Guardian Farming - June 2013

Gf

June 2013 An Ashburton Guardian Supplement

GUARDIAN FARMING

Kiwi lifestyle a winner p 2-3

Photo LINDA CLARKE 280513-lC-009

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2

No regrets over big S

cotland’s a long way from Mt Somers, but the Mid Canterbury foothills provided a new start for crop farmer Mike Salvesen and his wife Nicky.

It’s 10 years since Mike Salvesen uprooted his wife and four young sons and moved half-way around the world to Mt Somers.

Photos linda clarke 280513-LC-008

Mike Salvesen

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

Please direct any correspondence to: Linda Clarke, on 307-7971 email: linda.c@theguardian.co.nz or write to PO Box 77, Ashburton.

Advertising: Phone 307-7974 Email: desme.d@theguardian.co.nz Publication date: May 8, 2013 Next issue: July 2, 2013

GUARDIAN FARMING

An advertising feature for the Ashburton Guardian. Any opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Guardian Farming or the Ashburton Guardian.

The intensive cropping farmer from the Scottish Borders has never regretted the shift and now runs 1460ha Wakare station, farming deer and beef and raising dairy calves.

The kitchen table has uninterrupted views to snowcapped Old Man Range and the deer roam on green hills with the Mid Canterbury plains spread out beautifully below. A chocolate Labrador spends cold days inside by the logburner while Mike works on the farm and Nicky is on the road several days a week for her job as a SPELD tutor in schools. Their grown children are making their own way in the world.

While the couple return every year

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to visit family, Mike says he is slowly losing touch with farming UK-style.

Their new Kiwi lifestyle is working well for them though.

Like other emigrant farmers, succession issues on the big family farm were the catalyst for change.

Mike was the eldest of five and the family farmed 1700ha in the Scottish Border area. They cropped intensively, growing potatoes, carrots, parsnips, daffodils and grains; they also ran around 800 cattle.

He says the growing windows are smaller in the colder UK climate and farmers needed a lot of machinery to tackle cultivation, drilling and ultimately harvest within a short timeframe. New Zealand is more forgiving, by comparison. Carrots sown were wintered under straw and the whole lot lifted in a massive operation involving harvests of 300 tonne a day.

New Zealand was no random choice to start afresh. Mike and Nicky had honeymooned in the South Island in 1984 and Mike had

been impressed with the country.

Nearly two decades on, in the midst of family issues, Mike announced they were moving halfway round the world.

He has never regretted the decision.

On the last day of a two-week farm-hunting tour in 2002, the Salvesens bought a 350ha sheep and cattle finishing farm on Tramway Road at Mt Somers. They had decided they wanted to be within 90 minutes of Christchurch and schools for their four sons, the youngest 11 at the time.

They sold the flatland block and moved to Upper Downs Road five years ago. Today he and a full-time farm worker breed deer and finish some 900 hinds and rising twoyear-olds, and breed and fatten Angus cattle for Five Star Beef.

The stags have well-fenced runs on the beautiful foothills farm that sits behind the Surrey Hills. There are views across Mid Canterbury to the sea, and north to the Port Hills.

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3

Linda Clarke, Ashburton Guardian rural reporter

move The farm is preparing for winter, making sure there is enough feed and laying shingle on tracks so they won’t turn to mud and mush. Snow is a given during winter but they are geared for it.

Another challenge is dealing with the surface water and small streams that pop up whenever it rains heavily. Mike has planted wetlands and riparian strips to trap sediment and stop it getting into waterways further down the plains.

The property gets around 1000ml of rain annually, so there is no need for irrigation.

The young deer are born in November-December, weaned in March-April and start heading to the meat works in September.

Growth rate is important and pasture managed carefully.

The venison is sold mostly overseas in Central and Eastern Europe.

Mike also runs around 450 Angus cows and 120 heifers, and fattens 300 a year for Five Star Beef and the

Japanese marbled meat appetite.

He has begun a new venture raising dairy heifers, saying it makes good financial sense to get involved in dairy support, especially when irrigated flat land nets better returns from high-value seed crops.

He says New Zealand will always have a niche market overseas for its specialty crops. Let the big farmers in Australia and Canada grow bulk cereals.

Wakere once ran sheep, but Mike has phased them out saying the returns for his strong wool are still not worth spending money to replace a 100-year-old woolshed.

Money is spent instead on fencing to contain stock and to better manage the big and hilly countryside. He grows kale and fodderbeet and has planted new pasture, making the most of science and his intensive cropping background to plant grass that regenerates quicker.

The dairy calves have provided a new interest. “At the end of the

day they belong to someone else.” This, in itself brings different responsibilities. The youngsters are weighed monthly, along with most other stock on the property.

Record keeping comes naturally, a legacy from environmental compliance in the UK and the need for traceability in the food chain here.

He believes all farmers are greenies at heart, and that water makes Mid Canterbury tick. Science and technology are challenges for the future, along with his interests in Federated Farmers. Mike is the Mid Canterbury chairman of the Meat and Fibre section.

Mike hopes that one of his sons will take over the farm, with the youngest Hamish the most likely prospect. At this stage.

Oldest son Andrew is in the farm insurance industry and currently in Edinburgh on an OE with his Kiwi girlfriend, Peter works in a hotel in Tekapo, Robert is in banking in Auckland and Hamish is studying genetics at Otago University.

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4

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising Feature

Does something not smell right?

Your septic may need a service T

hanks to the simple push of a button, home liquid waste remains out of sight and out of mind. What happens to our ones and twos after the flush doesn’t often come into our mind until something goes wrong, and by that stage the clean-up is often messy and expensive.

Thanks to the locally owned and operated team at Allen’s Liquid Waste Disposal, a regular septic maintenance programme can keep your flushing harmonious, and your waste underground.

Regular pumping and maintenance of a septic tank is important to ensure that an effective system remains at its best operating potential. As a septic system is used and abused, solids accumulate in the tank while water passes through and exits into the soil. As sludge layers build-up in the tank over time, the solids have less settling capacity and liquids have issues passing through and out of the system, causing the tank to fill and overflow. This inevitable process may likely clog the distribution lines to the absorption area.

Even with a healthy microbial ecosystem breaking down the layer of sludge, a wellfunctioning septic system and good drain field, the sludge and scum layers in your tank will build up over time.

Avoiding the issue will only make matters worse, and can create serious health hazards to you and your family, as well as expensive and often irreversible damage which may result in the entire septic system needing to be replaced.

By maintaining your septic levels through a regular pumping schedule offered by Allen’s, the sludge and scum can be pumped out periodically, saving embarrassing overflowing issues, and protecting your septic investment for many years to come.

Are you buying or selling a home with a septic system? It is highly recommended that you do some investigating to find out details about the system before you sign on the dotted line. Because of the high costs associated with installing a new system and the complexity of the process

in general, prospective homeowners have much to risk when they neglect to evaluate a system before the purchase.

Allen’s can drain an existing septic system and perform an inspection check on the health of your tank. Not only will you have peace of mind that the tank is structurally sound, Allen’s can also determine the size of the tank, the type of system it is, and based on home occupancy and other factors such as whether there is a waste disposal unit installed in the kitchen, can determine a maintenance schedule to best suit your individual living. For example, a single person with a large tank would not need their tank emptied as often as a large family with a smaller tank.

coming from your tank area or through drain holes close to your home, or if a drain doesn’t appear to be draining at its normal rate, give Allen’s Liquid Waste Disposal a call. One of their waste removal technicians will quickly evaluate the problem and take the necessary steps to ensure your water waste is flowing efficiently again.

Allen’s Liquid Waste Disposal are a compliant liquid waste carrier under

liquid and hazardous waste legislation requirements and carry the necessary qualifications for working safely within their fields of expertise.

As the only locally owned and operated liquid waste removal specialists in Mid Canterbury, save time and money with their fast and reliable service, with the confidence that when you pick up the phone, you will be speaking with a local who can tend to your need quickly.

Allen’s operate a fleet of two vacuum tanker trucks as well as a hydro excavation truck to allow their expert waste removal specialists to undertake collections in a range of situations from household domestic in town, to rural farm, to large commercial tanks and dairy farm effluent ponds.

Allen’s has recently purchased some of the most advanced jetting equipment within the industry, giving their business a wide range of line-opening capabilities.

This equipment is highly effective against any build-ups or blockages you may be experiencing in the lines at your home or business. In addition, jetting is great preventative maintenance for in-ground systems, ensuring lines are clear of debris, allowing liquid to pass through more effectively and reducing the chance of future blockages and build-up occurring.

Flexibility in scheduling appointments is an important factor within the liquid waste business, as many calls are a matter of urgency. Allen’s strive to accommodate their clients’ needs within a 24 hour response period for emergency situations.

They also pride themselves on providing a friendly and professional service, as customer service is a top priority for their team.

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5

Contributed by Mary Ralston, Forest and Bird

Wildings have to go...

T

rees are wonderful things in the right places. But wilding pines are trees in the wrong place: they are a serious weed over much of the pastoral and conservation land of the South Island.

Controlling them takes considerable time, effort and money.

A lot of the wide open tussock spaces of the Ashburton Lakes area was once forested by beech and totara so we know that trees will readily grow there. Shelter belts of pine trees were planted by early settlers and runholders to protect stock from harsh weather conditions and many of these trees have done well – these pines originate in places much colder than our high country.

But the pines are early and prolific reproducers and their seeds can travel for literally kilometres in the wind. There are eighteen species of wilding conifer which

threaten conservation land in the South Island; the worst five are contorta pine, Corsican pine, Douglas fir, radiata pine and larch. They germinate easily in grassland and within eight years, that seedling can be producing seed of its own. Herein lies the problem: if not removed early, the problem snowballs and costs of removal can rise exponentially. It has been estimated that the control costs can go from $2/ha to $1,500/ha in less than 20 years. And it is not just money – it is much less effort to pull out a young seedling than it is to deal with a tree higher than your head.

There are lots of reasons to control wilding spread. Few people would want to see the tussock grasslands of the Ashburton Lakes basin covered with pines – farmers and runholders would lose valuable grazing; there would be a loss of native flora and fauna as pines shaded the

ground; less water in the streams for stock and fish, and a loss of a landscape that so many people are attracted to living in and visiting.

For many years Forest and Bird members have controlled young wilding pines in the tussock grasslands around Lake Heron.

They can be relatively easily managed here because the wildings are not particularly dense and are being controlled while still young, but the problem will remain for as long as the source of the seed – a shelter belt upwind – is there.

It’s not just pines that can spread and become weeds. Silver birch seedlings are a problem around Lake Heron, and rowan trees have spread from trees near Lake Camp. Rowans produce berries that are very tasty to birds and they can distribute these far and wide.

Pulling out young pines is easy. It would be helpful if anyone out walking in the Ashburton Lakes area could pull out the young pines (or silver birch or rowan) they may see along the way. When removing pines, ALL green needles must be removed – so please don’t just hack some off and Near Lake Clearwater the wildings are leave needles at the base of the stump. If more of an issue. Wildings have spread there is even one needle left on, the tree into the conservation land and private property on the downwind side of a shelter will continue to grow. Runholders and belt, and near Spider Lakes wildings are still hut owners are also encouraged to plant alternatives rather than pines, birch and germinating over a wide area many years rowans, and consider removing these after the trees that were the source of the species if they have them on their property. seeds were removed.

Photos supplied

Seeds from pine trees easily germinate downwind from shelter belts.

Volunteers removing wilding pines in grassland near Lake Clearwater.

Reece, Abbey and Logan McCorkindale helping to remove wilding pines.

Removing large wildings is much more of a problem than small ones!

Margeaux and Felix Finlayson Hood helping out near Lake Heron.

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6

Sales volumes remain solid D

ata released by the Real Estate Institute of NZ (REINZ) shows there were 67 more farm sales for the three months to the end of April than for the three months ended March 30. Overall, there were 443 farm sales in the latest threemonth period, the same number of sales as April 2012; 1454 farms were sold in the year to April 2013, 5.1 per cent more than were sold in the year to April 2012.

The median price per hectare for all farms sold in the latest three-month period was $20,241; an 8.7 per cent increase on the $18,617 recorded for three months ended April 2012. The median price per hectare fell by 9.3 per cent compared to March.

The REINZ All Farm Price Index increased by 1.4 per cent in the three months to April compared to the three months to March, from 2907.18 to 2946.57. Compared to April 2012 the REINZ All Farm Price Index fell by 5.2 per cent. The REINZ All Farm Price Index adjusts for differences in farm size, location and farming type compared to the median price per hectare, which does not adjust for these factors.

Six regions recorded increases in sales volume for the period.

Auckland recorded the largest increase in sales (+23 sales), followed by Waikato (+11 sales) and Northland (+10 sales). Eight regions recorded decreases in sales volume with Southland recording the largest fall (-18 sales), followed by Canterbury (-17 sales) and Nelson (-9 sales). Compared to the three months ended March 2013 11 regions recorded an increase in sales, led

by Manawatu/Wanganui (+13 sales).

“In spite of the earlier dry conditions that resulted in some vendors being reluctant to commit to the marketplace, sales volumes have remained steady, prices have remained fully firm and the demand for rural property has been consistently strong across the country,” says REINZ rural market spokesman Brian Peacocke.

“Highlights this month include, strong interest in dry stock and dairy properties in the Waikato and King Country, a re-

Grazing properties accounted for the largest number of sales with 46.3 per cent share of all sales over the three months to April. Dairy properties accounted for 19.6 per cent, Finishing properties accounted for 18.7 per cent and Horticulture properties accounted for 7.0 per cent of all sales. These four property types accounted for 91.6 per cent of all sales during the three months.

Dairy farms Median sales price per hectare for dairy farms was $34,819 (87 properties), compared to $35,487, for the three months ended March (83 properties), and $33,132 (68 properties) for the three months ended April 2012. The median dairy farm size for the three months ended March 2013 was 129 hectares.

Included in sales for the month of April were 29 dairy farms at a median sale value of $27,616 per hectare. The median farm size was 129 hectares with a range of 47 hectares in the Waikato to 409 hectares in Canterbury. The median production per hectare across all dairy farms sold in April 2013 was 928kgs of milk solids.

The REINZ Dairy Farm Price Index rose by 0.9 per cent in the three months to April compared to the three months to March, from 1744.80 to 1761.16. Compared to April 2012 the REINZ Dairy Farm Price Index fell by 6.1 per cent. The REINZ Dairy Farm Price Index adjusts for differences in farm size and location compared to the median price per hectare, which does not adjust for these factors.

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ASHBURTON ASHBURTON DEADLINE SALE

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7

Contributed by REINZ

as drought conditions ease Finishing farms For the three months ended April 2013 the median sales price per hectare for finishing farms was $20,293 (83 properties), compared to $20,293 for the three months ended March (75 properties), and $14,551 (70 properties) for the three months ended April 2012. The median finishing farm size for the three months ended April 2013 was 69 hectares.

Grazing farms For the three months ended April 2013 the median sales price per hectare for grazing farms was $12,900 (205 properties) compared to $12,702 for the three months ended March (163 properties), and $15,036 (233 properties) for the three months ended April 2012. The median grazing farm size for the three months ended April 2013 was 65 hectares.

Horticulture farms For the three months ended April 2013 the median sales price per hectare for horticulture farms was $118,119 (31 properties) compared to $119,067 (30 properties) for the three months ended March, and $126,110 (22 properties) for the three months ended April 2012. The median horticulture farm size for the three months ended April 2013 was six hectares.

Lifestyle properties The lifestyle property market saw a 16.2 per cent (+237 sales) increase in sales volume in the three months to April 2013 compared to April 2012. 1696 sales were recorded in the three months to April 2013 compared to 1459 sales in the three months to April 2012. 202 more sales were recorded compared to the three months to March 2013 (+13.5%). For the 12 months to March 2013 there were 6092 unconditional sales of lifestyle properties, an increase of 16.1 per cent over the 12 months to April 2012.

Seven regions recorded increases in sales compared to April

2012 while five recorded decreases in sales. Auckland recorded the largest increase (+156 sales), followed by Waikato (+58 sales) and Canterbury (+53 sales). Compared to March 2013, 12 regions recorded increases in sales with one region recording a decrease. Auckland recorded the largest increase in sales (+53 sales), followed by Canterbury (+39 sales) and Waikato (+28 sales).

The national median price for lifestyle blocks rose by $58,500 (+12.7 per cent) from $460,000 for the three months to April 2012 to $518,500 for the three months to April 2013 to reach a new record high. Of note, the median price for lifestyle blocks in Auckland, Canterbury and Waikato, the three regions with the most lifestyle sales, representing 54 per cent of all lifestyle sales, remain below their respective record medians.

The number of days to sell for lifestyle properties eased by one day, from 71 days for the three months to the end of March to 72 days for the three months to the end of April. Compared to the three months ended April 2012 the number of days to sell improved by 10 days from 82 days to 72 days. Southland recorded the shortest number of days to sell in April at 42 days, followed by Gisborne at 44 days and Canterbury at 53 days. Bay of Plenty recorded the longest number of days to sell at 109 days, followed by West Coast at 101 days and Northland at 95 days.

Mr Peacocke said activity in the lifestyle sector remained solid across the country, with Auckland, Waikato and Canterbury being the most active regions. “The lifestyle market in Auckland is benefitting from the strong urban residential market, with some spill over effects from Auckland into the Waikato market where local demand is being boosted by expats return and demand from Auckland. There is an emerging shortage of properties in the $900,000 to $1 million ranges in the Waikato. In Canterbury demand is strongest in the $600,000 to $700,000 range with slower activity at higher price points.�

8

Contributed by Lifestyle block

Finding the perfect lifestyle block L

ifestyle blocks come in all shapes and sizes and before you start looking for the perfect block you need to know what you’re looking for.

The first thing you need to consider is what you want to do with your block. Do you want livestock, crops or a mixture of the two? Do you want to make hay or silage from the pasture? Do you want flat, easy to manage country or rolling hills and bush-clad gullies?

When you’re looking at properties to buy, use the following checklist to help ensure you don’t end up spending more than you expected.

Water You can’t farm without water so the first thing to check on any block is that it has a good water supply. Having a bore or well on the property is good, and relying on roof water is great as long as there is sufficient storage. If you have to rely on a water easement from a neighbour then ensure that agreements are in place that make it clear what is supplied and at what cost.

Fencing Fencing is expensive so check the existing fencing carefully. Wires can be tightened and battens straightened but if strainer posts are broken then the cost of repair will start to climb. Check that gates do their job - they shouldn’t have to be lifted and dragged over the ground to get them open!

Neighbours

Soil Soil types vary around New Zealand and there is a vast difference between volcanic ash, clay and sandy soils.

What you can do with your block depends a great deal on the soil.

Check with the local council about past uses of the land. If there has been commercial cropping or an old sheep dipping site then there may be toxic residues in the soil.

Consider getting a soil test done before buying. You’ll get an idea of any problems and an indication of how much they will take to fix.

Neighbours can tell you all about the history of the block, the adequacy of local services and the friendliness of the local community so if you can speak to a neighbour or neighbours before buying a property then do so.

While you’re talking to the neighbour find out about their interests and ask what they do on their block. You may not want to live next to a motocross enthusiast or the local heavy metal band’s rehearsal studio!

Fuel costs are rising (always!) so distance to amenities is also important. Think not just of shops and schools but doctors, dentists, libraries and a good coffee shop.

Yards

Contour If the contour of the block is steep then consider whether it is suitable for heavy livestock.

Generally, the heavier the livestock, the flatter the ground you want. That doesn’t mean you can’t keep heavy livestock on hills but they will damage the pasture.

Flat land is great for getting around, siting buildings, cutting hay, spreading fertiliser and often keeping an eye on livestock.

Shelter Does the block offer shelter from freezing southerlies and scorching summer sun?

Both livestock and pasture benefit from some protection.

If you are planning to have cattle then you need to have yards. Even small yards can cost thousands of dollars to build so existing yards are an asset.

Easements/covenants Increasingly, lifestyle blocks are being sold with covenants stipulating what you can and can’t do. Check these out thoroughly before buying. Also check out any easements which affect the block and find out what the legal position is.

Communications Finally make sure that the block has broadband internet access and mobile phone coverage.

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4

2

2

View: by appointment Jill Quaid

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10

Game on for hunters F

eral animals beware; hunters across the South Island have you in their sights -- hoping to bag a heavyweight for the Mid Canterbury Hunting Competition When the competition kicks off on Friday, June 21, it will be game on.

There are no restrictions on where the animals can be bagged, but they must be brought to the Hotel Ashburton car park for weigh in.

In its sixth year there are plenty of prizes on offer. Last year the competition attracted about 250 but the event pulls more and more participants each year.

Six prizes are on offer for the heaviest boar, and the hunter who turns in the top weight hog will be $400 better off for his or her effort. Last year Ashburton man Dion Taunui took the catch with an impressive 80kg boar, which he bailed

with his team of hunting dogs.

Stags, tahr, chamois and wallabies will also be on the radar and when weigh in takes place between 11am and 3.30pm on Sunday, a large numbers of ducks, rabbits, hares and possums will also feature in the lineup.

While women are welcome to enter, and indeed have also been increasing in numbers as each year goes by, female animals are not eligible -- unless they happen to be rabbits, hares, possums or ducks . These animals are also exempt from the gutting requirements stipulated for larger prey.

In the pig and deer categories the minimum weight is 25kg, and surprisingly all entries must have their ears and testicles “attached naturally”.

All hunts must be fair and any animals deemed to have been poisoned,

trapped, will be disqualified -- as will any which have been in frozen storage.

All hunting must be done on foot.

Helicopters can only be used to drop hunters into remote areas and to carry them -- and their animals -- out at the end of the weekend. Shooting from the air is not allowed, and to collect a prize hunters will have to produce their firearms licence.

The event was the brainchild of five Ashburton shooters and each year it has grown in popularity both among shooters and with the public who turn out to admire the hunters’ efforts during weigh-in.

While many hunters head to their favourite hunting spots outside the district, was also plenty of good game in the Ashburton back country.

The events for junior section for 12 -- 15

year olds are designed to attract young shooters into the sport, with a guided category for under 12s.

Entries close on June 15, but early birds who get their entries in by May 25 will be in the draw for a $1000 voucher from Neumanns Tyres.

All entrants weighing in an animal on the day will be in the draw for a rifle, as will those weighing in a tahr, red stag, fallow buck, chamois or wallaby.

Entry is $30, cheques should be made out to Mid Canterbury Hunting Competition and posted to 77 Harland Street, Tinwald, Ashburton.

For more information visit www. midcanthuntingcomp.co.nz, or call Glenn Ralson on 027 685 7743, Richard Clucas on 027 229 9724 or Andy Wilson on 027 435 4646.

Photos Kirsty clay 240612-KG-171

Ashburton hunter Dion Taunui is all smiles after taking out the tile of Heaviest Boar with his 80kg catch.

Todd Howard enjoys the day last year as he waits for results after taking part in the Carrying Competition.

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11

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising Feature

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Time to look B

udget 2013 has been presented to Parliament and the nation for another year – has anyone noticed?

I come from an era where public interest and concern with the nation’s economy was a topic of conversation for weeks before and following this major political event.

As a teenager the infamous Nordmeyer “Black Budget” became an event of significance for years hence, and we listened glued to every word on the radio.

How come Budget 2013 has been and gone with hardly a murmur?

Firstly it is a mid-term budget in a three-year electoral cycle. Perhaps rather cynically my observations suggest, and history shows, that three-year electoral cycles produce in their midterm financial statements that are rather bland.

First year of electoral triennium – do the hard tasks, increase taxes, create new income streams, trim welfare payments etc.

Midyear of triennium – steady as she goes. Signal the good bits that will commence in election year, but also tweak income streams to allow for some largesse, in year three.

Election year – time to buy some votes, so dangle some eye-catching bait in the way of increased benefits, tax reductions, even if they don’t start for 6 to 12 months after announcement. A familiar pattern.

Cynical yes, but certainly not without foundation.

These are just some of the reasons I see that support a four-year term of government. Many democracies throughout the world with four or five-year terms appear to succeed in establishing proposals with nationwide benefits impacting well into the future.

Here in New Zealand no administration appears willing to address the obvious statistic pivotal to the future of this great nation. The fact that the number of taxpayers and dollars needed to continue universal superannuation at age 65 into the future simply do not mesh. Not even mentioned at Budget time!

Sooner or later New Zealanders across the country will have to accept that the welfare state at its current generous level, is non sustainable into the medium term future.

In my view it’s just far too simple to take the

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13

Contributed by John Leadley

beyond tomorrow attitude that if I don’t work, the rest of the country will make sure I don’t freeze or starve to death!

There is strong evidence that this attitude to lifestyle is becoming an intergenerational concern.

I willingly acknowledge that for some people health reasons, be they physical or mental, means employment is not an option. Those in this category have my utmost sympathy and support and probably deserve more financial help than currently available.

However this must not include the many with self-afflicted drug and alcohol problems that epitomise the lack of self discipline so prevalent in today’s society. The message must surely be to ban importation and supply of drugs by watertight regulation and control, and meaningful penalty for any breach.

Budget 2013 announced $1.6 billion in new funding for health over the next four years. How much more could we save if our tax-payer funded hospitals and police stations were not full to overcrowded every weekend due to drug and alcohol availability. A national shame.

Lack of housing, particularly ownership in Auckland, is a real concern and certainly impacts on poverty in this region and beyond.

A bus trip around many of the suburbs of Auckland paints a sad picture – broken down cars, grass a foot high, garages obviously used for living, with dogs and children everywhere – and seldom a vegetable garden in sight!

Even allowing for cultural issues relative to family, why would a couple struggling to live in overcrowded rented accommodation, relying on the proceeds of benefits and foodbank handouts make a conscious decision to have more children?

Surely a total lack of self discipline and esteem.

The gaps between wants and needs must surely be the key priority. There is a good case for budgeting skills to be part of the school curriculum when so many parents no longer have that ability.

One glaring omission from the budget is the failure to address transport issues meaningfully.

Some $94 million to upgrade locomotives and wagons for Kiwirail in Wellington and Auckland does nothing to improve transport efficiency from productive source (farm or factory) to port, across rural New Zealand!

Unless something is done to address the

sprawling nature of Auckland housing development under the Resource Management Act, there seems little likelihood that transportation funding for this region will remain anything but a bottomless pit!

When will any New Zealand government acknowledge that the wealth of this nation is founded on efficient rural production, reaching its processing facility or port in the most efficient manner? That surely means appropriate tonnages on road or rail routes built for the purpose.

Once again farming gains very little from the budget except small sums in the areas of animal welfare, border controls and biosecurity.

The commitment of $80 million funding for regional irrigation funding is appreciated and could make a real difference to farm production longer term.

Ongoing tenure reviews and urban expansion continue to “nibble” at our productive land resource, leaving rural production intensification pivotal for future prosperity.

It would be great to see this acknowledged by those in power.

The increase in spending on the Christchurch rebuild is totally justified and the health budget is one of the winners.

Less positive when talking of health is the emphasis on food for underprivileged children at schools. Once again government is addressing the consequences rather than the issue itself.

If families could feed their children through war and depression as they did in the 1930s and 1950s, we should not be going down the “food for schools track” in the 21st century. Surely an admission of defeat! What happens in the 170 days each year with no school?

As always the answer lies with parental role modelling and responsibility.

Yes there have been some positives in Budget 2013. My wish is for an administration that will look beyond three years.

If Local Government is expected to provide 10 year budgetary programmes, surely Central Government can look beyond the next election.

Maybe, just maybe, extending the electoral term might be the catalyst.

Short term “fix-it” measures are not the answer.

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14

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising Feature - Contributed by D&E

– Trying is believing M

any of you will have heard of Polaris but what you may not know is that they are the No1 Seller of ATVs in the world. While the brand is relatively new on New Zealand shores, the Polaris company began in the 1950s making snowmobiles and its products are made in the US like many other top quality brands – such as John Deere.

Templeton branches. And with the New Zealand dollar being so strong the Polaris range is also very price competitive.

John and Paul Stewart, Mid Canterbury arable and dairy farmers, recently came to D&E on the hunt for a new quad bike.

They were amazed by the great price of the Polaris side-by-sides and once they had experienced the Rangers with an onfarm demo, they were so impressed they bought two!

And this is one of the reasons why D&E, which is synonymous with John Deere, is proud to be selling and servicing the Polaris range at both our Ashburton and

“The farm environment has changed and the key selling points for me was that two

people can ride comfortably, there’s plenty of room on the deck for tools and the safety aspects such as seat belts and full roll cage”, says John. “I also compared it to other side-by-sides on the market and the Ranger appeared to be the best in terms of it being designed with farming in mind”.

“The Ranger is great for getting in and out of quickly when you are dealing with cattle or just getting from A to B. It’s also perfect for riding in crop paddocks because it doesn’t leave big tread marks.”

With almost 50 percent of the New Zealand market share, the Polaris Ranger is proving itself on farms as well as for recreational activities such as fishing, trail riding and hunting. The key reasons for its popularity are simple - carry more, tow more and seat more.

The Polaris Ranger also boasts a ride smoother than any other ATV on the market. This is due to the front and rear independent suspension. The CVT transmission (PVT) means you are always in the right gear and is the most refined on the market with exceptional reliability and

smoothness of power. All this creates an economical ATV that helps put the power to the ground when needed. It is great for towing as there is no jerking in the transmission – it’s one constant smooth acceleration.

Reliability is a major concern for all ATV owners and the Polaris range is pulling its weight here too. Most of D&E’s workshop repairs on Polaris is either due to neglect or general wear and tear, there are no trends in failing components. John Stewart is comfortable in the purchases knowing that the machines come with the D&E backing.

“I have always had good service and back up from Drummond and Etheridge,” he said.

The staff at D&E and their many happy customers know that the Polaris Ranger is the best all round side by side and the sales team will happily demonstrate this.

D&E’s ‘bums on seats’ policy is proving to be a hit with about 90 percent of people in the market for a side by side, who try the Ranger, end up purchasing it for its power, smooth ride, affordability and practicality.

It’s a ‘no brainer’.

Photos supplied Danny King, D&E Sales Consultant, shakes the hand of happy customer John Stewart with the farm’s new Polaris Ranger 400 H.O. and 900 XP. Right: The 900 XP being put through its paces on John’s farm. And the line up of Polaris Rangers at D&E, East St, Ashburton.

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15

An Ashburton Guardian Advertising Feature - Contributed by Seismic Concrete

The time is now for milking yard concrete repairs!

C

racked concrete in milking yards is unhygienic and can lead to costly fines and business disruption as effluent seeps through cracks and contaminates the land.

Recent fines handed out to a dairy farmer of $37,000 for effluent mismanagement has highlighted the importance of careful management and maintenance of concrete in milking yards Whether the cracks are from earthquake or general deterioration, they need to be repaired and sealed.

Seismic Concrete Repairs are approved applicators of the epoxies and resins required to quickly and efficiently ensure your farms are maintained and in good

working order for next milking season.

They are a small and efficient team who work on a wide range of concrete structures from homes and dwellings, commercial warehouses and factories as well as rural homes and properties.

The professional services they provide range from tilt panel concrete walls, concrete driveways, foundations and brick and block wall repairs.

With winter pressing, now is the perfect time to take proactive steps in ensuring your yard receives the maintenance it requires.

Call Seismic today on 021 141 4448 for a free quote and assessment. Don’t delay!

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16

Contributed by Kerry Maw, Rural Women

“Y Front Up” to prostate cancer Fundraising and Awareness Campaign Launched

R

ural Women New Zealand has launched a national campaign to not only raise awareness of this devastating disease and encourage men to have regular checks, but also to raise funds to support on-going research into improved diagnosis and treatment options.

Members attending the RWNZ annual Conference in Christchurch May 23-26 enthusiastically supported the proposal and headed home brim-full of ideas in support of the campaign.

Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in New Zealand, with one in 10 men over the age of 65 at risk of contracting the disease. This is only 2 per cent less than the risk of a woman getting breast cancer. Many men will live for several years with prostate cancer as, often, the symptoms are not particularly obvious but usually relate to difficulty and frequency of passing urine, pain in hips, back or pelvis, and sometimes include erectile dysfunction. The cause is, as yet, unknown although common risk factors appear to be: • •

Age (men 40 years and over) Nationality (North America, Europe, Australasia, Caribbean)

• •

Family history Diet (high red meat and high-fat dairy) • Obesity.

It is also known that the prostate cancer growth rate is influenced by testosterone levels, and the cancer can spread to lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and bones (especially ribs and bones around the hip and lower back).

Testing for prostate cancer is not as daunting as people may think. Many men are unaware that the first test is actually a simple blood test. A digital rectal examination (more commonly known as the rubber glove) is usually only done if the blood test results show there is cause for concern. As with all cancers, early detection is the key to a successful outcome.

RWNZ is very concerned about the impact of prostate cancer not only for the man, but for his family as well. We see this as a family issue and not just because of considerable emotion involved. Men are often the major breadwinners in their families and therefore their health and wellbeing is hugely important. When a man becomes seriously ill and is unable to work, the family is naturally affected. And in a rural setting where so often the home

is linked to the job, when a man is unable to work, or even dies from their illness, often this can mean the family not only loses a very dearly loved family member, but also stands to lose a farm and a home – they lose everything. This is why we see it as vitally important that men have regular prostate checks, take action early when they notice problems, and ensure they maintain healthy lifestyles.

There is currently no organised regular screening programme similar to those for either cervical or breast cancers, and RWNZ hopes the campaign will encourage the Government to work towards implementing an effective programme.

Interestingly in 2011 the Parliamentary Health Select Committee undertook an Inquiry into early detection and treatment of prostate cancer. They concluded that support should be provided for research on approaches to diagnosis and treatment, that men should have access to high quality information and support to make informed decisions, and that a quality and equity improvement plan could help establish a sound foundation for an organised screening programme in the future.

These are the very things that our “Y Front Up” awareness campaign hopes

to address. It is important to take the message to the wider community. We must talk with our sons, husbands, fathers, and grandfathers to inform them about this illness and encourage our menfolk to take their own health seriously.

RWNZ members will also be working very hard at national and local level on the other part of this campaign – we are aiming to raise as much money as possible towards further research into diagnosis and treatment of this dreadful disease.

So you are bound to see us out in the community doing all sorts of wonderful, creative things in support of this project.

Watch this space!

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17

Contributed by Convergence

Demo farm trials highlight complexity of nitrate leaching measurement

S

imply taking low resolution nitrate spot readings without measuring full water dynamics could lead to misleading conclusions about the environmental footprint of a farm, according to a review of the first year’s stream monitoring project at the South Demonstration Farm near Wallacetown.

At the Southland Demonstration Farm focus day recently, Professor Keith Cameron from Lincoln University presented the first year’s findings from the continuous stream monitoring project.

The Tomoporakau Creek runs through the centre of the Wallacetown dairy farm and farm drainage outfalls discharge directly into this stream.

The first year’s results (shown in the graph) showed that stream water nitrate concentrations were highly variable and ranged from 0.1 to 12.9 mg N/L.

was approximately 42 kg N/ha. This area includes some dairy wintering crops.

The other finding was that, as expected, most of the nitrate leaching loss occurred between 1 June and 31 July.

“In the years ahead, this set-up will keep giving us valuable information as data continues to flood in,” he said.

The project has been set up to measure the effects of the farm on nitrate levels in the stream and Ravensdown has funded Lincoln University to establish the project team, which includes expert hydrologists from Aqualinc Ltd, GPS survey staff from Aurecon Ltd, ground survey experts from Aurum Ltd, electronic stream flow measurement experts from Scottech Ltd and drillers from McNeill Well Drillers Ltd.

that establishes the nutrient cycles on farm, including the expected nitrate losses from the root zone.

what actually reaches the stream, the more data we can get over a longer period the better.

“The modelled number and actual measured number are in the same ballpark. But this is only year one for the data,” he said.

“Obviously, not every farm or regulatory body can afford continuous stream sensors for their waterways, but this kind of information will help improve understanding of nutrient loss and assist in the refinement of the Overseer modelling tool which farmers use to plan their nutrient management.”

“When it comes to things as complex as farm systems, soil properties, water dynamics, and the potential differences between losses from the root zone and

Stream inflow and outflow rate and level measurements are being monitored continuously.

“This shows that simply taking low resolution nitrate spot readings and not measuring full water dynamics could lead to misleading conclusions about the environmental footprint of the farm,” Professor Cameron, head of Lincoln University’s Centre for Soil Science and Environmental Research, said.

Ground water levels are measured by piezometer bores in parallel to stream flow measurements in order to calculate the localised water dynamics. Stream water samples are pumped continuously to the main farm shed where two UV absorption spectrometers measure nitrate concentrations in real time.

“During the first year, the amount of nitrate–N calculated to have been leached from the farm into the stream

Key account manager for Ravensdown, Steve Dixon, says the Demo Farm uses Overseer, the nutrient management tool

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Well Priced, and a favourite with the locals the Speight’s Alehouse is famous for its Lamb Shanks, Ribs and Lambs Fry. New dishes are available to try as our New Winter menu is now being served, but don’t worry your old favourites haven’t gone. Whether it be live sport on the big screen, a beer or two with some friends or just relaxing in the sunny beer garden the Ashburton Alehouse has something for everyone.

The return of our Wednesday Quiz Nights has been a great success with tables booked out!

Don’t miss your chance, book a table for free and come along to test your knowledge over a few drinks. Keep an eye out for our new Happy Hour (or two) specials. Starting on the 6th of June, $6 handles and house wines, 5-7pm every Thursday.

Phone (03) 308 5980 | Burnett Street, Ashburton

19

Contributed by Fonterra

Fonterra $7 payout forecast for 2013/14 will help lift winter blues

F

onterra’s forecast payout of $7kgMS is good news for rural communities, says industry body DairyNZ. Chief executive Tim Mackle said many services and other businesses depended on the farming community’s spending to keep their economies thriving.

The forecast payout will be a big boost to dairy farmers’ spirits after a tough season impacted by the worst drought for 70 years. It is up $1.20 on the current season.

In addition, the co-operative confirmed a higher Advance Rate schedule, with an opening rate of $5kgMS. Mr Mackle says that many North Island farmers have had to increase their overdrafts because of the double whammy of extra feed costs and a drop in their income because of less milk production due to the drought.

“This forecast increase in payout will help them cope with that increased debt. The higher advance rate will also give farmers some extra cash early in the season when they will need it most to spend on feed and spring fertiliser.

“Nearly half of a dairy farmer’s

business income is spent on farm working expenses and that money circulates through the local economy.

Farmers should now be able to make spending decisions with some confidence,” he says.

“Farmers will be looking at how they can invest this extra income to make the most of the next season and to strengthen the resilience of their businesses.

“We’ve calculated that the average North Island farmer has had to spend an extra $57,000 on feed this season because of the drought. Combined with less milk production, the average farmer lost about $100,000 in farm income, and some much more than that.

“Farmers have to manage their cashflows closely to match their peaks and troughs of income and expenses so they are keenly focused on these forecast payouts. Many will be budgeting tightly and this $7 forecast should help keep those winter blues from getting them down. Some will also be keen to use the extra income to reduce their debt,” he says.

“Going into winter, farmers will still be worried about whether they will have enough feed come springtime when their cows have calved, and their animals need good nutrition

to produce milk. A lot of farmers used winter feed stocks during the drought. Luckily we’ve had some good warm wet weather over recent weeks and pastures have recovered well. But the colder weather is here now and that’s when grass growth slows down.”

Mr Mackle says the payout forecast will also help with the economic stability of dairy farmers and the industry. “We estimate more than 40 per cent of North Island farmers could be struggling to meet both their cash expenses and interest costs for this 2012-13 season, given the impact of the drought. However, for the 2013-14 season, with this forecast $7 payout, we think that only about 5 per cent may now have difficulty. That bodes well for the future of our farmers and the country’s export earnings.”

Overall, New Zealand milk production for the 2012-13 season is down two per cent compared to last year’s record, he says.

“Luckily parts of the South Island have not been affected by the drought and milk production is up around 8 per cent in some regions like Canterbury. That has helped keep the country’s production close to last year’s record despite some North Island regions being down around 9 per cent.”

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20

Contributed by Lifestyler

Farm safety to the fore F

arm safety is to the fore this month on our little farmlet – I am feeding the chooks one-handed as my other one is in a cast.

Funny, I had always viewed the ram lambs as most likely to give me a broken pelvis. They are a pushy bunch and currently off-limits because of my one-handed status. The chook house can also be a perilous place and I have ended up on the deck before because of slippery footing underneath.

My broken wrist is not entirely farm-related, though it happened during a fundraiser for a local rural hall. We are right into supporting our local rural community, especially when the fundraiser is a beer-fest.

I am blaming the sawdust on the floor for my fall, nothing to do with that other bubbly white stuff.

I put out a hand to stop myself and, crack, it was done. The full extent of the break would be revealed

the next day, after my blood-alcohol levels returned to normal and hubby took me to A&E. By that stage my hand had blown up like a balloon and they had to wrench the bones back into alignment.

This hang-over will last as long as the cast.

not take an hour.

Doing the dishes, cooking tea, all takes an age, though I am slowly developing co-ordination between by left hand and my brain.

The poor dog has lost a playmate, as I can’t throw the ball left-handed yet. He has been amusing himself playing with the chooks.

So the farmlet chores have taken on a new challenge. Doing everything one-handed is a bit of a struggle.

Collecting the eggs is interesting. The chook house was partly demolished by the ram lambs and the hens are running free range around my garden scratching up peastraw. Thankfully they head back to their beaten-up home to lay. I put the eggs carefully in my sling to take them back to the house.

Folding washing is definitely awkward. I open jars one-handed with the vessel wedged between my knees. I can’t write. I can only type at the pace of a snail. I wear track pants so going to the toilet does

I must say I could not fault the nurses and bone doctor at Ashburton Hospital. They were outstanding, and not once suggested I was an idiot. I think I volunteered that information.

It made me think of all the farming folk out there who would struggle to do their bigger daily jobs if they were incapacitated. And how lucky we are to have a hospital on our doorstep, instead of having to trek to Christchurch.

Take care out there.

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21

Great food starts with great soil T

here will be a Rakaia connection at Fieldays this year with Ballance Agri-Nutrients showcasing the connection between great soil and premium produce, with quality producers of beef, vegetables, apples and wine featuring at their site.

Ballance general manager sales Andrew Reid said soil is an integral part of the success of farmers.

“In fact the whole New Zealand economy starts with those three inches of topsoil which support our rural production sector,” he says.

Mr Reid said premium producers have one thing in common – respect for the soil and the ability to work with it.

“Premium producers are those who focus on the quality of their soil first and we’re working alongside them with advice and science-backed nutrients so they consistently get the most from their land.”

Mr Reid said Ballance customers Te Whanga Angus Stud, BEL Group, AS Wilcox and Mr Apple represent some of the best in the business, and consistently achieve great results “from the ground up”. They will be sharing their experience, as well as their produce, during June 12-15 at Mystery Creek.

The Borthwick family’s Te Whanga farm is one of New Zealand’s iconic sheep and beef stations based in the Wairarapa with an associated winery, while BEL Group operates eight dairy farms producing 2.7 million kgMS in Central Hawkes Bay.

AS Wilcox has been growing and packing high quality potatoes, carrots and onions since the 1930s at Pukekohe, Ohakune and the Waikato in the North Island and Rakaia in the South Island. Mr Apple operates 34 orchards and is New Zealand’s largest vertically integrated apple grower, packer and exporter, exporting between 3 and 3.5 million cartons per year.

Now in its 45th year, Fieldays is acknowledged as a window into one of the most innovative, forward thinking agricultural economies in the world.

“These are all unique operations, working with different soil types and climatic conditions, but their attention to the complete farm nutrient management cycle is the common denominator in their success. As a co-operative, we’re here to support farmers’ success, providing the right products and advice so they can achieve their farms goals,” Mr Reid said.

The four-day event attracted more than 125,000 visitors in 2012; providing exhibiting businesses with the ultimate connection to farming customers, both locally and internationally.

Ballance also acknowledges that food production must be sustainable, and Mr Reid says that through the co-operative’s seven year Clearview Innovations research and development programme the company is investing in new science that will deliver smart products backed by sound science to increase the productive capacity of New Zealand agriculture and lower the environmental footprint.

With the Ballance Agri-Nutrients site is somewhat famous for its good pies, Mr Reid says that this year there is a “purpose to the pies”, with the high quality produce on show at the site being transformed into perfect pies by guest chef Michael Van de Elzen.

The popular presenter of the takeaway transformation show, Food Truck and owner of the new Food Truck Garage will run three cooking demonstrations a day.

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22

Contributed by Irrigation NZ

District’s water lessons learned T

he lessons Mid Canterbury District has to teach other parts of New Zealand about water development couldn’t have been more obvious last month.

development and to inspire change back home.

Wairarapa Regional Irrigation Trust chairman Bob Tosswill said the visit was an eye opener and highlighted the huge opportunities a reliable water supply provides as well as challenges involved with sustainable land and water use.

The Great Irrigation Challenge, held at the Ashburton Racecourse, attracted nearly 200 registrations for 16 workshops IrrigationNZ had put together. Held over two days, irrigation scheme representatives, industry representatives and owner-irrigators focussed on irrigation best practice taking on board advice from a range of specialist presenters.

“The economies of Mid and South Canterbury have been transformed through water which is commonly referred to as liquid gold,” Mr Tosswill said. “We saw first-hand how community water projects can unlock the economic and social potential of a region with the benefits spread right across rural and urban areas.”

Mid Canterbury was chosen because of its central location and established irrigation industry. There was good representation from the many local companies who service the sector and other participants came from as far afield as Otago and North Canterbury.

Strong growth in the region’s manufacturing, service and retail industries has been attributed to greater water availability. Unemployment in Ashburton is less than one per cent, and since 2001 GDP growth has averaged four per cent compared with two and a half per cent across New Zealand. In Ashburton GDP increased to 11 per cent in 2012. The message that irrigation was not all about the farmers but the wider benefits to the community was a key point to take back to Wairarapa.

Earlier in the month a group organised by the Wairarapa Regional Irrigation Trust and Grow Wellington visited Mid and South Canterbury. The twoday tour by Wairarapa Water Use Project members, environmental, iwi, local government and business people, met with representatives from Ngai Tahu, Irrigation NZ, Ashburton District Council, irrigation scheme and industry personnel. The visit aimed to quantify the possibilities of irrigation

“It is clear that the towns are thriving - Ashburton is building an art gallery and museum, and a $32 million sports facility,” Mr Tosswill said. “Population

growth has brought more investment in health services and school roles are increasing instead of facing closure.

part of the solution to improve the lake was the opposite to what some pundits were predicting when the scheme was first proposed.

“The Ashburton District Council made a very strong point that the land was a finite resource, but it was what was done with water that had helped its community and economy grow,” Mr Tosswill said.

“Uptake of irrigation water by farmers was high in the region and had resulted in new land uses including expansion of high value crops. Mid Canterbury produces one-third of the world’s carrot seeds and half of the world’s radish seeds. Water schemes are being expanded to provide the reliability needed to ensure the quality of supply needed by local processing plants and export markets.

“We learned that increased irrigation has led to more efficient use of water and prosperity. This has enabled farmers to invest in farm management practices and technology that monitors and addresses the environmental effects of farming.” There does not have to be a trade off between environment and development. The similarities of the Wairarapa region and Selwyn district with each having a significant lake at the bottom of the catchment were striking.

The realisation that the Central Plains Water scheme is going to be a major

“Wairarapa has a lot of work to do but the Canterbury visit confirmed the opportunities and challenges we face are very similar and that in general the Wairarapa water project is on the right track,” Mr Tosswill said.

The Wairarapa Water Use Project is investigating the feasibility of making more water available to the Wairarapa valley in times of need, and the sustainable use of that water for a variety of purposes. The proposal is to establish a regionally-integrated, multi-purpose water use project based on water harvesting, storage and distribution.

It is envisaged that up to 50,000 hectares could be irrigated fed from storage taken from river catchments either side of the valley. The area currently has 10,000 hectares irrigated from ground and surface takes. The project is in the prefeasibility stage and the excitement that the Canterbury visit generated will help to carry the project forward.

Ashburton provides a great example of the economic powerhouse that irrigated land can produce and that then flows onto the essential services and social well being of rural districts.

Photos supplied General Manager of Mayfield-Hinds Irrigation, Hamish Tait, explains the company’s water storage facility under construction at Carew to 16 Wairarapa leaders as part of their two-day irrigation study tour of Canterbury last month.

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23

Contributed by Doug Edmeades

Some probing questions for ECan S

oil scientist Doug Edmeades has some advice for farmers being asked to make changes to their operations to meet looming compliance rules including nutrient limits.

Farmers need to ask Environment Canterbury some questions: 1. What are the values that the community wants to be reflected in the particular catchment, waterway or water-body (eg drinking, swimming, native fauna, trout, salmon) in which my farm is situated or contributes to?

2. Is there agreement that the contaminants of major concern which impact upon water quality can be defined in terms of nitrogen concentration, phosphorus concentration, pathogens and sediment content?

3. What is the current water quality in terms of these four factors and is there any evidence that water quality is declining over time?

4. Which of these four factors is the most

important in my catchment in terms of limiting water quality? For example, restricting N losses from pasture would be a waste of effort and money if sediment, or P, or coliforms were the main contaminant.

This question goes to the issue of cause and effect and note that different mechanisms are involved – the nitrate problem is caused by leaching (or urine N mainly) through the soil profile. The other contaminants get into water bodies by surface runoff of water.

Thus different management techniques need to be employed depending on the contaminant of concern.

5. What is the proportional contribution that farming makes to the quality of water in my catchment relative to background (natural) sources, point sources (including effluent blocks) and urban sources? This question seeks to answer the sub-question – what is the size of the problem (and opportunity) in terms of farming activities.

6. What is the connectivity between water

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7. Given the answers to the questions above, what is the probability that water quality in my catchment will improve as a result of changing farm management practices and possibly infrastructure on my farm.

8. Has the regional council undertaken any cost/benefit analysis on this issue and where can I find that information?

9. The regional councils are using Overseer Version 6 to determine the rates of leaching of nitrate N and P runoff. How accurate is Overseer in respect to these outputs?

Should Overseer be used as a regulatory tool or just to do what-if analyses (as it was designed for).

Features upcoming Publication

JUNE - JULY - AUGUST

• ThisTles • lucerne • clover seed crops • Gorse and General clean up

leaving a given farm (either by leaching or runoff ) and the water-bodies in the catchment? Expressed differently, how close is the link between what I do on my farm and what is happening in terms of water quality in the catchment? This question goes to the technical issue referred to as attenuation.

Gf GUARDIAN FARMING

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Thursday, June 20

Tuesday, July 2

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24 Stunning scenery from the foothills farm of Mike and Nicky Salvesen at Mt Somers.

Photos linda clarke 280513-LC_007

Mike Salvesen