Coast & Country December 2017

Buried timber treasure Uncovering native timber felled by an eruption 1800 years ago wasn’t what Graham Smith envisaged when he dug a metal pit on his King Country farm. Read what he plans to do with it and his above-ground trees on pages 6-7. Photo: Elaine Fisher.

Ginseng PAGE 4-5

Lameness Seminar PAGE 22-23

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Forestry PAGE 44-45

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 2

We can’t take food security for granted My parents often talked about food rationing in Britain during World War Two, how restricted their diets were and how they grew vegetables to supplement what ration books allowed them to buy.

Brian Rogers Director/ Editor

Elaine Fisher Editor 07 928 3046

www.coastandcountrynews.co.nz

When they arrived in New Zealand in the 1950s, they found the abundance of food amazing but George and Bess continued to grow vegetables well into old age, wherever they lived – perhaps an instinctive act of self-preservation against risks to food supply.

Many New Zealanders have home vegetable gardens but all of us rely on our nation’s market gardeners and orchardists to provide most of our daily fruit and vegetables. However, a new report prepared for Horticulture New Zealand by KPMG warns we can’t take the provision of New Zealand-grown produce for granted. See Mike Chapman’s column, page 33.

New Zealand has no food security policy but the report says one is needed because threats to feeding our growing population are very real. These include urban encroachment on the most fertile areas, especially around Pukehoke, taking these elite soils

out of production forever; pests and diseases entering the country, severely impacting crop production; and climate change, which is a significant threat to what crops can be grown and where.

We may take access to fresh fruit and vegetables for granted, but Kiwis consume 18,000 tonnes of them a day – most grown here. Our growers are now faced with producing more with less in terms of land and water, but also keeping prices affordable for foods essential to our health.

Replacing home-grown with imports reduces surety of consistent supply, raises food safety issues and will mean higher prices.

The report also highlights the fact that decisionmaking by local, district and regional councils doesn’t look beyond borders and no consideration is given to national food supply when land is zoned for housing, or water is allocated.

HortNZ is asking the government to develop a food security policy that takes a holistic, nationwide approach to feeding New Zealand year-round, and is asking the public to add their voice to the call.

The very readable and well-illustrated report is on the HortNZ website www.hortnz.co.nz Elaine Fisher

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 3

Ensuring voices of farming families heard These advances will not only enable more environmentally sustainable farming, but also help keep farms financially viable

True cost of food

“While we would like the public to pay the true cost of food, there are constant pressures to decrease prices,” says Katie. That’s unlikely to change so making economies behind the farm gate is vital.

While Katie is keen to raise the positive profile of farming among the

Federated Farmers CEO Graham Smith, president Katie Milne and Bay of Plenty president Darryl Jensen.

Federated Farmers’ role as the voice for farmers has never been more crucial, says president Katie Milne.

“The new coalition government has signalled that big changes are ahead for the agricultural sector and Federated Farmers has a massive role in ensuring the voices of farming families are heard,” she told the Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers regional executive meeting at Edgecumbe in November.

Katie, who had meetings with government MPs and staff early in their new tenure, says it is important for Federated Farmers to build trust with them to work collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes.

“I believe we will gain a lot more traction from this approach, but don’t think we will back away or go soft. This is a subtly different way of working with people.”

Katie says many people in Wellington have very little contact with, or knowledge of farming which unfortunately became a political football during the election campaign. “We need to remind people that farmers grow food. That’s what we do.” That focus resonates and helps change attitudes, she says.

Restructuring benefits

The restructuring of the Ministry for Primary ndustries may be beneficial, says atie, especially if it results in some parts of the organisation, including forestry and biosecurity, being based in the regions.

“The process needs to be handled very carefully.

We don’t want to see a repeat of what happened

four years ago when restructuring resulted in export product being held up on a wharf because it had the wrong documentation.”

The new ministry and new government offer challenges, but also opportunities for farming. hat we have to do is be a positive in uence to collaboratively help the new government come to the right decisions for everyone.”

Meeting new environmental standards will be challenging, but Katie says farmers are already proving they can achieve significant outcomes he uoted the success story in her own farming catchment. e met the water uality standards for ake runner in ust five years, even though the then inster for the nvironment, ick mith, thought it could never be done.

Best practice farming

“Many farmers are already farming at best practice.

Farming has come a long way from 30 years ago when we didn’t know nutrient loss was a problem.”

When it comes to carbon emissions, transport accounts for 78 per cent of New Zealand’s emissions and that figure is growing s farming production has risen, emissions have increased, but emissions per kg of product are slightly less than previously, says Katie.

Technology, she says, will help farmers reduce emissions even more, while maintaining economic levels of profitability arming high breeding-worth animals with improved productivity, precision agriculture which includes applying fertilisers only where and when re uired, and devices which provide farmers with detailed information about their livestock and land are already available.

public, she reminds farmers not to take bad press too much to heart. s farmers we are very sensitive to negative publicity but we have to remember that farming is not the only thing on the minds of those living in cities who daily face, among other concerns, long commutes to work, the worry of high mortgages and their children’s education.

“The fact is, many New Zealanders get that farmers produce the food they eat and they value that.”

Elaine Fisher

Page 4

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Ginseng growing under mature pine trees in Pureora Forest – Maraeroa C cultivation area.

The trials and tribulations of growing ginseng is something those involved with the Maraeroa C Incorporation know well.

The Maori forestry organisation, based in Te Kuiti, has been trialling and now growing wild-simulated ginseng for 11 years in the Pureora Forest.

It is only now beginning to realise results of the hard work and patience needed to grow the herb, which is used extensively in Chinese herbal medicine.

Ginseng is a slow-growing herb which has been used as a health remedy in Asia for the past 5000 years. Three main varieties are grown in China, Korea and North America.

Wild, or naturally-grown, ginseng was the most valuable, but years of over-harvesting has left it in scarce supply with field-grown root making up most of the estimated $4 billion world trade. Wild-simulated ginseng, grown organically close to its natural state and harvested by hand, fetches the secondhighest prices.

Research by New Zealand Scion, has shown more than half of the 450,000ha of planted forests in the central North Island had suitable environmental and geophysical conditions for growing wild-simulated ginseng under the forest canopy.

Growing ginseng commercially as an ‘under-storey’ could potentially double the profitability from the land compared to forestry alone, over one rotation.

Maraeroa C Ginseng and Natural Plantation manager aniel enefield has been with the trust for 10 years. He was working for Maraeora C when the company was approached by Plant & Food to take on a trial to grow ginseng.

Age of plant

Daniel says the method used is ‘wild-simulated’, which is the next best thing to the wild-growing herb. Ginseng is grown commercially in the USA but it is intensively farmed under shade cloth and they grow a different variety (Panax quinquefolius). It is also only grown for about four years.

“The value is in the age of the plant, the look of the roots, taste and smells. New Zealand ginseng (Panax ginseng) has high ginsenoiside, has no chemical residues, and looks, tastes and smells like wild ginseng.”

In China, traditional herbs like ginseng are favoured from traditional areas and some of the best come from the Changbaishan area.

New Zealand growing conditions can produce viable ginseng plants quicker than China and North America because the New Zealand climate is not as ...continued

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 5

Ancient herb a healthy boost for forestry continued...

a ginseng-growing country. “But current independent research has proven New Zealand grows good quality ginseng. We have already proven we can grow it and our research to date shows the active ingredient ginsenoside measures very well, free of chemicals, grown in a pure environment. Our top grade roots meet the look and style so now it is a matter of developing our ‘Pure-ora’ brand awareness and developing export markets,” says Glen.

Fritha Tagg

cold. The snow on the ground in China and North America means they have less ‘growing days’ than New Zealand.

Ginseng was trialled in New Zealand in the 1990s through to early 2000s. In 2005 New Zealand Plant & Food looked for pine forest owners who would be happy to run trials of ginseng growing under their 10-15 year pine trees. Ginseng needs per cent shade to grow and ourish araeora was approached and supplied with ginseng ‘rootlets’ (seedlings).

Rabbit damage

Daniel says most of this trial was, unfortunately, decimated by rabbits. Another trial was run the following year, this time fencing off the area where ginseng seeds were sown to keep the rabbit and hare pests away from the crop. But birds finches in particular attacked the seeds and when the newly germinated seeds were showing above the ground, the birds again pecked them out, so only a few plants survived. Some rootlets from the previous year also pushed through the heavy pine needle swathe.

The third year seeds were planted again and covered with netting to keep the pests from the young crop. A greater number of plants did survive and have continued to develop. fter the third trial araeora decided to invest in a twohectare block in an attempt to produce commercial ginseng.

Half of this crop was harvested in 2016 and the second half in ince araeora ncorporation has planted about two hectares each year. It is always planted in a new location because ginseng is susceptible to fungal disease and so the separate plantings spread the risk.

Seven years to harvest

The ginseng is planted under 12-15 year pines and it takes seven years until the ginseng can be harvested. The pine trees are then harvested several years later.

So although it is a good combination planting (pines and ginseng), it also requires many factors to be just right and new plantings of ginseng need to be under the mature trees to have the right growing conditions. They need substantial pest prevention as well. resently araeora has about hectares planted in ginseng – about 14 hectares effective. After seven years each plant is hand-harvested. Daniel says it is important when harvesting to be very careful to get all the roots out without damaging them.

“Our team is getting better and better at carefully teasing out all the fine roots and they can tell when they come across a high-grade root. The roots are washed and dried before being assessed and processed,” says Daniel.

is for

Ginseng an

at ral lantation anager aniel ene el with the dried ginseng product.

The top quality roots (perfects) are sold intact, displayed in gift boxes and sold primarily to Asian customers in New Zealand and via the internet.

The majority of whole root is sold in bulk to Chinese traditional medical outlets in New Zealand for use in their medicines, and the food-grade ginseng is powdered and used in capsules or mixed with honey, which is also produced by ure-ora ountain inseng araeora ncorporation chief e ecutive Glen Katu says New Zealand is not known as

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Page 6

Agroforestry’s environmental - financial benefits raham mith, a committed convert to the benefits of agroforestry, never expected to harvest timber from both above and below the ground.

“I got a digger in to excavate some gravel from a paddock and the machine uncovered large ancient logs,” says Graham, who milks 78 cows and grows 500 paulownias, 300 kauri, 400 Mexican cyprus and 3500 pines on a 37ha property near Kihikihi.

The buried trees, including rimu, matai and totara, were attened

years ago when the Taupo volcano produced Earth’s most violent eruption in the past 5000 years. Graham, a natural story teller, has researched the event and describes what would have happened.

“The volcano sent 23 cubic kilometres of ash straight up to around 40 kilometres and then it came back down again, travelling sideways at around 500 kilometres an hour, levelling everything in its path. All the logs under this paddock are lying in the same direction – where they were attened by the blast That eruption left another legacy on the mith farm, a loaf-shaped outcrop with 30-metre cliffs (ideal for the sport

of abseiling) and several tomo, topped by a plateau of grazing land with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

The logs beneath the farm could be close to 2000 years old and the ones extracted so far have proved suitable for milling. “I plan to use ground-penetrating x-ray equipment to find out where others are.”

100-tree hectare

However, Graham’s main focus is on much younger timber from the paulownia trees he grows in and around his paddocks, in some places at a density of 100 trees to the hectare.

“That’s a lot of trees and many farmers say I’m nuts because they think the trees will shade the pasture too much and take nutrients from the soil. That’s not the case.”

Paulownia are fast-growing and to achieve high-quality, straight timber free of knots require

regular pruning.

Well-pruned trees create moving shade throughout the day, providing respite for cows from sun and stopping pasture from drying out.

Rather than robbing the ground of nutrients, paulownia trees, with roots Paulownia trees are planted at 100 which extend up to 25 per hectare on parts of the farm. metres away from the trunk, mine nutriget mobbed when I’m pruning ents from deeper in the soil than because the cows love the leaves pasture can. “Paulownia take out and stems so much.” about 75 per cent of the nitrogen in the soil, significantly reducing Many mistakes nitrogen leaching.”

It’s not just cows which appreciThey use that ate the trees. Paulownia produce masses of violet-coloured nitrogen and other owers from eptember to nutrients to grow October which attract hundreds rapidly, and mature of bees and dozens of tui. trees produce around 100kg of leaf a year. “I ...continued

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Page 7

There’s ancient buried ‘treasure’ on this farm

continued...

Today Graham is a recognised authority on agro-forestry but he’s learned what he knows the hard way. “I should have joined the Farm Forestry Association years ago. I wouldn’t have made so many mistakes.”

However, agroforestry differs from farm forestry in that trees are planted in often highly-fertile soils, alongside crops or in Graham’s case, pasture Above: Paulownia where animals graze. In farm forestry, produce masses of violettrees grow in plantations, usually on less colo re flowers ro productive land.

September to October.

It was necessity which got Graham Photo Tess Smith. into growing trees after he bought the farm in the early 1988. “There were agro-forestry for both problems with erosion, and the regional environmental and ecocouncil encouraged me to create a whole nomic reasons. farm plan to control it. They assisted with “However, it’s vital to advice and provided trees for me to plant, select the right trees for on the condition that I fenced off all These logs, felled by an eruption 1800 years your area. Paulownia grow waterways. Fortunately the farm has ago, may be 2000 years old. well here, but are not suitsprings which I tapped and gravity-fed the able for windy locations.

“I had to re-mortgage the farm, despite being just water to paddocks.”

But there are hundreds of about debt-free. The banks wouldn’t lend to me Pines and cyprus were planted on the steeper parts trees to choose from.” because they reckoned the farm was uneconomic. It of the farm and after 21 years Graham harvested the Elaine Fisher was Don Fraser of Fraser Farm Finance who got me the pines when the price for timber was high, replanting money I needed and enabled me to stay on the farm.” the areas in young trees again.

Don was impressed at what Graham had already Light, strong timber achieved environmentally on the land, and with his willingness to work hard, live frugally and innovate.

“I might be lucky enough to see another harvest of “I remember he had plans to build accommodation pines but I know I’ll see many from the paulownia.”

That’s because the trees, a native of China, can be har- so fishers could come to catch trout in the pristine Mangatutu Stream, which runs through the vested at 10-15 years. The extremely light but strong timber is in demand for boat-building, construction of property,” says Don. That accommodation is now a reality and Graham surf boards, butts for competition guns, racing waka and ess welcome a steady stream of guests keen to fish, ama, fishing lures, picture frames, furniture and as experience farming life and listen to Graham’s stories of feature timber for building interiors. the valley’s ancient and more recent history.

Graham has a core of loyal customers and a website Graham encourages other farms to consider which attracts international and national interest.

“I fell the trees myself and have a portable mill come in to process them.” Graham sorts the timber according to quality and customer demands, and stacks it to dry on the farm.

Replacement trees, grown from root cuttings, are nurtured until ready to plant out in the paddocks where they are protected by out-rigger electric fences.

The combined income from milk and paulownia trees, (assuming 100 trees ha with a 15-year cycle), calculated on an annual basis equals around $10,000 per hectare.

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention and raham reckons if he hadn t been in a tight financial situation when his first wife left him he probably wouldn’t have looked for an another form of income.

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series of technical discussions and the negotiation and signing of a protocol to agree e port re uirements for avocados have successfully wrapped up between and hina s eneral dministration of uality upervision, nspection and uarantine, with input from ew ealand s avocado industry he ne t step before trade commences is an audit of ew ealand s regulatory system for e porting avocados by in mid- ecember ecuring e port access for our avocados into hina is ew ealand s top horticulture priority, says director-general artyn unne would like to acknowledge the e tensive work, support and cooperation by , industry body ew ealand vocado and officials in enabling this significant progress in ew ealand s trade with hina hina is e pected to be a significant market for ew ealand avocados hina is very aware of the significant global increase in avocado consumption, the associated health benefits and the strong growth and huge potential in the avocado category, says ew ealand vocado chief e ecutive en coular ur conversations with hinese importers show there will be strong interest in ew ealand avocados, en says

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ur aim is to create a globally-competitive, highvalue, sustainable horticulture industry delivering real returns to ew ealand, says ony onder, chair of the ew ealand vocado rowers ssociation e re well on the way towards this, and access to hina for our avocados will play a big part n the season, ew ealand s avocado industry achieved its best-ever season reaching a record-breaking industry value of more than million from million trays vocados are still relatively unknown in hina, but demand for ew ealand s avocados has boomed n , ew ealand e ported million of avocados into markets such as ustralia, apan, ingapore, orea and hailand growth of around million from the previous season vocado e ports will oin ew ealand s other fresh fruit e ports to hina which include apples, kiwifruit, cherries, plums, citrus and persimmons artyn unne says the progress towards avocado access into hina is a good demonstration of the strength of collaboration and positive, respectful relationships he progress to date towards securing access for our avocados is underpinned by collaboration and the positive relationship shared by both ew ealand and hina and the avocado industry are committed to getting our avocado trade with hina underway as soon as possible rowth in the avocado industry is also being enabled through the ew ealand vocados o lobal rimary rowth artnership programme between ew ealand vocado and t s a five-year, million collaboration that has made real progress towards goals to triple productivity and grow industry returns to million per year by

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Page 10

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race yourself, the vegans are coming Farming has, for a long time, looked to its males to sit in positions of in uence, and hold forth on what the future holds for what we produce and how we do it. ut we women are gently but firmly easing into top positions, so it was no surprise to find that two women were the guest speakers at the Beef + Lamb NZ id- orth sland agm held recently in amilton hey ve obviously caught the interest of sheep and beef farmers because the meeting saw a packed house and a waiting list of hopeful attendees There has been a lot in the farming media of late about growing meat and milk in

laboratories using plants instead of animals elissa lark- eynolds obviously struck many in the audience with fear and trembling during her speech entitled race yourself, the vegans are coming disruption ahead elissa has recently been recruited as an independent director on the board of and has obviously had significant in uence in devising their promised new strategy he is a software e pert and entrepreneur, helping businesses get off the ground successfully, as well as being a member of s rimary rowth artnership nvestment anel

Alternative milk

he pointed out that most groups have their views in a bubble hey know what they know, and many know what they don t know, but it s also true that most don t know what they don t know hese blind spots have caused many commercial failures for what seemed large and comfortable leaders in their fields he uoted odak which actually invented the first

digital camera but felt that film would always win, and merica n ine when oogle and acebook appeared n the , consumption of fresh dairy milk is steadily declining, with alternate milks selling more every year ne only has to look at the growing number of alternates in our supermarkets to verify this, despite the hot competition here for super and avoured milks nd guess who is leading the way in ownership of alternate milks anone and oca ola n the meat front elissa advised that in the and spreading elsewhere the , hina and ustralia there are a growing number of so-called vegans who stick to a vegan diet during the week, but then splash out on very e pensive meat-based meals in the weekends.

‘Love business’

he theory probably being that a vegan diet keeps your body running well, and being somewhat sinful in the weekends doesn t count nd estle is now the biggest investor in vegan food ith a consumer market demanding ever greater detail about the growth and production of more and more food

items, including their effects on the environment, elissa recommended that farmers stop regarding themselves in the meat business and begin to think of themselves in the love business in the way they farm their land and animals. nother woman who has been recognised for her skills and in uence is racy oupapa mong her current obs is as chair of andcorp racy was the second guest speaker

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andcorp has been in e istence for years and, with the recent change of government, is now not going to be sold off racy e plained that its board and management are working on a number of transformational changes which are aimed at having andcorp, and its product range amu, be seen as the best farmer , not only in ew ealand but much more widely he amu brand is aiming for products that are free from , have integrity , and contribute to wellness , in order to remain a source of desired food purchases, whatever the plantbased industries come up with Sue Edmonds

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Harvesting real-time data plays, farmers have a greater insight into wenty-five years ago, the g eader their operation than ever before. With yield monitor was released to the indusDisplayCast functionality, farmers can try and for the first time arable farmers link displays in the field, pull planting were able to get a unique window on data into the harvester to identify variety their operation. changes and identify population varia“There many specialised precision ag tions on the go. tools in the industry, “With fast and extremely but the one that can accurate two load calibraaffect productivity tions, g eader yield on your whole arable monitors are designed to enterprise is the yield help you make quick decimonitor in your harsions from the cab of your vester,” says Matthew machine.

Gray, owner of the Bay “Once the harvest is of Plenty-based comfinished, or even if it s still pany nearth g td Ag Leader yield monitor. going, data can by pulled “The yield monitor down to your iPad on the go, so you can is the report card; the decision support see in real time what is happening in the tool that helps you quantify decisions field made and prompt you to address issues “Data from the Yield Monitor or any that inhibit production that you may other GPS display you have can also be not have even known was there, and imported to SMS on your computer improve next season’s performance.” for Variable Rate Prescription creation, Often farmers identify drainage, fertilreporting etc.” ity, variety selection, tillage practise, atthew says g eader hardware is fungicide application, and of course highly e ible in farming operation he moisture as areas that gave improved displays can also steer the machine, and gross margin. The Yield Monitor helps for the rest of the year control sprayers, identify these and helps quantify the variable or fi ed rate fertiliser spreadreturns to show the right processes were ers and work with ISOBUS capable put in place.

“Imagine on your arable farm having a implements to give the farming business greater integration and e ibility tool that allows you to experiment with “Regardless of the colour or age of varieties, chemicals, fertility on your farm, in your conditions,” says Matthew. your farm machinery, g eader has solutions to allow you to maximise your Now thanks to the third generation, return on investment,” says Matthew. the latest g eader n ommand is-

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COUNTRY LIVING

Page 12

Irrigation equals income protection Growing kiwifruit is expensive, but also very lucrative says Water Solutions owner/operator Frank Weggen.

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“The prices for orchards are increasing from year to year and have recently reached an all-time high of $1 million per hectare for a kiwifruit gold orchard in Te Puke,” he says. t first, this seems to be high, but the latest return of up to $9.75 per tray or $120,000 per hectare make even these costly investments still attractive, says Frank.

Zespri issued 400ha of additional licenses for kiwifruit gold this year and plans to issue an additional 400ha over the next three years.

This will give growers the opportunity to participate in the increasing demand and therefore prices for our kiwifruit.

The quality of the kiwifruit is important and will determine the price. The quality can be in uenced by nutrition owever, some other aspects cannot be controlled, like the weather.

“During spring and summer, times with consecutive weeks of little or no rain can be critical for the kiwifruit.

“If there is not much water available, the kiwifruit cannot grow enough, which also has a significant impact on the price per tray, says Frank.

Dripper and sprinkler irrigation can be used to mitigate the impact of drought to irrigate the roots, says Frank.

“Each year we are installing more and more irrigation systems in the Bay of Plenty as the demand for (income) protection is increasing.

Each orchard is different, starting from the water source and volume, topographic and layout and requires a personalised design to work efficiently and stay in budget

Irrigation will strengthen the quality of kiwifruit.

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 13

Island’s fernbird population increasing Uretara Island’s fernbird population has reached a record average of 47 birds, following the island’s most recent fernbird survey of the year held in October.

The 0.74km² island, accessible by boat in the Ohiwa Harbour near Whakatane, has been surveyed for fernbirds since 2014 by the Nukuhou Saltmarsh Care Group.

The group has monitored fernbird – the Maori name of which is matata – as an indicative bird species following the reduction of the island’s rat population and the eradication of possums.

In 2014 the average number of fernbirds surveyed was 10; the number increased to 20 in 2015, and 42 in 2016.

Rats are the main predator on Uretara Island, but on rare occasions stoats and weasels have been spotted.

“The whole island is rat-baited with bait stations 75m apart, and we set traps for possums and stoats,” Fernbird Survey coordinator Stuart Slade says.

Predator numbers, particularly rat numbers, have been down for the past two years, so this year’s surveys were in line with expectations that the fernbird count would continue rising.

“There will come a time that the fernbird population will stabilise, but having them rise or stay stable is indicative that the predator numbers are extremely low or non-existent. The fernbird survey is just another indication that the pest controls on

New Zealand’s history – day by day It is 112 years on December 16 since the ‘Originals’ All Black team suffered a loss to the Welsh at Cardiff Arms Park.

That still talked-about match is recorded in the book ‘Today in New Zealand History’ by Neill Atkinson, David Green, Gareth Phipps and Steve Watters and published by Exisle Publishing.

The thoroughly-researched, well-illustrated and engagingly-written book was created as a collaboration between Manatu Taonga – Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the Alexander Turnbull Library.

It’s described as a fun, fresh and fast-paced look at the story of our nation, with one account from as far back as 1642 when Abel Tasman’s East India Company expedition had the first known European contact with Maori.

It focuses on well-known New Zealanders including Sir Ernest Rutherford and Edmund Hillary, and lessor known pioneers who broke barriers and changed minds like the first ever female doctor, mayor and MP. There are stories of the tragedies and disasters and also of the humorous and bizarre, like Jockey Y-fronts and a parachuting Santa.

Thanks to Exisle, Coast & Country News is able to reproduce exerts from the book, which provides a fascinating day-by and month-by month account of events which helped shaped our nation.

‘All Blacks’ non-try hands Wales historic win’ is the heading for an event on December 16, 1905.

“A great rugby rivalry was born when a try to All Black Bob Deans was disallowed, resulting in the only loss of the ‘Originals’. The incident is still debated. The only score in the match played before a crowd of 47,000 at Cardiff Arms Park was a try scored by Welsh wing Teddy Morgan 10 minutes before halftime. As the All Blacks counter-attacked in the second half, Deans was sure he grounded the ball over the line before Welsh defenders dragged him back into the field of play ortly cottish referee John Dallas, 30 metres behind the play, disagreed and awarded ales a five-yard scrum New Zealand captain Dave Gallaher accepted defeat in what he described as a “rattling good game, played out to the bitter end — the best team won”.

jects. The group was recognised by the Bay of Plenty Uretara Island are working.”

Regional Council for its milestone of 1000 pests The surveys are held three times a year and the public is invited to join the surveys. trapped in April 2015.

Anne Boswell The fernbird was chosen as it nests close to the ground and is easily predated. Fernbirds inhabit wetlands throughout New Zealand and are a potential indicator of wetland health as they are dependent on the presence of high quality and ecologicallydiverse habitats and rich food supplies.

The fernbird population has declined significantly and the birds are now classed globally as ‘at-risk, declining’; they have disappeared from large areas of New Zealand such as Wairarapa, Wellington and Canterbury.

Pest control on Uretara Island is only one part of the work the Nukuhou Saltmarsh Care Group has undertaken since it was established in 2003. It has carefully restored the Nukuhou saltmarsh habitat and undertaken pest control in the Waiotane Kiwi Reserve, among other proNew Zealand’s fernbird is now classed globally as ‘at-risk, declining’.

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Page 14

COUNTRY LIVING

Chocolate – it’s food for the brain O U NT R

N NIE

Among chocolate’s many attributes (apart from tasting fantastic) is that it contains “a compound called theobromine, which is an effective antibacterial and anti-in ammatory and causes the cardio-vascular system to dilate, making heart muscles work more efficiently This attractively-illustrated book by Delia is the Country Funnies book prize for December. It The November Country includes factual information Funnies photo. about foods alongside easy and delicious recipes for their preparation.

Winner of last month’s Country Funnies book prize ‘Paddy O'Melon the Irish Kangaroo’ written by Julia Cooper and illustrated by Daryl Dickson, is Sharron Ruiterman of Bombay with her captions: A new take on ‘Get in behind’ and ‘Driving Miss Daisy’.

Thanks to Exisle Publishing Coast & Country News has a copy of ‘Feed your Brain’ to give away. To be in to win email captions (as many as you like) for the photo above right and send with your name and address with Country Funnies as the subject line to

S

FU

Y

C

Chocolate is good for the brain and the rest of the body too, including the heart – which is wonderful news for chocolate lovers and is among the facts featured in the book ‘Feed your Brain’ by Delia McCabe, published

by Exisle Publishing.

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

elaine@thesun.co.nz Or put these details on the back of an envelope and post to Country Funnies, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3140 to arrive no later than December 12.

New and changing moles need urgent attention ur skin has many functions he first and most obvious is to provide protection from external sources of injury.

is the most common site, therefore treatment should not be delayed in order to avoid unsightly skin damage.

The next most common is squamous cell carcinoma or SCC. Like BCC, the majorOne such source of injury is ultraviolent ity of cases are caused by UVR damage and radiation, or UVR, from the sun. We need a therefore arise on sun-exposed skin. SCC can small amount of UVR to produce vitamin D. rarely spread to other parts of the body (metasOver time, excessive UVR causes premature skin tasis). SCC are often painful lumps, aging and visible signs of sun damage. In growing quickly over weeks. They some cases this can develop into a skin require urgent surgical excision. cancer.

Melanoma is the most serious There are three main types form of skin cancer. It arises of skin cancer and all are Dermatologist Dr Toby Nelson from The from a cell in the skin called increasing in incidence in New Skin Care Centre in Tauranga. a melanocyte which produces Zealand. The commonest type the brown pigment when we tan. Groups of melanois basal cell carcinoma, referred to as BCC. This is a cytes are called moles. slow-growing cancer that erodes into the surrounding Melanoma is caused by UVR but also genetics and skin. It is sometimes called a ‘rodent’ ulcer. The face reasons that are not fully understood play a role. People of all skin colour can develop melanoma. Melanoma can metastasise, leading to death. Any new or changing moles that are unlike the rest of your skin should be reviewed urgently.

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ishing is good We have had some rather unsettled weather over the past few months but during the odd lulls, we have managed to get out among the action for a few reef fishing trips We had an interesting Saturday recently when the group turned up several hours late for the occasion of a mate s stag do veryone was in fine form, dressed as pirates and there were all sorts of other colourful costumes With the weather not being the most accommodating, we decided it would be best to tuck in behind Karewa Island, a short distance from the auranga arbour entrance he trip out subdued some of their enthusiasm fter an hour or so of catching smaller fish and releasing them, the more hardy members of the group and myself decided to venture out from the shelter as the weather had dropped, and pursue some snapper

Turn back

nchoring up in the m mark, we immediately started to catch keepable snapper nfortunately, due to the previous night's activities, the group decided it would be best to return to terra firma he following day the weather was smiling on us ith the crew on board we decided to head to the previous day's mark to investigate the snapper situation further n our arrival we found they had moved, so off to the m mark we went No sooner than we had the anchor set and the boat settled, the tarakihi came on the bite ordon avis had set me a challenge earlier in the day he had apparently done a trip with us years ago where they had done extremely well and challenged me to repeat this

Challenge met

COUNTRY LIVING

years on

spots before stopping at about the m mark t this point the time was getting short, but thankfully the fish came on the bite hard and fast, with me counting down the clock and encouraging the team to get into it hey managed to get a good feed of tarakihi which was a great end to a good day with icki ullivan team leader keeping up with the boys

mpressive sh

The next day we headed out with a public trip ith the weather near perfect we went back to the previous day's spot, which was still firing nce there was a few fish in the bins we headed off to check out a few other spots ventually we ended up in about m of water With the wind and the sea becoming absolutely calm, we spent a considerable amount of time drifting around in circles on the anchor y the time the day had concluded, everybody had done well by coming home with a generous feed of fresh tarakihi, and the odd snapper as well aul enson from the est oast produced some impressive fish nfortunately, on aturday the golden weather was not to continue ith the forecast turning nasty, we had a group of hearty locals that decided they wanted to brave the elements in pursuit of some fresh fish e headed out to about the five-mile mark to start the day The weather was worsening so we headed to Motiti looking for shelter and hopefully some fish n our arrival we nestled into the shelter of the island and were plagued with small snapper that were skilfully removing our baits couple of moves of the boat and we eventually managed to settle on some grounds which produced some big trevally, a few snapper, kahawai and some blue cod We are about to start regular trips out hapuka, bluenose and reef fishing at uhua ayor sland and there will be the option of tramping, camping and kayaking as well Watch for the report of the action in the ne t issue

is first fish over the rail for the day was a nice keepable kingfish his was followed closely by a good-si ed snapper his set the tone for their group for the trip ith son om and daughter-in-law acki both Zac Mills with his tarakihi. producing some very nice tarakihi, we well-met the challenge Gordon Davis had The following Thursday's group was taken a successful the team from Hynds Pipes, a mixture of people from all over the country ith a trip with Blue Ocean Charter 20 years am start and pm finish it made for a ago and challenged short trip e headed out to about the m mark he day started out slow with today’s crew to repeat only the crew catching a few but this that experience – didn t bother the team, they were en oywhich they did. ing themselves with lots of banter and a barbecue lunch s the time ticked on we tried a few different

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

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DAIRY

Page 17

The great riparian planting debate Sometimes I think that everything which is talked or written about ‘sustainability’ in farming seems to contradict every other thing you see or hear.

The huge number of so-called ‘experts’ are full of advice, but how often do you find that one lot of advice completely contradicts the next?

How much difference do riparian plantings make?

My latest howl of anguish came when I read about a new research project from NIWA on trying to get a handle on the extent of riparian planting that has been done, and how useful it actually is. If there aren’t any generally accepted rules between councils, farmers and advisors on where fences should go, and how far back from the water they should be, then trying to measure the effectiveness of planting seemed a step too far.

I’ve listened to many complaints about potential setbacks being a ‘land grab’ by those who want no changes anywhere, and also read about the amounts of farmland bush being covenanted to the QEII Trust by others. Depends how big your indebtedness to banks is, presumably.

Riparian Planner

However, I did talk to Dr Richard Storey at NIWA, who explained that what they are trying to do is actually find out ust how much planting inside the fences has been done, what works and what doesn’t.

He also put me onto the ‘Riparian Planner’ which is held on the DairyNZ website. It gives some quite

ST CHOICE

useful general advice on what to do, and has looked at the job in different parts of the country.

I did notice that the booklet for the Waikato was ‘out of stock’, probably caused by the currently included requirements of the local regional council’s PC1 having aroused much local research. And their recommendations about fencing for ood levels should probably take into account just how much extra rain climate change has been bringing us this past winter.

As I am a member of a WRC Catchment Committee as a landowner representative, streams loom large in my research reading at present. Just to complicate matters I had read the internationally-published article on stream fencing by our R W McDowell, where the claim is made that the real cause of the problems is not the bits we are fencing but the bits higher up.

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Someone is now claiming that this paper neglected to mention that it was at anterbury lains pasture land they were talking about and not real hilly stuff.

Who to believe?

In some of my earlier articles I have put forward that most of the water quality problems are caused by what is put onto the pasture in the way of fertiliser, how we are losing our soil carbon fast, and therefore how much of the applied fertiliser goes straight through to groundwater. I’m still convinced that until we make some drastic changes on top, we aren’t going to see much improvement in the water.

However, I think the work that NIWA is trying to do might bring some very useful data to these unsolved problems. So, if you have done any fencing and planting of the streams running through your farms, I recommend that you take the online survey which you will find at www riparian niwa co n And if you haven’t read the DairyNZ Planner yet, go to www dairyn co n environment waterways riparian-planner and get some ideas on what may be involved for you if and when becomes official

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Page 18

Robin Boom

CPAg MBSPC

Independent Agronomy & Soil Fertility Consultant

Responding to the consequences of a wet season After the wettest year for decades, many farms look yellow from the leaching out of nutrients.

The major elements which have been ushed out of the soils are sulphur, potassium and nitrogen. Consequently I have recommended clients use sulphate of ammonia-based fertilisers if a nitrogen boost has been required, rather than straight urea.

Sulphur is an integral part of the amino acids methionine and cysteine which are building blocks of proteins and without enough sulphur, a lot of the nitrogen in pasture can be non-protein nitrogen which has little value to stock, causing them to scour. Although it may appear that there is a lot of

Clover-based pastures remain greener. grass being offered to animals, they just don’t produce all that well off it, particularly if no other supplementary feed is offered to them.

Clover base

Another observation is those properties with a good clover base in their pastures are not as yellow as those which don’t have much clover. One reason for the absence of clovers is low potassium levels, and with the high amount of rainfall, these need topping up badly on a lot of properties. Phosphorus on the other hand does not leach out on most soils in the Waikato/ BOP/King Country region with the exception of raw peat soils, whereas on a lot of the gumland soils in Northland which are podzols, leaching out of phosphorus is an issue. Soil pH levels are largely unaffected by rainfall, and most of the metallic elements such as magnesium, copper, manganese, cobalt and zinc do not leach.

Low chloride

One element which has been particularly low this spring in pasture tests is chloride, which is highly leachable, and this low chloride can cause the Dietary Cation Anion Difference to increase, which increases the risk for having milk fever-related problems.

Giving cows calcium or magnesium chloride-based products can help reduce milk fever, and applying potassium chloride (muriate of potash) and salt (sodium chloride) to the soil will lift chloride levels in the pasture.

Another element prone to leaching is boron, but now there are calcium and magnesium borate products which are not subject to leaching as the old sodium borate products which are

popular for cropping due to their solubility and fast-release action.

One element which has been higher than usual this spring in pasture analyses is molybdenum which is an important element for clover production, but when in excess it can severely restrict copper availability in livestock. olybdenum levels uctuate throughout the year, dropping significantly in drier months and increasing over wetter periods, which is the opposite to copper, which is higher in drier periods and drops over the wetter winterspring period.

Lime and black beetle

At the NZ Grassland Association conference held in Whanganui in November, an interesting paper was presented by Dr Pip Gerard, a Ruakura-based entomologist who found the application of lime can help protect pastures from black beetle infestations.

The Grassland Association is a great interface between scientists, farmers and extension people, with more than 900 members nationwide and has been going for 80 years.

Organisations like the NZ Grasslands Association, the NZ Society of Soil Science, and the Massey University Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre have annual conferences where good science is presented and debated.

Lacking in attendance at these events are fringe fertiliser companies who I find make bogus claims and even state theirs is a scientific approach, but they never darken the doorways of these organisations’ annual conferences to learn real science.

Robin Boom, CPAg, Member of the Institute of Professional Soil Scientists. Phone 027 444 8764.

DAIRY

Page 19

mart new foods boost brain power AgResearch scientists are leading new research that could revolutionise New Zealand foods with new ways of boosting avour and te ture, and products designed to make our brains perform better

programme leader r icole oy “One way is through eating foods that boost brain performance here is mounting evidence to suggest that fre uent consumption of dairy products or probiotics may do ust that, but we don t yet know how The key is in the two-way communication between the gut and the brain

upported by industry and research partners, g esearch is Prototype foods looking to the future for premium e ll be using cutting-edge techfood e ports with programmes that niques to understand how dairy have recently been awarded more ingredients and probiotics can than $21 million by the Miniswork together to send signals from try of usiness, nnovation and the gut to optimise brain developmployment s ndeavour und ment and performance e ll also “The future for New Zealand be developing prototype foods that food e ports to the world is precombine ingredients in a way that mium quality and adding as much promotes those benefits value as possible to our products, he second programme, ccelsays g esearch science group erated evolution a step-change leader r olon yer Gut-brain axis is being studied. in food fermentation led by “This cutting-edge research will g esearch, with research partners look at how we can help deliver premium foods by the iddet nstitute, allaghan nnovation, eagasc taking the eating e perience, and the health benefits reland , niversity of ologna and yoto niverof the food, to new levels sity, looks at how fermentation one of the oldest and most economical methods of producing and Gut-brain axis preserving food can make products stand out from he first of two g esearch-led programmes, supthe crowd, with fewer additives ported by commercial partner onterra, and with research partners, the iddet nstitute, the entre for Sauerkraut enjoyment rain esearch at the niversity of uckland, linommon fermented foods include cheese, yoghurt ders niversity ustralia , niversity ollege ork and sauerkraut e ll be looking at the process of reland , and llinois niversity , is called fermentation, and how we accelerate the process marter ives ew opportunities for dairy products using different scientific methods to create new and across the lifespan , and focuses on how foods can desirable avours and te tures for products such as in uence brain performance via the gut-brain a is dairy, meat and seafood, says programme leader ur gut in uences ust about everything we do r i ay and its connection to the brain is essential to leading e ll also determine how these new fermented healthier lives eople are looking for products that foods can be identified uni uely with ew ealand, help brain development in children and provide and e perienced and en oyed by consumers better brain performance through adulthood, says internationally Authorised Dealers

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Page 20

What fertiliser and religion have in common When our own knowledge is lacking and there are those that profess to be all-knowing, it’s far easier to accept their authoritatively-stated position than spend time and effort nutting it out for ourselves.

We then justify that decision by checking with our peers and, if there is general agreement, it’s a done deal and we stick together; a sort of ‘safety in numbers’ type

mentality. Maintaining that position requires a degree of faith.

However, deep within the psyche of most is an awareness that we might just be wrong, remote but possible, and if that that turns out to be the case there is, at least, the comfort of knowing we’re in good company.

When it comes to fertiliser, anybody proposing anything not based on soluble N, P, and K is often still dismissed as a heretic, and their products then labelled as snake oil, or worse. The term “lack of science” is regularly tossed in to discussions as the ultimate put-down, and who is going to argue with that?

Witches not burned

Laser Electrical Morrinsville Your Local Farming Electrical Specialists

A thinking person might well wonder, if mainstream science is as well-founded and irrefutable as claimed, why dismissively aggressive behaviour still exists. It’s comforting to know that witches are no longer burned.

In order to further well-reasoned discussion, here’s the key differences between the programmes Functional Fertiliser promote, and the alternative sold by the major companies.

We view calcium as the most important element in the growing process and although most soils naturally contain large amounts, in many instances it is cycling too slowly to provide best results. Calcium is therefore part of all recommendations.

Phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur are viewed as essential elements, however genuine soft phosphate rock

is favoured over water-soluble manufactured products. Potassium is always applied in the sulphate form, and high- uality, finely ground elemental sulphur provides any necessary longerterm sulphur requirements.

Clover kingmaker

Magnesium, where required, is applied in the form of Golden Bay dolomite, the most effective magnesium fertiliser we’ve used, and it comes with a useful amount of calcium.

And here’s the fundamental difference. In permanent pasture, clover is seen as the kingmaker and the programmes are designed to create the conditions under which clovers ourish ith the amount of fi ed freeof-charge by clovers, along with that available direct from the atmosphere and the thousands of kilogrammes held organically in the soil, these programmes are not dependent on fertiliser nitrogen.

Bacteria and fungi

The energy supplied by bag N in a conventional programme is replaced by the grunt provided by a wide range of selected beneficial fungi and bacteria The resultant permanent grazed pasture performance, based on 15 years of careful measuring, is as good or better as any from a conventional N-driven system.

We’re keen to discuss this, in depth and at length, with all people interested in genuine sustainability. Those with different views will be treated respectfully; no offence will be taken, nor will any attempt be made to personalise what we see as fundamentally important issues in agriculture today.

And next year as new stuff is learned, may the discussion continue. Call Peter on 0800 843 809.

0800 PH ACTION | Ph:07 889 3344 | 0274 927 133 Commercial  Industrial  Rural  Residential  Maintenance & Servicing 

A Functional Fertiliser client’s permanent pasture.

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DESIGN – SUPPLY – BUILD

DAIRY

Page 21

After the big wet a little rain would be good For months, farmers and most of the general public have ustifiably been complaining about wet conditions – but now we’d all like a bit more rain.

It doesn’t take long for things to change, and while deeper down the soil is still moist and in places new springs are still owing, sunshine and winds are drying out the surface It took until the end of November for our swamp paddocks to be dry enough for get machinery on to plant our crops, but some still needed work with the digger to improve drainage.

Now that maize and turnip crops are in, farmers should be spraying for post-emergence weeds to ensure the

crops are not smothered by weeds which will also take nutrients and moisture from the soil. Without some rain, crop row cover may be a little slow, so controlling weeds early is important.

Insect pests

Mixing insecticide with the weed spray is a good idea as spring is the time when leaf miner and caterpillars in particular become a threat in Brassica crops.

An application of 150 kg of sustain per hectare appro imately si weeks after planting will give the Brassica crops a boost, also a side dressing should be applied to maize crops as per requirement.

Pasture also needs careful management. There doesn’t appear to have

been a lot of silage cut this season. Taking a light cut of silage off paddocks now from any surplus will provide some extra supplementary feed and also reduce the risk of facial eczema associated with topping grass which has gone to seed and leaving it to lie in the paddocks.

Plant sorghum

ny badly pugged or marginal paddocks which are growing not much more than weeds can be direct drilled with sorghum up until Christmas, providing a good source of extra feed when needed. Don’t broadcast the seed because you won t get a good

Environmental issues – we’re all responsible t seems we are constantly being asked what the dairy industry is doing about cleaning up our waterways, yet if anyone in the industry comments they are shot down for being biased and or accused of benefiting from environmental mismanagement.

So, at the risk of all of that predicted backlash, am sharing my real-world current observations am ualified in nutrient management so you can rest assured that my insights are based on fact Waikato has the highest concentration of ew ealand dairy farms or the past years have worked with many of the dairy farmers in this region, harnessing my specialist skills in nutrient management. hen started in this industry more than two decades ago it sadly was not uncommon to see drains, creeks, streams or rivers that ran green with raw, untreated cow ef uent from milking sheds owadays, this is certainly not the case espite the fact that the dairy industry has massively intensified in greater aikato over the past decade, the waste management situation has vastly improved e now have superior nutrient budgeting and nutrient management planning and requirements in place, as well as systems that allow for more effective ef uent storage and reapplication.

ow ef uent is now instead applied to pasture, better reutilising the captured nutrients (i.e. nitrogen, phosphate and potassium) and leading to overall reduced fertiliser use he ma ority of stock are fenced off, no longer having direct access to waterways have seen first-hand that, for the ma ority of our farms, most of our waterways instead now run crystal clear he mainstream media has seldom reported any such improvements, and there seems to be no emphasis whatsoever on other continued sources of pollution from urban or city industries. t is my belief that dairy farmers get an unnecessary bad rap and are being targeted for dirty dairying mainly because they are an easy target t seems the public is not advised of any of this so despite what may be good intentions, they are ust not ualified to make comments on the matter, particularly when they have been misled and told half-truths.

Whether we like it or not, we all have an impact on pollution which ultimately affects our waterways e it agriculture, horticulture, forestry, urban living i e leachate from septic tanks), urban subdivision (soil disruption from earth works , industry factories, road manufacturing, or even changing your car oil, we all incidentally contribute to environmental issues Carl Sisson, Managing Director Marsden AGRI

strike after spraying out old pasture with a glyphosate irect drilling as deep as for maize seeds will reach the moist soils which are now at the right temperature for sorghum to germinate.

Most farmers have brought their dairy cows through a difficult winter and spring in good condition and will be striving to maintain lactation through until autumn to take advantage of the potential improved pay-out Part of doing that means having good feed on hand and now is the time to order hay and straw for delivery in anuary and ebruary

The cheapest feed is that delivered straight off the paddock, from behind the bailer, because it can go straight to the client, reducing double handling and transport costs.

Christmas wishes

As 2017 comes to a close, we are all hoping for better things, especially on the weather front, from 2018. t s been a very hard year for farmers, contractors, orchardists, market gardeners and, in fact, anyone whose income is affected by the weather So the team at Bill Webb Feed olutions wish all oast ountry readers, and our clients a appy hristmas, good times with family and friends, safe travels, and a bright and prosperous New Year in which weather patterns return to normal.

Page 22

DAIRY

Ancient instincts can make detecting lameness difficult Cows have been domesticated for centuries, but primal instincts to protect themselves against predators remain, which is among the reasons it can be hard to detect when dairy cows have problems with their feet, says Dr Rosie Reyneke.

Above: Wilco Klein Ovink demonstrates how to place and secure a cow in The Wrangler.

Right: Te Puke Vets veterinarian Bryce Todd shows how to identify and treat lameness in a cow restrained in The Wrangler.

Rosie, a veterinary technical advisor with MSD Animal Health, says cows will attempt to hide their weakness as their wild ancestors did, to avoid being picked out of the herd by predators.

They can be so good at disguising their discomfort that farmers can miss the early signs of lameness, she

told the Lameness Workshop organised by the Dairy Women’s Network and hosted at Rowe Farm near Pongakawa in October.

However, detecting lameness and treating it early results in significant benefits for the cow, the farm business and staff, she says.

The workshop was open to all farmers, not only women, and attracted around 30 people from as far away as Whakatane, keen to learn more about managing the condition in herds.

Just how hard it is to detect lameness was illustrated by a survey of 59 herds from across the country which first asked farmers to assess the percentage of cows in their herds which were lame. The farmers reported on average 2.2 per cent lameness. When the herds were inspected the actual lameness incidence was found to be an average of 8.1 per cent but varied from 1.2-36 per cent. (Reference: Fabian J, Laven RA, Whay HR (2014) The prevalence of lameness on New Zealand dairy farms: a comparison of farmer estimate and locomotion scoring. Vet J. 201(1):31-8.)

“We are missing about three quarters of lame cows and the longer a cow remains lame, the less likely she is to become sound,” says Rosie.

Financial impact

The answers from the group to Rosie’s question ‘what are the costs of lameness?’ included the pain the animal experiences, loss of production, longer for cows to get in calf, staff time in treating cows and the impact of the condition on staff morale. osie says the financial impact of lameness is estimated at approximately $250 per lame cow. For an average dairy farm this equated to almost $15,000 per year for a herd size of 419 cows with an average incidence of lameness of 14 per cent.

DAIRY

Page 23

Hoof trimming a valuable skill for farmers Animal welfare and health is at the heart of any good farming business and reducing lameness will increase job satisfaction and staff retention. While early stages of lameness may go unnoticed, in more advanced cases, the cow’s discomfort can be very visible to the public, with the risk of putting farming in a bad light. airy has a field guide which includes a well-illustrated chart to use when observing and scoring cows on lameness symptoms.

Rosie and DairyNZ recommend farmers take the time to observe their cows as they are brought in for milking, as they enter the shed and stand in the bail during milking, and as they walk at their own pace to the paddock after milking.

Walking speed

veterinary help is required, Rosie says.

Antibiotics are not the answer in most cases of lameness and should not be routinely used. However, Rosie says managing the cow’s pain is important to her welfare and long-term recovery.

MSD Animal Health recommends the use of Finadyne Transdermal which is the world s first and only pour-on anti-in ammatory for cattle. It is applied to the animals back to

relieve pain, fever and acute in ammation The workshop included practical demonstrations of hoof treatment by Te Puke Vets veterinarian Bryce Todd who treated a cow restrained in a Wrangler, brought to the event by the company’s owners Waverley and Wilco Klein Ovink of Whakatane.

Bryce says The Wrangler makes treating cows for lameness safer for both the cow and the farmer as the animal is

Dr Rosie Reyneke, veterinary technical advisor with MSD Animal Health, gave those attending the Dairy Women’s Network Lameness Workshop the chance to try their hand at hoof treatment on dead legs.

The speed at which a cow walks, her stride, weight bearing on each leg, the line of her back and how she carries her head are all indicators of whether or not the animal has problems with her feet.

The workshop also focused on the types of lameness: white line, hoof wall crack, footrot, sole injuries and digital dermatitis, and how they should be treated.

Farmers can manage many of the conditions themselves but in more serious cases,

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Theo Spierings heads GDP onterra chief e ecutive officer Theo Spierings has been appointed chairman of Global Dairy Platform.

"More than ever, people are turning to dairy for nutritional security and sustainable food and every day we see the good that dairy can do,” says Theo, who is pleased to be taking on the role and playing a part in maximising the contribution dairy can make to the world.

"We also recognise that the world will have more than two billion more mouths to feed by 2050. With food demand expected to increase by at least 50 per cent in 2050, the challenge is how best to apply the goodness of dairy to the places and people that need it the most.

"Along with the role dairy plays in everyday nutrition, there is a real opportunity to work together and look at new ways we can make the nutritional benefits of dairy more available for those facing poverty and hunger and those fighting obesity.

"Through the Global Dairy Platform, we will continue to push forward with a global effort to make the goodness of dairy contribute more by providing better nutrition, empowering our communities and promoting sustainable agriculture.

"We have made good progress since GDP was formed 11 years ago. At the same time, if we are to make a real difference in a world where the pace of change is picking up, we need to be getting better every day and this will take real conviction and belief."

Theo, who has been a director on the GDP Board since 2012, will succeed Dairy Farmers of America CEO Rick Smith, who has chaired the organisation since 2015.

"It has been a great privilege to serve as GDP's chair,” says Rick. “Over the past two years, GDP has provided strong leadership and strategic thinking to increase the credibility and visibility of the dairy sector in the international community, particularly within the United Nations. We have built a solid foundation to grow on."

Rick will continue to serve on the board along with rla oods chief e ecutive officer eder Tuborgh and Royal FrieslandCampina chief e ecutive officer oelof oosten

restrained and supported, keeping her and the farmer safe from injury.

Rosie had a number of cows’ legs on hand for farmers to practice identifying types of lameness and hoof trimming to correct the problems. It may have looked a little gruesome but using the legs gave those taking part the chance to try out hoof-trimming techniques without risking injury to a live animal.

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Page 24

FEED MANAGEMENT

Soil life will ‘mine minerals’ for farmers Kate Tomingas loves hiking in New Zealand but she won’t drink the water from mountain streams.

In her homeland of Estonia, Kate Tomingas enjoyed drinking from forest streams and bathing her face with the cool water.

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“In Estonia we believe drinking water from forest streams and putting the water on our faces will make us forever young,” says Kate, who came to New Zealand two years ago and works for Agrissentials NZ of Tauranga.

She had expected to enjoy the same experience of drinking water from streams when she went hiking in New Zealand. “Instead I was shocked to see a sign by a stream saying not to drink the water,” says Kate who has a master’s degree in ecosystem technology, and a BSc in environmental technology.

“I don’t think it is widely known overseas that New Zealand has such a problem with water pollution.”

Kate believes intensive farming and the use of synthetic fertilisers are largely to blame for New Zealand’s water quality problems.

Crop rotation

“In Estonia synthetic fertilisers are very expensive and farming is not so intensive. Most farmers and gardeners use natural ways like manure, compost, fish and crop rotation to keep their soils healthy.”

Kate believes New Zealand’s farmers and growers can help reverse the problems of excessive nutrients in soil and water by adopting similar systems. At

no cost to the farmer or grower, microbes will “mine” minerals from the air and soil and plants and livestock will become healthier and more productive.

“Nature has been able to grow the most productive places on Earth like the Amazon rainforest without any chemicals. Synthetic fertilisers are just a by-product from the war industry, that haven’t even been around for a century, compared to nature which has been working for billions of years.

“We need to provide food for the microbes in the soil. What happens when you apply synthetic fertilisers is that they react with air and water to form chemical compounds which either kill soil microbes or make them dormant.

Different species

“High N and P fertilisers (also chicken litter) will reduce the colonisation and fungal spores in the soil. Copper-based fungicides are detrimental to arbuscular mycorrhiza. Biocontrol agents (different products that have some special type of fungi or microbes in) only work sometimes.

“The best way to introduce arbuscular mycorrhiza is to sow as many species of grasses and pasture plants as possible.”

Kate says there are different types of mycorrhiza, but two are the best known; arbuscular mycorrhiza and ectomycorrhizal. Ectomycorrhizal occur on 10 per cent of plant families, mostly woody plants like pine, birch and roses. Arbuscular

mycorrhiza are found on 85 per cent of plant families and occur on many crop species. “It is believed that they came to land with the plants from the oceans and made it possible for the plants to colonise land.

“These fungi are crucial to plants and work as a network between plants and microbes. Myccorhizal fungi absolutely love carbon. This is why they have started working for plants.

Carbon exchange

“They can supply the plant with 80 per cent of phosphorus and 25 per cent of nitrogen in exchange for carbon. The fungi gets up to 20 per cent of the carbon the plant produces. The fungi also transport water to the plant. They are highly motivated to keep their host alive, because they are highly dependent on the carbon that the plant gives them.

“The hyphae (of the fungi) are very fine, about times finer than fine roots herefore they have better water and nutrient absorption. They can also extend the root system up to 1000 times.

And the bigger the root system, the healthier and more nutritious the plant,” says Kate. itrogen in the soil is fi ed by diazotrophs, either free-living (30 per cent) or symbiotic microbes (70 per cent).

“It is very hard to identify the bacteria that can fi nitrogen from air, because 99 per cent of them cannot be cultivated in labs.”

FEED MANAGEMENT

ong-term forecast for a A healthy supply of grain with prices holding firm has arable farmers crossing their fingers after a damp start to spring he latest rable ndustry arketing nitiative survey for the nation’s cereal growers reveals a resurgence in feed barley with planting returning to regular, historical levels. ederated armers rains vice-chair rian eadley says signs are better for the industry as a whole after the previous two seasons, which were indifferent.

"There has been reluctance among growers towards the barley market ut this present wet spring has actually prompted many to plant barley as they’ve been unable to plant other vegetable crops in sodden conditions." rain, meanwhile, is moving off-farm, an indication of pricing positivity returning to the market.

The yields come next April, however, could yet be compromised.

It depends on how late planting was and if spring crops had been firmly established assuming they are resilient enough to get through warm, dry spells.

Lift in demand

to secure domestically-produced cereal grain that is of a quality standard," says rian In an industry which relies heavily on forecasts and trends, the AIMI survey is considered a reliable source in terms of providing comparative data and rolling averages.

Planning tool

ina cycle imports and this promotes better outcomes for all those associated with the agriculture sector.

"The reality is, one contaminated import can have long-term implications, especially with costs and managing it. You can reduce this risk by buying locally and knowing it’s from a reputable grower."

"Anyone who wants to follow arable yields, and what those results mean, are increasingly relying on the AIMI. It’s a great planning tool for growers, merchants and end-users, who we know are using it more. eing able to produce credible data is really useful for measuring whether there’s a necessity for extra imports. As an industry we can demonstrate to the market the volume of domestic (grain) supply at any given time." rian says the notable increase recently in biosecurity incursions is also a logical reason for reducing

Page 25

rops grow

wide

here are more than , farmers in ew Zealand involved in arable cropping activities, with combined farm gate sales of approximately n, including cereal grains, pulses, mai e grain and specialised seed crops for export and domestic markets.

Annual crops are grown from the northernmost parts of ew ealand down to outhland, with mai e being the dominant crop in the orth Island whereas cereal grains (wheat, barley) and seed production (grass seeds, legume seeds and vegetable seeds is carried out mainly in anterbury and Southland.

Growers pay a levy to the Foundation for Arable esearch which is an applied research organisation responsible to ew ealand arable growers is involved with funding of arable, mai e and potato research and technology transfer. The organisation was formed in and operates under the ommodity evy egislation very five years, holds a referendum of growers n the referendum, received per cent support from arable growers, 78 per cent support from mai e growers and per cent from cereal sileage growers who voted.

While there was a lift in demand and price as a result, rian is wary on whether that will be the case after this summer’s harvest. think the end-users are still cautious and maybe even cash-tight o if they are buying, it s more on requirement than opportunity, I doubt most have, or are thinking of filling up their silos he long-term forecast is a a ina cycle his may mean drought-type conditions for some, so would encourage farmers to contact local suppliers

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At AgResearch in Canterbury, Stewart Collie (science team leader textiles) has been undertaking research around wool trying to understand what underpins its unique set of characteristics and how that can be taken advantage of in a range of new textile applications.

Stewart believes the area with the most potential is in what has been coined ‘athleisure’ apparel, given the comfort, easy-care and, perhaps most importantly, odour-resisting attributes of this e traordinary fibre

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Page 26

LIFESTYLE FARMING

Rural subdivision focuses on environmental protection With an increased focus on protecting the environment for future generations, most councils are providing subdivision benefits to those who agree to permanently reserve areas of significant value

Although farmers have always seen themselves as custodians of the land and looked after it well, in the past there hasn’t been much recognition of this llowing farmers subdivision benefits for permanently fencing off and protecting sensitive features provides the recognition and financial reward they deserve It is a slow process but over the years many councils have put in place policy that encourages the protection of native bush, wetland ecosystems and even cultural sites Unfortunately the rules differ from district to district so what is accepted in one area may not be accepted in others

Wetland areas

As many rural councils are restricting the number allowed and where lifestyle blocks can be subdivided, this may be the only way for some to create truly 'rural' lots for sale or retirement Wetland areas, regenerating native bush and bush-covered stream and river banks are some of the most popular features with councils ome even allow for protection of view shafts, cultural sites and even historical buildings Western Bay, Waikato, ThamesCoromandel, Franklin (now partly in Waikato and Hauraki), aipa, auraki, outh aikato, Matamata-Piako, Whakatane and Opotiki District Plans all now

recognise the benefits of protecting these features to some e tent All their rules are similar but have different areas required to be set aside For example, in Western Bay, an area as small as half a hectare of wetland can be enough to justify the subdivision of an additional lot If you have a waterway running through or bordering your property there is a good chance that you can get a credit for a subdivision – you need 500m of bank on one side with a 20m strip of native vegetation either existing or planted stablished forest or regenerating scrubland also ualifies, with various si e limits of several hectares as in other districts urprisingly, there is a trend where some councils are reducing the credits given Waikato is currently rewriting its rules and is proposing to reduce the benefits available to those reserving larger pieces of native bush by reducing the maximum number of lot credits to only two when protecting a feature more than five hectares in si e

Thames-Coromandel recently proposed a regime which required much larger areas of covenant depending on the quality of the feature and this is currently being challenged in the nvironment ourt If you are located in these areas it would pay to see what you can do right now before the opportunity is lost

u lic ene t

It is great to see all councils recognising the public benefit of retaining these environmentally significant features n doing so they are giving the custodians of the land some financial reward in recognition for their contribution to the sustainability of the country o, if your land has a feature similar to those mentioned in this article and you want to subdivide your property, I am happy to discuss the prospects with you Please feel free to give me a call and discuss your situation Brent Trail, managing director of urveying ervices, specialises in resource consent applications for subdivisions across the Waikato, oromandel and ay of lenty For further information call 0800 268 632 or email: btrail@surveyingservices co n

‘Nectar of Gods’ grape juice winner ackie vans of otorua has won a case of Millton Vineyard’s Amrita rape uice Hers was among a large number of entries received in last month’s competition, which correctly answered the question ‘What does Amrita mean?’ with ‘Nectar of the ods hanks to illton ineyards, Jackie will have the chance to enjoy the award-winning grape uice this summer t is made from -year-old Muscat grapes which are handpicked

and pressed at Millton Vineyard near isborne mrita is described as “full-bodied avours, deliciously sweet and intensely fragrant, it is the perfect refreshment whether served chilled on ice, mixed with mineral water or as your favourite cocktail mi er per cent pure grape juice, with no added colouring, avouring or preservatives and abundantly packed with health-giving antioxidants, amino acids and vitamins, mrita is a uni ue tasty treat

LIFESTYLE FARMING

igilance re uire wo uite different y species produce most of the blow y strike in ew ealand riginally it was the uropean reen low y, but more recently there s the ustralian reen low y he uropean reen low y is important because it is a parasite of temperate regions and can survive for most of the year in ew ealand t attacks susceptible parts of the body, such as wounds, dags and urine-stained skin t can complete its life cycle in other food sources, such as road kill lthough the eggs are readily killed by heat and the soil-dwelling pupae cannot hatch below , these ies can survive in the wide variety of climatic conditions found in ew ealand he ustralian reen low y in contrast does not need an e cuse to attack t will lay eggs on a completely clean eeced sheep, with no wounds or dags for instance shoulder strike in a clean sheep owever, the is a tropical y in origin and cannot survive and complete its life cycle in such varied climatic conditions as ypically, tropical moist and warm conditions are re uired

Epidemic proportions

hese ies normally start breeding in spring and reach epidemic proportions during warm, humid weather his is generally between ovember and arch, although y season can e tend from ctober to une he blow ies lay their eggs in the damp wool and maggots can start hatching within a day and then start to eat the sheep s esh lystrike can occur rapidly, and sheep should be checked at least once a day in hot weather

or lystrike control

est practice management is to have all sheep shorn and with clean bottoms in the warmer months his reduces the attraction for ies, which seek damp smelly wool in which to lay their eggs irty bottoms are usually due to high worm burdens and or changes in feed uality ell-nourished animals will cope well with parasites, as their natural immunity is strong alnourished animals however will succumb uickly and respond slowly to treatment ear in mind shearing alone is effective prevention for a few weeks, although shearing cuts and other wounds will attract ies ffected animals can be seen nibbling their wool, stamping their feet and twitching their tails before becoming depressed ark patches may also be seen on white eece olonies of maggots may be difficult to find so the wool should be systematically parted and checked

reas a ecte

y flystrike

around the tail end on the backline on the belly where the feet touch when the sheep lies down around the pi le prepuce penis in males between the ears of rams after fighting and head bashing hemical prevention si weeks post-shearing is timely, as the wool length will hold the insecticide owever, it can be applied earlier as re uired arlier treatment approaches involved organophosphate dips and showers, but these rapidly became ineffective due to y resistance

Growth regulators

urrent treatments involve using high-powered etting races and nsect rowth egulators igh powered etting races work very well, but if the sheep move through too uickly then the duration of activity may be reduced s work by interrupting the life cycle of the maggot stages, preventing them from forming or casting their e ternal skeleton n the early s, resistance to some products was identified in parts of the country esistance is thought to have developed due to continued use of these sole products for all y and lice prevention and treatment hile these products are still effective for lice treatment, their use for prevention of y strike is limited t is now recommended that to control future resistance we should consider blowies and lice separately and use different products for prevention and treatment of clinical cases ong-acting products tend to have longer meat withhold periods, so for lambs approaching their finishing weights careful attention needs to be paid to the product used

Page 27

olly not arthritic oncerns that cloned sheep such as olly the first animal cloned from adult cells had early-onset arthritis were unfounded, according to a study ince none of olly s -rays survived, the researchers re- -rayed her skeleton as well as her daughter onnie s and two contemporary clones hey then compared them to -rays of healthy, naturally-conceived sheep olly s bones were similar to other sheep her age, and older sheep showed more signs of wear and tear indicative of arthritis, say the researchers

WAIKATO/KING COUNTRY

Page 28

Miraka - adding value to dairy

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Miraka (Maori for milk) is the outcome of a vision shared by a group of Maori trusts and incorporations with land and dairy holdings in the central plateau.

They were looking to add value to their farming enterprises beyond the farm gate by investing in the manufacture and marketing of their own products.

The two major shareholders are the Tuaropaki Trust, which owns the land where the plant is sited, and Wairarapa Moana Incorporation, which runs around 10,000 dairy cows on land it owns at Pouakani near Mangakino.

Other shareholders include Waipapa 9 Trust, Hauhungaroa Partnership, Tauhara Moana Trust, Pouakani Trust, and Te Awahohonu Forest Trust Limited.

Strategic partners

Strategic partners are Vinamilk, the largest milk manufacturer and dairy products enterprise in Vietnam, with a 23 per cent shareholding, and Global Dairy Network, which brings experience and knowledge in dairy sales and marketing internationally.

Miraka CEO Richard Wyeth, who has been with the organisation since 2010, says the joint venture means the two trusts could make good use of the geothermal power, pool assets and bring in others to get the economy of scale.

“The success of this project is a

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result of great leadership and a clear unity of purpose by those whanau involved. Their focus is to develop a business that will bring long-term sustainable returns to present and future shareholders from assets that will never be sold,” says Richard.

Eco-friendly

Miraka has a strong focus on land preservation and eco-friendly business practices. The sustainable initiatives include using renewable geothermal energy rather than coal to power its plant.

The company treats its waste through worm farms and uses the by-product to fertilise soil for growing vegetables in local glasshouses.

There is a planting programme to protect riparian waterways on the dairy farms.

The whole milk powder plant has the capacity to produce 35,000 tons per year, which is exported to 23 different countries with the majority going to China.

In July 2013 the plant was expanded to include a two-line Ultra Heat Treatment milk production plant with a 60 million litre capacity. All of this product (240 million units per year) is exported to China where milk has become the preferred drink for families.

“Right from the beginning Miraka was determined to produce the best product from the best farms,” says Richard.

Farming excellence

Te Ara Miraka is the company’s Farming Excellence Programme. t seeks to improve efficiency on farms and produce first-class milk with low environmental impact. he programme provides financial incentives to its milk suppliers who work on improving animal welfare, their environmental footprint, the quality of their milk and staff training. iraka has ust launched its first consumer product – Whaiora – a smoothie blend. There are three varieties (berry, green and gold) packaged in 400g tins. Whaiora is available in New Zealand online and in specialty health food stores, and is also exported to Singapore.

The second new product is Taupo Pure – a whole milk powder branded around the story of the milk’s origins in Taupo from farms located 80km from the factory.

It will be exported to China where the demand for traceable and high-quality products is high.

It is also available in specialty stores in New Zealand and online.

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Cooperation and collaboration are two words which come to mind when describing the relatively new Maori-owned milk processing plant, Miraka, near Taupo.

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RURAL BUILDING & FENCING

Lock 2018 building dates in now Precise Builders Tauranga is a family-owned and operated business with two decades of building experience. Precise Builders cover the wider Tauranga area and specialise in architecturally-designed homes for the high end of the market.

Dave and Rachael FitzGibbon bring the complete package to their business. Dave has more than 18 years’ experience as a builder and project manager, is a ualified builder and icensed uilding ractitioner while Rachael covers off on the administration and HR side of the business.

The couple bring a can-do attitude with a joy of ensuring their clients get the result they want – every time. They have the attention to detail which is vital when building, renovating or repairing.

Precise Builders has experience in repairing and renovating ‘leaky’ homes. Rachael says it started when a client approached them about his leaky home and they took on the project.

“It can be quite in-depth, with layers of different work involved, and can take several months to ensure the building complies with council regulations and inspections. But it is also very satisfying to put it right and have a happy, satisfied client now

living in a healthy home.

“Our small, tight team means we can offer a personalised service. Dave will do whatever is needed to ensure the client is kept informed, and will go that extra mile to make sure they are happy and well-satisfied with the uality of the build and that they get the outcome they want,” says Rachael.

Precise Builders is already working on building dates for 2018 and with Christmas fast approaching it is a good time to give Rachael or Dave a call to discuss your new house, get plans underway and lock in building dates to ensure you can move into your new home in 2018.

Precise Builders Tauranga – Dave and Rachael FitzGibbon.

Rules relating to unoccupied buildings Unoccupied detached buildings may be exempt from building consent if certain conditions are met, according to the government website www.building.govt.nz This exemption covers buildings that are not normally a potential risk to people or only used by people engaged in constructing or maintaining another consented building such as a construction site office It also includes all work relating to the disposal of stormwater.

Tents, marquees and similar lightweight structures are

also exempt. This exemption allows you to construct, alter or remove a tent or marquee that is being used for public assembly such as a school gala and private use such as a wedding reception However, this is only if the tent or marquee does not exceed 100 square metres and is not in place for more than a month.

Pergolas are simple-framed and unroofed structures which are often used as garden features. For the purposes of this exemption, you can attach a pergola to a building, or construct it to be freestanding. There is no limit on their size, but they must not be roofed.

Page 29

Page 30

RURAL BUILDING & FENCING

RURAL BUILDING & FENCING

Page 31

Eighty years of service to Coromandel Prescott’s Garages Ltd premises.

For more than 80 years, three generations of the Prescott family have provided the Coromandel Peninsula area with professional tractor, vehicle and farm machinery sales and service.

From the mid-1930s when Prescott’s Garages Ltd commenced operating, they offered not only a bus, freight-carrying and taxi service, but they also ran a motor repair shop from their small premises in Hikuai.

In the 1980s the company then made the move into sales, initially dealing in Shibaura and Ebro tractors and later becoming a John Deere Dealership in 1983, a dealership it held for 28 years.

1996 saw Prescott’s Garages relocating to the intersection of SH25 and Hikuai Settlement Road into purpose-built premises that included a service station, convenience store and full workshop, with ualified car and tractor mechanics providing a wide range of services including WOFs, towing and salvage, mechanical services and repairs.

Over the years Prescott’s has expanded the sales department to become licenced dealers of ride-on mowers, tractors, utes and SUVs as well as farm machinery to meet the ever-expanding farming,

Prescott’s Garages once ran a bus service. domestic, orchard and lifestyle block market in the Coromandel.

In particular Prescott’s Garages is proud to stock a select range of Ferris zero-turn mowers at very competitive prices. Ferris has built products for more than 100 years and has a long history of quality and innovation and is a popular brand both domestically and commercially, says Prescott’s sales manager Shaun Prescott who demonstrates and delivers Ferris mowers across the Coromandel and can arrange finance at very good rates

Team has 30 years’ of experience During more than 30 years of providing electrical and refrigeration services to the kiwifruit industry, James Boyd of Raeco Services Ltd has seen a lot of changes.

“Growth in the kiwifruit industry has been dynamic, particularly in recent years as it recovered from the vine disease Psa-V. We have seen some of the biggest investments in orchards, pack-houses and cool storage in the industry’s history,” says James.

He and the Raeco Services team have been part of that growth, working with post-harvest companies, including EastPack, to provide electrical and refrigeration design, installation and servicing.

Raeco Services also provides a service to dairy farmers, which includes vat chillers, and its team of refrigeration engineers and electricians are on call 24 hours a day for urgent work.

The company also specialises industrial, commercial and domestic electrical work, and industrial and commercial refrigeration and

air conditioning. It’s team members are ualified to work with ammonia, HFC, CFC, HCFC refrigerants and are experienced in working in cool and cold stores and as well as control atmosphere cool stores.

James says, thanks to three decades of experience, Raeco Services is able to help clients with planning and designing systems to best suit their needs. Raeco recommends and installs top quality electrical and refrigeration equipment, both New Zealand made and imported.

Page 32

ANIMAL HEALTH

Would I walk barefoot down that race? Good question to ask Spring’s typically wet weather can cause a number of issues on-farm, including pugging, late crop planting and general mess.

Cows spending more time on wet paddocks also increases the incidence of lameness due to softened hooves and an increased sus-

ceptibility to hoof damage.

While there is only so much farmers can do to manage herds on wet paddocks, especially when running a pasture-based system, there are other steps to reduce the incidence of lameness.

Farmers might be keen to get the cows to the shed in as little time as possible, but the time saved getting

them there might results in more cases of lameness.

DairyNZ information advises that a cow’s feet follow a very specific pattern when walking, and if she is under pressure from a herdsman, her head is forced up and she can no longer see where she is placing her feet. Encouraging the cows at the front of the herd is a far better way to encourage the herd to move.

DairyNZ also suggests enforcing a minimum distance rule with staff. For example, people on bikes should follow no closer than two fence posts behind the last cows.

Over-use of the backing gate or packing cows in too tight on the platform results in twisting of the feet and pressure on the hoof edges, a common cause of white

line disease.

Hoof health expert Dr Neil Chesterton doesn’t recommend using a backing gate to push cows, but instead to “take up space”. He recommends using a timer to regulate movement to no more than five seconds in any one movement on the backing gate, and on the top gate, no more than two seconds in each forward movement. Regulate the speed of the gate to no more than 12m per minute in round yards or 6m per minute in rectangular yards.

Cows that must turn sharp corners on concrete yards are more prone to lameness due to “skewing” or twisting of the hoof.

If possible ensure shed entries and exits are as wide and straight as possible, and if not, installing rubber matting may be an option.

A great piece of advice from Neil is for farmers to ask, ‘Would I walk down my race barefoot?’ If the answer is no, then they need to spend some time maintaining the races. Ensure the right material for both the base and top layer is used, and that the base layer is well-compacted with well-drained edges with an eight per cent crowned surface, and free from large stones.

Good stockmanship and cow management can go a long way towards reducing the incidence of lameness here will still be unavoidable cases of lameness in the herd, but with corrective hoof trimming using a Wrangler cattle handler, and/or veterinary treatment if necessary, they will become the exception, not the rule.

Vaccine protects calves against three viruses Hiprabovis 3 is an ideal vaccine to consider using to protect the health and well-being of young replacement cattle, says Ivan Holloway, of Agilis Animal Health.

“It is a unique trivalent vaccine administered in a 3ml dose either subcutaneously or intramuscularly comprising of inactivated Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis and ara n uen a ype 3 Viruses. Serological surveys has shown all these viruses to be widespread in New Zealand dairy herds,” says Ivan.

BVD commonly leads to immuno-suppression, leaving calves wide open to further infections and increased susceptibility to parasitism. IBR and PI-3, in tandem with BVD, may lead to outbreaks of pneumonia and even death.

“At the very least, the growth rates of the calves could be severely checked, meaning potential live-weight targets may be harder to achieve.

“Hiprabovis 3 is the only trivalent vaccine available in New Zealand working to protect the investment of young growing cattle from the ravages of these three viruses, helping them attain their maximum potential.”

HIPRABOVIS®

HORTICULTURE

Page 33

Diversity is the answer to food security Last century, the majority of vegetables were grown close to the cities and towns where they were eaten.

This meant that people got fresh seasonal vegetables and, if the produce was not grown close to where they lived, they didn’t get it.

That all changed with the arrival of chilled transportation and better roading networks. Vegetables are now moved all around New Zealand and vegetables are also imported. Consumers now demand a wide variety of vegetables year-round and do not focus as much on eating what is in season, unless they are shopping on price.

Climatic conditions and high quality soils dictate what crop is grown in what region. This means that at different times during the year, different regions feed New Zealand. Spring vegetables come from Pukekohe and in winter, Southland supplies carrots, parsnips and potatoes.

Growing vegetables in different locations mitigates against extreme climatic events. For example, the cold and wet conditions that affected the North Island through 2017’s winter and early spring were not so prevalent in Southland. So New Zealand was fed through much of winter by produce from the deep south.

Kumara shortage

Where produce is largely grown in one area, climatic conditions can affect supply. An example is kumara, which is nearly all grown around Dargaville.

This winter, the very wet conditions made growing and harvesting kumara in Dargaville almost impossible, and short supply saw price increases.

Broccoli and cabbages were also in short supply due to the very difficult growing conditions, and also became expensive. On the other hand, carrots and potatoes remained around the same price because they are grown all over the country, including Southland.

It is therefore, important to have wide coverage across the country for growing vegetables so that different areas can be used

to both feed New Zealand at different times, and to make up for short supply from areas where, due to climatic conditions, growing is impacted.

Urban encroachment

As a country, we should protect the areas that are important for feeding New Zealand and maintain a spread across the country to ensure security of supply.

Places such as Pukekohe are vital to the supply of vegetables, particularly in spring and for the North Island in general.

Unfortunately, urban encroachment is impacting some of New Zealand’s prime vegetable growing areas hat we are also finding is the Resource Management Act and councils’ regional and district plans around access to water and zoning, greatly restrict where vegetables can be grown.

Relocation not possible

Relocating growing operations into the Waikato from Pukekohe has a number of impediments, including finding affordable land, finding land that is not destined to become houses and lifestyle blocks, getting land with the right soils, getting access to water, and getting past the Waikato Regional Council’s moratorium on land use change.

So at the moment, moving into the Waikato is all but impossible and, due to frost and different winter conditions from Pukekohe, will generally not replace Pukekohe’s spring supply of vegetables.

Despite what some commentators say, it is simply not possible to relocate growing operations to new areas in all cases due to the need for the right soils and the right climatic conditions.

These issues and other points are covered in a report ‘New Zealand domestic vegetable production: the growing story’ prepared for Horticulture New Zealand by KPMG. It can be found at: www.hortnz.co.nz That report asks for a food security policy to be developed by government that takes a holistic, nationwide approach to feeding New Zealand year-round. This is what we are asking the government to do. I recommend you read this report and join with us asking for a food security policy.

Manuka Provenances

Kaitaia

Coromandel

Marlborough

East Cape

Wairarapa

Taranaki

Page 34

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

No picnic for pests with these ‘friends’ around Members of the group of 15 gathered in the bush clearing at the top of Whakamarama Road are equipping themselves with what could be mistaken for picnic supplies.

The aim of Friends of the Blade is the elimination of rats, mustelids (including stoats) and possum from 300 hectares of Kaimai Forest Park.

Into the backpacks go butter knives or spoons, peanut butter, our perfumed with aniseed and tubes of brightly coloured paste. However, these ‘treats’ have a deadly purpose – to lure and kill rats and possums.

For these volunteers are the ‘Friends of the Blade’, a group formed by Whakamarama Community Inc. with the aim of eliminating rats, mustelids (including stoats) and possum from 300 hectares of Kaimai Forest Park.

Once equipped and briefed by group coordinator Colin Hewens, the volunteers head off in pairs into the bush, checking their designated lines for dead rats and possums and re-baiting and setting traps in an area which currently covers around 100 hectares of bush.

“We’ve had great success in killing rats and possums and helping the bird and insect life, but want to extend the area to 300 hectares, which means we need more volunteers,” says Colin.

The retired teacher and Whakamarama resident has been involved with the 13-year-long pest eradication programme at Puketoki Reserve, also at Whakamarama. “That’s been so successful we seldom trap possums or rats, so I was looking for another challenge.”

Colin Hewens, coordinator of The Friends of the Blade pest control group.

around a 40-minute walkway that is also being formed to give the public access to the bush.

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Friends of the Blade was formed. It takes its name from the clearing at the end of Whakamarama Road where for many years a big bulldozer blade stood, until someone removed it, probably to sell for scrap.

However, so well-known was the name among locals, trampers and hunters that it’s stuck and has now been adopted by the pest control group.

In 2015 the Western Bay of Plenty District Council awarded a community grant to set up eight trap lines

Local iwi were concerned that using baits to kill pests could lead to secondary poisoning of the ruru (morepork) so we did a survey and did not hear any ruru.

Now, after baiting we heard six last time we surveyed,” says Colin.

A quick survey of volunteers before they headed off one fine ovember afternoon revealed their motivations for being part of the project include the chance to combine exercise and time in the bush with taking action to control pests. Comradeship is also a positive factor.

The project receives sponsorship and support from Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Department of Conservation and Bay Trust and has part of the funding needed to clear and install traps and bait stations on a further 13 lines, bringing the total to 22.

“Now all we need are more volunteers to join Friends of the Blade, and they don’t have to live in the Whakamarama area,” says Colin.

The work is not arduous. It does involve learning to safely handle baits and kill traps, all of which are set high enough up so pigs and dogs can’t reach them.

While the group normally meets once a fortnight to walk the lines, olin says the arrangements are e ible and people can check and re-bait their lines at times which suit them.

Anyone interested in joining Friends of the Blade Elaine Fisher should call Colin on 022 315 5646.

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RURAL DRIVER - 4WDs & ATVs

Page 35

Quad bike accidents not part of the job

E-bike takes to the water he

Quad bike injuries can be prevented – they aren't part of the job. Quad bikes are not all terrain vehicles – they can't go everywhere, do everything.

Every year 850 people are injured on farms while riding uad bikes and five people die WorkSafe New Zealand’s guidelines reinforce the need to respect the limits of these vehicles, and make sure everyone on

your farm follows safety steps. These include that riders must be trained and experienced enough to do the job. Choosing the right vehicle for the job is vital; always wear a helmet and don’t let kids ride adult quad bikes.

Farmers have the same duties under the Health and

Safety in Employment Act 1992 as other employers.

Farmers who don’t follow these safety steps risk penalties under the Health and Safety in Employment Act if someone working on their farm is seriously injured or killed.

anta y ro oiler will . rst e release to ew ealan c sto ers only as a li ite e ition pre or er with a spring elivery ate

After years of development and hard work, Waikato-based company Manta5 publically revealed the prototype of its innovative on-water hydrofoil e-bike, Hydrofoiler XE-1, at the Big Boys Toys expo in Auckland in November.

“We had huge amount of interest from the public,” says Manta5 marketing manager Louis Wilks. “People loved the design and a lot of them said they attended the expo just to see the bike. That gave us a lot of encouragement and validated what the team has spent so long working on.” hought to be the world s first commercially-viable hydrofoil e-bike, the Manta5 Hydrofoiler XE-1 has been designed to replicate the cycling experience on water, which means riders can plane over the surface of the water – whether a lake, river or ocean.

Despite strong interest from overseas, the production model will first be released to New Zealand customers only, as a limited-edition pre-order with a spring 2018 delivery date.

The current production prototype, seen by visitors to the Big Boys Toys Expo, is a pedal-assisted motorised electric bike designed for the recreational user. If a rider becomes tired of pedalling, they can change the level of motor assist and cruise.

“We can’t wait to see these in use on New Zealand lakes and beachfronts around the country,” says Louis. “They appeal to people as a cross-training tool, for fitness, but there was also a lot of interest from people who want to use them for fun at their bach over summer.”

A unique feature of the bike is its ability to relaunch from a submerged state in the water a world-first thanks to the company’s team of specialist designers and engineers.

To achieve this the bike has two carbon fibre hydrofoils, which are designed to provide enough lift to raise the body of the bike and rider out of the water.

At its top motorised speed the bike can reach up to 20 kilometres per hour (but this will likely increase with further research and development).

Suitable for use in the ocean as well as the lake, the bike’s design enables it to cut through choppy water and ride over gently rolling waves. The Hydrofoiler XE-1 can be used in both fresh and salt water, and its waterproof battery can be removed and recharged on any standard power outlet. ade from strong carbon fibre and aircraft grade aluminium, at around 20kg the bikes are light enough to carry and buoyant so they oat in water. “People at the expo also told us they liked that the bike can be easily broken down for transportation on a car’s roof rack or in the back of a ute or station wagon,” says Louis.

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RURAL DRIVER - 4WDs & ATVs

Bike prize offered for farm yarns It was 45 years this month since Blue Wing Honda began operating in New Zealand. To celebrate the milestone, the company is asking farmers to share their favourite farm memories. The best farm yarn will win a brand-new farm bike worth more than $5000.

ew ealand s official importer and distributor of genuine Honda motorcycles began selling road bikes and off-road bikes in 1972. By the late 1970s, All Terrain Vehicles were being bought in large numbers by the nation’s farmers.

The locally-owned company has been heavily involved in the farming community ever since and consistently enjoys the number one market position for ATV sales.

Supporting a dealer network of more than 50 dealers from Kaitaia to Invercargill, Blue Wing Honda has invested heavily in a nationwide store refresh project over the past 18 months.

Dealers actively support their local farming groups and are heavily involved in community trail ride events.

Blue Wing Honda’s close ties with the rural sector are demonstrated by its sponsorship of key national farming events and organisations. They are the longest-standing supporter of the Young Farmer competition after 43 years of continuous sponsorship.

Other industry partnerships include The Dairy Industry Awards and Herefords Association.

The competition to celebrate the brand’s 45-year history on New Zealand farms is up and running from now until December 14, 2017. To enter, people need to share a story or photo about their farm at the website: honda45.co.nz Up for grabs is a brand new XR190 farm bike worth $5500. Marketing manager Damien Smyth says the competition is a great way to acknowledge the company’s long history with New Zealand’s rural sector.

Honda motorbikes have been part of farmers’ lives for 45 years – now Blue Wing Honda is running a competition inviting stories of farming memories.

“The competition is for farmers to share their farming stories and how long they have been on their farms.

Honda bikes have been on New Zealand farms for generations so we want to hear about the multi-generation farms out there,” says Damien.

Honda bikes are built on a foundation of reliability and are designed for use in New Zealand’s rugged and varied conditions.

“All our products are well-tested before release to the local market and we are closely involved in the discussions around design, research and development in America to ensure each generation of bikes is even better than the last,” says Damien.

New Camry tops safety ratings While not available in New Zealand until early next year, Toyota’s newest Camry has earned the top safety rating from the Australasia New Car Assessment Programme. he five-star safety rating applies to all Camry variants – including hybrid models – built from September this year.

The new Camry has

autonomous emergency braking, a lane-keep assist system and lane- departure warning as standard.

The Camry was also awarded a maximum score for the side impact test and 15.16 out of 16 for the frontal offset test.

ANCAP is supported by all Australian motoring clubs, the New Zealand Automobile Association,

the Australian government, the New Zealand government, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.

The full list of vehicles is available online: www.aa.co.nz or www.rightcar.govt.nz

RURAL DRIVER - 4WDs & ATVs

rivers training on raceway circuit

Hampton Downs near Te Kauwhata is best known for motor racing, but the circuit is also home to driver training programmes.

Through professional driver training companies, Hampton Downs offers a practical and engaging learning programme designed to enhance driver confidence and capability through high uality instruction and the opportunity to experience leading edge vehicle technologies in a safe environment. he one day driver training module is also specifically designed to support employers with their responsibilities under the new ealth and afety at Work Act of April 2016. There is no minimum purchase – book one person or 30 (which is the maximum people per day The course includes a mix of theoretical instruction and practical skills application across a wide curriculum from hazard recognition and accident avoidance – 90 per cent of the time is spent on track in a safe, controlled environment with fully insured vehicles provided.

The object of the course is to give participants an active and dynamic driver experience that provides driving education and entertainment in a controlled and safe environment while teaching appreciation and understanding of the limits of technology and driving skill

Avoiding hazards

At the same time, it allows drivers to assess and overcome potential hazards, in particular by avoiding such risks from the start hile elements may be varied to suit an individual or organisation, the

Driver training on the race circuit is offered at Hampton Downs. core programme offers a comprehensive one-day training module he day starts at am, with a mi of 20 per cent theoretical instruction and 80 per cent practical skills application across a wide curriculum from hazard recognition, defensive driving and accident avoidance to vehicle maintenance.

Practical skills

Participants receive interactive feedback throughout the session with a full competency assessment provided at the conclusion of the programme with a certificate of completion at appro imately pm etailed reporting and evaluation is made available to employers, as required for their workplace safety governance The Stage 2 course is designed for participants who have already completed the tage course he day starts at 9am with a refresher of subjects covered in tage he day then proceeds with a greater emphasis on practical skills including new exercises such as lapping with cornering lines, slalom and vehicle dynamics As with the Stage 1 course, participants receive interactive feedback throughout the session with a full competency assessment provided at the conclusion of the programme with

a certificate of completion at appro imately pm etailed reporting and evaluation is made available to employers, as required for their workplace safety governance For more information visit: https://hamptondowns. com/

Older workers more at risk of in ury lmost one-fifth of workplace injuries occur in those over the age of 55 and more needs to be done to keep the ageing workforce safe, according to researchers from the niversity of Otago. hey found that per cent of accepted ACC

claims between 2009 and 2013 for traumatic work injuries were from 55-79 year-olds with twice as many men claiming in uries compared to women.

With the number of older workers in the workforce predicted to double by , this is an issue that needs to be addressed now, they say

1 ONLY

Page 37

Page 38

FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

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FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

Page 39

Practical skills vital for revolution ahead Farming is on the cusp of another ‘revolution’ which will change many agricultural practices forever, says Katie Milne, president of Federated Farmers.

“What will be possible in future through new technology is exciting, but we must not lose the practical knowledge of today’s farmers,” she told the November meeting of the Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers in Edgecumbe.

“Never underestimate the value of what you know, and if you can, mentor young farmers, passing on your knowledge.”

That knowledge also includes leadership skills. Katie says the average age of farmers in New Zealand is 58. “The younger generation coming through needs to get involved in leadership so they have a say in the future of farming.”

Katie realised she needed to step up to help ensure the future of her chosen career when, as a 24-year-old she attended

a resource management hearing. “I looked around the room and saw only men with white hair or no hair.”

Much as she respected their knowledge and commitment to agriculture, Katie knew her generation had to work alongside those men in order to continue to advocate for farming.

end, grass-fed protein and we need to increase awareness that New Zealand farmers produce nutrient-dense food.”

However, technology will enable farmers to enhance management of the land, the environment and livestock and to demonstrate the gains they are making.

Elaine Fisher

Plant protein

Many of the challenges ahead are already familiar, including carbon emissions, nutrient limits, water quality and the public perception of farming.

However, Katie warns other disruptions outside the control of farmers are also looming. Foods produced from synthetic or plant proteins are a reality and appeal to people who don’t like the idea of eating meat from animals.

Fads and social media have huge consumer in uence was in hina recently when a new drink had been launched. It was so popular people lined up for five hours to buy one hey spent their time taking selfies and posting them on social networks. The result was the queues became even longer.”

Such behaviour can’t be ignored by producers of food, including farmers. In many of the countries New Zealand trades with the average age of consumers is 15-24 years. They have vastly different outlooks on life and diet than older generations, and are strongly in uenced by their peers, especially through social media.

“There will always be a market for high-

hildren s diet affects adult health

Risk of heart disease in adulthood can be slashed if kids eat healthily and avoid saturated fats, according to a meta-study by the University of Otago and the WHO. The authors reviewed more than 800 international clinical trials about dietary interventions of children between two and 19 years-old. High cholesterol in adults is linked to heart disease, and now precursors to high cholesterol in kids, such as the build-up of fats and cholesterol on artery walls, have also been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.

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FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

Page 40

The role of trustees and what to look for

What are your responsibilities as a trustee and what do you need to consider as one?

on your trustees, when you have vacated this earth, to make the right decisions on your behalf and look after family and the assets of the trust.

The selection of “good” trustees is crucial to your ongoing peaceful rest when you are dead.

I have seen trustees appointed to family trusts and they really have no idea what their responsibilities are and what they need to do.

I know where two trustees were appointed on an untidy large farm. They set about spending every cent on new races and buildings and so on, only to run the coffers dry with no increase in productivity. They then put their own stock on the farm and favoured one beneficiary to take over the property Trusts are a great vehicle to carry property from one generation to the next. However, you are dependent

Successful trustees for farming

They need to be: Able to look at things objectively, not from their own point of view Legal liability • Understand commerce and accounting matters So, the caveat here is if you are asked to be a trustee • Have an understanding of legal matters and E Acontract R AN D sure E Ayou L are S competent to do the job and make lawN I V E R S A R Y D R E A Mmake 4 0 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y DREAM D Eensure A Lthat S tough calls.

More importantly for you, • Not be so old that they cannot function properly the trust that you may be a trustee of is fi nancially • Understand what the settler wanted and try to secure and viable and that everybody involved is maintain his/her expectations and standards honest. Dishonesty in this area will bring you down • Be able to stand up for the settler against very that fast you will wonder what happened. persuasive members of the family who will see it A trustee should be well informed before accepting differently the role and well informed during the role.OR FRONT LOADER • Be able to run a meeting FRONT MID MOUNT MOWER Disclaimer – These are the opinions of Don Fraser of Fraser Farm • Have honesty, objectivity and integrity Finance. Any decisions made should notTHE be based this article ACROSS BXonAND B alone MID MO eneficiaries under the trust do not make good ACROSS and appropriate professional should RANGE be sought.

SERIESassistance TRACTOR trustees hey can be heavily in uenced and feel SERIES huge pressure from other family members.

Don Fraser is the Principal of Fraser Farm Finance and a consultant Solicitors and accountants like to be trustees as it to the Farming Industry. Contact him on 0800 777 675 or 021 777 675. A disclosure document is available on request. keeps them involved and in the cash- ow, but many •

40 Y

do not make good trustees hey find it hard to be objective and even harder to make decisions which are necessary. Because of their legal liability, they would rather just advise.

Accountants do have a good understanding of GST, tax and accounting matters and the day to day activity of the business, but again must remain objective.

Some trustees have a separate company for every trust they are on.

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FERTILISER

Page 41

Soil biology makes nutrients plant available There can be no life without soil and no soil without life. They evolved together, says Keith Jackson, GM of Pukekohe-based Landco Fertiliser.

One of the many products Landco Fertiliser offers is TM Agricultural, a product (soil ameliorant) that provides a food source to soil biology. It will provide a kick-start and increase beneficial biological activity, help rejuventae soil and restore it to a fertile state.

“Through its use, differences to soil “Soil microbiology is critical to just and plants are distinctly noticable. about everything that happens in the TM is a combination of 21 differsoil. It is the engine room and without ent plant exudates that have been it agriculture in the main would cease. extracted from plant roots. It is Where farmland has been subject to applied to the soil as a spray or to synthetic fertilisers and/or chemical your fertiliser blend to encourage sprays on an annual or more frequent multiplication of indigenous soil basis, then soil biology is impacted; the more regular the more damaging.” organisms. The more there are, the Biology also gets impacted through more they can overcome man-made The plants on the right have been grown in soil compaction (lack of oxygen and water), damage and contribute to the productreated with the soil ameliorant product TM over-tilling, exposed soils, too tion and capacity of soil.”

Agricultural while the plants on the left have much water, drought, and unbalanced The relationship between plant grown in untreated soils. soil nutrients. and soil organisims is reciprocal – However, Keith says understanding and plants give food (sugars etc.) to soil Keith suggests farmers should do their management of soil is growing. “Farmers very best to look after soil, and in particular organisms and in turn, certain species of are progressively looking at what in uences humus (organic matter), and soil biolorganisms give back nutrients to the plant. production below the ground rather than They work in a total symbiotic environogy will give back ten-fold. “Soil biology just relying on the eyeometer above ground, is critical in processing and making most ment. hence the knowledge of soil biology – and nutrients available to plants and of course “TM Agricultural is, in essence, the same good management of nutrients and how helps considerably with improved producfood souce and providing more will indeed they need balancing – is growing.” tion and profitability if well-supported benefit soil and results gricultural is

Enhancing primary industry’s resilience and productivity Improving environmental, economic and social outcomes is at the heart of an expansive new sustainability science programme from Plant & Food Research.

The Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems programme is an initiative that prioritises scientific research specifically aimed at enhancing the productivity and resilience of the primary industries, while at the same time reducing environmental footprint.

The projects within the programme sit under three key research themes: land use suitability, plants for the environment, and future farming.

“The SAE research programme is taking a very strategic approach. The overarching objective is to deliver scientific knowledge, tools and technologies that simultaneously improve the quality of our environment,

increase profitability, grow e port earnings, and improve market access,” says Plant & Food Research team leader, Steve Thomas.

“Achieving this means the smart and sustainable use of resources, such as soil, nutrients and water; and taking into account the ever-growing complexity of the economic, social and cultural environment that farmers and growers now operate in.

“The impact of farming on our environment is under increasing scrutiny, yet the pressure to produce high-value products and be profitable is as great as ever. There is also the need to consider and adapt to the implications of a changing climate and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

The programme is aimed at enabling New Zealand farmers and growers to sustainably produce high-value crops with the smallest environmental foot-

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It is envisaged that this research will support the establishment of enhanced, environmentally-considered crop management systems that will ultimately deliver greater value and performance. he programme is taking a scientifically robust, practical and future-focused approach, which is really important if we are to find new and interesting ways to conquer the many challenges currently facing farmers and growers,” says the general manager of Plant & Food Research’s Sustainable Production portfolio, Roger Williams.

“The programme delivers to the government’s Business Growth Agenda and is closely aligned to the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge.”

used widely throughout New Zealand and Australia and has a growing population of users. Applied at 250ml/ha a little goes a long way. Use with other sprays or talk to Landco Fertiliser about applying it to your fertiliser blend.”

Plant roots exude a variety of molecules into the rhizosphere, including acids, sugars, polysaccharides and ectoenzymes; this can account for 40 per cent of root carbon.

Soil Biological Stimulator If you use Synthetic Fertilisers and Chemical Sprays or simply want to improve the condition of your soil, apply TM Agricultural to increase beneficial biological activity in the soil.

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Page 42

FERTILISER

Increased soil fertility reduces need for irrigation Currently water is a very controversial subject for some. Basically, in However, the principles apply anywhere. It matters not whether the New Zealand, most of the agricultural water abstraction extraction is for rural or urban purposes. occurs on the East Coast and in Central areas.

What matters is that it is happen-

ing with no thought given to aquifer recharge.

The word ‘abstraction’ comes from the Latin abs, meaning away from and trahere, meaning to draw and is the process of taking away or removing characteristics from something in order to reduce it to a set of essential characteristics.

We tend to think in terms of surface water. Underground aquifers are out of sight and out of mind. But surface and underground water are connected as one. Take it from the surface and it reduces the aquifer. Pump it from the aquifer and it reduces the river.

Drying the land

ost of this occurs in summer when the ows are at their lowest. In short, one-way removal of water for crops and cities will lead to drying the land out.

This is the opposite result of our intentions.

A cross-section of a river is basically a concave structure. Below that the aquifer is a convex one; like two spoons with their humps touching. Extraction of water from either means one does not contribute to the other; more importantly it can cause separation of one source from the other.

So how can we change that? Simply put, it is a matter of diverting excess runoff water and allowing time for it to infiltrate back into the soil, and eventually the aquifer.

Give and you shall receive.

Some rivers have been straightened and stop-banked to hasten the ow to the sea his is a awed concept, re ecting short-term thinking.

Those stop-banks need to lead to infiltration

zones outside of their limits where excess winter rain can be channelled for aquifer ‘duties’.

Further inland, snow melt needs to be channelled in a similar way. There are dozens of solutions, but no political will take any action whatsoever. Everything is borrowed from our grandchildren.

Let’s leave things in a better state than we found them; not the opposite.

New Zealand is a relatively damp place, but irrigation is becoming more and more popular his is a awed concept given that under NPK science, we have not extracted anywhere near the potential production from the land by properly improving soil fertility in the first place By increasing soil fertility using the Albrecht-Kinsey system, we can increase pasture dry matter and quality by >25 per cent on many properties. The best figures know are a per cent improvement in five years This is happening all around the world. Not only that, soil water infiltration and retention will increase along with carbon content, with some properties increasing carbon by 5t/ha per year. Topsoil and rooting depth have increased. Pests and diseases and their chemical rescue remedies take a back seat. rofitability increases and farming becomes an absolute pleasure again.

Below potential

It does not stop with soil fertility either. This sentence is from a DairyNZ publication: “After the three-leaf stage, older (ryegrass) leaves die resulting in wastage and feed quality falls as dead material builds up”. What is really happening is that the plants are under-nourished by the NPK system. yegrass plants grow up to five green leaves per tiller. How can you expect to increase production when pasture is operating below its potential on two counts? One, the nutrition is lacking, and two, the rotation is too fast, being based on a premature three-leaf cycle of one plant.

But that is the system we work under. It’s self-limiting, totally constrained by borders, boundaries and boxes. Give Kiwi Fertiliser a call if you are interested in finding out how to improve your farming operations.

FERTILISER

Page 43

Vehicle hygiene vital to reducing spread of pest plant velvetleaf A multi-agency steering group set up to tackle the damaging agricultural pest velvetleaf in the Waikato region is urging farmers and rural contractors to check all machinery is clean to protect farms from nasty weeds.

The steering group aims to ensure the coordinated response to velvetleaf in the Waikato region. It comprises representatives of Waikato Regional Council, Federated Farmers – Waikato, DairyNZ, the Rural Agricultural Contractors Association, PGG Wrightson, Foundation for Arable Research, Pioneer Seeds, AgResearch, and Farmlands.

Considered one of the world’s worst cropping weeds, velvetleaf has been found growing on farms in the Matamata-Piako, Te Awamutu and north Waikato areas of the Waikato region. It has spread to properties via: • infested fodder beet seeds imported from overseas • the distribution of infested maize crops and maize silage • unclean machinery Waikato Regional Council’s biosecurity pest plants team leader Darion Embling says landowners and farm contractors need to be vigilant.

High-risk “Machinery and vehicle movements aren’t the only culprits responsible for the spread of pests, but they do pose a very high risk.

“Last year we were able to conclusively link velvetleaf infestations on some properties to the movement of unclean

Suspected sightings of velvetleaf should be reported to Waikato Regional Council’s biosecurity

pest plants team on 0800 246 732 (0800 BIOSEC). This allows council staff to assess the property

he yellow flower o velvetlea machinery, which is why good machine hygiene practices are so important.

“That’s why we’ve set up this steering group – to ensure we can educate operators throughout the ag-industry that biosecurity starts at the farm gate.

Cleaning machinery is a big part of that – it will ensure plant or soil contamination that might be harbouring pests, weeds or seeds is removed before entering the next property,” says Darion.

Advice on machine hygiene is available at waikatoregion.govt.nz/biosecurity

Con rme in estations

“We now have 37 properties in the region which have had confirmed infestations of velvetleaf – ranging from a handful of plants to hundreds, even thousands. And we know the seeds can remain dormant for up to 60 years,” says Darion.

“We’re working closely with farm managers, landowners and rural contractors to manage the risks, and have developed long-term plans to stop this nasty weed from spreading to other properties.”

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and then work with landowners and farm managers on a plan if the presence of velvetleaf is confirmed

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Page 44

For further information,visit FORESTRY www.woodmetrics.co.nz

Beetle ‘sandwich’ aids research

The key to controlling the pine bark beetle, which continues to devastate thousands of hectares of conifer foreststo in the Be prepared — call 0800 96 63 63 now talk about your Northern Hemisphere, may have been found Manager. trees with Peter Harington, your Regional in a laboratory in Auckland.

The New Zealand timber industry has presented Plant & Food Research entomologist Graeme Clare with a special award for ‘science of international quality’ – a unique achievement in breeding pine bark beetles in the thousands needed for large scale research.

In New Zealand, bark beetles do not attack living radiata trees but China and India, the two main markets for this country’s $2 billion worth of export logs, have strict fumigation requirements.

However, the current treatment, methyl bromide, is being phased out worldwide.

Industry body Stakeholders in Methyl Bromide Reduction funded the beetle breeding project because it needed to test and verify lower levels of methyl bromide treatment and research potential replacements.

Beetle lifecycle

Graeme Clare knew that, despite the pressing need to breed the beetle in captivity for research, all previous attempts around the world had failed.

“So little was known about the insect, even how many stages it went through in its life cycle. We weren’t sure we could do it, but we had to try,” says Graeme.

The biggest hurdle, which had defeated all attempts so far, was to find and e tract enough eggs from the insect’s tiny burrows in tree bark to meet the big production targets.

“We tried lots of different methods – dozens,” says Graeme. “If we couldn t find a way to do this uickly and easily, we’d have failed too.” he first ma or breakThe pi through came ne when Graeme tried has a d bark beetle pre-slicing the bark effect o evastating Hemis n Northern – actually the soft phere c onifers moist phloem inner . layer of the bark – and packaging the phloem between plastic cards. It’s now a simple matter to disassemble the ‘bark sandwiches’ and extract eggs under a microscope.

Insect breeding

The team then went on to design and test every aspect of insect management – diet, microbe and fungus control, storage, air ow, temperature, humidity and transport for two different species before they could finally produce enough insects of a consistent quality for the demanding production schedule.

The world’s only bark beetle-raising facility has now produced around 200,000 insects and collects more than 20,000 eggs a month.

More cypress selection work recommended The NZ Farm Forestry Association, with support from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Farming Fund, have completed a report looking at the commercial potential for cypress as a plantation forest crop in New Zealand.

The Cypress Development Group of NZ Farm Forestry Association co-funded this project which involved measuring thousands of trees throughout New Zealand.

Historical clonal cypress trials established by the Forest

Research Institute (now Scion) between 1994 and 1998 across a range of different regions and locations in New Zealand were measured, with the intention of revealing the commercial potential for the species and to offer insight into future direction for growers.

A key outcome from the research is that selection criteria needs to be dramatically improved from that used for selection of clones for historical trials. Additional selection criteria recommended

for clonal selection programmes include low levels of uting, high heartwood content, wood density and strength, low incidence of stem breakage, toppling and canker disease over 15 years of tree growth.

Longer term selection work is recommended for confident deployment of improved material, to give industry sufficient confidence in performance of cypress clones that are released to growers.

The report is available at www.nzffa.org.nz

COMPLETE ORCHARD & SHELTER REMOVAL

FORESTRY

Page 45

ETS review would change economics of farm forestry Changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme which would allow farmers to claim carbon credits without any harvesting liability would significantly change the economics of farm forestry, says Peter Clark, president of NZ Forest Owners Association.

commitment to meet New Zealand’s obligations under the Paris accord on climate change, there will be significant benefits for farmers who plant trees on their land.

There is a strong possibility farming, under the new coalition government, will be included in the ETS at a rate of around five per “A review of the ETS was begun cent, calculated on the by the previous government. volume greenhouse The coalition agreement is gas emissions from to establish an independent the farming activity.

Climate Commission and a “Farmers will Zero Carbon Act. A meaningwant to offset that ful price on carbon and tree cost and one way planting are obvious tools to to do that will be help reduce New Zealand’s net to plant trees.” greenhouse gas emissions,” For landownhe says. ers, the only Part of the work under review cost of planting Peter Clark is president of NZ Forest was to make it easier for farmers marginal land Owners Association. to participate in the existing ETS scheme, encouraging the planting of more trees with farmers able to claim New Zealand emission units (known as NZU) from the time trees reached five to si years of age “If that idea continues, it changes the economics of farm forestry as it would generate an income without waiting up to 25 years for the harvesting of the trees.”

igni cant ene ts

eter says many farmers lost confidence in the complicated carbon trading scheme when the National government allowed foreign credits to be bought, and the price dropped. However, he believes if the new government continues with the review and a

Scientists honoured for achievements

The work of scientists in strengthening this country’s timber industries has been recognised in the inaugural Science New Zealand awards, which also celebrated the 25-year anniversary of the establishment of CRIs. Scion forest pathologist Dr Nari Williams was presented an ‘early career researcher award’ for her work in forest diseases, particularly phytophthora.

Forest research veteran Dr Dave Cown was awarded a lifetime achievement award for his work in wood science and understanding the sources of wood quality variation and how to control it.

Scion's world-class biosecurity team picked up an award for their research which resulted in successful management of several new-to-science diseases and development of a forestry biosecurity surveillance system considered by overseas experts to be the best in the world.

The awards were part of the CRI's 25th anniversary celebrations, which included a two-day free science exhibition at Te Papa in November. Scion’s research was on display, showcasing ways to use trees and other biomaterials to make next-generation bio-products to replace non-renewable products, and explain the cutting-edge science used to grow and protect trees the low-carbon future will be built on.

in trees is the loss of profitability from that area. However, if the land requires high inputs of fertiliser and is costly to manage, taking it out of pasture allows resources to be focused on the most productive parts of the farm.

mission o ligations

“At the same time farmers would be growing NZUs that would offset emission obligations, de-risking the possibility of a higher price of carbon in the future.”

The Labour/New Zealand First/ Greens government has signalled an intention to plant roughly an additional 50,000 hectares in trees each year for 10 years.

“I believe most of those trees will be planted on farms and on iwi land,” says Peter.

That’s because the value of suitable land has gone well beyond the $1000-

$2000 a hectare that forestry investors had paid in the past.

In fact, Peter believes securing enough land to plant the extra trees is the biggest hurdle the government will face in achieving its objective. The second will be finding the labour to plant the trees Sourcing enough young trees will not be a major issue, although Peter says there could be a shortage of the best genetic stock, as the seed and nursery industry gears up to meet demand for improved varieties.

Elaine Fisher

AVOCADO

Page 46

Avocado soil and leaf analysis: digging deeper Has your avocado fertiliser programme yielded physical results?

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Can you see a difference in tree health, performance and yield? Is the leaf analysis showing improvements?

If your answer to these questions is ‘no’ then you need to evaluate why, reassess your programme, and make the necessary adjustments for an improved outcome for next season. If done properly, soil and leaf analysis will lead to more efficient and economical use of fertilisers, and e cessive or inefficient applications that drive costs up and profits down can be avoided Optimum plant growth, performance and production depends on the balance, combination and concentration of mineral nutrients available in the soil lants often face significant challenges in obtaining an ade uate supply of these nutrients to meet the demands of general metabolism, growth and production due to the many soil nutrient constraints. f your soil and leaf analysis is not re ecting ade uate, balanced levels of all the nutrients, it means that plant health, production and profits will be affected Taking the time to dig deeper into your soil and leaf test results will allow you to: • Evaluate the effectiveness of your fertiliser programmes.

• Monitor the pH of the soil and the nutritional status of the soil and crop.

• Adjust your fertiliser programmes and address any nutritional deficiencies, e cesses and imbalances before they adversely affect production.

• Meet the crop’s nutritional requirements at critical phenological (life cycle) times in order to support optimal tree performance and maximise yield.

• Determine and address soil nutrient constraints to ensure a balanced supply of essential nutrients for optimum yields. ake uick, in-season corrections to nutrient deficiencies through foliar applications of specific deficient nutrients.

• Evaluate the nutrient retention capacity of the soil and whether you need to improve this to improve the effectiveness of your fertiliser applications. orrect problems before establishing an orchard Trying to do corrections after planting is far costlier and time-consuming and also affects overall tree establishment, performance and initial yield.

Sampling accuracy

n order for analytical results to be meaningful, sampling guidelines should be followed he information is meaningless if the sample has not been taken correctly ne of the basic principles of sampling is to return to the same sampling trees or sites from year to year. hese trees or sites must be representative of the entire orchard or ma or portion of the block his must be based on tree observation, past e perience, crop yield, soil type, etc.

Orchard input dollars should be spent where there is the greatest chance for the largest return on investments.

Using sampling trees or sites eliminates year-on-year variability and results in more accurate analysis his then gives you more clarity on the effectiveness of your fertiliser programmes and the nutritional status of the soil and crop, and what ad ustments need to be made

Soil and leaf result correlation

Leaf nutrient concentrations are the most accurate indicator of crop status and there is often not a strong relationship between the nutrient levels in the soil and in the plant tissue. lants may not show any visible symptoms, but the nutrient content may be insufficient enough to reduce the yields eaf analysis alerts us to this f the deficiency can already be observed on the tree, the crop has already lost some potential yield. he leaf test highlights all the factors that might in uence, limit or restrict nutrient availability and uptake, as well as nutrient antagonisms that may be occurring Regular leaf sampling is an important management tool, enabling us as growers to be more aware of the nutrient status of our crop and giving us an opportunity to address any problems before they have an effect on tree performance, production and our pockets. ecoding soil and leaf test results and having a better understanding of soil nutrient constraints, crop nutrient status and adjusting fertiliser programmes accordingly, will not only improve tree performance and production but also improve profitability by avoiding fertiliser applications that are ineffective. lways remember input dollars should be spent where there is the greatest chance for the largest return on investments.

If you need assistance with understanding what your soil and leaf tests results are telling you contact the Just Avocados Grower services team info@justavocados.co.nz

By Erica Faber, Orchard Productivity Manager, Just Avocados

AVOCADO

Page 47

Wet season increases phytophthora risk s avocado growers finish another round of pollination and look forward to a larger crop than this year, it is important to remember to maintain tree in ecting routines with vo ect, says imon enness of ongatete vocado imited ou may be tempted to forgo in ecting as a result of the light crop, but this is inadvisable and e poses your trees to potential damage later in the season as a result of one of the wettest autumns on record e uke has seen more than per cent of normal rainfall and atikati has also seen significant rain levels over the past few months he heavy rain has led to periods of water logging as soils have become saturated from the consistent rain and raised water tables he high moisture levels will have facilitated the spread of any phytophthora present throughout orchards his will mean damage to root systems has occurred e are likely to see the result of this

in the spring as the new crop places stress on the trees, so using ongatete s i hosphonate application can reduce phytophthora infection o get the ma imum benefit from your i application this should ideally be undertaken at the time of root ush, imon says rien ames of , who is a leading industry e pert, says nce phytophthora is affecting your trees then you have to maintain your programme of in ecting to protect them, as the disease will continue to be present in the soil for years t is also important to be proactive in starting your in ection programme because if you think your trees have phytophthora they probably do or the best results when in ecting, ensure the vo ect syringes are evenly spaced around the tree at mm intervals his will ma imise protection of the entire root system as there is little lateral movement of the phosphonate in ected into the tree he way to increase your orchard returns is to protect your trees and ensure their health by in ecting with vo ect

sults when For the best re o trees injecting avocad ainst ag for protection sure the en , ra ho phytopht e evenly ar AvoJect syringes e tree at th spaced around als.

120mm interv

usic, wine and avocados at festival he atikati vocado ood and ine estival on aturday, anuary at the retara omain will be a great family day out

Avocado Farmers Love Gypsum o Farmers Farmers Farmers Avocado Farmers psum sum psum Love Gypsum Avocado Farmers he annual event has become a popular tradition, with holidaymakers keen for a break from the beach to en oy music, food and fun he headline act on the mobile stage is lying iwis, strongly supported by ark aipari, okomo and the local roupe aihi pect to find yourself dancing on the grass as the day progresses hane ardley, one of ay of lenty s most e perienced and widely travelled chefs, will be there to demonstrate wonderful meals, featuring, of course, avocados ocal vendors will provide a wide variety of foods to satisfy your every taste he ever-popular bouncy castles and different rides will operate throughout the day, keeping the children entertained hildren s food preferences will also be met by local stalls, with drinks and treats to match

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

ontrol Control Control pHpH levels, levels, pH reduce levels, reduce reduce soilsoil borne borne soil disease, borne disease, disease, Improves Soil Structure by adding calcium which is needed to APP flocculate clays in acid and alkaline soil mprove improve improve soilsoil structure structure soil structure and and drainage drainage and drainage with with Gypsum. with Gypsum.

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Prevents crusting of soil - caused by raindrops or sprinklers on unstable soil - to aide seed emergence Improves Improves Improves SoilSoil Structure Structure Soil by Structure adding by adding by calcium adding calcium which calcium which is needed is which needed istoneeded to to Control pH levels, reduce soil borne disease, Control pH levels,is areduce soil borne disease, As a improve fertiliser CaSO4-2H2O pH neutral source of readily flocculate flocculate flocculate clays clays in acid inclays acid andinand alkaline acid alkaline andsoil alkaline soil soil soil structure and drainage with Gypsum. improve structure and drainage with Gypsum. available calciumsoil and sulphur Prevents Prevents crusting Prevents crusting ofcrusting soil of soil - caused of - caused soilby - caused raindrops by raindrops by raindrops or sprinklers or sprinklers or sprinklers on on on Suppresses Soil Borne Soil Disease whichby areadding often present unstable unstable soil unstable soil - to-aide tosoil aide seed - toseed aide emergence emergence seed emergence Improves Structure calciuminwhich is needed to Control pH levels, reduce soil borne disease, Improves Soil Structure by adding calcium which is needed to anaerobic soil conditions and aalkaline problem for avocados flocculate clays inespecially acid and soil improve structure with Gypsum.

As aAsfertiliser a fertiliser As aCaSO4-2H2O fertiliser CaSO4-2H2O CaSO4-2H2O is a ispH a pH neutral isneutral a pH source neutral source of source readily ofsoil readily of readilyand drainage flocculate clays in acid and alkaline soil Prevents waterlogging of soil where sodium, swelling or sprinklers on available available calcium available calcium and calcium and sulphur sulphur and sulphur Prevents crusting of soil high - caused by raindrops Prevents crusting of soil - caused clay excess water drainage issuesby raindrops or sprinklers on Improves Soil Structure by and adding calcium which soil isresult needed to unstable - toinaide seed emergence Suppresses Suppresses Suppresses SoilSoil Borne Borne Soil Disease Borne Disease which Disease which are are which often often present arepresent often inpresent in clays ininacid and alkaline soil flocculate unstable soil - to aide seed emergence anaerobic anaerobic anaerobic soilsoil conditions conditions soil conditions andand especially especially and especially a problem a problem afor problem avocados for avocados for avocados As a fertiliser CaSO4-2H2O is a pH neutral source of readily Prevents crusting of soil - caused by raindrops or sprinklers on for more about Natural and soil visit As aGypsum fertiliser CaSO4-2H2O is a pH neutral source of readily unstable soil - to aide seed emergence available calcium andstabilisation sulphur www.gypsum.co.nz Prevents Prevents waterlogging Prevents waterlogging waterlogging of soil of soil where of where soil high where high sodium, sodium, highswelling sodium, swelling swelling available calcium and sulphur As a fertiliser CaSO4-2H2O is a pH neutral source of readily clayclay andand excess clay excess and water excess water result result water in drainage in result drainage in issues drainage issues issues Suppresses Soil Borne Disease which are often present in available calcium and sulphur Suppresses Soil Borne Disease which areaoften present in anaerobic soil conditions and especially problem for avocados Suppresses Soil Borne Disease which anaerobic are often present in soil conditions and especially a problem for avocados or for more more about forabout more Natural Natural about Gypsum Natural Gypsum and Gypsum and soilsoil stabilisation and stabilisation soil stabilisation visitvisitanaerobic visit soil conditions and especially a problemwaterlogging for avocados Prevents of soil where high sodium, swelling www.gypsum.co.nz www.gypsum.co.nz www.gypsum.co.nz Prevents waterlogging of soilinwhere highissues sodium, swelling Prevents waterlogging of soil where high swellingwater result claysodium, and excess drainage clay and excess water result in drainage issues clay and excess water result in drainage issues forsoilmore aboutvisit Natural for more about Natural Gypsum and stabilisation for more about Natural www.gypsum.co.nz www.gypsum.co.nz www.gypsum.co.nz

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ooperation will benefit growers on both sides of asman vocado industry confidence is on a high in ustralia and a recent grower visit has highlighted the significant role that voco plays in its development

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Avocado trees in Bundaberg were flowering heavily when Avoco’s Grower Relationship Committee visited.

he voco rower elations ommittee visited estern ustralia and ueensland to see first-hand large-scale commercial orchards as well as ripening and distribution facilities in risbane where most of voco s fruit arrives after it is shipped from ew ealand ustralians consume an average of kg of avocado each year and with demand continuing to rise, tens of millions of dollars have been invested by ustralian businesses in new tree plantings and more recently, upgrading facilities to ripen, store and process the fruit ustralia is ew ealand s biggest market for avocados, with voco allocating about per cent of its total crop to retail and wholesale supply each year n - , it shipped more than million trays to ustralia and is now considered one of the four in uential suppliers in this high-paying market

Guacamole production

he other three are all family-owned enterprises in ustralia all of whom grow and pack their own and other fruit before supplying the domestic market orth of risbane at undaberg, impson arms will pick, pack and ship about one million trays this

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Strong values

voco is in its fifth season but the directors have been building relationships with these guys for many years with a view to ma imising opportunities for everyone, says hris or growers, the benefits of all that work is starting to show in strong values and healthy rchard ate eturns atikati grower and vice-chairman ohn chnackenberg says the collaborative working relationships in ustralia had resulted in rapid but controlled retail growth which he believes is likely to continue for some time e keep living in fear of the season when estern ustralia volumes are high and so are ours here will be a year when we will be tested under those conditions ut demand is still growing and on top of that, we have the foresight and capabilities to be developing markets in sia to cope with that scenario

Asian markets

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year, with most of the fruit sold fresh in ustralia hey also have a processing operation that produces guacamole and other processed products using highpressure technology his fruit all goes into the food service sector hris ailey, an voco grower near e uke and a ayfarms director, accompanied members on the trip and says the operations of the biggest growers in ustralia is impressive he biggest three growers packers are producing a million trays each or close to it o put that into perspective, individually, each of these growers will handle as much as voco s growers will produce for e port this year t was clear during the week-long trip that voco had won respect from the other industry players who were all willing to work with the ew ealand company to grow the market and minimise overlaps in supply

ustralian growers were also working towards increasing their e port opportunities, a situation that voco could capitalise on, says hris e currently don t have enough fruit to develop the markets in sia to their potential, so it could actually benefit ew ealand to have them there helping to develop an appetite for avocados among new consumers ong-term, we have an opportunity to be part of a global growth strategy in ustralia and further afield into sia and beyond his year s low national crop volume means voco e pects to e port about million trays, compared to million trays in nder the van a brand, voco will ship about , trays outside ustralia about half of what it sent to various sian markets last season

KIWIFRUIT

Page 49

Personal attributes among employees valued Personal attributes count high among employment criteria for a leading Bay of Plenty kiwifruit and avocado management and post-harvest company.

“We employ people based on attitudes, and whether they will live our si core values and fit within our business, rather than skills. We can teach skill,” says Derek Masters, CEO of DMS. Valuing, encouraging and fostering personal growth among staff at all levels is a priority for both Derek and DMS which aims to be “the employer of choice” for its staff and those seeking employment.

As the father of four ‘millennials , annah, arah, teven and Rachael, Derek understands that this generation has different attitudes to employment than its predecessors.

“They want to work hard but many also want the e ibility to pursue other interests, often including potential commercial interests. o long as there s no con ict of interest for DMS or our growers, we are happy to support them in those endeavours, including allowing some e ibility in work start and finish times Staff are rewarded and acknowledged for good work that exceeds expectations and encouraged to take on personal development challenges to help them be a better person and more valuable to DMS.

Three sites

DMS operates across three sites; the post-harvest facilities at Te Puna and Te uke and the town office in auranga, plus has a large orchard management team out in the field “It would be easy to operate in silos but we make sure that doesn t happen by switching/exchanging staff between sites, holding social events including sports challenges, and regular full staff meetings. Communication between all our sites is paramount so everyone is on the same page in terms of meeting our company goals.” ealth and safety is, of course, a priority but DMS takes that further by also focusing on staff well-being.

“DMS is a silver accredited wellness provider by the ublic ealth Service Workwell programme. This

new recruits. Other examples include the very successful orchard cadetship programmme, which leads to full orchard manager status with orchard management responsibilities.

Career opportunities

“These are just two examples, but we have many career opportunities within DMS as we grow and e pand e always look internally first before we recruit externally as I particularly enjoy seeing our staff taking up new challenges within the business. ew technology is rapidly infiltrating our business, like most other post-harvest companies. There are significant advances in the use of robotics in post-harvest facilities and orcharding and this presents an exciting future for anyone looking to enter the kiwifruit industry.

“I know technology is important, but I would rather have the best people than the best machinery any day as it s our people that enable us to live up to our brand promise of ‘increasing grower profit On a personal note, Derek acknowledges the support of the two DMS owner-directors Paul Jones and Craig Greenlees.

“Both are good examples of ‘walking the talk in terms of staff support and encouragement. This has been very helpful for me over the years and enabled me to introduce core values and build a culture that enables the DMS team members to perform at Derek Masters, CEO of DMS. the level they do.”

Elaine Fisher can include simple things such as helping staff give up smoking, or with general health with the help of a nutritionist, to major investments in staff medical schemes. m pleased to say that our staff retention is excellent. We seldom lose people. As we are well-recognised from our own internal staff engagement surveys we are just great company to work for. In other words, an employer of choice.

“We have many staff who have been with the company well over 10 years.

This is important for our business as I think that stability has enabled us to perform at the level that we do because everyone knows their job very well, they know what s e pected of them, and they know the level that DMS plays at.”

Creating career pathways for junior staff is also very important. DMS recently promoted two younger accounting staff instead of taking on

My Name is Neil Woodward.

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

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

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

My Name is Neil Woodward.

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

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

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

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Page 50

KIWIFRUIT

Protecting biodiversity vital for NZ It’s not politicians, oil, the stock market or the economy, but biodiversity which runs the planet, says 'The Bug Man' Ruud Kleinpaste.

Ninety-nine per cent of all creatures which work to keep the planet going are smaller than a bumblebee and the

“services” they provide too often go unrecognised.

“That’s why protecting biodiversity is so vital,” says Ruud, who used spiders and insects to illustrate his point during Biodiversity Week at the Port of Tauranga in November.

“At the moment we have millions of bugs doing pollination, recycling, and pest control, all for free. But our biodi-

versity is declining rapidly. We have to conserve and treasure what we've got, which means an ecological system uncompromised by invasive species – no new introductions.”

Ruud, who was brought to Tauranga by organisers of the week, including Kiwifruit Vine Health, Ministry for Primary Industries and the Port of Tauranga, was impressed at the level of biosecurity awareness among those working at the port and in the kiwifruit and avocado industries.

‘Home game’

“When I’ve been speaking to people here it’s like being at a home game because they know about biodiversity and biosecurity. Their level of knowledge is awesome.”

His aim was to highlight New Zealand’s unique and special “She’s friendly” – creatures which are under Ruud Kleinpaste aka threat from the unwanted ‘The Bug Man’ with introduction of exotic animals, a venomous native insects and diseases. vagrant spider.

One of the most rewarding aspects of his time in Tauranga was the chance to visit Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology where Ruud talked to horticulture and environmental management students about biosecurity and the important role it plays in maintaining biodiversity, “our most precious asset”.

“It’s the next generation, the kids, we have to engage – get them away from looking at ‘twitbook’ and get them outside to discover what’s there and value it.”

Green beetle

The planet-wide growth of humans is threatening the security of life for all species, including humans themselves.

The transport of goods and people around the world increases the biosecurity risks.

Triny Ngu overcomes her fear of spiders.

KIWIFRUIT

Page 51

Aim – a biosecurity team of 4.7 million ducating tour bus drivers about biosecurity risks, producing a bugs calendar’ and eliminating puddles are among the initiatives to improve biosecurity at the ort of auranga The moves were highlighted during Biosecurity eek in ovember when the port, Kiwifruit Vine Health and other industry and government organisations joined forces to spread the message as widely as possible Barry O’Neil, CEO of KVH, says Biosecurity Week was a success with hundreds of people taking part in various activities alongside biosecurity e perts and special guest

uud he ug an leinpaste “It was great to meet face-to-face with those who work on the frontline at the port and congratulate them on the excellent work they are doing and the difference they re making by being vigilant and aware of new and emerging threats “It is a successful regional example of the Ministry for Primary Industries, local industries and regional government partnering to build a biosecurity team of million ew ealanders, says arry The week coincided with the arrival of one of the first cruise ships for the season and the introduction of a new initiative to meet tour bus drivers and talk about the help they can

provide in looking out for and reporting risks when travelling with international cruise ship passengers. “A key focus for the initiative is to have all sea and air ports across the country pick up this biosecurity e cellence model and adapt it to their local situation, says arry “Another focus is strong engagement with the science community, including a formal partnership with the New Zealand’s Biological Heritage national science challenge and the etter order iosecurity science collaboration. his has been boosted by an almost million co-funded research project with B3 to trial new tools and technologies in the port environment, monitor biosecurity awareness

amongst the local community, and measure the impacts of changes on biosecurity risk Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns says the week was a great success in raising biosecurity awareness across the port "It's really important that every single port user understands their crucial role on the frontline of biosecurity protection e all need to know what to look out for and what to do if we find anything suspicious ecent biosecurity and public health initiatives at the port include producing a pest calendar to illustrate the biggest bug threats and their seasonality, and eliminating puddles to reduce potential mosquito breeding grounds

Pests threat to economy For New Zealand, not only native fauna and ora but also the horticultural and farming industries crucial to its economy, are vulnerable to the risk of the arrival of new exotic pests and diseases. y enabling ort of Tauranga workers to get up close to native insects, including the iridescent green Megadromus bullatus beetle with it strong jaws, and to handle male and female weta and the large vagrant spider, Ruud sparked their interest in insects and their observational skills He didn’t however, encourage handling of the exotic white tail and red back spiders he included in his travelling insect e hibition Biodiversity is everywhere and Ruud reckons a bio-blit conducted at the

Jo de Malmanche, administration worker at the Port of Tauranga, makes friends with a weta supplied by Ruud Kleinpaste aka ‘The Bug Man’ during Biosecurity Week in November.

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KIWIFRUIT

Page 53

Pollination crucial to crop yields strong pollination,” says Ethan.

Growers are encouraged to harvest early male ower on their ayward orchards prior to female owering for processing for supplementary pollen application.

“Aongatete has investigated and refined application rates using the Pollensmart machine to improve

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Aongatete Coolstores’ Pollensmart machine in action.

Good pollination of kiwifruit is crucial for growers to produce good-tasting, highyielding crops annually ignificant research and development, investigating and testing pollination methodology and techniques to improve pollination results is ongoing.

Members of the technical team at Aongatete Coolstores Ltd are fully aware of the strategic and seasonal importance of successful pollination to both producers and the wider industry. upplementary artificial pollination is recognised as

an important additional tool in the pollination regime, however prices are rising and demand will soon exceed supply,” says Aongatete’s technical team leader Ethan England.

“Aongatete has ensured its growers have access to adequate supplementary pollen to meet their seasonal requirements (subject to seasonal variation.) Onorchard focus should include grafting over males to more oral varieties, supporting ade uate male to female ratios, managing male pollinator quality and synchronisation.

“This provides more pollen per square metre of male canopy, resulting in a higher probability that the bees can distribute available pollen to females, promoting

Research into fruit’s stress reducing attributes A project, led by Plant & Food Research scientist and associate professor Dr Richard Macknight, has won Marsden funding to study a mechanism involved in controlling plant genes.

It follows earlier work on the control of ascorbate in plants, an antioxidant which reduces stress

application. This machine delivers dry pollen application up to five-metre row spacing and includes a recycling vacuum, recovering excess pollen for reapplication into the owering canopy. This methodology reduces the initial rate of pollen applied and generally improves application efficiencies, says Ethan.

in plants and humans. Kiwifruit are high in ascorbate but other fruit, such as apples, are comparatively low. The research could help select plants high in ascorbate and other desirable characteristics.

Royal Society Te Aparangi selects research projects for government funding on behalf

of the Marsden Fund Council.

Achieving a Marsden award is considered a sign of research excellence.

The fund allocated $84.6 million in grants to 133 projects this year, supporting research in science, engineering, maths, social sciences and the humanities.

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Page 54

Fonterra farmers open gates to public Fonterra and 40 of its farmers are inviting the public to visit farms up and down the country on Sunday, December 10 to see how they operate and what farmers are doing for the environment.

PHILL STAYS GREEN WITH INCREASED REVENUE Farm owner and agricultural consultant Phill Everest uses Growsmart® Precision VRI to “kill five birds with one stone.” He’s able to improve the sustainability of his dairy operation while reducing its environmental impacts.

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The event is called ‘Open Gates’ and the invitation on the Fonterra website says: “The whole country cares about what’s happening with our waterways, including us. And we want to show you what we’re doing to protect them. Things like planting, fencing to keep cows out of the water and managing nitrogen.

“So, come and visit one of the 40 farms we’re opening.”

Open Gates is a chance to talk first-hand to farmers, walk around their farm and see what they’re doing to care for the environment and their animals. It’s also an opportunity to ask them about their farm management and future plans here will be some fun activities for the kids along the way and there will be a selection of Fonterra products for you to enjoy.

“So get out your gumboots, register now and we look forward to seeing you there.”

Registration to visit the farms is essential and can be done online at: www fonterra com n en whatwe-stand-for water opengates html The website provides details about farms in each region and a brief introduction to the farmers and their property.

Among the farm hosts are Jeremy and Judith who farm in the Bay of Plenty.

“We’re been farming here in the

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District since 1979. When we bought the farm it was hectares and we ran it as a sheep and beef farm,” the couple say.

“Over the years we have acquired parts of adjoining farms and now own 427 hectares. We converted to dairying 21 years ago. We now run 520 cows and approximately 500 dry stock. During the farming downturn in the 1980s we both worked off-farm - eremy for an accountant in Taupo and Judy teaching in Mangakino.

“Our son John and his wife Nikki now manage the farm with the help of three other staff although eremy continues to be fully handson. We look forward to showing you what we have achieved here and done to maintain and improve our beautiful environment.”

Jamie Lyon of the Waikato is also opening his farm gates on ecember 10. He and his family have been farming in the Mangatawhiri area for 150 years – in fact the road where the farm is located is named after the family.

“My father was a dairy farmer then started farming sheep before

we converted back to dairy 10 years ago when we bought the neighbouring farm. Today on Te Kainga Farms we milk 220 Jersey Kiwi cross cows on 700 acres, along with some sheep and cattle.

“I really enjoy dairy farming. It’s very rewarding and I like being my own boss and getting my three kids out on the farm. They will be the fifth generation on the farm and my wife Lou works as a local GP. “We’re really lucky to have a river running through our farm. It was always a part of my childhood and I love that my kids can play in the same river. We used to camp on the river, make dams and catch eels and go paddling so it’s great to be able to do that with my own kids now.

“I care about the environment and have gifted nine hectares of bush to QEII National Trust to preserve native bush. We’ve fenced off waterways and done riparian planting in conjunction with Dilworth College as part of the school’s project. We’ve also invested in a -metre bridge crossing the Mangatawhiri stream.”

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Page 55

What’s causing the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak?

My recent dealings with clients have indicated an alarming increase in animal health problems which cannot be treated. We have always had that annoying group of cows with somatic cell counts higher than the rest of the herd, which we are forced to cull to keep our bulk SCC at a manageable level. ow we find that certain strains of mastitis are, upon detection, directed down the same path. This latest scare with Mycoplasma bovis, in the Oamaru area, and the subsequent resulting management of it by slaughtering cows, casts a very dark cloud over the direction we may be heading.

Farming systems

I have seen some amazing data and collected information during my self-education as a biological consultant. Upon reading my website you will see my point of view can be interestingly unique.

My thought process and data collection on this ycoplasma bovis is also way left field but nevertheless I am urged to share it with you. Please take into consideration that I

am sharing my theory, based on my biological background and observations.

This outbreak was initially confined to one farming enterprise following a certain management system. In areas of the world where Mycoplasma bovis is more prevalent, farmers follow similar farming systems.

Is this disease a result of a farming system rather than a contagious disease? What are the factors that may lead to the symptoms which are appearing with these Mycoplasma bovis victims?

There is some big picture imformation which I believe may be indirectly connected to the initial cause of this disease. My own experience connected to other biological scientists, and specialist vets specifically working on this disease in Europe have led to these observations.

The following are a list of basic observations have collected airy farm ef uent is generally either anaerobic or aerobic. Symptoms of anaerobic ponds are crusted and have an ef uent p below he thicker the crust, the lower the p Symptoms of an aerobic pond show lesser crust with a p of the ef uent above he

higher the p over the clearer the pond is of crust and sludge.

Good biology

Both these bacteria types have exclusive competition, so as the conditions change further from p , either way, the bacteria which enjoy those conditions dominate.

Chemicals used in dairy farm cleaning, particularly chlorine, kill aerobic bacteria. Good biology beneficial to animal health is generally associated with aerobic bacteria.

Bad and pathogenic disease-causing biology is generally associated with anaerobic bacteria f uent, good or bad, is spread on pasture. This feed, whether directly or after harvesting, is fed to cattle. Chlostridia, botulism, and Mycoplasma bovis are all anaerobic bacteria. Chlostridia is generally present when anaerobic ef uent is present in feed

Animal starves

adequate water, the animal effectively starves. The animal is unable to fight disease with no immunity Mycoplasma bovis, which is always present, takes advantage and becomes prevalent.

Mycoplasma bovis is generally present and associated with botulism and chlostridia. Testing for chlostridia and botulism will, if present, confirm the origin of the Mycoplasma bovis.

If this information checks out then we can treat the disease, manage it and prevent it in the future.

My vet colleague in Denmark stated that, after the death of hundreds of cows in Germany, anaerobic ef uent is not irrigated to pasture anymore f course, MPI have already made their decision and they seem to think differently illing cows will definitely fi the symptom.

David Law owns Forward Farming Biological Consultancy. Visit for more: www.forwardfarming.co.nz

Good bacteria that eat pond crust and sludge?

A symptom of cattle with chlostridia is the inability for the animal to suck water in the normal way. They lick at it instead.

Nutrients from the rumen need water to be transported around the body past the rumen.

With the inability to physically drink

The immediate cause of your pond crust is pathogenic bacteria in the effluent. These bacteria separate the effluent fibres and the send them to the surface to form the crust.

How do you counter these bad bugs? With good bugs. That’s what Slurry Bugs are – helpful bacteria that eat the pond crust. Literally.

Irrigation specialists

Not only do Slurry Bugs remove the crust, they transform the effluent nutrients into organic forms that are easily used by plants. In other words, they liquefy your pond and turn it into an effective, spreadable fertiliser.

Irrigation Express is a supplier of irrigation and water system products.

Manager Dave Reid says the company can supply the ‘bits and pieces’ you need to put your irrigation or water system together, along with all the advice and information for the DIY orchardist and farmer.

“Our primary job is to make sure you receive quality products at great prices and we can also supply you with the technical advice and system planning to ensure that you get the system you want. We are passionate about serving our customers and stand behind all our products with 100 per cent satisfaction guarantee. If you order the wrong parts you can send them back for a full refund.”

The company’s irrigation specialists can help with any questions you may have regarding irrigation and water systems, whether it is troubleshooting existings system, planning a new one or advice on products that suit your situation.

Irrigation Express can help choose the right product for the right job and will price out your project, as the team prides itself on having the best pricing in the market for both large and small systems.

NEW eco-friendly sanitiser Most farmers use Chlorine to clean their sheds. Problem is, Chlorine also kills the Slurry Bugs.

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Page 56

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 57

Cyclonic luck in harvest timing For Leveret Estate Winery it was the calm between two cyclones which enabled it to harvest the grapes which produced its latest gold medal-winning wine.

avours balanced by a limey acidity and a lengthy mineral finish Fiona MacDiarmid, sales and marketing director for Leveret Estate Winery, says the win is very exciting. “We are long-time supporters of this competition because of “We were fortunate to have just its unique focus on wines enough time between Cyclones that are affordable and Debbie and Cook in April widely available, while to harvest the grapes from judging quality on the Kuranui vineyard the same basis as all in Marlborough,” says other major wine winemaker Michael competitions.”

Sweetlove.

The New World That wine is the Wine Awards are 2017 Falconhead judged by a panel Marlborough Sauof 16 independvignon Blanc which ent expert wine won a gold medal judges who blind at both the 2017 taste and judge New World Wine each wine using the Awards, (one of the same internationallylargest and most in urecognised 100-point ential wine shows in scale as other wine New Zealand), and the competitions worldNew Zealand Internamarketing director d wide. This means that an les tional Wine Show. sa d, mi ar Di Fiona Mac maker ne wi d an , ery wines are held to the in W for Leveret Estate medal-winning ld Tropical flavour go e th same standard as at any th wi e lov Michael Sweet h Sauvignon Blanc.

Michael says after ug ro other wine show. The lbo ar M d ea nh 2017 Falco harvest, the grapes were only difference is that taken to a contract facilall wines entered must retail for $25 or less ity for de-juicing and settling. “The clear juice a bottle and at least 5000 bottles must be available was then transported by road tanker to our Katikati for sale. winery where it was fermented in stainless steel tanks at around 12°C using a variety of yeast strains, Affordable wines mainly Revelation Thiols. Following fermentation, “Winning two gold medals in this highly competithe wine was blended, protein stabilised, cold stabitive category (Sauvignon Blanc) is a fantastic result lised and fined and bottled in uly and testament to the quality of wines that we proThe wine is described as displaying “a complex duce at our Katikati winery. The added advantage aroma of tropical fruits, passionfruit, feijoa and a for Kiwis is that all our Falconhead wines are touch of lime. The palate shows ripe tropical fruit affordable, so this is a Gold Medal wine priced at less

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than $20,” says Fiona.

The Falconhead range of wines have been named for the native falcon karearea, one of New Zealand’s few birds of prey. “The falcon is part of our natural sustainability programme as it helps with pest control in our vineyards. We have a resident falcon who often visits the feeding station we’ve set up as a token of appreciation to this ying celebrity, who also graces our country’s $20 bill.”

This Falconhead Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has also made it into the NWWA Top 50 wines and is available in all New World stores nationwide as well as at the Leveret Estate Cellar Door on State Highway 2 (20 minutes north of Tauranga) which is open seven days a week from 9.30am-5pm.

Elaine Fisher

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 58

classified listings accommodation

health & well being

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION Romantic, separate, selfcontained accommodation with a touch of luxury. Rural location 5 minutes from Hobbiton. Sleeps up to four. Continental breakfast included. Phone 021 0595 185

FEELING OUT OF TUNE WITH your body? We will guide you to learn to eat for health and well being. Personal and confidential.

Contact by email annaee062@ gmail.com

NEED A C.V? A C.V. For You can provide you with the professional touch. From scratch or alterations.

“Get the interview….Land the job” Contact via www.facebook.com/ acvforyou or 0204 037 6034

REACH OVER 31,000 HOMES For only $20 you can have your listing here (up to 20 words). Email us today with your query or call 07 928 3053 kathy@sunmedia.co.nz

curriculum vitae

for sale

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

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TRAILER WANTED Tandom, consider any condition, replace or no WOF. Phone Mike on 027 495 6444

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

December 8-10 Carols in the Caves

8-9.30pm, Waitomo Caves, $20/adult. Tickets from Waitomo i-Site or ph 07 878 7640.

December 9

World Soil Day, 11am-

2pm, family day at Waikato Museum, free.

Free Home Composting Workshop, 11am, Gisborne.

Register with Tairawhiti Environment Centre, ph 06 867 4708.

December 9-10 Bonsai Workshop with

Master Nobuyuki Kajiwara

from Japan, Pirongia, $75 both days or $40/session. See hamiltonbonsai.co.nz

January 6

Carols at the Quarry, Te

January 7, 14, 21 & 28

December 15

Puna Quarry Park (near Tauranga), 7pm. $5/car.

January 2, 9, 16 & 30 Learn to Abseil, DOC

Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, Thames, $75, bookings essential. See tinyurl.com/ yc6rghpw

January 3 & 29 Conservational Crafts,

10am-noon, DOC Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, Thames, gold coin. See tinyurl.com/ya96k6lv

January 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31 Gold Prospecting,

DOC Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, Thames, $10. See tinyurl.com/y77cms7k

Tairua School Wine & Food Festival. See tairuawineandfood.co.nz

Gecko Encounter, DOC Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, Thames, gold coin. See tinyurl. com/yatzso4m

January 8

Wainora Valley Walk,

9am-noon, DOC Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, Thames, gold coin, for ages 12+. See tinyurl. com/y9wncrhf

January 8 & 15

Twilight Walk, 8.30-9.30pm,

DOC Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, Thames, gold coin.

See tinyurl.com/y6vrqg4p

January 9

Stream Study, 10am-noon, DOC Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, Thames, gold coin.

See tinyurl.com/ycf3arbp

January 10

Kauri Gum Polishing, 10am-

noon, DOC Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, Thames, gold coin. See tinyurl.com/ ycukdz55

January 11

History of Crosbies Settlement, 10-11am, DOC

Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, Thames, gold coin. See tinyurl.com/y7blj733

January 12

Bats, Dactylathus & Other Fascinating Things, talk from 11am-noon, DOC Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, Thames, gold coin. See tinyurl.com/ y95o7ncn

January 12

Boulder Hopping, 10am-

3pm, Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, Thames, gold coin, for ages 12+. See tinyurl.com/ y8fktlhp

An ANZ agri-report has highlighted the industry’s continuing tight supply of livestock and growing global demand for venison as a red meat product. Both are pushing the sector towards returns approaching all-time highs for the 2017-18 year.

Deer Industry New Zealand reports the sector is moving through one of its most stable supply periods ever experienced. This comes after the tumultuous surge in returns and numbers over 10 years ago, followed by a rapid drop in the farmed population, and a spike in farmer returns in 2008 driven by the weaker value of the New Zealand dollar.

Over that time the sector has managed to achieve something rarely seen in the red-meat sector, a level of stability with the average schedule price at $7.40/kg.

NT ME AT

PEP PE R

Hind numbers down

BER TR TIM E

Avocado Food & Wine Festival,

11am-6pm, Uretara Domain, Katikati.

Pre-purchase (to December 20) $20 or $25 at the gate.

See www.iticket.co.nz.

January 16-19

Profitable Market Farming with Curtis Stone, Pakaraka

Farm, near Thames, $1450.

See www.pakarakafarm.co.nz

January 19 Waihi Dahlia Show,

12.30-3.30pm, Waihi Memorial Hall, free.

Ph Jennifer, 07 863 7563.

January 20

Looking at the Good Life,

10am-5pm, lifestyle block production near Tirau, $120.

See www.lals.nz

Global demand for venison growing Despite challenges around competing land uses and a shrinkage in the national herd, the deer industry is well-positioned to fulfil New Zealand’s goal to provide high-quality protein products to the world’s most wellheeled consumers.

S

January 13

In the past decade the number of breeding hinds in the sector have declined almost every year and are now at half their 800,000 peak. Similarly, total slaughter numbers are levelling off at about 300,000 and unlikely to pick back up to nearer 400,000 until 2019-20.

Bayleys rural agent Ben Turner in Canterbury says he has a regular stream of buyers interested specifically in deer units. “However the challenge for us is finding enough deer units to meet that interest.”

Canterbury is more suited than ever to an industry that is showing signs of maturing with steadier, high-level returns justifying the investment in infrastructure like fencing and yards on land ideal for deer fattening.

“It is quite possible that some of that hill country where sheep have typically been stocked may prove to deliver a better return in deer, and it’s well-suited for that.”

Ben says with farmers also increasingly challenged over nitrogen losses in Canterbury, deer may also prove a useful additional land use that does not face the same challenges as traditional livestock.

Dan Coup, DeerNZ chief executive

says the deer industry has had an illdeserved reputation for price volatility, when in fact the past decade has delivered relatively steady returns, despite variability within schedule prices.

The supply side tension coincides with growing consumption outside of the traditional season and markets have done much to put the product in a ‘sweet spot’ for high, sustained returns.

A concerted effort by New Zealand marketers in the field overseas has helped deliver longer term, more sustainable returns to farmers here.

These include wealthier parts of Asia, Scandinavia and North America, with the United States showing the strongest growth to date.

High quality protein

That market’s total volume share stands at 30 per cent, with a value share of 25 per cent, overtaking Germany.

While coming off a small base, Canada and Austria have also demonstrated strong growth.

ANZ analysts have reported the success of venison matches the trend for consumers seeking natural grassfed, high-quality proteins that are not genetically modified, have no hormone treatments and no antibiotics used.

Being the largest farm source of venison in the world, New Zealand is well placed to meet this with most markets relying otherwise upon sporadic and unreliable sources of wild game over their main consumption periods.

Dan says the sector’s livestock supply is likely to remain tight for a couple of seasons yet, as the higher prices encourage farmers to retain stock and build breeding herd numbers.

“The option is there to buy a unit with the fences and facilities there. This may prove cheaper than converting a property into a deer farm.”

Richard Rennie

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 59

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 60

Two-year-old B ra with the calves in den helping Morrinsville.

r heifer named

Carole’s grazie

s to be sun Hilda who like

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smart in Te P

Cole Jopson at K aimai Sc Calf Club Day. hool

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Delta, 4, is very

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Coast & wishes Country New Happy our readers a s C a safe a hristmas an d nd pro New Y sperous ear.