NZME - The Country Feature November 2022

abitmoreofthebigyellowinourlives,soit standstoreasonmoodswillbehigh.

Andtobehonest,weneedthat.It’sbeena challengingyear,sogettingtocatchupwithnew andoldfriendswillbejustwhatthedoctorordered forsomanyofus.

I’malsolookingforwardtofacilitatingthepanel discussion‘Wa¯hinetoa oteWhenua’ –an introductiontothefoodandfibresectorforruraland urbanyoungwomenattheFieldaysOpportunityGrows HereCareersHub.

Thewideragriculturalsectoriscryingoutforbright youngmindsandwhattheysee,experience,learnand feelatFieldaysmaybethestartofsomethingreally specialfortheseyoungwomen.

Imean,itwasforme,backin2008,and Ihaven’t beenabletostayawayfromthesectoreversince!

So,bookinthosereliefmilkers,gettheneighbourto feedthedogsandwe’llseeyouatMysteryCreek! ■

Theysay achangeisasgoodas aholiday, andthat’show IfeelaboutFieldays2022. Afterthebestpartofthreedecades attendinginmid-June,it’sgoingtobeso differentrockinguptoMysteryCreekin apoloshirt andshortsatthebeginningofsummer.

Tobehonest Iwon’tmissthefogdelaysatHamilton airportordrivingtoandfromFieldaysinthedark,so I’mlookingforwardtothelongerdaylightandthe opportunitiesitaffordstospendmoretimeonsite.

Mydaysofbeinginthemarketfor anewtractor arelonggone,soformeFieldaysisallaboutnetworking andcatchingupwithallthekeyplayersinagri-business on aface-to-facebasis.Becausethey’reallthere.

RowenaDuncumand IwillbebroadcastingThe CountryfromFieldaysforthreedaysandthebig challengewhenitcomestoputtingourshowtogether, iswhotoleaveout,ratherthanwhotoinclude.It’s aradiobroadcastingfeast!

Andbesides,there’s averynicegolfcourse,Tieke, thatboundariesMysteryCreeksoI’mlookingforward tojumpingtheproverbialfencelaterinthedayand takingfulladvantageof a‘Trontwilight. ■

So,dofarmerseverreallyretire?

PROFILE:

Or,asinmy neighbourTonyEast’scase, dotheymake awetland, writes KemOrmond

Itissaidthat,inthecountry,your neighboursareoneofyourmost importantassetsand,on afew occasions, Ihavehadtocallon myneighboursforassistance.

Myclosestneighbour,TonyEast, isstartingtowinddownfrom abusy lifefarmingandisnowhappyjustto have afewchooksandpigstolook after.At81,hecanstillgeton ahand piece,dealwithhispigs,andsplithis firewood.

Heisthekindofneighboureveryonewants,onewhojustdropsoffa binofgumatyourwoodshed,leaves apumpkinonyourgatepostorlends youhistractorandwoodsplitter.

BeinganagentforDalgetyStud StockCompanywasquite aprestigiousoccupationintheruralindustrybackin1965,whenTonystarted hiscareer.Meetingstudbreedersand checkingouttheirstuds,allpartof thejob.

After25yearsintheindustry, whichsawTonyworkinthe Manawatu¯, Hawke’sBayandSouthland,hechangedfromthestockand stationindustrytobecome afarmer.

In1989hemovedtoKotemaoriin theWairoadistrict,whereheandhis wifepurchased a232-hectaresheep andbeeffarm.Hesoonlearnedthat

hisfarmwasmoresuitableandprofitableforthefatteningofFriesianbulls ratherthanAngusandhedecided fewersheepwouldbeeasier,so reducedhissheepnumbersfrom 3000downto1200ewes.

Notoneforsittingbackandjust lettingthingshappen,TonyalsobecamechairmanofQualityRoading andServices,chairmanofthelocal FederatedFarmersandwaselected totheDistrictHealthBoard.

After20yearsoffarming,Tony andhiswifesoldtheirfarmtoan energycompany,choosing aquieter lifebackinHawke’sBaywhich eventuallyincludedpurchasinga

couplehundredacresintheTuki TukiValleytokeephimbusy.

Tonysays:“Thebiggestchangein farmingoverthepast50yearsisthat landhasappreciatedinvalueconsiderably,therearenowbetterfarmers andbetteradviceavailable. Accumulatedknowledgeandprogressivetechnologyhaveimproved productivityandprofitabilitybut, duringthattime,therehasbeensome debilitatingproductpricesand weatherconditions.

“Improvedgeneticsandbetterpasturemanagementhaveincreased cropyields,lambingpercentages,and carcassweightsconsiderably.With

TonyEastand Billysharea momentonthe peripheryofhis wetland.

supplementarycropsmeasuredand managedmoreaccurately,therehas been aconsiderableincreaseinproduction.

“Technologyhasmade ahugeimpacttobusinessplanningwithcomputers,mobilephonesandGPSbecomingthenorm.Betterplanning, measuring,assessingandreviewing arenowsoeasilyaccessible.

“Unfortunately,newregulations frombothcentralandlocalgovernmenthavecreatednewcoststhatwill onlyincreasewithoutanyobvious improvementinrevenue.”

Whilesomefarmersmightstilluse apencilandnotebook,mosthaveall theinfotheyneedontheirmobile phone.Evenalteringtheirirrigation systemby aphoneapphasfreedup timeforfarmersconsiderably.

Climatechangeandcleanwater haveseenmanyfarmersturning muddydamsintopristinewetland areasandplantingoutpocketsof nativefloratohelpencouragenative birdlifebackintothearea.

Longgonearethethermoses farmersalwaysusedfor acuppain thebackpaddock,farmhackshave beenreplacedbyquadsandsideby sidesand,whilesomechangeshave beennoticeable,someactivitieshave remainedjustthesame,likethehard workandhandpiecesstillbeingused forshearing.

Theysayfarmersneverretire… wellmaybe afewdo.AsforTony, hehas awetlandareathathewillbe workingonandwon’tbestopping anytimesoon.Hewantstoseeall thosenativebirdsenjoyinglifeon theirsmallpieceofparadise. ■

Face-to-Facewithourmarkets

WhenRichardThurston joinedSilverFernFarms tenyearsago,the Tararua-basedLivestockRepresentativeset agoalto becomethecompany’sLivestock RepoftheYear;anaccoladehetook outinthecompany’sannualawards attheendoflastyear.

Thurstonwassingledoutforhis positivemindsetandthewayhe helpednavigatehisclientsthrough thevariedchallengesof2021.His leadersalsoobservedthewayhe bothunderstoodandembodiedthe company’sPlatetoPasturestrategy throughhisinteractionswithSilver FernFarms’suppliers.

2022SilverFernFarms MarketTour

Eachyear,SilverFernFarmsruns amarkettourforboththeirLivestock RepresentativeoftheYearandtheir PlatetoPastureWinners,whoarethe company’stoplivestocksuppliers.

Thecompanyhas a“PlatetoPasture”market-ledstrategy,meaning thatcustomerandconsumerneeds informwhattheydoinprocessing andonfarm.Thetouraimstobring thevoiceofthecustomertolifeand provideanopportunityfortheirtop farmersandlivestockrepresentativestomeetdirectlywiththose consumingtheirproducts.

Thisyear’sdelegationalsoincludedwinnersfrompreviousyears wheretravelwasdisrupteddueto Covidandvisitedcustomersand consumersinNewYork,Seoul,and Tokyo.

Thegroupwitnessedfirst-hand howtheirproductsmakeitthrough thefinalstagesofthesupplychain, fromarrivalintoport,throughfurther processingandontoretailshelves. Therewasalsoreciprocalinterest fromSilverFernFarms’customers aboutNewZealand’sfarmingsystem.

“It’squitedifferentseeingourproductsontheothersideoftheworld –yourealisehowmuchgoesintothe productafteritleavesthefarmgate,” saysThurston.

“Talkingwithcustomersaround theworldyoucouldseehowmuch itmeanttothemtomeetourfarmers andlearnabouthowwefarm.They’re

wantingtoknowmoreaboutallof thegoodthingswe’redoingandthat’s helpingustostandout”.

Thetripalsohighlightedthatglobaleventsarelikelytoposesome headwindsinmarketsinnearfuture. Thurstonsaidthatwhilehehadan ideaofpressuresinthemarkets throughthecompany’smarket insights,therewasnosubstitution hearingitstraightfromthehorse’s mouth.

“Thecostoflivinghasskyrocketed allaroundtheworldandthat’sdefinitelyaffectingwhatpeopleputon theirshoppinglistorwhetherthey eatoutorstayhomeatthemoment”.

ThedelegationmetwithSilver FernFarmsteamswhoareperman-

entlybasedinkeymarketsandalso representativesfromNewZealand TradeandEnterprise(NZTE).

Thurstonsaidthedifferentculturalnuancesofeachofthemarkets wasapparent.

“Itbecamereallyobvioushow importantisittohaveourownpeople ineachmarket,tomakesurewe’re notjustproducingsomethingthat looksgoodtous,butsomethingthat looksgoodtocustomerswithcom-

pletelydifferentlifestyleshalfway acrosstheglobe,”hesaid.

“That’swhatthemarket-ledstrategyisallaboutandyoucoulddefinitelyseeitinaction.Thingsaretight for alotofpeoplebutthere’sstill plentyofcustomerswhoarewilling topayformoregoodfood.Hopefully ifwekeepthatupit’llbeenoughto attractthosepremiumcustomers -all wecandoiskeepbeingthebestat whatwedo”.

SilverFern Farmsbranded retailproduct ondisplayina Korean supermarket–oneofmany visitedbythe tourgroup.

SilverFernFarmsLivestock

They’rewantingtoknowmoreabout allofthegoodthingswe’redoingand that’shelpingustostandout

Atripofa lifetimeforthis groupofSilver FernFarmsstaff andPlateto PastureAward winning farmers.

Offwiththeboot

CONNECT: It’stimetochange yourfootwearandenjoythe SouthernHemisphere’slargest agriculturalevent

Fieldaysisenteringits54th yearastheSouthernHemisphere’slargestagricultural event.Forthefirsttimeinthe event’shistory,itwillbeheldatthe startofsummer —November30to December3,instarkcontrasttoits traditionalmonthofJune.

Fieldays2022takes placeatMystery Creek,Hamilton,from November30to December3. Downloadtheapp (GoogleandApple) andplanyourvisit! Getyourticketsnow atfieldays.co.nzand rememberyour sunscreen.

However,thatdoesn’tworryNew ZealandNationalFieldaysSociety chiefexecutivePeterNation.“Aswith manyorganisationsacrossthe country,theCovid-19pandemichas hitushard,whichhasmeantthat we’veneededtoadapt —thebiggest thingbeingthetimingofthisyear’s event.Thefactthatwe’vechanged thetimingalsoprovidesuswith alot ofopportunities.Wehavetheadded benefitsoflongerdaylighthours, warmerdays,andbestofall, increasedinterestfrominternational visitors,”saysNation.

Thisyear’stheme,“same,samebut different”,celebratestheevent’ssignificancetotheruralsectorwhile acknowledgingthatitisbeingheldat adifferenttimeoftheyear.Asalways, thepremieragri-eventpromisesto provie aplatformtoshowcaseour agriculturalandprimaryindustries.

Visitorswillbeabletoseemany oftheirfavouriteexhibitorsandbag

abargainonthelatestfarmingequipment,powertools,tractors,machineryandrurallivingproducts.

TheprestigiousInnovationHub returns,playinghosttotheannual InnovationAwards.Thisyear65 finalistshavebeenselectedtoshowcasetheirinnovations:21inthePrototypecategory,31inEarlyStage,and 13inGrowth &Scale.Theinnovations include amixoftechnological solutionslikedatarecording,sensors andautomationandeverydayproductsthatcouldrevolutionisethe primaryindustries.

Thereareplentyofnewdevelopmentsthisyeartoo.TheFieldays ForestryHub, alarge-scaleexhibitof

theentireforestryindustry,willallow visitorstoexploretheforestryand woodprocessingsectoranditsrole inclimatechange,biosecurityand biodiversity.TheFieldaysOpportunityGrowsHereCareersHubis anew developmentbetweenFieldaysand theMinistryofPrimaryIndustries andisaimedspecificallyatpeople keentolearnaboutcareerpathways intheprimarysector.

Thisyear,Fieldayswillcontinueto focusonruralwellness.TheHauora TaiwhenuaHealthandWellbeing Hubhasincreasedinsize,andvisitors willhave achancetogethealth adviceandconnectwithhealthsupportgroups,allunderoneroof.

Withthetheme ‘same,samebut different’,this year’sFieldays atMystery Creekarebeing heldata differenttimeof yearbuta massivecrowd isstillexpected.

Thehubis aone-stopshopfor everythingrelatedtophysicaland mentalhealthandwell-being.“The HealthandWellbeingHubhasa wealthofknowledgethatmanyof ourprimaryindustryworkersprobablyaren’tabletoaccessveryoften. We’vehadsomegreatfeedbackthat tellsusFieldayshasbecomeanintegralcheckpointonourvisitors’todolists,”saysNation.

“Thishasbeengreattohear,aswe believethatthemostimportantasset inanyprimaryindustryispeople,and we’reproudtohelpthehealthof peopleintheprimaryindustriesin anywaywecan.”

Fieldayshasalwaysbeenthe homeoffiercelyfoughtandunique agriculturecompetitionsanddemonstrations;2022willbenoexception. Theclassicexcavatorandfencing competitionsareback,allowingcompetitorstowinprizesandbragging rightsuntilJune2023,whenthenext Fieldayseventisplanned.

Thecrowdfavouritetractorcompetitionsarealsoback,thisyear reimaginedassame,samebutdifferent,whichwillsee afirst-everat Fieldays,allowingvisitorstoparticipateintheFieldaysAgDriveTractor RacingExperience.Sittingalongside anAgDriveinstructor,visitorswillbe putthroughtheirpacesparticipating inmodifiedtractorraces,tryingtobeat theclock.

Alongsidethevisitorrivalry,there isalso acorporatecompetition,with allproceedsfromtheentryfeegoing totheRuralSupportTrust.

Getreadyfortanlinesandgood timesatMysteryCreek. ■

TheWolfisback

FEATURES:

foroff

Volkswagenoffersversatility, writes

Anyoneseen aWolflately? Well,thewolfisback!This second-generationAmarok couldeasilybedescribed as aworkhorseinwolf’sclothing!

Amarokmeans“wolf”inInuitlanguage. Aratherappropriatenamefor abeastof aute!

ThenewAmarokUtehasbeen unveiledtotheworld,makinga clearstatementforitsdrivers,all roadsarethedestination.

ThisnewgenerationVolkswagen uteistoughenoughforyourwork vehicle,ruggedenoughforoff-road, with aspaciousdoublecab,and variousdrivingassistanceand safetysystemsofferingmoresupportandcomfortthaneverbefore.

Firstintroduced

TheAmarokwasfirstintroduced intoNewZealandin2011.Itwas launchedas agame-changingute thatchallengedthecategorynorm of aworkhorsewithpremiumrefinement,supremedrivesystems, highloadcapacitiesand functionalitywithanall-terraindesign.

Twelveyearslater

WithclearVolkswagenDNAinside andout,thehugelyanticipated secondgenerationAmarokisabout toshowitspresenceandNewZealanddriverscanregistertheirinterest now,withvehiclesbeingavailablefor driveawayin2023.

Originallydesignedandconceived inGermanyandAustralia,thenew Amarokis acollaborativeresult,ensuringroad-readysuitabilitytomeet thechallengesofSouthPacific terrains.

Specificationsanddesign

Withcuttingedgedesignand Volkswagenrefinement,thisnewute bringswithit awholenewlevelof safetyanddriveraidsalongwith somegreatfeaturesthatwillmakeit exceptionaltodrive.

Whetheryouareafter adieselwith fourcylindersor apowerfulsixcylinder,thereis amodeltosuitevery need.The“PanAmericana”has amasculineandtoughexteriorwhereas the“Aventura”canbedescribedas powermeetingtheultimateinrefinementandsophistication.

Packedwithplentyoftorque,3.5 tonnesoftowingpowerandwith morethan30driverassistsystems, thisisonehowlingute!

Newinclusionssuchas adigital instrumentcluster,keylessaccess,an impressive12-inchinfotainment screen,andwirelessmobilecharging, makefortheperfectblendofdesign andpracticality.

Acapableoff-roader

Leadthepackwithenhancedoffroadcapabilities.Anincreased

wheelbasemeansshorteroverhang resultinginanimprovedapproach angle,while agreaterwadingdepth meansyoucanchargethrough wateryterrainwithease.Fromthe improvedbodyandchassistothe refineddimensions,everycomponentisengineeredforadventure.

AnAmarokforalllifestyles

Withfourmodelstochoosefrom thisis apremiumperformanceute thatdoublesdownonstyle.Thenew AmarokAventurawillturnheads withlarge20”alloywheels, abodycolouredsportsbar,andchrome accentsincludingsteps,mirrors,door handles,andrearbumper.

Whilethosewhooptforthenew AmarokPanAmericana,canget readyfortheentireoff-roadpackage. With ablackpowder-coatedstyling barandstepsaswellascolourcontrastingexteriormirrors, bumpers,anddoorhandles.Plus,allterraintyreson18”light-alloywheels, whichareexclusivetothismodel.

TheAmarokStyleis complimentedby500Nm4-cylinder dieselengine.With18”alloywheels, IQLightMatrixLEDheadlightsand stylingbar.WhiletheAmarokLife packs asolid405Nmoftorqueand animpressivelevelofsafetyincludingBlindSpotMonitoringandAdaptiveCruiseControl.

■

ThenewAmarok-Masterofversatility-register yourinterestnowwithyourlocaldealerorat volkswagen.co.nz.

ManojKumar andSumit Kambojwith theirteamin Methven.

Ifthenamessoundfamiliar,it’s because Iwroteaboutthese brothersin TheCountry bumper edition.ManojandSumit,along withtheirstaffweregettingreadyfor thebigmove,fromtheirhometown ofEketahuna,to amuchlargeroperationdownsouthinMethven.

Foranyonewhocan’tquitepinpointMethven,itis asmalltownin theCanterburyregionoftheSouth Island .Itislocatednearthewestern edgeoftheCanterburyPlains,35km northofAshburtonand95kmwest ofChristchurch.

Fivemonthshavepassed,andI waskeentoseehowtheywere copingwiththenewchallengesthat wereawaitingthem.

Sumitsaidithadbeenbusy,a biggeroperationwith averywet spring.

“Wehave amuchlargerherd, alot oflearningtodo,butweareloving it.Thefarmownershavebeenvery supportive,andwefeelveryluckyto begivensuch afreerangeastothe

runningofthisproperty,”hesaid.

“Wearrivedto averywellsetup operationon540hectareswithtwo 50-a-sidemilkingsheds,lovelyflat self-drainingpasturewithsimilar sizedpaddocks,whichmakesitan easywalkforthecowstogetmilked.”

Thebrothershavegonefrom milking780cowsto aherdof2000. Withnoroadcrossings,nounderpassestonavigateandflatpaddocks, theirherdmaybelargerbuttheir operation,easier.Plus,drierunderfoot,8-900mlinMethvencompared to2000mlonaverageinEketahuna.

IaskedSumitwhattheymissed fromtheirtimeinEketahuna.His replywastheirfriends,neighbours andallthegreatpeopletheydealt withinEketahunawaswhatthey missedthemost.

Technologyplays alargepartin enablingthebrotherstoachieveoptimalproductivityandefficientmanagement.UsingtheAllflexdairycow monitoringsystem,theycangetthe

benefits acrossthethree pillarsofdairymanagement— reproduction,health,andnutrition. Theinformationtheygetbackfrom thissystemhelpsgreatlywithplanningandthestaffareenjoyingtheir involvementwiththistechnology.

Milkingtakesthemfourhoursin themorningandthreeand ahalf hoursintheafternoonandtheresults haveshowngoodimprovementin productivity.

Lifehasbeensohecticsincethey arrived,theyhaven’tevenhada chancetomeettheirneighbours,but thatwillcomeshortly.Thebrothers

Wehave amuchlargerherd, alotoflearningtodo,butwe arelovingit.

areboth keentojointhelocal YoungFarmersClubandsome ofthevariousdiscussiongroupsin thearea,butatpresenttheyarestill gettingsettledintotheirnewroutines andhelpingtheirstaffsettleinalso. Theyemploytenstaffwhichincludes afarmassistant,herdmanagersand a2IC.

Fortwobrotherswhoarrivedin NewZealand11yearsagowithjust twosuitcasesinhand,theirsheer hardworkanddeterminationhasgot themtowheretheyaretoday.

Andwhatarethebrothersaiming forinthefuture?

Theyarehopingthatinthreeyears theymaybeinthepositiontobuy theirownfarm.So,keepyoureyes on TheCountry,I mayhaveanother articletowriteaboutManojand Sumitandtheirroadtofarmownership. ■