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PAGE 23 HICKMAN: PROUD

ll of a sudden there is a lot of buzz around regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture workshops and seminars have been attracting big crowds of farmers keen to find out about how to adapt some of its techniques into their farming systems. However, many farmers seem to regard regenerative agriculture as an affront to their current farming practices. The term itself seems to imply that those farmers not following its principles are having an adverse impact, which is often not the case. In contrast to organic agriculture, which has prescribed rules, there is no universal definition for regenerative agriculture, but it is recognised that its key focus is soil health and improving rather than degrading land. The website Regeneration International says the key to regenerative agriculture is that it not only “does no harm” to the land, but actually improves it. It incorporates farming practices including conservation tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, composting, mobile animal shelters and pasture cropping to increase food production, farmers’ income and especially topsoil, the website said. However, several notable New Zealand agricultural scientists, including Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, have questioned its lack of science, saying that our conventional farming systems are built on decades of research. NZ soils had far more organic matter than regenerative agriculture has achieved on the impoverished soils where the concept was born, she said. Lincoln University Professor Derrick Moot and retired plant scientist Dr Warwick Scott have written to Agriculture Minister Damien

Heather Chalmers

RURAL REPORTER

O’Connor urging him to convene an expert panel of scientists to review all the claims made about regenerative agriculture. New Zealand sheep and beef farmers had world-leading agricultural practices and the underpinning scientific principles of the country’s current agricultural systems were in danger of being devalued by a system they believed had several serious shortcomings. A lack of definition also means farmers are unlikely to receive a premium for livestock or crops grown under regenerative agriculture. This is in contrast to organics, which consumers clearly understand means food produced without synthetic chemicals, including fertiliser, pesticides, weed sprays and antibiotics. Organics also has a certification scheme, with certified organic producers independently audited every year to back up their claims. Under regenerative agriculture farmers may try to limit their use of synthetic chemicals, but they can still be used and every farm will be different in how it adopts the techniques. Rather than expect a premium, maybe farmers should consider regenerative agriculture as possibly another option to further their sustainability journey.

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Soil health the key for arable farmer P Heather Chalmers

RURAL REPORTER

reviously focused on the crops he was growing above the ground, Central Canterbury arable farmer David Birkett is now getting a bigger kick out of understanding what is going on in the soil beneath them. Birkett, a third-

generation farmer at Leeston, said his family had always been conscious about farming in a way that was environmentally friendly. He is now incorporating regenerative agriculture into his farming system and while it is being promoted as the latest

thing, many of its techniques are quite traditional. Regenerative agriculture is different from conventional farming in that it focuses on soil health, with this influencing all decisionmaking. Regenerative agriculture

techniques include recycling natural resources such as crop residue and nutrients from nitrogen-fixing crops back into the soil to achieve maximum yields while minimising inputs and environmental effects. continued over page

In summer, David Birkett grows process beans for Heinz Wattie’s, Christchurch. This paddock was double cropped, with the beans following process peas. PHOTOS ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

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From P3 By working with nature, Birkett is showing that a property can be intensively cropped and profitable without having an adverse impact on the environment. “We want to keep inputs and costs low. One of the best ways to do this is to work with nature, rather than relying on synthetics (agrichemicals and fertilisers). “This is what the public is demanding; more healthy food with less residues.” New Zealand agriculture had a good reputation internationally, but Birkett believes the rest of the world is catching up. Regenerative agriculture can be polarising, he said. “The name creates as much discussion as anything.” It tended to imply that those farmers not following its principles were having an adverse impact, which is often not the case. “Generally, parts of New Zealand farming is regenerative, but there are some areas we need to improve on and there is more we can do. The question for farmers is how to integrate regenerative agriculture into your existing system. “Regenerative agriculture is not something that fits into a box. I see it as more of a spectrum, with conventional farming systems at one end and organic at the other. “With regenerative agriculture you can be anywhere on that

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David Birkett with red beet grown for seed. Planted in rows of male and female plants for cross pollination, the crop is in the ground for 13 months, with a planned March harvest.

spectrum, as long as you are travelling in the right direction and have systems that are improving the soil, biology and environment.” While regenerative agriculture

is more commonly associated with livestock farming, particularly sheep and beef, Birkett and his wife Justine are successfully incorporating its principles into their irrigated

180-hectare arable farm. During summer, the entire property is cropped, though some store lambs are grazed over winter. The Birketts deliberately

grow a broad range of crops to extend the cropping rotation. “This provides diversity and security as the different crops have different timings, so if there is a weather event, or pest and

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David Birkett in Kerrin feed wheat planted with no base fertiliser.

disease outbreak, it won’t affect all crops.” Cereals wheat and barley, as well as seed crops clover and ryegrass are regarded as commodity-type crops. Peas and beans are grown for processing by Heinz Wattie’s at Hornby, Christchurch, with peas also grown for seed, depending on the market. Hybrid vegetable seed crops such as radish, red beet and cabbage, are higher value crops, but also higher risk to grow. New Zealand growers supply about 50 per cent of the world’s

radish and carrot seed, sold predominantly to Europe, the United States and Asia. While the most visible sign of regenerative agriculture is the adoption of multi-species plantings – in contrast to the standard ryegrass and white clover pastoral mix – this could be problematic on an arable farm, where self-sown or carryover seeds could contaminate a following crop. “Farmers also need to be mindful not just of your own property, but others around you,” Birkett said.

“In mixes of 20 to 30 species, all will have a benefit, but four or five will be dominant, so are the others value for money? “Maybe in a pastoral situation where it is down for three or four years, some of the other species that don’t show up initially may appear in year two or three, but in an arable situation you are talking about a cover crop lasting only months.” Birkett’s cover crop mix consisted of oats, phacelia, buckwheat and sometimes a legume. Each plant had a specific role

within a cover crop mix, whether it was recycling phosphate, or producing nitrogen for the following crop. “It all goes back to good crop rotations. Previously we always grew clovers and peas before cereals, but with synthetic fertiliser we were able to go away from this as we could get the crop’s fertiliser needs from a bag.” If regenerative agriculture had a bumper sticker it would be “sorry I didn’t hear the question, but the answer was soil health”, as this is a key focus, Birkett, a

former Foundation for Arable Research chairman told a FAR workshop. Farmers didn’t have to go “head-first” into regenerative agriculture, as the biology in the soil could take several years to improve. Many of the five key principles of regenerative agriculture – minimise soil disturbance, maximise crop diversity, keep the soil protected, maintain living roots all year round and integrate livestock – were things New Zealand farmers were already doing. “None of these techniques are new. Often we go back to the techniques of our forebears.” While the Birkett farm had been returning crop residues, particularly cereals, into the ground for more than 20 years, this had been supercharged by growing cover crops. “By growing cover crops we have found that the roots from these crops increase the organic matter in the soil five times quicker than putting residues back in, so this is really driving an improvement of the soil.” This meant Birkett was now sometimes baling off excess straw residue to get a better establishment of cover crops. While cultivation was still needed for crops that need a fine seed bed, many crops could now be successfully direct drilled, particularly as the soil biology improved. Arable farming had become recipe-based in terms of the application of inputs such as fertiliser and fungicide for each crop. “Prescription farming works, but does this put us at risk of losing our agrichemicals quicker to resistance? “Using a biological approach is more complex and requires knowing more about what is happening with your crop. But that is a skill every farmer should have and understand.” Birkett was reducing artificial fertilisers like nitrogen where applicable, instead utilising nutrients already in the ground from nitrogen-fixing crops. He acknowledged that the ability of soils to hold nitrogen without leaching was a limitation for many farmers. continued over page

Farming

From P5 “We are lucky that our farm has good soil types that can store significant amounts of nitrogen in our soils. With some wheat crops we can sow with 300-plus kg of nitrogen sitting in the soil after a second-year clover seed crop. Phosphorus applications are being reduced, by making the phosphate in the soil more plant available.” Conscious that Roundup resistance was a growing problem worldwide, Birkett was careful to limit its use, with the farm reducing the use of its active ingredient, glyphosate, by 50 per cent a hectare while achieving the same result. While glyphosate was still used after harvest, a second application has been cut. High strength 500 to 600 glyphosate had also been replaced with lower dose 360. “There will be some people using regenerative agriculture that prefer not to use glyphosate at all, but it all depends on where you are on the spectrum.” Birkett is working on not spraying fencelines with herbicide and he has cut back on insecticide use. “The less insecticides that you use, the fewer you seem to need, as it encourages more beneficial pest predators.” An IPM (integrated pest management) approach is used where appropriate on the crops.

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Central Canterbury arable farmer David Birkett says his soil has improved since adopting regenerative agriculture techniques.

Pesticides and fungicides were also being applied at a lower rate while still ensuring their efficacy and less frequently “which hopefully means I will have them around for a lot longer”. “We are going to lose some agrichemicals, so we need to understand how we can operate with fewer products.” Crop contracts were now coming from European countries banning the use of certain chemicals, even though these were registered for use in New Zealand. Birkett carries out his own on-farm trials, comparing the

use of conventional fungicides and insecticides with biological products and fish fertiliser. Fish fertiliser was not a fertiliser replacement, but it did have a lot of trace elements, he said. “I’d like to design a system that doesn’t have a negative impact on yields, using these biological products, and I think we should be able to do that.” Contracts were being offered for spray-free wheats, and some good resistant wheat varieties were becoming available. In one trial on a radish seed crop, four different biological products were used and

compared with conventional fungicide. “We used the same number of sprays, but the biological products were half the cost.” While the same yield was achieved for both treatments in 2018, the following year the crop with the biological treatment yielded 20 per cent less than the conventional treatment. “This was due to the paddock rotation as the crop followed clover the second year compared with a cereal the first year, and the level of disease control was not as good. However, the financial result remained the same under both treatments in the second year as the lower cost of the biological treatments offset the lower yield.” In another trial, he grew a resistant variety of wheat without any base fertiliser, fungicides or insecticides, achieving a yield of 14.2 tonne/ ha, above his farm average of 14t/ha. The wheat crop followed a cover crop of broad beans, oats, phacelia and buckwheat. He applied 100 units of nitrogen during the season, as well as utilising the 200 available N in the soil and another 100 units mineralised in the soil during the season. “So you can get reasonably good yields without these inputs, but I could not expect to get the same result growing another crop of wheat the following

year.” Birkett is a member of Quorum Sense, a network led by farmers to generate and share practical knowledge to support regenerative farm systems and vibrant rural communities. “We often talk about failures more than wins and often you learn more from failures.” For farmers wanting to adopt regenerative agriculture techniques, Birkett said it was a systems change, so it would take time to see the full benefits. “It is not a substitute out-ofthe-can solution and farmers need a greater understanding of biological systems than under conventional cropping. It can be a bit overwhelming at the start understanding the biology in the soil. “You think there is a lot going on above the soil, but it is even more complex below.” Farmers should trial one paddock at a time and try different techniques, Birkett said. “It is not for everyone. The conventional system has been developed over time and suits large-scale growers. “Owner-growers are more likely to be the people interested in regenerative agriculture as it gets you back in touch with the true farming roots of understanding your plants and soil and that is something we have lost over the last 10 or 15 years.”

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Catching up on regenerative farming R

egenerative agriculture has become something of a buzzword in farming and food circles over the past year, and the subject of well-populated field days, chat groups and media coverage. As a practice, “regenerative” agriculture covers a broad sweep of land use practices, with a focus on regenerating top soil while also improving water quality, building plant biodiversity on-farm and reducing the level of cultivation and tillage. For its part, New Zealand is beginning to play catch-up on acquiring data on its own regenerative experience. In Canterbury, the Align Group of farms with four dairy units totalling 1500 hectares has committed to a regenerative trial, effectively splitting the operation into conventional and regenerative across two dairy farms. The transitioning dairy farms will be run half conventionally and half regeneratively for comparison, with data collated on environment, animal health, finances, the social impact on staff and community, and human health impacts in terms of the food quality of milk collected. The company’s chief executive Rhys Roberts said the group was not approaching regenerative conversion with romantic delusions. Regardless of the trial outcomes, its management believes the trial data will be invaluable in putting some numbers around regenerative practices. “We need to remember, the farms

New Zealand is beginning to play catch-up on acquiring data on its own regenerative exPHOTO SUPPLIED perience.

are operating on fertile, well-watered Canterbury soil worth about $50,000 a hectare, and a reasonable rate of return for that has to continue to be made,” he said. At an international level a group of big multi-national food giants including Nestle, Walmart and Unilever have signed a memorandum agreeing to up-size regenerative agriculture, while General Mills said it would apply the practice to 400,000ha by 2030. Regenerative farming has also drawn the attention of the New Zealand government in the past few months. Covid-19 has prompted greater

government recognition of the role food production plays in this country’s economic survival. Regenerative agriculture is presented as an appealing option to combine that with the need to manage the pressures that production has placed upon greenhouse gases and water quality. The government has put $1.87 million from MPI’s productive and sustainable land use and extension fund to support farmers’ knowledge about regenerative farming. Landcare Research is now engaged in a study of regenerative agriculture led by Dr Gwen Grelet, a soil ecologist. The

“whole of sector” study includes speaking with a diverse range of farmers, industry and scientific groups. The research is timely, and work done overseas only highlights how much needs to be done in New Zealand to ensure farmers are making informed decisions. An Australian research project, the Holmes Sackett Report, released earlier this year covers 10 years of analysed data from 2007 to 2016, examining average returns from regenerative farms compared to conventional ones. The report found that regenerative farms generated a return on assets of about 1.7 per cent a year, while conventional farming returned 4.2 per cent a year. Bayleys’ national director rural Duncan Ross said interest in regenerative practices may ultimately start to feed through to buyers’ enquiry for farm businesses, but it is not something Bayleys has yet seen. “It may only be a matter of time, but it is important we see some transparent, relevant data so the market has some sound evidence.” For anyone investing in pastoral or cropping farm businesses, regenerative systems will ultimately need to deliver a value-add element for final product. “However the challenge for farmers may be whether that demand translates to a willingness by consumers to pay a higher price for regeneratively produced products, or its practices simply become an expected part of farm practice,” said Ross.

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Stuck in connectivity slow lane? Mobile coverage remains a concern, with around one in three farms surveyed indicating only up to 50 per cent of their farm gets a connection. PHOTO SUPPLIED

he vast majority of urban New Zealanders can get on the information superhighway at speed, but the latest connectivity survey by Federated Farmers shows too many rural families and businesses are still stuck in second gear on a potholed backroad. “We had nearly 900 responses from our members from every farm type and geographical spread, but a bitter irony was that several more couldn’t complete the online questions because they didn’t have internet access or connectivity was too patchy or slow,” Federated Farmers’ president and telecommunications spokesperson Andrew Hoggard said.

Around 68 per cent of respondents have download speeds of 20Mbps or less, and nearly 24 per cent are enduring download speeds of just 0-5Mbps. “While around a third are on unlimited download monthly plans, many of those on capped plans complain they’d like to go unlimited but their ISP – often their only choice of ISP – doesn’t provide that option. “It’s interesting that a number of respondents told us that during the Level 4 Covid-19 lockdown some providers extended unlimited downloads to them. This would seem to indicate it’s not technical issues getting in the way of offering unlimited plans to these rural

clients,” Hoggard said. Mobile coverage remains a concern, with around one in three farms surveyed indicating only up to 50 per cent of their farm gets a connection. Not far short of a quarter get 25 per cent of farm coverage or less. “And yet 92 per cent of these farmers had a smartphone and around 75 per cent told us they use smartphone apps to support the farm business,” Hoggard said. While in many of the connectivity measures there have been improvements since the federation’s 2019 survey, it’s usually only by a percent or two. “The task ahead is less one of pushing broadband into ever more isolated and remote locations and more one of

addressing the gaps in coverage and constraints on capacity of earlier builds. More targeted investment towards bespoke builds would go a long way towards addressing connection speed and reliability concerns,” Hoggard said. “Competition is a concern with many members finding they only have the one provider and have to take it or leave it as regards price and quality of service. “We’ve got to achieve faster improvements in this space.” Many of the new technologies employed on farms, whether cloud software or smartphone applications, require connectivity to realise and maximise the benefits to the farm business. Farmers are also increasingly

expected to engage electronically with business services and government agencies, such as banks, IRD and local councils. And, just like urban families, the farm owner’s home – and the on-farm houses of staff – have partners and children trying to get online to look up information, do homework and engage in social media. “Connectivity is a vital means of connecting with loved ones and maintaining relationships beyond the farm gate. This is especially relevant for the families of those who work on the farm that would otherwise struggle with geographical isolation and is a factor in securing and retaining farm staff and their families,” Hoggard said.

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Water reform’s impacts to be spelt out Heather Chalmers

RURAL REPORTER

he far-reaching impacts of the Government’s freshwater management rules on farming and provincial communities in Canterbury will be spelt out at a public meeting in Ashburton on Monday, October 5. Organised by Federated Farmers, the meeting was open to everybody, the federation’s Mid Canterbury president David Clark said. People from North and South Canterbury are also welcome. “The rules are very complex and they will have a profound impact on farming,” Clark said. Federated Farmers’ national water policy staff will outline the impacts of the rules, some of which took effect from September 3, while others have a longer timeframe. Members of the federation’s national board will also speak. “This is so that people can fully understand the impacts of these regulations, some of which have been incredibly poorly thought through and drafted,” Clark said. Members of the Ashburton business community were also invited to come along as they would also be hit by the downstream economic effects. “Initially the impact will be on farmers, but it will very quickly flow through to business owners.” The meeting will be held at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre, starting at 7pm. A similar meeting was also held in Ashburton in October last year, when the freshwater reforms were first proposed, attracting 500 people. “We want 500 here again. “Last year’s meeting presented the proposals and this year’s

meeting is presenting the reality,” Clark said. Practices covered by the regulations include regular farming activities such as winter grazing of forage crops, stock exclusion from waterways, land use intensification, application of nitrogen and stocking rates. The unworkability of some of the Government requirements, as well as a range of deadlines for implementation has led to confusion amongst farmers. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has already had to make some adjustments to winter grazing rules after these were found to be unworkable, particularly in Southland. Government maps of land deemed “low slope” for the purposes of stock exclusion from waterways are also being revisited by the Ministry for the Environment as these were found to include steeper hill and high country. The new freshwater rules could also derail the progress

already made on improving water quality in Canterbury, Clark said. “The new regulations coming in over the top of what Environment Canterbury already has in place will waste farmers’ time and ratepayers’ money,” Clark said, in a joint statement with other Federated Farmers’ Canterbury leaders. Clark, along with North Canterbury president Cam Henderson, Jason Grant (South Canterbury) and Jared Ross (North Otago) said several of the new rules were not workable. “But more than that, in Canterbury the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater is simply not needed. Not because we don’t have intensive farming, but because our current regional plan already deals with improving water quality in a much more targeted and effective way.” The ECan plan already contained provisions to control land use intensification and

ensure good management practices were adhered to for all farm types, including for intensive winter grazing. All forms of nitrogen fertiliser, not just synthetic, were accounted for. “Canterbury farmers and the regional council have contributed years of work and considerable financial investment to implement the plan and drive real change on farm that will lead to improved water quality over time,” Henderson said on behalf of the four presidents. The new national standard uses different rules to the current regional plan, which means many farmers will likely need to reapply for their consents and rewrite their farm plans, which will then require re-auditing. “We are talking years of council work to reassess farms. That means more staff and ratepayer funding and extra time and money from farmers too – all to end up where we started.

And in the meantime, action on improving freshwater quality stands still. “This time and resource would be better spent on continuing to help farmers implement their current plans, and further developing the regional plan to be even more effective,” Henderson said. Under ECan rules, dairy farmers in the Hinds plain water management zone were already working to reduce their nitrogen loss by 15 per cent by 2025, 25 per cent by 2030 and 36 per cent by 2035. Under the Government’s new freshwater regulations, dairy farmers must also limit synthetic nitrogen fertiliser applications to 190kg of nitrogen a hectare from June 1, 2021. Canterbury is by far the region most affected by the new nitrogen cap, with DairyNZ estimating that 600 dairy farms in the region currently exceed this limit, by an average of 60kg/N/ha.

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Cue more farmer bashing

nce again, right on cue for the election there has been another round of farmer bashing, this time by the Green Party veiled as their “agricultural policy” and taxation policy. I have been reflecting on the launching of the Green Party agricultural policy trying to quantify the feeling of hopeless that I and many farmers feel. So let’s unpack this a bit. How our business works is we have a farm income, that is the culmination of all the stock we sell and the grain and seed crops that we grow and sell to processors as it eventually makes it way to your local supermarket. Out of that income, we pay our farm expenses, seed, fertiliser, fuel and electricity, farm supplies, and various services. Most of this expenditure benefits businesses in our local town Ashburton and across the wider Canterbury economy. Once we have sold our produce and paid for our expenses, there is hopefully a wee bit left over, which is what most business owners refer to as their return on investment (ROI). The Greens intend to impose

David Clark

President of MC Federated Farmers

a “wealth tax” of 1 per cent over $1 million and 2 per cent over $2m. Calling it a wealth tax is almost to cast shame or embarrassment on those who would be paying it, whereas in reality it is an “asset tax”. I did an exercise of the impact of the asset tax on my own business. It was very sobering. I challenge each of your to do the same, add up your total equity from all sources, work out your earnings before interest and tax from your business as a percentage of your equity and then deduct the “wealth tax” at the aforementioned rates. I bet you will find as I did, a 2 per cent tax on equity makes a big hole in your ROI. The Greens then plan to “charge a fair price” for the

methane burped by our livestock. I have previously heard prices of $50-$250/tonne of carbon equivalent suggested by the Greens, but let’s say at the low end of that range, our Climate Change cost just for methane from our sheep will be 1.5 per cent of total assets annually. That makes an even bigger hole in any surplus. The Greens intend to develop a water charge in consultation with iwi. Previously the Greens have stated that charge should be 10 cents per cubic metre. David Parker publicly stated an intention for a water charge of 2 cents per cubic metre. Here at Valetta, even at the lower charge of 2 cents per cube, the cost of watering our arable crops would be another 0.4 per cent of total assets annually. Now we are heading into lossmaking territory. The Greens then want to impose a levy on fertiliser, want us to run a zero-till or minimum-till system and adopt regenerative principles. But here’s the clanger, they intend to impose a dissolved

inorganic nitrogen (DIN) level of 1mg/litre for all waterways in NZ. Currently water flows out of DoC land at the western side of Mid Canterbury at 3.2mg/l. To meet a DIN of 1mg/l, Environment Canterbury’s own report from 2017 found that land use in the neighbouring Selwyn Te Waihora catchment would have to revert to dryland sheep grazing. We have budgeted that impact on this farm and it looks like this: Crop income, down 92 per cent, sheep gross, down 62 per cent, expenditure, down 70 per cent, wages, down 91 per cent, EBIT, down 68 per cent, capital re-investment, down 74 per cent, net profit, down 105 per cent and tax paid, down 75 per cent. The actual numbers are irrelevant, because the percentage drops will be seen across many or most farm businesses, regardless of size. Of course, that is before any of the other new taxes and levies they wish for detailed above, but it won’t leave much in the way of profit to be spent in Ashburton that’s for sure. This conversation hasn’t even

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begun to touch on the significant investment in technology and infrastructure we have made in the last 15 years to reduce our environmental impact, all of which would be both unaffordable, and irrelevant because none of it will get us even close to meeting the limits the Greens wish for. The end result of all this is we would now own a totally unviable, un-bankable business that is not much more than a glorified lifestyle block and has no economic future in food production. The knock-on impact is that land values will collapse, at which point the asset tax would cease to be much of a concern. My suggestion to anyone in urban New Zealand reading this is to enjoy and savour the standard of living that you currently enjoy, make diary notes, take photographs so that you can look back on the “good ole days” as we embark on our journey to becoming a Zimbabwe or Venezuela of the South Pacific. It was not sensible policy announced, it was the framework for economic destruction.

Farming

FARM VEHICLES FEATURE

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Kirwee field days to showcase machine T

SIAFD chairwoman Michaela McLeod.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

he South Island Agricultural Field Days, held in Kirwee on the outskirts of Christchurch, will celebrate its 70th year in March 2021, and event chairperson Michaela McLeod is describing it as the perfect opportunity to celebrate the industry that has been the backbone of New Zealand’s economy during the uncertain times of Covid-19. “The agricultural industry has hardly skipped a beat over the past few months and we see the South Island Agricultural Field Days as the perfect place for farmers, contractors and our industry to come together and share their stories, celebrate their successes and look for opportunities to improve their businesses. “Like everyone else, we need to keep planning and operating our businesses, so whilst we’re putting in a lot of contingencies regarding various Covid-19 restrictions, it’s important that we get set to celebrate our milestone of our 70th year too,” McLeod said. “It was sad that the Canterbury A&P Show was understandably cancelled this year, which means the SIAFD will be the first major agricultural gathering of its size

to take place in Canterbury post lockdown.” SIAFD, which is renowned for its live demonstrations, will increase the size of its demonstration area with the intention of showcasing both large and small machinery to the attending public. “We see our event as the perfect place for exhibitors to demonstrate their equipment and developments to as many people as possible. With that in mind it

made sense to offer a larger space to see their equipment in full flight and to also expand that to some of the smaller equipment exhibitors. We see SIAFD as an opportunity for farmers and contractors to engage in all sorts of commerce over a couple of days, as well as a place for them to get off farm and enjoy time with their mates.” “We have 10ha of irrigated land that will be in a mixture of barley stubble, green feed oats,

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FARM VEHICLES FEATURE

ery

grass and lucerne, which offers a wide range of exhibitors the chance to showcase their new equipment,” said committee member Andrew Stewart. With no other field days in

New Zealand offering this sort of demonstration area, Stewart believes the SIAFD is one of the best places for interested buyers to see and compare so many options.

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“We will have ploughs, large one-pass cultivators, drills, mowers, rakes, tedders, balers, forage harvesters, sprayers and all sorts of equipment on display. Because it is over three

days as well, it means potential buyers can take their time and make any decisions without feeling rushed too,” Stewart said. If the SIAFD event had to

be cancelled due to Covid-19, exhibitors can be reassured that the committee will refund 100 per cent of the site fees paid. To book a site visit www.siafd. co.nz.

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Preparation the key to adapting to new freshwater legislation

new set of rules and regulations designed to improve the quality of New Zealand’s fresh waterways came into force at the start of September. This legislation requires a significant change to the way farmers carry out many land use practises. Any farmer, particularly anyone seeking to sell property, will need to understand the legislation and its ramifications. All farmers need to adapt their processes and practises to comply with the legislation. Farms that do not comply will be difficult to sell and will almost certainly

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be discounted when purchasers come to assess their value. Practises covered by the regulations include regular farming activities such as winter grazing of forage crops, stock exclusion from waterways, land use intensification, application

of nitrogen and stocking rates. For example, when planning winter forage crops, now and in the future, farmers need to consider slope, hectares cropped, the required buffer strip from a waterway, soil type and drainage. In the future, all farms not already covered by such regulations will be required to adhere to a certified freshwater plan, which may supersede plans established by regional councils. While there is presently little information on how to obtain a plan or what they will cover, plans are likely to include an outline of how a farmer will

avoid and reduce impacts on freshwater systems and provide clear and measurable milestones to accomplish this. As with any new legislation, the more familiar you are with its intentions and fine print, the easier it will be to adapt and comply. Those who come to terms with it soonest will minimise the effect it has on their day-to-day farming practices and will also find it easier to sell land as and when they decide to do so. Seeking outside expertise and guidance around the new legislation will be beneficial for most farmers. When offering a

property to the market, strong documentation around the farm’s compliance with this or any other legislation always enables a potential buyer to make a decision more quickly and easily. Be prepared and this change should have minimum impact on your capacity to farm profitably and also on how easily your property will be to sell in the future. Calvin Leen is Mid-South Canterbury and North Otago Sales Manager for PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited.

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The West Coast’s AgFest is still going ahead on Canterbury Anniversary weekend, even though several A&P shows have cancelled.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

The A&P shows that must go on T

he West Coast’s Farmlands AgFest 2020 remains on track to be held this November, despite several spring Canterbury A&P shows, including Ashburton, deciding to cancel in response to uncertainty about restrictions on mass gatherings. AgFest will be held at the Greymouth Aerodrome on November 13 and 14, Canterbury Anniversary weekend. The biennial event was postponed in March due to the Covid-19 lockdown. With other agricultural events cancelled due to ongoing restrictions, the opportunity to shift the event to spring meant thousands of people could attend the first major agricultural event reconfirmed for 2020, said coowner Andy Thompson. The event had grown by 20 per cent since the announcement of its new dates and all pavilion sites were sold out although there were limited grass sites available.

Heather Chalmers

RURAL REPORTER

In its fifth year, Farmlands AgFest has grown into the largest agricultural event on the West Coast, with 15,000 visitors through the gates at the last event. By scheduling the event for Canterbury Anniversary weekend, it hoped to attract Canterbury people that would normally attend the Christchurch A&P Show. While it was a traditional agricultural field day event, it also doubled as a trade show for the West Coast, so included a lot of retail sites, Thompson said. “We know that Cantabrians do like to come to the West Coast on a long weekend.” The revised November date

was a one-off change with AgFest reverting to March or April in 2022. While several spring A&P shows have been cancelled, including Christchurch, Ashburton, and Rangiora, some individual events normally held in conjunction with these will still be held. Following the cancellation of the Ashburton A&P Association’s annual two-day show, some events normally held as part as part of the show will now be held by individual sections, including alpaca judging, Tux dog trials, Highland dancing and most likely show jumping. The Northern A&P Association’s two-day show in Rangiora will not go ahead at Labour weekend as the committee decided the financial risk was too great given it was unsure what alert level the region would be on show day. The Ellesmere A&P Association’s annual Selwyn Spring Show has also been

cancelled. Instead organisers said they would concentrate on celebrating its 150th anniversary on October 16, 2021. Following the cancellation of the Christchurch Show, a Show Saviour campaign generated just under $100,000 for the association, meaning it was able to meet all its obligations, save some money and look positively towards utilising the remainder for planning a triumphant return in spring next year, event director Geoff Bone said. While the November show will not go ahead, some Canterbury A&P Association competitions will still be held. Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch will host dressage, showing, hunters and show jumping events in an equestrian competition on November 12 and 13. This was a reduced scale competition and will not offer the breadth of sections and classes the association usually hosts at the New Zealand Agricultural Show.

As the competition will be run over two days, instead of the three usually offered at the show, the number of sections had been reduced. The shearing committee will be running a competition at Marble Point, North Canterbury on November 5 and 6. The popular BBA Boar competition will be held this year, but as an exhibitor only pig event on November 13, at the Canterbury Agricultural Park. Beef and dairy cattle and youth sections will also be held. Dairy will be hosted on-farm with prizegiving at the park on November 13. All other events will be hosted at the park. An alpaca event will also be held with judging held on November 2 for fleece and November 13 for breeds at the park. A NZ aromatic wine competition, chaired by Jim Harre will be held on October 10-11. Entries are open now and close on October 7.

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SPRING CULTIVATION FEATURE

Fodderbeet has good and bad traits T

he successful integration of fodderbeet into the farm system, like any crop, requires careful consideration and good practice to achieve high yields, good utilisation and manage transition risks. Fodderbeet has commonly been a grazed feed in the cooler regions of New Zealand. It is now common for cows in Canterbury and Southland to have fodderbeet in their diets for up to six months of the year and it is being fed to all classes of dairy livestock. Fodderbeet is now grown in all major dairying regions. Areas of fodderbeet are now lifted and fed on feed pads or in the paddock using a silage wagon. As a crop with a long shelf life, either in the ground or harvested, it is a flexible crop with lots of positive attributes but also several animal health risk factors.

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Mental Health Awareness Week

“ B

eef + Lamb New Zealand chairman Andrew Morrison said tragically, farmers are overrepresented in this country’s suicide statistics and Mental Health Awareness Week is a good opportunity to discuss mental health, management strategies and the many support mechanisms available to those living in rural areas. He says recent UMR survey results show that farmer confidence in the sheep and beef industry has fallen to a threeyear low. “Concern over the scale and pace of new government regulations appears to be the main driver of the fall in confidence. The new essential freshwater rules, the Zero Carbon Bill and other climate change policies that have driven an increase in the conversion of sheep and beef farms into carbon farms are all having an impact. Farmers are also worried about what may come out of the biodiversity process next year. “There’s a lot of uncertainty about the cumulative impact these regulations will have on farming businesses and we know this is weighing on farmers. We’re all vulnerable under pressure – just look at how highprofile figures like Todd Muller

and Dr Ashley Bloomfield have recently talked about their mental health challenges – and there’s a lot of pressure at the moment. “What gets a lot of farmers out of bed each morning is pride in their industry, and pride in providing quality, nutritious food for people around the world. They want to be doing the right thing and many farmers have invested huge amounts of time and energy over the last few years to improve their environmental impact. It’s hard when the expectations keep changing.” Morrison said that B+LNZ, along with other industry-good bodies, was advocating hard on farmers’ behalf on these policy issues and how new rules are implemented. “We have farmers’ backs. This isn’t a flippant statement – we won’t leave farmers hanging without support. We’re trying to get the policy as fit for purpose as we possibly can and then we will help them through the next stages, like we did in the health and safety space.” While there are positives out there – despite Covid-19 making international markets volatile, global demand for naturally grown grass-fed beef and lamb

Mental Health Awareness Week gives rural communities an opportunity to talk about an issue that is of particular concern to farmers and those living and working in the rural sector

is growing and the outlook for the sector remains strong – many farmers are doing it tough and Morrison encouraged all farmers to think about their mental health, particularly during the busy spring period. “If you need to talk, there are people who want to help and are willing to listen – whether it’s giving your mates a call or reaching out to some of the farmer-focused initiatives. “Nationally, the Rural Support Trust does a fantastic job by supporting farmers and getting them the help they need to deal with issues. This is typically farmers helping farmers so there is a shared appreciation and understanding of the specific challenges facing farmers,” Morrison said. Farmstrong is also a nationwide wellbeing programme, designed to give farmers the skills and resources to live well and farm well. The dairy sector is also calling for rural mental health to be a priority. A DairyNZ report highlighted that rural mental health was an ongoing issue, with 62 per cent of dairy farmers stating they, or someone on their farm, had experienced mental health issues in the past 12 months.

DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said sadly the statistics were not surprising, as mental health has been a recurring issue in rural communities for some time – but that needs to change. “Farmers are operating in a challenging environment with a lot of variables – financial pressures, weather impacts and new regulations. These things have a huge impact on farmer wellbeing and confidence,” Mackle said. “This election we want to see funding for rural mental health made a priority and for politicians to consider the impacts their policies can have on farmer wellbeing,” Mackle said. Federated Farmers’ dairy chairman Wayne Langford agrees something needs to change to improve mental health outcomes for farmers – and it needs to change soon. “Farmers have been under the pump this year operating in an environment with a lot of uncertainty and pressure, whether that be from drought, banks or changing regulations,” Langford said. “It can be really challenging when you’re living remotely, the pressure comes on, and you can’t see a pathway forward.

“I’m a farmer myself and I’ve been there and felt these pressures - I still do at times. If you’re in that place the best thing you can do is take a step back and a deep breath and reach out for help. “We might not be able to change things like the weather, but we can change the level of support on offer and the way we talk about mental health issues in rural communities,” Langford said. Dairy Women’s Network chief executive Jules Benton agreed that improving mental health outcomes for farmers must be a priority and reinforced the value of having a support system in place for rural communities. “It’s important that farmers are honest and encouraging with each other when we face challenges, and that we build up our communities together,” Benton said.

For more information about mental health go to: www.mentalhealth.org.nz www.likeminds.org.nz/about/ www.rural-support.org.nz/ www.farmstrong.co.nz/ www.depression.org.nz/getbetter/your-identity/rural/

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More than $36 million will be spent in the next 12 months on wilding pine control, about half of that in Canterbury.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

$17m project to target wilding pines A

nationwide plan to tackle more than 800,000 hectares infested with wilding pines over the next year will generate 171 new jobs and investment of over $17 million in Canterbury projects. Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor said government was ramping up its wilding control activity. “Budget 2020 included $100 million for wilding pine control. Over $36m of that funding will be spent in the next 12 months as part of our four-year programme. That extends our work from 19 to 58 sites across New Zealand.” In total, there will be 550 jobs and $36 million throughout New Zealand. Most of the new round of funding – $17.2 million – will fund projects in Canterbury covering over 400,000 hectares. This is made up of $16.8m to fund major control work in the Mackenzie Basin, West Canterbury and North Canterbury and $360,620 to fund wilding projects on Banks Peninsula. Environment Canterbury chair Jenny Hughey said the funds will mean another

boost for local employment and the continuing battle against this unwanted pest. “We have already expanded our control programme in the Mackenzie Basin. “Further funding will help us to accelerate the good work that’s been happening for some time. Farmers and the whole Mackenzie community keep telling us we must get on top of this problem and that all the funding and resources we can apply to it helps,” Hughey said. ECan biosecurity regional leader Graham Sullivan said wilding pines were a priority biosecurity matter: “We welcome this most recent tranche of funding, as it will help to increase the speed and efficiency with which we can rid our beautiful landscapes of this invasive pest. “The recent fire at Lake Pukaki highlights just one of the numerous problems associated with wilding pines; the increased risk of fire, the associated loss of biodiversity, and impact on water yield and subsequent reduction to stream

flow serves to remind us why we are working so hard to get rid of them,” Sullivan said. O’Connor said New Zealanders could expect to see significant changes to the landscape as control activity increases: “People are inclined to think any tree has some value. But the recent fires near Lake Pukaki, only a few years after the devastating fires in Flock Hill, have shown that wilding pines threaten the ecosystem, the economy – and the community.” Federated Farmers spokesman for pest management Chris Allen said farmers had watched this massive problem unfold over the last 30 years, “as the uncontrolled pines are slowly and quietly sown across the landscape”. “It’s beyond many a landowner to tackle the spread. “This is a good start, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what is really required for full eradication and control,” Allen said. “More than 36 million a year for four

years on one pest, this gives you an alarming insight as to just how much investment is required to take care of the land, every year farmers spend significant amounts of money and time on controlling the other pests such as pigs, gorse, broom, hieracium, wild deer, wallabies and of course rabbits.” Federated Farmers was also worried about the legitimacy of so-called dryland parks, as they had potential for enormous fire risk. “Rank grass left ungrazed is a fire risk, the wildings are the fuel, and there is a great deal more to controlling this pest than simply trying to eradicate it. “We need to consider the environment that allows them to thrive and look carefully at how land is managed in a sustainable way that benefits and protects people and property. “To win the wildings battle, the war chest needs to be more like $25 million a year and not limited to four years, then we may see some wins in terms of control,” Allen said.

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Dairy Focus

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

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Sexed semen set to triple in demand D

emand is expected to more than triple for sexed semen this mating season as dairy farmers seek to accelerate genetic gain within their herds and reduce bobby calf numbers. LIC general manager NZ markets Malcolm Ellis said demand for fresh sexed bull semen had been steadily increasing over the past few seasons, with this year set to more than triple 2019 sales. Fresh sexed semen from LIC is helping dairy farmers accelerate genetic gain within their herds by enabling them to get more replacement heifer (female) calves from their top performing cows. It delivers a 90 per cent chance of producing a heifer, providing surplus calves with having an increased chance of being retained on farm and destined for either domestic or export beef markets. “With farmers proactively looking at ways to mitigate consumer, environmental and animal welfare concerns, sexed semen is a useful tool to have in their tool box,” Ellis said. “Over recent years in the New Zealand dairy sector the capital gain model that thrived is over and regulatory and environmental considerations are front of mind. Farmers have become acutely aware that if they are unable to milk more cows, they need to milk better ones. This means that increasing genetic gain through breeding the best quality heifer calves has become an even more valued aspect of dairy farmers’ seasonal focus,” Ellis said. CRV Ambreed product development manager Peter van Elzakker said orders for its frozen sexed semen had more than doubled in the last two years, with farmers using it as a tool for lifting the quality of their herd improvement programme and getting replacement heifers from top producing cows. “For herds with good fertility management, using sexed semen from the very best proven bull sires is the best way to get ahead. “We’ve seen a trend of farmers using sexed semen to build up replacement numbers in their herd, while others are using it strategically to get heifers from their best animals and then mate the remainder of their herd with dairy-beef genetics. “Other farmers recognise the opportunities from having additional females and selling the calves. There is also significant interest from farmers in using sexed semen to reduce their number of bobby calves. Decisions to use the semen for animal welfare reasons is becoming an increasingly important factor. “Each pregnancy from sexed semen gives farmers a 90 per cent chance of a heifer calf. This means getting replacements from elite cows, building herd

Above – Sexed semen delivers a 90 per cent chance of producing a heifer calf. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Right – Lincoln University Dairy Farm consultant Jeremy Savage, (left), with farm manager Peter Hancox, says that sexed semen is part of its herd improvement strategy, as well as reducing bobby calf numbers. PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

numbers or creating value through excess heifer sales is a real option to drive herd improvement progress and profitability.” Van Elzakker said that while conception rates with sexed semen were around 10-15 per cent lower than non-sexed semen, the genetic gains made it a worthwhile investment. “Although there is a slight reduction in cow conception rates when compared to conventional semen products, sexed semen is a great option for heifer matings, in particular. The conception rate is close to that of standard products and the genetic gain is even further accelerated.” Sexed semen is available from a selection of CRV’s New Zealand and imported bulls, including limited quantities from the company’s brand-new stars, such as Quiz and Lannon. For LIC, the increase in sexed semen demand has seen it invest in its widest distribution of the product to date across New Zealand including, for the first season, the inclusion of all three

major dairy breeds with jersey added to last year’s offering. The distribution of bull semen involves intricate care and speed to ensure LIC maintains high non return rates (NRR). The process starts with an early collection from bulls before the semen is tested, processed and packed into long last liquid straws. It’s then dispatched across the country on a daily basis throughout the artificial breeding season. From there, LIC’s artificial breeding technician team inseminate cows across the country. Last year they inseminated over four million cows for dairy farmers resulting in around $300 million in genetic gain. “Our fresh liquid sexed semen is unique to LIC and delivers conception rates similar to normal semen i.e. only a three-to-five per cent lower conception rate which makes it commercially viable. This is particularly important in New Zealand’s pasture-based seasonal farming environment where days in milk are highly valued.

Owl Farm (St Peter’s School, Cambridge) and Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) are examples of farms using LIC’s fresh sexed semen as part of their herd improvement strategies. With a highly targeted approach to mating, both farms have achieved similar mating (conception and non-return) results with fresh sexed semen compared to conventional liquid semen within their respective 2019 mating programmes. LUDF consultant Jeremy Savage said fresh sexed semen is part of the main strategy behind LUDF’s breeding programme. “With fresh sexed semen we are able to produce high genetic merit heifer replacements out of our best breeding cattle. In addition, it enables us to reduce bobby calf numbers and breed beef animals instead, which are more marketable.” “Using liquid or fresh sexed semen should increase your herd’s profitability over time. It speeds up the rate of genetic progress and should be considered a strategic

investment to increase profitability in the long-term,” Savage said. Owl Farm manager Tom Buckley said speed and ease were some of the benefits of using liquid sexed semen compared to frozen. “We’ve been using LIC’s fresh sexed semen for a year to drive genetic gain within the herd with great results and we will continue to do so. “We’ve also been able to put a greater percentage of our herd to beef. It’s been an opportunity to increase our tactical use of beef breeds to increase stock sales revenue and part of our efforts to reduce bobby calf numbers, which were halved this year.” LIC genetics business manager Greg Hamill said farmers were also considering fresh sexed semen as part of their environmental planning on farm. He explains that high genetic merit animals partition more feed into milksolids and are better environmentally in regards to methane emissions and nitrogen excretion.

CONCERNED ABOUT NITROGEN FERTILISER CAP REGULATIONS? DON’T BE RUSTICA TIME RELEASE® NITROGEN CAN HELP A recent article in Farmers Weekly (Striking the right Balance – May 29) highlighted a concerning move by the Government to cap synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use on pastoral farms. The aim of this is to improve fresh water quality, supposedly by reducing dissolved inorganic nitrogen in soils and ground water under the Government’s Action for Healthy Water ways program. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said there has been a sevenfold increase in the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser used in New Zealand since 1990. And to address that the Government is introducing a cap of 190kg N/ha/year on the pastoral sector with dairy farmers required to report annually to regional councils from mid 2022 on the weight of nitrogen applied. Fertiliser companies will have to report annually on nitrogen fertiliser sales to ensure its overall use does not continue to rise. The minister went on to say that about 80% of dairy farmers won’t be affected by the cap though about 2000, mostly in Canterbury and Southland, might need to reduce their fertiliser use to stay under it. Viable Agriculture Ltd has major concerns with this approach. But importantly, also a solution.

1. The minister states that 80% of dairy farmers won’t be affected by these restrictions and 2000 farms mostly in Canterbury and Southland might need to reduce fertiliser use - but using stats from Dairy NZ show total herds of 11,372 – South Island has 28% of herds that is 3,184 (not 2000) farms in the South Island. www.dairynz.co.nz/media/5792398/quickstatsabout-dairyingnew-zealand-2019.pdf 2. These farmers are already financially up against the wall. The minister in our opinion is seriously underplaying the financial hardship this will cause South Island Farmers. 3. Viable Agriculture can help alleviate this situation as our Rustica Controlled Release Nitrogen fertiliser only uses 70 - 80% of the standard rate of Nitrogen with no loss of production, in fact independent field trials showed significant DM increases. Full product information can be found here: viag.co.nz/rustica-time-release

CURRENT GROWTH RATES N fertiliser is a growth multiplier; when pasture growth rates are high the response to N will be higher, with greatest response rates achieved in spring. When using N, canopy closure will typically occur at a lower leaf stage. Idealpregazing yields of 2600-3200 are recommended with grazing residuals of 7-8 clicks on a rising plate meter. PASTURE GROWTH (KG GROWTH RATE DM/KG N) PASTURE Slow

RESPONSE TIME FOR FULL (KG DM/KG N) RESPONSE (WEEKS) 5

10 - 14

AVERAGE PASTURE GROWTH BY DISTRICT (KG DM/HA/DAY) SOUTH ISLAND Site

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

t DM/ha

From

Notes

Culverden

20.0

2014

2016

265 kgN/ha

Oxford

19.0

2014

2016

330 kgN/ha

LUDF

21.4

2008

2015

Irrigated more than 300 kg N/ha

Lincoln University research farm

17.6

2012

2015

16.3

2012

2015

21.7

2014

2016

P21 High N Lincoln University research farm

20 - 40

6-8

Fast

50 - 70

5-6

Rapid

3-4

154 kgN/ha

calibrated RPM data

P21 High N

Dunsandel

Moderate

309 kgN/ha

calibrated RPM data

DairyNZ Facts & Figures, published May 2019

Source: DairyNZ Facts & Figures, published May 2019

FOR EXPERT ADVICE, CONTACT VIABLE AGRICULTURE TODAY 0800FERTILISER (0800 337 845) WWW.VIABLEAGRICULTURE.CO.NZ

280 kgN/ha

Dairy Focus

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Stress at mating may cause lameness Left – On high alert when you have a police car driving behind you? Cows feel the same about changes in routine created by the PHOTO SUPPLIED AI process.

Fred Hoekstra

VEEHOF DAIRY SERVICES

hy do we see increased incidences in lameness around mating? Having just come through a wonderful calving season for most, especially around Canterbury, the cows are in very good condition overall heading into mating. Mating is a time, however, when we do tend to see an increase in lameness issues. Why is that? A common thought is that at mating time you have cows riding each other and putting more weight on the hooves of the cow being ridden which causes damage to the hooves - especially when the cow is standing on a stone at that point in time. While that sounds plausible, let’s think it through - cows are not just riding each other at mating time. Cows start coming on heat soon after calving, so there is

already riding activity going on well before mating and yet it doesn’t seem to cause lameness before mating time. Riding each other is normal, natural behaviour and therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that cows’ hooves are designed to withstand this pressure. So, let’s look at the bigger picture of what is going on then.

Clearly something is different for the cows at mating time compared to the time beforehand. Could it be a difference in diet as supplements are reduced or removed due to improved grass growth around this time? Or, is it more heat stress? These are possibilities, but I think that it may have more to do with the unique stress

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on the cows created by the AI process. Let us think about how different life is for a cow around mating time. Firstly, somebody is standing on a platform behind the cows at milking time to check tail paint. This is normal farming practice and very relaxed from a human point of view but, look at it from the cow’s perspective. Many cows put their heads up and keep an eye on the person standing there. Usually, when a cow sees a person, something is going to happen to them, so their fight/flight response is activated, and they are on high alert. Next, you have around 5 per cent of the herd drafted out back on to the yard. This is a big change in routine for those cows. Or, the cows may go into a different paddock before the AI technician comes, but sometime in the morning the cows are taken out of the paddock and they know something is going to happen to them again. The next day someone is

standing on that platform again. The cows don’t know why and go back on high alert. You know the feeling when you drive along on the road and suddenly you have a police car driving behind you? You check your speed; you try to remember if you are up to date with WOF and rego – even if you know you have done nothing wrong you do have this uneasy feeling (high alert) until the police turn off or stop on the side of the road. If you are tuned in well enough with the cows you can tell that they are not totally at ease with the changes around mating time. One more issue to bear in mind is that at mating time there are extra jobs that need to be done during milking and therefore, milking will take longer and, as a consequence, there is even less time for the cow to spend in the paddock, thus resting time is reduced. DATA WANTED

I am happy to talk to you about some of these issues. I am also keen to look at some of the data that comes from cow monitoring systems, so would love to hear from any farmers using one of these systems. Please feel free to contact me at info@veehof.co.nz.

www.guardianonline.co.nz

‘I’ve been proud of Fonterra this year’ Craig Hickman

ELBOW DEEP @dairymanNZ

t has been quite the year for Fonterra. The co-operative not only won unanimous parliamentary support for the changes it sought to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act, it also returned to profit after last year’s first ever financial loss. That profit, a stunning $1.3 billion turnaround from the previous season, saw Fonterra pay suppliers their fourth highest payout in the co-op’s history; $7.14 per kg of milksolids and a five cent dividend on shares. As dairy farmers we have been pretty well insulated from the worst financial effects of the pandemic, it has been business as usual thanks largely to Fonterra’s ability to navigate the strict requirements of operating under various levels of lockdown and to quickly react to changes in demand caused by Covid-19. It struck me as curiously

ungrateful, then, that the first response I saw on social media to Fonterra’s excellent result was a complaint the dividend was too low. This, it turns out, was not an isolated expression of that sentiment. Last year every single worker at Fonterra who had earned a bonus was made to give it up, as well as forgo any pay increase, to help the co-op achieve its self-imposed target of reducing operational expenditure by $160 million. Despite the brutal timing of

the announcement, just after performance evaluations had been completed and just before the payments were due to be made, everyone from the shelf stackers at FarmSource to the people selling our products overseas worked their butts off to turn Fonterra around. They can be rightly proud of what they’ve achieved and we should never dismiss the sacrifice they were forced to make. Complaints about dividend also reveal a fundamental yet common misunderstanding

about the relationship between payout and earnings; the more Fonterra pays suppliers for milk, the lower their margin on valueadded product, so the less money there is available for dividend. In the most basic of terms, a high payout generally means a low dividend and vice-versa, which is the underlying reason independent processors are always accusing Fonterra of paying farmers too much. This year was also the first time dividend has been paid under Fonterra’s new policy;

the co-op will no longer borrow in order to pay one and any payment will only represent 40 to 60 per cent of its net earnings instead of the previous 65 to 75 per cent. Such is the cost of having a financially prudent board who value the long-term health of the co-op. While there is provision in the new policy for proceeds of asset sales to be disbursed as dividend, it was well signalled that the earnings from the sale of Tip Top and DFE Pharma were earmarked for debt reduction. And reduced it was by a significant $1.1 billion. I’ve been proud of Fonterra this year; they have continued their strategy of showing leadership on issues of national importance, think freshwater reform and climate change, they not only ditched the horrific 90-day payment terms but introduced faster payments for small suppliers, and the management team continue to connect with farmers in a way Fonterra has never previously managed. I, for one, am happy with the five cent dividend, especially if it means there’s enough left over to pay bonuses to those who so richly deserve them.

Farming

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ADAMA FEATURE

New Gold standard in beet weed control

nique formulation innovative Goltix Gold® , from crop protection company ADAMA NZ, has a reduced hazard profile compared to industry standard Goltix Flo without compromising the proven efficacy. In fact, far from it. Trials have shown Goltix Gold is actually even more effective on some hard-to-kill weeds. Fodder beet trials in Canterbury and red beet (beetroot) trials in Hawke’s Bay showed Goltix Gold was as efficacious as Goltix Flo for overall control of beet weeds and more effective on the hard to control weeds fathen and wireweed. Crop-safe at pre-emergence and cotyledon stage, Goltix Gold is compatible with commonly used herbicides and insecticides, with no phytotoxicity or vigour reduction observed in any commonly used tank-mixture. There are also advantages in the simplified handling requirements. The change in formulation of Goltix Flo to Goltix Gold means that it is not required to be under the control of a certified handler,

nor is tracking needed. What is more, Goltix Gold represents reduced risk to aquatic environments than other formulations and suitably qualified people are not required for mixing and loading. The locations chosen for the Goltix Gold trials were highly tactical. Canterbury along with Southland is where the bulk of fodder beet is grown, and Blair Hopkins, ADAMA NZ National Sales Manager, says the weeds encountered in trials were typical of the region. “There was a pretty good mix of weeds, especially fathen and wireweed.” Hawke’s Bay was selected as it is New Zealand’s largest beetroot producer. The Goltix Gold registration has already been greeted with enthusiasm by distributors. Elisabeth Johnston, ADAMA NZ Marketing Manager, says the welcoming response to Goltix Gold is heartening, but not entirely surprising. “Distributors and growers are aware of the need to protect people working in agriculture, waterways and the environment.

If they can do that with an even better performing product, all the better!” ADAMA NZ has long been at the forefront of supplying solutions that are both effective and safe to sensitive growth stages in beet crops. For instance, Rifle® can be applied at cotyledon stage without damaging the delicate beet plants thanks to the specially developed SE formulation, The registration of Goltix Gold is the logical next step in a programme, which has boosted beet yields and made a strong contribution to the management toolbox for the highly technical crop. Once the canopy is established, beets will hold their own. Before that point, however, they are very competition averse. As Blair says; “It’s essential to keep on top of weeds until the crop is at canopy closure to maximise yields.” ADAMA NZ’s specially designed herbicide programme for beet is based on a robust pre-emergence spray, with follow-up that controls any subsequent weeds and provides the best possible start for the valua-

ble, high yielding crops such as fodder, sugar and red beet, and mangolds. The programme, including Goltix WG Herbicide, Goltix Uno Herbicide, Ethosat® Herbicide, Rifle, and now Goltix Gold, has been rigorously tested and refined to complement New Zealand growing conditions and beet varieties. The proof of that success was perhaps nowhere better demonstrated than in the drought conditions experienced last season in the North Island, a challenge which will resonate with Canterbury growers. ADAMA NZ Commercial Manager, Doug Speers watched, back in May, as a Matamata sugar beet crop was harvested almost as fast as the trucks could transport it. “The truck was filled in about 15 minutes.” Doug says the “green oases” the beet crops provided among the arid paddocks in the region reminded him of Canterbury some decades ago when lucerne would’ve been the stand-out crop. “I was impressed. The beets have done well in the dry –

definitely out-shining a lot of the maize crops. A lot of maize struggled in the dryer than average conditions.” Doug says beet is recognised as a highly technical crop requiring careful management, but the yields are there for those prepared to plan and take advantage of robust programmes and sage advice. “There’s some good expertise around beet crops now.” Farmers using the ADAMA programme were happy with it and got effective control. But Doug says nothing beats ‘boots on the ground’ for spotting new strikes of weeds. “We’d recommend that crops be inspected weekly during the crop establishment phase, the initial five weeks or so. “That said, you can’t beat beet for high energy, kilograms of dry matter per hectare and getting a bigger crop off fewer hectares.” For more information on how to maximise weed control and increase returns on beet with ADAMA products, contact your local technical advisor or visit www.adama.com.

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HERBICIDE

Dairy Focus

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Balance needed around DairyNZ table H

inds dairy farmer Cole Groves, one of two Mid Canterbury candidates competing for a place on DairyNZ’s board, says the South Island industry needs greater representation. The other Mid Canterbury candidate is the chief executive of Ashburton-based Dairy Holdings, Colin Glass. Both Glass and DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel of Waikato are standing for re-election after retiring by rotation from DairyNZ’s board of directors. Groves said that he was standing again after an unsuccessful bid three years ago as Glass was the only South Island-based director on DairyNZ’s board. “To represent the dairy industry we need balance around the table, with not only professional directors, but also people with governance experience that are still handson in their own dairy farms. “The industry is facing a lot of challenges and needs people that are still heavily involved in their own farming businesses to be part of the decision making.” Groves milks 430 cows, farming in an equity partnership with his wife Virginia’s parents. The Young Farmer of the

“

Heather Chalmers

RURAL REPORTER

Year Tasman regional finalist in 2011, Groves has already had several governance roles, being on the NZ Young Farmers’ board for five years including two years as chair. To gain further experience, he took a six-month associate director role on the DairyNZ board in 2017-18. “It gives you exposure to the governance and decision-making, but you don’t have voting rights.” He is also on the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust board, chairs the Hinds School board of trustees and is a director of a Geraldine preschool. Originally from Auckland, Groves said he had wanted to be a dairy farmer since he was seven, when he visited his auntie who was sharemilking in Waikato. He regularly stayed at the farm in the holidays, going on to get a Lincoln University

degree. “I have always had a passion to be on a farm, so I am living my dream.” Groves, aged 33, said it was difficult standing against two well-known incumbents. “But if no-one stands, there is no election and option for people and I do think we need change.” The two successful candidates will play a key role in supporting the governance and leadership of DairyNZ. Electionz.com returning officer Anthony Morton said DairyNZ levy payers will receive a vote pack in the mail from September 21 and farmers had until October 20 to cast their votes. “Levy paying dairy farmers should vote and have their say for which farmer candidates they believe will best represent their views and guide the direction of the DairyNZ board,” Morton said. Voting takes place by internet and post. DairyNZ’s board consists of five farmer-elected directors and three board-appointed directors. The successful candidates for all positions will be announced at DairyNZ’s annual meeting in Ashburton on October 21.

The industry is facing a lot of challenges and needs people that are still heavily involved in their own farming businesses to be part of the decision making Mid Canterbury dairy farmer Cole Groves says the South Island needs greater representation. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Farmers need to be involved – Glass By Heather Chalmers

Left – DairyNZ director Colin Glass is seeking re-election.

acing a barrage of tightening regulations for water quality, nitrogen limits and greenhouse gas emissions, dairy farmers need to engage in the process, says DairyNZ director Colin Glass. “It is daunting and will be a challenge to the whole agricultural sector because of the tight timeframe. “It is not a matter of whether we can or can’t do it, we have got to be involved. “That is one of the key reasons why I am happy to stand again for the DairyNZ board,” said Glass who is seeking reelection after completing his first three-year term. Glass, a chartered accountant, is chief executive of Ashburtonbased Dairy Holdings, which has extensive South Island operations comprising 60 dairy farms producing 17 million kilograms of milksolids from 50,000 milking cows. He is a director of several agri-business companies and

PHOTO SUPPLIED

chairs Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation. Glass owns and operates a 650-cow dairy farm, and two further irrigated properties that rear and finish bull beef at Methven with his wife Paula. Organisations like DairyNZ

were crucial in advocating for farmers as well as doing the science that would assist farmers to adapt their businesses, Glass said. Between now and 2024, almost every regional council would be revisiting their plans to meet the

Government’s new water quality outcomes. “This will require a massive involvement from all the agricultural industries to ensure farmers can progress steadily towards that change without making their businesses unviable.” Dairy farmers would also be key players in the implementation of the Zero Carbon Act. New Zealand had opted for a split greenhouse gas approach, where methane emissions from agriculture were given a separate reduction target to carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. “How that translates for farmers has yet to be determined and will be developed over the next two or three years.” Dairy Holdings – New Zealand’s biggest corporate dairy farm – continued to quietly grow with another dairy unit acquired for this season and two further grazing blocks being

added next season. The business ran a stand-alone operation with all heifer grazing and cow wintering managed in-house. New freshwater regulations had effectively put a cap on dairy support land and wintering, Glass said. “So businesses that don’t have regular places to graze their heifers and cows could be looking for feed in a contracting market. “This means grazing relationships are getting stronger and stronger every year and people don’t tend to shop around like they used to.” While some farmers would be daunted by the changes taking place in agriculture others would see it as something that they needed to embrace and get involved with, Glass said. “For me, the latter is really the only option which means you have to be part of the solution.”

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ORGANICS FEATURE

Transitioning to organics A

re you curious about what it takes to become a certified organic grower? Organic certification is the way to ensure that you can call yourself organic. Most international markets now require independent certification of all organic products, and New Zealand will soon have such legal requirements as well. Certification is about integrity. It provides a consumer guarantee that organic methods have been followed every step of the way. That trustworthiness is part of the reason that many consumers are willing to pay more for organic products. Here are a few steps you can take to work out whether organic certification is the right path for you.

system. Getting your soil health right will help your plants and animals become healthy and resilient – which will help you move away from chemical fixes to pest and disease problems.

LEARN FROM SUCCESSFUL ORGANIC PRODUCERS

CONTACT A CERTIFIER

If you’re a farmer or grower, go to field days, meet organic farmers and find out what they’re doing. Join organic groups to meet like-minded producers, traders, exporters, and backyard farmers. Learn more about organic groups and how they can help you get involved with organics.

DON’T EXPECT THAT PRODUCTS CAN FIX EVERYTHING

Some growers expect a quick fix, wanting to substitute every synthetic chemical that they use for an equivalent organic input product. Indeed, there is a huge range of certified organic inputs now available for farmers to use. But managing a thriving organic system is about more than just buying the right sprays; you will need to learn to observe your system and work with nature’s cycles. TAKE A COURSE

Formal education is not required to become an organic practitioner, but it can help. Training programmes in New Zealand include the BHU Organic Training College, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and distance learning through Southern Institute of Technology.

CHANGE THINGS OVER TIME

You don’t have to go ‘cold turkey’. Many successful organic farmers took some years to transition to organic methods. Start with the organic practices that you’re most comfortable with and build confidence. START WITH THE SOIL

Healthy living soils are the foundation of a thriving organic

New Zealand has four organic certifiers, serving a variety of producer needs. Contact the ones you’re interested in to find out their requirements. CONTACT A CONSULTANT

Companies like Helix Organics provide consultation and certification management services that deliver expert advice on scientific and technical

TALK TO THE EXPERTS FOR FARMING SUPPORT

issues in organic food production in New Zealand. KEEP GOOD RECORDS

Organic certification requires excellent record-keeping, to ensure traceability of your products. That means you will need to keep records of all inputs used in your production process. Your certifier can explain what’s required. KEEP AT IT

The organic certification process normally requires three years, starting on the registration date that you set with your organic certifier. After three years of certified organic land management, your products can become fully certified organic, and you can proudly market them as organic, receive relevant price premiums and display an organic logo. In some cases, if you can prove that you have already been growing organically for a while, an organic certifier may backdate your organic registration date, allowing you to complete the full certification process in less than three years. Supplied by Organics Aotearoa New Zealand

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Farming

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EDUCATION FEATURE

Waihi School to welcome girls in term 1 A

fter 113 years as a boys’ independent preparatory school, South Canterbury’s Waihi School has announced it will welcome girls in Years 4-8 as both day pupils and boarders from Term 1, 2021. Headmaster, Allan Short, says, “We are very excited to be offering the same unique opportunities to girls as well as boys from next year. “For some time, Waihi has been considering moving to co-education in order to mirror the more inclusive and diverse community in which we all live. We have also taken into account the comments of Waihi parents, both past and present, who have expressed their desire to be able to give the same opportunities to their daughters, which their sons enjoy, of the Waihi experience. “In welcoming girls to the school, Waihi’s values, ethos and aims will remain the same as they ever have been. “The wonderfully happy, creative family atmosphere that has been the essence of Waihi for more than 100 years will remain so.” The resolution to move to co-education in 2021 has been made by the Waihi Trust Board

Waihi School headmaster Allan PHOTOS SUPPLIED Short.

as a result of its comprehensive strategic review earlier this year. All board members are keenly anticipating 2021 and what lies ahead for the school with the expansion of the Waihi family. “Academically, on the sports field and in the cultural arena, Waihi has always had extraordinary achievements. “These are the result of the school’s strong focus on teaching with pride, passion, and positive

expectations, together with pastoral care that has put our boys at the centre of all that we do at Waihi. “We believe that by welcoming girls to our school we will continue to build on our achievements and ensure that Waihi girls, as well as Waihi boys, can learn, grow and thrive, and be well-prepared for continued success at their choice of senior school,” says Short.

John Rolleston, chairman of the Waihi Trust Board, says, “We are hugely looking forward to having girls enjoy being part of our Waihi family. “We are sure the entire Waihi community will see our move to welcome girls as a significant opportunity for all families to enjoy what Waihi has to offer, and to give both boys and girls an education for life.” Waihi School is situated on

State Highway 1 in Winchester, South Canterbury; it is 25km north of Timaru. It is the only independent preparatory school in the lower South Island (south of Christchurch). Set in 10 hectares of leafy grounds, Waihi has modern classrooms, an excellent dining hall, a stateof-the-art boarding house, and excellent sports and cultural facilities. There are currently 94 boys on the Waihi roll.

Providing a family-friendly boarding option M

edbury School is the only independent boys’ school in Christchurch, offering an education for both day boys and boarders from Years 1 to 8. Boarding at Medbury has been an integral part of the school since it was established in 1923, offering boys unique life opportunities and enabling them to develop independence, make strong friendships, discover inner strengths and enjoy the full benefits of Medbury’s family-based culture. Since that time, boarding has become more widely used beyond providing a home away from home for boys from

rural areas. Now the Medbury Boarding House is used widely by families living within or near Christchurch to manage busy family lives. Casual boarding is available to all Medbury families who want the flexibility of boarding short-term. This can assist with the demands of families’ busy schedules and varying work commitments, and provides an uninterrupted routine when parents are out of town. According to Medbury headmaster, Ian Macpherson, the Medbury Boarding House provides an invaluable

foundation for boys preparing for secondary school. The organisational skills and selfdiscipline Medbury establishes, will serve boys throughout their school life and beyond. Heading up the boarding team are dedicated and experienced boarding staff, who are ably supported by enthusiastic ‘big brothers’ to ensure every boy receives the attention, support and friendly advice he needs to flourish and feel at home. Full-time boarders can spend weekends at home after Saturday sport, or stay in for Boarders’ Weekends that include regular outings,

barbecues in the summer, and extra-curricular activities. As the school prepares for its Centenary in 2023, it continues to balance the strong traditions it has established throughout the past 97 years, with innovation in teaching and learning. “Selecting a school to meet your high expectations and your son’s needs is important. I would like to invite you to Medbury to show you firsthand what sets our school apart as an exceptional Australasian preparatory boarding school,” Macpherson said. “When a Medbury boy leaves

for secondary school, he will leave us as a well-rounded individual; a motivated and independent learner; and a critical thinker with high selfesteem, who reacts to others and the changing world around him, with confidence and good grace,” he said.

For more information on Medbury’s family friendly options, please contact the Registrar on 03 351 6169, email registrar@ medbury.school.nz or visit www. medbury.school.nz.

Unlocking every boy’s potential Thinking Boarding, Think Medbury. You are invited to attend the Medbury School Open Day to discover what makes a Medbury education unique.

To register online visit Enrolment at medbury.school.nz

The Open Day is on Wednesday 21 October 2020 from 9.00am to 10.45am. The Headmaster will speak at 10.15am.

OPEN DAY

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EDUCATION FEATURE

A boarding home with heart at S Selwyn House School elwyn House School is an all-girls’ school for Years 1 to 8. We are an International Baccalaureate school, with a future-focused curriculum based on intercultural understanding and respect. Our focus is on developing inquiring and empathetic minds and building strong knowledge foundations so that our students will face the future with the skills and confidence to be empowered global citizens. Selwyn House School is proud to offer a safe, nurturing, family-oriented boarding house for girls in Years 4 to 8 (ages 7 to 13). Our boarding house is conveniently located within the school grounds, offering a home away from home for up to 29 students. Our boarders come from around New Zealand, particularly rural areas of Canterbury, and internationally, and casual boarding arrangements are also able to be made. We are proud of the diversity in cultural backgrounds that our borders bring to this community, which promotes tolerance, trust, friendliness, understanding and respect. We value the special character that each girl brings to our community, and we support each girl’s passions and interests with various activities offered both on-site and off-site. The girls are supported by a caring and professional team, who take huge pride in helping each girl reach her full potential. Our boarding house managers will provide a warm welcome for your

daughter’s and oversee her wellbeing

and development throughout her time in the boarding house. Our full-time chef will ensure that she receives a healthy, balanced diet, and make provisions for any dietary needs. A team of tutors support the girls with their homework and fulfil a big sister role to our boarders. We believe boarding is a unique opportunity for each girl and we pride ourselves on creating a positive environment where the girls are able to develop their academic, social and life skills.

“

Come and see what we have to offer at our Open Day on Monday, October 19, 9am - 12noon Contact enrolments@selhouse.school.nz or phone (03) 355 7299 to register for the Open Day, or arrange a personal tour on another date.

BOARDING OPTIONS AVAILABLE

OPEN DAY: MONDAY 19 OCTOBER 9AM TO NOON, 122 MERIVALE LANE, CHRISTCHURCH

Farming

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History repeats Dr Tony Davoren

SWIMS CONSULTING Ltd

can’t help but feel the last couple of months remind me of 1988! You need to have more than a few grey hairs to remember that far back, but the dearth of rainfall in August and September along with some brutal northwest winds just brings back those memories. Let’s hope it is just a memory. We often use the quote “History Repeats (Itself)” which is credited to philosopher George Santayana back in 1905. More recently some might remember it as a 1966 hit song for Buddy Starcher and later in 1997 by Shirley Bassey and the Propellerheads. It is surmised that the lyrics of Starcher’s hit recount the coincidences and parallels

between the careers and deaths of Presidents Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. While I vaguely recall the song and (only) the assassination of Kennedy, I do vividly recall 1988-89. We really don’t need a repeat of 1988-89. In my archive of newspaper clippings I unearthed an article from September 6, 1988 from the publication Mid Week Mail. Clearly by September 6 the situation was pretty dire and it didn’t improve. Rainfall was slim pickings, I remember the northwesterly blowing relentlessly for months and there was no rainfall relief until February 1989. While it was early days for our monitoring business, the value of autumn irrigation was obvious - and the same occurred this year when irrigation continued through to May. The North Canterbury Catchment Board as ECan was known as back then, warned of consequences of low water tables – this was not just a phenomenon of the 2000s when action was finally taken. Oh how history repeats.

The rainfall pattern of 1988 and 2020 has been eerily similar. Since July 20 there is nothing between the rainfall totals at Winchmore – 52mm versus 56mm. If there is a saving grace – the 2020 winter was a little wetter than 1988 when the lack of rainfall had wide ranging effects (as Lincoln farm advisor Tony Whatman

Achieve faster growth rates for foryour Achieve growth rates lambs faster this season.

your lambs this season.

outlined for sheep farmers in the article). In the third week of August when I last wrote I wondered if we had the “pointers to an early irrigation season?” The irrigation season is now all go. Let’s hope Santayana the philosopher and those who’ve sung and covered Starcher’s hit song are wrong and “history doesn’t repeat”.

for

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Native trees and carbon Mary Ralston

FOREST AND BIRD

hat’s not to like about planting one billion more trees by 2028? The One Billion Trees Programme has been introduced to increase tree planting across New Zealand. The goal is to double the current planting rate to reach one billion trees planted by 2028. This sounds a great idea: planting more trees has the potential to increase carbon sequestration, improve biodiversity, create employment and retire farmland that would be better suited to growing trees, such as steep erosionprone hillsides. The fund has admirable goals – there is $240 million available for landowners, organisations and community groups to plant trees. The vision is to encourage both permanent and plantation forests made up of exotic and native tree species,

Diverse native forests sequester more carbon in the long term than conifers, as well as providing “ecosystem PHOTO SUPPLIED services” such as water and soil conservation and habitat for native birds.

and the programme encourages the planting of native species to improve biodiversity and the integration of trees into the landscape to complement and diversify existing land uses, rather than large-scale land conversion to forestry. But there can be unintended consequences of the programme. There has been considerable publicity about the loss of productive farmland in conversions to plantation forestry. Not only is valuable foodproducing land lost in this

situation but there are flow-on effects, such as loss of rural communities and increased fire risk. Carbon sequestration, one of the main aims of the tree planting scheme, is actually better from natives than conifers in the long-term. Furthermore, native forests and shrublands provide valuable “ecosystem services” – erosion control, water and air purification, habitat for native fauna and flora. Native vegetation also offers arguably better aesthetic appeal and

recreation potential than exotics. But native biodiversity could well be the loser in some regions if landowners take up financial incentives for planting exotics in areas of hill country that retains some native vegetation – such as the foothills of our district where matagouri and tussocks are part of the productive farm landscape. Wilding tree spread is another potential issue. Already wilding conifers are a huge threat to hill and high country properties and protected areas. Fortunately, the Ashburton

District Plan has provisions to limit the planting of tree species prone to spread on land zoned Rural C (the high country, extending from the foothills to the Main Divide). In this area, forestry is a discretionary activity, meaning that a resource consent is required. The Ashburton District Council has also decreed that all tree planting in the Rural C Zone, other than planting for the purpose of screening buildings, is limited to within the “shelterbelt areas”. These areas are outside the boundaries of outstanding natural areas. Species prone to spread are not allowed to be planted, including lodgepole pine, scots pine, corsican pine, dwarf mountain pine, mountain pine, Douglas fir, all poplars (except Lombardy poplars: male clones), all larches, alders, willows, sycamore, rowan, ash and holly. This shows good leadership and provides an incentive for taking up the incentives for the planting and regeneration of native species that provide habitat for our native birds, lizards and insects, as well as superior carbon sequestration and water and soil conservation.

Farming

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SEED FEATURE

Super-fast Italian wins grazing race

Seeds to suit all needs

t this time of year, when temperatures are not yet ideal for ryegrass germination, there is still a good way to put delicious, leafy new grass in front of your livestock in the shortest time possible. One Italian ryegrass can be grazed sooner than any other spring-sown pasture option. Tabu+ is the high performance supercar of short-term pastures, sucking up excess soil nitrogen for fuel, and powering cows, sheep, beef, and deer with tonnes of top quality grass per hectare. Rated 5 star in the Dairy NZ Forage Value Index across all regions, for both 12-month feed and winter feed, it leaves other grass genetics far behind. Pasture systems specialist Blair Cotching says as a 6 month to two year pasture option on South Island farms, little else can match it. And using Tabu+ at this time of year in particular has a key benefit – springsown, it will have no seedhead for 12 months, unlike spring sown annual ryegrasses, meaning a year of leafy green growth, with superb palatability. “It’s ideal for any farmer looking to bridge a feed gap between now and next autumn, when they might then sow winter rape,” says Blair, who heads the pasture systems team at Barenbrug. “Equally, it sits very well in the 12 month gap between now and next spring,

where you need a high performance pasture between successive winter crops.” Post winter crop, its super-fast establishment and high yield has a very good fit with latest best practice guidelines for soil nutrient management, because it mops up excess soil N left after animals have grazed beet, kale, swedes or turnips. “This type of mitigation approach is only going to become more important in the future,” Blair says. “We’ve seen from the Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching research how plant species like Italian ryegrass can be used to help improve farm environmental performance.” Another scenario where Tabu+ has proved popular is as a weed-buster in grass to grass perennial pasture renewal. “Where old, run-out paddocks have too many grass weeds like browntop and cocksfoot to go straight to new perennial ryegrass in one go, Tabu+ helps pave the way for successful establishment of permanent pasture.” In this case, farmers can spray out now, and direct drill Tabu+ in October, for approximately $500-600 per ha. This will be ready for its first light graze approximately five weeks after sowing, weather permitting, and then provide 12 months of high yield, energyrich grazing which is also very costeffective, Blair says.

ridge Seeds Limited is situated in Doyleston Canterbury. 50km south of Christchurch near the Rakaia River - famous for its salmon fishing, jet boating, deer hunting, duck shooting and whitebaiting which takes over the hours for some of the staff on a seasonal basis. Stuart Cridge who formed the company in 1982 is no longer involved due to health reasons, but his wife Julie is carrying on after 21 years involvement and has a well known family background of farmers in Canterbury being bought up in Malvern. Stuart, and Julie’s son Nick is manager and he grew up around the company from a young age, learning many skills from Stuart including specialist seed cleaning. Cridge Seeds has already been a long established business over the past 40 years and they have dealt with a wide

range of farmers throughout New Zealand which they intend to continue. Cridge Seeds is known to provide seed to you with high quality dressing, top quality ryegrass, superior growth, amazing results, word of mouth sightings, and high priority customer service which all have seen a large demand for orders to suit varied pasture requirements. They grow and sell their own brand of seed, but are more than competitive in sourcing and supplying all proprietary and common seed to be sown alone or in mixes to suit all farming requirements. For spring sowing options, prices or suggestions - Cridge Seeds Ltd Office 03 324 3951 - Nick 0220833579 - Julie 027 3244431 - 08004seeds (473337) - Website www.cridgeseeds.co.nz

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BULL SALE FEATURE

Yearling hereford bulls on the block T

he historic Orari Gorge Station is holding a spring sale of yearling hereford bulls suitable for dairy mating on Monday, October 12. While this is its second spring sale, the station has been selling bulls privately to dairy farmers for about 15 years, said the station’s fifth generation owner Robert Peacock, a descendant of the original owner Charles Tripp. The station expected to sell 200 yearling bulls in total this spring, including the 36 at auction. The bulk of the bulls go to repeat buyers each year. Orari Gorge Station is set in the South Canterbury foothills just north of Geraldine. It consists of river flats, rolling clay downs and tussock country rising to 1066 metres. “We do a lot of heifer mating on the station ourselves, so are selecting for low birthweight combined with good growth.” More than 200 heifers, both from its stud and commercial herds, are mated at the station. “We have nearly finished calving and have only had to assist three so far.” The yearling bulls are more suited to mating with dairy cows than dairy heifers, Peacock

said. “But I know of at least one client that has bought our bulls for dairy heifers last year and had no calving problems.” All bulls are below breed average for birth weight and above breed average for calving ease. The station also has an annual

June sale of rising two-year hereford bulls for purchase by commercial beef farmers. In addition to its hereford stud, the station also runs three sheep studs as well as commercial sheep, beef and red deer farming operations. Its 250 registered hereford

“We breed stock that are capable of looking after themselves through tough winters on the hill and then giving high levels of production in terms of lambing and calving. “We finish almost all the progeny on the farm and any stock that are sold store are usually well sought after.” Its deer operation is focused on venison production, comprising 1600 red hinds. Orari Gorge Station was the first high country land in Canterbury to be developed as a sheep station, together with Mount Peel Station. In 1855, John Barton Arundel Acland (1824–1904) and Charles George Tripp (18261897) obtained a pastoral lease in South Canterbury that included level land near the Orari River and most of the foothills and flanks of the Mount Peel range. They dissolved their partnership in stud cows are run with the 1861 and Tripp retained Orari 400 commercial cows on steep Gorge Station and Acland, Mt high tussock over 915m from Peel. weaning to calving. The farm buildings, dating It also runs romney, romtex from the earliest period of the and composite terminal sheep station’s development, from studs, with the station carrying 1859 to circa 1870s, are now a 1300 stud ewes and 7000 WWW.ORARIGORGE.CO.NZ Category 1 Historic Place. commercial ewes.

ORARI GORGE HEREFORDS Formally known as Nithdale Herefords Established 1947

ORARI GORGE HEREFORDS HEREFORDS ORARI GORGE WWW.ORARIGORGE.CO.NZ

ORARI GORGE HEREFORDS

WWW.ORARIGORGE.CO.NZ Formally known as Nithdale Herefords Established 1947

55th ANNUAL BULL SALE WEDNESDAY JUNE 5th 2019 at 11.00am ORARI GORGE STATION, GERALDINE Formally known as Nithdale Herefords The main objectives of the herd have always been to focus SALEEstablished BULLS INCLUDE SONS OF 1947 on breeding functional, structurally sound cattle with good conformation to meet today’s market. Running over 100 bulls in one management mob with regular weighing, muscle scanning, Body Condition Scoring and DNA testing our WHOLE herd ensures highly accurate data.

ORARI GORGE PATTON 150051 ORARI GORGE OLIGARCH 140025

Our 250 stud cows are run with our 400 commercial cows on steep, high tussock country over 3000ft from weaning to calving. Snow is a frequent problem, challenging the Hereford longevity and soundness. As early adopters of Breedplan EBV analysis, we have over 25 years of records to show steady progress to benefit all our clients from lowland to High Country.

ORARI GORGE OHAU 140143 ORARI GORGE NAPIER 130133 KOANUI BRITON 4260 MONYMUSK GALLANT 10089

SPRING SALE OF YEARLING HEREFORD BULLS th ORARI GORGE STATION, GERALDINE 55th ANNUAL BULL SALE WEDNESDAY JUNE 5 MONDAY, OCTOBER 12 AT 11AM2019 at 11.00am ORARI GORGE GORGE STATION, STATION, GERALDINE ORARI GERALDINE SALE BULLS INCLUDE SONS OF

55th ANNUAL BULL SALE WEDNESDAY JUNE 5th 2019 at 11.00am ORARI GORGE STATION, GERALDINE The main objectives of the herd have always been to focus on breeding functional, structurally sound cattle with good conformation to meet today’s market. Running over 100 bulls in one management mob with regular weighing, muscle scanning, Body Condition Scoring and DNA testing our WHOLE herd ensures highly accurate data.

KAIRURU IRONSIDE 11047

SALE BULLS INCLUDE SONS OF ORARI GORGE PATTON 150051

ORARI GORGE OLIGARCH 140025

ORARI GORGE OHAU 140143

ORARI GORGE NAPIER 130133

All bulls born on the property and DNA tested for sire and defects. The main objectives of the herd have always been to focus KOANUI BRITON 4260 ORARI GORGE PATTON SONS 150051OF SALE BULLS INCLUDE bulls testedstructurally negative forsound BVD and EBL with and vaccinated against Lepto and BVD. MONYMUSK GALLANT 10089 on breedingAllfunctional, cattle good All bulls fully recorded and11047 registered on Breedplan. KAIRURU IRONSIDE conformation to meet today’s market. Running over 100 ORARI GORGE OLIGARCH 140025 PATTON All bulls below breed average for birth weight and above breed ORARI averageGORGE for calving ease. 150051 bulls in one management mob with regular weighing, muscle ORARI GORGE OHAU 140143 ORARI GORGE OLIGARCH 140025 scanning, Body Condition Scoring and DNA testing our WHOLE SOME OF THE BEST MARBLING IN THE COUNTRY VISITORS ALWAYS WELCOME herd ensures highly accurate data. ORARI 130133 BALANCED TRAITS = MAXIMUM PROFITABILITY ORARI GORGE GORGE NAPIER OHAU 140143 • FERTILITY • STRUCTURE • BREEDPLAN RECORDED • CARCASE SCANNED • TB STATUS C10 • SERVICE & SEMEN TESTED • BVD TESTED & VACCINATED • ALL BULLS HYPOTRICHOSIS FREE

WWW.ORARIGORGE.CO.NZ

Our 250 stud cows are run with our 400 commercial cows KOANUI BRITON 4260 ORARI GORGE NAPIER 130133 Graham and Rosa Peacock | TelORARI 03 692 GORGE 2853 | Email rosa@orarigorge.co.nz STATION, TRIPP SETTLEMENT ROAD, GERALDINE, on Rosa steep, tussock over 3000ft from weaning Graham and Peacockhigh | Tel 03 692 2853 | Emailcountry rosa@orarigorge.co.nz SOME OF THE BEST MARBLING IN THE COUNTRY Robert and Alex Peacock | Tel 03 692 2893 | Email robert@orarigorge.co.nz VISITORS ALWAYS WELCOME = MAXIMUM SOUTH CANTERBURY Robert and Alex Peacock | Tel 03 692 2893 | Email robert@orarigorge.co.nz BALANCED PROFITABILITY MONYMUSK GALLANT 100897991, NEW ZEALAND. ORARI GORGE ROAD, GERALDINE, SOUTH CANTERBURY 7991, NEW ZEALAND. toTRAITS calving. Snow is a frequent problem, challenging theSTATION, TRIPP SETTLEMENT WWW.ORARIGORGE.CO.NZ KOANUI BRITON 4260 Hereford longevity and soundness. As early adopters of Graham and Rosa Peacock KAIRURU IRONSIDE 11047 • FERTILITY • STRUCTURE • BREEDPLAN RECORDED • CARCASE SCANNED • TB STATUS C10 • SERVICE & SEMEN TESTED • BVD TESTED & VACCINATED • ALL BULLS HYPOTRICHOSIS FREE

| Tel 03 692 2853 | Email rosa@orarigorge.co.nz

Robert and Alex Peacock | Tel 03 692 2893 | Email robert@orarigorge.co.nz

Farming

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Our unsung farming heroes

ecently Property Brokers ran a series of breakfasts for rural professionals. We ran them in Christchurch, Ashburton and Timaru. The breakfasts are an opportunity to talk about what’s happening in rural real estate – past, present and future. This year, we were lucky enough to be able to get Paul Mills from Property Advisory, a property valuation business, to speak. For those of you who know Paul you will realise he is a man who says it as it is. It was a very interesting discussion about farm values; where they have

Chris Murdoch

PROPERTY BROKERS

been, where they are now and looking into the future. This topic did bring up a lot of major issues that the farming community has faced over the past three years, including the regulator decisions the Reserve

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Bank has set for the banking system, banks themselves and of course all the environmental issues that keep getting put in front of farmers. All things considered I believe the rural market has absorbed these changes well. This is where the unsung heroes in my mind have stepped up to talk on farmers’ behalf to government, Environment Canterbury and environmentalists. Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers contacts: David Clark (president), David Acland (vice-president/meat and wool), Darrell Hydes (vice), Michael

Salvesen (treasurer/past president), Chris Ford (dairy), Rebecca Miller (sharemilkers), Natasha White (arable), Tim Hutchison (high country) and Ben Bayerie (rural women) plus many others both past and present give up hours of their time to fight for the rights of everyday farmers and farm professionals. I truly do take my hat off to congratulate these people for the work they do. The time and energy spent on their jobs as representatives of our farming community is huge and must impact their farm enterprises. Another person that I believe

does a lot of work on our behalf is Mid Canterbury farmer and Federated Farmers’ national board member Chris Allen. I have heard him speak several times and his knowledge of his given topics is astounding. Fresh water reform is our next big hurdle to jump. We need people like Chris fighting in our corner. I would like to say thank you to these people and their families for all of their hard work. In my mind they are the unsung heroes of the agricultural issues facing us today. Great to have you in our corner!

When you list your farm with our South Island team, there are Property Brokers’ members across the country working alongside them to get you the best result. That’s because every one of them has signed a binding agreement to work together to sell your property. It’s a New Zealand first for the rural real estate industry that means we put your best interests first. Which is exactly where they should be. Find out more at pb.co.nz/trueteam

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FEATURE

Blackgrass seed warning issued B

iosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) is reminding farmers to be cautious heading toward harvest after they were notified of the detection of blackgrass seeds in Canterbury last month. Three blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides) seeds were found in a 100g sample of ryegrass seed in the Ashburton area. The sample had been submitted for purity and germination testing as part of routine pre-export certification. Samples for analysis of the remainder of the harvest, approximately 14 tonnes, also detected further blackgrass seed contamination. BNZ stated it considers the find to be linked to the 2016 blackgrass response as the seed in question came from one of the sites under surveillance as part of that response. Surveillance at that time, in 2016-17, did not detect any blackgrass. It is not linked to the 2013 spillage of blackgrass along the Ashburton-Methven Highway, BNZ said. Since the discovery, BNZ has been tracing back to determine the origin of the blackgrass contamination and if any risk material has moved off farm. They have contacted the seed

WHAT IS BLACKGRASS

company and confirmed all the affected ryegrass is securely held at the facility and contacted the property where the seed dressing waste was delivered, to ensure it is securely held on the property. It has also visited the affected property with AsureQuality, where the detection was

discussed and it was confirmed that best practice is being followed. BNZ has directed that the seed offal was to be destroyed securely by deep burial at the Kate Valley landfill and is working with MPI’s Plant Exports Group to discuss the possible conditions of export

for the affected seed to a country which already has blackgrass. Farmers are reminded to keep a lookout for blackgrass and if they believe some is located, not to disturb the seed head, but take a photo with your phone and call the Pest and Disease Hotline on 080080–9966 to report the suspected find.

Blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides) is a small-seeded and narrow-leaved annual grass weed that can grow up to a metre high. The first newly emerged leaves are delicate and corkscrewed. The leaves are hairless. The open and rolled sheaths of young plants can be green or purplish. For those familiar with plant growth stages, a distinguishing feature is the long and irregular ligule. There are no auricles. The seed heads are green (particularly when newly emerged) to reddish-purple in colour, giving a “black” appearance from a distance. Blackgrass can germinate in either autumn or spring, but experience from the Northern Hemisphere suggests that autumn germination is much more common (more than 80 per cent). This means that in New Zealand we could expect most seeds to germinate from March to May, but some could germinate any time from September onwards. Blackgrass populations appear to persist longer in wet soils.

Keep an eye out for improved pastures.

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Farming

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SPRAYING FEATURE

Safe spraying to keep bees healthy A

wareness of safe spray practices to help protect our bees is being promoted during Bee Aware month. Bees are essential for the pollination of thousands of plant species – native and agricultural alike. As plant flowering and bee activity increases through the spring and summer months, the risk to bees from spray application also rises. Bees need our help. They face many challenges: habitat loss, diseases, parasites, pesticide poisoning and the effects of climate change. Pesticides and herbicides can have a big impact on bees and their honey. This can severely impact pollination and put our valuable honey export crop at risk. Recently, for example, small amounts of glyphosate residues were found in some New Zealand honeys and while close to 80 per cent of those tested had no residue detections and there are no food safety issues linked with those that did, Apiculture NZ and Federated Farmers said they were concerned to see this occur. There are a number of steps that help farmers and growers protect honey bees when spraying any pesticide, but key, as always, is also ensuring open communications between farmers and beekeepers when spraying occurs. THOSE STEPS ARE: CONSIDER WHETHER SPRAYING IS NECESSARY:

• What evidence is there to support the spraying of this crop at this time? • Consider pest pressure, weed size and disease symptoms. Survey your crop to determine if pests have reached thresholds where control with pesticides is necessary. • Implement an integrated pest management plan to apply pesticides only when necessary. READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY:

• Read the instructions carefully to ensure you only use the recommended levels and follow all warnings on the label. • Only use bee-safe products if risks to honey bees are likely. • Take care in securing chemical tanks and dispose of used containers carefully. Bees have been known to gather water from such sources.

• Similarly, avoid potential contamination of troughs or any other natural water source (particularly water sources that are still). DON’T SPRAY CHEMICALS NEAR BUDDING OR FLOWERING PLANTS WHERE BEES ARE LIKELY TO FORAGE:

• Bees forage flowers to gather nectar and pollen, their major food sources. During this foraging action, bees successfully pollinate the crop, increasing its value to the farmer. • Mow flowering weeds under fruit tree crops before spraying. • Avoid spraying gorse and broom (winter flowering) when in flower. The herbicide may be safe to bees, but the surfactants (normally penetrants) are not. Many beekeepers experience severe hive losses during this period caused by spraying during the day on flowering weeds. No spraying near hives and avoid spraying when it’s windy to prevent drift SPRAY AFTER SUNSET, IN DRY CONDITIONS, OR VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING. BEES FORAGE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE WARM. AVOID SPRAYING AT THIS TIME.

• If you have to spray a flowering crop likely to be visited by bees, we recommend spraying very early in the morning (day break) or at dusk (sunset), even spraying in the dark. Bees are normally in their hives at this time. CO-ORDINATE WITH LOCAL BEEKEEPERS BEFORE SPRAYING SO NEARBY HIVES CAN BE MOVED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED.

• Work with your beekeeper to keep them informed of intentions to spray - good communications and co-operation all helps. • Remind all of your staff and contractors of the risks to bees when spraying and make bee survival a priority this spray season. Bees need our help – by doing a few simple things you can help protect and care for our bee population and ensure our New Zealand honeys retain their reputation as a safe, high quality natural food source.

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027 512 7205

Terms and conditions apply. Contact Power Farming Ashburton for more information.

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SPRAYING FEATURE

Aerial spraying, a different approach A

erial application can be just as effective as ground application, but that characterisation does not do aerial application justice. Aerial application has many advantages. We thought it would be a good idea to review those advantages this month in case we need to articulate them to our customers and critics. One of the most obvious advantages of aerial application is no soil compaction. Driving ground equipment through a field leaves wheel tracks and compacts soil particles, reducing pore space and restricting oxygen and water movement into and through the soil and root zone. That compaction can be particularly bad on wet soils, sometimes making the soil like a brick and reducing yields. Wet soils never stop aerial applicators from spraying. Moving ground equipment through a field also inevitably damages the crop, sometimes up to 5% of the plants. That damage can reduce crop yield much more than the cost of an aerial application. The extra height above the crop canopy with aerial application can help create a more

uniform spray pattern. Nozzles can be too close to their target and give an uneven application, especially when a ground boom does not stay level in rough and uneven terrain. Aerial application can also

apply seed and dry fertiliser formulations more uniformly than ground application, giving higher yield potential. Waiting to apply pesticides often costs growers money. The quicker growers control a pest

problem, the greater the yield benefit. Often, weather only gives a small window to apply pesticides over todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s large farms. Aerial applicators can start applying pesticides earlier as they

do not have to waste precious time waiting for soil to dry. Many pesticides are only effective at specific pest and crop growth stages. If a grower misses that application window, those pesticides may not work and the crop can be lost. Once application starts, aerial applicators can apply large areas much faster, spraying more acres in an hour than a ground applicator can in a day. The ability to apply pesticides rapidly at their optimum time is a big advantage for aerial application. Sometimes growers want to delay applications to reduce input costs, particularly when crop prices are low. Their hope is that the pest infestation will not develop enough to reduce yield, or that only one application will be effective if they wait for weeds to germinate or insects to hatch. When growers wait, aerial application is the best way to go. A crop never gets too big to make an aerial application, although the applicator will probably need to add a deposition and retention adjuvant to get the spray to penetrate the canopy and deposit where the pests are.

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Have fun creating your food garden Sheryl Stivens

Left – Layering the newspaper and straw into the compost garden bed – making your own organic plant PHOTOS SUPPLIED food is so easy.

ECO EFFICIENCY

here are so many benefits to growing your own food and doing things a little differently, and observing the results can be so rewarding. It’s also important to set up easy care gardens and allocate a little time regularly to keep them productive and looking good.

COMPOST GARDEN BEDS ARE EASY CARE FOR FOOD GARDENING We recently revamped our old raised garden bed by using some timber we had to raise the sides higher. We then filled the beds up with pony poo from “Nana Pony”. You can also empty last year’s compost pile or rotting leaves piles even if they are not broken down or have dried up. Wet your soil ingredients well to wake up the micro-organisms and fork the materials into your raised bed garden. Now put your tiger worms to work making soil, by strategically placing handfuls of worms every metre or so along the bed. Once covered with a layer of wet newspapers, four to six sheets thick and a layer of mulch on top of either straw, lawn clippings or leaves, you have created a compost garden bed. Worms love eating bad news and will work away in the dark transforming your materials into worm castings and rich garden loam. We are experimenting by planting tiny broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower seedlings directly into one end of our compost garden bed this season. We will have to wait for a week or two before we can mulch these baby plants or they may get buried in the mulch. Meantime, we will keep the bed moist so the worms can get

Below – A great daily task for the kids is emptying the kitchen food waste bin into your worm bin or compost bin.

to work and turn the pony poo into rich organic soil before we are ready to plant tomatoes, corn and zucchinis outside in four to six weeks. If you are doing this in the holidays, ask someone in your family to record your progress in a 2020 garden diary. Keep records of what you are planting and how well it works, especially if you are trying out something new so you keep improving your food production each year. DO YOU HAVE A COMPOST BIN OR A WORM FARM?

It’s so good to be able to transform your food and garden waste into plant food by working with nature and it’s so easy once you have the right system set up. A great daily task for the kids is emptying the kitchen food waste bin into your worm bin or compost bin and it doesn’t feel like the food is wasted when you can put it to good use. This is surely the ultimate recycling process, working with nature and growing soil to help our environment in addition to growing healthy organic food. It’s a win-win for people and our planet.

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Plantain added to Overseer

ew Zealand farmers can now assess the potential impact and investment of plantain, using OverseerFM. Plantain varieties have been used on New Zealand farms for some time, with positive effects on milk production and in reducing nitrate leaching. Following the comprehensive research programme Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching (FRNL), plantain has been included in OverseerFM as a pasture type on pastoral and cut and carry blocks. “For the first time, farmers considering sowing plantain can compare estimates of their farm’s nitrogen losses before investing time and money. Also, those who already use plantain can have it recognised in their farm plans,” Overseer chief executive Dr Caroline Read said. “There has been a lot of interest in exploring the impact of adding plantain to farm systems or including it in compliance reporting.” Plantain offers significant potential benefits. Depending on the proportion of plantain in the animal’s diet, less excreted nitrogen ends up in urine and urine volume increases, resulting in urine patches with less nitrogen – which is better for the environment.

How large the environmental effect is, depends on the farm’s situation, for example, scale of plantain use, amount of supplementary feed used, soil type and climate. The FRNL programme was led by DairyNZ and funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and research partners DairyNZ, AgResearch, Plant & Food Research, Lincoln University, Foundation for Arable Research and Manaaki WhenuaLandcare Research. First, FRNL assessed the impact of Ceres Tonic plantain and other forages and identified that plantain reduces nitrogen leached. Overseer has spent the last year working with AgResearch scientists to translate the FRNL findings into OverseerFM. “Including plantain in Overseer ensures farmers can have the good work they are doing acknowledged as part of compliance processes,” DairyNZ senior scientist and FRNL programme lead Dr Ina Pinxterhuis said. Further research is planned to better understand the effects of plantain on nitrogen processes in the soil, Pinxterhuis said.

HEAR WHAT MATTERS TO YOU.

There’s only one fertiliser standard in NZ – Fertmark

Philippa Rawlinson

Executive Director FQC

n the recent dispute between Ballance Agri-nutrients vs Quin over the validity of industry standards as applied to their respective fertiliser products, the High Court recognised that Fertmark is the only standard for fertiliser sold in New Zealand. Fertiliser is a significant expenditure for farmers and growers and this judgement recognises the importance of a clear understanding of the characteristics of the product being purchased. Established in 1996, Fertmark was set up by farmers for farmers when the government stepped away from regulating and auditing fertiliser. The need to ensure farmers had some form of guarantee that the fertiliser they were purchasing was true to label was strong. The window of opportunity was small and Fertmark was set up with speed – reducing the risks of leaving the fertiliser market unmonitored for any length of time. Now in existence for nearly 25 years, and overseen by the Fertiliser Quality Council, Fertmark has been the

ambulance at the top of the cliff for the majority of farmers and growers purchasing fertiliser. By using a robust independent auditing system that regularly verifies the declared values of each fertiliser product, farmers and growers can be confident that the fertiliser products aligned with Fertmark are true to the claims. While the scheme is voluntary, the FQC encourages all fertiliser manufacturers and suppliers to join by submitting their products for independent audit. Fertmark has an established register comprising around 80 percent of fertiliser products sold in New Zealand. Of course, this still leaves 20 percent of fertiliser products in use on our soils unverified. This begs the question of whether the farmers and growers using products within this 20 percent margin know exactly what they are putting on their land. The simple answer is that – they don’t. To eliminate any element of doubt, farmers and growers need only ask their supplier “is this product Fertmark approved”.

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SHEARING FEATURE

Designed to increase farm profitability P

PP Industries is a New Zealand owned and based leading provider and distributor of livestock equipment specifically designed to increase farm profitability. The company was established in 1962 to manufacture equipment for the local market; however, since the early 1970s, PPP has also been exporting agricultural solutions abroad. PPP initially began supplying equipment for the poultry industry, but as other farming groups in NZ increasingly took note of PPP’s influence in the poultry industry, it was not long before PPP made the decision to diversify and develop NZ’s first in-shed dairy feed system for dairy farmers in 1967. Dairy feed systems account for 65 percent of PPP’s total revenue. PPP is the leading supplier of in-shed dairy feed systems in New Zealand for milking cows, sheep, and goats. In the late 1970s, PPP began importing Harrington’s sheep handling equipment from Australia. One of Harrington’s more successful and highly demanded piece of equipment, was a walk-through sheep-dipping race – which PPP negotiated to manufacture under licence for

Harrington in New Zealand. Suddenly farmers had an easy and efficient way to dip their sheep. This offered many advantages over plunge dips and shower dips. In the early 1990s, Harrington closed down their business, and PPP continued manufacturing sheep dipping machines. Despite Harrington’s simple sheep-dipping race being effective, more development was needed to ensure the machine could keep up with modern-day demands. Farmers wanted a machine that could dip sheep faster, cheaper, and more reliably – prompting PPP to independently develop a new sheep-dipping race. Manufactured using high quality stainless steel, and equipped with the incorporation of electronics already proven successful by PPP in the dairy industry, PPP launched a new sheep-dipping race in 2013 – the Lincoln model. Unlike its predecessor, the Lincoln model is significantly lighter, allowing for easy transportation and manoeuvrability; stainlesssteel renders it rust-free and corrosion-free; and state-of-theart electronics allow for greater volumes of sheep to pass through the race (800 to 1000 sheep per hour) with minimal wastage. Preventing fly-strike and live

infestations from disrupting profitability has never been easier. Although the Lincoln model accounts for 95 percent of PPP’s sheep-dipping races sold in New Zealand, in order to meet the demands of Australian farmers with finer-wool sheep, the Saxon model was developed. The Saxon model aptly deals with larger/ horned/finer-wool sheep and/or goats. Whether it be the Saxon or the Lincoln model, we now have several of these sheepdipping machines operating in Ireland, Wales, India, Dubai, Chile, Australia and even South Korea. As an exporting company within a heavily dependent exporting country, we are always looking for opportunities to increase our influence in foreign markets. As the owner of PPP industries, I have in-depth knowledge of agriculture outside of New Zealand – whether it be helping the Vesteys farm management team in Brazil, to helping farmers in Uruguay, or to the more challenging environment of Papua New Guinea as an agriculture advisor. Livestock farming is demanding work, and innovative systems play an important role in speeding things up, freeing up time, and offering peace of mind.

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• • •

Price includes Honda 5.5HP & Davey Fire Fighter single impeller pump with hose kit (10m). Weighing just 48kg, it makes moving into and around sheep yards plus on/ off trailers a oneman job Non adjustable sides Single set of electric eyes Top and bottom nozzles

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The success of PPP Industries’ sheep jetters is based on the product’s simplicity, reliability - and our highly competitive pricing (possibly the best in the market).

SAXON SHEEP JETTERS • • •

• • • • •

Manufactured from stainless steel Electric eye 800-1000 sheep per hour Fantastic penetration Get one now before price increase

• • •

Price includes Honda 6.5HP & Davey Fire Fighter twin impeller pump withhose kit (10m) Weighing 110kg makes moving into and around sheep yards easy with handles at both ends for 2 men Adjustable sides Side jetting nozzles 2 x sets of electric eyes

Optional recycling bath for both models

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FUNGICIDE

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SILAGE FEATURE

Raw material makes the pickled pasture I

t is impossible to produce high quality silage from low quality pasture, no matter how good the fermentation is. Both the quality of the ensiled pasture and the quality of the fermentation must be considered.

WHAT IS PASTURE SILAGE?

Silage is pickled pasture. When pasture is ensiled, its sugars are converted into lactic acid by bacteria. It is the lactic acid which pickles the pasture, allowing it to be preserved for a lot longer than it would have been if left in the open air. With well-preserved silage, losses in feeding value during fermentation will be small, and the final silage will be only slightly lower in feeding value than the original pasture. Minimum values for high quality silage is 10MJME/ kgDM and 16 per cent crude protein. Good quality pasture silage is a good source of energy and

protein for a milking cow and can be used as a fibre source when feeding high sugar or starch feeds. However, a poor quality pasture silage (made from low quality pasture, or ensiled with low quality fermentation, or both) will not support high milk yield and will only be suitable for dry cows, or as a fibre source to reduce risk of acidosis. LOSSES WHEN MAKING PASTURE SILAGE

Losses occur as sugars and protein in the grass is broken down by enzymes, and bacteria. This process starts as soon as the grass is cut. Losses decrease quality as well as quantity, because it is the highly digestible components which are most rapidly broken down. LOSSES DURING HARVESTING

Losses depend on the dry matter (DM) of the pasture. The

optimum DM for silage is 25-30 per cent because total DM loss is minimised. • Cut in the morning of a sunny day, for rapid wilting. Cutting after 1-2 days’ sunny weather will result in good sugar levels in the pasture, even when cut in the morning. • Avoid wilting for any more than 24 hours. • Compact the silage well. In a stack or pit, use the heaviest wheeled vehicle available. • Tractor wheels should not sink into the pile of pasture any further than the depth of rubber. • For baled silage make sure that a high density baler is used. • Seal the stack completely with a weighted, airtight cover. Wash old polythene before use to avoid contamination with the wrong bacteria. • Don’t re-open a covered stack to add more pasture on

another day

FEEDING OUT LOSSES

LOSSES WHILE GRASS IS IN THE STACK, PIT OR BALE

Once the silage is sealed, nothing can be done to change the fermentation process. Poor fermentation (eg air in the stack) leads to major losses of protein quality. In poorly preserved silage protein is broken down into ammonia, which decreases the feeding value of the silage. Getting things right while the grass is being harvested will maximise the chance of having a good fermentation: • A fast wilt to 25-30 per cent DM will leave good sugar concentrations in the pasture. • Quick compaction and effective sealing will keep out oxygen, making conditions more suitable for bacteria to convert sugars into lactic acid. • Fast production of lactic acid will quickly reduce the pH, to prevent protein losses.

Silage begins to break down once exposed to air, and will begin to heat up as microorganisms turn the remaining sugars and protein into heat and energy. When feeding out, aim for as little time as possible between exposing the silage to air, and the cow eating it. There are several ways to limit losses from silage while feeding out: • Remove at least 20cm off the whole stack face each day, so silage at the face is not exposed to air for a more than one day. • Cut silage off the face, rather than pulling it off. This keeps a smooth surface at the stack face, which reduces air penetration into the stack. • Leave the stack face open on dry days to avoid heat buildup under the polythene. • Do not feed out more than 1 day in advance, especially in summer.

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Power Farming Ashburton