HB Today - Real Heartland 2022

Soil! Farmersnaturalcapital

Ifsoilis afarmer’snaturalcapital,its valuecan’tbeunderestimated.

That’swhy BioAgtakeaholistic approachtosoilfunctionandaddresses imbalancesstartingat amicrobiological level.

BioAg,basedinHawke’sBay,hasbeen activeinNZfor15years,distributingtheir uniquebiologicalstimulants,andproviding abiologicallyorientedfarmfertilitysystem, stemmingfrom40yearsofbackground knowledgeinNZandinternationally.

Theyofferyear-longtailoredprogrammes forallfarms,crops,andorchardsincludingmineralrequirements.Their programmesarebasedonresultsfrom soilsampling,visualsoilassessments

andindicatorsseenincrops,pasture,or stock.

BioAg’sintegratedapproachaimstonot onlyachievethefarmer’sdesiredresults inonearea,buttocreateopportunitiesfor overallimprovementincludingprofit,farm potentialandpersonalfulfilment.

“Ifit’sgoodforthesoil,it’sgoodforyou,” saysBioAgmanagingdirectorSteven Haswell.

“When we payattentiontobiological processesbetweensoil,plantand animaltherearesignificantopportunities toimprovetheefficiencyofourfood production,reducesyntheticfertiliser andchemicalinputswhileimproving

environmentalandhumanhealth outcomesandfarmersbottomlines.”

“Soilismadeupofair,water,minerals, organicmatterandlivingorganisms -the biology. Thelasttwodistinguishsoilfrom dirt,topsoilfromsubsoil.Humussums thatpartupandrightthereis afarmers naturalcapital.”

“Enhancingthebiologicalfunctionofthe soilimprovesitsstructure,itsabilityto infiltrateandretain water,itsabilityto breatheoxygen –freenitrogen.Thesoil andplantbiomeenablespastures,crops, andanimalstoexpresstheirgenetic potential.Nutritionisonlypossibledueto aseriesofmicrobialbridgeslinkingsoil, plant,animalandhuman.”

Hawke’sBay advisorBruceSmithhas beenworkingwithalltypesoffarmersand growersforBioAgthroughouttheNorth Islandfor over13years.Bruceis aformer dairyfarmerwhodiversifiedtoinclude commercialcutflowerproductionandthen into acareerinviticultureinHawke’sBay.

“Inoticedhowmanychemicals wewere sprayingonourgrapesandthoughtthere mustbe abetter way. Mydriveisaligned withBioAgforfoodwithoutchemicals.This hasbeen my motivationofcarefor over 20years.TheBioAgsystemisallabout health –ahealthyenvironment,livestock, crops,andpeople.”

Bettersoils,better everything.That’sfor everyone.

Putyourselfinthe bootsofafarmer

ByJimGalloway, President Federated FarmersHawke’sBay

HeWakaEkeNoa,sequestration, nitrousoxide,leakage…as afarming leadertryingtoput myselfinthe shoesofanurbanKiwi, Iguessquestions aroundagriculturalemissionsseema realmaze,and adebatethatjustdrags on.Believeme,it’scomplicatedand frustratingformanyfarmerstoo,especially whenpressureiscomingfromallsidesfor actionbut –fornowatleast –thereare veryfew mitigationtools availabletoour sector.

Thetemptationforthosenotinthefiring linemightbetoreason:“Climatechange isreal.Theagsectorisresponsiblefor 48%ofNewZealand’sgrossemissions. They’vegottocomedown –endofstory.” Ifonlyit werethatsimple.

Let’sgetbacktothecoreproblem we’re tryingtoaddress –global warming. Greenhousegases(GHGs)inthe atmospheretrapheat, warmingtheplanet, stressingecosystems,meltingpolarice andcausingclimateextremes.

ThedifferentGHGshave adifferent atmospheric warmingimpact.Nitrous oxidewhichemanatesfromprocesses relatingtofarmedanimalurineandtoo muchfertilizeruseis a‘stock’GHG. Justlikecarbondioxide,itstaysinthe atmosphereformanyhundredsofyears.

TheHe WakaEkeNoapartnershipof11 farminggroupsagrees,justlikecarbon

dioxide,nitrousoxideemissionsneedto beatnetzero by 2050.

Butthemethanebelchedfromfarmed animals –while apotentGHGshortterm-isa‘flow’gas.It’sonlyinthe atmosphere10-12yearsbeforeitbreaks down.Thescienceisclear,tohaveno additionalatmospheric warmingimpact, methanefromNZ’sfarmedlivestockneeds tobereduced by 0.3% ayear,or10% by 2050.Thisiswhyourfarmersrailagainst thecurrentmethanetargetsof a10% reduction by 2030 –justeightyearsawayand24-47% by 2050.

Ignoreforthemomentthefactthe currenttargetwilllikelyshiftproduction forgoneheretofarlessemissions efficientfarmersoffshore.Ignorethat majorpollutersareallowedtooffset theiremissions by plantingpines,butthe government rulesoutthesequestering benefitsofshelterbeltandripariantrees planted by farmers.

Ignorethatcoveringproductivefarmland inblanketpinesforcarbonrevenueonly isdestroying ruralcommunitiesand economies(thoughthey’realldamned significantissuestoignore!!).

Atthenubofit:farmersarewillingto shoulder afairshareofthenation’s climatechangefightbutnotanunfair,nonsciencebasedloadthatwhentaxedunder apricingsystemwillsendsomeofthemto the wall.

Thegovernment’sownmodellingshows currentlyproposedemissionstaxeswill

slash20%ofsheep and5-6%ofdair Sheep oftheHawke’ AgriculturalCensusshowsHBhadnearly 3m 78,000dair willhappentotheeconomicsofnotjust theprovince’

meatworks,thefreightsector

whichofyouarebeingaskedtotak 20%cutinyourincome?

Growingconcernsovercarbonfarming

ByGeorge Tatham Director,Beef +LambNewZealand

InSeptember,RadioNewZealand reportedthesaleoffourmoresheep andbeeffarmsto overseasinvestors whowillturn7100haintorotational forestry.

Thisincludesthesaleoftwostations nearGisbornetofurniturestoreIKEA’s parentcompanyIngkaInvestments. With acombinedareaof over6000ha, 5000haofthiswillbeconvertedinto radiatapineforests.

Closertohome, asheepandbeef propertynearHastings wasrecently purchased by ItalianfirmGreendom Limited.

Lastyear,a totalof52000haofland wassoldintoforestryinterests.Thisis a36percentincreaseintheprevious twoyearsand wellupfrom7000hain 2017.

Thesenumbersarefrighteningand thislossofproductivelandintoexotic forestry, particularlycarbon-onlyfarms, haspotentialtocausesignificant economicdamagetothiscountry’s redmeatsectoras wellas rural communitiesandthewidereconomy.

Beef +LambNewZealandhasrecently releasedthefindingsofanindependent reportitcommissioned,written by Orme andAssociates,whichunderlinesthe impacttheGovernment’spoliciesare havingonfarmsalesandtheeconomic

impactofthislarge-scaleland-use change.

If100percentofsuitableland purchasedforafforestation overthe pastfiveyearswasplanted(134,500ha outof atotal175,000ha)thiswould leadto adeclineofaroundonemillion stockunits.Thiswouldequatetoan annualfarmproductionlossof$170 millionatthefarmgateand acumulative productionlossof$540millionfrom progressiveplantingfrom2017to2022.

Downthesupplychain, afurther44 percentisaddedfromprocessing, whichat2021-22exportprices, equatestolostexportearningsof$245 millionannuallyand$775millionfrom progressiveplantingfrom2017to2022.

IwanttomakeitclearthatB+LNZ isnotanti-forestry. Withinfarms,the integrationofexoticandindigenous forestryisawin:win,helpingNew Zealandmeetitsclimatechange commitmentswhilecontinuingto supportfoodproduction.

Itisthescaleoftheseconversions thatisofconcernastheyarefarin excessofwhatisrequiredforNZto meetitsclimatechangeobjectives, whichaccordingtotheClimateChange Commission,is25,000haofexotics annually.

Farmingorganisationsarenottheonly onesopposedtoforeigncompanies buyingNZfarmstooffsettheir emissions.

Research by Curia,commissioned by Federated FarmersandB+LNZ,found 54percentofNewZealanderssupport alimitontheamountoffossilfuel emissionsthatcanbeoffsetbynewpine forests.

NZistheonlycountryintheworldto allow100percentoffsettingfossilfuel emissionswithintheEmissions Trading Scheme.TheEuropeanUniononlyallows 10percentandCalifornia,eightpercent. Changesareurgentlyneededtostop thislossofproductivefarmlandand B+LNZwillcontinuetoworkwithother organisationstourgetheGovernmentto placelimitsontheamountofoffsetting availableundertheETSandother policychangessuchastotheResource ManagementAct.

Why youshouldbookaFECRTthisSummer

ByDave Warburton,BVSc VetServicesHawke’sBay.

Drenchisthesilent,slowonset profitkiller.Itstartsoutcostingyou 5grams/day(whichyoucan’tsee) andbuildsup overtime. We seefarmers become awaretheymay have aproblem during awetsummer/autumnwhenthe wormpopulationonfarmismoreactive andcyclingquickerandfarmersstart knockingonourdoorwithhighFECsand poordoingstock.

Economics –whatparasitescostyou!

Lostgrowthof5grams/day over2000 lambsfor90daysat$3.50/KgLW= $3,150(costofyourfamily summer holiday).

Whenitgets intothe25gramsperday territorythe cost =$15,750(costto feed 2teenagerseachyear!)

What we candotohelp

Youcanfarmsuccessfully with drench resistanceif we knowwhat we aredealing withand develop aparasitemanagement planspecific to yourfarming conditions.

Our vets canhelpget youstarted by settingup aFaecalEggCountReduction Test(FECRT).Thepurpose of FECRT’sis tocomparethechangeinthenumber ofparasitesinyouranimalsFECbefore drenching(or withnodrenching),withthe FEC at 10daysafter drenching.Theresult isreportedasthepercentage that theegg counthasbeenreduced.

We generally getthebestresultswhen we have awidemixofsignificantworm speciespresent.InHawke’s Baythebest timetocomplete aFECRT is between JanuaryandMarch.

Sheep

•Whentestingdrenchresistance insheepweideally wanttouse undrenchedlambs.

•Werecommendtestinguptofour drencheswithdifferent actives(with 12-15lambs perdrenchgroup).

FirstStep…

•Draftoutandidentifythetestanimals (wesuggest60-80, havingmore than needed allows someextrasatthe first setoftesting).

•Identify these by sprayingwithan aerosolraddle(mostcommon method)betweenshouldersforfurther identification.Pleasedon’t spraythem onthe rumpas we usethatareato identify treatmentgroupsattimeof

testing.Identifytheselambsatthe firstmuster, whichwillbepre-weanor weaning.

•Donotdrenchthem, evenifyoudo the others. Thetestresultsarebestwhen theseanimalshaveneverreceiveda drench.

•Theycanremainwiththeirflockmates or runonareasthatyouexpect they will keep being exposedto sheep worms(not acattleblock,forinstance).

Next…

•Atnextyardingdraftoffthemarked lambs. Keepthemseparatefrom now on.

•TakeaFECsamplefromtheidentified FECRTlambsoncethey starttolook abitshitty –thisoftentakes until late January or wellinto Februarybut do makesuretheyhavebeencoveredfor flyandthatyou keepan eyeonthem.

•Taketen individualfaecalsamples.This iseasiestdonebypaddockcollection

butensure yousubmitfreshfaeces. Otherwisecollectdirectlyfromthe rectum with aglovedfinger.Wipeyour glovedfingerverycarefully between lambstoavoidcrosscontamination. We needatleast 1teaspoon of faeces persample.Fillinthesubmission form accompanying thesamples andidentify asPRE-FECRT#1.

•Donotrefrigeratethesesamples but getintotheclinicassoonaspossible.

•Resultswillbereported by yourvet within48 hours.

•Oncelevels arehigh enough(aiming for an average of500-700epgwithno zero counts)wewillstart theFECRT. Whenmanagingparasite populationsthere arelotsoffactorstoconsider.Ourvets cantalkyouthroughthe processandhelp design amanagement planwhichisunique to your farm.

Ifyouwouldliketo findoutmore,orbooka FECRTpleasecalluson(06)8767001or emaildave.warburton@vshb.co.nz.

Shepherd of the Year2022

TobyJowseyisthewinnerofthe RuralDirectionsHawke’sBay Shepherdofthe Yearcompetition. Contestantsenteredearlierintheyear resultinginthreefinalists Toby Jowsey, FinnBeamishandQuin Kynoch.The winner wasplannedtobeannounced attheSilver Fern Farm Hawke’sBay Farmerofthe Year FieldDayon29 September.However,Tobycamedown withCovidand wasunabletoattendthe event.Hereceivedhis awardandprize package,presented by ManagerofRural DirectionsGretchen Parkessometime later.

Toby,whohasalreadyrealised acareer goalsinceenteringthecompetition saysthathefeels“reallystokedand overthemoon,”tohavewon.His reasonsforentering weretochallenge himselfbeyondhiscomfortzoneand connecthimselftothewideragricultural community.

ThisOctober Toby started anew position,anofferhesaysthat was toogoodtorefuse,asanexperienced shepherdatBarewoodStation, MiddlemarchinOtago.Heisoneof threeshepherdsandthefarmconsists of5,900haeffectivefarmland,24,500 sheep,300cattleandeightstaffin total.BarewoodStationisowned by LoneStar FarmsLtd.Whilehe’sstill settlingintothenewjob,andhasyetto viewthewholefarm,hesaysit’sgood tobebackon abreedingproperty.

Previously Toby workedat WhakamarumaruStationin Crownthorpe,Rimanui Farmsand LochinverStation.

BorninHawke’s Bay, Toby’s family operate afarminKererusofroman earlyagehehelpedoutonthefarmand knewhe“had apassionforfarming”. HeattendedNapierBoysHighSchool untilyear12andthentookupthe opportunitytogofarming.

Asfarasstudygoeshehasrecently completedlevel 4PrimaryITO FeedingandBudgetingandthefarm willcontinuetosupporthiscareer progression.

Beforehiscareermove Toby hadbeen ChairmanoftheEskviewYoung Farmers Clubwhichhefoundchallengingandhe triedtomakehisclubthebest by doing local fundraisersfor example, crutching, pickinguphayandcoveringsilage stacks.

Althoughit’searlydayshehasalready attended aYoung Farmersmeetingand met afew locals.

Whenaskedwhathemostenjoysabout being ashepherdhesays“Notone dayisthesamesoitnevergetsboring andthere’salwaysthingstobedoing. Workingwith my dogsandseeingthem progressissatisfyinginthejobas well.”

Toby receivedhis awardandprizepackagefromManagerofRuralDirectionsGretchen Parkes. PhotocourtesyHawke’sBayA&PSociety.

ByChrys Ayley

Ruralpeoplehelping ruralpeople

ByChrys Ayley

LonAndersonrecentlystepped downasEastCoastRuralSupport Coordinatoraftermanyyearsservice andhissuccessorisJonathanBell.

Jonathanhas apassionforthe rural communityhavingspentthemajority ofhisworkinglifeconnectedwiththe ruralsector.HepraisedLonfordoing“a marvellousjob“,especiallyinraising awarenessoftheRuralSupportTrust. HailingfromCentralOtago,Jonathan spenthisearlieryearsonsheepandbeef properties.HestudiedGeography atOtago UniversityandbeganworkinginMotueka for afruitmarketingcompany. Sincethen hehashad avariedcareer overthepast 40yearsholdingseniormanagementroles in anumberofindustriesincluding rural banking,financeandcredit,andthenotfor-profitsector.

Jonathandescribedhimselfas“ayoung 65.I’dgonutsif Iweren’t working.” Currentlyhe runshisownconsultancyBell andAssociates,is aDirectorOfHealth HawkesBayLimited,consultsforNimmoBellandPrimeConsultancyandisalsois amentorwithNZCommunityGovernance.

Inspiteofwhat appearstobea demandingworkingportfolioJonathan saysthatwhenhesawtheadvertisement forthevacancyofEastCoastRural

SupportCoordinatorhethoughtit was hisperfectjobdescription.Heisvery muchlookingforwardtobringinghis considerablelifeandfinancialskillstothe coordinatorrole.Heseestheposition asenablinghimto“givebacktothe

community”.Heiskeentoreconnectwith andsupportthe ruralcommunityofthe greater Hawke’sBay area.

Hawke’sBay hasbeenhometoJonathan, hiswifeDebandtwoadultchildren

MathewandCharlotte,for25years.He metandmarriedDebwhileworkingin Gisbornefor TrustBankandthe Westpac Trust.Thecouplerananorangeorchard formanyyears.Deb’sfamilystillliveand farminGisborne.

TheEastCoastRuralSupportTrustis coordinated by Jonathanandhasseven facilitatorswhobring abroadrangeof skillsandexperienceincludingbutnot limitedtomentalhealthandfinance. Dependingontheissuetheymay refer themtoexpertssay, infarmmanagement, mentoringorcounselling.

Ruralfolkcanreferthemselvestothe Trustorcouldbereferred by anassociate butonlywiththeindividual’spermission. Jonathanstressesthattheserviceis completelyconfidential.

Jonathanliaiseswiththefacilitators butmoreimportantlycontinuestoforge connectionsinthe ruralsectorbeit bankers, ruralrealestateagents,stock andstationagentsandsoon.‘It’s peopleintheindustrywhomightnotice thatsomethingiswrong.“We can’tbe everywhereatonce.Theyareour eyesand ears.”Hewillalsoattend eventssuchas Surfingfor Farmerstodevelopnetworks and“flytheflagsopeopleknow we are here”.

“TheRuralSupportTrustis acharitableorganisationsetuptoworkwiththe rural communitywhentimesaretoughonthefarmorinthefamily.”

JonathanBellisthenewcoordinatorforEastCoastRuralSupport.

Mentalhealthissuescanmanifest

themselvesindifferent waysandfarmers tendnottotalkaboutconcernsthatmay bebotheringthem,hesays.Pressures comefrommanyfactorssuchasdiseases instocklikeTBtoadverse weather events andfinancialpressures.

Facilitatorsaretrainedtohelpfindoptions tomanage ruralchallenges.Oftenall that’sneededissomeonetotalktoand listentoyourproblems.Butifprofessional helpisneededtheywillbereferredtothe appropriateexpert.

Anotherroleofthe Trustistoconnect peoplewithopportunitiestoattend

workshopsand events. Forexample,Matt Chisholm,journalist,TVpresenterandnow asheepandbeeffarmer,wasrecently namedastheinauguralambassadorfor theRuralSupportTrustandiscurrently running asuccessfulseriesoftalksin conjunctionwiththe Trustabouthisstory onhisTimeOut Tour.

Therehasbeen agreater awarenessin thelastfiveorsixyearsofhealthand wellbeing,especiallymentalhealthandmany initiativessuchasWilltoLive, Farmstrong andMikeKingareraising awarenessand openingup avenuesforsupport.Covidhas alsoseenmorepeoplequestioningtheir lifestylechoicesanditseffectsontheir

healthand well-being,Jonathan says.

HowcanRuralSupporthelp?

Wellness

Therearefourteenindependent RuralSupportTrustssupporting ruralcommunitiesthroughoutthe country.

These Trustsprovidefreeand confidentialassistanceto rural peoplefacingchallengesrelatedto adverse events,onfarmtechnical support,financialchallenges, relationships,healthand wellbeing, animal welfare,andemployment matters.

RuralSupportTrustshave experience,trained rural facilitatorswhounderstandthe pressuresandchallengesthat comewithliving rurallyandmaking alivelihoodfromtheland.

We sitaroundthetablewith ruralpeople andsupportthemtofindworkable solutionssotheycannavigate away forward.

Adverse eventsRuralSupportTrustsare availabletohelpandsupportduringand followinganadverse event,suchasa storm,flood,earthquake,drought,orfire.

We collaboratewithCivilDefence,Ministry forPrimaryIndustries(MPI),industry partnersandcontractorstoensurea practical,efficientandeffectiveresponse, sothat ruralcommunitiescanquicklyget backontheirfeet.

We focuson:makingsurepeoplearesafe andhave well-beingsupport

Gettingpropertiestidiedup Gettingbusinessesoperating Assistingwithapplyingforfinancial support

To contact aRuralSupportTrustnear youpleasecall 0800787254(0800RURALHELP) www.rural-support.org.nz

Surfingfor Farmersisaninitiativethat’sprovingpopular.

MattChisholmistheinauguralambassadorfor theRuralSupportTrust.

Ruralsectorhasgrit

ByNickHawken, BayleysNationalDirectorRural

OurfoodandfibresectorhascarriedNew Zealand’sexport-ledeconomicrecovery post-pandemic,accountingformorethan 80percentofthecountry’stotalexportsin theyearto30June2022.

Producershavefaced amyriadofhurdles fromsupplychainchallengesandlabour shortages,toclimatechangecompliance, waterandlandmanagementreforms, weather eventsandescalatinginflation –butifthere’sonething we knowfor certain,the ruralsectorhasgrit.

Theregulatoryenvironmentremains achallengeforfarmersandwhile sometimesitseemslikeonestepforward, twostepsback –hopefully,tangible progressisbeingmade.

Landvaluegrowthhasbeenimpressive, butthiscannotlastforeverand we’re anticipatingsomerecalibrationincoming months –despitethe ruralsectorbeingin verygoodheart.

Dairyhashadanincredible runasthe sectorcapitalisesonsolidcommodity returnsandrecapitalisesitsbalance sheets.

particularly,theRSEschemesthatsupport thehorticulturalindustry. Whilesomeofthesupplychainchallenges havefinallycaughtupwiththekiwifruit sector,theoutlookforgrowthissupported by labourforcefundamentalsstartingto reset.

Alackoflabouris ahugerestrictorforany sectorthatreliesheavilyonanactiveand experiencedworkforce,solet’shopethe constrictedmarketbouncesbackquickly asthecountry’sborderentrythresholds ease.

Changeoflandusecontinuestobea constanttheme runningthroughtheentire ruralsectorandalthoughtheClimate ChangeCommissionchairDrRodCarr recentlystatedtheEmissions Trading Schemeneedsreformbecauseitallows companiesto“plantandpollute”,the carbontusslelookssettocontinueinone shapeorformasthepriceofcarbonlifts andthemarketadapts.

Banksaresupportiveandlendingmoney, there’salotofopportunityinthemarket, and we’reseeinggoodactivitylevelsfor propertieswithscale,withtransactions reflectiveofgenuineproductivevalues. Meanwhile,thelifestyleproperty markethasseenplentyofactioninthe pandemic’swakeaspeople weighupworklifebalance.

Workingfromhomeor hybridworkmodels arenowacceptedpractice,there’smore resilient ruralbroadband,andwithfuel priceshigh,peoplearerealisingthata lifestylepropertygivesthemspace,a certainfreedomand agreatplacetoraise afamily.

Although we stillhave afew busy monthsaheadofusbeforewrapping uptheyear,we’restartingtosee 2022intherearvisionmirrorandplanning ahead –justasourclientsare.

Transactionlevelsinthe ruralproperty marketaretraditionallybuoyantthrough spring,and we’reexpectingtoseea further lift in activity as the rural sector expandsonthebackofcontinuedstrong fundamentals.

Rabobank’sQ3BeefQuarterlyReport paints arosypictureforbeefexportsin thecomingseason,givensolidglobal demandand afavourableexchangerate. Thekiwifruitsectorhasdone apretty goodjobconsideringit’sfacedsome headwinds,withthepandemicenvironment emphasisingNewZealand’sneedfora resilientandaccessiblelabourmarketand

Theproposedremovalofforestry conversionsfromtheOverseasInvestment Office’s(OIO)specialforestrytestfor offshorepartiesbuyingbarelandmeans we couldexpecttoseesomelanddeals takelongertotransactat astructural level,andwhethertherewillultimately be adifferentoutcomeisyettobe established.

Onthebackofcontinuedstrongdairy returns,the ruralsectoras awholeisfar bettercapitalisednow.

Furtherchangeisnowclearlyonthe horizonfor rurallandownerswiththe introductionoftheNational Policy Statement –HighlyProductiveLand (NPS-HPL)designedtoprotectNew Zealand’smostproductivelandfromurban development.Whilecouncilsareyetto workthroughthedetail,itwillhavean impactonthefuturesubdivisionof rural land.

Ifspringsignals afreshstartforyou,and ruralpropertyisonyourradar,thentalk tous.

Bayleys’countryteamis well-connected, proactiveandrespectedinthe rural marketand we’d lovetoprovidesome guidance.

Three-yearproject toinvestigateimpactsofgrowing vegetablesregeneratively

A

projectled by LeaderBrandProduce, CountdownandPlant &Food Researchisthefirstindustry-wide collaborationtoinvestigatetheimpacts ofregenerativefarmingpracticesin vegetablefarming,particularlyinrelation toproductivity,profitability,peopleand environment.

Theprojectisbeing runoutof LeaderBrand’svegetableproduction operationinGisborne,witha demonstrationsitebeingestablishedto trialregenerativepracticesand evaluate theimpactsofusingcompostandcover cropsacrossvariedcroprotations.

Thetrialsitewill runnextto acontrol siteoperatingundercurrentmanagement

practices,sothattheimpactsofthe regenerativepracticescanbecompared overtime.

Theprojectisalsofocussedonthe roleofperennialplantingsinfacilitating ecosystemrestoration,andwillengage withstaff,community,andiwitocreate practicesthatworkwith,andforthewider community.

GordonMcPhail,LeaderBrand’sGeneral Managerof Farmingsaysthatthestrong researchfocusofthisprojectwillhelp tocreatetoolsthatwillallowvegetable growerstomakeinformeddecisions aboutimplementingregenerativefarming practicesoftheirown.

“Ultimately,wewantthisprojectto deliver aframeworkforhowLeaderBrand andotherfarmerscanproducefood moresustainably,nowandforfuture generations.

“We’vealreadybeenworkinghardinthis spaceandthisjointprojectwillallowusto buildonsomeofourpreviousandcurrent projects.Having evidence-basedsolutions forintegratedpestmanagement,nutrient budgeting,soilmanagementandcrop rotationis agamechanger.

“It’salsoanopportunityforusto shareandengagewithourteam,iwi, localcommunities,andcustomerson sustainableandregenerativepractices,” saysGordonMcPhail.

MuchofNewZealand’sexistingresearch onregenerativeagriculturehasbeen focusedonpastorallandusesothis projectwillprovideaninvaluable evidence baseforourhorticulturesector.

“Thisisanexcitingprogrammeto be working collaboratively on with CountdownandLeaderBrand.Itprovides agreatopportunitytotestregenerative practicesbasedonscientific evidence thatcouldbesuccessfullyadoptedata commercialscaletoimproveproduction andenvironmentaloutcomeslinked tovegetablegrowing,” saysDr Paul Johnstone,GeneralManagerScience SustainableProductionatPlant &Food Research.

LeaderBrandagronomistsandPlant& FoodResearchscientistsarecurrently reviewingpriorexperienceandpublished literatureonoptionsforcovercrops.

They’realso evaluatingthelikelybenefits andrisksinecosystemrestorationahead offieldtrialsinGisbornelaterinthe project.

Theprojecthasstartedwithan assessmentofnutrientrelease characteristicsfromcompostappliedat variousratesondifferentsoiltypes,at Plant &FoodResearch’sHawke’s Bay ResearchCentre.Thisisanimportant firststeptounderstandingalternative sourcesofcropnutritionandhowthey mightcomplementoroffsetconventional fertilisers.

LeaderBrandProduceandCountdown haveeachsupportedthisprojectwithan investmentof$300,000incashandinkind,withresearchanddatasupportfrom Plant &FoodResearch.

CourtesyPlant &FoodResearch

GordonMcPhailLeaderBrand’sGeneral Managerof Farming.

Seasonalclimateoutlook

October-December2022

•ModerateLaNiñaconditions continuedduringSeptemberand amarineheatwavestrengthened inAotearoaNewZealand’scoastal waters.Bothareexpectedtoinfluence theclimate overthenextthreemonths.

•Airpressureisforecasttobehigher thannormalaroundNewZealand, especiallyneartheSouthIslandand eastofthecountry. Thiswilllikelybe associatedwithlessfrequent westerly winds,morenortheasterlywinds,and thepotentialforlongerdryspellsin westernareas.

•Rainfallismostlikelytobebelow normalinthe westoftheSouthIsland, aboutequallylikelytobenearnormal orabovenormalinthenorthandeast oftheNorthIsland,andaboutequally likelytobenearnormalorbelow normalinallotherregions.Occasional sub-tropicallowsareexpected, elevatingtheriskforheavyraininthe north and east of the North Island.

•Thereisanincreasedriskforearlyseasontropicalcycloneactivityinthe Southwest PacificduringNovemberand December,howeveritisnotpossibleto predictwheretheymightformortrack monthsinadvance.

•Temperaturesareverylikelytobe warmerthan averageintheNorth Islandandnorthand westoftheSouth Island,andmostlikelytobe warmer than averageintheeastoftheSouth Island.Octobermayhavevariable temperaturesbefore amoremarked riseinNovemberandDecember,along withanincreaseinhumidity.

•Coastalseasurfacetemperatures (SSTs)rangedfrom0.6˚Cto1.0˚C above averageduringSeptemberwith marineheatwaveconditionscontinuing offshoreofmanyregions.Manyclimate modelsshowanincreaseinSST anomalies(differencefrom average) duringtheOctober-Decemberperiod.

•Soilmoisturelevelsandriverflowsare aboutequallylikelytobenearnormal orbelownormalinallregionsexcept thenorthandeastoftheNorthIsland, wheretheymay behigherduetomore frequentrainfall events.

Gisborne,Hawke’sBay,Wairarapa

Probabilitiesareassignedinthree categories:above average,near average, andbelow average.

•Temperaturesareverylikelytobe above average(65%chance).More northeasterlywindsmayleadtohigher humiditylevels,morecloudcover,and warmer overnighttemperatures. Fewer northwesterlywindsmaylimitthe numberofhotdays.

•Rainfalltotalsareaboutequallylikely tobenearnormal(40%chance)or abovenormal(35%chance).More frequentonshorewindscouldlead tomore wetdays.Sub-tropicallow pressuresystemswilloccasionally tracktowardtheregion,suchasduring thefirstandthird weekofOctober, increasingtheriskforheavyrain, particularlyinnorthernHawke’s Bay andGisborne.

•Soilmoisturelevelsandriverflowsare aboutequallylikelytobenearnormal orabovenormal(40-45%chance).