Canterbury Farming, July 2022 by Canterbury Farming

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

July 2022 Edition

INSIDE

THIS EDITION Gold medal lamb

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p22 Keeping it green

p30 Slowing reforms

The future: Canterbury based Natalie Harrison, managing director of keratin supplement brand Kiri10, says the concept of consuming wool to provide a health benefit for humans is still in its infancy but showing significant promise.

Research could boost sustainable wool exports A United States plastic surgeon’s research into wound repair is set to provide a boost for New Zealand’s regeneratively farmed wool exports.

] by Kent Caddick p38

The research has led to the discovery that wool sourced from sheep in New Zealand contains higher levels of a scleroprotein called keratin, a key structural material which protects epithelial cells from damage. The development has also

seen the establishment of a new cosmeceutical export industry in Canterbury, formulating dietary supplements which contain keratin extracted from sustainably farmed sheep’s wool. Natalie Harrison, managing director of keratin supplement brand Kiri10, said the concept of consuming wool to provide a

health benefit for humans is still in its infancy but showing significant promise. She said New Zealand keratin is used in dermatological treatments in many countries around the world for the clinical management of wounds and severe burns, including those injured during the White Island eruption.

“Keratin extracted from New Zealand wool has been used in topical wound care for some years now, following the discovery by a US surgeon that wounds heal faster closer to hair follicles, where there is greater concentration of collagen,” Harrison said.

TO PAGE 2

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

New Zealand-sourced wool high in keratin FROM PAGE 1 “US scientists were able to isolate the keratin protein responsible for promoting skin healing and a parallel research process in New Zealand was able to successfully extract it from wool. “We now also know that this extract can help wounds heal 25% faster by stimulating collagen production, however it is only recently that we have started to look at its application for internal use in human nutrition.” She said there is a close alignment between the clinical use of keratin and the cos-

metic industry as both utilise the significant structural role in the formation and protection of the tissues of the hair, nails, and the outer layer of the skin this scleroprotein provides. “Globally, the cosmeceutical market is growing at over 5% per annum and is forecast to reach over $100bn within three years. “New Zealand is uniquely positioned to capture a significant segment of this export market as our breeding programme has focused on coarse wool which yields higher levels of keratin than fine wool sheep breeds.”

Harrison said around 80 tonnes of wool develop new industrial processes for the isosourced annually from sustainable farms in lation of functional keratin proteins. “The technology behind these processes Otago and Southland are processed at a Lincoln scientific research and production facili- keeps the protein intact, increasing its bioty which holds over 180 patents covering the availability for consumption, meaning it is a 91% match with human keratin when it is abextraction of keratin from the natural fibre. She said the export of keratin is already a sorbed internally. “Along with the use of regeneratively multi-million dollar industry for New Zealand, reaching over 50 markets throughout Europe, farmed wool, this IP helps the industry creAsia and US , including some of the world’s ate a competitive advantage which is unique to New Zealand. most recognisable shampoo brands. “With the research support of our suppli“Significant local research, which was supported by the wool industry, has helped ers, we are now able to use this knowledge to create a line of keratin and collagen supplements which are designed to help consumers repair and improve the health and appearance of hair, skin and nails. “The new product line will create a third pathway for New Zealand’s exports – as well as serving the local market,” Harrison said. Tom O’Sullivan, New Zealand chairman of Campaign for Wool, an advocacy group launched by the Prince of Wales, said agritech companies are playing an increasing role in the development of wool exports. “We have known for some time that New Zealand’s wool industry can’t easily be differentiated as a commodity supplier,” O’Sullivan said. “High tech applications for regeneratively farmed wool, like the extraction of keratin for the health care and cosmeceutical industries, are helping to create new markets for wool and strengthen our brand equity internationally. “At the same time, these value added producers provide above average returns for farmers which is helping to stimulate a move towards more sustainable farming,” O’Sullivan said. Harrison said a supplement formulation containing keratin protein, collagen and other ingredients is being launched under the Kiri10 brand for the export and domestic markets. “The next stage of research will be trials around the application of keratin supplements for joint and muscle regeneration.”

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Last week a newspaper article stated that Victoria University Senior Researcher, Mike Joy, shocked Cantabrians with a claim that to continue dairy production and have healthy water would require 12 times more rainfall in the region or a 12 fold reduction in cows. Did Mr Joy allow for the fact that all dairy farms have highly efficient irrigation schemes and would be pumping many times the average rainfall? Mr Joy notes in 1990 we had 3.5 million cows in New Zealand and now have 6.5 million. In his calculation did he allow for the fact we used to have 80 million sheep but now have only 25 million? Bill Washington, Washdyke

Dear Bill,

Canterbury Farming approached Dr Mike Joy for a response to your questions, and his response to both was “Yes, I did.” Dr Joy referred us to the research paper which he co-authored, “The grey water footprint of milk due to nitrate leaching from dairy farms in Canterbury, New Zealand”, published in the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management in May, for further background. The online link to that is www.tandfonline.com Regards, the Editor

FARMING NEWS

CANTERBURY FARMING July 2022

Canterbury company unlocking the potential of medicinal cannabis Canterbury based biotechnology company Greenlab is to partner with New Zealand’s largest medicinal cannabis company, Helius Therapeutics, in the development of medicinal cannabis genetics and breeding programmes.

] by Kent Caddick The joint research programme aims to further unlock the potential of medicinal cannabis. The programme is co-funded by Helius through a Callaghan Innovation grant the company received in 2019. Funding from that grant has already gone towards identifying the most advantageous cultivars from imported seeds for the formulation of cannabis medicines. Identifying strains with strong potential for diseasespecificity has also been key. Founded in 2019, Greenlab became the first South Island-based cannabis company to be awarded a R&D licence. Since then, it has become the country’s most experienced in medicinal cannabis genetics evaluation, believing it is now three years ahead of any other New Zealand competitor. Last year, Greenlab was the recipient of The Ministry for Primary Industries Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures grant for its Lincoln University-based $1.9 million medicinal cannabis genetics research programme. Greenlab director Dr Parmjit Randhawa said they have chosen to work with Helius as the company was the first into the New Zealand market, is close to exporting, and is keen to develop and deliver truly world-first products with patients’ complex healthcare needs at the fore. He said he believes the collaboration will go long way to fast-tracking and establishing the emerging medicinal cannabis industry in New Zealand. “New Zealand regulations gave our re-

searchers access to vital local cannabis genetic material, unlike Australia,” Randhawa said. “This regulatory hallmark has already put New Zealand at forefront of medical cannabis research to develop and grow novel germplasm for characterised compounds, repeatedly four to six times in one calendar year. “This will be a win-win for the licenced growers, end users, and manufacturers to get the flower consistency batch after batch,” Randhawa said. Over the next 12 months, Greenlab will work with Helius’ genetics library to assess, and evaluate, based strictly on a set of criteria Helius is looking for to develop future medicines. It will expand Helius’ genetics library, enabling the company to develop more specialised and targeted therapeutics for patients unable to find solutions through conventional pharmaceuticals. Chief Executive of Helius Therapeutics Carmen Doran said they have been impressed with Greenlab’s commitment to science and exemplary practice and process as well as its determination to help develop novel and efficacious products for patients here and across the world. “Our decision to work with Greenlab will see us expand our breeding library with genetics unique and specific to New Zealand and to Helius. They have talented scientists, a dedicated research unit and equipment, as well as close ties to Lincoln University,” Doran said.

Collaboration: Operations Lead at Greenlab, Jaswinder Sekhon (left), and Helius CEO, Carmen Doran, in Greenlab’s research facility in Canterbury.

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July 2022 CANTERBURY FARMING

Damien O’Connor ] with Minister for Agriculture, Biosecurity, ] Food Safety and Rural Communities ]

FARMING NEWS

SOPI shows New Zealand’s backbone

Last month’s MPI Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) indicated New Zealand’s food and fibre export revenue would reach a record $52.2 billion for the year ending 30 June 2022. This is the first time in our history that we’ve cracked the $50 billion mark and it comes on the back of the 2021 result of $49.1 billion, which itself was a record at the time. This is an outstanding result that’s been achieved in highly challenging times. We’re navigating a Covid-19 pandemic, major disruption to supply chains, as well as the effects of droughts and severe weather events. Now we have war in Europe that will only strengthen headwinds for the global economy. Despite this, revenues are growing across pretty much all of our sectors. • Dairy export revenue is on track to reach a record high of $21.6 billion, which is a 13 percent increase on the previous year. • Meat and wool export revenue is also expected to see a healthy increase to $12.2 billion – an 18 percent rise on 2021. • Horticulture sector revenue continues to grow and is set to hit $6.7 billion in exports with our kiwifruit and wine performing well. • Seafood is returning to its pre-pandemic levels as restaurants around the world return to business.

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Our recent upgrade of the China free trade agreement (FTA) will particularly benefit our forestry sector through tariff removals.

• Forestry prices are strong, but the sector is being affected by log jams in global freight. We expect these revenues to lift as disruption eases and infrastructure projects pick up speed. Our recent upgrade of the China free trade agreement (FTA) will particularly benefit our forestry sector through tariff removals. Looking further ahead there was good cause for optimism. The SOPI forecasts that export revenue will continue to grow to $56.8

billion in the year to 30 June 2026. Supporting this is the strong momentum of the Government’s trade agenda, which has seen us sign our historic FTA with the UK, upgrade our China FTA and Singapore FTA, bring in the CPTPP, and progress negotiations on an EU FTA. While am optimistic for ongoing success for our farmers and growers, I want to acknowledge the challenges of the last six months, such as supply chain disruption and rising costs of inputs across all sectors

of production, driven in large part by high international oil and fertiliser prices. The basis for my optimism is our primary sector’s strong history of innovating and adapting to changing markets. It’s what has made us world-leaders and what will keep us as world-leaders. The June 2022 SOPI clearly shows that farmers, growers, fishers and foresters are the backbone of our economy. Your strength has kept us out of tougher times, and we thank you for it.

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FARMING NEWS

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Alliance Group takes home gold Alliance Group’s Pure South Lamb and Pure South Handpicked Beef 55 Day Aged were awarded gold medals at New Zealand’s Outstanding Food Producers Awards.

] by Kent Caddick The awards celebrate Kiwis who harvest, grow and produce New Zealand’s outstanding food and drink. Entries are judged on a range of criteria including aroma, visual appearance, flavour, consistency, quality, sustainability, brand story and packaging. Alliance said Pure South Handpicked Beef represents a new culture of craft meat from farm to table which combines the art of individual selection with the science of ageing. Master graders select from only the very finest grass-fed, sustainably raised beef using quality attributes including a high marbling factor of four or above, pH and colour. Only the smallest portion of beef makes the grade. Pure South Handpicked Beef 55 Day Aged has won repeated gold medals at the coveted World Steak Challenge. Pure South Lamb is the co-operative’s most prolific lamb brand, which is exported to more than 65 countries across the globe. General manager of sales at Alliance Group, Shane Kingston, said the gold medals underline the co-operative’s reputation for food excellence and innovation. “There is exceptional demand for Hand-

Tasty: The judges at New Zealand’s Outstanding Food Producers Awards say that Alliance Group’s Pure South lamb was “an incredibly luxurious fine textured lamb”.

picked Beef, which is wet aged for 55 days – a significantly longer period than other wet aged products on the market. Our team has found that this period profoundly increases the meat’s flavour complexity, tenderness and texture.”

Kingston said Alliance Group’s reputation for producing the world’s finest lamb is wellknown. “The passion, pride and dedication of our farmers and our meticulous commitment to quality are hallmarks of Pure South Lamb.

Whilst external recognition is always appreciated, this gold medal will be no surprise to our many customers around the world who seek out Pure South Lamb for its delicately flavoured eating experience, fresh aroma and leanness.”

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July 2022 CANTERBURY FARMING

Barbara Kuriger ] with Party Spokesperson ] National for Agriculture ]

FARMING NEWS

Ag holding strong despite major challenges New Zealand is a trading nation. We are respected by the world and the best at what we do.

Despite a pandemic, disruption to global supply chains, rapidly rising inflation, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a lack of RSE workers, our food and fibre exports have outperformed expectations. In fact, by June 30, they will have brought in $52.2 billion in revenue. I recently returned from a Parliamentary trip to Europe. Zoom is a wonderful invention, but nothing can beat sitting at a table face-toface with farming representatives to discover areas of collaboration and where we differ. With the Russian/Ukrainian situation, food and energy security were to the fore, given Ukraine is Europe’s second-largest supplier of corn and wheat to the European Union, as well as countries in Asia and Africa. Growers and their lands will take a long time to recover from the devastating assault they are being subjected to. Soil structures were the main topic of discussion in Ireland. While New Zealand agriculture is at the front of the global pack according to 2021’s Net Zero Readiness Index, to stay there, we must look to science to help us reduce methane and further develop the carbon sequestration of our soils. We must also understand more accurately

the sequestration of indigenous planting and reduce food waste which adds to emissions. He Waka Eke Noa is now in the hands of the Government and the Climate Commission. This is the food and fibre industry’s chance to take control of its destiny in the climate space rather than become part of the ETS. National will be engaging with interest in the process throughout the next six months. But any transitions we make from this

must be fair and workable. Because there are overseas examples where doing it by decree has gone horribly wrong. None more so than in Sri Lanka, where the government ruling that all farmers (tea, rubber, coconut, rice etc) go organic was a disaster, causing an economic and humanitarian crisis. Regenerative practices are coming to the fore in most countries, but there is still some confusion about what this means. It’s about

understanding how the biology of our soils can be restored and the methods needed to achieve this. Despite the challenges of the past few years, our farmers and growers have shown resilience and adaptability. For example, they are hiring students in place of the RSE workers in the horticulture industry, selling frozen rather than chilled meat in response to shipping delays, and successfully implementing cross-industry freight sharing operations. It hasn’t all been rosy. 2022’s export revenue could have been higher if RSE workers had been allowed into the country in time for areas like Hawke’s Bay. Thousands of apples were left to rot on trees, with industry experts estimating more than $100 million down in revenue and three million fewer cartons sent overseas. We know more challenges are on their way, but with this year’s record export revenue and a predicted rise to $56.8 billion by 2026, there is much hope for the future. Our agriculture sector will never be the sunset industry predicted in the 1980s because our food and fibre producers do such a great job. And every time we eat, we should thank them for it.

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July 2022

Financial pressure on farmers is on the rise Advisory: Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard says with the pressures coming on to the primary sector, farmers would be well-advised to have detailed up-to-date budgets and to be ready to raise any concerns with their banks or financial advisors earlier rather than later.

Farmer satisfaction with their banks is relatively stable but more are feeling under pressure and costs of finance are on the rise, according to Federated Farmers latest banking survey. supplied by ] Article ] Federated Farmers “Inflation is putting many New Zealanders and businesses under pressure, and our food producers are no different,” Feds president and economic spokesperson Andrew Hoggard said. “For farmers, higher interest rates are coming on top of significant hikes in the cost of other farm inputs, including freight, fertiliser, fuel and labour. “Information from Beef+Lamb NZ’s recent Economic Service shows that on-farm inflation has hit 10.2 percent – the highest that it’s been since 1985-86. Ultimately, all of this will impact food prices.” The Federated Farmers Banking Survey has been held twice-yearly since 2016. The May 2022 survey drew responses from just over 1000 farmers from around the country, with 64 percent saying they were very satisfied or satisfied with their bank relationship. This was down three points from the previous survey in November 2021. Hoggard said arable farmers were the most satisfied of industry groups, while sharemilkers were the least satisfied, with fewer than half saying they were very satisfied or satisfied. “Just on 14 percent of farmers perceived they had come under undue pressure from banks over the past six months, up slightly from November.

“Sharemilkers felt the most under pressure (21%).” He said overall, banks’ conditions for lending became tougher rather than easier for all farm types, with 4% reporting easier conditions and 21% reporting tougher conditions. This was particularly the case for Sharemilkers and ‘Other industry group’ farmers (e.g. deer and goat farmers, bee-keepers, etc). Over the past six months, the average farm mortgage value has increased from $3.6 million to $4.1 million while the median increased from $2.10 million to $2.25 million. The average mortgage interest rate increased to 4.58 percent from 3.95 percent in November, showing the impact of OCR increases on lending rates. “Recently the Reserve Bank put up the official cash rate 50 points to 2% and signalled more 50 point increases are in the offing. For a farm with a debt of $4 million, a 100 basis point increase in the lending rate translates as $40,000 extra in interests costs a year,” Hoggard said. The May survey showed that overall, 71% of farmers were paying a mortgage interest rate of less than 5%, down from 89% in November. No farmer was paying a rate higher than 10 percent, as was the case in November. The survey showed satisfaction with bank communication continued to be stable, although slowly declining over the past five

years, with 57% saying their bank communications had been very good or good, down slightly from November. Arable farmers rated their quality of communication the highest; sharemilkers were the least satisfied, with fewer than half saying they were very satisfied or satisfied. Those without bank loans were particularly unhappy with communication. “The comments from respondents show that personal contact from bank staff had declined and most farmers were not happy about it. High staff turnover, rural bank branch closures with consolidation of staff into bigger branches and regional centres, and Covid work policies, like working from home and less ability to travel, were all cited as reasons for reduced personal contact.” Although most farmers had up-to-date budgets for the current 2021/22 season,

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Arable farmers were the most satisfied of industry groups, while sharemilkers were the least satisfied. Andrew Hoggard Federated Farmers

fewer farms had an up-to-date budget for the upcoming 2022/23 season, the survey found. “With the pressures coming on to the sector, farmers would be well-advised to have detailed up-to-date budgets and to be ready to raise any concerns with their banks or financial advisors earlier rather than later,” Hoggard said.

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

Our regular ‘Ask a Lawyer’ column provides a high-level legal response to some of the key issues affecting the Agri sector. Q: I have a family trust that I am in the process of updating, are there any recent legal changes I need to be aware of? A: On January 2021 the Trusts Act 2019 came into effect. If you have an existing trust, it is well worth reviewing it to ensure it is still fit for purpose. One of the most important changes was that there is now a requirement for trustees to provide beneficiaries with basic trust information including whether they are included as a beneficiary, the contact details of each trustee, and the right that a beneficiary has to request the terms of the trust. Q: I am thinking about setting up a trust to benefit my children and grandchildren, what are some key considerations to be aware of? A: Before you set up a trust, or indeed if you already have, it is worth thinking about whether the reasons for having a Trust are still valid. One of the most common uses of a Trust is a succession plan. However, depending on your assets and your needs, you should seek further advice to ensure that the Trust structure is going to be flexible enough to help with the direction of your farm ownership plans. It is also worth bearing in mind that there is a cost associated with forming and maintaining trusts, so ensuring you have the right advice and resources to do so is also important. Q: I have been named as a trustee on my family Trust, what do I need to know about my duties?

A: The introduction of the Trust Act means that there are now a number of mandatory and default duties that apply to trustees. Mandatory duties are duties which apply to your trust, while default duties apply to you Trust unless they have been changed or excluded by the Trust Deed. Your Trust Deed will specify exactly what these duties are, so it worthwhile reviewing these duties regardless of whether you are a newly appointed trustee or an old hand. One of the most important duties however is that one of the mandatory duties requires

Wynn Williams has been part of the rural community in Canterbury for more than 160 years, supporting our clients with their personal, family and business endeavours. We've shared in the special times and in the most challenging of times. Our specialist rural team provides legal services to private farming operations, companies, offshore clients, and other rural investment entities, across the breadth of the Agri sector. If you think we can help, please get in touch.

all trustees to keep core documents for the Trust, and be familiar with what they say. This means that you will need to make sure you are across these documents, and while a lawyer or professional trustee can certainly support you, this is a duty only you can fulfil. Q: So what do I do now that the Trusts Act 2019 has been introduced? A: Being proactive is the most important thing that you can do. As soon as you can, we suggest meeting with your legal advisers and reviewing a) whether your trust still

SUE ANDERSON

meets your needs, b) whether your trust documents are compliant with the new Act), c) how you can best fulfil your disclosure duties to beneficiaries, and d), reviewing your Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney and wishes so that your trustees know what your intentions are.

If you have a question about how the law applies to a situation you’re facing that you’d like us to answer in this column, please email us at email@wynnwilliams. co.nz with the subject line: Ask a Lawyer.

CHARLENE SELL Specialist areas: ¥ Asset + succession planning ¥ Working with Trusts ¥ Farm transactions M: +64 27 482 2171 E: susan.anderson@ wynnwilliams.co.nz

Specialist areas: ¥ Small + medium sized businesses ¥ Commercial contracts + terms of trade ¥ Intellectual property M: +64 27 685 5653 E: charlene.sell@ wynnwilliams.co.nz

DAVID HAIGH Specialist areas: ¥ Farm succession + ownership structuring ¥ Land subdivisions ¥ Buying + selling rural properties ¥ Overseas investment M: +64 27 573 7775 E: david.haigh@ wynnwilliams.co.nz PHOEBE DAVIES Specialist areas: ¥ Corporate structuring + governance ¥ Rural contracting + acquisitions ¥ Offshore investment M: +64 27 414 9825 E: phoebe.davies@ wynnwilliams.co.nz

ANNABEL SHEPPARD Specialist areas: ¥ Succession planning ¥ Sale + purchase of properties ¥ Trust structuring M: +64 27 484 1417 E: annabel.sheppard@ wynnwilliams.co.nz AMANDA DOUGLAS Specialist areas: ¥ Employment law ¥ Health + safety ¥ Privacy law M: +64 21 885 585 E: amanda.douglas@ wynnwilliams.co.nz

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CANTERBURY FARMING

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

Bessie Paterson llB ] with ] Ronald W Angland & Son

July 2022

The importance of due diligence when purchasing property

One of the most difficult tasks we have is finding a suitable property either rural or urban for our family’s needs. It is very rare to find a property which ticks all of the boxes and some compromises have to be made. When a suitable property has been found and a contract signed it is time to do due diligence to ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises waiting for the buyers. Sometimes I find that people are reluctant to spend money obtaining checks and reports from suitably qualified experts. All purchasers should obtain a Land Information Memorandum which is a copy of the records held by the local council in respect to the property. Many real estate agents procure a copy of the LIM when a property is listed for sale and will provide a copy to interested purchasers to read. If the LIM is faulty a purchaser who has not obtained the LIM for themselves cannot take action for compensation. It is always a good idea to get a builder’s report from a builder or a company which specialises in property inspections. The information they provide is invaluable and if there are matters which should be rectified by the vendor, a purchaser can insist on those matters being rectified prior to settlement. The title to the property should be approved by your legal adviser. There may be some easements or restrictions which require explanation. On the purchase of a rural property the

quality of the house usually is only one of many aspects of the purchase which require consideration. If the house is not in a fit state for living or has a very limited life, the cost of replacing the house needs to be taken into account on a purchase. Purchasers must always keep in mind that any real estate agent involved in the sale is acting for the vendor and a purchaser can-

not always rely on any information provided by the agent. There is an interesting case before the Courts on this topic at this time and the final outcome is awaited. Sunset clauses can also be tricky for an unsuspecting purchaser. These clauses give a party or both parties to a contract the right to cancel the contract if a condition has not been fulfilled or satisfied by a certain date.

Some developers are using these clauses to their own advantage with the increases in prices of new homes in the current property market.

This article has been prepared by Bessie Paterson a partner at Ronald W Angland & Son, lawyers, 2 Chapman Street, Leeston.

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July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

How to defend yourself against inflation To borrow a farming proverb, the last decade has been a time to make hay for New Zealand investors, with both the property and equity markets basking in the sunshine of a low interest rate environment.

Scott McKenzie ] by CEO ] of PMG Funds

In fact, before the dark clouds of the pandemic came along, things had gotten so sunny that whether you were a stock market investor, property investor or just a KiwiSaver member, you could have been forgiven for thinking investing was all too easy, and lost sight of the fundamentals of successful investment. However, as inflation bites, the importance of these fundamentals, of diversification and keeping a long-term investment horizon, has come sharply back into focus. A new generation of investors are rapidly learning lessons that those of us who are a bit longer in the tooth have had to pay attention to before. So what does inflation mean for investors? In the long term, the reassuring answer is actually very little. We know markets work in cycles, and history tells us that these cycles ultimately push values forwards not backwards. While KiwiSaver or investment balances may not make for pleasant viewing over the next few years,

ultimately we can have a degree of confidence that over a much longer timeframe they will rebound – and then some. While investing remains a long-term commitment, many of us will need to think of the present as well as the future; will want to preserve the value of a pool of money that we can access while our retirement fund dips and soars. In times like these, just standing still – or at least keeping up with inflation – can feel like winning. During inflationary periods fund managers talk about the importance of defensive assets: sectors or companies that are in a position to thrive through uncertain times and help protect the value of investors’ money against inflationary forces, while also providing regular and reliable cashflow returns. Some of the most defensive assets right now can be found in the utilities, energy, health, industrial and logistics sectors, which continue to offer solutions to the challenges posed by the disruptions of COVID-19, global conflict and their combined impact on global supply chains. Just as equity fund managers are adjusting their portfolio weightings to incorporate high performers in these sectors, property fund managers will be looking for opportunities to increase their exposure to industrial warehouse and logistics sectors. The industrial sector has been the standout commercial real estate performer for the last two years. Limited new development has brought vacancy rates down to record lows across major centres, which has supported consistent rental growth. With

The industrial sector will continue to be the standout commercial real estate performer. demand set to continue to outstrip supply, there’s no indication that this trend will alter. Therefore, quality industrial assets should continue to provide a solid backbone to high-performing, diversified property investment portfolios for many years to come, whatever the prevailing economic climate. However, it’s important to note that not all industrial assets are created equally. While the market might be tight, tenants can still be discerning – and rightfully so.

In fact, this is true right across the property spectrum. Companies are increasingly looking for buildings that give them the opportunity to work in a way that’s better for the planet and better for their people. Helpfully for investors this means that what makes environmental sense, makes economic sense too. Scott McKenzie is the CEO of PMG Funds – one of NZ’s most established property funds management companies www.pmgfunds.co.nz/invest.

CANTERBURY FARMING

RURAL PROFESSIONALS

Andrew Wyllie ] with ] Forsyth Barr

July 2022

Inflation tops the list of investor concerns

While there is a long list of things for investors to worry about, top of the list is inflation. In fact, most of the concerns on the list actually link back to inflation. For example, the major impact of the Ukraine conflict on the global economy is rising commodity prices adding to inflationary pressures. Greater inflation risks then flow through to higher interest rates which, in turn, increase the chance of a sharp economic slowdown. The latest concern to add to the inflation list is persistent China lockdowns. The Chinese Government has persisted with its zero Covid policy, imposing stringent restrictions in attempts to stem the spread of Omicron. Lockdowns in the world’s second largest economy and biggest exporting nation impacts global demand and adds to supply chain disruptions. The positive news on the inflation front is there are some signs pressures may be peaking. Commodity prices are off their peaks from when Russia first invaded Ukraine. Container shipping costs have eased back to the lowest levels since July last year. And US used car prices, the largest single driver of US inflation over the past year or so, are now falling. There is still a lot of uncertainty around the inflation outlook and central banks will continue to raise rates through the balance of this year. But there is a real possibility the picture may look quite different in 2023. The

last couple of years has highlighted just how quickly the economic backdrop can change.

New Zealand’s housing market is vulnerable On any measure New Zealand house prices are extreme. Even before we’d heard of Covid-19 there was much consternation about the country’s “housing crisis”. Since Covid hit house prices have soared and unaffordability has gotten worse. Much worse. Headwinds are now mounting – more supply, higher mortgage rates, low net migration, a brake on credit, and unappealing returns for investors. Until recently, lower and lower mortgage rates offset higher and higher house prices, meaning the share of income required to service a mortgage had been broadly stable. The surge in mortgage rates means debt servicing will now consume a lot more of household incomes. Unaffordability is really starting to bite. History tells you predicting where house prices will land is challenging. We believe it is most likely we’ll see a meaningful drop in prices over the next 12 months or so. If prices do fall sharply they will influence the path of the broader economy, likely impacting consumer and business sentiment,

household spending, construction, and interest rates. The challenging outlook for housing, and the New Zealand economy in general, is one of the reasons why we currently see greater opportunity in offshore markets than our own.

Stocks for the long-term One of our key objectives is to identify highquality companies that can deliver shareholder value over the long-term. Whilst market volatility can be uncomfortable, it’s important to remember (1) unless you need to make use of your investments

in the near-term it won’t likely negatively impact your long-term goals, and (2) it can provide the opportunity to step into some quality companies at reasonable prices. This article was prepared as at 31 May 2022 and provides market commentary for the three-month period ending on that date.

If you’re new to investing please see Forsyth Barr’s Introduction to Investing guide available at www. forsythbarr.co.nz/intro-to-investing/ or to discuss your investment options please contact Andrew Wyllie, an Investment Adviser with Forsyth Barr in Christchurch. He can be contacted regarding portfolio management, fixed interest, or share investments on 0800 367 227 or andrew.wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz. This column is general in nature and does not take any of your personal circumstances into account. For personalised financial advice, contact Forsyth Barr for an overview of the services we can provide.

Looking at off-farm investments?

To get personalised investment advice and portfolio management specific to your investing needs, talk to Investment Adviser Andrew Wyllie in confidence on (03) 365 4244 or email andrew.wyllie@forsythbarr.co.nz

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July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

Deconstructing the duopoly

It may have been just a blip on the mainstream media landscape, but I think it’s important to note the latest developments of the Government’s response to the supermarket duopoly and what that means for growers and producers out in the regions.

Teanau Tuiono ] with spokesperson ] Agriculture for the Green Party ]

In short, there will be the creation of a supermarket industry regulator (a ‘watchdog’) and mandatory code of conduct. This is something the Green Party has been banging on about for more than a decade. It was also good to see the Government signal that it may require the divestment of some stores to promote competition. However, as the saying goes, more needs to be done. Food is a basic human right and for too long the supermarket duopoly has made huge profits at the expense of our collective wellbeing, while also not giving food growers and producers a fair deal. It is also important we look at it from a food security perspective as well. We have, in general, just three days’ worth of food on supermarket shelves at any one time. And in the current state of climate upheaval and the possibility of natural disasters, it is important that food produced in the regions can look after those in that region. The less food we haul out of the region also means less transport emissions, and in a time where we need to be taking action on climate change, looking for ways to reduce emissions is a good thing. Supermarkets, by necessity, support quantity over quality, and limit diversity. There is little recognition or celebration of regional differences. We have lost most of the family horticulture businesses that used to dominate the industry in favour of large-scale industrial production. Opening up supermarkets’ wholesale arms to competitors, and potential separation of their wholesale and retail arms, could be a game changer. We’ve seen it drive better competition in sectors like telecommunications, and it has real potential to bring food prices down for people in Aotearoa. But fixing supermarkets isn’t the only solution to providing healthy, affordable kai in our communities. Farmers markets, commu-

‘

Farmers markets, community markets, and urban food gardens can shorten the supply chain, reducing

nity markets, and urban food gardens can shorten the supply chain, reducing transport costs and emissions. These solutions to the constrained market deserve much more support from Government and local councils.

Aotearoa has excellent conditions for growing our own food. Supporting local food security helps communities break free from the supermarket giants and their volatile global supply chains.

transport costs and emissions.

FMG Young farmer of the Year The advent of this year Grand final of the coveted title of the FMG Young Farmer my thoughts went to the junior categories.

] with Rob Cope-Williams There is a very old saying which suggests that “Give me a child for the first seven years, and I will give you the adult”. In other words, the old and wise are saying that the first seven years of one’s life will set the path for their lifetime. How many top sports people are following their parents into whatever sport they are involved with? How often do offspring take over a family farm or business? The answer is simply lots. Surely that is because as a child they

were exposed to the sport or business and developed that into a lifetime passion. During recent years the FMG Young Farmer has set up and organised two junior contests, one for the very little ones, and the other for slightly older students. It would be natural to think that those schools involved would be rural schools, but that isn’t the case as urban children are also getting involved. To me that is brilliant simply because it is exposing farming to young minds before those minds get filled with other aspects of life in whatever form.

“Give me a child for the first seven years” For what ever reason, farming is seen by the majority of people as an industry that is killing off our rivers, making our water undrinkable, and that farmers are wallowing in money gained by destroying our environment. We know that is totally wrong, but there are those who believe what is printed in newspapers, apart from Canterbury farming of course, and what the Wellington wombles mutter. Isn’t it great that there are now young people who see farming as it really is, and that

they will grow into adults who may well join our industry and become very involved. The other lovely aspect of the FMG Young farmer is that it is not just hands on farmers who are getting involved. Young people in supporting roles such as farm accountants, lawyers and of course vets are embracing being part of the overall industry. I suppose there will always be a gap between rural and urban, but congratulations to the Young Farmers organisation for opening the door to a whole new generation.

CANTERBURY FARMING

FARMING NEWS

July 2022

Thank you for all your input The past few months have been empowering for our councillors, thanks to the tremendous amount of feedback received on our Annual Plan.

Jenny Hughey ] by ] Chair Environment Canterbury The three areas of focus: bus fares, flood recovery and protection, and climate change measures, generated more than 2800 submissions. Of these, 110 were presented to council in person. This was a remarkable response and well over twice the number received for last year’s Long Term Plan, which laid out spending for 10 years. Our councillors really appreciate the fact there was a strong community voice to base our decision-making on. Two key decisions we have made include borrowing to help fund our share of river stop bank recovery work resulting from the May 2021 flood and accelerating action in response to climate change by developing ideas on how a climate change levy might work in the future. Flood recovery and protection is a crucial part of the plan, and we’ve called on the whole of Canterbury to assist. Our flood defences offer protection for vital infrastructure and community assets, as well as for people

and property during severe events. Given we all benefit from this, we’ve decided to fund our $12.2 million share of recovery work resulting from the May 2021 flood through general rates, meaning the costs are spread across the entire region. We’ll borrow the money over two years and repay it over ten. Nearly 70 percent of those who gave feedback supported this option – reinforcing our belief that this is the fairest approach. We’re also making changes to the way flood protection costs are distributed in the Ashburton River / Hakatere rating district. Over the past three decades, we’ve upgraded parts of the flood protection scheme around this area and learnt more about where the highest risks and benefits are. Up until now, some properties that benefited from flooding protection didn’t contribute through their rates. To help address that disparity, we’re restructuring the rating classes, including reducing the number of classes from 13 to 6. The amount you’ll pay (if you live in that rating district) may go up or down, depending on your property’s location and the benefits received. Again, the changes are about making things fairer when it comes to ‘who pays for what’. Of course, while it’s essential that we attend to river infrastructure to protect us from flooding, we must also consider the health of the rivers themselves. We need to be rethinking our relationship with rivers in terms of achieving the new National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, which is all about Te Mana o te Wai – putting health of the water first.

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While it’s essential that we attend to river infrastructure to protect us from flooding, we must also consider the health of the rivers themselves.

I know most farmers are already doing this, and we thank them for their ongoing efforts in this space. The environment has been at the heart of our Annual Plan decisions, from cheaper bus

fares, which help reduce carbon emissions, to accelerating action in response to a changing climate and increasingly frequent, severe weather events. Our decisions had to translate to actual outcomes for the challenges we’re facing – while ensuring money was still left for biodiversity enhancements, biosecurity, air quality and other areas of work. I also want to acknowledge the invaluable input from various stakeholders and community groups, whose feedback helped shape the final plan. It was not always easy, there were a lot of views around the table and a lot to take into consideration. However, I believe we have struck the right balance. When you receive your rates bill, I implore you to look at the value you’re getting from it, rather than seeing it as just a cost. On behalf of Council, I thank you for your support.

Synthetic Nitrogen Fertiliser Limit What farmers need to do To help protect and improve our waterways, a limit now applies to the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser applied to pastoral land. This was introduced as part of the Essential Freshwater package. Carefully managed, fertiliser is a useful farming tool. However, it can contribute to nutrient loss into soil and waterways, impacting water quality and in-stream life.

All farmers • The amount of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser you apply to pastoral land cannot exceed 190 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare per year Dairy farmers • Report your synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use to Environment Canterbury annually • Submit your first report by 31 July 2022 - we’ll be in touch soon about how to do this

We’re here to help For more information, visit ecan.govt.nz/synthetic-nitrogen-cap or contact us on 0800 324 636.

Outside the containment area is south of the Waitaki River, north of the Rangitata River, and westwards from the Lake Tekapo river system.

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

COUNTRY We listen to the market, we listen to our clients. If you decide to put your property in our capable hands, you can relax and trust that we’re working diligently for you. We believe that selling your property should be stress-free, and we’ll work hard to make that happen for you. If you are thinking of selling and would like a confidential discussion, or a market update, please give one of our team a call.

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HEALTH ON THE FARM

Let’s do it anyway

Last month I wrote about a scheme to get a list of people who could act as ‘locums’ for farmers, and another list of people who would be happy to lend their holiday homes to farmers who needed a break, even for just a couple of days.

] by Rob Cope-Williams Perhaps the idea was too ambitious or everyone in Wellington who has the power to set something simple as the plan is, are too busy doing other things. Bottom line is that the talks with those who have the funds and facilities are still sitting on their hands. I know it is cold but surely the offices have heating so hands can come out from under their trousers and pockets and do something. We, those who are supporting the idea, are thrilled to say that locally the reaction to the idea has been met with wild enthusiasm and several folk have walked the halls of parliament in the hope of finding an ear that would listen. Yes, just to listen would have been nice. So, as I suggested let’s just get on with it. We all know the signs to look for and the reality is that often those clos-

est to a person, who is suffering, doesn’t pick it because the changes are often gradual. That opens the door again for visitors, mates and friends who will pick the situation much quicker. A wee trick for spouses to use is when you notice a change in partner suggest a regular physical with you Doctor. No mention of depression or mental illness, just a checkup. Once agreed ring the Doctor and tell them you are concerned and to broach the subject while they are behind closed doors .In other words, set them up. I know that Doctors can do wonders if they can get in front of someone who needs help. Back to the main situation, as far as feet on the ground is concerned the Lincoln University has a group called ‘Handy Landys’ and they can put forward a couple of dozen people who would be willing to shift the odd break fence and feed the

] with John Arts

dogs, depending on lectures of course. The other thing I suggest is that if you are a retired person and you want to get out of the house occasionally, let our local Rural Support Trust team know (Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254). I don’t expect a flood on names, but a list they can ring would be very helpful. In the meantime, I will continue to chase up the Wellington wombles in the hope that some grain will fall upon fertile soil. I am sure you agree with me when I say with mental health being such a serious problem, and there are massive funds to help those in need, that it is astounding that no one is doing anything. I feel very similar to the little red hen at the moment, but let’s get on and bake the loaf of bread and see who then wants to be part of the warm and nourishing results when we do.

Part 2

Not feeling your best? I have a younger client whose mother had been using our supplements for some time. He suffered with low immunity with regular colds, low energy and generally feeling unwell for no medical reason. Our priority was to improve his immune system. Despite what you read, you cannot ‘boost’ your immune system. Our immune system is a complex, interconnected group of cells and tissue types. Our immune system is highly dependent on nutrients. Of these, the most important is Vitamin D which acts like a master controller of our immune responses. Then is a long list of trace minerals and some vitamins. I often talk to people who take vitamin C and Zinc for their immunity. These are important but just two of many. This is where a well formulated comprehensive multi-mineral, multi-vitamin and multi-antioxidant can be very helpful as it provides all the important nutrients, not just some of them. Having regular colds, especially in winter, can be the first sign of poor immune responses. You may actually have a good immune system, but it may be half asleep or just disorganised. I put my client on an initial higher dose of my multi-nutritional formula to rapidly lift critical nutrients. We also included Vitamin D. He has been delighted with the re-

sponse. He has been through last winter without a cold and with much more energy. The bonus has been that the niggling low grade depression has gone, probably from lifting vitamin D. Our bodies have a huge capacity to heal and restore but only if we give it the nutrients it needs. Give yourself a 3-month challenge; you may well be surprised. John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423559 or email john@ abundant.co.nz. Join his all new newsletter at www.abundant.co.nz.

Abundant Health

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Where to get help Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason. Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends. Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254 Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202 Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7) Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz What’s Up: online chat (3pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 helpline (12pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-11pm weekends) Healthline: 0800 611 116 Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

HEALTH ON THE FARM

Live well to farm well

Farmstrong helps farmers and growers to cope with the ups and downs of farming. It shares the things farmers can do to look after themselves and the people in their business so they stay on top of their game. Here are some tips from Farmstrong Ambassador Sam Whitelock.

] Article supplied by Farmstrong

What I like about Farmstrong is that it’s been shaped by farmers for farmers so it’s very practical. It’s based on the experience of farmers who know what it takes to build resilience and keep well. And it works. Last year, more than 15,000 farmers directly attributed an improvement in their wellbeing to Farmstrong. Often farmers are great at knowing their numbers around pasture, machinery and stock, but not so good at knowing their own vital statistics. Booking a ‘WOF’ health check with your GP is a good way to keep track of the numbers for your blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes risk. Talk to your doctor about how often you should get a check-up. If it’s annually, time it with your birthday so you remember to do it. Working outdoors can be unforgiving. Remember to check your skin every three months and see your doctor if you notice a new lesion, mole or freckle that’s changed. If you’re fair skinned, spend a lot of time outdoors, have a lot of moles, or there is a family history of skin cancer, talk to your doctor about whether you need to have regular skin checks. Any farmer reading this will be familiar with the sorts of things that make a dent in their wellbeing: having too much to do, lack of sleep, not getting enough time off, the pressure of things beyond their control like adverse weather and prices. The good news is if you ‘invest’ wisely and often into your wellbeing bank account, you can counter these ‘withdrawals’. The science of wellbeing says people who thrive tend to have five, simple habits in common:

Living well: All Black Sam Whitelock says Farmstrong helps farmers and growers to cope with the ups and downs of farming. • • • • •

staying connected with mates keeping active enjoying the simple things in life learning new things to keep fresh giving back to the community. These habits are easy to fit into even the busiest life. Whether you’re a farmer or a professional athlete, they can make a huge difference to your wellbeing and performance.

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Adopting healthy habits has a positive, cumulative effect over time and makes you much more resilient when you’re ‘under the pump’. Being Farmstrong is about finding what works best for you. It might be more exercise, a new hobby, more ‘fuel in the tank’, better hydration or a roster that allows more recovery time off-farm. Anything that boosts your mood and energy levels is a great investment that will help you get through busier periods. When we’re really busy, the things that go out the window are often the things that keep us well and help us cope. So, don’t neglect the basics – make sure you eat well,

get enough quality sleep and keep ‘farm-fit’ for the physical demands of the job. If you’re looking for further inspiration check out the Farmstrong website. It has a ton of farmer-to-farmer stories as well as advice from content experts on topics such as managing stress, avoiding burn out, helpful thinking strategies, nutrition, farm fitness and sleep. Farmstrong is an award-winning rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and farming families live well to farm well. To find out what works for you and ‘lock it in’, check out our farmer-to-farmer videos, stories and tips on www.farmstrong.co.nz

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Agrichemical dangers addressed The health of agricultural workers exposed to harmful airborne chemicals is in the spotlight, with one company introducing technology to limit exposure and increase protection. supplied by ] Article ] Drummond & Etheridge A Massey University study found agricultural workers have the highest incidence of leukaemia of all New Zealand occupation groups, likely because of their exposure to chemicals; and there are reports of vineyard workers refusing to operate tractor sprayers due to potential health risks. These can include cancer and respiratory disease. Canterbury-based company Landlogic Ltd, which supplies New Zealand’s primary sector with machinery and technology, has introduced a new cab air filtration system to the market in a bid to increase worker safety. The system is manufactured by Freshfilter, a world-leading manufacturer of cab overpressure systems designed to meet strict European standards. Landlogic CEO Alan Cottington says companies are doing the best they can and have been raising concerns about the lack of protection for some time, but there simply hasn’t been an effective option on the market. “We are pleased to offer a solution

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PANEL BEATING

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that we know many employers will want to adopt,” Alan says. “We are already aware of four operators who refused to drive spray tractors as they were concerned about the health risks. It is not uncommon to drive down the road beside vineyards and farms, and smell the spray, and the operators are arriving home each night with their clothes smelling from the chemicals.” Alan says the system can be retrofitted to existing vehicles for approximately $7000 to $9500. It uses patented airflow technology that offers the highest protection from contaminants, including agrichemicals, asbestos and dust. A digital touch screen provides the operator with real-time information on hydrocarbon, contamination and air pressure inside the cab, and text alerts can be sent to the site manager if high levels are detected. It is expected companies operating in the ag, construction, mining, asbestos removal, horticulture, and forestry industries will also be interested in the system, as it offers protection from a wide range of airborne contaminants – not just agrichemicals.

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Filter first: The first company to use the Freshfilter system in New Zealand is Yealands Wines. Yealands’ Vineyard Manager Dave Collingwood says the Marlborough winery has installed the system on all 14 of its spray tractors.

“There is lot of focus on reducing spray drift to protect the environment and health of neighbouring residents, and rightly so. But solutions to protect those most at risk – the spray operators – have been minimal, until now,” Alan says. The first company to use the Freshfilter system in New Zealand is Yealands Wines. The Marlborough winery has installed the system on all 14 of its spray tractors. Yealands’ Vineyard Manager Dave Collingwood says operator safety is paramount. “As far as we are concerned, we want to be sure our staff are working in a safe environment. We can now promise all our operators that they will not spray without a Freshfilter system. The display screen inside the cab is added reassurance, as it constantly monitors the air quality.” Alan notes that the recently updated New Zealand standard, which sets the re-

quirements for using agrichemicals in the workplace, is NZS 8409:2021. The document recommends using filtered cab ventilation “if possible,” and that systems should be well maintained. However, there appears to be no specific requirements governing exposure levels. Alan adds, “while many modern machinery cabs have good HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems, the filtration standards are often overlooked or misunderstood, potentially putting operators at risk of exposure.” An independent laboratory analysis of the Freshfilter system confirmed it is more than 99.95 percent effective at protecting against harmful airborne contaminants – exceeding international standards for HEPA filters. For more information contact local dealer Drummond & Etheridge on 0800 432 633 or visit www.dne.co.nz

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

OverseerFM Farm Groups tool taking out the guesswork Farmers across the country are now using OverseerFM’s innovative Farm Groups tool to assess and better manage nutrient losses.

] Article supplied by Overseer

The Farm Groups tool provides a simple way to group individual farms together, enabling aggregated reporting and the benchmarking of nutrient losses against different aspects of the farm system such as relative stock units. Farmers are using the tool alongside their industry partners to assess farms within a water catchment group, an irrigation scheme or supplying a processor. Alastair Taylor, business development manager for Overseer, said over one hundred farm groups had already been created and were using the tool, including most of the corporate farming groups. “Farm Groups provides a convenient mechanism for farmers to collectively work together to understand and lower nutrient losses in an environment. “It’s being well used by farm businesses managing multiple individual farms and by farms in a local area that wish to collaborate and help each other.” Taylor said creating a group in Farm Groups is very simple. “Anyone who subscribes to OverseerFM

can do it. A group is set up based on its purpose and then farmers are invited to join that group. There is no time limit or limit to the number of farms allowed per group and additional farms can be invited to the group at any time.” He said using the tool enables groups to make decisions about nutrient management based on science, not guesswork. “By subscribing to OverseerFM, farmers or growers can identify how efficiently nutrients are being used on their farm, their level of losses into the environment and what is needed to maintain fertility to support their current production levels. “OverseerFM’s sophisticated science model is not designed to provide an exact measurement of a single year’s losses, but a relative estimate of the annual nutrient losses on a farm over time, based on the farm’s management approach. “The results should be used to understand the relative impact of a farm system and to monitor change over time as farm practice changes.” He said OverseerFM is used by over 13,000 farms across New Zealand.

OverseerFM enables groups to make decisions about nutrient management based on science, not guesswork.

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FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

Your guide to mulching

This guide outlines the uses for mulchers, benefits of topping with a mulcher, how to pick the correct mulcher for your situation and crucial features that a good mulcher must have.

Gerry Hamlin ] by ] Agriline Farm Machinery

Mulchers are a great multi-purpose tool on any farm so long as you get the right one for the job. They can be used for clearing Gorse, Broom, Matagouri, Teatree, Rice Grass, Tussock, Rushes, Thistles, and most other vegetation and small trees. There are some very distinct advantages of clearing with a mulcher. If you spray the vegetation it can often take years to break down before the land can become effective again and by that stage there is often more of the rouge vegetation coming away. Root-raking will give you a pile of unwanted trash that you have to deal with and will disturb the soil and you may have to cultivate before replanting. With a mulcher, the vegetation is mulched very fine and will break down quickly so you can over-sow almost straight away with brilliant results. A mulcher is the ideal machine for topping your pasture. Other topping machines tend to cut the grass and lie it over intact making it very hard for the elements to break it down this is made even worse when there are thistles and other weeds. A mulcher will cut the grass and weeds very fine allowing it to break down faster putting nutrients back into the soil and boosting regrowth. The fun-

gus that causes facial eczema lives in the dry plant stems so mulching these up reduce the risk. Mulchers will also spread out animal waste and reduce the sour patches of grass. Mulchers are very robust and low maintenance compared to a lot of other topping machines. Mulchers are the ideal machine to deal with crop residue, they will mulch it up finely to allow you to cultivate easily. Mulching the stubble reduces the blocking of cultivation equipment and allows stubble to break down when buried, if stubble is buried un-mulched it can use up the nitrogen in the soil.

Choosing the right mulcher Width: Ensure you get the right width for your tractor. You need the mulcher to be narrow enough to drive it easily and do a good job, but obviously, the more ground you can cover at the same time the better. Horsepower Rating: Have plenty of tolerance to give you peace of mind for reliability and scope to run it on a bigger tractor should you decide to upgrade. Enough Belts: Belts on a mulcher are generally designed to take up to about 35 HP per belt. Make sure your mulcher has enough of them to handle the horsepower of your tractor. Dual or Single Transmission: A dual transmission mulcher is where the rotor is driven from both ends. This deci-

sion is partly to do with getting enough belts for your Horsepower rating, and also once you go over 2.5m Dual Transmission is almost essential. Flails: For most situations, the triple flail (a Y flail with the straight centre blade) is the ideal option. It does a finer cut, smoother finish and is easier to drive than other flails. Also ensure they are a good solid flail with a large diameter bolt. If you have a high chance of hitting large stones sometimes a hammer flail is a better option. Skids & rollers: Where possible in most situations it’s best not to have a roller and just run on wide skids. To do this you need at least 150mm wide skids with rolled edges to stop gouging. Once mulchers get up to around 3m it is better to run a roller to stop scalping.

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PLOUGH PARTS Your local Kramp stockist, Power Farming Canterbury has a large range of plough parts available in store. Come and talk to the parts team for your requirements.

Power Farming Canterbury 1 George Holmes Rd, Rolleston | 03 349 5975

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

The Steiger tractor raising the bar Following hot on the heels of last year’s launch of the next-generation AFS Connect Magnum comes a similar makeover for the flagship of Case IH’s machinery fleet, the Steiger.

] by Tim Fulton Available in Quadtrac, Rowtrac and wheeled configurations from 400 to 600 horsepower, the AFS Connect Steiger features a redesigned cab with an all-new armrest with ergonomic controls, automotive-grade design elements and a 12-inch display configurable to each operator’s needs. There is also a new operating system and receiver. “Like the AFS Connect Magnum, this new Steiger represents the future direction for the entire Case IH tractor line-up,” Steiger product manager Jason Wood said. “From the design upgrades and enhancements to the suite of new technology driving new levels of efficiency and productivity, the AFS Connect Steiger delivers the connectivity that enables producers to control and oversee their operation from not only the tractor cab, but from home, in the shed, or wherever they may be. “The power, durability and efficiency that have been the hallmarks of the Steiger range for more than 60 years remain the same, but these latest technology enhancements only amplify its appeal to the customer looking for a tractor that can tackle the biggest and most demanding of tasks.” The AFS Connect Steiger is powered by three system components: AFS Pro 1200 display provides great visi-

bility day or night and features exterior camera feeds, easy Bluetooth® pairing to link a mobile device, and remote display viewing to connect operators with farm managers seamlessly. AFS Vision Pro operating system is familiar and easy to use – just like a smartphone or tablet. This advanced control system allows producers to control the tractor with a touch screen configured to suit their needs. AFS Vector Pro receiver streamlines guidance correction options, ranging from base (AFS 1) to medium (AFS 2) to high (RTK) accuracy levels. The cab, like that of the AFS Connect Magnum, has been completely redesigned, blending simplicity, control and comfort, no matter the conditions or crop.

Features include: • Ergonomic MultiControl Armrest with eight control buttons, a MultiFunction Handle with four programmable hot keys and an encoder knob for total control at the operator’s fingertips • Newly-designed heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning • 29 power connectors and diagnostic ports to connect all the devices required to monitor and control the operation • Standard leather seat with ventilation • Advanced steering system with adjust-

The AFS Connect Steiger gives producers more options than ever before being available in Quadtrac, Rowtrac and wheeled configurations from 400 to 600 horsepower. able steering rates to increase performance and manoeuvrability on every turn of the steering wheel • 360-degree performance lighting that can be grouped to turn on and off as the operator sees fit

• Telescoping mirrors that are adjustable from the cab Along with these new features, industryleading cab suspension, unmatched visibility and a 40-degree swivel seat come standard.

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admin@palmeragriparts.co.nz I 34 Robinson Street, Riverside Industrial Park, Ashburton Palmer Agri Parts Direct imports and manufactures quality parts that fit machines indicated. These parts are not sold as genuine parts.

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CHOOSE A SOLUTION. CHOOSE SUMO. As its name suggests the Sumo Trio consists of 3 parts to help develop and create an ideal GLS SUBSOILER seed bed in all soil conditions. First stage: Staggered row of subsoiler legs with a maximum working depth of 400mm. (both hydraulic and shear pin protection systems available)

Secondary stage: Two rows of 500mm concave discs equipped with triple sealed bearings and Sumo’s famous double drive system giving unrivalled performance when working in adverse conditions. Third stage: Sumo’s 760mm multipacker roller with replaceable shoulders leaves a weatherproof level finish in the most challenging soil conditions.

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The Sumo Grassland subsoiler improves and revitalises compacted grassland that is suffering from the effects of continual livestock, rainfall and heavy machinery.

• Leading row of adjustable individually suspended discs allow minimum disturbance on the pasture surface. • Hydraulic Subsoiler legs with working depths from 100-350mm to suit all types of compaction layer depths with quick change points. • Rear flat packer roller with scrapers to leave an aerated consolidated level finish across the full working width. SOUTH ISLAND www.cochranes.co.nz Call Alastair Robertson | 027 435 2642 AMBERLEY | LEESTON | ASHBURTON TIMARU | OAMARU

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Protect your patch, stop the spread! Every time you open your farm gate to a visitor you are taking a biosecurity risk.

Pest plants spread slowly from property to property, often going undetected. Seeds and plants can be brought on to your property through vehicles, stock animals, and feed. Canterbury is currently being invaded by a host of new pest plants that pose a significant threat to the sustainability of farming in our region, and to our environment.

Have a clean-on, clean-off policy. Provide washdown facilities and set requirements for all service providers.

Hold incoming stock in a designated paddock for 24-hours upon arrival.

Source verified seed and feed. If buying locally, ask the supplier whether they know of any concerning weeds or pests on their property.

Display a sign on your gate outlining your requirements, and limit access to ensure you know who is coming on and off your property.

You can help control the spread and reduce the likelihood of something new entering your property by implementing some simple actions:

By protecting your assets from pests, you’re also protecting your neighbours, your community, and region.

Pests currently spreading in Canterbury through human activity:

Chilean needle grass

0800 324 636 biosecurity@ecan.govt.nz

Yellow bristle grass

African love grass

E22/9009

If you see one of these plants, report your sighting using the Find-A-Pest app or reportpests.nz with photographs and location details.

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

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CANTERBURY FARMING July 2022

Innovative treatment strategy for fly strike prevention The prospect of having to manage fly populations resistant to chemical treatments is becoming a reality for an increasing number of New Zealand farmers.

Paul McKee ] by Animal Health ] Ravensdown Technical Manager ]

Without making changes to the way in which we have been using chemicals, we can expect the future costs of fly strike to significantly increase. One critical strategy will be to make it increasingly difficult for flies to develop resistance to treatments. This is best achieved by farmers ensuring chemicals are always applied correctly and at the recommended rates. In other words, there is always a cost when taking short cuts to save a few cents in volumes of chemical used or seconds in application of product. In addition to the correct application of chemicals, farmers can also change from relying on single active treatments to innovative combination treatments designed to slow the development of chemical resistance. As has been recommended with controlling parasitic worms, exposing flies to simultaneous treatments of different actives will make it harder for resistance to be developed. Ravensdown has worked with a New Zealand company to develop two unique combination products that are designed to provide both effective flystrike protection and reduce the development of fly resistance. Saturate® Gold is a unique dip concen-

trate combining the long acting insect growth regulators (IGR’s) cyromazine and diflubenzuron. It is for use in showers and jetting units on sheep up to six weeks off shears, providing up to 12 weeks protection from fly strike. Ravensdown recommends Saturate Gold for summer fly strike prevention programmes. With the inclusion of diflubenzuron farmers also get the additional benefit of long term lice control (something that cyromazine or dicyclanil cannot do). Fleeceguard® is a unique water based pour on that combines the actions of an IGR (diflubenzuron) and synthetic pyrethroid (deltamethrin) to provide up to 14 weeks protection from flystrike. Both actives also provide control of lice. Fleeceguard can be applied to sheep immediately off shears and up to six weeks of wool growth. The inclusion of deltamethrin provides a rapid knock down for fly and lice compared to IGR only pour on’s. An added feature of Fleeceguard is a really short meat withholding period of seven days that also gives farmers more options with their stock. To achieve the full benefits from using combination products, the best time to start using them is when no resistant fly populations exist on your farm. Developing an integrated flystrike management programme will lead to improved animal health and farm profitability.

Plan ahead: Ravensdown Animal Health Technical Manager Paul McKee says developing an integrated flystrike management programme will lead to improved animal health and farm profitability.

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

Deal could see food become a luxury Is food set to be a luxury of the wealthy? This is the question that resounds from reviewing the agricultural policies that Europe is seeking to adopt – policies that will have major implications for New Zealand food producers exporting to Europe.

Mark Ross ] by Chief of ] AnimalExecutive ] and Plant Health NZ

With 800 million people going to bed hungry every night and an expected rise in global population from 7.8 to 9.5 billion by 2050, food security must be at the heart of any political agenda for agriculture. New Zealand exports over NZ$1.1 billion in horticultural products to Continental Europe, making it one of our top export markets. The ‘chemical strategy’ for sustainability – part of the Farm to Fork strategy of the EU Green Deal – risks the loss of tools to manage pests and diseases and disregards the importance of affordable and healthy food for human survival. Europe will demand more regulation on all food as imported food must comply with the same environmental standards as food produced in Europe – meaning that countries must ‘mirror’ the EU’s standards. The Deal will affect our food exports, especially if crop protection products are banned from use on the continent, due to rules preventing the manufacture and export of some substances. The products it bans will not be able to be used for growing food destined for the continent due to a risk of ‘illegal’ residues. This imposes a change in the products that can

be used for managing pests and diseases. It also forces exporters to produce all food the same way or face increasing complexities for exporting to the EU and other nations – as it’s not always practicable, or even possible, for one farmer to produce food differently for different markets. The Deal sets a precedent for all countries, especially those who rely on exports to the continent, to follow suit. Many, especially developing nations, will not have access to the same means or tools to meet those standards – ultimately hindering food security and economic growth for those who need it the most. Not all farmers are as heavily subsidised as their European counterparts. Introducing more regulation isn’t justified when existing rules already meet exceedingly high safety measures, far beyond any that would pose a health risk. Any change in product use must be carefully assessed for its implications, and progress must be made slowly to ensure farmers can adapt, including having access to the same plant protection products as the Europeans. On a brighter note, the recent Free Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom is a beacon of light for our primary industries, as all tariffs are incrementally removed from key export products. This is expected to boost New Zealand’s GDP by up to $1 billion. However, it is still unclear what a Free

Trade Agreement with the EU and the Green Deal might offer. Disrupted global energy supplies are expected to impact these export markets, as they drive up imported commodity prices – especially fuel, but also food, fertilisers, feed and aluminium. This will likely add pressures to already high domestic inflation and rising production costs, dampening spending power further as well as consumer and business confidence, as explained in the latest ‘Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries’ by the Ministry of Primary Industries. With a target date of 2050, there is time to challenge and review some of the EU’s policy rules. To ensure that farmer voices are heard, groups, such as CropLife Europe, are connecting with decision-makers in Brussels to ensure that any new rules under the Farm to Fork strategy allow for optimum food production. At a recent symposium Oliver de Matos, Director General of CropLife Europe, labelled the Green Deal as the political ambition of Europe to become a global leader in environmental issues and argues that a slow approach for reassessing agrichemical use in field crops is necessary to ensure food security. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, the European Commission, the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organisation and the G7

have all urged countries not to put up artificial barriers on food trade. A similar declaration could not be agreed at a meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva in mid-June. During a global food crisis, with wheat prices 60 percent higher in June 2022 than they were in January 2021, there was pressure for the WTO to deliver a meaningful outcome on trade and food security. However, aside from emergency food security measures and food for humanitarian purposes, members were unable to agree on a work programme for future negotiations in agriculture due to longstanding differences. Even without the war, the countries the EU most wants to sign free trade agreements with (New Zealand, Australia, Canada and India) warned that the clauses in the deal could jeopardise those agreements. To avoid a massive food security problem that could have dire consequences for many – especially developing countries, it’s crucial that trade flows aren’t disrupted. Europe must be careful that its policies don’t result in food becoming a luxury and only affordable to the wealthy. It must also consider the ability of farmers to earn a living. After all, with Covid and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the last thing any country needs is a food crisis like the one Sri Lanka is currently experiencing.

Building Blocks To Good Calf Health Rotagen Combo For prevention and treatment of calf scours caused by Rotavirus 6 &10, Crypto, E coli K99, Salmonella, Coronavirus. Rotagen Combo is anti-biotic FREE and GMO FREE.

Enerlect Enerlect is a high energy source electrolyte that also supplies all the important electrolytes lost during diarrhoea casued by infectious agents or due to a nutritional imbalance.

Vetsan “Super” Concentrate Virucide, biocide and deodoriser for all surfaces on farm including farm sheds and animal housing such as calf pens. Vetsan is active against all the important pathenogenic micro-organisms that can cause calf scours including Rotavirus, Cryptosporidia, Salmonella, E coli, Coronovirus. Also effective against Mycoplasma Bovis. Enerlect and Rotagen Combo are registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, Enerlect A9276, Rotagen Combo A9928

Talk to your animal health professional, your local veterinarian

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

An efficient solution to your animal health You’ve made it – while trying not to sound like a broken record, you’ve made it through unprecedented times and without a doubt a tricky season for farmers throughout New Zealand. supplied by ] Advertorial ] CP Lime Solutions Now the cows are dried off, and people and animals alike are taking a well-earned break. But it never lasts long enough, and soon busy minds are drifting towards what is happening on farm in the near future. It’s fair to say that during spring time dairy farmers want to make sure that everything on farm runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible, to minimise time wasted during the period when every minute counts. So picture this: a spring without dusting your paddocks, or spending time creating concoctions to feed with silage to ensure cows are receiving enough minerals. Imagine a way to accurately ensure that all of your cows are receiving exactly what they need to stay healthy throughout the season. CP Lime Solutions intend to make such dreams a reality, with Vitalise mineral pellets specifically designed to fulfil all the nutritional requirements of dairy cows. Created by farmers, for farmers, their products are changing the game for animal nutrition through their kiwi intuition and unique manufacturing process. Calcium is vital for animal health and development. As a significant mineral in the

body, it helps circulate blood, move muscles and release hormones. It influences production, reproduction and feed conversion efficiency. Rather than relying on multiple, time consuming ways to ensure that your cows receive enough calcium and minerals all year round, Vitalise allows you to include everything required through pelletised animal nutrition. Unlike most mineral supplements, Vitalise is produced without grain, by simply pressing ultra-fine lime into a concentrated pellet through a unique manufacturing process that has been tried and tested on farms for 21 years. And, best of all, it is easily fed through any in shed feed system with a mineral dispenser installed. “Down cows waste so much time, and dusting is inefficient. If you are the type of farmer who wants to save time during the busiest periods of the season, it’s a no brainer. As soon as I heard that it was pelletised I knew we were onto a winner. It just fits right in with our grain blends, the cows eat it along with everything else; it’s simple and effective.” – Jon Dampney, Canterbury With all stock produced in North Canterbury, by a kiwi owned and operated company, Vitalise has the ability to easily include every mineral that you would normally feed

Vitalise mineral pellets are specifically designed to fulfil all the nutritional requirements of dairy cows. to your cows through another source. Customer demand and farmer recommendations have resulted in a number of standard blends that can be quickly manufactured, including Vitalise Calcium, CalMagnesium, CalMag + DCP, CalMag + Rumenox, and CalMag + Trace Elements. As every farm is different, Vitalise also specialises in custom blends that are able

to include as many minerals as required to meet on farm requirements. The newest edition, created by continuous requests, is the CalMag + Springer Safe mineral blend that can be fed to in-calf cows as well as lactating cows. This ensures that Vitalise can serve all of your mineral needs throughout the entire season, simply and efficiently.

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To discover the optimum way of getting calcium and magnesium into your cows visit cplimesolutions.net.nz or call us on 0508 678 464

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

Pork industry welcomes welfare consultation extension The New Zealand pork industry has welcomed an extension to consultation on a controversial draft code of welfare for pigs following a request to the Ministry for Primary Industries.

] by Kent Caddick MPI has agreed to extend the consultation by two weeks to July 8 after discussions with NZPork. “When the consultation was launched at the end of April, it quickly become clear to us that an eight-week period was insufficient time to allow for well-considered submissions to be made from all industry stakeholders,” NZPork chief executive Brent Kleiss said. “The proposed changes are colossal and unprecedented, the material accompanying the draft code is substantial and there is a large amount of information for farmers and other industry stakeholders to review and assess,” Kleiss said. “Given the survival of individual farmers and the industry supply chain is at stake, we are pleased MPI has agreed to our request.” The draft code includes changes to the minimum space allowance required for grower pigs, a ban or significant limitation on the traditional use of farrowing systems (farrowing crates), an effective ban on mating stalls and sets a minimum weaning age of 28 days for piglets. “As it stands, the draft code could re-

sult in the deaths of thousands of additional piglets, pig farms shutting down, and force Kiwis to rely on even more imported pork producing using practices that are illegal in New Zealand,” Kleiss said. “We support science-backed improvements to animal welfare, but the proposed changes could force farmers out of business and put the price of New Zealand born and raised pork out of the reach of many Kiwis. “We encourage anyone interested in the proposals to visit our new website, supportnzpigfarmers.co.nz, which features information on the drastic changes and enables Kiwis to lodge submissions directly with MPI.” Kleiss said an independent report commissioned by the Government shows consumers would need to pay at least 18.8% more for their New Zealand born and raised pork to cover pig farmers’ costs if proposed changes to the pigs code of welfare go-ahead. Australasian consultancy group Sapere, which was asked by the Government to analyse the financial impacts of the proposed draft code on the pork industry and consumers, warns competition from offshore pork would make it difficult to sustain such a price increase as imports would undercut New

Extended: The pork industry is welcoming a decision to extend consultation on a draft code of welfare of pigs which NZ Pork says could result in the deaths of thousands of additional piglets and pig farms shutting down. Zealand prices thereby reducing sales of New Zealand pork. In basing its modelling on a 350-sow farm, Sapere also concluded that a pig farm would need to save existing cash earnings for 19 years to cover the investment required to meet the proposed changes. Kleiss said the report paints a damning picture of the impact of the Government’s proposed reforms. “The report is clear and unequivocal.

It says it would be nigh-on impossible for farmers to pay back what they would have to borrow to implement the proposed code changes and leave consumers no choice but to buy imported pork produced under practices that are already illegal in New Zealand. “If the Government proceeds with these changes, it needs to be prepared to accept it will destroy a local industry, and in the same breath, leave New Zealanders reliant on even greater volumes of imported pork.” The report can be found at: mpi.govt.nz/ dmsdocument/50920/direct.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Prebiotics and calf health Newborn calves, with their under-developed gut and immune systems, are exposed to a range of stresses that can cause health issues.

y Aaron Scarlett ] bBioStart South Island ] Agricultural Territory manager ]

These early stresses include: • not getting enough colostrum due to the short time they are with their mothers • drinking too much milk replacer, too quickly which causes nutritional scours • housing in pens can expose them to bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella • feed changes from milk/replacement on to meal and grass • cold weather Dr Jerome Demmer, biochemist and CEO of the biological farming solutions company, BioStart, describes how setting up the calf’s gut microbes helps them survive and thrive: “Establishing beneficial microbes in a calf’s gut over the first 21 days reduces the impact of disease-causing organisms before their immune system fully develops. “At this stage the milk bypasses the rumen and goes straight to the abomasum (the fourth stomach) where colostrum normally provides immunity – if calves are not with their mothers, then their immune system needs support.” The products on the market available to support calves’ immune systems fall into two major groups:

Calves show greater weight gains and higher resilience against disease with BioStart’s prebiotic milk additive, Calf.

• Probiotic – a live microbe mix consisting of a few bacterial isolates. The intention here is to establish “good” bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, displacing the microbes already there

• Prebiotic – works by stimulating greater amounts of the natural microbes already in the gut. • ‘Biostart discovered 27 years ago that ruminants with good gut microbes were

CALF MEAL

more resilient and grew faster so they developed Biostart Calf, the first animal prebiotic in New Zealand. • BioStart Calf stimulates the good microbes that calves receive from their first drink of mother’s colostrum and these gut microbes then remain with the animal for life giving long term resilience,’ explains Jerome. Farmer Raelyn Hyde from Hokatika has been using BioStart Calf for over 16 years. Her dairy crossbred calves receive 5mL per calf directly when they come to the rearing barn then 2mls per day in the milk for the first three weeks. After that, she gives them BioStart’s prebiotic for older animals, Ruminant, to help them cope with moving outside and associated feed changes. “Using Calf means I very rarely have any sick calves but if any look off colour I immediately give them an extra dose and they are right by the next day,” says Raelyn. BioStart’s Calf made up of fermentation extracts from lactic acid bacteria, prebiotic oligosaccharides, rennet, plant extracts and a range of vitamins and trace elements that stimulate the natural bacteria from the mother’s colostrum. The rennet partly clots the milk replacer which reduces nutritional scours and improves nutrient uptake by the calf. Other ingredients in Calf bind directly to harmful coliform bacteria reducing their ability to cause health issues.

For further information, contact Aaron Scarlett, BioStart on 0800 274 5243.

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July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

Providing the best start in life for your calves Your aim as a calf rearer is to support your calves to grow to healthy, fertile and productive animals in your herd.

] Advertorial by Blue Pacific Minerals

Bad bacteria can inhibit this development, be time consuming and expensive to remedy and worst of all can lead to some very sick calves. At Blue Pacific Minerals we have a trio of solutions to attain ultimate calf health. The two major diseases leading to calf mortality are scours and pneumonia. Pneumonia is a respiratory disease, so reducing ammonia in the air surrounding calves is part of lessening the risk associated with calf housing.

Calves in paddock at Moorby’s farm in Te Awamutu six to eight months after using all three Blue Pacific Minerals products at calving in 2021.

ZorbiFresh™Active ZorbiFresh™Active kills bacteria, reduces ammonia and moisture in bedding for a safer environment for calves. It is 100% effective against Staph aureus and E.coli after 1 hour exposure. ZorbiFresh™Active absorbs up to 199% of its weight in moisture. “Calf pens are drier, smell better, and are healthier for calves and staff” says Blue Pacific Minerals Mike Prendergast. “It is great to be proactive around damp bedding, especially around that second half of calving as that is when the problems generally arise” says Rachel Usmar, ZorbiFresh™Active user, calf rearer Karapiro. Easily applied by hand or spreader, ideally ZorbiFresh™Active is applied on the

base prior to wood shavings or saw dust and then every 2 to 3 days once calves arrive. If a bacterial outbreak has occurred ZorbiFresh™Active is suitable to be applied in large quantities.

OptiCalf ™ OptiCalf ™is a 100% natural feed supplement that draws in the bad bacteria of the Abormasum for it to be excreted.

ADDS BILLIONS OF GOOD BACTERIA

IT TAKES A TRIO OF SOLUTIONS TO ATTAIN

ULTIMATE

OptiCalf ™ is able to soak up and move bad bacteria through the gut to help treat minor cases of calf diarrhoea. OptiCalf ™ has been around for a number of years, is well loved by calf rearers as it is easy to distribute due to calves loving the taste.

OptiCalf™Flourish Once bad bacteria has exited the calf, an effective probiotic provides billions of good

Includes a patented strain of bacillus subtilis PB6 to boost the health of calves during rearing or assist them back to health after a bacterial outbreak. Suitable to be fed in milk.

CALF

HEALTH

CLEARS OUT BAD BACTERIA, BINDS TOXINS

Contains NZ natural zeolite in the form of Optimate™ an ACVM registered product for toxin binding and the treatment of minor cases of calf diarrhoea.

KILLS BACTERIA IN BEDDING & ABSORBS MOISTURE

bacteria to give the best start in calves lives. OptiCalf™Flourish contains a proprietary, patented strain of Bacillus subtilis, PB6 – a unique, naturally occurring probiotic – to help maintain the balance of microflora in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. OptiCalf ™Flourish is able to be fed to calves in their milk to boost the health of calves during rearing or assist them back to health after a bacterial outbreak. Ange Gower, of Te Awamutu says the following of OptiCalf ™Flourish: “our calves had crypto but OptiCalf™ Flourish helped them recover really quickly. OptiCalf ™Flourish plus electrolytes and I didn’t lose any calves, didn’t treat any individually. They had more resilience and faster recovery.” Blue Pacific Minerals is a New Zealand owned company operating out of Tokoroa. Its products are a more natural alternative to on farm problems that help with environmental and animal health sustainably.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Give your calves the best head start If you are preparing to rear calves this season, then look no further than Milligans Feeds’ range of high quality milk replacers.

] Advertorial by Milligans Feeds

Milligans Feeds have four specialist products that are designed to fit any rearing system: from the ultra-premium ExcelPlus Calf Milk Replacer; Classic CMR, the original goto replacer for over 25 years; GOcalf Boost, a high performing finisher; and GOcalf Whey for the alternative protein option. Whether it be a traditional Twice A Day feeding system, or alternative Once A Day system you prefer, our products give you the flexibility and performance anywhere, every time! We also have you covered for other animals too, with our ‘Multi Milk Replacer’ or ‘MMR’ product, which provides the convenience of having one milk replacer that can feed all animal types, including lambs, goat kids, foals, cria, piglets, puppies, and kittens. We also have our GOwhey range which are specialised whey-based powders for lambs, goat kids and calves. These can be used as a stand-alone replacer or be fed in a program with other replacers depending on your needs. Our whey products are sourced from a leading European manufacturer where performance and quality are the leading requirements for best animal welfare. Milligans Feeds also has animal supplement products to assist with the early care and welfare of new-born animals, name-

Milligans Feeds’ range of high quality milk replacers is available throughout New Zealand at leading rural supply stockists.

ly ExcelPlus Colostrum and ExcelPlus Electrolytes. These two supplements are key inputs to successful animal rearing and husbandry.

Whether you are a lifestyle farmer or large scale farmer, you will know the importance of being prepared for the times when you have an orphan or sick baby at hand.

Milligans products are available throughout New Zealand at leading rural supply stockists. Visit www.milligansfeeds.co.nz or call 0800 786 253 to discuss products and what may be right for you.

G IN D A S LE RE O M T O FR LY S DE E P BL UP WI A S N L IO AI AL AV UR NAT R

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July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

Keeping the grass green It’s no good just looking from the kitchen window and deciding that if the paddocks look green, all is well.

] by William MIlnes Pasture has to be long enough for stock to graze, and for cattle this means at least 10cm high. Unlike horses with both top and bottom teeth allowing them to nibble, cattle are unable to do that, and if they are forced to try, they end up wearing away their bottom teeth and eating large amounts of soil which is bad for digestion. Sheep can eat much shorter pasture but need enough to prevent them having to eat down to soil level too. The main issues with late autumn and early winter pasture is feed ‘quality’ and not just feed ‘quantity’. Lush green pasture is low in Dry Matter (DM) so has a high water content, it’s high in protein and energy, but very low in fibre which is important for good rumen digestion. So it’s a very unbalanced feed hence the need for supplements. With hard frosts in the South Island, growth rates per day can be zero. So this means the deficit has to be made up totally with good quality supplements, so the ‘condition’ of your stock is the best guide to their

health and future performance. The individual feeding needs of different stock will vary over time, and there are tables to provide these data or talk to a consultant or farmer who does regular feed budgets. Strategic use of nitrogen is always recommended to boost pasture production, but you need to have a good ryegrass content in the pasture and the 10cm soil temperature needs to be above 6degC, and the ground is not waterlogged. Nitrogen fertiliser such as urea is cheap to buy and easy to apply as it’s in granulated form, but with so much concern now for the environment, be careful to keep the spreader well clear of creeks and wet parts of the paddock, and it’s also better to apply a number of small dressings of under 20kg N/ha rather than in one large dollop. The biggest sin anyone can commit on a farm or lifestyle block is to damage the delicate soil structure. Dig a few spade spits and examine it carefully seeing how deep the tiny root filaments grow down to, and how many worms there are. Smell the soil too which should be a very pleasant aroma. So at all costs avoid pugging the soil, as there’s no

Pasture perfect: Just because the grass is green doesn’t mean all is well on the lifestyle block. plied. Fertiliser needs rain to wash it off the leaves. Weeds never give up so if you had a bad weed problem last season, start working on it now to get the timing right. Timing of weed spraying is the key, so you have to be able to recognise weeds in the early vegetative stages, long before flowering or seed heads appear in summer.

point in seeing the highly-nutritious spring pasture grown at considerable expense, being pushed down into the soil by animals although sheep are generally not a problem. Get a soil test done if there hasn’t been one done for over a year. It’s an ideal time of year to get your lime applications completed. Avoid putting stock to graze on paddocks where fertiliser has been newly ap-

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Game-changing spray could revolutionise pest control An environmentally friendly spray which targets and kills one of the world’s most damaging agricultural pests has been created by scientists at the University of Queensland.

] by Kent caddick The breakthrough is part of UQ’s BioClay technology, a safe and sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, which has been developed over the past decade by Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) and the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN). Research team leader Professor Neena Mitter said it was a game-changer for crop protection because it was effective against whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), a small insect responsible for the loss of billions of dollars in agricultural crops around the world. “Silverleaf whitefly (SLW) is considered an invasive species in the United States, Australia, Africa and several European countries and attacks more than 500 plant species including cotton, pulses, chilli, capsicum, and many other vegetable crops,” Professor Mitter said. “The insect lays eggs on the underside of the leaves and the nymphs and adults suck

the sap from the plant resulting in reduced yields.” In addition, whiteflies also transmit many viruses which pose a threat to healthy crops. Control of the pest has been difficult due to its ability to quickly develop resistance to traditional chemical pesticides. The BioClay spray uses degradable clay particles that carry double-stranded RNA which enters the plant and protects it without altering the plant’s genome. “It is the first time the BioClay platform has been used to target sap sucking insect pests,” Mitter said. “When whiteflies try to feed on the sap, they also ingest the dsRNA, which kills the insect by targeting genes essential to its survival. “The world of RNA is not just responsible for Covid-19 vaccines, it will also revolutionise the agricultural industry by protecting plants from viruses, fungi and insect pests,” she said. To identify suitable gene targets, PhD can-

Breakthrough: PhD candidate Ritesh Jain Ritesh Jain (left) and Professor Neena Mitter say the spray, which targets and kills whitefly, is harmless to other insects.

didate Ritesh Jain went through the global database of genome sequences. “Initially, we had to screen hundreds of genes specific to SLW to see which ones would affect their growth,” Jain said. “Importantly, the dsRNA proved harmless when fed to other insects, such as stingless bees and aphids.” Hort Innovation research and development manager Dr Vino Rajandran said the spray could give the industry another tool in its bio

security armoury. “It has the potential to save growers time and money and is a great example of industry levy investment in action,” Dr Rajandran said. The researchers will now work with industry partner Nufarm Limited to test the whitefly BioClay formulation in real-world production systems.

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CANTERBURY FARMING

Robotic mowers:

From idea to industry pioneer In 1995, Husqvarna took the first step into a new product segment with the launch of the world’s first robotic lawn mower, Husqvarna Solar mower.

] Article supplied by Husqvarna NZ

This started to change the way lawns are maintained all over the world and this year the company marks its 25th anniversary of producing robotic mowers. In 1992, Bengt Andersson, the Husqvarna CEO at the time, saw the potential in robotic mowing and formed a group of engineers who developed what would become the first Husqvarna robotic mower, the Husqvarna Solar mower. Three years after the launch of Husqvarna Solar mower, the company released its first generation of Husqvarna Automower, a robotic mower which returned to a grid-connected charger to charge its battery. This made it possible to mow the lawn around the clock and regardless of weather. The mower knew when the battery required charging and returned automatically to the charging station. The second generation of Husqvarna Automower was introduced in 2003 and featured a new design and a number of improvements. Later, other models based on this platform were launched, including, a mower that could

manage lawns up to 6000m2 and a hybrid mower with both solar cells and battery. The third generation Husqvarna Automower platform arrived in 2011. The first models focused on small lawns and compact size. Later higher capacity mowers equipped with connectivity were introduced. Five years later, the Husqvarna Automower 430X and 450X were introduced, both equipped with the X-line feature package including Automower Connect with GPS theft tracking, GPS assisted navigation, LED headlights, front rubber bumper and X-line body design. With connectivity and smartness in focus, Husqvarna integrated Automower Connect with several smart home services in 2018 – enabling users with a smart home hub to have a voice-controlled interaction with their mower. It also features an open API which lets users connect the app with IFTTT and create custom applets. In 2019, the first all-wheel drive robotic mowers were launched, Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD for residential customers and Husqvarna Automower 535 AWD for professional customers. Being all wheel drive ma-

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World first: Husqvarna launched the world’s first robotic lawn mower 25 years ago and are now considered a leader in the field. chines, both mowers can handle inclines of up to 70%. Husqvarna NZ Country Manager Colin Stimpson says Husqvarna has progressed from being a professional chainsaw brand, into a market leader in the outdoor power equipment industry. “With our passion for innovation, development and precision, we have seen the com-

pany continue to progress its robotic mowing technology by unveiling the first voice-controlled all-wheel drive Automower in 2019.” Last year saw another milestone for the company as Husqvarna Group reached the two million mark in its manufacturing of robotic mowers. Now, Husqvarna robotic mowers are making their way into residential properties all over the world.

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Rural crime is on the rise in ‘safe’ NZ With over 54,000 reported burglaries nationwide every year (that’s 1 burglary every minute), the innocent days where New Zealanders would feel comfortable leaving their doors unlocked feels like a distant memory. supplied by ] Advertorial ] Ross Galt Lock & Alarm Ltd Statistics show that thieves are targeting rural properties frequently, mainly due to their isolation and the demand for bikes, machinery, fuel, tools, and livestock. With over 52 years of experience and reputation serving the Canterbury region, it’s no surprise that Ross Galt Lock & Alarm Ltd has noticed an increase in rural customers contacting them to secure their farms and lifestyle blocks. Mainly known as respected locksmiths, the company offers the same quality service and workmanship for their electronic work. They offer a fleet of highly trained technicians specialising in alarms, cameras, access control, alarm monitoring and intercom systems. “When you live in a lifestyle block, you can’t always rely that your neighbor will be able to hear or see what’s going on, so investing in quality locks, cameras and alarms is crucial,” says Ross Galt. “Not only would your insurance company approve, but it also gives you peace of mind.” An alarm system, for example, means “the difference between a burglar only hav-

ing seconds in your property before the are detected, or giving them hours to ransack your property.” Cameras and driveway beams are also popular choices for lifestyle blocks. “CCTV systems deter crime. Criminals are known to survey properties before striking, so cameras capture any suspicious vehicles. Driveways beams allow for you to be notified when someone arrives at your property.” Ross Galt advises you do your research before investing. “A lot of people buy cheap DIY security kits online and call us when it goes wrong for them”, Ross Galt says. “The kit stops working and they are unable to find any tech support, because the product they purchased is from overseas, cheap and offers no warranty.” Ross Galt supplies only the world’s top brands, with easy-to-use technology and local tech support. They warn of a surge of “tradesmen cowboys” out there, providing uninsured, lowquality work. “When it comes to protecting your home, livelihood, and family, you should invest in quality product installed by trained professionals,” says Ross Galt. “You wouldn’t

Investing in quality locks, cameras and alarms is crucial for peace of mind for both landowner and their insurance company.

want just anyone in your home or business dealing with something as important as your security.” All of Ross Galt’s locksmiths and electronic technicians are Site Safe certified and members of the New Zealand Security

Association – so you can trust that you are in “safe hands”. Now proudly accepting Farmlands and Ruralco payments, Ross Galt looks forward to hearing from you to see how they can help secure your lifestyle block or farm.

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

Safety first always with a chainsaw The chainsaw is an indispensable labour saving aid used by thousands of New Zealand farmers, firewood gatherers and other non-vocational users.

] Article supplied by WorkSafe

It makes light work of felling and cutting up trees, but a chainsaw deserves to be treated with respect. Carelessly used, inadequately maintained or incorrectly equipped, a chainsaw can be a lethal weapon. If you have just bought a chainsaw, you should read the manufacturer’s instruction manual carefully and familiarise yourself with your chainsaw’s operation. If you have not used a chainsaw before, practice the cutting techniques on a stump or log before you attempt more serious work. If you use your chainsaw sensibly, follow correct techniques and maintain your saw to the manufacturer’s instructions, it will provide you with safe and trouble-free service. If you’re a chainsaw novice, it’s an excellent idea to get training from a qualified person. This way you learn by hands-on experience and avoid developing unsafe habits right from the start. Your chainsaw dealer may be able to provide this instruction or put you in contact with a qualified instructor.

• Don’t do anything that will harm another person in any place where you are using your chainsaw (this includes harm to yourself). • Check that there are no people or animals in the work area. • Do not work in adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain, snow or high winds. • Always ensure you have a clear work area where you have a stable footing and do not have to reach or work off balance. • Make your way carefully on uneven or sloping ground.

in doubt, seek advice from the controlling authority. • Always check for any material such as branches or tops which may dislodge and fall into the work area as the tree falls.

General chainsaw maintenance • Finally, keep your chainsaw clean and well maintained. Not only will it be safer to use, but it will also prolong the chainsaw’s life. • Regularly: Clean your chainsaw, particularly the air filter cooling inlets,

sprocket cover and chain brake mechanism. • Clean the guide bar groove and oil holes. • Check the guide bar for straightness, burring and wear of the rails. • Turn the guide bar regularly to ensure even wear. • Check the sprocket and chain for wear. • Check the chain for cracked rivets or side links. • Check all nuts, bolts and screws for correct tension.

• Shut the chainsaw off before carrying it. Carry it by the front handle with the bar to the rear – not on your shoulders.

If you are felling trees • Make sure other people are at least two tree lengths away.

Work area safety

• Always have an escape route planned and cleared to the side and rear.

• It’s important to check the work area for hazards before you start felling or cutting.

• Check for hazards in the area – such as electricity or telecommunication cables. If

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Safety first: Carelessly used, inadequately maintained or incorrectly equipped, a chainsaw can be a lethal weapon.

FORESTRY & LOGGING

Allan laurie MNZIF ] with Laurie Forestry Ltd ]

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Positive outlook as shipping costs ease

We have certainly hit an export log price low spot in June with the combination of a slight drop in the sale price in China and rampant shipping costs leading to very low prices at wharf gate New Zealand. As a consequence, many logging crews and trucking companies are either parked up or on short weeks and in both segments, we are starting to hear of casualties. The medium term is looking more positive, although much depends on shipping companies right now. As at the third week of June, rates are falling back seriously suggesting greed and profit drove us in to the cost ionosphere previously. A dramatic go slow in NZ export log production is what is needed for us to see any sort of turn around. The China eastern seaboard inventory remains at 4.7 million cubic metres. At daily consumption levels at, or around 56,000 cubic metres, the inventory whilst not high in a normal year, is too high to generate positivity in China domestic wholesale prices. The challenge in all of this is to maintain some harvest in NZ, ensuring the crucial local (domestic) sawmills continue to get what they need in both volume and good quality grades. For the moment, so far so good and no reports of mills short supplied, in fact a couple spoken to have more than they need.

If this situation lasts for too long and forest owners exhaust the better-quality forest harvest, they will be forced back in to lower quality stands. We could see history repeating here and that is when log exports recover, domestic supply could be at risk. There is no question, of our major trading partner China, much can be said to be Covid related and attempts to prevent spread through lockdowns. The break-even log sales price in China sits at around the US$140 per m3 CFR basis, about US $15 per cubic metre off the pace to get Kiwi loggers back to work. However, it is worth noting this level sits in about the top 80 percentile of the market of the last three years Add in shipping rates which are well over 100% higher than the same time last year, and you have plenty of Kiwi Loggers standing on the beach flipping the birdie at the ships parked off NZ ports waiting for cargo that is very slow to materialise. Last week I was pleased to attend and present at the NZ Forest Industry Safety Council conference in Queenstown. A great venue, and subject matter to remind ourselves how far we have come and how much we have to

do in the safety space, something that will always evolve and change as we learn more in the behavioural sciences and human factor area. My topic was a review the Contractor Certification Scheme which now sees a big chunk of NZ Forestry Contractors either with Certification or in the process of getting it. This is big step forward in recognising a unique skill base but also a recognition of an industry now driven on being smarter and safer. I was also able to report on our company having achieved a NZ first as a Guinea Pig for Forest Management Company Certification. Again, being subjected to independent and thorough audit, aims to ensure cross industry standards and delivery on safety as the foundation stone for all that we strive for. These are important steps for an industry hell bent on continuous improvement. A quick word on this fantastic planting

season we are seeing across NZ. Lots of wonderful Radiata pine going in the ground but also plenty of special purpose species and natives. In the early to mid-90s it was all Radiata making up the majority of new planting, now we have great diversity and plenty of water ways being planted to exclude stock, the wonderful Totara amongst them. I have heard a few less than favourable comments – the old pine basher brigade having a go. We should remind them the 2022 planting season achieves a milestone with the 80,000 odd hectares lost to the dairy industry last decade now back in the ground. So detractors, NZ is most certainly not disappearing under a sea of wonderful pine trees. As always people, please remember the thoroughly important message, “It remains, as always, fundamentally important, no matter the challenges, the only way forward for climate, country and the planet, is to get out there and plant more trees”.

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July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

DAIRY

Farmers deliver despite the odds DairyNZ says a recent primary sector report shows New Zealand dairy farmers have still delivered for the national economy despite rising input costs, labour shortages, fewer cows and less production.

] by Kent Caddick DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said MPI’s Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report projecting the dairy sector will be worth $21.6b this year, trending toward $24b by 2026, is a significant milestone for farmers. “Farmers really are being challenged right now,” Dr Mackle said. “Input costs and staff shortages are testing our farmers as we head into the busiest part of the year, when the impacts of stress will be felt the most. “Farmers are also delivering on environmental work and implementing policy changes on farms too. “So to hear that their work is truly delivering for New Zealand, and there’s a bright future for our food products, will buoy farmers as they refine their farm systems to continue delivering product that’s in demand.” The report said farm management and advancing technology will help deliver increased on-farm productivity. “Cow numbers are falling but the work being done by farmers to improve dairy cow genetics and adopt new technologies is expected to pay dividends. It’s a signal that our on-farm productivity can continue to thrive, thanks to advances in farm management practices,” Mackle said. “Importantly, this bodes well for work to be done for climate change solutions. We are

Electrical Problems or

actively exploring technology solutions and today’s report sends a positive message just how well our sector does that.” He said more importantly the report is a reminder of Maintenance? the value of New Zealand’s primary industries to our national economy.

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Against the odds: The country’s dairy farmers are continuing to deliver for the national economy despite difficulties is DairyNZ’s take on the latest MPI Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report.

‘

More importantly, the report is a reminder of the value of New Zealand’s primary industries to our

“The work our farmers do daily to deliver a world-class product that is low carbon footprint continues to be sought-after. “We know the primary sector is important to New Zealand communities and as a nation for our quality of living. Our food and fibre products are in demand – and the report suggests this will only increase.”

national economy. Dr Tim Mackle Chief executive, DairyNZ

DAIRY

] with Peter Burton

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Providing magnesium with dolomite from Golden Bay

There are no ifs and buts, our own health is only as good as the soil from which our food is grown. A carbon rich soil alive with beneficial life will always produce more food of higher quality than that from a low carbon compacted one. Soil is a living breathing organism, and it its ideal state contains 25% air and 25% moisture. Due to the vagaries of ever-changing weather and farming practises the ideal is seldom achieved, however it remains the perfect scenario. Over time soils weather, with the parent material initially rock, slowly being broken down to release nutrient that allows plant life to emerge. Organic matter develops and plant growth steadily increases. However, some nutrient is lost via leaching and the mineral content of ground water is influenced by the soil through which rainwater steadily percolates. Over time that lost from soil due to natural weathering must be replaced if the quality of the feed grown is to retain its value. Agricultural practises of cultivation, intensive grazing, and the addition primarily of nitrogen has increased the rate at which the soil mineral content has been lost. There are numerous studies showing a marked decline in the mineral content of veg-

etables over the last 50 years linking that to some of the ill-health issues that afflict people today. One of the solutions is the re-mineralising of the soil through the addition of agricultural lime, and where soils are deficient in magnesium an annual application of dolomite. There is only one dolomite deposit in the country, at Golden Bay. It’s a large deposit and the nibbling away that is required to meet the country’s magnesium requirements is largely inconsequential, particularly with the ongoing replanting programme in place. Dairy farming has a high requirement for magnesium as all lactating animals have increased demand for calcium which must be balanced with magnesium if excellent health and performance is to be attained. Because it was originally a seabed deposit laid down over millions of years GB dolomite contains a wide range of trace elements, and over time where soil magnesium levels are maintained with its addition, the status of other essential elements is enhanced. The benefit of this is a marked improvement in animal health and performance particularly over late winter and spring. Grasses

to which dolomite is applied annually usually contain between 0.22 and 0.25% magnesium. Animals well-fed on pasture with that magnesium content receive sufficient magnesium for the maintenance of high levels of milk production, whether they be lactating ewes, beef or dairy cows. The recurring message from dolomite clients over the last 30 years has been, “no cows down behind the hedge at 5.30 this morning” and that in itself changes the complexion of cold wet spring days. Any time is an appropriate time to apply 250kg/ha of dolomite. Due to the fineness of grinding there is sufficient magnesium

available for plant levels to change, often within a fortnight of it being spread. Because dolomite is sometimes referred to as dolomite lime there are those that mistakenly believe it should not be applied during winter and spring. Animal metabolic disorders in spring are seldom a straight magnesium or calcium deficiency. It is nearly always an imbalance of the two and dolomite lifts plant magnesium levels but not those of calcium. If there is a concern about low levels of magnesium in the diet due to a lack of direct sunlight a bin of dolomite available to animals in the paddock, or at least as they enter or leave the shed provides further insurance. Made available in this way, without the addition of molasses or any other feed, allows animals to self-medicate. By also having a bin of lime flour available the calcium and magnesium requirements of individual animals can be met. One of the objections to dolomite has been its cost. Given the increased price of imported magnesium products that argument is no longer valid, and dolomite has the added benefit of always being available. For more information call Peter on 0800 436 566 (0800 4DOLOMITE).

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

Call to slow down policy reforms Beef + Lamb New Zealand says the Government’s release of the Indigenous Biodiversity National Policy Statement draft legislation is badly timed and ill-considered.

] by Kent Caddick B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor said they were extremely disappointed with the timing of the release, coming just one day after a major announcement on the pricing of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. “Farmers are feeling overwhelmed with the environment-related policy changes that have already come their way, on top of labour shortages, high on-farm inflation and managing Covid-19,” McIvor said.

“Work is still under way on getting the freshwater and climate change policies right, let alone fully implemented, so it’s frustrating the Government is putting out yet more environment legislation. “Our farmers are passionate about biodiversity and are actively protecting and restoring the indigenous habitats they have on their farms, but they had major concerns with the original Indigenous Biodiversity NPS. “This was particularly in relation to the broad definition of a Significant Natural Area, which would have restricted agricultural activities on a significant proportion of their farms.” McIvor said they hope the Government has taken these concerns into account and will be studying this closely. “While there may be some improvements, B+LNZ has from the outset been calling for significant changes on key provisions. We expect genuine consultation and that we will be able to resolve all the issues our farmers have identified. “Farmers are playing their part and indeed are leaders in the protection of biodiversity. Sheep and beef farmers are the largest custodians of indigenous biodiversity in New Zealand after the conservation estate, and they actively manage native vegetation on

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PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under the REAA 2008.

Helping grow the country

Slow down: B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor says farmers are feeling overwhelmed with a raft of environment-related policy changes and is calling on the Government to slow down. thousands of farms across New Zealand. “On average, about 25 percent of sheep and beef farms are covered in native vegetation and our farmers are very proud of this.” He said these regulations need to be enabling for farmers to carry on that work while not restricting farming. “These policies have significant impacts on farming business costs and day to day operations, and it’s hard to believe the Government is willing to compromise the viability of a sector that has been a standout during the Covid-19 pandemic and will continue to be critical to our post-Covid economic recovery. “It’s also worth noting that the climate change and freshwater policies already intro-

duced, and the huge amount of work under way through farm planning, will have a positive impact on biodiversity outcomes.” McIvor said they were not asking for nothing to happen but were calling on the Government to slow down. “Slow down to get the policies right, without the need for rework, and slow down so farmers can plan ahead and ensure their businesses remain sustainable in every sense of the word. “The six-week consultation period on the draft legislation is also inadequate given how complex this policy area is. At the very least this period needs to be extended to give us adequate time to analyse what’s proposed and for farmers to have sufficient input.”

WATER & IRRIGATION

Jim Herbison ] with ] Aqualinc

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Optimising irrigation with soil moisture sensors The key objective of a soil moisture measurement system is to provide the grower with continuous, accurate and representative data that helps them optimise yield and reduce operating costs.

Continuous soil moisture data is key. This will enable you to observe the effects of irrigation and rainfall events, hot dry days, etc., and to proactively manage your irrigation. In order to achieve that ‘accurate and representative data’ above there are a few key factors to consider: • Sensor selection – what type of soil moisture sensor is most suitable for the application? • Site selection – selection of a site representative of the area to be irrigated is vital • Number of sensors – closely related to site selection, how many soil types, what area does each account for, how many irrigators etc.? • How should the sensors be installed? When it comes to soil moisture sensors it is definitely not a case of ‘one size fits all’. All sensors are different and have different attributes, strengths, and weaknesses. Crop type, rooting depth, soil type, and many other parameters determine which sensor is the best fit for the application. Sometimes regularly updating a simple soil water balance may be the most appropriate option but it does involve working with

more data. Be wary of a supplier offering only one sensor solution. Selection of a representative site is crucial as soil moisture can vary significantly over very small distances. This requires some homework (to determine topographical information, soil type and characteristics etc.) and a site visit with the farmer to ensure representative and appropriate sites are selected. I am very reluctant to select soil moisture sites without the farmer present – they know where the old tracks, tree lines, water races (and in the case of one farm I was involved with, a WWII air strip) are. More is not necessarily better when it comes to soil moisture sensors. A few sensors in representative locations that provide the ‘representative data’ mentioned above is the ideal. Preferably there should be at least one sensor in each soil type (provided it makes up a significant percentage of the total area) and under every irrigator. Wherever possible soil moisture sensors should be installed in undisturbed soil to reduce or eliminate any settling time. Many farmers with soil moisture sensors are provided with a nice graph, but without

Benefits: An irrigation strategy based on robust soil moisture measurements can provide significant operational and environmental benefits, especially around the reduction of nutrient leaching.

The Future

the correct setup and advice this is like driving a car with a faulty speedo – you don’t really know what you’re doing. An irrigation strategy based on robust soil moisture measurements can provide significant operational and environmental benefits, especially around the reduction of nutrient leaching. Partnering with a soil moisture sensor supplier with the necessary Irrigation Management experience and expertise will enable you to tap into these benefits.

As above, one of the key issues with soil moisture measurement is the variability of the soil moisture and the fact you are using data from an extremely small area to manage irrigation of many 10s of hectares. In the future I envisage remote sensing in conjunction with sparsely deployed sensor networks to ‘ground-truth’ the remote sensing data being used for on-farm irrigation management. I was recently involved with installing a network of soil moisture sensors as part of a remote sensing project involving NASA, MIT, University of California, and the University of Auckland (amongst others) – watch this space.

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

WATER & IRRIGATION

Farmers take leadership role in emissions pricing plan Earlier this month the He Waka Eke Noa partnership released its recommendationson how agricultural greenhouse gas emissions should be priced.

Andrew Curtis ] by ] Primary Insight Having been engaged by the programme office for the last 18 months to support its development I know first-hand how much blood sweat and tears has gone into these recommendations. Farmers should be proud of the leadership role their sectors have played. While the concept of a pricing mechanism is universally not favoured, the alternative position, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), would have been a dangerous place for agriculture to end-up. Agriculture would have been competing for NZU (emissions units) in a market where other sectors have a greater ability to pay the price, and there would have been no differential pricing mechanism for short-lived gases (methane). The report recommends a farm-level levy where the cost faced is driven by the level of investment required to fast track research and development of new mitigation options; provide financial incentives to encourage more rapid uptake of mitigations, such as sheep genetics, coated urea, or feed additives. Sequestration (woody vegetation) not eligible for the Forestry ETS would also be incentivised (at a reduced price) recognising the co-benefits for freshwater (riparian plantings) and indigenous biodiversity (protection of native bush). Increasing the range of sequestration op-

tions also provides an opportunity for farms to offset. This is particularly important for some sheep and beef farms where the cost faced will have a significant impact. Under the farm-level levy, farms over a defined number of livestock or tonnes of synthetic N-fertiliser use would need to calculate and pay for their emissions using an agreed methodology, this ensures everyone is treated fairly. The methane and nitrous oxide price settings would be unique, and ringfenced based on need. This ensures the levy is as low as possible, minimising impacts on production and profitability while still achieving emissions reductions. The cost faced could then be reduced through the uptake of mitigation incentives, designed to encourage emissions reductions, or through maintaining or increasing sequestration, either directly through He Waka, or indirectly through the Forestry ETS or voluntary carbon markets. The Climate Change Commission has also released advice to government around the most effective way to assist farmers in meeting emissions reductions targets. They concluded that a farm-level price with an output-based rebate should be used for this. This provides an incentive based on production efficiency. The partnership did consider this approach, but the issue is how would this work on a breeding or trading farm

where there is no easy way of recognising its output. Proxies could be used but as it’s an average the incentive for change is reduced and a national sheep tracing system would likely be challenging to implement. What happens now? Government will consider the recommendations in both reports alongside receiving advice from the ministries, it will then gather its thoughts on the most practical way forward. As the timelines are tight for implementing a farm-level system by 2025, this will likely be released for consultation late in the

third quarter of this year, before a final decision is made in late 2022. So, what does this mean for farmers? While all farmers need to know their emissions numbers, it’s more important to understand what’s driving these. Many farms have an opportunity to make efficiency improvements, and others an opportunity to offset (plant trees in less productive areas). Now’s a good time to start thinking about the options as it’s highly likely there will be a pricing system in place in 2025.

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WATER & IRRIGATION

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Why we need standards and training in the irrigation industry

There is no denying that water is fundamental to just about every aspect of the process of growing food and fibre for both New Zealand and international consumers; we either have too much where and when we don’t want it, or we face long dry summers where security of access to water for irrigation is critical.

Stephen McNally ] by Principal ] IrrigationNZTechnical Advisor ]

In my role with IrrigationNZ I deal with many aspects of freshwater policy, regulations, and technology innovations, all intertwined with the role of water in the primary industries. The evidence of continued climate change and extreme events placing demands on soil moisture management is confronting for us all. Regardless of the strength or practicalities of regulations, we must as an industry keep our eye on water resource use efficiency and how that helps us meet farm business, environmental and community expectations.

The New Zealand Certificate in Irrigation System Design and the NZ Certificate of Irrigation Performance assessment are based on industry best practice standards. These courses are aimed at those working within the irrigation industry who want to learn more about the details of good irrigation system design and performance management. Each time I prepare for my role in delivering these courses, I am reminded of the breadth of information that is covered and the level of competence expected of irrigation companies, system owners and the regulators alike. These courses both kick off with a review of freshwater legislation and the implications of the rules that we need to consider. This includes an understanding of how the new NPS for Freshwater is driving the Freshwater Farm Plan and inclusion of both fresh water and effluent irrigation practices. The standards are getting tighter and as a result knowledge expectations around irrigation best practice are lifting across the country. Your aim as an irrigator is to use just enough water applied through your equipment to keep your soils at their best moisture content down through the depth of the root zone. The linkage between what water you have

access to use and the water needed in the soil root zone, is your irrigation equipment, the pumps, filters, pipes, and emitters, whether those are pivot irrigators or under tree sprinklers. Key modules of the irrigation system design and performance assessment courses cover the skills necessary to undertake testing and commissioning of an irrigation system. A commissioning process will demonstrate the completed system has been built as proposed and that it will perform to the planned Key Performance Indicators. The designer is expected to complete the necessary documentation of critical operation and maintenance features which are used to train the operator and sets the basis of on-going performance measurement. The commissioning report is therefore a vital piece of farm system management information. Each component of the irrigation system, from source to the soil, presents opportunities for precision and efficiency, or the opposite if things are not working according to the way it was commissioned. If your system is not designed, installed, and commissioned by suitably qualified and accredited practitioners to the best available practice standards you risk not gaining

the most from the water, energy labour, and money committed to your irrigation development. Having intimate knowledge of the way your system operates gives you the confidence to make good decisions on water use, minimising volumes extracted and improving plant growth. There is a lot of clever technology appearing in the market that can measure and monitor many parts of your irrigation processes, including your water take volumes, power consumption, soil moisture levels and services that look at weather patterns in your district. Of all the aspects that can affect your system precision, uniformity of application is one of the most significant and it is relatively easy to have tested. What you may have been confident of through intuition may not be quite as you thought especially as you gain an understanding of the data and analysis relating to soil moisture through the root profile. Train yourself and your staff, attend courses, get some qualifications under your belt, and look to gather knowledge from the experts available to you. Then share your experiences so others can see the benefit of a good system commissioning process to their own situation.

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July 2022 CANTERBURY FARMING

Rob Cochrane ] with Procurement Manager, ] Wool PGG Wrightson Wool ]

LIVESTOCK

Roller coaster ride for mid-micron types June 30 signified the end of the wool selling season and we look forward to a new season, or do we?

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The past season has seen continued difficulty for many crossbred wool types and a roller coaster ride for mid-micron types, but a very buoyant market and healthy price delivery for merino types. I’m not sure if the 2021/22 season is best described as a ‘game of three thirds’ or ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’, however it was yet another interesting one complicated by Covid-19 (again) throughout the wool pipeline, whether due to reduced labour availability at shearing or significant transport interruption due to seaport closures in places such as Shanghai. Since contributing my column for the previous edition of this publication, and when several wool types had enjoyed price improvement due to the then weakening of the Kiwi dollar, market pricing for both crossbred and mid-micron wool types have generally eased due to Kiwi currency strength but also due to the lesser demand evident for a reasonably broad range of descriptions. In the crossbred wool space during the past few weeks demand reduced for poorer coloured fleece wools,

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those displaying medium vegetable matter contamination and the few remaining lines of crossbred lamb’s wool, in the face of lesser competition particularly from Chinese buying interests. Oddment types also proved more difficult to move after a period of slight improvement. On a more positive note, full length pre-lamb shorn fleece plus secondshear fleece, both types displaying very good washing colour (no yellowing) and preferably zero vegetable matter contamination, drew very good interest from a range of buyers representing mainly European and UK buyers, resulting in a much wider, than earlier, price gap between poor wools and good wools. While the past month saw a limited supply of new season mid-micron wool types brought to market, a few old seasons’ clips were offered after being held by growers awaiting improvement. Other than a few very good sales for mid-micron types measuring finer than about 25 microns, the market remained rather sluggish throughout the month resulting in several lines remaining in grower ownership. Merino wool types offered for sale during June were mainly those of oddments however, with a few smaller lines of either full length fleece or second shear fleece available, exporters showed a keenness to bid and buy in the Christchurch auction room. Australian broker auctions held there, prior to the Christchurch auction of 9th June, had generally delivered good solid market results and the Christchurch prices received compared more than favourably with those of across the ditch to be at levels well ahead of pre-sale expectations. It’s been pleasantly surprising to hear and see a variety of good stories recently concerning wool and wool-

‘

It’s been pleasantly surprising to hear good stories recently including clothing items made from both fine and coarse wool, rugs, bags, and insulation.

len products including clothing items made from both fine and coarse wool, rugs, bags, and insulation. Fortunately, the people featured in those stories know wool’s benefits, and its versatility as a natural renewable and sustainable fibre, however for many consumers the story of wool is not understood well. Even within NZ there are many who have no idea that wool can be a healthier product option versus a comparable synthetic product. We often hear about carpet sales staff preferring to steer potential customers towards synthetic carpets rather than wool, for whatever reasons they may have. Recently a close family member of mine was in the market for a new carpet but was not offered wool by the salesperson. After an enquiry about a wool carpet, it transpired that a wool option was only modestly more expensive than a similar looking synthetic, plus I believe my close family member offered the salesperson some advice about the benefits of wool. That’s my view.

CANTERBURY FARMING July 2022

LIVESTOCK

Gunning for a $10-plus schedule Deer farmers have been told that marketers are aiming for a venison schedule price to farmers in the $10.50-$11.00 band. This equates in terms of farm profitability with recent record lamb prices.

] with Trevor Walton Potential realised: ElkWapiti cows and calves at Grant Hasse’s Charing Cross farm. Demand from marketers for larger venison cuts for the US market means these calves can achieve more of their growth potential.

in supermarkets for Alliance Group, Mountain River Venison and Silver Fern Farms. Alliance Group’s Terry O’Connell said ground venison ticks all the boxes. “It moves A, B and C–grade trim, boneless shank and neck – more than 40 per cent of the carcase – away from the European frozen commodity trade and up the value chain.” It is also a good entry-level product for consumers cooking venison for the first time. Indeed, First Light Foods has followed-up on its successful launch of ground venison in the US with higher value products such as venison meat balls, medallions and steaks with Lewis Road butter.

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wasn’t sustainable,” Moffat says. By having a greater spread of markets and a greater presence at retail, the volatile European game meat market will – and already is – having less of an influence on prices. Marketers are getting closer to consumers and bringing higher year-round prices back to producers, often for cuts that had little value until recently. Venison short-ribs cooked in sous vide style, marketed by Canterbury’s Merchant of Venison, are proving to be something of a hit on the local market. In the United States, ground venison ‘bricks’ (1-pound packs of mince) are now proving to be very big sellers

Carcass weight

Deer Industry NZ (DINZ ) chief executive Innes Moffat says this is significantly higher than the current schedule, but that isn’t scaring the marketers. “If we carry on with adding value, through getting away from the commodity end of the business, it’s within reach,” he says. In the last 12 months, venison schedule prices have increased from around $5.50 a kilogram in June 2020 and 2021 to around $8 at present. Companies have yet to put a figure on their spring peak schedule contracts, but most are talking about $9-plus. Because of its heavy dependence on the restaurant trade, venison was hit hardest of all meats by the Covid-19 pandemic. Building the recovery in venison prices by encouraging more consumption and demand is DINZ’s top priority, Moffat says. This will mainly be achieved through market and channel diversification. NZ farmed venison is now being found for the first time in supermarket chillers and on-line in the United States, Sweden and China. In New Zealand, after appearing fitfully in supermarkets over many years, it is now a regular presence and according to marketers, selling well. “Previously when we’ve seen a $11 schedule, it’s been on the back of a booming European commodity market, which means it

Mountain River Venison is also enjoying great traction with sales of venison through ‘Force of Nature’, a retail game meat supplier. Marketing manager John Sadler says their retail sales of ground NZ elk-wapiti are outselling venison from red deer, by two to one. Elk tomahawk steaks have been “flying out the door”. In turn, the company has been paying premium prices to elk-wapiti farmers for heavier carcasses than those normally produced for the European market. In China, Alliance Group and Silver Fern Farms have developed a range of products suitable for Chinese cuisine styles. Despite the progress marketers are making in rebuilding venison demand and prices, some deer farmers are reducing their venison herds in favour of increased numbers of velvet stags. This will influence the budgets of DINZ, which is funded by levies on venison and velvet. In the future there will be a closer balance in farmer returns and hence DINZ revenues from venison and velvet. This will be reflected in the activities of the organisation. In the meantime, DINZ is using additional funds from its reserves to back venison marketers as they make good headway in finding new customers who are willing to pay good prices for what many would consider to be New Zealand’s premium red meat.

July 2022

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CANTERBURY FARMING July 2022

Three variants for new Ford Everest The 2022 Everest will be available in three variants for New Zealand: Trend, Sport and new range-topping Platinum.

] Article supplied by Ford New Zealand

The modern interior design and inclusion of the SYNC 4A enabled 12-inch centre screens along with the fully digital instrument cluster will stand Everest apart from the competition. The addition of helpful features like a reach and height adjustable steering wheel and improvements to SYNC will make living with the 2022 Everest a more enjoyable and stress-free experience.

Powertrains Next-Generation Everest will feature two different engines, depending on the model purchased. In a first for the series, the Next-Gen Everest will now feature a 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel engine, pumping out an impressive 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque, perfect for towing. Producing 154kW & 500Nm the tried and

trusted 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel will provide an excellent balance of pulling power and fuel economy. As per the current model, to meet EU Stage 5 emissions regulations, all Next Generation Everest models will continue to require AdBlue.

Drive modes Everest’s e-Shifter will bring a new level of high-tech control to your fingertips with optimised performance for different surfaces, road conditions and vehicle usage.

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The Platinum version will head the new variants of the 2022 Ford Everest.

• Tow / Haul – for use whilst towing or carrying heavy loads. Optimises gear shift timing to maintain best power delivery and engine braking and reduce shift busyness • Slippery – for more confident driving on slippery or uneven surfaces

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• Sand – for use in soft sand and deep snow conditions, optimising power delivery and transmission shifts. • Mud/Ruts – for maximum grip off-road during launch and maintaining vehicle momentum.

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

Pricing system recommendations submitted to Government Given the frustration with environmental legislative changes and the impacts of high inflation, it is understandable that we cannot always see the opportunities in a world hungry for our high-quality protein.

Nicky Hyslop ] by Director Beef + Lamb New Zealand ] To ensure we capture these opportunities, two of my fellow directors, along with other Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) staff, recently visited the UK and Europe to advocate, on behalf of farmers, for strong economic relationships through the implementation of comprehensive and high-quality fair-trade agreements (FTAs). Having visibility in these talks is crucial, and it was serendipitous that they took place as we celebrated 140 years since the first shipment of frozen sheep meat arrived in the UK from Otago. Economically, it was a turning point for our country and, along with the EU, the UK remains an important market for our country. On 8 June, the He Waka Eke Noa (HW-

EN) Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership publicly released its recommendations to the Government on an agricultural emissions pricing system. This is our alternative to agriculture entering the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Based on farmer feedback, all partners agreed to recommend a farm-level levy system that, while not perfect, is significantly better than agriculture entering the ETS. The farm-level levy gives farmers control over their future as it recognises what individual farmers are doing on their farms to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers can calculate their methane and nitrous oxide emissions based on what they are doing on their farm, rather than working off national averages. It is crucial that the prices applied under a farm-level levy system do not compromise farm viability, and B+LNZ is pushing for a cautious approach to be taken around pricing. Understandably, farmers want to know what agricultural emissions pricing could mean for their businesses. While the Government has yet to make a decision on the system and prices, B+LNZ is working on guidance on how to estimate potential costs using existing tools. It is important to understand that B+LNZ worked really hard to ensure the HWEN proposal included the ‘maximum methane price for three years’ recommendation, given our concern for the impact on sheep and beef farms and their communities. Further B+LNZ modelling illustrated potential impacts on a

wide range of farms and the importance of sensible pricing and recognition of carbon sequestration. The Government will now decide if it will accept the HWEN proposal and this won’t be known until the end of the year. Unless the Government decides to put agriculture into the ETS before, agriculture emissions pricing won’t come into effect until 2025, so there is time for us farmers to plan – look at areas where tree planting may be

a good option, consider low methane sheep genetics and focus on increasing animal liveweight gains – all ways to reduce our warming impact and the net HWEN levy. Outside of HWEN, B+LNZ, alongside other primary sector groups, is continuing to advocate for science-based emissions targets and the use of more appropriate metrics such as GWP* for setting emissions targets. There is plenty of work to be done.

CANTERBURY FARMING

July 2022

Hype or hope? ] with Rob Cope-Williams

The carbon credit story

If you are at a loss about how the carbon credits work, where funds such as Salt carbon fund fits in and how the auctions work, you are in the majority. I understand that the Emissions trading scheme was born in 2008, paused under national, and rose again under labour in July 2010 It is subject to international protocols such as the Kyoto one and then superseded by the Paris agreement in 2015. It is easy, to a degree, to understand that the whole deal is aimed at reducing the effects of global warming, but from there the subject seems to become rather grey for many of us. Carbon credits are being described as an alternative asset for someone to add to their asset portfolio. They are traded on the NZX . OK, that is fine for those who live in that sort of world, and they understand how the buying and selling of an asset that you can’t put on the mantelpiece works. What is the Bitcoin thing? Isn’t it a way to lose your money without seeing what it is you are losing? Anyway, without wanting to sound as if I don’t have my finger on the button, let’s take a look at what is happening to our glorious nation. Excellent farm land is going under trees because as part of the carbon credit system, you can be paid to grow trees. Actually, you can be paid by breeding stock and selling them and growing crops and selling them as well, but there are those who don’t seem to grasp that. I understand that overseas investors are welcomed to invest in rural New Zealand as long as they plant trees on the land. Think about that for a moment. They buy good farming land, pay for the trees to be planted and simply rake in the dollars for the carbon credits, which of course they take back to where they live.

Fine perhaps, but there is no demand for those trees to be looked after, so when they are 30 years old, they have stopped growing, have never been pruned so are useless for timber or any sort of processing, and they fall over and rot on the ground giving no return for New Zealand and the land becomes worthless. Who would want a fire risk like that next to their farm? Livestock agents such as Anthony Cox from Rural Livestock confirm that good cattle country is going under trees at the cost of

cow numbers. Sure it will perhaps help beef prices down the line as the shortages kick in, but until then it is simply a reduction in produce we can export. If only the Wellington wombles could see past the end of their collective noses. Remember when the Japanese were in need of more timber, so they promised huge returns in the early 1990s, farmers got subsidies to plant trees and we were all going to make huge profits, until the planting were done and the Japanese dropped the price back again.

Port Chalmers or bust

A five kilometre stretch of cycle lane is under construction from Port Chalmers where I live back toward Dunedin. It will complete the bike route to the city. For about fifty million dollars, twice the original estimate.

] by Solis Norton The City Council imagines a shiny flow of e-bikes whizzing to work in the sunny clean low-emissions air safe from the busy port road traffic. I foresee a few intrepid desperados squinting into a sleety southerly howling up the harbour, in the dark probably. Acrid smoke from their overheating e-steads whipped away in the polar blast. Don’t get me wrong, I love bikes but I’ve used that stretch of road every day for years. Let’s reimagine the utility of that $50m. We’ll compare a bus service and cycle path along this route. Assume two hundred of the fifteen hundred inhabitants of Port use e-bikes to commute. The bikes last seven years and need two batteries in that time. Ignore the two cents of electricity the bikes use over this distance. For contrast we buy a Fuso Rosa

bus, twenty five seater, all the bells and whistles, lifespan conservatively also seven years. Pin the price of diesel to two dollars a litre, three or five bucks being unsustainable long term. Let’s assume the maintenance costs of the two hundred e-bikes and the single bus is the same. Also that the bus’s contribution to road maintenance of SH87 is the same as the council pays for maintaining the section of bike path, it’s probably much less. Our bus does twenty round trips a day and we expect an average of ten people in it each time. This is an excellent service for our two hundred prospective e cyclists. The cost of their tickets is covered by our fifty mil. How long will our bus service run on that money? One thousand one hundred and forty one years. We’ll wear out 160 busses, approximately. What is the expected lifespan of the cycle path? Ignoring the half metre of sea level rise

NIWA predict by 2040, under ‘business as usual’. What does biophysics tell us about this exercise? Investment in infrastructure with no real benefit to productivity wastes precious resources for navigating our new era of increasing energy costs and scarcity. Our actions to this era may not be the same as our actions to reduce emissions. This is very important. E-bikes have much to offer. More so on existing road networks to support essential people and services than as convenience and recreation for doddery old sausages wanting to imagine they’re fit again. The focus today on re-configuring this country’s food systems to mitigate excessive resource consumption and impossible urban life expectations is deeply misguided and needs urgent correction.

‘

What is the Bitcoin thing? Isn’t it a way to lose your money without seeing what it is you are losing?

July 2022

CANTERBURY FARMING

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