HB Today - Rural Focus July 2023

Effectsof CycloneGabrielleon-going

PatrickCrawshaw Director

Thisismyfirstcolumnasthenew EasternNorthIslandDirectoronthe BoardofBeef +LambNewZealand.

I’mhonouredtohavebeenelectedby mypeersandlookforwardtobringinga long-termperspectivetothetable.

Iamdeeplypassionateaboutthe successofthelivestockindustryandam motivatedbywhathappensbehindour farmgates.

IwouldliketothankformerDirector George TathamforhisservicetoEast Coastfarmersandlookforwardto buildingonwhathehasestablishedon theBoard.

CycloneGabriellehassignificantly impactedourbusiness,particularlydue toinfrastructuraldamage.Accesstothe farmgateisfragileandfarmplanning needsto reflectthis.The realityis that wewillbesettlingforimperfectionand decreasedproduction resultingfromthis damageforsometime.

Theeffectsofthecyclonewillbefelt inourcommunitiesforyearstocome but,piecebypiece,wewillbringitback together,findnewopportunitiesinour businessesandimproveour resilienceas aresult.

Quiterightly,farmersareputting their time andenergyintothehereandnow andnotthinkingtoofarahead.Thewet andsoddenconditions requireextra effort,butextracareisnecessary,aspost cyclonefatigue is real.

It’s hardtoallocatetimeoutsideofdayto-daybusinessforplanningandmental healthand recovery,buttheseare so importantfor amultitudeof reasons, and Ihopefarmerswilltryandmake timetoworkontheirbusinessandtheir wellbeing.

Overthepastfewweeks,membersofthe B+LNZBoardalongwithmembersofits seniorleadershipteamhavebeenoutin the regionsconductingFarmerFeedback sessions.

We havehostedthesemeetingsfrom Hastingssouthandwillbevisiting regionsfromNapiernorthinlateJulyand earlyAugust.Thisisanopportunityfor farmerstocomealongandhavetheir voicesheardontheissuesthatconcern them.

Thefeedbackgatheredfromthese meetingswillhelpinformdecisionmakingandgiveB+LNZaninsightinto howwecanbetterservefarmers.

Recentannouncementsabout consultationonchangestotheETSare anindicationthattheGovernmentisat lastlistening.

ItispleasingthattheGovernmenthas acknowledgedthattoomanyexoticsare beingplantedwithoutany real reduction inemissionsandhasputforward someconcreteoptionstolimitforestry offsetting.

Inits recently releasedconsultation materials,itisalsoconsideringexpanding theETStoinclude awiderrangeofforms ofsequestrationsuchaspre1990natives andwetlandsandgiving agreater reward forthesetypesofsequestrationwhich alsodeliverwiderenvironmentalbenefits.

Policysettingsshouldincentiviseforestry thatdeliversco-benefitssuchasshade, shelterandbiodiversityratherthanjust large-scale plantation forestry ConsultationonETS reformscloseson 11Augustand Istronglyencourageall farmerstoengagewiththisprocessand maketheirownsubmission.B+LNZ willbeprovidingfarmerswithdetailed analysisoftheproposed reformsand adviceonmaking asubmission.

Beef +LambNewZealand

Strongcaseformorefunding forQEIIcovenanted specialsites

ByJimGalloway, PresidentFederatedFarmersHawke’sBay

OutinruralareasoftheHawke’sBay itwasn’tonlyfarmerlivelihoodsand foodproductiondealt abodyblow byCycloneGabrielle.Muchofthegreat workthatlandownershavebeendoing toprotectandenhancebiodiversityhas beendestroyedaswell.

Inmymindit’sanother pressing reason whythegovernment,viatheDepartment ofConservation,shouldseriouslylookat liftingthefundingfortheQEIINational Trust.Thisistheindependentcharitable trustthatworkswithlandowners –the majorityofthemfarmers –whovoluntarily placespecialareasofbush,wetlands andotherbiodiversityundercovenant sothattheyareprotectedinperpetuity.

180,000ha,anareafivetimesthesize ofEgmontNationalPark,isnowQEII covenants.

Areasofnativeforestgenerallyfared betterthanothertypesoflanduseduring thecyclone,buttheywerebynomeans unscathed.QEII repswhohavebeenable tovisitcovenantsites reportthatdamage fromtreefallandlandslidesiscommon. Silt,deadsheepandpineslashhasbeen caughtinfences,andcropsandbaleage

havebeenpushedintotheprotected areas.Theworsthitcovenantsarethose withsteepgullies,riversorstreams. Eitherthebasehasbeenerodedand therehasbeen aslipwithinthecovenant, orthesurroundingpasturehasslipped intothecovenantandcauseddamageto theboundaryfencesonitswayin. Covenantsinlowlandareas,while somewhataccustomedtoflooding, nowhavesiltthroughthem,completely coveringgroundcoverandkillingferns, seedlingsandyoungertrees.Stock gainingaccesstocovenantsdueto damagedfencinghasbeen acommon problem,thoughinmostcasesfarmers wereabletomovequicklywithtemporary fencesuntilpermanentfencescanbe reinstated.

TheQEII Trustestimatesthataround 70outofapproximately220covenants (32%)inthe Wairoaand Tairwhiti regions wereaffectedbyCycloneGabrielleand about91outof222(41%)inHawke’s. Bay.

Oursectorisgratefulthatthegovernment madeavailableupto$10,000toevery farmhitwithcyclonedamagebutquite frankly,giventhescaleofsilt,flooding andsliphavoc,thatamountisvery quicklygobbledup.Andquiterightly

theemphasishasgoneon re-opening access,securinganimalsbehindfences andtryingtogetproductionbackonits feet.Damagetonaturalenvironments hastaken abackseat. Agreatdeal of reinstatementoffencesaroundcovenant areaswillbeneeded,alongwith reestablishingtrapnetworks,controlling weedsand replanting.

TheQEII Trusthas acontestablefund tohelpwithenhancementwork –The StephensonFund –buteveninnoncycloneyearsthatfundisconsiderably over-subscribed.Thetrusthaslaunched afundraisingappealtohelpthe significantnumberoflandownerswho havechosento‘dotherightthing’and protecttheimportantbiodiversityontheir farm.Donationscanbemadeatqeii.org. nz/donate-to-cyclone-relief

Ithinkthegovernmentalsoneedsto stepup.Governmentagenciesthat areworkingtoassistlandownersafter thecyclonesshouldincludedamage tonativebiodiversityassetsaswellas farmandorchardinfrastructure.Those placesareassetstoallofus –sothere’s astronger argumentforthe taxpayerto contribute.

Innovationand costsavingstrategies

By WrayWilson DeartechOperationsManager

AgritechinnovatorsDeartechhave beenoperatinginHastingsforover 50years.Foundedby TomDearin theearly1970s,thebusinessisnowrun bybrothersGlennandLanceDearand boasts35staff.

DeartechistheHawkesBay /East CoastLandpowerdealershipunder theCLAASHarvestCentrebrandand sellsandservicesleadingmachinery brandsincludingCLAAS(Combineand ForageHarvesters,andthefullrangeof tractors),JCBAgriculture(Loadersand Telehandlers)andAmazonecultivation equipment.

Deartechalsooperatesitsownfull serviceengineeringworkshopwhereit designsandmanufactures awiderange ofspecialisthorticulturalandviticultural machinesincludingorchardand vineyard sweeps,applebinshifters,mowersand squashharvesters.

AndwhileDeartech’straditionalbusiness continuestogrow,reapportioningofland usearoundtheHeretaungaplains,and thefocusonhorticultureandviticultural equipmentandtechnology,hascreated strongdemandforinnovationand costsavingstrategies.Becauseofthis DeartechhasinvestedheavilyinR&D whilealsolookingtoexpandtheirproduct

range.Whathas reallygottheteam excitedoflatearenewlinesofmachines theyareimportingdirectlyfromEurope.

“Forthelast18monthswehavebeen importingsmallnumbersofMunckhof VariMasorchardsprayersfromthe Netherlands. We have recently placedcustomerordersfor afurther 16whichwillarriveoverthecoming months.Thesesprayersdifferfromthe competitionbecauseoftheirexcellent buildquality,simultaneoussprayingof three rowswhichsaveslabour,fueland machinehours,andexcellentspray drift reduction.Recentlywehavealso importedourfirsttwoMunckhofPluk-OTrakpickingplatforms.Theseaidinthe harvestingofpipfruitaswellaslending themselvesperfectlytopruningand thinning,”saysGlennDear.

“Theotherproductsthattheteamare reallyexcitedaboutaretheAgxeed rangeoffullyautonomousAgbots. We willshortlybe receivingthefirst ofthese,theAgBotW3, adriverless, threewheeled75hpmachinecapable ofaroundtheclockoperationssuchas spraying,mulchingandmowing.Witha 2.9L 4strokedieselengineand170Lfuel capacityit’scapableof13.5km/h.The threepoint rear linkagehas amaximum liftof2.5tmakingitveryadaptable. We willbeimportingotherAgBotsthatcan mountcultivators,harrowsanddrills.”

Agxeedequipment isequippedwith comprehensivesafety measuresandthe technologyonboardis secondtonone.Controlled byanapplication,the machinesfeaturestandard controlvalves,linkagesand ISOBUS.

“Withtheongoinglabour challengesacrossthe country,wedefinitely seethebenefitsof autonomousvehiclesbecomingever morerelevantandvaluabletothe agricultural,viticulturalandhorticultural sectors”saysDear.

TheteamatDeartecharelookingforward toshowcasingthenewequipmentwhich isablysupportedbytheirwell-renowned serviceteam.

Munckhof3000L VariMas sprayer.

AgxeedAgbotW3.

PROTECTYOURLIVESTOCK BY

STEPPINGUP

TO COGLAVAX8VACCINE

Changing to Coglavax8 increased the survival rate of our lambs Now we only use Coglavax8 across all our sheep and cattle.

Donald Polson Owner – Waipuna Farms

When you’ve built a reputation for outstanding genetics you don’t want to take unnecessary risks with clostridial disease. That’s why Waipuna Farms have stepped up from 5 in 1 to Coglavax8 vaccine to protect their unique Waipuna Maternal and Terminal breeds against 8 clostridrial diseases present in New Zealand

Sheephealthissues toconsiderthiswinter

ByCamilleFlack VetServicesHawke’sBay

Hereare afewconsiderationstohelp keepyourewesingoodcondition overthecoolerwintermonthsand togetyourlambsofftothebeststartin spring.

Areyourclostridialvaccinesup todate?

Yourewesshouldbevaccinatedwitha booster3-4weekspre-birthtoprotect theiroffspring. Vaccinateyourlambsfor thefirsttimeatdocking,pre-weaning orweaning,with asecondvaccination about 4weekslater.

Parasites–internaland external.

Keepparasitesontheradarforthenext fewmonths –bothexternalandinternal. Manymaynothavemanagedtocleanup wormslaiddowninautumn,sobecareful ofhighlycontaminatedareas. Takesome faecaleggcounts(FEC)togiveyou someusefulinformationaboutwhat’s outthereandhelpyoumakedecisions. Inparticular,watchthoseeggcountsin youngerstockasthewetseasonhas beenkindtowormsandparasiteburdens remainhigh.Latewinterdosingwillhelp reducecontaminationofspringpastures.

Prelamblongacting anthelmintics

Everyyearthechoicesaroundprelamb drenchingbecomesmorecomplex.There isclearevidencethatunderparasite challengethereisaproductionadvantage tousinglong-actinganthelmintics.There isalsoclearevidencethatusingthe sametreatmentsincreasestheriskof developingdrench resistanceonfarm. Ourveterinaryteamhaveputin agreat deal oftimeandthoughtintolooking forthebestpre-lambdrenchoptions thisyearwithcapsulesnolongerbeing available.

Asthosepre-lambtreatmentsdraw closerconsultationisstronglyadvised asthealternatives requirea numberof ‘security’measuresto reducetherisk ofdevelopingdrench resistance.Itis importanttoconsidermeasuringany prelambtreatment youhaveusedto determinehowsuccessfulithasbeenat killingthewormsonyourproperty.

Haveyouconsideredusingour techniciansandsheepconveyorforyour prelambtreatments?Theconveyorteam canadministertreatmentsefficiently, reducingthetimeoffthegrassandstress onstaffandanimalsintheyards.Ina seasonlikethisI’msurethere aremany otherthings requiringyourtimeand attention.

Areyougrazingpregnantewes oncrop?

Tuppingewesoncropisbecoming increasinglypopularacrossHawke’s Baybutsotooiswinteringpregnant ewesonbrassicas.Someformofiodine supplementbecomesveryimportant ifthisisthecase.Brassicasarefullof achemicalthatlocksupiodineand preventsthedevelopinglambfrom utilisingthiscrucialelement.Stillbirths arethemostcommonoutcomeofiodine deficiencyinpregnantewesbutcanbe easilyavoidedbythestrategicuseofan appropriateiodinesupplement.

Haveyoupreparedyour lambing kits?

Thefeedbackonthefirsthalfof thescanningseasonhashadsome

encouraging results;lotsofmultiples, lowemptyratesandewesinterrific condition.Makesureyouhaveprepared yourlambingkitsandhavefacilities fororphanedlambs.Ensureyouhave colostrum,milk replacerandmealon hand,alongwithyourspringfirstaidfor yourbike.

Needsomeperspective?

Ifyouwanttotalkthroughanycurrent animalhealthsituationsandtogainsome perspectivefromprofessionalsoutside ofyourbusiness,pleasegiveoneofour vets acall. We arehappytohave achat or toutilisecoldandwetdaystobook cosierappointmentsinclinicto review yourAnimalHealthPlansortickoffyour RVMscriptsaheadofspring.

Buildingbackwith greaterresilience

ByIainMaxwell, GroupManager-IntegratedCatchment Hawke’sBayRegionalCouncil

CycloneGabrielleisthemost significantweathereventtohit the regionsince recordsbegan. Unprecedentedrainfallandrapidlyrising riversleadtoextensiveandwidespread floodingacrossthe region.

Therewereaboutsixkmbreachedinour 248kmstopbanknetwork,and afurther 28kmofthenetworkwasdamagedby scouring. We quicklyputinplaceteams andto repairthebreachesandtheyare nowlargelycomplete.

Anotherchallengeisthesignificant volumesofsiltleftafterflooding. We estimatethereisroughly12million cubicmetresacross4,000hectaresof productiveHawke’sBayland. We are workingwithlandownerstoadvisethem howtogrowthroughthesiltand,where needed,howtocollectanddisposeofsilt. Fundingisalsonowavailableforfarmers andorchardiststohelp removesiltand otherwastesandapplicationscloseon30 Junethisyear.

To supportorchardiststodealwith thelargequantitiesofwaste,burning restrictionshaveeased.

Aswemoveintothe recoveryphase,we have reorientedprogramstoleadouton supportingourprimarysector recovery.

We’reworkingcloselywithourfarmers andgrowers,catchmentgroupsandrural communityhubstosupportthemand understandtheirongoingneeds.

InconjunctionwiththeHawke’sBay RuralAdvisoryGroup,weundertookan ImpactAssessmentsurveythatprovides muchneededintelligencetoinformfuture regional recoveryefforts. We received430 responsesfromacrossthe regioncovering 500properties,fromsmalllifestyleblocks throughtolargesheepandbeefstations.

Erosioncontroliscriticalinthelong recoveryahead.Ourpolenurserywas

damagedinthecyclone,butitisnow nearlybacktofullproductionforthe winterplantingseason,withpolesbeing deliveredacrossthe regionatthemoment. We haveplantedanother7000treesin thenurserythatwillbe readytostart harvestingin acoupleofyears.

We arealso considering how we expand ourLandForLifeprogramme,withour partnerTheNatureConservancy.This programmelooksathowtree-planting andwholeoffarmsystemchangecould makemarginallandprofitableand reduce erosion.

Alongsideallthiswearemanagingan infestationofAlligatorweedatLake Whatuma¯.Thisis averyseriousthreatto the region’swaterwaysandagriculture, butitappearswehavecontaineditand weareworking toeradicateit.

Thedamagetothe regionfromCyclone Gabrielleisconsiderable.Weunderstand thatthe resultingclean-upand rebuild offarms,orchards,lifestyleblocksand businessesarehugechallengesfrom whichitwilltakedecadesto recover. We areinthisforthelonghaulandwill continuetoworkin partnershipwithour ruralcommunitytosupportbuildingback with agreaterlevelof resilience. Formoreinformation,gotohbrc.govt.nz andsearch#cycloneor#farmershub.

We MakeFarmingEzy

Thedesignofyournewyardswill standardplansorcustomdesigned.

The#8isdesignedwith animalwellbeinginmind, greataccessandexcellent, comfortablehandlingis whatanyanimalonfarm deserves.Safe,fastand ezyworkingconditions areneededforoperators, contractorsandvetsalike.

Extreme™isdesignedfor theveryseriousstockman. Thisisthestakeintheground whererealhandlingstartsand mediocrehandlingstops.The notjustaboutsteelorpower... it’saboutcleverandintelligent engineeringfor apurpose.

TheCattleCurtain™makes youryardworkeasyand safe.Mostyardshavea lotofgates;gatesrequire peopleintheyardsoftenin amongststock.Nowplace CattleCurtain™anywhere inyouryardswherecattle shouldonlytraveloneway.

ReconstructionwheretwostopbanksforNgaruroroand TutaekuriRiversmeetatSissonsRoad,Napier.

HBRCstaffatthePakowhainurserywith poles readyfordelivery.Photosupplied.

Lookingonthe brightsideoflife

ByChrys Ayley

SallyOfficerandSimonBennett’slives havebeenimpactedsinceCyclone Gabrielleyet,allinall,theyare stayingpositiveandaregettingonwith life.

Thecoupleown a600haEastCoasthill countrysheepandbeeffarminTiniroto, halfwaybetweenGisborneand Wairoa.

Sallyisalso anurse managerandworks fiveshifts afortnightattheGisborne Hospitalandthat’sinadditiontorunning afarmstaybusiness.

Sallywas recently inthespotlightasshe appearedonSevenSharpandalsoasa mysteryguestontheTVprogramme7 Days.SevenSharphighlightedthefact thatSallytravelstoworkbykayak(it’s nowbeenupgradedto araft)across

theHangaroaRiverasthecyclone severelydamagedtheirlocalbridge.The alternative roadtripwouldmeanupto anextra90minutestravelwhichiswhy shechoosestocrosstheriverbykayak. WhileSallyhasnodesirefor acareerin TVshesays“It’sgoodtoremindpeople it’snotallthatflashintheprovinces.” Accesstothefarmisdifficultandstock truckscan’tgetin oroutbutthecouple don’tdwellontheirsituation.“You’rea longtimein abox soyoumayaswellget onwithit.”

Sallyislookingforwardtoaflyingfox beinginstalledovertheriver.Itwillbe abletotake170kgofgroceriesandone personwhichwillmeantheendofSally’s rafttrips.“Thesoonertheflyingfoxgoes upthebetter.It’sgoingto be agodsend whenwegetthat.”Therewere61bridges damagedorlostinthe region,fiveina rowhere.”Buildingsweren’tdamaged inthecyclonebutthefarmstaybusiness hassloweddownduetoaccessissues. However,thathasn’tstoppedallguests assomeenjoythechallengeand“bit ofadventure”innavigatingthelonger alternative route.

Thecouplereallylovetheirfarmstay businessandhave receivedsomegreat reviews,andmademanyfriends,overthe years.Theyarefindingthatpeoplewant tovisitandtooffertheirsupporttothe region recoverfromthecyclone.

Itallstarted12-years-agowhenSimon’s parents,whowerelivingin acottage, movedtotown.Sallyknewshewouldn’t beabletokeepupwiththegardening unlessshehadpeoplecominginand out.So,shedecidedtomakethecottage payforitselfandthefarmstaybusiness wasborn.Itstartedprettycasuallybut overtheyearstheyhaveaddedmore accommodation andfouryearsagoSally attendedanagri-tourismcoursetohelp hermaximizemarketingandsocialmedia opportunities.“Sincethenit’sbeengoing reallywell,”shesays.

SallyOfficerandSimonBennettarekeentowelcomenewguests.

Theaccommodationoptionscomprise thecottagewithgardenforuptoeight people,theMahaanuiQuartersforsolo travelersorgroupsofupto10people and apurposebuilt,offgrid,rivercabin. SallyandSimonbulldozed atrackdown totheriverandbuilttheprivatecabin themselves.TheMahaanuiQuarters wereoriginallyshearersquartersinpoor conditionbutsallywentmadwithwhite paintandturneditinto alowbudget accommodationoption.

Guestactivitiesincludeswimming, kayaking,bushwalks,fishing,farmtours, animaleducationandSallyprovidesmeal options.Farmtoursaren’tguaranteedas thetimehastofitinwithSimon’sbusy farmschedule.

Theyoftensocializewiththeguests, manyofwhomareexperiencinglifeon afarmforthefirsttime.They’vealso madefriendswith returnguests andeven travelledtoAlaskawithonecouple.

“Thelocal regionaltourismorganization arereally, really supportive. We bounce offtheir marketing.”Sallysuggested moremarketingoftheruralworldin Tairawhitiaseveryoneknowsaboutthe beautifulbeachesbutthecountryside, anditspeople,isalsospectacularand needstobefurtherpromotedas“so manypeoplewanttoexperiencebeing on afarm.”

Thecyclonehasalsostoppedthecouple plantingnativesthisyearasthefences

aredamaged andcan’tbereplacedin time.Severaldecadesagothey received fundingtoprotectbushandtheyplanted alongtheentireriverboundarytoprotect thebushfromstocksoithas regenerated hugelyinthelasttwentyyears.Thelast threeyearshaveseenthemplantnatives onlandthathasbeen retired.“Totaras growlikeweedshereandweplantout from60-100a year,”Sallysays. “We’rekeentowelcomenewguests.I’m hopingitwillallworkoutbyspringtime.”

•Luxuriousqualityandcomfortguaranteed

•Largerangeoffabricsandleathers

Guestsenjoyfarmstayhospitalityandgreatviews.