CountryLife
JANUARY 2019
The nose have it… They are regarded as the “cutest” sheep in the world and they are on a farm on the outskirts of Cambridge. Andrew and Leigh-Anne Peake have raised a flock of more than 20 Valais blacknose sheep on their farm after importing them as frozen embryos from the United Kingdom and they are proving a popular tourist attraction. The couple used their own regular “garden variety” sheep as surrogates and when the lambs arrived in late July and early October, it was the first time the couple had seen the breed, which originated in Switzerland, first hand. The venture was a success, achieving 26 healthy lambs from the 34 embryos. “We love it,” Andrew said. “They’re just so cool, and we like sharing them with others.” Tours to the Rose Creek Valais Blacknose Sheep farm can be booked through Destination Cambridge. The farm is a six-minute drive from town and visitors can interact with the sheep in the paddock and even bottle feed them if visiting at the right time – around 3pm. “They’re just so cute and friendly and nice to be around,” Leigh-Anne said. “They’re so much cooler than our other sheep.” The sheep’s soft wool is regarded as the finest wet felting wool in the world and the Cambridge Creative Fibre group has already shown interest in using it for their creations. Leigh-Anne is also working on a few items herself. As it contains very low amounts of lanolin, the wools is not greasy like other types of wool. The embryos came from five bloodlines and the Peakes plan to continue a breeding programme on their farm. The rams have already been separated from the ewes in preparation for the next mating season March. Some of the lambs have been purchased by the Agrodome in Rotorua and some sold as pets and building for the next arrivals. For details on how to see the sheep, contact the Cambridge i-SITE to book a tour.
A Cambridge News special publication.
CASE IH TRACTORS
www.gaz.co.nz
2 – CountryLife
Positive forecast for the rural sector
The value of New Zealand’s primary sector exports is set to grow by $505 million. The government’s Situation and Outlook report forecasts a 3.8 per cent increase for primary sector export earnings for the year. In Waikato, primary production makes up 21 per cent of the region’s GDP, compared to just 11 per cent nationally. Waikato has 1.9 million dairy cattle, nearly 30 per cent of the country’s total. The region’s dairy production was up 4.8 per cent in 2018, with excellent pasture growth recorded so far this season in comparison to the last season’s big dry. Hauraki-Waikato MP Hon Nanaia Mahuta said that through the Provincial Growth Fund, the government was investing in helping New Zealand’s heartland to thrive. “We’re backing economic development projects all over rural
New Zealand to the tune of $1 billion each year for three years.” A manuka honey standard has been introduced for export to weed out cowboy operators and boost apiarists’ incomes. A national organics standard is also out for discussion. “Government is ensuring primary exporters are more internationally competitive than ever,” said Mahuta. “We are signing high-value free-trade agreements that open lucrative markets to New Zealand exporters, and the benefits of the Pacificwide CPTPP will start to flow to New Zealand from 2019. “The key to our future is backing Kiwi ingenuity.” A $40 million-a-year Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund has been established for rural initiatives, which will look after the environment while creating jobs in the farming sector.
A manuka honey standard has been introduced for export to boost apiarists’ incomes.
Friday January 25, 2019
Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre – the end of an era
Established in 1919, Wairarapa-based Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre was a major national agricultural training facility, with 11 residential campuses across the country including Waikato. The facility successfully prepared for careers in agriculture. But Taratahi didn’t make its 100 year milestone. In December it was placed in interim liquidation, affecting 250 jobs and 2850 students. According to Taratahi board chairwoman Mavis Mullins, liquidation was the most responsible decision to protect the current and future position of its staff, students, creditors and other key stakeholders. The Tertiary Education Commission, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Studylink are working together to find alternative options. The government will continue working with industry on a plan to deliver a new approach to agrisector training that meets the needs of the industry now and into the Taratahi prepared students for careers in agriculture future.
Immigration proposals welcomed by farmers
DairyNZ has welcomed the government’s consultation on temporary work visas and the proposed introduction of Regional Skills Shortage Lists, citing labour shortages as being a very real and serious problem for the dairy sector. “Dairy farmers, just like any other business owners, need a stable, reliable and productive workforce,” says DairyNZ chief executive Dr Mackle. “Right now, many of our migrant farm staff have to reapply for their visas each year and can’t bring their families to New Zealand or stay longer than three years. This significantly impacts our workforce and our rural communities.” DairyNZ hopes to see many valuable dairy
employees being classed as mid-skilled rather than the current incorrect classification of low-skilled. “Knowing that they will be able to retain their good staff will mean our farmers can be confident in investing in training and development,” said Mackle. “This means we can maintain the high skills level and productivity New Zealand’s dairy sector is known for.” DairyNZ is working to attract more Kiwi candidates in the regions where jobs are. However, until there are enough people with the right training and passion for farming, the need for migrant staff will continue. Regional Skills Shortage Lists is seen as a positive step during this transition.
A Shade Solution for You Provides sun protection & superior insulation
ALLY-GOLA • Aluminium frame • Polycarbonate roof • Hidden detail brackets • Custom gutters • Powder coated to colour of your choice
Insect control
• Custom powder coating • Slides up and down
Shade Sail • Retractable Shade • Aluminium frame with stainless hardware • 10 year warranty
• 360 Degree tilting rotation • Acrylic canvas canopy • Frame 5 year/ Canvas 7 year Warranty
• 6.5 metre wide cloth. • Teflon tread • Marine stainless steel hardware • Custom designed Outdoor Blinds • Ally-Golla - (New Product) Awnings • Umbrellas • Shade Sails • Retractable Sails Customised Covers • Interior Blinds
Call Bruce now for a no obligation consultation
CountryLife – 3
Friday January 25, 2019
Opportunities for sustainable farming
Hamilton was a host city for the inaugural joint New Zealand and Ireland Pasture Summit conferences held late last year. Well-run, grass-rich milk production systems that are profitable and environmentally sustainable, and provide milk products that are in demand from global consumers, were key themes. “Milk from New Zealand and Ireland ticks so many boxes for global consumers,” Pasture Summit chairman Colin Armer said. “Consumers want to know the food they buy is safe for their families, is healthy, is kind to the environment and that the people working on farms are treated well and the animals cared for.” Nearly 900 people attended conferences in Waikato and Canterbury. They were run by a group of progressive and committed farm business owners and dairy sector experts from across New Zealand and Ireland. The summit was organised to accelerate the rate of innovation around New Zealand and Ireland’s natural competitive advantage - pasture-led farming - and focused on the right opportunities to become more competitive in the food sector.
Conferences included presentations on the latest research, innovations and knowledge, robust debate about the challenges and opportunities for dairy farming, and the solutions that are being continually developed. “The economic analysis from both countries indicates that those farms with a high percentage of grazed pasture are the most resilient, have a higher operating profit margin and a higher return on assets,” said Armer. While there are farmers who do achieve high profits from intensive farming system, they are more complex and difficult to replicate. Most farmers, and particularly those starting their farming career, should be getting a very clear message that pasture utilisation, along with low supplement use, should be their focus. “Set the stocking rate and calving date to match your pasture growth curve, maintain disciplined cost control and you will have a profitable business,” he said. The next Pasture Summit conference will be held in Ireland in 2020.
Well-run, grass-rich milk production systems can be profitable and environmentally sustainable.
The effects of pre-graze mowing Mowing before grazing is a strategy sometimes used to achieve target pasture residuals with the belief that intake is increased and surplus pasture will be converted into milk. However, neither past nor recent research supports this belief, explains DairyNZ senior scientist Jane Kay. Earlier research compared cows grazing mown pastures versus standing pastures and reported little or no benefit to cow production, and reduced pasture growth rates. However, these studies didn’t investigate the longer-term effect of mowing pastures with higher-than-recommended pre-graze pasture covers. DairyNZ researchers joined up with farmers, rural professionals and university professors to compare the outcome from grazing mown versus
standing pastures at two pre grazing covers: moderate (MOD) – 2900 kilograms of dry matter per hectare (kg DM/ha) and high (HIGH) – 3500kg DM/ha. Results from the trial carried out at Lincoln University Research Dairy Farm showed pre-graze mowing had no effect on cow performance, with cows in both mown and grazed herds averaging 1.8kg milksolids per day (MS/d) and a 4.2 Body Condition Score (BCS) throughout the experiment. According to Kay, pre-graze mowing had a negative effect on pasture performance, reducing tiller numbers and pasture density. “This means, for a given height, there was less pasture available in the mown farmlets. This resulted in less silage being made, and more silage fed out to cows in the mown farmlets to maintain intakes.”
Research doesn’t support mowing before grazing.
Water movement streaming across the country DairyNZ has launched a new movement to get everyone to play a role in improving the country’s waterways. The nationwide Vision is Clear: Let’s Improve our Waterways shows the work being done by dairy farmers and other New Zealanders to benefit rivers, streams, lakes and beaches. It calls on all Kiwis to follow the movement, get involved and look after New Zealand’s waterways. Launched in November, the campaign is in all forms of media. People are encouraged to visit thevisionisclear.co.nz.
Add value to your home with a well cared for, great lawn! Now you can enjoy a perfect lawn for less cost than you can do it yourself!
For ALL Your Civil Engineering Requirements For all your earthmoving requirements, contact the family firm with 60 years of outstanding workmanship, experienced personnel, a great reputation based on a history of honesty and integrity. Depots in Cambridge and Putaruru
D-I-WHY?
We deliver on time, on cost.
Our weed and feed service takes care of any lawn – large or small. So don’t delay. Contact us today for your FREE lawn inspection.
Weeds? Disease? Moss? Insects?
®
0800 111 001
8988501AA
www.pimpmylawn.co.nz
No job too large or too small, free estimates available. 78 Hautapu Road CAMBRIDGE Ph 07 827 5820
24 Hour Free phone 0800 847 283 www.tem.co.nz
1906 State Highway 1 PUTARURU Ph 07 883 8372
Since 1978 Bailey Ingham has been a one stop shop for all your financial needs. Experts in providing farmers and businesses quality professional advice in all aspects of accounting and taxation planning - including GST, FBT, Individual/Employer PAYE, - Succession planning and family guidance - Trust administration and advice - Business administration including Companies Office requirements - Windups including company liquidations Supporters of local community events
Carolyn Perrett
Kelly Bair
Contact the team for a FREE NO OBLIGATION INTERVIEW to discuss your financial requirements. 41 Bank St Te Awamutu 3800 Ph 07 870 1888 Email: ta@baileyingham.co.nz
Professional Farm Services Ltd, cnr of Queen & Albert Streets, Cambridge Professional Farm Services Ltd, cnr of Queen & Albert Streets, Cambridge enquiries@profarms.co.nz www.profarmservices.co.nz enquiries@profarms.co.nz www.profarmservices.co.nz
4 – CountryLife
Friday January 25, 2019
Friday January 25, 2019
CountryLife – 5
6 – CountryLife
Friday January 25, 2019
Friday January 25, 2019
CountryLife – 7
8 – CountryLife
Friday January 25, 2019