Canterbury Farming, October 2022

New Zealand’s organic oat milk uses South Island oats

] by Kent caddick

Otis Oat M!lk has recently launched the first organic oat milk made with 100% organic New Zealand oats to hit supermarket shelves.

Sourced from the heart of oat growing country in the South Island, The Organic One has been made with organic oats grown in Lilybank Station at the top of Lake Tekapo and Avalon Farms in West Otago.

With only three ingredients – oats, water

and salt, Otis’ focus has been on using lighter touch, lighter on land farming principles.

While the ingredients list is simple, this organic innovation has been in development for a number of years while Otis overcame the challenges of growing the country’s first organic oats for milk production.

Otis co-founder Tim Ryan said the organic offering was intended to be part of the initial range.

“We first set out on our product development journey back in 2018 with grand inten-

tions of an organic milk being part of our core range, however those intentions were quickly scuppered as there were a number of constraints” Ryan said.

“We have worked closely with experienced organic oat farmers, Allan Richardson from Avalon Farms and Johnny Wheeler from Lilybank Station in the Mackenzie Country, to put organic oat seed in the ground for our first organic milk.

Oats grown organically in the South Island have been used to produce New Zealand’s first organic oat milk.

Going organic: Lilybank Station manager Johnny Wheeler says farming in such a fragile environment means growing organically is the only way to go.

Alliance Group hits the road

Food and solutions co-operative Alliance Group is encouraging Canterbury farmers to attend its annual roadshow throughout October.

] by Kent caddick

Twenty roadshow meetings will be held across the country, starting in Feilding on 27 September and finishing in Mossburn on 18 October.

Alliance Group chief executive David Surveyor said the co-operative team was looking forward to meeting farmers.

“Nothing beats getting out around the country and meeting people in our rural communities,” Surveyor said.

“The roadshow is a great opportunity for our farmers and anyone interested in supplying the co-operative to hear first-hand from directors and senior managers.

“We have had a difficult year with the global pandemic and weather events among the many challenges for the co-operative, but the team has worked hard to deliver for our farmers.”

The roadshow will include an update on the co-operative’s performance, progress, strategy and plans for the future as well as outlining the challenges, opportunities and market outlook.

canterbury roadshow places and dates:

Omihi: Monday 3 October, 7pm-10pm, Omihi community Hall; Akaroa , tuesday 4 October, 1pm-4pm, Akaroa Golf Club; Darfield: Tuesday 4 October, 7pm-10pm, Darfield Recreation & Community Centre, Fairlie: Monday 10 October, 1pm-4pm, Fairlie Golf Club; Oamaru: Monday 10 October, 7pm-10pm, Brydone Hotel.

For more details visit events.alliance.co.nz

On the road: Alliance Group chief executive David Surveyor says the co-operative team is looking forward to meeting canterbury farmers.

Otis production redesigned to international standards

FROM PAGE 1

“Allan and Johnny really stepped up and helped educate us on ways in which we could viably grow light touch oat crops, that still yielded well and produced a full nutritious milk,” Ryan said.

Johnny Wheeler, who manages Lilybank Staion, said Lilybank is in a very special part of the world.

“We feel a responsibility to look after it,” he said.

“It’s a very fragile environment and organics is definitely the way to go with that. We use seaweed, bird shit and rain from the Southern Alps and that’s it.

“Oats are very light on the land and the soil and it feels right,” Wheeler said.

Allan Richardson, has been farming for 34 years, 21 years of which have been organic farming.

“It’s hard to farm organically but the end results are so much better,” Richardson said.

“it’s exciting to be a part of history by being part of producing New Zealand’s first organic oat milk.”

Ryan said Otis completely redesigned their oat milk production process so it met international organic standards, to ensure their grain extraction process maintained maximum amounts of beta glucan, the healthy soluble fibre from the grain which in turns helps the body maintain stable cholesterol levels.

“The result is a creamy oat milk with a clean mouth feel.

“We are proud to have achieved this New Zealand first, an oat milk made from nutritious organic oats, grown in step with nature and in some of the most picturesque farmland New Zealand has to offer.”

Cuppa time: Johnny Wheeler says he was impressed with the taste and quality of the milk made from organically grown oats produced on Lilybank Station which he manages.

At last, The Show is back

After a two year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic the Canterbury A&P Association’s New Zealand Agricultural Show returns this November.

] by Kent caddick

The 2022 Show will be held at Canterbury Ag ricultural Park from November 9 to 11.

This year’s event will have a youth focus aimed at introducing them to the agricultural sector, including extended hours for children to visit the ever-popular farmyard, evening en tertainment and an opening extravaganza.

Also children under the age of 18 can at tend for free with every Adult or Senior tick et purchased including up to three children’s tickets at no charge.

New to the Show this year include the Clash of the Colleges, the South Island Sec ondary School Shearing Championship and a Kids ‘n Country event.

General Manager Tracy Ahern said the new events, run by the New Zealand Rural Games Trust, are a perfect fit – they’re designed for our rural communities and for those interest ed in learning more about rural life.

New Zealand Rural Games Trust founder Steve Hollander said the Show is an iconic South Island event with a long relationship with rural sports like gumboot throwing, tim ber sports and more.

“We’re excited to bring some of the Ru ral Games offering to Canterbury,” Holland er said.

He said the Clash of the Colleges was de veloped to increase the skill level of the next generation.

With junior and senior competitions, teams of four compete at 15 modules from identifying animal anatomy, condition scoring of sheep, wool classing, identifying seeds &

weeds, applying drench, tying knots, safety, aspects of fencing, putting together a shear ing hand-piece and more.

“The Clash also has a rural sports focus, with modules that include gumboot throwing, egg throw and catch, sulky races and more.”

This year, the New Zealand Agricultur al Show will host the inaugural South Island Secondary School Shearing Championships to complement the existing North Island championship held at the New Zealand Rural Games every March.

“We aim to create a national competition and encourage more rangatahi into shear ing,” Hollander said.

Meanwhile Kids ‘n Country features a host of fun events to keep under 12s active and entertained, including hay bale racing, sack racing, cow pat throwing, kidz kartz, pedal tractor racing, face painting and more.

The Show General Manager Tracy Ah ern said with over 2400 competitions being judged across a wide range of disciplines in cluding art, equestrian, sheep shearing, farm skills, baking, horticulture, flower arranging and more, there is something to capture the imagination of all the family.

“With everyone competing for the chance to scoop a prestigious ribbon and an enor mous amount of pride, The Show offers the public a chance to view people who are truly at the top of the game in their field.

“As you’ll know, the past two years have been extremely difficult, I think they’ve helped us to create innovative solutions and new ways of doing things. We’ll carry those over into this year’s show,” Ahern said.

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Showing off: the 2022 New Zealand Agricultural Show will have a focus on introducing the younger generation to the agricultural sector.

One was protecting highly productive land in the low country, while the other extends all the way to the high country where data shows we are winning the battle with wilding pines.

The new National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Land addresses the long known issue of losing our elite soils to urban sprawl.

The policy requires councils to identify, map and manage highly productive land to ensure it’s available for growing vegetables, fruit and other primary production, now and into the future.

It will put in place strong restrictions on the use of highly productive land for new rural lifestyle developments. This is a really important step.

The past 20 years has seen about 35,000 hectares of our highly productive land carved up for urban or rural residential development, while 170,000 hectares of this land has been converted to larger lifestyle blocks. To put that into perspective, Stewart Island is about 175,000 hectares.

Since 2000, New Zealand’s population has grown from 3.8 to 5.0 million and along with that we’ve had pressure on housing, all of which has seen us losing the hinterlands of Christchurch, Hamilton, Auckland and more, to subdivision.

Of course, we still need to house people, but we also need to feed them.

We just need to make sure subdivision and development is happening on the right land – not the best growing land.

I’m very much aware of these pressures in Canterbury and it’s great that this long-standing trend is being addressed.

Across the country it means fruit and vegetables will be grown close to where they’re consumed domestically, and the exporting capacity of our growing horticulture sector can be preserved. In case you didn’t know, this year horticulture provided $6.8 billion of export revenue for New Zealand.

On the topic of tackling wilding pines, I recently spoke at the 2022 Wilding Conifers Conference in Blenheim.

At the previous conference in 2020, I announced that we were going to front-foot the control of wilding pines in a big way – dedicating $100 million to the effort over four years.

With the Covid crisis raging at the time, we saw an opportunity to make this investment through the Jobs For Nature fund. The progress in two years is inspiring.

The National Wilding Conifer Control Programme has treated 1.4 million hectares in two years. The result is 70% of known infestations have now been treated at least once.

Impact: the impact of wilding pine clearance alongside Lake Pukaki. the National Wilding conifer control Programme has treated 1.4 million hectares in two years with 70% of known infestations being treated at least once.

For those who don’t know the significance of this work, wilding pines are a major economic and biodiversity threat. It was shown that if we did nothing to control them it would cost the economy $5.3 billion over 50 years. And of course, the problem compounds as more trees drop seed.

Wildings consume farmland, but also threaten other parts of the economy such as hydro-power.

Depending on their density, these weeds can reduce the annual flow of catchments by up to 40 percent – depleting water levels in one of the jewels of our sustainable future: renewable hydroelectricity.

A 2018 Cost Benefit Analysis report showed that if the Programme focussed control efforts on 1.8 million hectares of the most vulnerable landscapes, this could pro-

tect 7.25M hectares from further infestation.

Armed with that information we got on the job and I’m very pleased to report that the Programme is on track to exceed this target. The remaining $35 million will be spent over the years three and four.

The Programme, and many others under their own steam, are doing an excellent job, and we need to keep working together to maintain all the ground we have gained so far – the battle against this urgent weed threat is far from won.

I thank all involved in the collective battle on wilding pines.

I hope the spring is going well for you, with calving and lambing nearing their end. May the coming season be a profitable one for you and see us steadily lifting our sustainability.

Protecting the low country through to the high country Government made two forward looking announcements last month that are focussed on our long-term economic security.

Clarence River focus of new book

When Canterbury author Tim Fulton started out in journalism, an old family friend, the late Jim Rossiter, told him about his ‘last sheep muster’ at Molesworth in the late 1930s, just as the government was about to take back control of the famous station.

] by Kent caddick

He kept a picture of Jim and his mates out in this wild country and always wondered what Jim had endured out there. Now, after nearly three years of research, Fulton finally understands.

In his book ‘The Clarence: People and Places of Waiau Toa’, Fulton shares the near misses, unlikely accomplishments and cases of ‘making do’ in these wild places, finding people who’ve never lost their wonder at being lucky enough to live and work in such a spellbinding part of New Zealand.

Told in four parts over 250 pages and studded with historic and contemporary images, Fulton shares tales from alpine mountains beyond Molesworth and all the way to the Pacific.

He explores the centuries-old history and culture of Maori settlement along the river and inland, including a look into an innovative, long-lost kumara growing area near the river mouth and former pa sites.

Fulton also touches on the tension between private and public land management in the New Zealand high country. Debate over the use and control of public spaces is an underlying thread of the book, just as you’d expect in a story about an area as treasured as the Clarence.

Tim Fulton grew up on a sheep and crop farm at Swannanoa, near Christchurch and has met many New Zealand farmers during his 20 years as a journalist.

His writing career, which includes writing for Canterbury Farming, has spanned the transformation of many former dryland sheep, beef, and arable farms to dairying and he is passionate about sharing rural New Zealanders’ stories.

“Personally, it’s hugely satisfying to have re-counted memories of so many people born and raised in the Clarence, and those who have come to love it,” Fulton said.

“I know from writing my own family memoir,

‘Straight off the Tussock’, what a relief it is to see these stories in print for others to share.”

Fulton’s other book ‘Kiwi Farmers Guide’ was also published by Bateman Books in 2021.

‘The Clarence – People and Places of Waiau Toa’ tells a contemporary story of rural NZ life, while honouring long-held traditions accompanied by breath-taking photography.

The Clarence: Mustering along the clarence river, a photo from ‘the clarence – People and Places of Waiau toa’, a new book by canterbury rural journalist Tim Fulton.

Tale teller: Canterbury author Tim Fulton has released a new book which looks at the rural life along the clarence river in North canterbury.

The cost of another epic fail

] with barbara Kuriger

] National Party Spokesperson

] for Agriculture

Time and time again over the past five years, they’ve made regulation announcements and set implementation deadlines but failed to put into place any practical process or reasoning behind them.

A classic example is the fiasco by David Parker and his Ministry for the Environment, to create workable regulations for intensive winter grazing (IWG) on sloping farmland, along with the process to implement them.

The intent of IWG regulations is to protect freshwater resources, the welfare of our animals and our exporting credentials.

Much has been learned, particularly since the time of the many dairy farm conversions, about doing this well. Most farmers now practice effective ways of reducing sediment runoff on their properties, but this can be more difficult in very wet weather.

The rules apply across New Zealand but are most applicable in Southland, Otago and Canterbury due to the intensity of winter grazing in those regions.

Created in conjunction with Damien O’Connor and his Ministry for Primary Industries, the IWG regulations were introduced inside the National Environment Standards for Freshwater 2020, as part of Essential Freshwater reforms.

But after a period of consultation, the un-

workability of what was presented quickly became apparent, forcing Minister Parker to delay their implementation for a year, in order to find a more workable solution.

Both the Ministers, and their ministries, had put the cart before the horse.

During the delay, the Government went into a consultation period with farmers, industry, iwi and hapu representatives, environmental groups and regional councils, in an effort to get them into a practical state.

Creating workable regulations for any industry is critical. They must be fit for purpose and able to be applied through a good process.

So just why Labour insists on introducing regulations first, without talking to those affected and how they would work from the ground up, beggars belief.

In April, amendments to the IWG regulations were finally introduced. While the debate about their substance continues, they’re a marked improvement on the first version.

Under the regulations, farmers must have a certified freshwater farm plan (FWFP) for winter grazing on sloping land. If they don’t, they must obtain a regional council resource consent.

But therein lies the problem.

Two years after the regulations were first released, the environment ministry still hasn’t completed the framework, so farmers can certify their plans.

Officials have indicated they won’t be ready this year, yet the regulations are due to come into force in November.

Many thousands of farmers who need to plan next winter’s forage crops now, will have no alternative but to apply for a resource consent.

Forcing them to apply for resource consents at such short notice is unlikely to achieve any extra environmental gain.

Officials say as many as 10,000 resource consents will be required, but industry estimates are higher. Each application is expected to cost up to $10,000.

That’s a $100 million cost if Minister Parker doesn’t rectify the situation in time.

Moreover, regional councils wouldn’t cope with receiving 10,000 plus applications. Consenting teams will inevitably be swamped,

meaning the process will become a box –ticking exercise.

Farmers are already facing NZ’s highest inflation rate in more than 30 years and sharply rising interest rates.

Adding a $100 million cost to NZ’s most productive sector, because Minister Parker and his officials are ill-prepared to successfully implement a policy, is an epic fail.

‘Putting the cart before the horse’ could have been written especially for this Labour Government.

‘A classic example is the fiasco to create workable regulations for intensive winter grazing (IWG) on sloping farmland.

Too many famers still stuck in connectivity slow lane

Coverage, reliability and speed of mobile and internet services for many farming families and businesses are treading water, if not going backwards.

] by Kent caddick

That’s according to the 2022 Federated Farmers Rural Connectivity Survey.

More than half of the nearly 1,200 farmers who responded to the survey report internet download speeds at or less than what could be considered a bare minimum (20 megabytes per second/Mbps) and those who said their mobile phone service had declined in the last 12 months jumped from 20% to 32%.

“For a sector that underpins the lion’s share of New Zealand’s export earnings, and one where productivity gains and reporting requirements are increasingly aligned with used of technology, apps and devices, this is really concerning,” Federated Farmers national board member and telecommunications spokesperson Richard McIntyre said.

“It’s a given that it’s easier and more profitable to deliver high standards of mobile and broadband to urban areas. But rural families and farm businesses, who due to remoteness and road travel times can really benefit from strong on-line connectivity access, must not be left behind.”

The survey showed a continuing trend of farmers moving to wireless broadband (now 52%) and, despite the expense, satellite services (19%) as old copper lines fail to deliver on speed and reliability.

“But we saw a greater number of farmers

remark that the quality and reliability of their internet connections had deteriorated as local network infrastructure had become oversubscribed, either by increased numbers of users or increased demand by those users,” McIntyre said.

He said a similar issue is happening with mobile phone services.

“When a third of rural users are saying mobile connectivity has declined in the last year, it points to severe reliability issues.”

Nearly 69% of respondents reported problems with calls dropping out, an inability to make and receive calls or send and receive text messages even when they have two signal bars on their cellphone.

For many, the decline in mobile services meant they were no longer able to rely on mobile broadband as a back-up for those times where their internet connection to the farm is disrupted. For others, it appears nearby mobile towers have become incapable of handing voice calls and mobile data as they have become overburdened by more people making greater use of the same towers.

“This is an issue Federated Farmers raised with government following our 2020 and 2019 surveys and we acknowledge that of $60 million earmarked for rural telecommunications in this year’s Budget, some $45m is dedicated to upgrading or adding towers,” McIntyre said.

“This work can’t happen too soon.”

No signal: The 2022 Federated Farmers Rural Connectivity Survey shows a growing number of rural cell phone users have experienced a decline in service.

A: The government released the NPS-HPL with aim to ensuring relevant farmland is protected from urban development and can be used for farming, growing vegetables, fruit and other produce.

The NPS-HPL will be transitioned into the two Acts replacing the Resource Management Act – the Spatial Planning Act (SPA) and the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA). Under the policy, councils will now need to identify, map and manage productive land to protect it from inappropriate use and development.

If you are planning on subdividing some or all of your land, you will need to consider whether your land is now classified as Highly Productive Land. If it is, the NPS-HPL directs district councils to avoid the subdivision of this land and it is less likely you will be able to subdivide your land.

Q: What is classified as Highly Productive Land?

A: Generally, most land that is zoned either general rural or rural productive, and has a Land Use Capability classification of 1 to 3, will be Highly Productive Land.

The Land Use Capability classifications are based off the land’s ability to sustain

primary production purposes.

There are some exceptions for land being Highly Productive Land, including land that is already identified for future urban development or does not form a large and geographically cohesive area.

Q: I employ some migrant workers on my farm – what do the recent changes to work visas mean for my business?

A: A new work visa was introduced by Immigration New Zealand on 4 July 2022. Employers wishing to hire migrants under this scheme must be accredited and pass a job check before the visa can be applied for.

Employers have been able to apply for accreditation since 23 May 2022 and for a job check since 20 June 2022.

To become accredited, employers will need to prove that they are a genuinely operating business, are compliant with employment, immigration and business regulatory standards, and provide migrant workers with settlement support information.

Immigration New Zealand has said that these changes have been introduced to seek to standardise the visa process and protect workers from migrant exploitation.

However, there are several complexities with the new process, and it will likely increase the administration, time and cost involved in hiring migrant workers. If you’re not familiar with the process, do get some advice.

Q: My husband and I are updating our will. Should we consider an enduring power of attorney?

A: Life is full of ups and downs, and we never know what’s around the corner, so it’s good to be prepared. Having an enduring power of attorney (EPA) means you can name a person to act on your behalf or make decisions for you should you be unable to do so.

You can have a property EPA, that takes responsibility for everything you own, from homes to bank accounts and investments; and a personal care and welfare EPA, that will be concerned with your health and wellbeing.

We recommend deciding on an EPA as part of the process of updating your will. This gives you peace on mind that a person of

your choice will ensure your best interests are cared for should you become sick or incapacitated.

If you are unable to make decisions for yourself, and have not signed an EPA, then an order from the Family Court would need to be sought, which can be a stressful and expensive process for all involved.

It’s also a timely reminder that an out-of-date will may indeed result in family tension. In the absence of a will – and therefore an executor appointed by you – someone will have to apply to the High Court to appoint an administrator to deal with your property.

This can be a costly and an impersonal undertaking, but perhaps more importantly, what happens to your estate is dictated by the provisions in the Administration Act.

It may well be that your estate is divided between your partner and children but in some circumstances other family members may have a legitimate claim.

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.

Indigenous biodiversity

The New Zealand Government has released a draft National Policy on Indigenous Biodiversity (NPIB) with the intention of creating a ‘handbook’ for local district councils on how to best protect indigenous biodiversity (IB) in each region.

] with Mia Hofsteede

] Helmore Stewart Lawyers

IB means all plants, microorganisms and animals that exist naturally within New Zealand that have evolved or arrived without any human assistance. IB also includes migratory species visiting New Zealand.

Up until now, the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) required the identification and protection of Significant Natural Areas (SNA) regardless of whether the SNA was located on private or public land.

The definition of an SNA under the RMA is grey and provides little clarity on what “protection” means.

As a result, the identification and protection of these areas was left at each Council’s discretion with many different approaches being adopted. The NPIB intends to standardise the policies that apply to IB and SNAs.

SNAs are areas recorded throughout New Zealand that contain rare or threatened IB. With habitat loss being the main threat to IB, the SNA intends to conserve the areas that are left.

The effect of the NPIB and SNA for landowners

Activity: It appears that existing practices which are located near an SNA will generally be able to continue, including grazing, tourism and honey production (NPIB provision 3.15).

However, intensification or a change of activity will likely require a resource consent accompanied by a report documenting the effects to the nearby SNA.

Provision 3.12 of the NPIB notes that local authorities must prioritise SNAs or areas where: the ecological integrity is degraded, there are threatened and rare ecosystems, there is important connectivity or buffering functions and wetlands that have degraded or no longer retain indigenous vegetation or habitat for indigenous fauna.

Provision 3.22 requires local authorities to set targets of at least 10% indigenous vegetation cover for any urban or non-urban environments. With this target imposed on regional authorities, it is possible that tree felling or bush clearing activities that are

harmful to an SNA may be stopped and the increase of indigenous vegetation cover encouraged.

Grazing / Pest Management: Although restricted stock grazing and pest management is not a direct requirement of the NPIB, if SNA livestock grazing and pest management is incorporated into the regional management plan a Council may be able to restrict livestock grazing, enforce fencing and weed and pest control as conditions of a resource consent.

Such amendments to regional management plans do not apply retrospectively, and if a current use was permitted at the time it began, the NPIB provides that this use could continue.

Implementation

The timeframe for the introduction of the NPIB is as follows:

• Phase one: gazettal (proposed to occur in late 2022).

• Phase two: the release of detailed guidance on identification and funding to local Councils (year one).

• Phase three: SNA provisions which include identifying and mapping SNA (within initial five years).

• Phase four: ongoing implementation including the preparation of Plans and Policy Statements (within initial eight years).

What steps should landowners be taking?

Landowners should consider the financial impact of a possible reduction to effective areas (due to the SNA and possible buffer) on a business plan and ongoing weed and pest management costs.

Although there are indications that landowners with an SNA located on their property may have opportunity for funding and support with respect to fencing, weeds and pest management from their local Council, it is likely that the long term management costs will exceed any Council allowance.

It is recommended that landowners liaise with a consultant as to the potential requirements of each SNA to enable business projections to reflect SNA management requirements and the associated costs.

It is also recommended that landowners who prepare and submit Farm Environment Plans (“FEPs”) for audit should ensure that all existing uses are inputted into current FEPs.

The inclusion of business activities within FEPs will likely demonstrate to the Council that the activities currently being undertaken on the land are pre-existing, ongoing and necessary for the farming operation.

Landowners who intend to undertake a change of activity (particularly within the primary sector) on areas that are located within or near an SNA should carefully consider whether the proposed activity does or has the potential to damage or destroy the integrity of the SNA.

If so, obtaining a resource consent for the change in land use (e.g. cropping to dairy) is likely to become a lot harder to obtain and it may be possible that the conditions described above and SNA “buffer” zones are imposed.

It is our strong recommendation that landowners with an SNA located on their property who have any questions or concerns seek the advice of a suitably qualified consultant.

‘It is our strong recommendation that landowners with a Significant Natural Area (SNA) located on their property seek the advice of a suitably qualified consultant.

End in sight for farm dwellings GST saga

Describing the confusion and uncertainty over GST provisions on farm dwellings dating back to the mid-1990s as ‘a disappointing saga all of the IRD’s own making’, Findex Invercargill Tax Advisory Partner Craig Macalister says proposed updates to the GST Act represent a good potential ‘ladder out of the hole’, but only if those changes make it into law.

] Article supplied by Findex Macalister says historically, farmhouses and farmlands were seen by IRD as everyone else sees them: as one part of the larger whole of ‘the farm’.

“Once, there was equal treatment of the component parts under prevailing GST laws, in terms of which you could claim GST on the purchase of the land and the value of the house on the land too,” he said.

That changed in the mid-1990s, when in a landmark case heard by the Court of Appeal, the IRD attempted to prevent such a claim.

“The Court found the IRD had no grounds to do so. This prompted a change to the GST Act separating the farmhouse from the farmland, notwithstanding the fundamental interconnectedness of these two items.”

This law change came into effect by 1996, with GST treatment of the sale and purchase of farms and the farmhouse apparently settled, until 2020, when Macalister says the IRD muddied the waters. “Farmhouses are unsurprisingly quite often used for conducting farm business. In such cases, the IRD decided that the homestead once again becomes fully subject to GST, despite no change in the prevailing law.”

In support of this revised position, the IRD issued an interpretation statement (IS 20/05) stating that indeed, should a farmer use the homestead for farming purposes, the homestead once again forms a component of

the GST calculations on sale.

“This was somewhat offset by the IRD advising farmers required to pay GST on their farmhouse that they could claim a tax credit for the cost of the house and the immediate land on which it rests. But as a complication to the system, this wasn’t without its problems,” Macalister says.

“For example, if the farmhouse was passed down through the generations or purchased many years ago, the farmer would be at a disadvantage because the GST they might be able to claim could amount to nothing.”

It’s a saga, Macalister points out, precisely because, over the course of several decades, the GST treatment of the farmhouse has gone full circle.

“We went from having the farmhouse in the GST rules, to having it outside the GST rules in 1996 to now having it back in again.”

And it isn’t over yet. Recent developments have seen a ‘legislative patch’ passed in March this year increasing the adjustment for private use on sale of a farmhouse, which Macalister says is an attempt to lower the GST cost, while a May 2022 Official’s Issues Paper suggests a law change may be forthcoming.

“A recently introduced Tax Bill proposes that farm homesteads will now become GST exempt. This will apply to all goods that were not acquired for the principal purpose of mak-

ing taxable supplies, so it is wider than just farmhouses, and the change will be backdated to 1 April 2011.

“This was an issue all of IRD’s own making. While the change in the most recent Tax Bill may alleviate the issue when enacted, this should not have happened at all. More than that, it should not have taken two years to get a proper fix into a Tax Bill.”

Changes: Findex Tax Advisory Partner craig Macalister says proposed updates to the GSt Act represent a good potential ‘ladder out of the hole’, but only if those changes make it into law.

Craig Macalister Partner, Findex Tax Advisory

Young horticulturalists on the rise

Reports that I have been getting is that children from the age of three and above have suddenly taken an interest in growing things, watch as their plants sprout and marvel at the way they grow.

Just as importantly, the children learn to look after said plants.

It is a chance that many youngsters simply do not get.

My two grandchildren live in Sydney, where they have artificial grass to play on and no real garden. They do, however spend a lot of time in local parks.

However, while I was staying with them recently, I organised a sprouting stack, the ones used for growing sprouts for salads, plus a range of pots for herbs to grow in.

They are aged three and five, and they are so into looking after their wee gardens it is heart-warming.

Farming children do not even think of the wonders of nature, they live in a paradise of nature, crops, animals, and the cycles of life, but for city children, they simply do not have that sort of access.

Living as I do in a home without lawns and

very little garden, I use pots to grow my own produce. Everything from miniature fruit trees through to lettuce and herbs but that is me, not the normal.

Most children in the cities have no idea about the satisfaction of picking strawberries fresh off the plant and eating it while it is still warm from the sun that ripened it, or the joy of watching a tomato plant starting to flower, and then as though through magic, fresh tomatoes appear and ripen with more taste than they have ever thought possible.

Thanks to New World, these things are likely to become reality for some of them.

Hopefully the passion of their little minds will hold the thoughts and as they grow up, the pleasure of nature will stay with them.

Have you ever noticed that people who have contact with plants and animals daily seem to be less stressed than others, and have you heard the saying that nature heals the ills of mankind?

I am still in awe of what nature does and how she does it all. I feel very privileged to have been exposed to such wonder.

‘

It’s a saga. Over the course of several decades, the GSt treatment of the farmhouse has gone full circle.

The good and bad news of bear markets

In June this year, the bear market became official, as defined by a 20% decline in stock prices. Markets have remained volatile since and ended the quarter modestly above the June lows.

There is good news and bad news about bear markets. The bad news is they are not abnormal.

For investors who’ve only been in the market over the last decade or so that might not seem the case. Outside of the Covid crash in 2020, investors have had an unusually smooth run. But looking back through history, a bear market, typically defined by a 20% decline in stock prices, happens on average once every five or six years.

Since 1950 there have been 11 bear markets. All are different, in cause, depth, length, and recovery.

The past three have been among the more dramatic. The Covid crash was the fastest bear market in history. The Global Financial Crisis was the deepest downturn since the Great Depression. And the Dot.com crash was one of the longest and largest downturns on record.

Over the long-term markets are more bull than bear. The good news is, firstly, markets are almost guaranteed to recover.

On average, since 1950, it has taken two years and three months for a market to reclaim the losses incurred during a bear market.

The longest recovery period was just over four years following the Global Financial Crisis. Also, share markets typically perform very strongly on the other side of a bear market.

A further piece of good news is that bull markets considerably outweigh bear markets, both in time and returns.

Since 1950, while the average bear market has lasted 15 months, the average bull market has lasted three years and ten months. And, despite those semi-frequent sharp pullbacks, the market has delivered an average annual return of 8.8% pa.

While bear markets feel painful at the time, when you look at long-term returns, they look like blips in the positive long-term trend. Long-term investors are better to be positioned for bull markets than hide from the bears.

What can investors do?

The best advice is not to panic and to stick to your investment plan.

That is what it is there for, to keep emotions at bay and help navigate choppy periods in markets in order to successfully meet long-term goals.

It’s important to remember investors benefit from owning good businesses which grow their underlying value over the long-term.

Today’s good businesses have not only endured previous bear markets but have flourished on the other side.

this article was prepared as at 31 August 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. Forsyth

When you are thinking about your investment options, talk to Forsyth Barr 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

‘A market downturn doesn’t bother us. It is an opportunity to increase our ownership of great companies with great management at good prices.

Warren Buffett

Fonterra and Rural Support Trust join forces

Fonterra and the Rural Support Trust (RST) have announced a three-year partnership to support rural New Zealanders by improving access to wellbeing and resilience services for farming families who are doing it tough.

] Article supplied by Fonterra

Earning a living from the land comes with a unique set of challenges and research shows that a significant proportion of New Zealand farmers neglect their own wellbeing.

The first priority for the partnership is to develop a rural specific national strategy, which is expected to be in place early next year.

Richard Allen, Group Director of Fonterra’s Farm Source, said for generations the RST has been standing by rural communities and have a long history of showing up and helping when times are tough.

“Fonterra has worked successfully with the RST for some time but more action is needed and this new partnership will help strengthen our wellbeing support throughout the country,” Allen said.

“Developing a national, long-term strategy with clear objectives and actions that address mental health and other rural challenges is simply the right thing to do.

“Farming is an animal and produce busi-

ness, but it’s also very much a human business. It’s right to show up for communities during events and emergencies, but the partnership also recognises an ongoing need for support of, and commitment to, New Zealand communities.”

Farming is right up there when it comes to the most rewarding jobs in the world, but it can also be one of the most stressful and demanding. According to 2020 research from DairyNZ, 62% of dairy farmers said they or someone on their farm experienced mental health issues in the previous 12 months.

Chair of the National Council of RSTs, Neil Bateup, said Kiwi farmers and growers run pretty special businesses, but they’re businesses that are vulnerable to a bunch of significant external factors – many of which are out of their control.

“A good example is the extreme weather and flooding experienced across parts of New Zealand recently. Farmers are also feeling increasing pressures due to things like rising on-farm costs, the labour pinch and in-

Joint Problems: Dealing with the causes of Osteoarthritis

creasing compliance obligations.

“We’ve come a long way in the last decade or so, in that there’s more recognition

Support: Group Director of Fonterra’s Farm Source richard Allen is looking forward to working with the rural Support trust to improve wellbeing support for rural families.

that mind health is just as important as physical wellbeing, but we know there’s still a lot of work to do in this area,” Bateup said.

When we first spoke, he needed strong pain relief just to walk for exercise. We agreed that pain medication use would be a good measure of his progress. After six months he said the pain had completely gone and no longer needed pain medication. Now a year later he is still pain free.

Any successful programme to improve joints affected by OA should address the underlying disease process. OA is a disease that is characterised by cartilage loss due to both mechanical and biochemical processes. The major process is the loss of cartilage caused by progressive damage to specialised cells called chondrocytes. These cells live in the matrix of cartilage and a responsible for maintaining and repairing cartilage by secreting new cartilage where required.

However, these cells are vulnerable to destructive processes brought about by trauma, such as sports injury or a disease process called oxidative damage. This just means that cells and cell structures have been damaged by free radicals.

The main source of discomfort in OA is inflammation in the joint capsule resulting in pain, swelling and in some cases heat and redness. While bone on bone can only be repaired by surgery, the discomfort from inflammation and cartilage loss can respond very well to nutritional therapy.

While curcumin (from turmeric) can help with inflammation, the most important joint support compound is high grade chondroitin sulphate. Research suggests at least 800mg daily. I like to start most on an intensive programme delivering 1600mg of both chondroitin and glucosamine and 400mg of a high potency curcumin extract. This combined with therapeutic doses of Omega 3 fish oil can make a real difference.

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 newsletter at www. abundant.co.nz.

I recently spoke with a client I have been helping with painful knee Osteoarthritis (OA) for nearly two years.

Health help for those in rural areas

One in four New Zealanders live in rural areas or small towns, and there is a greater percentage of children, older people, and Maori living in these areas.

] Supplied by Ministry of Health

Publicly funded health services are provided through district health boards (DHBs), primary health organisations (PHOs), and through many rural hospitals throughout New Zealand.

Some of the many services available to New Zealanders living rurally are outlined below.

Mobile services

• Mobile breast-screening services are provided throughout New Zealand, helping women to get screened and detect cancers early.

• Mobile oral health clinics provide primary oral health services and support centralised oral health services in many districts throughout New Zealand.

• Mobile surgical services provide elective day surgeries to many rural communities throughout New Zealand.

• Psychiatric outreach services and community psychiatric nurses are available in many districts, with Crisis Assessment and Treatment (CAT) teams available throughout the country.

• The National Travel Assistance scheme provides financial help towards the expenses of people travelling long distances to get specialist care.

In-home services

• Well Child services provide free parenting advice and help families to monitor the development of their children.

• Primary maternity services are delivered in the community, supporting women and their families with pregnancy and childbirth.

Telephone helplines and online support

• Healthline (0800 611 116) is a free service staffed by registered nurses, providing health advice for all New Zealand families, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Kidshealth provides Plain English advice and information for children and teenagers, along with a wide range of resources to assist both children and parents.

• Let’s talk teeth (0800 825 583) is a free service for 0-18 year-olds that provides basic oral health information and referrals to dental practitioners in their area.

• PlunketLine (0800 933 922) provides free advice on parenting issues and child health and wellbeing to all families, whanau and caregivers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Quitline (0800 778 778) offers free support, resources and low cost nicotine patches, gum and lozenges to New Zealand residents to help them quit smoking. The Quitline website provides similar information and resources. The website provides similar information and resources.

• Alcohol Drug Helpline (0800 787 787) provides free and confidential support for any person concerned about their own or another person’s alcohol or drug use.

The Alcohol Drug Association NZ websites (ADANZ and the Addictions Treatment Directory) provide information and a directory of support groups.

Where else 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 (8am-12am), 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)

Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm

Many

Red meat exports reach $1.1 billion

New Zealand’s red meat sector achieved sales of $1.1 billion during July, a 26 per cent increase on July 2021, according to a recent analysis by the Meat Industry Association.

] by Kent caddick

China remained the standout market with red meat exports worth $460 million, up 42% on last July.

Other major markets were Japan at $58 million, up 36%, the Netherlands at $38 million, up 132%, and the UK at $38 million, up 97%. However, exports to the US dropped by 22% to $191 million.

Meat Industry Association (MIA) chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says strong red meat prices in global markets were continuing to help absorb the impact of continued market volatility and higher costs.

Overall, beef exports fell nine per cent year on year to 44,744 tonnes but were still high for this time of the year as July 2021 was a record month.

Beef export volumes to the US dropped 50% to 9,092 tonnes, in the face of high levels of US beef production resulting from ongoing drought and higher feed and other input costs.

The value of beef exports for the month saw an increase of 17% from last July to reach $485 million.

The value of beef exports to China increased by 66% to $251 million, although the value of beef exports to the US dropped by 39% to $95 million.

Chinese demand for beef continued to be strong, with the volume of exports up 20% from last July to 23,690 tonnes.

Beef export volumes and values also increased to Japan, with 3,241 tonnes, up 37%, worth $36 million, and to Korea up 21% to 2,223 tonnes, worth $21 million.

Meanwhile, sheepmeat exports also saw an increase. A total of 33,533 tonnes of

sheepmeat was exported, a 33% increase on last July and the largest volume for the month since 2008.

Karapeeva said the high sheepmeat export volumes were likely due to a catch up in processing in recent months, flowing through into exports.

In the first quarter of the year, there were 1.4 million fewer sheep processed than in the first three months of 2021 but the second quarter saw 738,000 more sheep processed than in the second quarter of last year.

The overall increase in export volume meant there was an increase in sheepmeat volume to most major markets. China was up 24% to 17,874 tonnes, the UK by 98% to 2,703 tonnes, and the Netherlands by 118% per cent to 1,646 tonnes.

“While the volume of sheepmeat exports to the US was down (29%), the value still increased, reaching a record $23.31 per kilo,” Karapeeva said.

“The value of sheepmeat exports increased to all the major markets in July, with a total of $384 million, an increase of 40%.”

Good sign: china was the standout market for New Zealand red meat exporters in July with red meat exports worth $460 million, up 42% on July 2021.

Need a hand getting environmental practices sorted on-farm?

‘While the volume of sheepmeat exports to the US was down, the value still increased.

Sirma Karapeeva Chief Executive, Meat Industry Association (MIA)

New way of applying fertiliser

The problems facing farmers from the current practice of nitrogen fertiliser application and utilising fertigation technology maybe an answer.

] Article supplied by IrrigationNZ

Simply put, fertigation is the application of nitrogen (or any) fertiliser in liquid form, through an irrigation system, which is already in place on many farms.

Fertigation allows irrigators to be used to apply liquid fertiliser or liquid soluble fertiliser in small quantities at the same time as water. In New Zealand, most fertiliser currently used is solid and applied through ground spreading or aerial top dressing.

Internationally, fertigation is increasingly being adopted as good environmental practice. IrrigationNZ has produced a fertigation guide for irrigators which is available online at www.irrigationnz.co.nz

In addition to the guide being available to farmers, Pamu (formerly Landcorp) has been working with IrrigationNZ to trial the use of fertigation in New Zealand to see whether the practice results in less nitrogen leaching, and has other benefits on farms through cost or labour savings.

The trial focuses on reducing Pamu farm’s nitrogen consumption and loss to the environment on irrigated Canterbury dairy farms.

Pamu’s GM of Innovation, Environment

and Technology, Rob Ford, said by injecting soluble fertiliser through the pivot irrigation systems – little and often – they are still maintaining farm profitability, productivity and growth of high feed value pasture.

“This is one of many ways Pamu is using innovation to reduce our environmental footprint. We also rely on strong partnerships with others in the sector to make these strides.”

The trial was supported through a grant from the Sustainable Farming Fund.

Andrew Paterson of Matakanui Station in Otago is one of a growing number of Kiwi farmers who have already adopted the use of fertigation on his sheep and beef farm.

Paterson sees applying fertiliser via pivots as a much more convenient option which allows him to save time through not having to spread fertiliser through trucks and also allows him to use his fertiliser more efficiently.

“With fertigation you’re not putting on large amounts of fertiliser in one hit. You’re putting on smaller doses mixed with a little water, so you’re not losing fertiliser into the ground.

“We’ve had a tremendous response from

New path: Fertigation is the application of nitrogen (or any) fertiliser in liquid form, through an irrigation system, which is already in place on many farms.

the clover and grass. Over spring we had 4,000 hoggets on 130 hectares and they were booming away.”

Paterson said independent testing of waterways on Matakanui Station has also shown that water quality on most areas of the farm and in areas where fertigation is being used is generally good.

T H E S Y S T E M I N C L U D E S :

T h e l a r g e s t s o i l s a m p l e r e f e r e n c e a r e a o n t h e m a r k e t t o d a y ( 6 l t r s o r 3 7 0 c u b i c i n c h e s ) . H i g h l y s e n s i t i v e T D T t e c h n o l o g y t h a t i s h i g h l y a c c u r a t e i n a l l s o i l c o n d i t i o n s M u l t i p l e i n s t a l l a t i o n m e t h o d s t o c a p t u r e t h e r i g h t d a t a U n i q u e l y a d a p t a b l e t o d i f f e r e n t c r o p p i n g , o r c h a r d , v i n e , a n d i r r i g a t i o n s y s t e m s t y p e s T h e l o n g e s t s e r v i n g i n s i t u s e n s o r i n N e w Z e a l a n d ( O u r o l d e s t A q u a f l e x i s 2 0 y r s o l d a n d g o i n g s t r o n g )

‘Applying fertiliser via pivots is a much more convenient option.

Andrew Paterson Matakanui Station

Installation tips and in-season maintenance of an irrigation system

Maintenance checklist during irrigation season

] Article supplied by DairyNZ

A new system is a major investment and should be thoroughly researched. Use a ‘Blue Tick’ accredited operator for installa tion work and advice.

IrrigationNZ has a range of resources to help in the design and installation of a new irrigation system. When designing a new ir rigation system, consider installing a soil moisture monitoring system. This will help with irrigation scheduling and allow you to ir rigate efficiently. IrrigationNZ has information on soil moisture monitoring equipment and how to install it.

When installing a new irrigation system or pump, make sure you get the performance specifications from the supplier which will be a benchmark for future checks and testing.

Failures of pumps and irrigation equip ment during the season can waste a lot of time, restrict pasture growth and create stress.

Regular equipment checks and ongoing maintenance is vital in preventing break downs and reducing the chance of serious damage. Having a weekly or monthly and annual task list for irrigation maintenance, where you can check tasks off easily, en sures maintenance is kept up-to-date.

Below is a summary of some essential maintenance procedures for most irrigation

systems. For more detail specific to your system, contact the service provider. If you install a new pump, ensure the supplier pro vides the specifications and a pump commis sioning report. This will serve as benchmarks for future checks.

At the pump:

• grease pump and motor

• check flow readings, operating pressures and amp readings to compare with initial readings or specifications.

At the irrigator:

• check sprinklers for condition, rotation, blockage, nozzles not hooked up, wear and tear

• check irrigation speed and operating pressure

• check application depth and compare against design specifications

• check hoses and pipes for damage or leaks

• follow maintenance schedule for regular greasing of travelling irrigators

• have a plan to manage travelling irriga tors in high winds. This may include turn ing water off but keeping the irrigator filled with water; parking the irrigator be hind shelter; or in the same direction as the wind to minimise the contact area; tie down rotary booms.

Problems which occur with irrigation can range from minor issues which take time to fix, through to major problems that cost time, money and loss of pasture production (from delayed irrigation) or loss of nutrients (through over watering).

It is important that any problem is fixed quickly and the cause identified to stop it happening again.

Check it: regular equipment checks and ongoing maintenance is vital in preventing breakdowns and reducing the chance of serious damage to your irrigation system.

Where is that perfect irrigator?

Many years ago, Alan Brown from MAF Ashburton commented to me that no one had invented the perfect irrigation system.

cation intensities under some pivots, generally the pivot irrigation industry has adopted good design practices to enable efficient application of water. With pivots, variable rate irrigation or its equivalent is widely used enabling application depths to be controlled at any location in a field. Low energy precision application systems such as drag hoses with associated flow control adaptors are being introduced into NZ, and high-tech nozzles with multiple functions are now being used.

Decades later, there is still no perfect irrigation system, but we have made considerable progress. Improvements have been and will continue to be made with physical components and with electronics.

In my view, the three methods that particularly stand out in terms of the ability to provide the most efficient application of water for field irrigation using current technology are centre-pivots, fixed grid and subsurface drip. They allow precise control of water application and have the added bonus of requiring very little labour to operate.

Centre-pivots, which now cover more irrigated land than any other system in NZ, have enabled water to be applied as and when needed in an efficient manner. While there are still some challenges such as high appli-

Fixed grid or solid-set sprinkler systems have advanced considerably, especially with their ability to apply water when and where needed. While the electronic control of these systems has improved markedly over the last few years, there are still some design challenges to resolve around how best to use this method on hill slopes. However, work is being done to address these issues and they should be resolved.

Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) is a very advanced method of irrigation. Other than cost, the biggest challenge with buried drip tube is preventing emitter blockages and stopping crop roots intruding into the emitters. Once again, recent developments have helped. Now, it is relatively easy to set up systems for automatic filtration and flushing to keep emitters clean. While previously, acids and pre-emergent chemicals were used to control root intrusion, today metals such as copper are being impregnated into the drip tube to provide the protection.

Improved: Fixed grid or solid-set sprinkler systems have advanced considerably, especially with their ability to apply water when and where needed.

Where the irrigation industry is changing most rapidly is in the integration of irrigation equipment with sensors to optimise operation and control. Irrigation control systems now allow for full remote control of pivots and other equipment, such as pumps, fertilizer injectors, pressure sensors, flowmeters, soil moisture sensors and climate stations.

These systems can be operated via the internet on a mobile phone, PC or laptop. The next generation of digitisation has the potential to make irrigation a completely automated process.

As electronic systems and associate software have become more reliable, real-time measurements can be used to determine crop water needs and fully controllable irrigation infrastructure can apply water where and when needed based on those measurements. Even without the automation, real-time soil moisture and crop water use monitoring is already providing considerable value to farmers and growers for making irrigation decisions.

Solar power is starting to have an impact on energy use in the irrigation industry. Solar water pumps have been used for many years.

As PV systems are easily scalable, there is no reason why they can’t play a much greater role in irrigation.

And about the perfect irrigator, maybe we should be thinking of replacing long-line sprinklers with solar powered robot irrigators. After all, people are already using robots to mow their lawns! Believe it or not, prototype robot irrigators already exist.

Time for an irrigation system check

Soil temperatures are starting to rise (now around 9-10 degrees) and potential evapotranspiration rates are starting increase (moving towards 3 mm/ day), and for the first time in months my soil moisture probes at home are dropping below field capacity.

] by Andrew curtis

] Primary Insight

The NIWA climate outlook for spring is for much warmer temperatures with average rainfall. This is due to the strengthening La Niña conditions which bring a north-easterly weather patterns to New Zealand.

Given the outlook and that we’ve just experienced the wettest winter on record, alongside the current labour shortages, irrigation system pre-seasons checks are likely at the back of everyone’s mind this year. However, now is the best time to start-up your irrigation system and check everything’s in place for the season ahead. Making time now will avoid any nasty surprises and getting caught up in the ‘it needs fixing yesterday’ queue if all is not well.

Following these seven simple checks will ensure you are well prepared for the season ahead:

1. Check pressure at the headworks and at each irrigator/block is within 10% of the

Faulty: regulator not working properly.

design pressure – if it is not check for significant leaks and test again, if no leaks are found your pump may need servicing or pressure regulating valves may be faulty

2. For drip-micro systems clean the filter(s) and flush the mainline and each lateral – this is important for drip micro systems along with mid-season flushing due to the small orifice sizes of the drippers/ sprinklers, particularly if you use fertigation

3. Visually check each irrigator/ block for leaks (split hoses, broken sprinklers, or failed regulators) and blocked nozzles – replace as necessary

Fail: corner control system failure.

4. For pivots and laterals unhook droppers from the truss rods and ensure each dropper has a weight – unhooking droppers needs to be performed as and when during the season as they hugely impact the uniformity of application

5. For pivots with corner arms and variable rate irrigation and for each block on a dripmicro system, check the individual solenoid valves are working – replace as necessary

6. Check soil moisture probes are working and that the field capacity and irrigation trigger points are set correctly

7. Upskill yourself in irrigation manage-

ment by coming along to a Primary Insight workshop.

Primary Insight provides a specialist irrigation performance assessment service undertaken by qualified professionals. We can also support you with your soil moisture probe, making sure they are working and showing you how to use them to aid with irrigation decision making.

If you want to know more join us at one of our free irrigation workshops in October, to be held in Ashburton, Cromwell, Culverden, Darfield, Dunsandel, and Pleasant Point. To find out more visit www.primaryinsight.co.nz

Encouraging micro-managers

Often the term ‘micromanagement’ is met with a sigh, or maybe an eye roll. No one wants to be micromanaged in their job or at home, yet in the world of irrigation, there is a place for micromanagement, a good one too.

people with the right training to do the job.

] by Vanessa Winning

] IrrigationNZ CEO

Advancing irrigation technology is allowing farmers and growers to have more control over their equipment, understand what is happening to their plants and animals, and even more importantly below the ground, as more efforts are made to be resourceful with water, and utilise site-specific management tools.

Recently IrrigationNZ introduced a new training program tailored to deliver a multi-platform learning experience, focusing on everything irrigation. The year-long training program has is the Australian Certificate III qualification and is fully compatible with irrigation systems and technology in New Zealand.

The industry supply sector has been asking for a course like this to fill a gap for a recognised qualification. It will help to bring in new people into the industry and qualify them to complete this complex work.

Irrigation is a massive investment for land owners/businesses and they need the right

The Certificate III in Irrigation Technology is considered the starting point or gateway, into the irrigation industry. It entails everything people need to learn to install and maintain irrigation systems in a wide range of professional environments and includes 22 units of competency delivered over four block training modules.

The course will also entail 900 to 2400 hours on job supervision accumulated over two years depending on the level of prior industry knowledge before entering the program. The first ten students have already started the course.

With water and effluent irrigation being hot topics, irrigation managers need more than ever to engage with the best industry professionals. On the other side farmers also need to be well trained in water use efficiency and irrigation management, we offer a wide variety of training opportunities to both farmers and those supplying the sector.

Good water and effluent management also ensure farmers are ahead of what consumers are demanding as well as front footing regulation.

It’s not just a bottle of milk, leg of lamb, or bag of apples anymore – consumers want to know how it came into existence, the provenance story around it, its farming and grow-

Solution: IrrigationNZ says in terms of freshwater quality irrigation users are part of the solution, not the problem.

ing practices, and how much water was used to make that item of food. New Zealand farmers and growers are extraordinarily efficient, and we have a great story to tell.

Regulation typically follows consumer demand so the more the industry can stay ahead of trends the more likely it is to be able to continue with its social license around water use and nutrient management.

This is where supplier certification and accreditation step in. I urge farmers to seek

experts with recognised qualifications and organisations that have been accredited. We need to give confidence to the industry to become leaders and adopt continuous improvement to stay ahead.

As an example New Zealand is seeing a lot of community led water projects on water quality and nutrient control issues. Having a community approach means they set the values of what they want to achieve.

This is important; as every community will have a different set of values they are working towards.

But by setting regulations at a national level you might not have that nuance to achieve the outcomes particular communities want to achieve in their catchments.

One of the initiatives that Irrigation NZ is involved with in conjunction with the water services regulator Taumata Arowai is looking at the new drinking water quality regulations and acceptable treatment solutions.

We are working with the regulator on what this looks like for rural drinking supplies on farms to ensure that people in that group are kept safe and only regulated in an appropriate way to the risks involved which is not necessarily the same way that district councils might be.

In terms of freshwater quality irrigation users are part of the solution, not the problem.

Support for national policy statement for highly productive land

HortNZ say the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land, recently released by the Government, is critical to protecting productive farming land.

] by Kent caddick

HortNZ Chief Executive, Nadine Tunley said the national policy statement will provide protection for the country’s best land and soil so it can be used to produce food.

“Covid has taught us that we can’t take for granted that there’ll always be New Zealand grown vegetables and fruit on our retailers’ shelves,” Tunley said.

“HortNZ has advocated for nearly a decade for government policy that recognises the importance of our best soils, and ensures that they are prioritised for what they are best for - producing healthy vegetables and fruit.

“All along, we have said that with good planning, New Zealand can have fresh vegetables and fruit, and houses.”

Tunley said HortNZ will continue its advocacy to ensure that growers can sustainably and profitably use highly productive land.

“Our fight will go on. It’s no use protecting our best land if growers cannot get access to inputs like freshwater, are bogged down with compliance, and can’t afford fertiliser or to transport their produce.

“At the same time, growers need to know

they have a skilful and reliable workforce available to plant, pick and pack. We also need to ensure that growers can afford to invest in new growing methods, in response to climate change.

“Growers only need ongoing issues in one of these areas for their viability to be compromised, which could mean vegetables and fruit cannot be sustainably grown in New Zealand in the future,” Tunley said.

Minister for Agriculture Damien O’Connor said highly productive land provided food for New Zealanders, significant economic and employment benefits to communities and underpins the value of the country’s primary sector.

“The policy enhances protection for our highly productive land giving farmers, growers, and other food producers certainty into the future, and provide greater economic security for all New Zealanders,” O’Connor said.

“Over the last 20 years, about 35,000 hectares of our highly productive land has been carved up for urban or rural residential development, while 170,000 hectares of this land has been converted to lifestyle blocks.

“Once land is built on, it can no longer be

Certainty: HortNZ chief executive Nadine tunley says a National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land is critical to protecting productive farming land.

used to grow food and fibre. That’s why we are moving to protect our most fertile and versatile land, especially in our main food production areas like Auckland, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Horowhenua and Canterbury.”

New Culverden base for Plains Irrigators

] Article supplied by LindsayNZ

The irrigation company has been a family business for nearly three decades. In that time, Plains Irrigators has helped the region’s farmers grow, using the best technology available to make their businesses more efficient and sustainable.

Brodie Stephens and his brother Dan have been working together in the family business with a combined experience of more than 25 years. They have seen many changes in the industry over that time, the most significant being in the past five years.

“There have been big changes in reporting and regulatory requirements, which means running efficient and sustainable farm businesses has never been more important,” says Brodie.

“While the Canterbury region has probably reached ‘the peak of pivot installations’, we need to make sure irrigation systems are maintained and equipped with the right technology. It’s about boosting productivity and helping farmers make the best decisions about water allocation, while also providing them with data to demonstrate they are meeting all their environmental requirements.”

Brodie says developments like Zimmatic™ Precision VRI (Variable Rate Irrigation)

and FieldNET give farmers confidence their systems are using water in the most efficient way and make sure they have the proof to back that up.

“Irrigation technology has become a critical part of farmers’ operations, not just a nice to have.”

Plains Irrigators Ltd. recently upgraded 48 pivots on a large commercial operation to Precision VRI and FieldNET technology, to ensure they were meeting all the criteria of the farm’s environmental plan, while also adding substantial benefit to the farming operation.

“It was a two-year project for us, it has provided the farm owners with confidence that they are doing things the right way. It has also given them valuable data to help them make better decisions and report back to regulatory bodies, such as the regional council,” says Brodie.

The system accounts for weather events, irrigation events and the placement of irrigation/effluent to provide a full picture of compliance.

However, Brodie says the size of the operation is irrelevant. The benefits will apply to any farm, adding value on all levels.

“There are some pivots more than 25 years old. The technology and general irri-

gation knowledge have both come such a long way since then. We excel at conducting a full analysis to see what is needed to improve a farmer’s irrigation system so they can realise its true value.”

Brodie says selling a new pivot is only part of Plains Irrigators’ business. The key is helping farmers manage their irrigation over a lifetime.

“It’s all about the big picture and working with farmers to maximise the return on their investment. We have a real focus on the service, maintenance, and upgrade side of the business and that will only continue to grow,” says Brodie.

To support that growth, business founders Liz Stephens and Graeme Cooper are implementing a succession plan which will see Brodie and his brother Dan take over the reins. Opening a new base in Culverden is all part of the plan.

brodie Stephens of Plains Irrigators says irrigation technology has become a critical part of farmers’ operations, not just a nice to have.

“We already have bases in Ashburton, Timaru, and Cromwell and employ 35 staff. I’ve been in Ashburton since 2015 learning the ropes but I am excited to be moving back to my hometown to open our new Culverden base.”

While servicing the needs of Plains Irrigators’ customers, Brodie is proud of the contribution the company makes to the Canterbury region and across the South Island.

It sponsors numerous community groups and sports teams, including the Westpac rescue helicopter and the Police Managers Guild Trust.

“We’re a big part of the communities that we work in, we have lived and worked here for a long time now. It’s rewarding to have the opportunity to give back to the communities that have supported us over so many years,” says Brodie.

Big picture solutions to match big picture thinking

Ashburton,

Which irrigation system is best suited for your farm?

] Thinkwater Canterbury

No two farms are the same, so it’s important to consider the right solution for your needs. Take a look at the pros and cons of some of the main irrigation systems below.

Centre pivot

The leading method of crop and pasture irri gation in many areas, pivot systems boast up to 95% efficiency in water dispersion at a rel atively low cost.

• Automation. Centre pivots can operate 24/7 if required; providing control over water pressure/levels that ensures opti mum pasture growth across the seasons and pastures

• Highly durable. They maintain their value and usually require lower maintenance

• Low labour required. One person can manage multiple machines and these can be managed remotely

• Flexibility. Their construction allows them to straddle fences, sheds and obstacles so they can be set up in almost any paddock

Considerations

• Larger initial investment

• Capturing corner area may require cor ner arms

• Wind tolerance can be lower than other systems

• Limitations in undulating land

Solid set (fixed grid)

• Properly planned solid-set systems lend themselves to their low labour require ment and can be gun, fixed sprinkler, or solid set.

• Unlike centre pivots, they’re suited for ir regular shaped blocks or hard to water ar eas such as pivot corners and areas that make others forms of irrigation unviable (such as protected trees).

Advantages

• Low labour cost – often little or no input to operate the system which can be ful ly automated from a computer or mobile device

• High coverage area

• Flexibility to tailor the irrigation to certain soil types and requirements

• Easy to repair and maintain with stand ard parts

• Ability to isolate paddock areas

Considerations

• High initial setup includes labour require ments and costs of materials

• Restrictions around raised posts

• Wind tolerance can be lower than other systems

Subsurface

• Drip or subsurface irrigation is recognised as the most efficient and advanced irri gation solution because it allows for the system to be localised for maximum ac curacy, control and automation.

• The flipside, however, is that these sys tems require a level of maintenance and system knowledge to maximise their po tential.

Advantages

• Advanced and efficient, they conserve en ergy and maximise the use of your water by feeding directly to the rootzone

• Low labour cost

• Below the paddock’s surface which re duces risk of damage

• Suitable for undulating surfaces and ir regular shaped paddocks

Considerations

• Careful consultation and analysis of soil profiles are required to determine the suitability of subsurface drip

• Requires knowledge and expertise to manage after install

• Has a higher initial financial investment

• If not managed correctly there may be risk in clogging soil or risking pasture quality through uncontrolled irrigation

Whatever system you choose, it’s important that it’s tailored to your needs and with expertise and support on hand.

The cost and benefit of Ag tech

] Supplied by Fertigation Systems

One of these technologies is collars on cows. It provides the farmer with a simple way to move dairy cows and to keep track on the health of the cows.

The collars and the capital set up are a substantial investment. I have listened to farmer who have had the company visit them & they say that they can’t justify spending that amount of money each year just so someone doesn’t have to put up a few fences every day and to keep an eye on lameness and mastitis.

I heard that one farmer say it will save him 1,000 hours/year of labour but at $30 per hour that is still only a saving of $30,000 for an investment of $192,000 per year. Yes, it is tax deductible, but is it a good investment?

A better way

Applying Nitrogen and other nutrients through the irrigation system has been proven through scientific trials run by Lincoln University to be an efficient way to apply fertilisers.

The capital outlay is repaid in full in two years or less with the savings from no spreading costs.

Farmers who are using these systems, are enjoying the fruits of their investment.

Are you happy with your drinking water?

Drink Healthy, Stay Healthy

at the rate of 13%pa or $5,200pa.

The yearly expense of this equipment costs approximately $800 per year for servicing of the pump and keeping system clean, so let’s add this into the equation.

For a Canterbury dairy farm off 300 ha, 80% irrigated by pivot irrigation with 10% fixed grid irrigation in the corners, the spreading cost of fertilisers is:

• Fertiliser applications: 10 times

• Costs to apply fertilisers: $8

• Area cover by irrigators: 270 ha

• Savings per year: $21,600

The financial payback on a Fertigation unit for the above farm is:

• Capital costs: $40,000

• No spreading costs: $21,600

• Tax write off as depreciation: $5,200

• Yearly servicing costs: ($800)

• Savings in the 1st year: $26,000, and every year from then on.

• Internal rate of return after 2 years: 19%

So, what makes better financial sense, spending $192,000 a year with a small payback of $30,000pa, or investing $40,000 and saving $26,000 per year.

back of $30,000pa, or investing $40,000

If you want to know how much it will cost to set up a Fertigation unit on your farm, please give us a call or visit our website www.fertigation.co.nz

for spreading trucks. Less nitrogen being applied as no volatilisation and following the good old principal: ‘apply fertiliser little and often’.

including a fertiliser tank, fertigation pump and concrete bunding is approximately $40,000 (plus GST). As this is a capital expenditure farmers can claim depreciation

No spreading costs, no waiting around The capital costs of a fertigation unit,

Water regulation changes will they affect you?

] Article supplied by Aqualinc

The rate of change is unprecedented, so it’s not easy to know what’s changing and more importantly, how changes may affect you. But don’t worry we are here to help navigate these changes with you.

Drinking water supplies

Proposed changes will impact most Canter bury farmers. The focus of new standards is to protect sources of drinking water.

The main change is that you’ll be defined as a water supplier if you supply water to more than just your household.

For example, this will now cover farms where water is supplied to workers accom modation. There are more than 75,000 of these sorts of small supplies in New Zea land.

This will affect farmers in two ways.

Firstly, you will have to register and com ply with water supply rules i.e., deliver water that meets the standard and provide proof.

Secondly, the water source used for that supply will require a source water risk man agement area (formally known as a source protection area) which may add increased re strictions on land use within the zone. Given the number of water supply bores on the Can

terbury Planes, these protection zones may cover much of the farmed area.

Freshwater reforms

These set a national direction on freshwater issues. Titled ‘Action for Healthy Waterways’ the reforms are wide-ranging and aimed at halting degradation of waterways.

The goal is to materially improve wa ter quality within five years and restore to a healthy state within a generation. The re forms are set out within a National Poli cy Statement, and National Environmental Standard and some related changes to the RMA.

Some ways these may affect you include putting the health and well-being of the wa terbody first, ahead of all other considera tions, making securing or replacing consents more difficult; providing much stronger pro tection for wetlands and swimming spots; ‘interim’ controls on some forms of intensifi cation; and additional farm environment plan requirements.

Three Waters reform

‘Three waters’ refer to the infrastructure as sociated with drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater. Most of this infrastructure

Changes: the rate of change to water regulations is unprecedented.

is currently owned by councils. The idea is to create four publicly owned water entities to manage these assets.

The main impact of these reforms will be on urban areas. However, some farmers will be affected, and many rural communities have voiced objections.

Their concerns typically relate to a lack of democratic process within the reforms, an

eroding of the local voice and the lack of clar ity about how the significant upgrades will be funded, rather than direct effects upon their farming operation.

to learn more about what’s changing in the water space, how these may affect your farming operations, and how we can help, contact the team at Aqualinc or go to www.aqualinc.co.nz

Feed rate control system for Case IH

The market-leading CaseIH LB 436 HD Big Square baler not only leads the way with bale formation and density, it now comes with class-leading ISOBUS TIM technology to aid the operation and ensure peak performance throughout long days in the field.

Feed rate control features two modes of operation, the first is charge control, available for rotor cutter models only and the second is slice control featured on all big baler models.

Charge Control Function

‘Charge Mode’ allows the baler to run at optimal performance by controlling the tractor speed in relation to swath size.

The driver simply selects charge mode and sets the optimal forward speed along with desired plunger capacity. The baler then monitors crop flow and uses this data in conjunction with pre-set algorithms to control the tractor speed and ensure maxi-

mum output is achieved.

In field testing, this function not only improved the driver’s experience and reduced fatigue but also increase the output of the baler by 9%, with the additional benefit of improving fuel economy.

It is a great feature to help less experienced operators get the most out of their day.

Slice Control Mode

‘Slice control mode’ allows the driver to easily achieve bales with a uniform slice count.

After selecting Slice Control, the operator sets the maximum speed and desired slices per bale. The baler monitors the size

of each bale slice as it is formed and will control the tractor’s forward speed to ensure the desired slice count is achieved.

The slice control mode guarantees a uniform number of slices in each bale and an identical thickness of each slice. With traditional baler operation, the operator cannot react quickly enough to insure this level of uniformity. These inconsistencies can lead to poorer bale handling, unstable stacks, and increased twine failures.

Bales with uniform slice

Options: the feed rate control on the CaseIH LB 436 HD Big Square baler features two modes of operation, the first is charge control, available for rotor cutter models only and the second is slice control featured on all big baler models.

formation will have constant density and present well-shaped and square-edged every time.

Small tractors with a big impact

Packed with just as many great features as larger ag machines, John Deere compact utility tractors are easy to use and offer you the versatility to transform the productivity on your own property.

] Supplied by Drummond & Etheridge

Backed by a six year powertrain warranty and great service and support from the team at Drummond & Etheridge, there is a model to suit any requirement round the farm or lifestyle block.

The 1023E Sub-Compact Utility Tractor is affordable, great value and has been designed from the ground up to do just about anything.

The 21.5hp provides plenty of muscle and torque for anything you can throw at it, you get a landscaper and a finish mower all in one. Not to mention a garden hand, seeder, and fence-builder. These tractors let you switch tools or attachments easily and quickly. Standard features include a hydrostatic transmission, 4WD and power steering for smooth operation. They offer perfect stability and ride comfort and are easy to park and store.

The 25hp 2025R really is the ultimate mini landscaper. Comfortable and easy to use it offers all the big tractor stability and reliability you expect from John Deere. The liquid-cooled diesel engines deliver high power and speed, while the heavy-duty axles, 4WD and Category 1, rear 3-point hitch, are ideal for heavy work. Visibility and attachability are better than ever for continued productivity.

The one and only: The John Deere 1 Series Utility Tractor is so much more than just a sub-compact tractor. It’s a landscaper, a finish mower, a gardener, a lawn seeder and a fence builder – all made easier by some of the smartest features in its class.

The 3038E Compact Utility Tractor is a simple, affordable machine that gets things done without making a fuss. The tight turning radius and great ergonomics make work easy. It combines simplicity and ease of operation with “big tractor” features like Twin Touch™ pedals and power assisted steering. With 37.1hp, standard four-wheel drive and differential lock to add traction you’ll easily negotiate sandy soil, mud, snow and tough chores.

Feel the flexibility: The 3 Series Compact Utility Tractor has some of the most impressive features around: 4WD, a digital performance tracking system, and the LoadMatch™ power management system give you peak performance for all your farming, gardening and landscaping applications.

Our premium 32.3hp 4044R compact tractors are specially designed to make life easier. LoadMatch™ eliminates stalling by automatically matching engine speed to the engine load.

Standard Hitch Assist makes the rear hitch faster to use and safer. The self-levelling Quik-Park™ Loader comes as standard and the standard air ride seat keeps you comfortable and productive all day long.

John Deere 1-4 series Compact Utility Tractors have the power to work hard and can be equipped with loads of easy-to-use implements to get it all done. If you need a helping hand round the lifestyle block or an efficient hard worker on the farm – look no further.

For more information on the John Deere range of compact utility tractors, contact your local Drummond & Etheridge on 0800 432 633 or visit www.dne.co.nz

Guide to mulching and mulchers

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.

Top job: A mulcher is the ideal machine for topping your pasture. Photo courtesy of Agriline.

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 fungus 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.

Also in rough terrain, too wide can cause scalping so take this into account as well.

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. Lack of belts will result in belts slipping and destroying themselves.

Dual or Single Transmission: A dual transmission mulcher is where the rotor is driven from both ends. This decision 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 or have a very abrasive environment sometimes a hammer flail is a better option. In these situations, it can be a good idea to get flails hard-faced as well.

Skids & rollers: Where possible in most situations it is 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 often better to run a roller to stop scalping.

Looking tractor for a long

Because there are so many different kinds of tractors with specific applications, maintenance may vary greatly from tractor to tractor.

However, there are certain universal things you can do to help guarantee a long and useful life for your tractor, and carrying out regular inspections is a key.

Familiarize yourself with your tractor’s manual

There are many different types of tractors on the market with a wide variety of applications and associated accessories. To be sure you properly maintain your specific make and model of tractor, you should read through the manual that came with it.

Many tractors require specific types of lubricants and hydraulic fluids that you can identify in the manual. If you do not have a manual for your tractor, you may be able to find the information on the manufacturer’s website.

Give the tractor a visual inspection

Before you get started with any planned maintenance on your tractor, give the whole thing a good once over to see if anything

looks overly worn, broken, or dirty. Many newer model tractors even have plastic windows on fluid reservoirs to check things like hydraulic fluid levels.

Give your tractor a visual inspection before and after each use

Make note of any issues you identify to make sure you address them before the next time you use the tractor.

Do a tyre pressure check

Tractor tyres can last years, but operating a tractor with under-inflated tyres can ruin the sidewall and cause the tyres to wear faster than they should. Under-inflated tyres will also cause the tractor to burn more fuel in normal operations.

You may want to adjust tyre pressure for different types of jobs. For instance, if you plan on driving your tractor on the road, you

might want to add a few more pounds of air.

Tyres lose pressure more quickly when temperatures change from cold to hot, so you may want to check your tyre pressure more frequently in the Spring and Autumn.

Inspect the belts and hoses

Just like in a car, a tractor’s engine relies on a number of rubber hoses and usually at least one belt. Look all the rubber components over for signs of wear or damage. Excessively worn rubber components should all be replaced.

Look for grazing on the sides and bottom of any belts that may indicate that it’s been slipping. Any rubber that has cracked should be replaced.

Replace the air filter as needed

Depending on the environment you use your tractor in, you may need to change your air filter more or less frequently. Locate the air filter using the tractor’s user manual, then visually inspect it. If it’s really dirty, it should be replaced.

There’s no real rule of thumb with air filters; they should just be replaced as they appear dirty. You should check your air filter after eight hours of use or so.

Keep it safe when using a tractor

Tractors are used in all farming regions in New Zealand in tough terrain. Steep, rough, slippery or loose ground and towing implements increase the risk of losing control.

Manufacturers advise caution in all these circumstances as the tractor could become unstable because of sudden changes in direction and the tractor’s centre of gravity.

Before going up or down hills, carefully check the ground and set the tractor up to meet the conditions. You might have to get off the tractor and walk the route you plan to take. When planning your route, find an emergency run-out spot in case you lose traction.

Travelling downhill

Selecting the wrong gear can result in losing control of the tractor:

• too high a gear and engine braking may not hold back the tractor

• too low a gear and the tractor may start to slide, like brakes applied on a slippery surface.

Always drive straight down steep hills. Do not drive diagonally across and down slopes. Find the gentlest possible slope and drive straight down.

Select a low gear before driving down and apply the throttle to reduce the chance of the engine stalling.

Engage ‘diff lock’ before starting a hill descent for maximum braking and to prevent single-wheel lockup. However, note that the tractor will not turn as efficiently when diff lock is on.

Drive slowly forward (heavy end up slope) controlling your speed with engine braking. Allow for any towed implements’ extra weight. Check surface conditions, slope and route.

If the tractor starts to slide forward, quickly pulse the throttle until you regain traction. Do not brake, as you have to keep the wheels turning to keep traction.

If the engine loses power, apply the brake and put the tractor in ‘park’ mode.

If you lose control, drop any implements into the ground to act as an anchor.

Keep the tractor well-maintained and filters clear to reduce the chance of engine failure.

Travelling uphill

When travelling uphill, the weight moves to the rear of the tractor, increasing the risk of the tractor flipping over backwards.

The wheels can lose traction and make the tractor slew to the side, increasing the

risk of the tractor rolling over.

The tractor can also start rolling backwards, increasing the risk of a backwards flip if the brakes are applied suddenly.

Some modern tractors have hydraulically powered brakes and steering, so if the engine stalls, you can lose power to the brakes and steering.

Always drive straight up steep hills. Select a low gear before driving up and apply the

throttle to minimise the possibility of the engine stalling. Climb with the heavy end up the slope (in reverse).

If it’s a straight climb, engage diff lock and four-wheel drive before starting.

Don’t change gear when moving up slopes. This increases the risk of the tractor flipping backwards. If you lose traction, apply the brake and clutch together, select reverse gear and back down the hill.

Safety first: Operating a tractor on flat land is relatively straight forward but on hilly terrain there are a number of safety factors to take into account.

Deer chair asks minister for help with environmental challenges

The deer farming industry is working on the reboot of the Passion2Profit (P2P) strategy that has resulted in successful market development in China and a retail breakthrough for venison in the United States.

] with trevor Walton

On the strength of this success, Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) chair Mandy Bell has challenged the Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, to use the deer industry as a crucible to trial the best ways to manage the environmental challenges that are facing farmers.

Thanking the minister and MPI for their support with the P2P strategy that has now ended, she said programmes are now needed that will build on what the deer industry has learned.

“Developing and understanding the ‘how’ of delivery on farm, how to put integrated farm plans into action, how to make this easier for farmers,” Bell says.

“We’ve come out of P2P motivated and engaged. We’re small, we’re agile and we’re integrated. We have the venison and velvet companies, as well as the Deer Farmers Association, sitting at the table.

“As an industry, we are in a good space to work alongside MPI and other agencies to develop the systems that farmers need in order to manage climate change, reduce their emissions and to comply with the rapidly changing expectations of society.”

P2P was designed to convert the passion that farmers have for their deer

into greater farm profitability. Funding came 50 per cent from MPI and 50 per cent from Deer Industry NZ and was part of government’s Primary Growth Partnership programme.

Seven years and $14 million later it has clearly had some big successes, as well as some significant disappointments – largely as result of the collapse of restaurant demand for venison during the Covid pandemic lockdowns.

Independent programme chair, Bruce Wills, says venison marketers did a “fabulous job” pivoting to retail during the pandemic.

“As a result prices to farmers are well on the way to returning to pre-Covid levels. China is now the industry’s fourth biggest venison market, up from near zero exports at the start of the P2P programme.

“At retail in the United States, venison sales are growing faster than any other protein item – again up from nearzero seven years ago.

“P2P has achieved much, but did not have a perfect run. But P2P has seen the five venison marketing companies working together for the good of New Zealand deer farmers.

“Without P2P we would not have had the Advance Party (AP) programme, a wonderful farmer network, which has helped deer farmers with [the] dissem-

ination of new ideas and information,” Wills says.

On farm, productivity improvement has been reflected in a 4% increase in national fawn survival rates, and a 4 kg lift in average carcase weights from 55 kg to 59 kg.

“The journey is still underway. I hope the team approach endures for the venison marketers. Also, that work continues on assisting deer farmers with their environmental and climate challenges,” Wills says.

DINZ chief executive Innes Moffat says, “For me, the enthusiastic engagement from our deer farmers in P2P programmes has been the highlight.

“We are taking the enthusiasm that has been with us since day one of the programme, through into our future work.

“Our objective is to continue to help farmers to profitably produce premium products from New Zealand’s extensive pasturelands for discerning consumers around the world.”

Trial: Deer Industry NZ chair Mandy bell wants the Minister of Agriculture to use the deer industry as a crucible to trial the best ways to manage the environmental challenges that are facing farmers.

Before you paint your bargeboards call us about disconnecting the power

Getting in there with that paintbrush around live power lines is very dangerous. Call us about disconnecting the power, it might cost a bit it could well save your life. You’re our priority.

To

Orion operates, and maintains, the electricity distribution network that provides power to central Canterbury. We are always here to help if you have any questions concerns about the network.

A beginner’s guide to shearing sheep

] by Kent caddick

In the case of the latter it’s not just a mat ter of drop and then reap the benefits. Sheep grow wool continuously, so it is important to shear them at least once a year. Shearing is generally carried out in spring, so that sheep don’t get overheated during summer.

If a sheep is not shorn, its fleece be comes so bulky that it has difficulty moving around. The fleece can get water logged, and the sheep can become cast and unable to right itself. Also a long fleece is particular ly likely to get daggy and soiled, making the sheep very susceptible to flystrike.

In very hot weather, sheep carrying too much wool will get heat stressed, and this is even more likely if the sheep is very fat.

When preparing for shearing don’t use any insecticide chemicals on the fleece for six weeks before shearing. When using chemicals on the wool, check the withhold ing times.

If sheep are dirty, prepare for shearing by having them crutched and dagged (ie remove dirty wool from the belly, and from below and around the tail).

Make sure the sheep are completely dry before shearing, otherwise cuts are more likely to become infected and the damp wool

will heat and get mouldy when stored. Shear ers will refuse to shear wet sheep as it can cause skin infections and boils. To prevent damage to the shears and the sheep, warn the shearers if the sheep have large ear tags (plastic or brass). Make sure shearers are aware of any wethers among the ewes.

Hire skilled shearers shear your sheep. Keep your sheep in yards overnight, prefera bly under cover, so their stomachs and intes tines empty out a bit and so they remain dry even if it rains in the night. Don’t pack them in too tightly or they will dung on each oth er’s wool.

Thinking ahead: Shearing your sheep in spring will help them to remain cool over summer.

Because newly shorn sheep feel the cold, put them in paddocks with windbreaks and plenty of pasture after shearing. It may take six weeks for the fleece to regrow sufficient ly to provide effective insulation. If you don’t have good shelter for your shorn sheep, or if you are shearing them in winter, ask the shearer to use winter combs. These leave a short layer of wool to help protect sheep from cold weather.

Sheep need extra feed after shearing. If there is insufficient pasture, step up the supplementary feed. The best time to apply louse and flystrike prevention treatments is after shearing, while the wool is short.

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Spring gardening safety tips

As the trend towards growing your own fruit and vegetables continues its resurgence with Kiwi gardeners and lifestyle block owners, it is timely to highlight some simple safety messages according to an industry expert.

] by Steve Sheppard

Nursery and Garden Industry Association of New Zealand chief executive Dr John Liddle says soil is rich with living organisms which are beneficial to plants and generally cause no harm to animals or people.

“Soil does, however, contain some organisms that are not beneficial such as a type of Legionella bacteria, which is commonly found in the environment. In rare cases this can cause Legionnaire’s disease.

“Gardening is a popular pastime enjoyed by thousands of New Zealanders. Apart from the obvious cost savings associated with growing your own, the positive psychological benefits can best be described as ‘food for the soul’,” Dr Liddle said.

Seven tips for safer gardening

• Gently water your garden & potted plants to minimise airborne droplets and dust

• Read the warning label on bagged composts and potting mixes before use

• Wear gloves and a dust mask when handling soil including bagged products

• Open bagged products slowly using scissors and lean the bag away from face

• Gently dampen potting mixes before use

• Make sure your working area eg shed or greenhouse, is well ventilated

• Wash your hands when finished

Not all those who come into contact with the bacteria become sick and symptoms will vary from person to person. If people become infected with Legionella, they may get flu-like symptoms that can range from mild to severe.

However, it can be life-threatening to people who have health factors that increase their susceptibility. Those most at risk include smokers, the elderly and those with existing respiratory illnesses and weakened immune systems.

Photo: Safety first: It is advisable to wear gloves and a dust mask when handling soil, especially bagged compost which carries with it the risk of Legionnaire’s disease.

“Following some simple safety precautions will greatly minimise the small risk that there is. If people want to find out more they should refer to the Ministry of Health’s Safer and Healthier Gardening pamphlet.” Dr Liddle said.

Food for thought at Spring show

With the theme of this year’s show being ‘Food for Thought – Kai mo te Whakaaro’, the Ellesmere A&P Association’s Selwyn Spring Show will be demonstrating the many different facets of agriculture and serving up the proposition of how food is an intrinsic part of our existence, and that without agriculture to provide it humanity will struggle.

] Ellesmere A&P Association

We are lucky to live in a country where our farmers are regarded as being the most innovative, and best in the world at what they do.

Here at the Ellesmere A&P Association we are very proud to bring you one of the most truly diverse one day shows in New Zealand.

The Selwyn Spring Show is an event that is inclusive of the wider community, encouraging people to come together to celebrate Selwyn through their success in art, music, culture, business and agriculture. It’s this coming together that we are most proud of.

In the planning stage we call these our ‘sections’. Each with a head of section from our general committee, one or two members from the top table, a handful of subcommittee members, the stewards and judges that are called on annually to provide expertise and experience, many volunteers, and of course the exhibitors and competitors along with their support crews.

Now on the day, the sections turn from committee to community.

Work often starts before the sun rises. It’s the culmination of months of planning that ends in local, regional, and even international competitions. Events like wood chopping, shearing, highland dancing, and equestrian, contribute to an individual’s overall points for the competitive year.

It’s not all competition though, some sections are here for the love it. They relish the opportunity to showcase their craft, produce, livestock and skills to the public, maybe even inspiring the next generation of farmers. It’s the atmosphere on the day and the buzz of being with like-minded people that keeps them coming back year after year.

Our competitive sections complement the great local entertainment, excellent hospitality, fantastic retail stalls, local and regional trade exhibitors, and large side show ally. Together they make show day what it is.

There is something for everyone, and a place for everybody.

And there’s one thing we know for sure, you’ll see it too when you walk around the show grounds on October 15, it’s the coming together of people that’s makes a show a show. Now that’s some food for thought.

Popular: the erewhon clydesdales are always a hit at the Selwyn Spring Show.

Domestic sales remain strong

Further good lifts in at wharf gate log export prices have been the order of the day in September. As in August, the increases are primarily the function of reducing shipping cost rather than log price movements in the market.

There is increasing talk of domestic log price movements as trucking companies and loggers move costs upward to cover Government extravagances, villa vie – inflation.

The fundamentals across the China market remain weak.

Daily consumption across the Eastern seaboard is struggling to get above 60,000 cubic metres per day compared to 80,000 this time last year and 90,000 the year before.

Despite lower consumption, the overall inventory has dropped to about 4.4 mil cubic metres, down 500,000 cubic metres on last month.

This is essentially a reflection of reduced deliveries from NZ which now comprise in excess of 70% of all softwood supply. This is about the only positive in the market with commentators suggesting we are in for reductions in sales prices for October contracts.

The reasons for a likely price drop rests with the difference between the value of NZ logs compared to wholesale prices in China. As at

mid-September there was up to a US$10 per cubic metre gap meaning traders continue to print negative margins. Much of the reason for that is the weakening RMB China currency against the Green back as we trade all logs up to China in US$.

Traders have now been making trading losses for 5 months and right now the margin is wider than normal. Thus, there are clear signals of an imminent drop in CFR prices for NZ logs in October. CFR means the cost of logs including freight delivered to China in US$ per cubic metre.

Back in good old Kiwi land, our dollar value has hit a 10 year low against the Greenback with most commentators suggesting we will continue to travel the downhill journey for the foreseeable. This will help soften the blow for NZ Forest Owners as lower exchange rates adds value to exports.

Bottom line for NZ Forest owners means the current A grade market lead indicator sits at $115-$125 per cubic across South Island ports, the variation being a function of port costs.

This then puts us back in to the top 80 percentile of the market of the last 2 years, unfortunately it seems, unlikely to last.

As with all NZ commodities at the moment, market uncertainties prevail with demand all over the place and shipping companies providing no certainty as to future daily hire rates. During September, we

have seen weekly US$3 – 4 per cubic meter moves netted back to daily hires.

Many NZ ports face major challenges, or at least it would seem, more than what used to be normal. Delayed arrivals, slow discharge rates, slow load rates and staff shortages are combining to see more ports heavily congested and vessels waiting to come in.

For those living near ports, that is why you will be seeing multiple vessels parked the mandatory 4km+ off the coast line waiting their turn.

Our trucking companies rate a mention this month for all the wrong reasons. Whilst motorists many might complain about the number of trucks on our roads, there would be a lot more if there was anyone to drive them! In Canterbury I know of 4 medium to large trucking companies looking for a total 49 drivers.

The lack of drivers also impacts port operations where we simply cannot get enough to take the logs from yards to ships side. Given we simply don’t have the teeth in Government leadership to make some Kiwi’s go get work, importing those that want to work would seem to be the only solution.

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”.

NZ Dairy Industry Awards entries open

Entries into the 2023 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards open this month.

] by Kent caddick

Entries in the New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year categories will be accepted online at dairyindustryawards.co.nz from October 1.

Organisers of the regional programmes gathered in Rotorua late last month for the organisation’s annual conference, to learn how to deliver over 48 events and numerous judging days.

General Manager Robin Congdon said the conference was an opportunity for the many volunteers from around the country to come together after a busy winter season.

“The conference ensures everyone knows what’s required to deliver the dynamic programme and bring them up to speed on this year’s changes made to the Share Farmer category judging process,” Congdon said.

“The Exec has reviewed extensive feedback on last year’s changes to the Dairy Manager and Dairy Trainee categories, which was overwhelmingly positive.

“They are making changes to streamline the judging process and to align the Share Farmer category into the same format for this season, which will make the process less daunting and time-consuming for Share Farmer entrants to prepare for.”

Congdon said the conference was also a chance for personal development and for

committee members to meet other regional committee members and share ideas and information, and to finalise their regional launch events, which provide an opportunity for prospective entrants to find out more information about the Awards and which category people are eligible to enter.

He said the regional launch events are typically a lot of fun and provide an opportunity to meet other potential entrants, organisers and sponsors and to learn about the awards from past entrants. “The functions are very social, with no charge, and are at a time that makes it easy for farmers to attend.”

Talking the talk: New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards General Manager robin congdon (centre) speaking to entrants in last year’s dairy awards.

More information on regional committees and launch events are available at www.dairyindustryawards. co.nz/regions, and on regional Facebook pages. The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda, LIC, Meridian and Ravensdown, along with partners DairyNZ and MediaWorks.

Earthmoving and Farm Maintenance Done Right

30 years of local knowledge and experience makes us the right people to talk to when it comes to earthmoving and farm maintenance. We explore every angle of a project upfront to ensure it runs smoothly and efficiently. For us, being the best isn’t about getting a job done fastest, or cheapest, it’s about getting it Done Right.

Find out how we will get your project Done Right at tarbotton.co.nz

Frosts are useful as they lift moisture from the soil and the bright sunny days that follow increase the amount lost via evaporation.

It defies logic to fly nitrogen onto soils too wet to ground spread. The issue is too much water and not enough air in the soil, and nitrogen does nothing to alleviate either.

Money is best spent on high energy and fibre supplement, top quality meadow or lucerne hay the best combination of both.

Rumens require long fibre to provide a mat to function efficiently and hay is an excellent solution and made freely available animals will eat no more than required to maintain body temperature and weight.

The long-term fix is to increase soil pore space, the space between soil particles that allows water to percolate downwards.

There must be somewhere for the water to go, and each individual situation is different however what can be influenced is the top 25mm of the soil, the area in which pasture roots are concentrated.

During periods of prolonged wet weather animals will create a mess, it’s unavoidable. The decision is whether to have a small mess over a large area by spreading animals

out, or contain it to a small area that can be sorted later.

There’s no perfect answer and it’s important for those that object to animals on crop in wet weather understand the constraints that farmers work under.

Soil temperature is one of the drivers of spring growth with temperatures above 10℃ indicating the start of spring growth.

Excessively wet soils often have temperatures of around 10℃ however it is not until they dry out somewhat that temperatures will rise significantly, and optimum spring growth will be obtained. Wet land is cold land.

After prolonged periods of wet weather soils may become anaerobic, beneficial soil life is largely lost and soil odour becomes increasingly sour.

Re-establishing conditions under which pastures thrive can take months and much of the coming season’s growth lost if action is not taken. Recovery however can be remarkably rapid without the need to cultivate.

Physical aeration to a depth of 25cm breaks up compacted soils and when combined with an application of CalciZest, a limebased soil improver from Functional Fertiliser containing a wide range of soil friendly fungi and bacteria, steady recovery can be achieved.

The addition of soil friendly microbes kick starts the process and with regular rainfall and sympathetic grazing management pastures can be nursed back to health

reducing the slow growth phase.

Even in the worst situations earthworms are likely to exist in sufficient numbers to provide benefits over the coming months.

They do an excellent job of creating channels through which water drains and air enters. By creating the environment that favours their activity all other beneficial soil dwellers proliferate, and the key is ongoing inputs of calcium in the form of lime, dolomite, and soft phosphate rock.

Where cultivation is the best option the application of CalciZest and extra lime will help with soil tilth, germination of seed will

be more rapid as will growth during the establishment phase.

The addition of clover seed may also be beneficial as clover dense pasture grows more strongly over summer when grasses naturally go to seed due to a combination of soil temperatures above 20℃ and longer sunlight hours.

Animals grow and fatten more quickly on a high clover diet as clover contains the calcium necessary for rapid bone growth. Clover is also more digestible, so animals can eat more in their naturally designated grazing time.

Because clover fixes nitrogen reliance on synthetic nitrogen is reduced creating a situation that is genuinely carbon positive. For more information contact Peter on 0800 843 809.

The fix for waterlogged soils After prolonged periods of wet weather soils may become anaerobic, largely soil odour becomes

Fonterra lifts 2023 earnings guidance

Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited has revised its 2023 forecast earnings guidance to 45 to 60 cents per share, up from 30 to 45 cents per share.

] by Kent caddick

It has also revised its forecast milk collections for the 2022/23 season down from 1,510 million kgMS to 1,495 million kgMS.

Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell said the lift in forecast earnings is a continuation of the ongoing strong demand for dairy that saw Fonterra confirm its FY22 earnings were at the top end of the guidance range.

“The demand signals we saw at the end of FY22 have continued driving improved prices and higher margins across our portfolio of non-reference products, particularly in cheese and our protein products such as casein,” Hurrell said.

“We see strong underlying demand and the latest lift in whole milk powder prices on GDT is also a positive signal reversing the recent easing in the prices that drive our Farmgate Milk Price. Strong offshore prices for protein, as reflected in the recent increase in EU and US milk prices, mean our protein portfolio has been performing very well.

“This sustained period of favourable pricing relativities between our protein and cheese portfolios and whole milk powder is the main driver for the increase in the FY23 earnings guidance range being announced today. If these unprecedented conditions were to continue for a further extended period this could have an additional positive impact on forecast earnings.”

Staying strong: Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell says the company’s lift in forecast earnings is a continuation of the ongoing strong demand for dairy.

Hurrell said they were committed to their 2030 targets and expect variable market conditions as they work towards them.

“The benefit of being part of the Co-op is having a diversified organisation with an extensive portfolio of products which allow us to capture value in a broad range of market conditions, benefiting both farmer owners and unit holders.”

He said the Co-op is comfortable with its FY23 contracted rate, particularly for its protein portfolio, at this stage of the season but it’s still early days.

“Our strategy is based on growing demand, constrained supply and shifting our farmers’ milk into higher value products, all of which are currently being realised.”

Meanwhile, Fonterra has seen a reduction in milk collections with recent weather conditions experienced in some parts of New Zealand causing a slow start to the season, most recently the floods in the Far North and top part of the South Island.

“We’ll continue to work with impacted farmers to ensure that if they need extra support that they are able to access it,” Hurrell said.

Lameness Management Workshop.

Research set to improve staff safety over calving

Research into sprain and strain injuries over calving has identified some simple ways farmers can reduce injuries on dairy farms.

The three-year DairyNZ project, funded in partnership with ACC’s Workplace Injury Prevention programme, is researching the causes of sprains and strains on dairy farms – and developing practical solutions to reduce injuries.

“Around 40 percent of injuries on dairy farms are sprains and strains, with the highest risk from August to October. As calving progresses, fatigue can set in and increase injuries,” DairyNZ senior scientist and research lead, Dr Callum Eastwood, said.

As part of the Reducing Sprains and Strains project, 370 farmers were surveyed on how they managed health and safety, and whether injuries had occurred.

“We know farm teams are working outdoors, in milking sheds, with animals and vehicles. The nature of their work means there is a risk of injury, particularly in busy times. Farmers reported injuries from lifting calves or buckets, from uneven ground and getting off motorbikes. In the milking shed, slippery surfaces and tripping on hoses are hazards,” Eastwood said.

Farmers surveyed used a range of strategies to avoid injury. These included sharing calf collection duties across the team, using a specialist trailer to transport calves, and piping milk into calf feeders rather than using buckets. Other tips included tucking hoses away in the shed and using footwear with a greater grip.

Cambridge farmer Ashlea Kowalski and husband Andy contract milk 245 cows and

is using many of the strategies farmers recommend.

“I work full-time and we don’t have any staff, so it’s really important we both stay well to keep the farm running,” Ashlea said.

“By piping milk to calves we can avoid lifting buckets and we’re able to feed 160 calves within 15 minutes. It’s a really efficient way of feeding. Our calf trailer is also a good height for us, and we have trolly jacks on our calfeteria to avoid heavy lifting.”

The couple have the milking area well-lit and keep hoses out of the way when not in use.

“It’s a good idea for farmers to get together with their farm team and assess what the risks are from calving and how to reduce these next season. Many safety strategies farmers can adopt are low cost, are easily adopted and are good for business as well,” Eastwood said.

Virginia Burton-Konia, ACC manager for workplace safety, said farmers believe many injuries are avoidable.

“On average, the survey showed people who were injured needed 12 days off work, but took around 27 days to fully recover,” Burton-Konia said.

“With farms often short-staffed, new ideas to avoid injuries and make the job easier will ensure everyone can help out at the busiest time of year.”

The next stage of the project involves developing prototype options farmers can use to reduce injuries. A calf pick-up trailer designed to reduce back strain is being devel-

oped for farmer feedback.

The project is part of work underway through a dairy sector strategy called Great Futures in Dairying to attract, retain and grow the dairy farm workforce over the next decade by developing great jobs, great people and great workplaces.

To find out more about the Reducing Sprains and Strains project, and view videos with tips on reducing injuries, see www.dairynz.co.nz/calving-safety.

Building Blocks To Good Calf Health Supplied by DairyNZ

‘With farms often shortstaffed, new ideas to avoid injuries and make the job easier will ensure everyone can help out at the busiest time of year.

Reducing risk: Piping milk to calves is one of the strategies dairy farmer Ashlea Kowalski is using to reduce the risk of injury on-farm.

Virginia Burton-Konia ACC manager for workplace safety

Wool flow ramps up of up outside wool broker stores ready to be relieved of their valuable throughout September, whilst inside the hum of fork trucks and

formation showed the reasoning for their removal from better wools.

Playing catch-up following delays caused by the horrid weather conditions during July and August, was key for shearing contractors throughout September as the weather gods obliged in most areas, allowing for high country station wool clips to be harvested and readied for sale.

With most down-country pre-lamb crossbred ewe shearing having been completed earlier, shearers, wool classers and wool handlers were pretty much confined to the hills working in fine wool sheds.

In most cases, wool quality from the mainly merino and quarter-bred clips, completed and sampled by time of writing, was of a very good standard and a credit to growers. Wool classers and shed staff had generally performed their tasks extremely well allowing main lines to be complimented by robustly reflective test data, for micron and tensile strength, whilst most secondary line test in-

Despite a considerable percentage of merino wool growers having sold main lines via direct-to-market forward priced contracts, both Christchurch wool auctions held during September, prior to writing, contained superb ranges of fleece and oddment types representing traditional farm brands and drawn from across all merino areas of the South Island.

Because several forward priced contracts specified wools measuring from approximately 17.5 to 19 microns with accompanying high tensile strength measurements, much of the auction wool to date in Christchurch has measured finer than about 18.0 microns.

Interest in all merino types offered in the Christchurch auctions was extremely good with all corners of the globe represented by locally domiciled (NZ) wool exporters, with at least one Australian domiciled exporter crossing the ditch in person. With larger offering of merino wool types anticipated for the 29th September Christchurch auction, a ‘full bench’ can be expected again.

Most mid-micron wool clips, offered at auc-

tion during early-to-mid September opened in very good order and drew solid interest from the buyer’s bench.

Alongside new season wool on offer, were several lines which had been held over from last season by growers hoping for significant price recovery however, whilst most of these wools sold very well, growers were probably a little disappointed with the limited market improvement.

It was certainly evident that most buyer requirement for mid-micron types was towards those measuring around 26 microns or finer, with a few coarser lines proving exceptions to the rule.

Although there was much focus on fine and mid-micron wools in the Christchurch auction room during September, some very good coarse wool clips were offered which attracted wide-spread interest once again.

Very good colour and low vm wools were of particular interest to the export trade with those measuring 0.0% vm the most sought after with significant premiums paid for those types over and above the more average style wools. Bulky oddments drew better interest however those containing heavy mud, high vm, very poor colour, and very short were discounted severely.

That’s my view.

All-Electric Ford Mustang Mach-E for New Zealand

] Article supplied by Ford NZ

The Ford Mustang Mach-E will be launching in New Zealand with a choice of three models for New Zealand customers.

First introduced overseas in 2020, the Mach-E is the first pure-electric production Ford ever developed and will be available in three versions when it arrives in New Zealand next year.

The Mustang Mach-E line up will include:

• Mustang Mach-E RWD: Range: 440km; Battery 75.7 kWh

• Mustang Mach-E AWD: Range: 540km; Battery 98.7 kWh

• Mustang Mach-E GT AWD: Range: 500km; Battery 98.7 kWh

From a stand still, the standard model is able to achieve a 0 to 100km/h time of 6.2 seconds. It makes use of a 198kW, 580Nm single electric motor connected to the rear wheels and gets its energy from a battery capable of 397km range.

The range topping Mach-E GT Performance Edition model on the other hand can go from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds. It makes use of a front and rear electric motor giving the SUV all-wheel drive, producing a combined 357kW and 860Nm. An extended range battery comes with the GT, giving it 505km of range.

The Mach-E is also loaded with technology. Ford’s next-generation Sync system enables more than 80 vehicle settings to be customised including cabin temperature to ambient lighting. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both come as standard integrated into a 15.5-inch infotainment touchscreen.

Park assist, pre-collision assist, auto emergency braking, lane keep assist and blind spot assist handle all your safety needs when behind the wheel.

Ford New Zealand managing director Simon Rutherford said the Mustang MachE highlights the growing global appetite for electrified performance, outselling petrol Mustang eight-to-one in 2022 to-date.

“Mustang Mach-E was developed from the ground up to deliver the character and performance of our iconic Mustang sports car,” Rutherford said.

“It delivers that unique Mustang exhilaration and experience but in full EV mode with a host of impressive technologies and incredible performance.”

To ensure a smooth electrification rollout, Ford NZ is working with Singer Electric to install charging stations across all of Ford NZ’s main dealer sites across the country.

“There is certainly a lot to take in whenever a new vehicle is launched let alone an entirely new powertrain technology and platform

like the Mach-E,” Rutherford said.

“We are gearing up to help our dealership teams at every level become Mach-E and EV experts, helping to ensure when a custom-

er emails, calls or walks in with questions, they’ll get the information they need. It’s an exciting time for everyone and we’re all looking forward to the Mach-E’s arrival.”

Quick: The Mach-E GT Performance Edition model can go from 0-100km/h in just 3.5s. Photo: @barekiwi

Choosing the right ATV for your style

When you’re in the market for an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), it can be pretty overwhelming to sift through all the options. After all, you want to find the one that’s going to serve your individual riding style.

] Article supplied by

] Northern Power Sports

The first thing you’ll want to do is decide what type of ATV you should buy, which means you also need to consider your in tended purpose.

Each machine offers a different set of fea tures that are often meant for a specific use and riding style. One way to ensure you re ceive the full potential of your ATV is to buy the one that’s right for your needs.

One popular choice is the utility model, which offers a bulky and boxy appearance.

These ATVs usually include several heavyduty features, such as tow hitches, cargo racks, and two-up seats. If you plan to use your machine for completing challenging tasks on the job site, this is the perfect mod el for you.

The rock-solid construction makes them ideal for enjoying hours of fun on the trails as well. This means you can use your quad for both fun and work.

Another common option is the sport mod el, which offers an improved suspension sys tem for superior performance when you’re chasing those thrills.

It’s important to remember that this type of ATV is mostly used for entertainment pur poses.

Therefore, if it’s endless adrenaline rush

es you’re after, this might be the perfect quad for you. You’ll be able to hit top speeds and have unmatched agility when taking cor ners and handling bumps.

Most ATV riders will do well with a stand ard model that offers the basics when it

comes to power and performance.

If you’re more advanced in your riding style or simply crave an extra kick of power, there are models with special features you can choose from.

For example, you can search for models

there are plenty of options when it comes to choosing an AtV for your farm, and then are those designed for fun in mind. Photo supplied by Action Power Sports

with larger seating accommodations and a suspension that’s capable of handling extra weight without sacrificing performance.

If it’s comfort you’re after, look for quads with fenders that’ll keep mud and water off you.

If I were a cynic

I am not saying anything here, I am simply putting some thoughts out there for you to ponder on.

] with rob cope-Williams

Are we, as in New Zealand, swapping farming in favour of being seen by other countries as the leaders in climate change?

Our Prime Minister is adored by overseas leaders and overseas media.

After all she is very quick to say that new gun laws were put in place days after the Christchurch massacre, tightening illegal ownership of military style guns. No mention of the gang shootings but that is another story isn’t it.

She explains how law and order is under control with the numbers held in prisons dropping.

Again, no mention of sentences being re-

duced by 45 percent “because the person had a bad childhood” and again that is another story.

However, the other song she sings is climate change and how she has reduced emissions dramatically.

Let’s take a wee look at recent things that affect farming.

Extra tax on farm utes as subsidies are given to those with low emissions.

No mention of meat or dairy products in the UK free trade agreement. That offered an incentive to up production.

Simon Upton has gone on record as saying that he does not want any increase in cow numbers.

Laws to change the efficiency of Fonterra

are looming with few details, but again making the industry face more barriers.

I am not even thinking about three waters and what that will mean to the farming world, that is a conversation for another month.

However, I do want to bring up the subject of overseas buyers buying up farmland without going through the normal hoops if the land is planted in trees.

Great idea, but as there are no rules about managing the trees, all the carbon credits can be sold by the landowners overseas for their own benefit and goodness knows what will happen when the trees mature and start to fall over.

Basically, the trees are being farmed for carbon credits rather than timber.

Slow motion farming

But I believe a pivot is occurring. Not as in irrigator, but as in that intensely irritating term commentators use to describe a sharp change in perception.

] by Solis Norton

Yes you might run from the truck to get the gates, but what I mean is that farming systems take a long time to optimize and refine. They have many moving parts, some controllable, some not. It might take several seasons to really realise the benefits of a shift in your system.

Many see this as a negative quality. They see agriculture as a clunky and lethargic beast mired in its own momentum, the caboose on the train of national progress or the stick in the mud. Urban businesses, even big multinational companies can move faster than farming.

I believe farming will soon re-emerge, after a very long time, as a Rock of Gibraltar, safe, solid, steady, an anchor in this increasingly torrid sea of change. It will happen surprisingly quickly. Surprising farmers especially, who operate in slow motion. Wouldn’t this be a nice surprise?

People want certainty today more than ever. But it is slipping away and we seem powerless to stop it.

For example, there’s no certainty about our Emissions Trading Scheme, which is under review. Rod Carr, chair of the Climate Change Commission, told business and policy leaders at the recent business and climate conference that it relies too heavily on planting trees. Also that other countries were

questioning the relevance of carbon offsets like forestry at all. And rightly they should. What would this mean for trees on farms?

There’s absolutely no certainty about going green. The EU energy crisis has smashed it and how. A record breaking year in global coal use is anticipated. The UK public are sheep on an energy spit roast pole. Price the pole in their mouth, supply the one up their back side. In response, Prime Minister Liz Truss has ripped the lid off fracking’s coffin and signed numerous new gas and oil exploration licenses. She has also capped the public’s power bills and removed their ‘Green’ levy.

This cap is predicted to shift 150 billion pounds of tax payer’s money to energy suppliers from the likes of health and education. It will entrench already record profits to fossil fuel companies, who are increasingly paying it out as dividend and share buy-backs,

As I said, I am just putting some thoughts out there for you to ponder. I hope there are lots of positives filtering out of the Ivory tower, but they are hard to see.

rather than invest in new infrastructure. True divestment. Just what Greta Thunberg’s followers want. Investment in the oil industry has halved since 2014. It’s eating itself from the inside out.

The CEO of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company said in a speech this month that, and I quote, ‘oil field output around the world is declining on average at about six percent per year’. He too is deeply uncertain about the future. Today global output is fifteen percent lower than 2017. In August daily output was 3.6 million barrels short of objective. Doesn’t sound like much if you say it fast. But it’s over 250 times New Zealand’s daily use.

Certainty is the new gold. Farming can provide a lot of it, by virtue of its slow and steady motion, not in spite of it. We should ensure the supply chain, upstream and downstream of it, are just as robust.

‘I hope there are lots of positives filtering out of the Ivory tower, but they are hard to see.