Farming GUARDIAN
AUGUST 2016
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK IN AGRICULTURAL LEARNING
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WIN WIN WIN This month win It’s Not About the Pigs by Andy Lyver. To enter the competition for this issue’s book giveaway, email susan.s@theguardian. co.nz, or write to Ashburton Guardian, 161 Burnett Street, Ashburton, 7700. Write “Guardian Farming Book Giveaway” in the subject line or on back of the envelope, and supply your address.
Congratulations to last month’s winner: Johnny Richards of South Rakaia Huts is the lucky winner of Stags in the Mist.
CONTACTS We appreciate your feedback. Editorial Email your comments to susan.s@theguardian.co.nz or phone 03 307 7957.
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The recently-announced predatorfree goal is highly ambitious, leading many to think they will believe it when they see it. To some degree that includes farmers themselves, with Federated Farmers saying adequate funding will need to be allocated. While congratulating the Government on its goal, pest management spokesperson Chris Allen said the organisation wanted an assurance that funding would be made available to investigate new strategies and technologies. Farmers knew first-hand just how difficult the job was. They already spent a substantial amount of their own money on predator control and it would take billions of dollars to achieve eradication using current technologies. Opposition political parties have been quick to point out difficulties. Labour is miffed at the Government’s high goals being set against a backdrop of chronically underfunding the Department of Conservation, while the Green Party agrees it will take more than lip service, with the cost estimated by Auckland University to be $9 billion. Nevertheless, one has to admire the Government’s vision in setting this goal, to be achieved by 2050. In fact such vision, combined with
Susan Sandys
SENIOR REPORTER
audacity, engages people and “makes the impossible possible”, according to Environmental Defence Society senior policy analyst Dr Marie Brown. The prospect of making the impossible possible has certainly captured the imagination of a nation. And I would like to think that if anyone can achieve a predator-free dream, New Zealand is the country which can do it.
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Turning back the clock Attracting young people into agriculture would be easier with more hands-on tertiary learning opportunities, says high country farmer Tony Plunkett. Mr Plunkett and wife Pam have this year established a new farm cadet training programme in the Rakaia Gorge high country, where they operate three farms Coleridge Downs, Big Ben and Dry Acheron. The programme offers a Level 3 and 4 Certificate in Agriculture, which is run through Telford, a division of Lincoln University. It is a two-year course for school leavers and cadets train in a wide range of farming tasks with a focus on high country shepharding. There are three cadets undertaking the first year of learning this year, with a further three having gone into the second year level. Cadets stay in shearers’ quarters at Big Ben, and in their first year are presented with a heading dog pup to train up for stock work.
Susan Sandys
SENIOR REPORTER
Mr Plunkett said there had traditionally been many opportunities for young workers to learn the ropes on high country farms, with plenty of staff around to train them and cooks based there. However, many of those opportunities had dried up, but young people with agricultural experience were just as highly sought after today as they ever were. “We are just turning the clock back a wee bit and put a training programme around it,” Mr Plunkett said. continued over page
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There definitely should be more opportunities like this
From P3 Graduates could use the qualification towards further undergraduate study if they wished, but not all school leavers were ready to go straight into university. The hands-on opportunities provided by the course enabled the growth of important skills. “There definitely should be more opportunities like this,” Mr Plunkett said. A similar programme at Smedley Station and Cadet Training Farm in the North Island enrolled about 11 cadets per year, but last year had 140 youngsters apply. Among students at the new course this year is Rosie Suyker. The 18-year-old was brought up on a Methven dairy farm and said working with stock, particularly sheep, cattle and deer, had always been a passion.
She is training her eightmonth-old heading dog Buck. She and her two fellow firstyear students had received puppies from the same litter, and they were all proving to have the same talent and
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Rosie said she was loving the course and could not wait to get her first shepherding job, ideally on a South Island high country farm, once she graduated. Being brought up under
Mt Hutt, the beauty of the Southern Alps had always impressed her as the best place in the world to work. “I like being out on the hills, you get a good view of everything,” she said.
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Please be vigilant during calving Last month I wrote about the need to get proactive with health and safety, and I’m pleased to report that I have done just that. The manual is coming together nicely and a staff meeting to identify and discuss hazards has been scheduled. I’ve even found a place that makes up hazard identification boards for the cowshed wall and I have statutory declarations ready to send off to all my contractors, along with instructions to check the hazard board before starting any work on the farm. Despite all this and 20 plus years of farming experience, I’m writing this column through a tramadol haze while recovering from general anaesthetic. Wednesday morning was beautifully warm and clear, I was up at 5.30am to feed the season’s first load of bobby calves and I even tweeted how bright the stars were that morning (you’d be surprised at how many people are awake and online in the early hours). I got the calves done quickly and as it was getting
Craig Hickman
ELBOW DEEP @dairymanNZ
light I set off to see if there were any fresh calves in the springer mob. I soon spotted a new calf and set about doing something I’ve done tens of thousands of times without incident over two decades. I wrote the mother’s number in my notebook and approached the calf with a numbered neckband. I kept the calf between me and its mum and walked up to the calf confidently while keeping an eye on the cow, who had backed off a few steps. As I bent over the calf to put the band around its neck, an idea for this month’s column hit me in the face. The idea took the form of a hard bony skull with a halftonne of agitated beef behind it, so I couldn’t help but pay
attention. I’d like to tell you I shrugged it off and swatted the cow away, but instead I immediately collapsed to the ground while my eyes filled with blood, fighting the urge to vomit as cow number 7 proceeded to perform a tap dance routine on my ribs. Curling up into a protective ball and whimpering seemed to convince her she’d won, and off she trotted happily with her calf. I don’t think I’ve ever been so grateful to be wearing a bike helmet. I collected my shattered glasses, limped back to the bike and headed home to assess the damage. Was I complacent? Maybe, but I was doing a routine job in the same manner that has worked flawlessly for years. We work with animals every day, we have our favourites that we scratch behind the ears and rub their noses, but they can get stroppy too. Cows can be very protective mothers and I took my eyes off one for a couple of seconds with very painful results, please be vigilant during calving and stay safe.
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Farmers air concerns at velvetleaf Keep an eye out for velvetleaf this spring and summer, and pull out any plants before they seed.
By Susan Sandys That is among advice from the Ministry of Primary Industries, which has been under fire from farmers for not doing enough to get on top of the problem. The ministry is holding a series of meetings on velvetleaf awareness around the country. Farmer frustrations boiled over at the Ashburton meeting last month, where about 60 people were in attendance. Heated words were exchanged as angry farmers and industry representatives took the ministry to task. Seed importer DLF, which unwittingly unleashed the invasive week in pelletised fodder beet seed, originating from Italy, and the company’s general manager Tom Bruynel, also came under fire. Farmers wanted MPI to be actively involved over the next two to three seasons, instead of relying on farmers alone to monitor paddocks and instigate a
range of measures. MPI velvetleaf response manager Carolyn Bleach told attendees the ministry would assist in the rollout of personalised management plans, but would not be funding surveillance to the same extent as last season. And MPI was legally bound by confidentiality clauses when it came to not sharing information with Federated Farmers on where infested crops were. Farmers were annoyed this had effectively stopped an on-the-ground initiative from Feds to scour for the weed earlier this year. Dr Bleach said at the end of last month that meetings to date had been “largely constructive”. Many farmers and seed company representatives had told MPI how useful they had found the information, and only small numbers had raised concerns about MPI’s ongoing commitment. “The Ashburton meeting was the only one where
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there was a particularly heated exchange,” Dr Bleach said. Other meetings to date had been at Bulls, Timaru, Amberley, and further ones were scheduled for Otago, Southland and Waikato. She encouraged farmers to attend upcoming meetings. “We appreciate this is a busy time of year, but the information shared will be vital to ensuring we get on top of velvetleaf into the future,” Dr Bleach said. “Doing nothing won’t be an option and it is much easier to pull out velvetleaf this coming spring and summer before it seeds, than leave it and have it become a major problem.” MPI was also encouraging agricultural contractors, technical field officers and seed merchants to attend meetings, as they often were the people who farmers dealt with on a regular basis and sought advice from. Further information and a timetable of remaining meetings is at mpi.govt.nz/ alerts
Farmers and industry representatives took MPI to task at the Ashburton velvetleaf awareness meeting last month. PHOTO AMANDA KONYN 210716-AK-016
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Carrot harvest under way By SuSan SandyS Harvesters usually hit the paddocks once the long, hot days of summer kick in, but when it comes to carrots, it’s almost a year-round operation. At McFarlane Agriculture at Rangitata, tonnes upon tonnes of the orange vegetable are being lifted from the ground and transported to a nearby juicing plant. Manager Matt Casey is on the job from February to September. He and four staff operate specialised equipment, and the logistics are all geared to ensure a high quality and fresh product. First of all a tractor goes down the bed, each with eight rows of carrots, with a frontattached specialised Grimme mulcher, taking off the canopy of stalks and leaves. A rearattached crowner has a series of discs which run along the ground and cut 15 to 20 millimetres off the top of the carrots. Within two minutes another two tractors follow close behind, one with a carrot harvester, and the other with a trailer for the carrots to be
dropped into. The harvester has a grading table in a white PVC hut on its rear, with two staff in it checking the quality of the crop. The weather has to be good as wet paddocks result in too much soil being carted off the farm the next stage is where the carrots are then transported to either Washdyke or Seadown, where they are thoroughly cleaned through the carrot wash. By evening the carrots are at the manufacturing plant, Juice Products New Zealand (JPNZ) Limited in Timaru. Time is of the essence, as the carrots deteriorate with lowering moisture and sugar levels if they are left too long before juicing. JPNZ operates 24 hours a day, seven days per week, with limited monthly down time, processing tens of thousands of tonnes per season. It is the largest carrot juice concentrate processor in Australasia and it exports 95 per cent of the product, with its main markets being in Asia, America and Australasia. Mr Casey said export
Mulched and crowned, prior to carrot harvest, where it is a case of one row at a time to ensure a PHOTOS SUSAN SANDYS 180716-SS-0035 fresh product.
demand had dropped this year and instead of growing about 90 hectares as they had done over the last two years at McFarlane Agriculture, they were growing across 50 hectares this year. McFarlane Agriculture, owned by Hamish McFarlane,
was into its second generation of growing carrots on the third generation farm. The carrots are grown on each paddock in a five to seven-year rotation to give the ground a rest and ease pest and disease pressure. The carrot tops are left on the
paddocks and provide useful organic matter, nourishing the soil for the next crop which follows. The soil surrounding the crop is rich in earthworms and opportunistic black-backed gulls generally accompany staff on each harvesting day.
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When it comes to carrots, it’s almost a year-round operation
Mr Casey said harvesting carrots was an interesting highlight on the annual calendar at the farm, and was happening this winter at the same time that sowing replacement blackcurrant plants was underway on the property. There was just six weeks of the year that there was no harvesting or planting underway on the farm. And in January to February there was often a overlap of three harvests underway at the same time – carrots, blackcurrants and grain. “We are all go at that time of year,” Mr Casey said.
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McFarlane Agriculture manager Matt Casey oversees carrot 180716-SS-0072 harvesting on the farm.
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Lavender lovers flock to Ashburton BY SUSAN SANDYS The smell of lavender will drift across Ashburton on a spring breeze next month when the New Zealand Lavender Growers’ Association national conference comes to town. About 40 lavender growers and enthusiasts from throughout the country are expected to attend, and members of the public are being invited to enrol for workshops, and to shop at about a dozen stalls. The conference will be held at the Tinwald Primary School hall from September 9 to 11, opening to the public on the Saturday 1pm to 3.30pm. Waimate-area grower Russell Rofe will be leading two workshops throughout the event, one on how to grow lavender commercially, and the other on how to market lavender products. He and wife Catherine have 8000 plants at their Hook Bush property. They operate a distillery for extracting oil from the plants’ flowers, and manufacture, sell and export a
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Hook Bush Lavender owner Russell Rofe keeps plants in shape over winter..
range of products. Mr Rofe said anyone interested in growing lavender and producing oil was invited to register. It was possible to begin with just 100 plants, and they would not necessarily need a
farm to do that. “A grower at Kurow has 100 plants in their backyard. They haven’t made oil every year but they do make oil,” Mr Rofe said. The association encourages starters to begin with a trial
New Zealand Lavender Growers Association National Conference Tinwald Primary School Hall September 9 – 11, 2016 Public are invited to attend the conference on the Saturday afternoon. A public seminer on how to grow lavender commercially will be held at 1:30 - 3:30 Please register by ph or emailing Russell Rofe.
Hook Bush Lavender Ltd
Russell Rofe 03 689 5510 hookbush@maxnet.co.nz Russell is a member of the executive of NZLGA. His lavender farm - Hook Bush is located near Waimate and operates a lavender distillery. Specialises in processing the aromatic lavender plants both intermedias and angustifolias.
of 200 plants, and if they aim for 500 plants they are able to become a member of the association. Distilling oil from the plants’ flowers is where the big investment comes in, however, it is possible to
Mr Rofe said anyone interested in growing lavender and producing oil was invited to register.
contract out the distillation process, and Mr Rofe himself distils for a range of growers throughout South Canterbury and further afield. Alongside Mr Rofe’s workshops at the conference, there will be felting and craft workshops. There will be a range of speakers including the keynote speaker of Michael Barker, executive director of Barker Fruit Processors Limited in Geraldine. Anyone wanting to register for the conference or workshops can phone Mr Rofe on (03) 689-5510 or email hookbush@maxnet.co.nz.
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Bridging the generational divide BY SUSAN SANDYS Members of Rural Women New Zealand and Farming Mums NZ are benefiting from an emerging alliance. There has been a generational divide between the two groups – Rural Women has about 2500 members nationwide, mainly older women, while Farming Mums NZ is a rapidlygrowing Facebook group with almost 7000 members, many of them mothers of young children. Farming Mums NZ administrator Chanelle O’Sullivan was guest speaker at a recent Rural Women New Zealand Canterbury provincial annual conference in Ashburton. It was attended by more than 60 Rural Women members from the approximate 14 branches throughout the region. The South Canterbury mother of two preschoolers said her involvement with Farming Mums had been a journey. It had resulted in opportunities, including a
recent appointment as a social media marketing specialist at Grassroots Media. In the early days her husband had not been able to understand why she spent so much time on her computer. “I told him one day it will pay off, I think he finally believes me now,” Ms O’Sullivan said. She attended the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme at Lincoln University this year, and Rural Women provided a $4500 grant towards her study project on farm management technology. A recent get-together at Fairlie between Rural Women and Farming Mums members attracted about 25 people. The experience Rural Women members had to offer Farming Mums members was great, and it made sense to bring members of both groups together, she said. Rural Women members had been through the highs and lows of farming, relating to financial volatility and extreme weather events, and they knew all the ways of
Farming Mums NZ administrator Chanelle O’Sullivan was guest speaker at Rural Women New Zealand’s Canterbury provincial conference in Ashburton last month. PHOTO AMANDA KONYN 280716-AK-024
surviving and thriving in rural areas. She had been talking to Rural Women’s national councillor (Canterbury) Margaret Chapman and more get-togethers could be held around the country. “I think it will be something that happens organically over
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time,” Ms O’Sullivan said. Among members of Rural Women at the conference who were keen on the idea was Bev Blanche of the West Melton branch. Her family association with Rural Women, formerly Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, went back
more than 80 years. Her late mother-in-law had joined the Motukarara branch shortly after marrying in 1928. “I was dead against going because she told me I had to,” Mrs Blanche joked. However, the real reason for not joining the organisation for many years was due to being too busy, while she and her late husband worked, ran businesses and a farm. In 1994 she joined when in her 50s, while living in the Maruia Valley south of Murchison, as she wanted to meet other local women. Today she wants to see more younger women join the organisation due to the benefits it could offer. And she could see synergies in Farming Mums NZ and Rural Women New Zealand working side by side. She herself was on Facebook, but believes nothing beats a faceto-face connection. “We don’t need to know what you are having for breakfast, but we do need to know what’s happening in the community,” Mrs Blanche said.
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Around the traps Rural Women New Zealand’s Canterbury conference was held in Ashburton last month and was attended by more than 60 people from throughout the region. Photos Amanda Konyn.
Rural Women’s national councillor (Canterbury) Margaret Chapman.
280716-AK-027
Above from left Jen Goodwin, Margaret Chapman and Margaret Gallagher.
280716-AK-036
Above from left Jill Walkham, Marg Verrall and Jeanette Tarbotton.
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When will winter help out? Tony Davoren
HYDRO SERVICES
With two out of three months of winter gone, there is always the thought “When will it arrive?” For those taking groundwater for irrigation, the sooner the better because it is not looking good for the next irrigation season. Even before we began measuring soil moisture for growers in 1983, I have been concerned about the recovery of groundwater for the next irrigation season. Over the past couple of months, I have made presentations to different groups about how the lack of rainfall is affecting groundwater levels. While rain has begun to provide relief for parts of Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Otago, Marlborough and parts
Figure 1. Water level record for bore K37/0388, lower plains.
of South Canterbury, most of the rest of Canterbury has missed out. It is not that the current drought conditions are as bad as, or worse than, 1967-68 or 1973-74 or 1997-98 or, as I vividly remember, 1988-89. No matter the season or seasons, there is agreement we have seen conditions of similar magnitude before. And so it is reflected in the groundwater levels – they are as low as they have ever been and as low as the early to mid
1970s in this mid to north area of Canterbury. In the Mid Canterbury area there are a few observation bores I like keep an eye on to provide a heads-up or warning of what might lie ahead heading into an irrigation season. In Figure 1, the groundwater level has only just climbed above the level of concern. That level of concern is when wells can become self-limiting – when the full consented flow cannot be
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Figure 2. Water level record for bore L36/0022, mid-plains.
pumped, unless you want to put up with cavitation or spend money on a variable speed drive to moderate flow. Water levels during the 2015-16 irrigation season were the lowest recorded in this bore, having started from a level 1.5 metres higher than the current level; that is, significantly more recharge is needed for comfort in 2016-17. Another favourite bore L36/0022 (Figure 2) in the mid-plains area near Pendarves shows similar, but
more promising, water levels. Just like K37/0388, water level has recovered above the level of concern, but with just a month left in winter at the time of writing, more recharge is still required to feel comfortable heading into the 2016-17 irrigating season. What are the chances of sufficient recharge in the next month? Another 150 to 200mm of rain would help, or a cold and damp early spring. It’s your choice which is more palatable.
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Dairy farm sales - few and far between Susie Williams
PGG WRIGHTSON
Mid and South Canterbury’s winter rural property market has been muted, although it could rebound in the spring. Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) statistics for rural property indicate a traditionally quiet winter and that is what we see here. The local market is reflecting nationwide trends. Our local market is subdued still further by a gap between buyers’ and sellers’ perceptions around property values. This is partly bank-driven. It also follows an exceptional late autumn arable sale that left vendors thinking such values are still achievable. Things could change in spring if more properties are listed, which might occur as
farmers review their options in light of lower dairy payout forecasts. Nationwide, volumes of dairy farm sales have fallen, which is reflected locally. REINZ estimates dairy farm prices nationwide have eased by between eight and 18 per cent compared to peak 2014 levels. Although that is about right locally, minimal sales make calculating changes problematic.
However, two dairy farms, in Mid Canterbury and Waimate, sold recently at $41,000 and $45,600 per hectare respectively. While some stronger prices have been achieved in Mid Canterbury, they are insufficient to determine any trend. Demand remains for sprayirrigated dairy farms with pivots in Mid Canterbury although, at this stage, they
are few and far between. Aside from dairy, other primary production sectors are more buoyant. While interest rates remain low, some land suited for use in sectors apart from dairy is selling positively. Prime Mid Canterbury arable country is in that category, with values firm between $47,000 and $50,000 per hectare. After some keenly
scrutinised sales in the autumn, vendors of arable farms with good water consents in the RakaiaChertsey areas are now asking $45,000 to $47,000 per hectare. Another recent sale occurred in the area for $42,000 per hectare, a slightly lower price as the irrigation required some augmenting. In a hungry world, good soils with water are always sought after.
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17
Green tax would support biodiversity Mary Ralston
FOREST AND BIRD
There has been quite a lot of comment lately about pressure from the increasing numbers of tourists, such as freedom campers blamed for despoiling informal campsites. In response, the government has announced a $12 million fund for extra infrastructure. What about funding for looking after the “natural infrastructure” – our national parks and other conservation lands upon which the tourism industry is based? Most tourists are lured here by a clean green, yet modern, image. A country with open spaces and dramatic scenery, combined with nice people and reasonable safety, is a rare commodity these days. The recent announcement
of government support for a pest-free New Zealand by 2050 is welcome, but there is still a huge lack of funding for basic services such as weed control, track work and visitor management. We need to be bold. Tourists want to come to our open spaces, so they should contribute to the costs of maintenance and management of national parks, conservation areas and native species. A green tax at the airport would be a relatively easy way to collect a lot of money to properly fund conservation. Last year there were 3.3 million international arrivals to New Zealand; if they each paid $30, we would have nearly $100 million dollars to properly fund the management of the conservation estate – and build extra toilets. An important statistic is that 50 to 75 per cent of overseas arrivals are interested in short nature walks and from five to 30 per cent are interested in doing half to one day walks. No-one doing a day walk in a national park pays anything
Lake Emma in the Hakatere Conservation Park: tourists could pay a “green tax” to raise money for PHOTO SUPPLIED the management of our special environment and biodiversity.
towards track maintenance or conservation, unless they are guided by a company paying a concession fee to the Department of Conservation. Compare the booming tourism industry to the state of the natural capital on which it is based. New Zealand’s flora and fauna – our natural biodiversity – has suffered a phenomenal loss since humans arrived and is still under unsustainable pressure. Forty per cent of New Zealand’s land bird species have been lost in the past 500 years, and about 50 per cent of forest area has gone. Due to the massive alterations to natural ecosystems, our natural areas
are all, to varying extents, depauperate representations of the original. In most parts of the country the populations of the remaining bird species are hugely reduced and under continual threat from possums, stoats and rats. Invasive weeds threaten regeneration of native flora, and basic ecosystem processes, such as the honeydew cycle in beech forests, which barely function because of introduced pests such as wasps. A green tax on international visitor arrivals is a practical option for raising a considerable amount of money due to the sheer number of
tourists arriving. It has the advantage of being able to target international passport holders only, and has the potential to raise awareness of New Zealand’s unique environment. Collection and administration costs should be fairly minimal. A tax of this relatively modest amount should not deter tourists and could be marketed so that visitors are aware that the revenue raised is for the management of our unique environment. Visitors from many other countries are accustomed to paying a fee for entry to national parks and they realise biodiversity has a value.
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If you ate today thank a farmer Farming isn’t what it used to be and farming will continue to change as technology and the demands of those who consume the products we produce continue to grow.
Maurice Myers
KPMG
This isn’t something to fear to dread but something to embrace and take pride in. A continued focus on our exceptional produce quality will serve us well in the future. New Zealand has world class standards for animal welfare, environment and social responsibility we don’t just produce food we produce food with pride, passion, love and a strong history. The next wave for farming however needs a few changes, we need to be better at monitoring and measuring what we do and being able to explain to those buying our produce how we have done it. The changes will be like a software upgrade, we add some new features get rid of a few ‘bugs’ in the system and
do things a little bit differently before. It’s not that we have done anything wrong in farming previously, farm from it, it’s just that the world has changed around us, we owe it to future generations to ensure we stay relevant.
This might mean however for some there are hard choices to be made, the new world of farming might not work for everyone, but it will excite and attract new people who desire the change. It’s important no matter what the
choices we respect them and always value the past while looking to the future. For those farmers reading this thank you for your dedication and hard work to feed us, for those non farmers reading, if you ate today thank a farmer.
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21
Farm vendors need to be prepared When I started my rural real estate career it seemed really difficult to come to terms with an industry which was new to me, learn about different farming types, and be able to talk about them with some degree of knowledge. Fast forward 24 years … today’s world for the rural community and its professional people is a totally new place, with change happening on an almost-daily basis. So now, not only do we need to understand farming, but also all the red tape that goes with it. So I thought a good topic for today’s page would be about preparing your farm for sale. The very first thing to ask yourself if you are the vendors is - what would I like to know about the property if I were the purchaser? Make sure you have a good leadin period for marketing, and this gives time to organise things like maps showing paddock history, tree lines, irrigation plans, water races, crop rotation, etc. I believe a couple of good maps speak a thousand words.
“ Chris Murdoch
PROPERTY BROKERS
Then factors such as soil tests, nutrient budgets, Overseer, resource consents and number of issues associated to these consents, followed closely by proven track records such as in milk production, number of dairy cows, crop yields and stock performance. Three to five years of figures are normal to ask for, and these show how your farm has a solid history of good management. Other things that we have run into over the past year is where a dairy farm is maybe going to stop supply, and move to another farm use after sale. So what does the milk supply agreement with your current supplier say? Most require at least two years’ notice to stop supply,
and if you wish to break this it can cost you a considerable amount of money. Another area of high concern now is irrigation water supply sourced from wells, so
therefore an irrigation audit can be very reassuring to purchasers. There is a real need to include solicitors, accountants, bankers and farm advisors in
Three to five years of figures are normal to ask for
your decision making at an early stage. All in all the old story of selling your farm over the back fence and writing the conditions on the back of a match box are well and truly gone. This is especially so if you don’t want a nasty surprise over something later that hadn’t been able to fit on the match box. To achieve the best possible results for vendors, real estate agents need to understand and have at least 95 per cent of the answers for purchasers when they ask questions. I guess the best thing that you can do if you are considering marketing your farm is give yourself time to get organised, and talk to your professional earlier rather than later.
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Enterprising ways with waste It’s great to see bags of clothing being dropped off and treasures found daily at our recycle shops. Please encourage friends and family to get designing and upcycling for this year’s Wearable Waste Competition at the Ashburton A&P Show. There is $550 in cash prizes from our sponsors Ashburton District Council and Envirowaste Services Limited. For details go to ashburtonshow.co.nz The creative use of rural waste streams in particular is encouraged for this event. Ecofashion is a growing movement world-wide. A glut of used clothing has pushed down the prices of recycled textiles worldwide but as much as 50 per cent in the past year so that exporters are, in effect, giving them away, selling for the cost of shipping. In India, one man is attempting to create a new source of demand for used textiles by reusing cloth from sheets, napkins and table cloths to make shopping bags. Mr Sajdeh – whose family has been turning old garments
of pieces rather than hundreds. His capacity today is around 1.5 million pieces a year. He plans to increase that to five million in the next four years.
Sheryl Stivens
MASTAGARD ASHBURTON
from the west into recycled yarn for decades – decided to create a new source of demand for used textiles by starting the new business. The used sheets and table cloths are cut into standard sizes, checked for stains, stamped with designs and then sewn into bags. Mr Sajdeh’s company does everything from very basic shopping bags to shoe bags and wine bottle bags, and even more complicated bags with extra pockets and zippers that can be used as handbags or school bags. To have real environmental impact and have a chance to make real money on the business, Mr Sajdeh says it needs to be done on an industrial scale – with millions
Generating power from cow dung and food waste If electricity could be star-rated for quality, the 150 kilowatt hours going daily into the grid from Lodge Farm in north Wales would probably score five. Generated from the slurry of 300 brown Swiss and Norwegian red cattle, and topped up by chicken litter that cannot go to animal feed, and by waste from a local food factory, it is as good as it gets. That’s according to farmer Richard Tomlinson, who says generating renewable power from farm and food waste makes ecological and financial sense. Since 2011, the gas from the organic farm’s £750,000 anaerobic co-digester (AD) has generated more than 4.5m kWh of electricity and heat for the farmhouse, an on-site engineering works and for 80 to100 homes.
SPECIALISTS IN ALL TYPES OF WASTE REMOVAL
“But I am not turning the farm into a rural power station. My job is to grow food,” Mr Tomlinson said, who co-founded one of Britain’s largest organic milk cooperatives. “Combining the two waste streams to produce heat, electricity and fertiliser closes the loop. It doesn’t make any sense for the slurry to move off the farms or for food to be land filled. It makes much more sense to bring food waste here too and put it through the digester,” Mr Tomlinson said. With his brother he has designed and built eight other farm-scale AD plants. If you need help recycling your sileage wrap, baling twine or feed sacks, contact Plasback for a purpose-built bin and collection system-www. plasback.co.nz Farm waste and recycling services collections are available from Envirowaste Ashburton. For a collection service to suit your on-farm needs, email glen.sole@envirowaste.co.nz or call 029 770-0309.
FREE MONTHLY COMPOST WORKSHOP Easy ways to turn your foodwaste into fertiliser with bokashi or worms. August 22-12-1pm, at Eco Education Centre, Ashburton Resource Recovery Park. All welcome. Phone 0800 627-824 or email sherylstivens@gmail. com.
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BOARDING SCHOOL FEATURE
23
Preparing for a lifelong love of learning As students move towards secondary education, their personality and interests are becoming apparent, and it is time to choose a school which will suit their particular needs. Boarding schools will be considered the right fit for many, with some families having a long tradition of boarding school education, and others wanting to access it for the first time and gain the benefits it may offer. Having a school and staff which is compatible with you and your expectations is important. Collaboration between teachers, parents and students is the best formula, in order to set your child up for a lifelong love of learning. When choosing just which education facility to send your son or daughter to, experts recommend visiting the school to gain a sense of how it operates. How are you welcomed, how are any questions or concerns about your child’s future education addressed? What about the facilities – are they tidy and well presented, and what particular facilities are
there to cater for the needs and interests of your child? What are the choices available for healthy eating and special diets, what are their procedures at times of illness? This is a milestone occasion in your child’s life, and no question is too trivial. Taking a look at the school’s latest Education Review
Office (ERO) reports is also recommended. ERO reports are written at regular intervals by professional evaluators who visit the school and assess how it is reaching positive learning outcomes – knowledge, skills, attitude and habits. Reports are published on the office’s website. A school’s NCEA results
is another indicator. If your child is a high achiever, the rate of Level 3 attainment and scholarships may indicate the school’s capacity to cater for them, or if they are a midrange achiever the rate of Level 2 attainment may be more relevant. The quality of the teachers should be a major
consideration in any school. The shiniest new building and latest IT facility will struggle without the right teachers. Are teachers confident in teaching the curriculum, manage classrooms well and report to parents/caregivers through individual portfolios, written reports and parent interviews?
OPEN DAY - 1.30pm Thursday 25 August Or contact us to book your own personal tour at a time to suit State Highway 1, Winchester, South Canterbury Boarding and Day School for Boys Years 4-8
A curriculum speci�ically
“Since our son started at Waihi, he has developed education, sporting and life skills that have exceeded our expectations, through the great mix of modern teaching methods, sporting and cultural opportunities, incorporating traditional school values.” Craig and Rebecca Lambie Ashburton
designed for boys Strong male role models An outstanding record of academic, sporting and cultural success Small class sizes with a focus on personalised, inquiry-based learning A daily routine that includes classroom learning, science and technology, a multitude of sporting options, music lessons, arts programme, practical woodwork, supervised homework, and all meals provided
For more information, contact us on: T: 03 687 8014 E: admin@waihi.school.nz Information also available on our website www.waihi.school.nz
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25 www.guardianonline.co.nz BOARDING SCHOOL FEATURE
BOARDING SCHOOL FEATURE
Daughters thrive High achieving Girls at Waitaki Girls’ High School are very proud of their school. The school’s values are based on developing learners who are respectful, responsible and resilient. Our boarding hostel provides a “home away from home” for girls and is a pleasant and well-maintained facility. The senior wing was recently refurbished and Year 13 girls have the opportunity for more independent living, preparing them for the transition to the wider world after school. Research shows that girls learn better in a girls’ school. Girls take on all the leadership roles and support and mentor the younger students. We run a peer mentoring programme including tuakana/ teina model (big sister; little sister) and this ethos is evident in both our boarding establishment and school environment. We have over 50 clubs, including many varieties of sport, cultural activities and service groups.
Nestled in the heart of beautiful and historic Oamaru, we have strong links with the community. We offer a strong curriculum programme that promotes excellence and striving to reach one’s potential. This is evidenced by our excellent NCEA results which are above the national average at all levels. We are interested in the whole person – excellence of character as well as academic ability and this is mirrored in the many student well-being programmes we offer at all year levels. A Waitaki Girls’ learner is equipped to take her place in the world after school. We welcome your consideration of Waitaki Girls’ High School as a learning community that will allow your daughter to thrive. Please visit our website www.waitakigirlshigh.school.nz and contact the principal, Tracy Walker, twalker@waitakigirlshigh.school.nz for more information. We welcome your inquiry.
Waitaki Girls' High School Waitaki House (Boarding)
Young Women Well Equipped for the World
Waitaki Boys’ is one of New Zealand’s high achieving state boys’ colleges. Our boys work hard and play hard. Sporting achievement is also high, in a variety of sports. Many boys also act or sing: the true Waitakian is an all-rounder. For us, character development is as important as academic achievement. With a roll of 500 we are large enough to offer an extensive academic and vocational curriculum and cocurricular programme, but small enough to know each boy well and recognise his character and needs. We understand boys. Our primary task is to identify and develop each boy’s potential. Our hostel (Don House) is a vital arm of the school. Like the school, it is friendly and purposeful. Parents often note how the confidence and self-discipline of their son develops with exposure to the routines, responsibilities and traditions of hostel life. Boys learn what it means to live in a community and to get on well with others. After school, hostel boys benefit from facilities such as the gym, library, music suite, auditorium and computer rooms. Many hostel boys participate in our extensive school agriculture programme, which includes weekend
ITO courses and activities organised by the Young Farmers’ Club. The Hostel Hunting & Fishing Club is very popular. Over 30 sports are available at the school, we are very proud of our achievements in sport. For a small school we punch well above our weight on a regional and national level.
“
Most hostel boys play several sports during the school year. During winter there are snowboarding/ skiing trips some weekends, as well as trips to watch Highlanders games in Dunedin. Graduates of Waitaki Boys’ High School include 18 knights, 13 All Blacks, eight cabinet ministers, a governor general and some of New Zealand’s leading cultural figures. More importantly, many thousands of average boys have also graduated from Waitaki as confident, selfmotivated and well-rounded young men ready to take their place in the world.
Waitaki Boys’High School & Don House
Enriched by the Past
Student Pride Self Discipline Caring Hostel Enquiries welcome for day and boarding places.
We welcome your inspection of our learning community. Our school is a place where students thrive and can fulfil their potential in a supportive environment. Contact our Principal Ms Tracy Walker Email: twalker@waitakigirlshigh.school.nz | Phone: 03 434 8429 Visit our website: www.waitakigirlshigh.school.nz
For us, character development is as important as academic achievement
Traditional values Agricultural Boarding School of Choice Ph 03 437 0529 www.waitakibhs.school.nz
Prepared
for the Future!
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BOARDING SCHOOL FEATURE
SI’s premier catholic boys’ school St Bede’s College is the South Island’s premiere Catholic boys’ boarding school. It is proud of its long-standing tradition as a provider of boarding school education and it welcomes students from throughout New Zealand and overseas. The College can cater for up to 140 boarders. The College motto is Fide et Opere (By Faith and Works) and our aim is to produce young men who are hardworking and live their lives by a code of good values and consideration for others. The College also has six areas of activity that it believes are crucial to the future success and fulfilment of its students.
These are called the Six Pillars and they cover: • • • • • •
Special character Community Academic Cultural Sport Boarding We offer a comprehensive curriculum which includes excellent educational and
cultural opportunities. Our dedicated staff achieved a 95 per cent Level 2 NCEA pass rate for our students in 2015. We have a wide range of facilities on site – a modern gymnasium with a strength and conditioning gym, an Olympicsized hockey turf, spacious
“
St Bede’s College provides many opportunities and challenges for its students
sports fields, swimming pool, cricket nets, tennis courts, and a performing arts centre. All students are actively encouraged to participate where possible. St Bede’s College provides many opportunities and challenges for its students. In the words of Fr Cormac Hoban SM…“Gentlemen, I want you to become the best possible version of the person God created you to be.”
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
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Natural goodness for your dog A passion for animal nutrition and a desire to put dogs before profit provided the impetus for Geraldine woman Philippa Hanley to launch her tried and tested fresh meat dog rolls on to the market.
Essentials developer Philippa Hanley
Unlike many petfoods, Essentials dog rolls are suitable for all dogs, large and small, working or pets. Philippa developed the formula to feed her own dogs, dissatisfied with the products
on the market. Having previously completed nutritional training at Massey University, she had already developed a successful line of equine feedstuffs. “I breed mastiffs, which are big dogs, and I wanted one complete scientifically evaluated formula, I couldn’t find what I was looking for so I made my own,” she said. Fresh lamb and venison, fit for human consumption, is used to make the dog rolls. Milk powder, vitamins and minerals complete the formula, with no additives or fillers used.
Essentials is nutritionally dense and, as less is fed, is economically very competitive. The petfood was nutritionally tested at Massey and has consistently proven to be a superior product. Philippa’s motivation in deciding to market the Essentials dog rolls is entirely altruistic. She has supplied the Mid Canterbury SPCA and Dog Watch in Christchurch with the product for several years and has received glowing reviews, especially when it comes to helping sick or injured animals recover.
“I started making it for my own dogs and friends, but the demand got crazy and I decided to give it a push,” she said. Profits from Essentials dog rolls are used to support animal shelters and assist with neutering programmes and pay vet bills for cashstrapped pensioners, at the discretion of vets. Essentials dog roll is available for purchase from Lolly Mania in the Countdown complex on East Street. Free samples and more information on the nutritional benefits can also be picked up from Lolly Mania.
FORMULATED FOR DOGS
Essentials is the first dog roll with added amino acid concentrate specially formulated for dogs, containing all the essential building blocks for healthy skin, hair, bones and muscle.
Want the best dog food possible? Essentials’ purity, along with high nutrient content, means you only feed a fraction of what you would with supermarket rolls. This makes Essentials more economical than the cheapest, low budget, low quality supermarket roll. More meat for your dollar and your dog will love it.
Hanley Supplements also produces and sells the Hanley Formula horse and pony supplements.
Brand
Size
Essentials vs the rest Price
Based on average 30 kg dog Grams per day
Cost per day
Protein % Fat %
Golden Boy
2.6kgs
$8.18
1300 grams
$4.10
10%
10%
Champ
2.6kgs
$7.35
1600 grams
$4.24
8.5%
4.5%
Wag
3.0kgs
$6.95
1450 grams
$3.40
10.5%
7.5%
Butch
2.6kgs
$5.19
1500 grams
$3.00
9.0%
6.5%
Bruno
3.0kgs
$6.39
1250 grams
$2.66
7.0%
10.0%
$12.00
250 grams
$1.20
18.0%
10.0%
Essentials 2.5kgs
at “Essentials is a gre product and the dogs love it” er SPCA John Keeley, manag ry bu Mid Canter
Find out more by visiting our website at
www.animalessentials.co.nz Free samples available NOW at Lolly Mania. Shop 2 Countdown Complex, East Street, Ashburton
Farming
2 28
EQUINE FEATURE
www.guardianonline.co.nz
World class competition for jumpers South Island show jumpers are preparing to launch into world class competition at FEI World Jumping Challenge New Zealand events this coming season. In its second year in the South Island and its 38th year internationally, the challenge is run across 10 geographical zones around the world.
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The show was a popular one, with about 300 riders and their horses coming from throughout the South Island
All competitors jump the same international standard course plan in a 65 by 45 metre arena, and Kiwi equestrians can accumulate points with the winner earning the opportunity to head to the world final, representing pool eight, which includes much of Australasia. The challenge is presided over by FEI judges and aims to give the less experienced riders who, under normal circumstances, cannot take part in international jumping competitions
and live in more remote countries, the opportunity to compete internationally without having to leave their own country. There are three categories, with the South Island only offering Category A, open to riders 15 years and older, jumping to heights of 1.20 metres to 1.30 metres. The South Island’s FEI events for the coming 2016/2017 season will be staged at McLeans Island, Ashburton and Waimate. Ashburton Area Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) secretary Sally Childs said FEI was a great addition to the group’s annual two-day show in November at the Ashburton A&P grounds. The show was a popular one, with about 300 riders and their horses coming from throughout the South Island. “We run out of space for putting horses in,” she said. The FEI was an additional class likely to grow in popularity. About 20 riders had entered last year, and she hoped up to 40 may enter this year. Ashburton Area ESNZ vice chairman Alan Bird said the FEI was a fantastic new initiative. “It’s great for our riders to get out there in the public arena and see where they sit on an international scale,” he said.
Studio
Living
We have a great range of studio living solutions to suit your needs. Available from $110,000*. The Collingwood - 7.2m x 5.4m
Contact us for a free site visit today! 364 West Street, Ashburton Ph 03 308 3569 *TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY - See in store for details.
The D-Urville - 8.4m x 4.8m
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EQUINE FEATURE
29
Strangles - The sequel Stables built to last By Glenn Beeman Strangles is an infection caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. The disease is characterised by horses exhibiting high fevers, inappetance and lethargy progressing to swollen painful lymph nodes of the throat and jaw, watery nasal discharge changing to thick and yellow, and finally rupture of pus filled abscesses of these lymph nodes. Affected horses are highly contagious spreading the disease by intimate contact with other horses or contamination of water sources, feed bins, posts, rails, floats, or via humans through clothing or tack. Strangles, the disease, is back. Last week two properties of an Ashburton racing stable went into quarantine lockdown after a number of horses were diagnosed with the disease. None of the horses on the property were vaccinated.
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The disease can strike any horse...
Strangles is not a disease confined to the racing industry. Last year a South Canterbury pony stud was struck with the disease during the spring/summer season, bringing their busy breeding and show season to an abrupt halt. Horses from that farm spread the disease to North Canterbury and then Nelson. The disease can strike any horse, but especially those travelling, competing, showing, at stud for breeding, or attending pony club meetings. Strangles in Ashburton is a wake-up call for the equine industry over the impact of a contagious disease. The economic impact on horse owners, studs, and trainers is significant in terms of cost of treatment, movement control (cancellation of competitions/events), or the cost and lengthy recovery from the disease. Infected properties have the costs of hygiene, disinfection, movement control, veterinary visits and
prescriptions, not to mention the lack of income if their occupation is training or racing. Horses often require treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, the timing of which is important to prevent complications of the disease. Infected horses or stables cannot return to racing/competition until 30 days following the last reported case and negative swabs from horses. Infected farms cannot vaccinate because the vaccination of horses incubating the disease can lead to fatal immune mediated processes such as Purpura Hemorrhagica. Strangles is not back, it never left. This isn’t a sequel. The disease is still out there. The disease is never going to go away. The disease is endemic in New Zealand as it is in nearly every country in the world. Horse owners must continue to be vigilant. Strangles immunisation programmes are vital. Unvaccinated horses need to receive a course of vaccinations (three intramuscular injections over six weeks, or with the intranasal vaccine two doses two to four weeks apart). The immunity to Strangles vaccination (by either intranasal or intramuscular routes) is only short lived and must be boosted annually (as a minimum) to maintain adequate protection. If vaccinations have lapsed over the past few years, programs need to be started again. Winter is the time to vaccinate. Mares can be vaccinated before they go to stud. Competition horses can be vaccinated early, before the start of the summer racing and show circuits/schedules. Costs of vaccination are minimal in comparison to quarantine and treatment. Is your horse at risk? If you have further questions regarding Strangles, or other immunisation programmes for horses (i.e. tetanus, herpes, salmonella), contact your local equine veterinarian. For more information on Strangles the “Consensus statement” by the American College of Internal Medicine (ACVIM) provides veterinarians and horse owners guidelines for the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Over the past years Riverdown Steel as stockist of IAE who are UK’s largest manufacturer of livestock equipment we now want to offer IAE’s Moorland Stabling range. IAE have been manufacturing stables for over 20 years, during this time they have designed and manufactured many types of stabling, special layouts and differing designs, as well as being pleased to be associated with many projects at numerous prestigious racecourses. Using this experience, they have consolidated the best and most practical concepts from previous designs to produce the Moorland range of stabling and accessories. The latest manufacturing technology and techniques are applied, the stables are finished to a
high standard and galvanised in their own in-house galvanising plant. With quality production values and stock items all at the right price adds up to your Moorland stable being “built to last”, with an eye for safety and design whilst maintaining value for money. We supply a step by step fully illustrated installation guide on our range of Moorland Stables to enable the stables to be easily installed
Moorland Stables are easy to order
1. Plan your layout. 2. Select your stable size. 3. Select your door type. 4. Select your partition. Please email or call me 0211 433 469 for a brochure to be sent to you.
Complete your facilities
FOR ALL YOUR HORSES VETERINARY & DENTAL NEEDS ◊ Reproduction ◊ Podiatry & Lameness ◊ Pre-Purchase Examinations ◊ Internal Medicine & Surgery ◊ Routine Performance & Corrective Dentistry ◊ Mobile Diagnostic X-Ray, Ultrasound & Endoscopy ◊ Drench, Feed Supplements & Prescription Medicines Dr. Glenn Beeman Mountainview Equine Ltd Phone 64 3 307 1111 Ashford Village, 427 West St Fax 64 3 307 1112 Ashburton, 7700 Email: mountainviewequine@xtra.co.nz
Contact Moorland Stables on 0211 433 469 email: riverdownsteel@gmail.com | www.riverdownsteel.com
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Farming
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EQUINE FEATURE
Chaff for champions Our crops are irrigated to achieve high leaf content lucerne and a high oat content in our oaten chaff. We are passionate about our champion chaff for your champion horse.
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Future feeds is a familyowned business which has had agriculture and chaff making ingrained in its blood
We grow, harvest and process our chaff in Lincoln, to ensure you get consistent quality and a fine length of chaff. Since originally settling in Greenpark in the 1930s, the renowned Everest family has been working the land and
growing crops for the people and horses of Canterbury ever since. Future feeds is a familyowned business which has had agriculture and chaff making ingrained in its blood for over five generations.
Our other products aare sourced from farmers who pride themselves on quality. This enables us to make sure that we are able to pass this quality feed on to your horses. Our age old methodology combined with our new
age dust extraction system ensures you can confidently feed Champion Chaff to your horse, knowing that their respiratory and nutritional health is taken care of. Our easy ordering online, or pick up in Lincoln or
Christchurch City, makes it easy for you and your team to purchase Champion Chaff. Free delivery for larger orders in our weatherproof truck, is available straight to your feed shed door.
Your one stop horse shop Great range of equestrian supplies and feed
MORRISONS SADDLERY 32 Racecourse Road, Ashburton Tel: 03 308 3422 or 0800 Harness (427 637)
ORDERING:
Irrigation Pump Sheds/Storage
www.futurefeeds.co.nz 0800 200399 or 0212408053 Trademe Search Future Feeds. DELIVERY: FREE for larger or combined orders, by arrangement. PICK UP: Lincoln or ChCh City.
orders@futurefeeds.co.nz
FACEBOOK: Like us on Facebook and follow our promotions.
These sheds are made to be easy to install with the middle piece of roof iron having been left off for easy Hiab onto your concrete pad. A 50mm overhang has been allowed to fit over your concrete pad so that you have no leaks. There is hex bird netting over the ventilation gap across the front. Made from quality H3 90x45 framing timber and finished with either zincalume or your choice of colorsteel. Sheds can be made standard or to your individual requirements. All sheds are made to order and individually priced - large & small we make them all!
Adams Sawmilling Co Ltd ISPM 15 accredited for Export Pallets
Malcolm McDowell Drive, Ashburton Ph (03) 308 3595 Fax (03) 308 5649
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EQUINE FEATURE
Top transport
Mainland Coachwork Ltd is Ashburton’s home of custom-built Mainland horsecoaches and floats. Rodney, Paul and their team (Gary, Matt, Ian and Devin) pride themselves in and stand by the high standard of product that leaves their Alford Forest Road workshop. Mainland Coachwork opened in April 2014 and have not looked back, with a very supportive loyal customer base here in Mid Canterbury. Through supporting local, Canterbury, South Canterbury and North Otago show jumping, eventing and breeding shows, they now have customers from all over the South Island. This year Mainland Coachwork has their first Horsecoach build for
Auckland and a Mainland Wide Track float going to Taihape. Currently they are building a second display trailer for Carrfields Group, it will be used to display product at field days and shows, and it even has a kitchen to provide food and drinks for staff and clients at the shows. Building from new is not all Mainland Coachwork do in their workshop, refurbishments and alterations on horsecoaches and floats and general engineering work for local businesses, no job is too small. Manufacturing Gull-Wing bins for on-farm servicing fleet vehicles has been a new challenge, the bins are all custom made to the customer’s individual needs and requirements.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL I found Rodney and the team at Mainland Coachwork very helpful, nothing was to hard and they went out of their way to fit my needs. Top standards and very well made products with a lot of class. – Jenna Gould
31
High-quality chaff
The Chaff Chaps was born from the need of Chris’ mushroom farm for chaff cut wheat straw to grow their Oyster Mushrooms. The mushroom farm had purchased a state-of-the-art nearly 100-year-old Andrews and Beaven chaff cutter. An over the fence conversation about chaff cutters with Chris’ neighbour Rob led to a few more conversations, drinks, coffees and the odd cake. In late 2014 The Chaff Chaps was born. We quickly realised that for The Chaff Chaps to be successful we had to find a product that no-one else had and cut it really well. After lots of discussions we settled on Timothy grass. This chaff had been popular but had largely disappeared from the market. Timothy is high in protein,
but more importantly, it has no endophytes. This makes it an ideal feed for your horse with no “heat up”. Now we just needed to find some. Several phone call later, a few chance conversations and we had secured the supply of Timothy grass we needed to get started cutting in 2015. Initially Saturday’s were spent chaff cutting with both Chris and Rob’s family helping out. The business has grown since then as more people re-discover Timothy chaff. We remain a family business that is focused on supplying the very best chaff. Our chaff is sold across the wider Canterbury region as well as parts of the North Island. Give us a try, your horses will not regret it.
You talk – We listen
Custom made horse coaches and floats.
Repair work and alterations on all makes and models.
The Chaff Chaps supplies Timothy and Lucerne Chaff in 20kg bags. TO PURCHASE CALL INTO ONE OF OUR STOCKISTS CLARKVILLE STOCKFEEDS 143 Neeves Road, Kaiapoi
DAWES GRAIN AND STOCKFEEDS 593 Halswell Junction Road, Christchurch
THE FEEDSHACK 44 Newnham Street, Rangiora DON CLARKE CANVAS AND SADDLERY 637 Lineside Road, Rangiora
MORRISONS SADDLERY 32 Racecourse Road, Ashburton
CLARKE MCKENZIE 676 Marshland Road, Christchurch
ATS – (RAKAIA ONLY) 68 Elizabeth Ave, Rakaia
CONTACT US The Chaff Chaps Mainland Coachwork Ltd 201 Alford Forest Road, Ashburton
P 03 307 8353 mainlandcoachwork@gmail.com
611 Waterholes Road, RD8, Christchurch info@thechaffchaps.co.nz | 021 243 6524
www.thechaffchaps.co.nz
2 26 32
Farming
EQUINE FEATURE FEATURE EQUINE
www.guardianonline.co.nz
Nose rubbing evasion or genuine? Nose rubbing is a genuine issue and is caused by dietary imbalances.
Jenny Paterson
BSC ZOOLOGY AND BIOLOGY
It can be exasperating when your horse is determined to rub his nose on his leg more often than is reasonable! You can’t help thinking: Does he really have an itchy nose or is this a slick manoeuvre that gives him a few moments break from work? Let us assure you that this is absolutely genuine. In severe cases, horses become frantic about it, dragging their nose along the ground or leaping and boxing at their nose with their front hooves. Sometimes jamming on the brakes mid-canter to do so! You may have noticed them become sensitive to moths and insects flying out of long grass as you ride along. It is one of the behaviours often observed in horses who also head flick but not always. In milder episodes they exhibit hyper-sensitivity around the muzzle, want to press their nose into you (not
impolitely) and may not like the halter going up over their nose. Their whiskers may be hypersensitive and light fluffy feeds trigger them to flick their feed around or not want to pick up hay. The nose rubbing horse is often blamed for being evasive when this could not be further from the truth.
There is a correlation between these symptoms and their diet (mainly from green carpet grass exacerbated by lucerne, soy, and molassed feeds) which precipitates a cascade of bio-chemistry issues of which this is one. Failure to take any remedial action can result in its progression to muzzle twitching, which sounds like
something minor but which actually is indicative of a very serious electrolyte imbalance in the blood. (NB: this is not fixed by adding electrolytes from the feed store as they contain potassium which is a big part of the problem in the first place. Such electrolytes are formulated to replace those lost in sweat during a heavy workout, which is a completely different scenario). Along with recommended diet adjustments which include being mindful of potassium intake, SOS will address these issues by supplying the right minerals in the right proportions to correct the imbalance. Once corrected, you will notice your horse no longer has the urge to nose rub!
CalmHealthyHorses
XtraCal to meet additional calcium requirements
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MACHINERY FEATURE
33
Keep machinery tip-top Buying shiny new agricultural machinery is the ultimate dream for many a hardworking farmer. But with budgets tighter than ever on some fronts, consideration is being given to keeping current machines operating just that little bit longer. Some industry experts advise the time to consider replacement is when repair bills begin to exceed capital costs of owning the new machine. But another important factor is your level of mechanical skill. If fixing your old equipment is beginning to become beyond your abilities and you have the money to trade in for a new machine, it could just be the right time to do that. A new machine offers the advantages of potentially less downtime and less need for investment in repairs and maintenance, as well as the convenience of higher efficiency and ease of use. And the longer you hold off trading in your old machine the lower in value it will be as it depreciates. There is also the opportunity to change things up and create efficiencies on the farm. A foundation for Arable Research Mid Canterbury machinery workshop participant gave a perfect example of this. He said while on the family farm in England he had run two 260-horsepower tractors on a ploughbased cultivation system. He ended up selling the two tractors for one 280-hp
vehicle and selling the ploughs for a four-metre disc and press combination with sub-soiling capabilities. An old drill was replaced with a new larger disc drill. Labour costs were halved and the capital outlay, although about the same, had less depreciation and maintenance costs than before.
“
It is important to follow manufacturers’ instructions
Whether your farm machinery is new or old, there are some basics you need to follow to ensure it is kept in the best working condition. These include checking and changing the engine oil and filter, fuel filter element, gear lube, tyre pressure setting, transmission fluid and filter, engine air filter, cab air filter and engine coolant. It is important to follow manufacturers’ instructions when it comes to keeping that new, or older, item of machinery in shape.
RESIDUAL FODDER BEET? Jacob Holdaway Contracting Ltd Phone me today for a no obligation free quote Jacob Holdaway Contracting Ltd Your fodder beet harvesting specialist
0274 225 464
Jacob Holdaway 0274 225 464 www.jholdawaycontracting.com
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Farming
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MACHINERY FEATURE
Owner - operators working together Chris Woods and Millan Bungard are two hard working experienced owner/ operators who run their own agricultural contracting businesses, and together run a third business. Chris and Millan like that their operations are small owner-operator businesses. Millan says “When setting up our own businesses we decided to specialise in what we excel at and to work with other local contractors to provide complementary services for our clients”. “We have a good understanding of each other’s equipment, so we recommend each other, although it doesn’t always work out that way,” Chris says. “Our close working relationship allows for one point of contact for communication and invoicing if farmers you require this service.” Chris Woods Contracting Chris Woods, who grew up in Methven helping out on his parent’s farm, established his business in 2013, specialising in ploughing and cultivation. He started out
with a Kverneland five-furrow plough and slowly built up his workload and equipment from there. He now offers a wide range of equipment to meet his client’s needs. His Kverneland 5 furrow reversible plough is about to be traded in on a new seven-furrow Kverneland PG100. “I’m very happy with Kverneland ploughs, the fivefurrow has been going really well, I just wanted a bigger one; and my new Claas 830 Axion will help me get across the paddock quicker.” A 6m Salford cultivator, fitted with both finger tines and crumbers, has superior clearance, a hydraulic selflevelling frame and finely adjustable depth control, which provides accurate cultivation depths and a tidy finish. Chris uses it in conjunction with his 6m Cambridge roller with levelling boards for economical soil preparation. A 3m Great Plains X-Press and ST bar combination, breaks up the plough pan and winter feed residue by using the deep ripper, disc and press
roller combination. They can also be split up just for deep ripping or discing. Other gear includes a 6.6m Simba Uni press roller, a set of 3m Kverneland discs, and a set of 6m Amazone Catros discs which are great with crop stubble and for ex-green feed paddocks. Methven Contracting Methven Contracting specialises in drilling everything from grain, grasses, brassicas, legumes, and fodder beet. Millan, a hardworking meticulous operator, has two modern 6m twin hopper drills, a 2012 Horsch Pronto DC and a 2012 John Deere 750A direct drill, utilising high-accuracy Leica RTK GPS auto steer. The Horsch is a universal drill suitable for minimum till, cultivated soil or direct drilling into suitable conditions. It is a trailed seed drill combining seedbed preparation, consolidation, sowing and pressing, with a PPF system for exact fertiliser-depot placement below the seed rows. Millan says the John Deere
A METICULOUS, HARDWORKING OWNER / OPERATOR 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE DRILLING ON LOCAL FARMS
750A complements the Horsch perfectly. It offers proven technology that is engineered for the toughest conditions, but isn’t too heavy on the paddock. It provides accurate seed placement and ideal germination conditions; the smooth-sided gauge wheel ensures precise seed placement, with a semipneumatic press wheel for optimum soil-to-seed slot and minimum soil disturbance. “We run both drills with a 200hp Claas Arion 650 tractor, which is great because a lot of clients don’t want a big tractor in their paddocks,” Millan says. A unique aspect of Methven Contracting’s drilling service is that both drills can apply fertiliser. “The Horsch came standard with fertiliser, but we researched how to modify the John Deere,” says Millan. “RDS Systems from the North Island completed all the electrical work for us, running a similar system to that of an Allen’s drill”. Methven Harvesting Millan and Chris are the
directors of Methven Harvesting which utilises a Claas Lexion 580 combine harvester with laser pilot autosteer and an APS threshing system. The harvester is operated with a 7.5m grain front, and a grass seed pickup. The reason Claas gear features so strongly between all three businesses is because of the service provided by the local dealers. “When you are a small owner/operator you need quick and efficient service, and if you do happen to have any problems you want to be dealing with a business that stands by what they sell,” say Millan. Methven Harvesting operates throughout the Ashburton District, with on-farm cartage available and long-distance cartage can be arranged when necessary. Clients range from farmers who can’t justify owning a modern header of their own, through to farms where breakdowns, other commitments or the weather have caused delays, with extra help needed.
Experienced owner/operator specialising in ploughing & cultivation
Chris Woods Contracting is an experienced owner/operator specialising in ploughing and cultivation services throughout the mid Canterbury region.
Methven Contracting now operates two modern 6m twin hopper drills, a Horsch Pronto DC and a John Deere 750A, utilising high accuracy Leica RTK GPS Auto-Steer.
Both our twin hopper drills provide customers with the option of placing fertiliser down the spout with the seed, which can dramatically boost yields. Excellent client references are available for drilling grain, grasses, brassicas, legumes, and fodder beet. Give us a go, you won’t be disappointed.
6m Horsch Pronto DC Drill
Minimum till & cultivated soil Seed, chemical, and fertiliser Combining seed bed preparation, consolidation, sowing and pressing 2-row disc system for the production of fine earth Unique packer concept for a good crop emergence in wet and dry conditions
6m John Deere 750A Drill
Direct drilling Seed, chemical, fertiliser, and slug bait World-proven drill technology that is engineered for the toughest conditions, but isn’t too heavy on your paddock Accurate seed placement Uniform depth control
Contact Millan Bungard to discuss your drilling requirements:
0274 362 356 or 03 302 9223
methvencontracting.co.nz
A pool of modern, reliable and efficient machinery is able to complete tasks to a high standard and no job is too large or too small!
CULTIVATION EQUIPMENT • 6m Amazone Catros+ disc • 6m Salford Cultivator, with finger tines and crumblers • 3 metre Great Plains X-press and ST Bar Combination • Kverneland 7 furrow reversible plough with vari-width and auto reset • 6m Cambridge roller with levelling boards • 6.6m Simba uni press Roller • 3.0m Kverneland discs • 3.2m Vicon mower conditioner • 3 axle tip truck with bulk, shingle side and flat deck options
Call Chris now to discuss your ploughing and cultivation options P 027 680 3818 or 03 32 9529 E info@chriswoodscontracting.co.nz www.chriswoodscontracting.co.nz
Kverneland Maxitil
Alpego RH300 Power Harrow
Duncan Mk2 Renovator
5 mtr working width with tine Harrows
Rear packer roller, very tidy
19 Run, Twin Box Disc Openers
$8,500 + GST
$23,000 + GST
$19,000 + GST
Lemken Zirkon 10/300 Power Harrow
Duncan 320 Roller Drill
Pottinger Terrasem C6
Rear drawbar and hydraulics
6m cultivating disc seed drill, row markers
Case IH 8575 3’x3’
Claas Quadrant 3400
New Holland BB940
$12,000 + GST
$19,000 + GST
Case IH 1680 Axial Flow $65,00 + GST
Massey Ferguson 4270
$15,000 + GST
$POA
New Holland TF44 $25,000 + GST
McCormick CX95 Xtrashift
3441 Hrs
4550 Hrs
$38,000 + GST
$25,000 + GST
New Holland T6090
New Holland TN80
5841 Hrs
$69,000 + GST
$19,000 + GST
$100,000 + GST
$60,000 + GST
John Deere 1075 Hydro 4 $20,000 + GST
McCormick MC115 5065 Hrs
Vaderstad Carrier 350
Flexicoil 6.3mtr Folding Roller
Leveling, disc and roller combo
Complete with air seeder unit
Case IH LBX331 Rotor Cut
Case IH 8585 4’x4’
Case IH 2388 Axial Flow
Case IH 8010 Axial Flow
$18,000 + GST
$34,000 + GST
$27,000 + GST
Three to choose from
$250,000 + GST
John Deere 6125 M & Loader
John Deere 6820 Premium
$79,000 + GST
$46,000 + GST
$POA
1920 Hours
McCormick MTX125 7365 Hrs
$29,000 + GST
$29,000 + GST
New Holland TS115
New Holland TSA110
$29,000 + GST
$20,000 + GST
$20,000 + GST
6274 Hrs
New Holland 6030 $52,000 + GST
Kuobota 105 S 3728 Hrs
$39,000 + GST
John Deere 6830
Cat Challenger MT745 B
John Deere 6310
Case IH Puma 210
Case IH Magnum 305
$67,000 + GST
$110,000 + GST
$39,000 + GST
$82,000 + GST
$105,000 + GST
5166 Hrs
5214 Hrs
6210 Hrs
3917 Hrs
Case IH Maxxum 140X
Case IH MX135
Case IH CVX 170
Case IH CVX 155
$63,000 + GST
$29,000 + GST
$26,000 + GST
$59,000 + GST
5384 Hrs
Tidy Runs Well
FH/PTO
6753 Hrs
For more information, or to view any of our tractors, contact: Ashburton 03 307 8027 Amberley 03 314 9055 Leeston 03 324 3791 Timaru 03 688 2179 www.cochranes.net.nz
6785 Hrs
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Around the traps FMG Young Farmer of the Year 2016 grand final awards evening, Southern Trust Events Centre, Timaru. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
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We build for industries. Starting with the primary ones. At Calder Stewart we’ve never forgotten where we
build - matched to your exact farming needs.
started, building quality farm buildings for the Kiwi
We pride ourselves at being a Rural Design &
farm industry. And over the course of the last 55
Build specialist and have gained a considerable
years of involvement, we’ve developed something
reputation in meeting the needs of many a farmer
of a knack for it. Our dedicated team’s expertise
over the years. Let us put our expertise to work for
in constructing custom woolsheds, covered yards,
you; call your nearest Calder Stewart Construction
wintering sheds and state-of-the-art dairy sheds
Representative today and see how we can deliver
ensures practicality, quality and a professional
a farm building that suits.
Over 55 Years Farm Building Experience A Rural Design and Build Specialist Premium Grade Construction Materials Used Durable & Rugged Design is Standard Best Value-for-Money in the Industry
Donald Sutton 211 Alford Forest Road, Ashburton
(03) 307 6130
To learn more visit our website:
COMMERCIAL•INDUSTRIAL•RURAL
www.calderstewart.co.nz