Canterbury Farming, December 2018 by Canterbury Farming

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December 2018 Edition

INSIDE

THIS EDITION Speckle Park bulls

p6 The show

p13 Rural contractors

p24 CPW benefits

p38

Crowds flock to show

Once again the crowds have flocked to the Canterbury A&P Association’s annual show, the New Zealand Agricultural Show. The 156th Show was held at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch over three days last month. Shown here a contestant in the duck herding competition has their charges lined up for a Photo: Vanessa Weir run at the pen. For more on the Show go to Page 13.

Signing of CPTPP boost for Kiwi agribusinesses

According to Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor New Zealand kiwifruit, beef and wine producers will benefit the most from the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

❚ by Kent caddick The Comprehensive and Progressive TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP) is New Zealand’s first free trade deal with Japan and immediately removes the tariff advantage that Australia’s beef producers have benefited from at New Zealand red meat farmers’ cost. The CPTPP will come into effect for New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, and Singapore on December 30 now that

six nations have ratified the 11-nation trade pact. “The CPTPP will, for the first time, provide us with preferential access to the world’s third largest economy Japan, as well as fellow G20 members Canada and Mexico,” O’Connor said. “It places our primary sectors on equal footing with exporters from other countries with lower tariffs in these markets. “Kiwifruit growers in particular will be $26

million better off as tariffs disappear on produce to their biggest market, Japan. This will level the playing field with Chile, which has duty free access. “The CPTPP will also immediately remove Australian beef exporters’ current tariff advantage over New Zealand in the Japanese market. This has been costing our red meat sector millions in potential revenue.”

TO PAGE 2

December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Access into Canada, Mexico improved FROM PAGE 1

O’Connor said New Zealand small and medium agribusinesses will also be better off. “Our wine producers will gain immediate duty-free access to Canada, our fourth largest wine market; the removal of the buttercup squash tariff into Japan is expected to save a total of $1.5 million a year; with a further $19,500 a year in tariff savings for each of the 90 commercial growers of onions exporting to Japan. “CPTPP will also provide improved access into Mexico, including eliminating tariffs for mussels and cherries and phasing out tariffs on beef, apples and wine. “Exporters now have the opportunity to diversify the range of products they supply and focus on producing higher-value products that see our farmers and growers get more from what they do now.” Federated Farmers President Katie Milne said it had been a long and sometimes bumpy road to achieving a Pacific Rim trade deal but New Zealand producers and our

CPTPP boost: Wine producers will gain immediate dutyfree access to canada, New Zealand’s fourth largest wine market.

economy will soon reap the benefits. She said the countdown has now started towards the first round of tariff cuts early next year. “Federated Farmers has said from the outset that a Pacific Rim agreement would be a major boost to our ability to trade and New Zea-

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land’s future prosperity, as well as a useful antidote to the economic protectionism brewing in some other parts of the world.” Milne said it was particularly good news for beef farmers and horticulturalists but the potential to develop new technologies and economic partnerships while reducing business costs will be beneficial to Kiwis working across all industries.

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“There are also fantastic opportunities for us in massive markets such as Canada and Mexico,” Milne said. “Federated Farmers congratulates the New Zealand negotiators who have doggedly pursued this deal, and the current government for recognising that the CPTPP is, overall, a significant win for New Zealand.”

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FARMING NEWS

CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

Increase in Pacific worker numbers good for horticulture Horticulture New Zealand is backing a Government decision to increase the number of Recognised Seasonal Employer workers who will be available for the upcoming busy fruit harvest season.

❚ by Kent caddick The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme cap will increase by 1,750 to 12,850, providing much-needed labour for the horticulture and viticulture industries in New Zealand. The increase was recently announced by Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway. Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman said they are pleased with the announcement. “Horticulture is growing rapidly and, combined with wine, we are an industry earning more than $8.8 billion, this includes more than $5.1 billion of exports,” Chapman said. “While kiwifruit and apples are the most sought after, we are seeing huge growth in demand for avocados and cherries, as well as some berries.” He said harvest and pruning are intensive periods that require about 30,000 workers and around one-third of these workers come from the RSE scheme. “It is a mature scheme which sees workers come from the Pacific Islands for set periods of time. “Workers are well looked after with a complete pastoral care package and good accommodation and all New Zealand employment standards are met. “Unemployment in New Zealand is at a

Many hands: Horticulture New Zealand is delighted with a decision to increase the number of recognised Seasonal employer workers who will be available for the harvest season.

low level and that makes people who are willing to do outdoor physical work in short supply.” Chapman said the industry is running a lot of programmes designed to get New Zealanders into work, but in the South Island during harvest there are virtually no New Zealanders available. “These are not full time jobs which makes them less desirable for New Zealanders, with harvest and winter pruning work available for around six months of the year. “The majority of RSE workers are in New Zealand from March through to May for the kiwifruit and apple harvests.” Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said the horticulture and viticulture industries have experienced significant growth in recent years. “Industry reports say that since 2015, apple and kiwifruit orchards have increased in value by around 70% each, and the 2018 wine vintage was 2.6% larger than the previous year. “However this growth has been accompa-

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These are not full time jobs which makes them less desirable for New

nied by prominent labour shortages across industries and regions, notably in the past year. “This is expected to continue, with growers forecasting 2600 more workers are needed to help support the industry,” LeesGalloway said.

Zealanders. Mike Chapman Horticulture New Zealand

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FARMING NEWS

CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

Exhibitors urged to register now for South Island Agricultural Field Days More than half of the sites at the 2019 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) have been sold and potential exhibitors are encouraged to get in quickly to secure a spot.

❚ by Kent caddick SIAFD media liaison person Daniel Schat says the SIAFD website makes it easy to register for a site on-line. “We have revamped the website and while parts of it will still be updated closer to the SIAFD event, the registration section is working perfectly,” Schat says. “It is the best way for anyone who wants to exhibit their agricultural or lifestyle products and services to book a site.” He says agricultural technology is the primary focus of SIAFD and theyare proud of their status as the field day with the largest machinery demonstration programme in New Zealand. Every two years the three-day South Island Agricultural Field Days attracts about 30,000 members of farming public. Next year it will be held from Wednesday, March 27 to Friday, March 29 at the field days’ permanent home near Kirwee. Alastair Robinson, a dairy farmer from Waikuku, is the new chairperson of the SIAFD Executive Committee, which has financial and governance oversight of the SIAFD Society. In 2015 Robinson chaired the SIAFD Organising Committee, which runs the field days, when the event was first held in Kirwee. Robinson says preparations for the 2019 field days are tracking well and the organising committee is improving infrastructure at the venue. “This year we have a new secretary and

On track: chairperson of the South Island Agricultural Field Days executive committee Alastair robinson says preparations for the 2019 field days are tracking well.

event coordinator, Tineka Johnstone, and she is doing a good job getting things up and running. “Sites are selling well, which is important because income from registrations helps us carry out the work we want to do to improve our facilities.” He says they are currently upgrading the electrical infrastructure at the Kirwee venue, which will make it easier and safer for exhibitors to set up their sites and clean up afterwards. “Earlier this year we have gravelled all the laneways, which will make life more pleasant if we get wet weather during the field days. We have also extended our irrigation system and planted native trees along the boundaries of the property. “We want to thank RX Plastics in Ashburton for the 150mm pipe that we used to extend the irrigator, Cresslands Contracting and Porter Group for digging the pipe trench, Tony Redmond, Andrew Walker and Rodney

Going with the ﬂow: The South Island Agricultural Field Days organising committee has extended the irrigation system at its field days venue in Kirwee. Hadfield for helping lay the pipe, and Orari Nursery for the native plants.” Robinson says a number of businesses have been very generous with their support and others will step in with help as we get closer to the event. He says it is important to remember that

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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Challenges ahead for farmers

We’re nearing the end of 2018 and while I know it’s a busy time for farmers and growers, I hope you get the chance to relax and spend some time with your families over the Christmas break.

Nathan Guy ❚ by ❚ National Party spokesperson, Primary Industries It’s been tough for some who have been dealing with Mycoplasma Bovis. I feel for those impacted and urge them to stay strong. As I write this, phased eradication of M Bovis seems to be on track. Full results from the bulk milk testing are expected to be out in mid-December and I’m hoping there aren’t any positive tests outside of the already identified tracing pathway so far. Fingers crossed.

It’s looking like it will be another hot, dry summer ahead which will reignite the debate on water storage. The Coalition Government made the dumb decision to cancel Government funding for any new water storage schemes. It’s short sighted and does nothing to mitigate against climate change. Impor tant water storage schemes such as Central Plains Water (CPW) are a real asset to Canterbur y. It’s having a positive impact on the environment with nearly two Lake Taupo’s of water left in the ground. I was lucky to attend the opening of the final stage of CPW with former Agriculture Minister David Carter, as both of us were strong supporters of water storage infrastructure whilst in Government.

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There are strong headwinds coming from the coalition Government that farmers and growers will be weary of facing next year.

There are strong headwinds coming from the Coalition Government that farmers and growers will be weary of facing next year. Greater union access to farms seems likely, with a fertiliser and water tax singled out in the interim Tax Working Group findings. This is so the Government can generate extra revenue, along with a Capital Gains Tax. Restricting cropping on hill country and regulating winter grazing are the direction Da-

vid Parker has given his Environment officials to cleaning up waterways and are likely to be rushed through by 2020. Our farmers are well aware of the importance of looking after the environment, and are continuing to make practical improvements to preserve it for future generations to enjoy... 98% of waterways are fenced off from livestock, riparian planting is being implemented, and there is more strategic grazing of crops. Water quality is improving (despite critics continuing to blame farmers) and this is occurring through farmer’s diligence rather than Government regulation. The other unknown area of concern is the Climate Change Bill which is likely to be debated early next year and whether animal emissions will be included in the Emissions Trading Scheme. This tax will make our farmers less competitive internationally. Also, if you haven’t already, please jump online to www.national.org.nz/rural_nz and fill out our survey. I’m keen to hear your ideas on how we can help rural communities grow and succeed. I hope everyone has a great Christmas break.

Food and fibre fund open for agribusiness The value of New Zealand’s food and fibre sectors is set to grow as a primary sector investment fund opens for business according to Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. O’Connor made the comment about the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund when he visited the Ashburton A&P Show recently. “Proposals for the $40 million a year Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund must demonstrate they will deliver benefits beyond the applicants to wider New Zealand, such as creating new high-value jobs in rural communities,” O’Connor said. “The primary industries bring in more than $40 billion a year in export revenue and drove the latest GDP growth with agriculture, forestry and fisheries up 4.1%. “Our challenge, and opportunity, is

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to generate more value from these industries while sustaining the natural resources we depend upon for future generations.” O’Connor said SFF Futures provided a single gateway for farmers, growers and organisations to seek investment in projects that help the country’s economic engine move from volume to value. “The projects will grow important industries, deliver environmental and sustainability benefits, foster collaboration, build capability, create new products, services and jobs, and importantly retain the benefits in New Zealand.

“This fits in with the work of the Primary Sector Council, which is taking a good look into the future of our primary sectors to help direct a strategic path forward for each sector. “Together SFF Futures and the Primary Sector Council will help our farmers and growers run their operations sustainably and profitably, driving a strong economy that helps raise the living standards of all New Zealanders,” O’Connor said.

For more information and to apply for SFF Futures funding go to: www.mpi.govt.nz/ funding

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

December 2018

Speckle Park on trend for dairy CRV Ambreed has seen a surge in Speckle Park sales this year with sales for the breed now the company’s second biggest selling beef breed after Hereford.

❚ by Kent caddick Once classified as a specialty beef breed, it’s now a popular choice for many farmers and in October sales for Speckle Park were up 50% compared to the same time last year. Speckle Park was first crossed in the 1950s in Canada using British White Park, shorthorn and Angus cattle, which give them distinct colour patterns. They are a polled, medium frame animal with impressive weight gains by 18 months. Mature cows typically weigh up to 850kg and bulls can reach over 1000kg. Robbie Clark of Parkvale Speckle Park in Culverden supplies Speckle Park bulls to CRV Ambreed. He first started breeding Speckle Park bulls 10 years ago and has supplied semen to the dairy industry for the past seven years. Clark believes Speckle Park is emerging as a more mainstream beef breed and there is “massive potential” for it to continue growing as New Zealand’s dairy beef market grows. “One of my bulls, Kiwi, has already produced over 7,000 straws for CRV Ambreed this year to keep up with market demand,” Clark says. “Speckle Park is already a major player in Australia and now farmers here in New Zealand are catching on to it. The quality of the meat is a big factor, it’s sensational, and they yield very well, in some cases over 60%,” he says. “This shows that there is a market outside of bobby calves. Rearing Speckle Parks is adding value for dairy farmers, and providing a better return to the farmer. It’s a winwin.”

Big bull: Speckle Park bulls, like Kiwi from Parkvale Speckle Park in culverden, can reach over 1000kg and cows up to 850kg.

CRV Ambreed National Sales Operations Manager Rosanna Dickson says the company carefully selected bulls, which offer traits that are well-suited for use in dairy herds. The bulls are the White and Leopard varieties, which provide better colour markers for farmers and make them easy to recognise in the herd. “The bulls offer moderate birthweights, easy calving, and high growth rates,” Dickson says. “Our clients are loving this breed because

the calves have good vigour, are easy to rear, and adapt well to any environment,” She says the return on investment for farmers is very good. “A straw of Speckle Park semen from CRV Ambreed will cost around $20 and a four-dayold calf currently fetches between $300 and $400. “Some farmers select the breed for lifestyle reasons, but most are looking at ways to add value to their business at the end of mating.

“Overall, we have seen a 6.5% jump in beef sales this year which speaks volumes about farmers wanting to ensure every mating results in a saleable calf,” she adds. CRV Ambreed’s biggest selling beef breeds in 2018 are Hereford, Speckle Park, Angus, Charolais and Murray Grey. The company also offers other specialty beef breeds including Belgian Blue, Belted Galloway, Dexter, Limousin, Lowline, Red Devon, Scottish Highland, Simmental and Wagyu.

OUT NOW EDITION 3 - 2018

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December 2018

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Markets reassess growth

Andrew Wyllie ❚ with Forsyth Barr ❚

Investor concerns trumped economic activity and earnings in October, to push equity markets into negative return territory for the last three months.

tensions in Europe, recessions are caused by deteriorating economic fundamentals which are not apparent in current economic data. Economic growth forecasts for developed economies peaked six months ago. This reflects the concerns above but also suggests that the global economy continues to grow at a healthy pace even though momentum is slowing. Expected GDP growth remains lower for 2019 compared to 2018 but does not indicate a pending recession. Apart from some slowing in manufacturing growth outside the United States, none of the recession indiWhen you are thinking about your investment options, talk cators that we monitor are to Forsyth Barr. To get personalised investment advice and flashing red at the moment.

While there are various concerns about the prospects for the global economy, including the impact of tariffs and the trade war between the United States and China, rising United States interest rates, and political

portfolio management specific to your investing needs, talk to Investment Adviser Andrew Wyllie in confidence on (03) 365 4244 or email andrew.wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz 0800 367 227 forsythbarr.co.nz Disclosure Statements for Forsyth Barr Authorised Financial Advisers are available on request and free of charge.

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Equity market momentum No market escaped negative returns in the last month. The correction this time was focused on earnings concerns rather than interest rate risks (which was the primary reason for the January

2018 correction). This meant defensive sectors performed relatively better during this sell-off, compared to the January correction which was more broad-based. In New Zealand dollar terms, United States and Japanese equity markets managed small positive results over the quarter. New Zealand equities performed better than most, as defensive sectors declined by less during the correction. Defensive sectors make up half of the New Zealand market capitalisation. Trade concerns continue to weigh on Asian markets while European markets were impacted by continued fiscal slippage amongst European Union members.

Interest rates: Dis-connection from the United States United States Federal Reserve short-term interest rate increases have been driving

long-term United States interest rates higher. Normally we would expect a risk-off correction as we saw in global equity markets to see longer-term rates to ease, however, the strength of the United States economy has seen rates continue to increase. This has created a disconnect between United States interest rates and those elsewhere. With the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) retaining a cautious stance toward domestic and global risks, and unlikely to raise short-term interest rates until well into 2019, New Zealand 10 year government bond rates declined 23 basis points over the quarter and are now at levels that are lower than both United States and Australian bonds. This plus limited corporate issuance, helped to contribute to the positive returns from the sector.

If you’re new to investing please see Forsyth barr’s Introduction to Investing guide available at www.forsythbarr. co.nz/intro-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. Disclosure Statements are available for Forsyth barr Authorised Financial Advisers on request and free of charge. (This column covering the three months ended 31 October 2018).

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CANTERBURY FARMING

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

bessie Paterson LLb ❚ with Ronald ❚ W Angland & Son

December 2018

The Land Transfer Act

The Land Transfer Bill received the Royal assent in 2017 and became operational in New Zealand on 12 November 2018 without so much as a protest or strike.

It replaced the Land Transfer Act 1952 which had served us well over the years considering the huge changes which occurred in its 66 years of being the law on title to land. In 1870 New Zealand adopted the Torrens system of land-holding. It consisted of a public register of titles and registration conferred a guaranteed title on the property owner. The earliest titles were handwritten on parchment. Later a very heavy duty paper was used and the titles were bound in large volumes in a public office in each of the land districts. The public office for Canterbury district was in the State Insurance Building in Worcester Street and anyone could go to the Land Office and view titles free of charge. Around the mid-1960s photocopiers became essential equipment in commercial offices. The Land Office altered the system and it was then possible to obtain a photocopy of a title on payment of a small fee. That system was in use until automation took over some years ago now, and almost all land transactions are now completed on-line. The new Act retains the Torrens system as its fundamental feature. That is, registration confers a title on the registered owner of the property which cannot be defeated. Over the years there have been instances where fraud has been committed and a vexed question was whether a fraudulent person could obtain an indefeasible title by reg-

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There are numerous provisions in the Act which are aimed at the electronic environment in which we operate.

istration. This question is addressed in the new act and hopefully will provide a remedy especially where a “manifest injustice” has occurred. There is also provision for the RegistrarGeneral to withhold the name of a registered owner if the person requires protection. This is comparable to the provision in the Domestic Violence Act for a similar protection, but extends the power to the general public who require protection. An innovation in the new Act provides for “covenants in gross” which will mostly

be used in new subdivisions and developments. A new compensator y scheme has also been introduced which hopefully will provide fairer outcomes for those adversely affected by the actions of others in respect to land. There are numerous machinery provisions in the Act which is now aimed at the electron-

ic environment in which most of us operate. It is to be hoped that the new Land Transfer Act serves us as well as the old Act did in its 66 years. This article has been prepared by bessie Paterson, a Partner at ronald W Angland & Son, Solicitors, 2 chapman Street, Leeston.

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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

❚ with rob cope-Williams

Lamb boycotts Sheep breeders can’t win. If the prices for overseas markets drop to a level that local consumers think are reasonable it means the breeders are making so little that in some cases those in the middle markets probably aren’t making any money at all. But the New Zealand consumers don’t care. When the overseas markets come right and the breeders can actually make some margin, the locals complain like mad and buy chicken and pork for their summer outdoor cooking. Local consumers have always been very critical about paying export prices for things such as cheese and meat, expecting the market to discount our produce because it is produced here. Some clever marketing wombles in the past have packaged produce in export branded containers and sold it at a high price saying it was a cancelled export order. The masses thinking they have scored much better produce than is available locally. I love the story about the apple grower who was hit with a hail storm that marked all their fruit. It was sold as having extra crispness as it was grown in the snow regions ensuring the fruit was much better than the exported fruit grown in the lower regions. Yes, it is all about marketing.

Silver Fern Farms are excellent at it by doing things such as tying their lamb racks into the All Blacks at the time of the Rugby World Cup, and offering lots of value added options. That, however, doesn’t help the bleating on about local prices by those who buy and consume locally. I wish I knew how to swing people away from complaining about the prices and look at the benefits of eating lamb. It seems we have become a nation of expecting top line produce for very little. Supermarkets will lure us into their stores to buy what is known as “lost leaders”. In other words they are prepared to sell some products at a loss thinking that we will buy the rest of our shopping list at full price. Great, I for one enjoy buying great wine and beer at below cost price, but it doesn’t do the winery, brewer or wholesalers much good. There’s a huge move back to home dining and home entertaining as people realise they can cook as well, if not better than some chefs and that we are paying through the nose for the atmosphere and presentation of the food rather than the food. That just may be the market for the local marketing folk to aim at. Lamb may be a bit more expensive, but it wins on the plate.

❚ with John Arts chondroitin: Part 2

Forgotten hero Last edition we looked at a major research study (Wildi et al, 2011) that confirmed the benefits of high dose Chondroitin sulphate (CS) for joints affected by osteoarthritis. This week we dig a little further. I have no doubt that the correct dose of high grade CS is the number one natural compound to help stabilise joints affected by osteoarthritis. As an example I have been helping a man with osteoarthritis in both knees. The pain levels had become quite debilitating. We started with a booster dose of 1600mg of high grade chondroitin with the same amount of glucosamine and 400mg of high potency curcumin (from turmeric). After three months the pain level had significantly reduced and is now mobile again. More recent research from the British Medical Journal (May 2017) compared high grade Chondroitin with common anti-inflammatory medication and found that 800mg of CS was beneficial. Researchers commented... “This compelling benefit-risk profile, in light of the known clinical risks associated with chronic usage of NSAIDS and paracetamol, underscores the potential importance of pharmaceutical-grade [chondroitin sulfate] in the management of knee [osteoarthri-

tis], especially in the older population requiring long-term treatment.” The question is how can it help? What does it do to arthritic joints? Researchers have found that CS has multiple benefits. Firstly it helps regulate inflammatory processes within the joint capsule. Secondly and more importantly it helps specialised cells that reside in cartilage called chondrocytes. CS improves the ability of chondrocytes to secrete and repair cartilage. This comes as no surprise as CS is an important component of cartilage. I have worked with so many people with osteoarthritis that I am genuinely surprised if we cannot get an improvement within three months. Give me a call or email john@abundant.co.nz if you need more information. 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 all new newsletter newsletter at www. abundant.co.nz

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CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Future Farm launched Mother Nature has certainly delivered this spring and the recent rain should keep grass growing through until lamb weaning, although a bit of sunshine and heat would be welcome.

Phil Smith ❚ by ❚ Beef + Lamb NZ

Despite the rain, or maybe because of it, there was a great turn-out of local farmers at the recent launch of Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s inaugural Future Farm. This is a whole new initiative for the organisation and the vision for the Future Farm is to inspire vibrant farming communities by demonstrating farming excellence. This aligns with the organisation’s wider strategy and vision of “profitable farmers, thriving farming communities valued by all New Zealanders.” The Future Farm, which is operated by the North Canterbury Future Farm Limited Part-

nership (NCFF), leases Lanercost, a 1310ha hill country sheep and beef property near Cheviot from the TD Whelan Trust. The NCFF shareholders are B+LNZ and Lanercost 2018 Ltd which is a partnership between local farmers Simon Lee, Carl Forrester and Julia Whelan B+LNZ is investing in the Future Farm on behalf of farmers to demonstrate profitable farming while addressing emerging opportunities and impending challenges. Through the Future Farm, B+LNZ will be assessing leading-edge technologies and the need for continuous productivity increases and product-value gains in the context of the whole farm business. In essence, the aim of this farm is to demonstrate exemplary business performance from both a production and financial perspective. This means being in the top five per cent profit-wise for farms of a similar land class

while developing people who will grow to be industry leaders and to demonstrate bestpractice environmental management. With a focus on customers, the Future Farm’s production systems need to meet the New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme production standards and Taste Pure Nature market criteria will be the minimum benchmark. Outstanding environmental management and stewardship is critical and Lanercost will be operating within the highest environmental standards and showing leadership around environmental issues. While the farm needs to be productive and profitable, the par tnership is committed to testing and tr ying new technologies and management systems on behalf of farmers. An advisory panel – made up of farmers, technical experts and researchers – will be providing guidance to NCFF Board, while Dig-

by Heard, with the help of Tim Waghorn (both employed by NCFF) will be managing the farm on a day-to-day basis. The farm runs 3500 mixed-age Romneybased ewes and 300 Hereford/Angus cows, but as the Partnership started from zero, they are still in a building phase in terms of livestock. They have had to source ewes from different places and while the ram went out the day the ewes arrived, these ewes have performed well scanning 186 per cent in the mixed-age ewes and 158 per cent in the twotooths. To get the farm up and running, the management team has completed a Farm Environment Plan, put in place a Farm Safety Management System, animal health plan, biosecurity plan, undertaken a comprehensive soil health assessment and nutrient programme and completed a farm Assurance Programme audit.

It’s not irrigation for irrigation’s sake Mycoplasma Bovis is front and centre for many farmers as well as us at Environment Canterbury. We’re aware of the huge impact the disease has on individuals and families if discovered on a farm.

Steve Lowndes ❚ by ❚ Environment Canterbury Chair The government and farming sector’s attempt to eradicate MB is to be applauded – it’s the first time a country has tried to eliminate the disease. While in the short-term this is putting additional stress on affected farming families, the benefits of getting rid of the disease are huge. We’re doing everything we can to support the push to eradicate the disease. This includes making sure our staff don’t spread the disease. Every vehicle going onto a farm must carry a hygiene kit and staff are required to clean vehicles, equipment and footwear when they depart. As we head into another dry Canterbury summer it got me thinking about the Central Plains Water scheme which switched on stage two recently. This is great for the farmers and local community who can benefit from more reliable water, but as a councillor I’m also very aware of the controversy the scheme has generated. I think it’s worth reminding ourselves of the wider benefits of the scheme – which were well covered a few years ago in the community discussions to develop planning rules for the Selwyn Waihora catchment. In addition to drought-proofing, the CPW scheme provides the resilience that only reliable water can bring, options for crop and land-use diversity, as well as the long-term ecological benefits from reduced groundwater takes (by boosting flow in spring-fed streams). It’s not about irrigation for irrigation’s sake – it’s about looking ahead and having some options, such as facilitating a variety of land uses, as we adapt to the climate change we are already beginning to see. Also in the climate change space is the ongoing work to reduce our carbon footprint as a country. According to MPI, farming has reduced greenhouse gas emissions (per unit of production) because of better feed, nutrition, animal health and genetics, as well as improved pasture management. While farming greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 15% over the past decade, this would have been closer to 40% without the efficiency gains. At Environment Canterbury we are also looking closely at our own carbon footprint,

‘

The cPW scheme provides the resilience that only reliable water can bring as well as the long-term ecological benefits from reduced groundwater takes. Steve Lowndes Environment Canterbury Chair

something on which we need to lead by example. I think it’s the sort of thing that’s better to do voluntarily, at your own pace, rather than waiting for someone to tell you what to do. I’m pleased to see Environment Canterbury’s carbon footprint is heading the right way. Last year we removed a net 5755 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – largely because of carbon sequestra-

tion from post-1989 forest we own on behalf of the community. We are also looking at ways to reduce emissions by more efficient vehicle use, more electric vehicles (including the YooGo share fleet), the installation of photovoltaic panels on our Tuam Street building, staff training, as well as better data measurement and record keeping.

CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

Photo: Vanessa Weir

Show brings out winners and crowds Canterbury crowds flocked to Canterbury Agricultural Park for a scorching end to the 156th Canterbury A&P Association Show, now known as the New Zealand Agricultural Show.

❚ by Kent caddick Numbers for Show Day were still being calculated when Canterbury Farming went to print, but with a record Wednesday recording, entry numbers were off to a good start. The end of Show Day may have been hampered with a strong southerly, but moods remained high thanks to some big wins over the three days. Show Day culminated as always, with the ultimate prize, the Supreme Champion Animal of Show. This year the Supreme Champion Beef Exhibit took out the top prize. Richard & Denise Van Asch scooped top prize with their Burtergill red south devon stud, a win all the more prominent due to the trials faced by the cat-

tle community this year due to Mycoplasma Bovis. Although cattle was down around 30%, it was a great sight to see so many cattle on show in the Ballantynes Grand Paraded and culminate in a cattle section win for Supreme Animal in Show. James & Lisa Thomson, Island Farm, took out top spot in the Mint Lamb Competition with their Breed Ile De France. Having entered the competition for the first time, judges were extremely impressed with the quality on Show this year and noted it an exceptional achievement to be named winner this year. Twenty-five-year-old Ben McKerchar from PGG Wrightson has won the Heartland Bank Young Auctioneers Competition, after narrowly missing out last year. He’ll head over to the

Sydney Royal Easter Show next year to watch and get involved with the Australian equivalent of the competition as part of his prize pack. McKerchar’s victory came with a quirky addition to the competition, where the competitors were asked to auction off plastic sheep for CCC, with all proceeds going to Mental Health Foundation. The Dakins Ambassador of the Year award went to Lesley Lewis from the Shetland steeplechase. Every year Lewis trains up a team of jockeys and Shetland to appear in the much anticipated Main Arena event. The Ambassador of the Year award honours a competitor who has been seen to support the ideals of the Canterbury A&P Association, with extra note this year being

placed on Lewis’ commitment to promoting the movement to the next generation. The Show Legend Award recognizes volunteer effort and was awarded to Doug Bain. He has had a long association with the poultry section, from which he will step down as convener this year. To top off Bain’s recognition, he went out on a high also taking home the Supreme Poultry Exhibit in Show. The Trade Exhibitor of the Year awards were announced on Wednesday evening with Ravensdown taking out the Supreme Champion title with their site. more results for the 2018 New Zealand Agricultural Show are available at www.theshow.co.nz/ show-entries/results

Impressive: Sophie calder and Secret Dream Photos: Vanessa Weir

Farmyard fun: children of all ages get up close at the city Farmyard.

Hold on tight: A calf smells freedom during the Grand Parade.

Taking the stage: Vocalist and guitarist robbie Hewson and band One Waka entertain the crowds.

Country conversation: Janet murray, canterbury A&P Association committee member bryce murray and National Party leader Simon bridges.

December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Maize adds value to feed supply Maize is a vital crop for many New Zealand dairy farmers and represents a significant investment in time and resources.

❚ Article supplied by DairyNZ

Maize grown on the dairy farm can add value to farms’ feed supply, help mitigate climatic risk, extract soil nutrients from high fertility effluent paddocks, and be used as a ‘break crop’ in the pasture renewal process. Maize should be fed to fill genuine feed deficits for economic responses and be well managed to reduce feed costs and wastage. Sowing location, sowing date, hybrid choice and population will all influence the potential crop yield. Potential yield can be reduced by weed and pest presence, moisture stress, disease, and nutrient limitations. Ploughing is a quick and effective way to bury plant residues that might otherwise impede secondary cultivation or cause weed problems. A comment we often hear from dairy farmers is that maize is ‘hard on the soil’ and one of the main causes of this is associated with ploughing. Ploughing buries and makes fertile topsoil out of reach for new grass trying tail and are best suited to specialist maize growers. to establish after maize. Dairy effluent can be used as a nutrient Talk with your contractor about alternatives to ploughing such a discing. Be aware source for maize provided the crop requires that you may need a longer fallow period the nutrients and good effluent practices are (time between spraying out pasture and first followed. If the paddock is just out of grass, the soil cultivation pass); you need to balance this against the long-term damage to your soil fer- can supply plenty of N and further additions through effluent are probably not needed. tility. There are other reduced tillage options for Paddocks with a history of cropping (e.g. a maize such as strip tillage and direct drilling, dedicated cropping block or runoff) are most POD-LOCK CANTERBURY FARMING 267W X 180H MM however these require more attention to de- likely to benefit from effluent application.

Good investment: maize silage grown on efﬂuent paddocks will significantly reduce fertiliser inputs.

Maize silage grown on effluent paddocks will significantly reduce fertiliser inputs. Maize silage can also be used to extract excess nutrients from effluent paddocks, as it removes large amounts of N and K, reducing risks of N leaching and occurrence of metabolic diseases. Maize cost can vary depending on where and how it is grown. If maize is grown on the dairy platform in an effluent paddock the cost could be as low as 12c/kg DM before storage.

Maize purchased off-farm is generally more expensive. However, allowance needs to be made for the value of extra nutrients bought in with the maize and a reduction in risk due to maize being grown off the dairy platform. Maize silage can be used to support pasture-based systems at times of the year when pasture is unreliable, eg maize on a feed pad when soils are wet, or fed in a dry autumn to build pasture cover. On-farm feed management potentially causes the greatest variation in feed costs.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

Growing onions in New Zealand In 2016 5,235 hectares of onions were grown commercially in New Zealand, supplying the domestic and export markets.

❚ by Kent caddick The production split was 67% in Franklin/ Waikato, 14% in the Hawke’s Bay, 14% in Canterbur y, and 5% in Manawatu/Horowhenua. Brown and red onions are grown in all districts, although the varieties of each type grown can vary between districts. Red onions now make up 11% of total area planted, with plantings up 23% on the year prior.

Growing onions Onion crops are seeded during the New Zealand winter starting in June with Early Long Keepers, then Pukekohe Long Keeper varieties and ending in August with the hybrid varieties. Onion crops are monitored closely to ensure their nutritional and water needs are met. Crops are grown using IPM (integrated pest management) principles and inspected frequently for signs of pest and diseases. IPM is a philosophy of pest control based on the principles of ecology, using a number

of control tactics to avoid crop loss due to pests and minimise any harmful effects on the environment. A key to successful implementation is knowledge of the onion crop, its pests and the natural enemies of those pests.

Harvesting A number of different harvesting systems are used in the industry depending on equipment and customer requirements. The tops and roots of the onion plant are cut either mechanical or by handclipping, allowing the bulbs to be lifted out of the soil and laid in rows onto of the bed to dry. Once dry, bulbs can be mechanically lifted from the bed into bins for transportation to the packhouse for storage until grading. Some growers harvest directly into bulk trailers and store their onions in bulk stores rather than in bins. Which-ever system a grower uses, they aim to minimise the time the crop lies out on the beds to cure, exposed to the weather, and to deliver a field–cured onion with good quality skins to the packhouse.

Harvest time: The tops and roots of the onion plant are cut either mechanical or by handclipping, allowing the bulbs to be lifted out of the soil and laid in rows onto of the bed to dry.

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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Setting up a forestry block ❚ What to consider

Many of the people interested in planting trees for profit are farmers who already own the land and wish to diversify their income or capital assets in future.

Article supplied by NZFFA

However, increasing numbers of tree planters are not farmers, but people who want to create a valuable asset by planting trees. 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.

Get advice: It is sensible to employ a reputable consultant before you commit yourself to any expenditure on a forestry block.

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

SILO CANTERBURY FARMING 267W X 180H MM

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.

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.

Topography

Forest management

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 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

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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CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

Tips for establishing maize crops ❚ Article supplied by DairyNZ

Many dairy farmers use maize crop as part of their pasture renewal programme, however not all paddocks are equally suited for maize production. Steep paddocks are not only difficult for cultivation and harvest but tend not to yield well. Low lying wet paddocks often lead to cultivation delays and often don’t yield well unless drought conditions prevail. A paddock that is wet under pasture acts as if 10% wetter when the structural strength of the pasture is removed by cultivation. Wet paddocks risk loss of soil structure under cultivation which leads to lower yields. Long-term effluent paddocks have high N and K levels and ideal for growing a deeprooting crop of maize often without using bagged fertiliser. Long-term dairy pastures have high fertility levels with means N fertiliser inputs for maize crops can be reduced without impacting yield. To grow high-yielding maize on farm for the least cost, consider the factors which make the contractors’ jobs speedy and efficient and reduce harvest cost, eg paddock location, access, entrance ways, track conditions, culvert strength, and overhead wires.

Soil preparation

Maize seed is normally sown around 5cm deep. An uneven soil surface (undulations, ruts etc.) makes it difficult for the planter to sow at a uniform depth resulting in variable emergence. Maize does not need a very fine seedbed, it is a large seed and seed-to-soil contact is generally sufficient for germination, except on very cloddy soils. Light rolling after sowing may help seed-soil contact, seal in moisture, and reduce risk of wind erosion.

Maize nutrient requirements Maize requires substantial nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) both of which are present in dairy soils. On cropping farms, N is the nutrient most likely to limit maize yields and the largest fertiliser input. These inputs are generally unnecessary on dairy paddocks coming out on long-term pastures. Up to 300kg N/ha is released from soil organic matter when high fertility dairy pastures are cultivated. Maize is unlikely to respond to K fertiliser unless soil K test levels are very low. Replacement K fertiliser can be applied after harvest to avoid any luxury uptake by the maize crop (luxury uptake is the K uptake in excess of what the plant needs. K can be

absorbed by plants in amounts higher than what is needed for optimum yield, this can lead to higher than normal concentrations of K in the plant tissue). Soil test for N before applying post-emergence N fertiliser to determine requirements. There are two soil tests regularly used for maize: • Basic soil test (0-15cm) for pH, Olsen P, K, Ca, Mg etc • Deep N test (0-60cm) for mineral N. Dairy effluent can be used as a nutrient source for maize provided the crop requires

the nutrients and good effluent practices are followed.

Weeds Paddocks out of long-term pasture often have a broad-leaf seed bank while paddocks previously run-out pastures often have grass weeds, e.g. summer grasses. Weeds can cause a significant yield loss, and moisture-activated pre-emergence herbicides generally work well – however in some situations further post-emergence applications are required.

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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Eco-N discussions welcomed ❚ ❚

The return of Eco-N for use on New Zealand pastures would be a boon for farmers and efforts to protect waterways. Article supplied by Federated Farmers

That’s according to Federated Farmers environment spokesperson Chris Allen who says they strongly support any such move. “It deserves a ‘grown-up’ conversation around the issues involved because Eco-N is a valuable tool that enables farmers to temporarily store nitrogen in soil when it would otherwise be vulnerable to loss – a bonus both for agri-business productivity and to reduce nitrate leaching into waterways,’ Allen says. “It’s also one of the answers on the pressing issue of reducing nitrous oxide emissions.” Eco-N is a trademarked nitrification inhibitor product developed by Lincoln University in partnership with Ravensdown Fertiliser Coop Ltd. It was launched in New Zealand in 2004. Farmers found they could typically achieve an extra $600/ha in profit from milk production while also substantially reducing nitrate leaching losses and emissions of NO2 into the atmosphere. But Eco-N was taken off the market after minute residues of the active component Dicyandiamide (DCD) were found in milk powder. It was never a food safety issue (DCD is regarded as safe), but as there was no international agreement about acceptable limits,

‘

We need more tools in

our toolbox as we chase productivity gains while also enhancing water quality in our groundwater. Chris Allen Federated Farmers environment spokesperson

Supportive: Federated Farmers environment spokesperson chris Allen is supportive moves to look into whether nitrification inhibitor eco-N should be allowed back on to the market. Eco-N was withdrawn to avert possible trade repercussions. Fertilisers containing DCD have continued to be used by farmers in the United States. Ravensdown says there’s now a chance that world regulatory authorities, including New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Indus-

tries, might ratify an umbrella codex agreement mid-2019 to set rules for a maximum residual level for a range of benign compounds in food products. If that happens, Eco-N could be back in use here during autumn to winter 2020. DCD is a winter-active compound, and that’s the

season when the impact of nitrate leaching is greatest. “We should let the science speak, and that should guide the international discussions on this – and the stance of food processors, marketers and dairy companies should codex agreement be reached,” Allen says. “We all need more tools in our toolbox as we chase the productivity gains needed to feed ever-growing and hungry populations, while also meeting the imperative to enhance water quality in our groundwater, rivers and lakes.”

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CANTERBURY FARMING December 2018

PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Achieving good cattle growth whilst maintaining pasture The two objectives of achieving good cattle growth rates during the summer/autumn period on kikuyu pastures and maintaining pasture control, conflict with each other.

supplied by ❚❚Article Beef&Lamb NZ ❚❚

Generally beef finishers want to grow young cattle as fast as possible. However, there are times when some lines of cattle can be held back for pasture control purposes with little consequence due to having time to recoup the foregone weight gain during a later season. Running leader/follower grazing systems, where one group of cattle grazes ahead of another, is one approach to allocating different feeding levels while still maintaining good levels of pasture control. This approach was examined on kikuyu based pastures over two different seasons. Leader/follower grazing resulted in good levels of kikuyu control during summer/autumn with no compromise in the growth rates of the leader cattle. Leader cattle were offered pasture with higher ME, higher proportions of green leaf and clover, and lower proportions of kikuyu stolon and dead material than follower cattle. In both studies, leader cattle put on 58 kg more liveweight gain (LWG) than follower cattle over the duration of the study. The cost of the compromised follower cattle will depend on the ability of those cattle to regain their foregone LWG. Leader/follower grazing systems are an effective approach to prioritising feed in order to achieve different LWG for different mobs whilst maintaining pasture control.

Maintaining pasture quality with leader/follower grazing If high growth rates are desired within a group of cattle then grazing residuals would normally need to be high. This can lead to a deterioration of pasture quality during summer and autumn. This is especially the case within kikuyu based pastures where lack of hard grazing during summer/autumn leads to a build-up of poor quality stolon material. This leads to a significant impact on winter/spring farm production due to poor quality feed being widespread and the growth of temperate grasses such as ryegrass being stifled. Where one mob is prioritised above another then the low priority mob may do the pasture control by grazing behind the higher priority mob. This may be done by having one mob directly behind another which provides the greatest difference in feed allowance. The follower mob effectively pushes the leader mob forward. Grazing the follower mob directly behind the leader reduces the total length of grazing duration for the paddock which is good for maintaining productive pastures. Mobs that can be held back and grazed behind other mobs with higher feeding priority are commonly breeding cows and older finishing cattle that are going through a second or third winter.

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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Understanding the requirements of pastures in your system In this article we look at the choices many dairy farmers will face when choosing the right pasture for their dairy herd.

â?&#x161; Article supplied by DairyNZ White clover White clover is the base legume of New Zealand dairy pastures sown in a wide range of pastures and management systems. It has a high nutritional value and fixes atmospheric nitrogen (N) to make a substantial contribution to the growth of companion grasses. A summer active, perennial legume, white clover has an optimal growing temperature 5 degrees higher the ryegrass. The rate of leaf appearance of clover leaves is mainly influenced by temperature, and leaf size is influenced by light - shade is detrimental to growth. The clover leaf does not regrow after grazing. A stolon branches from nodes and spread out in the pasture. Light intensity speeds up the production of these daughter stolons. White clover is generally more resistant to grazing than r yegrass, the energy reser ves are stored in the stolon and root, the stolon stays close to the ground so is rarely grazed. Clover growth habit means that there will be leaves at varying heights from the ground, some of which will not be grazed. White clover fixes N in pastures, improving total pasture production.

Italian Ryegrass and Annual Ryegrass These two types of ryegrass are described together because they are used in similar situations. Large leaved, and cool season active these ryegrasses are highly valued for their winter and early spring production of high quality forage. Annual ryegrass is commonly sown in autumn as a 6-8 month winter/spring crop. In warm, summer dry areas it will persist only to flowering and seed set in early summer. Cultivars can persist longer in mild, moist summer climates with low insect pressures (e.g. irrigated Canterbury and Otago, and Southland). Italian ryegrasses are more persistent

Quality: ryegrasses are highly valued for their winter and early spring production of high quality forage.

Preferred: White clover is generally more resistant to grazing than ryegrass

than annuals, typically lasting 12-18 months in drier conditions, and 2-3 years in mild, moist summer areas.

Tall Fescue Tall fescue is an alternative to perennial ryegrass as a permanent pasture, which does best in heavy soils, and needs specific management to maintain its feed quality. A perennial tufted grass with erect unbranched tillers. An autumn tillering plant. The optimum temperature for tall fescue is 26degC, with growth continuing into mid 30degC temperatures. It has a larger root system than ryegrass which provides tolerance to some insects, less pugging damage and less pulling by cows. Stem development during spring then very little stem for the rest of the season. It cannot be used in a mix with ryegrass.

Cocksfoot Cocksfoot is the most persistent perennial grass, most commonly used in summer

FROM

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dry areas as a minor component (e.g. 2-4 kg/ha) of ryegrass/clover pastures. It tolerates summer dry conditions, a range of insects and moderate soil fertility. Older cultivars can dominate pastures, reducing clover levels and digestibility.

and then the seed containing burrs push into the soil to bury the seed to survive the summer. Seeds germinate when rainfall resumes, but seedlings can die during subsequent dry spells (false strike).

Subterranean Clover (Sub clover)

Red Clover

Although subterranean (or sub) clover is the most widely sown annual legume in summer dry areas of New Zealand, it is rarely suited to dairy farm systems. It must be allowed to seed in the first year, and in autumn pastures need hard grazed and kept very short (eg <1000 kg DM/ha) to allow space for seedling regeneration. It establishes in autumn and grows from rosettes to produce long, horizontal stems during late winter and spring. Sub clover buries it seed. Self-pollinating flowers grow off runners on the soil surface

A short-lived, tap rooted plant with dull hairy foliage, usually bearing a distinct leaf mark. Most common in summer dry areas, where the tap root allows it to tolerate dry periods. It performs best under moderate stocking rates, long summer grazing rotations or hay production. Under high stocking rates or fast summer grazing rotations its persistence is reduced. Red Clover has poor winter growth but can provide superior DM production to white clover during dry summers.

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CANTERBURY FARMING December 2018

When enough pasture is enough In most pasture systems supplementary feed should only be used to fill feed deficits so cows maintain energy intake and production.

❚❚Article supplied by DairyNZ

There is no advantage to replacing good quality pasture with an alternative feed source or ‘balancing pasture’, therefore, supplements should only be used to provide energy when there is insufficient pasture available. There is no evidence that supplementing pasture improves mating performance when there is sufficient pasture supply. If feeding supplements results in high grazing residuals, this is wasted feed and the reductions in future pasture growth and quality should be considered. When supplements are required in a deficit situation they can help to optimise the area grazed each day, the rotation length, and the pasture residual. The profitability of feeding supplements varies depending on the situation.

The cost of the supplement The associated costs of supplement- these costs associated with feeding supplement can be 50% more than the cost of purchasing the feed, associated costs include capital, fuel/energy, labour, repairs and maintenance and depreciation. The degree of pasture substitution, which

governs the response rate to supplement. Supplement is more likely to be profitable where post grazing residuals are consistently under 1500kgDM/ha (7-8 clicks on RPM) without the supplement and do not exceed 1,500kgDM/ha with supplement. If feeding supplements results in high grazing residuals, this represents wasted feed. It will reduce the immediate profitability of feeding and have ongoing effects through reductions in future pasture growth and quality which must be considered.

Spring supplement use Cows should be grazing to a residual of 1500-1600kgDM/ha as they are likely to be able to produce more milk if additional feed is added to the system – either as pasture or supplement. In spring, striking the balance between the needs of the cow and pasture will optimise the amount of high quality pasture grown and eaten throughout the whole season. This means attempting to maximise short-term cow intakes ignores the longer term impact on pasture and production. Maximising intakes to maximise production will result in more pasture being left

behind in the paddock. The difference between the feed offered and eaten goes to increasing the residual, signalling a waste in pasture and compromising quality at future grazing events. Any lift in There is no evidence residuals above the targeted 1500-1600kgDM/ha means that the strategy is unlikely to that supplementing be profitable. Management interventions such as harpasture improves mating vesting silage or topping to waste can maintain residuals at the desired level but both performance when there is incur a cost above the cow grazing pasture. The cost to benefit of the additional feed alsufficient pasture supply. lowance needs to be carefully evaluated. Achieving reproduction targets is often cited as a reason for feeding supplement over spring. Research tells us that high quality ryegrass meets the nutritional requirements of the dairy cow, provided there is enough of it. If there is adequate feed (pasture residuals of 15001600kg DM/ha with good pasture utilisation) there are no reproductive benefits from feeding additional supTalk to us today about your farms soil fertility. plement. We offer a soil testing service and will recommend and supply you with a fertiliser program to suit you and your farms individual needs.

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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Mite to combat old man’s beard The leaf-galling mite Aceria vitalbae may now be used to combat the pervasive weed old man’s beard, following a decision by the Environmental Protection Authority.

❚ by Kent caddick The Horizons Regional Council, which covers the central to lower North Island, applied to the EPA to introduce the gall mite on behalf of the National Biocontrol Collective, comprised of 14 regional councils and the Department of Conservation. “The Department of Conservation told our decision-making committee that old man’s beard is a serious environmental pest for which there are limited control options, especially where it is widespread,” EPA’s General Manager of Hazardous Substances and New Organisms, Dr Fiona Thomson-Carter said. “And Horizons Regional Council submitted that some native plant species, especially in the central North Island, are heavily impacted by old man’s beard. “It noted that in some places this weed has been dispersed by the wind, and has established on cliffs, cloaking vegetation and ultimately killing other plant species.” Horizons spends more than $500,000 annually trying to eradicate old man’s beard, and five regional councils around New Zealand estimate they spend approximately $760,000 in total. Helicopter spraying of the most suitable broadleaf herbicide costs $1,500 per hectare. “Aceria vitalbae is a gall-forming mite,” Dr Thomson-Carter said. “The galls it forms on host plants provide shelter for the mites, enabling them to multiply. The plant redirects resources into the galls, which reduces its capacity to flower, produce leaves, grow longer internode stems, and photosynthesise.” While the leaf-galling mite may attack plant species closely related to old man’s beard, such as the exotic Clematis stans,

Mite attack: Native trees smothered by the old man’s beard weed. Photo: Phil bendle

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The ePA concluded that native New Zealand plants are not at risk of attack by Aceria vitalbae.

Dr Fiona Thomson-Carter

Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research told the EPA it is confident there would be no significant damage to non-target plants, such as native Clematis species. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research is the science provider for the application, and noted the formation of galls would assist in reducing the lateral spread of old man’s beard, and as a flow-on effect, potentially thin-out the canopy coverage and reduce shading of the undergrowth. “Overall, the EPA concluded that native

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New Zealand plants are not at risk of attack by Aceria vitalbae. Spill-over attacks on exotic species within the same clade as old man’s beard are very unlikely, as ornamental Clematis and old man’s beard do not grow in the same areas,” Dr Thomson-Carter said. “The decision-making committee noted the environmental benefit of reducing herbicide usage if biocontrol proved effective. This would lessen collateral damage on nontarget plants and reduce the chemical burden on the environment.”

CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

NZ Young Farmers Excellence Awards recipients announced A Young Farmer of the Year contest convenor, a Federated Farmers officer manager, and a volunteer firefighter have all received New Zealand Young Farmers Excellence Awards.

❚ by Kent caddick The awards are designed to recognise Young Farmers club members who are leaders, achievers and role models. Michael McCombs, Jessie Waite and James Goodwin have been named as the 2018 recipients of the NZ Young Farmers Excellence Awards. “This year’s winners are shining examples of young people who are stepping-up and making a difference,” said NZ Young Farmers board chair Ash-Leigh Campbell. “The trio epitomises everything our Excellence Awards stand for.” There were 15 nominations submitted for this year’s awards, and the winners will be presented with their awards at the NZ Young Farmers Conference Week in Christchurch in February. James Goodwin, 31, was recognised for his role convening the 50th FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final in Invercargill. The headline-grabbing event was described as “the best grand final ever”. Goodwin runs his family’s Gore sheep farm which has 3,700 ewes, and is a longtime member of Waitane Young Farmers. “It’s a bit overwhelming to think that there are people within NZ Young Farmers who think what I have done is extraordinary,” he said. Michael McCombs, 26, contract milks 400 cows at Kimbolton and has been a volunteer firefighter for four years.

Good job: Gore sheep farmer James Goodwin received a New Zealand Young Farmers excellence Award for his role convening the 50th FmG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final in Invercargill.

“Parents look at how close they are to schools when considering a job, but I look for the nearest fire station,” he said. The Marton Young Farmers chair and former Taranaki Dairy Trainee of the Year said he was stoked to even be nominated. Jessie Waite, 26, works for Taranaki Federated Farmers, managing the organisation’s regional office in New Plymouth. A savage drought last summer saw her help mobilise a big relief effort and hit the road to deliver it. A series of family BBQs were held in drought-ravaged communities to entice weather-weary farmers off their farms. “Having a summer holiday was the last thing on my mind when the welfare of Taranaki’s farmers was taking another hit,” said Jessie, who’s a member of Central Taranaki Young Farmers. A nomination submitted by the organisa-

tion’s farmer executive said the BBQs would not have happened without Jessie. “It was because of her hard work that over an extremely stressful time hundreds of struggling farmers were able to get off the farm and forget about the dry for a while,” it said. Jessie said she was humbled by the win. “I definitely don’t do what I do to get recognition, but when I do it’s a nice pat on the back,” she said.

South Island Rural Team

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The trio epitomises everything our excellence Awards stand for. Ash-Leigh Campbell NZ Young Farmers board chair

Absent; Rodger Letham, Jude Livingstone, Michael Robb

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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Check what lies beneath the dig Heavy earthmoving machinery, and of course just a simple trench digger, can have an impact which can spread unwanted ripples far outside their operative zone.

❚ by Kent caddick Simply digging up old posts on a fence line recently cut the telephone services to a wide rural area, when the telecommunications cable was severed. So it behoves contractors, machinery operators and indeed landowners to make sure they know what’s in the ground they are working on. There are rules and regulations aplenty and a wise landowner will acquaint him or herself to the presence of cables, drains, water pipes, and the like. Before commencing any excavation work, including tunnelling or boring, it is the duty of the ‘person in charge’ to make the necessary enquiries by contacting the various authorities, who could have an interest – usually best identified by the phone company and then the local or regional council, to find out the exact location of any underground pipes or cables laid within the proposed work area. A record should be made of the enquiries and replies. The greatest source of damage to underground cables and pipes is the use of earthmoving plant such as excavators, backhoes, gradalls, bulldozers, and similar equipment.

When it is known that any underground facility exists, pipes, drains, or cables, then it is again the person in charge who needs to make exactly sure of what’s underneath by trial excavations, particularly in the case of signals and communications cables. Then it’s probably a case of flagging these so that they are obvious to all involved on the site, explaining the location and marking positions on the surface. The serious consequences of broken pipe and cables is underlined by the industry standard warning that it’s essential that there be a detailed investigation in every case, of earthmoving, trenching and excavation work, even though the project might be of a minor nature. The cost of repairing damage is frequently extremely high and in addition the loss of the facility can affect a very wide area, and in the case of cut communications, can in fact be life threatening. At the very least it leads to expensive delays and a serious loss of goodwill. And when hazards such as electrical cables, or gas or fuel pipelines have been identified as existing – all staff working on the site must be told.

Consequences: The cost of repairing damage is frequently extremely high and in addition the loss of the facility can affect a very wide area.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

Contracting: what to consider There are many benefits to working as a contractor – it can pay better than doing a similar salaried job and be more flexible. But there are hidden costs to think about, too. supplied by ❚ Article of Business, Innovation ❚ Ministry and Employment ❚ Here’s some tips, information and common mistakes to help you decide if going contracting is for you.

Being a contractor means you: • are self-employed • choose what work you do • choose how – and sometimes where – to do your work • are responsible for paying your tax Some people become contractors out of choice, eg to use their skills to earn more than they could in a salaried job. Others do it because they find themselves out of permanent salaried work, eg after being made redundant. If you’re contracting, you can choose to be a sole trader or start a company. There are pros and cons to each option, so it pays to understand what each would mean for you. It’s a common mistake to assume what

you’ll earn in a year simply by looking at your contract rate, eg $75 per hour X 8 hours a day X 5 days a week X 52 weeks a year = annual income of $156,000. There are several costs to include first, eg covering your own sick leave and ACC. If you’re contracting, you may have to get used to unplanned gaps between the end of one contract and the start of another. If your skills are in demand, you can take advantage of these gaps by turning them into holidays. However, it’s normal to want to have continuous work — and get stressed when you don’t have it. Keep alert when working for any clues to what will happen with your contract. You should start looking for more work at least a month before your contract is due to end. To give yourself peace of mind, save a buffer of up to three months’ income in case of unplanned breaks between contracts. As a contractor, you don’t get paid sick leave. It’s a good idea to budget for at least five days a year when you’re too sick to work — and won’t get paid. Make sure you include

Pros and cons: You can choose to be a sole trader or start a company. It pays to understand what each would mean for you.

this in your budget and when working out hourly rates. As a contractor, you don’t get paid for public holidays that you don’t work. Make sure you include this in your budget and when working out hourly rates. It’s important you set a realistic hourly rate for your contract work. It needs to cover all your expenses and hidden costs, eg sick leave and public holidays. If you set your rate too high it could put off future clients. Setting it too low could leave you out of pocket. If you are going to work from home and

need to set up and equip an office, you can claim back these costs as tax expenses.

Common mistakes • Not putting aside enough money for tax and ACC • Leaving it too late to pay your tax • Not getting advice up front • Not sending invoices on time • Not having your hourly rate high enough • Not making time for record keeping and administration

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CANTERBURY FARMING

Getting the lowdown on RCNZ Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ) is the only national association, and the leading advocate for, rural contractors in New Zealand.

❚ Article supplied by RCNZ

It represents the interests of contractors engaged in a wide range of activities such as: land development, drainage, fencing, cultivation and planting, harvesting of crops, highway vegetation control and maintenance, parks, reserves and landscaping, chemical application, sheep dipping , and direct drilling. RCNZ monitors central and local government policies, plans and proposals on behalf of its membership. It also maintains close relations with a wide number of organisations, government departments and other national bodies.

RCNZ’s governance consists of a national board, made up of the four zones. Operating via a constitution, the RCNZ board comprises eight members – who are elected annually. The country is divided into four Zones and each Zone elects two Board Members by postal ballot. RCNZ employs a permanent, part-time chief executive based in Wellington – close to Government and other organisations where a close liaison is maintained.

Frequently asked questions about rcNZ: Q. What type of contracting are members involved in? A. Predominantly RCNZ members are involved in agriculture, horticulture and viticulture, chemical applications on the ground and in forests, roadside mowing, vegetation control and other forms of contracting applicable to the rural servicing sector. Q. Is membership limited to rural contractors?

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Drilling services for both direct and cultivated ground are carried out with 10 seed drills from tyne, triple disc, cultivation combination drills, broadcast seeders and precision seeders for maize and fodder beet. Seed drills raise in width from 3 - 6 metres with fertiliser application available.

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A. No, but the vast majority of RCNZ members undertake contracting in the rural sector. However, other contractors, for example, those who apply agricultural chemical in urban areas are also members. Q. How is the RCNZ funded? A. The main source of funding is through an annual subscription paid by members. Q. How does RCNZ operate? A. RCNZ operates by a constitution and has a Board comprising eight members – who are elected annually. The country is divided into four Zones – with each Zone electing two Board members by postal ballot. Each year, RCNZ’s annual conference is held at different locations around New Zealand. Meanwhile, a number of regional (Zone) meetings are held during the year; to enable members to meet up for fellowship, networking opportunities and to discuss matters of common interest. RCNZ publishes a section in the Rural Contractor & Large Scale Farmer magazine, which published every two months and supplied free to members. For more on rcNZ go to: www.ruralcontractors.org.nz

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CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

Irrigation is for grass and not the road supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Environment Canterbury

What goes on at the farm should stay on the farm according to Environment Canterbury.

With the irrigation season in full flow, ECan is reminding all irrigators to ensure the accuracy of their water spread to avoid potential road safety issues. ECan regional leader for compliance delivery James Tricker said irrigation consent holders are responsible for the use of water that is applied to their properties. “Resource consent conditions authorise the use of water to a consented piece of land, not to run to waste,” Tricker said. “We understand it can be difficult on very windy days but hardstand areas such as state highways and rural roads are not consented or authorised to be irrigated.” Irrigation system operators must monitor the use of their water and equipment to make sure the water is used in the way that was authorised by their resource consent. “All irrigators should ensure that their water allocations are used diligently and not wasted, especially in a dry season. We will continue to monitor unauthorised use of water utilising our new locally based water zone officers and deal with it on a case-by-case basis,” he said. “Irrigation onto roads, particularly gravel roads, is not only a waste of water but also has the potential to create safety issues for motorists. “It is the surprise element and the force of the water that could easily startle a motorist,

Warning: Irrigators are being reminded to ensure irrigation drift doesn’t affect road safety.

it is especially dangerous for those on motorcycles” Tricker said. Irrigation New Zealand chief executive Andrew Curtis said two of the main culprits for water going over-boundary were the end guns on pivot irrigators and travelling irrigators set up too close to roads. “Watering onto roads creates a significant

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safety hazard, so it’s really important for irrigators to ensure they water within their property boundaries.” “My advice is to ensure end guns are set and operating correctly and regularly checked. When you set up your travelling irrigator always have a set-back distance

from the road,” he said. Anyone experiencing spray on the road that is clearly coming from an irrigation system should contact environment canterbury on 0800 324 636. If there is immediate danger to road users they should contact the police.

December 2018 CANTERBURY FARMING

Fighting bacterial infections Antibiotic use in New Zealand production animals is estimated to be the third lowest in the world, but industry, farmers and regulators still need to work to preserve this precious resource. Antibiotics are essential for treating bacterial infections in humans and animals.

Mark Ross ❚❚by Chief ❚❚ Executive, Agcarm Because very few new types of antibiotics are being developed, the ones we have must be used the right way, at the right dose, at the right time, for the right duration. By using antibiotics carefully, bacteria are less likely to become resistant to them. Globally, resistance to antibiotics threatens the health of humans and animals. If trends continue, it could cause the loss of 10 million lives by 2050. The animal health sector is responding by helping prevent disease in the first place and reducing the need for antibiotics. This

is done through vaccinations, probiotics and targeted viral tools. Vaccinations protect animals from contracting a disease. They are like a boot camp for the body’s immune system - preparing it to create the right defences for when it comes under attack. Often made of a ‘dead’ or weakened version of a disease, vaccines give the body a practice run at producing the right antibodies to fight a particular microbe (or infection). They may also be made of antigens - the proteins on the outside of microbes. While the weakened disease won’t cause an infection, the body will identify it as an enemy it needs to attack. Once the battle is over, the immune system will retain this knowledge in ‘memory’ cells. This means that if the microbe attacks in the future, the body’s immune system will ‘remember’ how to produce the right antibodies to fight it off. Crucially, it will be able to produce these fast enough to avoid a serious health threat - avoiding the use of antimicrobials. Today, a variety of vaccines are available for farm animals and pets – helping to

prevent and reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Scientists are also looking at developing new vaccines to help overcome the barriers of associated labour costs and potential impacts on the immune system. Probiotics, often referred to as ‘good bacteria’, are increasingly recognised as an effective feed additive - to ease the use of antibiotics. This benefits gut health and animal wellbeing. The gut is made up of a complex mixture of bacteria, so when the balance is disrupted, the animal can become sick, leading to reduced productivity. Probiotics are live bacteria. They leave fewer resources available to unfriendly bacteria so they cannot cause disease. By helping maintain a balance of good and bad bacteria, probiotics are believed to improve the animal’s health and performance. Scientists are still investigating their effectiveness. Vaccines, probiotics and other tools are effective at preventing disease. Nevertheless, bacterial illness can still occur and antibiotics are usually the only available treatment. Researchers are exploring a ground-breaking treatment called bacteriophages. Some-

times known simply as phages, this is a virus that infects and kills bacteria. The name ‘bacteriophage’ literally means ‘bacteria eater’. Phages work by recognising and attaching to a bacterial cell, then injecting it with their own DNA. Once the DNA is inside, the nutrients and components of the bacteria are used to form new copies of the phage. These hungry offspring then break out by releasing chemicals to destroy the host bacteria and go on to look for other bacteria to infect and feed on. Experimentally, phage therapy shows promise in treating bacterial infection in animals. When used in chickens infected with E.coli, bacteriophages protect them from respiratory disease. But phages have limitations and their efficacy is uncertain in many situations. Although these alternatives provide an extra lifeline, antibiotics allow us to treat the most serious antimicrobial infections and keep our animals healthy. So it is vital that the animal health industry and regulators keep working together with farmers to make sure that antibiotics continue their life-saving work.

Christmas an ideal time for lawn sowing The Christmas break time is a very popular time for people to sow down their new lawns so I thought it would be good to provide you with some tips on how to establish a new lawn.

Stephen Finch ❚❚by Speciality Seeds ❚❚ When to plant Spring (September to late December) and autumn (March to May) are ideal sowing seasons. In the warmer northern areas of New Zealand, lawn seed can be sown all year round, although germination will be slower during the colder months. Seeds will generally germinate between 3-7 days during warmer months but can take up to 20 days during the colder times of the year.

Preparing your ground and seedbed All seed should be sown on a well-prepared seed bed free from perennial weeds (e.g. couch). We advise you spray with a Roundup type product 5-7 days before you start your seedbed preparation. Preparation is the key to success. When preparing your seedbed ensure when finished you have a firm and fine seedbed that is level. We suggest you incorporate a starter fertilizer while giving it the final working.

Sowing your seedbed Sow your seed at between 30-35 grams per sq meter. We recommend that you split the total seed requirement into two halves (1215 grams per sq meter). Apply the first half followed by the second half going on right angles to the first; this will ensure better coverage. You may have to use a thin layer of topsoil at this stage.

Watering your new lawn Watering should start straight after sowing we recommend two light watering every day until the seed is visible – one morning and one evening is best. Once struck reduce watering to one per day (evening). While watering ensure you avoid overwatering and ponding.

Weed control in your new lawn Weeds will generally require a chemical application to control them. Don’t spray for at least two months after sowing – just weed by hand if possible. There is a wide range of chemicals for this

‘

A good lawn provides a home with a lovely space to play and relax and can add value to your property.

job. Ensure the chemical is suitable for young establishing lawns. Care must be taken when disposing of the treated lawn clippings as they will not be suitable for use as compost for up to 12 months after spraying depending on the chemical used. Always read the label and follow its directions.

Mowing a new lawn Do not mow the grass until it is at least 7-10cm in height. It is important that your lawnmower blades are nice and sharp as a blunt lawnmower will drag your new lawn out by the roots. Set the mower high, at about 5 cm, for the first cut. Use a catcher to prevent the clipping from

smothering the new plants. Gradually lower the blades over the next several cuts to until they are about 2.5cm. This is the best height to maintain for your lawn. We recommend that you fertilize your lawn for the first time after your first mow.

Fertilizer Fertilizer is important to maintain the growth and colour of your new lawn. We recommend that you use a ‘little but often’ approach to this job. We can recommend a wide range of lawn specific fertilizers for you to use. I hope this information will be of use to you. Of course, should you have questions about establishing your new lawn we would be happy to talk to you about it.

CANTERBURY FARMING

FORESTRY

December 2018

Growers research awards announced

Research Award for Research The Forest Growers Research Awards have been awarded each Research Award for Science of International Quality Participation and Implementation year since 2011 to recognise outstanding achievements in forest This award was presented to a team compris- This award was presented to Paul Adams of growing research. ing Jessica Kerr, Brooke O’Connor and Steve Rayonier Matariki Forests.

❚ by Kent caddick

Research Award for Innovation that Enhances Sector Value

Quality science is a foundation of the forest industry and began 100 years ago with the first experimental plantings of introduced species for commercial wood production to replace New Zealand’s dwindling resource of native timbers. Six awards have been made in 2018.

Simeon Smaill, a scientist with Scion based in Christchurch is the recipient of this award Simeon has spent the past five years (at least) investigating the potential of novel methods for improving the growth and vitality of radiata pine. He has worked with forest nurseries to develop systems for producing tree seedlings using reduced input of fertilisers and fungicides, which inhibit beneficial mycorrhizal fungi. This not only reduces the cost of seedling production, but also the potential to lessen environmental impacts. He has shown that the gains made in the nursery continue for years after the seedlings were planted out in the forest.

Research Award for Communication and Sector Engagement Paul Millen from the Drylands Forest Initiative (DFI) is the recipient of this award in 2018. DFI is a public/private research venture established 10 years ago between the University of Canterbury, Proseed, the Marlborough Research Centre and a number of vineyard and powerline companies. DFI was formed to promote the growing of durable eucalypt species in the dry east coast regions of the North and South Islands. The primary objective is growing naturally durable hardwood posts and timbers for vineyards which are experiencing issues with CCA treated radiata posts and power line companies which have difficulty sourcing durable hardwood material from traditional overseas sources.

Pawson from Scion in Christchurch for their world leading research in the Urban Battlefield Biosecurity project. This project began in 2015/16 to develop new tools for dealing with biosecurity incursions in built up areas.

Paul is an active member of the technical committee for the Growing Confidence in Forestry’s Future (GCFF) research programme.

Research Award for a Young Scientist This award was made to Nurzhan Nursultanov who is very close to completing his PhD studies at the University of Canterbury Electric Power Engineering Centre (EPEC) in Christchurch.

Research Award for Contribution to a Science Team This award was presented to Rebecca McDougal for her contribution to supporting the forest health team at Scion. Rebecca is a molecular forest pathologist, one of a new breed of pathologists who have revolutionised how diseases are diagnosed, using new molecular techniques.

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December 2018

Year ends on positive note

The year rounds out on a resounding note for the forestry sector which at worst can be described as booming. Prices are as high as they have been for the last three years and markets are generally stable.

Export log sales to China continue to dominate our space, CFR prices (landed in China in US$) remain good, demand across the eastern seaboard is high and inventory is dropping. All of this reflects a market in pretty good shape. Erstwhile the domestic scene remains strong despite some regions “coming off the boil” in terms of pure demand. Log supply to mills in Canterbury has eased over the last month with supply and demand in general alignment. Some of this follows a period of about two weeks in October when sawmills essentially closed their doors to suppliers. This was the consequence of an over - supply in October and log yard being stretched to the gunnels. Recently, we have seen yard stocks diminish to the extent of permitting resumption in log supply. Across the eastern seaboard of China, daily consumption has been cranking along at in excess of 100,000 cubic metres per day, far exceeding all previous records. Overall inventory has dropped to 2.8 million cubic metres, the lowest seen in a long time. CFR settlements for November sales have been in the order of US$137-$138 per cubic metre, A grade basis. This reflects a lift of US$1-2 on October sales. Shipping costs have remained largely stable after a TREE period of moderate increases. Bunker costs (ships fuel), have reduced which has taken the sting out of the tail of the ship owners. How then might we reflect on 2018, the wood fibre space internationally and what we might expect of the near future. There can be no doubt the predictions espoused by the likes of Wink Sutton back in the 1980s have now come to fruition. He said way back then, wood fibre supply internationally would reach a point about now where demand would exceed supply. He also predicted, based on good research at that time, NZ was well positioned through significant plantings during the 1980s, to pick up on the advantages of a de-

mand and supply imbalance. How well we might now reflect on just how right Wink Sutton was. Indeed I applaud such people who had taken the time to undertake such astute research and provide the New Zealand forest industry the platform it currently enjoys. I have been working with many forest industry people on the challenges of health and safety. The forest industry has a reputation of a high fatality rate which is primarily the consequence of media attention and what sells newspapers. Underlying that is a declining fatality rate and an absolute focus on keeping people safe at work. Whilst our numbers are quite low compared to other primary sector industries, one death per year is still too many. The NZ Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC) has been the result of a review undertaken in 2016. I represent the NZ Farm Forestry Association on FISC. I have to say the initiatives that have evolved out of that process are exciting and world leading. I recently attended a next three year strategy meeting for FISC with 30 plus other people who have also given their time to effecting change. From this I remain confident the New Zealand forest industry

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will evolve as a highly profitable land use that is exciting, safe, innovative and progressive. I reflect on the past year as one of those that signals the New Zealand forest industry has continued to evolve and progress in a framework of stability and high prices compared to the early to mid-2000s. And of the future, I don’t see that changing any time

soon. I extend to one and all, seasons salutations, my thanks for being a loyal reader in 2018 and wishing you all the best for 2019. 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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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Success in Canterbury SFF project As most arable and cropping farmers are gearing up for the summer season, catch crop trials on two Mid-Canterbury dairy winter forage blocks are concluding and showing some impressive results. These trials are designed to demonstrate the practicalities of sowing catch crops as early as possible following winter forage grazing. The aim of the project is to reduce the nitrogen (N) losses from the winter-grazed arLincoln Agritech ea, deposited in the urine from the grazing These trials are the first part of a three-year animals, and capture it in a winter-active Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) project fund- catch crop (eg oats). Without the catch crop, ed by Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) a paddock can remain fallow for up to severand co-funded by Agricom Ltd, Luisetti Seeds al months until the next fodder crop or pasLtd, Ravensdown Ltd, Ballance Agrinutrients ture is sown, increasing the opportunity for significant nitrate leaching and/or gaseous N Ltd and Beef+Lamb NZ Ltd. losses. This is not only an enviAGRICOM.CO.NZ ronmental concern but also an economic one as this valuable source of soil-N can be utilised by an early sown catch crop, increasing the efficiency of the whole winter forage system. More importantly, it also improves farmers’ bottom lines with the resulting catch crop taken for green-chop silage or through to a grain crop if desired. These SFF trials are being run within paddocks of commercially-operated farms to show the returns that are feasible. All paddock preparations were under taken by the farmers (or their contractors) with the trials being run by Dr Peter Carey of Lincoln Agritech, and Mr Shane Maley and Dr Brendon Malcolm of Plant & Food Research.

❚ by Dr Peter carey ❚

Figure 1: Dry-matter yields (brown columns) and total N uptake (green columns) for oats from ex-kale and ex-beet paddocks at Hororata (8 Nov) for cultivated (cult) and direct-drilled (DD) treatments.

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Figure 2: Dry-matter yields (brown columns) and total N uptake (green columns) for Italian ryegrass (Ir), triticale (Trit) and oats for ex-kale paddock at Te Pirita (8 Nov).

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Two trials have been set up at Hororata (Dairy Holdings Ltd: shallow stony Lismore soil) both using oats (Milton) as the catch crop but starting at different times. The first is on a kale paddock that was grazed earlier and was able to be worked and drilled by 7 July whilst the second was a later grazed fodderbeet paddock and wasn’t sown until 8 August. Both Hororata trials involved a comparison of establishment techniques where plots were either cultivated/drilled or direct drilled. The third trial, located at Te Pirita (Te AwaCraigmore Farming; moderately deep, well drained Waimakariri soil), compared differing catch crop species; oats (Intimidator), triticale (Bolt) and Italian ryegrass (Asset AR37) and was ex-kale prior to being worked conventionally and drilled on July 13. As of 8 November, the kale paddock Hororata oat crops at harvest were hitting 10 tonnes dry-matter (DM)/ha (soil-N was particularly high in this field, >300 kg N/ha) whilst the later sown oats crop on the ex-fodder beet paddock was around 7.5 tonnes/ ha, with the cultivated/drilled oats doing slightly better than the direct drilled oats (Figure 1). At Te Pirita, the oats was the most impressive crop and not quite ready for harvest but already in excess of 7.5 tonnes whilst the

triticale and Italian ryegrass were 6.4 and 4.4 tonnes DM/ha, respectively, and ready for harvest as silage (Figure 2). These first year results are encouraging and although the winter of 2018 may well prove to be a little drier than average, growing these catch crops has captured at least 100-200 kg N/ha of soil-N, nitrogen that could have been lost in leaching or denitrification over the winter/spring period before the next crop or pasture was sown. This has effectively created a win-win situation for both the farmer and the environment. This SFF project will look to repeat similar trials under differing soil types and winters in the following two years and the data will be incorporated into Overseer in a future update to credit farmers for using catch crops in their winter forage systems. Dr Peter carey is a Field research in the Precision Agriculture Team at Lincoln Agritech Limited. He has over 20 years of industry experience and has worked extensively in both the commercial and academic sectors. Peter recently gained his PhD degree in agricultural soil science from Lincoln University. His study focussed on using catch crops in winter forage grazing to reduce nitrate leaching. Peter has authored and co-authored over thirty papers published nationally and internationally.

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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

DAIRY

Reducing phosphorus inputs At the meeting on regenerative pastoral farming held recently in Gore, the topic of appropriate Olsen P levels was raised.

❚ with Peter burton

Which would you prefer?

A farmer participant was a little disturbed that a featured, recently- developed and highly productive grazing block close to Lincoln, had an Olsen P figure of 7. Phosphorus and its importance were not part of the day’s agenda, however if it’s an issue with one farmer it will be exercising the minds of others and therefore a topic worth revisiting. Phosphorus is an essential element. When plant available phosphorus is below a certain level total pasture yield is restricted. With less leaf surface area the ability of plants to convert sunlight to usable energy is restricted, and soluble sugar levels in the leaf are lower than optimum. Quantity and quality go together, when less is grown quality declines and the reverse is also the case. Soils in their natural state contain phosphorus, and work carried out in this country indicate that there is usually around 500kgP/ ha in the top 150mm (6 inches) in situations where no phosphate fertiliser has ever been applied. At the other end, figures in excess of 1,000kg/ha are not uncommon on intensive dairy land with a long history of regular superphosphate inputs. These figures have been obtained from Total P tests that meas-

ure almost all soil held phosphorus. The Olsen P test was designed to measure plant available phosphorus and although there is debate about appropriateness, it’s been used for long enough that its usefulness is not in question, particularly where there are good long-term records of phosphate applied. The total annual plant uptake of P by pasture, based on historic research, in most situations is no more than 60kgP/ha, with the majority returned to the soil via dung, litter and roots. A 2007 article by Tim Jenkins, then of the Biological Husbandry Unit at Lincoln stated that the annual P losses in a typical beef and sheep unit may be as low as 4-8 kg P/ha, with dairy 10-16kg P/ha. Typically, 50kg P/ha is applied to intensive dairy each year with 20kgP/ha applied to dry stock properties, hence the reason for the steady accumulation of phosphorus in topsoil under grazed pasture. With phosphorus becoming increasingly expensive, and phosphorus of suitable quality becoming scarcer, can high performing properties operate with less inputs? The key to applying less and being able to produce the volume of pasture required is dependent on several factors. The speed at which phosphorus is cycled is the key to ensuring enough phosphorus is available for optimum pasture growth at all times.

Clovers being less competitive than grasses for all nutrients, was the justification the for higher than maintenance P inputs in the past, however trials by research institutes here show that an Olsen P of 10 is all that is required for clover survival. Other long-term work shows that high Olsen P levels do not necessarily increase total pasture production, however higher levels reduce the likelihood of poor growth. The speed of nutrient cycling is the most important factor in ensuring optimum, or close to, pasture performance. This is dependent on physical soil structures which is determined by the activity of earthworms, beneficial fungi and bacteria, as well as myriad of other soil dwellers. Only a very small percentage, often as little as 1% of all soil held nutrient, including nitrogen, is available for plant uptake at any given time. It’s the ability of soil life to provide a continuous supply of nutrient that determines the true success of any growing system. Those farmers already incorporating this aspect into their operations are capable of, and achieving, higher total farm production with significantly lower costs than those fixated on soil chemistry and conventional watersoluble nutrient inputs alone. For more information contact Peter on 0800 843 809.

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DAIRY

December 2018

How to tell if you have lame cattle

How many lame cows do you have? I strongly suspect that most farmers don’t actually know.

Fred Hoekstra ❚ with VeeHof ❚ When we go to a farm to do hoof trimming, we often end up treating more cows than what had been booked. This has been the case throughout the 25 years I have been trimming in New Zealand. Our Australian colleagues are finding the same. A lot of the cows we trim are not considered lame by the farmer but are identified for preventative trimming. However, it still strikes me how often there are more lame cows than expected. Often farmers say they don’t have lame cows, yet when you see their herd walking over the track it is obvious that this is not the case. Maybe not so much that you can tell which foot the cows are favouring but, nevertheless, they are lame. So, what constitutes a lame cow? Cows are lame long before they limp, and even at this stage (known as the subclinical stage) they are costing you money. Research shows that a cow will lose 5% production in this subclinical stage. If you have a large percentage of the herd in that situation you may be losing more money than you realise. So how can you identify the cows

that are subclinically lame? There are some good tools available to help you recognise the signs. Zinpro© has produced a helpful locomotion scoring chart which highlights five different stages of lameness and encourages you, the farmer, to observe how a cow stands and walks.

In summary: • Locomotion Score 1: A cow should stand and walk with a flat back. • Locomotion score 2: The cow stands with a flat back and walks with an arched back (she has now moved in to the subclinical stage of lameness). • Locomotion score 3: The cow stands and walks with an arched back, but you are not able to identify which foot she is lame on. • Locomotion score 4: You are now able to tell which foot the cow is lame on and she is now considered clinically lame. • Locomotion score 5: When the cow becomes so lame that her lame foot is not weight-bearing anymore. Locomotion Scores 2 and 3 cows don’t always become clinically lame. Most cows don’t stay clinically lame

even if they never get trimmed or treated, and I think it is an important point to make that we, as trimmers, are not trying to just get cows to come right, because most cows will come right if you give them rest and don’t walk them too far. However, our aim is to have cows come right as quickly as possible and their recovery time is a good indicator of the effectiveness of the trimming being performed. We need cows to come right as quickly as possible because, one it is an animal welfare issue and two, they are costing you money. So, I challenge you to have a look at your cows as they walk to the cowshed today with a critical eye and see how many cows you have with a Locomotion Score of 2 or 3. If you get your score 3 cows trimmed and improve their locomotion, you will be making more money even if they would not have become clinically lame, as production levels will improve for these cows.

‘

Often farmers say they don’t have lame cows, yet when you see their herd walking over the track it is obvious that this is not the case.

Give us a call on 0800 833 643 and we will send you a free Locomotion Scoring chart from Zinpro©, or you can download it from our website www.veehof.co.nz to help you with your assessment.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

DAIRY

Rising demand for West Coast butter

New Zealand sales of Westgold butter have soared past the three million mark, on the back of a consumer shift towards more natural fats.

❚ by Kent caddick Produced in Hokitika by Westland Milk Products, Westgold is marketed as the ‘everyday gourmet butter’. It appeared in nearly a quarter of Kiwi fridges last year, and Westgold’s salted butter was the third most purchased butter in North Island New World supermarkets, according to recent Nielsen data. The three million sales milestone has been achieved in just three years, following the product’s domestic launch in 2015. Westgold has only two ingredients – cream and salt. Recent reports indicate that demand for butter, cream and other dairy-rich products continues to increase globally, in line with consumers’ renewed taste for natural fats. International retail butter sales are expected to expand by 2.9% to (US) $19.4 billion in 2018, outpacing the 1.9% growth in sales volumes, according to Euromonitor International. Westland Milk’s marketing and innovation general manager Hamish Yates said discerning consumers appreciate the fact that not all butter is created equal. “Globally, we are seeing an increasing consumer demand for natural, wholesome foods, and a return to the simplicity that products such as butter offer,” Yates said. “The West Coast has New Zealand’s highest proportion of jersey and jersey-cross cows, which are renowned for producing milk high in butterfat. We think this, combined with our traditional churning technique, helps make Westgold butter so special.” Yates said they also find there is a real appeal for the West Coast from North Island customers, who associate the region’s rugged beauty with a more natural product.

Top seller: Sales of Westgold butter have just passed the three million mark.

One of Westland’s farmer shareholders is John Marshall. Along with his partner Anna, John milks 180 cows on their 152-hectare farm in Moana, situated 30 minutes inland from Greymouth. Their milk is used to produce Westgold butter. “There is a sense of pride and ownership in seeing the end product on the shelves, and knowing that you helped play a large part in its success,” Marshall said. “Westgold’s three million milestone was achieved extremely quickly, which just goes to show the consumer demand is there. It’s

an amazing achievement in a highly competitive, commoditised market.” Westgold is produced in Hokitika using the Fritz Churn process, which is derived from traditional batch-churning methods. Westgold was first launched in 2004 as an export consumer brand. More than eight million blocks are sold into international markets each year, including Australia, China, Singapore, South Korea and Azerbaijan. This figure is set to increase with the development of new markets and product sizes to meet growing consumer demand.

Watching: Plant supervisor Adam Gorrie keeps a close eye on butter rolling out of the Westgold butter plant in Hokitika.

CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

December 2018

Quite a spring and field day time

❚ with Dr Tony Davoren, Hydro Services While we had an “agenda” the thought processes of those attending meant that subjects got dealt with as the question arose. For first time irrigators (as most were), crop root depth and soil texture got the day started. They were mostly growing ryegrass/ clover pasture and some winter supplement (fodder beet and maize). A long discussion took place about how deep the roots in the pasture would or could penetrate – two diametrically opposite soils; one a heavy Temuka clay loam the other a shallow stony Balmoral sandy silt loam. Roots were about the same depth (4050cm) for two very different reasons. The Temuka was very dense and compacted from about 40-45cm onward and was highly mottled – sure sign of impeded drainage and saturated conditions in the winter or after big rainfall events. 128mm x 100mm The Balmoral had sandy gravels from

A recent field day in Waiau for new irrigators reminded me of a few fundamentals.

about 40cm onward. With little moisture and nutrients in these gravels there is nothing there for the roots. And as irrigators they could see that the highest density of the roots (70-80%) was in the top half of the root depth (the top 20-25cm). The obvious questions then turned to how much water was held in the different soils. A quick lesson in soil texture followed and thanks to the trench dug by the host meant we could get everyone to test their ‘feel’ skills. A couple of drink bottles and a little soil had everyone identifying the difference between silt and clay at the Temuka site – clays are really sticky and not because they are the yellow-brown subsoil. The contrast in the texture with the Balmoral was patently obvious once fingers got a little dirty: sands are gritty to the touch, silts are silky to the touch, and clays are

Canterbury Farming Option1

sticky to the touch. It was a bit of a surprise to most that the only particles that you can see with the naked eye are sand – most are not visible. Not only does texture describe the proportion of clay, silt and sand; most importantly texture is the primary determinant of water holding capacity (with a little help from organic matter). And in our lifetime the texture won’t change – it just isn’t possible to turn a sand particle into silt or a silt particle into a clay particle in the 30-40 years of your farming the land. What one can influence is the amount of organic matter (which primarily glues the particles into aggregates and influences soil structure). What about soil moisture measurement units? The question “what is the difference be-

tween volumetric (V%) and m?” needed to an answer. The answer is “nothing really” – V% is the same as mm/100mm of soil. That is if you measure soil moisture with a V% = 30% it tells you that 30% of the soil volume is water and is the same as 30mm/100mm of soil depth is water. V% doesn’t assign a depth to the measurement – if the measurement is used to describe the moisture for a 100mm depth, well V% and mm are one and the same. However, if you use V% to describe the moisture in a 200mm layer then the soil moisture content is twice the V%. Applying the 30% example above for a 200mm layer would result in 60mm of water in that 200mm depth. The 30degC temperature of the afternoon didn’t curtail the wide ranging questions, but Show Day and an editor deadline has curtailed this article.

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December 2018 CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

CPW brings benefits for farmers and the environment It’s been an interesting start to the irrigation season. We’ve had some good rains which set farmers up well for what could be a challenging summer and autumn, with El Nino conditions expected to affect east coast regions.

❚❚by Andrew Curtis In October, Central Plains Water started operating. Looking back on the history of the scheme, it’s been nearly 30 years in the making with Christchurch City Council and Selwyn District Council first starting investing irrigation development in the early 1990s. To get to where we are now farmers, and the project and construction team who progressed the scheme development, have shown huge perseverance. CPW is one of New Zealand’s largest private infrastructure projects and it was constructed at a time when there was major pressure on labour and specialist skills like engineering in Canterbury. Given this, it’s amazing that it was completed within budget and on time. The scheme is already benefitting the community as Stage 1 alone has allowed 80 million cubic metres of groundwater to remain in aquifers as farmers switch from using groundwater to alpine water. Stage 2 of the project will allow even more water to remain in aquifers. This will allow groundwater fed streams to have improved flows over time. The local water zone committee is also planning to use water from CPW to recharge the Selwyn River. Meanwhile, on the farm, farmers connected to the scheme have certainty that they will have access to water. The scheme can take run of river water when no water restrictions are in place and it can also store water in Lake Coleridge for farmers to use at a lat-

Large scale: Central Plains Water is one of New Zealand’s largest private infrastructure projects.

er date. Better water reliability offers many opportunities to improve production – for example by growing two crops per year, or by moving into higher value crop production. With dry conditions very likely to make an appearance this summer along with the El Nino, now is a good time to think about how you will manage your irrigation over the next few months. Developing an irrigation strategy for scheduling your irrigation will help you get the best use of water. Scheduling involves planning your water application across the season and also for individual irrigation events.

To schedule your irrigation you’ll need to know your soils water holding capacity, the full-point (the point beyond which any water applied is wasted and drains away) and the point at which plant growth starts to drop-off (the stress-point). Soil water infiltration rates are also important as these determine the maximum rate at which water can be applied. IrrigationNZ has developed an online training system on irrigation scheduling which covers how you can use irrigation scheduling to manage within your water budget. The two benefits of scheduling are that it

allows you to plan how to maximise your production within the limited water budget you have available and also saves you money by avoiding any unnecessary irrigation which reduces electricity and often water user charges. Good water planning will also ensure you’re not caught out in the Autumn with no more water available. The online system is free for IrrigationNZ members to use. If you’re interested in finding out more about the system please give us a ring on 03 341 2225 or visit www.irrigationnz.co.nz.

WATER & IRRIGATION

Tony Trewinnard ❚ by ❚ Blue Skies Weather

CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

Mixed bag over summer

This has been, and remains, a tough summer to predict. While there are a number of influences which could shape our summer weather, they are mostly conflicting and not all pointing in the same direction. This is not so unusual in seasonal forecasting, but the summer season is perhaps the most difficult in which to reconcile conflicting inputs. In the Tropical Pacific, sea surface temperature patterns are suggestive of an El Nino pattern, although not the regular type focused in the east of the Pacific, but one which is more central/west, which affects Canterbury’s climate differently to the more usual El Nino – not as dry, not as frequently west to northwesterly based. Closer to home, sea surface temperatures in the Tasman Sea have warmed significantly in the last month or two, in a similar pattern to what we saw early last summer. This will be a key player in our weather patterns for the next few months, assisting and boosting the development of low pressure systems in the Tasman Sea when atmospheric conditions are right. The current solar minimum will bring a continuation of recent disruption to Southern Hemisphere jet streams, making our weather patterns more changeable. Further stratospheric events over Antarctica are possible which disrupt the polar vortex and allow cold air to “leak”, providing fuel for active weather systems in our part of the world. Other global oscillations also moving into a phase which favours more southerly and southwesterly airflow, and less input to

our weather patterns from northerly airflow. So, if we put all these things together we have a very mixed bag indeed. I expect December to be cooler than normal for Canterbury, with southwesterly fronts being a significant weather feature, bringing brief periods of cold air, often accompanied by heavy showers, thunderstorms, hail, and storms. However, the cold outbreaks will be brief, with significant periods of settled weather inbetween, so sunshine hours for the month may be above normal, and rainfall only near normal overall. January and February should be quite changeable months, with a wide range of weather patterns experienced. Some anticyclones will be slow moving, and if they stay fixed in the west then a cold week of mostly southwesterly airflow will result, but if they “block” to the east, then a week of mild, humid northerly airflow will occur. Expect a couple of instances of each of these patterns through the two months. Low pressure systems will be semi-regular occurrences in the Tasman Sea. Although these will affect the North Island more than the South Island, they could bring some significant rain events to Canterbury. Temperatures will vary with some particularly cold outbreaks and some warm periods, but the warmth will come more from northerly airflow then northwesterly, and the cold air

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more from southerly or southeasterly spells stormy wet summer for 19/20. At the moment I am 60/40 in favour of the than southwesterly. Westerly airflow will be relatively weak and La Nina idea for later next year, but it’s a long less frequent than usual, with our weather way away at this time, and we probably need dominated by anticyclones and low pressure to get to April/May next year before we really systems. There are no clear indications of start looking hard at those options. Canterbury experiencing long term drought conditions this summer, although dry fortblue Skies regularly generates six-week outlooks nights are certainly a possibility. and ultra-long range seasonal outlooks (with info Looking beyond this summer, what are the like this article) which are being used by many of clues as to where we might be headed? the country’s largest corporate growers in agriculWeak El Nino summer seasons like this ture and horticulture, and in other fields as well. are usually followed by a significant Tropical Pacific event the following year. Neutral seaTo keep up with the latest, and to support sons are not common following this current canterbury’s only long range forecasting service, pattern. contact blue Skies to subscribe. If we are going to move towards a signifiFor occasional postings about seasonal and cant El Nino in the 2019-20 summer then our long range information check out the blue Skies autumn and winter seasons could be rather Weather Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ wet, cold and stormy, with increased southerBlueSkiesWeather ly and easterly airflows, followed by a warmer, drier summer next time. However, if this current weak El Nino transitions to a La Nina event during the second half of 2019, then I would expect the autumn and winter seasons to rather settled with anticyclones dominating, perhaps dr y, The easiest way to get an accurate perhaps cool, but sunny. weather forecast? Call the only This would be ahead of a LOCAL Canterbury weatherline…

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CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

LIVESTOCK

Corriedale prices bounce back With record high prices being paid for their mid-micron wool, the dual-purpose corriedale sheep is making a comeback on Canterbury farms.

supplied by ❚ Article Wilﬁ eld Corriedales ❚

“This season we’ve probably seen it at the highest levels ever and it’s still holding up around those levels,” CP Wool supply relationship manager Roger Fuller says. Corriedale wool is in the mid-micron range, coarser than most merino fibre but far finer than the crossbred wool that comprises the majority of the New Zealand clip. “Twenty seven micron clean was $10.75/ kg at the most recent sale, so it’s about eight or nine dollars greasy and we haven’t seen that ever, so it’s quite good money,” Fuller says. Once prized by New Zealand and Australian dryland farmers, corriedales (a breed developed by crossing fine-wooled merinos and meaty Lincoln sheep more than a century ago), have been pushed aside over the past 20 years or so as farmers chased more lambs as the expense of quality wool. The breed handles dry conditions well but in the past was often criticised for having low fertility, poor mothering ability, low lamb survivability and being susceptible to footrot. When lamb prices were high and wool returns low, many farmers turned to highly fertile composite breeds and for some, wool became little more than a byproduct. In 2000, the McKinsey report on the state of the New Zealand wool industry saw no future for mid-micron sheep like the corriedale and the half-bred. But nearly 20 years later, the corriedale

‘

corriedale breeders have addressed the breed’s perceived shortcomings. Peter McCusker GG Wrightson wool representative

Bouncing back: corriedale is a much improved breed and its fibre is in demand again.

is a much improved breed and with its fibre now being in demand again, more farmers are buying corriedale rams again. “We have seen a swing back in the last couple of years with these higher wool prices, particularly with the drought in North Canterbury,” says PGG Wrightson wool representative Peter McCusker. “Growers who’d got out of corriedales and into a crossbred composite breed for more lamb production are now realising the corriedale was designed to be able to

withstand dry conditions and bounce back quicker.” McCusker says corriedale breeders have addressed the breed’s perceived shortcomings. “The modern corriedale has been selected for fertility, mothering ability, footrot resistance and lamb survivability. Breeders have been very progressive with any technology that’s been out there to make that breed more suitable with a good cross section of desirable traits.” Wool finer than 28.5 micron, which includes much of the corriedale clip, is now in demand by apparel producers.

Hardy breed: PGG Wrightson wool representative Peter mccusker says the corriedale was designed to be able to withstand dry conditions.

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LIVESTOCK

❚ by rob cochrane

Procurement Manager, ❚ Wool PGG Wrightson Wool ❚

Fine wool season complete at show

The last real volumes of merino wool types for the current season were auctioned during the New Zealand Agricultural Show on November 15, along with a good selection of crossbred wools and a small selection of halfbred types. This year was the third in succession that a live wool auction has been held on the show grounds. By the end the auction approximately $7.5million dollars had in effect changed hands and, whilst it may seem outdated to some, the extremely well-oiled New Zealand wool auction system is very much tried and true with no defaults of payment ever having been recorded over the past more than 100 years. During recent weeks world wool markets have all generally followed a downwards trajectory as demand tapered off considerably for many wool types. While apparel wools from New Zealand and Australia (mainly fine breeds wool such as Merino, Halfbred and Corriedale) had been riding a high throughout the current season, continuing on from the previous season’s also strong pricing, predictions were that those wool types would most likely struggle to maintain their buoyancy due to probable manufacturer and wholesaler price resistance in the face of reduced trading margins. Interior textile and carpet wool types from New Zealand (crossbred types), while certainly having appeared very cheap to buy for the past couple of seasons, had experienced further headwinds already this season as traditional market under-pinning nations, such as China, showed less interest. Exporter and broker predictions prior to the Show auction were for the crossbred market to stagger along at a near stable over-all level, but with the most in-

fluence being that imposed by grower held stocks of poor colour and continually deteriorating greasy wool which, at some stage, will have to be offered for sale. The week prior to show week saw the North Island wool auction at Napier take a significant downturn in price, compared to the previous Christchurch auction, for most of the 8400 bales on offer as exporters appeared to have very strict limits, and approximately 20% of the total offering was passedin failing to reach broker expectation. Falls of between 10% and 15% were commonplace, in what could only be described as an astoundingly disappointing day for wool growers. The Christchurch Show Auction, supported by a full bench of buyers, opened cautiously in the face of a Kiwi dollar which was approximately 4.25% stronger against the Greenback than at the previous South Island wool auction held on October 25. Prices for all types eased by between

3% and 6% depending on type, but with the majority of growers prepared to meet the market, within reason, clearances were relatively high, although when the auction concluded it was estimated that approximately 25% of the total offering, over the three selling broker catalogues, had been passed-in for failing to meet grower reserves. Several lines of merino realised values in excess of those ruling for similar types in Australia the previous day, with robust competition evident from within the temporary auction room, particularly for those high NKT wools in the 18 to 19 micron brackets. A few well grown finer merino hogget types also sold particularly well. Halfbred/Corriedale types were also well sought after although prices did certainly ease. A blanket clean price of just ahead of around 300 cents clean covered most good colour crossbred types regardless of length. Oddments were erratic and difficult to quote. That’s my view.

CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

LIVESTOCK

NZ venison entrenched in Europe The northern European autumn and winter ‘game season’ remains a key market for New Zealand venison, even with the industry’s success in building year-round venison demand in other markets.

❚ by Trevor Walton The region is also breaking with tradition and slowly developing a taste for venison as a summer grilling item. Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) venison marketing manager Nick Taylor says exports of NZ venison to northern Europe for the 2018 game season are expected to be worth about $70 million, about 35 per cent of total venison exports. “Because of successful market diversification, the percentages are well down on what we were seeing 10 years ago, but the northern European game season remains and is likely to remain one of our most important markets,” he says. During September, DINZ executive chef Graham Brown spent three weeks in Europe working with Europe-based chef Shannon Campbell. They supported venison marketers and their in-market partners in Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands, as they laid the groundwork for the 2018 game season. Because of the long hot European summer, the game season began late this year but chefs at NZ venison promotions ordered good quantities for their new menus, Brown said. With prices for the traditional saddle and leg cuts at historically high levels, he said chefs showed a lot of interest in new and less expensive cuts. “Chefs love anything different and challenging so it helps extend their repertoire. It also provides a great opportunity for the industry to get better value from the whole carcass.”

Showing the way: Trainee belgian chefs celebrate what they have learned about New Zealand venison from Kiwi chefs Graham brown (centre) and Shannon campbell (far left)

The Swedish activity – which involved a week’s worth of demonstrations and handson chef and buyer education – went particularly well, reports Taylor. This was followed by another week in Belgium with importer Bimpex, which partners with venison exporters Alliance and Duncan New Zealand. Later, Brown and Campbell supported importers Kiplama at a hospitality show in the Netherlands. Taylor says Campbell also supported Silver Fern Farms with photoshoots for its game season promotions, as well as undertaking in-store tastings in wholesale markets where chefs shop. At Busche Gala, an annual event in Ger-

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many where the country’s gourmet guide is launched, DINZ organised the promotion of New Zealand Venison (Neuseelandhirsch). Chef Matthias Gleiß from VOLT restaurant in Berlin produced a special dish for attendees. “Among many other promotional activities, we have also been engaging with journalists and bloggers around Germany hosting a number of private dinners where they can spend time with prestigious chefs who are supporters of New Zealand venison.” The deer industry was largely founded on demand from the northern European game season and until recent years it has been the main focus of New Zealand’s venison exports. However, reliance on a single, highly seasonal market was a risk for the industry that venison marketers have worked hard to address.

Taylor says the diversification of markets, a key strategy, saw the United States two years ago become the largest year-round market for chilled cuts. In the same period the US also became a major market for manufacturing grade venison. “Within Europe, the industry continues to build a preference for New Zealand farmraised venison over venison from other suppliers. “In recent years, because of growing consumer and chef demand for local produce the challenge of selling products from the other side of the world has become greater. DINZ and venison marketers stress the high standards of food safety and great eating quality which allows the NZ provenance to get cutthrough,” he says.

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CANTERBURY FARMING December 2018

Toyota has record sales month Toyota New Zealand has had its best ever sales month in October with a record total of 5,072 vehicles sold.

❚❚by Kent Caddick Preliminary results show that 5,005 Toyota and 67 Lexus vehicles have been sold in October which is the biggest sales month on record for the company. The previous record was October 2017 with a sales result of 4,449. Toyota vehicle overall sales are up by 12.5% on October 2017, and 1% year to date compared to 2017 sales. “Our fleet and rental sales remain strong with both up on the previous year, while our dealers were only down by 2% despite the significant changes we made to our retail model earlier in the year,” Neeraj Lala, Toyota New Zealand’s general manager of new vehicle sales, said. Fleet sales were up 27% on Oct 2017 with 608 sales, while rental sales were up 17% on Oct 2017 with 3,193. Rental and fleet channels were both up 15% and 7% respectively year to date. The total number of sales can be broken down into 3,193 rentals, 1,204 retail, 234 government and 374 fleet sales. The all-new 2019 Corolla has been doing extremely well with a total number of 211 retail and fleet sales in October which greatly contributed to the overall result and is up 16% on October 2017’s result. Other models that did well in October in the retail and fleet channels were: Yaris up 43% and RAV4 up 6% comparative to October 2017 results. Hilux also had a strong month at 811 total sales. “Our sales were strong across all channels which is very encouraging” Lala said. “Year to date we are in a great position to match our market share from last year. We still have work to do in the retail sector however retail sales were still strong compared to last year’s record new vehicle sales.” Toyota attributes this success to having a combination of a wide model range to meet the needs of all buyers and a formidable reputation for reliability especially amongst its commercial range.

Best seller: Sales of the 2018 Toyota Corolla ZR hybrid hatch has help Toyota toa record sales month.

December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

The anything but boring H9 from Haval For those who don’t know Haval is the premium SUV brand of China’s Great Wall Motors and the H9 is the third Haval to be launched in New Zealand.

❚ by Ken Strugnell The Haval H9 comes in two models, has a pleasing exterior styling hinting at Mercedes GLE from the front and Volvo XC90 side profile, but is still easily identifiable in its own right. Standard are a full ladder chassis, panoramic opening sunroof, heated mirrors, steering wheel and wipers, eight inch infotainment screen, tyre pressure and temperature monitoring, keyless entry and starting. Add in ABS, ESP, hill descent, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, trailer sway control, full side curtain airbags, twin frontal airbags and side airbags, reverse camera with steering lines, auto parking, surround parking sensors with ‘birds eye’ and driver condition monitoring with triple zone climate air, and the H9 is amazingly well specked.

On the road An off road vehicle often compromises ride and handling, but the H9 has sway well dampened and is only noticeable when really pushed hard. Drive enthusiastically taking a 60kmh roundabout at 80kmh and the ESP makes the hazards flash, yet the vehicle is still under full control. Hammer the loud pedal and your licence is at risk... 0-100kmh in 8.5 seconds. Driven carefully just under 10l per 100km

Canterbury Farming Special

Comparable: Favourably compared to the Toyota Prado, the price tag of the Haval H9 ensures it is exceptional value for money.

is attainable. I got 10.8l/100km including off road and city traffic... not bad for a 2.3 tonne vehicle, and the 76 litre tank gives a 700km range at 10.9 l/100km. Powered by a 2 litre turbo petrol 180kW, 350Nm@1800rpm engine, with full time 4WD, 8 speed ZF gearbox with low range and paddle shifters.

obstacles at home on the farm that I challenge all test vehicles. Amazing wheel articulation keeps all four paws grabbing the traction while feeling effortless. Also helping is the instant petrol power, allows idling into a steep slope gaining momentum fast, with a light stab on the go juice.

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With 206mm clearance and 26/23 app/dep angles, I thought not designed to venture off the beaten track. Wrong again! Despite my best efforts, it handled all the

Spacious front seats have slide out thigh supports are 6-way electric heated, cooled and massage. A heated second row with three full adult

sized seats, and an electric folding third row. With nine colour, selectable ‘mood lighting’, an AM/FM USB Ipod MP3 CD and DAB sound options with, height, compass, barometric pressure, inclination and five-mode Sat Nav will keep the tribe happy. Entry/Egress is easy from sidesteps and the quiet cabin is shielded from engine, wind and road sounds. Overall if you’re looking for a seven seat SUV which performs brilliantly in most off and on road conditions, at $43,990 or $47,990, the Haval H9 by Great Wall Motors is exceptional value.

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“It took on, and beat, every obstacle that I’ve seen the Toyotas tackle” - Motoringnz.com

$43,990 LUX *

100,000KM

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SERVICE PRICE

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*RRP NZD INC.GST. Plus On-Road Costs

The new HAVAL H9 impressed the toughest critics, now it’s your turn. You might think the new HAVAL H9 is just another 7-seat city slicker SUV pretending to be a 4x4. That’s why we invited leading motoring experts to see how comfortable and tough the new HAVAL H9 really is. Suffice to say, they were impressed, and we now invite you to test it yourself. With the new HAVAL H9, you can have it all. 131A S t A s a p h S t , C h r i s t c h u r c h 03 - 595 5768 | d r i v e @ c m g m o t o r s . c o . n z Phone Gary: 021 303 559

With over 4 million owners, HAVAL is one of the worlds largest SUV brands and is the No.1 SUV brand in the world’s largest auto market and has been for the past 15 years. In 2017 Brand Finance valued HAVAL as the “World’s Most Powerful SUV Brand”.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

December 2018

Lexus’ brave new evolution in small SUV segment The all-new Lexus UX sets the agenda for the luxury small SUV market with a stunningly brave design and imaginative technology thoughtfully packaged up with a touch of takumi craftmanship.

Options: There are plenty of power and drive options for the all-new Lexus UX including a self-charging hybrid electric engine. tem with day and night-time pedestrian detection and day-time cyclist detection, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing as-

sist with lane centering function, automatic high beam (adaptive high beam system for F Sport and Limited), and road sign assist. P

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Lexus New Zealand will offer seven variants of its eye-catching, bold UX urban crossover when it is launched here in February next year. Comprehensively equipped in base, F Sport and Limited grades, the all-new UX is also offered with a complementary range of specification that amplifies the vehicle’s imaginative technology, safety and luxury specifications. Silky smooth performance is available through a highly tractable and efficient 2.0 litre, four cylinder petrol engine in the conventional UX 200 or self-charging hybrid electric UX 250h configurations. Customers have a choice of front wheel drive in both powertrains or all-wheel drive in the self-charging hybrid electric powertrain option, with prices starting from $59,900 for the UX 200 FWD petrol model. The innovative all-wheel drive E-Four provides electric motor drive to the rear axle, automatically providing extra grip in slippery conditions at lower speeds. “It will be the gateway model into the Lexus family,” says Paul Carroll, Senior General Manager of Lexus New Zealand. “The UX will offer Lexus possibilities to introduce new customers to the brand and increase our total sales from an area of the market we haven’t been in before.” “The renowned Lexus attention to detail and quality execution makes the UX a standout vehicle,” Carroll sdays. Five of the variants are powered by Lexus’ fourth generation self-charging hybrid electric engine. “The advanced drive platform, aerodynamics and refined powertrain create a more responsive steering feel and elegant ride comfort to make driving the UX a truly amazing experience,” Carroll says. “The UX design team have thoughtful-

ly designed interior features that add to the depth, richness and playfulness of the vehicle, elevating the pleasure of every drive.” Some of the colour and trim combinations in the cabin are inspired by Washi which is the paper used in traditional Japanese interior sliding doors to provide a modern sense of décor. While the interior layout is derived from the concept of Omotenashi, with the steering and instrument panel controls all placed for ease of operation for the driver. There are 12 exterior colour options available including the distinctive new Terrane Khaki, Blazing Carnelian and Celestial Blue. The Lexus Safety System+ package comes as standard including a pre-crash safety sys-

supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Lexus New Zealand

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December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

Subaru Forester wins top award The new generation 2019 Subaru Forester SUV, as featured in last month’s Canterbury Farming, has taken out one of the country’s top motoring awards for medium sized SUVs.

❚ by Kent caddick The Forestor was named the 2018 Stuff Motoring Top Medium SUV, as published by one of New Zealand’s largest online news sites stuff.co.nz. This accolade, which is a category in the Stuff Motoring Top Cars 2018 awards, saw Top Cars judge David Linklater raving about the recently-launched, family-friendly SUV. “There’s not a more capable (on-road and off), practical, better-equipped and better value medium SUV on the market,” Mr Linklater said. Not surprisingly Subaru of New Zealand’s managing director Wallis Dumper agreed with him. “Since its inception in 1997, the fifth-generation Forester has evolved into the SUV it is today, which is not only fun for families, but is loaded with technology,” Dumper said. “As more Kiwis who are looking to buy an SUV discover the 2019 Subaru Forester, our expectation is that it will rise in popularity, doubling the previous generation model’s sales volumes. “The first two months of sales already indicate that we are on track to achieve our ambition, with our 16 Authorised Subaru Dealerships around the country reporting record Forester sales.” Dumper said we knew when we first drove the new generation model in Japan, it was

6,990

Going places: Subaru’s 2019 Forester SUV is already picking up motoring awards.

going to be a strong contender for Kiwi families who were looking for an SUV. “We know that awards and excellent reviews from independent sources are helpful to our potential customers and we encourage

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clearance, is bound be a favourite with families nationwide according to Subaru. As with all Subarus, the Forester is AllWheel Drive, which is well-recognised as providing sure-footed stability on all surfaces.

those in the market for a new SUV to take it for a test drive back-to-back against other SUVs to see what the fuss is truly all about.” He said the Forester is spacious, capable and with 220mm of class-leading ground

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Limited time only until the 31st December 2018 or until stocks last

www.cfmoto.co.nz

*Finance offer is valid with participating dealers only. Total cost for CFMoto X500 Farm Spec is $9,954.09 paid via three equal instalments of $3,318.03. Total cost for CFMoto U550 Farm Spec is $15,129.11 paid via three equal instalments of $5,043.03. The initial instalment is in the form of a deposit time of purchase. The second instalment is payable after 12 months where the third (final) instalment is payable after 24 months. These totals equate to the cash price including GST plus a $180.60 application/documentation fee and $10.00 PPSR Lodgement (Total charges of $190.60). Total cost is subject to 0% interest rate and applies specifically to these models only. Normal lending criteria apply. Offers end 31st December 2018.

CANTERBURY FARMING

Home again, home again... A few weeks ago I returned to home. After 70,000 kilometres and a dozen or more countries on a Nuffield International Farming Scholarship, I was ready to be back.

❚ by Solis Norton Sure it sounds a bit parochial but a few things grabbed me on arrival. Their novelty was worn down just quickly enough as the old grind resumed. But in that short window of looking at home as if for the first time they were a deep reminder of how good it is to be back on the farm in this tiny little far flung country at the bottom of the planet. In a rough semblance of order these things would be headed up simply by the air. It’s so remarkably clean and clear, no haze and no stink. But you can only ever notice it briefly and after being far away. Better yet, the smell of spring. Much as we loathe that gorse and broom the scent of those flowers is a most wonderful sign of being back. Even if it reminds me I need to get the Tordon out again and renew my attack on the bottom paddock. Even that uniquely distinctive smell at Auckland airport of the mangroves, and Dunedin airport of silage, but good silage. The sound of the wood pigeons. There were 50 in the broom on the edge of the bush and all taking off together it was like a giant pair of corduroy trousers being rubbed together. And they look great. Next is the taste of our water. At home our supply is off the roof and sure there’s no chlorine to sterilize those few

curious delicacies floating in the bottom of our tank but man it tastes good. Not soapy, not like plastic, and not like it’s been through the mill to make it potable. I might not agree with shipping New Zealand’s water overseas but the consumer appeal is obvious. The kiwi hubbub. In the airports, the supermarkets, the middle of town, the sound of lots of people going about their business in the way that Kiwis do. It’s a steady, industrious kind of a sound with a pioneering note. The hubbub of other countries is definitive too, and while it’s nice to experience, there are few things I enjoy more than hearing our one after being away. The smell of my old dog. It’s a bit of mixed bag this one but I know for sure that pungent waft when she nudges my leg for a pat means I’m back home. Those scraggly old teeth grinning up, the delighted old eyes and that terrible breath. The cloud of grey hair and dust when she has a shake and wanders slowly back to snooze wherever the sun has warmed the front lawn. I wouldn’t have traded the Nuffield experience for anything. It has been an eye opener and opportunity to experience the world’s primary food production systems. Just as much as it has been an eye opener and opportunity to experience how good it is at home.

December 2018

❚ with rob cope-Williams

Once over lightly belies the reality

I know I am vocal about the national media and things they say or don’t say, but I do wish they were more focussed on reality rather than chasing things that really don’t seem to matter to New Zealand and our economy. The Papua New Guinea situation is one that riled me to the point of wanting to scream. Our Government gave Papua New Guinea $15,000,000.00 to go towards their hosting an international leaders talk fest. I’m sure the PNG Government were very grateful, especially as they had just bought forty, yes 40, Maserati cars for their officials and members of their Parliament. Winston Peters had the job to justify the expense. He said, “We need to help PNG to develop their productivity”. Yup, that’s a lovely sentiment, but surely an open cheque for a nation who blows goodness knows how much on a fleet of expensive cars is only going to blow the lot on luxuries rather than investing in R and D projects and education programmes. The thing that wound me up was that our Government had taken away $40 million from the farming industries plans for irrigation works. Surely our “development of productivity” should come well before anyone else’s. The fact that the Government, in reality,

took $40 million off the primary sector only to give nearly half of it to another country seems ridiculous to me, but the media didn’t even mention it. Is it because the media don’t know, don’t listen, or simply don’t care? The farming industry has been rattling along for years trying to be heard, but it seems to always fall on rocks rather than fertile soil. Why do leaders of city centred businesses get Knighthoods, when farming leaders don’t get a mention? I remember when the outgoing national President of Federated Farmers always got a Knighthood for services to farming, and therefore New Zealand, but that stopped a long time ago. I suppose if the Government doesn’t rate farming, nor do the media. Plus of course, they really don’t like good news do they, they are masters of the tall poppy brigade. Thanks for letting me blow off steam about an issue I am passionate about.

December 2018

CANTERBURY FARMING

B U I L T

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FENDT 700 SERIES

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When you’re a serious player, good just doesn’t cut it. Make your daily work a thing of perfection with the Fendt 700 Vario. This flexible high-horsepower tractor is a refined unit of power, manoeuvrability, precision, functionality and comfort. With low cost of ownership, get the drive for better performance and a boost in your bottom line with the Fendt 700 Vario.

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says you’re serious.