Guardian farming june by Ashburton Guardian

Farming GUARDIAN

JUNE, 2014

Angora jackpot

Pages 3-4

Ray and Donece McEwan are making a living from goats on their lifestyle block just out of Ashburton.

2014 Instore Days_AD_260x100mm_0614.indd 1

4/6/14 10:36:12 PM

Greg Martin

Mary Ralston

John Leadley

Sheryl Stivens

Farming

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Fishy tales from Thailand, including advice on how to survive a fishing trip.

Gorse hedges and pine shelter belts have given way to modern types of fencing.

coMMENT FROM EDITOR

BRASS AND FEATHERS

Michelle Nelson

inter certainly arrived on cue. After a wet but warm autumn, June 1 delivered a white frost and a classic crisp winter day. It also delivered a timely reminder to rural households to make sure they are equipped for the worst the weather gods can throw at us. This time in 2006 vast tracts of Canterbury were a metre deep in snow, down to sea level in places. Many people were caught short – in particular those who rolled into the district on Gypsy Day. Some waited weeks for power to be restored; others with high-level medical needs were forced to trek to town on tractors. Dairy farmers struggled to get cows milked and others to get feed out to stock. In September last year gale force winds tore down trees and disrupted power supplies, again isolating rural communities. It pays to be prepared. In this addition we have some tips on pages 12-13. We also take a look at the renaissance of the angora

FOREST AND BIRD

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RURAL COMMENT

MASTAGARD ASHBURTON

contacts We appreciate your feedback. Editor Email your comments to michelle.n@theguardian.co.nz or phone 03 307 7971.

RURAL EDITOR

Advertising Email emma.j@theguardian.co.nz or phone 03 307 7936. Post Ashburton Guardian, PO Box 77, Ashburton.

goat. This darling of the fibre market largely came and went in the 1980s, when it seemed every second farmer had a crack at domesticating feral goats to breed an angora mob. Few were as persistent as Ray and Donece McEwan. For these Winslow farmers patience has paid off – their docile, entirely domesticated purebred goats are paying their way. There’s a whole lot more to Mt Hutt than a ski field – we sneak around the other side for a tour of one of New Zealand’s first large-scale deer farming operations – Bruce Hood tells an inspiring yarn about his family’s journey beginning in 1979 to the present day (pages 34-35). Our regular columnists have once again delivered a great line up of material. For those looking for a winter holiday with a difference, check out Greg Martin’s fishing adventure in Thailand. We are always interested in ideas for stories, or feedback from our readers.

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Easy Angoras paying dividends

he growing demand for mohair is driving the resurgence of the angora goat industry – and with prices for premium fibre hitting the $40kg mark, it’s an option well worth considering. Burnbrae Karawi Angora stud owners Ray and Donece McEwan run their stud and commercial flock of around 300 angora goats in the Winslow district, south of Ashburton. They produce some of the country’s best mohair. At the NZGoats conference last month, the McEwans’ fibre made a dint in the prize pool, taking first, second and third place, the Jim Wilkins Memorial Trophy for third shear fleece, and the Mohair NZ trophy for 3kg of kid fleece. They say angoras are a good option for lifestyle farmers or small block holders; they are easy to handle and manage, inexpensive to buy into and are not capital intensive to run. “The problem is the perception of goats – our purebreds are pretty docile,”

Michelle Nelson

RURAL EDITOR

Donece said. “The best thing about angoras is that they produce up to 5kg of mohair and provide a quality meat carcass.” The McEwans have been in the business of growing mohair for years – since the inception of New Zealand’s commercial angora industry in the late 1970s, starting with 20 feral does and a pure-bred angora buck – bred off the Waipu* bush angoras. Ray admits the feral goats were tricky to manage – and quick to escape. “I couldn’t get rid of them fast enough,” he said. By contrast the angora flock is easily contained with regular sheep fences and an electric wire. “Angoras have a good

temperament, they are quieter and easier to manage than sheep or cattle, and they don’t need much looking after.” In 1985 the McEwans sold their flock of 300 up-grade does to make way for the Karawi Angora Stud Herd No. 13, purchased from Australia. The same year they made the decision to shift to Mid Canterbury. But the good times were over for many farmers, and caught in the downturn of the

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late 80s, Ray and Donece were forced to sell up. “We went through the crash and lost our property and our angoras,” Ray said. “However we managed to buy a lot of our bloodlines back from others who had lost their businesses.” Both working off the farm, the couple managed to purchase another block and ride out the worst of the downturn. Three years later their luck changed with the

growth of the dairy sector, and they sold the property as a conversion block. They downsized to their present location – a 29ha block at Winslow, and carried a small flock of angoras. On his retirement Ray decided to increase the flock, and was keen to look into South African bloodlines. “I managed to find the right stock and we still have them today,” he said. Continued page 4

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“The South African bloodlines are the most pure genetics available, everyone has to cross over to them for fibre.” Today Ray and Donece run about 150 breeding does, 100 kids, 70 maiden does and about 100 mixed age whethers. Donece says it’s a great husband-and-wife enterprise, and very much family orientated. “You never seem to have any difficulty getting anyone to help out with the goats,” she said. Angora goats seem purposebuilt for lifestyle or small blocks. A 10ha block will run 20 goats – twice the number of sheep the same area could maintain. “Angoras offer a great return on investment, they are quite affordable,” Ray said. Good quality does can be purchased from $50-$200. Alternatively wethers can be had for $25-$50, and run as dry stock for fibre, and later sold into the meat market. “There’s really no other livestock you can buy at this price and get a full return on your investment within six to 12 months. Shearing is done twice a year, between February and March, and again between

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August to early October, with Ray wielding the hand piece, and Donece sorting and grading the fleece. Adult goats produce on average 2.5kg of mohair at each shearing, averaging $20kg depending on the micron grade. For the first three shears, top line fibre can fetch $37kg. Kids average 1-1.2kg of fibre at six months, and about 2kg at a year old; superfine kid fibre was fetching $41kg at the end of May. In the accelerated mohair market, everything from stained fibre to dags is in demand. “Our last clip was 730kg from 300 goats, with a return of $13,700 for six months – double that for a year, and it’s not too bad from 29ha,” Ray said. The mohair is sold through two warehouses, one in the North Island and one in the south, where the fibre is sorted, pooled and sold – some stays in New Zealand, and the rest goes to South Africa, where game reserves have overtaken traditional farming pursuits. From there the fibre is shipped to Europe, where high-end mohair suit and next-to-skin fabrics are

Donece and one of her tame Angoras.

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with some corrugated iron anchored down as a roof, or purpose-built shelters. Kidding percentages can be as high as 150 per cent, but usually sit around the 125 per cent mark, and a doe can still produce healthy offspring at 10 years old. Angora does are excellent mothers, and require little intervention during kidding. “You need to keep an eye on them like sheep, but they don’t mis-mother,” Donece said. “They hide the kids and go back to feed them it. It’s interesting watching their

produced. “The demand for mohair outstrips the supply, and the challenge is keeping up the supply to our customers, so there’s a real opportunity for anyone looking to get into mohair production,” Ray said. Farming angora goats is relatively stress-free. It’s important to have a good drenching programme in place to manage parasites. Shelter should also be factored in, especially after shearing. This can be as simple as an accessible shelter belt, a few big straw bales

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behaviour – another doe from the same family will adopt an orphan kid, or sometimes even a twin, a sheep wouldn’t do that.” Producing all that mohair can deplete protein reserves, and supplementary feed is necessary, especially through the winter months. The McEwens feed out silage, grass seed straw and, closer to kidding, a high protein supplement. “You need to give them a boost – goats need protein and they need a lot of it to produce fibre and milk for the kids, but with the price of fibre it soon pays off,” Ray said. The McEwans are keen to promote the industry, and can be contacted on 03 302 6918 for more information and advice. *At Waipu in the northern reaches of the northern part of the North Island, there is a small flock of feral goats thought to be the remnants of the Angoras introduced by settlers in the late 1900s. It is believed that there are now very few left in the bush area to which they were originally confined, the main population currently being held by a member of the Rare Breeds Conservation Society.

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Fishy tales from Thailand Greg Martin

BRASS AND FEATHERS

here was only one cat in the floating village about two hours up Lake Namjone, Thailand. All the others had been eaten by a python. “Don’t swim at night,” was the advice translated to me when I stepped off the ferrycanoe in the blazing sun. I stared down into the green water for a moment. That wouldn’t be a problem. I hadn’t come to swim. Fishing in overseas destinations doesn’t have to be about guided package deals. It can be as simple as a ticket with a budget airline, a suitcase that holds a few rods and reels, an open mind and a

A floating village at Lake Namjone in Thailand.

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sense of adventure. In my case, the budget airline was Air Asia (in the days when they flew to Christchurch), and the suitcase was something designed to carry golf clubs. In it you can pack enough rods, reels and lures to deal with any fishing Continued on next page

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Farming

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From page 5 opportunity that may come up along the way. The really good thing is that airlines generally regard golf club cases as normal luggage. No fuss. Just check in and away you go. My destination was hot, populous, and with water everywhere. In places like this people live for fish and fishing, and they don’t mind a farang (foreigner) turning up to have a bit of fun. What’s more, if farang is having no success, it’s not long before someone wanders over and gives farang the benefit of some well-kept secrets. Soon farang is happy, and everyone is happy. The innate manly fun of catching fish. Thailand’s approach to biosecurity also goes something like this: is it orange with teeth, a great fighter that grows to an Amazonian size (or any of the forgoing)? Yes? Then, hell, bring it in! As a result over the years the country has turned into something of an ecological free-for-all. Orange-tailed catfish from South America share space with Indian siamese carp. Giant snakehead chase African tilapia. Australian barramundi are farmed in old shrimp

Amazonian orange-tail catfish.

ponds like trout among the weeds. In among it all, some of Thailand’s native species survive, and thrive. That was the reason I had gone up to Lake Namjone to stay on the floating village with the last remaining cat. It felt like the Thai equivalent of Cabo Blanco – only no black marlin or Hemmingway. Up there in the lake lives an aggressive and beautiful indigenous species called the jungle perch or hampala barb. In the context of freshwater

Coastal Thailand, where the fishing beckons.

fishing, the method of catching them was interesting. You positioned a boat up against one of the sheer walls of rock that form the side of the lake. You then drop a sliver spoon to the bottom, which is a very, very long way down. A speed retrieve up the sides of the underwater cliff face brings the hampala barb out from invisible dark caves. It works well, and seemed to work best in the evening after a day of sleeping in the shade and eating searingly hot Thai sweet-and-sour soup.

It really felt a long way from anywhere. And that’s a good kind of holiday. At night I lay dozing on a bamboo bench in the village with a live-bait out for catfish, the line from the rod wrapped around an empty beer bottle; an early warning system for a bite. Twice the bottle clinked over. Twice I was jerked out of my doze and the reel screamed. But twice whatever monster was down there in the black swam away with my live-bait

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unscathed. Bad fishing luck, but at least no pythons came looking for the cat. I baited up again and fetched another beer. Holiday fishing in a hot place. You can’t beat it. Expedition total: one orange-tailed catfish, one mekong giant catfish, six barramundi, one tiger redtailed catfish, lots of tom john barb, one alligator gar, one spanish mackerel, two snakeheads, one tilapia and four hampala barb. Pacu hooked and lost.

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A jungle perch or hampala barb.

Fishing tips for Thailand

A hot and spicy breakfast.

Keeping out of the sun.

• Probably best to wait for the politics to settle down a bit. • If you are going on a boat, have earplugs handy. The engines will deafen you. • Be prepared for the food to be hellishly spicy, and beer just makes it worse. • Drive like a local – be aware, warn, and move quickly through. • Before you come home, clean your gear with fresh water and bleach, and still be prepared for an understandably slow route through customs. Have fun, but look after New Zealand.

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orse hedges and pine shelter belts were distinctive features of the Canterbury Plains for more than 100 years. Their benefits were well recognised; they protected soil and stock from the hot dry winds of summer and cold snowy winds of winter. Nowadays, irrigators and dairy cows are the recognisable features of the Canterbury agricultural landscape but they need not be at the expense of shelterbelts or native biodiversity. Even before pivot irrigation became as common as they are today, many gorse hedges were removed and replaced by modern fences. Although gorse is an introduced plant, it had benefits for nature conservation because native species, particularly scrambling pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia complexa) often grew among the gorse, and insects and bees were attracted to the pohuehue and gorse flowers which in turn supported birds – a nice little agricultural ecosystem. Since the advent of overhead irrigators, not only have many more gorse hedges disappeared but many pine shelterbelts have gone as well.

Mary Ralston

FOREST AND BIRD

Although a loss in some respects, it also presents an opportunity to plant low shelter in the paddocks designed around pivot irrigators. Innovative farmers Mark and Devon Slee, who have just won the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, have planted more than 10,000 native plants on their farm for shelter. Lines of low-growing natives can be planted in a pattern like the spokes of a cartwheel, radiating out from the point of the centre pivot. Gaps can be left to allow for the wheels of the irrigator. Bushy (such as broadleaf) and taller species (such as cabbage trees and ribbonwoods) and those suited to drier conditions (kanuka, corokia and kowhai) can be planted in the dry corners and taller, traditional-style shelter established on the boundaries.

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Possibilities for native shelter belts using a radial design.

Advice should be sought from plant nurseries and planting contractors. Environment Canterbury has very good information on shelter belt planting on its website.

Farm shelter belts – tall or short – have many functions other than stock and soil shelter. They offer habitat to birds, insects and other invertebrates and can form part of important

corridors of shelter and food supply to birds travelling from the foothills to the plains. Flowering plants provide pollen and nectar for bees which are crucial for pollinating clover and seed crops. Overseas buyers of our agricultural products are also keen to see that New Zealand’s

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WINTERING SHEDS

farmers take animal welfare seriously and shelter belts can help tick those boxes. Research findings support the traditional view that animals do well with shelter – a study showed that cows that have access to shade increased grazing time, feed conversion efficiency and live-weight gain. It would be a great thing

if, in 10 years time, native shelterbelts on the plains were as common as gorse hedges and pine trees once were. What a great vision for Kiwi farmers to get behind – good for stock, crops and native biodiversity. And perfect for our clean green image for overseas visitors and buyers of our wonderful produce.

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Farming

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Uncertainty leads to missed chance By Paul Reece

he recent decision by the Mayfield Hinds Irrigation Scheme shareholders to not upgrade their open channel scheme to an enclosed pipe network is an opportunity missed. The piping of the scheme was to be another step in the continual improvement that irrigators have been making to their scheme and practices for several years. Built in 1949 as an open channel to on-farm borderdyke scheme, it is the largest of the three schemes fed by the Rangitata Diversion Race. Across the three RDR schemes, farmers have spent an estimated $829 million or $12,500 per hectare to improve from the less efficient borderdyke application system to pressurised spray with more storage. This has been to the direct benefit of the environment with more efficient use of the water and the ability to water “just in time” not “just in case”. At the same time the

RDR scheme and the other irrigation in the region has driven the economic gains that Canterbury has seen. But it would seem the continual improvement has hit a bump in the road. The piping of the scheme would have further increased the efficient use of the water. Outcomes from piping would see water losses from the open-channel system eliminated, the potential to generate electricity using the natural fall and a further reduction of the borderdyked area. All positive outcomes for the environment. There is a cost to make improvements on-farm and the scheme. It is the farmers that finance this and to be able to do that they must have a consistent and predictable income. And therein lies the issue. Farmers are used to operating with many uncertain factors in their businesses. Efficient and effective irrigation can eliminate one of the biggest variations – rainfall. However, the latest variance

Mayfield Hinds Irrigation Limited general manager Hamish Tait.

that has been introduced to the business environment is the water-quality limit-setting process. No-one is arguing that there needs to be waterquality improvements and that

farmers are contributing, but the uncertainty of the process and what the eventual limits will mean has created a climate of caution when investing in further improvements.

Business continuation and investment decisions do not wait for the churn of regulation process. The decision to not pipe the scheme is a result of a number of factors and the uncertainty around the limits process and outcomes has influenced the decision. So from what would have been a beneficial outcome for the environment and another step in the continual improvement in irrigation may now become a possible perverse outcome of the limit setting uncertainty. For farmers to improve environmental outcomes from their property they must have certainty of the regulatory conditions they must work in. To invest, periods of certainty is needed among the uncertainty. That is the challenge for the regulators, to signal and drive change but also to allow investment to make the continual improvements that will happen. • Paul Reece is project manager for Irrigation New Zealand.

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Be prepared for snow

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Preparation key for getting through N

ow that we are officially in winter, it’s time to prepare ourselves for anything that this season may throw at us. In Canterbury, flooding, wind and snowstorms can cause power and landline outages, which can isolate rural families for days, and even weeks. Now is the ideal time to restock and review emergency plans. “We know the people in this region have had their fair share of weather-related events in the last few months but unfortunately that doesn’t mean there isn’t more to come,” Canterbury Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group community resilience coordinator Jessica Petersen said. “Everyone still needs to have the necessities in place to be able to be self-sufficient for at least three days in the event of road closures and power cuts.” This includes having stocks

of non-perishable food, water, warm clothing, batteries, fuel, an alternative cooking source and other emergency supplies on hand. A solar cell phone charger is also a good idea. During a power cut it is safer to use torches rather than candles, but if there is no other option make sure candles are in stable, noncombustible holders and away from anything that could burn. “For general readiness every household should create and practise a household emergency plan, which should include having a plan for any pets and animals,” Ms Petersen said. Even in small quantities, snow can be hazardous. It only takes a few centimetres on a road to make driving dangerous. Motorists considering driving are advised to carry chains case of snow and to check road conditions and the

weather forecast before setting out. “As well as the chains, it is a good idea to carry another emergency kit in the car with a warm blanket, water and first aid kit the necessities.” In rural areas, it can be difficult to get to stock in heavy snow, and provision should be made for this by moving animals to areas where they can be feed and watered for a few days ahead of an impending storm. Farmers caught in power outages have not been able to milk cows, often for several days. Milk has had to be dumped, and effluent ponds cannot be emptied. As a result many farms have generators installed, and groups such as the Mid Canterbury Rural Trust, Federated Farmers and DairyNZ are on hand to offer advice for those caught out. Members of the public should contact their local

Don’t leave it until it’s too late!

council for further Civil Defence information. There are also a number of places people can find information on getting ready, including items for emergency

kits; a good place to start is www.gethru.govt.nz or www. cdemcanterbury.govt.nz Weather conditions and warnings can be found at www.metservice.com

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Winter servicing B

eing well and truly into the start of a cold winter ahead, now is the perfect opportunity to get your machines serviced and ready for the coming season. Down here at STIHL Shop Ashburton, we are capable of all types of servicing, ATV’s, mowers and all the outdoor power equipment! A lawn mower that is well-maintained will have a longer life span. The condition of the lawn mower also affects the appearance and health of the yard itself. If a lawn mower’s blades are dull it may cut inconsistently, unevenly or it may not cut at all. Instead of making neat cuts, dull mower blades shred and tear grass, which opens the turf to infection and reduces its capacity to absorb nutrients and water. Mower servicing is important, playing a big part in keeping your yards and farms tidy, it’s not just as easy as changing a bit of oil, but sharpening blades, and all the in between. We have a fully qualified technician for all sorts of outdoor power equipment and expert advice on your machine. We are also able to do on site pick-ups for mowers in and around Ashburton. A key component of having a lawn that is beautiful and healthy is making sure your lawn mower is in good condition. Be sure to service mowing equipment regularly and use a lawn mower blade sharpening service.

w r ne rton u o u y eet Ashb m p o nd e a IHL sh m o T C at S m ea

Maintenance Service includes: • Oil change • Winterizing the fuel system • Spark plug replacement • Air filter cleaning • Sharpening lawn mower blades • Balancing the lawn mower blade • Servicing lawn mower • Cleaning the mower • Inspecting the lawn mower for more maintenance needs When logging and getting all winters wood ready, I’m sure a lot of you have been making the most use of your saws leading up to winter. A chainsaw service may not seem essential, but if you want to make the most of your machines, it pays to get that annual service done. Keeping your blade sharp is very important. It means that you will have the quickest possible cut, thus increasing efficiency. A properly sharpened blade means that your engine does not have to work as hard, thus it increases your engine’s longevity. All in all, if it has a motor or a generator of reasonable size, whether a mower or an outdoor power tool, we are more than willing to service it to keep you going. STIHL Shop Ashburton, Right into Allenton Meat Centre staff (far left and Far right) along with Stihl Shop our Outdoor Power Equipment Ashburton staff congratulate Christine Robertson, winner of a STIHL chainsaw in a Advertising feature recent competition.

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Farming

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Wool producers to vote on levy Michelle Nelson

RURAL EDITOR

heep farmers will have an opportunity to shape the direction of the wool industry in a referendum seeking to re-introduce a levy. The wool producers referendum is set to take place on October 10 and will ask sheep farmers to fund a new industry body by approving a levy of between 2 and 5 cents for each kilogram of greasy or slipe wool at the first point of sale. This equates to $4.6 million based on 3 cents per kilogram for the 154,000 tonne of wool produced in New Zealand each year. About 17,000 sheep farmers will be eligible to vote. Wool Levy Group chairwoman Sandra Faulkner said the levy would be used to fund industry-related activities of benefit to farmers and the

wider wool industry. “The new industry good body will represent all New Zealand wool producers and provide a much needed voice for the wool sector,” Ms Faulkner said. “We have a great opportunity to create momentum off the back of improving prices for wool. We want to inspire and invigorate the new generations of wool growers who are not currently engaging with or influencing the direction of the wool industry. Currently growers are represented beyond the farm gate by Merino NZ, Primary Wool Co-op and Wools of New Zealand. “These companies do a great job on behalf of their shareholders but there are around fifty per cent of wool growers who don’t belong to these companies,” Ms Faulkner said. “A farmer levy means that an industry good body will be consistently funded and work in the best interests of all New Zealand’s wool producers. A positive grower vote, both by number and weighted

The direction of the wool industry will be influenced by the levy vote in October.

sheep numbers, is required for the Wool Levy Referendum before the Ministry for Primary Industries enact the necessary regulations under the Commodities Levies Act. Federated Farmers is backing the Wool Levy Group’s move to reinstate a levy on wool. Mid Canterbury farmer and Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairwoman Jeanette Maxwell said the federation

would set up meetings to encourage its members to engage with the Wool Levy Group. “Wool has been the quiet export achiever worth $700 million to New Zealand in 2013,” she said. “At that level, it easily eclipsed the exports of personal, cultural, and recreational services, which, by the way, includes motion pictures. “We are here now because

the Wool Levy Group has learned from history. It is defining what the levy will fund and do but boy, do we need to crack some industrygood issues that are holding wool back.” Explosive growth in the Chinese markets has been hampered by the lack of an industry-good body lobbying on behalf of growers for trade access agreements, Mrs Maxwell said. Likewise, their voice is missing other potential markets. “The new levy is not about commercial adventures because, frankly, that put more than a few nails into the old levy’s coffin. The old levy fell over because farmers had become so disconnected from what it was doing that they saw it as an irrelevancy.” Mrs Maxwell said the new group put farmers front and centre, representing breeders as well as manufacturers and growers, and was well positioned to grow New Zealand’s position as the third biggest wool exporter in the world.

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Mid Canterbury H By Michelle Nelson

Southern man Joel Malcolm brought in the top weight hog, caught in Photo Myles Hume 230613-MH_001 Southland.

eral animals beware; hunters across the South Island have you in their sights – hoping to bag a heavyweight for the Mid Canterbury Hunting Competition. When the competition kicks off on Friday, June 20, it will be game on. There are no restrictions on where the animals can be bagged, but they must be brought to the Hotel Ashburton car park for weigh in between 11am to 2.30pm on Sunday, June 22. In its seventh year, the event continues to attract more participants with about 265 hunters registering last June. Six prizes are on offer for the heaviest boars, and the hunter who turns in the top weight hog will be $400 better off for his or her effort. Last year Southland hunter Joel Malcolm took the honour with a 85.7kg boar. Stags, tahr, chamois and wallabies will also be on the radar and when weigh-in takes place, a large number of ducks, rabbits, hares and possums are also certain to feature in the lineup. While women are welcome to enter, and indeed have also been increasing in numbers as each year goes by, female animals are not eligible – unless they happen to be rabbits, hares, possums or ducks . These animals are also exempt from the gutting requirements

stipulated for larger prey. In the pig and deer categories, the minimum weight is 25kg and surprisingly all entries must have their ears and testicles “attached naturally”. All hunts must be fair and any animals deemed by the judges to have been farmed, poisoned, herded or trapped, will be disqualified – as will any which have been in frozen storage. All hunting must be done on foot. Helicopters can only be used to drop hunters into remote areas and to carry them – and their animals – out at the end of the weekend. Shooting from the air is banned, and to collect a prize hunters will have to produce their firearms licence. The event was the brainchild of five Ashburton shooters and each year it has grown in popularity both among shooters and with the public ,who turn out to admire the hunters’ efforts during weigh-in. While many hunters head to their favourite hunting spots outside the district, there was also plenty of good game in the Ashburton back country. The events for junior section for 12–15 year olds are designed to attract young shooters into the sport, with a guided category for under 12s. Entries close on June 14, but early birds who had their entries in by May 25 are in the draw for a $100 voucher

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Hunting Competition 2014 from Neumanns Tyres. All entrants weighing in an animal on the day will be in the draw for a rifle, as will those weighing in a tahr, red stag, fallow buck, chamois or wallaby. Entry is $30, cheques should be made out to Mid Canterbury Hunting Competition and posted to 77 Harland Street, Tinwald, Ashburton. For more information visit www. midcanthuntingcomp.co.nz, or call Glenn Ralston on 027 685 7743, Richard Clucas on 027 229 9724 or Andy Wilson on 027 435 4646.

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Angus cleans up origin

$7m to assess viability

new funding agreement will investigate the viability of the Hunter Downs irrigation scheme for up to 40,000ha in South Canterbury. The Government’s Irrigation Acceleration Fund will provide $7.044 million over two years to co-fund technical investigations and design work to determine if an irrigation scheme is viable, both from a technical and economic perspective. ‘This will be matched by funds from shareholder equity and the scheme’s partner, Meridian Energy. “If the scheme proves to be viable it has the potential to increase income in the Waimate and Timaru districts

by $830 million per annum and create 1800 jobs,” said agriculture minister Nathan Guy. “It would also provide long-term security for agriculture in these districts and provide landowners with greater confidence around production and investment decisions. “The irrigation infrastructure also has the potential to benefit the nationally significant wetland, Wainono lagoon. If viable, the scheme will draw water from the Lower Waitaki River and depending on the outcome of the investigation, construction could begin late 2016 and be completed by the end of 2019.

olin Brown from Cambridge has been named Grand Champion in the 2014 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Steak of Origin competition with his Angus processed at AgResearch Ruakura. After being a finalist in previous years and his Lake Farm Beef brand winning Supreme Brand in 2009, Colin has taken out the competition to find the country’s most tender and tasty sirloin steak. Colin is humbled by the win. “I am absolutely thrilled with the result after being a finalist for the last six years, and finally taking the title”, he says. The supreme band champion was also announced with AngusPure boasting the title. The 20 finalists were tasted by a panel of four judges including Graham Hawkes, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Advisory Chef; Scott Kennedy, Beef + Lamb Ambassodor

Chef; and two Beef + Lamb New Zealand Iron Maidens, silver medallist Sarah Walker and gold medallist Sophie Pascoe. Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chief Executive, Dr. Scott Champion, believes the Steak of Origin competition celebrates the best tasting beef in the country, produced by New Zealand’s world leading farmers. “Winning this competition is a significant achievement and it brings together the pasture to plate story highlighting farmer commitment to creating the best product for their consumers,” says Dr Champion. The Grand Champion takes home the Steak of Origin trophy and $6500 in prizemoney. This year saw the launch of a new element in the competition, the People’s Choice Award, naming Ballyhooley Beef from Winton with a Murray Grey as the public’s favourite.

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Managing our water resources

Fencing, planting and good stock management help reduce the impact of sediment, faecal contamination and nutrients on streams, as well as improving biodiversity in the Hinds Catchment. In the example shown here the same stream is shown a few years apart, initially with fencing (left photo) to keep stock out of the waterway. The next step is the planting of appropriate native species (right photo) which enhances stream health and biodiversity, protects banks from erosion and filters sediment and some nutrients in runoff from paddocks. by Donna FielD, Chair, ashburton Zone Committee

t has been four years since the Canterbury Water Management Strategy was endorsed by all Canterbury councils when ten zone committees were established. A zone committee’s job is to provide local advice to Environment Canterbury, and their district or city council on how to the gain greatest social, ecological, economic, recreational and cultural benefits from our water resources while remaining within current and future environmental limits. The Ashburton Zone Committee has been working to improve water flows in the Ashburton River. The committee recommended diverting some water

“

The committee has allocated approximately $300,000 to biodiversity projects

currently used in the stockwater system back into the river. This has been included in the Ashburton section of the Proposed Land and Water Regional Plan. It will take longer than we had hoped but the plan sets out a clear framework and timeline for things to happen. The zone committee will continue to follow progress and hopes

The integrated solutions package of water management goals for the Hinds Catchment, developed by the Ashburton zone committee working with community members.

that some of the work will be completed ahead of time. Another major piece of work has been to develop recommendations for the Hinds catchment. Across New Zealand, regional councils are required to set water quality and quantity limits and establish management frameworks. Nutrient levels in surface and shallow groundwater in the Hinds area are some of the highest in New Zealand. The only option is to develop an action plan that

leads to a reduction in nutrient concentrations over time. The zone committee recognises that reducing nitrates in the Hinds catchment is going to be a significant challenge. The committee has been grateful for feedback from the Hinds Plains Land and Water Partnership and individuals who have provided practical advice as ideas have evolved. The committee is also looking forward to working with the Hinds Drains Working Party as it begins work on surface

water allocation and minimum flows.

Biodiversity a focus

Another significant piece of work for the committee has been improvement of biodiversity around waterways as shown in the pictures above. The committee has allocated approximately $300,000 to biodiversity projects in the Ashburton district. The committee has $200,000 yet to allocate. If you think you have a good project and would like some assistance please email

jodie.rees@ecan.govt.nz. I would like to acknowledge the contribution Matthew Hall has made to finding better solutions for water management in the Ashburton district over a number of years, most recently as the chair of the Ashburton Zone Committee. Matthew stepped down from the committee in March along with Councillor Neil Brown. We have welcomed three new committee members. They are community members Jackie Wright and Chris Allen; and Ashburton district councillor Stuart Wilson. I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of existing members Arapata Reuben (Ngai Tuahuriri), David Caygill (Environment Canterbury Commissioner), Ben Curry (community member), Gordon Guthrie (community member), Karl Russel (Arowhenua) and Sheryl Stivens (community member). Finding better water management solutions is complex, highly contested and can at times, be uncomfortable. We are privileged to have the opportunity to recommend approaches that best suit the Ashburton district and our community. The Zone Committee and I look forward to continuing to work with the community so we can all enjoy and benefit from Ashburton’s water resources now and into the future. To see the zone committee’s recommendations visit www.canterburywater.co.nz and click on the Ashburton link. Advertising feature

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When town meets country John Leadley

RURAL COMMENT

ne of the institutions that have been part of the fabric of New Zealand for more than 135 years is the agricultural and pastoral association. Agricultural and pastoral associations have, for at least a century, been the showcase annual event where town meets country, in a relaxed day of competition and display. While some breeds of sheep have changed, (where were the shropshires, ryelands etc of yesteryear?) and wheat varieties like hunters white, tuscan, velvet ear and pearl no longer exist, many of the classes remain remarkably similar. Cattle breeds remain predominantly jersey and friesian. The ratio of working horses to lighter riding hacks has

probably reversed, but as one who worked Clydesdales in the early 1950s it’s great to still see these magnificent beasts. Having visited all Ashburton A&P shows since 1940, I recently re-read a forward written by my grandfather George William Leadley, at the age of 70, for the 50th annual Agricultural and Pastoral Exhibition held on November 4, 1926. GW Leadley came to New Zealand as an eight-year-old in 1863 and settled on part of Kermode and Moore’s “Glenmark” at Wakanui in 1877, after three years education. The original 428 acres was expanded to 2312 acres, and known as the Valverde Estate. It was sold to the Government for land settlement in 1912 and subdivided into 10 sections. GW Leadley was a prominent farmer of his era. WH Scotter in his book, Ashburton, credits him along with JH Grigg as being largely responsible for the Fairfield Freezing works. He was the leading proponent in establishing

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the Farmer’s Union in Mid Canterbury (now Federated Farmers) in 1901, when the organisation consisted of 120 members nationwide. At the first Canterbury Conference, in May 1902, he was elected South Island president by the 400 persons present, and later that year in Wellington at the national conference he became national vice-president, taking over the role of national president in 1903. This was the second year of the organisation’s establishment. GW Leadley was a founding director of the Midland Cooperative Dairy Company, a long-term Roads Board member, county councillor, school committee chairman and commissioner and prominent in establishing the Wheat Board. He was also active in the Methodist Church and described by Scotter as the district’s leading prohibitionist. GW was the first president of the A&P association to be re-elected in 1899-1900, and was one of the earliest life members.

The Leadley link to the A&P association has continued to this day with sons, George and Roland, being life members. Roland’s sons, Colin and Norman, together with son-inlaw, Stewart Watson, have all served terms as president. Great-grandson Brian Leadley served two terms as president and another great grandson of GW, Chris Watson is now vice-president. A study of the committee indicates several families with a century of involvement. Long may the A&P association survive to foster the towncountry link. The following is a copy of George William Leadley’s foreword to the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral 50th Annual Exhibition held in 1926. This was published as an introduction in the catalogue. Then and Now – A Long Look Back, by George William Leadley: Fifty years! An inconsiderable period perhaps in the life of a nation; but in the life of a district or an individual (and particularly when it is the first 50 years) it is fraught with an

importance and an interest which any other period can scarcely possess, for then are laid the foundations upon which others will build. Then men stand at the spring of a nation’s or a community’s life and give direction to the current. This is in itself both a privilege and a responsibility. There can be only one beginning – there may be great future development and amplification – but there can be only one beginning, and it is no small privilege to have been one of those who blazed the trail, for future progress and development. Anything related to Ashburton before the “Seventies” may be regarded as pre-historic. Previous to that time “The Ashburton,”

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as it was invariably called, was the abode of “Squatterdom.” With the exception of a few scattered settlers, who, attracted by the superiority of the land along the banks of the rivers, and the nearness of the water supply, had secured small areas along the rivers, where they employed themselves partly in working for the run-holders, and partly in the growing of forage crops which they sold either to the owners of the large wagon teams which were employed by the run-holders or to Cobb and Co, the coach proprietors who ran the coaches weekly to and fro between Christchurch and Timaru. For the rest, from river to river, and from hills to the sea, was for the

“broken,” long lines of fencing appeared, main roads were formed, and industry and enterprise were everywhere evident. Meanwhile, the township was taking shape, buildings were erected with haste, coming into the town one heard everywhere the clatter of hammers. The Ashburton Road Board, then the only governing body, saw to the formation of streets and roads, phenomenal prices being paid to contractors for some of these works. Organisations were formed and started into vigorous life. A fine community spirit seemed to possess the early pioneers of both town and country, and the result was that among the societies formed or suggested was a Farmers’ Club. It may be noted here that quite a number of the A&P Associations in Canterbury first appeared as Farmers’ Clubs. From records available it appears that the Ashburton A& P Association was the outcome of a meeting called to form a farmers’ club, but subsequently, on the motion of the late Thos. Taylor, the title was altered to the present one. The executive officers elected being as follows: president, John Grigg; vice president, Chas. Reed, (of Westerfield); secretary, B Metcalf; treasurer Jas. Stanley, (Clerk Ashburton Road Board). Evidently the men of those days

believed that “in a multitude of councillors there is wisdom,” for they elected 46 committee men. There is a tradition that the first show held in Ashburton was 1868. It was organised and supervised by a Mr Moorhouse, and was held at Cracroft on the Rangitata. It is said to have consisted only of horses and sheep, and details of the fixture are meagre and may be said to be lost in the mists of antiquity. But with the meeting – referred to above - the Ashburton A&P Association took shape and life, and on November 15, 1877, the first show under the auspices of the association was held at Tinwald, on ground lent for the purpose by Messrs Clark and Beswick. The writer of this historiette had the fortune (good or bad) to be present at this show, and imprinted on his memory, was the atrocious weather which greeted the association’s first public exhibition. Describing the scene, the scribe, excuses the meagreness of his details for the reason that both his hands were holding onto his hat. He remarks that the Ashburton Brass Band was present “and did its best, with its pleasure-giving performance, to mitigate the miseries of the scene.” He adds “in the afternoon the wind subsided, and those present were then able to inspect

RU RO R AD AL S

Caption: The Ashburton A&P Show of yesteryear.

most part a vast treeless, objectless expense of waving brown tussock, except on the south side of the river, where swamp growths, flax, toi-toi etc prevailed. The wide open country was stocked by mobs of merino sheep, tended by shepherds whose forms, mounted on horseback, could be easily discerned, so clear was the atmosphere, and so uninterrupted the view, silhouetted against the skyline for six or eight miles distant. But in the early seventies came a change. The rivers were being bridged. The Great Southern Railway, as it was called, was creeping across the wide plains. Reports of excellent crops of wheat grown by some of the settlers along the river banks were noised abroad, and “The Ashburton” became talked of as a possible El Dorado. A rush set in for the new lands. One factor was the advent of the reaper and binder and the double-furrow plough. Men saw the ease with which those laboursaving implements could be used on the plains, and the opening of the railway provided a means of communication with city and port. A rapid change in the appearance of the country followed. Settlers’ homes sprang up and scores of thousands of acres of virgin land were

the exhibits and without trying to get to the lee side of each other for the purpose of dodging the dust drift.” The committee of management came in for severe strictures; but charitably the scribe attributes the lack of method “to the dust and wind that threw everything into the state of most admired disorder.” Whatever the difficulties and the deficiencies, this much be said, these early pioneers of our county, and founders of its institutions, possessed a courage and a sublime faith in the future of the land of their adoption. They had difficulties and disappointments and reverses; but they rose superior to them all, and we today reap the fruits of their patient, persevering toil. Standing to-day in the enjoyment of all that those 50 years of patient effort and high achievement have brought to us, may we never forget what we owe to those who “sowed the seed, that other hands on mount and mead might reap the harvest yellow.” • Good luck to the hoof and the horn, • Good luck to the flock and the fleece • Good luck to the growers of corn, • With the blessings of plenty and peace. Remember this gentleman had only three years’ formal education.

SAFER RURAL ROADS

COWS CROSSING

SAFER RURAL ROADS

Do your cows cross the road?

SAFER

You need to use crossing mats, warning signs and lights. You need to think about the safest place and time to cross. Lastly, clean up after your cows - it can get slippery! SAFER RURAL ROADS It’s your responsibility.

w w w.ashbur tondc .gov t .nz

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Farming

Rural Real Estate

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Making a lifestyle choice in Tinwald W

e live in an exciting district, where one day we can be skiing, the next fishing or out enjoying the beautiful landscape. With all of this on our doorstep, Kelburn Estate means living where you play is available to everyone. Invest in a piece of land large enough to build a home, with room to spare for a tennis court, a shed to house the boat and other outdoor toys, a pool and entertainment area to enjoy on summer evenings, as well as room for the kids

to play. All of this and more is available at the Kelburn Estate off Tarbottons Road in Tinwald. This estate is for those looking to enjoy the

“

you can have the best of both worlds, space and a rural feel while taking advantage of the town water supply, sewer connection and fibre optic

All of the ground work and planning has been done and is ready for your dream home and lifestyle to begin

freedom of a lifestyle block but with the manageability of being part of an estate. With sections averaging around 4000 square metres

cable to the boundary. This makes the building process easier and more cost effective than most traditional country dwellings.

Rakaia 8 Dunford Street

2A1F1I

Kelburn is an exclusive community featuring fully serviced sections with plenty of green space, giving residents the room to enjoy a great indoor-outdoor lifestyle. All of the ground work and planning has been done and the section is ready for your dream home and lifestyle to begin. With Tinwald and Ashburton close by all amenities are at hand. The Tinwald Golf Course is a gentle meander down the road, framed by the impressive Southern Alps, providing a

3A2F2I

Charming and Delightfull Three double bedrooms, Master with

Solid family home,looking for a new owner. Could that person be you? Great garaging with open bay wood shed. This property is in very good condition and presents an ideal first home opportunity or take advantage of the current shortage of available rentals and invest - None better in this price range. Be quick.

ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.Large family dining. Good sized lounge with heatpump. Bathroom with bath and shower. Archgolla - open each end for great indoor-outdoor flow. Landscaping has been laid out to maximise easy care with a well manicured lawn and raised vege gardens. Garden shed, power point/lighting, workbench/aluminium shelves. Fully fenced. Double garage.

Don’t wait for the SOLD sign - Call now !

Advertising feature

Rakaia 142 Dunford Street

A great find! Looking to buy below $220,000.

For Sale $219,000 View by appointment rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20172

lifestyle second to none. This is truly a place of beauty and solitude. With the amazing mountain views, green country outlook and serenity, this development is becoming a popular haven with Stage 1 sold out and Stage 2 now selling with one section already purchased. Kelburn Estate welcomes you home where you can breathe the fresh country air, enjoy the picturesque landscape and still be close to all of your favourite things.

For Sale View by appointment rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20016

Ashburton Office 03 307 8317 Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited LICENSED (REAA 2008)

ay Crescent Ashburton en 7DDavis e

Op 14 Jun y Side tby rdaproperties, 1aonemor buy both. These flats have 3 a uside 1buy S bedrooms each and–great back yard area for kids and pets to roam. This m a 0 3 could 10be. your opportunity you have been waiting for! No7 has a double

3A1F2I

DOUBLE WHAMMY OPPORTUNITY 7 & 9 Davis Crescent

garage and is rented at $200 per week

Ashburton Office 03 307 8317 Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited LICENSED (REAA 2008)

Ashburton 11 Galbraith Street

3A1F2I

Get started... A tidy three bedroom home on a pet friendly, family sized For Sale Offers over $145,000 View by appointment rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20160 Ashburton Office 03 307 8317 Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited LICENSED (REAA 2008)

section. With compliant inbuilt log fire in the lounge area. Good sized kitchen opening to the rear of the Section. A spacious single garage plus workshop compliments this tidy package. Certainly one to view to be appreciate.

For Sale $275,000 View by appointment rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20121 Ashburton Office 03 307 8317 Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited LICENSED (REAA 2008)

Y D A E D ALR

ONE

Ashburton 22 Grove Street Good to Go * 3 Bedrooms

L O S N O I T C SE

* Double internal access garage * Private outdoor entertaining * Good off street parking

3A1F2I

Ashburton Office 03 307 8317 Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited LICENSED (REAA 2008)

SOLD

Ashburton 19 King Street

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Easy Care Easy Living This tidy townhouse is just one block from the

For Sale $360,000 View By Appointment rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20147

So much on offer and will be sold; be quick!

Ashburton 2/265 Moore Street

2A1F2I

STAGE TWO

FIRST HOME - FIRST CHOICE This lovely two bedroom brick home with sunroom is a fine example of an investors starter of first home buyers. Large double garage - fenced section ideal for children or keeping pets. So close to school and easy access to main road. 3A1F Netherby 9 Davis Crescent Don’t be disappointed. Auction Price On Application DOUBLE WHAMMY OPPORTUNITY 7 & 9 Davis Crescent View by appointment Side by side properties, buy one or buy both. These flats have 3 For Sale Offers over $145,000 each bedrooms each and great back yard area for kids and pets to roam. No rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20013 ViewOffice by appointment Ashburton 03 307 8317 9 has no garaging. This could be the opportunity you have been waiting rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20161 Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited LICENSED (REAA 2008) for! No 9 is currently rented at $220 per week. Ashburton Office 03 307 8317

TARBOTTONS ROAD

CBD. Large living area, two double bedrooms with good storage. Galley kitchen with abundance of cupboards and dining area. Large bathroom with shower and vanity also housing the laundry. House is insulated and heated with a heatpump ad nightstore. Single garage and easy care grounds completes the package.

For Sale $238,000 View by appointment rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20087 Ashburton Office 03 307 8317 Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited LICENSED (REAA 2008)

Ashburton 21 King Street

3A1F2I

Appealing Home - Secure Section - Close to School

This three bedroom home has an open plan kitchen/living area with french doors out to a sunny terrace. Double garage plus large storage area on a well fenced section must add Ashburton appeal for buyers. Hut 8 Hakatere Down By The Seaside This hut and all its contents could be yours. This is a life style that many love in a small caring community. This hut has a small kitchen tucked in the corner of a large dining lounge with an open fire. Three bedrooms, separate toilet, a bathroom with shower and vanity, laundry. The property has batts insulation.

KELBURN SUB-DIVISION - TARBOTTONS ROAD

Now is the time to build your dream home with all the garaging and man cave space you’ll ever need! All services including fibre optic cable at the boundary. Very handy to Tinwald shopping amenities and golf course. 7 sections priced from $260,000 Urban

3A1F For Sale $283,500 View by appointment For Sale $80,000 - $90,000 rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20014 View byOffice appointment Ashburton 03 307 8317 rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20212 Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited LICENSED (REAA 2008) Ashburton Office 03 307 8317 Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited LICENSED (REAA 2008)

Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited LICENSED (REAA 2008)

Manager Jill Quaid 027 437 6755

Urban Consultant Cindy Hayward 027 389 7955

Urban Consultant Mandy Marsh 021 239 4418

Urban Consultant Chrissy Milne 027 290 6606

Urban Consultant Margaret Feiss 021 751 009

Consultant Shirley Fitzgerald 027 220 1528

Jarrod Ross Licensee Salesperson 027 Property 259 4644 Manager jarrod.ross@raywhite.com Annie Dwyer

Property Manager Veronica Monaghan 027 697 6948

96 Tancred Street, Ashburton

rwashburton.co.nz

Mid Canterbury EstateReal Limited MidReal Canterbury EstateLicensed Limited REAA (2008) Ashburton

Ashburton $99,000

Ashburton

Great investment property as it is close to the town and you are not paying over the top for your section.

1012 m2 section (approx) Allenton area. Clean site, services and vehicle access at gate. Well and pump plus fenced on three sides.

793 metre square (more or less) Rectangular section next to the park on Cambridge street. CV $101,000

Ashburton

027 287 3388

Phone (03) 307 8317

Potential for investment or build your own new home. 1872m2 (more or less freehold land. Application to District Council for 4 allotment subdivision, subject to resource consent.

Rural Real Estate

www.guardianonline.co.nz

19 23

Leaders in the rural market by

ProPerty brokers

or the last 40 years Property Brokers Hastings McLeod have been a dominant feature within the Mid Canterbury rural real estate market. Many have asked what makes them different from others in the marketplace. The answer is simple; TEAM WORK. You may have noticed that Property Brokers ads don’t have the name of just the listing agent on them. Instead they always feature the details of the whole rural team. This is just a simple example of how Property Brokers operate. When a rural property is listed, all the rural team will view the property and a detailed ‘Information Memorandum’ is forwarded to all Property Brokers South Island agents, who then forward the details on to their database. Believe it or not this is not how most Real Estate agencies choose to operate, preferring to work on a more individual basis. Sellers often comment on how effective the TEAM

approach has been at selling their farm. This approach has helped Property Brokers maintain their position as strong market leaders. During 2013/2014 season the rural team sold approximately $230 million worth of rural property from June to June. Working as a team means they are working closely with more buyers than most of their competitors, creating more competition and therefore achieving better results. The team prides itself on having the very best of knowledge and resources regarding rural real estate. Unlike most rural teams the Ashburton rural team has additional support to ensure they are always at the top of their game. Mark Lemon is the team’s “Rural Business Development Manager”. Mark ensures the team has the most up-to-date industry information and resources. The Ashburton rural team would like to thank their loyal clients for their continued support. Advertising feature

The Property Brokers Team; selling Ealing Pastures at Auction for $64,940,000.00 in March 2014.

HASTINGS MCLEOD LTD Hastings McLeod Ltd Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

LAURISTON DAIRIES- 377 HA

217 West Street ASHBURTON ashburton@propertybrokers.co.nz Office 03 307 9176

153 HECTARES- LAURISTON

DEADLINE SALE WEB ID AR37273 METHVEN 1324 Methven Chertsey Road This property located in the heart of Lauriston is looking for someone to take it the next step or make use of the simple irrigation system to look after their dairy support or arable needs. Special features include top quality soils, pivot irrigator covering 137 hectares of the 153 hectares with approx. 5 mm/hectare/day. Almost 50% of the property drilled in new grass. This is a great opportunity to extend your existing unit, have a complete stand alone or possible dairy conversion. View By Appointment

"CANOWINDRA" 8 HA

WEB ID AR36907 DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY LAURISTON 1375 Line Road VIEW By Appointment One of the top dairy farms in the renowned DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY(unless sold prior) Mid-Canterbury Dairy Farming area. 377 HA of fertile Thursday 12th June 2014 at 4.00pm Lismore soils that are well suited for dairy farming. Irrigated by Centre Pivot and Lateral irrigators. 1500 cows milked in a 80 bail Rotary shed. Excellent stock race access and extensive calf rearing facilities, 6 houses. Located adjacent to the township of Lauriston and within easy commuting distance to Methven and Ashburton.

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

AUCTION WEB ID AL37331 ASHBURTON 376 Wakanui Road Located just 5km S.E from the Ashburton Town Centre this 4 bedroom home set in mature grounds offers peaceful country living. Modern kitchen/dining room, sunny living room plus large peaceful lounge. AUCTION (unless sold prior) 11.00am, Sat 5th July, 2014

Farming

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Rural Real Estate

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Great time to be in the market Ruth Hodges

BAYLEYS

e have seen a substantial level of activity in the rural property market in the Mid Canterbury region, and while these levels are strong across all sectors, this year the dairy and arable sectors have had significantly higher volumes of sales than in previous years. The table below is a snapshot of the five year activity levels in Mid

Canterbury for property greater than 80 hectares during the spring to autumn period in each year (data taken from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand). While activity has increased, it is worth noting that there are still a high number of buyers competing for each property. For instance, most properties are receiving multiple offers - anywhere between three and 12 offers from various buyers. The property can only go to one purchaser, so we are left with a high level of unsatisfied demand in the Mid Canterbury rural market. This has resulted in highly competitive buyer behaviour and a sharp increase in prices being paid. Will this

pressure on pricing continue in Mid Canterbury? In order to answer this properly, we need to look at the current drivers that are impacting market conditions. First, the Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) which comes into full effect later this year, is having a major impact on buyers’ decision making. In particular, rules around nutrient management will determine what farmers can or can’t do with the land and we are seeing this becoming a major determinant of what buyers are prepared to pay (compounded by what amount financiers are prepared to lend to). Second, there are some major changes to some of our Mid Canterbury irrigation schemes.

Table 1: Rural Sales Activity Mid Canterbury between 1 September and 30 April Year

Total

Dairy

Arable & Horticulture

Grazing

Finishing

2013-14

2012-13

2011-12

2010-11

2009-10

This can create opportunity in a rural market. Third, the dairy payout has and will continue to have a major impact on the rural market regardless of what sector you are in.

“

Will this pressure on pricing continue

And finally, despite the recent high levels of rural sales activity and the pressures of new environmental rules, the ongoing lack of supply of farms coupled with new buyers continuing to enter the Mid Canterbury market results in placing upward pressure on pricing. The overall result on values will be determined by which of these drivers places the most pressure on buyers going forward. As the above shows, today’s rural real estate market is now complex and changes to our market is ongoing. The traditional

pete.hayward@bayleys.co.nz

methods of selling farms are no longer as effective as they once were. The need to understand multifaceted factors such as the Resource Management Act, Overseas Investment Office procedures, irrigation consents and the increasingly important LWRP now makes the rural real estate role far more involved and demanding. I am finding that using a collaborative approach to sales is one way to ensure that these issues are addressed by the specialists before the sales process begins, thus enabling me to achieve the best outcomes for my clients. The old adage is certainly true – “it’s a great time to be on the market right now” – but you need a professional salesperson who understands these changes and what they mean for you. A lot of my time is spent talking through these issues well before any sale is contemplated, so don’t be afraid to give me a call if you would like a no obligation chat. Advertising feature

Rural Real Estate

www.guardianonline.co.nz

One stressful day for dairy farmers G

ypsy Day New Zealand. It’s one of the biggest movements of people, families, stock and farm machinery every in NZ. Always around the 1st of June you will see very hard working groups of farm workers, farm managers or share-milkers in trucks, trailers and utes packed up and on the move to the next step in their journey.

This is one of the most stressful things in life moving house, and schools and job All at the same time. You will need to take some deep breaths. Sharemilkers move thousands of cows this weekend for the start of the new dairy season. Federated Farmers says May 31 and June 1 are often called “Gypsy Day”, but actually sharemilkers spend

a chaotic week preparing to move household goods, farm machinery and stock to new farms. Sharemilking is a traditional pathway to farm ownership. Sharemilkers own their own cows, but use someone else’s land and milking shed splitting the profits. You Might Be A Dairy Farmer ... • If you know the price of milk per hundred weight but not by the gallon. • If the medicine cabinet contains a container of Bag Balm. • If you’ve ever gotten an award for fat (and were proud of it). • If your idea of a power lunch is a sandwich on a tractor. • If neighbourhood watch is someone calling you to let you know your heifers are out. • If you can remember the name of every cow on your farm but the names of your children elude you. • If your backyard ends at an electric fence.

The Amazing cow The amazing cow for all her talents is not particularly intelligent or trainable. She would rate about equal to a chicken, or half way between a fence post and a dog. She is, however, very good at training people! After all not only is her every need seen to, she also enjoys free maternity and childcare. The tail is the cows mood

barometer. Unlike the dog, a “wagging” tail does not make a happy cow. Not being milked in a timely fashion, dinner off schedule, calves bellowing, and flies are the major causes of crabby cows. Crabby cows generate crabby farmers. There is no doubt the dairy cow is an amazing animal! Advertising feature

Methven Real Estate Ltd MREINZ Licensed Real Estate Agents REAA2008

15 Pattons Road, Mt Somers

1 acre dream - Country weatherboard cottage set on one acre in the rural Mt Somers township. Three bedroom home with good heating. Currently two bedrooms and an ofﬁce. Large workshop 70m2 currently used as a cattery. Buy as a home with workshop and sheds OR home and continue the cattery business, (conditions and price apply, + GST if any). HRV heat recovery system. Lovely country garden with mature fruit trees and room for vegie patch and paddock for the hobby farm - sheep, calves, pony or horse.

ASKING PRICE: $315,000

For a comprehensive appraisal of your farm, lifestyle block or investment property. When buying, selling or just needing advice. Rural ﬂat rate fees can apply. ALL in the strictest of conﬁdence.

Call a Professional OJ Dodson

021 74 33 94

0800 12 19 19 Email : oj@methvenrealestate.co.nz

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Farming

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Irrigation’s positive impact on soil T

he Morven, Glenavy, Ikawai Irrigation company (MGI) and a University of Otago PhD student have made some positive discoveries about the effects of irrigation and cowshed effluent spreading on soil quality and earthwoms. Robin Murphy, chairman of MGI, says the research is good news for the sustainability of dairy farming and especially dairy conversion in New Zealand. “Effluent spreading and irrigation build soil structure, so the soils can hold more water and be better aerated. The treated soils also have higher nutrient levels. So all up, effluent spreading and irrigation itself is making farming more efficient” says Mr Murphy. Bonface Manono, a Kenyan PhD student from the Centre for Sustainability at the University of Otago, has been working with the MGI farmers over the past three years to measure changes in soil quality and especially earthworms in paddocks that are irrigated or receive effluent

that has been collected from the farm yards and cowshed and spread back on the paddocks. “That’s great news” says Mr Manono. “Not only are farmers recycling nutrients by spreading the effluent back on the paddocks, at the same time they build soil quality. So they will need less fertilisers and irrigation water in the longer run” he said. Around 10% of the cows’ urine and faeces is deposited in farm yards and the cowshed. Dairy farmers are getting smarter and finding better ways of spreading the waste back onto the land to reduce waste and environmental risks. Mr Manono’s research focussed on 41 farms around the Waitaki region, most of which were MGI shareholders. MGI funded the study, along with the Agriculture Research Group on Sustainability (ARGOS) and University of Otago. Manono has also discovered that numbers of top- and mid-level earthworms in irrigated soil are increasing in irrigated paddocks and where

16HMDG2020

effluent is spread. According to Manono, earthworms are what ecologists call ‘ecosystem engineers’ because “they make and maintain soil, promote nutrient turnover and help plants take up nutrients - a healthy soil has lots of earhworms”. “So it’s great that irrigation and effluent spreading builds the earthworm numbers. But it is also a bit worrying that we also found that deep-dwelling earthworms declined in irrigated paddocks, perhaps because they are being drowned in the very wet conditions. We need to go

looking for other species that can cope better with saturated soils to keep the soil healthy in the longer run” said Mr Manono. “Our survey showed that our farmers put a high priority on soil care, right up there with stock welfare and production efficiency as farm management priorities” said Mr Murphy. “Our results are nationally important because of the need to be good stewards of land and the need to be ever vigilent to reduce environmental risks and get smarter in the way we produce milk. Our latest study has

provided welcome good news at a time when farmers are most often getting bad press” said Mr Murphy. “We have been pleased to fund this study and thank Mr Manono for his long hours of hard work out on our paddocks and back in the University laboratory”. Mr Manono will now return to Kenya to apply his science training to their sustainable farming challenges. Sadly for Mr Manono, there are very few earthworms in his home country – it’s just too hot and dry for them to prosper in Kenya.

Ashburton Guardian

16HMDG2020

irrigation wells potable water supplies water quality testing ground source heating geotechnical assessment

www.drilling.co.nz Ph 03 324 2571 120 High St, Southbridge

Make more money, save time, develop your staff. Testimonial “Craig Rust’s enthusiastic approach to all things in his life became apparent at the start of session one of the High Achievers seminar. He takes a run-of-the-mill manager and turns them into a leader with qualities that not only achieve better results but also provide a pleasant place of work. He opens your eyes to see not only what is on the road ahead, but what is going on with the scenery around you – take the time and commit to go on this seminar.”

Mark Wilson General Manager, Bradfords

H B P

Why is the High Achievers Business Growth seminar needed?

How the High Achievers Business Growth seminar works

Do you need better management of money, time and staff?

Spaced learning of three full day workshops over a one month period, covering two key business topics each day.

Learn from businessman Craig Rust who has been down this track. Through individual coaching, the High Achievers Business Growth seminar transforms structured learning into direct action, providing lasting results.

This is where the High Achievers Business Growth seminar sets itself apart from other programmes Education to upskill you, the business owner, which can be implemented immediately. An environment that allows and promotes creativity. A structured approach to developing an innovative and integrated business plan. One-to-one coaching to assist with the development and implementation of your plan.

Craig Rust

Individual one-on-one coaching carried out between workshops to fine tune learning’s and ensure effective implementation. An on-going support network to assist with creative and innovative business strategies.

Topics covered: • Business development

BE QUICK WORKSHOP NUMBERS ARE STRICTLY LIMITED

High Achievers Business Growth seminar Course Dates: June 30, July 21, August 4 Time: 9am - 4.30pm Location: Hotel Ashburton Fee: $2,250 + gst To register contact: René Artz 027 664 4943

Phone

03 308 0290 Email

office@growmc.co.nz 248 East Street PO Box 392 Ashburton 7740

rene@growmc.co.nz growmc.co.nz

• Sales skills and marketing

For more details visit

• Work flows and controls

www.growmc.co.nz

• Working (governance and management) • Finance • Product / Service

'High Achievi Team Leader

Why the “High Achiev Growth Programme”

Small to medium sized businesses New Zealand’s economy. This is re reflected in a number of initiatives assistance to businesses. Tradition skilling programmes focus on prov and specific tips for businesses.

However long term success requir these tools, techniques and learnin lasting results. Doing this effective and discipline which most short co The strength of the High Achiever Programme is that it recognises th tools and knowledge into business structured training approach, inclu individual coaching.

How the “High Achiev Growth Programme”

Business owners understand the im plans and setting goals. Unfortuna this because time and energy is di immediate issues with day to day o

“High Achievers Business Growth this by providing an on - going coa to assist business owners in develo innovative business strategies and

Workshop numbers are strictly limited. NZTE subsidy may apply.

NDBM, NDA, CA

Craig Rust is a well-known presenter and business coach, delivering workshops and speaking to conferences throughout New Zealand and abroad. Craig was a Senior Manager at Pricewaterhouse Coopers prior to forming his own companies. Craig now runs Business Innovators Ltd and is the Director and owner of the Divine Cakes and Desserts Group, which is a South Island based food manufacturing and retail business with over 30 staff. Craig has won several prestigious awards such as Deloitte fast 50 and Exporter of the Year and is the author of two books; “Where’s The Money” and “Bulletproof Your Business”.

Farming

2 28

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Scientist wants ploughs outlawed A

Kiwi soil scientist is campaigning to outlaw the plough. World authority on soil science, Dr John Baker, says ploughing or conventional tillage contributes to global warming, crop failure, soil erosion and eventually famine in areas throughout the world. He says ploughing is like invasive surgery. It releases carbon into the atmosphere which adds to global warming and depletes the microorganisms which enrich the soil. Over time, tillage leads to soil erosion, crop failure and drought. Dr Baker, who has a MAgrSc in soil science and PhD in agricultural engineering from Massey University, says the single greatest challenge facing the world today is feeding the extra 50 per cent population by the year 2050. “Only four per cent of the world’s surface has arable soil and that’s not likely to increase so we have to learn to farm it more sustainably which

we simply haven’t been doing,” he says. “We can get away with conventional methods in New Zealand because we have rich soil and rotating pasture, but other countries don’t have that luxury. Instead they’re turning their backs on

ploughing and adopting notillage as the only way to feed the population.” Unlike ploughing, the process causes minimal disturbance to the soil, traps the humidity, preserves the micro-organisms and soil life, largely prevents carbon from

Crop establishment is what we do best at UNTILL. Utilising our renowned Cross Slot No-Tillage drills we can sow crops of all types into all of the soil types you can imagine with outstanding success. From vegetable to maize and the more common cereal and Pulse crops, brassica crops pastures all respond well to this advanced sowing system. Fertiliser down the spout is one of the much appreciated benefits to our customers. We pride ourselves on keeping our machinery in top condition and offering good advice through experience based on a lifetime of farming with the past 17 years exclusively No-Till, to give our customers the best results. Second hand Cross Slot drills available.

91 Mt Harding Road, Methven, RD6, Ashburton Tel 03 302 8872 or Call Mark Scott 027 221 6070

www.crossslot.com

escaping into the atmosphere and significantly improves crop yield. “No-tillage is the equivalent of keyhole surgery as opposed to ploughing, which is invasive surgery,” he says. “No-tillage is the only method of seeding that can

feed a hungry world in the decades to come,” he says. “It’s that important.” And like Professor Post and cattle, Dr Baker looks forward to the day when tillage equipment comes complete with a cigarette-style warning on it.

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Diploma will help improve farm skills F armers, horticulturalists and other agribusiness decision makers now have a completely new way to gain business skills, following the formation of a partnership between Primary ITO and Aoraki Polytechnic. The Diploma in Agribusiness Management, delivered by Aoraki Polytechnic, will soon support agribusiness owners and managers to upskill in several areas of their business. Along with learning new techniques in the key areas of business management, financial management, human resources and sustainability, agribusiness decision makers can credit their existing knowledge towards the diploma qualification. Aoraki Polytechnic has developed a leading-edge system whereby a facilitator assesses a student’s current level of knowledge and skills, credits these towards the diploma, and creates a personalised learning plan to “fill in the gaps”. This will save agribusiness decision makers time and

allow them to focus on what is relevant to them. All learning is applied directly to their particular business. Andrea Leslie, Aoraki’s primary industry portfolio manager, says “The Primary ITO and Aoraki Polytechnic collaboration is a partnership that ultimately benefits the learner, ensuring that support is available at their workplace, and while engaging in learning. “Aoraki Polytechnic has proven expertise in providing quality education and is working closely with Primary ITO to engage learners.” Aoraki Polytechnic chief executive Alex Cabrera has reaffirmed a commitment to developing and sustaining a primary industry portfolio of programmes within the Aoraki region. “The new collaborative agreement, which signals the start of a new era, will bring together facilities and resources in this all-important area of primary industry and land-based sectors. “This collaboration focuses on creating more

The Agribusiness Diploma empowers agribusiness managers and owners to make sound business decisions.

opportunities for students, better meeting the needs of employers and industry, and contributing more to the economy and the Business Growth Agenda. Primary industries is vital to the region we serve.” The Diploma in Agribusiness Management is an ideal qualification for people who want to empower themselves to make business decisions with confidence,

build productive and engaged teams, and improve the bottom-line of their businesses. Fred Hardy, general manager strategic business development at Primary ITO says “Primary ITO’s partnership with Aoraki Polytechnic means that more people working in agribusiness can improve their practices and planning – leading not only to better

business outcomes for themselves, but an improved result for the industry as a whole.” Agribusiness decision makers will learn through a blend of face-to-face workshops with others in the primary industries, and through online learning developed by e-learning specialists. Those who enrol in the diploma can choose a start date that suits them, and then learn at their own pace as they work their way through each of the four modules that makes up the diploma.

• To find out more about the Diploma in Agribusiness Management, contact your local Primary ITO adviser on 0800 20 80 20 to discuss how to improve your agribusiness skills and get the tools you need to meet your goals. Hurry, first intake at Aoraki Polytechnic starts June 16. • For more information visit www.primaryito.ac.nz/ agribusiness

WE’LL SEE YOU RIGHT

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Farming

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Goodness in the mulch Sheryl Stivens

MASTAGARD ASHBURTON

hat do you do with used oil, old paint, household garden chemicals or cleaning products? Did you know that you can drop off domestic quantities (up to 20 litres) of used oil, old paint, garden chemicals or cleaning products that have been sitting round in your shed for free at the Ashburton Resource Recovery Park for safe disposal? Take them to the Mastagard Recycling Shed and talk to one of the friendly staff. If you have larger lots of these to get rid of call the Community Recycling Helpline 0800 627824. Recycling works best when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handy and convenient. Keep recycling bins alongside your rubbish container so it is convenient and easy to sort and separate waste and resources to recycle. If you live in the country set

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Paper

All clean paper, junk mail and magazines are recyclable. Sort all paper into a supermarket bag ready for putting out with your kerbside recycling bin or drop off your paper at the Ashburton or Rakaia Resource Recovery Parks or one of the 9 x Community recycling depots throughout the Ashburton district. Make sure you have a paper recycle bin beside your computer printer and copier.

ready for recycling at one of the community recycling depots around the Ashburton district or dropping off at the Ashburton or Rakaia Resource Recovery Park. Flattened cardboard boxes can be placed under your recycling bin for weekly collection if you live in town.

Keep steel and aluminium cans sorted and clean ready for recycling. It is best if it is flattened

Feed your soils and prepare

All metal is recyclable. That means that any old household appliance, toy or tool that contains metal can be dropped off for free into the scrap metal bins at the Ashburton or Rakaia Resource Recovery Parks for recycling. Sort them out ready to be dropped off.

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Get your family and farm workers on board with recycling. Talk to your family and farm staff about waste and recycling. Get them on board with reducing farm waste and saving water and energy. If they come from another country or part of New Zealand they need to know how we sort and recycle here in Ashburton. If you need help contact our education team to come along to a staff meeting and talk about recycling or do a walk through waste audit for free. The Mastagard Waste minimisation education programme is supported by Ashburton District Council. • Phone 0800627824 or email bholley@mastagard. co.nz or sherylstivens@ gmail.com

Metals

juicy beans as well as feeding your soils.

Soil

your vege garden for winter. After growing food all summer your soils may well need a “pick me up”.Dig shallow trenches and bury your foodwaste, sprinkle with lime or wood ash and cover over. Add a layer of chook manure if you have hens. To keep your raised-bed gardens weed free – ready for easy planting in the spring – cover with a piece of carpet or hessian or even thick wet newspaper then heavy duty black plastic so the worms can work away underneath making soil and enriching your garden over the winter months. If your compost bins are

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full, empty them and spread the contents onto raised-bed gardens or where you plan to plant your garlic next month. Mulch with leaves or straw or lawn clippings to stop the birds eating all of your worms. You can sow broad beans now to build and aerate your soils Cover your planted bean seed bed with lawn clippings five to 10mm deep. The beans will gradually germinate and grow up through the lawn-clipping mulch. In late spring they will reward you with a meal or two of tasty steamed green tips,

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yourself up a handy sorting bin or bag system. When containers are full they can be loaded into the car and dropped off when you go to town or at your community recycling depot on the way.

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Get hands-on help and a look at the options for setting up foodwaste composting, a worm farm to make your own fertiliser or bokashi composting on Monday, June 16, 1pm to 2pm at the Eco Education Centre, alongside the Mastagard Recycling Shed. • All welcome or call 0800 627-824 or email bhollet@ mastagard.co.nz or sherylstivens@gmail.com

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Farming

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Caseinates hit top-10 export list F

or the second consecutive month, exports of caseins and caseinates are New Zealand’s 10th largest export replacing aluminium and aluminium articles. The latest merchandise trade statistics for the year to April 2014 point to how the primary industries are hitting the afterburners, says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers president. “For every dollar in primary export earnings another 50 cents is captured off-farm, so the April trade result is massive for New Zealand in so many ways. “While the standout remains dairy, up almost $3.8 billion on the same point last year, logs have surged by over a quarter meaning almost all the primary industries can stand up and take a bow. “While exports of caseins and caseinates debuted at number-10 in the year to March, the April statistics sees it still in tenth spot. “Caseins and caseinates generated $39 million more for New Zealand in this period than exports of aluminium

“

and aluminium articles. “Indeed, off this latest trade result, this category is now only $10 million behind exports of electrical machinery and equipment. “Of course we are now in the shoulders and the drop off in peak dairy prices is yet

to filter through. I expect dairy commodities will come back but it is an encouraging marker. “Out of our top-10 merchandise exports in this period, the primary industries claimed seven places. Primary generated 89.9 per cent of the

Sick of hearing no?

Out of our top-10 merchandise exports in this period, the primary industries claimed seven places. Primary generated 89.9 per cent of the top-10’s export income.

top-10’s export income worth $30.1 billion. “If we add in other primary exports, like wool, which was itself up by almost 25 per cent in the month of April alone, we are now closing on the $40 billion primary export barrier. “We are tracking towards a

doubling of primary exports by the end of this decade, so long as we have infrastructure and policy supporting us. “While China remains our largest export destination, with exports in the year to April up an amazing 54 per cent, exports to the European Union were also up by 10.5 per cent. This is a welcome sign the EU may be emerging from recession. “But if you want a brilliant case for the Trans Pacific Partnership then these export figures provide it. Take Taiwan. It was our 10th largest export destination in February but is now number eight with exports up 15 per cent on April last year. “That’s due to trade agreements now paying off and it is telling that the export destinations in reverse or flat lining are mostly countries we do not have trade agreements with. “The TPP would be like adding a supercharger to New Zealand employment opportunities, so long as it eliminates agricultural trade barriers and tariffs,” Mr Wills said.

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Smith takes over Feds reins F

ederated Farmers has named Graham Smith as its chief executive officer designate to succeed Conor English. “Federated Farmers is thrilled to announce Graham Smith’s appointment to lead the federation in its next phase of growth,” Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers president said. Mr Smith is a highly accomplished chief executive who joins the Federation from Soda Inc, an organisation facilitating new technologies, including agri-tech and company startups. Prior to this, he was chief executive of the Crown Research Institute ESR (Institute of Environmental Science & Research) for almost three years. “Graham understands the strategic context Federated Farmers operates in and is no stranger to the primary industries, having been a former general manager at AgResearch,” Mr Wills said. “The board is especially impressed by Graham’s commercial and people leadership skills as well as his background in science and innovation. He has managed an international technology commercialisation organisation and worked for several overseas food companies. “Graham has relationships across the political and primary industry sectors, which extends across the Tasman, as Graham is Australian by birth but has

lived in New Zealand since 2001.” Mr Smith holds an MBA from the University of South Australia and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Adelaide. “Federated Farmers is a strong and respected voice, both in Wellington and within New Zealand’s vibrant provincial hinterland. We are passionate about the positive role farming plays in New Zealand and we know Graham shares this outlook,” Mr Wills said.. “With a focus on evidence-based policy, Graham will be instrumental in achieving policy outcomes, which strike the right balance between our economy and our environment.” Mr Smith will formally take over the role in July. “We wish to thank Conor English for a highly successful six years. Federated Farmers and the agriculture sector owe him a huge debt of gratitude and we wish him all the best for the future,” Mr Wills said. “Graham is a worthy successor and he will work closely with the new Federated Farmers board to continue the invaluable work we do for New Zealand’s farmers and the wider economy.” Right - Graham Smith will be the new chief executive of Federated Farmers.

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Mt Hutt deer have p By Michelle Nelson

Bruce Hood discusses the deer operation on Mt Hutt Station at an open day recently.

t Hutt is a popular destination, attracting thousands of visitors a year, but the majority are only there to see one side of the hill that dominates the Mid Canterbury plains. An open day on Mt Hutt Station at the recent deer industry conference offered a chance to see what happens on the other side of the iconic mountain. There, the Hood family have been developing the property purchased by Keith and his late brother Doug in 1979. By 1990 the 14,000 ewes had been ousted by deer. Now operated by Keith and his wife Dennise, in partnership with their son Bruce and his wife Becky, the station is one of the country’s largest deer farms. Bruce grew up with deer – and Caterpillar bulldozers, in fact they were the first words he learnt to spell. His uncle Doug, of Doug Hood Contracting, is a name

still synonymous with big machinery in Mid Canterbury. As a boy Bruce recalled watching his father carving out the access road to the skifield. Keith seems keen to revisit those years, and a D6 Caterpillar and a grader have recently arrived in the yard. As for the deer, Bruce said no one was an expert in the industry. “That’s why I love it – you’re always learning.” Of the 2940ha total land area, about 1800ha is farmable. On this, the Hoods are currently carrying 2500 breeding hinds, 2000 stags, producing about eight tonne of velvet, and replacement stock. They also run 170 beef cows, and 60-odd rising yearlings. Altitude ranges from 460m to 1900m, with most of the fenced area below the 800m mark, and rainfall can be anywhere between 750mm to 1500mm. Bruce has plans to introduce irrigation to a 50ha block on a marginal area as soon as the red tape can be dealt with. There is also

another block to be fenced. From the get go, the Hoods’ intention was to break into the fledgling deer industry. Thirty-six weaner hinds were purchased from Erewhon Station, and the Hoods bought a Hughes 500D helicopter and set about capturing feral deer – predominately Rakaia Reds. There are no high tech systems in place on Mt Hutt Station, rather a management structure based on a lifetime of experience and a keen eye. “I don’t measure the grass – we shift the breaks based on how much the stock is eating,” Bruce said. “We haven’t weighed a deer in 30 years, but we have just put in a new weighing system and crush.” The internet is too slow to bother with, and Bruce doesn’t pack a cellphone when he heads out to work. However technologies such as artificial insemination and DNA testing have been incorporated into the breeding programme. The original Rakaia Red genetics have been heavily culled in favour of European

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proud genetic history types. The emphasis has been on selecting animals for velvet production, body weight and temperament. “We’re moving away from the Rakaia Reds and looking for hardier animals for the hill country. These big girls eat twice as much feed. “We are trying to move the recorded deer into the commercial mob.” But after being cosseted for several years the challenge now is to “make the elite hinds work a bit harder”, Keith said. While the business employs two men for tractor work, general stock work and maintenance, Bruce and Keith continue to work with the deer in close quarters. The perception of farmed deer as wild animals that will bowl you over prevails, and not everyone is confident enough to work with them, Bruce said. “We’ve been doing it so long we know what’s going on, it’s difficult to bring in new people. You’ve got to learn to read them and not be scared.” Selection begins with a visual appraisal, backed by

DNA testing to ensure the right genetics go into the breeding herd. About 1500 Yearling hinds are mated with a positive scanning rate of 85-90 per cent. Of these about 400 are kept, and the surplus sold. “We’ve got a very good market – clients come back every year for them.” Spikers are velveted to determine their potential as velvet stags, with a maximum number of 550 carried through. This gives the Hoods scope for another look before culling

as two-year-olds. “You can’t keep them all,” Bruce said. In the past three years the average velvet weight has lifted from 3kg to 4kg a head, although regrowth weights are also factored into the equation before culling decisions are made. Wintering the herd is a challenge in an environment where the weather can upset anything. The Hoods grow 100ha of swedes and kale, shifting 21 breaks a day during the coldest month. Up to

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100 tonne of grain is also fed, primarily to stags and weaners. The regrassing programme takes in another 200ha annually, and about 50ha is sown in short rotation pastures. As for the future, Bruce said high country deer farmers would also be required to comply with the environmental requirements soon to be imposed on lowland farmers, which will include everything from nutrient management to the effluent situation in the deer shed.

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t Hutt Station has been farmed since 1857, and the first homestead was built in the 1880s. In the early 1900s the station was the home of the largest dairy herd in the South Island, milking 500 cows. By 1990, 14,000 sheep were running on the property, along with tamworth and berkshire pigs, and station-bred draught horses and hacks. Red deer were introduced to Mid Canterbury from Stoke Park, England in 1898. They were released into the Rakaia riverbed and became widely known as Rakaia Reds. The Reds are now widely established in the area. Mt Hutt Station is also home to the country’s only herd of purebred Pere David’s deer. Endemic to China these animals have been saved from the brink of extinction. About 100 were imported into New Zealand in the 1980s, but their numbers had diminished to just 12, including a stag, when they arrived at Mt Hutt. There are now about 50 Pere David’s running in three mobs.

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Salmon are returning to some Canterbury streams where they’ve been absent for decades.

Salmon spawning pleases all round F ederated Farmers is thrilled to hear Fish and Game acknowledge the massive positive affect farmers Good Management Practice is having on our waterways. “Farmers riparian management has resulted in the sighting of the most salmon seen spawning in 40 years, an acknowledgement that is huge for the farming community,” says Ian Mackenzie, Federated Farmers Water and Environment spokesman. “The 35 salmon, nests and thousands of eggs found in the Waikuku stream, was smack bang in the middle of dairy farming land. Feeding into the Ashley River, this bountiful Canterbury stream is testament to allowing reasonable timeframes for farmers to fence and riparian plant their waterways. “It is encouraging to see the results of farming co-existing with its waterways and heartening to have it acknowledged by Fish and Game. This is not an isolated event with similar reports in Ashburton of large numbers of salmon spawning in Spring Creek,

tributary to the Ashburton River. “This article is timely as I sat down to listening, after speaking at the New Zealand Primary Industry Summit today. It was the perfect parallel to reflect on the big picture of our industry and the correlation that it has with the economy. We are looking for ways to move forward in a sustainable way, as the most successful exporters in the world, but we have to make it right at home first and this is proving to be challenging. “Each regional council is interpreting the requirements for the National Policy Statement for Freshwater management differently and in some cases every catchment, which will lead to an implementation nightmare. While every region is different there needs to be a cohesive approach here and a standardisation of what is required. “What we are seeing in the Waikuku stream, Spring Creek, and numerous others throughout the country, could be tenfold with a consistent and organised approach from central and regional government,” said Mr MacKenzie.

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Passionate about agriculture R

abobank welcomes newcomer Angus GidleyBaird, appointed as a senior animal proteins analyst to cover the sheep and beef sectors, joining the bank’s Australia and New Zealand Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory division. General manager of Rabobank’s Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory, Luke Chandler, said Mr Gidley-Baird’s appointment brought to the team a great depth of agricultural knowledge, as well as mainstream political and economic policy awareness. “Angus’ entire career has been spent in agribusiness and throughout this time, he has gained a very strong foundation in the sorts of issues impacting farmers and industry stakeholders all the way through the supply chain,” Mr Chandler said. “We are very fortunate to have someone of Angus’ calibre joining our research team. His qualifications and industry expertise will be a extremely valuable to our clients and the business overall. “The animal proteins sector is an industry with a very exciting future given the increasing emerging market demand and the uplift of exports to key regions. Angus will be working with our global team of analysts to bring this world wide expertise to Rabobank’s local Australian and New Zealand clients.” Rabobank’s Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory (FAR) team is charged with analysing developments in the food and agricultural markets and industries, and advising the bank and its clients on

Angus Gidley-Baird, Rabobank’s senior animal proteins analyst.

strategic implications for their businesses. Comprised of a network of about 80 analysts spread across ever major production and consumption region of the world, FAR is a central component of Rabobank’s capacity for informed credit decision making, product development, advisory services and strategic client partnerships. Mr Gidley-Baird formerly

held roles at NSW Farmers Association, including policy director for Economics and Livestock, giving him a wide exposure to Australian farming operations and issues impacting rural industries. He holds an honours degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Sydney, with majors in Agricultural Economics and Marketing, as well as a masters in Accounting from

Curtin University in Western Australia. Mr Gidley-Baird said he is passionate and positive when it comes to the agricultural sector and joining Rabobank is a “great personal and professional fit”. “Our family has always had an interest in farming – the people and the culture of the industry are real, which is part what has always attracted me to forge a career in this

sector,” he said. “Rabobank has a unique culture and ethos with its strong history of rural banking. It operates locally right across the globe, covering many facets of agriculture in many parts of the world. The interconnectivity of Rabobank’s agri knowledge gives the bank a special point of difference.” Joining the bank with a strong rural network, Mr Gidley-Baird said he is looking forward to the opportunities to get ‘out and about’ meeting with clients and others in the Rabobank New Zealand and Australian business. “Having that ongoing contact with farmers and engaging them with important research pertinent to their sector is going to be really interesting,” he said. “There is a lot happening in the New Zealand and Australian sheep and beef sectors at present – I think there are some big opportunities but also challenges. “It’s certainly not a time to be resting on our laurels but rather, as an industry, it’s a time to collaborate and work on fulfilling our production and export potential to supply quality products into key regions demanding our produce,” Mr Gidley-Baird said.

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Farming

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Using fertiliser with precision A

new Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) programme focussed on transforming hill country farms is formally under way, after this week’s contract signing between the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and industry co-investor Ravensdown. Announced in principle in June last year, the Pioneering to Precision: Application of Fertiliser in Hill Country PGP programme is a sevenyear programme that aims to improve hill country sheep and beef farming productivity and protect the environment through more efficient and more precise use of fertiliser. By doing this, the programme will improve the profitability of hill country farming and generate earnings of $120 million per annum by 2030 from additional exports of meat and wool. MPI and Ravensdown are each investing approximately $5 million in the PGP programme. “Fertiliser is a major investment for farmers and

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it’s essential that they’re able to effectively apply it to hill country farms in a way that’s precise, cost effective, and provides a better environmental outcome,” MPI’s PGP director Justine Gilliland says. “Current methods of applying fertiliser to hill country farms using top dressing aircraft means more fertiliser may be placed in some areas than needed, and less than is required in others. This affects the productivity and profitability of hill country farming. “Assessing soil fertility is very challenging on hill country farms,” Ravensdown chief executive Greg Campbell said. “Variable topography and different soil types, along with the impracticality of manual soil sampling to the degree of detail needed, have posed significant barriers to the effective application of fertiliser.” The PGP programme will combine remote-sensing of nutrient status on hill country

farms with GPS-guided aerial topdressing to improve hill country productivity and reduce nutrient runoff. “Recent advances in remote sensing and imaging mean that there is a real potential for determining soil nutrient status using this technology, though this will require considerable research and development, Mr Campbell said. “The support and assistance

of the PGP and our research partners Massey University and AgResearch will enable this type of sampling and data collection to take place. Applying fertiliser more precisely means more nutrient efficiency and pasture growth for the same amount of fertiliser, and less application of nutrients to non target areas. The PGP programme will use some of the most

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sophisticated technology in the world, including hyperspectral cameras mounted on aircraft to sense what is happening with pasture growth on farms. “New Zealand has been a world leader in developing pasture measurement for over the past 10 years. This PGP programme provides the opportunity to apply that technology directly to the benefit of farmers and the New Zealand economy.” The programme will also provide a number of spill-over benefits. For example, the database of soil and pasture nutrient information collected in the programme will be available for a range of other uses, such as improving the soil maps and soil nutrient information available to the public. The remote sensing technology, if successful in hill country fertiliser management, will have applications in a range of other sectors including low land dairy farming and forestry.

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www.guardianonline.co.nz

Invermay plan pleases deer group A

nnouncements by AgResearch, finalising the shape of its Future Footprint restructuring, have been welcomed by the deer industry. Initially AgResearch planed to relocate about 280 of its staff from Invermay research centre to its Palmerston North (Grasslands) and Lincoln campuses as facilities became available. Last week it softened its plans to slash jobs at Invermay, but confirming three deer researchers will be retained at Invermay and two new science roles will be created. These changes mean an increase in staff at its Invermay campus from a projected 26 by 2017 in its original business case, to a projected 38 in its current plan. It would also be retaining the Invermay farm and its 900-strong deer herd. However, the majority of staff, including its genomics capability, will still be shifting to Lincoln. University of Otago also

confirmed they would be colocating between five and 10 genomics staff and sequencing equipment with AgResearch at the Invermay campus. DINZ Deputy Chair, Jerry Bell, said that it is important that the plan is now finalised, giving certainty to the staff who will be affected, and DINZ was satisfied that the final changes to Future Footprint were significant and a good outcome for both Invermay and the deer industry. “While we accepted the strategic rationale for Future Footprint, we have been concerned throughout that such strategic change can be very disruptive and can contribute to a loss of important people. In that context, it’s great to draw a line under the process.” Mr Bell said that DINZ was also supportive of the final detail announced by AgResearch, which struck a good balance between central co-location of shared science resources and regional locations for farm systems scientists.

“AgResearch gave a commitment from day one to the provision of on-farm deer research and we are very pleased that they have chosen to retain the Invermay farm for this purpose. It is a wonderful facility and will of course be handily located for the deer farm systems team that AgResearch has announced will be strengthened and retained at Invermay.”

Along with other southern farmers, many deer farmers had expressed concerns about the Future Footprint strategy and the potential for loss of capability and connection between researchers and local farmers. Mr Bell said that DINZ was aware of these but had preferred one-on-one discussions with AgResearch rather than public debate. “We feel that we have had a good engagement with

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AgResearch throughout its consultation process and that we’ve had effective discussions. I hope other deer farmers will agree that the final outcome addresses many of their concerns about deer capability and connection with the southern deer farming heartland”. “We wish AgResearch and its staff well in the process to implement Future Footprint now it has been finalised”.

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