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February 2019 Edition
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The needle and the damage done Toughening up: Harsher penalties are on the cards for those involved in food contamination like the recent ‘needles in the strawberries’ scare.
Tougher punishments for food contamination terrorism ❚ by Kent Caddick
p31 Nuffield domination
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Farmers’ organisations are backing a move to change the law to allow for harsher penalties for those who intentionally contaminate food, or threaten to do so. The Crimes (Contamination Offences) Amendment Bill has been drafted by National MP Nathan Guy, formerly the Minister for Biosecurity. It comes in the wake of last year’s Australian strawberry needle scare which triggered copycat offences in New Zealand. Thousands of strawberries had to be destroyed as needles started showing up in the fruit across stores. Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman says people need to understand the full and serious implications of such sabotage.
“People may think they are being funny but in fact, they could damage the international reputation of New Zealand as a source of safe food, affecting our trade and consequently, the country’s balance sheet. “They can also cause economic, physical, and psychological damage to food producers who may have to destroy crops, lay off staff, and deal with reputational damage. “There could be food shortages, and there are certainly impacts on consumers, particularly those who are on the receiving end of any deliberate contamination and the stress that might cause them. “These are serious impacts and we believe intentional acts to contaminate food, or threaten to do so, should be aligned in law with similar crimes and aligned with penalties in Australia.
“New Zealand food producers have many systems and processes in place to ensure they provide safe food, and spend a lot of time and money meeting all the requirements to do that. “If their food is sabotaged once it leaves their business, they can rightly expect that to be treated as a crime, and punished in proportion to the serious impacts.” Federated Farmers Food Safety spokesperson Andrew Hoggard said the needle scares crushed spirits and trust. “You do not deliberately contaminate food without wanting to cause terror. “These are deliberate acts designed to cause incredible anxiety and economic sabotage,” Chapman said.
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Deliberate contamination not the first FROM PAGE 1 Hoggard says this was not New Zealand’s first rodeo when it came to deliberate food contamination. “In 2016, Jeremy Hamish Kerr was sentenced to eight and a half years for threatening to spike baby formula with 1080. “At the time of sentencing the New Zealand Herald reported the crime cost the country more than $37 million.” Hoggard says if tougher penalties are to be introduced they must be backed with resourcing, Andrew says. “There’s no point in waving a flag about an issue and then not resourcing organisations such as the police, the judiciary or the Ministry for Primary Industries to follow through with enforcement. “Politicians at all levels are great at talking about harsher penalties and regulations,
Christchurch Office 03 377
“
I’ve seen the needle and
the damage done. a little part of it in everyone... Neil Young
but are very relaxed about the details on how those processes will work and how they’ll be funded.” Chapman says HortNZ believes there should be stricter penalties to act as a deterrent to people thinking about contaminating food, so that they know they are facing a long stint in prison if they do this. “A woman in Australia faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, if convicted, for charges of goods contamination after needles were found in strawberries there. “We would like to see people convicted for similar crimes in New Zealand face similar sentences,” Chap2721 man says.
Calls for better coverage for all Better connectivity coverage is needed for rural business and communities to thrive according to Federated Farmers.
❚ by Kent Caddick Feds telecommunications spokesperson Andrew Hoggard says it is good the Government has pledged investment into delivering broadband and mobile coverage to 99.8% of the population over the next four years, because the current ser vice is sporadic. “Coverage is incredibly patchy. It makes farmers, rural based businesses and the communities they ser ve feel isolated. “The poor ser vice that exists for many rural communities has become expected, but our members are well over it.” Hoggard says the Rural Broadband Initiative is being built to replace what many rural based people have to rely on – essentially a swiftly aging copper line network that is becoming increasingly expensive to operate.
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“If the project is going to be finished and up to a standard people can rely on in four years then amazing. “Ever yone expects projects to take time. But nothing is ever that simple. The issue is broader than building new towers.” He says the $40million set aside for the coverage expansion is great, but it can’t stop there. “Rural has had enough of being the afterthought. We need more reliable land line ser vices. “We need mobile coverage that is better than expecting someone to stand on a remote fence post on the farm and internet connections that remain stable throughout the day and night.” Hoggard says it is important that when completion approaches, the Government runs a review to find any gaps in ser vice deliver y and fixes them.
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February 2019
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New chief executive for IrrigationNZ IrrigationNZ’s new chief executive Elizabeth Soal takes up the reins of organisation this month.
❚ by Kent Caddick Soal was appointed to the position late last year following the resignation of then chief executive Andrew Curtis who officially ended his role with the organisation in late Januray. IrrigationNZ Board Chair Nicky Hyslop says IrrigationNZ has recently adopted a new strategy which focuses on creating an environment for the responsible use of water for food production. “As part of the strategy we will be focusing on advocacy, encouraging innovation through sharing ideas and adopting new technology, developing a robust information base, bringing the irrigation sector, researchers and decision makers together to make better decisions for our future and creating world-leading irrigation standards. “Elizabeth has a strong background in water management, law and policy and she will help contribute to all of these goals but she is particularly well qualified to contribute to national discussions as we seek to achieve solutions to complex issues around water allocation which result in good outcomes for both communities and the environment.” Soal says she is looking forward to leading the implementation of IrrigationNZ’s new strategy which she thinks will take the industry in a really positive direction. “Managing our freshwater effectively whilst reducing our environmental footprint is critical for the wellbeing of our communities and for New Zealand as a whole. “I’m excited about the opportunity to participate in national-level discussions about these important issues.” Saol has worked as the Director of Strategy and Policy at Waitaki Irrigators Collective for the past eight years. She also served on IrrigationNZ’s board from 2011 to 2016, and
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elizabeth has a strong background in water management, law and policy. She is particularly well qualified to contribute to national discussions around water allocation. Nicky Hyslop IrrigationNZ Board Chair
until recently she sat on the Technical Committee of the International Alliance for Water Stewardship, based in Edinburgh. She has previously worked as a policy advisor for the Ministry of Social Development, at the Ministry of Justice, and at law firms in New Zealand and England. She has a Master of Arts in Politics, a First Class Honours Degree in Politics and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Otago, and is currently working towards a PhD in Geography which focuses on freshwater governance in New Zealand. She has also previously chaired North Otago Women’s Rugby and was the deputy chair of the North Otago Rugby Union. Federated Farmers is welcoming the new appointment. “Federated Farmers maintains an excellent working relationship with Irrigation
New job: Former deputy chair of the North Otago rugby union elizabeth Soal has been named as IrrigationNZ’s new chief executive. New Zealand,” Feds water and environment spokesperson Chris Allen says. “Elizabeth has the credentials and background, including her strategy and policy work for the Waitaki Irrigators Collective, to help ensure INZ continues its excellent work. “Reliable water supply and storage, as well as its use in an environmentally sustainable way, is crucial for food growers and exporters, and thus to the vitality of provincial New Zealand. This will be even more important as the impacts of climate change bite.”
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CANTERBURY FARMING February 2019
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Backing calls for tougher penalties on deliberate food contaminators National is determined to be a constructive opposition working on new ideas and new policies.
Nathan Guy ❚ by Party spokesperson, ❚ National ❚ Primary Industries We’re doing the work now because we don’t want to be like the current Government, which didn’t do the work in Opposition and has now set up more than 200 reviews and working groups costing $280 million so far to figure out what to do. That’s why over the last couple of months, we’ve put hard work into coming up with a Member’s Bill that backs calls from the food and grocer y sector for tougher penalties for those who intentionally contaminate our food or threaten to do so. My Member’s Bill seeks to achieve what the Labour-led Government appears unwilling to do – protect New Zealanders from those that would threaten our food safety, be they reckless pranksters or people intent on nothing less than economic sabotage. Recent events here in New Zealand and across the Tasman, such as the strawberr y needle scares, have identified the need for greater sanctions to prevent these sor ts of idiotic behaviours. The food and grocer y sector has been ignored in its calls for tougher laws. Australia has already acted, passing stricter laws that seek to deter these criminals who contaminate food and water sources. New Zealand now lags behind our near
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all parties in Parliament should support what is a common sense response to threats to our food safety.
neighbour, meaning offenders have less to fear if they are caught. Food tampering is not only economic sabotage on farmers and growers but also poses significant risks for consumers and New Zealand’s reputation as a producer of high quality and safe food. Parliament should send a strong message to anyone who considers food tampering. New Zealand should not be seen as a soft touch, and it is unacceptable that the Government has ignored calls
from industr y for stif fer penalties. The Crimes (Contamination Offences) Amendment Bill would help deter this offending by creating three new offences in the Crimes Act and will increase those penalties to align them with the more serious offences of corruption, espionage, treason and piracy. This Bill recognises the serious physical, psychological and economic effects of such actions. New Zealanders need to know their food is safe and manufacturers should be
protected from economic loss such offenders can cause. All parties in Parliament should support what is a common sense response to threats to our food safety. New Zealand shouldn’t be held to ransom by a reckless and foolish few. National will deliver on the things that are important to New Zealanders. We will keep working on plans and proposals that will make New Zealand safe for our families and communities.
CANTERBURY FARMING
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February 2019
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Fierce competition for FMG Young Farmer of the Year A South Canterbury dairy farmer is facing stiff competition in his bid to make it to the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final.
❚ by Kent Caddick Adam Judd, 28, is one of eight contestants who’ll face off in the Aorangi regional final of the prestigious contest this month in Oamaru. The vice-chair of Timaru Young Farmers is an assistant manager on a 720-cow dairy farm at Pleasant Point. This will be his third attempt at winning the regional final. “I really enjoyed competing last year. I’m hoping that having done it before will give Second attempt: after finishing me a bit of an advantage,” Judd said. runner-up in last year’s aorangi But four of the other contestants also regional final of the young Farmhave experience competing in hotly-contester of the year, Josh Mcatamney of ed regional finals. Josh McAtamney, 30, contract milks 950 Carew, is looking to go one better cows and fattens bulls at Carew. It will be in this year’s contest. the former shepherd’s second time competing. He was runner-up in last year’s event. “I enjoy the practical modules and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into this regional final. It should be exciting,” McAtamney said. The pair will face-off against Alan Harvey, 27, who’s an Oamaru-based agricultural consultant with Agri Planz. It’s the former agronomist’s fourth attempt at clinching a coveted spot in the FMG Timaru dry stock farmer William Ellis, 28, Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final. “I grew up watching the contest on televi- has also spent time planting canola, wheat sion and it’s an event I’ve always aspired to and barley across the Tasman. “It’s anyone’s game going into the regionbe a part of,” he said. Harvey has worked on a high-yielding al final. It looks like it will be evenly contest400-hectare irrigated cotton farm and har- ed again this year,” Ellis said. The other four regional finalists are Campvested grain in Australia.
bell Sommerville (Methven), Ezekiel Turner (Rakaia Gorge), Billy Dowle (Rakaia Gorge) and Kerry Watson from Five Forks inland from Oamaru. The Aorangi regional final will take place on February 23.Contestants will tackle a series of gruelling practical and theoretical
modules at the Oamaru A&P Showgrounds. The Aorangi event is the second of seven regional finals being held across the country between February and April. The regional winners will face off at the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final in Hawke’s Bay in July.
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2018 did not go gently andrew Wyllie ❚ with Forsyth Barr ❚
In early October with the United States Federal Reserve funds rate sitting at 2.25%, United States unemployment at multi-decade lows and GDP growth above trend, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell commented in an interview that United States interest rates “were a long way from neutral” and that the tightening cycle underway “had a long way to go”.
While not widely reported, this inter view was enough to spook a market that had become used to near zero interest rates, unlimited liquidity and Central Banks that responded suppor tively ever y time equity markets started to wobble. This star ted an end-of-year sell-off in equities that continued throughout the final quarter. At the same time as markets were digesting the end of the ‘Central Bank putoption’, the calamitous Brexit negotiations were dragging on, protestors were rioting in the streets of Paris and the Trump initiated trade war with China was escalating with the arrest of a Huawei executive in Canada. Because China has been a key driver of growth over the past 15 to 20 years, slower protectionist orientated growth is a negative for the global economy. At the same time, global liquidity is tightening as the United States hikes interest rates and the Federal Reser ve continues to reduce its bloated balance sheet. Slowing global manufacturing and demand from China has hit the commodity
sector with emerging markets under particular stress. Emerging markets also generally borrow in United States dollars and with United States interest rates rising and liquidity tightening, emerging market currencies are weakening. At the end of December, the Federal Reser ve did tighten rates again to 2.50%, but also lowered its growth expectation for 2019 slightly and reduced the number of expected rates hikes in 2019 to two. The European Central Bank also announced the end of its bond purchases, but indicated it would continue to suppor t the market by reinvesting interest income and principal maturities from the US$3 trillion it has purchased so far.
Investment crossroads The world economy is at an investment crossroads, with still strong momentum in the United States but slowing growth elsewhere. Tax cuts and additional fiscal stimulus have boosted growth in the United States but the effects of this should wear off during 2019.
This will leave the United States with large fiscal deficits and a wall of maturing corporate debt at the same time that interest rates are increasing. The United States-China trade war and United States monetar y policy have been destabilising factors for the rest of the world, as a slowdown in China has hit demand from expor ters in Japan, South Korea and Germany. Concern about global growth has been reflected in falling long-term interest rates which, on a positive note, have boosted returns from bond investments both domestically and globally over the last quar ter. Inflation data has softened in recent months and this has also been reflected in declining break-even inflation rates globally. But a fur ther hit to global trade and commodity prices could be a deflationar y shock at a time when global growth is already faltering. The leaders of the United States and China will do well to consider this in their trade negotiations during the first few months of 2019.
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Valuations – glass half full or half empty? Equity valuations have corrected sharply over the last three months to 31 December. The broad multiple for the United States S&P500 index has fallen to 14.3 as at the end of December, after being in excess of 18 in late 2017. Assuming there is no recession in 2019, this represents good value based on historical comparisons. But valuations reflect a combination of future earnings plus inflation and interest rates. If interest rates rise more than expected, the risk premium for growth assets must also increase, which puts downward pressure on valuations. In late 2017 when the global economy was enjoying synchronised growth, European for ward earnings were extrapolated based on conditions at the time. This was clearly an error which has been reflected in the poor relative per formance of European sharemarkets during 2018. The global economy has some challenges ahead. Valuations are more attractive after the correction in the three months to 31 December, but slower economic growth will mean slower earnings growth. Central Banks are withdrawing stimulus and liquidity is tightening. Corporate and government debt levels are high and refinancing costs will increase as rates rise. 2019 could be a watershed year where politics, policies and populism all either clash, or enough compromise is reached to keep momentum running for another year or two. This report covers the three months ending 31 December 2018.
When you are thinking about your investment options, talk 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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If you’re new to investing please see Forsyth barr’s Introduction to Investing guide available at www.forsythbarr.co.nz/investing-with-us/ new-to-investing or to discuss your investment options please contact andrew Wyllie, an authorised Financial adviser with Forsyth barr in Christchurch. He can be contacted regarding portfolio management, fixed interest, or share investments on 0800 367 227 or andrew.wyllie@ forsythbarr.co.nz. This column is general in nature and should not be regarded as personalised investment advice. Disclosure Statements are available for Forsyth barr authorised Financial advisers on request and free of charge.
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bessie Paterson LLb ❚ with ❚ Ronald W Angland & Son The Property (Relationships) Act has been under review for some time. The Act was first past over 40 years ago and while it has been considerably extended and modified over that time, it is always worthwhile to see if it meets our way of living in the 21st century. Prior to the enactment of the legislation many women fared very badly financially on the break-up of a relationship and many were forced to remain in situations which would be unacceptable today. Briefly the Act imposes an obligation for the parties to a relationship of 3 years or more to divide their relationship property equally when the relationship ends unless they have already entered an agreement to contract out of the obligation to share equally. One of the hall marks of the present regime was to impose a clean break on the failure of a relationship. The proposals which are presently being considered modify the requirement to share equally. It is proposed that, if the family home was owned by one partner prior to entering into the relationship, only the increase in value of the home would be shared equally. The Family Court would also be given greater powers to deal with property
February 2019
Reviews of legislation
The Labour Coalition Government promised to undertake reviews of much of our legal system if it became the government after the last election. True to their promise there are a lot of proposals for us to consider. would be sentenced to life with a non-parole period of ten years. Judges have a discretion to impose a non-parole term of more than 10 years in more serious cases. It is likely that a review of murder will not proceed but it is always worthwhile to have a discussion to consider whether the law is appropriate in the 21st century. This article has been prepared by bessie Paterson, a Partner at ronald W angland & Son, Solicitors, 2 Chapman Street, Leeston.
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which is held in a trust. The interests of the children of a relationship would be given higher priorities and the parents would need to take that into account on a break up. Another suggestion has been made by a university academic to alter the law relating to murder. This also is not a new concept. Where one person intentionally kills another it is usual for them to be charged with murder. The hallmark of murder is the intent to kill. The American legal system provides
for degrees of murder so that where an offender is charged with first degree murder, they have committed a murder in the course of violent crime or some other serious offence. Our legislation provides that anyone convicted of murder must be sentenced to life imprisonment. If there are no aggravating circumstances the offender
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Rodeo risks our animal welfare integrity and brand You can trust me to say what I think. I’m not going to mince words or write something I think people want to read – I think rodeos should be banned.
❚ by Gareth Hughes
I know many people reading this may like to attend or even participate in rodeos but I believe they are animal cruelty dressed up as entertainment, they don’t represent modern stockmanship, and they risk our agricultural brand. Rodeo first emerged from Mexico and the western United States in the early Nineteenth Century, demonstrating managing cattle and horses in that environment. They became increasingly organised in the 1920s and popularised in the 1970s. They were designed to showcase the skills needed on western ranches of herding and roping cattle. The techniques on display in New Zealand rodeos show the athleticism of the participants but very little about modern New Zealand farming practises. Take the modern calf roping event. Here a calf as young as three months is chased out of a cage by a rider on a horse, lassoed around the neck at speed; the cowboy dismounts pushes the calf of its feet and the legs are tied up. Do this on a farm and you could be investigated. Do it in front of a crowd at a rodeo and it is called entertainment. Rodeo events rely on inflicting pain and fear in animals to get them to perform. Rodeos only “work” when animals are running for their lives, riled up and bucking wildly. Common injuries include broken ribs, backs and legs, punctured lungs, deep internal organ
bruising, haemorrhaging, ripped tendons, torn or stretched ligaments and muscles, broken necks, torn trachea, spinal damage and disc rupture, bruising, and subcutaneous tissue damage. Last year four animals died at rodeo events but we will never know the total number of deaths at events or trainings because the numbers are not publicly disclosed. Many rodeos now refuse to allow people to film the events to try and stop footage from reaching the public. When the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee looked at rodeo last year they found only one event, barrel racing, didn’t have moderate or serious welfare concerns. I believe the rodeo presents a negative image to the world of New Zealand’s animal welfare standards and farming practises. Rodeos are banned in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, and specific events like calf-roping are outlawed in many others including Canada and Germany. Closer to home, Auckland Council prohibits rodeo on council-owned land and a 2016 Horizon poll found 59 per cent of Kiwis want to see an end to rodeo, with 68 per cent stating they felt closest to the statement that “Rodeo causes pain and suffering to animals and it is not worth causing this just for the sake of entertainment”. A number of vets, and groups such as the SPCA, have also spoken out against rodeo. I know many Kiwi farmers take animal wel-
‘
I believe the rodeo presents a negative image to the world. Gareth Hughes
fare seriously and they take great care of their stock but the pain and terror inflicted on rodeo animals for entertainment paints our entire agricultural sector in a negative light. Our
primary industries are facing many challenges from biosecurity, water quality, changing weather patterns, and the growth of artificial milks and meats so why would we risk our brand with poor animal welfare practises? The Green Party believes animals should not suffer to provide entertainment for people. We support a ban on the use of animals in rodeo events and are calling on the Minister for Animal Welfare to at least stop the events with the most welfare concerns - calf roping and steer wrestling. New Zealand is a country that prides itself on its high animal welfare standards and this should extend from our farms, homes and entertainment.
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FARMING NEWS
CANTERBURY FARMING February 2019
11
Emissions reductions an issue for the farming sector too While agriculture is currently exempt from New Zealand’s obligations under the Paris Treaty, there is still plenty that farmers can do.
Steve Lowndes ❚❚By Environment Canterbury Chair ❚❚
In my view farmers will be better off if they reduce greenhouse gases sooner, rather than later, through a phased introduction to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and reduce the risk of a more rapid entry later. There are also opportunities for farmers to offset emissions by planting trees and growing forests, which will help New Zealand meet its obligations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. On our current track we are unlikely to meet our Paris Treaty reductions without significant forest planting and other actions such as purchasing credits from overseas. It’s worth noting that nearly 10 years ago then Prime Minister John Key made a commitment to halve our country’s emissions by the year 2050. The current government has picked up that mantle and plans to introduce the Zero Carbon Bill to Parliament in 2019, following extensive consultation last year. The only certainty is that a regime to address climate change is coming, and I am as keen as anyone to understand new policy and what requirements might be placed on individuals and industry, including the agricultural sector, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As an organisation we need to work out how we can assist. We recognise that many individual farmers, communities and even councils may not have the resources to respond effectively to
climate change, so we are encouraging central government to consider that funding and resourcing must be made available. While councils such as ours and communities are focused on adaptation (dealing with the effects of climate change), at the national level the Government is working on mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions). The agricultural sector may end up having to adapt to climate change as well as mitigate its causes. Whatever changes are made, they need to be done equitably and at the lowest possible cost. It is encouraging the government has indicated the obligation to reduce emissions would not start unless there were economically viable and practical technologies available, and that our trading partners make more progress in reducing their emissions. We also see collaboration – councils working together with industry, communities, and tangata whenua – as a key way to achieve a reduction in emissions. This would reflect how we’ve working in fresh water management over the past 10 years with the implementation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. In addition to planting trees or diversifying crops, our advice to farmers is to find out more about climate changes and the regulatory and policy changes that may impact the sector. And remember – small incremental changes now are much easier than a large mandatory change further down the track.
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February 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
❚ with rob Cope-Williams
Shade and water There seems to be a fast growing trend for “townies” to complain about animal health matters that they know little or nothing about. You will agree that a dair y cow can look, to someone who knows nothing about dair y cows, as though they are star ving because their pin bones stand out compared to a beef breed. Sadly that point keeps the authorities ver y busy following up complaints from people who are cycling or driving past herds of dair y cows. I am not going anywhere near the subject of cattle in water ways as you will have your own views of the use of cell phone cameras and social media, but there are some new ones hitting the “are you serious” area about complaints. During a hot summer as we are having “townies” are taught to wear hats, put on sun block and of course drink lots of water, which is all well and good, but having gone well overboard with all that, they are now focussing on your stock. I know that the ideal is for stock to have shade for the heat of the day and yes they do need clean water and lots of it, but that isn’t always practical. The water should be, but the shade isn’t. I suppose the answer is to plant trees and shelter belts again as wind and irrigation booms have taken their toll on many,
but of course replanting takes time before being useful. That opens the door for varieties and what to grow where. I am a great suppor ter of using corners of paddocks for trees, especially ones that flower or attract bird life, unless of course you happen to be a cropping farmer or have a vineyard, but on that point, the “townies” don’t complain about crops and vines being in the sun. I recently saw a rear window sticker saying “Don’t comment on my dog’s behaviour and I won’t comment on your kid’s behaviour” Change that slightly and we have a strong message for those who know absolutely nothing about farming in general and livestock in par ticular. The media are doing enough damage highlighting the ver y few workers who treat animals badly, without the ill-informed adding to it. Don’t they realise that unhappy stock doesn’t produce anything whether it’s milk, meat or wool, and that farmers rely on production to sur vive. You aren’t going to win the battle of people ringing the authorities, but spike as many of their guns as you can.
❚ with John arts
Helping arthritic joints I am often asked whether cartilage lost through osteoarthritis can regenerate through taking supplements.
Part 1
Maybe I can answer this with an example. Last year I received a call from a man in his late 60’s with osteoarthritis in his knees. This really affected his mobility and reduced his quality of life. I put him on an anti-inflammatory eating plan and added two supplements. The first was Omega 3 fish oil at therapeutic doses. I then added my joint formula at a double dose. This meant he was taking 1600mg of high grade chondroitin and 1600 of glucosamine with 400mg of high potency 95% curcumin turmeric extract. Within 3 months the swelling had gone down and the pain abating. Now 6 months later he has regained his mobility and can now do the recreational pastimes he had previously stopped. The evidence that cartilage damaged by arthritis can significantly regenerate is poor. There is evidence that high doses of chondroitin can help cartilage but it seems that once your cartilage is lost then it is gone. This of course begs the question as to why his knees improved so much. There is good evidence that high levels of chondroitin can help improve the function of whatever cartilage remains. It does this
by giving the specialised cells called chondrocytes that maintain cartilage the raw materials to improve cartilage function. However most of the improvements are likely from reducing inflammation within the joint capsule. Curcumin from turmeric, chondroitin sulphate and EPA from Fish oil are very anti-inflammatory. Shutting down these inflammatory processes can help reduce swelling, fluid build-up and subsequently making joints more comfortable. The best approach is to contact me for a personalised joint health programme. 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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FARMING NEWS
CANTERBURY FARMING
February 2019
13
Country of origin labelling a boost to local farmers NZ Pork says the passing of the Consumers’ Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Act late last year will provide a boost for local farmers by making it much easier for Kiwi consumers to choose to buy local produce.
❚ by Kent Caddick The new Act means the country or place of origin of selected regulated food must be disclosed by referring to where it was grown, caught, or raised, rather than simply where it was packaged or processed. Regulated foods include fresh or frozen fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and seafood products that are minimally processed. The Act also makes special provision to include cured pork. To avoid having the legal requirements for country of origin labelling spread across several Acts, on the recommendation of the Primary Production Select Committee, the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will establish the new country of origin of food regulations under the Fair Trading Act. NZ Pork chairman Eric Roy said New Zealand’s commercial pork industry, which has been inundated by a flood of imported pork, will be particularly heartened by the news. “Although Kiwis tell us they prefer to buy born and raised in New Zealand pork, bacon and ham, it is often very difficult to tell from current labelling where a product comes from,” Roy said. “Lack of information on country of origin of pork, bacon and ham has been a significant contributor, we believe, to the growth of sales of imported pork – many people are
surprised to learn how much imported product is consumed in this country.” According to NZ Pork, while around 60% of pork consumed in New Zealand is imported, for cured pork products like bacon and ham, the proportion of imports is up to 85%, with products often marketed as ‘made in New Zealand from imported and local ingredients’. Roy said almost all imported pork (94%) comes from countries whose production systems would be illegal in New Zealand. “Yet New Zealand has no authority to require that imported pork meets the welfare standards required of our New Zealand producers. “This legislation will help to level the playing field for local producers and give consumers a fair opportunity to choose where the food they buy for their families comes from. “It may also help manage some of the biosecurity risks the industry has identified, associated with imported pork.” Pork is currently imported into New Zealand from more than 25 countries around the world, including China, Poland and Estonia, as well as Denmark and Spain. Earlier in the year, NZ Pork sounded the alarm on the risks to the local industry of importing pork from these countries, all of which have reported outbreaks of the deadly African Swine Fever virus.
Right move: NZ Pork chairman eric roy says the Country of Origin of Food act is good news for farmers.
NZ Pork praised the work of all parties who supported the legislation, as well as the efforts of the Primary Production Select Committee. “In particular, we’d like to recognise the efforts of Greens MP Gareth Hughes in managing the Bill through the House and recognising and addressing the concerns of New Zealand’s commercial pig farming industry when cured pork products, such as bacon and ham, were excluded from consideration for the legislation.” Once the country of origin regulations are
gazetted, producers and retailers have up to six months to meet labelling requirements for all included foods, except for frozen products, for which labelling requirements need to be met in 18 months – to reflect their longer ordering and storage time. “We’ll be working closely with both regulators and the industry to ensure the process is as simple and seamless as possible,” Roy said. “Our hope is that, by working alongside everyone involved, we can start having farmers and consumers realising the benefits of the new legislation as soon as possible.”
"We’ve now been able to afford to lime our hill country for the first time. The lower application rates made it affordable with application and cartage."
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February 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
New Landcorp chair appointed Former Scion chief executive Dr Warren Parker has been appointed as director and chair of Landcorp.
❚ by Kent Caddick
New job: Dr Warren Parker has stepped into the chairman’s role at Landcorp.
Landcorp is New Zealand’s largest agricultural enterprise. Its core business is pastoral farming, running 1.5 million stock units (sheep, deer, beef and dairy cattle) on 126 properties totalling 372,115 hectares under management. Dr Parker is a former chief executive of Scion (the NZ Forest Research Institute) and Landcare Research, and was previously chief operating officer of AgResearch. He currently holds a number of board roles including on Predator Free 2050 Ltd, Farmlands Cooperative Society, Genomics Aotearoa and is the chair of the Forestry Ministerial Advisory Group. Until recently he was chair of the New Zealand Conservation Authority.
Dr Parker has a PhD in Animal Science and was previously a Professor of Agribusiness and Resource Management at Massey University, where he spent 18 years in various roles, including supervising the 9,000 stock unit Riverside Farm in the Wairarapa. Minister of Finance Grant Robertson said we are lucky to have someone of Dr Parker’s experience and ability to take over the chair’s role at Landcorp,
McEvedy elected to Westland Milk Products board of directors
the nation’s largest farming enterprise. “Dr Parker is one of the most experienced experts in New Zealand’s primary industries, operating at the most senior levels across sectors as a scientist, teacher, manager and, most recently, in governance roles,” Robertson said. Associate Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Shane Jones said effective stewardship of Landcorp is vitally important. “This company plays a significant role in New Zealand agriculture and our regions,” Jones said. “Dr Parker’s experience across a wide range of primary industries will give him the ability to look across all the work of Landcorp and ensure that the shareholder is receiving value for money from our investment.”
Canterbury’s Pat McEvedy has been elected to the by the co-operative’s shareholders.
❚ by Kent Caddick Ellesmere-based McEvedy has farmed as a sole trader and in partnerships since 1982. He’s had business interests on the West Coast since 2008 and been with Westland since 2010 through his role as a shareholder of Shooting Creek Dairy, south of Hokitika.
He has governance experience as an independent director of Sicon, an infrastructure and services company, and been a Selwyn District Councillor since 2010, including serving as chair of the property and commercial committee. “Pat brings a broad knowledge of the agricultural sector developed through his farm
ownership and governance roles,” Westland Milk chairman Pete Morrison said. “He has a depth of experience with environment-related issues, and working with councils to represent farmer interests.” McEvedy replaces former director Frank Dooley who decided not to seek re-election after nearly nine years on the Board.
New role: Westland Milk Products’ newest shareholder-elected director, Pat Mcevedy at the co-operative’s annual general meeting in Hokitika.
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FARMING NEWS
15
Tackling the plethora of plastic waste Supporting farmers and growers to clear more waste and preserve New Zealand farms for future generations is the mission of the rural recycling programme, Agrecovery.
❚❚Article supplied by Agcarm
In tackling the plastic used by our rural communities, the leading product stewardship programme recycles over 300 tonnes per year - enough plastic to cover a rugby field six feet high. Rural communities share the desire to reduce and reuse, spurred on by an increasingly discerning consumer market. These consumers expect to see past the farm gate and understand the story behind the products they are purchasing. Much of this expectation involves sustainable practices due to an increasing awareness of the appropriate use of plastics in industry and everyday life. For the past 12 years, Agrecovery has recycled empty agrichemical, animal health and dairy hygiene containers from participating brands. With steady volumes being collected since its inception, in the past year volumes have skyrocketed as farmers and growers get on the recycling bandwagon. Since the programme commenced, it has diverted over 2,000 tonnes of plastic. This is then repurposed in New Zealand as underground cable cover. So it’s a completely sustainable solution. Farmers and growers are able to drop off empty plastic containers at close to 80 dropoff points across New Zealand. For those with high volumes, or for more than three large plastic drums, on-farm pick-ups can be arranged. Success has been driven by farmers, growers, manufacturers and industry collaborating to ensure an easy to access system that works for all. The programme also offers safe disposal of unwanted or expired agrichemicals and has collected over 100 tonnes of them so far.
Recycle: Farmers and growers can drop off empty plastic containers at close to 80 drop-off points across New Zealand through the Agrecovery programme. Agrecovery is a great example of how manufacturers, industry, government and consumers can work together to reduce the harmful impacts of plastic waste on our environment.
The initiative is made possible through 60 participating agrichemical brands who voluntarily pay a levy on all the products they sell so that farmers and growers can use this service for free.
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February 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
New agreement to protect fresh tomato industry Biosecurity New Zealand and Tomatoes New Zealand have reached an agreement on the pathway forward to better prepare for future biosecurity responses.
❚ by Kent Caddick Both parties have signed a Sector Readiness Operational Agreement. Biosecurity NZ’s acting director of Biosecurity Readiness and Response Services, Andrew Spelman, says the agreement demonstrates both organisations’ commitment to strengthen readiness for incursions of specific pests and pathogens. “This agreement solidifies the organisations’ existing GIA (Government Industry Agreement) partnership that has developed over the past few years,” Spelman says.
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Our work on readiness will be focused on detecting pests and pathogens rapidly. Andrew Spelman Biosecurity NZ
Under the agreement, Biosecurity NZ and TomatoesNZ will jointly agree and fund readiness activities to improve preparedness for incursions of pests and pathogens that are considered a major concern to the fresh tomato industry. Biosecurity NZ and TomatoesNZ joined the GIA in 2014 and 2016 respectively. “We’re all responsible for protecting Aotearoa from pests and pathogens, and this agreement under the GIA aligns with the wider Ko Tatou This Is Us Biosecurity 2025 programme to improve NZ’s biosecurity system.”
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Threat protection: an agreement between biosecurity New Zealand and Tomatoes New Zealand will improve preparedness for incursions of pests and pathogens that are considered a major concern to the fresh tomato industry. Chair of TomatoesNZ Barry O’Neil says the agreement is an important development in the protection of the fresh tomato industry from biosecurity threats. “Our work on readiness will be focused on detecting pests and pathogens rapidly so we will have a high chance of eradication.” The agreement will initially focus on preparing for incursions of tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta) and the tomato strain of pepino mosaic virus. This pest and pathogen have been identified as high priority by TomatoesNZ and Biosecurity NZ. More pests and pathogens will be added over time. Tomato leafminer and pepino mosaic virus are not currently present in New Zealand.
CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
February 2019
17
Horticulture growth retains momentum Horticulture growth retained momentum with a seven percent growth in export earnings since 2016, according to an updated report, with tariffs on exported produce down by 12 percent since 2012.
❚ by Kent Caddick The New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority (HEA) and Horticulture New Zealand commission the report, ‘New Zealand Horticulture - Barriers to Our Export Trade’, every two years The report says horticultural produce exporters paid an estimated $214 million in tariffs, a reduction of 12% on 2012’s figure of $241 million. About 60% of New Zealand’s total horticultural production of fruit and vegetables is exported, valued at $3.62 billion. The report, prepared by Wellington-based company Market Access Solutionz and HEA, is used extensively by industry and government agencies as a reference point for negotiators to improve market access and help exporters to develop new market opportunities. Horticulture Export Authority chief executive Simon Hegarty says the report confirms the real value from trade agreements, and a need to sustain efforts developing new agreements to maintain New Zealand’s international competitiveness. “The elimination of an estimated $36m in tariffs on trade with Japan under CPTPP will provide new impetus to this objective.” Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman, says global protectionism and uncertainty about the Brexit deal are creating a new landscape for exporters. “It is increasingly important for New Zea-
Buoyant: Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman says access to Japan for New Zealand fruit is one of the big wins for horticulture from the CPTPP.
land to support the World Trade Organization’s rules-based trade system and that the Government continues to pave the way with trade agreements, such as the CPTPP,” Chapman said. “Opening up new markets and removing tariffs are essential to the continued export growth that drives New Zealand’s economy. “Access to Japan for New Zealand fruit
is one of the big wins for horticulture from the CPTPP. For the first time New Zealand will gain preferential access to the world’s third largest economy, with immediate kiwifruit tariff reductions worth $26 million,” Chapman said.
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Opening up new markets and removing tariffs are essential.
The executive Summary of the report is available on the Horticulture export authority website.
Mike Chapman Chief executive, Horticulture New Zealand
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CANTERBURY FARMING
February 2019
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Protecting crops from insect attack – are neonicotinoids worth it?
Growers of arable crops, forage brassicas and pasture grasses would suffer financial losses if vital insecticides were taken from the market.
Mark ross ❚ by ❚ Agcarm chief executive A report investigating the value of neonicotinoid seed treatments to New Zealand’s economy, by BERL Economics, estimates their contribution as up to $1.2 billion. Neonicotinoids (neonics) help protect crops and pasture against attack from insects like Argentine stem Weevils, black beetles, grass grub, aphids and more. Most are applied as a seed coating — protecting the plant as it grows. They are used for cereals, forage brassicas, grass seed, maize/sweetcorn, potatoes and winter squash/pumpkins as well as flea control for cats and dogs and pour-on treatment for flies and lice in sheep. The ‘Economic value of neonicotinoid seed treatment to New Zealand’ report estimates that 62 percent of the arable grain, forage brassica and pasture grass seeds are planted with neonic treated seeds. It estimates that the cost to the economy of removing these seed treatments as between $800 million and $1.2 billion in the short to medium term. The cost takes into account suppliers, producers and increased expenditure from those working directly or indirectly in the industry. Commissioned by Agcarm in 2014, the report remains relevant today. In fact, the cost would be even higher if inflation, increased costs for resourcing, health and safety, and fuel hikes were taken into account. A lack of alternative options will also increase the cost. The main alternatives available to New Zealand growers include organophosphates, carbamates and synthetic pyrethroids. These alternatives are often more toxic. Organophosphates are one of the most effective (yet toxic) alternatives to neonic seed treatment, but their use is reducing. The Environmental Protection Authority made the decision to cease approving many organophosphates in a staged approach from 2016. Aside from the economic ramifications, the report assesses the employment gener-
ated as a result of these seed treatments. This equates to approximately 5,300 full time employees. Crop yields would also fall by a third if alternate crop protection tools were used instead of these seed treatments. The value of the treated seeds versus non-treated seeds alone is worth $368 million. One of the unique benefits of using neonic seed treatments is that the active ingredient can be applied at very low rates per hectare, reducing the number of insecticide applications in comparison to spray treatments. Seed treatment with neonicotinoid application is highly targeted and one of the most environmentally-friendly means of crop protection product application. Other benefits include low toxicity to humans and other mammals and no reported effect on bee health since first being registered in New Zealand in the early 1990s. The relationship between neonic seed treatments and New Zealand’s bee population has sparked much debate in recent years. Links to bee health were touched upon in the report, with the following observa-
Vital: Mark ross, agcarm chief executive, says Neonicotinoids (neonics) help protect crops and pasture against attack from insects like argentine stem Weevils, black beetles, grass grub, aphids and more. tions from industry: • Seed treatments represent a very low risk to bees. • No unexplained bee colony losses were linked with proper use of neonic seed treatments in New Zealand. • Correct stewardship mitigates the risk of neonic dust exposure to bees. Unlike Europe, there is very limited use of neonics, if any, as a foliar spray, so dispersal into the environment does not occur. Locally grown crops that use
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February 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Arable Research heads reflects My first nine months as CEO of Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) have been both challenging and rewarding.
alison Stewart ❚ by ❚ FAR chief executive We received unanimous support at the AGM for our proposed changes to the constitution that will provide a more robust, skills-based Board, stronger engagement at regional grower level and better transparency to growers around the use of levy funds. We have also been working closely with other arable industry bodies to develop a government industry agreement (GIA) for biosecurity readiness and response.
Consultation around the regions gave us a strong mandate to move forward with this initiative and we hope to have the GIA deed signed off early in the new year. This will provide the industry with a strong voice in discussions with government over the nature and extent of incursion responses and should lead to better biosecurity out-
comes for our sector. Of course the devil will be in the detail around the operational agreements developed for each category of incursion. We have appointed a new General Manager of Research, Development and Extension, Dr Andrew Pitman, a much needed additional resource to assist in overseeing our increasingly broad and expansive portfolio of research activities. We also welcome Hugh Ritchie as the new Chair of the FAR Board, replacing David Birkett whose term ended this month. I would like to take this opportunity to thank David for his contribution as Chair over the last six years. In my short time as CEO, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with David and appreciate the time and energy that he
has committed to FAR and the wider arable sector during his tenure. FAR prides itself on the quality of its extension activities and the field days held at Chertsey and Hamilton were testament to the excellent job that FAR staff do in engaging with growers and providing valuable guidance and information to support their farm business. Having said that, there is always room for improvement and we are currently reviewing our communication and extension strategy to make sure that we are optimising the use of our limited resources for maximum benefit to growers. Recognising that summertime is not necessarily holiday time for arable growers, I wish you all a happy and productive growing season.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
February 2019
21
Sustainable products assured by agricultural association Agcarm
With multiple companies offering disease and pest management solutions, farmers can be guaranteed that products purchased from an Agcarm member are safe, sustainable and of high quality.
Mark ross ❚ by Chief ❚ executive of Agcarm Agcarm is a not-for-profit trade association, representing over 60 companies that manufacture, distribute, research and sell projects to keep animals healthy and crops thriving. For over 70 years, Agcarm has taken a lead role in managing issues of importance to the crop protection and animal medicines industries. This involves engaging with politicians, regulators and stakeholders to ensure that decision-makers take account of industry’s views. It also ensures that industry aligns itself with best practice in the management of pests and disease. Our members research the safest and best methods to do this. In the crop protection industry, our manufacturers support the use of Integrated Pest Management (using all means available to tackle pests and disease). They research all means of control, including biologicals, to ensure the best and most sustainable result for farmers and growers. Membership to the association is voluntary, with all applicants requiring Board endorsement before being accepted. Agcarm backs this by ensuring all members comply with a Code of Conduct. This Code certifies that Agcarm members meet industry standards. Compliance with it is a condition of membership - with companies required to meet a number of obligations. This includes complying with relevant legislation, participating in environmental stewardship programmes, acting ethically in product promotion and in accordance with the best interests of industry. Protecting the environment is integral to this, with support and participation of the rural recycling programme Agrecovery being compulsory for members. Companies must also ensure that their products meet an appropriate standard, all people involved with industry products are appropriately trained, and that they are supportive of ensuring environmental sustainability. In promoting a healthy environment, Agcarm is involved in a number of other stew-
Healthy living: agcarm is a not-for-profit trade association, representing over 60 companies, ad taking a lead role in managing issues of importance to the crop protection and animal medicines industries. ardship campaigns, within the crop protection and the animal medicines industries. Bee health is high on the association’s agenda with regular campaigning to protect the wellbeing of New Zealand’s bee population, and ensuring that products are used responsibly. The ‘Bee Responsible’ guideline was produced in conjunction with the Rural Contractors and the Agricultural Aviators associations to create awareness of the importance of protecting bees. It provides simple to follow advice on how to do this when spraying - including adhering to label instructions and avoiding applying pesticides when bees are foraging, among other things. Preventing resistance management in animals and plants is another priority. Agcarm leads and supports programmes that prolong the effectiveness of crop protection and animal health products liable to encounter resistance problems, and limit losses should resistance appear. This includes an integral role in the Wormwise Trust – providing expert advice to farmers on managing worms on farms (anthelmintic resistance) as well as antimicrobial resistance. Agcarm contributed to New Zealand’s Antimicrobial Resistance Plan which was submitted to the World Health Organisation in May 2017. The association’s ultimate purpose is to ensure that New Zealand continues to lead the world in producing safe, healthy and sustainable food. By dealing with an Agcarm member you too will be part of this worthy goal. So, next time you are considering a purchase of a pesticide or animal medicine, ask if the company is an Agcarm member and if they are, you can be assured that you are dealing with knowledgeable staff and a quality product.
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22
February 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Advertisement The 1080m2 composting barn on Tony and Fran Allcock’s dairy farm in Ngahinpouri.
Composting barn pays off. “ I ” An investment in the future returns dividends today. f you ask Fran and Tony Allcock if they’d invest in an Aztech Dairy Barn again, they would answer “heck yes!”
“Building a composting cow barn has allowed us to better feed the herd, control our environmental footprint and look after our pastures,” says Tony.
Shifting to a composting barn has required a fundamental transition of farming system for the Allcock’s. They moved from a typical grazing system to one where the cows spend part of every day in the barn and part grazing outside, weather dependent of course. Tony tells us the girls are pretty choosy about how they spend their days now. On a particularly rainy day, “I had a bugger of a job trying to get them out of the barn!” Under the old system, production varied between 88,000 and 99,000kg milksolids per year. Since making the change, production was 128,000kg in the first year, 134,000kg in the second year and 147,000kg
in the third year. The target is 180,000kg.
“We haven’t increased our cow numbers,” says Fran, “we’ve just taken advantage of the gains a system like ours provides us.”
try in New Zealand, innovating as the industry has matured. It is this developed knowledge of the sector that enables them to solve the complex design challenges, as well as the simple ones, new entrants to the industry might not even consider.
A major challenge to overcome in a composting barn design is the need for a ‘four seasons’ barn. Aztech have to ensure
We haven’t increased our cow numbers, we’ve just taken advantage of the gains a system like ours provides us.
Tony says they approached several design and build companies, but Aztech Buildings were the clear market leader. Construction began in early December and was completed by late January.
Dr Sue Macky from Dairy Production Systems says that properly designed and managed covered cow management facilities and cow housing can have a significantly positive effect on dairy farm profitability. “The only drawback being a poorly designed or ill managed system negates any advantages, and in fact can cause more harm than good. Good design and management requires knowledge of dairy cows that is too often lacking in New Zealand,” she says. Aztech Buildings has grown up with the Dairy Housing indus-
Tony and Fran with their ‘Big-Az Mootel’ signage.
CANTERBURY FARMING
temperature reduction in the summer, and consistent temperature control in winter to maintain an even temperature barn all year round. Cows can’t stand the heat nor extreme cold and will drop production in tough conditions. Often not picking up production to the same levels before the inclement weather or hot conditions. Aztech delivered the solution with a combination of clever design and product innovation. A composted floor coupled with a precisely calculated roof pitch and a well thought out roof ridge ventilation system means that Tony and Fran can trust that a consistent year round temperature can be achieved. Air in the barn, without any ventilation, will accumulate gases like ammonia, carbon dioxide/ monoxide or hydrogen sulfide. Moisture can be retained and will reduce the life span of the bedding material. Simon Clare, one of Aztech’s dairy specialists says what you don’t want is a badly designed barn that retains moisture. “Cows can breathe out 15 to 30 litres of water per day, that has to go somewhere. Bedding material, regardless of what you use, needs to be long lasting and hygienic.”
Fast Facts Location: Allcock’s Farm, West of Ohaupo Herd: 280 Freisian X Structure: 60m x 18m, steel members with timber purlins. Feeding: The five metre race is wide enough for a tractor and feed wagon to be driven down to fill up the feed troughs. Cow comfort: The housing area for the cows is open with no cubicals and uses wood chips to cover the floor 500mm deep. 7.7m2 of space for every cow in the herd. Design and Build: Aztech Buildings - Using more than 20 years of experience in building dairy housing. Steel supplier: Futura - www.futura.nz
He also explains that while the cost of spreading the compost is higher, it’s still offset in the savings of not buying fertiliser at the same levels pre barn. The Allcock’s barn uses a combination roof overhang and roof pitch which contribute to maintaining a sustainable moisture level.
Once the bedding has seen out it’s life, Tony says they use it as a commercial fertiliser substitute. “We experimented initially, but One of the key product innovanow, other than a little P and N tions comes from Futura Steel on our maize, we use our compost exclusively on our pastures.” Systems. They have developed
February 2019
23
a steel box beam bird proof roofing system. Bird proofing is essential for helping to reduce contact with disease as the birds aren’t roosting and messing everywhere. This also reduces feed loss to hungry birds. “We didn’t just design the barn for the cows, we also had the staff in mind. Using our experience across the many barns we’ve built in the past, we know what helps with workflow and efficiencies. We also know that no-one wants to work in a dingy, smelly environment,” says Simon. The bedding area and feed face have been carefully calculated to ensure Industry Best Practice and to maintain cow comfort. By providing adequate space for each cow to move around, drink, feed, and most critically to lie down without threat, means lower dominance cows suffer less stress and therefore feed conversion is increased.
Before the composting bedding is laid down.
Tony says that at the end of the day, if the cows are losing less energy to heat stress, eating more and converting it efficiently, then they’re onto a winner. “We find our day to day farming more enjoyable, and less stressful not having to be held hostage by the weather. Would we do it all over again? Heck yes!”
The cows are fed a mixture of maize and grass silage.
To find out more about how Aztech Buildings can deliver a profitable dairy structure for your farming business, get in touch. 0800 114 116 www.aztechbuildings.co.nz/dairy
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February 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
Choosing a secondary school What to consider
The decision: Choosing a secondary school is an important decision, and if you have a choice of secondary school it’s worth you and your child taking the time together to look at possible schools and explore the options available.
Grow a career in organics Lincoln University’s Diploma in Organic Agri-Food Production will prepare you for work in the organic sector or your own garden or smallholdings. It’s a full-time, one-year programme that covers the theory and practice behind contemporary organic agri-food production. Lincoln University & the Biological Husbandry Unit (BHU) provide on-farm facilities, equipment and experienced tutors delivering the widest possible knowledge of the industry. You will study organic management, plant and animal health, and soils, and the programme includes Tikanga and Mahinga Kai components. The hands-on learning environment offers plenty of opportunities for practical work. Join us in February to find out what growing organically on an agricultural scale really means. To apply visit www.lincoln.ac.nz
supplied by ❚❚Article Ministry ❚❚ of Education When deciding on a secondary school for you child start with the practical issues. How will your child get to and from school? Is there a safe route to walk or cycle? Is there a school bus? Under 14s need to be supervised before and after school. Does the school have before-and after-school care? Will your child be able to meet up with friends after school? • Does the school have a uniform? • Do you have to pay to go to the school? • Do you live in the school zone? • Are there any schools that family or friends have recommended? • What schools are your child’s friends going to? Also you need to think about what your education priorities are for you child. Your priorities will depend on your child’s talents and needs and what are your must-haves or what could you compromise on.
Here are some examples of priorities that you might see as important: • additional support for special needs or talents • a bilingual unit or Te Reo Maori schooling • single-sex, or co-educational school • how the school supports your child’s culture and language • a strong emphasis on a particular curriculum area of interest to child, eg music or sport • particular subjects offered at senior level that will support your child’s interests and possible career path. • Then make a list of schools near your home, and any others you might want to consider, and visit them. • go to the open days and parents’ evenings • arrange your own meeting with the school if you can’t get open days or want to follow up and get more information • ask questions – this is your chance to get all the information you need to make your decision
• ask about the school rules what are they, and how are students and parents made aware of them? • find out how the school will keep in touch with you - ask to see a school newsletter, school report, and how they like you to get in touch with them • include your child in the decision. You can check the Education Review Office (ERO) report for the schools you are considering. ERO is a government department that reviews schools as part of its work. ERO’s reports provide information for parents and communities about a school’s strengths and next steps for development. The reports cover things like learning environment, processes and procedures, how teachers relate to students, the commitment to bicultural practices, how they support Maori learners, how they review and monitor themselves, and their vision and philosophy.
CANTERBURY FARMING
February 2019
25
An inclusive culture of excellence At Garin College we enjoy a well-established and inclusive culture of striving for excellence in academic achievement.
❚ Article supplied by Garin College
We embrace equity and excellence, providing an education which enables each student to have a life-long love of learning and the desire and skills to lead and participate fully in society. Students are active in sports, arts and performing arts, culture, leadership, learning, and Christian service. Our teachers bring experience and dedication to their daily interactions with students and whanau. Strong and embedded values Our community of students, parents, whanau, staff and parishes are integral to the caring family atmosphere we share at Garin. The qualities our students show as a result of their years of learning and living in our school and our community are Generosity, Aroha, Rangimarie, Integrity and New Life. These values are embedded in all we do at Garin.
Garin grows individuals Garin College provides for each student ‘a place to stand,’ their turangawaewae. A place where they can know themselves as individuals and where every student will be challenged and supported to explore the
Garin College students are active in sports, arts and performing arts, culture, leadership, learning, and Christian service.
opportunities that will help them become the very best they can be, with a sense of belonging and with a valuable contribution to make. Our student hostels are popular and are at full capacity for 2019. We urge parents to contact us ahead of time to ensure
your child does not miss the opportunity to board in one of our student hostels. Please also check out our range of scholarships we offer towards student education and extra-curricular opportunities. We look forward to you joining us and becoming a part of our community.
For more information please visit our website, or contact the hostel manager directly. boarding Director Contact: robert booth 027 654 4835 Garin College: 03 543 9488 www.garincollege.ac.nz
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February 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
Accessing boarding allowances
If your child lives in a remote area or faces other barriers to achieving at school you can apply for funding so that they can board away from home and focus on their studies.
supplied by ❚❚Article ❚❚Ministry of Education
A boarding allowance is funding from the Ministry of Education so that your child can board away from home, either at a boarding school or a private boarding arrangement with someone who is not your child’s legal guardian.
The Government provides around $11 million for boarding allowances every year to help young people achieve a great education. There are two different types of boarding allowance, the access barrier and the multiple barrier. The one mostly commonly accessed by rural families is the access barrier allowance which is for students who live too
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far away from an appropriate school and the Ministry’s school transport does not provide a solution. The multiple barriers allowance is where a student experiences more than one of the following difficulties in their life that makes it hard to go to school or do well as school: Poor participation at school, Poor relationships, Behavioural issues, Low educational achievement, and Environment. The allowance might not cover all of your child’s boarding fees. If it doesn’t you have to pay the rest yourself. The boarding allowance continues for as long as the student is at school, or until the barriers they are facing no longer exist. If your child goes to a boarding school the allowance is paid directly to the school at the beginning of each term. If your child is boarding privately, it is paid directly to the school at the beginning of each term. The person providing the board needs to arrange to receive their payment from the school.
they have to travel longer than 60 minutes one way to their nearest school each day, or they have to drive an unreasonable distance (eg 60km) to the nearest school.
Is my child eligible for an access barrier allowance?
How do I apply?
Your child is eligible if they live too far away from an appropriate school and the Ministry’s school transport assistance programme does not provide a solution. “Too far away” is defined as living an unreasonable distance from the nearest appropriate school (eg more than 60km) and: the closest school transport service to get to their nearest school is unreasonable (eg 20km), or
Can I choose what school my child goes to? Yes. You can choose any state, state-integrated school, kura or private school. You will have to still have to meet the school’s usual enrolment and acceptance criteria, and there will need to be a space available in the boarding hostel.
How much is the allowance? It depends on the type of boarding allowance. Access barrier: Boarding school and private boarding $3,200 per year. Multiple barriers: Boarding school – up to $8,000 per year (which includes $500 for pastoral care to help your child address the barriers they face). Private boarding – $4,500 per year (which includes $500 for pastoral care).
You apply online, by email, or post. Phone: 04 463 8085 Email: boarding.allowances @education.govt.nz Post: Boarding allowances team, Ministry of Education, P O Box 1666, Wellington 6140 For more information on boarding allowances go to: parents.education.govt.nz/secondary-school/ your-child-at-school/boarding-allowances/
CANTERBURY FARMING
February 2019
27
Market starts year in good shape with allan Laurie
❚ Laurie Forestry Ltd ❚
MNZIF
Happy New Year to all readers. A briefer report this month as activity has been limited with the roll on effect of the summer break on market volumes.
All in all we can say the log market is in very good shape. Domestic prices are holding tight at current levels and no one is talking up volume changes or prices. Indeed the domestic ship remains very steady with no market storms or tempests to otherwise add to the pot of pitching and yawing. Some Canterbury sawmills are walking a fine supply line. After suffering a deluge of supply during winter and autumn, logging crews moved back in to foothills forests. Here the impacts of tree quality, primarily branch size reduces framing grade log supply. It will not take much to move back to a supply deficit during the second half of summer months. Meanwhile, in export log sales, we are seeing some of the highest prices every. The January selling price in CFR terms, that is landed in China in US$ per cubic metre, is certainly not the highest is has ever been. The CFR price is currently US$138/139 standard A grade shorts basis, and it has been as high as US$160 in the last three years. The current wharf gate selling price is positively impacted by a low exchange rate and low shipping cost. Forest owners can thus enjoy some excellent price points in the domestic logs whilst the lower quality logs are at historically very high prices and mostly heading to China. And for the record it is looking like 2018
has been a record year in volume terms. Last year at this time, we were celebrating a record high of 19 million cubic metres of export log sales. 2018 is looking like it will be closer to 21.5 million with a total 33 million+ in total log production. Nationally this has us running at around 65% export and 45% domestic log sales, again a significant swing toward export. Hopefully the current initiatives under operational trial and green fields sawmill upgrades and new processing operations, we will see a swing back to domestic logs sales. However it is important to remember here 65%+ of logs sold to local plants and mill is exported in its various forms and guises including the likes of lumber, mouldings, MDF and pulp and paper. In terms of what we can expect in quarter one 2019 it is looking like little change. Chinese New Year always heralds in a period of uncertainly. This relates to how inventory will increase as workers head back to their homelands for their break. Current inventory is running at 2.9 million cubic metre, up slightly on November/December 2018 as production starts to trail off in mid-winter conditions. At these levels the market would normally be moving to a panic buy as the inventory represents about six weeks supply, much lower than normal. But a combination of the confidence China has in supply from New Zealand, together with un-
certainties over trade wars is flattening expectation and no one is concerned. Certainly there is a changing sentiment in China. The market mood is shifting toward the pessimistic and key economic indicators are waning. There is a suggestion Q2 and Q3 2019 could be “interesting”.
As always please remember the thoroughly important message relating to this wonderful 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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February 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
New app to help tackle invasive pest A new tool to enable farmers and the public to help fight one of New Zealand’s most invasive species has been created by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).
❚❚by Kent Caddick Wilding Watch can be used to find new infestations of wilding conifers as well as upload photos. In the wrong place the pine trees can take over landscapes threatening productive farmland, native ecosystems, and tourism opportunities as well as the economy. “The app allows users to see for themselves the spread of wilding conifers across the country and upload their own images to help identify new invasions across New Zealand,” LINZ Biosecurity and Biodiversity Director Dave Mole says. “New information and images from land owners and the public will improve efforts to tackle the spread of wilding conifers, helping our native flora and fauna to thrive right across the country.”
A click away: The new Wilding Watch app can be used to find new infestations of wilding conifers. Conifer seeds can be blown many kilometres by the wind, enabling them to spread across landscapes. Seedlings quickly infest an area, and if they’re not removed they can grow into dense, impenetrable wilding conifer forests, which is why LINZ says it’s impor-
tant to identify even just single trees. “Our knowledge of where wilding conifers are located has significantly increased since the launch of the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme in 2016,” Mole says. “Part of that has been the creation of the Wilding Conifer Information System which allows authorities to enter details of where wildings are located and the control work tak-
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Controlled: Images of before [NEW APP 01] and after [NEW APP 02] wilding control work carried out by the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme beside Lake Pukaki.
ing place to eradicate them.” The National Wilding Conifer Control Programme aims to prevent the spread of these tree pests and to progressively remove them from much of the land already invaded. LINZ Biosecurity and Biodiversity Advisor Helen Payn says trees that would not be identified for months or even years will be brought to the national programme’s attention much more quickly, “We’d like to encourage everyone with an interest in protecting New Zealand’s landscapes and ecosystems to start using it, particularly if you’re out over the summer tramping, climbing, hunting or even just picnicking with the kids. All you need to do is share a photo of the trees and your location. “With the public telling us about new infestations, the national programme will be able to achieve greater success in controlling wilding conifers. We can all do our bit to help prevent the spread of wilding conifers,” Payn says. Wilding Watch can be accessed via https://wildpines.linz.govt.nz/apps/wildingwatch/
CANTERBURY FARMING
DAIRY
February 2019
Helping dairy farmers avoid FEI penalties
29
Responding to the needs of New Zealand dairy farmers, GrainCorp Feeds has added fat evaluation index (FEI) data to its Tracker programme.
❚ by Kent Caddick Tracker is an online milk monitoring and forecasting tool developed to help farmers drive profitable production by helping them to make smart decisions relating to their herd’s nutrition. Fonterra’s new fat evaluation index came into effect last September, which means farmers who supply milk to Fonterra containing higher-than-acceptable levels of fatty acid can incur demerits and financial penalties. The use of palm kernel expeller (PKE) has been identified as a key influencer on the fatty acid profile of cow’s milk, leading to manufacturing challenges at Fonterra. A by-product of the palm oil extraction process from the fruit of the palm, PKE had become increasingly popular as a feed option in dairying, due to its relative low cost to other feeds. GrainCorp says it is committed to helping farmers manage and monitor their herd’s nutrition, and ensure any supplementary feed avoids high FEI grades. Within the Tracker programme there is the ability to create customised alerts to warn farmers if they are at risk
‘
Farmers are telling us that Tracker is their preferred tool. Ken Winter GrainCorp Feeds
of FEI penalties or tracking in that direction. Alerts can also be set up for dry mater intake, SCC, milk urea and milk composition. Ken Winter is one of GrainCorp Feeds’ technical support managers, and is the company’s Tracker expert. He said the FEI data added another level of information which farmers will find valuable in observing trends. “This is particularly important if there is less grass about, later in the season, or at any time when PKE may start to form a higher portion of the cow’s diet,” Winter said. “Farmers are telling us that Tracker is their preferred tool, and they are really
appreciating the addition of FEI data, to help them avoid penalties. We find that progressive farmers in particular are using Tracker to fine-tune their feed to get the best out of their herd.” He said farmers who are using inshed feed systems, feed pads with mixer wagons and feed-out wagons in particular, are finding Tracker beneficial to identify their farm potential and understand and minimise their limitations. “We work with farmers to see how we can make the farm more productive, by maximising pasture and on farm feed utilisation and complementing that with the right feed, in the right amounts, at the right time, to help optimise Feed Conversion and profitability. “While there is a lot of value within the Tracker tool, it is free for all GrainCorp Feeds customers. It is also convenient and easy to use. “Farmers can use Tracker while standing in the paddock to input information into the app on their phone and access basic information, including graphs and charts.”
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30
February 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
❚ with Peter burton
DAIRY
Meeting our future farming requirements
I remember my father’s comment regarding my assertion that the quantity of pasture grown now in the Central Waikato may have declined since the late 1970s early 80s. His comment was that milk production per hectare had climbed markedly since then, with the inference being that so too had pasture production. The MAF data I have however shows a 20% to 25% higher level in annual dry-matter production then compared to now. High quality permanent grazed pastures were recorded at a number of sites as growing in excess of 18,000kgDM/ha without N being applied. Today 14,000kgDM/ha is a figure often talked about as a good result with an average of 230kgN/ha being applied. If that is correct, then dairy farming as carried out today has a fundamental issue, as there is seldom a static situation, things are either getting better or worse. If the decline in pasture yield is real, then, as pasture is the cheapest and most nutritious form of feed for dairy cows, how is it that the amount of milk per hectare has risen significantly? In the early 1980s most dairy farmers took genuine pride in being self-contained.
Run-offs were quite common, particularly for smaller properties, however grazing young stock at home for the first twelve months was common. I remember discussion around the then novel idea that the home farm was a ‘milkingonly platform’, and young stock were grazed off property as soon as they were weaned. At that time it also became fashionable to focus on high utilisation of pasture by the grazing herd with any pasture not grazed being regarded as wasted. To achieve that more animals were required and the inevitable feed gaps were then filled with bought in supplement. So, things have changed, and will continue to do so, however it doesn’t counter the argument that pasture growth, and persistence, in many instances is inferior now to 40 years ago. How many farmers now have a realistic idea of the quantity of pasture grown each year and use that as the basis for their feed budgeting? My experience is in many cases
the supply of bought in feed is the primary consideration with pasture seen as a ‘filler’. In those situations, pasture growth is also seen as unreliable and variable, and because it is not as easily manageable as bought in feed, the principles underlying maximising the growth of it have been largely lost. Pasture is the ideal feed for grazing ruminants, which is what a cow is. Multi-species clover-based pasture is what they were designed to consume, and the meat and milk produced is unique with health giving properties that cannot be replicated in any other way. Pasture is also the lowest cost feed available and therefore any loss in production must be compensated for by purchasing more expensive feed. The economics of declining pasture yield long term leads to an inevitable conclusion. A return to an appreciation of the importance of pasture and how it is best managed to maximise growth each year is essential for the long-term viability of not only dairying, but all pastoral farming. The best operators, in all respects, are skilled observers. They spend time with their animals and in the paddock.
Decision making is based on experience and increasingly they are able to anticipate what is about to unfold and make the appropriate decisions, with a willingness to trust gut feel. They also have a network of people with knowledge and skills that they don’t have, consult and discuss issues regularly with them, but realise the responsibility is theirs alone, make decisions quickly and accept responsibility for the outcomes. Farming then becomes a science based art form. Everyone experiences and therefore does things a little differently however the fundamentals of soils, animals, and climate are understood and respected. At the base of all successful pastoral farming is soil and a sound soil fertility system is one that ensures carbon is continuously sequestered providing the potential for increased pasture production each year. Summer is the ideal time to consider alternatives and explore options as there’s time to do the background checking necessary to ensure this autumn’s inputs provide the results that meet longer term goals. For more information call Peter on 0800 843 809.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
DAIRY
February 2019
31
Award for recycling dairy products NZAgbiz has been recognised for making animal nutrition products from dairy industry loss streams and creating value from recycled dairy industry products.
❚ by Kent Caddick NZAgbiz, a Hamilton-based company, manufactures livestock nutrition products using primarily Fonterra ingredients and has won a commendation at the prestigious 2018 NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards for its work. The successful NZAgbiz model received a commendation in the Going Circular category. Going circular refers to designing products to help create a circular economy in New Zealand. The circular model seeks to maximise the lifecycle of materials, optimise usage, and re-use materials. NZAgbiz general manager Greg Cate says from the beginning the NZAgbiz aim was to better use Fonterra’s loss streams for the benefit of farmers and the co-op, and avoid sending it to landfills. Loss streams include materials such as oversized sifter particles, fine powder particles and cheese trims. Because the material is not suitable for human consumption, it would normally end up as landfill waste. “We take this material from Fonterra and other dairy manufacturing plants and re-work it into useful, high-quality animal nutrition products that help livestock thrive, such as calf milk replacers (CMRs), pig products and specialist animal health supplements such as probiotics, colostrum powder and electrolyte replacements,” Cate says. Any product NZAgbiz cannot re-work is onsold as ingredients for stock feeds, soaps and bio fuels. “By recycling dairy industry products, we not only reduce the amount of material going to landfill but maximise and extend the
Highly recommended: From left, brian Funnell, Frank Chen and Greg Cate of NZagbiz, with auckland Councillor Penny Hulse at the NZI Sustainable business Network awards.
life of the dairy industry’s downgrade product and loss streams to create useful, quality products that benefit New Zealand farmers.” Cate says while sustainability was a driving force behind the NZAgbiz model, another key driver was the need to produce quality CMRs that farmers could feed to their calves
instead of using the more valuable milk from their vat. “To date, approximately two million calves have been raised on NZAgbiz CMRs.” As one of 11 finalists in the category, NZAgbiz beat nine worthy finalists and lost only to one - the ethical beauty brand Ethique.
Going circular: NZagbiz general manager Greg Cate says by recycling dairy industry products they can maximise and extend the life of the dairy industry’s downgrade product and loss streams to create useful, quality products that benefit New Zealand farmers.
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32
February 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Rural | Lifestyle Your Country Partner
Strength in Numbers ... It’s often said that a group of people have greater influence than one person. If you are looking expert help with your lifestyle property or livestock then visit our website www.rurallifestyle.kiwi where you will find an extensive list of local Canterbury service providers. We have our Autumn edition of the popular “We Sell Rural Lifestyle” due out early March in time for the South Island Field Days, to be held at Kirwee, with a featured section on agricultural properties from throughout the South Island. Our team of Rural Lifestyle agents can help secure your spot in this now and are happy to undertake a free no obligation appraisal of your rural lifestyle property.
Harcourts are raring to go in rural. As we see and feel the warmer weather, we are noticing more rural listing activity around the country as owners look to shake off the winter chills. Once again Harcourts Rural consultants continue to bring the most property to the market place nationally, due in no small part to the reach of the Harcourts brand across the country. We have 100+ Lifestyle and Rural consultants available to provide you as a property owner with one of the most comprehensive marketing opportunities when it comes to the sale of your Lifestyle or Rural property.
Our share of listings in July 2018 was 17% vs 15.5% in June 2018, so this is a good sign for the future growth of Harcourts in this sector.
We list more Lifestyle and Rural properties than any other real estate brand in NZ. Harcourts has stamped its presence in the rural market, with more opportunity than we have experienced before by securing more lifestyle and rural listings than any other brand on New Zealand’s most recognised property portal www.realestate.co.nz for the month of July. We will endeavour to update you on this as we go through the months. Information collated from advertised listings on Realestate.co.nz
We Sell Rural Lifestyle
It's Show Time... • • • • • •
Amuri A & P Association Cheviot A & P Association Hawarden A & P Association Malvern A & P Association Oxford A & P Show South Island Field Days
Summer Edition 2018
2nd March 9th March 16th March 23rd March 30th March 27th March
ebecca Hand
tin (winner) & R rd Tait, Alan Mar
Pictured: Richa
At the recent New Zealand Agricultural Show in conjunction with STIHL we once again gave away a magnificent STIHL Combo Pack. Winner Alan Martin is seen here receiving his prize pack from Harcourts Four Seasons Rolleston Manager, Richard Tait and STIHL Shop Christchurch’s Marketing Manager Rebecca Hand. Look out for us at the remaining Canterbury Shows and the South Island Field Days (see above dates). We will be presenting some wonderful Canterbury Rural Lifestyle Properties and you can enter the *lucky draw to win a magnificent STIHL Chainsaw. (*terms and conditions are available on the day of entry).
16 Mairaki Road - Fernside See page 17 for details.
Our latest edition of the popular “We Sell Rural Lifestyle” booklet that showcases the very best Rural Lifestyle properties throughout Canterbury is out now. For your FREE copy phone 0800 789 1011 or view online @ facebook.com/rurallifestyle. kiwi or www.rurallifestyle.kiwi. If you would like to advertise your property in our next AUTUMN edition, talk to one of our dedicated Rural Lifestyle consultants.
Not only outstanding in their field.
Our consultants are your country partner when it comes to rural lifestyle property. like us on facebook: Harcourts Lifestyle Partner Rural Lifestyle | YourRural Country
0800 789 1011 | www.rurallifestyle.kiwi
CANTERBURY FARMING
February 2019
33
Beyond the timber pole shed The standard timber pole shed has evolved. A hybrid pole shed (timber and steel) can give you more usable space without having to go larger. And within a budget similar to a conventional pole shed.
❚ Article supplied by StructureWise
A hybrid pole shed with the use of the Steelbone bird-proofing purlin, can increase bay widths out to as much as nine metres. With the wider bays, hybrid pole sheds allow you to house larger gear and can give you up to 50% greater storage capacity. The wider bays can provide more workable area without having to lose out on yard space. Where a standard 2 bay timber pole shed could fit two vehicles, a hybrid shed of a similar size could fit three. Wider bays give better access for your machinery and without the added worry of breaking timber poles. As StructureWise sees farm machinery size and fleet sizes increase, they adapt to changing needs. “We’re all about innovating and giving people choice. Rather than having to stick with status quo we can give numerous options,” says Phil Williams, Managing Director and Designer. “One of the benefits of being a design and build specialist is that we are able to control most facets of the project in house. We fabricate and assemble most of what we need as a team,” he says. The Leeston-based, in-house team at StructureWise can tailor a shed to your needs and your budget. Phil Williams with his team have spent over 25 years working out ways to improve the building offer for farm sheds. This includes bird and vermin proofing that is now common place while ensuring your gear is kept clean and tidy. Steelbone Birdproof Purlin is patent pending their own design. It makes bird-proofing, more efficient, cost effective and easier. Phil and his team love the challenge of a unique solution so give them a call and pick their brains! They’ll ask questions to understand your needs and give you a fast responsive quote to get you started. Tell them your need, and they’ll develop a solution for you.
Wider bays give better access for machinery and without the added worry of breaking timber poles.
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34
February 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
WATER & IRRIGATION
Improve your irrigation management through knowledge and testing The year 2019 has started off with some more typical January weather after unseasonally wet conditions over November and December.
Andrew Curtis ❚❚by IrrigationNZ Chief Executive ❚❚
With irrigation systems operating less than usual over spring and early summer hopefully you have had more time to do other things on the farm or even take a break for a few days. In December, IrrigationNZ launched a new online training system for our members. The system features short videos explaining topics like soils, climate, plant water use, water budgets, soil moisture monitoring and scheduling. The system is designed to allow more farmers and farm staff to take part in training. The training can be completed in short modules and can be done whenever there is time available on the farm – like a wet day, or after hours as part of staff development. Undertaking the online training is a great way for new staff joining you to get an understanding of how irrigation should be managed, and the training can be complemented with some on farm instruction by staff. The training is also suitable for more experienced staff who already use irrigation to help expand their knowledge. Eleven short 10-20 minute lessons make up the first training module. Each module is followed by a quick online assessment. It takes around three to four hours to complete all of the modules and assessments. If you complete all modules you will receive a record of completion to include in your Farm
‘
Undertaking online training is a great way for new staff joining you to get
Testing times: IrrigationNZ is carrying out an irrigation efficiency testing programme in South Canterbury this summer.
an understanding of how irrigation should be managed. Environment Plan records as evidence you have undertaken irrigation training. Employees can also add this certificate to their CVs. We are planning to add new modules on irrigation operation, performance assessment and developing irrigation over the next few years. The system is free for IrrigationNZ members to use. To find out more about the system visit www.irrigationnz.co.nz or contact us on 03 341 2225. If you’re interesting in upskilling your staff in person we also have an irrigation operator and manager training day happening at Ashburton on 12 March – see www.irrigationnz.co.nz/events for details. We have also been busy carrying out an irrigation efficiency testing programme in South Canterbury over summer. The pro-
gramme has been running since early December and will finish in February. This is the third summer we have carried out testing, with previous testing undertaken in Ashburton and Selwyn. The project is the first large scale independent irrigation testing programme carried out in New Zealand. The results from the testing is used by farmers to adjust their irrigation management, and correct any system faults. The results are also anonymised and shared with industry partners like Federated Farmers,
Fonterra, irrigation service companies and local irrigation schemes so they can get a better understanding of any common problems which they need to be aware of. As an example of the value of the testing, in Selwyn we found that newer irrigation systems weren’t performing as well as they should have been which highlighted to both farmers and the service industry that new irrigation systems must be commissioned in order to spot and correct any errors in the system set up early on.
CANTERBURY FARMING February 2019
WATER & IRRIGATION
35
Irrigation efficiency testing programme for South Canty IrrigationNZ will be carrying out an irrigation efficiency testing programme in South Canterbury this summer to help farmers improve their irrigation management.
❚❚by Kent Caddick
The programme operated last summer in Selwyn, and over the previous summer in Ashburton. Around 360 irrigation systems were tested through those two programmes. The checking programme is the first large scale independent trial of irrigation efficiency that has been carried out in New Zealand. Steve Breneger, IrrigationNZ’s technical project manager, who is overseeing the project, said most farms with irrigation will spend over $50,000 a year in water and electricity charges. “Checking your irrigation system is operating efficiently is a good investment as even small adjustments to your irrigation operation will quickly add up to thousands in savings over a few irrigation seasons. Fixing faults can help you save water and reduce nutrient losses,” Breneger said. The testing programme is carried out by university scholarship students who have been trained to carry out bucket testing which checks showing whether systems are working correctly. The results are then reviewed by Steve Breneger, an irrigation educator with over 10 years’ experience in irrigation installation, maintenance and repairs, who makes recommendations on how to improve performance. Farmers receive a summary of the test results listing any key performance issues and actions that would improve irrigation performance. “A key part of the project is that it provides farmers with a good picture of both how well their irrigation system is operating and also how they are managing it,” Breneger said. “Farmers are offered advice on what they could do to improve their irrigation performance or their management of their irrigation system.”
Testing time: Irene Setiawan and Lughano Mwenibabu checking the water pressure on a centre pivot irrigator. The university students will be part of this year’s irrigation efficiency testing programme.
The testing carried out in Ashburton found that older irrigation systems performed more poorly than newer systems. In Selwyn the programme found that many newer systems were not operating well which highlighted the importance of commissioning irrigation systems to check their performance before they were handed over to farmers to operate. In both districts, most farmers were using
resources such as soil moisture monitoring tools to help them identify when they needed to irrigate. The testing programme is being carried out until mid-February and will cover properties between the Waitaki and Rangitata River. Farmers need to register
to be part of the programme. This can be done online at irrigationnz.co.nz/events. All irrigation system types can be tested except for border dyke irrigation.
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36
February 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
WATER & IRRIGATION
Cool climate growing pains
Dr Tony Davoren ❚ with ❚ Hydro Services
So we think it has been wet in Canterbury and we have had our woes. Well try cool climate viticulture in what is usually the notoriously dry Central Otago.
A season not really seen (from a wetness perspective) for many years, and it is trying, expensive and labour intensive. Last month I wrote it seemed to rain nearly every day in November – well for central Otago it seemed the same. I’ve sort of returned to “my roots” over the last three weeks by substituting as the monitoring technician in vineyards and cherry orchards. It all started when I was there to train a new field technician on 14 October – just in time to see the effect of a minus 2-3degC frost shown in red in the graph. Ugly to say the least with up to 3 shoots/per cane totalled by frost in some vineyards. Now grapes are an interesting beast (or weed) because immediately the second shoot springs into life and grows. That sounds like a life saver (or income saver) because there at least will be a crop. This is cool climate growing and for Pinot Noir central is right on the cusp of the 950 odd degree growing days needed to grow and ripen the crop. Lose 2-3 weeks while that second shoot springs into life and well you can figure how tight it might become. And the cool climate nature of the season has continued with 13 January nearly producing frost. Well then it rained and while it might not have reached the lofty totals we had around Canterbury, the rainfall record shown recorded 83mm in November and 195mm since 1 October – this in a 400mm odd annual rainfall region. So, half their rainfall in half their growing season. At a time when growers would normally have control over the vines there is little control. The vines have been able to access moisture and nutrients from between the rows this season all the way through January, and being the consummate “weed” have grown (for Central Otago) vast canopy. And in an environment where most of the vineyards are bio-dynamic or organic, the inter-row and under-vine growth of grass and weeds is prolific. Normally by flowering (mid-December) the soil moisture deficit is such that we can minimise vegetative growth and partition the plant’s effort into the grapes. Not this year: • Those who have grass everywhere and under-vine mow have had to mow three-to-four times already
Growing problem: Plenty of rain has meant vineyard owners have had to deal with a huge growth in grass and weeds between and under vines.
and more to come, when normally one-to-two mows would be norm. • Those who use soil disturbance (tipping the soil into and under the vines) to control weed growth have already done two-three passes and probably one more to come. • Vines have already been trimmed twice and once more before the nets go on in February, when normally there would be one-two trims. • There will be two efforts of shoot thinning to expose the fruit, removing laterals (which are prolific) and bunch thinning because of the double shoot growth after the frost. No need to detail the cost of running tractors with trimmers, mowers or cultivators to you the reader, or the cost of labour (where the extra hands can be found). All in a season that probably won’t be the best vintage. A number of vineyards have not even dealt to their inter-row vegetation in an attempt to use water and help control grape vigour. Even the vineyard shown has already been trimmed once and vigour is still strong with tip growth stretching above the top tucking wire and laterals going wild.
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Wool quality deteriorates
rob Cochrane ❚ by Wool ❚ Procurement Manager, PGG Wrightson Wool
– but cautious optimism
With simultaneous wool auctions being held in both the North and South Island on January 10, wool market observers remained non-committal regarding likely outcomes, prior to each event. Most broker catalogues largely contained new (recently shorn) wool with only a few grower re-offered lots available, however, over-all wool quality was really beginning to show the effects of such a warm and humid late spring and summer, as plenty of discolouration was evident within many of the samples displayed for exporter assessment. The Kiwi dollar continued to hold its ground against its major counterparts thus providing no cause for sudden reactional market movement. By close of business on January 10th the NZ wool trading market levels for the day were being quoted as “in sellers favour” compared to the last auctions for 2018 held on December 20, also in each island. Although some of the crossbred fleece wools on offer during January visually appeared of average colour, a large number of the tested results for those lines suggested a much poorer scoured result, signalling caution to exporters and brokers. However, and as already mentioned, auction prices improved in early to midJanuary compared to December levels for most types on offer and with a large volume of summer shorn fleece coming on stream the increase, albeit small, was welcomed by all members within the wool pipeline. Chinese buying interests were responsible for the majority of the slightly increased demand, supported by European mills, with some Australasian and local mill activity also. The first real quantities of crossbred lamb’s wool were catalogued in both islands during early January and these drew widespread interest from the buying trade for all types measuring around 30.5 microns and finer. The 10th January auctions contained a good spread of lamb’s wool types with prices up to 750 cents clean for 27 micron, up to 685 for 28 micron, from approximately 550 to 590 for 29 micron,
CANTERBURY FARMING
February 2019
37
More returns for your wool. Carrfields Primary Wool (CP Wool) is a 50/50 joint venture between Carrfields and Primary Wool Co-operative (PWC), a 100% wool grower owned co-operative. • CP Wool has stores in key locations across NZ • CP Wool offers significant benefits and advantages to New Zealand wool producers Talk to your local CP Wool representative about maximising the returns on your wool clip.
Contact your Canterbury representative Mark Greenlaw 027 227 8898 Roger Fuller 027 683 6993 Grant Andrew 027 481 6219
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and up to 550 for 30 to 30.5 micron, all dependent on length and vegetable matter contamination. With reports of large numbers of lambs being slaughtered without having been shorn, greasy lamb’s wool buyers were keen to bid on the limited lines catalogued. A few lines of Halfbred and Corriedale wools were offered in the Christchurch wool auction room during January, and those met with a very enthusiastic bench of exporters who bid strongly on all types, but with particular emphasis on those measuring 29 micron and finer. At time of writing, Australian auction rooms had also experienced increased bidder competition for their crossbred types (the equivalent NZ’s halfbred/corriedale or mid-micron types) fueled by both Chinese and European interests. Whilst the Merino wool selling sea-
son for New Zealand has ended, apart from a few second-shear and earlyshorn out-of-season wools, Australian auctions resumed in the New Year, after a three week recess, with approximately 35,000 bales of fine wool offered during the first week receiving very good interest from the exporting trade in that country. At both Sydney and Melbourne auction centres, increases of around 20 to 30 cents clean for most categories within the 17 to 28 micron ranges were experienced, signaling that there remains good demand for all apparel wool types. Given the welcome but very modest increase in demand for NZ crossbred wools of late, let’s hope 2019 is a better year for wool returns, however, at this point it may be best to remain cautiously optimistic. That’s my view.
Ring Kevin and he will turn up with the truck and certified scales. From mainline to dags see if you can find any wool buyer who will go further or work harder for your wool.
Phone Kevin today and get the best out of your wool.
PH 0274 396 848 or 03 312 9059
38
February 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
LIVESTOCK
Parasite-resistant stags on the horizon? Deer farmers may soon be able to select stags that are more resistant to internal parasites as a result of research now underway for Deer Select, the deer industry’s genetics database.
❚❚by Trevor Walton Research has already shown that young deer vary in their immune response when they swallow infective larvae of internal parasites and that this trait is moderately heritable. This means deer can be selected and bred on the basis of the level of their immune responses. “Nine breeding herds are measuring what are known as CARLA responses in the saliva of their 10 month old deer and we have research breeding values (rBVs) for these responses,” says Deer Select manager Sharon McIntyre. “In sheep a high CARLA response reflects lower parasite burdens and faecal egg counts, which causes less recontamination of pasture, but we don’t know whether this is also true for deer. We hope to know one way or another following completion of a new AgResearch trial beginning this year.” If the link is proven, McIntyre says deer farmers may be able to select deer on the basis of their CARLA BVs in the knowledge that they will be breeding parasite resistance into their herd. AgResearch deer scientist Jamie Ward says this is unlikely to mean they will be able
stop using drenches altogether. But it might change the way they drench. Internal parasites are a significant animal health issue on deer farms. Lungworm is a significant risk for young deer from late summer/early autumn. Ostertagia-type worms, the most important and common gut parasites, can cause health issues from autumn and under some circumstances, through until spring. Young deer carrying internal parasites may have significantly decreased growth rates, along with increased death rates, when compared with deer not carrying parasites. In the past deer farmers have heavily relied on drenches from a limited number of chemical families to control internal parasites. With drench-resistant parasites emerging and no new drenches coming down the pipeline, the industry is putting a lot of research effort into finding new tools for managing parasites and to extend the useful life of existing drenches. One focus is to find out whether deer can be bred to be more tolerant or resistant to parasites. Measuring the CARLA response in individual animals is fairly easy – all that’s needed is a saliva sample at 10 months of age. The
Parasitic behaviour: Lungworm in an autopsied deer.
response increases with age in rising 1-year old (R1) deer so long as they have been exposed to a parasite challenge. Because the response is heritable and breeders can select for it, some are now publishing CARLA rBVs in their stag sale catalogues. Ward says CARLA is positively related to R1 liveweight, but this is a relatively small effect, accounting for 10 percent of variation in R1 growth. “We still need to establish a link between CARLA levels in deer and how they might be protected from nematode parasites. In lambs there’s a direct correlation between a higher CARLA response and lower faecal egg
counts (FEC), which in turn means fewer infective larvae on pasture. Finding evidence of this effect in deer is still a work in progress.” AgResearch will be getting a handle on the impact of high and low CARLA scores on parasite burdens and FEC output this year. The CARLA rBV is centred around a zero value, with a higher rBV indicating a greater immune response. The current average value is about +35. Negative values bottom out at around -100. If a farmer wants to buy deer with CARLA rBVs in the top 10 percent, Ward suggests they should go for rBVs of 150+. He explains that unlike many other BVs, there is quite a high top end due to the nature of the response, with the occasional animal exceeding +400. See deernz.org/deerselect to find CARLA rBVs.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
LIVESTOCK
February 2019
Keeping safe on the farm over summer For most farmers in this region, 2019 has got off to a good start.
Phil Smith ❚ by Director Beef + Lamb New Zealand ❚
Warm weather has been interspersed with back-up rain, so most areas are looking unseasonably green, with good pasture growth and well-fed stock. Like many farmers, we have been busy weaning and shearing and while we have been engrossed in what we are doing onfarm, I have been very aware of what is happening overseas, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. The failure of Theresa May’s Brexit proposal and the shut-down of federal services in the US just highlights the huge amount uncertainty and volatility in our overseas markets. We are fortunate that livestock prices have remained firm this season and let us hope they continue to remain strong, although there can be no guarantees when there is such turmoil on our global markets. One thing we can be assured of is that we have some talented people working on behalf of the red meat sector to protect market access and to extract the best possible returns for our products. Closer to home, five recent fatalities in quick succession on farms leaves five families devastated. The ripples from these deaths are far-reaching and must ser ve as a reminder that we cannot take
health and safety for granted. This is a busy time of year on farm. Many of us have children at home over the holidays, extra staff lending a hand and friends visiting. It is critical we ensure our farms are safe and healthy places for everyone to enjoy and this may mean taking a hard-look at our farm practices. A fresh set of eyes (friend, neighbour, staff member) can be invaluable at identifying hazards and unsafe work habits that are easily overlooked when they are what you’ve been used to. It can be difficult to change entrenched farm practices, but change we must if we are going to address our industry’s poor health and safety record. Recent commentary about the need to reduce our meat intake in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has captured media attention. Compared to livestock production in many other countries, New Zealand’s grassbased rotational grazing systems have low greenhouse gas emissions and sheep and beef utilise large tracts of country unsuited for plant protein production. Plant-based proteins have been around for centuries and while they may become more important in the future, there will always be a market for high quality red meat. What we need to do is ensure consumers are selecting meat that is produced in a
way that has minimal environmental impact while maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare. Taste Pure Nature, developed by Beef + Lamb New Zealand last year, is this country’s first industry-wide red meat brand and differentiates sheep and beef produced in an environmentally responsible way from commodity meat grown on grain in feedlots overseas. B+LNZ is launching Taste Pure Nature in California in March and this represents an exciting step in realising the market potential of our healthy, grass-fed red meat.
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February 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Facelift lifts Toyota sales figures Toyota New Zealand is celebrating 31 years as the dominant car brand in New Zealand’s automotive market despite a major business shift at the beginning of 2018.
❚ by Kent Caddick In 2018 the company’s Toyota stores retailed 33,045 new vehicles for a 20.4 percent share of the market, surpassing the 32,278 new vehicles sold in 2017. Toyota New Zealand’s general manager of new vehicle sales, Neeraj Lala, says facelifts to key models like the Hilux as well as the Corolla and Camry was behind the rise. “It’s a fantastic result given the significant changes we made with our ‘drive-away’ pricing from our Toyota stores in April,” Lala says. “Our customers have really enjoyed the new customer experience with ‘no haggle’ and the ability to return their vehicle if they are not 100% happy.” A total of 1,873 self-charging hybrid electric vehicles have been sold in the last 12 months, with the Corolla and Camry being the most popular with 819 and 505 sales respectively. Lala says Toyota has continued to lead
Smiley face: a facelift to Toyota’s iconic Hilux, in this case the new Sr5 Cruiser, has kept the auto manufacturer smiling.
SUV sales with a wide range of models from the compact C-HR through the RAV4, Highlander, Fortuner, Land Cruiser Prado to the Land Cruiser 200.
P
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The increase of Toyota’s SUV sales, namely C-HR and RAV4 aided the 2018 sales record. Alongside this, the introduction of Prius Prime saw an increase of 109% in the Prius family in 2018. During 2018 Toyota launched or updated five models, including the Camry, Corolla, CHR, Hilux SR5 Cruiser, and its first new plugin hybrid electric vehicle, Prius Prime. “Offering a full range of exciting models, and spearheaded by the next generation of Camry and Corolla, has helped us maintain
our market leadership,” Lala says. “The combination of a wide range of cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles that meets the needs of all buyers and the continued reputation for rugged reliability from its commercial vehicles and 4WDs in particular has enabled Toyota to retain market leadership.” Lala says Toyota will remain the sales leader in 2019. “In 2019, together with our new customer experience, we will introduce unprecedented new model activity.”
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February 2019
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Ford is New Zealand’s new best-selling light commercial brand For the first time in the company’s New Zealand history, Ford has become the country’s best-selling commercial brand in 2018. supplied by ❚ Article Ford New Zealand ❚ Bolstered by the arrival of the new Ford Transit with automatic transmission, Ford has taken pole position in the highly competitive and important segment. The New Ford Transit has proven popular in New Zealand with 22 per cent year on year growth. And New Zealand is not alone in its preference for the Transit; it’s currently the best-selling cargo van in the world. Ford’s 2018 commercial leadership was buoyed by the fourth consecutive year of the Ford Ranger being the number one overall best-selling vehicle in the country and by the largest margin yet between it and its nearest competitor. “While the Ford Ranger’s overwhelming popularity continues, we’re also very happy about the positive response the new Ford Transit has enjoyed among commercial buyers and fleets that keep New Zealand work-
ing,” Simon Rutherford, Managing Director Ford New Zealand, said. “We are very proud of the achievement and would like to thank all our customers for choosing Ford and all our dealer network for providing the fantastic customer service that has made it possible.” Customers around New Zealand welcomed a new Ford Ranger in October 2018 and the new Ranger Raptor in November. The 2019 Ford Ranger line up has proven to be an even more capable pick-up with a combination of class-leading technology, safety and convenience features all combined in a package with lower running costs. The 2019 Ranger was built on the capabilities and off-road credentials that has made the award-winning Ranger the most popular vehicle in New Zealand for four years running and the most popular ute in New Zealand for the last five years. In 2018, the Ford Ranger outsold its nearest competitor the Hilux by more than 1800
Popular: Ford’s ranger has been the most popular vehicle in New Zealand for four years running and the most popular ute in New Zealand for the last five years. vehicles, the largest margin yet. The new Ford Transit Custom arrived in June 2018 and set a new standard for onetonne vans with a fresh design, all-new cabin and an advanced state-of-the art turbodiesel engine with 6-speed automatic transmission. Drivers have welcomed the all-new interior and enhanced features designed especially for innovators, smart-working tradies and entrepreneurs.
Ford New Zealand shares a similar top spot with Ford of Europe where the Company is established as the best-selling commercial vehicle brand, and in the United States where Ford just celebrated 40 consecutive years of leadership in the van segment and 42 consecutive years of leadership with F-Series trucks.
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February 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
South Islanders dominate Nuffield New Zealand Scholarship awards Five prestigious Nuffield New Zealand Scholarships have been announced for 2019 with four of the five recipients coming from the South Island, including two from Canterbury.
❚ by Kent Caddick
and Hamish Murray (Marlborough). Nuffield Farming Scholarships have been The scholars were announced last month at offered to innovative New Zealand farmers parliament by Hon Damien O’Connor Minis- since 1950. They were first established in ter of Agriculture and Minister for Biosecurity, the United Kingdom by Lord Nuffield to create an opportunity for farmers to explore best agFood Safety, and Rural Communities. The five scholarships were awarded to: ricultural practice around the world and facilBen Hancock (Wellington), Cam Henderson itate innovation in the sector through travel (Oxford, North Canterbury), Corrigan Sow- and networking. The programme has since grown both in man (Golden Bay), Hamish Marr (Methven) New Zealand and internationally, building up a 150-strong network of scholars nationally, and more than 1,600 alumni internationally. One of the 2019 Nuffield NZ Scholars Cam Henderson The Constant Angle Knife Sharpening System owns and operates a 750 cow dairy farm near Oxford, North Canterbury. With degrees in engiThe indexed rotating clamping system neering and finance he has 3 Angle adjustments 12°, 20°, 25° worked in a range of dairy industry roles including time Your knife is always in the same place with Fonterra and DairyNZ. Alongside overseeing • High Grade Stainless Steel farming operations, Hender• Hygienic • Easy Care son currently commits much of his time to the Waimakariri Zone Committee in setting local environmental limits and to representing farmers as North Canterbury FederatDeluxe Precision Kit Pictured ed Farmers Provincial PresiSee our website for the full range dent. www.scarysharp.co.nz “All farmers will benefit Talk to the manufacturer toll free 0800 175 720 from adopting the latest in-
North Canterbury dairy farmer Cam Henderson will use his Nuffield Scholarship to investigate the factors which increase the speed of innovation adoption among farmers.
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Methven’s Hamish Marr is one of four South Island farmers to receive a Nuffield New Zealand Scholarship.
novative practices on farm and encouraging others to do the same,” Henderson said. “The faster we can encourage farming to evolve, the less regulatory and public pressure we will have to endure”. Finding the factors that increase the speed of innovation adoption among farmers is a key interest for Henderson. The other Canterbury recipient was Hamish Marr, a 41 year old, 5th generation, intensive arable farmer from Methven. Prior to a farming career Marr graduated Lincoln University with B Com Ag in 2000 and then spent four years with Ravensdown Fertiliser as a field officer based in Ashburton. With his brother and parents, they farm 500ha of arable crops specialising in small seeds.
Outside of farming and family, Marr is involved in several industry organisations including Federated Farmers, the Seed Quality Merchants Association, a board that oversees the seed certification scheme on behalf of MPI, and is also involved with the Foundation for Arable Research on the Mid Canterbury Arable Research Group and the Research and Development Advisory Committee. Marr said farmers over the years have become dependent on a vast array of synthetic agrichemicals as a means of controlling weeds, pests and diseases and as a result, increasing yields across the board but this is being challenged. He hopes to study the regulation that is being introduced in Europe and the implications for New Zealand.
CANTERBURY FARMING
February 2019
Climate fact and climate fiction
The latest Country Wide’s inflammatory article on climate change ‘Doing nothing a good option’ deserves comment.
❚ by Solis Norton Precipitated by online publisher Stuff’s public decision to no longer print ‘fiction’ from climate change deniers it is a curious alternative. Have a read, it’s probably in the pile of mail there at the end of the dining table. It describes the views mostly from a well-known agricultural personality and selfconfessed ‘climate realist’, collectively denouncing the science and validity of climate predictions, the role of New Zealand in developing more climate friendly systems, and the time frames of interest to the IPCC. It recommends instead that we ‘wait and see’. Let’s be perfectly clear, I consider myself a climate realist too, and a scientist. Here’s my take on those views. Scientific views are built on ‘weight of evidence’. It’s not about fact or fiction. And when so many experts from so many places weigh in humming the same tune, like about climate, I listen carefully. The issue is complex, so I hear some slightly different words but all roughly in harmony. Like a classroom full of six-year-olds singing ‘we wish you a merry Christmas’. But the ‘Doing nothing a good option’ article is singing Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. Regarding New Zealand agriculture and a realistic, practical response to climate change, we’re world leaders, like it or not. We didn’t get there with the attitude that doing nothing was a good thing. If we can’t identify a path with our expertise, systems, and
resources, the chances for developing nations to follow suit are hopeless. We should be proud of this. It’s no small consideration because ultimately food comes from the land, not the factory. As an AgSci student on working vacation I once experimented with the same concept as today’s climate change models. It was a simple and informative study of acceleration and uncertain events. I was mowing thistles in a big old tractor with dodgy brakes on the hillside above the homestead. Near the steepest point it began to wheel spin on the slick green grass. I tried to change down, standing hard on the brakes, the grinding gearbox refusing to shift. Very slowly it began rolling backward but gathering speed. Here my experiment really came into its own. I had to decide: wait and see?... or jump? I jumped. The tractor continued to accelerate, veering unpredictably. After ripping out two chain of fence it smashed the corner off the hayshed, killed two chickens and rolled three times into the dam next to the house where it sank out of sight. I think my experiment proved three things about climate change. When the overwhelming weight of evidence points to a bad outcome, doing nothing is not an option. Double guessing the minor details is not the point and costs precious time. In an accelerating process your time to react runs out far faster than you’d think. OK, so I embellished the tractor bit, but you get the point.
❚ with rob Cope-Williams
Dollars and sense There are a couple of very old and wise phrases that have been used for years about when prices are down and costs are up. The first one is “tighten your belt” and the other is “Put your cheque book in the bottom draw and leave it there”. Both are good advice, but in this day and age ver y hard to comply too. It’s interesting that over the past six months or so the profits for the power supply companies have dropped because the usage has dropped; there was little need to irrigate as much as normal because of rain and a lack of sun. Who says farming doesn’t affect ever yone! But while that has reduced some of the outlay irrigation farmers have had to pay, there are still lots more. In years gone by farms were ver y much family units run and manned by two parents and whatever children they produced, as in free labour in return for being housed and fed, but now days we have moved into either staff in the dairying world because cow numbers are too high, and or contractors. Makes sense not to own much machiner y as who needs the asset sitting doing nothing most of the year in the cropping world, and even sheep and beef breeders are using others to do their cultivation for
the same reason. You must admit the gear is big and costly now days, and remember your hourly rate when you think about sitting on a tractor all day. What has become the norm in most cases is that one of the partners does farm work, while the other one works off farm to increase income. That however does leave the question of the paper work. Compliance has become a full time job that has to be done despite the fact it brings in no income and is like a burst dam as far as funds leaving the operation. My point, and yes there is one, is to talk with your accountant ver y regularly about budgets, costs and incomes. What you saved on power costs early in the season can be shuffled into another corner and reduce overheads or outgoings. Accountants are not an overhead, if they are worth their salt they will save you a lot more than they cost, and when it comes to finance, that is important. So when it comes to dollars, the right advice certainly makes sense.
South Island Rural Team
Absent; Rodger Letham, Jude Livingstone, Michael Robb
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February 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
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