Guardian Farming - October 2017 by Ashburton Guardian

Farming GUARDIAN

OCTOBER 2017

100 YEARS OF HORSEPOWER Page 30

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INSIDE

EDITORIAL COMMENT

Guardian Farming is proudly published by the Ashburton Guardian Limited

Enjoy reading Guardian Farming? You may also enjoy Dairy Focus

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PAGE 31 PLENTY OF HORSEPOWER

Spring is here and with that particular season comes growth and opportunity. It’s also when meat exports really kick into gear for another year and this time around things are looking pretty good for deer and lamb, however beef is dragging the chain a bit when it comes to exporter optimism. In this month’s Guardian Farming we talk to some of the industry players to find out what their expectations are for the coming months. Education is also all about opportunities and in this issue not only do we have a three-page feature on the subject (pages 37 to 39), we also have a series of other stories about training and/or upskilling opportunities. One of these is a new dairy apprenticeship programme initiated by Federated Farmers and Primary ITO. It’s great to see two groups identify a gap in what’s available and then work together to ensure it gets plugged. Feds president Katie Milne said at an apprenticeship launch function at Templeton last week it was also about making sure there were more opportunities for young New

Colin Williscroft

RURAL REPORTER

Zealanders to get into the dairy industry. While immigrants were needed to fill many jobs in the industry it was important not to ignore homegrown talent. This time of year also signals the start of the A&P show season and it’s the Ashburton show at the end of the month. Horses from Dayboo stud, home to two-year-old Dawn who is on this month’s cover, will play an important role in the show. Not only will some of them line up in the Clydesdale categories, two of them will drive a vintage threshing machine that is part of a demonstration associated with the show’s theme “Horsepower of Yesteryear”. If you get the chance make sure you head along to the show. It’ll be a great couple of days.

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New season met with optimism This month marks the start of the new meat season, and indications from processing companies and other industry insiders are relatively positive, at least for the next few months. Most of that positivity is around sheep meat and deer, with a bit more caution being expressed about beef, although it’s more that the jury is still out there rather than outright pessimism. Rabobank’s latest Beef Quarterly report, which came out late last month, said a strong New Zealand dollar and falling United States imported beef prices saw New Zealand beef prices drop marginally over the last quarter. Further downward pressure on beef prices is expected as the year progresses, it said, with increased Japanese tariffs on frozen beef imports creating additional headwinds for Kiwi exporters. Rabobank animal proteins analyst, Blake Holgate said across the three months to the end of August, New Zealand beef prices fell by 2 per cent

Colin Williscroft

RURAL REPORTER

in both North and South Islands, with reduced domestic beef supply a key factor in preventing a more drastic price drop. The number of export cattle slaughtered in the season to date is down 5.9 per cent on last season and this had helped support slaughter prices, as processors compete to procure what stock is available, he said. “Rabobank is expecting New Zealand’s cattle supply to remain limited until at least November, which should ensure any further priceeasing in the short term is not significant, however, as domestic supply increases later in the year, prices are likely to face further downward pressure.” continued over page

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From P3 Alliance Group general manager sales, Murray Brown, agrees, saying there has been a lot of change in the global beef scene. “The US domestic kill is variable due to weather patterns, higher Brazilian herds, access for (the) US into China and Australian kills,” Brown said. The base manufacturing US prices have generally been very strong but have weakened slightly recently, he said, due to limited offers out of New Zealand and Australia. The Rabobank report noted that one of the key factors affecting New Zealand beef prices was a fall-off in demand for grinding beef from US importers, although Alliance is a little more upbeat about the situation, at least for now. “We have seen, on average, very high prices for grinding beef and as USA beef is a very high fat product, they require a lean New Zealand/ Australian mix to provide a base for burger meat,” Brown said. “We are not seeing any fall off in demand but price points can change at various times of the year, for multiple reasons.” Silver Fern Farms chief

• • • •

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executive Dean Hamilton is adopting a wait and see approach when it comes to beef exports. “On beef, we are at an interesting point. Store stock markets appear over-heated given where we expect volumes and schedules to end up,” Hamilton said. “Current finished cattle schedules reflect a shortage of supply, which is typical at this time of the year. However, once volumes pick up, and assuming the currency stays at current levels, we believe schedules will retreat to more accurately reflect end-market conditions. “A number of commentators are pointing towards a recovery in beef volumes out of Australia and the US after rebuilding periods, which we will need to be mindful of. China’s demand is increasing, but not at the near-term pace of this competing supply.” “We expect cattle numbers in the coming season to be similar or slightly up on this season, with some of the retentions out of the dairy herd last year expected to boost bull and even heifer numbers.” When it comes to lamb, Hamilton said there was reason to be positive, given

Rabobank animal proteins analyst, Blake Holgate is expecting New Zealand’s cattle supply to be limited until at least PHOTO SUPPLIED November.

demand from the US and China being strong. He said farmgate prices should hold up in the near

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future, given that this month we are heading into the chilled European supply season. “Once through that, we

expect the total return from lamb to decrease given the greater frozen mix. We would normally see a $1/kg rule of thumb difference in value from the Christmas chilled period to the main part of the season – everything else being equal. “We expect lamb numbers to be up this coming season. All the feedback we are receiving is that the North Island in particular has seen good lambing. Volumes may well be up 5–10 per cent and back through 20 million lambs nationally processed next season.” Alliance’s Brown pointed out that the US has had a very strong year in both chilled and frozen lamb. “In China, higher prices for lower type of products have also held well,” he said. “Their high consumption period is through the winter for the hotpot trade.” Alliance is currently involved in a trial of chilled lamb into China, which could open up new possibilities. “These are early days and all five New Zealand companies are participating,” Brown said. “Alliance Group has supplied both air and sea lamb products, providing technical expertise on arrival to support handling, and learning about

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the cold chain to market. We are also about to send our first consignment of beef. “The longer-term options are positive but will be determined on New Zealand continuing to get access post November.” Heading into the European chilled supply season Alliance is currently seeing very strong procurement prices, Brown said. “The peak chilled periods are Christmas and Easter which should see similar volumes to market. There remains caution about overall prices as they are at historically high levels. However, lower inventories in New Zealand and in the market are currently assisting these.” After Brexit there was some concern that it could have a negative impact on UK lamb exports but Brown said that was not the worry it might have been. “There have been limited issues around Brexit but we continue to keep an eye on proceedings. The UK has suffered more around inflation and lower disposable income of consumers. Other markets have absorbed lower volumes, sometimes at better levels.” Of all the New Zealand meat exports, it’s venison that

Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dean Hamilton is optimistic PHOTO SUPPLIED about lamb exports in the near future.

is currently riding the top of the wave, and heading into the new European chilled season, expectations are that will continue.

Deer Industry New Zealand chief executive Dan Coup said exporters have told the industry good organisation that demand for venison in the

traditional European game season is strong, and alongside reduced supply to Europe, that is resulting in good prices for most cuts. However, there have been reports of unsatisfied demand for spring chilled venison, with room for more volume, something that Coup acknowledged. “The growth and development of less-seasonal markets for venison has meant that there is less product available for the European game market than there has been in the past - this has meant some of the traditional venison customers have had access to less product than they would like,” Coup said. One of the bright spots for deer farmers is a strengthening in other markets, including the US and, through recent initiatives from companies such as Rakaia-based Mountain River Venison, China, reducing the reliance on Europe and its very seasonal demand. “Demand for venison from North America is growing quite strongly, as a result of market development investment from our venison marketing companies, and also some helpful trends such as for gourmet burgers and other

specialty meat products,” Coup said. “North American demand is much less seasonal than in Europe, which reduces deer farmers’ reliance on a brief period of high prices in our spring.” The upswing behind venison is something not lost on SFF boss Hamilton, who pointed out that the current lower supply coming out of New Zealand has helped. “Venison markets remain very strong given the lower supply out of New Zealand,” Hamilton said. “Market prices in Europe and the US remain up on last year, and new premium trim markets in the US are adding to the overall value being realised. We see a continuation of these current market conditions. “We expect venison numbers processed to be similar to the current season at around 280,000-300,000 as the national herd continues to slowly rebuild.” So overall, there is cause for optimism for New Zealand farmers supplying the meat export market as we move into another season, although as always, that’s dependent on a lot of market factors out of their control.

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Dairy apprenticeship scheme launched Federated Farmers president Katie Milne, and dairy industry group chairman Chris Lewis, were among those at the New Zealand Young Farmers headquarters last week for the Christchurch launch of a new dairy apprenticeship programme. Federated Farmers and Primary ITO have teamed up for the initiative, which is designed to produce more capable people for the dairy industry. The apprenticeship programme is designed to spread the word throughout the dairy industry and beyond so many prospective apprentices and employers will hear about the scheme, which aims to have about 200 new apprentices onfarm across the country over coming months. The apprenticeship will be made up of formal training and qualifications, and upskilling through on-the-job training that aligns with farmers’ requirements and regional needs. It will last three years. Federated Farmers dairy industry group chairperson Chris Lewis said both

Colin Williscroft

RURAL REPORTER

Federated Farmers and Primary ITO had key roles to play in supporting the apprenticeship. “We’re both playing to our strengths and it’s a great fit,” he said. Federated Farmers will identify dairy farm employers and ensure they are equipped to offer a quality work environment, while actively supporting the on-job training and development of their apprentice. The apprenticeships were not specifically for young people, Lewis said. “Age is no barrier, as long as you’re keen and motivated.” However, potential apprentices must be New Zealand citizens. Primary ITO will recruit

Caption: Federated Farmers North Canterbury dairy industry group chairman Chris Lewis, Primary ITO general manager of business and industry partnerships Anne Haira and Federated Farmers national president Katie Milne and attended the attended the launch of the new PHOTO COLIN WILLISCROFT 041017-CW-175 apprenticeship in Templeton last week.

the apprentices and arrange the formal training towards the NZQA-recognised qualifications. They will also support the apprenticeship through regular farm visits to ensure everything is on-track, providing extra assistance as needed. Primary ITO chief executive Linda Sissons said the apprenticeship scheme was a way of recruiting bright and motivated New Zealanders

into careers on dairy farms. “Our apprentices will have the opportunity to work and learn in an exciting and innovative environment, with an increasing focus on technology, as well as to be a part of their local farming community.” Career development is also a focus of the apprenticeship, Sissons said. “We want our apprentices to

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grow their careers and to put them on the track to leadership through clearly identified pathways and support. We have ambitious aims for them – we want them to become farm managers and owners one day.” If the programme proves to be successful, Federated Farmers will look at rolling it out to include other types of farming.

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Job exchange offer sure to appeal Up to 100 young dairy farm workers could be experiencing St Patrick’s Day in Ireland as they begin filling shortterm employment gaps on the Emerald Isle. New Zealand Dairy Careers consultant Matt Jones of Mid Canterbury, has hammered out a deal with Irish farming organisations and dairy companies to create opportunities for worker exchanges between Ireland and New Zealand to correspond with each country’s off-season. The main purpose of the exchange is to address the current labour shortage that each country has been experiencing, particularly in the area of dairy farming, while giving successful candidates the opportunity to live, learn and earn in dynamic new surroundings. With herd numbers consistently rising in New Zealand and Ireland, farm owners now find themselves in a position where they need more employees, which are increasingly difficult to find locally.

An estimated 3000 skilled dairy workers will be needed over the next decade in Ireland and NZ Dairy Careers are currently inviting New Zealand dairy workers to apply for the exchange. Placements for New Zealanders in Ireland will run during the New Zealand off season – from January-June 2018. NZ Dairy Careers assist with all of the paperwork to ensure a smooth transition and will work with candidates every step of the way. Upon arrival in Ireland, workers will be met and looked after by dairy farming partners based over there. A wage of between €10 to €12 an hour is expected to be paid to New Zealand workers, with farm managers commanding more. “This is perfect for young people wanting an overseas experience. It’s not just about a job though, it’s also about having an experience in Ireland with three to twelvemonth placements. If you’ve got a season’s work under your belt, you’re good to go.”

The exchange scheme is a great way for young dairy farm workers to have a look around Ireland, while at the same time adding to their work experience.

“We needed to think outside the box to source more skilled farm workers to meet the growing demand for dairy staff in New Zealand,” Jones said. “The exchange is the perfect

way to supplement each country’s workforce at the times it is needed the most. “Ireland and New Zealand have both used various methods to attract domestic

workers, but it has become abundantly clear from the engagement that I’ve had with farmers and businesses, that neither country has the capacity to fill farming jobs with local labour.”

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More women active in decisions A course designed to lift farm profitability by helping farming women become more active partners in their farming businesses is achieving some outstanding results, according to new research. The Understanding Your Farming Business (UYFB) course funded by the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) Primary Growth Partnership Programme and run by the Agri-Women’s Development Trust has so far built up the skills, knowledge and confidence of more than 650 farming women since 2014. Independent research by UMR shows that, six months after graduating, 90 per cent of the women were now confident in talking with their partners about the business side of their farming operations. Three-quarters said they were now confident in understanding their farm accounts while 78 per cent were now doing financial budgeting with their partner. Diane Falconer, RMPP’s

Di and Jeff Cleveland’s farming business has benefited from Di completing an Understanding Your PHOTO SUPPLIED Farming Business course.

Project manager for People Capability, said the research showed women who had completed the course were more actively contributing to their farming businesses. “They are better equipped to ask questions and hold meaningful business conversations both within the farm team and with rural professionals and service support people.

“These conversations are leading to positive changes such as a greater sharing of decision making, leading to reduced pressure and stress on partners and other farm team members. Many participants were also starting to find their niche in their own businesses.” Lindy Nelson, executive director for the Agri-Women’s Development Trust, said there was strong evidence of

improved farming financial literacy and decisions being made to operate farming businesses more efficiently. The course was the catalyst for one of the course’s graduates, Di Cleveland, to leave her part-time job in town to commit full time to her and husband Jeff ’s 864ha sheep, beef and deer farm near Oamaru. The couple credits the

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knowledge and confidence Di gained with improved communication, stronger financial focus, greater organisation and clearer direction. “The course also made me realise that it was time for Jeff and I to become a great dream team for the next 10 years and go for it,” Di said. Jeff said they have started to streamline things “to make sure we’re at the top of our game”. “We want to be ready to meet new demands in farming and take opportunities as they come up,” he said. “New conversations about the farm have opened up. We talk about things while we’re out shifting breaks whereas before it was me by myself. It feels great to be challenged by the new questions Di is asking.” Each UYFB course consists of three high-quality, full-day workshops and an evening graduation ceremony run over four months. Course dates and locations for 2018 are due out in November. See www.awdt. co.nz for details.

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Future farm to trial systems Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is to establish a “future farm” to trial new technologies and farm systems as part of its strategy to support farming excellence and lift farm productivity and profitability. The future farm, which will be a hill country sheep and beef property with around 6000 stock units, will operate as a fully commercial livestock farming enterprise and feature state-of-the-art monitoring, measuring and communications technologies. Richard Wakelin, B+LNZ general manager innovation, said B+LNZ does not want the farm’s location to be a barrier to farmers picking up information, so the technology put in place will ensure it can be captured and then rapidly disseminated to the wider industry. The likely model would be a lease property or a partnership with an existing farmer who’s at an age or stage where they’d like to be involved in such an industry endeavour. “We’re open minded. We’re not looking to be in the

market to purchase, but we welcome ideas people have on how we could structure an arrangement. The key is the right farm with the right people around it.” The future farm will aim to exceed existing highperformance standards in a range of areas including economics, people, animals, environmental and forages, he said. “However, we also want to test new farming systems and technologies that might be unproven or to high a risk for most farmers. The aim is for farmers to be able to observe, learn and assess the feasibility of how these might be applied in their own situation.” While a number of farming organisations are successfully operating similar models in New Zealand and Australia, this will be the first for the New Zealand sheep and beef sector. Australia’s University of New England’s successful smartfarm is one example. In New Zealand, Lincoln University and the dairy sector have developed the Lincoln Dairy Unit,

which has been a valuable resource for dairy farmers to witness first-hand the commercial application of new technologies and systems. One similarity with Lincoln’s dairy farm will be testing farm systems and understanding the key relationship of financial and environmental performance. “We’ll be measuring everything to ensure we can answer the key questions that farmers and others have,” Wakelin said. B+LNZ is working with agribusiness company AbacusBio to establish the project and get it up and running.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand general manager innovation, Richard Wakelin, is open minded as to the exact setup of the future farm.

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Equidays to stage SI show Equidays will be hitting the road to bring some of the best bits to Canterbury Agricultural Park from October 21-22. The show’s South Island Edition will take place the week following the main Equidays event, which is held at Mystery Creek in Hamilton from October 13-15. The South Island show will include clinics, night shows and a number of elite equine shopping opportunities.This is the first time organisers have taken the event elsewhere, giving South Island equestrians a taste of all things fans of the original show love. Event manager Ammie Hardie said the founding objective of Equidays is around education and advancing the equine industry. “From day one we’ve been really focused on providing New Zealand’s equine industry with access to worldclass coaches and clinicians, and up until this point we’ve only been able to do that in the North Island. “With such a huge equine

Equidays ambassadors the Wilson sisters, (from left) Amanda, Vicki and Kelly, pictured with their Australian brumby ponies, will be PHOTO SUPPLIED making the trip to Christchurch.

following in the South Island we’re really excited that we will be able to bring some of these world-class education opportunities to our fans in the south. This wouldn’t have been possible without the help from our sponsors NRM, McMillian and Isuzu Utes,” Hardie said. While organisers have

dubbed the show a “taste” of Equidays, the South Island edition will feature five top international clinicians; Kyra Kyrkland, Rob Ehrens, Cole Cameron, Warwick Schiller and Dan Steers; Equidays ambassadors The Wilson sisters; two night shows; 50 exhibitors and three arenas, one indoor and two outdoor.

Equestrian Sport New Zealand (ESNZ) said it was thrilled to have some of the best coaches in the world available to the equestrian community in the South Island, improving nationwide access to equine education. Jan Hunt from ESNZ said this was the biggest opportunity South Island

riders have had in a long time. “Being able to learn from these world-class clinicians is an amazing opportunity for riders of all stages and disciplines, it’s very exciting,” Hunt said. For more information visit www.equidays.co.nz/ southislandedition.

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Vaccinations important for herd health By Mark Ross Vaccination is the most effective method of protecting against life-threatening diseases such as distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis, which affect New Zealand animals. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of leptospirosis in the world, according to the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA). The zoonotic disease is shared between rats, dogs, pigs, cattle and people. It puts farmers, particularly dairy farmers, at risk as it can spread from infected urine in dairy sheds. It is also an occupational risk for meat workers, who can contract the disease in the same way. According to the NZVA, anyone in contact with cattle could be at risk. Cases of leptospirosis fell sharply after herd vaccinations were introduced in 1981. However, Radio New Zealand recently reported that 91 people had contracted the disease in the first half of 2017 and that more than

two-thirds of them had been hospitalised. Incidents of the disease have tripled in the first half of the year – which is worrying health experts. One possible reason for the spike is the recent wet weather and contaminated flood-waters - as water can carry the disease. To overcome the increase in infection and break the cycle of infection, a robust herd vaccination programme is essential, along with personal hygiene. The spread of disease between humans and animals isn’t going away. With global increases in population, the risk of zoonotic diseases spreading will only increase as humans and animals live in increasingly close proximity. This will also be the time when food sources and agriculture are under the most pressure. In human medicine, vaccines have eradicated diseases such as smallpox and polio. Smallpox used to cause death all around the world. Thanks to widespread use of the

Herd vaccinations are vital to prevent the spread of PHOTO SUPPLIED leptospirosis.

vaccine, the last natural case of smallpox occurred in 1977. In 1980 the World Health Organisation declared that the disease had been wiped out. Vaccines have also helped reduce the number of new diphtheria and measles infections by more than 95 percent compared to peak incidence rates. Vaccination has profoundly influenced and improved world health for both people and

animals and will continue to be a fundamental tool to meet future health challenges. The medicines and vaccines produced by the animal health industry have been strikingly successful in controlling many diseases. As the industry association that represents animal health manufacturers of New Zealand, supporting the health and well-being of pets, livestock, people, and the environment, is of vital

importance. To this end, Agcarm supports the global One Health campaigns addressing antimicrobial resistance, zoonosis as well as vaccination. As we look to the future, advances in technology are allowing the development of new vaccines, such as the recent creation of a vaccine against the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in cats. Continuous investment in breakthrough technologies and innovation is imperative to control diseases among animals as well as their spread to humans, as are appropriate government strategies for disease eradication. To ensure that people and animals remain healthy and productive, it is vital that we continue to use and develop vaccines to limit the spread of disease. Mark Ross is chief executive of Agcarm, the industry association for crop protection, animal health, and rural supplier businesses

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Time to map and zap Drone-mounted lasers could be used to zap weeds that are posing a billion-dollar problem for New Zealand agriculture, AgResearch scientists say. AgResearch – with partners the universities of Auckland and Michigan and New Zealand-based technology firm Redfern Solutions Limited - has been awarded just under $1 million from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund to look into how to “map and zap” the many weeds plaguing productive land. A recent study led by AgResearch concluded from available research that the known costs of weeds to New Zealand agriculture was at least $1.685 billion a year, but that the true cost from all weeds was likely to be much higher. Environmentally friendly tools are being urgently sought for the early control of these weeds. “The idea is to mount specialist cameras on the drone or UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) that can first identify the weeds based on their unique

Kioumars Ghamkhar is leading a research programme that is looking at lasers mounted on drones PHOTO SUPPLIED to tackle agricultural weeds.

chemical signatures and how they reflect light, and precisely map their locations using GPS,” programme leader Dr Kioumars Ghamkhar said. “From there, we think smart spraying (rather than systemic and non-targeted use of chemicals), or the right

kind of laser mounted on the drone could hone in and damage the weed. We know there are lasers now available that could be suitable, and that they are extremely accurate, so if lasers are used, it would also avoid damaging the useful plants around the weed.”

Ghamkhar said the current methods for tackling weeds can be very expensive and time-consuming, and often involve chemicals which can impact on crops, soil quality or water sources. “We want to develop something that could be an efficient

option for users such as farmers, regional councils and the Department of Conservation. We’ve already spoken with our collaborators in the universities about the lasers that are available that might be suitable. The effectiveness of lasers against plants has been tested overseas before but that was in the lab, and we’ll be taking it out in the field to test and see if it works as we have planned.” “We’ll be starting with testing of different types of laser with plants at three different stages of growth in the lab, and from there we will select the best form of laser to see its impacts on the weeds out on a farm.” “There are issues we would have to consider, such as heat generated by the lasers, and the risk of starting fire, and we’ll be very conscious of this particularly where there are dry days or drought conditions. We’ll also be looking at using a group of small lasers to direct at the weed, as opposed to one large and powerful laser that might generate more heat.”

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Fight against Septoria resistance Timely launch leads Septoria-resistance fight back. Frequently in cropping, achieving optimum yields is a matter of the right products and advice, being in exactly the right place, at exactly the right moment. And, with very wet and humid early-season conditions this year for Mid Canterbury cereal growers, crop protection company Adama seems to have achieved exactly that with its innovative cereal fungicides. Their 2016 and 2017 launches of Phoenix® and Bolide® respectively to combat the increasingly fungicideresistant Septoria come, in the eyes of many growers, just in the nick of time. Septoria tritici (speckled leaf blotch) is acknowledged to be the number one yieldrobbing threat in wheat. Both here and in the UK. Daren Mabey, Commercial Manager of Adama New Zealand, says there is demonstrably high Septoria pressure in the field at the present time. But, fortunately, there is also still a narrow window of opportunity to act. “Applying Phoenix and Bolide at T1 is optimal. That’s because an infected leaf 3 can easily infect leaf 2 and the flag leaf. So, keeping leaf 3 clean is essential for maintaining full yield potential as the crop reaches maturity.” “T2 is OK, but you really want to have a protectant layer on by this stage.” An early, protectant approach is, as Daren explains, infinitely preferable to curative. “With Septoria, it’s not enough just to monitor the crop. You need to assume it’s already there.” A relatively long latent period means crops will be infected well before any signs of infection are visible. It’s a matter of forewarned being forearmed. Adama New Zealand CEO, David MacGibbon, acknowledges that even a handful of years ago, the urgent requirement for Phoenix and Bolide would hardly have existed in this country. “Thanks to overseas understanding and trials and data that was about a decade ahead of us, we saw the need for multi-site chemicals while they were still a blip on the horizon in terms of the New Zealand experience on the ground here.” “At Adama, we were working on it really early on. And, we had strong products ready to go that we knew

Left: Untreated (Torch wheat). Right: Phoenix and Bolide treatment from T1 (Torch wheat).

for certain could make a real difference based on what happened in the UK and Ireland.” Phoenix (Phthalimide – Group M4) with its active ingredient folpet, works against Septoria at multiple sites, making it a low risk for resistance development. Currently there is no known resistance to folpet anywhere in the world. Phoenix does not interfere with DMI uptake, and in some situations, it even enhances their efficacy. Adama recommends the early season application of Phoenix with DMIs such as the recently released Bolide. Bolide, a new all-rounder Group 3 DMI fungicide (epoxiconazole and prochloraz), provides broader spectrum control of key cereal diseases and excellent performance against Septoria, with two actives giving better control than standard triazole products. Increasing grower awareness of sensitivity issues and the timely Adama response was put into

context by the visit to Mid Canterbury, earlier this year, by a UK specialist on Septoria resistance in cereal crops. Andy Bailey, Technical Specialist at Adama UK for fungicides and guest of Adama New Zealand, was here to share his experience and research findings on Septoria resistance management in the UK and Ireland. Andy, who has over 20 years’ experience in fungicide development and resistance management, spoke to meetings of agronomists, reps and industry influencers during his week-long stay. Like Daren, he was wary of reliance on the curative activity of fungicides. As Andy explained: “In the UK, pre 2003, azoles [DMIs] worked really well in curative situations. I mean, they were giving 80–90% control.” Now he says some estimates are that action is as little as 3040% at best. “We’ve seen a dramatic 50% reduction in the effect of these compounds over that time, and because we relied on them so much for curative activity that is a huge problem for us.”

Nor is wheat the only crop in the firing line when it comes to fungicide resistance. And again, multisite chemicals could hold the solution, at least according to early research results. Andy reported that fungicide-resistant ramularia had cut a swathe through barley crops in the UK and Ireland last season, surely another early warning for New Zealand. “Historically, this has been a pathogen which has been confined to Ireland and the north of England and Scotland but this year (2016/17) it’s been seen throughout England. Now we have ramularia resistance to all key chemical groups. So, we’re in a situation now where we’re struggling to control ramularia in barley in the UK and Ireland.” Fortunately, multi-site chemistry could be effective. And Andy says, early trial work show Phoenix provides good protectant control of ramularia in the UK, when applied at the correct timing before the outbreak in the

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

crop. Routinely around the flag leaf timing in barley. Claire Mills, Adama New Zealand’s Technical Services and Development Manager, says trials of Phoenix on barley have already begun in this country, although they are still in their relatively early stages. “We’re fortunate to have the overseas association. We can work together to find solutions for these emergent disease problems.” She says it is important to get on top of the heavy hit taken by barley crops last year. “It was pretty catastrophic.” “If Phoenix is proven efficacious, then we will work to add this disease to the label, meaning it will be taking on the two most damaging issues in New Zealand wheat and barley. And its impact on the industry could be huge.” For more information on how to future proof your resistance management strategy with Adama products contact your local technical advisor or visit www.adama. com. Advertising feature

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Farming

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Trust’s work protects native bush Two significant conservation milestones were recently celebrated at Staveley: the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII) reached its 40th birthday and the Staveley Camp was granted a covenant over its wonderful patch of native bush. The QEII National Trust is a conservation organisation dedicated to protecting native vegetation and cultural features on private land. The trust began in 1977 when conservation outside national parks or other publicly owned, usually forested areas, was an anomaly. Those were the days of subsidies for land development and a lot of land throughout New Zealand was cleared and native vegetation lost. However, several visionaries, like the well-known farmer and conservationist Gordon Stephenson, could see that many farmers would like to protect remnants of native vegetation on their land without losing ownership. Forty years later, there are more than 4200 open-space covenants throughout New

Mary Ralston

FOREST AND BIRD

Zealand that protect over 182,000ha of land. Most are small remnants and the average is 40ha. The Staveley Camp covenant protects 9ha of beech forest and is the 17th covenant to be granted in the Ashburton District. There are also several others in the pipeline. The first area of native vegetation in the Ashburton District to be protected with a trust covenant was Alan Totty’s beech forest at Staveley in 1983. Since then, more than 100ha have been protected with covenants in this district. These local covenants include patches of coastal swamp containing flax and cabbage trees, dryland sites of kanuka,

James Guild (left), chairman of the QEII Trust, presents Barry Ayers, representative of the Staveley Camp, with a covenant PHOTO SUPPLIED sign.

foothills beech forest and red tussock wetlands. One of the key factors that makes the QEII National Trust such a successful conservation organisation is that ownership of a covenant remains with the landholder. At the Staveley celebration, QEII chairman James Guild said another major consideration was that covenants were created in perpetuity: many people want

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the certainty of knowing that a covenant is legally binding. This has been tested in the courts and it is now assured that a covenant is indeed there in perpetuity – landholders or subsequent owners cannot revoke the covenant status. Environment Canterbury is now a major supporter of the QEII Trust. Since 2011, every covenant has had financial support from ECan for fencing, planting, weed control

or other costs. The Ashburton District Council’s biodiversity fund has also contributed to weed control at the Staveley Camp bush. The beech forest protected by the Staveley Camp covenant is a very good example of the once-extensive Mid Canterbury plains forest. And although there are weed issues – sycamores, cotoneaster, old man’s beard and Darwin’s barberry – Alice Shanks, the Mid Canterbury regional representative of the trust, said covenants along the foothills are very important. “These protected patches of native bush and wetlands along the foothills are strategic connections – they provide a corridor for birds and insects and link the higher altitude land protected by the Department of Conservation with the plains,” Shanks said. “There are many more remnants to protect and we’re busy processing applications for covenants. We are always keen to hear from farmers and landholders who would like advice on protecting their land with a covenant.”

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Are we there yet? That seemed to be the cry as we struggled through a long and seemingly endless electioneering period leading up to voting day on September 23. I suppose we should be grateful that once every three years political parties try to convince us that we actually matter, but we were certainly tempted by all parties with bribes, obfuscation and promises. Suddenly everyone seemed to have an opinion as to what would happen and by and large the pollsters got it right. Although many commentators have declared the country voted for change, in actual fact I don’t believe the country did. After nine years in office and leading us through a global financial crisis, that rocked the economy in many countries-particularly in Europe-two earthquakes in Christchurch and one in Kaikoura, we have emerged in a far more sound condition than most countries around the world. A credit to those in office. Never underestimate the common-sense of the

Rodger Letham

PROPERTY BROKERS

ordinary man in the street. A victory for substance over sound-bite socialism. Now the election is over the cry is “why should one man be the kingmaker?” As Rob Hosking wrote in this week’s NBR, “New Zealand First is essentially a mix of old Labour and Old National and as such it is increasingly out of step with both the National Party and the Labour/Green bloc.” On election night the TV showed us that all parties had supporters of all races, colours and creeds, so the old view of National and Labour is no longer true. So yet again we get that same grumpy old man trying to dictate what should happen and the headless chooks

of the media spending hours trying to second guess him and calling it news. So we wait and we wait and we wait and some people get very worried about what may happen but eventually we will get there. New Zealand is basically a middle-of-the-road conservative country. If it was up to me I would have a grand coalition between the Green Party, National and Act. Now this, I am sure, would be sacrilege to many

New Zealanders who still think in FPP mode. It would, however, give opportunity to discuss, debate and decide on most of the issues that our country faces today. To me that is what MMP is all about. But no matter who joins with whom, our world will keep on turning. The spring will come and move into summer. Our farmers will continue to be the most efficient and environmentally conscious in the world. Our aquifers and rivers

will steadily improve and our lives will continue on a steady and measured path. Teachers will continue to teach, business will continue to be done, our sports teams will continue take on the rest of the world, children will be born, young people will continue to marry and some of us old fellas will die and it won’t really matter a damn who is in government. Keep smiling and don’t take life too seriously, we can’t get out of it alive anyway.

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It’s time to get creative Who do you know with a creative flair? Encourage them to get creating and enter as a family or as a group in the Upcycled Fashion and Wearable Waste Competition at this year’s Ashburton A & P Show. There will be two classes to allow for those who love op-shopping and revamping to enter their upcycled fashion, as well as those with an artistic flare to wildly create a WOW outfit to parade on show day in front of the judges. Both classes will feature an open section and a junior section for under 15-year-olds. Entries need to be lodged with the Ashburton show organisers by October 18. The parade of entrants at the show promises to be a stunning event and a must-see on the Saturday of the show, October 28. However, the competition is more than just a fun event, as it highlights the growing need for sustainable fashion. We need to ask ourselves how can clothing be so cheap when it also takes water, electricity and a wide range of

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ECO EFFICIENCY

resources to make the clothing we purchase and wear? The disposable or fast fashion industry is being challenged around the world and there is a growing demand for more ethical clothing, along with the exposure and ultimate shutdown of the sweat shops that often create this fast fashion. We are fortunate to have so many charity shops and clothing bins to donate unwanted clothing to in Ashburton. Upcycled Fashion and Wearable Waste Competition organisers would like to thank sponsors the Ashburton District Council and Envirowaste, who have ensured there is $550 in cash prizes available for successful entrants.

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Despite the very wet winter – a record in many places – the saying is “we are only ever two weeks away from a drought”. And despite my wish coming true with regard to the amount of rainfall, deep groundwater is only slowly recovering and irrigation is just around the corner. Back in March I wrote that relief for groundwater had begun with some significant rainfall – 60-70mm in places and “while that is good news, we need at least five times that before September to raise water levels to a happy level”. That is we needed some 300-350mm in that time period. We’ve had that and some – with 562mm recorded at Winchmore. That is all good news because there are some significant events within the rainfall record and those are key to groundwater recharge. For those who measure groundwater levels in their bores deeper than about 50-60m, you are still waiting to see the recharge take full effect. It takes time to get to that depth, at least three months, which means it is still coming. Is it enough? Certainly for this winter/early spring. But if irrigation demand kicks in and persists then the

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same could be required again next winter. We have been spared irrigation in September, but not so October. As of October 3 irrigation is imminent on shallower soils under pasture, perhaps as close as five or six days away or about October 11-12. That’s a reasonable date to start – not too early and will mean it is sufficiently warm and sunny to maximise the use of irrigation water. For arable farmers there is little need for irrigation – it is somewhat further away. But remember, despite all the rain, when starting irrigation in early October one needs to use the early season water judiciously so you do not reach February or March and have to juggle annual volume (or not because you have used it all).

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ASHBURTON A&P SHOW

Something for everyone at the Ashburton show It’s that time of the year again, when country comes to town and the Mid Canterbury community comes together for a couple of days of fun, entertainment and competition. This year the show begins on Friday, October 27, with the dog trialists the earliest starters, getting under way at 7.30am. The dog trials, which can be found at the East Street end of the showgrounds, by Drummond and Etheridge, are a great place to see firsthand just how working dogs, under the command of their masters, herd sheep. The competition runs for both days of the show. The equestrian events, which also run over both days of the show, begin at 8am, while the trade, market and food sites are all operating by 9am. Following judging in the morning, the Home Industries Pavilion opens in the afternoon. Saturday marks the arrival of the animal entries at the show. The animals, which include sheep, goats, cattle, poultry and alpacas, can be found on the northern and eastern sides of the showgrounds. Saturday morning also marks the start of the highland dancing

and shearing competitions, while the entertainment stage also gets moving. It’s important to note that this year the layout of the showgrounds has changed, so if you’re looking for the highland dancing, you need to look over by the animal pavilion. The highlight for many will be Saturday afternoon’s grand parade, along with the presentation of prizes. As always, this year’s show offers something for everyone, whether it be rural-based competitions, displays of home industry creations or some great entertainment. For many, it’s also a great chance to catch up with old friends, or make some new ones. Make sure you get along and enjoy the fun. toyota.co.nz

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Welcome to all and good luck to competitors

PrEsIDENT’s aDDrEss Welcome to the 140th running of the Ashburton A&P Show. The theme for this year’s show is Horsepower of Yesteryear and I hope you enjoy seeing how the way we now do things has advanced so much since days gone by. This year sees the change in the layout of the show. Please look for the yellow direction signs so you don’t miss out on seeing your favourite attraction(s) at the show. I would like to acknowledge and thank the committee members and

volunteers for the hours of work that they put in to prepare for and run the annual show. On behalf of the A&P association I would like to thank our numerous sponsors for their continued generous support. Without them we wouldn’t be able to put on the show. Good luck to all the exhibitors and competitors who have come to the show and I hope you all have a successful show. Thank you for coming and please enjoy your day. Chris Watson

Farming

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ASHBURTON A&P SHOW

SHOW EVENTS PROGRAMME

Champion Calf & Lamb Competitions

Friday October 27 From Friday morning, the trade, market and food sites and sideshows are operating at the show. Dog trial and equestrian competitions also start, and continue throughout the full two days of the show. Following judging in the morning, the Home Industries Pavilion opens in the afternoon. 7.30 am

Dog Trials

8.00 am

Horse Events commence

9.00 am

Indoor & Outdoor Markets

9.30 am

Wool Judging

10.00 am Home Industries Judging

Grain & Seed Judging:

ITM/Young Farmers Animal Pavilion 1.00 pm

“South Island Seed Dressing & Storage” Home Industries Pavilion opens

11.00 am Rural Wearable Waste Competition: Hokonui Entertainment Stage 11.30 am Shetland Harness 2.00 pm

Dog Trials

For further information on the equestrian competitions occurring on Friday (and Saturday), see the main ring programme. Dog Trials The dog trials can be found at the East Street end of the showgrounds, by Drummond and Etheridge. At the dog trials, you can (over the two days of the show) see working dogs herd sheep. In the Home Industries Pavilion, you can find entries in areas such as cooking, flowers, photography, grain & seed, and children’s competitions. Saturday October 28 On Saturday, the animal entries arrive at the show.

Animals that can be seen at the show include sheep, goats, cattle, poultry and alpacas. The animals can be found on the northern and eastern sides of the showgrounds. Judging for animals occurs at various times during the day, as set out below. MORNING On Saturday morning, the highland dancing and shearing competitions commence and events also start happening on the entertainment stage. 7.30 am

Dog Trials

8.00 am

Horse Events

Donkey Judging

8.30 am

Alpaca Judging

9.00 am

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Home Industries Pavilion opens

Indoor & Outdoor Market opens

Sheep & Cattle Judging

Shearing commences 9.40 am

Highland Dancing Competition

Hokonui Radio Entertainment starts

10.00 am Goat & Poultry Judging: ITM/Young Farmers Animal Pavilion

Pony Parties

10.30 am Shetland Pony Judging

Champion of

Note: The layout at the Ashburton showgrounds for 2017 has been revamped. The highland dancing has moved over by the animal pavilion. AFTERNOON On Saturday afternoon, we see the entertainment highlights of the show, with live music from Jody Direen on the entertainment stage and the show’s grand parade. Presentations also occur of prizes in a number of areas of the show, as set out below. Noon

Jody Direen Entertains on the Hokonui Stage

Champion of Champion Ram & Ewe Hogget’s Presentation of Sheep & Awards: Sheep Pens

The Kona is now here

Join us at the Mid Canterbury Hyundai stand for the local unveiling of the all new Kona. The all new Kona has been designed for the intrepid explorer in you and features the latest innovative features that you have come to expect from Hyundai. Pop on in to view this game changer. Hyundai Mid Canterbury 91 Archibald Street, Tinwald, Ashburton, 03 307 2415 www.southcanterburyhyundai.co.nz

Mid Canterbury

www.guardianonline.co.nz 1.00 pm

1.50 pm

ASHBURTON A&P SHOW

Tiny Tots Show: Hokonui Entertainment Stage

10.30 am Showjumping (Pony & Horse)

Address by President & Guest

11.00 am Supreme Pony Presentations

2.00 pm Grand Parade led by the Ashburton

Highland Pipe Band

“Vetlife Ashburton” Lucky Draw

2.15 pm

“Farmlands” Lolly Scramble

2.45 pm

Jody Direen Entertains on the Hokonui Stage

Showjumping continues 3.30 pm

Shearing Presentations

3.45 pm

“South Island Seed Dressing & Storage”

Home Industries Pavilion: Trophy presentations

Drummond & EtheridgeLtd Colouring Competition: Presentation to winners

4.00 pm

“South Island Seed Dressing &

Shetland Ponies

12.30 pm Pony Grand Prix Showjumping

Storage”

Home Industries Pavilion closes MAIN RING PROGRAMME

Horse events occur throughout the full two days of the show. The main ring programme tells you about the equestrian and showjumping events that will occur in the oval (main ring) over the show. Friday October 27 8.00 am

Saturday October 28

Riding Horse, Inhand Hack or Hunter

District Saddle Ponies/ Horses

12.45 pm Judging of Champion Rider 1.00 pm

Judging of Farrell Challenge Cup

1.30 pm

Judging Supreme Champion Open Saddle Horse

8.00 am

Unity

Saddle Horse

Park Hacks • Saddle Hunters, Riding Horse

• Saddle Cobs

8.30 am

10.00 am Working Hunters (Pony), Pony Hunters over Fences

In Hand Ponies, Inhand Welsh, Ridden Pintos

1.50 pm

Presidents Address & Presentations

8.30 am

Donkey

2.00 pm

Grand Parade &

8.30 am

Saddle Ponies

11.00 am Working Hunters (Horses)

First Ridden Led Rein

“Vetlife Ashburton” Lucky Draw

Inhand & Ridden Gypsy Vanner

8.30 am

Inhand Pintos

2.15 pm

Farmlands Lolly Scramble

9.00 am

Clydesdale

Horse events resume after parade

Registered Miniature

3.00 pm

• Novice Hacks, Novice Park Hacks, Inhand Warmblood

• Inhand Coloured Horses & Ponies, Best Pleasure Horse or Pony

Ridden Warmblood

8.30 am

Showjumping (Ring 1 - Horse)

1.00 pm

Showjumping (Ring 2 - Pony)

9.15 am

Novice Ponies

• Novice Saddle Hunters, Novice

Horse Hunters over Fences

10.00 am Ridden Standard Bred Arabs

Horse events pause for grand parade

Showjumping continues

(times are all approximate)

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Slipdown Points

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Legs to suit Vibroflex

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Points to suit Goliath

Yeoman Clamp

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50 mm Topdown Points

Plough discs

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Springs to suit Goliath

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Farming

ASHBURTON A&P SHOW

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ASHBURTON A&P SHOW

Queen of country to headline show Jody Direen is the headline entertainment act at this year’s Ashburton A&P Show. Dubbed the Queen of New Zealand Country, Direen, who is based out of Wanaka, is an award-winning performer who has consistently wowed audiences on both sides of the Tasman. After a solid five years travelling between New Zealand, Australia and the US touring, writing and recording, Direen’s first big break was signing with major record label, ABC Music. Since then she has had numerous top 10 and number 1 singles, in both Australia and New Zealand. In 2015 Direen was named Country Music Awards New Zealand Female Artist of the Year, as well as ‘Benny’ Award winner for Best Vocalist of the Year by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand. Direen has worked under the management of US talent management company Bear Grylls Ventures and performed a guest spot on the Global Artist Showcase at the CMA Festival in Nashville,

Tennessee (the largest country music festival in the world). Late last year, Direen completed her first major Australian tour with The Wolfe Brothers, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Christie Lamb, Troy Kemp and Canadian star Gord Bamford. She has opened for Kenny Rogers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and most recently LeAnn Rimes and Scotty McCreery. Direen continues to tour New Zealand and Australia, performing major festivals as well as smaller venues. She has just returned from playing a range of dates in Australia, and is due to play the Ellesmere A&P Show this weekend (October 14), along with the Methven Rodeo after party on October 22. Her current album Shake Up won the Tui Award for Best Country Album at this year’s New Zealand Country Music Awards. Direen will be performing live at the Ashburton show on the Saturday from noon, before returning after the grand parade to play from 2pm to 4pm.

Jody Direen is bringing her award-winning brand of country music to the Ashburton A&P Show. PHOTO SUPPLIED

We’re going to the Ashburton A&P Show! Come and see us at the Ashburton A & P Show SITE NUMBER 112 – 115

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ASHBURTON A&P SHOW

Working dogs on show Dog trials are a favourite event at any A&P show and Ashburton is no exception. The trials at the Ashburton show are part of the Tux New Zealand Yarding Challenge dog trials, which encompass events throughout the North and South islands, island finals and then a national final. Here in Ashburton the trials will run over both the Friday and Saturday and are a great way to see working dogs in action. Competitors use a series of whistles and commands to instruct their dogs to drive three sheep through a series of obstacles around a set course, contained within a square with 45-metre sides, before the competitor goes to the yard, opens the gate and stays there while commanding his or her dog to yard the sheep. The run is completed when the gate is shut on the sheep, all to the judge’s satisfaction and within a time limit. Each competitor starts with a perfect score and then points are deducted by judges

on the way through for what they view as things that could have been done better. In Ashburton there are competitions for open class, maiden class, novice class and district class. To be eligible for the maiden class, dogs cannot have won a standard

event prior to the close of entries. There will be a number of trophies up for grabs, including the D. N. Adams Cup for the best local dog, the Ashburton Guardian Centennial Trophy for the district dog awarded the highest number

of points, the Challenge Cup for the best maiden dog in the district and of course the highly sought-after Champion Ribbon, awarded to the champion dog of the competition. There is also prize money but bragging rights are just as, if not more, important.

THERE’S NOTHING TO IT...

Skills on display The Home Industries Pavilion is always a popular place to visit during the show, showcasing as it does a large and interesting range of artistic and homecraft skills. The pavilion has sections catering for everyone starting from preschool and beyond, with entries divided into adult, student and preschool sections. Floral art, cut flowers, wine, eggs and preserves, cooking including Young Farmers club entries, trays, needlework and sewing, craft including woodwork and teddy bears, creative fibre, knitting, photography and art attract our adult entrants. For the students there is cooking, craft, sewing, technology, student group entries, Lego, junk-to-funk, art, flowers and grain and seeds. The preschool section attracts lots of entries from local youngsters whose family members love to come and view the young talent on display.

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Farming

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ASHBURTON A&P SHOW

Demonstrating real horse power Giving show visitors a taste of yesteryear on the farm will be the clydesdale horses from Ashburton’s Dayboo Stud. Ten-year-old Anja and seven-year-old Sam will be attached to a vintage chaff threshing machine, to show people how things were done before the days of tractors. The horses have been getting a bit of practice in on the machine over the past couple of weekends and the stud’s Gaye Day said they have now got the hang of it. “It’s quite hard to do and the horses have only just learnt the trick to it,” she said. “They’ve clicked into work mode. But they didn’t have a clue initially.” To drive the machine the horses have to walk in constant circles, which is not something they are used to, Day said. The owner of the vintage piece of machinery, Staveley’s Richard Bruce, said it was known as a “horseworks”. In a nutshell, it’s a gearing system that involves getting horses,

PROFORGE S T R AT E G I C A L LY S T R O N G

Colin Williscroft

RURAL REPORTER

in this case just two but there were larger versions that involved up to eight animals, to turn a big cog that drove a small cog to produce rotary motion. Bruce said this particular horseworks was imported by the Rutherford family who settled in the Springburn area in the 1860s. They used the thresher on their farm for about 30 years, he said. Bruce, who has an interest in vintage machinery, said he bought it off Hamish Rutherford. It was then stored for many years before it was restored by Ashburton’s Alan Bowis. It has hardly been used since and Bruce is full of

praise for Day and John Booth, also of Dayboo Stud, for their work in training the horses to do the work. “I’ve been very impressed,” he said. Horseworks units can be classed in the same category as windmills and waterwheels, Bruce said, and at one time they were the only way to get rotary motion on farms. Even when steam engines came along, due to their size and the cost involved with them, it was rare to find a farm that had its own one. Instead they were moved around from farm to farm. It wasn’t until well after the turn of the century that internal combustion engines became commonly found on farms, he said. Bruce is looking forward to attending the show so he can see his piece of machinery in use. At this stage there are two demonstrations planned, both occurring on the Saturday of the show, one at noon and the other at 3pm.

Anja (left) and Sam will play their part in illustrating the Horsepower of Yesteryear theme at the show, when they use their power to drive a vintage chaff cutter. PHOTO COLIN WILLISCROFT 041017-CW-189

Proforge – Matthew Sim 0274 470815 FarmGEM – Mark Totty 021 664 113 Email – info@willowbrookmachinery.co.nz Website – www.willowbrookmachinery.co.nz Address – Valetta Westerﬁeld Road, RD1 Ashburton Come and view our range of machines at the Ashburton A&P Show

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ASHBURTON A&P SHOW

Bringing different decades of Case IH Playing an integral part in the theme of this year’s show Horsepower of Yesteryear is well-known Canterbury farm machinery specialist Cochranes. It’s a special year for the company, as not only is it celebrating its 65th anniversary, it’s also 175 years since the establishment of Case IH, which it holds a number of South Island dealerships for. Given Case IH’s history of agricultural innovation over many years, it’s certainly apt that Cochranes is involved in this year’s show theme. In addition to founding what is now Case IH Agriculture back in 1842, former Wisconsin senator Jerome Case was a passionate supporter of the agriculture industry. Case produced the first steam engine tractor back in 1869. It was wheel-mounted, but still drawn by horses and used only to power other machines. The old No.1 is now housed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC.

In 1876, Case built the first self-propelled traction steam engine and, 10 years later, Case was the world’s largest producer of steam engines. Then in 1902, five companies, including Case, merged to form the International Harvester Company in Chicago, with the

deal brokered by J. P. Morgan. However, it wasn’t until 1936 that the company changed the colour of its tractors to the iconic red that is still on Case IH machines today. The end of World War Two initiated a period of prosperity for both Case and

International Harvester, with large gains in farm productivity as technological innovation accelerated. Today, the company is stronger than ever. This year’s Case IH 175th anniversary is a testament to many years of quality, perseverance and progress.

SLURRY SPREADING

The company looks forward to the next 175 years of bringing innovative agricultural products, solutions and services to its customers around the world. Throughout much of the central South Island, it’s trusted farm machinery specialist Cochranes that brings the Case brand to farmers. Cochranes was started by Herb Cochrane in Leeston 65 years ago this year. Branches have been added since then and today the company can also be found in Ashburton, Amberley and Timaru. Herb’s legacy was continued by his sons Bruce and Warren, and today the company is under the guidance of Warren’s son James, daughter Sarah and son-in-law Chris West. To help celebrate the Horsepower of Yesteryear theme Cochranes will have about 10 tractors from different eras on display at the show, giving people a chance to see how the machinery has developed over the years.

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Farming

ASHBURTON A&P SHOW

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Innovative agricultural solutions A top Ashburton based business has all you need for summer preparation. Euro Agri offers a wide range of high quality new and used sprayers, fertiliser spreaders and cultivation equipment. The Euro Agri team also offers on-farm servicing and a comprehensive parts service. Euro Agri are importers of Heva cultivation and seeding equipment, Bredal fertiliser spreaders, Househam sprayers, multi-drive special-purpose tractors, Mzuri drills and Ag Leader technology. Euro Agri imports only the highest quality machines into New Zealand, all of which are top-level products in their own countries, made by companies which focus on worldwide research and development, and this, combined with the local experience and knowledge of Euro Agri’s own team, becomes a recipe for success. Just as all of their franchise brands are, Euro Agri prides itself on being a family-owned business – it’s all about people doing business with people. One of the business range,

Bredal, has just released a new variable-rate, variablespreadwidth range of machines as well as trailed and three point linkage machines. These machines are now working throughout the South Island; Euro Agri is excited to have these on display at the South Island Field Days in February. The trailing machine has numerous options including a steering axle. This machine, along with all Bredal’s machinery, is manufactured

to high standards to give outstanding performance and longevity. The three-point linkages will all have the same spreading capabilities to help ensure headland spreading and angled paddocks are spread precisely. The team have also been busy travelling New Zealand for demonstrations using the Mzuri drill, outstanding results have been reached for farms all over the country. For the management

and staff of Euro Agri, sustainability and looking after future generations of farmers is a major philosophy. Euro Agri’s general manager, James McCloy and the small team of handson staff are committed to ensuring the success of their products both now and into the future. Euro Agri pride themselves on their exceptional service with machine set-up, support and guidance all part of that service.

Their staff are only a phone call away to answer any questions or to provide further assistance. Part of their service standard is carrying a comprehensive range of parts, these can be freighted throughout the country or collected from the Ashburton premises. Euro Agri’s clients are spread far and wide, from the bottom of the South Island to the top of the North – they are more than happy to cater to all of New Zealand’s requirements while insuring their same service standards throughout the country. EuroAgri is also an agent for and or stocks: Billericay spray nozzles, a comprehensive range of spray parts for all makes and models Hardi Sprayer parts. Total agricultural oils › BareCo PTO and agricultural parts. A full range of cultivation points and hardware and an extensive range of Claas combine parts. For all your agricultural needs please contact the team on (03) 307-7445

WE ARE PROUD TO BE AN OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE A&P SHOW

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ASHBURTON A&P SHOW

Show season getting into swing The Ashburton A&P Show on October 27 and 28 is the middle event in a busy month for A&P shows in the surrounding area. This Saturday, October 14, is the Ellesmere A&P Show at the showgrounds in Leeston, while from November 15 to 17, it’s the big one, the Canterbury A&P Show, the largest show event of its kind in the country. The Ellesmere show is described as Selwyn’s best day. Along with some of the old favourites, including the farmyard tent, pony rides, needle in the haystack and sideshow alley, this year’s Ellesmere event also includes Selwyn’s Got Talent, Canterbury Sport Top Teams Sport Challenge, the Muster Chef Cook off, and a multicultural food court. The Canterbury show really is the highlight of many people’s social calendars, attracting about 100,000 people, 7000 livestock and about 600 trade exhibitors to the Canterbury Agricultural Park every year. This year’s Canterbury Show has a real Mid Canterbury flavour, as the president of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association is Ashburton farmer Peter Gilbert. Gilbert has a long association with the Canterbury A&P Show, having served on the association’s committee since 2002. He has also been chairman

of the dairy section since 2007. Gilbert grew up on a dairy farm in Ellesmere. He married schoolteacher Anne in the 1980s and they bought a

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180-hectare dairy farm in Winchmore. Last year they added to their farming operation with a 176-hectare dairy farm in Rakaia. Their three sons all work in the dairy industry, with Michael running the new block at Rakaia, Nick on the Winchmore farm and Luke working for Semex New Zealand. After first showing calves at primary school, Gilbert has been showing holstein freisian cattle at Canterbury, Ellesmere and Ashburton A&P shows for nearly 40 years. He is proud that his three sons have not only inherited his passion for dairying, but also for showing: all three are senior judges for at least two different breed societies. “It means a lot to have had my sons so heavily involved in the show with me over the years. Obviously youth are the future of events like ours and it’s really heartening to see so many great young people that get stuck in at the Canterbury A&P Show, especially in the cattle section.”

This year’s Canterbury show features a special attraction for dairy farmers – it’s hosting a Royal A&P Dairy Cattle Event, which has prompted the judging appointment of Mark Rueth from Wisconsin, US. Mark owns Rosedale Genetics, has sold embryos in 10 countries and has judged at top level shows and expos in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, France, Switzerland and Mexico. He is also serving on the World Dairy Cattle Show Committee. For Gilbert though, the show, along with its Ashburton and Ellesmere cousins, has other attractions. “Not only is it a great opportunity to win prizes and awards, it’s also a chance to swap knowledge and ideas with other exhibitors and learn from judges too. Plus, you can’t beat the chance to catch up with old friends and meet other likeminded people. “It’s a very special event and my family and I cherish the friendships that have come from the show over the years.”

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ASHBURTON A&P SHOW

One-stop-shop for rural information A&P Show organisers will utilise the benefits of the Ashburton Guardian’s new Ashburton App to deliver more information about the event to a wider audience. Launched on September 1, the Ashburton App has had a strong first month in the marketplace. Peaking at No 2 on the charts of Free New Zealand News Apps, and having 2900 downloads as of late last week, it has far exceeded the Guardian’s expectations, general manager Desme Daniels said. “Based on the population of the Ashburton district of 33,000, we aim to have total market saturation of 23,115 downloads in the first year. With other community and news apps in the marketplace achieving this, we know it can be done.” The Ashburton app has a strong rural element to it, Daniels said, adding that thanks to it containing rural news, weather, and its own Rural & Ag button, it’s the place to go to find all manner of rural business information. From October 13 the app will feature an A&P Show feature button. “We are proud to have partnered

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with the Ashburton A&P Show to offer a mobile platform for the event,” Daniels said. November 1 is another key date for the app, as it will see the launch of two additional buttons within the rural and ag sector, Rural Consultants, and Feed & Seed. “With technology infiltrating everyday life – we recognise that people want information at their fingertips 24/7. The Ashburton App offers a diverse range of information from emergency numbers, weekend services, things to do and events, through to where to eat, drink and stay,” Daniels said. The one-stop-shop to all things in the Ashburton district, the app is free to download through the Google Play and App Store.

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EDUCATION FEATURE

Boarding life The biggest sleepover your son will ever have! Medbury is an independent boys’ school in Christchurch, offering an education for both dayboys and boarders from Years 1 to 8. With traditional values and a strong emphasis on manners and respect, Medbury’s vision is to provide an education which prepares boys for life in the 21st Century. At Medbury the focus is on the ‘whole boy’, and small class sizes enable teachers to deliver a personalised learning programme. Boarding offers boys unique life opportunities, enabling them to develop independence, make good friendships and discover inner strengths. The Medbury Boarding House really is a welcoming ‘home away from home’ for up to 43 boys, ranging from age seven to thirteen. Facilities include two dormitories, a commonroom, and a quiet room, where boys can enjoy their own space. Outside of school hours, the boarders have use of the school’s extensive facilities, including the swimming pool, library, astro turf, climbing wall and sports field. The dedicated and experienced boarding team, which includes the Headmaster, the Director of Boarding, two Matrons, two Gap Year Tutors

Discover St Margarets

and Medbury teachers, on rotation, ensures that every boy receives the attention and support he needs to flourish. A ‘big brother’ system provides boys new to the Boarding House with friendly guidance and advice. Many boarders return home for the weekend after Saturday sport, though those who ‘stay in’ are well catered for with a diverse and engaging weekend programme including ‘Boarders’ Weekends’, regular outings, and barbecues in the summer. Meals are served in the dining room, and the menus are designed to be balanced, nutritious and appetising, while satisfying busy, active boys. For those who are not quite ready to board full-time, or want the flexibility of boarding short-term, Medbury also offers casual boarding. You only have to spend a short time in the Boarding House to see that it offers an inclusive and welcoming environment. The organisational skills and self-discipline Medbury establishes, will serve the boys throughout their school life and beyond. For more information please contact Tanya Moore (Headmaster’s PA) on 03 351 6169, email office@medbury.school.nz or visit www.medbury.school.nz

Making that all-important decision around schooling is one no parent takes lightly. Come and chat with us at the Ashburton A & P Show to discover how St Margaret’s College offers a unique education for girls from Years 1 through to 13, with boarding from Year 7, with a strong emphasis on well-being and pastoral care. Programmes are customised to the specific learning needs of girls at every age and stage ensuring each girl reaches her potential. Our girls are given every opportunity to flourish and to be prepared for success in an everchanging world. Most importantly, our pastoral care and spirituality based programmes

build resilient young people who relate well, and who have the confidence and empathy to build meaningful and lasting relationships. With over 90 years of boarding history, St Margaret’s College is a home from home for its 150 girls who are part of the St Margaret’s boarding family. The boarding community is at the heart of the college and the culture is closely aligned with the school’s vision of a holistic education, embracing the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of the girls, as well as their academic growth and their development in sport and the arts. For further information visit www.stmargarets.school.nz.

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Farming

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EDUCATION FEATURE

Selwyn House

Zero fees scheme

A Selwyn House School education is one of the greatest gifts you can give your daughter. We focus on putting the foundations in place to ensure all our girls receive a remarkable education that will prepare them for the global society they will live and lead in. Proudly, authorised to deliver the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, we are committed to providing a continuum of international education to our girls. The focus from Year 1 to Year 8 is on the total growth of the developing girl, encompassing intellectual, social, physical, emotional and cultural needs. Parents want the best for their daughters and, together with you, our teachers work to ensure we inspire all our girls to love and to be committed to learning as they develop their unique way of being remarkable. We inspire girls to be strong leaders, passionate about science and

The Zero Fees Scheme allows locals to Train for a Trade. The Christchurch Campus of the Southern Institute of Technology is in the business of providing training for people who want to become trades qualified. At SIT, the home of the Zero Fees scheme, your tuition fees are covered, so all you have to pay for are the direct material costs for your course. SIT is committed to training people towards employment in industry, without incurring debt for tuition fees. Under the Zero Fees Scheme, the Christchurch Campus in Hornby offers programmes of the highest quality, which are widely recognised within related industries and lead to real job opportunities. There is a wide range of courses offered at SIT, including: hairdressing, Automotive engineering, collision repair, refrigeration and air conditioning, electrical engineering and construction.

technology, competitive on the sports field, confident performers and more. We believe in the promise of the future and the power of education to equip our girls to face our continually changing world with confidence and enthusiasm. Our girls stand out among their peers, even in international competition. They are confident, articulate and determined young women who have the values, skills, and knowledge needed to not only achieve their goals but to make a difference in their communities. Selwyn House’s nurturing environment, boarding options, small class sizes and comprehensive approach to learning not only enhances the capabilities of each year group but provides a smooth transition to secondary school. For more information about Selwyn House please contact 03 355 7299.

Along with the trades courses, SIT offers training in project management, mental health support work, personal training and group fitness. All courses are NZQA approved and students maybe eligible for student loans and allowance through studylink. SIT has a proven record of students moving into employment or apprenticeships. Pre-trade courses are structured around apprenticeship requirements and students leave with a significant headstart to their careers. Courses for 2018 are filling fast; demand for affordable trades training is high. Come along to the open evening on Tuesday, October 17 from 5pm-7pm, at 60 Waterloo Road, Hornby and meet the friendly SIT team and tour the facilities. To find out more call 0800 TO STUDY (0800 867 883) or go to www.sit.ac.nz

LAUNCH YOUR FUTURE @ SIT CHRISTCHURCH

DISCOVER SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL Selwyn House School is a leading girls’ school for Years 1–8 with boarding available for Years 5–8. Selwyn House School offers an exceptional opportunity for girls to grow and learn in a stimulating and nurturing environment. Our focus is on developing globally minded learners and leaders. Small class sizes Strength-based personalised curriculum The only South Island girls’ primary school offering the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme Specialist teaching and a future-focused Mechatronics programme For information regarding enrolment phone: 03 355 7299 or email: office@selwynhouse.school.nz Be our guest – schedule your personal tour today. 122 Merivale Lane, Christchurch Phone: 03 355 7299 SELWYNHOUSE.SCHOOL.NZ

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EDUCATION FEATURE

On-job training support Reducing N leaching The Primary Industry Training Organisation has come out in support of an open letter signed by more than 100 New Zealand businesses saying tertiary qualifications are not necessarily required for some skilled roles in their workplaces. Primary ITO chief executive Linda Sissons said as the industry training organisation for the primary industries, it is dedicated to facilitating on-job training where people can “earn while they learn” and develop their skills, experience and careers. “We are pleased to support the NZ Talent letter in which over 100 employers have agreed to recognise on-job learning and skills gained through a variety of pathways and experiences when making hiring decisions for skill-based roles,” Sissons said. “While we agree there will always be a place for traditional tertiary education, we are continuously working with our industry partners to expand our offerings to include new, flexible ways for people to learn. We are investing heavily in ways to make learning fit around work, especially micro-credentials and recognition of prior learning. “We also support many other ways for people to learn and grow – sponsorship of industry competitions

Fertigation is the practice of applying fertiliser in a liquid form to a crop via the irrigation system. Using the irrigation system to apply fertiliser reduces the need to use mechanical operations. More and more we are seeing greater percentages of annual crop fertiliser requirements being applied via fertigation, to the point where some cropping systems receive 90100 per cent by this method. When combined with an efficient irrigation system both nutrients and water can be manipulated and managed to obtain the maximum possible yield of

marketable production from a given quantity of these inputs. Fertigation is typically used to address fertiliser deficiency which inhibits plant growth, labour and operational efficiencies. Fertigation has many advantages for Canterbury and Otago agriculture. Nutrients are applied “little and often” as the plants require them, there is no leaching of fertilisers. Plus, the pasture has a better NPK balance, so less urease is produced by the cows. This is a BIG advantage as 70 per cent of N leaching occurs around urine deposits.

Primary ITO chief executive Linda PHOTO SUPPLIED Sissons.

like the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards is just one example. New Zealand needs its primary industries to grow so New Zealand can grow, Sissons said. “That starts here and now, growing smart, tech-savvy, ambitious and innovative people. To do this we need to work together to offer innovative, flexible and responsive learning pathways and to ensure these are recognised by employers as just as valuable as traditional tertiary education.”

Above left - Poor pastures and urine patches. Above right - Or do you want pastures like this – 50 per cent clover fixing free PHOTOS SUPPLIED Nitrogen from the air.

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