Guardian Farming July 2011

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An Ashburton Guardian Advertising Feature

Guardian interesting • informative • essential

Sheep farmers now a rare breed . . .

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GUARDIAN FARMING

What’s happening Event

W

e live in exciting times, four-legged and stomached herbivores now outnumber people in New Zealand and I can envisage bovine representation in Parliament by 2014 if Hans Kreik has his way. The recent atrocities in Indonesian animal welfare during the slaughter process shows just how low a priority it is in other countries and while New Zealand is certainly not perfect either, it does put things into perspective. Make no mistake I believe in animal welfare and to a certain extent animal rights, what I cannot buy into however is that one man and his merry band of idealistic followers know what’s best for farm animals when there is such a spectrum of knowledge out there between farmers and veterinarians. Although SAFE brought the attention of animal welfare into our homes through Open Rescue’s raid (led by Mike King) on a Levin piggery which wasn’t up to scratch in 2009, but in doing so condemned an entire industry. Well folks it was a nice easy story, Save Animals from Exploitation (SAFE) provided the television media with a nice package of all the ingredients of shock and conflict to stimulate the masses. I believe it was an irresponsible act, when they could have alerted the proper authorities to deal with the farmer as the individual responsible for the welfare of his animals without besmirching the rest of the industry. Back to SAFE boss Hans Kreik, and I must ask, is there any kind of missionary element within his organisation because believe me, it needs one and I can even suggest a missionary assignment ... Indonesia. Instead of causing maximum damage upon the domestic pork industry, which was condemned by the actions of one farmer (no doubt there will be others out there, but

July 11

do not truly represent their respective industries as a whole) perhaps he could focus his efforts on Indonesia, where cattle are being slaughtered in the most barbaric of ways. Or is it easier to make Lance Isbister an issue out of isolated Ashburton Guardian incidents domestically rural reporter than it is to tackle the big issues in animal welfare abroad? Oh and for the record Hans, farmers who have living animals also have had the odd dead one and just like people in a hospital, they don’t look too flash before they expire. Pneumonia, facial eczema and lameness aren’t pretty, and as hard as a farmer tries to restore their health through a range of treatments and care, they can still look terrible. My main concern however is that outside interest groups have too little an understanding of farming practices and too much say. If they truly wanted to make a difference would working with farmers not be a good start? They can kick an agricultural industry in the guts by using those age-old tactics of sad music and images of animal neglect to get their message across sans the facts and neutrality. On the SAFE website Hans Kreik comments “I’d rather see an MP express honest views, no matter how unpalatable they are, than have to listen to the meaningless spin so often used by other politicians”. Interesting comment there, but somewhat hypocritical when it comes from someone with so much experience in spin they could Segway quite smoothly into being a disc jockey.

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Sheep farmers now a rare breed Lance Isbister, Ashburton Guardian rural reporter

S

heep farmers like Stu Mangin have become a rare breed in the wake of widespread change to dairy farming in Mid Canterbury.

As cows continue to replace sheep, the borderdale breeder, who still shears his own sheep among others around Methven, is far from anxious about the sweeping transition which has left the industry to ponder its very survival. This year’s strong prices for sheep and beef as well as the more marginal land they occupy have meant not every sheep farmer can or will convert to chase the dairy dollar. Supply and demand has certainly helped the industry’s situation for the time being. Combine that with arable farmers who buy up lambs to fatten in their crop rotation and sheep certainly won’t disappear from the Mid Canterbury landscape anytime soon. Stu used to run 500 ewes and 200 hoggets, but has made the decision to lease 35 hectares of the 75 hectare farm to a dairy farmer who approached him about the lease proposal. While his decision saw his flock number reduced to 250 ewes and hoggets in total, Stu’s passion for farming sheep is still very much alive and evident in the prizes he won for wool and borderdale breed at the Methven show this year. The population of white woollies may have diminished over the last decade, but back in the late 1980s when Stu remembered lambs fetching only $15 the option to convert to dairying was not feasible as dairy returns were not particularly attractive either.

interest rate on the mortgage. “People used to ask me how did I make any money, but I just kept on going. Back in the 1980s you didn’t know any different, so long as you kept paying your bills you were too busy to think about it.” These days however, people are more likely to ask how Stu managed to breed heavy prime lambs worth $207 at the Tinwald sale earlier this year as other farmers and meat processors pay the higher price to secure stock for the schedule. But Stu’s a realist and knows that prices that high translate to the supermarket shelves and only push lamb beyond the budget of the average shopper to become a gourmet product, a trend he does not see as being sustainable nor affordable for Kiwi families. In the meantime he is enjoying the satisfaction of the friendly rivalry between local breeders at the Tinwald sale as they jostle for the top price for their top lambs. While Stu doesn’t see flock numbers making a significant return to Mid Canterbury in the future, he is comfortable with the balance of demand and supply now. The sheep numbers still keep he and his nephew Paul Mangin on Methven woolshed stands with rousabout Vanessa Weily, completing the gang of three.

Between 2002 and 2007 his shearing gang used to consist of five shearers and three shed-hands as they tackled the larger tallies up the local gorges. These days things are a In Stu’s case the only option was to stick with what he knew little more relaxed with Stu shearing just 300 ewes from and work harder as a shearer, while keeping his mind off Ritchie and Phyllis Bruce and Brian Petrie at his woolshed as the price of sheep back on the farm which had a 23 per cent opposed to the 1300 ewes he used to shear twice a year for

PHOTO LANCE ISBISTER 290611-LI-460

Sheep farmer and shearer Stu Mangin is enjoying the pace of his shearing run these days as the decline in sheep numbers takes the pressure off. Mr Petrie alone. According to Stu, local shearing contractors have worked together well in communicating with each other to keep the handpieces warm and the fleeces falling as they work through farmers’ flocks. Mobile phones have certainly helped the situation, especially during smoko at least when the shearing machines go quiet.

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Supporting Christchurch Kerry Maw

W

e all know how desperately Christchurch has needed support during the past few months.

Advance promotion of the socks through the social networking site Facebook saw thousands of fans congratulate Rural Women and eagerly awaiting the go live date on June 20.

Rural Women New Zealand has been at the forefront of many of the support efforts from offering respite accommodation to catering for the Farmy Army, Student Army and welfare centres, and our hugely successful Communities Knitting Together project.

The socks are currently being sold online through the website www.aftersocks. co.nz, where interest has been huge, with the website receiving 100,000 hits during its first week.

Members and communities from around New Zealand gathered together and knitted up a storm all in an effort to keep people in Christchurch warm this winter.

And sales have been so good that after just the first week, we have already had to extend our order.

Thousands of beanies, gloves, slippers, bedsocks, peggy square blankets, and scarves were collected and distributed to people in the eastern suburbs.

Since the launch, we’ve seen the socks appearing in all sorts of places – MPs on the steps of Parliament, CTV’s Citylife programme, and even Corrin wore them on TV1’s Breakfast programme. Who knows where they’ll pop up next.

Christchurch will need a lot more support yet so Rural Women New Zealand is moving on to its next initiative – and it’s absolutely brilliant!

aftersocks™ care, share, wear a pair warming hearts, warming toes, warming Cantabrians This gem of an idea popped into Justine Ottey’s head as her house rattled and shook on top of the Port Hills and it’s grabbed the nation’s attention and gone

In their aftersocks™ on the steps of Parliament (from left) MPs Tim Macindoe (Hamilton West), Jo Goodhew (Rangitata), Dr Jackie Blue (Nat List), Carol Beaumont (Lab List) and Kevin Hague (Greens, List) viral. Justine’s vision of red and black striped “aftersocks”, featuring an earthquake richter scale image in the middle, became a reality when she approached Rural Women New Zealand. We took up the challenge, and set out on a steep learning curve in the sock manufacturing business.

You can trust that my experience assisting other Mid Canterbury rural property owners will mean a successful, confidential, professional service for you

We were keen to see the socks made in Canterbury to support local manufacturing, and also to have them made from New Zealand merino wool for warmth. Now the socks are rolling off the production line at the NZ Sock Company in Ashburton, which has two machines working day and night to keep up with the high demand. Currently the socks are available in women’s and men’s sizes, and soon we will introduce a children’s size as well.

People around the world are also getting behind the project with sales coming from Australia, the United Kingdom, Korea, Canada, Hong Kong and the United States. With all this interest, we may even champion a national sock wearing day so everyone around the country can show their support for Canterbury. All profits from the sale of aftersocks, which cost $20 a pair, will go to the Christchurch Mayoral Fund. We are thrilled to know that with all the support we are receiving from the public both here and overseas, this is going to be a very worthwhile donation.

Guardian interesting • informative • essential

Contact me now to discuss buying or selling. Ian Crosson

Rural/Lifestyle Consultant

MOB 0274 548 398

Office 03 307 8317

Mid Canterbury (A member of the First National Group) Licensed Sales Person (REAA 2008)

Any feedback is welcome, any comments about our magazine, letters or story suggestions.

Advertising: Phone 307-7900 Email: emma.j@theguardian.co.nz

Please direct any correspondence to: Amanda Niblett, on 307-7927 email: amanda.n@theguardian.co.nz or to: Lance Isbister, on 307-7953 email: lance.i@theguardian.co.nz or write to PO Box 77, Ashburton.

Next issue: August 2, 2011

Publication date: July 5, 2011 An advertising feature for the Ashburton Guardian. Any opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Guardian Farming or the Ashburton Guardian.

GUARDIAN FARMING

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Factors influencing farm incomes Neal Shaw, ATS Chief Executive

F

ollowing the success of last month’s New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays, it would seem there are currently plenty of positives within the rural sector.

According to organisers of the annual event, 117,495 visitors poured through the gates at the Mystery Creek Events Centre this year, and despite being down four per cent on the previous year, enthusiasm levels were high with some business exhibitors experiencing record sales and leads. These trade events are always a good indicator of the mood and feeling of the industry and it was good to see such positive vibes coming from what is the country’s biggest rural trade event. This positive outlook is also shared by some within our financial sector. Following last month’s announcement the Official Cash Rate would remain unchanged at 2.5 per cent, the Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard said the early signs of recovery noted in the March statement had continued, and the outlook for the New Zealand economy had continued to improve since then. According to the Reserve Bank website, he went on to say that “despite some continuing signs of weakness in the world economy, commodity prices remain very strong and firms expect to increase their hiring and capital investment.” The flip side of this is that the high New Zealand dollar, along with high export prices for primary producers, is having a negative effect on other parts of the tradable sector. Bollard says headline inflation is currently being boosted by recent increases in indirect taxes, food and petrol prices. These factors are often ignored by urban commentators when analysing prices paid for protein

products at the checkout.

from risk and reduce the chance of becoming overstretched.

Fertiliser is another big ticket item when it comes to onfarm costs, and when combined with the likes of fuel and banking interest rates, it is no surprise to learn statistics support the perceived increase in on-farm costs. According to Beef + Lamb NZ’s recently released on-farm inflation statistics, sheep and beef farm businesses faced a 4.1 per cent increase in input prices for the year ended 31 March 2011. The previous year saw these same prices decrease by 2.9 per cent. Bank interest rates were cited as one of the bigger expenses faced by sheep and beef farmers in the last financial year, with the price of interest increasing 5.4 per cent. Other big increases included fertiliser up by 7.5 per cent, fuel up by 14.1 per cent and insurance premiums up 5.6 per cent.

Under the new rules banks will have to hold more capital against rural lending which will increase their cost of capital. This cost will have to be passed on. It is hoped the competitive nature of farm lending and the high export returns currently being experienced, will off-set some of these additional costs to borrowers. According to come commentators, these high returns are set to continue. Not everyone is keen to take a punt on predicting the future of the commodities market, but a recently released MAF report has gone so far as to say gross agricultural revenue will grow by 45 per cent from $22 billion to $32 billion by 2016.

It is unlikely any of these significant farming expenses are likely to come down in the near future. Insurance premiums in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakes are likely to climb, and tougher rules for rural lending are also likely to have a negative impact for borrowers.

The annual Situation and Outlook for NZ Agriculture and Forestry has MAF experts saying while rising dairy, meat, wool and log prices are due to short-term supply issues, the strength of demand from emerging markets, the recovery in many developed economies and continuing demand for agricultural resources for biofuel production, has led them to revise upwards their view of medium-term international prices.

The Reserve Bank has tightened regulations on the main banks (ANZ-National, BNZ, Westpac and ASB) following the high level of rural lending which took place a couple of years ago. It is estimated these banks do 80 per cent of New Zealand’s farm lending.

Steady primary production growth with an assumed depreciation of the New Zealand dollar and predictions of a fall in trading partners’ exchange rates would have the New Zealand dollar worth US58c and UK34p by 2015 according to this report.

Some would argue many banks have already taken a more conservative approach to rural lending, but this hasn’t deterred the Reserve Bank from introducing the new regulations. The Reserve Bank’s hope is the big four (banks) will now be in a better position to be protected

Sometimes these sorts of predictions are spot on – and sometimes they’re not. In 2007 forecasts for this year were that the NZ dollar would be worth US56c and UK30p. Obviously this is not the case. It remains to be seen if all the current speculation is on the money or not.

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Property Eric and Maxine’s Wakanui farm is a 490 ha fully arable unit, 97% irrigated. They grow a wide range of crops including cereals, faba beans, ryegrass and fescue, vegetables (radish, red beet, spinach, edible chrysanthemum, corn salad, pak choi) and herbage seeds (plantain, red clover) for seed production.

The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is an applied research and information transfer organisation responsible to New Zealand arable and maize growers. FAR will be conducting a referendum in August which will include the introduction of a levy on cereal silage. Levy funds would be invested in research, extension and education to provide benefits to all cereal silage growers. Currently FAR has a database of arable grain and seed growers and maize grain and silage growers; these growers will receive voting papers for the referendum. All growers of cereal silage harvested in the 2010/2011 harvest are also entitled to vote. Meetings will be held throughout cereal silage growing regions in June and July to explain the levy and the key benefits to farmers. Full meeting details can be viewed at www.far.org.nz/event DATE

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Far’s Involvement Eric has been involved with FAR since its inception. FAR has over the years run a large number of trials on the property including: cultivar performance trials, wheat cultivars, MAF SFF trials including grass 2 crop, variable nitrogen use, variable rate irrigation (in conjunction with Landcare Research); growth regulator trials on grass. Eric is on the Mid Canterbury Arable Research Group and also sits on the committee for a number of MAF SFF funded projects. FAR field days, Combinable Crops and the FAR Autumn Results Round-up meetings are excellent vehicles for the transfer of knowledge from upto-date and highly relevant research. Maxine was involved in the setting up of Women in Arable and has been an active member of the group. The aims of the group are to help women find

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a role for themselves on the arable farm farm, and to provide a friendly and non-threatening environment in which to learn about their industry. That it still attracts good attendances after 10 years is testament to the success of the programme and the dedication of FAR staff.

Their Say With the results of the grass to crop and other cultivation trials over the last few years we have had the confidence to use the non inversion method for all cultivation – mostly only ploughing one paddock a year. Due to putting into practice this work done by FAR and depending on crop rotation we have saved up to 200 tractor hours per year while definitely assisting the maintenance of soil quality. Following FAR’s work with nitrogen, especially in ryegrass, we are now using less nitrogen overall while achieving higher yields (over 3000 kg/ha). Work done last season in conjunction with Landcare Research on variable rate irrigation is proving that up to 20% water use savings are achievable without compromising yield. All this research helps considerably with increased efficiency and profitability on farm and thus contributes to long-term sustainable production.

Page 6

GUARDIAN FARMING

Small sleeping dangers Dr Glenn Beeman n

C

yathostomes are the latest and greatest problem for horses and a huge concern for their owners. What are they? Why should horse owner’s be very, very worried?

doses of fenbendazole is important. Pasture hygiene programmes are important if we understand the life cycle of small redworms. The infective L3 stage of the Strongyle larvae is the only stage that can infect horses. Egg hatching and larval development occurs best at temperate (20 to 30° Celsius). Infective strongyle larvae have a protective “sheath/coat” that protects it from frosts and for even five weeks under snow. Rainfall or irrigation (except flooding), can increase L3 larvae on a contaminated paddock by 300 per cent.

Cyathostomes, small stronglyes, small redworms – all names for the same intestinal worms (nematode) found in horses. Of the nearly 50 species of small stronglyes, 12 are commonly found in horses. Cyathostomes enter the horse by ingestion of infective L3 larvae when the horse is grazing contaminated pastures. Shortly after infection these larvae migrate to the large bowel (caecum and colon) and invade the lining of the bowel where they molt and encyst.

Highest infective larval populations occur during temperate seasonal conditions (equally, the ‘hibernating/encysted stage can remain dormant during drought or dry conditions).

These larvae can reside (hibernate) in these little fibrous cysts for just a few weeks, or in some cases up to 2.5 years!

Picking up and removing manure from paddocks before deposited eggs hatch and mature into infective larval stages is often the easiest and most effective method of control of small stronglyes and other nematodes.

As long as they remain encysted these larvae produce a minimal inflammatory response to the host (the horse). The big problem begins when we get a large synchronous “hatch out” (cyst wall is ruptured by the emerging larvae) of these larvae, causing intense inflammation of the mucosa (inner lining of the bowel) leading to haemorrhage and oedema. This syndrome is referred to as clinical stongylosis or cyathostomiasis. A diagnosis of larval cyathostomiasis is based on clinical signs (diarrhoea, high fever, low grade colic, weight loss, poor body condition), faecal analysis (illustrating large numbers of larvae present in the manure), and blood work (neutrophila – high white cell, and low albumin). The acute syndrome of diarrhoea, anorexia, and weight loss can be fatal. Secondary bacterial enteritis can occur. Often cyathostomiasis is seasonal (coinciding with stress conditions such as weaning or winter), tends to affect the young and the very old (poor host immunity), or shortly following drenching. The latter time is likely a “survival response” to re-establish egg laying adults. Surprising the adult stage of small strongyles which live in the lumen of the bowel (adjacent to the mucosa) and feed only on organic matter have little role in the clinical syndrome we observe. The only subtle sign we may see of cystic larvae or high adult numbers are very large is “ill thrift” – largely from these nematodes stealing valuable nutrients from the organic matter digested in the gut. The adult small strongyles are important for completing the life cycle of small stronglyes by laying the eggs that are deposited in the faeces, dropped onto paddocks, hatch and develop into infected larval stages again. Small strongyle adults are prolific (100eggs/adult female/day). In addition, small strongyles, in the right environmental conditions have a very short prepatent period (small redworm larvae returning to the large

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Strongyle eggs intestine can develop to mature egg laying adults in four to five weeks). Gross contamination of paddocks with small redworms can occur in a short period of time. Regular drenching is not necessarily the answer and in fact the historical “drenching every six to eight weeks” has likely greatly contributed to the drench resistance in these small redworms. Tackling the problem requires a management programme working directly with your equine veterinarian, utilising faecal egg counts, paddock hygiene programmes, and only strategic use of anthelmintics (wormers/drenches) based on seasonal conditions. Faecal egg counts (FECs) on submitted manure samples are excellent tools for evaluating internal parasite burdens in our horses, the need for drenching, or providing evidence of drench resistance. Studies have shown regular routine FECs can reduce drench requirements up to 50 per cent. Not only is this a huge savings to owners it may also limit the time it may take for these internal parasites to develop resistance to the drench families present on the market. FECs have shown that 20 to 30 per cent of horses in a herd or stable will harbour 80 per cent of the worm burden – these are the horses we need to identify and drench. FECs are not an accurate tool for evaluating horses that have dormant “hibernating/encysted” cyathostomes. This is where strategic drenching (spring and autumn) to eliminate these dormant stages of small redworms using drenches with the moxidectin family, or high

Manure removal should be performed no less than once a week (ideally daily or twice weekly). Many owners may not know that properly composted manure (and worm eggs killed) can be safely scattered back on paddock replacing lost organic matter. Paddock management should ensure horses are not grazing paddocks too low, where the infective larvae attach themselves on the grass. Some studies suggest avoiding grazing short paddocks during rainy weather also helps to reduce ingestion of infective larvae. Cross grazing paddocks with other species such as cattle and sheep, after horses have grazed there, helps to vacuum up those larvae stages but not infecting these other species. Strategic drenching should be aimed at controlling worm reproduction. Complete eradication of worms is usually not possible or even desirable because it reduces horse’s natural immunity to worms. Our drench programmes should be aimed at controlling the “sleeping” encysted stages of small Redworms before they develop into egg laying adults that can contaminate our paddocks. Most drenches on the market are not effective against the “resting” phases of small strongyles. If you have horses with ill thrift or suspect your horse may have an internal parasite problem consult your equine veterinarian. If your horse has diarrhoea, it is an emergency and the outcome and survival may depend on how quickly it is seen, treated and properly diagnosed. Internal parasites are not going to be eliminated by just drenching. Your local equine veterinarian is your best source of information for control, management, and treatment of cyathostomes. Proper control of internal parasites helps horse owners sleep at night.

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Page 7

Winchmore update - June John Carson

A

s I write this the shortest day is almost upon us, The prices stayed up and the grass continued to grow so tomorrow in fact and now mentally at least we are keeping them on was not a problem. on the way to spring and summer. The rest of the dairy cows arrived in early June and That’s not to say that this month has been anything like settled in well quite quickly and both mobs seem to winter, with only 11.4mm of rain to date compared to be much more settled this year, possibly because the the long term average of 54.7mm, an average maximum weather has been warmer and ground conditions are temperature of 13.2°C compared to the long-term drier than they were last year. average of 13.0°C and only 12 frosts compared to a June average of 20 frosts. One hundred and eighty dairy heifers have been split into two mobs and are slowly break-feeding their Naturally there are still 10 days of the month left and as way down B block and some of the areas set aside has happened before all sorts of weather to come can for science that were in the end not needed, and not change these comparisons quite quickly. charged for, (just in case the science guys read this and think I have pulled a fast one on them). Pasture growth rates in my two cages have dropped right down to 4 and 6 kgdm/ha respectively, which is I was able to get all the contracts of the one-off science quite surprising as the paddocks all look to have had trials written up with the details required to enable me more growth than that and with blossom and spring to finalise their final costs. bulbs appearing as well as a few early lambs it appeared as if soil temperatures and pasture growth could have It is great to be able to add more income to my end of been higher than measured. year total revenue, all helping to make the year’s work financially worthwhile. One mob of science sheep, the ethically improved flock (meaning low labour input, easy care, high The final week of June has been spent feeding out performance) have been shorn along with the few and stock work in the mornings and the afternoons remaining commercial sheep. Such settled weather finalising the end of year accounts, and dealing to all the made it a breeze. minute details that the accountant from head office has emailed down to be completed. The exception being the science mob of Wiltshires, which will be shorn in August with fleeces weighed After that it will be a case of jumping on the computer and samples taken. The last of the sale lambs have to see how the Winchmore financials have stacked up been sold, later than normally would happen but they against some of the other AgResearch farms. were involved in the last of the science trials and were required to be kept for a further weighing and fecal There’s nothing like a bit of competition between the sampling. farms and farm managers.

PHOTO LANCE ISBISTER 290611-LI-484

The last of the sale lambs have been sold, later than normally would happen.

Page 8

GUARDIAN FARMING

A match made in avocado heaven A

successful 23-year relationship between Apata Limited and Primor Produce Limited, just got stronger as two of the largest players in the avocado industry join forces.

Apata Chief Executive Officer, Steve Low, is pleased to announce Apata has purchased a cornerstone share in Primor, a decision certain to influence the avocado scene. “We now have complete integration between post-harvest and marketing services. Many years ago our focus was on kiwifruit and our avocado business developed because the avocado peak-season occurs during our kiwifruit offseason. “But it was our strong personal connection and inherently successful business partnership with Primor that really helped get us to the next level and become the size we are today,” Mr Low said the decision to invest was not made overnight but was carefully negotiated over a period of six months. “Strategically, we focus on providing a premium service to growers. So, over the past few years we ensured continual re-evaluation and improvement to our harvesting logistics, and post harvest packing supply chain, while investing a sizeable amount of capital into those systems.” But Mr Low said what became increasingly apparent and imperative during the last few seasons is that Apata needed to have a stronger strategic focus to encourage more growth. “Our principles in considering how to foster and grow our avocado business were based on taking the years of success we’ve experienced and figuring out what we needed to do from an orchard, post-harvest perspective to

ensure optimisation of our services. The way forward for Apata, Mr Low said, was to invest in Primor. “The company is an extremely efficient and high performing market business and has a well developed network into key Australian and Asian markets, in addition to the New Zealand domestic market. It means we can share even more of our successes with each other.” According to Mr Low, Apata will gain a deeper understanding of marketing strategies while becoming more visible. John Carroll, Primor director and also a director of the Avocado Industry Council, said he was impressed even as a young man, by the way Apata operated. “Back in the 1980s when I worked in Te Puke I visited packhouses in the Bay of Plenty area as part of my job. Myself and my colleagues found Apata staff to be uncomplicated yet professional and held a balanced view of their importance. They are still like that today. They do things accurately with a good attitude and not everyone is made that way”. Mr Carroll said Apata were not the first to hold discussions with Primor regarding a financial partnership over the years.

benefit from. Now feels the right time to change the shape of it,” Mr Carroll said. “We handle over 30 percent of our national avocado crop which is mostly packed at Apata. Our focus has been on the Australian market where we do substantial business with Coles Supermarkets. The beauty of supplying to Australia is that it is a high value market on a world scale, right on New Zealand’s doorstep.

“The fact that we have agreed to sell 33 per cent of our shares says a lot about how much we value doing business with Apata and is a huge credit to them.

“Because Australia is close, the fruit doesn’t have to travel far, and our natural supply window into that market is right in the peak of their consumption time, which is their summer. And just like other parts of the world, the Australian avocado market has continued to grow.

“No one had to do this. Neither company is under financial stress. This is a simple evolution of what has already been a successful, positive and simple relationship. This is us saying it is appropriate to continue doing business together while embracing opportunities we can both

“It’s been a real success story particularly in the past 10 to 15 years. There are always new consumers coming into the market and existing consumers are finding more and more ways to use avocados,” Mr Carroll said.

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Page 9

National award goes to Southland S

outhland farmers Grant and Bernadette Weller are the first holders of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy after being named national winners of the 2011 Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

ambassadors for New Zealand agriculture. “They are successful business people and strong communicators who will be able to effectively convey their sustainable farming beliefs and actions to a wide audience within New Zealand and beyond.”

Their win was announced at the New Zealand Farm Environment Award (NZFEA) Trust’s Sustainability Showcase in Hastings on June 25. NZFEA chairman Jim Cotman says the announcement was greeted with thunderous applause from around 300 guests who attended the gala function. Mr Cotman said the Wellers, who farm an 890ha (850ha effective) sheep and beef farm in the Waimea Valley, were clearly thrilled with their win. They were chosen from the nine regional Supreme winners of the 2011 Ballance Farm Environment Awards. This is the first time a national winner has been named in the competition. Mr Cotman says the initiative has captured an enormous amount of interest, much to the delight of competition supporters. “In a recent interview our Prime Minister John Key said that New Zealanders need to have goals to aspire to and that we need to celebrate success. “The winners of the inaugural Gordon Stephenson Trophy will provide farmers with a sense of pride, achievement and inspiration.” Mr Cotman said the Wellers will be great

Lead judge of the national winner title was Professor Jacqueline Rowarth, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, along with Warwick Catto, head of Research and Environment, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Alistair Polson, Agriculture Trade Envoy, and Todd Charteris, East Coast regional manager, Rabobank New Zealand Ltd. Interviews were chaired by Greg Glover, deputy chair of the NZFEA Trust. The Gordon Stephenson Trophy will be presented annually at the Sustainability Showcase – an event that salutes people who are farming in a manner that is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. Mr Cotman says the showcase provides an example of “our unique NZ brand”, reinforcing the importance of producing quality food, “based on good practice ethics and the ongoing stewardship of the land”. He said the Ballance Farm Environment Awards continue to build momentum. “The trust is extremely grateful for the ongoing support of the naming-right sponsor of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, along with the host of sponsors and partners and trust national partners who help make the awards the success they are.

Grant and Bernadette Weller “These agribusinesses understand and support the sustainability journey New Zealand farmers are on, and recognise the positive impact this has for the New Zealand economy and New Zealand’s overall wellbeing.” The Gordon Stephenson Trophy is named after the Waotu farmer who started the Farm Environment Awards.

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Page 10

GUARDIAN FARMING

Farming - our place in the economy John Leadley

I

When I resigned my membership of Federated Farmers on exiting active involvement in the industry in 2002, in a letter to the organisation, I expressed concerns at the direction the federation The services to agriculture industry made was heading. The writer is certainly correct in his view the greatest contribution to increased These concerns were based on over that the farming industry as a whole is employment during the year surveyed 40 years continuous membership not good at self promotion. with 287 new positions created. and attendance in excess of over 500 For a district that relies so heavily on the On a national scale Ashburton District meetings at branch, meat and wool and rural economy for its wealth this is indeed was the 11th fastest growing of the agriculture sections, provincial executive disappointing. 72 territorial local authorities in New and annual conference level. Zealand. Like it or not the bulk of employment I had noted in the previous five to 10 in this district emanates from the rural A very pleasing result and one that can years the gradual demise of branch based economy. Figures released by easily be improved on with sustainable meetings and attendance decline Infometrics for the year ending March expansion of water resources readily at provincial executive and annual 2010 (the latest available) clearly indicate available in the area to increase high conference level. the importance of agriculture to the value export production. Unsurprisingly this was paralleled by The top ten employing industries were: similar membership and club demise in the Young Farmer (YFC) movement, much to the detriment of the ongoing health of Ashburton New Zealand the farming sector. Rank Industry Jobs % of total % of total Interclub competition within YFC 1 Dairy Cattle Farming 1390 8.40% 1.70% had many positive outcomes with its 2 Meat Processing 1368 8.30% 1.00% educational opportunities and overseas 3 Services to Agriculture 634 3.80% 1.20% exchange experiences. 4 Supermarkets 385 2.30% 2.20% 5 Hospitals (except Psychiatric 377 2.30% 2.90% Regular events included debating, stock Hospitals) and pasture judging, shearing, wool 6 Farm Produce & Supplies 350 2.10% 0.30% handling, ploughing, and dog trials to Wholesaling mention but a few. All sound practical 7 Grain Growing 345 2.10% 0.10% basic farming skills of the day. 8 Primary Education 309 1.90% 2.20% 9 Sheep Farming Fortunately the annual Young Farmer 300 1.80% 0.60% 10 House Construction of the Year competition still provides 297 1.80% 1.30% a strong focus for young rural based employees and excellent industry promotion. However membership at national level is low. was interested to read Guardian reporter Lance Isbister’s “chewing the cud� article in the last issue of Dairy Focus relating to what he sees as the growing problem of rural/urban divide.

Ashburton District with approximately 35 per cent of the 16,536 people in employment involved directly in agriculture or its servicing industries.

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In my letter of resignation in 2002 I expressed concern that the federation was no longer led from a bottom up perspective, but by theoretically qualified policy analysts with little practical grass roots knowledge of the industry, and with much of the decision making coming from Wellington. My farming political career was nurtured on a base of exchange of ideas around a table, remits from branch members going to provincial level for further debate, and then if accepted to national council. Absolutely farmer led! In a letter of response then national president Tom Lambie, assured me that modern technology had made the need for branch meetings redundant. He stated that e-mail surveys and random membership sampling gave similar results.

He similarly assured me that participation at provincial level is strong! Maybe? This seems difficult to believe with the current provincial president living outside the district and reportedly a number of problems filling section vacancies. It’s not too long since the days of 10 branch meetings every month, section and executive meetings drawing 30 to 40 delegates and an annual conference of 60 to 80 members. Reporting was front page news in the local newspaper. When receiving the many excellent submissions from Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury to Council at annual and district plan time and to proposed projects within the district, I often wonder how many of the 700 members are aware of the content. At least Federated Farmers always avail themselves of the consultation process. As someone involved in local governance in the District since 1986 I’ve never witnessed locally any serious rift between the urban and rural sectors. Not the case in our major metropolitan areas. Apart from “off the cuff â€? comments years ago about farming vehicle opulence and some concern from rural folk at the “gifting’ of County forestry assets to townies in 1989, amalgamation of Ashburton Borough and County Council has been a seamless and successful marriage. My recollection of the 21½ years of District Council, gives no evidence of a vote split on urban/rural councillors. Statistically this will eventually happen of course. I welcome Guardian Farming reporter Lance Isbister’s wish to positively take up the opportunity to promote agriculture. Equally I hope that the occasionally bad news story is not unduly highlighted by a sensational headline way beyond the relevance of the incident. I’m not naive enough to believe that bad practice does not exist in animal welfare or the industry in general just as it does in any other industry or venture. All I ask is that because farming takes place in full view of the public the industry is promoted at a level in keeping with its importance to the national economy and by balanced journalism. That surely is the challenge to farming leaders and the media.

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Page 11

It’s better to be safe than sorry Sheryl Stivenss

ost farming families are aware of the chemicals used on their farm and now have safe handling, storage and disposal systems in place. But what about our homes and farm offices?

M

recovered. Please make sure these types of items do not end up in farm pits.

Many of the products found in and around our homes such as paint, pesticides, weed killers, pool chlorine, used oil and household batteries are hazardous and can cause injury or harm to people or our environment when the product is being used, stored or disposed of.

Recycling empty plastic cleaning bottles

As we move to using less toxic products very abrasive household cleaners or toxic garden chemicals can get put away in the back of the cupboard or the garden shed. It is important that any bottles or containers that still have liquids or powders inside them are clearly labelled, securely stored in a well ventilated area away from children and pets and when no longer required disposed of correctly. Incorrect disposal can cause harm not only to our people and animals but can cause potential damage to the environment from discharge into soils or pollution to rivers, lakes, groundwater or the ocean over time. It may also lessen the value of your property in the future if contamination in soils or waterways is discovered. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Safe disposal of household batteries, electronic gadgets and computers

toilet can cause damage to septic tanks and sewerage treatment plants by killing the organisms that help to decompose sewage waste. These chemicals can readily contaminate groundwater and waterways. Is there a more environmentally friendly solution you can use? Check out the list of safe substitutes below.

Many household cleaning products are packaged in recyclable plastic containers which are called janitorials and often have the recycling triangle with a number 2 on the bottom. Once you have used up all the products and the containers are empty these can be recycled through your kerbside recycling collection or dropped off at your community recycling facilities at the Ashburton or Rakaia Resource Recovery Parks. UNSAFE DISPOSAL X Burial or disposal into farm pits? Burying household hazardous waste can cause both soil and groundwater to be contaminated.

The Ashburton Resource Recovery Park is one of the few sites that accepts household batteries including hearing aids at the drop-off for safe disposal.

X Burning? Burning hazardous waste including the plastic containers can cause toxic air pollution including dioxins which are considered a major cause of cancer. The remaining ash is also highly toxic. Many household hazardous products are explosive and can cause serious injury if put into a fire.

Computers and electronic goods are also accepted. These are dismantled for safe recycling and any precious metals

X Down the drain? Pouring household hazardous waste down a sink or

SAFE DISPOSAL OPTIONS Domestic quantities of household hazardous waste are accepted for safe disposal at your community recycling facility operated by Mastagard at the Ashburton Resource Recovery Park. A few examples of common household hazardous waste products include: • • • • • • • • •

Paint Batteries Weed killer Engine oil Chemical oven cleaners Pool chlorine Laundry bleach Pesticides Weed killers

Recycle the past – build the future For further assistance and advice call the Community Recycling Helpline 0800 627 824.

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GUARDIAN FARMING

RCNZ CONFERENCE

24TH TO 27TH July 2011

Conference comes to town

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A locally generated organisation that monitor and train a large proportion of the countries rural contractors will be having their annual conference in Ashburton later this month, held at the Hotel Ashburton from 24 – 27 July. It is anticipated that the conference will attract more than 200 agricultural contractors from throughout New Zealand, over the four days that it is held. The theme of this year’s conference is Grass Roots Contracting – Getting back to basics, and will include interesting field trips and well known guest speakers to entertain and inform the attendees. Speakers include Agricultural Minister David Carter, New Zealand Transport Agency commercial operations road and rail national manager John Doesberg, and National manager road policing Superintendent Paula Rose. Field trips include a four hour spraying workshop held in Methven, a trip to the Claas Harvest Centre in Tinwald, as well as a mystery bus tour and other visits to successful Mid Canterbury businesses. It’s not all work however, as delegates are treated to fun lunches, dinners and shopping trips, injecting life into our local economy. The conference will also showcase advances made in plant and equipment, giving delegates the opportunity to view impressive pieces of machinery relevant to their specialist contracting field.

Who are RCNZ? The RCNZ is the leading advocate for rural contractors in New Zealand. It represents the interests of contractors engaged in a wide range of activities such as: • • • • • • • • • •

Land development Drainage Fencing Cultivation and planting Harvesting of crops Highway vegetation control and maintenance Parks, reserves and landscaping Chemical application Sheep dipping Direct drilling

The RCNZ monitors local authority annual and specific plans. It promotes members interests with other government organisations such as Land Transport Safety Authority, Tranzfund New Zealand, Transit New Zealand. RCNZ also maintains regular contact with the New Zealand Agrichemical Education Trust, Federated Farmers NZ, Groundspread Fertilisers’ Association, Road Transport Forum, AGCARM and chemical industry. For more information on how to become a member, please visit the following website; www.ruralcontractors.org.nz

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Page 13

RCNZ CONFERENCE

24TH TO 27TH July 2011

GRASS ROOTS CONTRACTING

Getting Back To Basics SUNDAY 24TH July 2011 Delegates and partners are welcome to arrive at Christchurch Airport prior to 11.00, where a bus will be waiting to take them to Ashburton where accommodation awaits. Approx 60 minute trip. 11am

Registration opens at Hotel Ashburton.

1pm

Lunch – at Hotel Ashburton.

2pm

Zone Presentation Welcoming Everyone to Conference

speaker - Topic – “Traceability Into The Farm Gate”

6.30pm The Grass Roots Dinner. Claas Harvest Canterbury / Landpower 10pm

3pm

Opening of 2011 Conference by Angus McKay Mayor of Ashburton

3.15pm Afternoon Tea 3.30pm Speech from David Carter Minister of Agriculture

Bus back to Hotel.

MONDAY 25th July 2011 8am

Elder’s Insurance Breakfast

9am

Informal Industry forum – Spraying Contractors will have a presentation by Seasol.

10.20am Conference Photograph 10.35am Infratrain Morning Tea

4.00pm Business Session No. 1. Fonterra

DAIRY CONVERSIONS

5.00pm Close of Business Session and Delegates and Partners travel by bus to the premises of Claas Harvert Centre, Tinwald.

Direct Drill Full Cultivation Track Maintenance Hay and Silage

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Page 14

GUARDIAN FARMING

RCNZ CONFERENCE

24TH TO 27TH July 2011

11.15am Donaghy’s Spraying and Forage Groups followed by lunch

Partners trip will be a Tiki Tour – touring, eating and shopping to Geraldine.

12.30pm Spraying Delegates go on a Field Trip to Molloy’s Contracting at Methven. Four hours of workshops including Bertolini presentation

TUESDAY 26th July 2011 8am

Tulloch Breakfast – Presentation John Tulloch - Cost of Owning Machinery Today.

The agriculture group will have presentations by:-

9am

Nexus will talk on their business

9.30a.m Report back of Industry forum 1pm Garry Billington – CB Norwood 1.30pm Panel Discussion on “Agricultural Vehicles on the Road� The Panel will consist of:1. TARMA – Ian Massicks 2. John Doesberg – National Manager, Commercial Operations Road & Rail, NZTA 3. Superintendant Paula Rose- National Manager for Road Policing, Police National Headquarters 3pm

Afternoon Tea and then continuation of panel with questions and answers

3.50pm Session on “Tyres� 5.15pm Delegates to travel by bus to mystery location for a Red and Black evening 5.45pm Case IH and Cochranes Mystery Red and Black Evening

10pm

10.15amTalk by Sebco entitled Fuel Regulations 10.30amSouth Fuel - Fuel Industry and Trends 10.45am Business Session No. 4. –Talk by Federated Farmers Topic – Relationship of Federated Farmers with Rural Contractors and Registered and Qualified Contractor and how it can be promoted to FF members. 11.25am Business Session No 5. – Seed Force – Sowing the Seeds for Stronger Grass Roots. Followed by lunch. 12.15pm Field Trip to prestigious businesses on the Canterbury Plains 6pm

10pm

Sebco Morning Tea

Happy Hour at Ashburton Hotel

Bus back to Hotel.

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7pm

RCNZ/Elders Awards Dinner

10.30am BNZ Morning Tea

WEDNESDAY 27th July 2011

11.00am RCNZ AGM

8am

Pioneer Breakfast Business Session

12.30pm Agpac/Plasback Farewell Lunch

9am

Business Session No. 6. – Paul Diver Employment Law Changes

9.45am Business Session No. 7. – BNZ Monetary Matters – Financing Industry changes

A bus trip could be arranged for sight seeing in the area. 1.30pm A bus will be leaving Ashburton to take Delegates and partners to the Christchurch Airport.

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Contact Simon Reed for all: s !RABLE AND PASTORAL BOOM SPRAYING s &ERTILISER AND ,IME SPREADING FROM YOUR SUPPLIER OR ON FARM STORAGE s 'ORSE HEDGE AND LOW SHELTER BELT TRIMMING WITH ./ RESIDUE s )NTER ROW CLOVER SPRAYING We have high clearance spraying and spreading in tramline

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GUARDIAN FARMING

Page 15

From animal health to pest control Lance Isbister, Ashburton Guardian rural reporter

S

heep and beef farmers should have a farmer-elected council to promote profitability according to Lone Star Farms’ proprietor Tom Stugress who spoke at Lincoln recently. The 2011 Beef and Lamb Lincoln Sheep and Beef Seminar saw a host of speakers discuss everything from animal health and prolificacy through to pasture production and pest and disease control. Lone Star Farms’ Tom Sturgess challenged the status quo of the red meat industry and said the industry needed more niche markets and small sales and marketing teams based in Auckland, to attract the people they needed to promote New Zealand export meat. “I don’t see the presence in the board of directors to develop new product lines in a profitable way. “I would challenge the board to reconstitute corporate governance to have a farmer-elected council for what steps we need to get to (increase profitability) to $400 per hectare.� Lincoln University’s professor Andrew Sykes looked to debunk the media testimonials and adverts which saturated farmers with a range of different mineral solutions. Professor Sykes said New Zealand had made a major contribution to nutrient management on the international stage as our geology was young with low trace elements in certain soil types, which

required greater nutrient management than counties with age-old established farmland. He said these deficiencies had led to low production in livestock and a supplementation trial was key to farmers understanding the trace elements their livestock required. Professor Sykes said low dry matter intake was the most likely cause of a low mineral diet and unsatisfactory performance in livestock so a supplementation trial was a wise investment which took into account the farm’s distinct soil and pasture characteristics. Lincoln University’s professor Derrick Moot played “fairy godmother� by granting farmers’ “dream come true� (theoretically) as he challenged those at the seminar to make a choice between using unlimited water or unlimited nitrogen for a year. He said the answer for their dairy cousins using both water and nitrogen was to grow green ryegrass. He explained dairy farmers had their cake and ate it too because not only did they use both water and nitrogen through irrigation, they had seed companies develop pastures to grow early in the spring and late in the autumn by changing the time at which they flowered. “That is changing the development process and it’s actually quite easy to do.�

PHOTO LANCE ISBISTER 240611-LI-016

Lincoln University’s professor Derrick Moot challenges attendees at the 2011 Beef and Lamb Lincoln Sheep and Beef Seminar to think about their options when it comes to irrigation and nitrogen. Through the results of an experiment conducted at Lincoln, he explained the trade-offs between nitrogen on dryland pasture which grew as fast as the irrigated pasture plus nitrogen in the springtime. “It grew as fast as it possibly could and then it ran out of water, plants aren’t that clever ... they don’t actually know they’re going to run out of water.

“So they grow as fast as they possibly can and at some point they run out of water. In this particular year they ran out of water between 21st of November and the 30th of June, after that when autumn kicked in the difference in pasture production between irrigated with nitrogen and nitrogen only was due to the period of moisture stress, not the rate of growth before or after moisture stress was relieved.�

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Page 16

GUARDIAN FARMING

Irrigation matters Tony Davoren, Hydroservices

M

ay and June (till 26th at least) has been amazing weather. Plenty of growth, not enough animals to eat it, sowing up to date, nothing drowned out – almost good harvest weather. Not quite what one expects for the month of May, the end of autumn and the beginning of winter.

ground level (mbgl) in October to 5mbgl in February. The water level did not reach the level about where one could expect there to be supply reliability issues (you can’t pump what you should because of low water levels). Some of the volume associated with that drop is abstraction for irrigation and other purposes, and some for the environment (the natural depletion of the groundwater).

Has it been too good to be true? I’ll take a little peek at where we have come from over the irrigation season and what we might wish for over the three months of winter that have just started.

At 5mbgl the groundwater level is a long way above the lows of the earlier 5.8mbgl in 2005-6 and 6mbgl in 2009.

I know one should be careful writing for fear of the worst, but it is very hard to think we are in winter. Rather it is the lack of winter thus far. Rainfall is below average, temperatures are above average and growth is also above average. Thank goodness May is still a month of autumn so an “Indian Summer” could be loosely applied to the weather we experienced. How pleasing to see while driving about Canterbury that no-one was tempted by the warm and dry weather to start up irrigators. A credit to you all for taking advantage of the ample soil moisture following April rainfalls, heavy dews and low crop water demand. No matter the temptation to irrigate to keep everything growing, there was no need to irrigate and pleasingly no irrigation. Now that we have finished taking water from the ground and hopefully are at least

Recharge is evident, albeit it has slowed in June with a total rise of about ¾m since March; and three months from a start again, how is the resource looking?

provide for the environmental flow from the groundwater system.

I have used the water level plots from a couple of my favourite observation bores and they show we are in pretty good shape.

Some of the volume associated with that drop is abstraction for irrigation and other purposes, and some for the environment (the natural depletion of the groundwater).

Firstly let’s take a look at the shallow Aquifer 1 bore K37/1792 down towards the coast:

At 2.8mbgl the groundwater level is a long way above the lows of the earlier 4mbgl in 2006 and 3.9mbgl in 2008.

The water level dropped a bit over 1m during the irrigation season, from 1.65 metres below ground level (mbgl) in October to 2.8mbgl in February.

Recharge is evident, albeit it very slow with a rise of just 0.7m.

The level dropped to just above where it would be sensible to restrict abstraction to

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This rise is more than just the “kick-back” resulting from the shutdown of everyone’s’ pumps (the flattest part of the rise in water level). Secondly, let’s take a look at the deeper Aquifer 2 bore K37/0093 down towards the coast: The water level dropped about 1m during the irrigation season, from 4 metres below

This rise is more than just the “kick-back” resulting from the shutdown of everyones’ pumps (the flattest part of the rise in water level). Now here is why one should be careful what one writes. It would be real nice to get some dirty weather now. For the sake of everyone – irrigators, scientists, resource managers, environmentalists, general public – it is better to start with the tank full than half empty. So “dirty weather” – bring on some May and June 2010 rainfall. Remember that far back? That might be a little extreme, but the water plot shows that is exactly what is needed to fill the pot. Now is the time to get that dirty weather. Then everything we get for the rest of the winter is a bonus, the pot just keeps getting full and hopefully will overflow to the next aquifer down. Roll on winter.

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Page 17

Extolling the virtues of grass-fed meat W

ho better to introduce Korean foodies to some of the world’s best beef than the author of the world’s best cookbook? Fresh from winning the premium accolade at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Paris, Kiwi-born chef and food writer Robert Oliver took to the grills in Seoul recently to bring Koreans a taste of his home country. The author of Me’a Kai: The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific teamed up with Beef +Lamb New Zealand for two separate promotions demonstrating the merits of grass-fed New Zealand beef – cooking for some of Korea’s leading food bloggers at an invitationonly lunch, as well as for cooking students at one of the country’s top culinary institutes. South Korea has a remarkably high number of food bloggers with large followings, whose authoritative posts on all things culinary are lapped up by local gastronomes. Bloggers at the B+LNZ-hosted lunch embraced the opportunity to taste for themselves the difference between grain- and grass-fed beef, as well as to get cooking tips from the chef himself. Since the lunch there have been a number of positive blogs featuring

New Zealand grass-fed beef, reporting it to be juicy and tender. Robert Oliver also took the time to show a group of the country’s future Robert Oliver chefs how to prepare grass-fed beef, in a lively cooking demonstration peppered with questions from eager students. They clearly enjoyed the experience, with one of the participants commenting that it was a welcome opportunity to learn about cooking an unfamiliar product and to be able to hear the views of a chef with extensive international experience. As was the case with the bloggers, very few of the students had previously encountered grass-fed beef, with their beef knowledge confined to the grain-fed beef more commonly eaten in Korea. Commenting on the two promotions which B+LNZ undertook in Seoul in tandem with Robert Oliver, John Hundleby stated that “although the

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Robert Oliver fires up the grill - and enthusiasm for New Zealand beef. two activities focused on very different targets, the reaction to grass-fed beef from both groups was very positive. “The fact that Robert Oliver’s cookbook had won the Gourmand award certainly heightened his credibility in the attendees’ eyes and they sought to explore quite extensively his views of cooking with grass-fed beef. “As well as having an immediate impact in terms of a good number

of bloggers’ reports on the luncheon and media coverage of the cooking demonstration, we expect an ongoing impact from both the bloggers and the culinary institute’s students, with both of the groups effectively having had their eyes opened to the merits of grass-fed beef through the two activities.” Robert Oliver was in Korea at the invitation of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

Page 18

GUARDIAN FARMING

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Page 19

The rise and fall of coffee Ken Ring

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. - Buddha

T

he focus in the media at the moment is solar activity, and the corresponding rise in earthquake frequency. We are getting larger quakes because the sun has awoken after a dormancy period. This is not unusual. The increased solar activity which sends electromagnetic disturbances towards us affects Earth’s magnetic field. However even with low solar activity there are still earthquakes around the globe, simply because the inconstant moon orbits from ever-changing angles and distances and stresses Earth’s magnetic field, making the inner core apply pressure to the inner Earth, causing enough expansion to manifest in the daily Land Tide. The surface of New Zealand moves up and down about 8cms per day as the Moon transits, and Australia about 50cms, regardless of any solar cycle input. Normally the daily land rise is sufficient to absorb the increase in inner-earth pressures caused by the transiting moon. We don’t need the sun to bring us earthquake activity, but it can add to potential for it, and sometimes massively. But we do need the moon.

The Indo-European root kel means to conceal, save, cover or hide. From it we have derived Old English and Old Norse words like Hel, the Underworld, Goddess of Death, hall (a covered place), hollow and hole, holster, helm (of a ship-protective covering), helmet, house, hue (covering of a colour), leading to the Latin kelare (to conceal) from which evolved words like cell, clam, clandestine and occult. Planets occult other planets, which just means they hide them for a short while by appearing to move in front. Now that we recognise that all motions of planets and their satellites are due to the universal gravitational force, we can better understand this connection in detail, removing its mystery. Yet ancient man thought of the tides as a magical influence from the heavenly bodies, linking them with other “hidden” mysteries. Later the occult became the label among the highly educated who did not understand the sometimes complex

orbiting of the spheres. Nowadays those respect to the sun, and the moon’s orbit choosing the moral high ground apply the is tilted with respect to the ecliptic (the word occult to mean whatever they would plane of the earth’s orbit around the sun). like to see stay hidden. Therefore the tidal bulges move north and Seismologists are not astronomers, so south with respect to Earth’s geography they do not think there is a connection over the course of a year. In the real Earth, between heavenly bodies and inner earth we have a deep mass capped by a solid worth pursuing. You would be reading crust with thin layers of ocean bounded about it if they did. Largely it is the fault of by continents. The solid Earth tides are too much reliance on technology. dominated by compression-expansion due to the moon. The large oceans are You may think that modern computers dominated by the sideways pull of the have made tide prediction more accurate. moon. The interior of the Earth behaves, in In fact, the analogue (mechanical) this context, like a solid elastic body, and computers devised for this purpose in mass movement of even plastic materials the 19th century did just as good a job, sometimes cannot occur quickly enough even if they have ended up in science to be accommodated by the Earth Tide, museums. You might think that with especially when the moon’s monthly flyby global positioning satellites we’d have the is closer to Earth, and so an earthquake measurements of water and land tides results, releasing the structural strain accurate to a fraction of a smidgen. You’d within the earth. be wrong. Tidal bulges are seemingly insignificantly If you check the research papers of the small, compared to the radius of the Earth. scientists who do this, you find that they But over the huge area of one of the are still dissatisfied with the reliability of oceans, the tidal bulges alone still raise a such data even over small geographic huge amount of water. These tidal bulges regions. We can map the surface of land are not due to rotation, but simply to the to within a metre this way, and get relative variation of the moon’s gravitational field over the volume of the Earth. height measurements equally well, but absolute height measurements relative to It is all driven by the tidal forces due to the the centre of the Earth are much poorer. moon’s changing position with respect to Earth. It is a tribute to the insight of Sir Sea-water can rise as much as one metre Isaac Newton, who first cut through the in mid-ocean, more in the shallower bays superficial appearances and complications at the coast. The tidal rise in Lake Taupo, about half a millimetre, is smaller because the lake’s area is much smaller. Far smaller still is the tide in your backyard swimming pool. Don’t even bother with the tide in your bathtub or your morning cup of coffee. Yet there are stretching tides in all of these, but the land, table and cup rise, and the coffee rises with it by nearly the same amount, perhaps a fraction of a metre as the moon transits. But you don’t notice anything unusual. Tidal forces in these small volumes do occur, but are unmeasurable by any instruments we possess. Petroleum engineers who monitor pressure in large underground reservoirs of petroleum can watch an effect of the Earth tides caused by the moon. The liquid-filled cavity in the rock below them is stretched and squeezed as the tides deform the solid Earth, and the pressure rises and falls on their gauges twice each day. The reason tides vary month to month lies in the fact that the earth’s axis is tilted with

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of this messy physical system to see the underlying regularities that drive it. It is the rotation of continents (and their coastal geometry) with respect to water that gives rise to the complicated water level variations over the seas. It is not some mysterious effect of “centrifugal force” or “inertial effects” as some outdated earth-science textbooks would mislead you to think. There is still a tendency to discourage any allowing of the moon to occupy centre-stage. Imagine two pirouetting dancers, each responding to each other. The fact that one is bigger than the other makes no difference to their routine. Imagine there is an outside storm or noise. The dance may be affected because the dancers hear it, perhaps stress a little, but regardless, they keep dancing. The two dancers are like the pirouetting Earth and Moon. Outer influences are always coming from the Sun and on occasion a ganging up of planets, but the moon is no afterthought in the sky. Earth and Moon are the main event, sometimes called the double planet. The mechanism of the Earth is affected in intricate ways by the moon. Perhaps earth-science will come of age when respected authority figures in universities, in government and in media stop trying to hide from a fuller understanding of it.

Page 20

GUARDIAN FARMING

Weather by The Moon: July Forecast General

Number of rain days: Precipitation potential times: Mostly dry Wettest periods: Warmest maximum temperatures:

Approximately 3 to 6 July 5th, 8th-9th, 23rd July 1st-5th, 9th-31st July 7th-9th July 26th

Coolest maximum temperatures:

July 9th-11th

Warmest minimums:

July 3rd, 30th

Coldest minimums: Sunniest days:

July 11th, 14th 19th-21st July 1st-7th, 19th-22nd

Best days for outdoor recreation:

July 10th-31st

Cloudiest:

July 28th-31st

Estimated precipation for Ashburton: Rakaia: Methven: Estimated sunshine amount for Ashburton:

7mm 10mm 6mm 151 hrs (May average 123hrs)

July should be much drier than average with less than 10% of the monthly average expected, sunnier and overall warmer than average. Most of the month’s mornings should see frosts. From 2-11 July is good for planting and weeding. From 16-25 is best for pruning and spraying. High kingtides are expected around 5th, 16th and 30th. Potentials for seismic disturbance may be around 1st, 4th-10th, 17th-18th, and 29th31st. Averages for maxima may be 12°C and for minima -2°C.

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