Coast & Country News October

BEST ALL ROUND NEWSPAPER 2014 · BEST ALL ROUND NEWSPAPER 2014 · BEST ALL ROUND NEWSPAPER 2014 · BEST ALL ROUND NEWSPAPER 2014

TE AROHA A&P SHOW PAGE 13

RETIREMENT PAGE 61-63

MASON – HORSES PAGE 6-7

SCOTT DAIRY PAGE 21-23

AVOCADOS PAGE 36-41

ALPACAS PAGE 8-9

RURAL DRIVER PAGE 52-55

October 2014 Issue No.170

Bay of Plenty & Waikato Farm, Orchard & Rural Lifestyle

Goats answer to a dream Award-winning cheese maker Jeanne van Kuyk and husband John are living their dream, milking goats on a small organic farm near Te Aroha – read their story on pages 4 and five. Photo Elaine Fisher

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Page 2

Arthur was right answer is in the soil

“I think the answer lies in the soil,” enunciated in a broad accent is a saying I grew up with.

My parents were fans of the weekly BBC radio comedy programme ‘Beyond our Ken’ in which wise Somerset farmer Arthur Fallowfield, played by Kenneth Williams, used the response to every question put to him.

My dad would on occasion use it too, when my constant questionasking got just too much.

Arthur Fallowfield may have been a figure of fun but “the answer lies in the soil” is probably not too far from the truth for many questions – such as how to cope with ever-increasing volumes of dairy effluent, how to reduce carbon emission to the atmosphere and how to grow more food for an expanding world population.

The soil is, as farmers know, far more than a medium in which to grow grass. As Ravensdown’s chief Scientific officer Ants Roberts says

in his report: “Don’t treat your soils like dirt” there’s much more to “dirt” than is immediately obvious.

“The stocking rate below ground, in well-fertilised pasture soils, is far greater than that above ground, for example it is estimated that the total weight of organisms in fertile soil is equivalent to around 25 cows or 250 sheep per hectare,” says Ants.

Keeping all that “livestock” healthy is one of the keys to treating dairy effluent, according to those interviewed for the article on pages 30 and 31.

Despite Fonterra’s predicted drop in milk payout this season from $6 to $5.30 per kgMS (see page 3), farmers are unlikely to be cutting herd numbers so New Zealand has to learn how to deal with more intensive farming – and, if our panel of experts are right, that’s entirely possible.

Making the most of the nutrients in effluent and recycling green water is very much part of the dairy development on the Scott farm at

Horohoro – see pages 21 to 23 The drop in milk price may translate into a $1.1 billion loss in potential income for New Zealand farms, but it could also take some pressure off all our exporters, as the Reserve Bank has signalled it believes lower dairy returns will translate into a drop in the value of NZ dollar, improving returns for exporters, including sheep and beef, kiwifruit and avocado industries.

Adding value to their own primary products is what Dutch couple, goat farmers John and Jeanne van Kuyk (see pages 4-5), and English couple, alpaca farmers Caroline and Simon Newcombe (see pages 8-9), have done.

Sue and Murray Barker of Te Aroha have been fish farmers for 35 years but the fish they raise aren’t destined for the plate – see pages 56-57.

And spring marks the beginning of the annual round of A&P shows, when town meets country – see page 63.

By Elaine Fisher

Madeline Bettle of Tauranga has won two wild game pate from Glenda Goldsbury of Backblocks Foods from last month’s reader’s competition. Amy Munns of Raglan has won the book “Some of the Mist” by Howard Egan, published by Halcyon Press.

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Farmers look to rebound in prices cent in the past two trading events.

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after our animals and our land. It’s not like farmers can easily pack their bags and head off overseas and most wouldn’t want to.”

Last year’s record pay out did help Bay of Plenty farmers recover from the 2013-2014 drought, described as the worst in 70 years and Scottie says farmers are grateful for the kind weather and great grass growth so far this season.

“I don’t think farmers will be slashing In typical fashion, they will concosts as that’s hard to do because we tinue to farm to their best ability Fonterra Highlights have to keep our cows well fed, and produce a product which pay our staff and make sure from 2013-2014 season: Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings we meet our consent requiresays has high taste and texture ments.”

• Cash Pay out $8.50, up 38% qualities unequalled by other Fonterra has reduced its • Revenue $22.3 billion, up 19% countries, is appreciated by forecast Farm gate Milk consumers and could earn a • Normalised EBIT $503 million, Price for the 2014/15 premium in the markets. down 50% season from $6 to $5.30 per kgMS, well down from last • Net profit after tax $179 Raise the bar season’s record pay-out of million, down 76% “It’s our sunshine and our $8.50.

• Earnings per share 10c, down 77% grass and the way we farm Dairy NZ has estimated the that makes the difference. We’re impact of the latest forecast ($6 • Total sales volumes stable at lucky in New Zealand to have down to $5.30 milk price) on 4 million metric tonnes such a strong dairy industry,” says farmer income will be $293.8 milScottie. lion in the Waikato, $75.8 million in He believes Fonterra has done well to get the Bay of Plenty and for the whole of New through last year’s major issues with a botulism scare Zealand $1.1 billion. and a strong negative reaction to the brand in Sri Chris says despite the decrease, farmers are expected Lanka. to maintain standards of animal health and look after “They’ve done pretty well but farmers always expect the environment in order to protect their brand.

Fonterra to raise the bar and do better, just as farmers “That’s something most farmers are proud to do and will continue to do while looking to the long term and make more demands on themselves.”

The reduced forecast has put a dampener on what a re-bound in the price.” was a stellar last season for Fonterra which has Synlait, Westland and Open Country dairy compaannounced a final cash payout of $8.50 for the 2014 nies have also dropped their forecast for this season. year for a 100 per cent share-backed farmer, compris“So it doesn’t matter which brand you are supplying, ing a farm gate Milk Price of $8.40 per kgMS and a the likelihood is of a low pay-out for everyone.” dividend of 10 cents per share.

Chris says the milk price is outside of farmers’ Chairman John Wilson says the pay out to the cocontrol so at this time they need to concentrate on the operative’s 10,500 farmer shareholders is the highest things they can control such as keeping their animals since Fonterra’s formation in 2001. well fed and producing top quality milk.

“The farm gate milk price on its own represents an injection of more than $13.3 billion to the New ZeaNo surprise land economy for the season.

“There are some things farmers might be able to cut “It is a strong result, reflecting the determination of back on, or leave for a while.” our farmer shareholders to lift on-farm performance, Fonterra’s predicted milk price drop was no surmatched within the business by a focus on driving prise to farmers says Scottie McLeod, dairy farmer of revenue.

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“Farmers could see that the price on the GlobalDairy Continuing volatility Trade auctions was dropping so knew what was “Our farmers took advantage of good conditions coming,” says Scottie who is Bay of Plenty Provincial to produce 1,584 million kgMS, eight per cent more Federated Farmers Sharemilker Employers' chairperthan last season, to make the most of the good preson. vailing prices early in the season.”

Farmers wouldn’t have been expecting a repeat of last John says the lower forecast farm gate milk price for season’s high pay out this season and most will have the current season reflects continuing volatility, with prepared conservative budgets.

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Page 4

Goat cheese and port, fitting end to day Cover story

John and Jeanne van Kuyk grew up enjoying raw milk cheeses, but couldn’t make them in New Zealand until the Te Aroha organic goat farmers became this country’s first registered producers of raw milk cheeses in 2012.

Achieving that status for Aroha Organic Goat Cheese took two and a half years of working closely with Ministry for Primary Industries staff, attending training sessions, submitting cheeses for testing and lengthy paper work.

“It was frustrating at times especially having been raised in Holland where raw milk products were just part of our daily lives, however having said that it has been a very educational journey at

the same time,” says Jeanne.

Today the couple make cheeses with both raw and pasteurised goats’ milk, but the raw milk cheeses are dearer. “It’s because of the extra costs involved in meeting the extensive testing for milk and cheese and extra animal health and dairy shed inspections required by MPI.” The cheeses have to be matured longer so they are tastier and have a different texture compared to

John van Kuyk feeds the milking goats hay on a regular basis.

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the pasteurized cheeses which are sold ‘younger’.

Achieving raw milk cheese certification is the realisation of yet another dream for the couple who came to New Zealand from Holland in 1981.

“We wanted to be farmers but couldn’t afford to farm in Holland.

When we saw a programme on television about share milking in New Zealand we decided that was for us,” says John. They left their homeland with Trudy (8) Johan (5) and Wouter (2) to contract milk on an isolated farm in Northland.

“It was great. We were farming, had a house, meat, milk, grew our own vegetables and lived so far from town we couldn’t spend very much money,” says Jeanne.

a few goats but their dream was to produce organic gouda goat cheese so a small flock was established and they registered with MPI (then NZFSA) in 2004, meanwhile the cows had been sold and the property subdivided to 21 ha for farming goats and grazing dairy heifers.

It’s a small scale, artisan operation. “We designed and had our goat milking plant built especially to our requirements.”

The four-bail plant stands in the centre of a large dairy parlour, with red gingham curtains at the windows and shelves. A&P Show ribbons hang from one wall. There are no pens, nor races, just a ramp up to the platform big enough for four.

Certified organic

The 30 goats are brought in twice a day by John who milks them. Outside Jeanne tethers goats by their collars, checks the health of each and washes their udders before leading them to the milking station.

“There is no problem getting them to come in as they receive a small treat and they know it.”

Milking parlour

Thanks to saving hard, the couple went on to buy their own cows and after share milking for six years, bought 40 hectares at Waihou near Te Aroha with friends, and continued milking cows. In 2000 they became certified organic with BioGro, after a transition period of three years.

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Page 5

Cheesemakers trail blazers too The milking machinery is designed specifically for goats, and the milk is delivered into large stainless steel cans, the night milk is rapidly deep cooled to minus 5C to be used for the cheese making the following day.

After milking the goats exit by a side door, back to the paddocks where they graze on an herbal ley pasture which includes chicory, chickweed, clover and pasture grasses. John also feeds hay made on the farm.

Happy goats they say, make for great milk, happy cheese makers and ultimately happy customers.

Anglo Nubian

Large white Saanen Breed and the multi-coloured, long eared Anglo Nubian goats make up the herd. “The Saanen produce more milk which is lower in butterfat but the AngloNubian produce fewer litres but the milk is very high in solids - butterfat and protein.”

Every goat has a name, displayed on its collar.

“Our grandchildren love naming new kids and have

their own special goats they want to see when they come to visit,” says John.

The couple used to take their goats to local A&P Shows, where they invariably won prizes but because of strict organic BioGro conditions which mean keeping the goats isolated from other animals and to be quarantined for 48 hours at return back to the farm, they no longer do so.

However, there are no such impediments to entering cheeses in competitions, something Aroha Organic Goat Cheese has done with significant success.

Both its Plain Gouda cheeses received gold medals in the 2014 New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards. “They were competing against one another for the Champion Goat Cheese Award which was won by Aroha Raw Milk Rich Plain.

“Our raw milk cumin and fenugreek both won gold medals as well so did Aroha Passion. The other ones entered received either silver or bronze medals.

“But the absolute highlight was receiving the supreme NZ Champion Cheese-maker Award. We were very humbled and at the same time very honoured by this prestigious recognition.”

The framed award has pride

of place above the couple’s dining table.

Aroha Organic Goat Cheese is only available by ordering on line, and there’s often a waiting list, because of the relatively small volume of milk processed and the fact virtually everything is done by hand.

At the end of each day, John says there is no better way to relax than with a glass of port and a slice of their own Aroha goats’ cheese.

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Diesel looks like he’s asleep.

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“He’s temporarily ‘shut down’ which is his way of coping with someone or something different.

People often mistakenly think horses which do this are very quiet. In fact they can be anything but.”

Helena and husband Phil have learned to read the “horsenality” – personality – of horses thanks to 17 years of studying and practicing natural horsemanship. Their skills have gained them a reputation for changing the behaviour of so-called problem horses but now the couple are changing tack.

“We are breeding our own show jumping horses, using the best of bloodlines from our own mares, and those of Capatino GNZ from Redcliffs Equestrian of Kerikeri.”

Capatino, who arrived at Redcliffs Equestrian in July 2013 was bred by Goldengrove Stud. His sire was by Casall La Silla, described as an international jumping superstar who provides the best Holstein bloodlines available. His mother Countess is a Nations Cup mare by Calato who was bred by a renowned breeder of top broodmares and performance horses.

First foal

Like Phil and Helena, Redcliffs Equestrian owners Kate Hewlett and Tim Featherstone have developed their own way of horsemanship based on the best of many methods.

Already the Masons have their first foal by Capatino GNZ – nicknamed Kevin - and they have high hopes he will be the first of many top show jumpers. “These horses are so easy to work with, so willing and able,” says Helena.

The aim is to sell the horses as youngsters ready for training as show jumpers or for dressage or eventing.

“Kevin” is Helena and Phil Mason’s first foal by sire Capatino GNZ.

The change of focus is because Phil and Helena want more time to enjoy and ride their own horses which graze on their lifestyle block overlooking the Ohiwa Harbour.

“We have enjoyed working with other peoples’ horses but it’s very demanding, and often we find the owners need more training than the horses.

They don’t learn as quickly if they are not completely open to this style of training,” says Helena who grew up in Auckland and has been riding since she was in her teens.

Phil grew up at Taneatua and credits

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the local butcher George Hayward for his early love of riding and horses. “I was one of five boys George used to get to do odd jobs for him – I think he saw it as a way to keep us off the streets. He was the huntsman for the local hunt and encouraged us to ride.”

Gentling horses

Phil gave up riding for several years and didn’t resume until he met Helena.

They both became interested in natural horsemanship, a way of “gentling”, not breaking horses by observing and understanding their natures.

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COAST & COUNTRY

Page 7

Gentle techniques for right brained introvert Helena Mason uses subtle changes in her body language to ask Diesel to walk, or trot around the ring.

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“I had “broken” horses using the more traditional methods but never felt good about using force and pain to make a horse do what you want.”

“Natural horsemanship techniques are so much more rewarding for both the horse and for us,” says Helena.

“There’s no such thing as a bad horse. People have just taught them to do the wrong things. All horses want to do is survive,” says Phil.

“If their behaviour, like rearing up when led up to a horse float, means they don’t have to go in it, then they’ll keep doing that.

“When we work with a horse, we let them go through all the tricks in their quiver, and then begin working to change that behaviour.

With some horses the change can be quite quick.”

It might look like magic but Helena says it’s not. “It has taken a long time for us to learn what we do and we’re still learning. The day you think you know it all is the day you come unstuck.”

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Phil Mason working with Bill (on the left) and Diesel. pressure on the lead, invites Diesel to lower his head.

“I can only do all this with Diesel’s co-operation. After all he’s a 500 kg animal who could seriously harm me if he wanted to.

Testing horses

Diesel was one horse Helena had real reservations about. “He’s a right-brain introvert and even now after months of working with With the lightest of pressure on the him I have to be careful. If I introduce anylead, Helena Mason invites Diesel to thing and try to push it onto him, he can just lower his head. explode.”

“These type of horses will test every part of your knowledge, but in saying that they also and you must work both”. teach you the most, if you just take the time it takes Another subtle command and Diesel to see it.” trots. At another he will advance But that “explosive” horse, without halter or lead, towards Helena, or back up. A gentle will answer Helena’s every request when in the ring prod with a finger in his shoulder and with her, taking his lead from subtle changes in her Diesel elegantly walks sideways in a body language.” dressage-like movement.

“He will walk clockwise around the ring, then Later Helena puts on a rope halter, anti-clockwise -“a horse had two sides but no bit, and with the lightest of

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“The two key factors when dealing with all horses of any horsenality is to have them wanting to be with you, in mind, under your leadership and for the handler to always deal with what frame of mind of the horse shows up on the day of handling any particular horse.”

While they won’t be training the horses they are now breeding for show jumping, Phil and Helena will “gentle” them using natural horsemanship techniques so they will be ready and willing to take the next steps with their

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COAST & COUNTRY

Page 8 Fifty alpaca make up the Newcombe’s alpaca herd and all are white.

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The ‘sit or spit’ test for pregnancy When Caroline and Simon Newcombe saw alpaca for the first time at the Tauranga A&P Show they were captivated.

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Not only did they want to eventually own alpaca, they also wanted to send alpaca-themed gifts to family and friends in Britain. “But we couldn’t find any,” says Caroline.

After months of fruitless searching, the couple not long arrived in New Zealand, decided to start their own giftware company, travelling the country to find the best designers, artists and craftspeople to help create unique products for the business they call The Alpaca Company.

Simon, an auditor and Caroline, a quality and risk manager for a dental technology company haven’t stopped there. They now own their own farm, raising and breeding alpaca for fibre.

And they’ve taken another “added value” step by buying the Red Poppy shop in Katikati to retail both their quirky alpaca gift wear (and other lines) and garments made to Caroline’s designs from their fibre.

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The couple, who farm 10 acres just south of Katikati, used a small inheritance in 2004 to buy their first alpaca – a male called Thomas Lawrence (in honour of Caroline’s grandfather) and Annebella, a pregnant female with a female cria (young) alpaca at foot. (Female alpaca are called hembre, a male is a macho and a 12 month old Alpaca is called a tui).

“Tom is fantastic at teaching the young males manners so he’s in charge of looking after the weanlings for six months before we put them in with the adults. Annebella and her off-spring are certainly “royalty” with even the young females being given privileges over feed by older females. There’s definitely a very strong pecking order in alpaca society,” says Caroline.

Today their herd numbers 50 and all are white. “We breed primarily for the fibre but we also have a few animals available for sale

range of fashion women’s wear, child and baby wear and men’s wear too.

“We have received requests for men’s jumpers so have started producing these too. We are also sometimes asked to replicate a favourite woollen garment in alpaca fibre, which we can do from photos and measurements.”

Stoic animals

every year. The problem for the industry at present is the relatively small amount of fibre available. Commercial mills usually want at least 300 kg to process. Before we can send our fibre to the mill it needs to be sent to Timaru to be scoured then it is on-shipped to Design Spun in Napier for carding, spinning and dying. Competing for a place in the scourer’s and mill’s schedule against much larger volumes of Merino fibre can be challenging,” says Simon.

Alpaca fibre

The Newcombes pool their fibre with a Cambridge breeder to ensure they have the volumes and grades they specify for their yarn but Simon says there are buyers who will take smaller volumes and various grades of fleece from farmers with just a few animals.

Alpaca are generally shorn by strapping the animals to a table. “Most of the alpaca don’t appear to mind the process and removing the fleece certainly helps keep them cooler in summer.”

Caroline says garments made from good quality (they target sub 22 micron) alpaca fibre are “absolutely lovely”. “People who can’t wear sheep’s wool because of the “prickle’ can often wear good quality alpaca.

It is very warm and light, so you can wear an alpaca garment year round. Garments wash well, with care, and now our fibre is treated so the newest line of garments will all be machine washable.”

The Alpaca Company garments, marketed under the brand name Percentage, are machine knitted on commission, many of them to Caroline’s own designs. There is a

Simon and Caroline’s full time jobs are away from their small farm so it’s fortunate that alpaca are generally easy to care for and hardy. The couple check the animals twice a day. “Alpaca are pretty stoic and if you don’t know your animals well it’s easy to miss when something is wrong,” says Caroline.

Lack of vitamin D can be an issue as New Zealand sunshine hours don’t provide quite enough, so supplements are administered to help prevent any deficiency. “We also supplement their grass diet with hay as they need the fibre to help with digestion,” says Simon. The animals don’t get foot rot, but their feet need trimming.

“Facial eczema is probably the biggest threat to health, as the spores can kill an alpaca really quickly. Over time they might build resistance, but they have only been in New Zealand for around 30 years, so that hasn’t happened yet,” says Simon.

Even though alpaca are browsers, they eat grass down to the ground, so are vulnerable to ingesting spores. Young stock on the Newcombe property are kept in yards, where the ground is covered in weed matting, and fed cut fodder when the risk of infection is high and all adults are given zinc supplements daily.

Best genetics

Generally the females don’t have problems giving birth. “They normally give birth between 9am and 2pm, and I guess that’s an evolutionary thing as in the South American high country where they come from conditions can be freezing morning and night so the cria need to be fed and mobile before night fall.”

COAST & COUNTRY Caroline and Simon Newcombe aim to breed alpaca which produce sub 22 micron fibre.

Alpaca themed gifts preceded livestock Females can be mated two weeks after giving birth and ovulation is triggered by mating, rather than being “inseason”.

“While we have our own stud male on the farm and are part of a syndicate that owns six stud males we also use the services of some of the top stud males in New Zealand. This planned breeding programme ensures we are building a herd of alpaca with some of the best genetics available,” says Simon.

“We used to scan our females to find out if they were pregnant – now we just put a male in with them,” says Simon.

“If a female is pregnant she’ll spit at a male but if she’s not she’ll sit for him so it’s the ‘spit or sit’ test.”

A hembre is pregnant for at least 11 months and seldom has more than one cria. “They can delay giving birth for quite a length of time if weather conditions aren’t right, so they don’t often give birth during storms.”

Premium product Caroline and Simon believe alpaca are the ideal animal for small block owners. “You can graze five to eight animals to the acre and they are easy to handle.

Their fibre is a premium

product and is likely to remain so as numbers increase very slowly with just one off-spring produced a year,” says Simon.

“There isn’t a ready market for alpaca meat and for those lifestylers who find it hard to raise animals for the freezer, alpaca are a good option,” says Caroline.

The couple have confidence in the industry’s future, not only because of the quality and value of alpaca fibre, but also because of the commitment those in the industry have to sharing their knowledge and promoting both the animals and their fibre.

That, they say, is credit to the alpaca. They are such attractive animals with such endearing personalities those who farm them develop an affection beyond that normally felt for other livestock. By Elaine Fisher

17 18 19 October

Page 9

COAST & COUNTRY

Page 10

Cyclists now taking the waters Tourists arrived by boat, train, on horseback, in coaches and some even walked, to take the therapeutic waters at Te Aroha 130 years ago.

Today tourists continue to arrive in New Zealand’s most authentic Edwardian spa resort to bathe in the hot springs, enjoy relaxing spa treatments, shopping, dining and more and an increasing number bike into town,

along the popular Hauraki Rail Trail.

Taking the waters, both by bathing and drinking was fashionable in the 1880s when 18 different springs, 15 of them hot, were compared to the world famous springs of Vichy, Chandesaignes and Elms and reputed to be beneficial for rheumatism, arthritis, dyspepsia and even eye diseases.

It was Te Mokena Hou, a Ngati Rahiri chief, who gifted the springs to the government and the Department of Tourists and Health Resorts which promoted the

The Te Aroha and District Museum is located in the Cadman Bath House, built in 1898.

Darryl Isaac Ltd Te Aroha Hot Springs to New Zealand and international tourists. For a time Te Aroha drew more visitors than either Rotorua or Hanmer Springs.

Today the spa town’s history is recorded by the Te Aroha and District Museum, located in the Cadman Bath House, built in 1898.

The original tiled flooring is still in place, as are the ornate porcelain, flush toilets and one of the original bathrooms where clients would soak in thermal water and then enjoy a massage at the hands of Elsa Fredga the Swedish Masseuse brought to New Zealand by the tourist department.

Hi-tech therapy

Ron Galloway, vice-president of the Te Aroha Museum says Elsa was probably a qualified physiotherapist and her skills were also in demand at Rotorua and Hanmer Springs.

Later therapists used what were for the time hi-tech diathermay and Greville electrical devices and even ultra-sound to help relieve aching muscles and pos-

sibly as beauty therapies. The bath house continued to be used as a therapy centre until 1962.

Janice Parsell President of the Te Aroha Museum says it was Te Aroha Mayor Henry Skidmore who instigated the birth of the museum in 1971 and donated a horse-drawn plough as the first item in the collection.

“Local men Lou Rogers, Reg Gillian and Keith Williams took up his idea of a museum and put an advert in the paper asking for donations of items.

They got so many they filled up a very large shed.”

The collection needed culling, cataloguing and displaying so some of the larger pieces of machinery and other objects were sold and, thanks to tireless work of volunteers, much of what remained is now on display in the museum in the town’s historic domain.

“We are still working through cataloguing and recording every item in the museum. So far we have 7888 items photographed and recorded on computer,” says Janice.

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COAST & COUNTRY

Page 11

Te Aroha tourist town once rivalled Rotorua they have asked for the public’s help in finding out who they were.

Another exhibit tells the story of gold mining in the Waiorongomai Valley. When Hone Wharehiko found gold there in the 1880s it attracted so many prospectors, the valley became the scene of large scale gold mining activities, but the mine proved uneconomic and by 1900 most miners had left.

However, Ron says one determined miner, Malcolm York Hardy lived alone in a remote bush hut and worked a claim at Waiorongomai for many decades. Ron and Janice visited Malcolm’s hut, which by then had collapsed, to measure its dimensions so Ron could build a model for the museum.

“I remember going there as a child, and seeing the rafters, as it had no ceiling,” says Ron as he lifts the roof off the scale model of Malcolm’s hut to reveal the exposed beams. “Children love seeing this.”

available in the Te Aroha Borough. A hydro scheme diverted water from the Tunakohoia and Omahu Streams to a small reservoir above Hamilton Street.

Delivered by pipe line to the Te Aroha Power House 150m below the reservoir that water drove the 100 horsepower Cassels Pelton wheel which in turn drove a 3,100 volt generator providing electricity for the town. The generator is now in the museum. “We installed it by crane, before the roof went on an extension to the museum.”

Janice says the Hauraki Rail Trail has provided a welcome boost for Te Aroha and the museum by bringing more visitors to town and she recommends

a museum visit should be on their itinerary.

“We have a number of activities aimed at children of all ages and abilities and they are so popular we often find parents have finished looking round, while children are still trying to find that last item on their project sheet.”

The Te Aroha and District Museum is in the domain in the town’s main street, Whitaker Street. It is open seven days a week from midday to 3pm in winter and 11am to 4pm from Labour Weekend until Easter, and other times by appointment.

By Elaine Fisher

Electric town

Te Aroha was one of the first small town in New Zealand to have reticulated electricity when in April 1906 electric current became Ron Galloway and Janice Parsell with the first item donated the Te Aroha Museum, a horsedrawn plough gifted by the then Mayor Henry Skidmore.

The museum is supported by a team of 26 volunteers, who have each selected an aspect of the museum they want to work on. “It’s an excellent system because we have someone here every day totalk to visitors, but also to keep themselves busy cleaning, repairing, researching, arranging displays or cataloguing,” says Janice.

Research work

Ron has the role of research for the public, pouring over micro fish flies of the Te Aroha News dating back to 1882. “We charge a fee for research because it is so time consuming, and we do get a lot of requests for people wanting to trace family, or particular events, like the recent request to find out when and where a particularly large boar was killed on the mountain,” he says.

Rather than display all its artefacts at once, the museum changes exhibits on a regular basis.

“Currently we have a World War One exhibit, which I found quite moving to work on because so many of the very young men who went to war didn’t return,” says Janice.

In the exhibit are two photos of young men museum researchers haven’t been able to identify so

Among the Te Aroha Museum’s World War One exhibition are two photos of young men researchers have been unable to identify. The museum would like to hear from anyone who knows who they are.

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TE AROHA

Spring busy time for vets and farmers As it is for farmers, so too is spring one of the busiest times for vets, especially those from the Te Aroha Veterinary Services.

Veterinarian Kevin Rooney says the days can be long, with frequent late night call outs but with a team of seven vets, emergency calls are able to be answered quickly.

Te Aroha Veterinary Services is 30

Te Aroha Veterinary Services occupies a spacious building in the town’s main street. years old and occupies a spacious building in the town’s main street which was previously a rural supply store.

The building provides ample room for surgery and treatment rooms, administration and a large retail area with supplies for both farmers and pet owners.

While there is a focus on small animals, it is farm animals which account for most of the clinic’s time.

“Some of our clients have been with the business since it began and we are often working with second generation farmers,” says Kevin.

The focus of today’s veterinary practice is on prevention and education, helping farmers avoid health issues with stock through vaccination and other preventative measures such as supplements including vitamin B12, selenium, copper, zinc, and magnesium.

Te Aroha Veterinary Services produces a regular newsletter for farmers aimed at alerting them to seasonal aspects of animal health which need attention, and helping educate them about new threats, such as the blood parasite Theileria orinentalis which is spread by cattle ticks.

Engineering firm’s proud history of service Versatility is the hallmark of the services provided by RD Leith, one of Te Aroha’s oldest businesses.

Founded in the 1940s by the late Russell Leith, the engineering company is now owned by Geoff and Deidre Edwards who bought it in 2001 and have continued its long traditions of service to the farming and rural community.

Geoff knows the company and its clients well because he was foreman for 15 years before taking it over. It’s that thorough knowledge of the business, the local and area and clients which makes RD Leith the “go to” company for a wide range of products and services.

The engineering company and its permanent staff of five plus two part timers, is known for its work in constructing yards, buildings and races for both cows and goat dairies.

RD Leith also builds gable sheds suitable for high wind areas and round barns and make farm, cowshed and residential gates too.

“We offer onsite repairs and maintenance services for clients and are often called out for emergency repairs and breakdowns,” says Geoff.

RD Leith provides services throughout the Waikato and wider area.

RD Leith is kn buildings an own for the quality of it s rural d dairy yard sa engineering s well as general work.

TE AROHA

Page 13

Chance to hold Frodo’s ‘co-star’ at show Stars from the movies Lord of the Rings, Hercules, Xena and Power Rangers will be making an appearance at the Te Aroha A&P Show on Saturday November 22, but they won’t be able to sign autographs.

Mount Te Aroha makes a stunning backdrop for the town’s annual A&P show

Scary – but friendly Brian Lawton of Auckland Zoo with an Avondale spider which the public will have the chance to hold at the Te Aroha A&P Show.

However, for those brave enough, there will be the chance to hold the “star” which sat on Frodo’s shoulder in Lord of the Rings –a 20 cm Avondale spider, says Tracey Stobie of the show committee.

Also known as Huntsman spiders, these are the largest species in New Zealand and will be accompanied by live animal curator at Auckland Museum Brian Lawton who will be talking about the spiders and their movie roles.

“If that doesn’t get your heart racing, the ‘rock stars’ of the spider world the Tarantula will also be on show, so don’t miss the chance to see these incredible spiders up close.”

During 118 years of show days at Boyd Park there has been many exciting and interesting entertainments and bringing spiders to the 2014 show is in keeping with this tradition, she says.

Vets re-create Te Aroha landmark A Landmark Building is how you could describe the Masonic Lodge in Te Aroha.

At least, after its extensive renovation which has seen a returned to its former glory of when it was built in 1904.

in Matamata, and five years from the opening of the Te Aroha branch, Landmark Vets are more focused than ever on the vision of offering friendly, homely but at the same time professional service for every animal in Te Aroha and surrounds.

“Everyone hates going to the dentist or doctor, but we want our patients to come in stress-free and relaxed. By making the extra-ordinary Te Aroha’s historic Masonic Lodge has been rebuilt look ordinary, we can and restored as a veterinary clinic by new Exactly 100 achieve great results owners Landmark Vets. years after the for all animals,” says Masonic Lodge building opened, Rewi Street looked dilapidated Aukje and Arjan.

Landmark Vets was started in when Aukje and Arjan de Wilde After all these years in the field Matamata in 2004. bought it, but had beautiful bones (and paddock), Landmark Vets After a successful few years they and an original wooden interior. offers services to all animals, from took their expertise to Whitaker So, with a vision of giving somethe smallest pet to the largest Street in Te Aroha in 2009. Soon thing back to Te Aroha and with farm asset. They have in-house they had truly outgrown their Te the help of great friends and never digital X-ray, full blood analysis ending enthusiasm they took on Aroha Clinic and the search for and many other in-house labora‘something with potential’ was on. the project. tory tests, to give you the quickest Exactly 10 years after starting The Freemason Lodge 51on turn-around seven days a week.

The Ravensdown Truck Pull is the ultimate challenge for teams of four with $500 on offer to the fastest team and cash prizes for second and third.

“This event is open to all so get your teams registered with the show secretary now.

“Unique to NZ country events is the Te Aroha Grand National Sheeplechase contested by racing stars Roast Ram, Dagg and Lamborghini to name just a few. Meet these stars of sheep racing and get some inside tips on who’s the fastest lamb in town. “ Tracey says the Te Aroha show is

renowned for its horticultural and home industries section with competitions for children and adults covering baking, flowers, vegetables and everything in between and schedules are available now.

As always Boyd Park provides an outstanding surface for the equestrian, cattle and children’s livestock competitions.

Public gates open 9am. Entry for adults and children over 12yrs is $5, children 12yrs and under $2.

Enquires Secretary Ann Browne 07 8844139 email tearohaaph@gmail. com fb Te Aroha Show

Te Aroha A&P Show is known for its floral competitions which always attract a strong number of entries.

Page 14

WHAKATANE

Matt treats troops in New Caledonia Providing medical treatment to the 130-strong ship’s company on board HMNZS Canterbury while deployed in New Caledonia is very much business as usual for Ohope man, Able Medic Matt Pirini.

Matt, a former Trident High School pupil, is one of three medics on board Canterbury, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s amphibious support ship. In New Caledonia the medical team was responsible for providing immediate medical support to the NZDF contingent participating in Exercise Croix du Sud. Able Medic Matt Pirini working in HMNZS Canterbury’s sick bay during Exercise Croix du Sud in New Caledonia.

It’s the second multinational exercise this year for Matt, who arrived in New Caledonia after spending six weeks in Hawaii for Exercise RIMPAC, the largest multinational exercise the NZDF will be a part of this year.

Matt says Exercise Croix du Sud gave him the ability to build relationships and compare notes with his counterparts in the Canadian Armed Forces, French Armed Forces and US Marines.

“These multinational exercises expose us to other military medics and their operating teams and capability. The French doctors on board during Exercise Croix du Sud have given us an added scope of practice,

and shared their experiences of time spent in the field.”

Matt holds an Auckland University of Technology Diploma in Health Sciences and Diploma in Paramedicine, both funded by the NZDF. He is also a member of the Navy’s Alpine Club, and says that the NZDF challenges him both mentally and physically, citing his hobbies as hiking, snowboarding and surfing.

“The lifestyle and the ability to make a positive difference is what I enjoy most about my role. Great mates and being paid to travel the world is just the icing on the cake.”

Mechanical solutions for lifestyle block owners Many lifestyle owners have older tractors and farm machinery, not the latest and greatest branded machines that are visible in the sales yard of big franchised dealerships.

Getting their older machines repaired or serviced can sometimes be daunting for lifestyle owners says Steve Hocking, manager of Gateway Mechanical Whakatane.

The big franchised dealerships, while they offer workshop services, often come with franchised pricing and an attitude of “we’ll fit you in when we can”.

That’s why Gateway Mechanical Repair and Service Centre caters specifically for lifestyle owners and highly value their custom. “Lifestyle owners deserve the same level of respect and support that the big farmers get from the franchised dealerships and Gateway Mechanical are committed to ensuring this happens.

“Every customer of Gateway Mechanical is a VIP and we work hard to ensure tractor and machinery service and repair reliability, at a cost effective price. Whether it is a simple engine and fuel filter and oil change service or a more

Apprentice mechanic Dion Stevenson and senior mechanic Karl Stevenson are part of the friendly team at Gateway Mechanical. comprehensive repair, a high level of professional service comes with the task from our dedicated qualified mechanics.”

Steve says lifestyle block owners often have a simple problem with their tractor but because they are unsure on how to proceed with rectifying the issue or even who they can get to fix it, this can lead to catastrophic and expensive repairs further down the track. “This can be easily avoided by contacting Gateway Mechanical.”

The most common issues are; leaking seals on rams, dash gauges not operating or loose or dangerous steering joints. These are often fixed with little cost or effort but they go a long way towards the reliability of the tractor. Higher level repairs include clutch replacement

or motor reconditioning are both specialities for Gateway Mechanical.

Repair and service of existing tractors and farm machinery is only part of the service offered by the Gateway Mechanical Repair and Service Centre. The company carries a number of appropriately priced second hand tractors on its lot in Gateway Crescent, Whakatane suitable for lifestyle owners.

Each tractor passes through the workshop where they are mechanically brought up to a high standard in order to ensure reliability for their new owners.

Visit Gateway Mechanical for used tractor and machinery sales as well as repair and service of all types of lifestyle tractors and machinery.

WHAKATANE

Page 15

Effluent consents can be negotiable Fast, efficient mowers Some consent conditions for dairy farm effluent can be negotiated with regional councils, but many farmers don’t realise that, says John Howard, Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty provincial vice president.

“Farmers and councils can agree on different lengths of time for consents and the size of storage.”

It may not make sense for farmers nearing retirement, or considering leaving the industry to build a system which receives a 20 year consent time frame.

“A 10 year consent might be more affordable and practical and also allow for new technology that may be more suitable.”

John says since DairyNZ produced a document setting out guidelines for best practice, many regional councils had adopted it as if that was the only standard that is to be achieved, but in many cases that degree of compliance is not necessary or affordable right now.

“The regional council consents officers and compliance officers are approachable. Dialogue is the best way to achieve the best results for all parties.”

However, farmers do have to take action to ensure their farming systems are not adversely impacting the environment and that they are meeting Fonterra supply conditions, says John.

“There are some who let themselves and the industry down and that’s not good enough. Unfortunately these are the ones that make all the headlines for all the wrong reasons and we are all judged by their performance.”

Capital investment

Fonterra’s high pay out for last season has enabled farmers to invest in capital projects and many of those have been effluent systems. “There are a lot of very expensive tanks and ponds going in all round the country.”

Farmers also need to get involved in the regional discussion on the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management because decisions that are being made will affect their businesses.

“Farmer apathy really concerns me. I know everyone is busy and it takes an effort to stop work and attend meetings, but it is hard to demonstrate to local and regional councils that farmers want to be taken seriously, if they don’t turn up to meetings.

“Federated Farmers can’t do all the representation. Farmers have to take some responsibility to get involved themselves.”

BigDog zero-turn mowers have made a home in New Zealand and these premium quality machines can mow up to twice as fast as a regular ride-on, so you’ll spend less time mowing says Paul Henricksen of Stihl Shop Whakatane.

Dialogue is the best way to achieve the best results says John Howard.

On the other hand, local body councillors and staff need to walk in farmers’ boots to really understand what is happening on the land, John believes.

“One of the most useful days Federated Farmers has organised recently was taking councillors and some staff to visit the recent winners of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards to see what lengths dairy and dry stock farmers are going to, to protect the environment and yet remain sustainable farmers.”

Riparian plant

Council requirements for farmers to retire and plant riparian areas are not unreasonable and can enhance farmland but John says there is concern among farmers that the areas they have paid to retire, risk becoming classified by district councils as significant natural areas. Another issue concerning John is what he sees as mixed signals from Fonterra. “On the one hand Fonterra is saying it doesn’t support farmers using induction at calving, but on the other is offering 52 cents off-peak incentive, which will often mean farmers could have used induction as a tool to calve cows early.

“New conditions, including those on detergent residues, have been brought in with little or no consultation with farmers. Then there’s the requirements around vat temperatures and minimum starting pick up volumes, all of which impact adversely on smaller farmers.

“I feel Fonterra is becoming more and more of a corporate, and not as in touch as it could be with farmers. That’s probably because we have fewer what I call “dirty hand” farmers, those who are actually working on farms, making decisions. I know this is hard because the business of Fonterra has become very complex and we need people who are corporate minded but they also need to be co-operative minded too.”

The increasing age of farmers, the rising cost of land and livestock are making it harder for young people to move up in the industry. John’s prediction is that within the next few decades many small family farms could be gone and the industry will be dominated by large corporate farms which will not necessarily be in the best interests of the industry.

By Elaine Fisher

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Page 16

MAIZE

Reliable service crucial at harvest Farmers need reliable service from contractors, especially at harvest time, says Japie Jodaan managing director of Jordaan Contracting Ltd.

That’s why the well-established Bay of Plenty agricultural contracting business also known as JCL has a commitment high standards for machinery and staff.

“Due to the unpredictability of weather patterns, it is challenging for any agricultural contractor to know when and how long silage harvesting and hay making windows will occur.

“JCL understands the importance of having reliable machinery as well as experienced management and operators, ensuring prompt and uninterrupted services to their clients.”

JCL’s efficient loader wagon forms a critical basis for harvesting high quality forage.

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for obtaining this high quality forage.”

Together with two sets of double mowers, JCL is using two Strautmann loader wagons that can be operated in tandem for extra efficiency.”

A full baling service is provided from mowing, raking, tedding, baling, wrapping, stacking to carting.

JCL has acquired additional new machinery.

The new McHale F5500 round baler wrapper combo provides superb bale density and uniformity to maximize silage quality. The new Case LB333 square baler is equipped with a moisture meter and scales for accurate dry matter measurements of the crop.

For the upcoming season, JCL will be running 11 tractors in the fleet.

Modern GPS technology is being used for a higher level of accuracy during operations. A 12-tonne digger has also recently been added to the fleet.

“Additionally, the company has invested in a skilled full time mechanic who keeps the machinery in top shape,” says Japie who has 26 years’ experience in rural agricultural contracting.

Together with his team of skilled operators, he is committed to deliver quality service to clients.

JCL provides a full maize management service ranging from planting to harvesting.

“We also specialize in winter and summer crops, which include planning, spraying, ripping, discing, power harrowing, roll seed rolling and direct drilling.

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MAIZE

Page 17

Grass recovering Nicky leads irrigation board after dry winter IrrigationNZ’s new chairperson Nicky Hyslop is the first women to be elected to this position.

This autumn was mild but drier for longer, which was good for the maize harvest, but it has slowed up grass growth.

This has meant we have been selling feed about six weeks longer than usual from winter through to August.

Grass growth was slow in August with13 frosts in a row in the higher country and farmers there are struggling to find feed although the grass is starting to grow with the rain we had in September.

Most farmers are on par with last season’s milk production.

Being drier earlier has slowed growth but it also means less pugging damage so when the spring rains arrived, growth has been quicker.

We’ve already started baling and chopping bulk silage which has all been going out the gate as quickly as we can make it.

Pay-out drop

We’ve done some cultivation preparing ground for maize which goes in around September 25 but that’s only if soil temperatures are 14 degrees and rising.

If it’s not the seed stays in the bags.

(In mid-September it was around 12 to 13).

We are also paying attention to our chicory and turnip paddocks.

Most farmers are happy with the season to date; other than the payout.

The drop in forecast pay-outs immediately slows up maize contracts.

There are farmers who have a plan and know what they need and will keep to it.

However many others, especially corporate-owned farms, are price-sen-

sitive and may now sit on the fence to see what happens with the season and their own grass growth. In an attempt to reduce costs, farmers may grow more maize on farm or do their own cultivation.

This could be false economy considering capital tied up in expensive machinery and other unforeseen indirect costs.

Farmers growing crops shouldn’t cut corners, despite the tighter pay-out, because that risks a poor result. Remember that grass silage should be harvested it when it’s short and leafy, not tall and bulky to get the best quality.

Fodder beet

The six dollar pay-out will put pressure on a lot of people but the majority will be okay. If it goes too much lower though, it will start to spin off for the whole region.

Every dollar goes around about seven times, so that’s a big impact on rural communities and towns.

There’s a lot of interest in fodder beet. We've tried it in the past and were challenged by the weed pressure.

We grow weeds really well in the Bay of Plenty, so there’s not a lot of fodder beet grown but there is a lot of interest in it.

Chicory and turnips are grown; but there isn't that much other cropping.

It’s not like Southland where they grow a lot of kale and swedes. Some may have a few crops on run-offs; but grass usually grows reasonably well through winter with silage to finish off and palm kernel to plug any gaps.

The seasons swing round so quickly – calving is all but over and now farmers are busy with mating and before we know it summer will be here – hopefully not a long hot dry one.

Nicky is a South Canterbury sheep and beef farmer, director of Opuha Water Limited and management consultant of 20 years.

After five years on the board, with three in the deputy chairperson role, Nicky says she’s ready to lead the interests of irrigators and help improve communication between irrigators and the public,

particularly city dwellers and environmentalists.

“A critical part of this is ensuring irrigators increase the uptake of SMART Irrigation practices under our SMART Irrigation programme. We won’t change public perceptions until we can show widespread efficient, responsible and sustainable irrigation practice.

We are committed to making this happen.

“For irrigation and water storage to develop in a way that other New Zealanders support, we - as irrigating farmers – need to prove

we are using water responsibly, efficiently and sustainably.

“We understand and respect that New Zealanders are concerned about their waterways.

“We all want our children and grandchildren to swim and play in local rivers, but I believe that there are ways to make this happen which also allow rural producers to thrive and compete in global markets.

“IrrigationNZ is working with stakeholders to try and find ways forward which are acceptable to all.”

MAIZE

Page 18

Traceability online tool for grain growers Record keeping and traceability are hot topics for the arable industry and the Foundation for Arable Resrarch is at the forefront with Grain Growers Ltd, Australia, in developing a system for growers which will tick lots of boxes.

ProductionWise is an integrated online farm management system that allows you to map your paddocks, record management

practices and inputs, and automatically generate reports, gross margins and benchmarking.

Grain Growers Ltd in Australia have developed the system and have worked with FAR to streamline it for use in New Zealand.

They have placed a strong emphasis on ease of use and the system is freely available to all Foundation for Arable Research levy payers.

ProductionWise has four key features: Farm Mapping – Google powered digital paddock mapping, topographic paddock information,

general soil characteristics and grain infrastructure configuration.

Paddock Diary and Reporting – Record keeping of crops; operations, inputs and management practices; view, save and export paddock diary reports; comprehensive pre-populated input lists.

Grain Storage – On and off farm grain storage diary, record pesticides applied to stored grain, recording of current contracts and sales, auto-calculation of surplus/ deficit grain.

Gross margins – View gross margins and cost of production, assess

gross margins by paddock, crop type and farm, use map viewer to benchmark paddock gross margins.

Latest improvements include a simplified diary for data entry, layered features for farm mapping and date range options for reporting, plus a mobile app for easy data entry.

A whole new grain storage upgrade is soon to be released, for monitoring grain inventory from the time it enters the silo to the time it leaves the farm.

This is the first time any paddock management system can display the

complete history of the grain from paddock to buyer, providing complete grain traceability.

As well as providing growers with information on their cropping operation, ProductionWise assists FAR in capturing regional cropping information to be used for benchmarking assessment and to provide reports back to growers at the end of the season.

Register at www.productionwise. co.nz or contact the FAR office on 03 345 5783 or email batesm@far.org.nz.

Melanie Bates, Foundation for Arable Research

Weighty problem of waste disposal More than half a million tonnes of rural waste may potentially be disposed of annually on Waikato and Bay of Plenty farms.

The figure is based on a survey of 69 properties, which recorded 2564 tonnes of rural waste, an average 37 tonnes generated per property each year.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s project implementation officer Reeve Irving says if average waste figures were applied to the more than 14,000 farms in the two regions it would equal more than half a million tonnes.

“However, the report stresses it couldn’t be assumed that all of these properties would be generating similar amounts of waste.

“It indicates both major opportunities and potential challenges for Bay of Plenty and Waikato in dealing with rural waste.”

Environmental consultants GHD surveyed the farmer for the report, commissioned by Bay of Plenty and Waikato regional councils supported by Opotiki, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato and Western Bay of Plenty district councils, which was presented to a multi-agency meeting in Hamilton late last month.

The waste ranged from various types of plastics, scrap metal, timber and fence posts to glass, batteries, construction and demolition material and domestic refuse. Property owners dealt with it by burying, burning or bulk-storing it on-site.

Nearly 80 per cent of those surveyed felt they could manage waste differently, and farmers were keen for more options.

The report says there’s an opportunity for better information and access to practical solutions developed in collaboration with the rural sector. It recommends more work on raising awareness of disposal and recycling options, working collaboratively to address issues and gaps, sharing information about best practice waste disposal and understanding the risks of on-farm waste management.

MAIZE

Page 19

Biological heritage research Reversing the decline of New Zealand's biological heritage is the mission for a new multi-million dollar national research programme led by the University of Waikato’s Professor Bruce Clarkson.

The New Zealand Biological Heritage Science Challenge, Nga koiora Tuku Iho, is one of 10 national Science Challenges funded by the New Zealand government, designed to allow more strategic science investment with the aim of delivering major and ongoing benefits for New Zealand. A total of $25.8 million was recently committed to the challenge to cover research over the next five years.

Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Professor Clarkson has

been seconded as a full-time interim director for New Zealand’s Biological Heritage Science Challenge until December this year. The secondment will see him set up the framework for the challenge, while allowing time for the group to recruit a permanent director.

Hosted by Landcare Research, the research will be designed to protect and manage New Zealand’s biodiversity, improve biosecurity and enhance the country’s resilience to harmful organisms.

James Cawte of Te Puke planted PAC 456 last season and was impressed with the results.

Mid to shorter season maize options the choice for October

“If you’re looking for maize hybrids that consistently deliver - whatever the conditions Pacific Seeds has got you covered.”

Growers who haven't already finalised their maize hybrid options for this season will need to start looking at mid to shorter season options for any planting during October, says Pacific Seeds territory manager Barry Smallridge.

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That’s because high yielding, longer season options such as PAC 624 and PAC 606 need to be planted no later than October 20.” Because regional adaptation plays an important part in hybrid selection growers within the Northern/Central Waikato and BOP regions should be looking at hybrids within the 100 - 110 and 90 to 100 CRM ranges for their late spring plantings. "The influence that regional adaptation has on correct hybrid selection is clearly illustrated by the fact that growers in regions only slightly further south of those listed above, like Tokoroa and Otorohanga, need to consider shorter 90 to 95 and 80 to 90 CRM ranges," says Barry. Pacific Seeds hybrids trials are carried out across a wide range of locations throughout New Zealand to ensure strong yield stability across environments and seasons. During the past season hybrids that have performed well for BOP and Waikato growers include PAC 456, PAC 343 and PAC 301.

James Cawte of Te Puke, who planted PAC 456 was really impressed with the results. "Even though we harvested the PAC 456 a little earlier than planned it still averaged a really good 25 tonnes per hectare.

Other positives were the really long harvest window and the quality of the silage." PAC 301 grower Wayne Ford of Hamilton had a similar result with the crop that he grew during one of the worst droughts he can ever remember. "We grew 15 hectares of PAC 301 and were really happy with the result - especially since it allowed us to take some as green feed at a time when our pastures were totally stuffed.”

PAC 343 is in its first year of commercial release following an extended trial period during which it was a consistent, high end performer, producing large uniform cobs and tightly packed light coloured grain.

“We also have a number of shorter season hybrids available and forage growers should be talking to us about our Sprint, BMR and Pearler, a new high energy millet type forage,” says Barry.

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MAIZE

Page 20

Robotic seek and destroy missions

Robots armed with microwave technology, on seek and destroy missions may help cropping farmers in the war on weeds in future, says John Cameron of Independent Consultants Network Australia.

“Blue sky research could develop camera-based selective tillage implements, or systems that use new weed detection and location systems to identify where individual weeds are and multiple robots armed with tillage or microwave technology that would be sent out on seek and destroy missions,” says John whose company advises the cropping industry.

While such innovation is some years away, John says there is the need for urgent action on weed control now. That’s in the face of modelling which predicted what has already happened in Australia; the widespread failure of multiple herbicide modes of action on an increasing spectrum of weed species.

This includes several herbicides for which sustained high levels of selection are required to develop resistance e.g. glyphosate, paraquat, 2,4-D and trifluralin.

Resistance to glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup, has been found in New Zealand.

“Herbicides are effective, cheap and easy to use.

As a result, they are prone to overuse. Resistance in key weeds to herbicides is so widespread, that most growers in most (Australian) growing regions have resistance to one or both of these modes of action.

Modelling to predict resistance onset is based on selection pressure and the frequency of resistance genes in unselected populations.”

John says as more herbicides fail, the need to add non-herbicide tactics to the farming system becomes critical to the maintenance of remaining herbicides and to help drive down the weed seed bank to maintain cropping options and profit.

Key non-herbicide based tactics include weed seed capture at harvest; increasing levels of crop competition; and the use of tactics to stop weed seed set such as cutting for silage or hay, fallowing and manuring and hand roguing.

“In long term no-till systems, tillage is making a return as some weeds cannot be cost effectively controlled in fallow using herbicides. Camera sprayers such as WeedSeeker are in widespread use on low density fallow weed populations in Australian Northern Grains Region, with reductions in herbicide use as high as 90 per cent.”

Changes to how herbicides are used include: greater use of and reliance on pre-emergent herbicides and double knock strategies using paraquat; a general increase in herbicide rates to avoid unnecessary selection of lower order genes for resistance and to effect higher kill rates; and replacement of economic thresholds with a ‘take-no-prisoners’ approach using all available tactics designed to drive down the weed seedbank over time.

“Future research is looking at genetic options that include more competitive crops and a greater range of herbicide resistant crops – especially to pre-emergent chemistries, providing more options to use pre-emergent herbicides in the short to medium term.”

John was a keynote speaker at this year’s Foundation for Arable Research conference in Palmerston North.

USA trip for under 35s The Foundation for Arable Research is arranging a trip to the USA in 2015, for young growers up to the age of 35.

The group, accompanied by FAR’s Jen Linton and Elin Arnaudin, will visit farms growing familiar crops such as cereals, seed crops and potatoes as well as some less familiar crops including cotton, tobacco and peanuts.

The party will also visit the John Deere factory in Waterloo, Iowa, the Case IH factory in Racine Wisconsin and Bayer and Monsanto in North Carolina.

“We believe this trip will provide a valuable learning experience for the group, exposing them to key US farms and farming technologies in areas such as seed production, agrichemicals and machinery,” says Jen. The trip follows a successful similar venture to the UK and Europe in 2013 and is for those willing to fund their own trip and able to travel for three to four weeks in mid-2015.

To find out more contact Jen Linton at linton@far.org.nz or call the FAR office 03 345 5783. Places are limited.

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BOP maize winner

The Bay of Plenty winner of the 2014 Pioneer brand seeds Maize for Grain Yield Competition was Dovaston Agriculture with a Pioneer brand P1253 yield of 19.25 t/ha, not Dovaston Family Trust as reported in last month’s Coast & Country article about the competition.

DAIRY DEVELOPMENT

Page 21

Hi-tech dairy for 120-year-old Scott farm Grant McMillan of Grant McMillan Construction Ltd and his team built the new Scott dairy complex.

Milking 580 cows on the Scott farm at Hora Hora used to take eight hours a day.

Now 680 are milked in around half that time, thanks to the new hi-tech dairy built to replace the 35-year-old 28 bale rotary.

“The old shed wasn’t efficient. The cows seemed to be there all day and I couldn’t keep good staff,” says Geoff Scott, the fourth generation of his family to farm the land.

On July 10 this year the first milking took place in the new dairy using technologies unheard of when the old dairy was built.

Geoff decided to future-proof the dairy by installing systems which make milking efficient and capture valuable data about the herd’s performance and production, and which can also be easily updated as new technology becomes available.

He thoroughly researched building designs, milking systems, technology and contractors before deciding who to work with.

“The builder Grant McMillan was brilliant and so too were Greg Muller and Ricky Storer who did the earthworks and Murray McEwan of GEA who did the effluent system. I never once had to have ‘one of those conversations’ with them.”

Proud as he is of his new dairy, Geoff didn’t want it to “be a blot on the landscape” but blend in to the attractive farm which has Maungatautari Mountain as its backdrop.

High standards

He chose Grant McMillan Construction Ltd to build the complex because of the high standard of his workmanship and the fact Grant was on site most of the time.

Grant says thorough consultation during the planning phase meant once the final design was decided upon little needed changing. The dairy is constructed of steel beams and portals, colour steel Poly panels and aluminium joinery.

Modern Coatings prepared and painted the concrete block walls with acraflex which is an easy clean decorative fleck coating, which makes the shed cleaning at the end of each milking much easier and faster. Roger Farley of Modern Coatings Ltd has

Geoff Scott commissioned a hi-tech, future-proofed new dairy for the 120 year-old family farm.

All Types of Earthmoving Cowshed & Building Site Preparation Lined Effluent Ponds Farm Drainage Races & Tanker Tracks

Ricky Storer and Greg Muller who carried out the earthworks at the Scott Farm uncovered some very large boulders during the project. been applying fleck coatings to Dairy sheds for more than 20 years and always provides finishes to high standards.

Sliding side windows, large windows in the apex of the building and clear panels in the roof provide plenty of natural light. There’s an office-tea room with viewing window to the dairy, and an adjacent toilet. One corner of the building, devoted to the hot water tanks and plant wash facilities, is stepped up to keep the floor clean during wash down. The vet area has a locked cupboard and drop-down platform.

Pumps have been installed in an outbuilding which also includes a store for farm equipment. “By having the pumps in here, the noise levels in the dairy are reduced significantly,” says Grant who also designed and installed the yards.

Safety features

The yards have plenty of room for both cows and workers and extra features to keep staff safe. “Geoff was very involved in the design of the yards and we worked out exactly what was required before the concrete was poured,” says Grant.

Getting levels right in the yard was crucial, as Geoff has installed an automatic flood wash system, using green water from the effluent pond.

“This system uses around 70,000 litres of green water pumped through three flush valves - around 6000 to 7000 litres per minute. Most yards this size would use around 30,000 to 40,000 litres to manually wash, and it’s quicker

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DAIRY DEVELOPMENT

Page 22

Environmentally friendly, effective effluent system

Austin Heffernan of GEA and Lance Felton of FNI Rural Service’s with the hi-tech milking system at the Scott Dairy.

than hosing, only requiring the press of a button” says Geoff.

“Right from the initial conception of the cowshed was that it had to be as efficient as possible in all ways, including water usage. The total fresh water usage of the cowshed is around 10,000 litres per milking including plant wash, meaning a lot less effluent generated, which in turn means less liquid to store before application to the land. This also results in drawing less clean water in the first place.”

The flood wash flows into the sand trap, at the start of an effluent system installed by GEA. Murray McEwan, Houle Solutions and Field Technician is enthusiastic about the system on the Scott farm because of its advantages to both the environment and the farmer. “The system makes bulk effluent management easier, is labour saving and the 50 per cent saving in fresh water use is also a key driver here,” says Murray.

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Effluent from the sand trap gravity-feeds into a reception sump where the effluent is mixed and pumped up to a solids separator, which deposits solids into a bunker and sends the liquid to the effluent pond.

“There are no moving parts in the separator. It’s a simple passive system and one which more and more farmers are using.”

The solids drop from the screen into a concrete bunker where they rapidly compost. “It’s amazing how quickly this process happens,” says Murray, digging his hands into a small stack to reveal the fungi and other micro flora growing there. “Doesn’t take long for worms to arrive and tests show levels of nitrogen and other nutrients often increase and in this form may be available to plants and organisms in the soil.”

The effluent pond which measures 30 x 38 x 4 metre and holds a volume of 3120 square metres, was lined by Enviroline NZ and Karl Hart says like all the ponds the company lines, it has a quality certificate detailing materials used and that every seam is welded and tested. “We test every weld so that when we drive away at the end of the contract, we know that pond won’t leak.”

The High Density Polyethylene geo-membrane lining material comes in 140 metre, 7.5 m wide rolls and each Enviroline pond is built on site, to suit the location and the farm.

It was Greg Muller of G&H Agri and Ricky Storer of Ricky Storer Earthmoving who carried out the earthworks to prepare the site for the dairy and yards, and the effluent pond, sand trap and solids bunker.

Rocky start

Geoff says he asked Greg to do the work not only because he uses his contract cross slot, no-tillage services on the farm but also due to his standard of workmanship. “Greg has worked for me for six years and I know what he can do with a scoop pulled by a tractor so I asked him to get someone with a digger he could trust to work to the same standard and he brought in Ricky. Together they did a brilliant job,

The 54 bale GEA WestfaliaSurge Rotary on the Scott farm can be operated by one person. coming in on time and budget.”

That was despite unexpectedly uncovering some very large rocks, the result of ancient volcanic activity, which had to be removed from the building site and are now the focal point of the tanker turning circle.

Precision in preparing the site to Grant McMillan’s requirements was essential and Ricky and Greg used laser, GPS and their own trained eyes to achieve the levels and falls required. They carried out the excavation for the effluent pond too, in which levels and angles were equally crucial.

Greg says he finds using the large tractor-drawn scoops highly efficient for bulk earth moving as it’s a one machine operation to load, cart, spread and compact soil. “It often comes in at less than half the price of traditional methods.”

DairyPlan control

Central to the dairy complex is the 54 bale GEA WestfaliaSurge Rotary installed by FNI Rural Services owned and operated by Lance and Jo Felton.

Austin Heffernan of GEA says it is a one person plant with automatic cup removers, heat detection, bale restraints and individual feeders, all run by the DairyPlan C21 Herd and Parlour Management Software. While the dairy is well equipped with technology systems can easily be updated when required.

The rotary platform is mounted on nylon rollers with twin beams and three electric drives. “There is no need for the farmer to go into the centre of the platform as the milking plant is on the outside of

DAIRY DEVELOPMENT

Page 23

Rocky start to earthworks for new dairy development the platform but it can be access by technicians if required,” says Lance.

Geoff says he chose the GEA WestfaliaSurge system because the company installs thousands of rotary systems worldwide, doesn’t test new developments on the market and has the technology he requires, like the GEA cow collars for heat detection which store information for up to 26 hours suiting his partial once-a-day milking.

Lance and his team also installed all the electrical wiring for the dairy. “We aimed to make the dairy as energy efficient as possible using LED lighting and variable speed drives on all the motors so they only use the power that’s needed. There’s been a lot of future proofing, like the larger than required hot water cylinders.”

Measured feed

Geoff contracted Lance, who also installed the feed system, because of his commitment to service and the quality of his workmanship.

When cows come in for milking, they receive a measured amount of supplementary feed, including molasses, delivered by a BCL (Buster Cover) feed system. BCL feed systems has been providing feeding systems to poultry farms and piggeries since 1992. “The bulk of our business is the dairy industry now, since the conception of our dairy meal feeding system in 2000 the system has become increasingly popular,” says owner Buster Cover.

The Scott dairy has two systems, one to deliver liquid feeds such as molasses, and the second for any combination of dry feeds, from grains to special blends which may include minerals and trace elements.

“Each cow gets her own portion delivered while she is being milked.

That way the farmer knows each cow is getting her daily ration”.

The Dairyplan software that runs the cowshed can tailor feed rations

Around 70,000 litres of green water, pumped through three flush valves, washes the Scott dairy yards. to individual cows as opposed to the “one size fits all” system which most sheds have.

“This means that we are able to deliver more feed to the higher producing cows, or target cows which are not maintaining or, in particular, gaining weight,” says Geoff.

“The programme is able to take in all individual measurements recorded

The lining of 30 x 38 x 4 metre effluent pond was installed by Enviroline

Murray McEwan, Houle Solutions and Field Technician explains the simplicity of the solids separator system on the Scott farm.

There are no moving parts in the solids separator, which is part of the Scott dairy effluent system.

in the shed, including the cow’s production, actual weight, body weight trend, stage of lactation and many other factors. We simply set parameters, and it will sort out what each cow’s ration is from there. This is the most efficient way to feed in shed.”

Geoff is pleased with the performance and appearance of the new dairy which continues the Scott family farming tradition begun when his great grandparents cleared land for farming at Hora Hora

By Elaine Fisher around 120 years ago.

DAIRY

Page 24

Antibiotics - the Dark Side Any animal that’s impoverished of minerals will have a weak immune system. For dairy cows this means it’s hard for them to de-activate pathogens or mount a defence against infections.

According to Dairy NZ, half the national herd is under treatment for mastitis at some stage during the year. So what’s our response?

We spend more money on band-

aids. We rely on increasing levels of antibiotics and dry cow therapy to get us through to the next season, ignoring the fact that antibiotics negatively alter rumen microbes – the key workforce in milk production – and impair immune function.

A large percentage of administered antibiotics spills, still active, from the faeces and urine into the soil and into the waterways where they operate as they do in the gut only at continuous low levels creating antibiotic-resistance in a wide range of microbes, and often

to additional classes of antibiotics than those administered.

For example, E.coli was once a benign and useful microbe on ‘our’ side. It now trains unrelated species of microbes how to be antibiotic resistant.

Reduce antibiotic

In a surprising move in November 2013, the US FDA asked pharmaceutical companies to voluntarily reduce use of antibiotics for growth promotion in animal feed, signaling that within five years it would be putting

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prohibitions in place.

The Center for Disease Control is clear that use of antibiotics in animal production creates antibiotic resistance that limits human treatment options. We’re running out of antibiotics that work for us. If you think this has little to do with NZ dairy cows - well think again. Any of the monensin based coccidiostat / growth promoters commonly used in animal feed, bolus or water is an antibiotic and has potentially serious impacts on cow fatty acid creation, cell metabolism and insulin levels.

We need holistic animal health advice that will benefit both farm ecology and farm profits. When was the last time a vet expressed concern over use of dry cow therapy or suggested that animal health challenges might have something to do with nutrition and fertiliser programmes?

Dry cow therapy

Now then, what happens to the withheld mastitis-tainted milk? Rather than going to waste it’s fed to replacement calves. Would you do that to your children? The future herd is raised on a cocktail of antibiotics, creating depressed immune systems and antibiotic resistance. And then we wonder why heifers are calving with mastitis.

So we give them dry cow antibiotic therapy to ‘make sure for next time’ but only make the problem worse. It’s not working.

The basic issue is that our animals are not only underfed but undernourished.

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%)

Watery, high-crudeprotein grass can’t provide the complex minerals and sugars needed for healthy animals. We’re fighting expensive, losing battles until we change the way we fertilise.

Last year, Massey researchers completed a study on Milk Urea. Get to know this MU acronym as I predict it will become the key indicator we use for ‘quality’ dairying in the not-too-distant future.

Open Country Dairy provided over a thousand milk component data points for a several year research project in the Waikato on how MU levels affect milk characteristics. They found MU levels that are rather higher than what is considered normal internationally.

They also tested pasture crude protein and soluble solids levels on 10 of these farms to link pasture characteristics with milk characteristics. Turns out high crude protein (high nitrate)/low soluble solids in forage creates high MU levels in milk which reduce all of the milk component indicators of protein, fat and lactose.

Excessive urea makes poor quality milk. Since there is a direct numerical link between MU and urea in the urine, we could be using simple, daily MU readings as an early warning system for nitrate leachate. It would be a darn sight easier than an Overseer program.

Phyllis Tichinin has a degree in Environmental Planning and Management with emphasis on soils and agricultural economics, educates about nutrition and farms in Hawkes Bay.

DAIRY

Taxing calf entitlements With spring calving almost over and a few more calves than necessary lazing in lush paddocks, Freddy Farmer’s feeling generous and is going to give some extras to his sharemilker.

That said, it’s not exactly a bonus as the gifting of these calves is provided for in the lower order sharemilking contract. So, technically, they’re part of the sharemilker’s income…which is where things can get a little murky.

Entitlement to calves is not an uncommon provision in lower order sharemilker contracts and Freddy’s accountant has been telling him about the tax implications of ‘giving’ what are technically trading stock to his sharemilker.

As his accountant explained, the way Freddy’s approaching things is not in line with the law and he could face some issues when it comes to paying his tax.

Because livestock are legally trading stock, as their owner, Freddy is not allowed to give them away for free.

The law says they must be sold at market value.

Paper shuffle

What Freddy needs to do is “shuffle some papers around” to show that he’s following the law which requires him to ‘sell’ his calves which his sharemilker must ‘buy’ at an appropriate market value.

So what’s the market value of the calves?

They are the surplus left over after Freddy’s taken replacements for breeding heifers and normally, he’d

try and sell them as identified heifer calves. But some years they might only be worth bobby calf prices.

An added complexity is that in Freddy’s contract he’s agreed to give his sharemilker the extras at no cost. Getting round that for tax purposes means “creating some invoices here and there” and writing some cheques.

Bank account

This is because a sale has occurred so Freddy has to account for GST – which is problematic since Freddy like most people, is registered for GST on a payments basis.

The transactions do then have to go through Freddy and the sharemilker bank account.

So – next time round, Freddy would be advised to follow this process: 1. Agree a value of the stock with his sharemilker that is in line with current market values.

2. Freddy then issues his sharemilker with a tax invoice for the calves at the agreed value, plus GST 3. His sharemilker issues Freddy a tax invoice for ‘calf rearing expenses’ of the same amount, plus GST 4. The sharemilker pays Freddy with a cheque for the invoiced amount.

5. Freddy pays his sharemilker with a cheque for the same amount.

6. The two parties agree to bank the cheques on the same day so that both parties have a payment and a deposit in their bank account which then has no effect on the bank balance.

Page 25

New team for dairy awards

The team overseeing the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has four new members. National convenor Chris Keeping says the nine person voluntary executive team, led by South Auckland sharemilker Gavin Roden, is integral in designing, developing and delivering the awards programme – the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions.

The new team members include Whakatane farm owner Brian Power; 2012 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year Enda Hawe of Canterbury, 2013 Bay of Plenty Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year Nadine Meade and 2011 Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa Sharemilker of the Year Jo Greaves.

Entries in the 2015 awards open online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz on October 20.

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Future of New Zealand’s agriculture examined University of Waikato staff and students are major contributors to a new book that takes an in-depth look at the future of New Zealand agriculture. Professors Jacqueline Rowarth and Frank Scrimgeour from Waikato Management School have teamed S o l up i d Fwith o o d ffarmer or Soils and rural journalist Alan Emerson to edit the publication, published by NZX with funding support from the Agricultural and Market Research and Development Trust. Economist Dr Dan Marsh and six senior agribusiness students from the University of Waikato have also written chapters in the book that covers agriculture’s significance in New Zealand’s economy and looks to the future, considering products, markets and investment requirements. NZ Agriculture: An D o lagriHQ.co.nz oZest Economic Perspective is available from C a l ci Z e s t 0800 843 809 07 362 7288 or go to

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Page 26

DAIRY

Opportunity to test taste for farming

College students who think farming might be a career for them can “try before they buy” thanks to a free Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre one day taster course in Putaruru on October 9.

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We can offer you metal for farm races, shed sites etc deliver to site ex quarry.

A free taster course may help students decide if farming is the career for them.

Taster courses fill up fast so if you “This is an opportunity for anyone are interested in enrolling call thinking about getting involved in 0800 WAIFARM or email agricultural training to have a ‘taste’ of waikato@taratahi.ac.nz. what Taratahi training is all about,” says In August 2014 Taratahi won the ‘PriTaratahi marketing and communicamary ITO Trainer of the Year’ award tions Manager Yvonne Way. at the Beef+Lamb NZ Industry Awards “Taster courses are run through the and has been successfully training Kiwis school holidays and are the perfect way for agricultural careers since 1919. to ‘try before you buy’. It’s such a big Taratahi’s own assets or assets it mancommitment for students to study full ages on behalf of others, now have a time, so this is a perfect way to see what value of more than $100m. Taratahi it is really like before applying for a has 50,000 stock units of sheep, beef place.” and deer and milks 3250 cows per year.

Taster students will enjoy a day that is It offers full-time courses, diploma jam-packed with activities such as fencing, stock movement, riding quad bikes, programmes, extra mural study, short courses and STAR/Gateway milking and lots more. programmes as well as the Primary During the day taster students will Industries Trades Academy. also discover all the study options availThe main campus is based near able at Taratahi, meet Taratahi staff Masterton in the Wairarapa, with and tutors and most taster students non-residential campuses in Manawatu, get an idea early on if they are Taranaki, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, interested in specialising in sheep or Hawke’s Bay and Northland. dairy, says Yvonne.

DAIRY

Page 27

Surviving ‘friendly fire’ from Flit gun Jim Carnell of Waiuku was lucky to survive not only internment by the Japanese during World War II but also “friendly-fire” from an American armed with a sprayer similar to the one featured as last month’s Coast & Country mystery item.

“The mystery item is what we called a ‘Flit Sprayer’. It was used to spray insecticides. I can remember during the war my family was interned by the Japanese in Shanghai, China,” writes Jim. “Just after an American GI was detailed to spray around the camp with one of these things, as I was on a bed behind a mosquito net I still can remember him saying “There’s a big one in here” and giving me an extra burst. On thinking back it must have been pure DDT. However I’m still kicking at 73.”

For his letter, Jim has won admission for two to the Morrinsville Heritage Centre, where the sprayer is on display.

The photo also brought back memories for Viv Naylor. “I think the mixture used

had a certain amount of kerosene in it, as the smell was awful. It had a pumping action to it, hence the wooden handle.

My grandfather was an ace with it, when requested to "see to the flies" by grandma.”

Isobel Nicol of Opotiki remembers the “Flit Gun” well. “My father had one he kept at the cowshed. He put kerosene in his one and would spray the boards in the cowshed and the pig pen to stop the borer from getting into the timber.

This was in the 1940s.”

Emmie ten Houten says her father used this sprayer to spray bedrooms to kill the mosquitoes at dusk. “I don't remember what chemical was used, it was like an oily liquid.”

David Parker writes: “I used one up in the tropics to spray small ponds of water to stop mosquito larvae from hatching. No hydro carbon propellant but I hate to think what the toxic spray would have contained in those days. The Americans called it a Flit gun (Flit is the brand name for an insecticide). The gun was invented by Dr Franklin C. Nelson in 1923 I believe.”

Trevor Mitchell of Tokoroa gave a very clear description of how the sprayer work.

“We would fill the tanks at the head of the gadget. The insecticide “Flit” - was the

brand name – came from the grocer. When the handle on the sprayer was pumped firmly, air blasted from a small hole across the top of the thin tube rising up from the reservoir, drawing the liquid up and spraying it as directed. Then the room was left for a time, overnight for us, and the flies and other insects would be swept off the lino and disposed of in the kitchen range (no vacuums cleaners for us humble cockies).”

Robin Moore of Waihi says the sprayer was the fore-runner of today’s pressurised aerosol insect sprayers.

suggestions from Coast & Country readers.

If you think you know what it is or have a story to tell about using such a device, or seeing one used we love to hear from you – and you could be in to win a visit for two to the Te Aroha and District Museum.

Send your entry to: elaine@thesun.co.nz or post to: Mystery Item, Coast & Country, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3110, to arrive no later than October 17.

The winner will be announced in Coast & Country’s November issue.

The Te Aroha and District Museum is in the domain in the town’s main street, Whitaker Street. It is open seven days a week from midday to 3pm in winter and 11am to 4pm from Labour Weekend until Easter, and other times by appointment.

This month’s mystery item comes from the Te Aroha and District Museum and really is a mystery. Museum administrator Jan Emerton says researchers have been unable to find out what it is, but would appreciate

Dairying business woman takes top role Ambreed. Prior to that she was the Delwyn Knight has taken the role advertising manager at the Waikato of general manager of Liberty GenetTimes managing sales, production and ics where she is leading a team that’s advertising editorial. making headway in the competitive Liberty Genetdairy genetics ics’ main goal is to market. grow market share, Delwyn is one of and Knight sees the very few women relationship between working in top dairy Liberty Genetics and genetics roles, and CRV Ambreed as a key she is excited about factor in achieving in taking on the posithis. tion.

“The brands com“It’s great to be plement each other in a position where well and we should be I can provide working closer together value and support to meet each of our to farmers when clients’ needs.” they are making Liberty Genetics important farming currently supplies high business decisions.

“I’m really looking Delwyn Knight is the new general quality, cost-effective products to the dairy forward to working manager of Liberty Genetics. industry. For the past directly with our 15 years, it has experienced significant farming clients, understanding what growth in the New Zealand, Australian, their needs are and supporting them to North American and South American get the best results for their herds.” markets.

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Page 28

Phosphorous fertiliser – what are the options?

Superphosphate (monocalcium phosphate) has for decades been the dominant form of phosphorous used in New Zealand pastoral farming.

It is produced by acidulating natural rock phosphate (apatite) with sulphuric acid and with its 9P, 11S, 20Ca analysis currently the cost per unit of phosphorous

in superphosphate is $3.55/kg P and if the sulphur value is also considered this drops to $3.07/ kg P. In biological farming circles superphosphate is believed to be biologically ‘unfriendly’ due to the free acid it contains and the <2 pH which negatively impacts on soil organisms proximate to where the fertiliser granules land, although the long term effect on soil pH from superphosphate

applications is negligible.

Ammonium phosphates, MAP (11N, 23P) and DAP (18N, 20P) are produced by reacting phosphoric acid with anhydrous ammonia and can be cost effective forms of phosphorous, with MAP costing $3.90/kg P and DAP costing $4.25/kg P, but when taking the nitrogen value into consideration the cost per unit of P drops to $3.25/kg P for MAP and $3.00/kg P for DAP. MAP

Robin Boom

CPAg MBSPC

Independent Agronomy & Soil Fertility Consultant

has a pH around 5 and DAP has a pH varying from 6.48.0 and are therefore not as acidic as superphosphate, so may not be as harmful to soil organisms on application, although they do acidify the soil long term and are completely synthetic and unnatural.

Dicalcium phosphates and serpentine super are produced by reverting superphosphate with lime, burned limes or crushed serpentine rock. The resulting fertiliser is close to pH neutral and often referred to as ‘drilling super’ as seeds can be sown with them without the risk of acid burn.

Various companies manufacture dicalcium phosphate fertilisers – Ravensdown, Hatuma, Avoca Lime, Parker Lime, Fertco and Terracare, with Ravensdown having the cheapest

1:1 blend (4.5P, 5.5S, 28Ca) at $214/tonne, with the cost being $4.75/kg P or $4.00/kg P when the sulphur and lime value are considered, so is the most expensive phosphorous option.

Serpentine super (6.8P, 8.8S, 5.5Mg, 15Ca) at $290/tonne costs $4.30/ kg P which drops to $2.80/ kg P when the magnesium and sulphur values are considered which makes it good value if magnesium and sulphur are required.

Animal manures - pig, chicken, duck, goat and cow manure and whey are commercially sold or given away, with the main sellers of chicken manure being Bennetts based in Auckland and Osflo based in Taranaki.

The nutrient analysis varies considerably from type and source, and they are sometimes more competitive than conventional fertilisers.

Animal manures also have the advantage of providing additional organic matter (carbon), and are normally pH neutral or slightly alkaline so should not harm soil biology. If the C:N ratio is too wide a temporary nitrogen deficit can occur as soil organisms will use the nitrogen before the plants do.

Natural RPR (tricalcium phosphate) fertilisers have been sold in New Zealand for more than 30 years.

Currently Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Ravensdown, Asura Ltd, Marphos International, Fertiliser NZ Ltd, Fertco, Bio-Ag and Viafos all market RPR fertilisers from different sources varying from $3-7/kg P. Their agronomic efficacy is highly variable depending on their reactivity. A good RPR should have at least 33 per cent of the total phosphate dissolved in a 2 per cent citric acid solution, referred to as its citric solubility. RPR is popular with organic farmers and anecdotally farmers using them claim better animal health and pasture utilisation than with soluble P fertilisers. They have a mild liming effect, are kind to soil biology, and are the least damaging phosphate fertilisers environmentally. However depending on which company one is dealing with, RPR can be more expensive than synthetic phosphate fertilisers.

DAIRY

Page 29

Large scale dairying can be sustainable Bay of Plenty dairy farmer Trevor Hamilton entered the Ballance Farm Environment Awards because he had a point to prove.

FARM STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Trevor and his wife Harriet run a large-scale family business that spans ten farms - five in Canterbury, four in Bay of Plenty and one in Hawke’s Bay. The operation is on track to produce three million kilograms of milksolids Andrew Truscott manages Rere Farm for Trevor this season, with four miland Harriet Hamilton and T H Enterprises. lion targeted for 2015/16.

Ballance Farm Environment Award Starting from scratch as a sharejudges awarded Rere Lake Farm three milker in 1980, Trevor says his aim is to category awards, including the Hill create an intergenerational dairy farmLaboratories Harvest Award. This award ing business. But he is acutely aware recognises excellent crop, pasture and that the scale of the operation opens it soil management, and takes into conup to claims that its growth has come at sideration the effects the farming system the expense of the environment. has on the land resource now and in the Entering the Ballance Farm Environlong term. ment Awards gave him the opportunity to prove this wasn’t the case.

Profitable farming "I wanted to show people that a large BFEA judges said the discipline that scale dairy business can be both sustaingoes into the maintenance of excellent able and profitable." pasture quality on Rere Lake Farm is Trevor and Harriet entered their Bay of Plenty property ‘Rere Lake Farm’ into impressive.

Trevor is a natural leader, judges noted, the 2014 BOP Ballance Farm Awards. who "wants to set the bar on the adopSituated near Lake Rerewhakaaitu, tion of practical mitigations for nutrient Rere Lake Farm milks 585 cows on a loss management that fit well within a milking platform of 146ha, producing profitable farming system."

262,000kgMS last season.

Trevor says the BFEA judging process was excellent and he enjoyed being Voluntary scheme involved with the Awards.

Along with other landowners and the "I think they have an important role to Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Trevor play in showing the wider community is involved in Project Rerewhakaaitu, a that most dairy farmers are not out there voluntary scheme that aims to preserve to have cows standing in the river or the lake for future generations. effluent pouring down the creek.

"There are 33 dairy farmers living "While we want our businesses to be around the lake and it is the second financially successful, we know that cleanest lake in the Rotorua region," we’ve got a responsibility to mitigate Trevor says. the environmental effects as much as He is a big believer in the adage "you possible." have to be profitable to deal to the Entries for the 2015 Bay of Plenty environment".

Ballance Farm Environment Awards He says the key to his operation’s success is the ability to turn grass into milk. close on October 24, 2014. Entering the competition is easy and entry forms are "Growing and harvesting grass is our available online at www.bfea.org.nz. competitive edge."

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Page 30

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Lessons learned from Canterbury windstorm It’s a little over 12 months since a devastating windstorm wreaked havoc in Canterbury causing wide spread damage, including breaking or destroying more than 800 irrigators just as the irrigation season was about to get underway.

The extent of damage to centre pivots and other irrigators across Canterbury is last year’s storm was unprecedented.

Many of these were different to normal impact damage. to the usual run of damaged irrigators centre pivot systems that September, proved invaluable, says Normally there is a crumple effect within Central Canto the span pipes and angles, but in Liz. Being prepared meant they were terbury region and this instance the damage came from able get on with the job at hand rather Irrigation New Zealand than waste time planning and divvying the wind’s swinging action. Many CEO Andrew Curtis says resources. irrigators rolled over on their backs the extent of damage with the drive gear and wheels in the “The teams of pivots, mainline and to centre pivots and pump installers, and service technicians air. Because of this we didn’t have to other irrigators across carried on with the existing build plans replace as many pipes as we expected. the region was unprecIt was joint stress as opposed to colliand regular service call-outs while supedented. porting each other on the wind damage sion stress,” says Liz. Liz Stephens from Plains Irrigators took the approach repairs. We just enlarged our normal Plains Irrigators Ltd says capacity for repairs and in the end we that they needed to get irrigators s Design, Sales, Installation & Service South Island wide. dealing with the wind’s watering urgently, so they discondidn’t have to employ anybody else.” s Zimmatic Centre Pivots including Maxfield Constant aftermath was a massive nected the damaged spans and corner Having a core group of experienced Move & Z Corner options. undertaking butIsland staff wide.staff was the main advantage. Staff systems and restarted the undamaged s Design, Sales, Installation & Service South coped admirably and the who had been with Plains Irrigators sections wherever possible. s Zimmatic Lateral Moves including Pivoting & 4 Wheel s Zimmatic Centre Pivots including Maxfield Constant company has learnt a lot for more than 10 years took a lead role options.

Move & Z Corner options.

Visual assessment from the experience. advising more recent staff who were at s Variable Rate Irrigation, Pivot Monitoring Control.

“The plan for those irrigators was Already having&a 4 Wheel times overwhelmed with the scale of s Zimmatic Lateral Moves including Pivoting s Design, Sales, Installation & Service South Island wide. s Installation of PVC Mainline, Submersible & Turbineoptions. to get them watering in any capacity. strategic plan, setting out repairs required, says Liz. s Zimmatic Centre Pivots including Maxfield Constant Pumps.

Even if they only had two spans out of how they would soptions.

Design, Sales, Installation & Service South Islandrespond wide.

Move & Z Corner Variable Rate Irrigation, Pivot Monitoring Control.

12 working at least they had someNo injuries s Flowmeters & Data Logging solutions. s Zimmatics Lateral s Moves Zimmatic Centre Pivots including Maxfield Constant including Pivoting & 4 Wheel thing. We also concentrated our repair “Our senior staff are used to dismans Installation PVC Mainline, Submersible & Turbine Move &of Z Corner options. s GPS Mapping. options. efforts on those irrigators that had tling irrigators but the scale of damage Pumps. s Zimmatic Lateral Moves including Pivoting & 4 Wheel s Variable Rate Irrigation, Pivot Monitoring Control. completely collapsed.” was something quite different. It can s 24 Hour Call-out Service. options. s Flowmeters & Data Logging&solutions.

Nearly 10 per cent of irrigators surbe dangerous at times deconstructing s Installation of PVC Mainline, Submersible Turbine s Design, Sales, Installation & Service South Island wide. s Variable Rate Irrigation, Pivot Monitoring Control. veyed

by Plains Irrigators fell into this these machines as we’re talking about s Design, Sales, Installation Pumps. & Service South Island wide. s GPSMaxfield Mapping. s Zimmatic Centre Pivots including Constant s Installation of PVC Mainline, Submersible & Turbine category. a huge amount of steel under high s Zimmatic Centre Pivots options. including Maxfield Constant Pumps. s Flowmeters Data Logging solutions.

Move & Z Corner s 24&Hour Call-out Service.

Parts were ordered quickly after a tension. We’re very proud of the fact Move & Z Corner options. s Flowmeters & Data Logging solutions. s GPS Mapping. s Zimmatic Lateral Moves including Pivoting & 4 Wheel round of visual assessments, it was two we had no injuries or incidents during s Zimmatic Lateral Moves including Pivotings &GPS 4 Wheel options.

Mapping. months before Plains Irrigator’s five this time.” s 24 Hour Call-out Service. options. s 24 Hour Call-out Service. s Variable Rate Irrigation, Pivot Monitoring Control. containers of parts arrived, however One of the interesting observations s Variable Rate Irrigation, Pivot Monitoring Control.

Plains Irrigators staff made was around they were able to commence repairs s Installation of PVC Mainline, Submersible & Turbine with stock held at their two branches, the type of damage sustained during s Installation of PVC Mainline, Submersible & Turbine Pumps.

Ashburton and Timaru. Most the event. Unlike normal repair jobs, Pumps. s Flowmeters & Data Logging solutions. irrigators were repaired by the end where an irrigator has suffered impact s Flowmeters & Data Logging solutions. s GPS Mapping. of February, but corner systems and and/or collision, the damage was s GPS s Mapping. some other machines that could not mostly to tower joints and support 24 Hour Call-out Service. s 24 Hour Call-out Service. be repaired without further impact to angles. Corner systems are vulnerable crops were completed in March. as even if the main pivot is faced in to The inability to repair everything the prevailing wind, the corner is not, Ashburton: 7700. Phone Phone(03) (03)307-2027 307-2027 Ashburton:25 25McNally, McNally, Ashburton 7700. when it originally crashed, was upsetand this was proven to be a real issue Timaru : 81 Highway, Washdyke 7910. Phone Phone(03) (03)688-7042 688-7042 ting and frustrating for staff, says Liz, for some properties.

Timaru: 81Hilton Hilton Highway, Washdyke7700.

7910.

Ashburton: 25 McNally, Ashburton Phone (03) 307-2027 given their good relationships with “We found that we were still able Timaru : 81 Hilton Highway, 7910.Phone Phone(03) (03)445 688-7042 Cromwell: 9 Rogers Street, Washdyke Cromwell 9310.

4200 clients and professional desire to get on to salvage a lot of the equipment and Ashburton: 7700. Phone Phone(03) (03)307-2027 307-2027 Ashburton:25 25McNally, McNally, Ashburton 7700. re-use it. The nature of the damage was with the job.

Timaru : 81 Highway, Washdyke 7910.

Phone (03)(03) 688-7042 Ashburton: 25 McNally, Ashburton 7700.

Phone (03) 307-2027 Ashburton: 25Hilton McNally, 7700.

Phone 307-2027 Timaru: 81 Hilton Highway, Washdyke7700.

7910.

Phone (03) 688-7042 Ashburton: 25 McNally, Ashburton Phone (03) 307-2027 Ashburton: 25 McNally, Ashburton 7700. Phone (03)7910.

307-2027 Timaru : 81 Hilton Highway, Washdyke 7910.

Phone (03) 688-7042 Timaru : 81 Hilton Highway, Washdyke Phone (03) 688-7042 Cromwell: 9McNally, Rogers Street, Cromwell 9310.

Phone (03) 445 4200 81 Hilton Highway, Washdyke 7910.

Phone (03) 688-7042 Ashburton: 25Washdyke Ashburton 7700.

Phone (03) 307-2027 Timaru : 81 Timaru: Hilton Highway, 7910.

Phone (03) 688-7042 Timaru : 81 Hilton Highway, 7910.Phone Phone(03) (03)445 688-7042 Cromwell: 9 Rogers Street, Washdyke Cromwell 9310.

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DESIGN – SUPPLY – BUILD

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Page 31

Tower joints and support angles worst damaged “At the time staff were devastated that we couldn’t help any faster. There were a lot of sleepless nights because they worried there weren’t enough of us and they wanted to fix everything the next day. It was a very difficult time. Because of the enormity of the event and the number of machines that were down, nobody wanted to be last.”

Collaboration vital

To manage the situation, Liz says the company tried to be as pro-active as possible including collaborating with clients to come up with solutions to

their individual repair jobs and involving senior staff in overseeing all major rebuilds.

“Special recognition was deserved by growers who volunteered their positions in the new build plan for the season to enable us to help those with no ability to water.

“Overall the windstorm’s impact on the business was a positive one - nothing of that magnitude could have been predicted, and since then the level of confidence within the company has increased again significantly – we do not however want to expect this on an annual basis.”

The damage to irrigators came from the wind’s swinging action

Stray voltage can make milking a ‘shocking’ experience for cows Most dairy farmers will at some time become aware of stray electricity doing shocking things to their cows in the farm dairy.

In old sheds it ran through concrete when the reinforcing or earthing wasn’t up to scratch.

In new sheds it can be harder to trace, but a whole new problem has appeared with the mass installation of variable speed drives, and the fact that if the incorrect cabling is used between the variable speed drive and its motor then the pipe work that the cows are leaning against during milking can have high frequency electrical leakage on it.

These leakages are termed, 'touch voltages.' Severe leakage of this type from milk lift pump cabling has been seen to cause a dog to yelp when passing the milk lift pump while walking up the bail area and the cows to vehemently attempt to avoid 'walking up' past this point in the bails.

Peter Dewes of Hamilton has been tracing unwanted voltages in farm dairies for years now, but he’s had to invest in some expensive new ‘detective’ equipment in the form of a 100MH oscilloscope, which samples up to 1 billion times a second, and he’s finding induced high frequency electrical leakage which can be as powerful as 96v between variable speed drive controllers and their associated motors.

Behaviour responses

With cows’ susceptibility to electricity being 20 times ours, they can be affected by this induced high frequency electrical leakage, behavioural responses caused by this kind of leakage are often subtle.

On a rotary, cows are often settled when the cups are on, lift their hind hooves, shuffling them a bit when being cupped and ‘crap’ a lot at cups off. In herringbones, they may shuffle their hind hooves when being cupped and physically try to avoid being near cabling associated with variable speed drives and their associated motor.

So why is this happening? Ten years ago, many of the manuals for variable speed drives that were installed in dairy sheds didn't give accurate information on what type of cable to use or how to correctly terminate a screened cable to contain leakage from the cabling. Since then, installation practices have been

gradually improving, with a marked improvement in variable speed drive installations in the last two or three years.

This may not be the case in smaller provincial dairy farming communities, where the electricians may not yet have 'got up to speed' on how to install this cabling.

There will be a lot of cowsheds out there built in the last three to 15 years that have had variable speed drives installed but have not had the cabling installed in the recommended way.

Screened cable

The correct cabling should have the letters EMC written on the side of the cable and this may be followed by the words, ‘screened cable’.

The wires carrying the power in the cable between variable speed drive controllers and the motors they are controlling emit very powerful radio frequency emissions often referred to as 'noise'.

This 'noise' induces high frequency electrical leakage when it is adjacent to metal surfaces like bail pipe work. It also can use the wiring in the cowshed as 'aerials' and travel to all the parts of the cowshed where electrical wiring is found.

This 'noise' commonly interferes with EIDE tag reads and can cause miss reads on tag reader equipment.

Correctly installed EMC rated screened cabling contains this noise inside the cable between the variable speed drive and its motor.

This 'noise' will also interfere with your radio. If you can tune it to the AM band you will get a loud static 'hiss' and you won't be able to tune into any stations.

It doesn't affect the FM band.

Meal feeders

In recent times Peter has seen a herringbone shed that had no problems until they put meal feeders in.

The cows wouldn't eat the meal.

This was traced back to a variable speed effluent pump some 50 metres from the cowshed.

The effluent pump was only run twice a week during milking. With this pump running there was 6½ volts of high frequency induced electrical leakage between the meal tray and the bum rail. This was enough for the cows to refuse the meal at every milking.

When excessive levels of high frequency induced

NATION WIDE NATION

NATION WIDE WIDE NATION

electrical leakage is fixed by installing EMC rated screened cable in the recommended way and sometimes fitting EMC filters for the variable speed

drives, there is often a dramatic reduction in somatic cell counts. Miss reads on EIDE tag readers are also greatly

By Sue Edmonds reduced.

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Page 32

IF WATER RUNS THROUGH IT, WE DO IT! Prices valid from 1 Oct to 30 Nov 2014 – All advertised prices are ex factory and include GST.

Stock Water Pipe

Farmboss® Culvert

More bar for ya buck!

10 bar HDPE

8 bar HDPE

110mm

$14.38 /m

75mm

$5.08 /m

90mm

$9.43 /m

63mm

$3.54 /m

75mm

$7.32 /m

50mm

$2.56 /m

63mm

$4.54 /m

40mm

$1.60 /m

50mm

$3.01 /m

32mm

$1.06 /m

40mm

$1.92 /m

32mm

$1.45 /m

LDPE

25mm

$1.27 /m

25mm ID

$1.87 /m

20mm ID

$1.50 /m

Brown stripe NZ made twin-wall pp/pe pipe

Cattle Stops

PER METRE INCL GST

FROM

3700.00

$

PER UNIT INCL GST

4.6m Wide $4900.00

25

OFF

$426.65

300mm x 6m

$297.50

225mm x 6m

$173.00

FROM

173

$

PER LENGTH INCL GST

Troughs

Protector Series

3.2m Wide $3700.00

%

$642.85

375mm x 6m

FROM

1.06

$

450mm x 6m

all low density (ID) & Outside Diameter (OD) Fittings

Broken Ballcocks costing you?

Save Money, Save Time, Save Water!

1500 Litre

$477.25

1100 Litre

$373.75

900 Litre

$358.00

750 Litre

$340.00

515 Litre

$241.50

1

PUKEKOHE 26 Nelson St P 09 237 1274

HAMILTON 256 Maeroa Rd P 07 847 3193

ROTORUA 39–41 Depot St P 07 348 9394

TE KUITI Waitete Rd P 07 878 8326

TAURANGA 84–86 Newton St P 07 571 6955

TAUPO 105 Tauhara St P 07 378 9915

Free Delivery on orders of 10 or more

26

$

INCL GST

Bridges & Underpasses

1. Hypond/Megapond 2. StoneTrap 3. Bunker

2

PER UNIT INCL GST

Hansen Trough Valve & Float

Effluent Management System

1

FROM

241.50

$

3

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Page 33

Effluent compliant 365 days a year Farmers have busy schedules so having one contractor who can design, construct, and provide an after care package for effluent projects makes a lot of sense, says rural solutions advisor Mike Harrison of Leach Rural Solutions.

Many farmers comment that there are so many option and little guidance from council which unfortunately has resulted in many adopting the “we’ll do it when forced to” mentality he says.

“It’s pretty simple; you must be effluent compliant 365 days of the year. In the real world that’s storage you can prove which does not leak, irrigation with no ponding or surface run off and compliance

with regional nitrogen loading limits.

“Our advice is to start working through the process as early as possible. Start with a free on farm consultation, work out a plan of action.”

His motto is “one call, job done”.

Mike says it’s important to get a system designed that has flexibility for expansion or infrastructure

improvements. “Make sure the system will work in the real world. How often can you shift the irrigator in the middle of calving? How many hours a day do you want the pump to run?

“Think about technology, do you want to run the whole system from your smart phone, or keep is simple so the relief milker can run it easily?”

Once farmers have a realistic system design, some preliminary costing can be done. “When you get this far you will feel more in control, when a compliance officer comes knocking, you

have something positive to show them and you can work with your bank manager to budget and discuss finance to plan the implementation.”

Mike says it doesn’t have to be done all at once.

“Maybe this year irrigation and next year a storage pond. 100 per cent effluent compliance, a system that’s fit for purpose and of highest standard brings peace of mind.”

Peace of mind is 100 per centre effluent compliance.

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Expect higher fines - says Judge A district court judge is warning that farmers polluting waterways can expect higher fines in future to provide greater deterrence as cases continue to come before the courts.

The signal, from Judge Melanie Harland in Hamilton, came as she convicted and fined a Waikato farming company for unlawful dairy effluent discharges into the environment.

Brownsville Farms Ltd received three convictions and a total fine of more than $43,000 following events between September and November last year at the company’s Walton farm, near Matamata.

The prosecution was brought by Waikato Regional Council after its staff responded to a “green stream” complaint from a member of the public. Officers tracked the contaminated stream back to overflowing effluent ponds on the Brownsville Farm.

The farmer was instructed to stop the discharge and was later issued with an abatement notice to cease all unlawful discharges.

However, the court heard that, in a follow up

inspection, officers again observed stream contamination and discovered a hole had formed in the wall of an effluent pond on the property.

The contents of that effluent pond were flowing down the bank of the pond wall directly into a stream below. The company was directed to repair the hole, and cease the discharge.

But the farmer allowed the pond to continue discharging for a period of three days until the pond level dropped beneath the hole, the court was told.

In sentencing notes released this week, Judge Harland said: “I signal that higher (fine) starting points can be expected for similar cases in the future, given that the need to properly manage effluent systems (and the employees who manage them), and to ensure that effluent systems contain sufficient capacity for unseasonable rain, are topics that have been traversed by the court regularly over the last five years at least.

“The main purposes of sentencing in this field are denunciation and deterrence. The fact that similar types of cases continue to come before the courts seems to indicate that a more stern response might be required in future,” Judge Harland said.

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Page 34

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Soils can process effluent Irrigating pasture is an effective way of returning nutrients to the soil

Soils with good populations of their own healthy and hungry “livestock” can probably treat dairy effluent almost indefinitely, dramatically reducing nutrient leaching to waterways.

That’s among the views of a number of experts and advisors canvassed by Coast & Country for their opinion on the long term ability of soils to treat effluent.

Regional councils require farmers to store dairy shed effluent and apply it at prescribed rates, onto pasture when weather conditions are favourable; but just how effectively and for how long soils can keep doing this, we asked.

Ants Roberts Chief Scientific officer for Ravensdown says so long as the soil is fully functioning biologically, there should be no accumulation of effluent.

“Soils have an enduring ability to treat efflu-

but only if they are healthy

ent and they will largely prevent nutrients reaching water ways. In one to two days, in ideal conditions, nothing of the effluent is left.”

Phyllis Tichinin General Manager of True Health says soils with thriving microbial communities can gradually expand their capacity to utilise effluent.

“But we have to fertilise wisely in such a way that those communities are boosted, fed well and functioning properly. The digestion and recycling of quality, low urea content cow wastes by soil microbes is the key to water quality and farm profit.”

Bala Tikkisetty, sustainable agriculture coordinator with the Waikato Regional Council says soil properties should be weighed up when applying effluent to pasture to maximise nutrient benefits and the protection of waterways.

“Soil texture and structure determine the amount of water that can enter and be retained within a particular soil, and the rate of transmission of excess water through that soil.”

Robin Boom of Agronomic Advisory Services says a healthy well balanced soil should be able to cope as a good filtration and absorber of these excess nutrients.

Fertiliser saving

“Many farmers are aware of the value of effluent and are happy to spend the money on increasing the area where effluent can be applied as it saves on fertiliser in the long term, reduces excesses of certain elements which can cause cow health issues, and is better environmentally.”

However, excess nitrogen from effluent can leach through the soil profile and get into ground water. In Holland, Robin says, there is a major issue regarding what to do with animal manures and effluent as that country’s soils are saturated in N and P which is an environmental problem.

“Currently our levels aren’t anywhere near their levels as we farm completely differently, but as intensification continues we could see

these sort of problems occurring here.

“As an agronomist with a particular interest in animal health issues and responses, I often find there is a greater need to apply calcium (lime) and sodium (salt) to effluent blocks which helps improve palatability and utilisation of these pastures and clients often comment how much better these paddocks become.”

It also reduces the burden of certain weeds such as docks and chickweed. These soils become more ‘alive’.”

Not coping

Phyllis says there are thousands of examples in New Zealand where dairy soils are failing to cope with effluent. “That’s what is causing the pollution of the rivers and in turn the ocean, contributing to toxic blooms. Again, it’s not that soils couldn’t cope with quality effluent, it’s that their soil microbe communities are not intact and functioning well enough to take advantage of the nutrients in the cow wastes.

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Page 35

Effluent systems substantially improved in 40 years “The farmer is losing fertiliser money because of this as the nitrogen he pays to put on pastures to spur growth is coming out the bottom of his farm system and causing environmental issues.”

Peter Burton of Ecologic says intensive pastoral farming is now regarded as an environmental negative when “it should be regarded as perhaps the most environmentally positive activity that can be undertaken with land”.

“For life to exist in our soil it must have food and the food that nourishes it best is animal excrement. Animal excrement is the energy source upon which soil life depends, that modern agriculture has perversely classified as an unwanted pollutant.

“The problem primarily lies in the belief that the only value in dung and urine is in the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that it contains. In our view that is of secondary value to the sustenance it provides for soil life.”

Surface waterways

Bala says the nature of the effluent and cattle treading on soils can affect the infiltration rate. “Treading damage, which occurs most when the soils are wet, significantly reduces infiltration rate. For some soils this can result in accumulation of effluent below slopes and in intersecting hollows. It can then enter surface waterways.

“When effluent application rates are higher than infiltration rates, water can enter continuous macro-pores that are open at the soil surface, and then move very rapidly via so-called “bypass flow” through a relatively dry soil matrix.

“This means little opportunity for the water to be retained within the root zone. Bypass flow of farm dairy effluent can occur in soils that undergo shrinkage and fissuring during drying, especially when these soils have been

previously compacted by treading.”

Free draining aerobic soils such as pumice and sandy soils leak more easily into ground water, says Robin. “But on the other hand there is less surface runoff of nutrients and bacteria since the effluent is better absorbed by the soil.

“Heavier soil types which drain poorly causing anaerobic conditions hold onto nutrients better but would be more prone to surface ponding and run-off of bacteria and faecal coliforms. Volcanic soils which are high in aluminium are very good in holding phosphorous and preventing it from entering water-ways unless these soil particles run off the surface.”

Even though dairy farming comes in for criticism, Ants says the handling of dairy effluent has moved on significantly from 40 years ago when it was common practice to discharge dairy shed waste into waterways.

“That’s no longer the case and generally dairy effluent is not a major contributor to poor water quality.

However, there is still run-off from farm systems and nutrient leaching from soils and from animal urine.”

No pollution

Peter says it is the current farming practice of the overuse of fertiliser nitrogen that has turned pastoral farming into the polluter of groundwater, streams and water systems that it is today. “However there are pastoral farmers not reliant on regular applications of fertiliser nitrogen that grow more pasture, produce more kilograms of milksolids and meat than their neighbours and do not in any way pollute.

“Current conventional farming not just to filter it, “with smart lime, traces and humic product-based fertiliser programmes with urea applied selectively at three quarters of the volume but in a foliar form.”

And they could do that indefinitely.

By Elaine Fisher

One company to co-ordinate it all Designing, building and constructing a dairy effluent system can be complex and costly for farmers in both time and money, so having one experienced company take a lead role in the project makes sense says Karl Hogan, owner of Every seam in an Agruline pond is welded and Agruline NZ.

tested to ensure it has completely bonded, at “We encourage farmers each stage in the process to involve us early in their planning finished, we know it is water tight. The so I can visit the farm anywhere in the liners are installed by Agruline’s team of country, to discuss what the owner has approved installers and the materials are in mind and where the effluent pond is backed by the manufacturer.” to go. From there I can make recomBy being involved early in the project mendations and ideally co-ordinate the Karl says Agruline can ensure it goes whole project, working alongside expesmoothly and provision is made for rienced contractors to ensure the best drainage, including de-watering of the possible outcome for the farmer.” pond, and if necessary the installation of Agruline NZ imports and installs high additional irrigation systems. quality concrete protective liners and “Because we know what is available, geo-membranes designed and manuwe can talk to farmers about systems factured specifically for use in the harsh like solids separators as well as effluent environments encountered in dairy irrigation and encourage them to think effluent systems and in municipal waste ahead to ensure the system they build water treatment plants. will be future proofed, providing capacKarl says there is no gluing or taping ity for say a herd home or extension to of Agruline effluent and waste water pond liners instead every seam is welded the dairy some years ahead.”

As well as co-ordinating and installing and tested to ensure it has completely dairy effluent systems, Agruline installs bonded, at each stage in the process.

“That way any problems are addressed liners for municipal waste water treatment plants too. straightaway and when the project is

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AVOCADOS

Page 36

AVOCADOS

Historic orchard coming back to life It takes courage to buy a rundown avocado orchard – even more so when you know nothing about growing the fruit – but Louise Dinmore and Peter Woods did their homework before committing to Tatara Orchard at Kauri Point near Katikati.

The couple, who were living in Auckland at the time, got advice from industry leaders and visited orchards brought back from ill-health before deciding to give it a go.

“We had originally looked at dry stock farms in the Bay of Plenty, but hadn’t found what we wanted,” says Peter, who grew up on a sheep and beef farm and has been a shearer both here and overseas.

Page 37

Centre image: Now well shaped and healthy looking, these trees have recovered from an over-grown, unhealthy state.

Income and lifestyle the aim Louise Dinmore and Peter Woods are the new owners of one of the Bay of Plenty’s oldest avocado orchards.

Louise says they began looking at avocado orchards almost by default.

“We didn’t set out to buy an orchard but became interested once we started looking. We saw a lot which were too small to be economic, until we found this one.”

Louise has a background in accountancy, has operated a business and retains interest in the forestry industry as a director of Red Stag Timber of Rotorua.

Katikati appealed as a location for the couple’s new venture because it is close to Rotorua and Auckland, and has a favourable climate.

Daunting task

However, the task ahead on the 12.56ha property they bought late last year was daunting.

“Most of the trees were surrounded by avocado seedlings and weeds more than a metre high. Some of the smaller trees were almost smothered in weeds,” says Peter.

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leaves and the older trees were huge.

The orchard was established 40 years ago by one of the industry’s pioneers, the late Arthur Honeyfield, and still has many of the original trees he planted.

Around 9ha is in avocados, with the balance a home orchard and extensive grounds surrounding the homestead, which enjoys views across the Tauranga Harbour.

Among the first experts Louise and Peter asked for advice was Lindsay Heard of Brenmark Horticultural Consultants, who took them to visit the Athenree Improbe Orchard managed by Ross Fowler.

“When we saw the before photos and how the orchard looks now, we began to be confident our orchard could recover,” says Louise.

When the Improbe Partnership bought the 10ha Athenree orchard in 2010, the foliage on 80 per cent of the trees was yellow and the rest of the trees looked dead. Four years on, thanks to aggressive pruning, good management and nutrition, it has returned to a healthy productive orchard.

History advice

Hugh Moore of KauriPak – just up the road from Peter and Louise’s orchard – also gave advice, as well as extensive information about Tatara’s history.

Among the growers who have also helped are John Cotterell of Walkers Road West and Brian Robinson, whose Kauri Point orchard was once part of the larger Honeyfield orchard.

“We have been so impressed at how generous everyone is with their time and advice and willingness to help,” says Peter.

“We’ve come to realise how well known and significant this orchard is in the district. Almost everyone who comes to visit or work here knows something about the orchard,” says Louise.

Contractor Mike Dillon was commissioned in December to prune the orchard and at first, as the ‘mountain’ of limbs and branches grew, Peter and Louise wondered just what they had done.

“It looked pretty extreme, and we had to work out an effective way of piling up all the material for mulching. We used a bobcat to do that in the end,” says Peter.

Younger trees in one block were among those seriously pruned in December and by August they had re-established a healthy-looking canopy of shiny green leaves. The difference, says Peter and Louise, is stunning.

Drastic decision

Other older, larger trees have also received Mike’s attention and he’s left some straggly-looking branches to ensure the roots are fed. Once new growth is well established, they will be removed too.

Even more drastic was the decision to take out around 100 trees, most of which were not worth saving. They were growing on one of the steeper parts of the generally gentle-contour orchard and the site has been shaped and sown in grass, with a line of young shelter planted, ready for new trees to go in next year.

The soils are volcanic, but parts of the orchard have

been contoured so there the top soil is not as deep as would be desirable. The climate is generally mild, as the orchard is close to the harbour.

The couple are following Lindsay’s nutrition programme for the trees, hand applying fertiliser to each one. Spraying is done by contractors.

Tatara has also become part of an avocado research programme looking at issues with irregular bearing.

Nutritious fruit

In between caring for the orchard, Peter and Louise are continuing to find out as much as they can about growing avocados and the avocado industry.

“We like the fact that we are part of an industry which produces a high quality, nutritious fruit, especially at a time when the world demand for food is growing,” says Louise.

The direction the industry is taking to improve market performance and grower returns is also important. Although they will have a relatively small crop to harvest this season, like other growers Peter and Louise will be closely watching exporters to see how they perform.

They aren’t expecting any quick returns on their investment, given the state the orchard was in, but they do expect it to become profitable in future, and provide them with an income as well as a lifestyle.

By Elaine Fisher

THE WORD IS SPREADING

AVOCADOS

Page 38

Effective root rot treatment Developing an Asian appetite for avocados Avocados are highly susceptible to the widespread root disease Phytophthora, also known as avocado root rot which causes rotting of actively growing feeder roots, declining tree health and productivity, eventually leading to tree death.

Dr Teferi Belayneh, Australasia research and development specialist, says plant health company Omnia has developed two techniques to assist in combating the disease.

One is StemShot AV-1, a convenient pressurised trunk injection system that gets active ingredients to the target sites very effectively, and provides effective movement into the tree as well.

The other product is StemCap PC-1, a revolutionary capsule formulation, applied by placing capsules in a pre-drilled hole in the tree stem. Both systems overcome mixing and labour intensive treatment methods on the orchard.

Following insertion of PC-1, the capsules will slowly dissolve due to contact with sap in wood/xylem tissues, says Teferi. The rate of dissolution will be affected by the water content of wood/xylem tissues.

This will be higher during times of shoot and leaf extension or during times of high soil moisture. Dissolution will be slower during midsummer or during periods of drought.

“Avocados have the ability to move materials from xylem/wood tissues by lateral diffusion into xylem vessels

and phloem tissues for movement into leaves and roots. Phosphorous acid is highly mobile and as the PC-1 capsules dissolve, there will be a prolonged release of PO3 ions to roots where inhibition of Phytophthora will occur.

“Correct placement of PC-1 is important, as it affects the effectiveness of the capsule. To insert PC-1 capsules, the stems of avocado trees should be drilled using a 10 mm auger style drill bit as close to the base of the stem as possible. In trees less than 400 mm in diameter, drill one hole through the centre of the trunk at a slight downward angle to 20 to 40 mm of the opposite side.”

In larger trees, drill four to six shallower holes in the trunk, to access the cambium layer around the girth of the tree, at a spacing of approximately 250 mm and at a depth which will contain the total number of StemCaps according to the dosage rate. “This will give excellent coverage of the canopy and hence translocation of phosphite ions to the roots.”

Following application, a StemPlug is to be inserted into the drilled hole.

Teferi says an article by Dr Henry Pak, a former technical manager of New Zealand Avocado Growers Association, indicated that lack of moisture restricts root growth and the tree may miss one or more root flushes because of that. This will potentially increase susceptibility to Phytophthora as the roots are not being replenished. Reduced root activity also means that trees may be slower to respond to fertiliser applications.

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Asian consumers seeking high quality, healthy food options will be targeted in new campaigns designed to drive consumption and shift fruit during this season’s record-breaking New Zealand avocado crop.

Cultivating an appetite for Kiwi avocados in Japan and developing south-east Asian countries is seen as critical to overcoming the challenge of competitive market conditions across the Tasman where New Zealand fruit is up against heavy volumes coming out of Western Australia.

Leading New Zealand export company AVOCO, which is responsible for 65 per cent of avocado growers, will be handling the bulk of New Zealand’s crop and director Alistair Young says that while a bumper harvest may sound good, it will test the New Zealand industry and its ability to manage fruit through excellent flow planning and technical expertise, as well as inroads made into Asian markets.

"We're being presented with unprecedented challenges and opportunities," he says. "Unlike last season when all exporters did well off the back of a poor Australian crop, reliance on Australia will not move the volumes we have this time."

Alistair says adding to the challenge for exporters is the

AVOCO directors John Carroll (left) and Alistair Young at the Port of Tauranga where shipments of avocados are leaving for Australia, the US and Asia.

knowledge that consumption in Australia needs to lift by 30 per cent if AVOCO’s 2014-15 targets are to be met. To strengthen the demand for New Zealand fruit, both the industry and AVOCO will be pushing the promotional activities in Australia to the absolute limit.

At the same time, 34 per cent of AVOCO's exports will be going outside Australia through the associated AVANZA channel to reach consumers in developing Asian markets, such as Thailand, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia and Japan. New Zealand shipments will also be returning to the US for the first time in many years.

"We have had the foresight to build strong relationships in Asia and the US over the past seasons, so we're ready for the challenge that large crops in New Zealand and Australia present," says fellow AVOCO director John Carroll.

"This push into Japan and Asia has been backed by the largest investment in promotional activities ever. We need to drive consumption and raise awareness of the presence of New Zealand

avocados in those markets.”

Activity will kick off in Japan with an awareness campaign around the availability of New Zealand avocados at this time of the year, dubbed 'Shun'- the Japanese word for season. There will also be a smoothie wagon, dedicated to selling avocado smoothies which have been identified as an effective means to introduce avocados to new consumers.

Avocado sampling will be part and parcel of all promotions across Asia to engage bloggers, media and beauty specialists about the health benefits of the fruit, as well as their versatility in cooking, particularly in the cuisines of the individual countries.

There will also be close and detailed work on the ground with retailers and suppliers which will include training in stores.

The national crop estimate for the 2014/15 season is over 7 million trays, with an expectation of nearly 5 million being exported.

New Zealand’s previous high was 6.2 million trays in 2011/12. Last season, 3.1 million trays of avocados were exported.

AVOCADOS

Page 39

Preparing for pests attempting to ‘emigrate’ Twelve exotic invertebrates and pathogens are at the top of the avocado industry’s ‘not wanted’ list.

signing the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response Deed.

So far the Ministry for Primary Industries, Kiwifruit Vine Health and New Zealand Pork have signed the GIA, which will enable signatories to be part of the decision-making process around readiness and response activities for their industries biosecurity threats.

Under the agreement, those who sign up will also share the costs of responding to a biosecurity incursion, both in cash and in kind through the use of personnel and resources.

The proposal for the avocado industry to join GIA was discussed at grower forums in August and Brad says having a robust debate about

But New Zealand Avocado’s newlyappointed biosecurity and programme manager Brad Siebert says there’s many more lurking off shore which could also pose serious issues for growers.

Brad says the pathways into New Zealand for unwanted pests and diseases aren’t always via passenger and trade movements but potentially through natural wind-borne dispersal from other countries.

It’s because the threats are so many that Brad and the Avocado Industry Council are encouraging growers to consider supporting the industry New Zealand Avocado’s newly-appointed biosecurity and programme manager Brad Siebert.

Chipper of a solution to pruning problem With 3000 avocado trees to manage, Wellsford orchardist Gavin Woolsey needed an effective means of handling the prunings – so he decided to import a chipper.

“We have eight metre trees we’re bringing down in height and the chipper munches up nearly all of the prunings, which we spread as mulch in the orchard so the goodness goes back into the soil.”

The chipper system works so well in dealing with what is otherwise a troublesome waste product, so Gavin is importing more

of the PTO-driven chippers for other growers throughout the country.

“The chipper can be powered by a 50hp tractor, or something bigger, but you don’t need flash hydraulics as it has its own hydraulic system,” says Gavin.

“We’ve worked our chipper hard and while it comes with a spare set of belts, we’ve never had to replace them.

“About the only things which needs replacing regularly are the blades, but it comes with a spare set and I have new sets available too.”

Gavin says having a chipper as part of an orchard’s machinery means growers can

chip prunings when it suits them.

Importing and selling the chippers is a sideline to Gavin’s orcharding business, and he imports the machines two at a time.

“It normally takes around 40 days from ordering for them to get to New Zealand and I do the final assembly, fill them with oil and run them up to make sure everything goes well before sending them out to clients.

“We invite growers to come to our orchard to see the chipper in action but if there is enough interest in the Bay of Plenty, I’d hold a demonstration day on an orchard there.”

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Page 40

AVOCADOS

Thieves target avocado orchards A love for avocados has prompted a Tauranga police officer to target theft of the fruit off orchards after a series of recent losses from blocks in the Western Bay.

“I saw a couple of reports of avocados being stolen and it just started from there. I love avocados so wasn’t happy to hear about them being stolen,” says Constable Aaron Williams.

Aaron quickly took on the selfappointed role as contact point for

growers, working with the Avocado Industry Council to send out fliers to growers reminding them to watch out for suspicious behaviour and encourage them to take safety precautions.

“I just wanted to get the message out to growers if they see anything they need to let us know,” says Aaron. “As they say, we don’t know what we don’t know if growers don’t let us know, even if it’s just something small.”

Report suspicions

Aaron has been pleased with grower feedback, particularly around Katikati where most reports are coming from, saying it seems to have made a difference in getting orchardists to contact the police about issues.

Katikati orchardists Liz and Iain McGillivray were delighted with the interest from the police and the Avocado Industry Council when they reported a theft in early July and are joining them in encouraging other growers to report anything suspicious.

Liz says suspicions were raised when Iain noticed tyre tracks he didn’t recognise going onto his blocks.

The couple, who have 1000 trees on their property at the corner of Stokes Rd and State Highway 2, estimate one to two bins of fruit were taken ($1000-$2000 loss) in what was their first theft in eight years in the area. Concerned about a possible

repeat, but not wanting to pay thousands of dollars for security fencing along their long boundary, they installed a security camera to watch out for suspicious behaviour.

Great result

Within a week the camera had captured images of a car which Katikati Police identified as a green Toyota Corolla that was owned by the brother of a man previously charged with avocado theft who they are pursuing.

“It was great to have that result. I’m sure it’s getting the message out that the police are taking this seriously.”

Sergeant Steve Hindmarsh from Katikati Police says the extent of the problem seemed to be similar to last year, with about a handful of thefts reported by growers. He says these numbers are down on a spate of thefts reported a few years earlier, but were only based on what was reported to them. “The big thing is if they call us at the time on 111 it gives us the chance to respond straight away,” says Steve, referring to a recent case in Matahui Rd where a grower interrupted a thief picking avocados when she returned home from night shift but did not call police until later in the day.

“If we can send someone out straight away, even if we don’t have a description of the car, we will obviously have a much better chance of catching them.”

AVOCADOS

Page 41

Food traceability new detection tool Along with keeping an eye out, Steve is encouraging growers to deter thieves by installing motion activated cameras and putting up signs warning the property is under surveillance.

He suggests game trail cameras used by hunters to monitor animal movement in the bush are ideal for the job, with the ability to film in the dark.

The cameras (costing about $250) should be sited near where people are likely to park or walk into the orchard so they can get identifiable images of vehicles or people.

Aaron also encourages growers to use neighbourhood support groups to work together looking out for suspicious behaviour in their area and alerting each other to any issues.

The stolen, often unripe, avocados are usually sold at markets in Auckland, with most theft taking place prior to harvest.

“Because avocados are so sought after and easy to sell it seems to be a particular problem for avocado growers,” says Aaron, who was unaware of similar theft problems with any other fruit such as kiwifruit.

Northland growers are also being encouraged to look at their security after

a Maungatapere orchard lost 2000 fruit when it was raided on two consecutive nights in early August.

Stolen fruit

Food traceability technology is being offered by Dunedin-based agricultural science specialist Oritain as a way growers can prove stolen fruit came from their orchard. CEO Grant Cochrane says they have had had strong interest from the few growers they had talked to about the protection they offer.

“We are just about to launch it in the horticulture sector, so it’s too early to gauge the response, but there has been strong interest from the pastoral sector.”

Grant says the forensic-based technology, which is based on the fact plants have a distinct biochemical signature from where they are grown, stood up in court as a way of providing where plants or stock are from.

The technology, which is being offered on a subscription basis, is being used by some farmers as an “insurance policy” against stock rustling.

“We’re working on a couple of court cases at the moment, including a grower, but we can’t go into details.”

• If a theft takes place, the New Zealand Police encourage reporting in all instances.

• If witnessed at the time of theft, call the Police emergency line on 111 immediately. Try to take as many details as you can of the thieves, including their appearance and any vehicles and vehicle

What should you do?

Police are encouraging growers to take these steps: • Be extra vigilant and take steps to prevent theft, including increasing security around your orchard.

• If you witness any suspicious behaviour, contact neighbouring orchards to ensure others are also keeping a look out.

ATP

registration numbers.

• If you discover fruit has been stolen but you did not witness the theft, contact your local police station.

• If you have had fruit stolen recently but have not yet reported it, contact your local police station and they will direct you to the Crime Reporting Line. By Hamish Carter

INDUSTRIES

Page 42

Contact Cosio Industries Ltd ph (09) 820 0272, email : sales@cosio.co.nz. or call Vaughan on 021 280 7266 for more information on Firestone EPDM and your nearest installation contractor.

Cosio Industries Ltd are official Firestone Building Products Australasian distributors

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Vote on industry future before year’s end A near perfect start Firestone EPDM Lined Pond advantages

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By Christmas this year kiwifruit Enable effluent to be stored and applied strategically during signals to growers so they can grow from or thein grower entities, drier periods Spring and AutumnNew when grassmarket growth slows growers will have voted on the fruit that consumers will pay for.

Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Ease of daily from troublesome effluent 3. irrigators NZ Grower focused industry governance andmanagement Zespri’s Board. a new and game-changing and supply operations.

The project is designed to its real Realize the value of your effluent and utilise potential kiwifruit industry strategy.

The project builds on the previous successes put in place three strategic 20 year Firestone Factory warranty of the kiwifruit industry that are based on: platforms on which the- best in the business This strategy, under development Insist on your Firestone issued Warranty Certificate • Zespri focused on maximising return industry can build an interat present, is a review of the indusfrom our off-shore markets by building the generational long-term industry try’s structures and strategies which Zespri or brand, maintaining a consistent high that0272, bothemail progressively started last year and is based on Contact Cosio Industries Ltdstructure ph (09) 820 : sales@cosio.co.nz. call Vaughan INDUSTRIES ofcontractor. fruit and continuously on Firestone EPDM nearest offering installation increases grower wealth and and your quality EPDM liner more than 400 submissions receivedon 021 280 7266 for more information Cosio Industries Ltd are official Firestone Building Products Australasian distributors developing both existing and new markets. in turn New Zealand’s wealth from within the industry resulting In short Zespri continuing to be one of the which are: in over half of the industry’s growbest fruit marketers in the world.

1. NZ grower ownership and ers making or being involved in a • Growers getting clear market signals control of Zespri. submission. from our off-shore markets and providing 2. Zespri funded to act in the interests of Many of these submissions were joint Zespri the fruit that is needed to maintain NZ growers with appropriate cost control; submissions from groups of growers. The NZ kiwifruit’s premium position in our offa division between Zespri Corporate and review is being undertaken by an industry shore markets.

• To achieve this NZ kiwifruit growers need to own and control their industry through Zespri ownership and the grower control of the industry’s on-shore structures.

• Retention and full utilisation of the industry’s marketing system.

The project is designed to do all this and build on the industry’s past successes. But that is not all.

The project is designed to take the kiwifruit industry to new high levels of achievement. Growers in December this year will vote on the key aspects of the project so that with a strong and consolidated mandate the industry can advance and prosper.

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A welcome dollop The of Professionals Choice warm rain mid last month activated spring. It’s as though INDUSTRIES a switch has been flicked, perhaps not for everyone but for those areas that experienced a dry frosty August, spring growth has erupted.

U

Accelerated growth has also brought a dramatic change in farmer mood, from one of increasing nervousness to relaxed calmness. The early part of the season is underway and grazing routines and conservation plans can now be activated.

There’s a quip that every year spring growth starts on September 15 at 10.45am, and as absurd as that might seem it’s simply highlighting the fact that in mid-September, for most regions, there’s a point when spring growth becomes unstoppable.

INDUSTRIES It’s interesting that even the most experienced and well prepared farmers can become a little ill-at-ease just prior to spring growth.

If in fact spring growth is as regular as long term records indicate there should be a sense of restless anticipation, or have we begun to believe that it’s not a natural and inevitable consequence of increasing sunshine hours and warmth?

Rampant spring growth can be accurately forecast by recording the soil temperature soon after sun-up each morning.

As soon as a minimum temperature of 10°C is reached spring growth is underway.

Pasture growth during dry frosty winters is always slower due to burning of the grass by direct sunlight magnified by the drop of water on each tip. No burning takes place when a fog or cloud follows a frost.

Utilisation of pasture is high because little is tramped into the soil, and animal requirements are less due to lack of wind and increased sunlight. Pasture covers may appear to be low but brix readings indicate excellent levels of soluble sugars, verified by ULTRA-PRO animals preferring pasture to hay.

Frosts lift moisture from the soil and with the folULTRA-PRO lowing direct sunlight the surface of the soil becomes noticeably drier. Lower moisture levels means less energy is required for warming; the reason early growth follows cold crisp winters.

While damaged pasture has grown little above the ground, where physical soil structures are good there’s been relentless root development. And it’s this that provides the nutrient feeding system necessary for resilient growth over the next eight months.

10°C is also the time of greatest earthworm activity and casting on the surface should be clearly visible although much casting also takes 10 placeyear beneathUV the Warra surface.

As soil temperatures increase and the growth of grasses slow, clover becomes increasingly obvious.

When fertiliser programmes are geared to providing ideal conditions for this resilient plant, long solid stems and big leaves largely unmolested by flea and weevil can be expected as spring progresses.

Not only does clover fix abundant nitrogen free of charge it is also the tucker of choice for fast growing lambs and calves as well as high performing dairy cows.

As it’s more digestible more kilograms can be consumed and containing significantly more calcium than grass increased growth and production inevitably follows.

W

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For more information contact Peter on 0800 843 809.

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KIWIFRUIT

Page 43

New protectant product licenced for Psa further research work has resulted in the granting of a registered label claim for full season use against Psa and in mid- September, the product was also approved

by BioGro for use on organic orchards.”

Mark says because Hortcare Copper Hydroxide 300 is effective even in relatively low concentrations, it can be used in a full season programme by orchardists to protect their vines against the bacteria Psa-V with excellent crop safety performance both with and without the addition of surfactant.

“Based on the recommended use rate growers can be comfortable using Hortcare Copper Hydroxide 300 in a full season programme and still remain below the allowed threshold of active copper applied in any one year. Zespri’s rigorous trials showed it was effective even at half rates, performing as well or better than other industry standards.”

The trial results can be viewed on the Zespri Canopy and KVH websites.

Grosafe contracted a prominent analytical laboratory to develop the product and scientists worked with Auckland University to compare it with other copper formulations.

Sam Kirk is Grosafe’s Bay of Plenty territory manager and “This work included particle size Duncan Ibbotson who manages the Coromandel/Waikato, analysis and deposition supported by Auckland and Northland Regions with the company’s electron microscope studies. Hortcare newest crop protection products.

Copper showed outstanding particle

Conventional and Organic kiwifruit growers now have access to a new, effective protectant for the management and control of Psa-V, says Mark Yortt of Grosafe with the granting of a Psa label claim plus BioGro Certification for its Hortcare Copper Hydroxide 300.

“Grosafe Chemicals has spent two years developing and testing this product, which has also performed extremely well in trials conducted by Zespri and independent researchers.

“While it was already approved for use on kiwifruit during dormancy,

size characteristics, spray deposition and coverage, superior to other products included in this analytical research.”

The result is a water dispersible granule so uniform and fine it pours like water, is easy to mix, and gives excellent coverage through spray systems. The product is also registered for use for the control of a range of fungal and bacterial diseases affecting other fruits and vegetables.

Grosafe has also just released two new products. Talent is an insecticide with the active ingredient methoxyfenozide for the control of leafroller on kiwifruit,

grapes, nectarines, peaches and pipfruit and codling moth on pipifruit.

Announce, with the active ingredient emamectin benzoate, has been registered for the control of leafroller caterpillars on kiwifruit, avocados, grapes and pipfruit.

Grosafe not only develops and produces its own products (it has 15 approved for use in the Zespri crop protection standard) it also sells direct to customers. Products can be ordered on-line or through territory managers strategically located to service the whole country.

Block course helps student go the distance Changing the way it offers training on East Coast has paid off for both students and the Polytechnic says Lesley Mochan, horticultural tutor, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

Five students from Te Kaha have graduated from the Polytechnic’s first ever block course model with National Certificates in Horticulture Level 4 - Fruit Production.

“The adult students from Te Kaha, who are all employed in the kiwifruit industry, found it hard to travel to Tauranga for classes so we held block courses at Te Kaha, some were two days, some were five,” says Lesley.

The graduates have joined two others to sign up to do the National Certificate in Horticulture Advanced programme which focuses on orchard management.

They are Jason MacKenzie, Piua Kerei, Te Ata Parata, Debbie Davis, Rebecca Herewini, Iwi Te Moana and Royce Hau. All say they have benefited from studying together and being able to complete their assignments during class time, instead of trying to fit the work around their jobs and families.

If they hadn’t been able to study at Te Kaha, the group members say

they probably wouldn’t have continued with the courses.

Lesley says the distance learning model is proving to be an excellent delivery mode for communities like Te Kaha or Jason MacKenzie, Piua Kerei, Te Ata Parata, Opotiki. “We Royce Hau, Iwi Te Moana and Debbie Davis are working alongside Te has served as an inspiration for Whanau A Apanui Trust, post-harothers to work towards qualificavest facilities, and local orchardists tions. to provide this programme to the As a result the Polytechnic is now running two NCH Level 2 prolocal people, and up skill the area in general. This programme would grammes, once based in Te Kaha not have been possible without the and one in Opotiki. These are also support of Te Whanau A Apanui block courses.

Trust.

Ros McRoberts of Te Whanau A Apanui Trust says the polytech “The students have been studying with us for two years block courses have provided an and will be the future leaders in important opportunity for the Te Kaha, and the Eastern Bay of region by helping up-skill staff Plenty in general.” working on more than 120 ha of The graduates says thanks to their kiwifruit orchards. studies they have a better underThe horticultural industry is standing of the work they do in providing employment to enable orchards and are incorporating new people to remain, instead of leaving techniques into their work. Their for jobs elsewhere, she says. success and commitment to study

By Elaine Fisher

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.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR

KIWIFRUIT GROWERS! IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR KIWIFRUIT GROWERS! KIWIFRUIT GROWERS! HORTCARE Copper Hydroxide 300 ®

® HORTCARE Copper Hydroxide 300 granted® label claim against Psa HORTCARE Copper Hydroxide 300 granted label claim against Psa

SAFE granted label claim against Psa EFFECTIVE RELIABLE INDEPENDENTLY PROVEN SAFE Supported by ZESPRI trials EFFECTIVE and independent research

RELIABLE INDEPENDENTLY PROVEN

Supported by ZESPRI trials and independent research

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.

216 Pongakawa Bush Road

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 TALENT® - A specific insecticide for the ANNOUNCE® - For the control of leafroller your crop with excellence. control of codling moth on pipfruit, and caterpillars on avocados,grapes, kiwifruit

NEW Te Puke PRODUCT LAUNCH! To contact us: NEW

Phone: 021 907 621 PRODUCT E-mail: zcl@zanadu.co.nz LAUNCH!

leafrollers on avocados, grapes, kiwifruit, and pipfruit. nectarines, peaches and pipfruit.

ACTIVE INGREDIENT: contains 50g/kg ACTIVE INGREDIENT: contains 240g/litre emamectin benzoate in the form of a water methoxyfenozide in the form of a soluble granule. suspension concentrate.

TALENT® - A specific insecticide the ANNOUNCE® - For theofcontrol of leafroller TALENT® - A specific insecticide for the for ANNOUNCE® - For the control leafroller control of codling moth on pipfruit, and caterpillars on avocados,grapes, control of codling moth on pipfruit, and caterpillars on avocados,grapes, kiwifruitkiwifruit leafrollers on avocados, kiwifruit, and pipfruit. leafrollers on avocados, grapes,grapes, kiwifruit, and pipfruit.

Call Your Territory Manager For More Information nectarines, peaches and pipfruit. ACTIVEACTIVE INGREDIENT: nectarines, peaches and pipfruit.

INGREDIENT: containscontains 50g/kg 50g/kg ACTIVE INGREDIENT: contains 240g/litre emamectin in the ACTIVE INGREDIENT: contains 240g/litre emamectin benzoatebenzoate in the form of aform waterof a water Mark Yortt - 021 929 848 methoxyfenozide the of form ® methoxyfenozide in theinform a of asoluble soluble granule.granule. suspension concentrate. suspension concentrate.

Duncan Ibbotson - Coromandel/Waikato

216 Pongakawa Bush Road

Upper North Island - 021 460 952 Call Your Manager For More Information CallTerritory Your Territory Manager For More Information

HORTCARE®, TALENT® & ANNOUNCE® are Registered trademarks of GROSAFE® CHEMICALS LTD, © 2014

Sam Kirk - Bay of Plenty - 021 460 661 Mark Yortt - 021 929 -848 Mark Yortt 021 929 848 David James - Middle & Lower North Island - 021 460 363 DuncanDuncan Ibbotson - Coromandel/Waikato Ibbotson - Coromandel/Waikato Jono Trolove - South Island - 021 460 318 Upper North Island - 021 460 -952 Upper North Island 021 460 952

0800 220 002 Teinfo@grosafe.co.nz Puke ® ® www.grosafe.co.nz

To contact us: 0800 220 002002info@grosafe.co.nz Sam Kirk - Bay of Plenty - 021 460 661 0800 220 info@grosafe.co.nz Phone: 021 907 621 David James - Middle & Lower North Island - 021 460 363 www.grosafe.co.nz David James - Middle & Lower North Island - 021 460 363 www.grosafe.co.nz Jono Trolove - South Island - 021 460 318 Jono Trolove - South Island - 021 460 318 E-mail: zcl@zanadu.co.nz No. P9060, HSR100924, COPPER HYDROXIDE No. P8704, Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1979. Approved pursant to HSNO Act 1996. ANNOUNCE No. P9053, HSR100581, TALENT Sam Kirk - Bay of Plenty - 021 460 661HSR000739

HORTCARE®, TALENT® & ANNOUNCE® HORTCARE®, TALENT® & ANNOUNCE® are Registered trademarks of GROSAFE® CHEMICALS LTD, © 2014

are Registered trademarks of GROSAFE® CHEMICALS LTD, © 2014

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1979. Approved pursant to HSNO Act 1996. ANNOUNCE No. P9053, HSR100581, TALENT No. P9060, HSR100924, COPPER HYDROXIDE No. P8704, HSR000739

Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1979. Approved pursant to HSNO Act 1996. ANNOUNCE No. P9053, HSR100581, TALENT No. P9060, HSR100924, COPPER HYDROXIDE No. P8704, HSR000739

Page 44

CONTRACTING

Quality silage takes extra care Making quality grass silage is about more than just mowing and baling it, says Ben Thomasen of BT Contracting.

“To help our clients get the best from their silage we aim to make it when the grass has just started to wilt. We add inoculants to help the process and have the machinery to wrap it up tight to keep out the oxygen so it matures properly and will keep.”

BT Contracting specialises in making round bales and has the tractor, mower,

baler and wrapper to carry out the whole process of making grass silage.

“The grass growth really took off in late September with warmer conditions and lots of rain which meant there was some early silage made. It’s shaping up to be a good season.”

Ben offers a service throughout the Bay of Plenty and encourages clients to make contact early so he can book their jobs in and co-ordinate them with others in the area. BT Contracting also has a truck and trailer unit offering a transportation service for the agricultural sector in the Bay of Plenty.

BT Contracting specialises in making round bales.

New contractors body formed

The New Zealand Contractors' Federation and Roading New Zealand have joined forces to form a new organisation to be known as Civil Contractors New Zealand.

The new body represents the interests of more than 400 members in large, medium and small engineering, construction and contracting businesses throughout New Zealand.

These are businesses which play vital roles in the building and maintenance of roads, transport, energy, public ser-

vices infrastructure and services to the residential and commercial construction sectors.

Civil Contractors New Zealand aims to: Create a safe, viable, and progressive sector meeting the needs of all its participants.

Contribute to ensuring a healthy civil construction sector where skilled and qualified clients, consultants, and contractors produce outcomes that deliver value for money for all participants.

More safe second-hand vehicles New Zealand’s fleet of second-hand vehicles is growing safer according to the latest used vehicle safety ratings.

The Used Car Safety Ratings guide is updated every year and provides guidance on the performance of more than 220 models based on real world crash data in New Zealand and Australia.

The 2014 Used Car Safety Ratings guide shows that a record 51 per cent of the 227 second-hand cars listed scored an excellent or good rating for driver protection in a crash – seven more vehicles in those categories than 2013.

AA General Manager Motoring Services Stella Stocks says the better overall crash performance in used cars reflects the general improvement of the fleet in both New Zealand and Australia with the addition of sophisticated safety features in new cars eventually reaching the second-hand market.

NZ Transport Agency’s General Manager Access and Use Celia Patrick urges used car buyers to buy the safest car they can.

“Motorists have a number of decisions as they consider the options for their next car and for many price and functionality for how they intend to use it are usually at the top of the list. The Used Car Safety Ratings guide enables motorists to consider crash performance and driver protection across a variety of cars in a specific category.”

The guide also provides Safe Pick grades in most of the categories. These are cars which provide excellent protection to the driver and cause less serious injury to other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists in a crash.

Used Car Safety Ratings can be found on the AA’s website and on www.rightcar.govt.nz.

The AA and the NZ Transport Agency are members of the Vehicle Safety Research Group, which commissioned the analysis of the crash data by the Monash University Accident Research Centre.

FARM MACHINERY EQUIPMENT

Page 45

User-friendly tractor ideal for station Massey Ferguson’s 5400 series tractors are renowned for their simplicity of operation, reliability and ease of maintenance.

They feature the Dyna-4 transmission as standard. It offers four speeds on the go, with less power loss. It also has the MF electronic linkage control and the excellent hydraulics ensures high lift capacities and oil flows to get the best performance from any equipment or implement.

The MF 5440’s mechanically-governed engine offers unparalleled power and torque as well as quick response and fuel efficiency. It gives outstanding pulling capacity and up-hill performance, and the ability to move heavier loads faster.

Among fans of the new tractor is Rob Stratton, manager of Pukekaka Station in Taihape which has purchased the latest model for general use on the 1100-hectare sheep and beef property, running 5000 ewes, 1700 hoggets, 280 cows and 220 weaner cattle.

It’s very user friendly. We put a post thumper on the back of it, we spray ground with it and we feed out with it.

We do lots of basic work with it, and whatever we use it for, it’s good.”

The 102hp MF 5440 was a larger machine than Rob initially wanted to buy. He was not looking for a bigger tractor because they don’t use it for any

The tractor replaced an older Massey Ferguson model, although it was not a straight swap. Rob test drove a number of different tractors this before making his selection.

The results were pretty clear, however.

“The Massey Ferguson was the simplest tractor to drive.

The versatility of the Massey Ferguson 5400 makes it ideal for work on Pukekaka Station.

cropping at Pukekaka Station. The 25 hectares of winter crop they put in each year, is done by contractors.

“We just wanted a farm tractor but we wanted the sloping bonnet for better visibility,” he says.

“It’s just a general farm tractor that we use for jobs like tidying up trees, grading tracks, cleaning out the sheep yards, feeding out haylage, putting in water schemes and other general jobs around the farm. The gear system is good and I like the way the hydraulics are set up,” Rob says.

“It’s pretty simple and the sloping bonnet really improves what you can see out of the cab.”

The new pivoting bonnet on the MF 5440 also allows improved access for regular maintenance of the air filter and radiators. Rob drives the MF 5440 himself, along with a couple of other young workers employed on the property. He says while any tractor takes a few hours to get used to within the cab, they’ve all found the MF 5440 simple to learn and easy to use.

Mowers turning more than heads in USA and NZ It has been a busy three years for ZTR Mowers since it took over the New Zealand distribution of the Grasshopper Zero Turn ride-on mower brand.

ZTR Mowers have a Grasshopper Zero Turn mower to suit every application including models fitted with the PowerVac grass catcher.

Sales manager Andrew Peacocke says the company has worked hard demonstrating to the market that a Grasshopper Zero Turn is a “must consider” brand for anyone looking at upgrading their mowing equipment.

“We take every opportunity to show potential customers what a Grasshopper Zero Turn can do. Each demonstration has its own unique element and we have found there is a Grasshopper model to suit every application.”

Grasshopper Mowers have been made in the USA since 1969 by an independent private business which cares more about quality than quantity.

It is one of the few companies which makes models with frontmount or mid-mount cutting decks. An out-front mowing deck can be folded up for effortless cleaning and maintenance while the more traditional mid-mount models are more compact with the cutting deck under the power unit.

Grasshopper also offers petrol and diesel engine options with side or read discharge. Recently two Grassshopper models were rated as the top Zero Turn

mowers in a USA rural living magazine field test. (Google ‘Mother Earth News best zero turn’ for the full results) ZTR Mowers have a proud history as a specialist ride on mower importer and are well known as the supplier of DIXON ZTR ride on mower brand, parts and service.

“In fact they first imported the Grasshopper brand in the midnineties but discontinued the line as the Dixon range expanded.

When given the opportunity to carry the brand again the superior construction, broad model range and exceptional grass catching capability made it an easy decision.

“Recently I demonstrated 126V52” MidMount in the rain with the PowerVac grass catcher fitted.

It was so wet that tyres were throwing water into the air but it still picked up the grass, it was very impressive and needless to say we made the sale. Grasshopper mowers are built to last and a pleasure to sell.”

If you are a commercial contractor or have a large area to mow such as a farm lawn, lifestyle block, orchard, school or camp-

ground ZTR Mowers will have a Grasshopper Zero Turn mower to suit.

Call ZTR Mowers for more information or a no obligation demonstration. Currently they are offering 20 per cent off all new mowers purchased before 20 October 14.

FARM MACHINERY EQUIPMENT

Page 46

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FARM MACHINERY EQUIPMENT

Page 47

Robots no threat to sheepdogs

Productivity affordability

meets

There’s a primordial instinctive connection between dogs and sheep.

Robotic sheep won’t ever replace that I have no idea.

“Another reason comes down to the the real thing, despite the best sheer agility of working dogs across efforts of scientists says Bay of unforgiving terrain. Then there is the Plenty farmer and Federated question of endurance.”

After a few biscuits and water dogs Farmers Meat and Fibre are ready to go, but Rick says since his spokesman Rick Powdrell. smartphone struggles to get through a full day, the idea of a robotic dog He’s commenting on work by seven running out of puff in the back blocks European academics looking for the doesn’t excite him. algorithms involved in dogs working “I don’t think I have ever had to sheep to come up with new robots to reboot one of my dogs either. influence movements of living and “Farmers are increasingly using drones artificial agents. and autonomy may be massive for rural “At the risk of being out of step with security, but that last element is for the technology, Federated Farmers is dubifuture. Robotic dogs seem a bridge ous robotic sheepdogs will replace the too far but then again, the world’s first real thing anytime soon. synthetic meat patty cost £250,000. If “Anyone who works with dogs and someone wants to I guess they will. sheep knows there’s more to this than “This research may have more an algorithm. For starters, there is a priapplications off-farm, say, for crowd mordial instinctive connection between control,” says Rick. the two animals. How you simulate

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RCNZ president Steve Levet says with the new season fast approaching it is timely for rural contractors and their staff to check to see they have the correct licence and a ‘Wheels Endorsements’ if required.

“It is incumbent on rural contractors to ensure both they and their staff have all the correct licences when moving their tractors and machinery around the country.

“There are no excuses for not having the correct licences and/or wheels endorsement. If contractors are not sure they should find out – all the necessary information is under the members section of our website: www.ruralcontractors.org.nz .”

The different types of licences rural contractors may require include: Tractor up to 18 tonne or in combination (towing a trailer) up to 25 tonne: - Under 40 kph, Class 1 (restricted or full) licence or overseas tractor licence - Over 40 kph, Class 1 plus Wheels endorsement Self-propelled agricultural vehicle (eg combine harvester): - Under 40 kph, Class 1 PLUS Wheels endorsement - Over 40 kph, Class 2 PLUS Wheels endorsement.

Rural Contractors NZ is also holding a number of training workshops run by long-time member Noel Blackwell in October. Contractors interested is attending – or having their staff attend – one of these training courses can contact RCNZ. Meanwhile, Steve is reminding rural contractors to remain courteous to other road users.

“Remember you are often pulling big gear and going

slower than normal traffic; so keep an eye out for traffic and pull over where safe to allow cars to pass when on the road.”

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BUSINESS

Page 48

Beware - our kids want our money! Popular run Sadly with my work I am seeing all too frequently children demanding their parent’s money – now. Make no mistake, the next generation want our money.

We baby boomers have had a great life.

No wars, plenty of food, plenty of money and plenty of property. In fact generally we are exceedingly well off in general terms, not to mention the pension (which is taxed of course).

Some of our children and their children (generation Y and Z) often see it quite differently - they want it all now. They have little perception of working hard and saving now for the future.

I am generalising here as there are some fantastic young people coming through who really blow me away with their energy and commitment to work. I do however see some that have come home and tried to be farmers with-on-for or beside their parents and failed. They are often embittered and disillusioned from their own failures and start making noises about their expected inheritance while their parents are still

alive (much to their seniors’ horror). I am saddened to see too many stunned parents as they tell stories of their children’s expectations and surprisingly also threats.

Hard to shift

Nepotism runs strong in we parents. We want to involve our family in the business, we often make promises that may or may not be practical, and I think we frequently set up an unreasonable expectation in our children’s head that is then very hard to shift.

I can speak from personal experience here because my parent’s set that expectation up in me and that was my understanding and hope, but it was not until I was told otherwise that reality struck and I made my own way in life.

So we have all these children with expectations and wanting to know what is in the will, how it will all work and what they are likely to get upon our demise.

Remember some of their solicitors are now of the same generation as them with a similar outlook –

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so yes, look out. To us, it is a sad day but to them it is their right.

How we leave our money and property is really important.

Solicitors make various suggestions with a multitude of structures across partnerships with wills; partnership with half the asset dropping into a trust upon the demise of one; and so on. Then, there are trusts to hold assets for the next generation.

Not to mention companies, and who owns the shares in the company or does a trust own them?

Many option

The combination of options is many and varied and will take time and money to set up as best we can. The choice of trustees is paramount. Good friends and solicitors are not necessarily good trustees.

Do friends really know what you want with your estate? Do they have a legal and accounting understanding? Can they make good forceful decisions independently of their own situation? Will they stand up to the greedy members of your family?

So, we do need to realise that we have had the golden years. Some of the next generation are after our assets and money. They are upfront about their expectations which frighten us.

We therefore need to focus on this part of our business and ensure we have got our affairs in the best order we can. Next month I will endeavour to traverse some solutions.

on again

Morrinsville’s popular fun run and walk attracts people of all ages.

Dressing up and running around the streets is fast becoming a tradition in Morrinsville, and it’s all in the aid of a good cause.

The 100% Heathcote Appliances 13th Annual Morrinsville College Fun Run/Walk 2014 to raise funds for the college will take place on Sunday October 19.

“This event is becoming quite "iconic" in Morrinsville with good numbers taking part each year,” says one of the organisers Donna Arnold.

Participants can run or walk the 5km, 10km or half marathon distances and everyone receives a goodie bag, certificate and goes in the draw for spot and major prizes.

For more information go to www.morrcoll. school.nz or ph Donna Arnold 07 8872857or email: donna.bruce@farmside.co.nz

Help for first home buyers Many buyers aren’t aware of certain financial assistance packages that are available to them from Government agencies when they are looking to buy their first home.

There are various options such as the Government’s Welcome Home Loan Scheme which helps you borrow enough to buy your first house with a 10 per cent deposit. If you are with KiwiSaver, you may be eligible for a first home deposit subsidy, which allows you to withdraw some or all of your contributions. There are also other less well known first home initiatives which are available if you fit certain criteria.

This financial assistance can also apply to people looking at buying a home for the second time around, where their financial position is similar to a first home buyer, e.g. divorced, separated, or postbankruptcy.

There are various requirements and checklists to meet in both circumstances, but knowing they are there in the first place is a big step in the right direction.

This information isn’t something banks or Government agencies readily advertise, therefore a lot of

people attempting to buy their first home are unaware of how much assistance is actually out there.

Through both KiwiSaver and Housing New Zealand, single people, couples and young families can begin to plan ahead and build a secure future for themselves and their families, without overextending their financial means.

Although the requirements and eligibility factors required to qualify for the various assistance options can seem daunting, just knowing these options are available can make all the difference. If you are looking to buy your first home it may be worth discussing the options and your eligibility with your legal advisor prior to committing to a property purchase.

Disclaimer: This article is general in nature and should not be treated as professional advice. It is recommended that you consult your advisor.

No liability is assumed by Harris Tate Ltd for any losses suffered by any person relying directly or indirectly upon the above article.

SPRING FERTILISER

Page 49

Considered approach to spring fertiliser Spring is a key time when it comes to fertilising pasture and farmers need to take a considered approach to help protect the environment and their bottom line profits.

Too much fertiliser - or fertiliser applied at the wrong time or in the wrong place – can end up contributing, via run-off or leaching, to reductions in the health of our waterways.

Such losses also mean the hard cash spent on fertiliser isn’t providing the maximum economic reward.

But too little fertiliser can compromise production.

Use of a sound nutrient management plan can help avoid these sorts of problems.

Before buying fertiliser, I recommend farmers look at their nutrient budget and talk to a fertiliser rep about their individual properties.

However, there are some general strategies farmers can use to help avoid problems such as nitrate (N) leaching to ground water, excessive phosphorus levels in soil (measured by Olsen P) and stock poisoning.

While stock urine is the main contributor to nitrate leaching, losses can also be markedly increased if too much N fertiliser is applied. Losses to ground water

are likely to be highest during periods with excess rainfall and low soil temperatures that limit pasture growth and N uptake – that is autumn, winter and early spring.

So farmers can reduce the amount of N leaching and run-off from pasture by avoiding fertiliser application at times when plant uptake of nitrogen is low, such as when soils are saturated, during heavy rain, colder periods and when soil temperatures are low.

Other measures include: • applying N fertiliser in split dressings (a little and often) • making sure farm dairy effluent is applied at low rates and to a large enough area • adjusting fertiliser policy for effluent irrigated areas to account for the nutrient value of effluent • standing cows off pasture during wet weather and capturing their effluent for later application • fencing off wetlands and open drains.

On the other hand, Phosphorous is not a significantly “leaky” element leaching through soils, because it binds tightly to soil particles. This means P gets into waterways mostly as a result of erosion.

So any bare soil on sloping land creates a risk of P transport to water bodies.

Tracks and races can also be a source of P run-off to water. The risk of such run-off is obviously higher if Olsen P is excessive.

Farmers can reduce the amount of P running off by ensuring they don’t apply phosphate fertiliser when heavy rain is forecast. Farmers should also: • apply fertiliser when the grass is in an actively growing phase • make sure fertiliser isn’t applied near waterways • leave a grassed buffer strip between paddock and waterway – the strip helps to filter out some of the nutrients before the run-off reaches the water • control run-off from tracks, races, feed and stand-off pads.

Also remember that fertiliser can be poisonous to stock if ingested directly.

Make sure animals don’t have direct access to fertiliser bins or other storage facilities and don’t graze pasture if fertiliser particles are visible – it’s best to wait until sufficient rain has washed the particles into the soil.

Voluntary guidelines and codes of practices, developed by the farming industry are helpful in managing nutrients. These include the Code of Practice for Nutrient Management, Fertmark and Spreadmark.

• Bala Tikkisetty is a sustainable agriculture co-ordinator at Waikato Regional Council.

Contact him at bala.tikkisetty@waikatoregion.govt.nz or call 0800 800 401.

SPRING FERTILISER

Page 50

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Page 51

Certification embraced by advisors More than 40 advisors have completed the Nutrient Management Adviser Certification process with another 60 currently in application phase, since it came into being six months ago.

Jason Griffin, Ballance Agri-Nutrients key and corporate accounts manager for the lower North Island, says the certification programme as “the icing on the cake” which brings together years of training and experience

in nutrient management.

He is grateful that the certification programme is available to formalise the level of knowledge and skills involved in effective nutrient management, and to ensure farmers are receiving advice from qualified people.

Likewise, Sue Quilter, Ravensdown key account manager for the East Coast of the North Island says “after 16 years in the field I found the certification process a valuable experience”.

“It gives me more confidence that what is being advised is indeed in line with the latest research and industry standards. Working in an isolated area on the East Coast for so long it’s easy

to feel that you’re going down your own track at times, but the certification process was very reassuring for me personally. It’s great to have a stamp of approval for my practice.” Sue says the certification process provides the reassurance and seamless future proofing necessary to meet evolving council requirements.

The annual continuing professional development requirements of the certification programme also ensure that knowledge is kept up to date.

“As more and more farmers learn about the certification programme it will become the benchmark and be demanded by them,” said Jason.

Both certified nutrient management advisers agree that the endorsement provided by the certification process is critical in ensuring their clients know that resources are being managed in ways that don’t compromise the environment, that are evidence based, and that, ultimately, provide the best outcomes for farmers.

The Nutrient Management Adviser Certification Programme is an outcome of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Primary Growth through DairyNZ and is coordinated by the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand with a range of partners.

(Source Fertiliser Association of New Zealand)

Door to funding appears firmly shut for some My company Quantum Laboratories has applied for funding so many times I have lost count, only to be turned down each time with the foot note, ‘out of funds, try again’, or ‘your application does not fit our criteria’.

Recently we paid for trials and had AgResearch in Palmerston North conduct them on pastures grown on recommendations from our laboratory, using the Albrecht system.

These trials revealed a 77.8 percent reduction in rumen ammonia. These trials had been requested as previous research had revealed a 100 percent increase in lamb growth on pastures which had received a cation balanced as set out by the Albrecht system and modified slightly by Quantum.

Albrecht was mainly dealing with corn (maize) and soybeans, here in New Zealand we are dealing with foraging animals and any deficit in ratios of the major elements or trace elements can result in disaster; take for example copper and cobalt deficiencies; these can spell disaster for both the animal and the farmer.

Dr. Wm Albrecht, whom I studied under in the early 1970s, revealed that animals responded to soil nutrient imbalance just

like we humans do in our own diets. To starve an animal, be that cattle beast – deer –sheep – or man, you don’t need to take its food away, just an essential nutrient.

This same principal applies to plants and is referred to as “Liebig’s the law of minimum.”

“Those who measure themselves by themselves and judge themselves amongst themselves are not wise,” so the good book tells us. This fits well into this country’s approach to agriculture and indeed our whole approach to learning As to the fact that any fertiliser should be subject to “proof of efficacy” there is a moral argument here: “why the farmer should be used as a guinea pig?”

Indeed why?

A few months ago one major fertiliser company received a payout of $31,000,000 for their research into nitrification inhibitors which had already been researched and found to be wanting.

The fact that it increased the level of DCDs which it contained, as I had already pointed out in a letter to a farming newspaper; yet the “system” has seen fit to grant them a further 19.5 million for more research into the poorly conceived nitrogen saga.

We, using the Albrecht system

of soil nutrient balancing have increased production and decreased environmental pollution by cutting out artificial nitrogen from pastures all together. The environment, the animal, the farmer and the country all win when the system is in balance I assure you.

When we applied for the funding necessary for AgResearch to fully document their findings, we were turned down with the footnote that there were no more funds available and within two weeks the major fertiliser companies were granted over $30,000,000.

The reason no research is available is that the door to funding is firmly shut for any findings that may end up planting egg on their faces.

I have been on TV in Australia for knocking off cattle ticks by just manipulating their feed intake. I have been able to grow grass where the DPI gave up long ago.

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RURAL DRIVER

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RURAL DRIVER

Page 53

Sat nav and paint that ‘heals’ Sideline Sid gave the Nissan X-Trail Ti 4WD a gigantic tick for versatility, when he took a shiny atomic sunset Nissan X-Trail for a test drive, on a wet Western Bay morning.

First impressions were a ritzy five-seater set off by a stylish rear spoiler. 18 inch alloy wheels, LED headlights that have automatic levelling and rain sensing windscreen wipers were just the start.

A real bonus for country drivers is the high tech, highly elastic resin that From farmers going to see the actually allows the paint to “heal” bank manager in town, taking the itself of very fine scratches. family on holiday to getting up Stepping into the driver seat is real close and personal with the bush or delight. coast, the Nissan X-Trail ticks all the Cleverly designed theatre style boxes. seating, with the driver given the The first port of call was Bay comfort of a heated and powered sideline Nissan at Farmer Auto Village eight-way seat, makes the challenges on Hewletts Road to pick up the of around town or open or off-road Nissan X-Trail. A short sharp but driving a breeze. A multi tilt and comprehensive introduction to the adjust steering column greatly assists Nissan X-Trail, was given by Bay Nissan sales driver comfort. manager Roger Mathews, who highlighted the many innovative features of the X-Trail.

Driving aids While the Nissan X-Trail’s start from a The two standouts driving aids for Sideline extremely competitive $39,990, we had the Sid were the ADAD (Advanced Driver Assist delight of taking a top of the range Nissan Display) and Nissan Connect that includes a X-Trail Ti 4WD out on the road to test its satellite navigation system. capabilities.

The ADAD is a 5 inch full colour display that sits slap bang in front of the driver between the speedometer and tachometer. From turn by turn instructions relayed from the Satellite Navigation unit, to phone caller ID, there is a myriad of help available D right in the driver’s line of sight.

W 4 i T ail r T X Nissan Connect is smart technoln a s Nis litres ogy that keeps your world within 8 8 .4 2 : ty aci reach when you are on the move.

Engine Cap ower: 126@6000 P The Nissan Navigation System Maximum orque: 226@4400 ariable T m u im x tinuously V comes with a 7 inch touch screen a n o M (C V T on: C that has the latest maps, the most Transmissi ) with manual mode n direct routes and smartest way Transmissio 90 e g to Villa ,2 u 3 A 5 $ er : to get you to your destination. m ce ar ri F P ay Nissan @ There are all the expected extras Contact: B 7 1 of today in bluetooth, steering 07 5758 60

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On and off the road

Out on the road, the 2.5 litre petrol engine gives an impressive 126W of power, 226Nm of torque and a 1500kg towing capacity. For country and rural drivers, a real plus is the 4WD that can

sid

SPECS

be thrown into duty on off road trails or pulling a trailer or boat over difficult terrain. The sevenspeed automatic transmission effortless meets the challenges of any open or off road driving.

The Nissan X-Trail comes with five cameras which keep an eye on everything around the vehicle. Moving object detection, blind spot warning and lane departure warning are just the start. We put the rear view camera through its paces, when we placed the Nissan X-Trail in a tight country situation, where it could only be extricated by backing around down a driveway and around a tight corner. Not only did the X-Trail pass with flying colours, the projected track when turning the front wheels in park, took the stress out of backing around corners.

The all new Nissan X-Trail has a host of safety

Don’t let this be the 1 that got away.

features as standard including 6 airbags, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) Traction Control System (TCS) Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD. Another feature to impress was the sunroof with power tilt and slide - and did I tell you about the boot. Rear seats that slide forward provides the luxury of a huge cargo area, for famers taking goods home after a day in town, hunters and gathers to stow all their equipment or to take family or friends on a extended road trip of the country.

An automatic powered tailgate which can be activated when both arms are holding luggage is just the beginning. The all new Nissan X-Trail Divide-N-Hide storage system lets you configure your precious cargo to perfection. Keeping fragile goods separate from your luggage or storing your cargo in easy to get out order is simplicity itself. It also comes with a cargo blind to protect your cargo from the harsh rays of sunlight.

Impressive fuel economy of 8.1L per 100km for the 2.5 litre Nissan X-Trail put the versatile all rounder in a class of its own, with a green option available on the X-Trail Ti producing even better economy.

The unanswered question in every car reviewers mind is would I buy one. In the case of the Nissan X-Trail – You betcha.

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Page 54

RURAL DRIVER

Beach Hop’s an economic supercharger An estimated $7.1 million injection into the ThamesCoromandel region thanks to the annual Beach Hop event at Whangamata just confirms what the locals already knew about the event, says a Beach Hop spokesperson.

With Thames Coromandel District Council becoming a major partner of the event this year, the first survey of its kind was undertaken for Beach Hop. Releasing the findings, TCDC says Beach Hop is one of New Zealand’s

biggest annual events and this year about 110,000 people attended, making it the largest Beach Hop in its 14-year history.

Beach Hop committee chairperson Marie Bunyan says the survey confirms what organisers have known for a long time – the event provides a boost for the local economy each year. Marie is thrilled TCDC carried out the survey, saying it would be extremely helpful for the committee to plan and manage future Beach Hops. “The committee’s always been optimistic of the value the event brings to the region and we are thrilled to have some tangible figures to work with,” says Marie.

“The Beach Hop grows from year to year, it’s just huge now – and it is not just Whangamata that feels the benefits but the whole region.”

The survey was carried out online by Survey monkey, from March 17-April 17 with 384 Beach Hop participants and spectators completing the questionnaire.

Results show the total event-spend of 10,000 people was more than $7.1m, which was tabled to 120,000 people.

The “conservative” figures are calculated based upon the 384 respondents’ average event-spend, with the assumption people stayed for five days and with one other person.

Unsurprisingly, the three local industries reaping the most reward are accommodation with $211,864, food with $121,421, and fuel with $78,232.

Accommodation

Blake Court Motel owner Rob McAlpine says every room at is accommodation facility was booked out this year and the motel is already booked out for the 2015 event.

“It’s brilliant, we had a good crowd this year and were full from the Wednesday right through to the

Saturday,” says Rob. “The Beach Hop is great for our business and many others. It’s also good to meet crowds from all over the country who rock up here for the event.”

Rob says it’s harder to source accommodation in Whangamata during the event than it is at the Christmas-New Year’s break.

Whangamata area manager Garry Towler says the district council is extremely pleased by the results.

“Based on security guard counts, solid waste, waste water and water use, the estimated 110,000 is by far the largest crowd to attend in the 14 years the event has been held,” he says.

“The results were much greater than expected in terms of average per person spend and the fact that the majority of people stayed between four and six nights.”

The estimated $7m boost to the local economy will be hugely beneficial to the area’s private sector and will help to keep them “ticking over” during the quiet winter months.

It creates employment and above all puts Whangamata and TCDC in the spotlight internationally, says Garry.

RURAL DRIVER

Page 55

Stock on roads elevate risks Drivers need to exercise caution and courtesy on rural roads, especially when stock is being moved along them.

That’s the message from Ian Mackenzie, Federated Farmers Transport Spokesperson.

“When it comes to stock and public roads, there is an elevation of risk and likewise responsibility for both the farmer and road users.

“Farmers need to ensure their fences and gates are up to standard or they can be liable for any accidents caused. However, drivers who do not drive to the conditions,

disregarding the risk of stock on or near roads, can also be held to account.”

Ian says the law is reasonably clear when it comes to farmers’ responsibilities be it fencing through the Animals Law Reform Act 1989 or moving stock under a local council bylaw, but police have done little to educate drivers about driving sensibly on rural roads.

“The real solution lies in a joint effort – farmers remaining vigilant with managing fences and stock, and police better educating drivers about showing caution and courtesy on rural roads.

Driving like a bat out of hell at stock being moved along roads

is asking for trouble.”

Along with the Police, Federated Farmers is urging land owners, who are required by their local council to have roadside boundary fences, to check the integrity of their fences and gates, and for motorists to drive to the conditions and ensure their vehicles are up to warrant of fitness standard.

“As a community we can prevent unnecessary accidents by doing so and also by reporting any loose stock, open gates or broken fences to the relevant farmer or police.

All you need to do is pull into the nearest driveway or dial *555.

It could make all the difference,” says Ian.

Attendance expected to keep rising Feedback from Beach Hop-goers suggests the number of people showing up for future events is unlikely to decrease but will just keep “going up and up and up,” says Marie.

Another survey will be conducted next year and possibly in 2016, to dig deeper into the economic benefits of the Beach Hop on the region.

Survey highlights

• More than 80 per cent of survey respondents were from the North Island. Thirteen overseas groups also attended the event.

• The majority of respondents were aged 50-59; the next largest group of attendees were in their 60s and 40s.

• The income level of survey respondents were, in order from largest to smallest, more than $80,000 per

year, $40,000-60,000 per year and $60,000-80,000 per year.

• At least 13 people bought property in the region as a result of attending the Beach Hop. • About 92 per cent of survey respondents said the Beach Hop was the main reason for visiting the area at that time.

• About 12 per cent of respondents have attended the Beach Hop 12 times.

• More than 87 per cent of respondents said they were very likely to attend again next year.

• Most respondents stayed between three and six days.

• The greatest individual spends in order were on accommodation, food, fuel, shopping and alcohol.

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Page 56

LANDSCAPE, GARDEN & HOUSE

Gold still to be found in local waters In a town once renowned for gold mining, there’s an enterprise built around a different kind of gold.

Te Aroha is home to Braeside Aquaria, New Zealand’s largest gold fish breeding operation owned and operated by Sally and Murray Barker.

It is also probably the oldest surviving goldfish company in the country. Braeside was founded by Stan Gover, who invited Murray to help him run the farm and in 1978, sold the business to the Barkers and two silent partners.

“Up until I joined Stan I had been a bit of drifter, doing all kinds of jobs, but I could see the potential the fish farm had,” says Murray.

The farm has grown from around 30 ponds holding 150,000 gallons of water to more than 60 holding four million gallons and breeding around 400,000 goldfish of 25 different varieties each year.

Murray and Sally have learned a lot about goldfish in the past 35 years and it’s the techniques they’ve developed for breeding, feeding and handling fish, which has enabled their business to survive and grow where others have failed.

Braeside Aquaria ponds cover three hectares of land on its Te Aroha site. medical centres and hospitals.

Murray used to source new varieties of fish from overseas but today importation of goldfish is prohibited so the genetic pool among breeding stock currently in the country is all that’s available.

Manuka nests

Murray Barker has been breeding goldfish at Te Aroha for 35 years.

“It was Stan who figured out we could build round tanks using the corrugated iron manufactured for half-round hay barns for a fraction of the cost of buying specially made ponds.”

Not easy

Breeding goldfish isn’t easy. Predators, disease, an appetite for their own eggs, weather and changing social trends are among the factors which can adversely impact on business.

“There was a time when almost every child played outside, built huts and owned pets, including goldfish. Now they seem to spend most of their time playing on their phones and interest in owning goldfish has dropped,” says Murray.

However, an increase in New Zealand’s Asian population has helped buoy up the market, as goldfish are very much part of their culture.

Braeside Aquaria fish are sent, in plastic bags full of water, by special courier, to clients all over the country.

The major customers are pet shops, vets, landscapers and companies who hire aquariums for display in offices,

At Braeside fish with the attributes deemed desirable are selected for breeding and spawning can be manipulated by raising the temperature of the water they swim in.

Murray does this by putting breeders into long narrow exdairy factory stainless steel tanks, heated by electric elements.

“We make a nest of manuka branches and place them in the tank for the females to lay their eggs on, and once the males have fertilised them, we remove the nests because the males in particular, will eat the eggs.”

The adult fish are returned to their ponds and the nest replaced in the tank, where other eggs may have survived. For the first two days the young which hatch feed on their egg sacks after which they are fed a broth of tiny shrimps. Up to 40,000 fish may be produced in each spawning but only a small percentage will reach maturity. While they are still very tiny, the fish are sucked into a large pipe and transported, with the aid of gravity, to an open pond where they will continue to be fed and grow until ready for sale at about 12 weeks.

LANDSCAPE, GARDEN & HOUSE

Social changes impact goldfish sales The Braeside ponds on a three hectare Te Aroha site are fed with untreated water from a mountain stream and most are covered in netting to keep out birds who like to feed on them. As well as raising fish, the Barkers breed some of their food, including a water flea.

In 2002 Sally and Murray bought the Waihou School, a short distance from Te Aroha after it was closed by the Ministry of Education and installed more fish ponds there too.

“Schools are such a vital part of communities and we didn’t want to see this one disappear,” says Murray.

They also built a new home on part of the playing field, living in the original

school building, constructed in the late 1880s, while the house was under construction.

A classroom block which had previously been removed was replaced with a replica and turned into a function centre complete with commercial kitchen and has hosted weddings and more recently conferences and workshops.

The grounds, with old established trees and play equipment, remain as they were in the days when school children Murray Barker played there, and the complex is now selects fish for for sale, as Murray and Sally want more breeding based on time to enjoy travelling. However, their colour, side and they have no current plans to give up configuration. breeding goldfish.

By Elaine Fisher

Magical mutant fish Today’s goldfish is a genetic oddity which wouldn’t survive without human intervention, says Te Aroha goldfish breeder Murray Barker.

“Legend has it that the first goldfish was discovered in China around 1000 years ago by a peasant who saw a flash of colour in a stream, and caught the fish.

“As everything was owned by the emperor, he gave the fish to a war lord, who in turn gave it to the emperor who wanted more of the beautiful fish, so goldfish breeding was begun.” Murray says the ‘magical fish’ the peasant found was a "Crucian carp" which had mutated to develop the golden colour.

“If left to themselves, today’s goldfish would revert to the Crucian carp’s dull colours within two generations.

That’s what breeders are constantly battling against.”

Palm Springs at Waikato Home Show Waikato buyers looking to secure a coastal location in the Bay of Plenty for a holiday or permanent home will have the chance to see what Palm Springs Papamoa has to offer when Hawridge Developments show cases the new development at the Waikato Home and Garden show in October 2014.

“Palm Springs boasts a selection of generously sized sections at the very desirable location of Papamoa Beach,” says Palm Springs Sales and Marketing Representative Annemaree Crawford.

“Hawridge Developments have proven through previous developments of Royal Palm Beach Estate and existing Palm Springs stages one to seven in Papamoa that a high quality is kept right throughout to ensure purchasers have pride wherever they build their dream home within Palm Springs, Papamoa.

“About 300 homes are already established in the original Palm Springs Development. This next

e t s a Hom , u w 38 e Se kato Sho nd 3 ai en ta e W Gard rt, S h t d ou an yn C kl oo r B

exciting phase consists of over 100 hectares of prime coastal land where Hawridge continues to create a beautifully landscaped and streetscaped community with the highest quality of homes built to create value throughout all stages.”

The comprehensively designed Palm Springs Development features reserves, specially designed waterways, walkways and shared recreational areas designed to capture the coastal feel being so close to Papamoa Beach.

Palm Springs has a variety of sections available now, some opening on to reserves and others with views of waterways. There are

sections to suit everyone, for those wanting a low maintenance cosier section to those wanting to build a large family home with room for a pool.

“This environmentally friendly and prestigious development is a truly sought after destination,” says Annemaree.

For more information visit the Palm Springs stand at the Waikato Home & Garden Show in Brooklyn Court, Stand number 338.

Just by visiting the Palm Springs stand you will go into the draw for a luxury weekend away for two at Casa del mare B & B, Palm Springs Papamoa.

Page 57

Beams & Timber Direct Ltd (BTD)

Page 58

POOLS & SURROUNDS

Easy clean for summer pools Summers on its way and it’s time to prepare pools for swimming.

Instead of spending time adding chemicals and cleaning the pool this summer, make it easy with Floatron, says Melissa Growden Director, Floatron NZ Ltd “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.

“A Floatron is the easiest way to keep your pool clean and sparkling all year round. There’s no need to shock dose, test frequently, add ‘some of this’ and a ‘bit of that’ because Floatron is the easy and healthy answer.”

The Floatron is a revolutionary solar powered water purifier for swimming pools,

which replaces the need for chemicals by up to 90 per cent. One statement made by many people in New Zealand is that they simply don’t have the time to look after their pool. Melissa says clients are so glad to finally come across a product that keeps the pool clean all year round, without having to use a lot of chemicals.

Developed by NASA to purify drinking water on space missions, the Floatron uses the same technology in swimming pools.

“So if the water is pure enough to drink, then it’s definitely pure enough to swim in.”

The solar powered water purifier floats around in the pool and uses the process of ionisation to combat algae and bacteria in the water. “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.

“You save so much time on pool maintenance because you don’t have to add excessive chemicals or frequently test the water. And you save money too because chemical usage can be cut.” For people with a swimming pool in their garden, it needs to look pristine all 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.

Floatron NZ Ltd also supply Zodiac Automatic Pool Vacuums to make pool care even easier.

Yet another way to reduce the workload when it comes to pool care.

Pet becomes pest on the wild side Wild turtles which have escaped from garden ponds are high on the target list for the Waikato Regional Council’s new pest management plan.

The new rule for the popular children’s pet, redeared slider turtle, has been introduced because it poses a threat to New Zealand’s native freshwater life.

The rule doesn’t prevent people from owning a turtle

but it does give the council the ability to control the turtles if found in the wild.

It is now also an offence for people to release a red-eared slider turtle into the wild but the real purpose is to make people aware that these pets can easily turn into pests council chairperson Paula Southgate says.

“If released into the wild, these turtles will eat native species such as eels and fish, as well as introduced trout, so we want to ensure that they don’t become established in our waterways.”

Canada geese is also on the unwanted list. Numbers are on the rise in the Waikato, with the birds fouling pasture and waterWild red-eared slider turtles are now classed as a pest in the Waikato.

ways, and eating newly-sown crops.

Research shows that five of these geese can consume the same amount of grass as one sheep. Geese are also becoming more common in harbours and lakes but their overall ecological impact is unclear.

While not declared a pest, the plan does allow the council to work collaboratively with landowners, hunters and other agencies to control the geese in certain circumstances.

“The regional council’s biosecurity team has the knowledge and skills to help landowners experiencing

high numbers of Canada goose to manage them effectively.”

The highly invasive tutsan is now classified as a “total control” pest plant. That means landowners must destroy all tutsan on their properties and failure to do so could result in the regional council taking enforcement action.

Landowners who think they might have infestations of tutsan can talk to the council’s pest plant officers for advice on control methods.

Any inquiries about pests should be directed to freephone number 0800 BIOSEC.

POOLS & SURROUNDS

Swimming hole part of transformation A scrubby patch of road reserve alongside Mangaone Stream has been transformed into an attractive picnic spot and swimming hole thanks to a new project by the Edgecumbe Lion’s Club.

The planning, work and labour was provided by the Lion’s Club, Whakatane Distict Council as the landowner provided the road rails and installed a culvert, and funding was provided through Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Environmental Enhancement Fund. The new site has attractive landscaped areas, two picnic tables and a clear swimming hole in the Mangaone stream.

Edgecumbe Lion’s Club

member Bill Clark, is proud of the new Mangaone Stream Reserve which is just 700 metres from the popular Onepu Community Park outside Whakatane and looks forward to seeing locals and visitors alike making use of the new amenity.

“It really is a shining example of what can be achieved when councils work alongside service clubs and Pride in their project - Lion’s Club Members Bill Clark, John volunteer groups to achieve a Needham (project manager), Jim Roberts and Chris James are joined great outcome for a low cost. by Sid Tunnicliffe from the New Zealand Motor Homes Association.

“This spot was just a “This has come together under enough to take a dip in the cold scrubby, neglected and weedthe guidance of team leader, waters. infested slice of road reserve John Needham and a lot of hard “We have been very pleased with no great value to anyone. work clearing scrub, landscapto be able to get New Zealand But it is now landscaped and ing and planting. It is a great Motor Homes involved and planted with more than 500 example of WDC, the Regional offer this as a spot for motor native plants, has flat areas for Council and the Lions working homes to park overnight and overnight camping and pictogether to create a wonderful enjoy this slice of the Eastern nicking and of course the clear Mangaone stream for those brave Bay of Plenty. community amenity,” Bill says.

Turning outdoors into best restaurant around weather wicker Great outdoor furnifurniture in a variety ture, barbecues and spa of styles, from the pool are the secret to traditional to conhome becoming your temporary and you favourite restaurant and are not limited to setentertainment place. tings. We have a great Dave Boocock of 4 selection of chairs Seasons Home and and tables to mix and Leisure, Tauranga says match.” rural people like to Dave Boocock and Dy Summer is of course spend time relaxing at lan the time for outdoor their “castle” and 4 Sea- Topping of 4 Seasons Tauran ga will be conducting ba cooking and dining sons has the advice and rbecue and the team at 4 range to help customlessons for clients.

Seasons is so passionate ers to make the most of about barbecues they’re the long summer days hosting regular cooking lessons to help ahead. clients gain the best from their new bar“4 Seasons has the barbecue, furniture becues, and impress family and friends. and spas to turn your house into a place “They’ll show you how to cook like a where you want to spend a lot of time.” professional with the greatest ease – and Dave says when it comes to buying before you know it – your own backyard a spa pool it’s important to do some will be your new favourite restaurant.” homework first as many factors will Dave says the Cameron Rd store has influence the final choice, from the barbecues to suit every customer’s needs shape, size, number of jets, seating configuration, operation and final place- and budget whether it’s a small portable barbecue to take camping or out on the ment of the spa. boat, or something a bit more substan“4 Season’s experienced staff can help tial for the deck. you make those decisions so you can A popular barbecue choice is the relax and enjoy your new spa.”

North American-made Broil King and Increasingly people are viewing the Weber barbecues, says Dave. outside as an extension of their home, “They’re designed to cook juicy steaks, an expression of individual style, every great pizzas and are perfect for roast bit as important as any other room in meals – and they retail at an everyday the house and outdoor furniture is very price. much part of the picture.

“In every Broil King you’ll find fea“At 4 Seasons you can choose from tures that make your barbecue perform wooden, aluminium, ceramic or all

better and last longer, plus it self-cleans to give you more time to enjoy the outdoors.”

Dave says it’s important to choose something that will last – and the Broil King barbecue will do just that.

So before summer kicks in – give 4 Seasons Home and Leisure a call and check out what they’ve got on offer, or register for one of their popular cooking lessons only available in store.

Page 59

Page 60

COAST & COUNTRY

PROUD LOCAL

RETIREMENT

Page 61

New rest home for Cambridge Bupa’s St Kilda Care Home in Cambridge, opening in late January 2015, will be a purpose built modern home, with stunning internal and external features, decorative furnishings and landscaped grounds.

respite care. This means carers can take some time out, while your loved one is able to stay with us for a few hours. This can often be an easy introduction to life in a care home,” says Minoo who is a registered nurse with more than 30 years’ experience. She has specialised in the care of older people and worked with Bupa for 10 years in New Zealand.

Bupa already has care homes, retirement The care home will be welcoming and villages, medical alarms and rehabilitation friendly providing rest home, hospital and safe services in the Waikato region. Its current dementia care, says Minoo Baker, care Bupa’s St Kilda Care Home sites are in Thames and Hamilton. home manager at Bupa St Kilda. in Cambridge will feature Bupa has no shareholders. The com“Initially, we will open 35 beds for pany invests all its profits to provide landscaped grounds. people needing rest home or hospital better healthcare to customers and comlevel care with the remaining 45 beds munities around New Zealand. opening upon final completion.”

Over the next five years Bupa intends to will invest The care home is conveniently positioned right next further in the development of care homes, retirement door to St Kilda Retirement Village, so that all levels villages, medical alarms and rehabilitation services, to of care are catered for. The St Kilda Retirement Village ensure the best possible care for its customers. has brand new one and two bedroom villas available “We invite you to come and visit Bupa St Kilda Care now.

Home and Retirement Village at 91 Alan Livingstone “From January we will be able to provide day and Drive, Cambridge,” says Minoo.

Putaruru village has much to offer residents Longing for the freedom a retirement village can give but unsure of what to expect? Ellie Davies, Nicole Tidmarsh and the team at Rangiura Retirement Village can help.

“We can put your mind at ease and help you to start that new journey,” says Ellie, village general manager.

Rangiura Retirement Village is set in the friendly rural town of Putaruru, within easy driving distance of Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua and Taupo - an area which really does have something for everyone.

Ellie invites you to view the puran information pack or to arrange pose built village complex which for a private viewing of our wonfeatures 82 thoughtfully designed derful homes and make that first homes which offer increased pristep towards worry free vacy, added safety and a real sense retirement,” says Ellie. of space – both inside and out.

“There is so much on offer with villa prices ranging from $199,000 to $255,000.

“Why worry about mowing that lawn, maintaining the exterior of your home or noisy neighbours?

Come and check us out and you can see for yourself what being Rangiura Retirement Village is a retired can really mean. purpose built complex with 82 homes.

“Don’t delay - call today for

BUPA ST KILDA RETIREMENT VILLAGE AND CARE HOME

NEW TO CAMBRIDGE Brand new care home and retirement village, located on St Kilda Road, Cambridge

St Kilda retirement village villa lounge area

Victoria St

To Morrinsville

St Kilda Retirement Village

St Kilda Rd

CARE HOME N NG I OPENI RY JANUA 2015

Thornton Rd Thornton Rd

Hamilton Rd Queen St

This image is of an existing Bupa care home bedroom

To Town Centre

To Taupo

Retirement Village • First villas ready for occupation • Villas priced from $288,000 to $380,000 • 67 villas in five different styles Care Home • 80 bed care home and hospital • All levels of care available: rest home, hospital and dementia care • Now taking respite and day care bookings for mid January 2015 • Care home adjacent to the retirement village For retirement village enquiries Call Christine Bax, Village Manager on (07) 823 9026 or 027 886 1219.

For care home enquiries Call Minoo Baker, Care Home Manager on (07) 827 0371 or 027 836 5300. www.bupa.co.nz

Page 62

RETIREMENT

Personalised care for residents is the priority “You are a person, not a number at Matua Village,” says Sue Denham, the village sales manager.

“Come and experience our wonderful village community. There is a very friendly atmosphere here, and the team are fun.

We would love to personally host a tour, so you can see for yourself what’s available at our village.”

Sue says the village is redefining what it means to

provide personalised care.

“You may require temporary help a few hours a week within

your cottage or apartment, but the support can be customised or tailored to suit you.

“We respect your needs for freedom, security, privacy, dignity, independence and companionship.

Come and find out for yourself,” says Sue. Companionship is a feature of living at Matua Lifecare.

Freehold title among village’s attributes Wide open spaces, lush green rolling hills and ever changing skies stretching for miles characterise the beautiful Waikato where Tasman Village is located.

Tasman Village in Morrinsville has 54 modern units situated on 5.6 hectares and continues to grow, with an expected 73 units once it is fully completed, say Sharon Flintoff Secretary/ Treasurer Tasman Village Society Inc. “The opportunity exists to purchase a spacious section here, build a modern home and become part of a very supportive and active village community.

Alternatively, the village owns a few Enjoying the Tasman Village lifestyle are Nel van Leeuwerden, show homes that are available for sale.

Catherine Rutten, Wilhelmina Noort.

“Morrinsville is a lovely rural town and offers all the conveniences for day ming pool, and hiking in the nearby Kaimai and to day living - doctors, supermarkets, chemist, cafes, Coromandel ranges. “The leafy suburbs surroundclothing stores, appliance stores. And the recently ing the village also beckon for that regular walk or renovated Waikato Hospital is only a 20 minute drive leisurely stroll.” away.”

The freehold unit title enables the owner to benefit The convenient location enables residents to go for a from capital gain if needing to sell, while the monthly day’s outing to east or west coast beaches, while Rotovillage fee has remained stable for several years and is rua is no more than an hour and a half drive away. well below the charges in most traditional retirement “Reaching Auckland International Airport does not villages. take much longer than a drive through the congested “Visiting Tasman Village is worth the effort - you Auckland region and usually without the frustration of can experience for yourself the spacious quality homes traffic delays.” and the openness of the village complex Sharon says those wishing to remain active can enjoy and lovely gardens.” a beautiful golf course, bowling green, heated swim-

RETIREMENT

Homely atmosphere in Matamata villa A converted villa, set in well maintained attractive gardens and grounds with easy access to Matamata’s town centre, Rawhiti Lodge offers rest home care for up to 24 residents.

Betty Hollands, a resident at Rawhiti Lodge feeds a pet lamb which is allowed inside because it is wearing a nappy.

Rawhiti residents experience a homely atmosphere with home-cooked meals prepared by an experienced cook from a seasonal menu approved by a registered dietician.

Residents enjoy a range of activities organised by the activities co-ordinator Sandy Orr

which include ‘happy hour’, theatre outings, visiting entrainment groups and gardening.

Residents are cared for by a team of trained care workers and experienced registered nurse Felicity Noble who will assess residents for individual plans of care using the International Resident Assessment Instrument electronic assessment tool used by health professionals working with older people throughout New Zealand.

The team is led by Hazel Lamberth, who is a registered nurse with 20 years’ experience in nursing older people.

Retirement options in attractive rural setting With spring here and with flowers blooming in the grounds it is not hard to see why people choose Aparangi Village as their retirement destination and lifestyle choice, says Jackie Long of the Te Kauwhata Retirement Trust Board.

The village grounds are looking stunning, she says.

“Our district and people are vibrant too and there is always a welcoming smile or offer of help to new residents. We were built with passion and love and it is with these qualities we operate today.

“We can offer a safe and secure place to live without gates or fences.”

Jackie says the village near Te Kauwhata is truly a place where you can call home.

“Our rural community is not a barrier to you staying independent and active as we have a lot to offer you despite our location. We are a popular place to live because of our family/whanau approach.”

There are options to build your dream home or move into an existing property.

“The first step is to have a look around and see what

The stunning grounds at Aparangi Village. we and Te Kauwhata have to offer. You might be surprised at how we might be able to cater for you to have your lifestyle choice. We would love to show you around.

“See us on www.aparangi.co.nz or download our app onto your smartphone. Pick up the phone or pop into our office 14 Waerenga Road Te Kauwhata and see myself, Glenda or Ashlee to discuss how we might be able to help.”

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C

Caption and be in to win

There was much hilarity in the Ruiterman household at Waiuku as the family tried to outdo each other thinking up captions for the photo of a horse hitched to a car in the Coast & Country’s September Country Funnies contest.

“The younger generation went into fits of laughter when one of them suggested ‘Pimp my ride, rural style’ when we spent time thinking up captions of Father’s Day,” says Kerry Ruiterman.

'The Green's kick start to the economy' was among the other suggestions but it’s ‘Jeepers! The cockies must be desperate now the payout’s dropped’ which

Selenised or non-selenised

To order, call 0800 100 123.

September’s Country Funny has won Kerry a copy of “It’s a bit rugged Mate” by Big Al Lester, published by Penguin.

Bruce Rutledge and family of Whakatane suggested ‘My other car’s a Mustang’ and Morry Lawton of Te Puke submitted 'That's one way to hitch a ride!'

Dennis McFetridge of Tauranga and Colin and Robin Moore of Waihi were on the same wave length when they all suggested ‘One horsepower’. ‘'You want fuel economy? Boy! Have we got the deal for you!!’ came from Andrew Welch of Reporoa and Kerryn Finucane of Whakatane suggested: ‘Hey Blue, are you trying to flog a dead horse?’ or ‘Some days I just need more horse power’ and ‘Cinderella has hit hard times’.

This month’s prize for the best Country Funnies caption is “50 years of Trophy Hunting” by Gary Joll, published by Halcyon Press. It was while hunting in Alaska in 1963, that Gary became a confirmed trophy hunter. In his pocket he had permits from

the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game which allowed him one moose, one caribou, one grizzly bear, one black bear and one Dall ram.

Gary’s dedication to serious trophy hunting carried over into his professional hunting guiding career through which he helped others shot trophy animals.

To be in to win “50 years of Trophy Hunting” email your suggested captions for the photo above, along with your name and address, and with Country Funnies as the subject, to: elaine@thesun.co.nz

N NIE

Or put these details and captions on the back of an envelope and post to: Country Funnies, Coast & Country, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3110, to arrive no later than October 17.

The winning caption will be published in Coast & Country’s November issue.

Are oral drenches better than pour-ons?

Internal parasites exist in a very complex biological system (parasite-host-environment relationships).

Drawing generalised conclusions from the latest research and making knee-jerk responses before a more thorough research process has been completed can be unhelpful to farmers. This type of research information is often based on averaged results of a small number of trials, using a particular active ingredient in a particular stock class, often looking at one type of worm, so cannot necessarily be applied to every situation.

With worsening levels of drench resistance, some established ideas have had to change, eg annual drench rotations have since been shown to have little effect in reducing the level of drench resistance on farms. Farmers have had to become knowledgeable about the chemicals they use, the dynamics of worm populations on pastures and in their stock, and the drivers for drench resistance. The science in most things is by no means “settled”.

For example, it is now widely accepted that using combination drenches containing levamisole is the best way to control parasite infections in young cattle, especially ML-resistant Cooperia. These combinations are available as oral, injectable and pour-on formulations. However, in a widely reported cattle study it was suggested that oral drenches are more effective than pour-on or injectable products. Whilst the findings of

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Horse hilarity in Ruiterman home

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COAST & COUNTRY

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Garry Cox Paul Kerr Les Gratten Gavin Todd Sian McIntosh Steve Kinsey Carl Sanford Tony Welch Gary Sohier Damien Hermond Shannon Collier Matt Harvey

garry.cox@placemakers.co.nz paul.kerr@placemakers.co.nz les.gratten@placemakers.co.nz gavin.todd@placemakers.co.nz sian.mcintosh@placemakers.co.nz steve.kinsey@placemakers.co.nz carl.sanford@placemakers.co.nz tony.welch@placemakers.co.nz gary.sohier@placemakers.co.nz damien.hermond@placemakers.co.nz shannon.collier@placemakers.co.nz matt.harvey@placemakers.co.nz

(09) 237 0528 027 5054 098 (07) 889 8057 027 2169 235 (07) 850 2647 027 2446 585 027 2748 235 027 7049 657 (07) 867 2044 027 2424 353 027 4825 321 027 7033 269

the report are not being questioned, it has to be understood that oral, injectable or pour-on combinations were not tested in this study. These trial results have been interpreted by some people to mean that injectable and pour-on combinations should not be used at all in young cattle. However control of Cooperia is not the only consideration for farmers when choosing what product to use.

Oral drenches have been shown to be less effective in controlling lungworm on some properties with heavily contaminated paddocks, and potentially less effective against inhibited Ostertagia.

In these cases, as well as for lice control, injectable or pour-on MLs may be useful, and can be built into a structured drench programme. Another consideration is how effectively and/or safely can oral drenches be given to larger animals. A blanket statement that pour-ons or injections should not be used under 18 months of age is not as simple as suggested.

In addition, pour-on products are generally complex liquids, as they are required to keep the active ingredients stable, while transporting them through the skin. There are many different formulations that, although all effective in killing the worms, have different properties in terms of speed of absorption. The concern, about pourons being variable in their absorption and being selective for drench resistance, is not always entirely valid.

How and why they are used is also very important.

A&P SHOWS

Miniature horses and Dexter cattle on show

Book it in

Cambridge A&P Show Equestrian events, alpacas, performing dogs, cattle and fencing are among attractions at the 111th Cambridge A&P Show on November 29 when, once again, admission is free.

The organising committee says the event is one of the largest one-day shows in the North Island and has a proud history of celebrating rural life and bringing town and country together.

There’s lots of family entertainment and Santa is coming to visit too. There will be farm animals including cows and calves, horses and ponies, from miniature to the large Clydesdales, goats, donkeys and alpacas. Add to this trade displays, food stands and children’s rides.

The equestrian sections will feature show hacks, show ponies, round the ring jumping, show jumping, Welsh pony, sport-horses, side saddle and golden horses. In all there will be about 20 different horse sections.

The cattle section will see all the main dairy breeds, Ayrshire, Jersey, Holstein Friesian, milking Shorthorn, and Brown Swiss, competing in both breed and all breeds. The beef breeds will be competing in an all breeds section. There’s a popular calf club section for school children.

The Ron Cooper Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the best in show from all the supreme champion winners in the Ridden Pony/Horse sections.

Back again this year is an alpaca display, where the public can interact with the animals.

Cambridge Show is held at the Cambridge Raceway on Taylor St, which is just off State Highway 1B and it’s not too late to register as a participant, either as a competitor or with a trade exhibit.

Miniature horse and Dexter cattle competitions are a new addition to this year’s 76th Waihi Agricultural & Pastoral Association show on November 15-16 at the Waihi A&P showgrounds.

Show secretary Marilyn Parker says the traditional dairy cattle, pedigree dairy goats, calf club, pet lambs and kid goats sections will also feature, as will horse and pony events, including flat and around-the-ring jumping as well as Arabian.

“It’s never too late to enter these A&P competitions, as we take entries on the day with no late entry fee.”

A wide range of stalls, side shows, plenty of different sorts of food are available as well as coffee, tea, water and soft drinks.

“Alpaca will be back again this year as they created a lot of interest last time, especially when the owners took them out of their enclosure and walked them out among the crowd.

“A balloonist and magician will be walking the grounds giving away different shaped balloons which is always a drawcard with the children.

“This year we will be having young farmers’ cattle judging and fencing competitions and they would love you to come along and support them by watching these entertaining events.”

The lucky gate draw has a travel voucher of $250 as well as cash prizes for adults and children. You must be on the grounds at the time of the draw to win the prizes.

Sunday is show jumping and show hunters’ day with non-grading competitions for show jumping and training for show hunters, which appeals to many.

“This year we have added a points’ competition for the show hunters in conjunction with Katikati A&P Show. It’s for competitors to collect points for attending Waihi and Katikati A&P Show. Points will be totaled and the winner will receive a trophy plus $50. It’s a fun day, an opportunity to school less experienced horses and inexperienced riders to have a go at something new.

“The competitors are more than welcome to compete on the Saturday and stay overnight at no charge, then compete again on Sunday making it a great weekend without all the cost of travelling.”

Page 65

Go karts heading to A&P Shows Whether it’s for use on the farm or just having fun, you will find a go kart to suit you at Go Karts Direct.

Specialising in an impressive selection of drift go karts and two seater buggies the latest additions are the Explorer Drifta 110cc two seater buggy ideal for younger children, and the Blazer Drifta 200c featuring a wet clutch engine with reduction gear box,” says Bryce Marshall.

Both these models have chunky off road tyres and good ground clearance so ideal for use around the farm, orchards, lifestyle blocks and any large open grass space.

Also now available is their ATV 110cc Tractor and trailer unit. This summer’s A&P shows will be a great opportunity to check out the range when Go Karts Direct have their products on display.

Having established a reputation for quality drift go karts, suitable for children and adults, Bryce says the drift

The Explorer Drifta 110cc Buggy 200c is a fun machine.

go karts are extremely safe to use, with a low centre of gravity while still maintaining a good ground clearance.

“They are designed to travel on flat even terrain, and because of their design they drift rather than roll.

“It’s a great way for children to learn driving skills and control, out in open spaces. Also a great way for everyone to gain confidence, and of course have lots of fun.”

The family team at Go Karts Direct pride themselves on offering extensive back up support and service, professional advice and a full range of spare parts.

The go karts come pre-assembled and are easy to put together. They can be freighted direct to customers anywhere in New Zealand at discounted freight rates. All prices include GST and tax invoices are issued.

All products can be viewed at the website, which is user friendly and informative, with action photos and video. Go to www.gokartsdirect.co.nz

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COUNTRY LIVING

NZ Adventures’ guided four wheel drive tours are a chance to visit remote parts of the South Island.

Touring off-road in the deep South A chance to drive through parts of Southern New Zealand not often seen and meet the people who live and work there is offered by NZ Adventures which is taking bookings for its 2015 tours now.

“We go right into the real New Zealand back country on our five to seven day on and off road guided NZ 4WD tours,” says Robert Crickett of NZ Adventures.

The Mackenzie Country Explorer and Southern lakes Explorer for 2015 starts in Geraldine and heads straight into the South Canterbury Hill Country on the way to the first overnight stay at scenic Lake Tekapo.

“The tracks and scenery in the Hunter hills area behind Albury are amazing.”

Subsequent overnights are in Omarama, Cromwell and Twizel with highlights of the trip including the vast plateaus of the

Hawkdun Range on the border between Canterbury and Otago and the huge sheep stations on the Lindis Pass.

Day two of the tour takes in the Macauley Valley and offers the opportunity to drive well into the Southern Alps up the boulder strewn glacier valley.

“This is a chance to see chamois and red deer and an absolutely fantastic drive. Following the gathering waters of the mighty glacial sourced river of the Mackenzie Region down to the Waitaki is also amazing with a mix of canals and the braided river beds of the Tekapo, Pukaki and Ohau rivers coming together in Lake Benmore.”

Day five offers the opportunity to take in the Western or Wetter branch of the Manuherikia River Valley catchment.

“The Mackenzie Explorer tour is a wide ranging look through the central part of the South Island with a variety of scenery from high tussock ridges through vast pastoral areas and rocky alpine valleys.

“Another option is the Southern Lakes Explorer Tour which starts at Omarama and ventures into the Lindis Pass area but on different tracks to others we use.

“The farming industry plays a big part in the Southern Lakes tour as we travel through many well-known properties ranging from the extensive high country home of the Merino producing fine wool through to the much more intensive fat lamb farms of Northern Southland.”

Overnights on the tour include Alexandra, Gore, Queenstown and Cardrona.

Robert says a highlight is meeting the landowners and seeing their farming operations.

“The contrast between the tawny browns of the high tussock lands and the lush green of Southland is always intriguing as is the suddenness of the change.

“Queenstown is always interesting and the drive up to Macetown on Day four is very enjoyable. Come join us,” says Robert.

Some believe - never let facts spoil a good story Shortly before the NZ general election, a tough looking guy is at Auckland zoo with his kids when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion's cage.

Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents.

The guy runs toward the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch.

Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of the girl, and the guy brings her to her

terrified parents who thank him endlessly.

A journalist, also at the zoo visiting has watched the whole event. He addresses the guy and says, “Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I've seen a man do in my whole life.”

The guy replies, “Why, it was nothing, really, the lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger and acted as I felt right.”

The reporter says, “Well, I'll

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“So, what do you do for a living and what political affiliations do you have?”

The guy is embarrassed but replies, “I’m an SAS officer just returned from Afghanistan and a National party supporter.”

The reporter notes all this down then leaves.

The following morning the guy buys the paper to see news of his actions, and reads, on the front page: SAS soldier assaults African immigrant and steals his lunch.

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 67

The case of the well-fed cat and a 40cm rat There’s no such thing as a free lunch – unless you’re a certain Wellington cat.

That coast’s blue penguins have some monster rats in their midst, according to post-doctorate researcher Dr Rachael Abbott who has found some interesting facts in her work with Callaghan Innovation and Wellington technology firm, Goodnature.

The conservation biologist was funded by the crown entity to help Goodnature understand user experience of its award winning rat and stoat trapping system. While routinely surveying 35 Goodnature trap users in Wellington on kill rates and success, Rachael also monitored a trapping line on the Wellington’s South Coast, set up to protect blue penguin nests. And it was here that she learned about a significant influence on customer experience.

“Over eight weeks we’ve killed more than 80 rats with eight traps and the largest rat had a 40cm long body and weighed 700 grams. Even though we know we’ve trapped more than 80, we’ve only observed 40 dead bodies and the majority of those dead would disappear within a few days.”

Surveillance cameras set up made the nature of the disappearances clear. “We knew there was scavenging going on and finally we found a culprit – a very healthy local pet cat patrolling the line.”

Wider market

Developed initially for the conservation estate, Goodnature are now taking their automatically re-setting traps into the wider consumer market beginning with Farmlands stores and it’s here that commercial director, Stu Barr sees great value in Rachael’s research.

“Rachael’s work has been crucial in helping us understand and support a new market of trappers.”

A critical step toward retail was first of all getting

strong validation from independent trials.

In March this year, two Department of Conservation trials of the A24 trap, reduced rat populations nil detection levels on 300ha sites in Te Urewera and Hawkes Bay. In announcing the results DOC deputy director general Kevin O’Connor said it was “a significant step towards having a better and more effective trapping option for predator control in New Zealand”.

With that validation achieved, Stu adds that pure fieldwork and engineering alone are not enough to reach the consumer markets here or internationally.

“We’re not just designing products for rats, we have to also ensure that our retail customers get the same outstanding results as DOC – to do that we have to be able to relate the traps’ potential to a new market.

“In this case, he may not be eating them, but instead cultivating herostatus with his owners back home as

a legendary hunter.”

Goodnature’s traps are available through Farmlands stores.

Own success

“In some ways the traps can be a victim of their own success,” says Rachael. “Because the trap releases its victim to be clear to kill again, that means scavenging occurs. So getting footage of the scavengers is very helpful in educating potential customers and that’s universal to Goodnature’s local and export markets.”

While her survey work is still continuing, Rachael says it appears ‘seeing is believing’ for trap users.

“There’s something in human nature to want to see the results of trapping, but evidence is that scavenging rates are very high. Therefore with this trapping system, sighting carcasses is an unreliable measure of success. Another interesting point I found, is that there’s no data on urban densities of rat populations in New Zealand, whereas obviously the conservation estate monitor populations much more closely.”

Unsure as to whether it has been one cat who’s learned of the trapping line or several, Rachael also ponders the scavenge motivations.

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Au pairs care for farmers’ flocks during calving Au pairs are becoming an increasing addition to Bay of Plenty farming families during calving season, as parents seek extra help to look after their own young flocks.

German tourist Caroline Seifert has been an au pair caring for Sam and Davina Webb’s 4½ year-old son Jack while the husband-and-wife team get through calving on their Otamarakau 580-cow dairy farm.

Arriving late-February, Caroline worked weekdays at the family household from 7am-10am and 3pm-6pm, before she left mid-August.

This allowed Davina to work on-farm six hours daily. “It allows me to help on the farm – I couldn’t do it without her,” says Davina.

“During calving last March I had to take Jack with me; it was horrible weather and easy to get sick, so I’m glad I’ve got Caroline here.”

Davina says Caroline picked up English well and fitted into the family well, bringing German culture, cooking and life experiences with her.

“It’s the culture, the food, everything.

We’d rattle on and on, she got our

jokes, now she says she’s dreaming in English.”

Davina says BOP farming families are turning to au pairs for a cost-effective and culture-rich solution to a busy rural lifestyle.

“I think for people, as long as their house is set up for it, it works well.

“We have a separate bedroom and bathroom at one end of the house, giving Caroline her own space.

Different culture

“Gone are the days of trying to drag young kids around the farm; I mean you can put them in a truck for an hour or so – but then what? For us it’s like having a big sister for Jack.”

For Caroline, 18, the farming family experience also offered a different culture, lifestyle and chance to get up close with the outdoors – including going fishing with the family.

“I’ve seen a cow have a calf – I’ve never seen that before.

“Because I’ve lived in a city it’s not that important for me to be in a city and out here I can see different things to back home.”

Au Pair Link’s Bay of Plenty family and programme manager Andrea Finta says farming families are increasingly

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hiring au pairs to care for children during busy times on-farm.

Caroline is one of 33 au pairs who’ve worked for 28 rural Bay families so far this year, placed by Au Pair Link – the biggest agency linking Kiwi families with au pairs.

“Some of these were short-term placements of three-six months, as most of our farming families only need the extra help for their busy calving season,” says Andrea.

“About half of our rural families are non-farming and they prefer 12 months placements for continuity.”

Andrea believes the surge in popularity is due to word getting out. “I would say it’s the reflection of the quality of support and positive experience which rural families are having with au pairs.”

Kiwi experience

Au pairs are really enthusiastic about having an authentic Kiwi experience and the Bay of Plenty’s rural properties are the perfect backdrop, says Andrea.

“Life in New Zealand is very different to places overseas, especially in terms of atmosphere – our lifestyle is generally seen as more relaxed, and of course the warm-

hearted Kiwi culture really flourishes in its home environment.

“So the experience is very much to do with the people involved in a placement – between the parents, children, au pair, and of course Au Pair Link in the way we provide support.”

For parents, hiring au pairs also comes with its advantages. “Host- Au pair Caroline Seifert looks after 4½ yearing an au pair does old Jack Webb, while his parents Sam and mean you get a high Davina Webb work on their Otamarakau level of childcare for a dairy farm. fraction of the price.

However, the au pair wage is also kids, as opposed to being wound supplemented by room and board.” up by 9am by having to juggle the Andrea, an early childhood morning run-around.” education teacher, supports the au Caroline says the best part of her pairs to implement the Te Whariki trip was looking after Jack and curriculum – and youngsters also getting to know her host family, get to learn the tourist’s native saying they were the perfect fit for language – plus a live-in child carer her. also offers flexibility.

“I now have second family and maybe a friendship with them for Second family life, which is really cool.”

“Families generally are a lot less Caroline arrived in New Zealand stressed and feel they have time to on June 24 and left the Webb focus on enjoying time with their family on August 14.

By Merle Foster

Dangers of social networking at work Facebook began in 2004 and since that time social media sites have become hugely popular.

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While social media sites were created as a mechanism to help people communicate more efficiently with their friends and family, in the work place these sites can be problematic. Problems have arisen when employees have used social media during work time and/or posted comments about their employer or co-workers.

Social networking websites can also affect a person’s ability to secure employment. For example 62 per cent of British employers use social media sites to screen candidates. A quarter of the employers in this

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research say they rejected candidates as a result of information viewed on their Facebook, Bebo or MySpace sites. These employers claim they were concerned about “excess alcohol abuse, ethics or job disrespect”.

Dismissal relating to the use of social networking have occurred in New Zealand.

The NZ cases arising from the use of social media in the workplace show: employees must be careful what they say on Facebook about their co-workers as these comments can be taken into account by the employer in deciding whether to dismiss, even though the employee’s conduct may occur outside the workplace; Facebook posts will be relevant in determining whether trust and confidence still exists between parties to an employment relationship; unauthorised use of Facebook or other social media websites while at work may form the basis for disciplinary action being taken against an employee.

In summary, employees or potential employees are wise to be cautious about their use of social media. It is suggested employees refrain from posting any negative comments about their place of work or work-mates, refrain from using social media while in the workplace without authorisation to do so; and review their social media profiles to see whether they will be appealing for any potential employers.

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.

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A 90-year-old aboriginal elder sat in his humpy eyeing two government 'welfare' officials sent to interview him.

One official said to him: "You have observed the white man for 90 years.

You have seen his wars and his technological advances. You have seen his progress and the damage he has done."

The elder nodded in agreement.

The official continued: "Considering all these events, in your opinion, where did the whitefella go wrong?"

The elder stared at the two government officials for a minute and then he calmly replied: "When whitefella found the land, blackfellas were running it. No taxes. No debt. Plenty kangaroo.

Plenty fish. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Women did all the work. Medicine man free.

Aboriginal man spent all day hunting and fishing, all night having sex."

Then the elder leaned back and smiled: "Only whitefella bloody stupid enough to think he could improve a system like that."

web www.coastandcountrynews.co.nz

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Mushrooms may be ‘magic’ for forests Edible fungi could open up new opportunities for the New Zealand forestry industry Plant & Food Research’s Alexis Guerin and Hon Associate Professor Wang Yun have been investigating the high-value delicacies on a farm in Lincoln with successful and tasty results.

Saffron milk cap (Lactarius deliciosus) and Bianchetto truffle (Tuber borchii could be the next innovative gourmet export food product for New Zealand they say.

“Elsewhere in the world they are highly regarded for their potential

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health benefits and even support a dedicated truffle-tourism industry,” says Alexis.

In New Zealand, truffles retail for around $3,000/kg, but Alexus is quick to point out that “you don’t need 1kg to enjoy them, the flavour is powerful and sensational. A few grams per person is enough for some of the best recipes”.

While Périgord black truffles have been grown commercially in Europe since the early 1800s, it was not until the 1970s that their cultivation methods were improved by scientists.

Similarly the cultivation of most other

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edible mycorrhizal mushrooms is still very much in its infancy.

The pair’s research into saffron milk cap mushrooms provides another commercial opportunity.

“We harvested 85 kg of saffron milk cap in the 2014 season from January to May. The high yield was in part because of irrigation on some sites and very favourable conditions with warm temperatures and regular rainfall.”

Both crops are the fruits of perennial fungi that live in symbiosis with trees. The fungi colonize roots and transform them into mycorrhizae (from Greek, ‘fungus-root’), real root organs resulting from the merger between plant and fungal tissues. The fungus supplies the tree with water and nutrients while the tree provides the fungus with soluble carbohydrates from photosynthesis.

The research, published in the international journal Mycorrhiza, also showed a symbiotic relationship between host pines, onset of fruiting, and mushroom yields; potentially improving the value of pine plantations by providing a secondary income and competitive control of the invasive and poisonous Amanita muscaria (fly agaric).

While research to date has yielded promising results Alexis Guerin of Plant and Food with what is believed to be New Zealand’s largest white truffle.

Guerin notes that for both crops more research is required to further develop the young edible mycorrhizal mushroom industry in New Zealand, particularly understanding the factors that affect yields and the postharvest storage, packaging, and shelf-life of the gourmet delicacies.

To list your rural event please email: julie@thesun.co.nz with Rural Event in the subject heading.

Friday 3 October

Assessing Your Soil and Plants Needs

This three hour workshop will cover Soil and Herbage Tests and Soil Biology Assessment. We will also discuss Visual Soil Assessment and then look at how to decide what to put on based on the combined information from these methods. Held at Chaos Springs Farm, 131 Deam Rd, Waihi 9.30am – 1pm. Morning tea provided. $20 registration required. Course tutor: Russell Simons.

Ph 07 863 7975

Monday 6 October

Gisborne: Tectra learner shearing course.

Learner shearing courses are designed to give trainees a general understanding of woolshed operations, from

Solid Food for Soils

hazards and terminology to the roles and responsibilities of each team member. For more information, contact regional training manager Bill Hale on 06 843 3187 or 027 492 8979.

Wednesday 8 October

McMeekan Centre, Ruakura Campus

NZIPIM seminar: Challenges to growth in Waikato agricultural consultancy businesses. New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry is hosting this seminar. The afternoon will have presentations from four Waikato consultancy groups – AgFirst, Farmwise, Intelact and Rural Business Solutions. They will outline their businesses, challenges with growing their business, and how their consultancy has changed during the last five-10 years. More details on NZIPIM website.

For more information, call NZIPIM Waikato branch chair Brendan Brier on 027 558 9011.

Friday 17 October Equidays in Hamilton

An event with a wide range of equine related clinics, demonstrations, exhibitions for horse lovers. Also a kids zone where kids can ride & pat some horses. Oct 17, 18 9am – 5pm, Oct 19 9am – 4pm at Mystery Creek

Events Centre, 125 Mystery Creek Rd, Hamilton.

For tickets go to www.equidays.co.nz DoloZest

Tauranga Central Office – 07 578 0879 Cherrywood Office – 07 576 8770 Bethlehem Office – 07 579 2206 Mount Central Office – 07 575 6384 Papamoa Office – 07 542 9012 Te Puke Office – 07 573 4754

CalciZest 0800 843 809 07 362 7288

or go to

www.esi.org.nz Eco-Logic Soil Improvement

COAST & COUNTRY

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Tauranga Central Office – 07 578 0879 Cherrywood Office – 07 576 8770 Bethlehem Office – 07 579 2206 Mount Central Office – 07 575 6384 Papamoa Office – 07 542 9012 Te Puke Office – 07 573 4754

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS PRIZE UP FOR GRABS! Bella hanging out with her ‘lambie’.

Liam RamageHazelton fast asleep, didn't make it home for lunch after a busy morning on the farm in Coroglen.

Sent in by Lyall Hazelton.

Sent in by Julienne Lissington.

Max on a horse for the first time. Sent in by Kirsten Pope.

Tennesse Ira and her calves, Tua and Milly.

Sent in by Emma Clarke.

Ataya Glasgow play date at Whakamarama play group.

Sent in by Judy Blythe

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 and phone number with every entry.