Guardian Farming by Ashburton Guardian

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PRESOWING CULTIVATORS Low traction resistance Flexible ploughshares with chisels Excellent mixing of the soil

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To barn or not to barn...

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FARMERS AND DEGREES

ix years ago, as a rookie rural reporter working for the Timaru Herald, I got the chance to visit Aad and Wilma Leeuwen’s giant dairy barn down at Makikihi. It was pretty new and although it had the capacity for 1500 cows, at the time it housed about 1000, I think. As I walked down the rows of cows with Aad, he explained the goings-on. Wilma wandered behind, feeding cows handfuls of hay. The first thing that struck me was how quiet it was. No mooing, no stamping of hooves, just the sound of munching of a never-to-run-out supply of hay, and a hum from the various technology. I must admit I arrived at the barn a doubter. Cows should be out in the fresh air, eating green grass. After all our dairy industry is promoted as grass-fed, paddock-based. But the more time I spent in the barn, the more I began to wonder. These cows seemed happy. They had a rubber mat and an individual stall to sleep in, a machine

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that scratched their backs, and they could milk whenever they wanted to courtesy of the robotic milking machines. They had an endless supply of feed. They weren’t walking kilometres to be milked, they weren’t standing in a foot of mud, they weren’t out in the winter elements. Quiet, contented, happy cows it seemed. The barn had also been positioned on a hill to get plenty of breeze and the effluent was used to fertilise the surrounding paddocks. I have since learned that, although zoned red, the barn operates at the leaching level of two and five. And the manpower needed to operate the barn was minimal. Someone in the control centre perched above the cows, with a constant video feed of what was going on. This connected directly to the van Leeuwen’s home so they could keep an eye on things at night. An automated “scraper” that got rid of the effluent, and someone on a tractor who continually topped up the feed and made sure the cows could reach it. Since then, the van Leeuwen’s have done it hard ( Page 18 ). The first farm to be notified with MBovis in 2017, they eventually lost their 14 farms to the receivers. No one deserved that. They now lease the farms back in the hope that their six children will be able to take over the leases with time. They have five dairy barns that they say are environmentally sound and which they want to put their efforts into. I wish them the best.

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rgyle Welsh Finnigan Limited recently promoted Tim Burtenshaw to Senior Associate. He has 10 years’ experience in litigation. He previously worked at a law firm that operated the Federated Farmers legal information phone line and his dispute resolution practice has regularly included farming disputes related to breach of contracts. Last year, Tim was approved as an Associate member of AMINZ, the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Instituted of New Zealand Incorporated, and now offers mediation services. Tim is able to act as a mediator if both parties to a dispute agree to appoint him. He describes his process as: “I normally schedule a mediation for an entire day. Mediation is really different to traditional litigation but is commonly used by litigators because it works. Many people assume it’s like counselling but it’s not like that at all. We’re there to settle a dispute, sometimes with parties that hate each other, and to do that we need a solid tried and tested process to speak, be heard, consider and test the points made and reflect on the risks faced.” “Settlement at mediation avoids litigation. Litigation is brutal. It hurts finances, relationships and health. The only real question is to

Tim Burtenshaw

what extent. Conversely, Mediation is a voluntary process that only produces a binding outcome if both sides reach agreement. The skill of the mediator is to help them do that. It is cheaper and faster than court or arbitration and has a high chance of success. More importantly, it is confidential and private.” Contact Tim on 03 308 8228.

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It’s been quite a mission... Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

hris Allen has nothing but praise for the way Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) got his farm back on its feet after it was decimated by the floods that hit Mid Canterbury in May last year. MPI set the criteria as to what they would fund and these had to be uninsurable (not uninsured) which is “pretty much things around the land to restore it back to its productive best,” Allen said. “At the time of the flood the Prime Minister came down and there was $4m offered and this was all administered by MPI. “A shout out to MPI,” he said. “Sometimes government organisations can hinder but this time they got it about right.” Allen’s farm suffered massive damage during the floods, losing 22 fences, paddocks covered in sediment, trees, and debris, a huge

washout down the middle of the farm, and all but losing his irrigation pond. “We had to get the pond fixed before the irrigation season and thank goodness this happened by December 1,” Allen said. “But we took out 15,000 tonnes of debris that had been deposited on the pond and spread this over five hectares of our land. It was nearly threequarters of a metre deep in the pond. It was a three-week job involving three dump trucks and a digger. “Then we had to repair all the infrastructure around the pond. “As it turned out we were up and running for the irrigation season, but it has been such a wet summer we have hardly needed it.” Allen said there was a “huge amount” of debris spread across the farm that had to be got rid of. He credits volunteers for all the work they did to remedy this. Farmy Army, Lincoln College students, tramping clubs, and the local Lions Club all came out to help, he said. “The Lions Club did a huge amount of work restoring fences, hours, and hours. There were four guys coming out two days a week for five weeks

Bull

Chris Allan, mid Canterbury arable farmer suffered massive damage to his farm in last May’s floods. PHOTO: ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

working on the fences. I had 22 fences destroyed and now 17 of them are back in action.” “And all those doing the surveys to make sure the right information was being

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gathered- all that takes a lot of organizing,” Allen said. “For us, we are pretty happy to be where we are and fortunate that a lot of the stars aligned.

“It has been quite a mission but if someone said in May last year that everything would be pretty much finished by the end of the financial year I would have said, “yeah, right!”

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FEATURE

Meadowslea: getting the best out of angus Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

avid Giddings of Meadowslea Genetics Ltd is flat out. He is in the midst of scanning 2000 ewes, has a sale catalogue to complete, and has his upcoming female angus production sale just weeks away. Not to mention a bull sale in June. Meadowslea Angus will hold its sixth female angus production sale on May 5 and Giddings is urging buyers to recognise the benefits of a stud herd that runs in the hill country, where cows are expected to winter on tussock without supplements and produce a top calf every year for ten years. “These cows calve early every year and rebreed earlier, producing much better calves and have proven longevity and

performance,” he says. Giddings said the other significant feature was that very few of the cows had high growth figures. “It is cows with a medium frame and moderate growth figures that perform over time in our environment and the high growth cows have dropped out of the herd over the years, either by being dry or consistently rearing small and late calves, or their constitution has failed along the way.” Giddings said the picture is the same through the younger age group of females on offer with rib fat estimated breeding value (EBV) in particular being in the top ten percent of the breed. Last year a Meadowslea angus cow set a New Zealand record for the auction in South Canterbury. Giddings sold the 10-year-old in-calf angus cow for $16,050 at his fifth annual in-calf production sale. The buyer, from Ballanee Angus in Victoria, Australia, also bought two other cows. In total, the Giddings family sold 108

The Giddings family: from left, George, Harry, Celia, and David.

females at the sale held at the home farm in Fairlie. Giddings said the cow, Meadowslea G1000, fetched the top price for having very good carcass data and had recorded the biggest eye muscle area for her age group. Meadowslea G1000 also produced a bull

retained as a herd sire that held the Meadowslea record for biggest eye muscle area. She had her embryos flushed through the embryo transplant (Artificial Breeding Centre) before they were sent across the Tasman. Giddings said at the time he was surprised by

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

the price Meadowslea G1000 fetched, even though he knew she was the best cow of the year. Giddings says this year’s sale is very special as it includes 10-year-old daughters of two of New Zealand’s most influential long-living sires.

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www.guardianonline.co.nz Turihaua Crump and Meadowslea F540 are still going strong in the paddock at rising 13 and 12 years respectfully and the first of their daughters are now for sale as 10-year-old cows. Giddings doubts that this has ever been achieved before in the angus world. Even more remarkably the performance figures on these old bulls remain industry leaders for both maternal and fertility traits. Turihaua Crump (born 2009) has sired over 400 progenies in 17 herds in both New Zealand and Australia and is a trait leader for the important EBV of short days to calvingmeasuring how quickly his daughters conceive after the introduction of the bull every year and having the major contribution to cow profitability over a lifetime. Meadowslea F540 has sired over 300 progenies in the nine herds in New Zealand and Australia and is a trait leader for short gestation, milk and short days to calving. He ranks in the top 10 per cent in the breed for every maternal and fertility trait measurable. The Meadowslea Stud is the only angus breeder in NZ to offer a complete age group of 10-year-old capital stock every year. Giddings says these cows are the heart of the herd and they are proven to have performed in

the hill country environment through snowstorms, droughts, and everything that nature can throw at them. Their performance records illustrate very clearly the range of production figures that work best in the hill country. “We have 20 annual draft cows on offer that are proven performers and when you look at the Breedplan figures the picture is very clear. It is the cows with the strong maternal traits that last the distance. Cows with good calving ease, bred from bulls with larger scrotal sizes and with higher natural rib fat levels, are constantly more fertile and productive. These calve early each year and also rebreed earlier producing much better calves,” Giddings says. “Without a doubt, these 10-year-old cows have proven longevity and performance with over $380,000 worth of bulls sold from this group over their lifetime to date. This also includes eight stud bulls, as well as three stud sires retained.” Significantly very few of these cows with longevity and performance have high growth figures, he says. Giddings says the picture is the same through the younger age group of females on offer with 56 R2yr heifers, 20 R3yr, and 20 R4yr for sale. Continued on P6

FEATURE

Turihaua Crump aged 13 has sired over 400 progenies in 17 herds in both New Zealand and Australia.

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From P5 “The average rib fat EBV for the 115 stud females offered is in the top 10 per cent for the breed in Australasia. The strong rib fat levels drive performance in the Meadowslea herd. Not only are they directly related to increased fertility, but they also act as the energy store to allow the cow to get through tough winters and feed shortages all too common in the hill country environment,” Giddings says. This sale offers both commercial cattlemen and stud breeders the chance to access outcross bloodlines, many of which are unique in the world and proven to be highly productive in the South Island hill country. This opportunity for commercial beef farmers to purchase females in-calf to top stud bulls and access all their EBVs including scanning data for fat cover, eye muscle, and marbling is very rare. It allows purchasers to have calves on the ground this coming spring that carry the very best genetics in the Meadowslea herd and will allow rapid gains for any commercial breeding programme. Giddings says all these traits combine to give exceptional fertility to the herd. “This year Meadowslea stud herd conception rate of 97 per cent across 500 mixed-age cows and 98 per cent across

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FEATURE 200 R2yr heifers is testament to this and allows for a top selection of surplus females to be offered to the industry,” Giddings says. From the stud’s perspective the more of these bloodlines are available in NZ the better the chances are of being able to source sires to fit the Meadowslea selection criteria. This is becoming increasingly difficult as the New Zealand angus gene pool becomes so heavily influenced by genetics sources from the USA and Australia where feed lotting drives most of the selection criteria. In these production systems cows are also fed supplements to maintain their condition which makes their genetics unsuitable for our New Zealand grass-fed sustainable hill country production. The sale will be run as a Helsman-style auction and will be hosted on Yourbid. All lots will be individually filmed. The catalogue is available to view at www. meadowslea.co.nz from April 30. Bidding will be open at this time and will continue up until the closure of the sale at 1 pm on May 4. Online and on-farm bidding will run simultaneously and displayed on a giant screen on-farm as well as on a computer or smartphone. Viewing of the cattle with be available in the paddock in the weeks running up to the sale or in pens on sale day.

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Cows being brought in off the hill

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Haka catchment group receives substantial funding Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

ommunity resilience and land management bestpractice in South Canterbury will be bolstered through the Government’s backing of two farmer-led projects, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced. “We’re investing $610,000 over three years in the Hakataramea Sustainability Collective (HSC) to support landowners in the Hakataramea Valley to farm more sustainably and help improve community wellbeing,” O’Connor said. A Catchment Community Group, of which the HSC is one, is a gathering of people, working together, who identify with a geographical area, usually based on a river or lake catchment, or who connect socially within a farming district. Catchment Community Groups form to achieve a longterm vision, based on a thriving community and a healthy environment (from water quality to biodiversity goals). The HSC, therefore, is a community-driven platform, which helps with the protection and enhancement of the Hakataramea Valley environment by promoting profitable and sustainable farming practices and supporting the community to thrive. “Innovative thinking, knowledge sharing, and community spirit are strong values within the Haka Valley.

HSC provides a platform from which to amplify these values through the sharing of ideas, concerns, and opportunities in an open forum,” the Collective said. “The Haka is a unique farming region and despite its challenging climate, it is renowned for producing quality livestock, fibre, and produce.” Historically, the region has been dominated by dryland sheep and beef grazing with a lesser amount of cropping and deer farming. With the establishment of irrigation in the valley in more recent years, more intensified agricultural practices have been introduced, such as dairy and dairy grazing. However, extensive dryland farming remains the most predominant land use. O’Connor said, “Our goals across New Zealand are to see rural communities thriving, the primary sector driving our economic recovery from COVID-19, and to put farming on a truly sustainable path. These goals all work in tandem together. “Catchment groups focus communities on restoring our rivers - within a generation - and addressing climate change. In doing so, they weave stronger communities and build our exporting credentials. “This funding will enable the collective to develop an integrated environmental plan specific to the 89,000-hectare Hakataramea catchment and carry out demonstration projects. “Landowners will be able to use catchment-specific resources and research to grow their skills and capability and strengthen their individual Farm Environment Plans (FEPs).”

The Haka has been dominated by dryland sheep and beef grazing.

According to Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) catchment groups provide a valuable platform to promote good on-farm practices and sustainable land management and encourage positive environmental outcomes. They enable farmers to share knowledge and learn from each other; showcase innovation and success; enable farmers to access expertise, up-to-date research, and tools; improve opportunities that support on-farm decisionmaking and provide farmers with information about other funding opportunities that could boost their projects and understand new regulations. MPI’s investment in catchment groups supports more than 5,000 farmers nationwide. Of the Hakataramea funding, HSC will receive $550,000 for the catchment group project

over three years. The remaining $60,000 is additional funding allocated to the district’s successful Rural Community Hub, which the Collective received $30,000 to set up in early 2021. O’Connor said the HSC’s work reflected what was important to the area’s residents. “The hub has got off to a flying start and other community-driven initiatives they’ve got lined up will add to the resilience and vibrancy of the area,” O’Connor said. “It shows what people can achieve when they get together. Their focus on building an understanding of biodiversity through the local school and upskilling people in disaster preparedness will have longterm benefits.” The funding is on top of at least $8.4 million already

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

allocated to support catchment groups and Rural Community Hubs across the wider Canterbury region by the Government. A key component of the Government’s Fit for a Better World roadmap is to restore freshwater environments to a healthy state within a generation and grow food and fibre sector exports by an extra $44 billion over 10 years. “Catchment groups provide a valuable platform to promote good on-farm practices and sustainable land management, showcase innovation and success, and positively shift the dial for the environment,” O’Connor said. The Government has invested in more than 170 farmer-led catchment groups across the country, which are supported by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

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Preparation essential to optimise value and minimise stress Calvin Leen

PGG Wrightson Real Estate

or anyone considering offering a farm to the market, it is never too soon to prepare for that sale. We recently sold a notable South Canterbury sheep and beef farm around six months after the vendor first made contact. From our perspective, that was a quick turnaround. For them however, it seemed a long, complicated process. Although happy with the result, they hadn’t foreseen how much preparation was required. We originally took a call in June when they said: ‘We are thinking about selling in spring.’ They requested an appraisal, on which basis they entrusted us to market the property. We next needed to review the

farm’s environmental plans, including its documented fertiliser history and wintering figures, validated by their accountant. We then ensured their purchase price allocations were reviewed, and that the sale papers accurately reflected the vendors’ wishes, as per their solicitor. These steps can be time consuming. To gather all that detail we spend many hours liaising with professionals including accountants, various advisors, fertiliser companies, and solicitors. Completing this ‘office work’ necessary to prepare a farm for sale is critical, can be time consuming and requires thorough attention. One false step can be problematic: we know of one dairy farming family who were not aware they would receive a $300,000 tax bill until after they had accepted an offer for their property, which became an expensive oversight. When demand is strong and the farm is as good as this one, offering the property to the market is a straightforward

part of the process, at least when viewed objectively. For many vendors however, the farm is an asset that has defined your career and nurtured your family, often for multiple generations, in which case selling it is a major emotional upheaval. Anyone in that situation, particularly when you are carrying on farming during this period, needs to be prepared for

the stress and emotion that almost certainly comes as the marketing campaign plays out. In the case of these particular vendors, the transaction of the farm went unconditional in early December for late April settlement, and we are currently finalising the transition to ensure a smooth succession. For anyone else thinking of

selling in the next few months, this is a great time to do so, and the current market should give you an outstanding outcome, though the better prepared you are, in all respects, the more satisfactory that is likely to be. Calvin Leen is Mid-South Canterbury and North Otago Sales Manager for PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited.

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Farm succession: the elephant in the room Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

f anything is going to rupture a rural family, it’s farm succession or handing down to the next generation. So often it’s the elephant in the room, the issue no one wants to talk about. New Zealand farmers are particularly bad at succession planning, despite red flags from experts that the process should be started early and given careful thought, especially as most farms are still familyowned operations. There are some horror stories about succession-gone-wrong. Take this example, it’s a common scenario: Son leaves school early, and works long hours on the family farm for low wages. His expectation? That the farm will eventually be his. In 1992 he buys, with his wife, the neighbouring farm for $500,000 but the purchase is wholly financed by the parents through a mortgage on their own farm. However, the new farm is in the son’s name. The son works hard for no more than labourer’s wages while the capital gains on the property go to the parents. He is unable to build up savings or capital with all of the farm’s revenue going to the parents.

A few years later, father and son fall out. The son wants to go it alone, but the father won’t have a bar of it. So, the son quits. Soon after, his marriage falls to pieces. By the time the case is heard in court eight years later the not-so-new-anymore farm is valued at $1.8 million. The family agrees that the parents are entitled to a share which the court will determine. The son and estranged daughterin-law then must agree on how to divide the remaining share between them. The judge decides on a 38 per cent share for the parents, which they appeal. Two years later the Court of Appeal awards them an increased share of 42 per cent. It’s the stuff of nightmares. And it went on for a decade. The way I see it, there are a bunch of reasons why many farmers seem reluctant to hand over the reins. What if the child dies, how does the farmer get the land back? What about the dreaded daughter-in-law and divorce? They may love her like a daughter, but she will take half the land. The farmer may want to prevent a “quick flip” sale down the road by the kids. They may need access to the capital to keep them in the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed. And sadly, there is that woeful expression “the first generation builds the business, the second makes it a success, and the third

New Zealand farmers are particularly bad at succession planning, despite red flags from experts that the process should be started early. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

wrecks it”, which is deeply ingrained in the rural psyche. But the real spanner in the works is how to provide access for the child who farms while keeping peace with the family. They want to be fair to all the kids but know the farm won’t make it unless the operating child has all the land. I’m fortunate to come from a farming family that has weathered the succession hurdle ably for five generations. The 500-hectare sheep farm in North Canterbury has been in the family for 120 years. The farm was passed from my father down to my brother about 20 years ago. A patriarchal arrangement meant there was no option for a daughter to take over, but I don’t recall any strife, and the family law firm was always involved. On my father’s death the three daughters, of which I was the eldest, got the dosh. Everyone ended up happy. My brother has since

leveraged off the farm to build an aerial topdressing business. He flies and a stock manager runs the farm. So now there are two businesses for him to pass on to his children if they want them. Unfortunately, a succession and governance survey carried out a few years back by Lincoln University found farmers were notoriously bad in their succession planning. They weren’t taking the bull by the horns or looking for professional advice. Only 30 per cent of the 800 surveyed farms’ net assets had been divvied out to chosen heirs, while 55 per cent of farmers hadn’t passed on any assets. This is despite expert warnings that if succession is handled poorly, flourishing family businesses can be divided up and sold. It can lead to irreparable damage to family relationships. Add to this the fact that nowadays farming is often seen

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as a less desirable future for the younger generation. The value of farms has reduced, and young people would rather go to university, or bolt off overseas to see the world. But it’s not all bad news. There are some fantastic examples of succession plans where both the farmer and all the kids are catered for. Take the Williams family in Wairarapa. Three siblings live on the property. One runs the main farm. Another has the homestead and runs a catering and functions business, and the third has a helicopter operation. Or the Wallis family at Minaret Station, Wanaka. They have a dozen helicopters in the air every day. The station has enabled the family to develop the heli-business, build their luxury tourist lodge and acquire a game-packers. A whole range of other business interests has grown from farming due to careful succession planning.

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My heart will go on – so will the show M

Mid Canterbury is going into a winter like no other, with plenty of feed for farmers.

A view from the paddock Chris Murdoch

PROPERTY BROKERS

alk about what’s going to happen next not only in the rural sense but worldwide! This last week I normally get away for a roar shoot but due to having a full knee replacement that didn’t happen. However, my normal hunting friends still did and went to our normal hunting spot on the West Coast. And believe it or not it is in a drought. I know the coasters believe they have a drought if it doesn’t rain for a week. But this is a rare drought. Shortage of feed winter and immediate and apparently the stream we normally shoot has no water in it for at least a couple of kilometres. This river normally runs mid-thigh deep this time of year but not this year. Southland of course is another safe area for rain fall. Not this year once again- a total green drought, water restrictions for all. Silage and winter feed prices going through the roof I am told. Parts of Waikato are in the same boat. Mid Canterbury really is Gods own when it comes to green pastures and receivable water- its times like these you begin to realise how lucky we are. Here we are in almost mid-April and it’s more like spring than autumn. The birds are singing the grass is still growing and the dairy industry is having another false spring. It does worry me that this Government (and to a degree the last one) doesn’t really appreciate the benefits that irrigation has to our area. I don’t think there are many of us who don’t believe in global warming or climate change to some degree. Looking forward to 25 to 50 years (not my problem) I wonder

if our rivers are going to start to dry up and we lose the ability that we have now to irrigate as and when we feel like it. There is no doubt that the local glaciers are ret. And we rely on them to supply water to our main rivers and therefore our underground aquifers. I believe we should be and in fact should have already started really working out how we store more water for irrigation during the winter months and release it for the summer months. A bit of forward planning now could save our bacon in the future. More storage, more lakes but more support for our rivers in the future. What’s the chances of any Government agreeing to that? The only other thing that scared me a bit this month was an article on the Australian Wine industry and how they were letting the grapes rot on the ground because China has stopped importing their wine. A huge export earner dead in its tracks. Could we be next? Let’s hope not but if China decides she doesn’t like us anymore as she did the Aussies bang goes our dairy industry. Nice to see we are trying hard to get other markets afloat. We may well need them in the future. The views expressed in this column are Chris’s and do not reflect the opinion of his employer or Property Brokers.

Here to help I am available to you as a source of information, advocacy, connection and support. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require assistance.

Jacqui Dean MP for Waitaki waitaki.mp@parliament.govt.nz 127 Thames St, Oamaru 0800 MP WAITAKI

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ounting productions during Covid is only for the brave. Variety Theatre Ashburton (VTA) belongs to that company of the courageous. After it was forced to cancel two productions of Jesus Christ Superstar due to the pandemic, it decided it couldn’t do that again. It wasn’t fair to the society and its members or to its talented group of musicians and dancers or to Mid Canterbury’s theatre-going public. So, at a time when theatre companies around New Zealand were scrapping shows or delaying them until next year, it decided to go ahead with Born Free – The Oscar Winners. The government had just imposed its red light system on the country but that didn’t deter Variety Theatre Ashburton. It took a deep breath and, after consultation with Ashburton Event Centre, announced “the show will go on.” It had as much idea as the rest of New Zealand about when the country would move from red to orange, but was confident that, when its Born Free season was staged from May 26-29, there’d be no limitation on the number of people who could attend the show. When just before Easter, the government lifted the restriction, Variety Theatre felt vindicated. “Our belief that we could do it,

was justified,” VTA President, Nicky Milmine said. “Instead of starting from scratch, our show has been rehearsing for several weeks and is on course to present a glitzy Academy Award production later this month.” “We did it for Ashburton’s talent but also for our community who’ve been denied the best of local productions and artists for too long.” Born Free – The Oscar Winners provides a montage of songs that have won the Academy Award over the last 90 years. To the solos, duos, trios, ensemble numbers and stunning dance routines, the show adds the glamour of a Hollywood night out. There’s the opportunity for the audience to dress up, stroll the red carpet and be photographed in the foyer before moving into the theatre to enjoy the spectacular set, stellar costumes and Oscar winning music enhanced by the Event Centre’s impressive sound and lighting. The songs range from Lullaby of Broadway to This Is Me from The Greatest Showman and in between are some of the immortal movie numbers such as Somewhere Over the Rainbow, White Christmas, Moon River, Unchained Melody and Skyfall. “Titanic was a great blockbuster and so was the Academy Award winning song, My Heart Will Go On,” said Nicky Milmine. “So will the show. We were determined it would succeed.”

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Farming

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Time to prepare a winter feed budget Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

ate autumn is an ideal time to do a feed budget to help meet livestock performance targets and set up pastures for spring. But what is a feed budget? In a NZ Grassland publication, the author M.A.Monteith describes it as “a statement of available feed and likely stock feed requirements in an immediate short-term future period. “The actual period involved will vary according to the management problem requiring a decision. The feed “income” side of the budget is comprised of current reserves plus expected growth,” Monteith says. The feed “expenditure” side is derived from the numbers and kinds of stock on hand, their feed intakes associated with the performance expected from them over the budget period, and the pasture reserves remaining at the end of the budgeting period. The unit of feed used in the budget must consider differences in feed quality.

“Digestible dry matter (DDM) is probably the most practical unit. However, there are farm situations where there is no knowledge of pasture growth rates and digestibility of herbage e.g., tussock country,” he says. In such cases where feed budgeting can only be done by using “ewe” or “grazing day” units, the budget will be less accurate. “If grazing days are used, it is important to note the stock performance which is associated with the achievement of the expected number of grazing days,” Monteith says. “A comparison of the income and expense sides of the feed budget will show a feed surplus or deficit.” All the possible uses of surplus feed should be noted and the return per kilogram of DDM calculated for each of them. Likewise with a feed deficit. All the possible means of eliminating the deficit should be noted and the cost per kilogram of digestible dry matter calculated for each of them. Having ranked the alternatives on a pasture or cost basis, consideration can then be given to any other important non-profit constraints, and a decision made which best incorporates all factors.

Feed budgeting in some form or other is practiced to a greater or lesser extent by all New Zealand farmers. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

In a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand Feed Planning article, farm systems scientist Tom Fraser outlined the value of carrying out a feed budget to drive profitability and reduce farmer stress levels. He says a feed budget will identify deficits and surpluses and highlight any red flags so actions can be taken early. “Doing something is better than waiting for disaster to happen and every time you do a feed budget you will get better at it.” Farmers in different parts of the country are going into winter

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with different challenges. Many regions have had a wet summer so feed quality could be an issue, other areas such as Southland and the West Coast are very dry and facing feed deficits. Everyone is affected by omicron-related supply-chain disruptions, he says. “On most sheep and beef farms in Canterbury the feed issues are in complete contrast to most years. Pasture covers are very good and winter crops are looking great also, plenty of silage and hay available. The main concern is how

to get pastures cleaned up (particularly on hill country) so that feed quality is not an issue in spring,” Fraser says. All these challenges build a strong case for putting together a feed budget going into winter. Fraser says a feed budget will allow decisions to be made early, feed to be allocated to priority stock, and ensure animals are fed to meet their requirements, not management requirements. This means focusing on feeding what the animals require to achieve production objectives.

www.guardianonline.co.nz “Feeding to management requirements is what the farmer wants to happen so, putting animals into an area and wanting them to stay there for a set period of time will meet the farmer’s needs but not necessarily feed the animals to the level they require.” A feed budget is simply allocating potential feed supply to meet animal demand. This plan could cover a whole farm for one year, part of a farm for a short period, or even just one paddock for one stock class for a day. “It’s not an exact science but it will help you make decisions.” The information required to put together a feed budget includes stock classes and numbers, stock weights and production status (maintenance or growth), feed available which includes pasture covers (sward sticks will help measure covers and help calibrate the eye), and supplementary feed (grain, hay nitrogen). With all the necessary information on hand, Fraser recommends working through each class of stock to calculate their requirements and total feed demand. It is important to include feed utilization which will vary depending on the quality of the feed and climate. Feed utilisation is the feed actually ingested and used by an animal- for a winter forage crop, feed can be lost to mud, trampling- there is always a degree of wastage with any feed. Fraser says it is important to note that baleage is not 100 per cent drymatter, a good estimate is 50 per cent drymatter. He says winter is the easiest time to do a feed budget as growth rates don’t vary much through the colder months. Farmers who are going into winter with long pasture covers and tag need to address the issue of quality before spring. Fraser recommends using whatever class of stock is available to clean up areas where quality is important going to spring, rather than tackling the whole farm. This, for example, could be where twin-bearing ewes are set-stocked for lambing. With potential processing delays, lambs should be maintained, and if they’re not up to weight, consider buying supplements to increase growth rates and achieve target weights. Weight can be inadvertently taken off animals when trying to eke out feed, or when priority feeding other classes of stock. e.g., Pushing feed into ewes for flushing while lambs could start to lose condition. It is common to take the weight off breeding cows over winterfarmers will often say they winter off their own backs. Sometimes farmers will

take the weight of an animal (mainly because they are trying to make available feed last for a longer period than it should, underfeeding ) even though it is not their intention to do so To work out the cost-effectiveness of a supplement, Fraser suggests using the cost of grain as the benchmark, as this is a high-quality feed with high utilization. “It is never efficient to take weight off an animal. It takes three times the amount of energy to put on a kilogram of liveweight on an animal than what you’re saving by taking weight off.” In view of the possible inaccuracies .and the need for weighing stock, is feed budgeting worth the effort, asks Monteith? In his opinion, yes, but only where managers are striving to extract more profit from their stock enterprises. Firstly,to condemn or reject feed budgeting as a management aid because of the imperfection of the information it uses will tend to keep dairy and meat and wool production management as an art rather than encouraging its development as a sophisticated skill. Second, feed budgeting is of value in that it encourages rational and logical considerations of, and assigns priorities to, the many factors of animal pasture husbandry which must be integrated to best advantage. Third, feed budgeting is an effective way of forcing farm managers to consider and assess feed supply and feed demand and the current and future balance between them regularly. Fourth, it “encourages a better understanding of the milk, meat, and wool production processes.” The relevance and impact of new knowledge can be quickly assessed in practical terms and therefore better definition of research avenues and their priorities are encouraged. The concept is not new, Monteith says. “Feed budgeting in some form or other has been practiced to a greater or lesser extent by all New Zealand farmers and farmers before them right back to nomadic herdsmen days probably. What is new is the improved knowledge of the mechanics of milk, meat, and wool production and an awareness of how a detailed and formalized feed budget may assist management to best exploit this knowledge. It has recently become more formalized and detailed because of efforts to squeeze even greater productivity and profit out of New Zealand’s ability to grow feed from traditional grass/clover swards.”

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Farming

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Federated Farmers sees a glimmer of hope for GM Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

s reports on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions continue to be rolled out, it was the government’s reaction to another report - the Productivity Commission’s recommendations on genetic engineering - that caught Federated Farmers (Feds) attention. “Farmers are intensely interested in further reducing their world-leading Green House Gas (GHG) emissions footprint per kilogram of food produced, but the Federation has been saying for several years now that we need new tools to do so,” Feds president and climate change spokesperson Andrew Hoggard says. “Genetic modification (GM) is one of those new technologies that offer exciting potential.” Last year, the Productivity

Commission’s ‘Reaching for the Frontier’ final report said the Government should undertake a full review of the regulation of GM, to ensure it is fit for purpose and supports domestic innovation. “We certainly agreed with that at the time. And at the end of last month, there was finally a flicker of interest from the government,” Hoggard said. In its April 8 “immediate recommendations” reacting to the frontier business report, the government had said: “Government has long considered that the New Zealand brand and value is best met by maintaining a ‘proceed with caution’ approach. However, we consider it timely to start informed conversations around New Zealand’s use of GM technologies.” William Rolleston, past president of Federated Farmers, Canterbury farmer, and expert on GM answered some questions for Guardian Farming on the issue. “Methane emissions are generated from the breakdown of cellulose. Replacing cellulose with more lipids (fats) would mean

fewer methane emissions for the energy intake of the animal (cow/ sheep). Using GM, AgResearch has developed ryegrass that has an increased lipid content. Lab studies suggest that for every one percent increase in lipids there is a five percent decrease in methane. The GM ryegrass they have developed would mean an overall reduction in methane of up to 23 per cent - doubling our 2030 methane target reduction. “The scientists also tell me that there is a reduction in nitrous oxide emissions through this system. “GM, and in particular gene editing, could be used to reduce methane-producing bacteria in the gut of animals, breed lower methane emitting cattle and sheep, and improve productivity to reduce the carbon footprint of our agricultural products. The recently released report on climate change says we have a rapidly closing window to reduce emissions so I would contend we should use all the technologies we have available to us including genetic modification. “How would GM affect NZ’s brand? It wouldn’t. The debate

on the safety of GM food is long over. Trillions of meals containing GM food have been eaten around the world without even a headache attributable to GM. The world has moved on from the GM aversion of 20 years ago. GM crops are now grown on 190 million hectares in 29 countries (that’s a compound annual growth rate of 23 per cent since the first GM crops in 1996) and another 42 countries (including Europe) import GM crops for feed, food, and processing. The market is far more interested in New Zealand’s effective contribution to climate change and biodiversity (predator control),” Rolleston says. “This question of branding was looked at by various government and advice bodies in Australia. The conclusion was that the GM-free status imposed by some state governments discouraged agricultural science investment, created no product premium, and imposed net costs on farmers and the community in the range of tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. The mainland Australian states

have now dumped their GM moratoria over the last ten years while Australian food products remain in high demand. Only the agricultural minnows of Tasmania, ACT, and Kangaroo Island remain GM-free. “Given that co-existence between GM and non-GM crops has been demonstrated in Australia and internationally, New Zealand would be better to develop a co-existence model and let farmers decide for themselves rather than a de facto statecontrolled strategy of “GM Free” for which there is no justification in science or economics. “Would GM help reduce nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions in any way? Yes, but in what way and how quickly is for the future to decide. The development of gene editing by Doudna and Chapentier in 2015 for which they received the 2020 Nobel Prize is revolutionising plant and animal breeding. While animals themselves are not net emitters of CO2, increased carbon capture through faster and more targeted plant breeding and more efficient photosynthesis

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www.guardianonline.co.nz are two possibilities that are already being explored using gene editing. Nitrogen fixation within the plant itself that reduces, or even eliminates, the need for nitrogenous fertilisers is also under development. “Increased growth rates and reduced nitrous oxide are already a feature of AgResearch’s HME grass,” Rolleston says. “Not all of these possibilities will necessarily happen or be commercially successful but a more appropriate regulatory regime for genetic modification which enables innovation will mean New Zealand scientists and farmers can accelerate the journey to carbon neutrality, leading the world in environmental stewardship and product quality,” Rolleston says. “There were no real surprises in the Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2020 report released last month, and predictably it drew the usual unscientific and onesided braying from Greenpeace about “industrial” dairy,” Hoggard says. “To give mainstream media a little bit of credit, recognition that methane is a short-lived gas that deserves different treatment/ targets, and that carbon dioxide is a bigger challenge is creeping more and more into their reports. Our consistent messages are getting through. “But it was another recent report that is more significant for farmers on the climate change front. This is about the

Using GM, AgResearch has developed ryegrass that has an increased lipid content.

government’s recommendation from the Productivity Commission’s 2021 ‘Frontier Businesses’ report that a review of NZ’s genetic modification regulations is overdue. The government has said it is time to start “informed conversations’ around New Zealand’s use of GM technologies. “It’s about time. We’ve been saying for years farmers are on board with further improving our world-leading emissions

footprint per kilogram of meat and milk, but we need new tools to do it. Gene editing is one of the more promising technologies on that front. “It is a truly ridiculous situation, for example, there are commercial trials of the GM ryegrass developed by AgResearch (that’s research and development paid for by Kiwi taxpayers) going on in the US because our genetic modification rules are so far

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

behind the times. Field trials of this ryegrass show it can reduce emissions, nitrate leaching, and enhances drought resistance. “GM probably also holds the only truly viable and sustainable solutions to control possums and other pests, meaning a whole lot of trees that sequester carbon aren’t chomped to destruction. “Not every farmer is in favour of GM, we know that. And there’s resistance

among some consumers. But for goodness sake, can’t we start discussing the pros and cons, with a platform of sound scientific knowledge rather than emotion? There is no reason why some farmers can’t continue to be GM free – it happens in the US and Australia. We just have to be smart about the way we manage ourselves, and that starts with a proper discussion led by the government, “Hoggard says.

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Farming

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Hold up at the meatworks leaves farmers hanging Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

eatworks around the country are struggling to meet demand due to covid absenteeism. “Yes, there is a hold up,” said Federated Farmers Provincial President David Clark. “We would like to be weighing lambs (to send off to the meatworks) but have been delayed a week in doing that. Fortunately, that is not critical for us as we can hold them another week- we have enough feed. “But it is a real problem for farmers in Southland who are drought-affected and can’t get stock off the farm. “Here in Mid Canterbury, if anyone is impacted it’s the dairy farmers with culled cows going to the works. Farmers

are having to hold onto cows for longer than they would otherwise have chosen to do so.” The announcement by the Government that an additional 500 meat processing workers from overseas will be allowed into New Zealand will help ease the sector’s chronic labour shortages, said the Meat Industry Association (MIA). “We are approximately 2,000 people short, and this situation is being exacerbated by a number of our people isolating or having to stay at home to look after family members due to Covid,” said Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of MIA. “Right now, there simply aren’t enough people to process every part of the carcass to maximise its value so these additional workers will certainly help alleviate pressure in the industry. “However, with 12-14 weeks left to run this season, we are relying on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Immigration New Zealand to ensure they

have robust and efficient processes in place to grant these visas as soon as possible so our companies can get these migrants into New Zealand and into jobs.” “Farmers are being forced to hold onto livestock longer as meatworks across the country have wait times stretching up to six weeks,” National

Agriculture spokesperson Barbara Kuriger said. “This adds even more pressure to our farmers, with some having to dip into their winter baleage supply early or buy in costly feed supplement alternatives.” “We would hope that now that we have passed the peak of the Omicron outbreak, we will start to see a return to

normality and as the isolation rules change the expectation is that this will start to correct itself,” said Clark. “As a country, we have got to get back to life as normal. The rest of the world is doing so, and we need to as well. Ultimately, we need Covid to be treated as a normal cold or flu. And that can’t happen soon enough.”

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Dairy Focus

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MPI forced us into receivership We will not go away and will fight for the compensation that is rightfully owed to us.

Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

f anyone has been put through the wringer the past few years, it’s Aad and Wilma van Leeuwen. The South Canterbury dairy giants and leaders in robotic milking technology were the first to bear the brunt of the MBovis outbreak in 2017 which caused them, after a long battle, to lose their 14 farms to the receivers. The whole process was a nightmare, says Aad, although there is some light at the end of the tunnel these days- they are leasing the properties back with the hope that their six children will be able to, over time take over the leases. Of MBovis, the couple says it was more than heart-breaking sending their animals off to be slaughtered and seeing the dreams of their sharemilkers and managers shattered. And their own dream, born of building the business over 35 years and involving their children. “We were the first property to be picked up (with MBovis) - we actually notified MPI about the disease,” Aad says. “We didn’t know what it was. We got blamed at the start, but MPI realised that no one knew where it came from after a while. “It wasn’t our fault- we didn’t know – and still don’t know where it came from,” he says. “4000 of our animals were put down- cows, young stock, you name it. MPI had no idea how to approach the whole thing. There was no need for MPI to go in and slaughter all the animals- the disease is

The extended van Leeuwen family. Aad and Wilma intend to retire in a couple of years leaving the farming to their six children. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

perfectly manageable- the rest of the world does it. “We dealt with it, but most people affected just went away and got out of the industry altogether. Some left because they couldn’t handle what was happening to the stock.” The van Leeuwen’s are bitter, blaming Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) for not compensating them properly for their cows. They are embroiled in a legal battle with MPI over compensation. Aad said it was not just about themselves, “…but also for all those others out there that have suffered losses after MPI promised them never to be worse or better off after

slaughtering their stock.” “When you are dealing with a business that has been built up over 35 years with hard work, you work on the assumption that if MPI comes and kills your animals it must compensate you. But when compensation doesn’t happen for years, the farmer is left in a desperate situation. We think there should have been money paid upfront to secure the farmer, with eradication following that critical step,” Aad said. “It’s a mockery.” In 2020 the van Leeuwen’s won a victory in the High Court after the judge rejected MPI’s bid to strike out the case

and ruled the van Leeuwen’s case seeking full compensation could proceed. MPI then agreed to a special resolution process and the claim will now go to arbitration While the van Leeuwen’s, who lease nine dairy farms and six dry stock farms, have already been paid out $6.3 million by MPI, they are seeking further compensation for professional consultancy fees, bank charges, and assorted other costs. “We have experts that have worked out that the compensation still due to us is about $12m. Now MPI is refusing to pay us anything further,” said Aad.

The case is scheduled for a five-day hearing session before the arbitrator makes a binding decision. Lawyer for the van Leeuwen’s Grant Cameron of GCA Lawyers says the arbitration process is fraught with difficulty. “The arbitration process has only been used by farmers a couple of times in the 20 years of the Biosecurity Act. The farmer has to weigh up the time, the cost, the stress, and of course the litigation risk if they lose on the day. It’s a very expensive process that puts them off. Virtually no farmers have gone for arbitration for these reasons.”

www.guardianonline.co.nz “The farmer is up against the government- the regulator- which creates barriers and a situation where farmers aren’t being properly compensated.” A large number of farmers have been affected by MBovis but until the outbreak on the van Leeuwen farm there was the belief it hadn’t been prevalent in New Zealand. Since then, there is evidence that it did exist before this outbreak, Cameron says. MPI did not have a proper plan in place at the time the van Leeuwen’s were affected. “Under the Biosecurity Act, there is a clear provision for proper compensation payable for the effects of the regulator’s (MPI’s) powers. The social policy position is that with serious matters like MBovis there must be an inducement for farmers to report a disease. If not reported it could be economically devastating to the country, for instance, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. “If farmers are going to report an outbreak, they should be no worse off and the Biosecurity Act has a provision that recognises this. “What has become evident and not just with the van Leeuwen’s is that there is reluctance on the part of MPI to produce any cash at an early stage. There is a very reluctant ‘dragging of the feet’ approach to putting the farmer in the position where they are not going to be any worse off. “And the practice that seems to have evolved is that MPI will ask farmers for their submissions as to what compensation they think is due and will then form its own view that is dramatically below what the farmer has proposed. MPI then looks to pay out a

figure leaving the balance in dispute. The Biosecurity Act only provides one mechanism for solving arguments: arbitration, Cameron says. There is a statutory handbrake on farmers getting what they are entitled to under the legislation. The van Leeuwen’s giant dairy operation, consisting of 14 farms, five dairy barns, and 10,000 cows went into receivership in April last year after having capital structure issues with its second-tier financer. The van Leeuwen’s had sold two dairy farms prior to receivership and were working to sell the remainder to Rural Land Company (RLC) when they were put in receivership. Subsequently, they sold their assets to RLC for $114 million. They now lease the operation back with the expectation that their children take over the leases in the future. “When we got MBovis the bank wanted to get rid of us because we were diseased. They had no faith in MPI paying us compensation,” Aad says. “That led to us obtaining second-tier financing which came at a huge cost. For us to be able to retain our farming business we had to sell to RLC and lease the assets back – effectively losing ownership of our assets because of MPI exercising its biosecurity powers.” MPI needs to take a hard look at itself, Aad said. The whole process was absolutely appalling. “We feel MPI didn’t play fairly, and their actions pushed us into receivership, probably in the hope we would go away. Well, we will not go away and will fight for the compensation that is rightfully owed to us.” Continued on P20

The big dairy barn at Makikihi runs at a leaching level of two and five and does 1 million kg/ms. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Aad van Leeuwen: 4000 of our animals were put down- cows, young stock, you name it.

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Dairy Focus

From P19 “A lot of people are watching our court case to see what happens,” says Aad. “A certain amount of compensation has been paid to us already but it’s not nearly enough. “By the time MPI has paid court costs I calculate they will be looking at about $18m.” Aad says they will still operate the big robotic farm at Makikihi and the lease company will be operated by his six children. They are at an age where they need to take over, they are saying enough is enough, he says. “RLC bought all the assets including the barns and we lease these. We continue to run the farms to give some of our children a farming future. Operating the (five) dairy barns is certainly a positive for us, Aad says. They are environmentally friendly. The big operation at Makikihi runs at a leaching level of two and five and does 1million kg/ ms. Environmentally they are very strong items. Van Leeuwen Dairy Group was started by the van Leeuwens, who arrived in South Canterbury in the early 1990s and built a 600ha farm south of Timaru, installing robotic milking machines and eventually adding a

number of satellite dairy and drystock farms. The farms in South Canterbury and North Otago total over 7000 hectares and are a mixture of seasonal supply pastoral dairy farms, hybrid grass-based grazing and cut and carry winter barn farms, and dairy support blocks. But things are on the up for the van Leeuwen’s. “Since MPI disappeared off the scene things on the ground have markedly improved,” says Aad. “Because of the restrictions they put on the whole farming operation, we couldn’t bring any animals in, cows got slaughtered, it paralysed our whole operation. This was ongoing for years.” As for the future? After the huge mental toll this M-Bovis exercise has taken on Aad and Wilma they are looking at retiring in a couple of years leaving the farming up to their “experienced and more than capable” children. “Our aim is for the family to be a market leader in farming systems that are sustainable with the new environmental regulations, making sure the business is well-positioned to capitalise on future dairy profitability,” Aad says.

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A lot of people are watching our court case to see what happens. A certain amount of compensation has been paid to us already but it’s not nearly enough. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

The van Leeuwen’s giant dairy operation, consisting of 14 farms, five dairy barns, and 10,000 cows went into receivership in April last year.

Since MPI disappeared off the scene things on the ground have markedly improved for the Leeuwens.

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Dairy goat mineral requirements compared to other ruminants Y

ou would be forgiven for assuming - given the limited research - that a goat’s nutritional requirements slot in somewhere between that of sheep and cattle. However, when it comes to mineral nutrition, dairy goats have different and very specific nutritional requirements. If these requirements are not met, the animal will not perform, and worse still will be subject to a higher level of disease. Let’s start with one of the key macro elements; phosphorous. Goats typically have a lower requirement for phosphorous than dairy cattle. They seem to be better at recycling it and while they have higher levels in their saliva, losses during rumination are lower than that of a cow. In contrast to this, their calcium requirements are quite high and should be set at around half the total phosphorous level in the diet based on the feed ingredients. It’s always a good idea to supplement some vitamin D into their diet to ensure dietary

uptake of calcium is maximised, particularly if your goats are housed in sheds. Goats are generally slightly more efficient at absorbing magnesium than dairy cattle, however, we normally suggest similar levels are fed during the transition and early lactation period. Sodium and chloride requirements are also similar if a little lower than those required by cattle. Copper requirements for a goat are many times higher than that required by sheep or cattle. It has been shown that a goat has less than 1/10th of the copper liver storage capacity that of cattle. Another all-important mineral for goats is selenium. Although availability can be compromised during rumination, rumen organisms are good at combining selenium with sulphur to form unavailable compounds. When it comes to our goat supplements, we tend to favour the form that is naturally synthesised by plants; selenomethionine. A cost-effective alternative is to use a rumen-protected form of

When it comes to mineral nutrition, dairy goats have different and very specific nutritional requirements. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

selenium. We will often blend the two forms together, as they each offer unique advantages. This mineral is also important during lactation. Provided the dam has received good selenium nutrition during gestation, both calves and goat kids are born with very high levels of selenium stored in the liver and kidneys. Iodine is not popular in the diet of dairy goats due to the unpredictable levels that can come through into the milk.

However, goats typically have a high requirement for this mineral, and New Zealand grasses, unfortunately, provide very low levels. The good news is that selenium, although it doesn’t take the place of iodine, works in tandem with iodine in the efficient synthesis of thyroid hormones. Lastly, there is cobalt. Goats, unlike cattle, seem to be quite efficient at extracting cobalt from feed. Cobalt is an essential pre-curser element for the

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FENCING FEATURE

The lifestylers guide to fencing: how to get started M

ost lifestyle properties will need fencing. If you’re keeping livestock, you’ll need fences to keep them in, to manage your grazing pasture, and to keep unwanted animals out. If you’re running a horticultural operation or planning to turn your entire property into an animal-free zone you’ll still need to maintain boundary fencing to keep any wandering stock out. You can either elect to do this fencing yourself or use a contractor. There is a great deal of satisfaction to be gained from doing your own fencing, but it isn’t as easy as it looks. The best advice is if you’ve never fenced before - start with some professional help. Get a contractor in, work with them, watch and learn. One way to save money but still feel a sense of accomplishment is to have a contractor drive all the fence posts with a tractor and rammer and for you to finish all the wirework - that way you can say “I built that fence”... While it’s good to get it all sorted at once, you don’t need to deal with all the fencing in one go. Get any boundary fences sorted out first. Use temporary electric fencing to split paddocks up - to work out what works, then put in permanent fences over a period (even years).

If you have the opportunity to set out fencing from scratch - whether it’s starting with a completely bare block, or by taking out existing fences - put in central races or lanes to make shifting livestock easier. It lets you graze paddocks in any order that suits the conditions at the time. You won’t have to move a mob of animals through more than one paddock to get to another, and you’ll find it easier to get animals into pens or yards when you need to. It’s better to run a fence line straight up a hill than around it. Straight up a hill is easier to build for a start. If you’re in a winter snow area, fences running up/ down a slope will suffer less from snow damage. If you have to cross a slope, put the fence along terracing or more gently sloping areas which will be less prone to sliding snow. Think carefully about what type or height of fence you put in. Conventional height fences are always a safe bet. The livestock you’re running now might not be what you have on the property in the future. A line of fence is only as good as the strainer assemblies at each end. Those are the bigger posts that the fence is tied off at. Learn how to build a solid and sound strainer assembly and you can fence anything. Try to avoid putting fences at the

bottom of steep slopes; the last few metres of pasture directly above the fence line are inaccessible to grazing stock, the effective fence height is significantly lower on the uphill side of the fence, livestock might get trapped up against the fence, or injured sliding downhill into the fence and landslips can destroy or damage the fence. And lastly, is easier to move cattle uphill than downhill.

There is a great deal of satisfaction to be had from doing your own fencing. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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Dairy Focus

BULLS AND CALF SALES FEATURE

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EBVs: what are they and how do they work? Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

ith in-calf female cattle and bulls’ sales approaching at this time of the year, buyers will be prowling through the catalogues of their favourite studs looking for animals that will suit their farms. These days Estimated Breeding Values (EBV’s) play a large part in the choice the buyer makes. To follow is a brief rundown, for the uninitiated of what EBV’s are all about. EBV’s are an animal’s genetic merit which is passed on to its progeny. While it is impossible to know the exact breeding value of an animal, for performance traits it is possible to make good estimates. These involve the performance of an animal within a contemporary group, compared directly to the average

of other animals in that group. A contemporary group consists of animals of the same sex and age class within a herd, run under the same management conditions, and treated equally. Indirect comparisons are made between animals reared in different contemporary groups, using pedigree links between the groups. Units of measurement for each particular trait are expressed as EBV’s. These are shown as positive or negative differences between an individual animal’s genetic difference and the genetic base to which the animal is compared. For example, a bull with an EBV of positive 50 kg for 600-day weight is estimated to have genetic merit 50 kg above the breed base of 0 kg. EBV’s are not critical, but rather the differences between animals that should be viewed as being “above or below breed average” for a particular trait. EBV’s cannot be validly compared with EBVs for any other breed. For this article, we are looking at Limousins. The Limousin is a French breed of beef cattle from France reared for

EBVs are expressed in the units of measurement for each particular trait.

beef. Whilst EBVs provide the best basis for the comparison of the genetic merit of animals reared in different environments and management conditions, they can only be used to compare animals analysed within that same analysis. EBV’s do not provide information on all the traits that must be considered during the selection of functional animals. However, they do provide an estimate of an animal’s genetic merit for a range of production traits, which in all situations, should be used in conjunction with visual assessment for

other traits of importance (such as structural soundness, temperament, fertility etc). A recommended practice is to firstly select breeding stock based on EBVs and to then select from this group to ensure that the final selections are otherwise acceptable. EBVs are published for a range of traits covering fertility, calving ease, milking ability, growth, carcass merit, and feed efficiency. It is important to achieve a balance between the different groups of traits and to place emphasis on those traits that

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

are important to the herd, markets, and environment. One of the advantages of having a comprehensive range of EBVs is that it is possible to avoid extremes in particular traits and select animals with balanced overall performance. According to Limousin NZ the following criteria apply: • Calving ease EBVs (percentage) are based on calving difficulty scores, birth weights, and gestation length information. More positive EBVs are favourable and indicate easier calving. The EBV for direct calving

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www.guardianonline.co.nz ease indicates the influence of the sire on calving ease in purebred females calving at two years of age. The EBV for daughters’ calving ease indicates how easily that sire’s daughters will calve at two years of age. • Gestation length EBV (days) is an estimate of the time from conception to the birth of the calf. Lower (negative) gestation length EBVs indicate shorter gestation length and therefore easier calving and increased growth after birth. • Birth weight EBV (kg) is based on the measured birth weight of progeny, adjusted for dam age. The lower the value the lighter the calf at birth and the lower the likelihood of a difficult birth. This is particularly important when selecting sires for use over heifers. • 200-day growth EBV (kg) is calculated from the weight of progeny taken between 80 and 300 days of age. Values are adjusted to 200 days and for the age of the dam. This EBV is the best single estimate of an animal’s genetic merit for growth to early ages. • 400-day weight EBV (kg) is calculated from the weight of progeny taken between 301 and 500 days of age, adjusted to 400 days and for age of dam. This EBV is

BULLS AND CALF SALES FEATURE

The absolute value of any EBV is not critical, but rather the differences in EBVs between animals. Animals should be viewed as being “above or below breed average” for a particular trait.

the best single estimate of an animal’s genetic merit for yearling weight. • 600-day weight EBV (kg) is calculated from the weight of progeny taken between 501 and 900 days of age, adjusted to 600 days and for the age of dam. This EBV is the best single estimate of an animal’s genetic merit for growth beyond yearling age. • Mature cow weight EBV (kg) is based on the cow weight when the calf is weighed for weaning, adjusted to five years of age. This EBV is an estimate of the genetic difference in cow weight at five years of age and is an indicator of growth at later ages and

potential feed maintenance requirements of the females in the breeding herd. Steer breeders wishing to grow animals out to a larger weight may also use the mature cow weight EBV. • Milk EBV (kg) is an estimate of an animal’s milking ability. For sires, this EBV indicates the effect of the daughter’s milking ability, inherited from the sire, on the 200-day weights of her calves. For dams, it indicates her milking ability. • Scrotal size EBV (cm) is calculated from the circumference of the scrotum taken between 300 and 700 days of age and adjusted to 400 days of age. This EBV

is an estimate of an animal’s genetic merit for scrotal size. • Days to calving EBV (days) indicate the fertility of the daughters of the sire. It is the time interval between the day when the female is first exposed to a bull in a paddock mating to the day when she subsequently calves. A negative EBV for days to calving indicates a shorter interval from bull-in date to calving and therefore relatively higher fertility. • Carcase weight EBV (kg) is based on abattoir carcase records and is an indicator of the genetic differences in carcase weight at the standard age of 650 days. • Eye muscle area EBV (sq

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cm) is calculated from measurements from live animal ultrasound scans and from abattoir carcase data, adjusted to a standard 300 kg carcase. This EBV estimates genetic differences in eye muscle area at the 12/13th rib site of a 300 kg dressed carcase. More positive EBVs indicate better muscling on animals • Rib fat and rump fat EBVs (mm) are calculated from measurements of subcutaneous fat depth at the 12/13 rib site and the P8 rump site (from live animal ultrasound scans and from abattoir carcases) and are adjusted to a standard 300 kg carcase. These EBVs are indicators of the genetic differences in fat distribution on a standard 300 kg carcase. • Intramuscular fat EBV (%) is an estimate of the genetic difference in the percentage of intramuscular fat (marbling) at the 12/13th rib site in a 300 kg carcase. Depending on market targets, larger more positive values are generally more favourable. • Docility EBV (percentage) is calculated from docility scores taken at weaning or shortly afterwards. This EBV is an estimate of the genetic difference in the percentage of progeny that will be scored as docile or restless (scores 1 or 2).

Dairy Focus

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CALVING PREPARATION FEATURE

It takes a team to achieve autumn calving goals alving is a busy time of the year, and in both spring and autumn, there are many factors to consider. Key focuses include managing nutritional strategies, setting up pens before calving, predetermining weaning targets, and making sure everyone is well informed of goals and targets. While the overarching goal looks similar from spring to autumn calving, they require slightly different perspectives. A large proportion of farmers calve cows in the spring to maximise pasture grazing during summer. However, with increasingly volatile climatic conditions, some have transitioned to split-calving or a solely autumn-based operation. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and there are a number of factors to consider. Supporting the calves’ immune systems is key to setting them up for success. Immunity can be improved when calves drink 10 per cent of their body weight as quality colostrum within the first 12 hours of life.

There is no way to guarantee this will happen if calves are left with the cows, however, if they get into the calf shed quickly, there is more control over colostrum intake. It also means the colostrum itself can be tested and the highest immunoglobulin (IgG) colostrum can then be fed, giving the calf the best immune-boosting start to life. The next step in supporting the immune system is managing the 10-day blues. This is when the passive immunity from quality colostrum slowly starts to drop off within the calf, and their own immunity starts to ramp up. However, it takes until the calf is 10-14 days old for its immune system to be high enough to manage any potential risks. Managing the calves’ environment is key to offsetting any potential dip in the live weight and fighting off any infections. Thankfully, with autumn calving comes autumn weather. Days are warm and grass is growing. Fighting off environmental challenges with a well-ventilated

Managing the calves’ environment is key to offsetting any potential dip in the live weight and fighting off any infections. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

calf shed, free-draining bedding, and an effective disinfectant programme, is key to supporting healthy calves. When moisture builds up within the bedding alongside the warm weather, it can become a welcoming environment for bacteria. Maintaining healthy calves means keeping them comfortable and dry. Topping up with bedding to keep the

calves dry not only aids in calf comfort but alongside disinfectant, can keep the bacterial population at bay. Warm weather during autumn calving means calves can typically go outside earlier. Exposure to pasture in the early stages encourages intakes and alongside a quality calf meal, drives rumen development. The more efficient the rumen growth and

development, the more rapid the rumen papillae can develop, increasing nutrient absorption from the meal and pasture. Grass over autumn is typically high in energy and easily digested by the calf. Complemented by a highenergy, high-starch calf pellet, this enhances the papillae development and therefore adds to meeting the target growth rates. The key step in staying on target for weaning weights is to weigh calves. Weighing calves before they are being weaned also helps in understanding the extent of the post-weaning drop and therefore how to manage it. However, if the calf rearing team doesn’t know what to aim for, they may miss something. Communicating the plan to team members is vital. Everyone needs to know what they are responsible for, when it needs to be done, and why it is important. Brief everyone on the plan before calving, and then put it up in a place where people can easily refer to it.

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CALVING PREPARATION FEATURE

Trailblazer cracks the code on raising calves F

eeding high volumes of milk to calves once-aday (OAD) – in tandem with live probiotics and digestive enzymes – is revolutionising early weightgain and lifetime performance in New Zealand’s calves. Former farm consultant Chris Collier launched Probiotic Revolution in 2017 with 22,000 calves on the Calf Xtreme programme. By last season that number had swelled to 80,000. Calf Xtreme is a pure probiotic made of five strains of bacteria, five digestive enzymes and a specific strain of live active yeast. Chris’ son and medical scientist Matt Collier joined the company in 2018 to help grow the business after realising the potential of Calf Xtreme. “Our probiotic allows us to safely feed high rates of milk after two feeds of gold colostrum without getting nutritional scours,” Matt says. Where the science happens with Calf Xtreme is when the milk spills over from the calf ’s abomasum into the rumen. “That spilled milk is stabilised by the live yeast, that’s why they don’t get those nutritional scours. It means we can safely feed more milk OAD,” Matt says. “Some people are worried that milk is expensive, but calves at that age have a very efficient feed conversion. Feeding more milk just means they get to their target weaning weights earlier. “Calves on a high rate of milk OAD also start eating grain quickly and can be knocking back larger than expected meal pellets within just a few weeks. The calves are content, and so are our farmers, especially as they save on labour costs.”

Calf Xtreme is a pure probiotic made of five strains of bacteria, five digestive enzymes and a specific strain of live active yeast. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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FODDER BEET FEATURE

DOING THE BEST BY YOUR FARM THIS WINTER.

Best practice the key with winter crops

Many of the steps toward best practice winter grazing can be taken through careful planning. Paddock layout plans and feed budgets allow farms and the people involved to be well prepared for winter grazing, thereby reducing the likelihood of any animal welfare and environmental issues occurring throughout the season. Our team of dedicated and progressive agronomists also have a range of resources available to help you do the best by your farm and stock this winter. See our guides and advice at catalystag.co.nz

Long, narrow breaks (as opposed to wide ones) improve utilisation of feed due to a reduction in the area trampled and better access for all stock at the feed face. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

uring winter a feed deficit develops, and this is attributed to cooler temperatures causing pasture growth to reduce and/or stop, depending on the region. Farmers must put plans in place to ensure they have enough feed during this period to adequately feed stock. The most common means for achieving this is to sow forage crops (kale, fodder beet and swedes) during spring, for use during winter. These crops provide bulk and quality feed at a low cost in comparison to feeding supplement. In the face of tightening animal welfare and environmental regulations, growing a forage crop on your farm and having animals graze it on-site brings with it the necessity to do so in accordance with best practice. Taking steps toward best practice wintering starts prior to planting the crop in the previous spring. That includes good forward planning of a suitable paddock/site on farm to grow the crop and creating feed budgets indicating how much crop should be planted relative to stock units being wintered. For the crops already in the ground this autumn, what you can do at this stage of the season is ensure that yield assessments are accurate, that results align with pre-determined feed budgets when calculating feed on hand, and that paddock layout plans and break sizes will meet daily DM intake targets. Correct yield assessments also ensure that a safe transition for the animals onto the crop can be completed.

Paddock layout plans: • Long, narrow breaks (as opposed to wide ones) improve utilisation of feed due to a reduction in the area trampled and better access for all stock at the feed face • Animals should be strategically grazed from top to bottom of slopes to reduce sediment run-off • Ensure the site of the crop has good electricity to prevent stock breaking out, particularly during transition • Move the back fence regularly to reduce stock movement around the paddock and reduce the amount of soil structure damage Transitioning onto winter crop: • Care must be taken to ensure it is done correctly • Transitioning stock onto winter crops allows the bacteria in the gut of the animal to adjust from the usual grass-based diet to winter feed • Animals that are not transitioned correctly may suffer injury to the gut that can lead to long-term seasonal losses, and death in severe cases • Ensure stock are full prior to being allocated the winter crop for the day • Throughout transition, adequate baleage / straw should always be provided for animals to graze on to avoid gorging themselves on the crop alone For further information on best practice wintering, and to complete your own Winter Grazing Management Plan, please download the full ‘Best Practice Winter Grazing Guide’ from our website. Visit catalystag.co.nz/guides-and-advice/ best-practice-winter-grazing-guide.

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CALVING PREPARATION FEATURE

Our team of Agvance experts work with farmers to deliver the best results.

Make sure your herd is equipped to handle winter with high quality calcium and phosphorus supplementation.

Calcium and phosphorus supplementation for optimal health T

he minerals calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) are essential for a cow’s bone structure. Together, these two minerals provide a large portion of the strength and structure of the bone, as well as being an essential mineral for efficient milk production, muscle and immune function, a healthy metabolism, and a whole range of additional cow functions. It has become increasingly common for there to be parts of the year in which a cow’s stored levels are depleted and below

optimal levels of calcium and phosphorus. This is generally due to low levels of Ca and P in their diet, based on what is available seasonally. This can be for a number of reasons, including feeding low through the season, soil fertility yielding CA/P deficient pasture, or feeding low Ca/P crops. A great tool for preventing deficiency is to run herbage testing at key times throughout the season, in order to monitor the calcium and phosphorus content of the diet.

As we are firmly in Autumn and moving closer to Winter, trying to ensure your cow’s calcium and phosphorus levels remain optimal becomes more critical, especially as we reach Spring. Blood tests can be useful to provide the current Ca/P status of your cows, this is an alarm bell meaning immediate action is needed. It is best to test on cows at a mixture of different stages, for instance at 10-15 precalving, 2-6 days pre-calving and 12 hours post-calved. If these tests indicate low bone storage

levels, supplementation becomes a critical action point. Because calcium and phosphorus work together, supplementation is best provided together to match its natural occurring ration of 2:1. Supplementation of Ca/P can be done through mixing granular supplement through grain in the shed, loose-lick or water soluble options, or by dusting on pasture or silages. In my experience a combination of granular supplementation through the

in-shed feed or a mixer wagon is the most efficient for cow uptake and the most cost effective. Different farms will benefit from specific solutions, depending on what the herd requires and your feeding system in place. If you would like further advice on mineral nutrition talk to your vet or contact the Agvance team directly. – Shaun Balemi, Dairy Nutritionist at Agvance Nutrition

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FODDER BEET FEATURE

Fodder beet: what to do and how to use it Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

odder beet is a root crop with high yield potential. It is commonly used for body condition score gain and to grow replacements through the winter in farming systems with negligible winter pasture growth. Fodder beet is also used as a feed for lactating cows to fill feed gaps in late lactation and for grazing young stock. Why fodder beet? It has a long shelf life, either in the ground or harvested. It is a consistent and high-quality feed with high yield potential. It also has a low nitrogen content and can help reduce nitrogen leaching. And it is an alternative crop rotation to brassicas. But another thing to consider is that fodder beet has animal health challenges and therefore requires attention to detail throughout the feeding period. And environmental challenges exist when grazing as a forage crop, but there are many strategies for minimising environmental impacts. The successful integration of fodder beet into the farm system, like any crop, requires careful consideration and good practice to achieve high yields, good utilisation, and good management to reduce risks. Fodder beet has commonly been a grazed feed for wintering non-lactating cows in the cooler regions of New Zealand. It is now common for cows in Canterbury and Southland to have fodder beet in their diets for up to six months of the year and it is being fed to all classes

Fodder beet has commonly been a grazed feed for wintering non-lactating cows in the cooler regions of New Zealand.

of dairy livestock. Fodder beet is now grown in all major dairying regions. Areas of fodder beet are now lifted and fed on feed pads or in the paddock using a silage wagon. As a crop with a long shelf life, either in the ground or harvested, it is a flexible crop with lots of positive attributes but also several animal health risk factors. There are a number of factors to consider including cow numbers, yield and utilisation, establishment costs, the economics, fodder beet variety, and estimated fodder beet yield. Fodder beet is effectively a 12-month crop if used for spring feed, i.e., the paddock is out of the grazing rotation for at least 12 months. Yields expected at 150 days under good management and good rainfall are approximately 15-18T DM/ha. Under good growing conditions (100kg

DM/ha/day March -May) it is possible to have yields around 25 tonne in May-June in regions not limited by dry conditions. Estimating fodder beet yield is important for accurate allocation. Row spacing of the crop is determined by measuring across ten rows of crop from the centre of the first row; divide the distance by ten. Typical fodder beet costs are based on industry-available costs and contractor costs for a quality seedbed, full spray and fertiliser programme. Fodder beet offers a high quality and cost competitive alternative to PKE, silage and grain for late lactation feeding where supplements are required to meet feed budget deficits. When transitioning nonlactating cows, strict allocation of fodder beet on a DM basis over a period of at least 14 days is essential. The allocation should

start at 1-2 kg fodder beet DM and increase by no more than 1 kg DM every second day for 1421 days – i.e., up to a maximum of 9-10 kg DM/cow. If ad libitum intake is the target, from day 21 the break line is then increased a little each day until the cows leave fodder beet behind. Supplement/pasture inputs need to provide the additional energy to meet cow requirements, so start at 8 kg DM on day 1 and drop to 4 kg DM by day 14; then 2-4 kg on day 21 and thereafter. Even if cows have been consuming fodder beet during lactation, they still require additional transitioning up to their winter allocation, using the 1 kg DM every second-day approach (e.g., if feeding 4 kg DM during lactation and through the drying off period then on day 1 of winter transitioning

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

offer 5 kg DM, day 3 offer 6 kg DM, day 5 offer 7 kg DM etc.). A strategy is required to deal with the 10-20 per cent of animals that may not consume fodder beet during lactation. These are the at-risk cows in the early stages of transitioning. When assessing low protein intake on winter fodder beet diets fodder beet bulbs are very low in crude protein i.e., 7-8 per cent. The protein content of the whole plant will be dependent on the leaf: bulb ratio and also the crude protein content in the leaf. Many winter fodder beet diets (“ad lib” fodder beet plus cereal straw) will not be meeting the 10-12 per cent diet crude protein recommendation for non-lactating cows. While it is widely accepted that ruminants can survive on low protein diets because dietary N is converted to microbial protein, which is then used by

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www.guardianonline.co.nz the animal, the rumen microbes still require N to produce microbial protein. In several experiments, rumen ammonia concentrations have declined to very low levels 6-8 hours after feeding and remained low until the following morning. The fodder beet wintering and environment leaching losses measured following grazing of fodder beet crops on light stony soils at Ashley Dene, Canterbury, were 50-60 kg N/ha. Comparative losses from kale crops on the same soil type were 60-80 kg N/ ha. Lower losses are observed with fodder beet because of the low crude protein (nitrogen) in the crop and therefore less nitrogen is deposited in the urine patches. This does not mean good management should be ignored. Implementing good environmental management practices on-farm is not only efficient – it helps to minimise risk to your business and reduce your environmental impact. The key consideration when transitioning cows onto fodder beet is adapting rumen microbes to a change in feed type. Rumen microbes must adapt to the fodder beet bulb’s sugar-rich content and the targeted level of intake to prevent acidosis and other non-acidosis-related disease, e.g. liver dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and deferred ketosis.

FOODER BEET FEATURE

As a crop with a long shelf life, either in the ground or harvested, fodder beet is a flexible crop with lots of positive attributes but also several animal health risk factors.

This differs from brassica species where the main objective of transitioning is to adjust the rumen microbes to changes in feed quality and anti-nutritional compounds. If cows are offered too much fodder beet too quickly, it will result in rumen acidosis and, if severe enough, death. Practical factors to make transitioning easier include having a grass paddock adjacent

to the fodder beet paddock and running cows on and off the crop during the early stages of the transition period; leaving a headland of 6 m and planting in Italian ryegrass or a multi graze cereal to provide feed and space during transitioning.; harvesting the fodder beet to make a headland before starting to graze and using the harvested fodder beet fed as a supplement

through the silage wagon on a pasture paddock for the first few days of the transition process. Try to avoid mixing experienced and naïve animals together during transitioning. Naïve cows take time to familiarise themselves with the crop. An ideal transition scenario would be to ensure all cows have equal access to the crop, whether it is grazed or spread

in the pasture paddock from the silage wagon and that they have sufficient time to try it. This means at least one meter of face width on the crop. Allocations lower will result in younger and timid animals being bullied off the crop. Where possible it would be an advantage to transition naïve cows separately from those that have eaten fodder beet previously.

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AUTUMN CLEAN UP FEATURE

From IT to a career in the dairy industry... Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

ndians are renowned for being hard workers and Jaspal Singh is no exception. In six years, he has worked his way up from being a dairy assistant to being a dairy manager. The Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Manager of the Year award winner came to New Zealand in 2016 after doing a degree in Information Technology in his hometown in India. His aim was to do a postgraduate diploma in Auckland and then find a job in the industry, but this wasn’t to be “I completed my study and wanted to get a job in IT. I looked for months but couldn’t get a job,” he says.

“Then one of my friends suggested I look at going down to Mossburn (Southland) to work on a dairy farm. “My family has a little farm in India with a few animalsbuffalos and cows which we hand-milked, and I helped my grandparents whenever I came home from college. So, I was used to cows. After a couple of years in Mossburn Jaspal moved to Waimate to work for a sharemilker as a herd manager. The next season the same farmer gave him a position as 2IC on his farm at Maheno. Jaspal was there for another couple of years as 2IC then started looking around for a manager’s position. He ended up back at Waimate as manager for 800 cow Waterstone Farm. Plans are for me and my wife Ruby and son Ryan to own our own farm, he says. “For the coming season, I will be in the position of farm manager, and in the following

Jaspal Singh and his son Ryan and his wife Ruby- dedicated to the dairy industry.

season there is a position of sharemilking on the same farm which I am hoping for, “he says. “Ruby was my girlfriend in India, and I went back in 2016 and we got married. At the end of 2016, she came to New Zealand and since then she is with me in the dairy industry. “The differences between India

and New Zealand? Because we don’t have huge dairy farms in India, every second home where I lived had a couple of cows or buffalos and these were hand milked. We’d cut the feed for the cows with a big knife and fed them on a feed pad and gave them water from a bucket. For those two cows or two buffalos,

it was a whole day’s work. “Do I miss India? I want to see my friends and family. It has been six years since I went back.” But there are opportunities in the dairy industry for us here that there wouldn’t be in India, Jaspal says. “So, I am dedicated to the industry.”

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behind schedule, I crept over Danseys Pass in the dark, very aware that with both tent and sleeping bag soaked from the mornings dunking, I would have to find somewhere to stay. But it was Easter and Central Otago lodgings were full. Some farmers were sitting on the veranda of the Danseys Pass pub. When I explained my predicament, they whipped out their cell phones and rang up and down the Maniototo until I had somewhere to sleep in Ophir and the directions on how to get there. Three times in a day, I’d relied on the goodwill of high-country farmers to get me out of a fix and I was flummoxed at how generous and unflinching they were with their time and help. If not for them my day would have been unmanageable. I’ve always thought of myself as selfsufficient, and Easter weekend was for me an exercise in graciously accepting help when I needed it. But also, a window into a high-country community that was unstinting in its unconditional willingness to help me out. — Pat Deavoll

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AUTUMN CLEAN UP FEATURE

Agrichemical dangers addressed with New Zealand-first technology T

he health of agricultural workers exposed to harmful airborne chemicals is in the spotlight, with one company introducing New Zealand-first technology to limit exposure and help meet the need for increased protection. A Massey University study found agricultural workers have the highest incidence of leukemia of all New Zealand occupation groups, likely because of their exposure to chemicals; and there are reports of vineyard workers refusing to operate tractor sprayers due to potential health risks. These can include cancer and respiratory disease. Canterbury-based company Landlogic Ltd, which supplies New Zealand’s primary sector with machinery and technology, has introduced a new cab air filtration system to the market in a bid to increase worker safety. The system is manufactured by Freshfilter, a world-leading manufacturer of cab overpressure systems designed to meet strict European standards. It is the first time the technology has been available in New Zealand.

Landlogic CEO Alan Cottington says, “Companies are doing the best they can and have been raising concerns about the lack of protection for some time, but there simply hasn’t been an effective option on the market. We are pleased to offer a solution that we know many employers will want to adopt. “We are already aware of four operators who refused to drive spray tractors as they were concerned about the health risks. It is not uncommon to drive down the road beside vineyards and farms, and smell the spray, and the operators are arriving home each night with their clothes smelling from the chemicals.” Cottington says the system can be retrofitted to existing vehicles for approximately $7000-$9500. It uses patented airflow technology that offers the highest protection from contaminants, including agrichemicals, asbestos and dust. A combination of highgrade HEPA and charcoal filters blows purified air into the cab and prevents contaminants

from entering. A digital touch screen provides the operator with real-time information on hydrocarbon, contamination, and air pressure inside the cab, and text message alerts can be sent to the site manager if high levels are detected. It is expected New Zealand companies operating in the construction, mining, asbestos removal, horticulture, and forestry industries will also be interested in the system, as it offers protection from a wide range of airborne contaminants – not just agrichemicals. “There is a lot of focus on reducing spray drift to protect the environment and health of neighbouring residents, and rightly so. But solutions to protect those most at risk – the spray operators – have been minimal, until now,” Cottington says. The first company to use the Freshfilter system in New Zealand is Yealands Wines. The Marlborough winery has installed the system on all 14 of its spray tractors. Yealands’ Vineyard Manager

Dave Collingwood says operator safety is paramount. “As far as we are concerned, we want to be sure our staff is working in a safe environment. We can now promise all our operators that they will not spray without a Freshfilter system. The display screen inside the cab is added reassurance, as it constantly monitors the air quality.” Collingwood says the only other option available was to purchase an entire fleet of new tractors, which would be costprohibitive. Collingwood notes that the recently updated New Zealand standard, which sets the requirements for using agrichemicals in the workplace, is NZS8409:2021. The document recommends using filtered cab ventilation “if possible,” and those systems should be well maintained. However, there appear to be no specific requirements governing exposure levels. It goes on to state: “A large range of tractors, and other vehicles, may be used for

spraying and will all differ in the level of protection provided to the applicator against hazardous substances. The PIC (Person in Charge) should check with the vehicle supplier as to the protection level offered…” Cottington adds, “While many modern machinery cabs have good HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, the filtration standards are often overlooked or misunderstood, potentially putting operators at risk of exposure.” Independent laboratory analysis of the Freshfilter system confirmed it is more than 99.95 percent effective at protecting against harmful airborne contaminants – exceeding international standards for HEPA filters. The Freshfilter cab air filtration system was first produced in 2004. The technology is now being used in several countries including Germany, France, and America, and the Netherlands-based factory is increasing its capacity to meet international demand.

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SPRAYING AND EQUIPMENT FEATURE

The N-Boost system is sprayed onto pasture by a conventional boom sprayer after mixing it with dissolved urea in a mixing station.

PHOTO: DONAGHYS

N-Boost gains traction as urea prices rise Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

armers with an interest in lowering their nitrogen footprint and fertiliser costs might take note of Dromore Dairies

and its use of N-Boost. Tim O’Sullivan of Donaghys said N-Boost was used to enhance nitrogen efficiency in plants. You need to mix it with liquid urea for that to work, he said. “It is a natural product- it has got adenine compounds and amino acids so it’s not ‘dangerous.’ And it was developed in and is made in New Zealand. “Obviously, there has been increased interest this year with nitrogen caps and the high cost of urea. “Dairy farmers are the biggest users of

urea, and they also potentially have the biggest goal posts to shift. So, N-Boost is the best product for them.” This season’s record urea prices, coupled with nutrient cap regulations, have seen a lift in the number of dairy farmers changing their fertiliser programmes to lower their nitrogen footprint and costs. Donaghys managing director Jeremy Silva said the company is working at capacity to keep up with renewed demand for N-Boost. “It’s one of the few options out there that can help farmers maintain or lift production off lower nitrogen inputs,” he said. “We’ve seen the dual impact of high urea pricing and regulations on nitrogen come together. The result has been a wave of dairy farmers turning to foliar applications of urea. “When N-Boost is added they can cut back their application rates this way to get under the N-cap, and they’re finding they can cut their urea bill and protect their dry matter production.” Silva said dairy farmers were looking at options where they could maintain milk solids production and their profitability. “They are having a try of the N-Boost system this autumn to work out how it suits their farm with a view to running it all through next season.” The N-Boost system is sprayed

onto pasture by a conventional boom sprayer after mixing it with dissolved urea in a mixing station, which Donaghys supplies to farmers. The company has seen a lift of more than 85 per cent in N-Boost sales this season. “We’ve ramped up our production of N-Boost to keep up with this growth,” Silva said.

“Additional mixing stations are on order to supply to farms coming onto the N-Boost system. At peak, more than seven per cent of dairy farmers were regular users of the N-Boost system. That number tapered when the urea price crashed to around $500 per tonne, but with the lift in urea prices demand is rapidly heading back towards previous levels.”

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SPRAYING AND EQUIPMENT FEATURE

Coveted Greenvale Pastures on the market I

nnovative arable and dairy support/ livestock property Greenvale Pastures, at Methven is on the market for the first time in four decades. The farm combined its natural resources, climatic conditions with leading-edge technology to place it at the forefront of New Zealand and worldwide nutrient, environmental sustainability, irrigation, and arable best practice. Methven farmers Craige and Roz Mackenzie of Greenvale Pastures Ltd won the 2013 Ballance Farm Environment Awards’ Gordon Stephenson Trophy. They had been prepared to think and act “beyond the boundaries of conventional farming for some time,” said Craige. In 2008 he was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship to study the carbon footprints of different types of farming systems. In 2010, the couple was filmed by Rural Delivery, attempting to win a place in the Guinness Book of Records by producing the world record for the heaviest wheat crop per hectare. They narrowly missed their target that year. “We have always looked to be as efficient as we can be,” Craige said. The progressive couple had taken technology to the next step on their irrigated farm “using every available tool to improve their production and cost efficiency”.

“Variable rate irrigation has been very interesting for us,” said Craige. “On average we save about 32 per cent of the water- in the shoulder season about 50 per cent. And that is about looking at the zones and saying these are getting to about field capacity- they don’t need anything, and letting it come down on the heavier zones.” Greenvale grows mainly specialist crops, with this season’s rotation including hybrid carrots, radish, fava beans, wheat, both seed and milling, and ryegrass and fescue for seed. With their daughter Jemma they co-owned a company AgriOptics that utilised precision agriculture technology to provide agronomic support and solutions to farmers. Precision agriculture was key to farming sustainably, Craige and Roz believed. “We have used all the precision technology we can including variable rate irrigation, variable rate fertiliser, soil sampling, crop sensors, and yield mapping.” “You don’t spend what you don’t need to spend. So, because of that, we have always wanted to put the right things in the right place. Once you are profitable in every zone your overall profitability goes up. Once that happens you can invest in technology. It’s very hard to be green if you are in the red.”

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Craige and Roz Mackenzie: Greenvale Pastures on the market after four decades. PHOTO: ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

Dairy Focus

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Look after your animals with animal health management D

isease prevention and control require regular attention to stock health, knowledge, planning, good record keeping, and compliance with domestic regulations. Explore recommended practices and specific diseases and issues below. Recommended practices Prevention • Prevention is hugely important: develop a farm animal health plan or calendar with your veterinarian. This will include vaccination and drench programmes appropriate to the needs of your farm business. • Consider buying stock based on a high breeding value for disease resistance where this is available. • Check the animal health details of incoming animals and isolate and treat those animals if their health status is lower than existing animals. • Regularly worm farm dogs and prevent the access of other dogs onto the

property – dogs can spread disease to your stock. Treatment • Regularly inspect your animals and know the signs of disease to ensure problems are detected early. • Seek early advice from a veterinarian in relation to any unusual signs, sickness, or death or where many animals are affected. Isolate and treat animals appropriately for the specific infection they are suffering from–including animals in the mob that do not yet show signs if this is recommended. • Always follow veterinary or label advice when using veterinary medicines or other agricompounds and ensure that you observe withholding periods. Using inappropriate drugs will fail to kill the pest and not finishing courses of drugs can lead to drug resistance. • Ensure that you use clean needles or syringes when vaccinating and that you

follow the advice of your veterinarian with regards to good management practice when vaccinating or drenching animals. Certain diseases can be spread from animal to animal through the use of contaminated needles or equipment. • Maintain thorough records of animal health activities and treatments–preferably for each animal but at least to the mob level. Bovine TB Bovine TB is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis, which can affect a wide range of animals. It is one of the world’s most serious animal health problems and, in many parts of the developing world, still a major killer. In New Zealand, cattle and deer are the species most at risk of contracting the disease, with possums and ferrets the main carriers. Anyone who owns or is in charge of cattle and deer – even if it is only one animal – has to register with OSPRI’s TBfree programme.

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BVD With at least 60 per cent of cattle in New Zealand exposed to BVD (bovine viral diarrhoea), the viral disease is responsible for significant production losses to both the dairy and beef industries. Internal parasites Wormwise is the national worm management strategy that aims to help farmers and their advisors manage internal parasites in sheep and beef. Drench resistance is a widespread problem amongst sheep and cattle. Sheep measles Sheep measles (Taenia ovis) is a parasite of sheep that is spread by dogs. It poses no risk to human health however it does cause blemishes in sheep meat which can result in downgrading or in extreme cases condemning of sheep or lamb carcasses. Dogs become infected by eating raw sheep or goat meat, including the heart, infected with live cysts. Infected dogs pass many thousands of eggs in their faeces contaminating pasture

grazed by sheep and goats – this can infect a farm for up to six months. Johnes Disease Johne’s disease (JD) is a chronic and contagious infection of cattle, sheep, deer, goats, and wildlife, with best estimates in 2016 setting the cost to New Zealand at $98 million annually. Caused by an infection in the gut of sheep and other ruminants, clinical JD is characterized by ill-thrift and progressive weight loss; no cure is available and the condition is eventually fatal. Infected animals shed bacteria in their faeces, contaminating the environment. Vaccination can be used as a control method for the disease, reducing shedding and clinical symptoms, but cannot completely eliminate the problem. Vaccination is recommended for some sheep flocks badly affected by the disease. A vaccine is also available for deer and cattle but is rarely used due to crossreactivity with tuberculosis tests.

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PGG Wrightson celebrates 40 years of IHC Calf and Rural Scheme T

his year marks the fortieth anniversary of the IHC Calf and Rural Scheme, which has raised some $40 million in that time. PGG Wrightson Livestock has been a principal sponsor since the beginning, working alongside the IHC to encourage farmers to donate or pledge stock for offer at auction, with proceeds going to support people living with intellectual disability and their families. Virtual donations are also part of the scheme. PGG Wrightson livestock general manager Peter Newbold says the company gains great benefit from its relationship with the IHC Calf and Rural Scheme. “We are proud and humble of our long association with this fantastic cause. IHC and PGG Wrightson working together is one of New Zealand’s most enduring charitable relationships. “From its origins the scheme

has always been about rural people doing their practical best to support a community need. One big advantage is that farmers who give to the scheme can see the impact of their donations put to good use in their local area. “PGG Wrightson has been there since the beginning, helping people by making the most of the many connections our brand has to the rural sector throughout the country. “Congratulations to IHC on the scheme and the great work it does,” he says. IHC’s national fundraising manager Greg Millar says the charity’s long association with the company has helped the scheme immensely. “The IHC Calf and Rural Scheme is incredibly grateful for the generous support of PGG Wrightson Livestock, right from the very beginning 40 years ago. “That support goes way beyond a straight sponsorship: from the beginning PGG

Wrightson has helped us understand dairy farmers and livestock, nationally and at a local level, particularly when selling calves each year through local saleyards. “That expert support was so valuable when the scheme had to navigate Mycoplasma Bovis, helping us survive the impact of the disease, and enabling the scheme to return to where we were before that crisis year with minimum disruption,” says Miller. IHC also acknowledges the many farmers who have supported the scheme. “Some dairy farmers have been giving from the beginning and some have given through generations of farming. “PGG Wrightson plays a central part in the history and story of the IHC Calf and Rural Scheme. This is a story of community impact on rural people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Each individual farmer, facilitated by the support of

PGG Wrightson, has made a real difference in the lives and futures of rural people with intellectual disabilities,” says Miller. Taranaki farmer Norm Cashmore had the original idea behind the scheme in 1984 when he offered a pair of gumboots to every farmer donating a calf to the local branch of IHC. He organised canvassers to visit other farmers and sign them up to donate a calf. Then he persuaded local livestock agents to auction the calves for free, and transport companies to carry them at no cost. Initially stock agents Dalgety was the company involved with the sales and logistics that make the scheme work. After company mergers PGG Wrightson took over as sponsor. PGG Wrightson Livestock works with transport companies to co-ordinate pickups and to sort the animals into saleable lots for regional auctions throughout the country, with

the company’s auctioneers urging prospective buyers to support the bidding at each auction. Proceeds raised go toward IHC activities in local areas. IHC has more than 30 community associations throughout the country, supporting local initiatives to meet the needs of people with intellectual disabilities: • Running online sessions to connect people and help them learn something new; • Assisting people to meet up through face-to-face and online friendship programmes; • A library responding to information needs, providing a friendly ear all over the country; • Employing family/whanau liaison staff in several local communities; • Supporting online forums and a wide range of community events; and • Advocating for a good life for all.

Dairy Focus

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ERTISING AD ID 6268508AA FAX 4528 DESIGNER Unknown SECTION To help cows get through winter in reasonable comfort and good health they’ll need shelter from the rain, windbreaks, and additional feed and nutrients. PHOTO: SUPPLIED ROOF PROOFED 27/08/2014 1:31:18 p.m. SIZ PLEASE APPROVE THIS AD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NOTE THAT ANY ALTER AD ID 6268508AA FA MUST BE FINALISED BY OUR MATERIAL DEADLINE.

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hat if this winter was the worst on record…is your farm ready? You need to have a plan in place for what should happen in cases of extreme winter weather. It’s basic risk management, a crucial part of any business. You need to think about what you’ll do if access to the farm is cut off. It’s not just about having enough supplies on hand to get through but what you’ll do with the milk if it cannot be collected. What will you do if the power goes out? Do you have access to a generator? Can your animals be evacuated? Also, make a list of key numbers to have in an emergency including your dairy company, vet, and insurance agent. Just like cows can experience

heat stress, so can they when temperatures get into the low single figures or zero and below for sustained periods. Being too cold can increase an animal’s nutrient needs at the same time as lowering the amount of dry matter they’re taking in. Couple that with the increased energy needed to maintain basal body temperature these opposing numbers can have a very negative impact on gut health and production parameters. To help cows get through winter in reasonable comfort and good health they’ll need shelter from the rain, windbreaks, fresh dry bedding, and additional feed and nutrients. The energy a dairy cow needs to consume to maintain body weight and production

demands can go up by as much as 40 per cent during extreme cold. If they’re not milking through winter it won’t be this high but it will have increased from summer. As a cow eats more, they need to also drink more water. If you live in a very cold area, make sure you have a contingency plan to access water in the event of a big ice over. To ensure cows keep producing well over winter they need a balanced diet. Often cows have 50 per cent (or less) pasture in their winter milk diet, sometimes none. To lessen the cost of supplementary feeding, set your best quality grass silage/baleage aside for them. Farmlands suggest “eleven ME plus whole-crop silage or maize silage can be used in

the base diet, but this requires more protein to balance the diet. Brassica crops (kale and rape) or fodder beet can also be used as forage supplements for winter milking herds. Too much brassica (over 25 per cent of diet) can cause milk taint, and fodder beet should be gradually introduced and allocated precisely to prevent rumen acidosis.” Feeding on a feedpad or in a wintering shed are the most effective ways to minimise wastage of supplements and simultaneously help prevent paddock damage, preparing you for spring and summer. If your farm is in an area known to experience snow, formulate a plan for dealing with it now. This includes a

shelter for animals, farm access, using equipment safely, and planning how you’ll deal with mud created when the snow melts, e.g. filling areas known to turn into potholes with gravel beforehand. Save your pastures from damage caused by pugging. Keep your herd warm, fed, and milking further into the winter season. Set and control your own feed levels. Monitor and maintain herd health. Take control of effluent and future proof against changing regulations. Protecting cows from the elements during winter, promoting better pasture growth, and increasing production periods are what dairy barn systems are designed for.

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FTA brings a smile to farmers’ faces Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

our months ago, a free trade deal (FTD) between the United Kingdom and New Zealand meant Mid Canterbury farmers woke up with a smile on their faces. The FTD will result in the full liberalisation of all trade between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. CEO of Align Dairy Farms Rhys Roberts said he didn’t believe the effects of the FTA were going to be immediate but that they would be a “be a ticket to the markets.” “For the dairy industry it’s more around access to markets rather than a massive financial gain for farmers. “Having a free trade agreement with any country is going to be beneficial because of the way most countries are trending towards localism to have a positive effect on their carbon emissions. I think every country is starting to look at

its emissions profile and its biosecurity. Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers dairy representative Nick Gerias said the UK was a very small market for dairy exporters, less than one per cent of dairy exports. “So, it’s great that they are going to phase down tariffs, which will put NZ dairy farmers on the same footing as EU dairy farmers,” he said “The platform is there for us to grow our share of that market, but in terms of what impact this will have on farmgate milk price, it is unlikely in the next five years to have any impact. “Even if it doubled it is still pretty insignificant. But better that we are going towards more protectionist trade measures. Now current tariffs on NZ butter and cheese range between two and four dollarsthey will be reduced down to zero over the next five years and then completely free access after that.” Mid Canterbury Provincial Chairman for Federated Famers David Clark said, “Yes, it is a positive step forward and will give us better access for agricultural produce into the UK. Tariffs just add to

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Rhys Roberts: The effects of the FTA won’t be immediate.

the cost to the consumer. The tariffs under the EU were punitive to protect local industries and the world is littered with them. “Add in the UK leaving the

EU and it seeks to strike up a deal to purchase product from places like New Zealand. So, it was in their interest to develop this under their own account rather than the EU.

PHOTO: RHYS ROBERTS

“A lot of this is up to 15 years away but it is certainly a step in the right direction and reaffirms our long-held trading linkages with the UK which is fantastic.”

Dairy Focus

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Recycling ramps up for Teatseal treatments A

s the drying off period for dairy cows approaches, a recycling initiative headed up by animal health company Zoetis will be doubling down on keeping plastic waste out of landfills. This autumn marks the second year of a recycling initiative led by Zoetis that aims to significantly reduce the number of plastic Teatseal tubes going to waste. Teatseal is a non-antibiotic product injected into cows’ teats at drying off to prevent mastitis infection occurring. It has become the highest selling treatment product of its type, helping farmers better manage dry season and early spring mastitis, without the need for antibiotics. Natalie Bunn, dairy product manager for Zoetis says in co-operation with farm plastics recycling company Plasback, efforts to gather some of the five million estimated Teatseal tubes often discarded have proven successful. “We managed to get 1.6 million tubes recycled last year, a great effort for a first-time

initiative, and are very confident that now more farmers know about the scheme we can improve that considerably this season,” she says. Farmers have the option to take the used tubes back to their participating vet clinic, where they are placed in special bags for recycling, or vet and technician teams administering Teatseal take the waste back with them. Adrian Evans of Southern Wairarapa Veterinary Services says he and his colleagues had become very conscious of the amount of plastic generated by a single herd’s treatment and welcomed the opportunity to participate in a scheme to prevent it heading to landfill. “It is welcomed by us, and by our farmer clients. Everyone is aware of waste these days, but not all companies try to do something about it, so it is a feather in the cap for Zoetis.” Last year’s efforts pulled the equivalent of 12,744kgs of plastics from landfill and provided a high-quality polyethylene source of recycled plastic material for re-

Plasback commercial manager Neal Shaw (left) with Zoetis sustainability manager Kristin Baxter and Chris Hartshorne, also of Plasback.

processing. Plasback commercial manager Neal Shaw says he was encouraged by the success of the scheme. Plasback has taken the project a step further with Zoetis providing recycling wheelie bins to over 100 vet clinics around the country. That means they can now accept the plastic “pillow packs” used to hold Zoetis livestock vaccines. “These also contribute a valuable recycled source, often

used for recycled plastic pallets. It is great to have a business like Zoetis participating, everyone wants to recycle but not all want to take the initiative.” He says agricultural plastic recycling can be more challenging, given the diffuse nature of farms, but having the engagement with veterinary clinics has helped centralise collection of a significant waste stream from farms. Teatseal volumes have grown significantly in recent years

as farmers have become more conscious of avoiding overuse of antibiotics in dry cow treatment, given the risks of encouraging resistance. Its inert nature means it can be safely handled and recycled with minimum cleaning required prior to processing. Adrian Evans said along with the adoption of bamboobased teat wipes, the recycling scheme for Teatseal is making the drying off process more environmentally conscious one. “We have a couple of our practice staff who have really taken environmental sustainability by the horns, including conducting a carbon audit of the business. It’s a challenging exercise to assess your business, but something that has a positive impact on everyone.” Natalie Bunn says Zoetis is committed to building the Teatseal and livestock vaccine recycling scheme’s success as the company continues to explore opportunities to help farmers reduce the waste impact of their animal health care treatments.

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WINTER HEATING FEATURE

International workers will address dairy shortage S

ustained advocacy from the dairy sector has helped secure 500 more international workers to help on dairy farms, however, the Government’s border class exceptions still fall short of the sector’s 4,000 worker shortage. DairyNZ was relieved the Government was allowing an extra 500 international dairy workers into the country through a border class exception. This meant 800 international staff would be able to enter New Zealand to work on dairy farms. DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle said DairyNZ had been working hard to make sure the Government understood the huge pressure farmers were under, due to workforce shortages. The organisation had pushed for 1500 international dairy workers into the country in time for the 2022 dairy season on 1 June. “We made it clear to Government that the 300-dairy border class exception workers previously approved were

DairyNZ was relieved the Government was allowing an extra 500 international dairy workers into the country through a border class exception. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

nowhere near enough to meet the demands on-farm and reduce the current high levels of farmer stress,” said Mackle. “The Government’s decision to increase the number of international workers by 500 is a step in the right direction to reduce the pressure on farm teams. We will continue to advocate for more to be allowed

into New Zealand, to help address the significant staff shortage.” The dairy sector was estimated to have a shortage of 4000 workers. Record low unemployment, combined with a prolonged border closure, had contributed to the shortage of workers. DairyNZ had also launched a ‘Join Us’ campaign aiming to

■ ■ ■

connect dairy farmers and New Zealanders and inviting Kiwis to join a dairy job. “We continue to encourage Kiwis to join our sector and farmers have been taking a range of steps to make dairy farming more attractive to staff, however in such a tight labour market the contribution international staff make to keep farms running is

critical,” said Mackle. “From here, we strongly encourage farmers who want international workers on board for calving to apply through the border exception process. “It’s now simpler for farmers to use the class exception process, so we hope to see farmers take up the opportunity. People no longer need to stay in MIQ or isolate themselves. There is also no limit on the number of farm assistants who can apply.” Workers on a class exception visa need to be paid at least $28 per hour. The recent changes announced by the Government would increase the number of international workers allowed into New Zealand under the 2022 dairy class exception from 300 to 800. This is in addition to the 2021 dairy class exception visa which allowed 200 international workers to enter the country. Employers must apply to DairyNZ for nomination and have a class exception visa granted by Immigration New Zealand.

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FARM MACHINERY FEATURE

Nursery grower’s green shoots for industry

new programme to draw people into the primary sector has hit a major milestone – pairing up an aspiring nursery grower with an industry mentor. Primary ITO’s PiPI (Pathways into Primary Industries) is at a pilot stage where career-ready people can connect to business owners to help them launch into a career. It is a new area for Primary ITO, providing a matching service between people who want to join the sector, mentors happy to help, and even businesses looking for people. There’s previously been a gap in doing this, said Primary ITO’s chief executive Nigel Philpott. “We started PiPI because across our forty-plus industry sectors, everyone told us that they needed skilled people and that they were prepared to train them. “The beauty of this is that there are many people out there who’d like to get into horticulture, agriculture, or many other types of food, fibre and services, but haven’t known how to start. This will match those

keen people with experts who know exactly how to go about it and can even lead to a job.” The first person to apply and get a mentor wants to work in a plant nursery. “This person is already a general gardener so has some great skills and knowledge that they can bring to a nursery. Finding out how to transfer those skills and build on them will be a really exciting journey for them – and there’ll be a business out there who’ll get a great employee.” Philpott said while PiPI is still at a pilot stage and hasn’t formally launched yet, having the first person sign up for a mentor is very promising. “Ahakoa he iti he pounamu – as the saying goes, it’s only small but it is greenstone!” Research that led to PiPI included that while there is a lot of information showcasing how dynamic primary sector jobs are, there’s little about how to get into them. “It’s exciting seeing that this initiative will work. It is new for an industry training organisation to be working with people before they actually have jobs,” said Philpott.

The beauty of this is that there are many people out there who’d like to get into horticulture, agriculture, or many other types of food, fibre and services, but haven’t known how to start. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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FARM MACHINERY FEATURE

ANZCO Foods acquires of leading biotech company O

ne of New Zealand’s leading red meat exporters, ANZCO Foods, has bought biotechnology business Moregate Biotech, adding to its presence in the healthcare industry. Moregate Biotech manufactures Australian and New Zealand sourced animal sera, animal proteins, enzymes, and specialty products used in the pharmaceutical, veterinary, vaccine, research, and nutritional industries. Moregate Biotech has facilities in Brisbane and Hamilton. It exports to customers in Europe, India, Asia, and the United States. The business was established in 1975 and has developed during the last 47 years. The acquisition will complement ANZCO’s existing biotech business Bovogen Biologicals based in Melbourne. “Ownership of biotech business, Bovogen, is part of a key differentiator for ANZCO Foods in the New Zealand red meat sector,” said ANZCO Foods chief executive Peter

Peter Conly: Demand for Oceania origin blood products is strong, and this is likely to increase in a postCOVID-19 environment. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Conley. “Moregate Biotech has a strong distribution network and direct supply to end-users, and has a well-recognised brand in its target markets. ANZCO Foods said Bovogen and Moregate Biotech are

complementary businesses and will continue to operate independently. Moregate Biotech was founded by Elizabeth Meixner and is a pioneer in the industry with a proven track record of more than 40 years.

Following the purchase, it will be business as usual for Moregate Biotech with Meixner and CEO James Dunster having ongoing involvement in the business along with its employees based in Australia and New Zealand.

The company will continue to trade as Moregate Biotech. “ANZCO Foods is the perfect match for Moregate Biotech. It understands the industry and will support and grow the business into the future,” said Meixner. “Both companies’ source raw blood products from New Zealand and Australia which are sought after by overseas customers given their status as some of the most disease-free countries. “Demand for Oceania origin blood products is strong, and this is likely to increase in a post-COVID-19 environment,” said Conley. “Having the two complementary operations will increase the value-proposition for customers through ANZCO’s scale. Through its ownership of Bovogen ANZCO understands this industry and has the means to invest in ongoing innovation.” The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, seeking to be satisfied by May 2022

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FARM MACHINERY FEATURE

New Zealand red meat exports top $1 billion C

urrent strong export returns for New Zealand red meat face pressure in the coming months due to labour shortages and supply chain disruption, said the Meat Industry Association (MIA). The industry exported products worth $1.1 billion during February 2022, with increases in value to all major markets. Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of MIA, said current strong meat prices

were compensating for a drop in the volume of exports, with sheepmeat volumes down 11 per cent and beef down seven per cent compared to February 2021. “Absenteeism in processing plants due to staff having to isolate during the COVID-19 pandemic is adding to the pressure on our industry, which is already dealing with a significant labour

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shortage and ongoing global logistics challenges. “While the impact of labour shortages in the industry is not yet showing up in the headline export data, they are starting to affect exports of specific products. “For example, while offal prices are still high, the volume of offal exported in February was down around 35 per cent compared to February exports in the previous six years, indicating that there aren’t the staff available to process every part of the carcass and companies are not able to maximise the value of each carcass that is processed. “The supply chain issues are reflected in the drop in volumes of chilled sheepmeat, with more exporters opting to send frozen product to markets. Chilled sheepmeat exports were down 18 per cent compared to last February, with the largest drop to the UK, which was down 52 per cent. “This drop in chilled meat exports impacts our ability to capture greater

market value from our products. Chilled meat is a sophisticated valueadd product backed by sophisticated processing and innovation. However, the supply chain disruption means that we can’t extract the maximum value because frozen products often attract a lower price point.” The overall value of exports to China increased by four per cent to $406m during February, the United States was up 34 per cent to $238m and the UK 28 per cent to $66m. The value of sheepmeat exports was up by 13 per cent to $475m and beef by 34 per cent to $460m. Co-products continued to perform well, with exports worth $172m, an increase of 16 per cent. Chilled beef exports held up better than sheepmeat, with the volume exported lifting slightly, by one per cent. There was a 10 per cent drop in the volume of overall beef exports to China, to 17,938 tonnes, but February 2021 was a record month and the overall volumes were still historically very high.

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Absenteeism in processing plants due to staff having to isolate during the COVID-19 pandemic is adding to the pressure on our industry. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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FARM MACHINERY FEATURE

Rural contractors recognise young contractors with new awards R

ural Contractors NZ (RCNZ) has launched new awards which will recognise the next generation coming into the $2b industry. Andrew Olsen, RCNZ’s CEO says his board has backed the initiative as a further way of cementing the value that rural contractors place on training. The RCNZ Hanzon Jobs Young Contractor of the Year Awards 2022 have their roots in the trainee records of the Hanzon jobs program. “We are delighted to do this in conjunction with Richard Houston at Hanzon Jobs,“ said Olsen. “With RCNZ’s and MPI’s support, Richard has developed a brilliant programme to help trainees record their daily activities. This builds a job record which advances their careers and gives contractors a good picture of what each trainee can do.” Since leaving school, Houston has been involved with agricultural contracting. “That’s included backto- back summers in both

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A shortlist of four trainees from the North Island and four from the South Island will be made up from the best Hanzon Jobs trainee records. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

hemispheres where I learned all aspects of being a rural contractor. There’s such high value in these skills which now finally are starting to be

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and available to them and their employers. “We now need to create further pathways for their learning and these awards are a brilliant next step to give them further encouragement.” Olsen said a shortlist of four trainees from the North Island and four from the South Island will be made up from the best Hanzon Jobs trainee records and employer reports. “Those trainees will then meet a panel of expert judges who will determine the inaugural award winners from both the North and the South Islands.” Entry will be limited to RCNZ members’ trainees who are enrolled in the Hanzon Jobs program. Details of the competition, sponsors, prizes, judges and key dates will be announced in coming weeks. “We think this is an important recognition program for those coming into the industry to help establish an ongoing commitment to some form of training, mentoring and celebration,” said Olsen.

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April Feasting Sheryl Stivens

ECO EFFICIENCY

he challenges of harvesting seasonal crops have continued into April with limited sunshine, overcast skies and high humidity. Some crops at Free Range Farm have flourished in these conditions. Pear crops have been the best in our food forest including the Beurre Bosc. These are bronze-coloured pears with a more dense firm flesh ideal for baking or poaching. I’ve enjoyed experimenting with them by looking up my grandmother’s recipe book from the late 1800, s and creating delicious savoury pear and ginger sauce and pickled pears with ginger and chillies. Looking forward to trying these over Easter. It was fun to get out the juicer to process a box of overripe pears and taste the results. Pear juice is delicious and can be further fermented into perry or pear cider. We have a brew bubbling away and will see how it goes.

Dried pears taste like caramel and delicious slices can be dried in the oven on low heat if you don’t have a dehydrator and are great for school lunches over the winter. Bottled pears are so handy on the pantry shelf and add a wow factor to that special pudding. The late heritage apples are spectacular; both the colour of their skins and the layers of flavours when biting into their flesh. Perhaps the most famous of the green apples is the granny smith which is also a family favourite. Our main tree was bought for us by my mother when we arrived on the property in 1982. It never fails to provide a hearty crop of beautiful clean crisp apples. I’m looking forward to making some apple butter in the slow cooker as well as various apple treats. Did you know you can make savoury apple sauce to use instead of tomato sauce? Homemade apple chutney is simply divine with Indian food and curries? We are aiming to make apple cider vinegar later this month to use throughout the year for sauces and cooking as well as for animal and human health. It’s so easy to make and there are plenty of recipes online for any quantity of apples. Besides picking fruit during

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April there are nuts to gather each day. The hazelnuts have mostly fallen along with the soft-shelled large walnuts we grew from seed. Now the nuts are falling from the 100-year-old walnut tree and it’s part of the daily routine to pick up a basket for drying as well as check the pine nut trees for cones that contain the much-treasured pine nuts as well as the chestnut tree that is laden this season. Once the fruit is harvested it’s time to feed the trees with wood ash and minerals and begin pruning and shaping the trees for next season’s fruit. This way we can feed the pruning’s to the sheep who love to nibble the luscious nutritious leaves. There’s also lots to do in the tunnel house. Harvesting sweet peppers and hot chillies as well as eggplants or aubergines and the last of the tomatoes as the temperatures drop. These heat-loving vegetables have been slow this season and are just really ripening now. We love cooking various special dishes such as the Greek dish, moussaka using our homegrown eggplants. It’s one of my personal favourite dishes. Happy feasting at your place. Enjoy sharing your homegrown food with family and friends.

Juicing overripe pears in the sunshine. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

walnuts drying ready for storing.

Savoury pear & ginger sauce & pickled pear, ginger & chilli using beurre bosch pears.

Varieties of heritage organic apples now ripening at Free Range Farm

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Is a degree a must for the modern-day farmer? Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

few years ago, on the NZ Farming Facebook page a 17-year-old posted a query on whether he should go straight into farming or spend a few years getting an academic qualification first. The replies were extensive and split about down the middle. Some thought he should go straight into dairying and gain on-farm experience; some thought he should spend some time at Lincoln University or elsewhere, getting a qualification. But is education necessary to become a 21st-century farmer? I think it could be the difference between success and failure. Farmers today not only have to be experts on plants and animals, but they must also be computer literate, mechanically inclined, savvy in business, legal-minded, and knowledgeable about world events. They must also be politically astute because much of their farm income and operations are tied to government and local body policies and regulations; for instance, if you are required to have consent to farm because of heightened nitrogen levels. Increasingly educating yourself about farming and agriculture requires a lifelong commitment. The 21stcentury farmer must stay informed about technological developments to remain competitive both locally and globally. With so much to learn,

With so much to learn, getting a bachelor’s degree is often recommended for wannabe farmers.

getting a bachelor’s degree is often recommended for wannabe farmers. Earning a degree is more important than the area of study chosen; a degree in business or political science, for example, may be as useful as one in agricultural science to a prospective farmer, especially one who was raised on a farm. Developing a marketing strategy is becoming an essential tool for farmers. Marketing involves working out what products to grow and who to sell them to. It also requires knowing how to price a product to cover costs and understanding strategies that minimise the risk of fluctuating prices. I know a farmer (let’s call him Mark) who studied middle eastern history at a university that didn’t provide much direct

value to his operation. But the indirect value was irreplaceable he says. Learning how to do research, write a paper, give a presentation and think critically has provided him with a lot of value when it comes to the farm. Being able to communicate clearly verbally and in writing is important – in many cases, Mark’s success has hinged on it. The ability to do his own books and to edit, interpret and analyse the farm’s financials has been priceless. Mark says that beyond the class university taught him about hard work, follow through and how to earn a grade. He reckons anyone with some sort of post-secondary training has demonstrated their ability and commitment to selfimprovement.

Whether it’s a bachelor’s degree in history, accounting, or certification in a trade, the direct application of skills learned to the farmer’s operation is not as important as the effort given to achieve the end result. Learning how to put in that effort and what it feels like to do so, is a vital part of any successful farm operation. University isn’t the only way to learn it, but it is one reliable way. Education is always an essential path to off-farm income which is becoming more and more critical in family farm economics. In both ag and non-ag areas, a degree can provide crucial skills needed to provide financial support to rural or farm communities. Postuniversity incomes can diversify a farm’s balance sheet and give

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

the financial security required to keep a farm afloat during downtimes. A trade can provide significant advantages to the farm be it welding a joint, understanding finance, or fixing broken equipment. University is expensive, and the direct applicability of skills to the farm may be low. But when you consider the broader lessons learned at university, most importantly learning how to learn, the costs seem minimal to the enormity of the knowledge and skills gained. Human beings are great at learning, the amount of information that can be jammed into our brains is incredible. Demonstrating a willingness to continuously use this natural learning ability to improve ourselves is in my mind entirely worthwhile.

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Realities of growing nutritious food David Clark

President of MC Federated Farmers

egularly we read an article or hear a speaker that refers to “chemical fertilisers” which levels a series of connotations as to health, risk, pollution, and “unnaturalness”. Over my time in Federated Farmers, and as a farmer in general I have heard countless speakers talk in degrading terms about these “chemical fertilizers” and the urgent need for us to embrace organics, or the new fad of regenerative agriculture. Biodynamics and other variations of the same concept have each had their time of promotion. Now, I’m a fan of keeping things confined to the basic concepts and fundamental principles. Once those fundamental principles have been established, how a particular farming system is managed is the choice of the individual and the choice of the consumer to support, or otherwise, so long as everyone sticks to the basic facts. I’m an arable farmer, I grow crops and farm livestock in a continuous rotation. I grow food, food is known as “nutritious food”, that being that it contains nutrients. It is the supply of those essential nutrients that allows your body to be nourished and perform the functions of a healthy body. The wheat I grow contains approximately 2.5kg of phosphorous per tonne of

grain, about 1.3kg of potassium and 1.5kg of sulphur along with a whole bunch of trace elements. In addition, it takes around 25kg of nitrogen to grow a tonne of wheat. So, for my 10 tonne per hectare crop of milling wheat that is made into flour to bake the toast you ate for breakfast, 25kg of phosphorous, 13kg of potassium and 15kg of sulphur were removed from every hectare of that field. Removed, gone, permanently no longer there. Likewise, 250kg of nitrogen was used to grow that crop. The nitrogen is the “gas in the tank” that powers the photosynthetic process along with water, oxygen and sunlight and forms amino acid and protein, the building blocks of life. Nitrogen can and is held in the soil as organic matter, but as that organic matter breaks down into nitrate, it can leach, and if used by plants, it must be replaced. Those basic elements left my field and were present in the toast you ate this morning.

Your body will use them for the essential function of life and growth. Where do those nutrients then go? Well, they end up in a nearby oxidation pond prior to their flow into the ocean. So, my paddock now has 25kg, 13kg & 15kg less P, K & S per hectare in it than was stored prior to the crop being harvested. If we do not replace those nutrients, then the field has been depleted. We learnt these concepts in maths in the primers. If you have a set, and you take something out of the set, you now have less in the set than you started. You can mix the squares or triangles in the set up as much as you like, but unless you put the same number of squares and triangles back into the set as you removed, you will always have less. The soil and my paddock as no different. We can mulch the straw, we can graze animals,

even on mixed swards of grasses, herbs or legumes, we can bury cow horns, we can direct drill, we could even dance naked on a moonlit night, but nothing will manufacture phosphorous, potassium, sulphur or any of the other nutrients that had been removed by a previous crop. We can spread manure or mulch from elsewhere to re-introduce nutrients, so long as we recognise that we are moving nutrients from one part of the farm or area to another. We are still not creating the nutrients that are now somewhere east of New Brighton Pier. It is true that some farm practices, even those preferred by protagonists of organics or regen can aid in the soil availability of nutrients or move those nutrients up from deeper in the soil profile by way of tap roots, but we still have not re-introduced nutrients removed into the soil, so ultimately the soil is

being mined, or depleted. Some management practices merely delay that process briefly. Without an external source of nutrients, the only way you can run a truly “closed loop” is for the contents of those ponds to be spread back on the area where the food was grown. That essentially is what occurs in subsistence village living. But we don’t have that anymore, we have cities, or “human feedlots”. So where does fertiliser fit into all of this? Fertiliser is the concentrated supply of a particular nutrient. Phosphorous is sourced from phosphate rock. Potassium is generally mined as potassium chloride, which is the dried salts of historic ocean beds. Sulphur is generally recovered as a by-product of the oil and gas industries, and nitrogen fertiliser is a combination natural gas and nitrogen from the atmosphere. What fertiliser does for us as food growers is gives us the ability to replace the same amounts of the nutrient that was removed in the food that left our field. To date, there is currently no other time or costefficient method of replacing those nutrients. Even if we disregarded any time or cost constraint, other agronomic measures promoted only move nutrient from one location to another. Depleting one area to enhance another. It’s a basic concept, in which we must remember the basics of sets taught many years ago in the primers. These basic principles of life, nutrition and crop growth get lost when folk start throwing around emotive terms such as “chemical fertiliser”.

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Bremworth wool carpets makes a mark in the US Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

Kiwi company has secured a US export contract to supply one of New York’s tallest skyscrapers with its wool flooring product. The $1.1 billion Brooklyn Tower will be home to hundreds of the city’s elite and will stand at 327 metres when it opens later this year, making it one of the world’s tallest residential buildings. The new contract will see Bremworth supply over 3,000sqm of wool carpet for the 93 storey, supertall skyscraper and is one of the company’s largest-ever installations of its natural fibre product in the US. The North American deal is the highest-profile commercial contract for the company since Bremworth’s wool carpets

were used in the refurbishment of dozens of US retail outlets owned by Cartier, the luxury French jewellery maker. Greg Smith, Bremworth CEO, said the contract was a significant endorsement for the New Zealand wool industry. “The landmark Brooklyn Tower will have 550 residential apartments with multi-million-dollar entry points and will stand over 100 metres taller than the next tallest building in this borough of New York. “The selection of our wool carpet for this project is a testament to the quality of both New Zealand wool as well as Bremworth’s manufacturing capability and is set to help open other export opportunities in this market,” he said. Smith said their New Zealand made product commanded a price premium in the US market. He said leveraging high profile installations such as the new Brooklyn skyscraper were necessary to help the company mitigate the impact of import tariffs that reduce their

competitiveness in the US. “We know that consumers have had the last couple of years to review their interiors as they have spent more time living and working at home. “As a result, we are seeing a conscious shift towards making their surroundings a more natural environment - as part of an enhancement to their overall health and wellbeing. “The US market has traditionally been dominated by synthetic carpets and as a natural fibre manufacturer from a country that is renowned for its environment and high standard of farming practices, this is creating a significant opportunity for us. “Our wool carpet retails at a premium in North America, when compared to plasticbased synthetic carpets which make up around 95 per cent of carpet sold in that country. “The use of Bremworth products in high profile installations such as the Brooklyn Tower and Cartier stores provide us with a unique marketing opportunity to

grow our presence and exports of New Zealand wool in this lucrative market,” he said. Smith said, “Architects and designers are wanting to appeal to a new conscious consumer that cares about the planet and prefers natural materials in their homes and their lives. “NZ has a reputation for sheep, that’s for sure and other brands like Icebreaker and Allbirds have paved the way in North America with a strong focus on natural materials. “Like the rest of the world, US consumers and companies are taking a fresh look at what products they use and the footprint they leave on themselves and the planet. Natural materials like NZ wool are incredible for their performance attributes and benefits, let alone being renewable and biodegradable. Further to that governments around the world are introducing legislation to ensure companies are making responsible choices. Natural materials fit well with this mindset.”

The soon to be completed 327m high Brooklyn Tower in New York will be outfitted in 3000sqm of Bremworth woollen carpet. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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Plasback welcomes Webbline’s commitment to sustainable farming A

gricultural plastic recycler Plasback has announced that the nationwide farm machinery and silage wrap distributor Webbline has joined its on-farm recycling scheme. According to Plasback commercial manager Neal Shaw, now that Webbline had joined, 85 percent of the silage film imported to New Zealand was covered by the scheme. “Congratulations to Webbline for their product stewardship. It is good to see suppliers take a responsible approach toward the environment and their customers,” Shaw said. “We encourage all New Zealand companies that supply plastic products and packaging to the agriculture industry to be responsible and join the scheme.” Webbline crop packaging manager Tim Currie said his company joined Plasback because it believed it was important to support the government’s goal of product stewardship for farm plastics, and Plasback’s collection service was the best option to do this. “We joined Plasback for two reasons. The first is that we

Tim Currie: We want to be seen to be supporting the industry’s efforts to recycle its waste.

want to be seen to be supporting the industry’s efforts to recycle its waste. The second is that Plasback is accredited by the government, and it has developed an efficient model for doing this,” Currie said. “The government has said that if we put plastic out there without providing a way for it to be collected, then it will impose a

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recycling system on us. “We want to avoid that, and Plasback has developed a good alternative with its on-farm collection service. “Plasback are leaders in the industry. They have been doing this for many years and they have the capacity to scale up their collection service to meet the growing demand from

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

farmers,” Currie said. Currie said Webbline (previously Malcolm Machinery) had been supplying the agricultural industry since 1963, so it had an indepth understanding of how important it was to ensure the industry was sustainable for future generations. “Our crop packaging brands

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are produced in Europe and the UK, and we sell direct to our customers throughout New Zealand through our four regional branches,” Currie said. Webbline’s head office was in Hamilton, and it also had branches in Feilding, Ashburton, and Gore. Shaw echoed Currie’s words. He said the Ministry for the Environment had made it clear that all farm plastics sold in this country would soon have to be covered by an accredited product stewardship scheme. Everyone in the farm plastics supply chain – from manufacturers through to consumers – would be responsible for recycling leftover plastic products and packaging. “We are now looking beyond silage wrap to woven plastic bags and sacks and other plastic products. We believe Plasback’s voluntary, user-pays collection service is the best model to recycle a wide range of waste plastic products,” Shaw said. “There is plenty of talk in the industry about supporting product stewardship, but it is time for all suppliers to back up that talk with action and join a scheme.”

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Beekeepers’ 20-year battle with killer mite Pat Deavoll

RURAL REPORTER

he parasitic mite varroa destructor has been a severe threat to New Zealand’s honeybees since it appeared on our shores twenty years ago. Affected bees have not been able to survive without human intervention and effective treatment for varroa is essential for protecting our most productive pollinators. In principle, the treatments are the same as they were 20 years ago, said local honey buyer John Hartnell. “We have standard treatments and organic options, with the beekeeper making the decision which options they choose for their business. There are two different chemical families and beekeepers alternate the treatment on a rolling basis to manage the potential for chemical resistance by the varroa mite, just as we do for sheep and beef etc. when treating worms and parasites. “In simple terms, if you do not treat the hive then it will die out, so it is critical that beekeepers get the timing right as far as placing the treatments in the hive, generally spring and autumn, two treatments per year unless there is heavy infestation. If the beekeeper gets it right, then they keep infestation levels under control.” According to the latest Ministry for Primary Industries annual bee surveillance report, more bee colonies are now being lost due to varroa mites than any other cause. This was

the first time in the survey’s history that the mite had been most frequently attributed to colony losses, with queen problems previously being considered the leading cause. Agcarm chief executive Mark Ross said, “Varroa wiped out wild bee colonies as it spread throughout the country, so it’s essential that beekeepers remain highly vigilant, check for its presence and treat hives with miticides - at the right time and with the right dose.” Miticides aren’t sprayed on bees. Rather, plastic strips are inserted into hives. “The bees walk on the strips, get the material into their body and it kills the mites,” Ross said. “It’s also important to get the timing and dose of the treatment right.” A good guide is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. MPI has commissioned Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research to conduct a colony loss survey annually since 2015, to help it monitor losses over time and support work to improve bee health. The 2021 winter survey, which involved nearly half of New Zealand’s beekeepers, found the overall loss rate to be 13.6 per cent, or approximately 109,800 colonies, up 2.3 per cent on 2020 levels. Conducted annually since 2015, the New Zealand Colony Loss Survey is based on the survey of beekeepers developed by the international COLOSS honeybee research association. Survey topics include the number and nature of over-winter colony losses, queen health, performance indicators, diseases and parasites, treatment of Varroa, supplemental feeding, and colony management. Because the challenges facing New Zealand beekeepers differ from those facing beekeepers in

the northern hemisphere, the survey also includes questions that are specific to the New Zealand context, e.g., apiary crowding, predation by wasps, and nectar flow from native trees. In a nutshell…. based on reports from 381,000 colonies and 47 per cent of New Zealand beekeepers, Landcare Research estimates the overall loss rate over winter 2021 to be 13.6 per cent, or approximately 109,800 colonies. This loss rate is 62 per cent higher than the loss rate for 2015, the first year of the survey. Loss rates exhibit considerable regional variation. For example, whereas 8.7 per cent of all living colonies entering winter were lost in the Lower North Island, 18.7 per cent of all such colonies were lost in the Middle North Island. Loss rates among hobbyists were nearly triple those for large commercial operators. In previous waves of the survey, losses were most frequently attributed to queen problems. However, this changed in 2021: for every one colony reported to be lost to queen problems, 1.6 colonies were reported to be lost to varroa. The share of all colonies reported to be lost to varroa over winter increased from 1.6 per cent in 2017 to 5.3 per cent in 2021. The most reliable methods for monitoring varroa were the sugar shake, alcohol wash, CO2 injection, and sending samples to a lab. 31.5 per cent of beekeepers monitor for varroa using at least one of these procedures while 23.7 per cent of beekeepers do not monitor for varroa. The vast majority of beekeepers treat varroa using Bayvarol Amitraz (the active ingredient in Apivar and

Since the varroa mite appeared on our shores twenty years ago, affected bees have not been able to survive without human intervention. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Treatment for varroa is much the same as it was 20 years ago.

Apitraz), and oxalic acid, most often in combination. However, 4.4 per cent of beekeepers (including both commercial operators and hobbyists) did not treat for varroa between spring 2020 and winter 2021. Many beekeepers who use Bayvarol and Amitraz do not follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The share of colonies lost that is considered to be ‘acceptable’ is highest among those who do not depend on beekeeping for their livelihoods. Regardless, overall winter

colony loss rates meet or exceed levels that beekeepers who earn a living from beekeeping consider to be economically viable. “Varroa is a long-term problem that costs the industry around $15 million a year in direct and indirect expenditure,” said Hartnell. “There has been a considerable investment domestically and internationally in research over the years but there has been no breakthrough or silver bullet found to date, it is a work in progress.”

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Ginny Dodunski appointed manager of Wormwise programme H

ighly experienced rural vet Ginny Dodunski has been appointed manager for the Wormwise programme and will take up her new role at the beginning of May. Wormwise is an industrywide partnership overseen by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA), AGCARM and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). It works to provide farmers with the latest knowledge and techniques to effectively and sustainably manage worms and minimise drench resistance issues – lifting productivity and the welfare of livestock. Dan Brier, chair of the Wormwise Trust and General Manager, Farming Excellence for B+LNZ, said the need for a programme manager was identified through the Wormwise strategy and action plan, undertaken with stakeholder and farmer interviews, surveys and workshops during 2021. “Ginny is very highly regarded, well-known and liked in the industry and by her farming clients,” says Brier. “She has been involved in a number of parasite and farm systems research projects in the past as well as farmer extension through programmes like the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) Action Network and has a reputation for getting jobs done.” The programme manager’s role will include ensuring the programme’s activity across the industry is linked up across researchers, industry, government, vets, drench companies and farmers. “The priorities for the next 12 months will include building on the action plan across our four key areas: education and

Ginny Dodunski: I have been a huge advocate of Wormwise since it was conceived and have been a facilitator for the programme since it was launched. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

engagement, incentivising farmer practice change, product stewardship and building data and testing. “A key part of the next six months will be getting across all the parties and people involved in parasite management in New Zealand to ensure everyone is working toward helping farmers become more sustainable and profitable.” Dodunski joined Totally Vets (formerly Manawatu Vet Services) in 1998. Apart from a year working in Taranaki and

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another year in Australia, she has worked for them ever since, almost exclusively with farm livestock. She has worked from the Taumarunui clinic since 2014. “I have been a huge advocate of Wormwise since it was conceived and have been a facilitator for the programme since it was launched,” says Dodunski. “When the need for a programme manager was identified, I thought ‘that is 100 per cent me’. “Wormwise is so important

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because there is much to be gained from management that improves productivity but also reduces the impact of parasitism. “People may have the impression that the programme is all about mitigating drench resistance but it is so much more. It’s about improving productivity and sustainability and using all the tools in the toolbox, rather than just drenching.” She sees raising the profile of Wormwise across the rural sector as an important focus.

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“I would like to see it become a lot more visible, so that the principles become part of people’s day-to-day management thinking. It would be good to get to the point where farmers, who are trying to decide management of a certain group of sheep, will be thinking: ‘What would Wormwise advise – how does it fit’? It’s about keeping that lens over what you are doing on farm. “Ultimately, everyone is going to need to have an integrated farm plan around what to do with things like water and greenhouse gases and part of that could easily include sustainable worm management. But it’s got to be practical, meaningful, and fit the farm system. “At present, the good advice and awareness building is mainly coming through vets. The programme already has printed and downloadable material, but I would also like to look at new and different ways to deliver the messages, including ramping up social media and working with other rural suppliers to make information about the programme more widely available.” Brier says farmers can expect to see a continuation of the current Wormwise extension programme through B+LNZ Farmer Councils. “There will be a renewed communications and engagement plan and a real focus on helping farmers understand how other farmers are managing in the face of anthelmintic resistance on their farms. A key first step is defining, in partnership with others, how bad the parasite resistance problem in New Zealand actually is.”

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What’s going on in the venison world? Pat Deavoll

Farms, where suppliers across all species are experiencing delays. Group sales manager Peter Robinson says the company’s: “priority will be addressing any areas of potential animal welfare risk and supporting our fully shared and valued suppliers.” “We are operating as best we can and reviewing weekly,” says John Sadler of Mountain River Venison. At Alliance: “There will be disruption to numbers processed but at this stage, the impact is not too significant,” says sales manager Terry O’Connell. Processing is continuing at good levels at Duncan NZ, even though throughput has eased. Andy Duncan’s management team “is doing an excellent job of balancing employee and public safety, with continued production, filling customers’ orders and building on the new market development work,” he says. The United Kingdom appears to have a lot going for it as a potential market for our venison. There is a heritage of wild venison consumption by the upper classes and those brave enough to poach their herds, plus established red meat supply chains from New Zealand. In practice, building and maintaining strong customer relationships has proved challenging for our marketers. Successful retail supply contracts established with Marks & Spencer and Waitrose in the early 2000s fell over a few years ago when both retail chains decided to stock only locally raised meat. Large fluctuations in export statistics for both quantity and value reflect the come and go nature of UK venison demand – a pattern that has been amplified by the impact of Covid on food service. Despite this history, our marketers are continuing their efforts to gain traction

RURAL REPORTER

enison processors and deer farmers are busy juggling the uncharted territory of the Omicron outbreak. All processors report staff absences due to illness or isolation with household members, which has reduced capacity and slowed the processing of deer. Pre-outbreak planning, with companies working closely with local health authorities, will have minimised some of the potential impacts. Nevertheless, venison production for First Light Foods was impacted when Venison Packers Feilding plant had to close completely last weekend for a “relatively short, sharp” period, says Matt Gibson, First Light general manager of venison. He says venison packers will be back in operation soon, but it is likely capacity will be reduced by about a third. In the meantime, the company is advising its farmer suppliers and agents to keep in close communication, so everyone has as much information as possible. Protocols already in place across the industry – screens, physical distancing, temperature testing, and masks – have been boosted by the widespread use of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and consolidation of shifts to make sure staff are safe and that processing can continue as efficiently as possible. Farmers have been advised to book space well in advance, focus on good animal welfare, especially during transport, and be prepared to hold stock on-farm for longer. Moving animals off the farm is the focus for Silver Fern

Venison packers will be back in operation soon, but it is likely capacity will be reduced by about a third. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

in the UK. In late February Alliance Group partnered with the NZ Beer Collective (NZ brewers who export to the UK) to celebrate New Zealand Beer Month, with a closing party held at the NZ High Commission penthouse suite in London. To tie in with the beer theme, Alliance provided food that had a nod to beer and beverages, such as venison loin in a miniature martini glass. Each of the dishes was paired with a beer from NZ Beer Collective’s range. Alliance venison marketing manager Terry O’Connell says there are many opportunities in the UK, including gastropubs that have the potential to take very large volumes of product. But these outlets are only now getting back into business after the worst of Covid. He believes the segments with the greatest immediate potential are Hello Fresh meal kits and white tablecloth restaurants. “We’ve been experimenting with Hello Fresh in the UK, working out what works best – which recipes, which cuts, the right portion size, and so on. Sales were slow to

start, but they’re now getting better every day. It looks very promising,” he says. “With many home cooks, the fear of failure puts them off trying something new. Meal kits overcome this by providing every instruction a cook would ever need. Our job is to give them a great meal experience, so they keep coming back for more.” On the foodservice front, Alliance is adding venison as an extension to its 55-day-aged premium handpicked lamb and beef range, which is winning favour among top-end chefs in the UK. With beef and lamb Alliance uses excellence in product quality and the free-range NZ farming story to overcome the inclination of many chefs to buy local. This will also be the case with venison, which many UK chefs associate with wild deer shot in the Scottish Highlands. Despite the arrival of 4070mm of “useful” rain in the past two weeks most deer farmers in the region – which has helped – it was not enough, says NZDFA Southland branch chair Bruce Allan. Most farms in Southland rely

on good autumn pasture covers going into a winter which can be up to 100 days of minimum growth, he says. Rainfall on the south coast has been the lowest since records began 50 years ago and some rivers were at levels only seen every 80 years. The unusual lack of rain, since the start of the year, caused irrigation to be stopped throughout the whole of the region at the end of March for two weeks, when a medium-scale adverse event was announced by Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor. Allan says “It’s testing times. The challenge for most people is that pasture cover is low and in some parts of the province winter feed reserves have been eaten into. The window of opportunity to get some growth before winter is relatively small.” Those with mixed enterprises may have added strain with the current pandemic disruption to meat processing, even though the peak killing season has passed for deer. While everyone’s situation will be different, Allan says, deer farmers in Southland and South Otago will need to proactively look after themselves and seek extra feed if required. The government’s announcement unlocked up to $100,000 in government funding for Southland and Otago Rural Support Trusts to support farmers and growers, who are struggling, and activated the National Feed Coordination Service through to October 2022. It will also help with one-on-one support and community events, with extra technical advice also available from industry groups, including feed planning advice. “The $100,000 is a start but more will be needed,” says NZDFA chair John Somerville, saying supplementary feed is scarce and very expensive at the moment.

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THEFarming NEW BLUE DISPENSER WITH STAINLESS STEEL Damage to our roadside natives DROPPERS happens all too often

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THE NEW BLUE DISPENSER WITH STAINLESS STEEL • New installations DROPPERS • Upgrades

Mary Ralston

FOREST AND BIRD

t happens all too frequently. A new fence goes in along a property’s roadside boundary and the matagouri or cabbage trees are bowled over. Or the spraying of weeds gets natives as well. Perhaps it is roadworks or snowploughs that do the irreparable damage. The results are the same – the casual destruction of the dwindling stock of native roadside vegetation. It is not trivial or inconsequential; the term death by a thousand cuts comes to mind. The intensification of the plains that began over a hundred years ago resulted in an almost total loss of native vegetation and in many places, it was only the remnants along roadsides that gave any sign of the vegetation that once cloaked

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Let’s have a roadside replanting movement – more roadsides could look like this! PHOTOS: MARY RALSTON

Damage to roadside vegetation in the high-country chips away at the natural character of our landscape

• Upgrades • Nationwide installs – THE NEW BLUE DISPENSER Agents:great back up support the area. Now, many of the fragments on the plains have disappeared too – not usually deliberately but gone under the hooves of moving dairy herds, herbicide, trucks, or irrigation that changed the growing conditions to the extent that natives could no longer compete with introduced grasses. That same intensification that transformed the plains has well and truly hit the foothills. Development has meant much of the tussock and matagouri in the paddocks has gone, then fences are replaced, and any

remaining matagouri in the way disappears. And then it looks a lot like the plains – green and homogenous. The development of the flatter parts of the high country in last ten or so years has followed the same pattern: a greening and intensification of the paddocks with the loss of tussocks, matagouri and other native vegetation, then the loss of remnants along fencelines and roadsides after damage or removal by new fences or roadworks. There’s an irony that along

major roading developments such as the new motorway to Christchurch thousands of native plants have been planted to soften the look of the road, provide interest and natural character, and contribute to carbon sequestration. Yet along roadsides in the Ashburton District where we have native plants that naturally occur, we are still losing valuable remnants. The remnants should be valued as significant parts of our landscape, not weeds that are in the way. So please, if you have native

vegetation along fencelines and roadsides, save them! Make sure your staff know the difference between matagouri and broom if their job is to spray weeds and ask your fencer to leave the matagouri in place. Roadside native vegetation gives a glimpse of what makes New Zealand unique. Loss of natives is the loss of natural character. It would be fabulous to see a roadside replanting movement spring up along the foothills and high-country roads, just as we see roadside planting along the motorways.

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299Woodbury Havelock Str,Limited Ashburton Downs has a 200 strong pedigree Holstein Friesian herd on a 42 hectare block in 299 Havelock Str, Ashburton Elgin, Ashburton The farm runs on a high input feeding system, with year round milking through a 19 03 308 9109 aside herringbone shed. 03 308 9109 hondaadmin@malcolmlovett.co.nz We are looking for the following staff: hondaadmin@malcolmlovett.co.nz

Senior / Farm Assistant That is experienced and enthusiastic hands on, who is wanting to combine their passion for the industry with the desire to have a work-life balance on a 5 / 3 Roster We have a small, dedicated team and our ideal applicant would have a mature and positive outlook with a minimum of 2 years in a hands on Dairy position. Previous experience is essential, F and W endorsements desirable along with a class 2 license or the desire to obtain. Farm Assistant To assist when required, with all farm duties (including but not exclusive to) milking, animal health, shed hygiene, calving, and calf rearing (when in season) and other tasks as reasonably requested. Honesty, reliability, and punctuality are essential; a positive outlook and ability to work well individually and as a team member; maturity when working with others and initiative in new situations. Ability to work over weekends is essential and be flexible with hours (within reason). Must have a full driver’s license, along with reliable transport to get to our rural location in Elgin, Ashburton. Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test. There is no on farm accommodation, but a package including accommodation assistance for the right candidates is negotiable. To apply: Please send a Cover letter and CV to Lyn Foord - HR Manager lyn@canterburydriedfoods.co.nz or call for further information 03 302 3817 or 022 326 0883

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Powered by cutting-edge artificial intelligence software, OmniEye uses a non-intrusive on-farm camera and monitoring system to collect tens of thousands of data points from every cow, every day, to provide farmers with a clearer picture of the overall health of their herd. Our first product, OmniEye Locomotion, allows for early detection of lameness and drafting of animals, resulting in greater productivity, less suffering, and less costly interventions and culling. It is currently being used on more than 20 dairy farms (around 20,000 cows), including 10 Pāmu Farms, around New Zealand. As a vital member of our team, you’ll be primarily responsible for generating sales, identifying and nurturing potential customers and showcasing this exciting new technology and the benefits for their business. You’ll have a customer-focused and authentic sales approach, with experience working in sales, technology and/ or the agriculture industry. A self-starter, with a willingness to go the extra mile, you’ll be confident working independently and committed to our company’s vision of bringing OmniEye’s future-proof technology to dairy farms across New Zealand. Salary range: Base salary + high rewards commission + ESOP

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Farming

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Missing Yield Data for your Farm? You Shouldn’t Have to Break the Bank to Get It. Y

our farm’s operational plan starts with data and when it comes time to make decisions for next season, a yield map is your report card for field performance. Whether evaluating trials, recording soil moisture or watching live yield in the cab, accurate yield data and usable yield maps can change how you farm. Most farmers already know the parts of a field that are historically low or high yielding, but if you want to calculate the dollar return on inputs it’s a yield map that proves it. The map highlights variability missed by the naked eye, confirms exact yield missed with satellite imagery alone and builds a historical year-to-year harvest record so you can make the best agronomic decisions for your farm. Getting into variable rate applications on the family farm, with the help of his agronomist, pushed Canadian farmer Perry Casson to seek out retrofit yield monitors for his three combines: a New Holland CX8080, CR9060 and TR98. In 2016 the options

available were disappointing – overpriced and already going out of date. By leveraging

An aftermarket yield monitor for any combine.

the smartphone he already owned and his experience as a technologist, Perry prototyped

a low-cost yield monitor that measured yield in the clean grain elevator, recorded the

data with GPS positioning in the cab and then wirelessly transferred the data to the cloud for storing and cleaning into yield maps automatically. FarmTRX now provides precision yield monitoring and mapping at the lowest cost on the market in over 35 countries, making it easier for any farmer to be a precision ag farmer. The FarmTRX Yield Monitor and Moisture Sensor installs on any combine with 12-28 volts and a clean grain elevator. Setup is simple, completed through the Harvest Mobile App and done by either volume or weight with a once per crop type/ season calibration in-field. If you’ve got a combine operator who doesn’t want to think about calibration or setup, just start harvesting. The Yield Monitor is recording relative yield as you go. Farmers can post-calibrate the yield data to the actual yield by entering the total field takeoff in weight or volume after the fact through the FarmTRX Web Application.