Canterbury Farming, July 2018 by Canterbury Farming

30,287 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast

July 2018 Edition

INSIDE

THIS EDITION Wiffen’s back

p5 Animal health

p16 Calving

p20 Winter lifestyle

p31

Underway: Preparations for next year’s South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee are well advanced.

Planning well underway for South Island Agricultural Field Days 2019

With the National Fieldays in Hamilton another success many farmers and agricultural suppliers are now turning their attention to preparing for next year’s South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee.

❚ by Kent Caddick While it’s still almost 10 months until the 2019 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD), exhibitors are now able to register on-line to reserve a site for the event to be held at the organisation’s permanent venue on Courtenay Road, Kirwee, from Wednesday, March 27 to Friday, March. This year the SIAFD organising committee has a new secretary and events co-ordinator, Tineka Johnstone. Originally from Hawarden and then Methven, Ms Johnstone is well-known to many in Canterbury’s farming community through her

work with the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) and NZ Young Farmers. She said an online application form is now available on the SIAFD website, along with a prospectus that provides all the information exhibitors need to know regarding how the field days will be run, payment, advertising options, and award competitions. “We want potential exhibitors to start thinking about their options and register early,” Ms Johnstone said. “We are upgrading the website so at present it looks a bit barebones, but the all necessary information is there. The new-look website will be up and running about now.”

Ms Johnstone said SIAFD is well-known for its machinery demonstrations and this will again be a major attraction. Exhibitors are encouraged to put their latest machines through their paces. “Normally the chair of the SIAFD changes for each field days, but because I am new to the role of secretary, Rodney Hadfield has stayed on for another term. “Michaela McLeod will serve as vice chair and Andrew Stewart will be in charge of organising the crops that will be used in the machinery demonstrations,” Ms Johnstone said.

TO PAGE 2

July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Upgrades afoot at SIAFD Kirwee site FROM PAGE 1 SIAFD media liaison person Daniel Schat said a number of working bees have already been held to prepare the field days site for next year. “This will be the third field days we have had at our Kirwee site, and we are gradually upgrading the facilities,” Mr Schat said. “Rain in the lead up to the last field days in 2017 left the laneways muddy, which meant extra work to get them ready for the public. “This year we are using hard fill from the Central Plains Irrigation scheme to gravel the lanes so we will be ready if we do get wet weather.” A new addition to SIAFD 2019 is the Smart Farming Award. The award recognises the new technology that farmers can use to gather data, make better decisions, operate their businesses more efficiently, and communicate with their advisers and suppliers. Farming consultants Agri Magic is sponsoring the Smart Farming Award and the winner will receive $1500 and the runner-up $500. The winner will be announced prior to SIAFD 2019 so that they can take advantage of publicity during the field days.

Hard at work: Heading up efforts to organise South Island Agricultural Field Days are (from left) Rodney Hadﬁeld, Tineka Johnstone, and Michaela Mcleod.

‘

This year we are using hard ﬁll to gravel the lanes so we will be ready if we do get wet weather. Daniel Schat SIAFD Media Liaison

For further information contact Tineka Johnstone on 03 318 1845 or info@siafd.co.nz or visit www.siafd.co.nz

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

July 2018

Process vegetable industry signs up Horticulture New Zealand has signed a Government Industry Agreement (GIA) for Biosecurity Readiness and Response on behalf of Process Vegetables New Zealand (PVNZ).

❚ by Kent Caddick

PVNZ represents the interests of 350 commercial growers of sweetcorn, beetroot, carrots, parsnips, peas, and beans for processing, with the farm gate value of process vegetable crops valued at over $60 million per annum. PVNZ chair David Hadfield says robust biosecurity should be seen as an investment for growers. “Committing to the GIA enables us to have closer, more informed interactions with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other GIA industry partners around biosecurity,” Hadfield says. “This includes planning for potential incursions and taking a leading role in collective biosecurity management where it impacts our members.” The GIA signing in Wellington was attended by representatives from PVNZ, Horticulture New Zealand, MPI, and the GIA Secretariat. Horticulture New Zealand has signed the GIA Deed on behalf of PVNZ, as it is not an incorporated society, and will represent their interests at the decision-making table. PVNZ joins a number of other GIA signatories, including Potatoes New Zealand, Vegetables New Zealand, TomatoesNZ, Kiwifruit Vine Health, New Zealand Apples and Pears, Onions New Zealand, New Zealand Avocado Growers’ Association, New Zealand Citrus Growers Incorporated, Summerfruit NZ, NZ Winegrowers, NZ KiwiBerry Growers Incorpo-

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Joining the programme: Signing up for the GIA are, from left, PVNZ Chair David Hadﬁeld, Director General Ministry for Primary Industries Martyn Dunne and Horticulture New Zealand Director Hugh Ritchie.

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July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Great way to celebrate 50 years

Damien O’Connor ❚ by Minister for Agriculture, Biosecurity, ❚ Food Safety and Rural Communities ❚

I bumped into many South lsland farmers who made the trek north to look at the exhibitions and listen to people talk about the sector’s future. There is a lot to be excited about – from the excellent, creative, on-farm work under way to help keep waterways clean to pushing toward a higher value pathway for our exports. Based on the record crowds in attendance and the positivity of the people I spoke to, I think we have reason to be confident about farming’s future. While at Fieldays I announced the situation outlook for the sector, which predicts export revenue to go past $40 billion in the next year. I know that comes with a lot of hard work and sweat from people on-farm, orchard and vineyard. I also announced the establishment of Rural Proofing to ensure that policies developed by officials in Wellington take into account our regional communities and $30 million for scientific research relating to cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis. Since the Government and industry leaders announced the phased eradication attempt of Mycoplasma bovis in late May, I’ve spoken to many farmers across the country. The majority support the decision, but have fair questions about greater compliance for animal tracing and ensuring that compen-

It was wonderful to attend the 50th celebration of Fieldays at Mystery Creek last month.

Catch up: Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor catches up with his boss, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Miles Hurring from Fonterra at Fieldays.

sation is paid quickly and fairly to farmers caught in the response. The response has raised issues about privacy and we are working through those. It is a difficult balancing act to protect the rights of individuals against the needs of the wider farming community to know useful information. The Government is making a big invest-

ment in the response – the total cost is $880 million over 10 years, with industry groups paying for 32 per cent of that. Our commitment to the eradication attempt, and to support farmers through it, highlights a good, honest, and strong relationship. I want to thank those people who’ve shared their opinions with me about the response effort.

I’m committed to making improvements where needed to ensure those farmers, and their families, who are caught in the response through no fault of their own, are helped as much as possible. Finally, to the organisers of Fieldays – congratulations on the 50th birthday and a great event.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

July 2018

Back for another crack at the title Last spring West Coaster Andrew Wiffen accomplished a breeding goal many New Zealand dairy farmers strive for, but never achieve.

❚ by Brad Markham One of his bull calves, Wiffens Chester, was bought by the Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC). It was a proud moment for the 30-year-old who 50:50 sharemilks 200 cows on his parents’ farm on the West Coast. “It’s awesome,” said Wiffen, who was named Tasman FMG Young Farmer of the Year for a second time in April. “It takes some people years of breeding to get to the stage where a company, such as LIC, wants one of their bull calves.” LIC genomically screens 1,700 bull calves each year, buying 200. If all goes to plan, semen from Wiffen’s bull will be used to inseminate cows in sire proving herds this spring. The contest veteran farms 100 hectares near Hokitika. Almost a third of the coastal property is ‘sand country’, which has irrigation. “That part of the farm can turn brown within five days if we haven’t had rain,” he said. “This summer I irrigated for 20 days in a row. That’s unheard of here.” A cyclone in January dumped much-need-

ed rain, but it also left 10 hectares of the farm submerged under salt water. It’s been a challenging and busy 12 months for Wiffen. He competed in the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final for the first time last July, placing third. He married his wife Kate a fortnight later. He’ll get another attempt at the prestigious title in Invercargill this month. “I’m stoked to be heading to grand final again. I’m pretty lucky to get that opportunity,” he said. “It’ll be a chance for me to rectify errors I made last year. I will probably have an advantage, but only if I use my time wisely in the lead-up to the contest.” The Grey Valley Young Farmers member has unrivalled competition experience, having competed in numerous regional finals. The keen white baiter grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Marlborough and has a Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture) from Lincoln University. He visited Scotland in 2014 as part of a NZ Young Farmers exchange. “I stayed in five different parts of Scot-

‘

I’m stoked to be heading to grand ﬁnal again. I’m pretty lucky to get that opportunity. Andrew Wiffen

FMG Young Farmer of the Year finalist

land, experiencing everything from sheep, beef, dairy and even pig farms,” Wiffen said. “Attending the Royal Highland Show was amazing. One thing I noticed is that communities in Scotland seem more vibrant. Possibly it’s because there are more people to take part in events.” The exchange is an experience Wiffen encourages other NZ Young Farmers members to take part in. New Zealand’s longest-running agricultural contest marks a special milestone this month when the FMG Young Farmer of the Year celebrates its 50th anniversary at the final in Invercargill from July 5 to July 7.

Back again: West Coast dairy farmer Andrew Wiffen is back for another crack at the FMG young Farmer of the year title.

July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Team effort needed with M. Bovis As most of you will know phased eradication of Mycoplasma Bovis is the decision that was recently announced by Government and industry to tackle this cattle disease.

Nathan Guy ❚ by National Party spokesperson, Primary Industries ❚ This finally provides some certainty for farmers. The general feeling at the National Fieldays I attended in Hamilton was let’s stick together and see if we can eradicate this disease. It will take a team approach and we will know more after the spring calving when more clinical signs are expected. It’s a long road ahead and it will take a team effort to successfully eradicate the dis-

ease, but I’m forever hopeful that it can be achieved. NAIT compliance will be paramount and everyone in the whole supply chain needs to play their part. That’s of course farmers, truckies, stock agents and processors. We will be supporting the recommendations that came out of the recent review. My thoughts go out to those farmers who have had their herds culled. When I visited

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Mid Canterbury a few weeks ago and sat around kitchen tables I got a real sense of the emotional toll this has on farmers and their families. Effectively they are taking one for the wider cattle industries team. The Rural Support Trust continue to do a great job of supporting farmers through this traumatic experience. I’m pleased the Government has responded to concerns we’ve been raising on behalf of farmers about compensation being too slow. Now interim payments will follow within a few days of the cattle being processed. It’s my hope and expectation that banks are supportive of farmers whose cash flow has been impacted by this disease. While we still don’t know how the disease arrived in New Zealand, I look forward to MPI updating farmers soon on their ongoing investigation. If anyone has been knowingly involved in the disease arriving here I expect them to feel the full force of the law.

‘

My thoughts go out to those farmers who have had their herds culled... Effectively they are taking one for the wider cattle industries team. Nathan Guy National Party spokesperson Primary Industries

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CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

July 2018

Children’s book to tackle bullying Bayleys Canterbury and the BNZ Crusaders have teamed-up to tackle bullying head-on with the launch of anti-bullying children’s book ‘Ace: A Horsey Tail of Courage.’ supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Bayleys Canterbury

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The book is aimed at New Zealand school children aged five to eight. It tells the stor y of Ace, a young horse who is being bullied by his peers and dreams of one day becoming a Crusaders Bayleys Horse. The Crusaders Bayleys Horses are the six horses that ride out at the star t of ever y home game providing pre-match entertainment. The stor y ends well for Ace, who achieves his dream of becoming a Bayleys Crusaders Horse. The book launch coincided with BullyingFree New Zealand Week and the Mental Health Foundation’s Pink Shir t Day in May. Pink Shir t Day aims to create schools, workplaces and communities where all people feel safe, valued and respected. The theme of Bullying-Free New Zealand Week 2018 was ‘Let’s talk about it’ and ‘Ace: A Horsey Tail of Courage’ encourages children to speak-up and repor t incidents of bullying whether they are the victims or witnesses of the bullying. In 2017, the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) produced a repor t on students’ well-being. Fifteen-year old students in 51 countries were sur veyed about perceived bullying and New Zealand students repor ted the second-highest rate of bullying in the OECD. Among the Kiwi students, just over a quarter repor ted being bullied at least a few times a month. This is more than double the OECD average and Children’s Com-

Six books to be given away to Canterbury Farming readers! Send us an email by Friday 13 July 2018 to info@canfarm. co.nz mentioning this ad and you’re in the draw!

missioner Judge Andrew Becroft described this statistic as “utterly unacceptable and deeply disturbing”. The OECD repor t described bullying as a “serious threat” that can have ongoing consequences for the victim, the bully and bystanders. Bayleys Canterbur y general manager

Pete Whalan said he is proud to be working with the Crusaders to deliver an important message to Kiwi kids. “The Crusaders’ sporting prowess, combined with the team’s reputation in the wider community and the easily-approachable persona of the Crusaders horses, will enable the anti-bullying message to be

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CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

Andrew Wyllie ❚ with ❚ Forsyth Barr

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

Distinguishing between ‘signals’ and ‘noise’

The extent of market ‘noise’ in 2018 has seen ﬁnancial markets ﬂuctuate (sometimes wildly), between outright fear and renewed optimism. Peak cycle concerns, higher interest rate impacts, stretched valuations and United States initiated trade spats, have all been raised as causes for concern. We put most of these issues down to ‘noise’. Even adding European debt issues, now the leadership of Italy is back to the drawing-board (providing further profile for Euro–exit parties), investors need to take into account that the European Central Bank will do what is required to minimise the threat to financial markets. Fundamental ‘signals’ have been more compelling. The global economy continues to show signs of solid economic growth, while momentum across the major developed markets remains positive. This has been underpinned by a rise in corporate earnings, leading to stronger employment growth and (following a period of hiatus) increasing investment. Energy costs are not expected to derail the global economy. Unlike the last time oil prices increased substantially, higher em-

ployment, incomes and profits should be enough to absorb cost increases without impacting demand. Similarly globalisation, competition, technology and demographics remain glacial trends that continue to exert downward pressure on inflation and the fear that rising interest rates will bring an imminent end to the current business cycle.

Equity markets appraise risks Market noise, despite underlying earnings support, has meant global equity markets have been more volatile this year. January was a good start, but early gains were undone by interest rate and geopolitical fears. However since March, investors appear to have been less reactive to macro issues and returns from global equities have been generally positive, further benefiting from a weaker New Zealand dollar. From a sector perspective, Energy has been the strongest performer over the quar-

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ter in response to higher oil prices. Growth sectors have generally recovered well from the lows, while among the defensive sectors, Telecommunications and Consumer Staples continue to struggle. The Real Estate sector has performed well this year despite rises in longer-term interest rates, with improved rental income and still low absolute funding costs helping. Utilities have also recovered. Looking forward, given the underlying global economic backdrop and our muted expectations for inflation, returns for equities are expected to reflect fundamentals. In this context, we believe that global markets offer better value for risk, providing better exposure to growth than Australasian markets.

Growth plus higher oil prices have caused some concern that inflation could surprise and give rise to tighter monetary policy. Indeed, regional fuel tax increases on top of higher oil costs are likely to push up inflation measures. However, as the increases will reduce disposable incomes, we believe authorities are more likely to extend (rather than shorten) the period of accommodative monetary policy. Short-term interest rates in New Zealand are therefore expected to remain low until well into 2019. Long-term New Zealand bond rates tend to follow global bond rates. While (year-todate) the United States 10 year bond rate has moved higher, for most countries longterm bonds rates are broadly unchanged. As Japan and European monetary authorities begin to remove asset purchase meas-

ures over the next year, the potential for this to change increases. However, given the strength of the United States economy and the inability of United States 10 year bond rates to sustainably breach the 3% level, high interest rate expectations continue to moderate. We do note that United States 10 year bonds currently attract higher rates relative to those in New Zealand. This is also true for Australian bonds. While this dampens the potential for New Zealand and Australian bonds to move counter to United States bonds, local differentials to United States interest rates has had the biggest impact on the attractiveness of Australasian currencies. This has resulted in some weakness in both the New Zealand and Australian dollars over the last quarter. If you’re new to investing please see Forsyth Barr’s Introduction to Investing guide available at www.forsythbarr.co.nz/investing-with-us/ new-to-investing or to discuss your investment options please contact Andrew Wyllie, an Authorised Financial Adviser with Forsyth Barr in Christchurch. He can be contacted regarding portfolio management, ﬁxed interest, or share investments on 0800 367 227 or andrew.wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz. This column is general in nature and should not be regarded as personalised investment advice. Report covers the three months ended November 30. Disclosure Statements are available for Forsyth Barr Authorised Financial Advisers on request and free of charge.

CANTERBURY FARMING

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

July 2018

Consumer Guarantees Act

Bessie Paterson ❚ with ❚ Ronald W Angland & Son

When NZ manufacturers stopped producing goods for the llB domestic market, the quality of many of the imported goods was sub-standard.

The government of 1993 enacted the Consumer Guarantees Act to protect consumers’ rights when purchasing goods for their domestic use. While most manufacturers give a guarantee for a limited period, it was felt that those guarantees did not provide sufficient protection to give the public confidence in the goods they were buying. I recall buying a toaster which wouldn’t toast and on taking it back to the retailer it was replaced, the next toaster was also faulty and again I took it back to the retailer and it was replaced with a toaster which worked. The Act provides that goods purchased for personal, domestic or household use are covered by the legislation. The goods must be of acceptable quality, be fit for purpose and last for a reasonable time. Consumer NZ has a table which gives the anticipated life expectancy of most electrical appliances. If a customer purchases a refrigerator it

should last about 10 years. Businesses are prohibited from stating that the Consumer Guarantees Act does not apply to their goods, but if a buyer is in business both of them may agree in writing that the Act does not apply to the goods as long as it is fair and reasonable for them to do so. Anyone who is dissatisfied with goods they have purchased should approach the business where the goods were bought and outlined their complaints. The seller must do everything that is required of them under the provisions of the Act to satisfy the buyer’s complaint. In many instances the seller will want to refer the complaint to the manufacturer but if the manufacturer declines to replace or repair the goods the seller will be obliged to put things right. If neither the seller nor the manufacturer will co-operate in rectifying the impasse, it may be necessary to take proceedings in the Disputes Tribunal.

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Goods must be of acceptable quality, be ﬁt for purpose and last for a reasonable time.

Ronald W. Angland & Son The Act does not apply where the sale is between private individuals, for commercial products, goods purchased for re-sale or if the seller gave the buyer details of possible faults. If a buyer changes their mind they cannot make a claim under this Act. The Act also provides for services which must be provided with reasonable care, be suitable for the intended purpose and carried out in reasonable time and price.

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July 2018 CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Dairy women and software firm in partnership A new partnership between the Dairy Women’s Network and farm software company FarmIQ aims to enhance technology skills in the dairy industry

❚❚By Kent Caddick The Dairy Women’s Network, which was established in 1998, is the largest membership organisation of its kind in New Zealand, with close to 10,000 members, while FarmIQ designs software to help farmers easily capture and store information so they can analyse performance and meet compliance requirements. Dairy Women’s Network CEO Zelda de Villiers said in an industry increasingly focused on compliance, farm software and technology skills are becoming more important than ever before. “Technology is an increasingly important part of managing a farm business. Having the right tools at hand can make all the difference – from automating parts of your operation to better managing resources and assessing profitability. “Accurate recording and interpretation of data is absolutely essential in today’s modern farming environment – it’s a significant driver of returns and value in the primary sector.” De Villiers said one of the barriers for many in seeking development in this area is

that it can be daunting simply knowing where to start. “That’s why providing opportunities to upskill in this aspect of farming is crucial. We’re looking forward to partnering with FarmIQ to help women in the industry thrive with the technological skills and knowledge they need.” Over the coming months, FarmIQ will roll out a series of workshops for Dairy Women’s Network members across New Zealand, all with the aim of upskilling participants on the use of farm software. FarmIQ national dairy business manager Libby Wood said the partnership is timely. “Dairy Women’s Network does a great job of connecting women in the dairy industry and providing them with relevant, up-to-date learning opportunities,” Wood said. “As a supplier of software that helps dairy farms get more from their land, animals and pasture, FarmIQ aligns well with the Network’s aim of presenting new ideas, information and technology to its members. “We’re looking forward to exploring how using farm software can help members achieve their goals, big or small, in the dairy industry.”

Partnership FarmIQ national dairy business manager Libby Wood says a partnership with the Dairy Women’s Network is timely for the software company.

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FARMING NEWS

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

Time for change in agriculture A Lincoln University expert says Environment Minister David Parker is right to signal New Zealand agriculture cannot continue with business as usual.

❚ by Kent Caddick Senior lecturer in Agribusiness Management, Dr Nic Lees, said intensive dair ying is currently profitable only because it is not bearing the full costs of its production systems. “It is not paying the cost to the environment of its production. We are all picking up the tab, and especially our children for the impact on our waterways and climate,” he said. “Currently intensive dairy farming is addicted to high production per cow. This means adding in concentrated feed such as palm kernel and high levels of nitrogen fertiliser. “This increases costs, which means these systems are only profitable with high production and high commodity prices.” Dr Lees said this shows New Zealand’s future is not in maintaining our position as the lowest cost producer of meat and dairy products. “The longer the beef and dairy industries hold on to a commodity model based on increasing output and lowering costs the greater will be the future farmer pain.

“I think we need to have conversations around ‘peak cow’ and the future of our animal production industries.” He said the Labour Government is clearly signalling New Zealand’s future is not in commodities. “Minister Parker has said there is potential to change towards cropping, horticulture, which are high-value land uses,” Dr Lees said. “He is right to say there are too many cows, however the potential for cropping and horticulture to replace dairying is simply not going to happen.

“There is no way horticulture and cropping can replace any significant portion of dairy farming land even if it was suitable for horticulture and cropping, which it mostly isn’t.” He said cropping and horticulture land takes up about 2.5% of New Zealand’s total land (422,400 ha). About 1.7% of that is in grain crops and less than 1% per cent for growing fruit and berries. In comparison dairy takes up about 20% (2.6 million ha). However, Dr Lees said there is potential for the horticulture sector to increase the value of our exports. “The horticulture industry already produc-

es $5.6 billion in exports from just 200,000 ha. This is in comparison to the dairy industry producing $13 billion from 2.4 million ha.” He said dairying can also learn from the sheep industry. “New Zealand reached peak sheep at 60 million in 1984. Now we have only 30 million but produce the same volume of lamb at significant higher value. “Less animals means less greenhouse gasses, and reduces nitrate leaching. There is the potential to see this happen in the dairy industry also.”

Rethink: Dr Nic lees from lincoln university says intensive dairying is currently proﬁtable only because it is not bearing the full costs of its production systems.

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July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

❚ with Rob Cope-Williams

Sheep breeders have lot’s to be proud of

The standard of the recent New Zealand Ewe Hogget Competition proves to everyone the high standard of stock in our national ﬂock. The Hogget flocks involved in the contest were across six breeds and judges all agreed that it was extremely hard to narrow the field down to two finalists per breed. So what does that say to those doubters who suggest that the sheep industry is slipping off the plate? Well to me it says that the sheep industry is in good heart and though over shadowed by other sectors, those who have stood by sheep farming are doing an excellent job. Consider the fact that the national flock numbers are well back on years gone by, but the volume of meat produced is well above any other time simply because farmers are farming better than ever before. Quality not quantity is an old cliché but a very true one. What is also obvious to me is that the breed societies are working very hard to help their members to increase production. Culling regimes now are very different to those our fathers would have used. If a ewe still has good condition she stays in the flock and isn’t culled just because of her age.

Twin and triplet genes are carefully nurtured in commercial flocks as well as stud flocks, and mothering instincts noted. It wasn’t that long ago that we marvelled at the idea of scanning ewes to put more feed in front of those with multiple lambs and less for singles. Now those with singles are likely to face the processing plants. Add in the work that Lincoln University is doing with brown fat genes and foot rot (remember that used to be a problem), and there’s lots of reasons why the sheep industry is doing so well. It’s easy to overlook the sheep industry by simply noting that prices for wool or lamb are up or down without any real overview, especially as the dairy industry hogs the headlines, but suffice to say that our sheep farmers are getting very good results by working wiser rather than harder. Well done breed societies and the commercial companies who support them. The sheep breeders should hold their heads up high and be proud of their industry.

❚ with John Arts

Causes of Osteoarthritis Last edition we saw that osteoarthritis (OA) is mostly caused by the loss of cartilage secreting cells called chondrocytes.

Part 2 Chondrocytes job is to maintain cartilage. If chondrocytes are damaged or die they are unable to repair cartilage. The result is that cartilage starts to breakdown. Eventually whole patches of cartilage are lost causing a bone on bone scenario. While cartilage has no nerves, bone certainly does! While bone on bone causes pain, much of the pain comes from misdirected inflammation. White blood cells that patrol the joint capsule respond to cartilage loss by bringing in extra fluid and a cocktail of inflammatory chemicals in a vain attempt to repair the cartilage. The result is pain, stiffness and in some cases visible swelling. My approach is firstly to adopt a nutrient dense anti-inflammatory diet. This is high in antioxidants, Omega 3 and other foods that reduce inflammation. We then add 4 compounds from supplements. The first is Omega 3 fish oil usually between 4000 and 6000mg daily. We then add high grade chondroitin sulphate at 800-1600mg. Chondroitin sulphate (CS) is the most important joint supplement. CS is an actual component of cartilage and adding this helps chondrocytes to work properly. The problem is that most joint supplements only contain around 250mg of CS.

In most cases I start clients on 1600mg. We then add the same amount of glucosamine and a potent 95% curcumin extract from turmeric. As an example I have one client with OA in his knees. This was bad enough to significantly impact mobility. After 3 months on a personalised programme he is now able to exercise again. His partner had OA in her thumbs and shoulders and is much better. Feel free to contact me for personalised advice. John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423559 or email john@ abundant.co.nz. Join his full weekly newsletter at www.abundant.co.nz.

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CANTERBURY FARMING July 2018

Thank you for helping your community

Fall Zones

Notice and Growth limit zones

To all of you who have had your trees trimmed before they became a problem, thank you for keeping all the farms working and families in your community warm, happy and healthy. You can be proud of the fact that you kept the local cowsheds milking, water pumps pumping and sheep shearers shearing. You may not think that what you’ve done has had much impact on your neighbours, but from all of us here at Orion, we just want to say thank you. We’re not exaggerating.

Where do I start?

On our network, 10-20% of all unplanned power outages are caused by trees — including vegetation — coming into contact with power lines. Other than this, fire damage to property from branches sparking in dry conditions and serious injury from electrocution from contact with trees touching power lines are also possible consequences of not maintaining your trees.

Before you begin, remember to keep yourself, and those around you, safe. We recognise that not everyone is experienced in tree trimming and are happy to advise you on what to do. We can arrange for trees near power lines to be trimmed at your expense, however we recommend you hire professionals to safely carry out the work.

How close is too close? While most damage is caused by trees falling on power lines, significant risk exists from trees merely touching them. This risk increases the higher the voltage of the power line. The minimum distances that must be maintained between trees and power lines, as defined in the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003, are outlined in the diagrams above. All vegetation should be kept out of the growth limit zone and preferably the notice zone. Sometimes it may not be practical to have a tree trimmed at the rate at which it grows and unfortunately, this means it may need to be removed. Other situations may require trees to be removed, most commonly when they are at a high risk of falling due to disease or adverse weather events.

If you or someone working for you intends to work within four metres of power lines, a close approach consent is required from Orion before you start. As a tree owner, you may be liable for any damage caused by carrying out trimming or felling of trees.

B A

Power line voltage

A. Growth limit zone

B. Notice zone

66,000 volts 33,000 volts 11,000 volts 400/230 volts

4.0m 2.5m 1.6m 0.5m

5.0m 3.5m 2.6m 1.5m

More info can be found on our website and if you have any questions or notice any trees touching power lines in your area, please call us on 03 363 9898 or 0800 363 9898.

oriongroup.co.nz

Will I be fined if I don’t comply? If a cut or trim notice is given to you and you fail to have the tree trimmed and/or advise us of the time and location of the trim without a reasonable excuse, this is an offence. This will make you liable for a fine not exceeding $10,000. If the offence continues, you will be liable for a further fine of not more than $500 for every day or part day during which the offence continues.

Orion New Zealand owns and operates the electricity distribution network in central Canterbury between the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers and from Canterbury coast to Arthur’s Pass.

July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Farmer relationship with meat processor needs improving New research from Lincoln University shows poor relationships between farmers and their meat processors could be costing New Zealand.

❚ by Kent Caddick In the research Lincoln’s Dr Nic Lees surveyed over 1000 sheep, beef and deer farmers. These three industries together make up 12% of New Zealand’s exports and currently contribute $5 billion a year to the country’s economy. Dr Nic Lees said improving the relationship between farmers and meat processors was essential to New Zealand producing higher value products that meet consumer needs. “New Zealand is missing out on higher market returns for meat expor ts because of a lack of commitment and trust between farmers and meat companies,” Dr Lees said. “The majority of farmers do not commit to forward supply contracts that specify quality requirements and delivery schedules. “We effectively still have a system driven by production rather than market requirements. Farmers sell stock based on their farming requirements and the number of stock and quality often does not match market needs.” He said consumers were increasingly making food choices based not only on quality but also on factors, such as food safety, animal welfare, provenance and environmental stewardship. The research showed that long term committed relationships were necessary to ensure farmers supplied stock to processors that met these requirements. “Furthermore, these closer relationships

Problem solver: lincoln university researcher Dr Nic lees says New Zealand is missing out on higher market returns for meat exports because of a lack of commitment and trust between farmers and meat companies.

meant that farmers were also more profitable,” Dr Lees said. “This means that it’s a win-win for farmers, exporters and the New Zealand economy. Though many have believed this to be the case this is the first-time research has clearly shown this.” He said increasing the value of expor ts provides a way to earn more without hav-

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ing to produce more. “This can help to address the current public concern about the impact of expanding farm production on the environment.” Dr Lees said the research had developed tools for companies to measure the quality of their relationship with suppliers and identify what they can do to improve. “Though a number of exporters are al-

ready using these tools there is potential for wider use by agricultural and horticultural companies who want to improve relationships with their suppliers. “Expanding the use of these tools to other sectors such as the dairy and horticultural industries could significantly increase the benefits of this research to the New Zealand economy.”

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

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July 2018 CANTERBURY FARMING

ANIMAL HEALTH & NUTRITION

Will you reach this winter’s targets?

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This is a question you should be asking yourself right now. Mature cows should be at CS 5.0, while 2 and 3 year old’s should be at CS 5.5 precalving. By achieving BCS targets more cows are likely to be in-calf earlier, reducing the replacement rate and increasing milk production. Using BCS to manage targets and ensuring your herd is in optimum condition at the

right times could save you up to $100 per cow annually. Assessing BCS provides the information you need to make changes to improve your herds’ condition. “Knowing the proportion of your herd that is too thin or too fat will enable you to allocate feed appropriately to the right cows,” says Brenda from Dairy Condition Monitoring. A cow at CS 4.0 at the start of winter requires 180KgDM over and above maintenance to ensure that she reaches BCS 5.0 at the end of winter. If you don’t know your current situation,

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Getting it right: Using BCS to manage targets ensures your herd is in optimum condition at the right times. how can you plan for the next stage of the season? Every stage of the season is important. Cow condition is a long-term game. Having BCS data allows you to ask the questions “Where are we? How did we get here? And how can we get to where we want to be?” If you want to know where you are cur-

rently and how you can improve your herds cow condition give Brenda a call on 027 307 4040 to discuss your BCS needs. There are also opportunities to upskill yourself and your team by attending a BCS training workshop. For further information contact Brenda at Dairy Condition Monitoring or see the DairyNZ website.

ANIMAL HEALTH & NUTRITION

Investing in the future

Phil Smith ❚ by Beef ❚ + Lamb New Zealand

It is nearly a year since this production limiting disease was first found on a dairy farm in South Canterbury and in May, the decision was made to pursue phased eradication of Mp.bovis. It wasn’t a decision made lightly knowing the pain it was going to cause those affected. It is vital that we provide financial and emotional support to those who have had to cull their herds. It has been heart-breaking to hear their experiences of sending a lifetime’s breeding to slaughter and the pain of having to rebuild their herds. At the time of writing around 200 farms are under movement control. This is out of 24,000 farms whose long-term productivity could be severely impacted if this disease were left to spread unchecked. We only have one chance of eradication and now the decision has been made, we all need to support it and do our best to minimise the risk of bringing Mp.bovis onto our farms. This includes maintaining at least two metres between different herds of cattle at all times. There is a raft of biosecurity information on the Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), DairyNZ and Ministry for Primary Industries websites. Mp.bovis is just one of the challenges facing the farming industry. Others include increasing environmental regulation and a need for farmers to be accountable for their environmental foot-

print. In response to this, B+LNZ has recently launched its Environmental Strategy which gives us all some clear environmental goals. For many years we have been aware of the need to capture greater value from our grass-fed red meat-hence the development of this country’s first Red Meat Story and Origin Brand Taste Pure nature. We are now in the launch phase of the story and brand and I’m confident they will capture greater returns for us producers. To continue to serve farmers and help them meet these challenges, B+LNZ is seeking farmers’ feedback on a proposal to increase their levies. We are proposing to lift the sheep meat levy from 60c-70c/head and the cattle from $4.40 per adult cattle beast to $5.20.

These increases, which are within the ranges approved in the levy orders supported by farmers in the 2015 referendum, would generate an extra $4 million. This money would be invested in high priority areas such as the activation of the Red Meat story in market, the implementation of the Environment strategy, better telling the farmer story, and strengthening our capability in biosecurity. It’s important to note that this proposed levy increase is separate to the Mp.bovis phased eradication response, which is still being determined under the Government Industry Agreement framework, and will be relative to the size and impact the disease has on respective industries. We will be discussing the proposed in-

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CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

creases at farmer meetings around the country so keep an eye on the events section of the Beef + Lamb website for dates of one near you.

July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

ANIMAL HEALTH & NUTRITION

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for horse and dog owners. “It helps relieve pain and inflammation simply by wearing it. It has been helped out people, dogs and horses with various types of arthritis and other muscular pain, and is widely used in horse riding and with agility dogs.” “We have recently started stocking the Ortocanis range which complements the Back on Track lines with Veterinary supports for cats and dogs.”

On track: Back on Track Welltex™ ceramic fabric products is particularly beneﬁcial for the equine athlete. Photo by Dark Horse photography.

Equine The revolutionary range of Back on Track Welltex™ ceramic fabric products is particularly beneficial for the equine athlete. These state-of-the-art products reflect the horses own body heat as an infrared wave. Whether you are an aspiring Olympic Champion, or ride for pleasure, Back on Track is vital for your horse’s health and well-being. Leading stables around the world are seeing the benefits of Back on Track, and routinely use Back on Track daily in their barns. Increased blood circulation, reduction in inflammation and swelling, reduced acidity and lactic acid and alleviation of pain associated with inflamed muscles, ligaments tendons and joints, are vital for improved mobility, which equates to enhanced performance. The Back on Track leg wraps are used as a preventative as much as they are a remedy. The backwarmers and covers are vital to keep muscles loose between and prior to competition. They assist in tieup problems, sore backs, shoulders and other muscular and circulatory problems, and can provide a relaxing effect for nervous horses.

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ANIMAL HEALTH & NUTRITION

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

New welfare regulations coming The Ministry for Primary Industries have announced that new animal welfare regulations will come into force in October 2018.

❚ Article supplied by DairyNZ

It takes a team to ensure all stock are treated with care and respect from birth, throughout life on the farm, and beyond the farm gate.

The regulations include: • Stock transport – Stock must be fit for transport and animals with injured or diseased udders cannot be transported. • Tail docking – a person must not shorten or remove the tail of any cattle beast. • Assisting calving cows – No use of traction with a moving vehicle, motorised winch or any other device that does not allow for the quick release of tension for the purposes of calving cows. • Castration – when castrating or shortening the scrotum of a bull over the age of six months, pain relief must be used (for any method of castration). • If high tension bands are used to castrate an animal, local anaesthetic must be used to provide pain relief at any age (note that high tension bands are not standard castration rubber rings). • Disbudding – pain relief required at all ages (from October 2019). • Dehorning – pain relief required at all ages (from October 2019).

Young calf regulations • Maximum time off feed before slaughter of calves • Young calves must be slaughtered as soon as possible after arrival at the slaughter premises. The maximum time a calf can be off feed is 24hrs.

Requirements for loading and unloading calves • Loading and unloading facilities must be provided when young calves are transported for sale or slaughter. • This means that calves can walk onto and off vehicles by their own action. • Transporters must also take all reasonable steps to use these facilities.

Shelter requirements before and during transportation of calves • Suitable shelter must be provided for young calves before, during and after transportation.

New law: Whatever the weather farmers will need to get in mind new animal welfare regulations which come into force in October. Photo by Jane Hickling

Fit for transport • Calves must be at least four days of age (96hrs) and physically fit before they are transported off-farm for sale or slaughter. • This applies to any young calf that is up to 14 days old and has been separated from its mother.

Prohibition on killing calves by blunt force to the head • No use of blunt force to the head for putting down calves, except in an emergency situation to avoid unnecessary suffering. • This applies to any calf that has not been weaned off milk, or a milk replacement.

Maximum duration of transport • Maximum duration of 12 hours’ journey time for young calves being transported. This applies to any young calf that is up to 14 days old and has been separated from its mother. • Prohibition on transport by sea across Cook Strait. This applies to any young calf that is up to 14 days old and has been separated from its mother. For more details on these regulations visit the MPI website.

July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

CALVING

Calf bedding for the best start in life One of the keys to successful calving is ensuring the young ones are comfortable, warm and dry. fuel and landscape supplies. Article supplied by “We love supplying farms with our prodCentral Woodhoggers

❚ ❚

To ensure your calves get the best start in life, getting the right bedding is essential. Call Central Woodhoggers for the best in products and advice. Central Woodhoggers is 100% locally owned and operated and run by Darryn Harris and Tami Whitlock, who purchased the business in 2017 from Malcolm and Betty Brown, who started the business in 2006. Central Woodhoggers take untreated waste timber to make woodchip for calf and other animal bedding, as well as for boiler

uct and we are so proud of the high quality we are able to provide,” Darryn and Tami say. “We are highly regarded among our customers and often get recommended to others. We really enjoy working with farms to get them the product they need at the right time. “Next year will see us attending the South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee and we look forward to meeting existing and new customers as our business develops.

“We encourage existing and new customers to give us a call with any queries they may have as we’re always happy to talk woodchip.” One the keys to their success is that they provide a very low moisture content woodchip, recently tested at 17% moisture, which is far below competitors. This makes it ideal for calf rearing as it’s much more hygienic to have lower moisture in the product to start with, and as the woodchip is untreated it can be composted on farm after use. The woodchip is not just for calf bedding and can be used in landscaping and at agricultural shows, as the product is ideal for pathway material in muddy situations. For all your calf bedding and woodchip needs give Darryn and Tami a call on 027 694 2000, they are more than happy to answer your questions and provide advice.

Reuse: Central Woodhoggers take untreated waste timber to make woodchip for calf and other animal bedding.

CANTERBURY FARMING

CALVING

It pays to give cattle the best start in life

To set a dairy cow up for a long, productive life you must give her the best possible start. Extra effort now will pay dividends throughout her milking life.

❚ Article supplied by DairyNZ

Heifers that reach target weights make successful milking cows and growing them well starts from the day they are born. •

Calf rearing good practice • All calves, including bobbies, must receive adequate fresh colostrum within the first 24 hours of life and should be fed colostrum, or a colostrum substitute, for at least the first four days of life. • Always handle calves gently and with care. Do not allow anyone to throw, hit or drag a calf at any time. Electric prodders must not be used on calves. • Calves that are not with their mothers must be provided with shelter so that they can stay warm and dry. • Calf pens must be fit for purpose and well maintained. Bedding areas must be comfortable, clean and dry, with adequate ventilation but draft free at the calf level. Exposed concrete, bare earth and mud are not acceptable. • Calves should be fed at the same times each day to minimise stress. • Always ensure your calves have access to plenty of fresh water. • Feed calves adequate quantities of good quality feed to rapidly achieve weaning weight with a well-developed rumen.

Colostrum • The calf should drink at least 2

•

litres of fresh colostrum during the first six hours of life to get protective antibodies. To achieve this, pick up calves twice a day and give them gold colostrum Gold colostrum is valuable even if it has blood or with clotty mastitis milk. It is best fed fresh but may be frozen for up to six months. Thaw/heat in warm water; do not microwave. You can test the level of antibodies in a batch of colostrum using a Brix refractometer, available from your vet, farm supply store or a home brew shop. Brix higher than 22% are best for newborns. Store colostrum in multiple drums (to reduce risk of loss), in a cool place and out of direct sunlight. Stir twice a day. A colostrum keeper or yoghurt starter, available from supermarkets, can be added to each drum to preserve it. Alternatively, preserve colostrum with potassium sorbate.

Ensure good routine hygiene and health practices • Scrub all feeding equipment well with hot water and detergent • Remove sick calves promptly to a designated sick pen • Frequently clean and disinfect pens where sick calves are treated • Disinfect hard surfaces • Ensure bedding is regularly refreshed • Control the spread of disease by

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minimising movement between pens. Calves of the same age should stay in the same pen. However, small or unthrifty calves may be better off with a healthy younger group. Vaccinate, treat for parasites and provide access to shelter Diseases that people can contract from handling dairy animals in New Zealand include Leptospirosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Campylobacter, Salmonellosis and Ringworm. To keep both humans and animals healthy, it is important to maintain high cleanliness and hygiene standards and vaccinate your herd where possible after discussing with your veterinarian.

Make regular health checks Calves must be checked twice daily for signs of ill-health and treatment given when needed. Check that: • Noses are clear of discharge and are moist and cool • Calves are alert and have responsive ears with no infection around the ear tag • Navels are clear of infection • Mouths are clear of ulcers • Calves can stand and walk normally i.e. no joint ill • All calves are feeding • Calves have shiny, supple coats. • If you lightly pinch a calf’s skin and it is slow to return to normal it may be dehydrated and need electrolytes immediately.

Best start: Giving calves the bests art in life will pay dividends late.

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July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

CALVING

Protecting your valuable calves A programme of preventive treatment with Rotagen Combo, the natural calf scour product, is an option for protecting valuable replacement heifer calves which may be exposed to a viral or bacterial infection resulting in infectious scours. supplied by Vetpak ❚ Article ❚ www.vetpak.co.nz Rotagen is made from dried egg yolk from hens that have been vaccinated with specific antigens. The hyper-immune status these hens achieve results in very high levels of antibodies in the yolk of the eggs which provide a passive immunity to specific infection in the gut of the calf. The main cause of neonatal calf scours is rotavirus, a viral disease picked up from carrier cows following calving. It is a disease of newborn calves, however older calves are still vulnerable until at least one month of age. Other pathogens may be involved in neonatal scours, but rotavirus infection is always present in at least 80% of outbreaks. The disease is characterised by severe diarrhoea which has a distinctive smell, and dehydration, and can have a death rate of 20% or more without treatment. Calves affected by an infectious scour will suffer from damage to the intestinal lining of the gut resulting in reduced nutrient uptake and a severe reduction in growth rate. Such calves rarely perform as well as non-infected animals and have difficulty in reaching target live-weights. A simple programme of treating calves at birth with a preventive drench of Rotagen Combo once a day for five days will prevent clinical cases of rotavirus. Rotagen Combo works by coating the virus particle with antibodies which render it

inactive in the gut. It does not kill the virus, but prevents it from causing damage to the intestinal lining. If the calf is later exposed to rotavirus because of a breakdown in the control of the environmental contamination, Rotagen Combo-treated calves may still get rotavirus, and will need to be treated again. The key to a successful regime is treating all heifer replacement calves and any others being kept. All non-replacement calves that aren’t being kept or treated need to be kept separate from your treated calves so there is no

possibility of cross-contamination. The other important aspect of infectious scour control is reducing environmental contamination. An effective hygiene strategy is to use Vetsan Super Concentrate which is active against Rotavirus 6 and 10, Cryptosporidium parvum, E. coli, Salmonella and Corona to spray out the calf sheds before the season begins and throughout the rearing season. An effective hygiene policy should be developed with staff for calf rearing before the

season begins to help reduce and maintain low environmental contamination levels. Vetsan has residual activity against viruses for seven to 10 days so weekly spraying is ideally recommended. When spraying at a 100ppm dilution rate it is safe to leave the calves in the pen, avoid spraying directly into the calf’s face. For more information on Rotagen ‘‘Combo’’ and Vetsan Super Concentrate please contact your local veterinarian. Rotagen Combo is registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No A9726

Building Blocks To Good Calf Health Rotagen Combo For prevention and treatment of calf scours caused by Rotavirus 6 &10, Crypto, E coli K99, Salmonella, Coronavirus. Rotagen Combo is anti-biotic FREE and GMO FREE.

Enerlect Enerlect is a high energy source electrolyte that also supplies all the important electrolytes lost during diarrhoea casued by infectious agents or due to a nutritional imbalance.

Vetsan “Super” Concentrate Virucide, biocide and deodoriser for all surfaces on farm including farm sheds and animal housing such as calf pens. Vetsan is active against all the important pathenogenic micro-organisms that can cause calf scours including Rotavirus, Cryptosporidia, Salmonella, E coli, Coronovirus. Also effective against Mycoplasma Bovis. Enerlect and Rotagen Combo are registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, Enerlect A9276, Rotagen Combo A9928

Talk to your animal health professional, your local veterinarian

CALVING

CANTERBURY FARMING July 2018

“Our calves are looking healthy and amazing. In all honesty it’s the best product we have used for calving.” Lannah Johnson, calf rearer

Why use OptiGuard?

+ Calves love the taste + Helps prevent scours + Enhances resistance to disease + Aids digestion processes + Calves grow to weight quickly and wean earlier + BioGro certified input for organics

What is OptiGuard?

OptiGuard is a finely milled natural mineral called zeolite that is mined in New Zealand. It has a very porous three-dimensional structure and is negatively charged, allowing it to reversibly absorb not only water but also minerals and other compounds and then can slowly release them again later. Zeolites are well known to bind mycotoxins, but can also bind bacterial toxins preventing them from entering the body from the gut.

How to use OptiGuard?

+ Easy to feed, OptiGuard can be mixed into colostrum and milk. Simply stir to reconstitute. + OptiGuard can also be added to your calf-meal mix, or placed directly into feed troughs to allow calves to self-manage their intake. + Addition rates from 10gm per calf, per day - or ad-lib as necessary. Calves will self-manage their intake. You cannot over-feed OptiGuard. Animals tend to self-regulate when it comes to free-choice minerals. It is well-know that animals in the wild, including ruminants, may practice geophacy, or “eating dirt”, to correct nutritional imbalances or perhaps even to “self-medicate.”

Ingredients:

100% natural, finely milled BPM zeolite

OPTIGUARD IS EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL VET

July 2018 CANTERBURY FARMING

Valtra T174 does it all for forestry

supplied by ❚❚Article AGCO NZ ❚❚

Hauling logs is easier since Graeme Savill purchased a new Valtra tractor. Graeme’s Valtra T174 has already made a big difference to his Bay of Plenty forestry contracting business since it arrived in January, and it has the added benefit of being quite handy on his dairy farm. Graeme says that whereas in New Zealand most forestry work is done with diggers and bulldozers, in Europe tractors are more common because they are more versatile. Valtras are well-suited for the work because they are manufactured in Finland where forestry is a major industry. The 190hp Valtra T174 has proven to be perfect for his business because its strong back axles are ideal for towing a trailer loaded with up to 15 tonnes of logs. “You can forward it out of most places and climb a 30 degree hill easy with a fully loaded trailer. We can do 50 kph down the road with the trailer loaded with logs.” Graeme says the Valtra T174 has more than enough power to run a MeriCrusher mulcher, which he uses to mulch branches and clear away skid sites after a logging job is finished. “With the mulcher we can leave a site as nice and tidy as your front lawn.” He has also attached two winches to the Valtra in order to haul logs. The 180m front winch is the main hauling winch while

Packing a punch: Graeme Savill says his 190hp Valtra T174 has plenty of power to run the MeriCrusher mulcher that he uses to clear skid sites.

the back winch is 500m-long and is used to drag the maid winch out to hook onto logs. “The winch works off the PTO and can pull logs weighing up to 30 tonnes,” Graeme says. He also plans to attach a crane to the back of the Valtra T174 to lift logs onto trailers. He says the crane he intends to use will be able to lift up to six tonnes. As well as his forestry contracting business, Graeme had the Valtra out doing silage contracting over the Easter holiday period, before returning to the logging work later in the week. He also uses the Valtra to cut silage on his 260ha, 250-cow dairy farm at Katikati, which his daughter and son-in-law run. The Valtra T174’s comfortable cab has

a number of available features a customer can choose from, including a 180 degree swivel seat, an armrest, air conditioning with automatic climate control, mechanical cab suspension and two safety cameras for ease of mind. The cab controls are located to minimise body movement, transmission operation is easy with a new drive lever and the bright work lights let you keep working when night falls. “It is very, very comfortable. It is the nicest tractor I have ever driven. You can do a day’s work and come out fresh. It is a nice tractor and I would certainly recommend it,” Graeme says. Valtra tractors have been manufactured in Finland for more than 60 years and are

known for reliability, low operating costs, and ease of use. T Series tractors have fewer parts than other tractors and they went through 40,000 hours of test driving in extreme conditions during development. The chassis, transmission and cab are made to Valtra’s own unique design and engineering. The Valtra T Series’ AGCO Power engine is renowned for its reliability. It delivers excellent overall fluid economy and when used in the optional EcoPower mode, it can deliver fuel savings of 10 percent. Like other Valtra tractors, T Series machines are built for the people who drive them. Buyers can choose which features they need, which are factory installed, and which are covered by the factory warranty.

CANTERBURY FARMING

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July 2018

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Fully speced with all the fruit. Three bins including a seperate small seeds bin, block indicators and ISOBUS. This unit has done only 1300 hectares so is barely run in.

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130hp 4 cyl tractor with Trima loader. Very low hours and would suit near new buyer

79,990+GST

CLOUGH GOLIATH 11 TINE 14FT CHISEL PLOUGH New points and paint job

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GREGOIRE BESSON SXDL

4m tandem discs. Hyd height and angle, very good nick

23,990+GST

Terms and conditions apply. All pricing excludes GST. Advertised imagery may differ from product. Contact your local dealer for further details. Normal lending criteria and conditions apply. While stocks last. All offers and prices valid until 30/07/18. * Monthly payments for Deutz-Fahr based on 30% plus total GST deposit or/and use trade-in, then 36 monthly payments at 3.75%. Kioti finance based on 40% deposit or trade in plus GST up front and 36 equal monthly payments.

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Geoff McCabe Dealer Principal, Sales 021 220 9544

Joel Parris Sales 027 435 0884

Jimmy Leigh Sales 027 405 6941

Colin Lee Service Manager 03 349 5975

www.powerfarmingcanterbury.co.nz NOW LOCALLY Facebook powerfarming canterbury OWNED 1 George Holmes Rd, Rolleston | Phone 03 349 5975

Roger Hunter Parts 027 501 022

Canterbury

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

Heavy duty re-invented… Introducing the all new Ranger XP 1000 HD supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Drummond & Etheridge Polaris has set a new standard as New Zealand’s number 1 in side by sides Off-Road Vehicle brand with the introduction of the 2018 Ranger XP 1000

Heavy Duty which has now arrived in local Drummond & Etheridge branches. The new Ranger XP 1000 HD has been designed and built for New Zealand, and includes over 100 owner inspired innovations. This model has re-invented Heavy

Duty through upgraded sealed suspension bushes to keep the elements out and takes it even further with sealed drive shaft splines to keep the dust out. This Ranger can handle copious amounts of high pressure while continuing to still operate at a smooth rate.

LOADED WITH POTENTIAL Whether it’s material handling, high speed transport or cutting and baling hay, the John Deere 6M and 6R Series Tractors are built to take on any challenge with ease. Pair with a John Deere loader for all round performance and productivity.

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Heavy duty: This all new Ranger XP 1000 HD takes safety to the next level with an engine braking system and Active Descent Control. The Ranger XP 1000 HD also comes standard with a reinforced full-body skid plate providing even-more rugged protection for increased durability and upgraded wheel bearings just to add to the heavy duty features. This all new off-road utility takes safety to the next level with the engine braking system and Active Descent Control (ADC). Active Descent Control allows the off road utility to travel down steep terrain with or without load in command no matter whether it is in drive or reverse gear. ADC is activated at the flick of a switch and registers when descending downhill less than 25km/h. The Polaris designed, large-ratio clutch provides unmatched, low-speed drivability and features the strongest belt ever offered on Ranger. Additionally, redesigned underhood air intakes and a new clutch cover provide increased air flow for cooler, longer-lasting belt life. Improved driveline geometry produces less friction for increased efficiency and a quieter ride. For precision handling, the vehicle has a reduced steering ratio and provides a tighter turning radius, and the new, front sway bar offers a more responsive ride and improved manoeuvrability. Low-speed clutch engagement provides a smooth ride and more control when loading, unloading, hooking up a trailer or navigating tight terrain. The all-new interior of the Ranger XP 1000 HD has been completely redesigned around the operator, providing more comfort and convenience. Getting in and out of the vehicle is easier with 12.7cm more clearance. Once inside, the operator will notice more legroom and ultra-comfortable seats with 2.5 cm more bottom cushioning. An all-new, user-friendly dash layout features a new dualsweep digital/analog gauge and four more accessory switch locations that are pre-wired. For more information on the new Polaris Ranger XP 1000 HD, or to book a demo, contact your local Drummond & Etheridge or D&E Outdoors branch on 0800 432 633 or visit www.dne.co.nz

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Images used are for illustrative purposes only and may show features or attachments not included in the advertised price. *Prices shown are starting from, in New Zealand dollars, excluding GST and subject to change without notice. Available through to 31/07/2018.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

Keane Farm Services leading the way Based in Mid Canterbury, Keane Farm Services are authorised Ag Leader dealers providing sprayer service, calibration and parts. supplied by ❚ Article Keane Farm Services ❚ We operate a fully equipped on-site repair vehicle to ensure your GPS and sprayer equipment keeps you on the move. We pride ourselves on great customer service, back up, honest pricing and catering to your individual needs. We offer everything from simple guidance to auto steer, yield monitoring, proof of placement for all field operations, variable rate fertiliser and sprayer controls to SMS software and Data Management. For 25 years Ag Leader has been producing high quality, innovative precision agriculture tools that improve decision making, efficiency and solve agronomic challenges around the globe. Ag Leader is independent and committed solely to helping farmers better their quality of life and address agronomic issues through precision farming solutions. Ag Leader remains privately owned and family operated. Built on legacy not acquisitions. There are many changes going on in the world of precision agriculture – mergers, buyouts and new companies entering the market. It seems many precision partners are focused on producing products that appeal to machinery manufacturers and less on what the individual farmer needs.

Mobile service: Authorised Ag leader dealers Keane Farm Services operates a fully equipped on-site repair vehicle to ensure your GPS and sprayer equipment keeps you on the move. Ag Leader address the wants and needs of farmers as priority one. Precision farming isn’t about spending endless hours crunching numbers and analysing data. It’s about answering questions that can make you more profitable. That’s the simple idea behind Ag Leader’s industry-leading SMS Software, an easy-to-use decision-making tool to help you build variable rate prescription maps. Most importantly the data that is collated remains yours.

With the ever-increasing cost of chemicals and the challenging changes in climate it is now more important than ever to have the optimum sprayer set up. With over 15 years of industry experience we can offer servicing, advice, maintenance and repairs. We work with other industry partners to offer a large range of aftermarket products from pumps, nozzles, valves through to Green Tronics right height boom controllers.

We are proud to be Farmlands & Rural Co suppliers and work with Crediflex to offer competitive finance on our Ag Leader products.

If you would like any more information, please do not hesitate to contact me on 027 267 9384 or email keanefarmservices@gmail.com. Our website is keanefarmservices.co.nz and you can also ﬁnd us on Facebook.

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July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Tech to have profound impact The New Zealand IoT (internet of things) Alliance believes cuttingedge technologies will have a profound impact on helping improve New Zealand’s agricultural productivity.

❚ by Kent Caddick Alliance executive director Kriv Naicker said a major study into the potential benefits of IoT last year found that better use of IoT across agriculture could provide more than $570 million for the economy. “In an earlier study by the Sapere research group found that if New Zealand firms made better use of the internet it could have a major impact on GDP, potentially lifting it by $34 billion,” Naicker said. “The government has been working with industry to develop pilot studies to establish which technologies can have the best impact on different sectors. “According to the World Bank, while New Zealand’s agricultural productivity has markedly slowed in recent years from 3.2% annually in 1991-2000 to 2.3% in the decade of 2002 to 2011.” The NZ IoT Alliance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), with support from the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Ministry for the Environment is seeking information for a New Zealand arable farming IoT demonstration pilot project. Naicker said the arable farming IoT pilot is part of a wider project being under taken by MBIE across the tourism, construction

Search Heiniger Shed Safety on YouTube

and arable farming sectors. “The pilot project, to be carried out in Canterbury, will be studied by an independent research group for the agri sector to ensure the actual benefits are identified for New Zealand. “Ultimately the pilot will bring together all vendors of technology to design solutions that work for farmers. The downstream effect should be better working relationships across industry, new and novel IoT solutions built with and for farmers that make a proven positive impact.” The pilot will be undertaken on a site administered by the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR). Naicker said while farmers are starting to use technology, including IoT, to increase productivity and reduce costs in the face of increased competition and compliance requirements, the uptake of IoT in agriculture is relatively low across the sector as a whole. “There is no dispute that using IoT systems to augment the intuition of the farmer will have a huge impact in terms of improving productivity on the farm and improving its environmental and sustainability performance,” he said. “There is the ability to grow more while using less in a way that the community will find more acceptable.

The internet of things: New Zealand IoT Alliance executive director Kriv Naicker says better use of internet technology across agriculture could provide more than $570 million for the economy. “For fruit and wine growers, frost conditions can decimate acres of fruit blossom in a single cold night. To mitigate the risk of loss, IoT solutions can predict and manage frost conditions. “Farmers and growers are value purchasers. Cost is less of an issue if the value is obvious. For example, a farmer might struggle to see the value in a $20 a month phone upgrade, but have no qualms buying a $130,000 tractor. “Farmers seek decision support for farming and automation for compliance. As technology makes its way onto the fields in the future, more farm management will be done from a desk or device instead of in the field,” Naicker said.

‘

There is the ability to grow more while using less in a way that the community will ﬁnd more acceptable. Kriv Naicker New Zealand IoT Alliance Executive Director

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

Agri Innovation workshop profiles global agricultural trends Technology, changing farming models, changing consumer food trends and a need to reduce environmental impacts are already driving rapid changes to farming internationally.

❚ by Kent Caddick

‘

That was the message given to over 280 Canterbury farmers and other interested parties who attended a series of presentations with a focus on innovation in agriculture, hosted by MHV Water, BCI and Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation, in Ashburton recently. Melanie Brooks of MHV Water said they hosted the event to share knowledge, enable innovative thought and to challenge mindset. “As irrigation schemes we are passionate about working with our farmers to support them,” Brooks said. “The afternoon provided practical solutions that could be implemented now, along with world class speakers who challenged our thought processes and stimulated discussion on what to consider as we continue on our journey for improved water quality outcomes.” Keynote speaker Roger Dennis, from Future Agenda, the world’s largest foresight project, shared with farmers his thoughts about how a changing world affect them. Mr Dennis said a number of key trends are clear. “The population density of major cities will grow and this is creating localised resource shor tages; while technology and automation will continue changing more quickly than policy can respond to and climate change will create extreme weather events which will play out in uncertain and unpredictable ways.” Mr Dennis said he sees technology changing agricultural production systems significantly. “In the Netherlands technology is now used to grow tomatoes indoors

Technology and automation will continue changing agricultural production systems more quickly than policy can respond to. Roger Dennis Future Agenda

Talking the talk: Keynote speaker Roger Dennis addresses Canterbury farmers on how future trends, including the use of robotics and automation will impact on agriculture in New Zealand and worldwide.

under controlled conditions using sensors, precision irrigation and other advances. “This allows one kg of tomatoes to be produced using eight litres of water rather than 225 litres normally used to grow this crop.” His advice for farmers is to start thinking about how changing technology and trends will affect their operation. “You want to have conversations that are difficult which start you thinking about where things might go in the future.” Kaila Colbin, the Chair of the Ministry of Awesome and the New Zealand Ambassador for SingularityU spoke on exponential technology and its impact on agriculture. Ms Colbin said new farming models are now operating. “The world’s largest indoor farm, Aerofarms near New Jersey, supplies New York supermarkets with food with zero food miles and is 135 times more

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July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Answers to environmental challenges As part of their doctoral studies, a group of bright young women at Lincoln University have helped to ﬁnd answers to one of the major environmental challenges facing farming by contributing to research into reducing nitrate leaching on farms.

❚ by Kent Caddick Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching (FRNL) is a six-year, $28m primary sector initiative aiming to reduce farming’s environmental footprint by improving the nitrogen efficiency of the animals and plants used on New Zealand farms. Dairy, arable (crop) and sheep and beef farms are involved in the programme which is focusing on three areas, alternative pasture species, crops, and farm systems. The PhD students, Kirsty Martin, Anna Carlton, Roshean Woods, Lisa Box, Elena Minnee, and Grace Cun, joined a team of scientists from AgResearch, DairyNZ, Foundation for Arable Research, Landcare Research, Lincoln University, and Plant and Food Research investigating which forages will best reduce nitrate losses. The multi-partner approach is the first of its kind on this scale in New Zealand where several organisations are working together seeking answers to improve environmental and economic sustainability. DairyNZ senior scientist Ina Pinxterhuis, who leads the FRNL project, said the doctoral students have provided valuable information about what is happening at urine patch level. “When we set out with the large FRNL research programme, we intended to recruit several PhD students,” Pinxterhuis said. “Having these dedicated students researching specific aspects of diverse pasture species is invaluable. “They have the time to delve in the literature, do detailed measurements, and develop a solid thesis describing their results and discussing the potential benefits to agriculture. “We have been extremely lucky to find

‘

Research: lincoln university doctoral students lisa Box, Kirsty Martin, Anna Carlton, and Roshean Woods have been contributing to research into reducing nitrate leaching on farms.

We have been extremely lucky to ﬁnd these six students. They have engaged well in the programme. Ina Pinxterhuis DairyNZ senior scientist

these six students. They have engaged well in the programme and even delivered papers and conference presentations on the way.” Based at the Lincoln University research dairy farm, Kirsty Martin is researching the response to nitrogen of 12 different pasture forages. Her interest in farming began in rural England where she was brought up. Her family moved to New Zealand when she was 14 and a stint on a dairy farm in the school holidays made her decide that an agricultural science degree was a good career option. She has been monitoring plant responses to different levels of nitrogen applied as fertiliser to identify whether some are more efficient at utilising nitrogen than others. “More nitrogen efficient pastures may lead to lower nitrogen inputs into the farm system and less risk of nitrate leaching.” Martin, now in the last stages of her PhD, said she is glad all her hard work is being used to make an impact on farmers to reduce their environmental footprint and wouldn’t have taken the three-year journey if it wasn’t useful to the industry. Once finished

she will go on to work for a farm consulting company as an environmental consultant based out of Darfield. “Taking on this three-year journey has been amazing,” Martin said. “I now have the experience and knowledge to understand the challenges farmers face with their environmental issues, and it’s my job to give them advice and assistance with the management and practical aspects of the solutions.” Lincoln University’s professor of soil science, Dr Keith Cameron, said the application of science is important to the university, along with its relevance to the agricultural industry. “At Lincoln we are keen to focus our research in areas where students can see how what they are doing fits into the bigger context, particularly the application of science and the connection between scientific discovery and industry application,” Cameron said. “The multi-disciplined, multi-partner ap-

Investigating: lincoln university PhD student Elena Minnee is investigating how different feeds can be used to reduce nitrogen excretion in cows. proach to find answers in projects like Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching is the way of the future. “When the students leave here they will not only have new skills, but will also have contributed to the research. Many of the students we train at PhD level go on to make major contributions to New Zealand agriculture,” he said. FRNL is principally funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, with additional funding from programme partners DairyNZ, AgResearch, Plant & Food Research, Lincoln University, Foundation for Arable Research and Landcare Research. The programme finishes in 2019.

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

Livestock appreciate shelter from bad weather With winter setting in keeping your lifestyle block animals warm and secure is a priority.

❚ by Dr Marjorie Orr Livestock can usually cope fairly well with either rain or wind or cold temperatures but when two or more of these conditions occur together, livestock can quickly become chilled. If they get so cold that they shiver, their requirement for feed increases hugely, and if they don’t get extra feed they soon lose weight. The animals that really need shelter are the old and the young, the newly-shorn and the fine-skinned, those in thin body condition and those that are not well. This is true whatever the species - horses, ponies, cattle, sheep, deer, goats or alpacas. Goats are particularly susceptible to cold because they have little fat under the skin and their coat is not waterproof. Tethered goats should always have access to a weatherproof shelter with solid roof and walls.

Horses need shelter from cold wet windy weather and appreciate a cover in winter. Covers should be waterproof and fitted correctly so that they don’t chafe. The horse’s skin and body condition under the cover should be checked frequently. Newborn animals are very vulnerable to bad weather and the odds are stacked against their survival when they are exposed to bad weather. Rain, wind and cold temperatures together make a lethal combination and providing pregnant livestock with good shelter around the time of birth is like taking out an insurance policy. With effective shelter, the odds of the newborns surviving are improved hugely. Lamb covers can provide useful protection from wet windy weather but the covers must fit comfortably and they shouldn’t flap or rustle to frighten the mother. Monitor closely lambs with covers on to make sure they don’t get tangled.

Winter is a good time to plant trees and shrubs to provide effective shelter and shade for years to come. There are many and varied types of shelter plant from low dense flax to native bush, from conifers like macrocarpa and pine to deciduous poplars and willows. Because an effective shelter belt of trees and shrubs takes years to establish, you can put up temporary shelter, especially in paddocks where there are very young animals or newly shorn animals.

Wind netting secured tightly to the fence on the windward side of the paddock can be effective. If you are storing big bales of hay or baleage, they could be lined up close to but outside the fence. Arranging bales of hay in the paddock in pairs in a V-shape angled into the prevailing wind provides good shelter for smaller grazing animals. Article supplied by www.lifestyleblock.co.nz

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July 2018 CANTERBURY FARMING

Keeping the grass long and green It’s no good just looking from the kitchen window and deciding that if the paddocks look green, all is well.

❚❚by Dr Clive Dalton

down to soil level too. The main issues with late autumn and earPasture has to be long enough for stock to ly winter pasture is feed ‘quality’ and not just graze, and for cattle this means at least feed ‘quantity’. Lush green pasture is low in Dry Matter (DM) so has a high water content, 10cm high. Unlike horses with both top and bottom it’s high in protein and energy, but very low teeth allowing them to nibble, cattle are un- in fibre which is important for good rumen able to do that, and if they are forced to try, digestion. So it’s a very unbalanced feed they end up wearing away their bottom teeth hence the need for supplements. With hard frosts in the South Island, and eating large amounts of soil which is bad growth rates per day can be zero. So this for digestion. Sheep can eat much shorter pasture but means the deficit has to be made up totally need enough to prevent them having to eat with good quality supplements, so the ‘condition’ of your stock is the best guide to their health and future performance. The individual feeding needs of different stock will vary over time, and there are tables to provide these Lifestyle Blocks & Small Farms data or talk to a consultant Pasture | Crops | Lucerne or farmer who does regular feed budgets. | | Liquid Fertiliser Gorse Broom Strategic use of nitrogen is always recommended to boost pasture production, but you need to have a good ryegrass content in the pasture and the 10cm soil temperature needs to be above six degres celsius, and the 2 0 1 2 L I M I T E D ground is not waterlogged. Ray Grigg | 027 439 5165 or 03 318 1033 Nitrogen fertiliser such aercore.services@xtra.co.nz as urea is cheap to buy and

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Pasture perfect: Just because the grass is green doesn’t mean all is well on the lifestyle block.

easy to apply as it’s in granulated form, but with so much concern now for the environment, be careful to keep the spreader well clear of creeks and wet parts of the paddock, and it’s also better to apply a number of small dressings of under 20kg N/ha rather than in one large dollop. The biggest sin anyone can commit on a farm or lifestyle block is to damage the delicate soil structure. Dig a few spade spits and examine it carefully seeing how deep the tiny root filaments grow down to, and how many worms there are. Smell the soil too which should be a very pleasant aroma. So at all costs avoid pugging the soil, as there’s no point in seeing the highly-nutritious spring pasture grown at considerable

expense, being pushed down into the soil by animals although sheep are generally not a problem. Get a soil test done if there hasn’t been one done for over a year. It’s an ideal time of year to get your lime applications completed. Avoid putting stock to graze on paddocks where fertiliser has been newly applied. Fertiliser needs rain to wash it off the leaves. Weeds never give up so if you had a bad weed problem last season, start working on it now to get the timing right. Timing of weed spraying is the key, so you have to be able to recognise weeds in the early vegetative stages, long before flowering or seed heads appear in summer. Article reproduced courtesy of www.lifestyle.co.nz

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CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

A beginner’s guide to shearing sheep With winter reaching its mid-point many lifestyle blocks owners who have a paddock of sheep will be turning their attention to the spring needs of their animals.

❚ by Dr Clive Dalton

Thinking ahead: Shearing your sheep in spring will help them not to remain cool over summer.

Sheep grow wool continuously, so it is important to shear them at least once a year. Shearing is generally carried out in spring, so that sheep don’t get overheated during summer. If a sheep is not shorn, its fleece becomes so bulky that it has difficulty moving around. The fleece can get water logged, and the sheep can become cast and unable to right itself. Also a long fleece is particularly likely to get daggy and soiled, making the sheep very susceptible to flystrike. In very hot weather, sheep carrying too much wool will get heat stressed, and this is even more likely if the sheep is very fat. When preparing for shearing don’t use any insecticide chemicals on the fleece for six weeks before shearing. When using chemicals on the wool, check the withholding times. If sheep are dirty, prepare for shearing by having them crutched and dagged (ie remove dirty wool from the belly, and from below and around the tail). Make sure the sheep are completely dry before shearing, otherwise cuts are more likely to become infect-

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ed and the damp wool will heat and get mouldy when stored. Shearers will refuse to shear wet sheep as it can cause skin infections and boils. To prevent damage to the shears and the sheep, warn the shearers if the sheep have large ear tags (plastic or brass). Make sure shearers are aware of any wethers among the ewes. Hire skilled shearers shear your sheep. Keep your sheep in yards overnight, preferably under cover, so their stomachs and intestines empty out a bit and so they remain dry even if it rains in the night. Don’t pack them in too tightly or they will dung on each other’s wool.

Because newly shorn sheep feel the cold, put them in paddocks with windbreaks and plenty of pasture after shearing. It may take six weeks for the fleece to regrow sufficiently to provide effective insulation. If you don’t have good shelter for your shorn sheep, or if you are shearing them in winter, ask the shearer to use winter combs. These leave a short layer of wool to help protect sheep from cold weather. Sheep need extra feed after shearing. If there is insufficient pasture, step up the supplementary feed. The best time to apply louse and flystrike prevention treatments is after shearing, while the wool is short.

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

Harcourts Rural Ambassador The Royal Agricultural Society, the umbrella organisation for all A & P Societies in NZ and Breed Societies recently undertook their Central District Zone selection for the Harcourts Rural Ambassador Awards. Contestants were put through their paces by a panel of respected judges from throughout the local rural sector at an evening event held at the Harcourts Rangiora Office.

This has elevated the prestige of the award even further, and it is very highly sought after by those seeking to propel their agricultural careers forward.

This programme has a proud history dating back to the 1990s. It has been a national based competition until recent years, when it was extended to Australia.

In a very tight contest Nicola Lee from Ashburton emerged as our Central District Zone representative and will be off to Wellington to compete with other regional winners.

This year the NZ final is in Wellington. This award recognises excellence among young people, aged between 20 to 30 and who are active within the A & P showing movement.

We Sell Rural Lifestyle Winter 2018

We Sell Rural Lifestyle

Rebecca Legat (runner up), Melissa Jebson (Judge and member of the Royal Agricultural Society), Nicola Lee (winner) and Greg Roberts (Manager/Business owner Harcourts Four Seasons Realty/Twiss-Keir Realty)

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Winter 2018

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Introducing Stevie Golding Stevie believes his successful time in Harness Racing also provided the chance to meet a lot of different people who have proven to be useful in his burgeoning Real Estate career.

Born and raised in Canterbury Stevie Golding has a close association with the rural scene here, having 8 years involvement in local Harness Racing. This provided Stevie with the opportunity to travel all around the country side gaining an insight into various types of Rural Lifestyle properties.

Events Calendar 2018 Darfield Farmer’s Market Saturday 10.00am - 1.00pm Main Street, Darfield Kaiapoi Farmer’s Market Saturday 10.00am - 12noon Morgan Williams Reserve, Charles Street

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Leeston Market 1st & 3rd Saturday 9.00am - 12noon Cooperating Church Grounds, High Street

With his determination, persistence and resilience these attributes fuel Stevie to tackle these challenges. “The continued contact with the Harness Racing Fraternity is great in the respect I am keeping up with both North Canterbury and the Selwyn District.” Stevie commented.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

DAIRY

July 2018

Research reinforces Ecotain’s nitrogen-reducing capabilities New independent research ﬁndings continue to highlight the nitrogen mitigating effects of Ecotain environmental plantain, with one study showing it halved the concentration of urinary nitrogen in cows.

❚ by Kent Caddick In September 2017, proprietary seed company Agricom announced major research findings that showed Ecotain can significantly reduce nitrogen leaching from urine patches on livestock farms. Most nitrogen leaching from livestock farms comes from the urine patch, an area containing high concentrations of nitrogen from animals’ urine. Agricom’s lead scientist Dr Glenn Judson said the new independent research findings, which have come from several post-graduate students’ PhD theses, continue to demonstrate the benefits of Ecotain. “We’ve collected and analysed the findings from these various research projects and they’re reinforcing what has previously been proven about Ecotain’s nitrogen mitigating properties,” Dr Judson said. The initial research from Agricom, alongside Lincoln and Massey universities and Plant + Food Research, found Ecotain can function in pasture systems to reduce nitrogen leaching in four ways, known as Dilute, Reduce, Delay and Restrict. Consuming Ecotain increases the volume of cows’ urine which dilutes the concentration of nitrogen, it reduces the total amount of dietary nitrogen in animals’ urine, it delays the process of turning ammonium into nitrate in the

urine patch, and it restricts the accumulation of nitrate in soils growing Ecotain. Dr Judson said the new independent research findings support the nitrogen mitigating properties Agricom and its partners have found in each of the dilute, reduce, delay and restrict functions of Ecotain, and in some cases drills a little bit deeper. A study by Lincoln University student Lisa Box reinforced the effectiveness of the reduce and dilute functions of Ecotain, finding that where cows were offered swards containing 50 per cent Ecotain (with ryegrass/clover), the concentration of urinary nitrogen was reduced by 33 per cent. Dr Judson said researchers at Agricom are nearing the end of a 40-day trial in Canterbury where they have grazed lambs on different plantain cultivars, including Ecotain, and collected the urine to look at the nitrogen concentration and its effect on ammonium levels in the soil. “From what we’re seeing in our preliminary results so far, the urine from the lambs grazing the Ecotain strip is the most dilute, and we should have a better understanding of how this relates to the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor by mid-June,” he said. Research findings from Lincoln University researcher Anna Carlton on Ecotain’s restrict function shows the nitrogen mitigating impact of just a small

Research done: Agricom scientist Dr Glenn Judson says new independent research ﬁndings continue to demonstrate the beneﬁts of Ecotain.

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Even a small amount of Ecotain produces useful nitrogenreducing results. Dr Glenn Judson

amount of Ecotain in pasture. “Anna’s research found that having a 20-30% amount of Ecotain in a sward facilitates a reduction in nitrogen leaching of about 70%, relative to ryegrass/ white clover swards, which means that even a small amount of Ecotain in a mixed sward produces extremely useful nitrogen-reducing results.” Dr Judson said other research projects are ongoing with more results to come, with two projects on the horizon focusing on understanding Ecotain’s bioactive compounds and its farm-scale impact in pasture.

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July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

DAIRY

How to expose fertiliser fraud ❚ with Peter Burton

It’s surprisingly easy, just ask for the performance data. Farmers have a right to know what their fertiliser inputs will deliver, and every company selling products has an obligation to provide sound data.

Simply because it’s what ‘everyone does’ doesn’t necessarily make it the most effective option, or even ensure a product is fit for purpose. The largest fertiliser companies spend

Which would you prefer?

the most on research and development and should therefore have the best data, but do they? Science is based on measures, and when it comes to soil fertility only systematic and accurate figures are good enough. Without sound long-term measures there can be no reasoned discussion, and any attempt to get to the truth quickly descends into a, “he said, you said” farce, or a condescending put down. A high school teacher, many years ago, regularly finished a lesson with, “boys, if you don’t understand ask, it’s better to look a fool than to be one”. And that’s been an integral part of how I’ve worked ever since. The New Zealand phosphate based fertiliser industry has worked on sourcing and applying essential nutrient at the lowest cost per kilogram of nutrient, which was fine when there was a plentiful supply of suitable resource with low levels of heavy metals. As the supply of suitable phosphorus became scarcer and more expensive, the least cost rock was that unwanted by many countries due to its levels of cadmium. There are now large areas of this country not suitable for vegetable production due to unacceptably high levels of cadmium. It’s essential that product available to NZ farmers is fit for purpose, not right now but in the future when environmental and product quality standards are even tighter. The argument that it doesn’t matter in

what form product is applied to the land looks increasingly naïve, as our understanding of soil being a living breathing organism grows. Early research in this country on beneficial earthworms under pasture showed a significant increase in numbers when lime was applied, and this was attributed to the calcium content of lime. Aglime generally contains around 30% calcium. Phosphate rock used for superphosphate contains a similar amount. However no-one argues that superphosphate applied at 1.0 – 2.0 tonne/ha, the rate at which lime is generally applied, will have the same beneficial effect on soil earthworm numbers. There’s a lot more to soil fertility than its chemistry based on the analysis of a bagful of 75mm cores. It’s a useful part of the picture, and a lot more information is required before a beneficial fertiliser programme can be formulated. It’s essential for the long-term survival of pastoral farming that soils are actively sequestering carbon. As there is no static position, soils are either losing or gaining carbon, and the present situation where most of our soils are steadily losing carbon must be addressed. To not do so means that the pastoral farming industry as we know it today will cease to exist within the next twenty five years. Fortunately, there is the technology, supported by data, to show that an increase in

soil carbon under intensively grazed pasture is not only achievable, it’s actually inevitable, turning pastoral farming from an environmentally negative activity to one that is positive in every respect. However it’s not just about adding carbon. Carbon and nitrogen are linked and when carbon accumulates and remains in a semi-digested state such as dense thatch, or peat, nutrient cycling slows to a point where pastoral farming becomes financially non-viable. By creating the conditions, and the necessary fungi and bacteria populations in the soil whereby carbon from dung, dead grass, and old root matter is rapidly digested, it becomes a repository for nutrients which are then available along with nitrogen for plant uptake. Water is able to percolate downwards leaving behind both nitrogen and phosphorus for further plant growth. It’s the way healthy natural systems are designed to operate, and the key to the efficiency is creating the conditions that favour beneficial fungi and bacteria. These systems devised by Functional Fertiliser have now been in place on an increasing number of properties throughout the country for fifteen years, and may be implemented at any time during the year with no loss in annual pasture production. For more information call Peter on 0800 843 809.

CANTERBURY FARMING

DAIRY

July 2018

Changes in diet can ❚ with Fred Hoekstra affect hoof health ❚ VeeHof

Last month I wrote an article on OAD milking. I received quite a bit of positive feedback from that as it resonated with what farmers were experiencing. This month I want to write about cows on winter crops, however I somehow get the feeling that I won’t get the same sort of feedback as I did with my OAD milking article, yet the principles of both management decisions are very similar. The reason why cows are doing so much better with once a day milking is because they have a lot more time available to them to behave naturally which is great, but now it is winter and lots of cows in our country go on to winter crops, often knee high in mud with nowhere to lay down and no shelter – just trying to cope with the rain and the wind. When we choose to be animal farmers we choose to look after living creatures. That means that it is our responsibility to provide for the six basic needs a cow has which are: air, light, water, food, shelter and space. If those needs are met, a cow can function properly. If they are not met a cow will struggle. It just depends on the severity of the lack as to how much a cow will struggle. When we put cows on winter crops we have a few challenges to deal with.

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Cows on winter crops provide plenty of challenges for farmers.

One of them is the dietary challenge. It is important to make sure that there is a transition period of at least two weeks to allow the bacteria in the rumen to adjust to a new diet. This is even more critical in the spring when the cows go back onto a grass-based diet. Changes in diet have been proven to affect hoof health. Calving is also a risk period for lameness so if you combine those two, there is more attention to detail needed to ensure lameness issues are minimised. The other requirement is shelter. Cows that are on winter crops often lack comfortable resting places which is part of the need for shelter. As the laying down area deteriorates, the threshold before a cow lays down goes up. This means that a cow will be be-

coming increasingly tired before she will choose to lay down. A good way to find out if the needs are being properly met is by looking at cow behaviour. When you look at a well-fed herd in the paddock take note at how the cows behave. They normally either graze, drink, lay down or socialize. Cows don’t normally stand for the sake of standing for very long. If they are standing for long periods of time, then this should raise a red flag that there is a problem. When cows spend the winter months on winter crops they spend a lot of time standing. That is not the normal behaviour of cows and therefore we can expect cow wellbeing to be compromised. There is a correlation between resting time and lameness in dairy cows. As many people recognize the positive effect of resting time in OAD milking, I hope people will also recognize the positive effect of providing better resting areas in the dry periods as well.

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July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

Solar powered irrigators becoming an economic option Ever wondered if there was an easier way to irrigate the corners of your centre pivot blocks or to reduce your irrigation power bills? A Kirwee agricultural electronics company may have the answer.

❚ Article supplied by Frizzell Ltd

The cost of laying power to the corners of paddocks makes it uneconomic to put small pivots in these areas. Frizzell Agricultural Electronics has been doing trials that shows powering pivots using solar panels is economic. With increas-

es in mains power it is often also economic to power irrigators connected to the mains. Frizzell’s Technical Manager Nick Frizzell says that five years ago he was looking at a satellite view of the Canterbury plains and noticed all the green circles under the centre pivot irrigators.

Solar Irrigation Fielday

FRIZZELL Agricultural Electronics & Irrigation Logistics

Solar Irrigation & Ag-tec Demonstration

See and hear about the latest cost and labour savings from solar powered irrigation, autonomous measurement, and effluent monitoring.

Date: Friday 13th July . Time: 3.00pm. Location: St.Hw 73 & Anson’s Rd, Kirwee. ( At “S” Bend)

Corners were either lighter green or brown. Large parts of the plains were being poorly irrigated. Nick said “20 percent of an irrigated block can be missed by a pivot”. Even with movable sprinklers corner areas are not well irrigated. Sprinklers are labour intensive and inefficient. The gains from solar powering pivots goes well beyond the corner savings. Frizzell has carried out trials that show solar powered centre pivot irrigators can reduce cost, grow more grass and increase income. While we know a lot about the role sun plays to grow grass, our knowledge of on-farm solar powered systems is light. Solar powered centre pivots and on-farm solar generation is inevitable if our farms are to remain internationally competitive. It can cost more than eighty thousand dollars a kilometre to install mains power to pivots. Nick says using solar power for the main pivot can often save tens of thousands of dollars on the cost of installing mains power. Work that the company has done shows that it also economic to solar power centre pivots that are connected to the mains.

Frizzell Agricultural Electronics will showcase their solar pivots at a ﬁeld day on 13 July. Nick says that while it is usually not economic to put solar panels on a house because of the scale, different power charges and a much better demand profile allows solar panels powering centre pivots to be economic. To showcase their solar pivots Frizzell Agricultural Electronics is running a field day in conjunction with Irrigation Logistics. The field day is at Kirwee on 13 July, Frizzell will also showcase current work with autonomous karts to measure pasture height and soil moisture measurement and other agricultural electronics research being carried out by the company.

IRRIGATION LOGISTICS Suppliers of specification designed PIERCE centre pivot irrigators

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CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

Barber Well Drilling expands to provide more quality service The Barber Drilling Group of Companies, which has been installing both irrigation and domestic wells in the Canterbury, Mackenzie and Otago Region for the last 17 years, has purchased Orari Best of both worlds: Orari Irrigation are now owned by Irrigation from John Hewson. Barber Well Drilling. Article supplied by Also available are Bauer irriga- based at our retail store, 1016 Temution and effluent systems, RX Plastic ka-Orari Highway. Barber Well Drilling

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This allows us to supplement our existing business by now providing and installing all types of pumps and fittings for all irrigation and domestic applications including UV lamps and filter treatments.

and WSP fittings, White International pumps, Water troughs and other farm supplies such as Bare-Co. Robert Washington is now our new Manager with over 20 years of experience in the industry, along with existing staff member Colin Johnstone

Previous Orari Irrigation owner John Hewson, who has been operating out of the retail store for the last five years, will be staying on in a transitional role for the next six months while training a replacement for onsite repairs and instalments.

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July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

Irrigation efficiency testing in Ashburton and Selwyn After rolling out an irrigation efﬁciency testing programme in Ashburton over the summer of 2016-17, last summer we were back on the farm in Selwyn carrying out more testing.

❚ by Tony Curtis Between the two programmes we’ve tested over 350 irrigation systems and found some interesting results. The good news was that across both districts farmers are using modern, efficient ir-

rigation systems and are also using soil moisture monitoring technology to decide when to irrigate. But there were also areas for improvement. In Ashburton, the newer irrigation systems generally had better distribution uniformity however for non-maintained systems older than 15 years old there was less uniformity. Perhaps Selwyn irrigators had heard about the issues with older irrigators, because when we carried out testing the next summer, the older systems were actually performing pretty well and were often better than new systems. This means that regular maintenance was occurring. In Selwyn, we found the systems performing least well were those that were 2-5 years old, while the best performing systems were 5-15 years old. If we think back to the Spring of 2013 there was a major windstorm in Selwyn which saw many irrigation systems replaced or repaired under pressure. With hindsight it seems that many of these systems were

Equipment check: IrrigationNZ’s summer testing programme was carried out in Selwyn in late 2017. not commissioned and haven’t been operating correctly from day one. There are some lessons for both the irrigation service sector and farmers on the importance of testing systems before they are used. In the past two years, new Farm Environment Plan rules were introduced in Canterbury which require that new systems be commissioned. So more recent systems are performing better, but there is still room for improvement. We strongly recommend that farmers include in their contracts that commissioning must be undertaken before handover. We have commissioning guidelines available to IrrigationNZ members online. Another lesson from the testing is that systems need regular checking to ensure they are working correctly. We have a free ‘Check-It Bucket Test’ app you can download from Google Play or the App Store to help you with this. It’s interesting that some recent irrigation efficiency testing projects in Australia have had similar findings with problems occurring

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due to systems not being set up correctly or not applying the correct amount of water. We recently spoke with the 2018 Gordon Stephenson Trophy Award winner Mark White for our magazine. He and his wife Catriona are the National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing and run a kiwifruit orchard in the Bay of Plenty. They source their water from the Tablelands Irrigation Scheme. Mark has some great advice for other irrigators. “Make every drop of water count by measuring everything,” he said and “invest in the best technology you can afford to target the water application as efficiently as possible.” His last piece of advice was that they found their irrigation system could be delivering very different amounts of water depending on how much water other scheme members were using. That meant they checked their system output regularly to see that how it was performing rather than just assuming everything was working correctly. In light of our testing results these seem like wise words indeed.

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WATER & IRRIGATION

Tony Trewinnard ❚ by ❚ Blue Skies Weather

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

Back to the future for Spring

Back in March I wrote about my ideas for this winter, and suggested Canterbury would see a very mixed pattern of winter weather, with plenty of rain, increased cloudiness, and fewer frosts. So far we seem to be following this pattern, but with plenty of winter still to run. Current expectations for July are to see similar patterns to June – in other words a real mixture of low pressure systems and storms, anticyclones bringing settled spells, and airflow favouring more of the easterly quarter than the west. So, that should mean another month of less than normal sunshine hours, at least normal rainfall, and temps probably near normal when averaged over 24 hours (but colder than usual by day and milder, due to the cloud, at night). Once we reach August I am expecting things to start to change, with westerlies increasing in frequency (some might call it an early spring), rainfall decreasing and sunshine increasing. It’s about now that I start to turn my attention to the summer season, looking for patterns, trends, past similar seasons, and computer model guidance. I also read the opinions of other longer-range forecasters. At present computer models are favouring the development of an El Nino pattern for the late spring and summer,

and I am cautiously going with this idea, but not to the intensity that the computer programs are. The climate models have a tendency to over-estimate the warm of developing El Nino events. A number of factors are in play for this season, which may conspire to make it a less than “classic” El Nino season. Expect more varied and more mixed weather patterns for New Zealand than a typical El Nino brings. Taking into account our current very low solar cycle, wave patterns high in the tropical atmosphere, the sea surface temperatures around New Zealand, and the deeper ocean water temperatures in the Pacific, 2006 is emerging as a strong analog for this summer. The year 2006 has been a good analog for the current winter, and with a number of similarities to the current season its worth investigating more closely. The 2006 spring was typically El Nino – plenty of westerly airflow, with increased rainfall in western parts of both islands, and less rain in eastern

districts. This fits with the idea of an early start to spring in August. Spring could be windy and long this year. Generally the 2006-07 summer was drier but colder than normal for most of New Zealand, with more anticyclones than usual. In Canterbury, rainfall patterns were mixed – most areas were drier than usual at times, but some parts of the region also experienced some wetter than normal conditions with floods. Sunshine was above normal, but temperatures were colder than normal, especially early in the summer, as southwesterly airflow dominated for a time. No two seasons are ever exactly alike, and as we get closer to spring I should be able to fine-tune the forecasts for spring and summer. But at this time looking at 2006 is probably the best advice I can give. For more seasonal and long range information check out the Blue Skies Weather Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BlueSkiesWeather

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July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

All quiet on the irrigation front

It always takes a moment of inspiration to write an article. But about irrigation – that is a hard ask given the late autumn and early winter weather.

Dr Tony Davoren ❚ with Hydro Services ❚ No-one is really thinking irrigation unless there is a pile of steel to repair or there are trenches in the ground. During the irrigation season it is always easy to get a theme around irrigation – it could be someone irrigating on the road, not thinking about other drivers for irrigation decisions, state of the water supply etc. But in the second week of June after some large rainfall events and increasingly cold temperatures through the autumn and early winter to write about irrigation is a little incongruous. It is far from everyone’s mind unless you are installing a system. So do I have any “irrigation” related inspiration? Hardly because like you: • I’m certainly not “mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative” to do with irrigation, and • I certainly haven’t had a sudden brilliant or timely irrigation idea to write about. So it’s been wet? The rainfall since February (402mm) is more than half the annual average of about 755mm and the total since the same time last year is 934mm – about 124% of the average.

That the 402mm has fallen as relatively large events (like 95mm 20-21 February and 60mm 10-11 April) and at a time when crop water use has increasingly declined, soil profiles have been at field capacity for some time. Any additional rainfall simply raises soil moisture content above field capacity and towards saturation. But you know that. So it’s been cold and getting colder, but what else do we expect as we head into winter? So while the temperatures are trending down the averages are pretty similar; • February ~17degC c.f. long-term 17degC, and • March ~15.8degC c.f. long-term 15degC, and • April ~11.7degC c.f. long-term 12.3degC, and • May ~9.5degC c.f. long-term 9.2degC. Sure there have been some cool/cold periods that bought some early snow (remember snow in May “goes away” and snow in June is “too soon”), it really hasn’t been too different to the long term average. What is good is the groundwater recharge that is occurring – but that is another story and while not inspirational might become next month’s topic.

LIVESTOCK

Rob Cochrane ❚ by Procurement Manager, ❚ Wool ❚ PGG Wrightson Wool

Healthy end to wool season

The 2017-18 wool selling season concluded on 28th June with auctions in both Napier and Christchurch after an eventful 12 months. The outlook on 1st July 2017 was rather murky, mainly because crossbred wool prices had taken a large hit with China, in particular, having reduced their imports of New Zealand wool dramatically during the previous season, causing concern for industry participants. From a fine wool perspective however, distinct optimism was evident as the 2017-18 season began well, on the back of a previous year of strengthening prices for most fine wool types, and a shortage of raw material appeared to be looming. More recently, during the past few months, wool auctions have enjoyed relatively high percentage clearances from the auctioneer’s rostrum, despite considerable quantities of old season’s crossbred wool being catalogued by brokers, representing growers who had resisted the perceived low levels of the 2016-17 season and who preferred to wait until the market appeared, to them, to be more settled. Most of the “old” wool has drawn reasonable support from the buying trade and, although greasy wool samples representing those lines have looked a little stale and new wool colour measurements have returned higher y minus z values compared to the original test result of at least six months previous, returns have been acceptable to growers. It’s interesting to note, when comparing prices for the most recent South Island auction at time of writing versus the first auction of the 2017-18 season held on July 6th 2017, the following approximate percentage movements occurred: • Full length Crossbred fleece, 3537 micron, good style: plus 10% • Second-shear Crossbred fleece, 37 micron, good style: plus 28% • Full length Halfbred fleece, 26-28 micron, good style: plus 27% Along with prices improving, due to

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2018

More returns for your wool. Carrfields Primary Wool (CP Wool) is a 50/50 joint venture between Carrfields and Primary Wool Co-operative (PWC), a 100% wool grower owned co-operative. • CP Wool has stores in key locations across NZ • CP Wool offers significant benefits and advantages to New Zealand wool producers Talk to your local CP Wool representative about maximising the returns on your wool clip.

Contact your Canterbury representative Mark Greenlaw 027 227 8898 Roger Fuller 027 683 6993 Grant Andrew 027 481 6219

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‘

China has impacted hugely on a recovery of wool exports from New Zealand.

increased demand, China has impacted hugely on a recovery of wool exports from New Zealand to that country and, according to Beef & Lamb NZ statistics, exports to China from NZ in the first nine months of the current season until the end of March, reached more than 44% compared to less than 40% during the same period last season (58% for the same period in the 2014/15 season). Total wool volumes exported from New Zealand to all countries for the same nine month period this current season, have increased by approximately 17.5%, compared to last. To put the Chinese influence into perspective, the second largest importer of NZ wool from July 2017 until the

end of March 2018 was India, taking approximately 10%, followed by the UK (9%) and Italy (8%). The fine-wool growing sector within New Zealand has enjoyed a fruitful season for wool returns, along with its Australian cousins, as merino wool prices escalated throughout the season in both countries, driven by demand for active outdoor wear and also traditional suiting fabrics. Most market focus was on extra-fine wools, until quite recently with renewed interest for medium-to-fine types. During the past couple of years, and unlike New Zealand, strong wool export data prior to the past few months, China as a destination, increased its imports of fine wool from Australia. In Australia for the quarter ending March 31st 2018, wool received into broker stores increased marginally on the previous year, but for the season to March end, total quantities were back slightly. That movement plus the lack of any stock-pile of note of fine wool in either Australia or New Zealand, should auger well for the coming season, provided that manufacturer and consumer resistance to current or higher pricing does not intervene.

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July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

❚ by Solis Norton

LIVESTOCK

Our team vs the invaders

The battle between us and Mycoplasma bovis is heating up. The question I put to grandad over a stout the other night was what are the odds of eradication? A year on now since its discovery I reckon the book maker’s odds must surely be a dollar each way. It is hard dealing with the countless uncertainties in this situation. They are heavily stressing farmers, MPI, disease control staff, industry bodies and many others. But it is also an unfortunate fact of outbreak life and we need to grit our teeth for a bit. Things will almost certainly get tougher before they get easier and through this we need to remember an important message. The message is that positive and proactive teamwork will eradicate this organism and anything else will probably not. Positive proactive teamwork is the key, pure and simple. We all work in teams. At times like these we need to do so even more effectively and generously. There’s frustration and strong opinion in the media. There are conflicting views and mistrust too. We need to get passed this. I have experienced the benefits of good team work in ten years running the deer in-

dustry’s DeerPRO animal health and productivity programme. It is similar to the outbreak response, involving national scale work with farmers, veterinarians, processing plants, AsureQuality, laboratories, and literally millions of data points. Positive proactive teamwork makes it flow like a beautiful symphony. Conflict and a lack of empathy with general grizzling does the opposite. No member of the team is going to do everything perfectly throughout this eradication. Challenges and setbacks are part of the process and so is imperfect information. How we manage these, how we bridge the gaps and fix the holes along the way will make the difference between success and failure. And how we manage them is positively, proactively, and as a team. An important perspective is that we are collectively working just as much to improve our response systems as we are to remove the organism. Like pressure testing. The challenge to every one of us is not to blow our spigot before the others. Grandad reckoned we’re in this together. He says there’s no doubt that we can do it, the question is just how well. I wish us all the very best of luck. Email: solis.norton@deerpro.org.nz

Cheese safety: The Food Safety Template for Cheesemakers will make it easier and cheaper for cheesemakers to meet food safety standards according to Food Safety Minister Damien O’Connor.

Cheesemakers have a reason to smile Cheesemakers are set to beneﬁt from a more modern and commonsense approach to food safety regulation.

❚ by Kent Cadick That’s according to Food Safety Minister Damien O’Connor who recently launched the Food Safety Template for Cheesemakers – a tool to help cheesemakers producing cheese for New Zealand and Australia to meet food safety requirements. Cheese producers are required under the Food Act and the Animal Products Act to have a written plan to manage food safety risks on a day-to-day basis. “Over the years this has become burdensome and costly for cheesemakers who build plans from scratch and have them verified under two laws,” Damien O’Connor said. “The Food Safety Template for Cheesemakers, developed for the first time in partnership with artisan cheesemakers, pulls

together regulatory requirements – making it easier and cheaper to meet important food safety standards. “Everyone has a role to play in food safety and in the spirit of manaakitanga this Government cares for our food producers as well as those we are feeding. “Recently I launched New Zealand Food Safety – a new business unit in MPI – and tasked it to look at ways to make compliance easier for our small, regional and rural food businesses because their nimbleness and creativity are key to helping the food producing sector reach higher up the value chain. “We will keep working with our food producers to help them build the tools they need to meet food safety requirements in the most efficient way,” O’Connor said.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

LIVESTOCK

July 2018

Deer farmers urged to work with others Veteran blue-green environmentalist Guy Salmon has strongly encouraged deer farmers to work collectively with other farmers to clean up their catchments.

❚ by Trevor Walton “Take collective responsibility for the state of your stream, learning and working together on how to improve it. Jointly fund the professional advice and catchment works that are needed, measure the results and be accountable,” he told delegates at the 2018 Deer Industry Conference in Timaru recently. Salmon is not only green and blue (National), he was also the ginger man at a conference where the concept of “social licence” cropped up in many sessions. For an industry to prosper, it needs to meet the wider expectations of society, according to Rabobank animal protein specialist, Blake Holgate. He told the conference that these expectations add up to what is known as a “social licence to operate” – a concept that emerged in the mining industry in the 1990s when a number of international projects failed because of community opposition. “In New Zealand, the focus of social licence has shifted to agriculture, because of community concerns about waterways, but the attributes will change over time,” Holgate said, explaining that all farming industries needed to build their credibility and legitimacy to retain community and market approval. The deer industry has long championed the idea that quality doesn’t begin and end with eating a tender piece of steak. Quality includes values that are of growing importance to consumers and the wider community. Both consumers and the NZ public expect livestock farmers to give priority to animal welfare. Locally, the impact of livestock farming on water quality was a focus of campaigning in the 2017 General Election. Across the western world concerns about animal welfare and the environment merge in a backlash against industrial farming systems. Deer Industry NZ chair (DINZ) chair Ian Walker said regional councils were now working to put the amended National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management into effect and farmers were coming to grips with new water quality rules being put in place by councils. As for the industry itself, Deer Industry

Blue green: Veteran environmentalist Guy Salmon is urging deer farmers to take collective responsibility.

NZ (DINZ) and the NZ Deer Farmers Association showed they were “on message” with the launch of the Deer Industry Environmental Management Code of Practice. “It’s no longer good enough to just go out and change a few things on your place in the hope that you’ll be complying with any new restrictions on things like nutrient or sediment loss,” Walker said. “It takes good planning, good advice and good documentation. You need to show you’re doing the right thing.” Special trade envoy and sheep farmer Mike Petersen said the direction of travel was clear. He joined with Walker in encouraging farmers to do a Farm Environmental Plan and predicted that these plans would eventually be expanded to cover other areas of social licence, such as animal welfare. “We need the plans because they provide integrity for the story that New Zealand needs to be telling in the marketplace,” Petersen said. That doesn’t mean meat producers can please all the people all of the time, particularly not those who are opposed to eating meat. Holgate said he believed there would always be a large number of meat eaters. “But meat eaters are not immune to the opposition to meat-eating, so they are opting for meat that has the right social licence. Fortunately there’s a high correlation between the expectations of New Zealanders and those who consume our products in overseas markets,” Petersen said. “Some social licence changes will be an unrecoverable cost for farmers, while others will be a win/win. The needs of all three

‘

Deer farmers need to show

Working together: Deer farmers are being urged to work with neighbours along their streams, to improve water quality.

they’re doing the right

Photo by AgResearch

thing.

groups – farmers, consumers and the NZ community need to be recognised.” However, Mike Petersen ended on a reassuring note. “The government has big environmental goals and they – and particularly the prime minister – don’t want to go to war with the sector. If farmers get on board with the big vision, they will help provide the funds for the transformation and give farmers time in which to do it.”

Ian Walker Deer Industry NZ

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July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

FORESTRY

Establishing a forestry block

Many of the people interested in planting trees for proﬁt are farmers who already own the land and wish to diversify their capital assets in future. However, increasing numbers of tree planters are not farmers, but people who want to create a valuable asset by planting trees.

❚ Article supplied by NZFFA

The following is aimed principally at those who want to buy land for forestry, but much of it applies equally well to those who already own land and want to choose the best sites for planting.

Location How far is the site from the nearest port, or processing plant with ready access to export facilities? Long distance transport is costly and has a major impact on profitability. Transport costs for sites that are more than 100km from the market can seriously erode returns for logs.

Access How close is the site to a public road and is there legal access? Getting logs from the site to a public road requires good reliable access for logging trucks. Roading to a suitable standard can be very expensive, particularly if the costs have to be met from only a small block of trees. If access would require upgrading, make sure the site is sufficiently large to bear the cost without seriously affecting profitability. The quality of access can also impinge quite significantly on silvicultural costs (site preparation, planting, releasing, pruning and thinning). If access is by right-of-way or paper road, ensure that there are no impediments to using that access.

Topography Is the site flat, rolling or steep hill country? Steep topography not only increases silvicultural costs and preclude a production thinning, but can have a major impact on

Get advice: It is sensible to employ a reputable consultant before you commit yourself to any expenditure on a forestry block. harvesting costs. If tracking is required for harvesting machinery, this will affect profitability, and if harvesting has to be by hauler rather than ground transport, costs will be even greater. Make sure that the drainage of flatter areas is naturally good enough for satisfactory tree growth, because there are no commercial species that will grow on poorly drained sites,

and artificial drainage is usually expensive. Be aware that in cool climates, flat areas may be frost flats where it is difficult to get trees established.

Forest management Even if you plan to do all the preparation and silviculture yourself, it is sensible to employ a reputable consultant before you commit

yourself to any expenditure, because such a consultant may help you avoid pitfalls that you had not foreseen. In particular, consultants are aware of the many difficulties that can arise at the time of harvesting, and even if you have done everything else right in growing the trees, excess harvesting costs can seriously reduce the potential profitability of the whole enterprise.

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We are celebrating. Exports of New Zealand forest products will top $6 billion for the first time this year. About half the value comes from shipments of sawn timber, paper and other processing. Unlike the dairy industry, which exports nearly all it produces, for forestry, we use a lot in New Zealand. Most of our homes are made from wood. The billion trees which the government wants to see planted over the next ten years – plus genetic and technology gains – will see an even greater role for forestry in our economy for decades into the future. LOVE OUR FORESTS

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CANTERBURY FARMING

FORESTRY

July 2018

Log prices stable, production set to drop

Both extremes have been forecast by climatologists in the past conﬁrming the scientiﬁc postulations regarding climate change are ever so increasingly becoming our reality. The net impacts are likely to play out in unison but some elements are certainly not positive.

Allan laurie MNZIF ❚ with ❚ Laurie Forestry Ltd In New Zealand, harvest production has trailed off significantly as logging crews struggle to go work. As a consequence, some sawmills are desperately short of logs, some have run out completely for one to two days at a time. Deliveries to ports have slowed significantly also. In the North Island particularly, logging trucks are parked up everywhere with some reports suggesting fleets in excess of 50 units sitting idle for several days on end as at mid-June. In China, daily consumption rates have started to trail off by mid-June averaging 82,000 cubic metres a day reflecting a reduction in work day hours due to heat. This is a daily drop of 14,000 cubic metres per day since mid-May. As a consequence inventory has increased to 4.3 million cubic metres, up about 100,000 cubic metres since mid-May. This level is not causing concern in the market at this stage. In the medium term, we would expect the very significant drop in production in New Zealand to coincide with a continuing drop in sales in China as the impacts of summer start to take effect. Most commentators are suggesting this will help to maintain overall stability. Log prices have remained largely stable over the last month.

In New Zealand, the impacts of lower log supply levels has not appeared to impact on price, as always we hear of some exceptions. In China, log sale settlements have been stable to firm US$1 per cubic metre. The net back to wharf gate NZ after the impacts of a slightly lower FOREX rate combined with a slightly higher shipping rate has seen prices remain largely unchanged to slightly firm compared to May. The handbags at dawn tariff spat between the China and US leaders, is evolving in to some unhealthy attention to biosecurity which has the potential to impact our log and lumber trade with China. The imposition of tariffs on China products exported to US has seen some elevated scrutiny of wood fibre cargos exported to China. At present containerized shipments of logs from the US are a primary target, with many being turned around as not meeting phytosanitary requirements. Some containers have been bonded in to China yards whilst disputes surrounding clearance are being “resolved”. A former leniency permitting re-fumigation of containers in China in the event of insect incursions are reported has been “removed”. Some containers of logs have been reported to contain too much bark and turned away completely. All of this is playing out to the potential detriment of NZ with elevated scrutiny of cargos resulting in a significant increase in in-

sect “finds”. We have heard some reports of re-fumigation of break bulk shipments being required before China clearance has been granted. We may thank the illustrious Mr Trump for this current off the field of play silly game which currently thankfully seems to be softening. We can only hope the only medium term

impacts will be a couple of black eyes although kissing and cuddling does not yet seem to feature in the promises to make up. Perhaps Mr Un will become the mediator? Meanwhile in the land of great promise and opportunity, it remains as always fundamentally important, the only way forward for climate, country and the planet is to get out there and plant more trees.

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See our website for information including Market www.laurieforestry.co.nz Reports and Log Price Tables www.laurieforestry.co.nz

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Office: Phone 03 359 5000 Email: admin@laurieforestry.co.nz Unit 3 337 Harewood Road Bishopdale Christchurch 22 Shearman Street Waimate Phone 03 689 8333 • Cell: 027 432 1420

July 2018 CANTERBURY FARMING

FORESTRY

Establishing tree seedlings

Planting a tree seedling is easy – just dig a hole, place the roots in the hole and cover with soil. Successful establishment of tree seedlings so that they are still alive and growing vigorously a few years later and grow on to become mature trees, however, requires a lot more attention to detail. supplied by ❚❚Article ❚❚Farm Forestry New Zealand

Good forward planning pays dividends, so always plan just what you need to do well in advance of actual planting.

Key factors for success are: • Make sure the species chosen is suitable for the site. • Use good quality tree stock. • Take great care in the handling, transport and storage of seedlings. • Ensure the planting site is well prepared, where possible by deep cultivation with a winged ripper, and perhaps pre-plant spraying with a weedicide. • Plant seedlings as recommended in this article. • Prevent weeds from competing with the seedlings for at least a year after planting. • Protect seedlings from browsing by stock and wild animals.

Growing tall: Before planting your forestry block ensure the species chosen is suitable for the site.

Basic principles • When planting shelterbelts on wet sites, create a raised bed by cultivating the soil in dry weather and forming a mound with an angled blade on the back of a tractor.

• Plant seedlings into cultivated or loosened soil. If the site has not been deeply cultivated by ripping or bedding, cultivate the site by hand at the time of planting so that new root growth

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can be made into loosened soil. • Plant seedlings so that the root collar is buried at least 5 to 10cm. This is particularly important on dry or exposed sites, or where hand weeding is to be carried out. • Make sure the planting hole is large and deep enough to accommodate all the roots without bending or distorting them in any way. • Spread the roots apart as much as possible with no tangles, and cover them with loose soil. Lift the seedling 2 to 3cm while shaking, to allow soil to filter between the roots and to ensure that all roots are pointing downwards. • Firm the surface with the sole of your boot, taking care not to strip the foliage or branches from the stem while

doing so. In firming the soil, the aim should be to ensure that the surface is sufficiently compact to stop the seedling moving in the wind, but not to compact the soil too tightly round the roots, especially if it is wet and/ or heavy. • Except on wet soils or high rainfall areas, leave the seedling standing in a slight depression. • When planting into ground which has been sprayed with a pre-emergence weedkiller, take care to prevent surface soil from falling into the planting hole. If the surface soil has been removed before digging the hole, replace it round the stem. For more information on planting seedlinmgs and other forestry advice go to: www.nzffa.org.nz

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CANTERBURY FARMING July 2018

FORESTRY

Look up before you plant

Thinking of planting trees or shrubs near power lines? Choose a power line friendly variety.

Examples of power line friendly trees are shown below. Ask your local nursery for some advice on suitable species for your area. BOTANICAL NAME

By planting the right tree in the right place you will be protecting your local community’s future health and wellbeing.

COMMON NAME

Natives Coprosma propinqua

Mingimingi

Coprosma robusta

Karamu

Corokia cotoneaster

Korokio, Wire-netting bush

Phormium tenax

Flax, Harakeke

Fuchsia excorticata

Kotukutuku, Tree fuchsia

Griselinia Littoralis

Broadleaf, Kapuka

Hebe salicifolia

Koromiko

Leptospermum scoparium

Manuka

Macropiper exelsum

Kawakawa, Pepper tree

Olearia lineata

Small-leaved tree daisy

Pittosporum tenuifolium

Kohuhu

Psuedopanax arboreus

Fivefinger, Whauwhaupaku

Pseudopanax crassifolius

Horoeka, Lancewood

Sophora microphylla

South Island Kowhai

Exotics

Please call Orion on 03 363 9898, 0800 363 9898 or email info@oriongroup.co.nz for help and advice.

Escallonia sp.

Apple Blossom

Malus sp.

Crab Apple

* Cupressus spp.

* Cypress

Acer spp.

Maples

* Thuja spp.

* Thuja

Viburnum spp.

Viburnum

* Choose a true dwarf variety. If planting an exotic hedge, choose a slow growing variety such as Cupressus leylandii, Cupressus arizonica and Cupressus torulosa (Bowral) or Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd”.

July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

It’s big and it’s back The ﬁrst RAM 1500 has come off the Australian production line, where the legendary American truck is being remanufactured into right hand drive, and it was driven straight into a container heading to Fieldays in Hamilton.

❚ by Kent Caddick At the wheel of the very first RAM 1500 was Roger Zagorski, the managing director of Australia’s official factory appointed RAM importer and distributor, the Ateco Group. “With the official launch of the RAM 1500 just weeks away, it was great to be at the wheel of the first of what is now a steady stream of RAM 1500 Trucks that are coming off the Melbourne production line, even if we had to put straight on a boat to New Zealand, but Fieldays is the perfect venue for the launch,” Zagorski said. “The RAM 2500 and 3500 have paved the way for RAM 1500, but the new truck takes RAM into the heart of the premium Ute market in New Zealand. “It has major advantages over its rivals and so the volume expectations are on quite a different scale to those of the RAM 2500 and 3500. “This is why we have a new purpose-built production line in Melbourne that is producing RAM Trucks that are without a doubt full production quality. “The designers, engineers and technicians on the production line, along with the Australian component suppliers with which we are working, have done a remarkable job on the remanufactured RAM 1500. This is a

Legendary power: The RAM 1500 is powered by the automotive legend that is the 5.7 litre HEMI V8 engine.

world-class vehicle of which they can be truly proud,” Zagorski said. The RAM 1500 is powered, as standard, by the automotive legend that is the 5.7 litre HEMI V8 engine, marking a return of the V8 powered Ute to the New Zealand market. The RAM 1500 is significantly larger than its market rivals and will offer the ability to tow up to 4.5 tonnes, a tonne more than the

Ready to roll: Ateco Group managing director Roger Zagorski with the ﬁrst right hand drive RAM 1500 to roll off the Melbourne production line. rest of the market. It will also offer features and options that are simply not available on lesser Utes. “The moment that the Hemi V8 sprung to life at the end of the production line for the first time, accompanied by its unique throbbing sound track, it was audibly clear that the

RAM 1500 will offer New Zealand something that is uniquely capable to meet all the demands of a Kiwi lifestyle or business,” Zagorski said. “I am sure, as it rolls into dealers throughout New Zealand, it will be clear that the RAM 1500 will set a host of benchmarks.”

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Expansion plan: Agritech New Zealand executive director Peter Wren-Hilton says as the world’s demand for food increases New Zealand can expand its primary sector further by focusing on producing higher value produce for the world.

Challenges and urgent solutions needed for NZ agritech sector New Zealand’s agri sector is facing challenges that require urgent solutions according to the inaugural executive director of the new Agritech New Zealand organisation Peter Wren-Hilton.

❚ by Kent Caddick AgritechNZ, is now a major part of the NZTech alliance and was launched during Techweek recently. Wren-Hilton is founder of Wharf42 in Tauranga. He runs major agritech conferences in New Zealand and offshore and connects early stage New Zealand agritech companies with international markets. Wren-Hilton says the industry is facing massive issues – and technology can help. “The horticulture sector is crying out for more workers to pick fruit during peak periods of the picking season. “The dairy sector is facing unprecedented calls to take more robust action to protect our waterways and our environment. The current mycoplasma bovis epidemic is a prime example of the need to dramatically improve our biosecurity processes and controls. “Orchardists and farmers are now looking to the agritech sector to help address some of the worst threats that these challenges pose. “The horticulture sector needs more automation in the orchard and the New Zealand agritech sector is responding with the development of advanced robotic and sensor technologies.” Wren-Hilton says on farms, the agritech sector is researching new ways to manage soil and pasture growth, using drone and imaging technologies to deliver valuable and actionable data to the farmer. “On the bright side, New Zealand is leading the way in many of these technol-

ogies. In the USA for example, tightening immigration controls have led to a significant reduction in the amount of labour available for the agricultural sector. “Hundreds of millions of dollars of good produce is simply rotting on the ground. New Zealand’s agritech sector can support these farmers by delivering the onfarm automation technologies needed to address such dire issues.” He says as the world’s demand for food increases with its ever-growing population, New Zealand can expand its primary sector further by focusing on producing higher value produce for the world. “The application of smar t technology will not only assist this growth but ensure that it is achieved in far more sustainable long-term ways, caring for our environment and protecting it for future generations.” Wren-Hilton says it’s an exciting time for agritech and the New Zealand economy and there are a plenty of examples of how the farming sector is benefiting from new technologies. “Dairy farmers across New Zealand are benefiting from a new platform called Agrigate – jointly established by Fonterra and Livestock Improvement Corporation – which consolidates on-farm data in a single online dashboard. “Soil sensors from Wildeye and Regen are assisting farmers across Australasia have a better understanding of moisture and nitrogen levels in their pasture. “Agritech companies such as TracMap and Biolumic are developing new markets in North America for their New Zealand agritech IP.”

July 2018

❚ with Rob Cope-Williams

For goodness sake laugh

A month ago I wrote about the bad weather that was dragging us all down, and a month later it has got worse not better. The poor souls in the North are still copping flooding and heaven knows what with forestry rubbish smashing into their farms and all in them. For the rest of us there are just more and more dull rainy days and seas of mud. Despite the stress of farming, the uncertainty of returns and the pressures city folk would never imagine, farmers do have a secret up their sleeves - stock. Townies see cows, we see personalities. Some are leaders, others followers, some are characters, others simple animals that show no emotion, but cows are no different to the townies pet dog. I am yet to meet the farmer who doesn’t really like their stock, feel for them and protects them knowing that they are more than just a means of making a living. My point – you already have a relationship with your stock so see them as the characters they are. Look for the amusing things they do and share it with others. After all those working in shops or offices will have the advantage of sharing moments with each other, and have the chance

to laugh with each other. Sure, animals don’t laugh, well not as we do, but they will still cause you too if you let them. As farmers are by nature loners in the working scenario you really should search for reasons to laugh and feel happy. YouTube is full of comedy clips and full movies so why not turn the TV off and gather around the computer to watch something funny. It won’t make the returns rise, the floods to stop or reduce the paper work set up and demanded by Wombles who know nothing about farming, but it will reduce the pressure that makes your shoulders hurt, your tummy to knot and stop you waking in the middle of the night. Oh, and incidentally, don’t listen to people who say farmers are suffering from mental illness, you and your counterparts who are deep in troubled waters are not nutters or need to be put into an asylum, it is simply an emotional state that can be handled and cured. Laughter is a very important part of the treatment.

Stahlton offer rapid and cost effective rural bridge systems throughout the South Island. Contact us today for a customised solution to keep your operations moving. 03 344 3014 www.stahlton.co.nz info@stahlton.co.nz

July 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

POWERFUL PERFORMANCE. PERF FORMA AN ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

MF 7615 150 HP

POWER & FLEXIBILITY

The MF 7615 is a proven high performing tractor with straight forward technology and easy to use controls, perfect for getting the job done - any time, any day. • Dyna-6 transmission for unmatched flexibility for any operation • Powerful and efficient 6.6 litre AGCO POWER engine • Unique power control lever for full transmission and shuttle control

• Excellent implement functionality with 3 valves as standard and high lift capacity from a dedicated 110 L/min Closed Centre hydraulic pump – enough for any job • Greater comfort and ease of operation with a suspended cab

MF 6700 S SERIES 120 – 175 HP • The most powerful 4 cylinder tractor in the market with up to 200 HP with Engine Power Management (EPM)* • Choice of essential or efficient specification levels to perfectly suit your requirements • CCLS hydraulics as standard with up to 190 l/min flow on Dyna-VT models

HIGH VERSATILITY

• Available with a choice of transmissions for a wide range of applications: Dyna-4, Dyna-6 and Dyna-VT • Built in Europe for outstanding quality and reliability • Integrated joystick makes this a perfect loader tractor

MF 5700 SL SERIES 100 – 130 HP • The latest reliable Tier 4 final AGCO POWER engine with exceptional fuel economy • Unparalleled visibility due to steep nose bonnet and Visio roof options • Complete AutoGuide solutions for reduced overlap and simple operation • Built in Europe for outstanding quality and reliability

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• 100 l/min hydraulic flow and four speed PTO, enough to handle any operation • Proven 16 x 16 and 24 x 24 semi-power shift transmissions with AutoDrive and brake to neutral functions for straightforward control • Exceptional cabin comfort with mechanical cab suspension and air seat

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*Based on EPM power to weight ratio.

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