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July 2019 Edition
INSIDE
THIS EDITION Future farming
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Upside: Shifting half of New Zealand’s crossbred wool clip into higher value fine wool contracts would provide an economic upside of around $2 billion according to the New Zealand Merino Company.
The economic upside of higher value fine wool contracts Increased international demand for fine wool could spell profit for sheep farmers and give kiwifruit and wine exports a run for their money.
❚ by Kent Caddick That’s according to the VF Corporation, one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies, which is incentivising New Zealand’s sheep industry to grow more fine wool. According to New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) CEO John Brakenridge there is a future in wool for farmers and for New Zealand which is great news for fine wool producers
and farmers considering transitioning into it. “Global demand for natural fibre and NZM owned ethical wool brand ZQ Merino is swinging the pendulum in wool’s favour,” Brakenridge says. “We are connecting more and more wool growers with long term supply contracts and we are seeing supply being soaked up seasons in advance. “Today a crossbred wool fleece fetches approximately $3.00 clean/kg whereas cur-
rently a Smartwool 22 micron contract going forward for the next 3-5 years has a base price of over $20 clean/kg. “If we can shift half of New Zealand’s crossbred wool clip into higher value fine wool contracts, the economic upside would be around $2 billion. Wool could give kiwifruit and wine a run for their money in terms of exports,” he says.
TO PAGE 2
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
Long term contracts ‘future of wool’ ‘ FROM PAGE 1
VF Corporation, which owns labels including The North Face, Timberland, Smartwool and New Zealand founded brand Icebreaker, has developed the new incentives for farmers as part of the company’s commitment to sustainable solutions. VF Corporation Vice President of Global Procurement and Material Supply, Tom Conneen, says today we expect more of our products – in design, performance and environmental and social impact – and we believe VF has the responsibility and opportunity to lead by example. He says their partnership with NZM has also been an obvious choice with wool being a long-term investment opportunity. “Ongoing investment in genetics, leading animal husbandry practices, and adoption of new supply models will be required, and VF is committed to working alongside NZM, the shearing community, breeders and growers. “We’re confident enough in the future of wool to incentivise production through long
We’re on the crest of a
wave and are doubling
down on our investment to ensure supply. John Brakenridge CEO, New Zealand Merino Company
term contracts and provide support where we can. VF is working hard to be the global leader in merino wool supply and the preferred partner of growers,” Conneen says. New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) CEO John Brakenridge says the long-term wool contracts offered to NZM growers, such as the industry first ten year contract with Icebreaker, coupled with contracts for SILERE, (NZM’s merino meat brand jointly owned and operated by Alliance Group Limited), make fine wool sheep farming more profitable than dairy grazing and other sheep farming systems, based on Christchurch Office 03 377 2721 analysis by both NZM and AbacusBio. “The increased demand ¡ Rural & Urban Subdivisions for and value of contracts ¡ Mapping/Survey Graphics has exceeded our expecta¡ Cross Lease/Unit Surveys tions. We’re on the crest of a ¡ Resource Consents wave and are doubling down ¡ Topo/Site Surveys on our investment in adop¡ GPS Positioning tion of the right genetics and practices to ensure this de¡ Land Status Research mand can be supplied from www.resonant.co.nz New Zealand wool.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
July 2019
3
North Canterbury company battling brain degeneration A North Canterbury company has found a key brain nutrient in blackcurrants which has been proven to delay brain ageing, including neuro-degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Strokes and Dementia.
❚ by Kent Caddick Rangiora-based Vitality Wellness (NZ) Ltd (VWNZ) produces blackcurrant supplements for a wide range of health benefits. The company’s directors, Jim Grierson and David Eder, commissioned independent research into the benefits of blackcurrants and were surprised to discover the berries were very high in a key brain nutrient called cyclic Glycine-Proline (cGP). According to lead brain researcher, Associate Professor Dr. Jian Guan of Auckland, cGP is essential for maintaining the function of an ageing body and mind. She says that cGP deficiency can lead to early onset of brain ageing. David says this discovery was very exciting. “It’s a world first. Overseas, pharmaceutical companies are trying to synthesize cGP because it is so vital to whole-body health, and here we’ve found a naturally rich source of it right in our back yard.” David and Jim were quick to patent the discovery and the methodology, and have now bottled the valuable nutrient in their range of health supplements which includes Brain Shield – a supplement designed specifically for people with low levels of cGP. “As we age, the health of the brain diminishes,” David says. “The brain is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress damage which can break down
Age with normal cognition
3. Maintain normal cognition
Age with cognitive impairment
1. IGF-1 reduces while we age
3. Mild cognitive impairme nt (MCI)
2. cGP increases to improve IGF1 function
3. Dementia
1. IGF-1 reduces
2. cGP failed to increases
Supplementation of Brain Shield™ may help to • Delay onset of cognitive impairment (left circle) • Slow down the progress of MCI to dementia (middle circle) • Improve cognitive function
1. IGF-1 reduces
2. cGP decrease
• cGP
•Other ingredients
•Other ingredients
•Other ingredients
Mechanism: IGF-1 plays a critical role for cognition. As a key ingredient of blackcurrant, cGP improves IGF-1 function.
Brain food: Vitality Wellness (NZ) directors David Eder (left) and Jim Grierson inspect a crop of blackcurrants for use in their range of health supplements which includes Brain Shield. the immune system and lead to illnesses including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Strokes and Dementia. “Maintaining good levels of cGP has shown to be beneficial for brain fitness. cGP helps to normalize something in our bodies called IGF-1, or Insulin-like Growth Factor -1, which is a hormone that is essential to whole of body wellness, including the function of the brain. IGF-1 is vital for improving the brain signalling pathways. VWNZ is the only company with a multi range of New Zealand blackcurrant dietary
supplements and sources most of its blackcurrants from around the Canterbury region, where it also processes and manufactures its products. Brain Shield, the patented dietary supplement has an average daily dose containing New Zealand blackcurrant, flax seed (linseed) oil and Omega 3. Jim Grierson says Brain Shield has specifically been developed as a product solution for people with low levels of cGP, based
on Dr Guan’s research findings. Jim says people with a sufficient level of cGP will have a better ageing and lifestyle experience. “The anthocyanins (antioxidants) found in blackcurrants have other general benefits for whole body wellness.” Jim says Brain Shield is only natural form of cGP a key brain nutrient commercially available in the world.
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
Damien O’Connor ❚ by for Agriculture, Biosecurity, ❚ Minister ❚ Food Safety and Rural Communities
Taking up the challenge at Fieldays
Recently I joined the thousands of people who headed to Mystery Creek for Fieldays 2019. I always look forward to spending time at Fieldays. One of the things I enjoy most about being on the ground at Mystery Creek is hearing first-hand about the issues that matter to our rural communities – whether it’s about people’s experiences of the Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme, how the changing climate is affecting farming, or what we can do to improve water quality. But there’s one issue that comes up on a regular basis, something that has a huge, and often devastating, impact on people right across regional New Zealand. That issue is the mental health of our rural communities. We all know someone who has experienced mental health challenges, and half of us will experience mental illness ourselves at some stage. But for too long, people have struggled to access the mental health support they need. This is particularly true for those in remote and rural areas, where specialist services can sometimes be hours away. This isn’t good enough. That’s why our Government is taking action to improve New Zealand’s mental health
system, and make sure everyone – including those in our rural communities – can get help when they need it. You may have already heard about the changes we’re making to mental health support through the Wellbeing Budget. At the centre of this is a new frontline mental health service, which will be rolled out nationwide over time. This service will see mental health workers in GP offices and medical centres around the country, so you can get the support you need, no matter where you live. It will also mean people can get help and advice early, before small issues become major problems. I know that for many people in rural areas, even getting to a medical centre can be a barrier to accessing support. That’s why we’ve also invested an extra $20 million in telehealth to boost phone and online services, to ensure that those who live in the most isolated communities can get help when they need it. Together, these changes will make a real difference for people across New
Zealand, and will help transform mental health support in rural areas. New Zealand relies on these communities, and we need to make sure they can access quality care and advice, when and where they need it. Of course, improving mental health services is just one of the ways we’re supporting rural communities. We’ve also invested in a sustainable land use package, which will provide practical support and advice for our rural communities as they adapt to big environmental challenges, we’re bolstering our biosecurity system on the back of Mycoplasma bovis, we’re pushing ahead with a progressive trade agenda to open new markets for our exporters, and we’re investing in science and innovation to help regional New Zealand grow. The mental health crisis won’t be fixed overnight, but by taking mental health seriously, we’re taking a significant step forward. I’m really pleased that, when people asked me about rural mental health at this year’s Fieldays, I could tell them that support is out there.
Photo Op: Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stop for a photo opportunity at Fieldays.
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FARMING NEWS
CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
5
Helping farmers see the future AgResearch’s new partnership with Animation Research Limited (ARL), the Kiwi company which revolutionised America’s Cup sports broadcasting, is helping farmers to visualise the future.
❚ by Kent Caddick The partnership is part of a research programme – the New Zealand Bioeconomy in the Digital Age (NZBIDA) – which is designed to enable transformational change to the country’s agricultural sector and supply chains. As part of the programme, Dr Seth Laurenson and Dr Remy Lasseur are designing a “hyper farm” using ARL’s world-renowned visualisation technology. The virtual farm helps landowners visualise their landscapes using different land uses, from growing hemp to tourism. It also allows users to see what their properties would look like as a result of any changes as well as understand how changes would affect water quality, finances, carbon sequestration, bio-diversity and more. Laurenson and Lasseur said they wanted to create a tool to help landowners design a new future while also understanding tradeoffs. “The tool will help drive discussion around change by providing the how, what and where. Simplifying the complexity and providing the visual realism helps provide clarity and foresight to those discussions that might take place across the kitchen table, in the boardroom or amongst family and community groups. “Being able to simulate our land and our unique circumstances, makes it that bit more real.” Laurenson said AgResearch and the landbased science sector had gathered an in-
Future farming: AgResearch’s ‘hyper-farm’ programme on display at the recent Fieldays in Hamilton.
Visualisation: AgResearch’s Dr Seth laurenson says the ‘hyper-farm’ visualisation programme will allow farmers to see what their properties would look like as a result of any changes and how those changes would affect water quality, finances, carbon sequestration and bio-diversity on their farm. credible amount of data to support farming and research over the years. “This trend is set to continue at an exponential pace due to sensor technology. Bringing that information to life with a high-quality
visualisation tool will help accelerate adoption and change,” he said. Ian Taylor, founder and owner of ARL said they are seeing a tsunami of digital data and they are struggling to know what to do with it.
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“One of the exciting things for us about this project with AgResearch is it brings all of those things together,” Taylor said. “The data is already there. When you put that together with the visualisation, you start to see the future. “You don’t have to wait two years, five years or ten years to see what effect decisions have on your land. You can see it in 10 minutes in a really informed way.”
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
Time to talk about the primary sector Recently I spent three days at Mystery Creek Fieldays in Hamilton, the single largest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere.
Nathan Guy ❚ by Party spokesperson, ❚ National Primary Industries ❚ The primary sector generates $45 billion in exports and provides 350,000 jobs across New Zealand, helping underpin our economy. While at the Fieldays we launched National’s Primary Sector Discussion Document. The ideas we have come up with will stimulate discussion and encourage feedback within the primary sector, making sure we are match fit for 2020. There were a number of key points and highlights to the document. For biosecurity, we are proposing increasing border officials powers so that they can deport passengers who have knowingly brought in biosecurity risk items, and increasing infringement fines from $400 to $1000. Within education and workforce, a new Primar y Sector Visa would help provide an avenue for skilled migrants to build futures in New Zealand, and proposes a separate Agriculture Visa similar to the Primar y Sector Visa. We believe a policy that allows young New Zealand farmers to have the opportunity to lease or own some of some Landcorp farms, lifting overall productivity and helping encourage young farmers into farm ownership. Research, science, and innovation are vital to New Zealand’s primary industries, and we propose a new Biotechnology and Innovation Fund to help the industry adapt to ongoing challenges like reducing methane by allowing GE ryegrass to be trialled here.
‘
Research, science, and innovation are vital to New Zealand’s primary industries.
Mobile Rural Health Clinics will help enable rural patients get access to health practitioners providing better health care to isolated communities. The document also has sections on climate change, forestry, racing and fisheries and sector overviews. National will work with farmers and growers to lift their productivity, and lower their environmental footprint through strategic R&D investment, not more taxes and excessive regulations that hurt rural communities. Please take a moment to give us your feedback at www. national.org.nz/primary_sector.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
July 2019
7
Pluses and minuses with DIRA Federated Farmers says it sees useful changes and a missed opportunity in the decisions on recent amendments to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act.
❚ by Kent Caddick The DIRA was passed into law in 2001 and saw the creation of Fonterra. It also promotes the efficient operation of dairy markets in New Zealand. Feds Dairy Industry Group Chairperson Chris Lewis says they are disappointed that open entry provisions won’t be changed, other than relating to new conversions. “It’s nearly 20 years since this legislation was passed to ensure that, with the formation of Fonterra, competition for farmer milk supply and dairy product choice for consumers was preserved,” Lewis says . “The market is now mature enough, and competition among a host of processing companies robust enough, for Fonterra to be given some discretion over who it is required to pick up milk from.” Lewis says the decisions announced by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor will give Fonterra some leeway over accepting milk from land newly converted to dairy. “That’s good but we await detail on what the definition of a ‘new conversion’ is. “We’re also pleased that the amended DIRA will give more clarity on when Fonterra can refuse supply when a farmer is well below industry standards relating to the environment, animal welfare, greenhouse gas emissions and the like. “There are some farmers who have demonstrated their unwillingness to come up to the standard of all the other shareholder and suppliers out there.
“As with other aspects of the government’s announcements, the devil will be in the detail,” Lewis says. He says Federated Farmers looks forward to taking part in the consultation process with the Select Committee to help ensure the details of the bill are fit for purpose. Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor says the changes will provide certainty for the dairy industry and ensure the sector can pursue sustainable value growth for the benefit of all New Zealanders. “The industry has changed considerably since 2001, and it is important to ensure the regulatory regime puts the sector in the best possible position,” O’Connor says. ”The changes we’re making will support our dairy sector to produce and export high value goods in a way that sustains the environment it relies upon. DIRA drives much of this work and after 17 years it’s the right thing to do to make it fit for the 21st century.” Key Changes to DIRA and the Raw Milk Regulations: Retain the open entry and exit provisions, with qualifications, to manage ongoing risks arising from Fonterra’s large size and scale in New Zealand dairy markets. Allow Fonterra to refuse milk supply from farmers in circumstances where milk is not compliant or unlikely to comply with Fonterra’s terms and standards of supply or is supplied from newly converted dairy farms. Clarify that Fonterra’s terms of supply can relate to, and price differentiate on the basis
‘
It’s nearly 20 years since this legislation was passed to ensure that, with the formation of Fonterra, competition for farmer milk supply and dairy product choice for consumers was preserved. Chris Lewis Chairperson, Federated Farmers Dairy Industry Group
of, various on-farm performance matters, including environmental, animal welfare, Good and bad: Federated Farmers Dairy Industry climate change and other sustainability Group chairperson Chris lewis sees both positives standards. and negatives in proposed amendments to the Dairy Limit Fonterra’s discretion in regard to Industry Restructuring Act. setting a key assumption in calculating the base milk price, the asset beta. Require Fonterra to appoint one member of its Milk Price Panel on the nomination supply regulated milk to independent procesof the Minister of Agriculture. sors with their own supply of 30 million litres Remove the requirement for Fonterra to or more in a single season.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
RURAL PROFESSIONALS
Reminder of reality
Andrew Wyllie ❚ with ❚ Forsyth Barr Global manufacturing has been in a slump most of this year, with export powerhouses such as Germany and Japan likely to be suffering manufacturing recessions. On the positive side, employment growth has continued in most economies and rising household in-
comes have underpinned a more robust service sector. Weaker growth outlooks have caused Central Banks to reverse any policy bias towards further monetary policy tightening. As inflationary pressures have eased and economic data has softened, global bond yields have fallen. In China, the Government has cut taxes and reduced interest costs in a bid to
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support the Chinese economy, while New Zealand’s Reserve Bank cut the Official Cash Rate and other Central Banks have indicated further support will be forthcoming if needed. This monetary support, along with an expectation of a resolution to the United StatesChina trade dispute, has lifted asset prices this year. However, in recent weeks as economic data has deteriorated and the trade dispute worsened, weakness has returned to market sentiment. Interest rate curves are now indicating rates will remain low for longer, with the United States Federal Reserve expected to cut interest rates at least once later this year. Weakening market sentiment and economic growth also confirms the need for a premium-for-risk when investing in growth assets.
Financial market impacts With trade concerns again escalating, the renewed focus on declining economic growth expectations meant most equity markets we follow declined during May 2019. United States and Chinese markets bore the brunt of declines, and using the MSCI World Index as an example, the declines were sufficient to reverse the gains made in the preceding two months. At least the weaker New Zealand dollar helped returns from a New Zealand investors perspective, with the New Zealand dollar falling against all curren-
cy with the exception of the British pound. Australasian markets were the best performers and managed to buck the trend of losses during May 2019. Australian equities actually gained significantly during May 2019 and managed similar returns to those in New Zealand over the quarter. Driving the Australian rally was the trifecta of the surprise General Election result replacing expectations of higher taxes with tax cuts, the banking regulator easing stress tests on mortgages and the Reserve Bank of Australia indicating it would also lower the Official Cash Rate. These measures are expected to stabilise the housing market and in turn bolster household spending. Part of the reason has been the level of acquisition activity in the New Zealand equity market, but also low interest rates and insufficient issuance to offset the maturity and redemption of $1.8 billion of high yielding subordinated debt instruments which will occur over the next few months. With limited reinvestment options, and interest rates expected to stay low or lower for some time, alternative investment options need to be considered. This includes more diversification into international bond funds as well as having to accept lower than usual fixed interest returns. This report covers the three months ended 31 May 2019.
Looking at off-farm investments?
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.
When you are thinking about your investment options, talk to Forsyth Barr.
He can be contacted regarding portfolio management, fixed interest, or share investments on 0800 367 227 or andrew. wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz.
To get personalised investment advice and 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.
CHC5019-03 - © Forsyth Barr Limited March 2019
Global economic growth, and in particular developed economy growth, has been pared back significantly since December 2018.
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.
CANTERBURY FARMING
RURAL PROFESSIONALS
July 2019
9
A look at farm debt mediation
Bessie Paterson llB ❚ with ❚ Ronald W Angland & Son Most farming enterprises depend on overseas markets for the sale of their produce and when the global markets slowdown the result can be disastrous for anyone who has overcommitted themselves in debt. The banks are now quick to enforce their remedies against anyone who defaults under their debt obligations to the various banks. One of the hardest aspects of debt situations is for the borrower to tackle the task head-on and ask someone for help in sorting out the debts to see if the problems can be resolved. A private member’s Bill has been introduced to the House of Representatives for the purpose of setting up a mandatory farm debt mediation system to give borrowers some time to try to sort out the problems which have arisen. It provides that farmers would have 10 working days after they receive a notice of a creditor’s intention to appoint a receiver to nominate a mediator to hear the matters of concern between the parties. It also provides that banks or other creditors would not be permitted
When the economy is strong and the outlook appears to be in good shape, many farmers and other business people take the opportunity to expand their enterprises and in doing so take on more debt.
to appoint a receiver until at least 10 working days had elapsed after the mediator’s summary of mediation. As a method settling disputes mediation has long been used in other branches of the legal system. Mediators under this scheme would be appointed by the Banking Ombudsman. They would be required to carry out the mediation and provide a report to the parties on the day following the mediation. The details of any settlement reached would be confidential to the parties and not admissible in evidence in Court proceedings. Realistically, it should provide guidance as to how the parties could alleviate the debtor’s woes or set out the procedure for the farmer to have a suitable programme to exit the farming industry without losing all self-respect which has happened over past years. The Bill as presented to the House is little more than an acceptable attempt to draft a Bill and it is likely that it will be withdrawn and taken up as a government initiative. In doing that the Bill will be drafted by “experts” and examined by the Parliamentary Counsel Office. It is not going to happen any time
soon but submissions will be called for at the appropriate time. Let us hope that this Bill or a new version will pass through the House and become part of our legal system. In the past, those of us who have been around for a long time have seen many sad situations where farmers have been unable to extricate themselves from bad debt scenarios.
This article has been prepared by Bessie Paterson, a Partner at Ronald W Angland & Son, Solicitors, 2 Chapman Street, leeston.
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
Affordable excellence:
Boarding at its best Nelson College for Girls offers high quality, affordable education for young women in a very supportive environment.
Animal exports a welfare issue
supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Nelson College for Girls Our Boarding Hostel, Clarice Johnstone House, is a very important part of this. It offers excellent accommodation for up to 150 students, from New Zealand and overseas. This accommodation provides quality for our young women but is priced competitively. For many of our boarders, there are significant opportunities for them to be involved in sporting and cultural activities that would not otherwise be available to them. They take part too in groups such as our very successful Enviro Group. Our boarding students are part of a very large family, proactively supported by our senior students through a wide variety of student led activities. Nelson College for Girls has a strong house system and all of our boarders take part in house activities with great enthusiasm. Our Year 9 to 12 students live in Clarice Johnstone House, while our Year 13 students are in the Levels building, which opened in 2011. This modern accommodation provides Year 13 with a more independent living experience, while still ensuring our most senior students play a pivotal role in creating the family atmosphere of the boarding community. Our boarders enjoy academic success, make lifelong friendships and enjoy strong connections within the school and its community.
Gareth Hughes ❚ with ❚ Green Party Spokesperson for Primary Industries
I know the vast majority of farmers care about their animals but what happens though when they are exported live overseas?
Nelson College for Girls Principal Cathy Ewing says the school’s boarding students are well supported with a mentoring system. Within the school our boarders are part of our vertical mentoring system, or arahi, where they receive fantastic wellbeing and academic support from one key teacher and 16 students from years 9 to 13. This mentoring is an important part of our holistic approach to supporting both academic success and growing happy, confident young people. Be your best at NCG – join our family. For more information please contact CJ House on 03 548 1332. Email:cj.house@ncg.cshool.nz or visit our website www.ncg.school.nz/boarding.
Recently the Government announced it is reviewing the controversial practise and is considering a ban. This is something the Green Party has called for and worked towards. For us, it is first and foremost needed to protect animal welfare, but my message to farmers has been the on-going practise poses risks to our agricultural reputation. Back in 2003 live export for slaughter was stopped after the high-profile and cruel death of 5000 sheep transported to Saudi Arabia, but every year since we have exported tens of thousands of animals for breeding purposes. In 2015 for example one ship had 50,000 sheep and 3000 cattle with only a single vet on board. The conditions would shock many and they’ve been called floating prisons. Some die during transport but the biggest problem is what happens when they arrive. There’s no way to know how they are treated when they arrive. If you look at what happened to New Zealand dairy cattle exported to Sri Lanka you
would be absolutely appalled. Hundreds died in horrible circumstances leading to one Sri Lankan farmer to say “I have a cemetery, not a farm.” In some countries sick or diseased New Zealand animals have suffered rather than be euthanised and in others they are slaughtered in needlessly painful ways. I questioned the Minister of Agriculture on the Sri Lankan export scandal and the wider issue. I pointed out, that in February, the European Union voted to ban all live export of animals to countries that do not meet the EU’s animal welfare transport standards. I believe it is time New Zealand does the same – we can’t impose our animal welfare rules on other countries, but we can stop exporting to them. New Zealand’s live animal export laws are in serious need of an update to protect animals from harm and protect New Zealand’s reputation. I know Kiwis love and care about animal welfare and the Greens will be pushing for the strongest possible outcome to end live exports.
FARMING NEWS
CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
11
Clearing up a few things There’s a lot coming at farmers at present and we put a huge effort into trying to keep everyone up to date.
Steve lowndes ❚ by Environment Canterbury Chair ❚ It’s not surprising that sometimes things slip through and people are not aware of an issue that may affect them. This column runs through some current examples that may affect or concern farmers. My first example is the draft map of potential wetlands that we recently published on the Canterbury Maps website. We thought we had made it clear what the map was for – to better identify wetlands as they have significant ecological value. For the record, the wetlands map was based on a combination of aerial imagery and on-the-ground observations to identify where wetlands may exist, so is the best information we currently have. We are now working closely with individual landowners to ground-truth the information if they feel the wetlands areas identified on their property are not correct. You may have also heard that in May Environment Canterbury declared a climate change emergency, a move I was fully in support of. The declaration simply highlights what we’re already doing (which is quite a lot) and the urgent need for everyone to get serious about dealing with the impacts of climate change, which are already upon us. Another item in the news recently has been about the health risks of nitrates in drinking water – this is a perennial topic but was triggered by the release of our annual groundwater quality survey. Our science shows that nitrate levels have been rising for some time, and that’s why we now have farming to limits in Canterbury, and
‘
Scientists agree that we need to do more research to better understand the wider health risks from nitrates in drinking water.
we also know things may get worse before they get better. The scientists agree, however, that we need to do more research to better understand the wider health risks from
nitrates in drinking water. On a lighter note, it’s great to see the progress being made around Farm Environment Plans. Under our land-use consent to farm rules, around 2900 Farm Environment Plans are needed, and figures just compiled show that 81% of FEPs have been completed and 91% of those independently audited last year received an A or B grade. Many farmers have also been following what’s happening around braided rivers after the High Court’s definition in December of a river bed. We have appealed the decision because we don’t think it reflects the dynamic nature of braided rivers and won’t provide enough protection for braided rivers. Until that appeal is heard, we are working with people in the rural sector to get greater
agreement on how to protect braided rivers, including in the regional plan. We also know that data collection and privacy is a big issue for farmers. We collect a huge amount of data which is used for all sorts of reasons, but ultimately to manage and protect the natural environment across Canterbury. This collection and use of data, particularly from remote sensing such as aerial and satellite imagery, is only going to increase. We want to build trust with farmers around data, which means we need to keep the lines of communication open about what data we are collecting and what it will be used for. The wetlands mapping is a good example of this, and it’s important that we hear what you have to say about issues that affect you.
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Power Farming Canterbury
12
July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
❚ with Rob Cope-Williams
❚ with John Arts
Debt and pink elephants Should I take Perhaps I am a bit thick at times, but I thought banks who lend to farmers already had a very strong relationship with their rural customers, and have a rural team who specialise in liaising “around the farm kitchen table”, so why did the Government need to bravely come out and pass a law that says there has to be mediation between the two parties before a bank can foreclose. Yes we are all aware that rural debt has nearly doubled in the past four years running from $34billion to the present $60billion but the banks aren’t stupid, apart from the ex ANZ boss who obviously thought he was more important than Donald Trump, so the banks will have strict criteria with respect to lending. As in they will do their homework and if there’s little chance of servicing the debt, they’ll find a way around the problem before it becomes a major problem. Plus how many farmers plough on getting further into trouble without having a round table with their accountants? My thought would be very few. So our dear Government suddenly sees that Farm debt has nearly doubled in four years and next year is election year, so let’s be seen to “bail out the farmers”. Well Aussie has done a similar thing but that is because of a massive drought that has crippled the industry over there, our debt level is because of the economy and costs such as compliance.
The Rural Trust takes care of climatic and other disasters plus the Government does step in when needed so that is basically covered. So what is the real bottom line? To me it is not a case of passing laws that sound good to the rest of the population who, no doubt think that it’s a hand out for the farmers who already earn millions a year, “yeah right”, but it’s similar to saying that couples must, by law, go to a councillor before they can separate and divorce. From my observations by the time couples go to a councillor the marriage is well past the terminal stage. Perhaps, just perhaps, a better solution may be to work on our export markets, push locally for more people to eat what we produce, reduce the hype about being vegan and basically make our consumers proud of our farmers. Yup you are right, that’s a big call, especially when Auckland and the top half of the North Island hosts two thirds of the voting population, and farmers traditionally don’t vote Labour en masse, but while we are joining hands with others within our shores, let’s break down our other barriers and get an understanding about the fact that farmers and urban people are both locals and working to the same ends. Gee, was that a pink elephant flying past the window?
Co Enzyme Q10?
Part 2
We generally make all the Co enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) we need. Some, however, should take extra as a supplement. CoQ10 is made in your liver from the same enzymes that make cholesterol. This is why drugs that reduce cholesterol can significantly reduce circulating CoQ10. I recently spoke to a client who had experienced a lot of muscle pain and stiffness while on statins. After just a month on high grade CoQ10 (CoQsol®) the pain had completely gone and is now able to tolerate the medication without side effects. I generally find it takes one to two months to restore muscle function and energy. Muscle issues from statin use is one of the most common reasons from muscle and tendon pain and weakness. It is a shame that many suffer needlessly as in most cases is quickly resolved with a high quality CoQ10 without having to stop the medication. What makes CoQ10 unique is its ability to accept and donate electrons. This enables CoQ10 to move hydrogen electrons within your cell mitochondria to make the
energy your body requires. Inadequate CoQ10 levels reduce energy output and this is felt as tiredness, and often as muscle weakness. I regularly prescribe CoQ10 for those with health issues known to reduce energy especially those with autoimmune or neurodegenerative problems. While CoQ10 is not a cure, it can help to lift general energy and well-being. In most cases I will add CoQ10 as the patented CoQsol® or my specialised MTQ10 formula for those needing extra CoQ10 plus a lift in energy. MTQ10 combines CoQ10 with a B complex plus other energy co-factors. Most people feel a real difference within 1-2 months. 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 at www.abundant.co.nz.
Abundant Health
CANTERBURY FARMING July 2019
Thank you for helping your community
Fall Zones
Notice and Growth limit zones
To all of you who have had your trees trimmed before they became a problem, thank you for keeping all the farms working and families in your community warm, happy and healthy. You can be proud of the fact that you kept the local cowsheds milking, water pumps pumping and sheep shearers shearing. You may not think that what you’ve done has had much impact on your neighbours, but from all of us here at Orion, we just want to say thank you. We’re not exaggerating.
Where do I start?
On our network, 10-20% of all unplanned power outages are caused by trees — including vegetation — coming into contact with power lines. Other than this, fire damage to property from branches sparking in dry conditions and serious injury from electrocution from contact with trees touching power lines are also possible consequences of not maintaining your trees.
Before you begin, remember to keep yourself, and those around you, safe. We recognise that not everyone is experienced in tree trimming and are happy to advise you on what to do. We can arrange for trees near power lines to be trimmed at your expense, however we recommend you hire professionals to safely carry out the work.
How close is too close? While most damage is caused by trees falling on power lines, significant risk exists from trees merely touching them. This risk increases the higher the voltage of the power line. The minimum distances that must be maintained between trees and power lines, as defined in the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003, are outlined in the diagrams above. All vegetation should be kept out of the growth limit zone and preferably the notice zone. Sometimes it may not be practical to have a tree trimmed at the rate at which it grows and unfortunately, this means it may need to be removed. Other situations may require trees to be removed, most commonly when they are at a high risk of falling due to disease or adverse weather events.
If you or someone working for you intends to work within four metres of power lines, a close approach consent is required from Orion before you start. As a tree owner, you may be liable for any damage caused by carrying out trimming or felling of trees.
B A
Power line voltage
A. Growth limit zone
B. Notice zone
66,000 volts 33,000 volts 11,000 volts 400/230 volts
4.0m 2.5m 1.6m 0.5m
5.0m 3.5m 2.6m 1.5m
More info can be found on our website and if you have any questions or notice any trees touching power lines in your area, please call us on 03 363 9898 or 0800 363 9898.
oriongroup.co.nz
Will I be fined if I don’t comply? If a cut or trim notice is given to you and you fail to have the tree trimmed and/or advise us of the time and location of the trim without a reasonable excuse, this is an offence. This will make you liable for a fine not exceeding $10,000. If the offence continues, you will be liable for a further fine of not more than $500 for every day or part day during which the offence continues.
Orion New Zealand owns and operates the electricity distribution network in central Canterbury between the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers and from Canterbury coast to Arthur’s Pass.
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
Craig Knowles ❚ with at Helmore Stewart, ❚ Partner ❚ Rangiora
Employment law Covering all the bases
Employment law can be complex and confusing for even the most clued up employer. There can be traps in the most innocent of things, and for those employers in the primary sector, these can be increased by complications such as work visas, employerprovided accommodation and the need to get staff working as quickly as possible. Most employers want to have a 90 day trial period in their employment agreements. Mainly, this is to ensure that the person has what it takes to do the demanding work required. However, as all employers know, some soft skills are also needed to ensure that people can gel with the rest of their often tightly-knit team. The 90 day trial period allows employers to take on an employee and if the employee is the wrong fit, or doesn’t work hard enough, or there are some other problems, the employer can terminate the employment relationship, and will be protected from any claims for personal grievances for unjustified dismissal. In other words, an employee can be sacked and there is no comeback for that employee. The 90 day trial period, if used properly, can be an invaluable tool for employers. This right to terminate employment without any repercussions is a signficant power for employers. For this reason, there are very demanding rules about 90 day trial periods which must be strictly followed by employers. The Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court are very unforgiving with employers who do not follow all the rules to the letter. An employer who does not take advice on their employment agreements before employing someone takes a risk that the 90 day trial period will not be valid. This can be a very expensive mistake – the average cost for an employer who lost a personal grievance back
in 2012 was over $30,000. Those costs are likely to be much higher now.
Some of the tips to follow are: 1. Make sure your business qualifies for the 90 day trial period – only businesses with 20 or fewer employees can have employment agreements with trial periods. 2. Send a covering letter to the employee with the employment agreement. If an employer fails to tell the employee that they have the right to take independent legal advice, and/or fails to give the employee a reasonable opportunity to take such advice, then the trial period can be overturned. 3. Do not allow the employee to move into any employer-supplied accommodation until after they have had a reasonable opportunity to take legal advice. Allowing the employee to have early access to accommodation can be used by an employee to try to claim that the employment relationship started at an earlier time than it did. 4. Get the employment agreement signed well in advance of the start date of the employment. If the employee signs the agreement after they start, they are an existing employee and the 90 day trial period will not be valid. 5. Avoid having a prospective employee do a trial shift before signing the employment agreement. Generally these will make the employee an existing employee and a 90 day trial period will be invalid. Employment law is constantly changing. There were significant changes in 2016 and 2019, so if employers rely on outdated agreements, they are likely to be non-compliant. While we hope you have found the information above to be informative it is not comprehensive and should not be relied upon as a substitute for specific legal advice.
CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
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15
16
July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Keep an open mind to brain health
It’s time to invest in the health of your brain. As we age our bodies produce less of the key nutrient cGP that helps sustain brain function. Low levels of cGP may be found in patients with neuro-degenerative illnesses such as Parkinson’s and Strokes. Made from NZ blackcurrants high in cGP, Brain Shield® supplements your brain’s nutrients, helping to maintain your health and active lifestyle.
Find out more at brainshield.co.nz Or call 0800-006-168 Read the label. Vitality Wellness (NZ) Limited. Taps approved number for Brain Shield™ NA 10816.
Brain Shield® Food for thought
CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
17
ICS standing the test of time ❚ ❚
Originally branded and known as the Lyco Dominator Wool Press, the ICS Dominator has been working in New Zealand wool sheds for well over 30 Years. Article supplied by Australia during the Global Financial Crisis electrical motor giving lower power draw, a money into our Farmers pockets. Firstly manufactured in Ballarat Austral- in the early 2000s, Lyco NZ rebranded as fully enclosed bottom box giving shorter ICS Manufacturing Ltd
This iconic design has helped shape the way wool sheds work today, reducing costs and increasing efficiencies to help put more
ia by Lyco Industries, the Dominator wool press was sold throughout New Zealand by Lyco New Zealand Ltd. After the closure of Lyco Industries in
ICS Farm Machinery looking to continue to service both current and new customers, that was over twelve years ago. Part of the Rebranding was also bringing the manufacturing of the Dominator wool press to New Zealand, giving us a truly NZ made product, while others have tried to copy, we have continued to develop and grow. The ICS Dominator not only has all the great attributes of the previous Lyco Dominator but has several improved features as well. Like the Lyco Dominator the new Press comes with fully automatic corner pinning ensuring contamination free bales, rear and front loading, direct bale removal through the two opening sides, is easily transportable fitting through standard doorways without any dismantling. The ICS Dominator comes fully assembled, easily wheeled into the wool shed plugged into the wall socket ready to use straight away. Improvements to the new Press include increased horse power on the
squarer bales, faster cycle time. “Demand for the ICS Dominator has been high from both local and international customers, we have orders from both the USA and India to fill at present as well as enquiry from Australia, including our local customers, who have been great in getting behind us with this venture - we are looking at a very busy time ahead,” says business owner Ian Cowan. ICS Farm Machinery will continue to service all existing Lyco machines either directly from their workshop in Rangiora, or through their network of existing service agents around the country. The ICS Dominator is sold and marketed through the existing stock merchants and most resellers previously appointed by Lyco, ensuring all customers continue to get the level of service they need and require. For More information please do not hesitate in calling ICS Farm Machinery on 03 313 5977 or emailing sales@icsman.co.nz.
Dominating: The ICS Dominator Wool Press has proven its worth for over 30 years.
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Power Farming Canterbury
18
July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
New app makes ordering easier Ravensdown’s says its new map-based farm software, known as Hawkeye, allows farmers to order product on their mobile or tablet, giving them more time to do what they love.
❚ Article supplied by Ravensdown
Ravensdown’s National Services Manager Tim Roulston says efficiencies in farm management are all about having accurate and timely data that is insightful and automated, which is the motivation behind HawkEye. “Our customers’ main challenges today are needing more time to farm and improving environmental compliance, profitability and performance. Giving farmers the ability to order from their mobile, is one of the many ways we’re trying to make their lives easier,” Roulston says. “One of our goals is to make nutrient management easier for farmers. Ordering through HawkEye helps you get it right from the start and then provides better nutrient records for compliance and productivity improvement.” Dairy farmer Craig Minson, who contract milks for Craufurd Dairy Farm in Canterbury, has been a fan of the software since starting to use it in August last year.
“The time I spend on ordering is much more efficient now. I’m really looking forward to using the app to give me more time to get out on-farm – which is what I enjoy doing,” Minson says. “Being able to use the app to order fertiliser while on the pasture walk will give a much better context to make decisions.”
Efficient: Canterbury dairy farmer Craig Minson says the time he spends on ordering is much more efficient with Hawkeye. Roulston says collaboration between agri-businesses is vital to deliver meaningful solutions to farmers.
Farmers already using HawkEye can download the app free from the app store to get ordering today. Those new to HawkEye can contact 0800 737373 or support@hawkeye.farm to get started.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
19
CPD a ‘lifesaver’ for quad bikes Federated Farmers is backing WorkSafe’s decision to “strongly recommend” installation of a crush protection device, or CPD, on quad bikes used for work purposes.
❚ by Kent Caddick Crush protection devices can be fitted to a quad bike to provide a survivable space should a rider be pinned underneath it. According to WorkSafe between January 2000 and October 2017, 81 people were killed in quad bike accidents while at work and an average of five people die in work-related quad bike incidents every year. WorkSafe’s General Manager of Better Regulation and Legal Mike Hargreaves says data reveals that these accidents can happen on almost any part of the property,– and to experienced and inexperienced riders. “In many of the incidents the worker is crushed or unable to escape due to the weight of the bike, contributing to fatal or lifechanging injuries,” Hargreaves says. Federated Farmers President Katie Milne says they support WorkSafe’s policy clarification. “For some time Federated Farmers has been saying CPDs, or roll over protection as it used to be called, can be a very useful injury prevention option in many, but not all, farm settings,” Milne says. “There is still some debate about CPDs, including from quad bike manufacturers who
say they are unsafe, and those who say the device itself can cause injury in some circumstances. But like WorkSafe, Federated Farmers believes there is now enough evidence from credible sources to say that farmers should at least be considering Crush Protection Devices. “Of all quad deaths about 90% are the result of asphyxiation as a result of the bike pinning the rider in a roll over incident. The net result of greater use of CPDs is likely to be positive,” she says. In 2014, WorkSafe said fitting CPDs was a matter of personal choice. A subsequent review of research and the lack of improvement in incident numbers have prompted the regulator to revise that position. “It’s our view that CPDs are likely to prevent serious and fatal injuries,” Hargreaves says. “It’s important that farmers and others don’t treat these as a fit and forget solution. The devices do not take the place of training, maintenance, protective gear, vehicle selection, or the careful use of quad bikes, but they can provide some protection in the event of rollover.” However, the Motor Industry Association (MIA) says there is a lack of credible evidence
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crease the chance of rider injury. “It is most concerning that Worksafe is promoting the fitting of CPDs on quads as a safety device without credible evidence to support this view, nor do their recommended devices meet any certified safety testing standards. “Worksafe New Zealand fail to supply credible research data to show that CPDs will significantly increase the overall safety perforSafety first: Crush protection devices on quad bikes will help save mance of ATVs on farms.” lives according to WorkSafe. Hargreaves says while the use of CPDs will not be enand independently certified safety standards forced by the regulator at this time, discusto support the recommendation by Worksafe sions on the potentially life-saving devices will be taken up by WorkSafe staff when visthat all ATVs be fitted with CPDs. MIA Chief executive David Crawford says iting farms and other workplaces across the CPDs can interfere with the overall safety country as a part of their assessments acperformance of this type of vehicle, making tivity. WorkSafe says it is working with ACC to it more challenging for the rider to dismount design targeted assistance for the purchase from the ATV if needed. “As with any rollover, there is a likelihood of CPDs. Any package is likely to be launched of injury, and a CPD could in some cases in- by the end of July.
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Kiwi and Aussie farmers praise Giltrap SLR bale feeder ❚ ❚
Its speed of feeding out and ability to handle all types of bales are among the leading reasons farmers on both sides of the Tasman love the Giltrap SLR bale feeder. Article supplied by the Giltrap product range,” Mulgrew says. South Canterbury farmer and contracGiltrap Engineering
The SLR can handle round and square bales of hay and silage with ease, and it provides a clean loading system and quick feed out. When Giltrap Engineering bought Duncan Ag last year, along with the stable of popular Duncan drills, it acquired Duncan’s lineup of bale feeders and feed-out wagons. At that point Giltrap already manufactured its own range of feeders and feed-out wagons, so many of the Duncan machines were not carried over to the Giltrap brand. One Duncan product that was incorporated into the Giltrap portfolio is the SLR bale feeder. Giltrap Engineering managing director Craig Mulgrew says with its ability to feed out hay, straw or balage, as well as loose pit silage, the SLR bale feeder filled a gap in the Giltrap feed segment. “The SLR is a robust, versatile trailed machine that can handle round bales, medium squares or big squares. It has a strong reputation and we are pleased to add it to
tor Cam Scott bought his SLR bale feeder in 2012 because it was the fastest on the market. Scott bought the bale feeder for use on a dairy run-off block he owned at the time, mainly for wintering cows. He has used it extensively ever since, and to date has fed out more than 100,000 bales. “We only use it for feeding out round bales of straw, hay and balage,” Scott says. “When we bought it, we were feeding upwards of 60-70 bales of balage a day. We needed something that was fast and it was the fastest on the market. “There were other equally as strong products on the market at the time, but the speed of the SLR was the selling point for us. It was a new design and we worked closely with Duncan Ag in developing it.” Scott says his Giltrap SLR has had a hard life due to the demanding conditions of feeding out. “It has been good. It is very low maintenance. It has been through a couple of
Efficiency: Father and son team Barry (in tractor) and Cam Scott feed out 60-70 bales per day with their SlR wagon on their South Canterbury property.
heavy chains now but that’s to be expected with the number of bales it has done. It has never broken down on us but of course there have been little things we had to chip away at. We have been more than happy with the run we have had from it.” He is particularly impressed with how clean the loading system is.
“That is one of the things I like the most about it. You can load the feeder without spreading grass or straw all over the place. It also has great lift capacity. All in all, it’s a fantastic machine.” For further information contact Giltrap Engineering on 0800 804 458 or info@giltrapag.co.nz.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
21
New machine to help traceability AgResearch is developing a method of giving New Zealand exports a ‘unique fingerprint’ that scientifically proves their provenance and could be used to deter supply-chain fraud.
❚ by Kent Caddick According to the developers the technology is so accurate that it can differentiate New Zealand, English and Welsh lamb using a measurement that only takes a few seconds. It can also detect what feed – such as grain, grass or chicory – a carcass was reared on, an increasingly important trait driving consumer spending. Associate Professor Dr Alastair Ross said the new rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometer (REIMS) machine being used at AgResearch’s Lincoln campus detects the “molecular phenotype” of a sample, a unique “fingerprint” made up of molecules resulting from the interaction of genes and the environment. “This measurement, which previously took over an hour of lab work, can now be done in seconds on samples of meat, milk, plants and wine.” Ross said that one of the potentials of the REIMS instrument is that it can produce detailed data that could be used for
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authentication, including incorporation into Blockchains so that there is chemical as well as digital traceability to prevent food fraud. “Making sure we have the robust data on provenance and quality has the potential to save New Zealand millions of dollars through early detection of quality problems and prevention of false labelling. “We’re also finding that we can link the fingerprint to other factors such as consumer liking so in the future it can be possible to ensure that New Zealand agricultural products are not only guaranteed in terms of provenance and quality, but also will go to the market which best matches their desired flavour profile. “This type of concept is heading toward a future where you could for example scan a glass of milk with your mobile device to not only find out where, when and how it was produced but also whether that milk fits your taste profile. “We think this will be a major opportunity for the New Zealand food sector where world-
Future farming: Dr Alastair Ross using the rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometer (REIMS) machine at AgResearch’s lincoln campus.
wide supply chains are coming under increasing scrutiny and consumers are increasingly engaged in what they eat.” The REIMS instrument vaporises products using an electronic surgical knife and measures resulting vapour using a mass spectrometer. Ross said the REIMS is expensive and has to be based in a laboratory, but advances in technology mean that simpler instruments using similar concepts are becoming more affordable and portable. “Genetic improvements have made a major difference to the sector for improved production and disease resistance. Now we want to enable selection to be based on both genetics and environmental factors, to use a systems approach, to reach the next level of
improvements in production, quality and sustainability. “Ultimately, we’re aiming to develop a tool that we can take to a farm or an abattoir that will detect what sheep is the most adaptable to suit the flavour preference profile of a specific market. “In the case of meat for example, with a simple measurement taken on an animal onfarm, we’d be able to get a good estimate of what animals are good for the European market, what are good for the Chinese market, and what is good for dog tucker.” He said the technology could be adapted to many other agricultural applications such as diagnosis of disease. “This technology has huge ramifications for animal welfare too.”
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
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July 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Caring for livestock in winter With winter now starting to bite, the Ministry for Primary Industries is reminding pastoral livestock farmers of their animal welfare responsibilities, whether animals are kept at home or sent off-farm to graze.
❚ by Kent Caddick “This time of year can be challenging for farmers, with wet and muddy conditions increasing risks to the welfare of their livestock,” says MPI Animal Welfare manager Kate Littin. “Many farmers, particularly in Southland and Otago, choose to break feed stock on crop over the winter months. It’s a great way to provide food for animals and protect pastures, but does require careful planning and good stockmanship to avoid welfare risks that wet weather can bring. “New Zealand’s codes of animal welfare require livestock to have access to areas free of surface water and mud, and appropriate shelter from adverse weather. “Animals will refuse to lie down on wet ground and can then become stressed, stop eating and are more susceptible to lameness.” She says there are a number of ways farmers can mitigate risks to animal welfare over winter. “If there is a spell of extreme weather or prolonged wet conditions, you may need to move your stock off the crop to drier land, and you should plan for this possibility. Having a ‘plan B’ is the key. “Clean drinking water must be available for animals at all times. Owners are still re-
Chilly reminder: Winter weather can be a challenge to ensure an animals welfare. Photo: Jane Hickling
sponsible for the welfare of their stock while they are off-farm for winter grazing and should check on the conditions, including their access to shelter and water. “When transitioning from pasture to crop
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Dr Tony Davoren ❚ with ❚ Hydro Services
July 2019
27
Opening and closing doors
This is my last article to be written under the HydroServices banner. But I’ll continue to write – just under another banner.
It will be officially winter by the time this goes to press and what do we want from the winter with regard to irrigation. Nothing I hear you mutter. Alexander Graham Bell (the guy who patented the telephone) is credited with a much used quote/announcement “when one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” He didn’t really “invent” the quote – it seems that back in 1586 some other guy (Lazarillo) fulfild the proverbe “when one doore is shut the other openeth” (spelling is correct for 1586). Bell is really on about missed opportunities and that many people “do not like and, therefore, resist change”. For those people the “closed door” makes it difficult to see the next opportunity. So, what has this got to do with my writing articles every month. Some time back in the 90s (I think) I started writing for Canterbury Farming penned under the banner of HydroServices. More recently, the HydroServices brand had become part of Aqualinc Research when the two companies merged. This will change again – the HydroServices brand is to be discontinued and after 36 years of HydroServices, it is difficult not to look regretfully upon this closing door. What won’t change in the foreseeable future is my monthly article. The opportunity alluded to by Bell arose from a good friend and I coming to the ICC World Cup in England. Many readers will know of my/our passion for cricket and this
was too good opportunity to pass by. And so be it – writing this the day after a close one with South Africa at Edgbaston and before the clash with West Indies on Saturday. The “icing” on this opportunity will be to be at Lords on 14 July to watch NZ in the final. And being away for a month was the perfect opportunity to close one door and open another. The closing door is I’ve decided not to renew my direct employment at Aqualinc and the opening door is to contract back to Aqualinc and return to doing a bit of consulting on my own. While I’m currently not over the weather
in Canterbury, I can confirm it has and still is as of today wet and cool/cold. Since 1 May there has only been 8 of the 51 days with no rain, and 172mm in the same period. Other areas have had significantly more rainfall and fewer “no rain” days. On the train from London to Birmingham I couldn’t help but notice the amount of lodged wheat and barley in the fields. But on one of those days with only 0.9mm we managed to see 98 overs of SA v NZ. Perhaps 22 June will truly mark the summer solstice here. What do we want from winter? A little more of what
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came over Queens Birthday weekend would be great. One or two more big rainfall (or snow) events would be handy to continue the recharge of the groundwater system. While water levels in the mid-plains have “bounced” back well since the irrigation season stopped in April, it would be really nice to see them recharge much more; e.g. for BX23/0623 back above 49m below ground level would be really nice before the next irrigation season. That would serve to keep us out of the “red zone” during the next irrigation season. While rainfall recharge is top of my list, some continued cold weather to accumulate winter chilling temperatures for autumn sown grain and vegetable seed crops would also be on the list. And quite the opposite would be appreciated in England – high pressure, settled sunny weather and warm temperatures for cricket watching.
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Insight into winter on farms Winter can be a challenging time for farmers. Rainfall and cold weather events inevitably make things wet underfoot and managing those conditions is particularly challenging for farms whose paddocks are home to animals.
❚ Article supplied by DairyNZ
Caring for dairy cows and managing mud in winter is a top priority for all farmers grazing cows during winter. DairyNZ recently spoke with two Southland dairy farmers about how they look after their cows and the environment. As Otaitai Bush dairy farmer Luke Templeton checks on some of his cows, he takes time to give a few of his favourites a scratch and grub the odd weed. Like most dairy farmers, he takes great pride in having his cows and his farm looking good. However, at times, wet and cold conditions in winter can make this a challenge. But Luke and other farmers are prepared. They’ve spent the last 12 to 18 months growing extra feed and planning how best to manage their paddocks in a way that looks after their cows and the environment. “We always hope for the best, but plan for the worst,” says Luke. Like the majority of dair y farmers in Southland, Luke uses crops, such as kale,
Dairy Farmer luke Templeton says with winter they hope for the best but plan for the worst.
swedes and turnips, to keep his cows in tiptop condition when grass growth becomes almost non-existent. Another popular crop is fodder beet. About two-thirds of Luke’s herd will be fed kale, swedes and turnips, along with some baleage to ensure a balanced diet. The remainder, mostly cows due to calve
early, will graze on “really dry paddocks” and their diet consists largely of baleage. Despite the benefits of feeding crops, it’s not without its challenges. Once the crops are eaten, the soil is left bare and at risk of turning into mud in wet conditions, if not managed carefully. Like many farmers, Luke hates seeing
cows in mud and does everything he can to keep it to a minimum. He says farmers use a range of practices to reduce mud to ensure their cows can move freely, have a dry surface to lie down and limit the impact on the environment. Practices include using back fencing, portable troughs and providing additional feed, such as hay and baleage, and moving the break fence up to three times a day. “I find feeding five percent extra means the cows are much more satisfied, lie down more and are more relaxed. We’re always focused on trying to make them as comfortable as possible.” Luke also grazes his cows in small mobs of about 100 to 150 cows to minimise damage to paddocks and make it easier to check their condition. “A big part of my winter is monitoring the cows, making sure they’re satisfied. If I can walk between them and they don’t all chase me honking and hollering, then that’s a good indication that they’re full and content.”
TO PAGE 29
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Planning for wintering FROM PAGE 28
Down the road at Ewen Mathieson’s farm, it’s clear driving up the crop-lined driveway, with baleage strategically dotted every couple of metres, he’s also ready for winter. Ewen winters a diverse range of animals on-farm, including 910 cows, 250 calves, a handful of sheep and even some goats. He winters all his animals on the farm and produces all his own feed. He feeds the cows fodder beet, kale and swedes, and supplements with baleage. He says dairy farmers put a lot of planning into preparing for winter, selecting which crops to sow and paddocks that are most suitable, then cultivating and placing out supplement such as baleage. Part of this process involves leaving grass buffers near critical source areas (low-lying areas where water can pool or flow after heavy rain) and waterways, and determining the best direction to graze paddocks to prevent nutrient run-off and top soil loss. “We do our best to limit soil damage as much as we possibly can by regularly moving the break fence, back fencing, using portable troughs and supplying extra feed,” says Ewen. “We feed a lot of supplement, up to 4kg of baleage, straw or hay per cow, in addition to the crop. This helps with active rumen function, keeping our cows warm and content, which means they’re less likely to be walking backwards and
29
Wintering on dairy farms What is wintering? Grazing animals on winter crops is a practice many farmers adopt to help keep their herds in good condition while pasture growth is low.
Who does it? Cows and other animals, including sheep and deer, are often wintered on crops – particularly in the South Island and in some areas of the North Island.
What crops are fed?
Ewen Mathieson winters all his animals on the farm and produces all his own feed, including fodder beet, kale and swedes. for wards making mud.” He says regularly moving the break fence provides a good opportunity to closely monitor his cows and the amount of time they spend lying down is a good indicator they’re content. “There’s nothing more rewarding or enjoyable than watching cows lying down chewing their cud. That’s when they’re most relaxed and content,” says Ewen.
“That’s why we closely monitor lying times to gauge if they’re comfortable and that there isn’t too much mud, as they don’t like to lie down on a surface that is too wet. “At the end of the day how our animals perform is critical to our farm wellbeing. We love to see happy contented animals, and that’s what we’re trying to achieve, no matter what season it is.”
Common crops fed as part of a wintering plan include kale, fodder beet and swedes. The crops are supported by supplements such as baleage, silage and hay. Cows are gradually introduced to a crop and are fed on it during the key winter months.
Why does good management matter? There are three components to successful wintering – selecting the right paddocks, establishing crops and grazing management. Grazing cows on the crop involves gradually break feeding the crop, using portable water troughs to prevent cows going back into already grazed areas and managing grazing so nutrient runoff into the environment is prevented.
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
FORESTRY
New Zealand and China sign forestry cooperation arrangement An arrangement signed by New Zealand and China paves the way for future forestry cooperation and boosting bilateral trade.
❚ by Kent Caddick That’s according to Forestry Minister Shane Jones who recently signed the arrangement with Zhang Jianlong, the Administrator of China’s National Forestry and Grasslands Administration. “The updated arrangement supports and strengthens links between government, industry and research institutes in New Zealand and China. It provides a framework to address matters such as sustainability, wood processing and utilisation, and trade and investment,” Jones said. “The forestry sector is an important and growing part of our bilateral trade with China, with export revenue topping $3.2 billion in the year ending 2018. “Much of this growth has come from increased Chinese demand for New Zealand forestry products, supporting both continued high prices and record export volumes. “A number of Chinese companies choose to use wood sourced from New Zealand for
their manufacturing, and I’m keen to see how we can grow the relationship further, especially for our respective wood processing industries. “With my Chinese counterpart, I have agreed that officials will cooperate to encourage increased trade, including in value-added wood products.” Jones said he sees a multitude of opportunities for New Zealand and China to cooperate and support forestry and wood processing industries, in a way that also supports environmental objectives. “The wider One Billion Trees goal to plant at least one billion trees by 2028 is an ambitious one, and it will drive regional revitalisation, support Maori to realise the potential of their land, and deliver benefits to our people and our environment. “Ensuring an end-to-end value chain for our logs and forest products, along with our relationships with trading partners, including China, is an important part of achieving these aspirations,” Jones said.
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FORESTRY
Allan laurie MNZIF ❚ with Laurie Forestry Ltd ❚
July 2019
31
Chinese logging market hits a few speed bumps
China has hit a few speed bumps on the back of external and internal financial paradigms which have conspired to work against log prices and demand. For the first time in a long time this important market for New Zealand has a range of factors which are not all positive but by no means can be called a crash or a slump. The first head wind has been caused by the illustrious Donald T. His tariff regime and consequent wider impacts has continued to weaken the RMB against the Greenback with both elements making Chinese manufacturers uncompetitive with their products and commodities in to the US. The short term gain for the US is a jittery but resurgent economy which otherwise continues to struggle on the back of indebtedness. The long term chickens will of course eventually come home to roost as US consumers will ultimately be the ones paying the tariffs through higher prices for US made products. For New Zealand forest growers, softening demand for finished and semi-finished products at the upper end of the quality spectrum is finding its way in to NZ Radiata A grade and pruned log prices. These sorts of impacts also start to filter down in to all grades. As China enters the height of summer, construction sites slow down and in this case the demand for NZ industrial export logs dwindles at the same time when we have been hitting some supply records. Add to this a significant increase in supply of
Lumber out of Russia and logs from Europe and Uruguay and you have a market that just put the big white gloved hand up. At the log supply and price negotiating table in the China sawmill is when we see eyes spending a lot of time looking at the ground and a lot of head shaking instead of nodding. When buyers have a sense of price drop they all pretty much sit on their hands until someone has to fold and set the new market price. Importantly the combination of the housing, construction, property and related sectors make up over 30% of China GDP. The Government is already talking response measures with reduced and relaxed restrictions likely to be components of their reaction to the current situation. Indeed Kiwi Forest Growers can rest a little easier that the logs going to China to help build apartments forms such a large component of what happens next Whist current log supply significantly exceeds demand, if log prices drop even US$5 which is not big in NZ historical terms, this will make much of the log out of Europe and in particular Uruguay uncompetitive. This is
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one of the reasons we believe the current situation has short legs and will run out of puff. Meanwhile in the good old land of sheep, cows and bleaters, the forest Industry has continued to break all previous records. In May we exported a staggering 2.787 million cubic metres of logs on 79 vessels, four more than April. Frankly we cannot keep this up as on an annualised basis the volume to date represents very close to our total annual cut in 2018. And just for the record Minister Jones, before we start hearing another tirade of the bandied rhetoric about how we should be adding value in NZ, jump on a plane with me to China next time and I will show you why words do not match the market reality. One good example can be found in a consortium of 200 sawmills on one site paid for by the Government and as far as I am aware did not have to suffer the vagaries, costs and uncertainties of resource consents.
This site employs close to 1500 people each earning about NZ$300-$400 a month, They are working six days a week, nine hours worked per day and if they don’t work they don’t get paid. We pay people in NZ a lot more than that per week to work at lot less hours with plenty of benefits and that is just the way it is. Mind you we also pay a lot of people for working zero hours on zero days per week and if they don’t work they still get paid. The current situation, whilst not ideal, looks to be of a temporary nature as far as we can see at this stage. If New Zealand can slow down volumes and prices reduce to levels necessary to remove competitor volumes this current situation should correct quite quickly. Please remember the thoroughly important message, “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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CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
Whey based milk replacers specifically formulated for lambs and goats Milligans Feeds are excited to introduce two new products for 2019 for the lamb and goat markets.
❚ Article supplied by Milligans Feeds
GOlamb Whey and GOgoat Whey are WHEY based milk replacers specifically formulated for each species and offer excellent nutritional values for growing infant animals. Milligans Feeds have carefully selected to partner with one of Europe’s largest animal milk replacer manufacturers with proven history of top quality and performance throughout Europe, to offer New Zealand farmers and rearers more options as Milligans Feeds saw the need to offer another whey milk replacer to the NZ market with the growing dairy goat and sheep sectors as well as the traditional farms who prefer whey over traditional casein-based milk powder. The use of whey-based milk replacers has steadily increased over the past five years, especially in the dairy goat and lamb sector under ad-lib feeding systems due to its safety margins with reduced bloating incidence. Although whey replacers tend to be slightly lower in nutritional analysis than New Zealand made casein products, the way it digests in the animal makes it equal-
ly as good for growing healthy animals due to its assimilation in the body. It also helps that whey is slightly cheaper than casein powders which gives an economical advantage. While we praise the merits of whey milk replacers, we can’t ignore the traditional casein products outright such as our longstanding MMR or Multi Milk Replacer, which is suitable for multi species of animals, as these are still the highest consumed milk replacers on the market and for good reason. Whole and skim-based powders are seen in trials to give the best start to infant animals, at least for the first three to four weeks of life. From then onward there are choices to continue right through to weaning with them or look at options like transitioning to whey alone or mix both casein and whey together for the best of both worlds approach. It really comes down to what suits the farmer based on performance, safety and cost. Milligans Feeds can also help with the aforementioned option of having a blend of both proteins with GOmulti, a milk replacer designed to provide a robust growing formu-
la of both casein and whey for those looking at convenience of using the two powders without the hassle of mixing themselves. GOmulti is suitable for lambs, goat kids and calves only due to its specific nutritional profile and vitamin and mineral inclusion.
look for the Milligans Feeds GO Milk Replacer range at your local Farmlands, RuralCo, Independent retailers and selected vets throughout NZ or check online at www.milligansfeeds.co.nz.
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GOlamb WHEY and GOgoat WHEY Milk Replacers are whey-based milk replacers developed by Milligans Feeds in conjunction with our European partner in Holland specifically for rearing Lambs and Goats in New Zealand conditions. Check out www.milligansfeeds.co.nz for more information on the range and where to buy.
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CANTERBURY FARMING July 2019
33
Protecting your calves with Rotagen Combo A programme of preventive treatment with Rotagen Combo, the natural calf scour product, is an option for protecting valuable replacement heifer calves which may be exposed to a viral or bacterial infection resulting in infectious scours.
❚❚Article supplied by Vetpak
Rotagen is made from dried egg yolk from hens that have been vaccinated with specific antigens. The hyper-immune status these hens achieve results in very high levels of antibodies in the yolk of the eggs which provide a passive immunity to specific infection in the gut of the calf. The main cause of neonatal calf scours is rotavirus, a viral disease picked up from carrier cows following calving. It is a disease of newborn calves, however older calves are still vulnerable until at least one month of age. Other pathogens may be involved in neonatal scours, but rotavirus infection is always present in at least 80% of outbreaks. The disease is characterised by severe diarrhoea which has a distinctive smell, and dehydration, and can have a death rate of 20% or more without treatment. Calves affected by an infectious scour will suffer from damage to the intestinal lining of the gut resulting in reduced nutrient uptake and a severe reduction in growth rate. Such calves rarely perform as well as non-infected animals and have difficulty in reaching target live-weights. A simple programme of treating calves at birth with a preventive drench of Rotagen Combo once a day for five days will prevent clinical cases of rotavirus.
Rotagen Combo works by coating the virus particle with antibodies which render it inactive in the gut. It does not kill the virus, but prevents it from causing damage to the intestinal lining. If the calf is later exposed to rotavirus because of a breakdown in the control of the environmental contamination, Rotagen Combo-treated calves may still get rotavirus, and will need to be treated again. The key to a successful regime is treating all heifer replacement calves and any others being kept. All non-replacement calves that aren’t being kept or treated need to be kept separate from your treated calves so there is no possibility of cross-contamination. The other important aspect of infectious scour control is reducing environmental contamination. An effective hygiene strategy is to use Vetsan Super Concentrate which is active against Rotavirus 6 and 10, Cryptosporidium parvum, E. coli, Salmonella and Corona to spray out the calf sheds before the season begins and throughout the rearing season. An effective hygiene policy should be developed with staff for calf rearing before the season begins to help reduce and maintain low environmental contamination levels.
Vetsan has residual activity against viruses for seven to 10 days so weekly spraying is ideally recommended. When spraying at a 100ppm dilution rate it is safe to leave the calves in the pen,
avoid spraying directly into the calf’s face. For more information contact your local veterinarian or visit www.vetpak.co.nz. Rotagen Combo is registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No A9726
Building Blocks To Good Calf Health Rotagen Combo For prevention and treatment of calf scours caused by Rotavirus 6 &10, Crypto, E coli K99, Salmonella, Coronavirus. Rotagen Combo is anti-biotic FREE and GMO FREE.
Enerlect Enerlect is a high energy source electrolyte that also supplies all the important electrolytes lost during diarrhoea casued by infectious agents or due to a nutritional imbalance.
Vetsan “Super” Concentrate Virucide, biocide and deodoriser for all surfaces on farm including farm sheds and animal housing such as calf pens. Vetsan is active against all the important pathenogenic micro-organisms that can cause calf scours including Rotavirus, Cryptosporidia, Salmonella, E coli, Coronovirus. Also effective against Mycoplasma Bovis. Enerlect and Rotagen Combo are registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, Enerlect A9276, Rotagen Combo A9928
Talk to your animal health professional, your local veterinarian
34
July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
CALVING
Improved prospects for calf rearing Milligans Feeds, the wholly New Zealand owned and operated family business, is again set to tackle the upcoming calf rearing season head on this year.
❚ Article supplied by Milligans Feeds
After two strong growth years in the calf rearing markets of 2016 and 2017, last year saw fewer calves reared due to the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak which led many rearers and finishers to opt out because of the high-risk factor of contracting this destructive disease. “There have been no new announcements of new breakouts or farms on watch, at least not publicly anyway, so 2019 could shape up to be a better year with M. bovis being contained for now,” says Milligans business manager Joseph Paton. “There may be the odd farm still going through a quarantine period, but most have been cleared and it should give some positive hope that calf rearing can pick up from where it left off a couple of years ago.” Despite this disease and other issues, including variable global markets and fluctuating domestic farm gate milk and meat prices, both the dairy and beef industries remain buoyant, which is great for the NZ economy. “Milligans Feeds continues to work hard to produce the best products at competitive prices for the NZ market and has solutions to these problems with milk replacers to suit most farmers needs including our new lamb and goat kid whey milk replacers.” Paton says the company has carefully partnered with one of Europe’s largest animal milk replacer manufacturers with proven history of top quality and performance throughout Europe, to offer NZ farmers and rearers more options in the lamb and goat sector with specifically formulated whey
milk replacers for NZ conditions. With the spring 2019 calf rearing season approaching fast, rearers should be proactive with their CMR pricing and purchasing to ensure they are getting the right product at the right price to suit their needs. “There are many CMR products on the market and choosing the right one can be a daunting process. “Milligans Feeds can help make things easier with a complete range of milk replacers including colostrum, whole and skim based, and also whey-based powders for calves, lambs and goats. Understanding the product in the way it works within an animal is an important factor, especially the differences between whey and casein proteins.” Both are excellent at growing young animals but correct feeding is a key aspect in fully utilising their native functions, he says. “Talking to the experts before dismissing any product is recommended as you may be missing out on something good because of a lack of knowledge about it.” The Milligans calf milk replacer range this season includes ExcelPlus CMR, a premium CMR with added growth stimulating and immune health package; Classic CMR, its most popular powder; and GOcalf CMR, the economy choice, as well as Multi-Milk Replacers in two, five, 10 and 20 kg sizes made from traditional whole and skim milk. This year the company will introduce GOlamb and GOgoat, full whey milk replacers that now complete a full range to suit every need. For more detail visit www.milligansfeeds.co.nz.
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A proud 100% New Zealand owned and operated family business based in Oamaru, South Island, Milligans Feeds is one of New Zealand’s leading suppliers of animal nutrition products. Having over 30 years’ experience in producing high quality, top performing milk replacers, Milligans Feeds has been the choice for generations. With the growing range of milk replacers and animal health supplement products, Milligans has you covered! Check out www.milligansfeeds.co.nz for more information on the range and where to buy.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
CALVING
July 2019
35
When it’s time to wean those calves Successful weaning based on calf weight and meal intake will help calves develop into healthy heifers.
❚ Article supplied by DairyNZ
Sometimes animals do not thrive postweaning so weigh them within 7-10 days to make sure they have gained weight from weaning. If they’re not thriving post-weaning they may need continued access to calf meal, regardless of weight or age.
Making sure a heifer is fully prepared before weaning reduces the chance she will need preferential treatment post-weaning. Preferentially managing small groups of animals to try and “catch them up” to the group is time-consuming and can be difficult to manage, so it is best avoided by good early management.
Weaning weight Individual heifers should reach a minimum weight prior to weaning. No specific weaning weight has been defined by research. The type of rearing system will affect the target weaning weight. Although, common weights used for weaning are 70kg for Jerseys, 80kg for Fr x J Crossbreds, and 90kg for Friesians.
Factors to consider before weaning Is the calf: • Consuming the desired amount of feed? Is its rumen sufficiently developed? • Meeting its weight-for-age target, based on its breed and/or the rearing system? • At the minimum age for the rearing system? • Able to compete within a group?
Rumen development A calf’s rumen development is the most important factor to consider when making the weaning decision. The only way this can be assessed is by measuring the amount of concentrate or pasture they are readily eating, which should be at least 1 kg/day of meal or 2 kg/day of pasture. Calves should be supplied with clean water and feed for rumen development. Calf
meal and high quality herbage together provide the energy, protein and volatile fatty acids necessary for rumen development and animal growth. Grain have different fatty acid profiles and higher levels of butyrate which stimulates papillae growth, papillae increase the surface area of the rumen and aids in digestion. Good quality hay can be used as a roughage if a grain-based meal is also being used, and should be offered from birth. Calves given large quantities of milk will have slower rumen development. This is primarily because the milk satisfies their appetite, so they eat less forage and concentrates, which decreases the requirement for digestion in the rumen.
Any change to the quantity or type of feed needs to be measured. Just as it takes time to develop the rumen, time is key in transitioning from calf meal to a full pasture diet. Farmer experience indicates that two week gap between each diet change (e.g. weaning off milk with meal concentrate to full pasture diet) will help transition heifers to a full pasture diet. New-born calves have high dietary protein requirements, this requirement declines as they age. A higher crude protein intake should lead to higher growth rates. If using calf meal, look for products that contain 20% crude protein for calves on milk and 17% crude protein for weaned calves to meet total dietary requirements.
Competing within a group Heifers need to be competing with the group before they are weaned. Any that are not should be held back.
Relocating recently weaned calves Relocation can result in growth checks or be a trigger for animal health issues including pneumonia, scouring and parasites. Recently weaned calves are at particular risk as they will be undergoing changes in diet, rumen development, and moving from individual or small group care to larger mob management. Relocation adds to the risk; the younger the animal, and the more recently they have been weaned, the higher the risk.
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36
July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
CALVING
Are you using the best calf milk replacer? “Successful calf rearing depends on many factors, especially good nutrition” says Dr Bas Schouten, one of New Zealand’s renowned experts on animal rearing. supplied by ❚ Article ❚ AgriVantage NZ “Our aim is to meet the energy requirements of our animals while they are totally reliant on milk. “At the same time, we want to encourage the early intake of concentrates and develop the rumen, so the animals become functional ruminants as soon as possible. “My advice is to choose a milk replacer based on quality, not price” There are essential differences in solubility, intake, digestibility (making use of nutrients) and consistency of quality in different calf milk replacers – which have a major impact on the health and growth potential of young calves. A quality whey-based milk replacer, such as AgriVantage’s Sprayfo, is one of your safest and most cost-effective options. Here’s why:
Sprayfo is easily digested Whey-based formulas move through the calf
in only 2-3 hours, compared to 5-8 hours for traditional curding (casein) formulas. Most whey calf milk replacers aren’t recommended to be fed before 14-21 days. However, Sprayfo Blue Premium calf milk replacer can be fed to young calves directly from colostrum. Care needs to be taken not to over feed. Care needs to be taken when feeding directly off colostrum.
The animals seek out concentrates sooner Because Sprayfo moves through an animal’s system in 2-3 hours, they will seek out concentrates (meal) sooner, without growth rates being compromised. Concentrates are obviously a preferable, lower cost feed source for calf rearers.
There’s no growth-check at weaning Animals reared on Sprayfo whey milk replacers develop their rumen quicker, handling the transition through weaning with a reduced risk of the growth check common
GROW BETTER CALVES Successful calf rearing depends largely on good nutrition. Choose a quality-whey based milk replacer for easy digestion, faster rumen development and excellent growth rates.
in stock reared on curding powder.
Sprayfo is safe to use Rearers using Sprayfo report a reduction in the incidence of nutritional scours. The Trouw Nutrition Spray Dry production process ensures that solubility is optimal at 40ºC. Sprayfo mixes without forming any small lumps. It is also consistently high quality from batch to batch. Sprayfo can be mixed with whole milk (commonly known as fortifying), increasing its flexibility as a replacer. Farmers feeding Sprayfo CMRs report strong early growth and minimal (if any) growth check at weaning. To find out more, call AgriVantage on 0800 64 55 76, or ask the team at your rural supplies store.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
CALVING
July 2019
37
Doing their bit for environment Dairy farmers Mark and Jennifer McDonald began beautifying the landscape on their 138-hectare Methven dairy farm a decade ago.
❚ by Christine Hartley They started in 2009 with a New Zealand native vegetation planting project along a 300-metre stretch of the road boundary to help screen dust from a shingle road. The following season, they planted the margins alongside a one-kilometre spring-fed stream that meanders through the farm on its way to the Ashburton River. At first, they planted standard Kiwi plants like toetoe, flax, carex, pittosporum and coprosma, but since then, they’ve added an array of others including kaikomako, pokaka, kahikatea and pseudopanax. Trees like kowhai, totara and beech have also been planted to cover as much ground as possible and to reduce the need for maintenance. Like many farmers that begin planting projects, Mark McDonald says he’s become slightly addicted to tree planting and has begun to propagate some plants as well. “It all helps to keep the cost down, and it’s very rewarding to collect seeds from the foothills and grow them into trees. And there’s always friends donating seedlings that have popped up in their gardens,” he says. For the first couple of years, the McDonalds received funding from ECan which helped to get the project on its feet. “We also became involved in the Carex Project, a collaboration between ECan and the University of Canterbury, who came to sample water quality each month. “The aim of the project was to create a set of tools for farmers to use to improve
Eco farmers: Methven dairy farmers Mark and Jennifer McDonald are doing their bit to ensure environmental diversity around their farm.
water quality and eco systems in freshwater streams across Canterbury. It was an excellent project to be part of.” Six years ago the McDonalds decided to develop a small wetland area that had been unsuccessfully tiled some years before. The area was opened up with a digger to remove drainage pipes and expose the springs that are prevalent in the area. A lot of hard work followed. “We shaped up a pond in one section and contoured the rest. The area was fenced and, with help from Ashburton College students on work experience, we planted the same basic species,” McDonald says. The McDonalds are now at the point where they’re seeing a lot of self-seeding which provides a source of young plants that can be transferred to other areas. He says it’s good to see all their hard work starting to pay off.
“We’re starting to see better shading of the stream which has reduced the number of weeds. The stream is home to eels, trout and bird life, and while they’re still mostly introduced species, I’m sure it will only be a matter of time before we hear bellbirds and tuis on the farm.” The McDonalds have completed planting along most of the farm’s waterways, and now have their sights set on developing two other wetland areas close to the northern branch of the Ashburton River. “One is covered in willows, and we’re using the existing cover the willows provide to plant specimen trees like kahikatea, matai, totara and beech. Once these trees get established, we will poison the willows and cut them out. “The other area is a low-lying one which is better suited to flaxes, grasses and sedg-
Improved environment: The wetland on the McDonald’s dairy farm before and seven years later after extensive planting. es. We are also in the early stages of restoring a support block near Mayfield which has a significant stream dissecting it,” McDonald says. DairyNZ provides farmers with a range of information about planting, including regional planting guides – for details visit www.dairynz.co.nz/environment/ waterways/planting-waterways.
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38
July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
DAIRY
❚ with Fred Hoekstra, VeeHof
Pay attention to cow behaviour We are well into winter now, and if the weather stays as it is, it’s going to be a breeze. We made silage on our small holding only a month ago and there is already plenty of grass regrowth in the paddock.
Life on the farm is a lot more enjoyable this way than when it is wet all the time. I don’t have to tell you that, and that is also the case for our cows. I talked about that in my article last month but we do seem to underestimate how big a deal that is for our cows. This is their annual holiday. A wet winter sets the cows up for a hard year. They will struggle more right from the start of calving. I would like to see some research being done on the correlation between resting time in the winter and lameness issues throughout the season. The reason why we can be quite sure there is a correlation, is by looking at cow behaviour.
Why do cows do what they do? Often when I ask that question I get answers like: because cows are lazy, or they prepare themselves for no available water when they
‘ are going to the cow shed, or they like the food better than what they are getting in the paddock. I have talked with farmers who had to
drive a four-wheeler in front of the cows to slow them down on the tracks because they were running. The reason why they didn’t want the cows to run was that they are now
Cows tell you lots of things with their behaviour.
more likely to get stone bruising and become lame because of it. There is no evidence that stones make cows lame, but the point I would like to make here is that cows are primarily motivated by their situation in the moment and not so much by anticipation. Cows are not lazy, cows are tired. Cows are not running because they get something tasty, cows run because they are hungry. Cows don’t drink water before they leave the paddock, they drink because they are thirsty. If you tune in to see cows by their behaviour you will start to ask different questions. You may now ask why cows don’t drink even though they have a water trough in the paddock. If cows are not lazy and they don’t drink to prepare themselves for limited access to water for the next few hours then why do they not drink earlier? One of the reason probably is because the more dominant cows keep them away from the trough. When they have gone, then the less dominant cows get a chance to get a drink. When you ask the question “why” often enough you will become wiser, even if you don’t know the answer immediately. The fact that you ask the question means that you are opening your mind to other possibilities. However, the attitude behind the asking is important. Ask the question to find out what is wrong or missing in the cows’ life so that you can provide for them. The thing is, cows tell you lots of things with their behaviour. If you pay attention to cows’ body language you can avoid many problems before they occur and you can manage them better to get the optimum performance from them. If you have questions or comments please don’t hesitate to contact me on fred@veehof.co.nz
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CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
39
Tax fundamentals misunderstood with Peter Burton Farming is quickly becoming a taxation bonanza for the government.
A tax on nitrous oxide and methane emissions is coming even if not labelled as such. Farmers ultimately will fund ongoing research that will spawn fur ther study on other related issues. At face value research seems like a good thing, however when will farmers see a return on their investment, and will the benefit be wor thwhile? Those of a cynical mindset are suggesting that research institutes will benefit far more than farmers. The reality is that the cost of environmental research, monitoring, and implementation of the resultant rules and regulations will ultimately be borne by landowners. Historically the cost of such research has been offset by a steady rise in the dollar value of rural land, however increasingly there’s talk of proper ties being sold at discounted prices, with few believing that prices will rise within the next five years. There’s always exceptions, with repor ts of unlimited money available for land suitable for kiwifruit development. And yet it’s pastoral land that should be the most valuable of all, because of its ability to sequester carbon. It is under grazed permanent pastures that carbon can most rapidly be sequestered. Historically land was rotationally cropped until declining yields made it uneconomic, at which time it was returned to permanent grazed pasture. Over time soil carbon in the form of hu-
mus developed sufficiently for the cropping cycle to be repeated. Extra carbon under pasture is well known evidenced by pastoral farms in areas suitable for cropping being highly prized for their initial exceptional levels of production. With the price of carbon credits likely to rise substantially in the near future pastoral farmers should be in a position to gain, and yet the opposite appears almost cer tain to be the case. Each farm owner will be paying either directly or indirectly for the loss of carbon from their proper ty. Monitoring work over the last 15 years clearly shows that it is possible for intensively farmed dair y and grazing proper ties to steadily gain carbon. With more carbon annual pasture production lifts with less nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients lost to groundwater, a positive outcome in all respects. And yet for farms dependent on regular applications fer tiliser nitrogen that’s not necessarily the situation. More nitrogen applied means slower carbon build-up and when excess N is used carbon can be steadily removed leaving soils pale and compacted and largely devoid of life. The question is, how much is too much? It depends, however an intensive dair y farm where regular N applications began 40 years ago is now reducing animal numbers each year due to rapidly declining pasture yields. In recent years a little over 300kgN/ ha has been applied annually with the argu-
ment for continued input being that where it’s not applied pasture doesn’t grow. Most soils naturally contain 5,000 -15,000kg N/ha within the root zone of healthy plants. What is used each year can be readily replaced with N primarily fixed by clover. Those operators adopting well proven nutrient programmes along with sound grazing management find that annual production steadily lifts while all other costs particularly animal ill-health costs steadily decline. Each farm requires its own programme based on current soil nutrient levels, historical inputs and level of production. The greatest concern for farmers wishing to develop legume-based pastures is the oftdiscussed transition period when pasture growth initially declines. When the time-honoured grazing management principles promoted by Functional Farming Systems are adhered to, the dreaded drop-off is minimised to the point where the initial impact on total farm production is negligible, and from year two onwards pasture and total output steadily lifts. Fear of what might happen is a strong driver of the maintenance of status quo, however with looming regulation and its likely impact, taking the well-trodden step by step path to a genuinely sustainable carbon positive system appears
increasingly
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and
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For more information call Peter on 0800 843 809.
40
July 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
WATER & IRRIGATION
WATER & IRRIGATION
CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
41
For all your irrigation requirements Irrigation Logistics is a family owned company based in Darfield servicing the wider Canterbury area with the Pierce Pivot dealership. supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Irrigation Logistics Ltd Pierce Pivots originate from the USA and have been servicing the agricultural sector since 1932. Pierce have pioneered and advanced center pivot and control technology and have a long-proven track record of commitment to innovation and technology. We have CP600 Pierce Centre Pivots, Linears, and Acremaster Micropivots for the smaller areas. To meet the varying demands of crops, terrain, and water quality, our pivots can be configured with multiple types of sprinkler packages, various span and overhang combinations, as an all-galvanised system, or a galvanized structure with Poly-Line Pipe components. We also have a competent service team on the ground to help with queries and provide regular services to pivots. In addition to irrigators we also provide PVC pipe, pumps and tanks for all irrigation requirements. We have a positive track record selling over 50 pivots in the wider Canterbury area in the last three years alone. Let us understand your needs and provide you with the best solution. We have a friendly, knowledgeable and organised team ready to help. We are the only company selling the Acremaster or micro pivot. This is a great pivot for smaller areas and corners. Acremasters are a lot less capital input per ha making them an attractive option. Options available to power this system by solar to save on input and running costs going forwards if power is unavailable at site. We also provide a full winter servicing package, this includes a thorough overall check of your pivot, and a service of the centre drive and gearboxes. We are very competitive on pricing and can service any brand of pivot.
Give the friendly guys at Irrigation logistics a call today for all your irrigation requirements.
John Quirk is the lead Designer at Irrigation logistics limited. John has over 20 years design experience in the Irrigation Industry. When it comes to completing an irrigation project - experience of your system designer is key. Irrigation projects can be complex and involved as no farm is the same. The success of your irrigation project can come down to the experience of the designer developing the system. This is key for peace of mind when it comes to the amount of capital you’re investing.
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42
July 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
WATER & IRRIGATION
Dam and pond regs ‘a concern’ The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) is consulting on proposed new requirements for owners of dams or storage ponds.
IrrigationNZ (INZ) has arranged to meet with officials to discuss the proposal and gather more information about how they could work. However, our initial take on the proposed regulations is that they include very small ponds that virtually never present a practical risk of flooding events yet could impose significant costs on the owners of dams and storage ponds. The proposed regulations would apply to dams or ponds which are less than four metres high and hold 30,000m3 or more, or are above four metres and hold 20,000m3 or more. This would result in a very large number farm storage ponds being captured by the legislation, even if they are on-plains where any spill would quickly become shallow water. For owners of dams that meet the above criteria, the minimum they would need to do would be commission a recognised engineer to undertake a Potential Impact Assessment on the dam or pond. This is estimated to cost around $5,000. If the engineer considered the impact assessment of a dam/pond failure was medium or high then an expensive dam safety assurance programme and annual audit would be required. The proposed assessment criteria concern us because they appear to result in a bias toward higher potential impact classifications than are practically justified. This results in substantial costs whereas the expense should, in our view, be focused toward those dams that have significant potential impacts. Even for quite modest sized ponds, the costs of preparing a dam safety assur-
Deep waters: IrrigationNZ is concerned small ponds which have a low risk during flooding events yet could impose significant costs on the owners of dams and storage ponds under new requirements.
ance programme could range from $6,000 to $30,000 with an annual audit cost of around $5,000. INZ is currently carrying out further consultation with our members on the proposals to help identify how dam and pond owners are affected by the proposals to prepare a general submission. We encourage affected dam and pond owners to prepare their own submission also. Winter is a good time to schedule training for your staff. Wet days and short daylight hours limit the amount of work that can be carried out on farms.
IrrigationNZ has a great online irrigation learning system that our members (which include many irrigation scheme shareholders) can use for free. The first module of our online system covers irrigation scheduling and features animated videos explaining topics like soils, climate, plant water use, water budgets, soil moisture monitoring and scheduling. Eleven short 10-20 minute lessons make up the first training module. Each lesson is followed by a quick online assessment. If all modules are completed you will receive a certificate of completion which can be included
in your Farm Environment Plan records as evidence staff have received irrigation training. As the training is delivered online, it can be done anytime that suits, and fit around farm work. We are currently filming a second module which will provide a series of short videos demonstrating how to do bucket tests. To find out more about using the online system visit www.irrigation.co.nz and select the ‘E Learning’ option. You can read more about the proposals online at www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say. Consultation closes on 6 August.
ONE NAME FOR IRRIGATION The Precision VRI system that has been leading the way in efficient irrigation for more than a decade is now going to become a whole lot simpler.
We’re aligning with a name known the world over for having the strongest line of irrigation solutions, that offers the best field tested systems and industry-leading technology. And it’s a name you probably already know, Zimmatic®. Zimmatic® Precision VRI is the same award-winning technology you’ve come to know and love, designed right here in New Zealand with the same ability to allow customised irrigation to make sure you’re getting the most out of your resources. You see, all we’re changing is the name – from Growsmart® to Zimmatic®. New name, same product. It’s that simple.
Find your local Zimmatic® dealer at www.ZimmaticANZ.com
ZIMMATIC® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE LINDSAY CORPORATION. © 2019 LINDSAY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
CANTERBURY FARMING
WATER & IRRIGATION
July 2019
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Bowden Environmental covers it all Canterbury owned and operated Bowden Environmental has been in the industry for 20 years and specialises in all aspects of groundwater and surface water consents, effluent discharges and storage, gravel extraction, management plans, bore and aquifer testing, resource management, site investigation, feasibility and due diligence. supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Bowden Environmental They have a broad experience in regional council and environment court hearings, compliance and environmental monitoring programmes and reporting. Bowden Environmental, based in Kaiapoi, has significant expertise in groundwater field data collection and analysis, with the team at Bowden Environmental often being called on to provide aquifer testing, surface water gauging and water quality testing. This information is often required when farmers take water from a well; you need to test both the wells capacity and determine what affect this will have on other neighbouring wells. What we are seeing today is that the rural industry has to comply with new and increasingly more restrictive rules and regulations, especially for irrigation and nutrient management. It can be quite confusing and stressful for people to meet these requirements, especially now the rules are becoming more complicated, with more assessments required. We specialise in all aspects of resource management so farmers don’t have to deal with the paperwork. With the skills and knowledge to organise environmental work we have the expertise and understanding to guide you through
Christine Mawhinney taking a water level measurement.
Christine Mawhinney and John Talbot setting up for an effluent pond seepage test. the process from start to finish; from organising consents, preparing Farm Environment plans to Auditing Farm Environment Plans (ECan accredited). Essentially, we try to take the stress away from the farmers workload so they can do what they love, farming. The team at Bowden Environmental find that assisting farmers with their environmental manage-
ment and consent requirements to achieve a successful outcome is very satisfying. If you are a farmer or farm manager and land and water management is one of your top priorities, contact Bowden Environmental today. Although the company works predominantly with rural clients, it also takes on some commercial projects.
Erin Harvie measuring flow of water with portable flow meter.
Bowden Environmental Resource Management Consultants
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• Replacement Consents • Consents Compliance • Effluent Discharge & Storage • Aquifer Testing • Due Diligence • Advocacy
92 Williams Street, Kaiapoi, 7630 www.bowden.co.nz
erin@bowden.co.nz Ph: 03 375 5015
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
ADVERTORIAL
LIVESTOCK
A sheep breed that ‘ticks all the boxes’ The Corriedale sheep today is a much-improved breed compared to its counterpart of 20 years ago says Peter McCusker of PGG Wrightson Wool. As Corriedale wool continues to be very much in demand, more farmers are now considering Corriedale as a breeding option. Growers who moved into a strong wool breed for increased lamb production are now realising the modern Corriedale can produce high value wool and good lambing percentages, particularly as Crossbred wool prices are in their third year of poor returns. The Corriedale is bred to be able to withstand the dry conditions better and bounce back quicker following periods of feed shortage. In times of reduced feed their wool may become finer but still retain good fibre strength, which is important for processing. Although Canterbury is experiencing good growing seasons, we know this can change. The modern Corriedale has been selected for better fertility, mothering ability, foot-
Hardy breed: PGG Wrightson wool representative Peter McCusker says the corriedale was designed to be able to withstand dry conditions.
rot resistance and lamb survivability with finer 23-29-micron wool that is well rewarded in the marketplace. Breeders have been very progressive with new technologies to create Corriedales with a good cross section of desirable traits. “Many of the world’s
leading sports and apparel brands now have wool in their product range and that’s putting pressure on the supply chain not only for Merino wool but Corriedale wool as well, and that’s a good position for a producer to be in”, McCusker says. Today’s Corriedale sheep is certainly a dual-purpose breed that may well “Tick all the boxes” for farmers looking for sustainable, consistent returns from Canterbury’s dryland sheep farms.
Bouncing back: Corriedale is a much improved breed and its fibre is in demand again.
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LIVESTOCK
Rob Cochrane ❚ by Wool Procurement Manager, ❚ PGG Wrightson Wool ❚
Varied wool types pose challenge
During the past few months, and at South Island wool auctions conducted in Christchurch, catalogues have contained large percentages of old seasons’ wools along with many new season’s wools, which had been offered and passed-in for failing to reach grower reserves at earlier auctions. As a result, comment from the export trade was that, at least two of the three May auctions contained some of the poorest selections viewed at South Island sales for a very long time, if not ever. By June however, a number of Autumn-shorn clips had begun to filter through providing a better cross-section of wool types for exporters to view. Christchurch auction sample show floors (the areas where samples are displayed for the export trade to assess and value prior to the actual auction day) are generally a place where the variety of wools on offer is vast with anything from extra fine Merinos through to lustrous Lincolns and Leicesters, plus everything in the middle incorporating Halfbred, Corriedale, Romney, Perendale and a wide range of varying crossbreds. This variety not only caters for “allcomers”, but also presents a serious challenge for brokers and buyers alike, to truly “value” pre-sale and then provide market “quotes” post-sale. When a large number of old and new seasons’ wools are thrown into the mix, the task becomes even more challenging. Market interest in poor colour crossbred types (37 microns and coarser) including old seasons’ wools has been limited for some time with a large number of those displaying y mi-
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Market interest in poor colour crossbred types has been limited for some time.
nus z colour readings of seven, eight, nine or greater, often either completely ignored in the auction room, or a “deep sea” price bid to the auctioneer simply to move the sale along. Wools with lower colour readings have been supported better by the export trade, with good interest shown towards the new season pre-lamb shorn crossbred types. Values for good style crossbred fleece from 35 to 38 microns reached around 360 cents clean by midJune with finer types achieving closer to 400 cents clean. Longer lamb and woolly hogget types measuring from 32 to 34 microns pushed well through 450 cents clean with several exceeding 500 cents clean, as pressure mounted to fill orders. Any lamb’s wool offered in early to mid-June measuring from approximate-
ly 29 to 31 microns sold exceptionally well with some sales best quoted as “extreme”, as prices from around 590 cents clean through to 755 cents clean (30.5 micron woolly hogget), were recorded. Mid-micron wools had enjoyed a sensational run of pricing through the March & April periods, however with China allowing wool imports from South Africa to recommence, there was some hesitation in the market across the Tasman which then similarly influenced the New Zealand market place. By the end of May recovery had occurred and at the 30 May and again 13 June Christchurch auctions all growers of Corriedale and Halfbred types looked forward to healthy bank deposits on prompt date. A handful of Merino wool types offered in late May and mid-June in the Christchurch auction room, received plenty of interest from the full bench of buyers and prices continued their strong run. Most of the Merinos on offer were either second-shear or oddments prior to the new fine wool season proper which will begin in July. The first auction of the new season for South Island wool growers will be held on the 18th July, followed by the 1st, 15th and 29th August. That’s my view.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
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
Gavin Crump 027 431 6555 Milton Hulme 027 229 9794 www.cpwool.co.nz
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
LIVESTOCK
Reality of zero carbon sets in Mother Nature was right on time this year with the first blast of winter occurring on the first day of June.
Sandra Taylor ❚ by Director Beef + Lamb New Zealand ❚ Many of us in North Canterbury are going into winter with a good bank of feed, plenty of supplement on-hand and stock in good condition. I know there are areas of the province where feed is short – although I understand that most farmers have plenty of supplement available to get through winter. Just a reminder too that our winter-feeding practices are under scrutiny from regulatory bodies so we need to ensure that we are following recommended best-practice around feed crop management to minimise our environment impact. Simple management strategies such as fencing off wet areas in the paddock (known as Critical Source Areas) starting grazing at the top of slope to allow the crop to act as a filter and having dry run-off areas in bad weather will all help retain nutrients and soil within the paddock. Juts a reminder to re-register your farm in the NAIT system. It is absolutely critical that everyone with sheep, cattle or deer register or re-register and I understand that numbers have been boosted in the NAIT call-centre, so there should be no more delays. One of the challenges we as an industry is facing at the moment is the Zero Carbon Bill. Like every other global citizen, we all need to do our bit at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While Beef + Lamb New Zealand welcomed aspects of the Bill, such as the de-
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I don’t believe it is fair to ask one sector of the economy to do more than any other.
cision to split the gases, the organization is deeply concerned about the proposed target of a gross reduction in methane of between 24-47 percent. This is asking agriculture to play a greater role in addressing climate change than the rest of the economy. Every unit of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide produced adds to warming and you have to get these gases to net zero to stop warming occurring.
For methane to stop adding warming, you only need to have a 0.3 percent reduction per year. That works out as a reduction by 2050 of between 10-22 percent (the upper end of the range dependent on how other countries reduce their carbon as there is a relationship between the two gases). Anything above that range means methane is being asked to cool and do more to address climate change than fossil fuel gas-
es, meaning farmers are being asked to do comparatively more than other sectors of the economy over the next 30 years. Fossil fuel emitters are able to offset their emissions through tree planting but the government’s proposed gross target for biological methane won’t allow farmers to do that. Neither are we allowed to count the carbon sequestration on the 1.4 million hectares of native forest on sheep and beef farms throughout the country or the many smaller blocks of exotic tree plantations on farms. I don’t believe it is fair to ask one sector of the economy to do more than any other and the team at B+LNZ is advocating hard on behalf of farmers to try and achieve a more equitable outcome.
Our road to lower emissions
So there it is in black and white; reduce biological methane emissions by 10% by 2030 and by 24% to 47% by 2050.
❚ by Solis Norton We could throw up our hands in horror and start sharpening the war hatchets. We could start posting propaganda on social media proclaiming our innocence. Or we could simply spout inflammatory rubbish from on high, scuttling the wider credibility of New Zealand agriculture and creating wasted argument within the sector, Jock Allison.
No, let’s take a leaf out of grandad’s book and sit quietly with a cup of tea and mull it all over for a bit. Across our whole society huge changes are coming with this Zero Carbon transition. Carbon taxing, tree planting and electrification of our vehicle fleet are but a wee small few. Some will prove manageable, some intractable. In the coming decade our leaders will come to understand which ones we can manage and which ones we can’t. The primary sector must show we are not the true cause of the problem. Because we’re not. The cause ultimately is fossil fuel use. We’re about food and food is good. We must do so consistently and constructively.
Benchmarked production and Johne’s disease info on your deer
By showing we are natural, healthy, sustainable and essential to the social fabric and profitability of this country. This is not just to the farm gate. It is the whole primary production chain from producing farm inputs to transporting the final product. We’re all in it together. If one link fails, we will all fail. For your part as farmers, this means keeping the facts and figures on emissions from your operation up to date. Much like for water and other areas of consumer focus like animal health. It’s tedious, I know, I work in this area and convincing you all to engage in this space is like pulling teeth. But it puts us on the front foot in the emissions battle which is absolutely critical. Tell you industry leaders you want people to help you get these facts and
figures together. We need them. For the industry’s part, this means putting these facts and figures alongside the rest of the primary production chain to show relative to our competition, which is everybody, we’re actually doing just fine. There’s strength in numbers. Both the numbers that prove our innocence and the sheer weight of numbers working in our sector. Collectively that strength will get the job done and done right. We don’t need to vilify other sectors. We don’t need to fight amongst ourselves. We just need to show everyone we’re already doing the right thing for the planet, for our environment and for our kids. That is worth filling out a couple of forms for.
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CANTERBURY FARMING July 2019
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July 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
Seven-seater added to Honda SUV range Honda New Zealand has added a new seven seat model to its popular CR-V line-up. supplied by ❚❚Article ❚❚Honda New Zealand Combining luxury features usually reserved for top spec models and amazing value, the CR-V Limited 7 brings luxury to price conscious New Zealand families who want the extra versatility and flexibility of seven seats. The CR-V Limited 7 stands out in the highly competitive medium SUV segment, offering seven leather-appointed seats, full three row air bag coverage and five star ANCAP rating, surpassing many of its rivals that simply don’t offer this level of safety and interior space in a sub $40,000 model. Powered by the fuel-efficient 1.5L VTEC Turbo engine, the new Limited 7 model includes features such as eight-way power driver’s seat, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, seven-inch advanced display audio, 18-inch
alloy wheels, three angle reversing camera with dynamic parking aid, rear USB ports, dual zone climate control with second/third row air conditioning vents and much more. Thanks to its class leading interior space and unrivalled versatility the CR-V range has been one of Honda’s most-loved, and now the addition of the Limited 7 provides two choices for those looking for a seven seat medium SUV. The second option, which offers even more luxury, is the CR-V Sport 7, with a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, paddle shifters, intelligent auto wipers, LaneWatch camera, inbuilt Garmin navigation, driver’s memory seat and heated front seats. The CR-V Limited 7 bolsters the CR-Vs sub $40,000 family-friendly value range, which starts from just $33,990+orc for the 2WD S, then adds another new model to New Zealand offering, the 2WD Active, which has five sports fabric covered seats, the 1.5L VTEC Turbo engine and much more.
Noticed: The CR-V Limited 7 stands out in the highly competitive medium SUV segment. The CR-V’s AWD range now also includes Honda Sensing Advanced Safety suite as standard in the AWD Sensing and AWD Sport Sensing.
Key features of the new CR-V Limited 7: • 7 seats: Leather-appointed • Dual Zone Digital Climate Control • 7-inch Advanced Display Audio Touch Screen System • Apple CarPlay & Android Auto • 18-inch Alloy Wheels
• 3 Angle Reversing Camera with Dynamic Parking Aid • 1.5L, 4 Cylinder, 16 valve, VTEC Turbo Engine • 8-way Drivers Power Seat • Driver Attention Monitor System • Straight Drive & Agile Handling Assist • Trailer Stability Assist • Smart Proximity Key with Keyless Entry • Full Size Spare Alloy Wheel • Front Fog Lights • Tyre Deflation Warning System • Two x Rear USB Ports
CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
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New driver technologies for Ranger and Raptor models Ford has added new driver technologies to its Ranger and Ranger Raptor models as standard and at no extra cost to the purchaser.
❚ by William Milnes Both Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Pedestrian Detection will be standard across the range with no change in pricing. After introducing AEB as standard on the popular Ranger Wildtrak in late 2018, the technology has been added range-wide as part of a feature update for Ranger models. Ford New Zealand Managing Director, Simon Rutherford says the company will now be able to offer its most comprehensive Driver Assist Technology suite to date. “Ranger has established a tradition of providing class-leading technology, which includes being the first pick-up to achieve a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and in 2018 we added more powertrain choices and significant Driver Assist Technology,” Rutherford says. “Now, AEB with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keeping Aid, Traffic Sign Recognition and Automatic High Beam is standard on every Ranger, from the entry-level Ranger XL cab-chassis all the way through to the Ford Performance Ranger Raptor.” He says the new technology suite comes with a host of smart updates for Ranger and Ranger Raptor, which sees a high level of equipment that spans the complete line-up, including cab-chassis models, building on the Ranger’s five-star ANCAP rating. Building on the significant changes introduced to Ranger in late 2018, which included an advanced Bi-Turbo, 10-speed powertrain option for Wildtrak and new features such as Semi-Auto Active Park Assisti, HID headlamps, Smart Keyless Entry and Tailgate with Lift Assistance, the Ranger line-up has never before offered such a comprehensive array of technology, driver assist and convenience features. Ranger’s highly-competitive capabilities remain unchanged, including a maximum 1476kgii payload, 3500kg towing capability and class-leading 800mmiv water wading. “The Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor’s standard Driver Assist Technology suite is the most comprehensive yet offered,” Rutherford says.
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The Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor’s standard Driver Assist Technology suite is the most comprehensive yet offered. Simon Rutherford Managing Director, Ford New Zealand
RANGER
Added extras: The updated Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor have gone on sale in New Zealand Ford dealerships. Every model in the Ranger line-up now comes with the following technology as standard equipment with no change in pricing: • Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection (new to XL/XLT/ Ranger Raptor) • Lane Keeping Aid with Driver Alert Systemi (new to XL/XLT) • Traffic Sign Recognition (new to XL/XLT) • Automatic High Beam (new to XL/XLT) • Rear View Camera (Pick-up models) • Rear Parking Sensors (Pick-up models) • Cruise Control with adjustable speed limiter
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) incorporating ABS, Load Adaptive Control, Roll Over Mitigation, Traction Control and Trailer Sway Control • Hill Descent Control • Hill Launch Assisti • Further improving the entry-level Ranger XL model is an acoustic windscreen. Previously exclusive to the Ranger XLT, Wildtrak and Ford Performance Ranger Raptor, the acoustic windscreen adds a layer of sound dampening material within the windscreen material, which reduces noise intrusion for greater levels of comfort and refinement.
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GO FURTHER
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Get a jump start on Spring and avoid the backlog How often have you been bumped down the list by your pilot or spreader operator – caused either by inclement weather or a whole list of famers all wanting their fert applied in the same week as you, or both? supplied by ❚ Article CP Lime Solutions ❚
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Your farm and timetable is just as important as the neighbours so let’s shed some light on a practical, common sense approach to getting your Spring fertiliser applications done in a timely, agronomic and cost effective manner.
Agronomically efficient While fine particle lime and fertilisers may offer the most agronomically effective way of improving soil health and productivity, any farmer or spreading contractor knows only
to be done in the Spring – a time of changeable weather and greasy
Timing For aerial applications, depending on the distance from the airstrip, on a good day it’s possible to spread approximately 150-200T of ag-lime. At an application rate of 2.5T/ha over 100ha, it would be safe to estimate 1-2 days of flying time. Compare this to approximately 2-3 hours flying time to cover the same ground using Optimise pelletised lime. And who said it all had to be done in the Spring – a time of changeable weather and greasy airstrips? Optimise can be applied at any time of year so why not take advantage of a broader application window and prepare for Spring instead of reacting to it.
And who said it all had
airstrips? Cost effective
too well that distributing it onto the soil evenly is a major problem. Fines tends to drift so that only a portion of these particles will land where they are required. Pelletised ultra-fine lime provides an ideal medium to get even coverage at low application rates of a product that may otherwise be difficult to spread. The fast response from
Optimise makes it ideal for situations where soil ph levels need to be altered quickly. Other ingredients such as elemental sulphur, magnesium, phosphorus and trace elements are regularly incorporated to take advantage of a one-pass application. It also provides a much faster return on investment.
Given the chance, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind cleaving up to two-thirds off your next lime application bill. With Optimise, you will use less product by total volume while still getting a significant quantity of effective ultra-fine particle lime on the ground. The reduced volumes mean less transport and spreading costs. In most cases, Optimise can be applied 2-3 times over for the cost of 1 application of conventional aglime Fantastic for cashflow and enabling you to get more done while staying within the budget. Consider forward planning your lime and fertiliser applications and get to the front of the list, and stay on top of the heap.
“The ground was so wet there was no way a truck could get over it. We then found that we could combine Urea with Optimise lime and get both jobs done at once. Couldn’t beat it for practicality and price. Ideal!”
EMERGENCY
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CANTERBURY FARMING
July 2019
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❚ with Rob Cope-Williams
Where have the characters gone? As the farming industry gets more and more sophisticated, it seems the personal aspects of country life seem to be fading. Clean crop: Dryland swede demonstration block near Oxford, Canterbury.
HT Brassicas are looking very good
I’ve always been a fan of the HT Brassica concept, ever since I was introduced to it several years ago.
Stephen Finch ❚ by ❚ Speciality Seeds The reason I was attracted to it, was the fact that you could achieve excellent weed control in crops which had previously been difficult. Prior to HT Brassica, there was a limited range of either pre or post-emergence chemicals available to us. Some of these chemicals were difficult to apply correctly and collectively they needed to be applied at very specific times to achieve good results. Over the years that I’ve been involved in trying to control weeds in brassica, I’d say that less than half the crops planted achieved anywhere near the desirable level of weed control. This lack of weed control has led to our clients missing out on countless kilograms of valuable winter dry matter. Hopefully by now, most of you will know the fundamentals of the HT Brassica system. However, in a nutshell, when you plant your HT Brassica crop, you apply the weed control chemical as close behind the drill as you can. If clients use direct drilling to establish their crops, then they will often mix the brassica weed control with the pre -sowing glyphosate, making the whole weed control issue even easier. HT Brassica are available in the following: Cleancrop winter and summer bulb turnip, Cleancrop Rape, Cleancrop Leafy turnip, Cleancrop Firefly kale and finally Cleancrop Hawkstone swede. Hawkstone swede is available alone, in a ridging pack and in a pelleted form. Alongside this excellent weed control ben-
efit is the respective HT Brassica cultivars performance. The HT technology was only introduced into the very best of the extensive range of brassicas that came out of the PGG Wrightson’s seed-breeding programme. It should be noted at this point that their brassica breeding programme is most likely the best brassica breeding programm world-wide. So, in my mind, HT provides our clients with the opportunity to grow the latest brassica cultivars coupled with excellent weed control. It makes my clients’ jobs simpler and I’m very happy with the results they are now achieving. If you are considering sowing a brassica this coming season, please have a chat to us about HT Brassica. You won’t regret it.
Case Study: Clean Crop Hawkstone swedes Above is a photo of a dryland swede demonstration block near Oxford, Canterbury. The aim of this demo site was to look at various sowing rates of precision-sown, pelleted swede and to look at yield differences between conventionally drilled (1kg/ha) vs pelleted swede, precision- sown at 90000 /ha (1 bucket). There was no significant difference in yields between the different precision sown rates (80-110 000), but an increase in yield of 11% between the conventional and precision-sown swedes which was similar to results seen in Southland last year. The variety used was Hawkstone Cleancrop swede pre-emergence sprayed for weed control.
Talk with the “older generation”, as in late 70s and 80 somethings, and stories abound about the high jinx, the stories about ponies and horses, the tightness of families and the general fun side of being “on the land”. Innovation was present with the introduction of headers trundling across the paddock to unload into a bulk bin for bagging, and then combines that unloaded straight into a truck and into a silo, direct drilling came into effect, and machinery simply got bigger and more efficient. Obviously in the past few years the innovation is mind blowing, with cell phones being a fine tuned computer that allows the producer to operate their operations in a manner that would have been science fiction a few years ago, but as a single operator can control and manage huge acreages, where are the characters who were involved when things were hands on and contractors were few and far between? Take shearers for example: wool sheds were mainly manned by family supporting a couple of shearers, now it’s a shearing gang and the owners input is probably bringing sheep to and from the shed. Hence none of that atmosphere those farmers enjoyed so much. Carting hay was a great fund raiser for local rugby clubs that not only worked as a fitness regime, but also brought people onto the property where fun and laughter always resulted.
Pranks were common place and some stories became family folklore. As a funeral celebrant I hear some wonderful stories, some I wouldn’t write on these pages, but they are all about the fun had by one and all. Thankfully there are still group activities that bring rural folk together such as A and P shows, and Federated Farmers where working bees can bring out that fun side of working hard and enjoying company. I might also point out the drink driving laws have clipped the wings of some of the characters who got into harmless mischief, and has certainly reduced the high jinx at the local public house. I know there has to be innovation, and the world is moving onwards faster than ever before, but we must all take time out to laugh with others and share the funny things that happen. Even looking at the fun side of animal antics or sharing family folklore with other members of your clan. Normally those stories don’t come out until a family meets to prepare for a funeral. The modern methods of farming are fraught with pressures that weren’t there a few years ago, stir in isolation through lack of others working with you and you wonder why there is so much depression in our industry. Laughter saves lives... use it regularly.
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July 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
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