15 December 2021 - Rural News

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Wednesday 15 December 2021

Berry Lands’ Annabelle McMiken with some of their berries. Photo: Kate Russell.

A berry good crop for local growers Kate Russell The region’s long-awaited berry season has started early, according to local growers.

Despite a wet spring, Berry Lands on Appleby Highway has had an early abundance of fruit - especially raspberries.

The popular pick-your-own berry spot is owned by Waimea Plains grower family, the Connings.

“Our raspberries are probably 10 to 12 days ahead of where they normally are,” says Simon Conning.

They also grow boysenberries, strawberries, and karaka berries.

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Simon says the recent humid weather and rain have been hard on the crops.

“The humidity is not good for berries - you’ve got to pick them and eat them fast.”

They opened to the public on 9 December and are expecting a busy few weeks leading up to the

festive season.

“We will hopefully have enough for Christmas.

“We could be a bit short on some, but we’ve put in more berries this year.”

Ariana Holland from Tasman Bay Berries in Hope says the season kicked off for them last

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Thursday and they have “loads of fruit” already.

This year they will only be supplying their boysenberries to businesses.

“So far, so good - the weather is quite humid which can bring on

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WeDNeSDAY 15 December 2021

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A berry good crop for local growers froM pAge 1 mould - but it is one of the better crops we’ve had for a while.

Hopefully, the weather stays good.”

Jerry Field from Berryfields in Upper Moutere says it’s also been an early start to the season for their raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.

“The season is upon us very early which is great for later varieties and not so great for early varieties to meet the Christmas demand.”

He says the winter was a bit wet and warm to have a good fruit set.

However, they are hoping for some fine weather over the next two weeks as the fruit grows.

“We have some very tasty fruit, especially the NZ Plant & Food developed Wakefield variety, that can be purchased in punnets from our farm stall from 17 December.”

National log prices have dropped well below the two-year average. Photo: File.

National log prices slump Matt Brown Soaring ocean freight costs in October is to blame for a slump in national log prices says one forestry boss.

The PF Olsen Log Price Index for November has the price of wood $12 below the two-year average.

But it’s not the price that’s the problem, says Marlborough Forestry Industry Association executive officer Vern Harris.

“The problem is volatility more than the level of price,” Vern says.

“The price is improving. But it’s not so much the increase in price, but the decrease in shipping costs.”

Shipping costs from New Zealand to China dropped by up to 40 per cent in the last month

from a record high in October.

Record high prices for New Zealand logs at the beginning of the year have also seen a large tumble.

He says there hasn’t been any major crisis in Nelson or Marlborough, but other parts of the country are much worse affected.

“There tends to be seasonal reductions and improvements,” he says. “It depends on inventory in China, as well as other countries that are buying.”

Vern says the fall in October had a direct effect on the shipping companies, which suddenly had lower volume of logs to move – pushing down the cost of ocean freight.

“So, the lower volume has bought the shipping costs down,” he says.

He says China’s inventory is probably sitting at around five million cubic metres, and as the inventory drops further prices will start to climb as demand increases.

“It does show the difficulty of being tied to one major customer.”

He says forestry is still profitable, albeit less so than what it was.

“It’s not as good as it has been, but it’s better than it was. It had been pretty good up until a couple months ago.”

Vern says there is a lot of competition for China’s market from Europe and Russia.

“We don’t quite know what December is going to bring yet,” he says. “I don’t think anybody would be comfortable making predictions.”

Rural News

WeDNeSDAY 15 December 2021

3

The life of a country vet Jenny Nicholson As a boy, Warren Mitchell (Mitch) knew he wanted to be a farmer or a vet.

He chose to train as a vet, and now works on large animals.

“There’s real variety,” Mitch says.

“We are a doctor, dentist, radiologist, and anesthetist for the animals. No two days are the same.”

Mitch gets up at 5am, takes time for meditation, takes the dogs for a walk, feeds the pigs and the chickens, and has breakfast all before he leaves for work at 7am.

Then it might be straight to the equine facility where he works, or he might do calls on the way in.

While no two days are the same, there are routine aspects to Mitch’s days. This time of year is busy with horse breeding. While the mares are at the equine facility, the stallions are all over the country. It’s Mitch’s job to decide when they want semen sent, which means rectal scans of mares’ ovaries to determine when they are about to ovulate.

Any time during the day there can be emergency calls.

“It might be foaling, a cut horse, or a vomiting pig,” Mitch says.

“Vets do have to have a strong

Mitch checking on one of the horses at the equine facility where he works, with the assistance of Laurie Talbot. Photo: Jenny Nicholson. stomach because we do see a lot pressure situations.”

“You can usually mitigate the of blood and pus.”

He says in his early years he risks,” he says. “There are times I Vets get good at problem solving thought he would be able to save have to say I won’t do something and thinking on their feet. They every animal. Over his 25-year because it’s not safe. I’m pretty big can be in situations where people career, he has learned that defi- on health and safety.” are panicky, it’s dark and raining nitely isn’t true, and says he has Even taking all the precautions, and early in the morning. got better at recognising early he has had scary moments. Once “People skills might even be more on when an animal isn’t going to he was doing a routine rectal important than animal skills,” make it. scan in a good facility and was Mitch says. “We see people in real There’s also danger at times. standing in what should have

been a safe area. The horse kicked down the door, kicked Mitch in the chest and onto the ground, breaking his ribs.

If there are safety issues, he will sedate an animal using a syringe on a pole if necessary.

“I have darted animals from a distance in England, but we can normally get close enough to use a syringe on a pole.”

Mitch is on call once a week, and one weekend in four. He says some nights are busy, but others he will only catch a couple of hours sleep on the couch at the clinic. Then it’s still work as usual the next day.

“If your vet is a bit grumpy, they may have been up most the night.”

He was on call when Town and Country Vet had their Christmas function. Between the main and dessert, he had a call about a horse upside down in a creek. After helping pull that out, he went back to Richmond for dessert.

Then he had to lamb a ewe on the way home.

His workdays finish in time for him to get home by 6.30pm on a good day. Then there’s his own horses to scan and cattle to shift.

“It’s a pretty busy life,” Mitch says.

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Rural News

WeDNeSDAY 15 December 2021

Del’s long race to give back to Rural Support

Oyster t

Jonty Dine After seeing her dad suffering with mental health issues, Del Bruce wanted to help support farmers in distress.

The Appleby farmer says, when her father spent five weeks in the mental health unit on the West Coast, the Rural Support Trust (RST) stepped up to help.

“So, since then I have always tried to give back.”

An avid dirt bike racer, Del is set to take on a six-hour race in order to raise funds for the RST. She will race her KTM300XC at the Morley Honda 6 Hour at Lake Station in St Arnaud on January 15, entering the Ironwoman class.

Del says, with farming being a 365-day a year job, farmers must be sure to take care of their mental well-being.

“It’s a lot like an enduro race, you have to pace yourself.”

As if riding for six hours straight isn’t challenging enough, Del is also making a return to the track following a diagnosis of hip dysplasia. “It is very common but mine got missed as a baby, so I didn’t know I had it until three years ago.”

She says the condition began with a limp and eventually ended with her having to temporarily

Del Bruce will take on a six-hour race to raise funds for the rural Support Trust. Photo: Jonty Dine. give up both farming and racing as she underwent a hip replacement in 2020.

“I am not as physically able as I used to be and probably never will be, but I’m at 90 per cent.”

Del says the race will be incredibly demanding, both physically and mentally.

“The whole body gets a workout.”

She will be looking forward to a well-deserved cider after crossing the finish line. “They will be

on ice waiting for me.”

Del says the stigma surrounding mental health in the rural sector is still an issue.

“We need to remove that, reach out, ask for help, don’t be so hard on yourself.”

She says the RST has also helped a number of local farmers, such as organising working bees to repair damage after the Tapawera floods.

“They are there to get through

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the tough times for anyone in the rural community.”

Though a national body, all funds raised by Del will remain in the region.

“Giving back to Rural Support Trust is a personal thing for me.

They were there for my family back in 2016 and they’ve also supported a few of my farming friends, so I want to help them.”

To donate search ‘race for rural support’ on givealittle.co.nz

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WeDNeSDAY 15 December 2021

5

er technology nets innovation award

“

Sara Hollyman

which further cements the comThe technology enables Marlpany on the international stage. borough Oysters, which grows A Top of the South company “Our FlipFarm technology of15 million oysters each year, and has been recognised as being a ficially launched two years ago oyster farms around the world, We applied a completely new to operate year-round. leader in oyster farm technol- and is used by more than 70 way of thinking about how ogy, taking out a global innova- oyster farmers in 12 countries FlipFarm allows whole surfaces oyster farmers can grow and tion award. worldwide,” says Aaron, who of the baskets and the oysters FlipFarm Systems is a world- runs the business with his wife harvest oysters, and the result in them to be flipped up to dry first, semi-automated oyster- Debbie. was the world’s first semi-auto- – killing biofouling and unwantgrowing system that helps pro- He says the need for improved mated oyster growing system. ed pests like the predatory flatvide an ideal environment for technology was identified while worms.

- FlipFarm owner Aaron Pannell. oyster growth, conditioning and carrying out day-to-day operaThe global award follows FlipFlipFarm Systems uses Hexcyl Farm Systems being named the hardening, while giving com- tions at Marlborough Oysters. plete control over fouling, pests “We needed to evolve the grow- oyster baskets which is a rigid, 2021 Future Development Innosolidcarefully basket instead the mesh itvation and predators. ing process from the traditional Award winner

by Seafood Please check your proof andofapprove or submit corrections by the Fin The company was awarded the system of plastic oyster growing bags previously used.

New Zealand, as well as achievYou can to baskets your adattach within ATOL ing approve system at a time suits you. to the a semi2021 Global Aquaculture Inno-now bags clipped or to submit growingchanges lines The a coveted ‘Goodthat Design’ automated ‘backbone’orsystem your adGlobproof with email to view your” ad, then click the APPROVE CORRECTIONS button from vation Award atinthis year’s webbing lanyards, he says. award from Goodright Design Aus-there al Seafood Alliance Awards.

The former system proved inef- that rolls up on the side of a har- tralia earlier in the year.

PF OLSEN & CO LTD (RMD) would publishing booked vesting vessel06/24/21 and is used to flip Debbie Pannell says the The award, customer which was handed fective as the equipment recent size C over the oyster baskets, Adv Suppmaking NEM accolades not only recognise dimensions 1 to FlipFarm advert SystemsID at a CH-8994297AA virtual wear out(100%) and during stormy publication the to use and without requirevent earlier this month, recog- weather they would lose hun- it easy ingenuity of the NZ-made techsection CUSTOM SQUARE proofed 9 ing too much physical labour. nises individuals and companies dreds of oyster-growing bags. nology, but also the community finding new solutions to the key This not only impacted their Aaron says the system offers a of the Marlborough region for challenges facing aquaculture. bottom line and negatively im- new level of efficiency, equip- their continued support.

FlipFarm Systems, designed and pacted the environment, but ment resilience and strength, “Many people have been indeveloped by the owners of Mar- meant staff were regularly called improved oyster quality and volved in developing and implelborough Oysters, beat out 39 on to make repairs and retrieve shelf life, environmental im- menting the FlipFarm System. provement and biofouling con- Our dedicated team has worked applicants from 24 countries to lost equipment. secure a place as a finalist, before “We applied a completely new trol. with us on bringing our ideas to Please check your proof carefully and approve it or submit corrections by the Final Proof Alte being voted the overall winner way of thinking about how oys- It can be adapted to many grow- life.

You can now or submit to your ad within ATOL system at a timethink that suits you. Just follow th ing environments and thegrows by audience vote. ter farmers can approve grow and har- changes “We couldn’t of anywhere in your ad proof email to view your ad, then click the APPROVE or CORRECTIONS button right from there - no new emai Managing director Aaron Pan- vest oysters, and the result was very high-quality oysters in a better in the world than Marlenvironment nell, who is also owner/opera- customer the world’s first semi-automated growing PF OLSEN & CO LTD (RMD) deep-water publishing 06/24/21 which borough to be booked sizeoysters CSQ QUART V normally Adv associated with and launch thisdimensions ID CH-8994297AA (100%) Supp NEM 12.3X12.4, cm tor of Marlborough Oysters, advert oyster-growing system, made is notpublication world-leading high quality production. section CUSTOM SQUARE technology,” she says. proofed 9/06/2021 12:2 says he’s delighted with the win, right here in Blenheim.”

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WeDNeSDAY 15 December 2021

Rural News

Council tackles Sound’s sludge A new study shows how goldmining, native forest clearing and dairy pasture continues to impact Pelorus Sound’s water quality.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research was commissioned by Marlborough District Council to investigate the sources of sedimentation on the inner Te Hoiere (Pelorus Sound).

Large range in The sources of sediment in the stock, motorised inner Pelorus Sound Te Hoiere report showed sediment accumu&Large tractor powered range in lation rates are 10 times greater stock, motorised than that before European settlement there. & tractor powered Sediment is one of the main threats to Aotearoa’s marine environment and impacts on freshwater ecosystems.

The erosion of soil from the land and its deposition in estuaries and the sea is a natural process, but the rate sediment is being deposited is higher than before The growing and lasting impacts of sedimentation in pelorus Sound has been investigated in a new human activities disturbed the report commissioned by Marlborough District Council. Photo: Supplied. and continues to move around.” streambank erosion make up the activities have all left their legacy natural land cover.

Council’s coastal scientist Oliver The main contributors to the largest proportion, with smaller in the Marlborough Sounds waLOG SPLITTERS Wade says the study has identi- sediment in Te Hoiere are sub- proportions attributed to erosion ters.

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Gravity hydraulic roller feedpine and na- mary industry and native forest,” pact of increasing soil erosion, Heavy duty PTO chippers tive forest. says Oliver. sedimentation and harvesting “Around 70 per cent is termed LOG SPLITTERS 3.5”, 5”, 7” and 10” models “Thirty per cent of the sediment Goldmining, native forest clearhave all had a profound effect on ‘legacy sediment’ although Gravity orthat, hydraulic roller feed contem- ance, pastoral farming and more the ecology of the subtidal envioriginating from the land, has deposited comes from LOG SPLITTERS 3.5”, 7”forand porary sources. Subsoils and recent agricultural and forestry ronment in Mahau Sound, with been in the5”, sound a long10” time models

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shellfish diversity is now at its lowest point at any time in history.

“This suggests that despite our best efforts to improve land management, the marine environment will take longer to recover as this sediment continues to have an impact well into the future.”

Oliver says integrated catchment and marine management will be needed in the future to halt any further degradation and help realise measurable improvements in the system’s environmental state.

The Te Hoiere/Pelorus Restoration Project was launched late 2019 as a full landscape scale proposal focused on improving freshwater and land resources in the Te Hoiere and Kaituna River Catchments.

Marlborough Disctrict Council, Ngāti Kuia, the Department of Conservation and the community have all collaborated with the Te Hoiere Pelorus Project to restore the system’s environmental state.

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Rural News

WeDNeSDAY 15 December 2021

7

Bringing back the Whio

A community-led project on the environment. aimed at supporting the growth “This project is a major step of the iconic whio or blue duck forward in bringing back the population in the Nelson Lakes whio population to the Nelson and further protecting the area Lakes area. around the Rotoiti Nature Re- “One of the appeals to us was covery project, which has kaka, the community-led nature of kea, and kiwi populations, has this project - the Friends of been given a boost with nearly Rotoiti group are motivated $209,000 in fundlocal community ing. members putting South Island’s Rātā in huge volunteer Foundation has hours to benefit the formed a strategic local ecosystem of partnership with Nelson Lakes.” the Friends of RoThe project will see toiti through a the establishment $208,822 grant to of a new trap netestablish one of the work to safeguard largest trap-lines The Whio/ Blue Duck the Travers and in the country – population will soon Sabine Rivers from over 52 kilometres. grow in the Nelson stoats and other The collaborative Lakes. Photo: DOC. predators, allowproject is suping whio to estabported by the Department of lish territories and maintain a Conservation and local iwi population in the Nelson Lakes Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō. Whio is National Park. a taonga species that Māori has It will also close the gap in trap a strong cultural, spiritual, and lines already run by DOC and historical connection to.

Friends of Rotoiti, providing Rātā Foundation chief execu- protection for the Travers flats tive, Leighton Evans, says Rātā and slowing reinvasion of predhas been focusing its strategic ators into the Rotoiti Nature funding in the Te Tauihu region Recovery Project.

Tom Addison, National List Mp Maureen pugh, 2022 Youth Mp James Ivamy, National’s spokesperson on agriculture, bio security and food safety Barbara Kuriger, Brian Storer and giselle Storer and Diane Higgins met to discuss rural issues. Photo Supplied.

MPs meet with farmers Jenny Nicholson

A group of local farmers met with two National Party MPs last week to talk about some of the issues that are causing farmers concern.

The enthusiastic, and at times vocal group, gathered at the Moutere Inn. West Coast Tasman National Party deputy chairman, John Gully, attended the meeting and says there were discussions around Three Waters, SNAs and wetlands.

“There’s a lot of angst out there.

Wellington seems to ignore the rural sector.” John says.

National’s spokesperson on ag-

riculture, bio security and food safety, Barbara Kuriger, who joined National List MP Maureen Pugh, spoke on her proposed private member’s bill aimed at protecting personal property rights.

One of the concerns raised was the state’s ability to impose regulations that tie up private land.

“You have to pay rates still on the land,” John says. “There’s a farm on the West Coast that could lose 70 per cent of their farm. That would mean it was no longer viable.”

John says another concern is that the farming community as a voting block hasn’t enough people to make a difference.

Local Diane Higgins, a retired farmer, says one of her concerns was Three Waters not being discussed before the last election.

“I went to hear where the National Party stands and whether it will be possible for them to reverse some of the legislation without going to court,” she says.

She says it was good to hear for herself what Maureen and Barbara said.

Diane was also concerned about people being asked to fence off huge areas of land, and not graze or farmland but still be required to pay rates on that land.

“There are so many things that are a worry.”

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Rural News

WeDNeSDAY 15 December 2021

Tasman cherry harvest begins

Kate Russell

This week heralds in the start of the cherry harvest in Tasman.

Ruby Bay Cherries is one of just a handful of cherry orchards in operation across New Zealand and for the next three weeks, they will be busy picking while the stone fruit is at its best.

Cherries will be carefully sorted, washed, graded, packed, and stacked, ready for pick-up direct from their roadside store or for delivery to online and wholesale buyers across the country.

That’s all assuming this year’s cherry season reaches its full potential, say owners Neil and Wanessa Hoggarth, who produce hundreds of thousands of cherries each season at their Aporo Road orchard.

The cherry-growing business is notoriously risky with an extremely narrow sales window and sensitivity to inclement weather. Too much rain and the cherries will split. A freak halfhour hailstorm - as occurred last season - and the yield will be cut short.

For the Hoggarth family, cherries for Christmas are a household tradition, given the loca-

tion of the orchard adjacent to the family home, purchased in 2014.

“Cherry season at our house is quite an experience,” says Neil.

“It’s all hands on deck in the orchard during the day, rewarded by all hands in the cherry bowl at dinner time.”

As active members in the community, this year the couple have initiated a fundraising scheme that offers five dollars to primary schools for every 2kg box of cherries sold using an associated school discount code.

With schools spanning from Nelson through to Takaka, they also hope to extend the scheme to secondary schools next year and potentially beyond the region. With more than enough cherries to go around, the goal for Ruby Bay Cherries is to avoid waste before the short season is up, and to ensure locals get first dibs too.

While many orchards focus on exporting, the focus for Ruby Bay Cherries is squarely on New Zealanders.

“So much of our country’s best product goes overseas. I’m a firm believer that Kiwis shouldn’t have to compromise,” says Neil.

William Hoggarth enjoys the first fruit for ruby Bay Cherries. Photo: Supplied.

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