Canterbury Farming, March 2020 by Canterbury Farming

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

March 2020 Edition

INSIDE

THIS EDITION Young farmer win

p5 Agfest

p21 Trees vs wasps

p34 Water for Life

p38

Inspirational: Two rural heroines, Elle Perriam (left) with Jess the huntaway and harriet Bremner with Poppy, are on a mission to improve farm health and safety, and mental health and wellbeing in the rural community. Photo by Dana Johnston

Inspiring women join forces to empower Canterbury farmers Two young rural women, who have a friendship with a difference, are linking up in a bid to change the way those in the rural sector think.

❚ by Erin Speedy Elle Perriam, founder of Will to Live, and Harriet Bremner, children’s author and safety campaigner have both lived through tremendous grief, suffering the loss of both of their partners. With a bond shared through their deep grief, love of dogs, horses, farming and passion for people - the duo are pairing up for the first time to tell their stories, hosting an event at the Rolleston School Auditorium in early March. Presented by The Rolleston Lions Club, ‘Two Rural Heroines’ will raise money for the

Will to Live Foundation and Use Your Voice. Both young women have been on their own respective missions to change the thinking of rural New Zealand when it comes to farm health and safety and mental health and wellbeing. Elle, 22, lost her boyfriend to suicide, inspiring her to start the Will to Live Foundation, and travel the country on the Speak Up Tour. Speaking to rural communities in their local pubs, she has started a ripple effect, encouraging people to speak up about their mental health. “Rural men are notorious for being

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staunch about their feelings. We have had shepherds come up to us to thank us for starting the conversation. That just makes the whole thing worth it,” Elle said. Harriet, 31, who lost her partner in a farming accident knows the importance of being practical when it comes to farm health and safety. “It concerns me that we have this ‘she’ll be right’ and ‘it’ll never happen to me’ attitude in rural NZ. The thing is that it can happen to anyone, even the most experienced operators,” Harriet said.

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March 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Entries wanted for PINZ Awards Federated farmers are calling on farmers and farming businesses to get their entries in for this year’s national Primary Industries New Zealand Awards.

❚ by Kent caddick This year’s award winners will be presented at the Primary Industries Summit at Te Papa in Wellington on June 24, with entries closing on March 30. “These awards are all about celebrating the significant achievements being made every week, every month and every year by New Zealand’s primary sector, and its supporters,” Federated Farmers president Katie Milne said. “So start thinking about who deserves to be nominated, and recognised, and potentially rewarded.”

The categories for 2020 are: Primary Industry Team Award (sponsored by Primary ITO); Primary Industry Science & Research Award (sponsored by Yashili Dairy); Primary Industry Innovation & Collaboration Project Award (sponsored by Norwood); Primary Industry Chief Executive Award (sponsored by Lincoln University); Industry Champion Award (sponsored by Federated Farmers) and Outstanding Contribution to Primary Industries in NZ (sponsored by Massey Ferguson). For more information go to: primaryindustries.co.nz/ awards/overview

Please enter: Federated Farmers president Katie Milne is calling for entries into this year’s Primary Industries New Zealand awards.

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Through her journey of grief, Harriet also realised the importance of looking after mental health and took herself along to a Will To Live evening where the pair connected. The inspiring duo has not only paired up to host the evening together, but have also been collaborating on paper. A former primary school teacher, Harriet is now fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing children’s books using her beloved sausage dog, Poppy. She has her third book on the way called ‘Use Your Voice’, a rural tale about Jess (Elle’s huntaway) and Pop-

py – where Jess finds out how to regain her bark after losing it. This idea was recognised by the Mental Health Foundation and Like Minds, Like Mine, winning the 2019 Creative Grant. “It’s a story targeting social inclusion for children, where adults can start to have important conversations with their kids about how to tell someone you trust how you feel, that it’s okay to cry when you feel the need to cry and to surround yourself with good people who care,” Harriet said. “These are simple but key messages we need to be sending our children

so they grow into teenagers and adults who are able to feel confident when it comes to talking about their mental health.” Harriet and Elle believe that it’s time to start open discussions addressing mental health and on farm health and safety. They have seen first-hand how attitudes towards these important aspects of life are often put aside and conversations are avoided particularly by those in the rural sector. Hoping to influence farmers to put themselves and their people first, to have open conversations and to think safely, the duo believe it will save lives.

FARMING NEWS

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March 2020

Red meat exports top $9 billion New Zealand sheepmeat and beef exports jumped six per cent to $9.1 billion in 2019, according to an analysis by the Meat Industry Association.

❚ by Kent caddick According to the Meat Industry Association (MIA) the growth was largely a result of the growth in overall exports to China, which increased by 57% to reach $3.7 billion. Sheepmeat exports to China grew by 40% to $1.6 billion for the year, and beef exports by 113% to $1.7 billion. Meanwhile, the total value of exports to Japan increased by four per cent to $367 million for the year. This was mainly a result of an 11% increase in the value of beef exports to Japan during the year, which grew to $183 million in 2019. There was also an increase in exports of beef offals to Japan, which grew by 37% to reach $48 million for the year. MIA chief executive Tim Ritchie said New Zealand meat exporters have benefited significantly from tariff reductions into Japan following the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership agreement coming into force at the beginning of the year. “There have been total tariff savings of nearly $25 million on beef and offal exports to Japan over the year.” While Australia is a major meat exporter, it is also an important market for the New Zealand red meat sector, including for a number of co-products.

On the rise: according to the Meat Industry association New Zealand sheepmeat and beef exports topped $9 billion last year.

Australia was the meat industry’s 10th largest market in 2019 with exports of $170 million, up 5% from 2018. The major exports to Australia in 2019 were prepared meat products ($80 million), blood products ($30 million) and hides and skins ($22 million). Ritchie said the latest figures reinforce the importance of the sector

to the New Zealand economy. “The meat processing industry is New Zealand’s largest manufacturing sector and employs approximately 25,000 people, many from regional and rural communities. “That’s why we need to ensure any policy reforms, whether that be climate change, forestry or freshwater, need to be carefully

thought through so as to avoid any negative unintended consequences.” He said the recent outbreak and spread of the Coronavirus has disrupted the supply chain for red meat in China and the sector continues to assess the impact of the situation. “Despite the issue in China, the underlying global demand for protein remains strong.”

Time for bold thinking and action in Canterbury In my last column, I wrote about turning on the power of one trillion trees and how that idea, if implemented, could help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Jenny hughey ❚ by Chair, ❚ Environment Canterbury This column picks up that theme but with a focus on what we could do in Canterbury. Over the past decade, our focus at Environment Canterbury has been on working with farmers to reduce nitrate leaching and other pollutants getting into waterways to protect freshwater quality and restore the mauri of waterways. But this work is not that visible – a lot of it is small projects being done at the individual property level – and projects have focused on protection and enhancement (rather than restoration). There is a huge need and an opportunity for us in Canterbury to do more restoration work to urgently reverse the decline in our indigenous vegetation. This includes widespread tree planting and taking a catch-

ment-based approach using the ‘ki uta ki tai’ concept of mountains to the sea. Canterbury, however, is diverse and we need to look at the best options for different areas. In some areas planting trees – either exotic or indigenous – is best but in other areas, it might be that land should be retired from productive use, with appropriate longterm weed and pest control. A catchment-wide view will help us deal with the huge scope of what we need to do. For instance, there are 13,000km of lowland streams in Canterbury which could benefit from more riparian planting. There are big areas of highly erodible land suitable for planting or regeneration, including on Banks Peninsula and the Canterbury foothills, which again is best dealt with at the large scale

rather than by lots of small projects. As I mentioned in my last column, our north Canterbury Soil Conservation and Revegetation Programme (SCAR) is a good example of how we can deliver environmental benefits through restoration and planting. Since it started in August last year SCAR has already provided funding and support to retire 204ha of land to protect native bush on erosion-prone land as well as space planting another 100ha of productive, but erosionprone land, with poplar poles. While programmes such as SCAR are building on the protection and enhancement work of the past 10 years (through the Immediate Steps and braided river programmes) people and organisations who want to get involved and make a difference don’t need to

wait if they have an idea for a restoration or planting project. There is funding available from MPI’s 1 Billion Tree fund – either as direct landowner grants (for either exotics or indigenous) or through partnership grants. If you have ideas on how we can effect a transformational change in regeneration and planting I invite you to provide feedback on our Draft Annual Plan which is open for consultation until March 25. We are asking ourselves, and the community, where can we build on what the previous Council has done and accelerate the activity? Just search online for ‘Ecan have your say’. as ever, I am interested in hearing your views on this and other topics – please email me at councillor. hughey@ecan.govt.nz

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Damien O’connor ❚ by for Agriculture, Biosecurity, ❚ Minister ❚ Food Safety and Rural Communities Attempting eradication was a bold decision, with no country having attempted it before. However, the estimated economic impact of allowing this disease to spread, in just the first 10 years, was $1.3 billion in lost productivity in the cattle industries. And on top of that is the increased antibiotic use, animal welfare issues, and having to make fundamental changes to how freely we can move cattle to grass, limiting our potential industry growth. It has not been an easy fight, but it’s one we are winning. The independent Technical Advisory Group says that eradication is feasible. We are testing more farms and finding fewer cases. More than 93 percent of farms that are put under restrictions due to a risk of infection are found to be clear of disease. On average it is taking fewer than five days to put farms under restrictions when risk is identified. The Bulk Tank Milk Surveillance programme shows us that the disease is not widespread, and that we are finding infected farms. On average only nine farms a month are now having a ‘detect’ result on this screening test, and 97% of those farms are found to not be infected after on-farm testing. We have also begun testing on a random selection of beef farms, alongside Tb testing, to assure us that the disease is not established in the beef breeding herd. The compensation process, which was taking too long in some cases, has been

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Keeping the pressure on

The effort to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis is showing good progress and I am confident New Zealand can achieve eradication, and the country can farm free from this cattle disease in the future.

Record it: Minister of agriculture Damien O’connor says accurate NaIT records are our greatest weapon against the spread of M. bovis.

greatly improved. It’s more agile, has more expert advice from industry, and is getting payments done quicker. More than $127 million has now been paid out in compensation, and 90 percent of claims lodged have been processed. Part of the reason that the programme is starting to see success has been the partnership between MPI and its industry partners DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand. They have developed meaningful ways to work together in the field, and to govern and

lead the programme from the boardroom. Farmers are contributing 32 percent of the total cost of the eradication effort (including compensation), and the industry groups have made substantial contributions in time and resources to the Programme’s operations. Having industry and farmers at the table has fundamentally improved the effort, and has shown us the way forward for future biosecurity incursions. While we are still working to halt the spread of the disease, and cannot ease our

efforts now, we are also making sure that we can reach the next phase, which is running a long-term surveillance programme to give us confidence that we have achieved ‘freedom from disease’. This is likely to involve ongoing bulk tank milk testing, and testing at slaughter and onfarm testing of beef stock. With weaner sales starting, and Moving Day not far away, all cattle farmers need to be focused on making sure they are completely NAIT compliant. Accurate NAIT records are our greatest weapon against the spread of M. bovis, and we are still seeing far too many farmers failing to comply. The dedicated NAIT compliance team at MPI is cracking down, and issuing infringements and taking prosecutions against the most serious offenders. It is your responsibility to make sure you meet your NAIT obligations – tag every animal, register the tag against it in the system, and record every movement – no excuses. The impact on the farmers affected by M. bovis, and the steps required to eradicate it, cannot be understated. We will continue to do everything we can to support them – to get decisions made quickly and on the ground, to get compensation paid quickly, and to get farms and farmers back to farming free from this disease. I want to thank every farmer that has worked through the hardship of M. bovis for their efforts to get through such a challenging period, and get back for farming.

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March 2020

Lincoln graduate takes out young farmer regional title Lincoln University graduate Mitchel Hoare has walked away with $12,000 in prizes after taking out the Waikato Bay of Plenty FMG Young Farmer of the Year title.

❚ by Kent caddick Waitomo sheep and beef farmer is adding the title to his belt, along with former World Young Shepherd Champion. It was the 24 year old’s first time competing in the Young Farmer of the Year and will now head to the Grand Final in Christchurch in July. Hoare said he was extremely happy and a ball of emotions after taking out the regional final. “I’m a mix of excited, relieved and terrified all at once, it feels like the end but really it’s only the start, it’s overwhelming,” he said. “It was a lot harder than I was expecting that’s for sure, the time pressure is just insane. You’re just constantly in a hurry to finish tasks and then on to the next one, there are no breaks, there’s no resting it’s just go, go, go all day. “It’s not until you stop and actually have a moment to breathe that you realise how fatigued and tired you are and how much of a big day it has been.” Hoare said he didn’t feel like he had any disasters but also didn’t feel as if he had nailed anything. “I’ve never done any welding and knew I should have done it before, and lo and behold the first module I had to do was weld

Rewards: Lincoln University graduate Mitchel hoare with the silverware after taking out the Waikato Bay of Plenty Young Farmer of the Year title.

some steel up and it didn’t go so well. The nerves got the better of me and I couldn’t hold the welding rod still. “The modules were just so challenging and so broad, it was so hard to study for and it really just tests you on every possible level

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so every contestant had strengths and every contestant had weaknesses.” In 2014 at just 19 years old, Hoare represented New Zealand at the World Shepherd’s Challenge in France for the under 22 year old age group.

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March 2020

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FARMING NEWS

What is the cost of uncertainty? Over the last 24 months the Coalition Government has proposed a raft of changes to the way we farm.

Todd Muller ❚ by Party Spokesperson for ❚ National Agriculture, ❚ and ForestryBiosecurity, Food Safety ❚ Some of these have received a huge amount of media attention, such as the Zero Carbon Bill and the Essential Freshwater Pack-

age. Others, such as the new National Policy Statements on Highly Productive Land, Biodiversity protection and increases to emissions prices less so. I have talked to farmers up and down the country who are rightfully angry about many of the proposals. The Essential Freshwater package proposes an unattainable new bottom line for nitrogen in rivers of one. Anyone reading this can go to the Government’s Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website and see nitrogen levels in their local stream. If we go to the Whangamarie Stream north of Pukekohe, the level of nitrogen is over 14.0 – that is a more than 90% reduction in nitrogen that is required. Achieving such a reduction boggles the mind, and it would require parts of New Zealand’s best agricultural land to revert to for-

est and tussock. That is madness. The Government is consulting on new policies also to increase the price cap in the emissions trading scheme from $25 to $50 and limit the use of coal to process milk powder. A $50 carbon price translates to a 14c impact on the price of petrol and a 25% impact on the price of electricity. DairyNZ suggested that, when added up over the electricity and diesel used on-farm and the energy used in milk processing, this would see a billion dollars lost from the dairy sector over a five year period. Despite all this I think farmers are forcing some sanity in the Beehive through their well-directed opposition to these proposals. There are increasing murmurs that the Government’s proposed Essential Freshwater package has already been shelved and

is now being redeveloped. Now the Government needs to step back and let our side pick up their mess. I know its election year, but I can promise you one thing before the madness descends. If I was Minister in a National Government I would not sign off on these policies that are so out of touch with farmers’ reality. Farmers already face constant uncertainty with commodity prices, the weather and bankers’ support. These things are evident now with severe drought across many parts of the country and Novel Coronavirus impacting farm pay outs. Dropping ill-thought-out ideologicallydriven policies on the kitchen table before they have been properly tested is irresponsible governance. It hurts a sector responsible for over half of our exports, and therefore hurts everyone.

Conservation not ratepayers’ responsibility Dear Editor

Oh to have the ignorance of youth(?) on your side or maybe the excuse is four decades of brainwashing – towing the party line? Wanna-be Minister of Agriculture, National’s Tod Muller twice in an article in Feb 2020 Canterbury Farming, blames “historical farming practices” “unwitting damage of several generations” (of farmers?) for the decay of the water environment. I object, strongly, Sir! He is however right in pointing out that the issues of water and pollution (e.g. Waitemata Harbour-sewage) have been “coming down the pipeline, for want of a better term, for decades”, that’s four and counting.

I would like to point out to Tod Muller that until the “four horsemen of apocalypse” Douglas, Palmer, Prebble and Caygill rode through NZ in the mid-80s, ignoring PM David Lange’s “let’s take a break and think this through” only to have their policies enlarged by National, that nearly every piece of national infrastructure built to date was financed off the “sheep’s back” (wool and lamb cheque thanks to farming families who ran self-sustaining closed ecosystems) and were financed by the Treasury/taxpayer including river/water care and soil-conservation. All such important, indeed vital, activities were overseen, even designed by competent, very experienced career engineers who had

over 100 years of institutional knowledge to back them up but were scrapped along with the records – NZED, MOW,NZR and Catchment and Conservation boards all financed from the “public purse” taxpayer, i.e. Treasury, an outfit made up of academic “numbercrunchers” who will sting out of existence anyone who threatens their hive. So the reality we all face is a huge investment to repair, let alone upgrade the mess for the future. The present political statements about overhauling the Resource Management Act ”tinkering with the words” gives me no confidence whatsoever. So, I hear you say, what would I do? I’d immediately strip the control of rivers/

streams and soil conservation out of ratepayer financed local bodies back to their home as government financed separate Ministries the only reservation being that the skills and knowledge that once existed have probably died out! They are a national not ratepayer responsibility and it is past time that the NZ public had the guts to realize the time has come, as Geoffrey Palmer now acknowledges, to use “force majeure” to make it happen, i.e. that’s how it’s going to be – like it or not, for NZs sake!

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CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

Federated Farmers backs call to slice agricultural subsidies Cutting agricultural subsidies that distort trade and production is a vital step in tackling world hunger and climate change challenges according to Federated Farmers.

❚ by Kent caddick Feds President Katie Milne said they right behind the messages on further reform of WTO rules on subsidies that the Cairns Group of major exporting countries put to world leaders in Davos recently. “New Zealand farmers are positive proof that reducing domestic subsidies drives innovation and food production efficiency, and ultimately delivers for the consumer in terms of quality, choice and prices, as well as for the environment,” Milne said. “Our meat and milk have one of the lowest carbon footprints per kilogram of product in the world.” And like other consumers, New Zealand farmers have benefited from the lower prices, better quality and wider choice that flows from the reduced barriers at our borders for imported goods. “That’s been important for ongoing gains in agricultural productivity and for the ability of our farmers to produce more with the same or fewer inputs, which is also good for the environment,” she said. The Cairns Group proposals would cap

and at least halve all forms of trade and production-distorting agricultural subsidies by 2030. These subsidy entitlements more than doubled to USD $772 billion between 20012016 and without reining in could reach USD $2 trillion by 2030. “The standard of living enjoyed by many New Zealanders would simply not be possible without the wealth generated by our primary industries, whose high value food and fibre products are highly sought after internationally,” Milne said. “According to the Ministry for Primary Industries, exports from the primary sector (agriculture, horticulture, forestry and fishing) were worth $46.3 billion – 78% of total goods exports (merchandise trade). “New Zealand farmers manage to dominate the makeup of the nation’s export profile while competing against international producers who receive large amounts of domestic support. “It’s quite clear that international agricultural subsidies distort global trade, stifle innovation and if used as a long-term blunt policy instrument, harm the wellbeing of consumers.”

Time to go: Federated Farmers President Katie Milne says international agricultural subsidies distort global trade.

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Investment markets start 2020 in an optimistic frame of mind

Inﬂation remains subdued, central banks remain committed to low interest rates, and trade tensions between the United States and China have deescalated (for now) with the signing of a ‘Phase 1’ trade agreement in midJanuary.

The progress in trade negotiations between the world’s two largest economies appears to have helped stimulate improved economic activity highlighted by improved commodity prices and better manufacturing data. Consumers remain an economic strength in most developed markets. Jobs are plentiful, and real wages and salaries are rising. Low interest rates have reduced debt servicing costs, and strong asset prices, including for housing, have made consumers feel wealthier. Consumers will continue to spend (outside of coronavirus fears), and housing construction is buoyant.

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But then came along coronavirus Markets don’t like uncertainty, and coronavirus was an unanticipated risk. Health-scares impact economic activity through factors such as people spending and travelling less. If it becomes significant enough, such as the coronavirus, quarantine measures are put into effect and places of work are closed.

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China has quarantined an estimated 60 million people and extended the annual lunar New Year holiday beyond the traditional one-to-two week celebration period. Because coronavirus is centred in China where so much of the world’s manufacturing is based, work closures can disrupt global supply chains meaning companies around the world are not able to obtain products and services essential to their businesses. No one knows how far and wide the coronavirus may spread, and therefore what the impact on global markets may be. The most comparable to the Wuhan coronavirus is SARS, which infected thousands across the Asia Pacific region. At the start of that epidemic, the regional global equity index (MSCI Pacific ex Japan) dropped -13%. Markets did not fully recover until the virus was contained. China is now a far larger contributor to the global economy than it was in 2003, so the threat the virus represents is more significant today. However, if the coronavirus follows the pattern of previous epidemics, then the economic impact will be relatively short-lived.

Investors still need returns The dominant influence on markets since the beginning of 2019 has been the world’s central banks’ commitment to low interest rates. Last year the markets climbed a wall of worry to deliver exceptional returns despite headline grabbing risks such as trade wars, Brexit, Hong Kong protests, and United States-Iran tensions. In a world of ultra-low interest rates, we suspect equities will likely continue to be supported by the “TINA” effect. For many investors “there is no alternative” (TINA) to equities to generate an acceptable investment return, meaning, as we have seen in early February, any pullback in equity prices will likely be met with good buyer demand.

Mergers and acquisitions remain a feature of the market An additional consequence of low interest rates has been a sharp resurgence in corporate merger and acquisition (M&A) activity. Last year saw a number of companies acquired and delisted

from the NZX including TradeMe, Methven, Orion Healthcare, and SLI Systems. Late last year the boards of both Abano Healthcare and Metlifecare recommended takeover offers which are pending shareholder approval, and this year Augusta Capital has followed suit. Conditions remain ripe for M&A activity to continue. High stock prices provide companies with a strong takeover “currency”, interest rates and funding costs are low, and private equity funds around the world have record levels of cash they are looking to deploy.

Diversification is the best risk management tool Equity markets finished 2019 very strongly and that momentum carried on into 2020. The recent volatility due to coronavirus concerns should be taken in that context. Interest rates remain historically low and central banks are expected to provide further support to markets if needed this year. The outlook for global corporate earnings remains positive although we expect companies will now be more conservative around this. Diversification remains the key risk management tool. We recommend clients maintain a balanced approach with diversified exposure to both equities (across a range of geographies and industries) and high-quality fixed income. This helps cushion short-term volatility while also offering the potential to capture long-term capital growth. This report covers three months ended 31 Jan 2020. If you’re new to investing please see Forsyth Barr’s Introduction to Investing guide available at www.forsythbarr.co.nz/investingwith-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.

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

Bessie Paterson LLB ❚ with ❚ Ronald W Angland & Son

CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

Tightening up our privacy laws Everybody wants to keep their personal and sensitive details private and the institutions we trust with our personal details are obliged to do that.

It is therefore important that each and every one of us has a basic understanding of our rights to privacy and to avoid risks whenever possible. The organisation which investigates breaches of privacy is the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Back in the day in 1993 when computers became an essential part of our lives the Privacy Act was passed and it is the source of our current law on individual privacy. Since then technology has developed exponentially and the government has been reviewing the statute since about 1998. It has now progressed to the introduction of a new bill which is expected to pass into our legal system this year. A breach of privacy mainly occurs when an institution who we trust fails to keep our information safe whether it is as a result of negligence, carelessness, mistake or a refusal to provide us with our information. In many cases a breach of our privacy can cause significant harm and we have seen many instances where someone has left files and other repositories say, on the roof of a car and has then driven off with the files being scattered all over the road for anybody to read and gossip about with their mates or in the worst case it could fall into the hands of a tabloid journalist or criminal who would take advantage of the error for their own benefit. There was case some time ago where a policeman left a customer’s file on the seat of his car with the customer’s details face-up for anyone who was so minded to read.

both the person whose privacy they should be protecting and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. If the organisation fails to do so they may be liable for increased monetary penalties. If an overseas enquiry for sensitive information is received by a New Zealand organisation it will be mandatory for the NZ organisation to obtain the person’s express consent to the disclosure of the information after they have been advised that an overseas organisation may not protect the information as closely as required in NZ. This is especially the case where overseas businesses are trading in NZ and their country of origin may not have the strict rules on privacy which we have here. If you feel that your privacy has been breached it is always good to talk to the organisation first but if the problem cannot be fixed a call to the Privacy Commissioner’s Office will set the ball rolling. Under the new Act the basic principles remain as they were under the current Act but some new principles have been included. Under the new Act every business and in-

stitution which holds sensitive and private information especially hospitals and government departments will be required to report a breach of privacy as soon as practical to

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

CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

hon Eugenie Sage ❚ with ❚ Green Party spokesperson for Primary Industries

Restoring healthy nature requires hard work and adequate funding I know that many Canterbury farmers care deeply about managing predators and pests in our environment. Restoring healthy nature requires hard work, and new tools and technology to manage predators in a way that is safe, effective and affordable. Predator Free NZ, councils, landholders, local businesses, community conservation groups and DOC are working hard to give nature a helping hand and rid Aotearoa of possums, rats, stoats, ferrets by 2050. When we suppress or remove pests and predators, we give our native forests and shrublands our unique wildlife a chance, so that generations now and in the future can also enjoy getting out into nature. It’s an ambitious task. I acknowledge the work underway to develop a plan for a pest free Banks Peninsula, and regional projects which are already underway on Otago Peninsula, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki and on Waiheke Island. The Government has committed significant funding for the Predator Free 2050 goal nationally, and provided an investment of $10m for DOC’s Tools to Market and PF2050 Ltd’s Product to Projects programmes so

that we have the right tools for the job. This funding will help accelerate the development of new and improved predator control tools

and technologies. One example is developing and trialling predator-control drones to remove pests

from remote offshore islands, respond to pest incursions and suppress predators on mainland New Zealand. What about rabbits? Getting rid of ferrets, stoats and feral cats won’t solve our rabbit problems – but, in most situations, it won’t make the problem any worse either. Landcare Research scientists Grant Norbury and Chris Jones reviewed the current research and found: “In New Zealand, where rabbits and their predators are introduced, predators (such as stoats and ferrets) appear to have relatively little effect on rabbit numbers compared with other factors leading to mortality, such as disease, flooding of burrows and burrow collapse. Similarly, in Australia, rabbit numbers are driven primarily by climate and its effects on food abundance and quality, and by disease.” Our work is clearly cut out for us, and there’s lots more to do. It is fantastic to see the broad support for the ambitious goal of becoming predator free. I hope we can go from strength to strength in working together to look after nature.

Let’s connect at the Malvern A&P Show Orion’s friendly team will be at the Malvern A&P Show, Sheffield. We’ll be keeping the people of Canterbury up-to-date on everything from how to work safely around power lines to tree trimming and which trees are safe to plant near lines. We’re here to keep you and the community safe, so if you have any questions — let’s connect! To find out more visit:

oriongroup.co.nz 03 363 9898 | 0800 363 9898

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March 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

❚ with John arts

❚ with rob cope-Williams

Election year again, Time, the great healer what’s in it for me? (Part 1) Yes, it’s election year again and the future for us all and our industry is about to unfold what we face for the next three years. It is probably no secret that I trust this current Coalition as much as I would a dyslexic tattooist. Take one of the recent slaps in the face with a wet fish; NZ King Salmon put forward a plan to farm salmon in deep water that would produce around 8,000 tonnes of fish a year. They, NZ King Salmon, rightly thought that if the Government wants the fishing industry to go from $600million this year to $3billion in 15 years the idea would be a good one Wrong, Eugenie Sage, the Minister of Conservation turned her back on it and snuffed the idea and plans out, Why? Did she fail in arithmetic at school? We are again in serious drought mode, and not because of global warming, but because there’s been very little rain, as we have had in many other years. Remember the 1980s and farmers literally having to walk away from home and farms. Ah, the supporters will say, the Government is helping those in Northland. Yes, look at other funding that has gone north of Auckland to buy a certain Minister his seat. Okay, perhaps I do have an axe to grind, and I may be being cynical, but I assure you there are a lot of others who are voicing the same thing.

Anyway, cynical or not, the promises will come flowing out like water over a spillway for the next few months and while those who got the most votes last time, but lacked mates, will be telling us all what they plan to make everyone’s life better, the media will do their censorship job and only tell us what they think we need to know. I have always said that the media chose our Governments, not the voters. “Time for a change” has ended many a run by a successful Government, and the voters, like sheep, follow the lead. I congratulate the Labour Party on their move to take out an underachiever just before the election and replace him with a young woman who the media fell in love with. A master stroke and whoever thought of it should be on a lifelong Labour funded bonus. It’s interesting that our elections are now based on a Presidential style format rather than a party based one. I suppose that’s a by-product of MMP. And I’m sorry to go on, but it is very hard to find someone who voted for MMP as we as a nation stagger from pillar to post as the weak rule the strong. You now know my views, but please follow the old question “what’s in it for me?”.

I recently spoke with a client who I first helped over two years ago. He is an ex-farmer who was having real trouble with osteoarthritis in his knees. Realistically surgery was his only option. My role as a Nutritional Medicine practitioner is to identify the dietary and supplement options that can help. There are many factors that can cause osteoarthritis (OA). Genetics, injury, occupation and nutrition all play a part. Direct injury to joints can set of a faulty biochemical chain that finishes with destruction of cartilage secreting cells called chondrocytes resulting in cartilage loss. Interestingly the same basic faulty biochemistry is also triggered by nutritional factors. A deficiency in antioxidants especially those made by the trace minerals selenium, zinc, copper and manganese leave chondrocytes exposed to oxidative stress, a technical term to describe free radical damage. The end result is always the same. Chondrocytes are damaged or die meaning cartilage cannot be repaired. Eventually cartilage thins often replaced by bony spurs as our bone survival mechanism kicks in. The body then tries to heal the problem with inflamma-

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tion which just makes it worse. Two years ago I created a personalised nutritional support programme for my client. This included dietary recommendation to support cartilage and to reduce inflammation. We added supplements initially at higher doses. This included my OA support supplement which is a little different to most. While it includes glucosamine the real hero is the 800-1600mg of high grade chondroitin sulphate supported by meaningful amounts of curcumin from turmeric and fish oils to reduce inflammation. This week I emailed him to ask how he was doing. His response was that he thinks he has delayed future surgery by 10 years.

CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

Grant Edmundson ❚ with Partner, Helmore Stewart, Rangiora ❚

Farm debt – relief before the squeeze With effect from July 1, 2020, the Farm Debt Mediation Act 2019 will be law.

In a nutshell, banks must offer mediation if a farmer is in default before the bank may take enforcement action arising from a debt secured over any farm property. For the process to be effective, constructive engagement is required between farmers and lenders to mitigate financial risks and ultimately protect the name and reputation of farmers and their enterprises. A farm debt incurred by a farmer is one which is incurred solely or principally for the purpose of developing, managing or owning a primary production business and covers operations within the agriculture, horticulture and agriculture industries. It is important to understand that the farmer, the spouse of a farmer, trustee who is “engaged” in the business concern may also initiate the mediation process. Before defaulting on a loan instrument, it will be important to encourage farmers to seek mediation early as a measure of “good faith” reflecting a desire to reach a mutually beneficial outcome. We are told that the banks are supportive of this process. Farmers need to ensure that they are adequately prepared for this process which would include the preparation of a thorough cash flow analysis, detailed scenario planning in regards to forecasts, preferred restructuring options and possibly, within the organisation

itself, the ability to unlock dormant value, ie assets on balance sheet, which when properly prepared, will give the banks some idea as to what may be achieved through the mediation process. If an agreement is reached, a mediator prepares a mediation agreement and even after this agreement has been signed, the farmer has a 10 day cooling off period where the farmer may cancel the agreement. If no agreement is reached, the farmer may apply for a prohibition certificate which suspends any enforcement action for six months. It is important however to understand the

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limited grounds for the farmer to be able to apply for a prohibition certificate which would include, the creditor declining to mediate or a creditor not acting in good faith during the mediation process. Overall, the timeframe allocated to the mediation process is 60 working days and can be processed at a nominal cost to the farmer (capped to a maximum of $2,000).

Primary industry debt (estimated to be in the region of over $60 billion) is managed by a small group within the country. The ripple effect of an economic downturn in this sector if this process is not managed correctly, will be widespread, particularly for those peripheral industries where this relief is not available. Crop sprayers, fencing companies, logistic enterprises, etc will however all benefit from a healthy farming sector where extreme financial downturns in the sector can be avoided. The Act certainly provides welcome relief to farmers in trying to anticipate financial stress as a result of high levels of debt to income ratios where national economic growth is not as buoyant as one would hope. Farmers are encouraged to work closely with their financial advisers and lawyers to devise the appropriate strategy (supported by accurate and comprehensive financial analysis) to ensure that the mediation scheme is as beneficial as possible and to avoid any enforcement action.

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Agri Optics New Zealand is now Vantage New Zealand Agricultural Solutions Ltd supplied by Vantage New ❚ Article ❚ Zealand Agricultural Solutions Ltd

Agri Optcs New Zealand Ltd announced recently that it has joined the premier network of Vantage™ distributors and is now Vantage New Zealand Agricultural Solutons Ltd, the exclusive New Zealand Trimble Agriculture Dealer. By combining the highly skilled and knowledgeable staff from both Agri Optics NZ and GPS Control Systems, customers can be assured that Vantage New Zealand will continue to provide the outstanding precision agriculture service and support they have come to expect. Offering the full Trimble Agriculture product portfolio, Vantage New Zealand will provide growers, advisors, retailers, co-ops and local OEMs with precision agriculture solutions for the entire farm, improving farm efficiency and productivity while protecting natural resources and the environment. Its experienced precision agriculture professionals will advise growers across New Zealand on the right technology solutions for their farm along with providing high-quality local customer service, personalized training, and technical support that will further develop farmers’ technological understanding and aptitude.

The Vantage New Zealand team understands how to address farmers’ biggest challenges using the total farm solutions that are available through Trimble including: • Guidance and steering systems that operate with most farm machinery— regardless of make, type, or model • Flow and application control systems that help farmers increase yield and save on input costs • Water management solutions for irrigation and drainage that allow farm-

Precision expertise to take your farming operation to the next level.

ers to minimize water costs and efficiently • distribute water • Agri-services to assess crop health, investigate soil properties, and make prescriptive nutrient recommendations • Data collection and management solutions that enable better decision making “We are excited to be a Vantage partner serving the precision agriculture needs of

farmers in New Zealand,” said Craige Mackenzie of Vantage New Zealand. “Our commitment has always been to help farmers find the right technology solutions that best meet their needs, while providing ongoing support and training so they can experience the full benefit of their precision agriculture solutions.”

To learn more about Vantage New Zealand, visit www. vantage-nz.com or call 0800 482 682

Vantage New Zealand is the precision agricultural specialist. We equip you with advanced precision technology from industry‑leading brands like Trimble and AquaCheck, and combine them to create solutions for everyday farming activities.

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March 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

Well sown equals half grown Well sown equals half grown means if you do a good job seeding your crop, you are halfway towards high yields.

❚ Article supplied by Unearth Ag Ltd

Even when seeding cover crops, there are many important elements involved in this whole seeding process, including cutting residue and opening the seed slot with a sharp disc blade like our Forges De Niaux disc blade, positioning seeds at a consistent depth with a well-maintained seed boot, then holding seeds down in the slot with a well-designed seed tab like our Bonilla Tab. The next steps include imprinting the seeds into the bottom of the seed slot (ideally into moisture) with a properly designed firming wheel such as our V8 Firming Wheel and closing the seed slot consistently with a suitable closing wheel for the soil and soil moisture conditions. The Needham Ag V8 Firming Wheel was designed by Phil Needham, who made concrete molds of the John Deere seed slots within different soils and seeding depths. He then went to a manufacturer who used the molds to produce a tire which closely matches the shape of the seed slot. The V8 Firming Wheels started out with a 5203 bearing (the same bearing as what is currently within the John Deere gauge wheel), which was a huge upgrade from the old 203 single row bearings that were used within the older John Deere factory firming wheels.

The ﬁrming wheel will ensure seeds are well planted and meaning you are halfway towards a high yield.

More recently we transitioned to the well-proven and field-tested Peer 5203 SeedXTreme bearing, with better seals and significantly longer service life, and in 2018 we transitioned from a rubber tire to a urethane tire which significantly adds flexibility, improves mud shedding and offers greater service life of the V8 wheel assembly. For more information on the Needham ag range of planter hardware to suit JD Box Drills and air-Seeders. Give Matthew a call on 0275 083 789 or search for Needham ag’s how to videos on YouTube.

CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

Choosing the pasture renewal method that’s right for you There are four main ways to renew pasture: cultivation, spray-drilling, undersowing and oversowing. We take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of all four.

Cultivation

Advantages • Can introduce legumes and N fixation • Can apply with fertiliser Disadvantages • Variable results • Hard to control competition

Involves breaking up the soil prior to sowing with the likes of a plough, power harrow, discs or rotocrumbler. It is necessary where there is a need to eliminate compaction or levelling, or lime incorporation is required. Advantages • Most consistent results • Eliminates compaction • Best pest and weed control • Can level paddock • Can incorporate lime • Allows good soil coverage by seed Disadvantages • Most expensive method • Slower to first grazing (6-10 weeks) • Softer and more prone to pugging during establishment

Autumn pasture tips

Spray and drill A direct-drill is used to sow treated seed into an uncultivated paddock after existing pasture killed by herbicide. Advantages • Herbicide controls competition • Less expensive and less time consuming than cultivation • Quicker to first grazing (6 weeks) • White clover establishment is possible • Long term solution Disadvantages • Less opportunity to correct pH • Won’t fix soil compaction or level paddock • May revert to old pasture more quickly than cultivated paddocks • Two drill passes at half the seeding rate are desirable to achieve dense pasture • Loss of pasture production after spraying

has not yet been over taken by weed ingression. Use after extended dry conditions where large areas need to be sown, or after winter pugging damage. Results are variable where it’s used in pastures too dense for the new seedlings to establish well. Advantages • Cheap and simple • Allows large areas to be done • Italian or hybrid can boost winter-early spring growth Disadvantages • Doesn’t work in dense pastures • Doesn’t control problem weeds

• Unsuitable for establishing white clover • Usually only a temporary fix

Oversowing Treated seed is broadcasted on to the surface of the soil. Generally used to repair smaller areas, for example after pugging damage, or to establish white clover in spring into pastures where the land is too steep or stony for cultivation. Not recommended for improvement of lowland pastures due to high seeding mortality. Sowing rates are generally higher, as establishment rates of seed placed on the ground surface are lower.

• All rough growth on paddocks should be taken right off. If you have mature cattle, or can borrow some, make them work to clean it all off, especially tufts of cocksfoot. • If this leaves a lot of dead rubbish, remove it as it’s always a source of fungal growth. • What the cattle won’t eat, take off with a slasher or weedeater. If you don’t, fresh green regrowth will be slow. • After this clean up, give the paddocks a light chain harrowing to spread dung pats. • Slash off any beds of Californian thistles (just before it rains if possible) dead docks and ragwort and plan to treat them early next spring. Lack of early action means their seed will be with you for a long time. • Make a stand-off area for cattle during wet periods in winter to avoid pugging. • After an extended summer dry spell, you may have to consider some ‘pasture renovation’. This can be expensive so seek professional help. • Get a soil test done and seek advice on what fertiliser is needed.

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March 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

AUTUMN CROP & PASTURE

Looking for a quick winter feed? In this article, we will look at annual (not Italian) type ryegrasses that are currently on the market.

Stephen Finch ❚ by ❚ Speciality Seeds Often confused with the more persistent Italian ryegrasses that are also typically used at this time of the year, annual ryegrasses will only last 9-10 months. Like most seed types currently on the market in New Zealand, there is a wide range of cultivars from which to select.

They each have some common traits; these include being tetraploid ryegrasses, being very quick to establish and providing a bulk of high-quality feed during winter and spring. Because of the above traits, these grass options can be sown late (into May) for winter feed, and then used for spring options which include grazing, silage, etc. As mentioned, most of these grasses

are tetraploids and normally have 250,000 seeds per kg, notably different from diploid types which have 500,000 seeds per kg. The reason they are still successful when sown into less-than-perfect or later-than-normal situations is because they are tough seeds. Due to this fact, we suggest a minimum sowing rate of 25 kgs per hectare. Being quick growers, they respond to frequent nitrogen applications. Ideal to use in after maize, in a mix with brassica or used to top-up run-out pastures or following summer brassica as part of a pasture renovation program. Annual ryegrasses are very useful products for our clients, and we recommend them. Below is a summary of most of the cultivars currently available. • Bullet: Is a densely-tillered, uprightgrowing and highly palatable tetraploid. Westerwolds’ annual Ryegrass has outstanding performance. Key features are the speed of establishment, high growth rates over autumn, winter and late into spring, coupled with high-pasture quality and palatability. • Devour: Tetraploid Westerwolds type, selected for increased dry-matter yields —

very high, dry-matter production. • Hogan: Tetraploid annual ryegrass. Very fast establishment, high dry-matter yield from start to finish and is a high-value feed. • Jivet 4n: This tetraploid Westerwolds ryegrass, bred by DLF Seeds, was selected for its fast establishment and winter productivity. • Prowgrow: Italian-type with good recovery from hard grazing and vigorous establishment. • Sultan: Fast-establishing diploid Westerwold ryegrass with strong Autumn/ Winter/ Spring activity. • Tama: Tetraploid Westerwolds type, very old cultivar still used for short-term production though becoming outclassed. • Winter Star II: A Tetraploid Westerwolds, annual ryegrass, suitable for quick winter feed with improved late season quality, making it ideal for silage and hay production. • Zoom: An exceptional, new, denselytillered and highly palatable tetraploid, Westerwolds annual ryegrass specializing in winter feed has outstanding cool season performance.

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March 2020

Fusarium head blight in wheat crops Fusarium head blight, or head scab, in wheat is going through the minds of many cropping farmers throughout Canterbury.

❚ Article supplied by FAR

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat, also known as head scab, is most easily recognised on immature heads where one or more spikelets in each head appear prematurely bleached. Sometimes large areas of heads may be affected, and where infection is severe, pink or orange spore masses can be seen on diseased spikelets. Fusarium damaged grains are pink or chalky white and shrivelled. This disease can cause significant yield losses where conditions favour the disease, and grain from affected crops may be less palatable to stock than healthy grain and may contain mycotoxins (a toxin produced by fungi). It is important to know that not all species of Fusarium produce mycotoxins. F. crookwellense, F. culmorum and F. graminearum can produce mycotoxins but other species are not considered major producers. The incidence of different species of Fusarium fungi in New Zealand grain varies from year to year and by grain type, harvest date, region and the weather conditions in the season. A survey in 2000 found that the Fusarium species present in Canterbury were not ma-

Suggested actions:

Telling sign: heads which are partly or fully bleached indicate a crop may have fusarium head blight.

jor producers of mycotoxins. However, since we do not know if all the recent reports of FHB are caused by non-mycotoxin producing species, it makes sense for growers to take precautions to minimize the risk of harvesting and storing Fusarium contaminated grain. Wet weather promotes Fusarium develop-

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ment and during flowering (GS60-69) crops are particularly susceptible to head blight infection. The higher the rainfall through flowering the higher the risk. At harvest, Fusarium mycotoxins may increase if wet weather causes delays. Also, mycotoxins may increase if the grain has a high moisture content in storage.

• Harvest fusarium affected wheat crops as soon as possible once ripe. • Consult the combine manual: Combine adjustments should follow the manufacturer’s manual when first going to the field. Once in the field, operators should invest the time to sample the grain and make adjustments. The most important adjustments include concave clearance, screen openings and cylinder and fan speeds. This is particularly important when dealing with compromised grain quality. If it is determined that grain quality is not an issue, more conventional settings should be used to minimize grain loss. • Fan speed: Many, but not all, Fusariuminfected kernels are shrunken and have lower densities. Increasing the combine’s fan speed can greatly increase the number of lighter kernels blown out the back of the combine. • Harvest and store grain with fusarium contaminated grain separately. Good farm practices will minimise the risk of mycotoxins. • Damp grain needs to be dried to minimise risk.

March 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

Above ground fuel storage on farms ❚

Petrol and diesel are hazardous substances and are regulated by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 and supporting regulations (HSNO). age hazardous substances at all workplaces stances are trained or supervised Article supplied by Work Safe NZ

Storing and using petrol and diesel creates workplace hazards that could harm employees, family and others living or working nearby. Therefore, petrol and diesel are also regulated by the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (the HSE Act). HSNO requires a person in charge to man-

that store or handle them. On a farm, this will normally be the farm owner or manager. They must make sure the farm complies with all the rules set under HSNO.

The person in charge must: • make sure people handling the sub-

• make sure information is available to the people handling the substance via container labels, safety data sheets (SDS) and signs • make sure procedures are in place to deal with any potential emergency involving hazardous substances • get the necessary test certificates and keep them up–to–date. They should also identify all hazardous substances on the farm and keep an inventory. Fuel storage and handling is hazardous because petrol and diesel are flammable. You can control these risks by storing fuels securely and safely. Separation distances are the minimum distances required between fuel stores and other properties or activities. The separation distances for petrol in this guide allow petrol storage on farms without a location test certificate. You can reduce these separation distances if you get a location test certificate.

All fuel must be stored: • at least six metres from other hazardous materials, for example: oxidisers, fertilisers, poisons

• at least six metres away from flammable materials, for example: hay, LPG, other fuels • so that spills can’t contaminate stock feed • so that spilt fuel can’t touch any heated surfaces • to avoid accidental vehicle crashes • so that spills will not pollute streams, lakes or waterways • so that spills will not endanger buildings. Petrol and diesel also have specific storage requirements, depending on how they are stored. For more on storing fuel on farms go to: worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/agriculture/ chemicals-and-fuels-on-farms

CANTERBURY FARMING March 2020

Award winning AgFest brings it all to the West Coast Farmlands AgFest West Coast is an event for everyone not just the rural sector, and is now going into its fifth successful event.

❚ by Kent Caddick AgFest West Coast is a bi-annual field day event and is again being held in Greymouth from March 27 to 28 this year. It’s anticipated that Farmlands AgFest 2020 will present over 400 exhibitors attracting over 15,000 people through the gates over the two days. In 2018 Agfest West Coast won the Small Enterprise Awards at the 2018 biannual Development West Coast Leading

Light Business awards. Organisers say the phenomenal growth of AgFest in the past eight years proves how much this event was needed in this region. “Farmlands AgFest recognises the importance of the agricultural sector on the West Coast,” they say. “The purpose of the event is to give people in the rural sector the opportunity to showcase their business, to celebrate the agricultural industry and its significance to all businesses on and around the Coast.

“Existing exhibitors proudly recommend AgFest West Coast as their preferred event – taking the opportunity to enjoy West Coast’s hospitality, while they are on the West Coast.” The event organisers are told this is one of the best field days to attend as the event is still small enough to be able to get around in a day, but still has everything you need to see. Farmlands AgFest is supported and attended by a large number of Iconic New Zealand and international. “If you’re in business and your business is

a fit for Farmlands AgFest come along, as the event, although its backbone is rural, is the only trade type show on the West Coast. Come along and you’ll experience every inch of farming in New Zealand, from the latest in dairy sheds to the best gumboots to wear in them. You’ll see the latest in farming vehicles and implements, stock care, health and safety, and much more. Admission to Farmlands AgFest is just $10, primary school children $5, and under 5s are free.

F ully R estored C ast I ron C ookers Repairs, Maintenance, Second Hand Logﬁres & now stock Tiny Fires. Come see us at the South Island Agricultural Field Days 27-29 March Popular: Over 15,000 people are expected to attend Farmlands AgFest 2020, some will be there to see the latest in agri-technologies and others to catch up with old mates.

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March 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

Organisers welcome you to AgFest West Coast 2020 Our team behind Farmlands AgFest 2020 are excited to deliver our biggest and most comprehensive AgFest to date.

We know that event goers, both rural and urban are going to be wowed by what they see. The new and improved all weather ground with gravel lane ways will promise to make both exhibitors and event-goers time spent at the event more enjoyable. We are aware of some big groups road tripping from as far away as the top of the North Island and we are anticipating our biggest crowd to date. The West Coast is well and truly open for business and the entire team behind AgFest welcome you all to the 2020 Farmlands AgFest at the Greymouth Aerodrome. AgFest is positioned as the number one event on the West Coast and is now not just a rural event and includes the West Coast’s Trade Show which will attract a wide variety of the people from rural folk to townies. For sustained longevity of this event we needed to move to a ground that gave AgFest West Coast more space to grow, and Greymouth Aerodrome provided us that much needed space, but the ground conditions weren’t great due to rough weather. Following on from the AgFest Exhibitor survey there was an overwhelming response

Welcome: The organising team from Farmlands agFest West coast welcome all to the 2020 event are promising the biggest and best show to date. From left: adam Berry, Tracey anderson, andy Thompson and anna Thompson.

from exhibitors to spend the $100,000 Grey District Council funding on infrastructure starting with setting up permanent gravel roadways. This has now happened and the event site is now an all-weather groundFarmlands AgFest boasts food sites to tempt everyone, and along the way we have huge community involvement with many local groups and charities benefiting.

If you’re a farmer, a lifestyler, or you already know what a legendary couple of days out this event is, be sure to head over to the Coast for what promised to be the best ever AgFest. There are some great features this year you won’t want to miss: • Topp Twins • AgChef West Coast in association with

• •

Tai Poutini polytechnic - support by Greymouth countdown Southern Rural Girl Finishing School Seminars on weather, clean water ways in Norwood entertainment pavilion Bigger and better sites Park and ride service to avoid long walks to the event

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CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

Plenty to do and see at AgFest As well as having one of the largest displays of agri-businesses and technologies there will be a host of other activities for those attending to get involved in at the 2020 Farmlands AgFest West Coast.

❚ by Kent caddick Over the two days of AgFest there will be a number of competitions and specialist areas for people of all ages to take part in. It boasts a Home Concept Centre, large farm and contracting machinery, the latest in vehicles from every car brand imaginable in New Zealand, and high quality entertainment from performers such as the Topp Twins and Simon Teague from Christchurch. Some of the other highlights include a cooking competition, and a gumboot decorating competition while AgFest boasts the only women’s space at like events in the country.

On offer: There’s plenty for everyone, young and old, to do and see at 2020 Farmlands agFest West coast.

Agchef West Coast Competition The competition will start on Sunday, March 15 with pre-registered competitors bringing their home-made dishes to the Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP) kitchen for judging. The 10 top dishes will go through the second round – a live cook-off on Saturday, March 21. Cooks will experience some of the pressure of the kitchen as they have 60 minutes to produce a dish from a mystery box of ingredients. Finalists will head to the AgFest main stage at the event on Saturday, March 28 to cook-off for great prizes and the glory of being judged top chef for the event. Entry Requirements: 18 years and over

Farmlands AgFest Women pavilion with no experience of working in the kitchen industry or as a cook or chef. Judged by: Bradley Stanger (TPP Culinary Arts Tutor), Lisa O’Brien (well-known Greymouth foodie), and Linda Connors (ex Buccleughs on High).

(forms & gumboots) to NZME or bring to AgFest by 9.30am on Friday, March 27. Age Groups: Kids (5-12 year old), Youths (13-17 year old), Adults Judged by: Skellerup NZ & Agripro Mechanical

This is the only rural event in the country which has an exclusive women’s shopping space. The Women’s Pavilion caters exclusively for women who want to see the latest in homewares, education, skin care, fashion, food and more.

Creative Gumboot & Colour Competition The Agri Pro Mechanical Gumboot and Colour Competition will have some awesome prizes up for grabs. Contestants need to drop theirentry

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March 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

CANTERBURY FARMING March 2020

March 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

Professionals who can manage your house-building project In this article we look at the professional help you can get when designing and building your home.

supplied by ❚ Article ❚ consumerbuild.org.nz

costs once the architect has stepped away from the project.

Architect or designer-managed

Company-managed

If you are using a registered architect to custom-design your home, they will probably offer a full service which includes managing the project. In fact, they will probably prefer this option. If the plans are being drawn by an architectural designer or an architectural draughtsperson, they may also offer this service. Keeping on the architect/designer means paying for their services and you may be tempted to stop using them once the plans are drawn to make some savings. This could prove to be false economy. The plans are only written instructions. Are you confident that you will be able to interpret them when the builder asks a question about them? If they are interpreted incorrectly, there could be costly mistakes, and it may not be clear who is liable for the

When you use a group housing company, or kitset/pre-built home, the price usually includes the services of a project manager. Often you are buying the section, plans and building services as part of the package and don’t have to organise any of this yourself. But it doesn’t mean stepping away and not taking any interest in the project.

Helping hands: Get professional help when designing and building your home.

Builder-managed When you hire a builder on a full contract, depending on what is in the terms of the contract, they can manage everything from getting a designer, hiring the subcontractors, liaising with you on variations and getting materials on site. Or, you might have a hybrid arrangement where you use an architect or designer to do the plans and have an overview of the entire

project, as well as monitor the budget and progress payments, but the builder takes on the hiring, and acquiring of materials and organising inspections. The responsibilities need to be clearly spelt out in the contract.

Other professionals Other professionals, like quantity surveyors, sometimes take on the project management task. This can happen by default, for example, when the project manager you engaged lets you down.

Project management companies There are companies that specialise in providing project management services for building construction. They are usually involved in apartments or

commercial sites but often manage ordinary home-building where the house is a complicated design or at the expensive end of the market. Or they get called upon by busy people who want someone to take the whole project off their hands. Most project management companies are happy to be approached and discuss your new house with you. Small firms, or people working alone, also offer their services as project managers. You will pay a fee for their services. Check with the individual companies and managers to see how their fees compare to those of the architect, or the margin you pay the builder to manage the project. But, as with any project management, what you pay in fees can often be saved by avoiding the expensive mistakes on a badly-managed building site.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

Choosing a location for your shed When farmers deliberate about the construction of a shed on their property, they often focus on which materials to use, as this is what will take up most of their budget.

❚ by William Milnes Although selecting the right construction supplies is crucial, it is imperative that you make an effort to ensure proper placement of your shed. A mistake that is commonly made is choosing an empty area on your property under the assumption that all you need to bear in mind is the availability of space. In reality, several aspects should be contemplated as this can affect the convenience and even durability of farm sheds. Here’s a guide to choose a location for a farm shed.

On site: as much as the design of your shed is important so is its location.

Consider the terrain of the location Before you have your shed constructed, you need to determine if the terrain is suitable. If you have your shed built on rocky ground, it is likely that it will not have a stable base. Depending on the state of your property, you may have to prepare the site so that any obstacles are excavated, mainly if you are buying a prefabricated shed. However, rocks are not the only issue that affect the terrain. Extensive root networks could also affect the placement of your shed, and trees in the area will have to be addressed before the structure is built. Generally, flatter surfaces are best for

the erection of your farm shed. Furthermore, take note of the incline of the terrain. Try your best to avoid constructing your shed at the bottom of a slope, as you will end up having to contend with drainage issues.

Consider your accessibility to the shed Accessibility to your shed may or may not affect your needs depending on what your primary application for the farm shed is.

For instance, if you are building your shed with the intent of utilising it as a living space, whether as a home office or ‘man cave’, accessibility may be critical as you want to be able to access the building easily in all weather conditions. On the other hand, if the principal application for your shed is storage, accessibility may matter less because you’ll potentially be visiting the space less often. Keep in mind though that transporting

bulky items such as equipment or tools can quickly become tedious if your shed is located a distance away. In this situation, you will be better off seeking out a central location that makes it easier for you to move between the shed and the rest of your property. Before you construct your shed, make sure you check with any local bylaws and regulations which dictate where on a property a shed can be built.

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March 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

No such thing as maintenance free Some house styles and wall claddings require less maintenance than others, but there is no such thing as a ‘maintenance-free house’.

❚ Article supplied by BRANZ

All homeowners should inspect their homes regularly. The maintenance you need to carry out on the exterior walls of your home will largely depend on the type of house you have – a 1905 weatherboard villa and a 1997 home with monolithic cladding and no eaves come with very different maintenance needs and risks, for example.

Cleaning Almost all materials and finishes on the exterior walls will last longer if they are cleaned from time to time. Cleaning removes dust, dirt, mould, mosses, chemical residues and salt spray, all of which can hasten deterioration. Wash down the exterior of the building yearly. Increase cleaning frequency to 3-monthly in geothermal or severe marine areas. Where unpainted steel cladding is used, wash down areas not rain-washed at 6-monthly intervals. Clean glass every 3–4 months, more frequently in severe marine areas. Carry out cleaning with a low-pressure hose, a soft brush and a gentle detergent. Water-blasting might sound like a good idea, but it can lead to long-term damage if it forces water through gaps into the wall assembly.

Painting External paint coatings don’t last forever, and recoating must be carried out routinely to maintain decorative and weather-resistant properties. How long external paint will last depends on the: • quality of surface preparation and condition of the old paint. Paint will last better when the old paint is still in a reasonably sound condition and the surface is well prepared for the new paint • quality of the paint used. Typically, you get what you pay for – extremely cheap paints are likely to deteriorate faster than better quality (more expensive) paints • amount of sun shining on it – paint on the south side of a building gets less UV light exposure and will last longer than paint on the north or west side • colour – lighter colours tend to last longer than darker because they absorb less heat, so expand and contract less • size and type of material under the paint. Paint on wide timber boards won’t last as long as on narrow boards because the overall movement in wide boards is greater. Paint properly applied to cementbased materials (concrete, cement plaster, fibre-cement products) tends to last longer than paint on timber • cleanliness of the painted surface – wash down often to remove airborne

chemicals and dirt from the surface • number of coats applied • underlying colour – applying a dark colour

directly over a light one can cause a previously sound paint to lose adhesion because of the higher surface temperature.

CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

From hazard storage to homes with containers Containers and More is a proudly New Zealand owned and operated Company with expertise in the modification of shipping containers into innovative, varied, solution based buildings. supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Containers & More Ltd This diverse company specializes in modification of shipping containers into tiny or large houses, AirBnb, worker accommodation, farm buildings, chemical stores, site offices, tasting rooms and anything the client may require. There is a range of floor plans as an indication of what can be achieved but the team is ready to discuss any individual preferences and help with design ideas. Container and More’s Chemtainer range has stood the test of time and law changes providing practical, great value compliant chemical storage solutions to many industries throughout New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific. The range of dangerous goods these Chemtainers can store is varied and assistance can be provided on the specific chemicals and volumes you are allowed to store of each class. Class 3 flammable, agrichemicals or corrosives

are storable and the best container can be adapted to suit any of these requirements. Standard units can be purchased from the depot and a design service is provided to produce exactly what is required. Options can include full side opening, multiple shelving, high bund capacity, multiple rooms in one large Chemtainer to contain and separate dangerous goods. For the rural sector farm buildings can be modified into a wide range of possibilities incorporating split options, office/lunch room, chemical store/storage, man cave/ storage, fabricated to any configuration required. Containers and More supply a large range of industries including farms, farm supply companies, vineyards, consultants to the wine making industry, nurseries, orchards, heavy industrial, light commercial, paint and panel shops, ports and airports, government departments, local bodies, councils and sports clubs etc. The standard ranges of sizes are 10, 20, and 40Ft containers, however other sizes

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containers and More specializes in modiﬁcation of shipping containers into tiny or large houses, as well as others uses including worker accommodation, farm buildings, and chemical stores. There is a range of ﬂoor plans but containers and More can design to individual needs. can be adapted, including multiple units if required. The manufacturing base is situated in Sydenham, Christchurch offering a good transport network of delivery options throughout New Zealand at very reasonable freight costs. For more go to www.containersmore.co.nz

March 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

The legal requirements for building a new garage or carport Your legal obligations fall into two main areas: complying with your council’s rules about building height, distance from boundaries and site coverage; and obtaining a Building Consent, if applicable, and complying with the Building Code for its design and construction.

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Peter Thorby ❚ by ❚ Refresh Renovations First, you should check the District Plan rules to determine the allowable site coverage, heights relative to boundary and distance from the boundary. If you are following the profile of the existing garage, you may have ‘existing-use’ rights, but it’s important that you check with your local council. If your proposal does not meet the District Plan rules then you will need a Resource Consent from your council. In some cases, for example when replacing a carport of up to 20 square metres, you may be able to build without having to get a building consent. Discuss your proposals with your council to determine whether or not a building consent is required. Regardless of whether a building consent is required, the replacement garage or carport must comply with the New Zealand Building Code. In most cases, for a stand-alone garage or carport, the Building Code requires it to be strong enough to resist all likely loads including earthquake, wind and snow. Rainwater needs to be controlled and disposed of without affecting your neighbour’s property, and the garage or carport needs to be built so that fire is unlikely to spread to neighbouring property. When you apply to the council for a build-

ing consent you will need to provide detailed drawings and specifications for what you are proposing to build. These will need to show how your building complies with the Building Code. If you are using a building company to design and supply your garage or carport then they will usually be able to apply for the building consent on your behalf, and provide the council with all the information that is required. Provided your replacement garage does not include a sleep-out, designing and building a stand-alone garage or carport is not restricted building work and does not need to be carried out by licensed practitioners. Any electrical work must be done, or signed off, by a registered electrician who will issue an Electrical Certificate of Compliance on completion. If you did get a building consent, the council will need to inspect the work at various stages of construction, so that they can issue you with a Code Compliance Certificate. Information about the Building Act, Restricted Building Work, and the Building Code can be freely downloaded from the Department of Building and Housing website. article supplied by refresh renovations. For more information on your building needs go to their website, www.refreshrenovations.co.nz or give them a call on 0800 00 45 44.

Check list: When planning your new garage or carport check whether you need a building consent.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

March 2020

Fertigation helping address N issues There is a lot of “noise” about the use of nitrogen fertiliser, nitrate leaching, water contamination and land-use.

andy Nurse ❚ by ❚ Fertigation Systems These issues need to be addressed in order that production is maintained and farming continues in a profitable way. What are the issues, and what can we do about them? Strategic use of N fertiliser assists in the performance of dry matter production. This in conjunction with efficient irrigation management, enables sustained productivity. Currently the predominant method of application of nitrogen fertiliser is by ground spread. In some cases, more nitrogen is applied than the grass actually needs, leading to a higher N content in the pasture which the cows cannot process. Scientific research tells us 90% of the leaching that is occurring is in the urine

a number of years. It has been used extensively in the USA for more than 40 years. Contrary to often spread rumours, liquid urea does not corrode the irrigation hardware. The small concentration of liquid Urea in the irrigation water makes sure of this. For example, when you apply 100 litres of liquid urea per hectare with 10 mm of water, you are applying 100,000 litres of water. There are some 34 fertigation installations successfully operating in the South Island. These comprise 14 dairy, 11 cropping, 9 sheep and beef farms. Efficiency in all aspects of a management is an impor-

patches. These are concentrated areas high in nitrogen, excreted by the cows as they are unable to utilise or process it. One way of addressing this problem, is to use fertigation – the application of fertiliser in liquid form through the irrigation system. This applies smaller amounts more regularly. It results in the same level of production but not the same level of nitrogen in the pasture, and reduced leaching. By applying liquid urea, there is an immediate saving through no volatilisation, plus saving on spreading costs. Not to mention the added benefit of no gates being left open, or fertiliser being spread in on tracks. The investment of a fertigation system on an existing irrigation installation is paid for within two years. Savings continue annually. Fertigation is not new. It has been used extensively in horticulture in New Zealand for

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CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

Cooler temperatures, less irrigation It’s been a long dry summer with some areas in mid, central and north Canterbury receiving very little rainfall since mid-December.

andrew curtis ❚ by Water ❚ Strategies

Irrigation is a relatively simple task in dry weather, you turn it on, check the flow rate and system pressure are correct on a daily basis (this can be automated) and keep going until the weather forecast provides you the certainty that significant rainfall is coming. Through December and January, Lincoln and Winchmore climate station data shows ET rates averaged between 4.1 and 4.3 mm/ day, and there were a couple of weeks where ET averaged just under 5 mm/day (the high-

est daily ET being 6.1 mm). You should have been irrigating flat-out during this period to meet plant water demand. However, as we’re now heading into the autumn shoulder season, where days are getting shorter and daily temperatures are dropping, ET rates are starting to decrease. February ET rates at Lincoln and Winchmore are currently averaging between 3.2 and 3.5 mm/day and these will drop to between 2.5 and 3 mm/day during March. This means you need to start thinking about how frequently you irrigate alongside continuing to monitor weather forecasts for rainfall.

Timing: heading into the autumn shoulder season, where days are getting shorter and daily temperatures are dropping, ET rates are starting to decrease.

Using a pivot irrigator as an example, instead of irrigating 15 mm every three to four days as you would have been doing during the peak season, you should now be stretching this out to 15 mm every four to five days and then every five to six days. Alongside closely monitoring climate data and weather forecasts, another aspect we’ve observed this season that we’ll be helping our clients with next year, is the need to better time irrigation applications with grazing rotations. We’re aware of some science that has been undertaken this season that shows grazing (particularly cattle) during or within a day of irrigation can have a big impact upon your soil quality. Grazing wet soil effectively squashes it, reducing the number of micropores within it

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(micropores are where the soil water is held), which then reduces the soils water holding capacity and impacts upon other soil processes. Whilst better timing irrigation applications with grazing rotations will certainly make irrigation a more challenging task, noting the ability to remote control irrigation equipment will help make this more achievable, it’s a key consideration if we are to more effectively use the water we are applying, from both a production and environmental perspective. If you would like specific support or advice for your irrigation scheduling, an assessment of your scheduling practice (including practical suggestions around how your irrigation practice could be improved), or you have issues with your irrigation equipment call Water Strategies to book in your Irrigation WOF.

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When it doesn’t rain...

We all know in Canterbury (and east coast of the North Island) the effects of lack of rainfall.

Most everywhere I’ve been in the eastern and central North Island it is the same, dry or drier. As we all know well, when there is 30 or more days without rainfall, especially in January and February, well you have a drought. February and another month supporting irrigation management staff in the North Island and like Canterbury it is dry. How dry? Well in the time since I returned to Christchurch in late January there still has not been any significant rain. Not in Hawkes Bay, through to Mangakino, Kaharoa and up through Galatea/Murupara. In the Mangakino area the records show the last significant rainfall was December 21, with just 8mm and 12mm since then. Simply not enough when temperatures have been consistently in the mid-high 20s. For the most part, where there is no irrigation there is nothing. I just couldn’t resist making use of the phone camera when I was sorting a telemetry fault in a pumpshed in the Mangakino region. I realise for those diehard mainlanders and those on the east coast of the North Island, this is nothing new or extraordinary… 32degC this day and the cows were not even interested in what I was doing. Mind you they were probably looking forward to the next feed out later in the day after milking given there was little to graze on in this paddock, What a contrast just a little further away

from the pumpshed and heading back to the main road this contrasting shot took my eye. Thank goodness for the irrigation take from the Waikato River and the Maraetai Dam/ Lake. Without it, well the vista would have been the foreground and background. The benefit of stored water once again shows its value. However, while these parched landscapes are desperate for rainfall and soon so as there will be some growth leading into the autumn, here in HB everyone is more than happy not to have rain. Sweetcorn and tomatoes are ripening rapidly and being harvested; apple harvest is underway, and a winemaker reckons they are running about two weeks ahead of “normal” and they will be into vintage in a week or so.

For some this is the perfect weather while for others it is the perfect storm and couldn’t be worse.

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16HMDG1610047-OPTION3

❚ with Dr Tony Davoren

March 2020

16HMDG1610047-OPTION3

March 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

FORESTRY & LOGGING

Less wasps when there’s more trees Lush forest cover and limited human habitation mean fewer invasive wasps, new research on New Zealand’s offshore islands shows.

❚ by Kent caddick A study on 36 islands off the east coast of the North Island has found low numbers of invasive wasps on islands with better forest cover but high numbers on islands where farming is a significant activity and where high densities of exotic weeds and plants have replaced native forest. The study found invasive wasps on 35 out of 36 islands with the highest mean abundance of common and German wasps ( 78 wasps per five minute count) found on Great Mercury Island off the Coromandel Peninsula and the highest mean abundance of paper wasps (33 per five minute count) on Rotoroa Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Lead author of the study, Julia Schmack, a PhD student at University of Auckland’s School of Biological Sciences, says wasps are attracted to open grassland with plenty of sunlight and they also like areas of exotic plants. “Sunlight helps them to warm up and stay active, so areas that are shaded by canopy are not favourable for them whereas open areas of pastureland are,” she says. “Also, the first plants that grow in areas where forest has been cut down are often exotic weeds and we think some of these may provide better food resources for invasive wasps than native plants.” There are five species of introduced social wasps in New Zealand: the German and the common wasp, Vespula germanica and Vespula vulgaris, and three species of paper wasp or Polistes, the Asian and Australian paper wasp as well as the more recently intro-

Buzz off: Wasps, like the Vespula germanica, aren’t attracted to land with good forest cover. Photo: Julia Schmack

duced European paper wasp. Social wasps have been particularly successful in New Zealand since introduction, but very little was known about wasps on New Zealand’s offshore islands. Introduced social wasps cause big problems for native species including some endangered species. Invasive wasps compete for nectar and honeydew and are a particular

! D E ANT

amounts of it to the detriment of native birds. Schmack says the study provides new and important insights that may help control invasive wasps in New Zealand, particularly on offshore islands with endemic wildlife. “If there were more forests, it would likely reduce wasp numbers. Re-planting with native trees is an obvious strategy to enhance habitat for native species. “It’s important to look at the whole ecosystem and the influence humans have on it to better understand invasive wasps,” she says.

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problem in South Island beech forests where they consume massive amounts of honeydew which would otherwise be available for native birds, bats, insects and lizards. Wasps also eat native insects and drastically reduce the survival chances of native orb web spiders. Researchers say there is one type of forest which is an exception to this study’s findings and that is forest infested with high densities of native scale insects that produce honeydew. Honeydew is a vital food for many native birds but wasps consume large

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FORESTRY & LOGGING

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CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

Forestry industry hit by impacts of virus

The New Zealand forest industry has a most challenging time at present. Our reliance on China for a wide range of our exported commodities, including wood fibre, has presented challenges we might never have imagined. As China workers have stayed home after the Coronavirus outbreak, rather than risk sickness spread by others, consumption dropped severely. For the timber industry across both log and lumber segments, post new-year sales have virtually been nil. As a consequence, inventory has built although not to the extent we had anticipated. This is as much to do with a lack of staff to unload vessels as it is about off port sales. In this sense the challenges for the forest industry are echoed by many other commodities. In the case of logs, all sales require a Letter of Credit (LC), essentially a contract for the issuing bank in China to make payment to the receiver’s bank in NZ once all conditions of the LC are met. This is primarily the manifests, certificates and other cargo details which provide proof the cargo has been loaded and the vessel is on its way from NZ. As at mid-February it has been impossible to get LC’s, simply because there is no one at work in China to prepare them. Also, of some concern is the banks reluctance to issue LC’s where customers struggle to provide satisfactory credit lines at a time when factories are not working and construction sites are inactive.

‘

For those at the coal face, the impacts are immediate and brutal.

Thus, whilst there has been much talk of the likely new settlement price for February/ March sales, most agree there is little point discussing price when there is no ability to get a contract or LC. For those at the coal face, the impacts are immediate and brutal. Whilst our company is in a very favoured position with long standing relationships in China, our business echoes others. That means harvesting crews on short weeks and or a combination of production quota. For some in other companies it is a total stand-down. For the first time in my 26 years of log sales including exports, NZ Forestry Inc has finally chosen to work collectively even if only by market forces which provide little choice.

For the one thing we need to do is for the national cut to drop dramatically and it is almost heartening to see it has. But there are no positives here. The very good people we have to do the real work, are the most impacted and my heart goes out to them. It behoves all those who make people management decisions to use every possible resource to hang on in there. The one element that impacts China at these times is confidence. China customers monitor our port deliveries as we also watch their off-port sales. Such information has the primary impact on confidence and therefore the push and pull at the negotiating table. If China sees the volume being produced in NZ drop dramatically, they will be more confident the market can recover more quickly. The perverse of all of this is shipping costs are falling like a stone and the NZ dollar is dropping in value against the US dollar. This will help substantially to reduce the net wharf gate NZ impact. Not with standing this, NZ must restrain production for some time, certainly through March. It is impossible to recite the actual virus infection and death rate numbers. My direct contacts in China are suggesting the rate is

well above that being report. Much is anecdotal and much is not really known. Importantly though if we put in to context the last China Government statistics, an average just under 5,000 per month die in China from standard flu’s, pneumonia and the like. If we extrapolate the last death numbers from Coronavirus, it will be another month before the total deaths exceed the normal number of people who die a month from influence related illness. Again, this is of course if you believe the numbers. Recently the Chinese Government has announced stimulus packages with more to come. Reduced rents and interest charges, and fast-forwarding construction projects are in the mix and will help our sector greatly. If NZ supplies continue to decline and confidence returns, we may see a revival more quickly than is currently expected. Fingers and toes crossed people. As always please remember, despite the apparent challenges, it is but a blip. The thoroughly important message is of course, “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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March 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

DAIRY

Choosing the right trimming knife Last month I talked about cow comfort and trimmer safety whilst trimming. This month I am going to talk to you about hoof knives.

❚ with Fred hoekstra, VeeHof These are the primary tool that you will use, and it is important they are used correctly which means they need to be kept sharp and clean. We get a lot of knives from all over New Zealand sent to us to be sharpened. Knives that range from one end of the spectrum to the other as far as quality (and cleanliness) goes.

The main thing that determines quality is the hardness of the steel used. The harder the steel the longer it will stay sharp. Most knives are made from stainless steel of some kind. Stainless steel is relatively hard steel that will keep its edge reasonably well, however some cheap stainless-steel knives are very soft and will go blunt quite quickly. Often people buy these cheaper knives because they are likely to be used for many other things other than hoof trimming and it becomes a very costly (and frustrating) exercise if you keep losing expensive knives. The higher quality hoof knives are made of hardened steel. These knives stay sharper for much longer than stainless steel knives, but they will rust if they are not kept clean and dry. Because they are so hard they can break easier than stainless steel knives so it is important to use the right

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trimming technique. The horny tissue needs to be sliced off not broken off. What I mean by this is that many people tend to start a cut and then part way through twist the knife causing the hoof to break off rather than making a clean slice. Often people are not even aware that this is what they are doing but it is something I encounter frequently when running training courses. What about double edged knives? If you use the proper technique you should be able to trim a cow with just one single edge knife. The problem with double-edged knives is that you end up with quite a wide blade which makes it hard to steer your way out of the hoof when you are going too deep, and it is for this reason that I would not recommend them. Thinner blades give you a lot more control as you are trimming. When we trim cows, we need to use sharp knives. We wouldn’t like it if a surgeon performed an operation on us using blunt knives. Not so much because it is harder work for the surgeon but more because the end result is not the same. This is the same for cows. If we use blunt knives, we are actually

more likely to cut ourselves and the trimming job is not going to be very successful. With sharp knives you can be much more precise with less effort. Sharpening knives however is not the easiest thing to do. It takes a lot of practise and patience. We use a bench grinder with a linishing belt or flap wheel. This will sharpen the blade and create a nice bevel. The angle that you put the knife onto the belt will determine the angel of the bevel. As a rule of thumb, this bevel needs to be a minimum of 10mm. Often the knives you buy from a shop are a lot less than that. It is much harder work to trim when the bevel is too steep. The hook of the knife we sharpen with a rubber disc on our grinder. You can sharpen the hook on the outside if you wish but you should never sharpen the blade on the back side. If you do, you end up having to tilt the knife when trimming and it is much more likely to cut into the hoof rather than taking a slice off. I know it is very tempting to touch up that side of the knife because it is easier to get a sharp edge, but you will ruin the functionality of the knife.

DAIRY

CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

Has farming sold its soul? ❚ with Peter Burton

The days of capital gains, particularly on intensive dairy operations, has come to a grinding halt, and that’s causing real concern amongst many farmers, but it shouldn’t.

A payout in excess of $7/kg/MS should provide any well-run operation with enough income to service debt, pay wages, and fund a lifestyle the envy of many business owners, and yet a significant number are struggling to pay down debt. Obviously, the size of the debt is a genuine factor, however there’s something else, which unless addressed will continue to erode financial surpluses at an ever-increasing rate. The reality is that pasture production is steadily declining, at an ever-increasing rate, and it cannot be blamed entirely on drought and flood. Soil carbon levels have steadily decreased in the Waikato over the last thirty years at a rate of one tonne of carbon/ha/year, coinciding with the time over which synthetic nitrogen in the form of urea has been regularly used. Time will tell how direct that relationship might be however in the short-term having an accurate figure of total pasture grown each year is information all farmers should have at their fingertips, because it’s pasture that generates profit. Without accurate growth data for the current and previous season, decision making regarding fertiliser, supplementary feed, stocking rate, and calving/lambing dates is little better than guess work and that’s no longer good enough.

‘

We simply carried on without a sound business plan, believing that ever increasing land prices would keep the Bank at bay.

It was not data that I knew as a sharemilker, and as farm owners we should have made it our business to know, however it was easier not to. We simply carried on without a sound business plan, believing that ever increasing land prices would keep the Bank at bay. When the total annual pasture growth figure is known, particularly monthly growth rates, decision making becomes a whole lot simpler and fear of what might go wrong significantly declines. Based on accurate growth rates from an intensive dryland dairy unit near Edgecumbe

over the last 11 years a reasonable variation between a dry and ‘normal’ season is 4,000kgDM/ha. And it’s important to remember that there’s 1,500kgDM/ha of base pasture cover that can be utilised if necessary. The years of least growth are a result of dry summers with slow growth over the second half of January, February, and into March. By ensuring a 30-day grazing interval is obtained by Christmas the effect of a dry season doesn’t kick in until February, and its only when the normally reliable early March rain doesn’t arrive that a change in plan is required. With good data a worst-case scenario can be planned for and the steps of early culling and grazing off can be taken, followed by an early dry-off date if necessary, eliminating the skinny animal/no feed situation. Dry summers and autumns are never welcome, but they are part of farming and with a generous stash of hay/silage on hand the driest of seasons can be managed. Eliminating regular urea applications is a game changer. Synthetic N reduces soil car-

bon, or at best slows the rate at which it is sequestered, which is important as an extra 1% increase in soil carbon may result in an extra 144,000 litres/ha of moisture stored within the rootzone of pasture. Less synthetic N means an increase in clover and an abundance of clover protects the soil surface reducing evaporation. Even gumboot high mature clover remains highly palatable, nutritious, and digestible. Conversely when soil temperatures are above 20℃ grasses will produce a seed head with feed quality deteriorating and declining animal consumption. The usual counter is to graze to a lower level and increase the frequency of grazings resulting in shallow rooting plants, lots of bare earth, and a general feeling of despair. Autumn is the ideal time to gather the data necessary to carefully plan this winter’s and next season’s feed. When a total feed grown figure is obtained, formulating an effective fertiliser and feed management plan becomes much easier. For more information contact Peter on 0800 843 809.

March 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

Having a chat about water – the blood of the earth

A conversation about freshwater always turns heads around the table. What should be done with freshwater, who owns it, where and how it should be used, what’s the best way to look after it, now and in the future... the list goes on.

Elizabeth Soal ❚ by CEO ❚ Irrigation NZ

I recently went on a trip to USA and attended the Irrigation Leader Tour and annual Irrigation Leadership Conference. We visited many amazing water management and infrastructure sites and got the opportunity to speak and learn from numerous very knowledgeable people, as well as speak on behalf of irrigation and water use in New Zealand. One of the many places we visited was the Arizona Falls, a restored hydroelectric plant. Etched in a piece of concrete were the words “Agua es ia sangre de tierra” (Spanish) which translates to “water is the blood of the earth”. This is something that stood out to me as I believe water truly is the blood of the earth. Every living organism needs water to survive, which is why it is so important to create conversations about “Water for Life”… water for everyone, for now and for the future. It is an integral part to a sustainable and thriving New Zealand. Get involved with our 2020 Conference

Let’s talk: Irrigation NZ chief executive Elizabeth Soal is inviting all interested parties to join the water for life conversation.

and join the ‘Water for Life’ conversation. The Conference is being held in Canterbury at the Airforce Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch from 7-9 April 2020. IrrigationNZ hosts the Conference every second year, our last Conference was held in Alexandra in 2018. The Conference always attracts a wide range of people with an interest in water management and this year will be no different. We encourage attendance from everyone, whether you’re a farmer, involved with the irrigation service sector, regional or district council staff, government representatives, water management professionals or have a general interest in water and the environment there will be something at the event for you. The first day of the Conference will consist of the pre-conference tours. Two tours are on offer. One is about diving into diversification of farm land in Canterbury and what this has meant for farmers in the region. The other is our paddock to bottle tour, offering insight about how your beer ends up in a bottle. This will then be followed by the Conference Exhibition opening. More commonly

known as the irrigation expo, there will be over 45 exhibitors who will showcase technology involved with water use. It is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what’s available in this field and there’s bound to be something that may benefit you and your water management needs. Day two of the Conference will see some of the conversations really begin with over ten insightful speakers offering their knowledge. Some of these include MP for Bay of Plenty and National Party spokesperson for Agriculture Todd Muller, and CEO of Waimea Water Mike Scott. A panel discussion involving ANZ Agri-Economist Susan Kilsby, rural journalist and commentator Sarah Perriam, Otago Regional Councillor and farmer Gary Kelliher and Federation of Maori Authorities representative Traci Houpapa. This will be followed by MP and New Zealand First spokesperson for Agriculture and the Primary Sector Mark Patterson. The final speaker of the day is our keynote speaker Monty Teeter. Monty is visiting all the way from Kansas, USA he is the founder and CEO of Dragon Line Mobile Drip Irrigation.

CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

Visit: Diversiﬁcation of farm land in canterbury and what this means for farmers in the region is one of the tours available at this year’s IrrigationNZ Water for Life conference.

Listen up: a wide range of people with an interest in water management will have their say at the Water for Life conference run by IrrigationNZ. The second day will finish with the Conference Gala Dinner, an enjoyable time to network and be entertained. The Ron Cocks award will be awarded to an individual for their service to the irrigation industry. The Innovation Award will be made to the best innovation, discovery or achievement that makes a positive contribution, impact or benefit to irrigation in New Zealand. We are very grateful to have Ballance Agri-Nutrients sponsoring this, with a $2500 cash prize going to the winner.

The third and final day of the Conference will see Ag Research’s Dr Seth Laurenson speak on transforming landscapes using digital technologies and visualisation. This talk will be opened by Minister of Agriculture Hon Damien O’Connor. Following this there will be several future focused presentations, on how technology will support better farming outcomes, the future of water allocation in Aotearoa and water use and the future of farming. Water is without a doubt a highly discussed

topic in New Zealand and around the world. We at IrrigationNZ have created an event where we want people to walk away from it feeling educated. Feeling educated in a sense that they have learnt something, but also educated in a time of uncertainty about where water use choices are going in the future. It is unknown who will be in Government after the 2020 election and what policies will shape water use for not only farmers but, also communities. We want to help people feel more confident about where we are going as

a primary sector and what both IrrigationNZ and others see as a feasible option for where future water choices should lay. We believe there needs to be an overarching water strategy that’s guiding our decision making around water whether that’s quantity, quality, allocation or infrastructure. Does any of this interest you? Because, it most definitely interests me and I’m very excited for people to be a part of it. So, what are you waiting for? Register now and don’t miss out. See you soon.

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March 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

New award encourages sharing of ideas for sustainable freshwater management Encouraging farmers to share ideas for achieving sustainable freshwater management has motivated the launch of a new award this month – with a trip to the USA up for grabs.

❚ Article supplied by LindsayNZ

The Zimmatic Trailblazer - Sustainable Irrigation Awards aim to celebrate excellence in sustainable irrigation. With support from awards partners, the competition is being run by agricultural irrigation systems leader, Zimmatic. It will recognise farmers leading the way in responsible irrigation, innovative water management and environmental stewardship. The supreme award winner will receive a trip for two to the USA and be invited to join the Zimmatic team on a tour showcasing American irrigation advancements. Zimmatic Strategic Adviser Stu Bradbury says uncertainty around government policy and negative sentiment in national media has many New Zealand farmers questioning their farming future and social license to operate. “We want the Awards to get people talking about smart practices and innovative technology options farmers can use to improve their irrigation and freshwater management. “It’s also about promoting leadership across the primary sector. We’re looking for

Rewarded: The Zimmatic Trailblazer – Sustainable Irrigation awards will recognise farmers leading the way in responsible irrigation, innovative water management and environmental stewardship.

farmers who are in it ‘boots and all’ when it comes to water management. And then giving them a platform from which to share their stories with their peers and a wider audience.” The judges are looking for innovation in water management, steps taken to ensure sustainable water use on farm, and an obvious passion for protecting one of our most precious natural resources. Each entrant will be judged on the following categories: sustainable irrigation management; irrigation-driven improvements, which may include cost reductions, environ-

mental outcomes, yield improvements and/ or improved efficiencies; waterway protection; stewardship/community. Bradbury says the Awards are an opportunity to demonstrate the difference responsible irrigation and water management can make to farm productivity, the environment and the prosperity of our rural communities. “We want to tackle the tired, negative perception of irrigation. And we want to educate people about the role irrigation plays in the production of nutritious food and sustainable natural fibre, and how it is helping our economy thrive.”

Looking at the bigger picture, Bradbury says there is an opportunity for innovative farming pioneers to influence future generations. “These farmers have a role to play in strengthening the New Zealand success story as global leaders in sustainable and profitable farming. “Our team at Zimmatic is partnering with farmers and supporting them during uncertain times. We are providing them with expert technical advice and innovative solutions to help them future-proof their business. “These Awards are an opportunity for our industry partners, our dealer network and the farming community to join us in recognising those who are making a difference.” The Zimmatic Trailblazer – Sustainable Irrigation Awards is open to all farmers and farming operations within New Zealand and Australia with an irrigation system used on their property or properties. For more information about the awards or to make a nomination, visit www.irrigationtrailblazer.com

ARE YOU A TRAILBLAZER? THEN YOU COULD BE ON YOUR WAY TO THE USA Here at Zimmatic® we want to acknowledge the world-class leadership of New Zealand and Australian farmers with the introduction of the Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards. We’re keen to hear how you are working to lead the way in

sustainable water management, environmental stewardship, resource efficiency and waterway protection while having a chance to win an trip for two to America.

CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

How Irrigation New Zealand works ❚ Article supplied by IrrigationNZ

Irrigation New Zealand is a national membership organisation which looks after the interests of irrigating farmers, growers and the industry professionals that service them, as well as wider water-user groups. We actively engage with our members and other stakeholders in the delivery of irrigation best practice. We operate as a not-forprofit. IrrigationNZ has been established to: • Facilitate the adoption of best practice in irrigation and water management • Develop a world-class resource base of knowledge, information and statistics on irrigation in NZ • Provide effective communication and networks of the organisations and interests involved in irrigation and water management • Promote the story of irrigation in NZ • Work with local and central government to help shape strategy for water use.

Mission: Irrigation New Zealand looks after the interests of irrigating farmers, growers and the industry professionals that service them.

IrrigationNZ Strategy IrrigationNZ worked on updating our strategy in 2018. This work was needed as the coalition government has signalled a shift in focus for farming to low emission high value produce, and an increasing focus on nutrient limits. Public interest in water and irrigation also remains high. Using the strategy, we want to contribute to creating an environment where irrigation is part of a thriving and sustainable New Zealand. Through five pillars of work we want to ensure that water continues to support food production, contribute to the economy and support communities. These are: advocating for the sector; providing thought leadership; connecting people to move our industry forward; setting standards and providing information. As an organisation IrrigationNZ intends to continue to drive positive change from the ground up. We are doing this through irrigation training, technical standards and related accreditation programmes. We are also a key partner of the Good Farming Practice initiative launched by the government. We strongly advocate to all our irrigating members to implement Audited Farm Environment Plans. These demonstrate environmental commitment and if robustly audited, will help us show the results of all our efforts over time.

IrrigationNZ has developed and regularly reviews a set of principles that guide our advocacy activities: • Nobody owns water in New Zealand instead a permit is granted for its use. • All users of water have a responsibility to use it efficiently through the adoption of Good Management Practice. • Water is plentiful in New Zealand, however its efficient use requires sound planning, investment and management. • Water quality must not be unacceptably altered through irrigation. • Integrated catchment management underpinned by audited self-management is the optimal approach to water management. • Decision making must be informed through robust science and reflect community values. • There are multiple benefits from water infrastructure - its development and funding must reflect this. • Water charges in New Zealand should only be set to recover water supply and resource management. IrrigationNZ holds regular forums with our members to ensure we have a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities you face – this ensures we focus on what matters.

The forums also enable IrrigationNZ to gather feedback from our members so that we can understand what training, resources and other activities are required to support the uptake of irrigation best practice.

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If you’d like to receive information about the forums or you would like to start one up in your region, please email admin@irrigationnz.co.nz or contact 03 341 2225

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What’s on at Water for Life IrrigationNZ is using its biennial conference to lead the conversation on the future of water for Aotearoa, with this year’s theme being Water for Life.

The Water for Life Conference will be held in Christchurch at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, from the 7-9 of April 2020 and will bring together thought leaders and decisionmakers from across the irrigation and the wider water sector.

Conference programme Tuesday 7 April • Pre-Conference Tours The pre-Conference Tours are back for 2020 and will be held on Tuesday 7 April. There will be two tours to choose from: Tour 1: Diversification in Canterbury Over the last five years, there has been some exciting changes to Canterbury’s land use, from the introduction of hemp and quinoa, to expanded production of lilies and blackcurrants. Join us as we travel through Canterbury, stopping for lunch and presentations in Ashburton from some of the key growers and manufacturers of these crops Tour 2: Paddock to Bottle How does your beer get to the bottle? Join us on a discovery tour to Gladfield Malts in Dunsandel, and then onto the Wigram Brewing Company, to tour and taste the end product. The tours will start from the conference venue, the Air Force Museum of New Zea-

land (times TBC) and return by 5.15pm, for the Welcome Function in the venue Exhibition Hall. • 3.30pm-5.30pm: Conference Exhibition Open • 5.30pm-7.30pm: Welcome Function: Held in the exhibition hall

• •

Wednesday 8 April • 8.30am-9.00am: Conference Welcome and Opening: Powhiri, IrrigationNZ Chair Keri Johnston and John Penno • 9.00am-10.00am: The New Zealand Farming Story So Far • Giving value to water: the journey from a free to a treasured resource. Speaker: Keith Woodford • Living with elevated nitrate in our water; why and what’s to be done? Speaker: Dr Jenny Webster-Brown. • 10.30am-12.00pm: The Future – Resilience and Diversification • Opening: Todd Muller, MP for Bay of Plenty and National Party Spokesperson for Agriculture • A new business model enabling sustainable land use transformation: Susan Goodfellow, Leftfield Innovation • Waimea Community Dam, a public-private partnership to secure our region’s future: Mike Scott, CEO, Waimea Water • Sustainable crop production in CEA (Con-

•

trolled Environment Agriculture) – a grower’s story and future tech reality: Kylie Horomia, Autogrow 1.00pm-2.30pm: Panel Discussion: Whiskey and Water-the future of water infrastructure Moderator: Donna-Marie Leaver Panelists: Susan Kilsby, ANZ Agri-Economist; Sarah Perriam; Elizabeth Soal, CEO IrrigationNZ; Carl McGuiness, The Nature Conservancy; Gary Kelliher, Otago Regional Council; Traci Houpapa, FOMA. 3.00pm-4.30pm: Keynote topic: Making Every Drop of Water Count Opening: Mark Patterson, MP and New Zealand First Spokesperson for Agriculture and Primary Industries; Monty Teeter, Teeter Irrigation: Developer & CEO of Dragon-Line Mobile Drip Irrigation (Ulysses, Kansas). 7.00pm: Conference Dinner. Venue: Aircraft Hall

Thursday 9 April • 9.00am-10.00am: Keynote topic: Transforming Landscapes Using Digital Technologies and Visualisation. • Opening: Hon Damien O’Connor, Minister for Agriculture; Dr Seth Laurenson, Ag Research. • 10.30am-12.00pm: Future Focused Presentations • How technology will support better farm-

•

• • •

•

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ing outcomes: Invisible technologies, where is Agri in the world going: Stu Bradbury, Business strategy advisor, technologist, and thinker outside of squares. Reducing nutrient loss through irrigation efficiency: Greg Sneath, Fertiliser Association of New Zealand. Irrigation monitoring – helping farmers find their sustainable future: Jim Hargreaves SCADA Farm. Policy: the future of water allocation in Aotearoa Legal Implications: David Goodman and Sarah Eveleigh (Anderson Lloyd). Policy debates and social media-Don’t be a Drip: Chelsea Millar, Grass Roots Media Effects of irrigation on Canterbury soil water storage capacity: Sam Carrick, Landcare Research Water use and the future of farming The Future of Farming and Growing: Angela Hogg, FMG. The relative impact of soil variability on the value of VRI strategies: Joanna Short, Plant and Food Mt Cook Alpine Salmon: Brian Blanchard, Director of Aquaculture 1.00pm-1.30pm: CEO Wrap Up: Elizabeth Soal 1.30pm-1.45pm: Conference Closing: Keri Johnston (IrrigationNZ Chairwoman)

CANTERBURY FARMING

March 2020

Benefits of water storage and irrigation

Our water resources are very precious and therefore the way we use them and steward them is integral to a sustainable and thriving New Zealand.

At IrrigationNZ we believe there should be an overarching water strategy that’s guiding decision making around water, whether that’s quantity, quality, allocation or infrastructure. It was promising to see the Auditor-General take the same approach in the Reflecting on our Work about Water Management report which came out in February. In the report, Auditor-General John Ryan wrote that when his office set out to look at the way water was being managed in New Zealand, it expected to find clear national strategies and work programmes, strong systems for gathering information, good engagement with the public – especially Maori – and resourcing that reflected the scale of the issues. “We found that, although much good work is being done, all of these elements were not in place,” he said. “What we did not see was clear

‘

Water storage and irrigation contribute to environmental, community, cultural and economic wellbeing.

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agreement across central and local government about the vision for New Zealand’s water resources – the issues, objectives, and priorities for water management over the long term that all organisations, public and private, should seek to address. “For public organisations to manage water well, they need to know what they are trying to achieve and to monitor progress towards those goals.” IrrigationNZ has for many years been calling for an integrated and long-term strategic approach to the management of freshwater in New Zealand. We agree on all three of the points that: • A strategic and integrated approach would support the targeting of investment decisions • A stronger focus on implementation is needed when setting strategy • Long-term thinking is needed when setting a strategic and integrated approach The recent drought in Northland and water shortages in Auckland and many other regions of New Zealand this summer, as well as the increased number of bush fires, has demonstrated our need to have a long-term focus on the water which ensures the country’s resilience to climate change. Of course, as with any strategy, this must be based on data, fact, and science. This is why urgent investment in data and mapping of our water is needed.

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Procurement Manager, ❚ Wool ❚ PGG Wrightson Wool

Plan B or back to the drawing board

Remember being stunned by the result of the RWC quarter-final in 2007 in Cardiff – France 20 vs All Blacks 18? I’m not a betting man but I bet that all rugby followers remember the referee’s name.

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

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The All Black team comprised an outstanding group of individuals lead by a captain recognized as one of the best rugby players in the modern age, however as the game continued, I’m sure many fans were wondering when ‘Plan B’ would evolve? I’d also wager that at least one member of the All Black’s camp said after the final whistle, “Oh dear, back to the drawing board”, or words to that effect. If you have read a few Wool Perspective columns in the past, you might have the impression that now and again there are difficult periods for the wool industry, or that there are brighter periods for the wool industry now and again. When you have a producer/vendor and a buyer/exporter, price fluctuations mean different things to each. If spot prices for raw materials are strong, driven by demand outweighing supply, then the buyer/exporter may find delivery of forward-sold product difficult to achieve at a profit, due to added competition and, maybe, financial constraints, whereas the producer/vendor happily accepts the result. When the opposite occurs, each participant in the equation might swap attitudes, with a happy buyer but a not-so-happy vendor. Market price fluctuations also draw comment such as, “wouldn’t it be great to have market stability”. At the risk of being completely shot down in flames, and apart from extraordinary issues currently impacting on

‘

The latest health scare is creating complications for all exports at present, and just another blow to an already fragile coarse wool industry.

trade and transport, wool prices have largely been stable for the past few years – fine wools have been high and coarse wools have been low. So, what about Plan B? For the majority of New Zealand’s wool production being coarser than 32 microns, it maybe ‘Back to the Drawing Board’ if we (NZ) are to maintain an industry where growers are fairly rewarded for producing wool. A wool working group, made up from both within and outside of the industry, has yet to release any recommendations to the Agriculture Minister. The current systems in place to bulkstore wool bales, transfer ownership, dump greasy bales, scour greasy wool, HD press for shipment, and arrange shipping and export do, in fact, work well, but as demand for coarse wool

has weakened with a lack of generic promotion of NZ wool plus the continued global introduction and marketing of cost effective synthetic products, the economics of wool production are now seriously challenged. Current market prices for coarse wool are below the cost of production therefore it is difficult to convince farmers to run a dual-purpose sheep and the risk of losing years of genetic improvement is extreme. The latest health scare is creating complications for all exports at present, and just another blow to an already fragile coarse wool industry. I received a great gift last Christmas – Billy Connolly’s book entitled “Tall Tales and Wee Stories”. One story talks about the Scottish soccer team who Billy saw as disorganized wee guys with bluish white legs, compared to South American teams who turned up fit and strong – and how the Scots players should have introduced each other on the team bus on the way to the game and talked about how they could work together by passing the ball to each other before putting it into the opposition’s net, rather than an individual Scot player lose the ball to the other well drilled team, who already knew each other’s names, and passed the ball to each other before putting the ball into the Scot’s net causing the Scottish goal keeper to wave his arms around and yell expletives at his team. If you have heard or read the story you might understand what I’m saying? That’s my view.

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Cleaner streams to benefit health The good work deer farmers are doing to improve stream water quality is expected to have human health benefits.

❚ by Trevor Walton

For the birds: Waterbirds, like Pukekos, may cause more stream pollution than livestock, but their droppings don’t harbour the same harmful bugs. isms travel in the run-off, contaminating any waterway they enter. The presence of E. coli bacteria, which originates in the gut, is used to indicate whether a waterway has been contaminated by faeces. This is because E. coli is easier to test for than the other potentially harmful organisms found in ruminant droppings. While ducks may be a major source of E. coli in streams and some animal species may harbour more harmful organisms than

Contact phil.mckenzie@deernz.org or 0274 997 809 for more information about your local group.

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65 60 55 50 45 40 2014

2015

2016

2017

Season

2018

2019 DP1118

mals is very high. In an earlier study, published in 2015, Moriarty and others tested 206 deer faecal samples in Canterbury and Southland, finding campy in 13% of the samples, with a range of zero to 65% between sampling dates. This compares with other studies that have shown the incidence of campy to be as high as 81% in lamb faeces, 30% in sheep and 64% in cattle. AgResearch scientist Dr Richard Muirhead says if animal droppings are still identifiable as faeces in the paddock they will contain E. coli. When the droppings are washed off pasture during rain, E. coli and other gut organ-

Carcass weight (young deer)

While there is a public focus on nitrogen in waterways, sediment is a more important issue for deer. Not only does it contain valuable topsoil, it contains faeces and phosphorus. There has been only limited research into the impact of deer farming on water quality. But it is well-known that harmful bacteria that can make people ill are found in the faeces of all farm animals, including deer. Also, sediment can smother streambeds and estuaries, making them inhospitable for much aquatic life. A joint ESR/Environment Southland study has shown that wildfowl are the biggest source of faecal pollution in 80% of Southland rivers sampled. Pollution from cows, sheep, deer and goats was present in about half the samples, with levels increasing after rain. Unfortunately the study findings are not a get-out-of-jail-free card for farmers. That’s because ruminant faeces also contain disease organisms like campylobacter (‘campy’) and salmonella and the parasite, cryptosporidium. All are human health hazards. Environment Southland science manager and author of the Southland stream study, Dr Elaine Moriarty, says the risk of becoming sick after swimming in a river that contains bird pollution is low, while the risk of swimming in a river with even a small amount of faecal pollution from humans or farm ani-

others, if there is ruminant E coli in a waterway there is a high likelihood that other harmful organisms are also likely to be present. This means the practical solution for deer farmers is to continue their good work. To focus on those projects that have the greatest effect in terms of reducing the amount of sediment getting into waterways, says Deer Industry NZ environmental stewardship manager Lindsay Fung. “When deer farmers fence-off priority waterways, remove wallows that overflow into streams, install sediment traps and wetlands and carefully manage their winter grazing, waterway health improves. At the same time, the water will likely become safer for human activities,” he says. He encourages deer farmers wanting help with their farm environmental plans and tips on practical ways to reduce sediment runoff, to join a local Deer Industry Environment Group (DIEG). Each of these informal groups is made up of five to eight farms and has a focus on helping members write and/or implement their plans through a mix of mutual support and professional guidance.

March 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

Outback has X-factor New Zealand’s leading Subaru, the Outback SUV, has a new variant with the introduction of the Limited Edition Outback X. Article supplied by Subaru NZ

❚

For the first time in an Outback model, the Outback X features Dual-function X-Mode, which helps drivers safely negotiate challenging roads, slippery surfaces and inclines with confidence, by constantly monitoring the traction available to each wheel and centralising control of the engine, transmission, brakes and other components. The Outback X’s new Dual-function XMode includes settings for snow, dirt, and mud, and was first introduced in the new generation 2019 Forester. Dual X-Mode technology further enhances Subaru’s existing full time AllWheel Drive, which is renowned for delivering power from the ‘wheels that slip to the wheels that grip’. To compliment the Outback X’s rugged nature it also features water repellent seat fabric, protective strips in the boot, black 18” alloy wheels, front grille, wing mirrors and rear badging. To give it yet more of an X-factor, it also features green accents on the grille and side badges, plus the interior includes green stitching on the seats, centre

Outﬁited: The Outback X is equipped with Symmetrical all-Wheel Drive, a Boxer engine and crash avoidance technology as standard.

console, steering wheel and gear shift boot. Like all Subarus in New Zealand, the Outback X is equipped with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, a Boxer engine and clever crash avoidance technology EyeSight as standard. The sleek-looking Outback X also features satellite navigation, an electronic sunroof, rear power tail gate and a unique combination meter with white lighting rings and white interior illumination. Subaru of New Zealand Man-

aging Director Wallis Dumper said the Outback has evolved to be the vehicle most Kiwis now recognise the Subaru brand by. “It’s a stalwart SUV for us in what we call ‘Subaru Country,’ so this new Limited Edition X model is a great addition to the 2020 line-up and represents the most ‘Outback’ of all Outbacks in our 100% All-Wheel Drive range.” The Outback X is available for $49,990 + Orc, with the 2.5L model arriving in ﬁve colours. P

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Recovery equipment Ironman 4X4 have an extensive range of recovery equipment including snatch straps, recovery kits, highlift jacks and exhaust jacks. All come in sturdy carry bags and you can feel confident of having the right equipment should you get stuck.

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Ironman 4x4 shock absorbers are available in 35mm Nitro gas or 41mm Foam cell. These have longer travel and are built stronger to deliver performance in all conditions. Leaf and coil springs are made from high quality SUP9 steel and are available in different load ratings from ‘comfort’ to ‘extra constant load’.

Underbody Protection Ironman 4x4 have developed a range of underbody protection kits which give enhanced protection from rocks, mud and debris. These kits are made from 3mm and 4mm pressed steel, have easy bolt on installation with no drilling or welding required, allow oil changes without removal and are semi gloss powder coated for long life. Kits are available for most late model 4wd vehicles including Nissan, Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Isuzu and Mitsubishi.

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