this year.

The moves are part of MPI’s comprehensive operation to stop the brown marmorated stink bug entering and establishing itself in NZ, with a fourth bulk carrier ordered out of NZ waters following discovery of bugs aboard the vessel in late-February.

Coast and Country News asked the Ministry where and how ships – such as The Glovis Caravel which was turned around on February 27 – would be treated if Australia will not let bulk carriers berth there for biosecurity cleaning and detection using fumigation with sul uryl uoride rior to e teri aters.

Fogging

“In some cases, we’ve permitted ships to be fogged with insecticide (permethrin) in NZ waters. The fogging is a new measure we have introduced this year. It is combined with rigorous border checks, including physical inspection, screening by detector dog and heat treatment,” says a ministry spokesperson.

Asked if MPI was considering allowing sulfuryl uoride to e used i aters or orts to treat these boats, the Ministry says: “We’re looking at the feasibility of making this fumigation option available”. ith re ards to sul uryl uoride, there are issues with treating on water, including operational considerations and the safety of crew on board. “[But] These issues don’t apply to fogging with insecticide. Fogging with insecticide is a new treatment measure that can be applied on the water.”

MPI also trialled a proposed treatment programme on an affected ship last month. “The Tokyo Car returned to NZ last week [late-February]. It has undergone a second round of fogging and intensive inspection. No live stink bugs were found during this process.

“The next phase involves additional screening of 20

were considered, and evaluating the available data leading up to and including the end of February 2018. The change also aligns with the recognised risk period in place for vehicles and machinery from Italy and the USA.” The urgent measures to manage BMSB in sea container goods from Italy were first i troduced o ecem er 2 , 2 1 .

Horticulture NZ chief executive Mike Chapman says it’s critical the brown marmorated stink bug does not get into NZ in any way that allows it to take hold and breed. “Hort NZ supports MPI refusing ships entry to NZ until they are properly treated and there are no live BMSB on-board. This must remain a priority to protect all the primary industries that would be devastated by a BMSB incursion, plus the public ™ nuisance the bug presents.” Merle Foster

The brown marmorated stink bug detected on bulk carriers entering NZ waters.

On March 1, MPI also extended the per cent of the cargo via a controlled discharge. The screening will involve our specially mandatory – offshore or onshore – treatment for all goods associated with sea trained detector dog and heat treatment. If containers from Italy until April 30, 2018. any live bugs are found, MPI will consider further action, including directing the vessel to leave NZ for a second time.”

Sea containers On February 20, 2018, MPI introduced new meas“MPI is taking this highly precautionures requiring all used vehicles – cars and trucks – to ary approach as BMSB are still being undergo inspection and cleaning at an MPI-approved detected in goods imported into NZ in facility in Japan prior to export.

Italian sea containers...MPI has made this decision after ensuring all aspects

Strict inspection

ExperienceSuspension ExperienceSuspension Experience Suspension Experience Suspension Experience Experience Suspension Suspension

™

“Nearly 95 per cent of used vehicles from Japan Ferris Mowers with exclusive suspension technology will give you a noticeable improvement in your mowing productivity. These mowers are built to be the hardest already go through approved facilities designed to ™ working®and smoothest riding. Ferris mowers tackle tough terrain and finish big jobs faster.

Ferris Mowers with exclusive suspension technology will give you a noticeable eliminate the risk of biosecurity threats. The changes ™ improvement in your mowing productivity. These mowers are built to be the hardest ill si ifica tly reduce the cha ce o tra s orti  IS600 SUSPENSION MODEL ® Ferris Mowers with exclusive suspension technology will you aCOMFORT noticeable  give S65Z workingFrom and smoothest riding.

Ferris mowers tackle tough terrain and finish big jobs faster. $12,999.00 RRP incl.

GSTwith dirty vehicles and machinery that could contaminate improvement inexclusive your mowing productivity. mowers aregive built the hardest Ferris Mowers with suspension Ferris Mowers technology will exclusive giveThese you suspension a noticeable technology will give to yoube SUSPENSION MODEL Ferris® Mowers with exclusive suspension technology will you aa noticeable noticeable improvement in your mowing productivity. improvement These in mowers your mowing are built productivity. to be the These hardestmowers are built to be the hardest working and smoothest riding.

Ferris mowers tackle tough terrain and finish bigjobs jobs faster. other cargo.The move is the result of an unprecedented From $8,499.00 improvement in your mowing productivity.

These mowers are built to be the hardest working and smoothest riding.

Ferris working mowers and smoothest tackle tough riding. terrain Ferris and finish mowers big tackle jobs faster. tough terrain and finish big faster.RRP 2+2 YEAR  IS600 SUSPENSION MODEL L I M Ferris I T E Dmowers tackle tough terrain and finish big jobs faster. working and smoothest riding. spike in the number of stink bugs arriving at the border incl.

GSTS65Z COMFORT  WARRANT Y  IS600 SUSPENSION MODEL  IS600 SUSPENSION MODEL  IS600 SUSPENSION MODEL  S65Z COMFORT S65Z COMFORT From $12,999.00 RRP incl. GST  S65Z COMFORT From $12,999.00 RRP incl.

From GST $12,999.00 RRP incl. SUSPENSION GST from Japan in bulk carriers.”

MODEL SUSPENSION MODEL SUSPENSION MODEL RRP incl. GST  From IS600$12,999.00 SUSPENSION MODEL SUSPENSION MODEL From $8,499.00 RRP From $8,499.00 RRP  S65Z COMFORT he P s o es erso co firmed he lo is Cara el 2+2 YEAR 2+2 YEAR From $8,499.00 RRP incl. GST From $12,999.00 RRP incl.

GST WARRANTincl.

WARRANT Y Y GST 2+2 YEAR From $8,499.00 RRP SUSPENSION MODEL had left Japan after these measures were introduced.

L2+2 I M IYEAR TED LIMITED * incl.

GST incl.

WARRANT ARRANT FromGST $8,499.00 RRP WARRANT Asked if MPI suspected more bulk carriers from Japan, 2+2 YEARY Y LIMITED incl. GST WARRANT Y which left before the new measures were introduced, will come to NZ the spokesperson says: “We are still seeing carriers arrive with a small amount of used vehicles that have not been pre-cleaned”.

Power Farming Gisborne Gisborne Farming Gisborne 06 868 8908 Gisborne 06 06 868 868 8908 See your localdealer dealer forfor See a test your drive: localdrive: dealer forPower a test drive: Power “These carriers left Japan prior to the introduction of Farming Gisborne Gisborne 8908 See your local a test Stihl Shop Downs Drury Stihl 294 Shop8585 Downs Country Drury Engineering 09 294 8585 2015 LtdCountry Katikati Engineering 552 2015 0071 Ltd Katikati 07 552 0071 Stihl Shop Downs Drury 09 09 294 8585 Country Engineering 201507 Ltd Katikati 07 552 0071 the new rules. As discussed, the biosecurity risk is manPrescott's Garage Hikuai Prescott's 07 864 7801 Garage The Hikuai Mowershop 07 864 Pukekohe 7801 ThePukekohe Mowershop 09 Pukekohe 238 0150 Pukekohe 09 238 0150 Prescott's Garage 07 864 7801 The Mowershop Pukekohe Pukekohe 0150 Stihl Shop Putaruru Hikuai PutaruruStihl 07 883 Shop8935 Putaruru Central Putaruru Mowers 07 883 & Chainsaws 8935 Central Taumarunui Mowers 07 & Chainsaws 895 6539 Taumarunui09 07 238 895 6539 a ed y our strict i s ectio a d erificatio rotocols Piako Tractors Rotorua Piako 07 345 Tractors 8560 Lakeland RotoruaChainsaws 07 345 8560 & Mowers Lakeland Rotorua Chainsaws 07 348 & Mowers 8141 Rotorua 07 07 895 348 8141 Stihl Shop Putaruru Putaruru 07 883 8935 Central Mowers & Chainsaws Taumarunui 6539 Stihl Shop Te Puke Te Puke Stihl 07 573 Shop7019 Te PukeGarden Te Puke Forest 07Marine 573 7019 Garden Tauranga Forest Marine 07 578 1028 Tauranga 07 578 1028 including fogging with insecticide, and monitoring by Piako Tractors Rotorua 07 345 8560 Lakeland Chainsaws & Mowers Rotorua 07 348 8141 www.FerrisMowers.com www.FerrisMowers.com Distributed in New Zealand byDistributed Briggs & Stratton in NewGisborne Zealand by Briggs06 Stratton the crew.

Farming Gisborne 868 8908 See local dealer for a07test Stihlyour Shop Te Puke Te Puke 573 drive: 7019 Power Garden Forest Marine Tauranga 07 &578 1028 Stihl Shop Downs Drury for 09 294 8585 Country Engineering 2015 Ltd Gisborne Katikati 07 868 552 8908 0071 d e e rece tly ee otified that carriers are o Power Farming Gisborne 06 See your local dealer a test drive: www.FerrisMowers.com Distributed in New Zealand byGisborne Briggs & Stratton Farming Gisborne 06 868 8908 dealerHikuai for a test drive: Prescott's 07 294 864 7801 Power The Mowershop Pukekohe 09 being fogged with insecticide prior to leaving Japan.” See your Stihllocal Shop Garage Downs Drury 09 8585 Country Engineering 2015 Ltd Pukekohe Katikati 07 238 552 0150 0071 ®

™

®

™

®

*

LIMITED

LIMITED

*

*

* *

Stihl Shop Garage Putaruru Putaruru 07 8935 Stihl Shop Downs DruryHikuai 09 294 8585 Prescott's 07 883 864 7801 Piako Tractors 07 8560 Stihl Shop Putaruru Putaruru 07 345 883 8935 Prescott's Garage HikuaiRotorua 07 864 7801 Stihl Shop Te Puke Te Puke 07 07 573 8560 7019 Piako Tractors Rotorua Stihl Shop Putaruru Putaruru 07 883345 8935 Stihl Shop Te Puke Te Puke 07 573 7019 www.FerrisMowers.com Piako Tractors Rotorua 07 345 8560 www.FerrisMowers.com Stihl Shop Te Puke Te Puke 07 573 7019

www.FerrisMowers.com

Central Mowers &Pukekohe Chainsaws Taumarunui 07 Country Engineering 2015 Ltd Katikati 07 552 0071 The Mowershop Pukekohe 09 895 238 6539 0150 Lakeland Chainsaws & Mowers Taumarunui Rotorua 07 Central Mowers & Chainsaws 07 348 895 8141 6539 The Mowershop Pukekohe Pukekohe 09 238 0150 Garden Marine& Mowers Tauranga 07 348 578 8141 1028 LakelandForest Chainsaws Rotorua 07 Central Mowers & Chainsaws Taumarunui 07 895 6539 Garden Forest Marine in New Zealand TaurangaBriggs 07 578 1028 Lakeland Distributed Chainsaws & Mowers by Rotorua & Stratton 07 348 8141 Distributed in New Zealand by Briggs & Stratton Garden Forest Marine Tauranga 07 578 1028

Distributed in New Zealand by Briggs & Stratton

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 8

So many tractors, so little time Vintage tractor enthusiast and stalwart member of the Waikato Vintage Tractor and Machinery Club Inc., George Gardner, has an impressive personal collection of tractors, bulldozers and thousands of spare parts at his seven hectare farm block.

4

2

2

George vividly remembers the moment when “the rot set in”. He still has the faded photo of him as a toddler sitting on a big red George Gardner on his latest restoration project, tractor, which triggered his a 1947 International I6. Photo: Catherine Fry. lifelong obsession with these old To date, he has about 20 operational machines that workhorses. he’s meticulously rebuilt from scrap and parts, and “They put me on an International B250,” says probably another 20 wrecked ones waiting their turn George. “Probably to shut me up at the time, but I’ve to be restored. When questioned as to whether his been crazy about tractors ever since.” collection is the largest, George shrugs; apparently a George spent most of his childhood on a sheep and few people have bigger collections. beef farm in Tolaga Bay, where the steep contour of Two large sheds on his property house the complete the land called for horses rather than tractors. At every machines, with information and photos pinned to opportunity he’d be on the farm’s bulldozer trundling the walls, providing an informal museum environu a d do the ri er ats. ment. Another two sheds house thousands of parts in A move to the Waikato in the 1980s found him long dark, shelf-lined bays. George can identify most managing a sheep and beef farm and turning his hand to she herdi . t as i 1 that he ac uired his first o them a d althou h he ca t al ays fi d hat he needs, he knows he has it somewhere. New goodies project – a 1943 Case SC General Purpose tractor. arrive constantly – sometimes unsolicited.

“I get given stuff all the time and I buy stuff all A project the time,” says George. “You never know what you “It was sitting out the back of Ta Papa on some might need one day and people often call me to see land and I needed a project,” says George. if I’ve got a part they need. I’ve become a bit of a For the last 17 years George has been a contract dumping ground.” fertiliser spreader, which has proved very useful in George likes to tackle most aspects of restoration uncovering abandoned, disused tractors to feed his himself, whether it be bodywork or mechanical, addiction. On farms throughout New Zealand there and if he can’t do something, he always has a friend are old tractors falling into disrepair, just waiting for ...continued who can. someone like George.

THE FASTEST

& MOST

AFFORDABLE WAY OF INCREASING SOIL pH ON HILL COUNTRY FARMS

pH  New patented application technology  Only the Finest grade Ag lime applied evenly  Less costs, better efficiency

6

5.9 5.8 5.7 5.6 5.5

CALL US TODAY 0800 2 ROTOR (0800 276 867) | WWW.ROTORWORK.CO.NZ

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 9

George’s lifelong obsession with tractor restorations

ardner George Grkshop. o in his w

Museum shed of restored International Tractors. Photo: Catherine Fry. continued...

He’s especially pleased about the technique he’s learnt for removing rust.

He puts the parts in a bath of water and molasses for a week or so, and they come out rust-free and ready to be painted.

For any machines that can’t be salvaged, George has started a ‘R.I.P’ board where he puts the serial numbers, so they will always be remembered as part of New Zealand’s history.

George does not share his passion alone. The Waikato has a thriving club of likeminded members who are equally fascinated by these machines of yesteryear. And it’s not just tractor-type machinery that they enjoy.

No tractors

“Before there was electricity on the farms, petrol or diesel driven motors were used to power things like water um s, our mills a d mil i sheds, says George. “Some of our members rescue a d restore these machi es too.

The Waikato Vintage Tractor and Machinery Club Inc. meet monthly at the Prince Albert Tavern in Cambridge, and there’s not a tractor in sight, just a few beers and stories of the latest acquisitions and successes. the i ter e do shed raids, says George, “where we go to several properties in one day and barter, swap and generally drool over what other people have. Our club’s mobile kitchen comes ith us a d e ma e a day o it .

Club members like to use their machines and carry out working bees on people’s properties, earthmoving or cutting hay. It must be a real sight to ehold, a eet o i ta e tractors, ull dozers or balers, all working together in a paddock just like old times.

George’s father, who lives on a neighbouring farm, has a couple of his son’s tractors and they get used regularly to mow the roadside grass and for little jobs around the property.

George Gardner drives his 1962 International A514 Farmall. Photo: Catherine Fry.

Always tinkering

Road trips are another favourite club pastime. The club will visit other districts for their activities and sometimes a convoy of tractors and machines on trailers can be seen trundling through the back-roads, with regular cafe stops and setting up camps at night. Franklin, Taranaki, Rotorua, Manawatu and Levin are just some of the other clubs in New Zealand.

Waikato Vintage Tractor and Machinery Club celebrated their 30th anniversary last month with a weekend of tractor action behind Goodwood School in Fencourt, Cambridge, close to its roots – the club’s founding member lived nearby. The public enjoyed watching ploughing and tractor pulling competitions, and were treated to a dri e arou d the district on a vintage farm vehicle. Other clubs brought their machines to the Waikato to join the display of Waikato vehicles.

As for George, he’s usually to be found in one of his sheds, tinkering with one of his projects or taking something apart for bits. here s al ays somethi to do, he says re ecti ely. e i it s ust 1 minutes, every little piece you do is a ste closer to fi ishi .

Though it would be safe to say that i somethi ets fi ished i this ar ticular Waikato shed, another project is probably well underway and several more lined up.

Catherine Fry

OWN A JOHN DEERE 1025R SUB-COMPACT tractor Starting From

13,995

*$

+ GST

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CERVUS EQUIPMENT BRANCH TODAY AND BE PREPARED TO BE IMPRESSED. Rotorua - 07 345 5490 52 Vaughan Road

Gisborne - 06 869 0006 67 Awapuni Road

Features include

• 24.2Hp, diesel engine • Easy to operate two speed hydrostatic transmission • Standard 4WD and power steering

0800 333 734

CervusEquipment.co.nz

*CONDITIONS: Price listed is for a 1025R tractor only with the listed specifications. Price is GST exclusive. Image is for illustrative purposes only and some features shown may not be available on NZ models. Price valid until 31 May 2018.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 10

Pole Sheds

Farm & Commercial Lifestyle Sheds

Kitset or Full Design and Build Service Feed Pads

We can construct them for you anywhere in New Zealand

NZ’s most popular and Economical Farm sheds

Farm Sheds

Opotiki Main Road

ain 1M

11

Wairoa

.

Rd

Gisborne Makaraka

0800 86 20 10

We’ve got New Zealand covered!

em: sales@sheds4u.co.nz / wb: www.sheds4u.co.nz

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 11

Get off the farm for some comedy Date set for Karapiro comedy fundraiser following death of Waikato dairy farmer Waikato dairy farmer Zara Cosh admits “it’s been tough” dealing with the death of her close friend Colby Harris.

Harris, who was second-in-charge on a 300-cow dairy farm, took his own life last December.

“Not having Colby around anymore has been hard,” says Zara. “I miss him so much.”

The pair were both active members of NZ Young Farmers.

In the weeks prior to his death, Colby had ualified or his first ai ato ay o Plenty Regional Final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year.

The contest was held in Rotorua last month. “It was a tough day for me, having to compete without Colby there,” says Zara, ho as also a fi alist.

“As I was completing the modules, I imagined him laughing at all my little stuff-ups and safety violations.”

Colby’s spot on the day was left vacant as a mar o res ect a d fi alists hats ere em roi dered with his name.

Zara also had the words “in memory of Colby Harris, much loved friend” embroidered on her sleeve.

“Colby’s mum was messaging me throughout the day and his dad was there and told me he was proud of my performance,” says Zara. “That support meant a lot.”

She’s urging people in rural Waikato to get off the farm and attend a special comedy night on April 21.

Internationally acclaimed comedians Andre King, Nick Rado, Paul Ego and Tarun Mohanbhai will perform at the Sir Don Rowlands Centre in Karapiro.

“Tickets are just $10 each, with all proceeds going directly to Farmstrong,” says NZ Young Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland.

“It should be a great night with lots of laughter.”

Terry says NZ Young Farmers is proud to help organise “this important, much-needed event”.

“We want to be a leader in supporting and nurturing the health and wellness of young New Zealanders.”

General admission tickets are available at: .you armers.co. y

Right: Waikato dairy farmer Zara Cosh competing at the Waikato/ Bay of Plenty Regional Final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year.

h e l p i n g yo u g r o w Ag Lime LimeMag Left: Zara Cosh’s shirt embroidered for the Waikato/ Bay of Plenty Regional Final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition.

FineLime AgriBlend Custom Mixes Use Rorisons Lime and LimeMag to address Calcium and Magnesium needs of your soil.

Below: Waikato dairy farmer Zara Cosh hanging a gate at the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regional Final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year.

Rorisons AgriBlend custom blend soil conditioners and fertilisers to your specifications.

ORDER NOW 0800 40 10 40

sales@rorisons.co.nz | www.rorisons.co.nz RORISONS LIME

ROCK BOTTOM PRICES 4

BEDS U .co.nz

Bring back your dream sleep

12 MONTHS INTEREST FREE*

$25 OFF

SLEEP MAX

upto

60% OFF

HT

IG 60 N

#

55% OFF!

55% OFF!

WAS $1470

BROWSE OUR FULL RANGE OF DISCOUNTED PRODUCTS ON WWW.BEDS4U.CO.NZ

RELAXON QUEEN ROLL MATTRESS

Queen Base + Mattress

518

$

Av a i l a b l e i n a l l Si z e s

The Sleep Max Mattress with Base is a bed designed with all the basic comforts. Traditional Bonnell springs are well balanced with comfort layers of High-Density Foam.

WAS $1106

498

$

Pocketed Spring Technology works independently to provide minimal partner’s disturbance. This Mattress is crafted with high-quality designer fabric.

BLISS PLUSH

Queen Base + Mattress

take an additional $25 off when you bring this coupon to store

10

*Only valid on sales over $500 Valid until 16/04/2018

PROUDLY MADE IN NEW ZEALAND

55% OFF!

WAS $3898

1754

$

Bliss Plush brings together the comfort of nature, with breathable upholstery layers and experienced craftsmanship this bed is a sanctuary for sleep. The care and consideration taken in spring development creates a mattress with exceptional support for your body throughout the night aiding a better sleep.

6 5 Ch a p e l St , Ta u r a n g a ( Ph : 0 7 5 7 8 5 8 7 4 ) ~ 1 0 8 1 Am o h a u St , R o t o r u a ( Ph 0 7 2 1 3 1 9 7 7 ) ~ 4 1 W a h a r o a R o a d Ea s t , M a t a m a t a ( Ph : 0 7 2 8 0 6 5 2 4 ) M o n -F r i 9 .3 0 a m

- 5 .3 0 p m

~ Sa t - Su n 1 0 a m

- 5 p m

*12 12 Months Interest Free is available on Q Card Flexi Payment Plans. Minimum spend $999. Normal Lending criteria apply. #Comfort guarantee not available in all models, some terms and conditions may apply. Beds4u reserve the right to amend any misprints or error with in this advertisement. All stock subject to prior sale.

Page 12

FORESTRY

Forestry big opportunity for farmers Farmers could be making money out of the Government’s plan to see a billion trees planted during the next decade, says Forest Owners Association president Peter Clark.

It is estimated 100,000ha of land needs to be planted each year to meet the target, which will effectively double the country’s tree planting rate, says Peter. “NZ has the land capacity, but landowners need to be con-

vinced that forestry provides a suitable return on investment.”

Peter’s analysis, based on data published by Beef + Lamb NZ, indicates that forestry with car o credits is more rofita le o a er hectare basis than sheep and beef farming.

Farmers can use the Government’s tree planting scheme to get a return on investment on marginal land both through tree harvesting and selling carbon through the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Generating income from trading carbon is possible within six or seven years of planting a new forest, says Peter.

Diversify and de-risk

“Investing in forestry represents an opportunity to diversify and de-risk traditional farming operations. Carbon credits offset farm emissions and can provide an alternative income stream during low periods in

commodity price cycles.” The Ministry of Primary Industries’ annual afforestation grants for new forest planting are a “no brainer,” says Peter, with the $1300 per hectare grant covering typical forest establishment costs.

Previous years’ grants have been oversubscribed, and Peter says the association expects the same scenario this year.

Woodlots can be planted anywhere between fi ea d ha to e eli i le or the a or estation grants, but new forest owners need to give thought to access for harvesting and economies that come from scale.

Peter says neighbours getting together to plant forest blocks on adjoining property and sharing harvesting costs is one way to build better economies.

“Planting any tree anywhere is not economic. Scale in forestry is important. Forests would ideally be planted in concentrated catchments within 100km of processing facilities – so more forests need to be planted in the southern North Island, Northland and east coast of the North Island.”

Planting needed now

Crown Forestry has announced it wants to work with private landowners to develop plantation forests on land not planted as forest previously, providing another way for farmers to get involved in forestry, says Peter.

The Government’s commitment to increasing the country’s forest estate is a positive move, but Peter says the association wants to see more detail about how the plan is going to be achieved.

“To meet our Paris Accord [global agreement on Peter Clark, president climate change] to of the Forest Owners reduce greenhouse Association. gas emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, planting needs to start as soon as possible to allow carbon to accumulate.” he S is a si ifica t actor a ecti the rofita ility o moder orestry o eratio s, and an important part of how NZ will meet its commitments under the Accord, and the FOA wants to see agriculture added to the S ecause it ould le el the layi field between forestry and farming, says Peter.

“The way the ETS scheme is structured places fewer obligations on farmers than forest owners. Removing this disparity would help landowners better understand the true return on investing in forestry and farming.”

Jose Reader

An ambition for zero carbon - can it be done?

Zero carbon – can it be that Central Government will at last take a leading role on climate change?

I read Simon Upton’s sensible and measured report on what needs to be considered in setting up our own Climate Commission and writing the legislation of what is already being called the Zero Carbon Act. My goodness, what a few years and a little maturity can do. Having been a member of Geoffrey Palmer’s staff when the Resource Management Act was created, it was

galling to say the least when the Other Side got to put it into practice.

Labour had planned for a detailed central guidance plan to be created.

What happened was a certain politician promptly handed it to regional councils to get on with as best they could.

Was it somewhat surprising then that 27 different organisations applied it in 27 different ways, provoking endless arguments and court cases over its interpretation?

So I see a certain irony in the current measured statements that Central Government not only has to make the right decisions, but must get cross-party

agreement on them all, to ensure the new Act and upcoming Commission are totally clear on what will be needed to achieve the carbon budgets they will have to advise on and measure.

Unless all this is done exactly right, I fear we shall see yet more sectoral uprisings such as the current ones being fought over freshwater.

I agree the UK model provides a good start, but even there politicians didn’t really get the point, and opted to go on drilling for gas and oil, and digging up coal. However, as they all now have 10 years more experience, perhaps ours will get the point quicker, particularly when cyclones get more and more frequent.

We need independent and intellectual persons on the commission, with no hint of sectoral interests. Do we have enough of those?

We’ve already seen with water and other issues that, when a whiff of sectoral interests creeps in, the results get bent and worthless.

It will be interesting to see the order in which the government goes about forming these things. Climate Commissio or ad ice first, or di e i to a ct a d amend it later?

And the Act itself, which will need to survive unscathed through changing parliaments, is going to need very explicit but modern systems for its clauses and regulations. I agree a term of six years for carbon budgets could probably work best here, with the review every three years. And ensuring that whatever government is in power has to come up with workable and measurable policies to carry out that budget within six months of it being set or reviewed, will certainly keep policy noses to the grindstone each time.

And it’s all going to cost a heap, so who is going to be Sue Edmonds expected to pay?

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 13

the power to

GET IT DONE

60” MOWER DECK

3,490+GST

$

4 YEAR

+GST

*

+ PAYMENTS IN 12 & 24 MONTHS

OR PAY $148 MONTHLY

* *

4

†

DEUTZ-FAHR M600

4WD, Power Steering 12x12 Transmission Independent PTO Only $44,990+GST

YEARnty warra

DRIVEAWAY FOR

38,470

$

*

+ PAYMENTS IN 12 & 24 MONTHS

OR PAY $1620 MONTHLY**

*

+ PAYMENTS IN 12 & 24 MONTHS

OR PAY $497 MONTHLY**

DEMO models

available now

†

3,500KG4,200KG LIFT CAPABILITY, 7M BOOM HEIGHT

120HP, LOADER COMBO • Deutz TCD 3.6 Engine • 60x60 Powershift Trans • High spec Trima Loader • $96,740+GST

33,985

$

TURBOFARMER RANGE • Fully hydrostatic trans using Eco Power Drive (EPD) that reduces fuel consumption by up to 18% • Dynamic Load Control (CDC) increases safety

*

+ PAYMENTS IN 12 & 24 MONTHS

OR PAY $1424 MONTHLY**

deutztractors.co.nz

MACHINERY

1/3RD FINANCE DEAL

deutznz

115-140HP

1,226

$

PAY 1/3 ON DELIVERY

THEN 1/3

THEN 1/3

IN 12 MTHS IN 24 MTHS††

END ROLLER

NOTCHED DISC HARROW

Suitable for Vicon RF235/ RF2235/RF235 BalePack/ RF2235 BalePack

PER MONTH

aitchisonseeding.co.nz PUKEKOHE Power Farming Auckland ........................................ 09 239 1200 MORRINSVILLE Power Farming Morrinsville .............................. 07 889 5059 TE AWAMUTU Power Farming Te Awamutu .............................. 07 870 2411

KV-VF16657761.86 RRP $2618.95

4 ONLY AT THIS PRICE

SPECIAL

995

$

SCALLOPED DISC BLADE

28” (710mm) Scalloped Disc Blade (47mm round Centre hole) Suitable for Simba 2B/3B /23C/34C models RRP $183.95 SB-P00282

20” x 4mm Suitable for HE-VA Disc Harrows

+GST

MARK 4 RANGE • 2.5-3.5m sowing width • Seed & Fertiliser option avail • New E-Drive option available • 5 inch spacing • Disc opener standard

MI-DBS202

54

$

95

SHOP INSTORE OR ONLINE

TAURANGA Capital Tractors & Machinery ................................... 07 543 0021 WHAKATANE Jacks Machinery .................................................... 07 308 7299 ROTORUA Truck & Tractor Services .............................................. 07 349 6528

SPECIAL

13495

$

partsdirect.farm

GISBORNE Power Farming Gisborne ................................................ 06 868 8908

www.powerfarming.co.nz

powerfarmingnz

Contact your local dealer for further details. Normal lending criteria and conditions apply. All prices valid until 03/04/18. * DRIVEAWAY price is 1/3rd deposit plus total GST or/and use trade-in, then pay 1/3rd in 12 months then 1/3rd in 24 months at 2.99%. Terms and conditions apply. ** Monthly payments for Deutz-Fahr based on 35% plus total GST deposit or/and use trade-in, then 48 monthly payments at 3.99%. Monthly payments for Kioti based on 40% plus total GST deposit or/and use trade-in, then 60 monthly payments at 3.99%. *** Offer applies to TF35.7BS. Requires 25% of total price + total GST paid as deposit, then 48 monthly payments of $1226 each. Final payment of residual owed (40%) paid at end of term. † 2 year 2000 hour full manufacturer’s warranty plus additional 2 year 2000 hour Deutz Agrocare power train warranty

www.powerfarming.co.nz

* * *

PARTS AND SERVICE

SEEDMATIC TINE DRILL

FA173_C&C

24,762

+GST

15,964

$

DEUTZ-FAHR 5120 DRIVEAWAY FOR +GST

140HP, 6 CYLINDER • Front Axle Susp (50kph) • 120L Hydraulic Pump • 24x24 Trans • Only $109,990+GST

• • • •

DRIVEAWAY FOR

* CABIN 100HP $ LOADER COMBO + PAYMENTS IN 12 & 24 MONTHS • 4WD, Power Steering OR PAY $770 MONTHLY** • Perkins Diesel Engine • 32x32 Trans kiotitractors.co.nz kiotinz • $69,990+GST

+GST

warra

4,661

$

DRIVEAWAY FOR

KIOTI PX1052

+GST

4

DRIVEAWAY FOR

80HP LOADER & SLASHER

E SLA

+GST

HST 26HP • 4WD, Power Steering • Ergonomic Operator Station • Large 1131cc Diesel Engine • Tight Turning Circle • Tractor only $12,990+GST

FRE

KIOTI RX8030

FROM

KIOTI CS2610

4,990+GST

+GST

$

TRAIN WARRANTY

ER

4 IN 1 LOADER

FREE

TRAIN WARRANTY

TRAIN WARRANTY

POWER

SLASHER

SH

POWER

YEARnty

4 YEAR

POWER

+GST

4 YEAR

powerfarmingnz

Page 14

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

A simple way to ensure a safe water supply Clean water – how important is it to you?

Harvesting and storing rainwater is a sim le a d e ficie t ay to ro ide a sa e, natural water supply. But you also need to ensure the rainwater you store in your ater ta remai s clea , resh a d sa e.

In the past this has meant either paying a ro essio al or attem ti the di ficult tas o clea i it yoursel . o you ca use the erma e t, hassle ree alter ati e a ac. usi ess o er arre e says a ac is a sel clea i system or your ater ta . t ta es the o o dischar e ater rom the ta oor, creati a o er ul acuum he e er your ta o er o s, says Warren. his acuum si ho s the aste ater rom the ase o the ater ta , dra i i a d dischar i it i such a o er ul o that the harm ul sedime t, acterial colo

nies and poor quality water are all pulled i to the dischar e i e.

“As the wastewater is purged from the ater ta , it also remo es materials that settle and grow on the bottom of your ta . here are o smells, o harm ul ac teria ust resh, s ar li rai ater. d y re laci the eed or re ue t, costly ro essio al ta clea i , a ac will virtually pay for itself as soon as it is i stalled, says arre . d a ac is easy to i stall. t ca e retro fitted to your ull or em ty e ist ing water tank or installed with your new ta , says arre .

Plus, the u i ue system has o mo a le arts a d o erates automatically ithout the need for power.

Sta dard a ac u its ca e fitted to ta s rom 1 to , . or more i ormatio , lease ie .ta ac.co.

Above: TankVac provides a safe natural water supply.

Left: TankVac ensures nasties stay out of your tank.

Cattle cull on Mycoplasma bovis infected properties ore tha 22, cattle o yco lasma o is i ected ro erties ill o e culled, accordi to the Ministry for Primary Industries.

P s res o se director eo y says his or a isation is now working with farmers to organise the culls. s o arch 2 , there ere 2 acti e ected Pro erties ut o ly 22 had cattle remai i o them that ould eed to e culled. d all P armers ill e com e sated or their erifia le losses. he de o ulatio o e tire herds o all 2 ected Pro erties i is a critical measure to co trol the s read o the disease a d e ill e or i closely ith those armers to la ho this ill ha e , says eo . his ill e a i o a d o t ha e o er i ht, ut e ll e meeti ith the a ected armers to discuss the o eratio , de elo the la s a d tal throu h com e satio .

Critical decisions

eo says P co ti ues to uild its com e sa tio team to ma e sure armers are com e sated as uic ly as ossi le. ce arms are de o ulated a d clea ed, these armers ca start re uildi a disease ree herd rom scratch. e u dersta d this has ee a i credi ly di ficult time or armers hile they ait or critical decisio s to e made a out ma a i a d co trolli this disease, says eo . his cull ill i e those armers ac some cer tai ty a d co trol o er the uture o their arms, their animals and their livelihoods. e are a le to ta e this decisio o ecause e are co fide t yco lasma o is is ot ell esta lished i . he testi o mil rom e ery dairy arm i is ery ell ad a ced a d to date has o ly ide tified o e e i ected ro erty. his, com i ed ith P s e te si e sur eilla ce or traci e ery ossi le mo eme t o a imals rom i ected arms, i es us the co fide ce to say the disease is ot ides read, ut is limited to a et or o arms co ected y a imal mo eme ts.

Culli these a imals is o the a ro riate actio .

Management plans

o i ected arms that are u der estricted Places otices or otices o irectio are ot ei as ed to cull their herds at this oi t ecause i ectio has ot yet ee co firmed o those ro erties. Co firmatio relies o the defi i e etic test hich ro ides com lete co fide ce that a imals o a arm are positive. eo says P ill or ith armers to de elo i di idual ma a eme t la s or each o these ro erties u til a decisio o hether to eradicate yco lasma o is or mo e to lo term ma a e ment is made. yco lasma o is as first detected o a arm i the South sla d o uly 21, 2 1 .

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Page 15

How to go about going offgrid on a rural property If you are wanting to go offgrid, a Stand Alone Power System is a good alternative.

According to the energywise website, SAPS generally use a combination of renewable generation sources – such as solar PV, wind turbine or micro-hydro – a battery bank, smart controller/inverter and a back-up.

If you live in a remote area and are not already connected to the electricity grid, SAPS could be a good way to get your electricity.

If there is no connection to the electricity network, micro-generation, control and storage technologies are often used together as Stand Alone Power Systems.

Better alternative

Energywise says connecting a rural property to the electricity network can be expensive – costing as much $25,000 per kilometre. So you don’t have to be far from the nearest electricity lines for a SAPS to be a better alternative.

With SAPS not being connected to the electricity network, you’ll need a back-up generator – either diesel, petrol or biodiesel – for example when it’s too cloudy for solar PVs or not enough wind to drive a wind turbine.

To avoid needing to use a back-up generator, you should carefully designing your SAPS system, managing energy use, investing more in generation and battery storage, and use alternative energy sources for example gas, woodburners or solar water heating.

Batteries allow you to store electricity from microgeneration so you can use it later.

Banks of 12V to 48V batteries are most commonly

used. You’ll also need a controller and an inverter, as well as a back-up generator.

Batteries of different makes and ages shouldn’t be mixed together, which means it’s important to get the size of the battery bank right to begin with.

Deep cycle batteries are designed to be charged and discharged regularly. Most households use direct current (DC) voltages between 12V and 48V. Individual batteries are usually only 2V to 12V, so you’ll need to arrange them to make up the voltage and current you need. Make sure you buy the right sized batteries and battery bank for your situation.

Inverter options

Inverters convert electricity from direct current (DC) electricity to alternating current (AC), which most household appliances use. Stand alone power systems and grid-connected systems use different types of inverter. In both cases, advanced inverters control how much electricity you generate and how much electricity you use at any time.

Your supplier can help you choose the right size and type of inverter. A typical household needs an inverter with a capacity of around 3kW to 5kW. Ensure your inverter is compatible with your household appliances.

In many cases you’ll need either a building or resource consent, or both, for your micro-generation system. Local and regional councils have rules for installing SAPS. So tal to the la i a d uildi co se t o ficers at your local and regional councils about requirements they have for the system you’re planning to install. And ensure you seek expert advice.

Save power and money by going solar Solar PV is now a worthwhile investment providing cheap, reliable power – and it’s a great way of protecting against electricity price rises, according to affordable solar company iGenerate. iGenerate’s Waikato sales manager Damon Alexander has seen a new interest in solar across the board.

“This is not just for off-grid systems. Customers want to reduce their overheads, take some control back from the power companies and do the right thing by the environment,” says Damon.

“All of this plus returns of 15-20 per cent make solar compelling.”

Damon says with the latest batteries having 10-year warranties and systems lasting more than 25 years it’s a good time to start making savings now.

“We’ve seen nothing but power price rises during the last 10 years and solar is great way to protect against that. Once

installed the price for that power is fi ed.

Damon says the key is “to get the right system for your property”.

“We do the work to understand your power requirements, your sunshine hours and your available space.

“We prepare a detailed proposal so you’ll know exactly what your savings and return on investment is – making your decision a simple one to make.”

Give Damon a call on 0800 745 400 or email: gosolar@ igenerate.co.nz

Waikato sales manager Damon Alexander talks with dairy farmer Shaun Wallis about solar.

Affordable solar to power your world

Solar is a worthwhile investment for both residential and especially rural areas. With Emergency power supply options and online reporting, solar provides sustainable and reliable energy while protecting against rising power prices.

Contact our Waikato team today to receive a free quote on 0800 745 400 or email gosolar@igenerate.co.nz

or 5kW t our 2kW the u o b a k s A ith ckages w ly $7995 Solar pa n o m o fr els latest pan ply. ap Conditions installed *

www.igeneratesolar.co.nz

AB FARM VEHICLES

Page 16

Subaru supporting the rural sector with new wheels Subaru of New Zealand is joining forces with Federated Farmers to launch a new partnership to support farmers who ‘do’.

The federation’s team of territory managers around the country will now have All-Wheel-Drive Subarus to help them get down every dusty, gravel road and driveway to meet farmers, hear their views and concerns and relay them to the Feds policy and advocacy staff.

Subaru of New Zealand managing director Wallis Dumper says there is a strong relevance for the ubiquitous Kiwi car brand to be partnering with Federated Farmers.

“We recognise the farming community as a strong contributor to the New

Zealand economy. Subaru already has partnerships with some major rural organisations, who we supply vehicles to, so when conversations began with Federated Farmers it was a very natural process to evolve to where we are today.

“The capability of our vehicles has already been proven by others in the country’s rural sector. Our SUV range, in particular, continues to rise in popularity with farmers. This is courtesy of the Subaru Outback, Forester and XV’s off-road competence, high ground clearance and their practical space, which enables work or play,” says Wallis.

Federated Farmers national president Katie Milne says the tie-up with Subaru is a ood fit.

“New Zealand farmers are renowned as some o the most e ficie t roducers of quality food on the planet, so we’re

delighted to partner with a car-maker and marque that is also at the top of its game on a global scale.”

Katie farms near Lake Brunner in the South Island, meaning her Subaru is “going to get a good test,” she says.

“Subarus are known for their versatility and ability to handle rugged terrain and foul weather. The West Coast is well-known for throwing a bit of weather about. I’m regularly up and over Arthur’s Pass through summer and winter; and that can mean snow, driving rain and all the rest of it."

Katie’s Subaru XV has a higher ground clearance than her current vehicle, which she says can now be put out to pasture.

“My dog George often comes along for rides with me. The Subaru has plenty of room in the back for farm gear, wet weather stuff and boots.

“The odd calf might also have to sneak a ride in the boot every now and then!” she jokes.

The federation’s aim is to add value to the business of farming for its members and encourage sustainability through sharing and promoting best management practice.

Federated Farmers Southland territory manager and national territory manager team leader Laura Sanford will also be using a Subaru as her ‘workplace’.

She says some of the team drive more than 1000km per week and she’s glad

they will be doing the hours with the Subaru brand, which is full of possibility, safety and style. he car is esse tially our o fice, so you a t it to be comfortable. The Subarus will deliver on that front.”

There is huge variety in the working week of a Federated Farmers territory manager.

“One day you’re out in the boonies, down long winding roads and tight farm tracks, sometimes in di ficult terrai . he e t, you ll ha e a usi ess meeting in town, or you need to attend a town hall meeting - maybe giving others a lift to get there - and you want a vehicle that looks smart and professional,” says Laura.

Through the partnership with Federated Farmers, Subaru hopes to inspire and enable busy farmers to get out and do what they love, outside of their demanding, day-to-day lives running their farm.

“Farmers don’t have a normal 9am to 5pm job and they often get little time to themselves. We want to inspire them to ‘do’ what they love and enable some escape time off the farm through some of our partnership initiatives, whether it’s accessing their a ourite fishi hole, ol course, s i field or ac country hut, where they can enjoy some well-deserved time off, and a Subaru will enable them to ‘do’ that – pun intended,” says Wallis.

Federated Farmers president Katie Milne, Subaru NZ managing director Wallis Dumper and Wanaka farm dog ‘Syd’ with one of the vehicles.

ED

REDUC

FARM VEHICLES

Page 17

Page 18

CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

Eastern Bay’s f looding repairs far from over Earth and repair work on a massive scale is still being undertaken in the Eastern Bay of Plenty 12 months on since ex-cyclones Debbie a d Coo rou ht rai , i d a d ides read oodi to the area.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s project manager o ood reco ery Paula Cha ma says i total 2 sites of river bank or drain damage have been identified rom the aitu a Catchme t Co trol Scheme throu h to the aioe a tara i ers Scheme. er er ce t o the or sits ithi the a i tai i ara era i ers Scheme a d arou d 2 er ce t is in the Whakatane-Tauranga (formerly Waimana) i ers Scheme.

So yes, addi i oti i ith 1 er ce t the im act or the aster P is si ifica t.

Paula says to date 2 sites out o the 2 ha e ee completed and she expects the work to be at least a three year ro ect. ll oi ell e are aimi or com letio summer o 2 2 .

The work involves the repair of existing assets, in some cases construction of new assets and also river cha el reali me t, says Paula. ssets i clude roc amour rotectio , tied tree groynes, willow planting, repair of pump stations, drai a re airs. or i ol i the rotectio of community assets – like roads, water supplies, stopbanks, urban areas – are assessed as the highest riority.

The priority of sites is based on the risk of the site becoming worse and the consequence of the site becoming more damaged and the practicalities of com leti the or .

“Where a community asset is at risk – a road, water su ly, marae, ood rotectio sto a etc the site is ele ated to ery hi h riority.

The biggest job scheduled is the realignment of the Colle e d sto a i d ecum e.

“The removal, demolition and tidying up work is almost complete on the sites BOPRC acquired that ill e a le the sto a a d road reali me t, says Paula. e ces are ei erected o the ei h ouri ro erties.

The contract for the construction works had been awarded and work on-site was set to begin mid-March, ith su sta tial com letio ro rammed or u ust.

“The regional council’s engineering team has worked closely with the Rangitaiki Community Board and the Whakatane District Council Recovery Team on the desi , ro ect la s a d ro ress, says Paula.

Other large jobs have been tackled in the last 12 mo ths too. lo side the uato i o shi a de ector sto a as dama ed a d at threat o ei u dermi ed.

The village was evacuated at the time, says Paula, with repair involving rock lining “and repair to and stre the i o the sto a . o o the ha ata e i er Sim so s ust outside of the Whakatane township involved rock armori to rotected a ma or rural 1 year sto a . he dama ed ri er a had eroded to ithi 1 m 1 m o the sto a , ta i ith it ell esta lished illo tree ed e rotectio . ro imately to e o roc as used i this re air o , says Paula. e air or to the dama ed ro Site at tara i er i oti i i ol ed 22 lm o eroded ri er bank threatening a rural stopbank, and power supply i rural oti i.

“The repair involved the reinstatement of the berm and part of the rural stopbank, and rock lining to stre the the e erm. his or i cor orated more tha 2 to e o roc , says Paula. t the ilso s site at alatea ma or ri er a erosio as causi si ifica t mea der cha e.

“The impact of this change, if left, would likely lead to continued erosion of the river bank immediately do stream o the o osite a . he or also involved some channel realignment and widening and roc li i to stre the the eroded a .

Paula says her team did an estimate of the quantity of rock that would be needed to complete proposed rock works over the total project – for example, here roc or as ro osed i the re air. his came out at more tha , to e when you consider a standard truck-and-trailer he lood ecover eam ood recover unit holds approximately 21 tonne of rock that pro ect manager a la hapman, ood restoration converts to a whole lot of truck movements during engineer on nlop and pro ect coordinator a three year eriod.

Paula says landowners need to be aware of future lair elan at hinemataroa climate change– “and how this can impact ourselves a d our commu ities .

“There seems to be a much more frequent occurrence o si ifica t eather e e ts i e eala d. hese are natural events and in many situations our rivers and waterways have been altered to provide for the way we live – farming, horticulture, community infrastructure, urban development etc – and are therefore not in a atural state.

So there is a eed to raise a are ess o the ris s a d ha ards o li i alo side ood ro e areas, es ecially in light of climate change and increased frequency of e treme e e ts li ely i the ay o Ple ty.

Merle Foster

Phone: 07 362 8433

AVOCADOS

Page 19

Impressive financial returns for hard-working growers

Market conditions of high demand and undersupply in both Australia and Asia has driven higher values, with fruit in Australian retail stores reaching close to $4 a piece.

Revenue from a strong Australian sales programme and improved results from tighter supply to Asian markets where fruit carries the AVANZA brand, ill deli er record retur s to ro ers he the fi al OGR is revealed this month.

New Zealand exported around 2.2 million avocado trays in 2017-2018 – less than half the volume shipped offshore during the bumper crop of 2016-2017.

AVOCO, the industry’s largest export marketer, handled about 1.3 million trays – with 80 per cent of shipments going to Australia while the remainder was sent to developing Asian markets and sold under the AVANZA brand.

AVOCO marketing and communications manager Steve Trickett says a shortage of fruit after Christmas curtailed a sales programme that had already been hindered by low volumes earlier in the season.

“Consumers’ love affair with avocados has continued and all of our customers would have liked us to supply more fruit, but they understand that seasonal variances do occur.

“The upside is that values held up strongly in all our mar ets a d that ill e re ected i our . he seaso s fi a cial er orma ce had ee discussed by grower representatives on the AVOCO Grower Relations Committee, who are pleased that

Avocados stack up well Per-capita consumption of avocados is increasing – due to the fruit being trendy, versatile and nutritious – and supply is struggling to keep up, with a long lead-in time until newly developed orchards bear fruit, according to ANZ Agri Focus.

ANZ’s rural economist Con Williams says in the ANZ Agri Focus March 2018 edition that this is e ected to e dri e y lar e scale ree field de elo ments and improving average yields.

“Currently, the fresh domestic – worth 32 per cent – and Australian market – at 56 per cent – account for the lion’s share of the crop.

“Both markets are expected to remain important, with higher returns than other markets and further lifts i co sum tio .

Con says in time, more competition can be expected in the Australian market – local supply and other exporters gaining access – and there will be a need to fi d a home or i creasi su ly. his mea s ro i other romisi Pacific im markets, such as Greater China, where market access has just been gained to the mainland. Consumption ro th i the Pacific im is e ected to e dri e y the general lift in consumption of healthy foods and the expansion of Western foodservice, tourism and e at commu ities.

Con says grower returns from avocados are favourable with an industry average of $27,300/ha in recent years a d to ro ers achie i , ha.

(Source: ANZ Agri Focus March 2018).

AVOCO has been able to deliver strong returns to its group of 800 growers across the Bay of Plenty, MidNorth and Northland.

“We’ve kept our growers informed on favourable market conditions throughout the season, but our fi al ayme t ill li ely still come as a leasa t sur rise, ell ahead o ud et, says Ste e.

“But I would also expect our results to motivate non-suppliers to take a hard look at their own payments and weigh them up against what they could have received if they’d supplied AVOCO. “Since its formation, AVOCO has consistently deli ered si ifica tly etter tray retur s tha those of our competitors. We are keen for all growers to understand that and to calculate the revenue forfeited by not being part of the C ro ramme. he 2 1 2 1 seaso is C s fi th o erati e season since exporters Team Avocado and Primor Produce united in 2013, a move that reinvigorated the entire avocado industry.

A seasonal highlight is the performance of Korea, which has become the most important avocado market for New Zealand by volume and value outside of Australia.

New Zealand shipped more than 145,000 trays to Korea, with AVANZA accounting for 66 per cent of the volume. Returns per tray in this rapidly developing market improved by close to 20 per cent compared to the previous season.

AVANZA’s four years of promotional activity in Korea and educating consumers on the fruit’s health a d ersatility e efits as ayi o , says Ste e.

“AVANZA has done a stellar job of stimulating the appetites of Koreans for avocado which, in just three years, has gone from a relatively unknown fruit to a readily demanded produce item for many healthco scious co sumers.

In-store demonstrations and making ripe, ready-

to-eat pieces available on the retail shelf was among AVANZA’s proven promotional strategies that are now being applied in North and South-East Asian markets, as well as India, says Steve.

“AVANZA continues to lead the way in market development in major markets across Asia where, as crop volumes allow, we see real opportunities for future growth, with the recently

opened China market being the next new frontier.

“At the same time, we have built up strong, trusted and valuable supply relationships with Australia’s leading retail chain operators. Combined, all of this hel s us deli er the im ressi e fi a cial returns our hard-working growers have come to enjoy with AVOCO, from one seaso to the e t.

Size counts AVOCO’s focus is producing results – improved orchard health, knowledge growth and outstanding OGRs, each and every season, big or small. All the while developing new markets to future-proof your investment.

Join AVOCO – you can't afford not to. www.avoco.co.nz

CC0318

A small New Zealand avocado crop in 2017, combined with continuing consumption growth in key global markets, has helped to shape the value of AVOCO’s Orchard Gate Return this season.

AVOCADOS

Page 20

A passion that stems from growing vegetables Growing radishes, carrots, gherkins and cucumbers as a child in her family’s backyard at Mangere Bridge in Auckland, Danni van der Heijden had no idea she’d become a young leader of the horticulture industry.

Improving orchard health and production ü ü ü ü ü ü

Local market picking Injecting Pruning Chipping Fertilizing Wood splitting

Call today to book a free consultation and begin the steps towards boosting your orchard productivity!

Phone: Matt 027 552 5411

Danni van der Heijden in her favourite place - the nursery growing avocado plants at Trevelyan’s Pack & Coolhouse. Photo: Nikki South.

“I never took horticulture as a subject at school or uni but I was always interested in growing things,” says Danni, who grew up in the city with three brothers, and shared an interest in gardening with her father – Frans van der Heijden – in particular.

The 24-year-old, who is an avocado services staff member at Trevelyan’s Pack & Coolhouse in Te Puke, is 2018’s Bay of Plenty’s Young Fruit Grower, winning the competition – the second female to do so as ell as ta i out fi e i di idual challe e a ards u a ai st fi e ello contestants, last month.

“We had a massive garden when I was younger and we’d just grow whatever we liked – radishes, carrots, gherkins, cucumber – whatever was in season,” says a i, ho fi ished school a d started off studying all of the sciences at Waikato

Avocado Farmers Love Gypsum Control pH levels, reduce soil borne disease, improve soil structure and drainage with Gypsum.

university but ended up focused on biology and chemistry – gaining a Bachelor of Science majoring in two subjects.

Passion

“So with a science background and a real interest in growing things – I guess that’s where my [passion] stems from,” says Danni.

She competed against EastPack regional manager Aaron Wright, 27, DMS avocado manager/production manager Hamish McKain, 27, Trinity Lands Kiwifruit Orchard assistant production manager Levi Smith, 22, Seeka

he finished prod ct high

Ltd Orchard Manager Rishi Preet Singh, 28 and Apata Group Ltd quality controller Rochelle Kerkmeester, 26, in a series of challenges, testing their skills and ability to run a successful orchard, at Te Puke A&P Show on February 10.

Then each competed in a speech competition discussing future disruptors to horticulture at the awards dinner on February 15, where Danni was announced the title winner. EastPack’s Aaron Wright placed second and Hamish McKain of DMS came third.

After university Danni travelled overseas, then worked for Watercare in Auckland. “Then the job at NZ Avocado – part of the Avocado Industry Council – came up.”

Moving to Tauranga for the role, she worked for the AIC “in research and development, supporting all of the trials and running a new cultivar project”. alit avocados But Trevelyan’s lured her with the opportunity to learn exciting new techniques to grow avocados.

“I was interested in the role at Trevelyan’s because of the new techniques needed for it. So the nursery is what drew me, but also the trials on orchards and getting to help people grow avocados better.”

Helping growers Today she’s been with Trevelyan’s, where she uses data and technology in new ways to help growers, for 13 months.

“I work in the nursery, do most of the clonal work and develop new techniques and ways of doing things, I do a lot of the reporting and mapping and use QGIS to fi d e ays to report things to growers, I do trials on orchards

...continued

AVOCADOS

Page 21

Developing new skills

Danni van der Heijden uses data and technology in new ways to help growers in her role at Trevelyan’s Pack & Coolhouse in Te Puke. Photo: Nikki South.

continued...

and go out and look at different things and help growers out on their orchards, I also do some grower services.”

And in many instances she’s communicating with people twice her age on how to grow their crops and in turn their livelihoods. Danni says she enjoys helpi ro ers fi d e ays to et etter results, a d that the res ect o oth ays.

Seeing results

“At Trevelyan’s I do anything to do with avocados that eed s doi ecause e ha e a ery small team so there’s a lot of different things. And I work closely with AVOCO, the exporter, on a range of research projects.” hat does she li e most a out her o Seei the results of what I do. Like in the nursery I can see what happening with the plants, a technique that is working, out on orchards I can see changes to growers’ crops.

So ust seei cha es i ro t o my eyes.

Trevelyan’s avocado manager Daniel Bernie says Danni works well on her own or as part of a team.

She ets o ell ith eo le a d has a reat erso ality.”

Daniel says Danni has done extremely well to win the BOP Young Grower 2018 title – and her team at Trevelyan’s will support her as she heads to the atio al com etitio . She s a ery tale ted

JOIN THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS

individual and the horticultural industry as a whole are ortu ate a i chose this field to ma e a career out of.” ast year a i e tered the com etitio ut missed out o the to ri e y hal a oi t to ello co test a t ri t i so . She deser ed to i it she did really ell, says a i, ho e tered the first time ecause ot ma y ome ere i ol ed. his year it was for redemption. ust tal i to eo le e ery ody e t as i i as oi to e ter a ai so thou ht ro a ly needed to.”

One of her growers, Jeff Roderick, lent his tractor and mower, his orchard manager’s time and a strip of land to practice. e allo ed me to mo a e ays o his orchard – they weren’t mowed the nicest,” laughs Danni.

She also orro ed a ello sta mem er s chai sa to ull to its to re or the challe es ahead.

“A few people at work were showing me how to pull it apart.”

Receiving $1500 for her win, she’s also won an allexpenses paid trip to Napier in August, to compete for the 2018 national Young Grower of the Year title. e do e some thi s e e er do e e ore so defi itely lear t some e ractical s ills. d her career oal a t to ma e a di ere ce in the industry, I’m just not sure how I’ll do that at this stage.”

Merle Foster

Leading technical advice Orchard management plans Flexible harvest options Top rating packing facility Chat with our experienced team today about how we can help you reach your orchard goals.

Greg O’Carroll, Grower Services 027 268 0374 Erica Faber, Orchard Productivity Manager 027 549 8229 John Emett, Grower Services 027 476 9087 @just_avocados

www.justavocados.co.nz

With new Health and Safety requirements changing, there is a real demand on farm Kyle from Nexus Signs has been assisting owners by creating a very effective interch H&S Site Sign tailored to each farm or orchard.

The sign consists of separate modules that can be updated as and when details or It also features areas in which staff can fill in and wipe off temporary or new hazards Signs are made of Composite Panel Board, 1220 X 800 with high performance vinyl a Also available is a kitset with posts and fixings to keep things simple.

This H&S Solution has been so popular that he is rolling them out across farms and or Contact Kyle @ Nexus Signs today to order yours.

Nexus Farms Ltd: 62 College Road

Nexus Signs

Site Emergency Information

Site E

GPS Location: 176.944558, -37.978164

Contact Details for person in Charge of this orchard are:

This Site Address:

With new Health and Safety requirements changing, there is a real demand on farm & orchard owners to keep compliant.

Kyle from Nexus Signs has been assisting owners by creating a very effective interchangeable H&S Site Sign tailored to each farm or orchard.

ASSEMBLY POINT The sign consists of separate modules that can be updated as and when details or maps change.

It also features areas in which staff can fill in and wipe off temporary or new hazards.

Signs are made of Composite Panel Board, 1220 X 800 with high performance vinyl and Laminate.

Also available is a kitset with posts and fixings to keep things simple.

This H&S Solution has been so popular that he is rolling them out across farms and orchards all over the Country.

Contact Kyle @ Nexus Signs today to order yours.

Te Rahu Farm Ltd

Name:

220 Te Rahu Road

Ph:

Whakatane

Farm Health & Safety Rules:

Cam Bierre

027 2999 239

3193

Position:

Remember the emergency telephone Number for:

Nearest Medical Facilities:

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY! Persons entering this property must comply with all Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and its amendments

Police:

Ambulance: Power:

Phone:

07 307 0586

Hospital:

Whakatane Hospital

Phone:

07 306 0999

DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT PERMISSION AND NOTIFICATION OF THE HAZARDS WITHIN

COMMON SITE HAZARDS

- Live electric fences – Do Not Touch.

Treat all fences as live.

farm safe.

GENERAL

- Open waterways (fenced off) and hidden

- Dairy Shed – slippery surfaces, pinch points, rotating platform, hazardous substance

- Effluent pipes may be hidden by grass

- Slips, trips and falls

in effluent area.

the yellow letterbox.

- It is your responsibility to report all hazards / accidents / near miss to the Farm Manager have been trained

- If you open a gate, shut it. All road gates MUST be shut.

ORCHARD HYGIENE RULES

- Abide by the speed limit of 20Km/Hr, 15Km/Hr for tractors.

- Covered footwear must be worn at all times

ACCIDENTS

- Report all accidents, including all near misses that could have resulted in an injury,

-Vehicle movement – Motor bikes, tractors

- Dust

and feed wagons

3. Move quickly to the evacuation point located opposite the vat stand at the dairy shed

PHONE: 027 2999 239

PLEASE REPORT ALL NEW UNIDENTIFIED HAZARDS TO MANAGEMENT

Notes

Ph:

Bas Overdevest 021 224 0732 Manager

AUTHORIZ

THIS IS A

Persons entering this pro

Police: Ambulance: Power:

Nearest Medical Facilities:

PERSONAL HYGIENE

This is a smoke free workplace

- Always wash your hands before eating and drinking - Toilet facilities are located at the dairy shed

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PROVIDE FIRST AID, CALL 111

EVACUATE WORK SITE IF REQUIRED

DO NOT ENTER WITH

COM

Medical Centre: Riverslea Medical Cen Phone:

07 304 9106

Hospital:

Whakatane Hospital

Phone:

07 306 0999

National Poison Centre 0800 76 47 66

- Accident Register is located in the yellow letterbox.

-Stock

VISITORS REPORT TO: CAM BIERRE

5. Farm Manager is a qualified First Aider

Name:

Position: Remember the emergency telephone Number for: Fire:

- MOVING VEHICLES - TR

QUAD BIKES, SPRAYER

- RABBIT HOLES, UNEVE GROUND

- SPRAY DRIFT / CHEMIC

CHEMICAL CONTAMINA

- KIWIFRUIT CANES AND

- First Aider – Cam Bierre 027 2999 239

- First Aid Kit is located in the Dairy Shed in the toilet cupboard

2. Contact the Farm Manager Cam Bierre as soon as possible – 027 2999 239

4. First Aid Kit is located in the Dairy Shed in the toilet cupboard.

Edgecumbe

- All people entering the property MUST sign in and out.

- This is a drug and alcohol free property. Zero Tolerance.

immediately.

In case of any emergency, it is important you.....

1. Remain calm

62 College RD

Contact Details for person in Charge of this orchard are:

- Always be aware of hazards on the property you are working on. Full register is located in

- Do not perform any task, operate any machinery, or deal with any substances, unless you

- Slippery / uneven surfaces and tracks

drains in some paddocks

National Poisons Hotline: 0800 764 766

While on Farm, all persons shall take all take all practicable steps to ensure their own safety and the

safety of others. They shall carry out work in a manner that will keep themselves and all others on

THIS IS A MULTIPLE HAZARD AREA

Manager

Medical Centre: The Doctors Phoenix

Fire:

This Site Address: Nexus Signs Orchard

In case of any emergency, it is important you.....

1. Remain calm 2. Listen to your supervisor 3. Move quickly to the Evacuation or Muster point identified below 4. Ensure you stay together with your group and take others with as you go 5. Remember to take your Orchard Health and Safety Folder 6. First Aid Kit with Supervisor (This Contains the names of everyone in your group. When you get to the muster point Check this list to make sure everyone is accounted for)

- PERGOLA WIRES AND P LIMBS FROM VINES

- SECATEURD, LOPPERS, HAND TOOLS

VISITORS REPOR PLEASE REPORT

LIST OF NEW HAZARDS FOUND ON SITE

DATE

Nexus Farms Ltd: 62 College Road Site Emergency Information

Full Hazard Register located in H & S folder in dairy shed.

HAZARD CONTROL

Nexus Signs Orchard: 62 College Rd Site Emergency Information

GPS Location: 176.944558, -37.978164

Contact Details for person in Charge of this orchard are:

This Site Address: Te Rahu Farm Ltd

Name:

220 Te Rahu Road Whakatane 3193

Ph:

027 2999 239

Position:

Manager

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY!

Nearest Medical Facilities:

DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT PERMISSION AND NOTIFICATION OF THE HAZARDS WITHIN

COMMON SITE HAZARDS

Medical Centre: The Doctors Phoenix

Fire: Police: Ambulance: Power:

Phone:

07 307 0586

Hospital:

Whakatane Hospital

Phone:

07 306 0999

- Live electric fences – Do Not Touch.

- Open waterways (fenced off) and hidden

- Dairy Shed – slippery surfaces, pinch points,

Treat all fences as live.

rotating platform, hazardous substance

- Effluent pipes may be hidden by grass

- Slips, trips and falls

in effluent area.

In case of any emergency, it is important you.....

-Vehicle movement – Motor bikes, tractors

- Dust

and feed wagons

3. Move quickly to the evacuation point located opposite the vat stand at the dairy shed 4. First Aid Kit is located in the Dairy Shed in the toilet cupboard.

Remember the emergency telephone Number for: Fire:

have been trained - If you open a gate, shut it. All road gates MUST be shut.

Police:

ORCHARD HYGIENE RULES

- Abide by the speed limit of 20Km/Hr, 15Km/Hr for tractors.

- Covered footwear must be worn at all times

ACCIDENTS - Accident Register is located in the yellow letterbox.

-Stock

PHONE: 027 2999 239

Bas Overdevest

Ph:

021 224 0732

Position:

Manager

PERSONAL HYGIENE This is a smoke free workplace - Always wash your hands before eating and drinking - Toilet facilities are located at the dairy shed

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PROVIDE FIRST AID, CALL 111 EVACUATE WORK SITE IF REQUIRED

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY! THIS IS A MULTIPLE HAZARD AREA

Ambulance: Power:

ASSEMBLY POINT

Nearest Medical Facilities:

DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT PERMISSION AND NOTIFICATION OF THE HAZARDS WITHIN

COMMON SITE HAZARDS

Medical Centre: Riverslea Medical Cen Phone:

07 304 9106

Hospital:

Whakatane Hospital

Phone:

07 306 0999

National Poison Centre 0800 76 47 66

HAZARD

CONTROL

While on site, All workers shall take all practicable steps to ensure their own safety and the safety

and other workers or visitors safe.

GENERAL - Never undertake a task if you feel it is unsafe.

- Always be aware of all hazards on the property you are working on.

- It is your responsibility to report all and health and safety related issues to your Supervisor.

- Do not perform any task, operate any machinery or deal with any substance, unless you have been trained.

- SPS’s must be available at all times.

ACCIDENTS - Report all accidents, including near misses that could have resulted in injury, immediately.

- Make sure you know who your first aider is.

- MOVING VEHICLES - TRUCKS, TRAILERS

- BEES AND HIVES

QUAD BIKES, SPRAYERS OR MOWERS - RABBIT HOLES, UNEVEN OR STEEP

- OPEN WATERWAYS / DRAINS / PONDS

- Keep your first aid kit in your work area at all times.

ORCHARD HYGIENE RULES

GROUND - DUST

- SPRAY DRIFT / CHEMICAL SPILLS, CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION

PERSONAL HYGIENE - Do not eat or smoke under the canopy.

- Always wash your hands after eating, smoking and toilet breaks.

- NOISE

- KIWIFRUIT CANES AND DEBRIS

In case of any emergency, it is important you.....

1. Remain calm 2. Listen to your supervisor 3. Move quickly to the Evacuation or Muster point identified below 4. Ensure you stay together with your group and take others with as you go 5. Remember to take your Orchard Health and Safety Folder 6. First Aid Kit with Supervisor (This Contains the names of everyone in your group. When you get to the muster point Check this list to make sure everyone is accounted for)

ORCHARD HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES of others. They shall carry out work in a manner that will keep themselves

DATE

Persons entering this property must comply with all Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and its amendments

the yellow letterbox.

- It is your responsibility to report all hazards / accidents / near miss to the Farm Manager

- First Aider – Cam Bierre 027 2999 239

VISITORS REPORT TO: CAM BIERRE

Name:

- This is a drug and alcohol free property. Zero Tolerance.

- First Aid Kit is located in the Dairy Shed in the toilet cupboard

PLEASE REPORT ALL NEW UNIDENTIFIED HAZARDS TO MANAGEMENT

Notes

- All people entering the property MUST sign in and out.

LIST OF NEW HAZARDS FOUND ON SITE

Contact Details for person in Charge of this orchard are:

- Always be aware of hazards on the property you are working on. Full register is located in

- Report all accidents, including all near misses that could have resulted in an injury,

2. Contact the Farm Manager Cam Bierre as soon as possible – 027 2999 239

5. Farm Manager is a qualified First Aider

Edgecumbe

immediately.

1. Remain calm

62 College RD

farm safe.

GENERAL

- Do not perform any task, operate any machinery, or deal with any substances, unless you - Slippery / uneven surfaces and tracks

drains in some paddocks

National Poisons Hotline: 0800 764 766

While on Farm, all persons shall take all take all practicable steps to ensure their own safety and the safety of others. They shall carry out work in a manner that will keep themselves and all others on

THIS IS A MULTIPLE HAZARD AREA

Persons entering this property must comply with all Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and its amendments

Remember the emergency telephone Number for:

This Site Address: Nexus Signs Orchard

Farm Health & Safety Rules:

Cam Bierre

- PERGOLA WIRES AND PROTRUDING

- ELECTRICITY

LIMBS FROM VINES

- Always cover cuts or grazes.

- Cover mouth and nose if you sneeze.

- Only use designated toilet facilities provided.

- No rubbish is to be left on the orchard or placed in harvest bins/bags.

- Appropriate clean clothing and enclosed sturdy footwear shall be worn.

- SECATEURD, LOPPERS, POWER AND

- SLIP, TRIPS AND FALLS

- Any jewelery likely to be a hazard must be removed.

- Where required clean footwear and sanitise your hands prior to leaving and entering Orchard.

HAND TOOLS

VISITORS REPORT TO:............................................PHONE........................

PLEASE REPORT ALL NEW UNIDENTIFIED HAZARDS TO MANAGEMENT

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PROVIDE FIRST AID, CALL 111 EVACUATE WORK SITE IF REQUIRED

OPERATIONAL HYGIENE - Grazing of livestock under the canopy is prohibited during harvest or at spraying times.

- Animals must be kept away from harvest bins, including load out pads.

- Any risk of contamination to product must be reported immediately.

SICKNESS REPORTING - If you are feeling unwell, report it to your supervisor before it becomes an issue.

LIST OF NEW HAZARDS FOUND ON SITE DATE

Full Hazard Register located in H & S folder in dairy shed.

HAZARD CONTROL

EMERGENCY ASSEMBLY POINT

IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY OR SPILLAGE MANAGER: BAS OVERDEVST PH: IF ANY ONE IS HURT PHONE AMBULANCE: 111 Advise - Location, Number involved, Chemicals

FIRE INVOLVED PHONE FIRE SERVICE: 111 Advise - Location, Nature of incident, Type and quantity of chemical involved

SPILLAGE INVOLVED

Contain spillage, warn others, advise H&S Manager if waterways Land contaminated National Poison Centre (03) 477 7000

Implements

irect

Call Now 0800 73 33 55 www.implementsdirect.co.nz MENTION THIS ADVERT AND GET FREE SHIPPING TO NEAREST MAINFREIGHT DEPOT

Ph: 07 32 M: 022 67 41 Liverpool St, K kyle@nexussig

Page 22

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Good bugs under threat from ‘chemical warfare’ Chlorine has long been promoted as an effective cleaner and sanitiser for dairy sheds, and on the surface, it is exactly that.

However, is it doing more harm than good to the health of your farm?

David says a healthy e ue t o d is domi ated by aerobic bacteria, which naturally digest solids and create clear, rocessed e u ent that is ready for soil to absorb.

Forward Farming biological farming consultant In comparison, an David Law says he came across some fascinating unhealthy pond is domifi di s he he started i esti ati the ree slime nated by anaerobic, or bad and green bubbles found on the surface of several his bacteria; a tell-tale sign of an clie ts e ue t o ds. unhealthy pond is a “After testing these green samples in the lab, I now thick crust. know that the green slime is dead bacteria in the presIn addition to green slime ence of chlorine,” says David. or green bubbles, Law says “These dead bacteria contain a high level of aerobic an unpleasant smelling pond can bacteria, or good bacteria, which had previously been be another sign there are dead ee i the e ue t o d healthy. bacteria present.

“When chemicals kill bugs, you get a toxic smelling pond,” says David.

“By using harsh chemicals such as chlorine in their cowsheds, farmers are saying ‘No’ to biology.

“Chlorine kills all bacteria like a bomb, including aerobic bacteria. he ashed i to your e ue t o d, it kills all the good bacteria that would have helped your farm.”

David says in addition to chlorine, he’s seen other chemicals have an ad erse e ect o a e ue t o d

copper sulphate, a common chemical in footbaths; and rumensin, a feed additi e a d rume modifier designed to prevent coccidiosis parasites.

Having told his farmer clients they shouldn’t use harsh chemicals in their dairy sheds, David says he needed to be able to offer an alternative.

“Their question was al ays hat should use then?’ so after three years of research and development we launched a range of chemicals which includes DX50 Dairy Sanitiser,” says David.

DX50 is made from a stabilised chlorine dioxide and is engineered to kill pathogens 2.46 times better than chlorine, through a process called oxidation; the larger and higher voltage good bacteria are strong enough to resist DX50’s ad a ces, so are ot harmed, a d e u ent pond health is not compromised.

DX50 also formed a partnership with Clarks Products of Napier to bring farmers Ultimate ULF Acid and Ultimate Liquid Caustic, to complete the eco-friendly cleaning system. All products are MPIapproved for use in farm dairies.

David says the more harmful chemicals farmers use, the more they are moving away from the natural biological processes that create an optimal farm environment.

“Chlorine is now the go-to product for shed cleanup, and as a result I’ve seen an increasing amount of ree e ue t o ds, says a id.

“The DX50 range as an alternative not only cleans to the standard of chlorine but leaves the aerobic acteria i your e ue t o d to do its o to naturally digest solids and create clear, rocessed e ue t that is ready or soil to absorb.”

Latest irrigation on show IrrigationNZ’s 2018 Conference from April 17-19 in Alexandra is featuring an expo with more than 50 exhibitors showcasing the latest irrigation technologies and services.

A range of new technologies and research desi ed to hel armers use ater more e fi ciently, save time and money and meet new environmental standards will be presented on.

The conference is held biennially, with more than 400 attending the 2016 event in Oamaru.

“This a great opportunity to catch up with other farmers and growers from across NZ,” says IrrigationNZ chief executive Andrew Curtis.

“We have an exciting range of local tours planned, a panel discussion on how to address key issues irrigators have raised, a diverse range of speakers as well as the irrigation expo and social functions to attend.”

New research including how soils change under irri atio , the e ficie cy o order dy e irri atio , dam safety for irrigation ponds, on farm water storage, and soil and crop sensing technologies will be presented in 15-minute updates.

See .irri atio .co.

DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS

Page 23

Top Bay farmers reach goals with age on their side Major winners in the 2018 Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards, Reece and Natasha Cox, believe they have age on their side when it comes to growing their business and achieving their goals.

The couple were announced winners of the region’s Share Farmer of the Year competition at the Bay Of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards annual awards dinner held at the Awakeri Events Centre last month.

Other big winners include Bridie Virbickas, who was named the 2018 Bay of Plenty Dairy Manager of the Year; and Zoe Gleeson, who is 2018 Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Reece and Natasha Cox, are contract milking 700 cows for for three years, before David and Lesley Jensen on their Above: The 2018 winners leading the North Island Farm 240 hectares Tauranga farm and are Bay of Plenty Dairy Sustainability team. o 12, 2 i ri es a d fi e Manager of the Year, Bridie believes family is a strength of merit awards.

Bridie Virbickas, Share her business.

“It’s a family-orientated The couple both grew up in Farmers of the Year, business, so we are all working farming environments and enjoy Natasha and Reece Cox; towards the same goal.

The close the outdoors and farming lifeand Dairy Trainee of the proximity of the four farms within style. “It’s a challenging but very Year, Zoe Gleeson. the business means the farms can rewarding career,” says Reece. work together at different times of “I’m proud that we’ve moved up the year.” through the industry through First-time entrant Zoe Gleeson hard work.” is the 2018 Bay of Plenty Dairy Reece, aged 25, joined the dairy Trainee of the Year. Zoe heard about industry in 2011 as a dairy assistant, The 2018 Bay of Plenty the awards and decided to enter and progressing to manager by the age Wearable Arts MC Rob Reid. “give it a go”. of 21. He and Natasha, aged 28, his is my first year as a ull are i their first seaso co tract mil i . time farm assistant,” explains Zoe. “I followed my “I’ve been teaching for the past seven years, and this husband into the industry four years ago, and have is my first seaso or i o the arm, says ata always been the relief staff.”

For sha. m e ecti our first child i ril.

The couple say the one of the strengths of their Satisfying career Free business lies with the farm owners. “David and “I didn’t consider farming a career until this posiLesley are so supportive. They understand our tion where I’ve discovered a whole different side of future business goals and are prepared to help us the dairy industry and I’ve realised it can offer me a reach them.”

Reece and Natasha’s goal is to build equity through satisfying career and a lifestyle I’m happy to raise our child in.” a rofita le a d sustai a le usi ess, hich ill ro The 25-year-old is farm assistant for Margaret vide the foundation on which to purchase their own Wright on her 450-cow, 220ha property at Whakafarm. “We’re at a good age to start a business, as we tane and won $6180 in prizes. have the time to expand and reach our future goals.”

Proud Sponsor Taking responsibility of one of their herd’s pasture he Co s e tered the a ards to uild their co fi dence, test their skills and knowledge and learn more management is something Zoe is proud of achieving.

“I knew nothing-to-very-little about pasture about the dairy industry. management at the start of the season, and now I can consistently maintain pasture quality and Runner-up wins this time milk production.

The winner of the 2018 Bay of Plenty Dairy Man“Farming challenges my character, intellect and ager of the Year competition loves animals and the i e uity a d is e tremely ulfilli or me. outdoors, and has always wanted to be involved in The Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards winners the agricultural industry in some way. ril rom 1 . am at au ridie ir ic as, ho o i ri es lus fi e field day is o merit awards, is farm manager for Bernard and Linda mata Rd, Tauranga, where Share Farmers of the Year, Reece and Natasha Cox, contract milk.

Virbickas on their 58ha farm, milking 235 cows in lso rese ti at the field day ill be the region’s Whakatane. She was runner-up in the 2017 dairy Dairy Manager of the Year, Bridie Virbickas and manager competition.

Dairy Trainee of the Year, Zoe Gleeson. Further The 27-year-old holds a Bachelor in details o the i ers a d the field day ca e ou d Agricultural Science from Massey University and at: www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz worked as a fertiliser rep for Balance Agri-Nutrients Authorised Dealers

Authorised Dealers

• Dairy Shed installations and upgrades • Service and parts for all types of milking machines • Drench pumps, teat spray systems, hoses and supplies • Machine Testing • Effluent and Irrigation Supplies • Pumps & Water fittings – Galvanised, PVC and Alkathene

Proud sponsors of the Dairy Industry Awards 2017 We’re specialists in growing rural business.

Specialist Rural Accountants Xero and Figured experts Part of your farming team

• Rubberware • Trenching

Call 07 573 5569 and find out more 123 Jellicoe Street, Te Puke 3153 www.businessresultsgroup.co.nz

BRG 0866-01

• Stainless Steel manufacture and repair

DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS

Page 24

Independent assessment equalled a title win The major winners in the 2018 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards are first time e tra ts ho sa the Awards as an opportunity to obtain an independent assessment of their business and to identify areas to improve.

Steve Gillies and Amy Johnson were announced winners of the region’s Share Farmer of the Year competition at the Waikato Dairy Industry Awards annual a ards di er held at the o o

lands Centre at Karapiro last month.

The other big winners were Chelsea Smith, who became the 2018 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year; and Aaron Courage, who is 2018 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Steve and Amy, both aged 31, are contract milking 470 cows for Peter and Marian van der Heyden at Putaruru and won $13,750 in prizes.

Their goals are to continue to ro ress throu h the i dustry y o tai ing sharemilking positions, and they believe the strengths of their operation lie in the people.

The 2018 winners are Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year, Aaron Courage; Waikato Share Farmers of the Year, Steve Gillies and Amy Johnson; and Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year, Chelsea Smith.

Ste e a d ha e com lime tary s ills a d su ort ive farm owners, plus great staff that make the farm an enjoyable work environment,” says Amy. “And Steve knows how to make milk!”

Steve has been in the industry eight years, and was working as a mechanic before moving to New Zealand from Scotland in 2010 and making the career change.

“I’m proud that I’ve progressed through the industry from farm assistant to contract milker on one farm,” says Steve.

Amy grew up on a farm and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in agriculture. She worked as a airy co sulti o ficer a d is o a a ri manager with ANZ, as well as working with Steve on the farm.

The couple aim to mitigate small challenges before they become big issues and love working with happy, healthy animals. “I didn’t choose farming as a career,” says Steve. “Farming chose me.”

Travelling wine-maker wins

Piako Tractors supports all the contestants of the 2018 Central Plateau dairy industry awards.

Go hard and good luck to you all.

PIAKO TRACTORS WORKING WITH YOU 24/7

Rotorua I 490 Te Ngae Road

07 345 8560

Mike Rogers 021 998 819 I Ian Pilcher 021 908 123 Tony Johnston 021 349 816

Full Range of Quality Farm Machinery www.piakotractors.co.nz

The winner of the 2018 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year competition was previously a ‘Travelling Winemaker’ who would spend half the year working the grape harvest, then the rest of the year travelling or returning back to New Zealand to the family farm, e ore she decide to e ter the dairy i dustry ull time in 2015.

Chelsea Smith, who won $8975 in prizes, is farm manager for Steven and Amy Van Der Poel’s 250ha farm, milking 1180 cows in Otorohanga. lo e the ariatio i dairy armi . lo e the su port, the growth potential and that everyone wants to help and share their information,” says Chelsea.

“I treat the cows like they are my own – they are the most important part of the business and need to be looked after and cared for. They all have their own personalities!”

Chelsea believes one of the strengths of the business lies in the strong communication that exists between the team. “I always converse with the farm owner and sta to e sure e eryo e is u to date ith the day to

day or ee to ee ha e i s o the arm, says Chelsea. t as the first time Chelsea, a ed 2 , had e tered the awards, doing so to give herself a challenge, learn more about the farm and business she works on and networking.

Passionate young gun wins

The 2018 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year, Aaron Courage, is a young farmer who is passionate about the dairy i dustry a d ould li e to ro ress i to a leader ship position within the industry in the coming years.

“I would like to breed quality animals that have a ositi e im act o the i dustry, says aro . Cur rently I’m focused on breeding a bull into the team of premier sires, which I am working towards through quality stock investment and working with other successful breeders.” He’s also training to be an AB technician. he 1 year old re u o a dairy arm o the west coast of the South Island and has been working ull time i the i dustry si ce a e 1 . e as ired to be a dairy farmer for as long as I can remember. I thoroughly enjoy milking above all tasks, and my two favourite times of the year are calving and mating.”

Aaron is farm assistant for Stewart and Kathryn derso o their 1 ha, co ro erty at toro ha a a d o 1 i ri es.

He says entering the awards is an opportunity to e ress his lo e or dairy armi . m e tremely as sionate about challenging myself to continue improve my skills and potential input into the industry.” he ai ato airy dustry ards i ers field day will be held on April 18 from 10.30am at 455 Whites Rd, Putaruru, where Waikato Share Farmers of the Year, Steve Gillies and Amy Johnson, contract mil . lso rese ti at the field day ill e the region’s Dairy Manager of the Year, Chelsea Smith; and Dairy Trainee of the Year, Aaron Courage. Further details o the i ers a d the field day ca e ou d at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz

DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS

Page 25

Winner a strong couple with different strengths A strong husband and wife team have been announced as major winners in the 2018 Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards.

Tim and Melissa Parsons were announced winners of the region’s Share Farmer of the Year competition at the Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards annual awards dinner held at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua last month.

Other big winners were Colin Tremain, who was named the 2018 Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year; and Donna McKinley, who is 2018 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Tim and Melissa, aged 32 and 33 years, are contract milking 920 cows on Trinity Lands’ Tokoroa 330 hectares property and won $17,180 in prizes.

Tim began farming 15 years ago as a farm assistant. Melissa joined him seven years ago and they’ve progressed progressing through the industry to their current contract milking position which they’ve held since 2015.

Tim and Melissa are proud they were runner-ups in the 2015 Taranaki Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year.

“We both have strengths in different areas, and working together we can help each other and use our different knowledge bases to improve the business,” the couple say.

“The strength of our business is the staff we have working for us, because we couldn’t run the farm without them.” Their goal is to own a once-aday dairy farm, which will allow a rural lifestyle for their three young children.

Fourth time lucky

The winner of the 2018 Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year competition, Colin Tremain, has entered the awards three times previously a d says e efits i clude erso al planning, presentation skills and buildi his i dustry rofile.

“The awards process make me stop and think about what I am doing and why I am doing it,” says Colin.

He’s a licensed builder and spent seven years building before returning to the industry he grew up in. He was runner-up in the 2017 Central Plateau Dairy Manager competition and is studying towards a Diploma of Agribusiness Management. He won $8995 in prizes.

Colin, aged 30, is farm manager for the Tumunui Lands Trust 982ha, 1750-cow farm at Rotorua.“Tumunui is huge, it’s developing, it’s a mind

game,” says Colin. “On a good day, it is unbeatable, there is nothing like it. On a bad day, it is unbeatable, you will not win.”

“Tumunui values the people who work in the business. It is set up to be diverse and to create opportunities both for the business and for the people who work in it.”

And it was second time lucky for the 2018 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year, Donna McKinley, who was runner-up in the 2017 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee category.

End-goal: Farm ownership

“I can’t think of anything I didn’t e efit rom recei ed some ery alu able feedback from the judges and have been working on that from last year,” says Donna.

“Every single person you meet during this competition will, at some point, make a valuable contribution to your career or business.”

Donna is 2IC for Davison Trust Partnership milking 330 cows on the 116ha farm. Her future goals include farm management by 2020. She won $6050 in prizes.

“My long-term goal is land and herd o ershi a d ha e fi a cial la s i place to ensure this happens.”

The 22-year-old is a motorsport e thusiast, ualified mecha ic, chair o Tihoi Young Farmers club and enjoys riding horses.

“Being a woman in our industry will always have its challenges, but I have learnt how to use my strengths. I’ve also gained a lot of resilience and recognition of my own mental wellbeing, as well as others around me.

“I’m able to recognise any signs of depression and anxiety, and with support from friends and family I’m able to keep it under control. Focusing on my end goals and keeping myself usy hel s The Central Plateau Dairy Industry ards i ers field day is o arch 28 at 184b Poaka Rd, Tokoroa, where Share Farmers of the Year, Tim and Melissa Parsons, contract milk. Also presenting will be the region’s Dairy Manager of the Year, Colin Tremain and Dairy Trainee of the Year, Donna McKinley. See: www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz

The 2018 Central Plateau winners are Dairy Trainee of the Year, Donna McKinley; Share Farmers of the Year, Tim and Melissa Parsons; and Dairy Manager of the Year, Colin Tremain.

NAIT EID, as easy as 1-2-3

1

Read EID Tags

0800 731 500 www.gallagher.com

2

Connect to mobile phone app

3

Send to NAIT

DAIRY

Page 26

hu he ua ro hy com etitio Onuku Maori Lands Trust in Rotorua and The Proprietors of Mawhera Incorporation in Hokitika have been selected as the two fi alists or 2 1 s hu he ua ro hy aori celle ce i armi ard com etitio or dairy.

atio s are ositi e a d co fide t about their future and are taking an a roach that Sir ira a ata, who inaugurated the competition ould ha e ished. i i says i di ficult times it is important that leaders emerge a d sho the ay or others a d more than ever role models are eeded i the aori a ri s ace. e says the com etitio re uires the fi alists to meet ery hi h standards in all aspects of their armi o eratio a d this year s cohort is o e ce tio . armi i the e iro me t has e er ee easy. e are a lo ay rom our mar ets, yet throu h i o atio and determination we are able to ut a ide ra e o uality roducts o su ermar ets shel es, restaura t me us a d rocess i la ts arou d the orld. e eala d armers know that farming is a out ma a i cycles, e they eather or mar et a d they ta e account of this when Moyra Bramley and Alan Rondon of dra i u their usi ess la s.

Onuku Maori Lands Trust.

u u aori a ds rust s ou dary oad arm is a 2ha loc ear a e otomaha a, a out m south o otorua. he trust mil s 22 co s hich roduce a out , ms.

Mawhera Incorporation Farm co sists o ha i the rahura alley, orth o the est Coast to o o iti a. he mil i lat orm is 2 ha a d the co s roduce 1 , ms. he hu he ua ro hy a a e ment Committee chairman Kingi Smiler says it is reat to o ce a ai see to dairy arms selected as fi al ists or this resti ious tro hy. he eo le ho ru these o er

Pursui

Laser Electrical Morrinsville Your Local Farming Electrical Specialists 0800 PH ACTION | Ph:07 889 3344 | 0274 927 133 Commercial  Industrial  Rural  Residential  Maintenance & Servicing 

www.morrinsville.laserelectrical.co.nz

ames t o i alists e eala d is luc y to ha e Maori farmers because it is in their to ma a e the ra ile e i ro me t, care or their eo le a d uild a sustai a le usi ess. he co ce t o sustai a ility is ot e to aori. e ha e ee ractisi it or ce turies, says i i.

He believes Maori agribusiness is i ery ood sha e, sayi the hu he ua ro hy has ee a ma or actor i li ti the rofile a d erce tio o aori a ri usi ess. he hu he ua ro hy com eti tio as i troduced years a o y isio ary aori leader Sir ira a ata a d the o er or e eral at the time ord ledisloe with the aim of encouraging s ill a d roficie cy i aori armi . ield days ill ta e lace at each arm rom . am 2 m at a hera cor oratio , o iti a, o ril , a d at u u aori a ds rust, otorua, o ril 12.

The winner will be announced at i ram ir orce useum, Christchurch, o ay 2 . ore i ormatio is at .ahu he uatro hy.maori.

a career i the dairy i dustry

y ame is o a c i ley, m 22 year old ee farmer from the mi hty ai ato. m delighted to have been offered the o ortu ity to rite a mo thly colum o all thi s dairy, seaso al a d i dustry challe es, a d e citi e e ts ith ou armers, or Coast a d Cou try e s. y lo e or or i o the la d as u o i ly imprinted in me from time spent growing up on a dairy arm as a you child. y amily a d the mo ed to a si acre li estyle loc i the ay o Ple ty here e had a

me a erie o a imals. orses, cattle, shee , duc s, oats you ame it, e had it. y older sister a d ere home schooled or most our school i years hich as really eat as e got to spend a lot of time looking a ter our a imals. o lea i school really had o idea hat a ted to do. e or ed i ca es a d ars, trai ed racehorses, relie mil ed a d all hile studyi to e a mecha ic. e a an apprenticeship in an automotive or sho i aura a u o fi ish i my olytech ic course a d at first lo ed it, it as really e citi ut it as t here truly a ted to e. So deli erated ursui a career i the dairy i dustry. made o e last career cha e i u ust 2 1 to o or o a dairy arm ear au o as a arm assista t. e si ce or ed my ay throu h the ra s a d o m a assista t ma a er o a co arm i arotiri. m luc y e ou h to e ha e ee o ered the o ortu ity to ma a e a small dairy arm i a a i o rom u e 1 so m really e cited to see here that ca ta e me. m chair o ihoi ou armers Clu a d the ay o Ple ty e io al ree dele ate. e eala d ou armers clu s o er ma y a tastic et or i a d educatio al e efits hich is hy as really ee to jump on the committee for our club and see what di ere ce e ca ma e i our commu ity. e do a lot o u draisi or our clu , hich allo s us to su ort our members attending or competing in events like the ou armer o the ear a d e eala d airy dustry ards. ast mo th o the 2 1 Ce tral Plateau airy rai ee o the ear title a d the ter rises td armi o led e ard. o fi d out more a out the a ards a d the field day ill e rese ti at, see a e2 . t s ee a tastic atchi the clu ro i to a real social hu i the ast e mo ths, e ide tly mem ers are becoming more committed and want to be a part o this cha e. ihoi ou armers, alo side the ai ato ural Su ort rust, has or a ised a ood ar or sho or our commu ity, o ril 1 rom . m at iro ha a Settlers all. ood ar is a ha ds o or sho to i e eo le who live and work on the land practical tools and co fide ce to e a le to tal to eo le i rural com mu ities a out me tal health. o re ister or the e e t, te t or call a da o 21 1 2 or email rst. a da mail.com t ill e ery e eficial to hit this sti matic issue ro t o a d et our you e eratio really thi i a out me tal health, ot o ly or themsel es ut or our eers too.

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

Page 27

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

0800 843 809

DAIRY

A now-retired internationally acclaimed soil scientist, in a widely acclaimed public lecture, wondered why New Zealand farmers hadn’t learned from their counterparts in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, and were still attempting to squeeze the very last dollar out of their operations.

And that goes to the heart of the present situation – the availability of cheap money – which has been driven by banks. It’s not uncommon to hear farmers justifying their practices on the fact that the bank is still extending their credit facilities.

There are a number of reasons why mainstream bag N-driven systems will change. Peer pressure is steadily

Pest and disease pressure

Overseas markets increasingly want to know where their food has come from, what’s in it, and how it’s been produced.

They want much better than stuff produced for commodity markets, and they have the money to pay for premium quality – think A2 milk.

Then there’s increasing pest and disease pressure. Although there are scientists prepared to argue that there is no known

New Zealand farmers are being cautioned to expect some increases in the price of feed costs and supply issues as global manufacturers experience a period of tight supply and limited production capacity for minerals and vitamins during coming months.

Global feed and nutrition analysts have cautioned farmers and feed processors in the poultry, pig and livestock sectors that stocks of vitamins A, B and E may not come back into balance for some months yet.

The cause of the price rises is being traced to two si ifica t actors im acti lo ally u o all eed a d vitamin processors. he first u oresee e e t to hit a mar et already delicately balanced for supply was when a vitamin precursor or ‘citral’ plant owned by German giant BASF as struc y a ma or fire i late cto er.

Meanwhile Chinese president Xi Jinping’s ‘Beautiful China’ policy aimed at cleaning up the country’s air

pollution problems is also impacting upon production capacity out of that country. The Chinese government has set a high target for improving air quality that involves reducing pollution by 20 per cent yearly, and intends to inforce it.

Innovative Design Improves Efficiency Ezi-flo pit gates completely clear exit ways and cannot be touched by cows leaving the milking area.

The fully galvanised gates are available in kitset for speedy installation GRUNDFOS ®

0800 226974

2 C OW S H E D

ezi-flo

PITGATES

& CalciZest

DoloZest & CalciZest The The Future of Farming Future of Farming

Farmers cautioned on feed costs

Ph Jim 07-850 5971 Mob. 0274 936 693 Ph Chris 07-849 3630 Mob. 0274 936 692 P.O. Box 10 188, Te Rapa, Hamilton www.dairybuilders.co.nz

0800 843 809

Peer pressure

DoloZest DoloZest & &DoloZest CalciZest CalciZest DoloZest & CalciZest 0800 843 809

That’s a broad generalisation, and not all pastoral farmers fall into the category of “environmental vandals”. However, the overall trend is still one of environmental degradation. A senior Landcare scientist was recently prepared to admit that: “all irrigated land, without exception, is losing carbon”.

That discussion was around the loss of soil carbon, and he’s not alone with his view. Another leading soil scientists has stated that some New Zealand soils have been losing carbon on average at the rate of 1.0 tonne/ha for the last 30 years.

Functional Fertiliser

Functional Fertiliser enjoyable, and here’s the really good bit – there’s no link between soil, plant, and animal health, supplies full nutrient transition time, it’s all up from full day one.

For more they’re working very hard to convince an supplies nutrient Fertiliser informationpackages callFunctional Peter on 0800 843 809. increasingly sceptical wider community. based on packages based on Whether it’s one or more of the above reasuppliesFunctional full nutrient ®Fertiliser ® sons that provide the impetus for the mass packages basedfull onnutrient supplies uptake of new technology can be debated packages®based on well into the night, however the shift is ® already taking place.

The technology and farming systems that For For application by by application provide steadily increasing levels of permaFor application by groundspreader or aerial nent grazed pastures are already available, groundspreader or aerial groundspreader or aerial with all the real-world measures required to Functional Fertiliser For application by ro ide e ui e co fide ce or those seri supplies full nutrient groundspreader or aerial ously looking to the future. packages based on Animal and total farm production lifts, animal health ® costs reduce, and the requirement for pasture renewal www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz declines as pest and disease pressure lessens. Family www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz gatherings with urban relatives become heaps more The Future of Farming Regulation www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz Councils are beginning to squeeze and, For application by The Future of Farming as a farmer recently admitted, it looks groundspreader or aerial like death by a thousand cuts. At one public meeting senior staff members said that their council had consulted widely and no-one had argued in favour of a further decline in water quality, and www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz they would therefore make sure that it The Future of Farming didn’t happen in their patch.

Central government is talking regulation, which will be welcomed by many involved in regional and local councils.

The majority of the council staff I’ve spoken with don’t wish to be involved in setting regulation, but see their role as administering policy set by Government with input from them. growing. There’s an increasing number of operators who are not dependent on water soluble-nutrient based programmes. They tend to be older farmers with a broader perspective, with involvement in the wider community and, where they ha e i ue ce, they re s ea ing up. The steady decline in pasture production is driving many farmers to buy in more supplement. Pasture is still the cheapest food available and less of it mea s i creased fi a cial ressure.

0800 843 809

That New Zealand will shift from its present short-term focussed, carbon-depleting mainstream soil fertility model to a genuine sustainable carbon positive one, is a given. It will happen, the only questions are when, and what event will trigger that movement?

0800 843 809

What will it take for New Zealand to change course?

DAIRY

Page 28

World-leading sensors to guide action against contamination of waterways

DAIRY DAIRY TECH TECH DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND AUTOMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

AgResearch has developed world-leading sensors to better understand how nitrogen is being excreted by cows, and therefore how best to tackle the impacts on the environment.

DESIGN, & AUTOMATION DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION & AUTOMATION ....making your job easier! ....making your job easier!

A well designed, well constructed milking facility is crucial for a A well designed, well constructed milking facility is crucial for a profitable dairy farm business. Dairy Tech is a company providing profitable dairy farm business. Dairy Tech is a company providing dairy design solutions and construction integrity that withstands the dairy design solutions and construction integrity that withstands the increasing demands of dairy farm management. increasing demands of dairy farm management.

• ROTARY • HERRINGBONE • FERTILISER BINS • COVERED FEED PADS • FARM BRIDGES • ROTARY • HERRINGBONE • FERTILISER BINS • COVERED FEED PADS • FARM BRIDGES • PRECAST SILO STANDS • PRECAST EFFLUENT SUMPS • TOP DOG • ELECTRIC GLANDS • PRECAST SILO STANDS • PRECAST EFFLUENT SUMPS • TOP DOG • ELECTRIC GLANDS • ROTARY WATER GLANDS • BUTTERFLY GATES • MAINTENANCE / REPAIR • ROTARY WATER GLANDS • BUTTERFLY GATES • MAINTENANCE / REPAIR

Contact us today to find out how we can help you Contact us your todayefficiency to find out how we can help you improve and milking processes. improve your efficiency and milking processes.

DAIRY TECH LIMITED 178 Maihiihi Road, RD2 Otorohanga 3972 DAIRY TECH 178 Road, Otorohanga 3972 P: 07 873LIMITED 0819 F: 07Maihiihi 873 0839 E: RD2 info@dairytech.co.nz P: 07 873 0819 F: 07 873 0839 E: info@dairytech.co.nz

www.dairytech.co.nz www.dairytech.co.nz

The urine sensors, which have been a work in progress since 2010, are attached to grazing dairy cows and take detailed measurements every time the cow urinates, including volume and frequency – and crucially the concentration of nitrogen in the urine that can potentially leach into soil and waterways, and can cause damage such as algal blooms.

A recent Colmar Brunton poll found pollution of lakes and rivers to be one of the top two concerns for New Zealanders, but there is now promising research underway to address the challenges for water quality such as nitrogen leaching.

Greater understanding

he e efit o the uri e se sors is a much reater understanding of the behaviour of the cows, which can help develop techniques to mitigate the nitrogen leaching from farms, says AgResearch senior scientist Dr Brendon Welten.

“Other sensors exist around the world to provide data from livestock, but these sensors we’ve developed are unique in their ability to record nitrogen concentrations each time the cow urinates during grazing.

“We can learn, for example, how different species of pasture affect the amount of nitrogen excreted in urine.”

The sensors weigh about 1.5kg, and attach to the cow by a harness connected to a lightweight cow cover.

They record data through the use of multiple instruments – temperature, pressure and refractive index – with data stored in a data logger that can be remotely accessed via a wireless network system. The sensors have already been used in the UK and Australia.

“The operation of the sensors is complex, and at this

A cow with the urine sensor attached. stage we are working towards offering the sensors to other researchers around the world to allow them to use the technology to make similar gains.

“AgResearch will have the expertise to support those researchers to use the technology and maximise the e efits rom it, says re do .

Important progress

The sensors have played a part in important progress made in the Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching programme – involving DairyNZ, AgResearch, Plant & Food Research, Lincoln University, the Foundation for Arable Research and Manaaki Whenua (Landcare Research).

DairyNZ senior scientist Ina Pinxterhuis says the results clearly co firm the aria ility i uri ary nitrogen excretion over the day, making it necessary to have many repeated measures. “The sensors make this possible. It’s also great to see that the options we examine to reduce nitrate leaching do result in lower daily urinary nitrogen excretion and lower nitrogen concentration – if not during the whole 24 hours of the day, at least for some parts.”

See: www.dairynz.co.nz/about-us/research/forages-forreduced-nitrate-leaching

STOP

Have YOU protected your property Are your Cameras giving you the results you would really like to have?

Well now with the latest technology - Crystal Clear Cameras are available to everyone.

See the face of that person of interest clearly, read the number plate of that vehicle or see what they put in their pocket like never before.

Call us today, and we will see if we can help you!

Let us show you the future - because it’s here NOW!

one shop

Your one stop Shop for all your Technology and Security Requirements for: • • • • • • •

Security Alarms 24/7 Monitoring Access Control Gate Alerts CCTV Surveillance Systems Data & Fibre Networks Local & Long Range Wi-Fi & Data Plus many other types of Electronic Surveillance products!

Install a Gate Alert System yourself IMPORTANT

so you know when someone enters your property.

Available as 1 to 4 Gate Systems.

Prices start at $699.00 inc GST for a single gate.

For: Shopping Malls, Commercial, Residential, Farms / Rural Properties, Schools etc.

Make the right choice now, CALL the No.1 Company for Technology

0800 936363 Nationwide Service - (well almost!)

www.smartway.co.nz info@smartway.co.nz

Demo Vehicle available in Auckland, Waikato, BOP and surrounding areas

DAIRY

Page 29

iety, o erload a d me tal issues or armers

I make no apology for going back over this yet again, but the issues are huge. To be frank the statistics of suicide in farming are appalling, and many farmers are really struggling with themselves and mental health issues.

It seems that a long period of overload and pressure, particularly in dairying, is causing farmers to “hit the wall”. I had two farmers in two days saying just that. They were working long hours, had and were in stressful situations and just “hit the wall” one day. It le t them eeli at, a ious a d u ha y a d e e tually fi di their way to their GP and being prescribed antidepressants. Fortunately both are making changes in their lives to improve their situation and get out the mire, so to speak.

Many do not and just keep on doing the same thing and getting the same result. It is also about that incredible pride that we farmers have. Keeping up appearances to us is everything. If only we knew how many others were struggling and in the same boat.

The Rural Support Trust is doing a sterling job, but with limited resources and helping the tip of the iceberg I would guess.

Compounding factors

Some compounding factors may include: long hours, no breaks or time off, interlocking

decisio s, fi a cial pressure and lack of fi a cial u dersta d ing, nobody to talk to, inability to talk about their feelings – that she’ll be right mentality) amily e ectatio s, feed shortages, skinny cows, politics, disease, not feeling in control, personal health issues, Bovis threat dairy company not caring, relationship issues, that ‘it can’t happen to me’ attitude, feelings of hopelessness, no outside interests; an inability to see an easier and better way of doing things. And so the list goes on.

This is a big one: realising and accepting we are getting older and not as handsome as we used to e let alo e se ual dys u ctio and running out of steam. All this seems to put us fellows on a negative tilt. The tilt increases the worry, along with everything else and seems to drag us down with the inability to ‘pop up’ again.

The feeling of overload and a iety is o ious a d awful. It is hideous and very frightening and debilitating. It causes a whole raft of other things to start happening including shaking hands, sleeplessness, fear, heart palpitations, anger, overheating, and so on.

If you feel you are getting near your limit and some strange stuff is starting to happen please put your hand up and seek proper help.

This will come in many forms which will usually start with your wife, doctor, rural support trust or friend.

Soldiering on in the same old stuff is not a solution.

Disclaimer – These are the opinions of Don Fraser of Fraser Farm Finance. Any decisions made should not be based on this article alone and appropriate professional assistance should be sought. Don

Seek help

And if you personally see someone who is clearly showing si s o a iety a d o erload, please step up and offer to help.

Remember, they will only tell you 10 to 20 per cent of what is really happening for them. To dig down a bit and get a bit more of the 90 to 80 per cent they are not letting you in on takes time and is really for the professionals. i ally, i you fi d yoursel hit ting the wall” rest assured you are not on your own. The signals may or may not initially be obvious to you but will be there to those around you. Please accept that it is okay to fi d yoursel burnt out. Accept that you have a problem and most importantly accept that you probably cannot solve it on your own and will need to seek outside help.

Fonterra CEO resigns Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited has announced CEO Theo Spierings will leave his role later this year.

Fonterra says its board and Mr Spierings had formally commenced succession discussions last year.

As a result, the board initiated international searches last November to identify potential CEO candidates and was now shortlisting candidates.

Fonterra chairman John Wilson says the board decided to bring forward the announcement to a oid s eculatio . t is ot yet clear e actly he any appointment for Theo’s replacement will be made, but it is absolutely clear Theo will continue in the meantime to drive the co-operative’s strategy and business, with special emphasis on China.

“The board and Theo are committed to a highquality transition to a new CEO and when we have more information in regards to timing we will let our farmers and the wider market know.

“Until then it is business as usual with the focus on driving returns to our farmers and unitholders,” says John.

PK / SILAGE BUNKERS

DESIGN – SUPPLY – BUILD

Fraser is the principal of Fraser Farm Finance and a consultant to the Farming Industry. Contact him on 0800 777 675 or 021 777 675. A disclosure document is available on request.

Page 30

DAIRY

A stressful, difficult but ultimately rewarding season Some paddocks we couldn’t get The weather pattern this season has been all over the place. Spring into wet areas so planted dry areas began with very wet ground conditions from winter rains so it took with maize then returned three to us along time to get onto paddocks being so wet. four weeks’ later to patch up those

Attention Farmers

Problems with Iron and Manganese?

wetter areas, planting them when we could. We used a shorter maturing variety to bring it into line timewise with the host plant.

Then it turned dry in NovemberDecember. Because it was wet and then came dry I estimated my yields to be lower than normal in mid-December – we were short of moisture and short-maturing varieties don’t yield as well.

Checking crops early-January they were actually doing quite well.

I’d already turned orders down for November-December – when there was a maize shortage – thinking I couldn’t commit.

But by early-January, when I saw the extra maize and height of the plants, I thought: ‘Oh, I’m going to have extra maize about 10 per cent up on my previously reduced estimate’.

So for every 100ha you plant you have an extra 220tonne of maize to sell. So then I was in a dilemma of having too much maize. The clients who wanted it earlier had bought other products and by now the grass was growing faster than in spring, so there was no longer the same demand for maize silage.

The crops looked great but at harvest they didn’t yield quite as well as they looked but harvest was still very good. This could’ve been due to a cold snap we had in December which affected how the cobs set.

When we got that nice warm rain the plants actually grew really tall.

At harvest we found dry matters were all over the place – and plants were ready about seven to 10 days earlier than estimated. We can usually calculate, within a few days, the expected harvest date. We’ve put this earliness down to the extra heat units this summer.

Dry matter

NZ Designed Rural Filtration Systems for the Removal of Iron and Manganese and Other Rural Problems     

Call now and enquire about our full scale portable pilot system and see first hand results for yourself.

Some paddocks next door to each other, planted with the same hybrid on the same day – were up to four per cent different in dry matter.

This is huge – we aim for a 35-36 per cent harvest. One paddock was 37, the other next door was 33 – so 33 is a bit too low and 37 is getting on the higher side. It’s been really hard to get our dry matters right.

We started harvest on February 2 a d y arch 2 e ere fi ished. So the pressure’s been on to

organise trucks, men and machinery to get it all done in a short, sharp three-week window. The fastest we’ve ever done it in the 30 years I’ve been maize harvesting as it normally takes six weeks.

We’ve also had the threat of cyclones – three in three weeks.

Fortunately, we missed the first ullet.

The second wasn’t as intense as was predicted and tracked slightly further off the east coast – and the third looks like it will miss too. It’s been like playing Russian roulette – we’ve really had our challenges.

But we’ve noticed the heat has put more starch into the corn kernels – and they dictate the dry matter to a large degree.

With a cob weighing 50 per cent-plus of the plant weight cob kernels with more starch drives up the amount of dry matter. But the plant is still green. So it’s going to make really good silage this year because there’s more starch, which means energy levels will be up, and greener plants are easier to compact and ensile well.

Great value

Overall it’s been stressful, difficult ut ultimately re ardi as believe we’ve supplied a worthwhile and great value product that will e efit our clie ts.

With news of farmers buying their own equipment to do their own harvest work, I want to advise this can be good and bad. Farmers used to do this many years ago – buy a machine and share it with neighbours – but the trouble comes with the questions of who repairs it, who gets it, who uses it, who breaks it and who pays for it…

Even if you buy harvest machinery for yourself to use it’s a lot of money and capital invested just for convenience. Not to mention it only gets used for three weeks of the year and sits in the shed for 11 months still with capital invested, de reciatio a d re laceme t i a tion on top of that. All these factors need to be taken into account before purchasing machinery. Our point of view is buying infrequently-used machinery yourself doesn’t always make good sense.

Farmers need to be very mindful

of what machinery they replace or purchase.

You also need good shedding to put equipment in – if you leave it outside it deteriorates. When we left our gear outside in the past we found it depreciated more, broke down more and was more unreliable.

Things get water in them, electronics play up then bearings cease and fail. his may ot ha e the first or second year with new gear, but it will after that.

A lot of this capital could be used for a feed pad to reduce feed loss, updating the cowshed, farm races, water reticulation – all of which will give you a better return than putting a heap of cash into machinery. Spend it on your core focus – milking cows and getting production.

True cost

Otherwise you’ll cop machinery depreciation, replacement and i atio o the e o e he re-buying. These are three actual costs that may not be taken into account. Realise the true cost before you shell out!

And you can’t just put anyone in the tractor seat because this machinery takes knowledge to operate and it’s too much of a risk with gear worth so much money.

The other thing is time – farmers have many other tasks to do. If they do t fi d time or culti atio they’ll end up getting a contractor in anyway. Or crops go in too late and the yield isn’t the best.

Some pieces of machinery are advantageous to own – like an undersower to follow the cows around after they graze. A spreader can help get fertiliser on before rain. But to buy discs, seeders, balers and wrappers is not always a great idea.

Overall we believe the risk of specialist machinery ownership and operation is best left to the contractors. While there may appear to be cost savings with on-farm ownership of this type of equipment, we know from extensive experience that the real costs of ownership and operation are often substantially greater than may a ear at first.

DAIRY

Page 31

e breed o il ing e es bred at Ta o

he first o a com letely e reed o mil i e es ill e ut to the test he they ste o to the rotary mil i lat orm at ai i o Statio ear a e au o this comi s ri . he e es are the result o a i o a ti e reedi ro ramme to roduce a su erior mil i e e, ideally suited to e eala d s climate a d armi co ditio s, says aui il e eral ma a er Peter atley. elie e these e es carry the first dairy e es to e im orted i a uarter o a ce tury, says Peter. he e reed ill e called South er Cross a d is the or o Peter a d i ter atio ally re o ed e eticist a e Chardo . he e es are the result o a reedi ro ramme usi more tha 2 stra s o re ch acau e seme a d ast riesia em ryos, ith ac u y assi ast riesia cross rams. reeders ha e crossed ast riesia a d assi reeds e ore ut to my o led e o o e has added acau e e etics as ell.

uestio s a out aui il a d South er Cross airy Shee .

Peter says he is leased ith the um ers atte di a d the le el o i terest. o e er, e are ot e coura i a yo e to our co crete a d co ert to mil i e es ust yet. stead e are i iti eo le to ee i touch a d ollo our ro ress. e ect e are ta i all the ris s.

eeting

Some of the c rrent oc of ewes being mil ed at ai ino tation

ar ets

o e success ul, a e eala d shee mil i dustry must de elo to meet the mar et. e are ot i ter ested i all the hy e a d tal that this mi ht e the e t illio dollar i dus try. e ery much admire hat the oat dairy co o erati e has achie ed y li i su ly to dema d. e are aimi or a sustai a le shee mil i dustry hich stays out o the com modity mar et. he de elo me t o ai i o Statio , home o the e mil i com le , has ee u ded y the aui ood rou td, a Sha hai ased mar et i com a y. hat com a y ormed aui il ith oi t e ture art er aituhi uratau rust, hich had io eered shee mil i i the re io i 2 . aui il has i ested hea ily i the ficial o ening co ce t o mil i shee i e ea he e efits o the e reed, lus la d, i cludi i the ur ose uilt the hi h tech mil i a d shee dairy ith its ale i ter al rotary ha dli acilities at ai i o Statio ere sho cased duri t o days i late im orted rom ra ce. he la t i cludes i li e electro ic a uary. he first e e t o a uary mil meters, automatic cu remo ers, mar ed the o ficial o e i o aui ac i ates, a d a ad usta le hei ht il imited s dairy com le , hich lat orm i the it to e sure com ort mil s 2 e es, y au o istrict Cou cil ayor a id re a as e ore a d er o omic e ficie cy or mil ers. il rom the arm is collected y a a audie ce o arou d 1 , i cludi ta er or tra s ort or rocessi at re rese tati es o local i i, Chi the ai ato o atio Par . ese i estors, Chi ese o er me t he e te si e com le ad oi i o ficials, a d i istry or Primary the dairy a d its yards also i cludes dustries o ficials. a lamafford reari to muck acility aaround. d t o lar e it done and dusted heFarming’s ollo i day armers, hard work and ayou can’t Get ar s com lete ith eed co eyors, ers, accou ta ts a d co sulta ts isited with the help of our Buckton spreaders. They’re a great combo of Kiwi engineering ca a le o housi 1 e es each. the statio . and as European technology. will nutrients to the field, fast. o e er, the e return es are rimarily his a much more i ormal Our spreaders ra ed outdoors o the hectare e e t, desi ed to i e those i terested Give the team at Piako Tractors ro erty, ra i a ocall e today. asture o a o ortu ity to see the mil i la tai a d ucer e. system i o eratio a d as i de th

Hard working engineering.

Raised on a on a hard diet of Raised onRaised a Raised on a diet of hard Hard working engineering. work. diet of hard Hard working engineering. work.diet of hard work. work.

We’ve hardand to We’ve worked hard worked to build rugged

build rugged and

Farming’s hard work and you can’t afford to muck reliable around. Get it done andforage dusted forage wagons and balewagons feeders. and bale feeders. reliable with the help of our Buckton spreaders. They’re a Their great combo Kiwiconstruction engineering makes them strong of steel We’ve worked hard to build rugged and them strong construction makes and European technology. Our spreaders will return nutrients to the field, fast. tough and Their hard wearing.

Onsteel top of that,

reliable forage wagons and bale feeders. they’re designed be low maintenance toughtoand hard wearing. On top of that,

they’re designed towearing. be lowOnmaintenance tough and hard top of that, reliable forage wagons and bale livestock feeders. will be as andcombo strong asof ourKiwi engineering with the help of our Buckton spreaders. They’re a big great they’re designed to belong low maintenance and easy to use.

Before your engineering.

Their strong steel construction makes them andnutrients easy to use.to Before long your and European technology. Our spreaders will return theand field, fast. livestock will be as big strong tough and hard wearing. On top of that, livestock will be as big and strong as as ourour they’re designed bePiako low maintenance Give the teamtoat Tractorsengineering. a callengineering. today. and easy to use. Before long your livestock will be as big and strong as our engineering.

07 889 7055

ROTORUA

07 345 8560

Mike Kitching Glenn Greay Kieran Steffert

021 735 665 021 862 169 021 945 817

Mike Rogers 021 998 819 Ian Pilcher 021 908 123 Tony Johnston (BoP) 021 349 816

for more information visit www.piakotractors.co.nz

* Terms and conditions apply.

TRACTA60389

MORRINSVILLE

* Terms and conditions apply.

TRACTA60389

We’ve hard to build rugged and muck around.

Their strong steel construction makes them Give theworked team at work Piakoand Tractors a call today.

Farming’s hard you can’t afford Get it done and dusted and easyto to use. Before long your

800 843 809

843 809

800 843 809

843 809

DoloZest supplies full nutrient DoloZest packages®based on DoloZest && CalciZest CalciZest DoloZest ® & CalciZest 0800 843 809

0800 843 809

Functional Fertiliser Functional Fertiliser supplies full supplies nutrient full nutrient Functionalbased Fertiliser Page 32packages on on packages based supplies full nutrient Functional ®Fertiliser packages based on ®

For For application by by application For application by groundspreader or aerial groundspreader or aerial

& CalciZest

groundspreader or aerial Functional Fertiliser For application by supplies full nutrient groundspreader or aerial packages based on ®

DoloZest www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz Future Farming & CalciZest TheThe Future ofof Farming www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz The Future of Farming

For application by The groundspreader or aerial

www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz

The Future of Farming

Future of Farming

LIFESTYLE FARMING

Dealing with cobalt deficiency in sheep Cobalt is required by the ruminant for the synthesis of Vitamin B12 – Cobalamin – by the rume al micro ora. hus a diet deficie t i cobalt causes a secondary deficie cy i 12, which is required for the metabolism of propionic acid by the liver for e er y roductio .

This leads to reduced appetite and subsequent ‘ill thrift’ – the generic condition in which production and growth are impaired i a ected a imals. 12 is also used for the metabolism of some sulphur containing amino acids which are then used for ool ro th.

The concentration of cobalt in crops and forages is highly variable and depends on a variety of factors including soil conce tratio , la t s ecies rate o ro th, soil a d drai a e.

Soils are generally considered

deficie t i co alt i they contain less than 2 arts er millio .

Distribution

Co alt deficie t soils are widely distributed across the globe and thus the condition affects sheep internatio ally, i cludi the ited i dom, us tralia, e eala d a d orth merica.

Incidence is generally higher in coastal areas hence its commo ame, Coastal disease .

Sheep are most susceptible to co alt co alami deficie cy ut cattle, oats a d deer ca also e a ected. his may e artly due to their use of it in optimal wool ro th. ro i lam s are most likely to be clinically affected as their re uireme ts are hi hest.

Pre-ruminant animals have a low requirement for cobalt due to their reliance on glucose as an e er y source, rather tha ro i o ate, a d thus the co ditio is rarely seen in those younger than fi e ee s. 12 is also rese t i large amounts in colostrum but

ar less i mil . etarded ro th, muscular ea ess, a aemia, etosis, oor eece a d oor body condition score are the nons ecific hallmar s o the deficie cy, usu ally see i lam s. mild conjunctivitis is also commo . aemia de elo s and may be clinical i se ere cases. eficie cy i re a t shee has been associated with poor milk production and high lam mortality.

Diagnosis

s ma y cases are multi factorial and ‘ill thrift’ is very o s ecific i its rese tatio , dia osis is di ficult. istory or ide tificatio o lo soil co alt content of poor clover growth may raise suspicion or predict the o set o a out rea . Co alt and Vitamin B12 can both be measured i serum. ected a imals are o te anaemic but this may not always

be evident on routine blood scree s. i er e ymes a d S are also o te raised. ia osis ca also e made, erha s most accurately, y res o se to treatme t, ideally as a controlled trial with an unsupplemented group from the same o ulatio as a com ariso .

Cobalt can be supplemented by spraying pastures and/or top dressi ith co alt salts. his can be performed prior to the tur out o shee a d lam s.

Vitamin B12 can also be given as i di idual i ectio s.

In some countries intra-rumenal boluses releasing cobalt or a mixture of trace elements steadily for up to one year are a longer term solution for both treatment a d re e tio . hese should obviously be delivered with care a d recisio to a oid trauma.

Monitoring/testing and management of soil and forage cobalt content is the foundation or re e tio o deficie cy ith appropriate supplementation measures implemented both in the short and longer term if pasture ca ot e ma i ulated.

Sheep muster shows off good King Country hospitality Sheep will replace cars on the main street of Te Kuiti when the annual running of the shee ta es lace o ril .

part of the shearing committee which organise the muster ut rec o s this is his 1 th year. t s ood or the commu ity, a d do t mi d hel i . Plus ee etti ro ed i to it, says Peter.

While more used to mustering sheep on the farm he The small King Country town has been home to The ma a es at ear y a a ehi, Peter says it s a chal reat e eala d Shee uster or 2 years, hich lenge of mustering in the celebrates the town’s status as the ur a e iro me t. sheari ca ital o e eala d.

“Sometimes the sheep get “It’s an opportunity for the stage fright with so many Waitomo district to show people around and don’t want off good rural King Country to mo e. he i est challe e hospitality and to celebrate in all is etti the lead started. ce thi s aitomo a d sheari , the lead shee head o , the says Waitomo District Council others ollo , says Peter. group manager of community The sheep only spend an hour ser ices, ele ee er. or so running down the street Mustering sheep along the and the number varies year-totown’s main street presents some year and is a closely guarded obvious challenges – thousands of secret u til a ter the e e t, people and many possible escape says ele . here s a hi hly routes or im le ooted shee . contested ‘guess the number of Cloth barriers line the street sheep’ punt that happens on on both sides to help keep sheep headi i the ri ht directio , says Sheep moving down Rora St during the morning of the muster so that number is never revealed ahead Peter ird, ho co ordi ates the the Great NZ Sheep Muster. o time. . musteri team o local armers.

Photo: Waitomo District Council.

This year the event also marks Sheep dogs assist shepherds to the o e i o the e uiti useum, hich ill o e move the sheep along the 2km route from the north its doors or the first time i a e locatio i the e d o ora St to the local saleyards. to s old Post uildi .

Peter has lost count of the number of years he’s been Jose Reader

FIELDAYS PREVIEW

Page 33

Small in size but big on innovative features The new series of CLAAS ARION 400 advanced technology tractors – which spans six models from 90hp to 140hp – boasts an array of features and technology normally only found on larger horsepower tractors.

These include optional front suspension, front linkages, automatic differential locking, automatic four-wheel drive and power take-off activation/deactivation, headland management systems and dynamic steering.

CLAAS Harvest Centre Group product manager Dave Knowles says the new series has been completely redesigned from the wheels up.

“Over the past few years, CLAAS has concentrated on modernising its offering in the medium and large horsepower tractors,” says Dave.

“Now, CLAAS is delivering the same innovative The awardin the lower horsepower winning style. segment.

Award-winning cab

“With six engine ratings, four cab structures and a ra e o s ecificatio s, ca meet every need in the highly competitive 100hp to 150hp segment.” The most distinctive of these is the award-winning PANORAMIC cab, which features

a continuous windscreen-roof panel. “The 2.4 cubic metre one-piece windscreen gives the driver a completely new sense of space,” Dave says.

“There is no crossbeam between the windscreen and the polycarbonate roof panel, giving the driver an u restricted field o isio .

This stunning design has won a SIMA Gold Innovation Award and an iF Design Award. Alternatively, ca i s ca e s ecified ith co e tio al or o e i i dscree s, lass s yli hts or a fi e illar ca .

All models feature an ergonomicallydesigned, multifunction lever that controls the front-end loader, rear linkage and optional electro-hydraulic

or hydraulic controls. “You use your left hand to steer and your right arm to operate all the tractor’s key functions,” says Dave.

CUT WASTE, REDUCE COSTS

Ergonomically-designed

With its balanced weight distribution, a long wheel base of 2.5m and short overall length of 4.4m, the design borrows heavily from the ARION 600/500 and AXION 900/800 series.

“Like its larger counterparts, its narrow body allows a high steering lock angle to achieve a compact 4.4m to 4.9m turning circle.

“The engine sump is integrated into the frame, saving space and making maintenance easier.” The supere ficie t . our cyli der P e i e can be teamed up with either HEXASHIFT (24/24) or QUADRISHIFT (16/16) powershift transmissions.

Three hydraulic circuits are available: a 60 L/min open circuit, a dual pump 100 L/min open circuit and a 110 L/min load-sensing hydraulic circuit.

Options include the newly-developed dynamic steering system, which reduces the number of steering wheel rotations required to lock the steering.

EFFECTIVE RETRACTING COVER SYSTEMS Coast’s roof systems pay for themselves in no-time.

Keep feed or fertiliser dry

Kitset options available

Winch system for easy access

Canvas or Steel cladding options

Cut waste and save

Can be fitted to existing bunkers

“We have significantly reduced the stock wastage issue we had with the old hoop and pull on cover system letting in a lot of water because the sliding roof keeps everything dry.”

Peter, Dairy Farmer, Te Puke

0800 262 788 info@slidingroofs.co.nz www.slidingroofs.co.nz

120 HP TRACTOR & LOADER

$99,900 FINANCE * FROM 1% plus GST

Perfect partner *Standard CLAAS Financial Services terms, conditions and fees apply. Price subject to local freight and PDI costs. Loader excludes attachments.

1% pa requires minimum 30% deposit. 12 x monhtly repayments in arrears. Offer valid until 30/06/2018 or while stocks last.

ARION 420 CIS with CLAAS FL100 loader Southern Orchards are on the hunt for bare land owners keen to reep the rewards by developing their land into Avocado orchards. For existing Avocado orchard, SOL will tailor a lease or management plan to suit your requirements so you can gain the most from your orchard.

P: 07 548 2540 info@southernorchards.co.nz www.southernorchards.co.nz

FOLLOW US ON

Call us today to start growing your future.

A powerful rugged tractor perfect for New Zealand conditions Long wheel base for safety and stability

Maximum efficiency with hi-flow hydraulics

BAY OF PLENTY 292 Te Ngae Road, Rotorua Vaughn Carson 027 223 3365 Glenn Davidson 027 223 3363

Premium factory fitted CLAAS loader

claasharvestcentre.com

CLAAS comfort concept for uncompromised driver comfort

Gearing you up for success.

FIELDAYS PREVIEW

Page 34

Fieldays celebrating its 50th year In 1969 The Town and Country Fair, held at Hamilton’s Te Rapa Racecourse, aimed to bring rural and urban audiences together to celebrate New Zealand’s farming industry and lifestyle and the contribution it makes to the economy.

Fast-forward 50 years, the New Zealand Agricultural Fieldays is a staple on many agricultural people’s calendars, with hundreds of thou-

sands descending on Mystery Creek each June. Celebrations of its 50th year of showcasing agriculture and innovation to rural and urban audiences alike have already kicked off. t the e e t s first home, e a a Racecourse, politicians and mayors, agricultural leaders, past and present presidents and members of the NZ National Fieldays Society, Waikato Racing Club members and VIP guests gathered on February 15 to relive the early days with speeches, anecdotes, and the unveiling of a specially-commissioned anniversary sculpture.

The racecourse housed Fieldays in its first t o years e ore the e e t

moved to Mystery Creek in 1971.

Many who attended this event were responsible for organising the inaugural Fieldays in 1969, i cludi oh ee o e, ho first sparked the idea for a town and country fair in NZ on a trip to the as a u field scholar.

The first one

Speaking with a backdrop o hotos a d film o ieldays throughout the decades, NZ National Fieldays Society CEO Peter Nation thanked the Waikato Racing Club for its collaboration i the early days a d the sacrifices they made to help pull it off.

“The organisers at that first e e t i 1 thou ht they’d have a couple thousand people turn up. But on the day, it turned out to be more than 10,000 with cars parked all the way up Te Rapa Straight, which was farmland back then.

“I can only imagine the state of the racecourse with all those people trampling across it.” He gave thanks to the ori i al si armers of the Fieldays Society, whose tenacity and perseverance he said paved the way for Fieldays to become the premiere agricultural showcase it is today.

...continued

Artist Cherise Thomson and NZ National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation with the sculpture.

Wet weather gear for types of work SLIM SLIM FIT FIT

SLIM FIT

SLIM FIT

SLIM FIT

has a minimum of seams to enhance Gumboots and wet weather gear are durability, it is breathable, ot al ays created e ual. Seal e et weather gear has been manufactured in windproof and waterproof and can be stretched up to 150 per cent and will New Zealand for more than 30 years reform to its original shape. a d as desi ed s ecifically or e “Pair that with Zealand condiKing Treds – the tions, says Bullseye ultimate all terrain Direct owner Sally gumboot – and Sterritt. farmers are set “New Zealand for the toughest armers e ect et conditions,” weather gear that says Sally. can withstand the Bullseye Direct worst of weather can supply wet conditions, and weather gear for Seal e does that. all types of rural “The fabric is a The non-split crotch is a feature of outdoor work. very high quality, Bullseye Direct wet weather gear.

FIELDAYS PREVIEW

Si le rural ladies he otio o fi i e ces a d dri i tractors ei me s or is ei o led at at this year s e eala d ricultural ieldays as the traditio al ieldays ural achelor com etitio is ei rou ht i to the 21st Ce tury. or the first time i 1 years the ieldays ural achelor is o e to oth male a d emale co testa ts, ith the com eti tio this year searchi e eala d a d ustralia to fi d ei ht tale ted rural com etitors to test their s ill oth o a d o the arm to fi d the ultimate

cham io .Pre iously, et ee challe es the fi alists ould atte d rural u ctio s a d acti ities, meeti a d s e d i time ith a rou o rural ome o as the um oot irls ut that s all a out to cha e. ieldays ma or e e t ma a er ee Pic e says there are ome all o er the cou try or i i the rural sector a d it s a out time the com etitio cau ht u .

New name

the ast e e had ome comi alo to su ort the me ut that s ust so outdated. hey ca do the or ust li e me so o they ca com ete ust li e me says ee.

Page 35

et ready to et stuc i

he cha es to the com etitio reco ise the role oth me a d ome lay i the a riculture i dustry a d su ort or the e ormat has ee hu e. ast year s i er atthe c tam ey says the cha es ill ri a e eleme t to the com etitio a d ill ma e reat e tertai me t. here are hea s o really tale ted eo le or i i the i dustry, a d thi this year s fi alists ill e utti it all o the li e to sho e eala d hat they e ot, says atthe . he ormat o the com etitio ill remai the same a d there

o t e a y e der s ecific com eti tio or titles, ho e er the ame ieldays ural achelor o t cut it a ymore.

No rose ceremonies

his com etitio is a out cele rati the tale ted me a d ome or i i the a ricultural i dustry a d i i them the o ortu ity to ta e a rea a d meet some e eo le, says ee. t s a search to fi d the ultimate rural catch so this year s fi alists ill e com eti or the title o ieldays ural Catch o the ear. ot o ly are the fi alists a catch or a y ote tial lo e i terest ut their rural s ills a d o led e o a ricul tural usi ess ma es them a catch or

a y em loyer, usi ess art er a d the ider i dustry.

Part ered y armla ds Co o erati e, the com etitio is e clusi ely or si les ut ee says you o t fi d a y rose ceremo ies here. es it ould e ice to see our fi al ists fi d lo e ut e o t e match ma i . er the years e e see roma ces a d roma ces lossom a d ho estly that s all e really a t. ural li e ca mea lo hours i remote locatio s so it s all a out fi di su ort a d uildi et or s. ou ca ie the criteria a d a ly or ieldays ural Catch at .fieldays.co. hats o rural catch Manuka Provenances

Kaitaia

Coromandel

co er ire tri ute mar i

continued...

hose first si armers roached i orth amilto or a 1 er ce t loa o 2, , i today s mo ey so they could mo e ieldays to ystery Cree . he site as a ru do dairy arm ut as ide tified as ei a le to house the e e t or uture ro th. he story oes that he the society e t i to the a they ere as ed hat security they had or the loa . e armer thre a a

ieldays e i

roll o co er ire o the a ma a er s des a d said his is the o ly asset e o . hat ire had ee used or commu icatio at ieldays o er louds ea ers at e a a acecourse,remo ed each year a d ut i to stora e. t the e ruary et to ether a th a i ersary scul ture as u eiled, e titled ri i , hich i cor orates the same co er ire thro o that a

i

ma a er s des , mou ted o the reclaimed ati e tim er that o ce li ed the ieldays Society s ori i al oardroom. he co er i the scul ture is ery im orta t. t s ot o ly a alued commodity, ut it si ifies commu icatio a d the tra s er o i ormatio , a d relatio shi s a d colla oratio . t also s ea s to that o. ire me tality, that i i ay o ust etti it do e. or more details, isit fieldays.co.

Marlborough

East Cape

Wairarapa

Taranaki

Page 36

FIELDAYS PREVIEW

Industry collaboration for farmer benefit The combination of AgriSea’s utrie t source ith lue Pacific Mineral’s zeolite has exceeded initial expectations.

SAVE SAVE TIME! TIME!

AgriSea has created three new solid products – called Animal +, Soil + and Combo + – by including zeolite, a hydrated form of silica, with their liquid seaweed concentrates.

AgriSea spoke to Nigel Kewish, Zeolite account manager for BPM, to learn more about zeolite that is being processed and despatched from Tokoroa.

Nigel says zeolite is a unique natural mineral which was formed many years ago in the Rotorua/ Taupo area through volcanic activity.

Zeolites go through a geothermal alteration which transforms clay into soft porous rocks with a three-dimensional honeycomb framework with a negative charge giving it the ability to exchange cations.

“Our unique zeolite is an excellent chemical or liquid carrier but once that liquid has gone through its e efit cycle a d ee de leted from the zeolite after application the end-user is left with some residual value.”

Nigel says this value comes from its high Cation Exchange Capacity – its ability to retain and make plant available excess nutrient throu h the soil rofile, reduci

any leaching – ensuring you are etti est e ficie cy o a ail able nutrient.

AgriSea’s liquid seaweed concentrates for animal, soil and plant health have been used and trusted by farmers and growers in NZ for more than 20 years.

Nigel says adding zeolite has opened up new markets opportunities for AgriSea – especially in the high country where liquid application would be by helicopter.

“Now there is a product that is sta le, ree o i a d ca blend with a standard fertiliser mix – the cost to apply one product is now spread across multiple products.”

Nigel says zeolite and seaweeds in animal health is not a new concept, the Japanese were the first eo le to realise oth o these materials unique properties.

Animal feed in the dairy sectors are changing with the increasing popularity of forage crops.

These tend to be high in N, which

SAVE SAVE MONEY! MONEY!

Stop pests pests likelike sparrows sparrows andand No No more more rushing rushing home home to to Stop rodents from stealing your from stealing your feedfeed thethe chickens.

FeelFeel freefree rodents chickens. hens' food. feeders food.

OurOur feeders are are to go andand be sure to on go holiday on holiday be sure hens' thatthat your chooks willwill be fed your chooks be fed alsoalso weather proof, so no weather proof, so no while youyou are are away. while away. food is ever wasted or stolen. food is ever wasted or stolen.

A visit by AgriSea to the l e acific ineral site

can have a detrimental effect on animal welfare and greater nutrient loading onto soils, say Nigel.

This can be mitigated with the inclusion of Animal + in the feed or applying to those crops prior to grazing. The probiotic and complex nutrients in the Animal + are released in the rumen helping to improve rumen function. Any excess nutrient will be mopped up by the zeolite and made available at a later stage if required. If there is no uptake the excess nutrient will safely pass through the animal and stay bound until plant demand require its release, thus giving you improved stock health while looking after your environment.

Nigel says the solid form of Animal +, Soil + and Combo + broadens AgriSea market applications, and gives BPM the opportunity to add value to its unique Zeolite. o fi d out more a out these innovative products, call 0800 SMART FARM.

FIELDAYS PREVIEW

Page 37

No8 wire award modifies rule to ref lect changes in agriculture Fieldays-goers can this year expect to see more agricultural products used in entries to the No.8 Wire National Art Award, with the competition rules being sli htly modified or 2 1 .

condition expands what artists are now able to create with the iconic farm product. “The variety and intricacy of what can be created through the manipulation of No.8 wire never ceases to amaze me,” says Cherie.

The award culminates in a monthlong exhibition at Hamilton’s ArtsPost Galleries & Shop from May 11-June 11, a d selected fi alists ill ha e their

work displayed at Fieldays, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018.

The winner receives $7000, with prizes of $1000 and $500 for the second and third place-getters, respectively.

The President’s choice winner will receive a $100 ArtsPost voucher and people’s choice will be gifted $100.

Thinking about a more efficient farm dairy?

Call us today for a FREE on-site design consultation.

The annual award, managed by Waikato Museum and partnered

by Farmlands Co-operative, Thinking about a more efficient farm dairy? invokes the classic Kiwi DIY attiThinking about a more efficient farm dairy?

Thinking about a more efficient farm dairy? tude in the creation of sculptural Thinking about a more efficient farm dairy?

Call us today for a FREE on-site Thinking about a more efficient farm dairy? artworks made from predomiCall us today for a FREE on-site Call us today for a FREE on-site design consultation.

Call us today for a FREE on-site nantly No.8 wire along with other Call us today for a FREE on-site design consultation. design consultation. agricultural products. design consultation.

Thinking about a more efficient farm dairy? design consultation.

In previous years entry criteria The 2017 Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award winner Jill Godwin Don Chapman Waikato Ltd is your Don Chapman Waikato Ltd is your Don Chapman Waikato Ltd is your called for artworks entered to with her work The No.8 Wire Lettering System: Fences vs Walls.

Call us today fordairy a FREE on-site Don Chapman Waikato Ltd is your local specialist in farm Don Chapman Waikato Ltd is your feature a minimum 50 per cent local specialist in farm dairy local specialist in farm dairy Don Chapman Waikato Ltd is your Don Chapman Waikato Ltd is your local specialist in farm dairy use a wider range of agricultural design andconsultation. construction. design a similar gauge. local specialist in farm dairy No.8 wire. design and construction. local specialist in farm dairy local specialist in farm dairy products, with the dominant design and construction. design and construction.

Waikato Museum Director ut this year to re ect the ay design and construction.

Herringbone or rotary visual and structural feature of the Cherie Meecham says the removal design and design and construction. construction.

Herringbone or rotary the future of farming is changing Don Chapman Waikato Ltd is your Herringbone or rotary Effluent systems artwork to be No.8 wire or wire of of the 50 per cent No.8 wire Herringbone or rotary Herringbone or rotary the a ards ill allo artists to Effluent systems Herringbone or rotary local specialist in farm dairy Herringbone or rotary Effluent systems Silage bunkers Effluent systems 889 6168 Silage bunkers Effluent systems and construction. 07 Effluent systemsdesign Effluent systems Silage bunkers 07 889 6168 Feed pads Silage bunkers 07 889 6168 Feed pads Silage bunkers 07 889 6168 021 780 477 Silage bunkers Feed pads Herringbone or rotary 07 021 889 6168 Silage bunkers 780 477 Feed pads 021 780 477 Feed pads Feed pads e ue t o ds, 021 780 Effluent systems shanan@dcw.net.nz Do culverts need socks? Apparently they do a ric that elimi ates lea a es rom 021 780 477 477 shanan@dcw.net.nz Feed pads shanan@dcw.net.nz ater stora e o ds a d mo soo fi re fi hti o ds Silage bunkers and the company that manufactures and shanan@dcw.net.nz 07 889 6168 shanan@dcw.net.nz in forest areas.

Feed pads Authorised Licensee www.chapmandairy.com supplies them around New Zealand and “We have the software that can calculate the size of Authorised Licensee021 780 477 www.chapmandairy.com Authorised Licensee www.chapmandairy.com the pond needed to store the capacity of water the Authorised Licensee overseas is based in Ahuriri near Napier. www.chapmandairy.com Authorised Licensee www.chapmandairy.com Authorised Licensee shanan@dcw.net.nz www.chapmandairy.com client wants. Then there is no guesswork with the “They are made digger as the driver from a strong welded knows the depth, Authorised Licensee Authorised Licensee www.chapmandairy.com fabric and transfer www.chapmandairy.com width and length the water from the required,” says Brad. end of the culvert to Once the hole is the bottom of a fi ished uatu ca decline so there is no supply a DIY instrucerosion. tion kit to install These are used by the liner and it has a farmers, roading Culvert socks manufactured by Aquatuff.

20-year UV warranty. contractors and Aquatuff is a local in the forestry industry,” says of Aquatuff manager business and has been operating for more than 28 Brad Gichard. years. It has just changed The culvert socks have a 10-year UV warranty, lay hands and will be providing the same excellent prodat o the rou d li e a o e hose a d, arm uct and service. animals pay little attention to them.

For more information please phone 0800 826 628.

“We also manufacture pond liners from extra strong Helen Wilson

Manufacturing culvert socks you can rely on

07 889 6168

021 780 477 shanan@dcw.net.nz

SPECIALISED COATINGS LTD

Page 38

MAIZE HARVEST & PASTURE RENOVATION

Electric drive Duncan gives contractor more scope Waikato contractor Kelly Wooller purchased a new Duncan AS3000 electric drive drill in September and he says it is opening new doors for his business.

Duncan MK4 Renovator direct drill, which Kelly says is a “great machine’’.

But now that he’s traded it in for a new Duncan AS3000 air seeder there is no going back.

“You don’t know what you’re missing out on until you get it,” says Kelly.

Wooller Contracting’s services include round baling hay and silage, cultivation, drilling and maize planting.

Kelly and wife Tina run the contracting business from their 110ha drystock farm at Walton, north of Matamata, where they raise dairy graziers and bulls and run a Hereford stud.

Until this year they’d been using a

The Duncan AS3000 is already paying for itself as Kelly has picked up some extra work because the drill can do so much more.

“Switching to the air seeder has given us more options. With the MK4 we could only do seed, but now we can do fertiliser, slug bait and seed all in one pass.

Paying for itself

Kelly Wooller says his Duncan AS3000 is bringing in more work because it can drill and apply fertiliser and slug bait in one pass.

“Clients were starting to ask for that service, particularly for chicory in the spring. We had some inquiries from people who wanted to put all three things down at once.”

He says the Duncan AS3000 is performing “really well” and he is already getting positive feedback.

“The results seem to be good and we are getting good feedback from customers. They say the strike rates are better than they have had before.”

The Duncan AS3000 has cameras installed in two large capacity bins, designed for both seed and fertiliser, and this makes a big difference.

“It was like driving with a blindfold before, but now you can drill with a piece of mind because you can see what is going on, and the monitor tells you how much seed has gone through.”

The seed and fertiliser are delivered by air for improved seed placement, particularly on hill cou try. utter y al e co trols the air o he sowing high and low rates of fertiliser or seed.

Simple to use

elly says it is a si ifica t im ro eme t o the gravity delivery of the Duncan MK4 Renovator.

“The Renovator was a great machine, considering it

had drilled about 5000ha since it was new. But we defi itely re er the S s air eeder o er the gravity feeder. We wouldn’t go back. We know that all the seed goes in from one point.”

Kelly also likes the easy, accessible calibration with the stowaway tray, which he says is “straightforward and simple to use”.

The Duncan AS3000 also has a large loading platform that can be installed on either side of the machi e a d su erior trash o .

Other features include the electronic hectare meter to measure fan speed and the area sown, the small to large seed settings on the quadrant, and the split hopper with concealed distributor heads. A positive drive via radar and the high and low range output settings all make the job easier.

Contractors and farmers can learn more about the Duncan AS3000 Renovator electric drive drill at: duncanag.co.nz

Built to work

Technology has come a long way with Duncan continuing to produce award winning machinery throughout the decades

Morrinsville I Thames Street

07 889 7055

Mike Kitching 021 735 665 I Glenn Greay 021 862 169 Kieran Steffert 021 945 817

Rotorua I 490 Te Ngae Road

07 345 8560

Mike Rogers 021 998 819 I Tony Johnston 021 349816 Ian Pilcher 021 908 123

Full Range of Quality Farm Machinery

I

www.piakotractors.co.nz

MAIZE HARVEST & PASTURE RENOVATION

loodi

a lessi

Today, the grass is growing, his two farms have new pastures – and Scottie McLeod is smiling.

The Edgecumbe farmer has just come out 12 months of his repairing his farms from the biggest ood his dairyi ro erties ha e e erie ced i ust under 30 years.

Scottie has lived on the Rangitaiki Plains for 63 years a d says it is a ood lai . you arm here you ha e to e re ared or oods. loods are o e o the reasons the land is so fertile,” says Scottie. ut that the ril , 2 1 , oodi as the i est ood e e e er had, says Scottie. d e e o ly had t o really i oods i all that time.” early ril last year Scottie had to truc his dairy co s o his t o arms a d out o the area as ater as o i across the addoc s .

Spring feed

ur co s e t to ere ha aaitu, hich we were very grateful for those farmers up there to ta e so ma y co s rom the dis trict. ut the or really e a o ce the ater receded. ter the ood e ust had a lac mat o dead rass, says Scottie. So e had to re so it all. helico ter e rass seed o to the ad docks – and it took three months before the grass came back. hree mo ths uite a hile i i ter

Edgecumbe farmer Scottie McLeod is today happy with his new pastures and is ready for a good 2018-2019 season. Photo: Anne Boswell.

Page 39

i dis uise or d ecum e armer

he you re a ti to et your rass ro i as uic as ossi le so you ca et some s ri eed. hat s as the mai aim to et rass ro i as uic as ossi le or the co s he they came ac home, so they could start producing for the vat.”

Scottie had to bring the cows back in two lots at the start o u e. he e ot them ac a ai we had to resort them by their calving dates – then e had to se d a other out o the a ay again due to there being no grass on the farm. So we too the late cal ers a ay a d le t the earlier cal ers o arm. he cul erts, sto a a d e ces had to e fi ed, plus fallen trees trimmed and debris from the storm remo ed. e e ust fi ished fi i the last storm damaged fence in March,” says Scottie.

He says his farming operations have incurred a big fi a cial cost rom the oodi o e he does t a t to ut a um er o due to loss o mil ro ductio , shi ti stoc o arm, rass seed, ertiliser,

with a big old Scottie McLeod at came down ee th . macrocarpa tr m in April 2017 or st k oo C in the

plus all of the repairwork carried out. The farmers who took the co s ri htly ot the mil che ue from their production.”

Good pastures

d o ce you ut the seed i a d it ermi ates the you e ot to a d spray for broadleaf weeds, which is another cost.” ut it has ee a lessi i dis uise, says Scottie. e ha e ood astures o e e re e ed a lot o them so e re ee i u ith the latest tre ds o rass seeds. d e ere ortu ate

e did t ha e a y houses o u der a ter. you ha e houses o u der it s a real nuisance.” iously e ould ha e had better production this season if the oodi did t ha e . e re defi nitely down on production on one arm. ut the co s ill ha e a ood seaso e t year. d as or the Culle e ort headed y Sir ichael Culle thi it s a common sense report that made recommendations that were probably going to be done anyway.”

Merle Foster

FERTILISER

Page 40

Magnesium – the big loser in agriculture Lack of magnesium in NZ soils has caused losses of millions of dollars every year. Little research is being done to solve the problem.

Under the heading of ‘Magnesium deficie cy , o e authorati e magazine listed the common options for supplementing magnesium are…It went on to list many o tio s each o tio tem orary, time consuming and repetitive. he o tio s ere i act, treati or trying to prevent symptoms of rass teta y, hy oma esaemia particularly prior to calving.

There was not a single reference to the soil. The soil is where the cause is seated, so that is here the remedy must be applied. The asture a d a imals are a re ec tio o hat is i , or ot i , the soil. i i ertiliser s a roach is based on cause centred science; the usual approach is based on symptom oriented science. This is the scie ce that tra s ers rofit from farmers to corporations.

Soil samples

Kiwi Fertiliser sends its soil samples to PAL laboratories in Missouri. The test results of new clients show more than 90 per

cent of samples are deficie t i ma e sium. That test often shows values of six per cent to eight per cent of base saturation when those levels need to be between 10.1 per cent and 12 per cent for most soils. hat deficie cy may translate to 150-200kg/ha of magnesium.

Some NZ publications cite 25kg/ha of magnesium as being an adequate annual application.

NZ research is often faulty as it

loo s at roducts, hile not supplying what the soil needs. Some trials use only mag oxide then wrongly assume that accurately represents magnesium behaviour and results.

Quality

There is only one source of Dolomite and that is in olde ay, so it has to e shi ed orth. his adds cost, ut as a calcium ma esium car o ate, it works exceptionally well. It is a semi-soluble calcium-magnesium source. Dolomite can also be directfed to cows as a temporary but highly effective measure to counter hypomagnesemia. a car o ate, ma o ide a d serpentine – a hard silica rock – are also semi-soluble. Many thousands of tonnes of mag oxide and serpentine have been applied to NZ soils o er the last years, ut ma esium deficie cies are still ri e.

Soluble sources are Mag sulphate and Kieserite. Kieserite releases Mg quickly and is useful where Mg is required for short term crops. Dolomite and Keiserite build soil Mg le els, hereas other materials may not. Your choice of weapon is critical and should not be based on the cheapest per unit or nearest source.

It must be based on what works and hat does t. olomite releases during a period of up to two years.

Calcium

Do not consider magnesium and calcium o its o . ather, they must be calculated in tandem.

there is am le Ca i the soil, olomite may ot e a o tio , but Kieserite will be. If calcium is not adequate – the optimum being 60 per cent to 68 per cent on a PAL soil test – then Dolomite is a preerred o tio . o e er, a d Ca have a one-to-one relationship when the soil su ly o each is hi h, so or each 1 er ce t o Ca added, 1 er cent of Mg can be displaced – and vice versa – and needs to be added back into the calculations. This relationship tapers off when there are deficie cies o either.

A relationship overlooked

If calcium plus magnesium add up to less than 80 per cent of base saturatio o the P soil test, the is most li ely deficie t, regardless of whether it shows a high readi or e am le, 1 er ce t. this situatio , the la ts fi d it di ficult to ta e u . t ca o ly be considered to be excess when those numbers exceed 80 per cent.

This relationship is often overlooked and probably why NZ farms suffer so much hypomagnesemia. High Mg may not be high at all. Once the calcium is added, the ma esium deficie cy is e osed. he message is clear. Do not just apply calcium lime ithout co sideri magnesium.

Other nutrients also have a direct relatio shi ith ma esium, es ecially otassium, itro e a d hos horus. he closer the fi ures a o e are to correct, the less e ati e impact each nutrient will have on each other, a d less o each ill e required to achieve superior results.

Extracting Dolomite from the Mt Burnett quarry in Golden Bay.

FERTILISER

Page 41

Feedback sought for upgrade of fertiliser-spreader standard The New Zealand Groundspread Fertiliser Association is calling on fertiliser spreaders up and down the country to have their say ahead of a review of the industry’s Spreadmark programme.

NZGFA’s president Dean Brooks says the ro ramme hich as first developed in 1994 to raise the standard of fertiliser spreading performance and to provide a benchmark for best practice – will soon be reviewed by the Fertiliser Quality Council.

“Spreadmark accreditation provides a robust standard for the ground and aerial spreading industries in New Zealand. It gives farmers and growers quality assurance that their fertiliser has been spread accurately and evenly by highly trained opera-

tors,” says Dean.

“However, the scheme has not been reviewed since 1999 when the Spreadmark test process was altered.

This is a great opportunity for the spreading industry to have its say in ho this i itiati e ca e fi e tu ed to provide even more value to this important aspect of farming.”

Dean says farmers, growers and fertiliser users are increasingly realising that one of the best ways they can provide ‘proof’ of their spreading Good Management Practices to suppliers is by using a Spreadmark accredited company.

However, he recognises that not all fertiliser spreaders in New Zealand are a filiated to the scheme.

“It is really important that we survey fertiliser spreaders and include our fi di s i the Spreadmark review pro-

New fertiliser plant starts production A new state-of-the-art fertiliser blending plant and distribution centre has o ficially o e ed i e Plymouth representing one of Ravensdown’s largest ever capital projects in New Zealand.

The plant will commence production on March 5.

Situated on a 7.5ha site, the $30m store and blending plant commenced production on March 5, says Ravensdown’s chief executive Greg Campbell “[The Plant] is not only a commitment to Taranaki and surrounding regions, but will change the way some farmers receive and use fertiliser with eco omic a d e iro me tal e efits throughout the supply chain.

“This has been a massive undertaking and a great example of teamwork with the council and contracting partners.

In terms of scale, there were 27km of roofi a d claddi i ol ed i the construction.”

The newly installed Precision Blending Plant will see precise blends and coatings of fertiliser made to order and of better quality. Environmental performance has been “designed in” to the facility’s operation.

The new site has enclosed operation for mixing, handling and bagging fertiliser to reduce dust and prevent trucks tracking product out of the store site. In addition, all stormwater on-site is collected using a site water capture and bioremediation system to strip nutrients from the water.

The $30m investment is especially good news for Port Taranaki, and the Western and Central North Island, says Greg.

This is only the second Precision Blending Plant in Australasia after Ravensdown opened the first at their Christchurch site in 2016.

cess. If there is an issue preventing someone from joining this scheme, we need to know.”

Fertiliser spreaders are invited to submit their feedback by email to the NZGFA executive director, Kevin Geddes, at: kgeddes@fedfarmers. org.nz The FQC will soon confer with industry auditors, industry members, food processing companies and the NZGFA to work through all aspects of the Spreadmark programme.

Pelletised, all-in-one lime-based horse pasture fertiliser “The easiest way to get lime onto lifestyle blocks.

Also includes Mg, P, S & Se.” Available in 1T, 1/2T bags & 25kg bags. Call us to locate your nearest supplier.

WWW.OPTIMISE.NET.NZ

0508 678 464

HORTICULTURE

Page 42

The CPTPP and the new world trade order

Before the United States withdrew from this trade a reeme t it as called the ra s Pacific Partnership Agreement and involved 12 countries, including the United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Everyone thought the deal would die with the withdrawal of the US. But it didn’t; full credit goes to both the National and Labour Coalition New Zealand Governments for being

among the key instigators for keeping the deal alive, and for making changes to accommodate the concerns of the New Zealand public. The Treaty of Waitangi, and the Government’s right to regulate for policy purposes, have both been preserved under the CPTPP; our signature will not lead to any loss of sovereignty.

In the process it got a new name: the Comprehensi e Pro ressi e ra s Pacific Part ershi CP PP .

The bottom line is that it opens up 10 markets to New Zealand, with a combined population of 480 million people. Opportunities are boundless and, with the growth of Asia as one of New Zealand’s most important markets, the CPTPP could not come at a better time, particularly with Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia – three of our top 10 trading partners – as signatories.

In addition to addressing social issues and non-tariff barriers, the CPTPP aims to reduce tariffs in economies that together account for 13.5 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product – equivalent to a total of US$10 trillion.

Japan a big win

Horticulture gains preferential access to Japan – the world’s third lar est eco omy or the first time, as well as Canada, Mexico, and Peru.

Japan in particular is a big win for horticulture, with immediate kiwifruit tariff reductions worth $26m from eliminating the Japanese tariff. This is important to New Zealand, as the European Union is about to gain access to Japan, and Australia already it. Apples do not do as well, but will still be eliminated in 11 years. This will put us o a le el layi field ith ustralia.

For New Zealand, the CPTPP is expected to deliver between $1.2b and $4b in GDP when fully imple-

mented. For Japan alone, this is $200m off existing tariffs; it will create jobs, growth, and economic development for New Zealand.

This will come into force when six of the CPTPP nations ratify it. For New Zealand to ratify it, Parliament needs to enact empowering legislation. Our Minister for Trade, David Parker, has said the aim is to bring this in by the end of the year. Before that can happen, however, there will be a pubic consultation process and submissions will be called for by the o er me t. he CP PP ri s si ifica t eco omic e efits to , a d or those reaso s alo e needs our support.

The CPTPP is, however, not just about addressing tariff reductions; it also covers the issues that are challenging the world today. The aim of the CPTPP is to raise labour and environmental standards in the Pacific, reduce the im act o u air ractices, a d promote sustainable development.

Most comprehensive

As the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade notes, these outcomes are the most comprehensive NZ has ever achieved in a free trade agreement, with the standards being made legally enforceable for the first time. t ill e sure that signatory countries have laws and practices in place governing minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational health and safety. These additional measures are new in trade agreements, and are likely to have a sigifica t im act o all usi ess a d commercial operations in NZ. The CPTPP is a very far reaching trade agreement that ill e efit a d the other si atory cou tries economically, environmentally, and socially. It is creating a new world trade order.

Italian sea container treatment rules extended

Agbeam

The Ministry for Primary Industries has extended the mandatory – offshore or onshore – treatment for all goods associated with sea containers from Italy from March 1 until April 30, 2018.

MPI says it is taking this highly precautionary approach due to

Agbeam

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs still being detected in goods imported into NZ in Italian sea containers.

“This situation is problematic as S is di ficult to detect i lo numbers, and mandatory treatment is seen as the most effective

ay to sto this si ifica t est from entering and establishing in NZ,” says the Ministry.

“MPI has made this decision after ensuring all aspects were considered, and evaluating the available data leading up to and including the end of February.”

KIWIFRUIT

Page 43

Growers strengthen their ownership and control over Zespri Zespri shareholders have voted to strengthen control of their single-desk fruit marketer via changes to its constitution which aims to curb ownership of the company falling out of current growers’ hands.

The changes to Zespri’s constitution was backed by more than 75 per cent of shareholders voting in a Special Meeting on March 14 in Mount Maunganui, ith the fi al results co firmed.

The resolutions implement a number of changes arising from a recent industry consultation.

Zespri chairman Peter McBride says the new constitution addresses a problem of growing misalignment between growers who supply kiwifruit to Zespri and people who own shares in Zespri. si ifica t um er o e eala d i i ruit orchard owners do not own Zespri shares and over 18 million shares are held by people who have left the kiwifruit industry,” says Peter.

He says the constitution puts in place a share cap with a maximum shareholding of four shares for each tray of production and introduces dividend restrictions on shareholders who do not grow kiwifruit.

“Without these measures, there is a risk that, over time, ownership of Zespri would progressively move away from the current growers supplying Zespri and undermine the stability of our industry structure.”

A fantastic legacy

Another step to improve alignment is a targeted share issue and buyback programme. This was supported through a shareholder resolution and is planned for the second half of this year. It will be based on an independent valuation and target a share issue to unshared and under-shared growers, and a buy-back offer to non-producers and overshared shareholders.

Fair process

The changes to Zespri’s constitution follow a long period of consultation with growers, s a i early fi e years. It involved a grower referendum in 2015 with the highest turnout in a horticultural referendum

COSIO COSIO INDUSTRIES

Peter says shareholders have voted to take advanta e o a u i uely im orta t mome t or the e Zealand kiwifruit industry. his su ort or cha e re ects the cohesi e ess o our industry and a common interest among growers and former growers in seeing it prosper. The measures require a huge amount of goodwill but ultimately they will support Zespri’s ability to deliver strong, sustainable value to kiwifruit growers and shareholders over the long term.

“It’s a fantastic legacy for the next generation of people in our industry.”

in recent history, followed by amendments to the Kiwifruit Export Regulations last year.

“There are diverse shareholder positions in our industry and we have been committed to a fair process, respectful of all shareholders,” says Peter.

“The changes will come into effect over a number of years, with a substantial transition period in place. The steps we have taken today will help us to deliver sustainable wealth to e eala d i i fruit growers, the wider kiwifruit industry and the communities which rely on our industry.”

Zespri chairman Peter McBride talking to shareholders at the Special Meeting in Mount Maunganui last month.

ULTRA-PRO WHITE WINDBREAKS ECO-NET & KIWI-NET The Professionals Choice

BENEFITS

Enhances cane growth Increases production Larger fruit size Makes orchard warmer increases dry matter prior to picking

Comes complete with eyelets or can be hemmed with drawcord for pulling wire through. Custom made to your requirements.

Contact us for your nearest stockist.

Cosio Industries Ltd, P.O.Box 15014, New Lynn Auckland Email : sales@cosio.co.nz 27-33 Lansford Crescent, Avondale, Auckland Website : http://www.cosio.co.nz Ph 09 820 0272 Fax 09 820 0274

Reduce fruit stain Less water Better coverage Faster fruit dry time ER R P SU ADE H RE E WIT AL P S US MOV R FO N RE CTS I U S TA R O D P ® Du-Wett Stainless is a registered trademark of Etec Crop Solutions Ltd.

Page 44

ULTRA-PRO FABRICS KIWIFRUIT

PLANT AND CROP PROTECTION

Crazy weather could affect dry matter this season ULTRA-PRO Professional

ULTRA-PRO

With the Western Bay of Plenty experiencing an unusually wet 12 months for growing kiwifruit, one orchardist says most growers have had little or no impact COSIO COSIO INDUSTRIES from vine disease Psa-V.

windbreaks, shade cloths and ground covers.

But whether they’ve got enough dry matter – which affects taste – in their PROVEN QUALITY fruit at harvest time remains to be seen.

“The amount of rain we recorded PERFORMANCE in our orchards this season is phenomenal VALUE – in fact I recorded close15014, to 3m New in 12Lynn, 0640, Auckland Cosio Industries Ltd, P.O.Box moLansford ths that s si ifi ca t, says ati 27-33 Crescent, Avondale, Auckland Ph 09 0272 Faxand 09 820 0274 kati820 orchardist post-harvest operator

Windbreaks

Email : sales@cosio.co.nz Website : http://www.cosio.co.nz

EFFLUENT STORAGE PONDS Firestone EPDM Lined Pond advantages Enable effluent to be stored and applied strategically during

drier periods or in Spring and Autumn when grass growth slows Ease of daily management from troublesome effluent irrigators

Realize the value of your effluent and utilise its real potential

20 year Firestone Factory warranty - best in the business

Insist on your Firestone issued Warranty Certificate

FROST PRO

PLANT AND CROP PROTECTIO

Contact Cosio Industries Ltd ph (09) 820 0272, email : sales@cosio.co.nz. or call Vaughan on 021 280 7266 for more information on Firestone EPDM and your nearest installation contractor.

INDUSTRIES

MICRONET

MICRONET is a designed to crea crop and plants. natural watering Available in 2 m

FROSTGUARD

FROSTGUARD cost polypropyle 30gm2. Also air natural air and w 2 metres wide. O

EPDM liner

Cosio Industries Ltd are official Firestone Building Products Australasian distributors

Above: Katikati orchardist Sean Carnachan

EFFLUENT STORAGE under the vines at PONDS his Katikati property.

Firestone EPDM Lined Pond advantages Left: In March Sean’s kiwifruit were a good size but were still green inside.

Enable effluent to be stored and applied strategically during

drier periods or in Spring and Autumn when grass growth slows Ease of daily management from troublesome effluent irrigators

Realize the value of your effluent and utilise its real potential

20 year Firestone Factory warranty - best in the business

Insist on your Firestone issued Warranty Certificate

INDUSTRIES

Sean Carnachan ahead of the April-start to the harvest season.

“During the winter months it was extremely wet; and in spring it was wet and cold, so we were Contact Cosio Industries Ltd ph (09) 820 0272, email : sales@cosio.co.nz. or call Vaughan concerned about the level of Psa we might have liner got. on 021 280 7266 for more information on Firestone EPDM and your nearest installation contractor.

EPDM Cosio Industries Ltd are official Firestone Building Products Australasian distributors ati ati the old came through it really well. The green got a bit of infection in leaf-spotting and Hayward male o ers ere a ected so it was manageable but has reduced the o ers numbers slightly in some orchards, generally i ati ati.

“So there might be as much fruit form those affected but the size remai s lar e.

Overcast days

Sean says pollination went well – November and December were exceptionally warm and dry “and in January, February and March it has still been warm but we’ve been getting more regular rai a d o ercast days .

“That potentially could impact dry matter. Zespri has done a round of tests and dry matter content is trac i ehi d last year.

ADDLINE TRANSPORT LTD

INDUSTRIES

Growers Twine

440 Denier, 5 ply, 3 strand polypropylene twine

UV stabilised with 5 year life expectancy in normal growing conditions

2 kg spools (approx 1800m)

Re-useable twine for growing replacement canes on.

The Professionals Choice

Often used in high wire training systems

Contact us for your nearest stockist

Cosio Industries Ltd, P.O.Box 15014, New Lynn,Auckland 27-33 Lansford Crescent, Avondale, Auckland.

Email sales@cosio.co.nz Website www.cosio.co.nz Ph 09 820 0272 Fax 09 820 0274

COSIO COSIO INDUSTRIES

Cosio Industri 27-33 Lansfor Ph 09 820 027

Sean’s testing has seen dry matter tracking similar to The last year.

He says the issue Choice is sea Professionals temperatures are exceptionally high and that’s bringing weather patterns which are detrimental to getting dry matter into fruit.

“As a season, the proof will beINDUSTRIES in the pudding on how ood the dry matter ill e at the time har est.

“The last two seasons have been quite challenging to et dry matter ecause o these eather atter s.

And recent humidity increases vegetative growth – a d that s our e emy at this time o year .

“As a result the vines are growing beautifully but we’ve probably spent more money on summer pruning canopies this year than we have in a long time but not a lot on thinning and the fruit quality – shape and size – is looking really ood.

UL

An open market

Zespri’s general manager of grower and external relations Dave Courtney says Zespri’s export markets are enthusiastic about the season ahead “and are basically aiti or our ruit to sho u .

Dave says the Northern Hemisphere kiwifruit season didn’t go well, with adverse weather affecting volumes INDUSTRIES of fruit produced there.

“Basically, they had a big frost and as a result their volumes were really badly impacted – and they had a lot less kiwifruit to sell.

“So because of that we’re expecting they are almost through their kiwifruit supply so when we turn up the market should hopefully very excited about getting i i ruit a d should e relati ely o e . ith ic i e i i i is or e, the first shi ment of kiwifruit was to leave the region on March 24-25 destined for Japan and China.

“We’ve started harvest in our early harvesting areas – which is typically down Gisborne way. And the Bay of Plenty fruit will come on nearer to April as the early ruit i that re io is ready to ic . ter this e ust ee filli shi s a d co tai ers a d ee filli u our mar ets arou d the orld.

Dave says last year Zespri had a good selling season in their Asian market – “and when you have a really good selling season it sets you up well for the e t seaso .

W

Volumes will be up

ULTRA-PRO hile ot fi al calculatio s ha e t ee released, es ri estimates it ill defi itely e u i olumes or ULTRA-PRO both green and gold fruit.

“So that’s a result for green because our yields fell last year but they have bounced ac this year due to a oura le ro i co ditio s.

“And in the gold space we will be up – but that increase in volume is more to do with growers grafting across to gold or planting gold and when those plants start fruiting. So we’ll have a total volume of about 140m-odd trays – which is similar to what we achieved i 2 1 , says a e Merle Foster

U

10 year UV Warranty

KIWIFRUIT

Page 45

i i throu h o ser atio a d open mindedness in Opotiki An Opotiki couple, who 10 years ago em ar ed o a uest to fi d a im ro ed lifestyle for their family away from the city, ha e o o the ay o Ple ty alla ce arm iro me t ards.

The award judges say kiwifruit growers Mark and Catriona White – who originally started with a bare loc o la d ear oti i ha e tra s ormed art o a or a ic dairy arm i to the success ul . ha orchard it is today throu h their or a d assio .

“The concept of kaitiaki – acting as a guardian, rotector a d co ser er is e ide t i all as ects o the Coastal Kiwis orchard business,” says the judges, ho elie e ei or a ic as ot a arrier to e celle t roducti ity or the orchard. r a ics is a lice ce to do thi s di ere tly. ery opportunity is taken to try and to learn new things throu h o ser atio a d o e mi ded ess.

Catriona’s parents had offered the couple the chance to buy part of their organic dairy farm near Opotiki to de elo as a i i ruit orchard.

“My family has been farming this land four generations and our children – Letisha, 14, and Lochlan, 13 are the fi th e eratio to li e here, says Catrio a.

“For most of that time the land has been farmed usi or a ic ri ci les.

Learning by mistakes

Although they initially didn’t know much about i i ruit, the cou le did most o the hysical de el o me t or themsel es, ee i costs do a d lear i y their mista es. ar also did a atio al Certificate i orticulture. he orchard had .1 hectares o es ri r a ic

ree i i ruit, roduci a total o 2 , trays o i i start ruit i 2 1 . es ri r a ic Su old is curre tly ro o 2. ha roduci , 2 trays. his roductio as achie ed i a challe i ro i year hich i cluded arious cyclo es a d a ery et a d i dy autum . e elo ed loc s o Su old are comi i to ro ductio duri the u comi seaso . itially ay ard ree a d ort1 old i i ruit ere ra ted o to ru o rootstoc . hey decided to remo e the old i es he they sa the de astatio caused y the i e disease Psa . r a ic assio ruit ro ided i come u til the e ly ra ted i es came i to roductio . small oc o certified or a ic shee carry out weed control duties around the edges of the orchard, helping reduce tractor work and its associated soil com actio , es ecially i i ter.

Organic sprays are used as required to disrupt pest li ecycles. o e er, there are other u aid est e erts at or i the orchard.

In balance

Weka and fantails prey on insects, bird seed plants are grown to encourage birds away from eating kiwifruit o er uds a d slu s hel to recycle or a ic material o the oor o the orchard.

“With plenty for the slugs to eat on the ground, they do t other to che o the e ly ra ted i es. t s a matter o fi di the oi t at hich e erythi ca li e i ala ce, says ar . e s acti ely i ol ed i the a lela ds rri atio Scheme, so ater use is care ully la ed a d mo itored. he hites ere rese ted ith the ay o Ple ty regional supreme award at a dinner on February 23 at the S ay ar re a, ou t au a ui. hey also o the ay o Ple ty e io al Cou cil ard, SP i i ruit rchard ard a d the ater orce te rated a a eme t ard. ther i ers at the di er i cluded ar ara a d ilso c illi ray, atea rchard, ati ati, ho o the alla ce ri utrie ts Soil a a eme t ard a d the Predator ree arm ard.

Orchard open day

Bay of Plenty winners Mark and Catriona White of Coastal Kiwis Orchard.

Photo: Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

ha ata e shee a d ee armers a id a d Carol od e o the reeli e ati e ursery arm Ste ard shi ard, the ee am e eala d i estoc ard a d ay o Ple ty e io al Cou cil iro me tal ard. e Pu e s a id imms a d old u et rchard o the ill a oratories ri Scie ce ard a d the C or ood istri utors td ri usi ess a a e me t ard. u iaries imited, ati ati, o the assey i ersity o atio ard a d the Pu e auri arms Peo le i riculture ard. o e field day ill e held at Catrio a a d ar s or a ic i i ruit orchard o ril 11 rom . am 1 m at 1 al er d, oti i. or more i ormatio , see o ea.or .

My Name is Neil Woodward.

I am a director of Z-Contracting- we are family run business, our team consists of three, being myself, my son and my brother.

Our organisation has been established for over 18 years. I have been involved in applying crop protection programmes within the horticultal industry since 1966.

We specialise within the kiwi fruit industry, We have the equipment to spray orchards with our two Atom sprayers and one recently purchased Tracatom Formula tractor which is also available for mulching and mowing.

My Name is Neil Woodward.

I am a director of Z-Contracting- we are family run business, our team consists of three, being myself, my son and my brother.

Our organisation has been established for over 18 years. I have been involved in applying crop protection programmes within the horticultal industry since 1966.

We specialise within the kiwi fruit industry, We have the equipment to spray orchards with our two Atom sprayers and one recently purchased Tracatom Formula tractor which is also available for mulching and mowing.

Our Atoms are set up with radar speed sensors, this combined with fully automated sprayer controllers and three nozzle rings enhances application efficiency and accuracy.

We also use a quad bike for strip weed spray applications.

We hold all certificates needed to meet Globalgap compliance.

We look at all challenges to help ensure we protect your crop with excellence.

Our Atoms are set up with radar speed sensors, this combined with fully automated sprayer controllers and three nozzle rings enhances application efficiency and accuracy.

We also use a quad bike for strip weed spray applications.

We hold all certificates needed to meet Globalgap compliance.

We look at all challenges to help ensure we protect your crop with excellence.

216 Pongakawa Bush Road Te Puke

To contact us: Phone: 021 907 621 E-mail: zcl@zanadu.co.nz

216 Pongakawa Bush Road Te Puke

To contact us: Phone: 021 907 621 E-mail: zcl@zanadu.co.nz

Page 46

RETIREMENT & TRAVEL

Explore the south’s back country with new friends If you want a 4x4 adventure through the high country of the South Island with real social side to it, you should get in touch with Connie and Robbie Crickett.

The couple run NZ Adventures, which offer back country tours through the high country of the South Island.

Curre tly, d e tures is o eri fi e day aster lorer a d si day i h Cou try erita e tours – and Connie says the social side of these trips is amazing.

“It is often said: ‘We start a trip as strangers and go away as friends’.”

Connie says all accommodation is in motels and meals are in restaurants with lunches on stations with the ru holders or a ic ic to e oy as e sto i a quiet spot amongst the scenery somewhere off the beaten track”.

For any NZ Adventures 4x4 trip the only stipulation mandatory for all vehicles is all terrai ty e tyres i ood co ditio a d a lo ra e tra smissio are fitted. ery ehicle is su lied ith a radio so a com me tary is a aila le a d t o ay commu icatio is enabled,” says Connie.

She says the Eastern Explorer this year is spending two nights in Ranfurly at the beautiful a du od e.

“The Eastern Explorer starts in Geraldine and heads South East through the mountain ranges of South Canterbury through Danseys Pass and into Ranfurly for the night. he hi hli ht o the first day has to be the rare chance to drive through Four Peaks Station.”

The second day route takes the trip into some of the old gold workings

around Naseby and Ranfurly. “Overnight is in Ranfurly.”

Day three takes in views of the Oceania Goldmine at McCraes Flat as well as some great 4x4 tracks in the little o Strath aieri area headi do to a overnight in Mosgiel. ay our ta es the tri i to the ta o i terla d a d a mi ture o orest a d armla d. the a ter oo e tra el o er the ammermoor ra e throu h the Te Papanui Conservation park to the overnight in historic a d uai t a re ce. ay fi e the route ollo s the Clutha i er before turning into the mountains and following old gold mining routes through very isolated and sparsely settled country before arriving at Journeys end in Alexandra. he i h Cou try erita e tour starts i le hiem and travels through iconic Molesworth Station on the first a ter oo a d i to a mer S ri s here the group stay overnight. Subsequent nights are in Methven, Fairlie, Omarama, Cromwell and the last night is at Cardrona. i hli hts could e tra elli o er the hills rom the Wairau Valley into the Awatere valley, Orari Gorge and the huge stations of the Mackenzie Basin and a e e more. urther South o the tea e Co ser a tion Park, quaint St. Bathans and the ulca otel alo ith the Dunstan and Pisa Ranges will not disappoint. “It’s a wonderful trip down the spine of the Island.”

Every vehicle is supplied a radio for two-way communication.

in the ife t e o in the choice

yle village. Our beautiful gardens in a picturesque location provides a natural relaxed lifestyle. hops, amenities and healthcare facilities - we focus on active residents having fun.

DEN

ii in the ife tt ee oo in the choice in the ife in the choice A unique and welcoming lifestyle village. Our beautiful gardens in a picturesque location provides a natural relaxed lifestyle.

OPPORTUNITY DISCOVERED

A unique and welcoming lifestyle village. Our beautiful gardens in a picturesque location provides a natural relaxed lifestyle.

Adjacent shops, and facilities we focus focus on on active active residents residents having having fun. fun.

Adjacent to to cafes, cafes,OPEN shops, amenities amenities and healthcare healthcare facilities -- we DAYS 11.30am to 2.00pm

A Wednesday GOLDEN 17th OPPORTUNITY and Saturday 20th JanuaryDISCOVERED Come and experience the difference!

OPEN OPEN DAYS DAYS 11.30am 11.30am to to 2.00pm 2.00pm Wednesday Wednesday 17th 17th and and Saturday Saturday 20th 20th January January

Come Come and and experience experience the the difference! difference!

NT BLOCK DEVELOPMENT COMMENCING SOON!

are beautifully designed open plan living with North and South facing balconies overlooking the firth of Thames n an apartment with elegant features providing amenities of shared lounges on 3 levels — ground, second and e as a natural extended lifestyle option with the Community Lodge right next door to use at your own leisure.

1 to choose choose from from that that are are beautifully beautifully designed designed open open plan plan living living with with North North and and South South facing facing balconies balconies overlooking 1 and and 2 2 bedroom bedroom floor floor plans plans to overlooking the the firth firth of of Thames Thames and surrounding hills.

Enjoy the luxury of living in an apartment with elegant features providing amenities of shared lounges on 3 levels — ground, second and and surrounding hills. Enjoy the luxury of living in an apartment with elegant features providing amenities of shared lounges on 3 levels — ground, second and top floor floor with with balconies. balconies. This This will will join join the the village village as as aa natural natural extended extended lifestyle lifestyle option option with with the the Community Community Lodge Lodge right right next next door door to to use use at at your your own own leisure. leisure. top

NEW NEW APARTMENT APARTMENT BLOCK BLOCK DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT COMMENCING COMMENCING SOON! SOON!

RETIREMENT & TRAVEL

Walter still on duty years later the ďŹ rst ee e d o arch, alter Scott made his ay to the orri s ille ecreatio al rou ds to cloc i li e he has do e or the last years.

e o the lo est sta di mem ers o the orri s ille P Society Committee, the e tlema i his i eties e a hel i at this year s 1 1th sho o arch . alter says he re u o a shee a d ee arm i orri s ille a d the sho as ery much art o his childhood. sho ed o ies i the early days, he remem ers. i d you i those days that mea t a ythi that as ridea le, they ere t as ash as they are o alter remem ers the days he there ere horses, i s, shee , do trials a d se eral cattle classes at the sho , a d there as much more em hasis o the drau ht horse com etitio s as they ere still ery much art o arm li e. he as you er, there ere more shee i the area tha co s. he dairy arms that orri s ille is o or o , came later. uri orld ar , the sho as ca celled or t o years. ccordi to the i istry there ere much etter uses or the ratio s o etrol that ere i the

Morrinsville A&P Society president Bruce McRobbie with longstanding committee member Walter Scott. Photo: Catherine Fry. alter has ee head ste ard cou try, tha usi it or etti o ee , head ste ard o horses, eo le to a P Sho . reside t, the orri s ille dele ate he the sho resumed i 1 , at the id orther Cou cil o alter had ee or i o the the oyal ricultural Society a d amily arm or a year a d as reside t o the oyal ricultural ro ed i to hel ith the or i Society o e eala d. ee. e t o the committee i t the 2 1 sho , he could e 1 a d m still here, they ca t ou d i the horse ri , micro et rid o me, he lau hs. ho e i ha d, calli the classes. alter also ac o led es the orri s ille P Society hi h ate ta i s a d i terest i reside t ruce c o ie says the sho are due to the stro their a ual P sho oes rom commercial su ort rom the to stre th to stre th as the years e e 1 years o rom he it ass remai i o e o the i est all started. hrou h his years ith the orri s ille P Society, sho s i the ai ato.

Catherine Fry

Page 47

Page 48

COUNTRY LIVING

Celebrating the importance of individuality O U NT R

FU

N NIE

S

C

co y o he rt arde the oo Per ect Petu ias

by Penny Harrison and illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan, published by Penelope Pratley to give Exisle Publishing. away.

To be in to win email captions (as many as you like) for the photo below and send with your name and address with Country Funnies as the su ect li e to merle thesu .co.

Or put these details on the back of an envelope and post to Country Funnies, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3140 to arrive no later than May 18.

The winner of the February Country Funnies caption is Fraser McLean of Whakatane for his caption ‘Caught between a rock a d a hay ra e .

He wins a copy of Caption this photo to be in to win a book prize.

Y

Sadie a ts to e a ai ter, ust like her best friend, Tom. She loves playing with colour and fi di sha es i u li ely laces.

But whenever Sadie picks up a paintbrush she makes a big mess.

Instead, she spends her time working in the garden or playing with Tom. But one day, Sadie gets a look at things from a different perspective – and makes a big discovery about herself and her creativity. he rt arde is a himsical story a out rie dshi a d fi di our o creati e air. t e cour ages children to explore different ways of expressing themselves and celebrates the importance of individuality and self-acceptance.

Pe y arriso is a childre s author, book reviewer, garden riter a d li estyle our alist.

Penelope Pratley has been mucking about with paint since she was a small girl. With a Bachelor of Fine Art and a Bachelor of Teaching, she has taught art from preschool to high school.

Thanks to Exisle Publishing, Coast and Country News has a

The power of the multi-faceted curcumin ric Turme C P O with

Abundant Health

Last edition we looked at research into the healing power of turmeric.

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which is the actual brilliant yellow pigment in turmeric. fi d it asci ati that ature s most potent healing compounds are locked into brilliant colour. It seems as the colours in fruit, vegetables and spices draw our attention to these marvellous compounds.

The brilliant yellow of curcumin is matched by the deep purples of the active compounds in berries and red wine grape seeds. hese com ou ds are classified as polyphenols and I know of no other group of plant chemicals that have such a profound effect on our health. e ust s o e ith a clie t ho had a ery ai ul hip. We introduced my turmeric product combined ith ma esium e ore ed a d she s o acti e a ai

with much less pain.

Curcumin is truly multi-faceted. It actively reduces u a ted i ammatio y tem o rarily disa li i ammatory e ymes hile also reduci i ammatory chemicals called cytokines. And it does this without the side effects of drugs.

In fact a clinical trial ‘Clin Interv Aging 2 1 com ared a commo medicatio ith curcumin for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and concluded that curcumin was as e ecti e as the a ti i ammatory medica tion. I have many clients who cannot tolerate medications for pain and turmeric supplements can really help.

Curcumin though is no one-trick pony. It also has the ability to protect the chondrocyte cells that secrete and maintain cartilage. It does this through its potent a tio ida t u ctio s hich are reatly ma ified y adding quality grape seed extract. Free radical damage of chondrocytes appears to be the main driver of osteoarthritis.

Feel free to contact me for advice. I offer a complimentary programme or oi t health su ort for those with osteoarthritis a d other oi t problems.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423559 or email: john@abundant.co.nz Join his full weekly newsletter at: www. abundant.co.nz

COUNTRY LIVING

Improving access to produce A new group working to put more local produce on the plates of Bay of Plenty residents is all about “improving healthy food access and making our food system more resilient”.

Kai Western Bay, which has a isio o ood ood or all i the Western Bay’, has just begun forming its strategic plan and set of actions with an aim to educate BOP residents and increase network capacity of existing local food initiatives.

Kai Western Bay Small Scale ro ers re rese tati e ill llis says the BOP currently doesn’t have good food security – and lack of local produce is a problem.

“Some of the things we want to see are healthy food which is accessible for everyone, ecologically

sustainable and culturally appropriate food for the Bay. “We want to support local grassroots food movements, improve food resilience in case of natural disasters – how would people eat etc – and we want to encourage home gardening, community gardens and education around healthy eating and food growing.”

The organisation is working alongside local government bodies to help improve conditions for local produce farmers; and the availability of local food for residents, by way of community gardens, and education on how to grow their own food.

Kai Western Bay is partnering ith or a isatio s such as ood Neighbour Trust and also food rescue which focusses on food redistribution to people in need.

ill says the aim is to create a network so all organisations can work together toward a better future for local food.

“Things exist already, there are some great initiatives all over the place, but we would like to have everyone be able to share in those, so it’s a collective network to help enhance the opportunity for all of these i itiati es, says ill.

Land development, sprawling urban development and loss of affordable farmland for farmers to grow produce is also contributing to lac o a aila le ood, says ill.

Kai Western Bay is currently researching what the barriers are, the status of local growers and how viable local food production is. o fi d out more or to et involved, email: hayley.adamson@bopdhb.govt.nz Maddison Brown

David King and Gill Ellis amongst their herb and tomato garden. Photo: Maddison Brown.

Put a pop of colour into your home heating Wagener Stoves is a third generation family business proudly handcrafting Kiwidesigned and made solid fuel stoves.

Their range is unique in the market and built to last – and with more than 35 years in the business and 25 years in the NZ Home Heating Association you can uy ith co fide ce rom this ar orth team.

S ar y is a e er s hu ely o ular ee fire a d he now has a new big brother Leon, which was launched over a year ago. The younger lads at Wagener Stoves have been playing with colour on these stoves and are now offering contrasting panels to compliment your décor and personalise your fire.

Imagine a pop of colour with shimmering rose or sky blue or perhaps a more subtle marine metallic blue or environmental metallic

The Sparky and the Leon model stoves, from Wagener Stoves, pictured side by side.

moss green – the choice is yours. Also available and designed and made by the team is the indomitable CookTop Wagener Stove, the Butler Multi high performance hot water heater and the ultimate Wagener air ur Coo er lus the lio ra e o et ac s. or more i ormatio , ho e 2 or isit their website: www.wagenerstoves.co.nz

Page 49

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 50

HUGE SAVINGS!

BUY DIRECT FROM THE LOCAL MANUFACTURER CUSTOM MADE BLINDS: ROLLERS, VENETIANS, VERTICALS

NEED NEW BLINDS FOR XMAS?

ORDER NOW DON’T MISS OUT! 0800 229 254

CALL FOR A FREE MEASURE & QUOTE NOW!

8 Maleme Street, Greerton 07 578 7794 | bayblinds.co.nz

Living in a micro-climate Athenree couple Margaret Clode and John Mickell reckon they have some of the earliest fruiting avocado trees around – and they put it down to one thing in particular.

income from their 85 avocado trees. “The reason we say we have a micro-climate is that we are early for a ocados, early uly is he our maturity is he 2 is the dry matter,” says John.

Normal export of avocados is generally from lateAugust. Margaret says they are too early for export, so The micro-climate of their property, which they they sell to the local market. oticed he first loo i at uyi it i 2 .

“I sold some last year to a friend who has a coffee bar “We’re facing northeast and were sheltered from the for $5 each because they were desperate for some good south est e reco ised that he e first loo ed avocados, to do ‘smashed avo’, they were prepared to at the place. The kikuyu grass was taller than me when pay for it!” e first came here ste ed o er a a a d disa The retirees have also taken advantage of the micropeared,” says Margaret. climate to grow more than 50 types of fruit and nut Being northeast-facing, on a slope and sheltered trees o their 1. hectare orchard. from southerly winds, the property has been perfect They keep these for personal consumption and have for their avocado carefully planned their orchard so each fruit grows in orchard, which its own ideal climate conditions. provides them “My aim when we bought the place was to have food with a passive year-round that we grow ourselves and share with our families,” says Margaret.

“What we did at the bottom is we put all the sort of stuff we’d grow in Southland and Otago – apples, pears and peaches, apricots and plums – with the citrus coming in between them all. We even grow bananas year-round.”

The retirees believe the rise in popularity of avocados is due to advertising and an increase in awareness of the ruit s health e efits.

Margaret says last season demand increased Margare due to a shortage in supply from a very t Mickell a Clode and John wet spring. She’s also a strong believer lw grow food ays wanted to i ha i o eri la ts year rou d share wit year-round to to attract bees and has a beautiful and h their fa rolific arde . t as a slo year ecause milies.

Photo: M addison B rown. o rai throu h the o eri eriod i the rai comes he the trees are o eri it washes the pollen away,” says Margaret, who is kept busy from the subtropical weather patterns on her property.

Maddison Brown

Have lunch and meet your new accountant Susan Northey Marketing Consultant

P 07 578 0879 M 027 576 0499 susan.northey@harcourts.co.nz SellWellWithSusanNorthey

Advantage Realty Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008

1 Third Avenue, Tauranga

Trish Patterson of Accountants Bay of Plenty is offering a tasty treat in the form of a $50 lunch voucher for new clients who consult her this year.

“This is the time of year that business owners are thinking about ‘what next’ for their business, or are determined to

‘get on top of things in 2018’. They may be new to business or looking for better support, and I can help,” says Trish, who is offering the lunch vouchers for the first 1 e clie ts ho co tact her in 2018.

“Having good systems enables us to enjoy working with our clients with timely, practical solutions in an understandable manner, quickly and

Trish Patterson.

EXCELLENCE IN DERMATOLOGY

cost effectively.”

Clients are encouraged to improve their business and operate with best practice, which means that Accountants Bay of Plenty do more than tax return services. They offer the full range of accounting services with extensive experience and expertise.

Accountants Bay of Plenty is a chartered accou ta cy firm ith a o fice i otorua. he business has grown steadily during the years with an emphasis on clientfocused systems most suited to the owner, rather tha a o e si e fits all approach.

Their valued clients are small to medium business owners, who trade as sole traders, partnerships or companies with many trusts. Clients also include o rofit or a isatio s, farmers, property owners or personal tax-only clients.

If this is you, you are most welcome to make contact and meet with Trish at Accountants Bay of Plenty for a free, noobligation meeting.

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 51

Retiring from kiwifruit after the flood mendations to the council – but to John and Carol’s frustration, there was no lame assi ed. hat a aste o time a d mo ey, says oh . o o e came up with any blame, but it’s so clear the lame is o the cou cil they did t fi that all. al a millio dollars or othi . eryo e ust lau hed that s the asic eeli arou d here. es ite rustra tions surrounding the inquiry, the

Carol Harold stands in the empty paddock that once contained the couple’s kiwifruit orchard, ravaged by a recurrence of Psa-V after the Edgec m e oods

Harolds have continued to look for the ositi es here er ossi le.

They are settling back into normal life, with the weight of orchard work o their shoulders. t s uite ood o because we don’t have to go out every day and prune and muck around with the i i ruit, says oh .

“Okay, we haven’t got the income from it a ymore, ut e re alri ht.

Anne Boswell

Photo: Anne Boswell.

Kitchen cupboards turned to Weetbix, valuation hiccups and premature retirement are just some of the challenges Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchardists Carol and John Harold have faced – and overcome with remarkable positivity and “a few smokes and a bit of beer” – in the year since the d ecum e ood.

The Harolds have lived on their Otakiri Rd orchard, m rom d ecum e, si ce 1 2.

On April 6 last year, a drain on their property overo ed a d des ite their est e orts to um the ater into a nearby canal, the Edgecumbe stopbank breach meant the water just made its way back around – rendering the entire property and house a two-foot deep la e that sat or se e days.

“Never ever in our wildest dreams did we imagine e d ha e to orry a out the house, says oh . e re retty lo here a d it usually fills u around the clothesline, but you never worry about the house. e er.

Back to normal

Despite the monumental mess that followed, the Harolds, one year on, are looking to the future with remar a le ositi ity, a d ha e o la s to lea e. e re retty much ac to ormal, says oh . he builders and contractors are all done on the house, with the exception of the swimming pool, and we’re ust otteri arou d utti the fi ishi touches to ether. ce the i side is fi ished the e terior or will begin, such as replacing paving stones, and a little shed or .

The couple spent the nine months following the ood li i i a shed a d cara a o their ro erty, undertaking all stripping and deconstruction work themsel es e ore co tractors a d uilders too o er. i i o site had its e efits, such as added security rom looters, ut also rese ted some challe es.

“The stink from the water was incredible,” says Carol. side the house, there as co de satio dri

i rom the ceili . d the orms yuc The Harolds are grateful their insurance company, , as e celle t to deal ith. hey ere a solutely mar ellous, says oh . e e t i to the o fice a ter aster ee e d a d made a claim, and the assessor rang us either that afternoon or the e t day a d came out. e had o e erso loo i a ter us all the ay throu h.

The only frustration the Harolds encountered was getting a valuation that met the quality of the chattels that were destroyed, resulting in some to-ing and froi u til a a reeme t as met. ll o those thi s ust slo ed the rocess do . hey also disco ered they could t fi d e oode furniture, such as hutch dressers, that were made to the uality o those rui ed i the ood. Carol a d her daughter ended up purchasing several replacement ieces rom seco d ha d stores.

Beyond salvage

side some o the ur iture destroyed i the ood was, to the couple’s distress, a large collection of photographs that couldn’t be salvaged despite their best e orts.

“They included photos of the building and maiden oya e o the sla d Pri cess, hich as o ed y my ormer hus a d a d , says Carol. ha ully d created a scra oo o e s a er cli i s, hich sur i ed the ood ater, ut there ere additio al hotos that ere t a le to e sa ed. he arold s 1. ha i i ruit orchard, hich re a mixture of green and gold fruit, was beyond salvage a d as remo ed, ith o la s to re la t.

“We originally had Hort 16A gold kiwifruit, but that was ravaged by Psa-V and we replaced it with G3,” says oh .

“Unfortunately, the Psa was still existing in the rou d, a d ith all the e tra stress o the ood, it ot stuc i to the . Psa lo es et co ditio s i there s a y irus arou d, it ll et you. he rest as ulled out too, as it as dyi the ood illed it.

Si mo ths a ter the ood the a itai i i er Scheme Review, commissioned by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, was released containing 29 recom-

Like us on Facebook

     

Cost Effective Easy To use Improves Soakage Reduces Solids and Scums Eliminates Nasty Odours Reduces Costly Pump-outs

A satisfied customer in Hamilton has been using Septi-Cure™ for over five years.

Before*

After*

*Results may vary

g Reef Fishin

Trips

t

n 10% discou r for two o more people

Hapuka /Blueno se Day & O vernigh t Fishing Trips

from $1 65pp

Breakthrough Product Developed for your Septic Tank

Also Available at:

Page 52

FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

6M, THE MEAN MACHINE OF ROPS.

6110M

6125M

NO DEPOSIT P.A & 1.99% JOHN DEERE FINANCE RATE* EASY MONTHLY PAYMENTS OVER 36 TO 48 MONTHS

6140M

6M SERIES ROPS • • • • • • • • • •

110 to 140 HP Full Frame Chassis Design 40kph PowerQuad™ Transmission options Isolated (Rubber Mounted) platform John Deere PowerTech™ Tier 2 engine 3 speed PTO 540-540E-1000rpm 114L P/min PFC Hydraulic System Ergonomic design of operator controls Integrated John Deere Loader options Industry leading serviceability

*Conditions apply. Finance available through John Deere Financial Limited to approved commercial applicants only. Offer is based on a 36 and 48 month term at an annual percentage rate from 1.99% with 0% deposit and GST back within first 3 months. Fees and charges apply. If not amended or withdrawn earlier, the promotion expires on May 31st 2018. Images used are for illustrative purposes only and may show features or attachments not included in the price. Products, specifications and availability are subject to change without notice.

0800 tractor • www.agrowquip.co.nz PUKEKOHE 09 237 0043 • Comrie Pl Ben Peneamena 027 474 0515 Stephen Van Der Gulik 027 222 1703 Stephen Collin 027 222 1128

SILVERDALE 09 427 9137 • 17 Flexman Pl Murray Watson 027 222 0486 Lyndon Baird 027 430 4810

HAMILTON 07 847 0425 • 8 Kells Pl Graham Sara 027 222 3751 Colin Henderson 027 476 0381 Dave Cameron 027 437 1759

CAMBRIDGE 07 827 5184 • 169 SH 1B Simon Borck 027 437 2615 Lloyd Salt 027 838 9635 Glenn Hawthorne 027 547 5526

FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

A good solid tractor you can rely on A growing business needs to get the most out of its equipment – and Donovan Croot a d fia c e So hie Coo so are defi itely getting that with their Massey Ferguson 4708 ES. Donovan and Sophie started in the dairy industry as farm assistants.

Nine years later they are sharemilking 63 hectares with their own herd of 220 Friesian and Friesian-crosses.

“The dairy industry is fantastic for progression. If you’re willing to put in the work the opportunities are there,” says Donovan.

They and their young children moved to their new farm in Waitara near New Plymouth in June 2016.

They had a tractor budget and initially planned on getting one second-hand.

“We wanted to go with Massey Ferguson because of their reputation as being good solid tractors. This model was new, and it was the most bang for our buck.”

The MF 4708 ES – the ES stands for ‘essential’ model – is only 82hp.

“It is not a big tractor, but we have a small dairy farm. To me anything bigger was overkill when this has all the power we need.”

Their current farm is a system twothree farm, meaning feed is imported to e te d lactatio a d to fill the s ri deficit. he little assey er guson deals with all the feeding out.

It has a loader and it easily lifts a 10-equivalent silage bale, while carries one on the back feeder at the same time. Donovan says it could handle 12s but they don’t use them.

It lifts two 15-equivalents of hay on the front tines at the same time.

A local contractor makes the farm’s rass sila e, a d fitted ith so t hands the MF 4708 becomes the stacking tractor.

With this year’s wet winter Donovan has been busy rolling paddocks with the MF 4708 to repair pug damage. It also tows an 8m3 wagon loaded to the gunnels with silage or other supplements, or pulls a palm kernel trailer.

“It handles it easily and I have not yet got it stuck,” says Donovan.

The hydraulic oil works at the rate of 65 litre/min, again more than

enough for work on the dairy farm. At other times the MF 4708 tows a 600 litre sprayer with 6m boom for spraying out paddocks and weeds and also spreading Pro-Gib. The PTO operating at 540 RPM is more than adequate for the job. ei a small tractor mea s it fits i to the cal sheds, making it easy to clean them out.

It doesn’t have a cab, which sounds like a disadvantage in a wet winter, but Donovan says he’s always wearing wet weather gear anyway and getting off and on, so it doesn’t make any difference. It has roll-over protection for safety of the operator.

The MF 4708 has six gears with a high and low ra e, a d the o erator cha es them ith the ic of a button on the gear lever. Donovan seldom needs the low range. To change between forward and re erse he ic s a addle o the steeri heel.

It is a good basic reliable tractor, and easy to use. ast s ri they had a fi ed term sta mem er ho drove it.

She lo ed it. She as co fide t a d ca a le at driving this tractor.”

Donovan Croot with his Global Series MF 4708 with its 936X loader.

New record for tractor sales Last year’s tractor sales have topped the highest recorded levels of sales in 2014, according to the New Zealand Tractor and Machinery Association.

TAMA general manager Ron Gall says in 2017 a total of 4079 tractors were sold. This is up 13 per cent on 2016, up 14 per cent on 2015 – and are even slightly up on the boom dairy year of 2014, which had 4062 sales.

However, Ron says TAMA recognised that some farmers in both islands were currently experiencing hardship with the very hot and dry conditions.

The challenging drought conditions may affect sales in coming months but it was hoped changing weather would provide some relief.

Ron says 2017 sales were particularly strong in the dairy areas of Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatu, Canterbury and Southland; and in the horticulture, viticulture and arable areas of Northland, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson and Marlborough.

The increased sales re ected the improved dairy forecast payout along with steady growth in horticulture and viticulture,

says Ron. According to TAMA’s biennual industry value and employment survey, the total number of people employed in the tractor and farm machinery sales and servicing sector had also increased.

There has been a 14 per cent increase since 2015 – from 2492 to 2846 roles.

Nearly 40 per cent of those employed earned salaries of more than $75,000.

“The machinery/technology sector offers innovative and well-paid jobs with a strong career pathway, including senior roles in sales and business management. TAMA is looking at o tio s to rofile the i dustry as a rewarding career choice for young people,” says Ron.

FAMILY OWNED & RUN SINCE 1981

Page 53

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 54

classified listings

LIST YOUR RURAL EVENT HERE! email your listing to: elaine@thesun.co.nz with ‘Rural Event’ in the subject line.

curriculum vitae

NEED A C.V? A C.V. For You can provide you with the professional touch. From scratch or alterations.

“Get the interview….Land the job” Contact via www.facebook.com/ acvforyou or 0204 037 6034

for sale

PULLETS HY-LINE BROWN, great layers. Phone 07 824 1762 www.eurekapoultryfarm.weebly.com

your advertising

REACH OVER 31,000 HOMES For only $20 you can have your listing here (up to 20 words). Whether it is something to sell, or promoting your product/service. Email us today with your query or call 07 928 3053 kathy@sunmedia.co.nz

April 5

Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards Winners’ Field Day, 10.30am at 504 Taumata Rd, Tauranga 3173. Fonterra Supply No: 21283. See www. dairyindustryawards.co.nz

April 6

Growing Healthy Veges,

9.30am-12.30pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $75. See www.fallsretreat.co.nz

April 6-8

Tree Crops Association Conference, Tauranga. See www. treecrops.org.nz

download your free App today

April 7

Full Monty on Growing

Nutrient-dense Veges, 9.30am3pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $120. See www.fallsretreat.co.nz

Aongatete Forest Restoration Family Walk, 9.30am, near Katikati, gold coin. See tinyurl. com/y9ocq6km Night-time in the Bush,

5.45pm, Te Aroha, free but bookings essential. See tinyurl. com/ybnqhne5

April 7-8

Plant Sales, 10am-4pm,

Hamilton Gardens.

April 7-22

Echo Walking Festival. See www.echowalkfest.org.nz

April 8

Harvest Festival & Great

Pumpkin Carnival, 10am2pm, Hamilton Gardens, free.

See tinyurl.com/ y6w2yd4t

Autumn Quarryfest, 10am-4pm, Te Puna

Quarry Park. See www.quarrypark.org.nz

April 12

Finalist field day for 2018

Ahuwhenua Trophy BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming

S

April 13 Introduction to Edible

Gardening, 9.30am12.30pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $75 (includes lunch). See www. fallsretreat.co.nz

April 18

Waikato Dairy Industry

Awards Winners’ Field Day, 10.30am at 455 Whites Rd, Putaruru. Fonterra Supply No: 77780. See www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz

April 20

Educating the Experienced

Gardener, 9.30am-12.30pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $75 (includes lunch). See www.fallsretreat.

co.nz

April 20-21

Breakfast with the Birds, 5.30pm-10am, Aongatete Forest Outdoor Education Centre, near Katikati. Includes a fungal foray. Limited places.

See aongateteforest.org/calendar BOP Orchid Show, 10am-

4pm, War Memorial Hall, Te Puke, $2. Ph Faye 07 573 9710.

April 21

Permaculture Design

Certificates, 12 Saturdays spread over the year (72 hours), Whakaramarama (near Tauranga), $1500. See www. plentypermaculture.co.nz

April 21-22

Waikato Regional Chrysanthemum Show, 10am-4pm, Cambridge Town Hall, gold coin.

April 22

Bonsai Workshop, 2-4pm,

Bunnings, Hamilton, free. See hamiltonbonsai.co.nz

April 26

for 8 weeks, Papamoa Community Centre, $100. See www.seasidebees.nz

May 3-6

Creative Fibre National

Waikato Horticultural Soci-

ety: Roses, 7.30pm, Hamilton Gardens, $5. Speaker is Rob Somerfield. Ph Carmel 07 859 0158.

April 28

Free Home Composting

Workshop, 1.30pm, Taupo Community Gardens. See tinyurl.com/gqseptb

April 28-29

North Island Chrysanthemum Show, 11am-4pm, Hamilton Gardens, $2.

Education Event, Gisborne Showgrounds. See tinyurl. com/y874pfft

May 5

Understanding Soils,

9.30am2.30pm for 3 weeks, Whakamarama (near Tauranga), $140. See tinyurl. com/ycqmmj2g

May 6

April 29

Hamilton’s New Concept

Waikato Environment Centre, Hamilton, $109.

May 11-13

Sustainable Backyards,

May 2

Urban Beekeeping, 7-9pm

Garden, 10am-5pm, exhibition at Waikato Museum, free.

Planning a Home Orchard, near Tirau, $300/person or $500/couple. See www.lals.nz

Open day shows the finesse of farming Visitors look on as farm day volunteers show them how to shear a sheep.

BER TR TIM E

NT ME AT

PEPP ER

trades & services

Award at Onuku Maori Lands Trust, Rotorua. Field day is at the trust’s farm from 9.30am2pm. See www.ahuwhenuatrophy.maori.nz

More than 1000 people walked onto hosts Andrew and Robyn McLeod’s farm on Welcome Bay Rd on March 18 – making it the second-largest Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers Free Farm Day in the nine years it has been running.

Sponsored by DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb, farm activities offered people a better understanding of the physical and extensive work done on a farm.

David Hodge and Rick Powdrell showed off their sheep shearing skills, Ballance Agri-Nutrients representatives shared their knowledge, along with truck drivers, farmers from the dairy, meat and wool sectors and the Te Puke Young Farmers group.

DairyNZ’s ‘Rosie the Cow’ circulated, while Fonterra provided free milk and a milk tanker on display.

Gerard van Beek churned butter by hand while John Scrimgeour milked cows with Andrew McLeod’s farm workers.

Shirley Spick’s dexter calves, a haystack lollie scramble and a gumboot throwing competition were crowd-pleasers too.

BOP Federated Farmers president Darryl Jensen expressed his thanks to everyone for making the day a success – particularly to Farm Day co-ordinator Steve Bailey.

Below: Ashlee Trappitt, 7, of Papamoa gets behind the wheel of a tractor at the BOP free farm day.

xterior wash Above: Adalyn Airey, 2, of Katikati, sitting on a hay bale.

Brothers Tyler McLennan, 9, and Logan McLennan, 6, have their photo taken with ‘Rosie’ the cow.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 55

GREAT DEALS - GREAT DEALERSHIP - GREAT PRODUCT Full range of ISEKI tractors & mowers, mowers and catchers plus Outfront mowers. TG series 36 to 60hp ROPS & Cab, 36hp TH series, 21 to 26hp TM series

5700SL CABIN TRACTORS

100Lpm hyd’s, clutchless power shuttle, Massey’s renowned Dyna4, four speed powershift transmission, (Dyna6 is available on the 130hp version) cab suspension, the comfort and versatility that you would expect from the world leader in design, if your farming or contracting there is a 5700SL to fit.

4700 & 5700 GLOBAL ROPS TRACTORS

82 to 102Hp farmers tractors, these babies feature a 12 x 12 Powershuttle transmission (clutchless forward reverse), 65 & 98Lpm hyd flow and aux valves. These machines are heavy and robust, designed for working on the farm. They are not cluttered up with fancy stuff, only what you need to get the farm jobs done. The big plus is they are very well priced. (5710 available with cab option)

MF3645 HORT MACHINE At 84 Hp these units are factory built for the specialist markets.

Low profile, high Hp, standard or power shuttle transmissions.

At just under a meter wide they can slip in most places. At 65lpm the hyd’s will handle all your requirements.

Thames Street, Morrinsville Mike Kitching Glenn Greay Kieran Steffert

HEAVY DUTY 6700 / 7700 / 8700

And if you need some big HP for the really big jobs check out our 6700, 7700 and 8700 tractors, Dyna6 and DynaVT 120-370hp

I

07 889 7055

021 735 665 021 862 169 021 945 817

490 Te Ngae Road, Rotorua Mike Rogers Tony Johnston Ian Pilcher

I

07 345 8560

021 998 819 021 349816 021 908 123

Full Range of Quality Farm Machinery I www.piakotractors.co.nz

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 56

Ollie, aged 7, enjoying the

country life in Walton. ching calves , with his mat Jonty, aged 11 ers’ in Ohaupo.

‘ET sist

Eric, aged 9, old having his first attempt at teat-spraying, Hamilton.

BS! PRIZandEdetUailsPcan beFemOaileRd (higGh resRolutionAjpgy,s)POto Box 240,

Pictures to Coast & Countr untry Camera” or posted every entry. kathy@thesun.co.nz “Co e a name, address and phone number with lud inc ase Ple ga. ran Tau

ng the

Dylan, aged 8, feedi

. lambs in Cambridge

Aroha, aged 8, enjoying cuddles with a new lamb in Matamata.