30,287 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast
August 2019 Edition
INSIDE
THIS EDITION Fed’s voting guide
p7 Crop & pasture
p17 Methane targets
p37 Synlait awards
Top job: south Canterbury farmer Colin Hurst receives his Federated Farmers’ Arable Farmer of the Year award from Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor.
Canterbury farmers to the fore in Feds arable industry awards South Canterbury farmer Colin Hurst has been named Arable Farmer of the Year for his contribution to Federated Farmers, related industry bodies and across the nation’s arable sector.
❚ by Kent Caddick p41
Federated Farmers Arable Industry Group chairperson Karen Williams said it was difficult to know where to start with Hurst’s contribution to farming. She said he has served Feds at national, regional and branch level and has also put in countless hours for the South Canterbury Rural Support Trust, the Arable Industry
Group’s Herbage Seedgrowers Subsection, United Wheatgrowers and the Foundation for Arable Research. “Without Colin’s hard work, tenacity and leadership, we believe farmers and growers wouldn’t have got the right outcomes,” Williams said. “All of the work undertaken is in a voluntary capacity, which makes his contribution to industry all the more impressive.”
One of Hurst’s wins for the industry involved a plan change proposed by Environment Canterbury that not only would have hit the livelihoods of local farmers but also had consequences for all land owners. Colin organised a meeting that drew more than 80 affected farmers and got them engaged in the process.
TO PAGE 2
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
Wheat, seed growers awarded FROM PAGE 1
“Thanks goodness the council saw sense,” Hurst said. “They didn’t change the nutrient limits but they did change the way they were allocated.” Despite stepping back from the arable industry group, Hurst continues to ensure growers are informed and engaged in the process of reviewing the Plant Variety Rights Act and that they understand crop residue burning, while a vital tool, is a privilege and farmers need to manage it accordingly. He has also been a staunch advocate for farmers around the Seed Quality Management Authority (SQMA) table; on the Fertiliser Quality Council (FQC), driving the development of a physical standard for fertiliser; and as a member of the FAR Board and ARG. He continues to advocate for local farmers affected by the Mycoplasma bovis response as a member of the Rural Support Trust in South Canterbury. South Canterbury growers Syd and Earl
Worsfold were named as the inaugural winners of the Federated Farmers Arable Industry Group Wheat Grower of the Year Award. The Worsfolds emerged as the supreme winners of the recent Wheat Awards. The award recognises a Federation member who has made a contribution to the wheat industry over a number of years and a grower who has demonstrated outstanding yields. Another Cantabrian, Jim Christchurch Office 03 377 2721 Macartney, was named as the Seed Grower of the Year. Macartney has made a ¡ Rural & Urban Subdivisions significant contribution to ¡ Mapping/Survey Graphics Federated Farmers through ¡ Cross Lease/Unit Surveys his involvement with the ¡ Resource Consents Herbage Seedgrowers Sub¡ Topo/Site Surveys section. ¡ GPS Positioning Stretching over 20 years, he was the chairperson of ¡ Land Status Research the subsection and oversaw www.resonant.co.nz the successful continuation
Surveyors - Planners
Recognised: Winners at the Federated Farmers Arable Industry group 2019 Awards, from left, Peter Kelly, Jim Macartney, Earl Worsfold, group chairperson Karen Williams, Colin Hurst and Richard Kershaw.
of a number of referenda. The Herbage Seedgrowers Subsection manages the Non-Proprietary and Uncertified Seeds levy on behalf of growers and ensure these cultivars are available for continued use by growers in New Zealand. Williams said Macartney’s greatest contribution to the seed industry has been in recent years, with his advocacy for growers around the Seed Quality Management Authority (SQMA) table. The SQMA is responsible for managing the seed certification system in New Zealand. “While a lot of work of the SQMA is undertaken behind closed doors, Jim’s pragmatic and common sense approach to issues has been valued by all SQMA members.” Other Federated Farmers Arable awards, which were presented by the Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor, were Richard Kershaw of Wairarapa who picked up the Biosecurity Farmer of the Year award while the Maize Grower of the Year title went to Peter Kelly from the North Waikato.
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Macartney’s greatest contribution to the seed industry has been in recent years, with his advocacy for growers around the seed Quality Management Authority (sQMA) table. Karen Williams Chairperson, Federated Farmers Arable Industry Group
CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
August 2019
3
Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final comes back to Canterbury Christchurch is set to host the national final of an iconic contest showcasing the country’s food and fibre producers.
❚ by Kent Caddick The 2020 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final will be held around the greater Christchurch area in July. The last grand final in the region was in 2014. The region consists of a diverse mix of dairy, sheep and beef, and cropping operations. Half of New Zealand’s grain seed and fodder crop land is in Canterbury, according to Statistics New Zealand. “Christchurch is New Zealand’s third-largest city. The contest is a great way to help grow urban residents’ understanding of modern food production,” said NZ Young Farmers chief executive Lynda Coppersmith. “The popular practical day showcases the innovation and technology being used by farmers to produce food and fibre more efficiently.” The agricultural contest has been testing the knowledge and stamina of young farmers since 1969. James Robertson, 22, was named the 51st FMG Young Farmer of the Year becoming the youngest contestant ever to win the grand final of the prestigious agricultural contest. Convening an FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final is a dream role for Sarah Heddell. “This is a really exciting opportunity to highlight the important role Canterbury plays in our agri-food sector,” Heddell said. The 31-year-old Dunsandel Young Farmers member is a land management and biodiversity advisor for Environment Canterbur y
Winning touch: James Robertson prepares to plant seedlings on his way to becoming the youngest winner of the FMg Young Farmer of the Year grand Final.
and lives in Ashbur ton. She’s helped run four regional finals, convening two of them, and was involved with the 2014 grand final. “I love everything about the contest. It challenges people and helps them to learn and grow, it highlights the vital role the agrifood sector plays in the economy and it also brings people together,” she said. Heddell and her organising committee are currently in discussions with Christchurch City Council about locations for key aspects of the event. “I’d like to have the opening parade and ceremony in town. It’s a lively event involving
school children from across New Zealand,” she said. The event will take place between July 2 and 4, with the technical day being held at Blinc Innovation at Lincoln University. Venues for the gruelling practical day and hugely popular quiz and evening show are still being decided, but will be within the Christchurch city district. National finals for the FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year and AgriKidsNZ competitions are run alongside the contest.
Work ahead: Convening an FMg Young Farmer of the Year grand Final is a dream role for sarah Heddell.
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August 2019
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Tightening our biosecurity
Damien O’Connor ❚ by Minister for Agriculture, Biosecurity, ❚ Food Safety and Rural Communities ❚
In a week or two, I will introduce a new NAIT Amendment Bill to Parliament aimed at improving the system and ensuring it meets our traceability needs.
The Bill sits alongside the work we’ve started to overhaul the Biosecurity Act, which is 26 years old and in need of an update. I’m committed to improving our biosecurity system so it can meet the needs of our primary sector and protect us from unwanted, and costly, pests and diseases. The mycoplasma bovis outbreak has shown that our traceability systems need improving and I’d encourage all farmers to pay attention to the NAIT changes outline in the Bill. The key changes to NAIT are aimed at improving tracing, tightening rules for handling untagged animals, improving the use of data and increasing the penalties for those people who choose to wilfully ignore the system. It benefits farmers and the entire economy to have a NAIT system that is fit for purpose and is used well by everyone. The Bill will go to select committee soon and I encourage you to make submissions. The other major piece of work that has kicked off is looking at the Biosecurity Act, which is in need of modernising. I’ve just released the terms of reference for that work. They are broad because there is a lot to consider. We’re committed to hearing everyone’s thoughts and ideas about where improvements should be made. Biosecurity is fundamental to the protection of our environment, our economy and our cultural and social wellbeing. We’re op-
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It benefits farmers and the entire economy to have a NAIt system that is fit for purpose and is used well Top effort: Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor presents 2019 FMg Young Farmer of the Year James Robertson with his trophy.
by everyone.
erating in a different world than we were in 1993, when the act was introduced. Tourism, imports and the rise of online shopping have meant a corresponding increase in biosecurity risk. Over the last few years there has been an increase in large biosecurity responses including Mycoplasma bovis, Bonamia, Myrtle Rust and Queensland Fruit Fly. As the climate warms we face a greater threat from exotic insects and pests to our primary industries. For the biosecurity work, we will first look at issues that affect our economic outcomes first; with a view to public consultation being concluded by the end of this year. And we will be looking at issues that affect our envi-
ronmental, social and cultural outcomes over a longer timeframe, with a view to public consultation in the second half of 2020. This longer timeframe will give us time to
END UR A
ensure that we have canvassed these complex issues with those most directly affected by them before working with the wider public. I encourage everyone to get involved. 2
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August 2019
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Breakthrough for agricultural methane emissions mitigation An international collaboration led by New Zealand scientists has made an important discovery in the quest to help lower methane emissions from animals.
❚ by Kent Caddick The findings have just been published online in the respected International Society for Microbial Ecology Journal. Methane emissions from animals account for around a third of New Zealand’s emissions. The animal itself does not produce methane but rather a group of microbes, called methanogens, who live in the stomach (rumen), and produce methane mainly from hydrogen and carbon dioxide when digesting feed. The international team which involved researchers from AgResearch (New Zealand), the Universities of Otago (New Zealand), Monash (Australia), Illinois (USA) and Hokkaido (Japan) has for the first time identified the main rumen microbes and enzymes that both produce and consume that hydrogen. Leader of the research programme, AgResearch principal scientist Dr Graeme Attwood, said the findings were important because scientists can now begin to target the supply of hydrogen to methanogens as a new way of reducing animal methane emissions. “Work will now focus on screening specific compounds that can reduce the supply of hydrogen to the methane producers without compromising animal performance. Research will also seek to find ways to divert hydrogen away from methanogens towards other rumen microbes that do not make methane.
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the findings were important because scientists can now begin to target the supply of hydrogen to methanogens as a new way of reducing animal methane emissions. Dr Graeme Attwood Principal scientist, AgResearch
“We’re really pleased about the progress in this research because it opens up a new approach to reducing livestock methane emissions,” Attwood said. “This is vital for New Zealand to meets its greenhouse gas emission targets under the Paris Agreement and to ensure the farming of ruminants is sustainable into the future.” He said an important feature of the programme is its strong international collabora-
tion with leading laboratories around the world. “The involvement of AgResearch scientists has been made possible by New Zealand Government support for the activities of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, a New Zealand initiated alliance of 57 countries committed to working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.” Special Representative of the Global Re-
search Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, Hayden Montgomery, said this breakthrough has global relevance. “It demonstrates the value of the Global Research Alliance in providing a platform to develop such research collaborations. Through well-co-ordinated and well-funded science, we increase the likelihood of developing practical solutions to reducing global livestock emissions,” Montgomery, said.
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August 2019
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FARMING NEWS
Technology not tax is the key
You would have seen recently the Labour Government has announced a discussion document proposing to price emissions of agricultural greenhouse gases, which would mean farmers paying five percent of their total emissions costs.
Nathan guy ❚ by ❚ National Party spokesperson, Primary Industries Farmers already pay their share through the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for the likes of fuel and electricity where dairy farmers tend to be big users. Agriculture coming into the ETS will be another hit on farmers’ bottom lines and National has held the view that they should only enter the scheme when there is sufficient access to tools and technology allowing them to measure and reduce their emissions. The Government intent was to force agriculture into the ETS immediately and collect a levy at processor level which would do little to change individual farmers’ behaviour. It has wisely pulled back because of the inevitable backlash and is now consulting. Farming leaders have joined hands with Maori farmers to make a commitment to measuring emissions on farm by 2025 which is a positive step in the right direction. There is also a commitment to begin pricing emissions at 2025 but no seems to know how this will be done. That means the work programme for the next five years in critical to get right. The race is on to find the technology that can help farmers to lower their emissions without unnecessary de-stocking. There are some positive initiatives like vaccines or boluses but they are still many years away from commercialising. New Zealand is the most efficient producer of beef, dairy, and lamb products in the world that feeds around 40 million people. Time and time again, our farmers have proven to be incredibly adaptable to the changing environmental landscape. Given the tools
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there isn’t a magic solution that can change everything overnight. simply reducing livestock numbers is killing New Zealand’s economic golden goose.
and opportunity, they work hard to improve. We don’t need to punish our farmers for this, instead we should be partnering with Government (like industry leaders are trying to do) and providing farmers the opportunity to progress. Although the emission costs at a 5% rate per farm talked about are around $1,500 they could possibly triple over the coming decade as emissions prices inevitably rise and allocations change. Using the Government’s economic modelling farmers will be paying $4,500 annually by 2030. Traditional undeveloped farms will also get stung more, making the job of improving on-farm environmental performance even harder as there is less money to invest. Farmers have been working diligently to decrease their emissions already, but there
isn’t a magic solution that can change everything overnight. Simply reducing their livestock numbers is killing New Zealand’s economic golden goose. The stakes are high for this proposal, and it’s important that Government and industry get it right or there is potential for a lot of
extra costs in exchange for little benefit on farmers. The primary sector contributes one fifth of the country’s GDP, makes up $45 billion in exports and provides 350,000 jobs across New Zealand, it’s the backbone of our economy and policy needs to help it grow rather than kneecap it. Technology not tax is the key.
FARMING NEWS
CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
7
Federated Farmers releases guide on council elections Hold your local council candidates to account on costs and services, and if you think the voice of farmers is not being heard, consider standing for election yourself. supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Federated Farmers That’s the underlying message to rural people in the Federated Farmers 2019 local body elections guide, ‘Platform: Feds on Local Government’. “The quality of local government in rural communities can mean the difference between dodgy roads and safer ones, and many thousands of dollars in rates,” Federated Farmers President Katie Milne said.
“Rates are among the largest overheads for many farms. Because of the outdated and unfair reliance on property value-based rates, it’s not unusual for a farmer’s annual rates bill to top $20,000, or even $50,000. They can end up footing the bill for a large whack of urban services they seldom, if ever, benefit from.” The Feds’ comprehensive ‘Platform’ booklet is filled with questions and topics to level at candidates putting themselves up for election in October this year.
And there’s also food for thought for existing and prospective councillors as they work on their plans and pledges to voters for the triennium ahead. “On service delivery and charging, the farming emphasis can be summed up as ‘fit for purpose, at a fair price’,” Milne said. “The quality of environmental regulation can make or break a farm business. So on that front, farmers look for a practical and common-sense approach from councils – one that balances environmental gains with economic impacts and preserving the ability to farm.
“With the annual rates increases of many councils double or even triple inflation, and debt levels also mounting up, farmers - and many other constituents – are looking for councillors who know the difference between ‘nice to haves’ and ‘need to haves’.” Milne said if farmers don’t get satisfactory answers from current and prospective councillors, their guide is challenging them to consider standing themselves. “Let’s have more of the pragmatism, innovation and prudence New Zealand agriculture is famous for inside local authority chambers,” Milne said.
Challenging: Federated Farmers President Katie Milne is urging farmers to stand for council if they don’t get satisfactory answers from current and prospective councillors.
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Andrew Wyllie ❚ with Forsyth Barr ❚
RURAL PROFESSIONALS
A return to zero interest rates Global economic growth, and in particular growth in developed economies, has been pared back significantly since December 2018.
uity market pullback in the fourth quarter of 2018, the various regulators have back-pedalled on what had been tighter monetary policy measures. Short-term interest rates have been cut and further cuts have been signalled. This has led to ten-year New Zealand and Australian government bonds trading at record lows (1.57% and 1.32% respectively), while United States bonds are back at 2016 levels (2.01%) and European benchmark bonds are negative (-0.33%). To change this backdrop, GDP growth expectations will need to improve. Expectations are still for When you are thinking about your positive growth, but the Unitinvestment options, talk to Forsyth Barr. ed States-China trade dispute continues to be an To get personalised investment advice and portfolio obstacle. The parties are management specific to your investing needs, talk to now back at the negotiatInvestment Adviser Andrew Wyllie in confidence on ing table and the probabili(03) 365 4244 or email andrew.wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz ty of escalation in tensions, if now not reduced, has at least been pushed out. 0800 367 227 Could a speedy outcome forsythbarr.co.nz occur? Yes, as the build-up Disclosure Statements for Forsyth Barr Authorised Financial to the 2020 United States Advisers are available on request and free of charge. Presidential race is nearing and improving growth would
Despite this, global employment growth continues to underpin household incomes and a more robust service sector, relative to the weak manufacturing sector. The lower growth outlook has put Central Banks on the defensive. Since the eq-
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help Trump’s re-election. However, equally possible is a tougher stance by the United States on Europe or Japan. Until we have clarity on these scenarios, low interest rates which dis-incentivise saving, will prevail.
Financial market impacts Economic growth concerns first hit equity markets in the fourth quarter of 2018, however stimulatory activity by Central Banks has boosted equity markets this year. An escalation in United States-China trade tensions saw market declines during May, however the continuing downward trend in interest rates alongside the United States and China renewing talks at the G20 summit, allowed equity markets to rally over June and end the quarter with positive returns. New Zealand equities continue to lead global sharemarket return tables year-todate, (including the fourth quarter of 2018). This reflects investor preference for Defensive Yield stocks in New Zealand, a sector that has benefited as investors have focused on companies with high sustainable free cash flow yields. Australian equities benefited from a recovery in Banks and strong performances within the Healthcare sector and interest rate sensitive Industrials. Similar performance was seen in United States companies, with the strongest contributions from Financial and Technology sectors. In contrast, Consumer Discretionary companies led returns in European equity markets. Looking forward, interest rate sensitive stocks appear to require further declines in interest rates to maintain their current momentum.
In terms of growth stocks, assuming no deterioration in trade, the accommodative interest rate settings around the world should allow for some improvement in the next six months. However some caution around economic growth in New Zealand would be prudent given the potential impact of proposed increases in Bank capital requirements. The level of required capital is expected to be finalised by November 2019, with implementation to commence from April 2020. Outside this, we also have to consider proposals affecting the Australian parents of New Zealand banks. Australian regulators are reviewing subsidiary support levels and are proposing significantly lower settings. This may further impact credit availability in New Zealand, with finalised proposals on this due to be implemented on 1 January 2020. this report covers the three months ended 30 June 2019. If you’re new to investing please see Forsyth Barr’s Introduction to Investing guide available at www.forsythbarr.co.nz/investing-with-us/ new-to-investing or to discuss your investment options please contact Andrew Wyllie, an Authorised Financial Adviser with Forsyth Barr in Christchurch. He can be contacted regarding portfolio management, fixed interest, or share investments on 0800 367 227 or andrew.wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz. this column is general in nature and should not be regarded as personalised investment advice. Disclosure statements are available for Forsyth Barr Authorised Financial Advisers on request and free of charge.
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Bessie Paterson LLB ❚ with ❚ Ronald W Angland & Son
August 2019
Protection available to plant and crop breeders
One branch of the law which we hear very little about is the protection available to plant and crop breeders under the Plant Variety Rights Act (PVR). The purpose of the legislation is to encourage the development of new plant varieties by our plant breeders and to give them intellectual property rights in respect to their new plants varieties. A PVR grant holder has the exclusive right to produce and sell propagating material of the new variety. To obtain a right under the PVR system the variety of plant must be new and distinct from its parent plants. It must be enduring to the extent that it will not revert to its parent type and of course the formalities of the administering body must be satisfied. It sounds similar to the trademarks and patents systems but there are significant differences between all systems. The protection afforded by the Act is available for plants of any kind with a couple of minor exceptions. For our everyday foods like fruit and vegetables the PVR gives the exclusive right to propagate the new plant for commercial production. Another advantage of the PVR legislation is that it provides access to overseas bred plant varieties which overseas breeders would be reluctant to make available to us
unless the protection of the PVR gave them protection. There have been many new plants and shrubs introduced to our farms and home gardens over the years, many of which are fully appreciated. The regime is under review, not because of a whim of government, but to align our system with developments in international treaties and conventions that New Zealand is a party to. Few amendments have been made in the 30 years since it was passed into law in New Zealand. Most of our main trading partners have reviewed their legislation during that time to bring it up to date. Reviews have been envisaged in the past but postponed for various reasons. The CPTPP has now been signed and it retains the obligations imposed by one of the conventions that New Zealand is a party to. The Government has entered into a consultation process which should ensure that our PVR will continue to provide relevance and protection for plant breeders for many years to come.
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this article has been prepared by Bessie Paterson, a Partner at Ronald W Angland & son, solicitors, 2 Chapman street, Leeston.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
Farmers stewards of the land, protectors of the environment
James shaw ❚ by for Climate Change and ❚ Minister ❚ Associate Minister of Finance
Over the last couple of years farmers have told me many times that they see themselves as stewards of the land and protectors of the environment. The ones I’ve spoken to all want to be part of the solution to climate change.
The recent announcement by primary sector leaders that they support moving towards farm-level emissions measurement, management and pricing is emblematic of that sentiment. It was also an indication of how far the debate has shifted in the last few years. New Zealanders are no longer talking past each other about whether this should or shouldn’t, could or couldn’t happen. We’re now talking about how to make it happen – in particular, how to make it work for farmers, who stand to earn revenue from bringing down their on-farm emissions, as well as potentially benefitting from related improvements in soil and water quality. This is critically important to us as a country. We’ve struggled for decades with what to do about emissions from agriculture, which represent just shy of half the country’s total emissions, for the simple reason that the sector makes up such a large portion of our economic base. Other countries are looking to us for leadership and will follow our lead over time. We’re all in the same boat; needing to work out how to produce more food to feed an in-
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agriculture... If it were easy, we’d have done it already.
creasing population from a declining base of arable land, with dramatically lower climate emissions whilst improving farmers’ livelihoods. If it were easy, we’d have done it already. But there are farmers who I have visit-
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CANTERBURY FARMING
FARMING NEWS
August 2019
11
Farmers praised for contribution to environmental management Canterbury mayors have reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative management of the region’s freshwater through the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS).
❚ by Kent Caddick Environment Canterbury chair Steve Lowndes said Canterbury was a standout region simply for having all the mayors, their councils and the Regional Council absolutely united on a water strategy. “It is a considerable commitment and has been held up as a model for others to follow,” Lowndes said. The Mayoral Forum has also adopted challenging new goals for 2025 and 2030 and has charged Environment Canterbury with working with councils and other partners to resource and implement solutions for those goals. Lowndes said resourcing will need to be carefully considered by councils as part of their Annual Plan and Long-Term Plan processes, in consultation with their communities. “A fit for the future project was undertaken to account for the progress we have made since the CWMS was first adopted in 2009, and the enhanced science and knowledge now available. “It has confirmed the CWMS is working well and the goals and related actions have been updated. The strategy now has 131 additional goals for 2025 and 2030 with numerous proposed actions across the work programme. “These prioritise the results the community has asked for and takes account of emerging issues such as climate change.” Lowndes said it is also encouraging that the Government’s measures to increase the pace of water quality improvement over the next five years, announced a few months ago, very much align with the Canterbury approach. “That further reaffirms our approach as the right one.” Under the CWMS, 10 local zone committees with council, community and rununga members provide recommendations to Environment Canterbury on how to best address issues at a local level. These can result in local rules in the form of plan changes that control certain activities in order to deliver the results the community requires. “The zone committees, industry and stakeholders have made strong progress through setting limits on nutrient losses and water use. “Our rivers are recovering, some faster and better than others, and we welcome the prospect of additional support to accelerate that progress as much as we are able.”
Lowndes said the primar y sector has been the main implementor of change to date, through initiatives such as Good Management Practice and associated nutrient limits. As well as Good Management Practice, land-use consents to farm and Farm Environment Plans and have been introduced, and independent auditors of those plans certified. He said a big part of that work has been supporting the rural sector to work to those limits. “Those who say farmers aren’t contributing to environmental management in our region really should go and talk to a farmer to better understand the obligations required of them to address these important issues for the benefit of everybody. “Water is a big deal in Canterbury, and there is plenty more we still need to do. We know that in many cases, nitrate levels are going to get worse before they get better, and some places are of greater concern than others.”
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Water is a big deal in Canterbury, and there is plenty more we still need to do. Steve Lowndes Chair, Environment Canterbury
He said some of the issues they are addressing will take some time to fix, but they are making good progress. “The commitment and collaboration that are at the heart of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy are our two best weapons in doing that.”
Support: Environment Canterbury chair steve Lowndes says the primary sector has been the main implementor of change, through initiatives such as good Management Practice and associated nutrient limits.
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Power Farming Canterbury
12
August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
❚ with John Arts
❚ with Rob Cope-Williams
Should I take Q10? I recently wrote about Co Enzyme Q10 (CoQ10). I was surprised at the amount of contact from readers on the subject of CoQ10 especially from those wanting help dealing with the side effects of cholesterol lowering medication.
Do your research before you vote
Yes, it is that time of the election cycle when men and women plead with you to give them the job of running the affairs of your community. When one considers the importance of such a role, choosing the guardians of the rate charged it is very important to choose the best for the role. I have attracted flack before for suggesting that councils, including ECan, are run by people who are voted for because of a raft of reasons other than business experience, so will gloss over that this time, but you have probably taken that in. So, who do you vote for? In my case here in the city, I look firstly at the names that have been in the Press because they have been in there getting stuff done, or if not have been vocal and pushing for things to happen. I then find the biographies on the websites and knowing that it was probably written by a PR company, I look at what they have done commercially. Then I suppose its gut feeling. I look at ECan chairman Steve Lowndes for example. He has been up front for a long time keeping ratepayers informed on what is going on through his columns in this newspaper. Without formally backing him, he is the
sort of chap I would vote for. My challenge to folk at this time of the election build up is to ask people how many Councillors they can name. Try it and see how your friends go, but check-up so you personally know who they are. Most in the city can name about three or four plus the Mayor. So what needs to happen to get the best people around the table to get the best out of your rates [read tax]? As I suggested, research your candidates and please don’t be taken in by the clever Vote for Me lines. A lovely Snoopy cartoon: “Snoopy do all fairy tales start with Once upon a time? No most start with, If I am elected”. Think of the issues facing you and those in your area, and talk about them, what you’d like to happen with those issues and who is most likely to be able to provide solutions to make those issues no longer an issue. Plus, please vote. The turnout for local body elections is pitiful and there’s an old saying, if you don’t vote you can’t complain.
Studies show that statins can reduce circulating CoQ10 by as much as 50%. The side effects are so common they are called ‘statin myopathy’. The main side effects are muscle and tendon weakness which can be felt as muscle stiffness and pain. The effect on nerves can impact memory and mood and comment about general lethargy. In most cases 2 months of a quality CoQ10 will reduce these side effects and allow people to get the benefits of the medication without side effects. The chemical structure of CoQ10 allows it to move high energy electrons within our cell mitochondria where energy is made. CoQ10 collects these electrons and moves them to an enzyme called ATP synthase to make the energy we need. I prescribe CoQ10 for several reasons most commonly for statin support. I also add CoQ10 for those fatigued without medical causes and for those with cardiovascular, autoimmune and neurodegenerative problems. For example, I include
at least 100mg for those with Polymyalgia Rheumatica and higher doses for those with MS. For statins support I use a high quality patented US CoQ10 and for inflammatory problems my mitochondrial support formula that includes high grade Kaneka CoQ10 with a number of energy co-factors. It is interesting that the first improvement felt by those with these conditions is a lift in energy and general well-being. Those with inflammatory conditions especially autoimmune problems should be working to a personalised diet and supplement plan complementary to their regular medical treatment. Most people feel a real difference within 3 months. For more information give me a call or email. 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.
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FARMING NEWS
August 2019
13
Tag and register before sale OSPRI is reminding dairy farmers and lifestylers to register their newborns in the NAIT online system to help build lifetime animal traceability.
❚ by Kent Caddick OSPRI is a par tnership between primar y industries and the government, and manages two national programmes – NAIT and TBfree. NAIT provides the national animal identification and traceability system and TBfree aims to eradicate bovine TB from New Zealand. Head of NAIT Kevin Forward says tagging calves is only half the job. “You also need to activate the tag in the NAIT system to register the animal and this needs to be done within 180 days of birth, or before their first off-farm movement, whichever comes first,” Forward says. He says farmers that use information providers such as LIC, CRV or Farm IQ to register their calves, need to ensure the registration has also synced through to their NAIT account, before the animals go off-farm. “OSPRI advises farmers to check with their information provider on what they need to do to ensure they are meeting their NAIT obligations. “When tagged calves are not registered in NAIT, they become auto-registered by the NAIT system when the first movement is recorded. “This results in a loss of lifetime traceability and impacts on our ability to respond to
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Everyone with livestock has a responsibility to keep our industry and economy safe. Kevin Forward NAIT
a biosecurity threat. A loss of lifetime traceability may also impact on the value of the animal.” He says farmers have become more aware of biosecurity risks to their farms as a result of M bovis. “We are seeing more and more farmers demanding to know the lifetime history of livestock before making purchasing decisions.” The management and movement of calves is especially important with an estimated 1. 5 million calves reared annually in New Zealand.
If selling calves, the farmer must record a sending movement in the NAIT online system, likewise, if you’re buying calves remember to record and confirm the movement within 48 hours. “For traceability, we need to know where your calves are going and it’s in every farmer’s interest to enquire about the calves they are trading and to ensure they exchange an animal status declaration (ASD) form at the point of sale,” Forward says. “This type of information is invaluable for building lifetime animal traceability, which is the cornerstone of NAIT.” Saleyards can record movements on behalf of farmers, if the calves are tagged and registered before they get to the sale. Forward says lifestyle farmers who rear calves are not exempt and must tag and register their calves even if they have only one on their property. “It’s important lifestylers have tagged and registered their calves in NAIT. If you’re bringing them onto your property, check that they have been tagged and registered in NAIT and the movement is recorded. “This is vital for tracing purposes and supports disease management. “Everyone with livestock has a responsibility to keep our industry and economy safe, this includes lifestylers,” Forward says.
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Power Farming Canterbury
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
The company trap
Since the mid-19th century (in other words, even longer than I have been in practice), the limited liability company has been the predominant form of business structure, delivering limited liability and enabling the sharing of ownership and control through the allocation of shares.
Mark Russell ❚ with Parter at Helmore Stewart Lawyers, Rangiora ❚ The internal organisation of a company is governed by its Constitution. Constitutions are public documents. Anyone can look at them through the Companies Office website, or by reading the Companies Act. If participants in a company want to keep some aspects of their affairs confidential, they can enter into a Shareholders’ Agreement outside of the Constitution. A Shareholders’ Agreement does not need to be publicly registered and so in this way the participants can keep some of their agreements about the company confidential. Shareholders’ Agreements can deal with matters which the Companies Act does not regulate. For example, resolution of disputes and shareholder exits. In fact, I would go so far as to say that anyone getting involved in a company should ensure that they have a Shareholders’ Agreement in place. I have lost count of the number of cases
which I have dealt with over the years, where parties get together in a company as a joint business venture but without a Shareholders’ Agreement. If things go wrong, they regret not having one. Of course, like any contract, a Shareholders’ Agreement may never be need to be referred to, as long as the participants continue to have a good and constructive relationship and a common view as to how the company should be carried on. The best thing is to be able to put the Shareholders’ Agreement into the bottom drawer and never to have to get it out. If, however, the parties’ relationship turns to custard for whatever reason, then a parting of the ways may be on the cards and everyone concerned (guilty and innocent) needs to have some certainty as to what happens next. There are many examples of this. One which immediately springs to mind is that
of a shareholder-employee whose continued employment by the company is something which the company’s directors do not want. They might have good grounds for terminating the person’s employment. Equally, the employee himself might be looking to terminate. In either case, if the employee has a shareholding, then all parties need to know what happens with that shareholding. Does the company have a right to acquire the outgoing employee’s shares? Does the employee have the right to have the company or the other shareholders buy him out? Whichever side of the line one is on in a scenario such as that, the best thing is to have certainty as to how the matter is to be resolved. Is there a guaranteed exit route? The same need for a guaranteed exit route also arises in the very common 50/50 shareholding split, where the 2 shareholders don’t get on and want to separate. What happens? In the absence of a Shareholders’ Agreement, the Companies Act is very unhelpful and in fact offers virtually no assistance (beyond the rather drastic remedy of seeking a Court order for liquidation). If one party is seriously at fault, then the “innocent” party might have the ability to go to Court to seek a remedy for a buy-out of the “guilty” party’s shares, but, like any Court proceedings, that is a time-consuming and extremely costly process. All of that can be avoided if a Shareholders’ Agreement is in place and the Shareholders’ Agreement sets out a clear and robust way of dealing with shareholder disputes.
There are many options for how disputes can be resolved. To give just one example, if you have two warring shareholders, then a Shareholders’ Agreement can include a “Russian roulette” clause whereby one party offers to buy the other out and the other party either has the option to agree to be bought out or to buy out the first party at the same price. This is a very rough and ready remedy, but it does bring certainty and in fact it tends to focus the parties’ minds so that hopefully they can enter into constructive negotiations without the Russian roulette clause having to be invoked. A Shareholders’ Agreement can also set out detailed provisions for how an outgoing shareholder’s shares are to be valued. This will hopefully reduce the potential for lengthy and costly argument about the value of a shareholding. There are many other things which a Shareholders’ Agreement can deal with and there is insufficient space in this article to set them out. My point is that, in my experience, it is always desirable to have a Shareholders’ Agreement and the lack of one can cause a great deal of trouble, heartache and expense. The old adage, that prevention is better than cure, is never better illustrated than in the case of companies. Readers may find this surprising coming from a lawyer, but we actually do prefer to have our client companies and their shareholders living and working together in harmony, rather than seeing company wealth eroded by costly legal disputes.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Precision agricultural and horticulture The benefits of UAV technology in the agriculture and horticultural sectors are becoming more apparent to farmers every day. supplied by ❚ Article Garden ❚ City Helicopters Known now as Smart Farming the concept of precision agriculture using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with remote sensing and data gathering capabilities allows farmers to maximise their productivity by more efficiently managing inputs such as water and fertiliser to maximise resulting quality and yield while minimising pests, disease and unwanted flooding. Smart Farming offers the potential to incorporate advances in agriculture leading to lower production costs, increased farming profitability and a reduced environmental impact. Garden City Helicopters (GCH) has invested heavily in leading edge UAV technology, scientific grade sensors and backend data processing systems to deliver precise, accurate and meaningful data. Our systems offer a non-destructive method for quicker, simpler, and more accurate assessment compared to many traditional methods.
Our UAVs capture information which is tailored for specific agricultural applications. We then work closely with industry leading analysis teams to provide relevant actionable data. Comprehensive and accurate reports allow you to: • Monitor nutrients, moisture levels, and overall vigour • Identify and measure crop issues like disease, pest problems, weeds, and water-stress • Estimate yields • Characterise soil and vegetative cover • Use data for predictive analysis GCH UAV specialise in delivering UAV based technical solutions tailored to meet our customers’ requirements. Our experienced and talented team are passionate about the future of UAV technology. We love solving problems and approach each one with customer focussed thinking. Our aim is to be a centre of excellence developing innovative and professional solutions to support the agricultural sector.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
17
Value of crop protection revealed A landmark report reveals that without crop protection products, New Zealand’s economy would lose between $7.5 to $11.4billion.
Mark Ross ❚ by ❚ Chief executive of Agcarm The New Zealand Institute of Economic Development recently released the report, ‘The Importance of Crop Protection Products for The New Zealand Economy’, showing that crops would lose 30 percent of their value without these products. Crop protection products have a far-reaching impact on our land-based sectors. This includes horticulture, vegetables, forestry, pasture and field crops. Without the products, horticulture would lose 75 percent of the value of its crops – that would result in close to a $4 billion loss to the industry and the economy. The crop protection industry is small, in fact, its contribution to the GDP is less than one percent, but it has far-reaching effects. In many cases, it would not be possible to grow commercial quantities of crops without these products. In other cases, yields would be much lower and the economic impact of this would be substantial. Even a small increase in horticultural productivity has a ripple effect in boosting the economy. Productivity from innovation can
Crop protection: According to a new report without crop protection products, New Zealand’s economy could lose up to $11.4 billion. have a sizeable effect. A small increase in the sector can be worth between $10-$100 million. Not only does the crop protection industry have an important part to play in supporting the economy, it is also vital for producing safe food and protecting crops from damaging pests and disease. It develops tools to manage biosecurity incursions which damage our native species and crops. A severely reduced kiwifruit production would have resulted from the 2010 PSA out-
break. The use of these products was a vital part of managing the deadly bacteria, which could kill a kiwifruit vine if left unmanaged. The industry ensures that there continues to be a variety of new products to offer pest control solutions for growers and farmers. Agrichemicals that are more environmentally-friendly, more effective and more targeted allow farmers to better control target pests, while protecting human health and allowing beneficial flora and fauna to prosper. This is reflected in the importance of our regulato-
ry regime which approves these products for use. The report highlights that delays in this process mean that newer, softer, and more environmentally-friendly chemistries take longer to get to market. It says that a one year delay means a loss of between $7-70 million to the GDP, over 10 years. From managing damaging pests and diseases, through to research and disposal, the industry is committed to the responsible use of crop protection products right throughout the product life-cycle. This stewardship begins at the research and development phase of a product, going on to distribution and use, through to the eventual phase out and disposal of waste. We are one of the founders, and a trustee, of the Agrecovery programme which recycles plastic containers and collects surplus agrichemicals. Our members fund the programme by paying a levy on the sale of products. As this report touches on, it is a combination of innovation, good plant health and stewardship that will boost efficiency in farming practices and allow increasingly sustainable food production.
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18
August 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
Understanding requirements of pastures in your system In this article we look at the choices many dairy farmers will face when choosing the right pasture for their dairy herd. supplied by ❚❚Article DairyNZ ❚❚
Clover growth habit means that there will be leaves at varying heights from the ground, some of which will not be grazed. White clover fixes N in pastures, improving total pasture production.
White clover
White clover is the base legume of New Zealand dairy pastures sown in a wide range of pastures and management systems. It has a high nutritional value and fixes atmospheric nitrogen (N) to make a substantial contribution to the growth of companion grasses. A summer active, perennial legume, white clover has an optimal growing temperature 5 degrees higher the ryegrass. The rate of leaf appearance of clover leaves is mainly influenced by temperature, and leaf size is influenced by light - shade is detrimental to growth. The clover leaf does not regrow after grazing. A stolon branches from nodes and spread out in the pasture. Light intensity speeds up the production of these daughter stolons. White clover is generally more resistant to grazing than r yegrass, the energy reser ves are stored in the stolon and root, the stolon stays close to the ground so is rarely grazed.
Italian and Annual Ryegrass These two types of ryegrass are described together because they are used in similar situations. Large leaved, and cool season active these ryegrasses are highly valued for their winter and early spring production of high quality forage. Annual ryegrass is commonly sown in autumn as a 6-8 month winter/spring crop. In warm, summer dry areas it will persist only to flowering and seed set in early summer. Cultivars can persist longer in mild, moist summer climates with low insect pressures (e.g. irrigated Canterbury and Otago, and Southland). Italian ryegrasses are more persistent than annuals, typically lasting 12-18 months in drier conditions, and 2-3 years in mild, moist summer areas.
Quality: Ryegrasses are highly valued for their winter and early spring production of high quality forage.
TO PAGE 19
CANTERBURY FARMING August 2019
19
Choosing the right dairy pasture FROM PAGE 18 Tall Fescue Tall fescue is an alternative to perennial ryegrass as a permanent pasture, which does best in heavy soils, and needs specific management to maintain its feed quality. A perennial tufted grass with erect unbranched tillers. An autumn tillering plant. The optimum temperature for tall fescue is 26degC, with growth continuing into mid 30degC temperatures. It has a larger root system than ryegrass which provides tolerance to some insects, less pugging damage and less pulling by cows. Stem development during spring then very little stem for the rest of the season. It cannot be used in a mix with ryegrass.
Preferred: White clover is generally more resistant to grazing than ryegrass
Cocksfoot Cocksfoot is the most persistent perennial grass, most commonly used in summer dry areas as a minor component (e.g. 2-4 kg/ ha) of ryegrass/clover pastures. It tolerates summer dry conditions, a range of insects and moderate soil fertility. Older cultivars can dominate pastures, reducing clover levels and digestibility.
Subterranean Clover (Sub clover) Although subterranean (or sub) clover is the most widely sown annual legume in summer dry areas of New Zealand, it is rarely suited to dairy farm systems.
It must be allowed to seed in the first year, and in autumn pastures need hard grazed and kept very short (eg <1000 kg DM/ha) to allow space for seedling regeneration. It establishes in autumn and grows from rosettes to produce long, horizontal stems during late winter and spring. Sub clover buries it seed. Self-pollinating flowers grow off runners on the soil surface and then the seed containing burrs push in-
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to the soil to bury the seed to survive the summer. Seeds germinate when rainfall resumes, but seedlings can die during subsequent dry spells (false strike).
Red Clover A short-lived, tap rooted plant with dull hairy foliage, usually bearing a distinct leaf mark. Most common in summer dry areas,
where the tap root allows it to tolerate dry periods. It performs best under moderate stocking rates, long summer grazing rotations or hay production. Under high stocking rates or fast summer grazing rotations its persistence is reduced. Red Clover has poor winter growth but can provide superior DM production to white clover during dry summers.
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
When there is enough pasture, pasture is enough In most pasture based farm systems supplementary feed should only be used to fill feed deficits so that cows maintain energy intake and production.
❚ Article supplied by DairyNZ There is no advantage to replacing good quality pasture with an alternative feed source or ‘balancing pasture’, therefore, supplements should only be used to provide energy when there is insufficient pasture available. There is no evidence that supplementing pasture improves mating performance when there is sufficient pasture supply. If feeding supplements results in high grazing residuals, this is wasted feed and the reductions in future pasture growth and quality should be considered. When supplements are required in a deficit situation they can help to optimise the area grazed each day, the rotation length, and the pasture residual. The profitability of feeding supplements varies depending on the situation:
• The cost of the supplement. • Wastage in storage and method of feeding out. • The associated costs of supplementthese costs associated with feeding supplement can be 50% more than the cost of purchasing the feed, associated costs include capital, fuel/energy, labour, repairs and maintenance and depreciation. • The degree of pasture substitution, which governs the response rate to supplement. Supplement is more likely to be profitable where post grazing residuals are consistently under 1500kgDM/ha (7-8 clicks on RPM) without the supplement and do not exceed 1,500kgDM/ha with supplement. If feeding supplements results in high
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grazing residuals, this represents wasted feed. It will reduce the immediate profitability of feeding and have ongoing effects through reductions in future pasture growth and quality which must be considered.
Autumn and winter supplement for BCS Feeding supplement in autumn to milking cows is of limited use for achieving calving body condition score (BCS) targets unless cows were to lose BCS if not supplemented (for example insufficient pasture). Cows selected for high milk production preferentially partition nutrients to milk production and not BCS gain. The fastest way to achieve BCS gains is to dry cows off. The timing of dry off depends on your system, BCS gain required and length of the dry period. If infrastructure exists to achieve high supplement utilisation when feeding dry cows during the winter, this can be a strategy to maximise lactation length while achieving BCS targets. The viability of this strategy depends on supplement cost (incl. associated cost), BCS gain required and time available for BCS gain.
Spring supplement use Cows should be grazing to a residual of 1500-1600kgDM/ha as they are likely to be able to produce more milk if additional feed
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is added to the system – either as pasture or supplement. In spring, striking the balance between the needs of the cow and pasture will optimise the amount of high quality pasture grown and eaten throughout the whole season. This means attempting to maximise short-term cow intakes ignores the longer term impact on pasture and production. Maximising intakes to maximise production will result in more pasture being left behind in the paddock. The difference between the feed offered and eaten goes to increasing the residual, signalling a waste in pasture and compromising quality at future grazing events. Any lift in residuals above the targeted 1500-1600kgDM/ha means that the strategy is unlikely to be profitable. Management interventions such as harvesting silage or topping to waste can maintain residuals at the desired level but both incur a cost above the cow grazing pasture. The cost to benefit of the additional feed allowance needs to be carefully evaluated. Achieving reproduction targets is often cited as a reason for feeding supplement over spring. Research tells us that high quality ryegrass meets the nutritional requirements of the dairy cow, provided there is enough of it. If there is adequate feed (pasture residuals of 1500-1600kg DM/ha with good pasture utilisation) there are no reproductive benefits from feeding additional supplement.
CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
21
Created by nature, proven by science Canterbury based Vitality New Zealand introduced you to their new patented plant-based product Brain Shield last month. Thank you for your positive response to such a new product.
Jim grierson ❚ by ❚ Managing Director Vitality NZ It is in our DNA that we wish to see ourselves and family live at least into our nineties, but the challenge is how to maintain an acceptable lifestyle through to that great age. We have a responsibility to ourselves and love ones especially those in their twilight years to make sure we can achieve this objective. It has been proven being fit as rural people normally are compared to your urban cousins, have a healthy diet, keep we mentally challenged, that may mean playing golf, bridge or other brain exercises is enough to stave of cognitive decline. Well unfortunately what has been proven is we need more than this hence the supplementation of cyclic Glycine Proline cGP using Brain Shield. I would like to explain in more depth what Brain Shield delivers to you as a supplier of cGP a key brain nutrient, derived from our very own Canterbury and Nelson grown Blackcurrants. We all produce cGP from birth but as we age from the late thirties onwards, we do not produce enough cGP to maximise the activity of your essential brain and whole of body hormone Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, IGF-1. The reason why we state brain and whole of body hormone is that the IGF-1 not only activates good brain health but contributes to whole of body wellness. Such as better sleep patterns, digestion, calms restless legs, settles arthritic pain
most essential oils we humans require in adequate levels daily, with no taint or after taste. Brain Shield may be taken with or without food and with other nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals although we recommend you check with your health professional if you have any concerns. The DMG in Brain Shield is there as an emulsifier to keep the two botanical ingredients solidified and stable for longer shelf
and minimises shake in Parkinson’s sufferers, Stroke recovery which leads to a much better lifestyle. All these illnesses can progress to dementia and no one likes to see their love ones suffer in this manner. There are several added bonuses when taking Brain Shield. Within the ingredients there is 470 mgs of New Zealand Flax Seed Oil delivering 283 mgs of Omega -3 with every capsule. Omega-3 being one of the
life. DMG is also known for calming of anxiety and balance our sugar levels, hence the better sleeping patterns, so all these benefits are found in the one capsule. One question frequently asked, how many capsules per day. What needs to be understood is the reason for taking Brain Shield is it delivers a measured daily dose of cGP that normalise the essential brain hormone IGF-1. Therefore, you are supplementing your lack of cGP. If you are challenged by neuro-degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Strokes and Hypertension. It is a fact that those with such illnesses half a very low level of cGP therefore, we recommend starting with two capsules per day for the first 30 days then back to one capsule per day thereafter. If you are not challenged by these illnesses, then one capsule per day will be adequate. It is about lifting your level of cGP as quickly as possible to achieve the overall brain and whole of body wellness creating the chance of a better lifestyle in your later years. It has been very rewarding for a Canterbury based company to be turning Canterbury and Nelson grown crops into meaningful botanical beneficial health supplements. there is more to Vitality New Zealand that I would like to share with you, we have a range of products that all are derived from crops grown in Canterbury and Nelson more on them next month. You can visit our web site: www.vitalitynz.nz or Facebook: @vitalitynz or call 0800-006-168
CREATED BY NATURE PROVEN BY SCIENCE
WILL BENEFIT AGEING BODY AND MIND
WORLD FIRST DISCOVERY IN NEW ZEALAND BLACKCURRANTS cyclic Glycine-Proline (cGP) a key brain nutrient that normalises Insulin-like Growth Factor -1 (IGF-1) is an essential whole of body and brain function hormone (IGF-1) which is vital for improving the brain signalling pathways Having the correct ratio of cGP/IGF-1 is essential to achieve optimum Health and Wellness for all ages
AGE WITH NORMAL BRAIN HEALTH
3. 1.
Normal brain health
2.
cGP increases to improve IGF-1 function
cyclic Glycine-Proline
cGP KEY BRAIN NUTRIENT
NEW ZEALAND MADE
IGF-1 reduces while we age
3. 1.
AGEING BRAIN HEALTH
NEW
Ageing brain health
IGF-1 reduces further
2.
cGP failed to increase
Current belief is that all we need to do is have a healthy diet, exercise both the body and mind and all is fine. We now know that we can achieve more by maintaining an adequate level of cGP with supplementation as we age Low levels of cGP are found in Stroke and Parkinson patients and other neuro-degenerative illnesses.
3.
Poor brain health
1.
IGF-1 reduces further
2. cGP decrease
PATENTED MOLECULE & MECHANISM
Find out more at: vitalitynz.nz Call: 0800 006 168 or email: info@vitalitynz.nz
Try Vitality’s other exciting blackcurrant products
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
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August 2019
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August 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
Fertiliser quality on the agenda The New Zealand Fertiliser Quality Council (FQC) is reassuring farmers and growers that discussions around achieving common standardisation for the physical quality of fertiliser products are firmly under way.
Anders Crofoot ❚❚by of the ❚❚Chairman Fertiliser Quality Council ❚❚
The FQC already has in place standards for the content of fertiliser products through its Fertmark programme. Fertmark is a voluntary scheme which independently verifies the product ingredients so farmers know that what they are purchasing is true to label. However, it is now time to focus on the shape and size of product particles. Varying physical quality can pose problems for farmers and growers who need consistency of fertiliser, every time, to ensure accurate and even placement, minimum environmental impact and maximum plant growth. Unfortunately, the physical quality of some fertiliser products can differ from batch to batch. This is particularly problematic for the arable sector, where nutrient spreading needs to be even more exact than spreading for pasture growth. Consistency of physical product quality is also needed for compliance and proof of accurate placement, both of which are becoming increasingly important for farmers as we all focus more on precision agriculture. Furthermore, our ground spreaders are also encountering issues with physical quality,
Store well: Good storage and handling of fertiliser is essential to maintaining the products’ physical form.
particularly as they start to use even more sophisticated spreading machinery. The highspec spreading equipment they use is ultrasensitive to particle size. Where product quality varies, this means frequent and timeconsuming re-calibration. It is worth bearing in mind that fertiliser quality is affected by many variables, not least the many different types of products on
the market – from single nutrients to blends, compounds and enhanced products such as slow release varieties. This means that while there is no quick fix, we are in discussions with the major fertiliser manufacturers to find a solution for our farmers. Other key variables affecting the physical characteristics of fertiliser include the way products are stored and handled.
Particle strength, shape and size all affect the durability of the product as it moves through the processes of handling and storage. For example, small particles can crumb and are also more likely to attract moisture during storage. It is hoped that as we progress the idea of categorising physical quality, the supply chain can then tailor how best to handle and store products according to their physical components. The FQC recently issued a set of guidelines for storing and handling bulk fertiliser. This includes information and advice on receiving product in store, bagging off, transporting, avoiding caking and segregating products. The guidelines, which be downloaded from wwww.fqc.co.nz, printed as poster-size and displayed in fertiliser distribution centres, are currently being adapted for farmers to display on farm. Anders Crofoot is the Chairman of the Fertiliser Quality Council. The Council was set up for farmers, by farmers in 1992. It comprises over 30 executives from across the agricultural spectrum and is responsible for both the Fertmark and Spreadmark schemes.
CANTERBURY FARMING August 2019
25
Growing food production from the ground spreader up For decades ground spreaders have been the unsung heroes of agriculture – quietly and expertly going about their business without drawing too much attention to themselves.
John Schultz ❚❚by President of the New Zealand ❚❚Groundspread ❚❚Association Fertilisers ❚❚ But times are changing. We are entering an increasingly auditable world, where everything food related needs to be tracked and traced – especially if New Zealand is to gain premium prices for premium products. Fertiliser spreading is turning into nutrient spreading and nutrient spreading is becoming a whole agricultural service industry in itself. It’s no surprise then that ground spreading operators are now being recognised and valued as the first, vital step in New Zealand’s food production chain. As more and more of our food processors pursue the high end markets, typically overseas, so their auditing and scrutiny of farm practices becomes tighter and tighter. If New Zealand food producers want to be serious players in this field (and they do), demonstrating integrity, quality of product and sustainable production methods is essential. This means that many processors are now auditing right down to ground level. Synlait’s Lead with Pride programme is a prime example of this, whereby farmer suppliers can achieve higher milk payouts if they can prove that their nutrient placement methods are accurate, pose no environmental risk, follow robust health and safety procedures and are aligned to best farm management practices.
Essential: Ground spread operators are now being recognised and valued as the first, vital step in New Zealand’s food production chain.
While this is putting the ground spreading profession on the agricultural – as well as the career – map, it is also placing an extra layer of compliance on the farmer. The farmer may well want the higher payout but, on the surface, there looks like quite a bit of work involved to achieve this. Synlait, however, has a solution and it’s called Spreadmark. Spreadmark is a quality assurance programme that guarantees accurate fertiliser distribution by trained operators using certified spreading machinery and a management system that puts economic and environmental farmer/grower outcomes first. The scheme was created nearly 25 years
ago by the New Zealand Groundspread Fertiliser Association (NZGFA). It is now administered by the Fertiliser Quality Council (FQC). To say Spreadmark was ahead of its time is an understatement. Over the years, Spreadmark has been in good use as the industry standard but now, like the ground spreaders themselves, it is being recognised and valued as an essential element of farming. Synlait insists its farmer suppliers, under its Lead With Pride programme, use only ground spreader operators who are Spreadmark certified. Other food producers are following suit. Ultimately, we – the ground spreader as-
sociation – believe that auditing nutrient placement will become the norm and that the nutrient spreading market will continue to grow beyond the placement of traditional fertiliser products. This is great news for New Zealand agriculture – for our highly trained ground spread operators and for the Spreadmark programme. John Schultz is the new President of the NZGFA. Elected earlier this month at the association’s annual conference, John is charged with taking the NZGFA forward in a new strategic direction which will reflect the growing focus on the ground spreading profession and the expansion of the nutrient spreading industry.
SKYFARMERS Talk to us today about your farms soil fertility. We offer a soil testing service and will recommend and supply you with a fertiliser program to suit you and your farms individual needs.
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Chicken litter is fast becoming a mainstream fertiliser Poultry has seen unprecedented growth over the last three decades, from less than 40 million birds processed in 1987 to over 118 million in 2017.
❚ Article supplied by Poulfert Ltd
That is about 470,000 birds a day processed in New Zealand and Canterbury is one of the largest contributors to that number. That growth has seen chicken litter, as a fertiliser, move from being a closely guarded secret used by those farmers with the right connections, to a high nutrient-value product readily accessible to the agricultural sector. Within Canterbury, Poulfert is synonymous with the supply and application of chicken litter. They have a strong relationship with local industry, providing a vital cog in the supply chain. Poulfert is family business, owned and operated by Marty and Tracey Peoples from their Templeton base since 2004. Marty sees their team’s attention to detail and customer satisfaction from timely poultry shed cleanout to accurate Spreadmark certified GPS fertiliser placement as crucial in continuing their strong industry presence.
Family business: Poulfert is synonymous with the supply and application of chicken litter as a fertiliser. pecially beneficial in its soil conditioning capacity (with a PH of 9), particularly in Canterbury where organic matter is often light. “Poulfert is incredibility cost effective, even when based purely on the value of the major nutrients.” Poulfert contains major elements of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur, Calcium, Magnesium and minor elements Iron, Manganese, Copper, Zinc, Boron, Molybdenum, Iodine, Cobalt, Selenium and 47% organic matter.
“Poulfert has really gained favour as a natural fertiliser, customers in dairying, horticulture and cropping are all seeing the
benefits of using the product,” Marty says. “In addition to the NPK nutrient value, the organic matter of the product is es-
the product, whilst readily available, has a limited supply. therefore early ordering is required to ensure availability of both product and application. For further details visit poulfert.co.nz or call 0800 NPK NOW.
“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!”
CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
27
Nutrient detector breakthrough Findings from La Trobe University-led research could lead to less fertiliser wastage, saving millions of dollars for farmers.
❚ by William Milnes The international research team based at Melbourne’s La Trobe University has uncovered a protein that can sense vital phosphorus levels – the ‘fuel in the tank’ - in plants and then adjust growth and flowering in response. Published in the journal Plant Physiology, the findings provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms whereby plants sense how much and when to take in the essential nutrient, phosphorus, for optimal growth. Lead author Dr Ricarda Jost, from the Department of Plant, Animal and Soil Sciences at La Trobe University said the environmental and economic benefits to farmers could be significant. “In countries like Australia where soils are phosphorus poor, farmers are using large amounts of expensive, non-renewable phosphorus fertiliser, such as superphosphate or diammonium phosphate (DAP), much of which is not being taken up effectively by crops at the right time for growth,” Dr Jost said. “Our findings have shown that a protein called SPX4 senses the nutrient status – the ‘amount of fuel in the tank’ of a crop – and alters gene regulation to either switch off or
Breakthough: Dr Ricarda Jost, from the Department of Plant, Animal and soil sciences at La trobe university says the environmental and economic benefits to farmers from the discovery could be significant.
turn on phosphorus acquisition, and to alter growth and flowering time.” Using Arabidopsis thaliana (thale or mouse-ear cress) shoots, the research team conducted genetic testing by adding phosphorus fertiliser and observing the behaviour of the protein. For the first time, the SPX4 protein was
observed to have both a negative and a positive regulatory effect on phosphorus take-up and resulting plant growth. “The protein senses when the plant has taken in enough phosphorus and tells the roots to stop taking it up,” Dr Jost said. “If the fuel pump is turned off too early, this can limit plant growth. On the other
hand, SPX4 seems to have a ‘moonlighting’ activity and can activate beneficial processes of crop development such as initiation of flowering and seed production. “This greater understanding of how SPX4 operates could lead to a more precise identification of the genes it regulates, and an opportunity to control the protein’s activity using genetic intervention – switching on the positive and switching off the negative responses. La Trobe agronomist Dr James Hunt said the research findings sit well with the necessity for farmers’ to be as efficient as possible with costly fertiliser inputs. “In our no-till cropping systems, phosphorous gets stratified in the top layers of soil. When this layer gets dry, crops cannot access these reserves and enter what we a call a phosphorus drought,” Dr Hunt said. “The phosphorous is there, but crops can’t access it in the dry soil. If we could manipulate crop species to take up more phosphorous when the top soil is wet, we’d be putting more fuel in the tank for later crop growth when the top soil dries out.” The research team will now be investigating in more detail how SPX4 interacts with gene regulators around plant development and controlling flowering time.
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John McKay Phone: +61 438 918 135 Email: john@ectol.com
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Golden Bay Dolomite NZ’s most loved magnesium.
call 0800 436 566 or visit www.dolomite.co.nz
Supporting responsible nutrient management The Nutrient Management Adviser Certification Programme (NMACP) was established in 2013. Six years on, the programme boasts around 200 certified advisers – all trained to provide high quality nutrient management advice to farmers. “Certified advisers come from a broad range of organisations,” says Vera Power, Chief Executive of the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand, which administrates the programme. “We have people from Councils, sector groups, farm consultancies and professional services firms, as well as fertiliser companies. “This means that people from a wide range of organisations now have a common set of knowledge around nutrient management best practice.” NMACP also includes a certification endorsement for greenhouse gases, thanks to financial support from Dairy NZ. This is available to Certified Nutrient Management Advisers who complete Massey University’s three-day course ‘An introduction to New
Zealand’s Agricultural Green House Gas Emissions and Management’. Course content includes the latest in greenhouse gas mitigation policy and research for pastoral and arable farming. “As New Zealand moves towards zero carbon emissions farmers will need to be knowledgeable about how to manage their on-farm emissions responsibly and sustainably,” says Vera. “Our advisers trained in this area are able to help farmers feel more confident about their decisions.” NMACP is funded by the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand. to find a certified adviser or learn how to become certified visit www.nmacertification.org.nz.
Become a Certified Nutrient Management Adviser Are you ready to take the next step in nutrient management? The Nutrient Management Adviser Certification Programme (NMACP) welcomes applications from advisers seeking to keep pace with the latest knowledge in the field. NMACP enables you to provide reliable, up-to-date nutrient management advice of the highest standard to farmers. We offer: • access to ongoing professional development opportunities • greenhouse gas endorsement • for all advisers who complete the Massey Advanced SNM course in 2019 and become certified within one year, we will offer a $100 reduction in the assessment fee. To apply to become a certified adviser go to www.nmacertification.org.nz or phone us on (04) 473 6552.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
GYPSUM CAN INCREASE THE VALUE OF ORGANICS Agriculture has failed to be sustainable several times in the history of the world because of soil failure. Irrigated land eventually leads to sodicity and salinity unless extreme care is taken. Gypsum is a key ingredient for the maintenance of agriculture on many types of soils. Advantages of gypsum in addition to the prevention and correction of sodicity include greater stability of soil organic matter, more stable soil aggregates, improved water penetration into soil, and more rapid seed emergence. Partnering well when new organic matter is introduced.
How Does Gypsum Work? Gypsum is hydrated calcium sulphate. Calcium from gypsum replaces sodium in the soil. The sulphate allows the sodium to be effectively leached out of the soil. The soil then has more ability to flocculate and form stable aggregates to improve drainage and soil quality.
Gypsum is one of those rare materials that performs in all categories of soil treatment: an amendment, conditioner and fertiliser. Gypsum, a readily available form of calcium, is 100 times more soluble than lime.
Gypsum in soil conditioning
Gypsum in fertilising
•
Breaks up soils compacted by sodium and clay, and compounded by farm animals and machinery Reduces cracking and compaction following irrigation and retards soil crusting Allows soil to dry more quickly after rain or irrigation so that it may be worked sooner Decreases energy requirements for tillage Binds organic matter to soil and checks soil erosion Enhances friendly bacterial action and discourages plant diseases related to poor soil aeration Conditioned soil allows for deeper, healthier root development and water penetration
Soil tests throughout New Zealand shows sulphur deficiency is wide spread. Although often overlooked, sulphur is needed in at least equal quantities to phosphorus. Many responses in crops are sulphur due to the sulphate radical (SO4--). • Readily dissociates into free calcium ions (Ca++) and sulphate ions (SO4--), major elements in plant nutrition • Has an approximately neutral pH and can be used in heavy applications without causing undue alkalinity in soils
•
Gypsum in water savings
•
• •
Gypsum in amendment
• •
Promotes water infiltration, retention and conservation Allows water to penetrate the soil without forming puddles or water logging Conserves water by stretching intervals between irrigations Tests show that farmland treated with gypsum requires up to 33% less water than soils without recent gypsum application
• • • •
• • •
Displaces sodium binding clay soils Reduces high soil aluminium levels Suppresses the soil acidification effects of growing crops and the prolonged use of acidifying fertilisers
For more about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation visit gypsum.co.nz
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Give your crops the feed they need ❚
The right nutrients at the right time – with both quick and sustained release nutrients, Nitrophoska Select ensures that your crops have the feed they need, when they need it. Article supplied by Ravensdown As high-yielding crops remove large portion of its sulphate form. Potassium meets New Zealand farmers’ requirements
Trusted by growers for over 40 years, Nitrophoska Select is the ideal starter fertiliser for cereals, fodder beet, potatoes, maize and fresh market vegetables. It features the same effective compound fertiliser as the old 12-10-10, but now better
for more nitrogen and potassium with less phosphorus. The brand name ‘Nitrophoska’ stands for the three primary fertiliser nutrients; nitrogen, phosphate and kalium (German for potassium).
Ready. Select. Grow Nitrophoska® Select
Set crops up for a strong start with Nitrophoska Select compound fertiliser. Every granule delivers the same composition of essential nutrients with both quick and sustained release, so you can ensure your crops have the feed they need, when they need it.
Smarter farming for a better New Zealand®
Select the best. Talk to your agri manager or call today to order.
0800 100 123 ravensdown.co.nz
Nitrophoska is a registered trademark of EuroChem Agro GmbH.
quantities of nitrogen and potassium from the soil, Nitrophoska Select with its high N and K content is the ideal compound starter fertiliser. Every granule contains the same composition of high-grade, plant available nutrients in efficient and effective forms, for even crops with better yields. Greg Costello, Ravensdown Product Manager Fertiliser, explains that “being a compound, each granule contains the prescribed NPKS. It’s a homogenous product so you have a very even application either via broadcast spreading or through a precision drill”. Nitrophoska Select contains nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen for both quick and longer lasting effect. Nitrate nitrogen is ideal for crops grown in cool soil temperatures to give them an immediate nutrient boost and ensure successful establishment. Ammonium nitrogen is held tightly in the soil and converted to nitrate at a rate dependent on soil temperature. This results in even and constant absorption, so it provides a sustained supply of N to plants through the growing period. The phosphate is completely plant available. Seventy-five percent is in its water-soluble form which encourages early root growth to ensure young crops have a rapid start. The remainder is in its citric soluble form, being dissolved by natural dilute soil acids, for longer-term phosphate supply. There are also two forms of the potash present; mainly the water-soluble chloride form, together with a small pro-
is an essential plant nutrient as it plays an important role in efficient water use, aids in both drought tolerance and frost resistance, and it improves the utilisation of vital nitrogen. Nitrophoska® Select also contains plant-available sulphur – for amino acid production and enzyme activity, and calcium – used in cell membranes for protein synthesis and ion uptake. There is a near neutral effect on soil pH, which is particularly important when banding fertilisers, allowing maximum availability of nutrients for plant uptake. Nitrophoska® Select is a very stable product with excellent storage and spreading properties. It has excellent granulation and granule integrity, plus it is dust free making it a hassle free fertiliser for precision drilling operations. Spreading the fertiliser with the seed at drilling ensures all adequate nutrients are available to the seed for rapid germination and root establishment of the crop. “By planting down through the drill, you’re placing the nutrient with direct access to the root zone of the plant, for root development and plant establishment. Ensuring the fertiliser is placed in proximity for plants to utilise the nutrient,” says Greg.
Nitrophoska Select analysis: • 15% Nitrogen (N) 6% Nitrate N, 9% Ammonium N • 6.6% Phosphorus (P) • 12.5% Potassium (K) • 2.0% Sulphur (S) • 3.3% Calcium (Ca) • Bulk density 1120kg/m3
Grow well: Nitrophoska select ensures crops have the feed they need, when they need it.
CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
31
SAM sprayers and Talbot Agriculture Talbot Agriculture has for over 30 years been importing and servicing sprayers and has been the New Zealand agent for SAM sprayers for the last 20 years, and in this time has sold over 170 SAM machines. supplied by ❚ Article Talbot Agriculture ❚ The introduction of the Horizon range has seen several innovative features that enhance the operator’s ability to accurately apply agricultural chemicals accurately and in an environmentally safe manner while protecting the operator from any exposure. This was clearly demonstrated at the recent UK Cereals event where four of the six finalists in the Sprayer Operator of the Year contest, including the winner, were all operating SAM sprayers. A feat that no other manufacturer has to date achieved. The new Horizon has built on the hugely successful Vision range’s reliability and simple accurate operation combined with the one of the lightest tare weights and lowest centre of gravity making SAM sprayers able to keep spraying when others can’t. Tank sizes go from 2500 to 6000 litres and boom widths from 15 to 42m. SAM have recently developed a new steel booms up to 36m that aren’t much heavier than the alloy booms used previously, but much stronger. The use of ISO Bus technology has enabled the operator to combine functions to suit their individual preferences. Operator protection has been further enhanced with the Tier 4 cab filtration making it a safe operating environment. The new cab has no rear
sAM Horizon 5500l 30m.
sAM 4000 24m. corner pillars making for exceptional vision. The tried and proven RDS rate controller is still the only device that warns the operator of blockages or leaks ensuring a very high degree of application reliability. SAM will factory fit any brand of GPS equipment giving the options of simple guidance, auto section control, electric or hydraulic steering and auto boom height control making the operators input very minimal. SAM also offers twin lines with individual switching from front, both or rear spray lines for each section allowing variable rates across the boom for increased versatility. Talbot Agriculture can supply
both new and used machines and offer a full service facility at their workshop with their own specialised transporter for those jobs that cannot be carried out on the farm. Talbot Agriculture also offers an internationally approved annual sprayer inspection and calibration service that ensures owners can comply with various standards such as Euro gap and Health and safety requirements. Call Jeremy on 021571893 to discuss your sprayer needs.
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Recycling to clear farm waste Each week, thousands of kiwi homes wheel or carry their rubbish to the kerbside for collection. For rural communities, managing refuse is not such an easy task. Generations of kiwi farmers have had to find their own ways of clearing non-natural waste. A 2013 study by Environment Canterbury claimed that farms were producing nearly 10 tonnes of waste a year. Empty containers and drums, silage wrap, fertiliser bags and motor oil are just some of the items left over from the business of farming. Finding an efficient and sustainable solution can be confusing and time-consuming for farmers and growers, especially with each waste stream having its own processes for recycling or safe disposal. To add to the challenge, the options aren’t always obvious, conveniently located or available to use at all times – and can be costly. Rural recycling programme, Agrecovery, is stepping in to help solve these challenges. The programme, which recycles agrichemical containers and drums and sustainably disposes of unwanted agrichemicals, has been trialling a project that allows farmers and growers to drop off Services we provide: a variety of waste at one location. This Pine Control • Spraying • Fertiliser
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one-stop-shop solution aims to discourage the harmful disposal practices of burning, burying or stockpiling waste. Last year Agrecovery initiated two highly successful pilot projects in Matamata and Geraldine, collecting more than 19 tonnes of waste in just two days. The Ministry for the Environment is boosting the project by funding more nationwide events. The programme is co-ordinating six events to be held in late August and September so that farmers and growers can clear a variety of waste all at the same time. These events will be in Westport, Southland, Rolleston, Gisborne as well as Matamata and Geraldine. Agrecovery works with partners to find sustainable options for recycling the collected waste. The ideal solution is repurposing it locally as it does with agrichemical containers. This rigid plastic can be recycled into useful products like underground cable covers and building materials, but more needs to be done to ensure that we have the means to process waste – particularly soft plastics. In 2017, the importation of scrap plastics into China was banned as a result of the China Nation-
al Sword Policy. Other markets for scrap plastics exist, such as Malaysia and Thailand, but they have environmental costs – both in transportation and in the lack of certainty of how the waste is disposed of. The rural recycling programme wants to make sure that ethical and high value-add facilities process rural waste. Good quality recycled plastic is in high demand and can be made into new useful products. Silage wrap can be recycled into tuffboard – a plywood substitute. To save on carbon emissions, processing it in New Zealand is the best option and the programme is seeking to develop more local recycling facilities. Agrecovery is also focussing on finding solutions for products that are difficult to clean and recycle, such as fertiliser bags and silage wrap. Plans are already in motion to address these issues – which are wider than just for farming. For this to work, engagement from a wide range of stakeholders is essential. This includes our rural communities and their continued efforts to participate in recycling solutions. Finding solutions for waste is one facet, the other is making sure people join the journey to minimise waste.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
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What to consider when setting up Many of the people interested in planting trees for profit are farmers who already own the land and wish to diversify their income or capital assets in future.
❚ Article supplied by NZFFA
However, increasing numbers of tree planters are not farmers, but people who want to create a valuable asset by planting trees. The following is aimed principally at those who want to buy land for forestry, but much of it applies equally well to those who already own land and want to choose the best sites for planting.
Location How far is the site from the nearest port, or processing plant with ready access to export facilities? Long distance transport is costly and has a major impact on profitability. Transport costs for sites that are more than 100km from the market can seriously erode returns for logs.
Access How close is the site to a public road and is there legal access? Getting logs from the site to a public road requires good reliable access for logging trucks. Roading to a suitable standard can be very expensive, particularly if the costs have to be met from only a small block of trees. If access would require upgrading, make sure the site is sufficiently large to bear the cost without seriously affecting profitability. The quality of access can also impinge quite significantly on silvicultural costs (site
preparation, planting, releasing, pruning and thinning). If access is by right-of-way or paper road, ensure that there are no impediments to using that access.
Topography Is the site flat, rolling or steep hill country? Steep topography not only increases silvicultural costs and preclude a production thinning, but can have a major impact on harvesting costs. If tracking is required for harvesting machinery, this will affect profitability, and if harvesting has to be by hauler rather than ground transport, costs will be even greater. Make sure that the drainage of flatter areas is naturally good enough for satisfactory tree growth, because there are no commercial species that will grow on poorly drained sites, and artificial drainage is usually expensive. Be aware that in cool climates, flat areas may be frost flats where it is difficult to get trees established.
Forest management Even if you plan to do all the preparation and silviculture yourself, it is sensible to employ a reputable consultant before you commit yourself to any expenditure, because such a consultant may help you avoid pitfalls that you had not foreseen.
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Get advice: It is sensible to employ a reputable consultant before you commit yourself to any expenditure on a forestry block. In particular, consultants are aware of the many difficulties that can arise at the time of harvesting, and even if you have done every-
thing else right in growing the trees, excess harvesting costs can seriously reduce the potential profitability of the whole enterprise.
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August 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
Keeping it safe when harvesting supplied by ❚❚Article Farm Forestry New Zealand ❚❚
Timber harvesting has been, and unfortunately continues to be, a dangerous task.
The Health and Safety at Work Act (HWSA 2015) makes it clear that all Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) have a responsibility for safety. A landowner engaging in a timber harvesting activity is by definition a PCBU and should actively take part in ensuring health and safety of the people working on their land. It is unlikely that a small scale forest landowner will have the expertise to develop a detailed health and safety plan for the timber harvesting operation. The most prudent option is to engage with a professional forestry company, consultant or contractor to ensure they have the appropriate health and safety plans in place. The forest industry has been working hard at improving its safety record and has a dedicated Safety Council. A comprehensive review of the forest industry was completed by an Independent Panel and a summary document outlining some of the main shortcomings, as well as an agenda for change, was published (IFSR 2014). A number of initiatives have been undertaken including setting up ’Safetree’ a
Harvest time: Farmers with a forestry block ready for harvest are advised to engage with a professional forestry company, consultant or contractor to ensure they have the appropriate health and safety plans in place.
website that provides resources such as documents and videos on how to complete timber harvesting safely. WorkSafe, which is the New Zealand regulator for health and safety, have published a great document entitled “Managing a Safe and Healthy Small Forest Harvest” that provides an excellent resource in terms of practical step-by-step guide for managing your harvest. For example, one task the landowner must complete is the identification of haz-
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ards on the property and making sure they are communicated to the logger. Examples of hazards on farm woodlots can be fences, proximity to powerlines, but also the strength of stream crossing structures. You are also likely to be responsible for the safe access to the forest on the farm, so if the farm roads and tracks leading to the area to be harvested are steep and not accessible for a logging truck in wet weather, then you need to take action to restrict access. With regard to the individual harvesting
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tasks, there is an Approved Code of Practice (ACOP 2012) for forest operations that is considered a minimum standard, and it includes the expectation that all workers are both trained (or in training) and competent in carrying out the designated harvesting task. Best practice guides are also available from various sources including for higher risk practices such as manual tree felling or choker-setting (known colloquially as ‘breaking-out’ in NZ), or complex harvest systems such as cable logging.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
35
Slow down not all bad news
Allan Laurie MNZIF ❚ with ❚ Laurie Forestry Ltd
The China speed bumps I referenced in my last report have turned to a bit more than a bump, indeed fair to say this key market has turned in to a spiralling hollow.
In the space of a month, it is almost breath taking to witness at US$20+ per cubic metre drop in the selling price in China. The rapid reduction in sales prices is certainly well ahead of anything I have experienced in the 16 odd years I have been directly involved in the China trade. Such a quick drop has massive impacts, not the least being a dramatic slow-down in the harvest rate in New Zealand. This has huge consequences for all involved. However, a slow-down is exactly what is required to get a correction. The CFR price is the value per cubic metre landed in China. In US dollar terms this has dropped for a standard A grade log from an average $130 to $110 per m3. Some commentators have suggested as low as US$105 is in our midst. But the rhetoric, market intel and dynamic is changing daily. One thing for sure is the harder and lower it falls, the rebound could be just as amazing. Here are some of the basics as to what is happening right now • As reported last month, President Trump’s tariff regime started the rot impacting sales from China to the US. This has had a cumulative slowing down affect. • There has been a significant increase in supply of lumber from multiple sources, primarily Europe and Russia
• Pure demand for lumber has been waning and with the oversupply, prices are falling • Beetle damage in Europe following a major wind storm, has seen massive areas of harvest to capture fibre ahead of the beetle adding 200,000 cubic metres of logs and lumber per month to an over-supplied market in China • China wholesaler returns have been negative for some time at the same time when construction has been hampered by a very hot summer. • Major NZ suppliers have ignored the market intel since late 2018 trying to drive up price when it needed to go down • Harvest in NZ, which has for some time included forests way younger than they needed to be, has been significantly in excess of the market ability to take the extra volume. The declining sentiment and mood of the market changed to a tipping point which came when one large NZ supplier sent several vessels from NZ to China without sales and LC’s locked down. This then became a catalyst for a correction which, when you look at the key indicators, has swung far too far the other way. During all the turmoil of a daily changing dynamic, consumption levels across the
eastern seaboard has been pretty good for this time of year at around 70,000 cubic metres per day. This will improve shortly as Autumn approaches. Inventory of logs has been climbing to over 4 million cubic metres, close to 10 weeks supply, which is on the cusp of too much and part of the problem. India and Korea have been following the trend line downward currently not offering price points in NZ substantially different to China. Meanwhile the NZ domestic scene has been strong, proving once again the NZ sawmiller is the real backbone of our industry. It may be a relatively small part of the body, but its resilience, in the face of a lot of bending, and its overall fitness is fundamental to the successful functioning of the body. Prices have remained stable in this sector and likely to remain so as it presents a
very reasonable return to forest growers. If the domestic prices drop right now, this would only promulgate a more dramatic slowdown in harvest and supply would become constrained very quickly. I don’t see sawmill owners wanting that any time soon. Right now it is difficult to predict what will happen next. History tells me the harder the fall the more likely the rapid recovery. My concern right now is if harvest in New Zealand does slow right down, and it looks like it is going to, we will very quickly move to an under supplied market in China and a risk of panic buying. This would be very unhealthy for all market segments. As always 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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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
DAIRY
Narrowing the range of cow condition in your herd Brenda Lynch from Dairy Condition Monitoring believes farmers should regularly assess the condition of their cows and heifers to provide information to make management decisions about feed allocation to ensure all their cows reach BCS targets at calving. supplied by ❚ Article Dairy Condition Monitoring ❚ This season has provided a good opportunity for farmers to narrow the range of cow condition within the herd. Getting your mature age cows at condition score 5.0 and heifers and second calvers at condition score 5.5 is where you should be aiming for at calving. “Knowing the proportion of your herd that is too thin or too fat will enable you to allocate feed appropriately to the right cows,” says Brenda. “Regular walks through your cows to assess and identify cows that are not gaining condition at the same rate as the rest of the cows and then actively managing these cows is the first step to ensuring all your cows make the BCS calving targets. “Many farmers that I work with have realised that attention to detail is the key to success for achieving cow condition targets.” Brenda is a DairyNZ-certified BCS assessor and part of the national calibration team responsible for calibrating assessors to ensure consistency for farmers. “If you don’t know your current situation, how can you plan for the next stage of the season? Every stage of the season is important. Cow condition is a long-term game. “Having BCS data allows you to ask the questions, where are we?, how did we get here?, and how can we get to where we want to be?” If you want to know where you are currently and how you can improve your herd’s cow condition give Brenda a call on 027 307 4040 to discuss your BCs needs, or if you would like to upskill yourself and/or your team there are BCs workshops coming up in October.
Brenda Lynch from Dairy Condition Monitoring
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CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
37
Methane target must change DairyNZ is calling on the Government to revise the methane target in the Zero Carbon Bill to one that does not put at risk New Zealand’s world-leading dairy sector.
❚ by Kent Caddick DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle said farm profit could go down by as much as 42% and have a huge effect on national and regional economies under the current proposed range. “Dairying in New Zealand is world-leading in producing low emissions milk. We have a reputation for sustainability, and we want to keep it that way,” Mackle said. “We are committed to playing our part in the transition to a low-emissions economy alongside the rest of New Zealand, but it must be done fairly, and consider the science as well as the economic impacts. “DairyNZ supports much in this Bill. However, we still have strong concerns about the proposed 2050 methane reduction target range, and our continued support for the Bill is conditional on this changing.” The Bill contains a 2030 methane target and a 2050 methane target range. “While the 10% reduction by 2030 will be very challenging, we believe we can make a decent crack at it,” Mackle said. “Our modelling indicates an average annual cost could be up to $13,000 per farm between 2020 and 2030. That’s why we are advocating for the target to be checked by the Commission once they are established, and regularly reviewed.” However, Mackle said the 2050 target is just not realistic and must be changed. ”The Government’s proposed 2050 target range of 24% to 47% is not soundly based in science in a New Zealand context and it is higher than official advice.
Unrealistic: DairyNZ chief executive tim Mackle says farm profit could go down by as much as 42% and have a huge effect on national and regional economies under the proposed Zero Carbon Bill.
“The economic modelling used to inform the Bill was also undercooked and did not include a robust analysis of the implications for dairy farmers. This is a fundamental issue, given the significant role of the dairy industry in New Zealand’s economy. DairyNZ is calling for the 2050 target to be up to 24%, and regularly reviewed whilst the science remains unsettled. “We are also seeking to ensure that farmers to get recognition for their planting as a way of offsetting emissions. “This figure reflects a fair-share reduction in methane required to stay below the 1.5-degree threshold and is broadly in line with the analysis of the Intergovernmental Panel on Cli-
mate Change, New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, and other climate scientists, and is a prudent yet ambitious approach.” DairyNZ estimates that with an up to 50% cut in methane dairy farmers total profit could reduce by between 33% to 42% across the 2030-2050 period. “This is a substantial loss in income and is more than ten times higher than the cost of $2,500 per farm estimated in the Regulatory Impact Statement,” Mackle said.
“As a sector we have come a long way and we know we need to do more to help our farmers reduce and manage their emissions “DairyNZ will be there to support our farmers through the transition to a low emissions future. We will be announcing a new programme in August aimed specifically at improving greenhouse gases, water quality and profitability on farms at the same time to support a just transition.”
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August 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
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CANTERBURY FARMING
DAIRY
August 2019
39
❚ with Fred Hoekstra, VeeHof
The cost of lame cows I have had a conversation with a farmer about trimming cow’s feet the other day.
He was managing a farm and his contract stated that he was required to have a minimum number of staff members. Because of that he had plenty of labour power, so one of the jobs that he got his staff to do was to trim the lame cows. That seems to make sense - you want to save as much money as you can, right? Let’s think about that for a bit. If money is a bit tight and you have toothache, would you get one of your staff to sort it out for you? Or likewise, do some of you, who know how to inseminate a cow, take on this responsibility yourself this year to save money? For most farmers the answer will be “NO” to both of these questions and I would assume the reason for that, in most cases, will be because of the quality of the job done, and in the case of your tooth ache, it may have a pain factor as well. Most people realise that the better your in-calf rate is, the better your bottom line profit will be, so it pays to get an experienced AI technician to inseminate your cows - the same is true for trimming lame cows. It does pay to utilise the skills and experience of qualified hoof trimmers if you want to save time and money –“how does that work?” I hear you saying, “How can I save money by paying someone to do a job that one of my staff can probably do just as well?” I guess the answer to that will be largely influenced by your understanding and acceptance of the skill involved in proper hoof trimming which will minimise the recovery time of your cows
Costly: DairyNZ worked out that the average cost of a lame cow is around $500. ensuring that they return to full productivity quicker, but also with the very real difficulty in quantifying the cost of lameness. Do you know how much lameness costs you? Can you work it out? It’s not that easy is it? A lot of the cost of lameness comes from reduced productivity, and that varies per cow. There are many factors at play like the time of the year when the cow is going lame, the severity of the lameness, etc. DairyNZ worked out that the average cost of a lame cow is around $500 and
that on average 35% of your herd will be lame in a season. So a farm milking 1,000 cows could have a $175,000 lameness bill in a season. That is not so much a bill that is being paid out, but more so a cheque that is not coming in. We worked out that if the cost of a lame cow is $500 (and I think that is conservative) then the industry is missing out on nearly a billion dollars a year. Beware of having a false economy mentality and ensure you are utilising your staff where they are going to be most productive in using their individual skill sets.
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August 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
DAIRY
Synlait celebrates high performing dairy farmers Synlait celebrated their highest performing dairy farmers at their 2018/2019 Honours Awards ceremony.
❚❚by Kent Caddick The ceremony took place at their annual supplier conference held in Christchurch last month. “This is the four th year we’ve held the Synlait Dair y Honours Awards and the standard of per formance continues to increase year-on-year,” Synalit CEO Leon Clement said. “The awards are open to all Synlait milk suppliers, and we’re thrilled to see
that a significant number of our winners are Lead With Pride cer tified. Each of our award winners and their teams have gone significantly above and beyond requirements to showcase excellence in dair y,” Clement said. “I would like to congratulate each of our winners, and in par ticular Kieran McCall of Golden Dairies Limited who won the ANZ Supreme Lead With Pride Award.” Synlait’s internationally accredited
Lead With Pride programme encourages, and financially rewards, their milk suppliers to adopt best practice in milk quality, animal health and welfare, social responsibility and environmental sustainability. Clement said the panel of independent judges were impressed with finalists’ innovative approaches to driving best practices across their dair y businesses. “We look for ward to our Waikato dair y farmers par ticipating in the 2019/2020 awards.”
Award winners
The full list of Synalit’s 2018/2019 Dairy Honours award winners
Lead With Pride Awards • ANZ Supreme Lead With Pride Award: Kieran McCall, Golden Dairies Limited • Hilton Haulage Best New Lead With Pride Award: Stephen and Kate Moorhead, Wilmoor Dairy Farm Limited
Milk Quality Awards This award recognises suppliers who consistently supply excellent quality milk. • DTS Best Milk Quality Award: Ruurd and Rachel Lieuwes, Lieuwes Abbott Limited • FarmIQ Best Milk Quality Award (weighted by farm size): Stuart and Margaret Holland, Holland Farming Limited • Datamars Lowest SCC Award: Stephen Overend, Theland Purata Farm Group Limited – Colosseum Dairies • Vodafone Most Improved Milk Quality Award: Phil and Jocelyn Everest, Flemington Farm Limited
Lead With Pride Awards (Judged) Team effort: ANZ Supreme Lead with Pride Award winner Kieran McCall of Golden Dairies with his team, including father Graham McCall.
Independent third-party judges focussed on the way award finalists care for their animals, the environment in which they farm, and for the people they employ. • PwC Excellence in Social Responsibility Award: Nathan and Erin Christian, Inneslea Limited • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Excellence In Environmental Management Award: Rick and Diana Bourke, Bourke Family Trust • Deosan Excellence In Animal Health And Welfare Award: Gary Michael and Matt King, Southbank Dairies Limited
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CANTERBURY FARMING
DAIRY
August 2019
41
It’s all about carbon
❚ with Peter Burton
Soil carbon seems to have been given the ‘too hard to measure’ label, and therefore given little importance in the debate on the future of farming, and that’s wrong because it is fundamental to our survival.
The most valued soils are the deepest blackest soils because they are the most productive. In any farming district land close to river mouths, or deep volcanic soils, are the most sought after and expensive. Peat soils are a little different, certainly carbon rich, and capable of exceptional production when given the management they deserve. Carbon exists in various forms in the soil. Carbon from recently deposited dung, old leaf and root, can be quite easily lost, however, as the digestion process proceeds it becomes more tightly held in the soil. Humus, by definition, is what remains after the digestion process is complete and carbon in this form is very stable and difficult to lose. The reason high carbon content soils are sought after is their ability to produce food for people. They hold more moisture and nutrient releasing it steadily over time as required by plants ensuring increased production of higher quality. Deep black soils are also more friable and less prone to compaction, which allows plant roots to penetrate further accessing the moisture and nutrient necessary for strong healthy growth even during periods of dry weather. The quickest way to sequester carbon is under permanent grazed pasture. Actively growing plants suck in carbon dioxide, release oxygen to the atmosphere with the carbon portion stored in the soil. It’s been fascinating over the last thirty years observing Central Plateau naturally sandy soils with little top soil develop into highly productive pastoral land capable of over 14 tonne of dry matter per hectare annually. Animals are and remain an essential component in the cycling of carbon, the building of topsoil, and the development of humus, thereby providing a highly effective filter for water entering the aquifers. Without grazing, the speed of nutrient cycling slows dramatically with little carbon sequestered. The volcanic ash typical of that deposited by Tarawera and Taupo eruptions would be exposed to the full force of the climate with increased likelihood of widespread erosion. It is as the result of decades of intensive grazing that topsoil has been built, food produced, and communities developed, yet pastoral farmers are viewed by many as environmental vandals. Through regulation many are now feeling isolated from and rejected by the wider community. How could this have happened if pastoral
‘
the quickest way to sequester carbon is under permanent grazed pasture.
farming is the best means of reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide, with nitrous oxide and methane becoming environmentally insignificant? Could there be another influence that as yet hasn’t been fully explored? Our view is that the consequences of 400,000 tonnes of urea applied annually to our most productive land ought to be thoroughly examined. If, as is almost certainly the case, pasture production in the Waikato has steadily declined from around 18 t DM/ha prior to the use of nitrogen to around 14 tonne, then something is amiss, and in our view excess nitrogen is the culprit. The practise of regularly applying urea started in the late 1980’s. In thirty years pasture production in this instance has declined by 22%, and could the loss of soil carbon be
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responsible? Research by Louis Schipper and his team at Waikato University has shown that in intensive lowland livestock systems (e.g.dairying) soils have lost organic matter by an average of 1 tonne carbon/ha/yr over the last 20 – 30 years. More recently research by Landcare Research has shown that all irrigated land throughout the country is losing carbon. It is being argued by some that as profitable pastoral farming is now shown to have an expiry date, in order to preserve the existing carbon reserves, animals should be removed, and trees planted. The consequences to communities and national income would be incomprehensible. However, there is a home-grown solution that when embraced will position this country once again at the leading edge of sustainable pastoral farming. It’s been practised by farmers throughout the country for over 15 years, and the data supporting its effectiveness is not disputed. More importantly these farmers are enjoying steadily increasing production and lower overall costs. The soil fertility part of Functional Farm-
CLS
ing Systems is, to some, surprisingly conventional. Phosphorus, sulphur, and potassium where required are non-negotiable with inputs calculated on historic MAF removal data. The difference is that nitrogen fertiliser is not a requirement, although a little may be used strategically. Pasture and crop yield are often 30% higher with plants far more pest and disease resistant. To maximise the benefits, changes to grazing management are required. Calving and lambing dates tend to be a little later than the norm with high-quality supplement, made from genuine summer surplus, used to plug the early season feed deficit. Per animal production lifts due to the increased energy content of the feed, nitrate poisoning is unheard of, and animal fertility gains are ongoing. With Nitrate-N losses to ground water measured at 70% less than those from a conventional high-N operation, the system provides pastoral farmers with the ability to secure their long-term future, leaving their land in a healthier more productive state for those that follow. For more information call Peter on 0800 843 809.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
WATER & IRRIGATION
August 2019
43
Get ready for the irrigation season With Spring just around the corner, there are a number of things irrigators need to be thinking about.
❚ by Elizabeth soal The first is completing pre-season irrigation checks and planning for the season ahead. This involves checking flows and pressures are within 10% of operating design specifications to ensure water is applied efficiently. You will also need to check for leaks in your system, broken sprinklers and that end gun settings are set correctly. A bucket test should also be undertaken to check your system is applying water evenly. IrrigationNZ has developed a free bucket test app called “Check It” you can download from Google Play or the App Store. We are also currently developed a series of videos for our members on how to undertake a bucket test on different irrigation systems which will be useful in the future. Having a leak or a system which is applying too much water can cost you a lot in additional electricity costs and waste precious water, so it’s important to pick up any faults before the season begins. The value of having soil moisture monitoring and weather forecasting tools to assist you to decide when to irrigate is also very effective, so if you haven’t invested in these options its worthwhile looking at what is available. IrrigationNZ has guides for members on these topics on our website. Before you start irrigating you should also walk the track the irrigator will travel to check that there are no hazards in its path – like trees, fence lines or farm equipment. August is also a good time to make a plan for how you will manage irrigation scheduling across the coming season. For example, if it’s a very dry you’ll need to know your higher production areas and whether you can switch off irrigation in less productive areas in order to prioritise irrigating your most productive areas.
Check it out: the next few weeks are a good time to plan to carry out a bucket test and other checks on your irrigation systems ahead of the next irrigation season.
Refreshing staff knowledge and upskilling new staff in irrigation management is also important. Allowing staff who have not been properly trained to operate irrigation systems can result in costly maintenance problems which may leave your irrigation system in need of repair and unavailable when you most need it. IrrigationNZ has two upcoming Irrigation Manager and Operator training days being held at Lincoln and Ashburton in September. The days are a mix of classroom learning and in-the- paddock practical application which cover: • what good irrigation management practice is, how to achieve it and meet regulatory requirements
• how to operate an irrigation system correctly • when to irrigate and how to manage your irrigation when water’s limited to maintain your production • how to manage your irrigation systems to keep them operating well • what technology is useful and practical to help make irrigation decisions. Finally, we usually receive our strongest winds over springtime so its wise to follow the weather for any strong wind warnings and how to respond to these. In short it is advised to
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point the irrigator into the prevailing wind direction, park it and anchor it by tying it down. More detailed advice on how to do this is available online at www.irrigationnz.co.nz under the ‘Practical Resources/ Risk Advice’ link. More information about the training is available online at www.irrigationnz.co.nz/events.
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
WATER & IRRIGATION
New dam and pond regulations will affect many farmers IrrigationNZ is concerned that proposed new regulations will impose significant and unnecessary costs on farmers and growers who have installed on-farm storage ponds and dams.
❚ by Kent Caddick IrrigationNZ Chief Executive Elizabeth Soal said on-farm storage ponds and dams are very common in New Zealand. “In some areas, most farms have on-farm storage of some kind. Having storage on a farm is desirable as it improves drought resilience. “Both central and local government should be supportive of appropriate water storage,” Soal said. “While we recognise that large and highrisk dams do need a safety assurance programme in place, the proposed new regulations disincentivise on-farm storage by imposing significant unjustified costs on farmers who have small ponds and dams which have little or no practical safety risks.” The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) is consulting on proposed new requirements for owners of dams or storage ponds, and some other forms of water infrastructure would also be captured by the regulations. Consultation closes on 6 August. Soal said under the new requirements if the Potential Impact Assessment of a pond or dam failure was found to be medium or high then a dam safety assurance programme would be required (at an estimated cost of $6,000 to $30,000) along with an annual audit at a cost of around $5,000. “We are concerned that the criteria used
Costly: Farmers could be in line for a hefty bill if their properties require a dam safety assurance programme.
to assess the effects of large dams is being applied to quite small on-farm ponds and dams,” she said. “Many storage ponds in New Zealand are also built on plains. These ponds store much of their water below ground level which means that most of the water would not escape even if a failure occurred and any escaped water would rapidly dissipate.” She said the proposed new regulations
are out of step with international requirements which typically only apply a safety assurance programme to large dams. “As well as applying to water stored for irrigation, the new regulations could affect farmers who have effluent ponds, flood prevention or capture dams, stock water storage ponds, and canals or races with built-up sides.” The proposed regulations would apply to
dams or ponds which are less than four metres high and hold 30,000m3 or more, or are four metres or more high and hold 20,000m3 or more. Soal said pond or dam owners whose storage meets one of the two criteria would need to engage a recognised engineer to undertake a Potential Impact Assessment of the pond or dam (at a cost of around $5,000) and submit it to their council.
WATER & IRRIGATION
CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
45
Maggots and other things
❚ with Dr tony Davoron
Jet lag and the loss of the Cricket World Cup final is not the recipe to write an inspired article.
The consolation is that I was at the final at Lords and the jet lag is not too bad – I’m a pretty good sleeper on a plane. Maggots – well they have very little to do with the cricket or jet lag. As I wrote last month my good friend and I headed off in mid-June to the ICC World Cup in England. Our passion for cricket was all but fulfilled - the “icing” on the trip was just a duller shade of white; like grey. But hey we were at Lords on 14 July to watch NZ in the final. And what a game it was; “one for the ages”, “never see a final like that again” and “what just happened after 102 overs”. I have to admit just to be at Lords with all its history and mystique was something not all cricket lovers get to experience. And to do it twice was truly worth the trip. And it was a week of memorable games – firstly knocking out India in the two day semi-final and then Lords. In between the game at Durham and the semi-final at Old Trafford I caught up with an ex-employee who is now farming around 900 acres at Shefford (not far from Bedford) in the “wheat belt”. I say an ex-employee (Michael Parrish) because back in the late 90’s we staff swapped with AgriTech Services – Michael came here for three summers and one of our staff went there for their summers monitoring soil moisture. Michael’s family are also well known to the steam/traction engine community here in NZ and had one (or two) engines in the yard from NZ shipped over for various rallies during the English summer. Michael couldn’t wait to show me around the farm and his crops – all dryland and predominantly wheat with some barley, tic beans and oil seed rape. What really caught my attention was the destruction of the oil seed rape crops on the farm, and in this area of England, by the cabbage stem flea beetle. It is really bad in the East Anglia and this area but is now found throughout England and Wales and is spreading in to Scotland. This pesky beetle was previously controlled by neonicotinoid-treated seed. Since 2013, when this was withdrawn from use in oilseed rape and then resistance to pyrethroids was confirmed, management has become a real challenge. The crops are most vulnerable at emer-
Alarming: Destruction of the oil seed rape crops in areaa of England by the cabbage stem flea beetle.
gence but once the cotyledons are through they are more tolerant to attack. The crop damage I saw was the result of the hatching of eggs laid by the beetle and the larval feeding in the stems. Some plants had severely reduced vigour and were stunted while others had simply died. By the time I had a weekend with Michael he had mowed 100 acres of his 125 and had
decided he wouldn’t grow oil seed rape in the future. The dilemma is what to grow as a break crop – limited market for tic beans and I saw only a few paddocks of peas. I promise I didn’t bring any flea beetle or their dreaded “black grass” back with me. I did the honest thing and declared at the border and had my shoes carefully checked by agriculture at the border.
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
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However, unlike Napier’s claim of being first in the North Island to see the sun each day, there were very few rays of sunshine apparent within the auction room, as wool prices opened on a rather flattish note despite the offering of around 10,000 bales containing some exceptionally stylish second-shear wools. The buying trade had obviously struggled to gain much more interest from offshore wool processors than had been the case when the Christchurch auction, a mere 14 days earlier, concluded the 2018-19 season. 18 July signaled the first auction of the 2019-20 season for wool brokers representing their South Island wool grower clients, when 12400 bales were catalogued for the day and comprised of approximately 86% Crossbred, 11% Halfbred, and 3% Merino. A number of very stylish Crossbred second-shear and full-length pre-lamb shorn wools (including hoggets) were catalogued and, although most were good enough to ‘look after themselves’ in the marketplace, some were let down somewhat, due to a lack of preparation in the wool shed, with yellow pieces amongst otherwise good colour white wool obvious in the grab samples available for assessment by wool exporters prior to auction day. A considerable quantity of old seasons’ wool was also catalogued on behalf of growers (mostly from Southland) who had resisted previous pricing in the hope that the market might improve. In my opinion, these poor colour, stale wools having been packed in bales for a considerable time frame, spoiled, what should normally be at this time of year, an attractive array of extremely well grown pre-lamb shorn crossbreds. There was strong competition from a handful of exporters for the best Crossbred fleece lines, with y minus z colour readings of two units or less and micron measurements of 37.5 or finer, and the
Sales up: the selection of Corriedale types met an enthusiastic response from the bench. market improved compared to the previous Christchurch auction by around 30 to 40 cents clean. Enquiry for poor colour wool was limited. Second-shear types maintained the levels set at Napier a week earlier but were in “buyers’ favour” compared to the 27 June Christchurch sale. A few lines of Crossbred woolly hoggets sold ‘to extreme’. The limited, but very good, selection of Halfbred and Corriedale types met an enthusiastic response from the export bench and most were cleared at levels some 4% to 5% ahead of the 27 June sale with main emphasis on better styles A few early Merino clips were welcomed by the export trade and competition was robust from buyers representing all globally based mills. Whilst Australian brokers had called their annual three weeks recess on their auctions from the end of the previous week to that of the Christchurch sale, comparing prices was difficult.
However most buyers considered the local market to be on par with that across the Tasman at closing. Although a few lines were passed-in from the auctioneer’s rostrum, for failing to meet grower reserves, post-auction negotiations resulted in several further sales. There is no doubt, in my opinion, that well prepared wools regardless of breed attract the best attention and competition from wool exporters, particularly in the auction arena, and with the strong- wool market under severe pressure due to a general lack of demand, buyers must be selective to ensure their customers receive what they expect. There has been much discussion recently amongst brokers and exporters regarding a lack of preparation, obviously driven by poor farm gate returns, however it is imperative that in-shed preparation of good wools is not overlooked. That’s my view.
CANTERBURY FARMING August 2019
LIVESTOCK
47
Climate change legislation requires careful management Farming has come under the spotlight in the past couple of weeks, particularly regarding climate change and agriculture’s place in the Emission’s Trading Scheme.
‘
There is a lot of misinformation and propaganda being circulated by various interest groups.
Phil Smith ❚❚by ❚❚Director, Beef + Lamb New Zealand
These are significant issues that if not managed carefully, have the potential to impact heavily on farmers and rural communities. Many have described these changes as being similar in scale to those that changed the face of NZ agriculture back in the 1980s and I cannot disagree. The only difference is we won’t be able to lift production to farm our way through these challenges. As an industry we must be willing to play our part in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and farm in an environmentally responsible way. But we also need to ensure we are not carrying the can for other sectors, particularly those large-scale CO2 emitters. Beef + Lamb New Zealand has submitted on the Zero Carbon Bill and I hope many of you took the time to do the same. It is important we all engage with the democratic process, particularly when it comes to legislation that could have such a profound effect on our lives. Ultimately, as a society we all need to make changes to protect our planet for future generations, but we also need to eat. The challenge for farmers is to strike a balance between running efficient food production systems and reducing our environmental footprint. New Zealand protein producers are amongst the most efficient in the world and it would be great to see our industry being recognized for work that has already been done on-farm to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Genetics, pasture species and management have all played a part in driving efficien-
cies and we are hoping science will continue to evolve to help reduce methane emissions even further. As an organization, we are engaging with other sectors and the government to try and achieve a legislative outcome that ensures we continue to have a vibrant agricultural sector while protecting our planet. The government’s proposed rules and regulations on land use and water will be announced later in the year and again we will be working hard to advocate on behalf of the sector. On all of these issues, it is important to consider the facts and make use of the science. There is a lot of misinformation and propaganda being circulated by various interest groups which is frustrating, particularly when we all want the same outcomes-a healthy environment and strong and vibrant communities. So far, this winter has been very kind with dry conditions making for great feed utilisation. There is some nervousness about the lack of soil moisture, particularly if this dry weather stretches on into spring. We are soon to start a new farming season and I understand that scanning results are back by around eight per-cent in North Canterbury and fifteen per-cent in Southland. This is probably due to a lack of quality feed over mating. As farmers we will all be doing our best to maximise lamb survivability this spring and make the most of strong returns for sheep meat and beef driven by demand from our export markets. While we have our challenges, it is certainly not a bad time to be a sheep and beef farmer.
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August 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
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CANTERBURY FARMING
August 2019
49
Toyota welcomes transport emissions consultation Toyota New Zealand says the Government’s planned consultation on clean car standards and discounts is an encouraging step towards reducing New Zealand’s automotive carbon emissions.
❚ Article supplied by Toyota NZ
The Government has proposed a clean car standard for importers and distributors as well as a clean car discount for consumers based on adding a fee to higher emitting imported new and used vehicles and a discount for low or zero emitting new and used vehicles retailing for less than $80,000. Alistair Davis, Chief Executive of Toyota New Zealand said, globally, Toyota has set significant targets both in emissions reduction and availability of low or zero CO2 emission vehicles. “The transport emission proposals provide a great opportunity to tighten regulations here in New Zealand to ensure we’re delivering at a local level.” Davis, who also chairs the Sustainable Business Council, said he will be reviewing the proposals in detail and welcomed the consultation process. “With transport emissions accounting for nearly 20 per cent of all carbon output, we have a large influence on how New Zealand will progress to a zero-carbon economy. “The proposals call for new standards and a ‘fee and rebate scheme’ in 2021. With the growing impact of climate change, we welcome the earliest possible introduction of the scheme,” Davis said.
‘
Welcomed: Chief Executive of toyota New Zealand Alistair Davis is welcoming a proposed a clean car standard for importers and distributors.
We have a large influence on how New Zealand will progress to a zero-carbon economy. Alistair Davis
Chief Executive, Toyota New Zealand
Toyota’s range of hybrid vehicles has grown significantly in the past 12 months with RAV4 and Corolla variants being added to the existing line-up of Prius and Camry hybrid options. Toyota NZ has already sold more hybrids in the first half of 2019 than the entire 2018 year. “RAV4 hybrid has experienced unprecedented demand in New Zealand, and this trend has been amplified through global demand which is a testament to the mainstream acceptance of hybrid, and continued advancements in low emission drivetrain technology.”
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August 2019
CANTERBURY FARMING
Honda launches new limited HR-V Honda has introduced a touch of extra luxury to its popular compact SUV line-up with the launch of the new HR-V Limited edition.
❚ Article supplied by HondaNZ
The HR-V range already boasts a host of customer-focused features such as inbuilt navigation, smart keyless entry with push button start, hill start assist, emergency brake assist, emergency stop signal, city brake assist, headlight auto-off with welcome home function, multi-angle reversing camera and Honda’s LaneWatch camera.
The addition of premium Limited features such as leather-appointed seat trim and heated front seats – which are normally only available on the top of the range RS and Sport NT variants – has brought affordable luxury to small SUV buyers while maintaining an affordable $35,500+orc price point. The HR-V Limited is available for a limited time only.
Premium features The list of premium features fitted to the new HR-V Limited includes: • • • • • • • • • •
Black leather-appointed seat trim Heated front seats LED Headlights LED Tail Lights LED Front Fog Lights Intelligent Auto Headlights Rear Parking Sensors Piano Black & Chrome Interior Detailing Limited Emblem Chice of four exterior paint colours: Brilliant Sporty Blue, Modern Steel, Passion Red Pearl and Platinum White Pearl.
New edition: the special edition HR-V Limited delivers outstanding value-for-money for customers according to the Japanese manufacturer.
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CANTERBURY FARMING
Talking to grasshoppers I had the strangest experience last week. It was just after dark on a clear cold night. I was sitting by a lake in Canterbury in front of about thirty grasshoppers*...
❚ by solis Norton They were big as humans. A few more creeping quietly over to join the throng. They stared at me intently in dead silence. I knew they were wondering about what to do with all that grass. I mean what else do grasshoppers think about? I also knew they expected me to say something interesting to that effect. The Nuffield Scholarship I did with four other Kiwis last year was amazing not least because it connected us with a wide range of rural leaders. People busy in so many diverse forms of food production the world over. All eager to share their challenges, ideas, and dreams about the future. Big names like Monsanto, Cargill, USDA, Amazon, Nestle, Aldi and Lidl. And big people, working tirelessly for little if anything to educate the masses on a pathway from poverty to prosperity through farming. I felt like those grasshoppers wanted to know what I thought about all that. I knew virtually all the grasshoppers were over fifty years old. Some to be honest looked considerably older. Tenacious bugs, clearly having dodged their fair share of boot heels and hungry birds throughout their careers. Some mental arithmetic showed collectively their experience approached a thousand years of wondering about all that grass. That’s a really long time. I felt they were at least a match for the heavy hitters we met around the world on Nuffield travels. So I told them what I thought. There is a tremendous respect that comes with communing with such a group and no small amount of admiration too. Strengthened if anything by their ability to chew expertly through the chaff down to the real crown of the matter and without de-limbing me along the way. Their tufty old antennae waving about for such uncanny navigation. Our conversing complete, we parted ways on good terms all headed for home. Thank you grasshoppers, it was an honour and inspiration to meet with you and talk about all that grass.
August 2019
51
❚ with Rob Cope-Williams
So what to do when you retire There has been much debate of late about employers hiring senior folk who have huge amounts of knowledge, skills and work for their wages over young people who have very little if any work ethic. That makes me think about farming folk who sell up and “retire” into town. Some are lucky because the farm is bought by a member of the family and the retired chap can still have access to the property to do odd jobs and help out when needed, however as we all know that can also develop into a problem when the older member can’t or won’t let go; Dangerous more than lucky in reality. After a life time of working hard, fighting the elements, dealing with market fluctuations and grasping technology a man is suddenly bored. There is after all a limited amount of games of golf or bowls one can play in a week. My observation is that the same thing happens to the lady of the house who has been involved with the farming operation as deeply as her husband. All this is complicated by the fact that we are living much longer and are much fitter for much longer. A few years ago an active man would retire at 60 and be dead at 65. Thankfully that has changed and as they say, 70 is the new 50. As someone who has just ticked over to 70 I am sticking to that.
So what do you do to avoid dying of boredom? I have discovered a website that could well be the answer, seniors@work.nz has just been launched so people who are over 60 [but still feel 40] can get in front of people who want workers who can and will work. I know an agricultural contractor who is in his late 20s or early 30s who has a list of phone numbers he can ring when he needs part time truck or machinery workers. An ideal situation for everyone; he gets workers when he needs them, the workers can still take world trips and have special family time. Personally I would go stir crazy if I didn’t have things to fill my day, and the extra income over and above the “old age pension” is very useful. When people say in support of giving young people missing out on work because older people are taking jobs, I say that if the young wanted to work and wanted to learn they will be hired. When were their age we got jobs and kept them. I truly hope the young advisers in the Government don’t try to means test extra incomes and reduce the pension as other countries do. We already pay tax on what we get and often at a higher rate because it is less than the main income. However, take it from me, don’t stop just because you of an older age, stop and you’ll drop and we don’t want that.
*spoiler: the ‘grasshoppers’ are a social group of primary sector leaders based in Canterbury.
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August 2019 CANTERBURY FARMING
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