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INSIDE

December 2013 ATVS & AWDS MAIZE EFFLUENT DAIRY FORESTRY EARTHWORKS COUNTRY LIVING CLASSIFIEDS

11 14-17 18-20 21-25 29 36-37 40-47 49-50

Issue No. 160 Bay of Plenty & Waikato Farm, Orchard & Rural Lifestyle news

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Fifty years of auction action

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Merry Christmas Everyone.

After half a century of working in the livestock industry, John Frater of Paeroa still enjoys his job and reckons it’s a career many young people could aspire to. Read his story on page 4.

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COAST & COUNTRY

Page 2

We wish you a happy Christmas In just a few weeks, much of the country will experience the great New Zealand summer shutdown as cities empty out and rural roads become full of holiday makers, many towing boats or caravans.

For locals living along these once quiet, now-crazy roads it can be a stressful, instead of relaxing, time.

The risk of meeting a city driver trying to navigate a winding, metal rural road, either too slow or too fast, is a worry.

Then there are those who ask too much of their round-town vehicle and break down on the hill locals know is a killer – and ask a nearby farmer to give them a tow.

Canny cockies have been known to keep their tractors handy for just such a request – and charge appropriately.

Grant Wharton, of Graeme Wright General Carriers in Puriri, knows only too well how dangerous inexperienced or impatient drivers can be, especially on Coromandel roads. See his story on page 28.

Christmas morning might begin early for many families, as excited youngsters wake before dawn – but it’s more likely to be the call to the milking shed which gets many dairy farmers up in the

dark this Christmas. Among those who will be doing just that are members of the Siemelink Family of Maketu, who recently opened their farm to delegates at the Grasslands Conference – see page 24.

The distinctive smell of pine needles will permeate throughout homes where trees are dressed with baubles and tinsel, but it’s the dressing of a different kind for pines harvested by Clearwood Te Puke Forestry Partnership – see page 29.

Farmers like to holiday too and it was partly its magnificent views and proximity to the coast which decided brothers Richard and Chris Evans to buy a farm in the hills above Ohope Beach near Whakatane and convert it from forestry back to dry stock.

It’s a challenging project but the lifestyle the farm affords their families more than compensates for that. Read their story on page 35.

The team at Coast & Country has enjoyed bringing you stories of people and events from throughout our circulation region this year and looks forward to doing so again in 2014.

We wish our readers and the advertisers, who help us bring this publication to your letterbox each month, a safe and happy Christmas and a prosperBy Elaine Fisher ous New Year.

The winner of the November Coast & Country book prize ‘A History of Hunting – the Deerstalkers Part 2’, published by Halcyon Press, is Roger Garnett of Tauranga.

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COAST & COUNTRY

Page 3

International focus on family farms

Agri-food graduates in demand Jacqueline Rowarth, professor of Agribusiness at University of Waikato – “traditional subjects are a pathway to university”.

The New Zealand economy would be in serious trouble without its primary industries, yet many Kiwis fail to value what its farmers and horticulturalists produce.

Jaqueline believes science should be apolitical and a refocus and re-organisation of funding for research and development is vital.

New Zealand does not invest enough of its GDP in research and development, says Jaqueline. It spends just more than one per cent of GDP, while Australia More worrying is that most young people don’t see commits just more than two per cent and Israel more agriculture as an attractive career option, believes than four per cent.

Jacqueline Rowarth, professor of Agribusiness at UniScientists spend a lot of time applying and competing versity of Waikato. for research funding, before they can concentrate on Too many college students are electing to take what carrying out the research itself. have been shown by UK research Agricultural trials are by nature to be ‘easy’ subjects. long-term and there is generally little 2012 university Often, they take the new subor no financial benefit from the early graduate statistics: jects, such as media studies and stages. Research costs are highest in 25,000 total graduates photography, which will assure years two to eight. But from years 100 agricultural graduates them of NCEA credits instead of eight to 15, the benefits outstrip the 120 food science graduates tackling the ‘hard’ subjects, such costs. That trend continues until 30 food process engineering graduates about year 25, when benefits can as science and maths, which will 80 farm management graduates ensure them of futures in well paid begin to decline.

5000 business studies graduates employment, says Jacqueline.

If the world is to feed nine billion “The UK is now changing its people in future, a step change in prosystem so that it is clear that the traditional subjects are duction and production systems is required. Genetic engineering might be part of the answer, but that’s a the ones that are a pathway to university. debate which New Zealand has not yet grappled with.

“New Zealand would do well to consider similar action, and make it clear which subjects lead to Jacqueline says the public is fickle. While they might rewarding careers – rewarding because we need them. demand more organic or free range foods, when it Jacqueline says in 2012 there were just 100 agriculcomes to the point of purchase, most consumers are tural graduates out of 25,000 in New Zealand. driven by price and don’t pay the extra cost. “Cage egg “There were only 120 graduates in food science, 30 sales still dominate the supermarkets – over 80 per cent in food process engineering, 80 in farm management, of purchases.” but 5000 in business studies – hence the new major at Food spending, as a proportion of income, is getting the University of Waikato. New Zealand needs great smaller – yet the variety of food available is increasing. people working in all sections of the agri-food innova“Food prices have gone up 0.6 per cent while median tion value chain – and because they aren’t coming income has increased by 4.8 per cent.” through, salaries are increasing...market forces are at During the middle of last century, mothers spent work.” almost all day cooking meals.

The suggestion that science should become an elecNow the average time taken to prepare all the meals tive, rather than a compulsory subject for Year 11 for a day is 35 minutes. However, people are not necescollege students is of major concern, says Jacqueline, sarily making good choices. “In New Zealand, Coke is who reckons a lack of proficiency and credits in the most common item in the supermarket basket the sciences will restrict students from taking scienceand Sprite is seventh; coke zero is 10th. Fizzy pop is based degrees at university, further eroding the not food and has no relationship with primary number of graduates with skills desperately needed production,” says Jacqueline. by primary industries.

By Elaine Fisher

MS1442

The challenges facing families who farm throughout the world will be highlighted during the International Year of Family Farming 2014. Representatives of 50 organisations met at Parliament last month to gather information about the key issues facing family farming, develop plans for research and actions based on this information, and agree on programme outline for IYFF 2014.

Some of the challenges facing family farms include succession planning and the price of land, establishment costs, and upgrading plant and machinery to remain competitive in an evolving market.

“The need to up-skill and stay abreast of developments in the areas of financial literacy, international commodity prices and compliance was also raised,” says

Rural Women NZ executive officer Noeline Holt.

“The International Year of Family Farming is a soft landing place to talk about the hard issues, so they can be discussed within the sector with a focus on solutions.”

Rural Women New Zealand has already started planning its own celebrations for IYFF 2014, teaming up with family farming ambassador and the 2013 Landcorp agricultural communicator of the year Doug Avery, who will run events next March and April.

“We want to celebrate family farming past, present and future,” says Noeline.

Other rural organisations are welcome to join forces with Rural Women NZ, to organise a range of activities that will offer something for everyone.

COAST & COUNTRY

Page 4

Livestock sold on trust and handshake In the days of party lines

Agreements were written on the back of a cigarette packet and sealed with a handshake when John Frater began his career as a stock agent.

By Elaine Fisher

John believes. “Back in the 1970s farmers were getting “It was all based on trust. There were no cell$4 a kilogram for prime cattle and they don’t get much phones back then – and to make arrangement over more now, even though all of their costs have gone up. stock we rang clients in the evenings, if we could get That’s one of the reasons so many dry stock farmers through on the party lines,” says John, who works for have turned to taking in dairy grazers, because they PGGWrightson of Paeroa and this month celebrates have a guaranteed income.”

50 years in the industry.

In 1986 former rivals Wrightsons and “I was a city boy but when I was growing up in Dalgety merged, and John says it was Auckland I used to spend school holidays a very amicable arrangement. on a farm at Glen Murray, which is “There was already a lot of where I got my love of farming.”

John Frater has camaraderie between agents John’s first job was as a shipbeen in the livestock and we all knew each other ping clerk in the Auckland industry for 50 years well.” office of what was then DalJohn’s farmer clients gety Loan. After about four and still loves it – are his friends too. “I’ve years he became a trainee stock especially auction days. watched children grow up agent and began working at sale to take over the farms, and it’s yards as far north as Kaiwaka. great to see the next generation “Many of the yards I worked at coming through with new ideas. no longer exist. Papakura was my first “Agents have always been very involved area as an agent, and the sale yards used to be in the farming scene. We go to calf club events and where the RSA is now.”

A&P shows; and over the years we help farmers when The landscape has changed too. “The land around times get tough. It’s very personal and the relationship Karaka was all town supply dairy farms. Now it’s all is based on trust.” pretty much houses.”

Its people and animals which have kept John in the John took a year off to see the world and when he livestock business for half a century – and it’s a career returned, re-joined the company’s Waihi branch and he recommends to the coming generation. went on to Paeroa to become the sub-branch manager “There’s a real need for young ones to come through for the area. because there a quite a few of my generation who are Back in those days the sales yards at Paeroa could be at retirement age. PGGWrightson does a great job of filled with up to 10,000 sheep and almost 1300 cattle. training young people and all the new ones are comThe railway siding was alongside, and animals bound puter literate of course.” for the works were loaded on trains for transport.

John is thinking of slowing down, maybe working Now the railway is long gone – and a good sale day fewer days a week, but he’s not ready for the rocking might see 1200 sheep and 800 cattle go up for aucchair yet. “I’d really miss it if I didn’t continue to have tion, plus they arrive and depart by truck. contact with farmers and their livestock.”

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COAST & COUNTRY

Page 5

The days of drovers and clever dogs In the early 1900s, hundreds of animals from throughout the wider region passed through the Paeroa Sale Yards, with many arriving and leaving on foot – under the watchful eye of drovers on horseback and their dogs.

The saleyards were then situated in the old Hauraki Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s yards off the end of King St, near the Paeroa Domain, not in Coronation St as they are today.

Doug Powel recorded something of the sale’s past in the ‘Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 39’, published in September 1995.

PGGWrightson auctioneers in action, from left is John Anderson, Noel Gower, John Frater assisted by yardmen Alan McGregor, Rob Mcduff and Donna Farrelly (NAIT reader).

Body language is bidder’s secret signal Livestock auctioneers must be right up there with the best at reading body language because without that skill they probably wouldn’t make a single sale.

To the novice observer, (that’s me), none of the people around the calf pens at a Monday Paeroa PGGWrightson sale were bidding – yet pen after pen was sold to buyer 59. It was a while before I twigged that ‘59’ was the apparently totally disinterested bloke leaning on the railing, not making eye contact with auctioneer John Anderson but occasionally moving a finger just a fraction to indicate his bid.

PGGWrightson livestock representative Noel Gower says once auctioneers know their clients, it doesn’t take long to recognise bids.

“After a while you get to read people and you know their bidding style; a flick of a finger, a little nod or something similar,” says Noel.

Watching out for all those subtle signs requires more than one pair of eyes, which is why the auctioneer is supported by spotters.

“It all adds to the atmosphere of sale day, and we usually like to poke a bit of fun at buyers or venders, to create a bit of laughter.

“That’s partly what people come along for. Every sale day at Paeroa,

being read electronically when they are off-loaded from trucks, and again when they are sold.

It was Donna Farrelly who was responsible for recording the NAIT details of cattle on November 11, first ensuring every animal entering the yards was recorded when it came off the truck. Once the auction began, with a bulky portable recorder and hefty ear tag reading ‘wand’, she joined the It takes an astute auctioneer to auctioneers on the boardwalks pick a bidder among this group of above the cattle pens to record the potential buyers at the Paeroa sale. successful bidder’s details against the NAIT tag numbers. we have members of the public At the same time, yardmen Alan who turn up to watch, not to buy, McGregor, equipped with a paint and to catch up with friends. It’s a can and a sponge on the end of a really social day.”

Another attraction of course is the long pole, placed a buyer’s mark in blue paint on each animal for ease canteen, selling good old fashioned of identification when it came time home-cooked food, with old fashto move them back to the trucks ioned wooden tables and benches at which to sit to enjoy it. Noel says for transport to works or farms.

November 11 was a relatively the social side of sale days is one of quiet sale day, because most vendthe reasons he doesn’t think online ers were saving their best stock for trading has taken off. the fair the following Friday. How“Farmers enjoy the contact with ever, interest was strong for the others but also they like to see 120 prime cattle and boner cows in exactly what they are buying. You particular; and the 100 store cattle can’t see an animal’s temperament and about 100 sheep also caught online, but you quickly find out buyer interest. Noel says about 40 what they are like when they are in feeder calves were also sold and the yards.” “a handful of pigs”. Sales are held The introduction of the National at the Paeroa Saleyards in CoronaAnimal Identification and Tracing tion St, every Monday from system has added to the work load about 10am. on sale day, with animal ear tags

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COAST & COUNTRY

Auctions often comic act

Donna Farrelly prepares to record the NAIT numbers of cattle as they leave a truck at the Paeroa saleyards.

“The drovers of the day were the real characters. We had Fred Jackson, a very stout man, who could not whistle but used to command his dogs by shouting at the top of his voice, using some very choice language. He owned some good dogs but had one outstanding animal named Roy, a black kelpie who could lead, head or hunt and knew all the gardens without gates and all the side roads,” writes Doug.

“There was Mr Jim Capitt, who did small local jobs and always seemed to be tying up his bridle or saddle with copper wire; Dave Clotworthy and Hori Martin, who collected cattle from Hikutaia and Komata areas. Mr Clotworthy also had a clever dog, a blue Australian heeler. Fences were not what they are today and if the mob strayed his dog could almost count and would usually arrive back on the road with

the correct tally plus one.

“There was also George Lanfear, who worked mainly for one client, and then we had Reg Radford arriving with a mob through the gorge from Waihi, and George Campbell, who would ride from Te Aroha over the range to Katikati, start picking up his cattle from various properties as far as Te Puna and follow his boss Joe Wright and add to the drive as the cattle were brought to arrive on time for the sale at on Paeroa Monday morning.

John Paul would gather cattle up from round Netherton and was gifted with a marvellous memory. He would perhaps have 70 cattle belonging to 40 vendors and would only briefly see the animals turned out from the farmer’s gate and yet he would be able to identify everyone’s animals without error on arrival at the yards.

“Mr Stan Foote was the auctioneer and he would motor down from Auckland and bring a clerk with him, along with a buyer or two. When the auction got underway Fred Jackson would do the branding with a long stick and tar. Fred, with his quick Yorkshire wit and Stan Foster’s sharp command of words, was as good as going to a play. The description of the animals, their pedigrees, real or unknown, and sometimes comments on the owners was a real comic act. Lunch was available in a small tea room and Mrs McMillan, ‘Mrs Mac’ to all, used to provide this service for many years.”

The full article can be found at: www.ohinemuri.org.nz/journal/39/paeroa_sale_day.htm

Dave Stuart, John Anderson, Noel Gower and John Frater.

Sheep about to be penned before the auction begins at the Paeroa sale yards.

No-N farming can turn a profit Dairy farming without nitrogen fertiliser can be profitable, especially in years of low milk prices, says Chris Glassey, farm systems specialist with DairyNZ. A nine-year trial of farming without nitrogen fertiliser on a small farm on DairyNZ’s property at Newstead also showed nitrogen leaching was reduced by 40 per cent compared with the similar size control farm, to which 180 kg of nitrogen per hectare were applied each year. Chris says not using nitrogen resulted in a 16 per cent reduction in pasture yield, but a doubling of the clover content of the sword.

“The use of nitrogen fertiliser usually increases profit but there is also the potential for profit to decrease because of the fertiliser costs, and costs of harvesting the extra grass created.”

That farming without nitrogen was profitable is promising, says Chris, especially if in future farming within limits of nitrogen leaching became a reality.

The control farm was seven hectares, while the farm on which no nitrogen was used was nine hectares. Stocking rates were the equivalent of 3.06 cows per hectare on the control farm and 2.56 on the no-N block. Nitrogen was applied as urea at a rate of 80 kg a hectare for a maximum of six applications per year on the control farm. The pasture on each farm was monitored for weekly herbage accumulation and monthly samples were taken for herbage quality. Pre-grazing pasture samples were also taken for

quarterly botanical composition analysis, says Chris.

“There were significantly more weeds in the no-N pasture, but we also had a policy of not using herbicides on that pasture.”

Cows on the no-N farm had slightly lower body condition scores at calving.

Nitrogen leaching measurements were also made.

Operating costs were calculated on the actual costs of nitrogen inputs and other costs, which could be identified against the individual farms. Where costs could not be identified against the farmlets industry averages were used. Revenue was calculated across three milk price years, 2004-2005 when the price was $4.60, 2009-2010 when it was $6.07 and 2010-2011 at $7.52. The control farm yielded 18.7 tonne of dry matter per hectare, while the no-N farm produced 15.8. The farm to which nitrogen was applied produced 1135 kg of milk solids per hectare and the no-N farm 942. At the milk price of $4.60, the difference in profit between the two farms was $91 in favour of the property on which nitrogen was used.

However, that difference was $187 in favour of using N at a milk price of $6.07 and more favourable again at $478 at a milk price of $7.52 # Chris Glassey was among the speakers at the 2013 New Zealand Grasslands Association Conference in Tauranga in early November. By Elaine Fisher

COAST & COUNTRY

New Year vibe for Mount

Mount Vibes promoters Morgan Dynes and Pato Alvarez are ready for the New Year’s Eve gig at ASB Baypark in Mount Maunganui.

Some of New Zealand’s top musical acts will come together for an inaugural festival at Mount Maunganui this New Year’s Eve. Tickets to the R18 Mount Vibes festival at ASB Baypark are selling fast and at the end of November, 50

per cent of the camping spots had gone.

Organisers have secured some top names for the inaugural festival, including The Black Seeds, Homebrew, Aaradhna, I Am Giant, Blacklistt and Sons of Zion.

Organiser and promoter Pato Alvarez says the Mount is the ideal place for the overnight festival; and with Coromandel Gold and Papamoa’s Exodus on hiatus this year,

the gig is attracting audiences from throughout the upper North Island.

At the close of the event, buses will run from ASB Baypark to Papamoa, Greerton, Mount Maunganui and into Tauranga.

There’s a surprise planned for midnight, but Pato can’t give too much away. Tickets available online at: www.mountvibes.co.nz or from Brewers Bar and Satori Lounge in Mount Maunganui.

Clubs offer excellent introduction to firearms Air rifles or BB guns are a great way to get kids or adults into using and handling firearms in a safe manner, as they are a cheap and cost effective way to learn and understand the safe use of a firearm says Ben Tuck of Bronco’s Outdoors.

“Like anything if used incorrectly, bad things can happen. Always treat the gun as if loaded and point in a safe direction,” says Ben. Getting started does not require a huge outlay, with air rifles and air pistols starting from $80. The better and more accurate rifles start from $150 to $199.

“If you’re into more high powered air rifles, these start from $199. If you enjoy this sort of thing, there are plenty of clubs that are available to join, for example, small bore clubs.”

Ben says there are three at TECT Park (situated

off SH36, the main road link between Tauranga and Rotorua); the Tauranga Pistol Club, NZ Deer Stalkers, and Bay of Plenty Clay Target Club.

“All of these clubs are able to show you the correct way to use a firearm and the best way to take care of one. Otherwise, contact your favourite firearm store and they will be able to help.”

Anyone in the Tauranga area interested in learning how to shoot a shotgun should contact Ben, as he is an Australasian recognised coach and is more than willing to help and share his wealth of knowledge.

When it comes to storing air rifles (or any gun), Ben advises always locking them in a secure place as well as the ammunition required for them. “Please keep them separate. For better safety measures, you can purchase a gun safe for a small investment. This keeps them out of the way from small hands and people that are not meant to use them, or see them.’

“These safes are also a great way to store your valuables when you are away on holiday.”

Page 7

COAST & COUNTRY

Page 8

Prizes to be won at Rotorua show After 105 years, the Rotorua A&P Show is having a face lift.

With a new site layout, new themed areas, an ultimate outdoor barbecue kitchen, and a full and exciting entertainment stage, the 2014 show is set to ‘wow’.

“It was decided by the association that changes needed to be made in order to keep the New Zealand icon of A&P shows going – 105 years is a very long time and we are not ready to let it go,” says Rotorua

A&P Lifestyle Expo president Ann Howard. “With some fresh faces and fresh ideas, the 2014 show truly has something for everyone.”

The 2014 Rotorua A&P Lifestyle Expo from January 25 to 26 will be a great day out for all of the family, with heaps of free fun-filled activities for the children. Adults can try their luck at the horseshoe throwing competition for the chance of winning a brand new Toyota Hilux Ute. (Conditions apply).

Each day, three lucky visitors will win one prize each from the impres-

sive prize pool, which includes a Supreme Grande Masport barbecue, 50 inch television, Stihl chainsaw, Lawnmaster mower, Stihl line trimmer, and a portable Raglan barbecue. Packed goodie bags will be given away to the first 100 paying adults through the ticket booth daily.

Jax Hamilton and Brett McGregor are coming to the show as celebrity guest chefs. They will be offering barbecue cooking demonstrations during both days, and will chat to the public in between demonstra-

tions. Of course there will be all the usual animal events and competitions with horses, cattle, alpaca, sheep and dogs. For the axemen, there will be two world event chopping competitions; plus the Agrodome Shears, New Zealand versus Wales test, wool handling competition and the King and Queen of the Mountain will be great draw cards.

For more information, please contact A&P event coordinator Gemma Antoniadia by emailing: greengrassgems@gmail.com

A hunter’s story told

‘Injun Joe - The legend of Smoking Joe Collins’ by Marion Day is the story of one of New Zealand’s best known and notorious pioneer helicopter pilots and hunters, the late Joe Collins.

Born Wellwyn Harris Collins, Joe was a talented young man with a wild streak and a love of adventure. He became an elite hunter-helicopter pilot during what is often described as “the last great adventure” – the era of live-deer capture, using helicopters.

His name is inextricably linked to the exploits that typified the early days of aerial hunting in New Zealand – when the industry was wild and young and anything could happen; when helicopters and cockpits replaced horses and saddle.

His partner of 16 years, Marion Day, says Joe was “an imperfect hero who lived life with a singleminded passion that sometimes led to obsession, but his courage, steel nerves and kindness gave him a compelling quality that appeals to something deep-

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rooted in the average person”. Joe was a poet too and the book features many poems he penned. It begins with his unfinished autobiography after which Marion takes up his story.

To be in to win ‘Injun Joe - The legend of Smoking Joe Collins’ by Marion Day; email your name and address, with Smoking Joe as the subject, to: elaine@thesun.co.nz Or put these details on the back of an envelope and post to: Coast & Country Book Prize, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3110, to arrive no later than December 17.

The winners will be announced in Coast & Country’s January issue.

COAST & COUNTRY

Page 9

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Page 10

FARM SAFETY

‘No amount of education can save everyone’ Training and education cannot teach common sense or good judgement in the safe use of quad bikes, says Coroner Brandt Shortland.

However, Coroner Shortland does recommend the continuation of training and education for quad bike users, to ensure the limitations and frailties of the machines are known, but says that no amount of education could save everyone.

Coroner Shortland has made the comments as part of his findings into five deaths related to the use of quad bikes.

Two of those who died were found to have been smoking cannabis before their accidents.

The coroner stopped short of including a ban on the use of quad bikes, saying they are entrenched as a vital farm tool.

He has made a series of recommendations, which have won the support of Federated Farmers, after examining the Northland deaths of Carlos Mendoza (Dargaville); John McInnes (Hikurangi) and Suzanne Ferguson (Kaikohe); and the deaths of Albany man Grant Cornelius and Willem Van Der Pasch from Otorohanga in the Waikato.

The report says Carlos died after spending at least two days trapped beneath his quad bike when it overturned during weed-spraying in September 2010. He had been smoking cannabis between 30 minutes to five hours before his death.

John was spraying a hilly slope for weeds when his quad bike rolled and crushed him to death in September 2010.

Suzanne died when trapped between her quad bike and an electric fence after trying to tow a trailer of silage up a hill in August 2010.

Grant was weed-spraying when he was found dead, pinned under his quad bike in September 2011. He had cannabis in his system, consistent with smoking a single cannabis cigarette within three hours of his death.

Willem died of a terminal head injury when his quad bike rolled on to his head in September 2011.

As a result of his investigations, Coroner Shortland has made a number of recommendations, which include quad bike riders: be trained and have the experience required to ride a quad bike in their work; always wear a helmet; and choose the right vehicle for the right job.

He also recommended that children should be prevented from riding adult quad bikes; quad bikes should not be referred to as “all-terrain vehicles”, as that was “misleading” and there should be regular testing of after-market attachments, to ensure they did not upset the quad bikes' stability Jeanette Maxwell, Federated Farmers Health & Safety spokesperson has welcomed Coroner Shortland’s recommendations.

“The one thing we welcome in Coroner Shortland’s findings is that it recognises the practical realities of using quad bikes in a farm setting. Indeed, many of the recommendations are current industry practice and that is a good thing.

“We also agree with Coroner Shortland that farmers must ensure quad bike users are trained in their safe operation.”

Being a motorbike, quad bikes require active riding for them to be safely used over rural terrain.

“There are a lot of providers of training and it is essential quad bike users know their machine and its limits.

“Federated Farmers stresses that users must ride age-appropriate bikes whether that is a quad or a farm bike.

We are also supportive of restricting the minimum age of solo riders on full size quad bikes to 16.

Police warn – air guns can be lethal

Air guns are not toys and parents should not be buying them as Christmas presents, unless they know their children will be immediately supervised at all times when using them, says Paul McLennan, Tauranga firearms officer with the New Zealand Police.

“Air guns, including those firing pellets, BB, soft air nylon pellets, and paint ball guns, can be lethal and can certainly cause injury so should be secured at all times and not left where children can access them.”

Air guns cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18, unless the purchaser has a firearms licence, says Paul.

Summer holidays may be a time when parents get out their own guns to clean, or go shooting, but as always with firearms, it is not a time to relax safety standards.

“Shooting is a sport with a high risk potential. You need to be physically and mentally competent and capable of safely controlling your firearm, and that includes being unimpaired by alcohol.”

Paul says everyone should be aware of the seven rules of firearms safety: 1. Treat every firearm as loaded.

2. Always point firearms in a safe direction.

3. Load a firearm only when ready

to fire.

4. Identify your target beyond all doubt.

5. Check your firing zone.

6. Store firearms and ammunition safely.

7. Avoid alcohol or drugs when

handling firearms.

“It is also timely to remind firearms licence holders to ensure they have adequate firearms security, as required by the Arms Act. If anyone has concerns about their security, give me a call and I can arrange for a security visit, or send out a document on recommended security.

“Also, if you have a change of address, please notify the arms office,” says Paul.

For more information, phone Paul McLennan on 07 577 4412.

ATV & AWD

Page 11

Finance package for popular off-road vehicles The world’s largest manufacturer of offroad vehicles, Polaris Industries, has continued its quest to make its products as accessible as possible to New Zealand farmers with the launch of Polaris Finance in New Zealand.

Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory and Indian motorcycle brands. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global on-road small electric/hybrid vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars

Established as a division of De Lage Landen, Polaris Finance will operate across the national Polaris dealer network in providing business purpose (for example, non-consumer), finance products. DLL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Rabobank Group and is a well-established name in the agricultural sector.

“We are pleased to be partnering with DLL to make our products even more accessible to New Zealand farmers and to be able to work with our dealers to tailor finance packages to suit the needs of individual farmers right across the country,” says Polaris Australia and New Zealand country manager Brad Wolstenholme.

“Some people out there in the agricultural market have done it tough over recent years, and retail finance offers a great opportunity to keep capital equipment new and fresh without the immediate cash-flow burden.”

To celebrate the launch of Polaris Finance in New Zealand, Polaris has announced an introductory offer for approved business applicants.

All finance offers will be based on one-third up front, one-third in 12 months and one-third in 24 months.

All of the following Polaris models will have an interest rate during 24 months of only 6.99 per cent per annum:* Ranger 800 Crew and 6x6; Ranger 900 XP EPS; Ranger 900 Diesel HD; Ranger 900 Diesel Crew; Ranger 400; Ranger 500; Sportsman 400;

and Goupil Industrie SA, and internally developed vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.

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Page 12

COAST & COUNTRY

Successful boat business...

It is dairying which floated one of New Zealand’s most successful boat design and manufacturing companies.

“There is no doubt that without the income and assets of our dairy farm, Diane and I would never have been able to finance the start-up of Extreme Boats,” says Glenn Shaw.

He and Diane are still dairy farmers at Thornton, near Whakatane, but today

someone else milks the cows while the couple run Extreme Boats from a purpose-built factory not far down the road.

“Now Extreme Boats has far outstripped the farm in terms of turnover and value, but the beauty of dairying is that it gave us the opportunity to venture into another business,” says Glenn.

It all began when Glenn decided he wanted a boat but couldn’t find anything which exactly met his needs.

...owes beginning to dairying

Up to 115 individual pieces of aluminium are used to construct the Extreme boats.

Being a ‘can do’ kind of person (he had built his own dairy shed), and drawing on his mechanical engineering background, Glenn set about designing and building a boat in a shed on the family farm.

It turned out pretty well; and after testing the public reaction at boat shows, Glenn decided it was worth taking the next step.

He employed the services of well-known designer Scott Robinson, who came up with a range of hull designs featuring the now distinctive deep-V. “Extreme Boats have the deepest V-Hull design on the market, which has been developed based on proven hull technology.

Our boats boast fine entry for high-speed head sea performance, while retaining a high chine with full shoulder for excellent sea-handling.”

By 1998 Extreme Boats was manufacturing a small number of craft each year, from a factory on the dairy farm. “During the 2004 floods, the factory was about the only part of the farm which didn’t go under water, so I was using one of our boats to pick up staff and ferry them to work,” says Glenn.

As the popularity and reputation of Extreme Boats grew, so did the need for a purpose-built and bigger factory. In 2012, Glenn, assisted by his son Todd took a year out to build the 33 metre by 88 metre factory on Thornton Rd near the turn off to the Whakatane Airport. “We had planned to get a roofing company to do the roof, but when they didn’t turn up on time, we did that too.”

The building has a show room and offices, a mezzanine floor where the upholstery for the boats is produced, and a factory set out with bays; one where components are router cut from 3 mm to 8 mm sheets of high quality imported European alu-

minium, and others where the boats are assembled.

Glenn is the designer, creating plans for boats from 4.6 to 11 metres, using a high tech computer design system and his trained boat builder’s ‘eye’. Much of building a successful, safe boat which performs well is still instinctive, says Glenn. “It has to look right, be in balance.” That’s a skill he may have got from his grandfather Bill Dippie, who was closely associated with Bill Hamilton, developer of the famous Hamilton Jet Boats.

It’s not just looks which count of course. The boats must perform well on the water and also have all the refinements modern boaties require. Extreme Boats has been the most awarded boat in New Zealand for the last five years, and the most awarded alloy boat in New Zealand for the last seven years.

Once Glenn is happy with a new design, he then begins planning the most economical and efficient way to cut the pieces from each sheet of aluminium. The final templates are fed into a machine, which automatically cuts the components – up to 115 for each boat – ready for assembly.

The flat pieces of aluminium are stacked in a cradle ready for the boat builders to work their magic – assembling, fitting, bending and folding all of the pieces together to create a new water craft. Then it’s the fit-out team’s turn to install the wiring, glaziers to fit windows and the

upholsterers to add the squabs and other soft furnishings.

Once complete the boats go to Haddock Spray Painters in Whakatane for a high quality finish. “It’s not easy painting aluminium boats and Haddocks do an excellent job,” says Glenn.

All Extreme Boats are built to survey standards and are New Zealand Boat Building Standard Compliance Plate Certification (CPC) certified, meaning they not only meet stringent quality and safety standards but can also be used by commercial operators, such as harbour masters or commercial fishers. “We are the only aluminium boat manufacturer to do both CPC and build to survey on all hulls. It costs a lot more to meet survey standards, but it’s worth the investment,” says Glenn.

Extreme Boats, already popular in New Zealand (they also feature on the ‘Big Angry Fish’ TV show), are growing in reputation in Australia too with 30 per cent of exports being shipped to that market. The boats are also exported to New Caledonia and French Polynesia; and Glenn has plans to expand into Europe too.

The factory, with its staff of 30, has orders for new boats of all sizes until May next year – and already Glenn is talking of expanding the factory, and maybe, at some time in the future, building launches.

They may not be milking cows, but Diane and Glenn haven’t turned their backs on farming. “Farming is in our blood. We love the land and lifestyle.”

By Elaine Fisher

COAST & COUNTRY

Page 13

Catlins couple dedicated association members As well as sheep and beef, the Yorkes also have a yellow-eye penguin colony on their farm.

In 2012, in recognition of his significant contributions to the NZGA, Maurice was made life member of the association.

Maurice thinks he has only missed two conferences since becoming a member at the Invercargill conference in 1978, as the representative of the Progress Valley Farm Discussion group that won a regional award for grazing excellence. He maintained a keen interest in the progress of NZGA and was voted onto the executive committee in the early 1990s, culminating with his official service as president in 1997.

Maurice has always supported research and had early winter grazing management trials on his farm Waikawa, in the Catlins.

Maurice and Meree Yorke operate a 1200 ha sheep and beef farm in an isolated part of Southland’s Catlins region – but they are far from out of touch with modern farming.

The couple keep up to date with the latest scientific research and management techniques through regular attendance at New Zealand Grasslands Association conferences and through the organisation’s newsletters and technical papers.

“We also really enjoy the people we meet at conferences and seeing how farmers farm in different parts of the country,” says Meree, who with Maurice attended Tauranga’s NZGA conference in November.

New Zealand Grasslands Association life member Maurice Yorke and his wife Meree during a farm visit, which was part of the annual conference in Tauranga.

Pests a threat to disturbed pastures Natural diseases in the soil, which help control insect pests, are disrupted by cultivation, says Dr Sue Zydenbos of AgResearch.

Newly-developed, young or disturbed pastures are most at risk from three native insects – grass grub beetle, manuka beetle and porina moth – but the microbes which help control them will re-establish during time.

However, the time after cultivation is a key factor for decision making about pest control, says Sue. Key to making the right decisions is awareness, and the identification of which pests are likely to cause problems.

Accurate identification of the pests can be aided by referring to the PestWeb website: www.pestweb.co.nz, which has a new mobile phone-friendly format and will send farmers ‘pest alerts’ when the risk of infestations is increasing.

Farmers should use the ‘paddock selection tool’ to identify which paddocks are most likely to be damaged by grass grub, and decide how to actively control the pest. This is an on-going process, starting from sowing of a new pasture, with a ‘Winter Health Check’ to identify when grass grubs are starting to cause damage.

The critical decision time is around how many grass grub larvae there are in mid-February to mid-March. This can be determined by sampling 10 or more

20 cm spade squares per paddock. Four larvae per spade square equal 100 per square metre. If between four and 12 larvae are found, biological control by introducing a natural enemy or disease into the soil is the best option. If 12 or more grubs per spade square are present then a chemical pesticide treatment, followed by biological control the next year, is required.

Using a simple ‘pasture value score’ tool , pasture that is less than three years old, has high genetic merit cultivars and is considered a high value pasture, is at risk from grass grub damage and is a clear candidate for treatment. However, a pasture which is of low value should be considered for complete renewal.

Sue says manuka beetle has the ability to cause major and rapid damage to pasture. Paddocks with more than 300 larvae per square metre are candidates for chemical pesticide treatment.

Porina moth larvae can be hard to control because their size affects the effectiveness of the growth regulator diflubenzuron.

Applying the product eight to 12 weeks after the peak flight of the moths is an insurance approach to control, because at that stage caterpillars are too small to detect.

Another approach is to wait 16 weeks from peak flight and count caterpillars, but that may be too late for diflubenzuron to be effective and a conventional insecticide may be needed. # Dr Sue Zydenbos was among the speakers at the 2013 New Zealand Grasslands Association Conference in Tauranga in early November.

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Page 14

MAIZE

Compost Happens

BROWN

GREEN

(leaves, straw, woody materials)

COMPOST

(grass, lucerne, green waste etc.)

Heat

Water

rga ms

(which already are in the soil)

nis

cro

Ma

o cro Mi

ms

nis

a org

Air

COMPOST HAPPENS

MAIZE

Page 15

Feed stocks down on last year – FAR report Total stocks of both feed wheat and feed barley in October were down on total stocks at the same time in 2012, according to a survey by the Foundation for Arable Research.

good pasture growth in most regions.

The tonnages for oats are low but the volumes unsold are up compared to last year. The tonnage of unsold maize grain is estimated to be zero on October 1, 2013 (compared to 29,700 tonnes on October 15, 2012, and 1700 tonnes on October 1, 2011).

The estimated reduction in unsold feed wheat from the 2013 harvest, between the AIMI Surveys on July 1, 2013, and on October 1, 2013, is about 32,000 tonnes. Similarly, the estimated reduction in unsold feed barley is about 27,000 tonnes.

These reductions are perhaps lower than anticipated due to the unusually good pasture growth during the winter and early spring, following the breaking of the autumn drought.

When plantings in the autumn and spring are added to the spring planting intentions (after October 1, 2013), the areas of most crops are similar to plantings last year. The exceptions are milling wheat (predicted area up by 24 per cent), and feed wheat (area up by 17 per cent). The area of the biggest grain crop, feed barley, is predicted to be almost identical to last year (0.4 per cent drop). Although, one-third of the area was still unsown at the time of the survey.

The area sown in oats is predicted to fall by about 1000 ha, although 62 per cent was still unsown at the time of the survey (October 1, 2013).

The total area planted in maize is predicted to be eight per cent up on last year (though this estimate is within the margin of error of the survey, so in

The Arable Industry Marketing Initiative Survey outlines the on-farm grain stocks (sold and unsold), as of October 1, 2013, and areas of maize, wheat, barley and oats planted, or planned to be planted for harvest in 2014.

The survey shows feed wheat and feed barley stocks (estimated to be 162,000 tonnes for feed wheat and 119,000 tonnes for feed barley), are down on last year but higher than at October 1, 2011.

The survey also shows yields per hectare of wheat and barley crops are unusually high for both of the last two harvests (2012 and 2013), due to good growing conditions in Canterbury. Oat yields were low for the 2012 harvest, but more normal for the 2013 harvest. Maize grain and maize silage yields are similar and fairly average for the last two harvests; for the 2013 harvest, low yields in some regions have been off-set by good yields in other regions.

As a result of these high volumes, there are medium volumes of feed wheat and barley grain unsold at the time of the survey, although these are both down on last October. For feed wheat there was an estimated 52,700 tonnes unsold (compared to 75,100 tonnes on October 15, 2012, and 7800 tonnes on October 1, 2011). For feed barley there was an estimated 31,900 tonnes unsold (66,300 tonnes on October 15, 2012, and 23,800 tonnes on October 1, 2011). These figures also reflect the effects of the autumn 2013 drought Feed supplies for dairy cows may be tight in the North Island, which this season farmers are being warned. was, however, followed by

reality, there may be no change), and is almost identical to the area planted the previous year (2011). However, 95 per cent of the maize crop was unsown at the time of the survey (October 1, 2013), so these are primarily planting intentions rather than actual plantings.

These figures reflect the position at October 1, 2013, and there will have been changes since this time.

They are based on data from the 87 (wheat, barley, oats), plus 47 (maize), survey farms at October 1, 2013, which has been scaled up to the national level using the most recent Agricultural Production Statistics and maize seed sales. As with all surveys, there is a margin of error which needs to be considered in relation to this report. (Source FAR)

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MAIZE

Page 16

Run with the winners – your reward is the journey The directions to Paul Mason’s 1600 hectare farm one hour out of Dubbo, New South Wales, were: “Just follow the road until you get to the green farm”.

It turned out to be very easy. All the other farms were grey or brown and dismal-looking. Paul’s farm stood out like a beacon. We were a group of Kiwis, passionate about better soil fertility. That journey has taken us to NSW twice, Victoria, and across USA so far. Plus, Europe and South Africa are on the radar during the next few years should anyone else be interested in joining in.

We also do internal tours, the latest taking in eight farms in Canterbury during two days this November.

Paul, a lovely older farmer, is one of the best known stock finishers in Australia. His Hereford stock is frequently sought by competing buyers. Some 20 years ago, he was in a local book shop and came across Neal Kinsey’s ‘Hands-On Agronomy’. And being an astute man, he bought it. After reading

it, he phoned Neal and was soon on his way to Missouri, to attend his first introductory soil course called Principles of Soil Fertility and Fertilisation.

Paul entered the local area wheat competition and won it after six years on the programme. That was the year he finally convinced himself to add trace elements.

He’d already found that adding lime to increase the base saturation calcium from 60 per cent to 68 per cent, on a Perry Lab test, raised his yields by 25 per cent. That winning crop was 108 bushels per acre, or 5786 kg per hectare. (Good dry land wheat crops in Canterbury this season will be in the 6000-7000 kg/ha bracket, provided they get rain to fill the heads).

His farm is a cropping, sheep and cattle operation. Annual rainfall is 600 mm. The rotation is four years of cropping and six in pasture. Crops include wheat, canola and Lucerne. Paul’s canola this year is almost two metres tall, and cleaned up all comers in his area. His neighbours withdrew their crops from competition, as they were damaged by frost. Paul’s crop was not. It’s not a fluke; it

is just good crop nutrition, and Paul’s crop yielded 3 tonne/ha, complete with frost. On average Paul’s results are 25 per cent better for canola and 40 per cent better for wheat than the neighbours.

The protein, once 11 per cent is now 14.5 per cent. He has left 64 ha of his farm out of the programme, “to remind me of what it looked like before”.

Paul’s steers are a sight for sore eyes too. He buys in up to 650 steers and fattens them. Prior to changing to the Albrecht soil fertility system, as taught by Neal Kinsey, his results were 350 kg carcasses in 15 months at a 54 per cent yield.

After changing, the results are 370 kg carcasses in 12 months at a 57 per cent yield, and still increasing. Besides the shorter fattening period, the extra return on those cattle at $3.80 per kg is $76. With 650 cattle, that is an extra $49,400. The cattle are transported to Brisbane, where Paul commands a higher price for his quality product.

In addition, he now grazes 1000 wethers at $1 per week for 24 weeks. That’s another $24,000.

Paul has won the wheat competition many times. When he doesn’t, the chances are it’s won by his friend Rob Sutherland, who farms about one hour the other side of Dubbo. Rob also follows the Kinsey method of soil fertility.

BASE SATURATION PERCENT Calcium (60 to 70%) Magnesium (10 to 20%) Potassium (2 to 5%) Sodium (.5 to 3%) Other Bases (Variable)

}80%

EXCHANGEABLE HYDROGEN (10 to 15%)

Paul Mason hidden in his winning crop of rape.

Some of Paul’s Hereford cattle.

Paul’s philosophy is to “look from a distance, choose varieties carefully; make sure you have hay on hand for dry seasons to help you over the line

when times are tough”. But more importantly: “Run with the winners, so your dreams become real. Your reward is the journey”.

MAIZE

Page 17

Maize far exceeds last season’s Red Band height This time last year the maize was Red Band-high – now it’s nearly fence high. The growing season so far has been phenomenal.

We planted maize in late October and by the end of November we were rushing to get the Urea on before the crops reached row cover stage. It’s been a rush to control weeds too, as there is no point in spraying once you have row cover.

Warm soil temperatures and moist soils are what have brought it on so quickly – and that’s in stark contrast to last year, when the plants had hardly got going by mid-November.

It's been unseasonably hot during the last few weeks, with weather more like that in February than November; and what we need now is a combination of heat units and rain for the crops to continue to grow and mature well. If we get that then it looks like we’ll be harvesting in mid-February instead of late February or March.

Sales of feed are probably 30 per cent ahead of this time last year too, as farmers are realise the advantages of ordering early

rather than waiting. Planning ahead is always good business, and indications are that even if we don’t have another dry summer (and here’s hoping we don’t), there will be shortages of feed nationwide. Part of the reason is big winter storms caused significant damage to irrigators in Canterbury, which means without water irrigators many farmers and cropping farmers won’t be growing as much feed this year.

In the Manawatu farmers are not growing so much barley as usual either, so there is likely to be a shortage of barley straw this season. Dairy farmers that rely on irrigation will be short of feed, so they’ll be green feeding barley crops to substitute a lack of grass due to the damage to their irrigation.

The cheapest time to buy feed is straight out of the paddock, because if it has to be carted and stored, and then transported to clients, the costs go up.

We photograph most of our feed before it is harvested so clients can see what they are getting. We have good supplies of barley, wheat straw, hay and grass silage.

Even if farmers find they don’t use all of the feed they buy now, this summer, good quality feed stored properly will last two to three years, so it’s like money

Stubble burning important tool Stubble burning is an important tool for getting rid of crop residue on arable farms, but more could be done to minimise smoke nuisance, says a Foundation for Arable Research report commissioned by Environment Canterbury.

The regional council is reviewing the Air Chapter of its Natural Resources Regional Plan and is investigating current approaches to stubble burning as part of that review.

Katherine Trought, of Environment Canterbury, says the next step in the Air Chapter review will be a science investigation into the impact

of stubble burning on air quality.

Codes of practice for stubble burning exist and FAR will now work with Federated Farmers to share the report’s findings with growers and promote good stubble burning practices.

FAR’s director of research and extensions Nick Poole says the report found stubble burning has a key role to play in New Zealand’s cropping industry, as a rotational management tool for establishment of small seeded export crops, such as grass seed and vegetable seed.

“Some crops cannot be grown in paddocks containing large amounts

of residue, especially cereal residue,” says Nick.

The report covers a lot of research on the pros and cons of stubble burning and its alternatives; and finds burning not only enables timely and successful establishment of high value, small seeded crops, but that those crops can be established with minimal cultivation in a more weed, pest and disease-free environment.

“The research also shows burning lowers the cost of production by reducing agrichemical usage, machinery costs and the amount of cultivation needed.”

in the bank. This certainly gives peace of mind that feed is on hand if conditions turn bad – and as I have said in the past: ‘hope for the best, but plan for the worst’.

The evidence that cows do better with a mixed diet of fibre and grass is strong, so feeding some fibre out even in good grass growing conditions is worthwhile.

Having feed on hand also helps with

pasture management, giving farmers the option of tightening cows up when they are wanting to extend out their round if there are concerns about quality of the pasture as conditions get drier.

With another good pay-out forecast, now is not the time to take shortcuts or risk not being able to feed cows well to keep them milking and in good condition for the following season.

Page 18

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Durability vital in effluent pond linings When considering a suitable lining material for their effluent storage ponds, farmers in the lower South Island are increasingly finding High Density Polyethylene, known as HDPE liners, provide a solution that is more than able to meet their requirements.

With their regulatory responsibilities front of mind, it is vital to have confidence in the compliance of their effluent storage pond and durability of the liner.

HDPE liners have been specified for containment applications in New Zealand since the early 1980s.

The material is a high quality geo-membrane, produced from specially formulated virgin polyethylene resin. This polyethylene resin is designed specifically for flexible geo-membrane applications and contains about 97.5 per cent polyethylene, 2.5 per cent carbon black and trace amounts of antioxidants and heat stabilisers.

This make up gives HDPE liners outstanding UV and chemical resistance. HDPE liners have a life expectancy in excess of 100 years.

HDPE liners have a life expectancy in excess of 100 years.

HDPE permeability rates easily achieve those standards set out by regional authorities throughout New Zealand.

As with any product, the installation process is key to ensuring a quality outcome is achieved.

This is where an Aspect Environmental Lining HDPE liner really proves its worth, with very comprehensive installation and testing procedures undertaken on-site. Aspect Environ-

mental Lining constructs HDPE pond liners on-site to your unique pond specification.

AEL stands by their installation by means of full workmanship and material warranties.

With such a comprehensive testing process in place during installation, Aspect Environmental Lining HDPE liners give confidence around effective effluent compliance.

(Supplied by Aspect Environmental Lining Ltd).

Peace of mind for farmers thanks to accreditation As one of only 14 effluent accredited companies in New Zealand, Qubik TMC of Te Awamutu continues to offer an expert service that farmers can rely on.

effluent [FDE] and design become accredited.

“Qubik have put a strong focus on our effluent division over the last few years, ensuring we deliver a service that is customised to each farmer’s With the Waikato FDE requirements; Regional Council’s and that the efflutight monitoring on ent designs are effluent and irrigacompliant and tion, ensuring delivering the farmers are best results for getting the the farmer. We best quality understand what service and is required for their effluent quality assurance systems are of FDE moving compliant and Qubik’s effluent division manager and forward and have design consultant Kyle Osborne. meet industry tailored our service regulations, to ensure we deliver absolute confiare at the forefront of Qubik’s effluent dence in all effluent operations.” division.

Effluent accredited organisations Qubik’s effluent division manager are strongly recognised by DairyNZ, and design consultant Kyle Osborne IrrigationNZ and New Zealand Milksays the accreditation programme is of ing and Pumping Trade Association; great benefit for the farmer. and over time, dairy companies and “The accreditation programme regional councils will require the use eliminates the ‘cowboys’ and ensures that only organisations with a high of accredited designers as part of skill level and knowledge of farm dairy consent requirement.

We give farmers absolute confidence in their milking operations 24/7

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Page 19

Pre-cast products evolving with farming Anything, from as small as a 500 litre water trough to eight tonne units for constructing under passes, is included in the range of products produced by Bowers Brothers Concrete.

Bowers Brothers Concrete supplies modular units, or a complete design and build service for storage bunkers.

Director Steve Bowers says the family-owned concrete manufacturing company has been serving the farming community for 80 years and the diversity of its products is constantly evolving to meet modern farming requirements.

Monitoring private life of cows There was nothing private about the lives of cows involved in an AgResearch project on nitrogen leaching.

AgResearch scientist Keith Betteridge says for two weeks every move and every excretion made by nine cows was recorded as part of research aimed to improve previous estimates of nitrogen leaching and enable targeting of mitigation strategies at critical source areas.

The animals were fitted with urine sensors, GPS systems and motion sensors so scientists knew where they were when they urinated, moved around or lay down.

The information gathered was so accurate, scientists could record the time spent and number of urination events during five days, in each of 5 metre by 5 metre grid cells, created on a map of an 11 ha steep hill paddock.

The information shows what farmers already know –cows spend most of their time and like to camp (or lay down), on flatter parts of paddocks and around water troughs. Related modelling work also reveals nitrogen leaching is 37 per cent greater in those camp areas than in the hill slopes of the paddock.

“There is a lot of urine excreted in relatively small areas and these are the critical source areas [for nitrogen leaching],” says Keith.

Using this information, farmers would be able to treat target areas with nitrifi-

cation inhibitors, rather than spreading them on the whole paddock, which would be cost effective, Keith says.

“Another winter management option may be to graze crops or autumn-saved pasture for just two to four hours when excreted urine has a low nitrogen concentration. After this, stand cows off pasture for 20 to 22 hours in an area where excreted nitrogen from urine and faeces can be collected and managed for minimum losses to the environment.

“During this longer period, when consumed pasture is being digested, urine nitrogen concentration will be somewhat higher than when grazing with an empty rumen.”

Keith advises that farmers shouldn’t use industry average urine figures to estimate nitrogen leaching.

“The range in volume and concentration of individual events each day can be huge.”

Accurate information about how much nitrogen cows deposit in pastures will become increasingly important as farming faces pressure from regional councils to reduce nitrogen leaching.

Already farmers in the Lake Taupo catchment are facing caps on the amount of nitrogen their properties can leach. There, farming occupies 19 per cent of the catchment but contributes 94 per cent of manageable nitrogen.

Keith Betteridge was among the speakers at the 2013 New Zealand Grasslands Association Conference in Tauranga in early November.

“Our pre-cast farm products include water and feed troughs, bunker and barrier walls and storage bunkers for PKE, fertiliser and silage. We are able to supply modular units or a complete design and build service, which includes supply and install.”

The company supplies feed and water troughs for feed pads; builds stock under-passes; and supplies and installs septic tanks, water tanks and concrete pipes.

Bowers Brothers Concrete has branches throughout the Waikato, including Morrinsville, Hamilton, Matamata, and Paeroa Concrete – and in April this year, the company purchased Andrew Begbie Readimix in Putaruru.

“Having a plant in Putaruru gives us even better coverage and service to the greater Waikato Region,” says Steve.

“We manufacture and deliver ready-mixed concrete from each of our five branches, while our new state-of-the-art Morrinsville plant also manufactures masonry blocks and precast concrete products, and can deliver via our crane trucks throughout the Waikato and beyond.”

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In just one pass the very large and sophisticated equipment – imported from Belgium by Murray Implement Co and Farm Chief for Graham McRobbie Contracting of Otakiri at Whakatane – can inject dairy effluent, whey and daff sludge into the soil, sow seeds and apply additional fertiliser or trace elements.

“The great advantage is that animals can be grazing back in the paddock straight away, so you don’t need to take it out of rotation,” says Graham McRobbie.

He’d spent about six years researching equipment worldwide to do the job he wanted – not only for farm effluent – but also for the Fonterra Edgecumbe factory where McRobbie’s contracting take care of all the factory waste material. “As environmental conditions are getting harder to comply to, this machine has solved many of those issues.”

Slurry tanker

Graham finally found what he was looking for in the Joskin Vacu – 20,000 litre slurry tanker fitted with hydraulic sola disc injection system, which opens up the ground to about 60-80 mm deep and 20 mm wide with a rubber discharge tube, which runs directly behind the disc at ground level putting product directly into the roots of the plant.

“All you can see after the machine has been in a paddock is very discrete rows of small slits in the ground.”

Graham leases the Te Teko race course – and despite last summer’s drought, has managed to get a great result by injecting Fonterra effluent with 10 kg of grass seed and other minerals and trace elements per load.

Graham also trialled sowing a paddock of oats; injecting straight over maize stubble, the results were great – the best of which the germination of seed was approximately two weeks ahead of broadcast oat seed, purely because of the moisture and fertiliser around the seed.

Sowing seed at the same time as applying effluent, or whey and trace elements, has obvious advantages of being able to do three jobs in one pass. But it also provides the seeds with moisture and nutrients to kick start the germination – not forgetting the cost saving of one machine instead of three.

Farmers that have contracted Graham to empty their ponds and spread the slurry are also impressed with the results and ability to graze pasture straight away without losing it from rotation. Farmers like employing the machine when they shut up paddocks for hay or silage, or straight after the crop has been taken off, or prior to cultivation.

Hopper

While the Joskin machine is designed with the addition of seed and fertiliser in mind, in typical Kiwi fashion Graham has come up with a simpler, more efficient means of adding them. He’s built a small hopper with a valve venture, which can be attached to the effluent in-take, so the desired quantities of seed and trace elements can be added and automatically mixed.

“Normally, you would have to climb to the top of the tank to add anything. I only did it once and decided there had to be a better way,” says Graham. The Joskin firm is interested and has already taken photographs of it.

Graham says the cost of the machine would be hard to justify if it he was to rely on farm effluent only.

“The Fonterra waste contract has helped to keep the machine busy and has become a real asset to the waste from Fonterra,

DAIRY

Page 21

Sensitive robot detects urine The ‘sense and respond’ technology will see farmers using less fertiliser and growing more grass – and it’s not far away.

Together with fellow pastoral robotics developer and shareholder Dr Bert Quin, Geoff has been testing the Mini-ME, a urinepatch detecting robot which travels paddocks, seeking out and treating urine patches to reduce nitrogen leaching.

It is patented technology that enables the robot to traverse a paddock immediately after cows leave, treating urine patches as it finds them. If DCD nitrogen inhibiters were used, there would be no risk of milk contamination because it would be 28 days before the cows returned to graze the pasture.

“Compare the difference, blanket treating 100 per cent of the paddock versus treating the two to five per cent that actually received urine, and couple that with a mean withholding period of 28 days, by which time the inhibitor used will be fully degraded anyway,” says Geoff.

Mini-ME developers are planning a limited release of the robot to 10 farms next year. The robot weighs less than 50 kg fully laden and travels at 5 km/h or less. And should it hit anything, it will stop and alert its operator. Designed to cover three metres per pass, the machine should cover 1.5 ha per hour, treating a pasture grazed by an average herd each day.

Initially paddocks, including obstacles such as trees The prototype and troughs, will need to be Mini-ME sense mapped. But once Mini-ME and respond robot is programmed, it should in action. be able to make repeat visits to each paddock with no further mapping inputs.

The robot has rechargeable batteries, a 20 litre spray tank and can cover the same range of contour cows are comfortable on without tipping over.

Bert and Geoff are already working on Mini-ME’s larger brother – Mini-XT – which will have an extra spray tank to apply liquid urea, trace elements and other pasture additives.

It doesn’t end there. Next in the robotic family will be Maxi-ME, which as well as doing all Mini-ME can do, will also spread effluent and other bulk-fluidised fertilisers. It will be able to operate 24 hours a day and return to a re-filling station automatically. Weighing up to seven tonne fully loaded, it is three metres long, two metres wide, and two metres in height.

Geoff Bates was among the speakers at the 2013 New Zealand Grassland Association Conference in Tauranga in early November.

By Elaine Fisher

Machine revolutionises effluent spreading Graham McRobbie has built a small hopper through which seed and trace elements can be added to the tank. giving us greater flexibility in the way we dispose of it.”

The machine is towed by a 200 hp John Deere tractor and can operate on flat to gentle rolling country. With what is called a turbo filler in addition to the vacuum, Graham is able to suck out 20,000 litres in two-anda-half to three-and-a-half minutes depending on the depth of the pond. And, depending on locality of the paddock, it can inject four loads per hour.

Another feature of the machine is the GPS tracking. Graham can download onto a computer stick and supply a detailed map of area that has been injected for environmental records, if required.

While it’s generally effluent ponds Graham is called

upon to empty, the speed and volume of the Joskin machine means he’s also been asked to empty swimming pools.

Graham has been in contracting since 1985 and as well as effluent and whey spreading machinery, has trucks for general cartage and a digger as part of his machinery fleet. He also grows about 50 ha of maize for maize silage.

To see McRobbie Contracting’s Joskin injector in action, go to YouTube, and type in (key word) McRobbie Contracting Whakatane.

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‘Sensitive’ robots, which treat every blade of grass as an individual, and delivering exactly the amount of fertiliser it requires, may soon be part of New Zealand farming systems, says Geoff Bates of Pastoral Robotics Ltd.

Page 22

DAIRY

Dairy business winner Pondco constructed the Burdon Farms’ effluent pond.

Bruce and Donna Arnold, of Brudon Farms near Morrinsville, are the Waikato Regional Winners of the 2014 Dairy Business of the Year Awards.

The couple, who milk 600 cows, hosted an open day to showcase the farm and its operations, including the measures taken to store, use and control effluent.

Two years ago, a 7000 m3 effluent pond was designed and constructed on the farm by the award winning company Pondco Ltd, using geosythetic liners from Firestone Liners.

The pond, which provides storage for up to six weeks, has a GEA separator and is currently irrigating 53 ha but in future that will expand to another 50 ha.

“Having the pond means we have enough storage not to have to irrigate during calving. The system is fool proof, easy to run and has eliminated the risks of run off. It’s brought complete peace of mind,” says Bruce.

Judges in the Dairy Business of the Year Awards say the farm’s effluent system is well designed and managed for effective nutrient use. Nitrogen leaching is very low and is in the best quartile of farms in the region; and phosphate losses from the farm system are below

the average for the region, which is commendable.

The judges also commented that waterways are well protected from stock access.

Pondco, which constructed the farm’s effluent pond, won the 2013 International Association of Geosynthetic Installers’ small project award category with a portfolio of dairy effluent pond projects, which it designed and synthetically lined in the central North Island for dairy farms that were upgrading their on-farm effluent management systems.

Pondco’s Hamish Forbes says: “We are very pleased to receive this award, which recognises our work to deliver effluent ponds of the very highest standard. The standard of pond lining in general has been raised significantly when compared to what was taking place five years ago”.

“Farmers are investing significant amounts of money to improve their onfarm effluent management systems to maintain or improve farm sustainability, and can now have peace of mind it will be done right if they choose a reputable service provider.”

Applications are open now for the 2014 Dairy Business of the Year Awards, with the winners announced in June 2014. To register, call Alanah Bunyard on 0800 735 588 or email: nzdboy@ gmail.com or visit: www.dboycomp.com

Dairy withstood extreme winds Don Chapman designs and builds dairies to survive the elements – so he’s very pleased to learn the one he’d constructed in the South Island withstood extreme winds of 280 kilometres an hour.

“There’s a weather station near the shed, which recorded the wind gusts in the September storm. And although most of the pivots were damaged, the shed is fine,” says Don, who has been building dairies, residential and commercial buildings since the late 1960s.

During the years the Chapman Dairy has evolved into a simple, efficient, quality design, which easily adapts to suit herringbone or rotary systems for cows or goats, and any location from the peat soils of the Hauraki Plains to the snow-prone areas of the South Island.

It’s a design that has won favour with farmers throughout the country, with many building more than one Don Chapman Dairy. In 2007-2008, Don and the team built 22 dairies in 18 months for the Carter Holt dairy development at Tokoroa.

“That was a tremendous effort and a real credit to the skills and commitments of our staff to finish such a huge project in that time frame.”

The company has up to 16 permanent staff, among them skilled domestic carpenters, who have built a number of homes for clients of the company too.

However, the main focus for Don Chapman Builders Limited is dairies; and more recently, building facilities for the dairy goat industry.

“There’s a growing interest in goat farming; and the first dairy we built was a learning curve for us as the requirements for goats are different from that for milking cows. Fortunately, our first client knew exactly what he wanted.”

The milking systems for goats are smaller as are the yards, which can be more complex than cow dairies, but security is an issue which needs addressing. “Goats will quickly learn how to open gate latches.”

DAIRY

Page 23

Experts critique Maketu farm systems fruit. PKE is bought on contract to ensure supply, and a feed pad is used to minimise waste. Supplement intake is managed by changing the frequency of access to the feed pad.

From policing to farming is a big career move, but Andrew and Jackie Siemelink are happy with their change of direction.

“Pasture management is the key to profit and we use cows to manage pasture.

I don’t have a mower, so we use the cows to ‘top’ the paddocks,” says Andrew, who admits to a

dislike of heavy machinery.

The aim is to leave no clumps in the paddock, getting cows to graze as low as possible without damage to the pasture.

By Elaine Fisher

PRE-CAST CONCRETE & STEEL CONSTRUCTION SPECIALISTS

So keen are they to learn from those with more experience, they agreed to have 240 Grassland Conference delegates visit their Maketu farm in November.

Both their pasture and their farming methods came under close scrutiny from the delegates, who included farmers, consultants and scientists that inspected two effluent paddocks – one which had been under-sown this year and one undersown three years ago.

Andrew’s grazing management and decision not to cultivate to renew pasture created some spirited debate among the visitors, many of whom believe complete pasture renewal is a better option than under sowing. However, Andrew also has firm opinions. He doesn’t like spraying pasture and re-sowing it. “Why would I kill perfectly good grass just to wipe out a few weeds? I’ve watched other farms round here; and those who cultivate seem to have just as many weeds as we do, so I don’t see the benefit.”

Instead Andrew under-sows up to 20 per cent of the farm each year, choosing which pastures to treat based on grazing days and pasture composition.

The pasture mix is 11 kg/ha Bealey new generation tetraploid perennial ryegrass, 3 kg/ha clover (Mainstay and tribute 50/50 blend), and 3kg/ha Choice Plantain.

However, the Siemelinks were open to other suggestions from the delegates.

“One of the recommendations; standing cows off over summer, in a sacrifice paddock, will be trialled this year and changes will also be made to our soil testing regime,” says Andrew.

But delegates found it hard to argue against the achievements of his current farming systems.

The Siemelink farm is producing 1700

Andrew and Jackie Siemelink left the police force for dairying and are happy with their choice. kg of milk solids per hectare – above the Bay of Plenty benchmark which is 1144 kgMS/ha – and its cows are producing 429 kgMS/cow compared with the benchmark of 361.

Andrew and Jackie’s key performance targets are 1200 kgMS by December 31 and 2600 kgDM/ha pasture cover at the planned start of calving.

Andrew says the drive is to produce a profit to reduce debt, and to do this by using grass first.

The couple, who were both in the police, began farming in near Morrinsville in 1995.

By the following year they were 50/50 sharemilking near Papamoa. In 2002, they purchased a 52 ha dairy farm with a 10 ha green kiwifruit orchard in Kelly Rd, Maketu, while still sharemilking 300 cows nearby.

In 2009 an additional 60 ha was added to the farm, and this season their son Luther has become their contract milker on the 112 ha effective milking platform.

The farm carries 475 Friesian and Friesian cross dairy cows, with a stocking rate of 4.2 cows to the hectare.

There are two herds, one with twothree year olds and the second with the older animals. Calving is July 15.

All young stock are grazed off from weaning until mid-June, when they return as rising two-year-olds and the MINDA weights programme is used to monitor their growth rates. It’s a system 5 farm, with 33 per cent of the feed eaten being brought in.

That feed is palm kernel extract, grass silage, hay, sweetcorn waste and kiwi-

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DAIRY

Page 24

Silicon and boron – plants need both Even though silicon is secondary in importance to sulphur, silicon accounts for all transport in plants.

It is the basis of capillary action.

As a co-factor, boron works with silicon to provide sap pressure and often is found in appropriate amounts in siliceous rock formations.

Boron has an affinity for silicon in the capillary linings, where borate molecules take the place of silicate molecules.

However, boron forms three electron bonds, where silicon forms four. Boron’s inability to form the fourth bond creates a hunger in the surrounding silicate molecules, which causes then to draw water and electrolytes from the roots through the capillary system to the transpiration sites in the canopy.

Without sufficient boron, plants with high boron requirements, like legumes, crucifers, vines, etc., will have too little sap pressure to feed their canopy. Then they may wilt at mid-day, or not have enough root exudation at night. Where plants have high brix in the early morning, boron is deficient.

Lest we forget, however, the key role of sulphur is in the soil biology around plant roots, where sulphates and sulphur containing amino acids interact with the surfaces of soil particles, most of which are siliceous.

Actinomycetes, and mycorrhizal fungi in particular, need sulphur to peel silicon and boron away from the surfaces of clay and sand particles in the soil. This is a gradual process because it only works at surfaces.

It is the nitrogen-to-sulphur ratio in soil total tests that lets us know whether the soil food-web can do an adequate job of silicon and boron access – and this makes a huge difference with how well alfalfa, tomatoes, grapes, wheat or whatever can transport things.

Photosynthesis

Most importantly, since photosynthesis is hugely dependent on the efficiency of transport; silicon and boron are essential for efficient photosynthesis. Energy has to

travel in chemical form from the chloroplasts, which capture sunlight, to where sugars are made. Also, any newly made sugars have to get out of the way of the next sugars being made, and so forth.

Anything that slows down transport slows down photosynthesis and will ultimately slow down the nitrogen fixation that chlorophyll formation depends on.

Usually, sugar is the most limiting factor in nitrogen fixation. This shows up in root exudate overlap. Where garlic, ginger, corn, beans, bananas, etc., double their root density in the soil and have root exudate overlap between plants, they grow more vigorously.

Ever notice where corn is planted too thickly so that five or six seeds sprout in just a few inches? Always, the corn sprouts in the middle row fastest.

Later, if the corn isn’t thinned there may be competition for nutrients and moisture. But

if nutrient and moisture competition is all that is going on, the middle corn seedlings wouldn’t be the most robust.

Corn

Native Americans used to plant corn – without fertiliser – as a soil-building crop by planting their seeds in triangle-shaped groups, or hills to maximise root exudation, nitrogen fixation and amino acid uptake. They grew big, tall, long season corns that built carbon into their soils. In some cases, they bundled the stover for winter fuel, which they burned, sprinkling the ashes back on their fields. They did this for hundreds and even thousands of years without recourse to nitrogen fertilisers.

In terms of efficiency, agriculture took some giant steps backwards in the 20th Century.

If we had corn planters that perfectly singulated seed, and we could plant with double drills that alternated seeds from left and right drills with 10 inch spacing in each drill and five inches in between drills, the seeds would come up in a zig-zag pattern that maximises root exudate overlap in high population corn plantings. This would minimise the need for nitrogen fertilisers.

Mixed pasture less nitrogen Cows grazing on mixed species pastures excrete less nitrogen in urine and faeces than cows on conventional pastures, according to DairyNZ research.

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Sharon Woodward, senior scientist for DairyNZ Ltd in Hamilton, says cows fed mixed-species pasture during a 10-day indoor feeding trial excreted 100 grams of nitrogen a day – while those on standard pasture passed 200 grams a day.

“This was because the mixed-species pasture contained less nitrogen than the standard pasture, so there was less nitrogen ‘left over’ after milk production and body retention that the cows needed to excrete.”

DairyNZ and other research organisations are now embarking on new work to confirm which species are needed in the mixture to give the lower urinary N loss, and how best to manage pastures to retain those species.

In the field, the mixed species pasture also appears to create greater carbon cycling in the soil and increased its organic matter content.

The findings come from research carried out on DairyNZ’s Scott Farm at Newstead, which set out to establish if diverse species mixtures are better pastures for dairy farming.

The mixed pasture contained perennial ryegrass, white clover, prairie grass, lucerne, chicory and plantain.

Standard pastures contained just perennial ryegrass and white clover. During autumn in 2010, three replicate paddocks of 0.5 ha each were sown, using the same fertiliser but no herbicides.

The performance of the mixed pasture was assessed against a series of questions: How much would it grow?

How long would the pasture last? How much milk would it produce? And were there any other benefits?

DAIRY

Page 25

Hard work for milking cows ‘Lactation is hard work’ is the key point professor John Webster from Bristol University made to the 2000 NZ Society of Animal Production conference in Hamilton. He talked about fitness and welfare in the modern high-genetic dairy cow in grazing situations like New Zealand.

With brutal accuracy, he described the daily predicament of today’s dairy cow as being permanently ‘hungry, tired, full up and feeling sick’. He justified every word of this statement, but it had zero effect on the audience of scientists and consultants as nothing changed in New Zealand dairy husbandry as a result of his visit. If anything, cows are worse off now, with continually improving genes for production, and massive reliance on Nitrogen-fed pasture and PKE. So since calving, cows have had a con-

stant battle to meet with what professor Webster called their ‘metabolic hunger’, which for most of the cow’s day drives her to keep on eating to try and meet massive physiological demands of lactation and her body’s reserves.

These hard working cows need rest, as a resting cow is much more efficient at producing milk than when standing or moving. And this is where their grazing behaviour comes into play; and ‘social facilitation’, when in a group of animals, one animal can trigger behaviour in the others.

How this works in today’s large grazing mobs of up to 500-plus has never been studied, as one high ranking cow could start grazing and disturb the resting cows to start grazing too – when they need rest.

All this ends up with stressed cows, which then have impaired immune systems that can be measured in high somatic cell counts, more mastitis, lower in-calf rates, lameness, higher vet bills and staff frustration. The whole thing compounds and feeds off itself, very

Pasture ‘slightly better’ in a drought The mean yield across three years for the mixed pasture was 14.7 tonnes of dry matter per hectare, compared with 15.3 tonnes for the standard pastures.

However, the mixed pasture performed slightly better in last season’s drought when it produced 11.6 tonne DM/ha/ yr against 10.9 from the conventional pasture.

The highest yield year for both pastures was during 2010-2011, when the mixed pasture produced 17.9 and the conventional 19.3 tonnes DM/ha/yr.

There were seasonal variations in production in both pasture types.

Milk production, when cows grazed the standard pasture in the field in the first year – during 2010 to 2011 – was 19.7

kg/cow/day in spring, 11.6 in summer and 8.1 in autumn. The mixed pasture produced 18.6 kg/cow/day in spring, 11.6 in summer and 9.6 in autumn. For year two, from 2011 to 2012, the figures were: conventional, 18.6; 15 and 12.2 and the mixed pasture recorded 18.6; 15.4 and 12. For the first two seasons of 2013, the conventional pasture has produced 22.4 and 18.4 kg of milk per cow, while the mixed species pasture has produced 23.0 and 18.2. Sharon says the species sown in the mixed pasture have all survived so far. But as yet, it is unclear how long they will each last.

Sharon was among the speakers at the 2013 New Zealand Grasslands Association Conference in Tauranga in early November.

quickly showing up loud and clear in the bottom line where animal health costs per cow are well above $100/cow/year.

Farmers, who have been using the Wormade OMS Nutritional Supplement Plan during the last six years, have been able to manage their high-genetic cows with minimal problems, because each cow’s immune systems was well-established from the calf stage through to 12-14 months. So apart from seeing animal health costs lowered to about $20/cow/year, reduced stress in both cows and farm staff have been major features of the programme. (Supplied by Wormade)

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RURAL DRIVER

Page 26

Pathfinder takes the road more travelled Nissan’s Pathfinder has carved itself an impressive following among rural drivers during the years.

The latest version takes a fresh path, tending towards more luxury and style, but still keeping the option of off-road performance for those who choose that track.

In a bold move towards more luxury, sophistication and style, the new Pathfinder has a few more degrees of suave than before. But don’t be fooled – the large SUV still has strong 4WD capability ingrained in its DNA, for those who wish to dial it up.

The new tack takes heed of the fact that only a small percentage of Pathfinder owners have a need for four-wheel traction. It’s a matter of horses for courses, and the Pathfinder is gaining style without sacrificing practicalities. Many are happy with the biggest Nissan SUV for all of its other attributes, which take a greater focus with this model – such as space, clever technology, logical layout, clear and concise controls, sevenseater capacity, performance, fuel efficiency and ride quality. The fact that the focus has shifted more onto these features doesn’t take anything away from the Pathfinder’s status as a highly versatile vehicle, which can switch from elegant family wagon to performance tow machine and off-road performer at the flick of dial. Literally.

The new beast features many changes to previous models; the American-made Pathfinder is more curvaceous, in line with Nissan’s latest trends.

“The Pathfinder performed strongly in most ANCAP tests and boasts dual frontal, side chest and curtain airbags, antilock brakes, electronic brake distribution and electronic stability control. All of these safety features are required to even be considered for a 5-star safety rating.

Advanced seatbelt reminders are fitted to all seats in the Pathfinder.”

The new Nissan is also lower by 13 mm,

wider by a considerable 100 mm and a tad longer. It’s also lighter and the drag co-efficient is dropped to a slippery .34 with the move away from the traditional boxy shape.

That all translates to sleeker styling, more interior space, better handling and fuel economy.

Yet on the road, it doesn’t feel like a large SUV. Stepping out of an X-Trail, I found it an easy transition, although the extra power is smile-inducing; and the quiet, smoother ride is a pleasant surprise. The space, however, is impressive.

A true luxury sevenseater, it has leg room for giraffes and even features separate rear air con controls for the hordes in the back.

Rural Driver took the latest Pathfinder for an outing to test its mettle across a range of driving conditions – from around town, to twisty hill climbs; highway cruising and a couple of practical trials around a farm.

Around town the Pathfinder is quite nimble and easy to park, despite its size. The visibility is good all round and aided with excellent parking sensors and the best backing camera screen I’ve seen. Complete with guidelines, it complemented the side mirrors perfectly and allowed us to navigate confidently around tight spots with nonchalance. A practice in the driveway, negotiating a few pairs of gumboots, quickly inspired confidence in the Pathfinder’s ability to manoeuvre. (Note:

no Red Bands were harmed in the making of this article).

Time for a short roadie to see how it handles the crowd.

Snacks and beverages loaded into the electric chilly bin and plugged into one of the four 12V outlets, we’re off to the river for some R and R. Heading out of town with a carload of friends, the smooth 3.5 litre V6 simply purrs away, barely audible but effortlessly powering us along. It’s a pleasure to sensibly hold a conversation, even with those two rows back, while cruising and have so little engine or road noise to compete with.

All of the controls are beautifully laid out, even at first glance it is easy to work every out. The dash features so much information, I amuse myself flicking through screens and

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checking out all of the available data, which is so easy to access and logically set up. The top of the range models have it all, including tyre pressure sensors and every imaginable piece of data.

The ride is so smooth and effortless, there’s a constant need to check the speed; it creeps up so casually. Cruise control solves that, and all those gadgets are set out in very intuitive fashion on the steering wheel controls.

The push button start makes it all too easy. A foot on the brake, up she starts. Leave the foot off the brake, one push on the start button, and the stereo lights up. Another push without brake, everything else lights up, such as window controls.

The ride and comfort inspires confidence on the highway and the responsive 193 kW V6 engine oozes a surety that I like.

Around the paddocks the Pathfinder is nimble, with adequate ground clearance for average off-road demands. The backing camera Thanks to Farmer Autovillage and Roger Matthews for the opportunity to try the first of the new Nissan range.

By Brian Rogers

RURAL DRIVER

Riding in a champion’s tracks

Cody Cooper with the 125cc 12-14 year trophy winners.

The passion from young motocross riders wanting to follow in Cody Cooper’s tracks suggests the Bay of Plenty has a bright future in the motorsport.

Maddix Park motocross track operator Shelley Dean is delighted with the response to a recent Cody Cooper Trophy Day at the Ohauiti track, near Tauranga, where many of the cups he won as a junior rider were given away to top-finishing riders.

“The aim of the event was to encourage and inspire young riders, but overall the event was a FUN MX. Obviously not everyone can or will become a champion, but that does not stop riders from enjoying the sport and having fun.”

The event, which saw 58 trophies given to riders aged four-16, follows a great response to the Ben Townley Trophy Day last year. Shelley is planning future trophy days from other top riders, but nothing is finalised.

“Cody thought it was a great idea. For any sport to thrive, it is important to encourage the young as they are the future. Cody’s skill level and career path make him a role model that the mini and junior riders aspire to. He is also local, real and tangible.”

Each trophy has a plaque added stating: “May it encourage you in your pursuit of motorcycling excellence”, and came with certificates signed by the champion rider”.

Shelley says it is also inspiring for young riders to see other top national riders like Logan Blackburn and Aaron Wiltshier, who raced at Maddix in their younger years, “blitzing the track on the day”.

Meanwhile, Tauranga rider Shelby Catley, 11,

Young Western Bay motocross riders race at Maddix Park in the quest to win a trophy from champion rider Cody Cooper. continues to make her mark on the trail circuit, winning the seven-11 year class at Pukekohe’s Auckland Championships last month, after taking a class title at North Harbour’s KTM NZ Motocross Nationals a week earlier.

Her success follows a convincing class win at Taupo’s Huka Honda Labour Weekend Extravaganza. Shelby’s focus is now turning to the 85cc two-stroke 11-12

By Hamish Carter year-old class.

Page 27

Page 28

RURAL DRIVER

Impatient drivers risking lives on roads Impatient motorists are the biggest road hazard which truck drivers face, says Grant Wharton of Graeme Wright General Carriers, of Puriri near Thames.

Not easy to stop – Grant Wharton says trucks, like this one he drives for Graeme Wright General Carriers of Puriri, can’t be stopped quickly.

“Every week I have at least one close call, or have to take action to avoid a crash because of some driver who can’t wait until it’s safe to pass,” says Grant, who drives truck and trailer units throughout the North Island, including along the narrow winding Coromandel roads.

“The Coromandel roads are often the worst. People don’t realise we know those roads better than they do, and will pull over to let them pass when it’s safe, but many can’t wait.

“They put themselves, the truck drivers and other motorists in danger,” says Grant, who has lost count of the times

he’s had to take action to prevent a collision in the last few months, let alone the 25 years that he’s been driving trucks.

Often it’s the combined evasive actions taken by truckies and on-coming drivers which enables impatient motorists to get passed without causing a crash. Grant says it makes him mad others are put in danger and have to pull over, or brake hard, to avoid some idiot who cannot wait.

“I don’t know what the answer is, but I think people have no idea how hard it is to stop a 45 tonne fully-laden truck doing 80 km.”

“We might be able to pull up in 100 to 200 metres, but [the truck] can do a lot of damage to anything in the way in that time.”

Car drivers also don’t seem to realise how risky it is for big trucks to pull too far off the road either – as getting into loose metal or an uneven surface can cause their drivers to lose control.

Motorists can be pretty rude too, says Grant.

“Sometimes, when you do finally have somewhere safe to let them pass, they give you the fingers as they go by. They seem to think we deliberately hold them up but we don’t. There are some places where we can’t pull over to let them pass.”

Grant’s advice to drivers is – have consideration and respect for all other road users, “and don’t take stupid risks which put their own and others’ lives in danger”.

Injury hasn’t dented competitive edge

COMPUTER PROBLEMS?

Waikato enduro rider Jason Davis has mastered a knack for making the difficult look easy in overcoming obstacles.

The Whangamata-based former national champion has been facing one of his biggest challenges in overcoming injury. But Jason’s recent success at round two of the KTM Extreme Enduro Series has made his comeback to the top-level of high-speed off-road motorcycle racing look effortless.

Jason’s success winning the second round in the fiveround series, held at Riverhead Forest, near Auckland, on November 17, has all of his rivals sitting up and taking notice.

His return to the top has been helped by the absence of Auckland’s national enduro champion Chris Birch, who was racing overseas. Chris won the opening round in September’s Nut Buster Hard Enduro near Christchurch, which Jason had to miss for knee reconstruction surgery.

Despite a poor start, Jason managed to charge through the field to eventually take the lead on the third lap.

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The 25-year-old forestry worker is pleased with his efforts, with the dusty forest reducing riding visibility and his limited fitness.

“Riders are able to drop a round, so with me missing round one, it might not be too much of a problem.”

Jason was joined on the podium by Aucklanders Mike Skinner and Liam Draper, with series organiser Sean Clarke close behind in fourth place. Other Waikato riders to do well included Raglan’s Dylan Yearbury (second in the expert grade), and Cambridge’s Taylor Grey (third), trailing Whangamata’s Jason Auckland winner Tommy Davis is aiming for Buxton. the top this season In the clubman class, after recovering from Tokoroa’s Vince Steiner an injury. Photo by Andy won ahead of Thames rider McGechan, BikesportNZ.com Natasha Cairns.

Organisers are picking the open competition will turn into nail-biter by the final round in April, with two different winners already, after two rounds. The series continues at the Tokoroa A&P Show on December 7, then Te Puke on February 8.

FORESTRY

Page 29

Forest owners hurt by offshore companies Some New Zealand forest owners and contractors are being burned by offshore companies offering big money and then failing to pay for timber, says Darren Robinson, co-director of Wood Marketing Services Limited at Mount Maunganui.

going rate for timber. “If they are above board, ask for the entire monies up front, and even then get other New Zealand forest companies to provide prices and compare.

“Every week I receive calls from companies wanting to buy timber, including, amazingly enough, the Korean one which already owes millions to Kiwis,” says Darren.

Timber prices are particularly good at the A Korean company went into receivership moment, but not as good as the inflated figures some are offering. Given the high recently “and left New Zealand owing milcosts involved in harvesting, forest owners lions to out-of-pocket Kiwi forest owners and contractors who don’t get paid are and contractors alike, after not paying for badly hurt and several contracting comtimber it harvested but then shipped overpanies have gone out of business because seas,” says Darren. of unscrupulous off-shore companies, says He’s warning forest owners to be very Darren. wary of anyone offering over and above the He made the warning at a Bay of Plenty Farm Forestry Association field day where about 20 members visited a harvesting operation near Te Puke on a block owned by Clearwood Te Puke Forestry Partnership.

The group watched operations under the guidance of forest managers Geoff Brann and John Mackintosh and Darren.

It’s a carefully planned operation Logs brought up by the hauler are trimmed, cut to length that meets Bay of and loaded onto trucks at Clearwood Te Puke Forestry Plenty Regional Partnership’s harvest site.

Council resource consent requirements, which includes reducing run-off to waterways and the protection of archeological sites.

Clearwood began planting the 160 hectare hill country site about 22 years ago and with the current good prices, the decision was made to harvest the pines. Darren says it is important to harvest when the market is favourable, rather than wait for trees to reach a specific age. “Generally, if the market dictates it’s an ideal time to harvest and the trees are of a size and age which is acceptable and economically viable, they are ready to harvest.”

The location of the block is ideal because it’s so close to the Port of Tauranga, which is where 90 per cent of the timber harvested will go, saving significantly on transport costs.

However, the country is also steep and necessitates the use of a log hauler with a 75 foot pole and the ability to haul one to four tonne loads at a time from the less accessible areas to sites where logs can be prepared for transport.

Providing road access for machinery and logging trucks to the initial hauler site has cost close to $180,000, but this will complete the total roading programme for the site.

Darren says much has changed in the industry since the trees were planted, including much tougher environmental and health and safety requirements.

“There have been too many deaths in the forestry industry so far this year – and it’s not just the contracting companies who can be held accountable. The forest owners can also be liable under the law.”

Foresters, farms sign memorandum Federated Farmers, together with the New Zealand Forest Owners Association and the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to build the relationship between foresters and farmers.

“This is fundamentally about getting farmers and foresters to communicate,” says Federated Farmers Forestry spokesperson Anders Crofoot.

“I’d like to pay a huge compliment to our Ruapehu provincial president, Lyn Neeson, and the Forest Owners Association’s Sally Strang, who have both been driving forces in getting this MoU together.

“Federated Farmers genuinely appreciates the support for the MoU shown by our colleagues from the FOA and the NZFFA. Anders says a guiding principal is that timely communication is the key to good neighbourly relations.

The memorandum covers six key areas: general communications, boundary fence issues, plant and animal pests, planting and replanting setbacks and agrichemical application.

“It is important to Federated Farmers and our members that they have contact details for who is responsible for a block of forestry and its precise location. The same applies in reverse.

“The MoU even considers relationships where a member, or even a forester, may adopt organic or similar land management practices. Since this precludes the use of commonly used agrichemicals, it is about bringing both parties together to reach common ground.

“Forest Managers and Federated Farmers recognise that fences are a jointly-owned asset and agree that secure boundary fencing to contain stock is critical.

Anders says the MoU extends to the control of pests on either party’s land, in accordance with the local regional council’s Regional Pest Management Strategy and any National Pest Management Strategies.

A key aspect of forestry is planting and replanting setbacks. “While controlled by some district council

rules there are circumstances where setbacks may be closer, like for erosion control. Outside of organic farms, another thing the memorandum looks to resolve is the aerial application of agrichemicals, which is beneficial to both conventional farming and forestry.

The MoU is also about taking all reasonable and practical precautions

to avoid overspray; and where this does occur, reasonable steps to resolve and remedy any damage, says Anders.

“Federated Farmers is extremely pleased to sign this MoU with our forestry colleagues. While the MoU has no legal effect, the mutual expectations it creates represents strong common ground that we are will become industry norm.”

Preparing logs for transport to Port of Tauranga.

Training and ensuring workers have the right safety gear are essential, and Darren says drug testing has become routine too.

“WMS contractors are all tested at random, on-site, and with no notice by the independent drug testing company we use. Everyone, both men and women, are required to give a urine sample, even managers.

If I happen to be lucky enough to be visiting several sites when they are doing a series of tests, I can be tested also.” Darren says it’s imperative that everyone is tested to ensure they are not impaired by drugs.

“The forestry environment is a dangerous one and there is no place for complacency when it comes to health and safety in this work environment.”

By Elaine Fisher

Page 30

KIWIFRUIT

Psa slows down – orchard productivity increases for 2014 During the last year, both kiwifruit and apple returns have been the highest for many years.

This is despite the high value of the New Zealand dollar reducing what is paid to growers back in New Zealand. But compared to what the Chilean kiwifruit growers are getting paid, through Zespri New Zealand kiwifruit growers are getting paid more than double the Chilean growers’ return.

This occurs even though New Zealand growers are facing higher tariffs (particularly in Korea), and higher freight rates with New Zealand being further from the key markets than Chilean growers.

Shorter volumes of high quality, good tasting fruit to sell, with very low fruit loss, has been the recipe for success this year.

Not all New Zealand kiwifruit growers are receiving the higher returns, as some of their orchards are recovering from Psa, or growers in areas outside of the Bay of Plenty may be discovering their orchards now have Psa in them. In November 2010, Psa was initially discovered in Te Puke. Since then Psa has progressively spread throughout the country, with recent Psa-V positive test results on Hort16A vines in Kumeu in North-West Auckland confirmed midNovember. This is the first confirmed case of Psa-V in the North-West Auckland region.

Psa has not attacked all orchards or all varieties in the same way. It has been particularly aggressive

with the gold variety Hort16A. Part of the industry response has been to remove Hort16A once Psa is detected, to give other varieties of kiwifruit the chance to survive. Some growers have been cutting out Hort16A and replacing it with a new, more Psa-tolerant Gold3 variety. But this variety is not immune from Psa either. Even green Hayward vines do not cope particularly well with Psa. To combat Psa, growers have had to change their onorchard management practices.

This in turn has increased orchard costs and reduced orchard income.

So the high returns have helped, but the industry is still afflicted with Psa and the costs of managing Psa. The higher returns help offset the cost of managing Psa and the cut out and replacing of Hort16A. So the economics for the grower has not been good.

Two other issues growers are facing are a lack of reliable and skilled labour and the threat of further biosecurity incursions, such as fruit fly. As the industry learns to manage Psa more effectively – and volumes of fruit increase – the need for reliable and skilled labour will also increase. If the industry then has to deal with another biosecurity incursion, it is doubtless this will slow the recovery and reduce grower returns.

On both issues the industry is being proactive.

My Name is Neil Woodward.

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

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

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

My Name is Neil Woodward.

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

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

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

Our Atoms are set up with radar speed sensors, this combined with fully automated sprayer controllers and three nozzle rings enhances application efficiency and accuracy.

We also use a quad bike for strip weed spray applications.

We hold all certificates needed to meet Globalgap compliance.

We look at all challenges to help ensure we protect your crop with excellence.

Working with the Ministry of Social Development, Work and Income NZ pilot programmes are being run to up-skill Kiwis and get them workready for the kiwifruit industry.

The wider biosecurity threat is being actively worked on

by Kiwifruit Vine Health, which has had its mandate extended from dealing with Psa to dealing with all other biosecurity threats on behalf of the industry, and to prepare the industry response before an incursion. The current focus is on preparing for a fruit fly incursion. Fruit fly is likely to come from Australia where controls are being removed; or from California, where there is no

protection from fruit fly on produce being imported into New Zealand.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has been requested to urgently review these two situations.

Looking ahead to 2014, the recovery from Psa will be gradual, volumes of gold will increase a little and grower returns will be stable, subject to any further foreign exchange movement.

Hopefully those growers, who had no or little income this year, will get some income next year. It will be a tough year but hopefully one that sees Psa’s spread slow down and on-orchard productivity increase.

These are the views of the author and not necessarily those of NZKGI or KVH.

Efforts during kiwifruit’s 1990s disaster recognised

Peter says it was John Palmer, a board A former New Zealand Kiwifruit member and kiwifruit grower from Marketing Board chairman has been Nelson, who stepped up to assume awarded the 2013 Fresh Carriers the chairmanship of the New Zealand Hayward Medal for his tireless efforts to bring the kiwifruit industry through Kiwifruit Marketing Board – surely one of the least desirable positions in the fiscal crisis of the early 1990s. the country at the time.

In front of about 460 people at “Seemingly undaunted, November’s Mount MaunJohn worked day and ganui Hayward Medal Our Atoms are set up with radar speed sensors, this night throughout the Dinner, Zespri Chairman sprayer controllers and combined with fully automated financial crisis, to trade McBride announced threePeter nozzle rings enhances application efficiency and through the 1993 John Palmer as 2013’s accuracy. season,” says Peter. recipient of the kiwifruit 216 Pongakawa Bush Road We also use a award. quad bike for strip weed spray “John persisted with industry applications.

Te Puke packaging partners and “The kiwifruit industry We hold all certificates needed to meet Globalgap they – along with the is facing a huge challenge compliance.

National – eventuin the form of Psa-V now To Bank contact us: ally agreed to fund the 621 – but we faced a disaster of We look at all challenges to help ensure we protect Phone: 021 907 1993 season, giving the proportions back in your equal crop with excellence.

E-mail: industry zcl@zanadu.co.nz its hope for early 1990s. The financial survival.” disaster in 1992 saw the Peter says thanks to bottom drop out of the John Palmer, market, as prices crashed in accepting his accolade John’s leadership and tireless efforts, debt was an over-supplied European – the 2013 Fresh market,” says Peter.

Carriers Hayward cleared and the industry stabilised two years later.

“Industry debt ballooned 216$100 Pongakawa Bush Road Medal.

“John is a brilliant to more than million, Pukeowed milthinker and leader.

European coolstoresTewere He showed outstanding leadership lions and there was no bailout from when the industry’s future and global the Government To contact– so us:growers had to credibility was shredded – directly help themselves. Many were bankPhone: 021to 907 621 income; contributing to what became one of rupted or had find other the greatest business turn-arounds around one in four growers were E-mail: zcl@zanadu.co.nz New Zealand has seen. forced off their orchards.”

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KIWIFRUIT

Page 31

Quiet optimism on the kiwifruit front Psa-V hasn’t gone away – but the mood of the kiwifruit industry has changed from being cautious to quietly optimistic about the future, says Zespri Group Limited’s general manager of Science and Innovation.

There are still growers who are hurting but predictions of disaster, made by some three years ago when the disease was first identified, have not come to pass and overall the future looks bright, says David Tanner.

“I won’t say I wasn’t worried right at the start; and it has been depressing to speak to growers and friends, who were facing the prospects of losing everything to the disease, but now most growers have got that sparkle back in their eyes and they can see a better time ahead – even though they haven’t quite got there yet.”

The return of confidence to the industry is due partly to the dramatically reduced incidence of the disease this spring.

“The removal of much of the vulnerable Hort16A variety in the last 12 months has decreased inoculum levels; and growers are learning to use the tools available to them, including how to apply copper more appropriately.”

The New Zealand industry’s united structure and the wealth of experience, talent and resource within in it, plus an attitude of not giving up, are among reasons

for David believing the industry has survived and has a bright future.

“Psa hasn’t gone away, and it’s likely it will come back at some time to have another whack at us, but we are better prepared than ever to respond to future threats.”

The industry’s handling of Psa, and its recovery so far, is widely regarded as an exemplar for how to manage a biosecurity incursion, according to David. “I think there are a number of industries worldwide which would give their back teeth to have the achievements we have made.”

While he wouldn’t wish a Psa-type biosecurity incursion on any industry, David says being part of a wider team, which worked so hard to find ways to manage the disease and enable growers to continue to produce fruit, has been rewarding.

“It is not often in a career that you get to help make such a difference; and the way the New Zealand kiwifruit industry responded to and handled Psa has become an example many other industries around the world are learning from.”

Sharing the story of the last three years – including mistakes which were made, lessons learned, and the research and development that has been fast tracked – has become part of the role of many of those involved since Psa was first identified in 2010.

Although the disease is now in almost every kiwifruitproducing country, it is New Zealand that has led

the world in learning about the bacteria and how to manage it.

“We always knew New Zealand would have to step up and take the lead; and from the start [we] decided to share what we discovered about how to manage Psa with every other producer.”

It would not have been in New Zealand’s interest to have the disease wipe out orchards worldwide; and by collaborating internationally, the New Zealand industry is benefiting from two seasons of research each year in different hemispheres, says David.

“We haven’t, however, shared information on the work we are doing to breed new, more tolerant kiwifruit varieties.”

The European Union has recently approved funding for a large research project, and David says it will be very valuable for the New Zealand industry too.

Agrizest

David Tanner, Zespri Group Limited’s general manager of Science and Innovation.

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Italian growers find ways to manage Psa-V Some Italian kiwifruit orchards have returned to productivity as growers learn to manage the vine disease Psa-V, says Dr Marco Scortichini of the Centre for Research on Fruit Culture of Rome.

cultivar, known as G3, which is believed to be more tolerant to the disease.

Understanding the disease cycle and using protectant sprays when the risks are high is also recommended.

Dr Milena Petriccione, who accompanied Marco on his New Zealand visit, is researching how a kiwifruit vine responds to a Psa-V infection and the proteins produced as it attempts to ward off the disease. Now she is researchGrowers have changed their ing methods for the early approach to Psa-V and are detection of the disease. able to manage it more like Marco and Milena are the other diseases. first to publish the genomic Italian scientists Dr Marco Scortichini and sequencing of Psa-V, and Marco, in New Zealand to address seminars on the disease, Dr Milena Petriccione are among the world to establish Psa-V has the says he has confidence in the leaders in research into the kiwifruit genetic potential to resist vine disease Psa-V. future of the kiwifruit industry, copper spraying and to both in Italy and New Zealand, thanks to what has detoxify antibiotics. They addressed a meeting of about been learned about Psa, changes in management tech80 kiwifruit growers in Te Puke in November organised niques and the breeding of new more tolerant vines.

by New Zealand Bio-Tech Association member Nathan In Italy agronomic techniques are being modified, Balasingham, of Indigo Ltd. including balanced crop nutrition, reduced use of nitrogen, less hormones, shaping canopies to allow more air flow, and changes in irrigation methods, says Marco.

S o l igenes d F o o dwill f o r be Soils “New cultivars having some tolerance released and cultivated. New pollinator clones will also be released.”

Despite speculation, the disease may have arrived in New Zealand on pollen, and Marco says the role of pollen in the transmission of the disease has yet to be demonstrated – but he recommends growers use only certified Psa-free pollen.

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Page 32

Ignore the obvious at our peril My dear cousin from Whakamarama gave me a copy of ‘Wilful Blindness’.

Written by Margaret Heffernan, she talks about “why we ignore the obvious at our peril”.

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The book quotes the best example of bankers and governments being wilfully blind to the looming financial crisis.

Closer to home, and on the farm, we can see how policy makers and our leaders are in fact wilfully blind to a whole range of issues.

The big one at the moment, as I see it, is the indiscriminate sale of our best agricultural land to foreign interests, not to mention China.

China has 172 million people who are age 60-plus. They have a plan on how to feed them. They are buying, acquiring shares in as much prime agricultural land as they can, across any continent.

You cannot buy land in China, but they are allowed to buy up our land.

I believe they should be able to lease as much as they want, but buy? No. The concept of Maori land tenure, where land can never be sold, has a lot going for it with regard to foreign purchase of New Zealand agriculture land.

I also wonder if we are wilfully blind with regard to incursions coming across our border. Psa-V, varroa bee mite and ticks are a few, but what about foot and mouth coming to New Zealand? It will be a $50 billion hit on our economy if it ever did.

Do we have adequate border controls? Are we organ-

DoloZest CalciZest 0800 843 809 07 362 7288

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These are the opinions of Don Fraser of Fraser Farm Finance. Any decisions made should not be based on this article alone and appropriate professional assistance should be sought. Don Fraser is the principal of Fraser Farm Finance, and a consultant to the farming industry. Contact him on 0800 777 675 or 021 777 675.

‘Fruit billboard’ opportunity missed The avocado industry is squandering the opportunity to reach thousands of potential customers every day by failing to use its fruit as ‘mini billboards’, says Lisa Cork, owner and director of Fresh Produce Marketing Ltd. “In fresh produce we have some of the healthiest products in the world, and yet on the product itself we have absolutely nothing to tell our story. At some degree we are failing to optimise what it is that makes produce unique because our packing has a huge opportunity to help sell more product.”

About 15 years ago avocados used to have stickers and information about their nutritional value but now there is no information on the fruit or its packaging about avocado’s goodness or health benefits.

“Packaging matters. Packaging is seen by thousands, tens of thousands; and in some cases, depending on

Solid Food for Soils

ised for such a catastrophe? Is the Ministry for Primary Industries prepared? Who is going to assist MPI in the community that it strikes? Why are we importing products from countries that have foot and mouth?

Are we wilfully blind?

Then there is the intensification of dairying, high input, more cows – and more kept in barns. Are we wilfully blind to our competitive advantage, which is mainly pasture-based dairying?

Are we wilfully blind to things that need our attention on the home front? Are we looking after our loved ones? Do we put enough time and effort into them? Do we ignore our inability to manage and hold staff because we do not want to admit we are hopeless at it?

So, cousin Marie, these are just some of my thoughts on wilful blindness in agriculture.

Maybe we need to have a good look around and think about the consequences of ignoring the obvious at our peril. Maybe this story will empower some farmers to take action on stuff they have been disregarding at their peril. Wilful blindness is a ‘cop-out’ and needs action – not avoidance.

market, even hundreds of thousands of shoppers a day.

It works for you 365 days of the year. There are very few other media that work that hard. You can put a sales message or a ‘buy me’ message on a sticker or your pack; and, as most are already investing in the cost of a sticker, you can do that at almost no extra cost to turn your packing into a sales tool,” says Lisa.

“Packaging can be small sticker, sticker on a food pack or printed tops of netlon bag. It is seen at point of decision by shoppers, who are walking by or standing in front of avocado display and your packing is the last item that speaks to them to compel them to buy.”

Packaging or stickers at the point of sale (or point of decision) reinforce messages to consumers through other channels, such as traditional media and social media.

“The other important thing is to think about the competition for the ‘share of stomach’. In the West our stomachs are so full at the moment we are dying from over-consumption and not under-consumption, so that means shoppers aren’t necessarily eating more food but they are going to make their choices about the food they eat.”

When it comes to selling nutrition, on-pack communication is important because it can tell a story.

Lisa says the company producing a yoghurt aimed at toddlers uses language parents relate to in its nutrition information, including “for happy tummies and immunity”.

Taking advantage of trends is also important and can add value. A muesli sold as “liver cleansing” is not much different to traditional muesli but achieves a higher price. Another high protein yoghurt brand targeted men with its red and black colours and the line “find your inner abs” while mushrooms were sold in a pre-pack

By Elaine Fisher labelled at high in vitamin D.

Increasing nitrate nitrogen groundwater levels unacceptable It’s been called the “elephant in the room”, and a “ticking time bomb”. The ‘it’ is nitrate nitrogen in ground water – and there are several reasons why it’s so important and an issue that requires immediate attention.

The lead article in The Press on October 22 carries a warning from Alistair Humphrey, the Canterbury District Health Board’s medical office of health, that: “A baby could die if nitrate levels were not more tightly controlled…”

Environment Canterbury commissioner David Caygill says a report on water quality in New Zealand

by Jan Wright, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, will reinforce what everyone in Canterbury already knew. “If we don’t do something, it will get worse. I think that it is pretty widely accepted in Canterbury. We get the link between land use and water quality.”

The issue is that although intensive dairy farming is not solely responsible for the increase in nitrate nitrogen in ground water, the link between increased fertiliser nitrogen use on dairy farms and higher levels of nitrate nitrogen in groundwater is undeniable.

Nitrate is not the only nutrient of concern, but it’s an important measure. The Ministry for the Environment’s article ‘Environmental stewardship for a prosperous New Zealand’ contains the following: “From an environmental perspective, elevated levels of nitrate often indicate the potential presence of other pollutants from human activities, such as faecal pathogens and pesticides [therefore nitrate can be a good indicator of general groundwater degradation]”.

Steadily increasing levels of nitrate nitrogen in groundwater are unacceptable and the farming community, particularly the sector regularly applying nitrogen fertiliser, is becoming increasingly defensive, claiming limiting the amount of nitrogen applied will reduce production, profit, farm values, and the country’s income.

From a conventional perspective their argument is logical. The work undertaken by AgResearch shows reducing nitrogen fertiliser from nitrogen-dependent systems does result in lower growth.

But fundamental change, and that is what is required, nearly always comes from the fringes, inhabited by those that don’t see things as most do; and a system using conventional inputs based on existing science available, which has no trade-off between production and less nitrogen use.

Independent analysis shows a monitored property, now in its ninth year of using such a programme, grows significantly more pasture than district average; and based on the agriculture management tool Overseer, produces more than a comparative property regularly applying nitrogen.

The report also indicates the cows on the ‘alternative’ property consume 21 per cent less total feed to produce one kilogram of milk solids, indicating higher feed quality with an increased gross margin of more than the district average of $1621 per hectare.

On-going monitoring of nitrate nitrogen from the property shows overall levels of Nitrate N lost from the property to be less than the ‘good’ standard of 5.65 ppm set by the Ministry for the Environment, and significantly less than a monitored property using a conventional N driven programme.

And there is no transition period. Experience indicates although some minor easily implemented changes in management are beneficial, higher levels of production are available in 12 months following the change.

For more information, contact Peter on 0800 843 809.

COAST & COUNTRY

Ticks and theileriosis – a new threat for farmers Many farmers will be dealing with the new devastating tick-borne cattle disease called theileriosis.

It first appeared in August 2012 in Northland and has spread rapidly into large parts of the northern North Island, affecting both beef and dairy herds. The Ministry for Primary Industries website has lots of useful information.

It is caused by a new virulent (Ikeda) strain of a protozoan (a single-celled organism), called theileria orientalis, which infects and destroys red blood cells causing mild to severe anaemia.

Typical symptoms include lethargy (straggling and low energy), rapid breathing, reduced milk production, weight loss and pale membranes. If animals are stressed or left untreated, theileria can lead to death as their blood can’t carry enough oxygen around the body. Cows around calving and young calves are more susceptible to the infection. In affected herds, on average one-third of cows are anaemic and the death rate is about 1.5-2 per cent (as at October).

Theileria is carried by the cattle tick (haemaphysalis longicornis), and is transmitted to cattle when the tick is feeding on the animal’s blood – similar to how mosquitos transmit malaria.

Severe cases require veterinary attention, which may include vitamins and supportive drugs, blood transfusions and a specific drug called buparvaquone (specially imported under emergency licence). Milder cases will respond to supportive care, such as mini-

Grower welfare advocate honoured Kiwifruit grower Ian Greaves is among the winners of this year’s Western Bay of Plenty Kiwibank Local Heroes Awards.

As covered in Coast & Country’s November issue, as the vine-killing disease Psa-V first hit the industry three years ago, Ian was instrumental in helping deal with the outbreak, being quick to realise the huge impact it would have on the industry, individuals and the wider community.

Spearheading the grower Local hereo - Ian and community welfare Greaves. initiatives, Ian helped people through the loss associated with Psa-V, which devastated orchards across the North Island.

“It makes you stop and realise about yourself and all the people involved. This kiwifruit disease has got the whole community together and there are heaps of people involved in supporting growers,” says Ian. “This was a great opportunity to keep giving back to the industry.” Ian describes the award, announced last month, as a privilege both for himself, and the industry, as they continue to deal with the ravaging Psa-V disease.

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Page 33

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mising stress/movement/handling, easy access to high quality feed, water and shelter, and once-a-day milking for lactating cows.

Ticks themselves also cause anaemia in their own right, although usually more severe in deer, and this will be a risk factor for developing theileriosis as the immune system will be depressed.

To help prevent the disease, it is important stress is reduced and animals’ immune systems are as strong as possible, to ensure any other parasitism (including external parasites and ticks), viral diseases or mineral deficiencies are treated. Regularly check all classes of stock for ticks by looking for them around the tail, head, base of udder and legs.

Controlling the ticks is the best way to prevent the spread of theileria. By far, the most effective chemical is pour-on flumethrin, which is a synthetic pyrethroid that is quite specific to ticks.

CONTRACTORS

Page 34

Bucking the forestry land use trend at Ohope A large tract of land near Ohope Beach is being returned to pasture after 28 years in pines.

Richard and Pia Evans, and Richard’s brother Chris Evans and his wife Melanie, have undertaken the challenging project of converting about half of a 1000 ha farm from forestry to farming with considerable success.

Farm manager Peter Simpson says the decision to farm much of the Stanley Rd land goes against the current trend for many farms in the area, which in recent decades have been progressively planted in trees.

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Angus cows and calves graze in the valley of an Ohope farm, once covered in forestry.

“This land was originally cleared for pasture before it went into trees, so what Chris and Richard are doing is converting it back to farmland. When you look at the land, it is in close proximity to the coast, its climate and wonderful views; it is understandable they should want to do this.”

Earlier this year the property was the subject of a Beef + Lamb field day when

other drystock farmers had the opportunity to see what could be done on a former forestry block, with most being impressed with the results.

Today, 500 ha has been converted from pine and eucalyptus plantations to farm land. With the last of the trees being harvested in 2006, about 65 kilometres of fencing (most of it conventional but some electric), has been

constructed, creating 56 paddocks, with more subdivision still to come.

Pines still grow on 200 ha; and 300 ha are planted, or are in the process of being planted, in pines, redwoods and other species with a focus on planting riparian areas. The owners are working closely with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to plan plantings for the most sensitive areas of the land.

The 500 ha of grazing winters 145 Angus cows, 72 in-calf rising two year olds, 66 rising two-year-old steers, and 144 mixed sex weaners. It also runs 1150 mixed aged ewes, 735 two-tooth and 200 hoggets.

This year Peter is raising a small herd of 20 AngusJersey cross heifers in the hope they will do well on the farm. “I’m hoping that because of their smaller size we can run more to the hectare, and yet still produce calves which will grow well.”

One advantage of converting a harvested forestry block back to pasture is the network of tracks left over from the logging operation, making it easier to access all parts of the farm which ranges in contour from a deep flat valley to rolling land to steep sidlings.

However, Peter prefers to use a horse rather than motorbike for stock work, especially that involving cattle – and not just because he’s a very keen horseman.

“It’s so much less stressful for cows and calves to work them from horseback.”

Peter says the wood harvesting left behind generally breaks down reasonably quickly; and by applying fertiliser and planting the right grass species, the land will once more grow good pasture.

However, it also grows good weeds and weed control is an issue, particularly in the early stages of conversion.

Peter says there’s no shortcuts or quick fixes to transforming forestry to farmland and the Evans brothers understand that too. “They are focused on doing everything well, including building excellent stock handling facilities and keeping accurate records of stock performance.”

Richard and Pia and Chris and Melanie have both built homes on the farm and have children who attend local schools.

Both families are very involved in the district and schools and make the most of the coastal and beach environment on their doorstep.

Peter Simpson prefers to move cows and calves from horse back to reduce stress on the animals.

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Organisation represents contractors’ interests Rural Contractors New Zealand is the only organisation solely devoted to the interests of rural contractors.

It is involved in liaising with Government and government agencies, including the Ministry for Primary Industries, the New Zealand Transport Agency, NZ Agrichemical Education Trust, NZ Contracting industry training organisation, local authorities and many other allied organisations.

Predominantly, its members are involved in agriculture, horticulture and viticulture, chemical applications on the ground; and in forests, roadside mowing, vegetation control and other forms of contracting applicable to the rural servicing sector.

However, other contractors who, for example, apply agricultural chemical in urban areas, are also members.

The main source of funding is through subscriptions paid by members. Companies that service the rural contracting sector are welcome to join as associate members. In addition, the organisation has its own insurance facility.

Rural Contractors New Zealand operates by a constitution and has a national council, comprising of eight members elected annually. To find out more, go to: www.ruralcontractors.org.nz

CONTRACTORS

Farm buildings designed to suit individual needs No two farms, or farmers, are the same – so when it comes to sheds and buildings, they often need to be individual too, says Steve Kinsey of PlaceMakers, which specialises in farm buildings.

“PlaceMakers have a range of ‘standard’ plans, but they are flexible and can all be altered to suit the location and the client’s needs,” says Steve.

PlaceMakers also has shed specialists in branches in Hamilton, Whakatane, Rotorua, Thames, Whitianga, Te Kuiti, Mount Maunganui, Te Rapa, Morrinsville, Huntly and Pukekohe.

Each branch can supply the materials and consent-ready drawings for buildings from single bay sheds to lock-up implement sheds, or open sided stock shelters.

All timber which is in the ground is H5 treated, and that above ground is

Keep it clean ‘Keep it Clean’, a hygiene guideline and logbook for farm machinery aiming to help reduce the spread of pest plants and diseases has been introduced by the National Pest Control Agencies.

The booklet is designed for farmers and contractors to keep in their cabs; and contains two key messages.

First, to clean your machine with ‘when, where and how’ suggestions. Second, is advises to record the clean-down in your logbook.

It has been developed by NPCA in collaboration with Local Government New Zealand, Rural Contractors New Zealand, the Ministry for Primary Industries and Federated Farmers.

“Machinery movements pose a persistent high risk in pest spread,” says Dr William Rolleston, Federated Farmers biosecurity spokesperson.

Recording when, where and how machinery has been cleaned becomes not only a tangible commitment to good hygiene practices, but a record that could help trace sources of new pests or weeds, says William.

“Soil on a bulldozer in Canterbury was found to contain seeds from at least 73 different species – and there are at least 80 pest species known to be typically moved by machinery.

Williams says the pastoral sector is facing the spread of pest plants, like Chilean needle grass, while trying to contain pest insects, like the great white cabbage butterfly.

TOGETHER, WE’RE BUILDING NEW ZEALAND

H3 dressed with the structural components of the building SG8 stress graded to ensure they can cope with wind and even snow loadings. Colour steel or plain zinc roofing materials are used.

Roller doors, side doors and windows are also available.

“People can come and discuss their buildings in our branches, or we will visit the sites; and once we have the plan finalised and the price agreed, we prepare consent-ready drawings which the client uses to gain the necessary permits.

“Some clients have their own builders, but we can recommend experienced professionals in their area to carry out the construction.”

PlaceMakers delivers all materials to the building site, provided it is accessible to their trucks.

PlaceMakers has much more than farm buildings. Its staff are also able to help with materials for domestic alterations, and, in particular, new kitchens.

Page 35

Page 36

EARTHWORKS

Family farming contractor has skills and equipment The Wade family farm dairy goats and cows and are agricultural contractors too – and it’s a combination of skill sets which brings a unique understanding of the requirements of their farmer clients.

The Wade Contractors team is from left: Klinton Wade, Gary Wade, Robyn Wade, Kevin Wade, Mark Sayer and Tony Vencent. Missing from the photograph is truck driver Grant Horn.

KEVIN WADE

FARM DRAINAGE & EARTHWORKS

Phone 0274 968337 or 07 884 6784

“Because we are farmers, we know what’s needed on-farm; and we understand the challenges farmers face,” says Kevin Wade, who became an agricultural contractor almost by accident 33 years ago.

“My father Arthur, who was a contractor from Wardville, [north of Matamata], had adapted a Ford 500 tractor with a digger for contracting, which ended up on my farm; and when neighbours saw it, they started asking me to do work for them,” says Kevin, who with wife Robyn was then milking cows and raising a young family on a dairy farm just south of Te Aroha.

Today, it is their son Klinton who manages Wade Contractors, while his brother Gary runs the new dairy goat, and existing dairy cow farming operations.

The family has recently built a dairy goat milking parlour, and up to 700 goats are housed under cover in a spacious goat house.

Regularly cleaning out the shavings from the goat house is an essential part of the operation; and Wade Contractors has the equipment to remove the shavings and either compost or spread them onto paddocks. It’s a service they also

offer to other goat and chicken farms.

“We are keen to develop compositing techniques and manage the process for other farmers, as we see the material taken from the goat houses as being a very useful input for the farming system,” says Kevin.

Klinton says Wade Contractors also has the skills and equipment to help in the site preparation for new goat or cow houses, poultry sheds, dairies, stand-off pads, water and effluent storage facilities, races, tanker tracks and drainage projects.

The lazer blades, which the company has designed and built, allow for accurate leveling or contouring of construction sites. “We can get it accurate to plus or minus 5 mm and have three sets of lazer gear, which can be fitted to other equipment as well as the lazer blade,” says Klinton.

Recent large projects include the final preparation work for concrete laying at the new Fonterra factory site at Waitoa; earthworks for a very large effluent storage tank, which required very precise contouring; construction and cleaning of effluent storage ponds, using a digger with a 10 metre extension; and a goat housing barn’s site works.

Wade Contractors has five full-time staff, but during the busy times, from February to June, numbers grow to 13. The machinery and equipment the company uses includes diggers, a grader, rollers; trucks and trailers for sand, metal and fertiliser cartage; tractors and scoops, an effluent spreader, the lazer blade and a mole plough.

The company offers its services to clients throughout the Waikato.

EARTHWORKS

Page 37

Water systems upgrade time Last summer’s drought is still fresh in the minds of farmers – and while everyone hopes it won’t be repeated, now is a good time to ensure farm water supply and storage systems are in good condition.

“The drought hit farmers hard and many had not experienced a drought like that before,” says Pauline Holden, of Thomson Concrete and TC PAWS of Otorohanga.

To help protect their farm and their livestock from future events, many of Thomson Concrete’s farmer clients have installed extra water troughs, reticulation systems and water storage tanks.

Because the retail outlet TC PAWS (Thomson Concrete Plumbing and Water

Supplies), is on the same Otorohanga site as Thomson Concrete, for farmers, it is a handy one-stop shop with troughs, culvert pipes to alkathene and fittings all in one place.

“We also welcome customer feedback and suggestions about products they would like us to stock, or pre-cast products they want made. Barry Staples, our steel former in the concrete division, is able to take a farmer’s idea, draw a design, make a template and produce a product which meets their individual requirements.”

Thomson Concrete and Holden Earthmoving are sister companies, which complement each other’s services well. One year ago, Lawrence Holden approached the then owners of Thomson Concrete asking to be given the option to buy the business should it ever come up for sale.

“Lawrence found he often needed to work with a concrete company, as part of the earthmoving projects he was doing on farms. Luckily for us, Thomson Concrete’s owners were happy to sell,” says Pauline.

Holden Earthmoving has expertise in drainage, forestry harvesting, earthmoving and excavation throughout the Waikato.

The company has a strong fleet of two trucks, four diggers, including a 30 tonne Volvo, bulldozer, roller, and post driver.

The company is also one of the preferred contractors for Environment Waikato, Otorohanga and Te Kuiti councils. Holden Earthmoving maintains on-going training and upskilling of all staff and has a robust health and safety commitment.

Both Thomson Concrete and Holden Earthmoving are proud sponsors of the New Zealand Under 21 Axemen’s team.

The Ultimate Toilet

It’s all about dogs - It’s not all about the pigs ‘It’s not all about the pigs’ by Andy Lyver – is actually almost all about the dogs.

Author Andy was “your average chick with a perfectly normal life” until she discovered pig hunting – now she’s gone to the dogs.

With a row of kennels in the backyard and more canine friends than girlfriends, these days she’s practically feral, roaming the hills as often as she can.

by everything about them; their work ethic, their loyalty, their sense of fun [they can always make me laugh] and the way they find joy in everything. Dogs are a big part of my life now that hunting is more about them than it is about anything else.”

To be in to win, ‘It’s not all about the pigs’ by Andy Lyver, email your name and address, with the book title as the subject, to: elaine@thesun.co.nz Or put these details on the back of an envelope and post to: Coast & Country Book Prize, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3110, to arrive no later than December 17.

The winners will be announced in Coast & Country’s January issue.

Fortunately for Andy, her better half Marco has caught the pig hunting bug too – and together they’ve learned the whys and wherefores, and the dos and don’ts of the sport and most of all the dogs which help them enjoy it.

“I hadn’t ever been really close mates with a dog. That’s changed over the last few years as I’ve become fascinated

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Contouring Dairy conversion Forestry Environmental control work

Page 38

MERRY CHRISTMAS

HOUSE & LANDSCAPE

Page 39

Century of family links to Ohauiti subdivision Few developers know their land as well as those of Rowesdale Developments, who have links to their subdivision at Ohauiti, Tauranga, dating back 100 years.

Bernie and Alison Rowe, with their sons Kevin, Grant, Mervyn and Phillip, are directors of the company which is in the last stages of developing Rowesdale subdivision, designed to maximise the spectacular views it offers.

In 1910, Bernie’s grandfather, Herbert, bought what was then known as the Bank Run (today called Ohauiti), and land in the area has been in the Rowe family ever since.

“When the city came out to us, farming was no longer a desirable use of the land, due to the high costs of rating etc. And the family decided to form Rowesdale Developments to create a development which did justice to the land and views,” says Alison.

Bernie, who had lived and farmed the land all of his life, had a passion and a vision for creating the subdivision, so decided to bring his sons on board and make it a family project. The whole of the farm has now been developed, with the final stage being terraced with lovely stone walls enhancing the landscaping and views, and offering residents a peaceful and

celled Order CanTheir loss, your gain.

NZ’s BEst PRicEd HOrTICuLTuraL TraCTOr Just Got EvEN BEttER! Family affair – the Rowe family, of Rowesdale Subdivision, are from left: Grant, Bernie, Phillip, Alison, Kevin and Mervyn. beautiful rural location in which to live.

Rowesdale has wider roads, larger sections, (starting from 650 m2 to more than 1000 m2), and peaceful cul-de-sacs in preference to right of ways.

A lot of thought has gone into the construction of the land to utilise the magnificent panoramic views over Tauranga, the Mount and the Kaimai Ranges – and the subdivision is enhanced by reserves created on areas of the farm which have been planted with lovely trees.

Prospective buyers speak and deal with the owners, with sales being handled by Alison and Bernie Rowe, who have built their own home in the subdivision.

Rowesdale is very close to the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and university, shopping centres at Greerton, Fraser Cove; and is only about 15 minutes from the city centre. Rowesdale has an upmar-

ket children’s play area, frequent local bus service, and bus services to all colleges and primary schools and all services including gas.

“There is a wonderful atmosphere at Rowesdale with a great mix of ages, from young people, to families, to those whose children have left home; and those who have retired, all of which makes for a vibrant community,” says Alison.

“Another great attraction of Rowesdale is its peacefulness and still rural feeling, with the terraced sections maintaining the fantastic views and unobstructed sunsets, on the stunning and rugged skylines.”

If looking at moving to Tauranga, pay a visit to this wonderful location.

The Rowe family work with many of the top building firms in Tauranga, who will make the building of your new home stress free.

Not a sure bet

A guy was sitting quietly reading his paper when his wife walked up behind him and whacked him on the head with a magazine.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“That was for the piece of paper in your trouser pocket with the name Laura Lou written on it,” she replied.

“Two weeks ago, when I went to the races, Laura Lou was the name of one of the horses I bet on,” he explained.

“Oh darling, I’m sorry,” she said. “I should have known there was a good explanation.”

Three days later, he was watching TV when she walked up and hit him on the head again, this time with a frying pan, which knocked him out cold.

When he came to, he asked, “What was that for?”

“Your horse phoned.”

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COUNTRY LIVING

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‘Sum insured’ should ensure property is restored to original The Canterbury earthquakes have brought significant changes to the New Zealand’s insurance industry – changes which are affecting all home owners throughout New Zealand.

Historically, home insurance has been assessed by way of ‘replacement cost’, on a building area basis and an average industry ‘replacement cost’. The definition in many home insurance policies has been full ‘replacement cost’, but this has been unspecified in dollar terms.

The reinsurers of New Zealand’s insurance companies are now requiring that the risks of property insurance be recorded in dollar terms, to identify the maximum specified amount payable. From July 1, 2013, insurers require a ‘sum insured’ figure for property cover, which is the maximum amount payable in the event of a claim.

This is a specified amount in dollar terms and should include: - Residential dwellings.

- Other buildings on a property.

- Recreational features. For example, swimming pool, tennis court.

- Permanent landscaping. For example, retaining walls, paving etc.

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- Special features – maybe separate sums for these. For example, bridges, private jetties, culverts, etc.

Owner’s responsibility

It is now the home owner’s responsibility to nominate the ‘sum insured’; otherwise an insurance company may assess a ‘default sum insured’ – the average cost to build a standard house on a flat site in your area, using the floor area of your home. However, the ‘default’ method will not be specific to your property – no two properties tend to be the same.

There are online calculators available to assess ‘sum insured’ – but

even then the series of questions required to be answered may well be beyond many home owners, as it regards their property specifics. All insurance companies are likely to have online calculators, but without proper input, the resultant figure could be misleading and incorrect.

Valuers A registered valuer can be engaged to complete an Insurance Certificate for residential, rural residential and rural properties. For many years, registered valuers have completed these for commercial and industrial properties. The certificate is comprehensive and covers all of the items critical for property insurance assessments including: - Individually-assessed building and site improvement costs – based on measurements, inspection and current replacement cost information.

- An allowance for other items. For example, recreational features, retaining walls and other special features.

- Allowances for fees and inflation.

- An indemnity value – the New Zealand Fire Service is funded by a levy on this value.

- An allowance for demolition costs – should the site need to be cleared.

The key to ‘how to assess’ your property for the total ‘sum insured’ is to make certain this total is an amount that will ensure all property can be restored/ replaced to its original standard.

The costs

Firstly, the change in home insurance is not about increasing premiums. This has already occurred through increases in the Earthquake Commission levy and the rising cost of reinsurance.

Secondly, cost of insurance will depend on the final ‘sum insured’ that the insurer accepts.

The cost could be made up of professional assessment costs. For example, registered valuer. This is a one-off cost that will provide the property owner with a comprehensive document for insurance purposes. This document could be viable for a number of years, just by way of inflation adjustment – but if new improvements are made to a property, the ‘sum insured’ will need to be adjusted accordingly. This is not an annual cost.

Depending on location/property details etc, an insurance report may cost say, in the range of $400 to $500 plus GST for a standard home of say 90 m² to 150 m² plus garage and other features. It is always best to get a quote for a particular property.

The final cost of the actual insurance will depend on the relationship between the previous ‘replacement cost’ insurance and the insurance for the new ‘sum insured’ figure.

Property insurances remain a key economic and social element in our society in that what we develop can be successfully replaced/repaired if natural or other disasters visit our property.

We are basically self-sufficient in this matter and are not reliant on substantial offshore aid.

The new insurance regime will be much more factual, particularly if each property owner sorts the issues prior to their next insurance renewal.

To act now is to avoid a daunting gap between what your insurance provider will pay out on a claim and the actual cost of replacement/repairs.

Ron Lander, ANZIV, SPINZ, is a registered valuer and associate of Bay Valuation Ltd, Tauranga.

COUNTRY LIVING

A backyard pantry possible in small space

Growing their own food - Jane and Kevin Powell of Papamoa.

Lease for organic life Determined to only serve up chemicalfree food on the family table, Jane and Kevin Powell are leading the charge for organic living on their small Papamoa farm.

“It was from realising there were just so many chemicals in the food in our supermarkets – and that the best thing was to grow your own food to provide for your family,” recalls Jane about their initial motivation.

Starting from their quarter-acre section in Rotorua 12 years ago, the Powell family’s journey began with a large vegetable garden.

“From there we moved rurally, so we could be more self- sufficient.” An opportunity to rent a small farm in Papamoa prompted them to shift to the coast, bringing their whole garden of heirloom plants with them almost five years ago.

“Going from a cold climate to a warmer climate, everything transplanted really well,” says Jane. “We had enough that we could give a lot away as well, and within six months we were eating all our own food again.”

The Powells are featured in the documentary ‘Our Green Roadie’ in which Nelson film-maker Emma Heke travelled the country with her son Connor, capturing people living and working in eco-friendly ways. The 105-minute film has since been screened throughout the country.

Jane says being able to lease the property from landowners who appreciate their sustainable values made their dream achievable.

“For us, to go out and buy a property and do what we’re doing here – it’s a

Page 41

huge cost. Here, we were able to expand on what was here already – and do it right there and then.”

Living in Papamoa for more than four years, Jane, Kevin and Mariana, 12, have their own cows, using the milk to make cheese and yoghurt. They also have chickens and their own vegetable gardens. “We’re relatively self-sufficient in food.”

Jane says the sustainable lifestyle isn’t time consuming or difficult, rather it’s just about adapting to a routine.

“It’s just our way of life. Some people get up and do yoga every morning. Kevin gets up and hand-milks the cows.”

The Powell’s two-and-a-half acre ‘farm’ grazes two Jersey cows, which provide all of the family’s dairy needs, along with about 14 barnyard special hens for their eggs – which they also sell in summer.

The family’s meat either comes from stock on their farm, or in shares with others. All of their produce comes from their organic garden, which covers oneeighth of an acre.

“But there is a limit [to our self-sufficiency]. We don’t have the room to grow some of the grains.”

The Powell’s lifestyle means a short shopping list, only visiting the supermarket for coffee, toilet paper and peanut butter. The pair split time on their ‘farm’ with part-time earners of running cheese-making and food fermentation workshops, selling surplus produce and chutneys, along with providing in-home care for pre-schoolers.

“The pre-schoolers have been helping with spring planting; they love it,” says Jane.

By Hamish Carter

The growing interest in green living has Papamoa smallholder Jane Powell excited about changing attitudes – but she says the biggest stumbling block for taking action is often knowing how to start.

“My advice is you can do it no matter where you are living,” says Jane, who admits it is a lot easier

for those with more land.

“It’s harder when you’ve got a smaller area, but you can do it.

With the systems of permaculture you can have your entire garden on your balcony if you chose.

“I think people just need to start. Even if they start in that small space, they will realise they can do it and then grow it from there, and go on to get a bigger area.”

To learn more about what others are doing in their area, Jane

encourages people to get involved in the Out Of Our Own Backyards movement, which she says is gaining momentum.

“It’s a very big movement now here in Tauranga. People meet once a month. It can be in anyone’s backyard; and we learn about what those people are doing, what they are growing, and we have a big swap table.”

For details, visit: www.ooooby. ning.com then search for your local group.

By Hamish Carter

Page 42

COUNTRY LIVING

Creating memories to treasure When those who mourn can give voice to their sorrow and celebrate the life of their loved one in a personal, open-hearted and memorable way, the funeral serves both the beliefs of the person who has died – and the bereaved family and friends, says funeral celebrant Pamela Lane-Parr.

“Faced with the numerous decisions that are necessary when a loved one dies, the significance and benefit of a funeral ceremony should not be underestimated,” says Pamela.

“An initial thought might be to not have one, because it seems too daunting a task. However, the role of a professional funeral celebrant is to work with the bereaved to craft a unique meaningful ceremony that creates treasured memories for the years to come.”

A ceremony with ‘heart’ includes the

passions and talents of the person who has died, their values and beliefs, and the love that was given and received. It reflects their personality and encourages the sharing and gathering of memories, says Pamela.

“No matter how large or small the funeral gathering, or the location – the coming together as family and friends to celebrate a life and say farewell is a very significant positive step on the journey of grief. At its best, the funeral will give the bereaved hope and some inspiration to resume their lives in the knowledge that things have irretrievably changed.”

Pamela says the significance and long term benefit of gathering together to celebrate the life, and say farewell to a loved one, should not be underestimated. “Love and memories do not end with death.”

One of Pamela’s favourite quotes reflects this well.

“Hope – is like a bird that senses the dawn and carefully starts to sing while it is still dark” – Anonymous.

Pamela Lane-Parr Cert. Celebrant Studies

Automatic traps clean up possums The Omori-Kuratau Pest Management group, located on the western shore of Lake Taupo, thought they had possums under control, but in May they noticed signs of the pests on a trap-line within their pest control project area.

The group carries out pest control to protect local birdlife from predation, and believed the trap-line was free of possums.

OKPMG decided to purchase and evaluate seven A12 Goodnature automatic resetting possum traps. They enjoyed immediate success, with 13 possums being killed in the first two weeks in the area, which was thought to have no possums. This encouraged the group to raise the funds to purchase a further 20 Goodnature traps in June to immediately deploy these on three other trap-lines. Within one month, OKPMG had killed a further 50 possums, making a total of 63 possums since deployment of the first A12s.

“Apart from the amazing effectiveness of the A12s,” says Russell Shaw, a member of the group, “what has surprised us most is that all of the possums were all caught in areas where there was recent Pindone

possum control carried out by the Animal Health Board; and therefore should have been relatively possum free.

“The contrast between what the Pindone control achieved and the A12 possum control has achieved, is a real eye-opener for our group and made us realise that possum control using these super-effective A12 Goodnature traps must become a regular and major part of our pest management control programme.”

The group has recently purchased another 30 A12 Goodnature traps to extend the possum control and have full coverage on all seven of their trap-lines.

The A12 traps are deployed and serviced by volunteers on a permanent basis. The group’s latest report is following about two months, possum activity dropped off completely. Further possums are once again being caught, as new possums move into the areas previously targeted.

Russell says the group is impressed by the effect of the Goodnature lure attractant for the traps. The lure is a modern version of traditional cinnamon flavoured possum bait, which is weather and mould proof. The simplicity of setting the traps, and placing them in different locations, is of benefit to the group by enabling them to target different areas along varying traplines on a regular basis.

Trout fishing a myriad of challenges ‘Why Trout Usually Win – the Guides’ book of fishing excuses’ by Graeme Marshall is a picture book as well as a guide to fishing.

It’s beautifully illustrated with full page images of trout, people and most of all the landscape in which trout are fished for. Brown trout are associated with places of stunning beauty, pristine rivers, breath-taking high country lakes and meandering streams, writes Graeme.

This not really a book of excuses, but more a book of facts. “The essence of fly fishing for trout comes from the almost endless list

of variables that transform a relatively simple operation to one with a myriad of challenges capable of thwarting even the most highly skilled anglers.

These variables take many forms; weather and wind conditions, the state of the river, air and water temperatures, even the phases of the moon.”

Then there are the human elements.

Graeme looks at each in detail.

To be in to win, ‘Why Trout Usually Win – the Guides’ book of fishing excuses’ by Graeme

Marshall, published

by Halcyon Press, email your name and address, with Why Trout win as the subject, to: elaine@ thesun.co.nz Or put these details on the back of an envelope and post to: Coast & Country Book Prize, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3110, to arrive no later than December 17.

The winners will be announced in Coast & Country’s January issue.

COUNTRY LIVING

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Crucial to make submissions on district plan On December 13, the Thames-Coromandel District Council will notify residents of its new proposed district plan.

My last update on the Thames-Coromandel district plan was at the beginning of the year, when I said that shortly council would announce their proposed district plan. Well, it’s been a year, and that’s not uncommon with such a process.

If they have used the time wisely, and taken into account feedback from the public and professionals that have to work under this plan, then it is time well spent.

As reported earlier this ‘new plan’ is driven by the Coromandel Blueprint, which sets out the areas for future growth and limits ribbon development along the coast.

An earlier ideal of reducing ‘red tape’, by allowing many more activities to be ‘permitted’ rather than ‘controlled’ (meaning less consents will be required overall), is admirable but may well be challenged, I feel.

On the other hand, it appears the council may be following a trend seen elsewhere, by moving most subdivision consents to the ‘discretionary’ status from ‘controlled’. This means there are more hoops you have to jump through to get consent, and it puts more of the cost up front. In my opinion, this puts a major brake on economic development because people need more certainty at the outset.

It is extremely important to make submissions to the proposed district plan, even if you agree with it.

Complacency by many could either see proposed new rules gain traction, or alternatively those that participate could influence council, or the Environment Court, to change the rules.

Therefore, you must participate in this public process – because once the rules are finalised there is really no way back. Councils are reluctant to grant dispensations to individuals once the rules are passed.

All proposed district and regional plans are publicly notified, calling for submissions within tight timeframes. If you want to protect the potential and capital value of your land you must participate in this process. If you don’t, the process will be driven by regional councils and national authorities, such as the New Zealand Transport Agency, which have their own ideals – sadly they don’t always relate to your livelihood.

You might not be able to get what you want, but you do have a chance at moderating the changes and getting your development underway before the changes have too much clout.

My advice to landowners is simple. Firstly, obtain a

resource consent that secures your rights under the existing rules without having to take further action for five years.

Secondly, lodge a submission for or against the rule changes, advising councillors of your suggestions and reasons for change.

This may even give you an opportunity to negotiate a settlement that achieves your goal.

In my experience, now is a good time to sort out any subdivision plans that you may have. If you have any plans for subdivision in the future, I am happy to discuss the opportunities, so don’t hesitate to give me a call.

Brent Trail, managing director of Surveying Services, specialises in resource consent applications for subdivisions across the Coromandel, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty. For further information call 07 862 8963 or email: btrail@surveyingservices.co.nz

Dismissal for ‘out of work’ behaviour The recent case of Hallwright versus Forsyth Barr Ltd has provided further insight into the Employment Court’s approach to misconduct occurring outside the workplace.

Misconduct outside the workplace may justify a dismissal.

However, employers should take care to act reasonably in the circumstances and to follow a fair process.

This may include delaying a decision on disciplining an employee pending the outcome of a criminal trial and sentencing.

The court commented in Hallmark that different forms of out-of-hours conduct cannot

automatically be excluded from the reach of an employment agreement.

In assessing whether conduct is linked to employment, the court says the test is not necessarily whether the conduct itself is directly linked, but whether it has the potential to impact negatively on employment. Judge Inglis explained: “That is why an employee can be held out for what might otherwise be regarded a private activity, carried out away from the workplace and with no ostensible connection to the employment or other employees”.

This case reiterated the focus

of the enquiry is on the impact of an employee’s conduct on the employer’s business. The nature of an employer’s business and the validity of its concerns about maintaining its reputation, both in the market place and within its client base, are taken into account in determining the required nexus between an employee’s conduct and their employment.

If you have any employment or HR queries you would like assistance with, please email Wendy directly at: wendy@accordservices.co.nz

This article is intended as a point of reference and should not be relied on as a substitute for professional advice. Specialist advice should always be sought in relation to any particular circumstances and no liability will be accepted for any losses incurred by those relying solely on this article.

Kaharoa farmer is new Rural Women president Wendy McGowan of Kaharoa has been elected the new national president of Rural Women New Zealand.

Wendy previously served a three-year term as national vice president, and has been the national councillor for Bay of Plenty/Coromandel for the last eight years, taking a special interest in land use issues, biosecurity and food safety.

“As national president, I will build on our organisation’s goals and aspirations to be dynamic, vibrant, leading, innovative and visible at all levels.

“Rural Women NZ’s interest in land, health, education and community issues need our attention and advocacy, just as they did in the 1920s. As then, encouraging women living in rural communities to voice their concerns and support for one another is what we do well.”

Wendy also announces the appointment of Kerry

Maw, the Rural Women national councillor for Canterbury, as her vice president.

Wendy and her husband Rusty farm a 260 hectare dairy support unit at Kaharoa in the Bay of Plenty.

She’s also an enrolled nurse and works as a casual play specialist at Rotorua Hospital’s children’s unit.

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COUNTRY LIVING

Ideal accommodation to enjoy city from Abundant Health

Palmerston North offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy shopping, arts and culture, fine dining and the great outdoors – and Gateway Motel, on the Pioneer Highway, just minutes from the centre city and amenities is the ideal place to stay to enjoy it all.

Gateway Motel is a large ground floor complex that boasts spacious, well-equipped units which include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom family units.

The motel has a playground and spa pool, as well as several grassed areas where you can sit back and relax on garden furniture. A barbecue is also available, and delicious cooked and continental breakfasts can be enjoyed in the new dining room. Continental breakfasts for early starters can be delivered the night before.

“Our motel is able to take a group of 80-plus, and all units are equipped with microwaves, kitchen facilities and Sky TV,” says Marian McMurray, who together with Ross and family

operates Gateway Motel. Marian and family pride themselves on their friendly and helpful service.

“We have a good clientele among the travelling public, and enjoy great return business from many satisfied customers. We welcome any enquiry whether large or small.

“Written quotes can be provided for your group. Just ring or email and we will do the rest.”

As well as being handy to the city centre, parks and gardens, Gateway Motel is close to Awapuni Racecourse, Manawatu Trotting Club, Go kart Track, Seventh Day Adventist College Longburn, Fonterra Longburn and Ohakea Air base. It is ideally located for day trips to enjoy the great outdoors too.

Resveratrol for energy and vitality Resveratrol is a naturally occurring compound produced by plants to help protect them from invading fungi and bacteria.

In general, compounds that protect plants have protective qualities when we consume them.

Grape skins are high in resveratrol, but its content in wine varies a lot. Most supplements use Japanese knotweed as the main source. The best supplements use extracts which concentrate levels of resveratrol to as high as 50 per cent pure trans-resveratrol.

Research from Harvard University found resveratrol can turn on the SIRT1 longevity gene. Experiments on insects and worms shows resveratrol increases their lifespan by more than 25 per cent, thus showing promise to help prevent premature aging.

Resveratrol can help build our resistance against invading germs by making vitamin D more effective, thus increasing our natural antibiotic cathelicidin and also key immune system stabilising processes.

I invariably include some resveratrol in

programmes for people with low immunity, including autoimmune problems and those who have had past brushes with cancers.

Resveratrol also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a beneficial component of anti-inflammatory supplements. It also shows promise to help people stabilise blood sugar levels and would appear to be beneficial for those with, or borderline, Type 2 diabetes.

Resveratrol perhaps is the closest thing to a natural anti-aging compound, by helping to prevent premature cell damage. Anything we can do that helps cell function will help prevent premature aging. While any form of resveratrol is good, it is best when combined with compounds such as OPC, alpha lipoic acid, acai extracts and other antioxidant compounds. Resveratrol is no silver bullet, but is yet another one of nature’s special compounds that can result in many benefits – especially if taken longer term. Give me a call if you need more information.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med), is a nutritional therapist and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. Contact John on 0800 423559 or email: john@johnarts. co.nz Join his weekly newsletter at: www.johnarts.co.nz For product information visit: www.abundant.co.nz

COUNTRY LIVING

Course is a positive alternative to school Today, the opportunities for our young people wanting to leave school and get a job are limited, says Agriculture New Zealand’s Mark Goss.

“Kids who are not connecting well with school reluctantly stay on – while schools in some situations reluctantly put up with them.

There is now a practical, positive alternative to school, with our programme being offered in various locations around New Zealand,” says Mark.

Agriculture New Zealand, a PGG Wrightson business, has limited places available for 16 to 19 year olds on this one-year, full-time Introductory Rural Skills course – commencing late January 2014.

“This course is a fantastic opportunity that allows school-leavers to continue their learning and achieve nationally-recognised qualifications that can lead to employment, or further training.”

Not only does this improve educational, employment and life choice opportunities, but will also introduce students to potential

employers, says Mark.

Introductory Rural Skills is a mix of classroom learning and practical onfarm training.

The course covers a wide range of farming knowledge and skills, including the operation of quad bikes, tractors and chainsaws; livestock handling and treatment; milking; fencing and farm maintenance; and agrichemical.

In addition to the farming content, literacy and numeracy skills are developed as well as goal setting, career planning, banking, budgeting, communications, and job search strategies.

“Selection will be based on attitude, not on an applicant’s academic record,” Mark says.

With the 2014 courses starting soon, interest for the limited places should be registered quickly, by either phoning 0800 475 455 or via the website: www.agnz.co.nz

established in 2003. Our team assists the Department of Conservation, Rotorua and Tauranga SPCAs, and the public with the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife in the Bay of Plenty. We’re passionate about caring for our native wildlife and work to educate and create public awareness about the importance of conservation to ensure the long-term health of

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elsewhere r o e m o h for Paiti Herewini says the course has provided direction and a pathway into farming.

ARRC Wildlife Trust Spay the stray programme turns one It has been one year since we launched our campaign to address the growing stray cat problem; and our statistics show we have removed more than 400 stray cats from the Tauranga environment, completely contained 24 colonies, re-homed 208 cats and de-sexed 275 cats and kittens. We still have a long way to go, but we’re making headway.

ARRC Wildlife Trust was

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our natural environment. In 2010 we were the proud winners of the Tauranga Trustpower Community Services Environment and Heritage Award.

As part of our commitment to the preservation of our natural environment we are proactive with animal-related projects, such as the ARRC Spay the Stray Cat Campaign, with the aim of reducing numbers of stray breeding cats and to

provide caring homes for loving animals.

We’ve been greatly concerned our Tauranga community has been inundated with a stray cat problem. Not only does this mean the animals’ welfare is compromised but they are also a threat to native wildlife; and stray populations place great social stress on pet cats.

By Liza Schnieder, ARRC Wildlife Trust

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As a Future Farmer you will be trained by the best to become the best – on Aratiatia Station, a fully commercial 2800ha farm in Taupo. You will graduate with the skills and knowledge to ‘make your mark’ in New Zealand’s real growth industry – agriculture! *Course fee applies.

This new full-time, 23 week programme is designed to help you get started in the dairy industry. Go Dairying is a positive step towards your career in dairy farming; you will gain a comprehensive skill set in milk harvesting which combined with the right attitude, will see you ‘make your mark’ as a highly sought after employee – plus there are many opportunities within the dairy industry. *Course fee applies.

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Page 46

COUNTRY LIVING

Space-age device keeps pools clean Many New Zealanders say they don’t have time to look after their pools, so they’re glad to finally come across a product that keeps their water-filled oasis clean yearround without having to use a lot of chemicals, says Melissa Growden of Floatron.

“The weather’s hot and you just want to swim in your pool, not spend hours cleaning it. Developed

by NASA to purify drinking water on space missions, the Floatron uses the same technology in swimming pools,” says Melissa.

“You don’t have to do a typical ‘clean up’ to your pool each spring if you have a Floatron because the water stays clear all year round, even through winter. There’s no need to shock dose, test frequently, add ‘some of this’ and a ‘bit of that’.”

The Floatron is a revolutionary solar powered water purifier for swimming pools, which replaces the need for chemicals by up to 90 per cent. It uses the process of ionisation to combat algae and bacteria in the water.

Having a Floatron in their own pool for more nearly 20 years has made a world of difference to family life

for Floatron NZ Ltd owners Craig and Melissa Growden.

They have a passion for this product because they have an eight-year-old daughter with eczema and allergies. She suffers when swimming in chemical-laden pools, but they’re thrilled she can swim in their pool all day long, with no skin or health issues at all.

“With a Floatron you swim in virtually pure water, with no taste, smell or chemical effects – that means no dry skin or red stinging eyes.”

Melissa says people are amazed to find a product that can save them so much time and money on their pools.

For people with a swimming pool in their garden, it needs to look pristine year-round to match its surroundings.

“Some people think that the Floatron sounds too good to be true, which is why we give it a money back guarantee” says Melissa.

“The numerous testimonials from extremely satisfied customers reinforces its ever-growing popularity.”

Floatron NZ Ltd also supply Baracuda Automatic Pool Vacuums to make pool care even easier. These simply fit onto the vacuum point and automatically clean the pool whenever the filter is on, instead of spending hours out there cleaning. It’s yet another way to reduce the workload when it comes to a pool.

Sweet answer for mystery item A sugar scuttle, masquerading as a coal shuttle, was no mystery to Lesley Doran of Hamilton.

“I believe the mystery item [in the November issue of Coast & Country] is a sugar scuttle which held sugar lumps,” she writes.

“The flap opens and there was usually a small scoop, which hung on the end on the outside or tongs were used.

“My grandmother had one she put out on the afternoon tea trolley for visitors to serve with their cuppas. It was much admired and Nan would allow us a treat on occasions and give us sugar lumps to take home.

“As a gift for my silver wedding anniversary, I have a silver one which is a miniature scoop. But it doesn’t have a flap like the one in the photograph.”

What’s this?

Perhaps we should have given the size of last month’s mystery item, because Derek Cameron of Matamata did think it was a coal scuttle.

“I remember these at my grandparents place – handle on the bottom and one on the side to hold it steady to pour coal into the open fire and the old coal range,” he wrote.

For correctly identifying the mystery item, Lesley has won a visit for two to the Katikati Heritage Museum.

This month’s item may be less of a mystery for many farmers. If you know what it is and have a story to tell about using one similar, email your entry to: elaine@thesun.co.nz or post it to: Mystery Item, Coast & Country, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3110, to arrive no later than December 17.

The winner will be announced in Coast & Country’s January issue. The museum, just south of Katikati, is open seven days a week 9.30am-4pm. To find out more, visit: www.katikatiheritagemuseum. co.nz or phone 07 549 0651.

COUNTRY LIVING

Trail ride through Taranaki in 2014 Feel like a bit of adventure? Want to feel the wind in your face, as you gallop across a beautiful sandy beach?

Do you dare to get away and have a week that you will remember forever? Then saddle up and chase your desire to experience life.

Every year, the dedicated committee of the Great New Zealand Trail Ride get together to sort out campsites, caterers, showers and toilets, farriers and horse feed, yarding and vets – going over every detail to ensure nothing is overlooked. Why? So you can get away and have a great time, of course. This is a non-profit organisation made up of people with a common interest in horses and horse trekking – and they’ve been instrumental in organising rides over some of the North Island’s most picturesque country.

The chosen area for the 2014 ride is the rugged and breathtaking Taranaki. Kicking off at Waikawau Beach and finishing inland at the historical republic of Whangamomana.

You don’t need to be an expert rider to enjoy this great opportunity. Set your own pace – and sit back and watch as the sights and sounds of these special places roll by. Enjoy crossing sparkling clear streams, amazing beaches and meandering through native bush

Every day is a new and exciting ride. with the sounds of the tui and the bellbird welcoming you.

This is all thanks to the generosity of the local farmers, who are opening up their properties to allow the 100-plus riders to experience areas they would otherwise never get to see. As well as being a great week for all involved, it’s a chance to raise money for worthwhile local charities. By encouraging riders to bring along something, and the help of sponsors, an auction is held on the rest day with all money going to charities. The recipients for 2014 will be the local rescue helicopter service and the local hospice.

As every day is a new and exciting ride, every evening, after a most excellent meal, is

a chance to socialise in the large marque.

Erected at every campsite, it is equipped with a bar; and entertainment is provided.

Earlier in the year, we did trip to look at where we would be riding – to find out more, go to: www.gnztr.org and click on the promo video. If you’re into adventure, and you’re into horses – there’s really nothing stopping you. Even if you don’t own a horse that can be sorted too – you can hire one. So mark February 22 to March 1, 2014, on your calendar. Life is made up of a great deal of time working, a good third of it sleeping – and a few memorable moments that you’ll never forget.

For registration forms, or more information, visit: www.gnztr.org.nz or call John Davies 07 579 6342 or Clive Mckenney on 021 048 2833.

By Clive Mckenney

Comvita attracts ‘something quite special’ for tourists A new national benchmark for visitor experience is being set in Paengaroa, with the official opening of an international tourist attraction last month, says Tourism BOP’s chief executive officer Rhys Arrowsmith.

The Comvita Experience is designed by Story Inc, a Wellington-based design team that also created the Rotorua Arts Museum, the New Zealand Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo and the America’s Cup Pavilion in San Francisco.

“For this region, it is going to set the new benchmark on world class visitor experience,” says Rhys.

“What it means for us is exceptional hosting – and an experience that is not a ‘warm bath’ experience. [It will be] Something people leave with a clear understanding of what they have learned. They have learned something and they have experienced something quite special.

Rhys says the visitor experience is going to be a benchmark not only for this region, “but for New Zealand, as a leader in the field of meeting the new visitors’ expectations around experience”.

The Comvita Experience officially opened November 27, but was open unofficially for business from November 7, and people are already being advised to book for the tour.

“We are calling it an iconic New Zealand experience and I think it’s going to be great – it’s really going to be different,” says Comvita chief operating officer Scott Coulter.

“I think there’s nothing like it on the market. It’s going to tell the story of New Zealand and nature, using the world’s first virtual beehive.

“Our focus really is on explaining nature and wellness, and also the life and the virtual bee story.

So it’s going to be a great experience – and I think a really good opportunity for the Bay to tap into a growing tourist market,

An artist’s impression of the new The Comvita Experience.

“The reception’s been really positive, the Asian market, and in particular, the a lot of tour operators are booking in Chinese market.” already.”

The attraction is aiming at the Asian But with opening day looming, the tourist stream from Rotorua, but site was still looking a bit like a war Paengaroa’s location half way between zone, says Scott.

Tauranga and Rotorua also makes “It’s like watching those programmes the Comvita Experience an attractive stop-off for cruise ship passengers out of on house building. The longer you leave the photograph the more finished it’s Mount Maunganui. going to be.

“The big potential market is China, “It’s really big structurally, and we’ve and that’s where a lot of focus is at the done a lot with road and the landscapmoment, and it will give a really good ing around the visitor centre. So it’s experience to people who come in on quite impressive. It’s going to be great cruise ships,” says Scott, who points for Paengaroa and the region.” to website Comvita.com for people to book the attraction.

By Andrew Campbell

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Wetland restored A Te Puke landowner has turned a hay paddock back into the wetland it used to be decades ago, with the help of Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The new wetland re-creates some of the former habitat that would have existed along the floodplain of the Waiari Stream last century, as part of the regional council’s commitment to implementing the Kaituna River ReDiversion and Wetland Creation project.

BOPRC land management officer Ryan Standen says the paddock used to be kept dry by draining springs directly into the Waiari Stream, he reckons constructing the wetland has been relatively easy by blocking drains to re-flood the area, building a structure to control the water level and an emergency spillway in case of flooding.

“There’s a native fish passage from the Waiari Stream into the wetland through a culvert, which has old mussel farm rope in it for native fish to climb up.”

“The edge of the wetland will be

planted during the next few winters; and pest animals like stoats and rats, which prey on wetland birds, will be trapped.”

The regional council’s Natural Resource Operations Group is offering help for landowners who want to create new wetlands within the Kaituna River catchment, says Ryan.

“We’d like to see more wetlands to improve water quality, provide habitat for native species, cultural use and recreational opportunities.”

Landowner Murray Fenwick says creating the wetland on his property was an exciting development.

“It’s great to be able to return some of this land to the wetland it used to be, and then watch the bird life and plants return as well.”

The regional council can help create new wetlands with funding from Biodiversity or Sustainable Land Management programmes.

A Wetland Restoration Guide is on the regional council website: www.boprc.govt.nz or call land management officer Ryan Standen on 0800 554 881 extn: 8503.

Woodturner calendar fundraiser

The Hauraki Woodturners Club has produced a calendar for the 2014 year depicting items of work members have made, along with information on the

wood used. The calendar’s numbers are bold for easy reading, and it room to write appointments each day.

Funds raised from calendars will allow the

club’s the 15 members to purchase more equipment for teaching on.

Calendars cost $15 each, available from Kaimai Physio and Katikati Medical Centre.

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trades & services CONTROL YOUR CHOOKS. No post’s, free standing fencing easily moved. Visit the website www.lifestyleproducts.net.nz or Ph Alan 027 432 1133

Tuesday, December 17:

Otorohanga Employers Group This property management focused group will review how performance reviews with staff have gone. We will spend a majority of time discussing what to do when “it all goes wrong.” If you know of any other farmers with staff that are interested, please bring them along.

Meet at St Johns Ambulance Station, Meeting Room, Kakamutu Rd, Otorohanga 10.30am-1pm. RSVP is required to Amy Johnson – call 027 483 2205 or email: amy.jonson@dairynz.co.nz

Monday, January 20:

Tokoroa Employers Group Come and join a like-minded group to talk about people management on your farm. If you have staff and want to learn some different tips and techniques, and also hear about what other people have done, then this is for you. Topics will be advised closer to the time. Meet at Tokoroa Club, Tokoroa 10.30am-1pm. Please note RSVP is required before the event. C all Amy Johnson on 0274 832 205 or email: amy.johnson@dairynz.co.nz

Tuesday, January 21:

Otorohanga Employers Group Come and join a like-minded group to talk about people management on your farm. If you have staff and want to learn some different tips and techniques and also hear about what other people have done, then this is for you. Topics will be advised closer to the time. Meet at St John Station, Kakamutu Rd, Otorohanga 10.30am-1pm. Please note RSVP is required before the event. Call Amy Johnson on 0274 832 205 or email: amy.johnson@dairynz.co.nz To list your rural event, please email: julie@thesun.co.nz with Rural Event in the subject heading.

Biosecurity beefed up

before they enter New Zealand.”

New x-ray machines have been installed in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown airports, and at the Auckland International Mail Centre. Thirty-two new quarantine inspectors and five new detector dog handlers have also joined the team, with 16 of the new inspectors based in Auckland, and eight in Wellington and Christchurch.

Three new dog teams (handler and dog), will go to Auckland, and one will go to both Wellington and Queenstown.

Waikato Mayoral Forum

ing with my fellow council leaders on making a real difference for Waikato’s future,” says Allan.

“Collectively, we want to ensure we have the best arrangements in place to deliver on the potential for multi-million dollar savings and a significantly healthier economy. It’s by working together that we’ll deliver the best results.”

New x-ray technology and more frontline staff will help to beef up New Zealand’s biosecurity defences at the border, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy. “The new machines will be more reliable than the Ministry for Primary Industries’ older x-ray units and will provide better image quality.

“MPI will be able to screen baggage with greater accuracy and image quality.

This means border staff will be better equipped to spot biosecurity risk items

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Waikato District Council’s Mayor Allan Sanson has been elected chair of the Waikato Mayoral Forum. Waitomo District Council’s Mayor Brian Hanna is deputy chair of the forum, which includes city and district mayors and the chair of the regional council.

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COAST & COUNTRY

PRIZE PACK UP FOR GRABS!

Pictures and details can be emailed (high resolution jpgs) to sarah@thesun.co.nz “Country Camera” or posted to Coast & Country, PO Box 240, Tauranga.

Please include a name, address & phone number with every entry.

Left: Two-year-old Piper Williams, and her fouryear-old sister Eden, feeding pet lambs at their grandparent’s farm. Sent in by Susan Williams.

R E N

IN

Above: Asher with our favourite cow, named ‘Big Red’.

W

Two-year-old Thomas with ‘Misty’ the pony at his first gymkhana, where they won the fancy dress.

Sent in by Charlotte Mogg.

It was just too big a day helping with the docking for fouryear-old Hunter Rogers of Rangitoto. Sent in by Jenni Templeton.

Nevaeh, with her pet lamb ‘Minx’. Sent in by Celeste Grant.

First-time calf club chicks, looked after by Ben Beveridge.