Coast and country january 2017

Shearer Lloyd Rees of Wales and rouser Allyssa Saunders hard at work shearing some of the Sisam & Son’s flock on the day judges for the Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards visited the extensive Whakatane farm. See stories page 3 and 4-5. Photo Elaine Fisher.

Gerberas PAGE 7

WHAKATANE

Otarawairere Bay PAGE 8

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Dairying PAGE 10-15

Avocados PAGE 26-27

Kiwifruit PAGE 29-31

Fertiliser PAGE 40-41

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 2

eam Meet the t

Why don’t producers pay for harm?

Brian Rogers Director/ Editor

Elaine Fisher Editor 07 928 3046

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Coast & Country News is the FREE magazine-style monthly publication with a massive coverage to a huge rural market.

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It seems that whenever companies produce a product which makes huge sums of money, but causes significant harm to its consumers – it’s governments, councils, taxpayers and ratepayers who pay.

For example, cigarettes, gambling, gaming machines and sugar-loaded drinks, foods and high fat foods all cause harm to those using or consuming them.

While taxes on cigarettes do support stop-smoking programmes and health treatments, the tabs for gambling and obesityrelated problems are largely met from the public purse or by volunteer organisations.

The tide may be turning with the latest in toilet “accessories” – wet wipes.

Despite their claims they are not flushable and municipal sewerage systems around the world are trying to deal with the extensive and expensive blockages they cause.

Not so flushed

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Wyoming, Minnesota, was one of the first American cities to take on the flushable wet wipe industry by filing a class action suit against wet wipe manufacturers for promoting their products as flushable reports www.theatlantic.com Great – let’s hope the case is successful and wet wipes disappear – but not down the toilet.

In 2015 the Ministry of Health launched its Childhood Obesity Plan, a package of initiatives aimed to prevent and manage obesity in Kiwi children and young people up to 18 years of age.

The plan includes targeted interventions for those who are obese; increased support for those at risk of becoming obese and abroad approaches to make healthier choices easier for all New Zealanders.

Fonterra pledge

The focus is on food, the environment and being active at each life stage, starting during pregnancy and early childhood.

In December 2016 Fonterra pledged support to the Ministry’s Healthy Kids’ Industry Pledge, which aims to help reduce rates of obesity in children.

Great to see our leading producer of dairy products stepping up and admittedly some other food producers are reducing sugar in their products too.

What I can’t quite get my head around is that under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 the obligation on a business is to look after the health and safety of its workers – in other words to take all possible steps to avoid harm.

I have no argument with that aim – but why isn’t there legislation against those producing food or services or substances which cause physical, mental and emotional harm to those who buy and use them? Why should the public pay to pick up the pieces when corporates are making money from misery-causing products? Elaine Fisher

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 3

Be prepared – the ‘train’ of change is coming which the wider public needs to hear about what is really happening on the land.”

The entrants in this year’s awards are: Blackwood Orchard Whakatane, Brian and Jan Barton Katikati, Brumby Farms Waihi, B A Looney Trust Edgecumbe, Mataiwhetu Farms Kaimai, Jared and Sue Watson Opotiki and Sisam & Sons Whakatane.

The 2017 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards winners will be announced at the gala dinner on February 24, 2017, ASB Baypark, Mount Maunganui. Tickets are $75 (incl GST ) per person, with predinner drinks at 5.30pm and the award ceremony commencing at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.nzfeatrust.org.nz Elaine Fisher

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BOP Ballance Farm Environment judges Margaret Wright, Oliver Knowles, and Sharryn Clark.

“Changes to how we are able to farm are underway and those in the primary sector need to know what to do and take control now, because the train is coming and they don’t want to be run over by it through lack of preparation.”

Government legislation on the management of fresh water quality now requires district councils to implement measures to meet new the standards, which is resulting in regulations to control nutrient leaching from farms and orchards.

“We need to understand what is happening on our land and how we can make a difference to that. It’s not as scary as it seems, and there is help and advice available. The process may not necessarily be costly but it requires some commitment,” says Margaret.

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Positive attitudes

“We have always said we don’t want entrants to wait until they have finished all the environmental projects they want to do, and their properties are pristine, because really there is always something more which can be achieved.”

This year’s entrants are a good mix of dairying, sheep and beef and kiwifruit but despite the different industries they come from, all have the same positive attitudes and desire to create operations that are sustainable both financially and environmentally.

“For the judging panels, it is a real privilege to visit these properties and we are humbled by how generous entrants are in opening up their businesses to us and the time they make available to show us their operations.

Role models

Margaret always come away from each property inspired “and impressed by what people are doing on the land, for their businesses, their environment, their staff and their wider communities”.

“Our entrants this year are role models for others in the industry and also provide the ‘good news stories’

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“However, we can make a difference by changing some of our management practices. There is no way we can totally mitigate the impact of farming and horticulture on the environment but we can improve what we do, and the outcomes, starting at the grassroots, so we can continue to have an economically viable primary industry, producing top quality food for the world.”

The judges reviewing entrants in this year’s Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards have been impressed, as always, at the commitment of entrants

to farm or grow in the most environmentally sustainable and ethical ways possible.

“What is very heartening to see this year in particular is most of those who have entered have done so because they want to have access to an outside critique on what they are doing and the opportunity to learn how to enhance their land management.

“It seems the message is really getting through that the awards are not about winning – though it is nice to reward those who are making a difference – it is about learning and striving for improvement.

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It is vital for the future of their enterprises that farmers and orchardists understand and take steps to control the nutrient cycles on their properties, says Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards judging co-ordinator Margaret Wright.

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Conservation focus for 102-year-old family enterprise The Sisam family has been farming land in the valley near Whakatane, which bears its name, since 1914. And today’s generations manage the mixed dairy, sheep, beef and forestry enterprise, Sisam & Sons, for the benefit of its shareholders.

The enterprise has entered the 2017 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards, putting forward the ‘Back Block’ and the ‘Dairy 4’ unit for judging in the competition.

Those blocks total 1899 hectares with sheep and beef accounting for 1333ha, with 1200ha-plus effective, ‘Dairy 4’ 281ha, with 265ha effective, pine forests 171ha and fenced native reserves of 112ha.

Richard Sisam says the conservation work and farming practices employed on those blocks are representative of the entire operation, which spans a total of 4600ha with contours that range from alluvial and peat flats to easy, undulating pumice hills.

Some trees 800-years-old

A 113ha stand of native podocarp forest, which includes rimu trees estimated to be 800 years old, is a feature of the area and 100ha of this forest has been fenced off from pasture for more than 60 years. Two smaller areas that were open to grazing have since been fenced into the forest and demonstrate the reestablishment of undergrowth, which happens when

Richard, Bruce and Matthew Sisam of Sisam & Sons which is an entrant in the 2017 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Enviroinment Awards.

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One of the dairies on Sisam & Son’s Whakatane property. stock is excluded. The ‘Round Bush’ as it is known, is protected by a Bay of Plenty Regional Council covenant.

Richard says other examples of original vegetation are found in the swamps in the upper catchments.

“We have fenced off most of these swamps and have started introducing local swamp vegetation species into those areas where previously only grass species are present.

“The objective is to restore these swamps to their original condition. This will slow down runoff from pasture and act as nutrient traps. Once this is completed, unfenced streams will be fenced off where practical. We have a good working relationship with the BOPRC about forest and wetland protection and enhancement.” Fencing out the swamps has made moving stock easier, says Richard.

Possum control

Pest management has concentrated on possums. “A recent trapping operation removed a larger number of possums. Of interest is there was a large build-up of possums adjacent to a fodder beet paddock.”

Richard’s son Matthew is the manager of the ‘Back Block’, a role he’s taken up after completing a

...continued

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 5

Extensive farming operation provides vital local employment continued...

degree in agricultural science at Massey University and working as shepherd on Matawai Station at Taupo.

He’s enjoying being back on the family farm, and stepping up to take responsibility for not only stock, but staff as well.

“Though it’s easier to manage stock,” he admits.

Matthew supports the family and board’s view that the enterprise cannot operate without effective staff. “Employees are valued and we strive to be

Left: Sheep in pens in the Sisam & Sons woolshed awaiting their turn under the shearer’s hands.

Below left: Weslh sheaer Lloyd Rees removes the last of the fleece from this sheep.

compliant in all areas of employment law,” says Richard.

“The business has a policy of giving preference to employing and training local people as permanent staff. A full-time job in the local community is extremely valuable to local families. A recent independent report to directors stated that the staff culture we have achieved is commendable.”

ITO Qualifications

Staff are encouraged to further their skills by gaining Primary ITO qualifications, with Richard, his brother Bruce, Matthew and other senior staff assisting as mentors.

Use of the vast property for public

events is encouraged. These include horse exercising by private individuals, social horse riding groups, horse endurance competitions, school visits to bush and farming activities, camping, fun bike rides and adventure runs and major fundraising events such as the Oxfam 100km event. The property is used occasionally for safety training exercises by business groups.

The business also sponsors the local school and sports clubs via donations and services.

Food gathering requests from locals, such as for watercress and eels, are rarely refused. The property holds large stocks of eels as commercial eeling is Elaine Fisher banned.

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Page 6

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Organic methods changed farm and farmer Twenty-two years’ dairy farming on the same property means Ged Goode knows his land and knows it well.

The Saturday before this interview Ged had spread four tons/ha of vermicompost onto several of his paddocks.

“Through soil tests we are able to understand what our soil needs. We are trying to balance the ground He started like so many New Zealand dairy farmers, so it becomes a home for bacteria and fungi, which as a sharemilker, working his way up to the ownermakes the perfect growing base for cow food ship of his now 800 hectare farm, and – not only grass but a mix of chicory, 700-plus cow herd. dandelion, plantain, rye and The decision to go organic clover and others. The cows happened eight years ago just love.” and now his property A seed mix is spread over and his herd are fully the top of paddocks each certified. Ged has year and rolled in. There taken the organic has been no nitrogen put theme and run with it. on the farm for eight years Talking to him, his but magnesium, sulphur, passion for organics, for Reactive Phosphate Rock and doing the right thing for sulphate of potash – all organic his land and animals comes Ged Goode.

– is used. through strongly. And he’s also pasIn spring he sprays the whole farm with sionate about the basics of organic farming molasses, which feeds the bacteria and produces a and why more farmers should be embracing it. natural nitrogen, producing good plant growth.

“It really started with a comment from one of our “We use different methods of creating nutrients for daughters – Ariell – who was working in resource development with the Taupo council. She said: ‘Dad – the plants, methods which don’t leech out and into waterways.” if you don’t do something you will be legislated out of

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dairy farming’.

“We looked at what we could do to become truly sustainable into the future. Not just stopping effluent going into streams, but looking at the whole picture.”

At about the same time Fonterra was pushing its organic milk programme. Ged was already a Fonterra supplier and changed to an organic supplier for six years but is now a member of the Organic Milk Hub, along with 30 shareholders.

Organic Milk Hub

The hub is a brokerage for organic suppliers. Most of Ged’s milk goes to Green Valley Dairies, which specialises in organic milk production.

Ged says the financial gain is evident in the higher payout for organic milk, but the added bonus is along the way his mindset has changed – and he’s changed.

Now when looking at anything on the farm, it all relates back to the soil. He believes it has taken nearly eight years to detoxify, to get the chemicals, which were poured into the farm, out.

“Now we concentrate on getting the soil right.

Each year we soil test one-third of the farm – a good in-depth soil test to see what is needed and what the carbon levels are like.

“Nothing goes into or onto the farm which is not organic.”

The farm has three hectares dedicated to a ‘worm farm’ to produce vermi-compost using waste wood fibre from the nearby Kinleith Mill. Ged is in a joint venture with MyNOKE, which is a leader in vermicomposting technology, organic resource management and supplier of organic fertiliser for agriculture and horticulture industries.

Stress-less system

Ged estimates the cost of his milk production is similar to conventional dairy but the savings come in the way of animal health and, of course, the extra payout for organic milk.

“We just don’t spend money on animal health, we just don’t need to. Our cows are healthy on the organic lifestyle, part of the stress-less system.

Each year the farm is audited to ensure the organic standards are met and this year it also had an audit from Chinese milk buyers.

“They [Chinese] are very particular. They buy our organic milk via the milk hub and they want to ensure it is certified correctly. Coming to the farm to see how it works and to check our certification is just another positive for us.”

Polled bulls

Another ‘organic’ process on the farm is the introduction of the use of semen from polled bulls.

CRV Ambreed is offering this semen after extensive research and development programme.

The company has been working on its polled genetics breeding programme in an effort to breed bulls with two copies of the polled gene, which will guarantee the bull’s progeny being born ‘polled’. This means they will not need to be disbudded, which can be an expensive exercise for farmers especially when there is a large number of cows in a herd. Ged says this is also a health and safety issue.

Along with the semen from the polled bulls, Ged is introducing sex-tested A2-A2 semen to begin the process of an organic A2 herd.

Fritha Tagg

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 7

Couple grow 60 varieties of gerbera A sea of colourful flowers fills the large glasshouse at PlentyFlora.

The gerbera growing enterprise at Horohoro is thriving thanks to a good combination of knowledge, thermal heat and the wonder of producing a highly desirable commercial flower.

Connie and Harald Esendam, originally from Holland, had visited New Zealand in 1990 and came back to settle here permanently in 1995. Harald was working for Carter Holt Harvey with pine tree tissue culture.

The breeding of gerbera was Harald’s main focus of research and work in Holland in the 1980s. And when the time came to look for an alternative to pine tree work, it was obvious growing gerbera would be on the top of the list. When the large glasshouses in Horohoro were put up for sale 16 years ago, the timing was perfect.

By Christmas 2002, Connie and Harald had their first gerbera flowers and 14 years later the commercial growing operation operates smoothly and efficiently.

it has been the case more and more customers want mini gerbera as they do have a longer vase life.

“They are easier to grow, produce more flowers, less costs to the florists and it covers a range of different purposes – for example, on cakes, hairdos, corsages and wristbands.

“We are always market-driven. It would be easy to only grow four varieties, but we need a larger diversity in colour for our customers. We now have 60

Connie and Harald Esendam with the packaged gerbera.

Specialising in Specialising in • • • • • •

Optimum temperature

Gerbera need particular growing environment and the ability to use a geothermal energy source, available at the Horohoro site, means they can maintain the temperature of the glasshouse to the optimal minimum temperatures – 13 degrees Celsius is needed – which is especially important during the winter months.

This gives them a constant supply of high quality flowers. Gerbera is a subtropical plant species originating in South Africa, so there is a need to create a similar climate to get the best results.

The geothermal bore produces 85 degree Celsius geothermal fluid, which is used to heat the glasshouses.

The 2500m2 glasshouse at PlentyFlora is fully mechanised and the environment monitored closely. Roof panels can be opened to control the humidity and roof curtains are also used when the weather becomes too hot for the flowers, and to retain heat at night.

“Flower growing is a global market,” says Harald.

The plants are purchased from a gerbera breeding company in Holland. They send the tiny tissue culture plant to an operation in India, which produce plantlets in its laboratories.

The tissue culture and plantlets are propagated in a sterile environment, which means they can cross country borders. In Auckland the rooted baby plantlets are grown on for about eight weeks before they are sent to PlentyFlora.

Eight weeks after potting into the glasshouse, the plants will begin producing flowers. Lifespan is two to three years so each year they plant 5000-7000 new plants, about 40 per cent of their 14,000 flowering gerbera are housed in the glasshouse.

Mini gerbera

PlentyFlora has two different sized flowers. The standard sized gerbera is 10cm-13 cm in diameter; and the mini-variety is 6cm-8 cm, which Harald says has been very successful with 70 per cent of growers in Holland now growing the mini.

“It is perfect for bouquet, corsage and wedding cakes and is proving very popular with our customers. “We believed the mini would work well in our markets and

different varieties.

“One of our strengths is we have a relationship with our customers and there is a direct feedback from the end user – the florist or any other buyer – and we can react accordingly and are able to service our customers well. All deliveries are overnight.”

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Order by colour

During spring and summer PlentyFlora sends flowers to auction in Auckland and Wellington.

But this adds time to the final delivery and often the flowers are re-boxed, which can result in damage to the flowers so they only send to auction when there is surplus supply.

Most of PlentyFlora’s customers are florists who send their request for the colours they require and their orders are sent direct from PlentyFlora by courier.

The internet has improved the links allowing customers to see actual colours and also cuts down on actual time from cut to display.

Harald and Connie have developed their own packaging to ensure the flowers are treated in the best possible way and ensuring the good quality arrives for the end user.

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Page 8

TRAVEL & HOLIDAYS

Walk to secluded bay well worth the effort There’s no road access and at high tide the only way to get to Otarawairere Bay is by boat – which makes this secluded and beautiful Whakatane beach even more appealing.

The beach can be reached by walking tracks, which start either from the southern end of Ohope Beach or from Whakatane, but check with the Whakatane Visitor Information Centre for the latest tide information before starting out. Because the beach can’t be accessed on foot at high tide.

Slips earlier this year temporarily closed the walk but new staircases have been installed and along the route there are places to stop and enjoy the view. There are steep sections along the route, up and down stairs; but it is well worth the effort.

On a sunny day the wide sweeping beach glistens with thousands of fragments of surf-polished shells, adding to the allure of the bay.

The track to the beach is part of a longer route known as Nga Tapuwae o Toi, or the ‘Footprints of Toi’, which is a walkway

that captures the essence of the Whakatane district.

It includes pa sites of major historic significance, superb native forest, spectacular pohutukawa stands, unsurpassed coastal views, seabird colonies, forest birds, plantation forest and rural vistas.

The track includes three major scenic reserves – Kohi Point Scenic Reserve, Ohope Scenic Reserve and Mokoroa Scenic

The view of Ohope Beach from the beginning of the walk to Otarawairere Bay. of New Zealand to be settled

by Maori and the first inhabitant was Tiwakawaka, who local legend says arrived more than 1000 years ago.

For some generations, Tiwakawaka’s people lived in Kakahoroa, later named Whakatane, before the arrival of the tribes Te Tini o Toi, Te Hapuoneone and Nga Potiki. Many of Te Tini o Toi, Toi’s people, formed marriage alliances with the original settlers. High above Whakatane, Toi’s stronghold was Kapu-te-rangi, one of the oldest known pa sites in New Zealand.

For more information about the walks and history of the district, visit: www.whakatane.com Elaine Fisher

Otarawairere Bay viewed from the walking track.

Reserve. The walkway is accessible to most people, regardless of fitness level, because it can be undertaken in sections or as a 16km round trip. The total trip can be completed in five to seven hours. Information boards placed in strategic locations tell much more of the district's natural and historic heritage.

If you intend to complete the entire 16km round trip, it is recommended you do so in a clockwise direction; the track is far more challenging going in the opposite direction.

If you are walking to Ohope and wish to return to Whakatane by bus, the Beach Hopper Bus can pick you up at the Ohope Beach Haven store. Phone the Whakatane Visitor Information Centre for bus times.

The track is named in memory of the district’s earliest residents. The Eastern Bay of Plenty was one of the first parts

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Page 9

Nature will find ways around man-made ‘fixits’ Often, these days farmers must feel as though the primary sector is being castigated for all the problems in the world – dirty water, climate change, intensification, and too many animals.

Of late I’ve been inundated with reports on biological gases, riparian margins, soil mapping, soil carbon, environmental sustainability and more. And in the Waikato dairy and drystock farmers are going to war over proposed regulations for fencing and fertiliser use to clean up the water. All the reports are carefully researched and written, but see each problem as a separate issue.

They aren’t separate, but just aspects of what I see as one big problem, the overuse of nitrogen fertiliser – urea. Like antibiotics and drenches, when chemical N was discovered it was seen as the answer to all our problems. So we leapt into using it, particularly in the mid-1980s when began to be made it in Taranaki, thanks to the discovery of Maui gas supplies.

But like antibiotics and drenches we overdid it. And good old Mother Nature, as ever, allowed her smallest creatures and plants to find ways to defeat human derived inventions. So now we find resistance to antibiotics and drenches is about to cause major problems, and our soaring overuse of urea – at 700,000 tonnes last year – is growing ever less pasture in some places.

Nearly five tonne per hectare a year less.

Organic carbon

In addition my reading is telling me that where urea is most heavily used, the organic carbon in our soils is reducing by 1t/ha/yr, and may have been doing so for 30 years. In 2001 we were told that our soils couldn’t hold any more carbon, but what happens when we’ve depleted it to levels where there is nothing in our soils to hold nutrients? So they go up in the air as gas, or straight through into groundwater?

We need to create humus to create soil organic carbon. But when chemical N is applied to pasture, nature responds by multiplying madly all of the soil bugs which crave carbon, and they busily munch up anything which might, if left alone, form humus.

I’ve been saddened by the number of farmers who have solemnly told me: ‘You can’t grow grass without urea’, and was astonished when told by a senior scientist that: ‘Mycorrhizae and bacteria in soil are bad, because they mine the phosphorus in the soil’.

Well they take it up and pass it on to the plants above them in a usable form, as their role is one of symbiosis, not mining!

What do these farmers think is growing all the green stuff not on their farms?

A report from Rabobank recently on the economics of sustainability stressed that our mantra of ‘clean and green’ may well not be sufficient to give us premium prices for our products in future. Particularly when our increasingly sophisticated overseas consumers really investigate our sustainability criteria for freshwater, pasture growth, supplement use and chemical fertiliser usage.

Vested interests

If nitrous oxide and methane are being cited as contributing more than our fair share to greenhouse gases and climate change, has anyone considered that feeding our cows high nitrogen pasture, which their rumen can’t cope with, might just be contributing to the amount of N in their copious urine, and be some of the cause of those methane belches?

To a degree we can blame the way science research is funded these days in NZ. Too high a level of vested interest and commercial input has seen a proliferation of experts offering views that agree with that commercial input. And a seemingly stubborn refusal to acknowledge other products from small manufacturers which are created in harmony with Mother Nature, and use her own creatures to encourage suitable plants to take nitrogen from air and supply it to soils and other plants.

Remember, nature has a lot to offer humans, but only if we work in harmony with her. Man can find ways to overcome what seem the most important problems we face at any one time. But these must be used in moderation always, and we need to remember that nature has been around forever and will continue to find ways around any ‘fix-it’ barriers that man puts up.

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The study provides the first quantitative evidence that the present thinning and retreat of Pine Island Glacier is part of a climatically forced trend triggered in the 1940s.

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Page 10

DAIRY

What you may not already know A popular belief at present is that a concerted push to reduce the environmental pressure of intensive pastoral farming will mean less pasture grown, resulting in decreasing total farm production, smaller factories and associated infrastructure, fewer dollars being circulated, a decline in economic activity, with communities as a whole suffering.

In essence, there is an acceptance that present pasture and farm production can only be maintained through the continued degradation of soil.

Total milk solid production per hectare has risen during the last 30 years, mainly due to increased supplement being fed, and fewer animals being wintered at home. During the same period the amount of total permanent pasture grown on intensive pastoral farms has steadily fallen in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

Nutrient content

Organic carbon levels in these soils during the same time have also declined, and soils containing the most carbon have the greatest productiopotential. The link between carbon and production is fully appreciated by prof-

itable farmers, with the most expensive soils being those that are blackest and deepest.

Historically, it was always understood continuously cropped soils yielded less over time, and the remedy was to return those areas to grazed permanent pasture. If soil could be recovered then, why is that not happening now?

Modern agriculture has focused on the nutrient content of soil, mainly NPK – the chemical elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – meaning with the inference being that every other aspect is of lesser importance. Maybe if carbon had been included in the measures, the environmental problems faced now would have been avoided.

Soil organic carbon is the basis of humus and provides storage for both nutrient and moisture. There’s a direct link between carbon and nitrogen, so as carbon is sequestered extra nitrogen can be stored.

Carbon acts as a filter and when it comes to food production, the primary role of pastoral farming, reduced carbon in the soil means less filtering takes place and more spray residue and heavy metal makes its way to us through the food produced from it.

A recent article by Blake Holbrook of Rabobank states the way forward for New Zealand agriculture is to embrace sustainability. The majority of purchasers have no connection with land and farming practices but do have a firmly

held concept of sustainability.

Because they are the folk that are prepared to pay top dollar for quality food, it is their requirements that must be satisfied for us to achieve those prices. The other option is to continue to provide commodity products sold at auction for a fraction of the price.

Trees are legacy

Increasingly choosy

It’s the story behind the food that people buy – for example, where and how it is grown – and can we go on doing it indefinitely? We all use those multiple criteria, whether we appreciate it or not. Buying decisions are 100 per cent emotional and when it comes to food those with higher incomes are becoming increasingly choosy.

Clean and green is fast becoming outdated. Farmers must go well beyond meeting minimum standards and embrace farming practices that are shown to be truly sustainable, with the cornerstone being soil organic carbon positive.

There are products and practices already well-refined that provide farmers with this ability to continuously increase production, outperforming their conventional neighbours, at significantly lower cost.

Groups of these switched-on operators are working together to sell their products into markets willing to pay more money than can be made from conventionally produced and marketed commodities.

It’s early days for this movement, but momentum is building. And those that get there first will benefit most. For more information, contact Peter on 0800 843 809.

The trees, wetlands, ponds and protected native bush block are a testament to the work of the late Peter Brumby.

Suejane Brumby has entered Brumby Farms at Waihi into the Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards as a way to honour the work of her late father Dr Peter Brumby.

“Entering the awards was something my father, who died in 2011, had talked about doing for years and now seemed the right time,” says Suejane.

“I’m also keen to get feedback from the judges, particularly regarding erosion on the farm, because I believe in leaving the land better than when you took it over.”

The 283.25 hectares dairy farm near Waihi is a tribute to Peter Brumby on many levels. Its highly productive herd of 400 KiwiCross cows, in the top percentage of New Zealand, are a tribute to his genetic research, including that carried out at the Ruakura Research Station under Dr C P ‘Mac’ McMeekan during the 1950s.

The 7.5ha retired conservation block, known as the QEII block, the farm’s ponds and exotic trees and the birdlife they support are a testament to Peter’s commitment to the environment and his hard work in planting thousands of trees. ...continued

DAIRY

Page 11

Environment award entry to honour late father Suejane Brumby and contract milker Jason Perrin.

The rotary cowshed at Brumby Farms milks 400 KiwiCross cows.

Under contract milkers Jason and Hollie Perrin, with the assistance of staff member James Gotty, the herd’s production is up three per cent and on target to reach the goal of 145,000 kg/ms for this season.

“We are very pleased with this result, especially given

disease problems amongst our the very wet winter and spring; we had to fly fertilizer on by helicopter calves this season, which I think, but cannot prove, is down to the because we couldn’t get the trucks ramp we installed for loading onto the rolling paddocks.” bobby calves.

The herd is also virtually free of “This means those collecting problems with bloat, mastitis and calves don’t have to walk into our lameness, which Suejane attributes pens, reducing the risk of spreading to excellent pasture and feed mandisease they may have picked up on agement, hygiene in the cowshed their boots from other farms.” and the extensive and expensive Suejane owns her own small lifeupgrade of races and fencing earlier style block but her long-term desire this year. is to buy Brumby Farms, currently Gerrard Strange, who has been owned by her mother Patricia, so the farm’s manager for 22 years, continuing her parent’s legacy to was the contractor who upgraded the land, the environment and the all of the races.

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“We have also had virtually no Elaine Fisher Animal Feed Suppliers Since 1850

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Suejane says buying Brumby Farms in 1988 was the fulfilment of a dream for her father and mother Patricia, who had spent most of their married life travelling and living overseas. Peter held senior positions, first with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, later with the World Bank, and as Director General of International Livestock Centre Africa.

Suejane and her brothers travelled with them and saw first-hand the work their father did to help improve the lives of people living in poverty, by building their agricultural skills. Peter worked in Cyprus, Chile, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

From 1978 to 1981 he was based in New Delhi, India, handling developmental loans to the Indian dairy industry and initiating new livestock projects in several other Asian countries including Cambodia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

Suejane is particularly proud of the work her father did in setting up ‘Operation Flood’ in India with Dr Kurion, which involved paying Indian women for a billy of milk each day, so they had control of their money to buy food for their families and invest in more cows.

When Patricia and Peter finally retired in Waihi, they set about establishing a highly productive dairy farm milking KiwiCross cows.

As a geneticist, Peter recognised that Friesian cows were too big for New Zealand conditions and Jersey cows were too small for the production required, so he and others led the development of the KiwiCross cow.

Peter believed in feeding cows well; something Suejane also endorses. The farm operates at a System 2 level, with the herd fed homegrown silage plus a special blend of feed including Palm Kernel Extract, tapioca and minerals, supplied by James and Sons.

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Page 12

William Albrecht – a scientist ahead of his time The following is an abridged quote from a ‘Training Manual for Soil Analysis Interpretation in Northern California’ written

by Gregg Young, CPAg, 1999 for his Master’s Degree. “[William] Albrecht's research was unusual in longevity [1916-1959], geographic range [on three continents], and thoroughness. He studied complex relationships rather than simple causes and effects.

“He analysed chemical properties of soils, fertilised and tested for yields, correlated quality considerations [protein, amino acid ratios], performed bioassay and feeding trials with animals, followed

their development and that of their prodigy, [sic] and ultimately correlated health and fecundity of animals with quality of feed and soil properties of the soil on which it was produced.

His work was primarily with grains, forages, and legumes.

“His studies did show how many different plants get what they need from the soil, and his principles certainly show how to optimise productivity and quality for many crops.

“Albrecht believed in getting optimum soil conditions by using soil analysis Authorised Dealers Authorised

Dealers

No facial eczema spores were found on this Waikite Valley grazing property, which uses the Albrecht-Kinsey system of soil fertility, while the neighbour’s stock was severely affected.

and his mineral balancing principles. Plants will then use nutrients according to their needs. This was later called the Base Cation Saturation Ratio theory of soil interpretation. I will present a body of research which substantiates this theory.

Quality over quantity

“Albrecht clearly stressed quality over quantity.

He promoted high yields, but made a good case for nutritional quality being the most important goal for production of protein crops [grains, legumes] and feeds.

This emphasis on quality can apply to wine grapes and quality fruit and vegetable production.

“A key difference between Albrecht and most others was his emphasis on quality of crops, pest and disease resistance, and liming to provide calcium rather than fighting acidity.”

In other words, Albrecht was well ahead of his time.

The rest of the world still hasn’t caught up. Albrecht

had no peers, nor will there ever be. Since Albrecht, his system has been further refined by Neal Kinsey.

Other consultants using the method are also refining it, or at least observing and measuring, to find out exactly what works best for the particular circumstances they work with. However, we still do not use ratios or a system based on ratios, despite being told we do.

No guessing

The Albrecht method works best when coordinating the soil samples, the laboratory, the consultancy, the products, and the order the nutrients are applied, the management and so on. All fertiliser from Kiwi Fertiliser is custom-blended for each soil test. There is no guessing involved. It is precise and it delivers indisputable superior results. Those results are based on quality first and quantity second.

Those that criticise the system always measure dry matter, but not quality. They may measure expenditure, but not profit. Quality leads to superior soil health, plant health, animal health and production, and most importantly, to superior human health. Pollution is reduced. This has been tested by the greatest researchers on the planet: the farmers and growers.

The quote continues. “Comparison of BCSR and SLAN. During the period when BCSR was developed, an alternative school of agronomy grew up called SLAN, which stands for Sufficiency Level of Applied Nutrients.”

“McLean (1977) gave a well-balanced explanation of the two theories, although he did not mention or cite Albrecht and his hundreds of articles on the subject.

McLean also did not address the issues of quality versus quantity, soil biological activity, or fighting acidity versus amending calcium.

“Nevertheless, McLean's overview of the two main schools of fertilisation, shows the strengths and applications of each. More research has been done on the SLAN method since it is more applicable to the use of concentrated chemical fertilisers, which has been the industry trend the last 30 years. From 1999 McLean called for more research in BCSR, and concluded that: “A combination of these two concepts seems to work best as a basis for soil test interpretation in perhaps a majority of conditions”.

DAIRY

Page 13

Keep cows milking as long as possible Another lift in the Global Dairy Trade auction in December is good news for farmers because it means prices are going in the right direction with, in all likelihood, a payout of $6-plus for the season.

However, the downside for many farmers is their production has dropped – by as much as 20 per cent for some – because of the very wet spring.

It’s not too late to order maize silage as we still have some available but should the summer be dry, it will be in demand.

Despite delays to planting caused by prolonged wet weather most of our maize crops were close to fence height before Christmas, which is a good sign. However, plants growing on wet swampy paddocks were struggling as were those in areas around gateways and troughs where the soil is more compacted. An application of nitrogen helped those areas to recover.

Army caterpillar

Feeding maize silage helps cows keep milking.

For that reason, most farmers will be aiming to keep cows milking for as long as possible into the autumn, by delaying switching to once-a-day or drying cows off. In that way, they may be able to recover some of the income they have lost due to falling production.

That makes sense so long as it is not done at the expense of cow condition and farm cover because it is vital to ensure the herd and the farm goes into winter, and the next milking season, in the best possible condition.

Feeding maize silage is one way of keeping cows milking while maintaining or building up their condition, and extending the grazing round, allowing pasture to recover and providing a good feed wedge ahead of the herds for the coming winter.

We had some signs of army caterpillar turn up in our maize and dealt to them quickly. But that’s an indication they could be problem this autumn so farmers would be wise to regularly check crops, lucerne in particular, but also new pastures, as these critters can destroy an entire crop in no time at all.

Early detection is essential and for minimal cost of chemicals and time, the caterpillars can be brought under control.

Meanwhile, 2016 certainly ended with political turmoil on shore and offshore. Few predicted Donald Trump would be the United States president and virtually no one saw Prime Minister John Key’s resignation coming – let’s hope for fewer surprises and more stability in 2017.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year, and were able to spend an enjoyable time with family and friends. The break is an ideal time to reflect on what happened last year and set some plans for 2017, both personal and business.

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Maize silage

Grass is, of course, the cheapest feed and it is important to use it first before feeding out supplements. But at this time of year, grass alone won’t keep cows milking well without taking condition off their backs. Maize silage is one of the few supplements that will keep cows lactating while maintaining or enhancing their condition. Again we urge farmers to consider the cost and benefits of the various feed options by going to Dairy NZ feed calculator at: www.dairynz.co.nz/feed/feed-management-tools/ supplement-price-calculator before committing to a significant spend on supplements.

It may be necessary to feed out grass silage for a few weeks in summer until the maize silage is harvested, just to keep as many cows as possible in milk.

It is too late in winter or early spring to try to improve cow condition because all you are doing is increasing the size of calves and not helping the cows much.

The last few seasons have been, to put it mildly, very hard for farmers. But most have cut costs and thanks to the lift in payout, committing to spending a little more now will help improve future returns.

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DAIRY

Page 14

As 2017 begins - time to dream a little Well, Christmas and New Year are over. And 2017 has arrived.

So do we feel any better or any worse as another year has just flashed by?

And we are wondering what 2017 will bring?

Are you happy and have you achieved your goals for 2016 or is it just an ongoing battle in Struggle Street? For many 2017 is an exciting time with opportunities abounding. For others it is just boring business as usual. Is your cup half full or half empty? Do you see a bright future with heaps of opportunity or just a dark hole with no light?

Dreaming is very good for the brain and powerful if you can implement some of the dreams. Dreaming can be challenging for some, you may need to lie back on the sand, let the sun warm your body and

mind. Close your eyes and let your mind drift. Drift to where you would like to go or be.

Aha moment

Dream what you want your life to be then figure out how to get there. Keep your eyes closed and try to dream how much better you may feel if you achieve your dreams. How would it look? What action do you need to take to get there?

How will you maintain that position once you are there?

How will you find it and what changes do you need to achieve your dreams?

Many people will find 2017 difficult and tough. They will feel overwhelmed and out of control. “Last year was tough and this year is going to be no different,” they will say. That is true if they chose that thought.

If they have an “aha” moment they will realise if they keep thinking the same, they

are likely to keep getting the same result.

So the question is: “What do I have to do differently, or think differently to get a better outcome?” It is that shift that is necessary to get a different result.

Apparently, we can chose how we feel.

Takes a bit of practise but we can chose to feel down or chose to feel happy. This choice is ours, so to speak.

Then wrapped around all of this is our financial position. Do we have enough money to pay the bills, retire, buy that car, or change properties?

Financial literacy

Many people live with all their credit used up. There is no freeboard so to speak. There is nothing more stressful than wondering if your cheques are about to bounce; and for many, the banks will see 2017 as a new start to clean up their lending book so make sure they do not start with your account!

Financial literacy is essential but little talked about with practically no schooling on it.

If there were one subject that needs to go in the school curriculum it is financial literacy. How is that we are taught English and maths to go into the workforce, but we have no understanding running and managing our financial affairs? Maybe we should seek help and try to get a better handle on our own financial situation.

It is clear everybody wants our money.

Can you hang onto enough of it? As a great friend of mine tells it: “It is spending less than you earn!”

In summary, dream a little, or a lot, then try to implement some of those dreams for a better life. Add to that a lift in attitude and better understanding of your financial literacy and you could have a better 2017.

Go on, dream a little!

Disclaimer – These are the opinions of Don Fraser of Fraser Farm Finance. Any decisions made should not be based on this article alone and appropriate professional assistance should be sought.

Don Fraser is the principal of Fraser Farm Finance and a consultant to the farming industry.

Contact him on 0800 777 675 or 021 777 675. A disclosure document is available on request.

Investing in irrigation for the North Crown Irrigation Investments has made available $165,000 to scope irrigation scheme options in Northland.

“This is great news for a region that has suffered numerous droughts over the years,” says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy. “Storing water means we can use it in dry spells, giving farmers and growers certainty and a real boost to the local economy.”

Northland Regional Council is also investing in the study, which will focus on potential irrigation options in the mid-North and Kaipara areas.

“Agriculture and horticulture play a major part in Northland’s economy. Last year the Ministry for Primary Industries contributed $75,000 towards a report examining the potential of irrigation in Northland and this is another

important step forward.

“The report identified that with a reliable water supply, Northland has a natural advantage for highvalue horticulture as the climate allows the growth of sub-tropical fruit.

“We know that any increase in horticulture generates a major increase in employment because of the high amount of labour per hectare required.”

The potential of irrigation and water storage is highlighted in the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan launched in February 2016.

“So far there has only been limited irrigation development in the region. As a Government, we are strong supporters of irrigation

and water storage because it can be a major boost to regional development, creating jobs and exports,” says Nathan.

“A recent report by NZIER found that irrigation contributes $2.2 billion to the national economy and this has the potential to grow even further.

“Modern irrigation infrastructure also has the potential to improve the environmental, social and recreational outcomes from the use and management of our water, within a strong regulatory framework.”

Crown Irrigation Investments provides both development funding and construction capital to irrigation schemes throughout New Zealand.

DAIRY

Page 15

Earning more by sharing the land New Zealand is too beautiful not to share, and doing so may provide another income stream for hard-pressed farmers, believe Matangi dairy farmers Michele and Roy Connell.

It’s for that reason they have begun Off The Beaten Track, which offers peer-to-peer outdoor holiday opportunities.

“It connects lovers of the great outdoors with undiscovered locations and experiences that are privately-owned. With so much of New Zealand in private ownership, Off The Beaten Track aims to connect landowners who can earn money by sharing their piece of paradise, with campers who want to enjoy a unique slice of New Zealand and a holiday with a difference,” says Michelle.

As dairy farmers themselves,

Michele and Roy are personally aware of the hardship that many farmers were experiencing as a result of the recent dairy downturn.

And the idea of sharing private land offering unique experiences in undiscovered locations and diversifying farmers’ incomes was born.

Michele is heartened by the initial response to the idea.

“Early research culminated in both landowner and holidaymaker interest exceeding our expectations, and Off The Beaten Track has become a reality.”

It is free to list, simple to use and provides passive income to landowners able to utilise what they already own.

The recent dairy downturn is a perfect example of this opportunity being especially welcome for many Founders of Off The Beaten farmers.

“It is with pride that we can share Track are Waikato dairy farmers Michele and Roy Connell. the paradise we live in, make it

economical for landowners, and offer an exciting alternative for holidaymakers,” says Michele.

The vision for Off the Beaten Track is ‘connecting people with a taste of New Zealand that’s delivered through undis-

covered locations and experiences’.

Quite simply, Michelle says, New Zealand is too beautiful not to share.

Visit: www.otbt.co.nz to list your land or holidaymakers can register their interest.

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The ability for farmer’s to apply a user friendly preventative treatment that could protect stock from strike for up to 16 weeks meant huge savings from the direct and indirect costs associated with flystrike.

The emergence and spread of flies resistant to two of the IGRs (triflumuron and diflubenzuron) has seen reductions in the length of protection down to as little as one to two weeks in some areas. While other products remain effective in treating flystrike, only the IGRs provide long term protection from fly attack.

The prospect of losing the IGRs ability to provide stock with long term fly protection is a worry for the industry. Protecting the remaining IGRs that are effective from the development of resistance will be critical.

This is best achieved through a combination of nonchemical and chemical means.

Reducing the need for treatment through good stock management is going to be important, including; effective worm control, dagging and monitoring of fly numbers. When chemical treatments are required, farmers must follow manufacturer’s guidelines for rates and methods of applications. Halving the dose, using gorse guns, running too high a pressure in spray units, too long a wool length and failing to get saturation

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RURAL BUILDINGS & FENCING

Page 16

Fonterra’s Lichfield dryer open    

EMILIO’S TIMBERS EST1981

The opening of Fonterra’s new stateof-the-art milk powder dryer at its Lichfield site marks an important step in the co-operative’s ability to meet global demand for dairy products, says Fonterra chairman John Wilson.

The co-operative’s most efficient milk powder dryer to date was officially opened in December when Taupo MP Louise Upston and South Waikato Mayor Jenny Shattock joined local farmers, iwi and community members to mark the occasion.

John says the opening is the continuation of Fonterra’s strong legacy in dairy production in New Zealand’s dairy heartland.

“While Lichfield is one of Fonterra’s younger sites, during its 21-year history it has become one of the most significant for our co-operative in our ability to meet growing global demand for dairy.

“This new plant will help us to strike a balance in our processing that allows us to switch between products quickly to meet demand changes in global markets, push the pace on production when milk volumes dictate, and ultimately deliver the best product mix to generate returns.”

Under budget

The new 30 metric tonne an hour dryer came online in September and is capable of processing 4.4 million litres of milk each day. More than 3000 people worked more than one million hours to finish the project, which was completed under budget.

Fonterra chief operating officer of global operations Robert Spurway says the commissioning of the new plant is one of the smoothest and most efficient on record at Fonterra.

“It was extremely impressive to see such a large and diverse group of people come together to deliver this project. Everyone has contributed something to the build, which allowed us to do things faster, smarter and cost effectively.”

The dryer is supported by a new distribution centre, service and a sophisticated wastewater treatment plant.

Resource-intensive

“Processing such large volumes of milk is a resource-intensive business, and we have put our focus into making sure any impacts are minimised wherever possible,” says Robert.

“A new biological wastewater treatment plant ensures that we’re able to treat any wastewater before it is irrigated to land near the site – the most environmentally-sustainable solution.

“The new distribution centre has the capacity to store 40,000 metric tonnes of whole milk powder, which is then loaded into containers and shipped directly to port via an in-built rail siding.

“This removes up to 40 truck movements from the site every day, which will not only free up local roads but also reduces our carbon emissions.”

60 years building for Kiwi farmers Rosswood manufacturers top quality barns and farm equipment, all of which are built tough to last and designed to suit the needs of Kiwi users.

Rosswoods’ barns and sheds have served Kiwi farmers for more than 60 years and today the Hamilton-based company continues to specialise in the construction and manufacture of top quality barns, lean-tos, stock shelters, kennels and feeders.

Rosswoods’ kennels are designed and manufactured in Hamilton to provide comfortable, easy to clean, secure and rugged accommodation for working dogs.

EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Page 17

New international science links to benefit NZ funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Using knowledge we have built up in New Zealand, this will help lift the productivity and profitability in family farming in Uruguay, as well as helping in its retention of farmers in remote areas.

“The second key relationship is a cooperation agreement between AgResearch and Teagasc, with a focus on developing the next generation of scientists in both New Zealand and Ireland.”

The agreement will mean co-funding

New relationships forged between AgResearch and key overseas science organisations will provide a host of valuable opportunities for New Zealand, says chief executive Tom Richardson.

“The first is a new strategic partnership involving organisations from three other countries, where we can share our scientific gains and better grasp the opportunities that come along.”

The partnership – with Uruguay’s National Institute of Agricultural Research, Catalonia’s Research & Technology & Food & Agriculture and Ireland’s Agriculture and Food

seven PhD students who spend time between the two countries, and work in key areas that include greenhouse gas emissions, food safety and parasite control.

“New Zealand and Ireland have quite similar farming systems and there is a lot we can learn from each other,” says Tom. “This agreement is a commitment to doing that, and bringing on a new group of scientists that will support both of our countries into the future.”

Development Authority known as Teagasc – will focus on sustainability of the dairy, beef and sheep sectors.

“While there are real benefits from this partnership for New Zealand, we are also doing our part by using our knowledge to help assist the development of agriculture in other countries,” says Tom. “In Uruguay, we are part of a family farm improvement project

Interbloc bunkers reduce silage wastage Silage is a valuable supplementary feed for dairy cows and to gain the best value, it needs to be stored properly to avoid waste or spoilage.

arises by either adding more blocks, or removing them.

“This flexibility means farmers are never locked into one solution and can even take advantage of our buy-back scheme for blocks they no longer need,” Interbloc Ltd general manager Jack Bright says building a silage bunker using Interbloc’s unique says Jack.

The Interconstruction methods and bloc system is backed by quality materials comprehensive can reduce silage engineering waste by up to support. Two 25 per cent.

“That translabour units can lates into real build upwards of 140m2 of dollar savings so wall per day, the investment and the bunkers in an Interbloc bunkers pays for represent up Flexibility of size is a feature of Interbloc bunkers. to 57 per cent itself in a short material cost reduction over substitute building period of time,” says Jack. materials.

“There are also savings in the time and cost of “The key to our success is our approach to design. materials required to construct an Interbloc bunker, as 75 New Zealand farmers who have built our silage We work with farmers to understand what they need. bunkers, and those who have installed 200 palm “Our range of options are designed to provide you kernel bunkers in the last 11 years, already know.” with the right solution, at the right price. Whichever option you pick, you’ll receive the unique benefits Another benefit of the system is that, because it is only Interbloc can offer,” says Jack. modular, the bunkers can be modified as the need

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Page 18

Floating wetlands improving water quality Latest technology adopted by Fonterra and the Department of Conservation’s partnership ‘Living Water’ is proving a success in cleaning up waterways.

Developed by Massey University, the floating treatment wetlands consist of native wetland plants, tethered to buoyant mats or ‘rafts’ that sit on the water surface. Capable of removing large amounts of nutrients, the rafts filter water in drains and runoff before it hits waterways.

Living Water installed a number of the floating wetlands in nutrient enriched drains around Lake Areare to monitor the technology.

DOC community ranger Michael Paviour has been leading Living Water’s work in the Waikato and is excited by the early results from the trial.

“The floating treatment wetlands have only been installed for a relatively short time but initial tests and the rapid plant growth indicates they are doing a good job removing nutrients from the water.

proving to be a practical and effective method for improving water quality.”

Fonterra Living Water programme leader Tim Brandenburg says the floating wetlands are an innovative new tool for nutrient management and have the potential to be very useful on farms.

“If the positive results from this trial continue, this technology could prove very appealing to our farmers as a simple tool for managing nutrient levels in ponds and drains.

Sustainable daying

“The great thing about the floating wetlands is they don’t just remove nutrients from waterways, they also attract bird and insect life and the grasses have the potential to be harvested as supplement feed for stock.”

Living Water will run the trial until the middle of this year and if the positive result trend continues the floating

Effective method

“The floating wetlands are by no means a silver bullet for solving water quality but when used alongside other activity, such as silt traps and riparian planting, they are

Floating treatment wetlands. wetlands could be rolled out in waterways around the country.

Living Water is a 10-year partnership between Fonterra and DOC focusing on five significant dairying regions with the vision of a sustainable dairy industry which is part of healthy, functioning ecosystems that together will enrich the lives of all New Zealand.

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EFFLUENT & IRRIGATION

Page 19

Hotel childhood fostered sustainability bent Growing up on a “100 acre farm with the hotel in the middle” which served guests homegrown, home-cooked meals and where recycling was second nature, clearly influenced Roger Archibald’s future.

No, he didn’t become a publican but instead an advocate for sustainability, waste management and the production of safe, healthy, tasty foods. All of which ideally equips him for his new role as commercial manager for BioGro, New Zealand’s largest and best-known certifier for organic produce and products.

When he was growing up, Roger’s parents owned and operated the Taratahi Hotel near Carterton.

“The hotel happened to be in the middle of a 100-acre farm where we grew most of our own food, including free-range pigs which we fed on leftover beer and garden scraps.”

Labels like environmental and economic sustainability, recycling and growing chemical-free, and great tasting foods, weren’t attached to how his family lived – but in effect that’s what they were instinctively doing.

Those principles became part of Roger’s

When he began working with staff at the two ministries, Roger says many found it hard to grasp the concept of recycling, including separating waste into bins and doing away with their under-the-desk bins in which everything had been chucked.

“Now recycling is taken for granted in most offices and many households,” says Roger, who began his new role at BioGro in late last year.

He sees this as a chance to enhance the service the certification body provides to producers; to attract new entrants to the organic industry; and to raise the profile of organically grown foods and products among the public.

Roger Archibald is commercial manager for BioGro. career path, which has included working for Cart Holt Harvey involved in recycling programmes, and later as an advisor for the Ministry for Economic Development and then a sustainability advisor for the Ministry for Social Development.

Roger went on to become the sustainable business facilitator for the Greater Wellington Regional Council, followed by the position as the sustainability advisor for the New Zealand Retailers Association.

another aim.

“I also want to see BioGro itself grow. It hasn’t grown in five years.”

Like many primary industries, the age of organic producers in increasing and encouraging more young people to become organic producers is another goal.

“I also want to raise the profile of BioGro and organic foods and products among the public.

I’m not sure that people fully understand what certificated organic products are – and that organic certification also means it’s non-genetically modified.”

Ugly fruit

There may be a potential in future of a “nonGMO” – Genetically Modified Organism – brand which BioGro could certify.

“There is a growing interest among the public in Process simplified knowing exactly what is and isn’t in their food and He told an organic kiwifruit field day I think supermarkets would also be keen on such a organised for its growers by Seeka in branding.”

November that he wants to see the certifiThe return of ‘ugly’ fruit and vegetables – those cation process simplified and made more which may have harmless skin blemishes, or be cost-effective for producers. slightly mis-shapen would please Roger too. “There’s “I also plan to put everything in plain a growing ugly fruit and vege movement which aims English so it’s clear and easy to understand.” to see foods normally discarded because they don’t The auditing process is already being look good, made available to the public. streamlined and Roger told growers at the “I think it’s a great idea because ‘ugly’ fruit and meeting he’s keen to hear what they and veges often taste better than the perfect ones we see in other producers want from BioGro. Giving supermarkets now.”

Elaine Fisher BioGro and its producers a stronger voice with the Ministry for Primary Industries is

Justine Kidd appointed Milk New Zealand’s CEO Justine Kidd, formerly CEO of the BEL Group and chair of the Dairy Women’s Network, has a new role with the Shanghai Pengxin’s subsidiary Milk New Zealand.

She’s been appointed agribusiness CEO responsible for the 16 Central North Island farms owned by The Land Tahi Farm Group and 13 South Island farms owned by Purata Farming Ltd. Making the announcement, Milk New Zealand managing director Terry Lee, says Justine has been a director of the board of Pengxin NZ Farm Management Ltd, the joint venture with Landcorp, since 2013 and

brings a comprehensive to growing and nurtursuite of skills to her ing the opportunity of new position. working with a farmJustine says to-customer focused this appointbusiness and a great ment reflects team of talented her passion for people.” creating value for Justine, who won farming business the 2013 the Dairy through innovative Woman of the Year connections and award, took up her partnership from the new CEO position in farm to the customer.

November 2016.

“The Milk New Justine Kidd. Shanghai Pengxin Zealand business has Group Company demonstrated a true partnerLimited is privately owned ship approach to their business with interests in real estate model. development, urban infrastruc“They have invested heavily in ture construction, high-tech developing their on-farm assets investment and investment in – people, land and livestock industry and commerce around – and I am looking forward the world.

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FEED MANAGEMENT

Clover unlocks hill country potential Changes in pasture management allowing existing subterranean clover plants to flourish is helping realise the productive potential of Wairoa’s Waiau Station.

Dave Read who, along with his wife Judy Bogaard, owns the 1200 hectare hill country farm, says since adopting management practices to allow subterranean clover to flourish they have been able to achieve spring growth rates in yearling cattle Dave Read and Judy Bogaard, own Wairoa’s Waiau Station. of up to 1kg/day – on very steep hill country. coverage of this plant through management of existWhile the management changes have only been ing species and augmentation with new varieties. focused on a small part of the farm, these growth The resident species, predominately Mt Barker, is rates have highlighted the power of the early-season there thanks to the over-sowing programmes carried legume and given the couple impetus to encourage out over large areas of New Zealand hill country existing sub clover on other parts of the property. back in the 1960s and 1970s. However, the intensive They are also trialling new varieties as they aim to sheep grazing policies of subsequent decades did not provide high-quality spring feed for their sheep and allow the plants to flourish. beef cattle.

Dave says he had noticed this small hairy clover struggling away in the sward every spring, but it was Challenging terrain agricultural consultant Dr Gavin Sheath who identiRunning about 10,000 stock units with a 60:40 fied it as sub clover and outlined both its productive cattle-to-sheep ratio, the farm is already performing well with lambing percentages of about 150 per cent. potential and specific management requirements.

Ultimately, the legumes will be used to drive lactation and spring growth rates in both sheep and cattle. Lincoln University More recently, Dave and Judy have been working Waiau Station is all class six and seven country with Lincoln University’s Professor Derrick Moot – with virtually no flat land. Dave says while the through the Sustainable Farming Fund’s Sub 4 farm receives an annual rainfall of 13mm-1400mm, runoff from heavy rain means the steepest slopes only Spring project, as they adopt management practices that will increase the legume content of their hill receive about 600mm country pastures. effective. On the north The aim of the three-year project, which involves facing slopes this lack of seven trial sites from South Canterbury to Wairoa, moisture, coupled with is to develop a management package for the clover high moisture losses, specific to New Zealand farming systems. limits pasture producDerrick says with all sub clover seed imported, all tion so the steepest, the management information and cultivar descripdriest portion of the tions are Australian-based. farm is only growing Sub clover’s popularity is growing as farmers apprerough native grasses and ciate the feed value of the nitrogen-fixing legume, lacks clover. its ability to withstand dry conditions and its early While Dave acknowlseason activity. edges they will never to Understanding factors such the plant’s ability to be able to grow many improved pasture species tolerate frost, flowering times, “hardseededness”, and establishment methods will give farmers the ability to on these areas, they can grow sub clover; and the better manage and utilise the forage.

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‘Walking encyclopaedia’ on seed production named FAR Researcher of the Year Murray Kelly of PGG Wrightson Seeds, who is described as a “walking encyclopaedia” on all aspects of seed production, is the Foundation for Arable Research’s 2016 Researcher of the Year.

that led to a joint author publication including FAR staff. He also has had a significant role in mentoring the next generation of seed researchers.”

Topical problems

Every year Murray runs many on-farm trials, focusing on topical problems and specific weed issues.

the FAR Ryegrass Discussion groups. Within PGGW he is the go-to man that field reps call on when they encounter problems outside “normal” issues.

“Internationally, Murray is well-known in seed production circles and he has made many visits and regularly speaks with growers and field reps in Tasmania, Denmark, Oregon, in the United States, and Uruguay. He has attended many conferences and workshops run by the International Herbage Seed Group.

Ryegrass cultivars

Murray Kelly receives the 2016 FAR Researcher of the Year Award from Nicole Anderson, Oregon State University.

FAR CEO Nick Pyke says the award is richly deserved, because Murray has been involved in seed production for 40 years; starting with PGG at Ceres Farm and now with PGG Wrightson Seeds as the senior production agronomist.

“Murray has been described as a ‘walking encyclopaedia’ on all aspects of seed production. He’s been generous in sharing information and ideas with other researchers including FAR that has led to helping FAR to focus on treatments that work.

“Murray did some great work on plant growth regulators in cocksfoot

These have included hair grass control in ryegrass, plant growth regulator trials in a range of crops, and disease management solutions.

“The development of plantain as a viable seed crop, giving seed growers economic returns, is largely the result of 20 years work that Murray led. He’s had a major role in research and extension to development managements that ensure high rates of endophyte transmission,” says Nick.

For the last 10 years Murray has worked with FAR and AgResearch staff to deliver new research and understanding on ryegrass management to

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Current president Phil Rolston says Murray makes significant contributions in the informal discussions ‘that are a critical part of any successful conference’.

“His work in setting up systems to screen ryegrass cultivars for head emergence dates and disease susceptibilities of New Zealand and overseas cultivars grown for re-export have set a standard that FAR would like to see replicated by other companies.”

Nick’s comments were endorsed by visiting crop extension specialist Assistant Professor Nicole Anderson from Oregon State University, USA. She presented the award to Murray in front of an audience of 200-plus growers and industry representatives at a dinner following FAR’s CROPS 2016 event at Chertsey in December 2016.

Page 21

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 22

Chondroitin results exceed expectations If you use a joint supplement for osteoarthritis then stop reading and get the bottle and check the amount of chondroitin sulphate – also known as CS – in the daily dose.

Most older-style formulations will have up to 20 per cent CS, typically about 200mg in a daily dose. Chondroitin is a structural component of cartilage adding strength and resistance to compression.

The study that changed it all for me was published in the ‘Annals of Rheumatic Diseases’ (Wildi et al, 2011). The study title is: ‘Chondroitin sulphate reduces both cartilage volume loss and bone marrow lesions in knee osteoarthritis patients starting as early as six months after initiation of therapy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study using MRI’.

Eighty people with similar grades of knee osteoarthritis were chosen. Half of the participants were given 800mg of CS as 400mg twice daily for six months. The other group was given a placebo. The two groups were then compared after six months. The group using CS had much less cartilage loss.

The next phase then gave all the participants 800mg of CS for another six months. The same results occurred.

Those that had been on the placebo showed a reduction in cartilage loss while the group that had continued with CS for 12 months continued with much less cartilage loss.

As a consequence I re-formulated my

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joint support formula and lifted CS to around the levels used in the study. I also added a potent antiinflammatory 95 per cent curcumin, from turmeric, extract.

The success of the formula completely exceeded my expectations. Most people noticed real improvements in three months. I have clients now on this for more than a year who continue to improve. Feel free to call me for personalised advice.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For personalised advice, contact John on 0800 423559 or email: john@abundant.co.nz. Join his full weekly newsletter at: www.abundant.co.nz

The pitfalls of facial eczema control A recently published peer reviewed study has thrown new light on the common pitfalls of facial eczema control in New Zealand.

The full article was released in the ‘The New Zealand Veterinary Journal’ following initial publication in the ‘Dairy New Zealand Technical Series’ a year ago.

A number of key points raised by Waikato veterinarian Emma Cuttance showed plenty of room for improvement, which is a timely reminder given the widespread damage caused by the

disease last season, especially over the greater Waikato region.

This study involved blood testing 10 cows from each of 105 farms and results indicated facial eczema is generally poorly managed on New Zealand farms. Sub-clinical facial eczema is a problem on at least one-third of dairy farms in the North Island, and the Bay of Plenty would be no exception.

Spore counting is good for detecting trends, but to be most relevant, the same paddocks need to be tested each week on your farm. This clearly has implications on the value a farm can gain from grass samples submitted during the facial eczema season.

Chicory and plantain, planted in pure swards, protect against facial eczema, while tall fescue may have some protective effect. Lime on the other hand has no effect on spore counts.

Of most importance is that zinc remains the best protection tool but under-dosage is common. In particular zinc in the water is the most common method but the least effective at achieving adequate zinc levels in the cows. It is possible for all zinc treatments to work but all methods can fail if the dosage is incorrect. The method is more likely to fail if a cow has control over her intake of zinc via water or feed.

Once zinc treatment is initiated farmers need to test a selection of cattle for zinc concentration in the blood and liver damage. Monitoring is important to provide assurance that your efforts are providing adequate protection. Moving forward, there appears to be a considerable opportunity for your local vet to provide more advice, monitoring and ultimately improved product stewardship in the implementation of facial eczema control plans on farm.

COUNTRY LIVING

Page 23

Rustic show with so much on offer

Sheep racing, gumboot throwing, tug of war, classic cars, racing lawn mowers, horses, cows, food and home industry displays are among the attractions at the 2017 Te Puke A&P Show on Saturday, February 11.

“This is a rustic show where the ‘town meets the country’ and it has only been cancelled once in its 111 years,” says show secretary Kim Cawte.

This year the show has combined with the annual Young Kiwifruit Grower of the Year event, which will see competitors take part in four practical and four theory competitions as well as hosting some children’s events including snakes and ladders and apple bobbing.

“The Te Puke A & P Show Committee is enthusiastic at having the opportunity to include the BOP Young Fruitgrowers Competition into our annual show,” says Kim. “It gives the horticultural industry a chance to show the talent, skills and knowledge required by people working in the industry, to produce the best products for world markets.

“This is an ideal time for the public to come and see ‘first-hand’ how dedicated these young fruitgrowers are in performing their tasks, to progress into the future, while also enjoying all the events at the Te Puke A & P Lifestyle Show.”

These include Mandy and Greg Clark, who will be back again with the huge crowdpleaser of “sheep racing” and Chelsea Marriner and her dogs will also be performing.

Life members

At the show’s 2016 annual general meeting both past presidents – Roger Hintz and Ashby Whitehead – were awarded Life Memberships.

Kim says that without their commitment and hard work there wouldn’t be an A&P Show in Te Puke.

“Many people do not realise the voluntary time that is required to set up for show day and even the time

Children’s art and crafts competitions. Entries need to be delivered to the showgrounds on Friday, February 10, before 4pm in time for judging.

There is also the Miss and Master Competitions for boys and girls aged from four and up to 11 years of age and to enter. Children with their parents will need to register on show day at the Home Industries building before 9.20am.

Cattle classes

Chelsea Marriner and her dogs will be performing. taken to complete maintenance of the showgrounds and buildings throughout the year. The Jensen, Whitehead and Hintz families have been the mainstay of the show through several generations, with Murray Jensen now the president.”

Te Puke Young Farmers Club will be running the ladies’ gumboot throwing and horse shoe throwing competitions. The Young Farmers will also have a tug-of-war site where you can show your strength or lack of it.

Horses and hounds

The Rotorua & Bay of Plenty Hunt Club will be parading their horses and hounds in the main horse ring by the Secretary’s hut just after midday. Colette Hintz and her team will have the tents full of animals and birds to view and purchase. Horse and pony rides for the public will also be available and the Te Puke Fire Brigade will be putting on a demonstration.

Jacque and Linda Whitehead are organisers of the Home Industries displays as well as the Hargreaves

PLUS a variety o f sites, mu trade sic, food & refresh ments

The all breed dairy cattle section and beef cattle classes are also held and children are encouraged to bring along their calves.

Shearing classes will include the full range for everyone from junior, to

intermediate, senior, veteran and open with very attractive rewards.

Changes have had to be made in horse sections to comply for the Horse of the Year show and a new fun ring will be run this year at 1pm to include all horses and ponies.

“The show is hoping to attract a variety of horse clubs from adult riding to Western, to compete in this fun ring.

“The Te Puke Pony Club will be once again running a novice ring, which is great so other pony clubs and younger riders can compete in their respective classes,” says Kim. Schedules and entry forms can be sourced from:www.ras.org.nz Otherwise, email the show secretary at: kimcawte@gmail.com

Page 24

COUNTRY LIVING

COUNTRY LIVING

Cooking outdoors and enjoying an evening round a camp fire are synonymous with the Kiwi summer and for landowners, summer is also a time to light fires as part of cleaning up their properties.

However, it is illegal to light a fire in the open without a permit during the current restricted fire season, which began on October 1, 2016, says Pumicelands Rural Fire Authority’s chief executive officer and principal rural fire officer Paul Wright.

“It’s free to obtain a permit and even easier now as all you have to do is lodge an application through our website: pumicelands.co.nz Allow up to three working days to receive your permit, but it may be quicker if you have been issued permits in the past.”

In the period from October to mid-December Pumicelands had issued 3000 fire permits, a trend Paul says is encouraging and shows people are taking their responsibilities seriously.

The Pumicelands team doesn’t want to “pour cold water” on anyone’s holiday fun, but does want to ensure everyone has a safe enjoyable summer without causing fires to get out of control.

“A permit doesn’t absolve you of responsibility if a fire you light gets out of control, but gaining a permit does gave you access to valuable free information, including weather conditions. In some cases one of our rural fire officers may even visit you before issuing a permit, to

assess the suitability of the fire site and provide helpful advice.”

Escaped fires have cost individuals responsible for lighting them more than $250,000 in firefighting costs.

“Make sure you carry the appropriate insurance including Forest and Rural Fires Act fire suppression cover.”

Anyone lighting a fire in the open air during a restricted fire season requires a permit to do so. Failure to obtain a permit is an offence against the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977.

Pumicelands is not responsible for fires in the larger towns and cities. These are Urban Fire Districts where firefighting is the responsibility of the NZ Fire Service and fire permit issue is the responsibility of local district councils.

“The only fires you don’t need a permit for are gas barbecues and some braziers, which have correct guards,” says Paul.

Having a permit also ensures Pumicelands has a record of where fires are being lit and so avoids the unnecessary dispatch of fire crews to fires which are under control.

“However, if you see a fire you think is a danger – phone 111 immediately.”

Pumicelands is the organisation responsible for issuing fire permits and fighting fires across about 2.35 million hectares of land in the Central North Island of New Zealand. Its mission is to protect lives, rural homes, orchards, farms, forests and conservation lands from the damaging effects of vegetation wildfires.

Taking the worry out of finances The beginning of a New Year is often a time to focus on your business and personal life, and what the next 12 months hold for both, says Trish Patterson at Accountants Bay of Plenty.

“It can also be a time when worries about your business accounts and looming end of financial year tax returns can surface, which is where I can help.”

Trish, who is Accountants Bay of Plenty director and a chartered accountant, says most business owners want to understand the figures that represent their business.

“This can often extend to their personal life as well.

You don’t want your tax problem to get out of hand and you need to know if your business is progressing,” says Trish, who likes to establish a long-term relationship with her clients based on mutual trust and respect.

“The role of an accountant is a privileged one as clients share very personal information with us and so must have the confidence that we respect that and aim to provide the very highest standard of service.”

Trish is client-focused. She talks one-on-one with

her clients and is very happy to deal with whichever computer package a client is using.

Her clients know who they will deal with and the quoted fee structure means clients know exactly what they will pay. Clients need to know when their annual work will be finished and how much it will cost them.

“My big focus is to get client’s tax correct and to tidy up any loose ends. This takes the worry away and puts the client’s business back on track.

“When I am dealing with a company it is important to ensure it is solvent, and in a position to continue in business, and be the success that owners set out to create.”

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

To get peace of mind about your financial affairs, pick up the phone and talk to Trish, who offers a free initial consultation so she can get an understanding of the business and its owner.

Page 25

AVOCADO

Page 26

The proven method for controlling Phytophthora Built-in resistance for ease of measurement Low Pressure System Strong Design for use in multiple seasons UV Light Stabilised Suitable for all tree types Small syringe tip ensures minimal entry wound Easy grip handle

Brien James, Toni Morrison and Tony Bradley of Aongatete Avocados Ltd enjoy helping growers achieve good commercial outcomes from their orchards.

The harvest of this season’s avocados is nearing completion, and now is a good time for orchardists to plan the management of their new crop in order to maximise next season’s returns.

+64 7 552 0916 enquiry@coolstore.co.nz www.coolstore.co.nz

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Avocado company expands services It was big year for the team at Pole to Pole in 2016 – and plans are already well underway as they head into 2017.

From small beginnings 11 years ago marketing avocados domestically, the company has developed its avocado orchard leasing business, Pole to Pole Plus Ltd, and its avocado export marketing arm Pole to Pole Exports Ltd. Dealing directly with New Zealand’s retail supermarket buyers has proved to be a great strategy to secure market share in the domestic avocado market. Pole to Pole now backs this market share up with a fully vertically integrated avocado supply model as a means for continued growth and adding value for New Zealand avocado growers.

Managing director Todd Abrahams says it’s been a very gradual growth as they identified opportunities to add value through their marketing channels for the more Todd Abrahams (left), Vaughan Judkins and Julia Third of Pole To Pole Exports Ltd.

CALL NOW TO ORDER

“Are you feeling torn between commitments on your orchard and enjoying the warm weather with family and friends?,” asks AAL’s grower services representative Toni Morrison “Many growers feel time-poor during the year at different times and for different reasons, which is

than 300 New Zealand avocado growers the company deals directly with each year.

With this growth Pole to Pole has expanded its team with Julia Third joining as general manager orchard leasing and compliance across all the entities.

“Julia brings some very good skills and experience.

Previously, she had worked with Fonterra as global sales and marketing project manager.” Julia says it’s been a great challenge and she’s really “looking forward to growing more avocados specifically for the higher value export markets”.

Pole to Pole Exports Ltd general manager Vaughan Judkins has been building the Pole to Pole export channel for avocados. Vaughan was previously with Zespri as the global marketing manager for organic kiwifruit. His knowledge and experience with offshore markets – particularly in Asian markets – is a big advantage for the Pole to Pole team. With an eye for opportunity, Vaughan can see good possibilities to build value for the future.

AVOCADO

Page 27

Leasing and management options for avocado growers continued...

why considering AAL’s flexible leasing and management options for their orchards now is a good idea.

Best outcomes

“At AAL we are happy to talk to growers at any time about how we can help them achieve quantity, quality, size and consistency from their crops.

“However, summer is a particularly good time because we can make assessments based on crop set post-flowering and put

in place management systems to achieve the best possible outcome at harvest.”

Based in Walkers Road East, Katikati, AAL is a large-scale independent operator of orchard management and harvesting, which supplies a full range of services and equipment as well as a reliable team focused on exceptional customer service.

Toni says AAL’s lease and management contracts are tailored to meet the requirements of each orchard owner. “Owners can do

as little or as much of the orchard work as they wish.

release their orchard’s potential. Our team understands the market in which our customers’ businesses operates and Flexible contracts we bring the best people and technolo“Our contracts can be flexible gies to deliver great results. so if someone is away from the “We work with our customers in orchard on holiday or for any an open and collaborative way, react reason, we can take over tasks such flexibly to their changing needs and as mowing, fertilising, injecting, pruning and domestic market harvest and pack; things the owners would normally do during that time.

“At AAL we provide our customers with intelligent solutions to

Taking to skies enhances efficiencies Technology is advancing at a rapid pace and it’s believed the use of robots, drones and automated systems are the future when it comes to enhancing efficiency and productivity within the horticulture industry.

With interest in this area growing, avocado export supply group AVOCO is actively exploring how the data generated from future mapping technology could improve the way growers and the wider industry operate in years to come.

“Being able to estimate crop volumes would be incredibly beneficial to AVOCO and the industry,” says AVOCO technical manager Colin Partridge.

“If we could identify the number of fruit on trees between March and May every year, that would be very helpful and I would encourage further exploration in this area.”

While the ability to measure fruit size or volume is likely to be several years away, growers attending an AVOCO drone technology field day at a Katikati orchard were given a glimpse into the future of how information collected using aerial mapping can already help them measure the health of their trees and track changes on their orchards over time.

Aerial data

Next level

“An actual camera shot, like that of DigiPix’s, will show us additional features such as GPS and the topography. This will take mapping to the next level and provide us more accurate information to share with everyone throughout the process,” says Trevelyan’s technical manager Phil Allison “Some orchards we have already GPS mapped, but we want to investigate how the drone takes into account the topography and whether that gives you an accurate per hectare measurement of the orchards too.”

As well as helping Trevelyan’s and contractors better manage hazards on an orchard, having an accurate picture of an orchard’s contour ahead of time will assist in the planning of a harvest whereby the most appropriate Hydralada can be matched to suit James Paterson of Aerobotics with a bird’s eye each orchard’s particular visual map of an orchard taken by a landscape.

1.5m-wide automated drone.

Thanks to James Paterson, the co-founder of South African-based Aerobotics, growers were shown how the company’s aerial data, undertaken with a 1.5m-wide automated drone, can generate various data “layers” of an orchard, generating bird’s eye visual maps as well as maps that report on canopy cover, tree counts and spacing.

Other measurement tools can take cross-sections of an orchard to view elevation profiles and crop heights.

Information generated by the on-board infrared cameras can also be used to understand drainage patterns and identify tree stress, pinpointing problem areas in an orchard.

“If growers decide to take action on an area of their orchard, or even on an individual tree, they can use the drone and the software to monitor and measure how those trees respond over a period of time.

“The aim is to improve yield and the data collected can report on whether various management strategies around things like irrigation or fertiliser applications are working or need revising,” says James.

Precision benefits

However, the idea is very much in the early stages with Trevelyan’s management working through the logistics and weighing up the cost/benefits of mapping 300ha spread across 150 growers.

For Trevelyan’s, the main advantages of UAV mapping are their precision, in comparison to the current 2D maps implemented, and the ability to limit health and safety concerns as people don’t need to set foot into any hazardous areas.

The data precision benefits of drone technology and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are also being explored at one of five packhouses supporting AVOCO. Trevelyan’s in Te Puke currently works closely with Tauranga-based company, GPS-it, to aerial map its kiwifruit orchards and back in October approached another local company, Digipix, to map 20ha across four avocado orchards on Maniatutu Rd. Trevelyan’s Packhouse avocado manager Daniel Birnie says a move to aerial mapping is just another evolution in offering the best technology and equipment to growers and contractors.

have a planned approach to help keep everything on an even keel.”

“Call us to discuss how we can help you achieve the best from your orchard, and release you from the commitments of its day to day management,” says Toni.

Page 28

FORESTRY

‘Mud trench section’ of track no more Trampers enjoying the great outdoors the Kaimai Ranges offer will no longer have to negotiate the “infamous Te Rereatukahia Hut mud trench section,” says Kaimai Ridgeway Trust chair Roger Montgomerie.

This is thanks to a working bee late last year, which saw volunteers install boardwalks, with material being flown in, on the track south of the Old North/South Junction and improve the track as far as the slip scar stream.

“This was a combination effort involving seven members of the Waikato Tramping Club and three keen

– three hours each way. “They returned, mission completed, in the evening all looking rather exhausted.

“It was a great effort and now we can say that the Ridgeway section is safer and clear all the way through to the Waipapa Track.

“However, it is a very rugged section and is only for well experienced people.

There are tricky sections to navigate with better marking still required.”

Other work completed during the working bee included installing a door for the woodshed, putting in a new toilet seat and re-installing another smoke alarm.

For more information, or to volunteer to help with future working bees, visit: http://kaimairidgeway.nz/

Tauranga supporters. Two walked in on Friday night with the main party arriving in mid-morning Saturday,” says Ray. “We beavered away resulting with a much improved high grade track through the infamous Te Te Rereatukahia Rereatukahia Hut mud trench section.

“We then focused on improving the track further south by widening it, crowning it up and installing side drains and numerous cross drains.

“With time to spare we worked further to the south fixing some tricky section and dealing with boggy areas.”

The Waikato crew headed north to complete the last 300 metre section of vegetation clearing, way to the north through to the top Cashmores junction

Trees to offset cow emissions A call to plant more trees to offset New Zealand’s Returns on harvesting logs are, over the long-term, higher than hill country farming with sheep and greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture has cattle.” won backing from the forestry sector.

The joint Forest Owners Association and Farm Forestry Associations’ Environment Committee chair Peter Weir says the call from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has highlighted the role trees, both native and in exotic plantations, can play in reducing New Zealand’s total gas emissions.

“Dr Jan Wright’s information is timely. Tree planting by farmers and small-scale forest investors has declined in the last few years and our log processing industry needs the extra tree planting that Dr Wright is calling for,” says Peter.

The PCE Report estimate 26 hectares of new plantation forest every 20 years would offset a year’s greenhouse gas emissions from an average 300-cow dairy farm.

“Again, that is one important positive for more trees. The other is planting trees, especially on rolling hill country, is better than cost neutral for a farmer.

The report also calls for New Zealanders to work together to tackle agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

Methane and nitrous oxide form about half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, but there have been many false starts in dealing with them and controversy over their continued omission from the Emissions Trading Scheme. Jan says there are no ‘silver bullets’ for dealing with the gases “but we do need to do what we can to curb these emissions – and we need to start now”.

Former Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy say the report provides a robust and objective examination of how emissions from agriculture are created, as well as options for reducing them.

Difficult challenge

“Dr Wright’s report is consistent with the Government’s view that mitigation of greenhouse gases from agriculture is difficult and requires a multi-pronged approach. Dr Wright is correct that there is no silver bullet,” says Paula.

Peter emphasises forest owners are not anticipating planting on marginal land classed as highly erodible.

“We anticipate the National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forests being introduced early this year. That will raise a red flag on a large area of North Island hill country farms for plantation forests because the erosion risk after harvest is judged too high, and reversion to native forest may be a viable option for such land.

“The scope for woodlots is clearly on farms, bringing in another income stream. Some parts of farms are more suitable for planting out trees than others.

Water quality improves when livestock are replaced by trees in the hill country – the Waikato Healthy River’s technical advice calls for another 400,000ha of forests in that catchment, so there are multiple reasons to see more trees on farms.”

KIWIFRUIT

Page 29

NIR helps increase grower returns decisions around harvest and a couple of days can significantly affect returns.

“Making decisions when not all of your fruit sizes have cleared adds an entirely new complication. We have the solution.

Additionally, we used NIR to assist growers with lower dry matter in a challenging growing season and packed Class 1 fruit that would not have otherwise passed.”

In 2017 the Zespri Minimum Taste Standard for SunGold is rising again

with a potential significant impact on growers in a low dry matter year.

“NIR provides a non-destructive, non-contact assessment of fruit. The ability to identify the dry matter, brix, flesh colour and firmness of an individual fruit within milliseconds provides huge opportunities for segregation and inventory management.

“It is only one of a number of advanced technological investments Aongatete has made to maximise returns for growers,” says Tracey.

Aongatete’s Near Infra-Red technology assists growers with lower dry matter in a challenging growing season and packs Class 1 fruit that would not have otherwise passed.

Christmas is now behind us and only a couple of months before the kiwifruit harvest commences again.

Aongatete is primed and ready for the new season and pleased to offer growers a real point of positive difference affecting pack out and returns, says Aongatete grower services manager Tracey Chinnery.

New maturity standards

“Last season Zespri introduced new maturity standards for SunGold requiring clearance by individual sizes. This negatively impacted many earlier harvesting growers, particularly those who decided to

harvest without all size clearances.”

“Many facilities would not have been able to accept the un-cleared sizes into inventory and the fruit classed as reject.

Independent audit

“Not so at Aongatete. We utilised our Near Infra-Red technology to assess the un-cleared fruit – separating the higher dry matter pieces for inclusion into inventory after an independent audit.

“For Aongatete's growers this allowed an average recovery of about 40 to 50 per cent – size profile dependant – of un-cleared fruit, and in some lines recovered greater than 80 per cent.”

Tracey says Kiwistart growers make real time

Doing Things Other Packhouses Can’t NIR enables us to pack fruit other facilities cannot More $$$ for Growers First to maximise G3 KiwiStart

KIWIFRUIT

Page 30

One century of grower representation celebrated

On November 20, 2016, Horticulture New Zealand celebrated 100 years of representing growers.

It all began in 1916, when the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation was formed. The fruitgrowers’ federation became Horticulture New Zealand on November 30, 2005, continuing the representation of New Zealand’s commercial fruit growers. Horticulture New Zealand

was created as the one organisation representing New Zealand’s commercial growers through the merger of the New Zealand Vegetable and Potato Growers’ Federation, the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation and the New Zealand Berryfruit Federation.

The reason the fruitgrowers’ federation was formed in 1916 remains the same reason Horticulture New Zealand was formed 89 years later. And why today

Horticulture New Zealand plays a vital role for our commercial growers: a unified grower voice, and the need for that voice has never been stronger.

When marking 50 years of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation in 1966, the then-Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake said: “The decision to provide an organised body to speak on behalf of the young industry has proved of great benefit to Fruitgrowers” (Foreword, ‘Fruitful Years’, by Rex Monigatti).

Double value

That young industry matured through innovation and growers’ dedication to produce the best quality fruit, berries and vegetables. Horticulture New Zealand’s vision ‘healthy food for all forever’ encapsulates the essence of New Zealand’s horticulture industry that produces more than $5 billion of produce each year, with a growth goal to double that value to $10 billion by 2020. Horticulture is New Zealand’s fourth largest export industry and employs 60,000 people. There has been a spectacular 40 per cent growth in export earnings since 2014 with exports accounting for more than 60 per cent of horticulture’s earnings. While we feed New Zealand, our country’s wealth is driven by our exports and that is where horticulture’s growth will continue. Horticulture New Zealand’s role is to create the environment where our growers can prosper and deliver this growth. The basis of this extraordinary growth is founded in the hor-

ticulture industry’s inter-generational family growing operations. Many of the growing families themselves have 100 or more years in horticulture.

Pillars of sustainability

We are a long-term sustainable industry that cares for the land we use to grow our fruit, berries and vegetables. As an industry we are focused on the four pillars of sustainability: environmental responsibility, social equity, economic health, and cultural vitality.

It is the integration between these four pillars that drives our sustainability, highlights our opportunities for innovation, and gives horticulture the platform for our growth. To maintain our growth we need to be ahead of trends and innovate to ensure our ongoing competitiveness in all our markets overseas.

The one voice for horticulture been one of the most important ingredients creating the platform for the horticulture’s growth. In the early days of the Fruitgrowers’ Federation there was little recognition of horticulture.

And although we have grown significantly through innovation and growers’ perseverance, horticulture still has to battle to get the ear of policymakers in Wellington and to present the New Zealand public with the value, importance and sustainability of horticulture.

That is why Horticulture New Zealand has as much a role to undertake for the commercial growers of New Zealand as it did in 1916 as the Fruitgrowers’ Federation.

Horticulture New Zealand celebrates 100 years of representing growers, in November 2016.

Bay of Plenty

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

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

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 Atom combined three noz accuracy.

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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.

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KIWIFRUIT

Bay soils good enough ‘to grow babies’ Bay of Plenty soils are so good “you could almost grow babies in them”.

The Ippoliti property also grows strawberries and watermelons.

Craig says the party visited 15 orchards during the weeklong tour. “We took them to That’s what Italian kiwifruit Gisborne because in terms of growers told Kiwi orchardists climate and soil types, it is closer during a visit to New Zealand to Italian conditions than the late last year.

Italian Zespri SunGold growers during a Bay of Plenty.”

Zespri’s head of global visit to BayGold Orchard at Paengaroa.

The aim of the tour is to supply for Europe, Craig encourage an exchange of ideas Thompson, says the growers were envious of the rich and give Italian growers the chance to see management fertile Bay of Plenty soils and kinder growing condiand quality techniques employed on New Zealand tions than they experienced in Italy. orchards.

“In fact, some on the tour said Bay of Plenty growers Fruit grown in Italy for Zespri must meet the same have it too easy – our soils are so good they said we high standards as the marketing company demands of could probably grow babies in them.” its New Zealand growers.

The techniques used by New Zealand kiwifruit “Italian Zespri SunGold growers can earn EUR$1.30 orchardists came under close scrutiny from the group per kilogram of fruit while those growing Hayward of 15 Italian growers and post-harvest technicians in green fruit earn between 30 to 40 cents per kg. Growthe country on a fact-finding tour. ing SunGold to Zespri standards is more difficult and The orchardists, who grow SunGold fruit for Zespri, more costly but the financial rewards are there.” visited orchards in Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty The vine disease Psa-V infected Italian orchards and according to Italian grower Fabio Ippoliti, there is before it was discovered in New Zealand but Craig much to learn from how this country grows kiwifruit. says the industry in Italy, like that in New Zealand, has largely recovered and the new variety SunGold has Counting buds been a major factor in that recovery.

“We are interested in the use of bees for pollination.

There are about 850 hectares of Zespri SunGold in In Italy, most growers use artificial pollination,” says production in Italy in 2016, with another 800ha in the Fabio, who is from the province of Aprilia, Latina, and ground and being established.

Elaine Fisher is among Zespri’s top Italian growers.

Italian beekeepers are mainly focused on honey production but Fabio believes some may be convinced to use hives for kiwifruit pollination. He’s also impressed at the detailed data New Zealand grower collect about their vines, including counting buds to predict crop Roland Woodroffe ‘Roly’ Earp, one of the volumes and make management decisions. kiwifruit industry’s pioneers, passed away peacefully in Tauranga on Sunday, December 18. He was 93.

Exchange of ideas Roly was born and raised in Te Puke, and trained Those on the tour were also interested in fertiliser as an accountant. In 1959 he purchased a 50 use on New Zealand orchards, with Fabio saying he acre dairy farm in Te Puna with childhood friend believes some Italian growers use too much nitrogen on Grahame Bayliss and together they became the first their orchards. growers to establish a large scale orchard totally Fabio, who has a degree in law, today runs an orchard devoted to growing green Hayward kiwifruit – and on family land in Aprilia Province, Latina. exported their first fruit in 1964.

“We have 10 hectares of G3 (SunGold) and 5ha Roly helped revolutionise the kiwifruit industry of Hayward (green kiwifruit). Previously, we grew by assisting growers to retain control over the Hort16A gold fruit but the vines were infected by marketing of their crops, and eventually become [vine disease] Psa-V and removed in 2011.” the first chairman of the Kiwifruit Association in In 2012 Fabio’s orchard was grafted to G3 and cur1978, a position he held until he retired in 1984. rently produces 22 tonne per hectare of fruit, which last season met Zespri’s highest taste quality standards.

Kiwifruit pioneer dies

Page 31

Page 32

RURAL DRIVER

The Formula Junior Diamond Jubilee New Zealand leg will feature cars like John Rapley’s ex-Roy James Brabham BT2.

Five New Zealand motorsport circuits will feature in a worldwide celebration of historic racing when the Formula Junior Diamond Jubilee reaches Kiwi shores in January 2017.

More than 50 historic Formula Junior single-seater race cars from overseas are expected to be shipped to NZ as part of the international 60th anniversary celebrations of the motor racing formula that started in Italy in 1958.

Hampton Downs

The Formula Junior Diamond Jubilee has three events planned for both January and February in 2017, with international competitors joining about 30 locally-owned Formula Junior cars to race at North Waikato, Taupo, Christchurch, Timaru and Invercargill circuits.

Racing will be at Hampton Downs on January 13-15, Hampton Downs’ new long circuit on January 20-22, and Bruce Maclaren Motorsport Park in Taupo on January 27-29.

Then the diamond jubilee racing moves to Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch on February 3-5, Levels Raceway in Timaru on February 11-12 and Teretonga Park at Invercargill on February 18-19.

Terry Collier, who is spokesperson for the group of Kiwi Formula Junior enthusiasts helping organise the NZ leg of the celebratory world tour, will also compete in the Kiwi jubilee races.

“Formula Juniors were basically scaled down Formula One cars of the period from 1958-1963, but built from easily available production car components such

as Fiat, Saab, Ford Anglia and Austin A40,” says Terry.

“The ‘junior’ positions these cars in reference to the ‘senior’ Formula 1 cars of that era. As well as being miniature Formula One cars, the Formula Junior class also straddled an important time in terms of technological changes, in particular, the move from drum to disc brakes and from front to rear engine designs.

“Many well-known international drivers and others including Formula 1 drivers Dennis Hulme, Jim Clark and John Surtees and film actor Steve McQueen competed in Formula Juniors in Europe and the USA.” Terry says the first two Formula Junior cars to appear in NZ in late-1960s were the Cooper BMC T52 imported by Denny Hulme, and raced by Roly Levis, and the Lotus Ford 18 imported by George Palmer for Jim Palmer to drive.

Grand Prix

Both debuted at the 1961 New Zealand International Grand Prix but neither was fast enough to qualify.

“We had and still have a good number of Formula Junior cars in NZ. Large numbers were raced in the early Tasman Championship era, but fitted with larger engines – a typically Kiwi response!”

As a historic racing category, Formula Junior has a huge following globally. In NZ, the Formula Junior Register details the vehicles and tracks the origin of cars.

“We’re expecting around 90 Formula Juniors to compete in the events scheduled at Hampton Downs, Taupo, Christchurch, Timaru and Invercargill,” says Terry.

To learn more, see: http://formulajunior.com and or follow ‘MotorSport NZ’ on Facebook.

RURAL DRIVER

Page 33

SunMedia team pride on line for derby Kathy Sellars has the pride of the SunMedia team to uphold when she bashes and crashes her way around Baypark Speedway’s terracotta track on Saturday, January 7.

She’s dodged She’s dodged possums possums and and hanhandled the winding corners of the back roads of Welcome Bay and Pyes Pa all her life, but driving in the SunLive Baypark Speedway Demolition Derby will be a whole new experience for Kathy.

Commuter traffic

Kathy is determined to stay in the race as long as possible, although she’s never driven offroad before. She does, however, reckon driving in Tauranga’s commuter traffic is pretty good training for the congestion she is likely to face on the BayPark circuit.

Last year work colleagues Melanie Stone and Doug Britton took to the circuit in April Demo Derby in SunMedia cars, but neither won the winner’s crown.

FAST, G THRILLINN! ACTIO

Gloved up and ready for action - Kathy Sellars behind the wheel of the SunLive car she will drive in the Demo Derby.

It was Pete MacIntyre MacIntyre who who do it again in a heartbeat. Howwreaked the most havoc and was ever, this time it’s Kathy who will the most entertaining, winning be flying the flag – well driving $1000 for his efforts. The overall the car – for SunMedia. winner of the $2000 demo derby prize was Robert Boucher, driving Season highlight The SunLive Baypark Speedway car 311.

Demolition Derby is one of the Blown transmission highlights of the season, and this “At least I beat Doug,” says summer there will be two – with Melanie, who made about fi ve laps the second scheduled for April 15. before the transmission in her car “We decided to hold one in Janublew. “It was still running, but I ary when holidaymakers will still just couldn’t put it into gear.” be around to give them the chance Doug was late onto the derby to enjoy the spectacle of a demolitrack after his car “couldn't turn tion derby,” says ASB Baypark right”, with pit crews under it Speedway promoter Bernie Gillon. to try and get it started minutes The January 7 event will also before the race. “But luckily we feature the second round of the only really have to go left,” laughs Champion of Champion Sprint Doug.

Car Series, saloons, mini stocks The pair admitted to being a bit and six-shooter V6 wingless sprint sore after the event but say they’d cars.

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Page 34

FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

Fun day out of ‘Farming Like Grandad Farming the way it was will be recreated during the ‘Farming Like Grandad’ fun day near Kawerau on Sunday, January 29.

The way it was – the public will have the chance to see farming of yester-year at the ‘Farming Like Grandad’ fun day out near Kawerau.

Staged by the Waterwheel Historic Trust, the event will feature Clydesdale horses ploughing and mowing pastures, vintage farm machinery from tractors to milking machines, hands-on fun and games for kids of all ages, wagon rides and an animal corner.

It’s not all about the big machinery though. There will also be a chance to use a vintage Singer Sewing Machine, and to learn to hand-knit too in the traditional crafts area.

To add to the atmosphere, those attending are

restored donated machinery, vehicles and equipment in excess of $2 million assets worth, several to working order. Daily diaries reflect this endeavour and protect the knowledge of volunteers, some retired tradesmen who have since passed away.

The project had a second aim, to provide opportunities to young and old referred to The Waterwheel by courts, WINZ, Blue Light and other programmes. The older volunteers are able to pass on trade, workshop and lifeskills to unskilled younger people, in many instances providing confidence and direction. So far 90 per cent of them have gone on to paid employment.

encouraged to dress in vintage style to be in to win a prize. Food stalls are available and the public is invited to bring a picnic for a great fun family day out for all ages. All proceeds will go to the Waterwheel Building Fund.

Gates open from 10am-3pm on State Highway 30 Kawerua, opposite Military Rd, where entry is $5 for adults and no charge for children.

The Waterwheel project began in 1990 by people in the Eastern Bay of Plenty region keen to preserve a vanishing history – the industrial archaeology of New Zealand.

For 18 years, volunteers have saved or

In 2006, the community company became a charitable trust, The Waterwheel Historic Trust.

The project is now in its second phase. The trust is to establish and operate a live historic village and heritage park, in Kawerau, 26km west of Whakatane on the east coast of New Zealand. It will be a tourist attraction, a place to learn and a place that protects the skills and heritage of times past. Other groups will be able to use the project to display their history and culture. The heritage park is to be named Waterwheel Heritage Park. For more information, go to: www.waterwheel.nz

Senior drivers no longer need licence My neighbour was working in his yard when he was startled by a late model car that came crashing through his hedge and ended up in his front lawn.

He rushed to help an elderly lady driver out of the car and sat her down on a garden chair. He said

with excitement: “You appear quite elderly to be driving”.

“Well, yes, I am,” she replied proudly. “I’ll be 97 next month, and I am now old enough, that I don’t even need a driver’s licence any more.”

He asked: “How do you know?”

“The last time I went to my

doctor, he examined me and asked if I had a driver’s licence. I told him ‘Yes’ and handed it to him.”

“He took scissors out of the drawer, cut the licence into pieces, and threw them in the waste basket, saying: ‘You won't need this any more’. So I thanked him and left.”

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Page 35

Rachael builds for international stint Mahindra ute versatile and quiet

Watch out world, here comes Te Awamutu’s Rachael Archer and she means business.

says Rachael, who is a Year 10 pupil at St Peter’s Cambridge.

“There are 12 rounds in the GNCC, but I will race just two rounds, in Florida and Georgia, just to see how The 14-year-old led a Husqvarna I’d go. I’d have to take nine months off 1-2 to the top of the 125cc/250cc school to do the whole series and that junior grade podium at the third may have to wait until I’m finished round of six in this season’s NZXC with schooling,” she laughs.

Cross-country Series at Taikorea, If Rachel’s “dipping toes into the near Palmerston North, in August, water” of the Grand National Cross humbling the boys in the process as Country Series – the American offroad she began her build-up for an intermotorcycle racing tournament – scene national campaign early next year. turns out to be a success, a full camRachael was a convincingly paign is certainly on the cards for the winner of the gruelling one-hour talented teenager. cross-country race at Taikorea and Her stunning win in August probably this also elevated her to the top of proved she’s starting to outgrow the the NZXC series standings, while domestic scene. runner-up, fellow Husqvarna TE125 “It’s tough riding in sand and I knew rider, Nick Wightman, also moved Nick [Wightman] would get tired. up the series rankings.

Once I got past him I just kept on Nick, from Waimauku, is up to pushing hard to open up a gap on Te Awamutu’s Rachael second in the standings, with series Archer on her Husqvarna him,” says Rachael. now at the halfway stage, although TE125, was unstoppable in “This was my first time racing at riders will count only five of the six the Manawatu. Photo by Andy Taikorea, although I’d done some rounds, with their one worst score training here with former New Zealand McGechan, BikesportNZ.com discarded, and so Te Awamutu’s and two-time former US GNCC crossDaniel White was also a contender country champion Paul Whibley a few for the crown when it all wraped up near Pahiatua in weeks ago.”

December.

Rachael’s eventual winning margin was just more Daniel was a no-show at the August event and than two minutes over Nick, with Gisborne’s Troy so the Taikorea event was obviously the ‘result’ he Andrews finishing third, more than six minutes discards. further back.

But all of this is academic, with Rachael’s focus Cambridge’s Zara Gray on a Husqvarna TE125 actually on her first major international campaign fi nished eighth overall and won the junior women’s coming up at the start of this year. grade.

The next round of the NZXC series is set for “I’m heading to the United States in March to race Matata on October 15. in two rounds of the Grand National Cross-country

By Andy McGechan, Championships, competing in the women’s grade,” www.BikesportNZ.com

Transport Maintenance salesperson Andy Lawson got his new work ute, a Mahindra Genio, just before Christmas – and he’s delighted with it.

Andy’s son Brad came and had a look on a Saturday when Andy was fitting the nudge bar to the front. The budding engineer gave it the onceover and decided the new look is “okay”, saying he was impressed with the build quality and interior.

Andy’s ute is four wheel drive and came as cab and chassis, the custom deck is still being made so may not be ready till mid-January.

“This means customers can check out the ute without any metal work covering the important parts. It will be on our stand at the Tauranga A&P Show on Sunday, January 15, so come and have a look,” says Andy.

This is a ute that rides like a car but can do the business. A huge 2.7m long deck will allow Andy to carry two ride-on mowers. It will carry 1.25 tonnes, which equates to easily a cubic metre of soil or rubbish. Tow capacity is 1800kg braked, which is plenty for many boats or caravans.

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Managing a family landholding for the benefit of future generations can be a challenge, but taking opportunities along the way can create significant flexibility.

During the years council rules have allowed subdivision of land to a certain extent, whether it be for smaller farms or lifestyle living. This has led to the creation of the building blocks of our economy, allowing farmers to gradually expand by purchasing additional blocks nearby.

That approach is changing rapidly and more and more councils are taking away those opportunities.

LIFESTYLE FARMING

So it is very important to take the opportunities as they present themselves.

There has been a huge shift towards directing lifestyle living into enclaves in the villages or on the outskirts of towns.

Typically here, very small blocks more residential in nature are created – too small for some. At the same time other rural subdivision is being eliminated completely or limited to very large blocks.

Quality land

Although arguably protecting quality land for future generations and avoiding complaints from townies living in the country, this can make it extremely difficult to provide a separate title for the younger or older generation that wants to be on the land. It also stifles the ability to diversify into a new business that requires a smaller property.

In recent times we’ve seen Waikato District Council drastically reduce the ability to create smaller blocks by limiting those

subdividable to ones more than 20ha. I fully expect them to lift this to more than 40ha when they re-write the rules shortly.

In a surprise move, following submissions and council hearings, Thames-Coromandel District Council announced their minimum size for rural subdivision was to now be 20ha – there was no real minimum size previously, with subdivisions just requiring a minimum average size of 20ha. This is a huge change that was not proposed originally and was not even requested in a submission. It will now be argued out in the Environment Court.

Tight rules

Opportunity still exists in MatamataPiako, South Waikato and regions further south, but elsewhere the rules are very tight unless you can protect environmental features or adjust existing boundaries. Hauraki District Council has established a zone on the lower productivity hill country to allow

lifestyle blocks but set a minimum lots area of 40ha on the plains. Western Bay of Plenty District Council allow 6ha horticultural blocks but have also established a zone to accommodate the lifestylers.

I don’t see this trend being reversed in the future, short of an uprising by landowners.

So my advice to everyone is to consider your options and plan for the future now.

Otherwise, if your circumstances change and you want a smaller farm or some flexibility with your titles, you will be forced to sell up and move. Please feel free to give me a call and discuss your situation.

Brent Trail, managing director of Surveying Services, specialises in resource consent applications for subdivisions across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. For further information call 0800 268 632 or email: btrail@surveyingservices.co.nz

Kiwi summer of cycling begins in Bay of Plenty More than 250 businesses throughout the country have already signed up to help get their employees on their bikes this summer, including 21 organisations in the Bay of Plenty.

The New Zealand Transport Agency has teamed up with the global ‘Love to Ride’ challenge for the Aotearoa Bike Challenge, a new national bike initiative which encourages organisations to get as many staff as possible to give cycling a go.

The challenge, which runs from February 1-28, provides tailored guidance and tips, and the chance to win prizes including a new bike and lots of great cycling gear. NZTA national cycling manager Dougal List says a 10-minute journey by bike is all it takes to qualify for

the competition.

“Many trips provide great opportunities to cycle. It could be a trip to the dairy, a bike ride to a cafe or to work. Just 10 minutes will make you feel great and give you the chance to win prizes.”

More than 1400 people from 250 organisations are already signed up.

“Taking part in the challenge is easy, with online registration and recording of your bike trips. It’s a great chance for organisations to get their staff and department teams involved, whether they’re competing to see who can get the most people to ride a bike or just to create healthy habits as a group.

“It’s also a great way of generating some healthy rivalry between different parts of an organisation,” says Dougal.

Massey University has teams from its Auckland, Manawatu and Wellington campuses taking part in the challenge.

Massey University Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey says as well as giving staff a chance to have some fun, it’s also a great opportunity for team building and boosting team morale across the wider organisation.

“Cycling for just 10 minutes is so attainable for so many of our staff, whether they’re keen cyclists or not, and the challenge provides a great incentive,” says Steve.

The Aotearoa Bike Challenge is not about who can ride the most kilometres, but who can encourage the most people to give cycling a try. The teams with the highest percentage of their staff riding for their size category will win, so the more people you get involved, the more chance you have of winning great prizes.

To find out more, visit: www.lovetoride.net/nz

LIFESTYLE FARMING If Taketakerau could talk – what stories would it tell?

While it may be ‘silent’, the story of the 2000-yearold puriri tree in the Hukutaia Domain in Opotiki has been told in the book ‘Taketakerau; The Millennium Tree’ by local author Marnie Anstis.

Marine lives not far from the domain and has long been fascinated by the tree, which was once used by the Upokorehe hapu as a place to store the bones of their distinguished dead.

When, in the early days of European settlement, a storm damaged the tree and exposed the bones, they were removed by local iwi for burial elsewhere. However, Taketakerau remains highly tapu and the hollow where bones were once kept is clearly visible today.

Fact and imagination

In her book Marine weaves fact with imagination to tell two millennium of history revolving around Taketakerau, which stands at the heart of the Hukutaia Domain – a place well worth a visit.

The domain is a five hectare remnant of extensive native forest that was set aside as a reserve by one of the original owners Mr E M Hutchinson in the early-1900s mainly to protect Taketakerau. From 1930 to 1970 Norman Potts, a keen local amateur botanist, travelled throughout New Zealand including offshore islands gathering rare and endangered plants – some of which now form a very valuable botanical collection at the domain.

Walking tracks

Taketakerau the 2000-year-old puriri tree, which once sheltered the dead, today has its own guardians.

PLA SY

He was also instrumental in developing the reserve with walking tracks and his work was continued by Marc Heginbotham through the 1970s to 1990.

Today Hukutaia Domain is owned by the Opotiki District Council. A care group looks after the domain by way of maintenance, pest control and development with generous help from the district council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Brochures, information sheets and notices about various topics are available in the domain. To get to the Hukutaia Domain, on leaving Opotiki township turn left immediately after crossing the Waioeka Bridge heading west on to Woodlands Rd and drive 7km to very near the end where you will find the domain sign. To find out more about the book, its author, artist and Taketakerau, or to find out where to buy copies of the book, see: www. themillenniumtree.com Elaine Fisher

Page 37

Seeking cutting-edge stories This month’s history item will look very familiar to many readers, except for its size.

Morrinsville Museum manager Barbara Dalziel, says these pinking shears are unusually large at 27cm long and 9cm wide – or 10.5inch by 3.5inch.

“We wonder if anyone knows anything about them, or used shears this size and what they were used for what?”

If you can answer Barbara’s questions or have a story to tell about using pinking shearers – either large or small – we’d love to hear from you.

Send us your memories and be in to win admission for two to the Morrinsville Museum.

Email: elaine@thesun. co.nz with ‘History item’ in the subject line, or post to History Item, Coast &

Country New, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3110.

To find out more about the Morrinsville Museum and opening times go to: www.morrinsvilleheritagecentre.org.nz/

Do you have a story to tell about these oversized pinking shears?

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Page 38

CARTAGE & EARTHWORKS

New case studies on top performing dairy farms will help other farmers drive their economic and environmental performance, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

Phone: 07 362 8433

The studies are part of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Farm Systems Change programme, which is looking at ways to help farmers boost performance by learning from the strongest performers.

“Last year the Government allocated $800,000 towards this project, which is focused on understanding the drivers of farm performance and sharing that knowledge with others.

“A key focus in these case studies is how high performing farms keep their working expenses well below $4 per kilogram of milksolids. This includes the availability of feed, how efficiently it’s turned into milksolids, and how much is wasted.

“Animal health is another area of focus in the case

studies. Well cared for cows are more productive and leads to fewer cows required to produce a given quantity of milksolids.

“Another common theme across the case studies is finding ways to increase resilience through ‘weatherproofing’ production, such as changing feed types and improved pasture and irrigation management.”

The first set of case studies were released at the 2016 DairyNZ Environment Leaders Forum and more will be released in 2017.

“Thank you to all the farmers involved, who have been willing to share their experiences and knowledge through this project.

“This is one of a number of ways we are working with industry towards our goal of doubling the value of primary sector exports by 2025.”

The case studies are available at: www.mpi.govt.nz/ growing-and-producing/dairy-animals/farm-systemschange/

Delivering meaningful results for Kiwis They say a week is a long time in politics, and what a week December 5-12 was.

In the space of seven days we saw the resignation of our Prime Minister John Key, a healthily contested leadership race with a talented pool of candidates and the election and seamless transition to power of a Bill English-led government.

I have no doubt that John Key’s intelligence, optimism and integrity as both Prime Minister and leader of the National Party will see him judged by history as one of New Zealand’s greatest leaders. He had an ability to speak to everyday New Zealanders in the language of their lives and to forge a real connection with those he encountered.

He is a larger-than-life personality – but the strength and stability of our government has never been built on personality. It has been built on delivering meaningful results for Kiwis.

Great shape

New Zealand is in great shape. We We have have a strong, growing economy and our public finances are in good health thanks to the tough choices and decisions made by this government during the years driven capably by Bill English as Finance Minister.

Responsible economic and fiscal management has delivered real and tangible benefits for everyday people.

There are more jobs, lower unemployment and higher incomes. That isn’t just a line from a campaign speech but a fact backed up by figures. Treasury’s

latest forecasts predict unemployment will drop to 4.3 per cent by 2020-2021, with more than 150,000 additional jobs created and average wages increasing by $7500 to $66,000 per annum. We are forecast to be $473 million in surplus this year, rapidly rising to $8.5 billion during the same period.

Steady ship

The point I’m trying to reinforce here is New Zealand is doing really well, and that isn’t going to change based on the personality in charge. Bill English and Paula Bennett will steady the ship and deliver the continuity and stability that we need to enable National to keep working for New Zealand.

I’m excited for this new chapter in our story, and I believe you should be too.

From my family to yours, I wish you a happy New Year. Enjoy the time with friends and family, make the most of the weather, and I’ll see you in 2017.

FERTILISER

Page 39

ANZ Future Leaders Scholarship awarded Waikato University student Jack Keeys is among five recipients of the inaugural ANZ Future Leaders Scholarship Programme.

Open to NZ Young Farmer members, the new scholarship has been designed to give future leaders in the primary sector a step up by providing them with financial support for their planned path of study or professional development.

The five recipients are: Jack, who won the scholarship for personal development programmes and further studies; Johanna Smith from Culverden, who wants to complete a degree in Mandarin; Kahlia Fryer from Waipukurau for Institute of Management Development courses; Olivia Ross from Gore for personal development programmes; and Daniel Risi from Christchurch for Annual ICPA Conference in America, where he will look at the advancement of precision agriculture.

Young farmer Jack Keeys is scholarship winner.

NZ Young Farmers CEO Terry Copeland says the scholarship attracted nearly 40 applicants and reflected the talent and leadership emerging throughout the organisation.

“I have no doubt that these five young scholars will go on to become great leaders in the primary industry.”

NZ Young Farmers has invested significant resources into developing leadership among the younger members of the sector and the scholarship was another example of that.

“We thank ANZ for their investment into our youth as it’s vital we give them the platform to personally develop.”

Troy Sutherland, ANZ’s Head of Corporate Agri, has congratulated the five scholarship recipients.

“A strong agricultural sector is vital to the growth of our economy, and developing and encouraging young fresh talent is key to our future success.

“We look forward to the contribution that these young people will make, as they learn new skills and broaden their networks through the education programmes they have chosen, and make their mark on the world.”

CUT WASTE, REDUCE COSTS

$800,000 ha sets a new record A gold kiwifruit orchard was sold in early December for a new record of $800,000 per canopy hectare.

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Tauranga-based salesperson Stan Robb says demand for orchards keeps climbing.

“Located in the prime Te PukePaengaroa area, this recently developed 6.2 hectare orchard is in the sweet spot in terms of altitude, with excellent water supply and frost protection.

“This time last year, similar properties were selling for $600,000 per canopy hectare and two years ago, they were around the $450,000 per canopy hectare mark.”

Zespri’s confirmation in November that it will release another 400 hectares of licences for gold kiwifruit in 2017 further consolidated the exceptional levels of confidence in the sector’s property market.

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for development also in heavy demand.

“Orchardists are keen to exercise the licences that Zespri is making available. Suitable free-draining bare land between 30 metres and 100 metres above sea level is scarce.

One eight hectare block sold in November at $150,000 per hectare, with larger properties also highly sought-after and a number of other bare land transactions exceeding $100,000 per hectare.”

Although less sought-after than those growing gold, green kiwifruit properties are likely to change hands this season at similar values to last year – about $400,000 per hectare for premium orchards.

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Page 40

FERTILISER

Chemicals impacting on top soils A Sanskrit text written around 1500 BC noted: “Upon this handful of soil our survival depends.

“Husband it and it will grow our food, our fuel and our shelter and surround us with beauty. Abuse it and the soil will collapse and die, taking humanity with it”.

Soil is a magical substance, a living system that transforms materials, making them available to plants.

To keep up with global demand for food, the UN estimates six million hectares of new farmland will be needed every year. Instead, 12 million hectares a year are lost through soil degradation.

We wreck it, move on trashing rain forests and other precious habitat as we go.

The techniques of agro-chemical production that were supposed to feed the world now threaten us with malnutrition and starvation.

In hindsight, the “chemical age” although initially looking good, has not done life on our planet any favours, in fact, it has demineralised our soils resulting in nutrient deficient food which in turn is increasing disease within all forms of life on our planet.

At Agrissentials, we fervently push multi-mineral, microbial rich fertilisers to increase quality and production. Our system encourages worm life, essential for recycling all waste falling upon the land, back into top soil.

This is all part and parcel of Mother Natures’ system which has been operat-

John Morris. ing on our planet for the past 460 million years. Soil is the largest pool of organic carbon, essential for mitigating and adapting climate change. In an era of water scarcity, soils are fundamental for its appropriate storage and distribution. Soil micro-organisms boost soil’s ability to absorb carbon and mitigate desertification.

According to FAO Director-General Jose Graziano de Silva it can take up to 1000 years to form one centimetre of topsoil. He urged investment in sustainable soil management, saying that would be cheaper than restoration.

That’s incorrect.

Providing that degraded soil still contains some carbon, restoration would be cheaper and quicker. Agrissentials recipe of multi-mineral, microbial rich fertilisers is a formula for building humus (carbon) in the soil, and at the same time providing nutrient to plants, animals and people.

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The challenges of hill country farming In July I sold my 7.68ha block of bare land near Whatawhata, Hamilton, and purchased 56.65ha at Taumarunui and in the process have gone from farming 30 ewes, four horses and about a dozen cattle to almost 400 ewes and 50 cattle.

The Whatawhata block was a mixture of flat and rolling land, which could all be driven over with a farm vehicle, whereas the Taumarunui farm has about 2.02ha of flat, 40.46ha of medium hill and 14.16ha of steep hill, which has a fair amount of blackberry and tutsan on it, and the amount of land that can be driven over is very limited.

Why I would take on a project like this at this stage in my life when I am busy enough in my consulting work is a question her indoors and other concerned relatives have posed to me on more than one occasion?

The other challenge will be getting soil fertility up to speed with a 5.2 pH and Olsen P of 11, it is going to need at least five tonne/ha of lime and one tonne/ ha of superphosphate equivalent during the next two-three years to get anywhere near where I would like to see things. Also, the nearest airstrip is 2km3km away from the farm, so just the flying charge for the lime will be around $100/tonne let alone another $50/tonne for the product and cartage. So I can see myself spending more than $1000/ha during the next two to three years.

My ambition is to turn this block into a grass factory in three years, but whether I get to averaging 22kg lambs again, I think there is only a slim chance.

Soil fertility was at optimum levels and the contour easy on the Whatawhata farm Robin Broom recently sold.

Proof of concept

Well the answer comes to ‘proof of concept’. It had annoyed me somewhat that the meat company I supplied my lambs to on my 19 acres, all 40-50 of them annually, did not recognise my achievement. I had consistently sold all of my lambs prior to Christmas averaging around 22kg carcase weight but I was not recognised as their top producer.

The livestock agent commented that my 40-50 lambs a year were not enough to be considered for the award, yet they did admit nobody else produced early lambs anywhere near my weights.

But having easy contoured land where the soil fertility was at optimum levels and all of the trace elements were nicely in balance, and being far enough north so that lambing could begin in early July did give a huge advantage.

September lambs

Taking the same ewes to much colder Taumarunui this July did result in a quite a few dead newborn lambs, so putting rams out a couple of months later, so as to lamb in September, will be the plan from now on.

For phosphorus I am applying 500kg/ha of imported high analysis dicalcium phosphate – with 18 per cent P – which is twice as concentrate as superphosphate and similar price per unit of P.

Optimise minerals

Cobalt and selenium have been mixed in and next time some boron, copper and zinc will also be added to the mix to optimise mineral levels in the pasture.

Fox gloves and thistles abound on the property, and the blackberry will have to be sprayed and probably the tutsan will too. But I’ve been told by locals that if you get the soil fertility right, the tutsan will die out or get competed out. Time will tell.

Robin Boom, CPAg, member of the Institute of Professional Soil Scientists.

Phone: 0274448764.

Page 41

Robin Boom

CPAg MBSPC

Independent Agronomy & Soil Fertility Consultant

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Page 42

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January 8

Teach Your Dog to Avoid Kiwi 9am, Kuaotunu, free. To book email: sheilachris@ xtra.co.nz or ph 021 716 514.

Guided Tour of Koanga Institute 1pm-4pm, 96 Kotare Rd, Wairoa, $20 (includes afternoon tea). Details: tinyurl.com/hy2kflf

January 9

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Kaimanawa Horse Experience (A little walking involved), 7.45am-5.30pm, meet in Taupo, Turangi or Waiouru, $52. Details: tinyurl.com/jotqj4e.

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January 10 & 11

Kiwi Encounters 9am, Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat, Port Charles (Coromandel), $50/$80 (child/ adult). Details: tinyurl.com/ gl8zo88.

January 11

Okupata Caves Adventure 8.45am or 11.45am, meet Whakapapa Visitor Centre, Mt Ruapehu, $12. Details: tinyurl. com/zonvnb5.

January 12

Teach your Dog to Avoid Kiwi 9am, Waikawau Bay, free. Ph 07 867 9080 to book.

January 13

Rocky Shore Ramble 9am, Beach end of Waimanu Rd, Waikawau Bay, $5/$10 (child/ adult). Details at tinyurl. com/gl8zo88.

GingerFest 10am, free. Meet at the skatepark, Coromandel town to tackle wild ginger. Details: tinyurl. com/gl8zo88.

January 14

Paeroa Agricultural & Pastoral Show at Paeroa Race Course, Thames Rd, Paeroa.

Teach Your Dog to Avoid Kiwi 9am, Tairua, free. To book ph 07 868 9912 or 027 235 8424.

Avocado Food & Wine Festival 11am-6pm, Uretara Domain, Katikati, gate sales $20.

Looking at the Good Life 9am-5pm, Tirau, $120.

Established systems on 3.5ha that produce a vast amount of food. Details at www.lals.nz/courses

January 14-15

Waikato Lily Show 12noon-4pm (Sat), 9am-4pm (Sun), Hamilton Gardens, $2.

Bulbs for sale. Ph 027 827 2865.

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January 15

Tauranga A&P Lifestyle Show 2017 Tauranga Racecourse, Cameron Rd, Greerton 10am-4pm. Experience a wide variety of country life close up. A wide variety of animals while watching a full range of equestrian competitions, sheep shearing, cooking demonstrations, speaker series, axemen and involving all the fun

of the fair in one venue. Adult $10, children under 12 years free.

Waipakihi Helihike (strenuous, many river crossings), leaves 8.15am from Waipakihi Road Track, Turangi, $149.

Details: tinyurl.com/ hmjmfmz.

BOP Tree Crops Association AGM 12noon-2pm, Whakamarama. Details: www.treecrops.org.nz/ events

January 20

Discover Great Mercury Island 7.30am from Whitianga Wharf (quarantine check). $90/$140 (child/ adult). Physical fitness required. Details at tinyurl.com/gl8zo88.

Waihi Dahlia Show 12.30-4pm, Waihi Memorial Hall, free entry. Contact Jennifer, 07 863 7563.

January 21

Landscape Photography Workshop 8am-noon, Whakapapa Village, Mt Ruapehu, $12. Details at tinyurl. com/jo3nr6y.

GingerFest 10am, free. Meet at the giant kiwi sculpture, Port Charles (Coromandel) to tackle wild ginger.

Details at tinyurl.com/ gl8zo88.

January 21-28

Sculpture on the Riverbank Whakatane, free.

Sculptors work daily by the yacht club.

January 27

NZ Cactus & Succulent Society Get-together & AGM (Last day for registration) Taupo on February 25, $80, includes car boot sale, talks, dinner and plant auction. Details at www. cssnz.net/events

January 28

Rotorua Agricultural & Pastoral Show Riverdale Park, 14 Western Road, Ngongotaha, Rotorua 8.30am – 5pm.

Featuring Equestrian, Dairy & Beef Cattle, Calf Club, Alpaca, Goats, Miniature Horses, Donkeys, Harness Horses, Show Hunter and Western Riding events.

Agrodome Shears & Wool Handling, Wood

Chopping Competitions, Sheep Dogs, Highland Dancing. Entry: Adults $10. Children under 16 years free. Door sales only.

Free Home Composting Workshop 2-3.30pm, Taupo Community Gardens.

Register at: tinyurl.com/ gqseptb

January 29

Rotorua Seafood Festival 12noon-6pm, lakefront, entry fees (early bird available). Details at tinyurl.com/h2n7gmg Waikato Dahlia Show 12.30-4pm, Hamilton Gardens.

January 30-February 10

Permaculture Design Course Koanga Institute, Wairoa, $1900 (includes all meals). Details: tinyurl.com/hdl5w4v

February 3

Putaruru Dahlia Show St Paul’s Church Lounge, Kensington St, gold coin entry.

February 5

Katikati Agricultural & Pastoral Show At 1-5 Major Street, Katikati. Gates open 9am.

Coromandel Mussel Festival from 2pm, $45. Details: www.musselkitchen.co.nz Guided Tour of Koanga Institute 1pm-4pm, 96 Kotare Rd, Wairoa, $20 (includes afternoon tea).

Details: tinyurl.com/ jnmv76f

February 6

International Polo Day from 1pm, Nga Rakau Polo Ground, Kihikihi.

Details: tinyurl.com/ htu5xh5

February 11

Te Puke A&P Show and Young Fruitgrower Competition, 9am-4pm, Te Puke Showgrounds.

Details: www. bopyoungfruitgrower. co.nz

February 11-12

National Dahlia Show (North Island), Hamilton Gardens, 1pm-4pm (Sat) & 9am-3.30pm (Sun).

February 14

Easy Gardening 6-week course, 6.308.30pm, Fraser High School, Hamilton, $75.

Details: tinyurl.com/ jqm5j6a

COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

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COAST & COUNTRY NEWS

Dogs are ‘uninhibited creatures we we might might be’ be’

It’s the caption for the photo of a dog leaping on a ball, which was the Country Funnies image for November. And Murray Mason of Tauranga suggested the caption: “Yeah! Got that. Next step juggling two balls!”

The winning caption: “Black Cap’s try outs have gone to the dogs” came from Shane Avison of Putaruru who wins a copy of ‘Woof’ thanks to publishers Exisle.

The book prize for this month’s Country Funnies caption is ‘A New York Year – Twelve months in the life of New York’s Kids’ by Australian author Tania McCartney and illustrator Tina Snerling.

“A glorious mishmash of past, present, introduced and endemic culture,” is how modern New York’s traditions are described in this book.

The “stars” are: Fabian, 8, who was born in Puerto York as as aa baby; baby; Madison, Madison, 10, 10, Rico but came to New York York from from whose grandparents came to New York Ireland; Jayla, 6, who wants to be an artist; Sofia, 7, whose family originally came from Italy and Alexander, 9, whose Jewish ancestors came from Germany.

The five youngsters describe what they do each month, with a focus on special events marked during the year. The book is filled with vibrant illustrations, depicting the children in a range of activities, with simple text wound around each image.

It ends with a double-page spread explaining facts about New York State including: “New York City alone has more people within its limits than 39 of the 50 states [of the United States of America]”.

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“I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren’t certain we knew better,” is the quote from the late American author, artist, dog breeder and a sportsman George Bird Evans, which features in the in the book ‘Woof’.

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“Black Cap’s Cap’s try try outs outs have have gone gone to the dogs” is the winning caption for the November Country Funnies contest.

Caption this photo of a bull in a fix to be in to win this ‘A New York Year’ book prize.

Thanks to publishers EK Books, Coast & Country News has a copy of ‘A New York Year’ to give away.

To be in to win, email captions for the photo above and send them with your name and address, with Country Funnies as the subject, to: elaine@thesun.co.nz Or put these details on the back of an envelope and post to: Country Funnies, PO Box 240, Tauranga 3140 to arrive no later than January 15.