Ashburton Guardian Farming by Ashburton Guardian

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Farming SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2022

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Page 20-21

Dairy innovators to the fore

HALTER-KIWI INGENUITY AT ITS BEST

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PAGE 34 COOL COWS

Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

n this edition, we have several articles focused on innovation and technology for the dairy industry. Pages 20-21 are focused on Halter. This is a solar-powered, GPS-enabled collar that goes around the cow’s neck, and lets farmers manage and shift the herd remotely. This smart system guides cows around a farm using sound and vibrations, allowing farmers to automate herd movements and create virtual fences. The technology can also tell a farmer when a cow is hurt or on heat. On page 35 is an article on local initiative Safe Graze, a unit that hooks onto an electric fence and alerts a farmer of any power failures or breaches in the fence, be it mains or portable.

If cows get out, they can cost the farmer a lot of money. So, the unit monitors that one wire and if it loses power or drops below a certain level it will send a text message and give the farmer a warning. Kiwi farmers can now identify their superior cows before they start milking (page 28) thanks to a new service provided by herd improvement co-operative LIC. LIC’s Genomic Evaluation service screens an animal’s DNA to find out what genes it received from its parents. This provides a more accurate prediction of its expected performance in the milking herd, helping farmers better select their top cows to breed from. And on page 34, Kiwi scientists are one step closer to enabling farmers to breed more heat-tolerant cows after a trial found that dairy cows with the ‘slick’ gene are less affected by heat stress compared to their nonslick counterparts. LIC was the first to discover the slick gene in cattle, which produces a short hair coat and improves heat tolerance. It seems there is no shortage of Kiwi innovation in the dairy industry.

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Special ‘pou’ for Rakaia Gorge Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

special unveiling of a pou (carved wooden post) took place in the Rakaia Gorge last weekend to celebrate the refurbishment of an area of land on the south side of the river. The land was owned by Ben Todhunter and Donna Field of Cleardale Station and the refurbishment was the result of years of work to tidy up the land and make it available to the public. The unveiling was successfulthe weather helped, we had a good turnout of about 50 people, and it was great to celebrate what has been a long period of work, said Field. The pou was carved by John Reihana (Arowhenua) Timaru and Te Wera King did the unveiling and blessing. “John was the star,” Field said. “He was recommended to us as he has a prestigious history of carving. He did a

Looking up the beautiful Rakaia Gorge.

tremendous job- he is a master carver based in Timaru. One of the things he would really like to see is more of these pou around telling these legends. It would make use of his talents.” The initiative was part of a much bigger picture leading on from when we brought the property five years ago, Field said. “We were really surprised to find we owned the island between the two upper gorge bridges and all the land below

the road. It was really well used but we were dismayed because it was being trashed. People camping, pooing, planting marijuana, sycamores shading out the natives. And this was at the height of tourism as well. “We thought ‘what can we do’ as it was a unique place with a lot of people using it. “We have done a lot of weed control, put in a track, Hana Kidd’s sculpture sits down the bottom. In the early stages, NZTA was redoing the Rakaia

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Gorge Bridge, so we obtained timber for our seats and our signs from this.” The other part was the lookout at the gravel pit at the top. Seven years ago, a young guy lost his life there and the coroner recommended a barrier be put up and so we worked with NZTA to ensure that we did a really good job, Field said. “This is the carpark as you go down into the gorge on the south side. “Lots of people in the area

John Reihana and the pou commissioned by the Todhunter family to grace the Rakaia Gorge.

have worked on the project with us from weed control to track making. Now it’s a matter of maintaining it,” she said. “It is expensive and very committing, but it is a cool thing that we totally believe in,” Field said.

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Accelerated pasture works for Inverary Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

ake a drive 10 kilometres up the Ashburton Gorge road from Mt Somers, cross a bridge (currently washed out by the recent floods) and you will reach Inverary Station, owned by the Chapman family since 1928. Bert and Kate Oliver have recently joined the Chapmans in an equity partnership on Inverary, with Bert continuing as the farm manager. The station is 4300 hectares of which around 2000 hectares is steeper higher country with limited grazing. The remainder is split between 1650 ha of more productive lower altitude hill country and 600 hectares of highly improved rolling or flat paddocks. Inverary carries a breeding flock of 5500 romney ewes with 1700 replacement ewe hoggets wintered off farm with over half of these mated. The property supports a breeding herd of 750 cows made up of 600 mixed-age angus cows with a further 150 in-calf heifers. In addition, 250 heifer calves, 175 steer calves and 100 bulls make up the cattle component. Tell us about the Beef+Lamb Hill Country Futures Programme? “Lincoln University along with the

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Beef+Lamb Hill Country Futures programme has set up a number of different trials on the farm. Some of these are aimed at soil temperature and moisture monitoring while there is also a deep lime experiment aimed at alleviating high aluminium levels in the subsoils” says Oliver. “Our ongoing involvement with Lincoln through the Hill Country Futures programme has been particularly valuable. About 30 pasture cages have been established throughout the property including not only the most productive flat land, but also a wide range of tussock blocks as well. These are also measuring several different legumes that we have been trialing over the last ten years.” Technical staff from the university harvest the pasture cages every six weeks and provide an analysis of the pasture growth, pasture composition and metabolizable energy (ME). “We are now into the fourth year of this, and we have some good data on the paddocks – how long pasture mixes and crops last, how productive they are, when they start to tail off and how they respond to different parts of the season. It helps us match stock demand to growth periods,” Oliver says. And the back story with developing pasture? “We used to have a 230-hectare irrigated property run in conjunction with the station but that was sold in 2010 and so we had the challenge of replacing that part of the operation – finishing and wintering young stock. We found that legumes were going to be our best option but because the station only had about six per cent flat land, we had to go to the hills to do it. “We have been able to develop around 350 hectares of hill country into high producing legume pastures,” Oliver says. “Initially, spray programmes, combined with cross slot drilling provided the method to introduce legumes,” he says. “We used the cross-slot drill on quite demanding slopes and we were very lucky that our contractor was willing to do this.” As the development programme expanded, available areas the remained became too steep for conventional drilling. The conventional over sowing and topdressing development systems used in the past proved to be of limited benefit. While there might be a flush

Bert Oliver has been managing Inverary Station since 2007.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED.

The bridge to the homestead was washed out in last year’s floods.

of clover growth in the early stages, over time the blocks reverted back to the resident poor quality browntop pastures. “We knew if we wanted lasting value, we had to get rid of the browntop before we introduced the legumes” says Oliver. Oliver and Chapman have introduced an innovative “spray and delay” technique in the last couple of years – spraying out selected hillsides and leaving them for 18 months before seeding by helicopter. Primarily these were unproductive areas with grazing restricted by scrub with little grazing available.

“The biggest problem on this property is there is a lot of thatch and we have not been able to get seed to soil contact with aerial sowing, so we looked to spray out 18 months ahead of planting. Nominating an area and spraying it out and letting it rot down as much as we can before the seed is introduced,” Oliver says. What is your aim with pasture? “Our first priority is to have adequate pasture cover for ewe mating and the subsequent winter,” Oliver says. “The number of lambs we finish is determined by the priority given to the ewe flock. We make sure that we set aside sufficient feed to maintain

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our breeding stock through the next autumn and winter period in good order (condition score 3). If the pasture covers are getting too low in the lead-up, we look to sell store lambs. “It works out in a normal year to be 50 per cent store and 50 per cent prime.” Tell us about the SWOT analysis. After the sale of the finishing block it quickly became apparent that reverting to a total store lamb operation was not going to be financially viable and there were opportunities in improving the ewe flock performance “Kate with her banking background, encouraged us to have a good look at the property with a SWOT analysis and find out where the strengths were, and the opportunities lay. It was a comprehensive exercise that examined every part of the business from soils, pastures, and livestock right through to our involvement and responsibilities to our employees and local communities” Oliver says. While Oliver has continued managing the property, Chapman has been able to lead much of the research programme that has underpinned the evolving understanding of the property. A key component was piecing together the pasture side – the underutilized

potential of the property. It quickly became apparent that legumes, mainly lucerne and red clover provided the opportunity to kick start this. And what farming programmes did you find useful? “Inverary had been a part of ‘StockCare’ for many years, which is a programme run by Chris Mulvaney where we monitor the body weight and condition score of ewes seven times per year. It gives us a good understanding of where our pasture demand sits at different times of the year and how that was limiting our livestock performance,” Oliver says. “At the same time the pasture cage cut programme we had begun, allowed us to quantify what we were growing and the contribution of different land classes and feed type limitations of our feed supply. “We were then able to combine that livestock and pasture information and put it through the Farmax farm modelling programme. The Farmax programme tries to get a synergy between supply and demand so that when grass is grown you have the right amount of animals to eat that grass. At the same time the programme is trying to work out what is the correct revenue stream for that grass – is it cattle, is it sheep, breeding or

Pasture cages used to monitor pasture growth.

trading stock etc. “It became very clear what we already knew, but never had been able to quantify. There was a very poor fit between the feed supply and demand curve, especially on the 85 per cent of the property that is in lower fertility browntop pastures and constantly lacking nitrogen to provide early growth. “On the hill blocks there was always a shortage of early spring feed at the point of lambing and calving, but later, there was lack of grazing pressure to control the oversupply of summer feed. The outcome, year after year

was that breeding stock would lose weight at lambing and calving,” Oliver said. “We constantly weaned lambs or calves lighter than we wanted but at the same time found it difficult to put weight back on the breeding stock on the pastures that had subsequently gone rank and unproductive.” And the benefits of legumes? “The early spring growth of legumes identified in the pasture cage cuts has provided an opportunity to address the feed shortage at that time of the year on much of the property

especially the hill blocks which start growing a month later than the lower paddocks,” says Oliver. “We have developed a “satellite block concept” where we have established key paddocks – (around 10 per cent of the total surrounding area). These are predominately legume-based. That fills the gap until growth begins in the surrounding blocks which was the period in which our stock used to lose a lot of weight and we were never happy to accept that was ok. “The potential of this country is huge. In the first two or three years the legumes have generated over 16000 kg DM per hectare on hill country – all of it high quality and at the time we really need it. By contrast, we have measured the adjacent browntop pastures. These produce little more than 4000 kg DM of often poorquality feed, most at a time when we don’t really need it,” Oliver says. “We are mainly using red and white clovers and some lucerne but there are a few other promising species like lupins and Caucasian clover. We are trying to drive the nitrogen cycle. We have found animals are growing a lot earlier and faster and at the same time we have reduced our nitrogen input on the farm drastically.”

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How rapidly our world can change and the risk that brings David Clark

President of MC Federated Farmers

n the last month, the invasion of the Ukraine by Russia, a brutal war of choice by Putin has seen the largest conflict in Europe and the greatest threat to global peace since World War 2. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Ukrainian people have set themselves a forward-looking course as a young Democracy while the Russians have become more inward looking under Putin’s autocratic rule. This war is about protecting a political ideology and securing the food and energy capabilities of the Ukraine. Aside from the obvious tragedy of war that we are witnessing, this invasion has turned commodity markets on their heads. The Ukraine produces 20% of the world’s exportable wheat and 30% of exported corn, they are also major producers of oil seeds and potatoes for Europe. Their energy and mineral reserves are globally significant.

With regard to food, the world has two problems, the current “in-silo” old season crop is still in the process of being moved to export, or was; and the new season crop should be in the process of being planted. Currently the roads, rail and port infrastructure is being blown to smithereens by Russian bombs which is clearly problematic for moving the old season crop and it would be my bet that very few people in the Ukraine are focused on getting out in the tractor to get the drill started on sowing new crop. This will create a global food crisis, even if the conflict was soon resolved in a Ukrainian victory. If Putin was to conquer Ukraine, those food supplies won’t be purchased by or available to Western countries anytime soon. The same goes for fertiliser supplies, with much of the world’s ammonia, potash and sulphur supplies coming out of the Black Sea region. So how does that impact the Ashburton District? Firstly, in energy prices as we have seen rapid rises in the oil price driving our fuel prices. More on that later. Secondly, Black Sea region sourced fertiliser products have risen $300-500/t since the start of the war, on top of what has been a near doubling of fertiliser prices over the last year. The cost of

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production of food will rise as a result. It will have to otherwise the crops will not be grown, clearly producers cannot produce at a loss without going broke. Thirdly, commodity prices will and have already risen. We have seen the continuing strength of international dairy prices supplying into an international market that has been short on supply over several years. Grain prices have risen from USD7.60 per bushel to USD12.50 in just three weeks. Buyers from countries that would normally use wheat or corn from the Ukraine have flocked into markets such as Australia and bought any grain still available. As our local cost of production increased, product prices have to keep pace, otherwise the producer cannot produce without going broke. It is simple economics. Within this district we do have somewhat of a two-speed agricultural economy, one where the product is processed and marketed by a cooperative that returns maximum value to the producer, or at least goes to a corporate processor who is forced to match the co-op to secure supply. The other market model in this district is where growers are price takers at the mercy of marketers who set the price and seek to maximise their own

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profit. The challenge for the arable industry is to capture more of the retail price of the product they grow, otherwise the business model is not sustainable. On the back of a very poor and weather frustrated harvest, many arable farmers are wondering why they remain in the industry and lament their decision to not convert to dairy while the opportunity was available, especially those who forward contracted. I am very concerned for the future of the Canterbury arable industry if we do not see a fundamental change in value. My expectation is we are entering a time where food security will become much more of an international focus and households will spend more of the available funds on accommodation, energy and food with much less available for discretionary, recreational and consumer spending than we have previously become accustomed to. While the war has hastened a move to higher petrol and diesel prices, we must remember that it is the publicly stated aim of Labour and the Greens to put in place policies to increase the cost of fuel to a level that will result in a change of behaviour by the public. That change of behaviour clearly is not being able to afford to use your car. All of the protests we have seen, the Extinction Rebellion,

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Ukraine produces 20% of the world’s exportable wheat and 30% of exported corn.

the Climate Emergency and so on have been aimed at banning fossil fuels and implementing an Emissions Trading Scheme that will increase the cost of fuel. I am bemused this week by the populist garbage of subsidising the fuel price by way of robbing the Covid Recovery Fund (which is borrowed money) to reduce the Excise Tax on Petrol and the RUC on diesel vehicles, none of which does anything for the cost of fuel to actually run our machines to grow food. All of the climate response aims were to increase fuel costs, now that fuel costs have increased, albeit by another means, a soft political decision has been made to borrow money to reduce fuel costs. I guess what this shows is that Climate Change is a cool thing to believe in so long as it doesn’t

impact the pocket of the individual. These changes will all have a dramatic inflationary impact, that has rapidly brought about the end of quantative easing and ultra-low interest rates. The asset bubbles grown since the GFC on the back of this cheap capital is potentially challenging for those with high levels of debt. As we move into an era where food, energy and capital availability are constrained, or more expensive, our priorities will change. It is going to be interesting to see which priorities are held higher on the list of individual choice. While we are fortunately a long way from the direct conflict, the impacts are already being felt. Take Care David Clark.

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New Zealand red meat export values grow - despite pressures on sector N

ew Zealand’s red meat sector is continuing to achieve strong export results in the face of considerable labour shortages and global supply chain disruption said the Meat Industry Association. The latest MIA analysis shows the industry is overcoming significant headwinds with exports reaching $940 million during January, a 27 per cent increase by value on January 2021. The value of exports increased to nearly all the major markets. China was up 25 per cent to $398m, the United States up 32 per cent to $195m, the United Kingdom up nine per cent to $41m and Japan up 76 per cent to $40m. “January was another very positive month for exports, which reflects the efforts across the sector to overcome the many challenges in processing and exporting,” said MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva. “The industry is a critical contributor to our economy and its exceptional effort in enabling the sector to continue to perform well for all New Zealanders. “However, the pressures are ongoing. There is currently no end in sight to shipping delays and the COVID-19 outbreak is exacerbating existing staff shortages, further limiting the number of livestock that plants can process and impacting some of the industry’s value add product offerings. “All these factors highlight how very important it is that we get the right policy settings in areas such as immigration to allow the industry to operate to its full potential.” Beef exports were a standout performer during January, with volume up seven per cent to 42,291 tonnes, and value up 51 per cent to $422m. The

January was another very positive month for exports, which reflects the efforts across the sector to overcome the many challenges in processing and exporting. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

three main beef markets were China ($186m), United States ($129m), and Japan ($24m). “The strong demand meant that the average freight on board (FoB) value for overall beef exports during January was up to a record $9.98/kg,” said Karapeeva. “However, the high prices, while very welcome, are masking some of the pressure the industry is under, and

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despite the export receipts, we should not be taking this as an indication that everything is rosy.” Karapeeva said that the January data also revealed a significant drop in the volume of chilled exports year-on-year. “That indicates that the supply chain disruptions are continuing to have an impact on chilled exports, with companies sending more exports as

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frozen because of the risks in the disrupted supply chain, including significantly longer transit times. That has an impact on value.” The total 3,061 tonnes of chilled exports was 41 per cent lower than last January, and there was a drop in chilled exports to the United Kingdom and all the major European markets. The 452 tonnes of chilled

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sheepmeat exported to the UK was the lowest level during January in more than 20 years. It accounted for only 17 per cent of sheepmeat exports to the UK by volume, compared to the usual 40 to 50 per cent in January. While sheepmeat volumes overall dropped by 14 per cent, to 31,449 tonnes, strong prices saw value increase by 12 per cent to $369m.

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North Canterbury vineyards gear up for tough harvest Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

ccording to viticulturist for Greystone Wines Mike Saunders, North Canterbury wine growers are preparing for their toughest season yet. The region is gearing up for a harvest with Omicron at its doorstep meaning many are working under restricted harvest conditions, he said. “The combination of challenging weather and operating in a Covid environment has placed additional pressure on us. “We’re splitting our teams into two distinct bubbles so we can carry on as best we can in case a team member has to isolate. It’s nothing new to us though, as we had to operate like this during the first lockdown at the start of the pandemic.” Saunders said. Measures new to this season include having two teams of pickers who will be distanced across rows. For the vineyard team, individuals will be assigned a tractor, with nobody working in anything but that tractor. “The reality is Omicron is coming so we have to be prepared. Given we’re lucky to have critical worker status, we have to be exemplary and

Viticulturist for Greystone Wines Mike Saunders and Hurunui District Council Mayor Marie Black inspect the vines on the first day of picking. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

that’s what we intend to be,” Saunders said. Saunders, who is also the North Canterbury Winegrowers Association chairperson was joined by Hurunui District Council Mayor Marie Black for the first pick of the crop at Greystone. “The North Canterbury

wine region is a crucial part of the district’s fabric, and I can only imagine all the hours and hard work that has gone into getting to this point,” Black said. North Canterbury is the fourth largest wine region in New Zealand, with nearly 1400 ha planted in vines, while it employs over 600 people across

the 71 wineries. While it has been one of the toughest seasons Saunders has ever worked, the fruit is looking superb, he said. “We’ve had a real mixed bag of rain and lack of sunlight, which has just meant we’ve had to work smarter in the vineyard.” Saunders and his vineyard

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team have done all they can to protect the vines throughout the season. A major move has been opening up the leaf canopy to allow the air to get in and dry out the vines. “The nets are now on the vines, and I can’t wait to dive into a busy harvest. This is what we work towards each year, so bring it on.”

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Ashburton dairy farm an entrant in Balance Farm Environment Awards A

n Ashburton farm is one entrant of four in the 2022 Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Flemington Farm, owned by Phillip and Jocelyn Everest and Paul Everest and Sarah Hayman is a dairy and beef property of 255 hectares effective. Since 1989, the Everests have expanded this property developing a sustainable dairy and beef farm. In 2010, they developed the property into a dairy farm and milk 750 cows on a predominantly pasture-based system. When they established the 225ha milking platform that year, the best technology of the day was incorporated considering both labour and the environment. The goal was to have one person in the shed each milking, minimize water use, and treat effluent as a fertilizer. The Everests are also involved in several catchment and district initiatives that are largely focused on improving the environment. Other entrants in the awards include dairy and beef farmers Geoff and Rochelle Spark of Torlesse Farm. The Sparks are on a journey of continuous improvement so their farm can thrive as a sustainable, profitable business. They run about 1,700 dairy cows across 450ha, with a further 400ha split fairly evenly between dairy support and beef. About 80 prime cattle are sold each year and the Sparks have diversified the business

From left: Phillip and Jocelyn Everest and Paul Everest and Sarah Hayman.

to include grazing and grass sales, and operate a commercial weighbridge. Jo and Lachie McKenzie of Table Top Station, operate a sheep and beef property near Kurow. The pillar of their business is ultra-fine wool, taken from 5,000 merino sheep that produced more than 20,000kg

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of wool in 2020. Sheep are grazed across the whole station and, to bolster income, terminal and merino wether lambs are sold. Meanwhile, angus cattle are grazed across about 1,800ha of hill country, with any calves weaned and sold. The fourth entrant is Matt and Claire Smith of Caberfeidh Station of the Hakataramea

Valley. Part of the Lone Star Farms stable, this is a highly productive sheep and beef farm guided by an environmental compass. This large-scale breeding and finishing property winters about 30,000 stock units comprised of 65 per cent sheep and 35 per cent cattle, where

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

the main goal is to create a consistently high-quality product for customers. Improving pasture quality is a key focus, with the Smiths fencing off waterways and removing some paddocks from cattle grazing. They’re also investigating different crop mixes which will help with soil biology and conservation.

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EFFLUENT AND WATER MANAGEMENT FEATURE

Baleage plastic a nuisance? Agrecovery has the answer

Weta low-rate effluent irrigator

The Weta travelling rain gun delivers high volumes at low travel speeds over large areas. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Agrecovery is an innovative project to address the environmental issues caused by soft agricultural plastics. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

grecovery Rural Recycling Programme provides agrichemical container recycling and chemical recovery for New Zealand farmers and growers. It looks to expand the services it offers to include other products for recycling. Its product stewardship scheme is one of a worldwide network of similar national schemes affiliated to CropLife International’s standards. The brand owners that distribute agrichemical, animal health, and dairy hygiene products into the New Zealand market take responsibility for the disposal of these products and their packaging at the end of their useful life. They do this by paying the Agrecovery Foundation fees and levies to cover programme costs. This enables free access to programme users. Agrecovery is run by the Agrecovery Foundation, a not-forprofit charitable trust. Trustees are accountable for the strategic direction of Agrecovery and represent key areas of the primary sector: Agcarm, DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, Horticulture New Zealand, Rural Contractors New Zealand, and the Waikato Regional Council. It is an innovative project to address the environmental issues caused by soft agricultural plastics, such as the bags used for fertilizer, seed, and feed, as well as netting, silage wrap, and twine, looking to find sustainable solutions for these plastics at the end of their useful life. The scope of this project includes, but isn’t limited to, the following farm plastics: • plastic sacks for packaging agricultural and horticultural commodities – including, fertiliser sacks, feed sacks and bulk tonne

bags of woven polypropylene. • plastic wrapping materials for silage or hay – including baleage wrap, hay bale netting, baling twine and covers for silage pits. The project aims to beef up the existing recycling services available to farmers and growers, like those Agrecovery offers for agrichemicals. To determine the size of the farm plastic waste problem, PricewaterhouseCoopers completed a survey for the project on the number of farm plastics in New Zealand and their eventual fate. The project is sharing those initial findings with the industry so that it can refine the data. Within the Mid Canterbury area, the following are collections sites for farm waste: • Ashburton, NZ Farm Source,18 Kermode Street, Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm. • Ashburton, Ruralco, 97 Burnett Street, Monday to Friday 8am – 5:30pm. • Ashburton, Wholesale Seeds, 5 Bryant Street, Monday & Wednesday 8am – 5pm. • Ashburton Transfer Station, 25 Range Street, Monday & Wednesday 8am – 5pm and Saturday 9am – 5pm. • Geraldine, PGG Wrightson, 58 Talbot Street. • Mayfield, PGG Wrightson,1993 Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road. • Methven, NZ Farm Source, 159 Main Street. Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm. • Rakaia, NZ Farm Source,159 Main Street. Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm. • Rakaia, Ruralco, 68 Elizabeth Avenue, Monday to Friday 8am – 5:30pm.

he Weta travelling rain gun has been developed by AgFirst Engineering to keep up with regulation changes when it comes to land application of dairy effluent. A key design consideration was to develop an irrigator which can achieve consistent application depths throughout the entire effluent area to ensure the spread of nutrients are even for simplistic nutrient proof of placement. If the travel speed reduces due to extra drag on the hose, change in contour, distance, or elevation the irrigator will regulate the turbine bypass and maintain a constant travel speed. Therefore, achieving even application rate and depth across the entire farm.

The Weta irrigator is robust and low maintenance. Traditionally travelling irrigators have cogs, sprockets, chains, and gearboxes etc under extreme tension which leads to constant wear. The Weta has made this simple and robust with a hydraulic pump and motor driving the winch and no need for gear changes. The Weta irrigator can achieve flows up to 40,000L per hour, application depths from 1mm – 20mm and wetted widths up to 100m and as short as 20m. This delivers high volumes at low travel speeds over large areas significantly reducing the number of irrigator shifts required whilst protecting the environment at the same time.

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Even nutrient application with automated irrigato irrigator speed control and hydraulic winch system. Even spread from 50m – 100m winch system. Ev

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EFFLUENT AND WATER MANAGEMENT FEATURE

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Autumn for food foraging been a key part of traditional Chinese medicine since at least 659 A.D. Check out this amazing list of potential health benefits for the humble hawthorn berry: • Hawthorn berries are loaded with antioxidants which can help neutralize free radicals that may ECO Sheryl harm our bodies and our overall Stivens EFFICIENCY health. • Research carried out also suggests risp cool dewy mornings soon tell us that hawthorn berries may reduce that autumn is arriving. With it comes blood pressure by helping dilate the stone and pip fruits as well as treasures blood vessels. In traditional that we can easily miss if the birds beat us Chinese medicine, hawthorn berry to them. is one of the most commonly • For Casual & Permanent Bin Hires recommended foods to help treat • Cardboard Recycling high blood pressure. • For Casual & Permanent • Drum HiresBin Hires • Chronic inflammation is linked • Cardboard Recycling We offer a regular Rubbish Removal Service, with many local Companies to manyRecycling diseases hiring our Front Loader Bins and using our Cardboard Cages,including type • Drum Hires We also have Open Top Bins on a casual 2 basis, for propertyasthma clean ups, and certain diabetes, We offer a regular Rubbish Removal with many local Companies building worksService, and Garden tidy ups. cancers. Hawthorn berry has antihiring our Front Loader Bins and using our Cardboard Recycling Cages, And a Household and/or Garden waste Drum empty service. We also have Open Top Bins on a casual basis, for property clean ups, inflammatory properties that could Allbuilding provided by a Company based in Tinwald. works and Garden tidy ups. improve your health. And a Household and/or Garden waste Drum empty service. All provided by a Company based in Tinwald. have used hawthorn • People Gary McCormick Transport Ltd berries and extract for centuries PO Box 5044, Tinwald, Ashburton 7741 | Phone: 3072100 | Fax: 3072101 as a digestive aid, particularly for Gary McCormick Transport Ltd PO Box 5044, Tinwald, Ashburton 7741 | Phone: 3072100 | Fax: 3072101indigestion and stomach pain. • Some research suggests that hawthorn berries may help reduce signs of premature skin ageing as a result of their antioxidant content. • Scientists are investigating hawthorn supplements as a potential treatment for anxiety. • Hawthorn is used to help protect against heart disease and help control high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Both animal and human studies suggest hawthorn increases coronary artery blood flow, improves circulation, and lowers blood pressure. How can you add hawthorn berries to your diet? • Eat the raw berries. Raw hawthorn berries have a tart, slightly sweet taste and make a great on-the-go snack. But try not to eat the seeds. Like apple seeds, they contain the toxin cyanide. • Open top bins for property and garden clean ups, perfect for • Drink the tea. You can make your • Open top bins for property and garden clean ups, perfect for moving off farm. moving offthe the farm. & ••For Casual Bin&Hires Hires For Casual Casual & Permanent Bin Hires own using the plant’s dried berries, For Casual & Permanent Permanent Bin •• For Permanent Bin Hires • • Bins already on a number of farms in the area and casual • Cardboard Recycling flowers, and leaves. Bins already • onCardboard a number of farms in the area and casual • Cardboard Recycling Recycling hire hireavailable available• Cardboard Recycling • Drum Hires • Make jams and desserts. In the • Drum Hires •• Drum Hires • • Household waste Drum empty service Southeastern United States, people We offer a regular Rubbish Removal Service, with many local Companies Drum Hires Householdand/or and/or Garden Garden waste Drum empty service We offer a regular Rubbish Removal Service, with many local Companies hiringour ourFront FrontLoader LoaderBins Bins and using Cardboard Recycling Cages, hiring and using ourour Cardboard Recycling Cages, commonly make hawthorn berries • • Regular Removal Service, with many local We aRubbish Removal Service, with many local Companies Regular Removal Service, with many local Wealso also have Open Top Bins on a casual basis, property clean Weoffer offerRubbish aregular regularRubbish Rubbish Removal Service, with many local Companies We have Open Top Bins on a casual basis, forfor property clean ups,ups, into jam, pie filling, and syrup. building works and Garden tidy ups. companies hiring our Front Loader Bins and using our building works and Garden tidy ups. companies hiring our Front Loader Bins and using our hiring our Front Loader Bins and using our Cardboard Recycling Cages, hiring our Front Loader Bins using our Cardboard Recycling Cages, AndaaHousehold Householdand/or and/or Garden waste Drum empty service. Cardboard And Garden waste Drum empty service. • Brew wine and vinegar. Hawthorn CardboardRecycling Recycling Cages Cages We casual basis, basis,for for property ups, Wealso alsohave haveOpen OpenTop Top Bins Bins on a casual property clean ups, All providedbyby a Company based in Tinwald. All provided a clean Company based in Tinwald. berries can be fermented into a Allprovided provided by a a works Company based in All by Company basedtidy inTinwald. Tinwald. building works ups. building and Garden Garden tidy ups. tasty alcoholic beverage (for adults) AndaaHousehold Household and/or and/or Garden waste And wasteDrum Drumempty emptyservice. service. or a flavoured vinegar that you can Gary McCormick Transport Ltd All provided by a Company Company based Gary McCormick Transport Ltd All provided by basedininTinwald. Tinwald. use to make salad dressing. PO Box 5044, Tinwald, Ashburton 7741 | Phone: 3072100 | Fax: 3072101 Hawthorn berries are one such hidden treasure with many medicinal properties which is probably why they were brought to New Zealand along with other useful seeds from Europe, North America and Asia by our wise early settlers. Hawthorn berries are tiny fruits that are often found growing in our hedgerows. The nutrient-rich red berries have a tart, tangy taste and mild sweetness and the leaves are useful too. For hundreds of years, people have used hawthorn berry as a herbal remedy for digestive problems, heart issues, and high blood pressure. Apparently, the berry has

PO Box 5044, Tinwald, Ashburton 7741 | Phone: 3072100 | Fax: 3072101 asual&&Permanent Permanent Bin Hires sual Bin Hires • CardboardRecycling Recycling Cardboard yMcCormick McCormick Transport Ltd Ltd DrumHires Hires Transport QUALITY MUCK & SLURRY • •Drum

, Ashburton 7741 | Phone: 3072100 Fax: 3072101 ar Rubbish Removal Service, withmany many3072100 localCompanies Companies Ashburton 7741 | Phone: || Fax: 3072101 Rubbish Removal Service, with local t Loader Bins and using our Cardboard Recycling Cages, oader Bins and using our Cardboard Recycling Cages, Open Top Bins on a casual basis, for property clean ups, en building Top Binsworks on a casual basis,tidy for ups. property clean ups, and Garden building works and Garden tidy ups. sehold and/or Garden waste Drum empty service. hold and/or Garden waste DrumMUCK empty service. OFF provided by aPUSH Company based in Tinwald. ovided by a Company based in Tinwald. SPREADERS

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Another treasure was added to our food forest at Free Range Farm when a friend gave me a damson tree for my 60th birthday. Damson plums apparently originated in Syria and it seems the Romans took Damsons to England and the English took them around the world. They are a small easy-care tree that doesn’t need pruning, fruits every year and is self-fertile. They have a bitter unique flavour, unlike their sweet juicy plum cousins. However, try making a damson paste to go with your favourite cheese or a less sweet jam or even making your own damson gin or vodka by infusing the damson in alcohol. What a treat that is! Wild blackberry foraging was a fun part of our childhood for many of us. It’s a great season for wild blackberries growing amongst our gorse hedges. They taste sweet and juicy after all the rain. We also have thornless blackberry plantings, but the wild variety are so much sweeter this season. Our pear trees are laden with juicy pears this year, waiting to be picked and stored for ripening. Our favourite is Doyenne du Comice, a sweet juicy pear with a reddish tinge originally developed in France and awarded the best pear in England. The common pear is probably of European origin. Pears have been cultivated since ancient times and are a popular and beautiful tree now grown all around the world. Plan to plant more food and diversity at your place if you have the space. They will enrich your lives in so many ways from your own food forest to the dining room table.

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BUILDING AND RENOVATION FEATURE

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Building a home - getting started U

ndertaking a building project is a challenging time and can be immensely enjoyable or thoroughly frustrating. Be prepared for a large draw on your time and, of course, your budget. Be prepared for major frustrations and stress. Be prepared to be called on-site to make instantaneous decisions about things. It’s easy to underestimate the complexity of building a house. Even a small budget project has hundreds of products and a multitude of tradespeople to coordinate, not to mention checking on the workmanship to ensure it’s up to standard. Using a project manager can help bring your building project in on time, within budget (they can often help you save considerable amounts of money), and with a much-reduced chance of nasty surprises occurring. Here are a few tips to get you started in the early stages. Things you need to know… Building a house will take a long time. There will be decisions needed to be made at all stages of the building process, including right at the very end. Demands on your time will

It’s easy to underestimate the complexity of building a house.

be enormous. It is likely to cost more than you think. You are unlikely to be able to afford everything you want. You will be faced with choosing between a myriad number of items for all sorts of

different elements within your house – many of which you are not even aware of yet. Things you need to do… Work out your current and future needs so that the house design will meet both. Write

them down – this will form part of the brief for your architect or designer. Talk to friends and family and make a scrapbook with images of houses you like. Work out what you can afford. Try to

stick to it as much as you can. Learn about the building process. You are about to spend several hundred thousand dollars. You will own whatever happens to this house. If you cut corners or your

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building professionals cut corners, you will be the one to live with the consequences. Ensure your professionals do what they should. Ensure you have contracts for the work and ensure those contracts are valid. Preparing a brief 1. Style of design. The style or aesthetics of a house are very personal, and it can be hard to describe what you like until you see it. Start by looking at houses near your site and make a scrapbook of images you like from magazine cuttings. Think about… What materials do you like: lowmaintenance brick and tile; characterful timbers and stone; or semi-industrial corrugated iron? What forms do you like: traditional gable with deep overhangs and verandas; or a modern glass pavilion with a direct connection with the outdoors? What kind of spaces do you like: open-plan or a more formal arrangement of rooms? And the character of your neighbourhood: what styles, materials, and scales are providing the context in your street? 2. Lifestyle, family needs. How many are in your family? Do they all need separate bedrooms? Will you want separate living areas? Do you have extended family members (perhaps older parents or teenagers) who may need/want

BUILDING AND RENOVATION FEATURE

Even a small budget project has hundreds of products and a multitude of tradespeople to coordinate.

their own facilities? How long do you intend to live here? Incorporate design elements to cater to your future needs as you grow older. Where will children play? Incorporate sightlines into your

design so you can see them outside while you’re inside. How many bathrooms do you need? Where will they be located? 3. Features of your site. Where is the sun? Where

does water flow through your property? Where are neighbours situated and what kind of privacy do you have from them? How do you gain access to your house? How steep is it?

Do you need to level any areas for living/car parking/garden areas? These are just a few pointers to get you started on the planning stage of your new home. Good luck.

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BUILDING AND RENOVATION FEATURE

Price of venison: Surety an issue Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

verage prices to venison producers held strong during December and are now sitting about $1.50 a kilogram above where they were at the same time last year. Marketers and Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) were increasingly confident that the market recovery was underway and that returns to producers would continue to increase during 2022. Hamish Guild of 3700-hectare High Peak Station in the Mid Canterbury foothills says,” It is a bit of an interesting one from our perspective seeing the schedule rise at a time of the year when it traditionally doesn’t. “It is a positive thing but as a store weaner producer, it is a concern not knowing what that price is going to be next year. “So, from the finishers buying our weaner deer in April we get strong signals as to what the market will be going into the next season so they are going to be taking on-face or with risk as to what the purchase price will be. “So, lack of surety is an issue,” Guild says. “In our on-farm sale in April we are looking to sell over a thousand weaners this year.” Venison, which is largely sold to restaurants, was particularly hard-hit by lockdowns in response to Covid in Europe and the United States. With sales to restaurants constrained, prices fell and stocks built through 2020. As restaurants reopened in 2021, these stocks cleared, paving the way for a more positive 2022. DINZ chief executive Innes Moffat says the industry

Average prices to venison producers held strong during December and were sitting above what they were last year.

watches with concern the return of restrictions in Europe and North America at the end of 2021 but these did not appear to affect demand. The recovery of venison prices has taken longer than it has for other export proteins. There were two main reasons for this. China, which was still recovering from an epidemic of African swine fever in its pork industry, has proved to be an eager buyer of lamb and mutton – traditional meat in the north and west of the country. Venison did not have this traditional demand. Being more common meats, lamb and beef also had a permanent place in retail in North America. With restaurants shut in the USA, retail meat sales boomed, again, a position that venison did not have, so could not

capitalise on. “Both of these issues have been addressed by the industry in the last 18 months, with online and retail sales of venison in the United States growing rapidly from a low base. Significant demand has also been created in China, with the development of recipes and cuts that fit with Chinese cuisine,” Moffat says. “Having a strong presence in China and at retail in the United States, as well as the traditional European and US food-service markets, is strategically important. If these new markets are sustained the industry will be much less vulnerable in the future to down-turns in any one market or market segment.” Nevertheless, demand during the European game season – when prices to farmers typically

peak – will remain important. “Early discussions between marketers and their overseas customers strongly point to prices to farmers during the coming autumn to continue to track above 2021 levels, before peaking in spring during the game season,” he says. Moffat says it’s pretty hard to predict spring prices this far in advance. “None of us control the currency, Covid, shipping rates or port closures – all of these things continue to confound the smooth operation of international trade and create uncertainties about the year ahead. “What we collectively can do is build a greater diversity of markets and to create marketing programs that strike a chord with potential customers for our wonderful NZ venison. That’s exactly what the industry has

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Hamish Guild: It’s interesting seeing the schedule rise at a time of the year it traditionally doesn’t.

been doing over the past 18 months. “It is very heartening to see many of these initiatives starting to bear fruit and to see this being reflected in a firming of prices to farmers.”

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BUILDING AND RENOVATION FEATURE

View from the paddock Chris Murdoch

PROPERTY BROKERS

ast month I felt we were on the brink of war, a disastrous harvest and interest rate rises. Well, some of those things have happened. Putin looks to be putting the boot in big time and that whether we like it or not means we are going to get kicked big time. When you get fuel prices going towards $4 then we have a real problem. The cost of everything is going to rise alongside it. The flow on effect is a real challenge to everyone from the arable farmer, trucking companies, contractors, dairy farmers and your everyday person in the street because you add this cost to the cost of inflation, and we have a beast that most of the younger generation has never seen. Major inflation and cost of living rises that make your hair stand on end. Those of

us that have been through high interest rates and car less days appreciate how tough times can really get. However, it is a fact of life that when commodity values are high so is fuel etc. and we do have good commodity prices at present. A bloody shame about harvest. Seems most people have got through, but the weather has knocked the socks off it being a great year to a survival year. For those that have got good quality grain in the silo it looks like good returns are coming. It also never ceases to amaze me how the flour mills can make good bread out of grain that in other years they would have rejected as not fit for purpose. With the war in Ukraine and the Russian sanctions in place it does look like grain is going to be in short supply for the next couple of years. Apparently, Ukraine would now or very shortly be drilling next year’s crop. Can’t see that happening at present unless they pull their drill round with a tank! The whole world’s in a bit of a state at the moment and it’s amazing how one small person can upset the entire western

How can flour mills make good bread out of grain that in other years they would have rejected? PHOTO: SUPPLIED

world. Thank God we live on an island, and we are quite hard to get at.

At times like this the sea and our isolation is our friend but at others it’s an economic enemy. Today it’s our friend I believe.

The views expressed in this column are Chris’ and do not reflect the opinion of his employer or Property Brokers.

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Farming

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EDUCATION FEATURE

Kids learn dairying – the fun way D

esigned to improve children’s understanding of dairy farming and spark their interest in dairying as a career, DairyNZ’s in-school education programme, DairyNZ Schools, provides teachers with free, curriculum-based online learning resources and ‘handson’ classroom kits. The learning resources align with the New Zealand school curriculum for years 1-8 and aim to help children learn about dairy farming and where milk comes from, as well as introducing dairying as a career option. DairyNZ Schools includes resources within the curriculum areas of science, maths, English, technology, economics and geography and uses a dairy context to teach these compulsory curriculum areas. A downloadable version of each learning resource can be found on the DairyNZ Schools website and a limited number of hands-on learning kits are released to teachers each year to support practical and innovative learning. Teachers can also sign up to visit a farm for a unique experience to complement their classroom teaching, where

children can experience their classroom learnings in a real farm environment. An annual activity in the education programme is the DairyNZ CLASS-ified Game of Moostery, which links 150 rural schools with 150 urban schools around New Zealand. It challenges children to put on their detective hats and figure out their partner school’s name and location using clues in the form of a photographic scavenger hunt and a video chat session. This resource aims to increase understanding and create empathy and real-world connections between rural and urban children. Introducing ‘dairy’ as a topic into the science curriculum at an early age not only increases children’s knowledge about dairy farming and where their milk comes from, but it can also spark an interest in a career in the dairy sector and introduce a pathway into agriscience. A recent education module, ‘Can it Ice Cream’, took the approach of starting with the products children already know and love – ice cream and milk – and introducing them into the science curriculum area of

Raumati Beach School deciding which breakfast ingredient would make the best ice cream. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

investigating a change of state (in this case from liquid to solid). In addition, an extra challenge of creating a breakfast flavoured ice cream was thrown into the mix. In the module, children got to find out about what products

are made from milk and where that milk comes from. Teachers who are using DairyNZ’s education resources in the classroom can also apply for a School Farm Visit. This provides experiences outside the

classroom for children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience a real farm environment. With the help of volunteer farmers, DairyNZ’s School Farm Visits provide children with a unique and memorable on-farm experience. The Rosie’s World website educates children about the New Zealand dairy sector through videos, activities, interactive games, recipes and blogs. Rosie’s World is the home of Rosie, New Zealand’s dairy industry ‘Cowbassador’. She is the young, enthusiastic face of New Zealand’s 4.9 million dairy cows. Rosie’s engagement with children through the website, media and events, is part of DairyNZ’s education programme, which is all about connecting children with dairy farming and helping them learn where their milk comes from. Rosie’s World is a safe, educational and fun website where children can learn all about what happens on a dairy farm, how farmers care for their land and animals, dairy nutrition and what it’s like to be a dairy farmer.

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Page 34

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Halter - Kiwi ingenuity at its best Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

re we seeing the end of number eight wire and the electric fence? Fenceless farming, waterways protected and an extra three hours of farmers’ time saved each day is the claim of technology breakthrough Halter. And if it’s investors are anything to go by, it’s a pretty good claim at that. The result is a solar-powered, GPS enabled collar that goes around the cow’s neck, and lets farmers manage and shift them remotely. This smart system guides cows around a farm using sound and vibrations, allowing farmers to automate herd movements and create virtual fences. The sound helps the cow understand where she can’t go, and the vibration helps her understand where she can. The technology can also tell a farmer when a cow is hurt or on heat. Halter is operated from a

mobile application (cell phone or tablet) which also allows farmers to schedule moves and set virtual boundaries. Matt Redmond is the operations manager on a 147 hectare, 520 cow Craigmore farm in the Culverden Basin, North Canterbury. The farm adopted Halter a month ago and is already seeing the benefits. “There were a few reasons why we adopted Halter,” Redmond says. “Mainly because we are passionate about sustainability and also people welfare. “It has enabled us to give our staff a better lifestyle, focus on management jobs which are more high value than sitting behind cows.” Redmond says since Covid the farm had found it hard to recruit staff to its junior roles. But with the attraction of Halter, they have been able to fill these roles, plus have a manager and 2IC keen to learn and adopt the new technology on pasture management and animal welfare. “We have seen the labour benefits and are now starting to get the cows’ health and mating data coming through. We have also noticed the cows are a lot

calmer walking to the shed without having the pressure of a motorbike behind them,” Redmond says. “Halter gives us the ability to see where our cows are at all times. It gives us the ability to monitor nutrients when the cows are spending time on the paddock. “The ability to create virtual fences within a paddock and hold cows so we can focus on our residuals is invaluable. The cows learned the virtual fence within a day which was amazing. “Now we are working on training the cows for drafting which will allow us to pull individual cows out of the mob and get them to walk to a designated paddock. This will save us hours of time. “It has also enabled us to split the herd – we are running a skinny, lighter herd and the main herd- so we can preferentially feed the skinny cows without requiring any extra labour. “It’s allowing us to run 520 cows with two-labour units, whereas before we would need 3 labour units,” Redmond says. Halter also monitors the wellbeing of cows. It collects data on a cow’s normal behaviour

Halter’s patented solution consists of a solar-powered collar that sits on each cow and a mobile application that enables farmers to shift, manage and monitor their herds remotely.

and then compares it to a current reading to monitor an animal’s health. Cow collars that use heat sensing technology have been around for about a decade but none of them had the same capabilities as the Halter collars, Craig Piggott, founder and CEO of Halter says. “Those ones are kind of like fancy pedometers. They are good at what they do but they are simple devices.” “To summarize what Halter does,” says Piggott in an interview with Matchstiq, “we built a system or a set

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of technologies that go from hardware all the way through to an app on a phone, and we use that system to understand everything about the movements of a dairy cow in both real-time and long term. “We track things like health and train cows to respond to a set of cues. And with that, we’re able to guide animals around a dairy farm, reduce labour challenges, increase milk production, and improve animal welfare. It’s a full system to help manage a dairy farm.” Piggott, who has an engineering degree and worked

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for Rocket Lab before leaving to set up Halter says: “The biggest risk was, can you train a cow to respond to the primary cues of sound and vibration. Is a cow smart enough to understand that?” “The vision for Halter is to unlock the connection between animals and humans.” Piggott says this piece of tech – what the company has dubbed ‘cowgorithms’ – means farmers can get deep insights into their stock, such as being able to tell when a cow is sick, hasn’t been eating or has a sore foot. “You’re able to care for cows a lot better and give them a lot more freedom,” he says. To get a farmer set up, Halter uses high-resolution mapping (by drone) of the farm to enable virtual fencing and pasture optimisation. This usually takes about six hours. Halter collars are then connected to the app via communication poles installed on the farm. Halter then provides support and education to train and run the herd with the system. Piggott says word of mouth has driven significant demand. The system has been rolled out across New Zealand with the intention of introducing it overseas in the future. “We’ve set up production at scale, with the capacity to produce hundreds of thousands of collars per month,” he says. Financial backers include

Halter also monitors the well-being of cows, collecting data on a cow’s normal behaviour and then comparing it to a current reading.

Rocket Lab’s, Peter Beck, Stephen Tindall’s K1W1 fund, Silicon Valley-based Data Collective and the Peter Thielled Founders Fund, which has invested in companies such as Facebook, Spotify, SpaceX and Airbnb. Canterbury is Halter’s second big hub out of the Waikato. Canterbury dairy farms were typically larger than in other parts of the country and cows could walk up to three kilometres for each milking, which limited the number of mobs that could be run, Piggott says. The collars can be used to create a larger number of mobs and create smaller breaks within a block, optimising pasture, he says.

“This has the potential to really affect day-to-day operations. It changes the industry a lot and from the consumer point-of-view, the welfare and sustainability aspects really needed to change. We’re giving farmers the tools to farm a lot more efficiently.” Piggott says a lot of farmers react in disbelief to the technology, as it’s so new and game-changing, but after they overcome this first hurdle, there’s huge interest. He says it also benefits farmers in the way that they’re often time poor and working 80 to 100-hour weeks. As for New Zealand’s agritech scene, he says while it’s improving, Aotearoa needs to move faster in this space –

Matt Redmond with his wife Mel. Matt is an operations manager for the Craigmore Group which is one of the largest corporate farming operations in the country. They are based in Culverden in North Canterbury.

particularly if it wants to be a world leader. “The innovation aspect from a capital point-of-view needs to improve, that’s obvious in the sense of why we go overseas for cash – you’ve got the answer there. Is it moving fast enough? I think it needs to move faster. It must, there are growing demands

from consumers to meet a certain standard. I think we’re playing a part in doing that.” “But New Zealand is the best place for us to be to start this business. The market here is very concentrated. And there are about 5.5 million dairy cows,” Piggott says. “That says it all.”

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Maintain first calvers’ body condition to minimise wastage D

airy farmers are being encouraged to maintain the body condition of their rising three-year-olds as firsttime calvers to help secure their longevity in the herd and maximise profitability. PGG Wrightson’s technical expert in ruminant nutrition Laura Pattie says prioritising rising three-year-olds for a second season is crucial to minimising wastage in terms of empty cows and lost milk production. This begins at calving time and throughout the season. “One of the biggest areas of wastage in our dairy industry is our rising three-year-olds, our first calvers, that are not getting pregnant again after their first season. If we can set them up better by prioritizing their nutrition now and maintaining their body condition, we aim to have less wastage on-farm,” says Pattie “Good heifer management is all about increasing profitability. We want to maximise their production, not only just in their first lactation, but throughout their entire lifetime of production.” While good heifer management is important, Pattie says farmers should be checking the body condition scores of all their animals ahead of calving to ensure they have enough reserves for the coming calving season. “Do your calculations to work out the best scenarios for your herd. What’s it going to look like to keep production at a certain level now? How much condition can you add and how many kilos of feed do you need

Prioritising rising three-year-olds for a second season is crucial to minimising wastage.

to do that?” says Pattie She references DairyNZ’s facts and figures book, which can help calculate how much feed is required to maintain production in a herd through to the end of the season and add condition if needed. Pattie says with the forecast payout looking good, dairy farmers might consider investing in more feed. “Marginal profit gains of even 70 cents extra per cow per day can make a big difference. If you have 74 days of milking left to go and 200 or 300 cows, you’re looking at another $10,000 and up to $15,000 in income.” Industry standard body condition score for mixed-aged cows is 5.0, and for first or second calvers 5.5 for calving time “When animals reach their BCS targets there is less risk of uterine infections, fewer metabolic issues,

improved production, and better reproduction results. If cows are in good health and recover well from calving, this also shortens the period between calving and the following season’s mating. “As a rule of thumb, we want no more than 15 percent of the herd above or below these targets. Then we’ve got a nice uniform herd, which is important to the efficiency of the overall farm system. “If herds are too far above these scores, they tend to reduce their dry matter intake post-calving which affects milk production and increases the risk of ketosis. The same applies for cows well below those scores, who won’t have enough reserves to maintain milk production.” Pattie stresses the importance of looking at cow condition and not just weight. “Condition really is about

that layer of squishiness on her, which means we can then get an idea of what sort of reserves she has to support her performance and her health.” DairyNZ runs the Body Condition Scoring Certified Assessor Programme and Pattie recommends farmers consider getting an independent person to assess their herds. “When we see our cows every day, it can be hard to be honest with ourselves about where they’re actually at. Contracting the services of a certified assessor will give you an objective and reliable measure of your herd’s body condition to help you make better decisions. “It’s all about maximising dry-matter intake and working out how many kilograms of dry-matter each animal needs to be performing at the level we want, while not losing

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

condition,” says Pattie. She also encourages farmers to monitor NDF (neutral detergent fibre) levels and pasture utilization. This is particularly important in late summer when pasture has suffered heat stress and NDF levels are not as good, or in winter when pasture utilisation might be lower. This is because high NDF levels can limit dry matter intakes and herd performance. Access to plenty of clean water and salt is also crucial along with adding magnesium and calcium which will have been mined from herds during pregnancy. “We’re not just feeding to keep the milk pumping,” says Laura. “We want to manage our cows’ condition as well to ensure they stay in our herd as productive animals for many seasons to come.”

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Five hundred overseas workers to boost the dairy industry T Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

he border change arrangement on February 4 to bring 200 dairy workers into the country plus a class exception on March 2 to allow another 300 brings much-needed clarity for the many dairy businesses. These have been in limbo, desperately seeking international workers to fill vacant roles on farms. CEO of Align Farms Rhys Roberts says that although the shortage of labour does not affect him, “ring anyone else on the list” and

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you would find someone who was struggling to fill their labour force. “No, it doesn’t affect us directly, we are not looking to recruit offshore now. But there are a few around who are short of workers, there are a lot of people looking to recruit. “New Zealanders want to work on dairy farms, but a range of things affects this- mainly that there is a low level of unemployment (3.2 per cent) at the moment. But we are having good success with Kiwis, probably the best success we have had in a long time,” Roberts says. “I also think dairy farming in New Zealand is starting to turn a corner and there is a lot more positivity in the industry on the back of milk prices and our record around Covid. If you look at the data not a lot of people on farms are catching Covid and I think there is a biosecurity issue, there. “But I think the bulk of it derives from the positivity of agriculture to survive the tough times we have had.” DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle says the dairy sector was not unique in needing more workers and appreciated the Government granting permission to bring in 500 international dairy workers through border class exceptions. However, he says that without the ability to get the workers through

CEO of Align Farms Rhys Roberts says, “ring anyone” and you will find someone struggling to fill their labour force. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

the border, the class exception was not achieving its goal of allowing international workers onto farms. “We have been working with the Government, putting forward several suggestions as to how our sector could manage the balance between the health risk and our labour needs, such as exploring how on-farm isolation would work. It is rewarding to see how this planning has paid off.” While the changes were helpful,

www.guardianonline.co.nz Mackle says there was still work to be done to make sure that the sector got the people it needed to address a severe labour shortage. “With a shortfall of about 4000-6000 dairy workers we have asked the Government for a further 1500 international workers be allowed into New Zealand in 2022,” Mackle says. The recent changes would allow nearly 500 international workers who were eligible for a dairy class exception visa to enter New Zealand in midMarch (after their visas were approved) and go into on-farm isolation. Federated Farmers is pleased to see more international dairy farm workers will be able to cross the border for the 2022 dairy season. “Farms are short thousands of staff and with continued low domestic unemployment, workers from overseas are the only option to plug the gaps in many parts of New Zealand,” Federated Farmers National Board member and immigration spokesperson Chris Lewis says. “Many dairy farms are desperate to get teams back up to strength prior to calving and the announcement will provide a measure of relief.” The industry, farmers and the government have done all they can to attract and retain Kiwi workers in the industry, but the need for international labour remains. Federated Farmers has worked with the Ministry for Social Development for over a year to attract more than 525 people to work in the sector through the www.getkiwisonfarm.nz programme. “If we want Kiwis to see an attractive future in the industry and to stop burning out our existing workers, we need the right number of people to staff our farms. “Every employer wants to offer a favourable work roster and more days off, but without enough people to employ this isn’t possible,” Lewis says. Every industry that has relied on an international workforce in the past is crying out for workers. “Federated Farmers has advocated strongly and consistently for the agricultural sector, now it is up to the farmers to fill these exception spots,” Lewis says.

• Cows are milked out but not over-milked with correct timing of removal • Increased milking efficiency and productivity

500 overseas dairy workers will be allowed into New Zealand in March.

• Milk quality is maintained • Reduced animal health issues, avoiding any damage to cows’ teats at the end of milking

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DNA technology better predicts animal’s performance K

iwi farmers can now identify their superior cows before they start milking thanks to a new service provided by herd improvement co-operative LIC. LIC’s Genomic Evaluation service screens an animal’s DNA to find out what genes it received from its parents. This provides a more accurate prediction of its expected performance in the milking herd, helping farmers better select their top cows to breed from and increase the rate of genetic gain on-farm. LIC’s chief scientist Richard Spelman said this cutting-edge technology was another tool to help farmers produce more milk from fewer cows. “As New Zealand’s cow population continues to reduce, Kiwi farmers are focused on improving the quality and efficiency of their herd. Breeding the best quality heifer (female) calves from the highest genetic merit cows plays a critical role in achieving that.” Spelman said this service

allows farmers to get a look into the future and identify their herds’ superior performers when they’re young calves. “Traditionally, farmers must wait a few years until their heifers are milking and have had a couple of herd tests to get a reliable understanding of their performance. By drawing on information from an animal’s DNA we’re able to fast-track that process and provide farmers with an early indication of their highest genetic merit animals so they can make a concerted effort to breed replacements from them.” Spelman said without genomic evaluation, a parent average is used to predict a calf ’s performance. “A parent average isn’t the most reliable prediction because it’s based on the offspring inheriting an average set of genes from each parent. In reality, they’ll have a random mixture of genes from both parents – some will be better and some will be worse. “Including a calf ’s DNA in its evaluation provides a much

clearer understanding of which genes it’s acquired from its mum and dad so we can better predict how well it’s going to perform – for a dairy cow, performance is measured by how efficient it is at converting feed into profit.” LIC used the same technology to select elite young bulls for its breeding programme. Spelman said the co-op’s 30-year investment to develop and fine-tune genomic science, along with its recent purchase of advanced DNA technology, means it’s now able to offer this service to farmers. “LIC has made a significant investment into genomics because we passionately believe in its power to enhance herd improvement. We see the value our genomics investment is delivering to farmers through our high BW bull teams and we’re excited to provide shareholders additional value from our investment through this new service,” said Spelman. LIC was able to produce a

LIC’s Genomic Evaluation service utilises an animal’s DNA information to give farmers the ability to identify their bestperforming cows at a young age. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

genomic evaluation using the same animal tissue sample farmers provide for DNA

parentage testing. To learn more about this service visit www.lic.co.nz.

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Maize: the future of dairy farming?

cent starch and a 40-tonne yield but also, we want highly digestible fibre. “We also want low methaneproducing hybrids. Obviously, because it’s an issue we are going to have to face plus the cost of our greenhouse gas emissions. “How do we achieve this? Imagine Pat RURAL if we could have some sort of factor REPORTER Deavoll inside the maize plant itself which is Our current yields are probably around 21 tonnes on-farm but research is showing our he FAR Resilient Maize Systems an anti-methanogen so that when the yields nudging up to 38 tonnes per hectare. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Conference was unfortunately cows eat the maize silage it actually canceled last month but went ahead reduces the amount of methane online. produced. We get the plant inoculated Ian Williams, Farm Systems and with anti-methanogens or we add an Environment Specialist, Pioneer Brand inoculant into the maize silage so that Products spoke on “Maize silage when it is harvested and the cows CROP STORAGE AND HANDLING SYSTEMS what do dairy farmers want for their eat that maize silage the methane is CUSTOMER CHRISTCHURCH VEIN PUBLISHING CROPCLINIC STORAGE AND HANDLING SYSTEMS 02/09/14 herd” and I have provided a precis of suppressed WE ARE BASED IN ASHBURTON his presentation. “This is blue sky stuff but if we can WE ARETHE BASED INSOUTH ASHBURTON SALES REP BERNADETTE.CHRISTIE PUBLICATION COVER WHOLE ISLAND STRAIG “If this is the modern dairy farm, do it, a 40-tonne maize crop with an COVER THE WHOLE SOUTH ISLAND what does maze look like going into anti-methanogen- wow amazing. DESIGNER Unknown SECTION GENERA the future?” Williams said. CUSTOMER “Nutraceuticalsfeeding feed that CHRISTCHURCH VEIN CLINIC PUBLISHING PMR are able to supply total feed delivery systems through our PROOFED 27/08/2014 1:31:18 p.m. SIZE 10X7 “It needs to be high yielding. We is good for the cow, but also good for PMR are GSI ableinto to supply total and feedherringbone delivery systems our supplier both rotary dairythrough complexes. SALES REP BERNADETTE.CHRISTIE PUBLICATION are thinking about profitability, we are humans. In other words, something supplier GSI into both rotary and herringbone dairy complexes.FAX 4528 ERTISING AD ID 6268508AA thinking about return on capital,DESIGNER we in the meat or cheese lowers our Unknown SECTION PMR offer need to reduce the cost of production levels of heart disease or diabetes. ROOF • Site Consultation • Supply • Design • Installation and Repairs PMR offer 1:31:18 p.m. SIZE significantly and one of the waysPROOFED of Nutraceuticals 27/08/2014 are the next frontier •AS Site Consultation •POSSIBLE. Supply • Design • Installation and Repairs PLEASE APPROVE THIS AD SOON AS NOTE THAT ANY ALTERAT doing this is producing a high-yielding AD of foodID production but if we can 6268508AA FAX WAKELY crop that supports pasture and there is somehow get our maize production to ROLLER MUST BE FINALISED BY OUR MATERIAL DEADLINE. WAKELY no better product than maize. a point where it benefits the cow and MILLS ROLLER PROVE THIS AD AS SOON POSSIBLE. NOTE THAT ANY AL “Our current yields are probably benefits the consumer when theyAS eat MILLS Suitable for around 21 tonnes on-farm but research the meat or drink milk from that cow, processing Suitable for a MUST BE BY OUR MATERIAL DEADLINE. is showing our yields nudging up FINALISED they actually have health benefits. wide rangea processing of crops. to 38 tonnes per hectare. If we get “I don’t see any benefit in maize wide range From 1.5tph of crops. a 40-tonne crop as opposed to a GMO going forward unless as a through to From 1.5tph 20-tonne crop we have effectively country we choose to go down the 30tph plus. through to halved the cost of that feed. GMO route. The reason why I have 30tph plus. “We want our maize silage to have this personal opinion is that we lots of starch and to be low in protein. produce enough to feed 40m people. Firstly, because maize that’s high in That’s the population of Tokyo plus SKIOLD DISC MILLS starch, cows will be able to produce ourselves. Tokyo is a wealthy city. SKIOLD DISC MILLS more milk. One of the problems we “One of the things research projects The all round mill for have is excessive urinary protein at are showing is the rise of organics and the grinding grain The all roundof mill for certain times of the year. If we can regenerative agriculture. People want andgrinding crops. of grain the then use this high starch low protein to eat natural food and if it is naturally Low crops. power and consumption, quiet feed to balance the nitrogen intake produced then they are likely to pay Low power operation andquiet consumption, of cows by providing a low nitrogen more for it and this fits around our minimum dust operation andlevels. feed in a high protein situation story of sustainably ethically produced SILO LADDER SAFETY CAGE Superior to milllevels. grain. minimum dust effectively, we reduce the urinary loss food. SILO LADDER SAFETY CAGE can Cages, platforms and handrails Superior to mill grain. be ordered to meet AS/NZ Standards. of nitrogen. “So final thoughts. The future is Cages, platforms and handrails can Can be designed to AS/NZ suit seed be ordered to meet Standards. “What we need is an industry that now. We still need to be pasture-based. cleaning equipment, breweries Can be designed to suit seed and is doing 40 per cent starch and low on Maize silage is the plant of the future. all manner of on farmbreweries or factoryand sites. cleaning equipment, protein. Its loves sunlight and responds to all manner of on farm or factory sites. “And we need the feed to be highly heat. It is high yielding, high in water digestible. The reason for this is that use efficiency, and highly digestible.” Dairy Feed and Crop Storage Specialists Dairy Feed and Crop Storage Specialists we know that the greatest limitation We also need to have some Dairy Feed and Crop Storage Specialists Dairy Feed and Crop Storage Specialists to milk production with dairy cows is improvement in nutraceuticals, energy intake. The higher digestibility inoculants within the plant, low 03MOBILE 303 7266 | MOBILE 606 TEL 03 303 TEL 7266 0275 146 607 0275 EMAIL146 steve@pmr.co.nz the more energy available to those cows methane emitting, and high disease TEL 03 303 7266 MOBILE 0275 146 607 EMAIL steve@pmr.co.nz MOBILE 0274 151 390 EMAIL paul@pmr.co.nz EMAIL tom@pmr.co.nz for milk production. So, we want 40 per resistance. MOBILE 0274 151 390 EMAIL paul@pmr.co.nz www.pmr.co.nz www.pmr.co.nz www.pmr.co.nz

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Soil moisture management still a key driver in wet seasons F

or a season dominated by too much rainfall throughout Canterbury it seems ironic that we’re still talking about measuring, monitoring, and managing your soil moisture. This past season those that had installed well set up soil moisture monitoring systems have achieved significantly better pasture and crop yield results by not over-watering. In many cases, this equates to hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in extra growth simply by turning off your irrigator, let alone the nutrient savings from ensuring that no leaching occurs. To achieve this though, you need confidence in your setup and system to make those decisions. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your soil moisture monitoring system is properly set up to enable you to make informed decisions. The first step starts with the placement of the sensor. There are many things to consider in the placement of your soil moisture monitoring site(s): crop type, soil type,

slopes, stock camping, high traffic areas and more. The key piece of advice is to place each site in the most representative area(s) for what you’re trying to achieve. In some cases, it might be one per irrigation area, or multiple, or one per crop type. The options are endless and if you need some guidance on this, the team of Vantage specialists are available to help walk you through this process. The second point to consider is installation time. Ideally, you

want your soil moisture sensor to be installed and operating well before you think you want to use it to make decisions. Autumn and winter are the best times to install sensors to allow for a decent settling time and time for learning and understanding the information that they provide. Depending on what crop or pasture they’re going into, an early installation is not always possible. Soil moisture sites cannot be ploughed over, but some are able to be

directly drilled over. Talk to your provider to see if your setup suits your crop rotation plan. In most cases, soil moisture sensors are easily removed if needed. Again, talk to your provider as to what needs to be taken care of when uninstalling. When reinstalling it is recommended that your sensors be installed by an industry expert as there are many factors that need to be carefully managed to ensure you get sensible information from your soil moisture sites.

And lastly, to ensure the great success of your soil moisture management, setup and training are key. Like with anything, we’re all continually learning, and how you treat your soil moisture system should be no different. Do you know what your graphs are telling you and how to fully interpret your data? Do your team? How do you know when to turn on or off your irrigator or effluent system? At Vantage, we’re all about empowering our customers to make smart decisions on-farm every day. That’s why we provide our customers with free training every time they purchase a soil moisture system through us, as well as the resources to support them throughout their soil moisture journey. For more information on selecting and placing soil moisture sensors, or setting yourself up for a successful audit with our industry-leading AquaCheck soil moisture sensors, get in touch with the Vantage team today on 0800 4 VANTAGE (0800 482 682) or email info@vantage-nz.com.

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FARM ADVISERS AND RURAL FINANCE FEATURE

Richard Barton, Farmote Systems founder

Big names back NZ agtech breakthrough New funding will drive further expansion, development.

wo global leaders in agriculture are helping advance world-first pasture technology designed, tested and made in New Zealand. Investment from Gallagher and the Royal Barenbrug Group will fund wider farm roll-out and faster development for Christchurch-based Farmote Systems, company founder Richard Barton says. Launched in Canterbury last spring, the Farmote System is a unique new way of automatically recording precise, consistent and reliable pasture data, 24/7. It now covers over 6000 hectares of farmland. Fast forward “We’re excited to have attracted new investment from Gallagher, as well as further investment from Barenbrug,” Richard Barton says. “This will enable us to extend our services to other parts of

New Zealand this year, and to Europe in 2023. We’re also recruiting staff to accelerate our development process.” Barton founded the Farmote System five years ago, with early backing from international grass specialist Barenbrug, headquartered in The Netherlands; and Sir Stephen Tindall’s K1W1 investment company. Gallagher’s long history of success selling technology to farmers in NZ and overseas makes it a very welcome new shareholder, he says. Perfect fit Lisbeth Jacobs, Gallagher Global General Manager for Animal Management, says the iconic agtech company has been actively hunting for something like Farmote, especially since acquiring remote fencing developer Agersens, creator of eShepherd.

“We knew it would fit perfectly in the future farm ecosystem we’ve been building for some time now. It’s beautifully smart technology that ticks all the boxes for us.” Data generated by the Farmote System is valuable in itself, Jacobs says, but the real gain for farmers lies in integrating it with other technologies. “We strongly believe improved decision making will enable farmers to run their operations more efficiently and productively in the future. “All our digitally enabled technologies at Gallagher help farmers make good decisions, based on real time data without having to be physically present, so they can spend more time on what matters to them, and Farmote is another element in that eco-system.” Class of its own

Intrigued by Barton’s concept since its inception, the Royal Barenbrug Group has since become increasingly positive about Farmote’s value as the only technology of its type in the world, Global Head John Thijssen says. “Many companies sell satellite images for field monitoring. But if you dig a little bit deeper into these systems, they cannot tell the difference in absolute numbers between how much grass is growing in one field compared to another. “Farmote is the only one that has spent the time and money developing an on the ground sensor that can measure the height of the grass in absolute terms, and integrated that with satellite imagery. “It’s quite difficult to develop, but as a result of our involvement with Richard over the past few years our

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confidence has grown to the point where we have now increased our investment.” International scope The insight NZ farmers gain from traditional pasture measuring tools ‘pales in comparison’ with that provided by Farmote, Thijssen says. “This is live information about grass growth, 24/7. We see global application for this technology, particularly in Western Europe where grassland is intensively managed.” European farmers already familiar with sensor-based yield monitoring for arable crops have voiced interest in the Farmote System, and Barenbrug is excited about it because no other company has extended such technology to pastures. For more detail visit www. farmote.com.

Farming

FARM ADVISERS AND RURAL FINANCE FEATURE

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Our dongas- they need protecting Mary Ralston

FOREST AND BIRD

he steep-sided gullies that are a feature of the coastline around Ashburton are called dongas. It’s an unusual Kiwi word for a distinctive landform along the coast from the Rakaia to the Rangitata river mouths. There are over 300 dongas on this 70 km section of Canterbury coastline. Small dongas are formed by water moving underground through different layers of gravels and sediments, then emerging through coastal cliffs, causing erosion. Bigger ones are formed by surface streams reaching the coast. Dongas are still being formed – rainfall events of around 40mm in a day can trigger a fresh donga being formed above old river channels. The gullies within the cliffs are important habitats for invertebrates, birds, plants,

lizards, lichens and mosses – the biodiversity found in the network of coastal habitats. Many dongas have been lost through agricultural development and many are threatened by coastal erosion. And when they go, the distinctive species that are suited to that particular environment are lost too. The plants tend to be low-growing grasses and shrubs adapted to the harsh combination of low rainfall, salt spray, low-nutrient substrate and hot summer temperatures. They support the skinks, spiders and insects that provide food for birds. Some dongas may contain small streams or springs and ribbons of riparian wetland. Many of the native plants and animals found in dongas were once widespread across the plains. Dongas are small relic sites, often scruffy-looking, and often used as rubbish dumps because of their steep sides. But they are often the last repository of precious native species that have now been lost from elsewhere across Canterbury. It’s hard to know what threatened species may be lurking in dongas as many are

Coastal cliffs and dongas – one of Ashburton’s special landscapes and repository of biodiversity. PHOTO: MARY RALSTON

found on the edge of private land and few surveys have been done. Most of the coastline is very modified but there are some areas containing dongas that have been protected. Recent moves by the Ashburton District Council to curtail motorbike use from a coastal donga near Ashton Beach protects biodiversity as well as bikers. Invertebrate surveys at Wakanui indicate that these

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coastal sites may harbour good populations of native invertebrates and the Ashton beach lizard survey revealed that these undeveloped sites can hold onto lizards. Undeveloped sites also offer the chance for revegetation to coastal shrubland, silver tussock grassland, coastal turf, and perhaps copses of kowhai-ti kouka-kanuka treeland. Irrigation and fertilizing of adjacent farmland, weeds

and exotic grass growth, off-road vehicle use, stock, and vegetation clearance with herbicides all pose a threat to the biodiversity of the dongas. So, we need to protect what’s left before it’s too late – if you have a donga on your land, please don’t dismiss it as a waste of space! It may be a precious repository of native biodiversity as well as a highly ranked landscape feature.

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FARM ADVISERS AND RURAL FINANCE FEATURE

Feds call for technology to cut emissions

Planning tools available

“The 2020 declaration of a climate emergency should have been accompanied with regulations for farmers to use tools such as Bovaer®,” Hoggard said. “Whilst Bovaer® is still not quite there for being in a formulation that will provide the gains that will be seen in a barn feeding situation, we need the legislation ready so that the only thing we are waiting on is getting the product formulation right. “The rest of the world is embracing technology and we’re busy discussing targets and a tax system to reduce New Zealand’s ag emissions without the tools to back them, likely forcing farmers to cut production and profitability.” Federated Farmers had watched as people looked to handle the climate change crisis by offsetting emissions overseas or through drastic land-use change via carbon farming. The problem could be solved by simply cutting the red tape and giving farmers the opportunity to safely invest in science-backed tools that were ready, Hoggard said. “Consumers want to buy products with low emissions, they don’t care how you get there. Overseas competitors having Bovaer® approved could give them a significant leg-up on products from New Zealand, despite the effort farmers go to create high-quality products at a lower emissions rate,” Hoggard said. “Federated Farmers asks government to put some serious priority around agricultural emissions reduction tools now. We need more ag tech and less ag taxes.”

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ederated Farmers is frustrated to see the European Union has approved the methane-reduction feed tool Bovaer® for use by its farmers. “Despite consulting on the issue two years ago, there is still no sign of our government stepping up and getting on with approving this technology for us to use as well, and therefore help to keep our ‘world leading’ title,” Federated Farmers national president and climate change spokesperson Andrew Hoggard said. Bovaer® is a feed additive for cows researched and developed over 10 years by DSM. Just a quarter teaspoon of Bovaer® per cow per day suppresses the enzyme that triggers methane production in a cow’s rumen and consistently reduces enteric methane emission by approximately 30 percent for dairy cows and even higher percentages (up to 90 per cent) for beef cows. It takes effect immediately and it’s safely broken down in the cow’s normal digestive system into compounds already present in the cow’s stomach. As soon as the additive is not fed anymore, full methane production resumes and there are no lasting effects in the cow. The Bovaer® additive, which goes in animal feed, was approved for use in Brazil and Chile in September last year. It is said to have the potential to cut methane emissions by up to 30 per cent. New Zealand farmers are world leaders in producing food with low agricultural emissions, said Hoggard. “We won’t be saying that for much longer if the government doesn’t start throwing its support behind tools to reduce emissions.

artin Wakefield contingencies such as Limited is here having to hold stock to provide advice, for longer and what support and the bank facilities you financial and strategic will need to carry planning tools to them through. assist with the We want to be able financial aspects of to help you make your business. informed financial Most importantly, decisions and display we understand to your bank that farming so can have a you understand the meaningful discussion financial implications with you about your and requirements business for your seasonal We are seeing all finances. those involved in Martin Wakefield With the help of the dairy industry Xero and Figured right now experiencing very positive we want to make sure you have the cashflow with Fonterra currently tools to prepare a detailed cashflow and predicting $9.60 this season and dairy also compare different scenarios based futures for 2023 season currently (as on different potential circumstances, of 16th March) $10.36. As well all product prices, timing of sale, lease, know costs are also skyrocketing right buy, sell etc. These used to be “back now, wages, fuel, fertiliser so it is really of the envelope” calculations but can important to try and keep up with how now far more effectively be calculated this affects your business. Right now accurately which can be referred back is the opportunity to get ahead, plan to and new scenarios worked through debt repayment, asset purchases or if new opportunities arise. development. If this sounds like something that For those outside of the dairy you think may assist your farming industry, prices are still looking good, business then please do not hesitate albeit with the same headwinds in to contact us and we can show you terms of rising costs plus issues with an example of how it may work plus lack of space at freezing works. It is provide ongoing training and advice to really useful if you can plan ahead for help in your decision making process.

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Federated Farmers is calling for more access to methane-reduction tools. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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Farming

FARM ADVISERS AND RURAL FINANCE FEATURE

ElbowDeep Brought to you by POWER FARMING ASHBURTON

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with Craig Hickman

Goundswell proposes their own solutions E

arlier this month Groundswell, the grassroots farmer-led protest movement, was so disappointed with the proposals put forward by the He Waka Eke Noa Partnership to address agricultural emissions that they proposed their own solutions. Groundswell suggested that a short-term research fund be set up which would develop credible emission reduction alternatives for the agriculture sector to implement. They argued that farmers were on board with addressing environmental issues but were frustrated with unworkable policies and the answer lay in finding new technologies. Nothing annoys me more than people who find problems without proposing solutions, so full credit to Groundswell for coming up with the same answer the then Labour Government did in 2003, an answer that led to nation-wide farmer protests and culminated in an MP driving a tractor up the steps of Parliament bearing

a flag that called the then Prime Minister a “mad cow.” Yes, the infamous “fart tax” was designed to fund research to develop credible emission reduction alternatives for the agricultural sector and now, 19 years later, we kind of think that it might have been a good idea after all. Luckily for us the Government found another way to fund that research, industry body levies rather than a tax, and the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium (PGgRc) was quietly formed in the same year the fart tax was very publicly dropped. I’m sure the PGgRc would be very surprised to learn that their research on low gas emitting feeds, methane inhibitors, soil carbon and much more needs to be duplicated by another body, as would all the other industry body researchers working hard to find technical solutions. Setting up yet another body to research what is already being researched is the very definition of kicking

Craig Hickman: He Waka Eke Noa may not be perfect, but perfection is the enemy of progress.

the can down the road, at some point you’ve got to stop, pick the can up and put the bloody thing in the recycling. The other point Groundswell failed to recognize is that all funds raised through the He Waka Eke Noa proposals are ringfenced; all the money goes to funding research on how to reduce agricultural emissions. Of course, simplistic proposals to complex problems aren’t just the domain of farmers. I recently saw an exchange on social media

exclaiming that we just need to reduce dairy cow numbers to what they were 10 years ago, and all the problems would be solved, simple. I couldn’t help but jump in and point out that dairy cow numbers (including replacements) in 2011 were around 6.2 million, peaking in 2014 at around 6.9 million, and today we are back to nearly 2011 levels with, as far as I can tell, very few problems solved. Several years ago, I reduced my stocking rate from 4.2 cows per hectare to 3.6, a reduction of some 170 animals. I was working with my farm consultant to lift production and, somewhat counter intuitively, this involved reducing my stocking rate along with a few other tweaks. I mentioned to my consultant that this was a win/ win because surely with fewer cows on farm my nitrogen losses would be lower. Boy was I wrong, with 1030 cows eating the same total amount of feed that 1200 cows had previously been eating and producing more

milk solids per hectare in the process, my nitrogen losses actually increased. The same goes for greenhouse gasses, the production of ruminant methane is a function of feed eaten, not cow numbers. If I reduce my cow numbers by ten percent but feed the remaining cows ten percent more, my methane emissions will remain the same. This isn’t just happening at a farm level either, on a national level our cow numbers are decreasing but milk production is remaining largely static, which means emissions are too. He Waka Eke Noa may not be perfect, but perfection is the enemy of progress. For all its flaws, He Waka Eke Noa is a genuine attempt to stop and pick the can up instead of continuing to kick it down the road, and we should probably do that now rather than wait another nineteen years for someone else to pick it up for us.

Meet New Zealand’s coolest cows I

t’s been a hot summer and we’re not the only ones feeling the heat. As temperatures rise globally, heat stress is becoming more common in our national dairy herd too. Fortunately, Kiwi scientists are one step closer to enabling farmers to breed more heattolerant cows after a trial found that dairy cows with the ‘slick’ gene are less affected by heat stress compared to their nonslick counterparts. Back in 2014, herd improvement and agritech coop LIC was the first to discover the slick gene in cattle, which produces a short hair coat and improves heat tolerance. Ironically, this gene to keep cows cool was only discovered after LIC scientists first identified a genetic variation that made cows very hairy. Realising the likelihood that an opposite gene might exist resulted in the eventual discovery of the slick gene. LIC Chief Scientist Richard Spelman says the slick gene could be a hugely valuable tool for improving the overall wellbeing of New Zealand dairy cows. “Heat stress has significant welfare implications for animals. For dairy cows it can

also impact feed intake, milk production, fertility and calf birthweight. The aim of the breeding programme is to provide New Zealand farmers the opportunity to have high genetic merit dairy cows with improved heat tolerance.” As the slick gene was originally found in a Caribbean-based beef breed named Senepol, Spelman says LIC has been working on a breeding programme to incorporate it into elite New Zealand dairy animals. “Over the past seven years we’ve been crossing Senepol beef sires with New Zealand dairy cows to breed slick bulls that could potentially produce a more heat tolerant dairy herd in the future.” LIC Scientist Esther Donkersloot led the trial to see the impact of the slick gene in dairy cows. She monitored 18 dairy cows, nine with the slick gene and nine without, at LIC’s dairy farm on the outskirts of Hamilton. The trial found cows with the slick gene had lower rumen temperatures (0.5-1.0°C) compared to their nonslick counterparts when the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) exceeds 73 (around an ambient temperature of 26ºC

Dairy cows with the ‘slick gene’ at LIC’s dairy farm in Hamilton – if the programme to breed ‘cool cows’ continues to progress as expected, Kiwi farmers will be able to breed heat-tolerant cows by 2029. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

and a humidity of 60%). THI is a commonly used metric used for heat stress and combines both temperature and humidity. “In cattle the rumen generates a lot of heat when processing food and adds to their internal heat load. Although a onedegree temperature decrease doesn’t sound significant, it goes a long way to helping cows feel cooler overall.” Donkersloot says the value of the slick gene to New Zealand dairy farmers is only going to increase. “Temperatures in parts of New Zealand already reach uncomfortable peaks for cows in

the summer and they’re going to increase if we keep up with current global warming.” Modelling by NIWA has shown that by 2040 the Waikato can expect to have around 38 days a year which reach over 25 degrees, compared to the current 24. “Farmers want their cows to be healthy and happy - and being more comfortable in the heat is an important part of that. Introducing the slick gene into New Zealand’s dairy herd could allow for a significant improvement in dairy cow performance in hotter temperatures in the long term,” says Donkersloot.

Spelman says the trial findings are a step in the right direction but increasing the slick animals’ genetic merit and milk production will take time; the trial showed slick heifers (which are 87.5 per cent dairy) produced around 18 per cent less milk than high genetic merit dairy heifers without the slick variation. “Genetics is a long-term game. Before we offer heat tolerant genetics to farmers we want to make sure cows that have the slick coat also have high genetic merit and milk production expected of New Zealand dairy cows. If the breeding programme continues to progress as expected, Kiwi farmers will be able to breed heat-tolerant cows by 2029.” Spelman says the good news is that genomic technology has enabled the co-op to speed up the process as they can simply screen an animal’s DNA at birth to find out whether it possesses the slick gene. “Instead of requiring years of back-crossing and progeny testing, with genomics we can generate animals on the ground, evaluate them quickly and utilise them once they reach maturity.”

www.guardianonline.co.nz

FARM ADVISERS AND RURAL FINANCE FEATURE

Safe Graze: protecting farmer’s investments A

yarn around the kitchen table several years ago seeded the idea Andrew Stark (Starky) and Andrew Gill (Gilly) had for Safe Graze, a unit that hooks onto an electric fence and alerts a farmer of any power failures or breaches in the fence, be it mains or portable. The pair got interested and have come up with, and patented, a prototype unit that goes very well. Most farms have an electric fence, and this unit hooks on to a temporary fence that may be looking after for example, 400 bales of bailage or a 10-hectare paddock of fodder beet that has 200 cows on it. If those cows get out it can cost the farmer a lot of money. So, the unit monitors that one wire and if it loses power or drops below a certain level it will send a text message and give the farmer a warning about the situation. Farmers can have this on any phone and can switch it from their phone to the person who’s looking after the place while they are away on a day off. If a farmer has more than one of these units, they can have more than one number

This unit hooks onto a temporary fence to prevent, for instance, a herd of cows breaching a fodder beet, kale, or any winter feed paddock.

on their phone, for instance, Safe Graze 1 and Safe Graze 2, protecting different areas of the property. Quite simply, Starky and Gilly are targeting dairy farmers with fodder beet because of the cost of feed and protection of animals from acidosis. But thinking down the track farmers could put it up around a waterway, bailage, a silage pit, or any other stock including beef. It’s portable, it’s versatile, easy to run, and is only going to

cost the farmer $800 plus GST. To be fair a good cow could be worth up to $2000 and if a farmer had to re-wrap their baleage because it had a whole lot of holes in it, it would be quite a cost. So, it doesn’t take much to pay for itself. Safe Graze is made in New Zealand, invented by New Zealanders with some of the parts coming from China but it is assembled in Hamilton. It comes down to Canterbury to be tested before going to purchasers. And they will be

It’s moveable, it’s versatile, easy to run, simple, and is only going to cost the farmer $800 plus GST. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

dealing directly with Starky and Gilly. It’s just an idea that they thought would sell well, the pair said. With the dairy industry and beef production the way it is and the cost of growing feed, if a farmer can save their cattle from getting out on crops, wasting feed, and avoid animal health issues, along with loss of production …why not? It’s a simple equation. It’s a monitor that will police a certain part of the farm that

has an extra investment in it. Safe Graze has been made by New Zealanders for New Zealanders and Starky and Gilly want to deal with farmers direct. They plan to deliver good service and a product that’s worth investing in. They will be seeking feedback from their clients to make sure Safe Graze is doing its job. The product also comes with a twoyear warranty. The first order of the monitors has just arrived with more on the way.

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Farming

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Long term approach key to region’s high-end arable properties Calvin Leen

PGG Wrightson Real Estate

ew Zealand’s premiere cropping country is situated in our region: between the Rakaia and the Rangitata rivers to the east of State Highway One. It also extends west of the State Highway in a narrow band along the south bank of the Rakaia to Methven. These arable farms have some of the most fertile soils in the country, and when combined with reliable and cost-efficient irrigation, are highly sought after, although tightly held, often over several generations. While most of the rest of the rural sector has enjoyed excellent productivity this summer, cropping farmers have not, with many ranking it the worst harvest on record. They were hit with a double

whammy: first a lack of sunshine during flowering through mid-November into December, then several days of torrential rain prior to Christmas and again in late January, when many had grass seed on the ground ready to go. Because the cropping sector thinks long-term, even more so than others in farming, by now these farmers have put this poor yield behind them, the header is back in the shed and planning starts again, already looking forward to next season. Arable farmers will be affected by the invasion of Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain exporters. However, although prices for their products are likely to rise, those gains may well be cancelled out by increased costs for fertilizer and chemicals, similarly driven by Russia’s hostile actions causing market unease. In any given year no more than two or three of these premium cropping units ever come to market. One such this year is a well-presented

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Arable farmers will be affected by the invasion of Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain exporters. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

294-hectare Coldstream arable, lamb finishing and dairy support property. Held in the same family for 102 years and spray irrigated with low-cost water, comprising a mix of long-term surface and Mayfield Hinds Valetta scheme water,

the farm has an outstanding production history of vegetable and specialty seeds. Established Mid-Canterbury farming families understand the value of these properties. Those looking to expand their holdings, or progress succession

plans for the next generation, are likely to see this listing as an excellent opportunity. Calvin Leen is Mid-South Canterbury and North Otago Sales Manager for PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited.

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Autumn grass grub and slug warning A

rable farmers are being advised to keep a good eye on grass grub and slug populations as they head into the busy autumn sowing period. In the case of grass grub, FAR researcher Richard Chynoweth said that in a dry year, many eggs are lost to desiccation, but this season’s wetter than average December and January means a lot of the eggs have survived and hatched into larvae. He says they’re going to be tricky to manage and there are a lot of factors to consider. “It’s quite easy to find grass grub larvae now as the good feeding season means they are bigger than they would usually be at this time of year. On the upside, this means they are potentially more susceptible to cultivation damage, but on the downside, they’re hungry. The wet season has led to some good weed strikes so there’s actually quite a lot of food there for grass grub larvae at present, but once those weeds are removed, pre-sowing, they’ll be sitting there waiting for the new crop to come through and can cause enormous damage at that point. Using a shortterm cover crop that provides a food source may provide

Richard Chynoweth: My suggestion to all growers is to get out with a spade and look at the number of larvae they’ve got.

some protection of the main crop planting by advancing larval development so they stop feeding earlier in winter. “Naturally occurring pathogens are another thing to factor in. The wet season will have suited them as well, but it’s really difficult to know what impact they will have on larval populations. My suggestion

to all growers is to get out with a spade and look at the number of larvae they’ve got, especially relative to how many seeds of the crop they’re going to plant and make a call as to whether they need to put some treatment on.” Chynoweth said in the case of slugs the story is slightly different.

Richard Chynoweth.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

“Slugs major reproductive period is just beginning, so the summer rainfall may not have influenced numbers to any great extent, yet. However, it’s important to note that thanks to the wet season, unirrigated farms are sitting in the same conditions as irrigated ones, and may need to be more vigilant than usual. As with grass grub,

monitoring for slugs is going to be absolutely key, especially in the high-risk crops like brassicas and clovers. Slug numbers could be quite a bit higher in crops following clover and plantain; and if the weed pressure on the cereals has kept them ticking away, then there’s the potential for them to explode in almost any paddock.”

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THEFarming NEW BLUE DISPENSER WITH STAINLESS STEEL Woes for arable farmers but DROPPERS hearts go out to Ukraine

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Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

id Canterbury arable farmers are having a woeful harvest, but their hearts go out to the farmers in Ukraine. Ukraine exports 20 per cent of the world’s wheat and 30 per cent of the world’s corn, said Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers President David Clark. It is a significant agricultural producer and the Midwest (US) of Eastern Europe. It has incredibly productive soils and is a country that has gone from strength to strength since it shed the shackles of communism. “The planting of crops was due to start in the next couple of weeks,” Clark said. “Now there will be little appetite for going out on the tractor planting wheat when

would normally buy grain from the Black Sea (Ukraine) region. They have been buying every tonne of wheat they can lay their hands on from Australia to take into Asia.” So, the knock-on effect for the New Zealand market will be quite significant. It’s already happening- I know New Zealand mills that were trying to buy wheat in Australia last week but couldn’t because of the influx of Asian buyers, Clark said. Meanwhile, the harvest back in Mid Canterbury was going from bad to worse “It’s just hopeless -we aren’t getting anywhere with the arable harvest. The damage is done now,” said Clark. “It’s a pretty disappointing period for the arable industry but as they say, that’s farming for you- sometimes things go well and sometimes they don’t. “But it’s never too late- we will get the harvest done but there is a lot of clover and ryegrass that has been abandoned. And there is a lot of straw that has been written off and abandoned.”

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that have happened over the last 30 years will be nationalized by communist Russia.” So, the implications of that long term are major, Clark said. “What we are seeing is the thought of going back into the communist rule is so repulsive

to the Ukrainian people that they have taken up arms and will fight to the death to prevent this happening. “It is an appalling situation and I understand from last week there were buyers from Asia active in Australia who

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We can’t plant our way out of climate change Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

o far, Mid Canterbury has dodged a bullet, according to David Acland, Mid Canterbury Meat and Wool Chair for Federated Farmers. The district has had little land converted to widespread forestry at the expense of good sheep and beef growing country. “Land values in Canterbury are still too high for forestry and carbon farming to come in and buy the district up,” he says.” “It’s not viable. “I don’t see it as a Mid Canterbury issue that swathes of farmland will be taken up by forestry. But if you have read the Environment Canterbury report for Mid Canterbury on new policy regulations on water you would think that with the restrictions the only viable option for dairy farmers would be afforestation.” The government needs to do more to stop productive farmland from being converted to forestry, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ). Forestry is not the answer. Currently, there is little national guidance to help local authorities stop miles of productive sheep, beef, and wool-producing farmland from being converted to forestry. Policy changes are needed to make sure the increase in carbon farming to meet New Zealand’s climate change obligations do not come at the expense of the country’s sheep and beef country, says Lawrence Yule author of a recently released paper, Managing Forestry Land-Use Under the Influence of Carbon. Yule’s paper calls for a more strategic approach to planting trees and outlines areas for an investigation to address the issue. “We can’t simply plant our way out of our climate change obligations,” Yule says. “There is a risk that this will accelerate highly productive foodproducing land going to forestry. “In essence, the land-use changes considered in this paper are being driven by a new market activity based around carbon. This ought not to be a surprise as the purpose of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is to provide a price signal that will drive changes in the wider economy by allowing an active market to operate between emitters and the owners of credits and sequestration regimes. “Having said that, the ramifications for particular communities from an increased level of whole-farm conversions may not have been front of mind to policy-makers.” New Zealand has relied heavily on carbon sequestration (the act of capturing carbon molecules from the air) through plantation forestry to meet its international obligations to reduce climate emissions, rather than reducing gross emissions from all

sectors, Yule says. “However, any attempt to manage or restrict that activity for non-climate change reasons risks a price response in the carbon markets (one of the tools to tackle the climate change problem, i.e., the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere) that would drive wider economic concerns as costs of mitigation rise. The issue is complex and simple solutions do not exist.” B+LNZ had raised serious concerns for some time about the ability of fossil fuel emitters to plant exotic trees on sheep and beef farmland for offsetting rather than reducing their emissions. Offsetting is a way to compensate for emissions by funding an equivalent carbon dioxide saving elsewhere. “B+LNZ is not anti-plantation forestry and we have always seen significant opportunities for the planting of exotic and native trees onfarm, but this should not come at the expense of rural communities,” says B+LNZ CEO, Sam McIvor. “There is a real risk that short-term land-use decisions will be made to the detriment of long-term land-use flexibility, rural communities, and export returns. “Our view is that the Government needs to change the ETS because that is the legislation that’s causing the problem.” Federated Farmers board member William Beetham says a recent agreement by the Government abolishes the streamlined forestry test for overseas investors buying farmland for afforestation. This will help make sure the right forest is planted in the right place for the right reasons, he says. “The changes to the Overseas Investment Act 2005, approved by Cabinet, mean that proposals by overseas investors to acquire land for conversion to production forestry will be considered under the Benefit to New Zealand test, rather than under the streamlined ‘special forestry test’,” Associate Minister of Finance David Parker says. This change will apply only to forestry conversions, such as where overseas investors look to acquire existing farmland for planting into a new forest. There is no change to investments in pre-existing forests. The screening will continue allowing foreign investment in existing production forestry. However, the race to stop the loss of productive farmland and get a fair and even playing field on land use for farming and forestry is far from finished, Beetham said. Feds is glad the government is listening and taking action. But more must be done. Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approved sales for only about 20 per cent of the sheep and beef farmland sold in recent years for conversion into forestry. A far bigger problem is the ETS settings – particularly the steadily climbing price for carbon units (one tonne of carbon dioxide that has been removed from the atmosphere by growing trees) and other government policies that allow emissions-producing industries to blanket good farmland in pines, fuelling the rapid expansion of no-harvest afforestation, Beetham says.

William Beetham: Be sure the right forest is planted in the right place for the right reasons. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

“New Zealand is the only country in the world that allows emitters to offset 100 per cent of their emissions bill. I don’t need to tell any of you about the downsides of such blunt regulations,” he says. “Federated Farmers supports a ‘right tree, right place’ philosophy and agrees there is an important role for production forestry, and for farmers to have the option to choose to integrate more sequestration into their farms by planting out land that they see as being marginal to their farming systems. “But the current government policy framework is skewed firmly in favour of forestry (both carbon only and carbon harvest forestry) to our industries and I strongly believe to the nation’s disadvantage. Not to mention the long-term

environmental consequences,” Beetham says. “In most parts of the country, forestry owners pay far less in council rates despite the costs caused, not least logging truck wear and tear on roads. As forestry expands, a greater burden will fall on other ratepayers. That’s one thing there needs to be a fairer deal on. Another is the restrictions under the Resource Management Act (RMA) that fall on production forestry, where carbon-only forestry gets off scot-free (firebreaks, pest control, etc).” “So, there’s quite a way to go to get that even playing field but government’s agreement to abolish the streamlined forestry test for overseas investors buying farmland for afforestation was a good first step,” Beetham says.

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Animal agriculture ‘essential to global food system’ A

nimal foods can form part of a healthy, sustainable, and ethical lifestyle, despite increasing claims to the contrary, says Lincoln University Professor of Livestock, Pablo Gregorini. His recent article, Animal source foods in healthy, sustainable and ethical diets – An argument against drastic limitation of livestock in the food system, is sparking discussion worldwide, including from members of the US National Academy of Sciences. The paper argues that animal foods are evolutionarily appropriate and healthy for humans and points to evidence that livestock farming is integral to the overall agricultural system, contributing to biodiversity and improved plant food production while creating food security and a path out of poverty for some. However, many in the urban West deem animal foods universally unhealthy, unsustainable and unethical, which Prof Gregorini said ignores the complexity of the food system. “Whether any food production system is harmful or benign is extremely nuanced and depends on differing geographical and cultural factors. But mainstream – and mostly Western – narratives seem to want to simplify the global reality,” he said. According to the paper, animal foods “offer a wide spectrum of nutrients that are needed for cell tissue development, function, health, and survival. “Various public health

institutions worldwide are now advocating moderate to heavy restriction of red meat, processed meats, and saturated fats, but the scientific debate is not settled,” Professor Gregorini said. “The evidence has been challenged by various scientists, both for red meat and saturated fat, the latter of which is not exclusive to animal foods.” High red meat consumption in the West is associated with several forms of chronic disease, but these associations remain weak in other cultures or when red meat is part of a wholesome diet, he said. “The link between red meat and disease is especially obvious in North America and other modern Western countries, where meat is often consumed as fast food and where highmeat consumers also tend to have less healthy diets and lifestyles in general. “In a Canadian study, eating more meat was only associated with higher cancer rates for people eating the lowest amount of fruits and vegetables.” The paper argues that plantbased diets require careful planning and supplements or adequately fortified foods, which can be difficult to achieve for many people. “This is particularly true in locations where such foods are inaccessible or unaffordable, or when allergies create other dietary restrictions that exclude plant staples like grains, peas, or nuts,” Prof Gregorini said. Regarding environmental impacts, the paper points out

Lincoln University Professor of Livestock, Pablo Gregorini.

that although some agricultural methods are detrimental – potentially leading to intensive cropping for feed, overgrazing, deforestation and water pollution – the damaging effects of food production are not only found in animal agriculture. “Well-managed livestock farming can contribute to ecosystem management and health while delivering highquality foods by using resources that otherwise cannot be used in food production,” Prof Gregorini said. “About a quarter of the global agricultural surface is unsuitable for cropping, so shifting away from animal agriculture could compromise the world’s nutrient supply and lead to a sharp increase in other methane-producing animals that are less efficient at converting feed. High-productivity lands

Animal foods are evolutionarily appropriate and healthy for humans. They offer a wide spectrum of nutrients that are needed for cell tissue development, function, health, and survival. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

already under crop production also have relatively low levels of biodiversity, according to the paper. “Properly managed livestock can help maintain greater biodiversity by grazing unploughed, less productive areas while being economically more efficient. “Integrating livestock and crop farming where possible could also benefit plant food production through enhanced nutrient recycling, while minimising fertilisers and pesticides.” As far as animal welfare is concerned, the paper suggests that livestock farming can be valued as a symbiotic relationship between humans and animals, to the benefit of both. “In comparison to their counterparts living a much more ferocious life in the wild, livestock animals receive shelter, are better fed during winter,

receive veterinary care, are protected from predators, and do not die after a long agony. “Arguments for the decimation or even abolishment of livestock and the large-scale rewilding of marginal lands could only find root in a post-industrial Western context,” Prof Gregorini said. “Its proponents neglect all services that livestock provide worldwide and their role in social sustainability. “It would certainly be fair to address the concerning practices in animal production that give rise to concern because of a net negative impact on humans, animals, and the environment. “However, when done well and in alignment with local ecosystems and social contexts, animal husbandry should be part of the solution to improve public health and environmental resilience.”

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Where have all the sheep gone?

Another step in nitrogen battle N

Sheep numbers have dropped from a peak of 70 million in 1982 to below 27 million today. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

s kids growing up on a farm in the 1960’s we were taught that New Zealand had 60 million sheep – that was 20 sheep for every Kiwi. We all learned this at primary school. It was a statistic we were proud of, hillsides dotted with white sheep were iconic to New Zealand, and even back then, tourists came from far and wide to experience this phenomenon. Today our sheep numbers are on the downward slide. Or rather, avalanching. Having peaked at 70 million in 1982, last year they slipped below 27 million for the first time in 75 years. In 2000 there were 12,705 sheep farms nationwide, but 20 years later, the number had halved with only 6549 remaining. Here are some more figures to ponder. The decline is mirrored by the foremost players in the game, Australia and China. Australia’s sheep numbers dropped from 170 million in 1990 to 70 million in 2021. The world’s largest sheep flock, in China, peaked at 152 million in 2005. Today it’s 105 million. Argentina is down from 26 million to 10 million and Uruguay from 24 million to 8 million. In the 1940s the United States had about 50 million sheep; today it has less than 6 million and declining. So, what is the reason behind this? In New Zealand an obvious reason is the rise and rise of dairy conversions – we all know about that. Then there’s the consolidation of farms because sheep farmers are struggling for an economy of scale. There is diversification into other things like beef and grain, subdivisions, and urban sprawl. And with Tenure Review, a lot of sheep farming land has been converted to conservation estate. On the global scene, there’s been environmental degradation of the marginal country sheep are run on, and the carrying capacity has dropped. This is happening, especially in China and Patagonia.

And sheep aren’t easy to farm; they are susceptible to disease and stuff like flystrike. But the number one, most fundamental reason for the decline in sheep numbers worldwide is that the international wool industry has been in decline for 40 years. Wool has been superseded by cheaper, synthetic fibres. Get this. Wool accounts for just 1.3 percent of global fiber production and synthetics 61.4 percent. That’s not counting cotton, silk etcetera. Beef and lamb are still New Zealand’s second-highest export – but sadly today wool shares a lowly rank of 14th along with precious metals. Since 1990 the value of New Zealand’s exports of raw wool and wool products has declined from $1.3 billion a year to $700 million and on many sheep farms meat has replaced wool as the primary profit maker. These days coarse wool on meat-producing sheep is hardly more than a nuisance. New Zealand is the world’s thirdhighest wool producer behind Australia and China. More than 90 per cent of wool is exported in raw form rather than finished products and is vulnerable to swings in the commodity market. Ditto our lamb; it struggles to command a premium. But it’s not all bad news. The productivity of the sheep farmers that are left keeps on increasing – they are producing the same amount now as when there were twice as many sheep. The industry is doing a whole lot better on a whole lot less. Lamb exports have increased almost three-fold to a record $5.5b. Lambing percentages have increased from 98 per cent in 1987 to 130 per cent in 2021. Carcass weights have increased from 14 kilogrammes to 17kg respectively. Fine merino wool is commanding a high price. So, what is the future for sheep farming? If the global sheep industry is ever to boom again, it will be because new and profitable uses have been found for cross-bred wool, or new markets for lamb where consumers are prepared to pay a premium. I see a future for wool coming as the worldwide hankering for natural fibres grows. The bottom line is that while sheep numbers aren’t what they used to be, sheep farmers are still doing okay.

utrient losses due to leaching commonly occurs when soils are wet and draining, often after summer crops have been harvested heading into winter. Cover or catch crops are often used as a mitigation tool for nitrate leaching, however the challenge is to plant a crop which actively grows during the wetter and colder months. Cates recently introduced WinterMax T-100 Triticale to the market. WinterMax T-100 was developed by the team at Plant Research (NZ) and Grasslanz Technology to fit a need in the dairy sector for a catch crop that can be sown in autumn/winter and can rapidly accumulate dry matter over the winter period. Forage trials sown in April evaluating dry matter production, comparing oat and triticale, showed that WinterMax T-100 produced 1350 kg DM/ha, whereas the oat varieties only produced 528 kg DM/ ha 80 days after planting. WinterMax T-100’s deep root system gives this variety excellent nutrient scavenging ability and it offers superior early vigour when compared to similar catch crops such as oats and wheat. WinterMax T-100

Agronomist, Darcy Moore inspecting WinterMax T100 drilled into a lucerne stand at the Ashburton Airport (photo taken in October 2021).

also offers a highly nutritious early spring forage supplement by retaining green leaf throughout winter. Results of field trails show positive results in terms of nitrogen uptake. In trials comparing WinterMax T-100 with Doubletake Triticale, Milton Oat, and Torch Wheat it was found that WinterMax T-100 was the only variety where Kg/Ha nitrogen removed at the final harvest exceeded the total Nitrogen applied (Mineral N + applied N) To find out more about this effective option for reducing nitrogen contact your local Cates agronomist or call 0800 900 308.

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FERTILISER FEATURE

National Training Council for rural contracting hits ground running T

he first meeting of the newly-formed National Training Council (NTC) for rural contracting saw a welter of contributions on how to improve training in the industry. Rural Contractors NZ CEO Andrew Olsen, who initiated the meeting, said the Council got off to a flying start. “We’ve confirmed our membership and objectives, set our priorities, and made a start to defining all the issues we need to work through to get a new, higher-level training regime in place for rural contracting.” Olsen, who was confirmed as the NTC chair at the meeting, said they had a good roundtable on all the factors necessary to get more and better-trained people into the critically labourshort sector. “A lot of our businesses are quite small and could not easily afford to carry trainees through the off-season. Offsetting that is the fact that employers large and small need to find a way to make more provision for on job training.”

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Employers large and small need to find a way to make more provision for on job training. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Olsen said while some contractors have been able to recruit more Kiwis, it’s accepted that continuing to attract people to the industry would be improved by having good qualifications available. “We looked at the Hanzon program which this season enrolled nearly around 100 Kiwis in its app-based record of learning and most were under 24 years of age. We discussed if

contractors could connect that pool of resources into more formal training to recognise the work completed.” There was acceptance by the National Training Council that classroom-based learning was necessary but needed to be more than balanced by that on the job. More centres of excellence equipped to deal with agricultural training would help

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deliver the necessary classroom components around health and safety, pastoral care, fatigue management, and gaining skills and licences in heavy traffic and other machinery. Olsen said bringing together a comprehensive regime and qualification would take some time. “We need Government to recognise that you can’t whistle up a new qualification

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and deliver it in a few months and meantime our contractors and our country will require skilled overseas workers for the foreseeable future.” The National Training Council defined its priorities to include better engagement with schools to secure a career training outcome, the design of a new training qualification such as an apprenticeship, and a review of current unit standards to determine a baseline for on-the-job and inclassroom weightings. “There’s also a wish to explore wider employment options for trainees to continue their learning and reduce the burden on employers in the offseason and to design a call to action to get more contractors involved in training.” Olsen said the National Training Council would also look to MPI and other Government agencies for support, including to research a labour exchange program with overseas rural contractors and a mentoring program. The Council would meet again in July.

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FERTILISER FEATURE

Essential micronutrients - vital for soil M

icronutrients consist of a fine blend of mineral elements comprising zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo). Mineral elements nurture horticultural crops and also crops of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, spices, and plantations. They constitute in total less than one per cent of the dry weight of most plants. The most important micronutrients are as follows: • Boron is an essential micronutrient that aids in the formation of new plant tissue and improves the storage quality of brassica bulb crops. Boron enhances the structural integrity of plant cells. For this reason, boron is required for the healthy formation of new plant tissue, effective clover nodulation, nitrogen fixation, flowering, and pollination. Crops such as brassicas or fodder beet need to take boron up early in their development cycle to prevent diseases like ‘brown heart.’ • Selenium is an essential nutrient for animal health; however, many areas of New Zealand have a deficiency. In many cases, improving selenium levels can improve stock fertility and optimize milk production. Selenium deficiency is widespread in New Zealand and most farmers could benefit from applying selenium on their farms. Herbage tests are the single best way to understand selenium (and another micronutrient) levels in a specific farm’s pasture. • Copper is an important micronutrient for both animal and plant health and supports reproductive performance in stock. In grazing animals, copper is required for bone growth, immune function, and the operation of the nervous system. In plants, copper is needed for photosynthesis, transpiration, and nitrogen fixation. Copper deficient soils occur in several regions of NZ; the main areas have soils on coastal sands, leached sandy soils, marine silts, some river silts, peat soils,

podzols, pumice soils, and limestone soils with high pH. In addition, copper deficiency can be induced on other soils with a high pH from the over-application of lime. • Molybdenum (moly) is an essential nutrient for plant growth, especially for legumes such as clover and lucerne. The addition of moly to deficient pasture results in increased clover content and pasture growth, due to improved efficiency in nitrogen fixation and greater nitrogen cycling. The benefits of clover in a pasture are well known. Clover is more nutritious than grasses, has lower levels of structural carbohydrate, higher amounts of digestible protein, and is processed quickly by the rumen. We’ve been seeing the benefits that moly application has on pasture production in deficient areas in New Zealand since the 1950s. Moly trials undertaken at a Central Plateau site (where both moly and nitrogen herbage levels were low) showed clover production increased by 29 per cent over three years and overall dry matter production increased nine per cent over the same period. • Cobalt increases animal appetites ensuring that stock achieves growth and production targets. Cobalt promotes the metabolism of food inside the rumen of grazing animals.

Crops such as fodder beet need to take boron up early in their development cycle in order to prevent diseases like ‘brown heart.’

Cobalt in pasture is converted into vitamin B12 by micro-organisms inside the rumen of grazing stock. Vitamin B12 assists the rumen, and micro-organisms inside the rumen, to break down certain foods into absorbable components. This promotes a healthy appetite as the energy yield from food sources is metabolised quickly and the animal is ready quicker to eat again. B12 is also crucial for the production of red blood cells and maintains the integrity of the nervous system. Without cobalt, animals can lose their appetites and miss growth milestones. Sheep require the most cobalt and young stock are always more susceptible to experiencing a cobalt

deficiency than mature stock. Deficiencies in sheep are noticeable by watery-eye and anaemia. In cows, dull harsh coats, watery-eye and reduced milk production can be evident. Herbage testing is the only way to accurately assess levels of micronutrients important for production. “If productivity is less than expected, a macro- or micronutrient deficiency, or both, could be the issue,” said Ballance Agri-Nutrients Nutrient Dynamic Specialist Jim Risk. “Testing micronutrient levels is important. Even though they’re only required in small amounts, a deficiency can have a major impact. For example, a deficiency of the micronutrient molybdenum can limit pasture production even if macronutrients – such as phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur – are adequately supplied,” Risk said. Commonly used herbage tests for pastoral farming are clover-only or mixed pasture, and the choice depends on what is tested. Risk said a clover-only test is most appropriate if you’re testing for a suspected nutrient deficiency. Clover shows signs of nutrient deficiency sooner than grasses. A cloveronly test reveals macronutrient levels, as well as key micronutrients. “If you want to determine the nutritive value of the plant to animals, a mixed pasture test shows what stock is eating and can be analysed to measure feed value or nitrate-nitrogen levels, said Risk.

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FARM MACHINERY FEATURE

Rural connectivity upgrade welcomed Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

he announcement of a big push to upgrade capacity on congested rural broadband networks gets a big thumbs up from Bill Wright of Cannington. “Ours is better these days because we have satellite wireless coverage but it’s not perfect, we still get outages. But we were on copper wire and that was a disaster because you couldn’t get it half the time, it was so slow to download,” said Wright. “So, satellite wireless is an improvement but it’s not perfect. “One of the big problems in our district is as a member of Fire and Emergency NZ we have poor connectivity, so I don’t get messages for callouts. “We have coverage for emails through the wireless satellite connection, but we are still struggling to get connectivity

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Federated Farmers NZ President Andrew Hoggard applauds the Government’s move to upgrade rural broadband. PHOTO: FEDERATED FARMERS NZ

for these call-outs.” The Government was committing $47 million from the COVID Response and Relief fund to improve broadband for rural homes and businesses that are facing congestion as demand for fast internet has significantly increased in recent years due to the pandemic.

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“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us reliable internet is critical to being able to work, learn and socialise from our homes. Having been through lockdowns, it’s clear some rural networks had real trouble adapting to the extra usage.” Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs David Clark said.

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“Government’s actions to protect lives and livelihoods throughout this pandemic has proven to be the best economic decision. However, Friday’s announcement will further help us secure our economic recovery,” Clarke said. We need ultimately cell coverage like the rest of the country and ultra-fast

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broadband, Wright said. The broadband we have got is not that fast. Wright said there was a new cell phone tower eight kilometres away, but he couldn’t access that either. “It’s in a gulley on State Highway 8 and even the locals say it doesn’t cover very much area. “We have got fibre that goes past our gate 50 metres away to the school, but we can’t use it. There are still issues when the power is out because of no cell coverage.” “Every year Federated Farmers surveys members on broadband and cellphone coverage in rural areas, to gather data on the worst blackspots and inform our advocacy to government,” Federated Farmers NZ President and telecommunications spokesperson Andrew Hoggard said. “So news that upgrades to existing cell towers and construction of new towers should see 47,000 rural households and businesses experience faster internet speeds and better reception by the end of 2024 will come as a relief.”

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FARM MACHINERY FEATURE

Massey Ferguson’s 2021 Tractor of the Year due in Ashburton soon T

he 2021 tractor of the year, the MF8 205-265 HP will be available in a couple of months from JJ Limited, Ashburton. As well as a choice of the Dyna-E Power or Dyna-7 transmission, exclusive models come equipped to a high specification, including a multipad control lever, five electric spool valves with fingertip switches, and a joystick. With its 24 cm. gap separating the cab from the engine, the “Protect-U” concept insulates the cab from noise, heat, and vibrations. Noise levels of just 68dB make it one of the quietest in the market and, with an interior volume of 3.4m³, it is also one of the most spacious. Replacing the dashboard with the new digital “MF vDisplay” terminal fitted to the right pillar leaves just the steering wheel and power control lever in front of the driver, providing exceptional forward visibility over the bonnet. Inside the cab, there is real leather on the seat (optional), a

leatherette finish on the steering wheel, and trim (optional). The seat is auto-air suspended, heated, ventilated, and equipped with lateral damping. There is, of course, an efficient automatic air-con, which is supplied through 14 outlets. The new control centre armrest fitted with a multipad lever provides fingertip control. The updated Datatronic 5 is mounted on an adjustable arm. This 18 cm touch-screen terminal is as easy to use as any mobile phone or tablet. Latest Stage V AGCO Power 6-cylinder / 7.4-litre engines deliver more power, torque, and performance at low rpm reducing operating costs. These robust engines develop 205hp to 265hp, with Engine Power Management (EPM) providing an extra 20hp for transport, PTO, and hydraulic applications. Maximum power is generated already at 1,000 rpm and it is constant up to 1,500 rpm. The Dyna E-Power, dualclutch gearbox combines the advantages of a variable

The launch of the MF 8S Series heralds a completely new era for Massey Ferguson.

transmission with the ability to transmit power as efficiently as a mechanical transmission. Dyna E also offers four ranges with seven gears, with semi-overlaps designed for maximizing in-thefield and on-road performance. Top speeds are achieved at very low engine rpm: 50km/hr (where permitted) is reached at

1,500rpm, while 40km/hr just needs 1,200rpm. Alternatively, users can choose the new Dyna-7, semipowershift gearbox. This provides not only one extra powershift gear and smoother shifting, but it is also 10 per cent more efficient than the Dyna-6 for the same engine horsepower.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Massey Ferguson MF 8S Series tractors are built on a 3.05m wheelbase. Power is transferred to the ground through a new strong rear axle, with a choice of flanged, short, or long bar axles. New wheel specifications now include the ability to fit up to 2.05m diameter rear tires.

RANGE OF PRODUCTS AVAILABLE Machinery for sale

Knverland Plough Bb100 and vari width.

PR $12 ICE ,00 0

Roller drill. 3 meter. Tidy

PR $30 ICE ,00 0

2.5 meter cradle hay feeders. 8 only available at present.

$1,2 CE 0 eac 0 h

Phone: 0274 326 847 mcmullanent@xtra�co�nz - www�mcmullanenterprises�com

Hooper 3m maxitill��$1,800 Clough 3m maxitill ��$3,000 IH front coil tines��$70 Prattley 3pth Race ��$500 Bale Feeders Cradle Type ��From $650 Napier 4 Furrow Disc Plough��$1,800 Rata grain feeder ��$800 Leveller 3 meters wide ��$1,000 Class mower 8 discs�� Coming in Class Jaguar 75 silage chopper ��$2,000

All prices exclude GST

CULTIVATION & PLOUGH WEARING METAL

PFASH_AG-P&SMAR22

Your local Kramp stockist, Power Farming Ashburton has a large range of cultivation & plough wearing metal available in store. Come and talk to the parts team for your requirements. John MacPherson Parts Manager

027 359 7195

Contact Power Farming Ashburton for more information.

Erin Jaggard Parts Interpreter

03 307 7153

Ashburton 233 Alford Forest Road 03 307 7153

Power Farming Ashburton

Tired of your cows getting their feet tangled in your

rubberware?

Our premade Tripletube

is the solution for you! Custom made to suit your shedDiﬀerent lengths Clockwise or anti clockwise depending on the rotation of your shed Phone us today to get a quote THE PREFERRED MILKING SYSTEMS PARTNER FOR DAIRY FARMERS

0800 577 583 www. morrisonagri.co.nz 742 East Street, Ashburton

www.guardianonline.co.nz

CLASSIFIEDS

PUBLIC NOTICE

J’s Conveying & Contracting Sheep Drenching, Injecting, Jetting & more

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE BOOK IN FOR YOUR SERVICE WITH

ALREADY FEELING THE COLD THIS WINTER? Our own canvas horse covers and synthetic Weather Beeta covers!

BULK

TAKE HOME PIE PACKS

MALCOLM LOVETT AUTOMOTIVE LTD 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Can pick up / deliver your vehicle.

Stack the freezer during the busy seasons

SAupVE 6 Pack to 6.60 $ 19.20

12 Pack SAupVtoE $ 37.20 $14.40

18 Pack SAupVE $54.00 $23.4to0

IN STOCK NOW

www.harness.co.nz

Phone 03 308 9109 Corner Cass and Havelock St (use Cass St entrance)

Honda Service Store Ashburton

17 great flavours to choose from

MORRISONS SADDLERY & FEED 32 Racecourse Rd, Ashburton Tel: 03-308-3422 or 0800 Harness (427 637)

Locally owned and operated Jimmy McAndrew 027 335 3199

Truckers Pie and Venison Pie is an extra charge.

123 Main South Road, Ashburton | Phone 03 308 5774

PUBLIC NOTICE

LAND WANTED

DAM

LAN D WANTED TO LEASE

DOORS AND MORE

An established dairy farming business, wish to lease addi�onal land within the Mid/ South Canterbury area. The land must be capable of running dairy calves and R1 heifers. This family opera�on has the capacity and the skill level required to lease land, oﬀering compe��ve rental and stable tenants. Ideally, longer term leasing would be preferred with a minimum area of 100 hectares dryland or 50 hectares irrigated.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER SERVICING & SALES

All enquiries will be treated with the strictest conﬁdentiality.

The harvesting season is upon us. Get your extinguishers serviced now

In the ﬁrst instance, please contact: Ross Polson 0274508372. LFIC

Phone MACK 0273 960 361 Mobile service – Ashburton owned & operated

We’ve got the South Island covered.

Farming GUARDIAN

Dairy Focus

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2020

WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER16,2020

SIAFD SOUTH ISLAND AGRICULTURAL FIELD DAYS

MARCH 24-26, 2021 • KIRWEE

Page 10-26

South Island Agricultural Field Days aims to give farmers and others in the rural sector the opportunity to see the latest in agricultural machinery and services that are available on the market, particularly home-grown products. The field days is the only agricultural show in New Zealand to feature side-byside demonstrations, with 80 to 100 tractors, headers, mowers, seed drills and other machines being put through their paces each day.

TOP IRRIGATION

OPERATORS Page 18

INSIDE

Farming

Dairy Focus

WEDNESDAY,NOVEMBER25,2020

GUARDIAN

CUTTING DAIRY’S

FOOTPRINT

BEATING M. BOVIS

Farming GUARDIAN

Dairy Focus We’ve got the South Island covered

Page 3-5

Farming

Dairy Focus

GUARDIAN

WEDNESDAY,NOVEMBER25,2020

Dairy Focus

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021

Page 18-19

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

INSIDE

SHEEP MILKING

SOCIALLY MOBILE FARMER Page 3-6

A BALANCING ACT

CUTTING DAIRY’S

STEPS UP

A GEAR Pages 3–7

Pages 28–29

ON THE BASIS

OF SEX

Page 20

FOOTPRINT Page 18-19

For advertising opportunities contact Karen! PH 021 309 973 EMAIL karen.h@theguardian.co.nz

Efﬂuent separator

Whether you are targeting direct to your buyers, or placing a classified, talk to us about strategically marketing your company within theGuardian Farming and Dairy Focus today

Farming GUARDIAN

Dairy Focus

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