FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019 INSIDE
Might pay to secure your water supply p4 Using science to restore a river system p8
Bee colony losses need attention p5 How to feed ewes on winter crops p10
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Thursday, April 25, 2019
FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
Should farmers be able to earn the PROPERTY with PAUL DYKES
How some councils reward good works
Phillip Martelli
A
lot of farmers and rural landowners would no doubt like to add a dwelling on their property, or subdivide, but can’t get their plans through the local council. However, there are some councils happy to go along that route if the landowner has done something of merit that enhances or preserves a characteristic of the area. In such cases, a transferable development right (TDR) can be an innovative and effective means of undertaking a rural subdivision where otherwise it might be prohibited under a local district plan. The ability for councils to create, implement and effectively manage all aspects of the TDR process is derived through provisions in the Resource Management Act 1991. A TDR can be bought and sold between landowners, enabling the purchaser of the TDR to subdivide (subject to the usual subdivision rules) where previously they would have been barred from doing so. A check around the main regional councils in the North Island showed that the vast majority won’t entertain the idea, but it’s approved in parts of the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, for example.
Phillip Martelli, resource management manager at the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, says council’s District Plan has a Protection Lot Rule that allows landowners to gain additional lots if they protect “something of value to the community”. This can be ecological (native forest areas, riparian margins, wetlands), view shafts, cultural sites (such as pa sites), or of community benefit (such as the expansion of a reserve or access to a waterway or swimming hole), explains Martelli. These opportunities to subdivide can either be created on-site (on the parent lot where the feature is located) or can be transferred to
another location under specific circumstances. The latter is commonly referred to as transferable development lots (or TDRs). The main opportunity now in the Western Bay is in the designated Lifestyle Zones. These zones do not allow subdivision directly, but require a TDR (unless the landowner has something on their property that will meet the PL rule, in which case they can use that). The Protection Lot rule has a range of criteria that must be met that includes the quality of the feature and size. It is possible to obtain multiple lots/TDRs if the feature is large enough, says Martelli.
Some district councils are more flexible on subdivision rules if, for example, the landowner has fenced off native forest . . . . Photo / NZME
The feature also has to be physically (fenced) and legally protected in perpetuity (QE2 covenant, consent notice on title). He says the council monitors regularly to ensure ongoing compliance. The Protection Lot rule has been in place since the early 1990s, with the TDR option being introduced in the mid-90s. The rule has been refined over time. “Originally, the TDR could be used anywhere in the Rural Zone. This was changed in 2010 when council became concerned at the amount of fragmentation that was occurring, particularly the creation of smaller lifestyle blocks and their effects on the roading network. That is when the Lifestyle Zones were created. “For several years now, we have been getting landowners who are creating new riparian margins and wetlands by planting and fencing, knowing that when the vegetation is sustainable (usually 3-5 years) they will qualify for Protection Lots and TDRs.”
Specific tracts
Commenting on the Western BoP acceptance of TDRs, Michelle Igasan, a senior legal executive at Harris Tate in Tauranga, says the use of TDRs applies to specific tracts of land. “For example, the Minden Lifestyle Zone rural subdivision rules recently underwent a rewrite, providing landowners in the Lifestyle Zone who were previously prevented from subdividing their land, with an continued on A3
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
right to subdivide? continued from A2
opportunity to be able to so by means of purchasing a TDR from the Rural Zone.” Any subdivision consent remains at the discretion of Western BoP District Council, with consideration weighted on whether appropriate infrastructure is in place to support any division of land. She says ecological environmental features include such things as wetlands (over half a hectare), native bush (variable of forest type 3-5ha), enhancement planting (the process of additional planting in an area, thereby increasing that area’s forested land or wetland), or stream margins that can be planted. Igasan says another feature of a TDR is that it can also be extremely useful in a situation where two houses are on the one rural lot. In the Minden Lifestyle Zone example at least, a subdivision utilising a TDR might be possible using this method. “While this form of quid pro quo arrangement is beneficial to those selling and buying TDRs, if you are considering creating a TDR, be prepared for the cost expenditure associated with consultants’ reports and ultimately approval from council,” advises Igasan.
‘Better’ locations
According to Clive Morgan, Waikato District Council general manager community growth, the provisions for transferable rural lot right subdivisions are available in the northernmost area of Waikato Dis-
trict that used to be part of the former Franklin District (generally from Pokeno north). He says the provisions require a vacant qualifying title or lot to be amalgamated with an adjoining rural title, so that the development right (for a dwelling) can be transferred (or
. . . a pa site of significance . . .
sold) to allow for the subdivision of a different rural property. These rules were introduced by the former Franklin District Council to enable development to occur in “better” locations, preferably away from productive rural land or sensitive conservation areas. Transferable rural lot right subdivisions can occur only when certain conditions are met, says Morgan. All properties involved must be in the Rural Zone, and subdivision of the property “receiving” the development right must not result in reduced environmental quality, or new titles with a greater percentage of highclass soils than the property “donating” the development right.
Depending on the size of the property being subdivided, only one or two transferable rural lot rights can be used to create one or two new titles. After Franklin District was split in 2010 and amalgamated partly with Auckland and partly with Hauraki and Waikato Districts, he says the councils involved introduced new rules to prohibit the transfer of development rights across council boundaries. And while TRLRs may still occur under the provisions of the operative Franklin Section of the District Plan, the council has not included these provisions in its Proposed District Plan, which was notified in July 2018. ■
. . . or a sizeable wetland. Photos / NZME
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
Might pay to secure your water supply INFRASTRUCTURE with RDCL
A stable source will help take erratic swings out of the equation
M
any of those who require water for their everyday business, whatever it might be, have noticed increasingly erratic rain characterised by more intense storms and longer dry periods. Water supply uncertainty has prompted the development of various water schemes to minimise business risks. In recent years large schemes have been frustrated for various reasons and as a result many farmers are developing their own small water retention schemes to secure a supply in critical growing seasons. The advantages of small schemes are that the project is typically on the farmers’ own land and the water is used on the farm. The assessment of the financial benefit to a business is the key first step in a scheme’s development. A scheme including a reservoir often represents a significant capital investment for a farm. Therefore, farmers find it important to evaluate not just the cost, but also the value of the water, to the business. Given the considerable effort required to initiate a scheme, even before construction starts, most farmers see the value in establishing the viability of a project before committing to further work. Initial investigations of a scheme’s
viability are typically conducted with input from the owner with the aim being to establish an all-inclusive understanding of the scheme’s benefits within the wider farm business over a period of 25 years. This validation of the concept supports the rational decision on whether to pursue the development of a scheme before considerable sums are expended.
Water: It’s too important to guess
If not done previously, a farmer will at this point apply for the various resource consents under the Resource Management Act to extract, store and use the water. The consent process is critical. If significant concessions are made it is worthwhile revisiting the assessment of viability before continuing to ensure the fundamentals of the scheme are not compromised.
A permanent supply of water could be costly but well worth it in the long run. Photo / Getty Images
All dams are inherently complex and require due consideration. The design and construction of all dams in New Zealand are covered by the Building Act (2004) and the Building Code. Also, dams higher than 3m with a capacity greater than 20,000 m3 need building consent. Under the Building Code dams must be designed by suitably qualified engineers to well recognised international practice, as outlined in the NZSOLD (2015) Dam Safety Guidelines. The design documentation is the basis for the building consent application and must demonstrate compliance with the appropriate international practice. It is important to allow sufficient time to complete the necessary processes and procedures before starting construction of a reservoir and dam. The programme should aim to start construction at the beginning of summer to avoid the risk of an incomplete and vulnerable dam during winter. The costs of protecting a partly complete dam through winter can be substantial and there is a high risk of losing parts of an incomplete asset due to floods. While it may require considerable, time, money and effort, many farmers are considering that the viability of their business may indeed rely on securing a permanent water source. ■
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
BEEKEEPING
Colony losses need attention
N
ew Zealand’s honey bee population continues to grow — with queen problems, varroa mites, starvation and wasps the leading causes of bee loss, an annual survey reveals. Registered beehives in New Zealand total around 880,000. “They’ve nearly doubled in six years, but there is still work to be done to protect bee health,” says Mark Ross, the chief executive of Agcarm, an industry association which represents crop protection, animal health and rural supplier businesses. “Bees have a vital role to play in food production and agriculture.” The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) released findings of the 2018 New Zealand Colony Loss and Survival Survey, showing that overall losses averaged 10.2 per cent. “This loss is lower than overseas rates, but shows that we need to address biosecurity, colony health and beekeeping practices to keep a healthy bee population,” says Ross. Colony deaths from queen problems accounted for over a third of losses during the 2018 winter season. The parasitic varroa mite — which feeds on bees — accounted for almost 20 per cent, followed by starvation and wasps. Interestingly, average loss rates were three times higher among noncommercial beekeeping enterprises, suggesting that there is work to be done in this area. Loss rates were highest in the upper North Island and middle South Island, with lowest rates in the lower North Island.
Not quite the
Bees need to be well fed and protected from their enemies. Photo / File
BEE’S KNEES The challenges for beekeepers include competition for apiary sites and overcrowding, especially in the upper North Island. “The report shows that we have to make sure our bees are well-fed and protected from pests. But, overall, our bee population is thriving — which is good news,” says Ross. He adds that the survey is critical not only because it informs us on bee
Overall, our bee population is thriving — which is good news health, but because it allows us to make better choices to protect our bee population and to track changes
on colony loss and survival for the future. “Taking care when spraying around bees — or arranging for hives to be moved will help protect them,” says Ross. As a champion of bees, Agcarm will continue to work with the bee industry and the wider agricultural sector, to help ensure a healthy bee population. ■
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Thursday, April 25, 2019
FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
ACE, MATE! WATERWAYS
A large-scale initiative is expected to have major impact on the quality of water
Y
ou could say it’s ‘ace’ that more than 600 farmers and multiple agencies are working together to improve water quality in the Aparima catchment area in the deep south. ACE — otherwise known as the Aparima Community Environment (ACE) project — is a farmer-led initiative in Southland aimed at over 600 farms spread over 207,000 hectares — with 81 per cent of that area developed. It has multi-agency participation with DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb and Environment Southland involved. The ace thing about ACE, says DairyNZ’s strategy and investment leader for responsible dairying, Dr David Burger, is its enormous scale and the intent to support all land managers in good farming practice. It will also track what happens on every single farm in the six Aparima catchment groups — Pourakino, Lower Aparima, Orepuki, Mid Aparima, Upper Aparima and Waimatuku — and relate this to water quality downstream. Individual farms, Burger says, can have very different challenges when it comes to water quality, even if they
are almost identical farms right next door to each other. The scale of the ACE project means farmers, land managers, extension experts and scientists will work together to identify, implement and track different environmental actions across a wide range of farming properties and land uses and link this directly to water quality outcomes. “It means we can understand the science at catchment scale,” says Burger. “Through modelling and monitoring, we can relate the actions of every single farm plan to collective and demonstrable outcomes downstream.” Over the next two years all landowners will have farm management and improvement plans, with the longer-term goal of enhancing the mana and resilience of the catchment for future generations. “First individual farmers need to understand their own situation when
it comes to water quality — and what options they have to reduce environmental risk,” says Burger. “Then it will be a matter of implementing actions across the catchment and monitoring the change.”
Science the key
Robust science is a key ingredient of DairyNZ’s drive towards improving water quality, Burger says: “For example, in terms of the science being employed to mitigate contaminant run-off from farms, we are trying to understand the relationship between the contaminant load upstream and downstream values. “We need to have a high level of certainty we are focusing on the right area [of cause and effect]. It is not an easy task because the way in which contaminants flow and change between the source and the receiving environment varies within and across catchments.
Through modelling and monitoring, we can relate the actions of every single farm plan to collective and demonstrable outcomes downstream.
“There are all sorts of processes going on and some may not be observed for decades.” That said, DairyNZ’s scientific exploration of the complex subject of water quality is designed to identify best-practice interventions that can be applied as quickly as possible, he says. One example is seepage wetlands — which DairyNZ work has shown can remove up to 75 per cent of nitrate from run-off through bacteria and uptake by plants, vastly improving water quality. Wetlands also trap sediment and phosphorus and reduce faecal bacteria and help protect land from flood damage by slowing or holding surface water and releasing it slowly over time. They are also a valuable home for native plants and animals Burger says Burger says scientific work is also being carried out to support the following improvements: ■ Edge of field mitigation: Tools like wood chip bio-reactors, constructed wetlands and detainment bunds are placed on the ‘edge of field’ to improve the quality of the water before it enters continued on A7
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The Aparima River in flood. It’s a huge challenge to work out exactly where contaminated run-off enters the system. Photo / NZPA / Dianne Manson
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
Using science to restore a river system continued from A6
waterways via farms. DairyNZ is working with Niwa and other agencies to understand how effective these tools are and how to optimise their design to ultimately support greater uptake by farmers nationwide. ■ Farm environmental plans: More than 2000 farms (out of 12,000 total dairy farms in New Zealand ) already have a Sustaibnable Milk Farm Environment Plan like those being proposed in the ACE project. Burger says the sector is aiming for all farms to have a farm plan by 2025. ■ Good Farming Practices: DairyNZ co-launched the Good Farming Practice (GFP) Water Quality Action Plan alongside primary industry partners, regional councils and the Ministry for the Environment last year. This plan has already developed a national set of GFP principles and is now working towards implementing them over the next few years. ■ Riparian planning tool: DairyNZ’s Riparian Planner helps farmers set up a plan and advises on suitable species to plant and how this work should be carried out. It won an award by the New Zealand Association of Resource Management for Outstanding Contribution in 2016 and more than 2200 dairy farmers have used this tool.
Burger says the other 30 per cent has largely been spent on wetlands protection or providing new wetlands on farms, plus riparian fencing and planting. “Those plants cost farmers quite a bit of money and maintenance is quite high too.”
■ Effluent management: Farmers have improved effluent infrastructure and practices across many regions. “Ten years ago, noncompliance rates were 17-18 per cent in some regions; that is now down to about five per cent or less,” says Burger.
■ The Sustainable Dairy Water Accord: Launched in 2013, this has seen 97 per cent of significant waterways on dairy farms (covering 26,000km) fenced off to keep cows out; 99.7 per cent of regular stock crossings now have bridges or culverts to achieve the same aim.
■ Increased environmental spend by farmers: The 2015 DairyNZ and Federated Farmers survey showed an estimated environmental spend by farmers of over $1 billion from 2010 to 2015, equating to $18,000 a year per farm, or $90,000 over the five-year period — with 70 per cent of that spending estimated to have been in the area of effluent management.
We need to have a high level of certainty we are focusing on the right area [of cause and effect]. It is not an easy task because the way in which contaminants flow and change between the source and the receiving environment varies within and across catchments.
Wetlands can be a great tool to remove up to 75 per cent of nitrate from run-off. Photo / NZME
Those last figures have been criticised by some commentators, saying they do not cover smaller streams flowing into larger streams but Burger says: “We started this programme many years ago as a nationwide, voluntary initiative because we wanted the sector to get on that journey — covering waterways wider than a metre and deeper than a gumboot. “There is no quick fix. No one can do it all overnight. “But what’s been achieved so far, well before regulation, needs to be celebrated even as we acknowledge there is more that needs to be done.” ■
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It’s taking a united effort to untangle the complexities of the Aparima River system. Photo / Supplied
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
Management skills help Karen step up TRAINING with MARIANNE GILLINGHAM
Diploma course offers a competitive edge
T
he days of simply stepping into a relative’s shoes to take over the family farm or orchard are probably gone in an age when agribusinesses compete in a global market with complex value chains. Local farmer Karen McLanachan is one of about 15 people who have signed up for EIT’s Level 5 Agribusiness Diploma programme and she is loving the knowledge she is acquiring from it. Her study mates are from across the primary sector board and other people from a wide range of backgrounds, including horticulture, forestry, Māori land incorporations and export agencies. Karen has been farming as long as she can remember but like many people in the primary sector, she was finding it increasingly difficult to keep
Karen has discovered that sustainable farming practices can actually save costs and gain competitive advantages.
EIT agribusiness tutor Carlos Mancer and student Karen McLanachan analysing a property assessment that forms part of the diploma programme.
up with the plethora of new regulatory and compliance requirements. Karen says she has benefited from getting a better understanding of resource management and discovering that sustainable farming practices can actually save costs and gain competitive advantages. But the biggest advantage has been learning to really understand and analyse the accounts from the accountant and understand the terminology they use to extract important information. “We have also covered things such as succession planning, and the structures under which we operate, and touched on things like tax mitigation.” Tutor Carlos Mancer is the ideal person to teach students from such a broad range of backgrounds, having experience in both farm management and horticulture. He had 30 years in farming, the last 11 of them managing the 4900-hectare Huiarua Station and now operates an orchard growing mandarins. He completed a similar diploma at Open Polytech and wrote agribusiness for Telford. The programme is part time, with students coming in one day a week during hours that suit their business schedule. The challenge for Carlos is holding everybody’s interest and he achieves this by relating it back to their own businesses. ■
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Thursday, April 25, 2019
FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
How to feed ewes on winter crops ANIMAL HEALTH with
You must prepare a good, robust feed budget and you must get it right.
RICHARDHILSON
It’s a growing trend in Hawke’s Bay but you have to plan ahead
W
hile those in the Deep South have been avid feeders of winter crop to ewes forever, we haven’t been big on it in Hawke’s Bay. However, a growing number of farmers are using winter feed crops now and doing it particularly well. If you are new to crop-feeding ewes and are looking for the odd reminder or option, read on . . . Best results will come when you properly budget feed allocations. Get a good estimation of yield by cutting and drying a sample or at least ask your agronomist or rep for an educated guess. Calculate the feeding period and how many ewes the crop can handle. We can help here too. It is important that you don’t just assume that all your ewes will last on your crop all winter. What tends to happen is that you will underfeed the ewes and run out of crop at the critical pre-lamb period when ewes need plenty to eat. That will end in tears. You must prepare a good, robust feed budget and you must get it right. Don’t start off feeding brassicas or oats until you have done a nitrate test. Ewes gorge crops and then die in spectacular numbers if nitrates are high. Bring in a couple of representa-
tive plants or a handful of oats and we will get the results to you very quickly. Always use a run-off paddock while ewes adjust to their new diet. This is standard practice but especially applicable if ewes are in an advanced stage of pregnancy, say the last month. Leave a gate open to the grass paddock next to their break but you may have to be able to do the
two-day shifts. We have done this successfully with brassicas and swedes but oats really need a long thin face and daily shifts. In general, ewes should still have access to water but most crops have high water content and ewes don’t seem to drink much at all. Access to hay or silage is usually not necessary either unless you have to top up the feed budget or have shy
Feeding winter crops to ewes can be easy and cheap. Photo / Supplied
feeders (which should really be drafted off rather than stay on the crop). And a really handy hint . . . vaccinate early. This allows you to set stock as soon as they finish the crop and with no need to visit the yards. Watch their udders and you will see how successful winter crops can be. Well-fed ewes develop good udders early and this means lots of colostrum for lambs and lots of antibodies in the colostrum. If you don’t have to yard the ewes (because you were clever enough to vaccinate early!) set stocking can be very close to lambing. Bearings seem to be an uncommon event on crops, possibly due to even feeding levels. Note that swedes were found to be a risk for increased bearings in the study we did, presumably due to their very high water content. Not feeding winter crops to ewes yet? Have a look around and work out who is and see if this is for you. Done right it is an incredibly easy and cheap wintering system for ewes with lots to recommend it. ■ Richard Hilson is a veterinarian for Vet Services HB Ltd
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
Act fast to prevent feed shortage PASTURE
You’ll need to get onto it now to save pasture
F
armers in several parts of the North Island could face further feed shortages in winter and spring if they don’t act soon to repair pastures killed or damaged by prolonged dry weather. The good news, according to pasture specialists, is that there’s still time to undersow new seed into these paddocks to get grass growing again. “Undersowing is fast, economic and very effective in these situations,” says Richard Doney, upper North Island area manager for Barenbrug Agriseeds. “If you do it right, it can make the difference between having enough grass on the farm in a few months’ time, and having to spend extra money on supplements to maintain production.” The alternative, he says, is pastures full of weeds, which are not palatable to cows and ultimately depress milk yield. NIWA’s weekly drought index shows most of the North Island is currently classified as dry, very dry, extremely dry or in drought. Richard and fellow area manager Bruce Paterson, lower North Island, say they’re fielding calls from farmers and advisors asking how to get damaged paddocks growing good grass again. Their first piece of advice is to act now. “There is only a brief window to get new seed into the ground before weeds take hold,” Bruce says. “We’re
talking three to four weeks, tops. You can think of it as a race between you and the weeds.” Damage in his area ranges from total pasture death to 50 per cent plant loss and in some cases has been made worse by insects. “A lot of farmers have already earmarked their worst affected paddocks for spring crop, and that’s great. But many of them also have an unusually high number of other paddocks which really need to be patched up before they get any worse.”
He and Richard recommend farmers walk all their pastures, and score them using the DairyNZ pasture condition score tool. Those which have opened up during the dry, with large areas of bare ground, can be undersown with no further intervention, but only if there are few weeds. If weeds have become established, these should be sprayed before undersowing, to remove competition for new grass seedlings. Undersowing options include Italian ryegrass like Tabu+, for
Undersowing, as the graph illustrates, is a race between you, and the weeds. Photo / NZME
paddocks scheduled to be cropped in spring; and hybrid ryegrass like Shogun, which lasts longer. Both are fast establishing with high yield, and produce much-needed extra dry matter without the cost of full pasture renewal. Undersow after hard grazing, always use treated seed and sow at 50-75 per cent of the normal rate, using higher rate of seed in thinner pastures. Check for slugs and bait. Technique is important, Richard and Bruce say — drills should be driven slowly, and seed should be covered after sowing, with press wheels, harrow or roller. Undersown paddocks should be grazed normally, to prevent seedlings being shaded. ■ To find out more, visit agriseeds.co.nz or talk to your seed retailer.
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
HEALTH & SAFETY with PAUL DYKES
Dealing with animals can be risky, especially when you’re not getting any younger
I
remember as a toddler walking alongside my mother, who was carrying my baby sister on her hip, through a paddock on my uncle’s farm when he suddenly burst into the field shouting that the bull was out. I can still see the panic in my mum’s face as she tried to scoop me up with her free arm, all set to make a wild dash for safety. But hang on. Why is Uncle Lou now laughing? Ever the practical joker, Uncle Lou was pulling yet another prank on us unsuspecting townies. I’m sure he saved up his ideas awaiting her visits. But bulls and other large animals do get out, or turn on their handlers and, in many cases, the farmer is not so amused. Cows, bulls, horses and even sheep keep up a regular campaign of assault against farmers and farm workers, frequently causing injury. In one recent case, a milker was shoved in the back by a cow in the milking shed, causing him to smack his head on a pillar. He tried to work on, but became concussed and needed time off and treatment. Another farmer suffered chest injuries after he was recently trampled by one of his bulls, despite him having handled such animals for more than 50 years without incident. The attack was unprovoked and came out of the blue. Maybe he was not as spry as he used to be, but that is to be
THE BULL’S OUT! expected given his age. Likewise, earlier this year a retired townie, working on his lifestyle block, discovered that bulls can have a mind of their own. Rather than ambling
onto the trailer as intended, this bull turned back and charged at him. In jumping out of the way, the farmer smashed sideways into a fence, damaging a few ribs.
The three anecdotal incidents mentioned above are not unusual, and similar events are often not even continued on A13
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A fearsome spectre to townie and farmer alike. Photo / Getty Images
Thursday, April 25, 2019
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
Milne: Beware curse of age continued from A12
reported, unless ACC is involved in the subsequent medical treatment. Despite the rise of automation on farm, with some large-scale machinery to contend with, the most common external factor involved in injury on farm is livestock, according to ACC statistics. So what is this telling us about onfarm injuries and deaths? Could it be that our farm workforce is getting too old for the job? According to Statistics NZ, the average age of farmers is rising year on year. Its sector figures show that beef cattle farmers tend to be the oldest at an average 56 years, followed by sheep farmers, deer farmers, and arable croppers, with dairy farmers being the most youthful — still in their early 40s. Katie Milne, FedFarm president, says age could well be a factor to consider. “Let’s face it, when you’re older and the joints are stiffer, it’s just that bit harder to lift the legs and the heavy, mud-clogged gumboots up and over to get on and off. So I think there is that tendency to stay on the quad bike and push it just that little bit further — to lean out just a bit more with the sprayer on rides on the hills, and that sort of thing. There’s that potential to get caught out. “Also, there’s the physiological fact that we slow up as we age. Your brain has that different memory of what the body can do . . . if you haven’t done a task for a while, you might find you haven’t quite got the strength you used to have.”
She says she was up and into the hills recently and very soon became aware that she wasn’t as agile as in earlier years. “I don’t have that cartilage, or spring in my step to make crossings and get along ridges that I would have just bolted along back in the day. “Also, when you’ve performed tasks all your life, maybe you get a bit complacent, and forget that your body and your reflexes have slowed. “Hopefully, most farmers are aware of that and adjust accordingly, but it’s something that can catch you out when you’re really busy or there’s a pressure situation that crops up.” ACC’s injury statistics to the end of last year record that more than 5000 farmers or farm workers were hurt at work by livestock (see Table). That’s just over 14 a day out of the 64 injuries recorded on farm every
day across New Zealand by ACC (23,341 in all of 2018). While 14 a day might not sound a lot; that equates to a significant impact in terms of family disruption, reduced wages, compromised production and lost man hours — not counting the pain and suffering. Not many farms could afford to be without a worker for a few days. Of course, not all incidents are reported, for a variety of reasons. The reported figure could be way short of the actual. As it stands, about 22 percent of the nationwide total for all farming-related ACC claims is associated with livestock. On-farm injuries caused when using agricultural machinery totalled 772 in 2018, plus 114 relating to other machinery. The ACC injury-source category labelled Ground/path accounted for the most claims by
On-farm injuries by livestock, 2016-18 Animal Cattle Deer Dog Horse Sheep Other Subtotals All ACC on-farm claims All ACC claim costs*
2016
2017
2018
2045 45 244 1229 1420 852 5835 24,066 $73,365,330
1844 52 235 1273 1306 875 5585 24,145 $73,811,870
1711 50 236 1247 1141 785 5170 23,341 $76,987,682
Notes: *GST inclusive. Individual claims costs can overlap year on year Source: ACC
subsector in 2108 — 3311, almost certainly related to slips, trips and falls, being the only subsector to outscore live cattle. Given the much lower percentage of females working on farms, women are well represented in the on-farm injury statistics. In the 12 months to the end of December 2018, 7357 females made an ACC claim relating to on-farm injury. In the same period, 15,984 male farmers or farm workers made an ACC claim. Statistics show, however, that females are more likely than males to be injured by livestock, in comparison to other factors. Males are more likely to be injured by vehicles, in comparison to other factors, than females. ■
Katie Milne says she definitely felt it after a recent trek into the hills. Photo / File
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FARMING OUTLOOK APRIL 2019
One stop aim for waste scheme RECYCLNG
New rural project offers superior way to get rid of waste
A
new project will support farmers by providing alternatives to the harmful disposal practices of burning, burying and stock-piling of waste. Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage announced the launch of the New Zealand Rural Waste Minimisation Project at the South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee today. Rural recycling programme Agrecovery will implement the Project by offering nationwide events for farmers to sustainably dispose of waste all in one go. This will clear agrichemical and motor oil containers, unwanted agrichemicals, used motor oil, fertiliser bags and silage wrap. “By providing a ‘one-stop-shop approach’, we will be removing barriers to recycling and encouraging our rural communities to participate in sustainable disposal practices for a variety of waste,” says Agrecovery board chairwoman Adrienne Wilcock. The Agrecovery Foundation started in 2007, setting its sights to clear plastic agrichemical containers and drums from farms and orchards around the country. The agrichemical industry chose to fund the programme so its waste could be made into useful products within New Zealand. The programme also sustainably disposes of unwanted agrichemicals. Minister Eugenie Sage said businesses must take responsibility for their products throughout their whole life cycle. “Both voluntary and mandatory product stewardship is essential to ensure resources are managed sensibly. Agrecovery has long recognised this and started one of the earliest voluntary product stewardship schemes. There have been a few in the industry who haven’t participated in the process and it is clear that government intervention may be necessary. “That is why I instructed officials to begin investigations into Mandatory Product Stewardship for four waste streams. “All producers have a responsibil-
ity to the environment to minimise the harm that their products have, and one way to ensure this is through mandatory product stewardship.” The project builds upon two trial events held last year which collected almost 20 tonnes of rural waste. “Solving waste issues by providing a service that deals with waste all in one go was supported by farmers who participated in the events,” says Wilcock. “It is critical that we take responsibility for all plastics used on farms — which have long been problematic — and meet these challenges head-on.” Agrecovery has high ambitions to clear more rural waste by partnering with industry groups, product stewardship schemes and councils around the country to make it easier for rural communities to recycle. ■
It is critical that we take responsibility for all plastics used on farms — which have long been problematic — and meet these challenges head-on.
Dannevirke farmer Edward Bell unloads his trailer of agrichemical containers for recycling.
AgRecovery’s Rachel Thomas shows the shredded material — all that is left from plastic containers Photos / Christine McKay
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