Dairy Focus - February 2013

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An Ashburton Guardian Supplement

February 2013

Dairy women in the spotlight Page 2-4

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Dairy Focus February 2013

Kathryn’s Linda Clarke,

rural reporter, Ashburton Guardian

K

Kathryn van den Beuken

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athryn van den Beuken is a shining light in the dairy industry. The former banker and husband Leo have spent the past two decades growing a dairy business now involving 1700 cows; they have learned a lot along the way, and inspired others.

Kathryn was this month named as one of six finalists in the Dairy Woman of the Year Award, a prestigious award run by the Dairy Women’s Network and sponsored by Fonterra.

The award is worth $25,000 and includes a scholarship to the year-long Women in Leadership course run by Global Women.

Kathryn’s passion over the years has been education, for those entering dairying as

An advertising supplement of the Ashburton Guardian Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Ashburton Guardian Publication date: February 19, 2013 Next issue: March 19, 2013 We welcome any correspondence to either: Linda Clarke, phone 307-7971 email: linda.c@theguardian.co.nz Desme Daniels, phone 307-7974 email: desme.d@theguardian.co.nz Dairy Focus designed by: Yendis Albert

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trainees all the way up the tree to senior managers and sharemilkers.

She divides her time between the Bankside dairy farm where she and Leo are in their 11th season 50:50 sharemilking 1150 cows on 331 hectares for Max and Adrienne Duncan and her role as a key account manager at AgITO. Over the years the van den Beukens have employed many aspiring dairy farmers, helping them take the next step in their careers, and guiding and mentoring them to work their way up through the industry to become farm managers and sharemilkers.

The van den Beukens also own a 160 hectare farm milking 530 cows at Winchmore, where they employ lower order sharemilkers Chris and Donna Murphy.

Since winning the national sharemilkers of the year title in 2005, they have also organised the Canterbury-North Otago Dairy Industry Awards.

Kathryn is seen by her peers as a positive role model, successful because of her hard work and determination.

She says the industry in return has provided career opportunities, positive challenges and enabled her family to grow their business from 110 to 1700 cows.

Kathryn and Leo met at school in Stratford, where Leo’s parents were milking 110 cows on 45ha. Kathryn went into banking and Leo had been a motor mechanic for 10 years before they decided to give dairying a go.

“We saw it as an opportunity to be working together and his parents were ready to leave the farm.”

She smiles now at the small scale of the operation. The 110 cows were milked in a 10-a-side herringbone shed and Kathryn and Leo were 39 per cent sharemilkers.

They took small steps, including a couple of shifts to different farms, to grow the business but there were no largescale jobs in the Taranaki region.

They saw an advert placed by Max and Adrienne Duncan to work as sharemilkers

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an inspiration at Dorie and applied. Not long after they were moving a herd of 600 across Cook Strait.

“Our first impressions of Mid Canterbury were that it just seemed a lot easier to be a dairy farmer here. We had come from steep and rolling country.

Here it was flat and the weather was beautiful.

“The boys were running around in singlets and shorts in June. But two weeks later we got a big dump of snow.”

Kathryn, Leo and their daughters Stacey, Brooke and Kim thrived at Dorie.

The business was propelled into the spotlight in 2005 when Kathryn and Leo won the national sharemilker of the year award.

She said the entering the contest had been a turning point and pushed the couple into leadership roles. Even now they have an open door policy for staff and people in the industry – they are happy to give advice or talk through farm and life goals.

While in the early days Kathryn was putting cups on in the shed, as the business grew and employed more staff she stepped back and forged a different path with the training organisation AgITO. She has gone from training adviser to key account manager, looking after corporate pastoral entities. She spends a lot of time on the road, talking to big businesses like ATS and training their staff to be more ag-aware.

Keeping touch with life on the farm is important and Kathryn still rears the calves, on the 1100-cow Bankside (halfway between Rakaia and Dunsandel).

“I get the whole spectrum, from grassroots to corporate.”

There is plenty of scope for young people to succeed in dairying, she says, provided they are prepared to work hard and make sacrifices.

Kathryn uses this business “bike” to help people see how the industry connects.

Continued on next page

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Dairy Focus February 2013

“Farming is not a 9-5 job. It is hard work.

The difference with the dairy industry is that you can start with nothing and grow if you are dedicated, hardworking and focussed.”

Doing time on the lower rungs of the ladder was important to provide the experience needed further up.

“Too many people are striving for the top job or a large herd scenario straight away.

The more experience you get at operational level the better you will become.”

She said the dairy pathway was also changing. Sharemilking positions were fewer as more corporate and syndicates ploughed money into farm ownership, so dairy farm jobs were also changing.

Farm managers and others needed new skills so they could meet corporate reporting expectations.

“What is happening in the industry, especially in the South Island, is that there are more multiple farm ownership and equity farm ownerships, like corporates.

Education at a higher level is needed in the industry. People are running multimillion-dollar large scale farms. If they were in town, they would have HR and other specialists. As farmers we are in control of all that. We need to fix that with higher education.”

AgITO was the ideal vehicle for further education, allowing people to learn while they held down jobs on dairy farms.

On that theme, she has developed a training “bike” showing the importance of education in breaching the gap for those wanting to move into management, contract milking, sharemilking or farm ownership.

Education and environmental issues would remain a big focus in the future, she said. “We have to look very closely at how we are running our operations and work together with people to get them to do it better.”

Kathryn said their three daughters had spent time on the farm. Stacey, 21, was now working at AgITO, Brooke, 18, has just started a teacher’s degree at Canterbury and Kim, 15, is in Year 11 at Ellesmere College.

When Kathryn and Leo can get away from the farm, they head to Stephen’s Bay near Kaiteriteri, where they have a holiday home. Kathryn walks on nearby Abel Tasman track and enjoys the beach. It is surely just reward.

The winner of the 2013 Dairy Woman of the Year award will be announced at a gala dinner at the Dairy Women’s Network annual conference on March 20 in Nelson.

See Page 10-11 for other Dairy woman of the year finalists.

Kathryn and Leo vanden Beuken enjoy a sunny moment

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Dairy Focus February 2013

5

Hold your own when buying and selling stock

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Contributed by Dairy Women’s Network

elping women who work in the dairy industry understand the ins and outs of purchasing stock is the focus of a series of practical workshops being held next month.

The Dairy Women's Network is hosting the workshops to equip first herd buyers, or those looking to get involved in purchasing stock for the first time, with the skills and knowledge to understand the process of buying and selling stock, step by step, to make an informed decision.

The workshop will cover sale and purchase agreements and the obligations of buyers and sellers, including the agent's role; how to identify and set up records and transfer cows between parties including National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme requirements; spotting the fish hooks - knowing the best time to buy and sell, pregnancy testing, in-calf guarantees, unsound animals and rejection rates, including a practical assessment to identify cows that could be rejected.

The workshops will be run by Joanne Leigh and Maree Crowley-Hughes, both hands-on farmers with more than 35 years' experience between them in trading stock for their businesses.

Joanne has an extensive farming background. She is a dairy farmer, farm consultant and business manager of the Tirau-based specialist calf-rearing business, Top-notch Calves, which she has owned with husband Jonathan since 1993. Based at the couple's 63 hectare dairy farm, Top-notch Calves rears around 8000 dairy and beef calves annually, in a large scale commercial facility.

Maree is a director and owner/operator of seven Southland dairy farms. She has been a member of the

Dairy Women's Network since 1998, and was last year appointed to the board. She is a passionate farmer who is very hands-on at home and on the farm.

She said her involvement in trading stock has increased in the past five years as her and husband Peter's business has grown. While all their replacement calves are AB, they also trade stock as a part of the whole-farm business including carry overs and young stock, which they graze and sell as in-calf heifers.

"You get better at trading stock with experience, because that brings the knowledge you need to know who you can trust, what you need to look for when buying and what's a good price - this workshop provides a great starting point for those who are just starting to get involved in that process."

Maree said the workshops would be very hands-on, practical and upfront, with participants working with stock on the day.

She said participants would gain the knowledge and

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Dairy Focus February 2013

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature

The leading team in well drilling

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arber Well Drilling are leaders in dual-rotary drilling for water wells in the South Island.

Barber Well Drilling was established in 2001 and is based in Geraldine.

Bruce and Wayne lead an exceptional drilling team who have a wealth of experience drilling deep, straight water wells in the Canterbury region and throughout the South Island. This capable team of employees brings a wealth of skill and expertise to farmers.

Our equipment is of a very high standard and we experience fewer breakdowns because our equipment is well-serviced. Our dual-rotary drilling rig is designed to prevent sticking or breaking in your well. We can drill to a depth of 300m with well diametres from 150mm to 400mm.

Barber Drilling uses only thick-wall steel which doesn't buckle, so your well stays straighter, giving you a better quality, long-life well. Our services include: water well drilling, exploration drilling, de-watering mines, site investigations.

Water is a sought-after farm commodity. Demand for well maintenance and old well

redevelopment is increasing as regulatory costs increase to control demand. Barber Drilling can video and test existing wells, and find ways to help farmers bring old wells back into use again. These services include down hole video, well monitoring and flow testing equipment for Ecan consents, Well redevelopment, advice and problem solving.

Barber Well Drilling is serious about health and safety standards and has an exemplary safety record. Their knowledgeable team are trained in drilling and mine safety to New Zealand standards.

Barber Drilling's dedicated professional staff instils confidence and customer satisfaction demanded by their clients. Barber Drilling always offer clients advice, keep clients up to date with progress and talk through the options as the job procedes.

When you use Barber Drilling to drill your water well, you can be reassured that you have chosen Canterbury's experienced, well-trained team of professional drillers whose knowledge of local conditions will ensure that your new water well is an asset to your farm.

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ocally owned and operated, Hanham Concrete has been providing quality concrete products and services in the South Island for more than 50 years.

They specialise in rural products such as troughs, tanks, bunkers and silage pits.

They also have a broader product range including killing sheds, fencing products, sumps, risers and precast panels, to name a few. All of their products are made using steel-reinforced concrete and they include fibre in their concrete to give extra strength and durability to their products.

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Rural Accounting Earth Moving and Contracting

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The voice of Mid Canterbury 24/7

Dairy Focus February 2013

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature

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Due to a technical problem the Transport Advertising Feature published in our February Guardian Farming was incorrect. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

The Ashburton Guardian

Rural Transport Ltd Wilson Bulk Transport Helping farmers with all their ‘Knowing when service counts’

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ilson Bulk Transport is owned by The Trevor Wilson Charitable Trust that was established in 1990 by the late Trevor Wilson. In 2001 the company shifted premises to a larger building, and office yard complex in Tinwald. This improved the working environment for office personnel, greatly increased the storage warehousing area and provided parking space and weighbridge facilities for the fleet of predominantly Isuzu trucks. The office premises have since been expanded again to cope with rapid company growth in recent years.

Specialising in cartage, agricultural and storage, Wilson Bulk Transport are a locally owned and operated company recognised by many farmers, contractors and commercial business throughout Mid Canterbury as a customer focused,

price competitive “one-stop-shop”.

From bulk, general and container cartage, fertiliser spreading, storage and warehousing, to grain drying, grain testing and storage facilities, Wilson Bulk Transport has the ability to meet the needs of the local farming community. Wilson’s skilled, knowledgeable team of drivers, managers and administration staff are all focused on driving an on-time quality service you can depend on.

It is imperative for the company to enable freight to travel and reach its destination efficiently and costeffectively.

The company motto “Knowing When Service Counts” has certainly been proven by dedicated staff.

For no fuss, price competitive service that you can benefit from, Wilson Bulk Transport should be the company you call.

Locally owned and operated R

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ural Transport Ltd is a locally owned and operated cartage company that has its head office in Ashburton but also operates branches in Kurow and Fairlie. The commodities they transport has their business operating throughout the South Island, however their main areas of operation are Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury, North Otago, Fairlie and the Mackenzie Basin.

The company has a total of 46 truck and trailer combinations that are constantly upgraded in order to give Rural Transport the ability to offer a reliable and efficient service to their clients.

Their livestock business is structured around a large clientele throughout Mid Canterbury, Mackenzie country and the Waitaki Valley specialising in lamb, sheep, cattle and deer cartage to and from farms, sales and works. Their team of experienced and certified drivers consistently maintains animal welfare at all times providing assurance that stock arrives at its destination in the best possible condition.

Rural Transport Ltd provides a complete transport and logistics service for general freight with the ability to store and distribute all types of goods. A daily service to Christchurch and Timaru complements this service. Crane truck hire is also a specialty with the advantage of very

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Locally owned and operated

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cartage needs

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experienced operators on these vehicles.

Rural Transport Ltd also carries general freight such as hay, silage, machinery, palletised goods and wool amongst other things. Their team of competent and experienced drivers is able to complete any rural-based requirements.

Their comprehensive fleet also allows them to cart sand, post peelings, carrots and of course grain, seed and fertiliser and other bulk feeds. They can cart anything, anywhere.

Their fertiliser spreading fleet is all Spreadmark certified and equipped with GPS mapping to ensure accurate and precise spreading. Their fleet has the capability to spread either lime or fertiliser and they also spread road grit during the winter months. They have four 4WD trucks and two 6x4 spreaders for worked ground and pasture spreading, each branch has a 4x4 spreader unit with wide tyres to ensure minimal soil compaction. All of their spreaders are equipped with trailers to ensure product is delivered and spread at optimal efficiency.

Rural Transport Ltd is dedicated to getting the job done quickly and efficiently, with their very experienced team of drivers taking great pride in their work and they are passionate about their trucks.

Modern Fleet Experienced Operators Grain Vac Unit Available Bulk Grain Storage Facilities Call Hamish to discuss your Bulk Cartage needs

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Dairy Focus February 2013

9

Half-year result confirms investment in on-farm productivity D

Contributed by LIC

airy farmer cooperative LIC has recorded strong performance in the first six months of the financial year, with growth in farmer demand for products and services which have a direct impact on income-generating production.

In the six months to November 2012, LIC achieved revenue of $131.5 million compared to $120.1 million for the same period in 2011. The improvement in revenue resulted from growth in demand as, in response to the volatility of the industry, LIC had minimal, or no increase in product or service pricing.

This, according to LIC chairman Murray King, is a result of farmers, despite conservative times, investing in the products which drive farmer prosperity.

“The start of the dairy season is when most of our activity takes place – with herd testing, herd recording, artificial breeding

and animal health – and that coincided, this season, with a drop in dairy payout, from the previous season’s high.

“Despite this, demand grew with increases of 7.6 per cent in herd testing, 10.9 per cent in dairy genetics, 31.9 per cent in DNA parentage testing, 17.6 per cent in farm software, 2.7 per cent in farm automation systems and 21.1 per cent increase in animal health services like BVD testing – to mention just a few.

“In good and in challenging times farmers invest in products which will have a material impact on the profitability of their animals and the performance of their farms and growth in demand has been seen across all our product and service offerings.

“The good thing is that LIC is a dairy farmer owned cooperative, so everything we do – from products and services, to the profit, dividends and research and development – all return to our shareholders.”

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Half-Year Result

Revenue for the six months to November 2012 was as outlined above. Profit attributable to shareholders (net profit after tax) was $30 million compared to $28 million in 2011. No revaluation of biological assets was done in November (or 2011).

LIC’s business, particularly artificial breeding, is highly seasonal. Half-Year results incorporate the majority of the AB revenues, but not a similar proportion of total costs, and are not therefore indicative of the second half result not the full year result.

The balance sheet remains strong with total equity of $214.6 million compared to $199.7 million at the same time last year.

Total operating cash flow for the six months was a net cash outflow of $5.6 million which compares to $0.6 million net cash outflow in the previous year, the difference mainly due to timing of cash outflows.

Murray King LIC Chairman

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Dairy Focus February 2013

Dairy woman of J Justine Kidd, Waipukurau Business Manager, BEL Group

ustine has influenced many aspects of the dairy industry after graduating with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (hons) in 1993.

She started as a consulting officer for the Dairy Board, worked for the Dairy Research Corporation as a farm production scientist and has established herself as a trainer/facilitator of leadership, people and performance, and business strategy programmes.

W

hile she would never refer to herself as an expert, Kath Taylor is in fact one of New Zealand’s leading mastitis experts.

She has been a dairy vet for 19 years, graduating from Massey in 1994, working in mixed practice in Taranaki for the next seven years then moving to Southland in 2001 where she currently works for VetSouth in Winton. She has worked at internationally,

Justine was also a founding director of Synlait where she led the initial development of strategic planning, team development and human resource structures.

She later started business consulting company Avance, which was contracted by the BEL group in 2008 to run its Hawkes Bay operations. The group employs more than 60 people milking 8600 cows across eight dairy farms totalling 2400 hectares, with a

further 960 hectares in dairy support. Under Justine's leadership BEL Group has grown to reach its first milestone strategic goals and won the 2011 HRINZ HR Initiative of the Year award.

Justine is also a 33 percent shareholder in Dairy CHB purchasing an 80 hectare farm that is being converted from mixed cropping into dairy farming.

nationally, locally and at a farm level to improve milk quality and presented extensively at the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), dairy cattle conferences, DairyNZ workshops and Dairy Women’s Network conferences and Diary Days. Internationally she presented at the first Heifer Mastitis conference in Denton, Belgium, and the World Mastitis Conference at The Hague, Holland.

Kath is primarily concerned with investigating grades, monitoring and managing somatic cell counts and outbreaks of clinical mastitis, training staff and advising on mastitis control. She is also an accredited vet for the Fonterra Mastitis Support Programme.

Kath lives just out of Winton on a 200 hectare farm where her partner Ian sharemilks 500 cows.

passion for what dairy farming, done well and supported by a strong cooperative, can deliver to people’s lives.

Her career path includes a stint as a consulting officer for the Dairy Board, five years in Ireland working with dairy farmers to encourage pasture management, lecturing on dairy production at Lincoln University, working with the BNZ to develop and deliver ‘growth courses’ for wealth

creation in agriculture, and running DairyNZ strategic planning courses for couples.

Her training has taken her to Portugal, back to Ireland and she now hosts groups of farming leaders from Europe to promote the synergies between our farming nations.

In 2006, Leonie and husband Kieran won the Canterbury Sharemilker of the Year and were placed runners-up in the national final.

Kath Taylor, Winton - Dairy Veterinarian and Mastitis consultant, VetSouth

F

airlie farmer Leonie Guiney juggles a family of six and a farming career which started with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Massey University. Today she owns and operates five farms, two in equity partnerships, in the Fairlie basin area with husband Kieran.

Nearly all Leonie’s work has been in helping educate farmers to get more out of their businesses - and she has an absolute Leonie Guiney, Fairlie - Farm Owner/Operator

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Dairy Focus February 2013

11

the year finalists S

arah’s nomination for the Dairy Woman of the Year award revealed Sarah has, among other things, developed a cult following at the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) running highly rated workshops since 2004.

Sarah started her career with an Agricultural Science degree from Lincoln University. She went on to milk cows with husband Tony, which led into farm management roles and a career focussed on HR. Sarah has held senior HR roles with

A

fter completing an agricultural degree, Juliet commenced her career as a successful dairy farmer, including sharemilking, farm ownership and cofounding the dairy business Synlait Limited, which today owns 49 per cent of Synlait Milk Limited and 100 per cent of Synlait Farms Limited.

Based at Dunsandel, Juliet is responsible for the strategic leadership, research and

the Christchurch Casino and a corporate orchardist.

Her many achievements and contributions to the dairy industry include projectleading DairyNZ’s PeopleSmart website and QuickStart recruitment kit -resources designed to help dairy farmers with recruitment, retention and all aspects of onfarm people management.

This year Sarah takes on a new challenge, joining farm management company MyFarm as its farm supervisor for the Canterbury

region. She’ll be responsible for eight farms, which cover 1800 hectares, milking approximately 6800 cows and employing around 35 people. Collectively MyFarm manages 44 dairy farms milking 31,600 cows.

As well as being an in-demand presenter and project manager, Sarah’s other business interests include farming Jersey bulls on around 40 hectares near West Melton, where she lives with her family.

innovation and daily operations of 14 farms in the Mid Canterbury region. With a milking platform of 3942 hectares, Synlait Farms produces around 5.5M kgs of milk solids from 12,970 cows, and employs a culturally diverse team of 85 people.

Juliet is a member of the Institute of Directors, a Nuffield, Kellogg and Massey Scholar and a Nuffield New Zealand Trustee. She is also involved in many

industry organisations including the Lincoln University Dairy Farm Management Advisory Group.

Along with her shareholding in Synlait, Juliet and partner Ben are involved in a small equity partnership in the central Waikato which milks 900 cows on two farms. Staying fit and healthy is an important priority for Juliet and mountain biking provides a good avenue for this.

Sarah Watson, West Melton Farm Supervisor Canterbury, MyFarm

Juliet Maclean, Rakaia - Chief Executive, Synlait Farms Limited

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12

Dairy Focus February 2013

Guy leads MPI

M

essage from the new minister: “It’s a huge honour to be appointed as the new Minister for Primary Industries, and my first weeks in the job have already been extremely busy.

I grew up with farming. My family has a dairy farm just north of Levin and I’ve had a long involvement in the agriculture industry, from Young Farmer competitions right through to overseas study.

The primary sector is the powerhouse of New Zealand’s economy. It is worth around $30 billion a year, and makes up 70 per cent of our exports.

Industries like fishing, forestry, horticulture, aquaculture and farming are hugely important to regional economies.

As minister I want to help build a greater awareness amongst the wider public of just how important our primary industries are.

The Government has an ambitious goal of increasing exports to from 30 per cent to 40 per cent of GDP by 2025. The primary industry will need to play a major part in this by improving productivity, maintaining high standards, increasing the value of what we export, and opening new markets.

Balancing environmental issues with economic growth will be a major challenge, but one which New Zealand can be a world leader.

I’ll be working closely with Environment Minister Amy Adams on water reform and changes to the Resource Management Act, both of which will provide a real boost to the primary sector.

Animal welfare issues will also be important,

and as always, biosecurity will remain a major priority. A lot of good work is underway to improve the coordination of our border agencies and better target risk.

I’ve enjoyed working closely with David Carter in my previous role as Associate Minister and I’m looking forward to carrying on his good work.

He has a challenging new role as Speaker of the House and I’m sure he’ll do a great job.

I’ll be getting around the country a lot in the near future, meeting people involved in our primary industries. I’m looking forward to getting my sleeves rolled up and stuck in.”

DairyNZ offers welcome

Industry-good body DairyNZ has welcomed the appointment of Guy to the position of Minister for Primary Industries.

DairyNZ Chairman John Luxton says the dairy industry is leading a renewed focus on responsible and competitive dairy farming, with a new Sustainable Dairying; Water Accord about to be released and a Strategy for Sustainable Dairy Farming under development and going to be launched in May. “We know the minister has first-hand knowledge of dairy farming and its challenges and will be able to engage easily with farmers and talk their language,” he says. “That’s a huge plus when you are doing that job.”

Mr Luxton, a minister himself for nine years, including holding the agriculture portfolio, says it’s a challenging role because the area is so broad and covers a very wide brief from operational to policy to trade issues.

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Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew is the new Associate Minister for Primary Industries.

“Both ministers serve important dairying electorates and I’m sure a close affinity with their communities will be an added advantage,” Mr Luxton said. “They come into their roles with a good practical knowledge of farming because of where they come from. We look forward to working with them.”

Mr Guy entered Parliament as a List MP in 2005 and was elected National's Junior Whip in 2006. He was promoted to Senior Whip in early 2008 and retained this position following the 2008 general election when he won the Otaki seat incorporating the Kapiti and Horowhenua Districts.

In June 2009 he was appointed as the Minister of Internal Affairs, and also served as Associate Minister of Justice, Associate Minister of Transport and the Minister responsible for the National Library and Archives New Zealand.

In 2011 he was re-elected in Otaki and appointed to Cabinet as the Minister of Immigration, Racing, Veterans’ Affairs and Associate Minister of Primary Industries.

Before entering Parliament, Mr Guy was involved in farming and local government.

He served for eight years on the Horowhenua District Council and managed the family dairy farm. In 2000 he was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship to study beef exports to the United States.

He is married to Erica and has three children.

Nathan Guy

Nathan Guy has some help in the cow shed from Prime Minister John Key.

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13

Dairy Focus February 2013

What’s wrong with her?

Ian Hodge,

BVSc. MACVSc. Riverside Veterinary Services Ltd

U

nfortunately dairy cows get sick and need treatments in much the same way humans do. Perhaps the key difference is that when dairy cows are sick they do not make normal amounts of milk and so earn the farm less money each day.

When the kids are sick there is no financial penalty (apart from the doctor’s bill!). In addition if dairy cows die they might need to be replaced at great expense to you, the farmer.

Vets spend five years of extremely hard work getting into a position that they can diagnose illness in animals correctly and prescribe the correct treatments.

During these five years vets learn about the normal and abnormal state, and long courses in physiology, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology, medicine, surgery and therapeutics all add up to helping us make the correct decisions when called to your farm.

It is important that animals get prompt care when they become sick and vets realise that as people on the spot, farmers can often treat animals that are showing mild signs of being unwell early and get a successful outcome. In many cases cows treated by farmers get well and return to normal production. In other cases there is a poor response to treatment.

The reality is that in order to make a correct diagnosis you need vet training.

If you call the vet to see a sick cow you

should expect to see that vet thoroughly examine the animal, get a good history from you, possibly take some samples, and, if possible at the time, make a diagnosis.

Let’s assume a cow has an increased temperature. What could be wrong? In fact a whole multitude of diseases could be possibilities. Is there labored breathing? It may be that the cow has a lung infection, but many other conditions could result in labored breathing. Is there a discharge?

Again there can be many different disease states that produce a discharge from one area. Is the cow lame? It may not be as simple as a stone bruise or a white line infection.

Perhaps the trickiest problems in dairy cows are those associated with the gut.

Swelling, bloating, diarrhoea, lack of appetite, constipation, salivation, bleeding and death are all signs of gut problems.

What specifically is the problem? Even vets will be challenged by some of these problems.

It is important that as farmers you have a good knowledge of any treatments that are prescribed by your vet. Please try and at least talk to your vet before you treat animals. All antibiotics are not the same.

We must be sensible using antibiotics to prevent unnecessary resistance developing.

In summary, use your vet wisely to help you learn more about the health of your herd. Vets have a tremendous amount of knowledge at their fingertips and are on a mission to help you achieve great animal health.

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14 14

Dairy Focus February 2013

Managing dairy farms profitably C

Contributed by DairyNZ

lover Root Weevil (Sitona lepidus) was first identified in New Zealand around 1996. It spread initially through Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Northland. By 2004 Clover Root Weevil (CRW) had been found on dairy farms throughout the North Island and it has now spread to the South Island, including parts of Mid Canterbury. There is no geographic or climatic limitation to the spread of this insect pest throughout New Zealand.

The CRW adult is a small speckled brown weevil up to 6 mm long found in the base of pasture throughout the year. Numbers vary seasonally with lows in winter and summer, and highest population densities in spring and autumn. When feeding, the adult makes characteristic U shaped notches on the edge of the clover leaf. This damage is easily identified and different from other pests, eg slugs, clover-flea.

CRW larvae are creamy white grubs from 1 to 6 mm long, found by digging into the root zone under white clover plants. CRW larvae are present throughout the year, and feed exclusively on clover roots, and associated nodules, reducing nitrogen fixation, and clover production and persistence.

What do we know about Clover Root Weevil?

In 1997 the estimated cost to dairy farmers of doing nothing about CRW was between $250 and $560 per ha, due to loss of high quality clover feed, and the cost of replacing fixed nitrogen losses with applied fertiliser nitrogen.

Research is targeting a multi-pronged approach with biological control agents, to lower CRW populations, and identify strains of clover tolerant to CRW. Showing promise are a parasitic wasp and an insect disease that can be applied as a bio-insecticide. Improved management of clover will also play an important role.

Impact of CRW is greatest a couple of years after first arrival, as populations of CRW larvae rise rapidly restricted only by the amount of clover root feed supply. Up to 1500 weevils per square metre were counted in Waikato pastures in 1997.

Over time, CRW larvae populations fluctuate at lower levels depending on the surviving clover feed supply, adult egg laying behaviour, and survival of larvae. All these factors are influenced by the severity

Don’t leave it to chance

of dry weather in summer.

CRW larvae reduce atmospheric nitrogen fixation, by eating clover root nodules and clover roots. This underground damage, plus damage to plant foliage, reduces the quantity of clover forage, and amount of nitrogen for both clover and grass growth.

Indications are that nitrogen fixation by clover has been reduced by 50-100 per cent in recent years, primarily due to CRW. These losses in nitrogen fixation can only be offset at this stage by applying nitrogen fertiliser, and drawing on existing soil organic nitrogen reserves, which vary with soil type, fertility and climate.

Over 80 per cent of New Zealand dairy farmers currently apply nitrogen fertiliser from 25 to 200 kg N/ha annually, at typical rates of 25 to 50 kg N/ha per application.

While these application rates are primarily targeting a grass response they are the first and most important step to minimise the impact of CRW on the farm business.

Clover plants under stress from CRW tend to be small leafed and low growing.

Farmers with CRW infested pastures report improved clover growth and plant survival from small but frequent applications of nitrogen fertiliser applied year round.

Farmers may observe clover returning to pasture after CRW attack. While CRW will not eliminate entirely its host species, the level of clover after invasion is usually much less than before. Both white clover and CRW go through seasonal cycles. CRW populations will tend to rise and fall with fluctuations in clover growth.

Additional phosphate based fertiliser, lime and any other soil-additives will not rejuvenate clover in presence of CRW. Re-grassing after cultivation does not have a lasting effect on CRW, as adults repopulate these areas.

There is no “silver bullet” for Clover Root Weevil.

How should dairy farmers respond to Clover Root Weevil?

It is important that dairy farmers and their advisors recognise this insect and understand the damage it does to clover, both above and below ground, and the impact it has on the nitrogen fixing capability of pasture.

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Dairy Focus February 2013

with Clover Root Weevil In the meantime this does not mean farmers should do nothing about it, they should: • Look for the presence of CRW damage on leaves, and dig under clover plants looking for healthy pink nodules and for CRW larvae • Do not assist CRW dispersal by moving hay from infested areas to those that are not, particularly from North Island to South Island • Observe the survival and growth of clover plants in new and old pastures, to assess CRW impacts • Review your nitrogen fertiliser policy in light of CRW, consistent with feed demand and feed supply, and environmental guidelines.

• Review total fertiliser and lime policy in light of production, current soil fertility, reduced nitrogen fixation, and increased dependence on fertiliser nitrogen.

• Do not attempt to re-establish clover into CRW infested pastures by drilling or over-sowing clover seed. Adult CRW prefer clover seedlings.

• Include white clover in the seed mix sown after full cultivation. New clover plants develop a taproot, which may be an advantage for survival in year one.

• Apply nitrogen fertiliser for the clover as well as for the grass to support clover growth and survival, especially in new pasture.

• Be very skeptical of any salesman claims of a “silver bullet” solution to CRW. Until a biological control means is available and demonstrated to be effective, apply known best management practice to sustain as best you can the clover content of pastures, including planned and judicious use of nitrogen fertiliser, to support the feed requirements of the dairy farm system.

Even when bio-control agents come along, management will depend on a number of strategies, most important being improved management of white clover in pasture.

Adult clover root weevil

Clover root weevil adult

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15

16

Dairy Focus February 2013

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising feature

Sebco launches new diesel station F

Clean | Safe | Secure | Diesel Tanks

uel Storage Systems Ltd of Ashburton, who manufacture the Sebco range of diesel, waste oil and AdBlue storage tanks, have just announced the launch of a new model – the Sebco 1300 litre Diesel Station.

Sebco said they had inquiry from farmers and industrial companies who did not have the need to store large volumes of diesel , but still wanted a compliant, safe and secure tank with all the advantages of the other Sebco diesel stations.

“What we discovered was operators with a lower diesel use have also upgraded to vehicles with a common rail engine, such as the farm ute, or SUV that the family use. These require clean fuel and the design of our bunding system virtually eliminates

condensation. The inner vessel cannot rot or rust, so the fuel that is dispensed from the Sebco 1300 is as clean as it can be,” says Ed Harrison, managing Director of Sebco.

The Sebco 1300 Diesel Station is fitted with the same quality components as the Sebco 2300 and 4800, such as a choice between the Piusi Cube 56 (240 or 12 volt systems) offering flow of up to 56lpm. It also has four metres of delivery hose with auto shut off nozzle so there is no fear of spilling while you fill. It also comes standard with a five micron water separating clear captor filter as peace of mind. You can actually view inside the captor to see if there is any dirt that may have inadvertently got into your fuel.

All pumping equipment, hose and nozzle are located behind a lock up door that offers great security and the whole unit is a neat and tidy way of storing your diesel fuel. Sebco offer a 2-year warranty on pumping equipment, 5-year warranty on the rotomoulded tanks and offer a 25-year design life.

Sebco is now into its seventh year of production and has delivered hundreds of diesel stations to properties in New Zealand and Australia. Sebco is very committed to providing a smart storage facility for all farmers’ diesel requirements, and to also keep developing the awardwinning tanks to further enhance security and safety around fuel storage on your property.

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17

Dairy Focus February 2013

Co-operation key in glyphosate project Contributed by FAR

I

ndustry response to last year’s announcement that glyphosate resistant weeds had been identified in New Zealand for the first time has been positive and supportive, says Avoiding Glyphosate Resistance project leader Mike Parker from the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR).

Mr Parker says representatives from primary sectors as well as regional councils and roading authorities are working together to identify and deal with existing cases, and to develop strategies to minimise the number of new ones.

“Last year’s announcement has really been a timely reminder, and it is great to see all of these groups working together to find solutions to what is, potentially, a very serious issue. Glyphosate is environmentally benign and cost effective, and as such has become the most frequently used herbicide in New

Zealand. If we were to lose it from the list of available products, farmers, councils and roadside managers would be looking at substantial environmental and financial impacts.”

Since the initial discovery of glyphosate resistant annual ryegrass on a vineyard in Marlborough, four more cases, also from Marlborough vineyards, have been confirmed by weed experts Kerry Harrington of Massey University and Trevor James of AgResearch.

Dr James says the four latest cases were already being investigated last year, but that since December’s announcement more reports of weeds surviving glyphosate treatment have been coming in from all around New Zealand.

“All of these cases need to be investigated, although it is likely that many will be the result of application misses or errors, rather than resistance.

When glyphosate is applied in the wrong conditions, or when spray penetration is insufficient to reach below canopy plants, this is counted as ‘glyphosate

failure’. A key part of our research project is the development of clear, sectorspecific recommendations for the use of glyphosate. We hope that these Best Management Practices will reduce the number of glyphosate failures and also the number of cases of resistance, which is generally linked to overuse of the chemical.”

Dr James says that testing for resistance is currently taking around three months, as individual plants have to be transported to a quarantine laboratory, split into tillers, grown out, and then treated with varying rates of glyphosate.

He says the Avoiding Glyphosate Resistance SFF project is funding a PhD project which is working to develop a quicker testing method, but this is likely to take some time, and may not be suitable for use in the field.

In the meantime, he recommends that anyone who suspects glyphosate resistance should re-spray the affected plant or plants, recording the rates of glyphosate used, and then, if the plant

still survives, contact the project team for further information on how to submit plants for official testing.

The SFF Avoiding Glyphosate Resistance Project The Ministry of Primary Industries SFF-funded Avoiding Glyphosate Resistance Project is bringing together representatives from a range of agricultural and horticultural industries, chemical companies and regional authorities to highlight the problem of glyphosate resistance and formulate and disseminate national and also sectorspecific strategies for avoidance. It is led by Mike Parker of the Foundation of Arable Research.

Project co-funders include Foundation for Arable Research, DairyNZ, Vegetables Research and Innovation Board, Road Controlling Authority Forum NZ Inc., BASF, and Nufarm. In-kind assistance also comes from Waikato Regional Council.

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18

Dairy Focus February 2013

To push or not to push?

Fred Hoekstra

Veehof Dairy Sevices

A

s I have been talking with people over the years about lame cows, I realise that some people interpret the things that I am saying wrongly . Some people think that I disregard pushing cows as a cause of lameness. Sometimes I get farmers or managers telling me that I am not to tell their staff that they can push their cows. This is interesting because I have never told anyone that they can push their cows and not have any consequences to deal with.

I have told people that I believe that IF cows had 100 per cent healthy feet you could push them as hard as you like over a rough track and it would not cause them to go lame. What I mean by this is that a cow’s hoof is constructed in such a way that it is strong enough to handle stones and twisting on concrete, and any other physical force it has to put up with on our farms. The thing is, all the cows that I have trimmed over the years (which would be easily over 100,000 cows) have had some degree of haemorrhaging in their hooves.

This is from the first cow coming off the platform for a maintenance trim to the

lamest cow to beef cows. All of them have some degree of haemorrhage in their hooves.

The haemorrhage in itself is not a problem for the cow. Most cows walk just fine, but what the haemorrhage tells you is that the live tissue that grows the hoof is not as healthy as it can be. Admittedly, with some cows you will really need to look hard for the haemorrhage but, never the less, it is there. In other words, our cows HAVE NOT got healthy hooves - they start off with a handicap.

Now the actual argument is: does the haemorrhage come from the inside out due to an unhealthy corium or is it caused by physical force from the outside in?

I am convinced that the haemorrhage comes from an unhealthy corium due to diet and stress, and that stones and twisting on concrete cause no or very little haemorrhaging.

I don’t believe that we can, or even should, farm our cows in such a way that they don’t have any haemorrhaging, and I can explain that some other time, but the point I would like to make here is that because we have cows with hooves that are less than 100 per cent healthy, we can’t afford to put too much physical force on them.

I am all for relaxed milking and no pressure on the cows either on the track

or in the yard. Failing to do so will only aggravate a problem that is already there, but minimising the physical aspect of lameness isn’t enough. What I am trying to do is give you more accurate information so you can make better management decisions.

There are plenty of theories out there that are based on gut feelings and ideas but are simply just not true. Any time you make a ‘truth’ claim you should ask yourself, how do I know? If your answer is ”because somebody told me”, you would be wise not to push that point too hard because another person may have an

argument against yours and be able to back it up with solid evidence.

So, if you make a claim that a cow standing on a stone may end up with a bruise, or a cow twisting on concrete may get white line separation, or a stone can penetrate into a hoof, then, my question to you is: “How do you know? What evidence have you got to back those claims up?”

If you have solid evidence for your claims, then I would love to hear from you!

If you don’t have solid evidence, are you brave enough to change your thinking?

19

Dairy Focus February 2013

Dairy Focus Situations vacant Want to advertise on Dairy Focus Situation Vacant page?

Contact Desme Daniels, phone 307-7974 | email: desme.d@theguardian.co.nz CANTERBURY SEED

RELATIONSHIP MANAGER

Cleaner

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We are looking for physically fit and agile person for daily cleaning of our office block area.

Reporting to the Grains Manager, we are seeking a Relationship Manager with excellent interpersonal skills to not only maintain key relationships but develop and expand our grower and customer base.

Part time position Monday to Friday for 3 hours per day (start time negotiable)

This position involves:  Maintaining key relationships in respect to grain customers and growers  Developing new relationships with customers and growers  Assisting in the purchasing of grain  Managing day to day logistics and contract administration  Responsibility for collation and testing of samples  Ensuring timely communication with growers To be successful in this role you will need:  Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence in dealing with different people and personalities  Experience facilitating strong work/client relationships  Well developed communication skills  Attention to detail and accuracy in all areas  Understanding of the local seed industry  To be a team player and willingly participate with others to achieve common goals

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Be reliable, punctual and not afraid of hard work.

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If you know you have the experience and qualities we need, like a new challenge and would like to work for a company providing excellent service to Canterbury farmers then please apply by emailing your application including your C.V. by Wednesday 20th February 2013 to: Sarah Adams, General Manager Sales & Marketing, Canterbury Seed Company Ltd. Email: sarah.adams@canseed.co.nz

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The vacancy is a full time position of 42 hours per week.

There is also rotating Saturday morning work.

Applicants must be able to pass a drug test.

Discover the good life

p 8-9

Advertise your vacancies and staffing requirements in Dairy Focus South Island and Guardian Farming.

Please contact Jane on 308-6930 during office hours to obtain an application form or apply in person with your CV.

Rural Media Sales Consultant We have vacancy for a professional rural advertising sales consultant to join our newspaper and web sales team.

This position will provide you with great opportunities to be innovative and creative in an exciting team environment. You will have the opportunity to work closely with rural business owners/managers to develop their own individual advertising strategy and will be responsible for advising, creating and implementing their advertising in Ashburton’s leading media.

The ideal candidate will have previous experience selling within the rural sector, be sales focused and target orientated, bright, energetic, with an exceptional customer service ethic and a proven rural sales track record.

A high level of professionalism, personal integrity, drive and motivation to succeed is expected as is a commitment to providing the best possible outcome for the client.

We will provide you with the training and support to offer your clients a superior professional service, to bring them the results they expect and more. The Ashburton Guardian offers an excellent remuneration package and is a great place to work.

If you are an experienced sales professional with a proven history of delivering the highest levels of client service to achieve your personal and professional goals, then you should apply in writing, with confidence to: Desme Daniels Sales Manager Ashburton Guardian 03 307 7974 Applications close March 1, 2013.

Our People, Our Place, Our Guardian.

Quarry Plant Operator Permanent Full-time Mt Alford Mt Alford Quarry is a limestone quarry operation located in Alford Forest,

For more information contact:

Desme Daniels - Phone 307 7974 or Email: desme.d@theguardian.co.nz Level 3, 161 Burnett Street Ashburton

Mid-Canterbury and is one of three Rorisons RMD Limited quarries supporting the agricultural industry.

We are seeking an enthusiast and energetic person to join our Mt Alford Quarry team.

To be a successful candidate for this role, it is essential you have a ‘can do’ attitude and are keen and willing to learn. You must be hard working and reliable. You must also be a team player who is able to work well independently.

Experience in operating heavy machinery and a basic understanding of things mechanical is essential.

You must have a current drivers licence.

Please apply in writing and enclose your CV to: jobvacancy@rorisons.co.nz or Operations Manager PO Box 4139 Mount Maunganui South Applications close on Friday 22nd February 2013.

Successful applicants will be required to pass a pre-employment medical and drugs screen.

20

Dairy Focus February 2013

Heifers in spotlight M

Judges Rob Blincoe (left) and Craig Elliott check out the form of heifers entered in the Ashburton A&P Association’s 2012 on-farm heifer competition.

id Canterbury farmers are being encouraged to enter the Ashburton A&P Association’s annual on-farm heifer competition next month.

Contest convenor David Stewart said heifers should be in good shape, despite a difficult spring for young calves and stop-start grass growth.

He said the contest was a great way for farmers to compare their stock against others in the district.

“It is also a chance for people who are interested in breeding different bulls to compare stock.”

The contest caters for both graziers and stock owners and they have plenty of time to get the animals in top condition prior to judging on March 26. Entries must be with the organisers by March 20.

Judges have not yet been confirmed for the event, which encourages farmers to travel around the district with the judging panel.

The winner will represent the Ashburton district in a Canterbury regional contest.

Mr Stewart said farmers needed to confine their stock to a small area close to a road or laneway for judging.

The competition has classes for rising one and two-year heifers for owners and for graziers. Cups are presented for the best presented line of owners’ heifers and for the best presented line of graziers’ heifers.

The big winners last year were David and Sally Mavor, who are partners in a Lismore dairy farm milking 850 cows.

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