Ashburton Guardian | Guardian Farming | April 28, 2020 by Ashburton Guardian

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n a bid to eliminate Covid-19 we are living through an unprecedented national lockdown and things will never quite return to what they were before. Through necessity, new ways of doing things are being carved out by businesses and the housebound public in a bid to retain some normality in abnormal times. It may be a matter of convenience for consumers, but it is a matter of financial survival for many businesses. While supply chains and markets remain largely intact for farmers and horticulturalists supplying export-focused companies and supermarkets, it is the smaller operators that supplied cafes and restaurants, other retail and farmers’ markets that have had the bottom fall out of their market. These have had to quickly connect with their customers in an online and contactless way if they didn’t previously. So seek out these online food sites and support your local producers. Online sales may be their only outlet for weeks to come. The lockdown also seems to have heightened consumer awareness of a wide range of New Zealand grown and processed products, perhaps as people here and overseas seek the security of food produced close to home. The need to embrace online shopping more wholeheartedly during the lockdown will

Heather Chalmers

RURAL REPORTER

only accelerate the consumer trend way from retail bricks and mortar to digital solutions for many aspects of day-to-day life. Producers of dairy and red meat exports are also taking a hit with commentators predicting that downward price pressure and uncertainty as a result of Covid-19 disruptions will continue into next season, despite a significantly devalued kiwi dollar. The possibly one good note is that there will be an end point to the pandemic, once a successful vaccine is developed and distributed. While this is expected to take 12 to 18 months, the amount of global resource and expertise urgently being directed towards this means it is likely to come sooner. However, countries will want to ensure their borders are safe before reopening them and it is likely to be a slow thaw economically. Just don’t expect everything to go back to the way it was before.

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The great Roundup debate Heather Chalmers

RURAL REPORTER

epending on who you speak to, glyphosate is either a benign agrichemical credited with feeding a growing global population, or a cancer-causing toxin that needs to be banned. Glyphosate, most commonly known by the trade name Roundup, is the most widely applied agrichemical in the world. However, its popularity means its usage is being increasingly questioned, both in terms of human health and environmental impacts. During a Nuffield scholarship study tour last year, Mid Canterbury arable farmer Hamish Marr sought to find out what the issues were around glyphosate use, how it was regulated in New Zealand and what farmers in New Zealand could learn from others if a ban or de-registration were to become a reality. Marr found that New Zealand farmers were better placed than their global counterparts, particularly in Europe, where glyphosate may be banned in some countries. “I don’t think that the marketers of glyphosate would have ever imagined it would be used to the extent it is today.” Marr said that he used glyphosate on about a third of his farm once a year, although this was probably lower than some other arable farmers because his farm grew a lot of cocksfoot for seed which stayed down for five years. “In the United States and other GMO countries they are using glyphosate two or three times a year across everything. That is the difference. Overseas farmers thought they were doing the right thing in substituting

The Marr family harvesting wheat at Longfield, near Methven.

harsher chemicals for safer ones like glyphosate, but all they have done is increase the dosage.” Marr said he found no real need for alarm in New Zealand as current inputs of glyphosate were relatively low and confined to 6 per cent of land area. “It is important that we, retain the option of this product and we as farmers ,need to be mindful of its use and avoid applications such as pre-harvest weed control. “In isolation, farmers can certainly do without glyphosate, but at an industry level and global level the loss of this tool would mean a loss of yield, an increase in alternative chemistry, an increase in carbon emissions,

higher costs to the farmer and an increase in the price of food,” Marr said. Without glyphosate, arable farmers could grow commodity crops where quality and purity were not an issue. “But growers of high-value seed crops trade on purity, so we need the backstop of having glyphosate available as there is no alternative.” The amount of glyphosate applied in New Zealand was difficult to determine for commercial reasons. Companies approached by Marr for market statistics were reluctant to divulge their figures and, unlike other countries, there were no import or applications statistics

kept by government or industry bodies. While farmers were constantly told of glyphosate’s enduring safety and low toxicity for all parts of the environment, dialogue was increasing around the risks of long-term exposure. “Since the mid-1990s, and particularly in the last 10 years, glyphosate has received a lot of bad press.” In 2015, the World Health Organisation labelled glyphosate “probably carcinogenic” and in the same category as red meat and very hot beverages, while a year later the European Chemicals Agency took an opposite view.

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In 2018 and 2019, juries in California found Monsanto responsible for the cancer and Non Hodgkin Lymphoma of two different parties, with hundreds of millions of dollars paid in damages. “Environmental groups and a lot of individuals clearly see glyphosate as responsible for much of the world’s health problems as a result of these lawsuits.” Many city councils and government departments in New Zealand and overseas have legislated that glyphosate was not to be used for health and safety reasons. continued over page

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From P3 “The problem regarding glyphosate in my opinion and the issues surrounding it, is the real lack of an absolute answer one way or another. You cannot dispute the science and the advice, if used correctly there is no risk to human health. However, you cannot ignore the vast amount of literature stating the direct opposite. A lot of work seems to be correlations rather than results of trial work and is very ambiguous as a result.” New Zealand was different from other countries in the way arable and horticulture integrated grazing animals into their farming systems. “Our arable systems generally include livestock and by default we already cover crop for animal feed.” New Zealand was seen internationally as a very safe place to produce and multiply seed. “Our secure governance and regulatory structure, coupled with complementary soils, climate and abundance of irrigation water, makes New Zealand a first choice production country for many and indeed for our own established companies. The trade of these seeds is all based around purity. “Purity is a measure of contamination of a seed line by other species. The world regulations that govern the

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Left – Methven arable farmer Hamish Marr (centre, front with cap) visits a Canadian dairy farm with a Nuffield scholarship study tour group. Right – Methven arable farmer Hamish Marr visits a Canadian malt house near Halifax.

seed trade are very strict on this purity and in most cases the purity can dictate the price. The value of the grain and seed industry in New Zealand is around $1 billion with $239 million of that coming from the export seed trade. “Farming without glyphosate will absolutely see an increase in livestock numbers and

particularly in Canterbury, where the majority of arable farming occurs and, in many cases, it will mean wholesale changes to more intensive livestock as the only viable alternative, more cows, more sheep, and more methane. “There is technology being developed that can plant, spray, weed, and harvest an individual plant to within a centimetre

with repeatability. There are machines that can plant seed into standing crops to accurate depths at speed and at scale. There is technology coming that can identify the plant species and then with pinpoint accuracy spray the particular weed with the appropriate product and avoid the planted crop. “These types of technologies

will only improve. The uptake of this type of technology has the potential to seriously reduce the amount of glyphosate used particularly in pre-harvest weed control and virtually remove the risk of residues in food. “I believe we will see farmer led innovation in this area and there is no doubt that the future crop mix will not be as it is today.” Marr visited Denmark, which along with New Zealand was a large player in the international herbage seed market. The Danish seed industry produces around 125,000 tonnes of seed annually and was responsible for around 50 per cent of the seed sales by volume within the EU. “Production of seed in Denmark will cease in its

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Left – Methven arable farmer Hamish Marr with a Japanese dairy farmer during his Nuffield scholarship study tour last year. Marr is trying to teach the farmer how to blow one of the plastic shepherd’s whistles which he took with him as gifts.

current form if the EU decide to deregister glyphosate in 2022. Farmers and company officials predict that this will be the case. The exit of seed production will leave farmers with two options, producing commodity cereal crops and/or animal farming. “The mood of the seed industry generally in Denmark is that production of many seed crops will move to Eastern Europe or other parts of the world where the regulations are less severe, and this is for both organic and conventionally grown crops. Plans are afoot for this and grass seed crops are being grown in Romania already.” With glyphosate residues finding their way into food, Marr recommended a halt to pre-harvest weed control

applications. “The logical entry point is preharvest weed control in cereal crops and through applications to hay/silage pre-mowing or grazing. We must as an industry recognise the importance of this issue. “We owe it to our consumers to continually improve best management practices including stopping glyphosate use at these two points. Yes, it aids harvest, there is no question and it can speed up pasture renewal, but in essence we are testing more today and testing is improving all the time. “This is only a very small issue in New Zealand, but one we must be mindful of at all times. The risk of losing glyphosate in New Zealand is low, but could be looked at if residues are found

above the MRL’s or the science changes. The importance of glyphosate strategically and its continued availability is threatened by inaction.” Agriculture also needed to address the tough questions about its farming future in an open and honest way, Marr said. “Not just glyphosate, but GMO, CRISPR-cas9 and other technologies. As a trading nation, our image is everything and we must be very conscious that any changes we make could affect our tradability. “There is a real dilemma around GMO in that it could potentially reduce chemical input and increase production in

marginal areas, yet we potentially taint our image in adopting the technology. “GMO discussions in the past have been derailed by activism and politics. There are real benefits for farming, the environment and the consumer. Exactly how these questions could be discussed would be a challenge and would need careful consideration.” A lack of understanding of agriculture by consumers remained an ongoing challenge, Marr said. “We must as an industry endeavour where possible to explain to the public about agriculture, about farming, the complexities of modern farming

systems and international trade. The linear nature of the value chain means there is no feedback loop and we must address this problem. “I do not want to see an end to this incredible product that is so important to sustainable agriculture. I would prefer to see more strategic use and long-term availability,” Marr said. “This view may seem biased towards the status quo, however alternatives are not without trade-offs and these include increases in animals, cultivation and burning, some of which are less palatable to consumers. To most farmers glyphosate has been like a duster on a blackboard, the mechanism for cleaning and starting again. It should instead be viewed as just one option out of many options. Marr came home from a year abroad with more questions than answers, but holds firm to the view that New Zealand was a wonderful place in the world to be farming and there were some marvellous innovations taking place here by farmers who are prepared to try new things.

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Learning to live with the wind By Heather Chalmers

arming just below the Rakaia Gorge, the Marr family have learnt to live with the blustery north-westerly winds that buffet their property, Longfield. At a higher altitude than Methven, on the south bank of the Rakaia River, the Marr family have developed a successful cropping operation specialising in small seed production. While dryland, it is the wind, rather than moisture, that is the determining climatic factor that dictates how they farm, Hamish Marr said. “There are a lot of crops that we chose not to grow because of the risk of wind during harvest and other key growing times. “The wind has to go past us before it gets to anyone else.” Marr (42) who completed a Nuffield scholarship study tour last year, is a fifth-generation farmer on the property. “Our ancestors came here in about 1874.” Married to Melanie and with three daughters aged 9, 7 and 4, he farms in partnership with his parents Graham and Eleanor and brother and sister-in-law Stuart and Jessica. continued next page

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Left – A key factor in the success of growing cocksfoot for seed at Longfield is the way the Marr family have adapted their harvest management to protect it from the wind. Undercutting at windrowing time means the crop can stand a gale without moving in the windrow. Below – Red clover.

From P6 The 500-hectare property has developed a niche growing the grass variety cocksfoot for seed, harvesting 160ha this season. Other crops include 20ha of red clover, 40ha of wheat, 60ha of oats, 60ha of malting barley, 35ha of processed peas for Heinz Wattie’s and 10ha of fodderbeet. They also graze 900 to 1200 dairy cows from nearby farms over the winter. Feed for the cows comes mainly from autumn sown cereals and brassica, oats and rape plus fodderbeet. “We used to grow kale for many years, but moved to fodderbeet in line with our neighbours’ requirements.” Living in a windy environment meant it was vital to have ground cover where possible and the autumn cropping suited that well. There was a big push from industry towards cover cropping, which was actually what most arable farmers in Mid Canterbury have been doing for years, Marr said. “It seems to be new words for what most people call good management practice and comes from the United States and Europe where one crop per year is the norm with long periods of nothing in between.” Lambs were also grazed in the autumn from February to June, until the cocksfoot paddocks were closed for seed production. In the past the Marrs have grown hybrid vegetable seed crops such as radish, pak choi,

bok choi, mustard, and red beet, as well as borage. At 450 metres above sea level, the dryland property received an average 1200mm rainfall. “We expect four to five snowfalls a year, although this hasn’t happened the last two years.” In earlier days, the property was a sheep farm that always did a lot of cropping, but in the 1980s sheep numbers were cut in favour of expanding the arable operation. Cocksfoot has been grown on the property for seed since the early 1900s. “The family missed one year during World War Two, but otherwise it has been harvested every year for more than a century. “It is a wonderful climate for growing cocksfoot here and a lot safer than ryegrass. It is not without risk as it is sensitive to frost and a very tight flowering period means good weather in late spring is very important.” A key factor in the success of the crop at Longfield is the way the Marrs have adapted their harvest management to protect it from the wind. “Undercutting at windrowing time means the crop can stand a gale without moving in the windrow.” “The weather at flowering is the most critical factor in success or failure and for us the dry years are always the best years.” As the Marrs had their own seed dressing plant all the

cocksfoot seed as well as other small seed crops were processed on-farm. “We only clean our own crops and we try and do as much of that as we can.” Most of the cocksfoot seed was exported to Australia, South America and the United States. Marr said he was thinking about a Nuffield scholarship for almost 20 years since studying for a BCom Ag at Lincoln University. “When I was at Lincoln, I did a personal farm study with a farmer that was a previous Nuffield scholar and he introduced me to the idea and kept the fire going to apply. I always wanted to apply, it was just a matter of the timing being right.” Marr had already shown his leadership attributes, particularly in the arable sector, with roles with the Foundation for Arable Research, Federated Farmers’ herbage seeds subsection, Lauriston Farm Improvement Club and the NZ Seeds Authority which oversees the seed certification scheme. “I enjoy all of these and the ability to interact and be amongst the people that are making the decisions.” His Nuffield study tour involved a six-week organised

tour of countries including Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, France, Canada and the US. “It is a quick, very intensive look, not just at farming, but the food system in general.” He also travelled for his study topic of “can we farm without glyphosate?”, with a month in the US including a visit to Monsanto (now Bayer) the makers of Roundup. “Farming an intensive arable system and as a seed grower which relies on paddock hygiene, I immediately thought that farming without glyphosate was impossible. “For 40 years we have evolved our farming systems around it. On the flip side we have forgotten some of the basic husbandry of yesteryear and as an industry simplified our systems as a result. “I do not want to see the end of this product unless it was warranted. It is so important to sustainable agriculture as a tool

and I would prefer to see more strategic use and long-term availability,” Marr said. “As is the case with cover cropping, a lot of what is suggested that farmers do, is already being done.” His travels highlighted that New Zealand farmers were “lucky to live and farm where we do. “We have stable government and no restrictions on what we can and can’t do, compared with Europe. But we are not subsidised either. “The agility of Mid Canterbury farmers to swing from one product type to another is a result of New Zealand being a free market economy. “It is in our mindset now to always be looking for opportunities and be willing to take them, which is not the case in Europe or the US where they are quite conservative in their approach to trying new things,” Marr said.

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Milling wheat in hot demand By Heather Mackenzie

ince the announcement of the four-week Covid-19 lockdown in New Zealand it would seem shoppers have gone flour mad. The days of standing in the baking aisle choosing between wholemeal or plain are gone, for the short term at least, now it’s about grabbing what’s left on the shelf and hot-footing it to the checkout. Has this increased domestic demand changed how mills and growers view New Zealand milling wheat production going forward? United Wheatgrowers New Zealand chairman Brian Leadley thinks it has in some ways and hasn’t in others. He said it was important to remember that even though supermarket sales are at a level not seen before, the bulk supply of flours, pasta, bread and baked

Brian Leadley

goods to restaurants and many bakeries came to a grinding halt pretty much overnight. That being the case the amount of cereal-based products being sold are at similar levels to prior lockdown levels, it is just they are in smaller packages. Leadley praised the New

Zealand mills for their quick response to the shift in consumer demand. The change from bulk packaging to retail size was made rapidly and without any supply chain holdups, he said. Some farmers have seen milling wheat leave their farm silos earlier than in the past, however, Leadley suspects this is down to the recent drought in Australia affecting wheat supplies rather than a lift in demand due to Covid-19. He was also quick to point out, that New Zealand has no wheat supply issues due to a bumper harvest this year and Australian wheat still being available. Leadley had an interesting take on the widely reported panic buying of staple goods like flour, bread and pasta. He suggested it was more like stocking-up buying rather something driven by panic.

He said in days gone by home cooks would look in the pantry to see what was for dinner, but in modern times many have moved away from that, preferring to look to the supermarket for daily inspiration or, failing that, grab a takeaway on the way home. So, when those options were not as accessible anymore or in the case of takeaways completely off the table, many households suffered from Old Mother Hubbard syndrome, in that their cupboards were bare. This lack of reserves saw a flood of worried cooks all heading to the supermarket at exactly the same time in order to fill their empty larders, resulting in sales far exceeding the shelfrefilling capabilities of the staff. There is a plan in place to return New Zealand to being self-sufficient in milling wheat by 2025. Leadley said while the

consumer changes brought about by the Covid-19 lockdown have not altered the 2025 date, they have certainly illustrated that self-sufficiency is the right goal for everybody involved in the industry, including the Government, to be working towards. “Self-sufficiency in all cereal crops, like oats, barley, wheat and maize, would mean New Zealand would be protected from outside forces that could disrupt imported grains in the future.” He was also quick to point out that this push for more milling wheat was in no way at the expense of the already strongly established feed wheat growers. “We are looking to increase the overall total of milling wheat grown from 100,000 tonnes a year to around 300,000 tonnes and have no intention of targeting the feed wheat tonnages.”

Plant-based foods safe from residues

survey confirms that the Kiwi diet is safe and that any pesticide residues on food are extremely low, far below recommended safety levels. The Ministry for Primary Industries released results of the food residues survey programme which tests for residues in plantbased foods. The survey collected 591 fruit and vegetable samples over two years and shows compliance of greater than 99.9 per cent. The survey tests residues from commonly used agrichemicals:

insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Agcarm chief executive Mark Ross said the results were unsurprising. “Agcarm members work hard to satisfy the stringent requirements set by regulators. They also work with food chain partners to achieve the lowest possible residues in food.” A total of 591 samples were collected and analysed for more than 500 agrichemicals and their metabolites. Food safety risk assessments did not find any risk from dietary exposure.

“These results show that all plant-based foods available to all New Zealanders are safe to eat,” Ross said A total of 49 out of 311,469 results reported exceeded the relevant Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for the samples collected from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019. A number of these cases were due to the grower not understanding revised MRLs or using products off label. Agcarm recommended that growers regularly review MRLs and label

changes. Minor crop producers have the challenge of finding the appropriate application rates and withholding period that will ensure compliance with the default New Zealand MRL of 0.1 mg per kg. Agcarm encouraged growers to work with their agrichemical suppliers and seek advice from field representatives on the correct practices for chemicals used on crops. Ross said that while the residues were very low, and still within safe amounts to eat, it

was a wake-up call to a small minority of growers. “The manufacturers’ instructions on the label are there for good reason. When these instructions are followed correctly it ensures the food we eat is as safe as possible.” Agrichemicals were a vital part of New Zealand’s food producing industry, protecting crops from devastating pests, Ross said. “We must also continue to follow good agricultural practice to meet the ever-increasing consumer demands for safe food.”

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Support your local businesses David Clark

President of MC Federated Farmers

ast month I wrote of the unprecedented times we were heading into with a nationwide lockdown to limit the spread of Covid-19 and reflected on the short-term response to disease and the long economic crisis that would follow. A month down the track we might have dodged one bullet, but I’m not so sure our luck will be so good on the second. The New Zealand economy is shattered, more than any of us can appreciate at this point, I suspect. International tourism contributed $17.2 billion to GDP in 2019; it has been wiped off the map until this pandemic is resolved, either by herd immunity or a vaccine, either way, some time into the future. That is the equivalent of every single dairy cow in New Zealand dropping dead overnight. Tourism was always likely to be the big casualty of Covid-19, but we didn’t necessarily need to strangle much of the remainder of the domestic economy by way of the lockdown we have been through and the restrictions ahead that may be with us for many months. One could argue that we should have imposed severe restrictions on the border with tough quarantining regimes at the time of our first case during the third week in February. To my mind, it would be best to keep a disease out, rather than let it in and run, then chase it down with the goal of eliminating the disease and keeping it out. I guess farming thinking would say if your neighbour has lots of weeds, better to keep them on his side of the fence than spread them around your own place and then spend time grubbing them out. Anyway, enough of that, we are where we are now and let’s hope Covid-19 can be kept under strict control. To a large extent, the New Zealand economy is now dependent more on the foreign exchange earning capacity of primary production than it has been for generations.

We have a very important role to play in this. This is not a time to be smug, we could have found ourselves severely limited in the farm tasks able to be carried out under lockdown and we could have found many of our processors and suppliers not able to support us. We have much to be thankful for in coming through this relatively unscathed, albeit with delays in processing stock and uncertainty in markets. Our local businesses need our support and need our custom. This is the time to buy local goods and services. If possible, bring forward a maintenance or development project, support the guys and girls in business in our community so that they can pay their wages and rent, support their own suppliers and present a positive outlook to their bankers. Just remember, these are the guys and girls you played rugby or netball with, that coach your children, they form an integral part of our community. They are desperate for your help; let’s give them the chance to get back on their feet. All businesses will need to adapt to the reset of the NZ economy, there is tough times ahead. That will require farms, businesses and households to cut their cloth to suit. Government is no exception to this. I have watched with interest the response in local and regional government to the suggestion that austerity may be required and that rate rises would be inappropriate. Central government will have the biggest of the dead rats to swallow. We all have a list of “nice to haves” and theoretically they take their place after the “must haves”. I’m afraid the old benchmarks are gone, we are in a time where the community can only afford, at best to be levied to fund the “must haves”, there is not money and nor the tolerance for a fanciful list of “nice to haves”. Local, regional and central government, it is time to live within your existing budgets. As for the country and the economy, “Can we fix it Bob?”… “Yes we can!” Let’s get going, give your local businesses a shout and support them!

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FEATURE

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Fodderbeet yield unaffected by signific

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FEATURE

cant reductions in fertiliser – research

“

I was surprised that we could bring nitrogen fertiliser rates down that much

ew research shows that it is possible to reduce traditional fertiliser recommendations for growing fodderbeet – sometimes by significantly more than half the usual amount – with no effect on crop yield or quality. Plant & Food Research, along with industry partners, recently completed a threeyear study with the assistance of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI’s) Sustainable Farming Fund (now superseded by Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures) to determine the best way to grow fodderbeet, a popular supplementary feed crop for livestock in New Zealand. The researchers conducted a series of nitrogen, potassium and boron trials to establish whether

standard management practices could be recommended for varying soil types and locations. “Much of our information about the nutrient requirements of fodderbeet came from European sugar beet guidelines – for example, recommending high rates of potassium to support high yield,” said John de Ruiter, senior scientist at Plant & Food Research. “However, in every trial we conducted across many New Zealand soil types we were able to lower the potassium applications to 100kg per hectare without yield loss when compared to the standard rate of 350kg per hectare.” The researchers also found the maximum plant response to nitrogen was achieved at 100kg

per hectare – half the industry standard of 200kg per hectare. “I was surprised that we could bring nitrogen fertiliser rates down that much,” de Ruiter said. “This means a reduction in the amount of nitrogen in the feed and a reduction in the amount of nitrogen returned to soil through excretion, which is a good result for the environment – and is also a big saving for farmers.” Symptoms of boron deficiency (hollow bulbs) occur on some soil types. However trials with varying rates and timing of boron fertiliser didn’t show any effects on yield or plant health. “Basal applications of boron at sowing are still recommended to avoid any potential boron limitations,” de Ruiter said. The researchers also examined

diseases in fodderbeet crops. “When fodderbeet first regained popular use 15 years ago, the disease incidence was low, and there was great potential for fodderbeet as a winter crop. “But in recent seasons, the incidence of fungal and viral diseases have hit hard with a major reduction in paddock yields,” de Ruiter said. “While there’s not much that can be done about viruses, some control of fungal diseases is possible,” he added. “However, few chemicals for fungal control are registered for use in New Zealand. “Experiments with timing and rates of fungicide application did not give conclusive results, so more work on the epidemiology

and control of fodderbeet diseases is needed.” Steve Penno, director Investment Programmes at MPI, said it was essential to find out what works best in New Zealand, and not just rely on overseas experience. “This research provides valuable and practical information for growing fodderbeet in New Zealand – its recommendations for reduced fertiliser use are a win for the environment and will save farmers money, too.” A major outcome of the research project is the Fodderbeet Best Management Production Guide. The guide will be available soon on the DairyNZ website. – NZME

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Trim next season’s budgets, dairy farm A dominant theme in dairy markets is one of waning global demand and rising global supply, banks warn.

airy farmers face the prospect of a sub-$6 milk price next season as a result of Covid-19 market disruption, banks warn. Rabobank is forecasting a farmgate milk price of $5.60 a kg of milksolids for the 202021 season, while ASB is more optimistic, with a $6.50 forecast, while acknowledging downside risks. Westpac forecast a $6.30 milk price next season, saying a dominant theme in dairy markets remained one of waning global demand and rising global supply. In Rabobank’s New Zealand dairy seasonal outlook titled battening down the hatches, it said a number of factors linked to Covid-19 – including reduced Chinese imports, supply chain disruptions and consumption pull-back – combined with modestly rising dairy surpluses in export regions, will lead to an extended down cycle in global dairy markets. Rabobank NZ chief executive Todd Charteris said while a more testing season awaits the country’s dairy farmers, the New Zealand dairy sector was well positioned to manage through the disruptions of Covid-19. “Over the last three years, New Zealand dairy farmers have seen demand for their products grow strongly and they’ve enjoyed the strong dairy commodity pricing that has resulted. Many in the industry have taken advantage of this favourable pricing by reducing debt levels and this will help them address the challenges arising due to Covid-19,” Charteris said.

Milk price forecast Based on the bank’s view of global supply and demand fundamentals and aiming to factor in significant market uncertainty, report co-author senior dairy analyst Emma Higgins said Rabobank was forecasting a farmgate milk price of $5.60/kg of milksolids for the 2020-21 season. ASB said that as this season had nearly ended, it expected minor movements in the 201920 milk price. However, a much wider range of milk price results was possible for the 2020-21 season. “For now, we retain our $6.50/kg forecast, but note the increasing downside risks and suggest that farmers start contingency planning for the possibility of a sub-$6/kg milk price for the 2020-21 season,” ASB said. Both whole milk powder and overall dairy auction prices were down about 15 per cent since the Covid-19 outbreak began to impact dairy markets from February, ASB said. Westpac expected global demand for dairy products to be hurt by country lockdowns. “That should particularly be true for dairy ingredients (for example milk powder and butter) which go into processed foods, which in turn are sold via food and beverage outlets. “Regarding supply, there’s ongoing evidence of increased production in Europe, the US and South America, with the northern hemisphere enjoying good spring growing conditions. Overall, the dominant theme in dairy markets remains one of waning global demand and rising global supply. “The implication is probable further downward pressure on world dairy prices.” Westpac said its farmgate milk price forecast for the 2020-21 season of $6.30 already assumed further slippage in global dairy markets. Higgins said that given the

RaboResearch senior dairy analyst Emma Higgins says there is significant market uncertainty as a result of Covid-19 disruptions.

rapidly-changing operating environment due to Covid-19, forecast settings were incredibly complicated and there were a number of upside and downside risks that could impact

Rabobank’s views on the global dairy markets over the course of its forecast timeframe. “On the upside, these include stronger than anticipated Chinese demand, weakening

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mers warned lowering of the price floor for intervention buying by the European Commission, NZ dollar appreciation above 57 cents, Covid-19 re-infection in China, higher than anticipated global milk supply, and worse than anticipated global demand softness as a result of extended shutdowns, or large falls in discretionary spending.” Due to the heightened uncertainty in the market, the report said Rabobank anticipated New Zealand dairy processors would announce conservative opening forecasts for the 202021 season. Higgins said this would flow through to any advance rate payments impacting budgets, and farmers should plan for this accordingly. “The adaptability of farming budgets will be crucial over the season ahead, with the need for strong financial discipline required for New Zealand dairy farmers to be in a stable position coming out of this cycle,” she said. “New Zealand dairy farmers have ridden through a similar position before, most recently with the ‘dairy downturn’ in 2015 and 2016. History suggests maximising pasture growth and focusing on home grown feed, minimising unnecessary cost creep and adopting a proactive approach to risk management (where possible) are key focuses in tough economic times.” Global demand risks Rabobank’s report said that as Covid-19 spread around the globe and containment efforts ramped up, economists were beginning to use stronger terminology to describe the market fall-out and, tellingly, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was now anticipating the current market scenario to cause a recession as least as bad as during the global financial crisis. “Dairy will not come out of this economic cycle unscathed and over the coming 12 month

Dairy processors are expected to announce conservative opening forecasts for the 2020-21 season.

period dairy commodity prices are not expected to be pretty – particularly over the second and third quarter of 2020,” Higgins said. “Rabobank is forecasting for the ongoing fallout of coronavirus on global markets to result in a weak price cycle through 2020 – including the key selling season for New Zealand’s corresponding production season.” Higgins said one of the significant factors Rabobank was closely monitoring over the coming 12 month period was the level of Chinese import activity. “With high Chinese milk production, accumulation of dairy inventory and rising unemployment figures, we remain extremely cautious as to China’s appetite for dairy imports across 2020,” she said. “We have anticipated China’s import requirement of dairy

powders falling by up to almost 40 per cent year-on-year by volume in 2020 in our milk price forecasts. Should this not be the case, our forecast would improve to more profitable territory.” Despite the expected drop in global dairy demand, Higgins said there were supportive factors specific to New Zealand dairy farmers which would help to support the farmgate milk price at levels higher than seen in the ‘dairy downturn’ or the GFC. “Milk supply across the export engine has been quite modest – aided by an anticipated sharp drop-off in milk production in the North Island of New Zealand over the final months of the current production season,” she said. “More specifically in favour of NZ dairy farmers, the value of the US dollar has lifted markedly against the NZ dollar.

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As Covid-19 became a global pandemic, the value of the NZ dollar has slid 10 per cent and this will be a welcome respite for New Zealand dairy farmers over the coming months as it helps to take out some of the bite of falling $US-denominated dairy commodity prices.” Implications for farmers In addition to strict budget management, Higgins said the less favourable dairy commodity pricing outlook would also require farmers to look closely at their input costs and risk management strategies. “Global input supply chains remain largely operational despite Covid-19 containment efforts. However, there is a high risk of greater interruption either to agrochemical production or logistics. Dairy farmers should be in regular

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communication with their suppliers regarding both availability and alternative plans should inputs not arrive on time. Local input prices for fertiliser have remained firm – but dairy farmers should be budgeting for a lift in prices due to the weaker NZ dollar and the possibility of further production cuts,” she said. “High commodity price volatility over the coming months is also inevitable. As we enter into this new market phase New Zealand dairy farmers fortunately have a few more risk mitigation offerings available to them than what was possible in the ‘dairy downturn’ or the previous GFC crisis. At least three products including Fonterra’s Guaranteed Milk Price and the NZX Milk Price Futures offering are available to most dairy farmers,” Higgins said.

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FEATURE

Robotic technology revolutionising farming A

That means lower costs, lower environmental impact and a more abundant harvest. Farmers using advanced digital precision technology report reducing herbicide use by 10 per cent and diesel by 20 per cent. Thanks to digital connectivity, smart farm equipment can provide farmers with fieldspecific information from cloud-based farm management software. Sensors collect data from a distance to evaluate soil and crop health and identify the presence of pests or diseases. Agricultural drone technology has been improving in the last few years. Drones allow farmers to constantly monitor crop and livestock conditions – often more reliably than manual inspections. Drones mainly capture images and provide data, but they also monitor crops from planting to harvest - helping farmers to react faster to threats such as weeds, insects and fungi. This data is processed and translated into information on plant health and pest infestations. Data can then be entered into smart machinery to adjust the amount of pesticide used for a field. This saves time and

improves the application of variable input rates in real-time. Drones can also be used to apply pesticides. Aerial spraying in Japan and China is done by drones. In Europe, they are used to distribute biological agents like wasp eggs. The potential for drones is sky-high. Water-resistant drones can monitor any type of crop, in any geographical area, in any weather. They can also get higher quality and more precise images in real-time as they fly below the clouds and have high photo resolution — far superior to satellites, which only take pictures once a week or month and don’t work well when it’s cloudy. The use of agricultural drones will grow significantly in the coming years as they offer a wide range of applications that improve precision farming. They can potentially replace the human application of pesticides, minimising farmer exposure. That’s some high-flying technology that will hopefully be available in New Zealand sometime soon.

Mark Ross is chief executive of Agcarm, the industry association for companies which manufacture and distribute crop protection and animal health products. PHOTO SUPPLIED

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dvancements in robotic technology is changing the face of farming for the better, writes Mark Ross. From weeding and spraying crops to taking care of cattle, digital technology is making its mark on agriculture. Self-driven vehicles are picking and grading fruit as well as detecting and pollinating flowers. Now the latest technology involves detecting and managing disease - helping farmers to become more productive and sustainable. Modern agricultural machines take away some of the more time-consuming tasks and help to protect crops from disease with exact doses and targeted applications of products. In the last decade, there has been an unprecedented growth in precision farming - with about 80 per cent of new farm equipment using it. This advanced digital precision technology can help farmers to use land efficiently and maximise harvests while reducing costs and workloads. Robotic technology makes it possible to detect the precise location of weeds or disease and spray only the affected area.

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Farmers’ footprints decrease N

ew research showing that sheep, beef and dairy production are responsible for less nitrous oxide emissions than previously estimated underlines the value of in-depth research and accurate data, says Federated Farmers. Nitrous oxide is New Zealand’s second most important agricultural greenhouse gas, representing 22 per cent of agricultural emissions, or 11 per cent of total GHG emissions. AgResearch and Manaaki Whenua scientists have carried out research for over a decade on livestock emissions. Scientists found that on rolling and steep hill country land, nitrous oxide emissions from urine was lower, as a result of factors related to soil composition and topography. Emissions for dairy cattle on flat land were also recalculated to be slightly lower as a result of their research. The new nitrous oxide measurement reduces total sheep emissions (including methane and nitrous oxide) by 10.6 per cent than previously reported, beef cattle emissions by 5 per cent and dairy cattle emissions by 1.4 per cent. New Zealand’s greenhouse gas inventory, an official annual estimate of all humangenerated greenhouse gas emissions, has been updated to reflect the new science on nitrous oxide emissions. Federated Farmers’ climate change spokesman Andrew Hoggard said achieving net-zero nitrous oxide emissions by 2050 would not be easy to do, but was a task farmers were committed to. “The difficulty in reducing nitrous oxide is due to the emissions being mainly caused by the urine of livestock providing too much nitrogen for the soil to

New research indicates that sheep, beef and dairy cattle produce less emissions than previously calculated.

absorb. While nitrogen is good for plant growth, when there is too much nitrogen in one spot, some will be released into the air as nitrous oxide. “The absurd impracticality of measuring the emissions caused by the urine of individual livestock on-farm means that totals are estimated using models and the best scientific research on hand. “Unlike a factory, we cannot use a device to directly measure the emissions from animals on farms and must attempt to estimate complex biological process as best as we can.

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“Farmers across New Zealand are committed to improving environmental outcomes at home, while continuing to provide sought-after and nutrition-packed food across the globe. This research highlights the fundamental importance of accurate data in managing environmental outcomes, such as greenhouse gas emissions,” Hoggard said. The improvement in the calculation of emissions results in a 4.4 per cent reduction in the agriculture sector’s overall reported emissions for 2017, and a 2.1 per cent decrease in

New Zealand’s overall reported emissions. This new research means livestock’s overall contribution to New Zealand’s greenhouse emissions was lower than previously calculated. It will also lead to a reduction in the carbon footprints for livestock production in New Zealand, as a percentage of total emissions, particularly sheep, which was already low compared to the carbon footprint of sheep and beef in other countries. Beef + Lamb NZ chief insight officer Jeremy Baker said that the agricultural sector was

committed to playing its part in tackling the challenge of climate change. “The New Zealand sheep and beef sector has already reduced its overall greenhouse gas emissions by more than 32 per cent since 1990, whilst maintaining similar levels of production. “This research highlights how understanding about livestock’s contribution to warming is continuing to evolve, and the importance of continuing to invest in science in these areas.” There were also 1.4 million hectares of native trees on New Zealand sheep and beef farms. B+LNZ was undertaking research to understand how much carbon these trees were sequestering from the atmosphere. This was expected to be significant and take the sector a long way towards its goal of being net carbon neutral by 2050, Baker said. DairyNZ strategy and investment leader Dr David Burger said that while the impact of the changes for 2017 was modest for dairy cattle, with emissions 1.4 per cent lower than previously estimated for that year, the research was important. “We now have more accurate estimations of livestock emissions on sloping land. “The current inventory calculations assume almost all dairy cattle are located on flat land, but we know that cows are often grazed on rolling land, particularly when they are young or during winter. “Once we have more data on the proportion of dairy cattle on sloping pastures, we will have a more accurate understanding of emissions which may see dairy nitrous oxide emissions change further,” Burger said.

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Retiring after working 50 years on same farm

Heather Chalmers

RURAL REPORTER

fter more than 50 years working on the same Mid Canterbury farm, through multiple changes in farm ownership and farming operation, Graeme Chapman is retiring to farm his own lifestyle block. Chapman was 18 when he started working on the Flemington farm in 1968, retiring aged 70 just as the Covid-19 lockdown started. During that time the farm has changed owners and switched farming types from sheep to deer, blackcurrants, calf rearing and now cropping and dairy grazing. It was not his first job after finishing school, initially working for Herbert Christie at Winslow for about a year. Chapman then started working for John Johnston on Fords Road at Flemington and when he died about six months later, his sons “Alistair” and Keith Johnston. “It was mainly sheep when I started and my first job was in the shearing shed, which is now a deer shed. “After about two years, the Johnstons decided to go into more crop and sold a lot of the sheep.” When Chapman married Maxine in 1972 they moved into a house on the farm after Keith Johnston bought his own nearby farm. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the farm became one of the pioneers in deer farming, with Alastair Johnston, who had his own plane, catching deer on the West Coast and bringing them back to the farm. The plane, jointly owned by

Graeme Chapman is retiring after working on the same Mid Canterbury farm for more than 50 years.

Johnston and Eiffelton farmer Ian Royds, was regularly used for agricultural work. “They used to do their own agricultural spraying and fertiliser applications by plane, as well as contracting for others.” The farm was completely deer fenced, with about 1000 animals grazed on the farm for another company, when deer values plummeted following the 1987 sharemarket crash and many were quit. This included about 500 fallow deer, some of which were retained. The Chapmans also got caught up in the crash, losing their nearby eight hectare block where they were farming deer and rearing calves. “The deer went from being worth $3000 a head down to $500 and interest rates were over 20 per cent.” The couple shifted back to a house on the farm.

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For about five years, Chapman was responsible for a blackcurrant block on the farm. “Until there was no money in it anymore and we pulled them all out.” He also reared about 200 bull calves, including 150 transported from the North Island, before dairying in Canterbury became as widespread. “We were one of the first to rear bull calves and I had to make my own mobile calf feeder. It is now much more common, with people rearing much bigger numbers.” Four-day-old calves were reared to 100kg, with some sold and some retained on-farm for finishing. The NZ Property Trust then bought the farm followed by Neville and Andrea Chalmers in 1997. The Chalmers continued farming some deer, but a

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prolonged industry downturn meant these were finally sold in favour of cropping and dairy grazing. However, Chapman was able to continue his interest in deer farming, developing and managing a nearby 120ha property for another owner in his spare time until it was sold in 2008. “At the peak we had 150 velveting stags, plus 400 hinds.” The Chapmans were also able to buy another nearby 8ha lifestyle block. Chapman said that while he was never keen on farming sheep, he liked working with cattle. “Tractor work was what I really liked doing. “Alistair Johnston got one of the first John Deere tractors in Mid Canterbury in about 1975 with a round front and an air conditioned cab. I had just built a

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house in Tinwald and it sold for the same price as the tractor was worth, $17,500. “I started working on a 50 horsepower Fordson tractor and when I retired the tractor was 300hp. “As I had my own farming interests, particularly the deer farm which was nearby, I never really looked at another job. “Once, early on, I went and had a look at a job at the Fairton meat works. By the time I had walked through to find the place to sign up I decided no. So I walked back out without even talking to anyone,” Chapman said. The Chalmers said they would organise a farewell once Covid-19 isolation rules were relaxed. “I couldn’t even shake Graeme’s hand to wish him well in his retirement,” Neville Chalmers said.

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Off to a rocky start, bu Heather Chalmers

RURAL REPORTER

est Coast dairy operations manager Jack Raharuhi has packed a lot in his 28 years. Despite leaving Buller High School at the age of 15 and confessing to getting into the wrong crowd as a teenager, Raharuhi found his feet in the dairy industry where his natural leadership ability is getting noticed. As Buller dairy group operations manager for Pamu (Landcorp Farming), he oversees three dairy farms and a dairy support farm, as well as a machinery syndicate at Cape Foulwind, near Westport. He has already notched up a string of young leadership awards, the latest pitting him against the best of young talent on both sides of the Tasman, when he was named the 2020 Zanda McDonald Award winner. Other awards are the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer of the Year in 2016 and the West Coast/Top of the South dairy farm manager of the year in 2017. Zanda McDonald award chairman Richard Rains said: “As judges, we were impressed with Jack from the moment we first interviewed him. He is doing some amazing things to develop, coach and mentor his team, and has a natural leadership style that is inspiring and compassionate. “We can’t wait to see what’s

next in store for Jack and look forward to developing his tailored mentoring package with him, which will really help take his career to the next level,” Rains said. Raharuhi’s leadership journey started out in a less conventional way than many, describing his teenage years as “a dark time” in his life. However, he’s been able to draw on these experiences to inspire his peers, encouraging them to believe in themselves and their aspirations. “School wasn’t really my thing. I was a bit of a ratbag. I got around with the wrong people and looked up to the wrong people and made some bad decisions.” He started working on a dairy farm near Westport. “It was my Dad’s friend’s farm, which is one of the Pamu farms I now oversee. “For the first nine months

I didn’t really like it, but over time I started enjoying things. After a while I cracked open the bookwork and started studying.” He enrolled with Primary ITO, completing qualifications in dairy farming and studying for a diploma in agribusiness management. “I want to keep chipping away at tertiary education for future roles.” He is also involved with training and mentoring staff as part of Pamu’s West Coast 2IC development programme. “I try and carve a career path for them. “I am really enjoying my role as I have a large portfolio that I am responsible for. I am aspiring to do that on a much larger scale in the future and try to influence as many people into the dairy industry and carve career pathways for them.” Raharuhi, who has set up a

Facebook page “Jack’s leadership journey”, said he was happy to use his own journey as an example to others of what can be achieved. “It hasn’t been all roses along the way, it has had its ups and downs. “I want to aspire a lot of people into getting motivated and digging yourself out of things when they are not going so well. It is never too late to make a change in your life. “It is important to show how quickly you can excel in an industry if you really put your mind to it. “I’m passionate about developing people. There is a real opportunity on the West Coast to be climbing the ladder quickly in the dairy industry here.” He also co-ordinates the Gateway Programme through Buller High School, providing work experience for students.

Following three years as a trustee, Raharuhi has also recently been appointed as chair of the West Coast Focus Farm Trust, a not-for-profit organisation that sets out to enhance profitable farming on the West Coast. A proud West Coaster, Raharuhi is married to Charlotte and has three children, getting out surfing when he can. Of the four farms he oversees, two milk 1080 cows and the third 900 cows, with the fourth a support block for grazing young stock. Each dairy farm has a manager, 2IC and dairy assistants. The farms were part of the biggest farm trial in New Zealand for grazing new forage variety Raphno by dairy cattle. Commonly used in sheep and beef farming systems, Raphno was a high-yielding kale-radish hybrid which persisted under

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ut powering ahead now Left: Pamu’s Cape Foulwind dairy farms are part of the biggest farm trial in New Zealand for grazing new forage variety Raphno, a kale-radish hybrid, by dairy cattle. Right: To minimise the farms’ carbon footprint and reduce the health and safety risk to staff, Pamu has identified steep and unproductive areas of its farms to plant in radiata pine. Native plantings have also been fenced and preserved. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

multiple grazings. The forage crop was used to maintain milk production over the feed pinch point during the summer months, in one example providing five tonnes a hectare of feed at 13.5ME. Regrowth was then used to winter cows. “It is filling our summer feed deficit really well.” To minimise the farms’ carbon footprint and reduce the health and safety risk to staff, Pamu had identified steep and unproductive areas of its farms to plant in radiata pine. Native

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plantings have also been fenced and preserved. The Zanda McDonald Award recognised and supported talented young individuals in the agricultural sector in Australia and New Zealand. It was launched in 2014 in memory of Australian beef industry leader Zanda McDonald, who died aged 41 after an accident at his Queensland property in 2013. As a result of winning, Raharuhi will, once Covid-19 restrictions have relaxed, spend time with members of the

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Platinum Primary Producers Group, a network of more than 150 of Australasia’s influential agri-business men and women, of which McDonald was a foundation member. Other finalists were fellow Kiwi James Robertson, 23, Fonterra technical assistant cooperative affairs and 2019 FMG NZ Young Farmer of the Year and Australian Dr Elle Moyle, 29, district veterinarian for Agriculture Victoria, and a 2020 finalist in the Cattle Council rising champion initiative.

Jack Raharuhi, who oversees three Pamu dairy farms and a dairy support farm at Cape Foulwind, near Westport, says there is a real opportunity to quickly climb the dairy ladder on the West Coast.

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Moving Day gets the green light M

oving Day will go ahead as planned this year, but with strict controls to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. On June 1 each year, the first day of the dairy season, a large number of dairy farming families, sharemilkers, contract milkers and employees move to new farms to commence new employment and milking contracts. This movement of people, their possessions, livestock and machinery is known as Moving Day. “This annual movement is a critical part of the dairy industry – an industry that contributes over $18 billion a year in exports to our economy and provides jobs for around 46,000 people in our rural communities,” O’Connor said. “It’s also an industry that will play a critical role in New Zealand’s economic recovery after Covid-19, so it was vital that Moving Day went ahead. Since the Alert Level 4 lockdown was announced, and dairy farming was deemed an essential service, the Government has been committed to finding a way to enable it to proceed.

Moving of livestock, dairy farming families and machinery on June 1 will go ahead despite Covid-19 restricPHOTO SUPPLIED tions.

“The Government has been working with sector leaders from organisations including DairyNZ, Fonterra, Federated Farmers and FMG to find solutions which work for those in the sector and protect the economy without jeopardising anyone’s health and safety.

MPI then worked with the Ministry of Health and MBIE and found solutions that allow Moving Day to proceed under any alert level. “Activities need to be restricted to just those that are absolutely necessary and any movement around New

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Zealand must ensure people’s “bubbles” are maintained.” DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle said that this was a great relief to farmers. “Moving Day is a key time in the dairy calendar so it’s great that a solution has been secured with Government which

will provide peace of mind for thousands of farmers. It means we’ll move into the next dairy season in a way that keeps them and the public as safe as possible,” Mackle said. “Industry groups will be providing further guidance and information to support those dairy farmers who are shifting this season, including ensuring their moves are safe and within their bubbles.” O’Connor said New Zealand farmers were no strangers to disease eradication programmes with strict movement controls. “There were already really strong precautions in place around Moving Day as a result of the mycoplasma bovis programme. This gives me confidence that farmers will apply very careful behaviour to Moving Day. “I want to thank all of those sector groups and famers across the country who have worked together and shared some really solid and innovative thinking about potential solutions which will allow these crucial farm movements to go ahead safely and efficiently,” O’Connor said.

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A privileged position A

s New Zealand entered the nationwide lockdown in response to Covid-19, I was acutely aware of the privileged position I was in as a dairy farmer; I could still go to work each day, Fonterra would ensure my milk was picked up on schedule and the milk cheque would still be deposited into my bank account on the 20th of each month. The effects of the virus on my business have largely been minimal; there has been a twomonth delay in sending some cull cows to the meat works, the value of these cows has crashed and I can no longer go into a Farm Source store for a coffee and chat when I pick up my supplies. Despite these minor inconveniences, we are not at risk of losing our businesses and we can keep our employees working and paid, and I was happy to see this largely reflected in farmers’ online behaviour. It’s time for farmers to keep our heads down and keep working while doing our best to support and help others who have been caught up in the effects of fighting the virus. Our tourism industry ceased to

Craig Hickman

ELBOW DEEP @dairymanNZ

exist overnight and the flow-on effects to related industries like hospitality are reflected in our growing unemployment figures. I was surprised then, against this backdrop of business as usual for the primary sector and economic devastation for the service industry, to see Federated Farmers publicly calling for farmers to be given a break. They wanted the Government to defer policies on freshwater management, climate change, Resource Management Act reform and more. Holding ourselves up as potential economic saviours of the country might be tone deaf and a touch arrogant, but publicly calling for special treatment at the same time plumbs new depths. Part of my surprise was that the call was done via a press release instead of a quiet word in the ear of a Government

official behind closed doors. Surely that’s the power of having an industry group helping to shape the very legislation they’re now calling to delay? Of all the policies, freshwater was the one that surprised me the most. It’s a personal crusade for the Minister for the Environment and, once the consultation process has finished and all the submissions have been summarised, the ministry will pass their advice to Cabinet who will then issue a National Policy Statement on Freshwater. That’s it. There’s no select committee hearing and no need for a law change, the NPS will provide direction to regional and district councils as to how they should carry out their responsibilities under the RMA. There are no second chances. Surely Federated Farmers have been working tirelessly in the background making the views of their members known, making their policy team available to the Ministry for the Environment and the four advisory groups that had been established? Unfortunately not. Documents released to Politik website under the Official Information Act

show that Federated Farmers, suspected of leaking confidential information, have effectively been excluded from discussions on freshwater reform since May of last year. How bad is this for farmers? When the federation invited Martin Workman, the ministry’s director for water, to their board meeting to discuss the water proposals he declined to attend saying: “The recent sharing of confidential information provided to primary sector groups means we are not able to share further information on essential freshwater.” In June, a Federated Farmers official apologised to the minister’s advisor over the leak without accepting any responsibility, the equivalent of a “sorry, but not sorry” letter. The damage had already been done. A policy that will deeply affect farmers has been developed almost entirely

without a rural perspective being heard. The reputational damage to Federated Farmers is immeasurable. They are viewed with suspicion by the ministry and it’s fairly safe to assume calls to delay any policies will simply be ignored. The idea that a policy as important as the National Policy Statement on Freshwater could be developed without significant input from the very group who are meant to represent farmers’ interests is almost ludicrous, yet that’s exactly the situation we find ourselves in. I’ve been told before when I’ve criticised various bodies for their dealings with the government that it’s far better to have a seat at the table so you can at least negotiate some compromise. As far as freshwater is concerned, farmers weren’t even in the room, the very group we pay to represent our views have only got themselves to blame for that.

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Trimming an injured claw Fred Hoekstra

VEEHOF DAIRY SERVICES

farmer once made a comment that he didn’t want to get his cows’ feet trimmed in the wet weather; opening up the wound would only create more problems. This is an interesting comment, and I can appreciate his train of thought. Opening a wound exposes it to bacteria which would increase the risk of infection, especially in wet conditions. But even though an exposed corium is running the risk of getting infected, not opening a wound would increase that risk even further. A lame hoof that has a hole needs to be treated. The principle is that the corium needs to be exposed and the weight taken off the damaged claw, that is the key of good hoof trimming. If the wound is not opened properly, it doesn’t mean that the

It takes practice and good instruction to become skilled in hoof trimming.

bacteria are not at the corium. If anything, the bacteria are trapped in the wound and are more likely to go through the corium creating an infection. Opening it up and letting the air get to it will take a lot of the infection pressure away and allow the wound to heal up much faster. Using a bandage is not advisable as often the bandage is not taken off in good time. When the bandage is eventually removed, you can smell a rotting. That smell should be a strong

Paul Bailey

027 229 9774

paul@canterburylivestock.co.nz

indication that it is not helpful to use bandages. However, letting the air get to the wound is not enough. The weight needs to be taken off the wound. This sounds very logical, however very few people actually know how to accomplish this through trimming. This is where most people turn to the claw block as a fix. There is nothing wrong with using claw blocks. In many cases using a block is crucial to the healing of the cow,

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but if the claw is not trimmed properly it will still have a negative effect. The claw blocks can also sometimes come off prematurely. If the claw is not trimmed properly, the wounded claw is going to carry too much weight again. So, how do you trim a cow properly? The principle is the same as putting a claw block on the healthy claw, but instead of making the healthy claw higher, you need to make the lame claw lower.

You can do this by lowering the sole of the damaged claw on the back two-thirds of the hoof (leaving the toe alone). Lowering this area can sometimes create as much height difference as using a block. Another advantage is that it is easier to see if the under-run has been eliminated properly and it is much less likely for a hard ridge in the hoof to pinch the wound. This sounds reasonably easy, but many people fail to do this accurately. Often, someone can explain to me the principles of proper trimming, but this doesn’t always translate to correctly applied knowledge in the trimming process. Hoof trimming is a much more specialised job than most people realise, and it takes practice and good instruction to become skilled in it. If you are keen to get better at trimming or want to gain a better understanding of hoofcare, why not contact us and book yourself in on one of our hoof trimming courses? I can guarantee you that it will be worth your while. Dairy Hoofcare Institute, phone 03 662 8015.

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Have your say on milksolids levy D

airy farmers are encouraged to have their say in the milksolids levy vote, which is now open for voting. It is a one-in-six year vote for industry good organisation, DairyNZ. DairyNZ chairman Jim van der Poel said the milksolids levy funds industry good activities through DairyNZ which delivers dairy sector research, development, advocacy and expertise. “The milksolids levy has been part of New Zealand dairy farming for 17 years. Its roots are in funding work that enables farmers to continue thriving in an everchanging world. With the challenges of Covid-19, the changing nature of farming has never been more real,” van der Poel said. “I encourage farmers to vote and ensure their dairy farm neighbours and friends have their say too. DairyNZ is a farmerowned organisation and it’s important we receive their vote to continue supporting our farmers through science, research and advocacy.” All levy payers – farm owners, sharemilkers and leaseholders – can place a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote until 5pm, May 30. The current levy order expires in November and was required by Government legislation, through the Commodity Levies Act 1990. Levy paying farmers contribute 3.6 cents per kilogram of milksolids produced.

DairyNZ chairman Jim van der Poel says the levy funds work which enables dairy farmers to continue thriving in an ever-changing world.

“DairyNZ represents dairy farmers and helps deliver a better future for them and all New Zealanders, through a thriving dairy sector. If there is a yes vote, farmers will continue to receive all the benefits of DairyNZ and we will continue to support the delivery of the Dairy Tomorrow strategy, which is the sector’s blueprint for the future. “I believe in an organisation that exists to work exclusively for dairy farmers. Not many sectors have an industry-good

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organisation like ours. DairyNZ has helped us achieve real success as a sector and it’s a real strength for our future,” van der Poel said. Dairy Tomorrow guides DairyNZ’s investments and was developed by partners representing the dairy sector – DairyNZ, Dairy Women’s Network, Federated Farmers and Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand. Through the milksolids levy, DairyNZ invests in farm systems, research and development, environmental protection, animal care, biosecurity, building great dairy workplaces, industry sponsorships and supporting vibrant communities. DairyNZ’s investment in TBfree’s national bovine tuberculosis (TB) control programme is the single largest investment from the milksolids levy. The milksolids levy vote was open from mid-April until May 30, 2020. Voting packs have been posted to all eligible levy paying dairy farmers, including sharemilkers and dairy farm leaseholders, who produce milk from cows and supplied a dairy processor in

the 2019/20 season (year ended May 31, 2020). Voting packs will be in mailboxes soon. Farmers can vote via www.dairynz. co.nz or post until May 30. With some uncertainty around mail delivery during Covid-19 restrictions, farmers were encouraged to vote early. For more information, visit dairynz.co.nz/ vote or call DairyNZ ph 0800 4 324 7969.

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National Fieldays will run online N

ew Zealand’s biggest agricultural event National Fieldays will run online after its June showcase was postponed as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. Organisers say visitors will get a taste of the event via a virtual experience on digital platforms until the physical event is able to take place. Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation said the economic ramifications would be extensive if the event was cancelled entirely. “That’s why we’ve decided it’s a chance to be innovative in this time of global uncertainty. We’ll still be delivering a world class event on the world stage – albeit a digital version. “The event is treasured, not just to the agricultural industry,

Fieldays visitors will get a taste of the event via a virtual experience on digital platforms until the physical event is able to take place. PHOTO SUPPLIED

but as Kiwis altogether. Many people save the date a year in advance. We know of people that have never missed a Fieldays. “Digital visitors will be able to pick and choose what they wish to view and at whatever time and

pace they wish to do so. The technology will allow for visitors and exhibitors to connect, but in a new and exciting way. “The beauty of a virtual experience is that people can

enjoy the elements of Fieldays minus the health risks dictated by the current environment,” Nation said. Fieldays had partnered with Satellite Media to deliver the online event experience. Satellite Media managing director Nick Lowe said it had started talking about what the future could look like for Fieldays at an early stage. “Like many, we were devastated to think the event could not go ahead. “It’s now an exciting opportunity to re-imagine the great aspects of the traditional Fieldays format. By going online we can increase our reach, provide new ways for people to connect and, as we are discovering, create new benefits

for both the exhibitors and visitors. “The format allows for all exhibitors, agencies, content producers and suppliers to create opportunity around this new ecosystem and we invite everyone on this journey in the hope of creating jobs and delivering economic benefit. It’s really encouraging how fast Kiwi businesses, both large and small, have jumped at the chance to support New Zealand’s primary sector at this time,” Lowe said. Fieldays 2019 generated $549 million in sales revenue for New Zealand businesses and an injection of $249m to the national GDP. Fieldays draws about 130,000 visitors every year.

Nationals judging continues, with restrictions

he New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards will continue nationals judging, within the guidelines of Covid-19 restrictions. “After consulting our finalists, national sponsors and stakeholders, we have carefully designed a robust judging process that will enable a fair and level

playing field, minimise stress to entrants and focus on finding the best farmers,” said awards general manager Robin Congdon. “Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, finalists will be asked to submit their presentations for judging digitally and speak with the judges online

rather than face-to-face. “In the current environment, more than ever, it is important that success within the dairy industry is celebrated and the sector’s contribution to the nation as an essential service is acknowledged,” Congdon said. All presentations, information and

material from finalists must be submitted to NZDIA management by May 15, with judging to commence on May 20. It was hoped 2020 national award winners could be brought together at an event when restrictions were lifted so that their efforts and success could be celebrated appropriately, Congdon said.

Farming

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Up where By Heather Chalmers

usterers and their teams of dogs continue a high country tradition, with the annual autumn muster of merino wethers at Lake Heron Station in Mid Canterbury. Philip and Anne Todhunter run the 19,600 hectare station, which has been owned and operated by the Todhunter family for more than 100 years. The four-day autumn muster of 3000 merino wethers brings the sheep down to lower country before the winter snows arrive. “The muster is all on foot, based from a station hut,” Anne Todhunter said. “This year we had a superb run of weather for the four days.” While merino wool is still a major focus of the farming operation, with a large portion of the wool clip processed into active outdoor and leisurewear, angus cattle and lamb production were now important aspects of the business, as well as tourism.

Left – Oscar Todhunter (left) and John Templeton (JT) on the first day of the Lake Heron Station autumn muster.

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the wild things are ... Above â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The first day of the Lake Heron Station autumn muster looking towards the Upper Rakaia. Left â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The last day of the Lake Heron Station muster. Crossing the Cameron River on the final homeward stretch, looking towards the Sugarloaf and Lake Heron.

Farming

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A new normal to emerge from Covid-19 Chris Murdoch

PROPERTY BROKERS

hat a difference a month can make .... It wasn’t long ago that Covid-19 was a virus that was affecting other countries and not us, but boy has that changed. We seemed to go from floating along okay to lockdown in no time. Was that the right thing to do? I think so, but why not completely lock down, for example, close the airports and all entry points into New Zealand all at the same time because it seems to me all our issues seem to come from people who had been overseas or came back just before or during lockdown and didn’t self-isolate correctly. If we used the same standards of lockdown then as we do now would we be at Level 4 or maybe moving to Level 3 or even 2? I guess we will never know the answer to the questions. But a wise man once said: “If we over

react we will never know, but if we under react we definitely will”. Well said Rodger. Australia has taken a little less severe reaction to Covid-19 than New Zealand has, but does seem to be getting through okay. (Not as good as us, but okay). You then come to the question of what is a human life worth as against saving our economy? There are many different answers to that question and I

guess the answer there depends on whether it’s your life or someone else’s. Some are of the opinion that the economy and jobs are worth a lot more than the lives of a few elderly people who some say were going to die anyway. I guess this situation brings out the good and bad in all of us. I was talking to a couple of people and their comments were “it’s a bit like the 1980s” and of

course it is for those that are in the middle of this mess. There were different parts of the community caught up then as against now. It appears that the tourism industry is exactly where the farming community was then. Having gone through the 80s I personally know at times there seemed to be no end in sight, but time goes on and things change and a new normal emerges.

One thing this crisis has done for the rural community is that it has put farming right back up in the must have bracket to get us out of this mess. The staples of life still are and always will be flour, meat, eggs and milk, all of which are produced by our hard-working farming families. As these requirements are global, these exports may just save our butts once more.

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Young Farmer regional finals cancelled

Aorangi 2019.

his year’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year Aorangi regional final has been cancelled, following the Covid-19 outbreak, along with other remaining regional contests and the grand final. The Aorangi regional final was meant to be held in conjunction with the Methven A&P Show on March 21 which was also cancelled after the introduction of restrictions on social gatherings. New Zealand Young Farmers chief executive Lynda Coppersmith said it was the first time in the contest’s 52year history that the grand final and remaining contest season had been cancelled. “I appreciate this decision will be disappointing for

PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

everyone involved with the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Contest, but for the safety of competitors, volunteers, spectators and sponsors, it’s the right thing to do,” Coppersmith said. “Before the severity of this outbreak became clear, NZYF had looked at the possibility of postponing the three remaining South Island regional finals to a later date, but it’s quite clear that’s no longer an option.” Four North Island regional finals were held before the Covid-19 outbreak, but the Aorangi, Tasman and OtagoSouthland regional finals have been cancelled. “I’d like to acknowledge all of our competitors this year and, in particular highlight

the efforts of our four grand finalists for 2020, who support the decision and appreciate the unique situation we’re all in. We also want to thank our South Island regional finalists for their patience as we worked through the postponement of their regional finals. “In the interests of being as fair as we possibly can to the contest and all competitors, the NZYF board has agreed to take a clean slate approach with regards to next year’s contest. “That means the 2020 grand finalists, along with all those who have qualified for the cancelled regional finals will need to re-qualify at district level for regional finals and grand final 2021. “Given this is an

unprecedented situation, the board has agreed to show flexibility with a one-year age extension and also revoke the number of grand final and regional final qualifications for the 28 competitors affected. “This flexibility will apply to 2020 grand finalists and those who have qualified for the cancelled regional finals,” Coppersmith said. FMG Young Farmer of the Year 2019, James Robertson, will continue as the reigning champion until the 2021 season. “This will be disappointing news for everybody involved but it helps provide certainty for the contestants and allows their time to be redirected to themselves and their families

over the next few months. “Countless hours, and even years of planning, goes into preparing for the FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand final, but this time has not gone to waste. “I have no doubt the contestants will demonstrate their resilience and begin thinking about the fast approaching 2021 contest season,” Robertson said. “All the skills you develop during the build-up to the contest become skills for life, that’s what the contest is all about.” Organisers still planned to hold the 2021 FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand final in Christchurch, as was planned for this year.

Farming

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Midlands celebrates 30 years Birthday celebrations are off the radar during the Covid-19 lockdown, but Midlands Seed still managed to mark its thirtieth year in business with a Zoom gathering. Reporter Sue Newman talks to managing director Chris Green about the company’s growth from its very humble beginnings.

hirty years ago four young men shared a dream. As they watched the clouds of change roll across their industry, the four grain and seed agents from Mair Seeds, Brian Davidson, Chris Green (originally on the Dalgety team), Jon Bond and Duncan Storrier, knew the services offered by those stock firms were solid, but the way in which those services were delivered had to change. It was a time of economic uncertainty. Stock firms were dismantling their businesses, the model that had served them well for decades did so no longer. But the four men believed in a future where they could use the skills they’d learned as grain and seed agents as the catalyst for change. Bravely they handed in their notice, joined forces and on April 2, 1990 formed a new company, Midlands Seed. Their business was born during some of farming’s darkest days and while they may have been short on cash, they were long on ambition and ideas and had a firm belief in a world where they, and farmer clients, could together push boundaries, grow new crops and create new futures. Midlands was established in a time of crisis and it was fitting that when it celebrated its thirtieth birthday on April 2, that too should be in a time of crisis – the Covid-19 lockdown. Today the company is a vastly different beast. Its staff of four

Left – Midlands Seed Ltd has been in operation for 30 years.

Above – Andrew Davidson

shareholders, has grown to a staff of more than 100. And its business interests have spread from small seeds to include an apiary, a honey business and specialist, high quality seed oil extraction for the domestic and export market, and a contracting business that provides specialist services to the seed industry. Chris Green is the only one of the four still actively involved on a day-to-day basis but has the full support of the other shareholders. Green looks back to the company’s beginning and says it was probably the confidence of youth that saw the four start a new rural business at a time when land prices were in free-fall and stock firms were disbanding. They had a small office in the old Dalgety building, later moving to the company’s current home in a leased office in the Mid Canterbury Transport building on West Street, the building they now own. “I guess we saw an opportunity. We started out with a one page business plan, that was it. We knew we needed to be different to create value and not be the same as anyone else. But it was a big gamble, our homes were on the line,” he said. Their drive was to find crops that farmers could grow other than traditional wheat and barley, crops that were more

focused, that were niche market. “You look back and I suppose we were a bit cutting edge, but we were learning as we went along.” But it was definitely not smooth sailing. ‘We had the Asian financial crisis in the mid 90s and the global financial crisis, but we kept growing and the company got to a size where we needed to keep pushing the boundaries and coming up with new things, new ideas. We needed to keep looking for what was next.” The business always had – and still has – plenty of balls in the air. “And we’re still just as passionate about it now. I love the game and it’s always a case of ‘what’s next’,” Green said. To ensure the viability of the district’s bee population for crop pollination, Midland bought Symes’ Staveley apiary about 12 years ago. That purchase also created an opportunity and today the company has a thriving honey and bee byproduct business. Adding value, creating new by- products from other products, is one of the company’s key drivers, one Green is passionate about. While he might be the man at the top with high calibre staff employed to run each arm of the

Above – Midlands Apiaries became an addition to the original company. Left – Four young men set up a new company. Right – crop farming remains a core part of Midlands Seed business.

Left – Chris Green

business, Green admits he’s still very hands-on. “I accept you can’t do it all yourself and staff are a very, very important part of where we are today.” Staff were absolutely key, but the company’s growth could not have happened without its loyal suppliers and growers, some who have been part of the business since day one, he said. “We always have to sell our ideas to them and they’ve been an important part of our growth.” Fellow shareholder Brian Davidson might not be involved day-to-day with the business but he’s still a huge support from the sidelines. His son Andrew is a director and is involved in an advisory consultancy role. Midland might have celebrated its thirtieth birthday, but the company will continue to grow and continue to look for add-on business. Over the past 12 months it has released its Puriti brand of premium honey to sit alongside its established Mt Somers brand and the oil business is now producing a high quality omega3 oil. Those products might seem

a long way from its foundation business of small seeds but it’s all part of diversification and adding value to the core product, Green said. Keeping Midlands on a growth path is all about ensuring the business thrives beyond its current directors, he said. “The legacy is for the staff and all our farmers and suppliers because our company will carry on.” With New Zealand in lockdown, Green, his staff and fellow directors believed the thirtieth anniversary would slip by, with perhaps a quiet celebration to be held later in the year. He hadn’t counted on the ingenuity of daughter Sophie. She organised about 60 people to link up via Zoom to celebrate. Green walked into his living room to find a sea of faces logged in and laughing at his reaction. “We had a laugh and a chat and she’d even got three or four growers who’d been with us from the start and one of our international clients too.” Birthday celebrations done, it’s back to looking ahead, looking to a future Green knows will include new challenges, but also new opportunities. The company, he says, will continue to push boundaries, continue to explore new fields and in doing that it will continue to be motivated by the driver adding value to every product it grows or produces.

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FEATURE

Hunters allowed to hunt on private land

he Government will allow people to hunt on private property under Alert Level 3 but has placed a blanket ban on hunting on public or conservation land. But there are a number of restrictions for those who choose to hunt on private land – hunters will not be allowed to go on overnight trips or use quad bikes or helicopters. Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson, along with Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage made the announcement. All hunting was banned under Alert Level 4, but the Government has made a number of exceptions under Level 3. “We know that hunting is an important part of life for many New Zealanders, and in some cases a critical source of food,” Robertson said. He said New Zealand needs to

minimise the risk of losing the progress made while in Level 4. “We have to strike a balance, and that’s why these rules are designed to allow hunting in a limited way,” Robertson said. Cabinet agreed hunting on private land will be allowed under Alert Level 3, so long as hunters stay within their region and stick to their bubble. Hunting is only permitted on foot and overnight trips are not allowed. The use of quad bikes, offroad bikes, helicopters and other motorised vehicles is prohibited, the Minister decided. But hunting on public or conservation land would not be allowed until New Zealand returns to Alert Level 2. “This helps with consistency across walking and mountain biking where people must stay local, rather than travelling to back country conservation land,”

Sage said. She also revealed that the start of the duck hunting season, on Saturday, May 2, has been postponed by two weeks. Sage said the risks associated with groups of people coming together were still too high. “All New Zealanders will still have an opportunity to hunt ducks, at the same time, once we return to Alert Level 2. “We’re still encouraging New Zealanders to spend time in nature where possible if it’s local, but this is not the time to take up hunting as a new hobby or explore the back country and go on an overnight tramp.” How far can I travel to go hunting on private land? You should drive as short a distance as you can. You must stay within your region.

Supporting our food producers

Does private land include Maori land? Yes – the same rules apply. Have the deer roar and tahr rut ballots/hunting blocks been affected by Covid-19? The Department of Conservation (DoC) runs an annual ballot system for hunters wishing to hunt during the deer roar and tahr rut period. The ballot ensures hunters have access to an assigned hunting block. Hunting blocks assigned to hunters as part of the 2020 deer roar are cancelled. The tahr rut begins in late April and is a popular time for hunting in the South Island. Tahr ballots allow a select number of hunters’ authorised aircraft landings in the HookerLandsborough and Adams

Wilderness areas. As the tahr rut takes place over winter, the 2020 tahr ballots are currently under review. We will contact ballot holders with more information in due course. At Alert Level 3, people must not head into the backcountry/ remote areas, for their safety and the safety of others. DoC huts are also not available for use. Can I still get a hunting permit? In order to hunt animals on public conservation land, hunters need a DoC hunting permit. DoC has temporarily disabled the function on its website which allows hunters to apply for permits. This will be reassessed at Alert Level 2.

We are taking appropriate separation and hygiene measures and have implemented strict sanitising and disinfecting of any farm gear being serviced. While our workshop and parts departments are working to ensure the continuation of your business, please be reminded our premises is closed to all visitors.

We are available to support your farming objectives while providing the best protection for everybody. Contact us on 03 307 7153 or 027 512 72051 to talk to Dealer Principal, Simon Jackson.

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Farming

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Technology used to fast-track genetic ga N

ew technology is helping Hugh and Jennifer Forsythe fast-track genetic gains in their dairy herd and maximise livestock sales. The herd-owning sharemilkers milk 680 mainly holstein friesian cows on 185 hectares near Geraldine in South Canterbury. The herd was fitted with high-tech smart collars in 2018, which monitor a cow’s health and issue an electronic alert when they’re on heat. The Semex ai24 collars and data transmitters cost the Forsythes almost $120,000 to install. “The collars have resulted in a huge improvement in the reproductive performance of our two-year-old heifers. They’re getting in-calf earlier,” Hugh Forsythe said. “Previously a heifer with an undetectable silent heat wasn’t being picked up when we monitored pre-mating heats. “Consequently, we’d assume she hadn’t cycled, and we’d give her a CIDR (Controlled Internal Drug Release) insert to bring her on heat,” he said. Half of the couple’s twoyear-old heifers were receiving CIDRs prior to the herd being fitted with smart collars. The figure’s now just 10 per cent. “That was a significant cost. Across the entire herd we would have used up to 250 CIDRs a year. It’s now less than 80,” Forsythe said. The Forsythes expect the collars will have paid for themselves by the end of next season. “There are no more missed heats, we don’t have to buy tail paint and other heat detection aids – or bulls, plus I no longer have to be in the shed every milking during mating,” he said.

The farm’s 54-bale rotary milking shed has Protrack, which is an automated drafting system. Prior to the start of milking, the ear tag numbers of cows identified as being ready to inseminate are manually entered into Protrack. “Currently the ai24 system and Protrack aren’t compatible with each other. It would be a big time-saver if they were.” The Forsythes milk yearround, meaning they mate and calve twice a year. The couple’s best 200 springcalving cows are mated with sexed holstein friesian semen from Semex. The rest of the herd is mated to a beef breed. “We’ve been using sexed semen for five years. We use it purely for faster genetic gain,” he said. “We only want to keep replacement heifers from our top cows. It helps avoid the frustrating situation of good cows having bull calves.” The mating window for a

cow receiving sexed semen is more precise. She has to be inseminated between 16-20 hours after a standing heat. “That’s another area where we’ve found the smart collars invaluable. They can pinpoint when the heat ended. It’s helping us achieve conception rates of 60-65 per cent with sexed semen,” he said. The Forsythes do artificial insemination twice a day during mating. The beef breeds they have previously used include wagyu. Last year, meat from one of their animals won the World Steak Competition in Ireland, for a marbling score of seven and above. They now use hereford and speckled park sires. “That’s a major benefit of having holstein friesians. We can make massive money off our beef calves,” Forsythe said. “I’d hate to be a 50-50 sharemilker with a crossbred or jersey herd because the majority

of their unwanted calves end up as bobby calves.” The Forsythes do one round of artificial insemination on their yearling heifers using holstein friesian semen. That is followed with bulls. Prices for beef calves are lower in the South Island than the North Island. They sell holstein friesian bull calves for $100 and speckled park calves for $200. “The rearer who bought the majority of our speckled park calves last spring has already placed her order for this year,” he said. It means from a herd of almost 700 cows, the business is only producing 30-40 bobby calves a year. The Forsythes’ herd produced 348,500 kilograms of milksolids in 2018-19. They’re aiming to hit 360,000kgMS this season. Empties and late-calving cows are milked through the winter, along with 120 cows which calve in the autumn.

“We have a 95-hectare run off about 1km down the road. The herd is dried off in groups based on calving date and wintered on crops there,” he said. Kale and fodder beet are grown on the dairy platform to supplement the herd’s feed ration during the winter. The farm does not have a feed pad. “We put a custom blend through the in-shed feed system. It changes depending on the herd’s dietary requirements,” he said. The Forsythes work with a company called Ruminate, which tests pasture and crops regularly and the cows’ blood four times a year. “Minerals and trace elements are blended with the dry feed as its flows into the milking shed. Proliq is squirted onto the ration to make it more palatable,” Forsythe said. “The cows are drinking significantly more since we removed minerals from the water supply.”

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ains on Geraldine dairy farm Left: Hugh and Jennifer Forsythe’s herd is fitted with smart collars to monitor rumination and activity.

Right: The herd’s diet includes pea and barley silage.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

The Forsythes’ ideal holstein friesian is one with good capacity, teat placement and feet, that’s highly fertile and will live a long time. The sire they’re most impressed with who has left his mark on the herd is Mainstream Manifold. “I have used Manifold semen for the last eight years. If I could have an entire herd of Manifold daughters I would,” he laughed. “When I heard he’d died, I bought an extra 150 straws. His daughters are exceptional.” The couple recently started registering their herd. They now have 400 registered pedigree holstein friesian animals. “We’re keen to start getting those animals scored for traits other than production and classified. It will help us refine our mating decisions,” Forsythe said. “Using sexed semen means the number of bulls we have access to, is limited. “But we work closely with Semex and buy semen as it’s being processed overseas, which gives us access to a bigger pool of sires.” The Forsythes joined Holstein Friesian NZ in 2016. Jennifer’s parents Gerry and

Rose Donkin and her brother Lee, are well-known holstein friesian breeders in the United Kingdom with their Copdon herd. The couple moved to South Canterbury from Waikato in 2014. Their farm is irrigated with centre pivots. “In our first couple of seasons here this region was hit by the worst drought locals could remember,” he said. “There was no water for irrigation. It ran out. It was a shock. But our experience with droughts in the Waikato meant we could manage our way through until it rained. “When it gets dry farmers in the North Island have access to more alternative feeds, like apple pulp or vegetables, we’re quite limited down here,” he said. The Forsythes are now in their sixth season on the property where they live with their five children Tilly (8), Isla (6), twins Maeve and Olive (4) and Quinn (2).

Above: The holstein friesian sire who has left his biggest mark on the herd is Mainstream Manifold.

Left: Hugh and Jennifer Forysthe and their children.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

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What Covid-19 has unearthed C

ovid-19 and the lockdown has resulted in a sort out of boxes that I have had stored in the garage since just before I went to the cricket world cup last year. One of those rainy-day jobs that inevitably got put off time and again. “We need space in the garage, please sort those boxes out please” and “this is a good time to do it”. So be it and a trip down memory lane eventuated. Not that I’m a hoarder, but I kept coming across newspaper cuttings from various agricultural newspapers and rags. Some took me back to the beginning in the early 1980s (sounds biblical?). One from one of the witty guys I worked with when NIWA was Water and Soil Division, Ministry of Works and Development (couldn’t we do with them coming out the other side of Covid-19) caught my attention. When I left back in the 80s he gave me this cartoon – he was always drawing cartoons of staff for notable and not so notable reasons. This was wishing me well – maybe the forecast was for a wet

Tony Davoren

HYDRO SERVICES

spring and was questioning my self-employed decision! More than 10 years later Alison Driscoll from the Ashburton Guardian met us in the field to pen a story about HydroServices headlined “Efficient use of irrigation water”. Having read it a couple of times over the past few days, I couldn’t but think how little has changed in 20 or so years. I’m sure you’ll agree the messages are still the same: • Precise measurements are key to objective irrigation management decisions. • Irrigation was and is not perfect, although technology has improved distribution uniformity. • Expert interpretation of the data doesn’t go amiss. • Every crop has different demand.

• Nobody could/can keep up in the higher demand seasons, even with better system capacity and improved irrigation systems. • Scheduling is as much about getting started on time as not continuing too long at the other end (knowing when to stop).

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Rural property market activity continues during lockdown L

ike everyone else, those of us who market property for a living have faced interesting practical challenges through the past few weeks. While we are not able to deal with people face-to-face, there has been some new activity. We have written sale and purchase agreements, though these are conditional on the country going to Alert Level 2. In terms of sales already in the pipeline at the beginning of April, parties are agreeing to delay settlement while everyone has other priorities. In other words, common sense prevails. In the lifestyle sector, we have received more enquiry than might be expected in the

Calvin Leen

PGG Wrightson Real Estate

circumstances. Possibly this is due to people sitting at home looking for something positive to occupy themselves. However, once we are all able to operate beyond our front doors, some of that enquiry should elevate to offers and then sales. We continue to receive plenty of interest from those looking

for sheep and beef property, as well as some resurgence in enquiry for dairy farms carrying less than 500 cows. Everyone involved in the primary production sector is focused on how the world will look once it passes through the pandemic. Farmers are better able to continue normal operations than those in most other sectors. There is a strong sense that agriculture will lead New Zealand out of the economic shock associated with coronavirus. Export markets are still open and anxious to receive our produce. That is not going to change. Farmers and growers

have generally had a better than average season. New Zealand seems better placed to come out of the lockdown than most other countries, with a good story to tell on how strong, decisive governance, in tandem with a positive community response, has given us that advantage. That story will give international investors real confidence that their money is safe here. In the coming months we will need their investment. If the government can selectively adjust its settings to enable increased foreign investment, which the economy will be crying out for, that would be one way that New Zealand

can make the most of the sacrifices we have all made over the past few weeks. If that happens, primary production stands to benefit. A review of overseas investment criteria would be one simple way the government can use our isolation, our unparalleled credentials as a primary producer, and what is shaping as an effective response to the health crisis, to reduce the economic impact of coronavirus. That’s my optimistic take on how this might play out, anyway. Calvin Leen is Mid-South Canterbury and North Otago sales manager for PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited.

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Local growers provide food security Mary Ralston

FOREST AND BIRD

n the middle of a global epidemic there’s one certainty – having a secure food supply is essential. Farmers throughout New Zealand are not only holding up the country economically, but also providing food for everyone. We are incredibly lucky that we have the climate, soil and farming expertise to be selfsufficient in just about all our food requirements (although coffee, sardines and dates might be off the menu if we had to be totally self-reliant!). Local processing and distribution is also essential if we are to maximise food security. So far this has not been an issue during this crisis – trucks carrying supplies have not been disrupted. But what about the scenario of a sudden oil shortage and food could not be transported? Or a natural disaster such as an earthquake affecting a certain region. Local then becomes imperative. New Zealand could do a lot better with local food supplies and post-pandemic we should seriously consider how to improve local food security by encouraging small-scale and local growers, processors and distributors, and also home vegetable gardening. It’s crazy that in an area such as Mid Canterbury, with our fabulous food growing

Local producers, processors and distributors are needed to improve our region’s food security.

conditions, that we don’t have more local fruit and vegetable growers and meat producers supplying local people through supermarkets, small shops, markets and online sales. I’m sure demand is there, it’s just a matter of supermarket supply chains being geared up for nationwide distribution. There are already many smallscale producers, but these only supply a small proportion of the food supply. Surely some of the money earmarked for economic

development could go towards helping to establish such businesses. Local, small-scale producers and distributors also help employ local workers, provide important local social connections and reconnect people with seasonal food. Home gardeners have the pleasure of harvesting their own produce, they get valuable outdoor time, exercise and mental health benefits from growing some of their own food. A relatively easy way to foster

PHOTO SUPPLIED

small-scale growers would be for large farms to lease a small area to farmers and growers to establish a business. The new growers could take advantage of established infrastructure such as water systems and electricity without having to meet large up-front capital costs. There’s often a silver lining to unpleasant events and New Zealand’s (and the rest of the world’s) silver lining could well be a re-organisation of what we considered normal farming.

With respect to food supply, local and more sustainable should be the goal. Now is the time to reduce our reliance on dairy and go back to mixed farming systems, with a diversity of farm sizes and types. We already know that we need to reduce dairy cow numbers to meet water quality goals; much of the land populated by cows would be perfect for crops and horticulture, which would offer better food security and environmental outcomes in one go.

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Can we be more prepared? Sheryl Stivens

ECO EFFICIENCY

ho would have believed we would still be in lockdown five weeks on? And what have we learnt about being prepared as this is surely not the last virus that will circulate? Can we avoid the supermarkets by growing and storing more food? In the garden what can we grow that stores well? How about growing your own baked beans? All you need is a frame to grow climbing beans and they do so well in our soils and climates. You can eat the beans fresh as green beans through the summer or let them dry and shell the seeds to plant for next year as well as having enough for cooking through the winter months or to store for future feasting. Beans require soaking overnight and slow cooking and chilli beans cooked in a rich tomato sauce, with or without meat, are a delicious variation to traditional baked beans. Potatoes store well in hessian bags or banana boxes lined with newspaper in a dark dry shed. Potatoes are so easy to grow from spring to late summer. You can easily grow several buckets of potatoes amongst your flower garden or under fruit trees. Yams can also be grown using this method. Pumpkins are another crop worth growing and store well for later use. You can grow them through the summer months vertically up a fence or train them to grow up into a fruit tree so they take up less room and the pumpkins look wonderful

hanging down. It’s time to harvest pumpkins now and store them in a dry place in the garage for feasting later on. Garlic and onions can both be grown through the winter months. Spring onions are so useful and easy to grow. We will explore growing your own garlic next month. How about foraging? Do you know where there are any nut trees? Walnuts store really well and there is nothing like fresh walnuts for snacking on. Tasty nutritious weed salads can be made from chick weed and dandelion leaves, both of which can be found growing

wild at this time of year. Another good reason not to use herbicide sprays. How about brewing up your own herbal teas? Try a handful of mint in your teapot or tea cup – let it steep in boiling water for three to five minutes and enjoy the fresh flavour. If you have a rosemary bush try some sprigs of rosemary as a tea or if you have fresh sage in your garden try sage tea. Add a teaspoon of honey if you like it sweet. Our family love to drink lemon verbena tea fresh from our garden. Plan to buy a lemon verbena

bush when the garden centres re-open and you will always have a supply of your own tea leaves, dried for the winter and fresh in the summer and autumn. Make sure you have herbs growing either in containers or amongst your garden. Herbs will make your food tasty and nutritious and bees love herb flowers. Increasing the edibles you grow in your backyard will reduce your food purchasing costs as well as the amount of packaging rubbish you have to get rid of and give you and your family a renewed sense of satisfaction and joy. It’s fun to grow your own.

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Farming

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Call for greater investment in water F

ederated Farmers has reiterated calls for greater investment in water storage following the release of the Freshwater 2020 report, which says that water pollution is not the result of any single land use, but comes from cities, farms, and plantation forests. The Ministry for the Environment report said soils at one quarter of monitoring sites were drier since 1972, rainfall was below average in nine of the years between 2000-2014 and river flows were predicted to decrease in the north and east of the country. “Water storage is not just about securing supply for primary production purposes, though as has been underlined with the Covid-19 lockdown, agriculture is vital to our economic future and standard of living,” Federated Farmers’ environment spokesman and Mid Canterbury farmer Chris Allen said. “Storage schemes allow us to harvest water at times of high flow for when we need it over the hot months in our cities and towns, and for all our industries. Better storage above and below ground is an investment in our future.” The area of irrigated agricultural land almost doubled between 2002 and 2017 (from 384,000 hectares to 747,000ha), with irrigated land in Canterbury rising from 241,000 to 478,000ha. The Freshwater 2020 report also highlighted that sources of water pollution were myriad, including from forestry, and that hotspots and problem contaminants varied from catchment to catchment. “Those catchment-specific issues bring people together and farmers in all of our regions are mixing in with environmentalists and wider community groups to make improvements that tackle local problem areas and priorities. Blanket rules are expensive and

Federated Farmers’ environment spokesman Chris Allen says blanket rules on water quality are expensive and often ineffective.

PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

often ineffective.” The ministry’s report said progress was being made but there was a long way to go. “Farmers have demonstrated they are willing to do their bit,” Allen said. IrrigationNZ chief executive Elizabeth Soal said that freshwater and related ecosystems were complex and data gaps do remain. “However, it is helpful for farmers to see where their improvements are working, and where further work is required.” IrrigationNZ noted some positive trends emerging

from the report, for example, 67 per cent of pastoral sites had improving trends for ammoniacal nitrogen. Only 28 per cent of lakes downstream from pastoral areas exceed the Freshwater NPS national bottom line compared with 47 per cent downstream from urban areas. For groundwater, less than half of sites across the country had median nitratenitrogen concentrations above the concentrations expected to occur naturally, and for nitrate-nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen, and dissolved reactive phosphorus, 49 per cent, 55 per

cent, and 60 per cent of sites respectively were improving. Nitrate-nitrogen and E. coli levels were twice as high in urban areas than in pastoral catchments. “Although there are some positives, the report does show the decline of quality in both urban and rural water bodies and the negative impacts these have more broadly on our environment. So, we know further work needs to be done to improve our freshwater quality,” Soal said. “New Zealanders want to enjoy freshwater for recreation,

have clean water to drink, and as the Government acknowledges, we also need water for farming. “We already know that human activity and climate change have major impacts on our water, we cannot avoid this, but we can work toward ensuring the negative impacts are managed to the best of our collective ability. “Access to stored water collected in high flow times can help alleviate the environmental and community freshwater challenges as well as ensure we have access to reliable water to support farming and industry,” Soal said.

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Soil assumptions not holding water A

ssumptions around the soil information for some of Canterbury’s soils may need to be rethought, research by Lincoln University PhD student Balin Robertson indicates. Robertson said stony soils were extensively used for irrigated agricultural purposes, especially in Canterbury. His results imply that soil water storage in stony soils may be under-estimated, with potential implications for efficient irrigation and nutrient management. He said previous assumptions about how water was stored in these soils was wrong. “They may be capable of storing slightly more water than previously thought. “We had assumed water retention in stony soils is only from the fine earth between the stones. But on average, stones accounted for around 10 per cent of water retained to a depth of 60cm in Canterbury stony soils.” Previously no research existed quantifying the water storage of these soils, information he said was key to efficient irrigation and management of leaching losses. What remained to be

Left: Lincoln University PhD student Balin Robertson’s research implies that soil water storage in stony soils may be under-estimated. Under: Stony soils are extensively used for irrigated agricultural purposes, especially in Canterbury. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

confirmed was how dynamic this water held in stones was: if it entered and left the stones in tune with the needs of plants then it should be taken into account when irrigating and estimating leaching losses. He said the objective of his study was to fill this research gap, providing farmers and regulators with robust data for nutrient budgets (such as Overseer), farm environment plans and irrigation management. To do this, Robertson dug 52 soil pits at 24 pastoral sites

across Canterbury, completing a set of intricate measurements in 10cm increments down to 60cm depth.

A key output of this study will be using Robertson’s results to improve the soil information supplied by S-map, the national

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Online ceremonies for farm awards T

he Covid-19 lockdown has prompted the organisers of a New Zealand farm awards competition to take an innovative approach when recognising this year’s top farmers. The Ballance Farm Environment Awards’ ceremony schedule was interrupted by the country going into lockdown on March 23, after the announcement of only two regions’ winners, Canterbury and East Coast. “We were determined to keep up the recognition of our other nine regional winners, even if it meant we had to do away with the ceremony and occasion that accompanies it. “So we kicked off on April 22 with our first online ceremony, for the Horizons region,” James Ryan, general manager for award backers the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust said. The occasions will be marked every Wednesday at 7.30pm with regional award announcements on YouTube running for about 40 minutes. It will be possible for anyone interested to attend the virtual event by joining via the award’s Facebook page. “Of course, we would all prefer to celebrate these special events with the usual social occasion. But this is the next best option and we believe it’s really important now more than ever to showcase our foodproducing farmers.” Four weeks of lockdown have highlighted the critical role New Zealand farmers play not only in feeding New Zealand, but in generating valuable export income that many countries have lost over the crisis. “This income is going to be even more critical than ever and there is a real appreciation there among New Zealanders about farmers’ value. “We believe for this reason we may find there is even greater interest in the awards this year, from a wider urban audience,” Ryan said. Once again, the awards have

Above – Canterbury winners, Tony Coltman and Dana Carver of Canlac Holdings near Dunsandel, have made substantial steps to reduce PHOTOS SUPPLIED their nitrogen footprint by 50 per cent.

Right – Evan and Linda Potter, winners of the East Coast region 2020 Farm Environment Awards.

been characterised by a high calibre of entrants who have committed their farm businesses to set new standards proving exceptional environmental management can be compatible with commercial success. The winners already announced include Evan and Linda Potter, the East Coast regional winners announced in early March. Further south this year’s Canterbury winners announced on March 11 were Tony Coltman and Dana Carver of Canlac Holdings, a dairy operation that has made substantial steps to reduce its nitrogen footprint by 50 per cent. Bayleys is a key supporter

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of the awards, sponsoring the regional People Award, also won by the Potters on the East Coast. Bayleys national director rural, Duncan Ross said it was a privilege to be able to contribute to the awards and to recognise the invaluable role farm staff play in award winners’ success. “Many farmers have been working hard, keeping their heads down and dealing with the raft of regulations coming their way. “With Covid-19 they have good reason to hold their heads high knowing they and their staff will be contributing hugely to New Zealand’s recovery, now and for many years to come,” Ross said. As many New Zealanders

face uncertain employment prospects, the opportunity to reward those award entrants who have displayed excellence in staff management will do much to draw new people to the sector. “These winners highlight the real benefits and rewards that go with being part of a team motivated by operators who are passionate about looking after the land, and having a great farm business,” he said. Each of this year’s regional supreme winners from the 11 regions will also be in the running for the ultimate awards trophy, the Gordon Stephenson Trophy. Ryan said the exact date of this year’s supreme award was still to be determined. “Because

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it is a very prestigious event, we do still want to hold it at a venue, but a date is still to be set. Nevertheless, we know there will be an intense level of interest in what is a highly coveted award within the New Zealand farming scene.” The award organisers were also hoping to be able to catch up with past award winners, to see how they have progressed on their sustainability journey over the years, and how they have coped during the Covid-19 crisis. “For the first time in a very long time food security has become a big issue, and these awards help highlight how important our farmers are, and how much they care about the land they rely upon,” Ryan said.