Canterbury Farming, November 2020

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

November 2020 Edition

INSIDE

THIS EDITION

Talking the talk: West Coast dairy farmer Katie milne, who was the first female President of Federated Farmers in its 118-year history, has been recognised for her work by being named the 2020 Agricultural Communicator of the Year.

No-shear sheep

p5 Farmlands AgFest

p23 Wasp combat

West Coast dairy farmer wins communicator prize

Consistency of message, persuasiveness and common sense during a time of rural upheaval has seen former Federated Farmers President Katie Milne named 2020 Agricultural Communicator of the Year.

❚ by Kent Caddick p36 Groundwater levels

p51

The cash prize and pounamu trophy was presented to Milne by sponsors Ravensdown at the New Zealand Guild of Agricultural Journalists and Communicators awards night in Wellington last month.

Milne, a dairy farmer on the West Coast, was the first female President of Federated Farmers in its 118-year history and served between 2017 and 2020.

She advocated on behalf of farmers affected by M-bovis and helped spearhead the subsequent eradication programme. More recently she argued powerfully to have primary sector businesses recognised as essential services during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Milne told the awards night audience the secret is to believe in the indelible importance of the primary sector to New Zealand

and to know first-hand the efforts of farmers to leave their land better than they found it.

“We do the best we can with the current tools, knowledge and resources we have available,” Milne said.

“As our knowledge changes over time so do our farming practices - we need to trust our farmers to come up with innovative solutions to the challenges modern food production faces around producing more food from a carefully designed footprint.”

Guild president Jackie Harrigan said Milne’s win was justly deserved as she had communicated skilfully and tirelessly during a period of extraordinary pressure and change in the rural sector.

“Katie is persuasive because she knows and believes what she talks about. She has convinced sceptical politicians, officials and public about the immense work that farmers

are doing to improve freshwater, emissions, biodiversity, pest management and animal welfare,” Harrigan said.

“She has in turn convinced sceptical farmers to work even harder in all these areas on top of their essential work creating food for humans or livestock.

“Katie believes it is possible for New Zealand farming to prosper in an environmentally aware world, and those she talks to soon end up believing it as well.”

Ravensdown chairman John Henderson praised Milne’s astute representation of views of farmers.

“Katie believes farming can always be smarter and needs to continue to improve.

Ravensdown shares that belief and is delighted that the judges recognised how important her talent for communication has been to the sector,” Henderson said.

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November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Workshop to highlight groundcover options for pig farms Outdoor pig farmers are invited to attend a workshop in Canterbury next month to learn more about groundcover options on their farms.

❚ by Kent Caddick The interactive NZ Pork workshop, which will be held at Lincoln Events Centre on Tuesday, November 24, will provide information on establishing and managing appropriate pasture groundcover species for pigs, opportunities for alternative forage ingredients and crops in pig diets, and implementation of good management practices.

NZ Pork senior environmental adviser Hannah Ritchie said groundcover management is important for outdoor pig farms from a nutritional, health and environmental perspective.

“The workshop will be an opportunity for outdoor pig farmers to hear from expert speakers on a range of topics including outdoor pig health and production.”

Ritchie said there is no ‘one size fits all’ advice for managing groundcover for a pig operation and a range of groundcover species can be used on farm.

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Options: Groundcover for outdoor pig farms is the subject of a NZ Pork workshop being held in Lincoln this month.

“Free-draining soils best suited to pig production are those with the greatest risk of nutrient leaching into ground water,” she said.

“Groundcover captures and uses deposited nutrients and reduces nutrient losses and run-off.

“Ideally, an outdoor pig farmer should use species that grow well on their land and provide nutritional value for their pigs.”

The workshop is also open to non-

farmers from relevant industries, including agronomists, technical specialists, seed companies and feed company representatives, to help them better support outdoor pig farmers.

Numbers will be limited to ensure participants have opportunity to ask questions and discuss their specific pig nutrition and groundcover requirements.

For further details, email info@nzpork.co.nz

‘

Photo: Patoa Farms

Groundcover reduces nutrient losses and run-off.

Hannah Ritchie NZ Pork

FARMING NEWS

CANTERBURY FARMING November 2020

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Canterbury historic farming homesteads featured Some of Canterbury’s best loved rural homesteads feature in a new book which celebrates New Zealand’s rich architectural heritage of rural homesteads.

❚ by Kent Caddick The book, ‘Homesteads’, is written by Debra Miller and superbly illustrated by one of New Zealand’s foremost photographers Jane Ussher.

Miller said discovering such architectural riches at the end of remote rural roads has been a thrill, but also at times overwhelming.

“How to do justice to such unique properties and the expansive stories of the personalities who shaped them?

“In the end my approach has been to celebrate the character of each property as it can be found today, with a modest amount of historical context provided so that its contribution to New Zealand’s built heritage and rural development can be truly appreciated,” Millar said.

“New Zealand’s grand rural homesteads may not match England’s country manor houses in size or status, but they are among the most substantial homes ever built in this country.

“Often inspired by the stately English homes their owners left behind, the local equivalents nevertheless responded to their colonial context, as well as to the variety of functions they served at the centre of a working farm.”

Amon gther Canterbury homes to feature in the book are the homesteads at Mount Peel Station, Longbeach Estate, Blue Cliffs Station, Surrey Hills Station and Terrace Station.

“Homesteads shares a remarkable legacy of this country’s rural heritage. These houses are among some of New Zealand’s most iconic, many of them surrounded by spectacular gardens, and all of them still lived in today.”

The houses span a period of 70 years, with the earliest homesteads dating from the 1860s. Most still lie at the heart of a large farm or station and retain furnishings, artworks and artefacts dating back to their nineteenth-century origins.

They exhibit a diverse range of architectural styles and construction techniques in response to their geographical location – timber being most prevalent in the north, with brick and stone favoured further south.

Local architects were involved in the design and construction of each homestead featured, albeit with some houses modelled closely on the grand country homes their nineteenth-century founders left behind in England.

The book features an extraordinary range of architecture, interiors and gardens, and brings the past into the present day.

Their gardens also pay homage to their founders’ English origins, with some of them home to some of New Zealand’s largest exotic trees and other rare plant specimens.

Jane Ussher’s evocative photographs capture the unique character and idiosyncrasies of each homestead, while Debra Millar explores the stories of human endeavour that have shaped these prominent rural proper-

Famous: Mid-Canterbury’s Longbeach Estate homestead features on the cover a new book which includes some of the country’s most famous historic rural homes. ties through generations. Current owners share their experience of living in such historically significant homes, including the demands associated with maintaining them for future generations.

Aside from the Canterbur y homesteads

the book features the Puketiti Station on the North Island’s East Coast, Oruawharo and Gwavas Garden in Hawke’s Bay, Merchiston Station in Rangitikei, Pukemarama Station in Manawatu and Kuriheka Estate in North Otago.

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November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Farmers share Labour’s vision for sustainability, it’s a question of how We can pick over the what-ifs and whys of the election results till the cows come home but the fact is, the people have spoken.

Now we all need to get on with it, and seek the best for New Zealand and New Zealanders.

Andrew Hoggard ❚ by President Federated Farmers of NZ ❚

Congratulations to Labour; it was a very comprehensive victory. It was particularly pleasing to see existing MPs such as Jo Luxton, Kiri Allan, and Kieran McAnulty do well in provincial seats as well as some others with a strong rural background becoming MPs. They have been positively engaged with Federated Farmers and farmers over the last three years, gaining significant respect from the primary sector. If they are rewarded with more responsibilities this is likely to strengthen the voice of rural communities within government.

There have been a number of significant ‘casualties’ from the vote. Our commiserations and thanks for all of those who sought office and missed out. It’s no small undertaking to represent a community in Parliament.

I’d especially like to single out NZ First agriculture spokesperson Mark Patterson, who put his heart and soul into working for rural New Zealand.

So, what does the election result mean for farmers and Federated Farmers?

Firstly, it’s important to remember that we have increasing demand from overseas for our agricultural products, we have world-leading environmental sustainability for our production, on top of no government subsidies.

We have a fantastic story to tell.

For most of 2020 and for each of the next few years there will be a $10 billion-plus hole in the economy left by disruption to international tourism. The primary industries will be key to export earnings and our ability to start paying back some of the billions borrowed during the pandemic response.

Those simple facts mean the incoming government will need to be pragmatic around how they proceed. They need the primary sector to be prospering, not bunkering down for three years.

Federated Farmers is committed to a positive working relationship with the new administration. We share the vision for sustainability and environmental stewardship, now we have to work together to find the best and most practical way to achieve it.

The election result has given the Labour Party opportunity to work with farmers from the ground up, catchment by catchment, not with blanket rules that don’t take account of the particular topography, geography and production characteristics of different districts.

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Significant changes, not mere tinkering, will be required if the freshwater regulations are to achieve the environmental improvements we all seek, in a way that enables the primary sector to prosper.

Our message to Jacinda Ardern and her new Cabinet is that the more your government is able to minimise disruption to farmers’ livelihoods through smart and targeted regulations, or indeed staying out of it and letting current sustainability momentum continue, the better placed we will be to support regional economies and the national economy.

Significant changes, not mere tinkering, will be required if the freshwater regulations are to be fit for purpose and are to achieve the environmental improvements we all seek, in a way that enables the primary sector to prosper.

Federated Farmers’ two other top priori-

ties are sensible policies to do with the RMA and climate change. We seek a complete overhaul of the cumbersome and costly Resource Management Act, but with retention of the ‘effects-based’ ethos, and the requirement to balance economic as well as environmental, social and cultural well-beings.

Regional and District Plans should provide a smoother and less expensive pathway for activities to occur, with any requirements for resource consent to be better aligned with the scale of the activity’s potential environmental impact.

Given that both main parties signalled a desire to completely replace the RMA, then hopefully we will see action and maybe even bi-partisan action here.

We also want to see progress, but also recognition of the science, on greenhouse gas emissions. Latest scientific modelling concludes that biogenic methane reductions of 10% by 2050 are more than enough for New Zealand’s net livestock methane emissions to no longer contribute to additional global warning.

On these fronts and others, we need policies that are achievable, practical and wellgrounded in science.

Once again, congratulations to all those who have gained office. We look forward to working with you in the three years ahead.

There’s a mountain of work to do if we’re to achieve the right settings and certainty the primary sector needs to invest in the technology that will drive gains for production and the environment.

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FARMING NEWS

CANTERBURY FARMING

November 2020

5

No shear-sheep ‘perfect fit’ on Mt Cass Station At a time of depressed wool prices, Mt Cass Station is hosting an open day to allow farmers to see how no-shear Wiltshires perform in a commercial environment.

❚ by Sandra Taylor The 1800ha hill country coastal property near Waipara is farmed using organic principles by Sara and Andrew Heard and five other shareholders, including well-known organic producer Tim Chamberlain.

It is under this low-input system that the Wiltshires come into their own, with their inherent internal parasite resistance and resilience. But most importantly, they don’t need shearing, dagging or crutching and they don’t get flystrike.

As Andrew pointed out, all the jobs associated with running sheep are significantly reduced which means savings in shearing, labour and agrichemical costs.

“They are more like running cattle,” Andrew said.

Mt Cass has been running Wiltshires for 12 years, after they bought their first Wiltshire rams to put across the farm’s existing mid-micron ewes along with some Wiltsire ewe lambs.

Since then they have breeding and selecting and now run an even line of 8,300 Wiltshire ewes alongside their Wiltshire stud which they established to meet a growing demand for their genetics. Mt Cass will be holding its first on-farm ram and surplus ewe lambs on 20 January next year.

Andrew said there has been growing interest in Wiltshires from farmers frustrated by on-going depressed wool prices and the work associated with wool production.

He said the progression to a no-shear flock is quite rapid and in the first-cross, the progeny typically has no wool on their bellyso no belly crutching. Within a couple of generations crutching, dipping and flystrike is eliminated and within three to four generations so too is shearing.

While they don’t produce wool, the Wiltshire are good meat producers, weaning 135-145% of their hill country. Around 40% of the lamb crop is sold prime pre-Christmas at 16.5-17.5kg carcass weight.

Shearing the love: Shareholders Tim Chamberlain (left) and Andrew Heard are opening up mt Cass Station this month to allow farmers to see how no-shear Wiltshires perform in a low-input environment.

No fuss breeed: Wiltshires perform well in a hill country environment and don’t need shearing, crutching or dagging.

Andrew, a former fine-wool producer, said Mt Cass and its organic system is an ideal testing ground for genetics and he has been impressed by the Wiltshires ability to per-

form on their hill country without the support of inputs.

“I miss the wool but I don’t miss producing something that’s worth nothing and has

a lot of associated costs, added stress and labour.”

The Mt Cass Station open day will be held on Friday, November 20, from 1pm to 4pm.

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November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Time is quickly running out Labour shortage: The National Party is hearing stories of orchardists who can’t find workers, vegetable croppers who have no one to operate machinery, vineyards worried their grapes will rot on the vine before they are ever harvested.

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David bennett ❚ by National Party spokesperson ❚ for Agriculture ❚

As harvest season fast approaches, farmers and growers across the country are under intense pressure to find seasonal labour to support them through the summer.

Since the closure of New Zealand’s border in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of getting both skilled and unskilled workers into the country has been at the forefront of primary producers’ minds.

Every year almost 15,000 migrant workers enter New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. As the Covid-19 border restrictions remain in place it is impossible for the RSE scheme to continue to operate. With access to this huge workforce blocked off, the race is on for farmers and growers to find local labourers to plug the gaps.

But what we have seen is there just isn’t enough New Zealanders to compensate for the loss of tens of thousands of seasonal workers.

Agricultural and horticultural businesses not only need to compensate for the loss

It has almost been radio silence from the beehive and, as yet, no tangible Government support has been offered to our primary

of RSE workers from the Pacific but also the loss of skilled labourers who often travel from the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Rural Contractors of New Zealand say they require a minimum of 200 skilled machine operators before harvest season begins.

The wool industry has estimated they need 300 qualified shearers by November.

Time is running out quickly.

From the moment these issues first came to light, National has been urging the Government to get involved and support our farmers and growers to find a solution. We have spent months asking the Government to understand the strain that our primary sector is under as they scramble to find workers.

We are constantly hearing stories of busi-

nesses that are facing financial ruin; orchardists who can’t find workers, vegetable croppers who have the agricultural machinery but no one to operate it, vineyards that are worried their grapes will rot on the vine before they are ever harvested.

Yet it has almost been radio silence from the Beehive and, as yet, no tangible Government support has been offered to our primary producers.

The primary industries need a plan and urgently. We know there are workers overseas who are keen to come to New Zealand, as they always have, to work the harvest season. It’s just a matter of getting this labour into New Zealand quickly and safely.

The Labour-led Government has produced

producers. no solution to this growing issue. If the primary sector is going to thrive, the Government needs to work with the industry – not against it.

We need creative solutions and agricultural policy that is developed in a timely manner. Our farmers and growers are the best in the world, and at a time of economic crisis they are doing the heavy lifting to support New Zealand’s recovery.

We need the Government to be committed to working with farmers and growers to create the best possible future for our primary industries.

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

November 2020

7

Fatalities a sober reminder WorkSafe has been notified of four fatalities on New Zealand farms in the last month. Two involved tractors in Te Kuiti and Hastings, another involved a child in a dairy shed in Opotiki, and on Monday there was a quad bike rollover in Central Hawke’s Bay.

❚ by Kent Caddick Investigations have been opened into all four incidents. The two tractor incidents appear to have involved tractor drivers feeding out on steep terrain. Initial reports indicate that the tractors may have slipped causing the drivers to lose control.

WorkSafe said understands the dairy shed incident involved a piece of machinery, while the quad bike incident occurred on steep terrain. The investigations taking place will inform an accurate picture of the events but WorkSafe engagement lead for agriculture Al McCone, said immediate lessons from the events should be quickly heeded by others in the industry.

“This is the time of year where a lot of work is taking place. Farm work consists of a never-ending list of tasks and constant reprioritisation as weather, commodity prices and other factors outside and inside the farmer’s influence change” McCone said.

“It is a time of variable weather and growth, and variable ground surface condi-

Prevention: Following four recent fatalities on New Zealand farms WorkSafe is reminding farmers to reduce the risk of harm on their properties which could include installing crush protection on quad bikes.

tions. Slope surfaces are especially tricky at this time of year. There is also a shortage of contractors and some farmers will be doing tractor work that normally a contractor might do with equipment better suited to the task.

“We cannot let these challenges contribute to loss of life or injury, and the people with the most power to influence this are those on the ground each day doing the work.”

McCone said seatbelts should also be worn when doing farm work. “Mistakes happen and your seatbelt might be the difference between a sore neck and a broken one.”

He said understanding the role children play in a farming business is also critical.

“Too often we are seeing children fatally injured in the workplace.

“That extends beyond the farm into other industries as well. From experience, we know

that keeping an eye on them can be hard in a busy workplace. “If your kids need to go to work with you, have a system in place that isolates them from where work is happening or where risks may be present.”

McCone’s recommendations for reducing the risk of harm on farm this season include: Prioritising tractor and machinery maintenance. That should include attachments, good tyres and brakes.

Tired people make mistakes. Do difficult things earlier in the day – save the easy stuff for later. If your vehicle is fitted with a seatbelt – you should be using it.

Consider installing crush protection on your quad bike. Ensuring that the vehicle is safely stopped and brakes are engaged before leaving the vehicle.

Ensuring that machinery with moving parts has the appropriate guarding fitted and in use.

Don’t be afraid to seek assistance when you need to – neighbouring farmers are always more than willing to offer a lending hand.

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November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Counting the cost of fire damage eugenie Sage ❚ with Green Party spokesperson ❚ for Primary Industries ❚

We are currently in negotiations to determine the final form of the Government. Regardless there is a strong mandate for progressive change as we recover as a country from Covid-19.

I’m proud of the Green Party’s Farming for the Future plan that we campaigned on to support farmers and growers transition to climate-friendly practices and hope that the plan helps shape government policy.

While the focus right now is on government formation I also want to reflect on the recent fires.

It was only a few weeks ago that Lake Ohau village and surrounding land were devastated by fire. It was heart breaking to meet with affected locals who had lost their homes. Everyone survived thanks to the community having a fire plan, and calm, courageous work by local residents, emergency services and firefighting teams.

Human activities such as controlled burns getting out of control, machinery, and infrastructure such as powerlines, cause most fires. The Department of Conservation’s land management practices do not cause fires.

While reducing fuel loads can reduce fire intensity, it does not go to the root cause of reducing ignition sources.

All public conservation land is generally covered in some type of vegetation’ so “fireproofing” it by grazing is largely unachieva-

The last few weeks have been busy with campaigning resulting in a great election result for the Green Party, with at least two more Green MPs.

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tussock burns very well, which is why stock are lost in fast moving grass fires such as at the ohau fire.

ble. Even grazed tussock burns very well, which is why stock are lost in fast moving grass fires such as at the Ohau fire.

Over the past two years, Land Information New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries and Environment Canterbury have spent approximately $755,000 on controlling weeds and pest plants in the Lake Ohau area. Wilding pine infestations had been completely re-

Need a hand to get your environmental practices sorted?

Get in touch with your local Land Management Advisor for free advice on making positive changes to your farm environment and water quality by calling 0800 324 636.

Our team can help you to: • Be efficient with your irrigation and strategic with your fertiliser • Plan your winter grazing to reduce run-off and soil loss • Identify biodiversity hotspots and learn how to protect them • Understand the rules that apply to your farming activity.

More information resources and information on the Farmers’ Hub at www.ecan.govt.nz/farmers-hub

even grazed

moved from public conservation land in the Ohau fire area. They remain on private land.

The Pukaki and Ohau fires highlight the urgency of taking bold action on climate change. The latest climate report from Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ, Our Atmosphere and Climate released in midOctober, highlighted the increasing risks. It says fire danger is projected to increase by

an average of 70 percent by 2040.

LINZ and DOC are working with FENZ, local councils, and other agencies to ensure there are strategies to face this growing risk.

While we need to work on developing those strategies and reducing the risk of people, machinery and infrastructure starting fires; we also need to quickly tackle greenhouse emissions to reduce the longer term risk.

That’s exactly what the Green Party’s policies on farming, transport, and energy plan to do.

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

November 2020

9

Legacy issues, the good and the bad

Jenny Hughey ❚ by Chair, ❚ Environment Canterbury A legacy can be a good thing, especially if it comes as a surprise from a well-to-do relative.

But not all legacies are so positive. In fact, many are just the opposite – historic problems left for others to deal with later, sometimes at great expense.

Not-so-good legacies, particularly environmental legacies, can take two forms. We often worry about our actions now and what we may be leaving for the next generations to deal with. Naturally we all want to ensure the best possible legacy for them.

But at the same time, we have been left various legacies ourselves, which many would call poisoned chalices or hospital passes. These are problems and issues not properly sorted by our predecessors, with the onus now on us to do something about them.

It’s hardly news that Canterbury has legacy issues to deal with. The region’s size, physical geography and long history of predominantly rural land-use means Environment Canterbury has to grapple with quite a number of legacy issues.

Most are historic, going back many decades or longer. But there are also more recent environmental stains which need mopping up and the land improved to a state better than it was before it was impacted.

The most obvious legacy issues affecting our land are from the dumping of rubbish and nasty chemicals over the years – hazardous substances such as asbestos, corroding metals, leaking battery acid and old leadbased paints among others.

The historic chemical treatment of soils, or of plants or products in or on the ground, using outdated DDT-based products has also

poisoned small areas of earth which remain contaminated to this day. Some industrial sites have also left behind issues we must deal with.

Environment Canterbury has a good understanding of where these contaminated sites are. But the smaller local dumps that most towns and communities around the region

had are much harder to pinpoint – they can be many decades out of sight and out of mind until they are re-discovered.

The terrific flooding event on the West Coast in March 2019 has heightened our sensitivities to these community dumps and what may be buried in them.

More than 135 tonnes of historic rubbish was scoured from the old Fox Glacier dump when the Cook River/Weheka burst its banks. Plastic and metal waste raced down the river, through the Westland-Tai Poutini National Park, before being washed up on long stretches of pristine beach.

Volunteers are still finding some of that rubbish in bush and along the coast more than 18 months later.

One of the more recent legacy issues for the region and Environment Canterbury to grapple with is nitrate levels from intensive dairy farming.

The concerted efforts of farmers, industry and experts at the regional council have started to turn things around when it comes to nitrate leaching, but there remain a lot of unknowns.

It is not easy to pinpoint exactly when nitrates began percolating into groundwater, and still not clear how long they will take to go through the system, allowing levels to improve.

These legacy issues show us that, while on the surface we may appear to have a healthy and “green” environment, below ground there can be issues lurking which require all our efforts to resolve.

Environment Canterbury would like to hear from anyone who is aware of any legacy issues that we may not have already recorded or started working on.

It is in all our best interests to clean these sites up as much as we can.

As always, I look forward to hearing your ideas or any comments you may have. Please email me at Councillor.

Hughey@ecan.govt.nz

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November 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

bessie Paterson LLb ❚ with Ronald ❚ W Angland & Son

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

The new trusts regime

The new Trusts Act which was passed late in 2019 will come into full force on January 30, 2021.

viewed it over this year.

The new act makes radical changes to the law relating to trusts.

In past issues of Canterbury Farming we have already considered the major new obligations imposed on trustees, the rights of beneficiaries of a trust and the administering of the LAWYERS trust in accordance with the trust deed and the new law on trusts.

The law on perpetuities has also been altered. It was always recognised that trusts should not remain in existence forever but the rule Leeston (03) 324 3033 on vesting of the trust propEmail: lawyers@anglands.co.nz | www.anglands.co.nz erty was difficult for most Solicitors of Selwyn since 1965 people to understand.

The new rule is that trusts may exist for 125 years although a shorter period may Golden Bay Dolomite be expressed in the trust NZ’s most loved magnesium. deed. That does not apply to charitable trusts or some superannuation trusts or where there is authority for the trusts to continue beyond 125 years. call 0800 436 566 or visit Under the Age of Majoriwww.dolomite.co.nz ty Act everyone attains their

The time delay was to give people involved with trusts time to review their trust and consider whether it is working as it should.

Everybody who has a trust should have re-

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majority at 20 years but under the new trust law the age of majority for express trusts is 18. There is also provision that a sole trustee cannot be the sole beneficiary of their trust.

There have been many instances where a settlor has set up a “sham trust.” A trust is deemed to be a sham where a settlor administers the trust assets as if they were his/ her own property without regard to the rights of the beneficiaries or reference to the other trustees. The Courts are often required to decide whether a trust is a genuine trust or whether it has been set up with no intention to create a genuine trust. This is often what occurs in relationship property disputes where one party alleges that their property is all in a trust.

In future the requirements for transparency in respect to the creation and workings of trusts should discourage most of us from resorting to such nefarious activities. To avoid an enquiry into whether a trust is genuine it is essential that trustees record in writing all of their decisions about the trust property, all trustees must be involved in all decision making, convene a meeting at least once annually to review the trust, and keep proper accounts and file tax returns.

Trusts still have a significant role to play in our lives. They are a major protection against creditors should a business venture fail, pro-

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Trusts still have a significant role to play in our lives. review your trust before the new act takes effect.

vide protection for family members of a settlor especially where the settlor does not have confidence in their child’s financial acumen, and the reduction of claims against an estate.

The main disadvantage of a trust is the settlor’s loss of ownership of the assets when they have been transferred to a trust and to a lesser extent the cost of setting up and transferring assets to a trust.

It is not too late to review your trust before the new act takes effect at the end of January.

This article has been prepared by bessie Paterson, a partner at ronald W Angland & Son, 2 Chapman Street, Leeston

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New freshwater rules and winter grazing As many farmers are now aware, the Government’s new essential freshwater requirements cover a range of regulations covering a range of practices such as stock exclusion from water bodies, and winter grazing.

Aaron milnes ❚ by ❚ Helmore Stewart Lawyers

Intensive winter grazing

The post-election landscape is unlikely to impact the phased integration of the new rules which have applied since 3 September 2020.

The changes to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) will be implemented by Regional Councils as they review and, if required, update their regional and catchment plans.

Regional Councils will have four years to work with their communities on putting into place the new NPS-FM requirements and another two years to have these operative.

Despite lobbying from farmers, there are still significant challenges to the farming proposition.

Under the new rules, grazing stock on a winter forage crop (1 May to 30 September in any one year) is permitted where the following standards can be achieved: • no more than 50 hectares or more than 10% of the property, whichever is the greatest – ie for a property of 1,000 hectares, the threshold will be 100 hectares, whereas on a property of 300 hectares, the threshold is 50 hectares.

• the cropped paddock that has a mean slope of 10deg or less.

• the crop is set back by 5 metres or more from waterways.

• pugging is not deeper than 20cm. Pugging covers no more than 50% of the paddock, regardless of depth.

• paddocks are re-sown by 1 October, (1

November if in the Otago or Southland regions). All winter cropping needs to be resown as soon as practicable, or • the activity has a certified freshwater farm plan.

Hill country farms (land over 10deg slope) and farms which are unable to meet the permitted activity standards will need a resource consent by 1 May 2021.

The winter grazing rules are the ones with the most urgent impact as farmers are already implementing plans about paddock and crop selection for next Winter.

The rules are stringent. All winter grazing on a mean slope greater than 10deg will need a consent, and the area cannot be greater than what has already been under a winter forage crop from 2014–2019.

It is critical that farmers be proactive in

working with their communities and Regional Councils over the next 3-5 years to influence these regional plans and ensure that the plans are pragmatic, and that there is a sensible balance between the rules and environmental risk.

It will be essential that fact specific and catchment specific outcomes are brought about, so that effects based approaches to managing land use can primarily come through regional plans. It appears to us that the principle of “subsidiarity” would be a helpful prism from which to view and manage land use change, whereby the local communities that have the competence to deal with tailored approaches can position themselves to target and manage environmental outcomes, rather than having a skewed reliance on national policy.

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November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

Your livestock taxation scheme Well, it’s that time of the year where agri-business accountants are in full swing preparing our clients’ annual Financial Statements.

Alister Stevenson ❚ by ❚ Alexander and Associates Ltd The agri-business accounting factory is in full production mode and you will no doubt have already had your financial results or are about to find out your results.

With this in mind, there are many points of discussion and special agri-business terms that you, as clients, may see in your financial statements, which you may not fully understand and have wondered, “What does that really mean?” Let me try and demystify a couple of these for you.

Livestock taxation: Herd Scheme vs National Standard Cost Scheme If you are a livestock farmer, you will be valuing your stock on hand at year’s end, using one of the above valuation methods, or perhaps a combination of the two.

What are the key points to note around the valuation of closing stock and the use of these valuation methods?

Herd Scheme (HS) or National Average Market Value (NAMV) is a market valuation of your closing stock at year’s end, based on the average value of the individual livestock groups from around New Zealand. It is a national average, not a regional average.

This progress is followed by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue across all the livestock groups and regions in New Zealand to produce a set of values to use at year’s end - normally, these average values are announced by Inland Revenue in mid-May each year.

The National Standards Cost Scheme is a cost based valuation method, where the values are once again determined by the Inland Revenue Commissioner. Given this scheme is cost-based, these values will always be lower than the herd values.

The Inland Revenue Commissioner, in February of every year, will determine, with the assistance of beef-lamb, what it costs to rear and grow (R&G) livestock to one year of age and the same process is used to determine what it costs to rear and grow livestock to two years of age.

For female breeding stock, this process stops at rising two years of age, but for steers, bulls and stags, a third year of costs are added to provide a rearing and growing cost to three years of age.

Both of these schemes have advantages and disadvantages, and many livestock farmers will use a combination of the two schemes.

A couple of advantages for each scheme: National Standard Cost • A flexible scheme, where the change in value each is taxable, usually the increase (or decrease) is minor.

• The use of the NSC does minimise the tax cost of increasing stock numbers.

Herd Scheme • Any change in value is tax free; that is, if the Herd Scheme value for 2th ewes increases by $40 between the two tax years, you will not pay tax on this change in value (unlike the NSC Scheme).

• Usually by using the Herd Scheme, there will be minimal tax to pay when ceasing farming because your stock will already be valued in your Financial

Statements at somewhere near a market value.

A couple of disadvantages for each Scheme: National Standard Cost • A possible large tax cost when ceasing to own livestock, your book value will be low and the market value will be high.

Herd Scheme • Once you are in the Herd Scheme, you can’t exit.

There is a possible high tax entry cost to move stock across to the Herd Scheme.

It is fair to say that there are some technicalities around the use of these two livestock schemes, and both do have an impact on your annual tax calculation, so it is best that you have a basic understanding of how it all works.

Ask your accountant to explain the theory behind the process; that is, if you haven’t already.

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November 2020

13

Taking a look at the stock market Stock markets have delivered a second successive quarter of strong gains.

Andrew Wyllie ❚ with ❚ Forsyth Barr

This report covers the three months ended September 30, 2020.

Growing earnings optimism The recently finished reporting season, when companies report their financial results to markets, saw better-than-expected outcomes both in New Zealand and offshore.

Businesses and economies are adapting to live with the virus. The ‘working from home’ theme is becoming a (at least semi) permanent theme in many economies, with many people moving out of the cities and into the suburbs.

While many countries are seeing new virus cases hitting new highs, hospitalisations and deaths are at a fraction of levels seen earlier in the year. The risk of most economies being completely shut down again is low.

Reflecting more buoyant than expected economic conditions, analysts are now generally lifting earnings expectations for this year and the year ahead. Investors should be confident that, in general, the trough in earnings is behind us, and a recovery is underway.

Uncertainty still ahead, but stick to the plan

The commentary above all sounds pretThis column is general in nature and should not ty positive. And clearly equity markets have be regarded as personalised investment advice. responded favourably. But these remain unDisclosure Statements are available for Forsyth barr precedented (that word again) times.

Authorised Financial Advisers on request and free We’re still navigating the first global panof charge. demic in over a century. Interest rates are the lowest in history, which may lead to economic imbalances longer term.

Governments are spending money with abandon, funded largely by central banks printing money, but this can’t last forever. And early next month we have the important United States election. It’s very possible When you are thinking about your we might not know the actual investment options, talk to Forsyth Barr result for a month or more after the actual election date.

To get personalised investment advice and Given the recovery in eqportfolio management specific to your investing

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CHC6189-01 - December 2019

The performance of financial asset prices since March has surprised just about everyone. This is testament to the unprecedented (a word used a lot at the moment) support provided by central banks and governments around the world.

Whilst most stock markets did take a breather in September, we continue to expect demand for equities will be underpinned by investors seeking returns in an ultra-low interest rate world.

In October the United States Federal Reserve projected there would be no lift in interest rates until at least the end of 2023, and the market is pricing in the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s cash rate to be negative from April 2021.

Those waiting with cash in the bank for higher deposit rates are likely to remain disappointed.

In addition to stock markets, another beneficiary of ultra-low interest rates is the housing sector. Around the world house sales, prices, and construction demand have all recovered strongly.

The importance of housing to the broader economy should not be underestimated. Increased housing activity is reflected in areas such as retail, manufacturing, transport, and even the auto industry.

Stronger house prices and the positive wealth effect on homeowners is reflected in stronger consumer sentiment and retail sales. Demand for trucks and vans also tend to rise as those involved in the construction industry gain confidence.

For those moving out of the cities and into the suburbs or further afield, a new or second family car is often required for the first time. This has all contributed to the betterthan-expected resilience of economies this year.

uity market values since March, we note that: (1) markets are able to remain resilient in the face of bad news, (2) share prices reflect the long-term earnings companies will generate over the years and decades ahead, not just the next six to 12 months, and (3) it’s not possible to consistently time or predict short-term movements in markets.

Overall, it’s important to establish and remain committed to an investment plan which meets your long-term goals.

14

November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

❚ with John Arts

❚ with rob Cope-Williams

Let the games begin So, the election is over, the numbers counted, and the next three years will unfold one way or another.

While the pro Government folk will quietly smile, others will, no doubt, fasten amour and prepare for battle.

The farming community has, historically, been very pro National and latterly ACT, but I understand that many voted Labour to keep the Green party off the governing benches.

That was successful, but some would suggest fraught with danger, as Labour can now dictate what they want to happen with such things as the RMA, gun laws and many other aspects that farming really don’t need.

OK, Labour has lost the luxury of blaming unpopular decisions on their partner, the Greens, but as a monolith they have at least three years to make whatever laws they wish.

I noted that Damien O’Connor came out very quickly and stated his position on the farming community by saying: “Campaigns against water and climate policy have clearly been overstated.

Look, they were beaten up for political reasons and that’s a bit unfortunate because rural New Zealand feels a bit battered and the reality is that everyone wants the same thing – the farmers will say that – it’s just a question of how far and how fast I think we’re on track to actually get some unity and actually put provincial New Zealand, put the farm-

Osteoarthritis and cartilage loss

ers and what we produce at the premium end of the world market.”

While other segments of our nation will be pushing their own barrows, I do hope that farming organisations will go to the “table” and discuss solutions and methods to help put us on the world markets.

If that means a campaign to explain to the “if it bleeds, it leads” type media that for example, live exports are not a death sentence, and in fact there are many ships that don’t get caught in storms, and that there is a very healthy industry exporting very valuable stock by air to other countries, so be it.

Water and rivers will always be a tricky one, but again the main stirrers are no longer in the main line up.

If I were to be an industry leader based in Wellington, I would be suggesting very strongly to the Minister the need for an offthe-record discussion over a weekly luncheon to ensure that the communication lines were wide open and there was no doubt about what was needed to make the Government look great and our industry to prosper.

Don Quixote approaches have never worked and won’t ever work.

Woe the media, the Government officials and people of influence and you will get what you desire, fight them and you’ll only get their backs up.

We watch and wait to see what unfolds.

Osteoarthritis is all about loss of cartilage, subsequent inflammation and changes to bone and joint structure. The result is pain and loss of mobility.

The ends of bones such as the femur are covered in tough, flexible articular cartilage. It may surprise that despite its tough appearance and texture it is actually 80% water which acts like a shock absorber.

Cartilage is a combination of living cells, the matrix they produce plus water. These specialised cells are called chondrocytes and their job is to secrete and maintain cartilage. They repair small amounts of damage as it occurs.

Osteoarthritis starts when chondrocyte cells die causing cartilage to breakdown.

While there are a number of things that can damage chondrocytes, in most cases these are a combination of free radical damage from insufficient antioxidants and biochemical changes caused by trauma to the joint. While the triggers vary, the outcome is chondrocyte death and cartilage loss.

This is then followed by unwanted inflammation in the joint capsule that further damages cartilage. Eventually the bone itself becomes compromised and the net result is more pain and restricted mobility.

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Well suited to both irrigated and non-irrigated land, lucerne is a versatile and high yielding perennial crop with excellent forage qualities. For expert, individual advice, give us a call. We’ll find the right match of seed to soil for the best results on your farm.

Nutritional therapy can help, especially in reducing inflammation, slowing the rate of cartilage loss and improving the function of existing cartilage. For example, therapeutic levels (800+ mg) of chondroitin can have significant effects on the health of chondrocytes and therefore cartilage protection and repair.

Glucosamine also helps maintain cartilage while Curcumin from turmeric helps reduce inflammation and fluid accumulation.

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15

16

November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Major technology investment announced by Alliance Leading food and solutions co-operative Alliance Group is investing $12.5 million to install the latest processing technology at its Lorneville plant in Southland as part of a major upgrade at the site.

❚ by Kent Caddick The company is installing new generation primal cutters, middles and fores technology at the plant near Invercargill.

Alliance Group chief executive David Surveyor said the investment is a further step in the co-operative’s strategy to maximise operational performance at Lorneville and across the company’s plant network.

“The investment will improve our processing efficiency, benefiting our farmer shareholders and support us to build a stronger co-operative,” Surveyor said.

“The technology has already proven its value at our Dannevirke, Pukeuri and Smithfield plants, with safety, labour and yield efficiency improvements.

“This multi-million investment also underlines Alliance’s commitment to the Lorneville plant and to Southland.”

The programme includes an X-ray unit to analyse each carcase, the latest forequarter robotic cutting technology and a footprint that will enable the addition of a full-length flap removal station in the future.

Further investments, due to be completed at Lorneville this year, include a major engine room upgrade and the reconfiguration of the co-operative’s modern venison plant so it can also process beef.

Alliance Group is Southland’s largest employer and the Lorneville plant, near Invercargill, is the world’s largest ovine processing plant, employing up to 2,000 people in peak season.

Quick cut: The Alliance Group is installing new generation primal cutters at its Lorneville plant.

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CANTERBURY FARMING November 2020

FARMING NEWS

17

European demand offsets drop in Chinese market for red meat New Zealand sheepmeat exports rose 12 per cent by volume and five per cent by value in August compared to a year ago, according to an analysis by the Meat Industry Association.

❚ by Kent Caddick A fall in sheepmeat exports to China (-13% by value) was offset by a significant increase in demand from the UK and Europe despite the uncertainty of Brexit.

A total of 2,044 tonnes of sheepmeat was exported to the UK in August 2020, a 43% increase on August 2019. Exports to the Netherlands rose by 80% and to Germany by 30%.

France and Belgium also saw increases.

Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of MIA, said the growth in sheepmeat exports to the UK and Europe highlights why the European Union and UK must not be allowed to split New Zealand’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) country-specific tariff rate quotas following Brexit.

“Trade patterns are continuously changing. The red meat sector’s ability to maintain steady overall export volumes and value during these difficult times underlines the

importance of flexibility and responding to constantly evolving market dynamics,” Karapeeva said.

“It also illustrates the difficulty of predicting future trends based on historical trade data. We remain deeply concerned about the proposal for the EU and UK to split the World Trade Organisation tariff rate quotas, which would reduce that flexibility and disadvantage New Zealand.”

Meanwhile, the New Zealand red meat sector exported 9,940 tonnes of beef to the US during August 2020, the highest volume for the month since 2016. This represented an 85% increase on the same period in 2019, and with exports worth $80 million, the highest August value for beef exports to the US since 2015.

The increased demand from the US offset a reduction in beef exports to China.

“Overall, beef exports were largely unchanged compared to last August,” Karapee-

Balanced: A fall in sheepmeat exports to China has been offset by a significant increase in demand from the United Kingdom and Europe.

va said. “Volumes increased by one per cent and value reduced by three per cent. This steady result is very positive given the challenging global environment.

“Beef exports to China still remain higher than most previous August months. The drop reflects the exceptionally high Chinese demand for protein this time last year, due to African Swine Fever. Brazil has also increased its beef exports to China as it benefits from the drop in value of the Brazilian real

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against the US dollar.”

Beef volumes to Canada, Taiwan, Korea, Australia and Saudi Arabia also lifted yearon-year, including a 209 per cent increase to Canada, with 1,993 tonnes, and 73 per cent increase to Taiwan, at 1,507 tonnes.

The value of all red meat and co-products exported during August held steady compared to the same period last year, at $516.7 million. China remained the largest red meat market, with total exports of $151.7 million.

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November 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

Training people a career on the land The National Trade Academy or ‘NTA’, is an NZQA Accredited private training institute that has been offering education and training in all the land-based industries for the past 20 years.

❚ Article supplied by NTA

The facility includes several business units that are set up to provide real-life experiences for students.

These include: • The Arion Riding Centre, • Arion Horse Trekking, • NTA Commercial Nursery • The Arion Farm Park and small farm Over the last two decades, NTA have trained people for a career on the land with real life experience at our training centre at McLeans Island.

‘NTA’ offers NZQA accredited full time, part-time and distance learning programmes with a Primary Industry focus – Agriculture, Equine, Horticulture , Animal care – small and large. The programmes are designed for school leavers from 16 years of age and up or people who have become unemployed due to COVID and need a change of career path.

We also have a Recruitment Manager that is tasked with assisting our graduates to secure employment.

If you are still at school, NTA offers our dual enrolment programme as well as STAR and Gateway opportunities.

Dual Enrolment programmes, known as ‘The Land Based Trade Academy ’, is a partnership between contributing secondary schools, their students, National Trade Academy, Vision College and The Welding Academy.

The programmes are aimed at secondary school students who are interested in a vocational pathway in any of the following industry options: Agriculture, Animal Care, Automotive, Early Childhood, Equine, Horticulture, Information Technology, Land Based Sustainability and Welding.

The programmes are one or two days per week with a focus on practical based learning with some theory.

Students will work towards achieving NCEA Level 1, 2 or 3 within a vocational pathway.

STAR and Gateway programmes are designed for secondary school students, students can achieve credits while exploring vocational pathways.

Employment opportunities for graduates in the land-based industry are broad, and the work experience offered whilst studying gives student’s a practical insight into what their future job options may include.

A number of NTA graduates are now Managers on farms around NZ and have had long and successful careers.

Contact us now to ask about your opportunity to enrol.

For more information or an opportunity to view the facilities at NTA, phone 03 360 2192 and ask for Trevor or Adrine or visit www.nta.co.nz.

CANTERBURY FARMING

November 2020

19

Meeting the needs of today’s young women Choosing the right school for your daughter is an important step, and with boarding another dimension enters into the equation. supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Christchurch Girls’ High School Not only do parents desire a stimulating, engaging learning environment which challenges students to achieve personal excellence, they also need a safe, comfortable and happy living space.

Christchurch Girls’ High School is a purpose built school for girls, which places young women at the centre of education.

Acland, the boarding hostel associated with the school, establishes positive relationships which create a strong sense of family.

This feeling is further enhanced by the completely refurbished main homestead.

A landscaped pool area and access to

tennis courts complement the living arrangements.

Boarders are supervised by a supportive, experienced and caring team. A Director of Boarding leads her staff in ensuring the welfare of the students is paramount. All nutritional needs are met by a professional, friendly, on-site food services team.

In this environment students flourish and thrive. They learn to manage selves, relate to others and participate and contribute. In the process, they develop resilience, independence, a good work ethic and lasting friendships.

Learning and living at Christchurch Girls’ High School is tailored specifically to meet the needs of today’s young women.

Keeping boarders busy It’s often said that ‘a busy boarder is a happy boarder’. At the heart of the beautiful Nelson and Tasman Bay region, Garin College’s hostels offer boarders a really great place to be busy.

Lifelong friendships are developed at the Christchurch Girls’ High School boarding hostel Acland.

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ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2022 NOW

supplied by ❚ Article Garin College ❚ With our wonderful beaches, safe rivers, world class walking and cycle tracks – even the chance to get to a ski-field, once in a while – our region offers a range of sporting, recreational and co-curricular opportunities which are second to none.

Our twin hostels, Mother Teresa and Francis Douglas House, are modern, vibrant, Garin’s students have an enviable track record of sporting achievestimulating places offering ments, as well as excellent academic results curriculum-wide. students the chance to meet in a spirit of friendship and discovery. curriculum-wide. In this context, we hold our As the region’s only co-educational Cath- own with the best, but it’s a sense of ‘special olic secondary school, Garin College has a character’, of learning occurring within a faith history and reputation of which it can be jus- community, which makes Garin and its stutifiably proud. Founded in 2002, we have dents really stand out. Our teaching is never grown steadily as a school sustained by Gos- dogmatic. Instead, we see our students as pel values, living out our motto of ‘Faith and individual learners, discovering their God givWisdom’. en potential for generosity, aroha, rangimaOften recognised for strengths in music rie, integrity and new life - the Garin values. and the arts, Garin’s students also have an enviable track record of sporting achieve- For more information, visit our website or contact our ments, as well as excellent academic results Hostel manager directly.

Applications for students wishing to commence boarding in 2022 are now open and close on 28 February 2021 Limited places available Open Day will be on Monday 15 February 2021 Book an Open Day tour by emailing acland@cghs.school.nz Download an application form from the enrolment section of our website cghs.school.nz For further information contact the Director of Boarding: Acland House, Christchurch Girls’ High School / Te Kura o Hine Waiora, 85 Papanui Road, Christchurch 8014 Ph 03 355 7673 or email gud@cghs.school.nz

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November 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

KICK-START YOUR NEW CAREER AT TELFORD ENROL FOR 2021 Certificate, Diploma & Degree programmes: » Farming systems » Rural Animal Technician » Agriculture » Equine / Sporthorse » Apiculture » Agribusiness* » Plus blended learning, continuous learning and community courses

FREE SELECT SUB-DEGREE COURSES AT TELFORD Take advantage of this government offer that will allow you to study select sub-degree courses at no cost.

For more information about the available programmes offered at Telford, visit www.sit.ac.nz/Telford and look for the TTAF badge

* Subject to site approval

For more info visit www.sit.ac.nz/Telford 0800 835 367 I telford@sit.ac.nz

CANTERBURY FARMING

November 2020

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Free training opportunities at Telford There’s never been a better time to enrol at Telford – enrol now for 2021. Take advantage of the Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF), which allows study in selected sub-degree courses at no cost. supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Southern Institute of Technology The Government has made it easier for New Zealanders to train in industries expected to advance our economic recovery from Covid-19. They are specifically targeting sectors where need is predicted, to supply opportunities for displaced workers looking for better employment options upon graduation.

Another planned outcome is to supply employers with employees who can be utilised to fill demand in those industries.

Some of Telford’s most popular programmes are available to study now at no cost, under the TTAF: • Massey Diploma in Agriculture (Level 5) • Certificate in Farming Systems and Equipment (Level 3) (Dairy, Sheep and Beef) • Foundation Certificate in Agriculture • New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3) • New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) (General) • New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 3) • New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production or Livestock Production)

• New Zealand Certificate in Sustainable Primary Production (Level 4) • New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3) – Online Distance Learning Whether you’re a school leaver or retraining, wanting to transfer your skills, or starting afresh, the TTAF initiative will help you achieve your goals without incurring a hefty student loan in course costs.

A faculty of the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), Telford is situated in South Otago within a thriving rural community, 5km from Balclutha. Set over 856 hectares of farmland, the campus sits in majestic grounds of mature trees, gardens and sweeping lawns, with the historic Telford family homestead at the heart of the facility.

Telford offers a wide variety of purposebuilt facilities: halls of residence, technical workshops (machinery, carpentry and welding), classrooms, livestock units and excellent equine facilities, including indoor and outdoor arenas and well-organised stable blocks.

All training is undertaken with the supervision of experienced tutors and farm managers, ensuring students are both safe and comfortable in the agricultural environment.

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Academic, Cultural, Sporting 7 day, 5 day and short term options are available w: www.ncg.school.nz/boarding e: boarding@ncg.school.nz Phone 03 548 3104 to arrange a tour!

Students are also given the opportunity to train their own working dog while studying at Telford. participate in regular work experience on external farms, relevant to their area of study.

Students are also given the opportunity to train their own working dog whilst studying at Telford.

Find your future today, enrol now for 2021. visit: www.sit.ac.nz/Telford or phone 0800 835 367.

Note: The SIT Zero Fees Scheme (ZFS) is subject to NZ government policies.

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Farmlands AgFest returns after lockdown Farmlands AgFest West Coast is one of the first major agricultural event to be held in 2020 following the Government’s decision to drop the pandemic alert to Level 1.

❚ by Kent Caddick The event was postponed in March due to Covid-19 but will now go ahead at the Greymouth Aerodrome on the 13th and 14th of November.

Into its fifth year, Farmlands Agfest has grown into the largest agricultural event on the West Coast with 15,000 visitors through the gates at last year’s event.

Farmlands has supported AgFest since its induction in 2012 and became naming sponsors in 2014.

Farmlands CEO, Peter Reidie said he was thrilled to support the return of live agricultural events to provincial New Zealand.

“With our move to Alert Level 1, this event is an excellent opportunity to get off the farm and see a showcase of what the primary sector has to offer,” Reidie said.

“Spring is a busy time for farmers and a weekend away on the West Coast is a great opportunity to refresh and relax.

“We are proud to support Farmlands AgFest and congratulate the organisers for adapting to the current challenges all businesses face.”

Farmlands AgFest co-owner Andy Thompson said he was looking forward to finally holding the event. “After a challenging, uncertain year, Farmlands AgFest provides a chance for businesses to reward loyal customers,” Thompson said.

“Visitors will be treated to an upgraded venue, the latest in on-far m technology, farm machinery, expert advice and much more.

“Farmlands AgFest is proud to play a part in supporting the West Coast economy and giving back to the local community. The event will provide a great chance to reconnect with friends and local exhibitors,” he said.

On again: The Farmlands AgFest agricultural show, which was cancelled in march due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is now being held in Greymouth this month.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

More choice at feed blending facility GrainCorp Feeds’ new blending facility in Timaru is giving Canterbury and West Coast farmers more choice and flexibility when selecting the right feed for their animals.

❚ Article supplied by GrainCorp Feeds

The new Washdyke facility opened in July this year. GrainCorp Feeds General Manager Daniel Calcinai says the move responds to an evolution of feeding practices across New Zealand’s dairy industry.

“Farmers are moving away from bulk, lowest cost commodities, to feed solutions best suited to individual farm objectives. GrainCorp Feeds is offering farmers the nutritional expertise and product range they need to keep their herds healthy and productive,” Mr Calcinai says.

“Today’s farmers are looking for access to high quality, innovative and cost-effective dairy feeds they can tailor to suit the nutritional requirements of their herd. Pasture remains the key ingredient, followed by home-grown supplement.

“GrainCorp Feeds works with farmers to help maximise utilisation of these feeds, by recommending the right supplement at the right time. What worked last season may not be the best solution this season. That is where our team can help.

“The GrainCorp Feeds team has a proven model to help farmers meet their production and reproduction goals. Our new blending facility in Timaru means that Canterbury and West Coast farmers will now have access to these products and tools, while receiving the personalised service for which our team is known.”

Flexibility: Farmers are diversifying their feeding regime and using a combination of both dry and liquid products, often with additives such as trace minerals, toxin binders and bypass fats, to help enhance the health and performance of their cows.

Mr Calcinai says farmers are diversifying their feeding regime and using a combination of both dry and liquid products, often with additives such as trace minerals, toxin binders and bypass fats, to help enhance the health and performance of the cow.

From Timaru, GrainCorp Feeds is offering a range of products including crushed grains, proteins, such as DDG and Soybean Meal; fibre and energy-based products, such as Soy-

hull pellets; and dry matter replacements, such as PKE. “Soyhull in particular is low cost and contains a good level of protein and energy. Being low in starch, it is safe to feed adlib, making it the ideal complement to PKE in bulk or in-shed feeding situations during spring. We will continue to expand our range.

“Our focus is on feeding dairy cows and Timaru, with its port facilities, is an impor-

tant dairy feed hub within the South Island,” says Mr Calcinai.

“The move also complements our existing liquid feed storage and blending facilities at the Port of Timaru where we have been situated for several years.

“Whether it’s utilising liquids, local grains or importing fibre based pelleted feeds and customising to suit, we can cater for each individual herd’s requirements.”

Store Supervisor Martin Wynen has extensive knowledge in store operations has been invaluable to the successful commissioning of GrainCorp feeds’ new blending facility.

“Martin has significant experience in feed storage and handling,” says Mr Calcinai.

“With Martin’s knowledge and experience, we are enjoying working farmers to deliver the very best products and services across the region.”

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Alliance Group launches new premium lamb offer to farmers Alliance Group has launched a new premium lamb offer to farmers as it seeks to capture greater value for its products and reward its shareholders. supplied by ❚ Article AllianceGroup ❚ The Pure South Handpicked Lamb programme will use an assessment system to measure eating quality with the qualifying lamb initially exported to premium retail markets in Asia and North America.

In the first year of the programme, Alliance Group will offer farmers an additional 10c/ kg premium payment to all qualifying animals that meet the requirements at the time of processing.

The 10 cent premium is on top of the 15 cent premium Alliance Group currently pays for lambs raised without antibiotics.

“As a 100 per cent farmer-owned co-operative, Alliance Group is committed to building a differentiated premium portfolio and providing our farmers with opportunities to partner with us on new products for new segments across our entire range,” said David Surveyor, chief executive of Alliance Group.

“Building on our successful Handpicked Beef programme, this initiative taps into the growing demand from increasingly discerning consumers around the world who are willing to pay a price premium for our red meat products and the attributes guaranteed by a brand they trust.

“Importantly, the programme’s strict criteria means the co-operative can optimise the quality of livestock and reward farmers for producing lambs our premium markets are seeking.

“Our Handpicked Lamb programme is an exciting opportunity for our co-operative and our farmers. It strongly reflects our business transformation strategy and will enable us to capture greater market value for our products and pass those gains directly back to farmers supplying the programme.”

The programme is open to Alliance Group’s Platinum and Gold shareholders, who supply 100% of their ovine livestock to the company.

Lamb must be born and raised on the supplier’s property, achieve special raising claim

Offer: Alliance Group chief executive David Surveyor says the company’s new Pure South Handpicked Lamb programme will reward the cooperative’s farmers for producing lambs premium markets are seeking.

requirements and be antibiotic-free.

The lambs must also weigh between 17.1kgs-23kgs, meet required levels of fat cover, intramuscular fat and have desirable pH levels. All ewes supplying lambs must be body condition scored throughout the year.

Only wether and ewe lambs may be supplied to the programme. The lamb will be selected from lambs of any breed except Merino.

Lambs with greater than 50% Merino genetics will not be accepted as these have their own unique attributes and are marketed under the premium Silere Alpine Origin Merino brand.

The meat will be hand-selected through Alliance’s plants and then aged to ensure eating quality.

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November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

PINZ Awards finalists named

Judges faced tough decisions choosing finalists for the 2020 Primary Industries New Zealand Awards, with no shortage of contenders. supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Federated Farmers The six independent judges deliberated over 40 nominations across the six award categories for the second annual PINZ awards, which are to be held at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington on November 23.

“More than ever New Zealand needs the primary sector to be innovative and enterprising,” Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland said.

“For our farmers, growers, foresters and fishers to continue to be at the top of their game as producers of quality goods exported to the world, we need suppliers and support agencies of the calibre of these finalists who can help us with cutting-edge technology and back-up.”

The finalists are: Primary Industry Team Award – sponsored

by Primary ITO: Chris Thompson and team at Bioforce, Avian Empire, Tegel Foods, for Poultry Mite Control; Emma Boase and team at NZ Apples & Pears Inc and Massey Business School, for International Horticultural Immersion Programme; Hamish Hodgson and team at DairyNZ, Beef+Lamb NZ, for Compensation Assistance Team; Robin Congdon and team at NZ Dairy Industry Awards, for NZ Dairy Industry Awards.

Primary Industry Science & Research Award – sponsored by Yashili: Institute of Environmental Science & Research, for Woodchip Denitrification Wall Technology; Livestock Improvement Corporate, for SPACE Satellite Pasture and Cover Evaluation; Plant & Food Research, for FOPS The Future Orchard Planting System.

Primary Industry Innovation & Collaboration Project Award – sponsored by Norwood: Avian Empire, Bioforce, Tegel Foods, for Poultry Mite Control; Ballance Agri Nutrients, for MitAgator; Plant & Food Research, for Modular Harvesting System; Robotics Plus, ISO Limited, for Robotic Scaling Machine (RSM).

Primary Industry Leadership Award – sponsored by Lincoln University: Bernadette Hunt, Hunt Agriculture; Zach Mounsey, Arcadia Dairies Ltd. Outstanding Contribution award – sponsored by Massey Ferguson, Industry Champion Award – sponsored by Federated Farmers: No finalists. Winners for both categories will be announced at the awards evening.

The Primary Industries New Zealand Summit and Awards will be held at Te Papa Tongarewa, in Wellington on November 23 and 24. To register to attend the summit or awards or the FmG sponsored gala dinner, go to primaryindustries.co.nz/register.

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DIAL 111 DONATE ONLINE Rewards: Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland says the finalists in this year’s PINZ Awards can help farmers with cutting-edge technology and back-up.

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AgFest, Greymouth 13–14 November 2020 Grab your mates and collect your starting packs at site 553 in the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Pavilion. Follow the clues to complete the tasks.

Primary Schools—Teams maximum of 4 with teacher or parent accompanying permitted.

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High School Students, Leavers, University Students and Career Changers—Teams of 2.

Spot prizes and major prizes up for grabs All enquires to Olivia Ross, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Phone 027 801 7868 or email olivia.ross@beeflambnz.com

CANTERBURY FARMING

November 2020

27

New Zealand commits to more women in meat industry New Zealand is committed to getting more women into the meat sector with new research showing women account for only 36 per cent of the industry’s global workforce.

supplied by ❚ Article Meat Business Women New Zealand ❚

The independent report, Gender Representation in the Meat Sector 2020, commissioned

by Meat Business Women, shows women are under-represented at every level above junior positions, holding just 14% of board-level director roles and just five per cent of chief executive roles.

The study also identifies ‘broken rungs’ in the career ladder that prevent women in the meat sector from advancing to more senior roles.

It suggests women find it easier to pursue careers in marketing, finance, human resources, research & development and quality fields, however those disciplines rarely act as stepping stones into the most senior positions.

The New Zealand meat sector and Meat Business Women have signed an agreement aimed at boosting the number of women in the industry.

Meat Industry Association CEO Sirma Karapeeva, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd chief executive Sam McIvor and Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc chief executive Rod Slater

have signed on as a territory partner with Meat Business Women, which gives New Zealand access to the tools and resources supplied by Meat Business Women to tackle gender imbalance, alongside a position on the Meat Business Women Global Committee to provide strategic input.

“Committing to the global vision of Meat Business Women to create opportunities for more women to enter into, and advance within our sector is the first step to addressing the shortfall of female talent,” Karapeeva said.

“The report highlights a starting point to develop a more diverse New Zealand meat workforce. Women are vital to a long-term sustainable future for both the New Zealand and global meat industry by bringing differing perspectives.”

Meat Business Women founder Laura Ryan presented to the United Nations last year where Meat Business Women was recognised as one of the contributors to their Sustainable Development Goals. This new report was in response to a challenge from the UN to gather insights to create and record impactful change.

“Companies which have executive com-

Barriers up: meat business Women founder Laura ryan says they need to address the key barriers to attracting and nurturing female talent.

mittees with female membership of at least 33% have a net profit margin over ten times greater than those companies with no women at that level,” Ryan said.

“Fundamentally, businesses with diverse workforces are more profitable and have better share prices,” says Ryan.

Drawing on survey data from five nations, the UK, Ireland, the United States, Austral-

ia and New Zealand, the global report identifies five key themes, alongside actionable solutions.

Ryan said Meat Business Women New Zealand intends to engage its network and the wider industry over the coming months to discuss the report’s findings and identify actions to address the key barriers to attracting and nurturing female talent.

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For all your greenhouse needs and much more TunnelHouse Tech has an experienced team to get the job done and seeks to build long-term relationships with its clients. Whatever the size Tunnelhouse Tech offers installation, improvement, and renovation to greenhouses of all types.

Tunnelhouse Tech provides and supports a wide variety of greenhouses to commercial growers and home gardeners. supplied by â?š Article Tunnelhouse Tech â?š Based in Rolleston Tunnelhouse Tech is the leading greenhouse service provider in the South Island, and also work with select clients in the North Island.

We offer installation, improvement, and renovation to greenhouses of all types. We also build and support other structures such as swimming pool covers, animal shelters, storage solutions and retail environments.

We are committed to helping our clients make their greenhouse all they want it to be. We offer information and consultation needed for installation, improvement and renovation projects, an array of interesting solutions and innovative products, and an experienced team to get the job done. We seek to build long-term relationships with clients.

We offer maintenance plans to extend the life of existing greenhouses, including expansion options (such as adding a bay or two), undertaking an exterior facelift for winter (replacing old film covers, or washing existing covers), and introducing energy smart solutions and automation options.

Our work is carried out on structures across the breadth of manufacturers active in New Zealand, including Redpath, Harfords, Coastal, Tunnelworld, Morrifield, and HerdHomes. For those who have built something themselves, we can help with that too.

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Win an EID Reader at Agfest!

Come have a coffee with Jeff Evans and his team at site 162 at Agfest and speak to one of Allflex’s Monitoring Specialists. Sign up for a free monitoring quote and be in to WIN an RS420 EID Reader!

For further information please call Jeff Evans Rural 0800 533 338 or Jeff Hill Allflex Monitoring Specialist 027 585 4400.

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Made in New Zealand for Kiwi farmers There’s one thing New Zealand farms have in common, whether sheep, beef, or dairy, and that’s the need for good quality fencing.

With a large choice of wire and tape brands to choose from, one quiet Kiwi achiever is slowly making itself known against massive global brands.

❚ Article supplied by Farmgate Direct

Farmgate Direct is a Kiwi-owned business, specialising in designing and manufacturing its own Kiwi-made range of durable braided wire and woven tape electric fencing.

Unusually, the entire process of extruding and manufacturing is done right here in New Zealand on specialist industrial equipment. With most brands being created offshore, Farmgate Direct owns Australasia’s only 100-strand polyethylene extruder, allowing quality control and the versatility to add UV resistance and control batch mixes to meet the harshest conditions New Zealand can throw at it. The array of options available is impressive, with customdesigned equine fencing and high visibility electric fence bungy joining the ever popular nine strand Megawire and Power Tape. Former shepherd Warwick Grieve is the original mind behind the brand. With strong ties to the rural community, Warwick spent many years on a lower North Island farm and had a burning desire to make quality New Zealand farming products for New Zealand farms.

After much research, he acquired the machinery capable of making electric fencing and set about tailoring his products specifically for the New Zealand environment.

Farmgate Direct specialises in designing and manufacturing its own Kiwi-made range of durable braided wire and woven tape electric fencing.

Megawire was one of the early boom products. The tubular braid wire is made like rope, with nine stainless steel wires running through to ensure it’s highly conductive and strong.

Everything that’s part of the Farmgate Direct product list today represents an extensive journey of trialling products, discussing with and listening to end users, and modifying until it passed Warwick’s high standards.

Following the success of Megawire, Warwick soon followed up with a 12mm woven Power Tape, with six stainless steel strands through it, which quickly became a staple fencing product on many farms.

A firm commitment to quality and nev-

er settling for what he considered an inferior product saw Warwick constantly experimenting and testing new ideas. He went on to make a thicker tape with thicker wire to withstand truly tough tests of time and conditions on New Zealand farms, resulting in the 12mm Mega Tape with 10 stainless steel strands running through it.

With no fear of evolving or meeting new challenges, Warwick grew the business at his own pace before connecting with current owners Carl and Troy.

Moving forward with two years as owners of Farmgate Direct under their belts, Carl and Troy have added several new products to the already successful mix of products available and these are sold throughout

New Zealand and Australia.

Firewire has proven a hot seller, soughtafter for its extreme strength. With six stainless steel wires running through it and at only 3mm wide, an impressive 400m can fit on a traditional reel.

Braided like a rope, it’s significantly stronger than traditional polywire and is priced competitively to meet the market while retaining a commitment to high-quality components.

Current works in progress and due to be released at the end of this year are Zapper Wire and Lightening Wire, both a 3mm polywire. Zapper Wire is a braid and will have 10 stainless steel wires to give “a good wake up if touched”. Lightening Wire will have six stainless steel and four tinned copper wires through it to give “an impressive jolt”. Both will come in 400m spools.

One of the most important features of Farmgate Direct products is the use of maximum UV stabiliser polyethylene in all products.

“The New Zealand environment is pretty harsh and quite damaging to many lower quality products, so we really do create products that are built to last and just like farmers, we aim to get the job done right the first time,” Troy says.

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Two farmers re-elected to board Methven farmer Colin Glass is one of two dairy farmers re-elected onto DairyNZ’s board at its AGM in Ashburton last month.

❚ by Kent Caddick Glass and Jim van der Poel were elected to the DairyNZ board for the next three years, and will be two of five farmer-elected directors and three board-appointed directors who contribute to DairyNZ’s strategy and priorities on behalf of dairy farmers.

Glass and his wife Paula, with their two teenage daughters, own a 670-cow dairy farm, and two further irrigated properties rearing and finishing bull beef at Methven, Mid-Canterbury.

He is the chief executive of Dairy Holdings Limited which has extensive operations throughout the South Island. He is a director of several agri-business companies and is currently chairman of Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Limited.

Van der Poel is a dairy farmer and with his wife Sue has farming interests in Waikato, Southland, Canterbury and in the United States. He has a long association with DairyNZ, including being a farmer-elected director and chair of DairyNZ’s board.

Van der Poel reflected on the previous year, including DairyNZ’s achievements and the complex environment farmers are working in.

“It has been a busy and challenging year for the sector, with Covid-19 an unexpected event which affected many Kiwis. This also provided the opportunity to highlight the value and importance of our sector to New Zealand’s future,” he said.

“Last year we made good progress towards Mycoplasma Bovis eradication and in a world-leading emissions programme, He

Re-elected: mid-Canterbury dairy farmer Colin Glass is back on the board at DairyNZ

Waka Eke Noa, to collectively build a farmlevel emission reduction framework. DairyNZ also advocated for pragmatic essential freshwater rules for farmers.”

At the AGM DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle shared key programmes and projects and looked ahead to the 2020-21 season.

“The flexible milking project is a highlight.

This is a promising option for farmers who want more ability to vary work hours to suit

their teams,” Mackie said.

“DairyNZ scientists have been working with farmers in Lincoln to trial milking cows three times over two days, to understand the impact on milk production,” he said.

“New research indicates that farmers could benefit from the system, with only a small reduction in milk production.

“Looking to next year, a key focus is our new project Step Change, which aims to help dairy farmers achieve financial gains, while making progress towards their environmental goals and adapting to pending regulation changes.”

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IrrigationNZ appoints new chief Former DairyNZ farm performance general manager Vanessa Winning has been appointed the new chief executive of IrrigationNZ

❚ by Kent Caddick Winning replaces Elizabeth Soal, who has taken on a new role as regional policy and planning manager within IrrigationNZ. Keri Johnston, chair of IrrigationNZ, said Vanessa is a strategic executive leader with over 20 years’ experience in the agriculture, banking and corporate sectors with excellent stakeholder management and engagement skills.

Winning was most recently farm performance general manager at DairyNZ, where she led a large team across the country to help farmers improve their businesses and reduce environmental impacts.

Prior to DairyNZ, she spent 18 years in banking, trade, product development, marketing and communications and has a commerce degree in economics and management, as well as a postgraduate degree in marketing.

She has also just completed a contract for the Federation of Maori Authorities (FOMA) on a He Waka Eke Noa project.

“The irrigation sector has much work ahead to continue building public trust and bridge knowledge gaps about the benefits that fair water management can bring to our communities and environment, and we believe Vanessa is the right person to drive this,” Johnston said.

“Vanessa has the strategic vision to lead our sector in the right direction.

“She partners to achieve positive outcomes; has commercial experience to grow an effective organisation; understands the

New job: IrrigationNZ has appointed former DairyNZ farm performance general manager vanessa Winning as its new chief executive.

primary sector and has worked in it managing large teams; and can navigate the increasingly complex area of water management in New Zealand.”

Winning said she is looking forward to her new role.

“I see so much potential for water in our country – its sensible harvesting, fair management, and pragmatic use for balanced outcomes across the economy, environment, and

our communities, including mana whenua.”

In addition to appointing a new chief executive in Wellington, IrrigationNZ announced that former chief executive Elizabeth Soal has been appointed to a new position of Regional Policy and Planning Manager.

“Elizabeth will represent and support members in regional planning changes following the roll-out of new freshwater regulations and amendments to the RMA,”

Johnston said.

“This role will assist members ‘on the ground’ to understand these important changes, undertake advocacy and policy work at the regional level, support the chief executive’s national advocacy work by providing regional perspectives into national policy development, and work with stakeholders around developing regionally-led water infrastructure solutions.”

GHGs for sheep and beef farming Great pieces of science are hard to find, especially these days. Happily, we have a strong contender in research into greenhouse gas emissions from sheep and beef farms released last month.

❚ by Solis Norton It is good news for farmers. But perhaps more importantly, it fundamentally challenges a much bigger issue.

Great science is simple. That does not mean basic. It means elegant. So anyone can see what the authors have done and how it applies to the wider world. This work

by Bradley Case and Catharine Ryan is exactly that. Great because it has the necessary rigor to be fit for purpose, great because it has no big grey areas that antagonists will use to refute it, great also because it is timely and because independent peer review was part of it.

Great science challenges conventional thinking. If sheep and beef farms do indeed account for about half of New Zealand’s carbon sequestration, as the results indicate, the tables flip spectacularly. They go from a key cause of our national emissions woes to a key solution. Just like that. We kind of knew this anyway, really.

Let’s stick that knife in a little deeper. Oth-

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er industries and businesses in our national economy do not have the luxury of this sequestering capacity.

Genuinely offsetting or reducing their emissions will be much harder. Will this trigger a shift in public focus toward the true emissions issue? That of energy intensive lifestyles and super consumption at extraordinary densities in the human feedlots we call cities?

Most kiwis are not ready to ruminate on that yet. We will probably see more avoidance instead. Much like my two-year-old avoids bath time. Fixate on a new issue to solve before they themselves receive any scrutiny or a scrub behind the ears.

Great science helps us see a good way forward. The case study in this report strongly points to the importance of high resolution imaging to identify vegetation. The greater the resolution the higher your sequestration value, roughly speaking. The technology to do this seems available.

We should sort a system to offer it to all farmers smartly as part of their environmental planning.

We should also duplicate this work for the dairy farms. It would be easy to do with the research process already established and would provide some fascinating points of comparison.

Hats off to Brad and Catharine, great job.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

The specialists for over 50 years Plucks Engineering Ltd specialises in the manufacture of agricultural machinery and dairy effluent equipment which are sold throughout New Zealand. supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Plucks Engineering The company was originally established over 50 years ago when it was purchased as a blacksmith business by the Pluck family in 1966, and continues in its second generation of Pluck ownership as the modern and versatile agricultural engineering business that it is today. Plucks currently employs 15 staff based at their workshops in Rakaia, mid-Canterbury. This skilled and experienced team of trades, design and sales specialists are dedicated to fulfilling customer requirements with equipment produced to the highest standards and backed by exceptional service and warranties.

One of their most successful and wellknown products are their Heavy Land Rollers. Considerable time and expertise have been invested in developing these rollers which incorporate lessons learned over 50 plus years of manufacturing experience, field trials, and customer feedback.

Plucks Heavy Rollers are recognised in the market as expertly made and top performing implements that are built to last.

This well-earned reputation is backed by a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty which is now offered on new rollers.

One recent development to roll out of the Plucks workshop is a unique 20-ton Heavy Roller (pictured). This water-ballast Heavy roller was specially made for a customer requiring a roller that is narrower than standard but still very heavy. The roller is 2.25 m (7ft6”) in diameter and has a 3.35

one recent development to roll out of the Plucks engineering workshop is a unique 20-ton heavy roller.

m (11ft) rolling width and 25mm (1”) thick drum plate. Empty weight is 8 ton and fully ballasted weight is 20 ton. The roller is of the proven Plucks twin-drum design with heavy-duty floating axle, which configuration enables high manoeuvrability for easy towing through gateways and along tricky narrow lane ways with tight corners.

As with all Plucks products, great pride and care was taken during roller fabrication.

Construction is with quality steel which is properly cleaned and prepped to ensure full penetration welds to AS/NZS 2980 standards.

This means that welding is of excellent quality and captures the full thickness of

the steel for maximum strength. As a result, the roller frame and drums are incredibly strong and more than capable of taking on the toughest conditions without the worry of cracks, leaks or break down.

Heavy rollers are just one of the products expertly made by Plucks. Their other farm machinery includes chisel ploughs, mounted cultivators, square-bale feed trailers, and customised agricultural trailers.

On the dairy effluent side, Plucks manufacture walkway/raft assemblies, effluent screens, pond stirrers, and travelling irrigators. Another product of note is their new and unique Benic Calf Trailer which they launched earlier this year.

All these products are backed by a dedicated service team. Well trained and fully equipped with specialised 4WD HIAB trucks, the team provides comprehensive servicing and product support in the Canterbury region including 24/7 technical assistance.

Product support in other regions is provided through Plucks authorised distributors.

Plucks Engineering Ltd have entrenched themselves as market leaders in their field.

They are proud of their products and their staff and are also very grateful for their customers who have supported them over the years.

CANTERBURY FARMING

FORESTRY & LOGGING

Allan Laurie mNZIF ❚ with ❚ Laurie Forestry Ltd

November 2020

35

China bounces back and European opportunities

The China construction season is helping to maintain consumption levels which, as at mid-October, were running at 87,000 cubic metres per day. This has added to a generally positive sentiment, with domestic prices China side firming across most key wood use provinces.

On the New Zealand domestic front, some regions are reporting sawmills running low on logs. Canterbury in particular appears to be facing shortages as logging crews have had to be moved to recent storm damaged forests and woodlots where wood quality is lower, therefore lower volumes of domestic component logs.

NZ domestic consumption continues to run at gang buster rates with new house starts continuing to be a key driver. Despite this demand, bog standard sawmill lines like 100 x 50 framing is being fed through processing at low margins.

Interestingly as a regular listener of talkback radio when I am on the road, many respondents complain about the cost of building a Kiwi home. Building materials are often cited as a primary reason. It would seem there is some margin being made that does not trickle down. Over the last 3 to 4 years log prices have increased only slightly and the costs of framing lumber ex the sawmill has hardly changed.

Meanwhile some builders spoken to complain about price increases and it looks to me like those accursed box stores are making the biggest clip in the ticket. Not surprisingly, an increasing number of NZ sawmill

owners are grabbing some supply chain booty and investing in box store and retail outlets, which is a logical step in an attempt to recapture some long-lost margin.

During mid-October, China is on a 7-day autumn holiday. Whilst this does not see consumption dry up completely, the 4.4 million m3 inventory in September dropped by 150,000 m3 in October.

A total of the normal 6 working days on holiday could see the inventory get back over 4.5mill m3. This is by no means an elevated level and is helping to maintain a pervading air of optimism.

A little bit of intel this month on the European (Norwegian) Spruce supply that has been dominating the dinner table discussion in forestry families in NZ. As this situation unfolds, we are seeing more information of substantive fact starting to emerge.

The now, what is termed bark beetle harvest, is targeting forests and areas where beetles are starting to attack standing trees.

Populations have exploded over the last two years.

This is from a combination of storm damaged stressed trees becoming susceptible as well as mild winters allowing the beetles to do what beetles so when it is

warm, several times even.

European Spruce is not a native of much of Europe but was planted across vast areas to replace Hardwood forests as far back as 200 years ago. Post WW2 planting saw a rapid increase in forest areas with Germany comprising a large proportion.

Germany is now the worst affected country which beforehand was essentially harvesting at a rate that saw domestic demand fulfilled as well as some exports to near neighbours. Current harvest has elevated to 45 mil m3 annually which compares with NZ at about 33 mil.

Germany has started exporting to China currently comprising 45% of Spruce supply and it is estimated there is an estimated 450 mil m3 to harvest. But the beetle certainly hasn’t slowed down, so this number will change.

There are significant Government subsidies available to German forest owners which vary across regions. Harvest and transport costs are subsidised as are stumpage payments and clearing for replanting.

The Czech Republic, France and Belgium are the other primary affected countries chipping in about another 26 mil m3 annually to the supply pot. In all cases, Government subsidies both direct and indirect are available to forest owners to enable harvest at a reduced cost and yield a return.

The question marks now remain over how long this supply source will continue. Current commentary is 2 to 4 years but some are saying we are at a peak at present. The uncertainties rest with how long it will be before the forests start to deteriorate beyond commercial realisation together with the severity of the next 2 or 3 European winters.

Whatever the outcome, NZ Forest Owners are poised to seize the day when that supply source dwindles and it will be 100+ years before it comes back.

As always people, please remember the thoroughly important message, “It remains, as always, fundamentally important, the only way forward for climate, country and the planet, is to get out there and plant more trees”.

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November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

FORESTRY & LOGGING

Beetle, hoverfly could combat invasive wasp problem

In the peak of summer, our beech forests are thought to host an estimated 10,000 invasive German and common wasps per hectare. supplied by ❚ Article Environmental Protection Authority ❚ Two new organisms might be enlisted to combat the invading horde. An application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) seeks to release the wasp-nest beetle, Metoecus paradoxus, and a hoverfly, Volucella

inanis, in New Zealand as biological control agents to potentially reduce the wasp population.

The application has been submitted by Tasman District Council, on behalf of the Vespula Biocontrol Action Group, which supports research and development into the biological control of the invasive wasps Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris.

Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research conducted the scientific research involved.

The applicant says the wasp population poses a significant threat to primary industries and conservation, by impacting biodiversity and the food supply for native insects, birds and lizards.

The wasps also attack beehives, reducing pollination for farmers and the production of honey.

“Pesticides, the main control method currently used, have limited effectiveness when infestations are hard to reach or find.

“They are also expensive, labour-intensive, potentially hazardous to non-target organisms, and treated areas are quickly recolonized by queen wasps from non-treated areas.”

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To find out more call us on 03 343 4101 or visit www.forestmanagement.co.nz

Control: The environmental Protection Authority is considering releasing the the wasp-nest beetle, metoecus paradoxus (pictured), and a hoverfly, volucella inanis, into New Zealand as biological control agents to potentially reduce the wasp population.

The applicant says using the proposed new organisms as biological control agents would be a sustainable option to reach outof-range wasp populations, and would reduce

the damage they cause.

Interested groups have until 10 November to have input into the decision.

FORESTRY & LOGGING

CANTERBURY FARMING

November 2020

37

For all your mulching machinery it’s Agriline The Picursa forestry mulchers from Spain have been proving their worth in the tough New Zealand conditions.

â?š Article supplied by Agriline Ltd

South Island based Agriline Ltd brings in both the excavator mounted and tractor driven forestry mulchers from Picursa.

The majority of the Picursa mulchers are fitted with fixed tungsten carbide teeth giving them the ability to tackle large diameter wood and also they have low running costs due to the excellent wearability, many machines have done thousands of hours on a set of points. There is also an option of a 360 degree swinging hammer on a large range of the Picursa mulchers.

The strength of the Picursa mulchers is unparalleled in their field, their heavy-duty bodies are built from high grade steels, and the rotors are large diameter and heavy walled to give them maximum strength.

The drivelines in these mulchers are built to take high HP tractor with the largest machines being rated at over 600HP. The Picursa mulchers have been extensively put to the test in both hire and with contractors and they have stood up to everything that has been thrown at them.

While most of the forestry mulchers in the range are largely for work down to ground-level Picursa has some forestry mulcher/tillers in their range. These machines can work up to 450mm in the ground. These are ideal for stumps, old forestry blocks and dealing with bogwood,

The drivelines in Picursa mulchers are built to take high HP tractor with the largest machines being rated at over 600HP. most Picursa mulchers are fitted with fixed tungsten carbide teeth, right, giving them the ability to tackle large diameter wood and also they have low running costs due to the excellent wearability.

leaving behind a beautiful, cultivated finish.

The fixed tooth Picursa tractor mounted mulcher has a specially designed tooth pattern giving them the ability to mulch large diameter wood with lower horsepower requirement than would normally be expected. Their design also makes them incredibly efficient in smaller material such as gorse as the fixed tooth rotors can process this very fast.

The Picursa excavator mulchers are also proving a very good option for the earthmoving and forestry contractors.

They are extremely heavy duty and built using top quality steel and hydraulic motors.

These are also available with the option of fixed or 360 degree swinging hammers. The

tough construction of these mulcher makes them an outstanding performer, as life for a mulcher on the end of a digger boom is not the easiest and you can count on Picursa to go the distance in even the toughest of conditions.

Agriline Ltd is a machinery company that specializes in land development/maintenance and cultivation machinery.

Alongside their range of top quality cultivation machinery, sprayers and stone crushers, one of the main lines in the Agriline range is mulchers including the ever popular Vigolo machines. They have the largest range of mulchers in New Zealand and

have the expertise to recommend the correct mulcher for any given situation whether it be for agriculture, forestry, orchards, vineyards or municipal use.

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38

November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

Dairy farmers rise to the challenge A new campaign, Rise and Shine, shares what makes Kiwi dairy farmers tick, and why.

❚ by Kent Caddick DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says the Rise and Shine campaign shares the story of New Zealand dairy farmers as they lead the world in sustainable farming.

“New Zealand dairy has a great story to tell and we are seeing that realised through public sentiment, with 73 percent of people recently surveyed being favourable toward dairy farmers,” said Dr Mackle.

“This is tremendous recognition for farmers playing a key role right now, dually supporting our economic recovery post-Covid while shifting how their day-to-day business operates to further deliver for environment, animals and people.”

He said survey results also show a marked increase in overall positivity in the last six months – with 62 percent of the public feeling positive toward New Zealand’s dairy sector.

“Overall, research is telling us the public are feeling good about dairy – our farmers are inspiring young Kiwis, contributing to communities and are an attractive career option. This is great recognition.”

Mackle said New Zealand’s dairy farmers have made great strides in environmental initiatives and it’s important to champion them as they commit to do even more.

“The emissions created from every glass of New Zealand milk are less than half the global average. Our farmers are shifting to-

Positive: DairyNZ’s rise and Shine campaign is aimed at promoting the positive work being done by dairy farmers in terms of the environment. ward increasingly sustainable systems. It’s a big challenge – securing farm systems which are profitable, while minimising footprint,” he said.

“Right now, DairyNZ’s Step Change programme is underway to support farmers with climate change and water quality goals. It

will help farmers reduce greenhouse gases, improve water and maintain profitable businesses.

“The world is changing and dairy is moving with it. Our farmers are on the journey, but we want to continue raising the bar to maintain our position as world leading farmers.

“Kiwi dairy farmers have a long and proud history of innovation – rising to challenges, and it is in those moments they shine,” Mackle said.

Check out New Zealand’s world-leading dairy farmers at the rise and Shine campaign: www.riseandshine.nz

CANTERBURY FARMING November 2020

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Structure and flushing salts are the key messages, resilience to pugging High sodium irrigation water, applied in naturally dry conditions and long term application of some effluents can lead to a build-up of sodium levels in the soil to the detriment of soil structure.

❚ Article supplied by Winstone Gypsum

The mechanisms of this are well understood (Tillman and Surapaneni, 2002). High sodium levels, particularly in soils with dispersive clay, can lead to issues in soil-water and soilair relations such as poor drainage, clay pan layers, restricted root growth and restricted plant yields.

Gypsum application can assist in leaching excess sodium from affected soils.

The amount of gypsum required to address high sodium effluent effects may be larger than typical agricultural applications (Bond 1998) depending on the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) of the effluent (calculated using the the equation below SAR = Na+ / √((Ca2+ + Mg2+) / 2) [all cation amounts in cmol+/100g].

There is not much published information on the level of sodium in New Zealand dairy farm effluent.

The sodium level can be influenced by the sodicity of the water used in washing down, sodium level in the feed and dairy hygiene products containing sodium.

Longhurst et al. (2000) reported NZ dairy farm effluent nutrient levels but data on sodium levels was restricted to three samples ranging from 25 to 80-mg/L. At these levels,

a sodium issue would not be expected.

It may be, however, that some effluent levels will be higher than this. In Australia there is more evidence of high sodium issues in some dairy farm effluent samples with SAR values ranging from around 1 to around 9 (DPI, 2012). Even at relatively low SAR val-

ues, there can be an impact on soil structure for soils with relatively low electrical conductivity (ANZECC & ARMCANZ, 2000).

Soils receiving dairy effluent may build up sodium over time. There is a special case of farms receiving effluent from dairy factory processing (NZIC, 2002). These effluents

can be very high in sodium levels leading to a rise in soil sodium levels over time.

Bond (1998) suggested that the effect of gypsum increasing sodium leaching from the topsoil meant that the potential for increased sodium levels in the subsoil should be assessed.

Research since that time has generally established that subsoil drainage can tend to be increased by gypsum application though in high pH conditions there may be a risk of calcium carbonate precipitation causing reduced subsoil drainage, as reported for one soil studied by Tirado-Corbala (2010).

The readily leached sulphate and calcium from gypsum means that subsoil sodium levels can also be reduced and subsoil flocculation and structure improved.

Jenkins and Jenkins (2013) reported gypsum effects of increased subsoil sulphate levels and reduced penetrometer readings (indicating reduced soil compaction) within 6 months of application of gypsum to a range of New Zealand soil types.

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November 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

THE BENEFITS OF 100% NATURAL GYPSUM

Gypsum application is a standard practice worldwide for addressing the build up of sodium in soils, including soils receiving waste waters.

Gypsum is one of those rare materials that performs in all categories of soil treatment: an amendment, conditioner and fertiliser.

It is useful in the transition period in dairy cows 2 – 4 weeks pre & post calving, and can be used as an anionic salt to counteract the effects that high potassium & sodium concentrations have on increasing hypocalcemia.

Gypsum, a readily available form of calcium, is 100 times more soluble than lime and is more suitable for the digestive system during this period.

Gypsum in fertilising Soil tests throughout New Zealand shows sulphur deficiency is wide spread. Although often overlooked, sulphur is needed in at least equal quantities to phosphorus. Many responses in crops are sulphur due to the sulphate radical (SO4--).

• Readily dissociates into free calcium ions (Ca++) and sulphate ions (SO4--), major elements in plant nutrition • Has an approximately neutral pH and can be used in heavy applications without causing undue alkalinity in soils

Gypsum in water savings

• Promotes water infiltration, retention and conservation • Allows water to penetrate the soil without forming puddles or water logging • Conserves water by stretching intervals between irrigations • Tests show that farmland treated with gypsum requires up to 33% less water than soils without recent gypsum application

How Does Gypsum Work?

Gypsum is hydrated calcium sulphate. Calcium from gypsum replaces sodium in the soil. The sulphate allows the sodium to be effectively leached out of the soil. The soil then has more ability to flocculate and form stable aggregates to improve drainage and soil quality.

Na+ Na+ Ca++ leached Soil Cation Soil Cation CaSO4 + ➔ + Na2SO4 Exchange Exchange

Gypsum in soil conditioning

• Breaks up soils compacted by sodium and clay, and compounded by farm animals and machinery • Reduces cracking and compaction following irrigation and retards soil crusting • Allows soil to dry more quickly after rain or irrigation so that it may be worked sooner • Decreases energy requirements for tillage • Binds organic matter to soil and checks soil erosion • Enhances friendly bacterial action and discourages plant diseases related to poor soil aeration • Conditioned soil allows for deeper, healthier root development and water penetration

Gypsum in amendment

• Displaces sodium binding clay soils • Reduces high soil aluminium levels • Suppresses the soil acidification effects of growing crops and the prolonged use of acidifying fertilisers

For more about Natural Gypsum and soil stabilisation visit gypsum.co.nz

CANTERBURY FARMING November 2020

41

Applying effluent to land as a fertiliser supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Waikato Regional Council

Around 95% of dairy farms discharge effluent to land under the permitted activity rule, while the remainder work under consents to discharge treated effluent to water.

Farm dairy effluent is a natural, dilute liquid fertiliser. It contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S) and trace elements that you’d normally pay for to have applied to pasture.

Think of dairy effluent as a resource, not waste. The average dairy herd (244 cows) produces the same amount of effluent as a town with about 3400 people.

When spread over land and applied in timely fashion, the effluent of 100 cows can save farmers up thousands of dollars in fertiliser a year. This saving could be significantly higher for high input farms (for example, farms feeding supplements).

Applying the maximum amount of nitrogen from effluent allowed per year (150 kg per hectare for grazed grass), dairy shed effluent also provides the following approximate amounts of nutrients: • 20 kg of phosphate per hectare • 117 kg of potassium per hectare • Approximately 20-30 kg of sulphur per hectare • Smaller amounts of magnesium and calcium

Applying effluent Effluent management systems in place on your farm should give you enough flexibility

er than 7 degrees have a higher risk from over-application, and therefore application depths should be adjusted accordingly to reflect soil and weather conditions.

Too much effluent can: • kill pasture – especially where effluent has ‘ponded’ on the soil surface • pollute nearby streams and rivers – where it runs off paddocks into waterways.

• pollute ground water – by seeping too deep into the soil • be an ineffective use of nutrients - by seeping past the root zone before the plant can utilise it

Alternative: Biosolids can be applied to farmland as a substitute for fertiliser.

so that you don’t irrigate when soil is waterlogged (too wet to absorb the effluent) and if there is an equipment breakdown.

Remember to cover water troughs when irrigating effluent.

Protect waterways on your farm by: • not irrigating within 50 metres of a water supply • leaving a strip of non-irrigated land next to all watercourses – at least 20 metres wide • ensuring that spray drift isn’t getting into nearby streams or rivers • Soil acts as a living filter and treats the applied effluent by changing it: • physically – filtering out effluent parti-

cles, breaking them down and incorporating them into the soil structure • chemically – absorbing nutrients and making them available to plants • biologically – harmful micro-organisms (such as bacteria) present in the effluent are retained by the soil, or are killed when the effluent dries or when they become exposed to sunlight.

However, don’t apply too much as soil can only filter so much effluent at a time. It’s important to match the irrigation depth to the capability of the soil.

Land with impeded or artificial drainage, high or rising water tables or slopes of great-

Working out how much effluent to irrigate Although effluent contains many nutrients which can impact on your farm management, it is the environmental effects of nitrogen that determine how much you can irrigate onto land.

Too much nitrogen can reduce pasture performance and reduce water quality in neighbouring waterways.

If you know exactly how much nitrogen is in effluent, you can work out the most effective application rates for your land.

Each effluent application must not be more than 25 millimetres deep. How deep you irrigate effluent over an area will depend on how much nitrogen you want to apply.

42

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CANTERBURY FARMING

How to utilise effluent for cropping Feed the soil, and let the soil feed your crops. Cropping season is upon us, so now’s a great time to prepare the soil with the nutrients needed to grow strong, healthy crops.

The good stuff: Slurry tankers allow you to spread off the beaten path and venture into areas travelling irrigators just can’t reach and you’ll have less issues with council compliance.

Lloyd Thomas ❚ by ❚ nevadagroup.co.nz A generous base dressing of effluent is a good starting point for any crop preparation.

Effluent has great soil building properties which enhance nutrient and water retention, providing a buffer through times of stress.

When effluent is applied to the same area for many years it is likely to have an excess of potassium. Growing a crop of maize is a good way of using up this excess.

Dairy farmers who apply effluent to soil before planting often testify they achieve stronger, healthier crops. Many believe that

adding effluent has even saved their crops from drought and moisture stress.

How to apply First things first, if you’re unsure of the nutrient value of your effluent, you can use a nutrient testing kit to check and make sure the nitrogen levels are not too high for council compliance.

If you find the nutrient levels are not quite right, you may consider adding a natural liq-

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uid fertliser like AddGreen™ before spreading. This will help to balance out, as well as enhance the nutrient value, giving the soil an even bigger boost.

Before pumping it is essential you give the slurry a good stir. You want to create an homogenous mixture, ensuring the nutrients are evenly spread throughout, and solids aren’t left to build up at the bottom of the pond or storage tank.

Now is also a really good time to empty sludge from the bottom of sand traps and sumps. If your sump slurry is too thick, add some water and give it a good stir before sucking up with a slurry tanker. Because slurry tankers use a vacuum rather than a pump, they are generally better able to handle thicker slurries.

As for spreading, a low pressure spreader such as a slurry tanker with RainWave™, drag hose system, or travelling irrigator is generally recommended.

By using low pressure and an oscillating fan pattern, a RainWave™ achieves a wider spread and produces larger droplets, meaning virtually no wind drift, so nutrients are spread evenly, with less volitisation – so more nutrients are actually reaching the soil.

A slurry tanker can be particularly useful here, as they not only can help with sucking up sludge and thicker slurries for spreading, but they create less mess, allow you to spread when and where needed, and are more accurate than some other spreading methods.

CANTERBURY FARMING November 2020

43

Factors in selecting an effluent management system

Developing an effective dairy effluent system requires detailed planning taking into consideration the farm’s individual characteristics, such as soil type, distance to waterways as well as how the system can be integrated into existing infrastructure and management strategies such as fertiliser applications and irrigation management. supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Agriculture Victoria Choosing the most appropriate effluent system whether it be pondage systems or direct application, will depend on what is more practical, easier to maintain and has the potential to return the most benefit.

Understanding these factors quite often assist in determining the most appropriate effluent system.

Key components of an effluent system Effluent systems often revolve around key components or stages, which are integrated to form the total system, designed to manage the effluent stream from its generation to its application and reuse. Components to consider in a dairy situation may include: 1. Minimisation of effluent: The more generated at the dairy or feedpad the more that requires storage and application to pastures.

2. Solid separation & fibre removal: Removing the coarse material from the liquid stream such as manure solids, fibre, debris, sand, gravel and stones reduces the likelihood of problems with other components

within the effluent system. These may include pumping, storage, conveyance and application stages.

3. Conveyance: How will effluent be conveyed from the point source? Where will it be conveyed too? Can gravity be utilised? What distances are involved? These questions will assist in determining the most appropriate conveyance method.

4. Storage or containment: What is the most practical and effective method to contain effluent within the property boundaries over the wetter months of the year?

5. Application: Determining the end location for where effluent will be applied is often a good starting point when designing an effluent system. A key principle in the application stage is ensuring effluent can be applied over a significant percentage of the farm paddocks. Application of effluent should be strategically linked to the farm soil fertility targets and fertiliser applications.

6. Management: The overall management and ongoing maintenance of an effluent system is often overlooked.

Most effluent systems fail due to inade-

Choices: Choosing the most appropriate effluent system whether it be pondage systems or direct application, will depend on what is more practical, easier to maintain and has the potential to return the most benefit. quate management more so than system design. This component of the effluent system should take into consideration: costs of servicing, ease and frequency of maintenance,

desludging strategies and staff responsibilities. On the average size dairy farm simple solutions are often practical and more reliable.

44

November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

For peace of mind and assurance Nigel and Amy Rutherford of Malbon Dairy Farms located in Oxford chose to upgrade their clay lined effluent storage pond. supplied by ❚ Article ❚ Viking Containment Increased storage capacity and compliance were the key drivers for the pond design, it also provided a contingency for possible future expansion.

The previous storage was only 4 to 5 days, the new HDPE lined pond has increased their capacity to 1,800m³ now providing 20 to 25 days storage.

Nigel says is very happy with the outcome.

“Recent wet weather where the soil capacity was at its maximum meant I didn’t have to worry about effluent management issues – it makes the whole operation very efficient and much easier.”

Nigel says Roy Hill Construction did an excellent job on the earth works at a very competitive price.

The extra storage capacity allows the Ruther fords to put more time and focus into animal health and pasture.

The new pond construction involved removal of the existing pond so it was pro-

Choosing a viking effluent storage pond will allow farmers to put more time and focus into animal health and pasture. grammed to be completed in the off season.

The excavated pond dimensions were 40m x 40m x 3.5m depth with a 2H:1V slope gradient and a 500mm freeboard.

The liner system consisted of 1.5mm

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Liner, Geotextile protection layer over the subgrade surface, Viking Gas Venting system and Geoladders for safe egress in and out of the pond.

The 1.5mm HDPE liner comes in 8.0m

wide panels which allows efficient deployment and installation, which was completed in one day.

All the seam welding and testing was documented in a comprehensive Quality Assurance Report.

For peace of mind and assurance Viking’s HDPE liner also has a 20-Year product warranty.

CANTERBURY FARMING

November 2020

45

Being flexible when it comes to effluent options Ngaere dairy farmer Glenn Taylor is happy to extol the virtues of a French product he installed on his farm back in June 2018.

❚ Article supplied by Flexi Tanks NZ

“Basically it’s done what I wanted it to do.

It’s somewhere to put effluent safely when I’m not on the farm,” he says.

Glenn is a part owner and leases the balance of the family farm. He has 340 dairy cows on 107 effective hectares, as well as having a 30ha runoff where he grows maize and silage and grazes young stock.

Glenn did look at a number of options before meeting Anton of Flexi Tanks NZ at the fieldays in Feilding. After that a friend of Glenn’s organised a field day on his farm, where about 15 farmers turned up. Glenn went along and ended up ordering a Flexi Tank that afternoon.

“I did the calculations with Dairymaster in town, who recommended Flexi Tanks and we worked out the size we needed.”

Located downhill from the milking shed, his tank can hold half a million litres of effluent.

Glenn says it’s a simple system which is easy to use and easy to put together without a lot of capital outlay. There are no consents required, no extra pumps are needed,

just a few extra fittings and a flat surface.

The effluent can be transported to and from the tank using an existing pump or by the use of gravity.

For Glenn, it only took five people an hour and a half to roll it out. He cleared a few trees before putting it in, and has plans to add a few plants so that it will be unseen by anyone passing nearby.

With the Flexi Tank being enclosed there is no risk of rainfall getting in or people falling in. For anybody who may have neighbouring properties nearby there is the added benefit that smells are almost nonexistent. Rather than gradually putting the effluent on to a paddock it can be applied all at once, so the entire paddock can have the same consistency before it’s time for the cows to go on.

Flexi Tanks are an increasingly popular option. The tanks have a depreciation rate of 25 % per annum, so can be written off in 4-5 years.

The material is sturdy and comes with a 10 years manufacturer’s guarantee.

Flexi Tank is a simple system which is easy to use and put together without a lot of capital outlay.

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46

November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

❚ with Fred Hoekstra

DAIRY

Identifying lame cows in your herd How many lame cows do you have? I have a strong suspicion that most farmers don’t actually know.

Spotting lame cows: The curved line shows a severely lame cow, and the straight line is a normal cow.

Electrical Problems or Maintenance?

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So, what constitutes a lame cow?

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LEESTON Ph (03) 324 3752

When we go to a farm to do hoof trimming, we often end up treating more cows than what had been booked. This has been the case throughout the 25 years I have been trimming in New Zealand.

A lot of the cows we trim are not considered lame by the farmer but are identified for preventative trimming. However, it still strikes me how often there are more lame cows than expected.

Often farmers say they don’t have lame cows, yet when you see their herd walking over the track it is obvious that this is not the case. Maybe not so much that you can tell which foot the cows are favouring but, nevertheless, they are lame.

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Cows are lame long before they limp, and even at this stage (known as the subclinical stage) they are costing you money.

Research shows that a cow will lose 5% production in this subclinical stage.

If you have a large percentage of the herd in that situation you may be losing more money than you realise.

So how can you identify the cows that are subclinically lame?

There are some good tools available to help you recognise the signs.

Zinpro© has produced a helpful locomotion scoring chart which highlights five different stages of lameness and encourages you, the farmer, to observe how a cow stands and walks. In summary: Locomotion Score 1: • a cow should stand and walk with a flat back.

Locomotion score 2: • The cow stands with a flat back and walks with an arched back (she has now moved into the subclinical stage of lameness).

Locomotion score 3: • The cow stands and walks with an arched back, but you are not able to identify which foot she is lame on.

Locomotion score 4: • You are now able to tell which foot the cow is lame on and she is now considered clinically lame.

Locomotion score 5: • When the cow becomes so lame that her lame foot is not weightbearing anymore.

Locomotion Scores 2 and 3 cows don’t always become clinically lame.

Most cows don’t stay clinically lame

even if they never get trimmed or treated, and I think it is an important point to make that we, as trimmers, are not trying to just get cows to come right, because most cows will come right if you give them rest and don’t walk them too far.

However, our aim is to have cows come right as quickly as possible and their recovery time is a good indicator of the effectiveness of the trimming being performed. We need cows to come right as quickly as possible because: 1. It is an animal welfare issue and 2.

They are costing you money.

So, I challenge you to have a look at your cows as they walk to the cowshed today with a critical eye and see how many cows you have with a Locomotion Score of 2 or 3.

Give us a call on 0800833643 and we will send you a free Locomotion Scoring Chart from Zinpro©, or you can download it from our website (www.veehof.co.nz) to help you with your assessment.

If you get your score 3 cows trimmed and improve their locomotion, you will be making more money even if they would not have become clinically lame, as production levels will improve for these cows.

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DAIRY

❚ with Peter burton

CANTERBURY FARMING

November 2020

47

Carbon positive farming As I write this article pasture growth in many farming regions is restricted by a lack of moisture and a genuine spring flush has not arrived.

It’s easy to say that we shouldn’t worry about stuff we have no control over, however a lack of rain this early in the season is a concern.

Where it’s possible to rotationally graze animals, our experience over the last 40 years, suggests that a genuine 30-day grazing interval is the best management option, along with reducing animal numbers to ensure animals are fully fed.

The counter to a 30-day round is that quality pasture not grazed for 30 days will deteriorate, by which time covers may have declined, and that is a fair argument.

However, going around quickly will result in a farm with very low covers well before the end of the year, with little ability to recover when rain arrives.

The topic of most concern to the farmers I’ve talked to of late, is not the weather but the recently arrived farming regulations.

The anxiety over new rules is that they may become overly prescriptive. That’s a real concern, as regulation, no matter how well researched and written, cannot cover all farming situations and variables.

We live in a democracy and farmers have the right, and an obligation, to push back on directives that impinge on their ability to manage land in a way that has no negative influence on others. That right is enshrined in

law and must be defended.

It’s a concern that groups representing the rights of farmers seem to have bought into the belief that pastoral farming is an environmentally negative activity, and that by planting woodlots and shelter belts farming might just manage to become carbon neutral.

That is nonsense and does farming a real disservice. The quickest way to sequester carbon is under permanent grazed pasture, and animals are a big part of the solution not the problem.

Most sheep and beef properties are continuously sequestering carbon, via the breakdown and incorporation of old root matter, dung, urine, and litter on the soil surface after grazing.

The issue around carbon and pastoral farming is the overuse of synthetic-N, primarily urea. Nitrogen is an essential element and without a steady supply pasture growth diminishes to the point where low fertility species dominate and farming becomes financially non-viable.

It is the reliance on synthetic nitrogen that puts the industry at risk. When storage, cartage, and spreading is included, a total of close to $500m each year is being spent.

There is an excellent podcast by Dr Richard Mulvaney from the University of Illinois,

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The Fallacy of Mainstream Potassium and Nitrogen Fertilizers, in which Mulvaney states that synthetic-N burns soil organic matter.

The importance of soil organic matter, in all its forms, cannot be over emphasised.

It’s estimated that with every 1% increase in soil carbon an extra 144,000 litres of water per hectare can be stored.

The amount of carbon in the soil also largely determines the amount of nutrient, including nitrogen, that can be held and released for plant uptake.

Rapidly decomposing organic matter, work undertaken primarily by earthworms, fungi, and bacteria, also reduces the amount of nitrogen, in the form of nitrate, lost to groundwater. Carbon is the filter and any loss results in increased leaching of all nutrients.

Removing nitrogen from an existing programme will result in less growth unless it is replaced from another source. Clover takes nitrogen from the atmosphere and makes it available for plant uptake.

There are decades of work showing that not only is clover capable of fixing all the nitrogen required to replace current synthetic N use, there are a number of other upsides, which will be the focus of the next article.

For more information call Peter on 0800 843 809.

48

November 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

WATER & IRRIGATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

November 2020

Shaping up to be a challenging irrigation season It has been an extremely dry and warm start to the 2020-21 irrigation season.

â?š by Andrew Curtis

If the La NiĂąa weather pattern continues as predicted, Canterbury irrigators will need to keep a careful watch on their seasonal allocation limits and make tactical decisions around their irrigation.

If you have used over 60% of your allocation by the end of December, you will need to think about how to reduce your irrigated area so you can get through. It is better to irrigate a smaller area well than do a bad job everywhere.

Options to consider include focusing irrigation to areas with more efficient irrigation systems, to more productive areas of the farm, or to higher value crops.

So why are we saying this?

The Lincoln weather station data shows there was 32mm of rain during Septem-

ber and up until the 25 October there had only been 4mm of rain. Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) was 83mm and 91mm respectively, an average of 2.6mm and 3.6mm per day. These rates are 30% and 18% higher than the 10-year average and are also the highest recorded for this period.

For a soil with 100mm Plant Available Water (PAW) an efficient irrigator would have applied approximately 150mm of irrigation. This means over 20% of the seasonal allocation limit has been used.

The Winchmore weather station shows there was 56mm of rain during September and up until the 25 October there had only been 23mm of rain. Potential Evaporation was 86mm and 85mm respectively, an average of 2.9mm and 3.4mm per day.

For a soil with 100mm Plant Available Water (PAW) an efficient irrigator would have applied approximately 120mm of irrigation. Again, this means over 20% of the seasonal allocation limit has been used.

The Timaru Airport weather station shows there was 37mm of rain during September and up until the 24 October there had only been 15mm of rain. Potential Evapotranspiration was 67mm and 60mm respectively, an average of 2.2mm and 2.0mm per day.

For a soil with 100mm Plant Available Water (PAW) an efficient irriga-

tor would have applied approximately 80mm of irrigation. This means 10% of the seasonal allocation limit has been used.

However, of more concern for South Canterbury is the record low rainfall, only 235mm since 1 January. The 30-year annual average for Timaru Airport is 565mm.

To help irrigators through what is shaping up to be a challenging irrigation season, Water Strategies will be running more irrigator workshops in November.

They will be held in Geraldine and rakaia; the dates, times and venues for these are on our website www.waterstrategies.co.nz.

Alternatively, if you would like a hand with making sense of your soil moisture sensors (we can do this over the phone if you provide us with your log-in), working out how best to deal with restrictions, or you are experiencing issues with your irrigation system and would like experienced independent support to resolve these, give the team at Water Strategies a call.

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49

50

November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

Is a La Niña drought coming? ❚ with Dr Tony Davoren

Last month I wrote of how the weather pattern reminded me of 1988 -similar rainfall pattern and those periods of strong NW winds. Nothing much has changed and both 1988-89 and 2020-21 thus far are being influenced by a La Niña weather pattern.

Both NZ (NIWA) and international climatologists (NOAA in USA, Weatherzone in Australia) have been “warning” of the development of a La Niña weather pattern this summer.

While we mostly associate droughts in Canterbury with a predominance of NW conditions brought about by El Niño – like 1972-73, 1982-83 and 1997-98, the 198889 the drought was a La Niña event.

La Niña is normally associated with more north–easterly winds with low rainfall in the south and south–west of the South Island meaning areas like central Otago and South Canterbury can get both El Niño and La Niña droughts. And warmer than normal temperatures often occur during a La Niña and that has been the case since July.

NIWA scientists have “warned” of a developing La Niña event for several months, starting with a relatively low likelihood but now more certain. The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) which is used to define La Niña and El Niño is not too dissimilar to 1987-8889. In both 1988 and 2020 the La Niña began to develop following quite strong El Niño conditions (1987 and 2019) followed by a period of neutral conditions with La Niña anomalies developing in July. While the 1988

anomalies were much stronger the pattern is very similar.

Air pressure is forecast by NIWA scientists “to be higher than normal to the southeast and lower than normal to the north of New Zealand”. They expect this “to be associated with developing La Niña-like north-easterly air flow anomalies, although a westerly flow anomaly, which may be strong at times, is favoured to continue for much of October” along with “near normal or below normal” rainfall in north and east of the South Island.

Thinking back over the last month the forecast is close to the mark – west, north-west and south-west conditions that have been severe at times and rainfall well below average.

And the latter has an eerily similar “history repeating” pattern.

The airport rainfall in the period July-October 2020 (64mm) is very similar to 1988 (53mm). Interestingly, it is north of the Rakaia (roughly) where these rainfall conditions occur. Mid–south Canterbury are significantly “wetter” with 90-100mm in the same period in 2020 – a contrast to 1988 when it was much the same or a little “drier”.

Time will tell if this is a repeat La Niña event.

Warning signs: The Southern oscillation Index (SoI) which is used to define La Niña and el Niño is not too dissimilar to 1987-88-89.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

November 2020

51

Groundwater levels: Where are we going into the 2020 summer?

Groundwater levels are low. Understanding your groundwater levels and well performance now can help avoid potential issues later.

Fore-warned: Some wells in midCanterbury are experiencing record low levels.

Helen rutter ❚ by ❚ Aqualinc Research Ltd

It has been a dry winter. According to ECan, August 2020 groundwater levels were low compared to typical August values: 87% of wells are below the median, 33% are below the 10th percentile and 15% show the lowest levels ever recorded in August. NIWA’s predictions for the summer are that it will be warm, and likely to be dry.

Helen Rutter, Aqualinc’s senior hydrogeologist, says that while groundwater levels overall are not quite as low as they were going into the 2016/17 summer, they are still well below average in many areas.

Most groundwater levels will decline further over summer, due to natural recession and abstraction. Rutter says that a significant number of groundwater-supplied irri-

gation takes with “adaptive management” consent conditions will be partially or fully restricted this season. Others, which may not have consent restrictions, will still struggle, if they are not able to physically abstract their consented flows.

Some wells in mid-Canterbury are experiencing record low levels, as shown in the graph.

In some parts of the Selwyn-Waihora water management zone, however, groundwater levels that are not as concerning may be seen, for two main reasons. The rupture of the Greendale fault in 2010 resulted in a long-term rise of deep groundwater wells in many areas, particularly towards the western end of the Plains. Also, the Central Plains Water Scheme has resulted in many irrigators switching to surface water, which means less abstraction from groundwater.

“Groundwater levels will recover,” Rutter says. “We just need a wet winter or two. A second or even third dry winter with reduced winter recharge would result in even low-

er groundwater levels, as were experienced over the 2015-2017 period.”

How much water a well can supply, depends on the water level in the well and how far the water draws down when it is pumped.

“Much of the drawdown in your well is a result of losses in, and around, the well. Wells deteriorate over time, and a previously “good” well can become less efficient,” Rutter says.

Recently, Aqualinc Director Ian McIndoe anticipated problems with low groundwater levels this season, so had his well cleaned, redeveloped and pump lowered. “This doubled the flow capacity. Once again, I have a secure supply.” McIndoe said.

Aqualinc is well-versed in helping users

address challenges with well water supplies.

Deepening a well may be a solution, but there are often a range of other more cost-effective options that can be looked at, including more efficient use of the limited water you may have.

Fore-warned is fore-armed. Don’t let this year take you by surprise, use water wisely, be aware of the impacts of poor well performance on your ability to access groundwater, and think ahead to the future.

If you are having problems with low groundwater levels and are looking for independent advice, contact Helen rutter, phone 021 873 788 or email h.rutter@ aqualinc.co.nz

52

November 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

rob Cochrane ❚ by Procurement Manager, ❚ Wool PGG Wrightson Wool ❚

LIVESTOCK

Vast mix of wool types offered

It has certainly been an interesting year to date with most inhabitants of planet earth having to change the way they go about day to day activities, especially when venturing away from home base.

From the initial scary days of people stockpiling consumables, lock-downs, PPE, QR codes, to renewed waves of Covid breaking across the major continents and many countries, here in New Zealand to date we have been insulated to an extent from on-going ill health interruption due to the virus, but definitely not from economic interruption in the wool sector.

Whilst wool prices for most NZ producers were easing considerably before the pandemic, collapse followed as many second-stage and beyond processors and manufacturers closed or were seriously impacted by the pandemic.

During the past few weeks there have been signs of recovery in some markets for wool. The European carpet sector, which has often been driven by demand from the hotel and cruise ship industries, has experienced renewed interest from private homeowners deciding to upgrade their floor coverings.

European manufacturers of outdoor and active wear also appear to have experienced good demand of late, with many retailers obviously reporting an increase in on-line sales versus a decline in across the counter.

Whilst these reports are positive, the stock-piles of unsold wool sitting on farm in wool sheds and in broker and merchant stores, plus the shipping back-log of sold wool stored at broker and merchant stores as well as at wool scours and wool dumps, remain the major influences hindering price recovery for

coarse wool types.

During the past month spot prices for most crossbred wool types have increased slightly with Indian and Chinese buying interests the main competitors.

With the vast mix of types on offer, including both new and old seasons’ wool, quoting the market on a type for type basis has proved difficult, however in general terms there has been little or no difference in clean pricing for shorn hogget wools, measuring

around 34 to 35 microns, compared to the coarser, 37 to 39 micron, adult wool types.

At time of writing there did however appear to be a little more interest looming for a few of the finer crossbreds, and a handful of last season’s longer lamb’s wool in the 32 to 33 micron ranges sold well in comparison to the general market, albeit at (still) unprofitable price levels.

Recent offerings of mid-micron types in the Christchurch auction room have experienced good support as values have improved at each outing, particularly for the better grown and prepared types measuring from 23 to 28 microns. As mentioned, well grown and well-prepared wools drew most interest from the export trade with low vegetable matter levels also preferred. Australian brokers reported good gains for similar types there during late October, driven entirely by Chinese enquiry.

Some very stylish and sizeable offerings of Merino wool types were greeted by the full bench of buyers present in the Christchurch auction room during September and October.

Exporters representing manufacturers across the globe provided spirited, and at times animated, bidding on the wide range of micron types on offer with prices in many cases reaching extreme levels, particularly for those with very good length and strength measurements, including low coefficient of variation data, and very even character obvious within the display sample.

South Island wool growers who prefer to receive maximum competition via the auction system, have four wool auctions scheduled through November and December, providing opportunity to market new and maybe any old wool on hand.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

LIVESTOCK

November 2020

53

Sheep and beef farmers close to carbon neutrality

It is worryingly dry throughout much of our region. Most of us are operating from hand-to-mouth and while we are getting the occasional welcome shower, soil moisture levels remain low.

Nicky Hyslop ❚ by ❚ Director, ❚ Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Localised areas within South Canterbury are of particular concern and meetings are being held to support farmers making early but tough decisions.

I would encourage all livestock farmers to put together a contingency plan now. Carry out a feed budget and consider management strategies such as early weaning, selling trading stock early and securing supplementary feed supplies.

There is a lot of drought-specific management resources on the B+LNZ website so make use of them. They support the decision-making process and help clarify thinking at a busy time of the year.

B+LNZ has just released a major piece of independent research that showed New Zealand’s sheep and beef farmers are close to being carbon neutral.

This is because of the all woody vegetation on their farms off-setting between 63% and 118% of their agricultural emissions.

This research, carried out by Dr Bradley

Case at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), confirmed what many farmers had suspected, that NZ’s red meat is amongst the most sustainable in the world.

Quantifying sequestrations could potentially give our farmers and exporters a competitive advantage with consumers and it strengthens the call to have on-farm sequestration formally recognized. After all, if farmers are to face a price for agricultural emissions, it is only fair they also get credit for their sequestrations.

Over generations, farmers have invested significant amounts of time and money on protecting and enhancing the vegetation on their farms and it is great to see this recognised through these sequestration numbers.

Obviously, farmers as they have always done, will continue to protect their natural resources and through market initiatives such as Taste Pure Nature, we will hopefully be able to use this natural capital to leverage an

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

There is no point in having regulations that are impractical and expensive.

advantage in the marketplace.

B+LNZ will continue advocating on farmers behalf to get on-farm sequestrations recognized by the government as we continue to show how committed we as a sector, to do our bit to address climate change.

We have also been working hard to protect our freshwater resources. It is gratifying to see how farmers have been fencing off waterways where it is practical to do so, changed their winter grazing practices to prevent soil and nutrient losses and have formed Catch-

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ment Groups to collectively identify and address issues specific to their catchment.

Absolutely there is more to do – but there is no point in having regulations that are impractical, expensive and don’t incentivise changes to protect the environment.

B+LNZ will work alongside other industry organisations to seek practical solutions to some of the more concerning aspects of the Essential Freshwater regulations, particularly around winter grazing, sowing dates, pugging and the low slope map for stock exclusion.

Be assured we have farmers’ backs, we will be strong but constructive and we have a team of very talented people working on behalf of farmers to ensure we, as an industry, protect our environment, our economy and our rural communities.

Good luck for the season ahead and look out for your farming mates as we head into the busiest and sometimes most challenging time of the year.

Gavin Crump 027 431 6555 Milton Hulme 027 229 9794 www.cpwool.co.nz

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From mainline to dags see if you can find any wool buyer who will go further or work harder for your wool.

Phone Kevin today and get the best out of your wool.

PH 0274 396 848 or 03 312 9059

54

November 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

LIVESTOCK

Venison is about patience and innovation Venison marketers say the long-term future for venison is great. Its attributes – a healthy, nutritious, natural, tasty food produced in a great environment – are just what many consumers are looking for.

❚ by Trevor Walton But Covid is still far from being defeated, they told NZ Deer Farmers Association branch chairs at their 2020 annual meeting last month.

So they are having to be supportive and patient with their traditional northern hemisphere customers, most of whom are anxiously going into winter fearful of a further upsurge in Covid.

DINZ venison marketing manager Nick Taylor said disruption of sales in the United States, New Zealand’s largest market for chilled venison, was severe.

By way of example he cited the 58 counties in California, each of which has its own Covid restrictions based on the incidence of the disease.

In counties with the lowest level of risk, indoor restaurants can operate at 50% capacity. In counties at the highest level of risk, nearly half the state, indoor restaurants must stay closed.

He said there were nevertheless encouraging signs of recovery, with the number of restaurant meals served in the United States trending upward, but there is still some way to go.

“In Germany the recovery has gone better. During summer – July and August – restaurant sales climbed to near normal levels from being as low as 40% in May. “But because most countries in Europe and states in the US have had to deal with waves of the virus, with pandemic responses being imposed, then lifted, then reimposed, there are huge levels of uncertainty,” he said.

Taylor said DINZ has seen the Covid-19 crisis as an opportunity to review all its mar-

‘

Nick Taylor DINZ venison marketing manager

Sign of the times: Disruption to New Zealand venison sales to the United States is being described as severe, with states like California in which each of its 58 counties having their own Covid restrictions based on the incidence of the disease. ket-support activities.

All the marketing companies are keen to further develop the US retail market, Taylor said.

“It is interesting to see the different approaches they are taking, but all will be placing a greater emphasis on retail and on-line sales to augment sales to food service.”

“DINZ is supporting marketers in the US with chef demonstrations, marketing materials and coverage by food writers. We are exploring the place of venison in meal kits and are funding market research to get insights into consumer preferences.

“In Europe we are working with Miriam Boyens, a German-speaking NZ deer farmer/ videographer, to add deer farming content to

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our German Facebook page. The page, which has previously targeted chefs, is being realigned to engage with consumers as well,” Taylor said.

“Miriam’s doing a great job of showing chefs and other customers what it’s like living on a NZ deer farm. She’ll be reaching out to other farmers to share their stories along with their farms.”

Three of the five venison companies are active in China, with one more awaiting plant approval.

All support continuing work in this market, where DINZ has recently launched a Mandarin language website.

“We are increasing our budget for China; are setting up our own WeChat account, and developing more Chinese style recipes

as well as translating some of our European recipes.

“We will be supporting NZ Week, which is an NZTE event promoting NZ food and beverage and we will have restaurants featuring venison as part of this.”

Meanwhile Deer Industry NZ has set up a contestable venison marketing fund for marketers to build new sales for venison.

“We are able to support innovative projects that require extra effort to get going in this time of need. The fund, which at this stage is a one-off, is a response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which has severely disrupted venison markets,” DINZ chief executive Innes Moffat said.

DINZ will reimburse up to 50% per cent of the costs of an agreed project, with the remainder funded by the successful company up to a DINZ funding limit of $250,000.

Such projects may also be eligible for Covid recovery funding from government agencies.

“It is in addition to the $400k that Deer Industry NZ allocates each year to joint promotions, where DINZ supports companies venison promotional activities dollar for dollar,” Moffat said.

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November 2020

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Adding flair to Toyota’s iconic ute Toyota has released details of its new bespoke Hilux, the Mako.

❚ Article supplied by Toyota NZ

The new Hilux Mako special launch edition will be built to order at Toyota’s Thames vehicle operations, so not your average off-theshelf ute.

Toyota New Zealand’s chief executive, Neeraj Lala said the Hilux Mako will be an eye-catching, custom-built ute, with genuine Toyota accessories and parts and will suit customers who want a fully kitted out Hilux.

“We’ve taken a great truck and added some kiwi-muscle and flair. I’ve had lots of direct feedback from customers, and they wanted more power, a better ride and premium interior comfort – the Hilux Mako delivers on all those requests,” Neeraj said.

“The big advantage with the Hilux Mako is that you get all of those benefits and you can tow 3,500kg.

“From my experience in the US with the Scion brand, customisation was the backbone of forming an unbreakable bond with customers. In fact, customers would go to extreme lengths, some legal and some even illegal as they really pushed the boundaries of customisation.

“We have pushed the boundaries under the careful watch of local Toyota engineers to produce a unique bespoke truck that I think customers are just going to love.”

Toyota will build a few Hilux Makos for demonstration purposes, but every vehicle will be custom-built for the owner.

Customers are able to place their orders

now for the vehicles to be built and delivered in the first quarter of next year.

Available in all exterior colour options except Emotional Red, Deep Sea Blue and Inferno for the SR5 Cruiser, the Hilux Mako will have 18” matte black alloy wheels with Maxxis Razr off-road tyres, fender flares, tinted front windows, a replacement front bumper steel bulbar, and a replacement rear heavy duty bumper.

To improve comfort and control, both on and off road, the suspension will be upgraded with ARB’s Old Man Emu BP-51 shock absorbers. The BP-51 high-performance bypass shock absorbers have user adjustable compression and rebound damping control.

They provide optimal performance for challenging terrain, towing or carrying loads.

Also, to improve control, the brakes will be upgraded with larger diameter front discs.

The brake lines also get an upgrade to stainless steel braided lines that help increase hydraulic pressure on the pedal and the feel and feedback, improves safety, and are more durable in harsh conditions than standard rubber lines.

Inside, the Mako will receive airbag-compatible custom sports leather accented front and rear seats with unique seat stitching and headrest branding. Underpinning the accessories will be the latest 2021 SR5 Cruiser with its more powerful 2.8L turbo diesel engine, the latest in Hilux safety features and smart phone connectivity.

Powerful and unique: With a towing capacity of 3,500kg, every Hiolux mako will be custom-built for the owner, receiving airbagcompatible custom sports leather accented front and rear seats with unique seat stitching and headrest branding.

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November 2020 CANTERBURY FARMING

Honda’s hot hatch gets an upgrade The redesigned 2021 Civic Type R, Honda’s highly acclaimed hot hatch, with notable upgrades to ride and handling, braking performance and engine cooling, is arriving in showrooms across the country.

❚ Article supplied by Honda NZ

Since its introduction in 2017, Civic Type R has gathered acclaim for its combination of dynamic performance and day-to-day driving civility.

For the 2021 model year the Civic Type R receives styling and design enhancements both inside and out.

Exterior is refreshed with updates to the front and rear bumpers with the addition of body coloured accent blades.

Inside, a new Alcantara wrapped steering wheel, a new shift lever with a restyled knob and suede shift boot separate the 2021 model from earlier versions.

In-line with its Civic stablemates the Type R is fitted with the revised advanced display audio touchscreen, redesigned for a more intuitive user experience, with the addition of hard keys for the most commonly used functions, along with a dedicated volume control

knob. The usability of climate control functions has also been improved on with the addition of push buttons for one-touch adjustment and control of the fan speed The Type R gets a new grille design with a 13% larger opening that along with an updated radiator core delivers improved engine cooling in high demand situations, such as track use, with a decrease in coolant temperature of up to 10degC in testing.

The suspension for the 2021 Civic Type R has also been updated for more responsive and sharper handling. The control software in the Adaptive Damper System (ADS) now evaluates road conditions ten times faster (2Hz to 20Hz), resulting in improved damper reactions for both better handling response and ride quality. The rear bushings for the lower arm have been stiffened, resulting in better toe in tracking when cornering. In front, updated compliance bushings (10% stiffer lon-

Corner hugging: The suspension for the 2021 Civic Type R has also been updated for more responsive and sharper handling. gitudinally) and new lower-friction ball joints result in sharper steering feel for better control.

For improved brake performance with better fade resistance as well as reduced unsprung weight, the Type R’s single-piece front brake rotors are replaced by new twopiece rotors gripped by brake pads with a new more fade-resistant pad material.

Under the bonnet, the refreshed Civic Type R retains the race-bred 2.0-litre direct injection, turbocharged, VTEC engine, which produces 228 kW of power at 6500 rpm and 400 Nm peak torque from 2500-4500 rpm.

Paired with the close-ratio six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching function, the Type R has been tuned to deliver flexible and exhilarating performance.

Specifically engineered for direct injection

and turbocharging, with an ultra-lightweight forged steel crankshaft and forged steel connecting rods, the Type R powerplant is designed to offer maximum torque output in the mid-rpm range to provide power on demand.

Offered exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, the high-strength gearbox offers a short-throw shift action and closely spaced ratios tailored to suit the power delivery of the VTEC Turbo engine.

As before, all vehicles are equipped with the driver-selectable rev-matching feature ensures smooth high performance downshifts, while a helical limited-slip front differential helps the Civic Type R transfer its power to the ground. The Type R’s driver can choose between three driving modes – Comfort, Sport and +R – that vary damping force, steering assist and throttle mapping.

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November 2020

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A Kubota made to handle hills and kegs The Kubota RTV X1140 is the highest horsepower RTV in its class and a big seller for Norwood.

❚ Article supplied by Norwood

The farm technology specialists, who represent some of the world’s largest farm machinery manufacturers, including Kubota, are excited to offer the Kubota RTV X1140 to farmers across New Zealand.

It’s been tried and tested by Taranaki farmer and father of three of New Zealand’s most well-known rugby players, Kevin Barrett, who put the Kubota RTV X1140 through its paces in Taranaki’s rolling coastal environment.

Organic dairy farmer Kevin, known for his role as Norwood Brand Ambassador, had the Kubota on his farm for a couple of weeks and says it “performed exceptionally well”.

With its long wheelbase and ever-popular hydrostatic transmission, Kevin found it very stable on rolling ground and couldn’t fault its hill holding capacity.

“I tested it out on a few hills, activated the diff-lock control, took my foot off the accelerator and was surprised at how well it held on the hills, no slippage at all.”

Another key feature of the Kubota RTV X1140 is accessibility; making it a breeze to get on and off. Kevin agrees.

“If you’re struggling to get your leg over a bike these days then this little beauty is for you,” he says.

Kevin also found the dual, four seater option he tested ideal for taking staff or his grandkids down the back of the farm to get those ever-present jobs done. The four seatbelts kept everyone nice and secure.

The dual seat also makes engine accessibility extremely easy, simply by folding the seat up.

Another great feature of the Kubota RTV X1140 is the ability to fold the seats up and extend the tray capacity.

“It’s got a very spacious tray. It’s very good it’s got the tipping option, so if you’re loaded up with rubbish on the back you can tip it out very quickly. Load up with reels, bales of hay, standards, whatever. It’ll take it all.

“I worked out you can get nine kegs of Guinness on there if you really want to get serious.”

For those interested in the technical weight specification, the Kubota RTV X1140 takes just over 700kgs of payload.

“It’s been great having this vehicle on the farm. It’s been great to use, it’s been safe and I’ve just loved having it here.”

A feature of the Kubota rTv X1140 is the ability to fold the seats up and extend the tray capacity.

Kevin ‘Smiley’ barrett, father of three current All blacks, says his Kubota rTv X1140 performs exceptionally well on his hilly Taranaki property.

Same great team, now with national support Johnson Gluyas Tractors are now part of the Norwood network.

Norwood has the largest dealer footprint of any tractor retailer in New Zealand, with 25 locations all across the country. And, we’re proud to announce that South Canterbury and North Otago customers now have access to the full resources of that network, with new dealers in Ashburton, Timaru, and Oamaru. This means we’re expanding on the advice, support, and product solutions available in your region.

It’s all part of our commitement to providing customers with the best range of machinery, expertise and precision farming technology, so we can help grow the country.

Visit norwood.co.nz/locations to find your local dealership. norwood.co.nz 0800 66 79 663

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November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

Mustang Mach 1 heading to NZ showrooms Seventy-three years ago over Rogers Dry Lake in Southern California, the world flew faster than ever before with the first-ever sound barrier-breaking flight, with Mach 1 being achieved.

Wild horse: The iconic Ford mustang mach 1 will be offered in New Zealand in 2021.

Additionally, Mustang became the choice for Ford Performance global racing programs in 2019, which saw Mustang spread to NASCAR, GT4, NHRA and, in Australia, the Virgin

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2021 Mustang Mach 1 online at Ford.co.nz through a bespoke reservation program with details to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The process gives customers the ability to secure one of the limited examples set for New Zealand from the comfort of their own home, via their smartphone or other device.

Rutherford said the Mustang Mach 1 brings a new pinnacle of naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 pony car performance.

“Following the lead of the original 1969 Mustang Mach 1 that bridged the gap between the Mustang GT and Shelby models, the all-new Mach 1 delivers additional V8 power, driver-focused cockpit and a track-focused upgrades above the Mustang GT.” Since its arrival in New Zealand in December 2015, the Ford Mustang has become the best-selling sports car in New Zealand and has seen a passionate customer base for special edition models, including Mustang BULLITT which was sold out before arriving.

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Seventy-three years later, the thirst for speed is quenched again. Mach 1 has returned as a truly global model and will join the Ford Mustang line-up in New Zealand for the first time in 2021.

“Achieving Mach 1 for the first time was a significant human feat,” Simon Rutherford, managing director of Ford New Zealand said.

“That spirit and determination to keep pushing, never settling and always trying to go further is what the Mach 1 Mustang was all about – and it’s fitting that we can bring our customers, who’ve made Mustang part of our motoring landscape, a 2021 Mustang Mach 1 of their very own.”

The iconic Mach 1 model, which first went on sale in North America in 1969, will be offered in New Zealand in 2021 with the first ever factory right-hand drive model produced at the legendary Flat Rock, Michigan, plant.

In another New Zealand Mustang first, customers will be able to secure their own

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Australia Supercars Championship, where it has won the 2019 and 2020 Manufacturers Titles for Ford.

The mach 1 will be offered alongside the mustang 2.3L High Performance and mustang GT in 2021, with New Zealand specification and pricing to be announced closer to launch.

CANTERBURY FARMING

November 2020

59

❚ with rob Cope-Williams

Remember bank tellers?

For various reasons I seem to have accounts at three different banks, and I enjoy a good relationship with the staff at all three, but I admit that I am getting the feeling that in general the banks are pushing their customers away.

Even the Government backed Kiwi Bank is going cheque less and the only way to do business with them is via online banking, or front to your local branch which doubles as your Post Office.

Two things come to mind, what of those who don’t have, or understand computers, and remember their client base is generally the elderly who fit firmly into the above categories.

My understanding is that the master bank that handles the majority, if not all, accounting for other banks has set the standard and the others simply must follow their lead.

Yup, smoke and mirrors in the banking industry, but what you may not have known is that a very large percentage of New Zealand accounting work is sub-contracted to organisations based in India. Try getting a straight answer on that one.

The reality is that we are now ruled by computers and cell phones and the personal touch and personal contact is becoming as common as an Aussie rugby victory over the All Blacks.

I think it is sad that we have been convinced that we are so busy in our wee worlds that we haven’t got time to talk and communicate with others.

Service stations offer fuel that you pour

into your vehicle and pay for at the pump, no contact with a human.

Supermarkets have a computer based self-checkout for those too busy to talk with a checkout person.

Retail shops have gone to online shopping, so people don’t need to go to their stores; no human contact. We register our vehicles online, buy and sell stock online and even talk to friends and family through social media.

Hard covered diaries have become dinosaurs as people make appointments on their cell phones which remind them when they should be somewhere.

So, what happens when they want to check back on dates or what was said? I suppose people can and do that somehow on their phones.

Personally, I still do use a diary, and to revert to an electronic system would be far too hard and far too long.

Yes, I am living in the past, but I am very happy there.

I enjoy human contact; I enjoy people knowing my situation and I enjoy the support I get from the businesses I deal with whether a grocery store or a bank.

I pray that it isn’t too late to save the art of conversation, but sadly I think it is.

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November 2020

CANTERBURY FARMING

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