Coast & Country - December 2018

Mike Parker’s name is synonymous with the cropping industry. The former project manager at the Foundation for Arable Research left his role this year – and an impressive legacy of research work for future generations to benefit and learn from. This edition we talk to Mike about his career, his research work, and what he’s focusing on now. See page 24. Photo: Catherine Fry.

Truffles Delight PAGE 4-5

Forestry PAGE 14-15

Waikato/King Country PAGE 16-19

Effluent Expo Followup PAGE 25-27

Avocados PAGE 28-31

Country Living PAGE 34-35

Dairy PAGE 40-45

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Page 2

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

While most of us look forward to clocking off at Christmas, to unwind and step back from life’s everyday pressures, some minds will still be hard at work in the lead-up to 2019’s kiwifruit harvest.

Word on the street is that labour shortages are looming once again, and finding not-so-traditional would-be workers is a gloomy task. This is due to many other NZ industries all finding it di ficult to source workers – from aged care facilities to building trades and truck drivers. And NZ’s low unemployment rate isn’t helping. The Bay of Plenty will receive an estimated 300 extra RSE workers this coming harvest but NZKGI’s CEO Nikki Johnson warns the industry still needs to work hard to attract more staff needed. See page 3.

Horticulture NZ chief executive Mike Chapman reckons we should look at how Australia has dealt with labour shortages in its horticulture sectors – and take leaf out of their book. See his column on page 9.

Year-round work

www.coastandcountrynews.co.nz

In Horowhenua an asparagus grower has branched out to growing strawberries to shore up staff by providing them work year-round via the two operations.

Tendertips managing director Cam Lewis said by adding strawberries his business could employ staff 10-12 months of the year, which it couldn’t do with just asparagus.

There’s already much crossover in services provided to our kiwifruit and avocado industries – could

another crop be introduced to keep people in work here 24/7? The problem is kiwifruit harvests need so many hands on deck for such a short stint.

So what else? Many point to the unemployed helping out. But sometimes the rules of their benefits – such as stand-down periods post-work – don’t make the prospect appealing. Can these rules be more fluid from March to June?

Technology investment

Some say BOP housing prices are dissuading would-be workers. Accommodation is being built but what are councils working on to help solve this issue?

Artificial intelligence and robo ics are talked about. But in our publication recently, Plus Group’s Steve Saunders said while globally a myriad of players are starting to invest heavily in agtech, only limited money is being invested in specialty crops like avocados, strawberries and kiwifruit. Steve said if industries want this technology in future, they’ve got to start thinking about how they invest in it “because the pathway to get to this technology is not short”.

Others point to the kiwifruit industry’s recent years of success, suggesting that may be some of the wealth enjoyed in these buoyant times should filter down to those harvesting the fruit. So maybe it will boil down to lifting wages to get more hands on deck.

Whatever variety of solutions are deployed, those who can effect change – be it government, industry or growers themselves – need to get cracking. With another Te Puke-size landscape of kiwifruit to be planted, finding labour is set to become even more challenging going forward.

Merle Foster

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 3

RSE cap increased ahead of 2019 harvest But more solutions are needed if the industry wants to attract enough workers An estimated 300 extra Recognised Seasonal Employer workers for the Bay of Plenty’s 2019 kiwifruit harvest season will help alleviate pressure of a looming labour shortage – but the industry still needs to work hard to attract the rest of the workforce required.

travellers can’t fill.” Announcing this year’s RSE cap increase, Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says since 2015, apple and kiwifruit orchards have increased in value by around 70 per cent each. “However this growth has been accompanied by prominent labour shortages across industries and regions, notably in the past year. This is expected to continue, with growers forecasting 2600 more workers are needed to help support the industry.”

As result, the Minister issued four challenges to RSE Employers at their annual conference, to help solve the

The Government has upped the number of RSE workers by 1750 to 12,850 nationally for 2019.

But NZ Kiwifruit Growers Inc CEO Nikki Johnson says RSE workers make up less than 20 per cent of the seasonal workforce in kiwifruit. “Details of allocation are still being worked out but it looks like in 2019 the BOP can expect around 300 additional RSE workers.

“And while the increase will provide stability to our workforce, the industry still has the challenge of attracting the remainder of the workforce that we need,” says Nikki.

Accommodation

An extra 300 RSE workers will harvest fruit in the Bay in 2019 – but it won’t solve labour woes.

The RSE cap is reviewed annually with NZKGI and other industry sectors providing information on supply and demand for seasonal workers to form a request to Government, if they want the cap increased.

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Last year, the Government increased the RSE cap by 600 workers but this didn’t meet demand and a labour shortage was declared in several regions including the BOP, says Nikki.

“This increase in the need for workers in kiwifruit is a direct result of a quickly-growing kiwifruit industry combined with a low unemployment rate.

“And although New Zealanders are the kiwifruit industry’s first priority when it comes to picking and packing kiwifruit, the low unemployment rate makes it difficult to fill all available positions.

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Employers must provide RSE workers with accommodation and pastoral care – and while NZKGI believes there is sufficient resource to support RSE workers for 2019’s season, Nikki says accommodation is an issue that needs to be addressed as the industry continues to expand. “A number of new accommodation facilities are in progress at present and the industry has a working group, which is considering the constraints to building new accommodation to make sure that we are prepared for increased need as the growth of the kiwifruit industry continues.”

Horticulture NZ chief executive Mike Chapman is grateful the Government has lifted the RSE cap but says this sole measure will not be enough.

“The RSE scheme cannot be the sole solution for all of NZ’s labour supply crisis.” In his column on page 9, he talks of how Australia has acted to solve labour shortages in its horticulture sectors.

“Like Australia, our government needs to look to other solutions that involve both equipping the 100,000 or so unemployed New Zealanders for work and allowing other immigration options,” says Mike.

looming labour crisis.

“One: Make the industry more attractive to NZ workers, by providing better wages and conditions.

“Two: Build more accommodation for workers to alleviate local accommodation pressures.

“Three: Take greater responsibility for supply chains and labour contractors to help stamp out migrant exploitation.

“And, four: Transform the horticulture and viticulture industries from low-cost industries to industries based on quality, productivity, and high value products.”

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Growing black gold in the Bay Maureen and Colin Binns have turned a small lifestyle block in the Bay of Plenty into a truffière.

Relocating from Wellington nearly 15 years ago, they initially lived in Maketu, before discovering a piece of land tucked away near Paengaroa.

Paddocks, an orchard, a lookout and an old airplane runway stand above 10 acres of native bush including rewarewa, with the 10 acres protected by a QE11 covenant. Below, the Mangorewa River flows northeast towards the Kaituna River.

The idea of growing truffles came about because the previous owner was interested in them.

“We didn’t plan to put truffles in when we bought the land,” says Colin. “The previous owner had left some pamphlets.”

“We wondered why, so we did some research,” says Maureen. “When Colin’s brother and sister-in-law came out from England, we went down south for a tour and stayed at one of the truffle grower’s places. It snowed. It was absolutely amazing, and we got more interested.”

Tiny sticks

In 2008, Colin ploughed 50 tonne of lime into a half-hectare paddock, helping pitch the right pH. Perigord black truffles require high soil pH – a miniSpecialising in Specialising in mum 7.8 – whereas bianchetto fruit at lower soil • Removal / chipping of whole trees 6.5 and 7.3. between • Removal / chipping of whole trees pH, Once the soil was prepared, they planted the trees – half On site for chipping for pads standofoff pads them oak and the rest hazelnut.

• On site •chipping stand off “We had ordered several thousand dollars of little tiny • Wood chip for sale • Wood chip for sale sticks,” says Colin. “We had a couple of Dutch Woofers, Orchardremoval shelter removal who measured out the distances between where the sticks • Orchard• shelter needed to be planted.

• Stump removal • Stump removal “We had a good success rate and only lost about 15. We didn’t know at first why they died, but one day I was down • Woodlot marketing of all tree species • Woodlot marketing of all tree species there with a torch and saw little black beetles. They were ringbarking the tree just under the surface.”

This is now their fourth harvest – and Colin says growing truffles is a fascinating science.

No regime

“It takes an awful long time to get a crop – it’s a bit like playing Lotto,” says Colin. “The trees grow truffles if they want to. ...continued

The Binns’ truffière at Paengaroa is one of many in the Bay of Plenty, according to Colin.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 5

A truffière tucked away near Paengaroa

continued...

“They’re not like kiwifruit or avocados, which have a spraying and pruning regime. With truffles, there’s absolutely no regime apart from staying out of the truffière.”

“Every year when my oldest grandson would come up from Wellington, he’d measure himself against one of the oaks,” says Maureen. “He was always taller than it, but now it’s quite big. And he’s eight.”

They tread softly through the centre of the truffière in their Crocs, which they say help spread their weight evenly.

The truffle fungus explores the soil for water and mineral nutrients, which it passes along to the tree. In exchange, the tree provides sugars produced through photosynthesis to the fungus. This interdependence between the tree and the fungus is subtle and fragile.

Colin put pumice over some of the truffles that rose above the surface of the ground.

“We’re hoping the pumice will protect them from sunburn, slugs and snails,” says Colin. “You really want them to grow underground. We go twice a week and look for Colin and Maureen Binns in their truffière changes in the ground. When at Paengaroa. they’re ripe the dog can smell oped an orchard. Growing there them.” are grapes, passionfruit, macadamia The advantage of having ‘Jed’ the nuts, almonds, persimmons, limes, English springer spaniel, rather than a mandarins, cherries, nashis, pears, grapefruit, peach, walnuts, plums, and apples.

Ducks and hens provide eggs, and nearby is a vegetable garden

sleepout into bed and breakfast accommodation for overseas truffle farmers.

“There are a lot of truffle growers in the Bay of Plenty,” says Colin. “And we belong to the NZ Truffle Growers Association. There are about 300 members in NZ.”

It’s now 10 years since Colin and Maureen planted the trees in 2008, and they’ve had three harvests since. “We harvest enough for us to have personally and to share with friends. We’re hoping for an increasing harvest.

“Each year we’ve got more and more truffles. But the guy who sold us the trees has been producing for about 20 years. He says some years he gets nothing, whereas some years are good years.”

Rosalie Liddle Crawford

The Binns say the advantage of ‘Jed’ the English springer spaniel, rather than a truffle pig, is he’s not interested in eating the truffles once he’s found them.

Truffle tour

This year the couple is to visit truffle farms in Croatia, Italy and Eastern France.

The Binns tread softly through the centre of the “When we go to truffière in their Crocs, which they say help spread Lyon, we’ll visit a their weight evenly and prevent damage to truffles.

French truffière where truffle pig, is that he’s not interested they produce the black Perigord trufin eating the truffles once he’s found fles,” says Maureen. “We’ll do a day them. Colin enjoys the word assotrip to do a truffle tour, truffle dinner, ciation of the dog’s name with Jed and meet people growing truffles in Clampett, The Hillbillies, Texas tea – Croatia. I’d like to be able to host trufblack gold. fle farmers, invite them to come and They’ve also put in olive trees, run stay on a truffière in NZ.” sheep in other paddocks, and develThe couple have converted their

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 7

Co-operatising the corporate – may be a first Incoming Zespri chairman Bruce Cameron and current chair Peter McBride, at the new Zespri building under construction at Mount Maunganui.

Zespri grows its share in the global fruit market. “We also need to continue to innovate and explore new opportunities like bringing to market a new green or red to complement our gold.

“By being the world leader in kiwifruit and using our strong commitment to innovation, our industry should always be evolving to ensure we’re ahead of the competition,” says Bruce.

Organics important

“This strategy provides significant opportunities for our growers to diversify their businesses and enable economic sustainability for the future.”

His priority goal as chairman will be to ensure Zespri maximises returns yearly.

“That comes with knowing there will always be headwinds that challenge us.”

It’s also critical Zespri is aligned with growing international organics trend.

“Organics is becoming more and more important in a world where consumers

are focused on food safety.

“So, ensuring Zespri has an organic category that can meet future demand is important,” says Bruce, who becomes chairman in February when Peter retires after six years as chairman and 17 years as a director. He retires as a director at Zespri’s Annual Meeting in July 2019.

Bruce says to keep pace with global demand for organics, Zespri recognised it had to make a step-change in how it could attract investment to their organic category.

“Greenfield developments are crucial to ensuring Zespri has in future a full offer to its wholesale and retailers in our markets,” says Bruce.

Peter, who has been elected a director on Fonterra’s board, says it was time for him to leave Zespri. “I think it’s important not to stay too long in one role. Leaders build leaders and good leadership is about doing yourself out of a job.”

Elaine Fisher

value for their shares,” says Bruce, who has been Zespri Zespri growers have achieved what few others have been able to do – co-operatised a corporate, deputy chairman since 2013 and a director since 2010.

Peter and Bruce say while the kiwifruit industry’s says retiring chairman Peter McBride. successes in recent years have significantly increased

Young growers

More than half of the applications were from previously unshared growers and the percentage of total shares in Zespri held by growers has increased to 85 per cent.

Incoming Zespri chairman Bruce Cameron is also pleased with the outcomes of the constitutional changes and targeted share offer and share buy-back.

“This provides for a strong and solid industry. The real winners are the new Zespri shareholders and the individuals now able to exit shareholding with a fair

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orchard values, young people shouldn’t be deterred from orchard ownership.

In 2011, after the vine disease Psa-V struck, gold orchards were worth around $400,000 per hectare.

“They are now worth north of a $1m and green orchards have gone from approximately $250,000 to $450,000 per hectare,” says Peter.

“Ownership for young people is not easy but it can be done. They need to work hard and save money. They need to be brave and take opportunities when they arise.

“It’s also incumbent on those established in the industry to assist worthy young people into ownership and this can be done through equity sharing.”

Bruce agrees, saying the industry’s financial performance means kiwifruit orchards offer opportunities as viable intergenerational businesses, something many other primary industries do not.

Since 2013 the industry has experienced growth in average-per-hectare returns across all kiwifruit varieties of 55 per cent, and growth in the share price from 50 cents in March 2013 to more than $8 a share.

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“This is probably the first time a corporation has been co-operatised – it normally goes the other way.

There was no compulsion for growers to buy shares, and there is a lot of competition for their capital, so the level of support and trust they have shown in Zespri is very pleasing.”

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 9

Why have we got our labour supply so wrong?

Harvest for some crops is well underway and for apples and kiwifruit it’s but a few months’ away.

cap on the number of RSE Pacific Island workers that can come into NZ for harvest and pruning.

Not enough

But that will not be enough and, Already the signs for labour are very in any event, the RSE scheme grim. Reports from strawberries and cannot be the sole solution asparagus confirm there are very few for all of New Zealand’s backpackers looking for hortilabour supply crisis. Like culture work and even less New Australia our GovernZealanders that will turn up for ment needs to look to work every day. other solutions that It looks like next year we will involve both equipface a much tougher season than ping the 100,000 or even last year finding workers. so unemployed New It is not just horticulture that is Zealanders for work and struggling to find workers, it is allowing other immigraevery sector in NZ from tourism, tion options. to truck driving, to aged care workIn time robots and artificial ers and teachers. intelligence will make a differAustralia is facing similar problems. ence.

But that will not happen But Australia has some solutions. Their The kiwifruit sector looks this year or next year. When immediate response to labour shortages likely to be short of workers robotics and AI eventually make is to make it much easier for seasonal again this coming season. a difference, it is likely there and semi-permanent foreign workers to will be a whole new series of come and work on their farms, in their social and other problems and again a lack of skilled orchards and commercial vegetable gardens. There is labour to make and keep them working. Plus there no cap on the Australian equivalent of our Recogwill always be a need for seasonal labour for harvest nised Seasonal Employer scheme. and pruning, perhaps not as many workers; but still No limit in Oz a need.

The RSE scheme and the Australian equivalent, NZ’s urban and rural businesses are largely small permits Pacific workers to come to NZ and Austo medium-sized enterprises. In many cases owners tralia for harvest and pruning, and then to go home. are hands-on and provide much of the innovation, That means, Australian employers have no limit lifting performance of their businesses. This is true on the number of Pacific Islander workers they can for most of our farms, orchards and commercial vegemploy, and they can work for nine months. It’s not etable gardens. It’s a strength of our rural sector. surprising the numbers of Pacific Islander workers in Australian horticulture in the last two years has Urgent attention increased by 40 per cent.

People who care about their land and sustain NZ’s In addition for entry-level and medium-skilled jobs economic wellbeing are the owners of the businesses for all small to medium-sized businesses, whether and inter-generational stewards of the land. But rural or urban, foreign workers can come into Austhese rural businesses, including the rural and urban tralia for three years. The Australian Government has infrastructure that supports them, need skilled and moved to put in place an immediate fix – allowing reliable workers to continue to operate, let alone more workers in. Regrettably, this is taking these grow, and they need these workers today. workers away from NZ, making our situation worse.

The labour crisis this country is facing needs urgent We’re grateful our Government recently lifted the attention. Like Australia we need to look to fixing

the problem today while working on the future solution that will be a mix of workers, robots and AI. It is time to act now before the labour crisis gets any worse and take a leaf out of Australia’s book.

Page 10

CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

Earthwork slopes require extra care Earthworks sites need careful management, particularly in cases where a development is happening on steep slopes next to waterways, is the stern message from Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

BOPRC recently successfully took an earthworks contractor to task in court for allowing sediment-contaminated stormwater to enter the Kaitemako Stream at Ohauiti Waiotahi Contractors was fined $88,200 for the offending that happened in a late-summer weather event in February 2017. Despite being warned about oncoming rain an earthworks site the company was managing near Ohauiti was overwhelmed and its sediment controls couldn’t cope.

Disturbed soil washed into waterways and samples taken at the point it entered the stream were more than 60 times over the permitted level.

BOPRC regulatory compliance manager Alex Miller says such events can significantly impact freshwater ecosystems and contribute to longer term sedimentation

The site where sedimentcontaminated stormwater entered a BOP stream. issues. “Earthworks sites need careful management, particularly in cases like this where the development is happening on steep slopes next to waterways.

“The conditions within the resource consent look to specifically address the environmental risks and ensure that this sort of thing doesn’t happen but, unfortunately in this case, those conditions weren’t adhered to,” says Alex.

Although a hard lesson to swallow Waiotahi Contractors managing director Henry Claydon says

they’ve used it as an opportunity to step up their efforts in environmental management by recognising where their systems, processes and training have fallen short.

“We’ve invested heavily in the environmental space and have since achieved the International Standard ISO 14001 for our new Environmental Management System.”

BOPRC partnered with a consultant, on behalf of Waiotahi, to provide a workshop to local earthworks operators on minimising risk of these sorts of events occurring.

Thieves target flood protection gates for steel Brazen thieves have been stealing steel from Waikato Regional Council’s Lower Piako floodgates in the Hauraki Plains.

WRC’s integrated catchment management works supervisor Ian Sara says two walkway platforms have been removed from the floodgates in Kaihere Rd, Ngatea, and an attempt had been made on a third.

“With the third one they must have run out of battery power, they’d tried to grind it off.”

Ian says the platforms, which were about 7 metres long and 4.5 metres long, were heavy, up high, and would have required at least two people to lift them.

They were noticed missing on October 31 during a monthly check on council’s flood protection assets.

“I’d say someone is using them for a walkway across a drain or for scrap metal.”

Service beams like this one have been stolen from floodgates in the Hauraki Plains.

The walkway platforms were bolted to service beams so staff can safely access the floodgates for maintenance work.

Ian says removal of the platforms did not compromise flood protection but was a health and safety issue for staff.

New replacement platforms would be welded on to prevent further thefts.

“We have in excess of 120 steel walkways on the Piako-Waihou scheme, and any adjacent to highways and roads will be welded down.”

NZ Police have been informed of the thefts. “If you’ve seen a nice walkway bridge somewhere over a drain, or any suspicious activity, it’d be good to let them know,” says Ian. The council is treating this as a serious incident not only due to the cost to ratepayers, but also because it threatens lives and the integrity of critical infrastructure that is there to prevent damage to properties during floods.

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ANIMAL HEALTH

Page 12

Start prevention measures for facial eczema now Now is the time to prepare facial eczema prevention strategies on farm, says BEC Feed Solutions technical officer Jen Ross.

“Variable weather conditions across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions every summer and the haphazard occurrence of facial eczema make it impossible to predict the risk each summer,” says Jen.

“But if the last three summers have taught us anything, it is to hope for the best, plan for the worst and be prepared to enjoy the rain, if it comes.”

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All farmers to receive M Bovis bulk milk test results soon Full results from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ spring bulk milk testing for Mycoplasma Bovis are expected to be delivered to most farmers throughout New Zealand early this month.

And so far, results from the nationwide bulk milk testing are encouraging – with three-quarters of testing complete and only three farms confirmed with the disease, says MPI’s Mycoplasma bovis director Geoff Gwyn.

“All three properties were already part of our tracing programme and they all have previously known links to the disease.

“One of these properties was under surveillance and the other two were about to go under surveillance.”

Under the testing programme, milk samples from every NZ dairy farm were taken shortly after calving, when cows are most likely to be shedding the bacterium.

For each farm, the first sample was

collected around four weeks from the start of milk supply. Samples were then collected every two weeks, with a total of six samples from each farm.

Geoff says the fact that all three confirmed farms with M Bovis farms were already on MPI’s radar is encouraging.

“It reinforces our belief that we are dealing with a single strain of M Bovis, based on the available scientific evidence and our own work in the field.

“While this remains an extremely difficult time for affected farmers, and we still have a lot of work to do, I’m confident we are on the right path in terms of tracking down the disease and eradicating it from NZ,” says Geoff.

Protecting animals in emergencies If an emergency happened today, do you have a plan in place to save yourself, your family and your animals? If not, you should head to the Ministry for Primary Industries’ website, where they’ve developed a number of checklists for dealing with animals in emergencies.

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The advice covers how to prepare an emergency plan that covers major disasters that could affect your family and animals – and also offers specific advice for pets, livestock and horses, assistance dogs and lifestyle blocks, as well as how to care for animals affected by fires, earthquakes and floods.

Another handy tip is how to prepare an emergency first aid kit for animals.

Plus it covers what MPI’s role is in an emergency – this includes coordinating animal welfare services in emergencies like earthquakes and floods, to ensure planning is in place. So when there is a disaster, MPI can provide for the needs of animals when their owners – or people in charge – can’t.

Find more information at: www.mpi. govt.nz/protection-and-response/animal-welfare/animals-in-emergencies/ Or on the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management website: getthru.govt.nz/ how-to-getready/pets-and livestock/ If you want to know more about MPI’s work in emergencies, or be involved, email: awem@mpi.govt.nz

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 13

FORESTRY

Page 14

Scion recognised for work on plant pests New Zealand forest research institute Scion has won the Biological Heritage Challenge Science Award in the 2018 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards.

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vehicle for rapid and widespread scanScion’s winning entry – ‘Protecting ning of areas where insect pests NZ’s primary sector from plant may have spread.” pests; a toolkit for the urban Plus, more effective methbattlefield’ – is about deve ods of eradicating pests oping novel approaches to once found in NZ includincrease the effectiveness ing significantly advanced of eradication protargeted pesticide spraying grammes for insect pests tools, increasing efficacy of plants. and reducing amounts Programme leader Dr of spraying required, and Tara Strand says Scion developing a new fragmenand the greater research tation eradication model. team, of crown research instiAnd ensuring social licence tutes, universities,and private Liam Wright and Dr Christina so eradication programmes can business, are thrilled be recognised Dunker install a sonic be rapidly implemented when for their work with the award. anemometer. Photo: Scion. pests are found. “With Scion’s “We’re truly honoured. This is Programme Steering Group from central and local great acknowledgement for the strong partnership government, primary producers and Maori, Scion we’ve formed between scientists, policy makers and has co-developed and tested tools that increase people responsible for managing the biosecurity government-community engagement in eradication process, exemplifying Biosecurity 2025 goals. programmes.”

“The win is also a testament to strong Vision Tara says biosecurity is helping to protect NZ’s Matauranga and the inclusion and mix of social, economic spine, the primary sector, as well as our biological and engineering sciences in the research.” native species in NZ terra and aqua environments.

The programme’s key elements include faster and more accurate identification of new pests.

“In this fast-moving world of people and items, “An exciting development is a world-first tiny, biosecurity is necessary to keep our unique species lightweight mobile electroantennogram – an insect and to protect our economy from phytosanitary sancantenna combined with an electric circuit that senses tions. We’re delighted our programme gave results miniscule quantities of insect pheromones. that will help achieve our country’s biosecurity goals “This was implemented on an unmanned aerial and we thank the committee for selecting us.”

FORESTRY

Page 15

Boosting mid-rise timber construction rise building construction in NZ. “Aside from its natural beauty, engineered timber provides a very strong, low carbon and comparably low-cost alternative to steel and concrete,” says Marty. “It’s easier to transport, relatively light and has outstanding earthquake and fire resilience.”

More accommodation

The Clearwater Quays 5-level apartment development at Clearwater Resort Christchurch will be constructed in 2019 to showcase engineered timber.

A new programme aiming to boost mid-rise building construction using New Zealandengineered and panelised framing timber will deliver a range of regional, social, environmental and other benefits too.

Red Stag Investments Ltd, a company with its roots in forestry, wood processing and property development, has partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries to deliver Mid-rise Wood Construction, a four-year, $5 million Primary Growth Partnership programme.

Red Stag Investments Ltd is contributing $3 million, while MPI funding $2 million during the four-year PGP. A mid-rise building is four to 12 storeys high. If successful, the programme expects

Biosecurity preparedness The Ministry for Primary Industries and the New Zealand Forest Owners Association are joining forces under the Government Industry Agreement to improve forest biosecurity preparedness.

The first jointly-funded initiative under this partnership will be a forest biosecurity surveillance programme designed to detect unwanted forest pests and pathogens in high-risk places.

NZFOA and MPI recently signed the Commercial Plantation Forestry Sector Operational Agreement for Readiness under the GIA. This agreement establishes a new way of working in partnership between the two organisations and will see a doubling of efforts to improve forest biosecurity readiness, says MPI’s acting director of biosecurity readiness Andrew Spelman.

“This continuing partnership will build on the considerable contribution the forest industry has made to biosecurity to date, and we look forward to collaborating to improve biosecurity processes and outcomes for NZ.” NZFOA chair and its biosecurity committee representative David Cormack says the forest industry is delighted to be working with MPI on the new Forest Biosecurity Surveillance Programme.

“We’ve worked closely together for a long time but joint-funding is another level and demonstrates the commitment MPI has made to the forest industry.”

The NZFOA has been a GIA signatory since November 2015.

to deliver economic benefits of $155 million by 2023 and $330 million by 2036, driven by a 10 per cent lift by 2023 in the wood construction industry’s market share across the multi-unit residential and non-residential market.

Red Stag Group chief executive officer Marty Verry says combining cross-laminated timber – or CLT – glulam and panelised framing timber is a cost-effective, fast, resilient, and sustainable system for mid-rise construction.

“Our PGP programme aims to encourage widespread adoption of precision-engineered timber in mid-

Marty says the use of prefabrication can speed up construction by as much as 30 per cent and reduce cost to help meet NZ’s acute need for more accommodation.

“Globally, there’s been rapid growth in the use of engineered timbers such as cross-laminated timber and glulam for construction.

However Marty says NZ is behind other countries in adopting engineered and panelised timber for construction. “This is due to factors such as limited production capacity and little knowledge of engineered wood use and prefabrication in mid-rise building construction.

“Through our PGP programme, we want to create this wider understanding to double demand for engineered and panelised wood products in NZ buildings, and develop domestic manufacturing capacity.”

Red Stag will design and build two mid-rise wooden buildings to showcase engineered timber construction, to act

as reference sites and inform case studies. The first will be the Clearwater Quays’ five-level apartment development at Clearwater Resort Christchurch, to be constructed in 2019.

MPI’s director of investment programmes Steve Penno says engineered timber provides opportunity for NZ to add significant value to NZ-grown timber.

“This will create new regional jobs and renewed investment in forestry, processing, manufacturing, construction, and prefabrication.”

WAIKATO/KING COUNTRY FOCUS

Page 16

A farm prepared to push boundaries Owl Farm has been part of St Peter’s School at Cambridge for more than eight decades. From 1936 its purpose was to feed 200 boys boarding at the school.

Orchards and the dairy unit were part of the school’s self-sufficiency. Today the farm is a commercial, 400-cow dairy farm with a demonstration unit and role models responsibilities for dairying in New Zealand.

In 1974, the farm became a fully commercial dairy farm and over the years has been expanded from 80 hectares to 148ha. Profit from the farm is invested in the school, or re-invested in the farm as required.

In 2014, the school entered a joint-venture partnership with Lincoln University, and with seven

industry-based partners the demonstration farm became a reality. Monthly meetings plan the way forward for the farm with the partners also sitting at the decision-making table.

Demonstration manager Louise Cook says the Owl Farm’s three years as a demonstration farm have been filled with change.

Home-grown feed

“The farm used to be perfectly average, in size, shape, performance and profit for the area. Most of the infrastructure is the same as it was in 1974.”

So the farm management committee decided to make two fundamental changes to the farm’s performance. First, to improve profits by increasing milk production from home-grown feed. The second was

For a more efficient farm dairy Specialising in farm dairy design and construction

to continually the farm’s environmental outputs.

“We had to demonstrate both economic and environmental viability and sustainability for everything we did,” says Louise.

Feeding out expensive maize silage in-paddock resulted in a lot of wastage and damaged pastures, as the farm has no feed pad. So more focus was aimed at the paddocks that were not performing well, with considerable re-grassing, and a strong summer forage crop plan.

The herd’s diet of homegrown pasture, turnips and silage is supplemented with

small amounts of palm kernel, and baleage being brought in. The number of cows has been reduced too.

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Above: Two of the calves from this breeding season.

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Owl Farm demonstration manager Louise Cook and farm manager Tom Buckley inspecting the turnip crop.

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“Our cow numbers are lower and this meant producing a little less milk, but profits have risen steadily,” says Louise.

During the last three years the farm has seen a 50 per cent lift in profit, achieved a 55 per cent reduction in brought-in feed, a 24 per cent reduction in nitrogen leaching, and a 31 per cent reduction in phosphate loss to waterways.

“All these figures take into account any economic outlays we have had,” says Louise.

And the farm still manages well with its 36-bail rotary cowshed, which was the second one ever installed in the Waikato.

Bringing in the herd for milking.

New, new, new

But investments are made when necessary, with recent additions including the re-grassing, a new yard, a new underpass for the cows, and a new effluent pond and system.

“If you imagine the wettest winter we could possibly have, we’ve ensured we have 90 days’ storage, so we don’t have to spread effluent on wet pastures,” says Louise.

With 4km of Waikato River frontage, the Te Awa stream, and three key wetland areas, compliance with the Healthy Rivers Plan is essential, and the school still invests money into these areas each year to make them the best they can be at protecting the waterways.

And with so many visitors to the farm, Louise was quick to adopt a foot bath for all visitors to use, as soon as Mycoplasma Bovis was a mere mention in the South Island.

Risk strategies have also been implemented with the biggest risk identified through stock movement, says Louise.

“This year the farm will solely use Artificial Insemination, rather than AI and bulls,” says Louise. “The heifers are grazed off the farm but procedures are put into place to protect the movement.”

Owl Farm has three full time staff; Farm manager Tom Buckley, 2IC La Arni Bayquin, and dairy assistant Malou Obedencio.

“Tom is amazing. He has to run the farm in a fish bowl, putting all his statistics on the internet weekly, talking to visitors multiple times a year, and keeping the place clean and tidy for visits,” says Louise.

Educational opportunities

The role of the demonstration unit is to provide educational opportunities for a wide sector of students. Obviously the farm is a valuable “on the doorstep” asset for agricultural, science, maths, economic and business students from St Peter’s School, but it also attracts local, national and international students and visitors of all ages.

The effluent pond and system with 90 days’ wor th of storage.

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Louise says the farm is pro-active in adopting new concepts and technology but is not in a position to sacrifice profit for research. However, they do take part in non-invasive research themselves and are very willing to share their results.

“We are incredibly lucky to have an asset that can be moulded for the betterment of the industry,” says Louise.

Owl Farm is constantly looking to be a leader in this sector of industry and is prepared to keep pushing boundaries and making changes, and openly publish and discuss their findings, both good and bad, says Louise.

Catherine Fry

Mt Pirongia kokako project wins A Waikato voluntary group, which is managing pests at two sites with a goal to restoring kokako to the area, has won a national biosecurity award.

The Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society has won the Department of Conservation Community Award for its efforts to restore kokako to Mt Pirongia, in 2018’s NZ Biosecurity Awards.

The group manages pests at two 1000ha sites aiming to restore kokako.

Their work has led to a range of important outcomes, including: discovery of kokako with Pirongia DNA; funding of research into kokako genetic diversity; inspiring wider public involvement in protecting a key remnant population at Okahukura within the Northern Pureora Forest.

Kokako’s classification as a species has improved from ‘threatened’ to ‘at risk’ thanks to the group’s work; and kokako are back on Mt Pirongia.

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WAIKATO/KING COUNTRY FOCUS

Modernising a Farmall for his father Most tinker with old tractors to restore them – but not Otorohanga farmer Allan Harnett. He’s just finished totally transforming and modernising an old 1946 McCormick International Farmall.

The project is a special tribute to his late father Keith, who bought the tractor new and used it during the 1950s to break in his land at Rangiatea 15km east of Otorohanga.

Today Allan lives on the same property but has given the Farmall a modern facelift – to honour his father.

“My father Keith would have put up with a lot with this Farmall in the early days. It had a steel seat, it didn’t have much power – only 25hp – and the steering was pretty hard.

“It was pretty rough to ride with the steel wheels bouncing all over the place,” says Allan.

“So I thought I’d restore it in memory of my father

– but do it a bit differently. I thought I’d do it up so it would have been comfortable for him.”

Allan says Keith used the Farmall as his main tractor until buying a Fergy 35 and then a 135 “and the Farmall sort of become stuck in the back of the shed”.

“I used to cut up firewood with it. It used to have a belt down the side and onto a saw bench – in the later years that was its main use.”

Then Allan’s father-in-law Harcourt RawlTales of ‘Pet’ Tractors ings got him interested in vintage tractors, & Machinery alike so he bought a Ford County 945 and did that up.

“Then I looked at this project and thought: ‘Should I restore it back to the original or should I do something different?’”

In 2011 he started work on the Farmall – now 6 ½ years later he’s finished, after working on it “on and off”. continued...

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FAMILY OWNED & RUN SINCE 1981

Otorohanga farmer Allan Harnett with his modernised 1946 McCormick International Farmall.

Working dog training day on offer A free working dog training day is being held in the King Country this month. The King Country Dog Trial Association will host a working dog training day on December 15 from 10am-2pm at the Old Piopio Saleyards, now the PTL truck depot.

The event is for anybody who

needs practical help to train huntaways or heading dogs.

Several local tutors will be present.

Bring your own dog or pup along – and bring your own lunch. For more information, see the ‘King Country Dog Trial Association’ page on Facebook.

WAIKATO/KING COUNTRY FOCUS ...continued

the electrical work.

Improvements include swapping the old steel seat “The tractor has also gone from no electrics to full for a comfortable modern upholstered wide seat electrics, with blinkers and brake lights etc.” that can fit up to three adults. “Now the grandkids Was anything particularly hard to crack? “Lots can come for a ride on it, there are 10 of them,” of things,” says Allan. “It was ongoing problems – says Allan, who has also used tractor to deliver his but it was part of the challenge to sort them out. daughter Alaine to her wedding.

Joining the motor up to the transmission took a “I’ve also repowered it with a Ford truck motor so bit of work.” it has a 120hp now – instead of 25hp. The bonnet Coy about revealing the project’s cost, fearing his and steel frame have been lengthened. I’ve put a wife may see this newspaper article, Allan says it’s heavy-duty drawbar on, added hydrostatic powerbeen a “labour of love”. steering, put a wide front axle on and I’ve changed Allan, who belongs to the Otorohanga Vintage the steel wheels to rubber – it’s even got a radio,” Machinery Club, is now looking forward to taking says Allan. the Farmall on tractor “I’ve just made it up as treks and club events.

I’ve gone along really.”

“It’s retired from farm Parts have been work now.” Good “gathered around from work Allan! whenever I could find Does your farm or them,” says Allan. your boss have a pet “Recently, I wrote down tractor? Or maybe a all of the people and pet digger or businesses I got bits and bulldozer? If so, pieces off for the build we’d love to hear and there’s more than about it! Email: 60 of them – it’s quite merle@sunmedia.co.nz incredible really.” with a photo of it and Allan did all of the a contact name and welding and painting Above: Reese and Alaine Hyland and flower girls phone number. We work himself – but got help for the uphol- Sylvie Reeve, Alyssa Reeve and Renee Martin on the might even throw a modernised 1946 McCormick International Farmall. prize your way for a stery, reconditioning good yarn. the motor, and

Merle Foster

Reese and Alaine Hyland used Alaine’s father’s newly modernised 1946 McCormick International Farmall to get married.

Page 19

FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

Page 20

Yamaha backs Bay robotics company – again Bay of Plenty-based Robotics Plus has attracted another US$8 million worth of investment from Yamaha Motor Co Ltd of Japan to support its ambitious growth plans.

The investment brings Yamaha Motor’s total investment in the NZ agricultural robotics and automation company to $US10m, following a partnership agreement and investment of US$2m in March.

Robotics Plus co-founder and chairman Steve Saunders, who is establishing a US subsidiary for the company, says the strengthening partnership with Yamaha Motor and secured additional investment will support the company’s vision to grow into a truly NZ, global business that will transform a number of industries.

“This investment will allow us to take the company to the next level and attract and retain the world class talent we need.

“To stay ahead of the opportunity we need to scale quickly, not just with our apple packers that are already in market, but also with our new Unmanned Ground Vehicle platform technology and other projects under development.”

Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley CEO Hiro Saijo says they’ve invested in Robotics Plus to help reach their goal to make agriculture more sustainable, healthy, and secure.

“To meet the significant and increasing agriculture demands of today and tomorrow, including agricultural labour shortage globally, we need to create sophisticated and precision robotics and automation technologies that will transform the agricultural industries.”

To accelerate development of their next generation automation solutions, Robotics Plus will leverage Yamaha Motor’s experience, knowledge and technologies in outdoor vehicles, factory automation, robotics, design for manufacturing and manufacturing.

“Yamaha Motor can benefit from working with Robotics Plus as a world-leading robotics and automation business focusing on the agricultural and horticultural markets.

“We have a highly skilled development team located close to orchards and other agricultural environments. We can rapidly prototype new ideas, validate new components and integrate these into our robotic systems. This will also create new opportunities to develop technologies in other markets, too.”

In May, Robotics Plus’ robotic Aporo apple packers were the first in a suite of technologies to be commercially launched.

The apple packer, which identifies and places apples in display trays, can safely handle up to 120 fruit per minute. It’s being marketed by Global Pac Technologies, a Jenkins Group (NZ/Australia) and Van Doren Sales (US) joint venture, and is already operating in packhouses in NZ and the US. Other technologies under development, to address major issues in the

horticulture industry caused by labour shortages and increasing consumer demand for fresh fruit, include: an autonomous agricultural vehicle, robotic kiwifruit harvester, robotic pollinator, crop estimator, and a number of confidential projects.

Fantastic opportunity

Steve says the partnership and going global is truly exciting. “The institutional knowledge Yamaha Motor brings creates a fantastic opportunity to develop our great young talent out of NZ.” Dr Glenn says if we want to solve the big agricultural issues of the future we need to support the horticultural and agricultural industries with innovative solutions that will enable them to do things differently.

“We have the ability to solve big global challenges like this from NZ, and the way we can achieve that faster is with the support of an international company like Yamaha Motor.”

Mutually beneficial

Robotics Plus CEO, Dr Matt Glenn, says it’s a mutually beneficial commercial relationship with Yamaha Motor.

“We can benefit from their specialist knowledge in precision automation, manufacturing and access to high quality components to help us develop our technologies.

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FERTILISER

Page 21

Eliminating insect damage on pastures and crops There’s been recent press about the combined cost of damage caused by insects.

An AgResearch study estimates $2.3 billion worth of damage to New Zealand’s pastures annually.

The major players are black beetle, grass grub, porina, argentine stem weevil and clover root weevil on pasture. Other crops also suffer.

How many other $2.3 billiondollar problems do we have in NZ by following institutional – including consultants – advice? This question is not limited to insect damage.

As a client of the fertiliser cooperatives, you’ll be having avoidable problems brought about by unbalanced fertiliser regimes. The system you work under is a self-serving and input-driven. Farmers are advised to apply an unbalanced fertiliser to an unbalanced soil to help sustain a state of imbalance, which will then require constant chemical intervention. So it is with insect pests.

If you create the ideal conditions for them, they will thrive, and you will have to fight back. But you will only be fighting symptoms of sub-optimal soil and suboptimal plants. It is far

more profitable to properly fertilise the soil in the first place.

Simply put, use fertiliser to discourage insects, not to encourage them.

AgResearch senior scientist Pip Gerard is on the right track to some degree with her comments about flooding and free-draining and lime.

AgResearch has not encouraged its employees to think outside of the system that applies lime to change pH. Because pH is the result of a fertiliser programme and should not be the cause of it.

If you balance the soil correctly, the pH you have will be the right one. Generally, it will be around 6.4.

Certainly not in the fives. If we had been asked our opinion about liming three years ago, AgResearch would have most of their answers by now.

Whether you get insect infestations, or just correctly balanced populations of many insect types, comes down to the health of the soil.

The key to returning a soil to good health is also the key to whether that soil is sick and suitable habitat for insects or weeds. That involves calcium and magnesium percentages

This 18-tonne/ha kale crop was grown without any sprays of any sort.

– not ratios: you’ll never get anywhere with ratios. Some soil chemists have tried but of course, all failed miserably.

It may also involve the relationship between nitrogen and potassium. The soil is a whole collection of living entities. It can grow, or it can be killed.

What sort of soil do you want? One that costs $440-$660 per hectare in insect damage? That is an AgResearch 2018 estimate for Waikato dairy farms. That alone would buy a lot of the correct fertiliser. In a few years you wouldn’t have insect plagues, nor facial eczema. We can’t say when it will happen, as that depends on where the soil is now and your willingness to follow a programme. But it will happen.

I used to run dairy farms on the same principles outlined above and although our neighbours had insect problems, our farms didn’t. We have applied substances to crops that increase the sugar levels. Corn ear worm just died from eating the silk. The sugars ferment in the stomach and kill the caterpillars. With brassica crops, white butterfly will be attracted – but the healthier the crop, the fewer the number of eggs laid. There are many more examples, with lucerne featuring in a major way.

Research has shown by changing management practices, insect numbers can be reduced by 10 times when compared with practices that include using expensive, treated seed and unbalanced fertilisers.

Dr Linus Pauling, winner of two Nobel Prizes, stated: “In my opinion, one can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to mineral deficiency”. This statement includes insect pests.

FERTILISER

Page 22

Could nitrification inhibitor product return to market?

The return of Eco-N for use on New Zealand pastures would be a boon for farmers and efforts to protect waterways, says Federated Farmers environment spokesperson Chris Allen.

coln University in partnership with Ravensdown Fertiliser Co-op Ltd. It was launched in NZ in 2004.

Farmers found they could typically achieve an extra $600/ha in profit from milk production while also substantially reducing nitrate leaching losses and emissions of NO2 into the atmosphere.

But Eco-N was taken off the market after minute residues of the active component Dicyandiamide – known as DCD – were found in milk powder.

Chris says it was never a food safety issue – DCD is regarded as safe – but as there was no international agreement about acceptable limits, Eco-N was withdrawn to avert possible trade repercussions.

Fertilisers containing DCD have continued to be used by farmers in the United States.

According to Ravensdown, there’s now a chance that world regulatory

authorities, including NZ’s Ministry for Primary Industries, might ratify an umbrella codex agreement mid-2019 to set rules for a maximum residual level for a range of benign compounds in food products.

If that happens, Eco-N could be back in use here during autumn to winter 2020 – due to DCD being a winter-active compound, and that’s the season when the impact of nitrate leaching is greatest.

“We should let the science speak, and that should guide the international discussions on this – and the stance of food processors, marketers and dairy companies should codex agreement be reached,” says Chris.

“We all need more tools in our toolbox as we chase the productivity gains needed to feed ever-growing and hungry populations, while also meeting the imperative to enhance water quality in our groundwater, rivers and lakes.”

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“Federated Farmers strongly supports any such move,” says Chris.

“It deserves a ‘grown-up’ conversation around the issues involved because Eco-N is a valuable tool that enables farmers to temporarily store nitrogen in soil when it would otherwise be vulnerable to loss – a bonus both for agri-business productivity and to reduce nitrate leaching into waterways.”

“It’s also one of the answers on the pressing issue of reducing nitrous oxide emissions,” says Chris.

Eco-N is a trademarked nitrification inhibitor product developed by Lin-

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WRC farming services plan implementation team leader Sonia Baker says an online application form has been built “to make it easy for professionals to register and for certification to be approved by council staff”.

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Applicants must demonstrate they are registered as a Certified Farm Nutrient Advisor by the Nutrient Management Advisor Certification Programme and agree to be bound by the terms of agreement.

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Most properties with more than 20ha will need to provide a nitrogen reference point to WRC within the submission window of May 1-November 30, 2020.

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FERTILISER

Page 23

Become a better listener Last month I talked about the truth. Now let’s talk about better listening skills.

Effective listening is an acquired skill. It takes effort and a lot of learning, focus and change of attitude.

When you are talking to some people they are entirely focused on when they can butt in and start talking about what is on their mind. They have completely disconnected from what you are saying and are conjuring up their own story.

Give people a few drinks and they will listen even less and talk more and louder; and I eventually exercise myself and wander off, because I am no longer part of their conversation. Do you do that to others? Not listen and just can’t wait to tell your story? Do not do it!

I was a poor listener and had to up-skill. It took effort, time and a bit of practice.

Sit up straight

We need to do more listening than talking. Most successful people I know are the ones who do just that – listen instead of talking.

So here’s six points that may help you.

Firstly, sit up straight, lean forward slightly and listen to their every word.

Really engage with the person talking, make eye contact. Remember it’s their story.

Secondly, don’t interrupt them. Many people struggle to get their words together and their story out. If there is a third party butting in, ask them nicely to be quiet. It is amazing how many spouses speak over or for their partners.

Thirdly, make affirmative noises like nodding ‘okay’, ‘interesting,’ ‘how did that make you feel?’, ‘Can you explain that again?’ ‘I am struggling to understand your story’, and so on. This really encourages them to go on because they are not being interrupted and they realise someone is finally really listening, like really listening.

Holding back

Forthly, realise they are probably only telling you 20 per cent of what is really going on for them. In other words they are holding back on an incredible 80 per cent. Armed with this knowledge you can then ask questions gently, to get the whole story later.

Fifthly, expect to actively listen for about 20 minutes. For a new ‘listener’ this can seem like eternity, but listen and remain silent you must. Interrupt their flow of thoughts and you have breached their

outpouring and lost their confidence in you.

I know when I was heavily involved in finance people would hold my car door open, they would start talking and about 20 minutes later they would finally run of steam. In that time I had their life story, but not all the detail I needed. I would then, and only then, go back and seek out the bits that were missed.

American psychiatrist Karl Menniger thinks that listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward.

When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.

Sixthly, expect them to heave a huge sigh of relief and physically relax after telling their story uninterrupted. The tension goes out of their body and you can see them settling down. Most people are not good listeners. It is an art-form. Don’t let your own thoughts interfere with the experience. If you do start ‘thinking’ you will instantly forget the thrust of their story. Additionally, you will have great trouble remembering what they actually said. We need the courage to let go our own thoughts and effectively listen.

Help with stress

Armed with this knowledge, would effective listening and seeking out some of the 80 per cent not told help those with stress, anxiety and suicidal build-up? I know it does. After a long effective listen, I will often ask if they are depressed or on medication. And then there is another story. They feel safe to talk about their anxiety and issues and appear physically relieved once the next part of their story is told. Effective listening could probably help a depressed person feel better and even talk about their suicidal thoughts.

Just verbalising those terminal thoughts in a safe environment must release the pressure and help them immensely.

Finally, effective listening may just be the catalyst we need to reduce anxiety, stress and suicide, which is on the increase in this crazy society.

According to the Dalai Lama: “When you talk you are only repeating what you already know, but if you listen, you may learn something new”.

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.

A disclosure document is available on request.

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Page 24

FEED MANAGEMENT

Mike leaves FAR but not industry Mike Parker, on his 14 hectares of arable land.

In 2006, when Mike Parker took over the role of Maize and Agrichemical project manager at the Foundation for Arable Research, he brought with him extensive qualifications and experience in the field Now, in 2018, as he retires from the role, he leaves an impressive legacy of research work for future generations to benefit and learn from Mike’s been a commercial vegetable grower for around 30 years, although in recent years he’s scaled his own business down to 14 hectares in Pukeroro.

Prior to the FAR role, he worked as an agronomist for maize contractors and a seed

company, and did agrichemical and maize research for FAR. He’s also specialised in plant pathology, integrated pest management, and agrichemical resistance management.

Mike says his time at FAR has included some successful projects.

“Originally, it was just me at the Northern Cropping Research Site in Tamahere,” says Mike.

“In the last three years the site grew to a team of three.”

Mike upgraded the Good Practice Guide for the Trading of Maize Forage and devised the grower/buyer contract.

“It’s important to have accurate sampling methods for forage dry matter, so neither the buyer nor the grower are ripped off.”

Mike led experiments on 20 different farms, with different soils, climates and management to prove that paddocks out of long-term pasture – greater than six years – need no additional Nitrogen fertiliser.

“Not only does the farmer save on fertiliser, but it reduces nitrogen leaching and helps the environment.”

In New Zealand, a wet maize season can be a real trigger for fungal diseases, says Mike.

“Considerable research has been carried out to produce recommendations in fungicide type and when to apply it.

“With five to six tonnes a hectare of loss to a maize crop in a bad disease, wet or humid year, this type of information is invaluable for

farmers.” Despite stepping down from his role, Mike will still be working on different research projects, and certainly won’t be idle.

He is vice president of Vegetables NZ, and a compliance certifier for Agrichemicals.

“I’m also part of a biosecurity project with Waikato Regional Council looking at the control of the noxious velvet leaf weed, Abutilon theophrasti.

“And I’m part of a resistance management team for Agrichemicals, researching wise and judicious use of agrichemicals in NZ.” It seems the arable crop industry will be benefi ing from Mike Parker’s knowledge and research for many years to come.

Catherine Fry

EPA considers fungus for crops The Environmental Protection Authority is considering an application from a Spanish company to release a new microorganism, the fungus Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum.

The fungus, and products derived from it, are claimed to promote growth and yield in agricultural and horticultural crops.

EPA general manager of hazardous substances and new organisms, Dr Fiona Thomson-Carter, says the applicant, Symborg Business Development, has developed products overseas using this fungus in various forms.

“They are used for agricultural and horticultural applications where soils are depleted through intensive use. In powdered form, the fungus can be dissolved in water and applied through irrigation systems, or as a seed coating.

“In granular form, it can be spread in furrows,” says Fiona.

“The fungus is not a genetically-modified organism and cannot be cultured in a laboratory in the absence of a plant host. The applicant notes that closely-related species have already been found in NZ.” Fiona says the fungus itself propagates by contact with the roots of a host plant, “so its spread is confined to th application zone”.

Symborg Business Development has consulted with the HSNO Komiti of several iwi, and with EPA’s Te Herenga Network. It discussed concerns raised over possibility of the fungus displacing native species, or forming a symbiotic relationships with invasive species.

More information is available at: www.epa.govt.nz/ public-consultations/open-consultations/soil-fungi/

EFFLUENT EXPO FOLLOWUP

Page 25

Be aware of what lies ahead – and learn how to adapt!

A solid framework to manage change is key to mitigating the impact of dairy farming on the environment, says Fonterra’s general manager of sustainable dairying Charlotte Rutherford.

environmental impacts of farming.

As well as looking at effluent management, a Tiaki farm environment plan examines nutrient management, wintering and waterway management, assesses the risk of these activities, and develops a prioritised action plan to address any problem areas, says Charlotte.

Charlotte, who offered a seminar on “These plans aren’t a one-off sort of ‘Sustainability and the future of good thing that are developed and put on management practice’ to attendees Fonterra’s general manager the shelf, rather they are a tool that of the Effluent Expo in Hamilton sustainable dairying, farmers go back to over time to update on November 27-28, says social and Charlotte Rutherford. and see how things are progressing. legislative pressure to decrease the Photo: Stephen Barker, Dairy Exporter.

“I don’t know a single farmer that environmental impact of farming doesn’t want to do right by the land they farm. would continue.

“Gone are the days when farmers need to be Charlotte believes that the industry is well equipped to manage these challenges, and her message to farm- convinced of this. But the reality is that meaningful ers was: “Be aware of what lies ahead and understand change takes time.”

Mitigating environmental impacts is a priority area how to adapt”. for farmers now and in future, but Charlotte points “We are on the edge of a new suite of climate legislation. And while we don’t yet know what that is out sustainable farming is much broader than just effluent, or the impact on our waterways and climate. going to look like, it seems likely that some obliga“Sustainable farming is often equated with tions will be placed on the agriculture sector.” mitigating environmental impacts, but it is larger Charlotte says during the last 10-15 years the than that. Sustainability is also about economic industry has demonstrated its ability to change, with environmental impact mitigation strategies like ripar- viability, about social wellbeing and cultural understanding, as well as conservation and protection of ian planting, fenced-off waterways, nutrient budgets our natural resources. and other tools now commonplace across the sector.

“Strong, healthy environments provide the foundaUsing examples from farms throughout NZ, Charlotte talked about the benefits of Fonterra’s tion for sustainable, profitable farming, and farmers Tiaki Farm Environment Plan, which provides a not only want to improve their performance, they are framework for understanding and managing the well-equipped to do so,” says Charlotte.

Josephine Reader

Visit our website for more on how the

Page 26

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

M. Bovis – a suggestion to look at new research I recently published a column in which I stated the strongest evidence yet that Mycoplasma bovis does not flourish on farms with well-balanced soil had been confirmed at farms belonging to the Van Leeuwen Group, the first to test positive for the disease in 2017.

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More than 100 soil tests were carried out on VLG farms and it was discovered the farms on which cattle had tested positive for M. bovis all had the same characteristic – a low-pH soil, typically imbalanced and minerally-depleted. In contrast, soil tests taken on the farms with no cases of M. bovis found the soil had a healthy pH of 6.3.

I shared my disappointment that the Ministry for Primary Industries had chosen not to recognise the findings, instead categorising M. bovis solely as a contagious disease and not a symptom of livestock immune system deficiency or collapse due in part to poor soil conditions.

In the interests of creating a healthy discussion around the topic, MPI reviewed the article – and is still failing to acknowledge our findings.

“It is disappointing that some farming experts are contributing to this situation with unfounded comments at a time of high anxiety and uncertainty,” an MPI spokesperson said.

“The idea that soil conditions are important for M. bovis infection are not supported by international scientific literature. There is also no evidence to support his [David Law’s] assertion about the bacteria thriving in low-pH farms.”

I want to reiterate that I’m not saying the disease lives in the soil per se, but feed that is grown in low-pH soil is eaten by the cow and creates low-pH conditions in the cow’s rumen – which I believe affects the cow’s ability to fight disease.

Restock

The VLG farms were given the go-ahead to restock their affected farms after the compulsory stand-down period of 60 days after depopulation – but I warned them if the conditions in which the disease thrived were not rectified, it could reoccur.

MPI disagreed with my opinion that its repopulation guidelines alone could be ineffective unless the farm’s soil was examined and any deficiencies corrected to balance the whole farm system, so the cows’ immunity is restored.

“MPI is satisfied that a farmer can safely repopulate their farm, provided the cattle with M. bovis have been culled, the property has been cleaned and disinfected to the high standard MPI requires,” said an MPI statement.

“MPI is confident it is safe to bring animals back on to this property with little risk of M. bovis reinfection,” MPI stated.

This idea is not something I’ve plucked out of thin air; it’s the unanimous opinion of a large group of international farming specialists including veterinarians, soil scientists, farm consultants and agronomists – who endorse a science-based regenerative farming approach as a solution to prevent M. bovis symptoms recurring.

In June, I presented a statement from this group to a parliamentary committee. It was reviewed by MPI who felt “the information provided in the proposal did not meet the level required to justify spending taxpayer and farmer levies to action”.

Research

“[The proposal] did not meet some fundamental requirements of scientific research...(and) none of the extensive literary research undertaken by MPI staff backs up the claims made in the proposal,” MPI said.

The proposal was endorsed by a group of world experts working with cutting-edge research; research that is surely more relevant than that which MPI is calling on to make decisions.

“There was nothing in the proposal that would have avoided the depopulation of farms that MPI has been forced to carry out as part of the eradication plan,” MPI continued.

Maybe not – but we believe the eradication response is only solving the problem in the short-term. We belive new cases of M. bovis will continue to be found until these particular animals’ immunity is enhanced, which is the longer-term solution.

If we want to be world-leading and cut a new track as far as M. bovis is concerned, we have to lead the way with new research and new information. That’s how we are going to beat this devastating disease.

MPI has dismissed our science-based approach, which we feel is part of the solution, because it is not familiar to them. All we are suggesting is that MPI looks at the new research that has backing from an increasing number of farmers and specialists alike, as part of the solution.

This column is the opinion of David Law, managing director of Forward Farming Biological Consultancy.

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Page 27

The ins and outs of pond storage capacity Effluent storage and management is a risk area on any farm, and getting it right will both improve sustainability and add money to a farm’s bottom line, says DairyNZ effluent specialist Logan Bowler.

He talked of the importance of adequately sized effluent storage and demonstrated the Dairy Effluent Storage Calculator, developed by Horizons Regional Council and Massey University, to farmers gathered at the NZ Effluent Expo Event on November 27-28.

The DESC is available via free download from the DairyNZ website, and can be used to calculate new pond storage as well as learn the impacts of different inputs, says Logan.

But there is a risk of farmers doing calculations themselves and making expensive mistakes by building incorrectly sized storage.

“Most regional councils require a suitably qualified expert to complete the effluent storage calculation,” says Logan.

He reckons the DESC is a helpful tool for running scenarios – like what impact stormwater diversion or implementation of a green yardwash system will have on storage requirements Logan says water use, soil risk and application depth are the three most important variables in the DESC, and he took delegates through several scenarios with variations in these factors.

“Getting these things right is critical to getting an accurate storage calculation.”

The calculator works by looking at a variety of inputs including soil types, effluent catchment areas, feedpads, wash water, effluent irrigation depths, and the daily volume of effluent able to be irrigated.

He also cautioned against using industry averages.

“For example, the industry average for water usage is around 60L per cow per day, but your water usage may be well above or well below that.”

The DESC relies on 30 years of localised rainfall and evapotranspiration data, and while this data is accurate, it may not always reflect the reality at a particular property, says Logan.

He encourages farmers to get good information about their rainfall patterns, and to choose the dataset in the DESC that most accurately reflects that reality.

The old adage “garbage in, garbage out” very much applies to using the DESC too, says Logan.

“The calculator is only as good as the data entered.

Avoid costly mistakes by getting the data input right.

“Sufficient effluent storage enables you to irrigate effluent at a time that suits you and your soils, and as a result maximise the nutrient and water value of

DairyNZ’s effluent specialist Logan Bowler.

A new lined effluent storage pond under construction.

the effluent. It’s worth the effort to get it right.”

Logan says small farms provide a unique challenge for effluent management, because the relationship between herd size and investment in effluent storage isn’t linear.

In a separate presentation, he encouraged small farm owners to do the basics

well when designing their effluent management systems.

“It may be a worthwhile trade-off to have slightly higher running costs, and a significantly reduced capital cost,” says Logan.

“It’s about investing where you will get the most value,” says Logan.

Josephine Reader

Page 28

AVOCADO

Understanding pollination to improve fruit-set Plant & Food Research’s pollination and apicultural team have been working to understand how pollination occurs in avocado orchards in NZ to determine if there are opportunities to increase pollination rates and thus increase fruit volume.

Dr David Pattemore, who leads PFR’s pollination and apicultural team in NZ and Australia, says with the industry booming worldwide boundaries are being pushed beyond their natural range in terms of where avocados are being grown.

“One important thing to realise is fruitset rates in avocados are really low. Natural

fruitset rates –in many different studies – are around .3 per cent. So you get three fruit from 1000 flowers.

“This is a low rate of fruitset but not unusual for trees like avocados that come from diverse tropical ecosystems,” says David, who shared his team’s research at 2018’s NZ Avocado International Industry Conference in Tauranga.

“They have mass flowering for the purpose of drawing pollinators in, but there was never any intention on that plant’s behalf of turning all of those flowers in fruit.

“But we also know when we deliberately crosspollinate flowers we can get fruitset rates of up to five per cent. That’s 50 fruit in 1000 flowers. That’s a world of difference.”

“This tells you even if we could improve pollination from .3 per cent to .6 per cent – that would represent a double in yield.”

In female flowers he’s looked at the relationship between number of pollen grains deposited and the fruitset, timing of female flower being open, and how that relates to other factors in orchards.

For male flowers he’s looked at when pollen is available, how is pollen released, over what period of time, and movement of pollen around an orchard.

Pollen grains

For pollinators, he’s questioned how much pollen an insect deposits on a flower when it lands, how much pollen insects carry, their activity pattern through the course of the day and how they behave in orchards.

“We found if you increase the number of avocado pollen grains deposited on the stigma the probability of fruitset increases. So one pollen grain has lower probability of fruitset than 50 pollen gains.

“So we need to find ways we can increase the amount of pollen being deposited in avocado flowers – that would remove pollination as one natural-limiting factor for production. Then we can focus on other factors that might be influencing fruitset.”

David says there’s no harm in increasing pollinator activity in orchards “because the more insects you have the increased number of visits you get during that period of the female flower being open, which

increases the probability those pollen grains are going to be deposited on your flower and build up enough pollen grains for good fruitset”.

And his team has also looked how temperature could affect flowering. “For three years we studied, via cameras taking photos of flowers every five minutes and temperature monitors to measure the temperatures those trees were experiencing, to understand if temperature was correlated to timing of the flowering cycle.

“The data we have suggests as temperature declined, on colder nights, we had female Hass flowers opening later and later in the day.

“Between 11-16 degrees Celsius, the flowers open in the typical way. From 10am the next morning they open – for two-four hours – and close midday to early-afternoon. This an ideal time for honey bee activity.

Flies, moths, bumblebees

“If night temperature is between 4-5 degrees Celsius and 7-8 degrees Celsius – the female Hass flowers don’t open until 2pm or even later, sometimes as late as 6pm. And what we found is whatever phase the flower is at – when the sun sets it essentially freezes in that stage overnight, not closing until 9am-10am the next morning.

“This is really important to think about when we’re trying to maximise the amount of pollen grains being moved and deposited on the flowers, so we need to maximise visits by insects.”

David says diversity in pollinators, with their diverse activity patterns, could help. “Flies might be more active in late-afternoon and at dusk, and you could have more nocturnal insects as well.

“In NZ we’ve seen very low numbers of these alternative insects – but they are present. And we’ve been working to try understand which are the important wild pollinators; and whether we can boost numbers in our orchards.”

David’s team is now looking at moths as night-time pollinators – then there’s bumble bees. “Being larger and hairier than honey bees they’re more effective at moving pollen, and cross-pollinate more effectively at individual level. Hopefully, we’ll have some solutions for bumble bee pollinators for avocado orchards soon.”

Merle Foster

AVOCADO

Page 29

The value of harvesting later in the season Warmer weather in Australia and a seasonal increase in social get-togethers is driving demand for New Zealand avocados across the Tasman.

per cent of shipments planned for Australia.

The remaining 19 per cent is shipped under the Avanza brand to eight developing Asian markets, including Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand.

This season also saw Avanza export to Taiwan and China for the first time Steve says most Avanza shipments wrap up this month to ensure enough fruit is available for the

long-term value that China has in our overall market mix and we’re thrilled to see more than 400 growers register their interest in supplying China next year.

“This will enable us to develop a larger programme for this important emerging market.”

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Now, export marketing group Avoco is reminding its pool of 800 growers about the value of harvesting later in the season to benefit from the spike in tray values that occurs each year between between Christmas and February.

Avoco marketing and communications manager Steve Trickett says the market pendulum traditionally swings in favour of NZ exporters at this time of year due to a reduction in the availabilty of Australian avocados.

“This is largely due to climatic differences requiring the bulk of fruit grown in Western regions to be harvested earlier.”

This season is no different – and with Avoco’s export plans for Australia firmly in place, it is urging its growers to work closely with their packhouses during the Christmas-New A new Avanza label was specifically designed by Avoco for the Year period to ensure there is China market this season. sufficient fruit available to meet the expectations of key retailers. valuable Australian market. But he says their first Steve says consumer demand had been fuelling avocado prices in Australia since November. “Avoca- commercial experiences in China suggests it’s a market well worth Avanza’s long-term investment. dos are always a popular companion to the summer “Avanza fruit in China commands a retail price barbecue in Australia and this market has firmed around 30 per cent higher than fruit from Mexico considerably in recent weeks as more people make and Chile, but to justify our premium we need to conscious decisions to enjoy avocados with friends invest in promotional activity and strategic in-store and family. tastings to Functional capture consumerFertiliser attention as a new “We expect this demand to continue right through Functional Fertiliser entrant to the market.” supplies full nutrient to February, so our focus remains on getting as close supplies fullat nutrient Avanza recently had a presence the China Interas we can to meeting the commitments we’ve made Functional Fertiliser packages based on on packages based to key customers.” supplies full nutrient Functional ®Fertiliser ® Failing to meet those commitments not only packages basedfull onnutrient supplies jeapordises the export return to growers but also risks packages®based on the reputation of Avoco and its ability to keep its

national Import Expo in Shanghai to increase awareness of the brand among global buyers visiting the NZ trade pavilion last month.

About 35,000 export trays were earmarked for China in 2018 but that figure will only grow, says Steve “Avoco growers understand the

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“place at the table” with Australia’s most influential For For application by by retail buyers, says Steve. application For application by After a short national export crop off 2.2 million groundspreader or aerial groundspreader or aerial avocado trays in 2017-2018, he estaimtes NZ is groundspreader or aerial Functional Fertiliser For application by likely to export between 3 million and 3.2 million supplies full nutrient groundspreader or aerial trays this season. “But, this is well down on the prepackages based on season forecast of 3.7 million.” ® Avoco, the industry’s largest avocado export www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz marketer, will handle most of the 2018-2019 crop, www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz Future Farming shipping around two million trays – with about 81 TheThe Future ofof Farming www.functionalfertiliser.co.nz

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Make sure you keep ’em coming!

Whether they’re in a salad or smashed on toast, our friends across the Tasman can’t get enough of our premium quality avos over summer. So, let’s work together to keep them happy!

Remember, it’s the late season harvest that influences your pool return the most. Contact your packhouse to find out how you can be rewarded for picking after Christmas.

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Page 30

Tissue-culture propagation?

New research on clonal propagation of avocados using plant stem cells, or tissue culture, is being undertaken in Australia to help provide a solution to increasing demand for cultivars both there and in New Zealand.

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and nothing else. So no genetic modification, it’s all about nutrition, hormones, light, dark conditions – what we see is each cell in that cutting has the potential to grow into a plant.

“They start growing into clusters and then start forming beautiful shoots – we isolate a single shoot and make them root, then they’re ready as avocado-rooted plants Professor Neena – all uniform and Mitter, University of all coming from that Queensland’s director 0.1mm of a cutting,” of centre for horticulsays Neena, who shared ture, who is leading the her team’s work at 2018’s research, says one of the NZ Avocado International an ali str Au d industry challenges as has prompte Demand for seedlings s Industry Conference in do oca av of on growers look to expand ati rch into clonal propag sue culture. ea res Tauranga. orchards, develop tis ing plant stem cells, or us “What is amazing is new orchards and replenwe have optimised this ish old orchards system. This system gives us 500 is the question of plan to rooted plants from one cutting supply. within a period of eight-12 months.

“And when you’re talking about Clonal rootstocks addressing sustainability and “I know of nurseries in Australia, climate change, with this we don’t if a grower goes to them needing need land to produce seed plants, 50,000 of a particular cultivar the it’s a resource-efficient method, answer will be to ‘order now and and very importantly this is diseasecome back in three years’ time’,” free.” says Neena, who is internationally recognised for her leadership in innovative and cross-functional Virus-free research and exceptional industry “This is virus-free, viroid-free engagement. and bacteria-free because we’re just University of Queensland’s Neena says clonal rootstocks – a cutusing tissue culture on top of it. We’re Professor Neena Mitter. ting from a mature good variety that not using meristematic tissue, which we will root – is a 40-year-old practice normally do to make plants virus-free.” that’s stayed mostly unchanged, still requires a Neena says the method could enable a production mother seed or mother nurse plant, and is very capacity of 500,000 plants using maybe only 400 cumbersome. cuttings – “so this could be a potential “In the last four years we’ve been working on this game-changer”. tissue-culture based propagation system for avocado.

Field trials are underway at locations around Australia, but she can’t guarantee the method’s validity Field trials quite yet. “Avocados really are a beast. When it “What we do is take 0.1mm cutting from a plant – comes to rooting each and every avocado variety so not even a full cutting – give it the TLC it needs is different.”

Merle Foster

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AVOCADO

Page 31

Keeping cropping load and leaf quality in balance The season’s off to a big start, but the challenge will be to keep it all in balance.

Wow, a big flowering has been seen here in the Bay of Plenty. It’s taken off with some interesting observations. There’s been a wet winter and a dry few weeks in early spring and then a cold snap halfway through October.

This has been followed with high pest levels, particularly six spotted mite.

The result has been trees suffering and running the risk of over-cropping. Well done to those who took on flower pruning early, as research indicates the earlier in the spring your flower prune the better the result.

But I still feel some pruning is better than none,

particularly on stressed trees. Just keep in mind the impact of the summer heat on the tree.

Consider that if there are no red tips coming, you need to get some in order to grow your fruit.

Nutrition, flowering success and tree history will now play an important part on the recovery road.

Keeping the tree in balance should be the aim.

There is a real risk this year of the industry overcropping and the BOP turning into a stronger biannual bearing region, continuing its recent trend.

One good factor is the steady rains we’ve been experiencing during late-November will aid fruitlet retention and new growth. This will be helping develop the growth that will carry the next year’s flowers. A focus on getting and continuing your trees’ growing is needed.

Nutrition needs to keep going, and should be a focus, so you have good early growth.

Leading the charge in new market development Just Avocados is now working directly with retailers in Australia and further developing key markets in Asia to futureproof returns for growers.

The company is New Zealand’s leading specialist avocado service provider and helps to grow, harvest, pack, export and market avocados for growers nationwide.

Jacob Darling, who is general manager of group sales and marketing for Darling Group, which represents Just Avocados’ fruit in export markets, says ongoing market development is crucial.

“As volume increases out of NZ, maintaining market relevance and ensuring a good split between customer channels and market diversification is the backbone for great returns and handling additional volume.”

Just Avocados is now working both directly and indirectly with Australian retailers, while 45 per cent of the company’s total volume is going into Asia.

“This is 15 per cent higher than last season; and targeting key markets that deliver results for our growers remains our priority.”

Just Avocados has seen a 10 per cent increase in volume this season in Korea, Thailand and Taiwan.

The company is also continuing to grow the Chinese market.

“While we recognise the value in the later period of the year in Australia, we are certainly focusing on additional markets in the event that this window is not there in 24 months.”

A new business model has been developed in Australia to overcome challenges and better understand, manage and extrapolate the best values possible in the Australian marketplace, says Jacob.

“The ability to now receive our own product through our third-party service provider is something that our growers are continuing to benefit from.

“We’ve taken 24-48 hours out of the supply chain by taking containers from the wharf directly to our facility.

“This added value in time is something that our

customers are certainly enjoying and will become more valuable as fruit age becomes more of a challenge later in the season.”

Darling Group’s general manager of group sales and marketing Jacob Darling.

I’ve seen orchards in previous years that have been fully defoliated, from six spotted mite, coming back in superb health. It took a bit of management, but it was very successful, and the orchard didn’t break its cropping success at all.

Pruning and foliar feeding were core

tasks to its successful recovery. Use seaweeds and foliar nutrition if needed.

I found good quality seaweed sprays and pruning were successful in the defoliated orchard.

Just remember to keep the tree health cropping load and leaf quality in balance.

Tony Bradley of Aongatete Avocados

Page 32

KIWIFRUIT

Raising capital to seek growth Seeka Limited will implement a new capital raising strategy during the next three years, including a Rights Issue, an issuance of shares under a new Grower Share Scheme and an issuance of shares under the company’s existing Employee Share Ownership Scheme.

My Name is Neil Woodward.

I am a director of Z-Contracting- we are family run business, our team consists of three, being myself, my son and my brother.

Our organisation has been established for over 18 years. I have been involved in applying crop protection programmes within the horticultal industry since 1966.

We specialise within the kiwi fruit industry, We have the equipment to spray orchards with our two Atom sprayers and one recently purchased Tracatom Formula tractor which is also available for mulching and mowing.

“Seeka will use the capital raised to strengthen our balance sheet, repay bank debt, undertake planned capital expenditure and give us greater financial flexibility and freedom to deliver better value for our shareholders.”

Rights Offer

The aim of this capital-raising strategy is to strengthen Seeka’s balance sheet and provide it with financial flexibility and freedom to pursue its growth strategy of becoming NZ’s leading orchard-tomarket business.

Seeka is currently undertaking a fully underwritten pro rata renounceable Rights Offer, which closes December 7.

Under the Rights Offer, eligible shareholders are entitled – but not obliged – to subscribe for one new share for every 1.5 existing shares held at 5pm November 20, 2018, at an issue price of $4.25 per new share.

This represents a 25.4 per cent discount to the closing share price on the NZX on November 9, 2018 and a 17 per cent discount to the theoretical ex-rights price TERP of $5.12 per share, post the Rights Offer, based on the pre-announcement close of $5.70.

Eligible shareholders may choose to take up all, some or none of their rights.

New equity

Bookbuild

The Rights Offer seeks to raise approximately Any rights not taken up, including rights of ineligible NZ$50 million of new equity via a pro rata one for shareholders, will be offered for sale through a book1.5 Rights Offer at NZ$4.25 per share, fully underbuild at the end of the Rights Offer period. written by First NZ Eligible retail shareholders that have taken up all of Capital Group Ltd. their rights will have the opportunity to participate in It also includes a bookthis bookbuild alongside institutional investors. Rights Ourbuild Atoms set up with radar speed sensors, this My Name is Neil Woodward. toare be undertaken will not be quoted combined with fully automated sprayer controllers andon the NZX Main Board - there at the end of the Rights will beefficiency no licensed I am a director of Z-Contracting- we are family run three nozzle rings enhances application andmarket on which shareholders can Offer period for any sell their rights. business, our team consists of three, being myself, my accuracy. shortfall. As a conseson and my brother.

Information on the offer is at: 216 Pongakawa Bush Road Wequence, also useshareholders a quad bike for strip www.seekashareoffer.com weed spray Our organisation has been established for over 18 applications.

Te Puke not taking up all of their Existing NZ shareholders will have a preferential years. I have been involved in applying crop protection rights, including inelimeet Globalgap in the bookbuild should they wish to subprogrammes within the horticultal industry since 1966. We hold all certificates needed toposition gible shareholders, may compliance. scribe for more shares than their entitlement under To contact us: the We specialise within the kiwi fruit industry, We receive value for their Rights Offer.

Werights look atnot alltaken challenges Phone: 021 907 621 have the equipment to spray orchards with our two up. to help ensure we protect your crop with excellence.

Atom sprayers and one recently purchased Tracatom Plus Seeka will introE-mail: zcl@zanadu.co.nz Formula tractor which is also available for mulching duce a new Grower Share and mowing.

Scheme and Employee Share Scheme in the first Our Atoms are set up with radar speed sensors, this combined with fully automated sprayer controllers and quarter of 2019 – to furthree nozzle rings enhances application efficiency and ther align the interests of accuracy.

Seeka, its employees and 216 Pongakawa grower suppliers, many of Bush Road We also use a quad bike for strip weed spray whom are shareholders. applications.

Te Puke Seeka chairman Fred We hold all certificates needed to meet Globalgap Hutchings is excited compliance.

To contact us: about Seeka’s plans for We look at all challenges to help ensure we protect growth and continual Phone: 021 907 621 your crop with excellence. pursuit towards being Seeka is currently raising more capital E-mail: zcl@zanadu.co.nz NZ’s leading orchard-toto pursue its growth strategy. market business.

TRAVEL & HOLIDAYS

Page 33

NZ tour operator takes another sustainability step From this summer season Leisure Time Tours Group will provide plant-based compostable water bottles on all their tours to replace the use of traditional single-use plastic bottles.

The announcement comes as Leisure Time Tours was awarded a sustainability Gold rating from Tourism NZ’s quality assurance organisation, Qualmark, which identifies businesses leading the way in making our country’s tourism industry a world-class sustainable visitor destination.

Based in Hamilton, the travel group organises nationwide NZ tours for clients from around the globe. It also owns and operates its own fleet of motor coaches and this year acquired specialist travel company AgriTravel International.

Historically, many tours have operated with a supply of plastic water bottles for client’s comfort and refreshment.

And while the travel company has always encouraged the recycling of all waste, it recognises there are flaws in traditional recycling programmes within NZ, and the manufacture of bottled water uses vast quantities of valuable resources such as oil and water itself.

Hence the travel group decided to partner with For the Better Good, which produces a plant-based, oil-free, water bottle that is certified compostable and has a 78 per cent smaller carbon footprint than traditional plastic bottles.

The business is also the first in the world to take responsibility for their water bottles, post-sale, with multiple end-of-life options and a closed-loop collection system, according to founder Jayden Klinac.

“The offering of our bottles allows tourists to come to NZ, be given a Better Bottle to

reuse during their time here and when they are ready to leave, it can be returned to us to be composted,” says Jayden.

“We can start to promote NZ as a forwardthinking country which is shifting towards more circular products and systems.”

The move sits well with LTTG’s recent Qualmark Gold award win. “The award recognises that our organisation takes customer service, social sustainability and our environmental promise very seriously,” says LTTG managing director Scott Mehrtens.

“We have some very exciting projects underway right now, and while it’s a significant move for us to cease offering single-use plastic water bottles, we recognise it is vital that we lead the way, operating and planning NZ tours in a responsible and sustainable fashion, and encouraging our visitors and travellers to play their part while exploring our beautiful country.”

Five different tours to take in NZ’s back country The 2018-2019 tour season is a milestone for Robbie Crickett. For him it marks 20 years of guiding vehicle tours along the tracks of stations, forests and conservation parks of the south via his and wife Connie’s 4x4 tours business.

“It’s a role he really enjoys, mainly because of the response of tour participants,” says Connie.

NZ Adventures is a long-established business offering a variety of self-drive back country tours throughout the South Island.

Connie says the tours have again proven very popular for the 2018-2019 season, which is “very gratifying” for the Invercargill-based owner operators.

The company offers five different tours – the High Country Heritage, West Coast Explorer, 46 South, Big Sky, and the Eastern Explorer.

“High Country Heritage is six-seven days down the eastern side of the Southern Alps from Blenheim to Cardrona with overnights in Hanmer Springs, Methven, Fairlie,

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Omarama and Cromwell,” says Connie.

It takes in 1250km of the best scenery NZ has to offer. “And like our other tours this is from vantage points far beyond, and often well above, the main tourist routes.”

The West Coast Explorer is five days to the north of the west – from Hanmer Springs to

Greymouth by the back tracks. “You’ll see golden tussocks to deep green rainforests and plenty of history and challenges in between,” says Connie.

The 46 South follows an imaginery line across the far south from the Catlins to Fiordland and into Central Otago. “This offers large sheep and cattle stations and even larger mountains and views that stretch out forever across the greenest of green and the bluest of blue.”

The Big Sky is six days on a very large loop from South Canterbury into Central Otago and back into Canterbury. Connie says you’ll travel the tracks only the locals know about. “It’s a rare opportunity to see the real of NZ.” The Eastern Explorer follows the Eastern foothills of South Canterbury and Otago through regions such as Hakataramea, Oteake, Strath Taieri, Waipori Gorge, Te Papanui and the Lammermoors and Rough Ridge. NZ Adventures will set their dates for the 2020 season in February 2019. Visit: www.nzadventures.co.nz

The compostable water bottles.

Page 34

COUNTRY LIVING

Lifestyle properties are new duo’s specialty A new duo at Harcourts Katikati are pooling together their professional talents to sell lifestyle and residential properties in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Philip Day says himself and Raewyn Sykes come from different career backgrounds but together make an effective team that can achieve successful outcomes for property sellers and buyers.

“After buying and selling many properties over the years I’ve developed a passion for real estate and now spe-

riage of her two great loves – people and houses.

She started her real estate career in Auckland before moving to Katikati, and her knowledge and market techniques have placed her in the top 10 per cent of real estate agents for the Harcourts brand nationally.

Raewyn says selling your property is one of the most important decisions you have to make – and she brings an enthusiastic and positive approach to the task.

“I have the attitude, market knowledge and negotiating skills to achieve your goal of selling and getting the best price possible.

“If you’re thinking of buying or selling a property, let us assist you,” says Raewyn. Both her and Philip are licensed agents REAA 2008.

cialise in selling residential and lifestyle properties,” says Phil.

With 30 years’ experience in advertising and marketing he knows how to write great adverts that will generate interest your property, and possesses negotiation skills necessary to sell it for the best price.

“I understand how important honesty and integrity is to customers and I bring those values to my dealings with sellers and buyers, resulting in a pleasant and rewarding experience.

“And I will always got the extra mile for my clients,” says Philip.

For Raewyn, real estate is the mar-

Harcourts’ real estate agents for Katikati, Raewyn Sykes and Philip Day.

New rabbit calicivirus confirmed in Waikato Testing of two dead rabbits – one a pet – found in Matangi and Cambridge has confirmed the presence of an already identified new calicivirus in the Waikato region, says Waikato Regional Council.

Testing is also being carried out on rabbit carcasses found at Whangamata, Te Pahu, Taupo and Kinloch.

RHDV2 is widespread in Europe but was only found in New Zealand this year – in Marlborough and the Bay of Plenty.

RHDV2 affects European rabbits and at least two species of hares – Sardinian Cape hare and the Italian hare – and can cause mortality in young animals.

WRC biosecurity pest animals officer Chris Monk says while RHDV2 is more virulent, it has a lower mortality rate and may create immunity to the K5 virus, released by regional councils under strict controls this year, and the existing RHDV1 virus.

“We urge pet rabbit owners to ensure their rabbits are up-to-date with vaccinations and don’t have contact with wild rabbits.”

Meanwhile, landowners are encouraged to continue with rabbit control operations. “We’re recommending landowners undertake conventional control, such as shooting, poisoning and fumigation.

“But it’s often pointless undertaking rabbit control in isolation. To be successful, we recommend combining your efforts with your neighbours, because rabbits don’t recognise property boundaries.”

For information, visit: waikatoregion.govt.nz/ rabbits or call 0800 800 401.

Advice for rabbit owners

There are practical steps rabbit owners can take to minimise the calicivirus risk to their rabbits.

• Keep them separate from wild rabbits.

• Wash hands between handling rabbits.

• Control insects around pet rabbits as they can spread the virus between rabbits.

• Avoid cutting grass and feeding it to pet rabbits.

• Thoroughly clean and disinfect cages and equipment.

Vaccines for the viruses have been imported into NZ and are available through veterinarians for pet rabbits.

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COUNTRY LIVING

Rewriting history 100 years on O U NT R

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post to Country Funnies, and on the Western Front.

He’s often blamed for PO Box 240, Tauranga many of the disasters 3140 to arrive by that befell the forces December 12. under his command The winner of the October Country – battles like PasschenFunnies caption is daele, where the Anzacs Sophia Clark of Wahasustained grievous roa for her caption: casualties. He’s also been “Hey, stop ‘foal-ing’ accused of poor judgement and around!” a callous disregard for his men.

She wins a copy of Lucidly written and fully illusthe book ‘Trial of strength’ trated, this book tells Godley’s

by Shona Riddell. complete story for the first time.

Thanks to Exisle ‘Godley’ is the book Publishing, Coast & prize for December.

Country News has a copy of ‘Godley’ by Terry Kinloch to give away.

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

Y

As commemorations mark 100 years since The Great War, a comprehensive biography written by a seasoned New Zealand war historian aims to restore the reputation of Sir Alexander Godley.

The man in charge of the NZ troops at Gallipoli has long been viewed as a poster boy for British military command ineptitude.

But now Kiwi historian Terry Kinloch has brought this muchmaligned figure out from the shadows by researching and writing a biography of General Sir Alexander Godley, commander of several Anzac divisions and corps and the NZ Expeditionary Force.

‘Godley’ is an unprecedented fair and balanced look at the General’s time as a commander of Australians and New Zealanders during WWI. Terry vividly brings Godley’s career to life, from his service in Queen Victoria’s empire to retiring as Governor of Gibraltar. And readers also get a sense of the man and his notable relationship with his wife; his main confidante.

Godley’s most controversial period was between 1915 and 1917, when he commanded large, mainly�Anzac forces at Gallipoli

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Chondroitin: The forgotten hero – Part 2 Last edition we looked at a major research study (Wildi et al, 2011) that confirmed the benefits of high dose Chondroitin Sulphate for joints affected by osteoarthritis. This time we dig a little further. I have no doubt that the correct dose of high grade CS is the number one natural compound to help stabilise joints affected by osteoarthritis.

As an example I’ve been helping a man with osteoarthritis in both knees.

The pain levels had become quite debilitating. We started with a booster dose of 1600mg of high grade chondroitin with the same amount of glucosamine and 400mg of high potency curcumin from turmeric. After three months the pain level had significantly reduced and he’s now mobile again.

More recent research from the ‘British Medical Journal’ in May 2017 compared high grade chondroitin with common anti-inflammatory medication and found that 800mg of CS was beneficial. Researchers commented: “This compelling benefit-risk profile, in light of the known clinical risks associated with chronic usage of NSAIDS and paracetamol, underscores the potential importance of pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate in the management of knee osteoarthritis, especially in the older population requiring long-term treatment”.

The question is how can it help? What does it do to arthritic joints?

Researchers have found CS has multiple benefits.

Firstly, it helps regulate inflammatory processes within the joint capsule.

Secondly, and more

Page 35

importantly, it helps specialised cells that reside in cartilage called chondrocytes. It improves the ability of chondrocytes to secrete and repair cartilage. This comes as no surprise, as CS is an important component of cartilage.

I’ve worked with so many people with osteoarthritis that I’m genuinely surprised if we don’t get an improvement within three months.

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 all new newsletter newsletter at: www. abundant.co.nz

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Wheels turn towards tractor sale record By the end of this month tractor sales in New Zealand could hit a record high, according to NZ’s Tractor and Machinery Association.

TAMA president John Tulloch says tractors sales at October 30 were up 17 per cent on the same time last year – and 2018 was on track to set a record.

TAMA’s figures to September’s end showed 3355 retail sales across all horsepower categories compared to 2865 in 2017.

John says there was, advisedly, a cautionary approach to spending but sales could still hit a 4500 calendar year record.

Fonterra’s reduced forecast payout of between $6.25 per kg of milk solids to $6.50 kgMS – down from $6.75 kgMS – had “taken a bit of a shine off the optimism” in the dairy sector but John says demand for NZ milk could increase during Europe’s winter due to summer

drought. He recently visited Europe and was shocked at the effects of the drought. “Some European dairy farmers will definitely have to sell stock because they can’t get or afford extra feed. I suspect that will translate into demand for our milk products.”

But Europe was only one region and NZ dairy farmers still need to budget with caution, as recently advised by Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell, says John.

The sheep and beef sector is still buoyant and a drop in the NZ dollar will further assist this buoyancy – while horticulture and viticulture sectors also look confident.

But John says all sectors are also facing increased costs with high fuel prices and the currency drop.

“You also can’t control the weather. Seeing the devastating effects in Europe, it reinforces the need for all of us in the NZ industry to be in a strong position to withstand adverse events.”

For farmers, this meant being in a robust enough position to ride out unfavourable weather and market conditions.

It’s also important farmers support their local farm contractors as this retained strength in the industry, says John.

“In recent years some contractors, especially in the North Island, had received complaints about prices and faced deferred payment, meaning their business was put at risk.”

Some contractors had been making a loss because prices had been driven so low. Plus, a new trend emerging is contractors purchasing crops before harvest then on-selling afterwards. This new system created a further layer of risk for contractors, says John.

“The contractor system is the most efficient use of machinery in the most cost-effective way. If this system falls over then everyone loses. It’s important the system is supported as it helps create resilience across the industry.”

Building ute decks for Kiwi conditions headboard for cab protection and heavy duty tie-down Hamilton company ProDeck, a division of Vertec, rails with an incorporated step and can include adjusthas been around since the 1970s and has been providable mounts to transfer the deck to a later model. ing custom-made ute decks for all makes and models “Our deck sides can be made from different types of of utility vehicles. wood or steel and range in size from small double cab “We are a New Zealand-owned and operated comutes to trucks,” says Nick. pany and we can design and build decks for NZ,” “We’ve noticed there is a growing demand by cussays sales manager Nick Mills. “We can custom-build tomers for a cross-purpose vehicle and we have the to any size vehicle and any special requirements that deck solution for everyone – trades and farms by week customers have.”

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LIFESTYLE FARMING

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A front-mount or mid-mount mower?

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Andrew says ask yourself: how easy is it to lift the mowing deck? “If this requires multiple complicated steps and heavy lifting, so it won’t be done regularly, then one of the main advantages of a front-mount is lost.”

Andrew says most Grasshopper frontmount models have a PowerFold electric deck lift fitted. “A single switch gives easy cutting height control or folds up the

Grasshopper’s mid-mount mowers are more compact and easier to get used to operating.

mowing deck for effortless access underneath.”

But mid-mount mowers are more compact, are easier to get used to operating, and have less moving parts to wear out. “And they have a lower price,” says Andrew. “But traction isn’t as good down steep hills and are harder to clean underneath.

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Hauraki moves to aid affordable housing Hauraki District Council recently notified a change to its District Plan to support the need for a supply of affordable housing in New Zealand.

Proposed changes come in two forms – reduced sizes for residential sites in several of towns and allowance for minor dwellings on many urban and rural titles.

Reducing the minimum residential section size from 525m2 in Paeroa, Waihi and Paeroa to 450m2 will put them closer to, but still much larger than the 350m2 allowed in adjoining Western Bay of Plenty District or central areas of Matamata-Piako District towns.

The earlier minimum size, set a few years back, was a deliberate attempt by councillors of the time to stop subdivision of the old ‘quarter acre’ block, common in Waihi.

In my mind this rule needs lining up with the rule that allows a density of one dwelling per 350m2 of section size in these towns.

We submitted strongly at the time the earlier rule was put in place to no avail and will continue the debate this time around.

Minimum section size is proposed to remain unchanged at 525m2 in Ngatea and Kerepehi.

The proposed rule for minor dwellings will allow

an additional small dwelling of 50m2 or 60m2 to be established on, wastewater serviced, residential sites exceeding 650m2; or unserviced sites exceeding 2500m2.

In rural zones minor dwellings will be allowed on sites exceeding 2500m2. Proposed restrictions will control perceived effects on both the environment and neighbours.

For example, both houses will have to be served by one access onto the road and in the rural zone the minor dwelling needs to be located within 10m of the main dwelling.

I’d love to see the requirement for location increased significantly, because nobody needs a neighbouring household in that proximity in the countryside. The prescribed dwelling size is also unnecessarily small in my opinion, with 50m2 being little more than a motel unit.

If you’re planning your future and wish to clarify any subdivision or land use issues, give me a call. I’m happy to discuss the situation to see if it is worth pursuing.

Brent Trail, managing director of Surveying Services, specialises in resource consent applications for subdivisions and land use across the Waikato, BOP and Coromandel. Call 0800 268 632 or email: btrail@surveyingservices.co.nz

LIFESTYLE FARMING

Stop tick disease spreading The ‘tick disease’ theileria has continued to insidiously spread through cattle herds of the North Island including the Bay of Plenty, as well as further down the country.

Nationwide cases have been reported since September 2012 with the breadth of new farms being infected showing that in due course virtually every cattle farm – both dairy and beef – will become infected in the short to medium term.

Distribution generally follows the known distribution of the cattle tick Haemophysalis longicornis but there have been cases on the West Coast of the South Island and other random occurrences outside the tick zone.

Many cows are infected without becoming clinically ill, while others are devastated by the infection and do not survive.

In recent years September has been

the peak month for new adult cattle infections, associated with the stress of calving and weather. Of most concern moving into the future are naive young stock that are vulnerable especially during the New Year period when other post-weaning stresses start to figure; and again around April with the late-autumn surge in tick larvae.

Telling signs

The main effect of the bloodborne parasite is to cause anaemia by destruction of red blood cells.

Farmers should look out for lethargy, weakness, depression, inappetance, poor milk production and growth, mortality. Also pale or yellow mucous membranes in the gums, vulva and white of the eyes is a telling sign. Or animals could have increased respiration and heart rates, raised temperature, or bloody urine.

If you suspect any of your animals have anaemia, you should contact your local vet for advice.

A specific treatment is available that improves the chance of survival

– but it’s a restricted drug that comes with a very long milk withholding period and an 18-month meat withholding period and has other practical and compliance conditions that limit its use.

An additional option is to give a blood transfusion, which does give an immediate response in worstaffected cows when done early in the disease course. Some cattle will recover well with supportive treatments, plus vitamin injections and tonics.

Tick control

The most important preventative measure is to control ticks on cattle with a specific topical tickicide, as opposed to a standard pour-on drench. During summer and into autumn is a good time, with the aim of reducing the number of ticks before risk periods. If you already see ticks on your cattle or you have cattle sick with theileria unfortunately the best time to treat ticks was yesterday so to speak.

All the same the impact of disease

Get your water tank cleaned before guests arrive out water tanks. Townies are not used to tank water Sadly, earlier this year three people died in Australia and often get upset tummies,” says Roger. cleaning out a water tank; and last month a local There have been predictions for a long, hot summer woman had to be rescued by firemen when she got this year and anyone on tank water who may need stuck in a water tank. to buy in water should get their tank cleaned first This shows it pays to get the professionals to clean to stop contamination of the new clean out a water tank rather than tackle the job drinking water. yourself, says Roger Craig, who along with Roger recommends getting water his wife Trish are the owners of Aquavac. tanks, whether plastic or concrete, “Water tanks are considered a ‘concleaned at least every two years and he fined space’ and a special qualification has his clients on a two-yearly cycle. is required to enter a water tank.

He can also mend concrete tanks “The sediment that accumulates on that may be starting to crack or the bottom can give off toxic gases,” leak, which is cheaper and will last says Roger. another 15 to 20 years, rather than To eliminate breathing in any toxic buy a new one. fumes, Roger adheres to a strict Roger covers the Bay of Plenty, Waikato, healthy and safety plan when cleaning Pukekohe and Coromandel areas and out tanks.

“With summer coming and visitors Sediment at the bottom of a suggests “booking in early before the arriving, now is a good time to clean water tank before cleaning. hot weather”.

on your cattle may be mitigated if tick control is done at the next available opportunity. Don’t forget stock movement including bulls – ideally all stock should be treated when entering or leaving the farm.

Page 39

DAIRY

Page 40

Have your say on how to improve NAIT Farmers are being encouraged to share their feedback on the proposed changes to the National Animal Identification and Tracing Act and regulations, with consultation closing December 19 The NAIT scheme – which the Ministry for Primary Industries says is central to the biosecurity response effort to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis in New Zealand – is to be updated.

And Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor says

everyone who has an interest in NAIT should have a say on proposed ways to strengthen it for the future.

“The NAIT scheme should have worked better during the Mycoplasma Bovis response and I’m determined to help transform it into an easy-to-use, world-class traceability system to keep our primary sectors and economy safe,” says Damien.

“Earlier this year the long-awaited NAIT Review found a variety of flaws in the system and more than half of users were not recording farm-tofarm movements.

“We instructed OSPRI to crack on with making

operational changes and fixed the NAIT Act 2012 under urgency to bring its search and inspection powers in line with other Acts to ensure compliance officers can do their jobs,” says Damien.

“Now we need to hear from those who use NAIT every day to tell us what changes to the law will make the system both a useful business tool and effective biosecurity tool.”

Proposed changes

Proposed changes fall into two categories: those arising from the NAIT review undertaken by OSPRI, the organisation that oversees the scheme.

Plus, changes generated from learnings from the M. bovis response.

In general terms, proposed changes include: The PICA – person in charge of an animal – will cover corporate bodies as well as individuals. For example, this will cover everyone in charge of animals and now matches requirements in other legislation, such as the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

NAIT tags will be assigned to a specific location – and not be able to be used elsewhere.

A NAIT tag is a lifetime tag applied to an animal at its location of birth.

So animals do not need to be retagged each time they move location. continued...

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Production up on Young Farmers-owned farm It’s been a great start to the season for the Auckland dairy farm owned by NZ Young Farmers.

Milk production on the 74-hectare Donald Pearson Farm is up “12 per cent on last season”.

The farm’s new manager, Tom Ruki, is being credited with the rise.

“Tom has really good pasture management skills. His attention to detail in that area is fantastic,” says DPF Board chair Julie Pirie.

“Plus, weather conditions have been really favourable.”

The farm is milking a herd of 120 Jerseys and Milking Shorthorns. The Jerseys are a recent addition, arriving in late-May. Calving finished ahead of schedule, and in early November

mating was progressing well.

“We’ve just finished our first three weeks of Artificial Insemination.

We’ve had a great run, with all of the herd submitted for AI,” says Julie.

“The Jersey cows have been mated to Jersey bulls from LIC’s Premier Sires team. The Shorthorns have been mated to three nominated Milking Shorthorn sires.”

Julie says alight cut of grass silage was harvested early-November and fertiliser was spread across the farm.

The property dries out in summer and a small crop of chicory has been planted.

It’s hoped the farm will achieve an annual milk production target of 40,000 kgMS within two years.

Plans are in the pipeline for an open day at the farm for NZ Young Farmers members early next year.

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Page 41

Let’s hone NAIT into effective farming and biosecurity tool ...continued

Anyone transporting untagged animals without an exemption could be fined.

Animals ‘unsafe to tag’ – previously labelled ‘impractical to tag’ – must be declared at any time before sending to the meat works.

Farmers must segregate untagged animals before tagging/returning them unless at the meat works. And farmers must declare any non-NAIT species annually.

Damien says at the heart of these proposals is a shared desire by the Government, farming industries and all New Zealanders to improve NAIT to keep our primary sectors safe “and ensure those blatantly disregarding the rules and putting the rest of the sector at risk are penalised”.

Dairy farmers

DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says it’s vital dairy farmers take a close interest in what is being proposed, given the importance of biosecurity to the sector and to NZ. “M bovis has highlighted the importance of an effective traceability scheme and every farmer should take the opportunity to express their view.”

“We’re working with MPI to further understand how these changes will impact on dairy farmers. DairyNZ will also be submitting our feedback on the

proposed changes.”

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is also encouraging farmers to have their say on how to improve NAIT. CEO Sam McIvor says it’s important farmers ensure any changes deliver benefits and are workable on farm.

Beef and lamb

“While B+LNZ is supportive of many of the proposals being consulted on, any changes must be practical for farmers to implement.”

An example of this is MPI’s interest in whether other species – for instance, sheep – should be included in the scheme, and B+LNZ is urging caution on this.

Meanwhile, Federated Farmers urges farmers to speak up on the changes they want to see.

President Katie Milne says good progress has been made with some of 37 recommendations in the

NAIT Review.

“Now we have another chance to further hone the scheme into the effective farming, traceability and biosecurity tool we need it to be.

“Farmers – the people who use NAIT every day – have a huge stake in this and will no doubt have ideas on how to make NAIT more fit for purpose.”

Included in the consultation are questions on the role of animal transporters, issues around stock agents and potentially bringing other species under the scheme.

Further information, and submission forms, see: www.mpi.govt.nz/NAITconsultation Public submissions close 5pm December 19, 2018.

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Weeds, fert, maize, and tractor safety

The old weather’s certainly been a complete contrast to last season.

It’s been drier through October and November. But late-November we’ve had rain forecast. There’s been some cold spells thrown in between. This has made things rather challenging.

The maize is doing okay-ish but some growers are experiencing germination issues with some seed. It’s not all hybrids and not all coatings but there’s something going on. So we’ve been checking all our crops and doing population

counts. We’re also checking for weeds.

Mostly we’ve had a pretty good run with weeds this year – but we still need to spray a post-emergent. We’re spraying earlier than later – to get weeds while small and there’s not much cover from maize leaves, so we hit the weed’s base.

If spreading nirtogen, do this before rain. So keep tabs on the forecast to get some on before rainfall. Brassica crops also need weeds sprayed as soon as possible to get good responses. Also look out for white butterfly and leaf miners.

Early-December we’ll be cutting hay weather permitting. Things haven’t changed from last month – some still have feed, others are still struggling. Nearly everyone’s milktake is up – putting pressure on Global Milk Auction prices and holding farmers’ payouts down. But I suppose they’ve just got to focus on getting as much production as they can to keep paying the bills.

Maize interest

There’s more interest in maize silage this year with Palm Kernel Expeller issues. Fonterra is monitoring farmers’ usage and can penalise those with test results showing the fat composition of their milk exceeds feed limits for PKE, which were adopted in June. Funnily, Fonterra is one of the biggest importers of PKE. It’s a bit ironic. But it’s seen renewed interest in maize silage.

There’s probably not much PKE being fed yet – when it turns dry and farmers are short of feed they tend to use it. This is when protein levels are high in grass and they bump up the kg rate of PKE per cow.

Last month we reminded farmers to ensure their health and safety policies on-farm were up to scratch and up-to-date. Since then a Wellsford farmer has appeared in court after a worker on his farm was killed in a tractor incident in December 2016.

The worker was driving a tractor and towing a trailer carrying two bales of bailage when he lost traction on a sloped piece of land. The tractor and trailer jack-knifed

and the tractor rolled, fatally injuring the driver.

Health and safety

WorkSafe’s investigation found systemic failures by the farmer to do a risk assessment of the entire farm and work tasks taking place on it. It also found the farmer failed to identify the need for a maintained roll-over protection on the tractor after it was found to be severely corroded.

This shows farmers need to be doing more around health and safety on-farm.

We’re dealing with a lot of machinery and outdoor activities that constantly change – so farmers need to do their best, have processes in place, do their paperwork and identify hazards.

Because WorkSafe NZ are starting to check farms to ensure polices are in place. They want to work with farmers, educate, and point out where they’re going wrong. So give it your best shot – because we want people to go home to their families at night.

The team at Bill Webb Feed Solutions would like to wish all Coast & Country News readers a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Watch out for traffic on the road this festive season – be wary of agricultural machinery using roads for haymaking and suchlike, and travel safely!

We’re closed over Christmas but can be contacted via our office phone for urgent enquiries should you need feed. We have a good stock of milking quality silage available.

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DAIRY

Let’s look at what ‘regenerate’ might actually mean on-farm

I looked it up in the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary and the word ‘regenerate’ means ‘restored to a better state’.

The word has popped up several times in stuff I’ve been reading lately, and somehow it seemed much more positive than the endlessly ineffectual one we keep getting hammered with – ‘sustainable’.

I’m sure for those that still conclude endless growth is possible, anything with ‘re’ in front of it looks boring and unprofitable. At least ‘sustainable’ to them sounds like doing more of what has been fashionable for the last half century or so, and think of the money that’s been made over that time.

Let’s get real!

But let’s get real! Money has been made, by some, but how many farmers are debt-free? And how many are scared stiff that their precious ‘equity’ is still intact? So much of the so-called ‘growth’ has been based only on capital gain, and the farm has to be sold to realise any of that. And now we aren’t inviting overseas billionaires to buy up our land, the true equity might just be a lot less than imagined, especially if the mediaheralded next ‘crash’ actually

comes to pass, and the banks want their loan money back.

I’ve written endlessly during the last 15 years about what current systems are doing, both to our soils and our environment. So, I’m probably considered the ultimate ‘gloom merchant’ by many. But it is taking more and more chemical fertiliser to achieve enough pasture growth for our greatly-increased cattle population, even if sheep numbers have reduced.

And whatever hopeful hints LAWA – that is Land, Air Water, Aotearoa – is putting out about some of our water, there is a lot of it not getting better.

And yes, townie water management around the country is seriously out of kilter with the current number of taps being turned on, loos being flushed, and the ‘once-in-umpteen years’ storms now coming regularly.

The thought of not being able to swim at our favourite beaches is horrifying to one whose teenage years were spent in a house with a beach in the Tamaki estuary just over the road.

Let’s get daring!

So, let’s get daring and actually look at what ‘regenerate’ might mean, especially for our farmers.

First, it would probably mean using less of the fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides etc we’ve got so

Page 43

DairyNZ’s in-calf course updated Dairy cow reproduction is such a crucial thing to get right on farm that DairyNZ and a team of trainers have redeveloped and updated a reproduction knowledge course known as the InCalf training programme.

DairyNZ’s new InCalf programme

used to relying on to keep up the pace of how we do things now. And yes, it might mean looking at the suitability of our soils and rainfall, to cope with our current land uses, and the potentials climate change is already bringing. Even the current government is making moves in this direction.

Too many cows? Possibly. But for all the extra milk we’ve been able to produce, how much more profit are dairy farmers making, when most of it has to be sold as commodity because there is so much of it? Surely if we made less, but turned it into more valuable products or ingredients, the economy could sustain itself? And maybe the environment could take a deep breath and start improving. There would be a bit of surplus stainless steel, but we could use it to make something else, surely?

A lot of good agricultural ideas have come to fruition in recent times, and many would continue to bring benefits. But the idea of more, more, more isn’t going to work long term. So, let’s look back and rethink some of the good ‘old’ ideas and methods, which didn’t stuff up the environment.

Remember that Mother Nature and her methods have had several million years of experience, and ‘technology’ won’t and can’t fix everything.

Sue Edmonds

manager Samantha Tennent says the course teaches key knowledge in fertility and steps that can improve dairy cows’ reproductive performance.

The training is for anyone, including vets, rural professionals and farmers.

Details are at: dairynz.co.nz/incalf

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DAIRY

Reducing phosphorus inputs At the meeting on regenerative pastoral farming held recently in Gore, the topic of appropriate Olsen P levels was raised. A farmer participant was a little disturbed that a featured, recently-developed and highly-productive grazing block close to Lincoln had an Olsen P figure of 7.

Phosphorus and its importance were not part of the day’s agenda, however if it’s an issue with one farmer it will be exercising the minds of others and therefore a topic worth revisiting.

Phosphorus is an essential element.

When plant-available phosphorus is below a certain level total pasture yield is restricted. With less leaf surface area the ability of plants to convert sunlight to usable energy is restricted, and soluble sugar levels in the leaf are lower than optimum. Quantity and quality go together, when less is grown quality declines and the reverse is also the case.

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The Future of Farming

Annual plant uptake

Phone: 07 362 8433

Soils in their natural state contain phosphorus, and work carried out in this country indicate that there is usually around 500kgP/ha in the top 150mm – or six inches – in situations

where no phosphate fertiliser has ever been applied.

At the other end, figures in excess of 1000kg/ ha are not uncommon on intensive dairy land with a long history of regular superphosphate inputs. These figures have been obtained from Total P tests that measure almost all soil held phosphorus.

Olsen P

The Olsen P test was designed to measure plant-available phosphorus; and although there is debate about appropriateness, it’s been used for long enough that its usefulness is not in question, particularly where there are good long-term records of phosphate applied.

Total annual plant uptake of P by pasture, based on historic research, in most situations is no more than 60kgP/ha, with the majority returned to the soil via dung, litter and roots.

A 2007 article by Tim Jenkins, then of the Biological Husbandry Unit at Lincoln, states the annual P losses in a typical beef and sheep unit may be as low as 4-8kgP/ha, with dairy 10-16kgP/ha. Typically, 50kg P/ha is

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applied to intensive dairy each year with 20kgP/ha applied to drystock properties, hence the reason for the steady accumulation of phosphorus in topsoil under grazed pasture.

Applying less

With phosphorus becoming increasingly expensive, and that of suitable quality becoming scarcer, can high performing properties operate with less?

Key to applying less and being able to produce the volume of pasture required is dependent on several factors. The speed at which phosphorus is cycled is key to ensuring enough phosphorus is available for optimum pasture growth at all times.

Clovers being less competitive than grasses for all nutrients was the justification the for higher-thanmaintenance P inputs in the past. However, trials by research institutes here show an Olsen P of 10 is all that is required for clover survival.

Other long-term work shows high Olsen P levels don’t necessarily increase total pasture production, however higher levels reduce the likelihood of poor growth.

Speed

The speed of nutrient cycling is the most important factor in ensuring optimum, or close to, pasture performance. This is dependent on physical soil structures, which is determined by the activity of earthworms, beneficial fungi and bacteria, and a myriad of other soil dwellers.

Only a very small percentage, often as little as one per cent of all soil held nutrient, including nitrogen, is available for plant uptake at any given time. It’s the ability of soil life to provide a continuous supply of nutrient that determines the true success of any growing system.

Those farmers already incorporating this aspect into their operations are capable of, and achieving, higher total farm production with significantly lower costs than those fixated on soil chemistry and conventional water-soluble nutrient inputs alone.

For more information, contact Peter on 0800 843 809.

글

DAIRY

From milk bottles to fence posts Turning used milk bottles and other soft plastics into fence posts for Kiwi farms is the newest idea to tackle sustainability in the agricultural sector.

Fonterra has teamed up with Kiwi-owned start up Future Post – so Anchor Light Proof milk bottles will soon be appearing on farms in fence-post form.

Fonterra Brands New Zealand’s sustainability and environment manager Larisa Thathiah says the posts are an innovative new way for farmers to improve their on-farm sustainability.

“This partnership provides farmers with an environmentally-friendly fencing option, made from the packaging of our farmers’ milk, which is pretty special,” says Larisa.

“It’s not enough to just recycle anymore, it’s about creating less waste full stop, or at least turning it into something useful.

“That’s why these fence posts are so exciting – they’re made from 100 per cent recycled material, and have a life expectancy of more than 50 years.”

The Future Post partnership is the latest waste reduction initiative from Fonterra. Last year, the co-op partnered with Skycity to turn Anchor Light Proof milk bottles into shampoo, conditioner and body lotion bottles for guests.

Future Post managing director Jerome Wenzlick is looking forward to developing other sustainable products for farmers.

“What we’re doing is repurposing waste that could have gone to landfill and turning it in to a valuable product for consumers,” says Jerome.

“Our partnership with Fonterra gives us access to a steady supply of raw material from the co-op’s own recycling initiatives.

“It also gives us access to a network of nationwide Farm Source stores that can sell the fence posts, and access to 10,000 farmers who are actively engaged in environmental initiatives, like fencing to keep cows out of waterways and planting along river banks.”

Jerome says Future Post is a start-up “but we have

Page 45 글

plans for some new products in 2019, including those for non-farming sectors”.

Anchor Light Proof milk bottles are collected from the Fonterra Takanini site and transported to the Future Post Waiuku plant, where they are mixed with soft plastics and turned into fence posts.

The fence posts will be available in selected North Island Fonterra Farm Source stores in the New Year.

Fonterra Brands NZ’s sustainability and environment manager Larisa Thathiah, CEO Miles Hurrell and Future Post managing director Jerome Wenzlick at Fonterra’s Open Gates event in Karaka.

The new Future Post fence posts will be available in the North Island in the New Year.

POWER QUALITY AUDITS Are you paying too much for power or need more supply capacity for extra equipment.

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• Measuring power quality - are you having voltage or harmonic issues? This can affect the life and reliability of your equipment • Provide solutions that pay for themselves.

Whether you’re a small farm or business right through to large operators this could benefit you.

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Page 46

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CV’s THAT STAND OUT. Don’t let your C.V. get lost amongst all the others. Get the WOW factor.

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LASERS FOR SALE, two to choose from. One classic older beach boat, perfect for cruising around the harbour/lake. $1,000.

Another highly spec’d Laser, former national champs boat.

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Would suit aspiring racer as this boat has plenty potential. $5000. No beach trailers.

Both Lasers in Tauranga.

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PULLETS HY-LINE BROWN, great layers. Phone 07 824 1762 www.eurekapoultryfarm.weebly. com

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LIST YOUR RURAL EVENT HERE! email your listing to: elaine@thesun.co.nz with ‘Rural Event’ in the subject line.

Dec 1-Mar 3

The Garden Party, Waikato

Museum, Hamilton, free.

New exhibition to mark the opening of the Katherine Mansfield Garden at Hamilton Gardens.

December 7-9 Carols in the Caves,

Waitomo Caves. Tickets from Waitomo i-Site, ph: 0800 474 839.

Up, part of Conservation Week 2018, at 138 Wairere Drive, Hamilton. 1pm-3pm.

All ages welcome. Email: gerard.kelly@hcc.govt.nz

December 8

December 8-9

bee. 9am-12 noon. Help remove pest plants and invasive weeds from the most important remnant bush area in Hamilton City.

Details ph Gerard Kelly: 07 838 6501. Email: gerard. kelly@hcc.govt.nz Transformation From Roots

Reserve Working Bee, on the Napier-Taupo Rd, staying at Sika Lodge, $90 (includes meals). To book a bunk, ph Bill: 06 836 6735.

Iwitahi Native Orchid

Jubilee Park working

December 9

Koanga Institute Tour, 1pm-

4pm, Wairoa area, $25. See: tinyurl.com/y7lfh2wt

December 15

January 12

on Vege Gardening, 9.30am-3pm, Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge, $120. See: www. fallsretreat.co.nz

Festival, Uretara Domain, Katikati. See: katikatiavofest. weebly.com

The Full Monty

Avocado Food & Wine

January 18

Waihi Dahlia Show,

January 5

Memorial Hall, Waihi, noon-3.30pm. Ph Jennifer: 07 863 7563.

4pm, Tairua School. See: tairuawineandfood.co.nz Waihi Beach Summer Fair, 10am-4pm, Wilson Park, $2. See: www. waihibeachsummerfair.com

January 19

Food & Wine Festival, 9am-

Looking at the Good Life,

10am-5pm, near Tirau, $120. Animals, orchards and gardens. See: www.lals.nz

A cookbook dedicated to beef and lamb With beef and lamb a mainstay of the New Zealand dining table – especially during Kiwi summers – Beef + Lamb New Zealand and cook and food writer, Kathy Paterson, figured it was high time there was a cookbook dedicated to the subject.

The result is ‘Meat & Three’, a stunning cookbook celebrating the food we eat and the land where we live with a feast of seasonal dishes accompanied by profiles of some of NZ’s most stunning and iconic farms.

The 80-plus recipes featured in ‘Meat & Three’ are designed to offer year-round cooking inspiration.

Organised by season, they range from classics with a twist to fresh ideas for barbecues, roasts, slow-cooked meals, salads and delicious ways to use cheaper cuts and leftovers. There’s even a section dedicated to mouth-watering desserts.

However, as the name – a play on the Kiwi saying ‘meat and three vegetables’ – suggests, this is much more than a cookbook for meat lovers.

Vegetables figure prominently, with Kathy encouraging cooks to use them “at their peak of ripeness”. Included in recipes are a number of new vegetable varieties now readily available in NZ stores.

Kathy grew up on a beef and sheep farm in the Wairarapa and has a deep respect for the farmers who produce such highquality beef and lamb products in this country.

She and photographer Tam West wanted to honour the farmers who are the backbone of our beef and lamb industry, so they headed out into heartland NZ to capture a spectacular variety of rural landscapes and the farmers at work.

Each station featured has been in the same family for at least three generations, with two now being worked by fifth and sixth-generation farmers.

“The stories of these heritage stations reveal an incredible legacy of hard work and commitment,” says Kathy.

B OAT | F I SH | WAT E R SP O R T N Z

Author Kathy Paterson grew up on a beef and sheep farm in the Wairarapa. Photo credit: Anna Kidman.

‘Meat & Three’ also provides a host of fail-safe tips and step-by-step advice for cooks on how to select the best cut of meat for a recipe, how to cook beef and lamb cuts to perfection, and how to make perfect gravy.

Plus, there’s illustrated guides of different beef and lamb cuts used, and recipes for simple accompaniments to serve alongside stand-alone cuts such as steak or a rack of lamb.

D EC EM BER 2 0 1 7

S

BER TR TIM E

NT ME AT

PEPP ER

Mark Hey.

Coast & Country News has a copy of ‘Meat & Three’ by Kathy Paterson to give away to one lucky reader.

To be in to win, email your answer to the following question, with your name and address with ‘Book Giveaway’ as the subject line to: merle@ sunmedia.co.nz Question: In what location in New Zealand did Kathy Paterson grow up on a beef and sheep farm?

Or put your answer on the back of an envelope and post to Coast & Country News, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3140 to arrive by December 31, 2018. The winner will be announced in our February edition.

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 47

MASSEY FERGUSSON GLOBAL TRACTOR RANGE With the new Global Series, Massey Ferguson has taken the concept of a utility tractor and re-engineered it from the ground up to meet the needs of present and future farming.

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5700SL MASSEY FERGUSON MID RANGE Our 5700SL Range consists of 5710, 5711, 5712 & 5713 all with the 4.4L AGCO Power engine which delivers power and performance while maintaining maximum efficiency. These Massey Ferguson transmissions are renowned for their outstanding robust reliability with smooth and effortless operation, offering completely clutchless control via the left-hand Power Control lever or those on the right-hand console or armrest, as well as on convenient loader joystick controls.

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Page 48

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Hydie, 2, helping Grandma feedout in the Kaimais.

Above: Chase, 2, having fun in the outdoors with leaves at the park in Cambridge.

Cassidy, aged 1, trying out her new Redbands splashing in the puddles in Whakatane.

Left: Megan with ‘Blue’ at the Korakanui School calf club.

BS! PRIZandEdetUailsPcan beFemOaileRd (higGh resRolutionAjpgy,s)POto Box 240,

Pictures to Coast & Countr untry Camera” or posted every entry. kathy@thesun.co.nz “Co e a name, address and phone number with Tauranga. Please includ