Coast & Country - June 2018

Lady of the land

Bumper 80 page edition with your special Fieldays 2018 Lift Out inside

Meet Jeanette Nee of Ohauiti, who is still hunting at age 75. This edition she shares her love of the outdoors, wildlife, hunting, photography, and her infectious personality. See pages 4-5. Photo: Merle Foster.

Waipa’s Lettuce Man PAGE 6

WHAKATANE

Responsible Dairying PAGE 9

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Kiwifruit PAGE 11-13

Sheep & Beef PAGE 14-15

Avocados PAGE 16-19

Fieldays Lift-Out PAGE 29-52

District Welcomes PAGE 53-63

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Page 2

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Life in the packing lane…

The buzz on the Bay of Plenty-side of the Kaimai Ranges is the kiwifruit harvest – and the lack of staff post-harvest operators have this season.

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The fruit – David told me was destined for export – came out of the conveyer belt at a frantic pace. I had to pack each piece in a shell in the tray, and slide it to the next person to check it and close the box.

‘Easy!’ I hear you say. Well, let me tell you it’s not.

I was trying to press the button with my hip to move I’m told it’s always a bit of a scramble to secure staff the belt and box forward, the fruit kept coming; I for picking and packing fruit – but never has the was scared I was going to mark it as I moved it all situation been so dire. into place. And more fruit Billboards advertising ‘Jobs was already tumbling down Within’ have sat outside nearly towards me. every packhouse in the region You do get the hang of it – and most boards are still out after a few trays – but could and we’re past the harvest’s I do this for a 10-hour shift? peak.

I’m not so sure. The pressure On page 3 we talk to Apata on back and feet would be outlining their labour shortimmense plus it’s a bit monotage turnaround since making onous even though you’ve got national news. But NZKGI says to focus. not all operations have been so But what I saw was the staff lucky – the shortage for most kept each other going, talking, continues. joking, laughing and keeping The problem is described as morale high. A few backpackthe perfect storm – more fruit, ers had lost a bet with their less backpackers and internagirlfriends and had to wear tional students, and just not Editor Merle Foster packing the ladies’ bikinis over their enough local people to fill the kiwifruit at Apata. clothes to work. That kept gap. things upbeat for a bleak, cold So I let Apata Group Ltd’s David Freeman throw Wednesday heralding winter’s arrival. me in a packing lane to see how hard the job is.

So yes, it’s not the easiest of jobs like you may Here’s the verdict. think. But it’s a job that needs doing. And by turning First, I had to wash my hands, don a hairnet, put up for a short, sharp three-or-so months, you can on an apron – and then wait nervously as the operaleave with a wad of cash saved, new friendships, and tion changed to packing another grower’s fruit. some neat memories. Check out 81-year-old Darcy I was put on lane nine with a supervisor showing Retter’s story on p10.

Merle Foster me the ropes for a few boxes, then let me take over.

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Page 3

Turning around a labour shortage In the space of two weeks, kiwifruit postharvest operator Apata went from being 90 employees short to having every vacant position in their system filled after more than 200 applications came flooding in.

via this avenue. “It was a 50/50 mix of Kiwis and backpackers applying, and we understand some of this related to the completion of the apple harvest in the Hawke’s Bay. “Unfortunately, the timing of apple harvest does not perfectly complement that of SunGold; so we’ve kind of missed the boat if we have an influx of staff in late-May.” Stuart says if we want to support our kiwifruit industry’s growth aspirations, we’ll need strategy and structure that makes the labour equation far more certain than it currently is.

“The scale of Zespri’s growth aspirations is equivalent to another Te Puke and Katikati of producing orchards, much of which will be processed in the BOP. “This represents considerable investment in land development, and infrastructure support, but only makes sense if we’re confident we can find the staff to support the expanded model going forward.”

Stuart says it’s also important to distinguish between full-time and Australian Simone Breguet and Betty Serandour from France pack seasonal employment. “Our industry needs so many more feet on the kiwifruit in the Apata packhouse. Photo: Merle Foster. ground to cater for this short period; On May 7, the Ministry of Social Development however as our industry grows, more full-time job declared a labour shortage in the Bay of Plenty kiwiopportunities are created.” fruit industry, citing an additional 1200 people were RSEs and local labour needed to pick and pack an extra 20 million trays in Apata has Recognised Seasonal Employer workers in the region this season. their harvest and packing operations and upping the Apata Group managing director Stuart Weston number will definitely help solve this short window says last year the industry packed 123 million trays of peaked activity. of kiwifruit; this year it will be closer to 149 mil“With local labour supply relatively finite, and the lion trays “which has highlighted the labour supply availability of working backpackers over a critical constraint”. period inherently uncertain, the final component of “Particularly the key focal point is the last week RS workers gives industry some certainty and confiof April and first two weeks of May the peak of dence to continue investing and growing.”

SunGold harvest. SunGold has a narrow window for Apata also continues to work creatively to capture as optimal quality – but thanks to fair weather during many local staff as possible; their reach extends out to that time, and superb fruit quality, we’ve done really Kawerau, Murupara, Whakatane, Rotorua, Tokoroa, well this year. with other regions also being investigated.

“This is thanks in large part to the heroic efforts of “We put on vans to extend our local reach, and amazing folk who’ve put their shoulder to the wheel.” collaborate with many out-of-town industries with Pinch-point complementary seasonal work profiles, such as vitiBut Stuart says with further hectares of SunGold culture and apples.” coming into production during the next few years, Apata advertised vacancies via prominent backpack“this will be the pinch-point for us all”. ers’ websites, print media on the ‘fruit trail’, and “Once we’ve tucked away the SunGold, it’s a down- other innovative messaging. “Nothing hit the spot hill run for the Hayward variety. like appearing on 6 o’clock news...maybe we could “The response following the media coverage was have a repeat booking at the start of each April?” heart-warming, with our vacancies filled and us then NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated chief execureferring on the surplus to other packhouses and tive Nikki Johnston says not all kiwifruit employers picking contractors – we had 200 job applications have been as lucky as Apata in attracting staff. And that fortnight, compared to 80 applicants in the it seems picking staff are harder to find. “It’s become previous three weeks.” Stuart says while the shortage more complicated since the declaration because declaration was very much appreciated and allowed beforehand we’d had really good weather. Since then holidaymakers in NZ to apply for working visas to we’ve had rain and the picking is very on and off. work in the harvest, very few, if any, workers came “Pickers can only pick in good weather – and they

only get paid when they pick. So backpackers may move on if they’re not prepared to wait around for fine days.”

Nikki says the outcome will be a longer harvest. “And with temperatures dropping the fruit will ripen faster and put more pressure on.”

She says NZKGI will soon release a report, which is a 10-year analysis of the industry’s seasonal labour demand.

“This will estimate the number of people we’ll need going forward. This will start the conversation around where are we going to get them from.

A range of options will be looked at.

“These include attracting backpackers,

NZers, upping RS numbers. We’ll need to pool these together and look at demand – and figure out what our shortfall is and talk to government about how we address that.”

Nikki also wants to break the perception that those on a benefit will be slapped with a stand-down period once harvest work finishes. “This is not the case. In most cases, WINZ have advised us there will be no standdown once work ends.”

And pay-rates have increased, says Nikki. “As an industry average, picking is now paying $21 per hour.”

Merle Foster

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Page 4

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Jeanette’s 65 years behind the barrel “Look at the light touching the land, isn’t it beautiful? Why would you want to be anywhere else?”

Jeanette Nee shows her love of the outdoors as she pulls up the handbrake on her little Toyota RAV4 for me to capture one last photograph of her Ohauiti farm with the sun setting on the horizon.

The 75-year-old Canadian – who

has made Ohauiti home for the last 50 years – usually hunts alone.

Born and raised on ancouver Island, Canada, she grew up hunting with her father Harry Campbell and three siblings – she’s never put down the gun since.

“Dad introduced us kids to rifles at age 10 for safety because we were on a grain farm, and to kill pests.”

Today she hunts “anything you can put on the table” – duck, pheasant,

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rabbits, hares, deer, pigs – on her farm and around the Western Bay of Plenty, enjoying the outdoors that hunting game affords.

“We got DNA-tested and apparently I’m 20 per cent iking and five per cent Native American Indian,” roars Jeanette with laughter.

“My daughter Janelle said: ‘No wonder why you want to hunt Mum and always put game on the table’.”

Jeanette’s family moved to NZ in 1962.

“We came over on the Canberra. My parents thought there was going to be a nuclear disaster and worked out NZ was the safest place from the fallout.”

Jeanette Nee now leaves her hunting companion, pet She was 21. “We started off in Parakai rough collie Charlie, at home. Photo: Jeanette Nee. then all had to get work; that was when They married in 1968 and moved to Graeme’s NZ had no employment.”

Her first paid job was a laboratory technician at the family farm up Ohauiti Rd. Graeme was dairy farming while Jeanette was nursing and they had Horitiu freezing works “which was very interesting”. daughter Janelle, who runs the farm with her partner.

When she took up nursing, nurses were advised to Jeanette and Graeme are retired so to speak – but learn skills for self-defence – she met future husband Functional Fertiliser Functional Fertiliser Graeme Nee at judo in 1965.

“I was the only women really they never sit still. Graeme does tractor work nutrient who couldsupplies throwsupplies him sofull he decided I was an interest- on the farm to help out, or is bagpiping, while full nutrient Jeanette spends her time hunting or photographing Functional Fertiliser ing piece ofpackages work,” chuckles Jeanette. based on on packages based wildlife and the outdoors. supplies full nutrient Functional® Fertiliser ® “I use all the meat – for dog food, cat food, and the packages based on supplies full nutrient good stuff goes on the table.” Plus, mounted on her ® packages based on lounge walls is her most special catches – including 0800 843 809

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a Red stag she shot in the roar of April 2007. “It’s doesn’t have an amazing Douglas score but it was a special time for me.”

Her cat Cheeta is more than 7kg and only eats rabbit. Her rough collie Charlie was her hunting companion but has been retired due to back injuries and old age.

So what’s the knack of duck shooting? “There’s no perfect conditions,” laughs Jeanette, who owns a custom-designed 20 gauge shotgun. ...continued

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 5

Loving farm life and hunting at Ohauiti continued...

of killing – you’re hunting as “It’s not just about these part of a balanced life cycle. If fancy gadgets, like your duck there’s four rabbits you only caller, it’s about understandget one for tea that night.” ing where they are, understanding “It’s living off the land, pest the weather – and the need to control – we don’t use not make any noise and be still poisons here – and because they’ve got awesome conservation.” eyesight these ducks.”

Jeannette says Jeanette keeps a small Graeme is much diary, writing places better behind a shotgun than her, she spots ducks, rabbut it’s not his cup of tea. Daughbits and the like – so ter Janelle is too busy running she knows where to the 120-cow farm and workhunt next and at what ing full-time as Tauranga time. Her secret weapon Vets’ practice manager. is her dive shoes. “They Photo: Jeanette Nee. Occasionally she takes on don’t make any noise. And veil a hunting partner, usually a young camo is a good idea as well as learning person to mentor. “Just to boost their to be very still on occasion.” confidence and face the challenge of Jeanette says duck hunting is a culhunting appropriately. Not hunting as ture. “It revolves around a game plan – you’re getting exercise, you’re part of a sport but be involved in it so you’re looking after everything and everyunderstanding the balance of nature.

“You’re not out there for the moment where you hunt.”

She also hunts to provide food for an annual game dinner with neighbours and the rural community up Ohauiti Rd and Rowe roads.

“They put a pig on the spit, Graham plays the bagpipes; we have a few beers down by the stream. It’s a beautiful setting.” Jeanette’s bagging ducks for it now.

Jeanette’s other love is capturing wildlife and the outdoors on film. Ten years ago she took up photography and joined Tauranga Photographic Society.

She’s been mentored by five-time BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year award-winner Kim Westerskov of Tauranga and artist Colleen Manning.

“Once-a-month on Tuesdays we meet for a show and tell.”

Now she carries a decent camera in her vehicle – covered in camouflage – to snap ducks, rabbits etc mid-air. “I’ve combined it with my hunting.”

Currently she’s trying creative photography “but I’d rather have a bird fly in front of me”. So it’s a battle between gun and camera.

Jeanette is 76 this December. Will she give up hunting soon? “No – it’s all part of the ageing process. If you’ve got something to do it keeps you healthy, fit mentally, and physically.”

“Hunting gives me fresh air, exercise, a mission – you don’t have to shoot anything it’s just getting out there, knowing where they are, and enjoying being on the land.

“When you’re out in the fresh air it’s like a nectar – you feel recharged.”

Merle Foster

Jeanette Nee and the red stag she shot in the roar of 2007.

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Meet the Lettuce Man of Waipa Waipa landowner Ian Kerr has several enterprises on his 22ha block near Lake Karapiro, but the pure, well balanced water found on the property proved to be the perfect mix for growing hydroponic plants.

A 40m by 20m, double-tunnel, commercial greenhouse is home to a thriving hydroponic plant business. At any one time Ian has 10,000 units growing, with a maximum capacity of 15,000 units. The seasons dictate what is grown, so the produce varies through the year.

“They’re all grown without the use of pesticide and fungicide spray,” says Ian. “We aren’t certified organic but it is definitely a big plus. I use companion planting where it helps, and sparrows and spiders provide good pest control. I’m a great believer in using the natural order of things as much as possible.”

Hydroponic system in action.

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Scrupulous cleanliness is crucial, with the gullies being water blasted between crops, and the flooring of weed mat covered with crusher dust changed every couple of years to prevent soil-borne bacteria and fungi establishing.

The system is fairly automated once set up. Heat control in the greenhouse is important as when the temperature rises above 18 degrees Celsius the plants are in danger of wilting.

The greenhouse sides are rolled up and they run fans.

When the temperature drops below 18 degrees Celsius, it is a little more complex.

“Under 18 degrees Celsius slows growth,” says Ian. “We have heaters that automatically kick in to warm the nutrient. As long as the plants have warm feet they keep growing, even if the air temperature is colder.”

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Ian Kerr standing among the hydroponic units.

Photo: Catherine Fry.

adjusting the levels of the each nutrient as required. Alarms go off if there are problems and the computer also generates reports.

The greenhouse has three possible zones, meaning that three different nutrient mixes can be controlled and monitored at any one time.

“Water use is extremely efficient,” says Ian. “Old water is recycled, tested by the computer and topped up with nutrient as required. We replace the water completely each month.”

Despite sounding complex, Ian only spends around 20 hours a week tending to the plants, and that includes time at the farmer’s markets selling the produce as the Lettuce Man. Ian is one of the founder members of the Hamilton and Cambridge Farmer’s Markets.

He puts the success with this business down to a few factors.

“A daily walk-through – as you can’t beat a visual on the plants – our amazing water, lots of luck, and playing them good music 24/7.” Catherine Fry

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Phased eradication chosen for M. Bovis “We have already begun improvements to make it easier to use.

“I’ve also asked MPI to revisit the compensation process and they’ve developed a new streamlined approach for those whose animals are culled to enable a substantial payment within a matter of days.

Government and farming sector leaders have agreed to attempt to eradicate cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis from New Zealand to protect the national herd and long-term productivity of the farming sector.

The move is set to cost a projected $886 million over 10 years and result in an estimated 150,000 cattle being culled. Government will meet 68 per cent of the cost while DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb NZ meet 32 per cent.

Of the $886 million, an estimated $16 million will be loss of production and borne by farmers; and $870 million is the cost of the response, including compensation to farmers.

MPI expects to do most eradication work in one-two years – and is promising swifter compensation payments.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor say NZ has one shot at eradicating a disease that causes painful, untreatable illness in cattle.

Collective decision

The decision was taken collectively by Government and farming sector bodies after months of intense modelling and analysis to understand the likely impacts of the disease, the potential spread and the costs and benefits of eradication versus other actions.

The Prime Minister says the decision to eradicate, made on May 28, is driven by her Government’s desire to protect the national herd from the disease and protect the base of NZ’s economy – the farming sector.

“We’ve worked hard to get the information to make this call and I know the past 10 months have been hugely uncertain for our beef and dairy farmers.

“Speaking with affected farmers in recent weeks it is obvious this has taken a toll, but standing back and allowing the disease to spread would simply create more anxiety for all farmers.

“This is a tough call – no-one ever wants to see mass culls. But the alternative is to risk the spread of the disease across our national herd. We have a real chance of eradication to protect our more than 20,000 dairy and beef farms, but only if we act now.

Provide some certainty

The Prime Minister says the decision will provide some certainty, but will also be terribly painful for farmers directly affected. “Both government and our industry partners want those farmers to know support is there for them.”

All decision-makers acknowledge that eradication of Mycoplasma bovis – which is possible because it is not widespread, infected properties are all connected through animal movements and there is just one strain of the disease detected – will be challenging and require collaboration.

Damien says it’s important all farmers show a collective responsibility for the sake of the wider sector and get onboard with the eradication operation.

“We all agree while there remains a chance to rid of this disease, we should take it. It’s the only chance we’ll get.

“It won’t work without farmer support.

In particular farmers need to be meticulous with animal movement records and the way they use NAIT.

Eradication will involve

• Culling all cattle on all infected properties along with cattle on most restricted properties.

• All infected farms found in future will also be depopulated.

• Following depopulation, farms are disinfected and will lie fallow for 60 days then can be restocked.

• Intensive active surveillance, including testing and tracing, will

continue to detect infected herds.

There will be some flexibility for farmers in the timing of culling to offset production losses.

• An improved compensation claim process.

If you have cattle you suspect may have Mycoplasma bovis, contact your vet or MPI on 0800 80 99 66. It’s important we find every last case and deal with it.

iffic

ise se

Damien admits Mycoplasma bovis is a difficult disease to diagnose and to control.

“For this reason, it is possible at some stage we may have to let the fight go and learn to manage it in our herds.

“We have a set of reassessment measures that, if met, would prompt us to re-evaluate the plan.

These include finding the disease is more widespread than our surveillance and modelling anticipates or

a property is found that pre-dates the earliest known infection of December 2015.

“Spring testing this year will give us

the opportunity to reassess the feasibility of eradication when results are in come February, as Mycoplasma bovis is at its most detectable after calving.”

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

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Responsible dairy winners want to leave a legacy The inaugural winners of a new award in the national Dairy Industry Award competition aim to take a view to the future into consideration when making all of their dairying decisions.

The Browns have proven results in leading and managing their teams, with three Share Farmer of the Year finalists from the past two years coming from their farm.

Edward ‘Wynn’ and Tracy Brown were awarded the first ever New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Fonterra Farm Source Responsible Dairying Award at the national final in Invercargill last month.

The couple own a 320ha 700-cow farm near Matamata, with a further 30ha leased from their neighbour. Their property bears the name ‘Tiroroa’, which means ‘extensive view’ or ‘view to the future’.

“Our aim is to run an economically and environmentally sustainable dairy farming business maximising production while minimising footprint,” say the couple. “We like to take the meaning of Tiroroa into consideration with all our decision-making.”

The Fonterra Farm Source Responsible Dairying Award recognises dairy farmers who are demonstrating leadership in their approach to dairying, have proven results and are respected by their farming peers and their community. They are future-focused while also being proactive with addressing the opportunities and challenges of today.

Make dairying ‘sexy’

Sustainability leaders

The farmer could come from any of New Zealand’s milk suppliers to be eligible for the award.

Wynn and Tracy are considered leaders within the dairy industry, in all areas of sustainability, business and farm management, as well as in the way they give back to the industry and community.

NZDIA executive chair Rachel Baker says the Browns encompass all of the criteria through their vision, guiding principles and actions.

“Responsible Dairying is a way of conducting a farm business where actions and results demonstrate responsibility and sustainability.

“The management and performance of people, farming system, finances, animal care and ecosystem are all important pillars of Responsible Dairying – and Wynn and Tracey demonstrate these through their actions on a daily basis,” says Rachel. ight he row fa i y o their far . e ow he o p e r ows o ha.

Edward ‘Wynn’ and Tracy Brown were awarded the first e er airy d stry wards’ o terra ar So r e espo si e airyi g ward.

“We lead by example,” says the couple. “We are passionate about industry and are involved with lots of different aspects of it and encourage our staff to do the same.

“We usually employ people for two or three seasons and help them progress to the next position,” say the couple.

“We need to make dairying ‘sexy’ and attractive as an industry, and attract good, smart people. Avoiding burn-out and ensuring staff are well-connected and supported will aid retention of good people within the dairy industry.”

The couple aim to enhance, contribute, add value and give back to their community and are involved in various ways, with Wynn the deputy chair for the Piako Catchment Farmer Engagement Group and a LIC Shareholders councillor while Tracy is chair of the DairyNZ Dairy nvironment Leaders Forum, a trustee of Dairy Women’s Network, a farmer rep for the Dairy Environment Leadership Group and a member of the Dairy Industry Strategy ‘Dairy Tomorrow’ Working Group.

The couple believe they are only caretakers of the land for future generations and want to leave it in better condition than when they took it on. “We want to leave a legacy,” they say.

“Sustainable farming is about ‘walking the walk’ not just ‘talking the talk’, it’s about what you do when no-one is looking,’ say the Browns.

“It’s also about not just living for the here and now, but about thinking for the future and those that will come after you.”

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 10

Darcy returns to Apata at 81 Not every 81-year-old puts down the remote, gets off the couch and travels 21km out of town to go and help the kiwifruit’s largest post-harvest operation in a labour crisis.

But this is exactly what Tauranga man Darcy Retter did when he saw his old boss, Apata’s managing director Stuart Weston, on the telly crying out for workers for the kiwifruit harvest season.

When the Ministry of Social Development declared a seasonal labour shortage for Bay of Plenty kiwifruit industry on May 7, Stuart appeared on television news saying if he had another 70 people turn up for work that day he’d have employed them.

“I’d heard Stuart Weston on the TV and radio; that they were desperately short of staff,” says Darcy.

“I’d finished work there about five years ago, after doing 14 seasons with Apata.

“So I thought: ‘Oh well, I’m doing nothing sitting at home so I may just as well come back’.

“So I came out and got an application form – and here I am,” says retired youth social worker of 33.5 years.

But why? “Well, I have got a lower back problem – and if I don’t keep active I put up with a lot of back pain. So while I’m active, I’m good – so I’ve come to work.”

He used to be stacking “but now I’m on packing – and the back is holding up fine”.

Darcy says he’s always felt like part of the Apata team in his years there, so was keen to come back to familiar faces. “I enjoy the company,” says Darcy, who sits at picnic table with young Polynesian workers – at least half his age – talking and laughing loudly over their smoko break.

“And I’ve got one gentleman working alongside me – he travels from Hamilton every day. That’s 1.25hour drive each way.”

Darcy Retter, 81, enjoying smoko at Apata with the young ones.

Photo: Merle Foster.

“I live in Tauranga – it’s only 21km here and 21km home.”

Apata Group Ltd’s brand and procurement manager David Freeman says by coming back to help out, Darcy is Apata’s local celebrity at the moment.

“He’s a lovely fella and he’s just wanted to do his bit.”

David says Darcy is one of many in the BOP community supporting Apata by coming out of the woodwork to help with this year’s harvest.

“Another man called Thomas; I hadn’t seen him in a few years. The day after Stuart was on telly, he turned up and said: ‘Hey, I’m here to work”. I said: ‘Great, park your car there and go talk to the girls in HR’.”

“He walked in, 10 minutes later I saw him walking down towards the packhouse and he’s been here ever since.

“It was just really neat to see the local community coming to support us.”

Merle Foster

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KIWIFRUIT

First-of-a-kind solar set-up to power orchard off-grid Robert Thode measures every aspect of his Te Puke orchard operation with a ‘sustainability ruler’.

Now the kiwifruit grower has installed the first hybrid commercial three-phase solar power system in the country onto a 24m by 12m shed on his property.

In time he hopes to be totally selfsufficient by using his solar system as his main source of power for running his orchard – and ‘mains power’ will

become his back-up.

“My aim – and what I imagine a lot of farmers in New Zealand will be doing soon – is to move to this kind of system and use it as my first source of power.

“My intention is to draw very little off the grid. That may be bad news from the power companies’ point-ofview but it is good for NZ.” Very passionate about sustainability, Rob hopes by sharing his story fellow orchardists, farmers and other rural businesses will consider moving to solar power in the near future.

Dobsons Refrigeration sales and service engineer Stuart Walker and Rob Thode with the solar panels on the shed behind. Photos: Merle Foster.

Rob purchased his 10ha in 2006. Today he has 4.3ha of orchard but is increasing this to 8ha. “I grow just over 3ha Hayward green and 1.3ha of kiwiberry.”

“Out of Psa-V one of the lessons for me is to try and be as self-sufficient as possible.”

Three-phase inverter

“Things like frost protection for a kiwifruit orchard are very important – this means you need a back-up power source.”

Dobsons Refrigeration & Electrical Ltd in Te Puke installed his solar set-up. Refrigeration sales and service engineer Stuart Walker says Rob has – after a lengthy certification process – 15kW of power generation.

“The theory behind solar energy is you start with a stage and build a battery storage system as you would with a hydro power station backed up by lake storage.

“Being three-phase commercial means it runs threephase motors with a true three-phase inverter, which balances efficiencies. Other set-ups run three-phase gear with three single-phase installations.”

Rob says going three-phase “basically halved the cost of putting in what I needed”.

“If I was trying to do what I’m doing with singlephase solar – it would have cost twice as much and wouldn’t have been as utilisable.”

Stuart says solar panels are fixed on Rob’s shed roof to collect as much sun for most of the day as possible.

“It’s all about building your racking system at the

panel configuration for maximum harvest.”

Stuart’s also installed a high-voltage battery system – about 600 volts but in DC. “With this you can bank up energy from the solar panels to use whenever.

“Plus, the equipment’s operation life is 10-plus years – if maintained it should last longer.”

Health and safety

Stuart says the “system’s brains’ monitors everything “and it goes online so you can monitor your system; if there is an issue you can check what it is wrong”.

Rob also happily went the extra mile in terms of health and safety. “We’ve situated the inverter and battery system inside a wire mesh cage in the shed.”

Rob s ays Dobson’s has done all of his electrical work for years. “For me it was a natural partnership.

Being in Te Puke they have an orientation toward the farming community. They understand where we are at from the beginning, which makes an enormous difference.”

“Dobson’s immediately understood exactly what I was on about and knew exactly what I needed.”

“This is brand new,” says Stuart. “But this is where we want to go. The domestic market is there but we’re more set up for commercial applications.”

Rob believes we’re on the edge of a commercial solar power revolution in rural NZ. “I don’t think there’s going to be a farm in five years’ time that doesn’t have significant solar. We’re ...continued

My Name is Neil Woodward.

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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.

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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.

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KIWIFRUIT

Page 13

Horticulture conference this July Registrations for the Horticulture Conference 2018 are now open. The theme of the conference, on from July 23-25 at the Airforce Museum in Christchurch, is ‘Our Food Story’.

Hort NZ C O Mike Chapman says the horticulture story underpins “everything we as an industry do”. “We need to tell urban NZ, politicians, and other decision-makers about our story. And horticulture has a fantastic story to tell.” This year’s three-day

conference will host fieldtrips, product group AGMs, and a variety of talks on topics from sustainable soil nutrient management to the post-pesticide age, to production issues, robots, people; and distribution and markets.

The conference is a partnership between Horticulture NZ, NZ Apples and Pears, egetables NZ Inc, Tomatoes NZ Inc and Process egetables NZ. Full details are at: http://www.confer.nz/hortnz2018/

Kiwifruit grower Rob Thode is very passionate about sustainability on his orchard. continued...

already using solar panels on gates, pumps, roadworks signals, on a small-scale.

“A milking shed can use at least $1200-$2000 of power monthly – imagine the effect this could have on dairy.”

Greater sustainability

Rob’s orchard has multiple water pumps for irrigation in summer and frost protection in winter.

“Usually frost hits 12am or 1am and lasts until 8am. When the temperature drops pumps turn on and pulse; we don’t use huge amount of water to beat frosts. Here in the BOP I do a light irrigation only when needed.” He has many online systems using

Dobsons Refrigeration sales and service engineer Stuart Walker has been Rob’s orchard electrician for a long time.

Rob Thode’s three-phase commercial solar set-up has a true three-phase inverter to a a e e ergy effi ie ies. power, which run 24/7. His harvest system, set up

by Dobsons, monitors weather continuously online.

Hence, Rob says his three-phase solar system is very significant. “ very farmer in NZ could produce all of the power it needs to run different things.

“The ability for this set-up to provide greater sustainability on-farm is huge.”

But Rob says everything on-orchard needs to be justifiable economically. “There’s a lot of development happening on the sustainability front – I’m hoping the Government will make changes to the bureaucracy so we can move through it quicker.”

He says the certification process has to get easier, to encourage farmers to take up solar.

“We need performance requirements on the public sector to deliver efficiently what we need.”

For Rob solar power is just the start. “We want to tie in wind generation eventually.”

Merle Foster

Page 14

SHEEP & BEEF

Drench capsule brings peace of mind with innovation A leading treatment for worm protection in sheep has its roots firmly based in New Zealand, with a history of development, trials, production and support all built with the Kiwi farmer firmly in mind.

It’s 12 years since the Bionic capsule was launched on the NZ market, and its place as the “go to” solution to optimising ewe health appears as healthy as the sheep industry itself.

As lamb prices surge past $7 per kg and ewe values surge to $180 per head, farmers are increasingly seeking quality solutions to help optimise those

per-head values through improved productivity per animal.

Bionic has helped contribute to that productivity growth by enabling ewes to maintain body condition score post-lambing, delivering heavier lambs thanks to better milk production, and lower worm loadings on spring pasture.

But success has been no overnight arrival. Today’s design incorporates almost 30 years of trials and experimentation to develop one of the most challenging devices, a controlled release, twin-active capsule, capable of delivering effective worm control for 100 days.

Twin worm control

The greatest challenge was developing a capsule to accommodate twin worm control actives.

Now Bionic contains Abamectin and Albendazole in tablet form to deliver a constant level of lethal compound exposure for 100 days, providing a better kill-rate for worms compared to a single shot treatment.

Delivering an exacting amount of the combination over a set period required a highly precise delivery mechanism, something Boehringer Ingelheim achieved by partnering up with quality pharmaceutical company Argenta.

The partnership has proven invaluable in helping automate and scale up Bionic production.

Despite a 35 per cent decline in sheep numbers since Bionic was launched, demand has grown strongly as more farmers see the

Bionic worm control technology helps counter the slackening of a ewe’s immune system that occurs prior to lambing. value of a long acting, twin-active worm control.

Boehringer Ingelheim technical veterinarian Richard Sides says Bionic worm control technology helps counter the slackening of a ewe’s immune system that occurs prior to lambing.

“Parasites become more invasive, stifling milk production and appetite, and causing a loss of body condition. As well, increased parasite egg production spreads high numbers of larvae, which in turn increases later infection of lambs and impacts on growth rates.

“Bionic controls this whole process, allowing farmers to concentrate on the optimum feeding of their sheep.” Recent trial work in ewes (not selected for condition-score) has shown Bionic treated ewes

are 3.2kg heavier on average at weaning, and give an average 3.1kg more lamb liveweight weaned per treated ewe.

Health maintenance

The addition of cobalt maximises vitamin B12 produced by the ewe, and is fed to the lamb via her milk.

The selenium dose in the capsule is sufficient to last for up to 250 days.

Combined with slow release twin drench actives, Bionic delivers an “on-board” health maintenance combination to hard working ewes at the most stressful time of year.

“Bionic comes with a history of development and innovation, with NZ farmers’ needs firmly in mind, backed with sound science and the support of livestock veterinarians,” says Richard.

SHEEP & BEEF

Page 15

Herefords in the Waikato The original Stoney Creek and Matapouri bloodline females. Photos: Catherine Fry. The yards have been upgraded to accommodate the larger Herefords. A new Combi Clamp crush and electronic weighing system have been installed, and the yard races widened. Kevin, Andrea and their two children, Jack and Ellie, all get involved in regular musters, for weighing, vet treatments and drenching.

Close friend and experienced farmer, Ric Manning, also assists with stock management and farm jobs when Kevin is away on business. “Regular weighing is important to monitor growth progress,” says Kevin.

“Plus regular handling assists with keeping these large animals quiet.”

Kevin’s goal is to expand the herd and increase the Catherine Fry bloodline quality.

Kevin Deane.

During the working day, Kevin Deane is best known as a rural sales consultant, auctioneer, and co-owner with his wife Andrea of the Harcourts franchises in Cambridge, Matamata and Morrinsville.

But after hours, Kevin is most likely to be found going back to his farming roots and tending to his beloved Hereford herd.

Kevin started his own stud, Dunmanway Stud, with purebred pedigree breeding females which were in calf, from Stoney Creek and Matapouri bloodlines.

“The name Dunmanway is after the town in County Cork, South West Ireland, where my grandfather emigrated from in 1925,” says Kevin.

The herd is 18 breeding females, 16 rising one-year-olds – of eight heifers and eight bulls – and Kevin’s pride and joy, a huge bull called Hukaroa Nepia, from the Hukaroa Stud.

“His paddock name is George, after the rugby player George Nepia,” says Kevin. “He weighs in at around 800kg, but he’s pretty quiet.”

The herd is run between Kevin’s own 8ha block in Eureka, Waikato, and an 8ha lease peat block nearby. It’s hoped all breeding females are now in-calf to the mighty George, and due in July.

Next season, a yearling bull will be brought in to service George’s daughters from this season.

The rising one-year-old bulls are being prepared to be sire bulls. They have human contact daily and are used to being around people, farm vehicles and farm activity, so are paddock-quiet when they sold. The rising one-yearold heifers will be kept as breeding stock for extension of the herd.

Kevin feeds his stock a grass-based diet, with hay grown on-farm when required, and no meal. “I believe in keeping it simple.”

The herd is rotationally grazed, using a fresh break of pasture daily. With the assistance of a farm practice consultant and Soil Fertility Services, Kevin has invested in the land. Regular fertilising and undersowing has produced more grass per hectare.

“We grow perennial Rohan grass on the home block,” says Kevin. “While on the peat block we grow annual Shogun grass, and plant maize in rotation.”

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Page 16

AVOCADOS

Event to equip growers with expert information Bay of Plenty avocado growers will head into the upcoming season armed with a technical knowledge toolkit from some of the world’s leading experts speaking at Avoco’s conference later this month.

Avoco’s flagship event at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre in Auckland on June 23 will see hundreds of growers benefit from the research while also celebrating growing excellence within the company.

Avoco’s marketing team will also outline their export plan for 2018-2019 – forecast to be approximately 2.3

million trays – part of the estimated Key speakers include avocado industry national avocado export crop of leaders from Canada, Australia and New 3.5 million trays.

Zealand. Professor Andrew Robson The full-day programme from Australia will share novel new concludes with dinner, entertechnologies for yield forecasting, tainment and the presentation mapping and improving avocado of the Avoco Grower Awards. production.

These are awards of excellence Dr John Bower, a horticultural crop and public recognition for quality consultant, based in British growers who operate at the top Columbia, Canada will highlight pre of their game. and post-harvest factors Southern Dr Jacqueline Avoco director John Carroll says American producers use to Rowarth. the conference is a key event on the maximise fruit quality.

Avoco calendar to equip growers with Other guest technical expert information and research heading into a speakers include New new season as well as celebrate with their peers an Zealand’s Dr Jacindustry that’s going from strength to strength. queline Rowarth, “Heading into a new year, it is vital our growwho is an advocate ers are armed with leading technical insights, so for science with an they can make sound management decisions,” agri-environment says John. focus; and Simon “Our top growers put in a lot of hard work Newett, from and careful planning in their orchards, so it’s also Australia, who will Professor Andrew important to recognise that and congratulate them provide an overview Robson. for their outstanding efforts.” of avocado nutrition and fertilising practices. Dr Elizabeth Dann, from the University of Queensland, will also discuss phytophthora management thanks to her research around fruit disease management.

Avoco, a collaborative partnership between Bay of Plenty-based Southern Produce and Auckland-based Primor Produce, has enjoyed enormous success since its inception. Last season was a low-volume year nationally, with Avoco exporting 1.3 million of the 2.2 million trays shipped offshore.

Avoco managed a balanced market mix, sending 80 per cent of volumes to Australia and 20 per cent to the rest of the world under the Avanza brand.

Avoco director Alistair Young says Avanza’s profile continues to rise in Asia, lead by Korea becoming the most important market for New Zealand by volume and value outside of Australia.

“Our market profile in Asia is growing all the time, indicating that Avanza continues to hold its position as one of the preferred suppliers to customers actively sourcing NZ-grown fruit.

“We also achieved access to China, which has opened the door to millions of potential new consumers.”

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Page 17

Bay business is branching out to avocado orchards While Southern Orchards Limited primarily deals with kiwifruit orchards they’ve been actively building their avocado portfolio.

Southern Orchards Ltd team members Kate Davidson and Craig MacDonald.

“We are very confident that there is a good economic future in avocados. We are always seeking new clients who have some land available that would be suitable for growing avocados, essentially ‘Bringing Land to Life’ following our company motto,” says Southern Orchards Limited business manager Hayley Larman.

The company, with its headquarters at Plummers Point, Tauranga, manage orchards all over the Bay of Plenty but is always keen to look at possible orchards further afield.

“We’re looking for land anywhere from half a hectare upwards. Anywhere that is viable for growing avocados,” says Hayley.

Once a prospective client contacts Southern Orchards Ltd, a technical expert visits the landowner to assess whether the land is suitable for avocados, taking into consideration factors such as soil type, contour, temperature and altitude. If found suitable there are several options open to the grower.

“Southern Orchards Ltd do the whole job from planning, preparation, planting and maintenance to harvesting and packing along-side our marketers for premium returns,” says Hayley.

“Most clients prefer a hands-on approach and we can offer them technical advice to get the best result.

We’d love to talk to anybody who thinks they may have suitable land or anyone with an existing orchard that just needs a hand with management.”

Avocado trees should set their first crop after two years, during which time they need careful management.

Southern Orchard Ltd offers a range of lease and management contracts on kiwifruit and avocado orchards throughout New Zealand.

“Our focus is to maximise the return and wealth of land through sustainable horticultural activities.

“Southern Orchards Ltd has the expertise – and a team that will go the extra mile.”

Helen Wilson

Southern Orchards are on the hunt for land owners keen to reap the rewards by developing their land into Avocado orchards. For existing Avocado orchards, 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

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Call us today to start growing your future.

Avocado root growth with(left) and without (right) MycoGro Hort® Treatment

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Page 18

AVOCADOS

Former Zespri CEO joins DMS Board as director Tauranga-based DMS, the leading kiwifruit and avocado orchard management and postharvest opera-tor, has announced the appointment of former Zespri International CEO Lain Jager as board director.

Lain was previously CEO for Zespri International, a $2.3 billion kiwifruit marketing and innovation com-pany exporting 450,000 tonnes of fruit annually to 53 markets from five supply locations.

During his nine-year term as Zespri CEO, Lain won international recognition as a proven leader in marketing

and innovation management, international business relations, supply chain logistics and human resources.

“I am incredibly excited to be joining the board of DMS,” says Lain. “DMS has an outstanding track rec-ord of prudent financial management, operational excellence and an unrelenting focus on maximising returns for its growers.”

Since leaving Zespri in December 2017 Lain has been involved in several investment projects across the agribusiness and tourism sectors in addition to working with a number of businesses in governance or strategic advisory roles.

“In choosing to join the DMS Board I was mindful of DMS’s long-term support of Zespri and the ki-wifruit industry’s Single Point of Entry structure as well as its strong support of SunGold.”

DMS joint managing director, Craig Greenlees says he’s thrilled to have Lain join the board as director at an important time in his company’s history.

“Lain’s proven track record and industry experience means DMS will continue to be in a position to drive innovation throughout our industry and maximise returns for our growers and investors.”

Based in Tauranga, DMS is a leading kiwifruit and avocado orchard management and postharvest op-erator.

Established in 1989 by Craig Greenlees and Paul Jones, DMS manages more than 100 orchards and has more than 100 full-time staff, employing another 1000-plus seasonal contractors and workers in Te Pu-na and Te Puke. DMS is also a member of the G4 Kiwifruit Group, which provides 32 per cent of Zespri's Class One crop.

or er espri ter atio a ai Jager is oi i g S as oard dire tor.

Record season for avocado packer and exporter Just Avocados has delivered a record return to suppliers for the 2017-2018 season, showing a 46 per cent increase on the previous season’s achievement.

At their May meeting with growers, the specialist avocado packer and exporter highlighted their fresh strategy, flexible model, and time-related incentive as drivers for the positive results.

“Just Avocados offers a time premium payment which rewards our suppliers for holding fruit from week 50 onwards, and while all returns were particularly strong, those who took advantage of the incentive received returns upwards of $40 per tray,” says Just Avocados’ general manager of operations and grower services, Jarrod Redwood.

He says suppliers have benefitted from the unique Just Avocados model, which caters for a range of growers with a range of needs.

“Our model delivers a range of returns based on what decisions growers make about when they want

J st o ados’ e i e har est optio s a d ti e re ated i e ti es a ow growers to a i ise ret r s whi e wor i g i with perso a a d si ess goa s. to pick and this is influenced by a variety of drivers for them including orchard health and revenue. We work with them to deliver the outcome that will maximise their returns and suit their personal and business goals.”

A change in marketing strategy for 2017-2018 meant a focus on specific markets and sales channels that targeted premium customers. Darling Group general manager of sales and marketing Jacob Darling, who represents Just Avocados’ fruit in export markets, says this strategy was a significant change from historic preprogrammed sales.

“We targeted Asia early in the NZ season and held back the majority of crop for a high paying postChristmas Australian market.”

Jacob says the company set goals for increasing business, volumes, and values into Asia and increasing market share in Australian retail.

“The retail share of our Australian programme has significantly increased from 18 per cent to 75 cent over two seasons. It’s something we’ve focused on and are going to continue to drive next season.”

AVOCADOS

Page 19

Selling directly to retailers gets growers a better return Having a strong presence throughout New Zealand, Freshmax is also a global marketing company with multiple hubs around the world.

At this time of the year avocados are their main focus and they also export kiwifruit, cherries, apples and pears.

“We’ve built up good relationships with both our growers and the retailers as we are talking to them every day because we deal in multiple types of fresh produce,” says Freshmax Avocado Programme Manager Jim Tarawa.

“We market directly to the retailer such as supermarkets, globally, so we know our product and there are no wholesalers involved, so growers get a better return,” says Jim. Freshmax export avocados and other fruit to Australia, United States and Asia. “We are experiencing strong demand for New Zealand avocados in the Asian markets as the fruit is grown in our sub-tropi-

Freshmax NZ actually export across the Tasman to their sister company Freshmax Australia, where avocados are then sold directly to the retailers.

Jim says the future for avocado growers looks positive because there is more demand than fruit and helped by a global marketing company, such as Freshmax, obtaining the best price

Freshmax avocado programme manager Jim Tarawa. cal climate, has a better flavour profile and we have a longer shipping window than other origins,” says Jim.

Fruit-loss from wind not ideal While 3.5 million trays nationally are forecast for the upcoming avocado harvest in August – up 1.3 million trays from the 2017 crop – some growers around the Katikati area might not have the amount of fruit they’d like in what will be a bigvolume year.

Overnight winds that whipped through the Western Bay of Plenty on April 12 saw some growers lose between 10 per cent and 30 per cent of their crop. But how much damage was incurred and by how many growers has been hard to put a number on.

Kauripak director Hugh Moore knows of orchards around the interface of Katikati township and Busby, Willoughby, and Woodland roads through to Lund Rd, which suffered damage and fruit-loss.

“Some growers are saying they’ve lost 30 per cent; some have only lost a little. Kauri Point-way seems to

have been spared mostly. “Certainly in some orchards that are exposed to wind there was a carpet of fruit underneath some of the trees.

Hugh says the only thing growers could do was mulch up with fruit underneath the trees – as it wouldn’t ripen.

“You’ll find in most orchards it is probably 10 per cent or less of fruitloss experienced, but then some individuals will have fared worse.

“But it is hard to calculate fruitloss sometimes, because you have to know exactly how much fruit was on the trees before you count what’s on the ground.

“And it always looks worse than what it is – but some people could quite easily lose up to 15 per cent of their crop in cases like this.”

Hugh says strong winds during Autumn is not uncommon. “We often got some in June-July but we’ve had them in April before.”

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possible for the grower.

“With the strong demand for avocados, which doesn’t look like slowing down, we are looking for more clients.

We are happy to talk to any grower who wants to take advantage of our global import/export company and see if we can increase their returns,” says Jim. Helen Wilson

Page 20

FORESTRY

New forestry service enters Manuka partnership Five days after launching, Forestry Minister Shane Jones announced the Government’s new forestry service – called Te Uru Rakau – will partner with Manuka Farming NZ to plant 1.8 million Manuka trees throughout the country this year.

On May 11 the Minister launched Te Uru Rakau, which he believes is the first step in re-establishing a forestry service in New Zealand.

“I believe Te Uru Rakau will play a key role in supporting and promoting our vision for a flourishing forestry sector, delivering sustainable jobs in our regions, forestry workforce development and training, economic growth while helping meet our country’s climate change targets.”

On May 16 he announced the Manuka partnership. “This Government has a target to get one billion trees in the ground over the next 10 years and doing that will require innovation and genuine partnerships with the private sector, local councils, iwi and non-government organisations.

“Te Uru Rakau will provide up to $1.8 million to Manuka Farming NZ to source seedlings, work with landowners to undertake site assessments to assess land suitability and provide an overall planting plan.

“Seedlings will then be provided free of charge to landowners who proceed with planting. Individual assessments to assess land suitability for establishing Manuka plantations will take place in May-June and planting will occur from July-September.

Products in demand

Shane says Manuka is a valued native forest species and plantations can help prevent erosion plus provide diversified income streams and environmentally sustainable land-use options for landowners.

“Products from Manuka, such as honey and oil, are in high and increasing demand both domestically and globally. The planting plan will take into account suitability of available land for production of Manuka honey, readiness for planting this winter, and availability of suitable Manuka cultivars.

“Manuka Farming NZ will purchase most of the seedlings from Kauri Park Nurseries and already has 100,000 seedlings available.

“Landowners will need to cover the costs of dispatching the seedlings from the nursery, pest and weed control, fencing if required, planting costs

and post-plant monitoring. “In order to ensure the best possible delivery of outcomes, the approach includes the funding of initial consultancy services to landowners via Manuka Farming NZ. “This will include confirmation of sites suitable for Manuka, ensuring effective pest control is in place, land preparation can be completed in time for planting, seedlings are matched to the available site and confirmation that labour for planting is available,” says Shane.

The launch of Te Uru Rakau in Rotorua last month revealed the service will have its head office in regional NZ – honouring the coalition commitment made between NZ First and Labour.

Rotorua base

“New Zealand’s old forestry service was disestablished in 1987 and in recent years our forestry sector has experienced decline but we’re determined to shine the spotlight on forestry once more,” says Shane.

“Te Uru Rakau will build a strong and dedicated forestry presence in Rotorua, recognising that Rotorua is at the heart of the forestry sector in NZ. Forestry is our third largest export earner – with an annual gross income of about $5 billion – and has the potential to grow.

“Budget 2018 will set aside $15 million of operating funds to boost capability of the new service, enabling it to work with landowners, provide forestry expertise and deliver on the Government’s forestry objectives.

“We’re also launching an online tree counter to keep track of the One Billion Trees goal. This will be updated weekly throughout winter planting and will show how many trees have been planted, number of tree seedlings sold and percentage of native versus exotic species,” says Shane.

“Cabinet will sign off exact functions, size and governance structure of Te Uru Rakau later this year.” Landowners interested in the Manuka seedling initiative are to contact Manuka Farming NZ.

Chance to rid of tree weeds

Tree weed exemptions allow owners of pre-1990 forest land to deforest areas that contain tree weeds without incurring a liability under the Emissions Trading Scheme.

The next tree weed exemption application round will run to June 30, 2019. All tree weed species are either: defined or designated as a pest under a pest management strategy under the Biosecurity Act 1993 or defined or designated as a tree weed in regulations made under the Climate Change Response Act 2002 Applications are assessed and prioritised according to five criteria that provide an indication of the risk spreading and impact of further dispersal. Criteria include species spreading vigour, site features such as wind and topography, surrounding area land use and value. Forest land for that was granted a pre-1990 forest land allocation is not eligible to receive an exemption.

Applications can be made before or after clearing activities but must be made before deforestation has occurred.

If the area hasn’t been cleared at the time that the exemption is granted, it must begin within 24 months of approval. Deforestation must be completed with the emissions return period in which exemption was granted.

The current period is expected to end on December 31, 2022. Learn more, call MPI’s Climate Change helpline on 0800 254 628 (ext. 2).

FORESTRY

Owners of small to medium-size forests can now benefit from drone mapping

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and drone technology used in the forestry sector is no longer limited to the largest players in the market.

Small to medium sized forest owners can now see the benefits of complete drone mapping and photography.

With New Zealand’s drive for innovation and new entrepreneurs such as Gerry Mortimer, owner of Drone Map Ltd, there has been a renaissance in forestry.

Drone Map Ltd, in conjunction with Woodmetrics Forest Marketing, is now offering a complete valuation and sales package for small to medium sized forest owners wanting to cash in their crop.

Forest valuations have never been more accurate with the aid of drone technology, says Gerry.

Drone Map Ltd is able to take the risk out of valuing a farmer’s small forgotten forest, while providing complete aerial boundary map-

Drone Map Ltd photography in use to manage forestry work in the central North Island.

ping, stunning photography and video footage.

“Often sales agents do not include the value of a forest when listing farms as it’s difficult to assess. We work with rural agents and the property owners so they can get the most of what they have,” says Gerry.

Other services Drone Map Ltd provide are aerial photography, so farmers get a bird’s eye view of their property, and precision boundary maps that eliminate the guesswork in future planning.

Gerry has seen the rise of drones in the forestry sector and sees potential for a whole range of services to support forest management. “Drones remove boots on the ground, making a safer work environment for everyone as they can be used for health and safety assessments, storm damage reports, mapping cutover areas, post-planting stocktaking, post-harvest assessments and valuations of inaccessible areas.”

Helen Wilson

Free new forestry calculator on offer online A new online calculator for radiata pine and Douglas-fir productivity is now available, free of charge.

The Forecaster Calculator was built for owners and advisors of small forests, who can use it to test out different management scenarios for their forests, according to what they want to produce, according to Scion. For example, it can provide estimates of the volume and log product mix on a particular site at a particular age.

The new calculator was developed by Scion, with funding from the Forest Growers Levy Trust. Scion science leader Bryan Graham says the tool was purpose-built to be simple and effective. “It’s online, so it can be accessible anywhere and anytime on either

your tablet, laptop or desktop.” The calculator is built using the same set of models as the Forecaster desktop application used by the forest industry for yield table generation, regime evaluation and silvicultural scheduling. The calculator combines the site-specific information from the national models for site potential productivity (the Site Index and the 300 Index) with data that the grower can insert and vary.

Variable options include stocking rate, pruning, timing of thinning, residual stems per hectare following thinning and harvest timing. Each new simulation creates a set of pdf reports based on log yield and silvicultural options. Access is at: https://fgr.nz/programmes/calculators/forecaster-calculator

Page 21

CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

Page 22

dgecumbe’s biggest flood repair job underway

Rangitaiki Community Board chair Charelle Stevenson. Photo: Anne Boswell.

The “significant milestone” that is the repair of the College Rd stopbank in dgecumbe is well underway, with the final design of a remembrance site being discussed with community members.

The stopbank’s repair is the biggest project to come from floodwaters washing through dgecumbe township – and many rural areas in the astern Bay of Plenty – in early-April 2017 when a flood wall was breached following heavy rain deluges from two ex-tropical cyclones.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council engineering team leader Peter Hay says a local contractor has been onsite since April for rebuild works, and is currently installing the seepage trench.

“The design is a 2.5m high stopbank to replace the flood wall that breached in April last year,” says Peter.

“Clearly, the stopbank needs a much wider area than the floodwall did. In fact, the new stopbank will sit across the area where the road was and the road, footpath and services now pass through the area where some of the flood-damaged houses were previously.

“Specific material is required in different parts of the stopbank to ensure drainage and strength.

“Once the stopbank and road have been constructed, there is additional flat area and we are working with the community on a final design for the space. Some of the options include a park,

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reserve, playground, or sculpture area as a way to remember the breach site. There will also be a wider crest on the stopbank to allow space for a path or cycleway along the top.

“The repair on the College Road site is a priority for us and we know that it will be a significant milestone for local residents and provide some peace of mind for that community.”

An options report was prepared at the end of 2017 outlining four possible stopbank solutions for College Rd. The designated option was chosen to align with both the Cullen Report recommendations, and best practice for the site’s particular soil type and location.

Rangitaiki Community Board chair Charelle Stevenson says the board was able to appoint two committee members with engineering backgrounds to peer review and endorse the design option. They continue to work closely with the regional council to gauge how the work is tracking, and report back to the Board.

“It is paramount to us, as an elected board, to be able to have authentic engagement and involvement with the community,” says Charelle.

“We are also actively involved in any issues that are impacting the community on a daily basis.”

With substantial completion of the stopbank due in August, Charelle says dgecumbe residents are eager for College Rd to be re-opened.

“We obviously want College Rd open as soon as possible, but more so, we want the job done properly we don’t want any corners being cut,” says Charelle.

Anne Boswell

EDUCATION & BOARDING

Page 23

Rock climbing is another exercise part of Cromwell College’s Outdoor Pursuits Academy.

Giving students the opportunity to finish senior schooling with an experience that will set them up for life is on offer at Cromwell College.

Students who reside at the Cromwell College Apartments’ get the chance to be part of it’s Outdoor Pursuits Academy, which has been running since 1995.

In the Outdoor Pursuits Academy, held each Sunday, students take on adventure racing, rock climbing, mountain biking, sailing, skiing, snowboarding and tramping. xpeditions are built into the programme during long weekends and this year’s group has already enjoyed tramping the Routeburn, Caples and Kepler.

Many of this year’s academy students have also taken up the opportunity to work towards NC A credits while building their outdoor leadership skills.

“Our popular programme builds skills, resilience and self-confidence that enables students to thrive beyond school,” says apartments manager Danny Winstanley.

“The programme makes the most of our well-resourced, highly regarded school and the superb natural wonderland that is Central Otago.”

Students live in the Cromwell College Apartments and develop life skills through semi-independent living under the supervision of experienced and caring managers.

“You will become as comfortable and successful in the outdoors, and with your NC A studies, as you will be cooking a lovely meal for five hungry flatmates. It is a programme I couldn’t have dreamed of when I was at school – fun, challenging and certainly lifechanging.”

Principal Mason Stretch believes the opportunities available for apartment students are tremendous. “Not only do they have their Outdoor Pursuits Academy but also quality schooling with a full range of NC A and vocational subjects and a wide variety of sporting and cultural opportunities.”

The programme can take up to 20 students and places are still available for next year. The principal puts the key to Cromwell College’s ongoing success down to “passionate people wanting the best for students, coupled with caring, supportive relationships”.

“We know that a year here in Cromwell makes a positive difference and the skills that students come away with will set them up for life.”

Big Budget spend on school system New schools, additional classrooms and new teachers have been announced for the NZ education system as part of the Government’s 2018 Budget. ducation Minister Chris Hipkins says Budget 2018 represents a major step in the Coalition Government’s plan to rebuild the creaking schooling system.

“We are not prepared to put our children’s education at risk. We have a plan to address growing roll numbers and overcrowded classrooms,” says Chris.

“New capital investment of $394.9 million will fund new schools and hundreds of additional classrooms between 2018-2019 and 2020-2021. This Government is starting off in catch-up mode, but this is a significant first step.

Budget 2018 allocates $62 million in new capital investment for the Christchurch Schools Rebuild programme.

“Nationwide, the School Growth Package of $332.4 million in capital will pay for new infrastructure for 7400 students, including more than 200 new classrooms.

“The two capital packages are complemented by $62.8 million of associated operating spending.

“We’ve also announced we’ll invest an additional $649.4 million of operating spending in the school system

during the next four years, with $613.1 million going to schools and to address teacher supply issues.

“This is on top of our other announcements for learning support and early childhood education. This brings total new operating spending in Budget 2018 for schools and early childhood education to $1.58 billion during four years.

“To meet increasing population demand, $370 million will be used to fund 1500 new teacher places by 2021.

This is $71.8 million more than was funded by the previous Government.

“Alongside this, we are increasing schools’ operational funding by $203.6 million during the next four years, compared to $160.7 million in Budget 2017 – a 27 per cent increase.

“This is made up of $74.6 million for a 1.6 per cent cost adjustment to operational funding, plus $129 million to keep up with the growing number of students,” says Chris.

Other highlights in operational funding for schools over the next four financial years include a teacher supply package worth $20 million a voluntary bonding scheme of $6.4 million and nglish for speakers of other languages schooling with $34.5 million.

“The new funding for education takes total investment in the 20182019 financial year to $12.26 billion, compared with $11.85 billion in the current year to June 30.”

• Access to a state school with a tradition of academic excellence for young • Access to a state school with a tradition of academic excellence for young women from outside the Auckland area. women from outside the Auckland area.

• A wide range of courses and co-curricular activities in sports, culture, arts • A wide range of courses and co-curricular activities in sports, culture, arts and leadership. and leadership.

• We encourage self-esteem and confidence with strong links between home • We encourage self-esteem and confidence with strong links between home and school. and school.

• Full board with weekend leave for young women from Year 9 to Year 13 • Full board with weekend leave for young women from Year 9 to Year 13 with caring and supportive staff in a safe living environment. with caring and supportive staff in a safe living environment.

Enrolments close: Enrolments close: • Years 10 to 13 31 August 2018 (limited places only) • Years 10 to 13 31 August 2018 (limited places only) For further information please contact: For further information please contact: Epsom House Boarding Administrator - Chris Barnes Epsom House Boarding Administrator - Chris Barnes Phone: (09) 970 6808 Email: cbarnes@eggs.school.nz Phone: (09) 970 6808 Email: cbarnes@eggs.school.nz www.eggs.school.nz www.eggs.school.nz

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 24

Fishing firing as water temperatures drop

Quality blinds

A long range forecast for the weekend anticipating fine, calm weather, encouraged a group of keen fishos to arrange a remembrance trip for Hugh nsor. Boss and skipper at Blue Ocean Charters for the last 31 years, he recently passed away and is sadly missed by family, friends and his loyal customers alike.

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The trip started well loading ice and bait early Saturday morning as a fiery red sunrise burned above the Mount. We stacked the boat with provisions and ice and steamed towards the open ocean. Along the way we were greeted by some of the ocean’s more playful creatures, the common dolphin.

We were frequently escorted by them throughout the two days. With escorts in tow and pie in hand we steamed across the 40m deep band. The glassy conditions made it easy to spot disturbances in the water.

The sooty shearwaters were feeding so tuna lures were quickly deployed and it was full steam ahead, Te Kuia’s cruising speed of 8.5 knots.

Within minutes all four lines were hooked up in amongst a school of kahawai. Reducing speed the fish where brought onboard. As we continued on our way the rods began to scream more and more often as we hit skippies around the 60m line.

the seven electric rods/reel combos with an easy couple of hapuka and gemfish landed. We repeated the action and on the second drop all lines were on. Unfortunately, a shark grabbed one fish as it was being winched towards the surface causing braid-on-braid rub, cutting nearly everyone’s lines off.

With our new chirp transducer it was no problem to pick up some nearby unmarked knolls. The lines went in with multiple hook-ups on all kinds of bait: mullet, squid, kahawai, and skippies.

After several drifts and bins quickly filling we headed back towards Mayor Island. Some hidden mounds produced tasty little bass, small blue nose and untold amounts of gemfish.

Kingies waiting

o e o p e of ig i gfish a ght y Sarah sor a d sty sor.

Electric rods

Reaching the deep sea fishing grounds, fresh strip baits were carefully carved from the freshly-caught fish. The vessel settled into a test drift across the reef in several hundred metres. We counted at least 12 smaller boats taking advantage of the variable 10 knots forecast for the day.

We brought Te Kuia back up current and deployed four of

o e S ott

sor with a ge fish.

o e S ipper Jesse read with a

g

As sunset drew near we tucked in near the western side of Mayor. We found it hard to catch any live bait even though they surrounded the boat. As soon as one was on-board its tail was clipped and sent back to the bottom on the line. Kingies were waiting and within seconds, were on the hook and the fight was on. We landed plenty around the 15kg mark. Then we pushed around to the ast where half the crew decided to turn in. The others pulled their limit of 1kg-4kg snapper out of 80m.

After having such a flat first day we’d become a bit complacent about where gear was left around the boat. This quickly changed as we hit the one metre slop and things started falling off the higher parts of the boat. very bit of sign we could find was plagued by gemfish and it was a challenge to keep a bait down there long enough for the big fish to show up. We had one hell of a time with bluenose up to 25kg coming across the rails.

So with bins full, sore arms and low batteries we headed back towards the Mount.

We did it for you Hugh rest in peace.

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COUNTRY LIVING

Page 25

Achieve your goals without stress O U NT R

N NIE

Already a master of many life-changing brain-training techniques, Chantal found the more mental fitness and brain strength she developed, the bigger her goals became.

She would need to discover some kind of ‘superpower’ if she was going to achieve all she wanted to without sacrificing the worklife balance that was so important to her. Her breakthrough came when she developed her eight-ingredient recipe for effective goal-setting, which allowed her to accomplish her goals without burning out.

“Combining scientific research, psychology, mindful awareness and other methods I had been using to help clients create change, I rediscovered powerful ‘brain hacks’ that have helped me create a life structure that allows me to bring my best self to everything I do,” says Chantal.

In her new book ‘Reach Your Goals Without Stressing Out’, Chantal explains how we can use our mental resources to their full potential. Using her proven lifeediting techniques we can learn to ditch the bad habits that drain our energy, blur our minds and disrupt our focus. Thanks to Exisle Publishing, Coast and Country News has a copy of ‘Reach Your Goals Without Stressing Out’ by Chantal Hofstee to give away.

S

FU

To be in to win email captions for the photo below and send with your name and address with Country Funnies as the subject line to merle@sunmedia.co.nz 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 July 20.

The winner of the April Country Funnies caption is Brenda Ludwig of Matata for her caption: ‘Meals on wheels, country style” She wins a copy of the book ‘The Art Garden’ by Penny Harrison and Penelope Pratley published by Exisle Publishing.

Y

C

Chantal Hofstee is a Kiwi clinical psychologist and an executive coach.

Like many of her clients, she’s ambitious and driven.

Caption this photo to be in to win a book prize.

Tour South Island high country scenery in 4WDs If you’ve ever thought about travelling the South Island – and getting off the beaten track – why not give NZ Adventures 4x4 Tours a call?

Operating since 1999, this company offers five different tag-a-long tours across the South Island.

Owners Robbie and Connie Crickett say the most popular tour continues to be the High Country Heritage they offer in December, February, March and April.

“In each of those months except March the tour runs to a six-day format. In March it’s a seven-day tour with day three slightly shorter, the overnight accommodation in Geraldine; day four has a slightly different content and Twizel as the overnight,” says Connie.

Generally the overnights along the route from the Blenheim start point are in Hanmer Springs, Methven, Fairlie, Omarama and Cromwell before the tour finishes in Cardrona.

“Accommodation is the best suitable in the towns mentioned along the route. Breakfasts and evening meals are in restaurants either part of the accommodation or close by.

“Lunches are a mixture of station lunches and caféprepared picnic lunches,” says Connie.

Highlights include interaction with station owners and the scenery with an emphasis on the high country farming with mountain backdrops.

“Vehicles must be genuine four wheel drives with a low-range transmission fitted and with at least All Terrain tyres in good condition. That’s basically the extent of vehicle requirements.”

All customers are provided with a handheld radio for each vehicle and Robbie, who has achieved 20 years of guiding motor vehicle tours along back country tracks of the South Island, offers an informative commentary along the way about farming, scenery and points of interest.

Another popular tour is the five-day astern Explorer, which starts in Geraldine and goes to Ranfurly, Mosgiel and Lawrence before finishing in Alexandra.

Highlights are the amazing tracks inland of Geraldine and south of Fairlie, The Oteake Conser-

vation Park, Macraes Flat and the Strath Taieri area, Te Papanui Conservation Park and old tracks that once were transport lifelines of Central Otago. For further details, see: www.nzadventures.co.nz

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MARSHALL

COUNTRY LIVING

HEATERS®

Subdivision in Omokoroa now complete and ready for buyers Rowesdale Trust has been developing quality subdivisions in the Tauranga area for 20 years, so has gained a wealth of experience when it comes to what buyers require when contemplating buying a section.

“We are a family-operated company with myself as the marketing manager and my two sons, Grant and Mervyn, work closely with me with the development of the subdivision,” says Alison Rowe.

“Each sale is conducted directly with me so clients benefit from my expertise, professionalism and local knowledge.”

Alison and her late husband Bernie decided to subdivide their third-generation dairy farm near Ohauiti as Tauranga City had expanded to their doorstep.

“The city came to us and it seemed the logical decision to subdivide the farm into a quality subdivision. The experience gained from this project has enabled us to have the confidence

Fairway Views Omokoroa subdivision is adjacent to the golf course. to develop another subdivision at The sections are generously Omokoroa,” says Alison. sized, ranging from 592m2 to Rowesdale Trust could see 870m2. Some have views of the potential of development Tauranga Harbour, and all are in at Omokoroa and had landa quiet area at the end of a sealed banked with view to developing road. Several sections have already a future subdivision. This is now sold and one of the original completed – and Fairway Views houses is being renovated ready Omokoroa is adjacent to the to sell.

Omokoroa golf course – and The sections have covenants to anyone buying a section, who can ensure the builds are to a high get a club membership, has direct standard in keeping with the area. access to the golf course.

Helen Wilson

COUNTRY LIVING

Selling with enthusiasm Property buyers and sellers can benefit from Tauranga real estate agent, Susan Northey’s, knowledge of the greater Tauranga area. She has raised a family and lived within the district for many years.

“Everyone’s property requirements are different, and it is my job to match clients with suitable properties that will meet their budget, lifestyle requirements and plans,” says Susan.

She can help buyers and sellers negotiate the twists and turns that are part of the sales process. “It is

my job to make this as painless as possible.”

Susan has an open and transparent style with an infectious personality and relates well to all people. She pays attention to detail and so has a long list of very happy clients.

Susan works under the Harcourts brand, a trusted name in real estate and specialises in residential and lifestyle properties.

“My clients love my enthusiasm, professional attitude and confident approach. I also understand the essential value of using social media as a tool in real estate, an

area I excel in.

“Check out my Facebook page – SellWellWithSusanNorthey, to see what I am up to,” says Susan.

Superb negotiation skills have resulted in many successful sales where other agents have failed to do so.

Susan’s clients get a depth of knowledge and experience with her friendly-focused approach, meaning buyers feel comfortable when considering their purchase. She has developed a substantial database of clients and knows the importance of maintaining strong, lasting relationships.

Susan welcomes all enquiries regarding selling or buying in the Tauranga and wider district area.

Helen Wilson

What causes osteoarthritis – Part 2 Last edition we discussed how osteoarthritis – also known as OA – is mostly caused by the loss of cartilage-secreting cells called chondrocytes.

Their job is to maintain cartilage. If chondrocytes are damaged or die, they are unable to repair cartilage. The result is that cartilage starts to breakdown. Eventually whole patches of cartilage are lost, causing a bone-on-bone scenario.

While cartilage has no nerves, bone certainly does.

While bone-on-bone causes pain, much of the pain comes from misdirected inflammation. White blood cells that patrol the joint capsule respond to cartilage loss by bringing in extra fluid and a cocktail of inflammatory chemicals in a vain attempt to repair the cartilage. The result is pain, stiffness and in some cases visible swelling.

My approach is firstly to adopt a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet. This is high in antioxidants, Omega 3 and other foods that reduce inflammation.

We then add four compounds from supplements. The first is Omega 3 fish oil, usually between 4000mg and 6000mg daily. We then add high grade chondroitin sulphate at 800mg-1600mg.

Chondroitin sulphate is the most important joint supplement – it’s an actual component of cartilage and adding this helps chondrocytes to work properly.

The problem is most joint supplements only contain

Page 27

A dirty dog event in Hamilton If your dog loves mud, and you don’t mind getting a bit grubby, head to the Dirty Dog Challenge in June with your mutt.

Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council have teamed up for a unique event on June 16 from 10am where dogs and their owners can navigate their way through a mud-filled obstacle course.

The event is open to dogs of all shapes and sizes and they will need to be on-lead through the course.

HCC animal education and control manager Susan Stanford says it’s important to try new things and provide unique experiences for dog owners.

“We’re excited to have joined forces with Waikato to pull together this really unique event for dog owners,” says Susan.

WDC animal control team leader Megan May says their teams aren’t just about enforcement. “Our animal teams want to be able to give back to the good owners of our areas and give them an opportunity to participate in a fun event with their dogs,” says Megan. The Dirty Dog Challenge is at Christian Youth Camp, Ngaruawahia, with all profits going towards helping animals in Hamilton and Waikato District’s communities.

Tickets are $30 via the councils’ websites.

around 250mg of CS. In most cases I start clients on 1600mg. We then add the same amount of glucosamine and a potent 95 per cent curcumin extract from turmeric. As an example I have one client with OA in his knees. This was bad enough to significantly impact mobility. After three months on a personalised programme he’s now able to exercise again. His partner had OA in her thumbs and shoulders and is much better. Feel free to contact me for personalised advice.

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

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FARM VEHICLES & MACHINERY

Page 28

For the love of machinery and the smell of petrol As the name indicates, The Yesteryear Barn Museum at Netherton, just north of Paeroa on State highway 2, has cars and farm machinery from yesteryear.

A line of old cars outside the museum.

When Laurie Brunt left school he trained as a mechanic – and the love of machinery and the smell of petrol has been with him ever since. He could be described as the original “petrol head.”

“Why did I start collecting old machinery, toy cars and real cars? It’s simple, I didn’t have any toys as a kid. I had to work on the farm at Karaka,” says Laurie.

In his younger days Laurie used to manage the dump, now transfer station, at

Left: Laurie and Linda Brunt inside the Yesteryear Barn museum at Netherton. Photos: Helen Wilson.

Thames and fill in for other dump sites around the Coromandel Peninsula. People used to bring in old bits and pieces to dump and Laurie would sort through it and keep the bits that took his eye. The trouble was he had nowhere to store his treasures and had to rely on friends and family for storage space.

“After a while that got a bit messy so my wife, Linda and I bought this property which already had a large shed on it,” says Laurie.

The shed has come full circle, starting life as Stembridges Garage and Transport and when that closed down it was a mineral and rock museum for a while.

The pit from the old garage is still there.

‘Big Red’

TE AROHA TRACTORS & GARDEN MACHINERY 2

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Now it houses a collection of large and small machines from stock cars, old number plates, photographs and every sort of nut, screw and bolt that was ever needed for a vehicle – and Laurie knows where each one is. There is even the bonnet from the stockcar that Tiger Woods and his then-caddy, Steve Williams, drove in the celebrity stockcar race in Huntly in 2006 and it is signed by both of them.

“When I was a young chap I used to drive stockcars at the races at Forest Lake, Hamilton, until they shifted the track to Huntly. One of my prized possessions, apart from Linda, is ‘Big Red’ and the other is the black midget racing car, manufactured in 1958.

“Both still go,” says Laurie.

Most of the gear has been sourced from auctions but it is getting harder to get now, says Laurie. Outside is another large collection of mainly farm machinery to be restored “one day”.

“Most of this machinery still works, it may take a day or two to get it going but machines were built to last in those days,” says Laurie.

Home-made tractor

There’s an old fire engine that was used for the Auckland Harbour Bridge and dates back to 1958; a 1940 dump truck from Waipukurau, used in the limestone quarry there; and a home-made tractor used at Katikati.

A line of small cars with a Ford Prefect and a baby Austin separates out some of the exhibits.

Does Linda collect anything? “No I can’t stand clutter. As long as the machinery stays outside and looks tidy I don’t mind,” says Linda. She does enjoy going to auctions with Laurie and knows she has no say when it comes to the bidding.

Any car or machinery enthusiast will enjoy time at this museum looking at the exhibits. Each has a story – and Laurie and Linda are happy to share their knowledge. It’s an interesting place to stop and spend some time and have a yarn about the “good old days”.

The Yesteryear Barn Museum is open when the Brunt’s are home and the flag is flying.

Helen Wilson

50 years of Fieldays

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Photo: Courtesy of Fieldays.

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Finalists aiming to snatch Rural Catch

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Formerly known as the Rural Bachelor competition it’s been a popular fixture on Fieldays calendar for 13 years.

Previously, eight talented rural men from rural New Zealand and Australia had the opportunity to test their skills on and off farm to find the ultimate champion.

But this year four women will line up against four men in the all-expenses paid competition, which starts June 10 with a Farmlands Roadtrip.

Contestant #1 is Ben Fisher, a DairyNZ farm manager based in Ohaupo, who is passionate about the rural sector and animal welfare and whose ideal date involves a nice dinner with good chat then home to watch a movie and relax.

Contestant 2 is fiery redhead and former

Gumboot Girl, Eira Lloyd-Forrest of Geraldine, who is passionate about animal health and supporting the agricultural industry and is looking for an honest, caring and hard-working guy who can make her laugh.

Contestant #3 is Berny Hall, a dairy farmer from New Plymouth, who isn’t afraid to put himself out there and have a bit of fun and is looking for someone loyal, passionate, supportive and encouraging.

You’ll hear Contestant #4 before you see her, she is trainee helicopter pilot and drystock farmer Lilly Newton based in Urenui.

Lilly is outgoing, loves a good yarn; is caring and thoughtful towards animals and passionate about women in male dominated careers.

Contestant #5 is Mairi Whittle, a former rural bank manager working as a shepherd on a sheep and beef farm east of Taihape.

She’d love to find someone funny, sporty, who gets along with her friends and is loyal and respectful to share her amazing lifestyle with.

Contestant #6 is agricultural machine operator Mat Hilhorst of Atiamuri near Taupo. ...continued

ryNZ farm ha po.

Ben Fisher is a Dai a ager ased i

er y a is a dairy far er fro ew y o th.

Access to phosphate vulnerable Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited offers significant environmental and strategic advantages to New Zealand farmers, says its founder and chief executive officer Chris Castle.

“It will support sustainable farming practices, including healthier soils and reduced accumulation of the heavy metal cadmium, dramatically lower runoff to waterways and shrink fertiliser needs over time.”

The resource is hugely strategic as the only significant locally-sourced product, because phosphate is essential to maintain New Zealand’s high agricultural productivity.

Chris says NZ’s current access to phosphate is vulnerable to economic and political events in the six countries controlling 98 per cent of the world’s phosphate reserves, with 85 per cent of the total in the Western Saharan state of Morocco.

CRP Ltd is owned by nearly 2000 shareholders, about half of them New Zealanders, is based in Wellington and listed on stock exchanges in New Zealand, Canada and Germany.

Formed in 2007, to finance the recovery of a substantial rock phosphate deposit offshore – about 450km

Chatham Rock Phosphate Ltd founder and chief executive offi er hris ast e. from Christchurch on the seabed of the Chatham Rise – CRP has raised more than $40 million to compile existing information and data and also acquire significant additional data to fill information gaps.

“We’ve produced new reports on the physical environment of the rise including bathymetry, geology, geomorphology, oceanography, seabed sediments and their chemistry, water properties and chemistry,” says Chris.

“CRP was granted a mining permit in 2013. Our first Marine Consent environmental permit application – comprising an Environmental Impact Report and more than 30 technical reports – was declined in 2015.” Now, CRP proposes to reapply in 2019.

FIELDAYS

Girls and guys to vie for Golden Gumboot

continued...

Mat loves a good laugh, enjoys being outdoors and his ideal date would involve doing something adventurous, having dinner and drinks then cutting some shapes on the dancefloor.

Contestant 7 is Renae Flett of Palmerston North.

A sole contract milker passionate about animal health and pasture management and whose ideal date would be something simple like a picnic overlooking a nice farm view.

Contestant #8 is dairy farm manager Sam Hughson based out of Hawera. Sam enjoys working with cows and machinery and seeing the land develop and is looking for someone with a good sense of humour and willing to try new experiences, who has a positive mindset and appreciates the rural lifestyle.

After the roadtrip the serious stuff begins at Fieldays, on June 13.

This year challenges include fencing, quad bike skills, dog handling, tractors and cooking – but with a twist!

The popular ‘fittest farmer’ challenge testing finalist’s strength and fitness features again this year.

The finalist’s financial skills will also be tested in a ‘nail your numbers’ challenge.

Fieldays Rural Catch event manager Lynn Robinson says they had an encouraging number of entries from all over NZ and from various agri-sectors including dairy, and sheep and beef drystock.

“The calibre of entrants is very high. The women are especially talented, I’m sure they’ll give the guys a run for their money!”

The Fieldays Rural Catch winner walks away with the coveted ‘Golden Gumboot’ trophy and a $20,000 prize pool thanks to sponsors. Find out more at: www.fieldays.co.nz/ruralcatch

Renae Flett is a sole contract milker near Palmerston North.

ira oyd orrest of era di e is a fiery redhead and former Gumboot Girl.

Page 31

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Page 32

Fieldays – a 50-year tradition for Bill Bill Johnston is heading to his 50th Fieldays this month – as the iconic New Zealand agricultural event celebrates its 50th anniversary.

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When Bill Johnston went to the first New Zealand Agricultural Fieldays in 1969 – or the Town and Country Fair as it was then known – he probably wasn’t thinking about the half-century long tradition he was starting.

This year marks Fieldays’ 50th year of showcasing agriculture and innovation to rural and urban audiences. It’s also a special year for Bill, because 2018 will mark his 50th Fieldays. The Invercargill farmer hasn’t missed one since it started.

Fifty years ago Bill travelled from his family’s dairy farm in Otorohanga to attend the very first Fieldays’ event, then held at the Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton.

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He has a method for making sure he sees everything, one he follows every year. “I start at the beginning, at the big main entrance, and have a wander up and down the rows, getting in about half of everything over the first two days, then on the third day I go back to the things I want to see again.

“It’s always nice to see all the big new machinery and have a bit of a dream about it all. In the early days tractors were a lot smaller over the years they’ve become more like tree toppers.”

Of course, Bill’s seen a lot of change in the 50 years he’s been going to Fieldays, from what was originally a concept to bring “town and ...continued

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For the first few years, Fieldays was held in the summer months until June, with its wetter and muddier weather, became ‘official’ Fieldays month.

“Not that you’d have to worry about the winter weather now, these days you can just about get around Fieldays in your good shoes,” says Bill.

Traipsing into a wet Fieldays could be hazardous.

“A bit of rain would mean

about six inches of mud and cars sliding all over the place trying to get out. It’s much more organised now – they’ve got it down to a fine art.”

The Racecourse housed Fieldays in its first two years before the event was moved to its current location at Mystery Creek, just outside of Hamilton, in 1971.

In the early days, Bill says you could get around Fieldays in about three hours. “Now it’s more like three days.”

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Core of farming still there continued...

country” together, to the international agricultural showpiece it is today, showcasing hundreds of innovations and almost 1000 exhibitors.

But he reckons the core purpose has stayed the same – and that’s what keeps him coming back.

“The basics are still there,” says Bill. “New ideas and inventions can come and go at times but the core of farming is still there.”

Following tradition

it’s nice being told what to do for a change.”

Bill will be a guest of honour at the flag-raising ceremony which officially opens Fieldays on June 13.

New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation says Bill represents many of Fieldays’ long-standing supporters over the years.

“It’s quite extraordinary to have a supporter like Bill, and the fact that he comes up each year from the bottom of the South Island is astounding,” says Peter.

Bill never set out to have 50 Fieldays events under An honour his belt, but when Fieldays put the call out on its “We’re honoured to be celebrating 50 years of his Facebook page to hear the stories of its dedicated tradition, as we celebrate 50 years of Fieldays.” event-goers, Bill’s name cropped up in a comment This year, Fieldays runs from Wednesday June 13 from his niece.

“She dobbed me in! I wasn’t really thinking Bill Johnston says in Fieldays’ early about having a record or years tractors were small compared to anything like that, it’s the offerings on display today. just always been a bit of a tradition to go.”

Making the big move down south to Invercargill certainly hasn’t deterred his tradition either. Bill moved to help his son Graeme convert his sheep farm to dairy in 2008, and continued to travel to Hamilton for Fieldays every year.

New role

Bill project-managed the conversion, which took about six months, building the shed and doing the fencing. Now, he’s more than happy to take a backseat on the farm in what he calls the official “gofer” role.

And now his visits to Fieldays often include factfinding tasks for his son. “Graeme sends me off with an expected list of what he wants me to get information on,” says Bill. “I’ve done my time in the shed, so

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Take the bus, boat or helicopter The roads leading to Mystery Creek are always jampacked with traffic – like blood circulating the heart of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agribusiness event. But there’s other ways to get there. Free regular buses run the duration of Fieldays from The Base

and Hamilton Central. See: fieldays. co.nz/visitor-info/#getting-here Or you can travel by boat.

See: waikatoexplorer.co.nz And there’s a designated helicopter landing zone beside the Waikato River jetty. See: helicorp.co.nz/fieldays/

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Tauranga schoolboy Christian Stark has entered his invention, the Kiwipeel, in Fieldays’ Innovation Awards.

An easy-peel idea for kiwifruit Twelve-year-old Tauranga Intermediate pupil Christian Stark is hoping to take home a prize in the Innovation Awards with his invention which takes the messy work out of peeling kiwifruit.

Christian’s father, David Stark, had been peeling the fruit the traditional way for his kiwifruit-loving son when Christian decided to come up with a better way. In true Kiwi fashion, the first prototype of the Kiwipeel was made with a beer can and Sellotape.

There have been several design refinements since then, says Christian.

“We couldn’t have a tube with sharp edges. It had to be smooth and easy to push down.”

The final design, produced by local engineering firm Tig Art, is simple and effective: a tube made of foodgrade stainless steel with a rolled top edge. There is no plastic in the design and it is fully recyclable.

“Just top and tail the kiwifruit and then press the Kiwipeel down, and the skin is gone,” says Christian.

He’s led development of the Kiwipeel supported by father David. Christian is also overseeing marketing – choosing the font and taking the photoChristian Stark’s kiwifruit peeler gets the skin off the fruit very easily.

graphs for the product board, which is attached to each Kiwipeel. Christian will also be manning the Kiwipeel stand at Fieldays alongside his father.

Christian isn’t the first Stark to showcase an invention at Fieldays – father David won his first award for an invention at the event around 20 years ago in 1999. He’s excited to see his son entering Kiwipeel in the Innovation Awards’ Prototype Innovation category vying for the Grassroots Innovation of the Year Award this month.

Christian hopes people will love the Kiwipeel. “We will test the market at Fieldays and gauge if there is interest to buy it. Depending on how things go I hope to sell the Kiwipeel via a website – which I’ll help build,” says the IT-loving Christian.

The Kiwipeel isn’t Christian’s first invention, but it’s the first that’s got to this stage of development, .

“The idea is the easy part – getting it to market is the hard and expensive bit,” says David.

He says Christian is always busy and signs up for everything – he works at the family run-off, plays hockey and enjoys mountain-biking and swimming.

His favourite school subjects are woodwork and anything to do with computers.

With no shortage of ideas and energy, it seems Christian Stark is a name we’ll hear a lot more of in future.

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Feeders that make life on the farm easier and more efficient Wilco Engineering is proud to manufacture products that last a lifetime on the farm. They manufacture highly robust steel frames, made and fully galvanised in New Zealand, to ensure the best quality and performance.

feeder ensures minimal feed wastage and protects feed from the elements.

“In addition, our feeders are user-friendly and easy to move around the farm, saving valuable time and money,” say the couple.

They have a variety of feeders to suit everyone’s requirements for in the shed and in the paddock. Their best-selling products include two or three-wheeled mobile hay racks, with optional meal bins, sized from one to five-bale capacity, plus hanging feeders for the gate, fence or calf shed. Drum carts, skid feeders, palm kernel troughs and trailers

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Easily ensure your stock continuously have feed available at all times. Wilco’s large feeders mean farmers can put out a large amount of hay to last longer.

Feed isn’t wasted as it’s kept out of mud and protected from the elements and if conditions are dry with limited pasture growth, stock will have enough feed to see them through with minimal wastage. Wilco’s range of feeders make life on the farm easier and more efficient.

See: www.wilcoengineering. co.nz or visit them at Fieldays Site F18-20 to have a chat.

Helen Wilson

47 8344 • Fax: 07 347 8345

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

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If you’re heading to Hamilton this month for Fieldays why not visit the museum to learn more about the history of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agribusiness event?

This year Fieldays turns 50. 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.

Today, the New Zealand Agricultural Fieldays – as it now called – is a staple on many agricultural people’s calendars, with hundreds of thousands descending on Mystery Creek each June.

To mark this milestone anniversary, Waikato Museum has a free-entry exhibition running to August 19, 2018, titled ‘50 years Fieldays’.

The exhibition looks at how Fieldays began and became both an economic marvel and the pride of the Waikato. To find out more, see: waikatomuseum.co.nz

ENGINEERING

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Fieldays is here for the 50th year From the latest agricultural technology and ground-breaking innovations, to shopping, competitions, demonstrations and live shows showcasing the best of New Zealand’s primary industries – yes, the New Zealand National Fieldays is here.

paddock to dinner plate philosophy.

Culinary presentations feature delicious recipes and professional techniques while guest chefs and presenters introduce foods derived from various sources including ingenious advances in precision and sustainable farming techniques, inspired scientific technological development and the natural environment.

Watch mud fly at the noisy Tractor Pull Competitions. Contestants battle it out in three different classes – the weight transfer class is a battle of grunt, while speed fanatics can get their fix watching the weight adjusted class with the first to 100m winning.

And the modified tractors are a must-see, with up to 800hp each. Visitors can sit in the grandstand for prime viewing.

Competition fencing has been part of Fieldays since the event began. So it’s worth checking out The New Zealand National Fencing Championships, which showcases NZ’s top fencers in a match of skill, speed, endurance and sheer tenacity. There’s also The Tractor Pull fencing demonstrations Competitions are loud, 10am-3.30pm daily. action-packed and Fieldays Rural Catch has usually muddy. replaced the Fieldays Rural Bachelor competition. So And this June 13-16, this year four guys and Fieldays – the largest four gals will take on daily agricultural event in the challenges at Fieldays to Competition fencing has been part of Fieldays Southern Hemisphere on an test their skills on and off since the event began 50 years ago.

114ha at Mystery Creek – is the farm, as they compete celebrating its 50th anniversary. for the title, the ‘Golden Gumboot’ trophy and a This year’s theme ‘the future of farming’ will $20,000-plus prize pool. examine agricultural trends and ideas for the future The Innovation Centre has all latest developments while celebrating the wide-ranging contributions in agricultural technology that will shape future Fieldays has made to the agricultural industry since farming practices and NZ’s primary industries. And its inception in 1968. here you can see more than 60 entrants promoting So whether you’re from the country or the city, their inventions in the Innovation Awards. don’t miss it! More than 1440 sites and 1000-plus And stop by the Health Hub – it may save your life! exhibitors will display products, services, experiments Fieldays Health and Wellbeing covers topics from and ideas on everything that features agriculture, cancer detection and treatment, rural mental health horticulture and country living at its best. and wellbeing to services to support youth.

Plus there’s a huge variety of events, competitions So set the alarm for early, layer up your clothand showcases to appeal to one and all. ing for all weather conditions, grab your backpack, So apart from heading to all your must-see exhibicellphone, a drink bottle, some comfy footwear, tors – here’s some of the top things to see at Fieldays. download the new Fieldays app, and sort out your The Kitchen Theatre has a line-up of top chefs, bus, boat, helicopter or car-ride there! set up with functional kitchens, demonstrate the

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FIELDAYS

Three-year trial shows how bio-stimulants can combat poor soils It’s not good enough for environment groups and the media to berate farmers about nitrogen leaching and waterway health until there are proven alternatives so they can farm sustainably – both environmentally and economically, says Agrisea NZ Ltd’s general manager Tane Bradley.

More than 100 innovative farmers attended Agrisea Ltd’s open day on Wilth Farms at Atiamuri last month.

Tane says New Zealand “Unless the current crop of advibiological input manufacsors upskill themselves and catch turers have a vital part to up with the international trend for sustainable biological farming prac- play, to prove the efficacy of tices, Kiwi farmers will be locked in their own biological products. “It is mortal combat with poor feed qual- their responsibility – farmers need evidence.” ity; spiraling animal health costs; Agrisea NZ Ltd brew macro-algae poor pasture root structure often concentrates from a New Zealand growing sideways that breaks down in drought; and shrinking return on seaweed species.

And being committed to research, investment,” says Tane. last month Agrisea showcased their “The cycle of farming based on three-year results of conventional growing in poor soil using oneversus biological products on Wilth shot wonder fertilisers that end up Farms in Atiamuri, with support locked P or leached N is from international soil scientist Dr too costly.”

Christine Jones.

Tane says biological farming is The day was attended by more concerned with the health of the soil biology first and intensely inter- than 100 innovative farmers lookested in providing high nutrition to ing for more tools to add to their current farming practices. feed the ‘stock’ under the ground.

“Some of the key take-home “Never has this been more imporpoints were the profitability tant than in this post-drought comparison between the two period – pasture root length must systems; how improving soil health be driven downwards and root mass must significantly increase for will improve your bottom line; healthy recovery.” practical advice and demonstrations

Children get an up-close view of healthy soil biology at the farm. to benefit all farming types and how to apply these findings effectively on your farm,” says Tane.

“The day was a success. Agrisea looks forward to hosting more of these events in future.

Tane says his company measures changes on every Agrisea farm to prove farm-by-farm the advantages of including a top class biological product in any farming system.

“And the positive thing about Agrisea is we don’t come out on one side or the other in the debate of chemical versus biological – it’s simple, we’re squarely on the side of Kiwi farmers.”

Agrisea NZ Ltd will be at Fieldays in the Main Pavilion sites PB 36,38,40,42.

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Updating kiwifruit growers and cycling up smoothies A virtual reality orchard tour, kiwifruit tasting, and smoothies made by pedalling a bike will be on offer at Zespri’s Fieldays tent this year.

The public is invited to call in at the Zespri grower tent at site E66-F65 during the Fieldays where they will be welcomed with a number of options.

Put on the virtual reality googles and experience a walk through an orchard; taste green and SunGold kiwifruit, and pedal a Zespri bike – the pedalling activates the smoothie machine.

Kiwifruit is, of course, the main smoothie ingredient.

The tent will be open to the public on Wednesday to Friday from 8am5pm, and on Saturday from 8am-4pm.

Zespri chief grower and alliance officer David Courtney says the Fieldays provide Zespri with a great opportunity to engage with growers, other industry partners and the wider community at it’s public-facing site.

The Fieldays theme this year is ‘the future of farming’ – showing innovation in the agricultural sector. David says the innovation focus resonates with Zespri as – in partnership with Plant & Food Research – Zespri is investing in the world’s largest kiwifruit breeding programme, which has delivered some outstanding results in new cultivars.

“In a changing world and global market, we need to be adaptable and relevant and our continued investment in innovation is helping to underpin

that, with around $35 million invested annually by the kiwifruit industry,” says David.

He says Zespri is on track to double sales to NZ$4.5 billion and increase volumes to 260 million trays by 2025, as the industry aims to increase overall kiwifruit consumption around the world and grow the global kiwifruit category.

Kiwifruit growers and their families visiting the Zespri tent last year.

Meanwhile, kiwifruit growers and industry stake holders will be especially nibbles will be available daily from 3pm, and an catered for at Zespri’s Fieldays tent. informal, light brunch will be served in the hospitalDuring the June 13-16 event new vari- ity site from 8am Saturday. As a new offering, free ety tastings and refreshments will be cholesterol and blood checks will be available from on offer from 9am. From noon until 11am-2pm on Wednesday through to Friday.

12.30 each day representatives from Zespri, New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Industry and Kiwifruit Vine Health will offer season updates.

David says Zespri looks forward to updating growers on the progress being made this season and on other key initiatives underway to connect growers ever-closer to consumers.

“This is the foundation for how we will continue to improve the way we market our positive, sustainable products to consumers and deliver positive outcomes for our growers,” says David.

The update will be followed by a sausage sizzle. Refreshments and

Roadtrip celebrating Fieldays’ 50th To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Fieldays is on a roadtrip around New Zealand in the lead-up to June 13, when the four-day event gets underway at Mystery Creek.

The first anniversary event was held in Winton, Southland, last month, then it was Kerikeri’s turn in the Far North, followed by Fielding.

Now, this month, Hamilton and Te Puke will celebrate. A warm up to Fieldays event will be held on Friday, June 8, at Garden Place, Hamilton, from 5pm-7pm – and the Waikato community is welcome.

Having started in Hamilton 50 years ago, Fieldays is acknowledging

its early beginnings by bringing Fieldays fever back into the city for a unique afterwork networking event.

There will be talk about this year’s event, touching on some history and introducing the new and improved Fieldays App. Plus, visitors will be warmed up with free soup, live music and spot prizes.

Then it’s to Te Puke on Saturday, June 9, at Te Puke Sport and Recreation Club on Atuaroa Ave from 12noon to 2pm. Jamie Mackay from the Country and The Resilient Farmer Doug Avery will be behind the coffee machine and barbecue – so get along and enjoy.

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A concrete solution for the rural sector Big Blocks have been utilised in the rural and commercial sectors in NZ for the last 10 years.

If you’re planning a project involving concrete, During the last 10 years Counties Ready Mix has check out Counties Ready Mix – an innovative consupplied thousands of Big Blocks to the rural and crete supplier based in Drury, South Auckland. commercial sectors throughout the North Island.

“One of our core values is trying to reduce Together with a range of engineered solutions, our environmental imprint,” says the comwhich makes it easy for the customer, they pany’s sales manager Paul Tuapola. have proven to be an economical and prac“Big Blocks “With nearly 40,000m3 of waste tical construction method for retaining concrete generated every year in structures. utilises surplus Auckland alone, we were very aware Big block are available in three sizes, of the impact waste concrete can have concrete that would starting from their small 0.5TN block, on the environment,” says Paul. the standard 1.1TN block and a large normally find its “With this in mind we have devel1.65TN block way into landfills” oped a range of interlocking precast Big Blocks can now be lifted and placed concrete blocks, called Big Blocks, using a set of certified lifting chains. utilising surplus concrete that would nor“There’s no more waiting for a set of special mally find its way into landfills. block lifters,” says Paul.

“These Big Blocks also reabsorb carbon “Please contact one of our sales team and we can dioxide through a process called ‘recarbonation’ provide you with a free quote and layout or answer further improving our environment.” any questions you may have.”

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FIELDAYS

A dealership-wide special The countdown to the largest agricultural event in New Zealand is on – and the team at Farmer Autovillage is gearing up to represent at the stands of Hyundai, Nissan, Jeep, Skoda and olkswagen during the four days.

Rain or shine, the team will be on hand to help you find the right vehicle as you browse through a great selection of new models, which can also be purchased on the day.

“Our team has been involved in Fieldays for 27 years and we are celebrating dealership-wide with a Field Day Special of 2.9 per cent finance on used car purchases as well as other various offers from Hyundai, Nissan, Jeep, Skoda and olkswagen,” says Mike Farmer, owner of Farmer Autovillage.

“Come in and talk to one of our knowledgeable team members, they are there to help.”

116 Hewletts Road Mount Maunganui, Tauranga.

Ph: 07 578 6017 farmerautovillage.co.nz

Page 41

rosion control 2018 funding round opens The Ministry for Primary Industries has opened the 2018 funding round for the Gisborne district’s rosion Control Funding Programme.

“The ast Coast is the most erosion-prone region in NZ and leaving eroded land untreated has a negative impact on the sustainability of hill country farms, infrastructure, rivers, water quality, people and communities,” says MPI’s director of investment programmes, Steve Penno.

“The region has such great potential for further sustainable primary sector growth but in many cases erosion adversely

affects land productivity. We need to address the region’s most severe erosion issues now to help plan for the prosperity of future generations.”

The CFP is designed to help Gisborne district landowners with the worst eroding or erosion-prone land by providing funding to treat their land.

Funding can be provided to plant exotic and indigenous trees and in some cases allows for the regeneration of native bush.

Since 1992, when the fund opened, MPI has provided $49 million in funding for erosion control and has treated 42,000ha

of erodible land. Through the CFP, eligible landowners can receive up to $2000 per ha for tree planting and reversion treatments and up to $26 per pole for poplar and willow treatments.

“We’re here to help Gisborne district landowners with their erosion-prone land. The opportunity to access MPI funding for erosion control is running out.

Last applications will be taken in 2020 if funding remains unallocated by then. We want people to apply as soon as they can,” says Steve. CFP applications close June 29, 2018.

If you can’t make it to Fieldays, Farmer Autovillage can be found on Hewletts Rd, Mount Maunganui, where they cater for all segments and all value points with vehicles ranging in price from $5000 to $400,000 and finance can be arranged.

They have 40 qualified technicians in their servicing division for all the makes and models they sell. Whether it is a new off-road vehicle for the farm or a new car for around the city or road trips, Farmer Autovillage has the right make and model for the job it needs to do.

Helen Wilson

AUTOVILLAGE

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Five tips to rat-proof your home ahead of winter Winter is when new populations of invasive pests love to migrate indoors and find homes at rural operations on farms, orchards, lifestyle blocks and the like.

Pest control company Goodnature, which creates revolutionary and humane self-resetting traps to target rats, mice, stoats and possums, has expert tips on how to be vigilant against rodents.

Remove potential food sources

“Rats are constantly seeking an ongoing food supply, water and shelter,” says Goodnature’s cofounder Robbie van Dam. “Store food scraps and rubbish in a metal bin and cover with a tight-fitting lid to ensure rats can’t scale it and crawl inside. “ levate compost and if you have chickens, secure chook feed in a metal container.”

Robbie says a mouse can fit through a -inch

opening “so reduce the number of openings to your home and garage by sealing any cracks and holes, including where utilities and pipes enter”.

Be proactive about trapping

By installing Goodnature’s A24 trap you have a proactive tool for rodents, says Robbie.

“Goodnature’s traps are safe to use indoors and out and each device comes with an Automatic Lure Pump containing non-toxic lure that stays attractive for six months.

“It self-resets 24 times so it can be left for extended periods, so rather than waiting for you to clear and reset them, Goodnature traps are ready for the next invader.”

“If so, you’ve discovered where they’re frequenting. That’s where you should place a trap.”

A network of traps provides strengths in numbers. “Use multiple devices across your property, and create a broader network with neighbours.

“Remember, rodents aren’t emanating from somewhere outside. Installing a trap every 50m will dramatically decrease rodent numbers in your neighbourhood,” says Robbie. isit Goodnature’s stall at Fieldays from June 13-16 at sites TC176-

Detect where rats are visiting

Use Goodnature’s Rodent Detector Cards to find rats. “Place a number of these around your home and check if there’s any bite marks from an inquisitive rat or mice daily.

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FIELDAYS

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SEED DRESSI

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Sustainable Farming Fund gains more cash to accept more projects The Sustainable Farming Fund, which invests in applied research and projects led by farmers, growers, or foresters, is about to receive a boost in funds to be able to accept more applications.

The Coalition Government, in its Budget 2018, has pledged $15 million of new operating funding during the next four years to the fund to support more inspiring ideas in applied research and extension projects that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits for New Zealand.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Climate Change Minister James Shaw says this year’s Budget is investing in projects to build sustainability, productivity and resilience across the primary sector as the Government works alongside farmers and rural communities to provide leadership on some of NZ’s most pressing issues “The SFF encourages unique collaborations among farmers and growers, scientists and researchers, iwi, local government and others who are making a real difference for our rural communities and the wider primary industries,” says Damien.

“There has been a massive oversubscription to the fund in recent years, meaning good projects aren’t getting a look-in because the previous Government did not provide enough investment for the fund.

“In the last SFF round, 86 eligible applications

were received but only 28 of these could be accepted.”

James says these projects are led by those on the front line “and help us find ways to optimise the use of our natural resources and protect the environment for future generations”.

“We’ve set an ambitious target for NZ to become a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050. A range of forward-looking measures are required to achieve this. Cleaner, smarter farming is central to our plan for sustainable growth,” says James.

“The SFF funding boost builds on work we have already prioritised,” says Damien.

“Last year, I announced the pilot for SFF Tere – which translates to “be quick, swift or fast”. Smaller producers are often key innovators, and four SFF Tere projects are already progressing.

“I’m looking forward to doing more to help our primary sector increase value and resilience, with a head start on ever-changing consumer tastes.”

The move is part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement between Labour and the Green Party.

“This Government is committed to partnering with the agricultural sector to achieve shared goals for sustainability, modernisation and profitability,” says James.

“This boost to the SFF injects fresh energy into projects that explore how to farm less intensively and more in tune with the environment, while retaining profitability.”

Find out more at: mpi.govt.nz/SFF.

Financial peace of mind a phone call away Do you need help with your accounts?

Do you feel you are paying too much tax? Do you know what you can claim or, more importantly, what you can’t? Are you overwhelmed by your accounts?

your business is progressing.

“Accountants Bay of Plenty can help sort out your accounts, your tax obligations and your financial position, which will help show which way your business is going.”

Trish is client-focussed. She talks oneon-one with her clients and is very happy If you have answered ‘yes’ to any or all of to deal with whichever computer package these questions then it might be time you a client is using. phoned Trish Patterson at Accountants Her clients know who they will deal Bay of Plenty to get your business and with and the fixed-fee structure means your life back on track. clients know exactly what they will pay.

Trish Patterson, director and chartered “My big focus is to get clients’ tax corTrish Patterson, accountant, says most business owners rect and to tidy up any loose ends. This director and want to understand the figures which chartered accountant takes the worry away and puts the client’s represent their business. with Accountants business back on track.”

All you have to do to get peace of mind “This can often extend to their personal Bay of Plenty. about your financials is to pick up the life as well. You don’t want your tax probphone and talk to Trish. lem to get out of hand and you need to know if

FIELDAYS

Page 45

An award-winning product on show at Fieldays at the farmer’s leisure.

“The point of difference with the Vibra Screen is there are less moving parts, so maintenance costs are low, there is less capital cost and it is a lot more reliable,” says Lucas.

“There are about 30 units installed on dairy farms throughout NZ and

Rainer Irrigation salesperson Graeme Pile with the Irrigation.

Ashburton company Rainer Irrigation Ltd knew they had an outstanding new product when they won the bi-annual national Irrigation Innovation Award for their Vibra Screen. They received a trophy and prize money of $2500.

“We started developing the Vibra Screen two years ago. Initially, we installed a few units on dairy farms and asked farmers to give it a ‘test drive’.” Their feedback was invaluable and from there we made a few adjustments and now have a product that makes meeting regularly requirements of regional councils a lot easier,” says Rainer Ra Irrigation Ltd assistant manager Lucas Cawte.

The Vibra Screen primarily removes the solids from the effluent, leaving the liquid – which is effectively a free, nutrient-rich fertiliser – to be applied onto pasture via irrigation infrastructure.

There are strict criteria on when liquid effluent can be applied such s as soil type and weather conditions. The solids collect separately and are left to further dehydrate The Vibra Screen in action. and can be spread on pastures with a muck spreader

farmers are experiencing good results from the new Vibra Screen system.”

To see a live demonstration of the Vibra Screen, Rainer Irrigation Ltd will have one working at Fieldays from June 13-16.

Helen Wilson

FIELDAYS

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The new and improved official Fieldays app, NZ National Fieldays Society marketing and communications manager Taryn Storey says the technology developed specifically for use at the June visitors will have a much better search and 13-16 event, will enable visitors site experience. “People can download the app for free now, and begin to plan to use GPS mapping technology their visit and where they might go to better navigate the 114-ha site before they arrive.” and plan their day in advance.

The app has been developed by GPSDon’t get lost in the crowds this Fieldays – use the new app to fi d yo way fro exhibitor to exhibitor.

it, a precision land mapping company based in the Bay of Plenty and supported by Fieldays Principal Partner, odafone.

GPS-it has digitally mapped the entire Mystery Creek site, capturing key features and GPS points.

This means visitors can view a digital plan of the Fieldays site via the new app in the same way they might in Google Maps, with exhibitors, streets and key areas identified.

An important development this year is routing, says Taryn. “Fieldays visitors will be able to use the app to find the best route from A to B. The app will provide people with directions and the shortest route from their current position to where they want to go to meet a friend or visit an exhibitor site.

Save time

“We know people do a lot of walking at Fieldays, so we expect this technology will be beneficial to visitors, and save time and sore feet.”

Taryn says the new Fieldays app can help people find the nearest coffee cart, food retailer or toilets, as well as key zones including Innovations Centre, Health and Wellbeing Hub, Careers and ducation Hub and Kitchen Theatre.

“It’s convenient and useful. If you want to meet a friend or find where an exhibitor is located, simply input the information into the app on your mobile phone and it will plan the shortest route.”

“I believe our new app will make the Fieldays experience better for people, and make it easier for everyone to get around the large Fieldays site at Mystery Creek.”

Taryn says both urban and rural visitors are increasingly incorporating tech into their everyday lives “and we see the Fieldays app as an extension of the continued innovation in this area”.

Taryn says feedback from users last year has led to improvement in this year’s design. “We hope we’ve ironed out any glitches,” says Taryn. “In particular we’ve improved the ‘key word search’ function, which some people had problems with last year.”

Pin my car

Popular features such as ‘pin my car’ will also be included in this year’s app. “The difference is, this year the app will create a route for you to follow back to your car,” says Taryn.

People will also be able to ‘favourite’ exhibitors or sites, and use a timetable option in the app.

The mapping has also helped streamline the process of site construction for the hundreds of exhibitors setting up at Fieldays this year.

“In the past people weren’t able to dig a hole on their site without getting it signed off personally by our site manager, in case they hit a cable,” says Taryn.

“That’s quite time-consuming when you have 2500 holes needing to be dug across the site. Now we have identified that through GPS, they can ring us up and we check on the map and can sign things off quickly over the phone.”

Value to exhibitors

This year exhibitors have been able to purchase a weighted listing on the app, which means their brand and site will appear first in a search for items in that category.

In future, the NZ National Fieldays Society hopes the app will provide added value to exhibitors, with opportunity to gather data about visitor behaviour in and around their sites. “The potential of the app for exhibitors is in gathering long-term metrics within privacy guidelines, include how many visitors walk past a site, or stop and visit, and how long they spend there.

“We’ll also be able to get a sense of how people are travelling around Mystery Creek, and which sites they are ‘favouriting’ in the app.

“These are things we believe will be invaluable to exhibitors. This data won’t be available this year but we are working on it for the future,” says Taryn.

Free download is via the App Store or Google Play.

FIELDAYS

Page 47

A strong, durable, visuallyappealing fence option Tuakau company Beams & Timber Direct Ltd will be at the Fieldays with a display of their BTD Interlock brand post and rail fences and gates.

See them on Matamata Post & Rail ITM’s stand on the corner of M and C Roads and diagonally opposite the info booth.

Beams & Timber Direct owners, husband-and-wife and Julie Fox, have been at the Fieldays for the last 15 years, since they took their fence to market and debuted it.

And once again they’ll be there to demonstrate the benefits of their post and rail fence system and discuss individual requirements.

“Our fence rails slot perfectly into pre-machined rebated posts to give a strong, durable, visuallyappealing fence option. The posts and rails are made

from quality sustainable treated pine,” says Julie.

“The rails being housed within the posts gives a tidy mortice join, and the fence looks great from both sides.”

With options of single, two, three of four rails and a range of post sizes to suit most budgets, the BTD Interlock fence will enhance your property, says Julie. Used extensively on farms, entrances, parks and recreational areas, the fence is also ideal for equestrian centres, lifestyle blocks and subdivisions.

“We will work out your requirements, often recommending a fencer in your area, then dispatch nationwide at very competitive rates,” says Julie.

“We will have some display fencing on the stand but to see a good example of our BTD Interlock fencing in a longer run, visit the barn at the Ag Heritage area of Fieldays.”

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Page 48

FIELDAYS

FIELDAYS

Page 49

Industrial lanolin lubricants with many uses at Fieldays It is more than wool which keeps sheep dry. Prolan NZ has enhanced the use of lanolin in sheep’s wool to manufacture environmentally-friendly industrial lanolin lubricants, corrosion inhibitors and anti-seize greases, which stop rust.

Often it’s a losing battle to fight corrosion on your valuable farming equipment, whether it develops from manure, dirt, sand or simply long-term storage, says Murray Shaw of Prolan NZ. “In the NZ agricultural market Prolan is sprayed on tractors, quadbike and 4WD chassis, harvesters, feeders, chains, conveyors, irrigation spraying equipment, fertiliser spreaders, loaders, trucks and electrical hardware.

“Once Prolan Enduro medium grade is sprayed on the underside

Murray Shaw spraying Prolan’s Enduro medium grade on a quadbike chassis. of quad bikes it slows down deterioration and provides long-term protection.

“Bikes can be waterblasted after use and the Prolan stays on. Many

quadbike frames rust out within three years with no protection.

“More often than not quadbikes are replaced because of corrosion issues, while the engine and everything else still runs well. Therefore, it’s not hard to double the bike’s life and increase its resale value.”

Plus agricultural fertiliser companies are also realising a coating of Prolan’s Enduro heavy grade protects truck and fertiliser loader’s chassis operating in harsh environments, says Murray.

“Prolan is coated internally and underneath to provide protection. The savings to fleet owners are far fewer WOF and COF failures from rust since, less downtime on maintenance, fewer part replacements and increased resale values.”

Visit Prolan at Fieldays site F11.

Take the advert on this page and receive a free Prolan ‘Sheep in a can’ with any purchase at Fieldays.

Waikato Milking Systems’ CEO resigns

STOP RUST

Waikato Milking Systems’ chief execu“CEO New Zealand, Campbell tive officer Dean Bell has announced he Parker, is providing new thinking and will step down from role this December. strategic direction on the home front, Making the announcement to staff, and the time is right for me to step Dean says the organisation he joined aside to enable someone new to bring 28 years ago “is very different to today’s similar strengths to the international Waikato Milking Systems”. role.”

Waikato Milking Systems chairman “We’ve achieved a great deal over those Randal Barrett says Dean has been a years positioning the company as one of true leader, demonstrating the values the world leaders in dairy innovation. of Waikato Milking Systems out in the “Very few Kiwi companies achieve success at home and in multiple interna- market and alongside staff, from the tional markets. We’ve done that, but the executive team to the factory floor.

“During Dean’s tenure the business challenges don’t diminish. has grown to become the dominant “The goal now is to become the world player in its home market and an leader in dairy innovation and achievestablished in more than ing that, across multiple marketsand withyou can’t Farming’s hard work affordcompetitor to muck around.

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European technology. return nutrients Randal sayswill the board wishes Dean to the field, fast. kato and Milking Systems’ CEO role into Our spreaders well in his next venture and looks fordomestic and international “is one of Givesteps thethat team at Piako Tractors a call today. ward to maintaining a close relationship the strategic will achieve our with him. future”.

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A predictable tax and spend budget The Labour Government has announced their first budget – and I’m sorry to say it spells bad news for the readers of Coast & Country News. It was a predictable tax and spend budget that was full of broken promises and misguided priorities.

On the campaign trail Labour explicitly said: “There will be no new taxes” but already we’ve seen the introduction of $2.2 billion worth when you add up their regional fuel taxes, fuel excise, GST on online goods – and this is all before their Tax Working Group reports back. Borrowing more and increasing taxes during a period of strong economic conditions makes absolutely no sense. It is reckless, puts our economy at risk if we experience a shock, and undoes all the hard work New Zealanders have done over the last few years.

They say they have no money to deliver on their big ticket campaign promises like 1800 new sworn officers over three years, which has turned into 220 new cops over five years when you take away back office staff and the 880 new cops funded by National in 2017 that they are trying to count. But they managed to find an extra $1 billion for Winston’s diplomats, an BAFFLED TANK untargeted $2.8 billion first year fees-free tertiary education that actually delivered 900 less students, and a $3 billion slush fund for Shane Jones to dole out as he pleases.

In my portfolio of climate change there BAFFLED TANK was more money for setting up extra layers of bureaucracy, but no surety of contract for the

people on the front line working to reduce agricultural emissions in a way that doesn’t gut the industry like the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.

At the time of writing this column we’ve just had confirmation that Mycoplasma Bovis has been detected in Cambridge, just over the hill from my electorate of Bay of Plenty. The Government is running around telling anyone who will listen that biosecurity is underfunded, yet they haven’t allocated any significant new money to the area – a paltry $9.3 million. Half of the $18.4 million National invested in our 2017 Budget. This makes a mockery of their rhetoric.

This outbreak is bringing back memories of the Psa-V disease that shook our kiwifruit industry a few years back. One of the key lessons learnt from that experience is government cannot be too proactive when it comes to their response, and that communication is vital. Farmers on the ground need clarity about what the response is and what the process is moving forward. The Minister for Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, has really dropped the ball on this.

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Feeding calves vital nutrients

Milkwel Dairy Feeds Ltd manager Lindsay Morrison says good growth in calves is mostly about protein. And an easily digestible protein is found in maize, along with grains such as barley and wheat.

“A decent starter feed for calves requires a 20 per cent of protein content from these grains. And while

NZ starts talks with EU over free trade A free trade deal between New Zealand and the European Union is moving forward with news the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council has approved its negotiating mandate.

Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker says this opens the way for a free trade deal with one of the largest economies in the world that will boost jobs and incomes. “These negotiations offer

significant economic gains for NZ and the EU. They are an example of like-minded countries working together at a time when the world faces a rising tide of protectionism.” David says the EU is our third largest trading partner, with two-way trade worth more than $20 billion. “Even excluding the UK, our trade with the EU is worth about $16 billion annually.”

“At the start of negotiations, we’ll release a package of information outlining our negotiating priorities for this agreement and how we will be engaging with NZers as negotiations progress.”

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström will travel to NZ this month for the formal launch of negotiations. The first rounds of talks is this July in Brussels.

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When it comes to rearing calves, nutrition is key to ensuring your animals grow well – so quality feeds with the right ingredients, formulated as a balanced diet, are a must.

in the early stages of development a calf’s main source of energy is still milk, at two-four weeks calves can begin to move to a grower feed.”

Lindsay says this grower feed needs to have 18 per cent protein content because calves will be becoming more reliant on meal feed for both growth and energy.

“Sugars and starches are the main energy components of a meal feed. And maize starches and sugars are also easily digestible for a young calf’s stomach or rumen.”

Another key component is coccidiostat, such as Bovatec, which prevents and controls coccidiosis in calves. And the calves need to be attracted to the feed, so will voluntarily change to their new diet. “For this you need a meal feed that is palatable and also tastes appetising.”

Feeds with a coating of molasses will provide energy – calves can smell it, will willingly try it and more quickly adapt to eating it. And molasses helps keep the meal intact, so there’s less wastage.

If you want to maximise the growth potential of your calves, try giving them Milkwel Calf Candy Starter, or Milkwel Candy Grower. “You won’t regret it,” says Lindsay.

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Page 52

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WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT - EASTERN BOP

Council’s ‘rapid’ response to rural addresses In order to ensure emergency services can find a rural address in an emergency, Opotiki District Council is to undertake a significant project ensuring all addresses meet the New Zealand Standard Rural and Urban Addressing.

The project covers two key areas – applying a consistent approach to Rapid Numbers and ensuring all roads in the Opotiki district are named, and named according to the rules.

RAPID stands for Rural Address Property Identification. It gives every rural property with a dwelling an address. This means people can identify exactly where you are in rural areas. It is crucial for emergency services such as Police, ambulance, fire service and Civil Defence and it may be required by a telecommunications or power company before they make a new connection.

Consistent

Opotiki District Council’s planning and regulatory group manager Gerard McCormack says for a number of years council staff have heard anecdotally that people are just choosing the next number in the sequence after their neighbour and attaching that to their letterbox. “While I haven’t seen this myself, if it was the case it could be

and the rapid numbers are our best guide. We rely on them very heavily, and have had problems in the past locating properties when responding to emergencies.”

Generally, rapid numbers are the property owner’s responsibility but as part of this project ODC is reviewing all property addresses and sending out replacement numbers where required.

Naming roads

“We’ll send letters to owners if they need a number change and provide them with the new number to put up. We’ll let emergency services, electricity and phone companies know but people will need to let anyone Opotiki District Council is leading a else that uses the number know. project to ensure all rural addresses “Once we know numbers are consistent across the have correct rapid numbers. district, future replacements or new numbers will need to go through the usual process of application. very dangerous. Rapid numbers are in The project is also ensuring all roads in the district fact a specific distance from a known point – usually the road yo’re on. But in are named – and the names don’t break rules set out order for them to work, they need to be by LINZ. “We’re doing this for the same reasons as the Rapid Numbering and at the same time – it’s about consistent and understood. consistency so an address is easy to find,” says Gerard.

“Only council can issue a Rapid Number and there are a number of rules “This process will require a lot of consultation with the public as we need to name all unnamed roads, Maori we need to follow. We also ensure the roads and identify and name any private roads. information is on the LINZ national See: www.odc.govt.nz/rapidnumbers property database so emergency services can accurately locate properties when needed,” says Gerard.

St John Opotiki station manager Mike Norman says in his line of work, a consistent and understood address is vital and could save lives. “The first and most important thing we need to know when someone calls 111 is the exact address of the emergency. Rural areas in the Opotiki District can be isolated and difficult to locate for emergency services

Eastern Bay of Plenty Contacts Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty provincial president Darryl Jensen 07 533 1300 021 332216 Young Farmers Eastern Bay of Plenty Cameron Law 027 844 6220 Whakatane District Council Civic Centre, 14 Commerce St, Whakatane 07 306 0500 info@whakatane.govt.nz www.whakatane.govt.nz Opotiki District Council 108 St John St, Opotiki 07 315 3030

info@odc.govt.nz www.odc.govt.nz Bay of Plenty Regional Council 5 Quay St, Whakatane 0800 884 880 info@boprc.govt.nz www.boprc.govt.nz Whakatane i-Site Cnr Kakahoroa Drive and Quay St, Whakatane 0800 942 528 or 07 306 2030 whakataneinfo@whakatane.govt. nz Opotiki i-Site 70 Bridge St 07 315 3031 infocentre@odc.govt.nz

Page 53

Page 54

WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT - WESTERN BOP

Unfolding Melissa’s utopia Two years ago Melissa Hartley was “drowning” and felt she needed to get back in touch with the land.

Living in Tauranga the English migrant had made New Zealand her home for 10 years. Still the urban grind of life was taking its toll. “I got to a point where I needed to get back to the country. It’s always been where I’ve felt most comfortable and I kind of felt like I was drowning a bit in town,” says Melissa.

Owning three businesses, Melissa looked to buy near Rotorua.

But she came past a property on Wainui South Rd, off State Highway 2, between Katikati and Tauranga.

“I stumbled across this place online and decided to drive by. I went to the open home and fell in love. After selling my own place, within two weeks I was moving in.”

Three months later, with the help of partner Richard Hunter and a pack of “hardworking” woofers, Melissa’s transforming her property into a peaceful paradise where people can come to

The place where Melissa Hartley feels most at peace.

All photos: Merle Foster.

unwind, get away from the strains of the daily grind and get close to nature.

She’s called it Riverside Farm – and is aiming to use the land and animals to create a sustainable off-thegrid lifestyle for herself and others – complete with an eco-lodge near the river at the bottom of the hillside 7ha property.

“The plan was always to find a place that had water, a place I could build an eco-bed and breakfast. The plan is to build a place that is completely off-grid – solar, composting – all those sorts of things.

“This place, on my long list of things I wanted, ticked every single one,” says Melissa.

“I wanted an amazing outlook, some peace and quiet but situated on a good network for tourism, and somewhere handy to towns but a place where the animal could live and be happy.”

“The hope is it will be something like a rescue centre for animals – but still everything will need a purpose.”

A menagerie

She inherited 50 Huacaya alpacas with the property but is reducing numbers – despite them being relatively eco-friendly animals. “The damage to the environment an alpaca causes is nearly zero – they’re actually more beneficial. They don’t damage soil like cows and their faeces is very fertile. We bag and sell it and put it on our garden. Their meat is also very good – and you get a lot off one beast.”

But she’s added a menagerie of other animals to help create a balanced organic cycle on the land.

“We’ve got goats, chickens, ducks, horses, a miniature pony, and we have four cattle. The key with any property – especially when you’re trying to go organic – is to have a diverse range so you reduce the parasite problem and keep a good rotation through your fields,

Above: Woofer Anna Ortiz from Mexico works preparing the vegetable garden for autumn. as every animal will eat a certain layer of the grass and deposit different faecal matter with pros and cons.

“If you can get that rotation right you’re going to have a much healthier property.”

Melissa and her helpers have also tackled the existing orchard – which was covered in thigh-high grass– weeding, trimming back trees and adding new fruits.

“We have olives, pears, apples, plums, oranges, figs, nectarines, peaches, apricots, and three different types of apples.” The next step is planting an English berry trail of raspberries, red currants etc.

A large vegetable garden has a rotational crop planned. “The soil is very unhealthy so we’re having to do a lot of work to build up the health of it. Balancing out the pH and nutrition.

“We’ve brought in organic products, plus make compost, worm farms – and we’ve tried to cut everything back so it can start again.”

Melissa hopes to live off her land, feeding herself, her woofers and future eco-lodge guests year-round.

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WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT - WESTERN BOP

Page 55

An off-grid eco-lodge, water, peace, tranquility – and animals continued...

“Obviously, the miniature pony has no use apart from being unbelievably gorgeous, but the goats we will milk to make cheese, the cattle we will eat.

“The horses were a treat to myself but unfortunately I have to sell them because I can’t ride competitively anymore or invest the time needed into them.”

Melissa lives in her two-bedroom home and has rented out a granny flat to a mother and daughter.

Woofers stay in the house or down by the river where Melissa has a basic cabin she’s trialing with solar power. In return for working on the property they receive free accommodation and meals.

Melissa cooks big dinners each night using meat and produce from the farm – and everyone eats together.

“We try to get as much of what we’re eating off the land. Or we barter for goods, or buy local.

All excess produce is frozen for Melissa to use in meals or make preserves with. “And we put some on a stall out the front.” She tries to stand by the motto ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. “I try not to buy anything that doesn’t have another purpose, no plastic bags.”

Down near the river, Melissa plans to build individual cabins on the sloping hillside, with a communal kitchen area, barbecue, and communal bathroom/ shower facility.

“It will be boutique and tranquil. The key is for people to come here and be completely at peace.”

Off-grid oasis

“Yes you’ll be able to get Wi-Fi but basically it will be a place to chill out.” She’s designing it herself, aiming to avoid anything that damages the environment – so it will be off-grid.

Everything will be “reusable or recyclable and visitors can even get involved in activities on the farm”.

So what’s turned the 34-year-old, who has lived the city life in England, to sustainable living?

“I just think we’re completely destroying the planet – and we’re naive to think we are not.

“Yes, I’ve certainly contributed to that. I believe a lot of the health issues now seen are due to terrible diets and obsessions with cleaning that the modern world has.

In only three months of moving my friends constantly comment on how much healthier I look, and most importantly how happier I am.”

Melissa says there’s no reason people can’t be self-sufficient. “It’s just getting it out there. My brother’s been living off-grid in Wales for 10-plus years and that’s been a

Western Bay of Plenty Contacts Federated Farmers Provincial president Bay of Plenty Darryl Jensen 07 533 1300 021 332216 waione@xtra.co.nz Young Farmers Te Puke chairman Nigel Gordon 027 355 1522 Tihoi/Western Bays chairman Donna McKinley 022 183 9221 Waihi chairman Earl Mathers 022 427 1618 Western Bay of Plenty District Council Barkes Corner, Greerton, Tauranga

07 571 8008, 0800 926 732 www.westernbay. govt.nz Bay of Plenty Regional Council 5 Quay St, Whakatane 0800 884 880 www.boprc.govt.nz Te Puke Visitor Centre 130 Jellicoe St, Te Puke 07 571 8008 Waihi i-Site 126 Seddon St, Waihi 07 863 6715 Katikati Information Centre 36 Main Rd, Katikati 07 549 1658

Since 1976

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big inspiration to me.”

Follow Melissa’s journey at ‘Riverside Farm’ on Facebook.

Merle Foster

Page 56

WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT - CENTRAL PLATEAU

A big season ahead after a Gypsy Day move June 1 – or as us farmers call it ‘Gypsy Day’ – is just around the corner! The day where I put my Tetris packing skills to the test and furiously run around doing the last minute cleaning. Only to have to unpack it all, work out what fits where and of course start my new job.

Phone: 07 362 8433

I feel I’m well prepared and making good progress with ensuring the house and section will be in the best of the best conditions for the next team member to fill my shoes.

Unlike many, and thankfully so, I don’t have to move any stock so I’m not having to battle with finding an available cattle truck.

Fortunately, I only have a small move on my hands. I’m heading to Mangakino which is about a 15-minute drive for me. As we all know, many hands make light work, so I

have recruited a team of Young Farmers to help out as well. We all work together helping each other move houses. A few of our club members are moving prior to June 1, which means we can all spread the load.

I’m grateful to have been offered the opportunity I have because it means I get to remain in the community with my wellestablished network of friends and can stay with the same Young Farmers Club. In fact I will actually be right across the road from a very good friend of mine.

Since winning the Dairy Industry Awards’ Central Plateau region Dairy Trainee of the Year award I’ve been invited to join an array of new networks. Federated Farmers, Dairy NZ’s Tiller Talk and the NZDIA Committee itself. This brings a new challenge for me as I work out how much more I can take on

alongside a first-year farm management role while still maintaining some sanity and downtime. I think my biggest challenge next season will be managing everything effectively and recognising when it’s getting to be too much. I’m planning to start working towards the Diploma in Agribusiness next season as well, which I hear is quite time-intensive.

I expect to learn a lot next season as Mangakino isn’t well known for growing record amounts of grass – especially when there is no water irrigation. But I’m also excited for the business opportunities that lay ahead. There has been talk about leasing grazing off the farm owner, which means I will look at buying young stock and raising them to build on my equity.

All in all it’s going to be an exciting season!

Central Plateau Contacts Federated Farmers Rotorua Taupo Provincial president Alan Wills 07 333 8528 027 281 8626 awills22@xtra.co.nz Provincial dairy chairperson Colin Guyton 027 275 6546 Sharemilker farm owners’ sub section Gifford McFadden 07 333 8079 027 281 4364

Young Farmers Reporoa Chairman Lachlan Paine 021 900 235 Taupo District Council 46 Horomatangi St, Taupo 07 376 0070 or 0800 ASK TDC www.taupodc.govt.nz Taupo i-Site 30 Tongariro St, Taupo 07 376 0027 Turangi i-Site Ngawaka Place, Turangi 07 386 8999

WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT - CENTRAL PLATEAU

Colin’s tackling a big farm and big personal challenges

The 2018 Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year, Colin Tremain, with wife Renee and a hungry one-year-old Tahlia.

Photo: Merle Foster.

Central Plateau’s 2018 Dairy Manager of build our herd numbers and cull selectively.” the Year Colin Tremain is farm manager for Somatic Cell Count has dropped 25 per cent since OAD milking started. “The biggest thing we can the Tumunui Lands Trust farm at Rotorua. put this down to is sheer stress on the cows. They’re “Tumunui is huge, it’s developing, it’s a mind game,” says the 30-year-old. “On a good day, it’s unbeatable, there’s nothing like it. On a bad day, it is still unbeatable; you will not win.”

At the region’s Dairy Industry Awards’ field day on March 28 he gave an in-depth insight into how he runs the big operation.

It’s 982ha with 1750-cows, 1100 young stock, with a drystock unit on the back – and 277ha dairy support. It has two 60-bail rotaries with in-shed feeding, and runs as a system 2-3 farm.

The front new shed Colin puts 800 cows through.

The other is 20 years old and at peak milks 950 cows.

“I manage all day-to-day operations and because I can’t be split between two sheds we calve all cows through the old shed – up to 70 a day,” says Colin.

“We don’t start the second shed until 900 cows are in. Then it takes 400 mixed age cows.”

Colin has four full-time staff, one part-timer and an extra during spring. “All are on a six-on, two-off rosters – so seldom do you have the same people in shed so having strong procedures and processes in place is key.”

“Last year we achieved 245kgMS per cow so we saw no reason for us to milk twice-a-day,” says Colin, who switched to once-a-day milking.

He’s reaped huge benefits. “Lameness was horrendous last year – a big part of it was the cows were walking up to 12km a day.

“On OAD they’ve halved that. Production – we expected to drop but we’ve had a very good summer and we’re up in our first year of OAD.” Mating in the past has been poor. “Last year we had a 19 per cent empty rate and 55 per cent sixweek in-calf rate.

“This season we 72 per cent six-week in-calf rate and 11 per cent empty rate. It means we’re able to

just happier.” Colin says Tumunui is a “stunning place to work” but also very challenging. “It’s big and fast-moving and the logistics side – I enjoy numbers, managing and planning things through in my head so enjoy that mental challenge.

“The personal side of it – I’m married with three children. Some days, especially in spring, I barely see them. My wife Renee can attest to this.”

“One of my biggest challenges is managing worklife balance – it’s still something I work hard on.

“To step away and actually give my family the time they deserve.”

Merle Foster

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Page 57

WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT - WAIKATO

Page 58

A gift and privilege to be dairy farming Dairy Industry Dairy Trainee of the Year Waikato winner, Aaron Courage, was immersed in dairy farming from a young age while living in the Gloriavale Community in the South Island.

After leaving the community at age 14, and completing his education in Australia, this motivated and passionate 19-year-old is already an assistant manager on the 450-cow Waikato farm of Stewart and Kathryn Anderson.

“For me it is a gift and privilege to be dairy farming,” says Aaron. “It is our role to portray a good image to urban dwellers and make a positive impact on the country as a whole.”

Aaron also won the Bayleys Real Estate Farming

Knowledge Award and the Waikato Farmers Trust Community and Industry Involvement Award at 2018’s Waikato regional Dairy Industry Awards recently.

The judges were impressed by the depth of his farming knowledge and his mature ability to have a good work/life balance.

Aaron’s passion is breeding and he’s already started to buy animals with contract matings on them.

“I want to breed valuable animals,” says Aaron.

“Not just more animals.”

For Aaron, his goal to progress financially is by using money wisely and he sees cows as an investment. He strives towards sustainable farm ownership, but is focused on being in a contract milking position within five years.

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Dairy Trainee of the Year for Waikato, Aaron Courage. Photo: Catherine Fry.

Giving farmers peace of mind

It’s an unfortunate reality that thieves are becoming bolder and more brazen in their attempts to commit burglaries and other anti-social behaviour.

Luckily, Smartway Security is always working to stay one-step ahead by offering technology solutions that give farmers the edge when it comes to knowing what is going on around the farm.

Whether it’s keeping a track of who is using the fuel bowser or being notified when someone comes in the driveway, Smartway Security has many options designed to give farmers peace of mind.

“We have an even wider variety of products and technology available now, allowing us to provide solutions that were either very limited or just not possible before with older camera systems,” says Smartway Security managing director Roger Bull.

There’s Wi-Fi and wireless data across yards, paddocks, carparks – even line of sight across large rural properties.

Plus, Internet Protocol CCTV systems being network-based not only work alongside gate alerts and alarm systems, but provide amazing crisp clear video.

“We have the ability to connect cameras between remote buildings. Even over hills by utilising the latest wireless technology, back to your main building – so footage can be recorded or viewed in real time,” says Roger.

“Add to this the ability to see cameras on your smartphone or tablet from anywhere worldwide and you have a complete package.”

Roger says farmers no longer feel like they’re ‘blind’ but “far more secure knowing they can keep an eye on the most important things”.

So if you’re having trouble with missing fuel, uninvited vehicles or staff performance etc get in touch today. Smartway Security’s mobile showroom allows them to bring the technology to your farm so you can see it with your own eyes.

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WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT - WAIKATO

Page 59

From milk to wine and back Dairy Industry Awards’ Waikato region Share Farmer of the Year Chelsea Smith returned to her Canterbury dairy farming roots after initially pursuing a career combining winemaking with travel.

The qualified Artificial Insemination technician now Dairy Manager of the Year for Waikato, manages an 1100-cow herd Chelsea Smith answering questions at the for Green Valley Farms in Waikato Field Day. Photo: Catherine Fry. Honikiwi, and is responsible for five staff.

She also received the ADM Feed While she didn’t take out the Management Award, the Fonterra national title in her category, Chelsea Farm Source Dairy Management did picked up three other merit awards Award and the Primary ITO Power at 2018’s regional Waikato Dairy Play Award. industry Awards.

Chelsea and partner, Jarrod Davies, The Staples Rodway Employee are both focusing on farm ownership ngagement Award identifies the good together and working towards that culture she created in her current posigoal. They are careful to diversify tion. The 2018/2019 season will see their investments and Jarrod works Chelsea in her first contract milking away from the farm, running his own season. building company.

“The move from employee to “It is important to push yourself, but employer will be a challenge,” says not too hard,” says Chelsea.

Chelsea. “But work/life balance and “Flexibility around timeframes, and ensuring your set up offers freedom of not putting all your eggs in one basket time is a top priority for me.” is a good approach.”

Catherine Fry

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Page 60

WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT - WAIKATO

Share farmers aiming to become farm owners Dairy Industry Awards’ Waikato region Share Farmers of the Year Steve Gillies and Amy Johnson have their sights firmly set on their goal of owning their own farm by 2028.

The couple currently work on the 475cow Tirau farm of Peter and Marian Van der Heyden, and will be 50/50 share milking on the same farm from June 2019.

Steve was born in Scotland, and was a qualified mechanic before coming to New Zealand in 2010. He’s worked

Share Fa rm Year for ers of the W Amy Joh aikato, nson and Steve Gil lies Pho to: Cather

ine Fry.

on dairy farms ever since, progressing through the ranks. Amy is a Te Awamutu girl with a farming background, and has a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in Agriculture. She currently works as an agri manager with ANZ, and assists on-farm with calving, relief milking and paperwork.

“If we are to own a farm by the time we are 40 we need to reduce debt and increase equity,” says Amy. “With me working off-farm, our investment in a 22ha runoff block, income from the house on it, and other investments, we should be on track for the 33 per cent equity required for our own property.”

In the meantime, they’re concentrating on the current farm. Last year, after a wet spring, followed by a dry spell, feed was brought in which was not used when it rained. Unfazed, the couple adjusted plans and adapted their situation to suit new circumstances.

“If you keep accepting what you have always done then you don’t get any better and get results,” says

Steve. “Every season is a new game.”

The pair also received the DairyNZ Human Resources award at the DIA Waikato regional awards.

They have two workers, Matt and Myles, and both are staying on next season.

“We are supportive of their goals, both personal and professional,” says Amy. “We strive for a good staff culture with social activities after work and at important times of the year.”

Their other award was the Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award. The judges were impressed with Steve and Amy’s level of understanding and commitment to this area.

“We are effectively caretakers of this land and the land around it,” says Steve. “It’s important that you do your bit.”

As well as concentrating on the plan for buying into the herd next season, the pair is also knee-deep in wedding plans.

“With this win, we are getting heaps of practice in for wedding photos,” says Amy. Catherine Fry

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Page 61

Embracing sustainability practices because it’s their duty At the foot of the Kaimai Ranges lies the Troughton dairy farm.

Ben and Sarah Troughton sharemilk 500 cows on the 200ha property, which is owned by Ben’s parents Terry and Margaret, and has been in the family for more than 100 years.

A lot has changed during the last century, and the current generation is embracing a variety of sustainable and environmental farm practices because, as Ben says, it’s their duty to do so.

“At some point you have to change that old attitude of ‘this is how it’s always been done’ and start thinking about the sustainability of our land and the environmental impact we’re leaving,” says Ben. “It’s time to stop making excuses and start doing our bit.”

Reducing the herd

The Troughtons say they’ve incorporated sustainable practices slowly during a period of 10 years, a process Ben says is well worth the time and effort.

As regional councils around NZ implement policies to mitigate nitrogen leaching and improve water quality, farmers are looking at options to reduce surplus nitrogen on-farm while retaining a profitable system. Some options are controlled use of fertiliser and effluent, using low-nitrogen supplements and reducing cow numbers.

Ben’s reduced the herd number from 700 to 500, introduced split calving in autumn and spring, year-round once-a-day milking, controlled feeding and stand-off periods, and irrigating effluent onto crop paddocks. “Our

production is down about seven per cent, but it’s outweighed by the facts our cows and calves are healthier, we have smaller breeding costs and our vet bills are down.”

The Troughtons have also made smaller sustainable changes. “Things like scraping the feed pad instead of hosing down, being conscious of our water use in the shed, composting, and riparian planting alongside our drains – little things that all add up.”

Solar energy

They’re keen to incorporate solar energy in the shed and experiment with growing more of their own feed to reduce imported and chemically sprayed feed.

Nitrogen leaching is also an issue Ben’s conscious of. He’s experimented with plantain, mixing it into grass seed mix, and he’s currently re-grassing some of his paddocks with a mix of environmental plantain, ryegrass and clover as part of a pasture trial with researchers from the University of Waikato.

Ben says plantain has been part of his pasture and grazing planning for a while, but the research was welcome news. “We’d been using plantain, before in our grass seed mixes. We also used it in pugged areas as we found it took well to disturbed soil – it grew

ghton ah Trou hicory, r a S d n Ben a ck of grass, c n o ddo in a pa r and plantain m. r a f a clove atamat their M

Waikato Contacts Federated Farmers President Andrew McGiven 07 884 4360 021 190 2883 waikato@fedfarm.org.nz Provincial dairy chair Jacqui Hahn 07 878 8546 027 835 8147 Young Farmers Hamilton City chairman Steven Law 027 840 8908

Stevenlaw.whk@gmail.com Hauraki chairman Terence Potter 027 953 6666 North Waikato chairman Ken Boothroyd 027 716 4521 Piarere chairman Grant Purdy 021 027 06396 South Waikato chairman oin O’Mahony 021 247 9077 Petrolhead21@yahoo.com

Waikato District Council Private Bag 544, Ngaruawahia 3742 0800 492 452 info@waidc.govt.nz Waikato Regional Council Private Bag 3038 Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240 0800 800 401 Hamilton i-Site Cnr Caro and Alexandra Street, Hamilton 07 958 5960

well and helped settle the damage. Ben says there’s no magic bullet for solving environmental issues on-farm, but he’s heartened by the efforts being made by industry to provide more sustainable options.

“I couldn’t sit here and say one thing in particular is going to solve all our problems. It’s a matter of looking into what’s out there and incorporating what

you can and what’s right for your farm.”

He says there’s nothing stopping other farmers from making the move to more sustainable farming practices. “It’s absolutely about attitude. We have to stop sacrificing the health and quality of our land for short-term gain, for the quick wins,” says Ben. “For the sake of a few extra milk solids we can take steps now that’ll result in long-term results.”

Page 62

WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT - KING COUNTRY

King Country school gets on-farm look at sheep and Angus beef unit

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“A lot of urban children don’t have the same opportunities these days,” says Tim. That’s why he and wife Kelly Brittain have opened the gates to their Otorohanga sheep and beef farm – Storth Oaks Angus Stud – to a local King Country school.

“I think it’s really important that the agriculture sector opens its gates to the community,” says Tim. “If we can give kids a taste of how their food is produced, hopefully it’ll encourage some of the best and brightest to enter our industry.”

The 36 pupils from Benneydale School recently visited Storth Oaks Angus Stud as part of a national project funded by the Red Meat Profit Partnership and delivered by NZ Young Farmers.

The first King Country school to take part in 100 schools project, the students got to learn how DNA testing and artificial insemination is being used to improve genetics on the Otorohanga beef farm.

Storth Oaks is at the forefront of genetics, using genomic testing, artificial insemination and an embryo transfer programme.

Benneydale School students watch a sheep being shorn at Otorohanga sheep and beef farm – Storth Oaks Angus Stud.

“All of our calves are weighed at the breed in NZ. “Semen from the birth and a DNA sample is taken best bulls is frozen in liquid nitrofrom them,” says Tim, the stud’s gen and sold for between $50 and co-owner. $100 per straw,” says Year 8 student “That sample is analysed to verify Ariana Nathan. the calf’s parents and it predicts the She’s one of the school’s Year 7-8 animal’s future genetic worth.” pupils who’ve been learning about “By identifying unsuitable the importance of science and animals early, we can make huge genetics in the red meat sector. genetic progress with our breeding The project will see students from programme very quickly.”

100 primary schools visit sheep and Last July Tim and Kelly won a beef farms around the country. coveted national award for producThe NZ red meat sector will need ing the best steak, beating more an extra 33,000 workers by 2025 to than 300 other entries. replace those who retire or exit the The stud’s relentless pursuit of industry. “That’s why programmes quality means its average bulls are like this are extremely important,” usually in the top five per cent of says Kelly.

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WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT - KING COUNTRY

The NZ ownership of mainly dairy farms started with the 50:50 sharemilking regime in the 1960s-1970s.

If you could cobble together enough cash to buy 100 cows and a bit of gear then find a farm owner who would sign a 50:50 agreement for three years, you were good to go. If you scrimped and saved and got to 200 cows and had the herd largely paid off, you could sell 100 cows and surplus young stock – and hey presto there was your deposit on your own farm. And remember then there was no taxation on stock increases, but it worked.

There have always been issues between farm owners and the 50:50 sharemilkers. Lack of fertiliser by owners and lack of care and maintenance by the 50:50 man was generally the cause of arguments. And argue many did. In bad cases it was horrific.

Today there is a lot, I mean a lot, of dairy farm leasing. The financial pressure on small farms is immense. They are trying to meet new and emerging compliance and regulations, but do not have the economy of scale to carry it. Even if they are nearly debt-free the numbers barely work so they struggle along making very little money.

The emerging trend seems to be to sell the stock and the shares and lease it to a neighbour.

The numbers might look like this on a 200-cow farm: Sell 200 cows at say $1700 $340,000 60 R1s at say $1000 $60,000 70,000 Fonterra Shares at say $6 $420,000 $820,000 Repay debt say $500,000 $500,000 Spare cash to invest? $320,000 Rental Income Say the farm was 70ha producing 70,000kgMS Rent from neighbour 70ha @ say $1300 $91,000

Rents do vary above and below that figure depending on a range of factors such as infrastructure, location, contour, buildings, and so on. On top of the $91,000, many stay on-farm in their existing house so you have say $300,000 to invest in this example at say five per cent: another $15,000 Total income $106,000 If they chose to live off-farm funds have to be found for a house, but most stay put.

Now the tenant pays all outgoings including rates and insurance. There will be a small adjustment in rates if you occupy the home. The cowshed gets shut-down and the pond decommissioned and peace reigns.

I’m not that keen on leasing these small farms to a tenant who runs the business self-contained. There is no economy of scale and arguments start very quickly.

With leasing to the neighbour, he connects up his races to yours, walks the cows through the boundary – it’s a very good option for all concerned.

Clearly, as the farm size increases you get a better economy of scale; therefore it can be leased as a selfcontained unit and becomes more viable for both landlord and tenant.

In summary, instead of selling up your farm an option may be to lease it to a neighbour or as a selfcontained farm if it is of sufficient size. If there is a lot of debt the leasing model doesn’t really work as interest costs take up the bulk of your income.

Leasing your farm to the neighbour is a very good option and retains the land in the family for the future.

Farm leasing is the emerging tenure and largely replacing 50:50 sharemilking.

Disclosure: I do a lot of farm leasing in my business and therefore have a vested interested in this practice. 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 Fraser is principal of Fraser Farm Finance and a consultant to the farming industry. Contact him on 0800 777 675 or 021 777 675.

See a disclosure document on request.

King Country Contacts Federated Farmers Ruapehu Provincial president Lyn Neeson 07 893 8547 027 353 7907 alyn@xtra.co.nz Provincial meat and wool chairperson Nick Street 07 895 7664 027346 0315 Provincial dairy chairperson Luke Pepper 07 895 6121 027 329 2849 chillipeppers@xtra.co.nz

Young Farmers Taumarunui chairman Travis Carter 027 302 9042 travis.carter166@gmail.com North King Country Andrew Sparks 027 7406 901 Otorohanga District Council 17 Maniapoto St, Otorohanga 07 873 4300 www.otodc.govt.nz Waitomo District Council Queen St, Te Kuiti 07 878 0800, 0800 932 4357 www.waitomo.govt.nz

Otorohanga i-Site 27 Turongo St, Otorohanga 07 873 8951, 0800 122 665 Te Kuiti i-Site Rora St, Te Kuiti 07 878 8077 Ruapehu District Council 59-63 Hui St, Taumarunui Taumarunui 07 895 8188 Ohakune 06 385 8364 Raetihi 06 385 4447 www.ruapehu.govt.nz Ohakune/Ruapehu i-Site 54 Clyde St, Ohakune 06 385 8427, 0800 647 483

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LIFESTYLE FARMING

Mycoplasma bovis and stock movement Mycoplasma bovis is a bacterium that causes illness in cattle, including udder infection – mastitis –abortion, pneumonia and arthritis.

In July 2017, the Ministry for Primary Industries detected the bacterial infection Mycoplasma bovis in cattle at a South Canterbury dairy farm. This was the first time it has been found in New Zealand.

MPI has assured the public the infection cannot be passed on to humans and that it presents no food safety risk. MPI has stated there is no concern about consuming milk and milk products from affected cattle.

The disease may be dormant in an animal causing no disease at all. But in times of stress – for example, calving, drying-off, transporting, or being exposed to extreme weather – it may shed bacteria in milk and nasal secretions. As a result, other animals

may be infected and become ill or carriers themselves. Farmers should call their veterinarian if they suspect their cattle are showing any of the clinical signs of the disease including mastitis that don’t respond to treatment – respiratory distress, profound lameness and late-term abortions.

Any animals that come onto your farm are a potential source of disease for your herd. Sending animals away for grazing could expose them to diseases and weeds that you may not have on your farm.

Before purchase/entry

Use a pre-purchase checklist when you buy or lease cattle. Ask questions about animal health, Tuberculosis status, vaccinations, and disease and treatment history. For example, see: www.dairynz.co.nz/m-bovis-prepurchase-checklist. If in doubt consult your veterinarian for specific disease management

advice. Make sure all sending and receiving movements are sent to the NAIT system for all animal movements. Make sure animals have NAIT tags.

Sending animals off-farm

If you are sending animals off the milking platform or home farm talk with your transporter to make sure your animals are transported in a clean truck. Do not allow truck effluent to be dumped on-farm. Talk to your grazier about managing grazing to avoid nose-to-nose contact with other stock.

Consult your veterinarian for specific disease management advice for animals grazing away; preferably before sending them away, and especially if you intend to bring them home.

Treat your animals as new arrivals when they return home. Keep newly-arrived animals separate from resident animals to check the health status of the new animals.

Monitor new arrivals for signs of disease and talk to your veterinarian if you are concerned.

Waikato delays new subdivision rules for district Waikato District Council has delayed notification of their new District Plan so thousands of landown-

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ers can be ‘consulted’ in relation to significant future classifications on their properties. If you’re in the Waikato district, including the old Franklin part, you may have received a letter. If you’ve been too busy and cast it aside, you might like to retrieve it – because the changes could be most significant.

This was the consultation.

Council followed this with a meeting at four localities around the district in late-May, where you could ‘have a discussion’. Whether you attended this or not, the classification will likely go onto your property and if there is a mistake, or you don’t agree with it, your only recourse will be to join the submission process set down to begin after notification of the plan in July.

You’re unlikely to remove it unless it’s a mistake.

More than 5000 properties are affected by these classifications

so there is a good chance one is on your land or nearby. These significant features include native ecological areas – likely to be some exotic planting mistakenly included – Maori cultural sites, landscape features, significant trees and historical buildings.

I encourage every landowner to have a look at the Proposed District Plan immediately it is notified, or before if you have notification, and check out any restrictions proposed for your property.

If you’re wanting to subdivide, the news is not that bad in relation to these significant areas, particularly with native bush or wetland. If a feature on your property is identified as significant, it could provide an opportunity. There could be a chance to subdivide if you have more than 2ha in native bush or wetland and councils sometimes provide subdivision opportuni-

ties in recognition of preserving a feature of importance to the community.

‘Ex-Franklin’ owners could be the big winners in terms of rural subdivision, having had little opportunity for years. The existing Waikato lifestyle lot rule looks like it will be adopted across the district initially. However, I have little faith it will remain long, because last time around the regional council was pushing for a larger parent lot to qualify – and they have some clout!

Brent Trail, managing director of Surveying Services, specialises in resource consent applications for subdivisions across the Waikato, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty. For further information call 0800 268 632 or email btrail@surveyingservices.co.nz

DAIRY

Time to reassess your farm and take care of yourself The cows are dry, so it’s time for farmers to reassess everything – where they’re at in terms of their farming operation, budgets, and goals moving forward – with clear heads.

But they should be looking at their own health at this time of year – go to the doctor and get an annual check-up.

Farmers are known for looking after their animals’ welfare but they should be looking after their own welfare too; and while the cows are away at graziers there’s a bit of free time to sort this out.

As males we often don’t go for checkups and instead wait for things to happen; then it’s too late. So pre-empt it.

Now is when you have time to get blood tests, scans, ultrasounds etc.

Farmers should look at their fitness too. Farmers do work a lot of hours but that doesn’t mean they are all fit. For example, milking cows is not always strenuous until calving, then holy cow!

Fitness

It doesn’t take long to get unfit. And if you’re unfit, you’re potentially not as healthy as you need to be. Then you go into a strenuous stretch of work like calving and you’re not ready for it and it can take its toll. So get a health checkup and put a focus on fitness – now You could join a gym, go mountainbiking, or walk the roadsides. It might seem a bit strange at first but once you get into it, it can be enjoyable. You can meet neighbours, make new friends, and get to new places. This gets you offfarm, which can help with depression too. There’s much reporting on mental illness; generally farmers are more likely to commit suicide than those living in cities. Exercise and general health is one way of combatting those statistics.

Fonterra has announced an opening forecast price to its farmers of $7 per

kgMS for the 2018-2019 season, and increased its 2017-2018 forecast farmgate price by 20 cents to $6.75 per kgMS. Fieldays are around the corner – so if you’re heading to Mystery Creek ensure you do your homework before buying.

I’ve talked before about farmers needing to weigh up whether it is worth buying machinery that’s only used once or twice a year – and sits in the shed depreciating for the other 10-11 months with capital invested, depreciation and replacement inflation on top of that. You could be investing a lot of capital just for convenience. So just think twice about it. Do you really need it? Should you talk to your accountant or farm advisor first? Could you spend the money on something else – a bit of technology or advanced technology – that could help you make your own job quicker or more efficient? Or something tomake things easier on staff? Because it’s not just about the farmer, it’s about their team as well. So be careful where you spend money but certainly look at technology.

Looking forward, farmers can also think about their environmental work on-farm. Farmers need to keep their mind on this – because if they’re ahead of the eight-ball before town-people bring issues to their attention they can respond by saying they’re already working on addressing that concern. This just takes the heat out of it. So you’re not on the back foot.

Look at ways you can put things in place on-farm in terms of reaching environmental goals. Can you plant trees around waterways, swampland, streams or wetlands? For rodent control look at some decent trapping systems – as cold wet winters bring the rats back. I’ve heard rats and mice had a good breeding season with weather being so mild.

So bait up, get resettable traps and look closely at where you need to locate them.

Nitrate warning

Nitrates will be an issue now too.

Because we’ve had some quick growing grass and reasonably mild conditions our growing rates are fairly high, and now our nitrate levels are really high.

So cows need to be fed with caution, to prevent nitrate poisoning, by feeding stock grass along with dry feed like hay, straw or silage, and checking them regu-

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larly. Farmers or graziers should check new pastures before they run cows on.

If nitrate levels are getting high put them on the grass for a few hours and take them off again; or feed them dry feed with the grass.

Nitrate poisoning symptoms to look out for are cows out on their own, sitting down early in the day, or staggering like milk fever when they get up – call a vet straight away and get them off the grass.

Then get some dry feed into them asap. We still have a reasonable supply of dry feeds and silage available. Feel free to give us a call.

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DAIRY

An ice bank could solve your milk cooling woes When upgrading his dairy shed’s refrigeration set-up, Brad Snowdon couldn’t go past an ice bank milk cooling system.

The equity partner in a 400-cow dairy farm at Rerewhakaaitu needed peak milk production cooled down before it went into the vat – but he didn’t have enough power to run extra refrigeration during milkings.

Taupo Refrigeration and Air conditioning Ltd installed an Ice Force Dairy Ice Bank last October – this season it’s made a huge difference.

“The ice bank predominantly makes ice during night-time – and during milkings it turns off,” says Taupo Refrigeration owner Lawry Bidgood.

“A pump draws water from the ice bank, sending it through the milk plate-cooler, which cools milk going into the vat. Then the water goes back to the ice bank to be re-used.”

Simultaneously the system produces hot water for the shed as it builds ice. “I’ve found it really good,” says Brad. “Currently, our chiller doesn’t even turn on during milking. Obviously the temperature increases slightly as ice melts – but there still there is no need for the chiller to turn on,” says Brad.

“The chiller is only there to maintain the temperature below six degrees Celsius until milk is

And with the Ministry for Primary Industries picked up, so it’s working really well,” says Brad. requiring farmers to meet new milk chilling rules Lawry’s team installs ice banks in the South Waikato and Central North Island. “Not all farms by August 1, 2018, an ice bank could be worth looking into. are the same. We engineer each a specific system Brad says it gives him peace of mind. “It’s pretty to match the farmer’s power, primary cooling and much automated, you only have to turn it on.” water availability in their dairy shed,” says Lawry.

“Some clients can hook an existing unit onto a new ice bank. For others it’s just a case of finding space or running pipes to cater for a unit being placed elsewhere.

Lawry says an ice bank has many advantages. “You can build and store your energy when the shed isn’t running – this really comes to the fore with sheds with marginal power capacity.

“You achieve cool temperatures without using a glycol-type chemical. And the ‘coil in water’ design has almost no risk of a tube splitting, causing water to go into the refrigeration unit which is always a danger with plate coolers on water chillers.”

The 3300L concrete tank ice bank have a three-year coil warranty, and require a onceyearly service. “It’s fail-safe equipment,” says Lawry. “And simple as well,” says Brad.

Lawry says the ice bank is also handy for Taupo Refrigeration’s Lawry Bidgood and farms with water restrictions. “It enables you Rerewhakaaitu farmer Brad Snowdon and show to back off your primary water use. Power the ice created inside the ice bank that cools milk consumption will go up – but it can assist in going into the vat. Photo: Merle Foster. water use compliance.”

Merle Foster

DAIRY

Page 67

National Dairy Industry Award winners living the dream The 2018 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winners are smart people who are technologically savvy, care about people, the environment and cows and are doing very well at dairy farming.

Dan and Gina Duncan from Northland have been named the 2018 New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year; Gerard Boerjan from Hawkes Bay-Wairarapa is 2018 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year; and Simone Smail from Southland-Otago is 2018’s New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year, to share prizes worth more than $202,000.

The winners were announced at the national awards at Invercargill’s ILT Stadium on May 12. DIA Awards general manager Chris Keeping says the 33 finalists are acutely aware of the importance of biosecurity and health and safety with regards to both environmental issues, animal management and sustainability. “It’s extremely positive to see such dedication to these issues within the industry.”

Value others

Share Farmer head judge Kevin McKinley, from DairyNZ, says he met people who genuinely value others and how they can help them progress through the industry. “They realise you have to look after staff and value them if you want to keep them,” says Kevin.

The Duncans are 50:50 Sharemilkers for the Pouto Topu A Trust milking 1020 cows on the 460ha Pouto property. Both Dan and Gina, aged 32, hold Bachelor of Applied Sciences majoring in Rural Valuation and Management, with Dan holding a double major including Agriculture.

The judges say Dan and Gina Duncan can be summed up in three words – passionate, professional and committed. “They’re a friendly, outgoing couple working on an exceptionally challenging farm.”

“They epitomise living the dream. They left secure jobs as registered valuers and made the career-change to dairy farming, and they’re excelling at it. They’re the complete package.”

The couple demonstrated strengths in pasture management and financial management – and the PrimaryITO Interview, the Ravensdown Pasture Performance and the Westpac Business Performance merit awards.

Kieran and Leonie Guiney on their 240ha, 830-cow farm at Fairlie.

Southlander Jaime McCrostie, aged 32, placed third and won the PrimaryITO Power Play merit award. Jaime is farm manager for employer Steve Smith and farm owners AB Lime on the 370ha, 930-cow farm at Winton.

for Davison Trust Partnership milking 330 cows on a Central Plateau 116ha farm. Third placegetter Quinn Youngman, aged 21, works on David Dean’s 245ha, 600-cow farm in Mercer. For full results, see: www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz

Love of land

The 2018 NZ Dairy Trainee of the Year, Simone Smail is an excellent example of someone who hasn’t grown up in a farming environment, but has developed an obvious love of the land and the stock she works with, says Dairy Trainee head judge Chris Withy.

“Simone is an example that anyone can go dairying and succeed if they work hard.”

Simone, aged 24, also won DeLaval Communication and Engagement Award and is herd manager on a 780-cow, 310ha Invercargill City Council farm, working for Steve and Tracy Henderson.

Dairy Trainee runnerup, Donna McKinley, also won the Best Video Award presented by Streamliner. Donna is 2IC

Northland couple Dan and Gina Duncan have been named 2018’s New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year.

Targeting excellence

Runners-up were Papakura 50:50 sharemilkers Chris and Sally Guy. The couple are in their second season sharemilking on Allan Guy’s 80ha Papakura property, milking 200 cows. They also won the Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene merit award.

Putaruru contract milkers Steve Gillies and Amy Johnson, both aged 31, placed third and won the Federated Farmers Leadership merit award.

Dairy Manager head judge Mary Crawsays the 2018 Manager of the Year, Gerard Boerjan, targets excellence in everything he’s involved with. “He has great experience as a manger of people, and a great passion for working with people in a large team environment.”

Gerard, aged 50, has successfully farmed in Portugal and Brazil and is now farm manager for Trevor Hamilton on his 553ha Takapau property. He also won the DairyNZ Employee Engagement and the Westpac Financial Management and Planning merit awards.

The Dairy Manager runner-up, Will Green from Canterbury, aged 32, also won the Ravensdown Feed Management Award. Will is farm manager for

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DAIRY

Page 68

A job outdoors on a dairy farm is just what Zoe needed The 2018 Dairy Industry Awards’ Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year, 25-year-old Zoe Gleeson, grew up in town with no farming background.

The somewhat self-taught dairy trainee told attendees at the DIA winners’ field day on April 5 in Tauranga she changed career path after realising she needed a job outdoors.

Halfway through a teaching course

Attention Farmers

Problems with Iron and Manganese?

she realised she couldn’t handle “being stuck inside all day”.

“I met my husband and he was farming so I stopped the teaching course and started working on the farm,” says Zoe. She’s farm assistant for Margaret Wright on her 450-cow, 220ha property at Whakatane.

The farm milks once-a-day and has won environmental awards. “It’s all about sustainability,” says Zoe. Taking responsibility of one of their herd’s pasture management is something Zoe is proud of achieving. “I knew nothingto-very-little about pasture management at the start of the season. Now I can consistently maintain pasture quality and

milk production.

When asked what inspires her, Zoe says her father. “He’s always been my inspiration; he’s always put in 2000 per cent for our family. You work to build your family up, you work to move yourself forward, and your work provides your life. It doesn’t become your life.”

Zoe hopes to reach farm ownership of multiple farms eventually. She’s currently juggling motherhood and working alongside her husband.

Maddison Brown

Zoe Gleeson at the Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry wards fie d day.

Photo: Maddison Brown.

Tinkering won’t fix the nitrate issue NZ Designed Rural Filtration Systems for the Removal of Iron and Manganese and Other Rural Problems     

The reason for excess nitrate entering waterways and aquifers is that too much ‘bag N’ is being applied to pastures.

The summation of the hundreds of trials undertaken by MAF were that the use of nitrogen fertiliser on permanent grazed pastures was seldom worthwhile.

The most common reason given for the seemingly widespread refusal to discuss a reduction in ‘bag N’ applications is it would lead to fewer animals resulting in lower farm production and causing a severe financial recession in rural New Zealand.

Under the current mainstream regular applications of nitrogen, pasture growth has steadily declined from a high of 18,000kg in the late-1970s, to at best 15,000kg DM/ha now, with speed of decline accelerating. It is therefore just a matter of time before pastoral farming becomes uneconomic. Another five years should be enough to see a severe contraction, particularly as the costs of production and compliance steadily increase.

The total amount being applied varies depending on the source with a figure of 750,000 tonne regularly appearing.

Nitrogen is sold as a growth stimulant, with each kilogram of nitrogen providing extra kilograms of pasture with the response varying depending on the time of the year when applied.

Date from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – now named the Ministry for Primary Industries – going back as far as the 1970s shows two things are important in this discussion.

Firstly, the time when the response to applied N is greatest is when pasture is naturally growing rapidly – so September, October and November.

The second important point is after the burst of growth provided by nitrogen there is a depression in growth, usually due to suppression of clover.

This means the application of N in spring is of little, if any, benefit as growth at that time already exceeds animal requirements. Further boosting of growth at this time leads to clovers being shaded, and from early-November onwards it is clover that naturally outperforms grasses.

Upside

Uneconomic

Nitrogen applied in late-autumn and winter is usually uneconomic, due to lessened response, and it is prone to leaching during periods of wet weather.

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There’s always an upside to extreme challenge, and the farming community has always found ways to prevail. The first step is to drag the nitrogen issue out of the shadows for rigorous debate. Much better that than have its use regulated.

There are a group of farmers already ahead of the game. They have steadily increased annual pasture production, lessened pest and disease pressure, achieved higher per animal production and markedly lower overall costs.

The 10 years of measured monthly pasture production from the Berryman property close to Edgecumbe show steadily increasing pasture performance over that time, with total farm production to match.

It’s an intensive dairy operation with production in excess of 1300kgMS/ha and 500kg/cow, with the herd wintered on the property. Pasture production for the 12 months ending May 30 was 19,278kgDM/ha, down from 21,151kgDM/ha last season.

The farm is not reliant on fertiliser nitrogen and less than 30kg/ha is applied annually. Typically, a small amount is applied in autumn to help transition pasture from summer to a more grass-dominant sward.

A little sulphate of ammonia is sometimes applied in mid-winter to encourage early season growth. It’s a pragmatic system with nitrogen fertiliser regarded as a strategic input, however at anFertiliser average daily growth rate Functional Fertiliser of 55kgDM/ha itsFunctional use is seldom considered.

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DAIRY

A right old talk fest The two days of the DairyNZ Farmers Forum at Mystery Creek last month were interesting, both for what was said and what wasn’t referred to.

The two Ministers – Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, and Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw – put their cases strongly, both stressing the need to get on with things, rather than have a way for more wasted time.

I sensed the mood of the several hundred farmers was more realistic this year than at the last version, and the questions put to O’Connor in his Q&A session were based on what has to happen, rather than purely antagonistic. He even mentioned we needed some soil research, something skipped over by almost all the rest.

Between them they have set up various new committees recently, and even set them some target dates for ideas and planning, to fit round the new legislation planned for later this year. You could say that ‘hurrying’ is a new buzzword!

Economist Cameron Bagrie described what was needed was a fourth industrial revolution, this time fusing technical advances, the physical situation, digital assistance, and biological thinking.

Uncertainties

While Kiwis have been good at the separate issues, we need to move fast to keep our innovation faster than the disruption effects. Of course money came into it, with high global debt, low productivity and an ageing demographic having to cope with the uncertainties of inflation and the dollar value.

There was a lot of talk about the scary uncertainties rushing at us from the future. Futurist Roger Dennis provided some troubling food for thought about the worldwide future lack of water, and the need to grow food in the strangest places, including multi-storey buildings in places like London. Population growth and urban expansion may yet make outdoor farming into a curiosity, despite the appetites of the rich minority. Keeping up-to-date with what is happening elsewhere will be very necessary, and our current worries may seem totally irrelevant in 10 years’ time.

The session with the heads of four milk processing companies – Fonterra, Tatua, Open Country and Miraka – clearly showed the different that size and focus make, with the three smaller ones determined to stick to their individual focus, and work closely with their own clients. Fonterra has set up its Tiaki Sustainable Dairying Programme, focusing on farm environmental plans to start with, and little mention on its marketing efforts. I think the audience fully appreciated the Miraka approach of ‘Take change by the hand before the hand grabs your throat’.

Networks and collaboration

DairyNZ’s science approach still seems fixated on growing more ryegrass, despite eight years of some very expensive research. Their Forage Value Index is definitely a mantra and soil got mentioned by DairyNZ’s Bruce Thorrold, in one single sentence, as perhaps needing a look at.

Futurist speaker Julian Cribb on the future of food, also stressed the absolute need to recycle trie ts a d water parti ar y ef e t.

Another futurist speaker was Julian Cribb on the future of food, who was also stressing the absolute need to recycle nutrients and water, with a farmer focus on effluent particularly.

He was also strong on synthetic meat and milk, more or less advising that if we couldn’t beat the overseas research, we could do worse than join it.

Westland Milk has been doing some serious market research and now has a joint venture with Southland to produce a superior butter – Westgold – using traditional churning and only best quality ingredients. Beginning near home, they have now spread it throughout the country’s supermarkets.

Somewhat closer to farmers themselves, a session featuring Federated Farmers national president Katie Milne, the Dairy Women’s Network trustee Pamela Storey and Dairy Environment Leaders Forum’s Corrigan Sowman spoke about the power of networks and collaboration, and how each of their organisations was attempting to strengthen this.

Federated Farmers has recently widened the range of organisations they are cooperating with. While DWN now has lots of members, a much-used budget module and their wide-ranging conference. And Dairy Environment Leaders Forum is focusing on VUCA – Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity – and attempting to change it to mindset on visualisation, understanding, courage and adaptation.

Mother Nature

What I found somewhat sad throughout was the focus on what technology and the rest of the world may have in store for us, and so little about how we could simply turn our minds round from man-made inventions and look again at what Mother Nature could do all by herself if we stopped killing off the processes which her myriad creatures were created for.

Chemical farming seemingly has no long-term future, and trying to claim purity is a myth. But currently that’s where the funds are coming from, so don’t hold your breath for change.

Sue Edmonds

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Page 69

Page 70

FERTILISER

FERTILISER

Page 71

‘Failing to look at the big picture?’

By David Law; DipAg, CEO, Forward Farming Consultancy

out into our effluent ponds, which farmers are then encouraged to apply to the soil as fertiliser. Good effluent containing healthy biology can then contribute to a healthy soil.

A great deal of respect is given to people who have accumulated letters after their name after Chlorine damage spending time at a university.

Another so-called advancement in Research institutes utilise these taught skills and soak up our research budget studying specific problems in specific areas.

I see some limitations in our farming research where so-called advances in one area are creating problems in another area.

An example of this is where recently a scientist I met had two PhDs in Nutrition but knew nothing about soil.

Soil science training

Most vets have vast knowledge of animal disease, diagnosis and treatment but have not been trained in soil science. This is not a criticism but an observation.

Recently, I spent time in Denmark with a senior vet and nutritionist focused on finding the reason for animal diseases particularly in Europe.

This is part of a treatment plan for farmers who can lose cows very quickly from clostridia and similar diseases like botulism.

Dr Erri’s research has led him to the soil for answers. Unbalanced soil nutrients is leading to unbalanced feed, which is leading to the inability for cows to naturally fight diseases without the aid of vaccines and medicines to keep them healthy.

A so-called advance in nutrition, which is a trend beginning in NZ, is the use of increasing rumen bypass feeds to produce milk. In Europe this trend is well developed and although this practice produces milk, Dr Erri commented that it is at the expense of animal health.

Cows are barely completing two lactations under this system. He said nutritionists are treating a cow like a machine and by bypassing the rumen are not respecting the full nutrition that the bugs in the rumen need to complete their job to maintain a healthy cow and her immune system.

The conditions in a cow’s rumen also dictate the bugs which carry on

science is the heavy use of chlorine in our cowsheds. In the past two years there’s been a massive increase in its use and although scientists are denying it, this chlorine is doing massive damage to our effluent ponds. The chlorine in alkaline, chloride of lime and liquid chlorine, all produce residuals which upon entering the pond wipe out the benificial biology, which are there trying to make effluent a good fertiliser for the soil. This is not a theory. I’m seeing it regularly as I’m called to fix farmers’ effluent.

Although it’s obviously the go-to product to keep a farmer grade-free there has been no respect from educated experts on the effects outside their narrow vision. The next

step is the sterilisation of our effluent and eventually sterilisation of our soil.

Furthermore a soil with compromised beneficial bacteria will create an abundance of pathogenic bacteria, which will eventually get to the feed grown in that soil.

It is now clear to me every part of the farming system plays an important role for the whole farming enterprise to function correctly, economically and sustainably – yet few farmers and qualified experts have connected all the dots.

In my work specialising in effluent, it amazes me that farmers and most qualified experts have no idea how effluent ticks. What I’ve learned and discovered in the last four years is new science. Nobody else has taught it, even in universities. This again is

because of a specialised focus taken on people with little education connecting thought to the big picture.

I’ve developed a concept I call the BioCircle, which shows the important interaction of all activities on the farm – showing not only the success which can be achieved but also the damage which can occur if any particular area of the BioCircle is not performing to its best. It is interesting to note the effluent pond, which is generally used as a dumping ground, will show the biggest visual picture of what the whole BioCircle is doing.

f

en

ro e s

Many people think the problems associated with effluent start in the effluent pond, which leads to a whole industry of machines to process it.

In fact the efflu- ent pond and

its associated problems is the result of all the parts of the Biocircle, which come before the pond. These include: chemicals used in the cowshed; cow health and her ability to digest feed efficiently feed quality including fullness of nutrition with trace elements; soil quality including the level of nutrients; and trace minerals to grow quality feed for the cow.

en fee in

A good balanced soil, which allows balanced nutrients to feed grass and legumes, will also feed the microbes which then move through the system to beneficially effect the feed grown and the rumen in the cow, creating the best conditions to digest the feed eaten.

The more feed digested by these quality conditions created by a perfectly balanced soil means not only higher production, but also a resulting effluent pond naturally free of crust.

After all, a crust on an effluent pond is merely undigested feed which all begins in the soil.

The soil is so important to the system that I believe farmers should learn some good quality basics about the effectiveness of correct ways to balance soil.

Don’t rely on your fertiliser representative who is only interested in your money.

Don’t leave your most important asset to someone who can deceive you.

A phrase which I have learned to respect is: ”If you feed your soil you will grow your business”.

Page 72

FERTILISER

The future of farming lies in the soil It is long overdue for the Government to step into the environmental pollution picture and do something about it.

We believe many farmers are responsible when it comes to nitrogen application, but there are certainly those that push the boundaries. The problem is the rest of us wear the costs of downstream pollution, not just those responsible for causing it.

This applies no matter what the source of pollution; whether it is rural, urban or industrial. That attitude needs to change.

Taxing nitrogen product? A punitive approach with disincentives does not send the right signals. Instead incentives to encourage correct product choice, production of quality goods, carbon sequestration and other positive holistic results must be employed.

In 1979 there were 16,000 tonnes of urea imported into NZ. Last year 820,000 tonnes were imported or manufactured here. That figure is double the urea used five years previously. Other nitrogen products each sit at about 10 per cent or less of urea. Questions need to be answered about why the sudden increase, and if in fact it resulted in more pasture grown. In the 1960s-1970s, the Department of Agriculture was measuring 17,00018,000kg/ha pasture on Waikato dairy farms.

Has urea really increased pasture growth and productivity? We suggest the opposite has happened.

Urea has caused serious harm to the dairy industry. Some Kiwi Fertiliser clients can produce well over 20,000 kg/ha of high quality pasture with no urea whatsoever.

Overseer claims if you’re growing more clover, you’re leaking more nitrogen. Wrong. It doesn’t take into account products used, pasture species, rooting depth, humus and microbial content of soil etc. Overseer is the product of chemical thinking, not biological processes.

This chemical mindset is pervasive throughout the agricultural hierarchy. It goes right into the court system. The N-P-K count is all important. Microbiology means nothing.

Yet microbiology, humus,

carbon sequestration and other left-field subjects are the answer to environmental pollution. Here’s some negative effects of chemical urea. Excess nitrogen use reduces humus levels in soil, transferring carbon from the soil into the atmosphere.

The nitrogen itself can volatilise to the atmosphere and leach into waterways.

Human problem

High nitrate levels in pasture lead to a raft of animal health issues and costs.

High nitrate in plants allows little room in the forage for other necessary minerals. You can’t have both, so high nitrate equates to poor nutrition. Excess nitrate lessens oxygen in the bloodstream, leading to poor animal health. It leads to higher methane production in the rumen and contributes to lameness.

The liver struggles to convert excess ammonia to excretable urea; the net result is rapid post-calving weight loss. Scientists try to treat the urea patches to save the environment. The inference is the animal is at fault, when it is in fact a 100 per cent human problem.

Treating symptoms actually treats nothing in the long term and fails to address underlying causes. Milk Urea Nitrogen is an excellent predictor of nitrogen excretion. MUN needs to be capped, not only for of the environment’s sake, but for the consumers’ sake. Farmers must be paid for quality.

There has been a huge increase in non-cycling cows, lower pregnancy rates, aborted foetuses and compromised immune systems. Mastitis problems have escalated, leading to unacceptable antibiotic use further compromising animal health and soil microbiology. Many, if not most calves are now raised on antibiotic milk and purchased antibiotic feed. Even milk with a high Somatic Cell Count is limited as to its end use.

Milking cow lactations have reduced, they’re culled sooner, and more heifers calve with mastitis. Only 25 per cent of heifers see a third lactation. Herd longevity is reduced, and peak production ages are not attained.

This alone is a huge negative, as longevity is a major driver of profitability.

Nutritionally compromised

There’s a trend of massively increased mineral and feed supplementation. This includes palm kernel and introduces another set of problems with cow health, milk quality and profitability. Our national herd is nutritionally compromised and clearly unhealthy, yet we’re producing a perceived health product. As a nation we rely on world trade so we need to differentiate our products away from mass produced factory-farmed milk to healthy pasture-fed produce.

That in itself changes the health and value of the product. The answer lies in the soil, in fact in superior and balanced soil fertility. This is not attained by applying urea, superphosphate or potassium chloride, but by carefully selecting fertiliser materials including carbon sources, that will perform best in each individual soil.

Acknowledgements: Phyllis Tichinin. References available.

FERTILISER

Page 73

Work out a pragmatic nutrient management plan this winter The coldest months of the year are just around the corner, so farmers should be particularly cautious when applying nitrogen fertilisers to pasture or crops.

gen fixation by clover by about 1kg N/ha/year for every 3kg of N fertiliser applied.

In addition, clover content will be further reduced if nitrogen boosted pastures shade the clover. This effect is seen during spring.

Conversion efficiency

Remember, the profitability of applying nitrogen is dependent on the utilisation of the extra feed. Therefore, nitrogen needs to be strategically applied to fill genuine feed deficits.

Nitrogen conversion efficiency for any farm is another key point to be remembered. This is measured by calculating total nitrogen in product divided by the total nitrogen inputs into a farm and is expressed as a percentage. A dairy farm, for example, is probably doing fine with about 40 per cent.

Winter applications of nitrogen fertilisers are generally the least effective for promoting grass growth. That’s because slow growth of pasture in winter and greater drainage can result in nitrate leaching before plants can take it up.

The nitrogen may make its way to waterways where it can stimulate nuisance algal growth.

Lactating cows excrete, in urine, about 70 per cent of the nitrogen they consume. Again, the risk of this nitrogen leaching from urine patches is much higher in winter.

Nutrient budgeting

Some of the research to mitigate nitrogen losses has focused on: growing pasture with more rooting depth for interception of nitrate; reducing the amount of time animals spend on pasture; and feeding high-sugar grasses to reduce the amount of nitrogen lost in urine.

Nutrient budgeting using computer models such as Overseer, combined with feed budgeting, enables farmers to understand whether they are using too much or too little fertiliser. By doing this, farmers can optimise the use of nutrients and reduce the impact on the environment by working out a pragmatic nutrient management plan.

Understanding the term “response rate” helps farmers when it comes to implementing these plans. The response rate is the amount of pasture grown in terms of kilograms of dry matter (DM) per kilogram of nitrogen (N) applied. For example, when 20kg N/ha is applied and an additional 200kg DM/ha of pasture is grown the response rate is 10kg DM/kg N applied.

The response is dependent on several factors such as soil temperature, plant growth, soil moisture, deficiency of available nitrogen in soil and the rate of nitrogen applied per application.

The best response to N fertiliser occurs on fast-growing pasture, when other factors such as moisture and soil temperature are not limiting growth.

Response rate variation also depends on the season and on nitrogen application rate.

In winter, at the same application rate, responses are lower and slower than other times of the year.

It is better to apply nitrogenous fertiliser when the pasture cover is 1500-1800kg DM/ha. This ensures there is sufficient leaf area for photosynthesis leading to good pasture growth.

Also, nitrogen fertiliser reduces nitro-

Reducing nitrate leaching by adapting grazing systems to alternative plant species and cultivars has been a major focus of research in the recent past.

Plantain emerged as an important pasture herb that has a proven ability to reduce nitrate losses.

Plantain reduces the concentration of N in the animal urine and allows plants to take up a greater proportion of the N, which in turn reduces leaching.

I’m happy to say a number of farmers, as well as industry organisations, are already doing a great job trying to increase productivity and reduce environmental impacts through more careful use of nutrients.

Bala Tikkisetty is a sustainable agriculture advisor at Waikato Regional Council. Call him on 0800 800 401 or email: bala.tikkisetty waikatoregion.govt.nz Bala Tikkisetty, Waikato Regional Council

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Page 74

Feathers’ farm in perfect balance for success Hawke’s Bay dairy farmers Kay and Roger Feather have faced challenges with their effluent pond at a pretty extreme end of the scale – and have come to the conclusion that a more biological approach is a far better long-term solution.

Soil Pond

Grass

Cow

After spending thousands on machinery-driven solutions to de-crust their effluent pond, the addition of Slurry Bugs in 2015 has been the only successful longterm solution – and three years on, the same bugs are still keeping the pond clear.

The Feathers own Wairango Station, an 806ha Hawke’s Bay dairy farm on “environmentally fragile” land.

They built a large 6,000,000L effluent pond to meet council regulations, incorporating recommendations for special pumps and monitoring equipment, and a vertical stirrer to mitigate the poor power supply to the pond.

However, after one year the pond crust was severe. “The stirrer company said we needed a second stirrer, which cost $8000,” says Roger Feather. “We thought ‘Okay, if we have to’.”

Six months later, no progress had been made. The company suggested they needed four-six stirrers – a revelation met with disbelief by the Feathers.

The pond was dangerously close to overflowing, and with the Taharua Stream on their land, the Feathers risked a $75,000 fine.

The pond was pumped at a cost of $24,000, and six weeks later a digger was brought in to remove the crust, which had returned thicker than ever at 1m.

In March 2015, Kay and Roger considered taking a more biological

approach. They met with David Law of Forward Farming Biological Consultancy and agreed to trial Slurry Bugs, under one condition: if Roger didn’t see his face reflected in the pond, he wasn’t going to pay a cent.

David agreed.

The pond was pumped down as far as possible in order to reduce the initial workload required by the Slurry Bugs, and a hose system was used to soften the crust, enabling more light and oxygen into the pond – conditions the aerobic Slurry Bugs need in order to thrive and establish dominance.

Despite a promising start, the hardened state of the pond and the reluctance of farm workers to follow new practices meant results were slower than expected. In June the couple agreed to persevere for another couple of weeks.

“I hadn’t seen the pond for a while, and one day in July I came over the hill and I saw it,” says Roger. “I said: ‘Good God That’s unbelievable ’ The pond was back to how it was when we first built it.

I could see my reflection in the surface.”

Despite navigating a few more challenges, the real transformation came three weeks after the cows were dried off. With no new pathogen-filled effluent entering the pond, the Slurry Bugs were able to catch up and permanently transform the pond back into a liquefied state.

Three years on, no new Slurry Bugs have been added. David says if conditions remain ideal, the Slurry Bugs will continue to dominate and keep the pond crust-free.

“As long as the pH remains at an ideal level of around 6.3, at which beneficial bacteria thrive, and harmful chemicals are kept out of the pond, the Slurry Bugs will continue to do their job of liquefying effluent, readying it for uptake to pasture,” says David.

Farmer fined for ‘woefully inadequate’ effluent management A Te Kowhai dairy farmer has been convicted and fined $35,625 in the Hamilton District Court for

allowing large volumes of dairy effluent to overflow into the environment.

The contamination was identified in a routine inspection by Waikato Regional Council in March 2017 as part of its compliance monitoring programme.

The prosecution against dward Smith, brought by WRC, related to an overflowing effluent holding pond and a blocked effluent drainage pipe, each resulting in

overland flows of dairy effluent.

In sentencing Mr Smith, Judge Melanie Harland commented on the inadequacies of the effluent infrastructure on his farm, saying it was “barely adequate” and concluding the management of the system was “woefully inadequate”.

WRC investigations manager Patrick Lynch agreed with the judge that “investment in the effluent infrastructure, and the management of it, needs to be

afforded a very high priority”.

“The judge’s comments reinforce the message both council and the industry itself have been promoting for years.

“It’s very disappointing to find some farms continue to operate with inadequate storage. This fine is yet another clear message from the court that people who do not take their environmental responsibilities seriously will be heavily penalised.” th1962m 27/4/18

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CALVING

Page 75

The optimal calf-rearing ingredient for this calving season Generally, nutritional scours are caused by large changes in the type of milk fed to calves, or changes in the amount or frequency of feeding such as a change from twice-a-day to once-a-day feeding.

“When nutritional scours occur, water is lost through the faeces leading to dehydration,” says BEC Feed Solutions country manager Trina Parker.

This season a unique prebiotic product is set to boost calf health, saving those rearing calves valuable time and money whilst giving

calves a fantastic start.

Opticell Plus Ultra Fine is a naturally-derived prebiotic fibre that provides preventative support for healthy gut function of calves from day one.

Developed and manufactured in Europe, Opticell is designed for inclusion in Calf Milk Replacer or whole milk.

Trina says it effectively nurtures and promotes a good balance of microbes within the lower digestive tract.

“Opticell also encourages natural water absorption in the colon; mediating the effects of nutritional scours and resulting in

improved faecal quality.

Trina says she uses it to rear calves at home too “and won’t be without it”. “The results are quickly obvious and there is no messy calf poo, it is dry fibrous and clean.

“The calves are also content and it seems to encourage them to eat meal quicker,” says Trina.

When included from day one – at 25g/calf/day – throughout rearing, Opticell UF can help to ease the transition from colostrum to whole milk or CMR. Opticell UF is easy to calculate, mix into milk, holds in suspension and does not clog feeder teats.

Helen Wilson

Healthy happy calves.

Photo: Trina Parker, Pirongia.

Bobby calf deaths down by half The number of bobby calves that die between the farm gate and the works is now down to six calves for every 10,000 – and that is a victory for our animal welfare regulations, says the Associate Minister of Agriculture responsible for animal welfare, Meka Whaitiri.

“This improvement is just great to see and represents a lot of hard work done

by MPI and the industry to improve the welfare of bobby calves.

“In 2008 the mortality rate was a depressing 68 calves per 10,000 and that prompted changes in the industry that saw that rate start to fall.

“The regulations that were introduced in 2016 have seen the deaths continue to drop every year.

“Improvements in the mortality rates

show that these regulations, alongside the industry’s own initiatives, have made a real difference.

“The welfare of calves is a collective responsibility so it’s important that we keep up the good work to make sure calves are treated humanely.”

MPI developed the Animal Welfare (Calves) Regulations and implemented four of them in 2016, with the final three regulations coming into force in 2017.

“I’m delighted there is yet another improvement in the mortality rates around bobby calves but we must remain vigilant,” says Meka.

The full ‘Mortality rate in young calves in the 2017 spring calving season’ report is at: www.mpi.govt.nz/ calves

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Page 76

Funding organisations for industry good Every six years, industry good organisations, such as Horticulture New Zealand, are required to ask their levypaying farmers and growers for continued support and funding.

If this support is received, then under the Commodity Levies Act legislation, that organisation is compulsorily funded for the next six years.

This year, Horticulture New Zealand, along with a number of specific fruit and vegetable representative groups, is putting proposals to our levy-paying growers to get their support for the next six years. Our levy voting takes place during July.

Horticulture NZ is a pan-industry organisation focused on nationwide issues. We do not deal with individual product group issues, such as market access. We work collectively on major issues for horticulture, such as attracting

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Our vision – healthy food for all forever – and our mission – creating an enduring environment where growers prosper – explains what Horticulture NZ is focused on.

The horticulture story

This translates into telling the horticulture story to the public and politicians, to bridge any urban-rural divide and explain what goes into growing healthy food in a sustainable way. We want to increase everyone’s understanding of what horticulture is and the contribution it makes to New Zealand financially, culturally and socially, as well as providing healthy food for everyone to eat.

Horticulture is growing and there is further potential as consumer preferences move away from animal-based protein to a vegetable-based diet. Ensuring growers get a voice with central Government in Wellington, is our second main activity. We make submissions on Government policy and proposed legislation to influence direction where we can, to enable the right environment for growing fruit and vegetables.

Our growers are facing increasing compliance requirements from councils and government. This is another area where we work, particularly with planning controls imposed under the Resource Management Act. We are focused on protecting the 5.2 per cent of New Zealand’s soils that are suitable for growing fruit and vegetables. Following our media-focused food security campaign

to protect these soils, we have had some success. The Environment Minister agrees these soils need to be protected with a national direction to councils – called a National Policy Statement – under the Resource Management Act. We contend that New Zealand, into the future, needs to be able to have suitable land to grow the food to feed its population, as well as meet export market demands.

Resources

Working with the other industry good groups to increase the impact and maximise the use of our resources, we have a strong focus on biosecurity – keeping pests and diseases out of New Zealand and dealing with them if they arrive – and on attracting, upskilling and retaining people in the industry, with a focus on employing New Zealanders. This includes running specific training programmes and workshops to ensure employment law compliance for example.

In addition to the food security campaign, we have run a campaign for the mandatory Country of Origin Labelling for fresh fruit and vegetables. This is because independent research has shown the New Zealand consumer wants to know where their fruit and vegetables come from, and they also want to eat fresh and locally grown. Both these campaigns are close to being successful.

If you are a commercial fruit and vegetable grower make sure you are registered to vote in the levy referendum in July. To check you are registered go to: info@hortnz.co.nz or ring our office on 0508 467 869.

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HORTICULTURE

Page 77

New research facility to grow technology exports PlantTech is the fourth successful proposal to receive funding through MBI ’s initiative to establish new regional research institutes and will receive $8.4 million in start-up funding during the next five years.

Private funding is expected to make up 80 per cent of the institute’s funding within 10 years, and PlantTech

projects it will grow from the eight original members to 20 members by 2027.

The institute will operate as a private, independently-governed organisation, and recruitment is underway for a chief executive and three research directors. The institute is expected to have eight-10 full-time staff.

Josephine Reader

Cucumber’s Ian Gray, PlantTech innovation manager Shane Stuart, Trimax’s Michael Sievwright, Cucumber’s Tim King and Blue Lab’s Jono Jones are involved in the new research institute. Photo: Nikki South

Bay of Plenty will benefit from a new multi-million dollar research institute set to open its doors in July 2018.

PlantTech aims to leverage the Bay of Plenty’s strengths in horticulture to accelerate and commercialise research and innovation for the benefit of the region and New Zealand.

“We aim to grow technology exports and knowledge intensive jobs in technology for horticulture, by enabling companies better access to world class expertise,” says PlantTech innovation manager Shane Stuart.

Three focuses

PlantTech’s research will focus on three areas: data analytics, automated devices, and vehicles and mobile decision support.

“Our overall focus is really on developing artificial intelligence to support growers in the orchard, greenhouse or out in the field,” says Shane.

One of the founding investors in PlantTech is Bluelab, an exporter of pH metres and controllers. Bluelab head of innovation Jono Jones, says: “The vision of PlantTech is perfectly aligned to our innovation needs and pipeline. Having access to this capability will hugely accelerate our growth path on a global stage”.

Another of PlantTech’s founding companies is

Zespri. Chief Innovation and sustainability officer Carol Ward says to compete in the technology space the kiwifruit sector needs new capabilities, as well as more traditional research partners.

“The PlantTech concept offers an innovative way to grow these capabilities, and to work together with new and existing partners, to develop and commercialise technologies for the kiwifruit sector,” says Carol.

Competitive advantage

Michael Sievwright, chief executive of Trimax, which exports largescale mowing systems, says the intellectual property and technologies developed as part of PlantTech will help his company innovate and grow competitive advantage globally.

Nigel Tutt of Bay of Plenty economic development agency, Priority One, which co-ordinated the consortium of companies behind PlantTech, says small to medium enterprises struggle to get their hands on high quality research and development – and PlantTech will help these growers.

Eight companies

Agbeam

PlantTech brings together a mix of eight technology companies, exporters and multi-nationals, as well as the University of Waikato and Priority One, which made a successful application to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and mployment’s Regional Research Institute fund.

Agbeam

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 78

LIST YOUR RURAL EVENT HERE! email your listing to: elaine@thesun.co.nz with ‘Rural Event’ in the subject line.

May 31-June 3

Big Three Contest, hunting and fishing challenge, Opotiki.

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June 1

Plant for Arbor Day,

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Introduction to Biochar, 9am-4pm, 131 Deam Rd, Waihi, $196. See: tinyurl. com/yckb724b

June 2-3

Plant Sales, 10am-4pm,

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June 5

Arbor Day.

June 9

Intro to Edible Gardening,

9.30am-12.30pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $75. See: www.fallsretreat. co.nz

June 10

Fieldays National Art

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June 13-16

June 24

New Zealand’s National

Bonsai Workshop, 2pm-4pm, Bunnings, Hamilton, free.

Fieldays, Mystery Creek, Hamilton. This year’s fourday is the 50th anniversary and the theme is the ‘Future of Farming’. See: fieldays. co.nz

June 28

Waikato Horticultural

June 16 & 23

Tree Pruning Workshop, 10am-2pm, Katikati area, $50. See tinyurl.com/y96frua2

Society, 7.30pm, Hamilton Gardens, $5. Speaker is Jo McCarroll, editor of NZ Gardener. Ph Carmel 07 859 0158.

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Winter Orchard Pruning, 10am-4pm, Tirau, $120. See: www.lals.nz

June 18

Once-A-Day milking conference back

shop, 9.30am-3pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $120. See: www.fallsretreat. co.nz

Plant Sales, 10am-4pm, Hamilton Gardens.

July 7

Tree Crop Sale, 9am-1pm,

Hamilton Gardens Camellia carpark (gate 2). Cash only.

Ph Beryl 027 695 6229.

Intro to Edible Gardening,

9.30am-12.30pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $75. See: www.fallsretreat. co.nz

Rotorua Botanical Society AGM, 6pm, DOC office (Scion entry), guest speaker Richard Pender on Hawaiian flora. See: tinyurl.com/ h4zph2x

July 14

Tree Crop Sale, 10am-

June 19

Plant Propagation Through

the Year, 9.30am-2.30pm, Whakamarama (near Tauranga), $45 (series of 4 $165). See: tinyurl.com/ y8hjdoc6

12.30pm, Showgrounds, Katikati. Ph 07 549 2795.

Propagation Workshop, 9am-4pm, Koanga Institute, Wairoa, $261 (earlybird). See: tinyurl.com/y9aydx2w

July 14-15

June 23

Composting & Worm Farm-

ing, 9.30am-12.30pm, The Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $75. See: www.fallsretreat.co.nz

Bonsai Workshop with Tony Beeb, Hamilton (NZ).

See: hamiltonbonsai.co.nz

trades & services

After a few years’ hiatus, DairyNZ’s annual Once-A-Day milking conference is back on in Palmerston North this month.

Conference organiser Gray Beagley, who is also facilitator of DairyNZ’s Lower North Island OAD Discussion Group, says there is rising farmer interest in strategic or whole season OAD milking.

A lot of farmers also engage in tactical OAD milking for periods of time to respond to conditions on-farm, he says, so there is a real desire for information about how to go about it successfully.

The question farmers most often ask – ‘Can I make money out of OAD

milking?’ – will be addressed as will the holistic benefits of a move away from milking twice-a-day, says Gray.

Farmers who’ve transitioned to a full season OAD milking will share their experiences in a series of case studies at the two-day conference on June 19-20.

In what Gray describes as “a science hit”, attendees also visit the Massey University farm doing OAD milking trials.

“I hope those coming along will be inspired and motivated by what they hear. We’re aiming to illustrate what can be achieved with OAD milking,” says Gray.

Full details and registration is at: www.dairynz.co.nz/events/lower-ni/ once-a-day-conference-june/

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

“What are EWE up too???”

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